Seventeen Miles for a Slurpee?

Last week I was on vacation! It. Was. AMAZING! I felt like I was gone for two weeks though it was only one. My sons and I went with my good friend and her husband and son and his friend. We were joined by her niece and a friend plus her cousin and her husband, two daughters, and a friend. All in all we were 14 strong! Thankfully the house could hold all of us!

It seems crazy taking a  vacation with Ironman Wisconsin just five weeks out - yikes! But I had some workouts planned. I had done my 120 mile epic ride the day before we left and the day before that had done a 11.25 mile slog / run after work on Friday. I say slog because the 11.25 mile run seemed harder than the 14.5 mile run the Friday afternoon the week before! But, I got it done! The 120 mile went very well. We were a small group of four and did the typical ride out of Nokesville Park. Actually - it was only 118 miles...with a .25 jog afterwards. We got sprinkled on a little bit and the sun never seriously broke through. Well, it was sunny but never got crazy hot. 

So back to vacation...

There was even a finisher's medal!

I tried an ocean swim on Monday. I say tried because there were jellyfish EVERYwhere and that was just freaking me out. Haha. I was also in my wetsuit and struggling to breath. Still not sure what that is all about other than wearing my wetsuit seems to trigger my asthma... Needless to say I cut it short. Tuesday I skipped another swim but got a 90 minute massage. Wednesday was a recovery day! Thursday morning five of us walked a mile up the road to the start of #5 in a local 6 race 5K series! According to the plan by my coach, I was to 'run it hard'. Well, I had not done any speed work in a while so I ran it as hard as I could and it hurt! I felt gross during the entire race but about five minutes after was all raring to go! After we all finished we walked the mile back. Nice morning's work! 

Friday was a rest day for me though I was supposed to swim. I did think about it, but then did not...

Saturday was my 18 mile run! My friend I was there with was planning to run 9 miles with me. We were going to do a double out and back so we could swing by the house for more water, etc. As we started off before 6AM, we immediately went into the 4 minute/1 minute run/walk cycles that I'd been training with. Before we hit our first turn around she had decided she would do 12 miles with me! That would mean just 6 by myself. When we got back to the house we started out in the opposite direction and after a mile passed a 7-11. I decided that I would do my last 6 in the same direction and when I hit mile 17 would stop for a Slurpee and just walk the last mile back to the house. Shortly after the second turn around - and right after my half way point - I took a little tumble(?) and now have a cute little scrape on the heel of my left hand. I think I tripped over the crack in the sidewalk. hahaha 

We got back to the house at 12 miles and my friend had just completed her longest run ever. Woohoo to that! I drank a V8 and filled up my hand-held bottles and Fuel Belt bottles and started back out. I was really looking forward to that Slurpee... The day was really heating up and I fairly consistently kept up the 4/1 run/walk. I did take two longer breaks but all in all my pace was where I wanted it. Had no mishaps after the turn around this time and finally made it to the 7-11! I was very happy to see that the Coke Slurpee machine was up and running so I filled my cup and headed back out. Then I decided to see if I could actually run with the cup in my hand. And I could! So instead of walking that last mile I continued to run/walk till I returned to the house. As soon as I got in I went straight down to the pool to soak and relax for a bit! 

My sons and I drove home yesterday and it was great to be back home and pick up our dog - who was also on vacation - and see the cats! This weekend is a 12 mile run - though I am headed to Alabama to return my younger son to college so I'm not sure when I'll get that done - and a 60/2 bike run brick on Sunday! I think after this weekend I am officially in taper! Yikes! 

27 days and counting....

Happy and Healthy Training!

Next Up: Ironman Wisconsin