November Round Up

November, as always, was filled with some ups and some downs.

Swimming: 700m (.43)
Cycling: 13.22 mi
Running: 26.53 mi
Lifting: 12 sessions (4:34)
Other: six sessions hockey (5:57), 30 walks (13:21)

For traveling most of the first half of the month, I'm not terribly upset. Swimming was low because, well, it's swimming, but I was also waiting to head to the pool for when B was home since we had to refigure out our membership through the weird program we have through his insurance. Should I have swum more? Oh absolutely yes.

Same with cycling. I can use the excuse that it got cold ... but that's what I have a trainer for.

Running, however - I continued with my every-other-day roll even WITH the travel and officially had my highest mileage month yet. Yes, at 26 miles.

I finished up my lifting challenge ... and then promptly pretty much stopped, so I started a new one at the end of the month (which I'm still doing).

Hockey season is still rolling for me and my friend Tarsh with Stomp the Pedal did a November walking challenge so instead of 1k/day or 30 minutes, I chose a mile/day. And successfully managed.

Given the abysmal swimming and cycling numbers - and already some logistical problems - I'm making the tough decision to pull out of Roth and defer it until 2027 (which I can do). I need to do a lot more research in terms of hotels and how to manage the race site - which is only made more difficult by it being in another country with a language that did not go so well when I attempted to learn it - and I'm already so behind the 8-ball with that.

And I really do need to figure out my shit. And since I'm essentially going from couch-to-140.6 again ... seven months isn't enough to get myself faster than I've ever been.

So, I'm being smart. I may, however, sign up for USAT Sprint Nationals, since I apparently qualified at Brineman. So there's that.

October Round Up

... was October better than September? Some.

Swimming: 1800m (1.12 mi)
Cycling: 22.33 mi
Running: 19.27 mi
Lifting: 19 sessions (6:17)
Other: two hikes (1:19), six sessions hockey (5:50), 17 walks (7:33)

Doubled swimming. That's starting to be a pain in the ass since the pool at my regular gym seems to be CONSTANTLY down for maintenance, but I try my best to still go.

Cycling ... is interesting. Especially because I need to figure out the saddle on my tri bike again.

Running ... well, I'm forcing myself to try to run a little longer and I'm currently back on my every-other-day roll (which I really do have to try to keep up so I DON'T QUIT).

Lifting was good. I actually threw myself into a tiny lifting challenge just to get myself back into it which was good.

As for the rest ... got out and leaf peeped a little. Hockey season is definitely in full swing. And the weather finally got good enough (and less buggy) to start walking again. 

November has started off ... okay. Already some slipping. But the first two weeks have also been RIDICULOUS (which is why this is late)(and it still continues through the rest of this week). But hopefully things can settle down a bit over the last two weeks. Hopefully.

September Round Up

... I read back on August's recap and the goal for September was to survive. So, did I? Let's see ...

(and shut it I know that the fact I'm here means that I technically did.)

Swimming: 750m (.47 mi)
Cycling: 15.21 mi
Running: 8.75 mi
Lifting: two sessions (:38)
Other: one hike (:50), two sessions hockey (2:31), seven walks (2:59)

This month had Brineman, a fuckton of travel, and some health issues (I'm fine; just something obnoxious that I'd rather not go into publicly ... but it did keep me from moving) and therefore ... it was terrible.

I feel so utterly out of shape - I might be in the worst shape I've been in in YEARS - and at this point, it's gonna be couch-to-Roth. I have, happily, moved both days in October so far (with plans for today as well) ... so here's hoping things start to improve.

Race #3 of the Season: Brineman Triathlon

... did I train for this race? Marginally. Was it better than last year? Eh. Is it still fun? Yes.

We had a lot of travel prior to this race (literally flew back home from Boston on Thursday, getting in early that afternoon like five hours before packet pickup started ... and that trip was a day or so after getting back from a different trip), but hey, we roll with it. And it's nice that it's around the corner so it was an easy peasy ride on the gravels over to packet pickup.

And an easy peasy roll out of bed that morning to drop our stuff off in transition.

However, I did stress out HORRIBLY going back to transition after coming back home for breakfast since B was racing and was a lot less worried about the timing of things.

(he also rolled back out of transition like 5-10 minutes after it closed. not for me ...)

I mean, I partially get it since we get kicked out at 8a and then the sprint doesn't go off for like 75 minutes, BUT STILL.

Getting into the wetsuit wasn't quite as bad since we actually did a tiny open water in them up at B's parents' cabin the week prior ... but I don't know if my nail luck finally gave out or if it's because the neoprene was old (... wetsuit was purchased in ... 2017? 2019?), but some chunks came out. Same with B. So I guess a new wetsuit gets to be purchased next year. Hooray?

Anyway, teeny tiny practice swim, back out, line up, go.

The Swim:

... the swim actually felt a LOT better than last year. Granted, the swim numbers have still been abysmal, but my sighting was a LOT better (even the Garmin map said so). The first bit around the little island seemed like it didn't take long at all and the worst part was the final stretch back ... but that was mostly due to the sun and not being able to see a damn thing.

But I didn't almost run into a dock this year, so there's that.

I definitely didn't run as much to transition like last year, but things were a lot quicker, which was awesome.

Time: 20:10.48

T1:

... I don't know if it was a less advantageous spot or what, but this was a bit worse this year. I dunno. I didn't like being on the other side, though - not as easy to help get the wetsuit dry.

