Category Archives: Weekly Recap

Last week I received a very welcome surprise…

Women’s Running Magazine was nice enough to feature this lil’ blog of mine in the Nov./Dec. issue! A big thank you for making me feel super special – it really means the world to me!

Now on to week 45, 46 and 47…

Week 45:

Mon., 10/8: Swim & Strength (3,500 yds.)
This was the first time that I wrote, “It’s official. I’m getting sick of swimming…” in my workout log.  I’m not getting any faster at swimming, but I’m just getting bored of looking at the floor and counting.

Tues., 10/9: Swim @ ClubSport (3,500 yds.) & Run (6.3 mi.)
Finally, a tempo run! I am loving every speed workout!

Wed., 10/10: Trainer Ride

Thurs., 10/11: Rest

Fri., 10/12: 16 miles cut short to 14
Cut my run short – had to get back to do my maid – ehem, matron – of honor duties!

My little sister and now brother-in-law.

Sat., 10/13: Long Ride (100.5) and Transition Run
We hustled back from Nevada so I could make my long ride – phew!

I really need new glasses.

Sun., 10/14: Rest

Week 46:

Mon., 10/15: Swim @ ClubSport (3,500 yds. of speed work) & Strength

Tues., 10/16: Swim @ ClubSport (3,400 yds.) & Ride

Wed., 10/17: Run (3.5 mi.)

Thurs., 10/18: Run (6.5 mi.)

Fri., 10/19: Swim @ ClubSport (3,000 yds.)

Sat., 10/20: Triple Brick!
2 hour ride, 50 minute run, 2 hour ride, 40 minute run, 2 hour ride, 30 minute run. You can see how it all went down here.

Testing out my SOAS race kit — I think this might be my game day ensemble! 

Sun., 10/21: Swim (3,000 yds) and Trainer Ride
I had another bout of open water anxiety. Go figure. But I just had to keep swimming and eventually it subsided.

 Week 47:

Mon., 10/22: Swim @ ClubSport (4,000 yds.) & Strength

Tues., 10/23: Run (6.6 mi.)

Wed., 10/24: Trainer Ride

Thurs., 10/25: Run

Fri., 10/26: Swim @ ClubSport (3,000 yds.)

Sat., 10/27: Run (18 mi.)

Sun., 10/28: Sick/Ride
What was supposed to be a 115 mile ride, I woke up feeling pretty awful. But I thought that because it was only in my neck and head, I could still power through it. I texted my coach and went on my way. I was stopping every 20 minutes to blow my nose and at around mile 25, I finally stopped to check my cell phone. This is what I found:

Crap. I decided that he was right because I wasn’t feeling so hot and turned around to make my way home. I took a few shortcuts and by the time I ripped my helmet off at mile 43, I felt dead. My head was throbbing, my nose a faucet and my throat a mess. I’m glad that I turned around when I did because I spent the rest of the day in bed and took a sick day on Monday as well. I’m still feeling like garbage, but I guess it’s better to get it now that come race day.

Week 45:
12.46 hours of training:
6,500 yards swimming
116 miles cycling
22.4 miles running
40 minutes of strength

Week 46:
15.44 hours of training:
12,900 yards swimming
127 miles cycling
17.7 miles running
40 minutes of strength

Week 47:
5.19 hours of training (stupid cold):
7,000 yards swimming
59 miles cycling
28.8 miles running
40 minutes of strength

Whew. There was a bigger week and then a not-so-big week thanks to this stupid cold…less than three weeks to go!

Happy Running!

It’s October and one thing is for sure: it’s peak month! Along with workout after workout and insatiable hunger, I have little time to do anything outside of train, eat, sleep and work. Yes, this is also me making an excuse for not recapping almost all of September and the first week of October. Thus, here goes, in the most abbreviated way possible.

Week 42

Mon., 9/17: Swim (3,200 m)
Tues., 9/18: Swim (3,300 m) & Run (5 mi.)
Wed., 9/19: Yoga for Athletes
Thurs., 9/20: Cycle Indoors & Strength
Fri., 9/21: Swim (2,300 open water yds.) & Run (3.8 mi.)
Sat., 9/22: Long Ride & Transition Run

My first 80-mile ride ever – I was on cloud nine! Followed by a transition run.

