Let the TRAINING begin......

The clock is counting down and I'm now paying attention to the hours whizzing by and the fact that those hours need to be spent wisely.  Eat...Train...Rest...Repeat.  This is optimum but my life isn't revolving around my training currently.  We are moving our family across town at the end of June (less than 2 weeks) so I have been packing, cleaning, stressing, etc....  my training has suffered but not for long, I will get my mental focus back (I write that for me to believe it). 
May brought in a heat wave which was difficult on my body because I was not acclimated to the heat yet.  ughhhh...I plan on rereading my facebook posts from last summer to give me inspiration for heat endurace training!  I had some hard runs & bikes during May which really brought to light the event that I am undertaking.  I am not ready....but I will be....I have 20 weeks to prepare.  My base it solid...I am ready to focus on my journey. 
Today is Father's Day and I am grateful for having a wonderfully supportive husband who is the best dad ever!  He is the reason that makes my Ironman dream possible! 
I am blessed to have the best group of friends EVER!  You chica's know who you are, you have been there every step of the way! Thank you & love you.
May Races:
Killer Kudzu 5K  24:58 overall female masters winner
Memphis In May Olympic Tri  2:59 - torrential rains, hail, wind, and a longer run than it should have been = Good times! Great venue and course!

Memphis In May

May Training:
SWIM:  6m
BIKE:   288 m
RUN: 60m
May Totals:  354 miles; 34 hours, 2 minutes
                   
TRAIN HARD
LIVE HAPPY

Rain, Rain Go Away.....

Not sure about you, but I'm ready for some May flowers!  Rain & chilly weather got in the way of some workouts during April so I had to opt for some gym workouts.  The month started with a fun run for Autism.  I ran with Cody in this race that started on Beale Street and ran through downtown Memphis by the river.  It was a beautiful Friday night and he had a PR at 38:33 which earned him a 2nd place finish in the under 9 age group! Yay Cody (not bad for a 6 year old!)
I rode several  organized rides this month to build some miles on the bike.  Plus these rides are marked & have SAG's so I don't have to worry about food & drink. 

Rachel & I with our hardware!

Ride Into Spring is a ride by RB's Cyclery that is normally the first ride of the season for most people.  It was a great day for this ride.  I met David Barczak before the ride & rode the Lucky 13 Tri bike route that gave us a total of 60 miles for the day on the bike.  I have been running a couple miles off the bike since this ride to help condition my legs & mind for the upcoming Tri season.
Los Locos Duathlon was my first multisport race of the season.  It was a hot & windy day but the 'curly girls'  were still able to pull out a 3rd place finish in our age groups!
Memphis Hightailers hosted the Charles Finney Ride which turned out to be freezing cold and with what felt like an arctic wind!  I managed to do 45 miles while several of my friends opted for a hot breakfast at Craker Barrel.
Memphis Thunder Racing sponsored the Cycle for Safety Ride in honor of Cory Horton.  The  out & back ride began at St. George's where Cory coached swimming and ended at his memorial site where the accident happened.  It was a beautiful 50 mile course and a great ride.
During April, I also focused on swim and run speed drills to build some power both in the pool and on the track! 
April Totals:
SWIM:  9 miles
BIKE:    299 miles
RUN:     68 miles
Total Distance:  375 miles
Total Training Time: 40 hours 23 minutes

"I'm training for an Ironman"

You Tube video about training for an Ironman says it all.......*note* a couple words of profanity...and, no, Ironman is not a bad word!! LOL

March: Build some bike miles

We had some warmer days in March which allowed more time outdoors in the saddle.  I rode with some of the runners from the "Germantown Thoroughbreds" run group (the multisporters of the run group)! It was nice to ride some different routes and see different faces.  My longest rides were St. Patrick's Day ride -55m and a 60m with Al, my bike mentor- which btw, I'm getting much better at drafting (not that it's allowed).
My swims consisted of Tri Swim Clinic at Germantown Athletic Center. Paddles are my new favorite swim gear.  I use them for warm up & pulls.  They make me focus on the correct way to pull as well as strengthen those muscles.
I had some fun runs during March.  I ran the Smile Train 5k with my 6 year old twins, Cody and Zachary.  Our time was 40 minutes which took the boys to a first & second place finish in the under 9 category.  More important than their hardware was the fact that they really enjoyed running!  The annual Breakaway Pub Run on St. Patrick's Day was lots of fun even though I didn't indulge in any beer (green or otherwise).  The Germantown Half Marathon was the longest race I've ran since NYC Marathon. My goal was to finish under 2:00 and not push harder than that...no PR goals this year (endurance is the key).  My time was 1:58- very pleased with the execution of my plan.
March totals:
Overall Distance:  361 miles
Swim:  10m
Bike: 270m
Run:  81 m
Total Training Time:  39 hours 15 minutes 



