September Stats

I seem to be on a once a month blog post kick here. Again, I haven’t really been feeling like blogging lately, but I have been staying fairly active, particularly with swimming. To recap Sept. here’s some quick hits!

• Finished TriRock San Diego sprint: This is a great race for beginners. And as my 2nd one, there wasn’t much pressure. It was my first time swimming in open water, and I was a bit nervous, but handled that part with no problem whatsoever. In fact, I was 5th in my age group coming out of the water. That made me really happy. On the bike I was just cruising, didn’t really have it in me to go fast. I got passed by a lot of people, but at this point, I didn’t really care. And of course I walked the 5k at the end. I had some issues on that (chafing) and finished about 10 min. slower than I had planned and knew that I could have done. With all of that I finished close to the bottom of my age group. Not that I cared. I still got a sweet finishers medal!
• Travel: I took 3 trips this month, 2 for work, 1 for play. 2 were to Columbus, Ohio and one was to Boise, Idaho. All were great trips and of course wreaked havoc on my workout schedules. Boise came the week after the triathlon, so while I had planned some workouts, like walking around the fun city, I didn’t do any of it. In face on 2 out of 3 of those trips I drank a bit too much But I had so much fun!
• Bought a new car! One that can carry all my stuff, including my bike. No more stuffing it into my little sedan. I got an SUV, something I’ve always wanted and was finally able to afford!
• Signed up for Masters Swimming and my first meet! I’m stoked. Ever since starting to swim again back in the spring to train for the triathlon, I have loved it. I would much rather swim than bike or walk. I didn’t sign up with a team, but am doing workouts on my own posted on the USMS website. I’m pretty self-motivated, and have found some high intensity workouts that have been great. My first meet is next weekend, my first one in 18 years! I’m pretty excited, and can’t wait to see how I do. I know I’ll be way slower than ever, but it will give me something to shoot for in my 2nd meet in November!

Swimming

• Workouts: 8 (includes triathlon)
• Total Minutes: 373 (doesn’t include tri time)
• Total Miles: 8.83 (13,250 meters)

Cycling

• Workouts: 3 (includes triathlon)
• Total Minutes: 44 (doesn’t include tri time)
• Total Miles: 18.5

Walking

• Workouts: 4 (includes tri)
• Total Minutes: 241 (includes overall time for tri)
• Total Miles: 8.9

Fitness Classes

• CXWorx: 1 (Core work class)
• Total Minutes: 30 min.

Overall

• Total Workouts: 16
• Total Minutes: 688
• Total Miles: 27.8

Wow, so much less than last month. Time to pick it up in October! I’ve got a 50 miler bike ride coming up in November that I have to get ready for. I don’t want to do it, but I must finish what I started!

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Well, Hello Again & August Stats

I’m not really sure where August went, but I obviously wasn’t blogging! Not really sure why, I wasn’t all that busy, but I just didn’t feel like sitting at my computer and writing another mundane post. I was in the heart of training for my upcoming triathlon and just stuck with my routine. I had no work or personal travel so I could focus on taking care of myself. I put in a lot of miles and workouts and hours in to my training. And I think it’s going to pay off this weekend, although my diet these last few days might put a wrench in all of it. I set out to train for this triathlon with a goal of refining my diet and eating like an athlete. I didn’t do that. It’s something that I am going to have to work on as I move past training for a triathlon.

Without further ado, here’s my August Workout Stats:

Swimming

• Workouts: 13
• Total Minutes: 838 (13 hours, 58 min.)
• Total Miles: 19.93 (29,900 meters)

Cycling

• Workouts: 10
• Total Minutes: 681 (11 hrs., 21 min.)
• Total Miles: 138.35

Walking

• Workouts: 6
• Total Minutes: 264 (4 hrs. 24 min.)
• Total Miles: 14.60

Fitness Classes

• RPM: 4
• Total Minutes: 203 (3 hrs., 23 min.)
• CXWorx: 2 (Core work class)
• Total Minutes: 60 (1 hr.)

Overall

• Total Workouts: 35
• Total Minutes: 2046 (34 hrs., 6 min.)
• Total Miles: 155.90

Wow, I’m tired just writing that out! Last month I did half the mileage and only 20 hours of time spent working out.

September has started a bit slow with the training, I’m “tapering” for Sunday’s TriRock San Diego sprint. I’m kind of not looking forward to this. I just don’t feel prepared, although I did all those miles last month. Mentally, I don’t feel prepared. Throughout my training I grew to kind of hate cycling. I was doing a lot of miles because I have a 50 miler coming up in Nov. Ok, maybe hate is a bit strong, but I just really dislike it now. I didn’t train for the run/walk so who knows how I”ll feel about that. I’ve done a couple of bricks and I do feel strong with my walking after I get off the bike. So we’ll see. They did recently change the bike route and shortened it to only 8.5 miles. I kind of feel a bit gyped, since this race was pretty expensive (>$100). I’d rather they shorten the run than the bike .

