06/05/2009 18:16
It's a taper week
This Sunday I'll be racing in the Mermaid Triathlon at Quarry Lakes in Fremont--the same race in which I did my first triathlon about a year ago. This year I'm much better trained and prepared, so my goal is to beat all three times from last year and run the entire run portion. It's a fast, flat course and much shorter than the race I did last month so it should be a fun day for me.
Since it's the week before a race, I get to do what's called a taper, where I decrease my exercise gradually so by the time Sunday morning rolls around I'm just bursting with energy and want to go! I had three rest days on schedule this week, which is unheard of--usually I have one rest/stretching day--and three swim/run bricks. Running is still my least favorite part of triathlon, but I'm getting better at it. It helps that Coach is a runner and keeps giving me more run workouts so I get more comfortable, no matter how much I whine.
Yesterday was one of my rest/stretch days, so here's my log for the day:
Today I've got my last brick of the week--an easy 1200 yards in the pool (that should take me about 30 min) and then a 25 min run with 6 sprint intervals (20 second sprints followed by 2 min recovery). I have a meeting for work even though it's my day off, but it shouldn't take long and then I'm meeting my friend M to do the workout together before we go to a farewell party I'm hosting for another friend who is leaving the firm. M isn't a triathlete (yet!) but she and I trained for and ran a 10k together in the spring, and she's thinking about signing up for a marathon for the end of summer. She used to be my closest friend at work, but she quit about a year ago so now we are running buddies--just as good for me and better for her sanity.
I weighed myself this morning--182.3 That means I'm not allowed to weigh myself again until July 3. Hold me to it, okay?
Since it's the week before a race, I get to do what's called a taper, where I decrease my exercise gradually so by the time Sunday morning rolls around I'm just bursting with energy and want to go! I had three rest days on schedule this week, which is unheard of--usually I have one rest/stretching day--and three swim/run bricks. Running is still my least favorite part of triathlon, but I'm getting better at it. It helps that Coach is a runner and keeps giving me more run workouts so I get more comfortable, no matter how much I whine.
Yesterday was one of my rest/stretch days, so here's my log for the day:
Breakfast: double-fiber wheat english muffin with 1 tbsp. natural peanut butter, banana
Snack: 4 oz. yogurt, hot cocoa
Lunch: 1 cup chilled cucumber soup; 2 cups salad greens with light caesar dressing; 1/2 avocado and 2 slices pepper jack cheese on whole wheat
Snack: 4 oz. yogurt, hot cocoa
Lunch: 1 cup chilled cucumber soup; 2 cups salad greens with light caesar dressing; 1/2 avocado and 2 slices pepper jack cheese on whole wheat
Snack: ~1 cup cherries
Dinner: 12 pcs spicy tuna roll (w/ cucumber & avocado), 4 oz. edamame in shell
Workout: 30 min easy on elliptical, 20 min stretching
Dessert: 10 chocolate covered almondsToday I've got my last brick of the week--an easy 1200 yards in the pool (that should take me about 30 min) and then a 25 min run with 6 sprint intervals (20 second sprints followed by 2 min recovery). I have a meeting for work even though it's my day off, but it shouldn't take long and then I'm meeting my friend M to do the workout together before we go to a farewell party I'm hosting for another friend who is leaving the firm. M isn't a triathlete (yet!) but she and I trained for and ran a 10k together in the spring, and she's thinking about signing up for a marathon for the end of summer. She used to be my closest friend at work, but she quit about a year ago so now we are running buddies--just as good for me and better for her sanity.
I weighed myself this morning--182.3 That means I'm not allowed to weigh myself again until July 3. Hold me to it, okay?