Gimmie Taper

That's right, it's a taper week and boy do I need it. Last week I maxed out...to the max. It was my longest week by far in my IM journey but what made it toughed and pushed my limits was doing it over a holiday weekend. Granted I was in a beautiful location, I take that back, this place is perfection, my family lake house in Northern Michigan IS my numeral uno haven.

Here's a recap of the week. Mon-Thurs was the normal routine totaling out 4500m swimming, 4 hrs bike, and a 10 mile run. Fri-Sun was different once I arrived at the lake. Friday I swam 20min then ran 9 miles. Then on the 4th of July I ditched out on seeing lake buddies the night before and woke-up at sun-up. I drove into town and headed on out on Hot Betty.

My scheduled workout was a 90 mile ride where I planned a 30 mile loop from Boyne City to East Jordan to the Ferry and back to BC - times 3. Fun, Fun! I love my dad, the guy is just getting back into shape and he got up early, dragged out the Lemond, and rode most of the first loop with me!! Awesome job Daddy-O! Loop two was solo. Luckily BC was hosting a 10k in the morning then a parade around 11am, I missed most of the traffic and EJ was a ghost town. Loop three was a turning point for me. It actually started at the end of loop two and I was a 1/2 mile from the car and I ride up behind another cyclist - "hmmmm I thought, they have the same jersey as my dad but the same helmet as mom....MOM?". "Hey hun, I didn't have the right top so I wore your dads. My bike is making noise and can you put air in my tires?" So back at the car I fixed her all up and out we go, loop 3.

We started a little slower than I would have liked but I thought that this is good, I need to ride smart. When we rode into EJ I gave Mom the map and pointed her the shortcut back to BC while I completed the course. In the end I felt GREAT. When I did my first 75 of the season I bonked around 60 miles, my first century I bonked at 85, but back to 90 - no bonk. I think my nutrition plan is working out for me!!

Sunday unfortunately was not a good day for me. I had a character breakdown - crazy was taken over. I didn't know what to think of it, was I just being a wimp and wanting to hang out on the boat for the last few precious hours of my vacation or was I donzo? I had a scheduled 16 mile run which I easily could have done, I know my legs gtg were but my head wasn't. The feeling is like being asleep, the alarm goes off at 5am and you debate about hitting the snooze. But this time I was awake, I had already eaten breakfast, and I was screaming to myself "Kelli just put on your shoes and go!" But I did't go, instead I thought "No just swim, you need to swim, clear your head". I should know after 19 years of running ONLY running will fix the head. But I swam anyway, 30 minutes open water. I felt good, strong, and confident (i even opened my eyes under water). Punishment - I got swimmers itch probably from swimming near the public dock and beach. Thanks!

Warsaw Sprint Triathlon

This past weekend I raced at the Warsaw Sprint Triathlon. Since the race is a sprint distance there was no easy week and is to be considered a tempo brick workout. The race itself is great. If you are ever looking for a fantastic small town sprint distance tri I would definitely recommend this race.

Overall it went well, the swim was warm so wetsuits were not allowed, but it was the usual weedyness. I had a good T1 time and then for the bike I had a planned LT test. I reset my powertap before the race then didn't hit the start button until I got passed the beginning portion of the bike course. It was ON for the next 20 mins. It ended right before the turn around point. I was really happy with my results since I went up 9 watts from my last test. The rest of my ride was in tempo watts zone. Then off on the run I go. Out of T2 there were 4 girls all in my age group heading out together. The first 2 were picked off in the first half mile but I noticed the girl further out stayed within the same distance from me. So I played it smart and slowly caught up to her, the girl with pigtails. Then I just hung behind pigtails and let her pick the pace. I was feeling pretty good and my garmin said we were punching 6:38 pace. Then the worst thing happened, I cramped but it wasn't in my legs and it wasn't in my side. I felt like I got punched in the stomach. This occurred at mile 3 of 3.5, the big hill, and also the same time I saw my Dad who was screaming his heart out at me to keep moving. I've never had a cramp like this before. I used my thumb and tried to rub it out. A few strides out of the hill it started to go away but by now pigtails was long gone around the next turn. I knew I was coming into the end so I increased my pace and focused on the back of the person in front of me. I saw a bunch of guys from the Team a quarter mile to go and they were convinced I could pick off the last guy. Off I went - it's nice to have a little stored speed at the end because I caught the guy right before the finish.

Place 6th female overall. Third in my AG.
Next Race - Muncie Half Ironman July 11th.

A few things on swimming I want to add. These past two weeks I've made it out to the lake front for some OWS! My schedule says 60 mins straight. Which I can do in the pool but open water is a different story. Like I said the other week it was cold and my little fingers just can't hold the heat and stay together. Last week was better, warmer, and little miss Amber was joining me. This time we went to the second buoy for a total of 1600m at 34mins. This week my goal is 2400m and I estimate around 42 mins. If I work my way up to it I'll eventually be comfortable and confident to go all 4000m.

