Saturday, 3/30 - first outdoor hill ride of the season

I let myself sleep in a tad bit Saturday morning and when I got up, I got my things together (that I had obviously prepared the night before! If you know me at all!) to drive out to the South Barrington/Algonquin area. This is about a 1 hour 15 drive from my apartment.

It was going to work out nicely because my parents were having the family over for a belated Passover dinner that also worked out to be my birthday celebration.

Anyway, I got to Presidential Park and prepared for my 3 hour ride. I was a bit nervous because I had only been out there once before, last year, and I wasn't sure if I'd remember the loop and streets we had taken. Thankfully I did and there were a few small groups of riders around too. This made me feel a lot better because when I got there I realized that I no longer had a spare tube in my bike pack, having used it at my last tune up and bike fitting. Thankfully, I didn't need it! I sent my parents, who live somewhat close in Hawthorn Woods, a pin so they knew where I started and in the case, I got a flat and needed help.

I rode around the actual small park several times initially. It's flat and it was the first time I was using my new shoes and clips outside, so I wanted to make sure I felt comfortable before hitting the real roads. I started my timer for my warm up this way. However, I realized after about 20 minutes that I was in "run" mode, so had to change over to bike mode. ((This is why if you look at the attached charts, you don't see a full 3 hours.))

I think I rode the loop 4-6 times. I haven't figured out how to measure the miles in the loop itself, but here it is:

In between each loop set, I also would ride around the park so I could insure I would hit 3 hours, but also be done with those three hours near my car and not half way back through the loop!!

After the first hour, I kept thinking, "Oh my gosh, this is going to take a long time", but then I got into a rhythm and it wasn't too bad.

Afterwards, I went to my parents house, had a snack, a nap and a shower and then celebrated Passover with the family until about 8:15pm when I drove back to the city.

3/29 Friday recovery run

1 hour recovery treadmill run after last night's threshold test felt great!

It felt good to get some miles in, but not be super tired afterwards!!

I ran before work at Highland Landmark 1 before our weekly meeting at the propety. I was supposed to do 39 minutes of strength afterwards but I didn't have time with the time I arrived and my meeting start time. I may make it up this weekend.. We'll see!!

Wednesday: bike & swim

I made up the fact I missed my Tuesday morning swim on Wednesday night. It was a relatively easy one hour bike and I was able to get home from work to do it before swimming starting at 7:30pm.

I'm not going to lie though, it was tough to do a one hour bike followed by a 1.5 hour swim.

I finished the bike, grabbed a banana and we sped over to North side Prep High School.

MB was coaching Nd while it wasn't an impossible workout, it was a tough 2 miles!

There weren't more than 4-5 of us at practice and Dina and I split a lane and it was really fun! We would start at the same time (we had very similar paces, I may have been just slightly faster, but Im not sure). The beat part of the practice was when we did the 2-turn 50's and we went different due actions but both finished in the center; I loved that!!

The last set of (5) 100's was a disaster (we were super tired), but everything else was okay. We also worked a bit on flip-turns which I need to work on.

I haven't worked that hard at a swim workout in a long time- I don't push mySlf like this when I'm swimming solo- so it was good to be in a nice supported atmosphere but not as competitive as when my coach and other ladies are training.

Threshold test- bike 3/28/13

I have increased my threshold power (average watts) from 168 to 198!!!! I also maintained a 158 average heart rate.

Very, very pleased with this performance! I think it will bode well for my continued training.

Looking forward to dinner!

Women cyclists in Afghanistan

This is inspiring and awesome!!!

http://www.mountain2mountain.org/

Marine Corps Marathon

76 minutes after I started trying to get into the race...

I got in!!!

See you in Washington, DC at one of the country's most patriotic and inspiring marathons!!!

Tuesday, 3/26/13- yoga and bike (but no bike!)

I had prepared my clothes for both work and an in-home ride on my trainer before work on Tuesday, but my body said, "Keep sleeping!" so I stayed in bed and got 11 hours of sleep that night!!!

I skipped the ride and hoped I could make it up later in the week...

After work, I headed to Om for my weekly Tuesday yoga class.  It was a nice change of pace because Annie taught (Beth is on a retreat).  I think it's good to experience different teacher's styles and methodologies and I haven't been to Annie's classes in quite some time.  I enjoyed it and managed to get in a creeky, "is she going to fall?" headstand.  I haven't done one of those in about 7 months.  I need to get back on the inversion bandwagon because it's so fun!!!

