“A certain amount of opposition is a great help to a person. Kites rise against, not with, the wind.” ~Lewis Mumford

Last week, I was a kite. I knew I had to fly, but every day felt like I was simply beating back gusts of wind. Although I had a strong week of workouts and am proud of my effort, my 17^th week of training for the Beach2Battleship Half Ironman started to show the frays in my sail and the cracks around the edges.

I’m tired. Mentally. Physically. Emotionally. Last week, I just wanted to sleep in. I didn’t want to come home after a long day and get on my bike or go for a run. I didn’t feel motivated to drag my body to the pool. I may have used the word “hate” on multiple occasions in association with my workout plan. Most of my workouts last week felt like I was going through the motions. I had to get them done. Cross them off the list. (And I did.) But I was feeling ready – really ready – for this training cycle to be over.

Race day will be here in less than 3 weeks. I can do anything for 18 more days. I’m incredibly excited about race day. I’m feeling great about my goals, performance, the training I’ve put in and the effort I’ll put out on the big day. But I’m ready for the 120-mile weeks to subside. I’m ready for my life to not be dictated by my training schedule. I’m ready to not feel like a chicken with my head cut off most of the time. I’m looking forward to just one workout a day instead of 2.

Ok, enough. Tired. Schmired.

Here is what last week’s half Ironman training looked like. I’m on the home stretch. One more week to taper! My mojo is back.

Monday
Tempo run: 42 minutes with 22 minutes at tempo pace (7:35/mile) for a total of 5.05 miles

Tuesday
AM: Swam 2,600 meters

• 300-meter warm up
• 8 x 25-meter drills with 10 seconds rest between each
• 7 x 100 meters at moderate speed with 5 seconds rest between each
• 6 x  150 meters at maximum speed with 75 seconds rest between each
• 8 x 25 meters kick only with 15 seconds rest between each
• 300-meter cool down

Wednesday
REST

I may not have logged any miles on Wednesday, but that doesn’t mean nothing exciting happened in the world of training. Look what arrived in the mail …

Thursday
Brick: Rode 1 hour and 16 minutes (19.36 miles) on the trainer immediately followed by a 16-minute run at 7:45/mile pace.

Friday
AM: Swam 2,400 meters:

• 300-meter warm up
• 8 x 25-meter drills with 10 seconds rest between each
• 3 x 400 meters at maximum speed with 75 seconds rest between each
• 4 x 50 meters at maximum speed with 20 seconds rest between each
• 8 x 25 meters kick only with 15 seconds rest between each
• 300-meter cool down

PM: 40-minute easy ride on the trainer
This ride should have been an hour longer but given how far I was riding on Saturday and how my body felt, this seemed right.

Saturday
65-mile bike ride outdoors on a flat, paved trail that simulates the terrain of Beach2Battleship

This was my longest bike ride to date. It took me just more than 3 hours and 30 minutes to complete (average 18 mph), and I hit the 56-mile mark about 5 minutes faster than I rode at Augusta 70.3 last year. I felt great for the first hour and 45 minutes out, but the way back became a bit mentally and physically exhausting. I was about 6 minutes slower on the way back than I was on the way out.

I simulated my race day nutrition, alternating between salted baby potatoes and vanilla Honey Stinger Waffles (I’ll be using GU on the run portion). I drank about 3 bottles of liquid – 2 with watermelon Nuun and one with water. I need to eat and drink a little more on the bike on race day (shooting for 600-800 calories). My legs and neck were sore after the ride, but I was glad to conquer this.

Sunday
Remember what I said about not feeling very motivated last week? Well, Sunday was the perfect example. I procrastinated getting my long run in until the last possible moment. I ended up leaving my house just after 4 p.m. and ran about 12+ miles. I didn’t bring my Garmin (because I forgot to charge it) so ran purely by time. It was a freeing feeling. I had a headache all day and knew it was going to be one of those runs where I would have to “embrace the suck.” I allowed myself to run at a slower pace as long as I ran for the total time (1:50) and didn’t stop. We are stronger than we think we are, and Sunday was no different. Bam.

I was also supposed to swim a long, straight 2,400 meters yesterday but opted to do it this morning instead.

Weekly Total: 117 miles, 9 workouts, 10 hours and 3 minutes
Swim: 3.11 miles
Bike: 92.79 (Missed one bike workout)
Run: 20.81

And just for the record, I’ve never actually flown a kite.

How did your training go last week? What goals do you have this week?