Training, Training, Training...

I haven’t written in a while so I thought I needed to update everyone on my progress and maybe even take a different path in my post. 

First of all, I am smack in the middle of my triathlon and marathon training and working very hard (at least for me). I am right in the middle of my training for the Heart and Sole Sprint Triathlon and the Kentucky Derby Marathon.  The sprint triathlon (April 21st) is one week before the Marathon (April 28th). After today, I will officially begin my taper for the Marathon.  I ran my longest distance today (approximately 24.5 miles) and that will be the longest I run until the day of the marathon.  For the following weeks, I will be slowly reducing my weekly mileage and my long runs will become shorter (< 20 miles).  I am doing strength training, running about 40 - 45 miles a week while mixing in a few long, tempo, and short, quick runs.  I am also still working on my swimming and have increased to about 5000 yards per week.  I still am doing spinning classes at least two days per week and trying to get outside to do some biking on the weekends.  I average about 12-14 hours a week in some sort of training.

I have started to develop an injury or two, but nothing to derail my training.  I have been to a Sports Medicine doctor and have started physical therapy for a right hamstring strain and some sort of arch/toe pain.  Basically, I probably need to do more post-workout stretching after my run and strengthening of my glutes and hamstrings.  Again, the doctor said it is nothing to stop any of my training, but it is something that needs physical therapy. 

Anyway, I have lost approximately 167-168 lbs. and I am eating just about anything I can get my hands on since my training volume has increased.  I still eat “clean”, just quite a bit of it.  I really like it, but there is only so much someone can eat in a given day.  I really enjoy the new “me” and the progress that I am making toward training for races.  I still learn new things every day from some of the most amazing people.  That is what I really wanted to talk about in this post, is the amazing people that I have come in contact with over this past year.  I have met some really great, unselfish, and extremely motivating people along my journey and I just wanted to share a little about their story. 

I know I may leave some people out, but that doesn’t mean that I haven’t been motivated by EVERYONE that I come in contact since my journey began.  Let’s start with a few people I have met at the YMCA.

First there is a woman, my spinning instructor and running partner, or “the beast,” as I like to call her.  She is a woman who has competed in a few Half-Ironman Races and countless road and mud races.  Over the past year, she has been my spinning instructor, triathlon mentor, running partner, number one motivator, and friend.  She, like most extreme athletes, will push herself to her limits with only her own pure self-will.  She pushes through pain and injury like no one I have ever seen before (not that it is always a good thing), but she does it without a grimace.  She is currently training for two half-Ironman races this year along with a couple of mud runs and a sprint or Olympic distance triathlon here and there, but she definitely lives up to her nickname. 

Next is a guy named Mike.  He is also a triathlete, but his triathlons are mostly XTERRA type events.  For those of you who don’t know XTERRA events are those that involve the same swim, bike, run aspect, but the run and bike are done on trails and by mountain bike.  These are extremely difficult races and therefore, the distances tend to be Olympic distances. Well, this guy is very unique.  He trains himself and creates his own workouts from his readings and experience alone.  He, like most triathletes, is very regimented and dedicated to his sport.  He really understands the sport and how to train efficiently.  He has given me some great advice over the last year on training regimens and readings that I should pick up.

Another person is a triathlete named John.  He is an older gentleman with great knowledge of the sport.  He has raced in anything from a Half –Ironman distance to sprint distances. He knows which races are good for beginners, and which races to stay away from.  He is actually the person who recommended that I try the Heart and Sole Sprint Triathlon Race. He is valuable resource when it comes to race knowledge.

These are just a few of the people that I have met along my way.  They are just some of the people who have helped me, motivated me, and even pushed me to reach my limits and even push past those.

Just an added note...

The preparation for my marathon has really become an eye opener.  I will tell you, a 20+ mile run will tell you a lot about yourself.  If you have read some of my other posts, you will find that I am passionate about running, more so than biking or swimming.  There is just something special about running. There are sights, sounds, smells (not always good smells though J), that most people won't get to witness unless you are a runner.  There is an area that I regularly run in the mornings that has the best sunrise that I have seen.  I am sure there may be better views of a sunrise on some beach, but this is a sunrise that I have found and maybe only a handful of other runners know about.  That is one of things that is special about running, you create your own place or even your own moment.

Next time, I will tell about my volunteer experience at a local half –marathon.

Great times, training hard, and running long…