Ironman Kentucky Training- Month 3 of 8

[KSH]

Ironman Kentucky Training… Month 3 of 8!

Another month down! Time flies when you are having fun… or completely delirious and tired. J

March was an exciting month. It started with a bike wreck (minor!), led to hours on the trainer, lots of running, and group bike rides.

SWIMMING
===================
3 hours 40 minutes
12,500 yards (one length/lap down = 25 yards)

Swam a little bit less this month over February. I think my distance and time should be going up, not down.

I really need to join another morning swim program, but I have been putting it off. $60 a month for swimming is a lot. So I’m hoping to wait until May to join the other swim program. The one I’m currently in was $75 for the YEAR.


CYCLING
===================
Outside:
17 hours
260 miles

Inside:
10 hours
160 miles

TOTAL: 27 hours, 420 miles

Pretty much the same as what I did in February. I have attached a picture of me on the trainer! Just try to imagine yourself on the trainer, for 10 hours. That’s my life. FUN!

Cycling Highlights:

** 3-1-08: Rode with a group of tri buddies. We were at 50 miles, and the wind was blowing REALLY hard. There were 45 mph wind gusts that day. I’m sure you see where this is going… we got blown off our bikes. I saw two people in front of me being blown up on a big curb and I knew I didn’t want to go there. So I threw on my brakes and hit the ground hard on my right side. DUH! I should have unclipped my foot before putting on the bikes. Oh well, ended up with a bad bruise on my right side, and nothing else.

** 3-15-08: Rode with another group of tri buddies! I really have enjoyed getting to ride with people who are also training for tri’s and an Ironman. This day was NUTS! I rode the trainer at the house for 2 hours. Then I rode outside for 1.5 hours. THEN I rode the trainer again for 1 hour to get all of my time in for the day. That’s some mental training right there.

** 3-22-08: Another epic day. Rode with a group of tri buddies in the morning. Hills and wind! Then I went to a second group ride with my cycling club. Mostly wind on this one. My whole day was spent riding. It was a VERY HARD day of riding. If I had had my cell phone, and if Jonny hadn’t had a hair appointment, I would have parked it on the side of the road for him to pick me up. Mentally and physically, a 20-25 mph headwind can wear on a person after riding 60 miles in it.

** 3-30-07: Got to ride 4.5 hours, 70 miles, by myself on a 9 mile path around a lake. Mental training right there. When I got to stop moving my thighs were burning. A pain that is hard to describe. Ran after the ride for 1.5 miles (this is called a brick- to ride and then run). I was shocked I could run, and I even pulled off a 9:40 minute mile! This was my second brick of the month.

With all of that said… after you workout for so many hours… your brain kind of goes. You can only handle the basics. Ride… run… eat… move forward. Even when I run over 1.5 hours, I start to get loopy. I can barely remember when I should run… and when I should walk. I lose track of time. Again, only the basics.


RUNNING
===================
14 hours, 75 miles

The same was what I did in February. I would have beaten my time and distance if I had run on Saturday (3-29-08) like I was scheduled to do. But I was complete bum and did nothing.

Running highlight:

3-23-08: I walked/ran 14 miles with a 11:30 minute mile. My longest run ever. And it was cold outside and windy. But I did it. There was no way I was making 2:40 (2 hours 40 minutes) on a treadmill. I have attached a picture of me before that run.

Otherwise, this was a tough month for me. I really don’t enjoy those long runs. They are HARD. Mentally and physically. I’ve had this odd hip pain, and foot pain with doesn’t help me enjoy the long runs. It has to be done, but I don’t really like it.

Interestingly, I will only train up to 16 miles. So, when I get to the marathon (26.2 miles) on the Ironman, after I get past 16 miles I hit the “land of the unknown”. Which scares me. 10 miles is far. 10 miles is 2 hours for me. 2 hours of unknown on race day. But that’s how this Ironman training works.

=======================

March wasn’t easy, but doable.

I did get a nice surprise this month though! Jonny has signed up for his first Half Ironman in Austin , TX for October 2008! I am so excited for him! I can’t wait to cheer him on.

