Top of the Key

It’s Saturday.  I have a ride to get in, and to finish my stabalizer week strong, I want to get it all in.  I had to ride 40 miles, all on the trainer.  It’s going to be all trainer from here on out.  Possibly until March.  I feel stronger on the cranks now, and definitely feel like I’m hitting my grove with them.

Planning to start my week 13 tomorrow, so I’ll have Christmas Day off.

Friday, things are starting to get back to normal outside.  The skies were blue all day.  The snow is still piled high.  I got in my swim today.  I was really looking forward to it.  The roads were really bad to drive.  Can’t believe how much snow we received.  Over 2 feet I think.

The dogs love it…my back doesn’t.  After shoveling yesterday, it’s aching.  Need to recover before Monday.

It’s Thursday, everything is shut down…and it’s still snowing.  No workout today…YOGA though!

It’s Wednesday, and it’s snowing…alot.  It’s been snowing all day.  Must be at least a foot of snow or more out there in the backyard.  The dogs are loving the snow.  I had a power cycling class scheduled for tonight, but that was cancelled.  Actually haven’t left the house all day.  I rode for 15 miles, nice and easy to stay loose.

I’m feeling like my energy is coming back.  My appetite has been really good this week.  Eating a ton of food, some good, some not so good.  A few glasses of wine too.

Rest up…that’s the goal.

Much better day today.  Still slept in some, which is well needed.  I was anxious to do my swim after reading this book ‘gold in the water’ last night.  I am really thinking about my core rotation, and keeping my stroke long and relaxed.  And for the really fast work, just staying in control and not going all crazy.  I came close to an all time fast 50 yard today, near 35 seconds.

I also attended a PiYo class today as well with Jess.  It was a butt kicker, the first half was at least being Pilates.  But slowly got into the mood and came through pretty strong.  The Yoga stretches are really, really good for my injury.  I need to focus on that more.  It’s a must.

Started slow today.  Got up late, and didn’t get my run in until about 2:00.  I wasn’t in the mood to run, or do the z4 work on the track.  But I did it anyway.  Only rode my bike 17 miles tonight. Suppposed to do 32, but will get the rest some othe rday this week.  I just really need to take care of my back, legs and regroup for next week.  I feel tired, and need to rest up.

Day off, and well deserved.  Couldn’t get much rest, lots on my mind.  Had to drive to WP today, and up and back trip.  I was so tired coming home.  I tried to sleep when i got home, but i always get a little wired after a drive.

I’m planning to take full advantage of this stabalizer week and rest up, recover and prepare for 3 more weeks.

What a tough day. I mean, come on. It’s only week 11 and i just really worked my tail off this week. Today though, was brutal. Going into it, in my head, I was thinking it wasn’t so bad…a 32 mile bike and a 7 mile run. Also, a 1600 yard swim and lower body weights. The bike was fine. After that though, it was a killer. It’s cold here today, so i haven’t been hitting my heart rates when running in cooler weather. The track workout almost killed me. And then I had to run up a steep hill 8 times, that’s where my mind kicked in and overcame the thoughts of bagging it. So all in all, I got my brick in with an effort of 11 on a scale of 1 to 10.

After that, I came back and tried to regroup before hitting the pool and weights. I was sort of out of it. Drank some tea, ate some food, and just got in the car and made it happen. Because the pool was busy, I think it motivated me to swim strong and just get it done. I focused mostly on a long, strong stroke. After looking at some video footage of Ian Thorpe, I decided to mix it up.

And then i had no desire to hit the weights, NONE. I mean, get me back home and put me to sleep. But again, I just kept moving forward…keep moving forward…keep moving forward. It’s in my mind now alot, when I swim, when i run, and when I just don’t want to do it. So I got the workout done today, and now i’m trying recap what went through my mind.

Days like these, asskickers I like to call them, just put you in a state of ‘why am i doing this’. And as Peter Reid said in a recent movie he was in, if you’re asking that question on the run in an Ironman, you’d better have an answer already waiting, or it’s too late. So I’ve been thinking about why I’m doing this…and it’s for multiple reasons, mainly because I CAN. There are people out there that will never know what it’s like to train for an Ironman, or finish an Ironman, or do any one of the sports that all us triathletes do. And because i’m lucky to have the ability to do these activities, I should be doing them. Because one day i won’t be able to. Another reason, I want to see how far I can push my body and mind. How far is too far…How far is not enough? I have not the slightest clue how to answer that. I’m in new territory here. IF you asked me to go play a game of hoops, a 5 on 5 down at the local rec center, I am confident that I could compete with each and every one there…in my mind, that is just a switch I flip on…and it goes…and it goes. I sort of miss that. But it’s a known entity to me. Whereas this Triathlon stuff is all new…each day i get educated.

You only live once.  Make the best of this opportunity.