All in all, I was very impressed with the race. This was my first with TriColumbia, and they put on a great event. The race director was fantastic when I emailed her back in April about being unsure if I'd be cleared to run in time to train for this, and was willing to let me choose to either Aquabike or do a tri distance the week of the event (which I finally decided on for sure, oh, last Tuesday.... ) Everything was very well organized, the volunteers were outstanding, the expo was easy, the on course support was great, wonderful post race food... and they even had showers at the finish! Score -- got to go home clean!
The ONLY complaint I have was that the course was long. It was advertised as a 64 mile bike, and at the pre-race meeting some guy pipes up and says "Is the bike course the same as it has been the past two years?" The race director says "Yes it is." Some Guy: "So it's really 66 miles." RD: "What?" Some Guy: "66 miles. As verified on my GPS the past two years." I didn't really believe him, until my GPS registered over 66 miles. So... yeah.
THE SWIM was in the brackish water where the Choptank River feeds into the Chesapeake. AND that means... jellyfish. Little sea nettles. Apparently this was a light year. If this was a light year, I'd hate to see a bad year. I had on a full wet suit, and was wearing Sea Safe Jellyfish lotion all over my face, neck, hands, and feet, but I think it had mostly worn off about 30 minutes into the swim because I then got stung on my nose, lips, neck, and wrist. The first half of the swim went pretty well, but the second half we turned towards the sun and I had lots of trouble spotting so my form got all screwy. My final time was 43:23 which was ten seconds slower than last year. As I was getting out of the water, I remember thinking that I was so glad I didn't do the Aquavelo, because that would have involved another loop in the water, and there was no freaking way I was doing that.
T1: Went in the changing tent and ripped off my wet suit, put on my helmet, socks and shoes, and biked out. Somehow it was three minutes, which seriously, again, why I am so slow?
THE BIKE was mostly pancake flat with an out and back on a highway and then a loop that went through some nice marsh land. I felt fairly comfortable holding a 19-21 mph pace until we got slammed with headwinds. I couldn't get much above 17-18 mph at that point, but I felt pretty good overall. Parts of the ride were beautiful, in a wildlife refuge with lovely marsh views. The last 15 miles or so were completely out of the wind, and I was able to make up some time with a solid 22-23mph pace. My GPS hit 64 miles and T2 was no where in site. Guess the guy was right. It hit 66 and we STILL weren't there. I GMapped the coursemap and this is what it says:
http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=6091011
Yes, that would be 66.2 miles. So although the race results claim I biked an 18.4 mile per hour pace, it was in fact 19, like my trusty Garmin reported. (They also had the wrong distance on The Bugeye Classic -- the 25 mile bike, according to GMAP, was 22.5 miles. So I guess if you take away our two and a half miles and add them to the Bugeye, you'd have the correct distance for both?)
T2: 1:40. That is definitely a record for me. Go me. And go my awesome volunteer who handed me the run bag in 2 seconds flat.
