Update…Just one of those nights.

Well in case anyone is actually wondering… I did drag my exhausted butt out of bed this morning at 5:30 and got myself to the pool for my swim workout.  Today was definitely a hard workout but it was the kind of workout that really gives you confidence that the training is paying off!  Todays main set was;
4 x 100 FAST (1:14, 1:14. 1:14, 1:15) with lots of rest
10 x 100 Best avg/Short rest 1:30 pace, avg between 1:23 and 1:25

The good news is that I was able to keep all my 100's under 1:25 even with very little rest (5 sec) - this bodes extremely well as it's by far the fastest I've been able to swim for an extended period of time with relative comfort.  It was by no means easy but it makes me feel confident that a sub 30min half swim, and under an hour for my ironman swim is more then realistic.  During the fast 100's the bike/run workouts this week had my legs feeling pretty much done.  Not sure I kicked much at all since my legs felt pretty tired today.  But no complaints it was a solid workout and I'm really pleased with the results especially given the circumstances.
I kept it to one workout today though because after a long day teaching and massaging I just did not have the energy to get out and run on top of it.  Will most definitely be running tomorrow and looking forward to getting out on my bike again this weekend.  The duration of my long rides will be quickly ramping up… Ironman training is getting real now :)

Just one of those nights...

So since it's almost 1am and I'm wide awake I thought I'd throw in a blog entry.  Today I've managed to continue the solid week of training that I've been stringing together so far.  After a full day of work, I got on my bike for a super challenging and yet surprisingly not mind-numbing web cycle workout.  It never ceases to amaze me how I can be on my trainer, in the basement but it feels like I'm in an actual spin class even tho coach Sean is simply on my computer.  Such a wonderful concept and I find it extremely motivating. Pushed hard on the bike so my legs feel a little gummy but I think thats just a sign of good solid work :)
Tomorrow - well actually today's swim is going to be short and fast and likely quite painful - so I hope the legs can manage. But every workout I check off is a step closer to Ironman (116 days - YOWZA).  Not going to lie, I'm completely stressed out about it - but I am trying to remind myself that by the time the big day comes I will be ready.  I have awesome teammates who are super supportive, and my sister and cousin have already committed to volunteering on race day so they can be there to cheer me on.
I did manage to pick up a new bike helmet today. I was working at a school not far from Gears bike shop so I stopped in and tried a few on.  Turns out I really couldn't tell the difference between the Giro Savant (which I ended up getting) vs the substantially more expensive models.  The savant was quite light weight and wasn't too expensive.  The pricier models do have more ventilation but from what I can tell anyways didn't feel any (or at least noticeably to me) lighter or more comfy so I saved a few bucks and went with the savant.  It's a really cool looking matte black with white and red so will look awesome with my bike.
Alright going to try and turn my brain off so that I can get a bit of sleep before swimming in - oh a little over 5 hours…sigh…

117 Day's Until Ironman

Well the countdown is officially on and Ironman Mt. Tremblant is fast approaching. It's amazing that it seemed so far away but now it's down to 117 days and I know they are going to FLY by.  I've decided to blog after my workouts or after they are done for the day if there is more then one on the docket.
Today was a fairly long swim, got in 3.7k today.  Workout wasn't particularly hard, just long continuous swimming.
2 x 100 swim
      50 drill
      100 pull
      50 kick

6 x (5 x 100 1:50, 1:45, 1:40, 1:40, 1:35) alt each set swim odds/pull evens
100 non free wd
I was pretty consistently averaging at or just under 1:30/km which is pretty much where I would like to be at Ironman so thats pretty good.  Oh who are we kidding I'd really like to average a little faster then that at Ironman, but not much so this bodes well that I was able to do it this early in training.