Sun., 9/23: Long Run
My first long run with no knee pain – 10 glorious miles. It was the weekend that brought my confidence and excitement back.

Week 43

Mon., 9/24: Strength
Tues., 9/25: Swim (2,800 m) & Run (6 mi.)
Wed., 9/26: Swim (3,500 m)
Thurs., 9/27: Cycle Indoors & Yoga
Fri., 9/28: Rest
Sat., 9/29: Long Ride & Transition Run

Ahhhh yes, the 110-mile ride. If I thought I was excited after the 80-mile ride, I should have known that 110 miles was cause for a parade!

Sun., 9/30: Swim (2.5 open water miles)

Saturday was amazing; Sunday brought me back down with a return of the panic attack.

Week 44

Mon., 10/1: Long Run (12 mi.) & Swim (3,300 yds).
My long run was originally scheduled for Sunday, but after the emotional rollercoaster and my first 110-mile ride (which was supposed to be 100 until we got lost), my body wasn’t having it. Thus, I bumped it to an early a.m. run to Monday. It was a struggle, but I got through it.

Monday evening’s swim was also my first at my brand new gym: Club Sport. I’ll share more about this gym soon, but let me tease you with this:

-       Adult only, saline, outdoor pool

-       Speakers IN the water – WHAT WHAT!!!

Tues., 10/2: Indoor Ride
Wed., 10/3: Strength & Run
My first tempo run since getting injured! I was loving every anaerobic minute and made me realize just how much I miss running.
Thurs., 10/4: Swim (3,000 yds.)
Fri., 10/5: Long Run (14 mi.)
Just me and my headlamp. It must be fall.
Sat., 10/6: Long Ride (81.6 mi.)

It’s funny when an 80+ mile ride becomes a recovery ride! The weather was perfect, not too hot, not too cold, and we felt great the entire way. Riding with Ilona and Jared is always a great Saturday and hey, we didn’t even get lost!

Sun., 10/7: Rest

Rest included a trip to Ikea and cooking this masterpiece:

Oh, and devouring these too…SPRINKLES!

Week 42:
13 hours of training:
9,408.5 yards swimming
97.1 miles cycling
20.7 miles running
30 minutes yoga
1 hour of strength

Week 43:
14 hours and 16 minutes of training:
11,201.8 yards swimming (the most to-date)
128.3 miles cycling (the most to-date)
7.2 miles running
1 hour yoga
40 minutes strength

Week 44:
13 hours and 10 minutes of training:
6,300 yards swimming
96.9 miles cycling
33.9 miles running
30 minutes strength

 How has your training been going? Happy Running!

As much as I’m frustrated right now, I’m still sticking to the plan – even if that plan is modified. And thanks to my lapse in blogging, I have a few weekly recaps to catch up on (which seems to be the trend as of late). So here goes:

Week 40:

Mon., 9/3: Swim

3,100 meter swim. My swims now all officially start with 3s. It’s funny, I remember the day that I would have a 1,200 meter workout and would be winded and starving afterwards. Looks like things in the swimming department are moving forward.

Tues., 9/4: Swim & Trainer Ride

Somewhere in the low 3,000s at Masters (I can never remember what I did by the time I have to log it) and an hour and 15 on the trainer to begin working my knee. My trainer rides aren’t intense workouts, but rather the “increase to zone three on the commercials” variety.

Wed., 9/5: Rest

Thurs., 9/6: Swim & Elliptical/Run

Another Masters swim where I don’t know the exact distance. My brain is incapable of remembering things that happen at 5 a.m. Later that evening was a small elliptical and run combo.

Fri., 9/7: Trainer Ride

More time on the trainer with the infamous TV workout, but the highlight of the evening was seeing some of my friends that I haven’t seen in ages and a grown-up slumber party with these lovely ladies:

Sat., 9/8: Long Ride & Transition Run

Three bears and a pig farm for 50 miles! This is the ride where I felt back on top of the world – little did I know that things were going to change quickly. The rides are always followed by a run to help train your legs to transition from cycling to running.

