Triathlon Training - September Schedule

So...obviously August has gotten away from me in more ways than one. But focusing on my triathlon training, I had been really disciplined with my training up until about mid July. So now that I've blown almost an entire month and gotten myself slightly out of shape, I need to work harder than ever if I don't want to die during my triathlon in November.

So here it is, my September training schedule. It's a doozy and will be challenging to stay on top of all of this, but it will be well worth it. 

You may have noticed that I've changed up my means of training. I've decided to include a more detailed training schedule than my previous months. I think that by focusing on my heart rate during workouts, rather than the length of time they take me, I will train more efficiently for this race.

Wish me luck!

Triathlon Training - July Schedule

July marks the beginning of Week 4 in my training schedule, which means I get a 40% break off my training! A lot of people forget that you need to back off your training program every 4 weeks or so. This allows your body time to rest and recoup, which will help with better gains in the gym or outside.

Since July also brings a lot of traveling for me, I have reordered my schedule to accomodate this. It's not always easy to fit in your training while traveling, which is why I've been researching possible alternatives while I'm away from home. For example: the second week of July I will be in San Francisco visiting family, and obviously won't be bringing my bike. So instead of doing an outside ride on the 11th, I will be going to a local spin class to get in my allotted training time.

Preparation is key for any training schedule. Even though I'm traveling, I don't want to let my training fall by the wayside. I am making this triathlon an important part of my life, which is why I created this training program, and why I will be following it as best I can.

Triathlon Training - June Schedule

Warning: Most posts will now likely have something to do with my training, so bare with me!

Well...I signed up for my second triathlon and first ever Olympic distance! This will certainly be a challenge for me! I will swim 1,500m, bike 40km, and run 10km - all distances that are much farther than I have ever done (and back to back no less).

So in order to prepare myself I have written up a training program for myself. I will be following this program from Beginner Triathlete (a great site for people who are new to triathlons). I will likely be modifying the program, but for now it suits my needs pretty well. 

Here's my programming for June.

The numbers in front of bike/swim/run represent minutes I need to train. For example, on the 15th I will be swimming for 40mins and running for 40mins. Weeks 2 and 3 will add on 10% and week 4 I'll decrease by 40%. CrossFit days are meant to be strength training, but I don't want to give up my CrossFit just yet!

Marin County Triathlon

My dad and I competed in the Marin County Triathlon last year and somehow I managed to convince him to do it with me again this year!  The triathlon took place this past weekend and the weather couldn't have been more perfect.  Andrew and I made our travel plans to fly out to spend the weekend with my parents and Saturday morning for the tri.  

Our plans were foiled (slightly) when I took a tumble on my bike on Thursday and banged up my knee.  It hurt like hell and Friday afternoon I decided to pull out of the tri last minute.  I was super bummed (and still am), but I was happy to play spectator and paparazzi to my dads accomplishment!  

The Sustainable Sports Foundation puts on this annual triathlon.

We didn't arrive in time to see my dad take off on the swim, but we were able to catch him right as he came out of the water!  Luckily I was able to get a good spot on the beach and snapped a couple quick photos of him.  

 Then there was a lot of waiting.  I wasn't able to snap any pictures of him while he was in the transition area (my lens wasn't nearly big enough) and we were standing in the wrong place to see him off on his bike ride!

Great sign I spotted right by the transition entrance!

These flags lined the pathways and went all the way to the finish line.

 Seriously there was a lot of waiting.  We had a good time though, laughing at my Aunt's hilarious stories!

My mom and Aunt Deirdre

My big brother Travis

And then dad came charging down the hill!

He was all smiles.

 Then we had more waiting until he came back around for the run.

Conservation Core was everywhere.  Definitely felt like we were in the Bay Area!

 And then came dad!  He couldn't stop smiling the whole time.

Last leg of the race!

My mom ended up chasing him down the path so she could get a photo of him!

Mom had to get the shot!

Deirdre and Andrew

Me and Andrew.

 And not soon after dad came through the finish line!

He actually finished 1:37, but the clock was started from the first round of people (my dad was one of the last).

All done!

Achieving my 2012 Goals

I just recently turned 25 ~ gasp ~ I know...I'm soooo old...

Since reaching this momentous year I've been looking back at everything I've accomplished throughout my short lifetime.  I have done a lot.  Like seriously, heaps of stuff has been checked off my bucket list.  I have found, however, that to grow as a person we need to continually challenge ourselves and our preconceived notions.

For example, last year I set out with two major goals; to quit smoking and to complete a triathlon.  Now each of these goals in their own right are difficult (trust me I tried quitting a million times), but trying to conquer them both in the same year?  Crazy!

Well I am pretty crazy.  I had always been in awe of people who compete in triathlons.  How insane...to put your body through 3 serious sports one after the other!  But I wanted to do that.  I wanted to be one of those insane people who could say to others,

"Ya, I've finished a triathlon.  No biggie!"

I got this crazy idea from my superbly awesome dad.  When I was younger he was crazy enough to compete in an Ironman!  What a weirdo.  He trained for 4 hours a day, everyday, for almost a year!

What a stud!

 My dad wasn't in peak physical condition when he started out for his Ironman, so why couldn't I accomplish my pretty achievable goal of a Sprint Triathlon?  I could.  The only person stopping me was, well, me!  As cliched as that sounds, I would be the only one capable of completing my goal, or standing in my own way.

So I trained, and I trained.  And then I trained some more.  I certainly wasn't (and still am not) in the best physical shape.  Having worked at an office where it was very regular to be sitting at a desk 10+ hours a day, smoking around a pack a day, and routinely eating terrible foods, I knew I had my work cut out for me.

But on November 3, 2012 I completed my first ever triathlon!  I somehow even convinced my dad to compete with me!

My dad and I after completing the Marin County Sprint Triathlon

My biggest fan!

My entire family came out to support us!  It was the most incredible feeling...accomplishing something you knew was going to be extremely challenging.

I would never have been able to finish the triathlon if I hadn't stuck to my first goal...quitting smoking.  That in itself would have been enough of an accomplishment for me.  I had been a smoker for 5 years before finally quitting.  My life will never be the same again.

I don't bring up my incredible feats to rub it in your face!  Far from it.  I share with you these goals to remind myself that you have to keep challenging yourself.

Which brings me to my next list of goals - 30 things to do before I turn 30.  To be shared soon!