Who said there are no presents on Thanksgiving?

Petru busted into the house on Wednesday afternoon with a package in his little hands, screaming "I got a present". Hm, it was not for him, it was for ME, my lovely giveaway from Aimee (I tri to be me). I like getting packages. Love it. The waiting, the anticipation, the opening, beats any shopping done in the store...

Aimee sent me some of her favorite running things (thank you!). Coincidentaly, most of them are also my favorite things: the Nuun, the shot blocks, the laces. I've never tried Hammer Gel but heard the Apple spice is the best. The hook is really gorgeous, and the running sticker is already on my fridge. Here they are all, thank you Aimee.

But what I love most? The CD.Aimee made a CD with her favorite fast paced running songs. Petru and I listened to it this afternoon, had a dance session, and gave it two thumbs up. Then he got the remote control and played his favorites (So What, by Pink; I've got a feeling, by Black Eyed Peas, and Say Hey by Michael Franti) over and over and over. I had to hide the CD from him, bc this is MY running music. Sorry, kid:)




Speaking of the CD. Aimee had the great idea of calling it the "traveling CD". What this means is that I can send it to one of you after I put it on my ipod, and you can do the same, keep the music going, or giving, or something like this. Fun, no?

So let me know in the comments if you'd like the CD. And in the spirit of the holidays, I'll add a few of my favorite running things, too, not sure which, it will be a surprise:) If there are many takers, I'll have Petru draw a number:) No need to "follow" me on any social media device, no extra entries bc you are fast or cute. Sorry:) I'll keep this going until December 6th.

Hope you all had a good Thanksgiving! Time with family can be fun, but also a bit intense. Take some time to chill:)
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Here are the items that will accompany the CD:

1. Nuun Lemon Lime - it is my favorite flavor!
2. Recovery E21 organic, full spectrum electrolytes - these contain a full spectrum of trace elements and minerals needed for rapid absorption and utilization to help maintain the hydration balance (e.g. prevent over-hydration and dehydration). They also help with delayed soreness and cramping. I used them in my last marathon and had minimal to no post race soreness.
3. Roctane GU, pineapple - my favorite GU flavor.
4. Dr. Hauschka Ouch! Aid Arnica Compress - takes the ouch out, at least temporarily.
5. Run with it illuminate band (reflective slap band) - I put these around my arms or around my legs when I bike/run early morning or late afternoon.

Running and I

A little pause in my workday to de-stress. It's finally cold here, and I am loving this weather for running. In fact, I am one of those people who loves winter running. Give me snow (it protects my joints and bones from the impact), cold temps (help me from getting nauseous, and lower my running related expenses since I don't need to take that many salt tabs), and crisp air (my lungs love it much better than the hot and humid air of a hot summer day).

I am so in love with running these days. I went to the track early this morning, first time in a few months, and had a blast. My workout called for 10 moderate miles (MP) with 8X30 secs 3k pace or faster. I could have ran the 30 sec intervals on the road, but I wanted to see my track. I ran the intervals too fast (of course) but seeing a 4:58-5:20 range on my Garmin, and feeling my breathing become labored in the cool air....ah, this is my bliss! I was surprised at how quickly my legs moved, and this reinforced the importance of a progressive warm up with a few fastish miles. An awesome run! A not so awesome first ice bath in a while. That, I could do without:)

Last week I ran 44 miles, 20 of which were on trails. I figured out a way to incorporate runs with friends, and I am loving it. I used to do all my long runs with others, and it was not an easy transition to running 20 milers alone. Then I grew to love to run alone. After a year or so, I was running too fast for my friends, and ended up running alone all the time. Now, I am planning on doing my key runs alone, and my easy runs with others, or I may run part of a progression run with friends, and then push the pace for the last few miles. It is working great!

Last week I also started my training for my February Half Marathon. I am using a plan designed by...drum roll...moi. I had to do a 10 miler with 20 min @ planned HM pace (6:45-6:50). I did those minutes on a flat road and let me tell you, they were not easy. I can't imagine running 13.1-13.3 at that pace, but I know I'll work up to it. Before that, I have a 5k where I want to go sub 20:00. Yeah, not v hopeful about that one and surely 8X30secs intervals are not going to take me there:).

