Week 5, Behind this great woman is a better man

I'm starting to feel the training now, there are bits of me that I am constantly aware of, not sore exactly but that glow you get when you've worked hard, thing is it never goes away any more. Its hard to balance everything and please everyone. I really could not possibly do this without my husband Billy, he supports me with training tips, giving up some of his weekend plans, keeping on top of the housework , doing the shopping and the cooking. He is a star and I am very grateful. Billy is doing the Stokesley Duathlon at the end of the month, he'll beat me but hey ho that's the way it goes. Its his first Duathlon, he is also training for his first triathlon, The Black Sheep which I did last year. He manages his training, whilst holding down a full time job that keeps him away from home most of the week and supporting me. He is amazing. Also the rest of my family who keep up the hospital visits so that Mum does not feel abandoned, keeping me up to date with her progress since her brain haemorrhage/stroke on Dec27 Thank you.
My week last week started really well.

MONDAY
Plan Rest day
I used to be fidgety on rest days but not any more. I don't like to follow a long run with a rest day, I prefer to do a little something, It seems to speed recovery but after last week I decided I needed to have proper rest days if I don't want to burn out.This week I enjoyed my rest day.

TUESDAY
Plan Easy run 5 miles
I wanted to get to grips with cycling so as I was up early, I walked the dog early and got a cycle in. The roads were very gritty so I went on the old cronk and did 10.39 miles, not fast only 10.9 mph still I got it done.
After work it was the usual rush to get home, walk the dog and get down to club for the junior runners. Both groups did quite a hilly route, my group took a shorter route home but still managed 3 miles, really proud of them. It was nice running in daylight.
Next it was Adults, there were 7 in my group this week we did 7 miles at a reasonable pace with only a couple of walks, it was a good run of 7 miles
TOTALS
Cycle 10.39 miles
Run 10 miles

WEDNESDAY
Plan Bike Interval session 40 mins with 6x20sec sprints
Endurance swim 70 lengths
I got up and it had been pouring down all night and it was blowing a gale and I couldn't be bothered to rig Tessie back up to the turbo so I wimped out of the bike ride. I just walked the dog.
Wednesday is school running club day, the day turned out nice after such an awful start so we decided to run up to Studley, the youngsters were full of energy so we took them up the main drag to the Church, first up was to touch the gate and come back and as he passed people they had to turn and run back too. they were great the one who got there first managed the whole mile without stopping and one other never walked either. all the students put in a fantastic effort I was really proud of them all. $ miles done.
I got home in time to walk the dog and to make an omelette and eat it before the 6pm swim. The swim went well, the pool was quite quiet and I was soon into my rhythm I managed 62 lengths before I had to get out and go to drama.
TOTALS
Bike 0
Run 4 miles
Swim 0.88 miles

THURSDAY
Plan Club training run
Feeling guilty about the previous day's bike, I decided to get up early, walk the dog and have a bike ride. The weather was better and it was getting lighter so I didn't need lights. I did a couple of hills focusing on sitting more and driving with my quads rather than standing. It was a pleasant ride of 11.41 miles.
After work I got home and Billy had just got in, he took the dog out while I made tea, Spaghetti bolognaise (quick and filling) Then it was off to running club for training. Ian said it was a surprise, we ran to the canal and then ran a figure of eight of efforts around the canal, it was hard. the first loop from the roundabout past the Navvi and down Dallamires was A long effort with a jog under the under pass and hard and fast on the shorter route around the white bridge. we only had time for two sets then it was back to club. 5 miles in all.
TOTALS
Bike 11.41 miles
Run 5.03 miles

