Catching Up Part 3

August has brought along many challenges and has been a great month in the training cycle. As we inch a little closer to the race the long rides and runs are adding that last bit of length, the intervals on the short midweek work are getting longer and more challenging, but I feel like I am responding well to it. As I write this I am currently in the recovery week associated with August, so I have been a little worn out. Not to mention that I did compete in my first race of this year the Sandestin Triathlon (more on that later) .

The first two full weeks this August started stretching total workout times to 9-11 hours per week. The swimming is running 2200-2600 meters with a lot of speed intervals during the midweek and the longer constant swims on the weekend swim. Since the actual swim in the race will only be a little over 1930 meters I feel like my swims are there. These intervals now are all about adding speed. The runs are still the same midweek interval and speed runs, but those shorter runs are not 45min to an hour, with the longest run over these two first weeks of 1h 30min covering 8.5 miles. I am still a bit concerned about the run of 13.1 miles in the race, so I plan on extending a few of the long runs over the next weeks even longer. If I follow the training plan to a T, I will only max out at a 2h run, which will not be a full half-marathon at my pace. The bike is really starting to get long with a 3 hour and 2hour 45 min ride over these weeks as well. I have also tried to add a few runs if only for a 10min period just to keep the legs used to converting after such a long ride. In addition there was one decent length brick in there on 8/16 with an 1h 30min ride and 40 minute run. This was a day after a 2h 30 min ride and also after a morning swim of 2000 yards. Surprisingly I felt very strong on the brick. This brought me into last week which was a bit modified since I was adding a race on Saturday instead of a scheduled 3h 30min ride. More on that in the next Catching Up post.