Weekly Training Log: Week of June 30th, 2014: Prepping the 21 day turnaround and why I'm doing four Ironmans in one year.

I'm racing four full IM distance races this year (given I stay healthy), and I want to explain why.

1.) I really like racing the long stuff.  It makes me feel important. To deny that there is any narcissism or selfishness involved in this sport is a flat out lie.

2.) I am relatively good at the long stuff.

3.) I like to compete and race other human beings.  Doesn't matter if it's go-carts or triathloning, I just like to race.

4.) I want to earn my elite license from USA Triathlon - I want to go pro.

5.) I added a fourth full distance race because I can't pass on a trip to Hawaii in October.



So, with this being said, I have two races that give me a shot at something cool coming up in the next couple of weeks.  If I can get to the start line healthy at BOTH races, I have the ability to achieve #4 on the list.  Number four has been a huge goal of mine for the past few years.

To do that, I need to have a great race at IM Boulder or IM Louisville (Kentucky).  I would guess that there are about 3,000 people who will be in each of those races - and to achieve and earn my right to race "pro" I need to beat 2,997 of those people.

I need to be top 3 out of 3,000 or so.  It's going to be tough - but it might just be possible.


So this has been what is constantly on my mind during training and recovering over the past months.  I went to IMTX knowing it would take an absolutely amazing race to be top 3 there.  I didn't get that (as was expected) - but the consolation prize of a Kona slot wasn't bad so I mark that down as a success. Kona is amazing and I can't wait till October - or can I?

-------------------------

This is where I get to where I am in training.  I have two and a half weeks of hard work left before I taper for IM Boulder where I will have my first shot at top 3 (fairly long shot), then I have 21 days to get to the start line in Kentcuky as healthy as I can for shot #2 at top 3 overall (my best shot).  I have done the 21 day IM turnaround before ('12 Kona/Florida) and ended up having the best race of my life at IM Florida '12.  I hope this is the case with the Boulder/Louisville double I am about to attempt.  I want Kentucky to rock, and I hope that my ability to recover VERY quickly works with my August plans.

Training was good this week, and I will continue to build into high volume over the next two weeks.  I will take a two"ish" week taper before Boulder then do my best to recover as fast as possible to try and get some quality work in the second week leading into Kentucky.  All things are looking good as long as I don't hurt myself.

This might be a bit crazy, but I think it just might work.

I got this picture from the future.  It's after walking way past the finishing chute at IMKY - that's why you can't see Fourth Street Live.

Swim: 3.4k yards (planned dramatic increase over next four weeks)
Bike: 213 miles/573.8 TSS
Run: 46.7 miles (hips/groin still banged up from crash, but recovering)

The week in pictures

Beth got her first pair of Hoka's.  I became a huge fan after they helped me get back running after a broken foot last summer.

Fourth of July wiener dog at the Niwot parade.  How cool is that?

My niece Lyla after face painting in Niwot

Aiden waving his flag

Auntie Em and Aiden

This guy needs a beer. 

No caption needed

Finally got to Fate Brewing for dinner on Sunday

Weekly Training Log: Week of June 23rd, 2014: Countdown to IM Boulder and final training build.

In Training:  I started the week out on Monday with a really sore and non-functioning right groin area.  I tried to go out on Monday to run a few miles after my Sunday crash and was completely unsuccessful.  I got 2 miles of a walk jog in, stopped, then walked over to my car and thought it might be worse than I thought.  I am still sore, but it seems to be getting better.  As long as it gets a bit better week to week, I will be fine.  Running milage was way down, but this was planned.

In place of some runs, I threw in some extra work on the bike and had a rather high milage week with that.  This was the second time that I have hit a training stress score @ or above 700 ever.



I have five weeks (as of the 29th of June) until IM Boulder, then eight till IM Louisville.

My plan is to:
- Have a pretty high volume build over the next three weeks - Try not to get hurt
- Have a two week gradual taper for Boulder
- Race Ironman Boulder
- recover for a week and add just carry over as much fitness as I can to Louisville.

I did the 3 week turnaround two years ago (Kona/Florida) and Florida ended up being the fastest and best race of my life.  I hope that it can work again - I have some high hopes for IM Louisville.  Kona is just going to be what it will be this year - we will see what happens with the next two races and go from there.


