Wednesday, April 24, 2019

Training for IMoo - Week Sixteen

Week Sixteen: 4.15-4.21

In which I continue to try to get back on track. Daily workout was accomplished every day. Hooray!

4.15

One sign that I'm definitely not back in my groove is that I keep shuffling workouts around. In theory I had a run and a swim on tap; that ended up being just a run. Three miles of easy/harder/easy and, once again, nailed it. 12:something, 9:something, 12:something. 

4.16

In theory, just a bike. Then it became a bike and swim (swim from the day prior). In actuality ... just the swim. 3400 done at the ass-crack of dawn - told myself I needed to be in the pool by 4something to get it done otherwise it wasn't going to GET done - and I was in the pool by 4:20am. I positive split the 500s of the main set, but hey, whatever.

It also killed me for the rest of the day which is why my bike got moved.

4.17

The previous day's bike got added on to what should have been just a run. I actually ran the whole first mile of the three steady I needed to do, so progress! It's a thing! Bike in theory should have been 20 miles with some hill repeats, but given my crap cycling lately ... I did not do hill repeats. I did climb the hills that would normally be climbed on said ride, but I did not repeat them.

2019_aprbike
I did, however, make the husband take a picture of me riding.

4.18

Swim and a bike on schedule, and both completed. I try to do my short swim of the week when I go to the pool with Brandon because he doesn't need to swim nearly as long as I do. This week, the short swim was 2500 of 50x50. It actually went pretty well, so I'm happy with that. The bike was a trainer set of Coach Troy and Dropping the Hammer. I maybe could have gone harder? Still figuring out how hard I can push myself without failing ...

4.19

In which I in theory should have done a treadmill set. The same treadmill set I hate. The same treadmill set I keep skipping. Oops. I was up early to take Brandon to the airport and then just felt vaguely nauseous all day. This has been happening and is not a good thing. I really need to figure this out ...

4.20

In which I didn't wake up early enough for my swim (so I moved it a day) and in which I really didn't want to get on my stupid bike ... but I did. I only did about 25 instead of the scheduled 30 miles, but I figured some was definitely better than none, so yeah.

4.21

I had a lot to get done in not a lot of time - met my parents for Easter brunch at 11 - and I almost managed it. I figured I'd do my swim first and then run - temps would have been better for running earlier, but I think I prefer an emptier pool over more ideal running weather, so swimming it was.

The swim was a workout I found on the interwebs - Linsey Corbin's strip set - and I've been meaning to do it for ages, but since when do I normally get up to swimming 4k? Oh right, in the middle of IM/10k swim training, duh. I didn't do the proper rest (... next time), but it went okay. First half of the swim was definitely better than the second half.

The run in theory should have been eight miles. If I had been able to run the paces I'd been running my long runs in, I should have been able to get in eight no problem. However ... it went terribly. One of the worst runs I've had in a long, long time and the first long run in about three months that I haven't enjoyed at all. Managed six (... if I had gotten in the full eight, I wouldn't have been able to shower pre-brunch AND I would have been late anyway). Yeah, I probably should have gone out later and done the final two, but I was so cranky at running that I said fuck it and called it good for the day.

*****

Well, I got in all my swims for the week. I was shy of planned running miles by about six and 5 of planned bike miles. For the struggle that is my life ... I'll take it.

Weekly Numbers:
Swim: 9900m, 3:39:54
Bike: 63.52 mi, 3:53:30
Run: 12.05 mi, 2:42:30
Strength: 1:14

Wednesday, April 17, 2019

Training for IMoo - Week Fifteen

Week Fifteen: 4.8-4.14

In which I almost get back with everything. Almost. I am back to doing the daily except when mentioned. Oops.

4.8

I did in theory have a bike on the schedule, but I was just still so dead from the half that it didn't happen. I managed my lift but barely. I may have destroyed myself a little ...

4.9

Run and swim on tap. The run was just 2.5 mi steady/easy which I managed with still very sore legs. The swim was in theory a speed work swim - the 1400 swim I had been doing with the 200 all outs? Well I'd upped it to 2k which meant two all out 200s. I did the swim but I didn't quite go all out on the 200s just in case (still sick yo). Definitely harder, but not all out. I felt that was a smart decision.

4.10

In which I FINALLY get back on my stupid bike. Had Troy's TimeTrialPalooza on the schedule and I managed it. I did scale it back somewhat as I hadn't been on my bike in a while and, well, sick, but I completed it AND probably could have gone a bit harder.

4.11

Another run/swim day. The run was 3 mi easy/harder/easy and I freaking NAILED it. The swim was double 1700 pyramid day ... also known as my first true long swim back. First pyramid felt easy. Second one felt good until I started working my way back down the other side. And my pull buoy chafed my legs. Dangit. Either need to start putting Vaseline on the thighs or (and/or) buy a new pull buoy, as mine is kind of beat up. Either way.

4.12

Woke up super early to take B to the airport and woke up right in the middle of a dream (bad point in a sleep cycle) and then felt absolutely nauseous for the rest of the day. Didn't even manage my daily. True complete off day.

