Only in Colorado...

Thursday comes with our first "real" snow of the winter. Of course this happens right during the last two weeks of my longest training hours of my half ironman training.

So, today I decided to not leave my house because of the snow. How much did we get? They say on the news we have somewhere about 13inches. I think it is closer to 8, maybe. Not that much snow..but too much for this time in the season for training.

I biked inside today for 2hr 40min. What does someone where while biking indoors?


After biking I headed outside to shovel the snow. This was probably my first time shoveling EVER. The snow was very heavy and it was about 14 degrees outside. You remember my pictures earlier in my new bike jersey before going outside in the 70 degree weather? Well, here I am today outside (yes this is me!)


I am hoping that the weather turns back to some more 70 degree days, or it could be a long few weeks of training indoors!

Injury...?

Training has been going well, until this week. The weather had been cooperating, my body was cooperating...all good. Then last Friday came along. Friday I decided to do some of my first real speed work. I felt good after and even into the night. The next morning I woke up early for run club and had a moderate run of about 9 miles planned.

The weather was nice so we headed to a trail along the Platte River. Out we went..my soleus was a little tight when we started but I figured it would warm up. At about mile 3 I realized it might not warm up, but the turnaround on our run was too close to stop. I figured it would still warm up, besides three miles isn't that long to warm up on a cool day. I got to the turn around at about mile 4.2. Uh oh, is all I can say. I knew I had to run back to the place where we met so I decided running on the dirt would probably be the best answer. I headed off the cement onto the dirt. OOOPS! Definitely not the right answer...aparently you need a lot more control on dirt. I started getting a bit worried but made it back to the car.

I stretched and got in the car and headed home. At home I showered, ate and used some arnica on my muscle. I decided to take a short nap and upon waking I couldn't walk. At the time I couldn't tell if it was my achilles or my muscle. So, I went to the pool for a swim and the hot tub, which seemed to help a bit. Then I went in for a massage, where they could feel the huge knot in my soleus. I left there a with a little less of a hobble.

The problem is what do you do when you have trained this long and you are not sure you can run??? I decided to bike on Sunday. I headed outside for part of my long ride. I knew that I would not make my whole long ride outside since I had started so late in the day (no I wasn't sleeping I was doing lessons all morning). I lasted about 1 hr and 40min. The wind was ridiculous. I headed back inside to finish my 4hr ride.

Monday...

Again, what do you do?? I could walk at this point but I knew running was not on tops of the list. I headed into the gym for a weight workout and elliptical. Then back home for a 2 hr ride inside, because the weather was beginning to turn.

Tuesday...

I can walk, but can I run?? I decided I would run to the gym. This way I would get in part of my moderate run for the week. Before I left my heart rate was high just thinking about running. I made Pedro leave about 10min after me to make sure that I was doing well and didn't need a ride.

Mile 3 I was feeling good.
Mile 4 I started thinking, it's windy and about 45 degrees, but not too bad.
Mile 5 I realized I was almost to the gym and since I felt good I needed to AT LEAST do my scheduled moderate run of 1hr 35min, so I kept going past my turn for the gym.
Mile 6-10 still going good and within my heart rate range. I realized I was then getting close to the gym again.
Mile 11 at the gym. I started thinking the weather is "suppose" to turn so I should just do my long run.
I headed into the gym to tell Pedro I didn't need a ride home I would run.
Back out.
Mile 12-17.8 doing great..I arrive at home. But wait it is 17.8 miles...keep running up the street to finish the 18 miles.

No pain.

Then I went swimming later in the night.
Followed by an easy run and swim on Weds.

I am happy my first "injury" of the season didn't last too long!

Nice day for a ride...

Today was another nice day! I decided to head out for my two hour ride in my new jersey...






The weather was awesome and it was a perfect day for a ride, but of course the new jersey made me look even better!

Two good days..

Loving the Colorado weather. We have had a few very nice days, so I have tried to get out and take advantage of the weather.

