Race Schedule and Results

Sunday, October 11, 2009

Always wondering

I'm always wondering if I'm doing enough, if I'm getting better, if I'm pushing myself enough, etc. All signs point to yes, yes, and yes, but there's still a bit of wonder. I don't know if that's just my personality or if that's what people training for an Ironman due 4 weeks before the race (although I must say that it's been happening as long as I can remember, but that's besides the point).

This weekend I feel like I had a great weekend and I'm really happy with the results. I swam my first 2.4 on Saturday morning. Granted it was in the pool, but I'm sorry, that's probably the most boring thing that I can do to prepare for the Ironman! Thankfully some person with God-like qualities invented a SwiMP3. Made my 200 laps SO much more enjoyable. I didn't really "push" myself as much as just swam a comfortable pace. Last year I did two 2.4 mile swims in our pool so I had time to compare with. Last year, I swam them in 1:22:00 and 1:23:36. Saturday, I COMFORTABLY swam them in 1:12:48!!! I was so stinking excited. I know that I've been feeling so much more comfortable in the pool, but that's a huge difference! I'm hoping that it will equate in the open water because it hasn't in the past, but that was a huge confidence booster!

I then proceeded to bike 2:40 indoors - this might rival swimming 200 laps in a pool in terms of dreadful! I wanted to bike outside, but I just couldn't get myself to do it. So I struggled through a long, slow, painful indoor ride (luckily the Real Housewives of Atlanta Marathon was on... those girls are fully of drama to keep my mind busy). I only got off the trainer at 9:15 last night. I will say though - we watch the World Championships throughout the day on the live stream and what a freaking great thing for me. I was so caught up in the excitement that it made it easy to keep going. Chrissie Wellington is in one word, AMAZING! And of course I cried like a baby when I saw her finish. Very cool!

This morning we had a half marathon. Figuring my legs would be mush, I wasn't expecting great things. Oh, and I realized what biking until 9:15 at night will do to my night's sleep - I probably could tell you every detail about my bedroom since I was WIDE awake until 3 in the morning. The alarm when off at 6:10. YUCK! I literally felt like hell the entire drive down (thankfully my hubby drove). I was able to eat my breakfast and drink my pre race diet coke, but I was so nauseous. And my throat was killing me (I was coughing all night too and I think it did a number on my throat). Toeing the line, I felt like I had been hit by a bulldozer. It was a great morning for a run though - cold actually, but the leaves are starting to change. This is a half that we do every year so we knew the course and knew that it would be well run - it didn't disappoint. I didn't turn my watch on and it was great. I just ran. And better yet, I finished in 1:56 something (maybe 1:57 according to their clock, but it wasn't chip timed, although Tom had his Garmin). Tom and I realized that in every race we've done this year, we beat our time from last year. I must be getting better right? And even after 3 hours and 40 minutes of training yesterday, I was able to maintain sub 9:00's without too much trouble. Makes me a happy girl.

Stopped at Noodles on the way home (their mac and cheese was sure to make my belly feel better) and now I'm relaxing and making applesauce. It was a tough weekend... maybe not the longest, maybe not the hardest, but definitely a good confidence building weekend which was much needed!

6 comments:

teacherwoman said...

You ARE getting better... and faster! Wahoo! What a weekend!

We are the Ferrari's said...

Of course you're getting better! :) Yummy, applesauce and mac and cheese!

Stevi N. Honaker said...

You are just so amazing.....your updates always show improvements, and I don't know how you do it jeezzz! I can't wait to see what happens in Florida you are going to rock it.

P.S. Hoping to bring life back to my blog this week with marathon details.

Texas Gal said...

It sounds like you have had a super training season and it's just about all in the bank!! Best and healthy wishes these next 2.5 weeks!! We're getting close!!

Jumper 2.0 said...

i can't wait to cheer you on! (Unfortunately, it will be from my computer)

Anonymous said...

Ditto other posters...you are getting better and faster!