Biking and swimming are still in the picture. I think I am finally keeping my elbows high and not letting my arms cross over. I do see a difference. My 100m times are still slow, slower than what I did at my HIM, but I think that has a lot to do with my turns - I don't flip, and sometimes I switch from side to side when I turn, hence, losing time. I also think I don't know how to suffer in the pool. I think I am working hard enough - I get nauseous and dizzy after intervals, though that could be all the gulps of water I ingest - but I don't think my brain is OK with that, as it is with running related suffering. Same with biking, except I don't think I am working hard enough when I bike. I do sweat a lot, but my breathing is never too labored. Something to think about. And maybe one of these days I'll start using my HRM.

Last week I finally started to get organized about my swims: one with fast short intervals and drills, one with longer intervals and drills, and one with drills and IM (oh, you should see my back stroke...) that will eventually become endurance. Time goes by much quicker when I have a workout to do. I am also doing about 5 hours of biking/week, mostly at night watching TV. I've gotten them organized as well, short intervals and progressive spins to 120RPMs and single leg strokes, longer big chain work and endurance (not much for now).

Back to work now! And dreaming about my next track workout. Maybe I should become a 5K runner...

Oh, and I don't normally do this, but here is a gift for you. Go and read this blog post, particularly if you are a woman
http://tri-ingtodoitall.blogspot.com/2010/11/kicking-some-ass.html

Bullet points

* A huge thank you for the GREAT advice on base training. Since then, I've done my homework (aka read a bit on the subject) and have come to the conclusion that...big surprise...people do base differently. Most focus on technique and strength. Some do only easy work. Others add some intensity. It seems like the new trend is to have some intensity sprinkled into training - strides and hill sprints, and big chain on the bike and high cadence sprints. Everyone focuses on their weakness.

* I know that the best course of action for me as a triathlete would be to focus on biking and swimming, and run less. But, I make a conscious decision to continue putting in the running miles because I love it and it allows me to socialize for a bit before actual hard training starts. I did not realize it at the time, but I missed that aspect of training. I don't have a swim/bike network like I have for running. I think that I can still put in a strong base for swimming and biking, and will def increase that after my half marathon races.

* I started doing some big chain intervals and boy, my legs are screaming at me. LOVE IT!!!

* I am picking up my bike from the shop today. I am a little (?) disappointed that I did not finish my bike fitting. Jay is too busy with his real job and is no longer doing fitting. So he dumped me. This means that I got 2h free bike advice, but also that I will have to, for now, use the bike as is, without the detailed fit I wanted. At least I know I bought the right size bike - for now, that should do it!

* I am loving the fact that my 5 year old arranges playdated for himself. I love to have his little friends over, and even more when he goes to their houses and Chris and I get some free time. This Sunday will go biking together - I'll be on my tri bike and lets just say I am a little nervous.

* I am curious, do people like Thanksgiving? I am not big on cooking, on eating Tg food, on having a 2-3 hour long meal and watching football. Plus this year I am in no shape (by choice) to do a Turkey Trot. As far as being thankful, I feel I am thankful every single day for what I have, do not take anything for granted, and am fully aware that everything can be swept from under my feet at any given moment.

* And to end on a funny note, after my previous bullet point....my son keeps asking what he will get for Thanksgiving and told me the other day how he wants to skip all these holidays and get to Christmas so he could get stuff. As for me, I'd happily fastforward to New Years if it weren't for Petru. I think Chris's hatred of materialism is rubbing onto me! Oops, guess this is not a happy funny ending...

Base training - what is it and can someone tell me how to do it?

This is the first time in my life when I am teaching myself to "base train".

I understand the concepts of base training (slow miles, not too many) and its benefits, but I find them hard to apply.

Lets take it sport by sport.

