Archives for July 2013

July 22, 2013

Ironman Lake Tahoe Training – 10 weeks to go

WOW, just 2 months from today is race day, time is FLYING! This week went ok for my knee it’s just been a challenge to fit everything in! Last week was bigger than the week before and this coming week will be 20+ hours (wish me luck) then a mini taper before Boulder 70.3. Here is how last week shaped up:

Monday: Early morning swim 2,500m

Hip strengthening exercises in the evening, I am supposed to do these every day and that has been a GIANT fail, I must get better at this for my physical health!

Tuesday: 70 minute spin class

PM: Standard track session

Wednesday: 24 mile ride with hill climbs

PM: Strength Training

Thursday: Open Water Swim Clinic and strength training

Friday : Planned Rest day

Saturday: Unplanned rest day (was supposed to swim but our dog Bailey was sick and needed to go to the vet). After Bailey felt better we ran some errands, and went to a first birthday party.

Sunday: 100 mile ride with hills and 20 minute t-run. This was my longest ride since Ironman CdA last year and only my third time riding over 100 miles. It went much smoother than last year. On the other hand last year I rode the century the day after a 25k trail race so maybe it’s not a great comparison.

This week added up to just 16 hrs and 15 minutes, a little less then I was hoping given the unplanned rest day. Also running was dismal last week with less than 10 miles. This week will have a lot more running and a lot more hills!

How did your week look?

July 16, 2013

Sign Up For Ironman Boulder Series TODAY!

Hi Friends! I am sure you have heard that Ironman is FINALLY bringing a full to Colorado. I am excited to finally have one in my backyard.

Sign ups for the Series starts today, sign up HERE. The series includes a half ironman in June, an olympic in July and the full on August 3rd. It’s actually a pretty good deal for ironman and a great way to plan your build to the full.

If you aren’t interested in the series but just want to do the full registration opens tomorrow. Sooooo, who’s in???

July 15, 2013

Badwater Ultra Marathon

This morning the Badwater Ultra Marathon, arguably one of the worlds hardest ultra marathons.

Source

The Badwater Ultramarathon describes itself as “the world’s toughest foot race”. It is a 135-mile course starting at 282 feet below sea level in the Badwater Basin, in California‘s Death Valley, and ending at an elevation of 8360 feet (2548 m) at Whitney Portal, the trailhead to Mount Whitney. It takes place annually in mid-July, when the weather conditions are most extreme and temperatures over 120 °F, even in the shade, are not uncommon. Consequently, very few people—even among ultramarathoners—are capable of finishing this grueling race. Source

While I dream of one day running an ultra marathon (anything longer than 26.2 miles) I don’t aspire to run this one. It’s an incredible race, I would love to crew someone some day. It would be so amazing to help someone reach that goal. I have no idea how you get involved but one day I will.

People competing in this race will be running over night tonight so send them good thoughts when you tuck yourself in.

Would you do it???

July 14, 2013

Ironman Lake Tahoe – 11 Weeks To Go

On my training schedule coach started listing weeks left to go, made my heart skip a beat or two! This week was hopefully the last lightish week modified for my knee injury, hoping to be back at it strong next week! So here is the quick and dirty of how last week went down:

Monday: 30 mile ride after work
Tuesday: Speed work at the track

Wednesday: 90 minute spin class
pm: Strength

Thursday: am- run

pm- Strength

Friday: Open water swim

Saturday: “longish” run at 9,000+ elevation

Sunday: Longest swim since IMCDA 2.4 miles open water, felt pretty good, then hill repeats on the bike (didn’t feel so good)

Closed the week with 13.5 hours training. I expect that to increase a lot next week hoping for the best! How was your week?

July 14, 2013

Oregon Vacation

We will get to the full race recap soon (I hope). Things are moving fast around here with just 11 weeks to go until Ironman Lake Tahoe, work and life. Before I forget all the fun that happened last week in Oregon I thought I would take a minute to recap how fun our stay in Sunriver was. We have been there many times before, in fact my parents used to own a home there when they lived in Oregon. It was extra exciting to be there because we were celebrating Mom and Dad’s 40^th anniversary and they went to Sunriver on their honeymoon =)

We arrived in Sunriver on Thursday afternoon after 22 hours of driving straight, this is for convenience, but not my favorite way to start a vacation. Feeling a little stiff we decided that a nice easy bike tour of the half marathon course was in order. I really loved riding with my family! We stopped to take pictures at the finish line:

Cory and I looking dorky in our matching jerseys.

Mom at the half marathon start line. Cory and I were excited to race our first triathlon of the year but really bummed that mom’s big race was at the same time so we didn’t get to cheer for her. She did have by brother and dad chasing her all over the course so that did make me feel better.

Most of the day Friday was spent getting ready for the race and Saturday was spent getting a bad sunburn out on the course. She ended up beating her time goal and taking 2nd in her age group!

Sunday it was my mom, Cory and my turn to cheer from my bother and dad who raced in the 5k

They both did a great job, Erik took first in his group!!!

After their race we celebrated by eating at the lodge and getting a family photo.

The rest of the day was spent doing some work (for me) and packing up, Daisy spent her time well too

Next up….off to the beach and a training update!

Sunriver on Dwellable

July 5, 2013

July Goals

I am late on a race report AND a vacation update. But we just rolled in last night and I haven’t even located my camera cord to download photos. I LOVE traveling but I am back at work today with loads of laundry to do, bags to unpack and less than 12 weeks until Ironman (YIKES)!

But I wanted to jump in with July goals before July is half over. Time really does fly so I want to get these goals down before I forget.

1. No eating out in July – This will be easy to start with since on our road trip we had to eat out more than usual and we are looking forward to our usual home cooked meals. The hardest part of this goal is following it on weekends after a long hot training session. The last thing I usually want to do is wait until I get home to make food. So often times the weekend includes grabbing something on the way home (hello Café Rio) before passing out on the couch for a while. To combat this I am going to try to pack healthy food in a cooler to have immediately after working out. This means more time preparing but I am looking forward to seeing how it goes.

2. No soda. I don’t drink a lot of soda but I LOVE a coke after a long ride or run (I am seeing a theme here). With going into peak training soon I should be filling my body with healthy things not junk.

3. Roll and core work at least 5 times a week. I need to get my in good working order to tackle the next couple months of training.

That’s it for me, do you have any goals for July?

Chasing My Joy

My journey to becoming an Ultra Runner and Ironman