Early Season Build is Over.... (this is an entry from apr 3rd...posted to the old blog by mistake!)

So today I wrapped up my biggest build set of the year so far, which isn't saying much!  But, three weeks with 18+ hours a week of training I guess is enough...for now.  The first of the 3 weeks was a struggle...suffered a bit from overtraining, but as I made it into week 3, the workouts got easier, even as the intensity increased.  Back to back 4 hour ride/1 hour run days are now the norm...until IM build which will probably be 6 hour rides/90 minute runs.  I think this block started when I asked Chris "When can I start training more?" as I felt I wasn't doing enough---well, this was enough (he sensed me complaining at one point in the block and let me know, but I will NEVER complain, but will report how I feel (which could be taken as complaining, but I GOTTA report in ;-))

Some highlights of the workouts have been the Bartlett Lake Tri Clinic that ONE Multisport put on.  I was lucky enough to be able to go out and enjoy a nice swim versus "volunteer"...our club is full of great people who don't turn a shoulder when it comes to giving back--THEY ROCK!   It was great to see a bunch of newbies out there---the sport is a daunting one to find a way in--so many little intricacies with gear, training, racing, the "tricks"....they got a load of info in one half day...awesome!

My overall impression of where I'm at right now is the following:  Swim---feeling very strong, and could just use some more technique improvement after Marquee Triathlon (70.3) next weekend.  Bike---also feeling strong, but always hard to tell because I am never "fresh" through these big training blocks.  I remember riding the IM AZ course 2 weeks before the race and having about 60% power compared to how I felt race day (ask James Bruce...I couldn't hang with him!)...so I am used to feeling blasted on the bike, knowing that when I come out "the other side of the tunnel" that I'll have speed and endurance exactly as Chris has built in for me.  Run---always the toughest to tell, but I know my endurance is there, and it is all about how far I want to go into the pain cave.  Training runs are all going well, and I think the carryover from IM AZ, PF Changs Marathon, and Ragnar are keeping me moving forward---calf strains are gone completely (no compression needed at all now).  Last week I had a 4 hour ride followed by a 45 minute run including 8 x 1' fast---and I was in the 5:40/mi time, and then this week I had a 3 hour ride followed by an hour run with 8 x 1' hill repeats FAST---both went very well and I never felt like I was going to cave, so I'll say my run is in good shape too!  win win win!!!

My biggest issue right now is the heat...we hit 98 this past week, and it sucks the water right out of you.  I'm trying to drink as much water as I can, and I think it's time to kick the coffee habit unless it's an EZ or rest day---gotta do what I gotta do!  It's now an issue on the bike and run---needing to fill bottles mid workout versus riding 4 hours on 2 bottles.  Now I have to double it in order to get off the bike feeling like standing upright.  When this build block started, temps were in the lower 70's at the most...now we are in the 90's!  Just gotta love the AZ summer.  So all in all, with the temperature rising as the intensity rose, and feeling stronger week to week, I'd say this was a great build period with lots of gain both physically and mentally!

I guess the only other thing to add in this post (I promise they'll get more exciting once racing starts!) is the article in Scottsdale Health Magazine...a crazy thing to say the least!  I was approached by Bill Richman (owner of the magazine) as I have known him for a while due to our Dental Practice Ad we have in there.   The idea sounded awesome, and highlighting the ONE club while trying to promote the sport was what really got me excited.  There are 10+ people I know that could have just as easily been on that cover and had that awesome article written about them---I guess it's a little bit along the lines of "it's who you know" kind of deal!  So, here's the digital version of the article, and I plan to insert the individual photos into the blog here soon!

Scottsdale Health April 2011 Issue

And yes, the caption on the right was changed---I couldn't handle the pressure of "Next Ironman Winner"  ;-} 

Up next:  my Marquee Triathlon Race Report!!!Scottsdale Health April 2011 Issue

Next Stop....Marquee 70.3!

It's finally time for our first "fit test" of the year with the Marquee half Ironman coming in less than 3 weeks (April 10, 2011).  The coolest thing about this race is that it's basically a short version of Ironman Arizona---same swim venue, same bike course (well, the loop is a bit shorter and we only do 2 loops---the climb towards Shea is omitted, so the bike will be VERY fast ;), and the run is basically the same as well, but even easier without the run through Papago Park (hilly).

Chris (AIMP Coaching) has really been laying it on the past two weeks (a good challenge!  it's making me miss my family time though :(, with 18+ hour training weeks including back to back long rides on Fri-Sat of 3+ hours each with intervals built in (kind of daunting when I think that averages to 3 hours a day for 6 days of the week!).  After suffering a bit with overtraining syndrome, I'm back healthy again....hopefully ready to race!  This is my first full tri season back (last year my broken clavicle and the Tempe Town Lake Dam break wiped out the season except for IM AZ), and I haven't competed in any local races here at all, so I am looking forward to sharing the course with many of my "new" tri friends---hopefully I can stay focused on racing versus "shout outs" to them!  This is also the first race of our "Elite Team" with all 5 of us competing (4 in the Half Ironman, 1 in the Olympic)...it's really a great group of people/athletes!!  

This coming weekend our ONE team (coordinated with Red Rock Co) is having a Triathlon clinic at Bartlett Lake catering to people new to triathlons--this should be a really fun event--we were all new to the sport at one time, and having someone to show newbies the ropes is a great opportunity to learn the "tricks" versus learning by feel.  Sophia's birthday party is on the same day, so I will be out there just for a morning swim, but kudos to the rest of the ONE team for volunteering their day to help!

The only other thing on my mind all the time is my family time---budgeting running/working in the dental practice, helping with ONE, training, and having enough time for home life is a challenge.   I don't know how long I will be able to train this way as the self imposed guilt I have from training versus being home gets to me, and it's not getting better.  Yesterday was a typical day during a build week:  up at 5:30, work till 4, home at 4:30, on the trainer at 5, off the trainer at 8:20, quick shower, quick eat, lay down with Sophia in bed, read her books, watch her fall asleep, then jump into bed at 9:30---Jenny already sound asleep...and repeat that pretty much every work day.  Then, fridays I'm up early, on the bike till 12, then a run (sometimes), finally done at around 2, then family time the rest of the day---repeat that for saturdays (the workouts change, but the time away doesn't).  Luckily, right now Sundays are more of an "off" day with a swim or a run only, but that will change inside of the 16 week build to Kona.  I guess I am writing this part for me...it's on my mind all the time, and when Sophia peaked her head into the "Pain Cave" last night 30+ times, I was feeling like I was depriving her of her father.  Jenny and Sophia have been VERY supportive of me and my selfish hobby...they are amazing!  I have played that game in my head where I think that I wouldn't be who I am without triathlon in my life (I'd be lazy, unmotivated...), but I think I need to change me---I don't HAVE to compete at the level I am trying to compete at.  Just getting that through my head is another thing---those who know me well understand this!

Without knowing what it is like to race in Kona, I am somewhat scared/overwhelmed by that place, and i think that is why I keep pushing for more.  The heat I can handle, but the humidity will be a whole different beast (it doesn't help that I watch the IM WC DVD's every time I ride the trainer).  Last summer the heat won on a few of my workouts, and I am thinking I need to be stronger going INTO the summer so I am better prepared for those really hot months--all of which lead directly to October 8th!

So I guess that's enough "open book diary" for today---thank you Jenny and Sophia for all of your support...you are amazing in every way ;-}