Living a Boulder Life

Monday, January 25, 2016

Weekly Training Log: Week of January 18th, 2015 - Week #5: AFC Championship Week

In Training: I continued to build my run milage and keep it in the high 30's/low 40's again. The bike has been steady and good on the trainer. The swim still lacks.

I am making progress and putting in the time. The total workload is also steady, but rising a small amount every week.

In Life: The week was spent in anticipation of the AFC Championship game that was to be played on Sunday. Aiden ended up getting sick on Friday evening with strep throat, went to the doctor, got antibiotics, and was good the next day. We had the usual group of people over to watch the game.

It was awesome. Super Bowl 50 time - I hope it's better than 48.

Swim: 2,650 yds
Bike: 166 miles
Run: 42.8 miles
Total TSS: 910.4
Hours: 12:13
Days Off: 0

This is what the other half of the basement looks like. Half is the treadmill and trainer setup, half is a nice little play area.

Showing interest in the Normatec boots. He wants to try them, but they are a little too big.

Aiden was like this much of Saturday

I bought this orchid for Beth and my 2nd anniversary. It has not flowered in those five years until now. Maybe a good sign for the year ahead?

Monday, January 18, 2016

Weekly Training Log: Week of January 11th, 2015 - Week #4: Lucky #7

In Training: I put the time in. That's about it. Nothing too interesting about this week other than I continue to feel stronger on the run. I will be back in the pool with the APEX crew in two weeks. It's just over two months until racing starts up again. I also added total hours to the metrics that I put at the end of each post.

In Life: It was my seventh anniversary with my wife on Sunday. We had a four day weekend, and having the Broncos/Steelers game on our actual anniversary, Beth and I celebrated out on Friday evening. It was just the two of us, and it was great. Nice and quiet.
Sunday was the Broncos/Steelers game. We had a little playoff party to watch an awesome victory.
Overall, it was the best/most fun week of the year so far. 2016 has been great and I am hopeful that it continues that way.

Swim: 2,150 yds
Bike: 188 miles
Run: 31.8 miles
Total TSS: 894.6
Hours: 11:47
Days Off: 0

Thanks FB. Nice reminder.

Huge football game on Sunday

Anniversary dinner @ Jax

Special Broncos sprinkle donut on Monday morning

Sunrise with Aiden on Monday morning

Monday, January 11, 2016

Weekly Training Log: Week of January 4th, 2015 - Week #3: Back Home

In Training: I'm back at the 4a.m. workouts and indoor training after being in Maui for a few weeks. This is the type of training that I feel gives me the most "bang for buck" and is the type of training that I actually have come to prefer.
After a few weeks of higher run milage, I feel as my run is stronger than it's been in a few months. I will continue to build upon this run strength and add speed throughout the rest of January and February.

In Life: It's nice to be home. I have always had a hard time leaving Hawaii after being there, but for some reason, this time was different. I was actually looking forward to getting home after a few weeks in Maui.
I have suffered from seasonal depression quite a bit also in the past, but am not feeling that as much this year. 2016 has gotten off to a good start in Colorado.

Swim: 2,300 yds
Bike: 164.5 miles
Run: 37.2 miles
Total TSS: 870.3
Days Off: 0

Aiden started ski school - Beth is taking him up every Sunday for 6 weeks to start off a good Colorado boys ski career.

Football has become a real hobby now. It has been a great year to be a Denver fan.

Beth and Sky (dog) checking out the new great thing in the house.

Manacave - I re-did the basement. Half is my training stuff, half is Aidens play area.

Monday, January 4, 2016

Weekly Training Log: Week of December 28th, 2015 - Week #2: Haole Maka Hike Hou

Haole Maka Hike Hou - Hawaiian for Happy New Year

In Training: Another week of the same stuff. I honestly don't really like riding the roads out in Maui too much. I am concerned about safety and the distractions that the drivers might face. Lots of tourists/people look for whales or stare at the beautiful scenery - Please don't hit that cyclist (me) on the side of the road. I made it a goal for the week to just hit 200 miles of base riding for the week and call it good. I had no long rides, and all were roughly 38 - 42 miles in length on the main highway. I always call it a success when I come to pack up my bike and I am still standing injury free. I was hit by a car in Lahaina a few years back and always have that in the back of my mind.

The run in Maui is challenging as well. I was able to do two 13+ mile runs this week with lots of varying terrain and a few four to five mile treadmill brick runs off the bike. I always view my runs here as pure strength builders. My pace is never too fast (though I did have a 1:16 half marathon here a few years back), but I feel like I get some good work in. Since most of my runs back in Colorado are on a treadmill in my basement, I think that the varying terrain and hills is really good for training variance. I also feel like it builds some core strength. Unlike the piece about not really liking the riding here, I really enjoy running. It's still not the most safe, but its fun and that's what counts. I like the heat and sights of the runs.

My swim was again all out in the bay and was four very short swims mixed in with a little splashing around and watching my son snorkel like a champ. Aiden would snorkel for 40+ minutes at a time this week with no buoyancy assistance at all. Amazing.

In Life: The last week in Maui for the year. Another great week of fun with my Wife, Son, Mother, and Father. Some pictures below.

Swim: 3700 yds - All open water
Bike: 201 miles
Run: 35.1 miles
Total TSS: 805.2
Days Off: 1 - Sunday after redeye home to CO