By the Numbers: Your Monthly Edition.

January is almost done. Which means my HIM training is what? About 16% complete? It was a pretty good month. It didn't go exactly as I had hoped. The the effort could've been far worse. The trip to the Bahamas definitely threw a wrench into things as you can see here...but it was worth it to escape this January bitterness, if only for a few days.

So my biggest "blah" is that I'm having drama making my two-a-days. Well, not so much "drama" but more along the lines of there's not enough hours in the day to accomplish my full workout. More specifically, I'm usually letting my mid-week run fall off the charts. It's not like he's asking me to run 15 miles mid-week or anything. It's just that right now, it's effing cold. And snowy. And I've been working late a bit lately. And no matter how hard I try, I just can't get that pre-work workout done. I clearly love sleep too much. Hopefully that'll change once spring decides to come. And running by myself late at night? That's just not an option. And the dreadmill? Hahahaa...I'd rather rip off all 10 toenails.

Something has to change. I'm holding out for it to be a weather change, but deep down I know it's my workout ethic that needs to give a bit. :sigh: We'll see how this goes down...

Here's a look at the numbers for the month. I suppose it's better than nothing.

Just under 9 hours on the bike. Not sure the avg. mph/dist/cadence on this because I had to return my first bike computer. Hopefully this pretty thing will be here soon.
Around 27 miles of running (wtf? I have single weeks with that mileage...meh, I'll get back there next month)...do you know how difficult it is for me to run in Z2? Yeeaaaaaaaah. I'm pretty much speed walking. Or running in slow motion...moreso than I normally do.
When you include tonight's workout, I've got around 4700 yards in the pool. Next month's goal on this alone is to hit at least 8000.
Then add a bunch of yoga and general stretching on top of it all.

I think you'll see a big jump between this month and next...I still can't believe it's almost February. Yowza!

When work meets play.

Most of you know I work in advertising. It's fun times. Really.

So it's not very often that work meets play over here in my realm. So naturally, I get excited to see a brilliant marketing idea that makes me smile and want to get out there and train...

But this...

...this is pretty sweet. Although I would've put it more in the realm of the 30k range rather than 17...but they didn't ask me. So whatever. Regardless, there's nothing like getting a second wind out on the course.

Well done, Adidas. Well done.



Now if only I could find one of these suckers to position behind me during the entire race, I'd be in great shape!

Happy Feet!

I swear. These socks have to be the best thing in the world for those of us who manage to blister in between the toes easily. It took a while to get used to when I first started wearing them, but now I can't imagine running without 'em.

It's been a bit of a nutty week trying to get back into the grind of half ironman training. I posted pictures of our trip to the bahamas over here. Nothing like leaving 80 degree weather to come home to -20 wind chill. Awesome. It made it especially difficult to pick up where we left off...I won't comment on training during the trip...because well...my liver pulled most of the training. ;)

At any rate...I unfortunately didn't get to the pool at all this week. Tuesday night we were asked to speak at a Team In Training info session and we were able to help recruit a few fabulous folks to the team. I can't believe we're getting ready to kick off another season with TNT. This'll be my fourth marathon with them...and four is indeed my lucky number...so all things will hopefully align for a most excellent race.

Wednesday night we had our bike technique and endurance class with Well Fit. We schlepped our way to class in a pretty nasty snow storm. And in the end, we had a wonderful hour long ass-kicking by Lara. I learned how to properly do some of the drills Maurice has in store for us over the next few months.

Thursday was supposed to be a pool day...but this chick left the big city today to move to Seattle...and Thursday night was the only night I'd be able to see her before her departure (which, by the way...we totally broke up because she's leaving me). Boo on her. So we met up with Leah & Jason for some drinks at Monk's to say good-bye.

Friday. Day of rest. You think I would've moved a workout...but nah. It was colder than a monkey and so I had dinner with Taylor followed by me getting sick later in the night. No fun.

Saturday was supposed to be a 2 hour run...but given the craptacular weather and knowing it was going to improve within 24 hours, I ended up doing my 1h45m long ride on the trainer Saturday night. Do you know how boring it is to sit on a trainer for that long when there is nothing on TV but the Miss America pageant? Oof. It wasn't pretty, but I got through it.

And so today was a 2 hour run...which should've been in HRZ1-2, but I am so fed up with keeping it to a brisk walk that I just went out and did a nice, slow, easy run. Made it about 9.2 miles...so I can't complain too much. Especially since I haven't gone running in...uh...a long while. I did, however, make sure to take plenty of walking breaks to keep my HR in check.

