Average Resting Heart Rate: 48 Training Status: Productive Total Vert last week: 7,953 Total Hours last week: 12:46 Plan for this week: 13 hours: Swim, Bike, Run, Weights, Hike
A decent week but I can do better.
Swim 0
Road Bike 1
Mountain Bike 1
Road Run 2
Trail Run
Hike 1
Weights 2
Spin 1
I read a lot this week and stretched more than ever. Everything is good.
This Week:
Swim 2
Road Bike 2
Mountain Bike 2
Road Run 2
Trail Run 1
Hike 1
Weights 2
Spin 2
And despite not having a stellar race year to date, I feel like everything is changing for the better, for the second half of the year. Upcoming Race: Timberman 70.3. My first priority for the next three weeks.
Training Stats: – Average Resting Heart Rate: 44 – Training Status: Productive – Total Vert last week: 6,844 – Total Hours last week: 13:53 – Plan for this week: 13 hours: Swim, Bike, Run, Weights, Hike
I’m excited for this week: I have my mountain bike AND my tri bike back from respective shops so I’m ready to ride. The rain will hopefully not hamper this week and I can ride and run trails.
Bear Brook was so muddy and wet last week and I only did one run on the Concord trails. This week I’m hoping to do more trails and more mountain biking. While I’m 15 weeks out from Ironman Florida (my Mont Tremblant roll over race) I am still planning a few other races beforehand which means mountain biking and trail running and big hikes in the White Mountains.
Biking this loop was the hardest mountain bike ride in a while. My new goal: get to know this loop and make it easy.
On Saturday I got to ride the Timberman bike course with Kristin, my high school friend. We met up last year while racing the Capital Wells triathlon in Sunapee. Saturday started out a cool 60 with sun. It was fun to catch up and ride the awesome roads around Laconia before heading into work.
Saturday was a perfect day at Gunstock. Temps in the 70s and gorgeous blue sky. What a day.
Sunday was a spin class at my new gym (interval work), long run in Concord and an open water swim with Sonja.
Long Pond Swim in Northwood with Sonja. We are in open water swim training mode.
I also found the woman who we saw on Isolation who was doing the Direttissima. Stefanie Bishop and I started following her on Instagram. She is writing up a race report and asked followers for questions. I asked her how she trained for it. Her short answer for now:
Average Resting Heart Rate: 42 Training Status: Productive Total Vert last week: 1,923 Total Hours last week: 7:02 Plan for this week: 7 hours: Swim, Bike, Run, Weights
It’s a whole new ballgame folks. So many races in the coming weeks so let’s get down to it.
I’m doing more morning hikes with these characters:
I’m doing more running and biking at Gunstock. It is so green at the mountain and I love running the Ridge loop and biking on the cross country trails.
And just all around more focused training.
After all this rain the brooks will be running and that is good hiking with the dogs. This week also includes a trip up north to the White Mountains with Vicky and Ross. It’s going to be another epic hike.
Some days I trained hard and didn’t take time off.
Some days I took too many days off.
I started the real training too late.
I have so many excuses.
But then again, despite logging every training run, swim and bike – I don’t refer back to it to remember I did train well, sometimes. I just have selective memory.
While I feel ready for Ironman Coeur d’Alene, I don’t think I’ll ever be ready.
It’s part of the endurance lifestyle – you just never feel ready.
You think “I could’ve done more”.
Come Sunday, the test will be real: can I finish an Ironman when the high temperature of the day is 100.
This is the forecast for Coeur d’Alene.
Two of my DNFs happened in the best training conditions possible. I want to finish this.
Right now I’m not thinking too much about race day (other than the weather). I told Mark, who is racing with me that the Friday before we will strategize on race nutrition. I can’t think about it now.
I have two more regular days then Thursday is a travel day. Then it is race weekend.
Thursday I will drop off dogs at the kennel, drive to Boston, fly across the country to Spokane and hope that I get there before midnight. Friday we will drive to Idaho and then I will have time to be nervous.
Right now there is work and dogs and tapering. I love it all.
Adventure starts on Thursday. Who knows what will happen? I for sure don’t know.
But I’m in. I’m going in with the hope to finish and cross that line for Ironman # 7.
I added the Mid State Massive knowing that I’m never going to get into the Vermont 100 since I’m 108 on the waiting list. A few nights ago after a great training day, I registered for the Midstate Massive. I’ve been reading blogs and watching YouTube videos about the race. My plan is to volunteer at the Vermont 100 and see what the 100 mile race is all about and learn everything I can. My plan prior to Leadville included volunteering at an ultra and it just didn’t happen. This time – IT MUST.
Here is my list of all the things I need to do to finish a 100 miler that I didn’t do while training for Leadville:
Run at night
Hill repeats
Speed work
Strength training
Walk a lot
Volunteer at a 100 mile race
Why do I need to finish a 100 mile race?
I want to know what it’s like to cross a 100 mile finish line. I want to understand what my body has to do in order to run 100 miles. I need to finish what I started. I want the buckle.
Back to the present: today is a long bike ride and run. However before that a short mountain bike ride on the Concord trails.
