Where’d November go?!
After two months of swimbikerunning when I felt like it, the hum of scheduled training started again last month, and it feels good. I started working with Nick’s coach, Andy Schiesl, and have been slowly gearing back up and building a base. Early morning workouts are back, and even in the dark, it’s been nice to get up and break a sweat to start the day.
While not being able to run for six weeks kinda stinks, I’ve surprisingly started to enjoy the pool. The quiet yards tick by, and I feel like I’ve finally found a good rhythm and additional confidence in the water. I’ve even been practicing flip turns… they aren’t pretty (yet), and I only do them during my cool down since it’s faster to just turn at the wall during sets, but they’ll get there. Both Nick and I are on wait lists for masters, so crossing my fingers we get spots when new sessions start in January.
I’ve even more shocked to say that the trainer hasn’t been horrible! (Ask me again in March.) Granted, no ride has been longer than 90 minutes, but it’s still been great to be in the saddle, even if it’s not outside. Biking with power also makes it more of a game; I definitely have to focus more to keep my watts in check.
Strength training has also made a reappearance. I’ve been following functional strength and mobility program, and with just two sessions a week, I feel more flexible and stronger.
November wasn’t without any non-triathlon fun, too. We made a trip north to my hometown of Hallock to visit my parents, grandparents and my sweet old weim, Zoey (she’s 13 on December 28!). It was a lovely few days filled with turkey dinner, tea at Grandma’s and a hardcore game of Scrabble.
Other November fun included the Banff Film Festival, Gravity in 3D, small business Saturday shopping (is it bad it was for myself?! Fave shops: Prime and Polish, Mille and Shu) and we picked out our Christmas tree.
And, shout-out to Dogeared Jewelry! I wore my lucky elephant necklace throughout Ironman Canada training as well as the race, and after the chain broke during my first post-race run – as I’ve been told, that means your wish comes true – Dogeared kindly sent me a replacement. How fantastic is that?! Thank you, Dogeared!
November training stats
Swim: 20,500 yards, 6:44:52
Bike (trainer); 326.42 miles, about 16 hours
Run (pre-injury): 60.59 miles, about 8:45
Yoga: five classes, 4:35
Strength: 3:30
Have a wonderful holiday season, friends!
12 Comments
I love, love, love your elephant necklace–and that’s a total sign that it broke right after your IM (also awesome that they sent you a new one!). 🙂 Hope you’re back to pain-free running soon!
I’m obsessed with Dogeared — might have to get something for myself soon! 🙂
What’d you think of Gravity? I was SO tense during the entire thing!
I LOVE your necklace!! I didn’t know that elephants were a sign of good luck. I’m definitely going to have to get me one of these. I can use all the luck, no matter what form it comes in 🙂 Glad you had a successful November and before you know it, you’ll be back running. It’s hard to believe there are only a few more weeks left in December!!
Richie and I were at this local shopping event on Sunday and we kept finding things for ourselves too! The best/worst part about Christmas shopping! 🙂
I wish I lived closer to a pool, it would make my achilles rehab a lot better. I love to swim 🙂 Hope your PF is getting better!
I love the story about your elephant necklace! They are such special animals, but I didn’t know they are good luck!
I haven’t touched a pool since ironman canada, but that photo looks inviting! Glad to hear training is going well despite the running break.
I think flip turns really help! I started them this year and they make the workout much more continuous – more like a triathlon, and they also build up your endurance without the wall rest. They’ll get better with practice, then you won’t want to go wihtout them 🙂
Your necklace story is so wonderful!! Such a fantastic symbol.
I have never learned how to flip turn either. it seems SO hard to me! How long have you been practicing at it? I feel like I would smash my feet into the wall. Enjoy that bike & swim while you wait to return to running — Keep healing quickly!
All I can say is practice practice, practice the flip turns…you are never going to get better at it if you are only doing them in your cool down. I know its a pain to go to the pool just to practice but if you can do it! Then you will be super ready when you “get into” your masters and you will be able to kick butt!!! 🙂
Love the necklace! Glad your training is going good!!
You had a great November aside from the injury. I asked for a dogeared necklace for Christmas and hope I get it. You’re getting in some serious bike time! And I seriously need to get back on the bike. After the marathon I will. And how nice that you’re enjoying the pool more. The idea of working on flipturns always confuses me because you don’t need them in the open water. I hear a lot of people talk about working on them. Does it make a big difference in triathlon training to have better flip turns?
That necklace is so cute! I can do flip turns but they aren’t pretty. But at least that way I can’t pause at the wall.
I love weims. My boyfriend’s mom has one and she is so wonderful. She is getting so old though!
1. I love that picture of the water 2. I love that necklace
What functional strength and mobility program are you using? I don’t know a whole lot about strength training but am trying to incorporate it more into training