Brrrrr....

Winter has shown up over here again in a big way!  Lance the pup and I bundled up to go out for a walk....

...but we didn't make it very far.  I think he wanted to come back inside more than I did! 

This latest blast of arctic air also puts a crimp in my training plan, as I was really, really, really hoping to get in one more long run before the Disney Princess Half Marathon in two weeks.  But with icy roads and a "real feel" temp of less than 0 degrees?  No thank you!  This means that I will take to the treadmill for a one hour run tomorrow and follow it up with strength session #2 for this week (per my IM training plan).  This is probably better for me anyway, since I don't want to put too much stress on my legs this early in Ironman training. (Right Coach Liz? Pleeeeease tell me it's better for me!)  It just means I can't expect too much out of the half marathon....but how serious can you take a Princess race anyway?!!

After a long-ish trainer ride this morning, we are catching up on errands and cleaning the house today, with plans for a short swim later this afternoon.  Yep, Ironman training is definitely in full swing!  One of my goals this year is to get in as many of the "optional" workouts as I can.  I skipped a lot of them last year, and I think more consistency in the pool and on the bike will help with my endurance this year.  I figure if I can get in 75-80% of these optional work outs, I should well ahead of last year.

A review of IronWeek One to come tomorrow.  In the meantime, hope you are all enjoying a relaxing weekend!

Happy Training!

- HER

What the Doctor Ordered

I'm back from an unplanned blogging hiatus.  After thinking I just *might* make it through this winter without my dreaded annual winter cold, I got hit pretty bad at the end of last week.  So I spent four days in bed and ate lots of this....

.....homemade chicken soup.  Just what the doctor ordered!

While it's NEVER fun to be sick, the timing worked out perfect with my training schedule.  I got hit at the end of the last week of pre-season training.....actually one day after a "surprise" power test from Coach Liz at Well Fit....I think that max effort was enough to put my body over the edge!  Then I had this whole past week to focus on getting better since the official Well Fit Ironman program doesn't start until Monday.  I am finally feeling nearly 100% and ready to go just in time!

Speaking of what the doctor ordered....I went in for my annual physical a few weeks ago and they did a blood panel that showed more vitamin deficiencies.  The most serious is B12, for which I now need to get injections for the next six weeks.  I was really, really hesitant about getting a vitamin injected into my muscle, but my doctor says my body is not absorbing it from food like it should.  This may have something to do with my gluten allergy and they are going to do testing for celiac disease once again.  Fingers crossed that it's negative, because while I have been really, really good about cutting the gluten from my diet it would be an incredible adjustment to not be able to touch the stuff.  Ever.  I won't have my blood re-tested for about six weeks, so I'll keep you posted!  Anyone else have vitamin deficiencies they've been able to correct through food or supplementation?  How long before you were able to notice a difference in how you felt?

Off for an exciting Saturday night of Top Chef watching before I pass out in bed early.  Long run planned for the morning....just THREE weeks until the Disney Princess Half Marathon!

Happy weekend!

- HER

Pre-Season 2012 Wrap Up

Final week of Pre-season 2012 class with Well Fit Triathlon & Training. Training ran from Nov 29th through this past week. Classes met: Tuesday nights at Well-Fit Training Center for a 75 minute varied format class of bike, run and strength; And, Thursday morning at the UIC west pool for 60 minutes focusing on stroke technique and efficiency. Coach Liz Waterstraat then filled in the rest of the week with an online training plan consisting of swim, bike, run (natch) and strength workouts. 

Having already signed up for Well-Fit's Ironman Wisconsin Training program (which begins Feb 6) this seemed like a worthwhile investment. My goal is to hit the ground running at the start of February. Being kinda stuck indoors for most of, if not all, December and January this program really did help to accelerate my fitness especially in the bike and swim. 

On the bike, I especially benefited from using the CompuTrainers at Well Fit on Tuesday nights. CompuTrainers give you a more realistic road feeling. You can't cheat the CompuTrainer. And since I also have this thing for seeking the approval of those in "authority" (yes, even at freaking 40 years old), I really kinda wanted to show Coach Liz that I was no chump. 


In the pool I benefited from having someone watch me swim. And I mean in the coaching sense. Not the creepy guy who sits in the hot tub leering at the lap swimmers sense. Most of us non swimmer types need a load of help and within 25 meters of watching me swim, a coach could readily rattle off 10 things I do incorrectly...just in my push off from the wall. But instead of overwhelming us, Coach Tim zeroed in on one thing for each person to work on based on our individual needs. For me it was my crossing over and catch. My hand was entering the water thumb down. Coach Tim wanted me to over correct, turn my hand over and enter my hand pinky first. I noticed an immediate difference. 


So for me the program was worth the price especially given my year ahead. We had access to facilities, equipment and coaches - both of whom are incredibly nice, easy going and great to talk to. I would definitely recommend to others but with the caveat of weighing cost/benefit versus personal goals. 


- Him