weekly workouts // june 18

Monday, June 18 – rest day. Nick and I joined our fellow P2-ers for happy hour on the Happy Gnome patio, as Liz was home from Alaska. Great to see you, Liz! Looking forward to biking with you soon.

Tuesday, June 19 – today’s P2 track run at Macalaster was SO.HOT. Temps crawled up to 95 degrees + about 70 percent humidity… yikes. Coach Matt modified today’s workout, thank goodness – it was supposed to be 3 x 3,200m – to just 4 x 1,600m. I’m typically not a hot weather runner, and there’s no way I would have done this workout solo on a day like today. Even the warm-up was hard! But, I surprised myself on the repeats by keeping up with the other girls (remember my first track workout when I cried? Today = progress!). Despite swallowing vomit multiple times as I crossed the finish line of the last repeat, it was reassuring to know I can tough it out even when it’s sweltering outside.

My splits: 7:50 / 7:38 / 7:45 / 7:48.

Run: 15-minute warm-up (about 1.5 miles) + four miles + 0.75-mile cool down = 6.25 miles.

Also, note to self: the flash colored lululemon daily bra isn’t a good choice under a white scoop neck tank…

Wednesday, June 20 – another rest day… bah! This one wasn’t planned, and I wasn’t happy about taking it. I had just mustered the motivation to get my bum to the pool for a solid 2,000m when I checked the LA Fitness class schedule. Of course there was an aqua fit class. And, it was raining, so no-go on the bike, either. After a bit of stomping around and maniacal vacuuming, I calmed down and embraced another rest day.

Thursday, June 21 – today started out with a peaceful 6a run down Summit + Selby avenues. I forgot how lovely it is to run as the sun’s rising and most people are still sleeping. I need to run this early more often!

After work, I hopped in the lake for my first open water swim since last August – and, I’m not quite sure about it yet. Our P2 swim started with this drill at Lake Nokomis: Run into the water, shallow dive into your stroke, swim about 100m, stand up as you near the beach, run onto beach, repeat three times. Other than swimming faster than I would have liked (trying to keep up with most of my teammates), I felt pretty good. It was the the next drill – the one where we had to swim around the buoy twice as far as the first ones – where I nearly panicked. Slimy green weeds were everywhere. After that lap, I cut my swim shorter than my teammates. More thoughts to come on this…

The bike was faaaaaaast and fun! I stuck on the boys’ wheels for the first five miles – yay! – down East River Road from Nokomis before my legs could no longer pedal that 23mph pace. We regrouped near the Stone Arch Bridge and raced back to Nokomis. After a delish dinner at Birchwood (best gluten-free pizza evah!), I could barely keep my eyes open – and, before I knew it I was out, and I woke up on the sofa at 12:30a.

Run: about 3.7 miles, 32 minutes.
Swim: about 1,200m, 30 minutes.
Bike: 17.18 miles, 58:29.

Friday, June 22 – following a quick nap after work (it’s been a long week), Nick and I went out for a quick spin on our usual route down Summit and the Ford + Franklin bridges loop. Still exhausted from Tuesday’s mile repeats in the wicked heat and Thursday’s fast ride, we kept the ride pretty chill.

Bike: 18.13 miles, 1:05.

Saturday, June 23 – Nick and I got up early for a quick brick together (it’s pretty awesome to have always have a training partner!). After slogging through our run down Summit + Selby – so humid! – we packed up our bikes and headed to my sister’s house in Woodbury. We looped around the rollers of Afton, watched a bit of the St. Croix Valley Bike Festival, climbed a few solid hills, got passed by a dude wearing a fanny pack, and quickly quickly hammered passed him on an uphill on Highway 95 / Manning. I mean, he was wearing a fanny pack! While biking! No one should be passed by someone wearing a fanny pack 🙂

Run: 3.6 miles, 32:12.
Bike: 21.18 miles, 1:22:44.

Sunday, June 24 – this morning’s P2 run + bike brick rocked. It started at the Cathedral with a nice, easy run down Summit to Snellling and back. A quick change, banana and tire pump later, the P2 crew was off for several sunny hours in the saddle. Our loop brought us 30 miles to Afton, where we filled our waterbottles at Selma’s. Half of the crew turned around, and four of us kept going along the Minnesota side of the St. Croix River to near Hudson. Aside from the jerk on the Harley who passed Nick on the shoulder on the right (WHO DOES THIS?!), the route was beautiful and full of fun rollers (2,516 feet of climbing!). Crazy tan lines + sunburn aside, there’s no other way I’d rather spend the day. Thanks for the great company, Sonia, and awesome job on your longest ride ever!

View our 60-mile route here.

My bike fuel: Honey Stingers energy chews (about 1.25 packs, split with Nick) + Honey Stingers banana energy gel + half-bottle blue Powerade + one bottle Skratch Labs raspberry electrolyte drink (hands-down, this stuff’s the best! Not kidding, it tastes like real raspberries).

Run: 6.45 miles, 1:00:41.
Bike: 60.12 miles, 3:58:52.

Weekly stats

11:38 = my biggest week of training ever! Woot!

Swim: 1,200 meters, 0:30
Bike: 116.61 miles, 7:24:05
Run: 20.25 miles, 3:19:53

This week’s goals: A couple open water swim sessions are in order after last week’s minor panic attack. If I’m going to be comfortable swimming during the Life Time Tri and Chisago half iron in less than a month, I better get practicing. I’d love to get to a yoga class, too, but not sure when, as we’ll be relaxing at a cabin this weekend – and possibly participating in a local sprint triathlon.

Have a great, active week, everyone!