Before I get to the rest of the weekly goodness, here’s how my workouts went.
Monday: Rest
Tuesday: Run 6 miles
Wednesday: 1 hr evolution cycle + 1000 yds swim
Thursday: Run 5 miles
Friday: 800 yds. swim, 10 miles bike
Saturday: Strength
Sunday: 9 miles
As far as weeks go, this one was fairly typical.
Single parenting sucks but the souvie was worth it.
Caveman was out of town for some of it.
The unseasonably cool/rainy weather may have prompted me to utter a swear word or three. Frost in May anyone?
We had the usual playdates, sleepovers and after school commitments, plus a nephew’s birthday party on the weekend.
I may have hit a plank milestone. 5 minutes was my goal for the month. Who knew it’d come early?
The plank challenge is going strong. Mad props to all of you who are hanging in there with me. Those of you who are not, feel free to jump in anytime. Plankers love company.
So What Changed Everything?
My triathlon is sneaking up fast and to be honest I haven’t been giving it the attention it deserves. Since the one month mark hit this past week, it was my priority to shift tri training into high gear and take it more seriously. So I forced myself to the gym for a bike-swim brick. The bike portion was hard. But good. I busted out a 22.6 average pace. But after I was tired. I SO did not want to get in the pool. There were lessons going on in the sunny, warm pool so I was forced to take a lane in the cold, dark, barracuda-infested one. I was stalling at the edge when a lady got in the lane next to me so I went.
I’m not sure how it happened, exactly. I told myself to try to make it to 100 yards before stopping. When 100 yards passed I upped it to 200. Still good. I tried to relax, exhale fully underwater and not gasp for air. By some miracle it worked. For the first time ever, I found a rhythm. I didn’t get winded and lightheaded. I didn’t need to stop and drink and kill time. I stole a glance at my Garmin and it was actually registering the yardage instead of laughing and eye rolling as usual. So I kept on. I didn’t dare break to use the kick board. I’d just see how long I could swim freestyle. The swim in my tri is 800 yds. Could I swim 800 without stopping? That’d be a first. 400 came, then 600 then 800. The lady next to me was gone. I hadn’t even noticed her leave cuz I’d been submerged in my own little aqua world.
My “did I just swim 1000 yds or am I dreaming?” face.
When my Garmin registered a 1000 yards, I called it a day. Enough was enough. But. Am I really going to say this? I could’ve kept going. I’ve been slaving and hoping for this day for over a year now. The day all my swimmer friends said would come if I just stuck with it. It was a huge breakthrough and I hope it changes the way I feel about swimming permanently. I’m sure settling down enough to have a solid swim at my tri will still be a mega challenge, but this was huge step in the right direction.
How was your week? Did you ever have a breakthrough?
Join us tomorrow for Tuesdays on the Run when we’re talking about racing. Are you a one-and-done type? Or are there races you run over and over?
WOOT!!!!! Congrats on that breakthrough at the pool! Our son swam the 500 in high school, and this past year (his first year in college), his coach persuaded him to take on the 1000 as well. YIKES. Then, later in the season (like, 6 weeks prior to the NJCAA finals), he also started swimming the mile. I almost passing out watching him go back and forth (and back & forth) for 60 laps (I think it was 60….I was getting kind of glazed over). Swimming is NO JOKE. Running long distances is one thing (you can always walk if need be), but with swimming you have no option but to keep swimming. Excellent job!!!!!
Congrats on the awesome swimming week! Pass some of that mojo over this way didn’t have the best week training over this direction but tomorrow is a new day 🙂
Congratulations on your breakthrough in the pool!! Hopefully that will give you the mental boost you needed to not dread the swimming as much any more! I’m sure your training will just improve from here on out.
Yeah, good for you ! Don’t you love it when things just come together ? And a 5 minute plank ? You rock ! That is amazing.
That is so great! This gives me hope that if I ever commit to getting into swimming that it could get easier one day. A 5 minute plank is amazing too! I have been planking a few days a week, usually for like 2 minutes or adding in some variations.
