Sunday, April 24, 2011
Tough weeks need to end
It was another rough week on the training front. I did pretty good during the week, even with some minor construction going on to fix our storm drain pipe, but I missed another long ride. I was able to get in 10 sessions this week, but did miss my Saturday long ride, a scheduled 90 miler. I have vowed not to miss another one. This week coming up is real busy, Emma makes her first Holy Communion on Saturday, so I know I will only get a run in on that day. I have so busy I have not logged very interesting posts, but my crazy life will settle down after this week.
Sunday, April 17, 2011
So much for a great week
Well what a crappy week for training. Everything was going along ok. I had planned about 14 hours or just under for the week. But life completely got in the way and I never recovered from it. I did manage 10.5 hours with 11 sessions, but I did miss my long weekend ride. I am planning on making up half of that on Monday AM, and will use today, Sunday, as a complete day off, I'll explain that in a minute.
We have been having a problem with some home improvements at our house this week, so I have had to cut some workouts short or deleted the optional ones all together so I could get home early. Friday I left work so I could met the mason and he never showed up all day. Saturday night I spent shop vaccing our basement for 6 hours to remove water that was flowing into our house. This caused me to miss my long bike ride on Sunday morning because I needed to sleep and clean up from all the water that was in our house overnight. I did get in all my runs and swim, but was short on the bike. I had planned on missing some weight sessions for longer runs or BRICKS, but not the bike.
The sessions I did get in felt really good. I am really working on the swim, but still fear I will breaststroke most of the swim. Some how I just can't seem to swim freestyle for long distance, but can breaststroke forever it seems. Most of my bike sessions I am trying to follow up with some run sessions now. My running speed is coming back with the weight dropping back down to last seasons number.
Baseball season has started in our town, so I need to really focus on getting my daddy time in with the kids. It makes for a busy time of year, swimming classes, baseball/softball, and training. I think I need to be cloned right now.
Weekly totals:
Weights: .75 hours, 1 session
Swim: 2.45 hours, 3 sessions, 7,700 yards
Bike: 2.69 hours, 2 sessions, 66 miles
Run: 4.65 hours, 5 sessions, 38.93 miles
We have been having a problem with some home improvements at our house this week, so I have had to cut some workouts short or deleted the optional ones all together so I could get home early. Friday I left work so I could met the mason and he never showed up all day. Saturday night I spent shop vaccing our basement for 6 hours to remove water that was flowing into our house. This caused me to miss my long bike ride on Sunday morning because I needed to sleep and clean up from all the water that was in our house overnight. I did get in all my runs and swim, but was short on the bike. I had planned on missing some weight sessions for longer runs or BRICKS, but not the bike.
The sessions I did get in felt really good. I am really working on the swim, but still fear I will breaststroke most of the swim. Some how I just can't seem to swim freestyle for long distance, but can breaststroke forever it seems. Most of my bike sessions I am trying to follow up with some run sessions now. My running speed is coming back with the weight dropping back down to last seasons number.
Baseball season has started in our town, so I need to really focus on getting my daddy time in with the kids. It makes for a busy time of year, swimming classes, baseball/softball, and training. I think I need to be cloned right now.
Weekly totals:
Weights: .75 hours, 1 session
Swim: 2.45 hours, 3 sessions, 7,700 yards
Bike: 2.69 hours, 2 sessions, 66 miles
Run: 4.65 hours, 5 sessions, 38.93 miles
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
Rest and Recovery over, Base 3 starts
Last week was rest and recovery week. Only 12 hours and 53 minutes of training time and I felt like I hardly did anything. Most of the workouts were pretty light, except for the testing sessions. During last summer prepping for a half Ironman I don't think I hit 12 hours often, now a recovery week is over 12 hours. This week I am scheduled for 14.5 hours if I hit all my workouts.
My stress level has been through the roof, not due to training but due to a bad contractor that came to Brick Point our house. It is suppose to be a pretty easy improvement, but just like most things it has turned into a disaster. I believe the guy used the wrong cement or got a bad batch of cement because my drain is clogged with cement. He is claiming it is not cement but rather a ball, doll, or kid toy that the cement dust could not pass through in the drain and has solidified. I am not a mason, nor do I play one on TV, but I know what cement looks like and there are cement "drippings" all over my steps, grass, mailbox, light fixture, and wall. I have been dealing with this since April 5 with no luck from the contractor.
