A review of January

6 months to Ironman...

I am trying. I have spent a lot of time on my bike. Because of the marathon, I had lost a lot of bike strength and endurance since I was running so much. It is so funny to me that you can get a lot out of bike training that helps you with running but running doesn't help you with biking. The bike portion of the day is also my biggest fear since I am not the strongest biker. I really need a lot of bike work so that is what I am doing. My running is going ok but due to a lot of ice and snow this winter, I have been attached to the treadmill. I hate the treadmill but I hate ice even more. I get very disappointed by my distances on the treadmill. I feel like I am working really hard on the treadmill but I don't go as far as I would if I were outside. I don't know if I am just bored or if the treadmill is wrong (I doubt it). Because of where I work and when the sun goes down, I don't run after work outside much because the sides of the road (a very busy road) are all iced over and if I go home or anywhere else, I generally get there too late to run in the light which I want to do in order to avoid the ice. UGH!!! I am very happy that I am getting in the running time but not necessarily happy with the distances covered but I guess you could say that I am doing race pace training since I am going so slow, and who am I kidding, this slow pace will be my Ironman race pace. I am also tired of being in our spare bedroom on the trainer. I get so bored - sometimes there isn't anything good enough on tv to entertain you enough during a bike workout. Again, I am getting in the bike time but not hitting the distances that I would cover if I was outside. I am really loving my new swim workouts though. Instead of just swimming lap after lap like I did last year, I am doing sets which are harder than just swimming but so much more enjoyable. I feel faster already and I am already way further ahead of my distances than I thought I would be capable at this point in time.

I am getting my hours working out a week up there and I am getting in distances. I am happy with my progress right now but would like to do a couple more things to make the most of my training: 1.Sleep 8 hours a night (it just isn't happening right now) and 2. Drink more water. 3. Figure out my diet so as to allow for the most energy at the correct times during the day and my workout.

In February, I will be cranking it up a little more (I guess that can be said for every month from here until July). I am eating, sleeping, and training Ironman right now. I am ready for warm weather but preparing for another 2 months on the trainer but maybe only 3 weeks until I can get outside again permanently. I am not ready for the next 6 months to go by quickly though as I have a lot of training to do during that time and am in no rush to get to Ironman yet. I am heading to Phoenix in 2 weeks so I can go outside to run or maybe rent a bike while I am down there. That will be nice. Maybe I will also get my daily supply of vitamin D as well since there will be sun down there too and I will get my 15 minutes of sunshine a day.

If anyone wants to see me over the next 6 months, buy a Y membership, start running, or biking!!! Or maybe go back to high school and take biology - they see me everyday.