Friday Tidbits

• If you need me this weekend, I'll be on my bike. It's crunch time - one month out from Buffalo Springs Half Ironman - and, I've got some work to do. I'm not concerned with completing the distance - I know I can do it, I've done it several times before. I just don't want to suck. Tomorrow is my long brick - bike 50 miles (hills), followed by a 10 mile run off the bike. Sunday, a shorter brick along the lines of  35 miles on the bike/6 mile run off the bike. Monday (holiday) - distance TBD. Who wants to ride with me? Call me, maybe? (name that tune).
  
  
• I've been really enjoying swimming lately. And, working hard in the pool. Like 5-6 days in the pool, 2,000-3,500 yds a pop. Seriously, who I am? I have never been this consistent with swimming. Two things I've noticed though with my increased time in the pool. 1- It wreaks havoc on my hair. My hair is like straw from all of the chlorine (yes, I wear a swim cap). I don't even bother fixing it into anything other than a ponytail or braid.  2 - Swimsuits wear out pretty fast. After x many trips to the pool, the fabric wears thin and becomes see through. Twice this week I've got to the pool only to put on my swimsuit and realize I am bordering on indecent exposure. Sorry lifeguards. After throwing away a second swimsuit last night, I went straight to Swim Outlet and ordered this one (on sale Dan!):

Cute, huh? :)

• Speaking of swimming, if you're looking for some new swim workouts, I get mine HERE.
  
  
• After I finish my half-ironman at the end of June, I'm turning focus to training for the Baltimore Marathon and cracking 3:10 this Fall. If it doesn't happen at Baltimore, then I'm already signed up to run San Antonio a month later so I will take a second crack at it then. Baltimore isn't really a PR course (hilly - or it was when I ran it a few years ago), but I still think I can do it given a good training cycle. If not, then San Antonio is a PR course, given we have good weather (a big if). If I don't succeed at either race, then I have Plan C up my sleeve.
  
  
• Dan made a comment the other day about my training volume being back up close to what it was when I trained for my full Ironman in 2010. In some areas this is true, in others it isn't. Truth be told, I am considering training for another Ironman {Ironman Texas next May}, and so I am trying to build my base back up should I decide to go that route. But, I'm also putting in so much work because I am in sheer fear of the Buffalo Springs race next month. I've done the race before, and it will humble even the toughest competitors. I swear that it's more like 3/4 of an Ironman than a 1/2 (extreme hills, heat and wind describe it best), so I want to be ready. More than ready actually.
  
  
• I bought into the Shades of Grey hype. Honestly, I had no idea what these books were about - I just heard people talk about them, so I bought the first one. Boy, was I in for a surprise. But, now I am hooked. So, the rest of my weekend you can find me reading by the pool.
  
  
• Running is going well, knock on wood. I ran 13 miles on Wednesday morning, which is my longest run in awhile. I followed it up with a speed session on Thursday - 5x1000m with 400m active recovery - and was pleasantly surprised that all of my splits came in around 6:40 pace. I haven't been having an leg/hip pain so maybe the running gods are on my side now?
  

That's all I've got. I hope everyone has a safe and fun Memorial Day weekend!