Monthly Summary – December 2011
Here’s December:
Swim: 8,600 meters
Cycling (outdoors): 198.3 miles
Cycling (indoors): 2:55 (hours)
Run: 140.8 miles
Strength Training/Yoga: 5 sessions
Approximate monthly total training/racing time: 47.25 hours
Weight: low 160s?
December started with a BANG!
On December 3, I ran my last race of 2011, The North Face Endurance Challenge 50 Mile. I went into loads and loads of detail about the day in my race report. The race didn’t work out the way I’d hoped, but I did finish and I did beat my time from 2009. Also, I ran most of it with Lukas, with whom I’ve been training a ton this fall. And we got this sweet picture:
My goal going into December was to do the race and then take the rest of December off from running. That hasn’t really happened. I did decrease my run volume a ton, but I’ve maintained about three runs per week for about 25 miles per week. No offense to my fantastic training partners, but my favorite run might have been my solo Temescal ascent when I raced the sunrise to the peak (and won, just barely). And honestly, it was extra nice that I met up with the Coyotes for the descent. I did a couple extra swim workouts this month (mostly the “Aqua-X” workouts with Evan), but my actual swim volume was still really low.
The biggest change was that I did get back on the bike this month for my first rides outside since mid-September. We’ve been enjoying some beautiful weather, so riding has been really fun. My first ride back was the 5th Annual Fashion Show Holiday Charity Ride, benefiting Ralph’s Riders. A group of 60 or 70 got together for the ride:
We rode from Santa Monica through West LA, Beverly Hills, West Hollywood:
We finished at Bike Improve for some post-ride goodies and grabbed a (mostly) Team Pablove photo (with our host and Bike Improve owner, Nir, in the middle next to cycling Santa):
I also got out for a nice ride with Warren, Rom and Semira on Christmas Eve morning. We rode the PCH out to Trancas and on our way back detoured through Point Dume and got this photo overlooking the bright blue Pacific:
Except for a hill workout on Mandeville last Monday and a little speedy paceline work this morning, the riding has been mostly flat and steady, easy pace. My cycling fitness took a pretty big hit from the months off so I need to find my legs and heart before trying anything intense. And it’s December, so there’s no reason to push it!
December was a busy month. Lots going on in work and in life. As nice as it was to have a month without the stress of training for a specific race, it was also great to get out and enjoy the fresh air and clear my mind.
As a reminder, earlier this month I reviewed KT Tape Pro, and had a discount offer to pass along. If you’re interested in getting a roll, go to the KT Tape Pro store, choose your color and use this code – KTPRO11 – for 20% off. Hurry up and get on it, the promo code expires on January 31, 2012.
2011 Annual Summary to come soon!
Happy New Year!