"Ooooooh sometimes I get a good feeling"

First of all Happy Friday everyone! All I have to say is it is about freakin time Friday showed up! So as you can probably guess, this week has been sucessful. I had a few set backs, those being, a stomach virus, a husband with an upper respiratory infection, recovering from my birthday celebration and general fatigue, but I got through it.

I got in some decent workouts this week, but I had some issues going full force because I was completely dehydrated and feeling a bit out of it due to the stomach bug, but I did what I could. And I think, if it is possible to say a stomach bug came at the right time, it did, because I honestly needed a bit of a training break. I was feeling a bit of burn out. So a slow week was a good week.

Next week I will be back full force. I have my 2nd tri of the season coming up in 3 weeks, the NJ State Olympic Tri and I need to be ready for it. I did this one last year and all I really remember was that the heat was brutal. So I need to get outside and train for the heat a bit as well. I am hoping to get in a nice long ride and T run this weekend with some good running on Sunday, while also fitting in some time in the sun and possibly a movie night. I can't lie I am dying to see Ted.

I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend! Enjoy the sun and I will check back in on Monday.

A Test

So this weekend I planned a little test for my ITB. Last week I managed to ride and run and only have slight pain. So with my new sneakers, foam roller and stubborn mind I set out to test my body a bit. I decided there was no way that I would not submit to Coach P's idea of switching to water running only, making the only answer to obviously test my ITB to see what my threshold was. I set out to do a few ZR rides followed by Z1 runs. The runs would be for as long as I could withstand without pain.

Saturday was fine. I rode and then got a short run with no pain. I rolled after the ride and the run and then rewarded myself with a day at the pool in the sun, followed by oysters and seafood pasta. On Sunday I hopped on the bike for quick 45 min ZR and then went to the gym to see what I could do. I managed to bang out 55 min at a 9:12 pace. At 55min I didn't absolutely have to stop, but I started to feel a dull aching, so I made the executive decision to stop and roll out my leg. So it looks like 55 min is it for now.

I relayed my times to Coach P and it he seemed ok with it and has kept me on my normal training schedule with no water running for now. While water running could be fun and entertaining, considering I have a pool at my complex and it would be funny to see people's reaction to me in the pool at 8am jogging, I would rather stick to my normal running plan for now.

I haven't really had to run this week yet. But I will be testing it all out again tonight during my Z1 T run. I have to do the first mile in Z2 and I am interested to see if this will effect how I feel afterwards. Fingers and toes crossed  (again! I am sensing a pattern here, maybe that is the problem!) I make it through the entire run!

Whoaa Where Did the Time Go?

I originally went into summer saying, "Isn't it great that we really have no set plans?" and then came June! So sorry I have been missing, but here is a quick recap of what I have been up to. I spent Memorial Day weekend at home with Nick, as he had just gotten back from a business trip. We got in some pool time and just relaxed. Then I had an amazing trip to Boston/Cape Cod with some of my best girlfriends. And man, what a blast that was. We seem to always walk away with some amazing stories when we all get together. Last weekend we had our friends and their 6 month old come to visit and we spent the weekend eating, drinking and playing with the baby. Now all while this was happening Nick began to demo our kitchen so for the past week and half I have been cooking on my kitchen table and cleaning dishes in our guest bedroom. Which should bring you guys up to date.

Now, since this is a training blog, I can't leave that stuff out. While all of the above was happening I have also been getting in some good training. Since I had some ITB issues in my last race I decided to pass on the half iron at the end of the month, so my next race is an Olympic in July. I may try to drop a sprint in if a can, but it all depends if I can find one. The issue is that the ITB problems I have been having have not gone away. It rears it's ugly head every once in a while. For instance this weekend I had a 1:30 ZR ride and a 1:10 Z1/Z2 run. I decided I would keep the run in Z1 to see if my ITB would be ok. I made it :53 until I had to stop due to the nagging pain in knee. But there are other times, where I have totally pain free runs. So what gives?

I have been doing all the "right" things. I got new shoes, a foam roller for home and have starting icing it every day. The last thing I am going to do is make a massage appointment for 1 hour of torture. But it is starting to worry me a bit. I can't have this bothering me all season, it is just too frustrating. I love being able to log some time in my running shoes. It keeps me sane. But I can't keep doing it if I end up having to stop before I am ready to be done each time I attempt it.

I am going to head out this morning to see how it feels. If I end up back here before I planned to be, and you hear a strange noise outside that might be someone screaming in frustration, it is me!

Fingers and toes crossed....here I go!