Sarah Jo Austin

Triathlon Training: Week 7

July 23rd, 2008

Wow! Last week was so much more productive than the previous two combined! Of course, I’m pretty sure my increased motivation came from an increasing number on my bathroom scale. I haven’t checked my body fat percentage in a long time, but I’m hoping the few pounds I’ve gained are a result of increased muscle mass rather than an increase in body fat. I certainly haven’t increased in inches anywhere, and my clothes still fit fine. We just happen to live in a “vanity number” society, and even though we’re healthy as horses, we hate the scales to reach certain numbers (and I’m getting a little too close for comfort to my vanity number). Here’s what I did this week:

Monday, July 14, 2008

• Workout Type. Running
• Route. Forest Park subdivision
• Feeling.
• Time. 33 minutes
• Distance. 3 miles
• Pace per mile. 11 min/mile
• Additional notes. Felt good for being the first time I was out in a week! Even though I wanted to hit the road hard for an hour or so, I held myself back. I tend to work too hard on Mondays and Tuesdays and then have zero energy for workouts later in the week. I’m pacing myself.

Tuesday, July 15, 2008

• Workout type. Cycling class
• Route. YMCA
• Feeling.
• Time. 59 minutes
• Distance. 12.6 miles
• Pace per mile. 4:40 minutes/mile
• Additional notes. Our instructor didn’t show up, so I “warmed up” for 20 minutes before a sub took over. It’s encouraging to see that I can easily get in 12 miles in less than an hour, which will help me finish the triathlon in less than 2 hours.

Wednesday, July 16, 2008

• Workout type. Running
• Route. Forest Park subdivision
• Feeling.
• Time. 58 minutes
• Distance. 5 miles
• Pace per mile. 11:40 minutes/mile
• Additional notes. Still incorporating walking into my runs. I find that when I stop and walk when necessary, I can go faster when I’m actually running, so my overall time is faster, too. Even with all the time off from running this winter, my pace is right where I left it when I did the half marathon last fall.

Thursday, July 17, 2008

• Workout type. Cycling class
• Route. YMCA
• Feeling.
• Time. 46 minutes
• Distance. 9.6 miles
• Pace per mile. 4:48 minutes/mile
• Additional notes. Just another cycling class. Actually, they’re getting to be old hat for me. Maybe I should look into learning how to teach a cycling class. Every time I get out of one, I think about the music I would use, how I would plan the class, and how I would encourage my students. Ooh, and if I teach, I could probably get a discount on my gym membership. Dave Ramsey would be proud!

Saturday, July 19, 2008

• Workout type. Cycling (road)
• Route. Forest Park subdivision (4 laps)
• Feeling.
• Time. 56 minutes
• Distance. 12 miles
• Pace per mile. 4:40 minutes/mile
• Additional notes. I actually aired up my tires and rode outside! Of course, I was a genius and went out at 2 o’clock in the afternoon, and it was miserable, but I didn’t notice the heat until after I got off the bike. I did four 3-mile loops around my subdivision. My subdivision is by no means hilly, but it rolls in a few places, and I handled those spots just fine. I knew I could do 12 miles in cycling class, but I wasn’t sure once I got out on the road, so I was thrilled that this 12 miles was pretty easy for me. Once I finished, I dropped my bike in my yard and ran a lap around my block (4 minutes). That was the most painful part: for one, I realized just how hot it was. Secondly, I realized how much my quads had been working on my bike ride (I don’t have bike clips, which let you use your hamstrings more). My legs felt like jello for that four minutes. I’ll have to work on my transitions in the next month or so!

Entry Filed under: fitness/health