Getting Ready

I have my wetsuit rented. I have my tri-suit and my race number belt. Holmes is ready as well as can be expected. His chain falls off now and then. Maybe just a tune up by Don. Im registered. I should confirm that. Next week is camping and I plan to do lots of training although its will be hard to find good biking roads. Then one week of tapering and then the race! Yikes!!! Whenever I think about it I get so nervous....and excited. I've been training since February! Where did the time go? What am I going to do when it all done??? It will be nice to not have pressure and just train for pure enjoyment. We'll have to see how it goes. Maybe I will be so excited and want to improve my times for next year or else I will say...I am never doing THAT again. We'll see. I just want to complete the dang thing in one piece!

Im Getting Nervous!!!

The long weekend turned out to be nice weather afterall.
Friday- Swam 40 lengths.
Saturday- Me and Don went for a 30K bike ride on the bike path which is not as fast as the road but still a good workout...and also we stopped at Darlington Park for an ice cream. tee hee
Monday- I ran 15 K by myself. This is the longest Ive gone since my injury. It went quite well but I am still sore in my injury area but not too bad. I just went slow and steady.

Tuesday - I swam for 40 lengths. I walked to the pool and back home afterwards because it was such a nice night. Looking forward to doing some open water swims when I go camping next week. I want to get a flutter board because I need to work on my kick.

Wednesday- I did my usual 17K bike ride.

Tonight I will try and fit a run in. But it might be difficult. I have appointments. I am starting to feel nervous. Its only 2 1/2 weeks away! Yikes!!!!

Will I Ever Learn

Last night I went for a 10K run. I was going to do 12K but I suck. It was hot out last night but I started off really good. I was going to do the whole thing without any stops and I was feeling really good but then about half way through I had to stop for a stop light and suddenly I felt really hot and I could feel my face suddenly burning up. The last half I had to take so many breaks. I felt like I hit a wall and that rarely happens to me. Well its partly because I ate about half a cup of chickpeas before I went out....oh and a popsicle. I always do that! I know I cant eat before I run but I always think well I'll just eat a little bit ....it will be OK. Id say live and learn but I never do!

Tonight I am going to go swimming and then hopefully gets lots of training in on the long weekend!

Some Swimming Improvement

Tuesday Don came with me for my usual weekday 17 K bike ride. I also went swimming at 8. It was really great. I did 30 lengths in about 20 minutes again. I even got to a point where I felt relaxed. I did 40 lengths all together. At the end I always try and do some fast lengths and only breath every 4 strokes instead of every 2. I hope I can swim OK with the wetsuit on.

Wednesday night I didnt get any training done because I had to get my hair done and then I got home late and had to make supper yet and then it was chaos at our house because Don had to fix the drains which were very stinky...anyway long story....when he finally got that done we sat down and had coffee and it was quite late. It would have been a nice evening for a late night run but I wasnt up to it.

So tonight I am for sure getting out there. And it isnt raining which is unusual! I dont have my usual Thursday night appointment . I think I will go for a run and then hopefully to the pool if I can. Or I might just do a long run. I want to increase my distance so 7K feels easy.

Trying to Live Without the Gym Weight Room

Thursday I didnt get any training in again so I did weights and swimming Friday. I dont usually go swimming on Fridays and it was nice because it wasnt busy at all.

Saturday I did brick training - bike 28K and 10K run. It was hard. I felt very weak. It was humid and Im not used to that. It was kind of discouraging....but I least I did it.

Last night I did arm weights and ran 7K with Don. It was humid again. Good training I guess. But I feel so weak.

My gym membership ran out and I cant afford to renew it right now. I am just using the gym for swimming and just doing free weights at home. Im afraid my abs are suffering though because its hard to do crunches on the floor. I miss the ab machine and the leg press machine. I find it hard going to the gym in the summer anyway and in a couple weeks I will be camping so I wont need it then. I will just pay for a single visit if I need it...until September anyway.

Wetsuits Are Impossible to Get On!

I have alot to update since my last post.

Saturday morning I did brick training again. 28K bike & 10K run. Don went with me which was nice. His bike is broken so he took Esther's. What a trooper. He did great. He just cut the last kilometer off the end of the run.

