***Lovin it***

I really am lovin this training lifestyle and I really don't want to stop after the Griz.....so I have a few more races to add to my summer plan.

April 11-Grizzly Triathlon
April 25-Riverbank Run (10K)
May 3-Bloomsday in Spokane (12 K) *7.46 miles of fun :)
May 30-Queen City Triathlon in Helena (sprint distance like the Griz)
July 12-Missoula Marathon (I would run the half-this is tentative for now)

I am super excited for all of these races. Cor, Chris and I ran in the Riverbank and was the first race for all of us. We loved it and are all doing it again.

Bloomsday is a race in Spokane that has been there for years and is crazy. There are like 55,000 people who run in it, one year it was even the largest foot race in the US. The race is supposed to be tons of fun-there are bands around every corner and is through downtown Spokane, mostly by the river and Riverfront Park. Chris and I are going with a few friends from here and my friend Jen from Gonzaga is going to meet us there as well. It will be fun to spend some time in Spokane and see Jen again!


The Queen City Triathlon is another sprint distance tri that is aimed at beginners with a swim in the pool and the same distances as the Griz (swim-1000 yds, bike-12 mi, run-5 K). I'm excited to continue with triathlon and my friend Emma is going to do it too. Yeeeah!

The Missoula Marathon-I would like to run the half marathon so we'll see how it goes. I plan to train for it and test my knees. My knees have felt pretty strong throughout my training so I think I could definitely do the half.

....let's see-I feel like there's something else big happening this summer that belongs on my agenda....OH yeah! August 15! I'm getting married :) Chris and I booked our plane tickets last week for Playa Del Carmen....can't wait!!!

Am I alive??

Right-so I haven't posted forever. Don't worry though...I'm still just as committed as ever, I just have about a million things going on at once. No excuse though. Anyway....

***The Griz is looming, yes that is definitely the correct word. One minute I am so excited I can't stand it and the next I'm terrified. I have definitely had some pretty sleepless nights lately spent worrying how I'm going to pull on my pants over my wet swimsuit and how I will carry my Hammer Gel, you know-all the important details :)

I am in Week 12 with just two more weeks after this week before the tri. Weeks 11 and 12 make up the most important phase of the plan: The Race Focus Phase. During this phase some "Quality Day" workouts are incorporated which focus on a little bit of speed in addition to the usual endurance focus. For an idea of my workout for weeks 11 and 12:

Monday: 1500 yd swim, 60 min bike
Tuesday: 2000 yd swim, Quality Run (about 5 miles with varying intensity)
Wednesday: Quality bike (about an hour and a half)
Thursday: Quality swim (2300 yds), 30 min run
Friday: 45 min bike (optional)
Saturday: 1000 yd swim (optional), 60 min run
Sunday: 90 min bike, 30 min run (optional)

Training is definitely taking up a good deal of my time but I love it. I may not love it during a test week when I'm trying to fit in studying and homework as well but it's all about priorities.

I have had some great workouts over the past weeks and I'm loving running outside and I still can't believe the progress I have made over the past few months. I love thinking back to that first swim at the Y. Oh man, how far I have come-that in itself is such a great accomplishment and pushes me to do more.

After this week, I begin the "taper" which is two weeks long-the workouts decrease somewhat while still maintaining the endurance I have built up.

Next week is Spring Break and I will be headed home to Billings for the entire week. I'm very excited to get in some much needed wedding planning-and sleep!