Today I met up with Jen for a long run of 16 miles at the Dam. I hadn't made plans for our usual weekly long run, so I was relieved when I received a text asking if I had run yet. We ran the Elm Creek trail 4 miles out and then back.....replenish our selves and repeated the same route. We ended up passing the same walkers out on the trail like 8 times! Good conversations about work, run club, and the people that have cabin fever! We got a total of 16 miles in today.

My legs were a bit tight but thats pretty common for me when I run on a couple hours of sleep.

I can't believe that another week has flown by so fast! School finally has settled down a bit-enough anyways that I can catch my breath! I spent a good portion of my days this week practicing for my test out in my Advance health assessment class-my parents are very healthy after the multiple H & P's; Owen was my assistant as he shook around my box of assessment tools and then proceeded to walk over and BITE my nose! Shadow played the pet therapy role, although I think that she was more concerned being protective over Owen by shooing Jackson, Otto, Grandpa, and Grandma out of the way anytime they got close to him.

My test out went great-my professor said I passed with flying colors and got the "Gold Star" of the day! Yay!

The Moon Goddess (my bike) got all fixed up this week with a much needed cleaning and tune-up down at GP. My bike is shifting much better now but a few things still need to be tweaked a bit for the upcoming race season.

I received some cool news yesterday-I was chosen to be sponsored by Aquaphor and Active. I probably applied 8+ months ago for this sponsorship and never heard anything-so it was quite surprising when I got the email! I will find out more about the sponsorship within the next couple of weeks after the team phone meeting.

WORKOUTS:
Tuesday,
I didn't end swimming but instead hooked up my road bike to trainer and a combination of spinning and core work.

Wednesday, I picked my bike from GP and then trained with P2. 1.5 hour spin with 45 minute run.

I took Thursday off.

Today I got in the pool and did about 3500 meters. My swim felt great today! I'm feeling much more balance in the water-something that I struggled with all last year. My coach commented to me on Sunday that he was liking what he was seeing in my swim positioning and stroke.

Whoa...it's been over a week since my last post! I have had some time off from work over the past week-7days! Although I had high hopes to get everything done-it didn't happen. I did get some errands ran that needed to get done and then the chores of everyday life. Over the past week have maintain some consistency in my workouts (except Thursday and Friday while being in Mankato).

Monday I swam for a hour. It was nice to hang out with my pool friends whom I haven't seen since Ironman! They of course wanted to know about Ironman and my upcoming races for this year. The one said that he was following me online throughout Ironman.

Tuesday, I ran for a hour outside and then went to spinning class.

Wednesday-I trained with P2. We did a hour of biking. I totally messed up the workout, but oh well. Following the workout we had a party/benefit for one of our teammates that has cancer.

Thursday-No workout-In Mankato for class

Friday-Again missed my workout after getting home from Mankato late. I ended up meeting Jen, Stef, Eric, and Aaron at our favorite place to eat El Loro.

Saturday,
I met Jen at the dam at 6:30 am for a 14 mile run

Sunday, I trained with P2. 1 hour swim and 2 hour bike (I skipped the run so that I could get some homework done).

Monday, I ran with run club.

Today-I plan to swim


I finally got a chance to bring Moon Goddess (my bike) down to GP to get a much needed tune up done. They will have her for a week-I will probably have to get on my road bike-as Jeremy at the bike shop says I should be riding that bike outside anyways right now. I just need to get re-fit on my road bike and then get out on the road.

Role Model.....maybe

Today I ran to Cub foods following my workout to pick up a few groceries. I quickly ran through the store so that I could get home and make something to eat since I was starving. As I waiting for the cashier to run my food through the scanner a women standing behind me says to the cashier "I was looking at all the things that women has done" (she was reading my distances on my Ironman finisher jacket). The cashier looks up and says "Ironman that's a big deal, don't you swim, bike and run at one time?" The women behind me asked if I was an Ironman......how could I do something like that? I then started to pack up my groceries and then the women comes over and wanted to see what groceries I bought and what I was going to do with each item. Then proceeded to ask if I diet a lot because she needed to diet because of the 20+ pounds she had gained. I told her that I didn't diet, I just try to eat healthy and exercise. The cashier and the women continued to talk about my grocery choices and their amazement at my doing the Ironman. I walked out to my car, loaded up the groceries, and returned the cart to the corral, when the women approached me again to tell me that she was going to go home and run a mile.


