Teaching an Old Dog new tricks!

Last night I had a swim lesson to correct my freestyle. I have been getting really nervous about the swim and I didn't want to revert back to my standby stroke - breaststroke.  You see my breaststroke has always been faster than my freestyle. Even when I was on the high school swim team, I swam faster as a breastroker than a freestyler.

When I started training, my tri coach said, I had to swim freestyle. Begrudgingly, I swam freestyle. I would kick so hard and move my arms so much and still not get anywhere.   I would still be the last one finishing up the swim set and swimming was not fun anymore. Friends and family who have known me for a long time know that I used to be a fish in the  water and for me to not like swimming would be a shock. I was bummed. I really wanted the swim to be easier but it was getting to be just as hard as running. (I am a fast turtle when I am running).

After watching my son swim his first short course swim meet and watching him get a PR in his freestyle, I decided, I wanted to improve my freestyle. So I emailed another triathlon coach who is swimmer to help me out. Lesley came highly recommended. I also watched her race and it was amazing. I wanted to get better. 

Making the phone call was the best thing I have ever done for myself. I learned that freestyle really isn't as hard as I was making it to be. I learned how to improve my stroke and kick the correct way. I learned that I was working way too hard to be an endurance swimmer. I still have a lot of work to do. More drills to complete, but I am determined. I will get better and just maybe... I will keep up with my husband in the water..

Yes, an old dog kind learn new tricks. I am proof positive about this one. Thank you Lesley for working with me! I look forward to working with you after Austin to get better and learn more new tricks!

Happy Training!
Eling

Almost 10 mile run....

So, for the last few weeks, I have been busy getting ready for Austin Ironman 70.3.. I can't believe it is 5 weeks away.. where did the time go..Today, was a long run day.. I ran 9.75 miles. I almost made it to 10 miles but I had a dog come running at me and I was ready to turn back.. The run felt great! I guess my running legs are starting to come back.. Yeah!

I am still a slow runner.. or as my son would tell me, I am the speedy turtle mom now! I will take that. I love his description.

Happy Training!
Eling

Motivation!!!

This past weekend was a very busy triathlon weekend! My Husband, Don, qualified for the HyVee Triathlon 5150 US Championships back in May when we competed in Memphis in May. So, we packed the car, the cats, the bikes and the gear and headed to Des Moine, IA. What an experience! As my son, Donnie stated on his Facebook page..."Not only did i get to see my dad complete a tri, i also got to see pro's do (their) work!" I would have to say the same.. This weekend, I got to see my husband, Don, complete an awesome race, but I was able to watch how the pros compete. It was after the race that I found out that this is the highest paid race for professional triathletes! Wow!


What has motivated me was seeing all of the competitors compete and cross that finish line and then to see the pros. I was so close, that I was almost knocked over by one of the riders during the bike portion..

I am now even more motivated to  continue with my training for Austin 70.3. In addition, I now have a new goal to reach next year. I want to go to the HyVee Age Group Championships next year! So, I will keep on training. 


Here are some of the photos that we took over the weekend! This is such an awesome competition and the people of Des Moine, IA do know how to put on a triathlon!

My Handsome Husband! I am so proud of him!

Winner!

 

Busy Week this week...

I just received my workout for the week and boy am I going to be busy trying to fit in the workouts, work, and going to they HyVee Championships to cheer my husband on! I will make it work but it should be interesting. Lucky for me, I will bring my bike, swim suit and running shoes and practice the course with my husband on Saturday. This should be a lot of fun as I haven't swam in open water since end of July. I still can't believe Austin is right around the corner..yikes... less than 60 days.

Here is my week.. I will do my best to do all of the workouts:
Tues-Swim and run
Swim
2 x 500 (20)
2 x 400 (15)
2 x 300 (10)
100 ez
6 x 50 odd fast/evens ez (20)
cool 100
Run
1 mile warm up
3 x 1 mile tempo/hard effort (4 min rest)
1 mile coo
Wed:Bike/Run
 Bike
15 min warm
5 x 30/30 (30 sec sprint/30 sec rest)
3 min rest
5 x 30/30
3 min rest
5 x 30/30
15 ez
Run-30 min
10 min ez
10 min mod hard
10 min how you fee
Thur-2 hr run(practice fueling for  race day)
30 min zone 1/ez
2 x 12 min @ zone 3 or half marathon pace  (3 min rest)
30 min @ zone 1
25 min @ zone 2 or marathon pace

