Metric Century and Triathlon Training Schedule

on May 4, 2009

**I am updating the table at the end of the post weekly to keep track of my training**

One of the most difficult aspects of the Running Hiatus is that I feel as if I have no direction with my workouts. In some ways, it is nice, but in general, I find this unmotivating and boring! :) So….I’ve signed up for two races — a Metric Century Bike Race and a Sprint Triathlon. Both races take place in June, and I am SO excited to tackle a new challenge!

Yesterday marked the third full week of the Running Hiatus. I will post all my thoughts on the hiatus once it is over, but I have to say that it has been a very positive experience. I feel so much healthier (no knee pain) than I did when I started, and I’ve actually LOST WEIGHT by not running. Amazing, huh?

Plus, the Running Hiatus has forced me to re-discover other activities that I love (or am learning to love), like biking and swimming.

The Metric Century Bike Race is called Miles for Matt.

Miles for Matt covers 64 miles and will take place on June 14. This is the first bike race I’ve ever done! My dad will be racing with me, too! 🙂

The Sprint Tri is called the 5th Annual Orlando Triathlon at Baldwin Park.

This Sprint Tri takes place on June 28 and covers a 0.75 KM swim, a 13.4 mile bike ride, and a 2.5 mile run. This will be my second attempt at a triathlon — I was disqualified the first time I attempted one (read the recap here).

I worked with my dad and browsed online resources to put together the following comprehensive training program for the Metric Century and Tri. As you can see, I tried to do several things with this program:

Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturday mornings must be free because I’m starting a part-time position at the holistic clinic.
I have minimized running because I’m not concerned about the run leg of the tri, and I think it’s best if I continue the hiatus as much as possible.
I need to get my swim meters in, because that’s what did me in for the last tri.
My long bike rides are on Sundays, so I get to replicate the feeling of my long run days! 🙂
My ass needs to be in the bike saddle as much as possible!

Week	Mon	Tues	Wed	Thurs	Fri	Sat	Sun
May 4	E.M.	10 mi. H	12 mi. M	Rest	25 mi. M	E.M. / Swim	Rest
May 11	Run 1 mi. Swim 20 laps	Rest	10 mi. H	Rest	12 mi. E Swim 15 laps	E.M.	30 mi. M.
May 18	Run 1 mi. Swim 20 laps	Rest	10 mi. H	Rest	13 mi. E Swim 15 laps	E.M.	35 mi. M.
May 25	Run 1.5 mi. Swim 20 laps	Rest	12 mi. H	Rest	14 mi. E Swim 15 laps	E.M.	40 mi. M.
Jun 1	Run 1.5 mi. Swim 20 laps	Rest	12 mi. H	Rest	14 mi. E Swim 15 laps	E.M.	45 mi. M
Jun 8	Run 2.0 mi. Swim 30 laps	Rest	15 mi. H	Taper	Swim 15 laps	Taper	Metric Century Race
Jun 15	Rest	Rest	15 mi. H	Rest	Run 2.0 mi. Swim 20 laps	E.M.	Swim 35 Laps
Jun 22	Run 2.5 mi. Swim 20 laps	Rest	15 mi. H	Taper	Taper	Taper	Sprint Tri!

Notes:

E.M. = Elliptical Machine

1 Lap = 50 meters

E = Easy

M = Medium

H = Hard

Total Mileage By Week:

Week	Total Bike Mileage	Total Run Mileage	Total Swim Meters:
4-May	47	None (Hiatus)	None
May 11	52	1	1,750
May 18	58	1	1,750
May 25	66	1,5	1,750
Jun 1	72	1.5	2,000
Jun 8	79	2	2,250
Jun 15	15	2	2,750
Jun 22	28.1	5	1,550

It’s a DOOZY of a training schedule, but it’s going to be really fun and I’m soooo excited to take on these new challenges.

You can follow my progress by clicking on this widget on the right hand side of the blog:

Wish me luck! 🙂

Do you prefer running, swimming, or biking?

Week	Mon	Tues	Wed	Thurs	Fri	Sat	Sun
May 4	None	12.5 M Bike	11.0 M Bike	23.5 M Bike	Active Rest (Golf)
May 11
May 18
May 25
Jun 1
Jun 8							Metric Century Race
Jun 15
Jun 22							Sprint Tri!

Notes:

E.M. = Elliptical Machine

1 Lap = 50 meters

E = Easy

M = Medium

H = Hard

{ 37 comments }

Brandi May 4, 2009, 8:43 am
those races sound fun and exciting, and it will be something different.

