Monday morning- Went to bed with it snowing. Woke with 5 inches on the ground. Stop snowing!!! I am going t be a snowbird early in life. February, March, and April.
Schedule- Boss and most of lab leave for a meeting Thursday and come home sometime next week. I have a lot to do this week, but no big experiments that will keep me in the lab for hours and hours. With the boss gone it can actually be a little more flexible. Love when they all leave.
Weddings- Just got a wedding invitation in the mail. Saturday August 16th. However much I love Polson I can't skip out on the wedding. Polson will be there next year. The wedding will not. Also, my nephew called off his wedding so now June 14th is available or at least another weekend for racing. I am going to look for another race to fill in somewhere.
The week highlights:
Tuesday- rode to the TT and got caught in a big storm. The TT got cancelled. Did my own. Just rode hard for 30-40 minutes. I didn't pay a ton of attention. It dried out and ended up being pretty fun. However, I have decided this is NOT the year of building mental fortitude or character whatever you want to call it. I have enough character.
Saturday- Swim- That was tough, but it is amazing how much you can get done when you are working at it. I did that whole workout in and hour and 10 minutes. At Masters I am lucky to get 2500 done in 1:45. It was a good workout to be honest with myself what my pace in a 1500 can be. Also, how do you come up with these swims? I envision you have a folder called swims and you open it up and cut and past it into the week. They are always so perfectly written and exact on yardage. Had to ask, have had that thought at the pool way to many times. BTW- I am super impressed with how you have worked with me on swimming this year. Your workouts work!!
Ride- That mental fortitude thing. I am sticking to it. Got all ready to ride outside. Went out for 2 minutes and came back home. It was cold and wet. Rode rollers for 1:30 instead. Am going to save my weather strength for tomorrow ride.
Sunday- Weather was better than Saturday. Sunny at least. Got out for a good ride with Lawrence. Went up Hyalite. The road is closed to traffic. Did the 10 minute intervals up Hyalite. I love, love, love doing this. Can't wait for some more before the road opens. Followed ride with a 30 minute run. Good day. Made some stew and polenta for dinner.
4/26/2014
4/21/2014
Grizzly!!
Schedule- Wednesday is big which we already talked about. Thursday is going to be big too. I think I have 7.5 hours of sitting in front of a machine and putting little plastic tubes on it every 2 minutes. Uggh. Kill me now. The rest of the week into next will be busy but nothing abnormally long or anything. Staying home for the weekend. At this point May is clear. I am not sure if house stuff is going to be taking over my life in May so was thinking of another trip to Missoula. Weekend training camps in Missoula are fun. I talked to Sue about doing something.
I have a meeting with the Tri club kids tonight. If they are interested I might try and pull together a transition clinic for them sometime this weekend. Just an hour or so getting them to practice jumping on their bikes. It likely won't happen but we will see....
Question: The Bozeman Tritons race is Sunday and there is a trail run race on Saturday that I really like but always seem to miss. Can I do that to? I think it would be fun to see how I feel racing hard the next day.
The taper leading up to Saturday was a little rocky. Just figured I was getting all the kinks out before the race. First, and this is in hindsight and I am going to take this as lesson learned. I think I did those 800s a little too hard. I was so tired that night and super bonky when I got on my bike to ride home. Probably not good for these legs right before a race. Second, I went out to ride on Thursday and got a flat. I have been getting flats, many flats. This time I finally took off the tire and there it was buried in the tire a little piece of glass. I got a ride home after this flat and did the rest of the ride on the cross bike. I think this was a mistake. The fit is so different. I actually think my seat on the cross bike might be low. Then on Friday morning it was pouring. Was not going to take out my newly cleaned, lubed, and race ready TT bike in the rain. Rode to and from work, rode to do something during the day. It was dry at 4pm so rode the TT bike around a little to make sure it was working.
