Focus

Calgary 70.3- Are there any races, events, key training sessions that would help or be good for Calgary? What do you recommend? I want to start preparing the best I can. In my mind I am being slightly (well a lot) drawn to the Bangtail 38K again. Too much? I think I want to do Cow Country too. Doesn't sound like many of any Bozeman girls will be there. Nobody wants to be left alone with the mother hen.

Question? The Frank Newman marathon is this weekend. $3 to run a marathon. The first half is uphill over Jackson Creek and the Bozeman pass. The second half is downhill and boring into Livingston. If one wants to run a half marathon it is the second half. Not the fun or challenging half. Do you think I have it in me to run a full marathon? Not a good idea? Thoughts? Actually, now ( a day later) this seems ridiculous.

Schedule- Next week.  Tuesday (isn't Monday Memorial day) I have a big day. One of those where I will go in later and stay late. Last time I was at work until after 11pm. It won't be quite that late. We cut it down a little bit. If I swim this day, can you make it a shorter swim. The pool is open from 11-1 but I don't want to get to work much later than noon.

The week-Good days and bad.

Tuesday- Tuesday night RR. Stayed with the group!! Yeah! Never happened before on a Tuesday nighter. Felt like I was going to die on the first hill and figured I would not make it over the next couple of big hills. Not a problem. Never felt terrible again. If I actually knew where the finish line was I would have even tried to win, but got confused on that one. Rode the long way home. The race is only 18 miles. Ride home was at least that. Saw a field of bunnies, a raccoon, got chased by a couple of dogs. Pulled into the garage as the sun was setting, and the full moon was rising.  It was a great evening.

Wed-
Track. Like it? Hmmm. Not so sure about that. Is it possible to have a really good race and then never, ever, run that fast again? Remember the Run to the Pub was mostly downhill. I think gravity gave me a 5-10 second faster pace. On the track workout I could not get faster than a 7:00 minute mile. As the workout went on I got slower and slower. The two mile tempo was a 7:15 and the last 800 was a 7:20+. I really felt like I would die. As I was trotting/walking back to the gym even had to lay down on the grass for a couple of minutes. Highs of the workout- MSU provides a water jug and cups!

Thursday- Rode with the MSU tri club kids. What a crew. I was laughing (to myself) the whole time. Brandon has a Softride, another girl has a single speed with a tire that looks like it is going to blow any second. I think they have some raw talent though. The group ditched Brandon and I and we rode to catch them. He popped me. Can't wait to ride with them more. They have a coach who has written a plan for them (which between you and me is not so great), but their skills and actual knowledge of triathlon are pretty bad. Clinic? Want to come to Bozeman again?

Friday- Feeling super tired this day. One of those days where I think this is too much and I really need a massage because everything hurts. Went to the gym at 11 to get the swim in. Michelle and Ellen convinced me to run with them. I even borrow Michelle's clothes. It was nice to run with some people when I was having a hard time motivating. Went back to the pool at 5. Ugghh. However, I ended up having a great swim. My goal was to swim those 150's faster than a 2:15. I could come in on about 2:10. I was doing all the 50's on a :40 or a little under. I was happy. Felt like I actually can swim faster than a 1000 pace if I have to. My left shoulder was really sore. Had to really concentrate to use my lats instead. Was grateful for a weekend of no swimming just to recover a bit.

Saturday- Rode with Lawrence and Art for a bit. Did the flatter Amsterdam/Churchill to Manhattan roads. It was a beautiful day. Definitely got the base tan/burn. Lawrence got a couple of flats and I had to get to a previous engagement by 6 so ended up riding only 60 miles. I felt great though. Wanted to ride more but doing so would have compromised everything else.

Sunday- I played with the weather today. Not sure if anybody won. Rode up Hyalite for the ride. As I was on my way a storm blew through the mountains. Rode a little slower to wait it out. Did one 15 minute interval up Hyalite and it was wet but not raining. The unfortunate thing about riding uphill on a cold day is that you have to ride downhill. I was freezing at the bottom. Decided to go ride up Triple Tree for the next interval. Still freezing. Decided to ride home instead. Took the longer way and did a 40k effort on the way into town. I don't often ride hard going downhill and I know Spring Meadow and Calgary have a long downhill section so maybe this was okay. Or maybe I was making excuses since I was skipping the second interval. Good thing I went home. As soon as I walked in the door a storm hit. Heavy, heavy rain and thunder and lightning. I think that even though I missed one interval, being outside was better than the rollers.

Run- Still raining. Hard to motivate but I did go up Sypes Canyon. Steep uphill trail in the Bridgers. There is an intersection with another trail 3.5 miles up. Ran most of the way. Had to walk a couple of times because of mud, steepness,  and snow. Run down always goes by fast. Was in the clouds and a little depressed for the whole way up. The sun finally came out near the bottom. The sun is so glorious. I think it ended up being a good run.

Feel like the weekend was a bit easy compared to normal and the rest of the week. I was glad. My legs were tired a little both Saturday and Sunday. Feeling a bit run down.

Also, my Plantar Fascia is acting up. I think it might be the shoes.