Week 3, Strength 1

Well, I was supposed to swim today, which I should have done this afternoon at 3:00 or 4:00.  But instead, I put it off till evening, and on my way to the gym, a crazy strong storm blew in, bringing tornado warnings with it.  I assumed the pool would be closed, so I planned ahead and wore clothes I could lift in just in case.  Which was a good plan, as it turns out!  So I did my first strength session today and will swim tomorrow instead.

I think this'll work out well anyway, since it's looking like it'll be raining again for the time trial, and this way at least I'll get one good long cardio workout in tomorrow.  If I were only lifting, I'd feel the need to take a spin class too, but if I'm already swimming, I won't mind missing the time trial.  My only concern is swimming two days in a row (Tuesday and Wednesday) since my shoulder already tends to hurt whenever I swim, but we'll see.  I could always rearrange the rest of my week accordingly...

Week 3, Run 1

I had a 45-minute run on my schedule this morning, which was supposed to include some speed pick-ups.  I got out about 10:00 a.m., after the rain stopped but before it got too warm.  Perfect!  I used my regular 3:1 run/walk pattern, but added a 30-second pick-up during the second minute of each run interval.  It was hard, and I felt like I was running really slowly for the time remaining after each pick-up, but I still managed to shave about 2 minutes off my 2.6-mile loop time from last week (28:30 vs. 30:34 or 30:37).  Not too shabby!  I wonder if I could go even faster with a shorter run interval but still adding the pick-ups?  Maybe I'll try that next Monday and see what happens.

Week 2 Reflection

Well, I never got that third swim in this week, and I even skipped my second strength session and bonus yoga/pilates class that I was planning on taking today.  I did quite a bit more biking than was on my schedule, though, so I still ended up within 5 minutes of the total workout time I was supposed to do this week.  Not too shabby!

Here are a few lessons I've learned this week:

• Having a plan is SO helpful!  I don't have to guess what to do or waste valuable time trying to figure things out for myself, plus it motivates me announce what's on the schedule and try to stick to it as closely as possible.
• This is intense.  None of the workouts this week were particularly long or strenuous, but with multiple workouts on some days and trying to do something every day, it was kind of exhausting!  But it's a good exhausting
• Sleep is critical!  I know I've "learned" this lesson many times in the past, but here we are again.  I won't be able to work out or work out well if I'm too tired.  I need to be more diligent about going to bed at a reasonable hour.
• I need a day off.  The training plan I'm following doesn't really have any rest days scheduled in, but I think I need to rearrange a few things to give myself a Sabbath each week.  That's a bit harder when I'm also trying to add an extra bike and a yoga class or two, but I think I can do it.
• This is fun!  I like training.  I like having a goal and a plan.  I like feeling like a real athlete. :-)

Week 2, Bike 3

I was only supposed to ride for an hour and 15 minutes today, but I had to lead a ride for my gym's cycle club again.  I had planned a 40-mile route, which ended up taking about 2 hours and 40 minutes.  Only two other guys showed up, but they're both really nice and fun.  We had a great ride with perfect weather, too; today was the only sunny day in about a 2-week period.  It was nice to be out, even though I was up much too late at the drive-in last night and was not at all ready for the alarm to go off at 7:30 this morning...  So, yes, I still need more sleep!  So here I go, off to bed.

Week 2, Run 3

I was supposed to run AND swim today, but the swim didn't happen.  Still, I had a good "long" run in the morning.  It was only 6.2 miles, but all I was scheduled for at an hour and 15 minutes.  I also got to begin my interval experiment, which was interesting.  I did my normal 3 and 1 run/walk interval on the first lap around the lake in 30:34.  I tried a 2 and 1 interval on the second lap, which took 30:37.  So, not much difference!  I should probably try switching the order next time, and testing other intervals as well.  For example, I felt better with the shorter 2-minute run, but I don't mind the 3:1 ratio, so I might try a 1:30 run/0:30 walk pattern, too.  We'll see!  Fun times, though, with good weather (albeit a little warm for my taste) and good tunes.

Week 2, Bike 2 & Run 2

Well, the early morning run didn't happen - surprise, surprise.  And I never really felt like going out for a ride because it was chilly and dreary most of the day.  But I did go to the gym for a spin class tonight, followed by the run I never did yesterday.  I was supposed to do some single leg drills on today's ride, and I did add a few, but mostly I followed what the spinning teacher did.  I really like this particular class because the instructor is a cyclist and a triathlete.  Today we did a lot of speed work and spent some time focusing on form.  It was good!  He also mentioned the possibility of adding a run after this class sometimes if people were interested in brick workouts.  That'll work if we run on treadmills, but he's much too fast for me otherwise.  So we'll see where that leads.  But it was a lot of fun, and I feel good!  Tomorrow is a long run and an hour swim.  Not sure if I'll try to do both in the morning or split them up, but I have time and options since I'm off all day. :-)

Week 2, Swim 2

Yeah, I was supposed to run again this morning, but I decided to sleep more instead.  I considered going out during my lunch break since I only had an easy 30-minute run on the schedule, but I tend to keep working through lunch.  I thought about squeezing it in before heading to the gym for my swim, but, yeah, that didn't happen either.  Since it's such a short, easy run, I figured I could easily do it tomorrow morning, or even after my bike ride.  Planning at this point to get up and run with the hubby in the a.m. :-)

But I did get a good swim workout in tonight!  An hour and 15 minutes, 3200 meters/2 miles.  Speed work was on the schedule, which I did and enjoyed.  Here's the workout:

Warm-up
1 x 600  Swim/kick/pull x 200
4 x 400  Kick, choice, w/fins
Main set
8 x 100  Free-pace
8 x 75    Free-bld x 25 to full speed w/fins
8 x 50    Sprint through turn, easy back
Warm-down
8 x 25    Free catch-up drill w/fins
1 x 200  Easy