24 June 2012

Training Update

I fell into a nice groove after the Grand Rapids Tri, it felt good to have a good race and I rode that momentum for a while.  My numbers from GR helped to validate the time I've spent training is doing something.  I'm nearly where I was this time last year and the good news that I’m still 12 weeks out from IMOO.  I’m hoping that this mean there won’t be any “cramming” during my final build up this year.

Swimming
My swim training this go around has remained the same but I joined a new club that has much better pool hours.  I'm still swimming once a week for an hour but now that I can swim at 5am, it frees up my evenings for more family time and other biking/running activities.  
 
My main set this time a year is 10 x 200 on 3.  It's a hell of a set for me and I get in a boat load of work in 30mins.  I also do a 
little kicking and a handful of 50's for good measure, but other than a warmup/cool-down that's it.  I'm in, I'm out.  Just like Big Black's motto, DO WORK.

Biking

Biking has fallen off a little since the 1/2 in GR. It got stupid hot here and even though I thought I was recovered, I fried myself one afternoon attempting at 4hr x 4 mile brick.  I make lots of mistakes; too little calories, too many cals, too much water, too little, and probably the most painful, too much power.   

I can tell you what exactly what each of these feels like as the symptoms set in, so I guess it’s good that I’m learning something, even if it is the hard way.

Running
Still progressing.  My long run is still hung up at 11 miles but I'm able to get in a "long" one that doesn't destroy me for days.  They say Consistency Counts, so I'm gonna go with it.  The treadmills at work allow me to get in one 1/2hr speed session a week during lunch.  I'm all about 
lots of work in a little time, so I love me some intervals.  2min on, 2min off has been the flavor of the week lately.   2x2s aren't nearly as scary as Tabata Sprints on the bike (ala Chuckie V) but the body definitely gets stressed!

Ironman Muncie 70.3 is about two weeks away.  I have one more big training week to get in before I dial things back a bit.  Really excited to see how fast I can go down in Indiana!

Wow – that was boring.  I don’t even think pictures helped this one.  My bad.

Until next time.
Hope all is wonderful!

12 June 2012

Grand Rapids Triathlon (½ Ironman)


Swim: 27:45
Bike: 2:22
Run: 1:34
Total: 4:28 (1AG, 5th OA)

This race was approached much like the Triple T has been raced in the past.  The main objectives were to test the early season fitness, establish and maintain some self imposed limits  to train discipline and patience (HR, power, pace) and finally to make sure not to dig too deep a hole so I could resume my ironman build within two days of recovery.  This past Sunday I was mostly successful in accomplishing these goals.

01 June 2012

Island Lake Triathlon


I hesitated for a moment before submitting this one but then realized I promised myself not to sugar-coat any of my Ironman experience. Warning, brutal honestly to follow.

Race Report: Island Lake Tri - Olympic Distance (1.5k, 40k, 10k)

Executive Summary:
22:15 swim
1:01 bike (24.0mph)
39:34 run (6:22s)

Total: 2:06, 4th overall, 3rd in AG.