9 Weeks To Go! (Not Such a Good Training Week)

Blogs are interesting in the sense that you are never sure if anyone reads them or not. Occasionally, someone will post a comment and you will know that at the very least, that person reads what you decided to write that day. I would be elated to know that someone took an interest in my travels or training, but for now, I'll have faith that a few people do.

This past week was HARD. Between the radio and TV news stations on campus, my two part-time jobs, regular academic classes, an internship AND training for an Ironman, life can get overwhelming at times. In terms of training, my setback this week was swimming... I didn't make it to the pool once. The pools at UNC are closed until 2010, so I've been bouncing back and forth between Chapel Hill community pools and making the trek over to Duke University to use their pool. I also haven't really been doing the "rest and recovery" bit. I probably averaged about 3-4 hours of sleep per night this week.

But enough of the negativity. Yes, this week was definitely hard and yes, it will continue to be difficult. Nonetheless, I'm keeping strong. My running is gettting better. Thursday I ran an 8-mile tempo run and averaged a 6:45 minute mile. Yesterday, Eloise (my friend/neighbor) and I did an easy/moderate 15-mile run and by the end of it, I felt as if I could have easily run another 15 miles. Today I had brick traning. For those unfamiliar with this term, brick training is when you ride on your bike and then switch immediately to a run. The format of a triathlon is swim, bike, run, so brick training prepares you and your muscles for the transition from the bike to the run. Today I rode 85 miles on the bike and then did a 30 minute recovery run afterwards. After about six or seven GU packs, gatorade and water, I was feeling completely sugar-filled.

A bit awkward, but as a side note: I thought that I was allergic to the new UNC Triathlon Club uniform because last time I did a long ride, I got a rash on my legs that was only where the elastic of the shorts sat. I wore different shorts today and guess what? The same swollen rash. This makes me feel worse, but is anyone familiar with the Dr. Doolittle movie with Eddie Murphy (the first one, I believe)? Eddie Murphy gets called into his office to administer a shot in the buttocks of a woman who knew she was allergic to shellfish, but ate some anyway and had an allergic reaction. Well, if you ever saw the rash that she had... Yup, on my leg.

All in all, today was a solid workout. Swimming will definitely be in the plans, this week!