Recent Posts
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Progress
I set out for a long run this morning the length of which are usually determined by my knees. They’ve been around 8 miles for the last few weeks. I feel like I can increase mileage, but haven’t had the cooperation I need.
Today I managed 10 miles. Knees were a little creaky, but nothing too bad. I just focused on form and that seemed to help a lot.
The last 10 miler I ran was last August - it took me 2 hours. Today is only took 1 hour 35 minutes.
I took a full 25 minutes off my time!
Even more important, towards the end I realized that I didn’t stop to walk at all. Ran the whole way!
Consistency & patience. It works.
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Kick some ass
(Source: mindy-fit, via be-inspired-to-be-fit)
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March goals check-in
Since we’re about 1/3 of the way through the month, I thought I’d check my stats to see if I’m on track.
My primary goal is to beat last March’s numbers. My secondary goal is to do 2 IM’s worth of workouts this month which I’m logging on my Ironman Challenge Facebook Group (which everyone should join join!!!!).
Running:
Goal: 31 miles
So far: 23 miles — yay!Biking:
Goal: 149 miles
So far: 87.5 miles - about 60% of total, yay!Swimming:
Goal 9 miles
So Far: 3.3 - On paceStrength:
Goal: 5 hours
So far: 2.5 hours - Yay!So far, so good. I hit a 70.3 on Saturday after the first hour of my long trainer ride. I should hit the 140.6 mark this weekend and have two full weeks left to do it all over again.
Swimming is a bit tough, last year I was swimming 3x a week, but I can only get there once or twice a week. Interestingly, I’ve only hit 9 miles in a month two times last year. Once in March and again in July, right before Timberman. That reflects the swimming problems I was having last year.
I’m glad I’m looking at these numbers. It makes me realize how far I’ve come and all hope isn’t lost. I might even be ready for a 70.3 in early June if I can scrape together the funds! I have my eyes on the former Mooseman race, it’s been sold & renamed.
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My morning workout partner AKA “Pete 90X” on Flickr.
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Swimming analysis
I started off my March goals well yesterday with a 2300 yard swim. I’m glad I finished despite sharing a lane with a girl who was passing me like I was standing still.
I can swim & swim but can’t get any faster. I’ve narrowed it down to the following issues to work on:
- My kick
- My pull
- My height
- My arm placement
- My strength
- My arm turn-over speed
- My form
- Low lactate threshold
So at least I know what to work on.
My goal is to swim more than last March which was 9 miles. Strangely enough, March & July were my highest swim total for the year with 9 mile on both, which is strange. Not sure why May & June weren’t higher when I was headed into Timberman.
If I swim twice a week that’s around 2000 yards each workout. So as long as I get in more than that, I can beat last year and set a new monthly PR.
On top of that, It also looks good for me to do a 70.3 in June if I can keep that distance/time up there for April & May as well.
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March training goals and funk-reducing plan
Ok, I’m holding you to this!!!
Yesterday, I wrote about my two month-long training & motivation funk. I’m determined to break out of it.
I’m hoping to do more milage than I did last March, which in theory shouldn’t be too much of a problem. Last year, I was still recovering my achilles and started my training from 0 starting in January. I should be able to put up the time & miles with no problem. But I’ve been skipping workouts and leaving early at the pool, so I can’t take anything for granted.
Being able to do it and actually doing it are two different things.
Here’s my March 2012 mileage I need to beat:
Running: 31 miles (I did 40 this month).
Biking: 149 miles (Did 97 this month)
Swimming: 9 miles (did 4 this month)
Plus 5 hours of strength (I did a big, fat 0 workouts this month)I’m getting two runs per week in no problem but totally have been skipping the long bike rides and trips to the pool. On Monday, I actually went to the pool and left after my 500 yard warm-up.
Here we go!
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Looking for the mojo
I’ve really been struggling with motivation for the last two months. The “I should probably just quit” kind. I can feel my fitness slipping. I’m weaker and slower and can’t go as long. My eating habits aren’t helping either.
