horrible hills

Horribly Hilly Hundreds 100K Bike - 4:51, 68 miles of grueling hills

Splits
-----------
Miles 0-20 1:12
Miles 20-30 41:58
Miles 30-40 34:15
Miles 40-50 46:28
Miles 50-60 49:52
Miles 60-68 46:29
-----------
TOTAL 4:51

It was 87 degrees, humid, and windy. I knew that I would be riding in these conditions and was prepared. It turned out to be a good ride, but a really tough one. The longest training ride I had done on this course was about 2 hours long, but I had practiced most of the hills at one point or another. I walked on a few of the major hills when my cadence got so low that I just couldn't push the pedals around anymore. An easier gear configuration (triple/compact crank) would have helped but I chose not to change my gear setup for this ride. I felt no shame in walking my bike and I usually quickly caught up to the people that passed me while I was walking.

I used the ride to practice my nutrition and did a better job with it than I usually do. I knew I could not wing it in the heat for 5 hours so I had to have some strategy. I drank a bottle and a half of my Sustained Energy mixture, a bottle of Gatorade, a bottle and a half of water, and ate a Clif bar. This probably was not enough because I felt at points like I was eating and drinking the bare minimum to keep away a lingering headache. I usually get that after I ride in the heat. I'm not sure if it is lack of electrolytes or dehydration that does it. I felt like I was drinking a lot today. Nutrition on the bike is something I have to keep working on.

It was an exhausting day. I gave it all I had.

[6/16/06 Friday]
Run - 7 miles, 1:02

you know you're busy when...

You know you are busy when you don't even have time to update your workout blog. Ironman training really has a life of it's own. It is a complicated game of juggling to get the workouts to fit into an already busy schedule. I feel like I am constantly running between workouts, always needing to be aware of what gear and food I have with me so that I don't starve or end up driving around needlessly. I am feeling unsure of what I am doing, and especially about how my running is going. I think I need to be running more.

This post is nothing but the basics - just the workouts I have done in the last week.

[June 15]
Swim - 1.2 miles, 44 min - Lake Monona

[June 14]
Run - 8 miles, 1:15

[June 13]
Swim - 1.3 miles, 50 min - Verona quarry
Bike - 13 miles, 54 min - Horribly Hilly course

[June 12]
Mega Brick:
Swim - 1.8 miles, 56 min
Bike - 13 miles, 49 min
Run - 5.5 miles, 53 min
2:38 total

[June 11]
Bike - 71 miles, 4:34 - Monona Terrace to Verona via Ironman course, one loop of course and back

[June 10]
Bike - 23 miles, 1:24, Ave Speed 16.2

[June 9]
REST Day

[June 8]
Swim - 1.2 miles, Lake Monona
Strength training
Yoga