We’ll see if this is my once a month post or not. I do want to share my experiences with my 2nd triathlon, just don’t expect it to come quickly after it! Although maybe it will since I’m on the road traveling again. Just stay tuned for more!!!

{Training} :: July by the Numbers

I can’t believe it’s already August 5th. I have no idea how it got to be August, it’s like June/July just flew by. I guess that’s what happens when you travel about 7 out of 8 weeks of that time. It has been so great to be home for 2 weeks straight, that I really don’t want to travel anymore. It is so hard for me to get back into the workout groove when I have been traveling, even if it’s just for an overnight trip. I know with work that I will be on the road again sooner than later. It’s a challenge, and I’ll just have to deal with it when it comes.

Looking back at July, I really just stuck with swimming and biking. I hardly did any walking, nor did I do any yoga or strength training like I had thought I would. The positive is that I did get out and get moving, even though it wasn’t always what I had in my plans. Here’s my workouts by the numbers:

Swimming

• Workouts: 11
• Total Minutes: 502 (8 hours 22 min.)
• Total Miles: 11.50 (17,250 meters)

Biking

• Workouts: 6
• Total Minutes: 272 (4 hours) 33 min.
• Total Miles: 55

Walking

• Workouts: 5
• Total Minutes: 232 (3 hours 52 min.)
• Total Miles: 12.20

RPM (Spinning)

• Workouts: 4
• Total Minutes: 199 (3 hours 19 min.)

Overall

• Workouts: 26
• Total Time: 20 hours 5 min.
• Total Miles: 78.7

{Training} :: The Week Ahead

Just another week to get better, faster, stronger.

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Monday, July 30th :: AM.Swim

Tuesday, July 31st :: AM. RP, PM.Yoga (I will go! My Groupon expires on this day!)

Wednesday, Aug. 1st :: AM.Swim, PM.Bike 15 miles

Thursday, Aug. 2nd :: PM.Bike 5 miles, PM.Yoga

Friday, Aug. 3rd :: AM.Swim

Saturday, Aug. 4th :: AM.Bike 20 miles

Sunday, Aug. 5th :: AM.Bike 5 easy miles

Oops, I didn’t schedule a rest day! I might take Friday off, and move the swim to Sat. or Sun. Although that 20 mile bike ride is going to be killer!

Only 6 weeks to go until TriRock San Diego!

{Training} Weekly Plan :: Back At It

Well another week come and gone and there are 6 weeks to go until TriRock San Diego. Am I ready?

I was in a bit of a funk earlier this week, just feeling all around sluggish and tired. I really had no energy, and while I hate to admit it, I didn’t get much work done either. I decided to take 2 days off  in a row, and then had an awesome swim workout on Saturday. I feel like I’m on the right track now, like something clicked, and I’m ready to kick my training up a notch.

Here’s what I did…

Monday, July 23rd :: AM. Swim, PM. Walk

• Swim – 1600m / 52 min. – This was supposed to be 200m, but I just wasn’t feeling it and on the main set I only did 8×50 instead of the 16×50 the original workout had called for. 1600m is still a good workout.
• 200 choice warm up
  12×25 kick w/board with :20 to :30 rest
  12×50 drill
  main set:
  8×50 on 1:30, descend 1-4 swim, descend 5-8 pull (extra :30 rest after each 4 to add/subtract pulling equipment)
  100 cool down
  *1600 Total*

Tuesday, July 24th :: AM. RPM, PM.Yoga

• This was one of those days I just couldn’t get it going. I slept longer, and I almost just skipped out on working out altogether. But after dinner I just felt like an easy bike ride, so off I went to the Coastal Rail Trail in Carlsbad and did some sprinting. I felt great afterwards. So glad I decided to do that!
• PM.Bike – 5.1 mi./26 min.

Wednesday, July 25th :: AM.Swim/Bike Brick

• I can’t really remember why I didn’t do this brick. I know I did a workout, but I don’t know if I walked in the morning or at night. Short term memory problems, oh boy!
• Walk – 2.0 mi. / 36 min.
• Swim – 50 min. / 1900m -
• 300 warm up as 200 swim, 50 kick, 50 drill
  4×50 swim @ 1:30
  2×200 swim w/ :60 rest
  4×50 pull @ 1:30
  1×200 pull w/ 2:00 rest
  4×50 w/fins @ 1:30
  1×300 w/fins w/ 2:00 rest
  100 cool down
  *1900 Total*

Thursday, July 26th :: AM.RPM, PM. Yoga

• I felt wiped out on this day, so I took it off, and planned to do RPM on Friday instead. Guess what? That didn’t happen either…
• But I did do something good for my soul, spent the evening with some of my besties!

