February Update

I need to try and update this more.  Last fall after my 1st race, I decided to start doing my own training. It was ok for a while as a break.  However, my workouts became very repetitive.  Late December I attended a happy hour with Outrival gain and ended up chatting with my now coach Michelle Leblanc. She recommended that coaching would be a good idea for me since I was basically doing none of the things that someone should be doing to improve.

I have a natural talent for running and other athletics and she saw that in me I guess.  It has been a great decision.  In the month that she has been coaching me, I have yet to repeat a similar workout outside the long runs and bike rides.

My swim (used to range at 2000 to 2500 yards) are now minimum of 3000 and getting into 4000.  I thought I could never swim that much, but I am making it.  Last week was my longest yardage total of about 11,000!  Sounds crazy, but it is a lot for me and I am seeing the improvements in the endurance.

The bike has improved.  Michelle immediately pointed out that my bike training should be about 50% of my weekly volume.  Prior to working with her I was shooting for about 33%.  I also wasn't incorporating long bikes on a weekly basis.  That has all changed and I feel that I have improved and my it shows on my longer bikes.

On the run side, I am starting to go very fast (more than I though I would).  I have brought my mid zone 2 run HR pas to 145 bpm or so at 7 min miles.  That is very fast!  Last Friday, I did a 70 mile bike followed by a 6 mile brick run and came off doing 6:30 - 6:36 miles at the top of zone 2 and a few into zone 3!  Incredible that I could do that.  One of the weirdest things lately has been getting used to this faster pace and having a low heart rate.

The other thing that I have been experimenting with is nutrition.  I referring to both daily and race day nutrition.  On the daily nutrition, I bought Matt Fitzgerald's book Racing Weight, 2nd Edition.  This book is like a bible to me.  Since starting to follow the daily steps on nutrition, I have seen my performance, recovery, and overall health improve.  One of the things I took for granted, was my carb intake.  Since reading and re-reading this book, I have almost doubled my daily card intake.  This has mad a huge difference.

The other nutrition aspect has been race day nutrition.  I had been experimenting in the past with gels and bars on the ride.  As many know, this can be tricky.  Thus, I ordered some Infinit Nutrition a few weeks ago and am loving this stuff.  The consultation was quick and easy and the formula came custom for me.  Many triathletes swear by liquid nutrition and I am a believer now.  It's so easy to drink every 10 minutes and know that my nutrition is coming in.  I throw a salt tab from Energy Lab every 20 minutes to make sure I hit my hourly electrolyte need (per Michelle's race planning worksheets).  I feel great during rides and feel good on the run.

Back to the title of the post, I am doing my 1st half marathon this weekend here in The Woodlands.  I can't wait and I'm pumped.  This will be a good test for the Galveston 70.3 in April.  I hope I can deliver per my training results.

I'll update that later.

Birthday Weekend

Jennifer, kids, and family, thanks for a wonderful birthday weekend.  God, thank you for the incredible weather this weekend.  Perfect timing!

Saturday started off with a nice Outrival group ride.  I cut off after the 2854 bridge and hit the lake and came back for 1 loop at Woodlands before coming home.  I had an early morning party to take the kids to and couldn't go too much longer since I had an immediate run scheduled.

So after 32 miles and a quick transition, I took of for a 4 miler.  I looked down at the Garmin a few minutes into the run and I couldn't believe my pace at 7:10 to 7:00 per mile!  I knew I was going fast, but I didn't feel tired sluggish.  At mile 1 and 2, I began to feel more comfortable at that pace and saw it fall below the 7 a few times.  I finished the run at about 27:30 for 4 miles.  I could have kept going, but needed to shower for the party.

Here is the kicker about all of this...I didn't use a heart monitor at all this week.  I decided (per advice given to me by a friend who finished 3rd in his AG at IMTX 2012 and was the 1st age grouper out of the water that year) to train without it for a bit (1 week).  It felt different and free.  I guess there is this mental connection to the HR monitor that subconsciously tells you to slow down or speed up.  I did non of my workouts with it this week.

Time away from the HR monitor will have to be a plus.

Back to the brick, I could have pushed harder for a race, but I held back due to experience and training.  I want to make sure I can maintain before killing myself.  My confidence shot way up Saturday after this workout.  The bike was also much better.  I pushed harder and the fit is feeling better.

My swim is feeling better too.  Wednesday last week it felt HORRIBLE!!  My arms felt like dead weight and sloppy.  However, Friday turned it around.  My extension was smooth and long as though I was gliding.  My strength was back.  I don't know what it was.  It might have been the compliment I received from Sarah Gray (the Outrival Swim coach on Fridays and pro in Olympic distance).  She complimented on my stroke and asked if I had a swim background.  I said not, since I really don't.  Most had been from my beach lifeguard days in high school.

I can't wait until the Houston Olympic Tri.