Cool New Swimming Website

In light of the fact that I am considering a triathlon, my brother and sister-in-law's new website is pretty timely. Check it out at http://mydailyswim.com/

Planned Races for the Year

Two of my goals for this year are to complete a triathlon and to run a half marathon in under 2 hours. I have slightly modified one of those goals and made my half marathon goal 2:02 because a book I am reading says 2 hours may be an unrealistic goal. (I am still hoping for sub-2 though.) Anyway, I think I am going to do the Crescent Moon Tri in September. It's a nice short one so I don't think the swim will kill me. It also gives me plenty of time to get a road bike and practice...right now I only have a mountain bike and that just isn't practical for triathlons. They run it through Cherry Creek State Park, so it should be pretty without adding any altitude to my normal training level. In June, I am planning on running the Rocky Mountain Half Marathon. It runs through downtown Denver, so again, it won't add any altitude to my normal training. In fact, I actually train about 1000 feet higher, so maybe that will help?

I am not sure I am supposed to be posting this, but Dan is planning on running the Bolder Boulder this year. Hands down, it is the most fun race I have ever competed in. It is a 10K run through the streets of Boulder, CO, every year on Memorial Day. Dan would love to have some company if anyone is interested (hint, hint: Crystal, Joe, Erics, Suzanne, Amanda, Mike). It really is an amazing experience...you finish the race by running into Folson Field and it seems like everyone in the place is cheering just for you. It's also beautiful. I will be there with Noah cheering Dan on...and you if you come!

I also want to find a pretty race up in the mountains that I can run just for fun. I may think about doing the Golden Leaf again, but it might be nice to try something new.

*Click on any of the images to check out the race websites.

Run Less, Run Faster

I have been reading this book called Run Less, Run Faster that I got for Christmas (Thanks, Eric I.). It's about how with three days a week of running plus two days a week of cross training, you can improve your times for pretty much any racing distance (5K, 10K, half, or full marathon). You just have to train at a faster pace than you are used to and do three specific types of runs: track repeats, tempo runs, and long runs. I am still running 4 times per week, but I am doing cross training at least one day plus a couple days of strength training. But I am not up to the paces the book recommends for me yet, either. I guess you could say I am making a slow transition over to that program. I figure if I train for my half with that program, it gives me two days per week to bike and swim to start getting in shape for the tri I want to do this year.

Today I am doing a 7 mile run @9:48 (the long run pace recommended by the book for my last 5K time). I am going to need to speed it up if I want to finish the half sub-2:00. Right now, the book says a reasonable goal time for me is 2:02. I haven't decided what 1/2 I am running yet, so I need to figure that out soon to decide if I have enough time to speed it up.

Chicago Lakes Trail

Yesterday, I did a 9 mile trail run. It was rough. I thought it would be great to prepare me for the Golden Leaf, but mostly it just made me hurt. First of all, the trail runs around 10,000 to well over 11,000 feet. Second of all, the terrain is pretty rough, and even though I've hiked the trail before, I really didn't know how hard it would be to run uphill while dodging rocks and roots for that long at that altitude. Needless to say, there was some walking involved.

I also swam today just to see if I could do a little more than I did last time. I could...a little...still have a long way to go. Why can't I have arms like Michael Phelps? I guess that would look a little weird on a chick.

Swimming is Hard

I am thinking about doing a triathlon (a shorter one) sometime next year, so when we took Noah to the pool yesterday, I thought I'd swim some laps. I am not even going to mention the pitiful distance I swam before I was exhausted. Let's just say I have a long way to go before I am ready for a tri. I am so sore today too. Ouch!