THE RUN... oh the run. I took off too fast, and realized a half a mile in that I was running a 7:40 pace... okay, I probably am not going to be able to hold close to my PR 10 mile pace after swimming 1.2 and biking 66. I slowed it down and the first mile came in at 8:15. The second and third mile went pretty well, but then it all started to fall apart. My legs just weren't having it. My pace slowed to about 8:40 for miles 4 and 5, and then I got passed by a girl in my age group. I was pretty sure I had been winning my age group up until that point, since I hadn't seen anyone else pass me the other way on the out and back course, and I think once she flew on by at an 8 minute pace that I had no hope of holding, I just mentally gave up. Well, I tried to catch her for awhile during mile 6, but gave up halfway through (that clocked in at 8:35), and then I was really hating life from basically mile 7-9.8. 7 was 8:57, then I stopped and walked for a minute, poured about three cups of water on my head (it was 80 degrees with no shade, which isn't terrible, but I still felt pretty hot), and started counting to 100 over and over. Mentally I just couldn't think of anything else to do. Each tenth of a mile felt like eternity. I couldn't see anyone ahead of me or behind me. Finally Mile 8 clicked off at 9:15, and I then I got a side stitch. "YOU LOVE RUNNING!" I told mysezlf. "YOU DIDN'T RUN FOR ALMOST 5 MONTHS AND YOU HATED EVERYTHING BECAUSE YOU COULDN'T RUN. YOU ARE RUNNING NOW, AND YOUR BODY FEELS AWESOME (sides stitch excluded)! " Then my dark side said "This is ridiculous. Why do you do these races? They feel awful. This is torture. You are an idiot." Mile 9 clicked off at 8:55 and some lady heading out on mile 1 told me I was almost done as we passed each other. Yeah, I guess I was. So I tried to convince myself I was just doing mile repeats, and this was my last one.... tried to get some kick. Finally I saw the finish. I turned in and made my way to the track. I thought I just had to go over the timing mat, but oh no! The volunteer told me I had to run around that track. I happen to know that they are 400 meters and I really didn't want to run 400 more meters. I was the only person on the track. As I made my way to the straight away, I heard "GO GRETCHEN!" What? Oh, it was Brittany (who, by the way, did the Bugeye won her age group in her first ever triathlon!) And Stephanie! People actually were cheering me on! Mile 10 was 8:35. So overall, the run wasn't too bad, even though it felt awful. Overall pace was about 8:40, which is probably about right for where my run fitness is right now. Last summer, when I could hold a 7:40 pace for a standalone 10 miles, my Half Iron run pace was 8:27. I have no idea how fast I could run ten miles (without the whole swim/ bike thing) right now, but I am sure it wouldn't be anywhere near 7:40s.
Great weekend and race, gorgeous weather, and now... I think my triathlon season has come to a close. As much as I love the it, the double workout thing just doesn't work for me during the school year. And so, Dora the Explorer will go back on the basement bike rack (but may emerge for some fall group rides) and the goggles and swim cap will probably not get much use until late spring.
Saturday, September 21, 2013
Sunday, September 15, 2013
Race? WHAT?
I haven't raced since February. That was the race where I broke my hip. After 2012 gave me PR after PR, and I've dealt with a major injury, I've been afraid to race again. Afraid of another injury. Afraid of a time that will kill my confidence, with paces far slower than where they were in the past. Afraid of disappointing myself, because really, who else cares?
So.... I've got a triathlon on the calendar. Next Saturday. It's basically a Half Iron, except I"ll be biking 65 miles and running 10. It seemed like a good distance because I've been biking more than running.
Some random thoughts on my training:
1. I haven't really followed a plan. The swimming started soon after the injury. The biking was the best way for me to get cardio when I couldn't run. Since I"ve started running again, I've slacked a bit on the long rides.
2. I did do a century three weeks ago, and an impromtu 100 mile ride the week before we left for the beach.
3. I think I have done one brick, and I only ran two miles afterwards.
4. I haven't done any tune up races. In fact, I haven't done a triathlon since the Ironman.
5. I have done one open water swim in total since 2012.
6. I haven't used my wet suit in over a year, since none of my races were wet suit legal last year.
7. Despite marked improvement in swimming this winter, I seem to have forgotten how to swim. This seems to have happened when we went on vacation to North Carolina.
8. My taper kind of started 6 weeks ago, when we were in North Carolina.
9. I did run 20 miles in one day a few weeks ago. Not all at the same time.
10. I ran a half marathon for fun yesterday (did not race it, and kept the pace completely conversational for all but the last two miles) and still finished in 1:55, and that included stopping to call 911 for a fallen runner and waiting with her for awhile. I'm guessing my overall pace was 8:30, which surprised me.
11. I pulled my hamstring ten days ago, in what was supposed to be "peak week." I didn't run for 3 days. It seems to feel okay now, just a little achey.
12. I finally bought an aero helmet. I still have a ridiculously entry level bike without race tires.
13. In consideration of my husband, I abandoned the double long ride/ long runs weekends. I usually did one or the other. Because, really, training for a triathlon properly when you work full time and have two children is recipe for a divorce... no one should be stuck with the kids that long.
So. We will see how this goes!
So.... I've got a triathlon on the calendar. Next Saturday. It's basically a Half Iron, except I"ll be biking 65 miles and running 10. It seemed like a good distance because I've been biking more than running.
