This was my final big training week before the taper. This was my peak week. And it was EASY. I ended up with over 18 hours of training time and all but one hour of it took place over the last 5 days. This means I just had 5 insane training days in a row. And it was a piece of cake. I am so into it. Wednesday I was out the door at 8:00 and didn't finish my workouts until after 3:00 pm. And then I went to the gym with Zach in the evening! I literally worked out ALL DAY. Thursday and Friday, yada yada yada. Then Yesterday I ran 20 miles and it didn't even feel like a tough workout. Today's 80 mile ride was similarly breezy and fun. Ain't no thing! I'm loving it. It's weird.
I wish I could keep going like this. I think this is going to be the kind of taper where I need to hold back and make myself rest. I am kind of pissed that I was so burnt out a few weeks ago and was struggling to get my workouts in, and then now I can't get enough but I have to lay off. Oh well, I guess it's the right time to be at this peak! I hope I can maintain my strength and positivity through the taper and then knock it out of the park in Tempe. I wish the race was tomorrow. GAH!
Okie dokie. Here's the proof: I'm crazy! And I love it!
Monday: rest
Tuesday: Run
7.0 miles/1:04:32/9:13 average pace
Waterfront solo
Wednesday: Swim
4200 yards/1:45
Solo swim at Aquatic Center
Wednesday: Bike
30.0 miles/2:01:36/14.6 MPH
River Road/Oatfield loop solo
Wednesday: Run
5.0 miles/44:27/8:53 average pace
Brick run after the ride, also solo (Deana's work schedule changed, so we ran together Friday instead)
Wednesday: Strength Training
light lift with Zach at the gym in the evening
Thursday: Bike
2:00/trainer
Watched recorded Ironman Lake Placid coverage
Thursday: Swim
2150 yards/1:00
Masters
Friday: Run
10.0 miles/1:33:29/9:21 average pace
5 miles with Deana at 10:10 average pace, then one mile in 8:08 (downhill from Deana's to my house to meet Zach) then 4 miles with Zach at about 8:30 pace. Whew! It was nice to have company for the long run though.
Saturday: Run
20.0 miles/2:58:04/8:54 average pace
Wonderful fantastic long run. It felt easy and like I could have kept running forever. I never felt tired. Got rained on a little but had a bit of sun too. The course was neat - I had Zach drop me off far out in eastern Gresham and I ran home on the Springwater Corridor Trail. The only time I've ever done such a long point-to-point run was in races (boston x2 and CIM x3). It's kind of cool to cover such a huge distance on foot.
Saturday: Swim
1000 yards/25:00
Why not.
Sunday: Bike
80.0 miles/4:58:48/16.0 MPH
Wonderful fantastic long ride. It felt easy and like I could have kept riding forever. :P It was freezing cold- 40 degrees at the start and only warmed up to 48 by the end of the day. Zach rode the whole way with me! That's a cycling distance record for him. Our friend Anne came out and met us after we did one loop (44 miles) and rode 30 miles with us. It was awesome having some extra company. Zach and I did a fast bit at the end to round off the distance and we were pushing really hard at the end. It was great. I never felt tired and I definitely didn't have the mental block that I've dealt with the last couple long rides.
totals for the week:
Swim: 3:10 (7350 yards)
Bike: 9:00 (110 miles + 2 hours trainer)
Run: 6:25 (42 miles)
total training volume for my peak week: 18:35
Wow.
3 weeks to IMAZ
Pictures!
Just one from Saturday's Halloween 20 mile run:
Sunday's Sauvie Island ride:
The fog finally burned off about 25 miles into the ride:
Zach trying to absorb as much warmth as possible (still only like 45 degrees):
Picked up Anne about 45 miles into our ride:
Me and Anne:
All done. Bikes loaded up on the car. The sun was on it's way down and it was only about 3:00 when I took this photo!
Me and Anne:
All done. Bikes loaded up on the car. The sun was on it's way down and it was only about 3:00 when I took this photo!
Thanks for reading! Have a great week.
27 comments:
CONGRATS on such an amazing week Jen!!! now just hold on to that awesome feeling and all that confidence for the next 3 weeks then you can let it burst out of you at IM!! sooooo excited for you and so proud of you with all that hardcore training you have put in. you are amazing :)
Having difficulty sleeping tonight...good timing though, so I can check out your blog.
I'm soooo pumped for you. SO PUMPED! You are crazy, yes, but fricken amazing at the same time! I can't wait for your competition and to finally meet you in person.
