Swimming update

This does not meet any goals, but I wanted a beginning time with doing only freestyle. I swam 20 lengths (500m) in approximately 14 minutes. This is the distance I will need to do for the Sprint Tri and the middle 80% (not first or last 10%) of the women ranged in time from 8-13 minutes. Clearly I need to build some more power and efficiency in the next 4 months, especially because I was pretty exhausted getting out of the pool. Had this been a real race, I would've had to biked 16 miles then run 3. I definitely have room for improvement.

Longest run ever.

Luckily it didn't feel as long or as draining as the nasty hill run. Though, I did accomplish my goal of a 5 mile run in under 50 minutes outside. I did it in a 45:34 so a pace of 9:06/mi which is pretty good for me.

Just for full disclosure, it was on the UVA track so nice, flat, springy surface. My knees were not up to road running so the track gave me the ability to do the distance, work on techniques, and get used to running in the cold without the extra pain of concrete. I do still plan on running where there are more hills and course variation, but it's still kinda neat to run farther than I ever have in my life.

Just for the nerds out there, I'm including a graph of my HR & pace. I don't think my pace varied all that much, but then again, I know I stayed in the exact same lane on the track and the GPS map has my path of ranging quite a bit from side to side. Therefore, I take it all with a grain of salt, but I do believe the pace average and that I sprinted at the very end.

3 Miles before breakfast

::: starts laughing::::
Who are we kidding, I don't do anything before breakfast. I did however run 3 miles before work and while it didn't meet any goals, it thoroughly convinced me that I really don't like treadmill. I'd rather have that nasty hill by work. I think the one I was on was also particularly bad because of how they had a TV set up, so I was either looking in the reflection (it was off) or looking at an angle around it. Perhaps if I more wisely choose a machine next time... though I think I'd rather just go run outside.

Sprint Registration Complete

I am now officially registered for the CVille Sprint Triathlon! I can do each distance individually right now, so I'm confident in the next 4 months I'll be able to put them all together.

Climbing Uphill

In knowledge it is commonly said that you don't know how much you don't know until you start to learn more about the subject. I believe it is similar in actions, you don't know how much you can or can't do until you try. The last two times I went for 5K runs with coworkers outside, I didn't make the entire distance running. Both times I had to walk for a portion of it. As in the opening statement, I didn't realize I would have such great difficulty with long gradual hills and also steep short hills, and having them back to back. (Also doesn't help that these hills are on the way back.)

Today, I was victorious against those hills. I did the 5K in 31:44 (which isn't spectacular) but more importantly, I did it all running. Now next instead of worrying if I can even make it, I can focus on bringing the time down.

Sprint Tri Too!

This just in! My family reunion which was supposed to be the same weekend as the C'ville Sprint Triathlon (.3mi swim, 15.5mi bike, 3mi run) was just canceled. Now I'm seriously considering doing both Triathlons this summer. This really shouldn't change my training goals, just gives me another chance to race. And realistically, the Sprint will be a good practice for the International distance.