Dave Update:
I haven't seen or heard from Dave in weeks, but I suspect he ran 60 miles last week and is currently eating two salmon burgers, four turkey sandwiches and drinking three protein shakes (that are better than anything else he can think of doing). Seems like he and I should get together to run a bunch of miles and eat omelettes. Dave, if you are out there, text me immediately.
Paul, anything? Is he alive?
Training Update:
I'm working out again! After BQ at Chicago, going light in November, and taking off 11 days at the beginning of December, I am happy to share I'm back to daily workouts and feeling pretty good.
With RCK's encouragement, I subscribed to TrainerRoad and have done a few bike workouts using the software. So far I like it a lot. It is definitely a lot less complicated than using Zwift because I can run it using my phone and don't have to log-in using a laptop. I also like all of the workout choices on TrainerRoad including the interval workouts and ability to FTP test using the software. Maybe I'll be able to get faster this year?! Maybe. Faster than RCK again? I doubt it but you never know!
Ironman Lake Placid training starts officially in a few weeks. I suspect I'll use the TrainerRoad plans as a basis for the effort but will likely refer to my previous Fitzgerald plan as well. I'll need to be smart about the training. While I'm obviously not up for any more injuries, I would like to push things enough to have a chance at an IM PR. I'm going to need to be smarter about things this year.
Totals for 2017:
Here’s how things shook out for me in exercise world for 2017 along with comparisons from a couple other benchmark years:
2012
|
2015
|
2017
|
|
Swim
|
137561 yards = 78 miles
|
120884 yards = 69 miles
|
53449 yards = 30 miles
|
Bike
|
2721 miles
|
2811 miles
|
2019 miles
|
Run
|
897 miles
|
1069 miles
|
1154 miles
|
Time
|
374 hours
|
352 hours
|
279 hours
|
Races
|
- Ironman Muncie
70.3
-
Ironman Mont
Tremblant
- K2 Marathon |
- Boston Marathon - BQ!
- Ironman Muncie 70.3 (sub 6 hours) - Ironman Boulder (huge bonk) |
- Plantar injury to start year
- Chicago Marathon - BQ! |
Analysis:
- Getting injured (2017) really puts a damper on training! This really shows in the "Time" row with 1/5 less training in 2017 than in 2015. I imagine that an analysis of the intensity of workouts in those years would show far less intensity in 2017 than in any other year from 2012 to now. Upshot: 2017 was a low intensity mileage and low intensity year.
- Ironman training (2012, 2015) is a serious swim and bike commitment. I've got to start swimming a lot more. It seems the swim is always my achilles heal so to speak....wish I had a better plan for swim workouts. While the bike totals are down in 2017, I'm not too worried. I think the bike will take care of itself with the training coming up.
- The highlight of 2017 was clearly the Chicago Marathon with a BQ! I definitely ran conservatively in training and that day, but it was a BQ effort nonetheless and clearly put me back in the game. I'm lucky for this and appreciate the support of my family and friends. I'm looking forward to being back in Boston in 2019!
- Ironman training (2012, 2015) is a serious swim and bike commitment. I've got to start swimming a lot more. It seems the swim is always my achilles heal so to speak....wish I had a better plan for swim workouts. While the bike totals are down in 2017, I'm not too worried. I think the bike will take care of itself with the training coming up.
- The highlight of 2017 was clearly the Chicago Marathon with a BQ! I definitely ran conservatively in training and that day, but it was a BQ effort nonetheless and clearly put me back in the game. I'm lucky for this and appreciate the support of my family and friends. I'm looking forward to being back in Boston in 2019!
-
I'm working out less and less each year. Mean hours over the last five
years is 340 hours. Hmmm...it may be that as I've dialed up intensity
during workouts, it requires less time.
Thoughts on 2018:
- I'm looking forward to it. Most of all, I'm looking forward to being healthy.
- Doing PT exercises is a really good idea. I need to devote three half-hour sessions to PT each week.
- High intensity interval training without getting injured is important.
- Balance...better balance than I've achieved in the past couple years would be a good idea. This will require some goal setting and focus on the most important things I suspect.
- Probably a few more things will come to mind as I continue to think and plan for a successful 2018.
- Doing PT exercises is a really good idea. I need to devote three half-hour sessions to PT each week.
- High intensity interval training without getting injured is important.
- Balance...better balance than I've achieved in the past couple years would be a good idea. This will require some goal setting and focus on the most important things I suspect.
- Probably a few more things will come to mind as I continue to think and plan for a successful 2018.
Thanks for reading....hope you got out for a run today to close out 2017....or a bike or swim! Have a safe and fun NYE.
