Swam early and alone....in a light rain shower....very nice but I felt like I took forever.
Bike 1:26...in the hood with 5 hill repeats thrown in.  I did the repeats on Robt. E. Lee but since I did the Barton Hills loop, Barton Skyway and Glencliff/Bartoncliff...it's hard to determine how many hills I actually did :)  I didn't realize until today just how fatigued my legs were/are. The hill repeats were sluggish and I had to work for each one.  
Then I hit the Y for strength training and home to eat and now it's time almost time to fetch a kid.

I'm not as hungry today but I am certainly not missing any meals these days.  Good tummy, nice tummy....

In between the workouts, the tiny minutes between, I did some laundry and folded some laundry and picked up a little.  The bathrooms will have to be done by kids this week ;)  

 Sunday:  Early morning swim at BSP, 1600m @ 34:35.  Didn't start off too well, noticed my goggles are on the verge of falling apart, and my Bodyglide crumbled to pieces.  A couple stops to J&A's for replacements and multiple bike stuff and BSS.  Quick spin around the neighborhood in the pm, ~ 10miles.  

Monday:  Quality run workout on the east side.  

Tuesday:  Swim at BSP this morning, 2000m @ 43:50.  Time trial on Mopac after work.

 Slept 10.5 hours last night! I can't believe it...after dinner last night I went in to wash up and change clothes...sat down on the bed and wham I must have fallen to sleep...I woke up at midnight and just laughed....rolled back over and went to sleep again.  Wow. I hated when the alarm went off this morning but hey, I got things to do!

Upward and onward. 

My new toy.  I won't win any races any time soon, but at least I can enjoy the scenery on a sexy ride.

Last week I finally felt like I got back into the swing of training. 

M - rest day
T - TZ track workout - mile TT previously posted
W - No workout for me.  Team Leader at TZ Beginner swim workout.  If I'd brought my swim stuff, I could have swum too but I didn't so I couldn't.
Th - lunchtime swim at Balcones Pool - 45 minutes - enough to get sunburned.  Must wear sunscreen.  I think this was the workout that launched the momentum. 
F - Neighborhood bike ride - 5x5:00 intervals
Sa - TZ bike workout x 2.  Once with the beginners, then again with the intermediates.  25 hilly miles in Steiner Ranch.  The return of all of Quinlan Park Rd.
Su - 6 mile neighborhood run.  The wind was impressive.  I should get extra credit for the last mile full into the wind.  It took me long enough.

The calendar says this week is a taper week for Skeese Greets.  I just got my build-up going! 

Tags: bicycling, running, swimming
Current Mood: energetic

I am unbelievably sleepy and hungry today!  It's rather ridiculous.  
My planned naptime ended up being only 20 minutes...long story not worth telling.
I have literally eaten everything in sight today.
I had a hard time keeping my eyes open on the drive to pick up the girl child from school...wow.
I'm doing the bare minimum regarding dinner tonight....then I'm going to run to my mama's and see that she's okay and then I'm going to put my hiney in bed early...and nothing can stop me by golly!

This is a big week, again.  I'm ready, I just want a little more sleep and maybe for the cottonwood trees to stop doing their thing.  

Hang on tight... 

 Hey, if you have a source of liquid calories that works for you on the bike, would you tell me?  I am (still) having a hard time getting all I need to eat on the bike.  I think it would be helpful to try to drink more of those calories, so I'd love to hear what works for you.  Thank you so much, LJ friends!

I got behind on my weekly tally, so here are numbers for the last two:

Week 17
swim=3:10
bike=7:20
run=3:35
------------------
total=14:05

Week 18
swim=3:09
bike=8:38
run=3:10
------------------
total=14:57

Today is a rest day and I've already gotten all sorts of miscellaneous house things done.  And I've eaten a good lunch--it is surprising how happy food makes me.  I'm glad I can look at food as fuel and not the enemy.  Yeah, I could be skinnier but I don't want that to drive everything I think about what I injest.

This week, training week #19, looks to be a bitch.  I'm just going to chip away at it one workout at a time.  And schedule some naps.

 On Saturday I did the Armadillo Classic in Liberty Hill. As part of my IM training, I did the 105 mile option. I was very nervous about this, but it helped that I did the Austin to Shiner ride the week before.

