Ironman Training Week 18

13 weeks to go

Week 18 went like this:
Swim: 2 workouts, 1hr 50 min, 4400m
Bike: 3 workouts, 7hr 30min, Saturday ride - 81miles (elevation gain - 2045 ft)
Run: 3 workouts, 2hr 45min, 15.4 miles
Strength: 2 workouts, 30min
Total: 12hr 35min
(bike totals include spin/trainer time, but not spin/trainer distance)

Challenges:
The run after the long ride on Saturday was rough. It was hot (88 degrees) and followed the longest pre-run ride I'd ever done, but I powered through and got in the miles.

Accomplishments:
Did the Tour de Cure for my long ride on Saturday. 81 miles for The American Diabetes Association - what a great event! I felt really strong for the whole thing. I don't know if it was the fact that there were fewer hills than we've been riding lately, or the relatively great weather, or that I was finally back on my carbon frame bike (with the new shifter!), but it was a wonderful ride. Finished 10 minutes faster than last week, and went 10 miles farther - averaged 16.7mph. I'm very happy with that.

Surprises:
Saw a gal riding the Tour who had an Ironman tattoo on her calf. I asked her which IM she had done, and she said Arizona and Coeur d'Alene. Awesome! So I rode with her for awhile and she gave me some inside tips on CDA - it's always so fun to meet people who have done the race before. She confirmed all the things I had heard about the race--good and bad--and made me even more excited to tackle the thing.

Bonus:
Mom and Dad were here through Wednesday morning, and we got so much done - details in an upcoming post!

Ironman Training Week 17

14 weeks to go

Week 17 went like this:
Swim: 2 workouts, 1hr 55min, 4400m
Bike: 3 workouts, 7hr 15min, Saturday ride - 71miles (elevation gain - 3240 ft)
Run: 4 workouts, 3hr 43min, 21.6 miles
Strength: 2 workouts, 30min
Total: 13hr 23min
(bike totals include spin/trainer time, but not spin/trainer distance)

Challenges:
I would like to redact last week's complaint about the wind. Because, you guys. THE WIND. Just gust after gust of soul-sucking, strength-depleting wind on Saturday. I wanted to curl up in the fetal position on the side of the road and weep softly whilst rocking myself from side to side when I was about halfway up one of the 9-mile hills we rode. But I didn't. Worst. Ride. Ever.

Accomplishments:
I got in all of my training even though I had (and continue to have) houseguests (usually a great way to talk myself out of working out).

Surprises:
Sunday dawned rainy, windy, and cold (my parents brought their Midwestern weather with them, I guess), but I forced myself out of the house for my scheduled 2 hour and 10 minute run. I thought I'd cover maybe 12 miles in the time allotted. Well, 2 hours and 10 minutes into my AMAZING, rain-soaked run, I'd covered about 12.4 miles and thought, "hey, that's almost a half marathon." So I kept running, and 8 minutes later I had beat my fastest official half marathon time by 13 minutes without even trying. Surprise! Best. Run. Ever.

Bonus:
The Abbey Normal seasonal ale at BJ's Brewhouse is delicious. As are the shrimp tacos. Yum.

Ironman Training Week 16

15 weeks to go

Oh sweet baby cheeses, this is the first time I've sat down and figured out exactly how long I have been/will be training for Ironman. On the one hand: hooray, I'm halfway done! On the other hand: son of Jor-El, I'm only halfway done... Ah well, I figured maybe I should be documenting this whole crazy journey, and since I'm sure I'll want to look back on this someday and wonder what the hell I was thinking reminisce fondly about that time in my life when I voluntarily went to the gym at 4:45 in the morning time, I'm going to try to make recapping the previous week's training a regular Monday occurrence.

So. Week 16 went like this:
Swim: 2 workouts, 1hr 55min, 4400m
Bike: 3 workouts, 7hr 25min, Saturday ride - 71miles (elevation gain 3329 ft)
Run: 4 workouts, 3hr 20min, 18.8miles
Strength: 2 workouts, 30min
Total: 13hr 10min
(bike totals include spin/trainer time, but not spin/trainer distance)

Challenges:
The WIND. Oh, geeze, the wind was just brutal on the long bike ride Saturday.

Accomplishments:
Longest ride followed by a run to date. Ever try getting your legs to run after a hilly, windy 70 mile bike ride? Holy moly.

Hilly. OH so hilly. That part at mile 20 made me want to punch someone.
Also, I forgot to start my Garmin until 3 miles in.

Surprises:
I signed up for the Mountain to Fountain 15k on Saturday and ran it on Sunday - surprise! It was a great race that started in McDowell Mountain Park and ended 9.3 hilly miles later at the "world famous" (really?) Fountain Hills fountain. I felt really strong for the whole race - even powered up all the hills without walking - and kicked it into the finish in 1:34 and change. Not too shabby for Kristen - especially after that Saturday ride!

