FYI

So - apparently, my husband starting blogging again under a different title.  2 MONTHS AGO!  If you are interested - here's the link http://chasing-mailboxes.blogspot.com/  I thought he might have mentioned it to me, but I guess not.  He's out of town for a couple of days, so my workouts will all be on the bike until the weekend.  Probably a good thing. My foot is killing me.  I also almost burned the kitchen down, so probably also good he's gone.  Hopefully it doesn't smell like burnt grilled cheese on Friday night yet!

Ironman - Week 1 Wrap-up

So-training has begun.  It seems so hard to be motivated to train for something that seems so far away.  I felt a lot of pressure already this week.  It made me pretty negative.  I had thoughts about what I really signed up for.  I questioned whether I really am willing to sacrifice missing time with the kids.  Trying to balance household duties.  Not to mention that my first "run" was a 2 mile walk.  And that hurt.  I can't imagine that I am to start slowly running in a week.  I'm queen of "over-doing it", and I have tried really hard to not over-do it yet.  I questioned the pain in my ankle before signing up, but figured I needed rest.  I didn't realize that it was going to hurt my off-season maintenance.  I haven't gone this long without running since I was pregnant with Melanie.  I developed plantar fasciitis, coincidentally, right when I got pregnant with her.  When I re-started running, I had a hematoma in my uterus that had me unable to run through pregnancy.  Actually, besides that, this is the longest I've gone without running since 1996.  I ran through 6 months of my prenancy with Patrick.  I realized just how far my fitness has fallen since then. 

I still have 1 workout left to do, but after my weekend - I'm not sure I will get on the bike tonight.  I did ride outside yesterday.  That was rough.  My legs are pretty out of shape.  I did the Lake Kegonsa loop in about 67 minutes.  That is actually not bad.  Average speed about 15.5 mph.  The hills were tough though.  I have to say - even though it was cold outside, I felt good.  Only my feet were a little cold.  I was able to go aero for about 30% of the ride.  I don't know why I can't seem to ride aero on the trainer.  I did feel a little soreness in my lower back, but I think my overall fitness is really down compared to when I am in running shape.  Biking is the only thing that doesn't hurt my ankle, so it should be the thing I look forward to.  I guess I really have to decide to become friends with that thing.  Maybe I should name it?  Maybe that would help.  "I'm going to visit with _________________ tonight."  Seems better than - "going to ride in the hell-cave on the trainer".  Pretty soon I will be done with "Friends" too. Then I have to switch to Coach Troy and spinervals.  Evil man that he is.  Hopefully this week will be a little better.  29 weeks to go................

Where Have I Been??

I'll tell ya.... Laid UP!  So, my plan for a spectacular pre-season really failed.  Mostly my fault. Well, all my fault since I planned on getting good on the bike.  But, I love to run.  And - I could NOT run. I still swam.  Love to swim too.  I have not lifted weights.  Have not done yoga.  I finally had an MRI in December when I couldn't even run a 1/4 mile.  I had a little cyst dude in my ankle.  Decided to do surgery.  I am still recovering.  Surgery was 1-19.  I am in a walking cast.  I get that off next week.  We'll see what happens then.  I am swimming right now.  I use a pull buoy so I don't kick.  It hurts to kick.  My training plan officially starts on Feb. 14th.  I don't think I will be running, but I hope to be doing everything else.  I thought about looking into joining a gym for 1 month to use an elliptical in place of running, but I don't know if that will be an approved exercise.  I will have to wait until I see Lynn next week.  I can't wait to run though.  Remind me of this in July when I am trying to log 20-25 mile weeks! 

Back at It!

The 1st week of "preseason" has closed.  I managed 2 swims, 1 bike, and 2 runs.  Boy, I love to run.  I actually went 6 miles today!  That would be my 5th run since July, I think?  And I did 6 miles.  I am trying to watch my heartrate.  At least just to see what kind of numbers I have so that when I start to train seriously, I can follow the zone guidelines.  It seems that most of what I read says zone 2 or 3.  Well, my run today was just into zone 4.  I did not feel as though I was zone 4.  Perhaps I am younger than I think?  It felt good and I never looked at my watch until we got done.  I think the dog was happy to get some exercise and I enjoyed my time chatting with friends. 

