Ocala HITS Half Ironman

First race of the season this coming weekend. Our schedule has been super busy so the hay is definitely not in the barn. However, with both my wife and I working full time, each with long commutes and two kids under the age of five, I am lucky to have carved out the time I did. I must thank my wife for the weekend time. Without it I wouldn't even consider this race.

I've gotten some key workouts in on the weekends over the past 12 weeks, but have hovered around 6 hours of training per week. Typically, 2-3 hours during the week made up of short threshold work on the bike and tempo runs. I shoot for 3-4 hours on the weekends. Usually a solid bike run/brick on Saturday with just under race pace efforts on the bike and run. Sunday is a long run in zone 2 because of effort on Saturday. I have gotten in three bikes of around 3 hours and three runs of 1.5-2 hours. Notice no swims mentioned. I have tried to do many short swims in the last week to remind myself of what the water feels like. 

The bike and run should be solid if I survive the swim. The key will be to conserve just enough on the bike and first half of the run so that I can finish without cramping and still have a a decent finish time. 

Life does not always allow for the perfect training schedule. It's about training smarter not longer. And sometimes it's simply training as smart as you can with limited time. Every workout I did, while not always planned more than a day or two in advance, had a definite purpose.  Although not ideal it can be done.

It will be fun to get out there. Wish me luck!