KathyG's 2012 Awesome Mentor Group-Full up (Page 34)

The Mount Desert Island Marathon is supposed to be spectacular (Oct - right outside and around Acadia National Park). It's on the list for me...but I've got to make it through the Patriot before I can start thinking beyond that.

The weather has been unreal here for the last few days - highs in the upper 70s/lower 80s which is unheard of in March. I went out for a run yesterday around 11a - it was already 75 and my thick winter blood just about seized up.

Remind me not to swim in your pool!

Issue of the day -- SLEEP. I am SO tired!! I even took yesterday off and then ended up sleeping right through my alarm this AM and missed my run. I feel awful for having missed it, too. Have a busy day & evenging ahead, so there's no chance of doing the run later. I'll just keep on plan and do my long ride & run this weekend (ride outside! whoo-hoo!), and go from there.

Next week my plan ramps up from 9 sessions a week to 12, so I'll be doing even more than I am now. I need to get to bed earlier. There is no way I can continue to train for the HIM and function as a person on 5-6 hours of sleep a night.

Owl-nice job on the 1800 swim.  Swimming is such a primal experience for me.  Every time I get in the water I feel so at home.  Do you have that experience? 

Mike-rest is a vital part of training.  Your body is yelling to take a breather.  You will come back stronger.  So what is your training schedule for next week? I am intrigued by upping to 12 sessions.  You must be doing doubles?  How on Earth do you have time?  When and what is your HIM event?

Today I did my usual and measly five miler over lunch.  Yesterday was another terrific swim and yoga.  Tomorrow is a 15 mile run.  Can't wait.  The sun and warmth will be wonderful.  Otherwise no big plans other than finish our taxes, fold the laundry mountain, clean the pit.  I swear my son's room (he's 17 and not particularly on task with cleaning) has the oddest funk coming from it.  I guess mommy needs to go in there and do a thorough clean.  But why???  He is old enough.

The spouse of a partner at my former law firm is in hospice for lung cancer.  She was diagnosed a mere five months ago.  Hard to fathom.  I am so sad for their family.  She is probably in her late fifties or early sixties.  Way too young. 

Is anyone racing this weekend?

Thanks.  I wish I got that zen experience while swimming.  Maybe if there was something prettier to look at rather than a black line I'd like to swim more.

Sorry to hear about your partner's wife. 

This cold is kicking my butt.  I'm not going on my bike ride today.  I just can't keep focused and I'm very, very tired.  My throat still hurts and I don't think it would like breathing the cold air.

My Garmin 305 kicked the bucket.  Actually, the cable or charging cradle is to blame.  The watch works fine but I can't charge it or download any of the info from the watch.  I decided to order myself the 310XT.  See, I'm being productive with my sick time! 

Someone asked, so here is my training schedule for the upcoming week. In reality, there are a couple things I move for time/sanity sake, but overall, this will be my training life for the next 12 weeks although w/time for each increasing as it progresses toward the race date. 

M: 1 hr swim

Tu: 1 hr run

W: :45bike/:30 run (brick)

Th:  1 hr swim; 1:15 bike

F: 1 hr swim; 1 hr run

Sa: 2:30 bike/:15 run (brick)

Su: :30 bike/1 hr run (not a brick)

Enjoy the new Garmin. Are you feeling better?

I am now starting week 11 of my HIM training, and at the end of this week, I'll be 1/2 way done with my plan. Kind of scary to think the race is only 11 weeks away! Feel like my run & swim are coming along, but my biking needs help. I've had a really crappy March training wise due to illness, unexpected travel, and other family things taking time away from the plan. I do what I can, but missing some workouts is going to happen. i'm looking to make April a GREAT month, and take it week by week.

I'm every so slightly better.  I'm coughing up a bunch of crap, though.  My tummy hasn't been happy due to all of the excess phlegm.  (Sorry if TMI.)

I can't believe I went a whole week without getting on my bike!  Hopefully I'll get on it later this week.  Today, I'm planning on a swim, but it's not looking good.

Geez!  I just want to feel better!!!!!

Missed workouts happen.  Just don't make up workouts.  That is a recipe for disaster.

Lung chunks are a good sign, no? Doesn't that mean stuff is breaking up and clearing?

Only 5 days until Mark Allen tells me how to win my HIM!   (I'm taking a class with him on Saturday on how to prep & race for a half ironman). Can't wait!!!

Finished another long swim today.  1900 yards straight!  Whew!  Still not feeling great, though.

On Thursday, I will begin meeting with one of our local pro triathletes for some swimming help.  I'll keep you updated.

Oh!  Got my new Garmin!  Used it for the first time on the treadmill this evening!  So far, I like it! 

Hey, its the Owl_girl & Mike_D group!

Sounds like a great day -- new Garmin arrives, some great work in the pool, and set up swim coaching with a local tri pro.  Excellent!!

After last week with our summer like weather, today is a good reminder we're not quite out of the woods yet. Very cold & windy on my run this AM. So windy in fact, at one point it was easier to walk forward than it was to run. I took a 1 minute walk to avoid being blown over, then ran again. The tailwind was great, though! Ran 5.6 miles and it felt great. Trainer ride tonight, and back to the pool tomorrow.

