Saturday, September 18, 2010
Nutrition
Ok, it's time for me to get serious about my calorie, carb, protein intake as the mileage revs up. Anyone have any good marathon training nutrition plans??
Sweet Sixteen
This weekend marks a significant jump in my mileage. Sixteen miles this morning. After talking to some friends, I decided that the best way for me to make the whole 26.2 was to use the run-walk method. So, today I did the 16 as run for 10 minutes and walk for 1 minute. I really felt good for the first 10 miles as the walking helped to break up the time. The first 8 miles seemed to go by extremely fast. It wasn't until mile 13 that I began feeling fatigued, but I was definitely able to keep up the running while always looking forward to that minute. The route that Rick mapped out had some surprise hills toward the end and they almost did me in, but was able to finish without too much of a problem. With the minutes of walking, the whole run was at a 10:18, which isn't too bad for me. I had originally wanted to stay at a 9:30 pace or so, but am not sure that is going to be possible. I am determined not to worry about time. I can really say that I enjoyed this long run more than I have enjoyed any of the others, so that in itself is a success.
Now it's time to relax at the Redneck Riviera with some cool folks.
Here's my plan for this week:
Sunday: 8 miles at marathon pace. Will try for 9:30.
Monday: swim drills and core
Tuesday: 4 mile recovery run
Wednesday: 8 mile tempo run
Thursday: Easy bike or 4 mile run
Friday: Off!
Saturday: 17 miles
Now it's time to relax at the Redneck Riviera with some cool folks.
Here's my plan for this week:
Sunday: 8 miles at marathon pace. Will try for 9:30.
Monday: swim drills and core
Tuesday: 4 mile recovery run
Wednesday: 8 mile tempo run
Thursday: Easy bike or 4 mile run
Friday: Off!
Saturday: 17 miles
Monday, September 13, 2010
A Little Water Heals Everything!
I had a pretty crummy day at work today...just in sort of a bad mood all day. Thank goodness I had swimming on my agenda for crosstraining tonight. I always feel a little annoyed when I know I have to swim, but when I am done I feel soooo much better. It's not like running when you just have to get your shoes and ipod and start moving your feet. Swimming is a little more high maintenance, and since I was already annoyed...
However, by the time I got to the pool and saw that the outdoor lanes were still open, my mood quickly changed. The sun was still shining and I realized I haven't been out in the sun very much lately with all of this early morning running. I absolutely love swimming outdoors in the fresh air. I will be so sad when it turns colder and I am forced into that humid, noisy indoor pool area.
I did a bunch of Total Immesrion drills (which are getting easier, by the way) and then just did a few hundred meters of pure swimming. Overall swim time was about 50 minutes.
I quickly found out that my swimming fitness has definitely decreased. Since Musselman in July, I have mainly been doing TI drills to rebuild my stroke. It has helped my stroke for sure, but my aerobic fitness has suffered. I used to be able to swim a good 800 m or so without really stopping, but now I find myself huffing and puffing after just 50-100. I guess I will have to add one more swim day to my schedule for just some good ole' aerobic swimming in addition to my day of drills. The problem is, I am getting fatigued with this jump in marathon miles. Since Tuesday's a.m. run is just a 4-mile recovery, I should try to swim Tuesday after school. Ok, that's my plan! Back at the pool tomorrow for some more water therapy!
The absulute best part about afternoon swimming outdoors in the cooler temps...sitting in the outdoor hot tub afterwards. Beautiful!!
However, by the time I got to the pool and saw that the outdoor lanes were still open, my mood quickly changed. The sun was still shining and I realized I haven't been out in the sun very much lately with all of this early morning running. I absolutely love swimming outdoors in the fresh air. I will be so sad when it turns colder and I am forced into that humid, noisy indoor pool area.
I did a bunch of Total Immesrion drills (which are getting easier, by the way) and then just did a few hundred meters of pure swimming. Overall swim time was about 50 minutes.
I quickly found out that my swimming fitness has definitely decreased. Since Musselman in July, I have mainly been doing TI drills to rebuild my stroke. It has helped my stroke for sure, but my aerobic fitness has suffered. I used to be able to swim a good 800 m or so without really stopping, but now I find myself huffing and puffing after just 50-100. I guess I will have to add one more swim day to my schedule for just some good ole' aerobic swimming in addition to my day of drills. The problem is, I am getting fatigued with this jump in marathon miles. Since Tuesday's a.m. run is just a 4-mile recovery, I should try to swim Tuesday after school. Ok, that's my plan! Back at the pool tomorrow for some more water therapy!
The absulute best part about afternoon swimming outdoors in the cooler temps...sitting in the outdoor hot tub afterwards. Beautiful!!
Sunday, September 12, 2010
Training for My First Full Marathon
My husband, Rick, and I have just completed week 6 of our full marathon training. We are following Hal Higdon's Intermediate II plan. I was originally going to do his Novice Plan, like I did for my first half-marathon, but my husband thought we were beyond that already and would get much better training with this one. So far, I think he's right. However I am a little worried as last week's long run had me venturing into unchartered territory...14 miles. Prior to this, 13.1 was the longest I had run. Boy, did I feel it! By the end, my knees were aching so bad. All my shorter runs in the days following felt like crap! My legs felt like they weighed 100 lbs each, my knees hurt, and I just felt slow and sluggish. Rick says that it's part of the plan...breaking us down so we can come back the next week and build up. Well, I wasn't buying a word of that. I felt defeated and wondered what the hell I was doing...thinking I could run a full marathon!