My bike was really kinda hard.  I did a 35 minute spinerval workout on the trainer.  I went into zone 5 as a max.  That was the intent of the workout.  They were 7 intervals of hard gears for 90 seconds.  My average was solid in zone 3.  My cadence was about 85 rpm's.  Rob put aerobars on my bike.  A few weeks ago I did a 40 mile ride outdoors.  Felt good.  The trainer - not so good.  I had really bad pain in my left shoulder and neck for a few days.  I think it was from the trainer.  I'll have to have my mechanic/coach fiddle with my fit a bit. 

My swims - good as usual.  I just love to swim.  If you don't know that about me already - you'll learn.  My husband doesn't see the need for me to swim much - I need to swim.  It is just relaxing for me.  Working on speed work a little to hopefully bring my time/hundred down a little.  I want to feel like it is easy, but I don't want to get stuck in the chaos of the post 1 hour swim finish.  I think I could do a 65 minute swim - might be nice to be a little faster.  I really don't want the contact of the masses!

I didn't do any weights or yoga this week.  I hope to change that this week.  I also had a bad food week too.  I cheated on my "1 latte a week" - 4 times over!  I also had 2 scones, a culver's concrete mixer, puppy chow, and a piece of cake.  So much for cutting the crap out.  Hopefully I will do better this week.  Maybe I will reward myself on the weekend if I hit my workouts this week.  Busy week though.  I will try to at least check in weekly.  Rob says I babble too much.  Perhaps a weekly post will help.

Have a delightful week everyone!

It's Over. And a New Beginning.

I'm sorry about this.  It's been a long relationship.  BUT - the last 7 years have been rough.  I'm always looking, but faithfully return to you.  You let me down every year.  I still go back.  Today - I'm ending it.  I am reserving the right to change my mind.  After all, we have had some good times.  Literally!  You won't be completely thrown to the curb; I always need a back-up.  It's just that I am replacing you with not 1 but 2 new options.  Well actually, 1 new option.  The other is the one I dream about.  I have always wanted it back.  I think it's going to work this time.  Don't worry - there are plenty of fish in the sea - or......feet on the pavement.  Someone new will love you like I tried to.

Yes, I bought new running shoes today.  I even tried them out!  I bought Asics Gel-Kayano's.  I also ordered a pair of Brooks Dyads.  I am running some runs in orthotics with cushioned shoes, and other runs in stabile, motion control shoes.  I am a SEVERE over-pronator.  I get injured every year.  I can run fast - just not for long.  I even ran under 7 minute miles at times for a pace.  My 5 mile time this July was sub-40.  That was at the Freedom Run in Sheboygan.  That is quite fast for me.   Last year I did the 2 mile in 14:20 or so.  I remember my 1st race when I had just started running.  The Brat Trot in Sheboygan - when it was from the YMCA - same start/finish as my July Freedom Run race.   I think my time was 15:14, and it hurt.  I was probably 22 or so.  I ran in asics back then.  My feet felt like they were in heaven.  A few years later, my foot issues began.  I went to get new shoes and they changed my size - which did help some.   In 2002, I found Movin' Shoes. I love that place.  They fit me with running shoes appropriate for my stride/gait/foot, etc.  So began my relationship with New Balance.  I have been to Fleet Feet and Endurance House.  I have learned things from them, certainly.  I just love the service and their policies, and their discounts at Movin' Shoes.  I was there for well over 90 minutes today trying shoes.  They always bring out Nike - I just don't like those shoes.  Surprisingly, they did not bring out Saucony.  Just 4 brands.  I really liked the Brooks Dyad's - they were so comfortable.  Better than my current New Balance model that is supposed to be equal on the cushion scale.  They just didn't have the wide width that I needed.  They were close, but a bit too pinchy in the toe box - so we had to order them.  Then came the stable shoe.  I was torn.  The New Balance model was the one I wore a year ago for my marathon.  I got injured in those shoes, but I wore my orthotics in them.  I think I was over-corrected.  They were comfortable, but when he asked me which shoe felt best in the arch - it was the Asics.  The toe box isn't quite as deep so he grabbed a 9.  It felt better.  It felt ... the best.  I am getting back together with the shoe it all began with.  Hopefully we have a lasting relationship.  One that is problem free.  I also decided to buy some compression socks.  They are CEP size III.  They weren't as tight as I thought they would be, but felt good.  Rob thinks they are dorky.  I don't care.  He doesn't have foot/leg issues.  I do.  I did run 2 miles tonight.  Felt good.  Besides the few times my ankle was tweaking.  I blame that on P90x.  Hopefully that will get better the more I run. 