Each time it rains, I get water in my basement, water flooding my back yard because that drain flows through my front drain, and water filling my front driveway. Now the contractor is avoiding me. Thank god I have been documenting everything in writing, photo's, and video. I have a bad feeling that I will wind up in court. Oh yeah and it has rained about 5 times since the drain became clogged. So much for making my house more energy efficient. Just one of the little things that takes away from training.
My first tri of the year is only 4 weeks away. I really need to get outside on the bike more, but it is going to rain a few times this week.
My stress level has been through the roof, not due to training but due to a bad contractor that came to Brick Point our house. It is suppose to be a pretty easy improvement, but just like most things it has turned into a disaster. I believe the guy used the wrong cement or got a bad batch of cement because my drain is clogged with cement. He is claiming it is not cement but rather a ball, doll, or kid toy that the cement dust could not pass through in the drain and has solidified. I am not a mason, nor do I play one on TV, but I know what cement looks like and there are cement "drippings" all over my steps, grass, mailbox, light fixture, and wall. I have been dealing with this since April 5 with no luck from the contractor.
Each time it rains, I get water in my basement, water flooding my back yard because that drain flows through my front drain, and water filling my front driveway. Now the contractor is avoiding me. Thank god I have been documenting everything in writing, photo's, and video. I have a bad feeling that I will wind up in court. Oh yeah and it has rained about 5 times since the drain became clogged. So much for making my house more energy efficient. Just one of the little things that takes away from training.
My first tri of the year is only 4 weeks away. I really need to get outside on the bike more, but it is going to rain a few times this week.
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
March 2011 Totals
Totals for the month of March 2011. Looking back I think I had a pretty good March. I am really trying to stick to the plan I have written for myself, which is not easy being a self-coached athlete. We all know the dedication it takes to train for an Ironman, so hopefully the warm temperatures come soon so I can get out on the bike consistently.
I have missed some of the optional workouts, and was really sick for 1 full day. In March I dropped 30-minutes from my strength training sessions, which is normal as you start more race specific training. Swimming is my limiter and in March I logged 16,600 yards, or 5.5 hours. I increased that to 27, 802, or 8.83 hours in the pool. I always smell like chlorine it seems. Biking increased from 332.89 miles to 486 miles. Running went from 93.10 miles to 144.22. I started to include specific Brick sessions the last week of March as a normal training days.
My weight is tracking down and I feel like I am regaining my speed from last season as the weight drops some. I am down to 174 right now, and figure on race day I will most likely be 165. At the end of March I had a 10-miler at the beach and had a nice PR.
Totals--54 total sessions
Brick Workouts--42 miles...2.21 hours
Weights--6 hours
Swim--27,802 yards...8.83 hours
Bike--486 miles...20.70 hours
Run--144.22 miles...17.41 hours
I have missed some of the optional workouts, and was really sick for 1 full day. In March I dropped 30-minutes from my strength training sessions, which is normal as you start more race specific training. Swimming is my limiter and in March I logged 16,600 yards, or 5.5 hours. I increased that to 27, 802, or 8.83 hours in the pool. I always smell like chlorine it seems. Biking increased from 332.89 miles to 486 miles. Running went from 93.10 miles to 144.22. I started to include specific Brick sessions the last week of March as a normal training days.
My weight is tracking down and I feel like I am regaining my speed from last season as the weight drops some. I am down to 174 right now, and figure on race day I will most likely be 165. At the end of March I had a 10-miler at the beach and had a nice PR.
Totals--54 total sessions
Brick Workouts--42 miles...2.21 hours
Weights--6 hours
Swim--27,802 yards...8.83 hours
Bike--486 miles...20.70 hours
Run--144.22 miles...17.41 hours
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
Back at it!
Well it has been a long few weeks. Last week my other PC crashed and I spent the past week trying to recover as much info off of it I could. I was able to retrieve most of it but not all of it. It's amazing how dependent we are on computers. I never thought I was, but all it takes is a PC to crash, then you realize how much you do on it.
It was extremely frustrating talking to HP about my computer issues. Almost every time I called customer service, I had trouble understanding the person on the phone. I felt like I said "I'm sorry can you say that again" way too much. They did a good job overall, but were unable to restore my PC even after sending me the restore CD's. I guess I had a bad file or virus somewhere in the system.
I went out over this past weekend and bought a new MacBook Pro. I am still getting used to it, but overall am happy so far after only a few days. It did take me over 3 hours to get all our financial information into the new program. I like the feel of the Mac and since we have so many other Apple products I figured it made sense to get them all on the same page.
