TriVeggies

First of all: Merry Christmas, friends! I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday weekend and that Santa gave you just what you wanted. 🙂 If you got any new tri/run /cycle/swim gear, let us know in the comments!

Before we move on to this week’s training plan, a reflection back on last week. I don’t like to brag, but I think last week was one of the very best training weeks I’ve had in awhile! TriDot seems to agree: It gave me a 86 for the week, which for me is pretty ding-dang high. The only workouts I missed were Saturday’s and Sunday’s, which I expected to be the case given that we were traveling to New York City for the weekend. But in lieu of formal workouts, we did get in a ton of walking – miles and miles each day. AND, as you’ll see in a second, I did move my Sunday long run to Monday instead for a little Christmas morning run in Central Park.

With that out of the way, here’s the plan for this week.

Monday: Christmas Day! As I mentioned, I switched my schedule around to accommodate a Christmas morning run in Central Park, which was a true joy. Sunday’s marathon repeats became Monday’s fun run, and I don’t regret a thing. This does mean I’ve missed my Monday swim, but that’s a swap I’ll make any time.

Tuesday: As I write this, I’m on the train back from New York, so I’ve not done today’s bike workout as yet. But it will be an FTP test, pushed from last week when my dad and I decided to sneak one more easy Zwift ride in together before I took off for the holidays. (Mainly we wanted to enjoy our jaunty holiday jumpers just once more.) I cannot say I am looking forward to the FTP test, but since I do the 20-minute version, at least the pain will be over relatively quickly.

Wednesday: Speedwork day! We’ve got some MAV shuttles on the docket, which I’ll probably do on the treadmill at the Y so I can pump my tunes while I knock out the intervals. Then that evening I have an Intervals workout at the Row House, which will help me with my strength. 

Thursday: Thursday brings with it 30-90s on the bike, which I’ll probably do on Zwift with my dad. (He, the lucky duck, won’t have to do the 30-90s.) Then that evening I’ll find myself back at Row House for a Signature workout. More strength gains coming!

Friday: We cap off the short workweek with a 50-minute swim workout, Descending 75s, at the Y. It should be a fun workout, all told, and if history is any guide it will be one of the last workouts for a while where the pool will be relatively empty given the new year. I’ll embrace it!

Saturday: The weekend starts with a 1:15 Threshold and Hold bike session – probably the exact same one I skipped last weekend – and then a 20-minute brick run. There’s an outside chance I’ll end up biking with the club instead, but given the cold weather (we have a threshold of 50 degrees) and the great slate of football games (including my beloved Florida State in the Orange Bowl – yes, we were robbed and I have Big Feelings about it), that’s not very likely.

Sunday: We end the week as we normally do: a long run! This one is 55 minutes, which in my marathon-training mindset is hard for me to consider “long,” but I am trusting the process and know it will prepare me for my springtime slate of half-marathons.

After this, we turn the page to the new year! I for one am super excited to finish 2023 strong and welcome 2024 with open arms.