This has been a pretty good week. I am slowly getting back to feeling normal. I think the slow part is partially attributed to still feeling a little sick. This is slowly getting better. Also, not super good at sticking to the plan. Weather was really a deterrent over the weekend.
I swam with Masters on Thursday and realized that is the 2nd time I have been in the water since September 7th. First, where did almost 20 days go? Second, I felt terrible. Please tell me that is going to go away. Swam again on Sunday and it felt like it was coming back. Had a pretty good swim actually. Only about 2300 or so, but the workout was conducive to getting a feel for the water again, and near the end I was feeling much better about my swim.
The weather was yuck all weekend. On Saturday I opted to NOT get my bike all muddy and spend the day freezing. Instead I got Lawrence to go out on a hike. We hiked up Garnet Mt. It was really windy in town but up Gallatin Canyon it was not and we were in the clouds the whole time. It was really nice. Froze coming down. My hands are still sore. Sunday it was again cold out and really windy. I opted to swim in the morning and then meant to ride by bike but stuff kept getting in the way. Ended up shoveling gravel in place of the ride. Not sure how long I would have stayed out there though. Brrrr.
PT- That is still coming around. Slowly working my way back in. I recognize it's importance, just haven't been able to succeed in the execution. Want to focus a lot more on the strength stuff now that racing is done. Before, I would kind of taper off before races so I wouldn't be sore. Core, glutes, hamstrings, and calves. That's the goal. It is Monday and my plan is to go on the run and then end at the gym and do all my PT.
Sidenote- Lawrence bought a little camper to pull behind is 4-runner.. We are going to be driving all over Canada next year to race! Maybe even Wildflower. I am very excited to this new accommodation and I think he is too.
It's funny how things work. I have been so distracted from work all summer because of training, travel and race planning. Now, this coming Friday, my boss wants to have an intensive "idear" session. He wants a new big paper/grant. I don't feel very ready to contribute, but I have the week to do some thinking and reading (along with a little more time). Kind of excited to think about the science and be part of the thought process to move us forward as a lab. It also makes me remember how I really like having a job.
Not a lot in this blog. Not a lot going on this week. Just trying to get back in the groove of life which is including work. So, maybe not thinking about triathlon as much.
Congrats to Sue. Kick ass 2nd place finish to Haley Chura!! Also, Andy Drobeck seemed to have a good good race!
9/22/2014
pre and post Bobcat training and everything in between...
So, race planning, especially after being in another country a week and a half before, is all consuming. I started to get sick on Monday and was definitely sick on Tuesday which didn't help any. I called in sick a lot to work so I could sleep to keep my cold at bay and hopefully recover before Sunday. This also helped because I could do Bobcat stuff from home, not work, and then not feel so bad about being at work but not actually working. So, after all that, I have not done one ounce of swimming, biking, or running (except a couple of commutes) since last Sunday. I feel like I raced though. I think it is from all the cone lugging, gate moving, box moving etc. It is Monday, and I think I might take one more day off before planning on anything. I am very tired today and still a little sick.
With that said, I have to say wow, September has been quite a month. One pretty damn good month. I think the most intense triathlon month for me ever. I hope to remember September 2014. (hah, I am even a poet)
Sidenote- This is in reference to my Worlds race update and comments on my travel partners. I heard someone say that one of them thrives on negative energy. I believe that is true. I think that was part of the problem. I do not thrive on negative energy. I definitely thrive on positive energy.
BTW- do you remember our conversation about how I don't see people swimming and you told me many people swim in the am. Well, I see Mike Lavery swimming all the time. I bet at least 1-3x a week. He is always in the pool at lunch or the 3:30-6:30 slot. He told me that yesterday. Funny.
Sidenote and question #2- Remember you told me you might be planning a training camp. What is up with that?
Race kudos- Nice work. I can't believe that Erika won and I was so out of it by Sunday afternoon I couldn't even remember meeting her or emailing her. You and Dan both did great. I know what you think about yourself but I still think you did good. And more importantly to me, thank you so much for coming out and supporting me. It really means a lot. Send me a race suggestion/critique list. I know there are lots of things to change and ways to make it better. Feedback is very important and great. A couple major last minute hiccups that still have me steaming.