4.13

Long run day of only 6 miles ("only"). Had a run up at Skirt Sports and didn't want to do the full 6 with everyone and ideally wanted to get up to Boulder with enough time to do it beforehand, but only ended up with enough time to do 3 prior so I split it (but kept the watch paused). Done with HR. Wasn't bad, wasn't good.

2019_aprboulder
Taken on the second half. Chilly day. Wacky weather. Clear prior; started snowing as I left Boulder; sunny like two hours later. Silly Colorado ...

4.14

Bike and a swim on tap. The swim had technically been moved from Friday as I didn't want to miss my long swim of the week. Had 4k scheduled as 40x100. It was super mentally tough, but I did it in about 1:35. If I can manage that at IMoo I will be ECSTATIC. The bike was shortened as I kind of delayed things and didn't have enough time to get in 40 miles before I had to go volunteer for BU's Global Days of Service (meal prep at the Denver Rescue Mission). I did, however, get SOMETHING in as opposed to just skipping the ride - and I pushed it while on the bike - so I'm counting it a win. Some day I'll get back to riding well again ...

*****

Successfully managed all my swims and runs; almost all my lifts ... it's just the bike. Dang bike.

Weekly Numbers:
Swim: 9400m, 3:30:40
Bike: 37.66 mi, 2:11:22
Run: 11.55 mi, 2:17:05
Strength: 1:08

Friday, April 12, 2019

Race #1 of the Season: Three Creeks Half-Marathon

A.K.A. the race that almost wasn't.

If you've been following along on the blog with the weekly recaps, you know that I've been sick for a while. And was blah for a while before that. As a result, I hadn't really run in two weeks leading up to this race and hadn't done much a good week, week and a half before that, either. And I'd spent the last week or so coughing my brains out. 

I was honestly wondering whether I should even toe the start line.

But, as I'd paid for it, and I wanted my post-race pancakes (damn you Flippin' Flapjacks for being so delicious), I decided to try. I told myself that if I had a bad coughing fit early on, I'd call it a day, and if not, I'd keep going.

Brandon came with his bike, so he hopped around the course taking pictures. Most here are him; some are official; two are mine. I'll note as appropriate.

While they were saying they were going to start at EXACTLY 7:45 ... we really got started like two minutes later. Whatever. I placed myself decently far back in the chute ... probably around the 3:00 pacers.

IMG_1054
Right as the gun went off. Photo credit me. Yes I ran with my phone.

IMG_1056
Starting out being mature. Photo credit husband.

First few miles went surprisingly well. I breezed past the 3:00 pacers as well as the 2:45 pace group and, much to my shock, even the 2:30s. 

10:27, 9:59.3


tch
Somewhere right around mile 2. Photo credit My Race Shots.

IMG_1057
Around mile 2.5. Photo credit husband.

I walked for the first time around mile 2.6. My left calf was a little tight, but not bad. I coughed for the first time in mile 4, but it wasn't a bad enough fit to justify stopping. Plus we started getting into some hills and a part of Cherry Creek State Park I'd never been in before.

10:33, 12:08

5K split: 33:23

Oh hey, now I know where I am. Back on the Cherry Creek Trail part of the park and right near where I crashed my bike six years ago. I also decided to swallow a few bugs near here and hack them up. Gross.

11:15, 10:32, 11:35

10K split: 1:08:40

IMG_1058
Around mile 7. Photo credit husband.

At this point, I was almost surprised with how well I was feeling. I was coughing a bit, but it wasn't bad. I was walk/running, but still able to keep my lead on some people I had passed.

11:34

IMG_1059
Just after 8? I think? Photo credit husband.

IMG_1060
I think around mile 9. Walking, clearly. Photo credit husband.

11:46

At this point, it was starting to get warm. And I realized I forgot to put on sunscreen. And I was walking quite a bit, and coughing a bit more. I think my residual fitness from the beginning of the year was wearing off and the lack of anything the past few weeks was catching up to me. As did the 2:30 pacers who passed me twice, the second time for good.

In short, the wheels were falling off.

tch2
Buuuuut I still managed to find the energy for a good jump shot. Mile 9.5ish, maybe? Photo credit My Race Shots.

10 mile split: 1:54:55

13:18, 12:48, 13:25, 14:07

I was trying to hold it together, but it just. wasn't. happening. We popped back on the trails I know so well ... which are also kinda hilly at that point in the race. I was dying slowly.


tch3
tch4
My general feeling. I did actually run it in, but it doesn't look like it here. Photo credit My Race Shots.

Final Stats:
Time: 2:35:26
30/39 AG (F35-39)
163/218 gender
301/378 overall

(Garmin: 2:35:29 for 13.23 mi)

While it's my ... third slowest? half marathon, I'm actually pretty proud of this one. It's the first one I've run in three years and that's the first time I've ran that much without walking in a ridiculously long time. I'm considering doing another half as a training run sometime in mid-May for a more accurate gauge of run fitness ... and when I'm not stupid sick. Hopefully. As this ... whatever I have ... is still lingering.

IMG_1055
Walking back up to the car. Photo credit me.