On Monday, I went out for a 4 hour bike ride. I rode a total of 74 miles in about 3 hrs and 50min. It was a nice ride for me to get out and try my new seat. It was AWESOME! I loved it! My legs felt pretty good when I got home and I had a snack and headed to run club. My legs were a little fatigued from the bike and the space between the bike and run. My heart rate was a bit high but we ran 4.5 miles.

Today I got up and decided to head out for my long run of the week. I like getting my long workouts done at the beginning of the week. I ran 15.8 miles today. On the way out I kept my heart rate aerobic the whole time. On the way back I ran fast to a song and then recovered during the next song. It was a pretty good run on semi-fatigued legs from the day before. After running I went home for a small snack and headed out to swim club. We swam 2500M. Then I sat in the hot tub to stretch my legs and the steam room. I like swimming after my long runs it brings some life back into my legs!

I try to rotate the long bike/long run days order so that I can get the most of each of the long workouts. Doing the long run the day after a long bike helps my legs become adjusted to running on fatigued legs.


Anyway, having nice weather makes for a nice few days of workouts!

Longer Than Expected...

Sometimes things don't work out like they are suppose to..today was one of those days. I am currently battling the "possiblity" of getting a cold. Yes, I MIGHT be getting a cold, but I will NOT LET IT take hold! Anyway, I decided not to go to run club this morning because it was going to be a chilly run outside. Instead I decided to save my tempo run for the mid afternoon, after it had already warmed up. Then the brilliant idea hit me! How about running to my lessons and then catching a ride home!! I figured it was about 6 miles to my lesson and part of it downhill.

I left my house ready for a good tempo run! I headed out and about an hour before my lesson. It was a nice day and it felt pretty good. Then I got to the gym and looked at my watch and realized it was actually about 7.1 mile run. I was thinking, ok that was pretty good, about an 8:20 pace or so. Then I decided to check my phone before going into my lesson.

I had a text from my lesson people saying, the rec was closed for a wellness fair. I couldn't believe it! I walked in and checked the court and there was a tarp on the floor. UGH! So, I texted them and said, "alright that is not good since I just RAN to the rec." They responded and said "how about tomorrow?" I texted back and said "OK, but I RAN to the gym, ugh." No response. Crap, my tempo run was just starting to look like a LONG RUN! I got a drink and sat down for a minute hoping someone would respond and say, we can pick you up!! I know that my lesson had to have driven past me, they live on the street I was running the ENTIRE RUN! They also live right by my house.

Anyway, I headed back out and decided to stay aerobic for the uphill run home. No need to do a 14 mile anaerobic run. Thank God it was nice weather! Anyway, with about 3 miles left a few of my high school players saw me and I told them that I couldn't believe the people didn't offer me a ride home! They of course, offered me a ride, but I said "hell no! not after running this far!" I continued on and in the end ran 9:00min miles for 14 miles. Which was a little longer than expected but a good workout in the end....

HAPPY 29th BIRTHDAY!

Today was my 29th birthday. The day began bright and early for swim club at 545am. Again, the swim went well and I headed back home to go back to sleep. After waking, Pedro came home from working out and brought me a surprise! Flowers, a card and a balloon. The balloon would talk and sing happy birthday to the "princess". I think Stella didn't like having a balloon call me "princess" since she likes to claim that title. She was going CRAZY!

Then we got dressed and decided to head to Boulder for a Birthday lunch. I decided to wear my "Pot of Gold" shirt because it says "every day is a fortunate day". I thought this was a great day for the shirt. However, after dressing Pedro informed me I looked like I was 12 and was worried someone might think that he was abducting me. I figured that would make the day quite hilarious!!



This first picture is me in my "kids" shirt and with my presents from Pedro. Oh, and his card said "what could be a better present than spending the day with me!" I laughed out loud! Not that isn't a great day...but I think maybe a nice sunny beach would be great for my birthday!

