Today marked day 1 of my Ironman Wisconsin training plan – finally! I have been waiting for this day for months. Thank you everyone for the well wishes on Twitter and Facebook today to get me moving.
I’ve mentioned this before, but in case you forgot, I’m using the Matt Fitzgerald level 7 training plan. After seeing the success that DRog and Jeff are having with the plan, I can’t wait to chart my own progress.
Today’s workout called for a 1800yd swim and 1 hour Z2 bike ride. And tomorrow’s workout? A day off. Wait, what? Oh, that’s right, Tuesdays are my scheduled day off. This is a bit of deviation from the actual plan which has the off day on Mondays. Tuesdays work better for me, so they are going my off/floater days. If there is another day that I know won’t work for a specific workout, I can always move it to Tuesday. Otherwise, I think I will aim to do yoga on Tuesdays as way to rest and recover. I am also going to try and fit at least one more core/strength workout per week into my training. Even if it is just 30 minutes, I really felt and noticed a difference in my offseason training once I started incorporating a little strength training.
My swim this morning was super easy compared to what I have been doing in the offseason. I have been working my way through Triathletes Workouts in a Binder book which has me doing 2500-3000yds per swim, so 1800yds was a walk in the park. I got some great advice from Jeff on how to approach the swim training – Thanks again Jeff. I am going to follow the plan for the first week to see how a 4 day swim week (compared to 3 day) affects me. I’ll reevaluate after that and then may start to up my distances ahead of schedule to get back to what I am used to. I’m fairly confident in my swimming thus far and am not too worried about that aspect of training. (as a non-swimmer, I never thought I would hear myself say that).
My bike ride this afternoon was nothing special. I road the Reeds Lake Triathlon course which is about 20 miles. I had the wind at my back on the way out which meant I had to fight the it AND the hills on the way back. It took it easy though and worked on keeping my cadence up and not pushing too hard. It was only about 36* out, but with gloves, headband, tights and shoe covers, I was actually very comfortable. I am really hoping that I can put the trainer away for the rest of the year. Optimistic, I know, but a man can dream right?
Any ways, it was a great first day and my spirits are high!
If you are interested in seeing my workout plan, feel free to check out the Google Calendar in the sidebar to the right. You can see the actual details by clicking on a particular workout code. Or you can see a calendar view here.
15 comments
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Matt Smith
March 28, 2011 at 7:11 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Way to go for day 1! It sounds like everything went well today. Man, 36* is cold and too cold for me. I’m a 40* and above kind of guy.
Mandy
March 28, 2011 at 7:49 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
WAHOO! Day 1 so exciting!! You are going to rock it. Brrr it is still so cold for riding, right? Yesterday was a high of 20 with a windchill of WTF. Jon liked that windchill estimation.
Ironman By Thirty (Kevin)
March 28, 2011 at 9:08 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Best. Weather. Report. Ever. You totally need to start doing the daily weather.
At this point, I am so sick of the trainer, I will put up with just about anything just to be outdoors.
Spike
March 28, 2011 at 9:04 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Enjoy the journey. Sometimes it will suck. But it will always be worth it!
Jeff Irvin
March 28, 2011 at 9:33 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
“A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.”
Lao-tzu
This is a good quote expect you’ll be doing a lot more than 1000miles during training (-:
Jon
March 28, 2011 at 9:40 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Welcome to the club. First rule is: Eat a lot of Gu! Then 2nd rule is: EAT A LOT OF GU!
Grandma K.
March 29, 2011 at 10:56 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
You can do it!!! You have great determination and your spirits are high.
Scott
March 29, 2011 at 10:56 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Welcome to the life that is controlled by a piece of paper
Did Jeff’s advice include spending $50k on swim gear?
Matt Oravec
March 29, 2011 at 11:36 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
First comment… haha you said floaters
Second comment. I am scared for when we do our first official IM workout. There is something awe-inspiring about it. I am sure that it will not feel any different than any other day.
Good luck on the journey buddy!
Krista@CommitmentisLiberating
March 29, 2011 at 11:46 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Awesome! Sounds like a solid start to your ‘official’ training! I’m looking forward to following along on your journey!
Morgan
March 29, 2011 at 12:47 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
I seriously can’t wait to see what you do with this!!! COMMENCE TRAINAGE!!!!!!!!!
Colleen Kingery
March 29, 2011 at 8:38 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Ahhhhh – and so it begins! Can’t wait to follow your journey!
Aimee (I Tri To Be Me)
March 29, 2011 at 9:29 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Woohoo for starting your training! I still have 3 weeks to go before I start mine!
Derek
March 29, 2011 at 10:50 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
1st of all I can’t believe you are riding outside
2nd of all – GREAT news you are under way !!!!
love it
grind it out
i’m with you on the flip flopping of days for what fits your own schedule, and that will be huge if you can keep the yoga 1x per week. Over the first 7 weeks I have made yoga at least 1x per week.
Also I’m enjoying the swimming 4x per week – thought the distances were too short so I have completed a 4000 yd, and two 3500 yard swims during this first quarter, in an attempt to at least try and get some longer swims in.
excited to follow you on this journey!
DR
onelittletrigirl
March 31, 2011 at 9:29 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
I love the excitment that comes with starting a new plan! I cannot wait to follow you through the journey!!!