IM training... and the beat goes on..

[Running Mommy]

Well I'm just over a month out from IMAZ and the training is starting to wear on me. I had a solid week, but I did NOT want to do my long ride/run brick today.. But in the true Iron spirit I did it. I haven't recieved my new seat yet so I had the hubby put my mesh seat from the road bike on. It went pretty well. The seat is ok, but I still have some issues after awhile. My hoo ha's just do not like being squished in the aero position. I don't know how the pro women do it??!! Except maybe they are carrying less weight, so there's less weight on the nether region- if ya know what I mean....
Well I managed 14.77 mph overall which is right in line w/ what I'm aiming for. I want to do 15 mph. The course I ride has lots of rollers and gradual climbs of 1-2 miles. The weather was BEAUTIFUL today! It warmed to about 80 degrees. I'm a bit sunburned but thankfully no wind. My hubby took our son mtn biking and SWORE that it was windy, but I was in the same area and I don't recall any wind... maybe HE'S the weenie now!!
Anyway I came in from my ride and changed into my running clothes. When Tony saw me getting ready to get on the treadmill he was like "you aren't going to RUN now are you?!"... Ummm YEAH! So I only did 3 measly miles. I had planned on at least 5, but he was giving me the eyeball!
Went to Red Robin for dinner and I had a grilled chicken sammy and enjoyed the fries guilt free! Also shared a chocolate shake with my son. YUM! It's all about the rewards. For me it's not counting calories for one meal a week! But of course tomorrow it's back to grilled chicken, fresh vegees and fruit and whole grain pasta...

So here was my training log for the week:
Monday: Off, in nor cal for the bike race. Did do lots of walking if that counts?
Tuesday: 1 hour ride, 1 mi run to break in new running shoes
Wednesday: 1.2 miles in the pool- set a new PR! whoo hoo! And 3 mile run
Thursday: 13 mile run in 2:35, 1 hour spin on trainer
Friday: 2.4 mile swim 1:53. Pretty happy w/ that time as sad as THAT is!
Saturday: 100/3 ride run brick- see above- ride 6:49, run 35 mins

So on we go, another couple of heavy weeks then I'll be heading towards taper! All hail the taper!! I remember them well from my marathon days!
Thanks so much for all the support and encouragment you guys have given me! It really means the world to know there are people out there who actually are in my corner. Seeing as how there seem to be so many critics! Though I do have a great inner circle such as my husband, my friend Steph and my cousin Terrie. But you girls have expanded my circle, and that means alot to me!
Y'all have a GREAT week!!!
Denise
Oh one thing I forgot.. I had NO cramping on my ride today and think I got my salt "issues" in order. Kept making myself munch pretzels and drank all my carbo pro/ cytomax cocktail. Also took thermolytes from 3 hours on. I also tried the Nuun tablets and they worked great. After I went through my "cocktail" I filled my empty bottles w/ water and added the nuun tablets. It got me through well hydrated and electrolyte balanced!
Oh... and I added two pic's from my ride today on my photo page, though I'm not happy w/ my big ol GUT hanging out! ha ha
http://photobucket.com/albums/a157/tony66denise69/?sc=1

[tprevost]

I am so jealous of where you live! I used to have this 25 mile loop from Shea out to Scottsdale (that was the 2nd time I lived in AZ!) and back around. Of course, that was before all the crazy building so I'd end up on the outskirts... it just made me happy to be there in AZ..... It tends to be on the warm side where we are (just a tad cooler than Palm Springs) but I always loved being able to be outside at night and be comfortable in my shorts/tank top!

You are doing so well with your training! I haven't swam in a wetsuit yet, how will that affect your swim? I know it adds boyancy but does it help w/speed too or reduce effort?

Fabulous job on the bike ride! Whooo Hoo!!! I think I'll have a tough time with those bricks; you make this all sound (& look, based on your pics!) much easier than it probably is!

Keep us posted! We're cheerin' for you!!!

Tracy

[Veronica]

Woo hoo - you go Denise!

I'm totally in touch with not feeling like training. The weather has turned crummy here. So lucky me - I get to do the 3 hour Spinerval tape again.

Not my fave. I have begun to loathe the warm up set. It's the same on all the videos. It's only three minutes, but it's the longest three minutes....


V.

[mommelisa]

Denise - You're doing great! You're really consistent, time wise based on your log below, I think you're going to do really well on April 9th. Yesterday's times were good - 3 miles in 35 after riding for almost 7 hours. Very, very good. I'm so excited for you!!

I'm really interested in how your nutrition works out for the race, too. That is one of the hardest areas for me, I tend to forget to get those early calories in and then I'm messed up for the end of the race. For Soma, I saw a nutritionist, and she told me what to do at exactly what time, and I was fine. I just followed her directions exactly! ;-)

Tracy - the wetsuit gives you a little extra boyancy and the pros always take time off their swims when wetsuits are allowed. I'm not sure that I would, I'm not the greatest swimmer! I have noticed, though, that I don't kick as much when I'm wearing one, its a lot more upper body. I hated my wetsuit at first, because I'd gotten one that was too small. It made me feel claustrophobic and I panicked the first time I wore it in a race. Ended up doing the entire swim backstroke!! lol. Then I got one that actually fit and it was awesome. Funny how that works!

Hope you both are resting today!!
- Melisa

[Lise]

Go Denise! Go Denise! Go Denise! YAY!

You are so cool. I am very impressed with how you're doing on the swim. You've got that part in the bag. I think that doing the three mile run was really important. OK, so it wasn't 5. But neither was it nothing. Sometimes the getting out there and doing it is more important than how much I do.

I know what you mean about the training wearing on you. A nurse at work qualified for Boston when she ran Chicago. So now she's training hard for Boston, and she's getting pretty tired of it. She looks great, though, strong and confident. And so do you. Your legs are so powerful! The gut...why oh why the gut? Like you, I have lean arms and legs, and a gut! Keep going. I am so excited to be cheering for you on 4/9. L.

[tprevost]

Why don't ya grab a ticket and come and cheer with us at the IMAZ???

Tracy

[Lise]

Why don't ya grab a ticket and come and cheer with us at the IMAZ???

Tracy

Hey! I just wrote that I wished I could do that in the other thread! Great minds thinking alike! I've actually pondered it. I am flying to the other coast on another April weekend to my cousin's wedding...still...I'm going to look at my April schedule. It would be so cool....so very cool....maybe... L.