April 2023 Recap

April was a fantastic training month for me as I was able to hit all of my training goals for the month. I had set 4 primary goals for the month and here is how they turned out.

Goal: Keep my run streak alive!

I was able to successful keep my run streak alive by run all 30 days in the month of April bringing my run streak to 448 days. I've actually been making a lot of progress with my running this month and the results showed when I ran the Drake Road Races 10k on April 23rd. 

I ran a total of 85.58 miles for the month which comes out to an average of 2.85 miles per day and is the most miles I have run in a month since my run streak started. I completed 4 runs that were 6 miles or longer, including my longest of 7 miles on April 9th. I also managed to average a pace of 13:42/mile which makes it the first month that I have averaged less than 14:00/mile since my run streak started. During the Drake Road Races 10k, I was able to break a goal that I had set back in February to run a sub-12:00 minute mile when I ran 11:59 on mile 6. 

I expect my running mileage to decrease in May as I have officially shifted my focus to triathlon and spending more time on the other disciplines. 

Goal: Complete 15 strength training sessions

I don't know why, but strength training is one of my least favorite forms of exercise. That being said, I know that it plays a key role in longevity with both running and triathlon. More importantly though, it is great for weight loss and general health and fitness. I have been working really hard to build good habits around strength training and I'm actually getting there as I was able to accomplish this goal as well. In April I did a great job of building consistency and have really been focusing on the parts of my body that I know are weakest. It is already making a difference. 

Goal: Bike 100 miles

A modest goal for sure, but I was successfully able to accomplish this goal as well. During April, I completed 11 rides totaling 139.59 miles. I was able to average 18.1 mph but admittedly most of these rides were on the trainer in the basement (no wind, no hills, no traffic). I'd like to see that average up around 20mph, but a more important metric to me is average cadence. My average cadence for the month was 65 rpm but I would really like that to be closer to 80 rpm. I certainly have some work to do on the bike, and am hoping for more favorable weather in May to allow me to get outside more often. 

One highlight of the month was getting outside for my 1st bike ride of the year. I was able to put a few miles in on the Chichaqua Trail on April 14th with my friends, Kyle and Adam. We had a blast and Adam even enjoyed it enough to go out and buy a nice bike of his own afterwards. 

Goal: Complete 4 swims

Another seemingly modest goal, and another one that I was able to complete. I actually ended up swimming 5 times for a total of 3.21 miles for the month. My longest swim was 1500 yards on April 17th. I was very consistent, averaging around 2:30/100 yards for each swim although I certainly built up my swimming endurance as things felt a lot better and my stroke was a lot more smooth by the end of the month.

Unlike on the bike, I'm actually happy with where I'm at with my swimming....for now. the longest swim for any race that I have this season is 750 meters, which I will be able to get through no problem. Improving speed and form with swimming is better saved for the off season anyways and with how these sprint triathlons are set up, swimming is such a small portion of the race. The cost vs. reward on spending a lot of time on it just isn't there right now. One thing I will need to do within the next month is get into the open water a bit, of course mother nature will have the biggest say on when that will happen. 

Another lesson that I am quickly learning is how different life is now than it was back in 2019. Both of our girls are in countless activities, some of which I am helping out. Pool hours are fairly hard to come by due to a lifeguard shortage at the YMCAs in the area. Although these things sound like excuses, they are a reality that I have to deal with and it often just means less time in the pool. I was lucky enough to find some times that worked during April that allowed me to swim while Abigail was taking a class at the Y. 2 birds, 1 stone. 

Enjoyed a mid-morning swim on a day off work

Wrap Up

One thing that I haven't done much of is focusing on my weight. This means that I haven't been weighing in regularly but I do try to do it around the beginning of each month to see what progress I have been making. There are a couple of reasons for this. First, I'm sinking a lot of energy into working out and following my training plans consistently. I have found in the past that if I try to take on too much at one time that I will either get burnt out or dejected if things don't go my way. I've let myself, for the most part, keep eating however I want. One good thing is, the more consistent I get at training and working out, the better I tend to eat without even thinking about it.

The second reason is that there are so many things I want to focus on that just aren't weight. I know that losing weight will help me reach my goals but sometimes the weight doesn't go down, or doesn't go down as fast as I would like and I get frustrated. The truth is, each day I'm getting a little faster on the bike, in the pool, or while I run. Each day I get a little stronger when I lift. I want to focus on those more tangible and meaningful things to me, at least for now. 

During May, I am going to work on being more intentional with my eating. I don't have a concrete plan in place yet but I'm hoping to figure something out and take small steps to get there. Just like in 2014, when this all began, I'm in it for the long haul and not just seeking short term gains. I'm also very excited for what is in store this May. I don't have any races on the schedule, but training for a triathlon is very exciting. I am a triathlete at heart, so I'm just out there working hard to feel more like myself each day.