Back to 3 Sports
Today officially kicks off the start of my 2014 triathlon training season. Although it has been glorious to focus almost exclusively on running the past 6 months, it’s back in the pool and back on the bike I go. Since my half iron triathlon last October, my biking and swimming have been pretty sporadic. I needed a break after the intense training cycle of 2013 preparing for Beach2Battleship. Taking a break from all 3 sports allowed me to laser focus on my running, which resulted in 4 consecutive personal best performances in the 5K, 10K, half marathon and marathon between November 2013 and last month. But it was my triathlon training last year that really started this progress in motion.
As I think back over the past year of training and racing, I’m amazed at how much I’ve learned about myself as an athlete and about our sports of running and triathlon. I’ve evolved a great deal during the past 12 months. I’ve become more disciplined, yet more balanced. I’ve learned to get comfortable with being uncomfortable and push through moments of weakness. I’ve learned that I’m capable of doing more than my mind believes. I’ve learned that the mind has a profound impact on performance. And most of all, I’m at peace with who I am as an athlete and where I want to go.
And speaking of where I want to go, that is an interesting question. I’ve exceeded the goals I previously set for myself in terms of time/pace during the past 6 months. There are days I ask myself if I really need more. Do I need to get faster? Do I want to get faster? For many people, the next step would be to set even more aggressive goals or take on a full Ironman. For me this year, I’d like to become a better swimmer and cyclist. I want to be challenged and work hard, yet have balance and normalcy in my life. That’s why I’ve decided to stick to local, shorter distance races for the remainder of this year and try to be competitive within my age group. I will not be obsessive about the time on the clock, but rather I will focus on how I feel and the impact my training and racing is having on me as a person overall.
I’m racing on a team of athletes representing our local triathlon specialty store – Podium Multisport (you can see our entire team here).
I’m keeping the race schedule fairly simple:
- Acworth Women’s Sprint Triathlon: August 3: I placed 3rd in my age group at this race last year. I’d love to see an improvement in my time from 2013 to 2014).
- Peachtree City Sprint Triathlon: August 16: This is one of my favorite sprint triathlons and this will be my 5th time participating in this race. I haven’t done this event since the week before my wedding back in 2009.
- Tugaloo Olympic Triathlon: September 13
I recently spent several hours with the Podium team refitting my bike for the season and getting it ready to help me be as comfortable and as aerodynamic as possible.
In addition to the triathlons listed above, I’ll be running the Rock ‘n’ Roll Seattle Half Marathon on June 21 and the Peachtree Road Race (10K) on July 4. I hope to also do a 5K or two between now and September to assess where I’m at in terms of speed and pacing for training.
I will start sharing my weekly training recaps with you every Monday again. Here’s what last week looked like:
Monday: REST
Tuesday: Ran 7 miles (I wore my new Brooks Running Run Happy EZ T III top for this run, and even though I felt terrible, I kept reading the words over and over to tell myself I was running happy. As a side note, it was super comfortable! I also can’t wait to wear it with jeans.)
Wednesday: 1-hour spin class (about 20 miles with hills and speed intervals)
Thursday: Ran 4 miles of speed work, including 4 x 800 meters at 6:35/mile pace followed by an upper body workout focusing on biceps, triceps, chest and shoulders
Friday: Rode 1 hour and 10 minutes (19.4 miles) at Stone Mountain (my first outdoor bike ride of the year!)
Saturday: Ran 11 miles on a very hot and hilly route (I miss winter running already!)
Sunday: 1 hour upper body and core workout with Mr. rUnladylike
What are you currently training for? How did your week of workouts go last week?
Comments
I am currently training to PR in the 10K. My goal race is in two week! Gonna take it easy this week because I’m going to Disney world!
Awesome Jojo! I can’t wait to hear how your race goes. Good luck with the last 2 weeks of training!!!
Cannot wait to hear how all you tri training goes.
Awesome that you are racing with a local team.
Nice job this week!! Looks like you have a great line-up ahead of you!! I’m in taper for Big Sur marathon in 2 weeks and then back to Ironman training!!
Ahhhh! I can’t wait to hear about Big Sur. Have I mentioned how jealous I am? 🙂
I’m focusing on short distance triathlon this year too! An Olympic in June and sprint in July. I’m with you that the time commitment is huge for ironman and it must be done only when it makes sense for you!
Your progress this year is inspiring!! I’m surprised you don’t have your eye on a BQ after your half marathon PR! (And marathon one too!)
Thanks for your kind words Nicole. I wish we could train together … we would be good partners 🙂 As for the BQ, my goals are really just about being the best athlete I can be while balancing training with life. Any improvements — big or small — make me happy. That doesn’t have to be a BQ. If that happens eventually, that would be wonderful as I’d love to run the race. If not, that is ok too. Running Boston, for me, doesn’t dictate my success or failure. Even though it is the marathon of all marathons, it is just another race. xoxo
Congrats on being back on the tri training saddle! Your race team looks awesome! I am training for a dualathon in May, an Oly tri in May, a HIM in June, and another Oly tri in July, then off to Hawaii for two weeks so no more training! I also have a half marathon in November. Good luck with your training and can’t wait to follow you through it!
Thank you Angie. You have an awesome schedule ahead of you! Good luck with your training and I can’t wait to hear all about it!!!
I training for my second 70.3. Like you I have decided not to go for a full and would rather improve on my running and bike times. Good luck on your training!
Good luck with your second half Ironman training. Last year’s half Ironman was my second as well. Keep me posted on how it goes!!!
Sounds so exciting…I love reading about people training for triathlons…so admirable! I’m hoping to train for a half marathon in the fall, if I’m ready! Still recovering from a rough 2013…
Awesome workout! 🙂 Congrats on getting back into tri training! I would love to do a tri… maybe next year?
You can do it! Start with a sprint tri to get your feet wet and see if it is something you enjoy. Training is very manageable at the sprint distance.
excited for you!! you know my schedule…lots of states, half marathons, and then NYC. 🙂
That’s really exciting about your race season! I’m training for a few triathlons and look forward to following your training – sounds like you have a great plan and a great outlook!