Jen on the Swim Bike Run

Oops. I didn't read the fine print on my training plan.

Actually, the print wasn't even that fine--it was a normal font size.  Being so jazzed about the possibility of running a half-marathon I just missed it.  "Really, you're running 8 mile long runs in week two?", my friend John asked me.  "Yeah", I said, "I want to do a half in under 2 hours."  But the "fine print" would have told me that my training plan was for someone already logging over 20 miles per week.  I've never put in that much weekly mileage--never!  Ohhh... this training plan is for someone who regularly runs the half and wants to better their time--not the newbie like me.  Good thing I gave myself 12 weeks for this 10 week plan.

So far I scrapped the long run in week 1 and cut it in half in week 2.  Perhaps my subconscious really knew what was best for me.  As it is I'm running more miles than I ever have--about 18 per week.  I've cut way down on my other training--just one swim and one cycling work out per week--but I hope that will shift a bit when the weather gets better and I get my butt in gear with my swimming.  What will probably happen is that those other workouts will increase after the half marathon in May.  So I have to give myself more of a break and take it easy.  That I'm training for anything at all is a small miracle--training for two sports will put me on the express bus to crazy town.  After the half the next race on my calendar is my only other race of the season--the Finger Lakes Triathlon in September.  Anything else is gravy.

So I'll soldier on, modifying my long run a bit as I go.  Dutifully pounding out tempo runs and mile repeats on the treadmill as I look forward to warmer temps, dry pavement, and long slow runs with Timothy in the jogging stroller.

Here we go

First, I have to give it up to all the women who give birth and then manage to get back on their training program.  I didn't give birth but find myself needing to work on my "baby weight" nonetheless.  Lesson number one: sitting on the couch keeping another human alive will wreck your training.  It is time to get back in gear.  One of my best friends had a baby a few years ago in November and then ran the Boston Marathon the following April.  She inspires me--like so many of you moms who manage to make it work with children in the house. 

I've modified my race schedule drastically for this year.  If I can do two races I'll be happy.  I've let the other races go gladly--there will always be races but I've waited forever to become a Mom and I don't want to miss any of it.  So my plan is to a half marathon in early May and then an olympic distance tri in September.  Anything nore is gravy.

I'm thankful for a husband who altered his work schedule to allow me to fit in an evening swim workout with my Fleet Feet Triathlon team.  It will be up to me to get out the door at the crack to get my runs in.  The half marathon is 3 months away and training starts... NOW.  Here we go!

Things I had to relearn this week

1.  A latte is not a hydration beverage.  Since when do I think that 2 cups of water make for being "well hydrated"?  I can totally see how it happend, though.  When I wake up at 5:30 in the morning to review my sermon and teaching notes for Sunday, then take a break to pull some espresso shots for my latte, sipping on water can easily be forgotten. Then once I'm out the door and racing for 11 hours before going for a 3.9 mile run, chugging from my Nalgene doesn't figure in.  Well, it used to when it was blazing hot outside.  So lesson number one, as an old hairdresser used to say:  "Drink Ya Water!!!"

2.    When swimming, it is necessary to continue exhaling air as your face comes out of the water to take a breath.  If only I had a switch that I could flip to change my breathing patterns:  water mode and land mode.  After not swimming for three months I've finally gotten back in the water--and promptly forgotten how to breathe.  It will come back I trust.  Soon, I hope, because I have a lot of improvement to make on my hip rotation and freestyle stroke.

3.     Finding time to swim, bike and run is not easy.  Actually, if I only wanted to one of each in a week, that's easy.  But I like getting a run in three days a week, and I should hit the pool twice if I hope to nail that all important breathing concept, and as I mentioned before, I love my bike.  Oh, and there's my yoga classes and boot camp for strength training.  And there is a little thing called rest.  But maybe since I'm not really training for anything, won't be until the new year, maybe one of each will suffice.

 

 

Craving bricks

I went to sleep last night craving kale and woke up this morning fiending for a brick--workout that is.  I'm not sure what my body is trying to tell me--eat more veggies?  Get in the pool?  Maintain your fitness?

So I got up before the crack and got myself to a spin class where the hour went by so fast that when the instructor asked if anyone wanted another hour my hand shot up--she was kidding.  I was not.  But I came prepared.  After the spin sesson I traded my bike shoes for my running shoes and got on the treadmill for a quick 20 minute run.  It felt so good!!!  The best part was challenging myself a bit by running 3/4 of a mile at 8:06 pace.  The rest of the run was a very comfortable 8:50 pace at a slight incline.

As good as this morning felt, I'm not ready to resign myself to indoor workouts quite yet.  I've got the Trekwomen Breast Cancer Awareness 25mile bike ride on Saturday and I'll try to hit some of the Fleet Feet Dawn and Dusk group runs.  And while an open water swim is off the table till next spring, I'm so inspired by Mary Egger's swim stroke that I'll be hitting the pool sooner than later.  Can't wait!