On a happier note we received word that Kristina was accepted to Elks Camp Moore, an overnight camp for children with special needs that is located in the mountains of Central New Jersey. She has attended the last 3 years and always comes back telling us how much she loved it. We think we have it tough some times, then when I go to the camp and see some of the other children, I count our blessings. Thank god it is not the same week as IMLP of that would have been a problem.
On a training not, last week was pretty good. I totaled 13:41 in training time with 13 sessions total. I felt really good, but tired at the end of the week. I am glad this week is testing and recovery workouts. I missed 2 optional workouts, so I could have logged even more. I squeezed in a 3 hour trainer session, that was not to terrible. I completed 3 good short BRICK sessions, 24 mile bike and 5 mile runs OTB. I feel good about my biking and running right now. A couple weeks back I set a PR in a 10 mile at 1:08:05...nice flat course, perfect for a run.
I just received my shirts for the fundraiser I am doing in prepping for IMLP. They came out pretty good. White T-shirt with red print or sports grey sweatshirt with white ink. All proceeds go towards our fund for special needs children so if you would like one let me n=know or make a $25 donation at the top of the page.
It was extremely frustrating talking to HP about my computer issues. Almost every time I called customer service, I had trouble understanding the person on the phone. I felt like I said "I'm sorry can you say that again" way too much. They did a good job overall, but were unable to restore my PC even after sending me the restore CD's. I guess I had a bad file or virus somewhere in the system.
I went out over this past weekend and bought a new MacBook Pro. I am still getting used to it, but overall am happy so far after only a few days. It did take me over 3 hours to get all our financial information into the new program. I like the feel of the Mac and since we have so many other Apple products I figured it made sense to get them all on the same page.
On a happier note we received word that Kristina was accepted to Elks Camp Moore, an overnight camp for children with special needs that is located in the mountains of Central New Jersey. She has attended the last 3 years and always comes back telling us how much she loved it. We think we have it tough some times, then when I go to the camp and see some of the other children, I count our blessings. Thank god it is not the same week as IMLP of that would have been a problem.
On a training not, last week was pretty good. I totaled 13:41 in training time with 13 sessions total. I felt really good, but tired at the end of the week. I am glad this week is testing and recovery workouts. I missed 2 optional workouts, so I could have logged even more. I squeezed in a 3 hour trainer session, that was not to terrible. I completed 3 good short BRICK sessions, 24 mile bike and 5 mile runs OTB. I feel good about my biking and running right now. A couple weeks back I set a PR in a 10 mile at 1:08:05...nice flat course, perfect for a run.
I just received my shirts for the fundraiser I am doing in prepping for IMLP. They came out pretty good. White T-shirt with red print or sports grey sweatshirt with white ink. All proceeds go towards our fund for special needs children so if you would like one let me n=know or make a $25 donation at the top of the page.
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Computer Crashed!
Sorry but my computer had catastrophic crash....I am waiting for a new install disk from HP to reload all original programs. I'll get a post up ASAP.
Last Weeks stats are pretty good...13:41:45 of total training time with 13 total sessions. This included a 10 mile run on March 27, 2011 were I set a NEW PR for a 10-miler...1:08:05. This included my stop for a port-o-potty, only 30 seconds but still, my GPS said 1:07:39.
Stats--13:41:45 total time, 13 sessions total
Weights--1.5 hours, 2 sessions
Swim--2.3 hours, 7,301 yards
Bike--114.5 miles, 6 hours
Run--3.93 hours, 33 miles
Last Weeks stats are pretty good...13:41:45 of total training time with 13 total sessions. This included a 10 mile run on March 27, 2011 were I set a NEW PR for a 10-miler...1:08:05. This included my stop for a port-o-potty, only 30 seconds but still, my GPS said 1:07:39.
Stats--13:41:45 total time, 13 sessions total
Weights--1.5 hours, 2 sessions
Swim--2.3 hours, 7,301 yards
Bike--114.5 miles, 6 hours
Run--3.93 hours, 33 miles
Sunday, March 20, 2011
The luck of the Irish!
I just finished week 1 of my Base 2 Block of Ironman Training. I am training with a 3 week build and 1 week recovery and testing, for a total of 4 week blocks. This current week was week 5 of the total training plan. With the completion of this week, I will have 18 weeks to go until Lake Placid, and 12 weeks until Eagleman 70.3.
