Weekly Training Log: Week of April 14th, 2014: Picking up the run and back to baseball!

In Training:  I have been running some consistent 40+ mile weeks and am feeling stronger because of that.  I had less time on the bike than I intended, but I don't think I'll suffer in Texas because of that.  I really feel like I have raised my ceiling a ton with all of the work I have put in on the trainer over the winter, so I have some good fitness in the bank.
I had a great run on Saturday in my Hokas.  I don't really believe in doing many "long runs," but was able to get one in to test out how my body would feel trying to hold a faster pace in the monster shoes.  It was a 16 miler done at 6:48/mile pace.  I felt strong, I felt good.


In Life: Taxes were done on time, work went well, and I got to Coors Field for the first game of the season!  Life was good.  Take a look at the pictures for the week.



Swim: 3,900 yards
Bike: 130 miles/448 TSS
Run: 41.5 miles 

This squirrel stopped play at the Rox game on Saturday.  It was hilarious.

Seriously - look at that smile.  I am a proud dad. 

Aiden has really started to love baseball

Taxes done and ready to be sent off to Colorado, Hawaii, and wherever the big guys are

Weekly Training Log: Week of April 7th, 2014: Recover before the final push for Ironman #1 of 2014

In Training:  We got back from Maui last Sunday morning and I took that day totally off.  Mon - Wed, I was dealing with some pretty bad delayed onset muscle fatigue that I suspect was due to cortisol levels from jetlag, possible nutrition, or some of the different training stimuli that I received while over in Maui.
I started feeling better on Thursday and had a solid threshold session on the bike in the am, then had some good runs over the weekend netting more than 21 miles on Sat/Sun.
I kept the run up and took it easy on the bike - it was a good lower volume week.



In Life: IT WAS HARD to wake up on Monday - Wow.  I got through it though... 4a.m. wakeup was the equivalent of a midnight wake in Maui.

Work was good as usual, and the weather has started to be consistently nice.  Spring in Colorado is my favorite - the trees are budding and the grass is turning greener.  The days are also getting longer, which makes it easier to maintain some stable energy throughout the afternoon a little easier.
We traveled again on Friday back east to Pennsylvania to be with family on Friday and were there until Sunday morning.


Swim: 4,100 meters
Bike: 73 miles/262 TSS
Run: 43.5 miles 

Grandparents day at Aidens montessori on Friday - My mom (grammie) and my mother in law (nana) were both there

Nice smile dude.  We gotta work on that one.

Snake oil?  Anything to help me think that I can break through the pointy edge of the Age Group race!

Nice spring showing in Pennsylvania

My sister Erin and Beth

I LOOOOVVVEEEEE SPRING!

Walking around the little town that my Dad spent his first few years

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.