IMAZ training SBR Updates

Before we go on, check out my new bug (not the snail) on the sidebar for Title Boxing Club in Carlsbad. They have some really fun stuff happening. This Saturday May 16 10am-12pm they have a Self Defense class and Tues May 19 at 5:45 or 7pm a live DJ will be in the club during the workouts. Super fun!

Okay so 3 months of training completed. My friends who are racing IMAZ are now officially starting their training. I needed a strong base training the last 3 mos.  Seeing their countdown gives me a dose of reality. The training will get more challenging.  I've been going day to day doing whatever is scheduled and honestly just focusing on making all of the timing work. I think about race day but not that much. Physically, training is going well. I am feeling really strong and productive.  Mentally, I am neither overconfident nor underconfident.  I'm just getting  it done. That's it. This is a good place for me.

Since I was sick I have to be more conscious of my sleep so I can prevent any further illness. I took almost 1.5 weeks off when I was sick and it was torture. When I did my first swim after resting I was faster despite feeling like I lost all coordination. That was nice to see. I guess rest IS a good thing. So now I have to delicately balance sleep with workouts, life, family and training. Initially, I just took that extra hour or two from my sleep and pushed forward. I cannot get that sick again.

Swim- I'm still slow but I think I am where I need to be or at least my coach hasn't asked when on earth am I going to stop swimming like a snail running through molasses? My ego still will not allow me to go to Master's Swim because I am in the slowest lane and I come home feeling bad about myself. In time, I will go. My daughter is asking to go in the summer to perfect her swim. She is a total rockstar swimmer. I will go if she goes though she will be in the farthest lane from me. Not because she is a teen but because she is THAT fast.  

My 100yard all out the other day was disappointing. I had hoped to beat my record from last season. But in all honesty it was timed in the middle of a long, hard swim and I was not nauseas in the last 50 yards. I could have swam harder. I'll try again with fresh arms and legs.  I do 10 x100 yard base swims on a specific interval. I have to swim that 100 with about 2 seconds left and start again on the next 100. By #9 and 10 I am totally beat and nauseas giving it my all.  I like those a lot. I saw some solid results last season doing these. I'm confident I will move my interval up 5 seconds soon.

 

Bike- I "raced" the San Diego Medio Fondo early April. I enjoyed using my new TT bike and wheels. I PR'd only by a fraction but it was PR from 2 years ago nonetheless. I was the second overall female. I have been trying to adapt to my new ZIPP carbon wheels. They are super light. Apparently, I am lighter than I seem to think and together we get blown off the line easily with breezes on the downhill and passing trucks. No fun. I took a break from them when I was sick and got back on only to feel the same anxiety I did the first time I rode with them. So I decided to keep them on a few more weeks to adapt then change my front wheel. The front wheel is the issue. It is a 60mm deep rim. I really need a 60mm on the back and 40mm on the front. However  my micro bike does not allow for many carbon wheel options. I just bought this set and have no intention of buying another wheel- too expensive! Yes, that two finger width depth makes a big difference in the front. With each ride I am more comfortable. I even stopped braking on some descents. I like to go fast on the downhill but I also like to avoid a crash if I can. I met a cyclist at the Tri Club Aquathlon recently and he had like 80 or 90mm wheels both front and back! He was quite a bit taller than I and his bike was bigger. I asked him about the floppiness of the front wheel. He said it is normal and to just relax with the winds. This was said after I had my awesome bike whisperer, Keven Lee check everything on my bike. My bike is safe, it's just me. Sometimes I think if I just gain back the 15-20lbs I lost, I'd feel safer...Not! This is all good training for IMAZ. I have heard the bike on IMAZ is ALWAYS windy.

 

Run- I have to say I am liking running the best of the three disciplines. Never in my wildest dreams would I have ever said that before. I love the simplicity. I can let go on the long runs and just go. No pressure, no expectation, no worries. I am doing more speedwork and distance. I ran 10miles last weekend, longest I have run this season and I felt great afterwards. I really felt I could run another 10 no problem. That was new.  My knee overall has been holding up well. Today was the first day I really had to pay attention to it. It's been acting up since I knelt on a hard paddleboard Sunday. Boo- I know better than to kneel. So today's run was an experiment with the only goal to pay close attention to my knee. Any pain- I stop. I completed the run and speedwork. I did have to shorten my stride and make sure to really use my hips and core to run. Anytime, I deviated I did feel a tiny twinge in there. Got it. We'll see what the next run brings.