Hopefully at this time in exactly eight weeks I'll be crossing the finish line of my first half Ironman!! As I was running this morning I thought about something I've never really thought about before...what if I don't finish. I really don't know how I would handle that. Just thinking about it was pretty emotional. You may get couple hundreds of training sessions, but you only get one race day. Anything can happen on that one day. It doesn't seem fair to DNF after 5 months of preparation, but it does happen. Since June 14 I've spent about 56 hours on the bike, 30 hours swimming, 11 hours doing strength training, and 25 hours running...and I've got a lot more to do.
A few weeks ago I actually felt like I was close to being ready for the race, but now I'm not so sure. I think I'm ready for the swim and the bike, but the run is another story. Today I had 1.5 hour run that I began right after open water swim practice. My legs felt heavy and I couldn't seem to break a 10 minute pace. I was doing a 5 minute run / 1 minute walk combination and ended up averaging 11:28 min/mile. Toward the end I was struggling to maintain a jog. Part of this could have been due to hydration issues. My fuel belt only holds 20 oz of water and this wasn't enough. At one point I spotted a water fountain so I began downing the water in one of my bottles so I could fill it up. I'm sure you can imagine the four letter words that slipped out of my mouth when I discovered that the fountain was turned off. Really!!! We are in the middle of worst heat wave in over 30 years and the city of Lewisville decides to turn off a drinking fountain!! While I should have had more water, I'm not sure I can completely blame hydration today. I'm going to try tweaking my eating and sleep habits this week.
I still have this nasty sweet tooth that won't let up. Last week I bought my first and last jar of sweet chocolaty Nutella. I couldn't stop eating it and vowed to never buy it again. My friend Jeneen suggested that I just finish off the jar and be done with it. I did finally take her advice and went to town on the remainder of the jar. Now that the Nutella is gone I'm going to restock my pantry and fridge with healthy fruits and snacks. People kept telling me that Nutella isn't that bad if you compare it to peanut butter or jam, but I don't typically open a jar of PB or jam 5 or 6 times a day to grab a spoonful...or two...or three. I'm sticking with almond butter because I like it, yet I've never had any desire to reach in and eat it with a spoon.
Since I don't get to take naps between morning and evening training sessions I'm going to have to be better about going to bed early. This week my goal is to be in bed by 9:00 every night. We'll see if the extra sleep and reduced sugar add a little pep to my step.
As much as I'm looking forward to race day, part of me is a little sad that I only have 8 weeks left. I like having a goal to work toward. Last October I began training for my first race, a duathlon, and I've been in training ever since. After the duathlon I turned my focus to the Rock n Roll half marathon, then my first sprint triathlon, and now my first half Ironman. By the time Austin comes around I'll have been in training for a full year. I'll wait until October 24 to decide what's next.
"There's no thrill in easy sailing ... but there IS satisfaction that's mighty sweet to take, when you reach a destination that you thought you'd never make."
— Spirella
Sunday, August 28, 2011
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
Oh...there IT is!!!
Last week was a much needed recovery week in my training. I had my first day off from training in three week. It was also my first day back to work after summer vacation. During my recovery week I was still training, but the volume and intensity were much lower. I wasn't really "feeling it" during my workouts. Most workouts felt more like a job than my passion. Where was my spark, my excitement? I figured the combination of fatigue, the heat, and my return to work after summer vacation was to blame.
This week began a new week of training...a nice 14 hour week complete with hill work and 4.5 hour brick. Monday was an off day so it I had no problem staying motivated NOT to workout. I went in to see my chiropractor for some much needed maintenance. Tuesday began with a 30 minute run on the dreadmill and 30 minutes of strength training. I struggled to get through both of them...especially the running. It wasn't a physical struggle. It was a mental one. The mental struggles of this sport are far worse than the physical ones. Tuesday evening consisted of interval training on the bike. That workout wasn't too bad, but I wasn't lovin it. My bike workouts are usually my favorite. This morning I had swim practice and then a 45 minute run after work. The heat made it impossible to get excited about my run today. Even the thought of running in my new running shoes wasn't doing it for me. All I could think about was runnng 45 minutes on the dreadmill tonight and then waking up early tomorrow morning and running on the dreadmill again. (FYI, dreadmill is not a typo.)
For one reason or another, I decided to suck it up and run in the heat tonight. When I walked out the door I was pleasangly suprised to be greated with a nice wind. This wasn't the cursing kind of wind I batteled on my bike during the spring. This was the kind of wind Mother Nature sends to try to make peace with all the people she's been pissing off. She even threw in a few clouds. It actually wasn't too bad outside.
