This week was weird. I had two races on top of my training so it involved some creativity to make it all work. The races were an absolute blast and just the endorphin fix I needed to keep me going for the next 5 weeks. Here's how it all went down:
Monday: Rest/Slide Day
I went to see my physical therapist, Keegan McConnell from Orthopedia in Flower Mound. He was awesome! We spent over an hour together just talking about what my symptoms are and then he assessed some movements. We learned that I'm super weak in some areas of my hips and legs and when they start to get fatigued during exercise, they start to not perform as well thus, asking other parts of my body to compensate which is causing all of my additional ailments. We didn't get to exercises so I scheduled to come back the next day to learn how to get stronger.
Tuesday: Run 1 hour, Swim 1 hour
I went for the run and did some pretty intense Z4 intervals which felt ok at the time of doing them but later that day I was hurting, a lot. I didn't have time to swim because I went for my second appointment of PT where I learned exercises to strengthen my weak areas. It's pretty hilarious how the clamshell exercise (where you make your legs into a clamshell shape lying on your side and them separate them) was so challenging! It's weird how some muscles can be so strong while others are so weak.
Monday: Rest/Slide Day
I went to see my physical therapist, Keegan McConnell from Orthopedia in Flower Mound. He was awesome! We spent over an hour together just talking about what my symptoms are and then he assessed some movements. We learned that I'm super weak in some areas of my hips and legs and when they start to get fatigued during exercise, they start to not perform as well thus, asking other parts of my body to compensate which is causing all of my additional ailments. We didn't get to exercises so I scheduled to come back the next day to learn how to get stronger.
Tuesday: Run 1 hour, Swim 1 hour
I went for the run and did some pretty intense Z4 intervals which felt ok at the time of doing them but later that day I was hurting, a lot. I didn't have time to swim because I went for my second appointment of PT where I learned exercises to strengthen my weak areas. It's pretty hilarious how the clamshell exercise (where you make your legs into a clamshell shape lying on your side and them separate them) was so challenging! It's weird how some muscles can be so strong while others are so weak.
Wednesday: Bike 45 mins, quick change Run 15 mins
I was in so much pain from my run the day before, I almost didn't get on the bike. But I did, I just took it easy and chose to skip the run for my legs' sake. I also went to the pool and did some fun short intervals. Wednesday, I also posted about how I've been eating lately, below is a pic of my delicious beet and berry smoothie that I enjoyed this week!
I was in so much pain from my run the day before, I almost didn't get on the bike. But I did, I just took it easy and chose to skip the run for my legs' sake. I also went to the pool and did some fun short intervals. Wednesday, I also posted about how I've been eating lately, below is a pic of my delicious beet and berry smoothie that I enjoyed this week!
Thursday Bike 1 hour, Swim 1 hour
My legs were still feeling pretty tight/sore so again, I took it fairly easy on the bike. Didn't do my interval training like I should have. I also didn't make it to the pool, but I knew I'd get there Friday.
My legs were still feeling pretty tight/sore so again, I took it fairly easy on the bike. Didn't do my interval training like I should have. I also didn't make it to the pool, but I knew I'd get there Friday.
Friday: Rest/Slide Day
I didn't rest. 1) I still needed to get to the pool. 2) I had a 4 hour bike ride planned for Saturday which I was not going to be able to do because of a run race I had. So I did one hour on the bike and then 1 hour in the pool. The pool had some leprechauns out and about in preparation for the St. Patricks Day Tri! (is it me or are they super creepy)
I didn't rest. 1) I still needed to get to the pool. 2) I had a 4 hour bike ride planned for Saturday which I was not going to be able to do because of a run race I had. So I did one hour on the bike and then 1 hour in the pool. The pool had some leprechauns out and about in preparation for the St. Patricks Day Tri! (is it me or are they super creepy)
Saturday: Bike 4:15, quick change Run 45 mins
So this didn't happen at all because I signed up for the Dallas Athletes Shannon Brewery 5k. I had already banked an hour Friday and figured I'd get close to an hour at the tri on Sunday so I got up early and rode on the trainer for 2 hours, then stretched/ate a snack and went off to the run! It was so much fun!!
So this didn't happen at all because I signed up for the Dallas Athletes Shannon Brewery 5k. I had already banked an hour Friday and figured I'd get close to an hour at the tri on Sunday so I got up early and rode on the trainer for 2 hours, then stretched/ate a snack and went off to the run! It was so much fun!!
Sunday: Run 1:45
Yup, again this didn't happen. Instead, I did the Dallas Athletes St Patricks Day Sprint Triathlon. I decided I'd really push it so that it would make up for the fact that I didn't get all of my run time in this week.
Yup, again this didn't happen. Instead, I did the Dallas Athletes St Patricks Day Sprint Triathlon. I decided I'd really push it so that it would make up for the fact that I didn't get all of my run time in this week.
And...I PR'd by over 9 minutes and got 3rd place in my age group! Worry not, I will do a more in-depth race report/summary on both races on my Wednesday post :)
So, while I didn't get all of my running in this week and I was hurting for pretty much the front half of it, the week ended reminding me of why I love this sport and why I continue to train (through the pain) to get to the ultimate goal of finishing my first half Ironman.
Totals:
Swim: 2:06
Bike: 5:30
Run: 2 hours
Total: 9:36
So, while I didn't get all of my running in this week and I was hurting for pretty much the front half of it, the week ended reminding me of why I love this sport and why I continue to train (through the pain) to get to the ultimate goal of finishing my first half Ironman.
Totals:
Swim: 2:06
Bike: 5:30
Run: 2 hours
Total: 9:36