After yoga, I met up with my friend Scott.  Scott is from Boston and was in Chicago for a case he's trying here.  Apparently he was doing a deposition on Wednesday.  Anyway, Scott hopped in a cab from the Loop and experienced Uncommon Ground.  We had a nice healthy meal-ish and caught up on the latest familiar news and I was back home and in bed by 9pm.

I also enjoyed this fun wine!!!

Good times, but no bike!

Monday, post brick sleep-fest!

Monday I had a day off and I took it very relaxed!

I worked a normal day, got home at a normal hour, ate a dinner that was prepared already via my First Slice meal subscription and couldn't keep my eyes open past 9pm.

Ride and Run "Brick", Sunday, 3/24

So Sunday was a long ass workout!  One of my first longer bricks where two disciplines were combined.

First, I got up around 8am (late!  yay!) to get on my bike trainer for a two hour ride indoors.  I ran downstairs, threw in three loads of laundry and came back up to my apartment.  I turned on Netflix on my AppleTV and watched "My Best Friend's Wedding" for the majority of the ride.  About half way through, I jumped up, ran back downstairs to flip the laundry and then finished the ride.

The beginning was brutal:  10 minute easy zone 1 warm up (no problemo!) and then 10 minutes of single leg drills.  This means you un-clip your left shoe and only pedal with  your right foot for 30 seconds, clip back in and ride with both and then un-clip your right and do the same on the other side.  You continue to switch for 10 minutes.  This is really difficult for me sometimes and can be tiring!!  It's a great drill because you can easily see the inconsistencies in your pedal stroke and it is beneficial...  After that, there was a 20 build in zone 2.  After that came 5 minutes in zone 3 and then 12 sets of 5 minutes in a low cadence (uphill simulation) and 2 minute high cadence recovery (downhill simulations) to give your legs a break/refresher.

After that, I ran back downstairs to grab and fold the laundry and MB drove me to FFC Lincoln Park on North Avenue to run on the treadmill.

My treadmill run was an hour and wasn't too bad since I love that I can watch "Real Housewives of Beverly Hills" marathons on Sundays!  This is a luxury we don't have at home since we don't have cable TV!  I ran for an hour and about 5 miles.  This was also intervals after a quick re-warm up:  7 miles at 10min/mile pace and then a 1 min walk; aside from the warm up I had about a 10 minute cool down, so I probably ran about 45 minutes or so total.

Afterwards, I walked over to Whole Foods to get a fab lunch and a few groceries and made my way home via The Gap and some fluorescent clothing purchases (with a coupon, of course!).

It was a pretty great day of being healthy and some relax too!!

New kicks!

I ran about 5 miles this morning (after a 2 hour bike!!) in my new kicks and I LOVE THEM!  I didn't have any discomfort, any pinching on my toes, sliding... nada.  I'm so happy!

They're also surprisingly fun and funky.  :)

Mizuno
Wave Rider 16 (W)
Shiny purple, orange and purple

Check 'em!

Reminds me of when I was a kid and got my first pair of awesome Nikes and I literally went to bed with them next to my pillow!!

Results are in from body fat test

I was told I'm "mildly obese" which I found more than mildly upsetting. Apparently I also have a high percentage of body fat.

A few clarifications were made based on age and that those with muscle weigh more than those without. I'm not sure how both add up together... But...

She also measured my shoulders, hips, waist, thigh and calf. I'm excited about keeping an eye on these to see how they change (or not). When I receive her email, I may post them-TBD.

I also had a VO2 test again on the bike this morning and it appears that my heart rate threshold has improved but I won't know for sure until the results are processed and analyzed and then I meet w my coach. It looked like I had better fitness since the watts required to get me there were much higher and the test felt WAY more difficult!

Shoe fitting

My feet... High arches, baby!!!

Stopped into Running Away for their 50% sale and decided to get some new running shoes while I was here. Trying stability neutral this time (something new) since I have time to figure it out!

Fat and weight test... up next

I'm sitting at FFC Pinegrove waiting for Caitlin to be done with her current client, so we can meet and she can measure my body fat percentage and weight.