Getting back into the grind has been a challenge, but I imagine this will certainly be a better week. Hopefully work will comply and I won't have too many late evenings.

Okay. Dinner time.

Peace out, yo.

When a Straight A Student Fails

For those of you who've known me for years...even back in the days of college and high school, know that I'm pretty much anal retentive when it comes to tests and what not. I pulled just under a 4.0 average in high school and college was not much different. A's were common. B's were rare. And anything else was pretty much unheard of (with the exception of 9th grade algebra and the tough Mr. Salewski). I liked to get 100%'s. They made me smile. High numbers were good. Very good, actually.

Except when it came to sports rankings where you naturally want to be as low as possible. And of course, my Jayhawks are #2, just where I like 'em (it's fun being #1 and all, but we usually manage to jinx ourselves in that position, so #2 it is!).

Well...I learned when I got back from the cruise on Friday that I managed to pull yet another high test score. Except this time, it's not so good to be scoring high.

Apparently my cholesterol is out of control.

And I'm not talking about my good cholesterol either.

My total cholesterol was 243. The "good" kind came in at 53, which is right around where my doctor wanted it. The "bad" kind, however...was...177.

Uhmm. That's no bueno.

He's giving me 6 months to get it under 100. Or else I'm pretty much sentenced to a lifetime of lipator, or whatever the cholesterol drug-du-jour is.

Now. I don't eat a TON of crap to warrant this type of number. I don't live off of fried and uber fatty foods. Nor do I eat excessive amounts of red meat or eggs. And the doc said it wasn't really a matter of exercise...cause well...he knows what I'm training for and all the other races that come in between.

Running + Clogged Arties = Recipe for Disaster

Therefore, I've been given strict instructions to watch my diet. Yesterday when we went to the grocery I thoroughly examined pretty much every label on every item that went into our cart. And about 98% of it had 2% cholesterol or less. And the thing is...we picked up the stuff we always buy. Nothing new or out of the ordinary. I'm already eating the things I need to be.

So...there's a strong chance that my super stellar failingly high cholesterol number is hereditary (Thanks, dad! Love you!). As it turns out, both my dad and my brother have high bad cholesterol, too...and my dad is even on medication for it.

Good times. At least I know I'm not alone in my cholesterol rockstarness.

Is anyone out there on any of these meds? Can I anticipate any type of weird side effect with training? Does Gu contain astronomically high amounts of cholesterol?

Stay tuned for a slideshow on our fabulous trip to the Bahamas. Also known as, how to not train for a week.

Get in the ZONE.

So. Looks like I have a heart of steel...or gold...or something else that's awesome. And my high heart rate isn't actually a bad thing since I have a decently low resting HR. Here's how my heart rate zones break out...


Running.
Max HR is 218 (holy smokes!)
Z1: 109-131
Z2: 131-152
Z3: 152-174
Z4: 174-196
Z5: 196-218


Now it makes sense that I am so comfortable doing my long runs in the 160-range. It's exactly where I should be! Although it makes for a challenging HRZ1-2 run. Like today's run, for example. It was supposed to be 1h 45m in HR Zones 1-2. Hahahaa...real funny. I ran out trying to maintain that zone and I would have to walk every 2-3 minutes to bring it back down to the right zone. By the time I turned around after Soldier Field I was frustrated with all the walking and slow page and decided to run back. It felt really good to be out in the sunshine (and the lakefront wind!) getting my legs moving. Covered a little under 8 miles in the end, thanks in large part to having to be pokey in the beginning. Good times!


Biking.
Max HR is 208
Z1: 104-125
Z2: 125-145
Z3: 145-166
Z4: 166-187
Z5: 187-208

Right on. This makes a lot of sense to me as it's really easy for me to be in Z2 and be super comfortable. Looking forward to moving up and outside those comfort zones as training progresses and in our weekly "let's kick your ass" bike endurance and technique class. Last night's 1 hour long ride on the bike averaged a nice 128...just where I needed to be (long ride in HRZ1-2). Nothing like tossing on one of my favorite movies and getting lost in it while spinning the night away. I love the feeling of refreshment and accomplishment after spending a good amount of time in the saddle. Ahh...I'll miss him this week (yes, my bike is a boy).