About a mile into my run I found IT...my spark, my excitement. I wasn't running fast, but I was enjoying every step...in my new shoes. Ahhh, it felt good again to run. I was running on the trails that travel east and west through Plano. Other runners and bikers were taking advantage of small break in triple digit temperatures too. Most people on the trail are generally courtious and polite, but tonight everyone seemed extra friendly. The ducks even looked happier than they had in awhile. My 45 minutes were over before I knew it. I would have loved to just keep going, but I'm paying good money for someone to tell me when to train and for how long. Hopfully my 4:30 AM dreadmill run will be just as enjoyable....ok, I know it won't, so I'll settle for tolerable.
Last week's recovery week couldn't have come at a better time. Yes, I was physically in need of it, but the mental break was just as as valueable. I think I've been underestimating the mental endurance required for this sport as well as the importance of mental recovery. My body only needed a week of recovery, but my mind needed a week and half. I think all systems are back on track and ready to take on the rest of the week.
"It ain't about how hard you can hit...it's how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward." Rocky Balboa
This week began a new week of training...a nice 14 hour week complete with hill work and 4.5 hour brick. Monday was an off day so it I had no problem staying motivated NOT to workout. I went in to see my chiropractor for some much needed maintenance. Tuesday began with a 30 minute run on the dreadmill and 30 minutes of strength training. I struggled to get through both of them...especially the running. It wasn't a physical struggle. It was a mental one. The mental struggles of this sport are far worse than the physical ones. Tuesday evening consisted of interval training on the bike. That workout wasn't too bad, but I wasn't lovin it. My bike workouts are usually my favorite. This morning I had swim practice and then a 45 minute run after work. The heat made it impossible to get excited about my run today. Even the thought of running in my new running shoes wasn't doing it for me. All I could think about was runnng 45 minutes on the dreadmill tonight and then waking up early tomorrow morning and running on the dreadmill again. (FYI, dreadmill is not a typo.)
For one reason or another, I decided to suck it up and run in the heat tonight. When I walked out the door I was pleasangly suprised to be greated with a nice wind. This wasn't the cursing kind of wind I batteled on my bike during the spring. This was the kind of wind Mother Nature sends to try to make peace with all the people she's been pissing off. She even threw in a few clouds. It actually wasn't too bad outside.
About a mile into my run I found IT...my spark, my excitement. I wasn't running fast, but I was enjoying every step...in my new shoes. Ahhh, it felt good again to run. I was running on the trails that travel east and west through Plano. Other runners and bikers were taking advantage of small break in triple digit temperatures too. Most people on the trail are generally courtious and polite, but tonight everyone seemed extra friendly. The ducks even looked happier than they had in awhile. My 45 minutes were over before I knew it. I would have loved to just keep going, but I'm paying good money for someone to tell me when to train and for how long. Hopfully my 4:30 AM dreadmill run will be just as enjoyable....ok, I know it won't, so I'll settle for tolerable.
Last week's recovery week couldn't have come at a better time. Yes, I was physically in need of it, but the mental break was just as as valueable. I think I've been underestimating the mental endurance required for this sport as well as the importance of mental recovery. My body only needed a week of recovery, but my mind needed a week and half. I think all systems are back on track and ready to take on the rest of the week.
"It ain't about how hard you can hit...it's how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward." Rocky Balboa
Sunday, August 21, 2011
Michael Phelps Can Rest Easy!!
Learning how to swim has definitely been the hardest part of becoming a triathlete. I remember the day I walked into the swim swim shop in January to buy my first swimsuit that was actually made for swimming. I felt like I was in another world. I had absolutely no clue where to even begin. Luckily, a nice woman working there explained everything and helped me choose a suit, cap, and goggles. I don't think I had ever owned a pair of goggles, and I definitely had never worn a swim cap. I didn't even know how to put one on.
A couple of days later I showed up for my first swim lesson. It was a two hour swim clinic hosted by Triple Threat Tough, and I was so nervous. While I knew how to swim, or rather move from point A to point B in the water, I knew nothing about proper form and technique. The coaches, Kristen and Tommy (Tommy is now my amazing personal coach), were very patient with me. They taught me so much in just two hours. There was so much to think about....head down, elbow up, kick, don't kick too much, breathe, reach.
Shortly after the clinic I joined North Texas Multisport and began going to masters swim with several of the other members. I showed for my first swim practice and was shocked to learn that I would be swimming in an outdoor pool. It was January and about 40 degrees. I remember thinking, "What the hell have I gotten myself into?"
