Burst Training…YES!

Workout: 

400m walk
1 mile *burst run --
400m walk
1 mile burst run
400 m walk
1 mile burst run
400m walk

Notes:
This workout was AWESOME!!! I adapted it from something I read and it was the perfect amount of push and intensity with enough rest incorporated that I felt like I got the max amount out of this workout. Hardest I have worked out since the baby. It's an awesome speed workout. I know because I was getting faster during the workout. 1st mile--9:59; 2nd mile--9:44; 3rd mile--9:48. 4 miles total with the walk, but didn't feel like 4 miles at all. Definitely putting this workout in the rotation.

*Burst run=jog and then sprint at the top of every minute for 10 seconds (so when your clock hits one minute then sprint 10 seconds, at two minutes sprint 10 secs, etc. until you finish 1 mile)

15 reps...

Warm Up: 1/2 mile jog/run

Workout:
15 bicep curls
15 shoulder press
15 butterflies
15 tricep dips
15 back rows
400m run
REPEAT 3 TIMES

Notes: I used 10lbs on the bicep curls, shoulder press and back rows and 8lbs on the butterflies. I like to use lower weights and do higher reps for a longer and leaner muscle look. When I get stronger I won't go much above 15lbs on my lifting (except on chest press). Went about 85% on my runs. Want to push a little more next time…closer to 90% effort.

Sprints and Lunges...

Workout:
1 mile jog
4 x 100m sprint followed by 20 *walking lunges
1 mile jog

Core workout:
1 min plank
20 crunches (push chest up towards ceiling)
10 right/10 left side crunches (elbow to opposite knee)
10 crunches
REPAT 2 TIMES


Notes: *On walking lunges try to swing back leg all the way through and out in front, don't touch foot down half way. This really helps to work the inner and upper thigh muscles used in running. If you can pull your legs up and through from this more extreme position it will make running easier. I only made it 1/2 a mile on the last part of the work out because I was so tired from the sprints and lunges. Next time I will finish it!

Thoughts: When I workout I am always thinking about something, and sometimes I think it's worth sharing. Here is my thought today. So much of the time we spend fighting ourselves, especially when it comes to weight. I've never totally understood this. People claim to want to be thin yet when presented with food they just can't help themselves. ?? The thing is, it's all a matter of what you want…more. It doesn't  have to be a fight, that's just something the food and diet industry want you to believe. (I swear hostess and 24 hour fitness are in cahoots with each other). Here's the thing…if you truly want to be thin, then you do what it takes to get that. If, on the other hand, you say you want to be thin but your actions are always saying otherwise then it's not what you truly want. Inside you are telling yourself a different story: "I'm okay at this size" or "It doesn't really matter to me that much" or "People should just like me for who I am anyway" or whatever.  And so you've created the fight. It really is much easier once you decide what is most important to you and move forward from there. Food and treats just don't have the same draw because you know what you want and your actions will back up what you know. It goes the same for exercise. Whenever I get in the "I have to exercise" mode, it's drudgery. But when I remember what I really want: to feel good, energized, healthy, strong, thin, etc. I can't wait to get out and run!  What do you really want?

Getting Stronger...

3 mile run

recover (about 2 minutes) before doing sprints

4 x 100 sprints (walk or slow jog 100m between each sprint)

Notes: Loved my run today! And it felt really good to sprint. I felt strong. Getting better. Yay!

30 minutes or less….

Warm Up: 1/2 mile jog

Workout:
1 min swim kick on back (work core)
10 push ups (real)
1 min swim kick on stomach (work glutes)
15 plank jacks ( keep bootie low)
1 min swim kick on back
20 shoulder press (used 10 lbs)
1 min swim kick on stomach
25 bicep curls (used 8 lbs)
400 m run

Try to complete 3 full sets in 30 minutes or less

Notes: I used lower weights so I could make it through the higher reps. I could probably have used 10 lbs for the bicep curls. Switch to that next time. Focused on doing good, real push ups. Had to take small breaks on the back swim kicks bc my core was getting pretty tired. Finished workout in 28:52.

Short & Sweet :)

Warm Up: 1/2 mile jog

Workout:
400 m run
10 burpees

Repeat 4 times for time

Notes: 
Finished workout in 14:14. Sooooo tired. I used to think a set of 10 burpees was no big deal. Um, kind of a big deal now. Runs felt pretty good…stronger than last week. I will get there! Looked up a few tri's today. Considering one in August and one in November.

3 miles...

3 mile run (tempo)

Notes: Didn't do the "tempo" part. Just ran 3 miles. It was kind of a pathetic run, but I was just glad to get all 3 in. BEST weather for running today. It dropped 20 degrees from yesterday. Ran in 63 degrees. Heaven!

