It's getting harder... the life balance, I mean. I thinking I'm feeling a little burned out on the training, I'm ready to exercise for the joy, not out of fear! I should have stayed at work today, and finished up a task, instead I left on time, and did my workout (1 hour bike- 30 minute run). Then I got home, ate dinner (thankfully leftovers that only needed reheating) and just finished studying the chapter I need done NOW, if i'm going to finish this lesson this week! Ah.. I think I'm supposed to get out my work computer and do stuff, but I'm lacking motivation. 

Anyway- the bike was great, the run was tough but I hung in there!

After spending 2 days, sidelined with a minor calf injury. I successfully rode my bike 10 hilly miles today.  I did a lot of stretching and some yoga as well. Tomorrow, I'm going to attempt to go back to my training routine! Less than 3 weeks out- and I'm feeling nervous about being ready... or rather, nervous about being sidelined too long with this thing. A special added shout out to my friend Karen who recommended the compression sleeve. It worked great while I gimped around at the State Fair on Saturday night. And I wore it on my bike ride today. Hopefully I can remain better hydrated (I suspect this is the culprit), and move forward!

Boy, I'm really bad at this blogging thing! But have no fear, I have been working my tail off! My race is just 3 weeks away!  Here's a little update:

Last Friday, I decided that I needed conform, and bought clip in shoes/pedals for my bike! I've seriously spent too much money on athletic equipment this summer!

Saturday (1 week ago), I took my new pedals our for their first spin. I'd had plans to ride the Iron Girl Course all week, so I went packed up the bike and went to Bloomington. I found the first 2 miles to be really hilly, but it doesn't seem as hard as the course I normally ride around my house. My bigger concern is the rough roads. I ended up losing my water bottle, it was so bumpy! But, I'm mostly worried about a flat tire- which is something I don't know how to change.  Over all- I'm feeling pretty good about the course.

Sunday I woke up a little sore from my ride, but went for a run anyway. Then headed to the MN State Fair! We walked around all afternoon- headed home early in the evening. Monday, I went back to the Fair with my family. I had full intentions of working out before we left, but I was ridiculously sore. I'm assuming it's because my legs are working differently with the new clips.  Tuesday was considerably better, and it didn't really affect my work outs.

Thursday, I did a full brick- run-ride-run. Towards the end of my ride (16 miles) I started to get some bad calf pain. When I got off the bike and tried to run, it totally locked up. I stopped and stretched, ran a little, stopped and walked... and then I could run, but only made it about 1 mile.  I came home and drank a lot of water, thinking perhaps it was just dehydration.

Yesterday (Friday) I went for a run in the morning. Made sure I drank a lot of water before I left, and it was fine. But as the day wore on it got more and more tender.

This morning I woke up and there was a lot of pain. It even hurts when I touch it. Maybe it will be a day off- maybe I will hit the gym or do some yoga later, not really sure. But for now... I'm hitting the patio with a book!  Here's to hoping a day off is all I need!

If a "Brick" is when you do two activities back to back- like biking and running, than I think that last night's work out should really be a double brick. The workout called for a; 30min run, 60min bike; 30min run.

I accomplished a 28 minute run, 52 minute bike, 15 minute run. The second run was easier than I thought it was going to be, once I got into rythum of it. But, I needed it to be flat as my calves were a little tight, after a hilly first run and then being on the bike. There's not much flat area to run around by my house, and my cardio ADD would not let me run the 1 mile loop more than once. I tried to stay in the nieghborhood- but even that made me run one long up-hill. Oh well- I'm sure things are not all that flat on the race course!

I really thought I would feel worse today than I do. Mostly just my calves are tired. Oh- my feet were also tired- which reminded me of an old runners trick, to use a tennis ball as a foot ma

This week has 2 scheduled rest days. Rest days are tough for me. Especially rest days that are needed when I feel good, and have no plans in the evening. Every Monday of this program is a rest day. I'm usually switching it up, but I realized that I'd worked out 5 days in a row, and my body probably needed the rest.

Somehow I managed through the night! I watched a movie on TV and did some reading on the patio. I'm seriously lost when it comes to rest days.

I am really trying to focus on stretching this time around, so I still did some yoga/ stretching while watching TV. Tuesday night I will get back to doing

Well, I guess we could say the I fell off the wagon of the training program. No worries I was still running and biking like crazy, I just wasn't following the program. But- 6 weeks from today is race day, so it's time to get back on the horse and get motivated!

FIrst week of training is over! I move on to week 2, which is a little harder, and workouts involved "striders" and  up- tempo bike intervals.

But, today, was just a basic 45 minute run. I was up a little later than usual, and didn't get out the door until about 8:30.. the sun was shining and the humidity is back a little. It was hot! The first 30 minutes seemed pretty decent, but the last 15 were killer. I was slow (averaged 11:58). I did a fairly hilly run (Longacres). I'm hoping this week, with starting to do some speed work, I will be able to start picking up the pace!

So: 3.83 miles in 45 minutes... blah. This might have a little to do with having a little too much fun Saturday night at dinner and the Lynx game!! :) But it was worth it!

Finally... Finally it stormed last night and the heat broke! Looking forward to workouts again! Walking out the door when I first left this morning was a shock! I almost wanted warmer clothes! It was about 64 degrees and most of the humidity was gone! Crazy!

I woke up this morning with some tenderness in my right quad... not sure if it's from lifting or what. I kind of miss that "sore" feeling that you get when you lift, or workout a little harder than usual. I don't think it's an injury, I think it's just being pesky!

I got my new air pump and odometer for my bike! So today I set out on my first ride, where I can really pay attention to what I'm doing. Um... I'm slow! I would like to be faster, and I really need to work on climbing the tough hills. I don't know if some of this is related to the leg pain or if it's just endurance. Anyway I bike 68 minutes, I believe it was 16 miles, but I have to recheck the odometer, as I already forgot!

Back to running tomorrow!

Today was kind of like a rest day. "Weights" were the only thing on the program. That felt a little strange. I thought about riding my bike to the gym, but then remembered the heat, the construction along the way, and the loose gravel in the parking lot. The parking lot at my gym is like a safety hazard for anyone!! 

Anyway- I rode the bike for about 15 minutes then did about 30 minutes of free weights. Tried to push myself a little harder than usual... and I stretched! :)

I'm looking forward to tomorrow morning's bike ride. We are finally getting storms tonight. The temperature had dropped into the 70's (after being 102 today) and the humidity is falling away as well.  Should be a great morning for a ride!

It's been tough trying to find a place in the week for this workout. My first brick of the training, and frankly, something that I didn't do enough of when I trained for my triathlon. A brick is when you put two activities in the same workout- typically Running and Biking. Today's workout was a 20 minute run- 45 minute bike- 20 minute run.

This workout seems ridiculously hard for week 1. I'm a little confused by the lack of rest and the intensity of the workouts. Maybe Coach Troy is trying to make sure we are up to the task? I'm not sure. None the less, this workout and (again) the HEAT, drove me to the gym. Treadmills and stationary bikes are not my favorite, but it gets the job done.

I believe my final numbers were 1.86miles- 13 miles- 1.72 miles. I forgot to make a mental note when I got off the bike, but that seems about right. And then- I stretched! yea! Of course, I'm always a little better about stretching when I am at the gym.  I could have run a lot faster, but this was really comfortable, and considering I struggled with the heat yesterday, I thought I should be a little careful.

Tomorrow, is just weights. I think I might throw in a swim depending on the weather. Now, I'm off to buy a new bike pump!