At this point I didn't know any of the people I was swimming with, so each practice was a humbling experience. My movements in the water somewhat resembled swimming, but I'm not sure you could actually call it "swimming." Everyone else seemed to glide through the water beautifully. I was impressed that they could swim to the end of the pool without stopping and then turn around and swim back. I had to stop and hold on to the ropes in the middle of the lane. Coach Carlos modified everything I did for the first 2-3 months. As the weeks went on I got to know my fellow swimmers, and eventually a couple more people showed up who had as little experience in the water as I. We had our own lane that I often refered to as the Guppy Lane. It took a few months, but I eventually got the hang of this whole swimming thing.
At this point in my training I usually go to swim practice two morning a week with Triple Threat, and then my coach gives me an additional swim workout that I can do on my own. I'm happy to report that I no longer swim in the Guppy Lane, and I'm not the slowest person in my lane. Sometimes in the middle of practice I look out at the pool full of swimmers and can hardly believe that I'm a swimmer. It's nice to finally be able to hold my own in the pool. The coaches are no longer modifying anything for me. They are still giving me advice on making my stoke more efficent, and it is getting better. My shoulders and arms are even begining to look like those of a real swimmer. Don't get me wrong, you won't see me exiting the swim first in a race, nor will you see me competing along side of Michael Phelps.
People have told me that they would do a triathlon if it weren't for the swimming. I guess those people don't really want it that bad. Swimming is not easy. You can't just stop when you get tired...you'll drown. Like many things in life, it takes work. There were many days in the pool when I didn't think I would ever get it. Like I said, it took months of working on my stroke and building my endurance to feel comfortable. The 1.2 mile swim of my half Ironman still makes me nervous. That feeling probably won't go away, so I'll use it to motivate me when the alarm goes off at 4:30 AM for swim practice. Sure, I can turn off the alarm and get another hour or so of sleep, but 1.2 miles isn't getting any shorter.
"There is no failure, only feedback." Mark Allen
A couple of days later I showed up for my first swim lesson. It was a two hour swim clinic hosted by Triple Threat Tough, and I was so nervous. While I knew how to swim, or rather move from point A to point B in the water, I knew nothing about proper form and technique. The coaches, Kristen and Tommy (Tommy is now my amazing personal coach), were very patient with me. They taught me so much in just two hours. There was so much to think about....head down, elbow up, kick, don't kick too much, breathe, reach.
Shortly after the clinic I joined North Texas Multisport and began going to masters swim with several of the other members. I showed for my first swim practice and was shocked to learn that I would be swimming in an outdoor pool. It was January and about 40 degrees. I remember thinking, "What the hell have I gotten myself into?"
At this point I didn't know any of the people I was swimming with, so each practice was a humbling experience. My movements in the water somewhat resembled swimming, but I'm not sure you could actually call it "swimming." Everyone else seemed to glide through the water beautifully. I was impressed that they could swim to the end of the pool without stopping and then turn around and swim back. I had to stop and hold on to the ropes in the middle of the lane. Coach Carlos modified everything I did for the first 2-3 months. As the weeks went on I got to know my fellow swimmers, and eventually a couple more people showed up who had as little experience in the water as I. We had our own lane that I often refered to as the Guppy Lane. It took a few months, but I eventually got the hang of this whole swimming thing.
At this point in my training I usually go to swim practice two morning a week with Triple Threat, and then my coach gives me an additional swim workout that I can do on my own. I'm happy to report that I no longer swim in the Guppy Lane, and I'm not the slowest person in my lane. Sometimes in the middle of practice I look out at the pool full of swimmers and can hardly believe that I'm a swimmer. It's nice to finally be able to hold my own in the pool. The coaches are no longer modifying anything for me. They are still giving me advice on making my stoke more efficent, and it is getting better. My shoulders and arms are even begining to look like those of a real swimmer. Don't get me wrong, you won't see me exiting the swim first in a race, nor will you see me competing along side of Michael Phelps.
People have told me that they would do a triathlon if it weren't for the swimming. I guess those people don't really want it that bad. Swimming is not easy. You can't just stop when you get tired...you'll drown. Like many things in life, it takes work. There were many days in the pool when I didn't think I would ever get it. Like I said, it took months of working on my stroke and building my endurance to feel comfortable. The 1.2 mile swim of my half Ironman still makes me nervous. That feeling probably won't go away, so I'll use it to motivate me when the alarm goes off at 4:30 AM for swim practice. Sure, I can turn off the alarm and get another hour or so of sleep, but 1.2 miles isn't getting any shorter.
