Week #14 in Review

I have mixed feelings about this past week's training. I started off the week completely burnt out. I decided to take Monday off to recoop. I hate taking time off, but I knew that if I didn't I would either have a mental breakdown or some important things in life were going to completely drop off. It was a rough day.

After I wasted Monday away, I got back into the game on Tuesday and the week then started to progress. By the end, I completed my last long run before the first race of the season...and I did it with much success. Perfect way to end the first round of training. [Plus, we took our run out to Daybreak, which was a nice change of scenery.]

During that run, I smashed my 10k recorded time:

Previous Records

New Records

I've been trying to break that record for some time now. Quite frustrating I hadn't until now.

Okay, here's the rundown:

Tuesday
1 hour cycling class

Wednesday
8 mile run
(Schedule 5 miler + makeup for Monday break)
Weight training: Arms

Thursday
1 hour Master's Swim Class

Saturday
12 mile run

Sunday
3 mile hill run @ 4.5% grade
Weight training: Arms

SLC Half-Marathon in 13 days and counting...

Week #12 in Review

This last week was pretty sweet. 

I fit in 7 workouts, which is 1 workout more than I typically do in a week. I was able to do a X-stretch session on Monday, which is what I believe to be one of the factors that has prevented injury in the past. It felt great to give some time to this.

During my swim class, we had a sub (Coach A's lil' bro) who gave me a sweet tip about how to improve my kick "in stretch" (on the back). Previously, I was tucking my chin, creating drag. As soon as I lengthened my neck I found myself CRUISING along the pool. It was awesome. [I'm almost ready to learn the backstroke...gulp!]

Also, did you know that washing your goggles in baby shampoo prevents fogging? I didn't. But I do now. Master's Swim = the best thing! Learned that from a fellow Master swimmer after complaining about my goggles being fogged up. She loaned me some baby shampoo and my goggles were crystal clear for the remainder of the swim.

Plus, I logged 1600m, surpassing my race distance. Now I just need to reduce my breaks to zero.

I had a really difficult cycling class. At one point, I totally had to give myself a cheesy self pep-talk in my head. But I got through that final push and felt awesome for giving it my all and completing the interval. It's times like that which help you get stronger and help you remember you can do more than you think you can.

On Saturday, we put in our 10 mile run [for which I paused my watch at a street light and forgot to restart for 3/4 of a mile...bummer]. But the run was great and I tried out some new fuel. I am so sick of GU blocks and sports beans. So I tried a Stinger Bee Waffle. Kind of nuts to be eating a waffle during a run, but it was such a nice change and actually yummy.

Then post long-run, Krick and I attended a Triathlon fair at the local Rec Center. The main purpose of attending was to join the triathlon training club, Triology.

 

We got tons of swag and some awesome suggestions. It was so worth it. Plus, I am excited to have a group of people to train with [and learn from].

Then when I was logging my runs for the week, I saw that I surprisingly beat my 10k Nike+ time by a whole minute! 

Previous records

New records

So here it is, the weekly log:

Monday
3 m run with hill intervals
Weight training: Tri Circuit
1 hour P90X X-Stretch Session

Tuesday
1 Hour Cycling Class

Wednesday
5.5 mile pace run outside

Thursday
1 Hour Master Swim Class

Saturday
10 mile run outside

Sunday
3 mile recovery run
Weight training: Arms

And a million words later....

This is what happens when I don't post for a week.

So my question for today: What is your favorite endurance fuel?

Week #11 in Review

I felt like I made some good improvements this week. The first of which was decreasing my 1 mile recorded run time on nike+:

Previous records

New records

Giving time to intense and dedicated cross training has really improved my running and this is proof. I feel so much stronger and can push myself harder now that I am working my body in multiple ways. I am loving it. 

The second stride was during my Master swim class on Thursday. I was able to push to 1350 meters during the hour class. My breaks between each length of the pool are getting much shorter and it's allowing me to swim further. I felt really good during this class.

The only downfall to this week, was the lack of my iPad which contains my food journal. I definitely didn't eat as nutritionally as I should have this week, but I also didn't completely fall back into a completely junky diet, so it wasn't a complete loss. But I look forward to having that journal and reporting back for this coming week, which is going to be a tough one.

Monday
5 mile pace run
Weight training: Legs

Tuesday
1 Hour Cycling Class

Wednesday
3 miles with speed drills
Weight training: Full Body Tri Circuit

Thursday
1 Hour Master's Swim Class
1350m

Saturday
Recovery week - 3 mile run
Weight training: Full Body Tri Circuit 

Sunday
20 minutes on the Elliptical Trainer
1mile run

What cross training activities do you do? Do you find they strengthen your main activity?

Along Comes Mr. Alligator

My smile got quickly wiped off my face Monday night when my dad, step-mom, KC and I decided during dinner to calculate how many laps of a pool are in a mile swim (the distance I'll need to swim if I get into the Spudman Triathlon). I don't think I realized what I entered into. Did you know that is 120 laps in a 25m pool? 120!!!???

This seems like a harder feat than when I set out for running a marathon.

The biking. I can do that.

Running. Cinch.

Swimming...entails using my arms. My arm strength...is pretty much...ya, it is...exactly...zero.

To give you some perspective, during junior high gym we had to hold ourselves on a chin up bar for 30 seconds. We would stand on a chair and the teacher would take it away, then we'd have to hold. Without fail, every time the teacher took away the chair, my arms would become silly putty and I'd slowly lower to the floor. Luckily, what I lacked in the arm strength test, I made up for in the flexibility and situp tests; so I passed.

I only recall ever being able to flex a bicep once in my life and it was when I was on a rigorous nutrition plan through Total Health and Body.

Swimming doesn't really rely on bicep strength, but I imagine you have to have something in your lats and shoulders at least, which I have none of. Am I wrong?

When I started out my year, I bumped up my weight lifting. Which I hate doing. But, I felt it necessary in order to prevent further injury.

It changes today, I've decided I really need to put more into my weight lifting sessions if I am going to do this triathlon.

So, no more being a sissy in the weight room. Not to beef up, just get some strength...so I don't...ya know...drown during the competition.

Secondly, I need to start swimming. Duh. Yep, I haven't swam for exercise in probably 4 years. I've got some catch up to do.

Third, I need to be better at what I fuel myself with. Otherwise, the weight lifting will all be for not.

I am going to get educated and really take this seriously.

Luckily, I thrive in pushing myself...

So, um, anyone want to help me out with some tips?