Week 3: Days 15 &16

This is going to be a busy week and I am excited about it though. Not only am I training and working but I leave for Rio on April 4th!!!! So I have to back, clean the house and have a dr's appointment this week. So it is going to be busy and challenging to get it all in.

Day 15 was good since it was an easy swim, but for some reason the new drills I was doing that is suppose to help me made it seem so much hard. It will take a while to break old habits before the news feel normal, but I can't wait to see how I really do improve on my swim! I swam 2,400 yds and about 1,000 of it was drills. I hope one day I won't feel like I am drowning when I do these drills. =) I also went to the gym with Jordan and night (yes, I said Jordan. Love you babe). We had a good workout together and it was nice that he went with to spend time with me. Maybe he will continue to go with me =) We did about 45 mins of upper body and abs. And then to finish the day off right we went to Yogli Mogli!!!! I heard frozen yogurt is good for recovery. =)

Day 16 was an early morning out on the Comet, but it was nice to be done with my training at 9:30 am. Today was a day of drills on the bike and I was surprised how good I felt on the bike since it has been a while. Misty and I had a really good workout this morning, but learned really fast, that still in 40 degree weather you still need toe covers. Our poor little toes were so cold and numb. Overall we did 21 miles with warm up and cool down and then did a 2 mile T-run after we rode. My run felt really good, and yes I know it was only 2 miles but that first 2 miles off the bike can be a killer on the legs but I felt good! Now it is off to get things done around the house before I head into work for the day.

People do not lack strength; they lack will - Victor Hugo

 

Days 11-14

This word I am about to use is one that I have seem to being using a lot. And I hope it changes soon. These four days were a wash and I hate to say it, but I really did nothing. There was only one thing that I did that was really helpfully, but I will get into that later.

Thursday - I didn't get a chance to do anything. Jordan and I had errands we had to do and by the time we got done it was to late. Since I worked till 3:30 and then was doing errands till almost 8 pm.

Friday - Was a busy day with, because it is my fast turn around day, but I did get a chance to do a swim analysis done. It was very help full and informative.  A swim analysis is someone that videos your swim from 3 different angles, one above water and two underwater. Then they sit you down and break down your swim and tell you what you are doing wrong and right and how to fix it.
Here are some of the things I found out.

• I have very high head position when I breathe, so I need to focus on lowering my head.
• My right arm I windmill in the recovery, and in the finishing end off the stroke my right hand is wide.
• I drop my elbow on my left side slightly
• I let my wrist break in the the stoke

So those are the things I will be working on and I was given drills that will help that. I can't wait to jump in the pool and work on them to make my swim stronger!!!! Looks like I will be adding some drills into my swim tomorrow.

As for Saturday and Sunday I did nothing for training. I took the weekend to fly up to Milwaukee to surprise one of my friends for her 30th Birthday!!!! I was a fun weekend helping her celebrate. I can say one thing it is a good thing I started my training 2 weeks early so Misty and I can train together so I am not feeling completely upset about my training so far. This week should be a good week for my training!!! I can't wait.

Week 3 Recovery (with my slacking I really don't need lol)
Monday - 2,400 yd swim & weight training
Tuesday - 70 min fast spin on the bike
Wednesday - 3,200 yd swim & weight training
Thursday - 60 min run
Friday - rest
Saturday - 70 min long run
Sunday - 120 min long ride


Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.-- Dena Strum

Week 2, Days 8-10

Week 2 hasn't been to bad so far. Monday: Day 8, I took the day off. My mom was in town and I enjoyed the day with her. I also decided to take the day to recover from the Half Marathon. Maybe 30 is kicking in sooner then later because this was the hardest time I had recovering. =)

Day 9: Well just when I though this day was going to be a wash with doing bike drills, because I just ran out of time before I had to go to work. Well when I got home at 11:15 pm from work my trainer was calling my name so I decided to hop on it for 45 mins. I didn't get the whole workout  in but I did get most of it done. Surprisingly I felt pretty good but it was hard trying to relax to get to sleep when I was done.  

Day 10: Well after being on my trainer till around midnight I was up at 7 am to get in the pool. I thought I would have had problems getting up because I was up so late, but I had no problem. I did 4,000 yds in the pool and I felt pretty good. Shoulders got a little tired, because I did a lot of pulls but other then that I felt good. It took me about 1:40. After my swim I headed to the gym to do a lower body workout. I had a really good workout, we did our workout outside which was nice. It was nice to enjoy the outdoors while working out. Later on at work though I was feeling really tired, but I'm sure that is expected. I just hope I get some more energy for the next few days.

