Well, Here We Are.
Tonight's first of the year "Spin" class will mark the third consecutive workout for me. Yes, I said third. Tonight I shall embark on a 16 week journey of twice weekly bike sessions with the goal of building miles and kicking my anaerobic threshold. No really, the name of the class is KMA. Although, all the participants are fully aware that KMA is really for Kick My Ass and has little to do with anaerobic thresholds.
Yesterday, I swam around 3500 yards. Hardly anything when you think about one race totaling 4400. However, I worked hard. Especially on the negative split 400's. After looking at previous year's RedMan results, I'm having a hard time understanding why the swim splits are so... slow. Only one woman last year swam under 1:05. In 2007, the first woman out of the water was a 1:24. ONE HOUR, TWENTY FOUR MINUTES. 2006 was two minutes slower than that! I'm guessing its the lack of draft that causes the slower times, and there's fewer competitors to compare by. I was the 70th woman out of the water at IMFL 07 with a 1:06. The fastest fish that day was Theresa Mackel in 50min.
After looking over results, I feel like if I can swim to the same ability as in 2007 (not the same speed, as the draft really does play a huge part), then I should exit the water near the front of the overall race. I'll worry about the bike and run later. Let me savor this moment.
I'm still figuring out the coaching situation. I originally thought I'd have more moola to spend than I really do. I found someone that I feel would be an excellent fit, however, I'm trying to figure ways to make coaching a necessity versus a want and therefore giving paying thousands a year a bigger allowance out of our budget. I do want to say that Nancy Strickland coached me last year and is F-A-B-U-L-O-U-S. However, I was needing to make some changes and when doing an Ironman, it's easier on the phsyche to be coached BY and Ironman. Not to say Nancy isn't a badass in her own right.
I'm off to dig thru a box of mismatch heart rate monitor straps here in the office. During my "arms will fall off" swim set yesterday, my faithful HRM of two years but the dust. I've tried changing batteries, replacing pieces, anything, to save it. But, I think it's done. However, the watch/ receiver portion still is ticking (pun intended), so hopefully there's a Nike strap in this gross sweaty box.
5 comments:
I just found your blog and thought it was interesting plus I live and train in the KC area. So I hope that you don't mind me commenting on it. I did the 1/2 Aquabike Redman this year and it was very calm and I did it in 35 minutes and could have held that pace for the full thing. The thing is the day before when we warmed up it was like swimming in the ocean, the lake had white caps on it. Very challenging! This may be why there are "slow" times in 2007. Another thing is that I got beat up pretty good at the start....I'm a pretty strong swimmer (swam in college) and start at the front and the guys just pummelled me. It took a bit to get in a rhythm. I'd also hazard a guess that it isn't THAT popular of a race, it is a great race with lot's of support but maybe it just doesn't attract the elite. I know that they seem to really say they are first timer friendly so maybe that plays into it as well. I think that 2009 will be different because it is the site of the Club Championships and the times will probably come down significantly.
Hey Julie, thanks for the comment and please keep reading.
Hey, Who did you swim for? I bet we know a few of the same people!
I agree with Julie. This year at Redman, the water was calm BUT the volunteers all told me that the winds in OK usually make the lake trecherous. White caps and 3 feet waves are the norm - what we got last year was the exception. :)
That COULD be why the swim times are "slow". Also, the IM's start about 5 minutes before the 70.3 peeps so on your second lap, you might have to swim through the slower 70.3 swimmers which could slow you down - or at least annoy you.
Ahhhwwsome. :P
Still, the bigger the white caps, the better. Helps seperate non swimmers and swimmers. I'm so excited!
Courtney,
I'm originally from the Northeast so I'm not sure how many people that we would know in common. I swam for Allegheny College which is a small Div. 3 liberal arts college North or Pittsburgh, PA.
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