Friday, July 27th :: Rest

• Finally, a day when I did just what I said I’d do .
• And by rest, I mean happy hour with some co-workers, fun times!

Saturday, July 28th :: AM.Yoga & Swim

• I had a fantastic swim workout. I really felt comfortable in the water, and was on cruise control during the main set. Workouts like these make me want to keep on, keepin’ on!
• Swim – 58 min / 2200m
• 7 minutes- choice warm up
  5 minutes- kick with board (:60 easy, :30 hard, repeat)
  100 easy swim
  main set:
  3x (4×50 @ 1:20
  100 easy swim)
  3×100 pull w/ :45 rest
  3×100 w/fins w/:30 rest
  100 cool down
  *2200 Total*

Sunday, July 29th :: AM.Bike & Walk

• Woke up, made my smoothie, and headed out on my bike…after waking up my neighbors while I was putting air in my bike tires! Ooops, in my defense, it was after 8am. Aren’t most people up by then on Sunday?!
• Bike – 71 min. / 15.1 mi. – This ride felt great. I did my standard route along Hwy. 101 through Carlsbad to La Costa Ave. and back. Weather was great this morning, cloudy and cool. Like my swim on Saturday, I felt like I was on cruise control. I was just riding for myself, not trying to outdo anyone, or waste much energy. The small hills weren’t quite as tough as they had been in the past. I’m definitely getting stronger, and I think taking 2 days off this week helped. My avg. miles per hour was a bit higher than it past 10 mi.+ bike rides, so I was glad to see that. Small improvements this week!

Other than working out this week, I’ve been immersed in the Olympics. I can’t wait until primetime, so I’ve been watching the swim finals on my laptop. So exciting! I also watch in primetime so I can see all the human interest pieces on my favorite athletes. Yup, I’m being a couch potato for the next 14 days!

{Super} Saturday :: The Olympics

I don’t know if anything is more motivating or inspiring than the Olympics. Here’s what I’m looking forward to in the next 2 weeks.

1. Phelps v. Lochte: How can you not be excited about this. I am Team Lochte all the way!

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2. Opening Ceremony: Parade of Nations is my favorite part.

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3. USA Swimming: This is one of the strongest teams ever! I can’t wait to see what teenager Missy Franklin can do! Other faves include: Brenden Hansen, Ryan Lochte, Cullen Jones, Rebecca Soni, Jessica Hardy, Dana Vollmer, and Elizabeth Beisel.

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4. Women’s Gymnastics: Always love watching these girls fly through the air!

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5. Medal Ceremonies, especially when the US wins. I love hearing the “Star Spangled Banner.” It never gets old and I get the chills every time!

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While I plan to be camped out in front of my TV for much of the next 15 days, I will try to channel my inner Olympian and get some workouts in. I have just over a month until my 2nd triathlon, yikes!

What sport are you most looking forward to?

{Training} Weekly Plan :: Back At It

It’s already Tuesday and I just realized I didn’t do a post sharing my workout plans for the week. I know you all were waiting for this post right?! How did you even get started this week without knowing what I was doing? Ok, I know, not many readers on this little blog and I post my workout plans more for myself than anyone. As you may know, I’ve been struggling getting back into having some good training workouts. I’ve pretty much just been going through the motions, swim, bike, walk, relaxing on the couch, and hanging with the dog. Yeah, nothing very exciting, but I think I really need to pick up my training. Ok, I know I need to pick it up. I’ve got less than 7 weeks before TriRock San Diego.

One of the things that is complicating my training is that I didn’t start this training with a plan like I did for my first one. My first one I followed one from beginnertriathlete.com. That was nice because it gave the amount of time I should spend on each workout. I didn’t go back to using the site for my 2nd tri because I wanted to try something different. I wanted to create my own plan. Well, I think that was a mistake. I should have just followed another one of the programs from the site. Lesson learned!

On to my workout plans…

Monday, July 23rd :: AM. Swim, PM. Walk

Tuesday, July 24th :: AM. RPM, PM.Yoga

Wednesday, July 25th :: AM.Swim/Bike Brick

Thursday, July 26th :: AM.RPM, PM. Yoga

Friday, July 27th :: Rest

Saturday, July 28th :: AM.Yoga & Swim

Sunday, July 29th :: AM.Bike & Walk

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