Monday I did my usual bike ride and swam about 40 lengths.

Tuesday I reserved my wetsuit and went to try it on. What a joke trying to get that thing on. I was given two plastic bags to put on my feet and hands to help me put it on. I had a tiny tiny change room. It was so warm in the change room and I was sweating trying to put this thing on all the while giggling to myself how ridiculous I must look and was looking for a hidden camera. I didnt get it on all the way. I gave up because I was sweating too much. The young salesman said to just call him and he would help me zip it up but there was no way I was trying to get help while I had this thing half on. I went online to see if I could get any pointers for putting a wetsuit on but the u-tube clips showed others struggling just as much as me. I get the suit the Thursday before the race so I can try it out. It was only $35 to rent so that was pretty good.

Tueday I didnt do any training. I was so tired that I decided to lay down for an hour before I went swimming but I woke up 10:30...then I couldnt fall back to sleep so I read my book till 3:00 am. Now my sleeping is really going to be screwed up.

Wednesday: I ran 10K. I was going to go swimming at 8 but Esther is sooo bored at home I felt too guilty to go out again. I stayed home and played Rook with her and watched So You Think You can Dance. I went to bed a decent 10:30.

Tonight I have to be at an appointment from 7 - 8. So I cant get to swimming on time. I was hoping to do a bike ride as soon as I got home but its supposed to rain all day. Hopefully I can fit something in tonight. I dont know what yet. Also my gym membership has run out. Im trying to decide what to do about that. Oh...gotta go.

Swim, swim, swim

Monday I did a bike ride, weights and swam. I was encouraged with my swimming because I did 30 lengths in about 20 minutes. Thats the length of the tri swim but the pool doesnt have waves and people in your way but I am getting closer to the average time which is about 15 minutes.

Last night I ran 6 k and swam. I went in the sauna last night because it was finally empty but then 2 men came in. I had a chat with them so that was kind of cool. Now Im part of the swimming community as well. The sauna felt great. I should stop being shy. It is just kind of akward when there is just one man and me in there.

Tonight I am doing the 20 minute challange at the Running Room. I'll try and do my run then as well and maybe I can still make it to the pool by 8. But I also have to go to my mom's tonight. If I can't fit everything in I'll swim on Friday because Thursday I have to pick Esther up at church from her Washington trip.
I definately have to fit 3 swims in this week!

Triathlon Buddies

This week I did 3 runs, 3 bike rides and dum dum dum...1 swim. Because I can bike or run whenever I want but the swimming I can only do between 8 and 9. I need a big inground pool....thats all.

This Saturday I did the same workout as last Saturday. 28K bike and 10 K run. The bike ride was great. I had an average speed of 22 kph and my fastest speed was 43 kph. When I ran though I felt sooo slow! It feels so weird at first. I had to take walk breaks a few times. My legs felt so fatigued. Hopefully I will work up to not stopping at all.

I had what I like to call a "God moment" while I was biking. Family life has been a real struggle lately and I just have been feeling really down and this just made me smile so much. I was biking and I looked back and saw a couple of bikers. I was just waiting for them to pass me as everyone seems to do. But they came up beside me and invited me to go on the "Buttercup run" with them. I said whats that? They said Oh its just 45 K down the road...come with us. I told them I had to run 10K yet and then they asked what I was training for and I told them the sprint triathlon in Orillia and then they said...Oh we'll be there. So we chatted it up and they congratulated me with training for my first tri and invited me to swim with the group they train with. I cant because they go 7-8 in the morning but that doesnt matter. Its the fact that they invited me. I also commented on their bikes as compared to mine. (They had bikes that were worth thousands of dollars). The one man said to me its not the bike but whose on it. That felt great to hear because I had been getting really frustrated with my bike.

I felt like God was encouraging me through these two friendly men. And I really needed it. Also the really cool part was that when I was just finishing up my 10K RUN they whipped by on their bikes and we waved at each other. Im part of the triathlon community now. I may be a newbie with a super cycle but I have triathlon buddies.

