I think I'm ready....

Ok so first things first, I assure you my brain is still 100% focused on our upcoming marathon wedding :D :D :D  but the tides are turning in my head.

I think I'm ready...

To put a 70.3 on the schedule again next year.  

This past year I feel was smashed, beaten and spit out after Ironman.  I think I had such issues during training and during the race that I just wanted to be far, far away from focusing on triathlon.   It seems like it became all that I was.  I was nothing but someone in training for Ironman.  I am so much more, I enjoy so much more, I needed time physically, mentally and emotionally away from the whole thing.

But there has been so much buzz about Ironman amongst my friends since many of them did IMoo last weekend that I'm getting anxious to have another big triathlon goal on my schedule.   Don't get me wrong, I think pigs will fly before I set foot on the IMoo course again but I'm sure in a couple years we'll investigate doing another full somewhere else. 

Proposed Target: The inaugural Ironman Muncie - July 9th, 2011

Marathon Training has been going pretty well.  Last week was our first easy week.  Every four weeks we have a low mileage week with a lot of EZ in it.  

My EZ pace is supposed to be 9:46/mi and Tempo is supposed to be 8:15/mi

With the weather getting much cooler (most days are in the 50-60s F) I can definitely feel the difference in my training.    Oddly enough my heart rate has been much lower during long runs and my pace has been a bit faster (yay hoo!)  Tonight we had a 6 miler with the middle 3 miles being tempo.  The first mile hurt!  I was really hoping it was too fast and sure enough, it was about 7:40.  We eased up a tiny bit but my heart rate was pegged in the low 180s.  Second mile 8:06.  Final mile 8:04(ish).   The average came up to be 7:57.  Sa-weet!  Sub 8 :)

I still wish we would get ourselves into the gym more often to strength train.  I know how important it can be but just haven't quite had the motivation to drag ourselves there more than about once a week.

Wedding update: Mark's wedding marathon shoes are waiting for us to pick them up down in Lakeville and we are working with a small company to get our visors embroidered. Then I need to get the veil done :) I'm excited my best friends Jess and Beck wanted to have a bachelorette party for me. We are having dinner and going to Shout House. Nothing crazy, just food and fun with hanging out with the girls. And kind of unfortunately it's the night before we have now all but signed up to run the Monster Half Marathon the next morning :-P



Weight loss has been going well.  I've been using the Livestrong.com Daily Plate again to track my calories since Sept 5th.   The plan is to intake 1200 calories + any calories burned in exercise.  I have gone over in calories a couple days but most days I do really well.   Mostly my sodium and sugars.  Protein too but I don't take that as a bad thing.  I think I'm down about two pounds but haven't done an official weigh in yet to compare.  Stay tuned.....

This weekend we have a big all-weekend Geocaching event (GeoCoin Fest) so we'll cover that on our other blog.  We will need to squeak in a 12-miler at some point too.  Next weekend we are signed up to drive over to Cable, WI for the Birkie Trail Half Marathon.  They have awesome medals you can see on the website.  I'm super excited to do another trail event.  Although I'll be doing it in my old road shoes.  Can't afford new trail shoes right now but I'm watchin' deals on Sierra Trading Post :)  Mark's buddy Steve is coming to run as well so it should be a fun road trip.  Hey Steve.....I call shotgun!!! ;)

Anyone else going to be at Birkie??