Sunday Swim

After having to get up with the baby (17 months old) at 4:00am and not really sleeping after that, I DID to go my swim practice. I MADE myself go...when days like this come along I can only deal with things in tiny steps, so I put my bathing suit on and then my sweats and t-shirt then I packed my swim bag. So I had no excuses but to head out the door. Often times these are some of the best workouts I have. Today's swim, as with all of them so far, was drills, drills and more drills. I am not one for drills!! I like to just get in there and swim. Today because I was tired and still hacking away from a lingering cold, I jumped into lane 7 and led the lane the entire workout. So even though I felt crappy, my confidence was boosted a bit and we ended up doing 3000 meters!! Another positive focus...are you seeing a theme yet? I will post at some time a few things I have learned from the Strategic Coach that we follow at work. One of the biggest things I have learned is that when things are tough, focus on the positives...even the smallest little things can help you. It helps you focus, look forward to the next goal/challenge.

My First Tempo Run...

Today my training plan asked for a 10 minute warm-up, 15 tempo run and then a 10 minute cool down. The goal was to get my heart rate up to between 164-174 for the entire 15 minutes. Well, it took me several minutes to get up to 164...I felt like I was sprinting (for me) and that there was NO WAY I could hold that for 15 minutes. I think the highest I saw my HR get to was 167...but it hovered around 161 for the entire time. Wow...this was hard and I had to stay really focused on running hard to get that HR up there!! At the end, my positive focus was (b/c I was looking for something postive as I felt like I was going to fall over) that I am still pretty green to all of this and I am learning LOTS so that is cool.

Off to the pool tomorrow. I signed up for Sunday morning swims with the tri club. This is really all I can handle in the way of swim training. After leading lane 7 for most of the year last year, I just moved myself on up to lane 8 right at the first swim this year!! The coach said nothing so there I stay. Mind you I bring up the tail end of lane 8 and those boys are FAST!! Coach Brad told us we (lane 8) should expect to be doing about 5000meters at our peak training...GOOD GOD!!

Running Field Test

Well, I was up at 5:30am, snuck out the door and on my way to do my second running field test. The aim was to run 2 miles as hard and as I can while keeping my eye on my average and maximum heart rate. I was not as fast as the first time I went out (2miles in 16min 11secs) Today I did the 2 miles in 16mins 27 secs BUT my max heart rate was about 10bps lower than the first time...maybe I was not pushing hard enough...I WAS tired and not really feeling into it, but once I got going and got my music right, it felt pretty good. I do my very first tempo run in my entire life this weekend....15 minutes of pure hell...can't wait!!

Run, run and run some more...

I have it in my head that I have to know I can run a half marathon before I even tackle the bike. Well, I have been running A TON over the last couple of months and I now feel I could pull off a half marathon...it would not be easy, but I could do it as I am feeling strong with respect to my running. Tomorrow am my training plan asks me to do a Field Test where I basically run my tail off for 2 miles and record my heart rate and my time. I am looking forward to this as I think I can go faster than I did back in September. I received my package from my cycling coach last week...this puts knots in my belly!! I have to go in for a heart rate test next week and then the fun starts November 14. Sadly, I have not been on my bike since I did that triathlon in August...oops!! My bike is actually right beside my bed so I fall asleep looking at it and wake up in the morning looking at it...I don't know why I have done this, but I am looking to bond with the yellow cervelo any way I can!!

Haven't been here in awhile...

Well, I did not do the half in May. The weather was so horrible last spring, I just could not bear to run outside. Sorry excuse, I know, but the truth! So I opted for the 10km. Did not too bad. Entered and attempted to complete my first triathlon in June. The race was cancelled due to really bad weather...although I have been curious all summer as to why they did not let me know as I was heading out on the second loop of the bike. Anyway, COMPLETED my first triathlon in August and was thrilled! Was a fun day, the weather was fantastic, the scenery wonderful. Also did another 10km in September in Regina and ran it faster than I have ever ran a 10km. Pretty proud of that. Would have actually come in 6th in my age group if I had of ran that fast in May...but coulda, shoulda, woulda doesn't get you very far.