9 weeks to go!

Okay so here we go.  This will be the meat and potatoes of my training.   Most of the workouts to date are considered base training.   12 hour per week is a pretty standard base.   Now my workouts will progressively get longer for the next 6 weeks.  Almost every week will be a long ride of 5-6 hours.  Almost all long runs will be over 12 miles. 

Yesterday I rode the hilly portion of the IM course twice.  Very cold 30 degrees at the start.   Not sure what the windchill was at 19mph....burrrr.    The persistent wind was annoying.  Was able to do 80 miles, then fatigue, lack of calories and fluids set in.  I will have to do a better job on my nutrition and hydration on my 100 mile rides.   I have done four days in a row of workouts, so I will take today off and watch my kids run track.   Wednesday is my day to swim and the only time to squeeze it in is at 0500...

Starting on Friday I will start my open water swims.   Locally first and then start incorporating swims on lake coeur d alene.

Saturday I will be mixing things up.   I am on a triathlon team for a ski, ride and run mountain race.  I will be riding the bike down a muddy course.

Have a great weekend.

10 weeks left

Finally.  Our weather improved enough for me to get a long ride in.  I know 10 weeks sounds like a long way away, but it takes many 100 mile rides for a triathlete to feel comfortable at that distance.  It has been 2 years since I road my bike this many miles.  While it was sunny, the temperature was 32 degree.   The asphalt was dry.  The course was flat but on my way back I had to fight a 18mph head wind for 2 1/2 hours straight.  Nice to get the first long ride under my belt.   I would like to get at least 5 more 100mile rides in before race day.   The last few I will need to run a few miles afterwards to get my muscle memory going on running after a long ride.   I am ranging from 9-14 hours per week of exercise.  In May I should be 13-19 hours.  I have not lost any weight.   I have actually gained 5 lbs.  Must be all of the cookies

Ciao!

11 weeks left

This week I hope to get about 14 hours of training in.   Unfortunately rain, wind, and snow move back into the forecast.   Getting really hard to get any outdoor rides in.  Running in the rain and snow does not bother me.  Of course swimming is still indoors.   Rose lake is 45 degreess, and I wont venture out in it until the water temp is above 50.  I ran in some new shoes for an 11 mile run yeasterday, and my body is sore in different areas.   Like other triathletes, now that my training is 50% over I hope my body does not have any new problems.  There are horror stories of athletes breaking bones or having stress fractures that take them out of the race, which would be heart breaking.  

This week the kids are active with Track.  Sarahs 16th birthday is next week and I guess we will be having 16 girls overnight for a preparty.   Carolyn and I will be volunteering at the Highschool track meet.   We will be buying and picking up the kids Pig for 4H.    Will need to get medicated piglet food and heat lamps.  Our new puppies are fun, and a little high maintainence at times.  

Until next week

Cheers

Week 12

OMG.   If you subtract the last two weeks, which are taper weeks, I only have 10 weeks of training left.  Yikes.  This week is a recover week.   Only 8 hour planned.   I had a great work out Tuesday.  I did 6 hill repeats on my bike, each hill was 2 miles long and I went as fast as I could up the hills.  Then I ran 6 miles with 2, two mile hill repeats in the middle.  Recovered well.  

Today we are in Cannon Beach Oregon.  I ran 6.5 miles on the beach at low tide. Was fun.  We have been visiting Tide pools all day.  Lots of star fish and tide life.   Storms roll in soon so not sure what we will do for the rest of the week.   Hanging out is always good.  

I look forward to the next 10 weeks of brutal workouts, as I hope they will build my confidence that I can do this adventure one more time. 

Cheers

Week 13

This week went by like a blurr.......  I had one 4 1/2 hour ride and it really took me down.   I cant remember being so tired after long work outs two year ago.   My long run went well.   Swims going well.
Next week is a recovery week, and spring break.  Then the real work begins.