Its hard for me to have ever imagined that I would even consider swimming to be my strength in triathlon. However, I must admit with the rehab and slow recovery time for my hip I'm more confident about my swimming than i am about my biking and running. This could be good in the long run, because when my bike and run return to "normal" it only means i will be a little faster out of T1 and put me closer to the first pack on the bike. As of today I feel like i could swim a PR for an IM distance, based on my swim workouts lately. Speaking of which here is a sample of my last 4 weeks volume of training, including my key running workout:
March 26-April 1: Running, 20 miles total. long run of 7.75. Swimming, 3200 yards total, 1 workout.
April 2-April 8: Running, 38 miles total. long run of 10.75 miles (with a huge bonk). Swimming, 10,000 yards, 3 workouts.
April 9-April 15: Running, 24 miles total. track work:8x1/4 mile repeats. Swimming, 8,000 yards, 3 workouts.
April 16-April 22: Running, 22 miles. mile repeats: 4 x 5:35. Swimming, 9,500 yards, 3 workouts. Bicycling, 140 miles (long ride of 35 miles).
As you may have noted, I finally started cycling again thanks to BLUE bicycles (rideblue.com) for helping me out with the new AC 1 road bike. I'm still waiting for a new tri bike this season, but the AC 1 has been a great ride to start my training again. I love the new aero profile for a road bike, as well as the stiff responsive ride despite feeling soft. Not sure how they accomplished that but once i dialed in my fit and got reacquainted with my saddle it has been a joy to ride.
Back to the swimming. I still can't get over that i'm ahead of my times from last year when i swam a 55 min at IM Arizona. Fortunately, I had the opportunity to work with the experts at TWEAK The Athletic Edge (tweakedathlete.com) in Birmingham. The instant feedback and analysis they gave me after a short underwater video session has helped me to take 2 secs off my 100 time and that has correlated 4 seconds of my 200 splits as well. The other great opportunity I have is that i get to swim with my best/girl friend Kate Segula who is a newly certified swim coach. Kate teaches private lessons as well as clinics for groups and may even begin a masters program in our area. If you are interested in working with her, send me an email and we can get you started. She keeps me motivated and writes some great workouts.
Well, for my next entry (in a day or 2, not another month, that is for sure) I will update you on the recent running clinic I taught that we will be concluding with a 5k in Howell, MI.
March 26-April 1: Running, 20 miles total. long run of 7.75. Swimming, 3200 yards total, 1 workout.
April 2-April 8: Running, 38 miles total. long run of 10.75 miles (with a huge bonk). Swimming, 10,000 yards, 3 workouts.
April 9-April 15: Running, 24 miles total. track work:8x1/4 mile repeats. Swimming, 8,000 yards, 3 workouts.
April 16-April 22: Running, 22 miles. mile repeats: 4 x 5:35. Swimming, 9,500 yards, 3 workouts. Bicycling, 140 miles (long ride of 35 miles).
As you may have noted, I finally started cycling again thanks to BLUE bicycles (rideblue.com) for helping me out with the new AC 1 road bike. I'm still waiting for a new tri bike this season, but the AC 1 has been a great ride to start my training again. I love the new aero profile for a road bike, as well as the stiff responsive ride despite feeling soft. Not sure how they accomplished that but once i dialed in my fit and got reacquainted with my saddle it has been a joy to ride.
Back to the swimming. I still can't get over that i'm ahead of my times from last year when i swam a 55 min at IM Arizona. Fortunately, I had the opportunity to work with the experts at TWEAK The Athletic Edge (tweakedathlete.com) in Birmingham. The instant feedback and analysis they gave me after a short underwater video session has helped me to take 2 secs off my 100 time and that has correlated 4 seconds of my 200 splits as well. The other great opportunity I have is that i get to swim with my best/girl friend Kate Segula who is a newly certified swim coach. Kate teaches private lessons as well as clinics for groups and may even begin a masters program in our area. If you are interested in working with her, send me an email and we can get you started. She keeps me motivated and writes some great workouts.
Well, for my next entry (in a day or 2, not another month, that is for sure) I will update you on the recent running clinic I taught that we will be concluding with a 5k in Howell, MI.