This week was my highest mileage recorded yet and also the first time I hit 10+ hours of training in one week. I feel great though and my body doesn’t feel overworked or over stressed. *Knock on wood* I am injury free and I feel like I’m getting stronger!

My biggest training of the week has been happening on the weekends, which was my plan for the summer. Last summer I packed my race schedule so full that I felt like I barely got in solid training since I was racing almost every weekend. This year’s approach was to throw in a few bigger races for training and preparation purposes, but to give up little races that didn’t contribute to my overall plan and my “A” race – Ohio 70.3. I’d much rather use my weekends for long training than running a little 5K. {Yes speed work is important, but I can do speed work AND get in a long bike ride during a Saturday training session.}

I finally feel like I am following my training plan much more closely than I was before too. A few posts ago I mentioned I was using my training plan as more of a “guide” to where I should be, which was fine for a little. Now I’m using it much more seriously and am really starting to feel the benefit. I feel like I am in good shape for the first time in a few months. When I started training seriously back in March I was coming off a nearly 3-month workout hiatus (but hey who doesn’t that happen to?!).

Here’ a breakdown of week 11 training:

Total Mileage: 103 miles
Total Time Spent Training: 10 hours, 11 minutes

I spent 2 hours and 30 minutes on my spin bike Saturday morning. I covered 40 miles and watched a movie and an episode. Thank god for Netflix! I was going to try to go outside, but it was raining on and off and I just didn’t want to be cold, wet or miserable so it was just easier to stay inside.

Friday was national bike to work day, so after an expensive tune up ($68 – whaaaat? Why?!) I was able to get back on my road bike for the first time this year. I rode to work (15 miles) and then my husband picked me up after work and we went out to dinner. It felt amazing to be back outside and riding on the road. I did (hilariously) tip over at one point during my ride. I later told my husband I was laughing out loud while also swearing at the same time. I couldn’t get my shoe to click into my pedal and I could feel myself lose my balance. Then just like a tree I felt myself slowly tipping over and down I went. Thankfully no one saw me and I was completely fine. I got back up in .2 seconds to try to save some of my pride LOL. Ahh the joys of triathlon training…

Sunday I got up early and got in a decent 10 mile run. I felt good and I was only vaguely sore afterwards. The weather was beautiful and I just kept thinking how thankful and happy I was for warm weather. It was seriously just yesterday when I was running the same exact route and contemplating giving up on life as rain and snow hit me from every side. Ughhh! Thank goodness we are done with winter for now!

This weekend my husband and I are going to Philadelphia and Washington DC for Memorial Day. Two of the three hotels we are staying at have pools and fitness centers (I checked) and I am debating running outside at the hotel that doesn’t have a fitness center. Gotta get that training in! Here’s to another awesome, full week (which looks like lower mileage in the plan), but still a good week to train hard and get better.

Happy week 12!

Post 10 Mile Run Stretching & Feeling Good