This weekend I spent a bunch of time getting the house ready for winter. We have some mature mulberry trees the shed lots and lots of leaves, so I had to clean the rain gutters and bag raked leaves. I thought I was really clever by raking the leaves on to the lawn and using the mower to compact and bag the leaves. But, turns out using the lawn mower kicked up just enough dust to give me touch of allergies. Needless to say, I’ve been wiped out these last couple of days with typical allergy issues.
On a brighter note, my work on my running form has really helped a lot so far. I’ve ran three consecutive days at about 45 minutes each time and I’m not really sore. That would not have been possible had I still been using the heel strike running stride I had been using previously. I’d always scratch my head in awe when I’d read about people running consecutively for 100 days; that was never possible for me because I’d get too sore after consecutive runs and sooner or later develop some injury. Now, I think that’s a real possibility for me….knock on wood.
Starting next week, I’m 6 months or 24 weeks out from IronMan St. George. I start my training in earnest starting Monday. I’ll spend the next 12 weeks building my base then the following 12 weeks training specificity. So, soon I’ll take that plunge again into a world of fatigue and exhaustion that I’ve grown so accustomed to over the last years of my life. But, I do love it though.
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Friday, November 6, 2009
Incompatibility
After a few weeks of lifting weights and trying to rebuild my running stride, I'm firmly convinced the two activities are incompatible. My whole body is so sore right now. Lunges just kill me. I ran last night for an hour and the soreness really messed with my mind. As I ran, I'm constantly assessing if something hurts or is uncomfortable...last night everything hurt and was uncomfortable so I kept worrying that I was doing something wrong.
This morning I swam and was so slow because I was sore. Weights aren't conducive to maintaining one's self-esteem.
So, here's a photo of my office...notice anything funny?
REDBULL! That's how I drag my butt to work after the early morning swims. My admin has tried to get me to get rid of the cans because they're "unprofessional". We'll I don't care! It smacks of a college fraternity's decorative touch...and that's what I like.
Here's another photo from my run in the hills the other day.
This is probably at 6500 feet above sea level.
Finally, here's Mia (the youngest) waking up in our bed. It drives me nuts because she doesn't make sleeping comfortable. If I didn't love her so, I'd throw her outside with Shane and his bunnies!
This morning I swam and was so slow because I was sore. Weights aren't conducive to maintaining one's self-esteem.
So, here's a photo of my office...notice anything funny?
REDBULL! That's how I drag my butt to work after the early morning swims. My admin has tried to get me to get rid of the cans because they're "unprofessional". We'll I don't care! It smacks of a college fraternity's decorative touch...and that's what I like.
Here's another photo from my run in the hills the other day.
This is probably at 6500 feet above sea level.
Finally, here's Mia (the youngest) waking up in our bed. It drives me nuts because she doesn't make sleeping comfortable. If I didn't love her so, I'd throw her outside with Shane and his bunnies!
Sunday, November 1, 2009
Off Season
Every year for the past 10 years, it's been "off season" and I try to regroup and figure out what I'm going to work on for the next racing season. It always boils down to 1) improve my diet, 2) train harder, and 3) train smarter. Well this year, I'm not going to kid myself anymore...I like to eat, I eat fairly well, I train hard...training smarter seems to be a case of trial and error. So, this year I'm going to do more of the same. I'm adding a few more tools (i.e. computrainer and a power meter), but I think I'll just continue training as I've done this last year...maybe with few less injuries though.
On another note, I've been having fun with my swimsuits during swim team. These are the swim suits I rotate through during the week.
My Personal Favorite.
It brings a bit of comedy at 5AM.
On another note, I've been having fun with my swimsuits during swim team. These are the swim suits I rotate through during the week.
My Personal Favorite.
It brings a bit of comedy at 5AM.