No Turning Back

I havent been on this blog for awhile. Just busy at work I guess. I have been keeping up with my training though. Although last week I was seriously considering not doing the triathlon. It was after swimming in the open water when I was camping. It was wavy and I swallowed water and starting choking and I couldnt breath for awhile. It was really scary. Also Don was doubting the the 33 K bike ride. I was angry with him for not supporting me but he is just worried for me. He says he doesnt want to sugar coat the truth.
This past weekend I was out to prove him wrong. Saturday morning I biked (by myself) 28 K and then immediately after ran 10 K. I dont even remember how long it took me because I was just so happy I did it. I think it was about 2 hours. He said he thinks I can do it now.
Then on Sunday Don and I went to see the Peterborough triathlon. It was so exciting! I loved everything about it! I could just watch it forever. We couldnt stay to watch the finish because we had to be somewhere but I learned alot! The transitions dont seem as scary now that I have watched it but the swimming is alot farther than I imagined! Don is really worried I am going to drown. It is very itimidating. I really need to practice! I went swimming last night and realized....I really need to practice! The breathing is very hard and when you are nervous and excited your breathing gets worse! Oh my. I will just keep at it and see how it goes. I am registered now so no turning back. Although $60 isnt that much to lose if I change my mind. Yikes.

Lack of Iron

Last night when I came home from work I had to lay down I was so tired. Ive been feeling so tired lately which has made me frustrated. I drink lots of water, eat lots of protein and eat clean! Im supposed to have tons of energy. But I was talking to my vegetarian friend last night and she was saying if you are training you need more iron. I wasnt really thinking about iron because I take a supplement but when I thought about it I havent been eating red meat or eating many eggs. The eat clean diet requires you to eat oatmeal and scrambled egg whites everyone morning and Ive been skipping the eggs. So I am going to make an effort to do that and see if it makes a difference. I ate oatmeal and 2 eggs this morning and feel good.
I am going to Ottawa this weekend to visit my sister and dont know how I am going to fit training in. This week has been bad for training and Im trying not to panic. I'll have to make it up next week.

Scary, Windy, Rainy Run

OK I am having gym difficulties. I had an appointment last night and didnt get home till almost 9. So I thought I would quick head over to the gym and still have almost an hour. I decided to quick check the gym hours again because I only took note of the pool hours last time. Well turns out the gym is only open till 9 now...summer hours. Geepers. Someone doesnt want me to work out. I was very frustrated so I just put my running clothes on and strapped on my MP3 player. I told Don that I was going for a run outside and was thinking he would say: Are you crazy! Its dark, rainy and windy! He just said OK. Geepers. I told Esther that Dad didnt care that I was going running in the scarry, windy rain. So she appeased me and said very unenthusiastically and expressionlessly....dont..... stop....dont go Mom.
Anyways...I did 6K and it actually felt great with the light rain, cool breeze and street lights. It wasnt that dark or cold. Although I was soaked when I got home. I also did weight and ab crunches.
Not the hardest workout but better than nothing I always say.

Pool Closed!

Well I was semi-good. I went for a 10k run but I didnt go to the gym later. I checked to see if the summer hours were in effect yet and if the lane swimming was changed from 9 -8. But then I found out that my pool was closed for 2 weeks for pool maintenance! The nerve...close my pool. I hummed and hawed if I was going to go to another pool or not. But then Don came home and so I didnt go. Bad me.

Holiday Training

I was on holidays last week so my training got a bit screwed up but I did get some in. I did two almost 30K bike rides with Don. It was really great. Don says I am getting faster. I finally figured out how to do the hills. I try and stay on the highest gear as long as I can and then most of the hill is done instead of being on an easy gear and then the hill seems to last forever. My legs are getting quite strong. I love biking and going fast. We dont have to ride too far from our house to be in the country. On one ride a coyote all of a sudden came out of the bushes and crossed the road right in front of me. It was so cool!
I also did a 10K run and did some swimming (only 20 lengths) at the hotel we stayed at. But I really feel like I need to do some swimming and it feels like I havent done weights in ages. Its so hard to stay on top of all three sports. Just when you feel you are getting good at one sport one of the other one lags behind.
I also need to do some brick training. I was going to go for a run after my long bike rides but was too wiped out. Not a good sign. I went for just a 1K after one bike ride and my legs felt like bricks (hence the name brick training). I thought they would loosen up but they didnt. Im hoping to do alot of this camping which is coming up.
Last night I felt quite sick with a cold and a tension headache that I have had for a week!!! but I am feeling abit better today. I hope to do a 10K run when I get home tonight and then hit the gym later and do weights and swimming. Lets see if my good intentions actually happen.