One more 2-miler….

2 mile run (pushing the stroller)

Core & Lower body exercises…again:

• 20 leg lifts
• 20 lunges
• 10 right/10 left/10 center crunches

Repeat 2 times

Notes: Felt really slow on the run… I didn't realize how hard it is to push a stroller while running. Legs were very sluggish today. Probably because I worked my legs 3 days in a row. But I REALLY want this lower body to fit in my old jeans! Guess there is just no way to rush it. Line upon line….one day at a time!

Walk and legs...

2 mile fast walk (baby in stroller)
10-15 minutes lower leg exercises

• 30 reps leg lifts (each leg)
• 30 reps leg kicks (each leg)
• 30 reps squat-glute flex

Recover & Repeat 3-5 times

Notes: Walk felt good. Leg exercises were hard! Not used to so much repetition, even though there is no added weight. I can feel the exercises hitting my muscles though. Feels good. :)

Track Workout

2 mile run

Each lap:
Right side straight away--focus on speed
easy jog on curve
Left side straight away--focus on long strides
easy jog on curve

Core Work:
1 min bicycle
20 crunches
1 min plank
REPEAT 3 TIMES

Notes: I liked the focus on each straight away. I can see over time how it can/will transform my run. Sometimes the longer strides felt easier than the "easy jog". Focus on pushing off harder and reaching my heel out further in front. Feeling stronger today.

Slowly but surely...

1 mile run
20 Thrusters
15 bicep curls
1 minute plank

REPEAT 3 times

Notes: Only got to do 2 sets because the baby woke up. But 2 sets was plenty for me today. :) Need to work on pushing off hard on the thrusters rather than just squatting and doing a shoulder press. Work on controlling the up and down motion on bicep curls. 2nd mile took me 10 minutes. :( Can't wait to get some of my speed back.

Had a baby…time to get real.

400 m run
15 push ups
10 squat jumps (hands on head)
15 thrusters (10lbs)
1 min bicycle (opposite elbow to opposite knee)

REPEAT 4 times for time

Post workout notes:
Ouch. First Raceday workout post baby (7 1/2 weeks out). Tried to push myself on my runs but petered out towards the end. LOOOOONG way to go on push ups and squat jumps. Finished in 23 minutes exactly.

Mile Repeats--Ouch!

Repeats are a very hard workout.  You take it one at a time (whatever distance it is you are doing) and you give it an all out effort as if you were just doing one.  Then you do it again.  And again.  And again.  Depending on how many repeats your workout calls for.  I try to shoot for 6:30 miles when I do this...at least sub-7 if I can.  Running this pace for a continuous 3 or 4 miles is REALLY hard for me.  But the more I do repeat training at a fast pace, the more my body can adapt to running at a fast pace for longer distances.

Here is the workout:

4 x 1 mile repeats.  

Try to keep your times as consistent as possible.  Take it one mile at a time and recover between each one.  Each mile should be an individual effort. Run them hard.

If you are a beginner you can do 2 x 1 mile repeats, or 3 x 1 mile repeats.  Or you can do 5 x 1/2 mile repeats.  Just make sure the focus is on an all out effort on each one with a recovery between so you can give it a good effort each time.

Run. Rest. Repeat.

Bike-Swim Brick

Oh my gosh, do you really expect me to bike and swim in the same day?!  YES!!!  Don't get caught up in the details of inconvenience, they don't matter.  Just get out there and do it.

Most triathlons are swim/bike/run and it's good to do brick workouts in the order that you'll be transitioning.  BUT, Tri Catching Cupid is a reverse sprint tri, run/bike/swim, so you will be biking and then swimming last.  That's why I've ordered this workout the way I have.

Brick workouts are so important for your training.  Not just physically, but mentally for you to prepare to switch from one mode to the other.  Trust me, this will help you immensely on race day to feel prepared.

You obviously won't be able to transition as quickly as you train for this as you will at the race because you will have to change clothes and maybe you're at a gym or have to drive to the pool after biking, that's okay.  As you switch from biking to swimming, however you have to go about it, just picture yourself on race day transitioning from one to the other.  How will you take off your shoes, put on your cap, etc?  Think about the order in which you will do everything.  This will also aid you in your mental preparation for the race.  