I also have another… my IronSherpa is amazing story for you!

Well, I have been using Jonny's Cyclops Fluid 2 Trainer since January. He wasn't using it all and I needed it for my IM training.

He came to the realization that he needs to ride during the week and he has to get on the trainer to do that. Unfortunately, I have been using the trainer on a regular basis.

Being the wonderful guy he is, he didn't want to affect my training efforts by taking the trainer away or trying to split it between two apartments... so he bought another one.

How sweet is that? What an amazing IronSherpa he is! Without that trainer, I certainly would be as strong on the bike as I am today and as I will be at my IM.

So… time presses on and so does my training. Every week it’s hard, but I get it all done. It’s only going to ramp up more and more. I am sure I’ll be amazed at what my body can do when this is all said and done!

Thanks for reading everyone!

PS- Have attached some pictures:

1) One picture of me getting ready to go on the cold, 14 mile run.
2) One picture of me on the trainer in the apartment.
3) One picture of a group I went on a ride with. I'm squating down in frong with a shirt with blue sleeves.
4) One picture of Gary and I. He's from Dallas and racing IM Kentucky too.

[Starfish]

Hey, KSH, I'm not seeing the pictures?

Wow, reading about your month makes me amazed and tired! You are so dedicated, and it is clear that you are training a strong mind.

I have been doing a lot of whining lately because our snow makes it so that if I want to get in any climbing of any duration, it is up/down, up/down, repeats of the same stretches of road ad nauseum. Sounds like you must have done a BUNCH of loops around that 9 mile lake circuit to get your 70 miles that day. Good for you!

Wow.

[KSH]

Sorry, I might have been editing when you were viewing. Try coming back to the site to see if you can see the picture. I can see them?

Yea, I need to hush up. We don't have snow. It could be worse. You hold strong during the snow and do what you can training wise on your trainer.

[Starfish]

Aaaah. There they are! Great pics.

I love that picture/painting above your couch. Is it a print of something famous? Did you do it yourself? I love it!

Hey, as to holding strong...actually, I'm not. I'm thinking of posting another thread about my change of plans.

I LOVE reading your monthly updates. It is quite something to see all your training written out like that, all at once.

[KSH]

Aaaah. There they are! Great pics.

I love that picture/painting above your couch. Is it a print of something famous? Did you do it yourself? I love it!

Hey, as to holding strong...actually, I'm not. I'm thinking of posting another thread about my change of plans.

I LOVE reading your monthly updates. It is quite something to see all your training written out like that, all at once.

Yea, it's a famous painting. I can't recall by whom at the moment. I bought it in an oil on canvas.

Hey, do what makes you happy training wise. Let us know what you decide.

Thanks for reading and caring. I really do appreciate it!

[Tri Girl]

Wow~ what a month! Congrats on getting in so much quality time- even tho is WAS winter and all. Jonny IS a great guy! Bought another trainer so as not to interrupt your training. What a keeper- AND he signed up for a half. Woo hoo!
Don't worry about not going past 16 on the long runs. The land of the unknown won't be too tough. The marathon is ALL mental (for me it was anyway), and you're so happy to be off the bike, that getting out there and running seems so "easy." 17-26.2 will be just fine, so long as your brain doesn't get the best of you (and knowing you how little I know you- your brain will be just fine).
Thanks for posting pics. I really love to see others doin' what they do. You look so great in all your pics- like you could go out there and do that race tomorrow if you had to (not that you'd want to or anything).
Again- congrats on your great training so far!

[Starfish]

Jonny IS a great guy! Bought another trainer so as not to interrupt your training. What a keeper- AND he signed up for a half. Woo hoo!

That guy gave her the Tarmac, too. Where did you find that guy?

[KSH]

Thanks TriGirl!

Well, trust me, I'm mentally building strength for those last 10 miles on that marathon. I can do anything I set my mind to. Keep moving forward...right?

Yea my boyfriend is the best. Very sweet guy. I'm very lucky that he found me.