Where have I been!

It feels like it has been years since my last blog post! I started this blog to show that women can work full-time jobs, be good mothers, and compete in endurance events. What I found is that all of these things are possible, but really difficult to do while also keeping up with social media!

My current schedule include waking up around 4:30-swimming, biking, or running until about 6:15, getting ready for work, sitting in traffic for an hour on my way to work, working all day, sitting in traffic for another hour on my way home, helping to get my kids in bed, and falling asleep exhausted to do it all again the next day.

All of this work does pay off. I ran the Green Bay Marathon in May, 2014 and came away with a PR of 3:57:48. My previous marathon time had been just over 4:12, so this was a major success for me!

Today I competed in an olympic distance triathlon, my first one since 2008. The morning was extremely foggy and the swim was cut to sprint distance for all competitors so saftey crews could keep a better watch on swimmers. It was my first OWS in a wetsuit and I’m still trying to decide how I felt about it. On the plus side the wetsuit kept me warm, protected from the lake water (yucky stuff), and buoyant. On the down side, it restricted the motion of my arms, and was a little heavy to drag. I will need to continue to practice my pools swims with extra drag suits. The bike went much better than I expected, and the run was fantastic. It helped to be so well trained from doing the marathon.
My times:
Swim: 14:51 (cut to a sprint swim by race directors)
T1: 5:21
Bike: 1:18:38
T2: 3:58
Run: 54:42
Total time: 2:37:28

Not the best times in the world but at least I have a new reference point for my next race.

My next event will be Steelhead 70.3 in Michigan in August and I am ending this training season with the Twin Cities Marathon in October.

Im currently swimming 2 days a week for about 2,200-2,400 yards, biking 1-2 hours 2-4 days per week, and running 5 miles two days a week. Getting prepared to ramp up my mileage in weeks to come before Steelhead!

I also think that it wouldn’t be right to publish this post without giving a huge amount of credit to my husband putting up with all the time, money, and energy that goes into training for these events. And for taking great care of our children while I’m training and competing.

Marathon Training Week 2

Monday 12/9/2013-This was the first day of my new job! I started out the morning with a 5:15 am spin class. Unfortunately, I do not love the early morning spin instructor. She plays pretty good music but she is not at all inspiring or encouraging. It’s pretty frustrating because I have no other options for other spin classes. I hope she was just having a bad day.

Tuesday 12/10/2013-Run day, 4 miles. I tried to keep it at an easy 9 minute mile pace but got bored and ran the last 2 at 8:30 pace. I felt good and didn’t have any soreness. I have no plans with my trainer this week because I don’t know exactly how my new schedule will work.

Wednesday 12/11/2013-Swim day! Got in the water early enough that I had my own lane for my whole swim. My new Ironman friend was in the water when I started and put the time clock at the head of my lane as he left for the day. This is what I love about being part of the marathon and triathlon community!

200 free warm up

4 X 150 (50 kick, 50 pull, 50 swim)

2 X 400 negative splits

4 X 50 Sprints

200 cool down

2,000 total

I think next week I might try to swim a time trial. It depends on how early I can get to the pool and how busy the lanes.

Thursday 12/12/2013-Run day, 30 minute tempo run. I ran a 5 minute warm up at 8:45 pace and then ran 25 minutes at 8:15-8:10 pace. I’ve never really understood tempo runs very well. The pace didn’t start to get really uncomfortable until the very end. I think next time I am scheduled to do a tempo run I will play with my speed a little more.

Friday 12/13/2013-Spin day, 45 minute class. That bad news is that the instructor was not just having a bad day on Monday. The good news, I didn’t even care because I knew I was going to be observing in the OR at work! I realize I may have to find other arraignments for bike workouts. Life is too short and my workouts are too precious to me to put up with an instructor I don’t like.

Saturday 12/14/2013-Rest day. I spent today catching up with my kids and cleaning my house after my first week of full time work in years. It felt so nice to cuddle with my boys! I also got some much needed Christmas shopping done with my kids.

As you can see, my kids were not so thrilled with being at the crazy busy mall and buying presents for other people.

Sunday 12/15/2013-Run day. It was only 9 degrees outside when I was ready to head out. Last Sunday it was about 25 degrees and my fingers were numb and then very painful by 6 miles. There was no way I would get through 7 miles with my fingers intact, so I took it to the gym.

I’m pretty happy with my time and how I felt during the run. I ran into my trainer at the gym and scheduled my next workout with him. I met another Ironman while at the gym and got some tips on peddle technique and cadence training. When I got home, I was able to spend the rest of my day with family and watch football! GoPackGo!

My RaleighBear wishes you a happy week!

Marathon Training week 1

Monday 12/2/2013-Started the week with a 1&1/2 hour spin session. This workout helped shake the last of the soreness from my legs.

I just happened to run into my trainer after spin and told him we were not on speaking terms. He pretty much laughed at me and I shook my fist back.

Tuesday 12/3/2013-Workout with my trainer which included squats, lunges, pushups, and some TRX work. Early in the workout I told him I still had a 3 mile run that day and could not be as sore as last time. We are back on speaking terms apparently. I’m sure I am the client every trainer hates. I whine and complain and try to sneak out of reps. Maybe my New Years resolution should be to complain less during my sessions (I’ll think about it).

After my session I hammered out 3 miles at 9:00 pace. This is about 15 seconds per mile slower than I have been running lately. I started out at a 8:45 pace but quickly had to slow down because I could feel my right quad knotting up. When I got home from the gym I stretched, rolled and iced my quads, and drank my beloved chocolate Vega Sports Performance protein. It’s the best tasting vegan protein powder I have been able to find.

Wednesday 12/4/2013-Swim Day!

200 warm up

2 X 150 (50 kick, 50 pull, 50 swim)

1,000 ladder (400 swim-40 seconds rest, 300 swim-30 seconds rest, 200 swim-20 seconds rest, 100 swim)

4 X 100 EBHE (25 easy, 25 build, 25 hard, 25 easy)

4 X 50 sprints on the 1 minute

200 cool down

2100 yards total

Great swim and I met another member of TriWi in the pool. Turns out he’s doing the same 70.3 as me.

Thursday 12/5/2013-Another upper body workout with my trainer and a 3 mile run. This time I was able to push the pace a little better with less soreness.

Friday 12/6/2013-One hour spin class. Not the usual Friday instructor which was a bit of a bummer.

Saturday 12/7/2013-Rest day.

Sunday 12/8/2013-Long run in the cold and snow. 6 miles with an average pace of just under 9 minute miles. I had to slow down due to icy roads and I was having a little trouble seeing because of the ice that kept forming on my eyelashes. I wanted to turn back early a couple time but toughed it out. The only reason I’m still running outside is to work on mental toughness.

The thumb and index finger of my left hand were numb for about 10 minutes after I got home. I will take any and all suggestions for winter running gloves. The rest of my attire was appropriate for the conditions. I thawed myself with the hottest shower I could tolerate and spent the rest of the day watching football!

   

Hope you had a great week!