8 Weeks and 4 days til Ironman Louisville

First Cold Water Swim of the Season

I had my first open water swim of the season in Lake Michigan. It currently is 62.5 degrees!!! My planned workout was for a 60 minute straight swim but I had a feeling it wasn't going to go well. In the past I have had 2 other very cold swims. One was in Connecticut in the Long Island Sound. It was right after I received my sleeveless wetsuit so of course I had to try it out. Bad idea!! I believe the water temp was somewhere in the low 50's. Midway through the swim my hands went numb and my fingers started to separate. Luckily we were swimming the beach line and I immediately flipped over on my back and kicked my way in. Then I ran the half mile back down the beach.

My second cold water swim was at the Racine Half Ironman 2008. Water temps were 56 and I was freaking out! The day before I stuck my toesies in the water. Again, Bad Idea!! All evening I was psyching myself out, I even dreamed I drowned from going numb in the water. The next day it was still cold, duh! The start was delayed due to fog and the race coordinators also decided to bring the buoys in a little closer in case the fog rolled back in. The delay allowed me to acclimate myself to the water temp. Each time I would go in a little further then 5 mins before the start I went all the way under. There were a few race participants trying to be clever in keeping warm - like duct taping yellow kitchen gloves to their hands (which I totally think is against to rules). I believe neoprene caps are allowed, booties might be up to race director, but I'm sure gloves are not! Either way I had on two swim caps and my sleeveless wetsuit. Funny thing about the swim was that when they pulled in the buoys it 1. shortened the course and 2. had us swimming over a shallow sand bar. So when I felt my face going too numb to breathe or my hands starting to separate I would just stand and swim-run. Yes swim-running is a glorious thing!!

Now for yesterday. Maybe if the air temp was warmer or if it had not been raining for the past 3 weeks I might of been okay. Also since the last cold swims I have lost a few lbs and gained some muscle...there are days I miss my flab. The swim route is along a break wall with depths at 6-10 ft deep. So if I freak out or numb up there wasn't much I could do. I ended up swimming 10 mins out to the first buoy which I think is 500 meters out. At that point I was to scared to go to buoy two, another 500m. So I turned around. At the beach I debated going back out for another 1000m. At the time I was freezing but today I kick myself for not going back out. Besides the cold I did feel good. I just need to get used to the gloomy waters of the lake, suck it up, and Swim!

Here's me, the drowned Rat!

Is It Monday Yet?

I've been starting to dig into to my newer/tougher training schedule. My usual schedule has been bumped up to include more biking - meaning I some how have to fit a 2.5 hr workout in my day. Last week I tried the morning and it didn't go well. 5 am wake, ride 2 hrs on the trainer, and a 2 mile run off. It was cut short because I ran out of time for the run. So this week I tried it at night. Hurried home from work, pulled out the pork roast I knew i wasn't going to have time to make, rode 2 hrs, ran 3 miles, got home 9pm!!!!!!! SERIOUSLY!!!! Ate a PB&J and some Annie's Bunny cereal then went to bed all nasty but I was spent. Next morning 6am wake, run 5, arrive to work completely disheveled, and a little pissed I wore a skirt because now I can't wear my compression socks (I dont think they can pass as knee highs!!).

To answer my thought from the last post - I'm not going to the comedy show tonight. Hubby is going with a friend and this way I can get in my swim workout tonight, bike tomorrow morning, and be semi rested for the weekend. I am going to the CUBS game next week!!!

Triathletes Just Wanna Have Fun

When Being an endurance athlete it is hard enough to find time with the eat, train, and sleep schedule for family, work, and home....but social life, say good bye. That is unless you consider 5:45 Friday morning group runs or a Saturday 7 am, 40 degree, 4 hr bike ride well... Fun. But I do, I truly do. The more I go out late just to have a few cocktails makes me regret my decisions more and more, not to mention one cocktail is just enough! The other delima is unavoidable social activities like my best friends shower and bachlorette party which I partook in this weekend. Yes I was a little frazzled with my training schedule but sometimes you...I.... Just need to learn to let it go. Someone once told me that when you miss a workout you just have to take the hit, you'll stress yourself out more trying to fit it back in. Its a training plan for a reason...if you mess with the science of it all it'll be worse....learn to let go.

