Chasing My Joy

My journey to becoming an Ultra Runner and Ironman

Ironman Los Cabos Training – 9 weeks to go…

It’s a shame that nothing has been posted in between training updates, I don’t want this to become just a training log, but for now this is what week 9 looked like. We had lots of snow that kept me indoors more than I would like. It was also a recovery week so a little lighter than normal. I had hoped to work a massage in as well but house hunting and Superbowl watching (boo) won out. 
Monday:
Planned rest day
Tuesday:
40 minute MAF run

75 minute trainer ride

Wednesday:
4000 yd swim (longest in awhile) 

Thursday:
90 minute trainer ride

Friday:
3000 yd swim
Saturday:
4 hour trainer ride (not too bad but would much rather be riding longer outside)

Sunday:
Snowy long run


Totals:
Swim: 7000 yds // 2hrs 36 min
Bike: 77 miles // 6 hrs 45 min
Run: 15.8 // 3 hrs 4 min
Strength: 0 min

Total: 12hrs 25min

This definitely felt easier than the last few weeks, as it should for a recovery week. I am looking forward to stepping it up the next three weeks for peak training bring on 20+ hour weeks and hopefully riding outside! 

Ironman Los Cabos Training – 10 weeks to go…

Whew, I am late getting last weeks recap up here, but better late than never! Las week had an unplanned rest day for me with a snow storm causing a two hour commute (missed my swim) then an offer on our house that same night so I spent the evening signing contracts (yay). I hate missing workouts but coach said no big deal so I guess I will move on. In the big picture selling my house trumps one day of workouts. The week started out easy to recover from the half marathon then ramped up.

Here is what my week looked like:
Monday:
2600 yd easy swim

Tuesday:
Hour  trainer ride in the morning  
30 min MAF run

Wednesday:
Bike strength and Power on the trainer
Easy shake out run

Thursday:
Snow storm and contract signing
Friday:
Strength training
Bike hill repeats on the trainer

Saturday:
16 mile run
2200 yd swim

Sunday:
75 mile bike with 40 minute t-run
Totals:
Swim: 4800 yds // 2hrs
Bike: 116 miles // 10hrs
Run: 22.3 miles // 4hrs 45min
Strength: 45 min

Total: 17hrs 22min

Overall this week felt ok, next week is a rest week so I am looking forward to a little step back before my biggest set before Cabo. Bring on peak training!!

Ironman Los Cabos Training – 11 weeks to go…

In my last post I talked about my new coach Beth (can get very confusing since my name is Beth too but it’s fun that our last names rhyme) . Since I don’t want to give her services away for free and everyone’s training should look different I won’t go into too much detail here about my workouts. Here is what my week looked like:

Monday:
Easy spin (that I moved over from Sunday)
2,000 yd swim

Tuesday:
Hour tempo trainer ride in the morning  
Interval run (in the dark)

Wednesday:
Pyramid trainer ride
 3100 masters swim
Thursday:
hour easy(ish) trainer ride
60 minute tempo run
Friday:
Strength workout
3000 yd swim
Saturday:
4 hour endurance bike ride with a 30 minute transition run
Sunday:
Half Marathon race (recap soon) quick strength session

90 minute easy spin to get the junk out of the legs
Totals:
Swim: 8250 yds // 2hrs 45min
Bike: 124 miles // 10hrs 27min
Run: 27 miles // 5hrs 5min
Strength: 1hr 10 min
Total: 18hrs 45min
Overall this week felt really good, I am happy to be back into a routine and really enjoying my workouts. My race on Sunday was definitely was not set up to be a PR but it felt good and was fun to race and see friends.

It’s a new year have you started your training cycle or still in off season?

Training For a Hot Race in Winter – Four Months To Go

In (a little less than) Four short months I will be toeing the line at Ironman Los Cabos. It doesn’t feel real yet, it’s NEXT year, it will be warm, it’s a triathlon, and it’s clearly not triathlon season in Colorado (hello lowof -8).

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But 4 months is not a lot of time and will go by quickly, I need to keep my focus and eyes on the prize. I try to think about warm(isn)aqua ocean water, palm tress and margaritas.

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My training plan is very similar to my last two ironmans, I am just hoping that I won’t have to spend too much time on the trainer and treadmill (I will run in snow but ice is another thing). The new things I hope to start incorporating some heat training. I have done a little research on how to train for a race in warm conditions over winter. Starting in January I will start:

  • Going to hot yoga to get my body used to moving in the heat
  • sitting in the sauna after swims for increasing amounts of time.
  • No fan or open windows while on the trainer
  • Overdressing for runs

Other than that I think I will just have to gut it out. Regardless, I am excited to head to mexico to race towards the end of a long, cold winter.

Have any additional tips? Have you ever races in the heat after training in the cold?

I haven’t really but I did train in the heat to race in the ridged cold in Tahoe, I guess that doesn’t hep me here.