I’m really hoping to turn this around in March. If I had the funds to sign up for races, this would be less of an issue. Without something to train for, it’s so easy to turn off the 4:00 am wake up call.
My goal is to at least match the time and/or distance from last March’s workouts. I’m going to need your help, guys.
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High Res
A reminder that you’re in control of your day. Make it work for you.
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Mini-breakthrough swim
Lately my workouts have been few and far between. We’ve had illness in the household including my husband’s pneumonia + I’m lacking motivation & planning because I don’t have any races to train for.
I’ve been feeling pretty terrible about my training (if you could call it that), my weight, loss of strength, lack of progression. But it takes but one good workout to help right the ship.
I’ve had the “Swim Workouts for Triathletes” book for over a year on my shelf collecting dust and have finally gotten over the intimidation of using it. While my workouts aren’t very frequent, they have actually been a lot more enjoyable and I finish them instead of leaving early and getting frustrated. Just the idea of having a plan instead of swimming randomly is a huge lifesaver. It’s nice not crying in the shower of the Y anymore.
The workouts call for “easy”, “moderate” or “hard” swimming. I really only have easy and moderate, and there’s little speed difference between the two. Hard is just me flailing about more, but I do raise my heart and ventilation rates, which is the key for being at threshold.
What I noticed today is that my hard is becoming less flailing and more controlled. While swimming hard I was more aware of my form and pulling while still speeding up my stroke rate. My arms were actually getting sore & tired which I think means that I was pulling the water better. They rarely get tired and never are sore.
I’m still not sure I’m swimming any faster, actually I’m pretty sure I’m not. But I feel like this is a little bit of a breakthrough for me. There’s still a lot of work to do. I’m so slow I think there’s something wrong with me. I see people with worse form going faster and I see people weaker than me going faster. I have no idea what the deal is.
I know that consistency is the key, so I need to just be sure I stick to a more frequent swim schedule and keep up with full workouts I might actually be able to do something with my swimming this year.
This one workout has erased the shit that has been my training this week. Time to look forward ,not back.
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How shoveling your driveway is like triathlon training
1) You need a plan. The bigger the job the more a plan is necessary. Otherwise you end up going over the same spot over and over again with little progress.
2) Proper fueling. Be sure that both you and your snowblower are properly fueled. You may be out there for MUCH longer than you anticipate, be sure you eat well before hand.
Although snowblowing is primarily a low-intensity activity and will mainly use your fat stores, some bursts of high-intensity from shoveling will be necessary. Be sure to have proper glycogen and glucose stores available.
Also be sure to bring hydration & nutrition along with you. Apparently you can’t expect someone else to say “Hmmm, she’s been out there for a few hours. Perhaps she could use a granola bar?”
3) Wind: Much like cycling, the wind will either work for or against you.
4) Consistency: There will be times when it seems like there’s no end in sight and you’ll never get out of this hole you’ve made. You may feel the wind whip the snow into your face and want to cry (many times). Endless back & forth laps.
Its at these times when your mental fortitude is tested that gives you the wisdom to know that your body can handle a lot more than you think.
Stick to your plan and focus on what you’ve already accomplished rather than the piles of work ahead of you.
5) Equipment: While high-end equipment may help to improve performance to a certain extent, it’s ultimately your engine that will determine your success. The most expensive snowblower won’t make up for your lack of physical fitness.
Sometimes your equipment may fail or can’t perform the job at hand. You need to have the stamina and strength to use a good, old-fashioned shovel when necessary.
6) Be persistent: Success is the culmination of many training sessions. You can’t expect results after one workout. You may need a day or two to complete your shoveling job.
7) Enjoy. People may be impressed with what you do, but they will never fully understand the trials and tribulations you went through to meet your goal. That’s ok. It’s you against you out there.
And that, my friends, is how you remove 2-3 feet of snow from your driveway.