Followed that up with a nap (taking advantage of a day with no supply calls) and then a 9k run which came in just at 52:15 which is a 5:50 avg.  Not bad at all, nasty headwind slowed me down and I was really just out for an easy run which is exactly what it ended up being.  Didn't push to hard at all - but got the run in which is always a good feeling. Weather was cool at about 11 degrees and overcast but pretty much perfect to run in!  Not going to lie during the run I was really thinking OMG how am I ever going to do an Ironman… it's just so seriously daunting.  Lots of cycling to do in the next 117 days.
Got out for my first outdoor ride on Sunday, it was nice to finally hit the road.  We rode about 55k to Erin which was quite a nice ride and had more then it's fair share of hills.  I know that I need to do a LOT of riding in the coming weeks but thankfully I've got a new saddle which made Sunday a whole lot more comfortable!

Luckily now I can kick my feet up and relax - tomorrow is a web cycle day but there are only 2 left and then hopefully the weather cooperates and we can be riding outside!  It's getting real now!!!!

Good week - so far...

Well - so far this week has been a pretty solid training week.  2 hour ride Sunday, 1 hour ride Monday, solid 8k tempo on Tuesday, 18k long run Wednesday and a swim this morning (Thursday) aiming for a 5-8k run tomorrow.  This weekend is a bit of a right off for me as far as training goes.  I'm working in Niagara Falls and it's some seriously long hours that don't really leave much energy left for training.  Which is why I got my long run done last night.
Turned out it was FINALLY great weather - little windy but not too bad (today was WAY worse).  So I arranged to meet up with Kim, and since her time was limited I got to Caledon East early and ran 6km before meeting up with her to run the last 12.  Turned out the 18k got done in 1:49… and it was a very comfy pace for me.  Pretty happy about that especially with the workouts that preceded it this week.
Today's swim was a long and steady one, but for some reason (maybe the long run last night) I just had very little energy.  Still got about 3k in this morning - and after a long day I'm pretty happy to be in for the night and ready for a quick run in the morning before a very long weekend of work.
Today I also dropped my bike off at the Bike store for a tune up - and apparently it needs new brake cables - excited to get it back and start riding outside - hopefully soon.  If the weather continues to cooperate I have plans to ride with my RTCC team next Saturday.  So hopefully this spring weather stays around!  I'm really sick of the trainer.

Back on track

Ok, so admittedly I've had trouble staying on top of this.  But I'm making it a new goal to post on here at least twice a week.  Today was a really strange day - woke up to go to the pool (and coach) this morning… and it was snowing, like really coming down snow.  So came home, had a nap (day off work today) and started on the errands/plans I had.  My intention was to wait out the weather in hopes it would get better.  And WOW - did it ever get better.  Temps got up to 11 degrees, and when I stepped out for my 8k run (after a minor disagreement with my Garmin - which I ultimately won) it was perfect shorts-tshirt running weather.  It was quite windy - so there were sections of my route that were not so much fun.  But - really - I'll take it over the cold, and the snow.  Finally able to run without a bazillion layers.
I ran 8k and when I started out today I was supposed to run an easy 45min and I honestly thought I was.  But it turns out I was averaging about 5:31/km which had me finishing my 45min run after having completed about 8km.  I was a little surprised, haven't been able to run that kind of speed in a very long time and especially not over that distance.  I didn't even feel gassed at the end - all positive signs that the fitness is improving and my run times are finally starting to come down.  Now I'm seriously thinking of signing up for the Toronto Half Marathon on May 5th as I think a PB could be a distinct possibility!
This weekend coming up will be seriously hard on the training plan - I'm heading to Niagara Falls Thursday night to work as an AT at the National Cheerleading competition.  It's basically 3 x 15-16 hour days and it's physically and emotionally draining.  The plan is to do a long run tomorrow, and then hopefully get a spin in on Thursday, but either way I'm brining my bike in for a much needed tune-up sometime Thursday.  Luckily - being away for the weekend means that I don't really need it so I don't need them to rush to get it done.  Fingers crossed I'll be riding on the road very VERY soon (the trainer is just so freaking boring and it has been a VERY long winter of trainer/treadmill workouts)
I'm hoping to get out for at the very least a short run on the weekend but won't be too hard on myself if I can't.  Sometimes work has to take priority.
I am happy that so far training seems to be humming along quite well.  Work a very long day yesterday but still managed to get on the bike for an hour after my 11 hour workday was finally done!  Small progress - getting little workouts done one day at a time!
Hoping for some nice weather for tomorrows long run - 18k or so would be great to have the sun and the warmth again :) It really is days like today that remind me how much I enjoy running - fingers crossed the winter is finally coming to a real end and I can get on with the business of training hard for Mt. Tremblant 70.3 and of course the big one - Mt. Tremblant Ironman on August 17!!!!  So exciting!