Today,
I skipped working out with P2 partly because I was tired from the night shift but the real reason was because the weather was awesome and I couldn't bear spending the time inside. I ended up running 6.1 at the CR Dam and then went to spinning. I need to get my bikes in the shop for tune ups so that I can get out and ride! I plan to go swimming if I get canceled tonight.

Is spring here or is it a teaser?

This morning Jen and Cindy joined me down at P2 for a discussion on nutrition. The presenter was a dietitian that works with a lot of the U of M athletes not mention a Olympian as well. The talk was really informative giving me a lot of ideas to better achieve better results in my training and racing season-I'm really glad that I went as last year this was one area that made me nervous as Ironman approached.

Today,
What a gorgeous day! I went out for a run in a long sleeve shirt and my lightest running pants and guess what-I was way over dressed! I hope the weather is here to stay, I'm just itching to get out on my bike!

Anyways, I got in a 10 mile run. I missed my bike workout-not enough time in the day!

Looking forward to awesome weather tomorrow!
Off to work again!

Trying to get caught up!

Owen, I've got your hat......hee hee hee! We celebrated my dad's birthday last weekend and after dinner we proceeded to pass Owen's hat around the table to try it on! I know we are a bunch of dorks!

I literally wore out my first pair of bike shorts! I noticed the other day that my bike shorts were getting a little worn! But the other night at spinning I noticed my short actually have holes in them! GOAL-GET NEW BIKE SHORTS!!!!!!


I have been playing the catch up game for the past hmmmm....month! This past week was springbreak and I had high hopes to work ahead in my classes and get caught up on millions things around the house! I did manage to get my herbal information sheet done and I plan to start my presentation on osteoporosis shortly.

As for my workouts, I have been really trying to stay consistent even though my life is CRAZY!!!! I have been getting in a workout most everyday-unless I get stuck somewhere....LeSuer. I haven't been successful in getting all my workouts in though.

This week my workout goal was 15-17 hours.

Monday-1 hour swim, 1 hour run
My goal was 1 hour swim and strength training.
Mondays swim went well. My stroke is feeling great-much better than last season. My coach really focuses on balance in the water and swimming "quiet." My workout consists of 15 minutes of drill each swim session-I think that it really has made a difference.

Following my swim, I was to lead run club. We had a nice run to the tower. It was nice to run with my buds! I ended up doing 5.25 miles

Tuesday: 45 minute run, 45 minute bike, 15 minute abs and arms
My goal workout was a 90 minute run, strength training, and 60 minute bike. I wasn't feeling great that day-upset tummy probably from being overly tired and not eating well. Following my swim on Monday I was feeling some chest pain-NO not a heart attack pain just some muscle soreness-I think that I may have pulled a muscle in my intercostal from swimming with paddles on the day before. I took it easy during my workout hoping it would feel better the next day.

Wednesday: 45 minute bike
Goal was 75-90 minute bike, 15 minute run, strength training.
My chest was still a bit sore from the swim on Monday. I ended up going to spin class. My legs were tight and I was feeling tired from working the previous night. Plus I had plans with Jill, Corrine, and Jerel-We had wine night at Jill's house. It was nice to take some time to CHILL out with the girls! We got to see pictures of Jill's new house in upstate New York and talked about our future trip out to the big city.

Thursday: 75 minute bike, 30 minute run
Goal was 75 minute bike, 30 minute run with optional 45 minute run and strength training.
I trained with P2-workout consisted alternating 10 minute stands with 5 minute recovery sitting. I need to get my bike into gear wear for a tune-up as I'm still having problems with it shifting right, plus I think the set up is a bit off from having it shipped from Kentucky.

The workout went well.

Friday: 75 minute swim
Goal 75 minute swim
The swim today went pretty well. I didn't feel nearly as smooth in the water as I did on Monday, but it was decent. I was a little worried that my chest was going to bother me again but that was fine.

Overall, I have done pretty well with my workouts this week-7.5 hours so far and two days with long workouts to go. The runs should be much more enjoyable being the weather is suppose to warm up-and HOPEFULLY I will be able to get out on my bike next week!