Wow! Three months of training in the books already!
A lot continues to happen with my training journey.
Right after my last post, I had a swimming session at LA Fitness, a portion of which was timed. I was able to come in under the times listed. A few things ran through my mind...either I am getting more efficient with my swimming that I am able to swim faster, Coach Sean had set the bar at a reasonable level, or the pool was not 25 yards long.
I couldn't shake the feeling of what was wrong. So...I went back to LA Fitness and measured the pool length myself...twice! Yes, it is 25 yards! Whew! If you know anything about me, I am not a slacker and I don't like to not do the required distance. I AM getting faster! That is exciting to me!
This is the most I have ever swam in my life. I am swimming three times a week, with an average of 3000 yards of drills, timed distances, and more drills. Believe me, I need the drills! Keep 'em coming!
...my wife Ellen was sitting here while I was writing the blog...I told her that she didn't need to read it...she is living it with me! (she tells me to not use so many exclamation points...I'm type A, what can I tell you?).
Ellen has been a HUGE supporter of my training, for which I am grateful!
This week, we are on spring break...at home...I have training to do...plus, all of the races, equipment, etc, it adds up...
I have been running a lot of long distance lately. Since the last time I posted, I have run 18 miles twice as well as a 20-mile run. I have another 20-mile run this weekend. I feel comfortable with the pace that coach Sean has had me running at and have been able to settle into the pace and do the distance. I have taken the time to work on my fluid and food consumption during the runs.
It's funny, I am running the Mini Marathon and Geist Half Marathon in May...that seems like an easy distance right now, compared to what I have been doing lately.
[A selfless plug for the race I am involved in, if you have not done so, please sign up to run the Geist Half Marathon and 5k on Saturday, May 19. All of the profits go towards the local schools for health and wellness initiatives. www.geisthalf.com ]
The training has moved into the next phase, increased distance as well as brick training (biking, followed by running). If you've never tried it, give it a try...your legs don't know what you are doing to them, until you have done it a few times.
Bike mileage is also increasing. Last Sunday, the distance was 40 miles. This weekend, it is 50 miles (yes, at one time, not for the week).
>>>As I hit these higher biking distances, I will be looking for friends and teammates to ride with. If you are up for a 50-mile bike on Sunday, let me know. eauten0914@att.net or text me at 755-7905.
With the warmer months will come races and open-water swimming. I want and need to get more comfortable with my open-water swimming. I feel I am a better swimmer than I was last year...now, I need to just relax and swim like I have been training. I will focus on sighting when we get out in open water.
For those of you who do not know what sighting is, it is looking up a regular intervals during swimming, to make sure you are swimming straight (usually towards colored bouys). There are not any lane lines, markers, or ends of the pool to grab onto when swimming in open water.
I am looking forward to doing some races coming up, to mix it up and to have things to look forward to. I will be doing the Carmel Sprint this month (400 meter pool swim, 10-mile bike, 5k run). While it is only a Sprint distance, the race will give me a chance to work on putting it all together, including transitions. I see that I have an "EZ" 50-mile bike to do that day...all in perspective (compared to the 112-mile bike that is coming on race day).
3 months completed...5 months to go. I am sure it will continue to fly by and we will be at Louisville, getting ready to do the Ironman. Until that time, I will continue to swim, bike, and run and get ready for the race.
Wow! What a journey so far!
