Week of 4/28-5/4 Workouts!

4/28/08: Brick--3M Run and 1 Hour Swim
total running: 28 minutes or so
Heart-rate: n/aWeather: humid
Notes: I was pretty tired today for some reason. My legs just had no get-up and go! I still made it through the work-outs though with a smile on my face.

4/30/08: Brick—3M Run and 1 Hour Swim
total running: about 27 mins.
Heart-rate: n/a
Weather: warm
Notes: I decided today that combat the ‘tired leg feeling’ and take have a Carbboom before my run and half a Carbboom before the swim. It helped, but my legs still felt ‘dead’ on the swim. I am starting to wonder if maybe my shoes are past their point of being tooooo broken in?

5/2/08: 4 mile run, soooo hot!
total runing: about 40 minutes
Heart-rate: n/a
Weather: very humid and hot!
Notes: So today marked another ‘benchmark’ workout that I like to claim ‘makes me tougher,' at my favorite Coach Steeeeeeeeve-ism, 'tough, but doable.' So it’s 90 degrees and 6pm. Sure, a perfect time to get in a run:) Ughh, not really. I probably walked twice during this run. I guess in my defense though, I was running through a pretty hilly neighborhood. Note to self: don’t forget water bottle on next 6pm run. Yikes.

Tomorrow and Sunday will be two bike rides for a total of about 50 miles. I am very excited as it is part of a small tour, so we actually get to ride to the location, camp out, and ride back! Details soon! Should be fun!

5/3/08: 25 Mile Bike Ride out to Manor, TX
total riding: about 2 hours
ave. 13 mph
top 29 mph!
Heart-rate: n/a
Weather: decent, sunny but not hot (at noon)
Notes: So my cycling friend Harriett and I decided to do the group ride out to Manor. Other then meeting at noon to ride (but, the weather was nice and almost cool!), day one of cycling was turning out to be great. We were in a group of various ability-level cyclists. Most people were riding modified road bikes/tour bikes and no helmets. Not exactly the safest thing, but at least everyone had a map, and had resolved to stay together. I knew Harriett and I would be at the front of the pack, well mostly. The first 8 miles out of town were slow and leisurely. The traffic at some points really scared me because it was pretty heavy. However, being in the large group made me feel safer--it was so empowering riding in such a large group!

The ride itself was just absolutely gorgeous. The countryside here is so beautiful…miles upon miles of beautiful land. And no chasing dogs! Some great and crazy hills, ala the Creedmoor Cruise, but for the most part, a nice ride. Did get in my aerobars a few time and made up some time then. Didn’t really go faster than 18 mph, but I’ll take that today. The only bad thing about the ride is that I made the mistake of riding my road bike over gravel…DOWNHILL! At the end of the ride…and took a nasty spill! Luckily, I know how to fall and was able to unclip on the left side. So I fell on my right side, caught the ground with my glove, my thigh (ouch-the bruise is out of control!) and my elbow (ripped it up pretty good…) That made for a uncomfortable night of camping…more on day 2…

5/4/08: 25 Mile Bike Ride back to Austin!
total riding: about 2 hours
ave. 14 mph
top 31 mph!
Heart-rate: n/a
Weather: warmer then yesterday
Notes: My elbow got cleaned up well (still sore though!) and my thigh got pretty swollen and black…which meant no aerobars on the way back:( After a good breakfast though (made the mistake of not eating much yesterday, and paid for it with tired legs!) I was ready to ride by 10am. I didn’t get much sleep but that didn’t matter. Too bad we didn’t leave until almost noon though, and the worst part about that today is that it was actually pretty warm.

The ride back was fine, Harriett and I didn’t really wait on the group, so we aggressively (well, I TRIED) attacked the hills and rode pretty hard back. My cadence was much better today and I felt much more confident on the route (just a reverse of that we did yesterday). I wasn’t too sore either after yesterday. Another good thing about where we cycled is that we actually did some of the Danskin route, so that is really going to help me out in a few weeks…yes, ladies, it is a tough bike.