I didn't post me workout summary for last week. At the end of this week I plan to post both. Last week was a bit of recovery from the Chica's Bike Weekend but this week I was scheduled a couple of "tests" or that's what Coach G refers them as. But yes, to test yourself in training other than a race is a good training practice. So far we are 2 of 3 tests done. Tuesday morning I had my usual 6 mile runs which was good because lifting over the weekend had made me pretty sore and my legs were still tight. I needed a good warm up run followed my some yoga and foam roll to work out the leg issues. In the evening was the swim test - warm with drill 900yds. Swim test was 1500 yds all out and record time at 500 intervals. I was so happy about my results. I have improved so much from last year!
Results:
500-7:57
1000-8:01
1500:8:09

Wednesday morning was the bike test. The night before I set the bike up on the trainer and laid everything out. Yay - 5:15 wake, change and make some oatmeal. I hopped on the bike for a 60 min warm up, ate my oats and a banana during the warm up, and watched Loser on HBO (wow that's a classic). Post hour I did 20 mins of higher wattage intervals to warm up a bit more. Then came the test - 20 mins all out, at the end of 20 mins pull computer off bike to stop readings. It was hard and the tv change to CMT was not helping. Hubby was awake by now so he grabbed the ipod and I finished the ride rocking out to Linkin Park and Paramore!!
Results:
Ave Watts - 145
Now I had a computrainer LT test too and those results were average watts at 160. Coach G explained why they were such a difference.

BTW - This Triathlete had even more fun in store this week. Last night I went to the Brittney Spears concert. I've never seen one of her shows but it was AWESOME. I know, right.....but I went with 3 of my girlfriends and we all thought it was so amazing. Everyone in the show worked their booties off and are all in such great shape, including Brit! I wouldn't recommend the show for young children, it was pretty X-rated.
There's more to come from my 2009 concert series!!!

I <3 Costco

I picked up some good buys recently. Due to a number of blogs I have begun two obsessions - Naturally Nutty Peanut Butter and Chobani Yogurt. I even have gotten Hubby hooked on the PB. In the last month we have made two orders online. Here's breakfast-I had to try every one!

Next is Chobani. I have been in dire need of upping my protein intake. Especially on salad days when chicken isn't an option. Initially I wasn't able to find it at the store I went to. So I did the obvious and looked it up online. Luckily there is a list of store locations. I was able to get it at Jewel or Whole Foods for around $1.80ish. Well GUESS WHAT?!?! Costco also carries Chobani, where I got a dozen for $11.67!! I love Costco.

Yesterday I got back into the swing of things. After the long Chica Bike Weekend I thought I would be in great need of some rest and recovery. To be honest by Monday afternoon I wasn't feeling too bad. That's when I got the email from Coach G with my weekly schedule. First he told me to take both Monday and Tuesday off. Yes, two days off is a vacation in my book but I'm training for an IRONMAN - there's no vacation in IM!! I let Coach G know I was in to start back up on Tuesday. His reply "Ok, you asked for it, its on tomorrow:)" - Masters Swimming and a 6 Mile run ending with strides. I felt great during the run, 6 miles at 49:40. Swimming was a different story, the pool finally opened up to the 'Big Pool' - 50meter length. I've swam long course before but I expected to be tired then. I could not get in a rhythm, the guys I usually lead were leading me, and I really felt like a cat in the water!! 3200m later I was done, swamped, couldn't feel my arms, lets just hope next week is better.

R.I.P Favorite Swim Cap

I can't believe I had two botched workouts in a row. Yesterday I had a 6 mile run in the morning. I was all dressed to go then realized there was no way I was running in the Monsoon occurring outside. So I hightailed it to the gym for a TM run (booo!). When I got there I was already cutting into my time so I thought I would run as far as I could for 50 minutes. I'm just about to get on the TM and I noticed I did not have my ipod...where was my ipod...oh no, freaking out...obviously I left it at home. I like my gym in a way - they think they're a night club so the music is always jammin'. Not that I love the music they play but it keeps me awake in the morning. The people watching wasn't entertaining either. Instead I watched outside the window at people attempting to walk in the monsoon. I was only able to get in 4.5 miles in the allotted time. When I got home and took off my hoodie guess what I found....oh my ipod, it was on me the entire time.

Now for the evening workout. I went to swim with the masters program. As I was about to get into the water, I gave my swim cap one more little tug, and rip there goes my swim cap. I didn't have my extra cap in my bag, the coach on deck didn't have an extra, and everyone else was already in the water so I didn't want to make a big fuss. I swam all practice sans cap. I'm so lucky to have a sister that's a hair stylist - she is always loading me down with products to help me keep my hair blonde and smooth, not green and crunchy.

The master program I swim with has late night practices 7:30-9 so I must eat before I go. One of my favorite quick and easy food are PJ's Organics Organic Chicken Burritos (found at whole foods). So what if I have a Burrito Belly before I go swim, these things are worth it! To cook - microwave for 2 minutes wrapped in paper towel then place in toaster over and toast on Med. I ate this with sweet potatoes containing agave nectar, maple syrup, and a splash of vanilla and edamame.

Here was breakfast.
A Mango Strawberry Smoothie and a 2 Egg Omelet with Asparagus and Feta

I must apologize for the picture quality. I broke my camera two weeks ago so these were all take via cell phone.