Week 8: March 29 - April 4

Times are in minutes unless otherwise noted:

Sunday: Off

Monday: Bike 35, Run 25
Actual: Bike 35 (8.7 miles), Run 20 (2.1 miles), Strength 20

Tuesday: Swim 45, Bike 35
Actual: None. Stuck in work late.

Wednesday: Bike 50
Actual: Nothing. Sick.

Thursday: Swim 45
Actual: Swim 60
(78 laps total. 72 laps crawl [1 mile], 4 laps breast stroke, 2 laps back stroke)

Friday: Run 5K
Actual: Run 23 minutes (2.2 miles), Strength 20

Saturday: Off

TOTAL: 178*

*OK. So I had a pretty bad week here, but I know exactly why. Being out until 3 a.m. on Saturday, hungover on Sunday and then exhausted pretty much all week thereafter (as well as sick from Tuesday on) all took their toll. So no more drinking for a while. I've learned my lesson there for a while.

Week 7: March 22 - March 28

Times are in minutes unless otherwise noted.

Sunday: Bike 60
Actual: Bike 90, strength 15

Monday: Run 20
Actual: Run 25, Strength 20

Tuesday: Swim 45
Actual: Swim 35 (got to the pool later than planned and only had 35 min before it closed)

Wednesday: Off

Thursday: Bike 35, Run 20
Actual: Bike 35, Run 23, Strength 20

Friday: Off

Saturday: Swim 30, Run 25
Actual: Swim 35, Run 25, Strength 20

TOTAL: 343 (!)

So you want to hear something funny?

According to the 13-week training program that I'm following, I'm supposed to do an open water swim this week. Which? BWAHAHAHA!

Hello? It's March. In New Jersey. Today's high was 52 degrees and the rest of the week is expected to be in the 40s.

When I signed up for my inaugural triathlon, I was trying to avoid something in the dog days of summer. You know? Those 90something-degree days with 80% humidity when it takes every ounce of effort just to stand and walk 10 steps to the fridge to get a cold drink? Because who wants to run and bike in that?

What I did not consider was the lack of open water swimming there would be in the weeks leading up to a May 9 triathlon. Sure, spring generally comes earlier here in NJ than it does in say, New Hampshire, but not that much earlier. The reality is most lakes don't even open for public swimming until Memorial Day, which comes a solid three weeks AFTER my tri.

Sooooo, I don't think I'll be dipping my toe into any lakes this week. Or perhaps any lakes at all until the morning of the race when according to the registration site, the lake will be a balmy 65-degrees. Brrrrr. And I thought it was cold on the bike this afternoon. Methinks I ain't felt nothing yet.

Week 6: March 15 - March 21

Times are in minutes unless otherwise noted.

Sunday: Swim 45
Actual: Swim 45

Monday: Bike 45, Run 15
Actual: Bike 45, Run 15, Strength 15

Tuesday: Off

Wednesday: Swim 45
Actual: Nothing (Exhausted to the bone marrow)

Thursday: Bike 30, Run 25
Actual: Swim 45

Friday: Run 35
Actual: Bike 35, Run 20, Strength 25

Saturday: Off

TOTAL: 245

Week 5: March 8 - March 14

Times are in minutes unless otherwise noted:

Sunday: Run 30
Actual: Run 35, Strength 10

Monday: Off

Tuesday: Swim 45
Actual: Swim 45

Wednesday: Bike 30, Run 20
Actual: Bike 36, Run 20, Strength 15

Thursday: Swim 45
Actual: Swim 45

Friday: Off

Saturday: Run 30ish (Participating in the Morristown St. Patty's Day 5K Run)
Actual: Run 34:12 :-)

TOTAL: 241

Pedal power

All this time, I've been thinking I was going to have to pedal the 19.5 miles of the triathlon on my mountain bike. Which? UGH.

Don't get me wrong, I LOVE my mountain bike. It's great for, well, mountainy, traily, muddy, bumpy riding. Road riding? Notsomuch. It's smaller, fatter, nobbier tires make it about as efficient as a Hummer.

But an entry level road bike starts at about $1,000 and that? Just isn't happening right now.

So I've been out riding my mountain bike, thinking, "Wow, this really sucks. This is going to absolutely kill my time." Meanwhile, Mark's been pouring over Craigslist looking for a bike for me and this weekend he hit pay dirt.

Ta da! Meet my new bike:



I've already taken it out for a spin and it's a dream. What a difference! Maybe, just maybe, I won't finish this thing in last place after all.

Week 4: March 1 - March 8

Measures are in minutes unless otherwise noted:

Sunday: Swim 20
Actual: Swim 45

Monday: Bike 45
Actual: Nothing. Snowstorm + stomach ache = no working out.

Tuesday: Off

Wednesday: Bike 30, Run 25
Actual: Bike 36, Run 25, Strength 15

Thursday: Swim 30
Actual: Swim 45

Friday: Bike 30, Run 25
Actual: Bike 40, Strength 15

Saturday: Off
Actual: Bike 40 (<-- Testing out the new bike)

TOTAL: 261