BIKE:  25 mins 

hills or outside bike do 5 minutes high gear, 5 minutes low gear, repeat

SWIM:

200 yd warm up -- on each lap focus on breathing. Breath every 3 strokes (1st lap), 5 strokes (2nd lap), 7 strokes (3rd lap), 9 strokes (4th lap), repeat

3 x 200 yd continuous swims (increase speed with each 200 yd swim...easy, medium, fast)

2 x 50 yd sprints (go as fast as you can, recover, do it again)

100 yd cool down

20 Minute Quick Run

This is a running workout that my sister-in-law introduced to me awhile back.  I think she got it from a Body for Life book.  When all I have is 20 minutes it's a great workout to do.  It's intense.  It's quick.  And I am sweating my brains out by the end of it.

I am going to list the MPH I run at, but find whatever is your equivalent...whether it be higher or lower.  Just follow the pattern.

2 min. -- 5 mph (warm up/jog)

1 min. -- 6 mph
1 min. -- 7 mph
1 min. -- 8 mph
1 min. -- 9 mph
REPEAT 4 TIMES. When you finish your 9 mph run, go back to 6 and then up again. On the last one go up to 10 mph for 1 min. (so it will be 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)

1 min. -- 5 or 6 mph (cool down)

Try to push yourself on speeds that will make you work, but that you can complete.  Adjust where needed.  Each time you do this workout you can try to go up slightly in speeds.

Keep your head in the run.  You'll be surprised how fast this workout goes when each minute is different.

Bike-O-Rama

If you are new to triathlon there is a very good chance you think this:

"Oh, the bike portion, that's easy.  I'm not worried about that at all."

I have some news for you...you're wrong.  Sorry, it's better that I break it to you now than later.  This isn't a nice leisurely stroll through the neighborhood with the kids...it's a race!

The bike portion is the largest portion of any triathlon and if you want to do it right, it's not easy.  It takes a lot of work and energy to bike well.  And that starts with training well.

This workout will help you learn how to push hard, which is a big part of the challenge with biking.  Since you're tired from your swim or run (depending on what you did first), and you're sitting down, it can be easy to want to just coast along on your bike.  But it's really just a matter of training right to make sure you don't do that.  You need to be physically and mentally prepared.

Here is a 30 minute bike workout that will help get you on track:

5 min easy/warm up

1 min fast
30 secs easy
REPEAT 5 TIMES

5 min medium speed (find an RPM to stay above)

1 min fast
30 secs easy
REPEAT 5 TIMES

5 min fast speed (find an RPM to stay above)


Again, you know that fast means F-A-S-T!  So really push it on those intervals.  You get 30 secs rest after each hard minute....

...so earn it. :)

Not Your Grandmother's Run...

Running.  I've got a love-hate relationship with it, that's for sure.  First mile=always hate.  Last 10 seconds=always love.  Days I don't run=hate.  The rest of the day after I run=love love love.  Just try to focus on the largest portion of happiness.  20-30 minutes of being uncomfortable running is worth it for 16 hours of happiness for having done it. :)  20-30 extra minutes in bed isn't worth the remaining 16 hours of self loathing I have for not doing it.  Perspective people, it's all perspective.

Here is a workout that will help you build speed in your triathlon run.  Don't make the mistake of just running for distance as you train.  Speed training is very important and essential to maximize your race day results.  These workouts are shorter but more intense than other running workouts you may be used to.  It's important to push yourself on these workouts.  One of my favorites sayings is "Intensity Matters!" You can quote me on that. :)

Treadmill Fartlek Ladder (if you can say that without giggling you're a true athlete)

15 secs fast
15 secs off
30 secs fast
30 secs off
45 secs fast
45 secs off
1 min fast
1 min off
1:15 fast
1:15 off
1:30 fast
1:30 off
1:45 fast
1:45 off
2 min fast
2 min off
1:45 fast
1:45 off
...and so on, back on down to 15 secs

Now, when I say "fast", I mean F-A-S-T.  Just to give you an example, I think I start my 15 secs fast at about 13 mph on the treadmill.  If that is too fast for you, don't worry, just start at a speed that is a full out sprint, whatever that may be for YOU.  I do taper my speed some as I increase in time, but I come up with a speed that I won't go below.  For example, since I know that 2 minutes is the longest I have to run without stopping I know that I can run at a 9.5 on the treadmill.  It will be really hard, especially because of all the runs I will have done before it, but if I don't set that goal I will be doing my 2 minute "fast" at about 4 mph.  It is important to set goals and gages before you start a workout.  If you have never done it before, you may have to make adjustments as you go along, but don't let that prevent you from setting goals.  Next time you should have a better idea of what speeds you can hold.

Now RUN!

Just Keep Swimming, Swimming, Swimming...

...What do we do we swim, swim, swim!