Overall, it was a great weekend of riding. I’m not overally impressed with mph’s but I am proud of myself for riding 50 HILLY miles in 24 hours. Gives me a little taste of what the MS150 will be like next year:) (muahh-haha, yes, I am doing it next year, with the Tough Cookies!) Back to running now…where I KNOW I can aggressively hit the hills!

Week of 4/21-4/27 Workouts!

4/21/08: First(?) brick of the season, 3 mile run, 20 min. swim
total running: 26 minutes or so
Heart-rate: n/a
Weather: very humid.
Notes: So today was my first brick workout of the year. I wasn't really sure how I was going to feel, to be honest with you. Coming off being deathly sick last week and a pretty humid afternoon, I knew this would be a struggle. Right before I met up with my tri swimming group, T3, I ran a nice 3 miles or so around the surrounding neighborhood. Ouch, it was tough. The neighborhood is uber hilly and the heat was yucky. Then I followed this with a great 20 minute swim with the group (okay, not a great swim..but it was a start!)

4/22/08: 4 Mile Run with Matthew
total running: 37:43
ave 9:25/mile
Heart-rate: n/a
Weather: very very humid. yuck.
Notes: Today had to be the most humid day of the year. Very reminisant of living in Houston. Matt and I met up with the intention to run 7 (haha, no) but settled on 4. It was tough, I'm still not up to my running par yet and the humidity sucked most of our excess energy right out of our legs. Actually, what was probably more painful the bike ride back home:) A good run though, we plan to meet and run every Tuesday now, with the goal to run through the summer heat and also add a long run on Saturday or Sunday mornings.

4/23/08: Brick #2-3 mile run and 1 hour swim!
total runing: about 28 minutes
Heart-rate: n/a
Weather: cool breeze
Notes: The heat of the last few days has blown over and left us with the nice weather that we had today. I was able to run a little more agressive today on the hills and then get a nice and long workout in the swim. I still have a looonnggg way to go as far as swimming goes, but I already feel like I am getting better!

The rest of my workout schedule this week looks like an hour dance class on Thursday, two 2-hour band practices on Friday and Sunday and then a 25 mile bike ride on Saturday! Hopefully it's not too hilly!

4/26/08: 25 Mile Bike Ride in Southeast Austin!
total riding: about 2 hours
ave. 14.7 mph
top 24 mph!!!
Heart-rate: n/a
Weather: cool , almost chilly at start
Notes: So I dragged my body to get up early on a Saturday (I know!) and get in a nice 25 mile bike ride with my cycling partner, Harriett. We joined our friends of Austin Cycling for a scenic 25 mile ride through SE Austin. Little did I know how hilly it would be!!! The first 8 miles or so weren't bad. But then, the hills came. I had a hard time keeping momentum on them even in my easiest gears so I got passed by everyone! However, on all the straightaways I was able to get aero and pass people at a comfortable 19 mph. I'm starting to really love my bike as you can see:)

We almost got attacked by dogs on the way back (which scared the YKW out of me), but the ride itself was great, with a nice view of the TDC Landfill Wild Animal Zoo (or whatever it's called...I have never seen so many gazelles! or that close!) We kept pretty close in pace to each other on the way back (dragging a little bit!) but had a great time and rewarded ourselves with Starbucks as we unwound from the ride!

The plan for next week, in terms of cycling, is to ride once during the week (maybe Friday afternoon) and then do either the Shower Ride (20 miles each way) on Saturday/Sunday (free, go check it out if you live locally!) or do the Meet and Greet ride on Sunday with Austin Cycling. which has a 20 and 44 mile route. I'm thinking the 44 mile route...although I don't know I am ready for that...

Sooo many races to get ready for in the next few weeks...I have 4 races in a week's time coming up so now it's crunchtime to get ready and in shape! So excited!

Week of 4/14-4/20 Workouts!

4/16/08: 3 Sick Miles with SoCo run Club
total running: dunno
Heart-rate: n/a
Weather: cool
Notes: Well, i have a serious sinus! infection! I shouldn't even be out running today (and rode my mountain bike there and back to boot), but I came out to fufill my membership duties to the club (must run 5 runs to become official). So today I became a member of the best drinking club in Austin:) My ceremony will have to be in June since starting next week (bearing good health) I will be swimming with T3 Tri Club near Lake Travis!