Some random thoughts on my training:
1. I haven't really followed a plan. The swimming started soon after the injury. The biking was the best way for me to get cardio when I couldn't run. Since I"ve started running again, I've slacked a bit on the long rides.
2. I did do a century three weeks ago, and an impromtu 100 mile ride the week before we left for the beach.
3. I think I have done one brick, and I only ran two miles afterwards.
4. I haven't done any tune up races. In fact, I haven't done a triathlon since the Ironman.
5. I have done one open water swim in total since 2012.
6. I haven't used my wet suit in over a year, since none of my races were wet suit legal last year.
7. Despite marked improvement in swimming this winter, I seem to have forgotten how to swim. This seems to have happened when we went on vacation to North Carolina.
8. My taper kind of started 6 weeks ago, when we were in North Carolina.
9. I did run 20 miles in one day a few weeks ago. Not all at the same time.
10. I ran a half marathon for fun yesterday (did not race it, and kept the pace completely conversational for all but the last two miles) and still finished in 1:55, and that included stopping to call 911 for a fallen runner and waiting with her for awhile. I'm guessing my overall pace was 8:30, which surprised me.
11. I pulled my hamstring ten days ago, in what was supposed to be "peak week." I didn't run for 3 days. It seems to feel okay now, just a little achey.
12. I finally bought an aero helmet. I still have a ridiculously entry level bike without race tires.
13. In consideration of my husband, I abandoned the double long ride/ long runs weekends. I usually did one or the other. Because, really, training for a triathlon properly when you work full time and have two children is recipe for a divorce... no one should be stuck with the kids that long.
So. We will see how this goes!
Sunday, September 8, 2013
Monday, August 26, 2013
2013 Reston Century Ride
Reston was my first century ride, back in 2010, and I was excited to do this one again with a little more training under my belt. I didn't have a blog back then, but my friend Katie wrote a very detailed report of this adventure where I think she nearly killed me for convincing her to ride 105 miles on this notoriously hilly course (in my defense, I didn't really know it was that hilly.) 3 years later I have incorporated sections of the course into many weekend long rides, and was ready to try the entire thing as my last big training ride before Skipjack (the one and only triathlon I have on my calendar this season.)
I had purchased new racing tires for my bike to use at Skipjack and thought I'd break them in during the century. So while watching TV with my kids, I took off my old (incredibly worn after thousands of miles) original tires and tried to put the new ones on. And tried. And tried some more. I could not for the life of me to get them on the rim. We had a birthday party to attend, so I put them aside until we got back. So it's 10 p.m. and my wheels still don't have tires on them. Jamie and I tried together to get them on. For an hour. I tried to get it on with a tire lever and punctured the tube. Jamie did the same thing. Two tubes down. I had four tubes left. An hour later, we had puntured two more and still didn't have the tires on. It was midnight. I hadn't put on my handlebar tape. I gave up and we put the old tires back on the bike with the two remaining tubes. I didn't have the wheels back on the bike. I still didn't have any handlebar tape on the right side. I didn't know where my wallet or waterbottle was, for crying out loud. I texted the girls I said I would start with that they would likely need to start with out me, I texted Tuan (who yesterday decided, spur of the moment, to do the Reston Century with me despite the fact that he did Ironman Sweden a week ago) that I was having a bike disaster and would likely need his help in the morning, and I headed to bed - three hours of sleep is better than none.
(Sidenote: At 4:30 a.m., an hour and a half after I got to bed, I woke up to loud music. I peered out my window and there was some guy parked in front of my townhouse with his windows down, pumping music, and reading a magazine. Seriously. I turned on my light and stuck my head out the window and he looked up at me and then drove away. What the?!?!? So I didn't even get three hours of sleep.)
