Workout Updates

Yeah, yeah, I know. “Steve’s ACTUALLY going to talk about swimming, biking, and running?! No freakin’ way!” Just shut it.

Swim: I’ve been swimming about once a week. Last week, I did 2000 yards in 35:35 (1:46 / 100). I’m getting smoother in the water. Yesterday, I did intervals: 12 x 100s with 20 seconds heavy breathing rest. I did my first 100 in 1:27, and that was my fastest 100 ever! After doing all 12, I still averaged 1:30.5 / 100. That’s not too shabby for me! I was pretty happy.

After the swim, Andrea (the swim coach at the Y) told me that I should try swimming the distance of my early-April half Ironman in intervals. That’d be 20 x 100. I wanted to tell her that she, and all of her ideas, were evil. Instead, I just figured she was right, and that 20 would be a good workout. So I’ll try that in about a month.

Bike: Ummm, yeah. Let’s just move on...

Run: I’m still nursing a sore heel. It’s been doing really well lately. I’ve learned that when I negative split a run, it’s good for my heel – I ease into the run, and start picking it up once I’m all warmed up.

Two days ago, I ran 8 miles in 51:52 (6:29 / mile). And tonight I ran a 5 mile tempo run in 30:41 (6:08 / mile). Tonight’s run was a chilly one: it was 15 degrees with a -1 windchill. (For my Celsius friends, that -9 air temp and -18 windchill.) As soon as I got in the house, I grabbed a camera. Notice all the sweat, and the little ice crystals around the corners of my mouth:

I’ll be starting a training plan shortly for a half-marathon in late January. Then, I’m thinking about another half-mary in February. And after that, it’s solid training for New Orleans 70.3 Half-Ironman in April! I’ll post my training plans in a couple of weeks.