Other than that I think I did good leading up to the race. Kept food in me better than normal, drank Hammer Fizz all week and a spicy V8 on Friday night to get ready. Came with my friend Mary and we drank chamomile tea and went to bed at 10 on Friday night. My heart was racing all night every time I would think about the race. Woke at 7:30 ready to go. Got in a good breakfast. I know I was at the race a little too long before my heat, but I really think it makes me more ready than staying away. Had too many friends to cheer on. Every time you asked if I was ready I really did feel ready.
Race
4th at the Grizzly!! Woop! I will take that! (Third next time) The swim was a little slower than I hoped. Ali and Sue both thought it was slow too. I was shoulder to shoulder with Jacquie which caused a lot of anxiety. Then I figured I could draft but drank water and missed a couple of turns so that didn't work well either. Better than last time though. I am not in fear of being the last one in the pool. Motivated to keep working on the swim. 14 minutes next year! (Question: Is swimming 5x a week a way of life from now on?) I was tired from the swim when I got on the bike. I have never consciously thought that before. It took a while to get my legs going around. I was definitely thinking that I don't have a good sense for pace outside right now. Then I would think about doing a 20k TT and that I definitely wasn't breathing hard enough so I would surge but then maybe too much so I would unsurge. I think the whole ride went like that. Felt the best when I could remove myself from the fact that I could not see anybody in front of me and look down and get in a good groove. Need to work on this more. Thanks for being at the corner and giving me encouragement and advice. Scarlet (she sure grew up) wasn't close (in my mind) but you put it into a good perspective. It always takes to the very same point on the race for the legs to remember they are running. Thank god I didn't eat it on the obstacle course of curbs right outside of transition. I caught her on the hill which was awesome because it made the hill less hard for me. I passed her at the bottom. She tried to hold on and I did push a little harder to gain some ground! I had no idea that Ali had dropped out and I was sooo stoked to be in 5th. After looking at the running times I probably could have pushed it harder. My pace wasn't killing it. .After I finished Lisa told me I was 4th. What!! Took 2 minutes of my best Grizzly time.
I want to get faster. Someday I want a sub 1:10. I love how I say this now and then race day comes around and I get so nervous and worried about how much it is going to hurt that I wish I hadn't said it.
Great race coach!!! I just saw one of those pictures and I really should have gotten 3rd. Coach Elliot with top 3 in womens and mens would have been awesome. Sorry for being the outlier.
Question? Not one brick all year. What's up with that? Overrated? I don't think it mattered.
Also, I am such a bitch and I feel really bad about being so down on my friend. She got into the final heat and did a great job. I need to be nicer in the future. She has been super nice to me too. Telling me I am an inspiration.
Sunday- Total bust. Erik forgot my bike so the fun day of riding with friends in Missoula was out. We got in big fight on Saturday night about it and I was reminded why I don't want to ever go on spring break with John and Lisa again. I decided to just get a ride home on Sunday morning and not be have to figure out a way to get a bike. It was a beautiful day and I fully intended to ride in Bozeman. Called my parents when I got home at noon and they were just sitting down to Easter dinner with some of their friends and invited me over. Hung out with them until 5. Headed home with the intention of riding. Got on the bike at 7 to just spin around. Went around the block and then went back home. Terrible. A waste of a beautiful day. Not sure where the lack of actual motivation was coming from. Tired from racing, fighting etc. I think. At least Erik and the rest of the crew had a good time riding.
Monday swim- I don't understand. First- pull? Just pull with a buoy? Was it to get my arms loaded up? I did have a hard time going fast on the fasts.
It is supposed to thunderstorm today. I am fully intending on going out to the TT but probably not if it is pouring down rain. Alternative?
I have a meeting with the Tri club kids tonight. If they are interested I might try and pull together a transition clinic for them sometime this weekend. Just an hour or so getting them to practice jumping on their bikes. It likely won't happen but we will see....
Question: The Bozeman Tritons race is Sunday and there is a trail run race on Saturday that I really like but always seem to miss. Can I do that to? I think it would be fun to see how I feel racing hard the next day.
