Monday, August 20 – we’re tiring of our usual Ford-Franklin bike loop, so Nick and I branched out and headed downtown Minneapolis. In the four years I’ve lived here and the nearly 5,000 miles I’ve biked around the beautiful MSP area, I’ve never once biked streets in the heart of downtown. Crazy, huh? (I’ve biked to my office on the east side of downtown many times, but never ventured farther.) There is no better way to see Washington, Hennepin and First avenues than by bike… new perspective!
Bike: 25.43 miles, 1:39:27.
Tuesday, August 21 – even after a two-hour afternoon nap to try zap a migraine, I didn’t feel 100 percent today. But, I went out for an easy evening spin anyway and came home happier, more relaxed and nearly sans headache. What is it about cycling that makes everything better?! Works like a charm every.single.time.
Bike: 18.29 miles, 1:06:18.
Wednesday, August 22 – this happened today…! Blog post to come…
Thursday, August 23 – goooooooood morning swim at LA Fitness! Tired? Yes. Dark outside? Yes. Cold water shocker? Yes. Feeling stronger and an energizing start to the day? Yup! A simple workout of 4 x 500 yard intervals with the last one the fastest. I need to start drills… maybe masters should be added to the winter calendar. Does anyone have a recommendation in Saint Paul?
Swim: 2,000 yards, about 43 minutes.
Friday, August 24 – today was a really good day, and not only because it was Friday…!
After work, I got my om on at the CorePower Yoga studio downtown Minnie. It’s been months since I practiced here, occasionally with Emily and Hyedi, and it was fun to be back (but, I missed you ladies!). Class highlights: really weird pre-class savasana dreams, and after an assist into it, a full five seconds in forearm headstand. For some reason, this inversion is hard. I don’t trust myself to kick my legs up and balance, and it feels like my neck’s gonna crumble. Is there a trick to it?
Yoga: C2 vinyasa, 60 minutes.
Saturday, August 25 – just a super quick spin this morning down the usual Ford-Franklin loop. I reaaally wanted to keep biking – it was a perfect cycling morning (sunny, no breeze, temp around 70) – and even pouted a bit when Nick told me we had to cut our ride short to hit the road to Duluth.
I also pouted a bit when I realized there would likely be no workout / training on Sunday since I’d be cheering and Sherpa-ing for Nick at the Superior Man Triathlon. But, then we got to the race check-in. Race organizers were kind enough to let him switch from an individual 70.3 to a relay (he tweaked his MCL playing soccer a few weeks ago, so running’s a no-no).
Bike: 15.23 miles, 51:18.
Sunday, August 26 – just an impromptu half marathon today in beautiful, sunny and hot Duluth! Race report this week…
Run: 13.1 miles, 2:04:20.
Weekly stats
I felt like a serious slacker :-/ It was the lowest cycling mileage in weeks, and I could tell – both physically and mentally; my mood often directly correlates with my mileage. But, I was pretty happy to run 13.1 on a whim!
Swim: 2,000 yards, 43:00
Bike: 58.95 miles, 3:37:03
Run: 13.1 miles, 2:04:20
Yoga: one class, 60:00
This week: There will be plenty of blog writing in addition to more cycling + more yoga. My legs are pretty sore from Sunday’s race, so there likely won’t be any running until later in the week. And, there’s a chance I race the St. Croix Valley Olympic tri on Saturday…
A big, BIG way-to-go-I’m-so-proud-of-you shout out to my P2 teammates Suraya + Eric for rockin’ Ironman Canada on Sunday! You did it! Congrats, Team Canada! And, big congrats to Steph Corker, who also raced… #dreamcrushing and #goalcrushing her way to Kona and #alohalove. You all inspire me to push a little harder and dream + reach for bigger goals!
(Side note: Looking to track a 70.3 or 140.6 Ironman athlete? Check out the IronTrac app… it’s pretty slick.)
What about you? Anyone racing this weekend? Long runs scheduled? A century spin?
10 Comments
Fun blog Erin!! Congrats again on the half marathon….always feels good when you can just pick up and run 13.1 w/o focused half marathon training! For swim drills, I follow/use the book called, “Swim Workouts for Triathletes”. It was on my recommend read list on Amazon and so far I’ve been pretty happy with it. It obviously helps to have a swim instructor with you so he/she can tell you what you are doing well and what you need to work on/do differently, but I have felt it help my swimming….and more so break up the long swims in the pool. Here’s the link if you want to check it out! LifeTime in SLP does have master swim classes that I’ve heard great things about!
http://www.amazon.com/dp/1934030759/?tag=hyprod-20&hvadid=15473485659&hvpos=1o1&hvexid=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=571175505747123702&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&ref=asc_df_1934030759
Oh…and can’t wait to read your skydiving blog!!! INNNNTENSEEEEE =)
It’ll be up this week 🙂
Thank you, Andrea! And, thanks for the book + masters class recommendations. I’ll definitely check out the read… wish SLP were a bit closer to StP 🙂
Half Marathons are the best distance! and to reply to your comment about breakfast…its something I am working on too!
They really are, aren’t they?! Let’s check-in with each other about breakfast in a couple weeks to see how we’re both doing 🙂
1. I’m not sure what there Master’s program is like, but Star Swim Team in St. Paul does have one. I personally love my master’s program out here in Edina, but that might be biased 😉
2. In a headstand, lift/push through your shoulders (takes the pressure off your neck) and really think about pulling your belly button towards your spine! It took me years to get it, but one of my instructors in teacher training taught me those tricks 🙂
3. Running a half marathon on a whim is awesome! And I love running in Duluth!!
that should be *their, not there…oops!
Ha! I wouldn’t have even noticed if you hadn’t pointed it out 🙂
Thanks for the masters team tip! I’ll check ’em out! If Edina wasn’t such a haul from Saint Paul, I’d join you 🙂
I’m going to C2 tonight, so I’ll give your tips a whirl!
Running in Duluth really is fantastic – especially along the lake – as are the fans cheering at races!