Week 5: Recovery is in sight!

So we've just completed weeks 4 and 5, which have felt like a non-stop workout session.  These two weeks were build weeks, so we added some volume and worked on some speed and strength in the pool, on the track, and in the weight room.  The weekly hour totals have been 13 and 14 respectively (average of around 2 hours a day), which are a few hours shy of our peak hours come weeks 16-18.  I can't imagine cramming in another half hour to hour each day throughout the week without going insane.  That has been the story of my life this past week between training and trying to manage the tax season rush at work.  I am happy that taxes are due by Tuesday, so maybe things will start to slow down after that, but it's not looking promising.  Just catching up on everything that has taken a back seat the past 2 weeks that has taken over my desk will take some serious focus.  Exhausted would be an understatement at this point!!

Thankfully, the upcoming week 6 is a "recovery" week which is much needed.  I've been slacking on my stretching/rolling/icing lately, so I'm going to try to focus on doing that each night - even if it's for 15-20 minutes while catching part of some tv show.  One of the hardest things is still being motivated when you get home to take time to make dinner (which Joe does great at!!) after a tiring workout.  Getting home at 8pm and still thinking about eating ...but I am so tired that I want to be asleep by 9:30 only to wake up for a morning workout?  They don't mesh well...I don't want to turn into a sumo wrestler :)  Work, train, eat, sleep.  Repeat.  But, Joe did great tonight by making a huge batch of soup so we have some quick reheat options for dinner this week.

I have been feeling good and the knees haven't been giving me much of an issue lately.  It's been more of my foot/arch - I hope it's not a case of plantar fasciitis beginning to form.  I hear that is a long, painful process to overcome.  But, after almost a month post-marathon, I'm feeling ok and managed to do 9 miles today - which has been the longest run since the marathon.  I actually miss the cold weather running that I got used to.  The heat (70 degrees?) and humidity got to me today and I was so thirsty and felt like I was overheating.  Maybe it was not enough water post bike/run yesterday and one too many beers this weekend :)

We're about a month out from our first tri of the season - the Got the Nerve? Triathlon in Mt. Gretna on May 19th.  We've been riding the course to get reacquainted and build some strength for the climbs it throws at you.  I'm just hoping that I'll have some speed come raceday since we haven't done a ton of shorter, quick stuff besides our fartlek runs on Thursdays (Track Attack!!).  I guess we'll see how speedy the legs feel that day :)

Looking forward to some shorter/easier workouts this week and then the parents come to visit next weekend!! :)  Lots to be excited about...and the weather looks to be very nice for training this week too.  I believe Spring has Sprung!

Cheers,

Chandra

Week 4: Put to the test

So we've reached week 4, which is a "test" week after this past recovery week.  I guess it is supposed to test us to see how far we've come since the first week with various "test sets" and checking your heart rate after recovery.  Not sure how that is going to go since the past 3 weeks have basically been mostly recovery after the marathon.  This past week we got in some good workouts, especially yesterday's 7 mile run and today's leg busting 53 mile bike with some "fun" climbs throughout Mt. Gretna.  I've learned that my idea of a "hill" isn't the same as what it was this time last year.  And it still isn't the same as that of Coach Mike :)  Then we had to go and lift afterwards - as always on Sundays and Thursdays.  We'll say this weekend was tiring and quite busy.  But, I did manage to throw together a pan of lasagna tonight while eating sushi and edamame for dinner.  We're trying to cook mass amounts of food on the weekends so we have quick reheats during the week when we get home at 8pm and need to make dinner still.  Hopefully we can keep it up and it'll make life a bit easier.

This upcoming week goes as follows:
Monday - Swim Test:  4x300 Warmup; 16x25; 500 free; 16x25; 400 free; 16x25; 300 cool down
Tuesday - Bike/Run brick
Wednesday - Swim:  8x100 Warmup; 1,500 free; 6x150; 12x25 cool down
Thursday - Run 60 min fartlek; Strength train
Friday - Optional Swim/60 min Bike/40 min Run
Saturday - Bike 2-3 hours/Transition run 20 mins
Sunday - optional 60 min bike; 70-90 min Run; Strength train

Looks like it is all uphill at this point.  I am just so thankful that I have my best friend and love to go through this experience with.  It makes it much easier when we understand what the other is feeling and going through...but doesn't make it easier when nothing gets done around the house!!  I am really looking forward to the upcoming 3 day weekend with some family time on Sunday for the Easter holiday.  I hope the Easter bunny still remembered me and hides a basket for me to find :)

Happy April!!

Cheers,
Chandra