The taper leading up to Saturday was a little rocky. Just figured I was getting all the kinks out before the race. First, and this is in hindsight and I am going to take this as lesson learned. I think I did those 800s a little too hard. I was so tired that night and super bonky when I got on my bike to ride home. Probably not good for these legs right before a race. Second, I went out to ride on Thursday and got a flat. I have been getting flats, many flats. This time I finally took off the tire and there it was buried in the tire a little piece of glass. I got a ride home after this flat and did the rest of the ride on the cross bike. I think this was a mistake. The fit is so different. I actually think my seat on the cross bike might be low. Then on Friday morning it was pouring. Was not going to take out my newly cleaned, lubed, and race ready TT bike in the rain. Rode to and from work, rode to do something during the day. It was dry at 4pm so rode the TT bike around a little to make sure it was working.
Other than that I think I did good leading up to the race. Kept food in me better than normal, drank Hammer Fizz all week and a spicy V8 on Friday night to get ready. Came with my friend Mary and we drank chamomile tea and went to bed at 10 on Friday night. My heart was racing all night every time I would think about the race. Woke at 7:30 ready to go. Got in a good breakfast. I know I was at the race a little too long before my heat, but I really think it makes me more ready than staying away. Had too many friends to cheer on. Every time you asked if I was ready I really did feel ready.
Race
4th at the Grizzly!! Woop! I will take that! (Third next time) The swim was a little slower than I hoped. Ali and Sue both thought it was slow too. I was shoulder to shoulder with Jacquie which caused a lot of anxiety. Then I figured I could draft but drank water and missed a couple of turns so that didn't work well either. Better than last time though. I am not in fear of being the last one in the pool. Motivated to keep working on the swim. 14 minutes next year! (Question: Is swimming 5x a week a way of life from now on?) I was tired from the swim when I got on the bike. I have never consciously thought that before. It took a while to get my legs going around. I was definitely thinking that I don't have a good sense for pace outside right now. Then I would think about doing a 20k TT and that I definitely wasn't breathing hard enough so I would surge but then maybe too much so I would unsurge. I think the whole ride went like that. Felt the best when I could remove myself from the fact that I could not see anybody in front of me and look down and get in a good groove. Need to work on this more. Thanks for being at the corner and giving me encouragement and advice. Scarlet (she sure grew up) wasn't close (in my mind) but you put it into a good perspective. It always takes to the very same point on the race for the legs to remember they are running. Thank god I didn't eat it on the obstacle course of curbs right outside of transition. I caught her on the hill which was awesome because it made the hill less hard for me. I passed her at the bottom. She tried to hold on and I did push a little harder to gain some ground! I had no idea that Ali had dropped out and I was sooo stoked to be in 5th. After looking at the running times I probably could have pushed it harder. My pace wasn't killing it. .After I finished Lisa told me I was 4th. What!! Took 2 minutes of my best Grizzly time.
I want to get faster. Someday I want a sub 1:10. I love how I say this now and then race day comes around and I get so nervous and worried about how much it is going to hurt that I wish I hadn't said it.
Great race coach!!! I just saw one of those pictures and I really should have gotten 3rd. Coach Elliot with top 3 in womens and mens would have been awesome. Sorry for being the outlier.
Question? Not one brick all year. What's up with that? Overrated? I don't think it mattered.
Also, I am such a bitch and I feel really bad about being so down on my friend. She got into the final heat and did a great job. I need to be nicer in the future. She has been super nice to me too. Telling me I am an inspiration.
Sunday- Total bust. Erik forgot my bike so the fun day of riding with friends in Missoula was out. We got in big fight on Saturday night about it and I was reminded why I don't want to ever go on spring break with John and Lisa again. I decided to just get a ride home on Sunday morning and not be have to figure out a way to get a bike. It was a beautiful day and I fully intended to ride in Bozeman. Called my parents when I got home at noon and they were just sitting down to Easter dinner with some of their friends and invited me over. Hung out with them until 5. Headed home with the intention of riding. Got on the bike at 7 to just spin around. Went around the block and then went back home. Terrible. A waste of a beautiful day. Not sure where the lack of actual motivation was coming from. Tired from racing, fighting etc. I think. At least Erik and the rest of the crew had a good time riding.
