The Unplanned 5k and a Brick

Yesterday was a bit of a milestone for me.  It was the first extended run I've done outdoors since probably high school.  The training plan called for a nice, easy 30-minute jog, and my last jog was 5 days ago for 20 minutes on the treadmill with a pace of 11:57min/mi.  Clearly I have no sense of pace outdoors because my jog turned into a  5k in 30:18.52.  That's a pace of 9:47min/mi.  Wow, that was unexpected!

Running vs Cycling Stats

Garmin FR60

So yesterday after a week of ice-induced UPS delays I finally got my Garmin FR60.  I chose this particular fitness watch to track my runs and strength workouts due to its compatibility with my existing Garmin HR monitor and GSC10 speed/cadence sensor.  This will give me the ability to better track my overall training load and predict performance.  During a discussion about HR zones relative to perceived running paces (i.e. jogging vs running), I was presented with the phrase, "cyclists and their darn heart-rates!"  The implication was clear, as a cyclist I tend to be too focused on heart-rate which is definitely true to some extent.  However, it's a false perception that I thought could use some clarification.  There are inherent differences in training for the 2 sports that someone newly venturing into the multi-sport arena should be aware of.

Kicking It Up a Notch and .... a Family Duathlon?

Definitely NOT me.

Snow and ice storms can't stop us!  Training is really starting to intensify in our household.  My wife is now less than 2 weeks from her first duathlon, and so am I ..... well sort of, more on that after the jump.  The last 4 days have seen Angelia and I both tackle a treadmill + plyometric workout, my longest bike ride in 3 months, and her first bike/run brick.  The remainder of the week for us has the normal runs, swimming for Angelia, plus a variety of cycling intervals for both of us.  Oh, and the return of the hill repeat route I used to prepare for the Livestrong Challenge last autumn.  Phew!

On the Road Again

Thank you Sun.  Your appearance saved me from yet another day on the trainer.  As soon as I saw the neighborhood streets free of ice and the current temp climbing faster than anticipated I set my sights on bundling up for a (gasp!) outdoor ride!  I took off as soon as it was 45 degrees and it felt great to be on the road again.  

Taking Over the Gym

Angelia, Julian, and I all hit the treadmills today at Ridgepoint Athletic Club.  I got in a 20 minute jog covering 1.44mi.  Hey, don't judge, it's only my 2nd time running since high school P.E..  Julian was comfortably cruising along next to me.  Angelia, well she had a bit more on her plate today combining runs with plyometrics.  She still managed a smile while on her cool-down jog though.

If you're in the area and haven't checked out Ridgepoint, you should --- even if you already have a gym membership.  Why?  As of today Rockwall Running Center has officially opened for business inside the club. Come by and check them out.  Oh, and see if you can spot the photo of my wife who was part of their first Couch-to-5k program.

More Snow = Race Cancelled

The DRC Tal Morrison Classic has been cancelled.  What a bummer.  Angelia, Julian, and my sister Racing It Off (aka Lesley) were all planning on running the 5k.  As you may recall this was the event a year ago that Julian pushed Lesley's pace till she crossed the finish line drooling.  Recently, she had clobbered that old PR time only to have the favor returned by Julian a week later (by a mere 14 seconds).  Now that their paces were so closely matched I was really looking forward to how their race would pan out.  Oh well, on to the next event ..... Angelia's first multi-sport adventure is scary close.

Getting Intimate With Your Trainer

With so much of the U.S. under snow and ice, it's safe to say it's not safe to exercise outdoors.  I've heard several tales this week of runners who attempted to do so, slipped on ice, and injured themselves.  While mountain biking in the snow is an absolute blast, any kind of cycling (especially road cycling) is extremely dangerous on solid sheets of ice.  So, here we are left with no choice but to pull out the indoor torture devices trainers.