My First Marathon (x2)

Sometime after the beginning of the year I decided that a Ironman distance swim time trial on Presidents' Day would be a good thing, and on to my training plans it went.  After all, it was in late February...and it wasn't even the longest swim I had done yet.  It would be fine, right?  [one year I decided to do 100x100 yards on MLK Day (bad idea) and one Friday before Labor Day I swam 5K, but neither was about time. My swim coach (Doug) put it in averaging 2:15/100 yards.  My tri coach (Matt) knew I was just hoping for under 2:30/100.  I had been working on some longer blocks and they had been in the 2:10-2:15 range, but I hadn't done this kind of continuous swim in a while. Then it was the long weekend and it was GORGEOUS!  Friday afternoon I did a swim, but it wasn't fast.  Saturday I ran a hard 10.  Sunday afternoon was lovely and I went for a 50K ride outside on the new Trek.  I also ended up lifting with my trainer (Shannon).  A...

Early in this block I was pretty pissed that some people who don't train (much) were going out and racing better than what be PR for me.  I have NO problem with people being faster than me (most are), as long as they put in the work.  But without work it just makes me upset.  And especially if they then bemoan how "slow" it was.  I wanted to race out of spite.  But I didn't get to. I've had some strong swims, and one complete disaster.  But I mostly shook off the disaster and moved on. This block was all bike trainer for cycling.  I did one of the workouts at the Loft while the class was doing something else.  I will do this for some of the weekday rides just so that there are other people around.  One of the things Coach Matt is doing is noting when I last did a workout so I can see how change is happening.  It seems I am doing better each time I do a workout, so that's good.  It will be nice to get outside (which should be tom...