rest up

Today was spent packing. All day. Packing and getting everything ready to move house tomorrow. Shouldn't have skipped my workouts but life happens.

bike dilemma

I've been trying to sort out what to do for a bike at the race. The bike that I own is at least a size too big and is very heavy. But I am used to it. But it'll be quite expensive and a hassle to bring it with me on the plane. I went to my friends at Bike Generation and got some advise from Karim. I think I'll rent a bike in Zurich even though I won't be used to the bike. I'll have a few days to get some short rides in on the course. Swim :45 Bike 1:15

Taper Weeks and Packing

Just a hard fast pool session today. Taper week is great. Too bad I have to pack. Not just for Switzerland, but for leaving the country for good. Bleh!

Take a day

Today I was supposed to swim :45 and bike 1:00 to make up for missed bits last week. But I didn't. Sometimes you just need to take a day.

Two Weeks from today!!!

Ironman is two weeks from today so this is the last long hard day. I rode Metn with the guys, tacked on another 2 hours on the stationary bike, a 45 min run and 30 min pool session. WHEW! The good news is: I felt great the whole time. 

Beach Day

I got up early again to get in a 1:40 run and :45 bike session at the gym before heading to the beach with friends. This is beach food in Lebanon:

Bad Romance

Pool session went well then I went to watch Jane Eyre with friends. I hated her character when we read it in Mrs. Reynold's 11th grade literature class. Turns out I still hate her character.

The end is near, in so many ways

I'll be in Switzerland in less than 2 weeks. I'll be leaving Beirut in less than a month. I hate goodbyes. Swim 1:00 and Run 1:05

No More Students!

It felt very empty in the classroom today without the students. Run 1:15, Bike 1:40. Sigh.

I stood the Ironman up

Today is one of the first and only days I stood the Ironman up and bailed out on training altogether. The expo was today and I just couldn't make more hours in the day. 

Last Week of School (for the kids)

I'm going to miss the kids. No workout today, which was good since we had a bunch of stuff to get ready for the end of year Expo.

Weekends can be exhausting

Continuing break-neck schedule. Run 1:45, Bike :45, Swim :40. The end is near. 

Busy Social Schedule

Whew! Two hour bike ride with the guys, two more hours on the bike at the gym, 45min run and a 30 min pool session. Then a BBQ at a friend's house in the mountains, later out to a bar with old friends who are back in town. Busy time for training and for my social life. Little time for sleep. 

Three more Fridays

Three Fridays left and then it's IRONMAN TIME!!! Pool session felt fine today.

I Heart Dinner Parties

Swim 1:00 Run 1:05

I love being able to eat whatever I want at dinner parties. Especially when Patrick is in the kitchen. Mmm!

We really shouldn't do these on weeknights though...

Eternal Red Card

I feel like I have been shown an eternal red card. No soccer until after the race. Run 1:15 Bike 1:30

Reflections and Shadows

When I got to the gym today there was no one in the pool. I had the whole place to myself for a little while. It was nice to have the only wake in the pool be mine. The lighting in the pool is quite unique for an indoor pool at a gym. Normal lighting in my mind is florescent lights and very bright. This pool is set up more like a swanky hotel pool.

This is the pool (bad photo, sorry):

This is what the lighting of the pool is like but only along the length, not the width:

Since I was the only one in the pool, all the shadows were of myself. I felt like I was racing myself. I was fast. Every time I would do a turn on my kick sets and backstroke sets I would just be coming up to the surface at the second light so I would see my reflection on the under-surface of the water. I looked pretty bad ass. I swam fast and it felt good. 

Swim and make up

Normally Mondays are "no training" days but I had a pool session to make up from the weekend. I also booked my flight to Zurich, collected on our quiz win for dinner and enjoyed another pub quiz. It's getting SO REAL now that details are concrete.

sore ankle and glow

Long day today- Bike 3:30, Run :45 Swim :30. My ankle is sore and I'm not sure why. I got some sleep and have that happy glow going as I head out the door to listen to China Moses.

3am and I must be...

3am wake up? No thank you. That's what it would have taken to get in all of today's scheduled session and still be on the road in time. I put in a pool session and then went to the Ecovillage with friends – delicious vegetarian food!

shorts

Another typical Friday night: Run 1:30, Bike 1:00, go straight to an outdoor film festival of short films, meet friends there, enjoy films, go home "early" because of impending epic training weekend.

Napping at the cinema

After a 1 hour swim and 1:05 run, I cleaned up and met a friend at the cinema down the street. It turns out that it is very difficult to read subtitles with your eyes closed. 

Ironman never stood me up

I was supposed to go out to dinner with someone tonight. There is no cell phone reception at the gym. When I came out, all dressed up and on time, I had been stood up. He bailed out because he didn't hear back from me. The Ironman never stood me up. Run 1:15 Bike 2:00 – still staying away from soccer

Did you bring the rackets?

I added on some tennis time today with Bachir (and Amy and Leah) at AUB. It'll probably be the last time I get to play tennis before the race. Swim :45 Bike 1:30 Tennis :40

Personal Day

I took the day off from training and from work. It was very busy running around doing errands, but was a nice break from the usual. I got a haircut and we had an epic quiz win (over 90 pts)! 

Leisurely Sundays, where are you?

I look forward to having a leisurely Sunday. Sometime. Not soon. 

run 1:45, bike 1:00, run :45 

Oh Mr. Sun

Massive weekend workouts. today's ride with the guys was a 5-hour ride! It was awesome. And the weather was fabulous, although that means I also got sunburned. Afterwards I still went to the gym and put in another hour on the bike, a 40 minute run and a 30 minute pool session. Whew! 

Reward tonight: watching the Red Sox game. Thanks to Patrick for showing it at the Goose! 

Spontenaity

Just a pool session today meant I had time to meet a friend for dinner spur of the moment. Nice! 

Collecting our winnings

After my workout today I met up with friends to collect our winnings from our quiz win. I ate more than my share, but I feel fine about that. My body is on about a 2 hour cycle at this point. If I don't eat something every two hours my body complains. Significantly. Planning nutrition throughout the day is crucial. 

Missing Soccer

I miss going to soccer, but there is no way. Too much risk of injury. And I am so exhausted after my workouts I fade so quickly.