At 6am Tuan showed up and helped me put my bike back together. We arrived to the start around 7:15 and took off. I was feeling great, and the weather was gorgeous. We were almost to the first rest stop when we ran over some pebbles, and I promptly flatted. That's right. Mile 9 of 103.5 and I have a flat front tire and no tire tubes. But never fear - we were only about 400 yards from the bike mechanic tent! I picked up Dora (the Explorer, my bike) and asked if I could buy a 650c tube for my tire. Um... no 650c tubes. This promptly brought flashbacks of my first triathlon after Jack's birth when at the expo, no one sold 650c tire tubes, and having flatted on a practice ride, I called 7 bicycle shops in Indianapolis and ended driving an hour -- yes, an hour -- to the only shop in this so-called metropolis that carried tubes in my size. I now really hated these 650c wheels. The bike mechanic called every other pit stop on the course, but no one had my size. It was not even 8 in the morning, and every bike store did not open until 10. So Tuan and I discussed the options. He could ride back to his car and pick me up, and we could call it a day, or we could wait until the stores opened at 10 and continue the ride, or we could risk using a 700c tube. We finally asked the mechanic if he could try that, and fold the tube over. Yup, it would make a little bump every time the wheel revolved, require more energy, make hills a little dangerous, and very possibly result in a flat somewhere along, say, mile 75 in the middle of nowhere. The mechanic pumped up the 700c tube, gave me another tube to put in my saddle bag, and wished me the very, VERY best of luck. We head off on the very hilly route, knowing full well that we weren't going to be able to hammer down hills at 40mph in the aero position because I knew if I hit anything I was very likely to end up flying off my bike with a new flat.
So yeah, the ride is a little hilly. Here is the course elevation:
There are three very steep hills, the worst being from Taylorstown to Stumptown. We passed the 7-11 in Lovettsville around the halfway point, and I was pretty sure I was going to need a pina colada slurpee to get through that mother of a hill, so we stopped and I bought one.
So that evil hill in Taylorstown. I did it once last summer, and I never wanted to do it again. It is one of those hills that goes on forever, is straight up - a 600 foot climb - and if you stop to rest you'll never be able to start riding again and you'll just have to walk your bike up (which would probably have been faster.) I got in my granny gear, did a lot of standing, and somehow made it to the top. That hill was OPTIONAL the last time I did this ride. OPTIONAL! Sheesh. Even Tuan said it was hard, and he never admits such things. We got to fly down the hill, except I was holding on to my breaks for dear life and praying my front tire wouldn't give out on me, and then we had yet another mother of a hill at mile 73.
We ran into our friend Ed at the next rest stop, and he took this lovely photo around mile 79. I am smiling because I think those mother hills are over. I forgot about the one at mile 82. Ed says to me "You don't have any handlebar tape on your right side." I just glared at him.
Ed, Tuan and I rode for the next 15ish miles together. Really, I just sucked on Ed's wheels.
Tuan and I skipped the final rest stop (we only hit two on the course, plus the 7-11), but I waved to the mechanic who had changed my flat and yelled "Great job! Still going strong!" Then we hammered a bit for the last 9 miles. (Well I hammered. My hammering is Tuan's easy pace.) I was really hungry. Finally at about 2:55 we pulled up to the Reston Town Center. I was very excited to see the ice cream truck.
So all in all, a great day. Great weather, great views, and great company. I think I will try to do a couple more organized rides this fall. With my new tires, installed by a professional (I am not a professional, apparently.) And some spare tubes. And handlebar tape. (Don't even ask about the blisters all over my right hand. ) And a few more hours of sleep. :)
I had purchased new racing tires for my bike to use at Skipjack and thought I'd break them in during the century. So while watching TV with my kids, I took off my old (incredibly worn after thousands of miles) original tires and tried to put the new ones on. And tried. And tried some more. I could not for the life of me to get them on the rim. We had a birthday party to attend, so I put them aside until we got back. So it's 10 p.m. and my wheels still don't have tires on them. Jamie and I tried together to get them on. For an hour. I tried to get it on with a tire lever and punctured the tube. Jamie did the same thing. Two tubes down. I had four tubes left. An hour later, we had puntured two more and still didn't have the tires on. It was midnight. I hadn't put on my handlebar tape. I gave up and we put the old tires back on the bike with the two remaining tubes. I didn't have the wheels back on the bike. I still didn't have any handlebar tape on the right side. I didn't know where my wallet or waterbottle was, for crying out loud. I texted the girls I said I would start with that they would likely need to start with out me, I texted Tuan (who yesterday decided, spur of the moment, to do the Reston Century with me despite the fact that he did Ironman Sweden a week ago) that I was having a bike disaster and would likely need his help in the morning, and I headed to bed - three hours of sleep is better than none.
