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View albumAugust 16
August 15
- 1h 05m 07s
- 18.50 miles
- 17.04 Mi/hr
Up to Alpine and back. Bit tired/weak, but I did my planned distance, which is good. Ate a gel with 5-10 min left, so as to have some fuel on the run. Probably should have had more to drink.
- 30m
- 3.00 miles
- 10m /Mi
Brick run. Legs felt awful at the beginning, but got better as the run went on. Fought stitches on both sides for the second half. Suspect I'm low on fluids.
I am relaxing some of my long term goals. This season I was not as consistent in my training as I had planned (various factors contributed to this, including travel, moving, and my own lack of discipline), and I think that's going to show in my HIM and marathon performances. I am starting to accept this. I keep telling myself (and Steve keeps telling me) that it's my first time at both distances, so I'm not looking to set any records--just to finish and do so uninjured.
It's clear to me that I do not feel mentally or physically prepared to sign up for a full IM in the 2008 season. Rather than stress myself out over some arbitrary deadline, I've decided to push the IM back to the 2009 season. This stuff is supposed to be fun, not stressful! There is no harm in waiting another year to take on the full IM distance. When you cross that finish line you're still an ironman, whether it takes you 11 months (bryancd, I'm looking at you ;) ) or 11 years.
So, the revised plan is as follows:
- Do my HIM and marathon. Have fun, race wisely, stay healthy.
- Allow myself a substantial period of recovery after the marathon, exact amount of time off TBD.
- Winter maintenance: exact plan/schedule TBD, but I'd like it to include some weight loss.
- Smart, focused, consistent training for the Wildflower HIM (early May), after which I'll make a decision about an '09 IM.
- Continued consistent training through Vineman 70.3 and the Big Kahuna.
- Nike Women's Marathon (mid-late October).
August 14
- 30m 30s
- 3.09 miles
- 09m 52s /Mi
- 30m
- 1200.00 yards
- -----
Kept it short to avoid shoulder tweakage. Shoulder felt tired, but didn't really hurt.
Trying to get back on track today. Still not feeling 100%, but I'm going nuts not being able to work out. Did a short swim at lunch, and hoping to do a run this afternoon/evening.
I am working on keeping things in perspective as far as the HIM is concerned. My two main goals are to finish, and to do so uninjured. Given that I have my first marathon four weeks after the HIM, I don't want to push too hard on the HIM. I want to finish, and I would like to finish in under 6 hours, but I need to work on being mentally okay if I'm not on track for that time. I know that stressing myself out over my time will only drain valuable energy. I want to put together a reasonable plan for the race. I will try to stick to it, but I will also try not to let it get me down if I don't.
August 13
August 12
August 11
- 1h 04m
- 18.50 miles
- 17.34 Mi/hr
Rode up to Alpine and back. Pretty tired/weak. Evidently not back to 100%, and/or still sick. Ugh.
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The "dash" part of the Splash & Dash. Most of the course was on dirt or gravel trails. My legs HURT for the first 1+ mile. For a while there I really thought they were going to seize up. There was water at a few hundred yards and at about 1 mile, and I think that helped a bit. Or maybe I just got into a groove. GI issues that were pretty uncomfortable in the first mile or so also got a bit better over the rest of the run.
Even after things started feeling better, though, my legs didn't feel very good. But there was enough in them to keep running the whole way (except aid stations), even up the brutal hill near the end. Everyone else I saw was walking it, but I ran the whole thing--and kept running even after I got to the top, when I wanted to stop and catch my breath. I'm pretty pleased that even though I was feeling awful, I didn't quit and I was able to pull out a strong finish.
The "splash" part of the Splash & Dash over at Stevens Creek reservoir. I've never been in a rougher OWS. For some reason it was a lot more physical, at least for the first 5-10 minutes, than any other race I've done. I swallowed water a bunch of times. My shoulder was bugging me for at least half of it. Hoping that doesn't get any worse in the next few weeks. The first lap (of two) was pretty rough, but on the second lap I got into more of a groove, and my arms actually felt less tired & sore. I was able to pick up the pace for the last third of the second lap, so I finished the swim strong.
Distance is a very rough estimate. I think my pace was comparable to what I swam at the Catfish, but I'm not sure. Still, there's no way the course was the 1500 yds it was supposed to be. Everyone I talked to or overheard after the race said it was much longer. One person thought it was 1.5 miles, but I don't think it was quite that long. I'd say anywhere between 2000-2500 yds.