Well, recovery "week" being a relative term...we're actually on a 16/5 schedule. Many triathletes work with a 3 week build/1 week recovery cycle. Us Masters types (aka over 40) tend to need recovery sooner than that...so we do 16 days on, and 5 days recovery. With this being the 2nd to last build phase, it's really worn me out. That on top of some crazy shit at work, and the emotional turmoil from my failing marriage, has made it extra challenging. But for the most part, I'm managing to stay on track.
Last week finished up with a long run - the longest in 5 years I realized as I passed the 17 mile mark. That's a scary thought in some ways - here I am about to do an Ironman, and at just over 17 miles I'm at my longest single run in 5 years. But, no time to dwell on that. The run was pretty good actually until the 15 mile mark, and then it all fell apart in the blink of an eye. Seriously. I was fine, and then I wasn't. But, that's the brilliance of an out and back loop - gotta keep going! So the 15th mile pace was pretty sad, but I got myself together, and managed to finish up the last 2.7 miles in pretty good form. Even with much lower temps, the humidity was ridiculous, and despite ingesting huge amounts of water, I still managed to lose 2.5 pounds! Was good to find out later that Zimm had almost the exact same experience...mile 15 just went downhill. But then I got to spend the evening relaxing and having fun with friends, at the TSF Pool Party at Z's place. A great time was had by all.
On top of that, last week was my longest training week ever, at just shy of 19 hours. Damn! That's kind of impressive, if I do say so myself. I'm feeling it this week, though, and it is showing in my workouts. I'm tired, and yes, I'm supposed to be tired. But I mean REALLY tired. Missed my recovery run on Monday, and I have to sheepishly admit I missed Masters this morning - had to get to work early, given I'm on holiday starting tomorrow. Promised myself I wouldn't miss a workout for work again, and admittedly I did it so I could get out early, though that did not happen. At any rate, I'll swim more than planned next week at the lake, so I'll make that up, and my ride yesterday was a little longer than planned. I'll probably run a wee bit longer tomorrow on the brick, and I'll feel a little better about the missed workouts this week. Did do my long mid-week run - 11.33 miles in bloody awful humidity...the amount of sweat I wrung out of my shirt was insane. Throw in a good swim, and a few other rides, and that's the week. Tomorrow's a shorter brick - lol - it's only 4.5 hours!! - and then I'm leavin on a jet plane to head home to Canada for 6 days. YAY!!
So I find out from Mum last night that Toronto is 111 degrees! I told her I wasn't impressed. I'm supposed to be flying home to some relief from this heat and humidity!!! WTF. The Mag will be a little better than Toronto, but apparently the lake is about 80 degrees...huh??? Sheesh, two years ago, it was so cold, I could barely swim in it - ice cream headache for the first 5 minutes. Now I need to swim with wetsuit, and it's gonna be too hot!! Oh well. I'll swim anyway, just without the wetsuit, though I was looking to make this a golden opportunity to try swimming in the wettie for that long. I don't like the wetsuit, (I know I know, I'm supposed to love it), and I need to get comfortable enough to do it for as long as I'll be swimming in the race. That's okay - one thing at a time - get out there for 90 minutes, we can worry about the wetsuit once in Penticton.
So, have a great week...once my long run on Sunday morning is behind me, I'll be happily lounging in the lake, getting rid of my tri tan lines, replacing them with bikini tan lines...and drinking a caesar or two, and maybe some amaretto...mmmmmmm.
Best of luck to my buds Kevin, Jim, Rod, and Ilana, all racing Lake Placid on Sunday. I know you are all gonna rock it!! I hopefully will find some internet up there in the wilds of northern Ontario...but if not, I'll be thinking of you and dying to know how you're doing!!
Happy training, and happy happy recovering!!
Kat
No comments:
Post a Comment