So this week marked this first of 4 big weeks in my main block of training leading up to B2B... I set career highs in hours spent training (in a week) and long ride distance/time.
S: 13,050
B: 208.6
R: 37
19.7 hours
This week my IT band has really been bothering me so to accommodate that issue I substituted a swim for every other run, thereby reducing my volume running (while still hitting my key session) and hopefully making the IT more manageable. I also got my first massage ever on Saturday, which was awesome albeit a little bit of a weird experience (not used to cute girls asking me to take my shorts off - surprising I know!) and that will also (hopefully) keep my IT issues manageable.
So my swim volume was a lot higher this week and I felt GREAT in the pool all week...I'm not sure if those two go hand in hand but if I respond well to higher volume then bring it on! I've also pretty much started doing flip turns exclusively, which may not sound like a big deal but it makes me look WAYYY more pro in the pool which is a big part of being fast. If you look fast, you are fast, period.
Running was obviously hit and miss. I got in my long run on Tuesday of 18 miles and that's all that really matters, simply put. Now I've just got to make it through the next three long runs (20, 22, and 24) and I'll be ready to race (or jog slowly) the marathon portion of B2B.
My cycling fitness has also felt spectacular for the past 2 weeks; ever since my 102 miler I've been on a big wave of feel-goodness on the bike. The long ride (121 miles) on Sunday was no exception. I felt strong and steady throughout and even though I was definitely tired and ready to be done around the 5 hour mark I knew that I had to git'r'done and finish strong. So I'm excited and hopeful that trend continues.
Next week will see a couple of tests: the 20 mile long run on Tuesday (which I plan on doing at Mcalpine), the last Lowe's TT on Wednesday night (where I hope to break my own age group record and mayyybe go under 21 minutes but that's a stretch) and the 120 mile ride on Sunday (I'm scheduled for 120 but I wouldn't mind getting in 130...that will depend on a number of things, the least of which is how much of a bada** I feel like on Sunday).
I'm starting to get a little excited... 1/4 big weeks finished!
Sunday, September 27, 2009
Monday, September 21, 2009
Rest Week!
After feeling great following last week's workouts the timing was perfect for this rest week to recharge and make sure I'm feeling top notch before the next 4 weeks (which will be the hardest 4 weeks I've ever done!).
S: 4550
B: 130
R: 26.5
Technically I missed all of my weekly targets swimming (6000), biking (140), and running (29) but in all three cases it wasn't because I was tired it was because something else got in the way. I actually felt GREAT on my long ride on Sunday (70 miles with a good bit of very intense sections) that was part of a group ride out of south Charlotte with a bunch of roadies.
On the other side of things I've been dealing with some minor arch pain (plantar precursors) that seems manageable and doesn't affect my running; I have also felt some IT band pain similar to what I went through last year. At least, as far as the IT pain goes, I know what I'm dealing with and how to keep it mostly under control.
The next week sees an 18 mile long run on Tuesday and a 120 mile ride on Sunday (almost certainly by myself as almost every one I know will be down in Augusta, GA for the 70.3). Woo. Hoo.
S: 4550
B: 130
R: 26.5
Technically I missed all of my weekly targets swimming (6000), biking (140), and running (29) but in all three cases it wasn't because I was tired it was because something else got in the way. I actually felt GREAT on my long ride on Sunday (70 miles with a good bit of very intense sections) that was part of a group ride out of south Charlotte with a bunch of roadies.
On the other side of things I've been dealing with some minor arch pain (plantar precursors) that seems manageable and doesn't affect my running; I have also felt some IT band pain similar to what I went through last year. At least, as far as the IT pain goes, I know what I'm dealing with and how to keep it mostly under control.
The next week sees an 18 mile long run on Tuesday and a 120 mile ride on Sunday (almost certainly by myself as almost every one I know will be down in Augusta, GA for the 70.3). Woo. Hoo.
Saturday, September 19, 2009
Monday, September 14, 2009
Feeling Good...
After yesterday's long ride I was left to ponder on why I felt so freaking good...it's so rare to feel great throughout a 5+ hour ride. There are normally a lot of peaks and valleys that your body goes through during such a long effort (especially when you're solo, which almost all of my riding has been lately). I never felt bad the whole ride; not a single time was I left wondering why I put myself through such things (about as rare as me eating a vegetable).
