February 16

It has been a crazy and trying two weeks since the last update. I have somehow managed to keep the training despite the fact that my 1999 Tahoe finally died on me after 220,000 miles. Our family has turned into a one car family for a few weeks here as we work to a solution. New engine or Used Car? Neither is a good option, but we probably will keep the old Hoe’ as it has been around as long as our family. Then this past weekend my wife came down with a strep/flu combo, so I was tasked with taking care of a 2 and 6 year old for the weekend as soon as my regular job ended on Friday evening. I did still manage to get my Sunday run in somehow!
I can really tell a difference in my running already by incorporating Intervals and some other drills in my mid-week runs. I have mentioned before that I have always been a plodder at 10min/mile, but my last two runs over four miles have had sub 10/min averages over the entire run including a 37:50 four miler this past Thursday. That one really surprised me as I felt like I was taking it pretty easy the entire run. As I have started running more regularly than I have even with my past triathlon training I have noticed that even if I struggle, once I get to about the four mile mark I am starting to feel good and can keep up a strong pace and stay in a lower HR zone. This is exactly what I was hoping for in this half-marathon plan. If I can get the run base there then all of my other swim and bike training should be a bit easier
I have also managed to hit the pool at least once each week, but I have skipped on a few spin classes the past two weeks. I plan on picking those back up this week.
I logged a short week the first week of Feb with only two runs at a total of 8 miles. Last week I hit all my goals with a 4.7 mile interval run on Tuesday, a 1000 yard swim that evening, a 4 mile run with intervals then another mile of GP’s on Thursday, and finally a 6 miler on Sunday. The 6 miler on Sunday was pretty tough as I incorporated some significant hills, but I felt like I could have gone farther when I was finished. I am slated for 20-24 miles this coming week with a 8 miler on Sunday, so let’s see how that goes.