Weekly Training Log: Week of March 31st, 2014: More from Maui

In Training:  We were in Maui for the week up until Saturday and I was able to get five more days of riding in on the roads.  After the first 3+ hour ride @ close to IM target wattage last week, I was a bit worried about my neck and worried about staying in the aero position for the duration of the bike leg at IMTX.  After a solid week of exclusively riding outside, I have found that this shouldn't* be a problem.  I did take Monday and Sunday (travel/jetlag) totally off - So all in all, I am happy with the overall volume for the week.

Running was hilly and windy and all done in the Hokas.  I absolutely LOVE running in Hoka's on the road - they make hills/uneven terrain much, much, much easier to handle.

Swimming was still much less than I wanted to get in.  The run/drive to the aquatics center was a trek.


*knock on wood


In Life:  Again, we were in Maui for the week up until Saturday PM.  Life was great...  I took Monday off and went to the aquarium with Mom, Aiden, and Beth.  I was also able to enjoy some quiet and a few naps in there too.
It was a great spring break, and it was great to spend it with Mom and Dad (Beth and Aiden)   Maui truly is my favorite place on earth, and to be able to have a second home there is pretty amazing.  The pictures from the week again show a few things that we all did.





Swim: 5,100 meters
Bike: 208 miles/535.7 TSS
Run: 31 miles 

Right before leaving to catch the plane back home

The pool next door

I used to swim here when I was in high school and we were in Maui.  It was nice to be back there training for something.  This pool has the clearest/cleanest water ever.

I took Monday off and we all went to the aquarium at Ma'alea together

Pap and Aiden on the lawn watching a sunset

Wednesdays are logo nights (wear a branded shirt) at the Maui Brewing Co.  Dad and I (usually Erin too) have started to walk the 4 miles there to get some good beers pre dinner every Wednesday.   Routines are awesome.

Beth loves this paddle board - Mom and Dad got it a few years ago, and she has used it every time we are in Maui

I got Aiden this hat for 4.99 - not bad.  He loves it 

Lahaina aquatics center - swimming LCM

Beth and me before Dinner at Merrimans - the restaurant where we had our rehearsal dinner.

Sunset from that dinner

Weekly Training Log: Week of March 24th, 2014: Aloha, riding outside, dreams of a fast IMTX

In Training:  I am continuing to hit my target volume for Ironman training in March.  My swim was low this week, but I intend to make up for that while in Maui.  I am attempting to raise my run milage for a few weeks again, while dipping the intensity of those runs down.
I had my first longer outdoor ride of the year and I feel that my neck will possibly be an issue during the latter part of the bike in Ironman Texas.
Training is going pretty great at the moment.  Ticking off the days till IMTX - I am excited for IM #1 of the year.



In Life:  We are in Maui visiting my parents - The district that Beth and I work for is currently on spring break, and it has been tradition over the past few years to come over to Maui and spend time with Mom and Dad.

Take a look below at the pictures of us in our happy place.  I really can't be thankful enough to have so much luck in a great family and friends.  Life is pretty sweet.



Swim: 3,000 yds
Bike: 197 miles/536.1 TSS
Run: 46.4 miles 

My nephew River

This is the lawn where I married my wonderful wife five years back

This is where the reception was for our wedding

Haleakela in the background.

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

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