Ironman Louisville Training 2018 {week 14}

Weekly training totals:

Run: 42 miles, 5:53:22 hours

Bike: 121.65 miles, 6:40.26 hours

Swim: 0

Thoughts:

I’m just ready to be done. I enjoy the training most of the time, but lack of sleep is catching up to me. I could finish the race today if I had to. I’d just like to move on with my life. 

When I signed up for this race last year, I had the plan to try to whack as much time as possible off the bike and run (and swim a bunch more) to see if I could be more competitive and put together a 5 year plan to qualify for Kona. I realized early on that goal was unrealistic at this time (working 47+ hours a week + taking care of our family is more important to me)  and that this race would become another “just finish” and consequently didn’t excite me all that much. I know I can finish barring any catastrophe. 

Every day, multiple times a day, I find myself day dreaming about my goals for next year- and that sucks because I’m still working on this goal. I am putting in some quality work on the bike and am seeing improvements which is encouraging- I also just completed my highest run mileage week in a while. I don’t need motivation or whatever external force to do the work, I wish I just felt more excited about it. I’m sure as race day approaches, I’ll be more into it. 

Low lights: 

I went into this week looking forward to doing my first OWS since my last IM in 2016. Rain storms prevented me from executing that. 

Highlights:

I did my first race on Zwift- 6 laps around the volcano and got first place in my division- I was the only woman. Ha. I pushed myself really hard during this ride and increased my FTP number more. It’s nice to see progress!

Ze has been great. I haven’t been able to take him for a run due to the heat, but we play a lot inside. 

I took the big dog to the park and he enjoyed sniffing everything. 

One of the only perks of getting up at 4am everyday...

I baked another wheat loaf. They are coming out amazing. I do need to try something else soon. 

We had our run club on Saturday- it’s always a great time interacting with everyone. Our next Mikkeller Run Club Chicago is October 6! 

JOIN US! 

We got Chinese food for the first time in a while on Sunday, and CB dog picked this fortune cookie..

It was a somewhat solid week of training- I missed a several hour ride and swimming- but I felt good to get back into training again after our trip last weekend.  

Looking forward:

Open water swim. 

Continue to push on the bike and build fitness. 

Add some intervals on the run, run with Ze if the weather is better. 

Take CB to the park again. 

40 days to go!

Ironman Louisville Training 2018 {week 13}

Weekly training totals:

Run: 21.76 miles, 3:10.47 hours

Bike: 70.55 miles, 3:53.44 hours

Swim: 0

Rando fireworks from a private event at soldier field.

Thoughts:

On balance - I saw an interview recently a woman author (and mother)  who was asked “how she balances it all?”  Her response was something along the line of “until men are asked that same question, I refuse to answer.” Simply amazing. 

  “Balancing it all” is some cliche BS Buzz phrase  Going around the web now which only affects women. L has never been asked how he balances anything. But there’s plenty of books pandering to women on how to “balance” their lives (although I wonder how that looks because there wouldn’t be a “one size fits all” balance model) Spoiler alert: balance doesn’t exist. Life is more of an ebb and flow of compromise and prioritization. 

Yeah, training for 140.6 is the direct opposite of “balance.” IM training takes a lot of compromise for everyone directly impacted, as well as understanding. I don’t balance being a wife/dog mom of 2/ work 47+ hours a week. Some things absolutely suffer, I cut my losses and move on. I just prioritize and get shit done. The floor might not be swept every day, but there’s delicious food to eat for dinner that I cook each night. I love cooking. 

That’s my “secret/hack” whatever. You now owe me $19.99. At least I saved you from buying a terrible book.  

Marathon training is a piece of cake compared to this. 

Highlights: 

Going to Columbus for Brewdog’s Annual General Mayhem!

Workout wise, feeling good on my workouts and catching up on recovery (sleep).

Low lights:

Not swimming- I miss it!

Missing my long ride and run (that is what Monday is for!)

Summary:

Ran with Ze outside and ran into L which was nice. 

Running in Columbus. We took an Uber to a local park because according to google, there would be decent trails- like crushed limestone/boardwalk whatever. The Uber driver warned us about the geese being super aggressive. 

When we got there we saw this: 

Too much nature! Ha ha ha we broke (L actually) many many spider webs and we ran through mud. We weren’t prepared  for those kind of trails so we stopped around 3 miles.  

It was really pretty though. 

We took an Uber back to BrewDog (where once again the driver warned us about the aggressive geese) and enjoyed lunch and post run beer on the patio. 