Cheers!!

Today was a good day.  Swam 3000+ this morning, ran a hard 3.25 from home to the Y for fitness yoga after work.  Swim was good.  Used my new Garmin, which I am not 100% confident is measuring dead on.   Yesterday was a rest day.  Not entirely necessary, however.

Tomorrow the plan is to run or spin before work.  If I spin, which is more likely, then I will run at some point during the work day.  My company is hugely committed to a healthy lifestyle and supports exercise programs.  In fact, it sponsors an amazing triathlon training facility nearby where I swim.

Health is holding steady.  Everyday is a gift.  It's weird because I know I am destined for a  precipitous decline but hope it stays away until all the kids are grown.

Hey everyone,

Been out of the net for a little bit...between the wild child back in the hospital  and life.  The wild child is doing better now...they originally thought it was her appendix; however it turns out she has mesenteric adenitis which mimics the symptoms of appendicitis; less the fever and white blood cell count.The pain she was in was unreal...hated to see her hurt that bad .  I keep telling her she has to stay healthy so I can train. 

The weather is almost perfect here for training (need just a little less wind).  I'm not complaining...love to run and ride outside in warm weather.  Today I did a 41 mile ride on hills.  Figure I better pay now or pay at Louisville on the course .  I took one of the side highways off the outer rode...brutal...these mountains smoked me...at least I didn't walk the bike up them...not sure how much slower I could have went before tumbling over from lack of speed!   Looking forward to the long run on Friday.

Happy training everyone!

Did 2850 in the pool this AM, but felt somewhat sluggish. Need to work on my swims. This week, my plan adds a third weekly swim session, so I'll be doing just that come Friday AM. Tonight is a 1:15 trainer ride w/ some interval work. Tomorrow a short bike/run brick....and on it goes

Amazes me to think I'm 1/2 done with my training plan. It has gone by fast, and while I've tried my best to be consistent in getting the workouts done, March has been a tough month of illness, work travel, and things at home which take precedence. Regardless, so far there are many many positives: fitness is as good as its been in years, my run is coming along, I did a HM for the first time!, I'm swimming nearly 6k yards/week, soon to ramp to 9k/wk, and I'm riding well. The only downside is I really need to ride more. If anything has suffered this month, its been cycling, and that is one area I  can't slack on for my HIM.

One other result of HIM training -- I'm getting skinnier, but not losing much weight. Went down a notch on my belt today, and that was great. But my weight is fairly constant. Just a redistribution I'm thinking -- losing fat around the waist, and adding muscles to legs & upper torso?

Nice work Mike!

Had my first swim training with a local pro triathlete and coach.  She evaluated my stroke and said that it's not horrible.  After that, she had me do all sorts of drills.  She had me do one that I have never read about.  It's similar to the catch up drill.  She called it the "popping" drill.  In essence, she's trying to get me to move my elbow independently from my shoulder.  It's very difficult and my forearms are going to be very tired and sore.

Poor girl.  How is she doing now?

Sounds like its already working for you. Love the "its not horrible" comment.

How does that drill work?

Rhonda, hope your wild child gets better soon, having your kids sick is the worst.  Mine's been affecting my training too but he is only suffering from insomnia.  I've finally got him convinced that he can get back to sleep on his own and doesn't need to wake me up three times a night just to tell me he can't sleep.  Now that's he's not getting out of bed, he is getting back to sleep much quicker so everybody is happier.

Tracy, hope the arms aren't too sore and Mike, wow, you are tearing through that training program, great news about the body restructuring.

I'm getting ready to leave for Pemberton, about 4 hours drive south for Saturday's tri.  The Munchkin is packing toys and I'm stressing about putting my carbon bike on the bike rack for the first time.  The resort where the tri is held is beautiful, very old, set in a forest and around a lake and it's a wonderful weekend.  I'm even excited about getting in the water.  Hope you all have a great weekend.

Good luck with the race!!

Despite a lousy March (I'm glad we're almost done with this month!!) this week has been my biggest yardage swim week ever  - nearly 8000 yards. Thats almost 10% of everything I did last *year*.

The wild child is doing better...made it a full week at school! 

Good luck, enjoy the weekend and have a blast at the race!!

I'm trying to get myself psyched up for a long (hopefully 2 hour) trainer ride in the morning due to dumping / drenching / consistent rain and wind followed by taking my almost 3 year old to a birthday party for a 5 year old.

Anyone have bets on which activity is going to trash me?

Hey guys-

Did twenty miles on the Kinetic this morning.  Felt super good to really sweat and work my legs.  I noticed that most people train by time rather than distance.  Is that typical for triathlon training?  Marathoners typically train based on miles.

Hope to get in a long run tomorrow.  Maybe 15 miles again.  Goal is to be at 20 miles buy the end of April so that I can get in four or five twenties or more before Grandma's Marathon in mid June.

Tonight we are going to a bon fire / BBQ.  I am making yummy cheesey potatoes plus fruit salad with home made drop biscuits and whipped cream for those who wish to indulge in a fruit shortcake dessert.  Since I am eating low on the food chain due to health issues I will likely just have fruit and salad.  No brats for sure.  I sorta miss old style eating but know my life and health literally  depend on my diet.