Weeks 18 & 19 - I'm making a comeback!

Been busy! Work, training, family... you know life! I

This Week's Accomplishments (7/9)
Mon: Swim (70 mins)
Tues: Bike (75 min) & Run (40 min)
Wed: Swim (70 mins)
Thur: Peter's Canyon Trail run (70 min)
Fri: off
Sat: Run (12 miles)
Sun: Bike (75 miles) & Run (45 mins) & Multisport Party!

I felt pretty good that week. Had a blast at the Peter's Canyon Trail Run, and enjoyed the week by going to the Multisport party. I was gearing up for Vineman the next weekend...

This week's Accomplishments (7/16):
Mon: Swim (70 mins)
Tues: off
Wed: Ran long with Patrick (masters had hard time getting pool) 7.5 miles
Thur: Core Class and packed for Vineman
Fri: off-traveled to Vineman
Sat: Easy swim to see start (20 mins) & drove course
Sun: Race Day! Swim 1.2, Bike 56, Run 13.1 = 5:41:27! (new PR!)

I had a blast in Vineman! What a way to bring back my morale! The swim was great! We swam in the Russian River and I just "drafted" off people. Then onto the bike which was totally my type of course: rolling hills and hot! I was excited because technically it was a "short" ride (remember I've been training much further). Then onto the run... it was a death march! I felt pretty good and finished that in under 2 hours. I had a blast joking with volunteers and playing with the crowd - anything to keep my mind off the hard work and have fun! It was awesome to have a friend, Adrian, come up and act as coach. Although he disapproved of my wine tasting the day before, he was great on keeping me on track.

Nutrition for the race:
2 packets of organic, plain oatmeal w/ organic raisins
coffee with cream
water, water, water
1 salt tablet
Out of Swim: Hammer Gel Gu-rasberry flavor & water
every 10 mins water
every 30-40 perpetuem (endurance strength!)
every hour, 1 salt tablet
Onto the run: hammer gel gu: apple cinnamon
water, water, water, and a gu (plain)
After race: Recoverite, Reliv, and LOTS of wine!

This week's Accomplishments (7/23)
Mon: Travel day from race
Tues: Travel day for work - chicago
Wed: Ran lake side- 6 miles super easy for recovery
Thur: Core Class
Fri: off
Sat: Easy run (6.5) with group
Sun: Stil tired from race... but, Biked 5 1/2 hours (68 miles) & Ran (2.5 miles) & Core Class

I struggled with this week... I think I was recovering and trying to baby myself to make sure I didn't blow my training on Vineman. Although it was a great day, I started to doubt if I was smart going all out like I did. Net, net, though I felt confident for Ironman and laughed at how in shape I felt.