Last week was rough, started out pretty good and ended with a cold. My training partner spends time at the child watch at the gym and I think she brings home the funk incognito. At least she has a mild version of it for a day and then I'm hacking and wheezing for days. Needless to say it put a damper in my training. Since last week was technically the end of my base or maintenance training it wasn't as detrimental to the overall picture as it could have been.
I've started the search for places to stay, it's looking like a condo a few miles from the start. Close to the action and just a few blocks off the bike course.
This week has also been researching different GPS based heart rate monitors. I currently use the Suunto T6C and love it for the memory belt, features on the watch and general ease of use. The downside is that I haven't been able to get universal bike pod to pair with it so I have to "adapt" my road pod to track my speed and distance on the trainer. Since I have the Compu trainer I can rely on that for speed, distance and cadence but I like to have all my data in one spot- heart rate, speed, etc. The memory belt is awesome in the pool, still don't get great live read outs except between sets but it does seem to keep it over all once I upload it to my computer. The foot pod leaves something to be desired for tracking distance accurately- especially with my run/walk pace as of lately. Nike had the same issue for me. Hence my interest in the GPS based watches. I thought about the Suunto GPS pod but it seems large and has poor reviews.
So, I have been trying the Garmin Forerunner 310XT. I went this route since it is GPS based, has a foot pod for indoor running, a bike pod for speed and cadence that is one unit and rear wheel based. It is the first of the Garmin products that is waterproof so I can use it start to finish in a race, and it has a 20 hour rechargeable battery. It is also compatible with a power meter if I ever go that route. This Forerunner is a blend of the previous Forerunners and the Edge bike computer.
My other thought was to get a nice bike computer and then just use the Suunto as my heart rate monitor on the bike. I can always manually add the distance into the bike log.
WEEK TOTALS:
Hours:
Swim: 1:58 Hours, 5000 Yards/ 3.13 Miles
Bike: 0:20 Hours, 4.7 Miles
Run: 0:50 Hours, 4.08 Miles
Other: 0:35 Hours
YTD TOTALS:
Swim: 21:30 Hours, 63,650 Yards, 39.78 Miles
Bike: 36:01 Hours, 566.98 Miles
Run: 31:57 Hours, 156.33 Miles
Other: 8:35 Hours
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
19 Weeks in Almost 20 Weeks Until the Big Show
This week was productive overall. I didn't get 100% of all the workouts but I was close. I was tired and worn out for my Saturday bike ride so I ended up doing half a ride.
Swimming felt a bit stronger this week. The Compu Trainer has been working me over, might need to make the pacer slower again. Especially since I was lapped. I did get to experience a 12% hill on the trainer, that was a real treat. Glad I won't see any of those in Hawaii. Although 6% with a headwind might feel like 12%.
Running the Bolder Boulder the end of this month so we picked up our packet for that race. Will be the first run in 7 weeks that I haven't kept my heart rate below 146 so it should be a good test of how my endurance training is going. The heart rate training has been difficult mentally to stick with but I've been diligent about the limits and doing the best I can to stay within them.
WEEK TOTALS:
Hours: 11:37
Swim: 3:16 Hours, 8000 Yards/ 5 Miles
Bike: 3:16 Hours, 38.12 Miles
Run: 4:00 Hours, 14.47 Miles
Other: 1:05 Hours
YTD TOTALS:
Swim: 19:32 Hours, 58,650 Yards, 36.66 Miles
Bike: 35:41 Hours, 562.28 Miles
Run: 31:07 Hours, 152.25 Miles
Other: 21 Hours
Swimming felt a bit stronger this week. The Compu Trainer has been working me over, might need to make the pacer slower again. Especially since I was lapped. I did get to experience a 12% hill on the trainer, that was a real treat. Glad I won't see any of those in Hawaii. Although 6% with a headwind might feel like 12%.
Running the Bolder Boulder the end of this month so we picked up our packet for that race. Will be the first run in 7 weeks that I haven't kept my heart rate below 146 so it should be a good test of how my endurance training is going. The heart rate training has been difficult mentally to stick with but I've been diligent about the limits and doing the best I can to stay within them.
WEEK TOTALS:
Hours: 11:37
Swim: 3:16 Hours, 8000 Yards/ 5 Miles
Bike: 3:16 Hours, 38.12 Miles
Run: 4:00 Hours, 14.47 Miles
Other: 1:05 Hours
YTD TOTALS:
Swim: 19:32 Hours, 58,650 Yards, 36.66 Miles
Bike: 35:41 Hours, 562.28 Miles
Run: 31:07 Hours, 152.25 Miles
Other: 21 Hours
Week 18
After all the tweaking and adjusting, I've splurged and purchased a new bike. With the bike leg being so much of the race I decided to get a tri bike to make it "easier." I've done two trainer rides and my Saturday brick on the new bike. I am changing my name to speed racer as of now.
The new bike is a Specialized Transition Comp. I have some modifications set for it over the next few months but so far it's been comfortable and of course faster in it's stock form. The first upgrade will be the Vision Wing and aero bars- the stock aero bars aren't that comfortable and Carbon Fiber is just cool.
This past weeks training has left something to be desired, struggled with getting all my workouts in as scheduled. I feel like I am doing brick workouts almost every day and it's starting to take it's toll on my. Goal for next week will be to get some time between workouts. We have had a slight case of the funk in the house too so that hasn't helped with fatigue.