Premature Recovery Week

Remember when I said Im going to have to start saying no to things in order to fit my training in. Well Im not doing very well at that. I said yes to being in a drama at church and I have two practices this week, plus Don signed me up for doing a couple gigs with the family band and I am busy memorizing the lyrics for that AND the drama and so.....this week I am seriously lacking in Holmes (my bike) time. Plus its Esther's concert tonight....tommorrow I have a hair appointment. Well Im not going to worry about it and just enjoy the week. According to my training schedule next week is supposed to be a "Recovery" week. So I will just make it this week.

My Sauna Buddy

Monday night Don came to the gym with me. It was great having someone to go with. I did weights for about 20 minutes and I wanted to do half an hour on the bike but they were all taken so I did 1/2 hr on the treadmill. It turned out to be a great workout. Then I went in the pool but only did about 40 lengths. I was frustrated because it felt like I had to start from square one with my stroke. I was feeling slow so I was watching the other swimmers and it seemed they were all doing shorter, quicker strokes. I do a deep, long pull with my arm and it feels like its smooth but I dont know if its fast. So I tried doing my stroke different and then it just felt sloppy. There are so many things to think about and it seems the more I read about the front crawl the more confused I get. Anyways....I got to have a race with Don and then go in the sauna. It was very relaxing. When we got home we had plain yogurt, madarins and walnuts. Yum.

For The Love of Long Distance Running

It rained most of the day yesterday but I had my mind set that I was going to run 10K and I did. It only rained a little while I was out there but I was pretty wet when I got back...a mixture of rain and sweat. The trees were quite pretty though, very green and lush. It was actually very beautiful. I really miss long distance running which I realized when I did my birthday 10K run. Just having some alone time, being outside and thinking about things, praying and listening to my music. Just plodding along not worrying about how fast Im going. I am going to build up my running to 2 hours + so then at least I know I can do cardio for that long. Then if my injury does not flare up maybe I can do a half marathon in the fall. That would be cool. We'll see how it goes.

Back of the Packer

Last night I did weights with my arms at home then went to the gym and did about 20 min of weights for my legs and abs. Then did about 50 lengths in the pool. I tried to time how long it takes me to do 100m because I read an article that said the average time for a tri-swimmer was 1:35-1:50 per 100m and the slow back of the packers are 2:00+ per 100m. Well thats 4 lengths and it took me approx 2:20. That makes me slow. So I spent the whole time trying to get my stroke faster. I guess it just takes practice. Maybe I can look online on how to get faster. But I still have approx 3 months and I have already improved so much so Im not too worried.

Feeling Great!

Im feeling great about my training right now. The swimming just seemed to click all of a sudden. Must be the bathing suit. Thanks Dory! Last night I went to the gym and did weights for about 15 minutes then the bike hard for 1/2 hr and I was really sweating at the end of it. Then I went in the pool and I swam 50 lengths! I dont find it so boring anymore because Im really concentrating on my stoke and I think of going in the sauna at the end and having a good clean snack when I get home and bragging to Don how much I did. Last night I had 1/2 cup of cottage cheese and mandarins. It was really yummy! Im really concentrating on eating clean and watching my portions because Im STILL not loosing my bits even with all this exercising. Anyways....Im feeling great and like I might be able to actually do this. If its not raining when I get home I might go for a 10K run but otherwise I'll hit the gym before swimming.

Swimming Surprise

I didnt get much training in this weekend. I had other commitments but Im going to have to start saying no to some things because I really dont have much time left.

