Dangremond's April 2009 Mentor TEAM - CLOSED (WE'RE BUSY WORKIN' IT!) (Page 8)

Grace - that's a very moving tribute.  Good luck in the race!

My April assessment:

Was following a hyrbid Hal Higdon half-marathon training plan in advance of the Derby HM.

Then tore my left medial gastroc (i.e. "calf").  Doc said "NO RUNNING FOR YOU!" . . .  for, like, 8 weeks.

That meant no half marathon and likely no May sprint.  But it hasn't been all bad.  In the absence of running, my bike and swim volumes have picked up significantly.  On my first rides outside this year, I discovered that all the time on the trainer over the winter really helped, with my speeds averaging more than 1mph greater than similar routes at the end of last year.  I'm still slow, but slowly getting faster.

Also, more time in the pool as really helped.  My form is still terrible, and I'm still quite slow, but I shaved more than 30" of my 100m time and hoping to get under 2'/100 very soon.

A bad night of food poisoning threw one week in the garbage, but otherwise it was a very solid month.

This last week of April has been a wash dealing with kids' health issues; looking to resume back to normal next week.  Need to keep "big picture" perspective and to continue plugging away.  Hoping that May will lead to more improvement in all three disciplines.

Thanks for the idea Justin - very useful in keeping focus and in knowing that we all must deal with competing time factors, be it family, work, injuries, etc.

April:
After finishing the 1/2 marathon in the end of March, I wanted to focus on the run/bike/run for the Duathlon last week.  I was pleased with my performance there.  I gained a lot of strength on the bike this past winter through spin class and my fluid trainer.  I plan to ride outdoors more since the weather is starting to cooperate.  I also gained a lot of muscle strength by lifting 4 times a week at the gym. My weight workouts will decrease now so I can focus on the 3 disciplines:  run, bike, swim.  I recently joined the Y so I could start swimming again.  That is a big goal that I accomplished, just getting in the pool on a regualr basis for workouts.
Now I need to focus more on my swimming.  I need to practice swim drills and possilby get coaching on my mechanics depending on the price.
Then there are my children, husband, and occupation.  It is certainly a balancing act but I love it!  I know that I am modeling a healthy lifestyle for my girls.

April 2009 Goals:

Eat at 1,550 calorie threshold (+ earned calories) for one month 63%  I based this on the days I tracked and did well. I think I calculated before I was all the way through so I might be one or two percentage points off.

Strength train 2X/week (PT counts in a bind)   Average 1.8  Not bad at all!

Cardio at least 4X/week (5 would be better)  Average 5.5 Wow I'm happy with this.

Overall, a very solid month for me.  I am happy with myself and my effort.  I need to remember this when I'm racing...I've put in the work. There's a lot more than luck to triathloning.

May 2009 Goals:

Log calories 6/7 days/week, 7 would be better.

Cardio 5X/week, 6 would be better.

Strength 2X/week, 3 would be better.

Complete 80% of planned training.

Bad news, my back spasims are back.  It happened last Tuesday when beleive it or not I was folding laundry.  I reached out and i toppled over like I was shot.  I finished folding and then picked up some towels to put away took 3 steps and fell over like a tree, could not move or get up.  Layed there for about 45 min and then drove myself to the emergency room.  Got a shot, muscle relaxers and Ibuprofen 800.  Will try and start my own rehab on Saturday depending.  I am mad because I had just worked out 3 days in a row and was going for a fourth before this.  I am frustrated to say the least.  Oh well what can ya do?  I will take it easy and be patient.

Great job Grace!  You rock!