Another month in the books....

Though February is the shortest month of the year, it still had some BIG distances.
Swims have been getting stronger and longer.
Bike rides have not been as consistant as I would like. Since my 60 miler earlier this month, I have not been as focused on the ride.
My run strength is good. Still holding about a 10min mile for my longer distances. Pleased with that.
I reached my longest swim in Feb (Feb 22nd) with a total of 3200 yards with an average of 2:10/100yds. Pleased with that. The best part. I did with negative splits.

February Distance totals:
Swim: 16,878,4 yards (9.59 miles)
Bike:139.04 miles
Run: 41.66 miles

Total: 190.29 miles

March has started with a bang!
My goal for March, double my distances! Training calendar is set, ready, GO!

Happy Training!

Consistancy

This week training and life in general took a few turns. Here is the week break down:
Monday - 1.2 mile swim (timed)

Tuesday - Run intervals w/u 1/2mile easy, m/s 2min @ 2%, 2min @ 0, 2min @ 4%, 2min @ 2%, 2min @ 0, 2min @4%, 2min @2%, 2min @6%, 2min @4%, 2min @0 + 6 laps on track w/neg splits, c/d 1/2 mile easy

Wednesday - 90 min on the trainer.

Thursday - Bike/Run brick (30min on the bike + 2 miles off the bike)
**Personal side note** So did not want to workout/train at all this day. I found out my grandpa was headed back to the hospital from a possible stroke.

Friday - 2500yd Swim

**Got my swim in before heading to Madison to visit with my grandparents**

Saturday - 8 mile run

Sunday (tomorrow) - 60 miles on the trainer.
Not going to lie. I am not looking forward to this ride. My new saddle for my bike has been delayed which caused me not to get my bike into the shop. The saddle I have now is the stock one and it has caused a constant bruise on my butt.

This closes out week 7 of training for IMWI.
Happy training everyone! Enjoy.

60 mile struggle

So today was suppose to be one of the longest rides for me on the IMWI course via the computrainer.
It didn't go so well.
25 miles in I started tanking. Light headed, stomach upset, and body ached everywhere.
Two pit stops due to bathroom needs and one to relieve my stomach.
Back on the bike for another 15 before I threw in the towel.
No due to lack of trying. My body said NO.
So with the encouragement of a few others, I got back on the trainer and finished out the remaining 20. This time just more of a spin.
Thanks to the crew that joined me for today ride. Your encouragement and motivation to get me through.

Thanks Andrea for the picture!

Here is how the rest of the training went this week:

Monday - Swim day - w/u 100yds swim, 100yds pull m/s: 4x500yds timed c/d: 200yds easy

Tuesday - Run day - Intervals - 12x400m (slowest to fastest). 3x(60sec wall squat, 60sec plank, 10 pushups)

Wed - Rest day

Thur - 25 miles on trainer

Friday - Swim day - w/u 100 swim, 100 kick, 100 pull m/s 200 choice drills 3x(250 swim, 250 pull), 3x100 fast descending, c/d 100 easy (breath every 4) 100 easy (breath bilateral)

Saturday - Bike day - 60 miles on trainer.

Sunday - Run day - 7 miles

Next week (2/15-2/21) I will be back at it. I have two long swims, another long trainer ride, and good old fashion run.

Thanks everyone for the kind words and encouragement!

One more thing!

The first week in January I participated in the Ironcowboy Virtual race event.

To my surprise I won TWICE! First for the most miles biked and second for the most miles swam.

I received my first prize this week in the mail.

Rudy Project Rydon Performance Sunglasses and Sterling Helmet. AWESOME! 

The other prize I am waiting on is the Blue Seventy Element goggles and transition bag.

Pictures to come of both!

One month down, 8 more to go!

With January come and gone, I welcome the shortest training month (and my birthday!)
My birthday gift to myself was a new bike trainer for my long rides until the roads are ready.
I purchased a CycleOps Fluid 2 Trainer from Amazon.com

January distance totals are as follows:

Swim - 16350 yds (9.3 miles)

Bike - 78.3 miles

Run - 50.75 miles

The month of February has already seen a first for me. 