Awesome job Jen!
Sounds like an amazing week! So good to end "training" well, big training on such a high note. Your 20mile halloween run sounded really cool. I think that point to point would be fun but intimidating. I like being able to circle back to my car every once and a while! It's like a running security blanket. Can't wait till IMAZ!
Wow. wow. wow. It all works then! Well done girl on an amazing week of training and an even more amazing mood! Inspiring - you're so ready..
OMG jen, you are kicking ass and taking names. you should feel on top of the world, bc are you killing your training. awesome amazing week. YAY YAY YAY!
Hey Jen! I just found your blog. What an AWESOME week of training you had! Goodluck on your upcoming race! I'll be reading and rooting the whole way!
Congratulations on completing your training peak uninjured and feeling good! Now, follow your training plan and taper. Don't do more because you are feeling good! You've done everything right to this point. You are going to do awesome at IMAZ!
I am continually awed & amazed at your dedication and fantastic workouts. (I'm also a little sad for me that you logged more hours last week than I did in all of October!)
You are going to rock IMAZ!
Congrats on a great week Jen! Not only was your volume increased but it looks like your speed did too!
You're in the zone, girl. You're going to do great!
All I am going to say is that you are AWESOME!!!
Awesome job! It's officially race month!!! You're going to do great!
Yeah, yeah, yeah! You got this IM thing in the BAG!
It's amazing what a week or two will do in terms of mental strength. I knew you'd get over your bump in the road. I bet having a sunshiney ride helped!
Also, way to go Zach---80 miles is amazing! My record sits at 31.6 =). Someday.
Way to go rockstar!
Almost there...almost there...ALMOST THERE!!!!
Are you sick of hearing how awesome you are yet?? Every time I read one of your posts / facebook status updates I pause for a moment in awe. You rock!
hey girlie - get ready for some TAPER MADNESS!! focus on good nutrition. fuel your body. you are getting ready for the race of your life. i am starting to believe what they say about your first IM - you NEVER forget it. it changes you forever.
Woohoo, you're kicking it, Jen!!
I so wish I had some cold weather training heading into B2B. Looking at 40-60 deg race day temps is very scary to me (20-40 degs colder than what I'm used to!). I'm looking closely at what you're wearing -- jacket, full gloves and knickers. How many layers do you have underneath the jacket?
Glad to hear your training is going well! Great pictures!
This is exciting Jen. Sounds like you've moved to a new level of fitness. 20 miles at that pace, then 80 on the bike the next day - are you training for an Ironman or something? ;)
Good luck with the taper - that's a scary prospect. Keep the quality up, but don't overdo things. I'm sure you'll be fine.
Thanks for the photos again - setting sun at 3pm! I guess that's the Pacific Northwest for you.
YOU ROCK!! Easy twenty miles? Wanting to ride forever after eighty miles?? I say it's go time for the Ironman...it's got nothing on you at this point!
Peak week. Booya!! So awesome. Sounds like your right on track girl! Easy smeeshy. I love it.
Your so inpiring!
Amazing! You are going to rock IMAZ! :)
I was exhausted after reading this post!!! Zzzzzzz....
Great job!!! Seriously, your dedication and hard work are SO inspiring and I know you will kick IMAZ ass! And I get to witness it! Whoo!
Can't wait to see ya! Miss you love you!
Insane is right. Insanely AWESOME! Your training cycle has been awe-inspiring. I don't see a lot of chinks in your armor...you are going to be amazing in the IM!!
Holy.Maccanoli.
You are a machine! Congrats on a fantastic week.
It is so hard to just go with the flow of our emotions, especially when they don't coincide with our schedules! I know it will be hard to adhere to this taper, especially with all this momentum you have. But just think about race day and everything you say, do and think needs to be focused towards a successful race day. So talk about taper, think about taper and DO the taper. Your body will thank you come Novemebr 22nd. Or 21st. or whatever the day is.
I am so frickin' excited for you!!!
AMAZING week! it's great you're feeling so awesome&strong right now...you'll rock AZ!!! Enjoy taper...if that's ever possible :)
LOL! Starship Troopers for a first date movie. I guess I have a lot in common with Zack. My first movie date with Julie was Puppet Masters - and she has never let me forget it. Well done!
Nothing wrong with cutting those workouts short at this point. The last thing you need to do is get yourself sick in that weather going into your big race.
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