(Sidenote: At 4:30 a.m., an hour and a half after I got to bed, I woke up to loud music. I peered out my window and there was some guy parked in front of my townhouse with his windows down, pumping music, and reading a magazine. Seriously. I turned on my light and stuck my head out the window and he looked up at me and then drove away. What the?!?!? So I didn't even get three hours of sleep.)
At 6am Tuan showed up and helped me put my bike back together. We arrived to the start around 7:15 and took off. I was feeling great, and the weather was gorgeous. We were almost to the first rest stop when we ran over some pebbles, and I promptly flatted. That's right. Mile 9 of 103.5 and I have a flat front tire and no tire tubes. But never fear - we were only about 400 yards from the bike mechanic tent! I picked up Dora (the Explorer, my bike) and asked if I could buy a 650c tube for my tire. Um... no 650c tubes. This promptly brought flashbacks of my first triathlon after Jack's birth when at the expo, no one sold 650c tire tubes, and having flatted on a practice ride, I called 7 bicycle shops in Indianapolis and ended driving an hour -- yes, an hour -- to the only shop in this so-called metropolis that carried tubes in my size. I now really hated these 650c wheels. The bike mechanic called every other pit stop on the course, but no one had my size. It was not even 8 in the morning, and every bike store did not open until 10. So Tuan and I discussed the options. He could ride back to his car and pick me up, and we could call it a day, or we could wait until the stores opened at 10 and continue the ride, or we could risk using a 700c tube. We finally asked the mechanic if he could try that, and fold the tube over. Yup, it would make a little bump every time the wheel revolved, require more energy, make hills a little dangerous, and very possibly result in a flat somewhere along, say, mile 75 in the middle of nowhere. The mechanic pumped up the 700c tube, gave me another tube to put in my saddle bag, and wished me the very, VERY best of luck. We head off on the very hilly route, knowing full well that we weren't going to be able to hammer down hills at 40mph in the aero position because I knew if I hit anything I was very likely to end up flying off my bike with a new flat.
So yeah, the ride is a little hilly. Here is the course elevation:
There are three very steep hills, the worst being from Taylorstown to Stumptown. We passed the 7-11 in Lovettsville around the halfway point, and I was pretty sure I was going to need a pina colada slurpee to get through that mother of a hill, so we stopped and I bought one.
So that evil hill in Taylorstown. I did it once last summer, and I never wanted to do it again. It is one of those hills that goes on forever, is straight up - a 600 foot climb - and if you stop to rest you'll never be able to start riding again and you'll just have to walk your bike up (which would probably have been faster.) I got in my granny gear, did a lot of standing, and somehow made it to the top. That hill was OPTIONAL the last time I did this ride. OPTIONAL! Sheesh. Even Tuan said it was hard, and he never admits such things. We got to fly down the hill, except I was holding on to my breaks for dear life and praying my front tire wouldn't give out on me, and then we had yet another mother of a hill at mile 73.
We ran into our friend Ed at the next rest stop, and he took this lovely photo around mile 79. I am smiling because I think those mother hills are over. I forgot about the one at mile 82. Ed says to me "You don't have any handlebar tape on your right side." I just glared at him.
Ed, Tuan and I rode for the next 15ish miles together. Really, I just sucked on Ed's wheels.
Tuan and I skipped the final rest stop (we only hit two on the course, plus the 7-11), but I waved to the mechanic who had changed my flat and yelled "Great job! Still going strong!" Then we hammered a bit for the last 9 miles. (Well I hammered. My hammering is Tuan's easy pace.) I was really hungry. Finally at about 2:55 we pulled up to the Reston Town Center. I was very excited to see the ice cream truck.