I did get in a swim Saturday night and Don came with me. It made it so much funner. We raced each other. First just one lap and he beat me which really pissed me off because he has bad form and doesnt even put his head in the water. But then we raced 3 laps and I beat him. Still I cant believe how fast he can go with his crazy form. But he says its all in the upper body strength which he obviously has more than me....and likes to show me quite often.

Last night he ran 5K with me (he's on 3 weeks holidays) and said he would go swimming again with me at 9. But then the girls convinced him to go rollerbladding with them. I thought that was so cute but was really disappointed that I had to go by myself but then again I did have some incentive. I'd get to try out the one piece bathing suit and cap my sister Dory gave me. So I went to the gym and did weights for about 15 minutes and then went in the pool. I looked like a real swimmer with my one piece but chickened out with the cap. Im still not really to don the cap. Someday. I carried it to the pool with me at least.

I felt really good swimming, like I had a good groove going. I glide when I stretch my arms out so it is more relaxing. And I tried doing this thing my brother Ted told me. Make an S with your arm under water when your arm comes down. I was almost at 30 lengths and only about 15 minutes had gone by. Then all of a sudden someone banged into me....it was Don. He came to surprise me and give me moral support. Ok...I like him again. So that was fun but then it got really busy. We went in the sauna before we left and it felt great. When I got in bed I fell asleep as soon as my head hit the pillow. zzzzzzzzz

My New Training Schedule

My new training schedule is going well so far. Two weeks into it now. Last Thursday I did my workout at the gym just before swimming. That went well and then I wasnt tempted to skip my swim. This is what Ive done since my last blog.
Thurs- Gym - 1/2 hr bike, weights, 1/2 hr swim
Friday-off
Saturday-10K run, arm weights.
Sunday- Was supposed to go for bike ride but had company over for my birthday.
Monday-10k (1/2 hr) bike ride, 8 K run both in the morning but I had a bit of a break between the two.
Tues-1 hr bike, home arm weights. Oops missed my swim.
Wed-1 hr bike, 35 min swim. I was trying to do 40 min but was looking at the clock constantly. I cant just swim in a relaxed state like I can do running. I do more biking and running than I have to on the schedule but less swimming. Hopefully I'll get the hand of it if I just am consistant with it.

Lost My Mojo

Ok I lost my mojo for about a week. I just couldnt get myself into it and also I had a lot of family birthdays last week. I was in a funk. With the marathon I was training with a friend and also we did it with a whole group at the Running Room. It helped that my sister Dory gave me a pep talk. This week I am getting it back into it. I started a program that I printed off from the web site Tri-Newbies. Its for intermediate sprint triathletes. I have to do two sports Mon-Thurs, then Fridays off and then Saturdays and Sundays a bike or run. Each sport 3 times a week. I was doing each sport twice a week. The program starts 18 weeks before the race but my race is in 15 weeks so I have to start 3 weeks into it. So far Im doing good except for last night. Andrea convinced me to buy everyone McFlurries since she made supper and I am a big pushover.....so I had an oreo mcflurry. Bad. Which basically cancelled out the 6 k run I did. Monday - I ran 9 K, Tues - I biked for an hour, did weights with my arms and swam 30 lengths. Wed -I ran 6 k....I was supposed to swim too but...you know...the McFlurry thing. Tonight I plan on hitting the gym doing the bike and weights and then at 9 swimming. Its so hard going out at 9 to Swim! Maybe I will try doing the gym before swimming then I wont be tempted to skip the swim....or maybe Ill end up skipping the whole thing! Then I would screw up the whole week so I cant do that!

My Bits

Tuesday night I worked out at the gym as usual...as usual...as usual. I have to say my workout at the gym is getting very boring. The same thing every time. The same machines. I have been upping the weight but I have to mix it up more. And .....I am sick of the same songs on my MP3. Sorry Slash...not you. I need some new music and a new routine. I have been noticing some progress though in my stomach and arms. Starting to see more muscle although I cannot break 150 lbs which is frustrating me. I hate that number. That is a Clydedale number. That means I would qualify as a heavy person in a running race. I am going to do more cardio. I want to be leaner and in the 140s. I just want to get rid of the muffin tops and the saddle bags. What lovely names we have for our "bits". Thats my favourite word for our bits. Thats what the british guy on the show "How to Look Good Naked" uses. It sounds pleasant.

