Ironman 70.3 Training Recap – Part 4

ironman 70.3 training update 4 - Eat Spin Run Repeat

I can’t believe it’s already been 5 months since my half Ironman training began, and that means there are only 3 months left until race day. There’s been a lot going on over the past month, so this recap will focus on how my training has changed since the last check-in, motivation struggles, and how I’ve been fitting long training hours into my normal schedule.

"Your body drives you to the line, but your mind makes you cross it" - Sebasian Kienle

Training

Things definitely started to get real this month with more of my workouts being intensity-focused rather than pure base building zone 1 heart rate work. While weekly volume has only increased a bit (the past two weeks have been between 13 and 15 hours), higher intensity speed work has been thrown into my rides and runs, and there have been plenty of best effort 100 yard sprints in my swims as well. While these often feel like death during the time I’m doing them, it’s been rewarding to look back and see that I’m making progress, especially in terms of shaving a few seconds off my swim times.

The Swim

It’s amazing how you can feel so unfit at a particular sport (in my case, swimming when I started training for all this back in December) yet with only a couple of months of practice, feel so much more comfortable with it. Swim days used to be the ones I didn’t look forward to as much as rides and runs because I felt tired after only a short period of time (like 20 mins), but now, sometimes my biggest endorphin rushes come after these sessions. I think people naturally get motivated when we see positive results, no matter what activity we’re doing. In running, my improvements are there, but they’re small. But in the pool, since I started out feeling so out of shape 5 months ago, the progress seems even more satisfying.

(Source)
(Source)

Technique wise, the main habit I’ve been working on is not rolling over so far to the side when taking breaths. This is one thing my coach pointed out while training in Vegas, and something I’ve been very conscious of ever since. It’s most noticeable when I’m getting tired, but I think I’m improving… or at least I hope so!

The Bike

As I’ve mentioned before, cycling is the one sport of the three that I have the least experience in. (I swam competitively between the ages of 10 and 13, so I did have an idea of what I was getting myself into when I signed up for this.) Last month I turned my tax return into a new road bike, and every Wednesday in May I’ve been attending a cycling clinic where myself and the other women participating have learned all about cycling technique, tips for climbs and descents, cornering, sprinting, double pace line riding, and bike maintenance. It’s difficult for me to find the desire to do anything after work (this grandma likes to have dinner and an early bedtime!) but each session has left me feeling super thankful that I attended.

Ironman 70.3 Training Recap - Part 4

Another thing I did this month to build confidence on my bike is join a 50KM ride with MEC a couple of weeks ago. There was a 100K option but because I’d just run a trail race the day prior (more about that in a second), I opted to do the 50K on the road, then do the remainder of my coach’s prescribed ride for the day at home on the trainer at my own pace.

In retrospect I totally could have done the 100K because the 50K didn’t quite turn out to be as good of a workout as anticipated. Nevertheless, it was SO nice to get out and ride for a good 2 hours with a group of like-minded strangers. The weather was beautiful and the atmosphere was 100% non-intimidating. MEC did a fantastic job of organizing the ride and I left feeling stronger and more confident in my riding abilities than when I started.

At the MEC 50K group ride

The Run

I integrated one trail race into my training schedule this month which was 5 Peaks Golden Ears. The enduro course was about 14km with one enormous 1km uphill stretch that was really gnarly (I did a mix of short-stride running and power hiking), and the scenery was stunning.

Golden Ears Provincial Park

It was my first real trail run since last fall, but the atmosphere was just like I’ve come to expect from 5 Peaks (aka fantastic), and I managed to place 3rd in my age group. Not bad, considering the BC trails have a lot more to them than the ones I ran in Ontario!

Women 25-30 age category winners - 5 Peaks Golden Ears

Speaking of 5 Peaks, I have a giveaway happening on my Facebook page starting tomorrow (Tuesday May 26th) for a FREE entry to the next race at Alice Lake in Squamish, BC on June 6th. If you’re in the BC area and want to try a trail race (I’ll be there and it’ll be a party!) be sure to like the page and check back tomorrow for details on how to enter! Alternatively, you can register using the discount code ANGELA and receive $5 off.

