Last week was a whirlwind of a “vacation”. I’ve never been on a trip just for the purpose of training so that was really cool. Here is the schedule we followed for the 4 days we spent in Manitou Springs, CO.
Wednesday PM: 30 min. run on Bear Creek Canyon Trail
Thursday AM: 2 hr. run up and down Rampart Range Road
Thursday PM: 2 hr. bike around Garden of the Gods
Friday AM: 3 hr. bike around Colorado Springs
Friday PM: 2.5 hr. bike UP Cheyenne Mountain and down on Gold Camp Road, 30 min. run in Garden of the Gods
Saturday AM: 2 hr. run up and down Pikes Peak!
Saturday PM: 1.5 hr. run around Rampart Range Reservoir (at 9,500ft.!), 30 min. bike in downtown Manitou Springs
Sunday AM: 2 hr. bike hill repeats on Gold Camp Road, 30 min. run in downtown Manitou Springs
This totaled 17 hours of training in 4 days! Wow my legs were sore on Monday. This entire week totaled 22 hrs. of training, which is my most thus far. That’s nuts when I think about it. Averaging that out means that every day I trained for at least 3.14 hours. Nothing ceases to amaze me anymore with P2, and I love it!!
I won't get into the disgusting details (ok, maybe I will just a little) on how my first night in CO, after my dinner was placed in front of me, I proceeded to sprint to the bathroom to rid all of my insides. The next few hours were about the same up until I was able to fall asleep. Getting so sick made Thursday's schedule rough. It made me realize how much you NEED food in order to fuel your body to perform. I had nothing in the tank. Each day was progressively better, thank GOD, and by the last day I was finally feeling back to 'normal'. Just in time to head home! I am not sure if I had a bout of altitude sickness or food poisoning, but it was ugly and I never want to get that sick ever again. Makes me all the more proud that I made it through the toughest week yet.
Pictures to come!
Friday, May 28, 2010
Friday, May 21, 2010
Performance POWER!
Training with Matt and this team has been one of the most amazing experiences on my Ironman journey so far. The team aspect of triathlon training is like no other. Being able to train up to 5 days a week with a group of people who share the same goals and interests is truly priceless.
This week my experience with P2 has gotten even more amazing. We are currently training in Colorado Springs, CO! This is the 4th year Coach has put on this training camp which is all about testing our strength and stamina. This morning we biked all around Colorado Springs, then for our afternoon workout we climbed UP Cheyenne Mountain on our bikes. Tomorrow morning we will be running UP Pikes Peak, then in the afternoon running around Rampart Range Reservoir. Completing this training camp will be a huge confidence booster. I know if I can make it through this week, come Ironman day, the hilly Madison bike course won't seem bad.
More to come on the Colorado trip when I return... and once I can peel myself out of bed...
Saturday, May 15, 2010
Starting this very moment...
I can feel my athletic performance boosting.
My Hammer Nutrition order arrived today! YUM!
My Hammer Nutrition order arrived today! YUM!
Monday, May 10, 2010
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
Foot update and race report(s)!
It's been awhile since my last post pouting about my foot. Since then I have started seeing a chiropractor who practices A.R.T. (Active Release Technique is a soft tissue system/movement based massage technique that treats overuse injuries.) I have faith in him being able to help me, as he has an amazing track record in curing many athletes of their plantar fasciitis. I am seeing him every few days, and taking it easy on running the next couple of weeks, as to nurse my foot back to health in time for Colorado training camp.
I'll be heading to Colorado Springs in late May as Coach offers a triathlon camp where we can enjoy some intense altitude training for 4 days straight days. It will involve 2 workouts a day, running and biking up and down mountains and all around a great "vacation" with the team. I am really looking forward to it! I hope I can stay off my foot enough until CO to get it better; just in time to beat it up again.
Race season has started! My first "race" of the season was the Trail Mix 25k. I finished the race, probably pretty close to being in last place. The race was two 7.75 mile loops around the trails and hills at Hyland Park. I had a feeling my foot would hurt at some point, but I figured it would be tolerable. The first loop went well, but as I started the second loop my foot started to hurt. It was painful on the uphill's AND the downhill's, so I took it easy and actually walked most of the ups and downs. I finished the hilly 25k in 2:36. I believe 2:36 is better than the one other 25k I have run in my life, but still nothing I was thrilled about. I did it though, and my foot wasn't any worse off after running the race. I was able to try some new inserts for my running shoes, so more than anything I wanted the 'test run' to see how they felt.