Okay, now that I can be selfish and think about myself and my training again, I am very excited. :)
Racing- Bozeman weekend October 4 and 5 cyclocross. I am racing both of those. State Champ and MSU race. Got to support both. Do you think I lost all my fitness in the last week? Hope I can get something back in the next two weeks. Other races. I am not so sure about. Maybe Helena? Maybe Rolling Thunder (that one has so much pressure, I almost don't find it fun, which is what I want) The reason I am not so sure about travel is because of our house. There are definitely things going on now that require a lot more of my work than just cleaning. We need to paint and tile, which I know are not fast or easy jobs, so they will require full days and longer evenings.
Schedule- Experiment on Tuesday the 30th. Not huge but can't leave in the middle of the day. Difficult for a lunch swim.Also, busy on Wed. the 1st in the morning. Maybe even until 2 or so.
I think the MSU pool is closed the September 23 and 24. Saw that sign somewhere. Am going to Masters tonight, Tuesday the 23rd. Need to get in the water again. Can't let my swim fitness lose any more. Plus, I like Masters.
Also, these are my current thoughts and I think there is an entire blog dedicated to this but I have already been thinking about next year. At this point I want to put St. George on the calendar. LeAnne is going and that would be an awesome trip. Remember that thing we talked about last year that hasn't seemed to happen and I think you sensed how Erik feels about it at dinner the other night. I really want that to happen now. St George offers a refund if you pay an extra $40. I guess I could also defer. I guess I should probably get my husband on board before I start planning races around it though. Uggh.
With that said, I have to say wow, September has been quite a month. One pretty damn good month. I think the most intense triathlon month for me ever. I hope to remember September 2014. (hah, I am even a poet)
Sidenote- This is in reference to my Worlds race update and comments on my travel partners. I heard someone say that one of them thrives on negative energy. I believe that is true. I think that was part of the problem. I do not thrive on negative energy. I definitely thrive on positive energy.
BTW- do you remember our conversation about how I don't see people swimming and you told me many people swim in the am. Well, I see Mike Lavery swimming all the time. I bet at least 1-3x a week. He is always in the pool at lunch or the 3:30-6:30 slot. He told me that yesterday. Funny.
Sidenote and question #2- Remember you told me you might be planning a training camp. What is up with that?
Race kudos- Nice work. I can't believe that Erika won and I was so out of it by Sunday afternoon I couldn't even remember meeting her or emailing her. You and Dan both did great. I know what you think about yourself but I still think you did good. And more importantly to me, thank you so much for coming out and supporting me. It really means a lot. Send me a race suggestion/critique list. I know there are lots of things to change and ways to make it better. Feedback is very important and great. A couple major last minute hiccups that still have me steaming.
Okay, now that I can be selfish and think about myself and my training again, I am very excited. :)
Racing- Bozeman weekend October 4 and 5 cyclocross. I am racing both of those. State Champ and MSU race. Got to support both. Do you think I lost all my fitness in the last week? Hope I can get something back in the next two weeks. Other races. I am not so sure about. Maybe Helena? Maybe Rolling Thunder (that one has so much pressure, I almost don't find it fun, which is what I want) The reason I am not so sure about travel is because of our house. There are definitely things going on now that require a lot more of my work than just cleaning. We need to paint and tile, which I know are not fast or easy jobs, so they will require full days and longer evenings.
Schedule- Experiment on Tuesday the 30th. Not huge but can't leave in the middle of the day. Difficult for a lunch swim.Also, busy on Wed. the 1st in the morning. Maybe even until 2 or so.
I think the MSU pool is closed the September 23 and 24. Saw that sign somewhere. Am going to Masters tonight, Tuesday the 23rd. Need to get in the water again. Can't let my swim fitness lose any more. Plus, I like Masters.
Also, these are my current thoughts and I think there is an entire blog dedicated to this but I have already been thinking about next year. At this point I want to put St. George on the calendar. LeAnne is going and that would be an awesome trip. Remember that thing we talked about last year that hasn't seemed to happen and I think you sensed how Erik feels about it at dinner the other night. I really want that to happen now. St George offers a refund if you pay an extra $40. I guess I could also defer. I guess I should probably get my husband on board before I start planning races around it though. Uggh.
9/15/2014
Ironman 70.3 World Championship race report
First, I think this is why doing the Bobcat is even better than going to Worlds. I now understand your pep talk to me a few weeks before going when I was expressing my concerns about my travel partners. What a learning experience/life experience 2014 has been.