Ok - so while I've been pretty horrible about posting lately - no time like the present to get on track.  I haven't been running as much as I'd like up until a couple weeks ago.  This crazy horrible winter we've had just zaps my motivation.  It's unbelievable really - but I ran the Chilly half marathon March 2nd and since then I've gotten back on track as far as running is concerned.  Chilly was FREEZING - it was -20 degrees and wow were my feet and hands cold.  Took a solid 8k or so before they warmed up - so that wasn't fun at all.  But other then that I had a fairly good race.  My time was 2:08 and while that is about 11 min of a PB, given the minimal running I've been doing I was quite happy.  I only walked through the water stations - with the temps being so cold I didn't want to risk getting water all over my gloves or jacket - it was cold enough without being soaked.  The last few km hurt - a lot - but I kept trudging along and reminded myself that Ironman is going to hurt to so I might as well suck it up and get used to running though!  And I did - bit of a mental victory for me, and honestly since then I haven't missed a run workout!  Last week I ran 3 times (2 treadmill and 1 outside), and this week the goal is 4.  Yesterday was an unbelievable spring day, 9 degrees - no need for a thousand layers or a toque, gloves etc.
And today - MASSIVE SNOW STORM!!!
This winter blows - but I'm going to make sure I stay on top of training.  The countdown will happen regardless of how much I train, and race day will be here before I know it!  Before the BIG one - I have an 8km running race in April, another Half Marathon in May (looking for a good PB there) and then the Mt. Tremblant Half Ironman in June!
So far my swim is pretty amazing - was able to sustain under goal race pace for 2.4km yesterday - which is amazing this far out!
Bike - well the bike is coming along as well as can be expected - I've done 3 of 4 mega days (3 hour spin) with C3 and those have gone very well.  And this past weekend followed up that 3 hour ride with a 90 min run the next day (Sunday).
Definitely can't complain - I'm pretty excited about the way training is progressing.  And the more workouts I complete the more pumped I am to get out there and do more.  I have to say - yesterday was so nice it was almost painful to 'only' run for 45min :) I think I might have actually had a smile on my face the whole time I was running! It was just so nice!
Fingers crossed this is the last of winter so that I can get out and enjoy running and get out on my bike and ride :)  The trainer is tedious, and I've had enough of the treadmill (though will still use it for speed work) - bring on the outdoor workouts!

Worst blogger ever!

Ok - well apparently I'm not the best blogger - it's been a while. I've been training regularly but I have to admit that lately, the combination of being super busy at work and the weather has kind of zapped my motivation. I'm trying to do something every day and I do have a plan to follow it's just hard to get out the door when the weather is either super cold, or snowy or icy (as it is this weekend).
I've decided that tomorrow I'm going to really make an effort to get all (or at least most) of the planned workouts in.  It will be a bit of a challenge with the Holiday's this week but I think I can do it.
I have been managing to make my swim workouts each week as well as weekly crossfit so that part has been good.  I know I'm well ahead of where I need to be at this point.  The other thing I really need to get on top of is my core/strength training.  Again the goal is to get that in this week as well.
This is going to be a long journey so I'm not worried about it just yet as I really don't want to overdo it now and be struggling and burnt out later on as training intensifies.
I'm also going to really try to make sure that I keep up the blogging too… haha lots of goals (but notice NONE are new years resolutions)