Speaking of P90x, I'm officially done.  The last 2 weeks were spotty.  I have to weigh myself and do the final measurements yet.  I won't tell you what it says except whether I improved or not.  I can tell you that I feel stronger in the upper body.  I didn't think the legs workout was that bad.  I plan on starting my pre-season this week.  I will continue lifting with the P90x workouts - just not doing the cardio workouts.  I am going to bust out the trainer this week and start doing my spinnervals workouts.  I also am going to try to run a couple of times a week.  I will probably start swimming 3 times/week now too as the girls swim team is done practicing in the mornings.  The boys team has less kids, so we can go back to our M, W, F schedule.  Except I will probably skip W and swim either T or Th. 

The handy shoe dude is a 5 time Ironman, so he was giving me some pointers.  I had a plan developed based on Rob's advice and my own thoughts.  Rob followed "be Ironfit".  I think I may put a run back into the mix after talking to the shoe dude.  (I wish I would have gotten his name - just because he was helpful).  I had taken a run and made it a brick, but I think I better run a little longer than what I had written.  My thoughts were to do 3 swims, 2 bikes, 2 runs, and 2 bricks per week.  Plus lifting 2 times and doing a yoga workout.  And a day off.  Seems insane.  I would probably drop the lifting and yoga later in the season, but I think it will help me in the beginning.  I don't know where to put another run.  Anyone else follow a dedicated plan? My actual training starts on Feb. 14th.  I am just going to build a slow base to February.  I really want to work on my bike fitness and dropping some time in swimming.  There isn't a whole lot I can drop there.  I think I am strong time-wise already.  I will concentrate on going long later.   I could do the swim tomorrow - I just don't want to get burned out on continuous long swimming yet.  I like intervals.  Some fast and short - some long -- and fast.  I also love doing different strokes.  I may swim some master's meets.  A nice change from the triathlon season.  I may give the garmin a break.  I am pretty competitive.  OKAAAAY - REALLY competitive.  I think I need to go with heartrate training and lose the pace on the garmin.  Maybe Rob can loan me his watch and heartrate strap.  Perhaps I will even wear it to the pool for a test!  Now I am treading the high end of the dork scale if I show up at the pool with that! 

Oh - and after a great 3 week hiatus from sugar, caffeine, and alcohol - the last 2 weeks have been a bloodbath in those 3 areas.  SOOOOO - tomorrow begins another strict plan. The other night - I evened out the pan of brownies - because I didn't like that it was uneven.  AND = I was simply going to be putting them from the pan into a tupperware container.  That was sad.  I indulged in a Large Latte and a Large bowl of ice cream tonight.  Tomorrow - it's back to caffeine-free tea in the mornings, and carrots for a nighttime snack.  Hopefully I can stick with it.  I will allow for 1 decaf latte a week.  No sweets except special occasions.  I have to remind myself what really tastes good and whether it is worth it.  Hopefully these last 2 weeks will not show unkindly on the scale tomorrow....

A Plan - sorta..

