Upping the Tempo

Happy Friday to our American friends!  With Canada Day on Tuesday we had a nice short week, but we still have another day to go before our weekend.  So cheers to those of you off tomorrow and enjoy your last day of work!

I just got back in the office yesterday after a great 4-day weekend filled with lots of fun up at the cottage.  There was plenty of food, family, friends, fires and festivities and everyone had a great time.  One of my favourite things I got to do on the weekend was head down to the Point with the kids on Monday while Michelle had to go into work.  It is perhaps the most quiet and tranquil area up at the cottage and we always enjoy our nature time there.

After skipping stones and climbing rocks we rode our bikes down to the beach.  The water was really cold but I did manage to get in (and under!) to enjoy some water fun with the kids.  It was a blast!

Before long it was time to head back up to the cottage and grab our lunch.  After that I got the boat out and all cleaned up, but it wouldn't fire up…so off to the marina it went.  Hopefully nothing major and it can get all fixed up so we can enjoy some days out on the lake.

This one's not mine, but it's the exact same boat…hopefully we'll have some of our own pics to share soon!  We love taking the boat out and dropping anchor out offshore and just chillin' and swimmin'.

I managed to get a couple of decent runs in at the cottage as well, including perhaps my speediest beach run ever.  I love running the beach, but it sure is tough with that uneven ground and loose footing…quick runs don't come along too often, especially when it gets hot and the sun's beating down.  Not exactly a lot of shade out there!

Once back in the office yesterday it was back to my lunch running.  I got out for a good 10K even though I had only intended to do 8.  I had Splash n Dash that night so I didn't want to tire the legs out too much.  I got going though and my pace was pretty good so I decided to do the 10 and push it a bit…it seems like I turn way too many of my runs into tempo runs, which probably isn't a good thing.

It was off to Splash n Dash again last night and I had another good swim and run…just slightly slower than my previous week but still good enough to come in third.  One more Splash n dash before Musselman 70.3 and I'm riding a pretty good wave of confidence…let's hope that carries over to the race!

American friends, do y'all have today off as well as the Friday?

Anyone else out there turn all their runs into tempo runs?  Is that good or bad??

It's (almost) time for a Tri

Who loves short weeks!?!?!

I do…and I am soooo excited that the next 3 weeks are short work weeks for Mike and I. With this week being Canada Day yesterday, next week we get to take off Friday and then the following Monday to head to Finger Lakes for Mike’s ½ ironman distance race…and then the next weekend is the first (and so far only) triathlon that I’ll be doing this year at Bluewater.

I’ll be doing the Sprint distance which consists of 400m swim an 18km bike and a 4km run. As ya’ll know Mike and I have been getting lots of swim training in with the swim Masters class we have been doing at the YMCA – and compared to the 2,000m+ that we do some evenings, I am really hoping to find 400m to be a swim in the park…lol.

(Clearly not me…but you get the idea)

Next up will be the 18km bike. The distance does not scare me at all – as I know that I can do this distance and feel pretty strong the entire time. I’m not going to lie – this will be the area that I am going into this race the most under-trained in. I have actually not been out on my racing bike at all yet this year. I am hoping that within the next 3 weeks that I’ll be able to ride my bike to and from work a few times to just get use to it; and feel comfortable riding it again.

I have certainly been doing lots of biking this summer already (especially since J has learned to ride – that boy never stops)….but I am not sure that riding this luxurious and comfortable bike – quite counts as training

Last up will be the 4km run. Again…not something that I am too worried about. I actually have not been doing too much outdoor running in the last 2 weeks…but thank goodness I have had a little time to do some pool running. Not ideal training – but hey – you do what you can, with the time that you have – right?!? Really the only worry is how my legs are going to feel off the bike and at the beginning of the run…weirdest sensation ever….I know it’s going to take a few minutes to get them working and doing what I want, so I’ll just try and be as calm as possible during that transition.

All in all I am REALLY looking forward to this race, and I am also excited as K will be doing the kids race the following day as well…and that she ASKED to do it! I love that the kids are choosing to participate and that they are getting out there and having a great time!

Recycled pic from last years race.

Happy Hump Day friends!!!

Any races on your up-coming schedule?

Favourite snack these days?

Happy Canada Day for all you Canadians!

Happy Canada Day for all you Canadians!

Today is a holiday for us and I plan on treating it that way. I started the day off, sleeping in.

I returned late last night from a mini-vacay to Montreal. I didn't do any running while I was away, but I did so much walking that my calves are so sore that I can hardly walk today.

The rest of my plans today include lounging at my sister's pool.

I'll give you a recap of my mini-vacay later this week. For now-enjoy your day off celebrating Canada, if your Canadian!!

What are your Canada Day plans?

What are your Fourth of July plans?