Time: 2:10.36

The Bike: 

... when I looked at the times from this year as opposed to last year, I was a bit surprised to see that my bike was actually slower. They might have had us go a bit further onto the causeway, but not a full 1:30 further.

Although, to be fair, I think the headwind coming back was a lot worse. And the stupid winds that can be around our neighborhood can make quite the difference on the bike.

And apparently they did this year.

Who knows.

Time: 34:36.19

T2:

... this was ABYSMAL. I NEVER have transition times this bad anymore. I didn't even BodyGlide the toes (which I probably should have). Part of it was one of my socks somehow got tangled up in my race belt skirt (how it exited my shoe I DO NOT KNOW) and so I was freaking out trying to find it. Eventually, I did.

Eventually, I got moving.

But sheesh. Terrible.

Time: 4:11.53

The Run:

So. The run still isn't a 5K (or 3.2 mi - I forget what they advertise), but it IS actually closer to it now. It's more like 3.3 miles as opposed to the 3.5 it WAS.

We were thinking I would catch B on the run since he injured himself playing hockey about a month ago and running for him really hasn't been a thing (since we know he would get out of the swim before me).

Honestly, it was going pretty well - I neg split the first two miles - but did spend some time walking with B once I caught up with him because why not. I also shared with him my last two maple candies in case he wanted them (he did).

The reason the run course got closer to the actual distance is due to changes off the road - there's now a fire station - so we can detour off to get to the nature park more efficiently than before ... and it cuts off a decent chunk.

Time: 36:41.82

Overall Stats:
Time: 1:38:30.4
4/8 division (F40-44)
50/112 gender
159/277 overall

Eight overall seconds slower than last year. I blame that terrible T2.

I finished and waited for B to cross the line ... which he did, hobbling, and collapsing right after. Apparently he took a bad step soon after he entered the nature park and re-tweaked something. Thankfully he's fine, but it was a bit scary.

Done.

Sadly not a comically large oversized brine shrimp this year.

Local pro Skye Moench was doing the long course as a Kona tune-up and we saw her walking back home.

I would say I'd return to this race next year ... but the date changed to like two weeks later so it might interfere with us going to/being in Germany for Oktoberfest (since we're probably going to do that hockey tournament again). So ... maybe?

Anyway, always a good time to race so close to home - in more ways than one.

August Round Up

August was ... better in some ways. Worse in others. Read on.

Swimming: 4397.51m (2.73 mi)
Cycling: 52.99 mi
Running: 13.8 mi
Lifting: eight sessions (2:35)
Other: one hike (:22), one session hockey (1:29), five walks (2:37)

Definitely the most I've swum all year. And the numbers got weird because I attempted an open water swim up at B's parents' cabin and ... yeah. Attempt is the right way to phrase that.

Cycling was also fairly decent which is nice. Because it needed to be.

Running ... ugh. Let's not talk about that. Or lifting. Because I am mad at myself for that being so terrible. And we all know summer kills my walking numbers.

September is going to be interesting (has been interesting) for the first two weeks since I am insanely busy ... but afterward, I seriously need to focus. I plan mostly on surviving the month and then writing out a loose plan for the rest of the year in order to start gaining some consistency in terms of swim/bike/run as well as prioritizing strength work and ideally speed work before the true Roth plan starts in January. 

July Round Up

So, July. We have positives? We have fear? Read on ...

Swimming: 1300m (.81 mi)
Cycling: 28.08 mi
Running: 19.89 mi
Lifting: 19 sessions (4:36)
Other: one hike (:53), two sessions hockey (2:32), 11 walks (3:47), one session yoga (:25)

So. Some progress made. I swam twice! I cycled more often! (I think that was three rides). Running ... is still not long, but I'm doing it! I actually hiked! I DID YOGA!

All good things. 

But there's a reason for me trying like hell to focus on triathlon-specific things again and NOT just because I signed up for Brineman sprint again (because I did that, too).

It's because next year, on my birthday, I'm doing Challenge Roth.

If you don't know it, Challenge Roth is a full distance (140.6) mile race that is iconic and has been around for over 40 years. It takes place in Germany. Almost all - if not all - the speed records set at the distance have been at that race. There's a hill - Solarer Berg - that you climb single-file due to the Tour de France-style crowds (look it up on the 'gram). 

It also has a shorter time cut.

Most Ironman races are 17 hours with a few notable exceptions (Chattanooga being one at 16 or 16:30). 

Roth? Used to be at 15:30. Now? 15 hours.

I have never done a 140.6 race in 15 hours.

If you combine my fastest times across all disciplines (including transitions), I still have never completed 140.6 miles in 15 hours.

Am I terrified? Yes. Do I think I can do it? ... yes. I have to say yes. There's no other answer. I have to believe I can do it or there's no point. I've already paid my money. I'm going.

So wish me luck. And maybe more importantly ...

... wish me speed.

June Round Up

... you can probably guess by now.

Swimming: 0m (0 mi)

Cycling: 12.6 mi

Running: 17.74 mi

Lifting: 6 sessions (2:25)

Other: four sessions hockey (4:00), 19 walks (8:11)

I keep meaning to call VASA to see if their stupid pool is open (... I swear it's always closed when I try to go), but then I don't. And I don't swim.

I rode ... I think once for global cycling day and then again when I got my oil changed (will ride home and then back to pick up my car). But do I need/want to ride more? Of course. Do I? Obviously not.

And running ... is hit or miss. And mostly miss. And short. 

Lifting was the biggest frustration this month. I fucking know better, and yet.

At least July is off to a decent start ...