June...ish

So it's June. I thought the summer would never get here and I would have a life-time to prepare for my first Ironman. This, however is not the case - obviously. June so far has a tricky month. I feel as though I am weather.com's biggest fan as I am constantly checking the radar for storms. There has been quite a bit of rain, but not enough to mess with great workouts (as long as I am not afraid of getting soaked on occasion). The humidity has been extremely high and I am slowly getting used to it. I have learned that taking in more than just water is imperative if I want to keep from passing out while biking. Who knew sodium and electrolytes could be such a wonderful thing. (PHOTO: Taking a picture of myself outside of a pizza shop - I have had "food" on the brain lately).

June is a learning experience. I am making sure that I am paying attention to my power and my lack-there-of. I am trying new foods and attempting to mix my electrolyte drinks with just the right amount of water (keeping extra in the car for after). This is it. It is June. Then there is July. After that - August and hopefully by the end of that one I will be able to consider myself an Ironman

June3rd - June 9th
(PHOTO: I went through my first tire. That brown smudge in the middle is actually where fibers are peeking through the rubber - HA!)

• 6-3-10 -Bike 2:30/Run :40 - Again, I felt good. I still have a lot of hill work to do so I don't kill myself later on. The run was hard - not sure why but sweat was pouring off of me - oh yeah!
• 6-4-10 - Bike 2:00/Swim 1:00 - The bike felt great today. I chose a semi-hilly course to give myself more exposure to what I will face in Louisville. Swim was better than on the 2nd because I put on my sleeveless wetsuit in order free up my arms - lovely.
• 6-5-10 - Run 1:20 - A good note is this: I have had to add an additional mile to my 1:15:00 run in order to ensure the time is met. Another note: the humidity was so high, I had buckets of sweat running down my face after 5 minutes. However, it seems once our core temperature reaches a high, it levels out - let's hope so.
• 6-6-10 - Bike 3:20:00/Run :30 - Humidity is tentatively gone. Make way for the wind! I had a good ride. I cam riding around a corner to head for another hour only to find my road stripped for blacktopping - whoops! Turning around was fine. It was nice outside. my run was crap for only the first 10 minutes, after that I felt really good and actually considered running a little further, but not time, had to get home.
• 6-7-10 - Bike 2:45 Hills/O.W.S. :45 - I woke up today feeling nauseous. I think training in this heat is finally getting to me a little. However...headed out for a hilly ride today! I've ridden this specific course once before and only one hill killed me this time instead of four hills - loving progress...I want to see more and more and more...guess that part is all up to me.
• Open water swimming is great. It is different (of course) and is wearing me out (as opposed to the pool) where I am not tired really at all afterward - guess more implementation of open water swimming is in order. QUESTION: open water or pool swimming from here on out? Which is better in preparation? My thinking is...O.W. However, I have been using a wetsuit due to the water temperature. Louisville, wetsuits may be illegal, train in a wetsuit until the water is speed suit ready? So many questions...shoulder is doing well in the sleeveless wetsuit.
• 6-8-10- Bike 2:00/Run :49 - I found a great 2:00:00 loop that has a few more rolling hills/some flat/good roads. 8th day in a row and I could not believe how amazing my legs felt. They were a little quirky the first 5 minutes, but no issues and a great ride. My run was fantastic also! My "hour" path I used last summer after my ride has now turned into a :49 path. Obviously I need to figure something else out because I hate to double back on a run - BORING! But, awesome for feeling fabulous on the run and bike. Its supposed to rain - don't want to waste a day off when its nice you know.
• 6-9-10 - DAY OFF
  FUNNY: I headed out for a ride this week. As soon as I got on the road, I went to check my mirror on my helmet and though, "where is my mirror?" As I went to touch my head to see what could possibly be wrong, I realized, no helmet.