Oh Speed, where art thou?

"Speed" being a relative term, of course. Because the speediest of my speeds would be very slow when compared with speedy people like E-Speed and Daisyduc. My training program called for an LT run today to assess my fitness. I was supposed to warmup for 10 minutes, go as hard as I could go for 30 minutes, and then cool down for 10 minutes. And after the first 10 minutes of the LT part, I was suppose to hit the lap button in order get my average heart rate for the last 20 minutes of the LT run. I finally drug myself out of bed at 5:30 this morning to do it. And I wasn't as fast as I wanted to be. The first 10 minutes of the LT run I did 1.2 miles(8:21/m pace) with an average HR of 169bpm. Then the last twenty minutes I did 2.5 miles(8:01/m pace) with an average HR of 177bmp. I really wanted that pace down under 8:00. And preferably close to 7:30. But oh well. I really want a sub 23 minute 5k this year, but that's obviously not looking so hot.

And Sunday I had to do the same kind of LT ride on the bike to assess my fitness. Since Sunday was Easter we spent most of the day at my parents' house - eating, hunting Easter egss, and playing the Wii. So I did the ride at 9 p.m. on the trainer. I didn't record my distances for the bike time trial, but I did get my heart rates. The first ten minutes my average heart rate was 152, and the last 20 minutes it was 167. And I was absolutey dying on that bike. The last 5 or 6 minutes I was gasping for every breath and sweating profusely. So why was my heart rate lower on the bike at LT than it is on the run? Does that mean I can sustain a higher heart rate while running than I can biking? If so, does that mean I'm a better runner or biker? I need to do more reasearch.

Sunday was also my Grandma's birthday. She is not with us anymore, and I miss her more than any words can express. Life here on this earth is forever changed without her.

In between Sunday and Thursday, though, I've had some decent workouts. Monday I had a 1650 yd swim, immediatly followed by a 5 mile run, immediatly followed by T-ball practice. Tuesday I had a 21 mile bike in 1:10, and Wednesday I had swim class, from which I finally left feeling encouraged instead of wanting to cry because I am so slow. Dee, the new helper, said my stroke was looking beautiful. That's encouraging, because it felt good too. AND - I kept up, and even passed some of the other people in my lane. THAT is a first. So we're coming along with the swimming. I still have SO FAR to go, but as long as I am moving in the right direction, we're cool.

Briar plays baseball tonight. I love to watch him play baseball. Tomorrow I have a 2900 yd swim, a 1 hr bike, and a 25 minute run back to back. Saturday, if it's not raining TOO bad, Briar and I are going to ride the 16.5 mile route in the Tour de Boro. It will be my little Briar's first organized bike ride...which reminds me, I've got to get him clipping in and out of those pedals ASAP! Then we have to rush back for Bo's T-ball pictures and a scrimmage at 11:30. Then Briar plays again at 5:00. Lots going on.


OH - and I forgot to mention that I finally signed up for Memphis in May. And booked a hotel room. So, it's official. I'm excited. And we're going to stay an extra night and play some Hold'em in Tunica afterwards. Triathlon and poker. And Memphis barbeque. It's on...