Archives for May 2015

May 28, 2015

Ironman Canada Training – Weeks 12, 11, 10 and a Mini Camp

How did three weeks slip by? Time seems to accelerate the closer I get to an Ironman. Life becomes eat, train, eat, work, eat, train, eat, sleep, repeat. Sometimes I can slip in some laundry (sometimes) housework (rarely) and downtime (what’s that?)

But it’s all fun, it feels so good to see my training peaks calendar fill up with workouts and then tick them off one by one. I was able to take a four day weekend at the end of last week so I asked coach for a training camp like weekend. It was much more fun to think of the weekend as a camp vs. just another weekend training. We made an agenda and planned our routes so we knew what we *planning* on doing. The weather here in Boulder was less than ideal but it could have been much worse!

It will be too boring to go over daily workouts for three weeks so I will just go over some of the highlights:

12 weeks to go was a little light since we traveled to Santa Fe, New Mexico to attend my graduation. The plan was to get some good training in over the weekend and we even schlepped our bikes with us but with terrible weather and no trainers we gave up on the idea and just celebrated mother’s day with my mom. Got in 9 hours of training before leaving town.

Beautiful morning for a graduation #hopefullynotthelasttime

Thanks for being so stinkin awesome mom! You have always been an inspiration. Strong, determined, brilliant and fierce. If I can be 50% as awesome as you when I grow up I will be happy. Happy Mothers Day!

11 weeks to go was a little more productive, after driving back from New Mexico I got back into some workouts with good focus and intensity including:

The longest swim of year so far (4,000+ yds)

Second workout of the day was extra awesome because my mom joined us for the swim #IMTraining

All bike rides on the trainer (come on summer)

Love watching @ethannewberry and @kimberleydt on ginger runner live from my trainer. Congrats Ethan on the amazing wife and 100k #inspiration

Long run turned because of flooding
Totaling about 15 hours and a lot of focused work

10 weeks to go was the biggest week so far because of the long weekend. All workouts are getting longer now meaning that the alarm is creeping closer to 4:00am and getting later at night. But it’s not too bad since this week (9 weeks to go) is the last biggish week (17 hours planned) before a little taper and recovery for Boulder 70.3.

67 days until @ironmantri Canada. Good thing I have this little bean to help me with yoga #IMCanada #IMTraining #daisythechihuahua

Views from today’s long run, so green in Boulder #IMTraining #IMCanada

Second workout of the day was extra awesome because my mom joined us for the swim #IMTraining

#keepyourheadup #believeinyoutself #chasedreams

Last workout of the day done! Lots of wildlife out, pelicans, great blue heron, bunnies and one wild pug #IMTraining #IMCanada #WinstonThePug #ironpug

Bluebird skies this morning so at least I got three hours on the bike before thunder chased us inside. Back on the trainer 62 days until Ironman Canada #IMTraining

61 days until #IMCanada so many miles to ride can’t believe it’s so close! #IMTraining #teamsoas @ironmancanada

Mid ride break, thinking today about all who have served especially Grandpa Curtis. I wish I could have met you and heard your stories #grateful

T-run done. Cooked and ready to relax! #IMTraining #teamsoas

Then it will be one last big push for IM Canada – here we go!!!

May 5, 2015

Ironman Canada Training – 13 weeks to go

Last week went by quickly but I felt pretty good and was happy with how I was hitting my intervals. Now with just 12 weeks until Ironman Canada it’s time to FOCUS! Here is how last week turned out:

Monday: Easy Yoga with the pug

Some mornings you need to do yoga with a pug

Tuesday: 3000 m swim // 30 min easy spin

Wednesday: hour and 20 minute trainer ride // evening massage sooo painful!

Thursday: Progression run // easy spin warm up and TRX workout

Friday: 3100 m swim

Saturday: 4.5 hour bike ride with a 40 minute t-run

Very muggy run off a 56 mile bike. Happy to beat the storm! ☁️⚡️ #IMTraining #teamsoas

Sunday: Beautiful long run in Boulder before the rain started (so much rain for CO!) // evening 90 minute spin

~16 hours of training, only 12 weeks until Ironman Canada!

May 3, 2015

Boston Marathon // Tourist Report

I want to preface this post with the recognition that Boston is a huge city and we were only there for a few days. But if you do travel out to Boston for the marathon here is what we found out from our trip:

Stay// Anywhere you can! Not surprisingly hotels fill up fast for marathon weekend. Also be prepared to pay a pretty penny to stay near the finish. Cory and I stayed in a condo that we found on airbnb in back bay. It was a little disheartening to see that the rental prices about tripled for race weekend, but supply and demand. The place was small but clean. Third story walk up was difficult for Cory after the marathon but he managed. It was fun to stay in a residential area and see what it felt like to live in Boston for a couple days

My parents stayed at the Omni Parker House Hotel

It was very nice, opulent hotel and the longest continuously running hotel in the US. A little longer walk to race events than our place in Back Bay but still close to Boston Common. Their room was a little smaller than expected but very nice.

Do// There are so many things we did not get to do while in Boston but here are a few worth your time:

Old Town Trolley Tours this tour was one of the best uses of money and time. When you purchase a ticket it’s good for two days (which we used). The tour is a narrated drive of historic and important places in Boston. The best part is that you can hop on/off whenever you like so it’s also great transportation around the city. They also offer ghost/haunted tours that sounded really fun.

Boston Harbor Cruise – We got cruise tickets included in out trolley tour ticket, it was a narrated tour and really fun to see the city from the water and hear more about the history of Boston. There are also dinner cruises and whale watching available

Cheers Pub – The Bull and Finch pug was fun to visit. We ended up eating lunch there, the food was just meh, so I would suggest just getting a beer and seeing the inspiration for Cheers and eating somewhere else.

Another must do is walking the Freedom Trail. We bought a small guidebook and really enjoyed seeing the city by foot, following the red brick path.

Welcome to the Freedom Trail, a 2.5-mile, red-lined route that leads you to 16 historically significant sites — each one an authentic treasure. Explore museums and meetinghouses, churches, and burying grounds. Learn about the brave people who shaped our nation. Discover the rich history of the American Revolution, as it began in Boston, where every step tells a story.

Starting the Freedom Trail in Boston

New England Aquarium- Very famous aquarium that is worth a visit

Eat// There are many great places to eat in Boston but a couple places not to miss are Mikes’s Pastry just a short detour off the Freedom Trail tour.

Mast One the best meals I have had in my life, the pizza is amazing and the lobster ravioli was unreal. Great place for carb loading!!

Chasing My Joy

My journey to becoming an Ultra Runner and Ironman

Archives for May 2015

Ironman Canada Training – Weeks 12, 11, 10 and a Mini Camp

Ironman Canada Training – 13 weeks to go

Boston Marathon // Tourist Report