Week 21 - last week of training before 1st tri - Can an Average Runner Become an IRONMAN?

faster runner This week could be summed up: Fast running. Hard biking. Anxious swimming.

How to become a faster runner? I guess focus on swimming and biking.

Sunday – I was to do a 45-minute bike ride. I didn’t do it because 1) my husband left town in the morning and 2) and probably more importantly, I was feeling tired from the 7-hour charity bar crawl the day before! So I decided to rest up and put it off.

Monday – 50 minutes of cycling class in AM. In the afternoon, I did – as prescribed – 2 x 5 minute swim + 3 x 5 minute bike + 3 x 5 min run. Whew, got me revved up and a little worried about the swim. Jumping in the water to go fast for a shorter distance gets me out of sync and anxious. = 90 minutes

Tuesday – 15 minute swim + 20 minute bike + 15 minute run. Realized part way through the bike time that I was supposed to do some fast segments in the middle. So I did 2 minutes of faster on the bike and did 2 purges/strides in the middle of the run.

Running feels strong right now! I like that. Yet, cycling class this week felt much harder than I wanted it to. (Is it always that way in the taper?) = 50 minutes

Wednesday – 15-minute swim, then went immediately to circuit class. I picked up my wet suit rental. I tried it on at the shop. I didn’t want to leave without knowing it fit. I’m at the upper range of the height and weight for the suit. I wriggled in pretty well. The 2 salespeople watching were impressed! It’s quite a process of inside outing and pulling and tugging (without using any fingernails). = 75 minutes

Thursday – 30 minutes on bike in cycling studio, then I was scheduled for a 20-minute run. I did 30 minutes outside. Running is feeling great these days (swimming and biking haven’t felt as great this week so let’s focus for a moment on running!). I just start out at an easy pace and it naturally builds over time. Averaged 9:17 (9:37, 9:37, 9:10 and a quarter mile averaging an 8 minute pace). That’s fast for me. 🙂 = 60 minutes

Friday – Off. Traveled to Texas!

Saturday – Picked up my rental bike. First went to the wrong Bike World location (had no idea they had 3 locations in San Antonio!). Got to the right location and I hear them talking to each other about how that bike might not have been returned. I remained calm. They found the bike. And I took my time. I watched them clean it all up and grease the chain. I rode around and had them adjust the seat a couple times. I asked them to check the tire pressure. I asked for a kit for changing tires. I asked them to review how to take off a tire, in case I needed to do that. And they loaded the bike in my rental car for me. Then after I left they had to call me to tell me I’d left my cycling shoes and helmet behind. Oh brother! Hope that’s my only idiotic move for the weekend! (It wasn’t.)

Sunday – the Triathlon! My first one! Read all about it here.

TOTAL = 275 minutes = 4 hours, 35 minutes