LOVE SEEING THIS as, even though Im not training for anything nearly as exciting :0), other peoples WINS spur me on as well.
<3 <3 <3
Ah, I am so glad you had such a great swim! I know that’s been the part you like least for a long time. How long does it take to swim 1000 yards?
awesome!! swimming has never been me thing, and i always say post marathon i’m going to get in the pool and give it a shot and it never happens. so glad you have found your groove!
Woo-hoo! Congrats on the great swimming! I love it when those types of days happen.
That had to feel great! Now you can feel confident and ready for your tri! WTG!
Congrats on the breakthrough! Also, I’m over here swearing enough for the both of us (and then some) about this crazy cold weather during the second half of May. Seriously. Frost should not be this close to Memorial Day weekend.
great week Coach! Well my big break thru is I made it past a minute on the plank! So now how do I entertain myself? 2 minutes seems like eternity! Whistle, sing, talk to pay himself, pray for time to go faster? What works!
Fantastic week! a 5 minute plank and a 1,000 swim!! Way to go on an awesome week!
That is AWESOME! Congrats!
Tri training sounds exhausting! Kudos to you girl.
UGH, the weather this weekend was drunk here too. Frost as well.
Congrats on your swimming break-through. As a former long distance swimmer, who now just swims for fun & in tris I know how great a feeling it is. So many people struggle at swimming, but it’s such a powerful & smooth feeling once you nail it.
Congratulations, Marcia!! Thats awesome, it’s always great when you make a breakthrough! And wow, planking for over 5 minutes? Good lord! You’re killing it!
That’s just fabulous. You’ve worked so hard for it and now it’s yours. 1000 yards its huge but knowing you could have kept on going – priceless!
GREAT job on your pool AND plank milestone!!! You will rock your race, I just know it!
Whohooo on 1000! As I was reading it, I felt like I was reading a suspense novel! I cheered for you out loud..lol!
I am starting to freak out a bit about tri training. I have yet to get a bike, I haven’t been to the pool in over a month…..uuugh what was I thinking signing up for a tri!!! Pre Training is suppose to start this weekend…yeah not going to happen without a bike…well I could start with a swim or run I guess….
Way to go this week!!
Go Marcia! And damn you look fabulous in that pool!
ROCK ON, Marcia!!! Way to tear it up in the pool! Just like you told me, it’s a breakthrough year for you. SO PUMPED for you!!!!!!!!
Holy crap on the 5-minute-plus plank, too. You are are just killing it everywhere!!!
WTG Marcia! 1000 is just awesome! And, I cannot even wrap my brain around a 5 minute plank ;0
Oh, wow, it is so great when all that training and practice “clicks” – hurray! It’s mid-May already, can’t we have some spring before summer?
So awesome! Yay for the pool breakthrough! I hope to get there some day! I just need to get my butt to the pool. :p
I am so glad to read this! What an achievement that is on your 1000 meter swim! And the smile says it all!
Ok I’m back in the planking game! I knew I wouldn’t hold myself accountable to do planks while on vacation so I gave myself a pass. But vaca is up and I’m not looking forward to that 2 minute plank later today!
I am thankful for the motivation though! Keep it up Marcia!
Wow, fabulous breakthrough in the pool!! I haven’t been in the water in almost a month. Got off track with business travel and my kids home and then I haven’t been able to drag myself there. Sounds like you’ve totally got this 800 yard swim under control. I hope you can get in that same zone on race day!
Very impressive on the bike and in the pool! I’m totally jelly of the 5 minute plank. I have yet to get to 4! I’m working on it though. Not only do Garmins eyeroll, I think mine snickers at me. I’m going to try my first brick this weekend. I’m sorta contemplating a duathlon in a month. Sorta. I’ve never tested the run legs after riding. So, here’s goes nothing… Thanks for linking with us Marcia!
Wow, that’s an impressive plank! My longest was 3 1/2 minutes. I need to get back to doing a plank a day. I could tell a difference after a month. Great job on your swim too!