Goals for next week will be to not have the funk, sleep better (that's directed to the dogs that somehow HAVE to get up every few hours to check on the yard), and have breaks between training sessions.
WEEK TOTALS:
Hours: 8:55
Swim: 45 Minutes, 2000 Yards, 1.25 Miles
Bike: 3:40 Hours, 49.25 Miles
Run: 3:55 Hours, 12.19 Miles
Other: 35 Minutes
YTD TOTALS:
Swim: 16:16 Hours, 50,650 Yards, 31.66 Miles
Bike: 32:25 Hours, 524.16 Miles
Run: 26:07 Hours, 137.78 Miles
Other: 19:55
The new bike is a Specialized Transition Comp. I have some modifications set for it over the next few months but so far it's been comfortable and of course faster in it's stock form. The first upgrade will be the Vision Wing and aero bars- the stock aero bars aren't that comfortable and Carbon Fiber is just cool.
This past weeks training has left something to be desired, struggled with getting all my workouts in as scheduled. I feel like I am doing brick workouts almost every day and it's starting to take it's toll on my. Goal for next week will be to get some time between workouts. We have had a slight case of the funk in the house too so that hasn't helped with fatigue.
Goals for next week will be to not have the funk, sleep better (that's directed to the dogs that somehow HAVE to get up every few hours to check on the yard), and have breaks between training sessions.
WEEK TOTALS:
Hours: 8:55
Swim: 45 Minutes, 2000 Yards, 1.25 Miles
Bike: 3:40 Hours, 49.25 Miles
Run: 3:55 Hours, 12.19 Miles
Other: 35 Minutes
YTD TOTALS:
Swim: 16:16 Hours, 50,650 Yards, 31.66 Miles
Bike: 32:25 Hours, 524.16 Miles
Run: 26:07 Hours, 137.78 Miles
Other: 19:55
Monday, May 3, 2010
Training Week 17 Summary
This past week almost saw a 100% completion rate! I am missing that Wednesday moderate run since I have a long swim on Wednesday that seems to zap my energy and motivation to do much of anything. Plan for this next week is to swap Wednesday's long swim with Friday's tempo swim. That would make Wednesday the tempo swim and moderate run day and Friday the long swim day.
Saturday was my first Brick workout and that went well- biked for 2 hours and ran for 30 minutes. Sunday as a long run and both days saw some 40's for temps and wind so it made for a different experience. It was nice to do both workouts outdoors and away from the gym.
I've been testing riding bikes since I can't use my Trek road bike in it's completely altered state. I am looking at the Specialized Transition Comp and the Orbea Ora TLE. Leaning towards the Comp since it is the same frame as the higher end S-Works. Significant improvement in weight and position from my Trek.
I did have a bike fit on Friday of this week and I now have new insoles and adjust cleats to compensate for my knee turning out. We turned my stem around and tweaked my seat to get me as far forward as possible. Flipped the stem over to get 90 degrees for the aero bars and tried to get me in the best aero position possible.
Rode almost the entire ride Saturday in the aero position so I think it's going to be realistic for my race if I can get my times faster than I have less time to spend in the aero position.
This week is the first week I've felt like my endurance has been improving. After Sunday's run I felt like could have run longer. Although the pace is still slow, I would be doing a 5+ hour marathon, I at least felt like I could finish the race.
WEEK TOTALS:
Hours: 11
Swim: 1:44 Hours, 5200 Yards, 3.25 Miles
Bike: 4:15 hours, 52.69 Miles
Run: 4:10 Hours, 16.05 Miles
Other: 1 hour
YTD TOTALS:
Swim: 15:31 Hours, 48,650 Yards, 30.41 Miles
Bike: 28:54 Hours, 474.91 Miles
Run: 21:72 Hours, 125.59 Miles
Other: 19:20
Saturday was my first Brick workout and that went well- biked for 2 hours and ran for 30 minutes. Sunday as a long run and both days saw some 40's for temps and wind so it made for a different experience. It was nice to do both workouts outdoors and away from the gym.
I've been testing riding bikes since I can't use my Trek road bike in it's completely altered state. I am looking at the Specialized Transition Comp and the Orbea Ora TLE. Leaning towards the Comp since it is the same frame as the higher end S-Works. Significant improvement in weight and position from my Trek.
I did have a bike fit on Friday of this week and I now have new insoles and adjust cleats to compensate for my knee turning out. We turned my stem around and tweaked my seat to get me as far forward as possible. Flipped the stem over to get 90 degrees for the aero bars and tried to get me in the best aero position possible.
Rode almost the entire ride Saturday in the aero position so I think it's going to be realistic for my race if I can get my times faster than I have less time to spend in the aero position.
This week is the first week I've felt like my endurance has been improving. After Sunday's run I felt like could have run longer. Although the pace is still slow, I would be doing a 5+ hour marathon, I at least felt like I could finish the race.
WEEK TOTALS:
Hours: 11
Swim: 1:44 Hours, 5200 Yards, 3.25 Miles
Bike: 4:15 hours, 52.69 Miles
Run: 4:10 Hours, 16.05 Miles
Other: 1 hour
YTD TOTALS:
Swim: 15:31 Hours, 48,650 Yards, 30.41 Miles
Bike: 28:54 Hours, 474.91 Miles
Run: 21:72 Hours, 125.59 Miles
Other: 19:20
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