Wow - 45 days until the big day!! I'm so excited for my 3rd opportunity to race in the Ironman World Championship and I am incredibly grateful to my body for allowing me to have some awesome workouts so quickly after recovering from Ironman Lake Placid (IM #6).
Last week was very challenging but I allowed myself plenty of rest so that the weekly volume wasn't so high that my immune system, motivation and body would suffer.
Sunday was a mentally and physically tough workout thanks to Coach Karel for reminding me that you don't get very far without hard work....and you have to get faster before you go longer.
Saturday: AM 4 hour bike + 45 min run (average pace ~8:15-8:20 min/mile) (brick)
Bike Main set:
4 x 30 min @ 10-15 watts higher than IM pace w/ 4 min EZ in between
Nothing like a 2 hour and 16 minute main set to keep my mind focused.
Monday was a day off (+ hip/core work and stretching).
Bike:
Main set 3x's:
5 min @ Z4 watts, 10 min Z3, 5 min Z4
5 min EZ spinning
(another mentally and physically tough workout!)
6 mile run off the bike:
First mile steady, perceived effort 7 out of 10. walk 1 minute.
Main set: 4 x 1 miles at sub 7:30 min/mile pace (Half IM pace) w/ good form w/ 1 min walk in between
(7:22, 7:21, 7:12, 7:18 min/mile)
Cool down + Campy run
Wednesday: AM 1 hour swim + 1 hour run (brick)
Swim: 3100 yardsMain set: (with 1 minute rest in between each set)
4 x 200's w/ 20 sec rest (IM effort)
4 x 100's w/ 10 sec rest (olympic distance effort)
4 x 50s w/ 5 sec rest (fast)
4 25's w/ 5 sec rest (fast)
Run:
20 min warm-up (walk as needed to keep good form, slow pace)Main set (20-60 minutes):
3 min @ marathon goal pace, 2 min @ half marathon goal pace. Straddle treadmill 30 sec, keep repeating until 1 hour.
Total 7 miles with warm-up//cool down
Stretching + light hip/core work
Body and mind feel healthy and happy. No signs of being run-down, overtrained or injured and I love the balance of training with life. Just enough training stress for my body to adapt but not too much that my life would feel overwhelming with the upcoming IM. I'm looking forward to a bike-only workout tomorrow, long swim on Friday and a solid 3-day weekend of training with focus on intensity and moderate volume (and day off Tues). My first "long" ride after Placid will not occur until Sept 7th and that will be 5 hours.
I love to keep my body and brain fueled on a daily basis, in addition to fueling before, during and after EVERY workout that I do. No ifs, ands or butts about it...I love to fuel my body when it is under the most physiological stress as my body doesn't need "extra" fuel when I am sitting around in the evening after dinner from 7-bed (~9;30/10pm) and it rarely asks for it because it received adequate fuel when I want it to adapt to get stronger, faster and healthier. There is no time during my day that I restrict myself from food so I am consciously aware of when my body needs it the most.
Nutty Fruity Oats
Peaches
Raspberries
Blueberries
Apples
Raisins
Walnuts
Cashews
Sunflower seeds
Almonds
Flax seeds
1/2 cup oats
Water (no milk at work)
Cinnamon
~10g whey protein powder
(I used a little of everything)
Homemade 90-second popcorn
1/3 kernels in a brown bag and fold over twice and pop for 75-90 seconds.
Cabbage, edamame and quinoa stir fry
Karel's mom's cabbage recipe (steamed cabbage with seasonings)
Edamame (bagged, frozen)
Stir fry - mushrooms, onions, garlic in olive oil with toasted quinoa
(My picture doesn't look that pretty but me an my belly enjoyed it so I wanted to share the wonderful mix of flavors and color).
Warning: DO NOT EAT this little delicious ball of cuteness.