So, I am still obsessing about this race and what I need to do to get ready for training.  I've been laying off of the biking and running since the Door County Half Ironman in July. I got the part for my trainer, just need to change it..  I would like to do a lot of spinervals workouts to increase my bike fitness.  I also will just do long spins with high rpm's.  I am going to start training with a heart rate monitor.  I think that should help my running as I am always focused on how fast my pace is.  I have to get used to looking at a different number.  Swimming - my half swim time was 32 minutes and change.  That puts me just in the chaotic 1:05 to 1:10 range for the ironman swim.  From all accounts that I have read - this is the brutal area.  I think if I drop a few pounds, it might just be enough to get me just ahead of this group.  My plan now is to start in the front, wide right.  I REALLY worry about the contact and I have learned that seeding myself too far back is usually my downfall.  I think I may sign up for the elite swim wave at the Door county Half this next summer to help me in a crowd.  I'm usually one of the fastest in my wave and often catch waves in front of me.  I realize that Ironman is a whole different animal.  2500 participants this year!  UGH!  I realize several of you are wondering if I need to lose weight - trust me -- there are 5 or 10 pounds that I won't miss.  I know this can impact my swim fitness - it's happened before.  A significant difference.  Like 1 minute per 500.  SO - I am going to start my self-imposed detox next week.  Why not now??  My dad is getting married this weekend, so I will reserve the right to have the cake.  And a drink (maybe 2 or 3).  Maybe even a latte.  But the plan is to avoid sugar, alcohol, and caffeine.  I don't know if I will do the whole no gluten no animal products also.  Rob does a fair share of the cooking and I hate to restrict him.  Actually, he refused to cook the last time I did the extreme diet.  I won't likely stay off of gluten and meat, so why give them up completely.  I hope to avoid sweets and caffeine for the long-term.  I'm going to make my sister do it too.  Then I know that if I pick it up, I will remember that she is sacrificing too.  I hope to start running before the snow flies, so I am having my orthotics adjusted next week and finally getting new shoes.  I miss running.  I think the dog does too.  He hasn't said as much, but the crazy laps in the living room where he vaults over the couch might be a sign. I actually did run this morning as we are at my mother-in-law's house and Ozzie needed to get some energy out.  I don't think their 8 year old black lab especially cares for not quite 2 yr old Ozzie.  I don't care for him either today!  He is a big pain in the butt sometimes.  Feet and knee are sore.  Could be the heels I've been wearing.  Anyways, thought I would finish the post I started on Thursday.  Trying to get all of the obsessive thoughts all out so I don't completely freak out!  Happy Weekend!

Trying to achieve Calmness

So - how are things 1 week later?  I'm still obsessive.  I'm not freaking out as much.  I had several occurences last week of an extreme desire to drop out when I admitted to someone that I did indeed sign up for the great race.  Monday, I received my email from Ironman to complete the registration process.  I'm done.  I couldn't back out anyway but now I am officially signed up.  I have 6 weeks left to go on my P90x.  I've been swimming twice a week.  No running and no biking.  Life gets in the way, and frankly, my feet hurt.  I am thinking I may give them a rest for a couple of months as I know that training will bring back my issues.  Oh - and Rob put aerobars on my bike.  Perhaps I should try them out so that if I dump it and break something, I can heal up in plenty of time!

I'm not really doing very good on the cutting out the crap part of my plan.  I have reduced my latte consumption to a couple a week instead of daily.  I do often give in when there is a dessert nearby.  I DID grab 3 hershey kisses last night and after eating one - put the other 2 back.  It's progress.  I did do a cleanse last winter, and felt GREAT afterwards.  I kept up the no sugar part of it for a long time.  Perhaps I need to revisit this strategy.

I think I have a 2010 race plan also.  I think I will do the aquathon series in Madison again, although it will likely mean I miss some of Patrick's baseball games (sad to think about summer schedules already).  I will likely register for the Horrible Hilly Hundred bike race in Blue Mounds.  A bunch of us are planning on going up to Door County for the 1/2 Ironman in July already.  I will do the Madison Open Water Swim - it usually is the same weekend as the training plan's peak mileage, so I will do it with the intent of doing the IM bike afterwards.  I will probably do the J-Hawk Earlybird sprint in Whitewater in April.  Perhaps the Capitol View Olympic in June.  I debate whether to do Syttende Mai, but I am not sure doing something so long so early in the season makes sense.  (I just have a new goal to beat as Rob beat my time in May.)  I think I need to practice doing some shorter runs with a heartrate monitor so I can learn how to dial it back a bit.  I tend to go balls to the wall when I run and have not learned a thing about pacing.  Maybe this strategy isn't too bad for Ironman though either. After all, I will eventually hit a wall, might as well have as much under my belt as possible.  Or do I hit the wall quicker?  Things to ponder...