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Tuesday, May 1, 2012

April Recap

Miles: 137.05 (+ ~26 miles in the pool)

X-Training: 7 swims

Rest Days: 4

Race(s): Cherry Blossom Ten Miler - 1:22:05 and Colonies Zone 1650 freestyle - 22:18.05


Workout goals:
Swimming - it was another good swimming month, including my first meet in years!

More running - I didn't get in quite as many miles as I had hoped to at the beginning of the month, but I was able to run more than I did in March

Core work and stretching - I give myself a C here. I managed to do my stretches and exercises a few times each week, but I really should be doing something every day.

Non-workout goal: Spring cleaning. I started to de-clutter at the beginning of the year and never finished. Time to get this done and move on. I haven't been doing well with the non-workout goals recently. April kind of got away from me and I didn't make any progress here.

April was not exactly the month that I hoped it would be. Swimming continues to go well and I had a great time swimming the mile at a Masters meet. Running, on the other hand, has been tough. I started off the month with the Cherry Blossom Ten Miler and hoped to use that as the kickoff to a strong month of training before the Frederick Half on May 6. Unfortunately, the universe had other plans. For some reason (that I'm still working on figuring out), I've really been struggling at track and tempo workouts. I just haven't had that next gear that I need for speed workouts. This doesn't leave me in the confident place I had hoped I would be at the end of April (a week out from my race), but I can only work with what I've got.

May  Preview

Workout goals:
Less running - The Frederick Half Marathon (May 6) has always been my focus for the spring. I want to make sure that I give myself a break after the race so I avoid any feelings of burnout later in the year.

Swim 50k (or at least try) - A few bloggers took part in this challenge last May and talk of doing it again this year started on Twitter yesterday. I'm not sure I'll make it since my May (non-workout) schedule is pretty packed, but I'm going to give it my best shot.


Mix up my routine - I bought an yoga/strength class groupon back in February and I need to start using it before it expires.  May seems like a good month to try some new things.

Races: Frederick Half Marathon - May 6, Kinetic Half Ironman Relay (swim leg) - May 12, and Jim McDonnell 2 mile lake swim - May 27

Non-workout goal: These haven't been going well recently. I'm not going to set a goal for May. Maybe I can instead make some progress on all of the ones from the last few months.

10 comments:

Anonymous said...

Nice month! Good luck on Sunday!!! :)

AKA Darkwave, AKA Anarcha, AKA Cris. said...

A thought - do you think the swimming could be interfering with the running? A bit of lingering fatigue that means you can't turnover as quick as you would like?

Also, there's a neuromuscular/coordination aspect to fitness -- and maybe it's just that you're getting out of practice with the SKILL of running. Maybe just doing more drills would be a good idea? I know that I try to do drills on most of my easy days -- jog a mile, do drills, then go for an easy run. Just programming in that skill.

Finally, you take really good race photos - I'm jealous.

Jessica Karazsia (@irun26at8) said...

What's a non-workout goal? Maybe I should start setting these...or just live with moving boxes in my living room forever. Ha.

Great month...keeping pushing through this. You really do look like you are getting stronger out there! It may not feel like you are but I can see a difference.

Good luck on Sunday!

Sarah said...

Good luck this weekend :)

Also see you at the swim start at Kinetic :)

Beth said...

I'm so excited for May! You can kick ass (and wear yourself out...) in your half then we go HEAD TO HEAD twice in the water. ITS ON!

Jen Feeny said...

You totally kicked April's ass girl. Love that pic of you too, you look so fierce!

Katie said...

drills - what Cris said - is actually a really good call. kind of along the lines of "you're learning how to use your butt so now your body is extra tired." makes a lot of sense.

hope we get to swim together even more this month!

Elizabeth said...

Nice update! Get some rest over the next few days and I think you will nail your half.

Jon said...

Woah! I might be doing 2 races with ya! Kinetic and Jim McDonnel. Here is to May!!!

And nice job on April :)

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