The Guest Blogger Speaks

Our Sadie lady helps us remember to not take life
too seriously and to have fun.

Well, I have made it through a big chunk of Ironman training without having to write anything for our blog, but my time has come! Sit down, dust off the reading glasses, and prepare to have your mind blown!!  Or maybe not so much-- probably more like please read this and forgive the absence of literary excellence-- I promise not to make a habit of this. Week 14 is in the books now, and there are only 10 more short weeks to go before it is time to toe the start line again.

This past week was the first week so far this year that I would classify as more of a struggle physically. I tweaked a muscle in my back at the end of the previous weekend so the week started out with that really bothering me on the swim and the run.  I decided not to push through and make it worse, so I missed a swim and run early in the week.  The cutting back combined with some stretching and foam roller time seemed to have taken care of that issue.  By the end of the week, we were finally blessed with some non-windy weather, and I was able to get outside both Thursday evening and Friday afternoon for some quality time on the bike.  The bike really is starting to come together. All the winter nights spent with friends and Coach Troy must have helped somewhat!  Unfortunately, after my second ride I had the unpleasant experience of developing a not-so-pleasant saddle sore that kept me from a couple of the end of week workouts. 

Now after a few lighter days and today’s prescribed “off” day, things are all back to normal and ready for the start of week 15! This week will bring it’s own challenges I’m sure, mainly trying to figure out how/when to best do some of the workouts this weekend.  The “big” workouts are starting to get pretty….time consuming, so trying to fit those in and balance the rest of life will be the main challenge from here on out.  Both Sammy & Tyler continue to enjoy their first season of soccer, and it has been a fun break from the routine to be able to watch them on Saturdays. This next weekend also brings the start of the triathlon season here in SD and with it the fun of covering events and seeing friends, some for the first time since the end of last season.

Nik continues to prepare for her first race of the season, the Brookings half-marathon on May 2^nd.  Friday after I finished my outside ride she and some friends went out and enjoyed the awesome weather for 10 miles of running fun. The pseudo heat of the day made for a good training effort in some warmer conditions and the chance to practice good hydration. 

The bike finally made it off the trainer
for more than one evening this week.

I think more than anything this last week, the importance of time management and proper recovery were stressed to me.  I missed and cut short a few workouts, but feel ready to tackle this week fully recovered with no nagging injuries.  Being forced to figure out how to fit consecutive days of 3.5 to 5+ hour workouts, time with family, kid’s soccer games, and other obligations into the weekend really make a person write out a schedule and not “waste” any available moment.  It sounds crazy, but Ironman training almost seems to help me lead a more “balanced” life- probably out of necessity, but none the less it is a good thing.  Gone are the days of lying on the couch for hours on end…or even 30 minutes it seems!

Thanks for putting up with me this week, I’ll try my hardest to get the regular contributor back behind the keyboard next week!