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!