April Round Up

... oh April. Full of ups and downs once again.

Swimming: 0m (0mi)
Cycling: 18.87 mi
Running: 27.57 mi
Lifting: nine sessions (3:30)
Other: one day skiing (1:30), one session stationary bike (:30), two walks (:50), twelve sessions yoga (5:45)

Swimming was a whole lot of nothing because, as I mentioned last month, my doctor didn't officially want me swimming with the thumb, so I didn't in order to let it properly heal. Which it is, so I'll accept that loss.

Cycling ... well, all those rides were outside on my gravel bike. The trainer sounds so horribly unappealing so I just haven't forced myself to get on it. The perk is that the weather is FINALLY getting better so hopefully a lot more outside rides can become a thing.

Running wasn't all that much, but I did not skip a single run day this month, so I'm really happy with that win. Along those lines, I actually didn't miss a single day in April, so another win there.

I did a mindfulness challenge in the MF app and while I technically completed it the first day of May due to schedule problems, I did complete it. It meant a lot of yoga, but I probably needed it.

I still don't have a lot of goals on the horizon - not doing that half in May I tossed around doing - glad I didn't sign up for it - but I did give myself a bit more structure in May. I've already gotten back in the pool once, so baby steps.

Race #1 of the Season: Salt Lake City 5K

... or maybe it's the Salt Lake City Marathon 5K. Not exactly sure. 

Regardless, I was supposed to run the half. Some Skirt sisters from out of town were coming in to run it and I thought it would be fun and a way to check out the local race scene ... and then I bruised my tailbone two weeks into training. And then messed up my thumb. And I didn't really run.

So, down to the 5K it was, and B decided to run it with me.

I found out the day before that Jessi and Kim also dropped down to the 10K from the half (and that they didn't realize I had actually signed up - oops), due to training fiascos of their own - I think time with Kim and an Achilles or calf flare with Jessi. In any case, we all decided we'd try to meet up beforehand for a photo (along with Anastasia, another Skirt sister who actually lives south of SLC).

Race morning comes and B and I drive down to the city. Since we were doing the 5K and not the half, we had a loop course as opposed to a point-to-point, so that made our lives easier. And we were thinking no gear check, but thankfully Anastasia cleared that up for us (which is good, because sweatshirts were very nice to put back on post-race).

We all figured out where we were and then met up for a photo.

From left: Kim, Jessi, me, Anastasia. Yes I'm tall.

After the photo, we split up since I needed to go to the bathroom and hit up gear check, but we got back in time for the start of the 10K (we went off 10 minutes later).

B and I decided we'd run together. He was maybe thinking sub-:10 per mile which I was realistically thinking was NOT going to happen (and it didn't). But still, we kept the walk breaks to a minimum and ran as best as we could.

A little over a mile in, we ran past Jessi and Kim who were walking the 10K (due to the aforementioned leg thing for Jessi) - I came up behind and hugged them and then ran off ... and Jessi got a picture in the process.

Oh B and his calves ...

A little after this point, the two race courses diverged and we did a little lollipop loop around a park before heading back from whence we came. We were getting passed by people who did the bike tour (cold morning for that), but it was going pretty well otherwise. I had to do one last walk break right before the finish, but I was also able to kick better than B at the end, beating him by a whole three seconds.

Final Stats:

Time: 32:28

11/40 AG (F35-39)

57/425 gender

202/749 overall

Not our best race, definitely not our worst ... and a fun way to spend the morning. 

Clearly after we got our sweats back.

March Round Up

... so I thought I was maybe starting to figure my shit out. HA.

Swimming: 600m (.37 mi)
Cycling: 43.36 mi
Running: 22.34 mi
Lifting: five sessions (1:20)
Other: two hikes (:55), three days skiing (8:00), three walks (1:23), two sessions yoga (:20)

The tailbone did derail me for a few weeks ... and is the reason why the half I signed up for is now going to be a 5K I'm going to run with B.

What I also did was hurt a thumb (thought a strain; doc thinks a partial ligament tear) while skiing. Oops. So I've been doing basically shit lately.

I did get to Tucson early in March to go look at the superbloom and I got a few good gravel rides as well as a few hikes. But otherwise ... 

I swam once. I'm also officially in theory not supposed to swim with the hand unless I wear a brace, but eh.

I'm trying to get on the bike, I really am. But ugh.

And running ... well ...

Let's just say I'm pretty sure I'm in the worst shape of my life. Which sucks. Hard. I am doing a mindfulness challenge in the MadFit app for April which will be nice, and I'm maybe hoping to shift to a mid-May half (Dino Half has an ankylosaurus medal - mace tail! my second favorite dinosaur!), so I'm trying to keep with the running. I was considering a late May tri, but the way things are going, I'm not signing up until a week before if I think I'm trained enough. We'll see.

February Round Up

So I've slowly (maybe?) started to figure shit out. Possibly. 

Onward!

Swimming: 5088.72m (3.16 mi)

Cycling: 45.17 mi

Running: 30.58 mi

Lifting: 17 sessions (6:49)

Other: two hikes (:53), one session hockey (stick/puck)(:50), one walk (:30), one session yoga (:10)

February started out okay with a trip to Tucson - I got in a gorgeous swim (yard pool, which is why the numbers are wacky), a couple hikes, a hilly run ... and then I got back and who knows what happened. Shitty weather and February happened. I don't even know.

I have been able to salvage some of the month (until I did something stupid but we'll get to that).

Swimming got somewhat consistent the last week or so. I'm aiming for twice a week. Nothing much, but enough to keep the memory.