After a nice lunch at the Walnut Brewery we walked the Pearl Street mall in the 78 degree weather (with hurricane winds) and headed back up to flatirons mall. After walking the shops there I decided to buy myself a birthday present. I decided that the items I was going to buy looked better than what I had on, so I just wore them out! I was slightly embarrassed at first, but then thought "IT'S MY BIRTHDAY!".

We headed from the mall straight to the high school playoff games where we could watch some of my players play. I received a few presents, a running shirt and a hat...and from M, B and J a great present of a gift certificate for a spa!!! I have decided we should make a day of the present, maybe they were thinking that when they got me the present!


(This is the evening picture, note the change of clothes!).

After the games we headed to get some dinner and my free birthday MUD PIE! I ate the entire thing myself, and had a meal with it...but again I thought "IT'S MY BIRTHDAY!!!".

I had also bought myself a present for my bike. I bought a new seat, it was delivered a little early this week, but today I was making some adjustments because tomorrow I am hoping to get in a 4 hour ride. The seat is missing the "nose" part, since that is the most uncomfortable part of the seat. Take a look at Shamu with his new seat! Shamu is excited to be visiting his namesake in Orlando for this year's race in May. I'm sure he will be working his best to take care of me there, so I decided to give him a small present. I am hoping this seat is more comfortable on the LONG rides we have together!




I know this may not seem like a super exciting day to most, but it was a nice change to get out. Most of my time is spent training and today, albeit it was difficult, I did not workout much...instead spent time with my big MONKEY (and the card said "what could you want for your bday, money? power?......a MONKEY CARD!") It was a nice day, even though Pedro was sick he was trying to make it my birthday DAY!

Swearing...

Not the type of swearing you are thinking I am talking about. Today, Pedro was sworn in by the Mayor and in front of the City Council in Ft. Morgan. It was a short ceremony but definitely worth the drive.

Here are some pictures of the days events:

Pedro and the Mayor of Ft. Morgan:


I know, we look good right? Oh, wait not a question mark..I meant an !!!!!!!





The Mayor is swearing him in and the guy next to them is the Chief.
Below are a few of his fellow officers that came to the ceremony.

Training Week 10...

Week 10 started off great. On Monday, the weather cooperated and I headed outside for a 65mile bike ride. It was my first "real" long distance ride outside this year! It felt great and it was much improved over being inside. I averaged 19.0mph and had an elevation gain of 1,966 feet. I can't imagine my next race has much elevation gain. I felt great and so I believe my indoor training has been helping. After biking I went to run club and had a nice 3.8mile run.

On Tuesday I went outside for my long aerobic run for the week. I didn't feel tired before running, but I was fatigued during the run. It felt like a LOOONNGGG run. It was a 2hr 5min run. I ran the whole thing aerobically in the "heat" (in quotes because it was hot, but only because it is winter here..about 70 degrees). I ran 13.2 mile and it was a 9:32 pace. Again, not fast I know but it was ALL aerobic.

I did my long swim on Friday and it was 5,000 meters. It was a good swim and took me 1hr57 min. It had quite a few rest sets that were 30 seconds or more. I felt really good and didn't feel fatigued.

My training week 10:
Running 30.75 miles in 4 hours 50 min. (9:25 avg pace)
Biking: 8 hours
Swimming: 9300 Meters or 5.81 miles.
Also, included 45min of weights, 30 min of stairmaster, 15min elliptical.

Pedro worked last week only a few days (Sunday, Weds and Thurs). He then worked at the gym for a few hours Monday and Friday. This week he has a more difficult work schedule of Monday, Tuesday then off for my BIRTHDAY!!! Then works Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Today we went to dinner for Katie's birthday at Red Robin. Last night we went to the Samba Room for 5280 week. It was really good food. The only downside is that we could eat all three courses twice! We went with Kory and Karen. I had a chicken and shrimp meal with guava empanadas and pedro had, of course, steak with tres leches for dessert. Appetizers were good but small, we had fried plantain and arepas (corn cakes). I love 5280 so we can try out new and different restaurants.

That is it for now..the week is just getting started. Should be a good week since it is my birthday week :) Oh, wait...I get a month right?