More training woes, ramping up for Adk trip

Since I started the blog, I've been trying to get more of a training regimen going, as I have lacked a good routine since my preparations for the Nutmeg State Half-iron last September. Unfortunately, the only thing that has taken is my strength training workouts twice a week and swimming sessions with a Masters swim coach twice week, which end tomorrow and won't start up again until April. I plan to replace the swim morning sessions with a run concentration for the next 4-6 weeks, with the Colchester Half-marathon as motivation. Hopefully I can get out two mornings a week, one to do a long, endurance style workout, possibly doing a 8-9 mile route, and the other morning a shorter, fast tempo workout, probably around 5 miles. It would be great to add some mileage on the weekends, as a brick after a mountain bike perhaps. We'll see!!

In addition to training thoughts, I am preparing for a winter backpacking trip to the Adks. Danielle and I have never camped in the winter before, but we are going with Mark, a friend of ours that has experience and has tons of gear for us to borrow. Looks like we have to rent 0-degree sleeping bags from EMS, not quite ready to buy two winter bags at $400 or so a pop. Danielle needs winter pac boots or something to take care of her cold feet, and I am planning on using my new Asolo backpacking boots which I have been trying desperately to break in before the trip.
We have a pretty ambitious itinerary planned. Saturday the 16th we hope to be on trail by 8:30 in Heart Lake, climb Algonquin Peak, Boundary Peak, Iroquois Peak and then head down to Lake Colden to camp. Sunday we hope to hike up to Four Corners and then climb Mt. Skylight and back and then up Mt. Marcy and over to Grey Peak and then down to Feldspar brook for camp, hiking out to our cars on Monday.
I can't wait to go, been stoked about getting into winter camping for awhile.