Wednesday, April 10, 2019

Training for IMoo - Week Fourteen

Week Fourteen: 4.1-4.7

In which I start off the week poorly and finish it better.

4.1

Brandon made me do a virtual doctor's appointment as I still wasn't seeming to get better. I learned that one of the medications I thought I was taking for my cough wasn't actually for my cough (the very gross, pseudo-margarita tasting liquid) and that I really needed to be dealing with the nasal spray stuff again. Cool, thanks. 

I did try running ... and got a fifth of a mile before I admitted defeat thanks to hacking my brains out. And getting really weird looks from a golfer nearby. Oops. Didn't even bother with the daily.

4.2

In which I admit defeat and do nothing but the daily. I was so jealous of B out riding in Tucson, but I knew that having a coughing fit on the bike could be dangerous, so I didn't bother.

4.3

We both knew we really needed to spend some time among the cacti, so we went hiking in Saguaro National Park West (first time over on the west side - we usually hang out at SNP east).

QJWT3787
Much needed for my soul.

I did not do the daily, however, as it was HIIT and I figured that was a terrible thing to do to my lungs.

4.4

We drove back home and, since I was still dying, decided to forgo the planned run. I did manage the daily when I got back home though.

4.5

In which we were considering swimming before the Rockies home opener, but decided against it given time constraints and how late we slept in (oops). Did get the daily in, though.

4.6

In which I run a half-marathon. Recap to come Friday, but I told myself that if I had a terrible coughing fit within the first 5K, I'd bail, and if not, I'd keep going. First bad coughing fit (that wasn't due to swallowing bugs ...) was somewhere between 9 and 10 miles and at that point I wasn't not finishing.

HELB2199
Photo courtesy Brandon. This was around mile 8.

I'm also super proud of myself that I managed the daily later, too. 

4.7

I had a recovery ride and a long swim on the schedule ... and I only managed the swim. And not the full length at that. I had 70 50s on the schedule and decided to do as many as I could ... I managed 30, which I'm actually pretty proud of. I fought hard to get even that many, but at least I swam again.

*****

I'm hoping that this is my last bad week of this crap and that I can get back to normal training in week 15 (spoiler: so far, so good ...), even if I scale intensity back a tiny bit. Brandon's official 70.3 training starts up as well so hopefully that will help kick me into gear too!

Weekly Numbers:
Swim: 1500m, 35:20
Bike: 0 mi, 0:00
Run: 13.30 mi, 2:37:55
Strength: :52
Hiking: 1:00

Friday, April 5, 2019

March Round Up

Oh March. You started off well and then I had a weird bout of malaise and then I got sick. Therefore ... you kind of sucked. Onward!

Swimming: 13000m (8.08 mi)
Cycling: 86.43 mi
Running: 40.56 mi
Strength: 30 sessions (4:50)
Other: two hikes (1:30)

So I don't know if I've talked about it here before ... but I sometimes get bike anxiety. Like I'm weirdly apprehensive about getting on the bike for some reason. It comes out of (seemingly) nowhere and hits hard. That hit this month. Also just the blahs, which usually pop in in February and clearly decided to join the party late.

And then juuuuust as my motivation started to come back ... I got sick. We're still not sure if it's allergies or bronchitis (or both? neither?), but I'm still fighting it. I tried running the other day and got a fifth of a mile before suffering a coughing fit. I in theory have a half-marathon tomorrow and we'll see how it goes ...

I'm hoping April picks up soon but I suppose that entirely depends on my immune system.

Training for IMoo - Week Thirteen

Week Thirteen: 3.25-3.31

In which everything is still terrible, but I kind of get answers. Sort of.

3.25

Ideally: swim, bike, strength. Actual: strength. We actually did try to go ride ... got a third of a mile from home ... and had the electrician call us back and say he was going to be at the house in like 30 minutes. And then stayed for a few hours. Sooooo no ride for us. But we tried!

3.26

In which I FINALLY manage a decent day. Did a Bluffs run with hill repeats and then got out on the bike for a little while. 

2019_marride

It was less than planned, but that's because I was feeling like crap. Remember that mucus thing I felt at the end of last week?

3.27

Yep. I'm sick. Managed strength but that's about it.

3.28

I had a wonderful 7 miler planned in Colorado National Monument since I was driving out to Las Vegas ... instead, I got in about an hour of hiking. Still not sure exactly what virus I have at this point (if any), but I'm coughing a ridiculous amount. It's terrible.

3.29

Sick. Coughing. Ugh. I do manage a bit more hiking though.

3.30

In which Brandon makes me go to urgent care in Vegas. In talking with a friend a day or two prior, I guessed I had bronchitis. Urgent care says allergies. In any case, I am given two shots in my butt and a few prescriptions. I don't feel much better.

3.31

In which I have the first day this year where I don't even bother with the daily workout because of death cough. THIS SUCKS.

*****

The funny (or super sad) thing about all of this is that my motivation finally did come back. It just came back right as I got sick. Stupid world.

Weekly Numbers:
Swim: 0m, 0:00
Bike: 12.77 mi, 49:14
Run: 3.24 mi, 38:04
Strength: :54
Hiking: 1:30