Monday swim- I don't understand. First- pull? Just pull with a buoy? Was it to get my arms loaded up? I did have a hard time going fast on the fasts.
It is supposed to thunderstorm today. I am fully intending on going out to the TT but probably not if it is pouring down rain. Alternative?
4/13/2014
A brand new day
Schedule- I didn't have a big day this week. The machine I use to analyze all the data is getting moved and I don't want to kill 30 mice for nothing if the machine is not functioning properly when moved. Not to mention at least a 9 hour day starting at 2pm. That will be next Wednesday now.
Missoula weekend- Race fast but more importantly have fun on Saturday!!!What do you think for Sunday? We are staying Saturday night. Erik's birthday is 4/20 and a bunch of friends that are racing plus the Curry's will be in Missoula. We are going to go out and celebrate. Any ideas for a good restaurant? Mellow drinks after? I like the Old Post for all of it. I was thinking, if anything, a run. I don't really want to think about bringing a mt bike on top of everything for racing. More bikes, more clothes etc. I was even sort of thinking sleeping in and eating brunch.
Monday- Feeling much better. Layed around yesterday afternoon, ate a good dinner, and went to bed early. Had a hard time falling asleep. Am feeling a bit stressed about house/race (Bobcat) etc. Felt much, much better on Monday though. Maybe I am being hypersensitive about getting sick because of the Grizzly this weekend. I am pretty sure I was just super tired. Friday night Katie had a party. I went and didn't eat a lot and probably had a 1.5 glasses of wine too many. Woke up tired on Saturday, had that long swim, took a nap, rode the trainer for 30 minutes too long because I couldn't read the workout and I got a flat tire, then couldn't sleep on Saturday night. Oh, and that easy yoga class. Well, my back and neck were sooooo sore. By Sunday I was still exhausted.
Other:
In addition to Tuesday night track there is the Tuesday night road race series. It may come in handy when I need to get my ass handed to me. Hopefully the link works.
http://gallatinvalleybicycleclub.org/racing-2/training-series/
Bobcat- The race is actually going to happen. Not that I didn't think it would but registration pretty much makes it certain. My heart is racing at this thought. So much to do.
I used my MSU benefits to get a health screening a couple of weeks ago. Everything was normal except I had low sodium levels. Not super low but it was out of range. Maybe this is my cramping problem? Or I sweated a lot the night before?
Got my gift from Ironman. A luggage tag, because at the airport you want everybody to know what is in that bag. Hah. I should be in advertising. However, I get special treatment this year too. Fast athlete check-in and recognition as an all world athlete on my bib number. That is kind of cool. I need to start being consistent with my name Julie or Julianne using one seems to exclude the other. I think Julie from here on out. Did you know the phrase änything is possible"is trademarked? ( my ramble for the day)
The week:
I think the swim with the 250 as 1000 pace and fast 50s was a hard workout. I think because a combination of being long and hard. Not just long and not just hard.
Saturday- Like I said above I was super tired. I just kept hoping the rain would come in so that I could ride the trainer and not have to get out. Did the swim which felt really good. Was that second set of 7x100 supposed to be at 1K pace. I didn't. Mostly because it didn't say but was mad at myself for not reading the workout earlier. (This practice is also a gift, I have no idea how much a workout is going to hurt until I am sitting on deck) The only reason I noticed the time of these is because you gave me an interval. Going nice and easy I could swim each 100 at a 1:35 to 1:40. Last year, remember I had those 40x100 and I way excited to stay on the 1:45. Anyway, ended up on trainer. Warmed up for something like 45 minutes before I did the math for the prescribed workout. Got the workout done but rode the trainer for an extra 30 minutes. Also, got a flat and had to change it. Kind of a fiasco trainer ride. Probably would have been better of going outside.
That's about it. I don't remember much else standing out. Got all the workouts done except the run on Sunday.
