Month: August 2011

I swear Carly and I actually ran ON this track — the GPS did the best it could.

We did 5 miles of speedwork, averaging a 9:12 pace overall. We did an easy one-mile warmup, then alternated hard and easy laps and eventually two hard laps followed by two easy laps. We did our hard laps in the 7:00-7:30 pace range, which was challenging, but great! Ended with a 1.5-mile easy cooldown.

Today I got the strongest craving for a buttery, toasted grilled-cheese sandwich oozing with Beecher’s Flagship cheese and brie. I’m sorry I just put that image into your minds, but that’s what happened! I picked up some brie from Trader Joe’s and had a couple several bites straight from the wedge to satisfy that craving.

Look for me on “True Life: I Want to Inject Double-Creme Brie Directly Into My Veins.”

I did NOT want to run tonight, but I just had 3 easy miles on the schedule and realized I could use them to test out my new tri top and bottom! After all, you should always try stuff out before race day, right?

Wheee, so excited to run now! This may sound odd, but this outfit made me feel like a real athlete (whatever that means).

And then… then, friends, I was not so excited. Not even a quarter-mile into the run, the top had already ridden up super far several times, and I was not having it. I actually interrupted the run to go home and change into a different top!

Now my challenge is to figure out what kind of tri top to get that won’t ride up — or, at least, won’t ride up as much, since I suspect that finding a completely un-ride-up-able top is a pipe dream.

Un-ride-up-able. You heard me.

TRIATHLETE LADIES: Can you advise me on this? Do I need to go tighter? (This top is a size medium, but the small fit fine as well.) Do I need to go with a different style altogether? Should I look for something compression-y (like this)? If all else fails, is it socially acceptable to safety-pin the top to the shorts?

Moving on. I actually completed a legit recovery run, averaging a 9:46 pace over 3 miles. My legs are still a little tired/sore from the 10-mile-run/22-mile-ride combo I did this weekend, so this slower run was good for me.

Also, the 2XU tri shorts are the bomb. I could not be happier with them!

I hit the gym afterward for strength training. I was super pleased to be able to use 12.5- and 15-pound free weights for moves that I hadn’t been able to go as heavy on in past weeks. I just love feeling stronger.

Now that I’m back to square one on the tri top situation, I’m looking forward to any advice I can get from you badass tri-women! Rach? Robin?

First of all, I went to bed around 12:45 last night after being out and about drinking beer and eating pizza with my roommates and other friends. (I drove, so I didn’t overdo it!)

I decided I would sleep in this morning… just wake up whenever I naturally woke up.

That happened to be 7:45 — what’s wrong with me? — and it was too sunny and beautiful out to stay inside.

I had breakfast, applied loads of sunscreen and packed everything I needed for a safe ride — water, Larabar, cell phone (my roommate was on call to save me if I needed help!), ID, debit card — into my fuel belt. I clipped in and I was off.

I had no distance goal or anything — I just decided to ride until I felt like turning around. I thought that would be somewhere around the University of Washington campus (GO HUSKIES), which is only 4-5 miles away.

But I felt great and got really comfortable on the bike, so I kept going… and going… and going… until I hit 11 miles. I COULD have kept going, but the trail was closed up ahead, and I didn’t feel like doing the detour route. Plus, I had passed a nice beach park and wanted to head back there to rest and eat my Larabar.

The 11 miles back went by very quickly. I LOVE RIDING on the Burke-Gilman trail with no cars to worry about!! Since I went fairly early on a Sunday, the trail wasn’t too crowded with other cyclists and runners, so it was a very low-stress ride.

22 miles. All by myself. Wow.

Maybe I need to get a bike version of my “Run now — wine later” Bondi band?

(Obviously I wore a helmet, but I took it off while at the beach park.)

This was such a confidence-building ride. I feel like I could go so much farther!

The bike portion of my super-sprint tri is only 9 miles, so I’m not worried about it at all. Just have to work on that swim!

10 miles before 10 a.m. with my friend Carly this morning. We’re ready for our sub-two-hour half!! Just an 11-miler to go next Saturday, and then it’s game time on Monday, Sept. 5.

I was hurting after this run. My legs felt fine; I was just TIRED! Please observe the time for mile 10 — 8:53.

The floor seemed like a good place to be. I also tried to get some electrolytes to go straight to my brain.

Hmmm, not quite! I picked up the drink at a convenience store on my way home and was not prepared for how sugary it tasted. I would have killed for some Nuun! Must stock up.

Do y’all have a favorite Nuun flavor? I’ve only tried a few, but Tropical is pretty delish!