Month Two... Check! Weeks 8 and 9
Yep, I'm behind.... again.... oopps!
Week 8:
Monday: Off
Tuesday: 55 minute run
Wend: 1:15 bike, 1:10 swim
Thur: 1:00 run test!
Friday: 1:10 swim, 55 min run
Sat: 3 hour trainer ride, 10 min brick run
Sun: 1:30 run, 45 min swim
This week had a little bit of a rough start. Body was a little tired from the century ride. Thursday was my 1 mile run test. I was super scared about this one. Basically you run for 30 minutes or so easy to warm up (I still don't get how to "warm up" run. There is no such thing!). Then run a mile AS FAST AS HUMANLY POSSIBLE. For some people this would be like 5 minutes. Well, for me it was 8:53. BUT, I'm super proud of that. I think it's the fastest mile I've ever ran in my entire life. I seriously thought I was gonna puke. Oh, and I was on a run at lunch time, and it was like 75 in Denver. So I smelled really good for the rest of the afternoon ;)
On Saturday night we had a little Ironman Singles meetup at 10 Noses Brewery. Ironman Singles is a facebook group for--you guessed it--people who do Ironmans that are single :) It's been a great group to be a part of. I've gone to some events at races, and it's nice to meet people and not feel like you don't know anyone. It's great to get to know some of the more local people too!
Week 8 Was a total of about 12 hours of training, which seems to be a pretty easy week now. Who would have thought I'd ever say that. Lol.
Week 9:
Monday: 1:05 swim
Tuesday: 1:05 bike, 20 min brick run
Wend: 1:10 hill repeat run, 1 hour swim
Thur: 1:15 ride
Friday: Off
Saturday: 1 hour swim, 4 hour trainer ride
Sunday: 4:30 outside bike, 40 min run
This week was pretty good. Body felt not too bad. Back had a few moments where it wasn't awesome. But seems to be at least getting a little better. If only it would go away completely!
The highlight of the week for sure, was the Mike Hall Tribute Ride I went to on Sunday. Many of you might not know who Mike Hall was. Basically, he was the most badass, epic, ultra cyclist. He competed and won ultra-ultra unsupported bike races, both mountain and road bike like the Transcontinential, Transamerica, and Tour Divide. He was competing in a race across Australia when he was struck and killed by a car. I've never met Mike, but I've watched the film Inspired to Ride about a million times. The movie is about the Transamerica race, which Mike won that year. The race is literally an unsupported race (read, you have to get your own food, find your own place to sleep (for the few hours a night you do), do your own bike maintenance, etc.). This is not a race where you have a sag van following you, or you get to stay at fancy hotels and get massages every night. Mike raced across America under those conditions, in like 17 days. Nuts. And from watching the movie, and seeing other pieces on Mike Hall, he just seemed like a very sincere and humble guy.
On Sunday people all over the world, including hundreds in Sydney (where he was heading before he was killed) paid respect to Mike by going out and riding. A group of us here in Colorado did the same. We rode up Lookout Mountain and just enjoyed a beautiful Colorado day and took some time to remember a hero and a legend. I continued on to ride some more, and did a quick run, and then had some pizza and wine with some cycling/triathlon friends. It was one of those nights that just came together with two quick phone calls, and the whole day was such a good reminder about why I even got into cycling/triathlon in the first place. While I have every single intention of crossing that finish line in Arizona in November (and I will), it's really not just about that. It's about being able to see the beauty of this fantastic state, while forcing myself to slow down and enjoy. It's about the friends you meet along the way, who in many ways become like family. It's the support and the love that you feel, whether that's a total stranger giving you a nod as you pass on the road, or a friend who is there to listen when life isn't going how you planned. It's giving myself another outlet to have success in, and learning how to deal with failure when it comes. It's not just the finish line, as awesome as it is. It's the person you become on the way to that finish line. That's the real accomplishment.
As one blogger put it last night-- "I ride to experience the world in all its beauty. I ride to feel alive. Today I road because I was inspired by a man who loved what he did. Today I rode for Mike Hall." Rest in Peace Mike. Thank you for the inspiration that you've provided to the cycling community, even to this girl who never met you. May the wind be always at your back.
Riding up Lookout on Sunday
Showing off my Betty Designs Kit. Yep, it says "Do Epic Shit" Sorry mom. It felt most appropriate for a ride to honor Mike Hall. Because he always did the most epic of epic shit.
