Camps end and back to reality....well kind of

Friday is the last day of the work week. But Sunday is the last day of a training week. Today was about getting in the workouts, putting time in the bank, and completing the training week. My workouts today seem like a blur. I shut off my mind and made my way through a good long run. I was at the ranch run early to get in a few extra miles before the group started. Ran the loop at a very slow steady pace.

Here's Lyndsey and I after the run. Yup, the pink compression socks felt like a must this morning!

As is often the case I really didn't want to swim after my run. I could feel the inflammation in my legs, and knew to do nothing would be a mistake. So I floated. 3000yds of being pulled from one end of the pool to the other by the leaders of the lane. Finally they believed me when I said "I am exhausted and am fine at the back of the lane." I looked up at coach Hux and commented that the pool was pretty cold. He kindly reminded me that if I was exerting any effort I'd warm up. Yardage in and done. Now, time for food. Quick nap on the couch while watching bball, and awake to watch the NCAA selection.
Yes...UofM is in- for the first time since my freshman year. Finally! I'm tired, but I still have one more run to get in before I can call the week complete. I tried to think of the fact that so many wish they could go for a run and take in this scenery...
This morning I was 4 minutes short of my planned 2 hours. So anal me had to add on a solid 4 minutes to this second run. More time to take in the beautiful Pacific! And now- the week of training is complete.













Only one more thing to do to complete the day and week: a ridiculously cold ice bath!It was a successful and jam packed week of valuable training. I enjoyed the ability to remove myself from this not so positive world and enjoy and quick escape from the stress! Tomorrow is a new week, with new challenges...Make it a great day!

Desert International Triathlon

I have to admit that I wasn't sure I was ready to start the triathlon season. However, it was quite nice that it started with an international tri instead of the typical Cali half ironman.
The race is low key, and even allows day of registration. So nice compared to the logistics of half and full ironmans!
A large group of us that train at UCSD together went out for the race. Everyone had awesome races, and San Diego athletes took over the podium! The swim was a bit cold, but after warming up for 20mins I didn't mind it all that much. I had a decent swim, but had to make up some ground on the bike. The girl furthest ahead of me was Hayley Piersol (sister of olympic swimmer Aaron). She too can swim! And this young athlete will be one to watch at this distance (future olympian herself perhaps?!?!?!)

I haven't been on my TT bike much since Kona (I think 4 times), so the aero position wasn't as comfortable as it should have been. I tried to hold my speed above 23mph and finish as close to an hour as possible. I didn't get caught by any of the guys in packs until the last mile. I was quickly swooped up. Why is it that us girls can ride alone, but the guys are always in packs. Annoying!

I came off the bike with a few other girls in my age group. I was able to run away from those close to me, and was on a mission to catch those ahead. As I approached mile 4 I had caught a few girls, and no one had passed me. I was told I was in 4th. Just then I passed another few girls - but was unsure what wave they started in and therefore didn't know what place I was in.
It wasn't until the finish that I knew I was third. 3rd overall at my first race....I wanted the win, but was very happy with my race. Shorter races aren't my strongest, but I wanted to hit the water and red line as long as I could. My legs were tired from training, and this was just another training day to get me ready for my key races.
I have been working on my speed, and finally think it is helping. Here's the overall podium pic:

This marked my last race in the 25-29 age group. The winner of our age group was the overall winner as well. I was 2nd, and Brandy was third. It was awesome to share the podium with my good friend, and great athlete, Brandy Bounds (3rd place below)!Huge congrats to all those that had awesome season opening race! It was a competitive field, that didn't disappoint!
I hope that is the beginning of many great races and podium finishes this season. Next up: California70.3 on April 4. This means there are 4 weeks to gain as much fitness as I can. I'll start with 20 x 400's on the track tomorrow morning...

The first race of the year, a P.R. Many races, and hopeuflly many more P.R's ahead in 2009!

For the past injuries kept me out of the "half marathon season" that starts up every January in San Diego. Yes, living in San Diego has its perks! While others are sitting on the couch watching sports (don't get me wrong, we all know I LOVE my Michigan sports!) we start our year off right!

The week before the race I came down with a cold and due to work stress got VERY little sleep (and lets not even talk about my eating habits since Kona!). The day before the race I went up to the race site to pick up my race chip and number, and felt awful. I wasn't sure I'd actually race. However, I had to be thankful that I wasn't injured and could finally do the race at all. Plus, It is JANUARY! Time to have fun and see how the legs feel after a few months off. So when race morning came, I put on my new Brooks race kit and favorite Brooks shoes (Defiance!), grabbed a few Gu's, and headed up to Carlsbad.
I actually had little doubt that I could get a personal best time. After all my fastest time for 13.1 miles came last season in a half ironman the week after I was hit by a car while out for an easy training ride (The half marathon course went by the corner where the accident occurred, and yes I got chills as I ran by!).
I knew the lead pack would hammer out of the gate, so I stayed w/in myself. But by mile 3 I wasn't feeling so hot. I thought the cold was gone, but suddenly I realized it wasn't! My splits were ok, but my body and stomach ached the whole way. I felt like I was moving a 300lb ton of bricks down the coast.
At the 6.6 mile mark I looked at my Garmin and was right on pace to go 1:28. From there on I was checking out my split every 30seconds. I wasn't feeling good, and at no point did the 7:40-7:45 pace feel remotely easy. Thankfully the Garmin told me my overall average split, and I knew I just had to hold around 7:53 to break the 1:30 barrier.
I had planned to pick up the pace for the last 3 miles, but instead found myself content just holding my pace. I hit the line at 1:29:20.

I didn't realize until the facebook messages started appearing that I was 2nd, out of 844, in my age group. On a day where I wasn't feeling well (and man did I feel awful after the race) I had to be happy. Over 10 minutes off of my best half marathon time, the first time under the 1:30 mark, and the first time I placed top 3 in flat out road running race (except the ones back in MI...competition is no where near as stiff, so those don't count). I haven't done many road races over the past few years, but was reminded of just how much they hurt. I think I prefer running after biking around 56 miles.

I will have plenty of opportunity to test myself this season, and I can't wait!
2009....Ya...I am ready to race!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Cheers!

2009...I'm READY!

It's officially 'the new year.' The days of sleeping in and not training every morning are over.

Since racing in Kona in early October I've enjoyed a great break.My bike(s) remained untouched, and the trips to the pool have been sparse (at best). But I used this time to try some new things, and change the weekly grind of swimming, biking and running. I added strength training with Marcus to my routine (www.ihatemytrainer.com) and even found a yoga studio I love (sculpt fushion yoga)...wait did I just say "love" and "yoga" in the same sentence!?!?!
More than the break from physical training was necessary. Ah yes, there is a much needed mental break!! Time to do what training I wanted, when I wanted...and not if I didn't want to :) I took time to appreciate all that went well in 2008. Did I really race in Kona?? Or was that a dream! That experience will not die in my mind any time soon! What an experience!

For the first time in several years I've been able to run during the off season. I'm still nursing a 14 month old injury, but we'll figure that one out soon enough! In the meantime I am working hard with my 'team' of caretakers to figure that out.
Since I can actually run, I will be doing the Carlsbad Half Marathon in 2 weeks. My running isn't where it was at the end of the 2008 season, but this is a good way to measure where I'm at (with my running anyways).
So...let's get this party started. 2009 here I come!