T minus 100 days and counting...

That's right, its 100 days until the big day!  I'm feeling pretty good, although this is only my 2nd week of training.  Even though the weeks will get harder and the training hours will increase, I believe the first few weeks are the hardest.  Its the time your body is getting used to longer workouts, sometimes double workouts, on top of your daily life of work and friends.

I, obviously, have been slacking in the blog department this last week, but with working some crazy hours at work, I just decided to hold off.  But I promise to try to be better.  I started this blog, after all, to not only track my training, but keep y'all informed.  Don't want to let you down!    Here's a summary of my workouts since the last post:

Thursday 7/21 workout:

Run - 60 min w/strides every 10 minutes (strides are done by increasing my pace for 20 seconds, then back to my normal pace).  This workout was done on a treadmill.

Bike -  Recovery spin at easy effort.  This workout was done on a spin bike, immediately following my run.

Friday 7/22 workout:

Run -  30 minute recovery easy pace

Saturday 7/23 workout:

Off day! Yippee!

Sunday 7/24 workout:

Bike -  1.5 hour group ride

Monday 7/25 workout:

Swim -

• wu: 5 x 50
• main: 2 x 1000 (medium effort)
• cd: 250 easy

  Total: 2500 yards

Bike -  30 min on spin bike following swim

Tuesday 7/26 workout:

Run -  30 minute easy with strides every 5 minutes

Bike -  1 hour spin class

Wednesday 7/27 workout:

Off day!

Thursday 7/28 workout:

Run -  75 minute long run

• wu: 20 minutes easy
• main: 7 x (3t, 2r) 
• 3t and 2r means that there's 3 minutes at tempo or increased pace, followed by 2 minutes recovery running. So in total time for main set = 35 minutes.
• cd: 20 minutes easy

 Swim -  Speed Day!

• wu: 300 continuous (alternating 50 swim, 50 kick)
• main: 20 x 75, hold constant pace for each (medium effort)
• cd: 200 easy

  Total: 2000 yards

So let me tell you about tonight's swim.  It was probably the hardest swim workout I've ever done.  I looked at the plan, and when it said I needed to hold a constant pace for all 20 sets at a medium pace, I was a bit intimidated.  My last few swims have been anything but consistent pace.  As it turned out, I surprised myself, and all but the last 5 sets, I held my pace!  And those last 5 sets, I only slowed by 2 seconds.  This swim workout just kicked my butt!  I was so tired, but damn, it was a great workout.  So much, by the 17th set, I got a cramp in my right foot, that caused me to basically stop kicking.  Then during the last set, my left calf cramped to the point where I felt like it was going to explode out of my leg.  I massaged it for a few minutes, and sat in the hot tub, and was like new in no time.  Hopefully that never happens in a race!