This is very stressful to me.  More stressful than that first jump into the pool or going on a first date!  I just got off the scale in the locker room and I don't think the news is going to be good... 

I'm just off one of the most stressful weeks at my "new" job and I've been eating (and honestly feeling hungry!) a TON the past week.  Weight Watching, I have not...

Anyway, I think the only way is "up"- or rather DOWN on the scale.  I don't buy all the "you're building muscle and it weighs more", but we'll  see what a professional has to say about it.  My sweet tooth has been out of control and I've always been more of a meat eater-type.  I wonder what my body's missing to have such sweet cravings.  Anyone reading know??

Other than that, I am happy it is sunny today because I have really been wanting to go tanning. Not for aesthetics, but it's been a gutt need or something and while I'm waiting for Caitlin, I'm staring at the tanning rooms here.

Huh.  All to be seen!

TGIF, friends.

Thursday sprints with Max gals

I loved tonight's ride!!!!

11 sets of sprints: 0.20 mi and then 3 minutes rest. We had a really long warm up- I spinned for at least 20 minutes and cut my cool down a bit short since I was anxious to get home.

I basically came in consistently second but I felt great! I still think I don't "leave it all on the field" but I suppose that's okay for Ironman training.

My average watts were solid. Over 450 in the first few sets and then they'd range between 346-388 for the majority of the sets. The first one caused Ali to almost puke (the puke bucket was moved between us!) and I started out near 588 watts!!!

I kept calling Marni my "little bunny" because she is so fast out if the gate, as if I were at the dog races! Generally about half way, I'd catch up to her and then hold her off as she'd fade. The second to last set she beat me and everyone cheered- it was hilarious.

Tomorrow is a day off since I have another vo2 test on Saturday morning... I am heading to FFC Pine Grove for my free assessment with a personal trainer- who will no doubt be shocked at the quantity if body fat I'm able to retain with all this working out! ((I anticipate a bummer post about that!)). After that, I'm heading to Running Away to checkout their winter sale (50% off!!) and then Element Multisport for a ladies night.

Day of Happiness March 20, 2013

Check it out!

Get happy!

Details:  http://www.actionforhappiness.org/

Wednesday Swim 3/20/13

Michael suggested a new warm up for my swim today...

S wim  400 yards
K ick  300 yards
(I)
P ull  200 yards
S wim 100 yards

So this knocked out 1,000 yards of what was supposed to be a 2,400 yd workout.  After my warm up, I reverted back to my plan- sort of.  After about 30 minutes of swimming, I looked up and there was a 60-year old coworker of mine!!  He works out at FFC Gold Coast (his cardiologist referred him there) and we split the lane.

Super awesome to swim next to your coworker in a Speedo!  ha!  No really, he didn't stay in too long and then I saw him a few hours later at the office.  Nice, nice guy.

Tuesday, 3/19: bike in AM, yoga in PM

I got a ride with MB this morning to head to Train for an indoor, flat ride.  I warmed up for 10 minutes easy, calibrated the compu-trainer and continued riding for another 50 minutes for a total of an hour.  I was doing a cadence and HR combo workout.

I'm thinking it's good news that my heart rate really doesn't reach what my coach wants when I'm hitting the power numbers... I have a power test tomorrow night and a VO2 follow up test on Saturday.  A lot of tests.  I hope I pass!  ;-)

Monica was at TCS again and it's fun to ride next to her.  She is an excellent athlete, but doesn't take it all too seriously.  We caught up on taxes, jobs and the fact that I noted she told me about FFC and should get some sort of credit for it.  She was pleased about that!

Then I got ready for work and had a brutal day.  Lots of running around, lots of meetings and lots of stress!! We are doing an update to our own offices right now- while working in them- so I've been working to make it as stress-free (for everyone else) as possible.  My office is in the first phase, so I should have my desk back and computer, etc Wednesday morning.  The nice thing is that I got a bigger office!  Boom!  I'm also back on the sunnier side of the office which is good for me.

After work, I rushed north on the train and went to Om for an hour of Beth's class.  It was tough.  My body is getting less and less stretchy the more I run and bike!  Anyway, I know it's good for me even though it's a serious dose of humility to not be able to do the poses I once did with ease.  When we hit the floor poses on our stomachs, after I few, I just let myself fall asleep.  A 10 minute savasana was heavenly!