Friday, October 30, 2009
Winter
It has snowed the last two days here in Albuquerque—the first snow of the year. It’s early this year. It’s also the last working day before Halloween and I dressed up like a nun. Sadly, it appears I’m the only one that dressed up. I guess I should have expected that being an accounting/finance professional.
I’m bidding my time right now in terms of training just keeping it an easy 10-12 hours a week. I don’t want to get out of the gates to hard and early for next year because next year will be such a long year; timing is everything. I’ve been limiting my training to weights with a focus on balance and core strength. I’ve been swimming 3 times a week, running about 4 times and riding once. This scaled back training schedule is hard because I don’t feel like I’m progressing because I’m not pouring it on and hammering myself.
I’m bidding my time right now in terms of training just keeping it an easy 10-12 hours a week. I don’t want to get out of the gates to hard and early for next year because next year will be such a long year; timing is everything. I’ve been limiting my training to weights with a focus on balance and core strength. I’ve been swimming 3 times a week, running about 4 times and riding once. This scaled back training schedule is hard because I don’t feel like I’m progressing because I’m not pouring it on and hammering myself.
Monday, October 26, 2009
2009 Is Over
It’s official, the 2009 season is over. I’d hoped to end the season with Ironman Austin 70.3 this last weekend but ran out of steam and injured my calf during a half-marathon “training” race. It’s just as well though because I have a really aggressive 2010 planned and need to get myself ready for the future workload and demands. I’ve signed up for IronMan Ut (St. George) in May, IronMan Canada (Penticton, BC) in August. I’m also going to sign up for IMArizon in November. That’s a brutal schedule and I wouldn’t normally attempt something so crazy, but it’s my 40th birthday year…so why not. I’m also secretly training for PF Chang’s Rock N’ Roll marathon this January…I hope my coach is cool with it. It would be really awesome to break the 3:00 marathon…or at least qualify for Boston.
Life is so complicated at our household. Tanya’s school is much more demanding now that she’s into her higher-level science classes. The kids have their respective activities in addition to school, which keeps up hopping. We decided to invest in a Compu-trainer for me so I can be at home in the evenings and still be able to train on my bike. Elise is still busy with school, swimming, and piano. Ethan is also swimming and doing piano. Grace is swimming, playing tennis, and also in piano. Mia’s holding out for dance, but it doesn’t really fit our family’s schedule…and I’m not sure we can afford another event. Hopefully she’ll come around and swim with her siblings.
Elise is swimming for an exclusive year-round swim team. She swims 3-4 times a week for an hour-and-a-half. She averages about 3500 yards per practice. She’s really starting to get fast. We’re thinking she’s found her niche. She’s a natural.
These next few weeks will be a gradual easing back into the training routine. Currently I’m trying to maintain a 10—12 hour training load until mid-November. Mid-November is when I have 24 weeks until my first event. During this time frame, I’ll lay down my base training and build. My goal is to spend less time in the freezing cold (which tend to be junk training miles) and more time putting in quality efforts. The truth is, I have to train smarter, or I won’t finish three full IronMans. Hopefully I’ll be a bit more diligent in the documentation of this next year’s activities.
Life is so complicated at our household. Tanya’s school is much more demanding now that she’s into her higher-level science classes. The kids have their respective activities in addition to school, which keeps up hopping. We decided to invest in a Compu-trainer for me so I can be at home in the evenings and still be able to train on my bike. Elise is still busy with school, swimming, and piano. Ethan is also swimming and doing piano. Grace is swimming, playing tennis, and also in piano. Mia’s holding out for dance, but it doesn’t really fit our family’s schedule…and I’m not sure we can afford another event. Hopefully she’ll come around and swim with her siblings.
Elise is swimming for an exclusive year-round swim team. She swims 3-4 times a week for an hour-and-a-half. She averages about 3500 yards per practice. She’s really starting to get fast. We’re thinking she’s found her niche. She’s a natural.