Later that night we went to the AGM picnic and met James and Martin of BrewDog 

We got to take a brewery tour and also take a tour of their new hotel, doghouse. 

Beer on tap and shower beer in every room! Sign us up for our next visit!

It was a fun night. 

The next morning we ran again, but found a more user friendly trail to run on. More smiles, less spiders!

We met up with A and T for Annual General Mayhem. Live music like LovelytheBand, and beer with great people!

We took a break from AGM to try a local delicacy: Skyline Chili. 

It hit the spot hard! Look at that cheese!

We went back to AGM and enjoyed hearing Cold War Kids perform. It was amazing. 

Perfect end to a great weekend. 

We got home early Sunday, collected the dogs and relaxed at home. I harvested a bunch of peppers and threw them in the dehydrator. 

Looking forward:

Push through these next 7 weeks. OWS, long ride, long run. Only really like 5 more big weeks not including game day. 

I’m thankful L supports me with this hobby jogger/shitty triathlete stuff. I don’t feel bad about missing some workouts this past weekend because I need to keep him happy/get more sleep. I feel refreshed and ready to smash the rest of this training cycle. 

48 days to go. 🙃😢😭🤮

Ironman Louisville Training 2018 {week 12}

Weekly training totals:

Run: 25.43  miles, 3:55:57 hours

Bike: 115.38 miles, 6:45.04 hours

Swim: 1800 yards (1.02 miles) 39:24 minutes

Highlights:

Getting to work in with Anne and Ze before work on a Wednesday! It was so nice to see her and catch up. Ze was super happy to make a new friend too. 

Swimming! 

I was short on time but did a mile in just under 40 min, which was about 20-30 seconds per 100 faster than last week. My endurance is there and I feel like I could go on for a while. I worked on not lifting my arms up too much and it seemed to make a difference.   

I think I’ll start wearing my two piece bathing suit to the pool because I feel like a stuffed sausage in my one piece. I know it’s supposed to be snug, but I can’t stand it. And if Louisville isn’t wetsuit legal, I’ll wear a sports bra and tri shorts for the swim. 

Low lights:

I feel tired all the time. I wake up at 4am almost every day (4:30 when I sleep in!) I guess if I wasn’t feeling tired or a little fatigued 12 weeks into training something would be wrong.  Friday morning I felt kind of sick/off when I woke up so I ditched my run. I am surprised at how apathetic I feel towards missing workouts. If I was training for 13.1 or 26.2, I would be pissed to miss a workout. Currently I rationalize it as one hour missed won’t kill me especially if I need sleep more. There’s always a long run or ride around the corner and one workout won’t hinder my ability to finish this race. 97% of finishing an Ironman is the mental aspect to tell yourself to just keep moving. 

Another low light is time, and the lack of it. I try to make every minute count every day, but sometimes there’s just too much to fit in. This weekend we had a lot of stuff to do and I wasn’t able to get a decent longish run in. (There’s always Monday!)  But this coming week we have weekend plans too, so I need to shuffle around everything so I can slay a majority of my workouts. IM training is exhausting but worth it. 

The  boys have been good. They are able to relax in different parts of the house at the same time so that’s a huge improvement compared to when one wouldn’t let the other relax with a bone. 

I finally drank some wine and used the cool glass Kim got me for my birthday! 

Basic AF photo with my oat beverage latte from a brand new place near my work. Thank you caffeine for sponsoring this post. 

Ze had a vet visit on Saturday to get 4 vaccinations. He loves the vet and everyone he meets. I’m not used to him being so outgoing because CB is the complete opposite. 

We went to Half Acre’s Big North festival on Saturday. It was so much fun to hear live music and drink beer with friends. 

This guy showed up 2x to our balcony this weekend. I think it’s a juvenile cardinal. I wonder if it’s the child of the super derpy cardinal who lives on the street behind us who is obsessed with his reflection in car mirrors. I feel bad for him if he’s looking for a mate. 

Sunday morning my run club met up to run to Cruz Blanca and Ballast Point. We had a visitor from the Mikkeller Running Club Paris chapter join us which was awesome. I cannot say enough how much I love this run club and how it brings people together. 

Looking forward

•Amend my workouts for this week due to our weekend plans

•swim again. The lake was super choppy this weekend so I’m glad to have gone to the pool. 

•running intervals

•continue with Zwift Academy workouts. 

•cook some new recipes