I felt really good this week. Having fully recovered from the GI bug that went through my house. Monday was a nice recovery day. I only did my scheduled weight training session, and skipped the recovery swim. The pool was so crowded again I did not want to fight to get in just 20 minutes of recovery swimming. I know in a couple weeks, once baseball starts, the pool traffic will decrease.
Tuesday was perfect day to get back to a "triple header." The weather is scheduled to be perfect this week, so I got out in the morning for a good 8 mile run. After work I went right to the Y for a swim session of 2400 yards in under 45 minutes. I am trying right now to improve my technique so I have the endurance for the 2.4 mile swim. After we ate, I did a nice 18 mile recovery ride on the trainer.
Wednesday called for a 75 minute ride, or roughly 30 miles. I wa not able to get that done early in the day, before work started, so I rode at night after I helped get the kids ready for bed. I had an optional 5 mile recovery run scheduled and decided to do this near lunch time because the sun was nice and bright and we had some staff issues at work going on. I added 2 miles to the run miles because I need to cut some miles from my Saturday run this week, and I was feeling really good during this run. I was trying to hold my speed down, but was moving really good with a low HR so I just went with it.
St. Patricks Day today and it was hard to miss out on the party. Brian had called yesterday to try to see if I could meet him for spirits and watch March Madness games. I was attending a conference close to home, and he would be at a meeting not far from me. I told him I had to pass. He did a good job of not pressuring me too much. I guess this is one of the sacrifices to be an Ironman. Thursday was a really busy day on the home front, so I only had time to get in a 1600 yard swim. I was scheduled for a run as well but could not get it in, so I pushed it to Friday morning as part of a BRICK workout.
Friday would be another "triple header" workout. I started off with a good 24.5 mile ride on a stationary bike at work, maintaining the appropriate HR. I then got changed and dressed for an outside run from my office. It was schedule for 7 mile run, but I added 1 mile because of the saturday palnned decrease, so I went 8 miles. I was feeling really good and fast, keeping a 7 minute mile average. It was weird, because most of my stand alone 8 mile times have been slower. I guess the bike really loosens my legs up. I squeezed in a weight training session after lunch.
Saturday was a really busy day. I woke up extra early, 5am, to get in a 10 mile run. I should have done 14 miles, but added those 4 miles to my weekday runs, because I knew I would be short on time. I was short on time because I was taking Emma to New York City and the American Girl Doll Store. What a crazy place that was. We need to catch and early train, and I only had 80 minutes in the moring to workout, so I did a run since the Y was not open yet. I skipped the 45 minute trainer recovery workout because I was pretty wiped from the day out in NYC with Emma. It was an adventure on the train because right outsidde of NYC, they had a power outage on the NJ Transit line we were on. We had to get off and take another train, the PATH, into the city. Emma was great during it all, but it added an extra hour to our travel time into the city. I was also scheduled for a swim, but I will make that up on Sunday.
Sunday I was at the Y right at 7am and in the pool by 7:10am. I did my schedule 1.5 mile swim in 45 minutes, so it was nice. I came home and helped around the house, taking Conor to get a hair cut and do the grocery shopping. Conor, along with Batman & Superman action figures, were great helpers. I even made time to take the girls to church and feed them lunch while Cathy had to take Conor to a birthday party. At lunch, I ate 2 pieces of pizza and had a Milkey Way candy bar and a soda. I figured I had to ride 70 miles, so I would burn it up during that afternoon ride. Cathy dropped Conor at home, then she went out to take of some lady things, manicure, shopping, returns, etc. I made my way to the trainer since I was Mr. Mom. The kids were pretty good for me so I made it through the session in 2:41. The trainer is a mental challenge for me and I know it will help on lap 2 at Ironman Lake Placid.
All total I think it was a pretty good week, over 13 hours and I missed 3 recovery type sessions or I would have been over 15 hours. Next week I start a new weigh training program with a different muscle group focus to specifically help with the swim. I still think I can make it through the swim in 1:15. Broke in a new pair of Nike Pegasus 27 Running Shoes this week. In the next few weeks, I will be getting a new pair of Zoot Tri specific shoes for shorter races this season, need to get new tri-specific cycling shoes, and have my bike re-fitted at the bike shop I go to.