Missoula weekend- Race fast but more importantly have fun on Saturday!!!What do you think for Sunday? We are staying Saturday night. Erik's birthday is 4/20 and a bunch of friends that are racing plus the Curry's will be in Missoula. We are going to go out and celebrate. Any ideas for a good restaurant? Mellow drinks after? I like the Old Post for all of it. I was thinking, if anything, a run. I don't really want to think about bringing a mt bike on top of everything for racing. More bikes, more clothes etc. I was even sort of thinking sleeping in and eating brunch.
Monday- Feeling much better. Layed around yesterday afternoon, ate a good dinner, and went to bed early. Had a hard time falling asleep. Am feeling a bit stressed about house/race (Bobcat) etc. Felt much, much better on Monday though. Maybe I am being hypersensitive about getting sick because of the Grizzly this weekend. I am pretty sure I was just super tired. Friday night Katie had a party. I went and didn't eat a lot and probably had a 1.5 glasses of wine too many. Woke up tired on Saturday, had that long swim, took a nap, rode the trainer for 30 minutes too long because I couldn't read the workout and I got a flat tire, then couldn't sleep on Saturday night. Oh, and that easy yoga class. Well, my back and neck were sooooo sore. By Sunday I was still exhausted.
Other:
In addition to Tuesday night track there is the Tuesday night road race series. It may come in handy when I need to get my ass handed to me. Hopefully the link works.
http://gallatinvalleybicycleclub.org/racing-2/training-series/
Bobcat- The race is actually going to happen. Not that I didn't think it would but registration pretty much makes it certain. My heart is racing at this thought. So much to do.
I used my MSU benefits to get a health screening a couple of weeks ago. Everything was normal except I had low sodium levels. Not super low but it was out of range. Maybe this is my cramping problem? Or I sweated a lot the night before?
Got my gift from Ironman. A luggage tag, because at the airport you want everybody to know what is in that bag. Hah. I should be in advertising. However, I get special treatment this year too. Fast athlete check-in and recognition as an all world athlete on my bib number. That is kind of cool. I need to start being consistent with my name Julie or Julianne using one seems to exclude the other. I think Julie from here on out. Did you know the phrase änything is possible"is trademarked? ( my ramble for the day)
The week:
I think the swim with the 250 as 1000 pace and fast 50s was a hard workout. I think because a combination of being long and hard. Not just long and not just hard.
Saturday- Like I said above I was super tired. I just kept hoping the rain would come in so that I could ride the trainer and not have to get out. Did the swim which felt really good. Was that second set of 7x100 supposed to be at 1K pace. I didn't. Mostly because it didn't say but was mad at myself for not reading the workout earlier. (This practice is also a gift, I have no idea how much a workout is going to hurt until I am sitting on deck) The only reason I noticed the time of these is because you gave me an interval. Going nice and easy I could swim each 100 at a 1:35 to 1:40. Last year, remember I had those 40x100 and I way excited to stay on the 1:45. Anyway, ended up on trainer. Warmed up for something like 45 minutes before I did the math for the prescribed workout. Got the workout done but rode the trainer for an extra 30 minutes. Also, got a flat and had to change it. Kind of a fiasco trainer ride. Probably would have been better of going outside.
That's about it. I don't remember much else standing out. Got all the workouts done except the run on Sunday.
4/04/2014
What....
So, I think I am a pretty organized person. My desk is a mess and I have never been able to come up with a good way to store files on a computer but in life I think I do a good job of staying on top of things and finding a good balance. So then on Tuesday I get a family intervention on our house building. First, my Dad who should be more aware tells us that he doesn't think he can build it for the money the bank wants to loan us. Second, my sister lectures me on my involvement in the house. Tells me I need to be there every evening cleaning up and setting up for the next day. I could go on and on here, but apparently in my sister and dads opinion my whole plan for taking a day off of work once a week this summer is not enough. I could say screw you to both of them and do it anyway, but in my family that is not my nature. I generally appease. So, I am telling you that we might have to modify this plan. If the key to my dad thinking I am helping a lot means being there every day I might have to spread those eight hours out over the week. Maybe take work off a couple of hours early everyday to get the training done and then head over to the house. Good thing that it is light out late in the summers. Regardless, I have the vacation time and am going to use it. Also, my weekends are going to be needed at the house. So, after the hard training (that is shorter) I will have to go and pretend not to be tired. In the long run, I am pretty useless building a house. For some reason my presence is pretty important.
