Not Your Average Mom

Swim today…nice and slow!

Workout:

• Type: Swim
• Date: 04/27/2009
• Time: 10:00:00
• Total Time: 00:30:39.00
• Calories: 241
• Distance: 1,200 yd
• Average Pace: 2:33.79/100yd

S and I went up to Lake Stevens to ride the Half-Ironman course there. We planned for the original 2 loops that make up the race. It took us just under 4 hours to complete the ride even with derailer issues, the dog incident, and the weather. This probably seems like a really slow time to do 50+ miles in, but the course is hilly and we were just riding, not hammering! It was also the fastest ride S and I have had around the lake outside of the actual Half Ironman - last year we were really slow. Afterwards, I felt great… the best I have EVER felt after doing that ride! In the past, that ride has spanked me and I almost always hit the shower and get horizontal, but yesterday, I hit the shower (mostly because I was wet from the rain showers that soaked us on and off) and I went about my usual Saturday afternoon business without too much effort. In all honesty, I did take a nap, but only a short one and could have gone either way (I could expand on how I believe naps are one of those things in life meant to be enjoyed like a fine wine or exquisite chocolate, but another time maybe?)
Here is the “duh” moment I had: The week prior, I had really pushed my limits, both mentally and physically, in doing the century ride, but once I punched that ticket, it made everything below it seem so do-able. What is 50 miles? I did a century! As I begin to push the limits I had previously set for myself, I realize that I am only held back by my own thoughts, and to some extent, lack of training. What was once difficult, becomes status quo in the comparison to how far up we are willing to place that bar! When my workouts are “hard”, I might think it is “hard” now, but I am just inching up the bar! I am left to wonder how high is my bar going to be set - I’m thinkin’ pretty high!

Workout:

• Type: Cycle
• Date: 04/25/2009
• Time: 08:30:00
• Total Time: 3:52:56.00
• Average Heart rate: 123
• Max Heart rate: 162
• Calories: 2441
• Distance: 53.84 miles
• Average Speed: 13.87 mph

Workout:

• Type: Run
• Date: 04/24/2009
• Time: 12:00:00
• Total Time: 1:33:00.00
• Calories: 1096
• Distance: 9 miles
• Average Pace: 10:19.62/mile

Ran right after my swim. My right quad is so tired… I had to talk to it much of the way. My run out was SUPER slow, but managed to shave nearly 10 minutes off my run in. Felt good when I finished, not whipped! That is a positive!

Workout:

• Type: Run
• Date: 04/21/2009
• Time: 10:40:00
• Total Time: 1:01:00.00
• Average Heart rate: 148
• Max Heart rate: 172
• Calories: 503
• Distance: 5 miles
• Average Pace: 12:11.71/mile

w/u: 25 Ba/25 Fr, 25 Br/25 Fr, 25 Ba/25 Fr X2
Main: 2 X 300 30s, 2 X 200 20s, 4 X 100 10s
c/d: 200 mixer
Slow today, still tired from ride on Sunday.

Workout:

• Type: Swim
• Date: 04/21/2009
• Time: 09:15:00
• Total Time: 00:40:59.07
• Average Heart rate: 142
• Max Heart rate: 152
• Calories: 322
• Distance: 1,900 yd
• Average Pace: 2:09.46/100yd

So, Sunday is always my day off… and I usually need it. My training partner was going to ride a century and I thought she was nuts. My rides are (according to my plan) suppose to be half that distance. Well, I manned up and I went. I was nervous about how things were going to go. First, I had to be up at 4:30am to get to S’s house and out the door. It took about an hour to drive there and I still had to register. There wasn’t a whole lot of traffic, so we made good time and were on the road by 7:30. The first 60 miles were ok… I really need to work on my climbing for Canada, though. I would have periods where I just wanted to ride at whatever speed, so I did, catching S and J at the rest stops. I wasn’t sure I wanted to do the last 40, but after a rest at the start, I decided to head out with the others. I was pretty much ok until the last 10-14 miles…I was toast! I also didn’t take in any nutrition past the last rest area (other than some gatorade)….BAD! Right before you start heading back to the start is this MONSTER hill. I had to stop…twice! I was dying. I managed to make it back to the start, but I had to think twice about whether I could run at that point! I learned a lot about nutrition, fitness, and am really glad that I don’t have to do IMC anytime too soon! Oh, and I got a great start on my Farmer’s tan!