So all in all, a great day. Great weather, great views, and great company. I think I will try to do a couple more organized rides this fall. With my new tires, installed by a professional (I am not a professional, apparently.) And some spare tubes. And handlebar tape. (Don't even ask about the blisters all over my right hand. ) And a few more hours of sleep. :)
Friday, August 16, 2013
Rave Run
I've been on vacation in North Carolina, and so my runs and rides have all been either with the jogging stroller/ bike trailer or by myself. At home, where most of my long runs are done with a group or buddy, I don't really care where we run since we're chatting away. I'm pretty particular about scenery on my rides, but since I'm always in a rush to get back home I rarely and take it all in. Vacation is another story.
Tonight, I was able to run with my husband for a glorious 8 miles, something we rarely get to do since having our children. It was drizzling when we left, so we left our phones at the house. We didn't have watches. We just ran, and talked. Something about running brings out the best conversations. The sixth mile was right along the beach, and as we turned onto the sand, it started to pour. We looked out onto the endless sea, at the deserted shoreline, at the glassy water and the gentle waves, and ran in silence for that mile.
There is something spiritual about running, and when I run in wilderness (even if I'm steps away from civilization), I feel a sense of grateful that I can't explain.
My long run on Sunday morning was the longest distance I've gone since my injury -- a whopping 14.8 miles. That didn't even constitute as a long run for me during marathon training last fall. This run, if you just look at my pace, was nothing to be excited about. It was over 90 degrees and humid, I ran out of water at the end and couldn't find a store, and my legs were still recovering at my first attempts at speed work on Tuesday and Thursday (a whopping 7:05 pace was the best I could do for any amount of time, and the four minute intervals were barely below an 8 pace... coming back is going to take a long, long time.)
But it was a run to remember.
Tonight, I was able to run with my husband for a glorious 8 miles, something we rarely get to do since having our children. It was drizzling when we left, so we left our phones at the house. We didn't have watches. We just ran, and talked. Something about running brings out the best conversations. The sixth mile was right along the beach, and as we turned onto the sand, it started to pour. We looked out onto the endless sea, at the deserted shoreline, at the glassy water and the gentle waves, and ran in silence for that mile.
There is something spiritual about running, and when I run in wilderness (even if I'm steps away from civilization), I feel a sense of grateful that I can't explain.
Saturday, July 20, 2013
Iron-On? Nope, Iron Off.
When I got hurt almost five months ago, I was forced to spend all my time swimming and cycling in order to do ANY exercise outdoors, and I had this idea that I could sort of train for an Ironman, and do the Aquabike if the running part didn't work out.
Thankfully, the running injury seems to be on its way out. Yeah, my running legs are out of shape, but the cross training kept me fit enough that I don't think it will take me TOO long to get back in the swing of things. So far my running has looked like this:
July 7 - Two miles easy -- first run in over two months.
July 9 - Five miles at a 10:00 pace (walked one minute per mile)
July 10 - Two miles, 9:18 pace
July 11 - 6 miles, 9:36 pace
July 13 - 10 miles, Dead Garmin, started out with Brittany and did 8:50 and 8:30 and realized there was no way I could hold that up for the planned 8 miles, ran with Jamal who apparently hadn't run since 2012, was convinced by him to go for 10, but we spent a lot of time at the water stop and even more time walking in the last two miles. We finished a little under 2 hours from when we started, whatever that means. Rode long the next day, and kept Monday as a rest day.
July 15 - 2.25 miles, under an 8 pace. Guess my legs were pretty well rested from the two day break.
July 16 - 6.25 miles with Jack in the jogging stroller, overall pace was 9:10 but I know the first mile was pretty slow. I was happy with that, especially on the hottest and most humid day of the summer so far (real feel 104!)
July 18 - 6 miles solo easy run. First four miles were between 8:30-8:40 but the last two were over 9 and felt hard. Endurance is obviously going to take some time.
Today I'm planning to do 3 easy untimed miles, and then tomorrow a long run of 10-12 at an easy pace. I won't attempt any speedwork til we leave for the beach -- I was advised to get in four solid weeks of just building mileage. But in general, I am very thankful for how well things are going. Sub-7 minute mile repeats aren't going to happen for awhile, but I am confident they will come back.