Funny Bobcat Story- Met with City for permit. They were really great. Anyway, the ride goes up and down a pretty big hill that also can have a lot of traffic. They were more concerned with bikers breaking the 35mph speed limit than anything else. However, if we take the traffic out then they could care less how fast the bikes go.
Schedule- Next Wednesday (April 16th) is going to be busy. The nature of the experiment means that I will probably start my part of the work at 3 or 4pm and then have to stay late. It would work to just get the training done in the morning. Thursday (April 17) will also be busy in the morning to early afternoon.
- Staying home this weekend. Resting up and re-grouping to head to Missoula the following weekend!
Okay, on to the week.
Monday Computrainer: I honestly didn't know what I was supposed to do on Monday the night before. Probably a good thing. The workout was pretty hard. Good workout though. (tired this day from the weekend)- Feeling a little sore throat and like I am coming down with something.
Tuesday was a very difficult day. Super tired, could barely get out of bed in the am to tell work I wasn't coming in. Finally managed to get out of bed at noon. Then had terrible fight with my Mom and sister about our house. An exhausting day. Think staying on the Advair is working though. Haven't had an asthma problem this spring yet.
Wednesday Swim- Sneaky hard. I (and tell me if this is bad) decided that if I could swim a 1000 at a 1:30 pace then I would try and swim a 1500 at a 1:30 pace. After a couple of 100's at a 1:35 I decided it wasn't hard enough. If I am going to be racing I should be racing the swim too. Finished out the first 9 one 1:30 and then shot for 1:25 with paddles and fins. I was tired after that. Good workout!!
Thursday Strides- Sneaky hard. I went over to the track. Also, tell me if I am wrong, but 1:15 got me breathing pretty hard and really sweaty. I may have been running these too fast. Maybe I need a lecture on strides. Was getting pretty close to a full 400 so ran the last one to the full 400. Was doing a 400 on a 1:30 pace.
Friday- Drove up to Kalispell. Was enjoying my wonderful "vacation day" until I started getting texts from co-workers wondering where I was. Apparently the boss was upset because he thought I asked for the afternoon off. Just sent him an email (Monday) with the first email asking for the day off. Says he stands corrected. Still, it seems like the co-workers got all caught up in the drama, like usual. I guess I am not surprised they were all weird on Monday morning. And the beat goes on.... What really gets me though, is that I haven't taken a vacation day for forever. Oh well. Like I said the beat goes on....
Saturday- Speedwagon. You were there. You know what it was like. I have decided that I suck at road racing. I am not smart enough for tactics. Erik told me after, the Polson girl drafted me for forever and was being cagey because she knew she could climb faster, she was even asking him about the final climb. At that point I wasn't really racing, but still. And at the beginning I wouldn't even look over my shoulder to know there was a train behind me. Would almost blow up and then there they would all go. I don't understand how people have that much fitness. Emily Kipp is a beast. Not to mention Lisa Curry and Ali. I knew Lisa would was fit, is always fit (those two don't have lives). She skis like an animal all winter long. Ali makes me feel even worse by saying she hasn't been on her bike all year. Uggh. Oh, well. It was a good hard day. Fun to get out and a really good group of people.
Sunday- Tired from Saturday. Swam the workout. I think it was really good. Felt like I was actually getting something out of all the band stuff. Those 200's were hard.
Run- Failed a little. Didn't have a map to map out 12 miles. When for 2 hours instead so not sure if I went 12 miles. Was super dead for the first 45 minutes. Once the whole task seemed less daunting I felt better. Fought the wind on all the west facing roads. Really took the wind out of my sails (expect that phrase doesn't make any sense). Pushed the second half but the wind made it a little unsteady. Didn't feel like I had good footing to get into a nice groove. Got it done though. Drove home after eating the most amazing burger at a really great restaurant on Flathead lake. Onion rings on a burger is my new favorite thing. Got home late. 12:30. Am super tired today (Monday).
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