The first big weekend of the year!!

Saturday:
SWIM 3300m in 95 mins, lots of 300 sets
BIKE: 51.6 miles in 3hrs, flats and steady state

Sunday:
RUN: 6.5 miles in 1hr, easy

Yowza!!  I've been mentally lamenting (hmm ... I see the potential for a new word: Lamentaling!!).  So I've been lamentaling about how at this point in my IMWI training I was ready for and racing IMKS 70.3 as a prep race. In all honesty, I'm not 70.3 ready right now. This makes me a bit nervous, wondering how my prep will build for TTT and IMCDA in just 15 weeks.

EEK!  15?!

But this weekend was a comfort. I treated it like one big session, so it's all here in one big post. Big weekends get big posts.

The swim was the usual Saturday MidCo masters. There were many 300 sets--either 4x75 or 1x300 and even a 3x300. I focused on feeling that "roll" I'm practicing in my dryland training. Gotta admit, I don't feel it. But I also gotta admit, my practice was not all that dedicated this week...

I talked to CP after the swim and asked what my focus should be right now. He wants some HR data from me so we can start identifying HR goals and paces for racing. Easy enough. I love data!

Two hours later I was on Frea in IL with the new G310 quick mount!. After missing the 50 miler last weekend, I was determined to hit the distance this weekend. I also need to work out my nutrition. I had some spare time to hit the grocery and found some yummy dried fruits, which reminded me that a dried fruit and nut mix would be a great bike fuel. Duh, why don't I do it then?

We started off south into the headwind on the flats. I was doing 'only' 18mph with a HR of 140-145. As the first hour continued it migrated up towards 150. The next interval south I started to tire of the headwind, but the HR stayed steadier. DC, IT, and I climbed the hill into Valm--a 2mi hill in 10 mins, ave HR of 146.  Then back on the flats with some tailwind, 20mph and HR only in the 125-130 range.

Like I said, I love data! Just wish I had the computer back to process it. Maybe this week.

The knee hurt a little bit, but nothing like last weeks ride. I think it's on the road to recovery. Overall this was a great season-opening ride, the first biggie and a great baseline to work from. Yay!

I didn't come home right away, stopped at BRR for some compression tights and new trainers. I've yet to find my IM shoes, but since the Adrenalines were redesigned for v12 I tried those. Compared to the Ravenna and Ghost, it was an easy pick to try the Adrenalines again. Haven't tested the shoes yet, but I think I'm returning the tights. Wrong size! And not sure I like them.

By not coming home right away, I got hungry, thirsty, and tired. Maybe not so hungry, but "unsatisfied". Munch munch munch. I ended up doing nothing the rest of the day, not even foam rolling!!  Bad!! And it wasn't until later in the day that I realized that my calves had a little sun burn! Yay, another first for 2012.

Sunday--CP didn't have anything on the calendar. Actually I was only supposed to swim Saturday and ride one hr Sunday. Only 1hr biking and no running?!  It was to nice of a weekend to skip the opportunity and I had a break from housework.  And  I was jazzed on the idea that this could be my Opening Weekend, my "HIM" to get things rolling. I did entertain the idea of running 10 miles, but 3 miles into my run I realized I probably shouldn't. Or couldn't. Ohhhhh were my legs tired!!! On top of that, I wore the Kinvaras as a self-limiting step, knowing my current minimalist mileage is not up to 10 miles.

The focus for the run was Easy. It was also a mental test. I was tired, and I need to remember how to run tired. Step by step, with good form. I kept slowing down to keep it easy. I felt great finishing up but was mentally fading.  In the end, it was about a 9m/m pace with HR averaging 130ish.

Once again the rest of the day was spend "unsatisfied". I just couldn't eat the right thing to be happy. My tummy was either growling or uncomfortably full-feeling. I was drinking enough...I wasn't craving anything specific...just couldn't figure it out! MFP said I had enough balance. I think it's all in my head or just boredom or fatigue.

Speaking of fatigue, around 3:30pm Sunday I finally crashed. My mind was numb, my legs achy, and my motivation Zero.  I went to bed! I hate napping in the day, it seems such a waste, but it was raining and my housework was pretty much done. I was surprised that I slept about 1.5hrs. Ahh, the IronNap. Great way to cap off my first Iron Weekend! =)