Running!
I have been running easy since the marathon, over 50% of miles on trails, with one longer run on steep trails ranging from 1:45 to 2:50 (that's only 8 -14 miles). The pace is v easy on these long runs, but my HR does go up on the inclines. The rest of the time I am keeping the pace easy with a few hill sprints thrown in for good measure. I don't usually take my Garming with me on these easy runs. However, as I discovered today, my easy pace is pretty fast right now. A nice problem to have, you say, but I get a little concerned because I am not sure if that is easy enough or am I going to be at my peak in January, for a C race, and overtrained in February for an A race? I am also concerned that I am locked on this pace (marathon pace) and have lost my range - not a good thing.

Swimming!
Is there such a thing as base training for swimming? I mean, all the swimming I do is drills and intervals (short and long). That is only a little different than what I do when I train for a race (except when I race I swim more miles, and I do a weekly long endurance swim).

Biking!
I have no idea what am I doing here. I get on the bike 4/week for 45 minutes playing with the resistance for 5-10 min increments, paying attention to the cadence when the folks on Gray's Anatomy are performing open heart surgery that I am not keen to see, and a 2h (3h once a month) ride where I spin for 45 min @ cadence higher than 100, and then play with the resistance for the remainder of the time.

(And I do do the strength part even though it is not my favorite thing to do!)

What do you do for base training and how do you make yourself peak for a race or prevent yourself from being at your fastest when it does not matter?

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Last night I watched a great movie with a running theme, "Saint Ralph". V cute, check it out!

Answers

OK, so Monika pinned me down. I don't always answer the questions I am asked in the comments. I always answer emails, so do email me with questions if you want to be certain I'll respond. Or tell me how to use that blogger function where you can email the person who lives a comment directly from the blog.

OK, so here are the Q&As.

Mmonika
I see you are believer of compression things. So they work for you? When do you wear them? After a race or tough workout?

Honestly, I am not sure if compression helps. I think compression socks are the best investment, because your really need the most compression in your ankles, so the blood gets pushed up easily. So why do I like compression tights? Vanity! My legs look much better all squeezed into compression!
Also I have never received an answer to my question about Immersion DVD. Do you have only that one DVD or also something else? Book?

I have both the book and DVD (Total Immersion). I think both are useful, but probably not as much if you are a good swimmer or comfortable in the water. I am a swim/bike/run nerd, so I like to read everything, even basic stuff. I'd say get the book and not the DVD. You can watch youtube videos which are very useful.

AM Goals for the Week What do you think about doing an olympic distance tri in prep for your HIM?
AM, great point. The only problem is that I want to avoid overtraining, as much as possible. I peak quickly and I feel that an olympic race would maybe bring me to peak too soon.

Jill I'm surprised I don't see a full Ironman in that schedule :).

Jill, I am going to do an ironman at some point. I believe in gradually transitioning the body toward longer events. I think I will need at least one more season of HIMs before I tackle the full.

Mary You forgot to say you were going to IMLP to sign up and cheer me on! :) JK.

Mary, that is still the plan!

Also, make sure you get aerobars (do you have them?) and make sure you get a very good fitting.

Mary, check on both. Got a tri bike, Canondale Slice 5, and am half way through my fitting!

Big Daddy Diesel I am a little rusty, but isnt 3:10 good enough for BQ?
3:10 is BQ for men 30 and under. BQing is not an issue for me, I am qualified... I just want to see how fast I can get my body to move.

**********
Another beautiful morning on the trails. This time 13.5 miles, in almost 3 hours. Yes, almost as long as a marathon. We had a gorgeous day, sunny and crisp. I was ravenous when I got back (I did the run on no breakfast and only one gel, as I rolled out of bed 10 min before I got picked up) and so tired. We're off to a bar to listen to irish music (with Petru - are we the only crazy parents who take our kid to a bar?) and then dinner and games with friends. I love my life!

Racing schedule!

I started out about 4 blog post during the past few days. I did not finish them, the tone was not right.

I wanted to say how gimmicky the New Yorker article on running form was.

I wanted to ask you if 5-6 hours bike, 3 mile swim and 50 miles run represent a good enough base training for me.

I wanted to tell you about how frustrating it is to see that there is no agreement on proper swim technique (e.g., hand entry, rotation, etc, etc).

I wanted to tell you how I am becoming addicted to compression tights and have forbidden myself from purchasing any this year (I already own 5 pairs of compression shorts and 2 pairs of compression tights).