There were a lot of people doing this ride and it seemed like I would have plenty of company on the 100+ mile ride. Yvonne did the 61 mile option so it was great having her for my first 30. We talked and skipped the first two rest stops. They seemed to have come really close together...which is great, but no need to stop yet. I had to get to the 30 mile closing gate by 10:30. I didn't think it was going to be a problem, but it's fun to add some pressure. When it came time to split off from Yvonne, I felt like a nervous kindergartner going off into the unknown!! Luckily,I felt great at that point and ready to face this challenge.

The next section was still pretty popular so I wasn't alone and I was certain that 

crabbyoldjaws andleahruns were behind me somewhere because I had passed them earlier and I hadn't seen them pass me. I also knew that Erin and Jeannie were ahead of me...maybe not too far...unlike Robin who was surely way ahead by now since I hadn't seen her at any of the stops. Anyway, I like being somewhere in the middle of my friends because it feels safe. I got to the next rest stop and it was the turn around for the 80 mile option. I wasn't planning on stopping here, but I was unsure of which direction to go and everyone seemed to be turning around...now I felt alone. Hmmmm, maybe I should consider doing 80 miles?? Tim, a guy I had just been introduced to by Yvonne had a map and told me which way to go and mentioned that it would be very scenic. It was beautiful, but lonelier and hotter too!!! I stopped at the next rest stop and took more time at this one. I took a potty break and ate some delicious home made oatmeal cookies with some very cold Gatorade...very nice stop. I was also hoping that I would see Cathy and Leah riding up?? I would have loved the company. I still felt great at this point, but I was nervous about what was to come?? Before I knew it I was back at the next rest stop which was familiar and that was a fabulous feeling. I felt great and so happy that I was at mile 70 and heading home...wahoo...the light at the end of the tunnel.

 

It was very hot at this point and the course was a lot hillier. I was catching some folks, talking for a while and most of the time....I "had to put the hammer down!!" I was on some crazy high and felt like a kid on the bike. I was surprised to be feeling so wonderful. I was so thankful for my training, my coach, and happy to be one step closer to my IM dream. I was thinking about how glad I was that I waited to do THIS distance on THIS day. I had been tempted to do a 100 miler before this, but for me, they probably would have been empty miles. This ride already felt so productive and I was in control!! I wanted to do a happy dance when my Cateye read 100.00 miles. Happy because I had completed the distance, but even happier to feel so strong mentally and physically. I wanted to call my coach and tell her or shout "I'm finishing strong" and I can't believe it!!!! One more rest stop came along and I just waved on through it. My Cateye already said 105. 7 and they said "just one more mile"....okay...whatever. I rode for a total of 106.8 miles. I ran for about 15 minutes after that and it didn't feel bad at all. Without the heat, I think I could have ran my marathon:)!!!

In my first grader's words (and spelling)..."it was osm!!!"

Next day was Mother's Day and I had a two hour run on my schedule. Met Robin at Brushy Creek (she had an hour on her schedule) so one hour with good company and the next with my music. I felt a little beat up at first, but quickly I started to feel okay. It was a nice run. At the end of my run, I felt a little lump in my throat...getting closer to becoming an Ironman. Not sure what's happening, but some workouts have been making me feel a little emotional??

I got home and my wonderful family had some special treats and surprises for me....got a little emotional...again. I was able to combine a short recovery swim with some quality family time. For dinner, we had my mom, sisters, and sister's family over for dinner. My husband cooked for us and cleaned up too:)!!!

Very nice weekend!!

 Another week under my belt.  I sent my coach my weekly summary today and I told her that I never, in my wildest dreams, imagined feeling so good at this point in training.  I mean, don't get me wrong, I am tired - way tired. The extra day off last week really helped with that...a lot.

So, it's Mother's Day and I slept in...till 7...ate a powerbar and drank a cup of hot tea and out the door for a 2 hour run...My legs warmed up quicker than I anticipated which was a pleasant surprise.  Don't get me wrong now, I was still slogging but it was a pleasant slog.  At the 1 hour mark I turned around and picked it up...my return was quicker than the out...ending with a total 1:54.
Off to Barton Springs to swim 45 minutes...lots of leaves and sticks in the water from the little storm last evening.  No particular pace or workout, just 45 min swim.  1 mile(ish) = 44:41
Done!  

Sat in the backyard with hubby and dogs having coffee and chatting...now it's shower, my mom's and then a movie at Alamo Drafthouse later.  A good day.

joke from Father Effendi....
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