UMC: Laying the groundwork.
Once you find out you've been selected for Ultraman Canada, you basically have 6 months to train for it. Some days that seems like a really long time. Some days that seems terrifyingly soon. But before I could even begin my journey, I've had to do lay some groundwork.
1. Choose a coach
After 6 Ironmans, I feel like I have some idea how to train for the Ironman distance, but Ultraman is completely uncharted territory for me. I decided to reach out to friend and local pro triathlete Kelly Williamson of Durata Training. We're still in the just-started-dating period of our relationship, where everything is new and she has no idea what I can and can't do as an athlete, so there's a lot of timed intervals and fit tests in my near future.
2. Get power
One thing Kelly does that I've never done before is trains with power on the bike. I've now got a fun new power meter for my bike, but can't start playing with it until we build out a new wheel for it, which is currently on order. So that's a work in progress.
3. Masters swimming
I'm joining back up with Longhorn Aquatics' masters swimming program. I don't even remember how long it's been since I swam with them, and it was only briefly then, but it's been many, many, MANY years. And several years since I swam with a group at all. And some of the days I'll be swimming will not be freestyle exclusively. Not gonna lie.. somewhat terrified about this one. My first class (an all-strokes one) will be tomorrow, unless I completely chicken out.
4. Plan out some events
This is and will be an ongoing process. So far I'm definitely in for days 1 and 2 of Easter Hill Country Tour, replacing the final day or riding with a run, possibly even a run on the ride course! I was hoping to get in a good, long practice swim with Colin's Hope, but it looks like they're only doing one distance swim this year, and it's after UMC, so if I do it, it will be a celebration swim rather than a training swim. And other than that, I have no idea at this point. I surely wish there were more early-season distance swims around Austin.
5. Find a place to stay
So far I'm a little surprised how few options we've found for rentable houses in Penticton via sites like vrbo. I'd say we waited too long, but I started hunting before I was even accepted, just in case, and there just isn't much out there. We've found some promising leads, though, so hopefully we can lock this one down fairly soon, and remove one stress from the huge list.
6. Start training
I'm officially back on a schedule as of last Wednesday (and excited to finally try out Training Peaks). And then as of Friday I got really congested, and as of Sunday, I lost my voice. Starting off my training with a bang! Hoping to chase away whatever this is pretty quickly, because I'm super excited to have begun this journey!
7. Get fit
I won't say "lose weight", although that's what I mean. I don't regret my off season. I needed it, I enjoyed it. I don't relish losing the 10 pounds I gained during it, though. I know it will take care of itself with the volume of training I'll be doing, it's just hard to remember that right now, when I want to lose it ALL, RIGHT NOW, IMMEDIATELY. And I need to remember that the eating part of the puzzle is just as important as the swimbikerunning part.
So that's where I am! Groundworking.
1. Choose a coach
After 6 Ironmans, I feel like I have some idea how to train for the Ironman distance, but Ultraman is completely uncharted territory for me. I decided to reach out to friend and local pro triathlete Kelly Williamson of Durata Training. We're still in the just-started-dating period of our relationship, where everything is new and she has no idea what I can and can't do as an athlete, so there's a lot of timed intervals and fit tests in my near future.
2. Get power
One thing Kelly does that I've never done before is trains with power on the bike. I've now got a fun new power meter for my bike, but can't start playing with it until we build out a new wheel for it, which is currently on order. So that's a work in progress.
3. Masters swimming
I'm joining back up with Longhorn Aquatics' masters swimming program. I don't even remember how long it's been since I swam with them, and it was only briefly then, but it's been many, many, MANY years. And several years since I swam with a group at all. And some of the days I'll be swimming will not be freestyle exclusively. Not gonna lie.. somewhat terrified about this one. My first class (an all-strokes one) will be tomorrow, unless I completely chicken out.
4. Plan out some events
This is and will be an ongoing process. So far I'm definitely in for days 1 and 2 of Easter Hill Country Tour, replacing the final day or riding with a run, possibly even a run on the ride course! I was hoping to get in a good, long practice swim with Colin's Hope, but it looks like they're only doing one distance swim this year, and it's after UMC, so if I do it, it will be a celebration swim rather than a training swim. And other than that, I have no idea at this point. I surely wish there were more early-season distance swims around Austin.
5. Find a place to stay
So far I'm a little surprised how few options we've found for rentable houses in Penticton via sites like vrbo. I'd say we waited too long, but I started hunting before I was even accepted, just in case, and there just isn't much out there. We've found some promising leads, though, so hopefully we can lock this one down fairly soon, and remove one stress from the huge list.
6. Start training
I'm officially back on a schedule as of last Wednesday (and excited to finally try out Training Peaks). And then as of Friday I got really congested, and as of Sunday, I lost my voice. Starting off my training with a bang! Hoping to chase away whatever this is pretty quickly, because I'm super excited to have begun this journey!
7. Get fit
I won't say "lose weight", although that's what I mean. I don't regret my off season. I needed it, I enjoyed it. I don't relish losing the 10 pounds I gained during it, though. I know it will take care of itself with the volume of training I'll be doing, it's just hard to remember that right now, when I want to lose it ALL, RIGHT NOW, IMMEDIATELY. And I need to remember that the eating part of the puzzle is just as important as the swimbikerunning part.
So that's where I am! Groundworking.