Drum roll, please...

June 2005’s monthly workout totals:

Swim: 6.9K (4.3 miles) – 2 hours, 23 minutes
Bike: 437.9K (272.1 miles) – 21 hours, 4 mins
Run: 88.18K (54.8 miles) – 9 hours, 33 mins
Elliptical: 17.41K (10.8 miles) – 1 hour, 48 mins
Strength: 4 hours, 10 minutes

Looking back on June of 2004:

Swim: 4.55K
Bike: 208K
Run: 44.35K

Now, when I was training for Ironman in 2003, June was my biggest (or maybe second biggest) volume month. That month I ran 110K, biked 795K and swam 20K.

Last month (May 2005), I was in the final stages of training for my half marathons and ran two races that month. My mileage was as follows:

Swim: 1.2K
Bike: 160K
Run: 120K
Elliptical: 9K
Walk: 2K
Strength: 2 hours

Man, I rocked this month! I think the best part that I was completely on plan with all my workouts. I may have made some small adjustments here or there, but I exercised 6 days and had one complete rest day per week, just as planned. I took the first few days of the month off since I had just run a half-marathon on May 29th, so I didn’t really start my month’s workouts until Sunday the 5th.

Clearly, staying on plan with my workouts is not an issue for me. Staying on plan with my eating, well that’s a different story. But when you consider how much activity I’m doing, I can get away with eating a fair number of calories (and have to, to be able to perform at my peak). I know, I know… I’ve already said that I’m not trying to lose weight until after my races are over at the end of the summer. It would just be nice to see some movement on the scales! Oh well, at least I’m not gaining, which would be a disaster (still holding on tightly to the low-170s).

Can I just say: I love exercise! I feel so powerful when I am active. And I don’t even consider it a drag or an effort. Honestly, the most difficult part of my day is overcoming the inertia and getting out of bed. Once I am up, the workout is as good as done. I can’t say that I’ve ever bailed on a workout once I’ve gotten out of bed. Sure, I’ve scaled back workouts due to weather or feeling crappy, but never bailed on a morning workout altogether once my butt was actually out of bed. I have, however, bailed on countless workouts from the comfort of my bed. Maybe I could invent some kind of pulley system that would get me up when the alarm goes off in the morning; that way, I’d never miss a workout! Evening workouts are a different story as I can always find a reason not to go. My downfall there is usually when I don’t have anyone to train with – then I can convince myself that I would really rather be watching Entertainment Tonight than going for a run or a bike ride. But if I have people to meet and train with, it’s no strain at all to get out there.

When I first started “working out” (and at that time it was purely for weight-loss, not for pleasure), I didn’t really struggle with that part the way I did with “dieting”. I always feel like I am depriving myself on a diet (or whatever you want to call it), whereas with exercise, it’s something I’m adding or giving to myself. Does that make sense?

I decided to take tomorrow as my off day. This morning, I rode into the gym and did a 45-minute Gravity class that nearly killed me. The first 15 minutes were all legs. And then when the regular class started, we began with legs again. This, after having done a tough run workout last night and ridden my bike into the gym that morning. Owie! I’m looking forward to my rest day tomorrow and perhaps a chance to sleep in a bit (maybe 8 o’clock??) and not having to wake up to an alarm. With this stinking heat, I have not been sleeping well. It’s taking me forever to get to sleep and then I feel like I’m waking up all night and never getting a full period of rest. It’s supposed to cool off a bit tomorrow (keeping my fingers crossed).

We leave at noon tomorrow for our mystery road trip. I’m driving up with my friend MH and he's picking me up at my place at 11. He has a brand new car (with A/C, I hope!), so it should be a sweet ride! KH is a last minute edition to the group, so she's going to drive with us. Still don’t know where we’re going, but at this point I don’t care! I’m just happy to get away with my friends and do some fun stuff.

I rode over to MEC (outdoor gear co-op) at lunch to buy a sleeping bag, mattress pad and flashlight. Oh, and pretty pink water bottle, too! It was quite the production to ride back to the office with all that stuff, though. It was even more fun getting home with it! I was able to pack it all in (or rather, attach it to the outside of) my knapsack. It was crazy windy on the way home, so that, coupled with at least 20 pounds on my back, made for a slow ride home.

I got all my laundry and errands done this evening and then popped in to KH's on the way home for a glass of wine. Since I've got a fair amount of time to get ready in the morning I'll leave the packing and stuff until then.

Happy weekend everyone! Happy Canada Day! Happy 4th!