I know, I know, this post is late. But, you have it now! Between tri training, scuba lessons, and birthdays and I finally have a night to finish putting the video together. Hooray!
Week 7:
VIDEO
Leah notes:
Training:
Running: Getting better by the week. It’s nice to be running in the 11s, running longer than 10k, and getting in a little speedwork finally. Oddly enough, my HR drops a little even with the same effort after a sprint, it’s like “hey, this isn’t nearly as hard as I was working before”. Feet are holding up alright, they were a little tender after the pounding that was Sat and Sun, but nothing that lingered. I can actually wear shoes again besides my running shoes and my black tennies, which is making my work wear a little more varied. I’ll be excited when it goes away completely, but it’s definitely better. Also, all this perfect running weather (60s and sunny) isn’t hurting my run mojo.
Bike: Feel sort of stalled here until I get to get out and ride more. I’m varying up my resistances and doing drills, but I don’t feel like I really am going to make that much more progress until I start doing more outdoor rides. March will be my month!
Swim: Ahhh, I just love the pool lately. Drills are starting to be things that just help me count laps, as my form is getting better (and with that, my times are). I am looking forward to getting some lake swims in, because it does take a bit to adjust from the nice pool to the murky, nature-having, no side to push off like, but I think I’m setting myself up for a good season. Also, taking my fins to the lake and cruising around the buoys sounds like a blast!
Weights: Yep, super heavy weights are fun, and work in a completely different way. I lift, and I’m like “ok, that’s it?”. Then, after the session, it’s like BLAM. I feel it. Oddly enough I’m crushing the upper body goals, but I’ve got a bit to go (+50 lbs to my squat, +150 lbs to my leg press?) to hit leg goals, but it’s fun to pile on the weight and I get thumbs ups from the trainers at the gym so there’s that.
By the days:
Monday: Swim: 1200 m in 25mins (wore fins for some drills)(actually did this on Sunday, but counting for this week)
Tuesday: Bike: 20.64 mi in 60 mins – first 40 mins lighter resistance (2 of 5) with 3×1 min one leg drills, last 20 mins higher resistance (4 of 5) Run: 3.91 in 45 mins. 153-154 HR average 167 max. Weights: 3×4… 290 lb leg press, 120 lb rows, 100 lb pulldowns. 3×20…. incline sit ups w/10 lb plate w/twist, 110 lb calf presses.
Wednesday: Swim: 1500m in 37 mins.
Thursday: Bike: 20.46 in 60 mins – First 25 mins at 2/5, 3x1min one leg drills. Next 20 at 3/5, worked on concentrating on the push then the pull (not set intervals). Finished with 15 mins at 4/5, just trying to keep up the pace as best I could. Avg HR: 127, Max 191? (probably a spike) Run: 4.12 miles – 47:51, 6×20 sec sprints. Weights: 3×4… 185 lb squats, 120 lb rows, 105 lb pulldowns. 3×20… incline situps w/10 lb plate w/twist, 65 lb hamstring curls.
Friday: off
Saturday: Bike: 30 mins, 10 miles. Avg HR 111, Max HR 132. Run: 7.4 mi in 1h 30. HR avg 151, max 171. Swim: 1050m in 25 mins. Spin class: 45 mins of pain, torture, and awesomeness.
Sunday: Indoor Tri! Swim: 487m in 10 mins. Bike: 30 mins of quick spin. Run: 2.13 in 20 mins.
10 hours total, goal was 10 hours. So yay!
Definitely definitely ready for the stepback week after this. I felt a little fried.
Week 8:
Leah notes:
Training:
I really don’t have much to say about training this week. I did 2 easy runs in or close to zone 1, 2 easy trainers with no resistance, 1 easy swim, and 2 easy weights sessions.
Run: My easy run pace is where my Zone 2 run pace was a month ago. I’d like to see that improvement every month, thanks body and universe! I was hoping that so much time off would totally heal my heel, but then I walked around with a 60 lb scuba set up all weekend on a rocky cliff with non-cushy scuba boots. So, it’s FINE but it still talks to me every once in a while.
Bike: 1/5 resistance is really just like watching a movie on a slightly uncomfortable seat. My average HR didn’t even reach 100 (it was 97) on Thursday’s 45 min ride.
Swim: The first swim was uneventful, and we even cheesed out on the second one because I threw a little tantrum about it and decided that a 30 min easy swim was not worth the mental fortitude is was going to take to get through it. It was also the fifth day in a row without a day off and two of those were 3.5 hour training day and the race, so I needed it. Instead we soaked in the hot tub for 20 mins and chatted with another lady. That’s pretty close to the level of effort I was going to put in to my workout, so it was fine.
Weights: Decreasing weight by 1/3 makes things seem very light, though two months ago these weights felt pretty freaking hulk for me to hoist up. I never knew that there could be such thing as a “recovery weights” session, but if there is, this was it.
By the days:
Monday: Weights: 2×12… 200 lb leg press, 80 lb rows, 70 lb pulldowns. 2×20… incline situps w/a twist w/5 lb plate, 50 lb hammie machine. Swim: 1050m in 28 min
Tuesday: Bike: 16.67 mi in 45 mins, resistance 1/5, HR avg: 100, max: 111, Run: 3.1 miles in 36:20 HR avg: 148, max: 167
Wednesday: Weights: exact same as Monday, except 105 lb squats instead of leg presses
Thursday: Bike: 15.88 mi in 45 mins, resistance 1/5, HR avg: 97, max: 112, Run: 3.1 in 37:20, HR avg: 145, max: 157
Friday: off
Saturday: Scuba (one hour of actual in water, probably another hour of hauling around the tanks and equipment)
Sunday: Scuba (same)
Joel’s post is lost somewhere in the internet, and I don’t want to write it again. Sorry.
Question: anyone out there a certified diver? What’s the coolest thing you’ve seen? If not, where would you want to dive?
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