MAKE THIS RUN A NEGATIVE SPLIT

Fri
Run
15 min ez
8 x 30 sec uphill sprints 4-6% incline ( recover as much as needed)
remainder of time zone 1 or 2

Swim
300 warm
3 x 400(20)
4 x 300 (15)
5 x 200 (10)
200 ez
Total 3700

Sat-Bike (practice race day nutrition)
3 hour totall
30 min WARM UP
8 min at 95-100% effort (3 min rest)
10 min at 95-100% (3 min )
12 min at 95-100% (3 min)
12 min at 95-100% (4 min)
10 min at 95-100% (4 min)
4  x 12 min at 80-85% (2 min)
remainder is whatever you can maintain

Run off the bike 30 min
easy out
mod hard on the way back

Sun-2 hr bike

Happy Training!
Eling

50 Miles!!! Whoo Hoo!

Well, I finally did it! 50 miles no longer elusive! In fact, I went farther than 50 miles today. I finished my long ride and it was 56.55 miles. To top it off, I went faster than I thought I would. My average speed was 16 miles/hour. The hills was awesome up and going down! I now know that I will be able to complete the swim and the bike. Now I have to work on the run.. I have ran a half marathon before, so I know I can do that too. I have 8 weeks left and I will be ready!

 For now, I am going to celebrate my little victory and enjoy the fact that I rode 50 miles. Now I have to get ready for tomorrow.. going to ride for 2 hours..

Proof from my speedometer

I did it! Whoo Hoo!

The elusive 50 miles.....

So, this weekend we were supposed to simulate a triathlon. (1.2  mile swim, 56 mile bike ride and a 30 min run). The group  did this yesterday, Saturday. I couldn't train with them because I had to be the swim taxi to my son. My hubby and I planned on this because he would get the opportunity to be challenged on the bike with our triathlon coach!

Today, I tried to wake up at 4:30 am and it didn't work, I hit the snooze button and wanted to hit it again. Thank goodness for my hubby, he kicked me out of bed and said go swim! So, out I go and headed out to pool to swim the workout. Awesome swim. I haven't had such a great swim in such a long time. Reminded me of when I used to be a fish in the water. I drove home and got on my bike and started to ride. The weather was cool and overcast. I was having a great ride. On one of my hills (The hill is on Donnelson Road) that I had to climb, I went over 12 -10 miles/hour. Yes, I got slower. But this is truly fast for me because I normally go about 3-4 miles/hour. I was steadily riding along and got to the SAG to buy water. As I was buying water, the thunder clouds rolled in and the rain started to pour. I was only at mile 35. I called my husband and he said that I would be rained on the entire way home, so he would pick me up. I was so bummed. The last time I tried to complete the 56 miles, it was 97 degrees with a heat index of 125. I know I will get there. I mean the longest ride I have done so far is 47 miles. He picked me up and drove the rest of the route for me, so I would know exactly where I should go.

So, I got home and put the running shoes on and out the door I went and ran for 40 minutes. Actually, this was a little over 3 miles. The weather wasn't cool anymore, it was hot and humid and I was drenched. I finished the workout. I am going to try again next weekend. This will not elude me.

Now, I have to get ready for the new week of hard work and pain.. Oh.. I forgot, I can not touch my toes cause my hamstrings are in pain... I will be rolling those out tonight before bed.

Happy Training,
Eling

Staying Motivated....

This week has been a very hard week to stay motivated.. I am not sure why, but it has been hard to just do the workouts. I have been feeling down on myself. I have been cranky at work and all I wanted to do is eat cake, chips, and popcorn....but I haven't..I wonder if I am just feeling nervous and stressed because I know that Austin is just around the corner.. or Is the stress of all of my deadlines at work getting me down.. I don't know... all I know is that it has been hard.

Thanks to my wonderful husband. He has made me feel beautiful and has encouraged me to continuing doing the workouts.. So, I will keep going and knowing that today is Wednesday and I still have more workouts to go, I will.

Here is a Big Thank you and a I love you to my wonderful husband and training partner!