Every Monday I give you a look at my training plan for the week ahead, plus the highlights from the week before, but how honest am I being about my training? I do my best to give you a real-life look at how I’m prepping for the Timberman Ironman 70.3, so let’s get real honest. Click below for more.
Last week, and basically every week since I’ve started training, I lay out my goal workouts and then don’t do all of them! My training plan (Super Simple Ironman 70.3) has NINE workouts a week, then because I believe strength training is important, I’ve added that as a 10th. Add that to my 3 cycling classes that I teach a week and you’ve got yourself a full time job. But oh wait, I also have a full time job. I have good intentions going into each week. YES, I’m going to wake up on Tuesday and run 4 miles, YES I’m going to head to the pool after work on Wednesday for a swim. But then Tuesday morning comes and Wednesday evening comes and ya know what? I’m tired!
Part of training and preparing for races is knowing your body and knowing when you need to rest. As much as I’d love to get in all 9 workouts, I can’t. I’m tired, I have plans, I need a night to lay low, my calves hurt. You know the drill. Maybe that sounds like a long list of excuses, but let me assure you, it is not. It is me being honest, having a life and looking for balance, even while training for an Ironman 70.3
Last week, out of my ten workouts I did 7 plus an extra cycling class and a yoga class, totaling 9 workouts. These 9 weren’t necessarily the 9 on my training plan, but they made me feel good, strong and ready for another week of race prep.
For confidence, strength and endurance, I’ve found that as long as I get in my long workouts, I’ll feel good enough for race day. I’ll know I can conquer the distances, mentally and physically. Each week, while I may not get in every workout, it’s a priority to get in the long ones (and full disclosure, this doesn’t always happen, but I’m trying!).
Over the weekend, with very few plans on my agenda, I took on those long workouts, 10 mile run, 1,600 swim, 40 mile bike.
I didn’t want these long workouts to take over my entire weekend so Friday right after work I headed to Central Park to knock off ten miles. I wasn’t that excited about it, Friday afternoons are exhausting, but I made it happen. I told myself that my pace didn’t matter, all I had to do was get through the 10 and enjoy my surroundings. By not putting pressure on myself, I enjoyed this run more than most, while still keeping a sub 9 pace. The temperature was perfect, it was the golden hour with the sun reflecting off the trees, I saw a raccoon (oh nature!) and I even did Harlem Hill twice, just for fun. That kicked off my weekend right.
[when I left for my run I asked MM to have a steak waiting for me upon my return 🙂 ]
Saturday I met up with Meaghan for a swim (check out her swim workout reco HERE) + breakfast and Sunday I rode with Noa over the GW, a coffee break at Palisades Market and back.
[post-swim eats]
[bike prep]
[halfway mark]
And now it’s time to look ahead at this week and make a plan (that I may or may not keep, but I will try!). Here it is:
Monday: Cycle, 4.5 mile run
Tuesday: EVF conditioning
Wednesday: Cycle, 4 mile run
Thursday: Cycle, 1,000 yard swim
Friday: 1,400 yard swim
Saturday: 11 mile run (Oakley 10k…then keep going)
Sunday: Bike 45 miles, run 15 minutes
Lots to do so let’s get moving!