Workout:

• Type: Cycle
• Date: 04/19/2009
• Time: 07:30:00
• Total Time: 7:05:44.00
• Average Heart rate: 129
• Max Heart rate: 176
• Calories: 5573
• Distance: 104.48 miles
• Average Speed: 14.72 mph
• Max Speed: 48 mph

Workout:

• Type: Cycle
• Date: 04/14/2009
• Time: 11:30:00
• Total Time: 1:05:06.00
• Average Heart rate: 136
• Max Heart rate: 158
• Calories: 851
• Distance: 17.27 miles
• Average Speed: 15.92 mph

1. When I kick my own butt working out (ok, I only really hate this one for a short time)
2. When I forget a very nice person’s name (Sorry, Jeanette, I will not call you Danielle again).
3. When someone near me in the locker room has a serious funk going on and I think it is me!!!!!!!!!!!

Workouts good today, but lots of speed work, so I am tired today - Hope this doesn’t come back to bite me on the rear later in the week!

Workout:

• Type: Run
• Date: 04/13/2009
• Time: 12:40:00
• Total Time: 1:03:00.00
• Average Heart rate: 156
• Max Heart rate: 174
• Calories: 741
• Distance: 5.5 miles
• Average Pace: 11:27.02/mile

300 w/u, 3 X 500 desc, 100 c/d

Workout:

• Type: Swim
• Date: 04/13/2009
• Time: 11:30:00
• Total Time: 00:42:00.00
• Calories: 329
• Distance: 1,900 yd
• Average Pace: 2:12.82/100yd

My training partner, S, had too many Easter tasks to finish, so she begged off our ride this morning. We had already done 50 miles this week, so she is in the clear, but I took yesterday off because I wasn’t feeling so hot (really tired).

I headed out and I was worried it was going to be a rough ride… I was totally lead-legged and as the miles went on, I wasn’t feeling any better. I just kept going and was determined to get it done. Shortly after starting around the lake, I saw a cyclist who was on her phone with the rear tire of her bike off. I ALWAYS check in with people having trouble, even if they seem like they have everything. She had blown both her CO2 cartridges and needed another. She is training for IMC and stated she would have thrown in the towel at Canada already. I had several cartridges (a huge joke to my DH, but today the laugh was on him!), but a guy behind me had threaded ones that fit her dispenser. I hung around long enough to make sure they filled the tire ok (and my CO2 wasn’t needed) and I started again. I left my computer at home, but I was moving at a pretty good clip. Shortly before the turn-around, I saw another cyclist ahead walking his bike, so I stopped to see if HE needed anything. He had blown HIS last CO2 and refused my offer of one - he had a ride coming to pick him up. In both cases, I was thanked profusely and all I could think is I hope someday, if that is me, someone will stop.
Both people were really surprised that I stopped to help them which really surprised me. I take the “other foot” perspective….I have been out alone riding and have had other cyclists take time to offer help to me. There was even this one time when I was new to cycling and didn’t have all the great gear I have now and could barely change a tire. I had flatted on 2 subsequent rides and was carrying my bike (struggling not to throw it in the slough) for a pick up. Men in fancy kits were taking time from their rides and offering to help me with my tire. This particular ride was a huge learning experience in that I learned I needed more gear (bento box, tubes, and such) and nothing is as valuable as a patient bike mechanic who can show you the ropes and give good advice. That makes an impression and I have always vowed to return the favor.
I hope others will make a similar vow to stop and offer help, if they don’t already. If nothing else, it will fill your kharmic piggybank and maybe give you a warm fuzzy!

Workout:

• Type: Cycle
• Date: 04/11/2009
• Time: 08:45:00
• Total Time: 2:21:59.00
• Average Heart rate: 138
• Max Heart rate: 165
• Calories: 2227
• Distance: 39 miles
• Average Speed: 16.48 mph