- Big picture: Ironman Arizona. November 22 2009. Currently about 6 1/2 months away. Oy. It is of course totally intimidating but I've got a plan and I'm biting off small chunks at a time. The over all plan following a training plan from a book called
Iron Fit by Don Fink. I have no idea what I'm doing here, but it seems like a solid plan. Anyone? I cannot afford to hire a coach. I have Joe Friel book and it's f-ing nuts, so complicated. But this book here seems really straightforward. It's got a lot of swimming, biking, and running so it's probably fine.
- For now: Baby step #1 is a base training period. The Ironfit book has a 30 week training period broken up into 10 week sections. Base, Build, Peak. What a concept. :P So off we go, on a basebuilding adventure! There's the training, plus I need to shape up and get my body ready.
- Base building: Start riding my bike. Start swimming. Keep running. Specifically, I am joining the gym and am going to start doing a spin class once a week. I am going to be riding with Zach a lot during the week (he just switched to a 7-4 schedule so we can play all afternoon). On weekends, I am going to start riding with Emily and Anne, and check out some local group rides. I'm going to masters 2 times a week. Remember, baby steps. That's a big increase from the ZERO swimming I've been doing the last month. I'll start going 3x a week soon. Finally, I am going to start weight training 2x a week at the gym as well. I'll keep running 3 times a week but I'm going to switch up the intensities more.
- Lose fat: I'm going to lose like 10+ pounds. Seriously, it has to happen. I have gained it slowly over time and I'm sick of it. I am at a point in my life where I need to decide if I'm going to get fat or if I'm going to be skinny. None of this rationalizing anymore. I've gained 10 pounds in the last, say 3-4 years. And that is after gaining a solid 5-7 lbs when I first started running and built some muscle. I'm saying I've gained 15 lbs in the last 5 years. Fuck that. And to the point here, losing weight is going to directly benefit my training.
- Be happy: I am going to be my own best friend. I'm going to have fun with this and enjoy every day of my blessed and wonderful life. I am going to spend as much time as possible with all my fantastic friends, especially Zach. :)
So this week has been good.. I actually feel like I'm getting my rear in gear! I signed up for the
Daily Plate which was an awesome suggestion from Alisa. I've been tracking my calories and exercise and stuff. It's a really cool website and makes it kind of fun. I'm going to make sure I'm eating enough, especially as I ramp up the training. But man do my habits have to change. I've been soooooo overdoing it.
I took Monday off, I was actually pretty sore. Tuesday, I rode the bike on the trainer for 30 minutes. On Wednesday, I ran 4 miles in 40:48 with Deana on Marine Drive. Today (Thursday) Zach and I went for a road ride for about an hour. It was weird riding with traffic but I felt pretty comfortable I guess. We went out and back on Naito Pkwy for about 6-8 miles, then rode around Northwest for a few miles. We even rode up Thurman to the Forest Park trailhead- whew! After we got home we walked around the neighborhood enjoying the First Thursday art fair. :) Tomorrow we're going running in Forest Park, Saturday we're going cycling with Emily, and Sunday is a longer run.
Some short notes that didn't get mentioned above:
- It rains a lot in Portland.
- I love my job!!
- Biggest Loser nears the finale.. go Tara!
- Lost nears the finalie.. go Richard Alpert!
And finally, I have to aplogize for not commenting on your blogs lately. I can't keep up! I do read them and loved all the race reports and stuff lately. And to my Portland blogger vixens, what's up!! Let's get together.
Have a great weekend gang! Thanks for reading. :)