Swimming.
Max HR is 203
Z1: 101-122
Z2: 122-142
Z3: 142-162
Z4: 162-183
Z5: 183-203

Now the thought of wearing my HR monitor in the pool has never actually crossed my mind. Perhaps we'll go there when my training calls for it. But until then, I'll keep swimmin' my lil' heart out and pray that one day I have the endurance in the water that I need to sustain me for the HIM. Thursday night's 1200 yard swim went over brilliantly compared to Tuesday night's sink or swim extravaganza. I found my rhythm early on and did a great job cranking out the distance in a very limited time.

So yeah...training is going really well! I'm both excited and surprised by my performance so far. It'll be interesting to see how far I can push myself this training season. With half iron training taking up the first half of the year, and marathon preparation focused in the back half, we're bound to see improvement across the board.

But for now...we set sail. Like Lisa, we're leaving the freezing cold midwest and headed to sunny, warmer skies. We'll be back in a few days on the flip side of the Bahamas.

Peace out, yo.

Don't Go Breakin' My Heart

Uhm...

I think my heart may be on the verge of exploding.

Tonight's run was intended to help determine my max heart rate. And....uhmm...my peak HR was 205. My overall average was 175. With the main set of the run sitting in the low-mid 190's.

But that 205 makes me nervous. I wasn't even going all out (probably about an 8.5-9 RPE)...so that can't even be my maximum.

So...what does all this mean!?! Do I have one super awesomely strong indestructible heart (likely formed from the boys who broke my heart back in the day? nah...who am I kidding, I did most of the heartbreaking.)? Am I going to keel over and die of a heart explosion on the running path? Or perhaps it's a sign I'm not pushing myself nearly as much as I should...and I really have the inner-workings of a superstar Kenyan who can take over the '08 World Marathon Majors standings?

Hmm. We'll wait and hear what Coach Mo has to say about this one.

I just don't want to end up breaking my heart. Literally.

Breathing. It's only slightly essential. Right?!

So this lil' 1.2 mile distance we have to cover by swimming...I seem to be having a teeeeeeeeeeensie teeeeeninie little problemo with.

I...cannot for the life of me...remember to come up for air...when I am focusing on the bajillion other things I need to be doing like driving my hip, putting my arms in the proverbial sleeve, the whole catch and anchor thingie, keeping my head down, driving with my elbow, kicking less, and everything else that I need to remember to be a stealth shark in the water. ('Cause lets face it. I am a shark...er...well...at least I like to think I was in a former life.)

But it just ain't happenin' campers. Even when I'm only focusing on one thing. I still forget to breathe. It's like I'm so wrapped up in maintaining the perfect body placement that breathing is placed on the back burner, when bi-lateral breathing should, in fact, be involuntary.

And then of course, when I forget...I'm all uber panicky out of nowhere, and just start kicking harder. Which leads to kicking for the sake of kicking. Which leads to valuable energy being zapped.

Brilliant. Right? I mean...who needs energy in a triathlon?

Holy heck. I'm-a-gunna-be-screwed.

This freestyle thang? it's overrated. give me some floatings and I'll doggy paddle my way to T1.

At least I made up for my super stellar 1350 yard performance in the pool with a rockstar 55 minutes of fast spin drills on the bike. It was beautiful. Lance Armstrong would've been proud. All that and I managed to survive my first official two-a-day.

Go me!

Master of my own Domain.

I took the plunge.

www.RunningJayhawk.com is all mine.

I've formally stamped my corner of this crazy thing we call the world wide web. I feel so...official or something. (Not like I have any grounds to really be official and what not. 'Cause I don't. But hey...it's all good.)

This weekend in Half IM training brought us to a little place I call "Heart Rate Land." Also known as, the most challenging place I've visited in a long time.

Saturday called for a 90 minute long run...keeping in zones 1 and 2. It sounded easy enough, so Mike and I laced up our shoes and headed for the lake. Now. For me to stay within the 1-2 HRZ, I need to be between 92 and 136 beats per minute. And when this home girl got anything above a brisk walk, the HR shot up into the 160's. Not exactly the easiest "run" I've ever done (if by "run" you mean I had to do a cross between a great-grandma-esque quasi-jog and power walk). I don't think I even worked up a sweat and covered a little over 6 miles (wtf?). But I was told to stay within HRZ 1-2 and I tried my damnedest to keep there (though I routinely managed to go over once I'd pick up the pace). It's odd though, because given 90 minutes to run on any other day I'd easily cover 7.5-8.5 miles depending on how I was feeling.