Week 8:
Monday: Off
Tuesday: 55 minute run
Wend: 1:15 bike, 1:10 swim
Thur: 1:00 run test!
Friday: 1:10 swim, 55 min run
Sat: 3 hour trainer ride, 10 min brick run
Sun: 1:30 run, 45 min swim
This week had a little bit of a rough start. Body was a little tired from the century ride. Thursday was my 1 mile run test. I was super scared about this one. Basically you run for 30 minutes or so easy to warm up (I still don't get how to "warm up" run. There is no such thing!). Then run a mile AS FAST AS HUMANLY POSSIBLE. For some people this would be like 5 minutes. Well, for me it was 8:53. BUT, I'm super proud of that. I think it's the fastest mile I've ever ran in my entire life. I seriously thought I was gonna puke. Oh, and I was on a run at lunch time, and it was like 75 in Denver. So I smelled really good for the rest of the afternoon ;)
On Saturday night we had a little Ironman Singles meetup at 10 Noses Brewery. Ironman Singles is a facebook group for--you guessed it--people who do Ironmans that are single :) It's been a great group to be a part of. I've gone to some events at races, and it's nice to meet people and not feel like you don't know anyone. It's great to get to know some of the more local people too!
Week 8 Was a total of about 12 hours of training, which seems to be a pretty easy week now. Who would have thought I'd ever say that. Lol.
Week 9:
Monday: 1:05 swim
Tuesday: 1:05 bike, 20 min brick run
Wend: 1:10 hill repeat run, 1 hour swim
Thur: 1:15 ride
Friday: Off
Saturday: 1 hour swim, 4 hour trainer ride
Sunday: 4:30 outside bike, 40 min run
This week was pretty good. Body felt not too bad. Back had a few moments where it wasn't awesome. But seems to be at least getting a little better. If only it would go away completely!
The highlight of the week for sure, was the Mike Hall Tribute Ride I went to on Sunday. Many of you might not know who Mike Hall was. Basically, he was the most badass, epic, ultra cyclist. He competed and won ultra-ultra unsupported bike races, both mountain and road bike like the Transcontinential, Transamerica, and Tour Divide. He was competing in a race across Australia when he was struck and killed by a car. I've never met Mike, but I've watched the film Inspired to Ride about a million times. The movie is about the Transamerica race, which Mike won that year. The race is literally an unsupported race (read, you have to get your own food, find your own place to sleep (for the few hours a night you do), do your own bike maintenance, etc.). This is not a race where you have a sag van following you, or you get to stay at fancy hotels and get massages every night. Mike raced across America under those conditions, in like 17 days. Nuts. And from watching the movie, and seeing other pieces on Mike Hall, he just seemed like a very sincere and humble guy.
On Sunday people all over the world, including hundreds in Sydney (where he was heading before he was killed) paid respect to Mike by going out and riding. A group of us here in Colorado did the same. We rode up Lookout Mountain and just enjoyed a beautiful Colorado day and took some time to remember a hero and a legend. I continued on to ride some more, and did a quick run, and then had some pizza and wine with some cycling/triathlon friends. It was one of those nights that just came together with two quick phone calls, and the whole day was such a good reminder about why I even got into cycling/triathlon in the first place. While I have every single intention of crossing that finish line in Arizona in November (and I will), it's really not just about that. It's about being able to see the beauty of this fantastic state, while forcing myself to slow down and enjoy. It's about the friends you meet along the way, who in many ways become like family. It's the support and the love that you feel, whether that's a total stranger giving you a nod as you pass on the road, or a friend who is there to listen when life isn't going how you planned. It's giving myself another outlet to have success in, and learning how to deal with failure when it comes. It's not just the finish line, as awesome as it is. It's the person you become on the way to that finish line. That's the real accomplishment.
As one blogger put it last night-- "I ride to experience the world in all its beauty. I ride to feel alive. Today I road because I was inspired by a man who loved what he did. Today I rode for Mike Hall." Rest in Peace Mike. Thank you for the inspiration that you've provided to the cycling community, even to this girl who never met you. May the wind be always at your back.
Our group at the top of lookout.
Enjoying the views!
Snow on the way up!
March totals! Bring on April!
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