Ironman Kentucky Training- Month 2 of 8
Well, one more month down! Now I only have 6 months left of Ironman (IM) Kentucky training. It sounds like it's a long time, but then again it doesn't. I have to be able to come off a 112 mile bike ride fresh and ready for a marathon. As it is, a 65 mile ride is leaving me completely wiped out.
Here is February in review:
SWIMMING:
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4 hours
13,000 yards
Well, I pretty much did the same time and distance in February that I did in January. There was even one week where I didn't swim at all. I know... "bad Karen". It's just so easy to slack on the swimming portion when it comes so easy.
Until May I'll probably keep my swimming where it's at right now. Then in May I'll start doing 1.5 hours in the morning, one or two times a week. 3 months to get ready to swim 2.4 miles fast will be enough.
CYCLING
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Outside:
13 hours
190 miles
Inside:
13 hours
200 miles
TOTAL: 26 hours and 400 miles
For January, it was pretty much the same time and distance.
It was a pretty good month of cycling for me. Other than my weekday workouts, I got outside to ride on the weekends. I did have to do one 4.5 hour trainer ride though. WOW. That was physically and mentally though.
When I'm doing a workout that's hard... and everything in my body screams, "STOP", to keep going I think of crossing the finish line at my Ironman. I think about how every workout I do now, affects my race. If I slack off now, I'll hurt come race day.
Fear motivates. I'm fearful of the distance. I'm scared of having a miserable day when I'm racing. I'm scared of having to drop out of the race and disappointing everyone... disappointing myself. Fearful of all this being in vain.
So I'm very motivated. I WILL be crossing that finish line and I will not be miserable racing 140.6 miles. :)
Cycling highlights:
** 2-2-08: Brad and Jane went with me on a 60 mile ride. It was so nice of them. They are both really fast, but agreed to go my speed. The day we rode was beautiful and warm and we just made our own path. That was fun!
** 2-18-08 Jonny... my Iron-Sherpa... and I went and rode together! We headed out to White Rock Lake to ride the bike path. It was muddy. Poor guy had to help me carry my bike and what not to get around all the mud. Then, he helped us find our way back to our cars on city streets. I surely would have gotten us lost, but he got us back safe and sound. Even if we did have to ride hills I never knew existed in Dallas. HA!
** For some odd reason after an interval bike trainer workout on 2-20-08, I felt exhausted. Just dead tired. I saw a low in my training that week. My body was just tired. But I think only riding 50 miles the following Sat really helped perk me back up.
** 2-23-08: I went to Corpus Christi to visit family and I got to ride with a cycling club down there. I logged my fastest average on the bike there... 16.8. Normally on a 50 mile ride, I would log a 15.5 mph average. It was nice to get off a 50 mile ride and feel fine. My quads weren't burning. OH! And I finally went to Robstown. Never been before.
WALKING/RUNNING
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14 hours
75 miles
In January, I only did 7 hours and 38 miles. So, this doubled for me this month.
During the week I do short runs from 40-50 minutes. These I run.
On the weekends I do my longer distance, around 2 hours. The longer session I walk 5 minutes and run 2 minutes. I have gotten my per minute mile on these longer runs down to 11:30. Whereas I use to RUN a 12 minute mile. Obviously the walking is working out for me.
I even had a friend (Brad) join me for one of my 2 hour sessions. I logged my fastest time on that one. I really like having someone to run with... which is very hard for me to find because most people running 10 miles are not doing it at a 11:30 minute mile pace. Lucky for me, he's just getting into running so that's a good speed for him. I'm sure in a month or two I will be too slow for him.
Running Highlights :
** 2-24-08: I ran for 2:12 in Corpus Christi. I just went out the door and ran wherever my feet carried me. See, when you are running 10-11 miles, you don't have to mark out a path. Just run for an hour away from the house and an hour back. I have really enjoyed just getting out and running where I want to without a path in mind. I saw parts of Corpus I never knew existed.
** 2-14-08: Not sure if it's really highlight... but it shows my dedication. I was in the gym, on a treadmill, running.
** 2-26-08: Jonny, my dear Iron-Sherpa came and ran beside me at the gym on the treadmill for our 4 year Anniversary! That was so nice of him. He had to run later than usual and he hates running on the treadmill. But he did so, for me. We will celebrate our Anniversary this weekend by going to dinner... but again... dedication. I don't get to miss any training sessions.
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February was an easier month for me. I really found my groove and got into the routine of everything.
I also have a nice groove going with my coach. It's great... I just ask him, "can I do this race... training session... etc." and he tells me yes or no. I like being told what to do training wise. I don't think about what I have to do when. I just do it. I also like him telling me what races are good and fit into my training and which races do not.
In February I didn't train for 3 out of 29 days. So, only 3 days in the month were days where I didn't do anything training wise. Although, I'm getting to where I like to routine of training. I have even wanted to get up and go swim in the mornings, for the most part. HA!
So March will be a new month! Now my base building phase is over, I get into the REAL training! I will start getting recovery weeks were my volume is reduced to let my body recover. Recovery weeks... SOUND LIKE HEAVEN!
Well, if you read ALL of that. THANK YOU! I know it was long.