I went back to working full time for three weeks, and then we head to the beach for two weeks. There is absolutely no way I can do the full peak season Ironman training while working full time. Last summer I didn't work at all, and was only in the "Build" phase during May and June, which isn't all that time consuming. But the last eight weeks of an IM program are tough -- most of the rides are 85-110 miles long, some followed by running, and almost every day has two workouts. I just can't do it. When I wasn't working, I'd get up at 5:30am to swim or ride, then I'd do the second workout at the gym with the kids in childcare later on in the day (usually around noon) and be done in time to make dinner and spend time with my family.
This week I thought I'd see if I could get it all in. I left my house before 6 and got in an 85 mile ride -- solo -- and finished in time to meet my family for lunch at the Whole Foods on the bike trail. I gave Jamie a break and took the kids folk dancing at Glen Echo park, came home and made dinner, and was feeling pretty good. Monday of course was a rest day.
Except teaching 7 classes at a summer program for the arts isn't really a rest day. I was exhausted when I got home at 5 p.m., but I did manage to make dinner.
Tuesday - Friday were ridiculous. Up at 5:15am to swim, teach 7 classes, home for workout #2, somehow manage to make dinner, and by the time I was ready for the next day it was 11 p.m. Last night I hit a breaking point. I had the kids all evening while Jamie went to a Nats game, and I was awoken when he arrived home after midnight. I didn't end up getting back to sleep until 2 a.m., and we had a long talk about why I was still contemplating doing this race. I skipped my planned long ride today and instead am spending the day with the children I didn't see all week.
I don't want to feel the pressure to ride 100 miles on a Saturday, because if I don't, I might not finish. I don't want to do a 4-6 hour ride during the three weekends in August that we are in North Carolina at the beach. I don't want to do double workouts every day we are down there.
So.... Iron Off.
Don't get me wrong, I'm still going to do ONE of the distances that weekend! I'm thinking I will do the Skipjack instead, which seems about right for the amount of training that I can put in. It's a 1.2 mile swim, 64 mile bike, and 10 mile run. Reasons why this is a much better idea:
1. I really don't want to do two loops in the swim. I just don't like swimming that much.
2. The Skipjack is half the distance AND half the price! I really have a hard time justifying a $412 race fee when we can barely afford childcare.
3. 64 miles on the bike might not make me completely hate Dora afterwards and put her away for the fall. Really, I missed out on some lovely 2012 rides because I was just so burnt out on the bike. She sat in my guest room storage closet until AFTER I broke my hip. That's 8 months of sitting.
4. I want to concentrate on running once I am back into the groove, and doing an Ironman isn't going to help me in that department.
5. Most importantly, my life needs to be in balance. I don't think it is possible to work full time, train for an Ironman, and have a balanced family life. I really don't. It doesn't matter how early you get up. It's still energy spent.
Once triathlon training becomes more stress producing than stress relieving, it's time to rethink your goals. So my new goals for summer training are:
1. Set a new PR for the Reston Century on August 25. Since this was my first century ride and I averaged less than 15 miles per hour the last time I did it, I don't think this will be too difficult.
2. Skipjack 75.2. Setting a PR will also not be too difficult, since I have never done that distance before!
And really.... I am just so thankful to be running without pain. Thankful, thankful, thankful.
Thankfully, the running injury seems to be on its way out. Yeah, my running legs are out of shape, but the cross training kept me fit enough that I don't think it will take me TOO long to get back in the swing of things. So far my running has looked like this:
July 7 - Two miles easy -- first run in over two months.
July 9 - Five miles at a 10:00 pace (walked one minute per mile)
July 10 - Two miles, 9:18 pace
July 11 - 6 miles, 9:36 pace
July 13 - 10 miles, Dead Garmin, started out with Brittany and did 8:50 and 8:30 and realized there was no way I could hold that up for the planned 8 miles, ran with Jamal who apparently hadn't run since 2012, was convinced by him to go for 10, but we spent a lot of time at the water stop and even more time walking in the last two miles. We finished a little under 2 hours from when we started, whatever that means. Rode long the next day, and kept Monday as a rest day.