Just a little Finding Nemo for you there.  It does go through my brain a lot when I swim.

Okay, this is a great swim workout to help build speed.  I see people get in the pool and swim slow lap after slow lap after slow lap.  I have news for you folks, you're not doing yourself much good.  To have an effective swim workout it needs to be focused and purpose driven.  You need to be working on something every lap, even when you warm up.  You'll actually realize it's a lot less boring this way.  If you've ever wondered how swimmers, runners, bikers, etc. don't get bored out of their minds, this is how...they are always actively working on something.  And "actively" means they are mentally tuned in to what they are doing.  I tell my swimmers for their warm up laps just to focus on lengthening out their stroke.  As they focus on extension and rotation, even as they warm up, their stroke is getting concentrated work so it will take less focus as you fine tune other parts of your stroke.

Phew!  Now that we have that out of the way here's the workout.

200 yd warm up (Focus on extension and rotation.  As you fully extend your arm your body will naturally rotate.  I tell my swimmers to pretend like they are reaching for something just out of reach.  Try this out of water.  You'll notice as you do this your other should drops down and the arm you are reaching with is able to extend just a few inches more, and your body has just naturally rotated.  If you can grab a few inches more of water every stroke you will be much more efficient as you swim).

5 x 50 yd swims--catch up drill* down, regular freestyle back...take 10 secs rest between each 50

6 x 50 yd swims on the 1 minute send off** (if that is too fast for you try the 1:10 or 1:15 send off)

3 x 100 yd IMs OR freestyle on the 1:45, 2:00, or 2:15 send off

5 minute kick--20 secs hard, 10 secs easy until 5 minutes is up

100 yd cool down




*Catch up drill--This is a freestyle drill.  Start with both hands out in front and start kicking.  Bring one arm around and as soon as it gets out in front of you, next to the other hand, then send the other arm around.  The one hand is always trying to "catch" the other hand.

** Send offs--the importance of doing swims on a send off is to help build speed and stamina.  Pushing yourself to stay on a send off is very different than just taking 10 secs rest between each lap.  If you are swimming on your own, without a coach, it is even more important to try to stay on a send off.

Happy Swimming!

BIKE MAC

I am going to post a FREE workout every monday from now until the TRI Catching Cupid Reverse Sprint Triathlon that will be on February 11, 2012.

Here is my favorite one right now:

3 mile bike

1 mile run

3 mile bike

1 mile run

3 mile bike

I call it Bike Mac because the bikes are the "buns" and the runs are the "hamburger patties" and I like to think up names for workouts while I'm working out because that's what my brain does. :)

This workout is really good to help your legs get used to transitioning. When you triathlon train it's very important to train your legs for switching from biking to running or running to biking, depending on the triathlon.

Try to do the 3 mile bikes under 10 minutes each (under 9 minutes if you're a rock star!).

Try to do the run at about 90-95% of your fastest mile pace. It should be fast!

Have fun playing with your speed and times on this workout.

I love it!

Ready to Run 100 REVIEW

100 miles. 30 days. No problem.

Or so I thought.

Our latest challenge, Ready to Run 100, was definitely harder than I thought it was going to be. I was ready for the physical challenge of it.

Cardiovascularly I knew it wouldn't be a problem at all. I was expecting to have sore feet and tired legs from all the running. But what I wasn't ready for was the mental challenge of it.

This challenge messed with my head like crazy!

Running, running and....well, more running. It was monotonous. Boring. And downright irritating to me at times. I didn't ever want to do focused workouts because I just wanted to direct all my energy to logging miles. But what I found was, as I put energy into logging miles, all my energy felt drained from me. And, not only that, I could tell I was getting slower!

So, as I reviewed this challenge I realized that, even though it had it's downsides, it was great for several reasons:

1. It shows the importance of focused workouts. Added in speed and strength workouts help you get faster, energize you, and keeps your mind and body more fresh. RaceDay workouts work for a reason.

2. It shows the importance of variety in workouts. Doing the same thing over and over again doesn't work all your muscles and it doesn't keep it interesting, so pretty soon exercise isn't interesting at all. And you plateau pretty quickly.

3. This one is more personal than anything...I hate just running. I suppose I do triathlon's for a reason. I need to change things up. I don't mind running if it's supplemented with biking and swimming. But straight running is not my gig.

The interesting thing about challenges is you never know what you are going to learn from them. They are so much more than the accomplishment. They are all about what you learn in the process.

So there you have it. I finished this morning with no days to spare. My last 5 miles were rough but I sprinted to the finish.

Happy that it was over.

Happy that I did it.

Happy that I won't be doing it again.

....at least not for awhile.