Weaknesses Be Gone!

…and the only way to do that is to work on them!

Yesterday was off the chain! I couldn’t get dressed fast enough to get my workout on.  For whatever reason I was ready to run and swim. I love days like that! Honestly, it doesn’t happen too often but when it does man-oh-man it feels good!

I got dressed and headed to post. I texted Hubs to see if he was going to be able to meet me to swim. No go. He had to work and  had plans to do a Ruck/Run with the dudes (6 weeks to train for 26.2 with a ruck, good luck with that…). I decided to run first so I could clean cool off in the pool, plus I haven’t been getting good, quality runs in when I do them after a bike or swim. I want to focus on some running for a while. I headed to the track for my 8 x 400 yds @ 5k pace.

I lost count and actually only did 7. BOO. FAIL. But I guess if you look at my first lap it was faster than my slow ones, so I could count that as a 5k pace.  My goal was to keep each of  my fast laps under 2 min. Goal-Accomplished.

When I got to the pool it was packed! It is so dumb that there is only ONE pool on  a post with 40,000 soldiers and  more people when you account for families. I shared a lane with 5 dudes and one girl wearing a string bikini, swim cap and high speed speedo goggles swimming the crawl stroke with her whole head out of the water. Now I don’t like to poke fun but seriously it was kind of a funny site. Then there was the guy who insisted on doing the breast stroke IN THE MIDDLE OF THE LANE. It was nearly impossible to get a workout in until both of them moved to the other pool (the one without lanes). That still left me sharing with four dudes but at least I could move down the lane and pass them with ease. Is it appropriate to say I was chicking dudes in the pool? If so then I was chicking them. I kind of felt bad. That wasn’t my intention. I had to do 4 x 200 yds with 20 sec rest between.  I was pushing myself and actually for a minute thought I might puke.  That would have been bad. Embarrassing. Humiliating. They would have had to close the pool. So I brought it down half a notch. I finished the workout with 1500 yds.

I have met a few guys who are training for tris. It is fun to talk shop with them for a bit about training, running , biking routes, gear and then inevitably it turns to the  awkward question “So you want to go for a run or ride sometime?” “How do you swim so fast?” It’s a true ego booster.  But I’m really not by any means an accomplished swimmer. I have never competed, never trained, and have no clue really about true competitive swimming. I think it is where my natural ability is though. I bet if I would have ever been on a swim team I could have been great.  But if you put me in the water with real swimmers I’ll look like that bikini clad girl flailing around. 

When I got home I searched the house high and low to find my p90x DVD. It has been MIA since we moved. I found it!!!! It was still in our old DVD player that has been in the garage.

So of course I did an Ab Ripper session after my run and swim. It is time to bring it back! Ab Ripper THREE times a week. A strong core is so important for good running! And well, lets be honest, I still want to sport a two piece speedo someday….

Today is a busy day, not to mention a 3 hour school start delay for LB (it snowed about 57 flakes). I should take it as a rest day but I might jump on the trainer this evening. My plan calls for a 3 mile run and a 25 mile ride. I have ZERO rest days actually written in. This weekend will be a challenge too. We are going to Charlotte and I wont get in my long ride with my Triple Threat girls. So I may have Sat and Sun as rest days.  I realized last night I could revamp my plan to 9 day weeks so that I can actually write in and plan rest days.

Thanks for all your input regarding the Bataan Memorial Death March! I really got motivated to do it after reading all your encouragement. I put in a request to my Official Race Crew and TFF in the PNW (i.e. Jessica!!!!!). She is checking her schedule and may be able to meet us in New Mexico to fulfill her duties as Official race Crew. I am so blessed! If it works out I think I will do the full 26.2 miles. Not for time but for the experience. Seriously, who wants to join me????

I’m sore today. I know it is from speed work and core, my hip flexors are screaming. Core is my biggest  weakness. What’s your weakness??? I think being able to identify your weaknesses is HUGE and a first step in improving! I’m committed to improving my weakness, are you?