Monday run. Heart rate monitor, I want to stab you

I CANNOT STAND wearing my HR monitor when I run. It is painful, distracting and annoying. I do not enjoy my run and I am never paying attention to form or how I FEEL. Rather I'm a slave to this damn monitor and I really don't want to deal with it anymore.

Anyway, tonight was a 90 minute run on the treadmill at FFC North Avenue. I think I am learning the ways as far as parking, etc. FFC-NA has free parking for the first 2 hours, but after that it's $9. FFC-GC has paid parking $2.75 for the first 2 hours and $3.75 for the first 3 hours... so if I'm in and out in 2 hours- North Avenue all the way.... but if I've got a longer workout, I'm going to head to Gold Coast. At FFC-Pine Grove, I was able to find free street parking, so that's cool all together too, but their pool is awful, so I can't be for a pool workout (15 meter pool won't cut it!).

Anyway, tonight's run was 5 minute walking warm up, 10x 4 minute zone 2 build, 1 minute walking and then 6x 10minute zone 3 build with 1 minute walking. I know, this doesn't add up to 90 minutes, but over 2 hours. It confused me too! I just did the warm up, the 10x and however many of the 6x until I hit 1:25 and then I walked to cool down.

The best part was that I got out of there within 2 hours (unshowered, yes) so parking was free. No matter since tomorrow morning I have to be up at 6am to get to Train for an hour ride at 6:30am!!

St. Patty's 2 hour ride, strength and brunch with Melissa!

Sunday was action packed as far as Ironman training goes!

I woke up at 6:15am to get to Train with my bike for my two hour, 7:30am ride. I wanted to make sure I had enough time to find parking, carry my (27lb) bike up to the third floor and calibrate. I wanted to see how it felt with the new fit.

I was the first one there and totally ready for the ride to start on time and get in my full two hours. I rode about 31-32 miles. It was a cadence ride, so I would ride several minutes in a low cadence (60-65 rotations) and then recover for a shorter period of time in a high cadence (closer to 90-95). I was SO HAPPY to not worry about heart rate!!!!! Even so, I wore my HR monitor and I wasn't even close to the heart rates she wanted during the cadence required. I was killing it on power... YEAHHHHHH!!! In low heart rate zones, which is awesome! But also a big reason I want to do another VO2 assessment and a power assessment to see where I'm at after all this long, slow, low intensity crap!

After my ride, I scooted over to FFC Gold Coast to meet my friend Melissa, who is also training for Muncie this year. She had a long ride and I met her there at the end of her ride, so I could do my 30 minutes of strength training. Afterwards, we got cleaned up there in the fancy locker room and went to O'Donovan's on Irving and Damen for a delicious Bloody Mary and St. Patty's brunch. It was a great time and so fun to see a friend at the gym! I loved having a friend gym date! I honestly wish Michael was into that and was up for making that a priority in his life. C'est la vie! At least I have gal pals who are into it! :)

Saturday Swim 3/16

I arrived a few minutes late to our 9am swim, closer to 9:15 and split the lane with another swimmer who had already started the workout. It wasn't easy, but it wasn't brutal. My problem always seems to be that I cannot see the clock so workouts with a lot of time variations and MATH cause me some distress. I can see but I due to my goggles always fogging, I honestly cannot see the clock unless I remove my goggles. This proved problematic for Saturday's workout and I think Coach Russ wasn't super excited by my questions and lack of proper timing.

The workout started simply enough, but then was essentially descending 100s over and over.

I believe that I did the first interval at about 1:50 and then modified each following accordingly. There were a few times that my brain and my math skills left a little to be desired and when I would ask Russ, "do I go on the 1:45?" and he'd reply, "you were supposed to go on the 1:30" or whatever it was... After so many 100s my left shoulder was killing me and I was grateful he made a few suggestions for drills to correct the error and helped with the pain. (I was supposed to ice and compress and totally forgot...)

Anyway, I think in the end, after all my bloopers, I didn't swim about 400 yards of the total workout and overlapped into the 10am swimmers and just split the lane then with my own coach.

After swimming, I rushed to the cycle gym to pick up my bike (since I had forgotten to take it with me after riding on Thursday) and then went to my new gym nearby to shower, clean up and get ready to meet Michael for lunch at the massive North Avenue Whole Foods.

After that, we both went up north to Deerfield for a bike fitting. Greg took a ton of measurements and adjusted my bike more "aggressively" than casual rider- as it had been- and I felt good on it on Sunday. I'm still no convinced my seat is right since I'm constantly adjusting my bike shorts (??!!)@&&), but everything else felt good and I killed my threshold goals and power watts goals for the following day's ride.

Saturday night I was zonked and totally passed out!

Friday- day off!

I was in a recovery or "cut back" week this week, so I had a day off on Friday.

I had meetings in the suburbs during the day and a delicious work lunch at Parkers in Downers Grove and after running a few errands, I headed home to work from home.

At the end of the day, I was picked up by my friend Hugh and went to drink and have some snacks at Bar on Buena. It is kind of a hidden place, but super cool! I hope to go back again! When we got there it was just 5pm and when we left around 8 it was packed!

Thursday brick

I'm in a "cutback week" which means my workouts are much easier and I get more rest. It feels like a vacation from Ironman training...

Yesterday, I had an hour ride at Train Chicago Studios With the Max team followed by a 30 minute treadmill run. Doing multisport workouts on the same day, back-to-back is called a "brick". I have often wondered why it is called a brick: maybe because that's what your legs feel like afterwards?! ;)

Instead of using my heart rate monitor I did the ride based on power or watts.
Although my coaches philosophy centers on heart rate, I am becoming a bigger and bigger believer in power measurements, particularly on the bike. Heart rate may be better suited for running. The workout yesterday was a gradual hill finishing at 9.9%. It went up by 1% until 9% and then skipped to 9.9%. Between each course there was a plateau at 0% to recover. I really enjoyed this work out; it was an excellent ride for me. What I also found interesting was that with the eight riders, I started off at the back of the pack. But as the hill incline grew, I moved up the positions in the ride. This is important -not only for my psyche- but confirmed a lot of my training the past two months. I was able to comfortably climb the hill, keeping my heart rate low (my perception based on my breathing), and felt fine at the end of the ride. I think I preferred to start at the back of the pack and build up and finish at the front, rather than start off at the front and lost steam.

The run yesterday was a slightly different story. I think a lot of multisport comfort is based on "equipment". And part of equipment is apparel... I had planned well enough ahead of time do you think you wear my jogbra under my bike jersey but my bottoms were another issue. Of course I had on my bike shorts during the ride, but underneath I was wearing a pair of Under Armor "booty shorts". You know, the type you might wear to hot yoga. I figured, I would take off my bike shorts and just run in those... It would have been fine but I had some major "chub rub" happening on the run!! So what was to be 30 minutes at an easy 11 minute pace, became incredibly painful!! Lesson learned from yesterday- or rather a reminder- was that I really need to think about what I will be wearing, not only for my workouts, but for each leg of the race. Unlike other shorter distance triathlons where you wear one outfit for the entire race, at Ironman I will be changing after each leg of the race.

Friday is another off day this week, so I intend to rest, hangout with friends, and feel my wounded "thunder" (thighs)!!

Celebrate 125 years of Heartland Alliance today!

Check out Sid's message about the organization in the link below!


On this day—March 13—Heartland Alliance celebrates its 125th Anniversary, and since 1888, we've been providing the very services people need to end poverty and build a safe and stable life for themselves and their families.

Monday run, I would punch you in the face if I could

3/11/13

90 Minute Run... pretty easy, actually it was only really a 75 minute run with a bunch of "cool down" or easy jogging/walking at the end.

That being said, I was super annoyed and angry during this run.

I went to my new fancy gym and used their treadmill... it has a built-in TV and plug in for iPhones (not mine, I have a 5) and my headphones are wireless, so they didn't work either.  Neither of these are the reasons that I was so mad, I just put on BravoTV and closed captioning and attempted to zone out during "Real Housewives of Beverly Hills" and "Real Housewives of Atlanta".  Unfortunately, due to my erratic heart rate monitor, I was not able to just run.

The heart rate monitor that I use is wirelessly connected to my watch and my watch is also connected wirelessly to my foot pod to capture distance and pace.  The strap of the HR monitor is stretchy with a receiver that sends the data and it's hooked on and can be adjusted to chest size.  It sits below my chest and generally directly under my bra line.

This is not really a comfortable strap and it's their "new" model.  The old model, which was surprisingly more comfortable was harder molded plastic rather than a stretchy band.  Anyway, the strap sits under my bra.  It is not unusual for me to have to adjust it on my breast plate so it can send the data or read the data as it's under the center of the bra.  It also has created some super lovely cuts and now scabs (yes, you read that correctly) on the underside of my rather nice (in my own opinion!) boobs.  This is really not ideal for real life either since I do regularly wear a bra-- that's now sitting on scabs (eventually I supposed these will be my "battle scars"- it certainly could be worse!).

However, what made me increasingly angry during the run was the HR wasn't reading correctly, so from one second to another it would go from reading zone 1 to zone 3 and bouncing around.  This makes for a difficult and frustrating work out since I'm supposed to be running based on my HR zone.  I know my body well enough to know that when I'm running a 10 minute or less mile, I'm not in zone 1.  I'm probably in zone 3, maybe even mid zone 3.  My HR monitor was not conforming to this reality, so I found myself running really hard and then walking to get the right zones.  Plus, at one point, I thought it might be reading someone else's foot pod for distance and I got really mad then... but I eventually realized that the distance was in kilometers rather than miles!!

Anyway, after sending my coach a seething text (while running, mind you!), I will not be using the HR monitor for the remainder of the week as to not totally throw it out my car window!

Remind me of this in the next few months, please

Tuesday 3/12- 2,000yd swim

It's a cut back week so today I have swimming and yoga.

Yoga is not happening because I have late afternoon suburban meetings but I had a short swim with a 1,000 yd "time trial". I'm really never sure how fast to go, so inevitably I don't go that fast. I think 20 minutes for an easy/moderate 1,000 is fine.  It's March.  180 days left to train...

In other news, I was really confused by all the black stuff in my goggle only to realize that it was last night's mascara that I hadn't washed off my face yet.

Triathlete problems.... ;)

Joined a gym

Well I broke down & joined a gym this Sunday...  Well, I guess it wasn't a "break down", but I was really trying to save that money.  It's just become too much of pain to figure out when and we're I'm going to do each workout and where I'll swim if my schedule has a swim day outside of our team practices...

So $180 to join plus $79.95 and I'm now a proud member of Fitness Formula Clubs.  Well, that's not even accurate because they have a program going where if you work out 36 times in 90 days, you get your joiners fee back.  Um, no brainer.  That money is coming back to moi!

Actually, it's a good deal:  I can go to any of their seven city gyms, four of which have pools and four of which have free or nearly free parking for up to 2 hours.  They have towel service, hair dryers, shampoo, conditioner, razers, shave gel, cotton swabs, balls, hot tubs, steam and saunas, full basketball court, indoor track, tanning, massage, cafe...  So at the end of the day, I have to carry much less and I can get more easily get my workouts done!

All this, however, made me think that one of these days I want to add up all the money I'm spending on Ironman (maybe update an excel spreadsheet), because I'm sure it's totally nuts.  Anyone who thinks doing this they will "save" money since they're too exhausted to go out is an idiot.  (Read:  me!)

View from my swim Sunday 3/11

I was excited to try a new pool on Sunday... it was at Pine Grove and Addison, so really not too far from home and right off LSD.

I guess I should've asked the size of said pool... it was only 15 meters.  To anyone that swims, you understand immediately that this is not an awesome lap pool when your workout has you swimming closet to 4,000 yards.  Let's just say I got a lot of flip turn practice!!

I had to swim multiple 1,000 which in a normal pool is about 40 lengths of the pool.... this was considerably more lengths and super boring.

It also did not have any pull buoys, so I held some sort of water dumbbell between my legs that sort of helped them float as I dragged by body through the water.

After this one, I treated myself to 8 minutes in the steam room!  Also in hopes that some of the chlorine that now makes up my DNA would seep out of my pores!

The natural light from the skylight was actually really nice and would have been even better had it been a sunny day.  I can't complain about that!!

3/7/13 bike ride at TCS

Due to those two hard rides on Sunday and Monday my body is still recovering and therefore tonight I did a modified ride.

After a pretty substantial warm-up, the goal was to say in zone 3 but vary my cadence.

I went from 90 cadence for five minutes down to 50 cadence for five minutes. Then back up to 85 and down to 55- but keeping my heart rate in zone three which meant I had to use my gears to keep going.

Supposedly it gave my heart a break, but still worked my legs. The tough part about it was that the other riders were doing a different ride, and to me, seemingly more fun ride.

In total I was on the bike about an hour and 15 minutes and back home just before 9pm.

Ironman Ladies' gear sale

Fake it til you make it?

Training life pie chart

My coach sent me this pie chart so I have some reference and boundaries as far as training for Ironman goes...  

Perhaps I should have looked at this prior to starting this journey?!  

She added:  "If work or personal or family gets bigger, training has to get smaller. But your body is a pie chart…you are limited in how much life load you can take."

I have a feeling I will be referring to this often!!!

3/7/13 Day off! Midweek! What a treat!

I advised my coach that I had a friend coming in from Madison, Wisconsin and we had ticket to the "Book of Mormon" on Wednesday night so I couldn't do an evening workout.

Due to my exhaustion from Sunday and Monday's rides, I was also given the morning off!  Boom!

That being said, I'm actually looking forward to riding again tomorrow tonight!  I have my second triathlon of the year this Saturday... doing another hour long indoor triathlon.

10 minutes of laps in the pool
10 minute transition
30 minute stationary bike
5  minute transition
20 minutes on the treadmill.

Voila.  Then I'll be done for Saturday... but until then, I have a few more workouts!  

Tuesday, March 5 - 90 minutes of "running"

Was still so tired from both my Monday and Sunday (all out!) rides that getting on the treadmill 10 hours after finishing up 2.5 on the bike was brutal.

I "trotted" for 30 minutes and waivers between walking and jogging for an hour. Mostly walking.

I guess this race is not u like Tuesday morning: it's a mental game. I so wanted to get off the treadmill- alike the bike the night before- but I stayed on it. I didn't do my workout as written, but I put in the time.

We are now measuring my delta heart rate every morning since I was feeling run down to insure I'm not over training or more precisely under sleeping. It should be less than 20 and so far I'm okay.

Tomorrow night (3/6) I have the day off training to see "Book of Mormon" with MB & an d friend driving in from Madison!

Motivational quotes

"Endurance is not just the ability to bear a hard thing, but to turn it into glory".
-William Barclay



"Endurance is patience concentrated".
-Thomas Carlyle


"Athletics is a luxury"
-Roger Bannister

Bike trainer at home: 3/4/13

Currently riding in zone 1 at home watching "Biggest Loser" and eating dinner from a Tupperware. Yes, while on the bike. I was starving!! I'm bringing "race nutrition" to a whole new level! :-)

I'm on this bad boy for 2.5 hours tonight and cutting myself some slack!

3/3. Up too early for a 2 hour ride

I'm writing this from my bed on Sunday morning at 6:15am because I really don't want to get up for this ride. It's not that I don't want to ride, it's just really, really, really early!!

With the weather and cold, it's just virtually impossible to ride outside so I have to get it done when there are indoor rides.

My workout is below: slow climb for 10.5mi and then all over again. I kept up w the boys!! 1:06:16.
Inclines: 1%, 2.5, 3.5%, 4.5%, 5.0%, 5.5%, 6.0%
Average watts: 146-ish

I'll run some errands immediately afterwards and then I hope to take a nice midday nap!

Tomorrow I have a 2.5 hour ride on the books, so I'll be bringing my bike home w me to ride in my trainer in my living rom before (or perhaps after) work! TCS only offers up to 2 hour rides so I'd be cutting it short.

3,100yd swim. Saturday 3/2

I caught a ride with Michael before his orthopedic surgeon appointment to 9am swimming @NEIU.

Workout was the following:

Warm up:
400 swim
300 kick
200 pull

Main set:
(4) x 500 swim
30, 1:00, 2:00 rest intervals
Each 500 faster than the last: easy, moderate, moderate hard, hard

Cool down:
200 swim... I used fins!! Yippee!!

Friday 3/1

Super excited about not having to strap on my heart rate monitor today!!!

"Slept in" until 6:30am and I'm going to see my grandfather during my lunch hour since I'll be in Downers Grove.

It's going to be a great day!!!! :)