Ironman Arizona: Week 35 & 36

Well would you look at that.

In the midst of my injury breakdown, I failed to do any weekly training updates. If I had to summarize them, it could pretty easily be broken down into the following: swim, aqua jog, strength training, swim, aqua jog, strength training, freak out, freak out some more, cry, proclaim to the world that you’ve failed, cry some more, then get your shit together. Very mature.

If you want more details, let me break it down for you like this…

Week 35

Mon., 7/30: Yoga & FIRST DAY AT THE NEW JOB!

With all of the new job jitters, I focused on day one over everything, including keeping the workout light and a coffee breakfast date with Chicken Face.

I’m official!

20 minutes of yoga to get the body moving on Monday morning. I used the “Yoga For Athletes” on Xfinity OnDemand. Their selection has gotten worse over the years, but I still like the OnDemand workout videos (when you can find a good one).

Tues., 7/31: Strength/Easy Cycle

Two Nike Training Club workouts: upper body and core, followed by 45 minutes easy spinning on my trainer. This was prior to the real pain acting up, but I still did the easy TV routine: zone one during the show, zone three during commercials.

Wed., 8/1: Swim/Strength

Ready to get your swim on? Here you go!

WARM UP:

2 x 50 FORM (10″RI)
2 x 50 KICK (15″RI)
4 x (25 DRILL, 25 EASY) 15″RI

MAIN SET:

4 x 500 FORM (20″RI)

Follow this bad boy with 30 minutes of core strength training. Can anyone tell me when I can expect the six pack?!

Thurs., 8/2: Cycle

I originally had a regular indoor training session scheduled, but with my knee still being a pain, I kept it to 40 minutes of the TV cycling workout.

Fri., 8/3: Swim

Are we noticing a pattern yet? More and more and more swimming.

Sat., 8/4: Delusional Cycling

Apparently I thought I could hang with the big boys today. 50 miles? No problem! But at the half-way point, my knee had about had it with me. I hopped off and it was as if absolutely every muscle in my knee had cramped up. I stood by my car stretching it out for 15 minutes and it eventually felt better, but I was in no position to finish the ride.

I hate you, right knee.

Sun., 8/5: Rest

I met with Coach Paul on Sunday to talk about my knee and optimize my bike fit. He lowered the seat ever so slightly and moved my cleat position to the outside of my shoe to relieve pressure on the “Goose Foot” (i.e. the three tendons in front of the tibia that we think are inflamed). That Coach Paul is a good guy, I tell ya.

Week 36

Mon., 8/6: Swim/Strength

Whoa! This is the first time I’ve done speed work with someone else (my aunt!) and boy do I need to start swimming with other people to push me:

WARM UP:
2 x 50 FORM (10″RI)
4 x (25 DRILL, 25 EASY) 15″RI
2 x (50 KICK, 25 EASY, 25 BUILD) 15″RI
4 x (25 FIST, 25 BUILD) 15″RI

MAIN SET:

2 x 200 FORM (20″RI)
2 x 50 FAST (20″RI)
2 x 200 FORM (20″RI)
2 x 50 FAST (20″RI)
2 x 200 FORM (20″RI)
2 x 50 FAST (20″RI)

Of course, 30 minutes of strength training as well.

Tues., 8/7: Swim/Aqua Jog/ Strength

1500 meters of swimming followed by 30 minutes of death by boredom, a.k.a. aqua jogging. I’ll spare you the details, wait, there are no details, you practically just jog in place while nothing else happens and get this super amazeballs hair afterwards:

I upped my strength game to 40 minutes. Come on baby muscles!

Wed., 8/8: Rest

Thurs., 8/9: Swim/Aqua Jog/Strength

This was the day. The day that started the full blown breakdown. I lifted for 40 minutes in the a.m., then swam 1,500 meters and then aqua jogged for 30 minutes later that evening. I could feel my knee tightening up and got out of the pool to assess the damage. Cue my personal depression orchestra. Sob, sob, sob, blah, blah, blah. You’ve heard it before.

Fri., 8/10: Swimming/Strength

Swimming. Again. But this time, 2,700 meters worth and an 800 meter marker. But this marker was only seconds better than some of my very first markers, making this entire week beyond frustrating. More tears.

But then I lifted my super awesome eight-pound dumbbells and felt all invincible again. I can’t win.

Sat., 8/11: Strength/Yoga

I finally got to go to a full, one hour yoga class and loved it. More than a traditional yoga class, I felt like it was an hour of awesome stretching – exactly what my mind and body needed. And of course, more strength training was involved.

Sun., 8/12: Rest
So there you have it. My attempt at wrapping up two weeks of training and not boring you to tears. If you’ve made it this far, congratulations! Here’s how each week’s totals looked:

Week 35:

5 hours and 32 minutes of training:
5577.4 yards swimming
51 miles cycling
1 hour and 10 minutes strength training 

Week 36:

6 hours and 49 minutes of training:
7,327.2 yards swimming
3 hours and 30 minutes strength training
1 hour aqua jogging

I’m trying like crazy to not dwell on the two horrible weeks that left my physical confidence in the dumpster and instead focus on moving forward. Thank you again for all of your supportive comments! Patience and courage. Patience and courage.

Happy Running!