Week 16 - Overwhelmed! Had to tell myself, "Choose your attitude!"

Making it work in the heat and humidity of New Orleans!

Sunday – When I called ahead, the JW Marriott in New Orleans told me they had a lap pool…Umm, no you don’t! So I’m shifting the swim sessions out and the running sessions up!

So, now we’re doing a 60-minute run! The fitness center was so hot the day before, I didn’t want to go back there. I ran outside all around the Quarter! (It’s not that big!) Went out about 9:30 a.m. It was hot and humid. Did strides every 10 minutes. After the 4^th one, I was wiped! Ran to 50 minutes, then walked to cool off, and finished up the last 10 minutes slowly, skipping the last strides. Average 10:24.

Later in the afternoon I had a headache and took a headache pill to keep moving forward and enjoying vacation. = 60 minutes

Monday – Another 60-minute run! No required strides this time. Took off nice and slow, found a better route in wider areas for more breeze. Felt good, finished strong, easy run, average 10:45. = 60 minutes

Tuesday – 2 hours on bike; in a different hotel with a cooler fitness room. Did one hour on more upright bike and one hour on more seated bike. Wrote out notes for all remaining weeks in training making notes of weekly hours and trips and full day facilitations that will require shifting sessions and for early starts/late nights in order to accomplish.

I’m Overwhelmed!!

I was spinning on the bike – literally and figuratively – thinking I should check with my Coach and Ironman Finishers that I know about whether I can shift the training around as much as I am. Amy I getting the true purpose of the each training session as I adjust them? How am I going to get enough rest and recovery throughout this?

Then, I mentally said, “Stop.” Doesn’t matter what others say. This is what works in my schedule, so this is what is going to be happening. I can post in my Ironman Wisconsin Training Facebook group about needing a pool in some cities to which I’d be traveling and that’s it. That’s all there is to do. Except: CHOOSE MY ATTITUDE

This is a game. This is a game I chose to play. Let’s play it!

= 120 minutes

Wednesday – 45-minute run, easy run outside hot – over 75°, average 10:13 followed by longest swim to-date.

Wu – 200m; Main – 2500m; Cd – 4 x 50m

Phew!

My head was starting to bother me by last 1000. So with 500 left to go I took off my swim cap. Was a great relief, but then I had to mess with my goggles a few times to get them right. Took me 90 minutes to complete this! = 135 minutes

Thursday – Swim.

Wu – 250, alternating each 50 swim and kick.

Main – 400, 4 x 100, 300, 3 x 100, 200, 2 x 100

Skipped cool down because I have a swim lesson tonight. Took me 1 hour, 15 minutes.

90-minute bike ride in cycling studio; not too strenuous; on phone most of the time.

Swim lesson: drills and swimming nearly the whole time. Got to focus on getting the most out of every stroke (lessen stroke count), breathing right away when arm starts moving, and holding arm out there until other enters the water.

Definitely have mechanics to work on and definitely feeling more confident in the water! = 215 minutes

Friday – Was supposed to do a swim session. Decided to swap with Saturday and take my day off today.

Saturday – Swim session – said it would take me 60 minutes. I estimated 75 minutes, it took me 85. Whew.

Wu – 500m; Main – 15 x 100m; Cd – 500m all bilateral!! Breakthrough!! = 85 minutes

TOTAL = 675 minutes = 11.25 hours