Weekly Total: 13 total sessions, 180 miles total, 13:10 total time
Weights: 1.5 hours
Swim: 6400 yards, 2 hours
Bike: 142.5 miles, 5.6 hours
Run: 33.4 miles, 4 hours
I felt really good this week. Having fully recovered from the GI bug that went through my house. Monday was a nice recovery day. I only did my scheduled weight training session, and skipped the recovery swim. The pool was so crowded again I did not want to fight to get in just 20 minutes of recovery swimming. I know in a couple weeks, once baseball starts, the pool traffic will decrease.
Tuesday was perfect day to get back to a "triple header." The weather is scheduled to be perfect this week, so I got out in the morning for a good 8 mile run. After work I went right to the Y for a swim session of 2400 yards in under 45 minutes. I am trying right now to improve my technique so I have the endurance for the 2.4 mile swim. After we ate, I did a nice 18 mile recovery ride on the trainer.
Wednesday called for a 75 minute ride, or roughly 30 miles. I wa not able to get that done early in the day, before work started, so I rode at night after I helped get the kids ready for bed. I had an optional 5 mile recovery run scheduled and decided to do this near lunch time because the sun was nice and bright and we had some staff issues at work going on. I added 2 miles to the run miles because I need to cut some miles from my Saturday run this week, and I was feeling really good during this run. I was trying to hold my speed down, but was moving really good with a low HR so I just went with it.
St. Patricks Day today and it was hard to miss out on the party. Brian had called yesterday to try to see if I could meet him for spirits and watch March Madness games. I was attending a conference close to home, and he would be at a meeting not far from me. I told him I had to pass. He did a good job of not pressuring me too much. I guess this is one of the sacrifices to be an Ironman. Thursday was a really busy day on the home front, so I only had time to get in a 1600 yard swim. I was scheduled for a run as well but could not get it in, so I pushed it to Friday morning as part of a BRICK workout.
Friday would be another "triple header" workout. I started off with a good 24.5 mile ride on a stationary bike at work, maintaining the appropriate HR. I then got changed and dressed for an outside run from my office. It was schedule for 7 mile run, but I added 1 mile because of the saturday palnned decrease, so I went 8 miles. I was feeling really good and fast, keeping a 7 minute mile average. It was weird, because most of my stand alone 8 mile times have been slower. I guess the bike really loosens my legs up. I squeezed in a weight training session after lunch.
Saturday was a really busy day. I woke up extra early, 5am, to get in a 10 mile run. I should have done 14 miles, but added those 4 miles to my weekday runs, because I knew I would be short on time. I was short on time because I was taking Emma to New York City and the American Girl Doll Store. What a crazy place that was. We need to catch and early train, and I only had 80 minutes in the moring to workout, so I did a run since the Y was not open yet. I skipped the 45 minute trainer recovery workout because I was pretty wiped from the day out in NYC with Emma. It was an adventure on the train because right outsidde of NYC, they had a power outage on the NJ Transit line we were on. We had to get off and take another train, the PATH, into the city. Emma was great during it all, but it added an extra hour to our travel time into the city. I was also scheduled for a swim, but I will make that up on Sunday.
Sunday I was at the Y right at 7am and in the pool by 7:10am. I did my schedule 1.5 mile swim in 45 minutes, so it was nice. I came home and helped around the house, taking Conor to get a hair cut and do the grocery shopping. Conor, along with Batman & Superman action figures, were great helpers. I even made time to take the girls to church and feed them lunch while Cathy had to take Conor to a birthday party. At lunch, I ate 2 pieces of pizza and had a Milkey Way candy bar and a soda. I figured I had to ride 70 miles, so I would burn it up during that afternoon ride. Cathy dropped Conor at home, then she went out to take of some lady things, manicure, shopping, returns, etc. I made my way to the trainer since I was Mr. Mom. The kids were pretty good for me so I made it through the session in 2:41. The trainer is a mental challenge for me and I know it will help on lap 2 at Ironman Lake Placid.
All total I think it was a pretty good week, over 13 hours and I missed 3 recovery type sessions or I would have been over 15 hours. Next week I start a new weigh training program with a different muscle group focus to specifically help with the swim. I still think I can make it through the swim in 1:15. Broke in a new pair of Nike Pegasus 27 Running Shoes this week. In the next few weeks, I will be getting a new pair of Zoot Tri specific shoes for shorter races this season, need to get new tri-specific cycling shoes, and have my bike re-fitted at the bike shop I go to.
Weekly Total: 13 total sessions, 180 miles total, 13:10 total time
Weights: 1.5 hours
Swim: 6400 yards, 2 hours
Bike: 142.5 miles, 5.6 hours
Run: 33.4 miles, 4 hours
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