I love biking, but I don’t do it very often. I should ride more – we don’t have many good places near our house to ride, so we have to DRIVE our bikes to other places. That’s probably why we don’t ride very much.

I love swimming, too, but I’ve never swam in a race before.
iowagirleats May 4, 2009, 8:45 am
WOW!! What a schedule! You’ll do great though 🙂 I loooove to bike – brings out my inner 12 year old 😀
Leah @ Simply Fabulous Now May 4, 2009, 8:46 am
I’m so pleased that you sound so positive about your running hiatus!! It’s nice that you have found other activities that you love to do.

Lost weight? How come that happened? I’m not sure of the science behind it.. but, do you think you are eating less now or something? Enlighten me! 🙂
Anonymous May 4, 2009, 8:46 am
The weight loss isn’t surprising. So many people start distance running because they think they will lose weight, but you have to take in so many extra calories to fuel your runs, it’s almost impossible to lose while training.
Caitlin at Healthy Tipping Point May 4, 2009, 8:48 am
leah – i think anon (below you) has it right. im not as hungry, so im not stuffing my face to make up the calorie burn. and i think my body is just confused because its so used to running. and muscle confusion is good!
Erica May 4, 2009, 8:53 am
Very exciting! Good luck with the training- I’m sure you will do really well. I love running most and then swimming. Josh and I are hoping to take up biking next year.
Help Meghan Run May 4, 2009, 8:56 am
That sounds so fun! I have never tried swimming for exercise, and I’m just starting to try biking. Good luck with your training!!

http://www.HelpMeghanRun.com
redheadedjournal May 4, 2009, 8:57 am
Sounds like some fun races!
Leah @ Simply Fabulous Now May 4, 2009, 8:58 am
Yea… makes sense, that’s kind of what I was thinking but I wasn’t sure. Sometimes even when I don’t exercise as much my mouth likes to have a party and continue eating just as much, which gets me into the predicament that i’m in now when my clothes start fitting a bit tighter lol.
Matt May 4, 2009, 8:58 am
I prefer running 🙂
Carolina John May 4, 2009, 8:58 am
ah, it’s game on now! two weeks between races? nice. i’m doing my first oly tri and first marathon only 6 days apart.

you will love it. time on the bike is precious and we both need as much of it as we can get. same thing goes in the pool.

i like biking the best right now. might switch back to a running fav after the marathon though.
Jennifer May 4, 2009, 9:02 am
I like running because I can’t swim or ride a bike! How embarrassing. the Boyfriend is suppose to teach me how to swim but it hasn’t happened yet!
Tami May 4, 2009, 9:06 am
running
then biking

never. ever. never ever. swimming.
Thinspired May 4, 2009, 9:30 am
Wonderful! It’s so inspiring that you are still challenging yourself despite the running hiatus! Good luck with both of these! Can’t wait to hear about your progress 🙂
Ashley & Bo May 4, 2009, 9:34 am
Hi! I love biking though I don’t do it that often. I run the most out of those three but i’m really excited because our new apartment has a pool so Bo is going to coach me on swimming! How do you make widgets?? I’d like to make a widget for the NYC Fitness Calendar I created last week.
just me May 4, 2009, 9:40 am
dang girl, you are hard core! i don’t think i could ever keep a schedule like that…damn my job! but you’ll do just great!
Melissa @ For the Love of Health May 4, 2009, 9:52 am
Good luck! It’s always so nice and rewarding to try new challenges in events that you haven’t taken part in before! Good for you!
Runeatrepeat May 4, 2009, 9:55 am
I love running, but I do enjoy biking with a buddy a lot too!!!
Life Coach Jen May 4, 2009, 10:05 am
Yikes! I prefer walking, eating, and petting my cats.
Caitlin at Healthy Tipping Point May 4, 2009, 10:11 am
amanda – the widget is just a picture with a link added to it. i made it in photoshop.
D May 4, 2009, 10:12 am
i dont know if you remember, but i commented last week to ask about tapering off before my (first!) 10k. i just wanted to comment and say that it was a fabulous first run, and i thought about you and the other running blog girls…its funny, im not a blogger, but i feel like you all know what i was feeling during the race more than people i know in “real life” 🙂 i finished at 53:41 and cant wait to do more!
Caitlin at Healthy Tipping Point May 4, 2009, 10:13 am
D- Great job and excellent time!! Keep me updated!
Niki May 4, 2009, 10:15 am
My fav is running! But swimming is such a great workout. Wish I had somewhere to do it! The training schedule looks tough but great!!
One Healthy Apple May 4, 2009, 10:28 am
I love to bike! We have a bunch of beautiful trails and it’s a great activity for my weak knees. I also have a love-hate relationship with running. I love it, but it hates me.