"We will all suffer...either the pain of discipline or the pain of failure and regret."

Days 4-7

Day 4 was a suppose to be 40-60 mins fartlek run, but since I had the Georgia Half Marathon on Sunday I just did a 40 min run. That run worried me a little bit for Sunday though because for some reason that felt like the hardest 4 miles ever. That is never a good feeling going into a half marathon like that. Later on that night Jordan and I made time for a date night and we saw Hall Pass. Even though training is going to take over my life I still wanna make sure I make time still for my family and friends.

Day 5 was a rest day and I was glad since that is my tight turn for work. I enjoyed it!!!!

Day 6, lets just say I made it another rest day. haha I had some things that I had to take care of and then my parents, brother and Erin came in town for the Half Marathon. I was suppose to do a 120 min bike ride which is around 50-60 miles. So day 6 was a wash =( Good thing this is only the first week and I still have some time to kick it into gear.

Day 7 I went above and beyond what I was suppose to do for my run!!!! I was suppose to do a 6-8 mile run, but today was the Georgia Half Marathon!!!!!! I had a good race and set a new PR for myself 1:58:47!!! It was a struggle though and every time I was hurting I just kept thinking about my ironman and how no matter how hard it is the Pain is only temporary. I did see a sign that was so true that I kept thinking about as well.  It said : The pain is only temporary, but your finishing time is forever." It is truely amazing that your body can really do anything as long as you but your mind to it, it is as soon as you start doubting yourself when you start falling about and then you have to get focused again and keep pushing. One more thing I do have to say is that today my brother did his first half marathon which I signed him up for, because he was running his mouth saying he can beat me. Well....he did =( I am so proud of him though he finished his first half marathon in 1:49:45!!!!!! Amazing is all I can say for training up to 8 miles. He is going to be well on his way when he gets to do the physical fitness part for trying to become a Navy Seal. Congrats Michael on your first half marathon!!!!!

The upcoming week....
Monday: haven't added up the yards yet but it will be about a 90 min swim
Tuesday: is drills on the bike followed by a 20 min run
Wednesday: another 90 min swim and weight training
Thursday: 5-7 mile fartlek run
Friday: off
Saturday: 7-9 mile run and weight training
Sunday: 50-60 min bike ride followed by a 20 min run.

Check back in the next few days to see how the week is going.....

The only one who can tell you 'you can't' is you. And you don't have to listen - Nike

Day 2&3 of Taining

Well day two was just half of a success. It was raining all morning which meant biking and riding were a no go. I tried waiting as long as I could to see if it would stop raining, but it never did. So I finally decided to pull out my trainer for my big and pedal away. Doing bike drills outside mentally is so much easier then staying in one place and doing the drills. So not only were the drills physically tough but it was also mentally tough as well. After the drills on the bike I was hoping the rain would have stopped so it never did so I was never able to get my 20 min run in. I debated going to the gym to do the run but it would have defeated the whole point of the run since it was suppose to be a brick run. I was just glad at least I was still able to get the drills in though.

Day three was a successful day!!!! It was tough waking up at 6:15 am to go to the pool to go swimming though since I didn't get home from work till after 11pm the night before. Misty and I swam 3,500 yds today and it was a really good swim. I went to a new club that Misty is a member of, and they had an outdoor heated pool. So we decided to take our training to the outside pool instead of the indoor one. It was about 40 degrees outside but the pool water was warm and it was a prefect way to start the day. When we started swimming it was still dark out so it was nice to enjoy the morning swimming as the sun came up. I am really going to try to get back there to swim. The swim was an aerobic workout which was good. It was also nice to have Misty there to swim with, even though we didn't do much talking just knowing someone else was there doing the workout with you was helpful. After the swim I tried to hurry home to see if I could see Jordan before he left for work but I missed him. So know I'll have to wait till after midnight when I get home from work to see him =(  I also went to the gym again today and did an awesome arm workout with my trainer Pamela! I was really surprised I was able to get through the workout have just swam.

All in all, I know it is only day 3 but physically I am feeling good, just a little tired but I am always tired and always have lack of sleep. So it's nothing I'm not use to. One thing I know I am going to have to figure out a little better is managing my life right now. Pretty much two full time jobs, one: my real job and two: training it is really tough trying to fit everything on and still make time for everyone else. So I really think this is going to be my biggest challenge. I am just so glad I have a supportive family and friends! I hope soon things will start lining up and falling into place so I feel like I am not all over the place and losing my head.