FRIDAY
Plan Easy bike 45 min
Swim training
I got up and Billy took the dog out so I could get straight out on the bike. I did a similar route to Thursday, again concentrating on sitting more the weather was fine but a little breezy. 11.66 miles completed.
Fridays are another rush day and this was more so than usual, My eldest son was 23 on Wednesday so he was coming home for the weekend. Swim training was first though, so rush home from work collect my stuff and be at the grammar school for 17:15. billy does this training too. We are both similar speeds in the pool and are in the same lane (slow lane).
I set of first and for the whole session Billy was on my feet, it does not freak me out when someone touches my feet any more, but I do put my leg kick to good use to pull away. Towards the end of the session I was shattered, Billy offered to take the lead, but I'd started so I'd finish. Next week I might draft off him.
We got home and got changed and our son and his girlfriend arrived, we were happily in the kitchen consuming home-brew red wine, when Billy said it was time to go out for dinner, we went to the Dragon Inn on the Market Place, luckily the potions were huge, swimming always makes me starving and rehydrating on red wine is never a good idea, so I had cider with my meal. After the meal we had a couple more drinks and Billy told me he had decided to join Vicky, Annette and I in running the Dublin Marathon in October. I was so proud.
TOTALS
Bike 11.66 miles
Swim 1.2 miles

SATURDAY
Plan long bike 60 miles
I decided a fortnight ago when I did 2 and a bit laps of the Ripon Tri cycle route that I would go for 3 laps, I set of a 06:20 after 4 hours sleep, leaving Billy to walk the dog. it was really windy, I hoped it would settle. I set off steady, the roads were quiet and apart from the wind it was a lovely morning. it was going quite well until I got on the A168 the wind was awful, it was not enjoyable at all and the Boroughbridge road was horrendous, head on winds and the traffic was getting busier. On the second lap it was no better and I was tiring so I cut off the Boroughbridge road and went through Skelton-on-Ure The wind was still bad but the traffic was lighter but the road surface was dreadful, still it was the lesser of two evils. The third lap started OK but as I approached Staveley and the 60 mile point i was starting to hurt and as I approached the A168 I decided not to do the Dishforth or Kirby Hill sections I was too tired, Again I detoured through Skelton-on-Ure. Then it was home changed food and time to visit Mum. She was pleased to see us as always.
TOTAL
Bike 72.02 miles

SUNDAY
Plan Run 15 miles
I slept 7 hours so was feeling a bit better, a little ache in my back and quads but nothing too bad. Again billy walked the dog so I headed for Studley to tackle the hill, 5 laps should do it. I stashed my bottle and set off, the first lap was OK didn't hurt too bad on the second I paid for being too hydrated and had to detour to the loos, by the third lap I was warming up and my pace was slightly improving, by four I needed a wee, detour to loos needed and on the fifth I was thinking that I saw my weekly miles on Daily Mile as 123 so I figured that as I was at 14 miles it would take 2 to get home, so if I detoured a bit I would get 17 miles and a weekly total of 140, so I did, as I was approaching home I headed up Bishopton on tired legs and up lark hill and made it home in 17.04. I was exhausted I put my legs up the cupboards and recovered.This is a trick Billy taught me. when I have done a hard session lay on your back with your legs up the wall for 10/15 mins. The lactic acid drains into your core to be processed. result, I rarely suffer from DOMS it beats ice baths hands down.
TOTAL
Run 17.04 miles
WEEKLY TOTALS
144 miles (I mis-remembered the mileage)
16.47 hours
13551 calories
11 workouts
36 miles running
105 miles cycling
2 miles swimming

SUMMARY
The week started well, and even if I was shattered and never kept exactly to my plan, it finished well too.
I covered Iron distance within the time limit although I should have biked more and run less. It was hard, it took a week to do it, I cannot imagine how it feels to do it all in one go but this was a psychological battle won.
I don't know if my training plan will work I need to train how I feel and I developed this plan from the way that I have trained for marathons in the fast using the same concept of 3 weeks build 1 week step back. I will not know until outlaw if my plan is good enough to get me round or even through training without burning out or getting injured. So far it is working and I feel I am progressing well. Long may it continue, and roll on tomorrow, REST DAY

A couple more stats if you're interested;
in 2012 so far I have covered 950 miles
21 miles swimming
567 miles cycling
362 miles running