From 0 to 70.3

In six weeks....
Well, that's the plan anyway. We signed up for Augusta 70.3 several months ago when I felt my hammy was healing sufficiently and I felt I had time to make a nice, long build for a 70.3 race. And race it. I mean, race it. Then, I broke the ribs and had two full weeks of no training, no anything except dragging my sorry, suffering ass to work every day to pay for all these entry fees that I have wasted over the past year. No swimming for a couple of months, too painful. No cycling for almost the same time span for the same reason. So, I have been able to run some which makes me happy. And then, I started to see how much I could extend the run before I started having problems. Well, I could extend the run with the usual 40-something problems but no injury problems. So, I decided, literally last weekend, to make a push for 70.3. Why not? I am tolerating the running but not banking a lot of miles but, then, I never do or typically require that. I'm a minimalist runner (thanks, Lisbeth K., for the nomenclature). So the goal now is to extend the long run to 11 or so, I can fake 2 measly miles at the end of a half ironman for God's sake! But the bike fitness is sorry now and I have been out of the pool forever it seems. Luckily, the race is a down-river swim (unless this changes, please don't) with a wetsuit, hopefully, so I will survive anyway. Got a new Orca wettie that I have yet to put on but it is a beaut (thanks, Val)! The bike.....well, that's the big question now. Trying to get TITS (no, actually, time in the saddle) but I won't be fast, that is for sure. Just not enough time to gain power/fitness and I recognize this. I mostly want to be absolutely sure I won't re-injure myself on the run. So, I keep running. Slow but sure. Enough to cross the finish line on 9/26, that's all I need to feel that I'm "back", for real. No goals for time or placing. My goals are much later than this. Half mary in November. Thinking going back to home and doing Pikes Peak Ascent next summer. We'll see. Being able to make plans and goals for me is huge. I'm less depressed already! Moving forward.
Cheers

The Big Five-O

Carrot cake, mmmmm.

Sharing 50th with my wonderful hubby

So, this weekend was the Dane's 50th b-day. Big occasion, I would imagine. We had lots of plans for going away and things we would like to do but none of these things were timely for us, things to do in the future. We did a nice bike ride then spent a lovely afternoon on the beach with our bff's - couldn't have a more perfect day, I say. And, we are dog-sitting this month for a friend for a well-behaved chocolate lab. Training-wise, I've gotten back to the pool which has been painful - injured ribs don't like swimming and they like flip turns even less! I'm going to keep going and do as much as I can with as little pain as I can inflict. Running is still progressing which I'm very happy about. Thinking half marathon in November. We'll see. Like even thinking about a race, that is progress.
Cheers.

I'm back.....I think (hope)

My beloved shepherd


I'm bad at blogging, deal with it! Life gets in the way. No other excuses. On side note, my bro did his first tri with an open water swim and didn't quit and I am very proud (wishing we had some swim genes!!!)
I have had a good two weeks.....in run mileage. I don't know what happened with getting over the rib thing but, suddenly, my hammy is good. So good, in fact, I've put in the biggest run mileage I've done in over a year. Now, keep in mind, I've not been swimming or riding, but, I'll take it. Yesterday was Top Gun Tri and the Dane felt out of shape (all relative) and fat (also, all relative) but won his age group by a bit (more, really. I'm being nice). He's been doing these dreaded slow runs with me and building base and I guess, it's all money in the bank for him. For me, priceless. I did a "long" run yesterday (while he was racing ->bad wife) of 8 miles which is not anything to some but was another huge obstacle for me having not done such distance in over a year. Tore the hammy 8/15/09 but, who's counting---->me. Then, the goal today (for me) was to ride 2 hours and run off that. Wasn't sure I could do it but rode the tri bike for the first time outside since the rib thing and felt completely out of shape. Ugh, I have a lot of bike training to do! The run wasn't pretty but got done. It was hot. I followed the feet of my beloved and didn't have any hammy issues, just bad fitness issues (and it was 90 degrees)! He guided me through like a shepherd and I did it (at 8min pace but better than I've done). The longest multisport workout in a year. I know, I keep mentioning that. It means a lot. I want to race more than anything, even if it's not "fast". We are signed up for Augusta 70.3 but that's in 8 weeks. Not sure it's enough time for me to get into reasonable shape and be healthy but I have it in my sights. I'll try....cuz that's what I do and will never stop doing.
Cheers. Onward.