Cycling ... has been interesting. I would love to get out on the gravel, but it really hasn't been warm (or dry) enough for that. And I've got a weird pesky flat on the rear so there's probably something in there. I don't know. And the trainer ... is hard. Especially when there's nothing concrete on the schedule. I may do a tri in June (and definitely planning on the local one in September), but I haven't registered yet.

Running ... well, I officially signed up for the Salt Lake City half in late April. I know some Skirt people coming out to run it, so I figured why not? From when I registered, it gave me 10 weeks for a plan, so I got that all sorted. And my long run last week was actually meditative, something that hasn't happened for me in a long while.

I did a sculpt challenge in my new MadFit app for two weeks - which meant I was doing some sort of strength every day - but you know what? It felt good and I think it was a great kickstart for me. Now that it's over I need to get more going.

The other was nice. Not enough stretching (for sure), but the hiking in the desert was glorious. Stick/puck was fun ... except I fell hard on my tailbone (going 1-on-1 with B and didn't notice some kid and tripped over them and yeah). 

The tailbone has made it hard to do much. My last few runs have not been pretty since the jarring brings discomfort and alters my stride. I'm still trying, but yeah.

March I'm hoping to get both my bikes in for some work. We've already skied once and are hoping to get a few more days in there as well. I'm hoping for the tailbone to heal so I can get back on track with running. I'm mostly hoping to just be able to put in the damn work.

January Round Up

I would love it if I could figure my shit out.

Swimming: 2600m (1.62 mi)
Cycling: 51.67 mi
Running: 21.17 mi
Lifting: 11 sessions (4:19)
Other: two sessions skiing (2:45), two walks (4:30), three sessions yoga (:32)

It took a few weeks in, but I finally started to loosely plan my shit. Swimming has been tough - especially since half the time I go I swear the pool is closed. I think it's a sign I need to start checking out the other VASA locations to see how their pools are so I can have a backup option. Or just call ahead.

Cycling is an interesting thing right now. I actually did a specific trainer workout (oh good ol' Coach Troy) and holy eff did it highlight why my cycling was so shit last year. That being said, I only did the one and the rest of my rides weren't nearly as intense. I did get out once on the gravel and if it breaches 40 degrees again (or higher, god forbid), I may try again.

Running ... is hit or miss. I'm hating winter and cold this year a lot and the snow can stop any time now. 

I finally started up with my new app in terms of strength workouts and while it's not heavy weights (something I know I'm going to have to get into sooner rather than later), it is kicking my butt some, so I think that's a good thing. We'll see. I may do one of the actual challenges a little later this month when I know I'm not traveling anywhere and I can actually keep up with it.

Skiing is starting to get marginally better around here - finally found a resort we like. The walks were around Belgium (oh yeah we went to Brussels/Bruges) and the stretching has been really nice - need to keep up with that and probably do it more.

Mostly ... I'm toeing lines of not liking the way I look, not being able to muster up energy for anything, and trying deeply not to stress about it all because I know it makes it worse. February is usually a rough month (for all of us), and I'm hoping a few days in the desert to start it off might help things out a little.

2023 Goals

Ha, 2023.

We're a week in and I'm still not working off of a plan.

I am not signed up yet for any races. I'm sure that I want to race the local triathlon that takes place down the street from my house, but I haven't registered yet since I have no idea what distance I want to do yet.

(Part of me still wonders if I even want to race this year, but I also know I need something on the schedule to work towards.)

I have a loose 2024 goal (finally do a standalone marathon) and I'll probably return to the 140.6 distance in 2025, but 2023? Who the hell knows?

I guess my main priority for this year is to get BACK in shape and really take hold of my health as I turn 40 this year. I'm not doing all that terribly, given the state of the average American, but I know I can do so much better.

So there. I guess my goal is that. Turn 40 and become a person that won't need to rely on the system in 5, 10, 20, 30 years.

December and 2022 Round Up

... as you can probably surmise, 2022 wasn't the easiest year for me. But first, December ...

Swimming: 3700m (2.3 mi)
Cycling: 37.47 mi
Running: 23.71 mi
Lifting: 11 sessions (3:46)
Other: three sessions ice skating (1:23), one session erg (rower) (15:01), three sessions skiing (5:10), two walks (3:45)

December started off really well, but as it usually goes, the holidays hit and I swear stress floats in whether you like it or not. As a result, the last two weeks ended up being straight survival mode.

One monthly highlight was probably finally checking out a few of the ski resorts here (not my Winter Park, but what is), and skiing in hella powder, realizing that skiing the pow is a skill, and not one that I have. The other was definitely getting back on skates again and realizing just how much I have missed that. Hockey is a thing that needs to come back into both our lives.

As for the year ... I did not hit either of my stated goals. While I successfully finished IMLP, I do not believe I successfully trained for IMLP (although, if I finished, does that automatically I did?). I also definitely did NOT hit my time goal of 15:15. Moving during an IM is not something I would ever suggest to someone unless they a.) are way more type-A than I; and b.) have way more base fitness than I.

The main goal - finish out the year healthy and happy while having fun - is also kind of a miss. I'm healthy in the sense that I'm not injured, but I'm not happy in my physical body. Also "fun" is a word that's been missing from the vocabulary for quite some time now.

Swimming was a down year (if I miss 100k, it's a down year). Cycling was meh, and running was average.

Really, this was just one of the hardest years I've had, personally, mentally, emotionally, and athletically, and I'm just happy to have survived it.