This week I did my first 2500yds (1.4 miles) in the pool timed (57mins).

I am excited to see my swim get stronger, but know I have LOTS of work ahead of me.

Next weekend (13th/14th) I tackle 60 miles on the IMWI course via computrainer. I am excited but nervous for the ride. I have been struggling with the ride.

Coming up in February:
My longest swim to date (3500yds), estimated 220 miles on the bike, and an estimated 50+ miles of running.

No races set for February.
I have added both messages and regular visits to my chiropractor to my list to keep my body in top form.

I am looking forward to my next round of challenges and welcome them!

Where this all started...

The year of 2015 brought me the biggest endurance challenge of my life!
Racine 70.3 Half Ironman

Racine 70.3

Getting there meant changes, challenges, and new friends!
My first big challenge was to get over my open water fear. Pool time increased the endurance, but the fear still kept taking hold.
How did I get over it?
Simple. Get in the water and swim! over and over again. Wet suit, no wet suit, Lake Andrea or Lake Michigan, it didn't matter. SWIM!
It helped to have a few friends with me and my coach out there giving me a push from time to time.
After 6 months of training, I hoped it would come natural.
The bike and the run portions of the event came down to straight time in the saddle and getting the legs use to the bike/run transition.
Again, long bike rides with friends made the miles go by quicker.
Long runs tided into both half marathon and marathon training programs (during the 6 months of 70.3 training I completed 4 half marathons).
Race day came quick!
Was I ready? Can I do this? Do I have what it takes? Will I know anyone cheering me on?
Answer to all of those, YES!
Here is my 70.3 breakdown:
Swim (1.2 miles): 47:52
T1: 6:13
Bike (56 miles): 3:38:18 (included changing a flat tire on back tire)
T2: 11:04 (had to go back into transition to get my bib)
Run (13.1 miles): 3:02:50

Fast forward to September where I volunteer at Ironman Wisconsin for the 3rd time (2nd time in the bike penalty tent). Knowing several of the athletes participating this year changed my few of the event. I became MORE inspired, MORE motivated, MORE determined that I WILL become and Ironman.
After volunteering, I made the commitment. 2016 WILL be the year I become an Ironman!

It begins

Jan 23rd 2016

2015 brought new challenges and new training levels
What I didn't expect was my desire to push to the next level. Why? Well, I had (keyword "had") a long term plan. By the age of 35 I would complete a half ironman. Job done (more on that later).
By age 40 I would complete a full ironman. Well. Being inspired by other athletes and the feeling I had finishing my half ironman, I moved up that time line.
2016 will be the year of my full ironman.
Crazy right?

I have chosen to work with the Ironman Foundation for my entry into the Wisconsin Ironman in September. Why Ironman Foundation? First, their purpose is to use the money we as athletes raise and donate it back to LOCAL non-profits within the Ironman Wisconsin area. Meaning, local organizations like Mt Horeb Fire and EMS, Madison Police Department, Watertown Human Society, and JDRF all benefit from our fundraising efforts.
How can you help?
Simple, make a tax deductible donation to my Ironman Foundation page money donated goes to LOCAL non-profits! To find out how your non-profit can get involved with Ironman Foundation, visit their web page 

So, January started by the full ironman training.
9 months of hard work and endurance building.
I contacted my coach (Andrea Hirth) from Vision Multisport to get me ready for the massive task of getting ready for Ironman Wisconsin.
After all, she did get me to the finish line at the Racine 70.3

Coach Andrea Hirt (left) and I after I crossed the 70.3 finish line (7/2015)

Family came to cheer me on :)

Me and Ryan Anderson (left) coming into the finish line.

Thanks again Ryan for getting me through the last loop!

The training has started.

To my advantage, I kept up my base endurance from Racine 70.3 so I am building a stronger base.

Here is a few of the distances I a have undertook so far for January:

Swim - 10,500 yards (just under 6 miles) more to come

Bike - 100 miles (so far, more to come for Jan)

Run - 30 miles (so far, more to come for Jan)

Those are just the beginning.

Along the way I will post my training, photos, highs and lows. Through them all, I hope you join me (virtually at least) on this journey.

We got this!