Race gear for 5 Peaks Golden Ears

The Motivation Rollercoaster

I’ll be straight-up honest and tell you that this month has been a series of highs and lows as far as motivation goes. There have been some training sessions where my mind wasn’t in the right spot at the beginning, which as you can imagine, doesn’t bode well for the hours that follow – especially if they’re spent with a bike saddle under your butt that feels more uncomfortable by the minute. Even when I’m not training, sometimes I question whether I still want to do this any more, especially given the fact that since moving to Vancouver, there has been SO much other amazing stuff competing for my time and attention.

My typical Saturday morning bike trainer setup
My typical Saturday morning setup

Sometimes it’s hard not to feel like all the training, early-to-bed nights, and time preparing in between sessions are getting in the way of other things I want to do. I’ll also be honest and tell you that I truly do miss the simplicity of running – the beauty of getting up, putting on shorts, a tank top and a pair of shoes and being out the door in less than 10 minutes. My long runs are definitely my favourite part of my entire training schedule, especially when they involve the Sea Wall on my right and Stanley Park on my left.

Of course, there’s also the financial side of triathlon – dropping money for new swim suits, pool memberships, bike accessories, coaching, food, and races. (Triathlons cost a lot more than running races!) At the end of the day, it often makes me wonder if it’s all going to be worth it. Will the satisfaction I feel from completing a half iron-distance triathlon outweigh the sum of the tough days?

Then there’s the voice of fear in my head that speaks up from time to time. The one that feels scared about the things that could go wrong during the race itself, from mechanical issues on the bike, to nutrition, to weather, among so many others. Will I actually be ready?

Longest trainer ride - 4 hours

So what do I do when my mind is in these terrible places and I can’t seem to dig back out? Thankfully, there are a few sources of inspiration that have yet to fail. I do things like watch Ironman coverage on Youtube, which allows me to see that Ironman triathletes come in all shapes and sizes. From 18 years old to 65+, able bodied and those with disabilities – they can all do it, which means that I can too.

Another great source of inspiration has been pro athlete interviews. I’ll watch some of my triathlete role models like Mirinda Carfrae, Rachel Joyce, Jodie Swallow, and Angela Duncan Naeth talk about their races, training, and how they stay mentally sharp. These ladies are all killing it on the triathlon scene and I love learning from them. I had the huge pleasure of getting to know Angela (who also happens to be my coach’s wife) while back in Bahrain in December, and two weeks ago she won Ironman Texas. (#kindofabigfreakingdeal) This means she’s got her ticket to the Ironman World Championship in Kona this fall. It doesn’t get much more inspiring than that!

Fitting Triathlon Into Life

So just how does 13-15 hours of training fit into the life of a 26 year old who also has a full time job and a blog? Sometimes I have to wonder the same, but I think it all comes down to priorities and making sacrifices when they have to be made. Once I pull my head out of the negativity that occasionally creeps in, I realize how important this goal is to me for so many reasons. So to set myself up for success, I do things like:

  • Go to bed early – crazy early by some people’s standards. Most nights I’ll pass out between 8 and 9pm. (At this rate, I’ll probably be asleep by 4pm by the time I’m 70.) 😉
  • Get up early. Most of you know I’m a morning person, which I think is definitely a skill that can be learned. Most mornings I’m up at 4, working out for about 2 hours per day during the week and anywhere between 2 and 5 hours on Saturday and Sunday mornings. This allows me to get what matters (the training) out of the way when I’m in my prime, before anything else competes for my attention.
  • Eat like an athlete – That means eating clean, always conscious of the fact that the way I eat and drink today is going to influence my workouts over the next 2 or 3 days.
  • Schedule time to see friends, work on the blog and do other projects – If it’s not in my calendar, it won’t get done. So I allocate specific amounts of time during which I tell myself that the task – whether that’s a blog post, social media interaction, emails, cleaning my condo, or running errands – needs to be completed. The important but less-urgent stuff gets slotted in around that.
  • Schedule time to relax – One of the most overlooked parts of training is recovery, and in addition to my early-to-bed regimen, my weekends lately have been very relaxing and low key. I’m getting over the FOMO I first felt when I moved to Vancouver, realizing that if I want to be at my best at the times when it matters, I need to give myself a chance to recharge the batteries.

