Week 21 is where it starts to get horribly exhausting fun.
This week was a bit more tiring than usual, because I had to do some shifting to get my long ride and run in. Even though last Sunday’s long ride technically went with Week 20, I ended up cramming 15 hours of workouts into 6 days, because I knew I wouldn’t be able to do anything over the weekend.
We are now in the “I’ll worry about it when I get there” peak phase of the Be Iron Fit training plan. I do swear one day I’ll blog about something other than my lame training plans, but right now it looks like that day will be sometime in November. This phase of the plan averages between 13-15 hours of training per week, though for me it means 12-14, since I am following the Just Finish swim plan. After 3 straight weeks at 14 hours, taper begins. I laugh a little that 9 hours is going to be considered a taper, when that was my peak week during last years’ Olympic triathlon training.
Ha.
Monday: run/swim. 60 minute run with 3x 5 minute intervals/6.12 miles/9:50 average/73 degrees. It was a little easier to breathe this morning but who am I kidding? It’s still muggy as hell. My intervals were ok: 7:52, 8:03, 8:24. My marathon pace average was 8:35 and I’m running 8:24 intervals. Man I’m ready for fall. 60 minute swim/2500 meters.
Tuesday: run/ride. 60 minute run/6.04 miles/9:56 pace/73 degrees. No intervals this run. I was feeling tired from the last couple days and knew I still had a long week ahead so I skipped them. I was excited to end a complete zone 2 workout in under a 10 minute mile. Ha. 60 minute ride/18.1Miles/17.9 MPH/77 degrees. Skipped the intervals here too, so zone 2 only.
Wednesday swim. 60 minute swim/2500 yards. By the end of it I thought maybe I was starting to get the idea of high elbows, but by midday my shoulder was sore, so perhaps not.
Thursday long run. 1 hour 45 minute run/10.25 miles/10:15 average/73 degrees. Starting this run at 6 am rather than 7 did help, but again, its still humid as shit. I think I melted.
Friday long ride. 4 hour ride/65 miles/16.7 MPH/72 degrees. I dreaded this ride for awhile until it turned out Tammie also had the day off (yay!) so I wouldn’t have to go solo. I hadn’t planned to spend my birthday day off on a small seat pedaling for 4 hours but when you sign up for a race like this sometimes flexibility is important. Another friend joined us for the first 2 hours and we explored a new area, but the roads were bumpier for longer than we anticipated so that slowed us down quite a bit. I’m just excited to have another 4+ hour ride crossed off the list.
Friday night was tri/birthday party night!
Saturday/Sunday – rest day. I spent the weekend doing continuing education for work, and knew that if I Was going to be gone doing that all day, there was no way I was going to be able to come home and take off again for a workout, so I just planned the weekend off. After cramming all that into 6 days I was ready for it anyway.
Total Time: 10 hours 58 minutes
Miles Traveled: 108.77
Training Thoughts: I just might be able to survive the three 14 hour weeks after all!
Journey To the Finish Line 
August 22, 2016 at 10:05 pm
Great job on training this week especially having to fit into fewer days, do continuing education, and host a party. Glad that Tammie could do the ride with you on Friday, too! I hate that I had to miss the party but hope you had a wonderful birthday and hope I get to see you soon!