"There is no failure, only feedback." Mark Allen
Monday, August 8, 2011
Hungry Girl
Training for a half Ironman is a lot of work. So far my training hasn't been that hard, just a larger volume. When I decided to embark on this journey I knew it wouldn't be cheap, but I knew I could make it work. I've found ways to pay for my coach, race fees, and gear, however, one thing I didn't factor in was the amount of food required to fuel this body for the higher volume of training. Good Lord, this half Ironman wanna-be can put away some food!
I recently mentioned to my coach that I eat ALL the time. I'm not necessarily eating huge meals, but I am snacking and eating small meals all day long...and I mean ALL day long. He said that it is good to eat more smaller meals, and that I should keep non-processed snacks on hand. He suggested things such as yogurt, eggs, nuts, fruits, and juice.
I've been trying to keep the "junk" out of my house, but it keeps sneaking its way in. It's a little embarrassing to admit, but I did devour a can chocolate frosting in three day last week. I haven't noticed weight gain yet, but I'm sure I'm eating way more sugar than I actually need to and it will catch up with me. In order to see just how much I actually eat, I decided to write down everything I put in my mouth for a day.
I'll spare you the detailed list of what I ate, but I did notice that I eat almost every hour to hour and half. I also noticed that I do get a fair amount of fruit, protein, carbs, and healthy fats. Vegetables, on the other hand, seem to be lacking. The day I wrote everything down wasn't as big of an eating day as the previous days. This could be because my body had finally had enough sugar and needed a break, or the idea of writing things down may have kept me from stuffing my face. It may have also been that I already ate all the junk in my house that tempts me.
As an endurance athlete (I still feel funny saying this), I know that I need more calories than the average women. I also know that I will likely burn most, if not all, of what I'm eating. I want to fuel my body with the good stuff. Fueling my body with chocolate frosting, sugary cereal, Kathy William's chocolate chip cookies, and Rachael Kryzsaik's cupcakes may be quite enjoyable, but it won't get me though 70.3 miles of swimming, biking, and running.
Here are a few of my favorite healthy snacks and mini-meals:
-English muffin or whole grain waffle topped with almond butter, sliced bananas, and honey
-Quaker oats, soy milk, dried cranberries, and a little honey. Don't cook it...just let it sit in the fridge for a little while and enjoy. Hits the spot after a morning workout.
-Greek yogurt
-Raw almonds with dried cranberries
-Nectarines
-Smoothie made with bananas, soy milk, and any frozen berries on hand
-Baked chicken with BBQ sauce
-Breakfast wrap - tortilla, 2 egg white and 1/2 yolk, salsa, avocado
"Suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope." Romans 5 3-4
I recently mentioned to my coach that I eat ALL the time. I'm not necessarily eating huge meals, but I am snacking and eating small meals all day long...and I mean ALL day long. He said that it is good to eat more smaller meals, and that I should keep non-processed snacks on hand. He suggested things such as yogurt, eggs, nuts, fruits, and juice.
I've been trying to keep the "junk" out of my house, but it keeps sneaking its way in. It's a little embarrassing to admit, but I did devour a can chocolate frosting in three day last week. I haven't noticed weight gain yet, but I'm sure I'm eating way more sugar than I actually need to and it will catch up with me. In order to see just how much I actually eat, I decided to write down everything I put in my mouth for a day.
I'll spare you the detailed list of what I ate, but I did notice that I eat almost every hour to hour and half. I also noticed that I do get a fair amount of fruit, protein, carbs, and healthy fats. Vegetables, on the other hand, seem to be lacking. The day I wrote everything down wasn't as big of an eating day as the previous days. This could be because my body had finally had enough sugar and needed a break, or the idea of writing things down may have kept me from stuffing my face. It may have also been that I already ate all the junk in my house that tempts me.
As an endurance athlete (I still feel funny saying this), I know that I need more calories than the average women. I also know that I will likely burn most, if not all, of what I'm eating. I want to fuel my body with the good stuff. Fueling my body with chocolate frosting, sugary cereal, Kathy William's chocolate chip cookies, and Rachael Kryzsaik's cupcakes may be quite enjoyable, but it won't get me though 70.3 miles of swimming, biking, and running.
Here are a few of my favorite healthy snacks and mini-meals:
-English muffin or whole grain waffle topped with almond butter, sliced bananas, and honey
-Quaker oats, soy milk, dried cranberries, and a little honey. Don't cook it...just let it sit in the fridge for a little while and enjoy. Hits the spot after a morning workout.
-Greek yogurt
-Raw almonds with dried cranberries
-Nectarines
-Smoothie made with bananas, soy milk, and any frozen berries on hand
-Baked chicken with BBQ sauce
-Breakfast wrap - tortilla, 2 egg white and 1/2 yolk, salsa, avocado
"Suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope." Romans 5 3-4
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)