Well, as much as it pains me to say this twice in one post, I think Rick was right again. This weekend's long run went back down to 10 miles (I never understood that up and down long run thing) and it went sooo much better. Yeah, great, I thought...but next week is 15!! Today (the day after the 10) I had to do 7 at marathon pace which I think is around 9:30-10:00 per mile, but not really sure since I haven't done one yet. We ended up joining a 10K race and doing an extra mile. I was very worried because of how I had felt the week before. Plus, I drank a whole bottle of wine by myself last night. Not the best idea, but I teach school, so wine on the weekends is a must! :) Anyway, I had a fantastic run...I mean awesome. I felt so strong. My time wasn't great...avgd a 9:20 pace, but that is because I started way in the back and for the first 2 miles I was stuck behind slower runners and walkers. I had to weave in and out until it finally opened up around 2/12-3 miles. Then I really kicked it in gear. So, anyway, I guess this is my "building back up" week, or something like that.
The rest of my week will go as follows:
Monday: Crosstrain (after school). I HAVE to swim! I skipped my swim last week and I need to keep it up or I will be in BIG trouble when tri season starts for me again in Jan/Feb.
Tuesday: 4 mile recovery run (5:00 a.m.) and strength training
Wednesday: 8 mile fartlek (my Lord, I will have to get up at 4 a.m. to fit this one in. I can't run after school...too hot and too tired.Yikes!!!)
Thursday: Crosstrain: (Ride the trainer at 5 a.m.) or Day Off
Friday: Day off, OR Cooper Young 4-miler. If I do this race, I will forgo Thursday's trainer ride.
Saturday: 16 mile Long Run
Sunday: 7 mile pace run
(I may switch Sat & Sunday...not sure yet.)
Have a great week!
Well, as much as it pains me to say this twice in one post, I think Rick was right again. This weekend's long run went back down to 10 miles (I never understood that up and down long run thing) and it went sooo much better. Yeah, great, I thought...but next week is 15!! Today (the day after the 10) I had to do 7 at marathon pace which I think is around 9:30-10:00 per mile, but not really sure since I haven't done one yet. We ended up joining a 10K race and doing an extra mile. I was very worried because of how I had felt the week before. Plus, I drank a whole bottle of wine by myself last night. Not the best idea, but I teach school, so wine on the weekends is a must! :) Anyway, I had a fantastic run...I mean awesome. I felt so strong. My time wasn't great...avgd a 9:20 pace, but that is because I started way in the back and for the first 2 miles I was stuck behind slower runners and walkers. I had to weave in and out until it finally opened up around 2/12-3 miles. Then I really kicked it in gear. So, anyway, I guess this is my "building back up" week, or something like that.
The rest of my week will go as follows:
Monday: Crosstrain (after school). I HAVE to swim! I skipped my swim last week and I need to keep it up or I will be in BIG trouble when tri season starts for me again in Jan/Feb.
Tuesday: 4 mile recovery run (5:00 a.m.) and strength training
Wednesday: 8 mile fartlek (my Lord, I will have to get up at 4 a.m. to fit this one in. I can't run after school...too hot and too tired.Yikes!!!)
Thursday: Crosstrain: (Ride the trainer at 5 a.m.) or Day Off
Friday: Day off, OR Cooper Young 4-miler. If I do this race, I will forgo Thursday's trainer ride.
Saturday: 16 mile Long Run
Sunday: 7 mile pace run
(I may switch Sat & Sunday...not sure yet.)
Have a great week!
Welcome!
Welcome, all, to my very first blog! This is a blog about my experiences as a middle-aged, middle distance, and middle of the pack triathlete.
If you are a veteran triathlete, or a triathlete who usually brings home the "hardware" from your races, you will probably find this a bit amusing. I am fairly new to the life of multisport, but am completely hooked and in it for the long haul. My goals may seem small, but for me they are huge!
If you are a novice, you may find my story a bit inspiring. I kind of fell into this new lifestyle completely on a whim as an overweight woman in my late 30's lacking direction, goals, and personal fulfullment. Within six months, I became a triathlete with my eye on an Ironman somewhere in my future.
If you are like me, not a veteran and not quite a novice anymore, then I hope you join me in the middle. It is kind of a neat place to be. There are plenty of athletes ahead of us to drive and inspire us, and plenty following us and working toward what we have already accomplished. I think both are important for the kind of growth that we need as triathletes!
If you are a veteran triathlete, or a triathlete who usually brings home the "hardware" from your races, you will probably find this a bit amusing. I am fairly new to the life of multisport, but am completely hooked and in it for the long haul. My goals may seem small, but for me they are huge!
If you are a novice, you may find my story a bit inspiring. I kind of fell into this new lifestyle completely on a whim as an overweight woman in my late 30's lacking direction, goals, and personal fulfullment. Within six months, I became a triathlete with my eye on an Ironman somewhere in my future.
If you are like me, not a veteran and not quite a novice anymore, then I hope you join me in the middle. It is kind of a neat place to be. There are plenty of athletes ahead of us to drive and inspire us, and plenty following us and working toward what we have already accomplished. I think both are important for the kind of growth that we need as triathletes!
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