60% to a Marathon

Today I ran the farthest I have ever run.  16 miles in 2:35.

Coming off a month of fabulous long runs in amazing weather conditions, I was super excited about my run this morning.  Unfortunately, I got a little cocky with the weather and wore shorts - a decision that haunted me for most of those 16 miles.  It wasn't that I was "cold",  my muscles just couldn't let go.  In particular my quads and my glutes were tight and my legs felt heavy the entire run.  My lulu crops would have been a much better choice. With that being said, the weather today was AMAZING!

I've been sticking to the Martin Goodman trail / Leslie spit this month just adding on each week.  I like running the same route - mentally it helps me visualize where I am and what I've got to do. Today I ran out Lakeshore to Cherry, down to Cherry Beach, across the trial to Unwin, east to Leslie, down the spit, east path, to the lighthouse, UP the hill to the lighthouse, then back along the western loop to home.  16.3 miles to be exact - that's 26.2km - that's over 60% of a marathon!

As I got to the bottom of the lighthouse hill, my trusty GPS told me I was at 10 miles.  I felt pretty good, has surrendered to the cold hard muscles in my legs and I charged up the hill.  My no means is this hill long, nor very steep but today was the first time I climbed it.  At the top I stopped to have a hammer gel. snapped a photo, drank some water and said - hey - ONLY 6 MILES to go!  And down I went and ran the 6 miles home.

I'm still amazed it is the last weekend of November!  Next weekend is the Tannenbaum 10k so I won't be getting a real long run in but I'm sort of looking at this like a little recovery week.  Then 2 more long runs before I get a reprieve from the cold and have 2 full weeks of warm weather running in Florida.  I know I'm going to be ready for the Ft. Lauderdale A1A Marathon in February !

I've been slowing talking more and more about the spring and the 2012 season, what I need to do and how I need to get there.  My Half-iron race is either Welland (Multi-sport Canada ) or Syracuse Ironman 70.3.  There are pros and cons for each race - big vs. small, 1 hr away vs. 4 hr away, flat course vs. hilly course, and of course COST.  In any event, guidance on this decision would be nice so Barry and I need to talk about it.  Oh, both races are on June 24!

In getting ready for Ironman training I'm about to purchase my trainer (cyclops fluid pro) and get my bike fitted with aerobars.  I've been talking about getting a coach or joining a club ... trying to figure out what's best for me and if perhaps I would be the best coach for myself ....  I hope to find clarity on this issue in the New Year!

The Mental Game

So the other day a friend and multiple Ironman found out I was doing IMFL2012.  He said he has no doubt I can do it physically but it's the mental part I need to focus on.  Well, I still know I have a long road of training ahead to get there physically AND mentally!  So my first step in the mental game - at least while training for the Ft. Lauderdale Marathon is I am now training in miles and not kilometres.  It's sort of funny, being American I was raised in miles.  I have lived in Canada for 9 years and have slowly adapted to driving in km/h and the such. But I only started training a few years ago and have ONLY trained in KM.  So for me to make the change to miles is quite drastic.

Last Saturday, my long run was supposed to be a 12mile run.  It turned out to be a 12.5 mile run..  I've got my GPS tracking on my blackberry now set to miles and I'm working out my pace in miles.  But the biggest plus of training in miles over KMs .... 26.1 sounds A LOT BETTER than 42.2!

IMFL and The BIG 2012 Plan

2011 was a great year for me.  I had been thinking about triathlons for over a year and finally took the plunge, bought a bike and raced my first Triathlon.  And now I'm hooked.  My "A" race this year, as of 1:05 this afternoon is Ironman Florida on Nov. 3, 2012!   There is a very LONG road to IMFL!

Here's the plan!

 Ft. Lauderdale A1A Full Marathon. February 19th.

My first and probably only full marathon before IMFL.   My first goal is to get to the start line, second goal is to finish in under 5 hours, but the "A" goal is to finish under 4:15.  

Chilly Half Marathon. March 4

Just a training race to keep me focused on running through the miserable winter months.  the weather will be a huge factor in timing in this race but I would be happy to run it sub 2 hours.

Around the Bay 30km, March 25

Just to get out and run it is my only goal.  Don't even want to put a time goal on this race.  It's a tough course and usually tough weather!

April Races

Beaches Spring Sprint 5km - will be happy to break my time from last year so Sub 24mins is my goal - unless I run it with my 7 year old daughter - then it will just be a happy 5km.

There is the Angus Glen 10 miler which I might race again this year just because it was cut short last year.

May

Toronto Goodlife Full or Half - will depend on how much a full takes out of my sails.  I don't want to do anything to jepordize my health before the Welland Half Iron which is 6 weeks out.

Ottawa Half OR the Woodstock Tri - conflict here as my hubby and bestie want to run Ottawa every year but I want to get a Tri under my belt early in the season and before the Welland Half Iron.

June

Binbrook Tri - June 9th - if I can't run the Woodstock Tri I will run Binbrook.  Not sure I would do both, but you never know!

WELLAND HALF IRON - BIG RACE - June 24th.  This is my Spring "A" race.  Goal will be to finish it in 6 hours, give or take.  This is a HUGE milestone race for me and will really give me a glimpse into the IRON world!

July
July will be a play-it-by ear month -  I might just train but I might do the Gravenhurst Oly tri or the Peterbourgh Half Iron depending on how much the Welland half kicks my butt.  We usually vacation for a couple weeks in July down in FLA which will give me much needed salt water training - but being vacation can take the mojo out of my training!

August
The only Tri in August that catches my eye is the Niagara Tri.  Then there is the Accura 10 miler and the Midsummers night which I might tackle the 30km as it would be good training for the IMFL.

September
Because I loved Wassaga Beach so much in 2011, I think I have to return for the Oly tri this year on September 8th - good training race.

Then it will be nothing but training until ...
NOVEMBER 3rd - IRONMAN FLORIDA

And I think that will be the plan for 2012.

I'm going to try to use this blog to capture my training over the next year as I endure to become an IRONMAN!