Sun., 9/9: Run

Sunday was a gem because I not only went running – but with Chicken Face! We kept it slow and steady, but I was happy to be back out on my feet.

Week 41:

Mon., 9/10: Unintentional Rest

I fought the bed and the…bed won.

Tues., 9/11: Swim & Run

3k+ meters at Masters and the moon was out when we started AND finished. This doesn’t seem right. Also, another run – 4.2 miles this time. Building up!

Wed., 9/12: Rest

Thurs., 9/13: Swim & Cycle

3k+ meters at Masters and another TV cycling workout. Noticing a pattern?

Fri., 9/14: Run

I’ll admit, this one was a jump and probably why my knee threw a fit on Saturday. I was supposed to try an easy eight miles as my long run, but I ran with some friends and you know how that goes. You get caught up in the conversation, the pace and the distance, and next thing you know I ran a little over 9 miles and my knees were not happy campers.

Sat., 9/15: Swim & Cycle

Oh the day that I almost threw the towel in. ~2,800+ yards open water swimming and then the 25, turned 64 miles cycling complete with two Olympic pools full of tears.

My recovery look is so hot right now. Sweet tan lines.

But more importantly…

LOLA’S THIRD BIRTHDAY!!! She partied so hard.

Sun., 9/16: Rest

More Lola. This time in her custom birthday dress that my aunt made her for her first birthday.

This face makes everything ok.

Week 40:
10 hours and 39 minutes of training:
10,061 yards swimming
80 miles cycling
12.2 miles running

Week 41:
9 hours and 28 minutes of training:
9,623.8 yards swimming
79 miles cycling
13.5 miles running

Happy Running!

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!

Prior to starting the new job, I took the highly recommended “funemployment” week. Think of it as the only week where you freely think about absolutely nothing and aren’t glued to your phone checking work emails. Ahhh, it was lovely.

Included in this week was our anniversary trip to Sonoma and a quick trip to Reno to be with my family. I had to improvise on the training, stay off my knee and make the absolute most of it. Thus, week 34 looked as follows:

WARNING: Lots of puppy photos!

Mon., 7/23: Swim & Core

FINALLY – a swim where I felt strong and was smiling (i.e. not trying to swallow pool water) the entire time! Want to smile and swallow pool water too? Try this workout:

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

MAIN SET:
100 MODERATE (10″RI)
200 MODERATE (15″RI)
300 MODERATE (20″RI)
400 MODERATE

***1′ REST***

2 x 600 MODERATE (30″RI)

Add 30 minutes of hip and core exercises and you have Monday.

Tues., 7/24: Run

With a good rest week behind me, this run was supposed to be easy. However, at about 20 minutes my knee decided to scream, “HELLO! I’M HERE TO HAUNT YOU!” Thus, I stopped, stretched and made my way home before things went to hell in a handbasket.  Four miles that confirmed something was wrong.

Wed., 7/25: Swim & Core

I’ll spare you the story now, but I ended up swimming in an apartment pool in Reno while everyone stared at the idiot in the swim cap. Move out of my way, children — I have laps to swim!

The good news is that my little sister has the cutest new little rat dog named Harley. I think I’ll go to Reno more often…

She was so cute until I found THIS…

BAD PUPPY!

Thurs., 7/26: Cycle

Still cautious of my knee, I cycled indoors for over an hour. But of course, the knee was being a pain in my, well, knee.

Olympics and spinning – motivation at it’s finest.

Fri., 7/27 – Sun., 7/29: Yoga

I got mentally frustrated and ended up throwing the towel in on all planned weekend workouts and opted for multiple 20 minute yoga sessions and lots of rolling and stretching. Can I complain anymore?

I closed out week 34 with:

4 hours and 10 minutes of training:
5,252.8 yards swimming
16 miles cycling
4 miles running

Exciting? Perhaps not — but still a great week. Have you taken a funemployment week?

Happy Running!