I really like the fact that I feel super ready for heavy duty volume but I now have a rest week; I think that's perfect. The next month is really going to wear on me so it's good to have a small peak, then detrain a bit, and then have your main peak when you're ready for the race. I'm going to be in really, really good shape if everything keeps going well. Big "if" for sure but I don't think it will be a mental breakdown that hurts me (one of the benefits of doing a lot of solo workouts is getting used to only being able to hold yourself accountable; that is if I start slowing down I have to make myself speed back up and get back to it...).
I really like the fact that I feel super ready for heavy duty volume but I now have a rest week; I think that's perfect. The next month is really going to wear on me so it's good to have a small peak, then detrain a bit, and then have your main peak when you're ready for the race. I'm going to be in really, really good shape if everything keeps going well. Big "if" for sure but I don't think it will be a mental breakdown that hurts me (one of the benefits of doing a lot of solo workouts is getting used to only being able to hold yourself accountable; that is if I start slowing down I have to make myself speed back up and get back to it...).
Sunday, September 13, 2009
Another long absence
Just because I haven't been blogging doesn't mean I haven't been training, no sir. I'm now 3 weeks into my training for Beach 2 Battleship iron-distance triathlon, which is both encouraging and discouraging at the same time seeing as I still have a long ways to go...
So far, my weeks have gone like this
8/24-8/30
S: 1500m (ouch)
B: 163mi
R: 28mi
I was in Louisville from Friday-Sunday so that restricted the training a little bit but it was AMAZING to spectate my first Ironman event. It was awesome to see everyone have such good races (Scott with a 9:55 first Ironman - crazy, Behme with a 10:08 that included a 15-18 minute flat tire mishap and Brad with a 10:3x PR)
8/31-9/6
S: 4500
B:183
R: 32
This week was another one for lackluster swimming yardage but I had good rides and hit every other target workouts; the main one being a 90 mile ride on Sunday (although I didn't feel amazing at the end of this ride; bonked a little bit sadly)
9/7-9/13
S: 7050
B: 164
R: 41
Missed one ride this week (40 miler) due to weather and wanting to make sure I was fully rested after feeling a bit beat up at the beginning of the week but other than that everything went really well including the 15 mile run on Tuesday and the 102 mile ride on Sunday (which felt spectacular actually)
I have a rest week coming up next and then I start hitting some really, really key workouts over the next month so it will be interesting to see how that goes.
Also started working at Bicycle Sport full time (40 hrs/week) which has been mostly a good time. Sales isn't really my strong suit but that just means I can only get better, right? I don't make a lot of money but I'm pretty content right now in terms of the current state of things so that's nothing to complain about (although more money would certainly be nice).
Also, I'm really hankering for one of these:
So far, my weeks have gone like this
8/24-8/30
S: 1500m (ouch)
B: 163mi
R: 28mi
I was in Louisville from Friday-Sunday so that restricted the training a little bit but it was AMAZING to spectate my first Ironman event. It was awesome to see everyone have such good races (Scott with a 9:55 first Ironman - crazy, Behme with a 10:08 that included a 15-18 minute flat tire mishap and Brad with a 10:3x PR)
8/31-9/6
S: 4500
B:183
R: 32
This week was another one for lackluster swimming yardage but I had good rides and hit every other target workouts; the main one being a 90 mile ride on Sunday (although I didn't feel amazing at the end of this ride; bonked a little bit sadly)
9/7-9/13
S: 7050
B: 164
R: 41
Missed one ride this week (40 miler) due to weather and wanting to make sure I was fully rested after feeling a bit beat up at the beginning of the week but other than that everything went really well including the 15 mile run on Tuesday and the 102 mile ride on Sunday (which felt spectacular actually)
I have a rest week coming up next and then I start hitting some really, really key workouts over the next month so it will be interesting to see how that goes.
Also started working at Bicycle Sport full time (40 hrs/week) which has been mostly a good time. Sales isn't really my strong suit but that just means I can only get better, right? I don't make a lot of money but I'm pretty content right now in terms of the current state of things so that's nothing to complain about (although more money would certainly be nice).
Also, I'm really hankering for one of these:
