Really a pretty good quality week of training for me. I feel like I got everything I needed out of the week. As I prepare for my upcoming events, I believe I am mentally and physically ready for the challenges that lie ahead. This week was pretty normal in training except on Wednesday I had to head indoors to the "DREADMILL" to do a track work out. Not particularly fond of the treadmills in the first place but to spend my biggest track workout to date on one, was not my ideal workout.
For the treadmill I was scheduled to do 10 x 800's. I knew I was going to be solo with this, so I had mentally prepared to handle this. I went to the track first and lightning detoured my workout to the Y. I got in and signed up a treadmill. Normally when I go to the Y, knowing I am going to be on a treadmill, I will wear a long sleeve shirt to save on the sweat spray that comes from me. I am a sweaty pig when I workout. This time I had on short sleeve and the treadmills next to me paid for it. Sweat was dripping from the treadmill, it was on the two treadmills next to me, it was on the belt, puddled in the cup holders. Pretty disgusting! I know it is but, it makes me think I am working hard! Anyway, I got started on the workout and successfully nailed 10, 800s all between 3:06 and 3:12. After number 10, I decided, what the heck, I will do one more for good measure. I ended with 11 x 800's and 9.5 miles in 15 minutes. Even though I had to head inside due to weather, I felt like I had a pretty good work out!
On Thursday night I was lucky enough to get outside and try my new Xterra wetsuit out. I literally got it out of the mail and headed to the lake. This was a brand new experience, open water, it is a bit different. My swim was fine, I will be ok with that part. However, I had a bit of equilibrium problem when I made it back to shore. I would get a bit dizzy when I stand up and it goes away fairly quick but hope it does not cause to man y problems. Secondly, I had a pretty good run that morning and my legs cramped on me several times. I know that won't continue to happen on race day because I know I will be ready.
Today I was able to get my last big workout in before the taper starts this week. I was able to get 20 miles on the bike using the spinervals dvd I have and jumped off and headed out for five miles on the road. My legs really responded well today. It did not take long to get them back on the run. My transition was a bit longer than I like as I had to wait for the GPS to kick in on my watch. I felt pretty good most of the run. I saw Jon Byrne at about mile two, nice little inspirational hello from him helped me dig a little deeper! After my run, off to practice for the Backwater Gamblers Show Ski Team, gonna be a great year for that too!
With a big week of 100 plus miles behind me, this will be my most challenging week. Taper week! I know it is much needed but I don't like them, feel like I am slacking. I have my first half marathon of the year on Sunday the 13th. Tuesday will be my last longer miles and then it will be nice and light from their on out. 5 days of resting? That will be weird, I have not had a day of rest since April 20. Hopefully this will make me nice and fresh for the race day. I am pretty excited to race next weekend. After a quick recovery on Sunday, I need to get right back at it for a couple days because my very First triathlon at Bluff Creek Tri is one week later. I am really excited for that. I will have some really good people doing that with me, should be a ton of fun!
So this week will be a challenge to cut back and hold my energy for race weekend! I know I CAN do this, way to much training now to have any doubts!
P.S. Backwater Gamblers Season has started, first show is May 27!
Showing posts with label excercise. Show all posts
Showing posts with label excercise. Show all posts
Sunday, May 6, 2012
Monday, March 26, 2012
Week of Lows and Highs!
Last week was an interesting week for me training wise. I had some really good conversations with some awesome team mates of mine, yeah, Live Uncommon Team Mates! They are awesome and if you have not experienced them, you need to, wicked bunch of athletes, parent, friends and down to earth people!
I came off spring break last week with the a week of intense training, not my highest mileage training, but very intense. Thinking that coming off that week, I was going to be unstoppable in my training. However, I found quite different outcome than that. After running the St. Patrick's CASI race with the Live Uncommon team, I was drained. If you read my post, you know, I was a little disappointed in my outcome of that race but I also should have expected it. I worked my legs like no other during my "vacation", really taking them to their threshold for three days straight. Then I expected to race my best 5k ever, right out of the gates! Kind of foolish of me but I do always want to do my best and don't like failure. I did experience a little, but more importantly I learned from it. I was way over training. I was doing unneeded time in the pool, on the bike. I needed more track workouts instead of long runs. It was nice to sit back and look at what I had done and realize, OVER TRAINING! Funny, just a couple of months ago I was telling another friend he needed to cool it a bit. Needed to take my own advice! So I did!!!
Last week, I decided to just run and cut way back on the biking and swimming, the two spots I was really killing myself on. I only logged about 28 miles running and it was just what I needed. I even took Friday completely off knowing I was going to run 15 on Saturday. I felt pretty good coming out of the weekend and have put together a plan that should meet my distance running needs and adapt into the triathlon training as well. I am feeling pretty good at this point and hopefully this will turn that over training into some Pr's and a better attitude towards training.
I am going to have to invest in some new shoes this week as well. I am at 312 miles, since January, on my Brooks Ghost 4, love the shoes, did not last quite as long as I like but my frame, 5'11" 218 make it hard for shoes to hold up. I will get the same shoes unless anyone has some better advice for me.
This past weekend , I was also able to get after another favorite of mine, BAREFOOTING! Who barefoot in March in the Midwest? This did and now I CAN say I have been barefooting in March on the Rock River! It was not bad at all, about 62 degrees and having a wetsuit, made it enjoyable. Check out the picture at the right!!!! Need to straighten out the arms, but all is Good!
Kind of a random post but it is what it is! Last week was kind of random, taking time off, realizing reality, checking my mental capacity and being smarter about training! I am looking forward to being smart in this phase of my training now that I have a nice base to build on. Thanks to all the people out there who listen to my training obstacles and allowing me to make that hurdle and continue on. Get out there, train hard, train smart and see what you CAN do! I AM!
P.S. Don't forget to check out my Live Uncommon Race Team page and make a donation for 7, yes 7, FANTASTIC causes. If you would like to donate, you can also write a check to Live Uncommon in my name. Come on, YOU can MAKE A DIFFERENCE! Just click on my badge!
I came off spring break last week with the a week of intense training, not my highest mileage training, but very intense. Thinking that coming off that week, I was going to be unstoppable in my training. However, I found quite different outcome than that. After running the St. Patrick's CASI race with the Live Uncommon team, I was drained. If you read my post, you know, I was a little disappointed in my outcome of that race but I also should have expected it. I worked my legs like no other during my "vacation", really taking them to their threshold for three days straight. Then I expected to race my best 5k ever, right out of the gates! Kind of foolish of me but I do always want to do my best and don't like failure. I did experience a little, but more importantly I learned from it. I was way over training. I was doing unneeded time in the pool, on the bike. I needed more track workouts instead of long runs. It was nice to sit back and look at what I had done and realize, OVER TRAINING! Funny, just a couple of months ago I was telling another friend he needed to cool it a bit. Needed to take my own advice! So I did!!!
Last week, I decided to just run and cut way back on the biking and swimming, the two spots I was really killing myself on. I only logged about 28 miles running and it was just what I needed. I even took Friday completely off knowing I was going to run 15 on Saturday. I felt pretty good coming out of the weekend and have put together a plan that should meet my distance running needs and adapt into the triathlon training as well. I am feeling pretty good at this point and hopefully this will turn that over training into some Pr's and a better attitude towards training.
I am going to have to invest in some new shoes this week as well. I am at 312 miles, since January, on my Brooks Ghost 4, love the shoes, did not last quite as long as I like but my frame, 5'11" 218 make it hard for shoes to hold up. I will get the same shoes unless anyone has some better advice for me.
Kind of a random post but it is what it is! Last week was kind of random, taking time off, realizing reality, checking my mental capacity and being smarter about training! I am looking forward to being smart in this phase of my training now that I have a nice base to build on. Thanks to all the people out there who listen to my training obstacles and allowing me to make that hurdle and continue on. Get out there, train hard, train smart and see what you CAN do! I AM!
P.S. Don't forget to check out my Live Uncommon Race Team page and make a donation for 7, yes 7, FANTASTIC causes. If you would like to donate, you can also write a check to Live Uncommon in my name. Come on, YOU can MAKE A DIFFERENCE! Just click on my badge!
Sunday, March 18, 2012
Biggest Accomplishment Yet & My Family
Well this week provided some interesting thoughts, accomplishments, and some realities. The thought process going through any training process is sometimes mind boggling. You go through so many highs and lows it is hard to keep all of them real and not let them bog you down. At one point you accomplish something you never thought you could and the next, reality smacks you right in the face and starts to get you down. That is the hard part, getting back up after you get down. I think if you truly want to achieve your goals, you have to find a way to overcome those lows and get back after it.
This week, I did not have the huge numbers in training, like over a 100 miles for the week. However, I felt like I upped the intensity for three days getting in some good bike rides and runs. Trying to account for the St. Patty's day race in there as well it made it a little harder to get the big numbers but I am ok with it. I will get back to that this week!
Some of my big accomplishments for the week....I rode outside for the first time doing hills on Tuesday and felt pretty successful with that, the next night I was able to ride 40 miles and try pace riding. Those were big for me mentally after training inside for the winter. Secondly, I was able to swim a full two miles in one of my workouts in the pool. That is the longest I had gone in the pool this year too. Mentally, that was a challenge and I was able to really focus on form. Thirdly, I was able to run some mile repeats. I was able to record my two fastest miles ever, a 5:48 and 5:57. I felt really good mentally and physically accomplishing these goals. They were not necessarily goals I wrote down and set out to get but more like mile markers for me along my journey. Then came reality!
The reality set in yesterday about a mile into my first 5k of the year. I really set some high expectations into the run. I am not sure why I did this, being the first of the year, but I did. Probably because of my mile splits the other day. I kind of set myself up for the failure here but I am not going to be disappointed in my effort. I ran a 21:30, which is my second fastest 5k ever. I now know that I need to get on the track a little more if I want to be 5k ready. I have been training long distance to fast should not have really been it for me. Although, I did have some awesome help yesterday in John O'Brien, our LIVE UNCOMMON Team Captain, and Katie Gaffney, my REVOLUTION Race Teammate trying to give me a push. I appreciate that from them, I could not ask for better teammates! Considering this is the first 5k of the year, I will get my goal of under 20 minutes, sometime in the future, I know I CAN!!! I am going to take a little rest again today, as my hamstring is a tad tender this morning and I do not want to risk any injury to it. I will enjoy my last day of break and let it heal!
However, none of the above can even compare to the "Dad" high I had yesterday after the 5k and parade. When I came home, my oldest daughter, 7 years old, came to me and said, "Dad, I want to run those races like you!" For me that was my biggest accomplishment I could have had, my daughter wants to do things like I do, I AM setting a good example for her. If you know Olivia, she does not want to do anything unless it is on her terms, no pushing that envelope at all. Believe me, I have tried! When she came to me she was serious and usually she means it when she says she wants to do something. For example, when she wanted to join the Backwater Gamblers Ski team, she said "let's join" and that was that and she has been awesome at it. I expect nothing less on this venture. She was excited and we talked about it and she is going to run the Project Renewal Kids run on April 21st. I am so excited to see her take this on. Yesterday, she even ran about a mile loop around our house, I did it with her, pretty cool, for a dad! Last night she wanted me to wake her up so she could run this morning. I did let her sleep in thinking this would not be the case in the morning. This morning when she came downstairs, she was ready to run! Running shoes on, hair up in pony tail, ready to go! She went out for 1/2 mile in 4:13. So very proud of her. If it lasts, which I think it will, she will be good. If it doesn't last, at least I know she is thinking about being healthy and living that UNCOMMON life! I will keep you posted on her progress!
Until next time, see what YOU CAN do! Get out there and make it happen, nothing CAN hold you back if you BELIEVE YOU CAN!
This week, I did not have the huge numbers in training, like over a 100 miles for the week. However, I felt like I upped the intensity for three days getting in some good bike rides and runs. Trying to account for the St. Patty's day race in there as well it made it a little harder to get the big numbers but I am ok with it. I will get back to that this week!
Some of my big accomplishments for the week....I rode outside for the first time doing hills on Tuesday and felt pretty successful with that, the next night I was able to ride 40 miles and try pace riding. Those were big for me mentally after training inside for the winter. Secondly, I was able to swim a full two miles in one of my workouts in the pool. That is the longest I had gone in the pool this year too. Mentally, that was a challenge and I was able to really focus on form. Thirdly, I was able to run some mile repeats. I was able to record my two fastest miles ever, a 5:48 and 5:57. I felt really good mentally and physically accomplishing these goals. They were not necessarily goals I wrote down and set out to get but more like mile markers for me along my journey. Then came reality!
The reality set in yesterday about a mile into my first 5k of the year. I really set some high expectations into the run. I am not sure why I did this, being the first of the year, but I did. Probably because of my mile splits the other day. I kind of set myself up for the failure here but I am not going to be disappointed in my effort. I ran a 21:30, which is my second fastest 5k ever. I now know that I need to get on the track a little more if I want to be 5k ready. I have been training long distance to fast should not have really been it for me. Although, I did have some awesome help yesterday in John O'Brien, our LIVE UNCOMMON Team Captain, and Katie Gaffney, my REVOLUTION Race Teammate trying to give me a push. I appreciate that from them, I could not ask for better teammates! Considering this is the first 5k of the year, I will get my goal of under 20 minutes, sometime in the future, I know I CAN!!! I am going to take a little rest again today, as my hamstring is a tad tender this morning and I do not want to risk any injury to it. I will enjoy my last day of break and let it heal!
However, none of the above can even compare to the "Dad" high I had yesterday after the 5k and parade. When I came home, my oldest daughter, 7 years old, came to me and said, "Dad, I want to run those races like you!" For me that was my biggest accomplishment I could have had, my daughter wants to do things like I do, I AM setting a good example for her. If you know Olivia, she does not want to do anything unless it is on her terms, no pushing that envelope at all. Believe me, I have tried! When she came to me she was serious and usually she means it when she says she wants to do something. For example, when she wanted to join the Backwater Gamblers Ski team, she said "let's join" and that was that and she has been awesome at it. I expect nothing less on this venture. She was excited and we talked about it and she is going to run the Project Renewal Kids run on April 21st. I am so excited to see her take this on. Yesterday, she even ran about a mile loop around our house, I did it with her, pretty cool, for a dad! Last night she wanted me to wake her up so she could run this morning. I did let her sleep in thinking this would not be the case in the morning. This morning when she came downstairs, she was ready to run! Running shoes on, hair up in pony tail, ready to go! She went out for 1/2 mile in 4:13. So very proud of her. If it lasts, which I think it will, she will be good. If it doesn't last, at least I know she is thinking about being healthy and living that UNCOMMON life! I will keep you posted on her progress!
Until next time, see what YOU CAN do! Get out there and make it happen, nothing CAN hold you back if you BELIEVE YOU CAN!
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