Got a few things going on tonight so we'll see how this works out. Tonight will be part blogging, part laundry folding and part following the Grammy Awards. I can't really do three things at once... better drop the laundry part.
Wow, Lady Gaga's got some weird, bony shoulder thing going on... she should probably get that checked out.
Anyway, the past two weeks have been about catching up and getting caught up. First, this ridiculous schedule has definitely caught up with me. The first two weeks weren't easy, but I was ready to go. Week Three the plan caught me and Four wasn't any easier. I finally had to drop some workouts due to time constraints, conflicts and just being plain tired. I ended up missing two bike sessions this week, but I got in the long ride on Sunday which was key.
As I talk to other Ironman finishers about my training almost all of them are surprised that my plan has me starting so early. They're even more surprised to hear the volume that I'm putting in. It went as far as one guy asking, "What plan are you following? The pro training program?"
Who the hell is Muse and is that guy really playing a double-neck guitar? Didn't the band Alabama have one of those too?
He then joked with his friend, "Remember when you did that for your first IM and were burned out a few months later?" This got me thinking that missing a workout or two may not be a bad thing. Secondly, I'm still 7 months out. Missing a few hours here or there won't make or break my race, and it could protect me from overuse injuries early on, which would really sideline me.
Do they still give out awards at this "awards" show? We're confused.
I talked to another friend, and he mentioned that his long swims consisted of two half IM's. As I gain information from more and more sources I'm realizing that I may be a bit ambitious this early on. As a result, I'm feeling more comfortable scaling back some of the distances and trying not to feel too guilty for missing a session here or there.
So while I'm not out getting my planned training in, I'm using that extra time to sleep and eat. I'm going to bed early (some nights I fall asleep a little after John does) so I can get up early. I'm trying to take in about 800-1,000 calories for breakfast, especially on days with morning workouts. I no longer have to make the biggest decision of the day: cheeseburger basket or chicken finger basket -- I get both. I don't try to fill up on junk calories, but sometimes that stuff just hits the spot.
Dear Canada, Please take Justin Bieber back. Leave the gravy fries. Thanks.
It's finally getting brighter out, and I ran in daylight for the first time in months yesterday. It was a good 14 miles with most of the Thursday morning group. Three hours on the bike trainer earlier today made for a good weekend. I start out swimming tomorrow morning, and I think there may even be a true rest day built in to this week. I want to get a good week in, because Joan is gone next weekend and my chance to train will be limited.
Finally, Mumford & Sons, The Avett Brothers and Bob Dylan... now I can go to bed.
Oh, one last note: I'm on Twitter now @larrydurland for you social media types.
Sunday, February 13, 2011
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
Catching Up, Part I
Author's Note: Just like the way everything else in my life is scheduled now, so are my blog entries. I try to get them out on Sunday nights. However, this past week I was preoccupied watching the Green Bay Packers win Super Bowl XLV. As a result I haven't been able to get around to finishing this post that I started Monday.
Week 3 is in the books, and it finished with some new highs and only one notable low. The first high point included my longest ride on the bike trainer yet coming in at 3 hours. Although somewhat physically tiring, this was really more of a psychological challenge. Distraction is the only way to make it through this tortuous activity. This weekend I got through it with one episode of SportsCenter, half an episode of Man vs. Food (a re-run I had already seen) and then finished off with "The Hangover." The first two were easiest enough to work through, but I just about fell off my bike laughing through the movie. Ultimately, it turned out to be more of a distraction than I would have liked, but it wasn't enough to stop this wolf pack of one.
I'm definitely going to give this week's highlight to yesterday's long run. Our Thursday morning group met up at Jen Flint Panetta's house and headed out from there. She was nice enough to hand out cue sheets to those of us that A) didn't know the route and B) had no chance of keeping up with her. Marita and I brought up the back right from the start. We were eventually joined by Mike and then Marita's cousin Megan. Other than the scenery, the outstanding weather was the best part. The temperature was finally up over 40 degrees for the first time in over a month. It was nice enough to distract us from the 15 miles of constant hills we were tackling. It was just under 1000' of vertical gain. We eventually made it back to Jen's house for coffee and muffins. I'm pretty sure Jen had changed, done a few loads of wash, finished grocery shopping for the week and read a book in between getting back home and waiting for us to arrive.
The week's low point came on the first of the month. I missed my first scheduled day of training in over a month. The cold, wet weather got the best of me, and I came down with a fever for about 24 hours. Actually, I was probably due for a break, but I was disappointed with my streak coming to an end. I think all of the training has finally caught up to me. The volume (total time spent training) is more than I have ever taken on, and there isn't much of a break-in period either.
Other than the relentless schedule of swim, bike, run, repeat there are some other constants emerging: constantly hungry, constantly thirsty and constantly tired. Time for bed - tomorrow's 5:30 AM run is approaching quickly.
To Be Continued...
Week 3 is in the books, and it finished with some new highs and only one notable low. The first high point included my longest ride on the bike trainer yet coming in at 3 hours. Although somewhat physically tiring, this was really more of a psychological challenge. Distraction is the only way to make it through this tortuous activity. This weekend I got through it with one episode of SportsCenter, half an episode of Man vs. Food (a re-run I had already seen) and then finished off with "The Hangover." The first two were easiest enough to work through, but I just about fell off my bike laughing through the movie. Ultimately, it turned out to be more of a distraction than I would have liked, but it wasn't enough to stop this wolf pack of one.
I'm definitely going to give this week's highlight to yesterday's long run. Our Thursday morning group met up at Jen Flint Panetta's house and headed out from there. She was nice enough to hand out cue sheets to those of us that A) didn't know the route and B) had no chance of keeping up with her. Marita and I brought up the back right from the start. We were eventually joined by Mike and then Marita's cousin Megan. Other than the scenery, the outstanding weather was the best part. The temperature was finally up over 40 degrees for the first time in over a month. It was nice enough to distract us from the 15 miles of constant hills we were tackling. It was just under 1000' of vertical gain. We eventually made it back to Jen's house for coffee and muffins. I'm pretty sure Jen had changed, done a few loads of wash, finished grocery shopping for the week and read a book in between getting back home and waiting for us to arrive.
The week's low point came on the first of the month. I missed my first scheduled day of training in over a month. The cold, wet weather got the best of me, and I came down with a fever for about 24 hours. Actually, I was probably due for a break, but I was disappointed with my streak coming to an end. I think all of the training has finally caught up to me. The volume (total time spent training) is more than I have ever taken on, and there isn't much of a break-in period either.
Other than the relentless schedule of swim, bike, run, repeat there are some other constants emerging: constantly hungry, constantly thirsty and constantly tired. Time for bed - tomorrow's 5:30 AM run is approaching quickly.
To Be Continued...
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)