Spring Training Week #1

I haven’t posted weekly training recaps since Ironman CDA training but I decided to start for my “Spring Training” plan as I call it because I want to keep myself accountable. My 3 main goals for this training cycle, which ends just before the 4th of July are:

1. Complete P90X3 (which means completing 6 strength 30 minute workouts per week for 13 weeks – due to travel plans in June we will likely finish just before the 4th of July weekend).
2. Put down a solid effort at the Rock n’ Roll Half Marathon (June 1) using a plan using the principles from Brad Hudson’s “Run Faster.”
3. Finish strong at the San Diego International Triathlon (Olympic distance – June 29)

I’m not putting any time or age group goals on my races. Instead, I want to race them strong. I know I’m going to be very fit for both these races and I want to race them without time pressure. Just see what is under the hood.

Week 1 went well. I had planned to get on the bike this week, but triathlon training will have to start in week 2. Although we’re not following any nutrition plan, we are trying to make less exceptions and make it more of a 90/10 ratio. I’d say we achieved about 80/20 instead, with Friday and Saturday being a bit questionable but today we got back on it. Overall I feel good about what I put in my body this week despite some indulgences.

Here’s how it went down:

Monday

PM: P90X3 workout number one – “Total Synergistics,” a full body workout which includes push-ups, pull-ups, core work, squats, lunges and much more, working more than one body part/group in every move.

Tuesday

AM: P90X3 “Agility X” which is sort of like plyometics – jumping and running around the living room. Our living room is pretty small so this one was a little tough but I just modified by jumping up and down a bit more than side to side.

Lunch: Threshold Run. 1 mile warm-up with 2 x 15 min @ half marathon pace with 5 min recovery jog between, 1 mile cool-down. I did this run at lunch on the trails and I was surprisingly speedy and felt great. My times were WAY faster than my tempo run from the previous week and I finally felt like I was officially recovered from the marathon. I love progress!

Wednesday –

AM: 6 mile easy run with my friend Allison. Totally easy and fun run. My legs were now VERY tired from the P90X3 workouts but the miles went by quickly since I had a friend to keep my mind off of them.

PM: “X3 Yoga”. Since this is only 30 minutes, Tony tried to fit as much as possible in. I think that this 30 minute session covered the same number of moves as he covered in 60 minutes of P90X yoga -we just held everything less. It was pretty tough!

Thursday

AM: 6 miles easy with strides (with Asia!) plus 2 x 8 second steep hill sprints. Legs were still heavy.

PM: P90X3 “The Challenge” – 30 minutes straight of push-ups and pull-ups. This workout was tough!!! I use the P90X pull-up assist for my pull-ups so that I can do them but it doesn’t make it any easier! My chest, back, and arms were sore for days after this one.

Friday

AM: SLEEP! I needed to sleep in after three early mornings.

PM: “CVX” Holy crap. This was basically full body plyometric moves all while holding a weight. I held a 5 pound weight and it was tough. I was absolutely drenched in sweat at the end of this workout. It might be my favorite!

Saturday

10 mile progression run with last 30 minutes at moderate effort. Mike ran with me and my legs were tired (surprise surprise) at first and it took a while to warm-up. We ran pretty slow but once I got to 30 minutes to go, I picked it up and was easily running in the low/mid 8s which felt good. Sometimes running faster actually feels better!

We spent a large portion of Saturday spectating Ironman California 70.3 which is only a 20 minute drive north from Encinitas. We got there in time to see the pros on the run course, and walked right by Andy Potts as he started on his 2nd loop on the run. We also saw Heather Jackson, local triathlete who placed second, as well as many other extremely speedy pros working hard. I had two friends racing as well as knew several people from social media out on the course and it was a great time. Asia and Jeremy came out too and we were reminiscing about 2012 when we all raced it. I got major race envy and was plotting how I could race it next year.

 

That night we went to a 90s birthday party and had a great time dancing to 90s songs and reminiscing about our favorite TV shows, movies and teen crushes (hello Andrew Keegan and JTT – who’s with me!?). I dressed as Ty from Clueless, Asia as Kelly Kapowski and Mike and Jeremy as Kris Kross.

Sunday

After a fun night of partying, we slept in late, took a walk with our coffee, and cleaned before finally putting in the final P90X3 workout of the week – The Warrior. It was full of great core moves as well as some plyometric type lunges and squats. Another sweaty one. We planned to get on the trainers later in the afternoon for a spin but a nap won.

It was a great start to P90X3. Mike and I are really amped on the program and excited to see where it takes us. It will definitely be a juggle to get in triathlon training on top of it, but P90X3 and the half marathon are my priority for now. I hope to include at least two bike rides or spins per week in the coming months and then after the half marathon focus mostly on the bike and the swim in the final 3 weeks leading up to the triathlon.

Totals:

• Strength Training: 3 hours
• Running: 28.5 miles
• TOTAL: 7 hours 40 minutes

What 90s character would you dress up as for a 90s party? What strength move is hardest for you (assisted pull ups is mine!)?