2 down, 2 to go!

2 down, 2 to go baaaby! Have you donated? If not, do so, http://www.firstgiving.com/megandkimtriathlon. $5 is good, we like $5, or more, your choice :)

May was sweet. I had 24 workouts in the month - 13 runs, 9 bikes (despite being without a bike for a week), aryingnd even 2 swims! I'm feeling good about everything, have avoided all injury, and am looking forward to the month to come. June holds many things, including weekly bricks (combining 2 events in one session), and trying out the actual course.

I've bought a Holden pool pass and that should help increase my swim times, but hey, I'll have adrenaline on my side, and I always have the back float, right?

I can't swim but I didn't drown..

Today, thanks to the supreme kindness of Laura and Courtney, I did my first full swim session. I used the pool at their complex and did a combo of freestyle and breast stroke for about 25 minutes. Honestly, despite the fact I've been working out 6x/week, I have never felt so out of shape. My arms ache, my lungs hurt, and I feel like a complete loser. I 'm going to go back tomorrow morning for another work out, and like with all things...this will come too.

A great week..

Training could not have gone better this week! I pulled a full 6 days, 3 on the bike, 3 running, 5 strength training. My bike time is just at the one hour mark, but I can feel my legs strengthening, and with my new water bottle holder, I am going to be much, much more comfortable.

The run is going much better than expected, I'm keeping an 8-minute mile and my knee has held up all week. I still haven't gotten in the pool, and I honestly need to make that my goal for next month - swim, swim, swim!

I'm off to Vegas on Tuesday, but am looking to train today, Monday, and Tuesday morning so even if I don't get into my hotel's gym at all I've still got 3 days under my belt.

My Ipod reads my soul...

Today, I completed my first full 12-mile bike ride in a little over an hour, and this time I knew where I was going. I had mapped out that it was exactly 6 miles to the center of Hubbardston and since Lent was over, owed myself a little treat :). Since I am still car-less, I figured I'd test out my 12-mile endurance while rewarding myself at the same time.

Most of the ride are simple, rolling hills followed by flats until I hit THE MONSTER at about the 5 mile mark. This hill is over .3 miles long at just goes up, and up, and up. I was almost ready to de-bike when the end of Clapton's "Layla" came on about 3/4 through the hill. My soul was placated and I crested the monster.

The ride home features a steeper, yet not as long hill, but after about 8 miles of biking, it is just as daunting. Again, ready to quit, "Sound of Silence" begins to pump through my ears, I take a deep breath, and bam, I've reached the top.

It's funny though, all the "little" things I've told myself I would not need I am currently dying for. I thought sunglasses were just ridiculous until I was picking nats out of my eye doing 25mph down a steep hill, and when my toes went numb around mile 7, I started thinking bike shoes might not be such a bad idea after all. I may need to start a seperate funraiser just to get my through all the supplies I am going to need!

Lots of good weather ahead and a lead on pool time=a great training week for me!

I can bike 9 miles?

When I get lost. I totally meant to just extend my route by a little bit, but somehow ended up in Hubbardston/Fitchburg somewhere because I figured rt 62 was just around the corner. Eventually, my phone began to die, and that's when I called it quits and decided to turn around. An hour later, I was home, sore, and thirsty (note to self, get water bottle holder ASAP), but safe. After a google map adventure, I determined that I had just biked 9 miles. Suck on that triathlon!

No car, let's bike!

Yesterday, Jesse took me to tune up my bike and ensure it was road ready, today, I rode it. It took me all day to muster up the guts to get out there, 40 degrees and snow flurries is not exactly the best motivation in the world. Around 5pm, I decided to stop feeling sorry for myself and to do something about it.

I extended the course I usually take to jog, and made it 3.6 miles or 1/4 the distance I will have to run in July in about 20 minutes. I did ok and only got out of breath on one hill and accomplished my goal of not having to walk my bike at all!

I will definitely have to invest in a water bottle holder and a seat cushion ASAP, my butt can't take 12 miles on that thing! After just trying to walk from my mailbox to my garage, I absolutely understand why everyone says the transition between the bike and the run is the hardest, my legs felt like complete jelly!

But it's a start, and for now, being able to ride a bike is a skill that transcends tri training, it is a true necessity.

Progress already!

Today I increased my run by .5 mile and am up to 2.6 miles without having to stop to walk at all. I'm not too sure about Parker though, he's already deep into his nap! :)