I passed SO many people on that hill at mile 7 :)

**EDIT** A lesson in the dangers of signing up for a race at the last minute: I was 27th in my age group, which--apparently--was Males 25-29. Surprise!
**EDIT 2** I informed them via email that the last time I checked, I was very much not a man. They fixed it posthaste.

Bonus:

This made me laugh so. hard.

Wait, Which Item Are You Talking About Again?

Could you be a little more specific, please?

I recently purchased a replacement shifter for Toofer, my super-fancy used road bike, so I could finally ride it without wanting to stab myself in the eye each time I needed to shift down to my small chainring.

Toofer's got the goods, all fitted out with Dura Ace components, which are niiiiiiiiice components - with the price tag to match. Luckily the 10-year-old bike already had them on it when I bought the frame from K for a very reasonable amount of cheddar last summer. Before I bought it, she mentioned that the left shifter was on its last legs, and that I would want to keep an eye out on eBay for a replacement. Well, even eBay was averaging ridiculous prices, but finally - FINALLY - I snagged a lightly used one for a smokin' deal. It should be on its way to me soon, and Toofer and I can finally end this fight we've been having for the last six months.

After I made the purchase, eBay sent me an email with this exact subject line:

Enjoy your shimano dura ace 7801 front STI shifter left only front double used little !

You're so vague, eBay. I have no idea which shifter you're talking about.

11-ish Questions

A similar number of Answers.

The always fabulous Holly had a great prompt this week, and in the interest of getting back into the blogging groove, here 'tis.

1. Two TV Shows You Watch Every Week?

Oh no. Right off the bat, a question I can't answer. I watch exactly zero TV shows every week. I haven't had cable in five years, and, let's face it, I'm never home. This doesn't mean I don't love me some TV, though. Never fear. I am a champion supporter of the TV on DVD franchise, which means I'm always a year behind on TV shows, but also means I can knock out an entire season in just a few days. Being woefully behind can be a problem when one hates to have surprises ruined (you people who read the last page of a book first? I don't get you AT ALL.), and it may have led to some not so subtle public ear-plugging/humming when every single movie theater insisted on having commercials for the new season of Lost back when it was in its heyday, but generally I'm okay with it. So, to make this question my own, shows currently on TV that I buy on DVD and watch at my leisure: 30 Rock, How I Met Your Mother, Big Bang Theory, Modern Family, Grey's Anatomy (shut up).

2. Top Three Places On Your Must Visit List?

India - New Zealand - Galápagos Islands

3. Current Favorite Decorating Color Combo

I'm loving my yellow and gray guest room.

4. Do You Use The Snooze Button On Your Alarm?

I'm surprised I haven't worn out the snooze button on my alarms. Yes, alarms plural. I am SO not a morning person. If I had three magical wishes, I'd be sorely tempted to use one of them to turn me into the type of person who pops out of bed ready to take on the day, instead of the type of person who wants to punch those people before 9am.

5. Oldest, Middle or Youngest?

Happy in the middle.

6. Do You Collect Anything?

Not intentionally. I do love me some shoes, but I've toned down the shoe collecting furor in recent years. Books, on the other hand... you'd be hard-pressed to get me to whittle down my book collection.

7. What Is Your Middle Name?

Leigh.

8. What Did You Want To Be When You Grew Up?

Kristen, MD. I still think about it sometimes, but I think I really just want to do the schooling, and not actually be a doctor - and that's not how life works unless you are rich.

9a. Are You City or Country?

A little bit of both, I think. I like all the options cities have to offer, but sometimes I dream about moving to the country and growing my own food (complete inability to keep houseplants alive for more than a couple weeks notwithstanding). I think a smallish city with lots of cozy neighborhoods would be perfect.

9b. Tom Boy or Girlie Girl?

Neither? I don't like froofy, glittery, pink stuff...but I'm not one to wear t-shirts and tennis shoes on the regular, either. Let's call it Classy Casual.

9c. Talker or Listener?

Listener, almost always.

10. Fancy Label For Your Decorating Style?

I'm going to steal my description from 9b and say Classy Casual. I like my house to look nice, but also cozy and homey.

11a. What Would Your Friends and Family Say Is Your Best Quality?

Probably my weird sense of humor. My family and friends just get me.

11b. Your Worst?

I'm not very good at that whole "confrontation" thing, which results in me shoving down any issues until all the hurt and resentment comes exploding out, generally in response to a non-explosion-worthy incident that just happened to be my breaking point. I'm working on it.