Sitting at the beach along the Sea Wall

Phew. That’s it for now. I’ll talk a bit more about my training goals for June in my monthly goal check-in coming up next week, but for now, I’d love to hear…

  • For those of you who compete in any sport, what do you do when you need to get your head out of a negative space? Who are your role models?
  • Did you tackle a race or test of your fitness at some point over the past couple of months? How did it go? What did you learn about yourself?

13 thoughts on “Ironman 70.3 Training Recap – Part 4

  1. Keep pushing Angela…. its all worth it!!!!
    nice job!!!
    If you here in Bahrain, give a shout!!!
    We r training every day in da heat!!! 🙂

    1. Thanks so much Fabio!! I wish I could make it out to Bahrain to do some training, and I’m sure you’d probably far outdo me when it comes to riding in that crazy heat! I’ll have to practice here on the hot days because it’s likely going to be the same sort of conditions for my race in Penticton. I hope your training is going well!

  2. Angela you’ve accomplished so much (all while incorporating a move across the country!).
    You go girl!
    Question for you – Could you please advise where you’re taking the cycling clinic that is teaching you the tips on cornering, sprints, climbs, pace lines etc?… I’m interested. 🙂
    (I’m back here in Ontario).
    Thanks for all you do!
    🙂

    1. Hi Sheryl! Thank you so much for your kind comment. The cycling clinic I’m doing is here in Vancouver with a local cycling club called Glotman Simpson, but when I was back in Ontario I did a beginner clinic with the Waterloo Cycling Club and that was good too! They didn’t structure it quite the same as the one I’m doing this month and it had much more of a focus on group rides, but still useful and the ride leaders were very helpful in answering any other questions I had. Not sure if you’re near Waterloo but I’d definitely check it out if you are!

    1. Haha funny you should mention that… I’ve only fallen once (so far!) and I was almost at a complete stop. I forgot to twist my shoe out of the pedal and suddenly realized “Um… yeah I’m gonna fall.” 😛

  3. The healthy eating, early to bed & early to rise, and relaxing are so important for success in training! I watch races on YouTube also when I need inspiration and to move out of any negative headspace – that and a good training run creates so much positivity and motivation!

  4. Wow – what a post. There is SO much here I want to comment on and say, but I don’t have the time and need to get to sleep (it is WAY past 9 p.m, let’s just say that…).

    BUT – I highly highly highly recommend you read the books “Ultraman” by Rich Roll and “A Life Without Limits” by Chrissie Wellington. When you read them, you’ll understand why…

    With that said, you are young – 26! In Vancouver! And single! Don’t be afraid to enjoy your youth and be sure to understand above all WHY you are doing what you are doing.

    One thing that struck me is your getting up at 4 a.m to get your ride in. I believe you said on IG that you had to do that or else the day would be half gone if you did it later…I thought that was interesting. I love incorporating my workouts into my day at any time, morning, late morning or afternoon or after work – because I enjoy it and love it and I want to be outside and move. I wouldn’t get up early just to “get it out of the way”? I would get up early up course if I did have other plans that day, was traveling, etc. But I’d choose the outdoors ANY day. Running, etc. is not a workout to me, it’s a way of life.

    Just my .1 cent. Incredible post! Now – read those books 🙂

    1. Oh yes, Rich and Chrissie ARE inspirations, that’s for sure! I haven’t read either book yet but I’m going to see if I can get them as audiobooks. I listen to Rich’s podcast all the time and LOVE his interview style!
      As for the early start, I totally get what you’re saying about enjoying workouts later in the day too. The thing for me (or so I’ve found recently) is that I like to spend the day with friends, so by getting my independent training finished before what most people would consider ‘socializing hours’, it frees me up to make last minute plans with them. And yes, the running outdoors is definitely preferred over the treadmill these days. So far the sea wall has been my favourite place to run, but I’m sure there are plenty more here that I’ve yet to discover. Thanks for the comment!

  5. Where can I find your first post on the triathlon? Also, where do you search for races? I usually use Active and Runner’s World but lately all they post are Virtual Races.

Leave a Reply to Fabio Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.