3 sleeps until Try-Andys-Tri

Well there are three more sleeps until my triathlon debut. Last night I had a great swim (what I call great). Started out with a warm up and some drills and then finished off with intervals. I have not mastered mt form and body position but my endurance gets better each time I get in the pool. Last night I was actually excited when I got out of the pool. Tonight I have a brick w/o.. 30 min bike ride and 10 min run and will run through transition. Friday I will make the hour drive to pick up my packet in Sugarland, run a few errands and then rest my legs. My race report will be here next week.

Hope to see you on the roads soon!

A washout at track

I am so tired of the rain, heat and humidity and I am so done with bitching about it. Last night as I left for a track workout the sun was bright in the sky, I then drove about 5 miles to the track where it was gray and gloomy. As soon as I got out of the car to start my warm up it started to rain heavily, I decided (more like hoped) it would quickly pass (and I do like running in the rain)so I began my warm up, it was raining so hard that the drops pierced my skin. I finished my warm up and began a light w/o 4 X 400. After 2 x 400 my track work out was called off because major thunder and lightening. Big bummer. Today there is only 30% chance of rain but it has been raining off and on since at least 6:15 am when I left my house for the drive to work. Rain is good but when it makes me miss swims and runs it starts to piss me off. Hello rain I have a few more important workouts to complete before Sunday (at least it will make me feel better to get them in).

Running in the rain

Once again the weather was crappy here and it rained all day long, I had a 4 mile run or a cross training day to choose from. Normally on Mondays I swim but with the weather and the fact that I swim in an outdoor pool, I opted to run. The weather had lightened to a sprinkle so I decided I would head out before more thunderstorms came in. I did not make it 1/2 a mile and the heavens opened up again, very quickly I thought to myself head home or keep running. Then I remembered how much fun it was to play in the rain as a child so I ran. We have great paths around my house to run on they are mostly black topped and easy on the knees, but not until today did I notice elevation changes. At times I waded through puddles that catfish would have a party in. Thank god I thought to bring a chamois to wipe out my eyes, because it was quit difficult to see. I cut the run a little bit short and made it 3.5 miles because me shoes were squishy squashy and my clothes were stuck to me. All in all it was a great run the rain was cool and it was fun to act like a kid again. Two lessons learned were to wear old shoes and to wear my visor the next time I plan an adventure in the rain.

5 More sleeps until Tri-Andy's-Tri.

Hope to see you on the roads soon!

Ten For Texas

Saturday morning I got up at 5am to get ready for my "training run" at Ten for Texas. It thankfully was a nice and cool morning about 57 degrees. I pulled into the parking garage at Market Street (about 6:15) at the same time as Coach Kim, Greg and Gena, Molly and Kim. It was great to see my coach and fellow Team Strivers so early. As we walked up to the movie theater where we decided to hook up everyone started coming from everywhere. At about 7:10 we went on our warm up for about 10-15 mins and then headed to the start line. The gun went off at 7:30 and approximately 1900 runners were off. I used this event for as a training run instead of as a race. I ran with Lynn and Vickie which was fun I pretty much listen as they chatted answering when questioned (I am not a big big talked when I run). My main focus was to keep the heart rate low and enjoy the nice cool weather. I was able to maintain a high 2 to low 3 hrt thought the entire race. Another goal I had was to run in less that 2 hours, which is a big improvement compared to 1-1/2 yrs ago. My time was 1:56:32 so both goals were reach. Here is a photo of me having fun at the Mile 9 water station.


And a finishing photo. I should remember to wait until after I finish crossing the finish line to hit the Garmin. Most race photos I am looking down:(!

Afterward they had a great post party with food from Taco Cabana, Panera Bread and Chick-fila. The best part was the FREE ICE COLD BEER.


So now the focus is Tri-Andys-Tri coming up in 6 more sleeps. This week I will begin to tapper and prep for my first tri. I am trying not think about it to much cause it makes me feel like I need to poop. Seriously, this used to happen to me the week before a run only race, I finally got over that after a few half/marathons. You would think I would be over it, I mean its just a race right. I have so many emotions right now scared but excited for my new adventure seem to stand out the most.

The weather has been sucking these last 2 weeks so it has hampered swims and bike rides. But this week I will have to fight the weather and get a few miles on the bike and a few yards in the pool despite the weather.

Hope to see you on the roads soon!

A tapered track workout

This week is a taper week before Ten for Texas on Saturday. And though I am tapering I am pushing a little harder because I am not "racing Ten for Texas". At the advice of Coach K I am taking it easy and will enjoy the nice weather and (my advice) the cold beer after the race. As most of you know from previous posts my first tri is on October 18th and Coach wants me to be well rested since I have never raced the three in one. Swimming is getting better, defiantly not great but much better (everyone keeps telling me it takes time). Monday night I noticed I am gaining endurance in the pool and feeling more relaxed in my breathing. Last night the track workout was 1 mile at goal race pace, since I am not racing I pushed harder and ran 1 mile at 8:39. Then we had 4 X 400 at race pace. I ran 1:59, 1:55, 2:02 and 1:45.

I broke down and signed up for another tri this morning. April 24th Lonestar Sprint.

4 days until 10 for Texas
12 days until Try Andy's Tri
13 days+ until I decide if I will do another tri. (Since I am already signed up for Lonestar Sprint, I am guessing what the decision will be). After this decision is made I will decide on a new bike.

Still here

I am still here just been busy and have not had the time to blog. Nothing to major or exciting to blog about, just training and anticipating the up coming tri. I have been swimming twice a week and have improved my 300 by 30 secs in the past week. Last week I went to a friends house and practiced transition, now if I could only get in a brick workout. Saturday I am running 10 for Texas, not racing just running for fun. It is a great local race in The Woodlands that I have managed to miss the past two years due to travel and other races.

I will send in a race report of 10 For Texas on Monday.

Hope to see you on the roads!

I bough some new shoes (Mizuno's) last week and so far they are feeling great. I have been very faithful to Asics since I started running but I felt it was time for change. So far they have made feet feel loved through 2 track workouts, a few shorts runs and an 11 miler. I think they are here to stay, so thank you Asics I will always love you but you have been replaced at least for now!

Track work out was awesome. Temps were cooler and a light rain kept me cool. 1.8 w/u. 6 X 800 w/2.00 rest. 1 (800) 4.33, 2 (800) 4.33, 3 (800) 4.24, 4 (800) 4.25, 5 (800) 4.25 and 6 (800) 4.19 and finally a walking .5 c/d.

Hope to see you on the roads.