Sunday 05/16/10

A pretty good week for training.

Monday was to be a day off, but I went to a 2 hour spin class. These workouts really seem to be helping my endurance. I felt strong on Monday and I was soaking wet when the class was all said and done.

Tuesday AM was a swim and a long swim at that. 4250 total yds between the warm up, work out, and cool down. Now my event is 2.4 miles which is only 4224 yds. Yes, that is correct, I swam 26 yds more than my event distance. It made for a long morning but the swim went well.
Tuesday PM, I met Mentor Michelle over at the base of Mount Diablo for an evening climb. Took just under an hour to get from the soccer field on Blackhawk Drive to the junction. But then the fun begins and I get to go downhill for a long time. I love descending.

Wed was to be a run only. I decided to do Thursday's brick workout instead. I started with an hour spin class and then went for a quick 2 mile run. Both went well. My plan was to make up today's run on Friday and do Friday's swim on Thursday, but more on that soon.

Thursday was another swim. Not as long as Tuesday's, but still pretty lengthy. 3800 yds later, it felt long enough.

Friday, I was to make up the run. Well, work happened on Thursday (nice excuse) and surprise, the run did not happen. What a shocker!!!!

Saturday, we were back in Sonoma County for an 80 mile Bike around the Vineman course. My bike fit felt better on Tuesday, but still not right. On this day, it was about the same. I did not have any pains, back, butt, or foot. Coach Dave led us out and kept us at a reasonable pace for the first 15 miles. After that, it was hammer time, I mean, race speed time. I felt strong all day. I had, what I would call, my best day on a bike so far. I felt strong throughout. I kept up with my Carbo-Pro/gatorade mixture and drank 1 bottle per hour (336+ cal./bottle) I could have used a fifth bottle, but unfortunately, I only packed 4 total. Note to self, pack 1 more than you think you will need. I will probably need 7 on event day.
I felt great was the ride was done and again, I did a quick brick, and went for a 2 mile run. This was not on the schedule but I thought the extra running would help me. Also, if I run on Saturday, I can rationalize Sunday.

Sunday was an Open water swim and run, but the American Motorcycle Association was racing at Infineon Speedway and I wanted to go see the races. Not a bad way to spend the day. I got up early, dusted off my motorcycle, rode up to the races, and watched men (and women)do crazy things at very fast speeds.
Those racers make training for an Ironman seem sane.....

Sunday 05/09/10 Mother's Day

Happy Mother's Day to all the mother's out there!!

This week was pretty good for me. I actually got a couple of runs in, which is a step in the right direction.
Monday was to be a day off, but I went for a double spin class. Up at 4:30 AM and to the gym by 4:45 AM for the first class at 5:00 and the second at 6:00. This is a pretty good workout and I am drenched in sweat by the end.

Tuesday was a swim workout in the AM. A ladder workout of 2450 yds. Went well. I am feeling comfortable in the water finally. Tuesday PM was a bike and run, but I didn't have my new bike shoes yet, so I blew off the workout.

Wednesday was a spin workout at 5:00 AM. I only did the one session as I had to get to work.

Thursday was a run workout but I went for Friday's swim workout instead. 3850 yds, a little over 2 miles. Went well, but I was tired when I was finished. My event is 2.4 miles, which is 4224 yds. My yardage is catching up on that number very quickly.

Friday was the swim workout and I should make up the run I missed on Thursday, but I decide to go for a 2 hour spin class again. Again, it went well and I was drenched in sweat when it was over, but I cannot continue to blow off this many runs. Meenu starts to call me Aquaboy, since I have been missing so many runs. She is busting my chops that I am only going to be able to do the AquaBike. I cannot continue to miss the runs. I am getting too close to the event to miss more runs.

Saturday we go up to Napa and ride the Silverado Trail. 56 miles, out and back, and for some reason it is in to a head wind both ways. I don't know how that works but it does. I ride with Haakon, Tony, BK, Jim and Les to start off with. I had my new shoes on and had switched my seat the night before to a narrower seat. I thought I had put the new seat on in the same position, but after a few miles, it was apparent that I did not have the set up correct. I felt like I was reaching for the handlebars and for the pedals. My lower back was killing me at the half way point. I made a slight adjustment to the seat at the water stop and that improved the pain, but something was still off. I will continue to work on that to get it right. I finished the ride in about 2 hours 45 minutes. I was happy with the time since the pain I was in. We had a very short 2 mile run after the ride. BK and I ran that together. Brian is a much better runner than I, so I struggled to keep up, but I managed to finish the run with him (I think he slowed down for me).

Sunday was a 12 mile long slow distance run. I met some teammates over at the Iron Horse Trail. I take off with Haakon and Nic. MISTAKE!! They are both too fast for me to keep up with through 12 miles. I keep up for the first 3 miles, but then my day starts to go downhill. The rest of the run goes, but I have to change from running a 9 min run:1 min walk to a 5:1.
Not the way I want my runs to go.

I have 11 weeks or so until my event. Which gives me about 8 weeks to get ready for the marathon portion. Time to start running......

Tuesday 05/04/10

A fairly uneventful week for training.
My butt has finally healed. I went and bought new shoes but they are not yet in. So, I have not been back on my bike. I miss her.
Monday was our usual day off, which I gladly took.
Tuesday was a swim in the AM. The swim was not real long, only 3250 yds, but it seemed a lot longer. I was supposed to bike in the evening but that didn't happen.
Wednesday was supposed to be a run, but I made up my bike workout instead. 5 AM spin class, what fun!!!
Thursday was a Brick (bike and run), I swam. I do not seem to be getting this schedule thing.
Just not cutting it for me. There was a swim on Friday's schedule, so I could just say I did it early. Yeah, that's the ticket!!!
Friday AM comes along and I am a Brick workout and a run workout down for the week.
I could make up one if the two but not both. And the choice is...............................................
Neither, I went with option C - No workout!!
Meenu and I drove up to Grass Valley to visit with my brother, Brock, and his wife, Cathie.
We stayed over night on Friday to continue our visit on Saturday, but I brought my running clothes. Saturday AM was supposed to be a 30 mile bike, but I am going to run or...................
Choice D - Stay in bed
I am beginning to see a trend here.
Sunday is a 10 mile run. Somehow, I am surprised when the run doesn't go well. What a shocker!! I make it through the 10 miles, but it takes me almost 2 hours and I am really tired through the run.
Perhaps, I should read the warning signs here.
What do you think..........