Monday, February 2, 2009

No Sleep Day

Last night was one of the longest nights I've had in a long time - not caused by Elle. I don't think I got more than 2 or 3 hours of sleep. Pete would look at me and say, "Of course you slept." But I really felt like I just laid there all night. I'm wondering if my body is getting too used to working out every day so when I take a day off, it's just not tired. Maybe I should start taking Sunday evening walks or something. I did take a nap yesterday, but again, I don't think I slept, I just laid there for an hour or so. Pete's laughing at me again, I'm sure.

I prepared myself (all night as I lay in bed trying to sleep) to be really tired this morning, but I really wasn't. Maybe if you're not asleep to begin with, it's not as hard to wake up.

Today I started on my new training plan (which my coach, Pete, has now approved). Well, I'm going to be basically using it, but moving things around a little so that I can still have Sunday as my rest day, and Saturday as my long ride day. I'd also kind of like to stick to the pattern I've been doing because that's what I'm used to.

I went to the gym and ran for 45 minutes. I was supposed to be doing a "very easy" 45 minute-run, according to the plan. I tried to run easy, but my heart-rate stayed at around 160 which is pretty high, and I would look with longing at the lady who kept breezing past me. I wish I could run that fast! She ran for as long as me too, so it's not like she was just sprinting. Then my heart-rate monitor lost it for a few minutes, and Muse came on. Uh oh. When I got my heat-rate back, it was 174 so it took me a while to get it back down.

This is something Pete keeps telling me I need to work on. I need to learn to hold myself back a little. There's no way I'm running for 5 or 6 hours with my heart-rate at 174. Oh well, it wasn't a long run, and I'm trying to get faster so I think it was ok. Plus, if I can run faster, I won't have to be running for 5 or 6 hours, it will be more like 4 or 5.

I also did about 6 sets of strides towards the end of my run. I did about 4.5 miles. You know me and counting, I could be off by a lap or two, but I think that's right. I need to get a new battery for my watch with the lap counter.

After I stretched, I did some supermans, planks, metronomes, and bridges. Then I ran downstairs to the pool.

I did 2 kick board laps, 4 paddle/pull buoy laps, and 2 slow swim laps to warm up. I'm still not quite used to the swimmer terminology. I should say, I did "100 kick board, 200 paddle/pull buoy, and 100 slow swim." It just seems easier to me to say how many laps I did, but then I guess it's easier to figure out distance if you do it the right way.

Of course, I had forgotten to bring my training plan so I didn't know what I was supposed to do other than that it was a speed day so I did 3 sets of 3 trying to do it on the :55. I should have done more, but it was really hard to even get those times. Plus I was in a hurry to get the kids out of the daycare before much longer than 2 hours.

I would love to take a nap right now, but I don't want to risk not being able to sleep tonight. I guess I could clean out my fridge... Or I could have a brownie. :)

8 comments:

  1. The correct swimmer terminology (I think) would be:
    2X50 Kick
    4X50 Paddle/Pull
    100 Slow

    If you were doing the whole thing with flip turns and no rests, it would be 100, or 200. But with that gear, you probably stopped a little. Maybe not.

    Awesome that you did all 3 sets on :55. Maybe its time to start moving to 100s. That is where the fun really starts.

    6X100 on 1:50. YUCK!

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  2. Thanks for the help with that terminology!

    Maybe I should start doing 100s. Actually, my last set of 3 was really one 150 because I just decided to do all 3 and see how fast I could do it. I think I did it in like 2:50.

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  3. colleen, do you do it alone? or can you join a masters swim program? we have one at our pool that trains for tri's and it includes that dreaded open ocean swim. Its the only way i could train.theres alot of support. You are making me want to do this again!

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  4. lori,

    You've done tris too? Do tell!

    I am actually doing it alone now, but last year we did the Masters Swim at the little pool in Heber where we used to live. That was really fun, and I think it helped my form a lot. My new pool has it too, but they meet at 9:00 at night, and I'd rather get my workouts done in the morning. I'm using a lot of what I learned from that in my swim workouts.

    I wish we had the ocean to practice in here, then I wouldn't be so scared to swim on those windy days. (See St. George Tri in my archive)

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  5. yes, i used to, before i tore my knee on a trail run. 3 years ago, that was bad enough but then i did the same thing to my wrist, the meniscus in both. It still bothers to run and swim (biking is better but hills hurt and i love hills!)I wrote just a small bit on my blog titled "what i did not do this weekend" i'm not sure this'll work but i'll try to link to it...
    http://loritimesfive.blogspot.com/2008/28/whatididnotdothisweekend.html
    theres a picture of me and my 2nd place medal(sprint) not so bad for 45! haha!

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  6. 2nd place? Wow, that's awesome! I had thought at one point that it would be really cool to get to a point where I could place in my age group. Maybe that will be my goal after Ironman. I have a long way to go, though. I'm pretty slow.

    I'm so sorry to hear that you have had so many injuries! I know that is so frustrating when you want to do something, but can't. I've been lucky enough to only have to stay away from running for 3 months. (knock on wood!) I hope it's possible for you to get back into doing the things you love soon.

    P.S. the link didn't actually work, but I found it in your archive. Your picture looks great!

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  7. thanks! i have a little trouble with linking. actually not sure what i'm doing here at all, just keep finding my way. You, on the other hand are amazing. I am totally inspired by you.
    xx

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