July 15 - 2.25 miles, under an 8 pace. Guess my legs were pretty well rested from the two day break.
July 16 - 6.25 miles with Jack in the jogging stroller, overall pace was 9:10 but I know the first mile was pretty slow. I was happy with that, especially on the hottest and most humid day of the summer so far (real feel 104!)
July 18 - 6 miles solo easy run. First four miles were between 8:30-8:40 but the last two were over 9 and felt hard. Endurance is obviously going to take some time.
Today I'm planning to do 3 easy untimed miles, and then tomorrow a long run of 10-12 at an easy pace. I won't attempt any speedwork til we leave for the beach -- I was advised to get in four solid weeks of just building mileage. But in general, I am very thankful for how well things are going. Sub-7 minute mile repeats aren't going to happen for awhile, but I am confident they will come back.
I went back to working full time for three weeks, and then we head to the beach for two weeks. There is absolutely no way I can do the full peak season Ironman training while working full time. Last summer I didn't work at all, and was only in the "Build" phase during May and June, which isn't all that time consuming. But the last eight weeks of an IM program are tough -- most of the rides are 85-110 miles long, some followed by running, and almost every day has two workouts. I just can't do it. When I wasn't working, I'd get up at 5:30am to swim or ride, then I'd do the second workout at the gym with the kids in childcare later on in the day (usually around noon) and be done in time to make dinner and spend time with my family.
This week I thought I'd see if I could get it all in. I left my house before 6 and got in an 85 mile ride -- solo -- and finished in time to meet my family for lunch at the Whole Foods on the bike trail. I gave Jamie a break and took the kids folk dancing at Glen Echo park, came home and made dinner, and was feeling pretty good. Monday of course was a rest day.
Except teaching 7 classes at a summer program for the arts isn't really a rest day. I was exhausted when I got home at 5 p.m., but I did manage to make dinner.
Tuesday - Friday were ridiculous. Up at 5:15am to swim, teach 7 classes, home for workout #2, somehow manage to make dinner, and by the time I was ready for the next day it was 11 p.m. Last night I hit a breaking point. I had the kids all evening while Jamie went to a Nats game, and I was awoken when he arrived home after midnight. I didn't end up getting back to sleep until 2 a.m., and we had a long talk about why I was still contemplating doing this race. I skipped my planned long ride today and instead am spending the day with the children I didn't see all week.
I don't want to feel the pressure to ride 100 miles on a Saturday, because if I don't, I might not finish. I don't want to do a 4-6 hour ride during the three weekends in August that we are in North Carolina at the beach. I don't want to do double workouts every day we are down there.
So.... Iron Off.
Don't get me wrong, I'm still going to do ONE of the distances that weekend! I'm thinking I will do the Skipjack instead, which seems about right for the amount of training that I can put in. It's a 1.2 mile swim, 64 mile bike, and 10 mile run. Reasons why this is a much better idea:
1. I really don't want to do two loops in the swim. I just don't like swimming that much.
2. The Skipjack is half the distance AND half the price! I really have a hard time justifying a $412 race fee when we can barely afford childcare.
3. 64 miles on the bike might not make me completely hate Dora afterwards and put her away for the fall. Really, I missed out on some lovely 2012 rides because I was just so burnt out on the bike. She sat in my guest room storage closet until AFTER I broke my hip. That's 8 months of sitting.
4. I want to concentrate on running once I am back into the groove, and doing an Ironman isn't going to help me in that department.
5. Most importantly, my life needs to be in balance. I don't think it is possible to work full time, train for an Ironman, and have a balanced family life. I really don't. It doesn't matter how early you get up. It's still energy spent.
Once triathlon training becomes more stress producing than stress relieving, it's time to rethink your goals. So my new goals for summer training are:
1. Set a new PR for the Reston Century on August 25. Since this was my first century ride and I averaged less than 15 miles per hour the last time I did it, I don't think this will be too difficult.
2. Skipjack 75.2. Setting a PR will also not be too difficult, since I have never done that distance before!
And really.... I am just so thankful to be running without pain. Thankful, thankful, thankful.
Monday, July 8, 2013
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