January

Schedule -
Wednesday- flu shot and another meeting  downtown at 1:45pm. The flu this year is a strain that is lethal to healthy people ages 20-60. I have this fear if I catch it I might die. The Curry's were out for 3 weeks. It would get me for at least 6 or death.
Meet with police officer on Thursday after 5 pm for race.
Friday- meet with trip club kids at 11. Lab meeting 3-5. Which reminds me. Pool hours changed. Now open until 6:30. Very good!

Swimming-
I'd like to know your thoughts because I think that swimming was tough this week. That workout with 100s 75s 50s and 25 s was hard. Hard enough that I couldn't think about what was coming next. Then the next day was long too and then Friday long too. Felt good on Saturday though and really accentuated those descends. Did the first one really, really slow, targeted 1:30 for the second one, and tried to get my fastest 100 ever on the third. A lot of work for 5 seconds or so. Question. Do have it in my head I want to swim the Grizzly in 15:00. Not fast but faster than 16:00+ which is what I have done in the past. Is that reasonable? Should I be aiming higher? Honestly, whenever I swim on times I think about it and would have to be working harder if I want to go faster ( not that I am not already working hard). I don't want to be aiming to low. Make sense?

The week was hard in general. I felt spread very thin and wasn't eating very well. If I could hire some sort of help I think it would be a grocery shopper ( shopped on Sunday and stocked up. This week should be better). I don't think the "grit " class helped. I was so very sore all week. Probably did 300+ squats and my quads still hurt when I bend my legs. Actually my quads hurt really bad. That class was a bad idea. I am not sure that intensity is healthy. Also, I think that swimming a lot is harder on the schedule because I have to fit it into very specific pool times which removes a lot of flexibility. If I cared about my work I would feel bad about being gone so much, so good thing I am so divested.

I had a change of plans and did not go to Laurel. My Grandma was doing really well on her own. She is taking long naps and going to bed early. I think it would have been hard on her if I came. So I will go down in a couple of weeks when we can go into Billings for dinner or something. I am actually really enjoying not going to masters the Sunday. It is 12:30 and I am still in my pajamas. And now it is Monday and since I had already planned on being gone I decided to stay home. Didn't have much work to do anyway and thought I could get some things done. Honestly however, I am just really tired. Don't even feel like leaving the house.  Crock potting some stew and cleaning the oven. How is that for domestic? Think I will do a really good PT session and for sure ride the bike later.

The week
The week was good. Highlights are probably the hard swims and I had a great run on Thursday despite being so sore from "grit." Got outside with a friend to ride on Saturday. I have been riding my fixie because it has studs and fenders on these outside rides. What are your thoughts? Two hours on this bike was a lot of work. I like it because i stay warmer, grip the ice, and don't get wet. The not so great things this week may be that my run on Sunday was not as prescribed. Bender and I did the M trail over towards Sypes. I was having a hard time being able to catch a deep breath so walked at least half of the way up. We ran down a lot but it was very icy under snow and even with my ice grippers I ate it once.  I was also feeling very worn out on Sunday. Do you think the breathing could be related to being tired?. Some sort of internal alarm system to slow down? It wasn't bad though. I enjoyed chatting with Bender, we were out for a couple of hours, and it was nice to be outside. Also, Friday was super busy. Two meetings with the tri club kids and plans for dinner. I did commute but only got in about 45 minutes on the bike. At least the meetings were worth their while. This race is coming together so well this far that I still can't believe it. I keep waiting for a huge bump in the road.

I have been thinking a little more about racing this year. I think it is going to get very, very hectic after May 1st when we break ground for our house. I am going to have to figure out how to balance everything which is going to have to include time on the house which unfortunately is going to mean less time traveling, racing, and training. So, I just got this thought. How about St George again? It's early, driveable, I really like the race and the course. It would give me a good focus, with the Grizzly before our house takes over.

Anyway, I think that is all for now.

Julie