ironman coeur d’alene training update.

Here we are… exactly two months out from Ironman Coeur d’Alene. 

How did that happen?!

I’ve been so in the zone lately that I barely noticed it’s suddenly almost May. The theme of the last month: operation autopilot. Between the new job fog and adjusting to a new (somewhat hellish) commute, it’s been go-go-go and training whenever I can. Which means that there’s been little free time and far too many nights of finishing a run at 9:30p, followed by a quick stop at Chipotle for a salad with barbacoa, white rice and guac (and chips, obviously). Far from ideal, I know.

But, that said, training is going well. It’s been consistent (all the green boxes!) and incredibly intense and focused… focused on each interval, each session, how my body feels, getting more sleep (more here and here), squeezing in functional strength + stretching sessions, and most importantly, enjoying it, no matter what time I hop off the trainer or get home from running.

At a work event last week, I had the privilege of hearing John Jacobs, co-founder of Life is good, speak. Inspiring start-up story aside, there was one key takeaway from his talk: living by a “get to” optimistic attitude (versus a “have to” attitude). That one little word is powerful. Think about it. If you frame your training (or anything in life for that matter) as something you get to do, you’re more likely to enjoy it. When you have to do something… well, how is having to do anything fun?!

I get to swimbikerun my heart out, and that, my friends, is pretty awesome. #heartFULLofgratitude

With that, here’s a quick training update…

Swim

Nothing too exciting in the pool… just lots of paddle work and intervals. My new favorite suit: Lo Swim’s training bikini. It stays put, even while pushing off the wall. And, it’s neon, and we all know that I love anything neon. I’ve seen also some sneak peeks of the new Coeur Sports training two-piece, and it looks fab, so you can bet I’ll be all over that once they’re launched. And, goggles… if you haven’t checked out ROKA’s new goggles, get on it. Although they’re a bit bug-ish, I’m a BIG fan of the X1s (light vermillion is great in the pool). No leaks and no crazy goggles lines! 

Bike

Again, nothing overly exciting on the bike. Coach continually pushes both my physical and mental limits with near max intervals; the last one was 60 minutes of getting comfortable with the uncomfortable, sans headphones. Oof.

Despite some long awaited 70F temps, I have yet to ride outside (I know, I know…). For good reason, though: my bike fitter, Chris Balser, recently flipped my aero bars, so it wasn’t safe to ride outside. But, it just got a tune-up, j-bends and re-cabling from mechanic extraordinaire Lee at Grand Performance, and now after one more tweak with Balser this past weekend, it’s finally ready to ride outside. I can’t wait to see how all the winter intervals translate to the road and the first time trial of the season!

Sweet Zoey cheering me on during intervals Easter weekend ♥

Bike fit by the best, Chris, the Bicycle Fit Guru!

Run

It’s been all about the run. Slow is the new fast – with some speed and tempo in the mix, too – and, I’ve never felt better… thank you, legs – and, Hoka One One Cliftons! (I cannot say enough good things about these shoes… game changers.)

This is week three of run overload (the most I’ve ever ran… eight runs last week!), so I’m being extra diligent about staying off my feet, minimizing use of my standing desk (boo), getting enough rest and recovering with lavender epsom salt soaks (try these, you guys… they’re incredibly restorative and relaxing). 

Happy swimbikerunning, friends!

Long runs have resumed along the mighty Mississippi

Easter long run around down main street in my hometown… quiet, eh?

Sunshine, shorts and these ladies… Sunday long runs don’t get much better

Finding some love in the day with a run down one of my favorite streets, Summit Avenue

And, al fresco Birchwood Café brunches, the first of the year!