Now today's long ride on the bike was no big deal at all. Coach Mo called for an hour "long ride" in HRZ 1-2. After tossing on latest Harry Potter flick, I hopped in the saddle and got to work. I managed to keep an average HR of 124 while spinning at a decent tempo. Not too shabby, eh? It felt good overall and I'm slowly coming to the conclusion that my bike really isn't so bad afterall (although that may change once I'm outside braving the elements). I need to hook up the bike pod portion of my Suunto T3 so I can get a read on my distance, speed and cadence when I'm training indoors. I also need to do some seat adjustments to keep the numb toes at bay. Then I should be all good!

So here's how week 1 of HIM training went down...
M: 80 minutes of yoga
T: 54 minutes of speed drills on the bike
W: Sick. Took a day of rest (had a 45 minute tempo run and an hour of yoga on the schedule though)
Th: 1000 yards in the pool
F: Rest
Sa: 90 minute long run
Su: 60 minute long ride
Total Duration: 5:29

I'm pretty pleased with how things have gone. Now if June 15th would just get here already!

Have a great week, everyone!

Thoughts about 2008...

I'm not big on resolutions. Usually because I can't keep 'em to save my life. I'm more of a goal-oriented person. Sure, you're thinking isn't that the same thing, Barb? Well. Yes and no. You can have a resolution to lose 100 pounds this year. That isn't your resolution, that's your goal. Your resolution would be to workout 5 times a week and join weight watchers...or maybe score a lucky spot on The Biggest Loser TV show.

I could sit here and say that I want to run specific 5k time or break some 26.2 time barrier that I have chalked up in my head as being all mighty and important (if I were on the cusp of a BQ, that'd be a different story)...but that's just silly. The new PR isn't the resolution. The PR is the reward...the stretch goal achieved from the hard work of all sorts of smaller, realistic goals in the process.

I learned that this year in Chicago, that it doesn't matter how well-prepared you are for a race, things may not go your way and there isn't a damn thing you can do about it. Except for accepting the circumstances. I trained to run a 5:15 marathon. Likely would've come in around 5:30 in ideal conditions. But ultimately I was one of the many whose fate was with the weather gods and was pulled from the course.

So. I've put a lot of thought into what I want to achieve this year...so here you have it, campers...

Running/Triathlon Goals:
1. Train smarter in order to run an intelligent race.
2. Give 110% on race day taking into consideration my physical well-being and environmental factors.
3. Be flexible and know when--and how--to adjust my race plan.

If I can accomplish these three things, then I have no doubt in my mind that my times will improve dramatically. So much of this reward relies on #1. So much of #2 is dumb luck, especially when it comes to the weather. And #3 is a mix of common sense and race smarts.

So there you have it. Let's just hope it all clicks before race day...

Well my day just got better!!

This lil' Jayhawk is nothing but smiles over here...

...and to think my brother and dad, whose team--the BC Eagles--couldn't beat VT, both agreed that we didn't have a prayer to keep up with the Hokies. Hmph. I should've put money on the game or something!!

Orange you glad you're a Jayhawk?! Get it?! Orange!?! We're in the Orange Bowl! HAH! I crack myself up sometimes...

Hehehee...heh...eh.

In other news...half Ironman Training is going well so far. I missed yesterday's 45 minute tempo run and hour of yoga due to a severe headcold and headache. Monday I had an hour of yoga, Tuesday was a little over an hour on the bike doing some drills and tonight was 45 minutes of drills in the pool. Fun times, kids.

We've got more running and biking this weekend! Woohoo!

Okay...I'm off to watch the post-game coverage of our supreme and total awesomeness! Take that!! Rock Chalk Jayhawk!!

It's Not Cancer!!!

Okay. So I've been totally holding out on you guys.

Not that my sister would have appreciated me screaming the initial worry from the mountaintops anyway...because she likely wouldn't have, especially since she's one of my regular readers.

But now that she is out of surgery and the doctors have confirmed that everything is okay...

SHE DOESN'T HAVE CANCER!!

She's gone through it once, and once was one time too many. I was able to talk to her on the phone and she seriously sounded drunk as a skunk from all the drugs they had her on...an elated skunk at that, though I'm sure she smells much better than those pesky rodents.

So she'll be good to go for the Berry Women half marathon out in Palm Springs next month, and the race will just have that much more meaning. But the best part is...this doesn't interfere with her and her hubby adopting Lexi from China.

I'm not sure this day can get any better!

Well...unless, of course, my Jayhawks win the Orange Bowl tonight...but I'm not exactly holding my breath on that one...

But YAY! It's not cancer! Come join me in my jubilation!!

That is all.

Carry on.