Change of Scenery

Spent five days with Sweetie in North Carolina. He's such a doll and knows that I have to keep up with Ironman training even when I travel. So we worked everything around the training schedule but still kept if F-U-N.

The highlight was going to the Outer Banks (OBX for those in the know) for a Friday night of camping and awesome training ride on Saturday. It was a taper week, so it was ok to take it a little easy. We started from the campground. Rest Stop 1 was at the memorial to the Wright Brothers. Spent about 30 minutes viewing the memorial and the awesome view from the top of the very large hill that the memorial sits on. (Yes we did ride our bikes up the hill and then a lady with a cane pointed out to me on the way down that there was one - and only one - sign that said 'no bicycles'.) Rest stop 2 was the beach. Nothing better than taking off your helmet and cycling shoes for a little fun in the sand. Final stop was a small grocery for a refill of fluids. The last 8 miles of the ride were through a beautiful neighborhood of shade trees and blooming dogwoods.

Sunday was a trail run that follows the perimeter of a lake near the Raleigh/Durham airport. I'm so impressed with the Raleigh/Durham area with the number of parks, trails, sidewalks, bike lanes, etc. It's definately "Exercise Friendly". Wish H-Town was more like that!

I can't believe I'm now 3 months into Ironman training. Almost half way there!







Workout Log

Monday, April 13
45 min trainer ride

Tuesday, April 14
1 hr weight training
45 min hill run

Wednesday, April 15
1 hour swim
Yoga

Thursday, April 16
BRICK - 45 min trainer ride, 30 minute run. Had fabulous run. Did 9:30 pace

Friday, April 17
OFF

Saturday, April 18
60 miles on trainer - UGHHHHH....I hate the rain

Sunday, April 19
GREAT 2 hour run with the girls starting at Memorial Park then towards downtown. Followed this with brunch at The Hobbit and shopping at Lululemon.

Monday, April 20
45 min trainer ride

Tuesday, April 21
45 min hill run - not a good run, but finished it

Wednesday, April 22
Swam 1 hour at pool in Cary

Thursday, April 23
Brick in NC - 45 min hilly ride followed by 30 min hilly run

Friday, April 24
1 hour swim in Cary Pool

Saturday, April 25
AWESOME 42 mile ride on the Outer Banks of NC

Sunday, April 26
1.5 hour trail run around the lake in Raleigh

Monday, April 27
45 min ride on bike trainer

Tuesday, April 28
Weights for 1 hour with Hawaiian Christine
30 minute run with Canadian Debbie

Wednesday, April 29
1 hour swim in the 50 meter pool with Canadian Debbie. Nice to have the longer lanes for a change

Thursday, April 30
My big sis's birthday and also did a Brick - 45 min on trainer and 30 minute tour of the neighborhood

Friday, May 1
1 hour swim with Canadian Debbie

Easter in the Hills

After many years of hearing about it from the Master Lord, I finally went with Michelle and Canadian Debbie to the Easter Hill Country Tour. This event is 3 days of no-frills riding in the Texas HILL country....and hilly it was! Met a new training friend, Amy, who came along with Michelle.

First up was a 47 mile ride on Friday. Well, mile 9 almost did me in. The "BEAR", as it's known got to me about 1/3 of the way up. It was so steep that I thought I should upclip one side. BIG mistake. When you slow down enough to unclip on a very steep hill, you can't get enough momentum to get going again. It was so steep, I was sliding on my clips when I was WALKING up! Had to stop and put my clip covers on so I could get to the top. Made it through the rest of the hills.

Day two was 66 miles. Well, we should have known there was going to be a problem when the street sign even warned cars of the upcoming "hill". So what did they call all those other things I had been climbing without the warning sign. When we got to the top (I actually made it to the top this time cuz I WAS NOT walking even though this hill was steeper than the BEAR), the guy at the rest stop told us we were at "Eagle's Nest". Glad I didn't know the name before I started climbing.

Sunday we woke to rain and very wet streets. So we headed back through the storms back to Houston and I rode the 19 mile ride I was supposed to do in the Hill Country on the trainer.

Best part of the weekend was fun with the girls, meeting Amy and knowing that I'm one step closer to being ready for the mountains in Canada!


Workout Log

Sunday, Mar 29
2 hour ride, 30 minute brick run

Monday, Mar 30
45 minute ride on trainer

Tuesday, Mar 31
1 hour weights
45 minute hill run

Wednesday, April 1
60 minute swim with Canadian Debbie
Yoga 1 hour

Thursday, April 2
45 min ride on trainer
45 min run

Friday, April 3
OFF

Saturday, April 4
1 hour swim in New Orleans

Sunday, April 5
Support Crew at Ironman New Orleans 70.3 Ran about 3 miles!

Monday, Apr 6
90 minute ride on trainer

Tuesday, Apr 7
Overslept and missed weights
45 minute hill run in Land of Sugar

Wednesday, Apr 8
Swam 1 hour with Canadian Debbie
Yoga 1 hour

Thursday, Apr 9
OFF

Friday, Apr 10
47 mile ride in the Hill Country

Saturday, Apr 11
66 mile ride in the Hill Country

Sunday, Apr 12
Brick: 19 mile ride/30 minute run