Monday, March 24, 2008

Weekend Recap

We are 7 weeks out from the Gulf Coast Half Iron Triathlon. On the plan for Friday was a 2 hour run and a 1500yd swim. Now listen to this craziness...I got up at 2:40 A.M. - yes, A freakin' M, for this run. Here's the deal - I've been running with a crew of speedsters for a while now, and they're making me faster. I like the push and the company, so I try to line up my longish runs with their longer runs (they were running 23 Friday-Whoa!). If they say they're leaving at 3:00 a.m. (some had to be at work early), then 3:00 a.m. it is. I was planning on running 15 with them, and then dropping off, but it just so happened that the route we took got me 17.38, so that was cool. I had a little stomach trouble...well, I can't really call it stomach trouble - I just needed a bathroom because evidently a long run doesn't make me nervous enough to trigger the pre-run poop anymore. So I ran into the convenience store after 13 miles and felt much better for the 4 miles back home. Most of the crew split up at that point - some were out ahead, some were going for more mileage, but Tim ran circles around the convenience store until I came out, and we ran back in together. It was a great run - an average pace of 9min/mile. The bad news is that I was toast as soon as we got done. I went home, slammed back a Recoverite drink that later wreaked havoc on my stomach, took a shower and went back to bed. That shower was the closest I got to a swim all weekend long.

Saturday morning was the big 70 mile ride. I ended up having four guys to accept the invitation - Kevin N., who's doing the bike portion of relay team at GCT; Tim G., who's doing the swim portion the same team at GCT; Joe B., who's training for the 3 State 3 Mountain Century and is also doing the swim leg for Holly and Heather's team at GCT; and Ben G., who's also training for 3 State 3 Mountain. We rode through Wartrace, Bell Buckle (and rode the Moon Pie 10 miler loop), Beech Grove and back to the rec center. 70 miles in 4:16. It was a beautiful day, but a bit more windy that I would prefer. I guess training in the wind is what I need to be doing though, considering I am training for a Half Iron and a Full Iron right on the gulf in Florida.

My legs were tired during the ride, and it took them forever to feel like they were warmed up. Lots of lactic acid burn. The last twenty miles felt better than the first 50. So that brings me to bike nutrition. After the first 20 miles, I ate 2 fig newtons (100 calories). I also drank Gatordade G2 during the entire ride. Around 45 miles, we stopped at a store and I opted for some Twizzlers instead of the Gu I had in my back pocket. I heart Twizzlers. I don't know if it was coincidence or not, but I felt great for the remainder of the ride. Is this okay? Can I really train/race with Twizzlers on the bike? Because I love these things, and there's just something very comforting about chewing on some Twizzlers during a 4 hour ride, as opposed to choking down a Gu. YaknowwhatImean? But I'm not sure if this is a feasible strategy for race day. Your feedback and advice is needed and appreciated!!

Following the ride Tim and I did a 1.75 mile run off. It hurt...we knew we were hurting, but just figured it was because we had just ridden 70 miles. Then when we finished and Tim asked me to check our pace I realized why we were hurting - it was 8:14 for crying out loud. I always seem to have a tendency to take off too fast on a brick...it's like I feel like I'm barely running 10's....and then I realized it is closer to 8's. I have to get that under control for GCT...8's will land me on the pavement at about mile 5, no doubt.

Easter Sunday was cold outside, but warm for the heart. We celebrated Jesus' resurrection at church, ate too much ham and dressing and banana pudding afterwards, and the boys didn't get into a fight over the golden egg this year. I got a much needed nap, and then spent some time praying with my mother for her upcoming back/neck surgery that she will have Tuesday. My mom's been in serious pain for about 6 weeks now, and surgery is the only answer. Please keep her in your thoughts and prayers.

Monday morning it was back at it - 7 mile run in an hour, and 3000 yds in the pool. The shoulder is much better and the swimming is improving. I can tell I'm making progress, and I'm starting to feel more comfortable with my stroke and with the bilateral breathing. Now if I can just keep it that way...

Have a great week everyone!

14 comments:

Wes said...

Totally awesome weekend. You are a machine :-) I can't believe that GCT is before Florida 70.3 this year... That will be blast for you. I think I'd check the ingredients on those twizzlers. LOL! Probably way too much sugar. But, then again, I could be wrong ;-)

Thoughts and prayers for Mom? You got it!!!

Carrie said...

I tried gummy bears at a race last year and they were like magic. I bet that's pretty close to twizzlers.

TJ said...

When it comes to nutrition...try everything and go with whatever works for you. If it still tastes good by the end of your long workouts and provides you with enough calories without stomach issues...it's a keeper.

momo said...

lana - if that is all you had, i don't think you had enough calories on the bike. we're about the same size and i try to get in about 200 calories per hour. can you do nutter butters? or have you played around with your liquid nutrition (adding in something like carbo pro, maybe?).

prayers going up for your mom, please let us know how it goes. big hugs.

Lisa said...

2:40am to run? ha! At least you were running with people and not alone.

Hope your mom's surgery goes well. :)

Christine said...

Sounds like the training is going awesome. I'll keep your Mom in my prayers. Hopefully she has good anesthesia...Also congratulate Bo on finding the golden egg..haha

Lance Notstrong said...

I say eat whatever works for you on the bike. If Twizzlers get you through the ride with energy to spare for the run, then Twizzlers it is :-)

I need FOOD-FOOD on a ride of 100K plus. I'm going to try boiled potatos on my next long ride like Paul suggests in his blog.
http://recoveringrunner.blogspot.com/2008/03/potatoes.html

TriSonq said...

Wow! 70 mile ride?!?

You are so gonna kick my arse at GCT.

I think my strategy has changed from doing well at GCT to surviving. Ugh!

Keep up the awesome training!

E-Speed said...

Sounds like you have been rocking it girl! Glad the training is going so well and life seems to be going great too!

Love the golden eggs, too cute!

jahowie said...

I have a weakness for Twizlers too and now I find out that they are good for riding nutrition!! Too cool. I can't wait to try them out on the bike. 2:30 in the morning?!?! Are you crazy?!?! I'm glad that you and the family had a good Easter.

greyhound said...

Better to have 200-300 calories per hour, twizzlers or otherwise, than to bonk. Go for it.

Oh, and as freakishly early as I always get up to train, I have never gotten out of bed when there was a "2" on the clock. That.Is.Nuts.

SingletrackJenny (formerly known as IronJenny) said...

Lana - my gosh - that was quite a run - 2:40 a.m.???
Here's a tip. Immodium. Take one whether you need it or not before any run longer than 15 miles if you plan on going any faster than conversational pace. Not really necessary if you're going slow, though.
HAve a great week... how did it go for your mom?

Di said...

Lana - bigun trains with twizzlers too! huh, who knew?!?

Taconite Boy said...

twizzlers rock!