Happy Birthday Lynell



Month of 10K's

My Race Award

Ahhh February, winter is in full swing but my eyes are looking ahead to spring.  The cold weather didn't permit a lot of outdoor bike time but I was able to keep warm running outdoors. I ran three 10K races each with very differnt courses. 
 St. Valentine's Day 10K is a fun, hilly course winding through neighborhood.  I was 3rd in my age group and missed my PR by just a few seconds. 
MRTC WCCS 10K is the last of the cross country series, it was 2.5 loops through Shelby Forest.  It's pretty tough seeing the finish line TWICE before you get to cross it!
Move It Memphis 10K is a great downtown course that goes along the Mississippi River and winds through the South Bluffs as well as other senic areas of downtown Memphis.  A great finishers party after with seating, a band, and beer!  I finished 2nd in my age group.
That's it for races druing February, I've decided to not do very many 5K's this year and spend my entry $$ on some bike rides instead.  At this point, my plan is to run two 4 milers a week (one speed intervals/ one fartleks)  plus the 12.5 mile Sunday morning group run. That keeps my run miles at 20 per week. I'm sure I'll mix in my favorite races here & there.
The Tri Swim Clinic has started at the gym so I'm back in the pool more consistently.  Working on bilateral breathing again this season.  It is not natural for me but I'm going to put the work in and hopefully some day it will be.
Working on my strength training plan as well as stretcing and using the foam roller (especially for my IT Band); not to mention my nutrition.  These will be main focus areas in March as I build my fitness.
Feb. Total Miles:  304
S-7
B-229
R-68
Feb. Total Training Hours:  36

Bring on 2011

Stanky Creek 8K-Daniel, Holly, & me

I started the year off with a 5.5 mile run with my local runner's group.  We celebrated after with a chilly tailgate party....mulled spiced wine, coffee, and lots of good grub!   MRTC (Memphis Runners Track Club) puts on a great WCCS (winter cross-country series) during January & February. It is a great series  of races that will get you running/walking back outside and easily build your miles.  The distances are 3K, 5K, 8K and 10K.  After the 10K, you are ready to continue base training & build from there for race season.  Easy peasy :) 
Also, in January, was the premier of the running documentary Hood to Coast.  After seeing the movie, the seed has been planted and it has been put on my bucket list to do this 197 mile relay from Mt Hood to the Oregon coast. We all need goals!
The remainder of January I've been getting my training plan and my race plans in order.  I've been on the bike when the weather has allowed and on my trainer quite a bit doing 'spinervals'.  Also, the pool has seen my presence a few times.  I'm ready...2011 is in full swing!! 
January totals:
212 miles
26 hours 21 minutes

2010 coming to an end...

My daily facebook posts for December have been "Things I've learned in 2010".  My plan is to revisit these posts during my 2011 training when I need encouragement!  I've had such a great year this year filled with family, friends, races, travel and wonderful memories.  To recap 2010:

Logged 2,800 miles swimming, biking, and running
Trained 355 hours
Joined the "Ring of Honor" at Flying Saucer
Permanetly marked myself as a marathoner (26.2 tattoo)
Took pictures at best locations and highest venues possible
Introduced 'Flat Rhonda' as my race companion
Had the best 'pool rotation' summer ever
Consumed dozens of limes in beer.
Met wonderful and inspiring people through Twitter.
Slept 2,900 hours
Had #coffeecheers daily
Learned to breakdown and put together my bike (thanks to Jay)
Bee sting on eyelid under sunglasses while riding a bike at 18mph.
Jelly fish sting while swimming to say hi to Barnacle Bob.
Accomplished race goals.
Most importantly hugs, kisses, and cuddle time with my boys!
I've raised the bar in 2011 and I am looking forward to the challenge.




Merry Christmas