Monday Mileage Two-fer

Well, this time around it's a two-fer. Work, life, and school are all a little crazy right now!

Monday 11/23: Arm Circuit + 5 Mile Run
Exercising in the morning helps clear my head and put me in a good mood for work. I was still feeling pretty stuffy, so I took it easy, plugging away at both the arm circuit and the run at a steady, manageable pace. It felt good to get some fresh air.

Tuesday 11/24: Bike 30 Miles to Work
Still not feeling 100%, so I stuffed a ton of tissues into my jersey, hopped on my bike, and figured I'd stop whenever I needed to blow my nose. Pro tip: these Betty Designs arm warmers are super warm and cozy!

Wednesday 11/25: Swim 1000 Yards + Run 8 x 400 M
I woke up finally feeling semi-back to normal, so I knew it was time to get back in the pool. I'm glad I didn't procrastinate any further, as I've lost a ton of speed and endurance. :( My plan is to increase the distance by 200 yards or so each workout until I've built up a good endurance base. Then, I'll start working on speed. For the run, I increased the 400 meter interval pace to 7:47/mi (up 0.1 MPH). I still felt like I had more in the tank, so I'll increase the speed again next time!

Thursday 11/26: Arm Circuit + Bike 58 Miles
I did the first 37 miles alone while my fiancee slept in. I figured he'd wake up about 30 miles in and I'd swing by the house to grab him, but I ended up having to go home and convince him to join me. It felt good to get a longer bike ride in! We had an unconventional Thanksgiving of tri tip, shrimp, and grilled vegetables, and it was delicious. I have absolutely no complaints about my Thanksgiving! :)

Friday 11/27: Run 9 Miles
I definitely didn't replenish my glycogen stores after the previous day's bike ride, as I had a dull headache the entire run. Of course, I only brought a small pack of chews with me, so I made sure to get plenty of carbohydrates in the rest of the day. Besides the under fueling issue, though, my run went surprisingly well. My average pace was 8:09/ mile, with the pace gradually slowing down after mile 4. When I realized I was all set up for a fantastic bonk, I mentally committed to finish all 9 miles no matter what. It's amazing how powerful your mind can be!

Saturday 11/28: Bike 27 Miles
I went for a lovely mid-day spin. Nothing crazy, just a quick break from studying.

Sunday 11/29: Arm Circuit + Run 6.6 Miles
The description for this run was "10k Race." However, my legs felt like bricks so I decided my goal would be to run faster than an 8:00/mi pace. I was successful, so my reward was spending an hour stretching afterward. :)

Monday 12/1: REST!
I woke up feeling stiff and tired, so I decided to take a full rest day. It probably didn't help that I consumed a ton of wine the night before. 

Tuesday 12/2: Arm Circuit + Bike 29 Miles to Work
I completely underdressed for this morning's chilly ride to work. It was in the 40s, but I decided not to wear knee warmers, thinking it would warm up after sunrise. Pro tip: you can always take layers off, but it's pretty hard to conjure up additional layers that you forgot to bring! Otherwise, it was a lovely ride in - the sunrises have been gorgeous lately!

Wednesday 12/3: Swim 1,200 Yards + Easy 4.5 Mile Run
Today's swim felt slightly better than last week's. Next week, my goal will be to get two swims in. The pool at the gym is indoors and heated, so I really don't have any reason why I couldn't get two swims in. Afterward, I did an easy interval run on the treadmill. After warming up, I increased my speed 0.2 mph every 1/4 mile. I started at 6.0 mph and worked my way up to 7.2 mph, then the went back down to 6.0. I would highly recommend this workout for anyone who wants to beat the treadmill boredom without destroying their legs doing sprints.

Thursday 12/4: Arm Circuit + Bike 29 Miles to Work
Once again, Velocio saved the day! My long sleeve jersey and vest was just the right amount of warmth. I can honestly say that my temperature was perfect the entire ride, which rarely happens. Sadly, I didn't perform as well as my clothes did. I don't have a power meter, but my legs felt weak. My speed wasn't that much slower, but I just felt weak. Yesterday's swim might be to blame...

Friday 12/5: Grappling Circuit + 5 Mile Pace Run
I was a little worried that the run would be a repeat of last week's 10k "Race," but my legs stopped feeling like bricks about a mile in. My average pace ended up at 7:41/mile, which was exactly where I wanted to be. 

Saturday 12/6: Bike 30 Miles to Work
If we're going to work on the weekend, my deal with my fiancee is that I get to ride in. It's one of the perks of being the boss. :)

Sunday 12/7: Run 10 Miles + Leisurely 24 Mile Brunch Bike Ride
What a great way to end the week! I nailed my distance run of the week, averaging 7:54/mile. I felt a little bonk-ish toward the end, so I'll definitely pack more nutrition as my runs get longer. Otherwise, my spirits were high and my legs felt great. After stretching and cooling down, my fiancee and I went for a light spin, enjoyed a delicious lunch right on the water in Seal Beach, and then raced home. I'm pretty sure the sugar from the champagne topped off my glycogen and emboldened my fiancee to race me. You can guess who won...

*Goals from two weeks ago*
1. Get back in the pool! - done and done!
2. Stretch!!! - yes, but not consistently every day
3. Get the morning routine back under 15 minutes - still trimming it down :)

**Goals for next week**
1. Swim at least twice
2. Stretch more consistently
3. Keep the morning routine under 15 minutes