I'm baaaaack...

...in town, training, and to blogging, of course.

We got back from our fantastic Caribbean cruise vacation for my cousin's wedding on Thursday evening. We were lucky to get an early flight and shorter layover which put us in the DC area 3+ hours ahead of schedule. Whew! That made getting up for work on Friday easier. Once I download some pictures I will post them...

As for training...I did not train once while away. Outside of my 3+ mile walk in Grand Cayman and my woodsy hike in the mountains of Jamaica of course. I guess I consider that additional rest for my left ankle, which I keep annoying. I may have to break down and see someone about it.

Anyway, over the weekend I was scheduled for a 20 mile run on Saturday for the 2/15 marathon, followed by 2 hours of riding on Sunday. Since I had not been running in the past week I ran 15 miles solo on Saturday. It went very well. I nailed my nutrition, I think. I felt pretty good the next day, and went for another 5 miles with Jeff. This was a bit harder - my ankle was a teeny bit sore and I unfortunately stepped in a little pothole and stumbled. That hurt...ARGH!!! Anyway, I feel basically fine today with very little ankle soreness. *fingers crossed* I need to walk very carefully it seems. My everyday shoes do not seem to be helping my ankle, either. I need to find something else...

Saturday was supposed to be the last long run as this coming Saturday is the start of the taper. I might seriously try to go 20 on Saturday...just so I get that full 20 in...I will see how things go. Then come marathon day I will plan to do the entire course (3 loops of varying distance); if I must I will drop out after the second loop for my first DNF... but if I take it nice and slow and work the nutrition ANYthing is possible. :-) I just need to finish while maintaining my balance and sparkle!

Tonight is 'off' per the training schedule. Tomorrow morning is swimming followed by a 30 minute run tomorrow night...Wednesday is speed work at the track. I however need to go to the high school for my older son's wrestling match. It is 'senior night' and he is a senior. Want to catch this event! I think I will do speed work on Thursday and pick up biking (again) over the weekend starting on Sunday then hopefully next week I can begin the weekly Thursday night bike sessions either at home or with TeamZ. That is the plan anyway.

A new week...

...means wiping the slate clean. For the week that is. :-) However this is recovery week, so that makes it easy...sort of. I lost a couple of important weeks of training but I was just emotionally unavailable. My father passed away right before Christmas and I kind of shut down. It was not that it was unexpected, per se, but he was elderly (celebrated his 90th back at the end of July) but he always had bounced back from EVERYTHING that that was supposed to happen again. We we planning for his homecoming from re-hab. But it did not happen. I started planning for a funeral services instead. *sigh* I had a viewing and Church service for family/friends. Then, since he was a World War II veteran, tomorrow is the finale if you will call it that, as he is getting inurned at the Columbarium at Arlington National Cemetery. It will be chilly out there but hopefully a lovely service. I sure do miss my dad...it was great to have the support of my good friends and family during this difficult time.

Anyway, back to training. This week is a recovery week and I will hopefully make all of my workouts to some degree. I am doing my Saturday run on Friday morning as we are leaving in late morning for the airport for our upcoming wedding cruise for my cousin. I am a Bridesmaid! Then Saturday will be quite busy what with boarding the ship and having a wedding and all. I hope to ride a bike training in the ship's gym on Sunday. If all goes well then next week I can get some running in on the ship's track and swimming in in one of the pools. I will be prepared regardless.

So...we are going on a Caribbean Cruise and I am SO EXCITED! This is a first for me - I've never been on a cruise. I and am so looking forward to it. My SO is coming along, so that will make it extra special. There will be about 30 in our group, too, so lots to do and fun to be had. We are already planning to meet at the Sports Bar on the ship on Sunday night for the Steelers v. Ravens game. Most of the people coming are Ravens fans. I am rooting for the Steelers! THere will be two land excursions. One of them there will be 6-8 from our group going on the 'Chukka Canopy Experience' which consists of wearing a harness and flying on a zip line through the trees. I will get to feel what a monkey does, I guess. Our other excursion I think is just me and my SO and we are riding in a semi-submersible to view marine paradise and shipwrecks, and a visit to Hell…among other things. The best part is I should come back with a nice little tan! :-) Not bad for the middle of winter in Northern Virginia!

Ciao!

In summary...

My 2008 totals that is...

Swim: 118.42
Bike: 1,321.66
Run: 691.09

So...2009 is starting off slow, but I will get there. I guess because 2008 ended on a downer. Oh well. Life goes on, right?