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Thoughts from a father, husband, son, Boulder native pro triathlete, coach, and optimist.

Thursday, March 27, 2014

Weekly Training Log: Week of March 17th, 2014:

In Training:  I am working full time for the first time while trying to train and race Ironmans.  I wasn't so sure that this would work out great, but I have proved to myself that I can put in (close to) the volume needed to hopefully be successful.  I had a very solid week of workouts - I met the intensity levels I wanted at a volume that is slightly lower than I have done in the past for racing IM.

Key workouts of the week were a trainer interval ride of 90 min that had a 255w avg, 260w NP avg, A tempo interval half marathon on a treadmill, and a 3ish hour trainer ride with AP at 241w.



In Life:  The week was work.  Up at four, home for a workout, then bed at eight.  But then comes Friday.  Friday is wonderfully awesome.
I ended up going to the local brewpub in Longmont for a few drinks, then dinner with Beth and a still sick Aiden.
Sunday, we all went up to Loveland to a Disney on ice show that Aiden absolutely loved.

Fairly simple week, but it was great.



Swim: 6,050 yds
Bike: 8 hours/180 miles/625 TSS
Run: 37.2 miles 

A shot with two awesome people!


Got the new Type A6's - First run felt great.  I feel an improvement over the A5

Saturday workout

Sunday - workout #1


Disney on ice

Friday, March 21, 2014

Weekly Training Log: Week of March 10th, 2014: Nana took her trip up to heaven

In training:  I got sick last Tuesday and had to take the day off of work/training to try and get better asap.  I am sure that it was strep, as Beth tested positive on Tuesday (and got antibiotics), but I decided against antibiotics. I am glad that I didn't wear my body down more than it needed and I have made a good recovery and I am confident that my immune system is doing well.
I put in the time that I could on the bike this week, although without many threshold intervals.  But, I did have a great hard two hour ride holding avg power of 243w on Saturday.
I skipped lots of miles running, but had a successful fast 12 miler on Sunday consisting of 4 x 1 mile repeats at or faster than tempo pace.
My third week in the pool was still spent splashing around.  I have found my stroke again and am now ready to get going on true pool fitness.  Pool fitness is traditionally my last part of an Ironman buildup.




In life:  For the past two months, I have been calling my parents daily to check on the status of my Dads mom (Nana).  I last saw her on January 12th and wrote about our last visit here.  I am very surprised that Nana lived almost two months after I last saw her, but I am sure she had something that she was waiting around for.  She passed away peacefully with two of her sons at her side on Tuesday, and I am glad I had the time at home to reflect and think about her amazing impact on my life.  I have more to write on Nana, and look forward to doing so when I am ready.  I will miss my Nana for sure.

As Aiden was sick last weekend, I got the scratchy bit in my throat to let me know it was my turn on Monday.  We started the state standardized tests on Thursday at our school in Longmont, thus I took Tuesday off in hopes of being up to 70-80% by the time those things got started.  It was a sick crappy week, but I think it may have boosted the immune system in the end.


Swim: 4,400 yds
Bike: 7.7 hours/169.5 miles/604 TSS
Run: 24 miles (a new low)


Nana and her grand/great grand children in the ADK's - Summer 2011



A TBT pic - One of my first bikes?

Marley is fitting in just fine


Got this on Friday

That's a YAWN

Aiden going for a walk with the dogs and Mommy


Aiden and his "running shorts" and new glasses 
Nana and Aiden - 2011

Saturday, March 15, 2014

Weekly Training Log: Week of March 3rd, 2014: Back in the pool

In training: Bike is getting stronger and I am back in the pool.  Wow.
I had a great week on the bike and put out the biggest TSS score yet.  Wattage keeps going up, and I am loving it.  I had a three hour ride on Saturday averaging 240w.  That was huge.
I also got back in the pool during the previous week, and I am confident that I can possibly get under an hour in Texas.  Yeah, I know I have said that before, but I'm going to make it happen in one of the Ironmans this year.  Seriously.


In Life:  There is not much to say about last week other than it was five days of work (which I absolutely love right now) followed by a pretty great weekend.  Aiden was a bit sick on Saturday/Sunday so we just went to an early dinner out at 29th street Saturday afternoon.




Swim: 4,100 yds
Bike: 8.9 hours/195 miles/703 TSS
Run: 31 miles

This is (Bob) Marley: Our little foster dog for the next little while.  Good little guy to have in our pack of three.

This is more or less the race setup for this year.

Post bathtime

Few more weeks till Hawaii - Kid is facetimeing with mom and dads lawn

My car turned 10,000 on the way to an am run



Thursday, February 27, 2014

Weekly Training Log: Week of February 17Lth, 2014: The days are getting Longer, and for that, I am thankful.

Another week down, another week closer to racing a distance that I love.

In training:  This week was supposed to be a nice recovery week, and ended up mostly as such.  I had good consistency and felt strong through the middle of the week but struggled a bit over the weekend.  Running felt like crap, so I just pushed through the miles.  I have been keeping the overall run volume low right now and I am still content with doing so.  Speedwork/Tempo running was a no-go, and legs just felt tired.  The bike felt great - I feel like I have been making large gains on the bike and I have had lots of fun doing so.  Training indoors with a power meter has proven to be a whole lot of awesome.
I am still learning how to balance the full-time work/training/life thing - I have been great about getting in a good/substantial workout in before work, but I'm still struggling to get the workouts in after.

In Life:  No, seriously, is it spring yet?

Daylight savings is right around the corner and so is a little extra late day energy.

The week was uneventful, but that's not a bad thing.

Beth's back is not doing so well, so she went to get another MRI.  I am hoping that everything can get worked out, and that some sort of solution is in sight.  She has been struggling with lower back pain for the past year+ and its time that we can figure this thing out.  Send positive thoughts!

Happy training.  Aloha.



Swim: 0
Bike: 6.5 hours/130 miles/459 TSS
Run: 36.1 miles



Sugar cookie making: Aiden likes making them much more than consuming them.  I think he has eaten one or two out of the batch.

This is our typical Tuesday date.  Dinner at McDonalds in Boulder.  I grew up going to this restaurant and have very fond memories of the train part that is connected to it.  Aiden calls this restaurant "caboose."

Aiden and Beth are going up for his first ski lesson on the 28th and 29th.  Watching the olympics had his pretty excited.

Lyla and Aiden on Friday evening. 
:)