Just wondering if you're getting a bit tired of reading about running, swimming, and cycling? There is less than a month to go til the triathlon, so you won't have to put up with this much longer ... unless ... I decide to keep doing this. I am thinking now that an open water swim would be an interesting and exciting challenge. But we'll see how this first tri goes before I entertain thoughts about doing another.
Regardless of whether or not I do another triathlon, I am well convinced of how beneficial training in three different disciplines has been for me. Each one - swimming, cycling, and running - develops different strengths, and switching things up in training helps to prevent overuse injuries. I've told you how my feet don't hurt anymore. I think it's simply because I am not pounding them for so long on the less strenuous, but much longer (in time and distance) walks I used to do. 6 miles (combining walking and running) is now about my max when it comes to distance - and my feet are happy about that!
OK, so what about this week?
Monday was our long bike ride day. Coty and I did our 23 mile loop and I worked hard to stay with him. I drafted right behind him for the first 7 miles and I knew I was going a good bit faster than usual. When we got to what is, for me, a very hard hill at 7.5, I slowed down a bit. I felt a little sluggish on the middle miles but regained some oomph on the last few. When I pulled into the parking lot at the end, after pedaling hard the last 2 miles, my time was a full 7 minutes faster than the last time we did that route!
Tuesday morning is a regular "walking with friends" time. The four of us did our four mile route together. I get a little extra workout by pushing Peg's little sweetie, Karis, in the stroller each week. After our walk, I headed over to the park for a run where it's flat. I wanted to go 2 miles, trying hard to push the first mile. I did it and logged a 9:20 first mile, my fastest yet. The second mile was a minute slower, but no matter. I am setting a goal for myself of running the 2 miles at the end of the triathlon in 20 minutes or less. If I can do that after swimming and cycling, I'll be pretty happy.
Wednesday I joined an aquatics center. My swimming has been done in our little backyard pool and it seemed like a good idea to do some workouts with longer laps before the triathlon. In addition, for getting your start time in the triathlon, you have to provide the organizers with a rating of your swimming ability. I wanted a longer pool to be able to better assess that. So, I'm glad for access to such a nice facility at such a reasonable price. Yesterday afternoon, I went for my first swim and loved the feel of a longer pool. I may have overdone it just a bit, swimming 2600 yards (1.4 miles), but oh, it felt good, and the pool was practically empty! I was one of three lap swimmers at the time. I think I'm going to love this and will aim at three pool workouts a week at the aquatics center.
Today, a brick workout. Biking and running. Not sure how far, but I know that's something I've got to work on more as the time to the triathlon gets closer.
That's all. If you're still here, thanks for reading!
Regardless of whether or not I do another triathlon, I am well convinced of how beneficial training in three different disciplines has been for me. Each one - swimming, cycling, and running - develops different strengths, and switching things up in training helps to prevent overuse injuries. I've told you how my feet don't hurt anymore. I think it's simply because I am not pounding them for so long on the less strenuous, but much longer (in time and distance) walks I used to do. 6 miles (combining walking and running) is now about my max when it comes to distance - and my feet are happy about that!
OK, so what about this week?
Monday was our long bike ride day. Coty and I did our 23 mile loop and I worked hard to stay with him. I drafted right behind him for the first 7 miles and I knew I was going a good bit faster than usual. When we got to what is, for me, a very hard hill at 7.5, I slowed down a bit. I felt a little sluggish on the middle miles but regained some oomph on the last few. When I pulled into the parking lot at the end, after pedaling hard the last 2 miles, my time was a full 7 minutes faster than the last time we did that route!
Tuesday morning is a regular "walking with friends" time. The four of us did our four mile route together. I get a little extra workout by pushing Peg's little sweetie, Karis, in the stroller each week. After our walk, I headed over to the park for a run where it's flat. I wanted to go 2 miles, trying hard to push the first mile. I did it and logged a 9:20 first mile, my fastest yet. The second mile was a minute slower, but no matter. I am setting a goal for myself of running the 2 miles at the end of the triathlon in 20 minutes or less. If I can do that after swimming and cycling, I'll be pretty happy.
Wednesday I joined an aquatics center. My swimming has been done in our little backyard pool and it seemed like a good idea to do some workouts with longer laps before the triathlon. In addition, for getting your start time in the triathlon, you have to provide the organizers with a rating of your swimming ability. I wanted a longer pool to be able to better assess that. So, I'm glad for access to such a nice facility at such a reasonable price. Yesterday afternoon, I went for my first swim and loved the feel of a longer pool. I may have overdone it just a bit, swimming 2600 yards (1.4 miles), but oh, it felt good, and the pool was practically empty! I was one of three lap swimmers at the time. I think I'm going to love this and will aim at three pool workouts a week at the aquatics center.
Today, a brick workout. Biking and running. Not sure how far, but I know that's something I've got to work on more as the time to the triathlon gets closer.
That's all. If you're still here, thanks for reading!
1 comment:
I am so impressed Beth! You truly are an inspiration. It's wonderful to hear how you are changing - growing stronger, faster and learning to love the challenge. Ok - I'll make sure I record my exercise today too - see you over at Dailymile!
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