Good luck with your schedule!
HangryPants May 4, 2009, 10:29 am
Good luck! This is gonna be awesome to watch!

Also, I think it’s interesting that you said you lost weight. I think I am the same way. I gain leg and butt muscle very easily when running.

Oh and by default I like running best, although I would like to run and swim more.
Jessica May 4, 2009, 10:39 am
I’d have to say biking is my favourite, although I like all three, I guess that’s why I decided to do triathlons 😉

I’ve been biking my whole life though and the best thing about biking is it doesn’t even feel like work to me. It’s my main source of transportation in the summer and I clock about 200km (~125m) a week just because I love it so much.

Running and swimming are a bit of a newer love for me but I get something different out of each activity which is what makes triathlon such an amazing sport.

(Sorry, I tend to babble about this topic.)
Mrs. LC May 4, 2009, 10:46 am
So I noticed on your swim days in your training schedule you have everything set by “laps” – does this mean you’re just sticking to a pool for your training? Because I thought part of the problem with your last tri was the difference between lake and pool water? Make sure you try lake swimming (assuming the swim part of the tri will be in Lake Baldwin). Just lookin’ out for ya girl!
Run Sarah May 4, 2009, 10:53 am
Sounds like an awesome plan! Swimming was my first love but I have enjoyed running more lately. Biking is okay but will probably be more fun once I get my bike fixed!
Stacey May 4, 2009, 10:55 am
RUNNING definitley, but before running, I was really into road-biking because my boyfriend is a competitor in that field. He bought me my first Giant 🙂 But then I discovered running, and only use my bike every now and then!
Holly May 4, 2009, 10:57 am
You and I are sooooo similar in so many ways. I NEED to have a traiing plan! Until next week, I am “between” training plans and it sucks! Aaaah!

It’s funny what I prefer because of the backsotry — I was a competitive swimmer for 10+ years and burned out hardcore. When I decided to train for a sprint tri, I know the swim would be easy, I wasn’t worried about biking, but I was SO AFRAID of the running that I joined a running group to learn how. And now I love running best! hahahaha.

Quite honestly, biking is the one I’m worst at, and you won’t see me entering any bike races anytime soon!

Good luck with your plan! I think it’s GREAT! 🙂
Bec May 4, 2009, 10:59 am
I can’t wait to follow your training, I love all 3 but swimming usually only happens in the summer since I don’t like swimming laps in pools so I have to wait for the water to warm up!
Hi! I'm Erin May 4, 2009, 11:15 am
It’s funny how you lose weight when you take a break, isn’t it?

I much prefer running. Of course, that may be because I can only dog paddle and I don’t own a bike 🙂
Emily May 4, 2009, 12:50 pm
that’s so exciting! good luck with and enjoy your training!

i’m a runner all the way, but i love to try just about any activity.
Amy May 4, 2009, 1:00 pm
Good luck, Caitlin!
I am a triathlete myself and I noticed one thing missing from your workouts – bike/run bricks (a “brick” is a 2+ sport workout). Bike to run is – by far – the toughest transition, so you need to prepare your body for it. When you hop off the bike, you will have “jello legs” and running will feel weird. This should be a feeling you are familiar with and know how to handle. One thing that I find really helpful is to do an easy, 5-10 minute jog after at least one bike ride a week, plus one bike/run brick. Even though it may seem tough on the knees, it is better to prepare your body for the stresses of race day than to shock it.
Just my two cents!
And don’t fret about the swim. It is alll mental! Open water is a different ball game. I actually agree with the above commenter who suggested open water swims before the big day. I think doing at least one is imperative.
But regardless, I think you will LOVE the tri.
HAVE FUN!
Michelle May 4, 2009, 2:29 pm
It looks really interesting and even though it doesn’t have tons of running think of it as a challenge for yourself.

I personally love bike riding the best. I feel free.
teacherwoman May 4, 2009, 4:49 pm
This is so exciting! I can’t wait to hear more about your training!
Angela May 4, 2009, 7:09 pm
Wow you are SO inspiring girl…seriously! I love the goals. I need something like this. Hmmm…

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