Also, tomorrow I will be doing a modern dance class (first time ever, my background is in ballet), despite the fact I should be in bed enjoying my antibiotics and being antsy for not working out all week:) wish me luck!

Week of 4/7-4/13 Workouts!

4/8/08: Runtex 3.5 Mile Speedworkout
total running: 35 minutes or so
Heart-rate: n/a
Weather: warm
Notes: Decided to do something different today so I ran with a RunTex training group. If you live in the Austin-area and don't know WHO RunTex is, you must live under a rock:)

Anyhow, we did a nice 3.5 mile run today that consisted of 800m repeats with 400m recovery. I think we did 4. It was a good workout, but I could have done more. I ended up feeling tight in my hamstrings afterwards though (gotta stretch!) so maybe it's better that's all I did today.

4/9/08: SoCo Run Club 4.5 Miles!
total running: 45 minutes or so...
Heart-rate: n/a
Weather: threating cloudy/overcast
Notes: So I ran to SoCo today and then got a ride back after the run from my roommate (well, she offered, otherwise I would have ran back!) Maybe i'll get her to run with us too sometime...

Overall, a great 5k and the beer at the finish made it even sweeter!

4/13/08: 30 Minute swim at the Pool
Heart-rate: n/a
Weather: threating cloudy/overcast
Notes: Met up with my friend Carrie again and did 30 minutes in the pool today. For some reason, I still can't shake this allergy feeling. I am not sure what is going on. I got allergy tested earlier this week so it has to be something else, maybe a sinus infection?! Ughh, so the doctor will be getting a visit from me next week...

Week of 3/31-4/6 Workouts!

4/2/08: SoCo Run Club 3 Miles
total running: 26 minutes or so...
Heart-rate: n/a
Weather: warm
Notes: I started feeling sick after this past weekend in Houston (sorry I missed my Houston crew...I had to close on my old place so I didn't really have a chance to run or hang out much...) so today was my first run this week.

I didn't feel really spunky so i rode my mountain bike there and back (about a 10 minute ride, each way...yes, I am slow on the bike as I have mentioned before...) Hopefully I get to feeling better soon...I think it's allergies...

4/3/08: 15 Mile Bike Ride at the Veloway
total running: 1 hour
Heart-rate: n/a
Weather: cool and breezy
Notes: I decided to get on my bike again and got a good 15 miles in. I definetely decided next time I go to Houston that I get my bike fit worked on. My seat is way too high, my right cleat is off somehow, and my aerobars need to be pushed out...

The ride was lonely, but nice. I am getting some more confidence on the bike so I was able to ride longer today and also use my aerobars a little (scary on the hills, but okay on the straight-aways). I think I am convinced I never want a new Tri Bike as long as I am around all these hills, lol...

4/5/08: 5 Mile Run with a New Friend!
total running: 49.55
ave: 10:00/mile
Heart-rate: n/a
Weather: warm
Notes: Met up with a new friend today and did a nice run around Town Lake. Rode my mountain bike there and back, which is fun going there due to the downhill (as I have mentioned before) but not fun at all going back home, especially after a run!)

Anyhow, we had a great time running and chatting. We even timed our run perfectly so we could see the bats come out at dusk!! It's a sight to be seen...I was freaking out the entire time they were flying over my head! haha...good and fun Austin times!

4/6/08: 20 Mile Bike and 30 minute swim day!
total ride: about 2 hours
ave: 15.1 mph
Heart-rate: n/a
Weather: warm
Notes: Met up with the Bicycle Sports Shop crew for a fun and friendly 20 mile beginner ride at 7:30 in the morning on a Sunday! Tough to do, but so much fun and it was worth it! The ride definetely gave me the most confidence I have had on my bike yet, so hopefully next time I can ride with the big kids, lol.

Then I went out for a 30 minute swim with a friend at the great Stacy Pool. It's free, heated and not huge but still a good time. It felt good to get back to the water and actually swim a little today as compared to last week where I just 'splashed around,' lol. I think I am going to sign up for swim lessons...hmm.