These next few weeks will be a gradual easing back into the training routine. Currently I’m trying to maintain a 10—12 hour training load until mid-November. Mid-November is when I have 24 weeks until my first event. During this time frame, I’ll lay down my base training and build. My goal is to spend less time in the freezing cold (which tend to be junk training miles) and more time putting in quality efforts. The truth is, I have to train smarter, or I won’t finish three full IronMans. Hopefully I’ll be a bit more diligent in the documentation of this next year’s activities.
Friday, September 11, 2009
Rest Week
Last week, the last of my 3-week training block, was tough. Late work putting together financial analysis for our board meeting, meant coming home each night after 8:00 PM and using the training and treadmill for punctuated workouts. By Saturday, I was wasted. I got up early and 30 minutes into the swim workout, I knew it wasn’t going to happen. I came home slept until 11:00 am then spent another 5 hours in bed watching the Sopranos and indulging in popsicles. It was a classic case of the spirit being willing but the body wasn’t. Something inside of me anguished to finish my scheduled workouts, and something else knew I needed to rest really badly. Fortunately, it was a three-day weekend (Labor Day Weekend), so I decided to take a mulligan on Saturday and use Sunday and Monday as my weekend. That worked out OK. I ran 15 miles Sunday AM and rode 85 miles to Madrid and back on Monday. That helped me finish the week with 17 hours. I’ll take it.
I’m now indulging in my recovery week, which should amount to no more than 10 hours of training. My workout volume has been short, but I’ve increased the intensity a bit. Sunday, I’m doing the Chips N’ Salsa half marathon. My intention is to run it really easy: 8:300 min/mile pace so I don’t blow myself up for the rest of the week. Last time I ran a 10K all out, it took me nearly 4 days to fully recover. I don’t want to be in that state just before the beginning of my next (and last of 2009) 3 week training block.
Last night I did a really fun track workout. I did 6X1 kilometer intervals running at a <6 min/mile pace with a 4 minute rest between sets. I wasn’t painful like other track workouts I’ve done in the past that are all out. I can’t wait to do this one again.
This is the first week my 11-year-old daughter has been doing year-round swimming. I picked her up from practice and saw that they swam 3400 yards, which included a 800 IM. Holy Cow! That’s a harder workout than I swim at Masters. I couldn’t swim a 200 yard butterfly. All I have to say is she’s going to be a torpedo after a few years of swimming, and I won’t be able to keep up with her. I’m so excited for her! The deal was…if she swims year-round, she gets a mobile phone. She started swimming year-round this week, so her mom and her picked up her phone last night. That phone better be worth it, because swimming 15000+ yards in a given week is crazy for an 11-year old.
I’m now indulging in my recovery week, which should amount to no more than 10 hours of training. My workout volume has been short, but I’ve increased the intensity a bit. Sunday, I’m doing the Chips N’ Salsa half marathon. My intention is to run it really easy: 8:300 min/mile pace so I don’t blow myself up for the rest of the week. Last time I ran a 10K all out, it took me nearly 4 days to fully recover. I don’t want to be in that state just before the beginning of my next (and last of 2009) 3 week training block.
Last night I did a really fun track workout. I did 6X1 kilometer intervals running at a <6 min/mile pace with a 4 minute rest between sets. I wasn’t painful like other track workouts I’ve done in the past that are all out. I can’t wait to do this one again.
This is the first week my 11-year-old daughter has been doing year-round swimming. I picked her up from practice and saw that they swam 3400 yards, which included a 800 IM. Holy Cow! That’s a harder workout than I swim at Masters. I couldn’t swim a 200 yard butterfly. All I have to say is she’s going to be a torpedo after a few years of swimming, and I won’t be able to keep up with her. I’m so excited for her! The deal was…if she swims year-round, she gets a mobile phone. She started swimming year-round this week, so her mom and her picked up her phone last night. That phone better be worth it, because swimming 15000+ yards in a given week is crazy for an 11-year old.
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