Now That's a Hill!

Heidi and I got away for the weekend to celebrate our annivarsary! Yeah for us.

We went to Jackson Hole, WY. Our hotel/resort was located near the top of one of the mountains SW of town. From the valley floor to our hotel was about an 800-900 foot elevation change. The valley is at about 6,100 feet; the hotel is at about 7,000 feet elevation. The road up to the hotel is about 2 miles of switchbacks. Being the brave (read that as wholly or partialy nuts) soul that I am, I decided to give the hill a run. The 2 miles down was the easy part. Two miles up... Ouch! Talk about burning lungs. Did I mention that the hotel is at 7,000 feet? That's more than a mile higher than the flatlands of greater Chicago.

Two Miles via the road, 900 feet down, to the Valley Floor

I also got a great swim in while I was there. Swimming outdoors with snow on the ground. How refreshing.

The pool at night

Photo Credits: Amangani, Jackson Hole, WY (http://www.amangani.com/)

Halfway Point (Late Post)

Weeks 15 and 16 were shortened workout weeks again due to full weekends, namely a birthday party for Victoria & Easter, and an Indian Guide Camp out. Thanks to Heidi, and some late night efforts, I was able to get all the workouts in. Yeah Me!

Week 15:
Mon., 4/6: A rest day.

Tues., 4/7: Bike sprint ladder, about 13.7 miles in the morning and a 5 mile, negative split run in the evening.

Weds., 4/8: A good swim workout, about 2550 yards.

Thurs., 4/9: An easy 5 mile run.

Fri., 4/10: 1.75 mile swim and 1 hour on the bike (OK, it was supposed to be 3 hours on the bike, but I took time with the kids as they were home from school for Good Friday).

Sat., 4/11: A rest day. Victoria's birthday tea party.

Sun., 4/12: Easter. Another rest day.

Week 16:
Mon., 4/13: A double brick workout: 2 x (15 Mile bike + 2 Mile Run).

Tues., 4/14: Run ladder, about 6 miles.

Weds., 4/15: Swim for time sets. 3500 yards total.

Thurs., 4/16: Bike spring ladder, about 15 miles.

Fri., 4/17: Brick workout: 3 hours on the bike, 1 mile run.

Sat. & Sun., 4/18 & 4/19: Indian Guide camp out with Cole. Canoe trip in the wind = a good upper body workout.

This week, Week 17, is a recovery week. One short swim, bike, and run workout. Week 17 also marks the halfway point in my training plan. 17 down, 17 to go. I'm happy to report that my average endurance ride bike pace has increased nearly 3 miles per hour since January. The next phase of my training plan is the Endurance Phase. This phase will emphasize "going long" and establishing my race pace. Personally, I will be putting an emphasis on the brick workouts, particularly a) settling my heart rate out of the water and b) getting the legs running off the bike.

My totals so far this year:
Swim: 31.4 miles (55,000+ yards)
Bike: 679 miles
Run: 158 miles

Another Week -- Training doldrums?

Week 14 was another short week. Managing life with three busy kids, and a lovely adoring wife (Hi Heidi!) is more difficult than actually doing the training. Between Walk-a-thons, parties, church, Sunday School, and a Pinewood Derby, the weekend was over-booked. So I squeezed most of my workouts into the weekdays. Here's what I accomplished:

Mon., 3/30: Bike "Hill Session" on the trainer. A) it's pretty flat around here; B) I need Spring to actually arrive.

Tues., 3/31: Short swim session: 1300 yards.

Weds., 4/1: 1.5 mile endurance swim. According to the triathlon geek training plan, was supposed to be an open water swim -- not in Chicagoland.

Thurs., 4/2: Short treadmill run -- about 4 miles.

Fri., 4/2: 3 hours on the bike trainer. Mental focus....

Sat., 4/3: 10 mile run (this was supposed to be a brick workout with the 3 hours on the bike, no such luck this week).

Sun., 4/4: Off Day.

I really wish Spring would get here. Where's that global warming they've been promising me? When it started snowing on Sunday evening, my 3 (almost 4) year old chimed up, "Hey Mom, it's raining snow. What's up with that?" She was just voicing what we were all thinking.