Tomorrow after work I am hoping to get a few things done before Jordan gets home and then he is going to join me for my training run! After we run we have plans to go see a movie I can't wait. Until tomorrow or Saturday it's back to work

"Perseverance is the hard work you do after you get tired of doing the hard work you already did" - Newt Gingrich

Official First Day!!!

Mission Accomplished for today!!!! I'm not sure what is going to be worse swimming drills or biking drills. Today was the first time I have ever done swimming drills and lets just say it was not fun. The drills for me were really challenging and not the easiest thing to do. I think I drank half the pool water, because every time i went to breath do the drills I never got my head out of the water far enough. After about an hour of swallowing pool water it was starting to make me feel sick. I continued to push through and finished the workout. I did 3,000 yds of just drills. It was a long day in the pool but it was good after it was all said and done. My pool workout was suppose to last about 90 mins but I ended up in the pool for almost 2 hrs. As for my new goggles I think I am really going to like them.
Tonight I also did weight training with Pamela (my weight lifting trainer).She really killed my legs today which I am glad about. We spent about a good 45 mins on my legs and also did a little bit of abs. I really enjoyed the workout today, but I love being in the gym and lifting weights.

Well tomorrow is another drill day but on the bike. I did this workout last week and it was a killer so we'll see how I hold up tomorrow. It should be about 70 mins on the bike doing drills and then doing a brick.The run only needs to be 20 min run, but I am going to try to knock out a five min run since this weekend is the Atlanta Half Marathon. 

Overall since it is only one I feel pretty good and I even was able to fit in an hour nap which was awesome!!!!! Oh and by the way I got my Visa today for Brazil. In case you didn't know I am going there in April for my 30th birthday!!!!!

"Workouts are like brushing my teeth; I don't think about them, I just do them.  The decision has already been made." - Patti Sue Plumer, U.S. Olympian

Tomorrow Starts The Beginning of my Training....

Well tomorrow starts my official training for Ironman Wisconsin!!!!! I really hope I am ready for this journey for the next 26 weeks. I am really excited about an amazing group of people that I have to train with. You will most likely hear me talk about Misty a lot. She is my main training partner who is training for Ironman Louisville. Misty has a few Ironman races under her belt around and has already been a big help to me so far.  I am also part of a triathlon group called Get Fit Atlanta (GFA) that will be there to help me a long the way as well. Also from GFA there are around 12 people also that will be doing Ironman Wisconsin as well.

Tomorrow I have a 90 min drill workout in the pool. I have never done swimming drills so this should be a lot of fun. I hope with all these drills I will be doing my swimming will improve. Then later on tomorrow I will be heading to the gym to do some weight training.  Tomorrows workout should be around 2 1/2 -3 hours.

Check back tomorrow to see how my workout went.


"Obstacles are what you see when you take your eyes off the goal."
- Luis Escobar
 

Sampling my workouts this week

6 days till the official training starts!!! I am sound crazy but I am so excited. I really think this is going to be an exciting 6 months that will challenge me like I never have. Not only do I have some exciting training to look forward to but I do have 2 trips planned which should help me keep sane through all this.

Today Misty and I went out to sample a day of drills out on the bike. It was a little over an hour of speed work, which I have never done before and this was a rude awaken for what I am in for. I  really don't think I am going to be looking forward to Tuesdays on the bike, but I just have to keep thinking it will get me fast. After the bike drills we went out on a 20 minute run. I haven't done a brick since my last tri in Nov so it was good to start getting the feel of it again. Besides getting my but kicked in the drills I felt pretty good. It is so nice to be able to train with someone just to know you can help each other out when one is struggling.

One more thing. Last Saturday I ran a 10K and set a new PR of 53:19!!!!! Tomorrow I am getting in the pool to try out a pool workout, lets see how this goes.

It's Been Awhile

Well I know it's been a while, but to be honest not much has been going on. I have been trying to get some trips out of the way before my training starts on March 14th. Other then that I have still been running getting ready for 2 10k runs I have coming up and a half marathon in 3 weeks. I finally hit the pool a few weeks again and broke my goggles so now I am on the hunt for new ones. I am taking tomorrow to do all my running around and get a few training things I need and hope to find new goggles that I like. We will see how all that goes.

I hope you all are ready to follow my training and here how it is going because with type up my training plan this may get interesting! Hope you all enjoy my journey with me in becoming in IRONMAN!!!!!! Check back on March 13th to find out what I will be doing on the first day of my official train on March 14th.