Race Report
Swam great. 33 minutes. Followed the plan. My swim is getting faster. I may not be the fastest but finally starting to get in the mix with the fast girls. I was very worried about this swim. Very worried I would be the last one out of the water. However, in the first couple of minutes when I saw blue caps fade away behind me I relaxed.
Bike- Hmm. Still not so sure what to think. My ass cramped. I got demoralized. I was tired from the travel and socializing. I rode very alone. My travelling companions had my all psyched out about the hills. Not the best ride ever. My training rides going into this race were sooo much better. It sucks to work so hard and then not deliver on race day.
Run- Good. I did my thing. I felt good. I felt tired. I pushed the second lap and got some pretty even splits. I ran up those steep hills and bombed down the last one passing 4 girls to the finish.
Final- I wasn't gutted. In a race where I should have left it all out there and then some, I didn't. I don't think I realized that should have been the goal until afterwards though. I would like to have the chance someday to do it again. I would have a plan for how to race. For what I want my goal to be. This year I didn't. Also, I had myself convinced that I am not cutthroat competitive. I am though, I just need to be in the right mental place. I don't think being with my travel partners put me in the right place. Honestly, I don't think I like being around girls who are faster than me and know it. I feel inferior. And if I feel inferior, of course I am going to perform that way. I really like to travel with Lawrence, Art, and LeAnn. We get each other and that is a great place to be on race day.
I really appreciate that I had the experience. An amazing opportunity. I am very grateful for that. I got to see a new part of North America and do some travelling with my mom. That never would have happened if I did not qualify at Calgary.
Hi Julie!!!! I am sooooo excited!! I’m nervous, anxious, all of it!! Really looking forward to it! I have been swimming at MSU’s pool to get use to that pool so I haven’t been to masters for about a month, but will be back at the swim center after this week.
Maybe I’ll see you on Sunday, but if not – enjoy the day and thank you for ALL your hard work in putting this together! It has been the best thing I’ve done (worked towards and will do) all summer and truly one of the best things I’ve ever done for myself!
Thank you!
Hilary
Race Report
Swam great. 33 minutes. Followed the plan. My swim is getting faster. I may not be the fastest but finally starting to get in the mix with the fast girls. I was very worried about this swim. Very worried I would be the last one out of the water. However, in the first couple of minutes when I saw blue caps fade away behind me I relaxed.
Bike- Hmm. Still not so sure what to think. My ass cramped. I got demoralized. I was tired from the travel and socializing. I rode very alone. My travelling companions had my all psyched out about the hills. Not the best ride ever. My training rides going into this race were sooo much better. It sucks to work so hard and then not deliver on race day.
Run- Good. I did my thing. I felt good. I felt tired. I pushed the second lap and got some pretty even splits. I ran up those steep hills and bombed down the last one passing 4 girls to the finish.
Final- I wasn't gutted. In a race where I should have left it all out there and then some, I didn't. I don't think I realized that should have been the goal until afterwards though. I would like to have the chance someday to do it again. I would have a plan for how to race. For what I want my goal to be. This year I didn't. Also, I had myself convinced that I am not cutthroat competitive. I am though, I just need to be in the right mental place. I don't think being with my travel partners put me in the right place. Honestly, I don't think I like being around girls who are faster than me and know it. I feel inferior. And if I feel inferior, of course I am going to perform that way. I really like to travel with Lawrence, Art, and LeAnn. We get each other and that is a great place to be on race day.
I really appreciate that I had the experience. An amazing opportunity. I am very grateful for that. I got to see a new part of North America and do some travelling with my mom. That never would have happened if I did not qualify at Calgary.
9/01/2014
Worlds taper
Okay, so I had a breakthrough workout this week. The 40 minute swim. It usually takes me about 15 minutes to do a lap in the pond. My goal was to do 3 laps in 40 minutes. I also gave my race plan a go. Swam pretty easy to warm up on the first lap, swam intermediate to harder on the second lap, and swam faster on the third. I really focused on form and on the 3rd lap pulled back a little if I felt like my form was going to shit. I finished those three laps in 38 minutes! I think I can go out a little harder, or start to go a little harder earlier too. I felt much more comfortable on the second lap than the 1st. Was totally within myself the whole time and felt good. Feeling really good about the swim!!! Way more confident than ever before.
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