Reevaluation and Recovery

It's been 12 weeks since I started my training with Michael. And this week, was my week to reassess my fitness skills and enjoy a little recovery. Tuesday, I repeated my Bike VO2 max test, Wednesday my Run VO2 max and Friday, a 1000m swim time trial. Sandwiched in between was a whole lot of much needed rest and recovery. Its been a tough few months between a heavy work schedule and increasingly longer workouts.

I, of course, was anxious about this week. I've been working hard and following my plans, but I really had no idea how that would equate in numbers or my fitness. Plus, I hate the mask you have to wear. It makes me feel claustrophobic and panicky.

I pushed myself hard at each test. I didn't want to give up to early or leave energy on the table. My results surprised me. I pushed 50 more watts in my cycling test and increased my VO2 by 7 ml. I lasted a minute longer on the run and increased 2 ml on my VO2. And finally, my swim - 20:26.

The week ended even sweeter - a hour at West Creek with McQueen on Saturday and a fun six miler with TRIgirl40 this morning. Both weekend workouts translated the numbers I was seeing in this weeks' tests into changes I could sense in my performance. Saturday's ride was nothing but perfect - good weather, Bart grinning by my side, McQueen and a strong ride. I couldn't help but smile when I had plenty of gears left at the top of the Farm Bureau hill. Today's long slow run was no different. TRIgirl 40 and I had to keep putting the governor on our pace - 6 miles in 1:02 minutes and mile 6 was 9:30 pace.

In addition to a little sunshine and some warm weather, this week has given me that little confidence boost I needed to stay motivated and stick to my plan for the new year. Training and hard work pay off. 12 weeks down, 16 more to go till White Lake. Here I go!

I've been tagged.....

I've been tagged by my fellow TGs to list seven weird things about myself. Here we go:

1. Despite being a music major in college, I am terrible at remembering lyrics to songs, unless of course they are part of some opera in foreign language or lyrics in a musical.
2. I haven't eaten a normal piece of bread since last July - only millet and flax.
3. When I asked my husband to name one weird thing about me, he couldn't name any.
4. I get up every night in the middle of the night to help my 65 lb yellow lab get up onto the bed.
5. I love shoes and my family calls me Imelda, yet most times, when I am in my own house, you will find me in my bare feet.
6. I like running in the rain.
7. I've written a 10 page legal brief in less time than its taken me to compile this list.

I'm registered!

The White Lake Half registration was supposed to open tonight at 7 pm. I had my password and login in hand at 6:38 pm and my husbands setup log in and password as well so I could start his registration while he finished his workout. I pulled up the website and decided to see how far along I could get before they told me I had to wait until 7 pm. To my surprise, I received no error message, no "you have to wait" and registered myself and my husband on the early side. (Of course, my compulsive nature wouldn't allow me to relax until I saw both email confirmations and our names on the participant list). I feel lucky. My TRIgirl teammates who waited until 7 are facing screens and screens of error messages. I would be totally freaking. Keep trying gals! I know you will be right there beside me on May 3rd.