Weeks 4, 5, 6 and 7 are done and dusted and I feel good in terms of where I’m at training wise. I am back to the familiar feeling of racing the clock every morning and on most weekends. Hurry up and train and then hurry up and get ready while you’re exhausted, then try to make it on time to the next event!
I do admit that there’s been a few times where I’ve thought “Why did I sign up for this again?” But I can spot the difference between this time last year and training right now. I have such a better training / life balance and I don’t feel 100% consumed like last year. (Only like 75% consumed LOL)
Week 4
Total Distance: 72 miles
Total Time: 8:20
So I’m kind of in disagreement with the long rides and runs in this training plan so far. I understand and completely trust the Be Iron Fit program, but personally I feel the time commitment is jumping way too drastically for a Half Ironman.
I’ve been cutting my long rides short by about 15 or 20 minutes each week. I do speed intervals (long and short) every time I’m on the trainer, so I don’t think I need to ride long just to ride long at this point. BUT this is the beauty of self coaching and only training for a Half Ironman! I know I’m in good shape and I know the distance, so I can trust my body and train accordingly.
All pink everything.
Week 5
Total Distance: 75 miles
Total Time: 8:10
Week 6
Total Distance: 81 miles
Total Time: 9:13
The long ride called for 3:15 in week 6…ya don’t put me down for that. My ride was 2:30 (35 miles) and I felt like a million bucks running afterwards. I didn’t find it necessary to ride for that long in only week 6!! This was also the first week I opted for doing my long ride during the week instead of Saturday morning. I had lots of weekend plans and I needed to do a shorter Saturday workout, so I moved stuff around accordingly. *Que my old Ironman familiar friend — the 4AM workout.
My bike set up for long rides — lots of Netflix to keep me occupied!
Week 7
Total Distance: 94 miles
Total Time: 9:13
My long ride in week 7 was 42 miles followed by a 2 mile run. My long run was 12 miles, which included tripping and launching myself forward and catching myself with my index finger! (The sidewalks around our house are TERRIBLE.) Regardless I felt good after both long workouts.
Only one week left in this first phase! CHEERS!
She Writes & Runs 
Muncie is a whole new level of boring. They close 10 miles of a state highway and you go back and forth 4 times. Road condition is great, flat, straight, no shade. It can be a scorcher, but weather was great for me. I got a 52 minute PR and a PR on the swim, bike AND run (but I was peak training for IMWI at the time). Run is hilly but ice every 2 miles. Good event, but not a “destination “ race. I’m glad I did the IM, one of the best days of my life…with no intention of doing it again. Nationals will be in Cleveland in 2019. Night want to volunteer Saturday and race Sunday. It’s a hard opportunity to pass up. Have a great season…
Tony – always a fan of matching my bike outfits and of BOOM! LOL 🙂
Ah it’s so funny you say all this as it’s basically what I’ve been thinking! I am having fun training for Muncie, but at the same time I keep thinking that maybe I’ve reached my limit with long courses triathlons. I am 99% sure I am going to take 2019 off from tri (still run, bike and be active, but I def don’t think I’ll be training for anything specific – maybe like a half marathon here or there!).
I’ve realized that I actually was having more fun in the off season this past fall/winter — like I was still running and biking, but I was able to lift a lot more, go to fitness classes, etc. AND I was able to workout based off of what I wanted to do on any given day, so I found I was a lot happier. Don’t get me wrong I love a good training plan and the discipline of keeping it, but I think I am starting to finally understand how this all fits into a life style and not just putting all your eggs in one big race basket so to speak 🙂 I know you kept mentioning this and I FINALLY think I’m starting to get it haha!
Unfortunately I will be out of the country for Nationals in Cleveland, which I’m really disappointed about missing
I was set to volunteer there and was excited to “give back” so to speak. Plus I think it would have been really cool and inspiring to see all the fast people!
I have not raced Muncie before, but it was somewhat close to Cleveland and it’s a Saturday race (which I like). Plus I’ve heard it’s very flat haha. I thought Ohio 70.3 was also really boring so I am somewhat mentally prepared for that LOL!
Thanks for your continued support and advice!
Love the CarbBoom! pic. Go pink or go home! Boom!
Good job staying motivated and getting back into training (but I agree that those training volumes are kindof nuts). I have lost all interest in long distance training/racing since IM Wisconsin and I have mainl kept to sprints since then. I can’t imaging trading for a full or even a 70.3 anymore…I loved those events, but enjoying the balance of fitness for the sake of fitness, and an occasional event just for fun. Any plans to go to USA Triathlon National Championships this year since it is in your backyard (Cleveland is hosting for the next 2 years). You have to qualify for the Olympic Distance if you are fast (or lucky), but the sprint distance is open to everyone and it is a fun event. I got lucky and qualified for it last year in Omaha (I won my AG at a small local event…not hard to do when you are the only one in your AG to show up race morning…). I got clobbered at Nationals, but still a great race memory. I’m sure you will do great in Muncie (can’t remember if you did that race before). It’s well run and a fast (but boring) course. Great for a PR. Keep blogging…I’m sure that a lot of future triathletes and Ironman hopefuls are getting a lot of inspiration from this page. Congrats again on IMLP…it is ranked as one of the toughest courses in the world and you killed it!