Ok, can I just say I am a weather WEENIE! There is a real reason why I live in AZ. I like heat and I HATE cold!
So this am I get up and check our local weather stations website. "26 degrees feels like 21, 7-10 mph wind"... WHAT?! When did this happen and why didn't anyone warn me?? OK, I don't even have enough clothes to dress for that, plan b. Ummm do I have a plan B??! So I wait until 9:00- "36 degrees feels like 31"... ARGH! I can see my long ride slipping through my fingers. I'm imagining myself running after dark because I waited so long to get out on the bike. So at 9:30 I suck it up and pull the old steed out the door. I feel like the Michellin man in every cold weather cycling item I have- which isn't much. Long sleeve thermal jersey over short sleeve jersey, leg warmers, fleece c'dale gloves over my fingerless PI's, and toe covers. I coulda really used some ear warmers though! Brrr....
So I head up the hill and the sun feels good but the air temps are simply frigid, but I'm ok...Then I take the turn into the freaking wind. Holy Guacomole WHEN did I move to Chicago?? I expect to see Lise at any moment! You think I'm kidding??!!
It wasn't super windy- my guess would be 10-15 mph but it was enough to totally defeat me. I wanted to quit at 17 miles, then again at 30, then 40, then 50.... I FINALLY made it to 72 miles. I was going for 80 but I was already riding so slow I felt like it would take another hour to do those last 8 miles so I threw in the towel. My course up here is pretty hilly and my times suffered BIG TIME! Like 14 mph average big time! I HAVE to get stronger on the bike by April 9th or I won't make the cut off. The good thing about the race course is that it's flat except for the stretch up the beeline, but the beeline tends to be VERY windy- those yucky swirling hit you from every direction winds. OY!
72 miles- 5:00 on the nose. BAD!!!
So anyway I did manage to run 11 miles off the bike, but my nutrition was poor on the bike (didn't drink enough) so I felt pretty crummy most of the run. I did it in 2:16 - not good, not bad. I'll take it.

The rest of the week went like this:

Monday: 1 hour swim, slow as usual. Ok
3 mile run, legs SORE! SLOW!! 32:20

Tuesday: 2 hour ride. Good hard effort 31 miles
30 minutes strength training- stretching

Wed: 5 Mi run 53:11, good effort
1 hour bike trainer in evening- solid spin session

Thurs: 1 hour ride- med intensity 15.2 miles
1 hour pool- same old slow me

Fri- REST!

Sat: See above for carnage this day brought..

I made an appt for my baby to get a little tune up tomorrow, so I'll be off to the bike shop first thing. She was squawking at me the entire time. Chain is a mess! I was going to just clean it, but I figured I might as well take her in for a tune up since it's been awhile. The wrench at the shop was really nice when I called. He's fitting me in and "pretending" I had an appt since I'm in the middle of IM training and can't afford to be away from her for more than a few days. Cool guy for sure.

So, any advice from you vets out there on how I can get faster over the long distance. All I want is to average 15 mph. I'm not asking for much. But MAN it seems like I'm getting SLOWER!! argh!

Well, thanks for reading. Happy ride vibes to all!
Denise