I was shocked to check my training spreadsheet and see that my average training hours since 1/1/2015 are over 17. WTF??? I guess shoveling and a little extra swimming make a big difference. My biking hours are right on target.
I've needed to adjust my strength training for recovery purposes, after realizing I was overly optimistic about increasing my sets and reps the last few weeks. On the plus side, though, I'm staying at a higher weight across the board, and it feels like I'm well adapted to it. So I think that after my 1/2 Ironman in March, I still have some play in the strength training to up the sets and reps. Especially since my Ironman isn't until October, which is still a long ways off. I typically go into maintenance mode 4 months out from an IM, which means I have until June to continue building strength! That will be perfect, because June is when all hell breaks loose in my training.
It's been awhile since I've done an IM at the back end of summer (except for Cozumel which was an aberration), meaning I have all of glorious summer to bike long and enjoy the fucking hell out of training outdoors.
Meanwhile, it's fucking cold in Chicago, but I am going to Florida in March and Colorado/Vegas in April, so those trips will get me some sunshine in anticipation of summer, which I love where I live most of the time. I don't like it too hot, but I don't care if summer is cool, even though it drives couch potatoes nuts--they complain that it's not hot enough. I challenge them to go ride for 5-6 hours when it's 85+ out. Not my idea of a good time!
I got a very nice non-verbal compliment from a meathead after I finished my long run on the treadmill at my Y today. He'd gone up and down the ramp between the machines and the free weights several times--laced with tattoos all over his arms and chest. I just kept running. When I finished, I wiped down the treadmill, gathered up my bottles and headed for the door (to go upstairs to swim). He nodded as I left, indicating he'd been "observing" me. It's pretty obvious, I think, that I lift, as I'm not skinny and you can pretty much see the cuts in my upper body, including abs, and pretty developed quads, glutes and calves. I.e., I have a big ass ;) But it's a working ass, much like this one:
I am going to jimmy my training this coming week so I can do better in my race next Sunday. I should be able to be in the top 10 females overall. I wasn't a week ago because I trained so much the day before, but I can fix that, and also I need to do a better warmup. I'm looking forward to going 120% and puking my guts out at the end. There are some other subtle changes I will make, but they are a secret ;)
I'm still waiting for the higher dose of Synthroid to kick in, but meanwhile, I'm being a little more attentive to my diet (QUIT EATING FUCKING JELLY BEANS EVERY DAY), and some fat is coming off my midsection. I know this because of the stares I receive when I am running at my Y. I am thinking that I actually have increased the muscle mass in my legs and ass in the last 3 years, as I've been doing a shit ton more squats and lunges than I ever used to do. All good, since guess what? RUNNING AND BIKING BENEFIT FROM A STRONG ASS AND LEGS. I need to build and keep muscle mass if I'm going to do another fucking Ultraman anyway. Even though I'm training like a maniac already this year, it is only going to get worse, and there will come a point when it becomes difficult for me to stuff down enough calories to maintain where I'm at right now.
So, in summary, it's FULL FUCKING STEAM AHEAD for 2015. I intend to crush this year and anything that gets in my way. I realize that sounds somewhat arrogant, but I work my ass off. I do this because I love it, because I love how my body and mind feel (hence the title of the blog) while I do it, and I enjoy being a shining example of what someone my age can do. It's just my thang.
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