20 Weeks to IMCDA and my first week back training

At the end of this week I am 20 weeks to Cour d'Alene. Swimming is the only thing I feel good about. But I know the bike and the run will come back. I just feel short, fat and out of shape. I'm hoping that in a few weeks I'll only feel short.

Saturday Bike - My first day back on the bike after 8 long weeks. It was misty out and the ground was still wet from the rain. When we headed out the clouds were still hovering above, which kept the warmth in. My peeps were there to ride with me (8 of us in all). I felt pretty good considering all the couch riding I'd been doing. I started bonking at the 2 hour mark, probably from my lack of any cardio outside the pool, or could be the small breakfast I had in an effort to drop some of the couch weight. No worries, I had some Gu on me . . . .sweet sweet Gu. Oh, how I've missed the sticky sweet Gu treats. Blueberry is like eating muffin batter, yum yum yum.

Distance - 37.84 miles, Time - 2:31:39, HR - 151 (low zone 3, felt like zone 2), Pace 15mph, Max Pace - 30mph

Swim - I went for a recovery swim, just a nice easy 1500. I swam at a 2:17/100 pace. The water felt great, I could have kept going. However, there should really be a BMI regulation associated with the ability to wear a speedo. I'm just saying . . . . .I had to get out of the pool.

Sunday Yoga - Yep you read that correctly, I went to a 90 minute flow class. Because nothing says take it easy your first week back like balancing and twisting. Don't worry I was very careful. I did not do any of the single leg balances on my left leg. It felt great nice, and mentally I really needed it. It really hit me that I love running and I love yoga, so I'm happy with my decision of 2010 being all about running (she says in January 2009).

Run - My first run back. I did a run/walk, but forgot to lap just my walk portion. I felt pretty good and decided to hold it at just 3 miles.

Distance - 3.0 miles, Time - 36:31, HR - 142 (low zone 2), pace 12:11. I ran the first 1.13 miles at a 11:33 pace, then I walked for 0.3, then I ran the rest of the way home. That pace was a 12:34, HR 168 (high zone 3)

Monday Run - I started out to do an easy 3.5 - 4 mile run on my lunch hour, expand from where I was yesterday. Well, I ended up feeling so good I ran for over 5 miles. I started off and I realized that I am pretty sore (stupid yoga) and my ankles felt painfully crunchy with each step for about the first minute. I almost stopped, but just hoped the pain would go away. It did and I just ran. I had new music on my iPod, it was cold outside, and I ran and ran and ran. Focusing on form, thinking about CDA, imagining being on my last lap. Damn I missed running.

Distance 5.18 miles, Time - 52:14, HR - 167 (high zone 3), Pace - 10:06.
I wanted to go to the gym after work, or to yoga, but my legs just hurt way too much. I decided I didn't need to do everything the first week. So, I went home to roll instead, oh and do laundry, oh and drink a beer.

Tuesday - Swim - My first 3,000 of the season. I felt great and easily could have swam the remaining 800. I'd really like to be swimming 4,000 twice a week, plus one to two additional swims. My legs are still very sore, but the water compression just felt so great. I had forgotten what a nice recovery swimming is. The swim p3 makes all the difference. I love swimming to music, it really gets me going, gets me going so I don't know what I'm doing, so I can't sleep at night yeah.

Distance - 3,000 m, Time - 109:32, Pace - 2:19/100

If I can hold that for 800 more (which I already can) that puts me in at 1:28:02, add a wet suit and 5 more months of training and I'm golden on the swim.

Wednesday - So, I had plans to run today but then a business lunch came up instead. I couldn't work out after work because my BFF was in town and I went and stayed with her at her hotel. Let's just say 3 girls, 2 bottles of wine. So, I did nothing physical today (unless you count eating and drinking).

Thursday - Plans to swim??? See Wednesday, too hung over on the morning to make the gym. I went to lunch with my Chances for Children group, so no lunch hour work out. After wok was a trip to Costco with a friend that I am co-hosting a super bowl party with. Again, no work out.

Friday - Had to be at work super early and Kyle and I car pooled for after work events. We had a Cardinal party at lunch at work, so once again . . . no work outs for me. See what happens, I get the boot off then my life totally gets in the way.

Saturday - Bike - My first longer ride back. We did the New River loop. The back loop around Anthem and after you go under the 17 was awesome, nice tail wind felt great. Then of course we had to pay the piper. head winds the last 20 miles home. My legs were burning and I was very tired. That was a very hard 50 miles. But the good news is my speed was faster and my heart rate was lower. So, in one week there is improvement already.

Distance - 50.35, Time - 3:12:21, Pace - 15.7mph (better than last week, but flatter), Max Speed 29.2, HR - 141 (zone 2 baby.