Peak Week

Week 10 was a busy one. My workout schedule focused on the upcoming Mooseman International race. The horrible weather has been an additional snag in getting all of my training done. I had to shift things around quite a bit to make sure to get in the really important workouts for the week. I did miss one track workout and pilates class due to working some extra shifts at the restaurant this week. Nonetheless, I feel that I accomplished most of what I needed to do. I rode my bike in the rain twice this week because I figured there could be rain on race day. It was not very pleasant, but it was productive. Saturday was the big day with a 29 mile bike ride (Mooseman course) followed by a 3 mile run. Today, I am taking an extra day off as my body is saying "my legs don't want to move today!" after two hard workouts and three nights of waiting tables. My coach tells me it is ok to listen to my body. I usually try to push through, but I am going to listen to my body today.

Summary of Week 10-

Monday: 30 min swim/P90X yoga (50 min)
Tuesday: 5 mile run
Wednesday: 60 min swim
Thursday: OFF
Friday: 11 mile bike ride / 30 min swim/stairs at work
Saturday: 29 mile bike ride/ 3 mile run/ stairs at work
Sunday: OFF

Next week is another peak week, so I have more challenging workouts ahead. Bring it on.

Watch Out Moosey!

Week 9 was all about getting back into a training pattern after a week of illness followed by a week of taper. With Big Lake in the past, it was time to turn the focus on the Mooseman International distance triathlon. June 4th is right around the corner so my week was fairly intense. Also, my BlueSeventy Reaction wetsuit arrived on Friday!!! Woo Hoo! I have included pictures in this blog entry. I am pretty excited about the stealthy-looking wetsuit! Let's hope it helps me move faster :)

Overview of Week 9:

Monday- 18 mile bike ride/yoga/P90X ab ripper
Tuesday- OFF
Wednesday- 60 minute swim
Thursday- 4 mile fartlek run
Friday- OFF (work @ Hermanos)
Saturday- Tri swim/ 26 mile bike ride/ 1 mile run
Sunday- 30 min swim / track workout on treadmill

Big Lake Half Marathon Week

Week 8 culminated in the Big Lake Half Marathon on Saturday, May 7th. That meant that most of the week was TAPER and I thoroughly enjoyed the taper. However, I was very nervous going into the race because I was so sick last week, and I still had a bit of the sniffles. Race day I felt ready though; Mark and I headed up the Alton Bay around 6am to do a quick warmup jog and registration. I started the race right next to him, but knew he would be out of my sight pretty fast! I always tell him that I will see him at the finish line! Anyway, throughout the first 7-8 miles of the race I felt pretty good with the exception of a minor blister that formed on the side of my inner arch. My breathing felt normal and my legs seemed to have a good rhythm. I actually applied some of Kara Goucher's technique suggestions that I really felt benefitted me. I actually thought I had a chance of beating my time from last year--2:03:46, average of 9:27 and place #504! I'm not sure if I started too slow or if I lost a ton of time from mile 8-10, but by mile 10 I realized I would have to do 7 min miles for the rest of the race to PR and that just wasn't going to happen...I might have been able to push out 8 min miles, but 7 was not realistic. I think this really bummed me out and I just didn't put very much effort in at this point until the last 1/4 mile. I ended up finishing with a time of 2:08, average of 9:47, and placed 507. I guess I am happy that I beat my time from 2 previous half marathons (Seacoast Half in 2006, and Big Lake in 2004), but I definitely am disappointed that I did not PR or reach my goal of under 2 hours. I will try to see if I can find another half in the fall to see if I can beat the 2:03 time. Nevertheless, considering how sick I was last week, I don't think it was a total disaster.

Next on the agenda is the Mooseman International Triathlon on June 4th! I will be picking up the training again this week to prepare for that event.

Week 8 workouts:

Monday-30 minute swim / 10 mile bike ride/ 35 min P90X yoga
Tuesday- 3 mile run
Wednesday- Pilates video
Thursday- 20 minute run
Friday- OFF
Saturday- Big Lake Half Marathon!
Sunday- 20 minute recovery swim

April Reflections

April was not an easy month for me. In fact, it was one of the worst months in memory. However, what I do know is that training is what helped me get through this difficult time. Training kept my head clear where it might otherwise have been very cloudy. Knowing that I had a long run kept me from sitting on the sofa feeling sorry for myself. Early morning swim practice kept me from staying out late after working at my second job. There were many negative coping mechanisms that I could have turned to, but I didn't because of my training goals. This is something I am so grateful for. I am also very grateful for the compassionate and caring people in my life: my family, boyfriend, friends, workout buddies, and co-workers have been fantastic. So now, finally, it is May 1st. It is a new month and it has been a great day. I started to clear up from a nasty virus that pretty much destroyed me this week. This morning I went for a 7 mile run. It was sunny; I could finally breathe again, so my run time improved from my previous lackluster runs. Next weekend is the Big Lake Half Marathon--I should be back to form if I taper well this week.

On a different note...I forgot to send congratulations to my sorority sisters and friends who ran in the Boston Marathon! Ellen, JoEllen, Kim, and Chris--you all are incredible and should be so proud of this major accomplishment! An additional shoutout to the amazing Kara Goucher. Kara graduated from my high school, Duluth East, and is an incredible Olympic and marathon runner. She was the 5th overall woman at Boston! I just purchased her book and I have already read several useful tips about running. Even though Kara graduated a few years ahead of me (and I could barely run a mile in high school), I find her to be such an inspiration.

Finally, even though it was a difficult month for our family, we did have a very exciting event. My little brother, Alex, turned 16 on the April 28th...and he passed his driving test! Now he can drive himself to all of his swim practices, and after school activities! Congratulations Alex!

Week 7 was a weak training period for me due to a nasty cold/flu virus. Obviously swimming is difficult when you can't breathe so that took the biggest hit. I tried to still get in as much running as I could since I have the half marathon next Saturday. Here is what I managed to get through:

Monday- 45 minute spin workout (very limited effort)
Tuesday- REST (I was pretty weak)
Wednesday- Pilates video/ 15 minute P90X Ab Ripper (so hard!)
Thursday- Barely pushed myself through a 3.8 mile "jog"
Friday- 2.2 mile run / 20 minutes yoga
Saturday- 17 mile bike ride (I was finally starting to feel human again)
Sunday- 7 mile run

Next week is taper week. I love taper! It is a good week for taper because it looks like it will be raining quite a bit!