In Life:  Pretty low key/uneventful (but good) week.  Beth is finally on her summer break.  Over the past few years, she has been working on a contract that gives her about a month off every summer - I can't wait for her to have the whole summer off next year with her new job.

Aiden continued his baseball/teeball practices with the YMCA mini sliders on Thursday, then I was going to race Loveland Lake to Lake on Saturday.  That didn't happen.



Swim: 2.7k yards
Bike: 251 miles/700 TSS
Run: 26.4 miles 

They got their shirts/jerseys - Dude man is #12

Mom with Aiden

Short on pictures from the past week.  Yeah sure, here is my car and bike.

Naked slip and slide with cousin Lyla

Weekly Training Log: Week of June 16th, 2014: Healed achilles to a crash on the bike

In Training:  Training ended up being a mirror image of last weeks efforts and work with the exception of some solid increase in the intensity that I was able to sustain on two feet.  I really felt my lower left leg (Achilles) turn the corner and get much, much better.  On Friday, I finally did a build 10k with 3 miles after that, and did it under 40 minutes (not that fast, but a start). Then the next day I pumped out a 16 mile run @ 6:50 pace and felt great.  Ps - in the HOKA ONE ONEs
My bike continues to stay steady as I have made no real effort to push up my FTP or upper limits.  I think I'll incorporate a few tough trainer sessions to recruit some past awesomeness, but overall, the bike feels good.


Big thing that happened on Sunday was a nice wreck on the bike.  I pulled my groin, cracked a rib,and scraped my arm.... BUT - the bike is fine.  Gonna take a few days off running and see where I am.



In Life:  The week was good.  Beth is still in work at her school in Longmont and Aiden has been going to day camp from 8:30 - 12:30 every M/W/F.  I am able to fit in workouts and naps when i can here, but I look so forward to seeing what Aiden has done during his morning.

We all went to a Rockies game on Saturday and had some crap seats way up.  That didn't matter at all, and we had a wonderful time as a family watching the damn (cmön Rox). Then had a great time getting the bus home.

Life is great, bring on summer training week #2


Swim: 1.5k yards
Bike: 154 miles/454 TSS
Run: 45 miles 

First long run since IMTX - Felt great and achilles @ 95%

Roads are still not back to 100% open since the floods last September

Picking Aiden up from his morning "camp"

Aides first ever baseball practice - The YMCA "mini sliders" program

Friday

Saturday, post long run baseball game.  Bad seats, but baseball none the less.  Game #7 of the season for me

Some of the blood from the wreck.  I was lucky with the amount of road rash - nothing too serious.

Cracked helmet = new helmet

Weekly Training Log: Week of June 9th, 2014: Good running, more baseball, new patio set = summer

In Training:  My achilles continues to feel better and I am able to push the volume and intensity a bit more now.  I was able to get a good nine miles of running on Monday in a bit under an hour.  My running volume is above where I though it could be, and for that I am super happy.  I really need to build the bike volume up over the next few weeks though.  Aiming at 500 - 700TSS Leading up to my next race. I am aiming at being back at full training mode for IM Boulder/IM Louisville/Kona next week.


In Life:  This week was my first week spending a little more time with Aiden throughout the day.  His  montessori school ended their spring session last Friday, so it was nice to spend time with the man.  My Mother/Father, and in-laws helped out a few days to hang out with him while I spent some time on the bike.  I can't be thankful enough that I have the family support to do what I do.

My Dad and I took Aiden to a Rockies game again on Thursday, then my family moved a new patio set on Friday.  Sunday was fathers day, and the Boulder 70.3 race.  I spent the day spectating out at the Boulder Res, then we BBQ'd out back with the family.  Pics below.




Swim: 3k yards
Bike: 154 miles/454 TSS
Run: 46 miles 

Fathers day - My bro in law, Nathan, My Dad, and Tom (father in law) in our back yard

Aiden and his endless amount of toys.  We are not going to spoil the next one with this many cars/airplanes/crap

Another attempt at a "smile for a picture" - He's getting a little better

This was Rox game #6 of the season for me.  This kid loves baseball and will sit and watch - easier to take him to a game than keep him occupied at home.

This game was Dad, me, and the dude.

On Friday, my parents helped get a new patio furniture set.  Got it off craigslist and rented a Home Depot truck to move.

First glass of wine out back.

Some awesome friends/fellow triathletes had the lead bikes for the Boulder 70.3

Beth and my Sister in Law (Erin) on Fathers day