Training Week 4: 12/18/06 - 12/24/06

Training Schedule:
Mon, 12/18: AM-Rest, PM-Swim = 1 hr Master's swim workout (aerobic freestyle & pull set)
Tues, 12/19: AM-Run = 30 min HR Zone 1 - 2 run on treadmill, Strength = weights & core, PM-Run = 1 hr run
Wed, 12/20: Rest day!
Thurs, 12/21: AM-Run = 40 min Z1 - Z2 run, Strength = core workout, PM-Swim = 1 hr Master's swim workout (combo set), Bike = Spinervals trainer session with the Master's swim group
Fri, 12/22: AM-Rest, PM-Swim = 1 hr Master's swim workout (distance)
Sat, 12/23: AM-Bike = 1 hr Z1 - Z2 ride, Strength = core workout
Sun, 12/24: AM-Bike/Run brick = 1 hr 15 min bike followed immediately with 30 min easy run

Friday 12/22/06 update:
The IT band seems to be feeling much better if I really stretch it good before and after every run. I'm still not sure what caused the pain, but it may be just one of those things.

I'm sticking to the training like glue. It's funny because I never know what I'm doing later in the week, or what I did earlier that week. I schedule the workouts from the training plan for the whole week, and then follow it. All I know is what I'm doing that day and the morning of the next day. I was swimming last night and had to think for a bit to remember that I had swam on Monday night this week as well.

On Thursdays we've started doing Spinervals workouts after swimming. This week was the first try, and it worked out pretty good. Coach Colleen set up a DVD player in the lobby of the pool, and we just set our bikes up around it and did a 45 min workout. So it looks like this will work out well. It's always nice to have a group workout to stay motivated and to change things up. I've found that it really matters on the type of group you workout with. I'm really enjoying doing the workouts with the Tri Girls and with the Master's swim group.

I'm pretty much in a groove right now with the training. As long as I schedule the workouts and make them a priority, it's not too much trouble to stick with it. These first 4 weeks feel very much like half Ironman training did. But I took a look at the workouts for the next month or two, and they start to ramp up. By February I'll be doing the longer bike rides (5 hrs or so).

Another thing I can't believe is how fast time is flying. By the end of January I will be half way through the training plan. I have a feeling that in February it will feel like the race is going to happen the next day. There's so many things I don't feel ready for, but then again, I have to remind myself it has only been 4 weeks.

I am really looking forward to next week. I have the whole week off from work, so getting workouts in will be really easy. I'm not sure what I'm going to do with all the extra time! Probably read up on a lot of articles and topics on Ironman that I haven't had time to read so far.

Happy Holidays everyone!