But then I realize that I really want to talk about racing. So let me share my tentative, incomplete, and exciting schedule for the remainder of 2010 and most of 2011.

December 2010
December 4th - Skyline Trail Race (Middlesex Fells), 2 loops, 16 miles - assuming no snow.

January 2011
January 1st - Lowell New Year 5K - going for sub 20!
January 16th - Derry 16 miler

February 2011
February 21st - Half at Hamptons Half Marathon - going for sub 1:30!

April 2011
April 21 - Great Bay Half Marathon - going for sub 1:30 again!

May 2011
Hopefully a bike race.

June 2011
June 6th - Mooseman Half Ironman - going for a PR!

One week completely off after Mooseman.
One week easy.

July 2011
Back in training. Hopefully a bike racing event.

August 2011
August 20th Vermont Half Ironman - going for as close to 5h as possible!
One week easy
Transition to running

September 2011
Nothing

October 2011
October 16th - Baystate Marathon - going for 3:10 if I manage a sub 1:30 half, or a 3:15 if I don't.

This is A LOT of racing for me. Will see how it will go! I am excited!!!

Catching up and strength

I've been sans my home computer for a few days - my laptop had to be encrypted so that I could continue to use it for work, don't get me started about how much of a pain this process was - hence, the lack of commenting and posting. Work is also supper busy, which is actually good for me since I am not training that much (for me). Anyway, I am back:).

Let the randomness begin:

* So I am in a love-relationship with running and biking, and a bit of a "grr, I don't want to do this" relationship with swimming. My runs are still done easy - except this morning when I ran with my friend B and we ended up running 11 miles @ MP -and mostly on trails. My mileage is going up and I am hoping that by December I'll be settled into 50 miles/week, which is where I'll most likely stay (+/- 10 miles) until I start training for a marathon again. I get on my bike often, for one or two episodes of Grey's Anatomy, which is nice. It's funny bc some of this show's messages, like how there is always a cause for a symptoms/disease, and if you search long and hard with multiple tests and procedures you eventually find the cause and save the person, goes head to head with my main area of research. A few years ago I would have been pissed about this. Now I can just watch the show for what it is and hope that others who watch it will take it as it is, just a show, no real life. Will skip over swimming....I get it done, but I am not into it. I assume it's normal, and pretty soon I'll be excited about swimming and not so much about the other 2 sports.

* Aimee and others have been asking about my plyometrics/strength training regimen. I know many people are into TRX or crossfit or P90X. I don't know much about these, except that they would not fit well within my schedule right now because I don't have time to go to a gym to take a 1h or so class. I also don't like to watch a video and follow along. So, I did some research and came up with some simple exercises. Here is what I do:

1. Plyos: done after a hard run; build up to 2X/week.
1.1. Lunges: build up to 50.
1.2. Side run: 10 on R, switch to 10 on L, build up to 100.
1.3. Backwards/forward run: run backwards for a count of 10, then forward for a count of 10, continue switching and build up to 10 switches.
1.4. Hill sprints: build up to 10X10sec all out sprints.
1.5. Skipping: on flat or hills.
1.6. Butt kicks/high knees: 10 butt kicks/10 high knees, switch 5 times.
1.7 Jumps: on a set of stairs, or a bench, etc. Jump up the stairs, or up and down the bench. Build up to 50.

2. Strength: done at night; 2-3 times/week; I use 5lbs ankle weights and a band.
2.1. 200 abs - vary the type.
2.2. planks -3X30sec (build up to 90 sec or more) front, L side, R side, no rest.
2.3. Side kick routine from Windsor's pilates (google it to find free videos) with ankle weights.
2.4. Wall sits - as long as I can...
2.5. Arm swings (just like in running) with 10-15lbs weights. Build up to 30 reps.

Both my plyos and strength routines take 10-20 min, but they add up to 50-100 min/week. For me, that's all I can do right now with my time constraints.

* We got Petru's school pictures the other day, and I am a proud mama. I can't believe how 2 average looking people like my husband and me were able to make such a good looking boy. End of proud mama moment after the pictures.