Recovery Naps

Recovery naps are very important for Ironman training. Even the table at the doctors office is fair game. Today, I got in a good 45 min nap before the doctor decided to come into the room. At least when he woke me up..I didn't come up swinging.  :)

Wind: EMBRACE IT!

So.. It's been a while!  I have be busy...training..so I have been to tired to post on  my blog. It's a pretty amazing journey so far...learning about what I can do and how far I'm willing to push myself..and not. I had my first "Brick workout" yesterday. A 2500yd swim, 17 mile bike ride and 30 min run. So basically, I did a triathlon. I did good. My nutrition was better then planned to. I had a gu before the swim, then several chews at the start of my ride. A gu 1/2 way in to my ride, and then several more gu's on the run, while sipping gatorage every 5 min for a "swish".  I felt good at the end. That is the important thing! Trainig coming along!   

WIND:  I have learned that here in AZ. I will ALWAYS have to train with wind. Sometimes I can leave my house at 7 am and it's forcasted to be 12 mph...and expect that by the time I hit the turn around ( less then 60 min later) . It will be 25-30 mph wind with gusts up to 45 mph. Yep...I'd say that's good training for Kona. At least I'm starting to feel more comfortable in my aero bars with the wind. well at least a headwind. I'm still a bit iffy on the side winds that try to knock me off my bike!   My new mantra for wind?  Embrace it. Is that all you got? I'm gonna kill it! Bring it on!  Among other words that I'm not sure I should post on here! 

Finished 29 mile ride today that was a good 20 mph headwind, sidewind, swirly all over wind by the time I was done.

Turkey Cran Sand!!!

WOW!!!  New Sandwich I tried out tonigh in my attempts to start eating more healthy. Talk about the best sandwich I've had in a long time. Turkey Cranberry on Toasted Bread, with Greek Yogurt, Avocado and Spinach.  My new favorite quick meal. From my Clean Eating Magazine!

"Some Bulging Discs and a Torn Ligament"

Hmmm...so that was a voicemail I got the other day regarding my MRI on my back. I was just a bit disturbed. But it finished with "no change in treatment, and we'll see you on a follow up on the 29th"  So I headed off to swim class and had a good swim. I have had two docs look at my MRI since I got it (I asked for a copy of the disc) since I couldn't read it or know what the heck I was looking for. I have "two" bulging discs that I know of, so that explains the "some",  and saw where my torn ligament is. I've also been told that I'm okay to cont training for my Ironman, I have a better chance of hurting my back on another transfer, then training for an Ironman. I do feel better when I ride my bike in aero position, must open up my spaces in my bulging discs. I must admit that I've been going strong and steady, and "safely" with my training so far, I'm careful that when I start to get pain or sore, I slow things down and take more rest days than I'd like, but I'm learning. I also notice that since I got my dx I am more acutely aware of my injury. More psychologically I think, so the chronic pain that I've been having since Decemeber, I am more aware of lately.  I have had to pick up some more heavy pts at work and have been having a tech work with me to protect my back. Safety first! But that seems to be working well and I will continue to do so,I don't feel bad getting a tech to help, as the PT needs two people as well for transfering those pts as well. So, today I came home and instead of doing my lifting program for strength training, I took a 4 hour nap cause I was sore. I felt better when I woke up, and happy to say I avoided any narcotics. Wish I had my TENS unit that I had to return. I'm sure when I get my followup, the doc will re order it for me, so I don't have to rely on Vicodin to control my pain.
I notice I have the most trouble with running out side. I  seem to be okay on the treadmill, the bike and swimming, but the pounding outside gets me a bit. I tend to hit my limit around 45-60 min. Good thing training is more about the bike, and I get strenght off of that for running. I'm working on changing my training around so I swap one of my runs for a bike ride. Will have to do some rearranging. Now I wait....the 29th, just seem so far away. I am ready to see what else needs to be done now....

CEP Compression Socks.

Compression Hose after a one hour hard swim, and 30 min run. I'm just sayin...recovery is feeling good!  :)

Swim Practice

So I finally started back to swim on March 1st.  In my first session I could feel that practice tweaked my back. Movements I hadn't done in a while. Yesterday on Day 2. I spent most of it doing Form and Drills with a easy 500 mixed in.  There was one drill that I did last year that always made me feel like I was going to drown. The "fist"drill.  Last night when I decided to try it. I ROCKED IT!  I have been doing my lifting and the Bent Arm Row Pull-Down?  that made me "feel the water" and I was cruising right along, no drowning feeling required! It felt AWESOME!   And my kicking felt good to, focusing more on mechanics. I then came home and did  45 min on the treadmill in Zone 2. Didn't get home til 9 pm.But oh..it felt good!!  Used my amp endurance mix before and during workouts, then protein powder and turkey burger for dinner.  I had to bribe my poor dogs with bones and lots of belly rubs for being in the cage all day.  Tried my compression hose all night sleeping. My legs feel GREAT!!!  Don't want to take them off!

Week One Day 2-3

Whew!  Lifting.  Today was a busy day for me, still on my insane high from yesterday. Yesterday I did my run with training partner. I was supposed to do 30 min of Zone 1-2, but I ended up going maybe up to Zone 3, and did 60 min. but that was because on Thrusday...I will be moving! and won't have time to do my 30 min run, unless I do it in the AM which I just don't see happening. So i went a bit longer yesterday. 

Today I had to do my lifting scheduled. I decided that since I really didn't make it past 30 min in the gym on Monday and came home and did my TRX anyway, I thought I would do the req 8 exercises for 3 sets of 20 on the TRX with some modifications.  I replaced the step ups with the single high knee jumps. WOW!!! Kicked my butt!  Felt awesome, I only did 55 min worth, but I decided that with the way I was feeling, I was not going for a 4th set. I'll add that next week and ease into it a bit since my schedule is off a bit for moving. I loved doing the bent elbow lat pull downs, I could really feel the burn, going to be a great exercises for making my swimming better!  

On a side note! I offically got my keys today for my new place!!! I will be cleaning and beginning moving stuff in tomorrow!!! So Excited!!