The following weekend was the MN Ironman bike ride. The plan was to ride 100 miles... my first century ride! All would have gone according to plan, but the weather didn't cooperate and after making it to the first rest stop with my feet practically frozen off, I decided to go the 65 mile route instead. When the day was said and done we rode 70 miles followed by a 30 minute run. I really felt good when I was done with the 70 miles which convinced me I could have gone the full 100, if the rain and cold hadn't nearly sidelined me at the beginning of the ride. Note to self: Next year wear wool socks in cycling shoes!
On Saturday I had my first triathlon of the season. It was a sprint triathlon (600 yard swim, 13 mile bike, and 2.8 mile run) in Alexandria, MN. Since it is an early season Tri, the swim was in a pool. Overall the race went well. I was pleased with some of it and displeased with some, but that's what racing is all about. To learn what worked and what didn't. The winds out on the bike and run course were wicked! I watched the news that night and they said winds in Alexandria were 41 MPH at times. I felt it. Through the wind, I hammered through the bike and it paid off; I had the fastest bike split for the women!
Overall I ended up fourth.
I won a cute trophy for being second in my age group. Here I am with my award.
The next few weeks I'll be doing a lot of swimming and biking and taking it easy on the running. I'll get to run a few half hour runs, but other then that, now is the time try and heal up for Colorado Camp.
I'll be skipping out on my first race EVER this Saturday. I was signed up for the New Prague Half Marathon, but the doctor said a half marathon is a little too much running while we are working on getting my foot healed up. *Sigh* I will miss the 'free' T-shirt! I know I need to keep my focus on the big picture and that skipping this one race will be for the greater good. :)
Happy May! Spring has finally sprung!
I'll be heading to Colorado Springs in late May as Coach offers a triathlon camp where we can enjoy some intense altitude training for 4 days straight days. It will involve 2 workouts a day, running and biking up and down mountains and all around a great "vacation" with the team. I am really looking forward to it! I hope I can stay off my foot enough until CO to get it better; just in time to beat it up again.
Race season has started! My first "race" of the season was the Trail Mix 25k. I finished the race, probably pretty close to being in last place. The race was two 7.75 mile loops around the trails and hills at Hyland Park. I had a feeling my foot would hurt at some point, but I figured it would be tolerable. The first loop went well, but as I started the second loop my foot started to hurt. It was painful on the uphill's AND the downhill's, so I took it easy and actually walked most of the ups and downs. I finished the hilly 25k in 2:36. I believe 2:36 is better than the one other 25k I have run in my life, but still nothing I was thrilled about. I did it though, and my foot wasn't any worse off after running the race. I was able to try some new inserts for my running shoes, so more than anything I wanted the 'test run' to see how they felt.
The following weekend was the MN Ironman bike ride. The plan was to ride 100 miles... my first century ride! All would have gone according to plan, but the weather didn't cooperate and after making it to the first rest stop with my feet practically frozen off, I decided to go the 65 mile route instead. When the day was said and done we rode 70 miles followed by a 30 minute run. I really felt good when I was done with the 70 miles which convinced me I could have gone the full 100, if the rain and cold hadn't nearly sidelined me at the beginning of the ride. Note to self: Next year wear wool socks in cycling shoes!
On Saturday I had my first triathlon of the season. It was a sprint triathlon (600 yard swim, 13 mile bike, and 2.8 mile run) in Alexandria, MN. Since it is an early season Tri, the swim was in a pool. Overall the race went well. I was pleased with some of it and displeased with some, but that's what racing is all about. To learn what worked and what didn't. The winds out on the bike and run course were wicked! I watched the news that night and they said winds in Alexandria were 41 MPH at times. I felt it. Through the wind, I hammered through the bike and it paid off; I had the fastest bike split for the women!
I'll be skipping out on my first race EVER this Saturday. I was signed up for the New Prague Half Marathon, but the doctor said a half marathon is a little too much running while we are working on getting my foot healed up. *Sigh* I will miss the 'free' T-shirt! I know I need to keep my focus on the big picture and that skipping this one race will be for the greater good. :)
Happy May! Spring has finally sprung!
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