Wednesday night I went for a 6K run. My plan was to go for a run when I got home from work and then swim at 9 o'clock. (Trying to do more cardio to get rid of "the bits" remember). But when 9 came I had an upset stomach. Too bad. Couldnt go. I didnt argue with my stomach because I was sitting comfortably on the couch with Esther watching America's Next Top Model. I was so disapointed....not.

Not Much Energy

I dont have much time and I am behind in my blog. Here it is:

Thurs: Gym- weights and 1/2 hr on the bike.

Sat: 16 K Bike ride in the morning. 6 K run in the afternoon. I was really tired but wanted to fit in a run. Well when I left for my run it was nice but then a storm started coming in and the wind was blowing like crazy. I was running against the wind and not going any where. Also I felt sick to my stomach for some reason. Not a good run.

Sunday was supposed to be really nice and in the high 20s. Well it was rainy and cold. So I didnt get in as much training as Id hoped. Also Monday I was supposed to swim and didnt. Im feeling really tired and I shouldnt be. I hate it when I dont have much energy. Maybe its the weather...maybe its stress...I dont know...maybe I will ask the doctor.

Wanting Warm Weather

I worked very hard at the gym last night. High poundage and I ran on the treadmill with my fastest time at 8.2! It seems I should have more results for the amount of work I do. A 40-ish celebrity said "When you are older you have to do twice as much work with half the results." Thats definately true and if you stop it comes back quicker and then it takes forever to get rid of again. So I will keep plugging away at it. Tonight I dont know if I will go to the gym after work or just do some weights and go swimming at nine. I should probably fit the gym in because its supposed to be really warm on the weekend so I wont want to be in the gym then. Its biking and running and running and biking baby. Cant wait!

Finally Swimming Again

I almost missed another workout. Esther had a band concert. But like I said before daughters come before working out. The concert was great and it was finished at 8:50. I had my gym bag already packed so I quickly brought Esther home and headed for the gym wearing my dress clothes. I finally got to go for a swim! How long has it been? Two weeks? It felt great to be swimming again. All the regulars were there. I think my stroke is improving. I can swim in a more relaxed state. I think I need to lengthen my time. I usually go about 1/2 hour. My swim/gym days are mixed up now though. I will do the gym tonight and tommorrow and swim Friday night. I have to swim Friday night! I usually take Fridays off but I have been taking Mondays off because of church meetings but I think that is done this week. I should be doing each sport at least twice a week. Doesnt leave much time for housework and laundry. Oh well.

Tree Trunk Legs

I went for a bike ride Saturday morning and Sunday afternoon about 18K each time. They were great rides. Saturday morning we went down Thornton Rd which is busy for the first part but then goes into the country. Very hilly which is good practice. My fastest speed was 42 kph. Sunday we went to my brother-in-law's house in Pickering and rode along the lake on the bike path. It is a beautiful path. Beautiful scenery. Don is teaching me about gearing. He told me to put the gear to 1.1 and go up this really high bridge. It was really easy with that gear I couldnt believe it. I always keep it on the highest gears and stick with the top 5 gears. I have to get used to changing them more often and keep my rpms up. I am really enjoying biking and hopefully I will get faster. I had to work so hard to keep up with Don and Ed and they made it look so easy. But when we were finished I had that great feeling in my legs again....like they were tree trunks. Don and I always ask each other that after a ride....are you feeling tree trunks?

I Hate Osteitis Pubis

I went for a 6K run outside last night. It was nice out but as usual I felt really slow. Also I am feeling my injury (osteitis pubis) again which really worries me. I will have to stick to biking and swimming for the next few days. I have been doing everything Im supposed to..heating pad, glucosomate, stretching.... I feel like its never going to go away. Its not that its really painful it just feels weak and like its pulling or straining. I just worry about making it worse and having to start all over again. It took a year and a half of not running to heal it! There is an exercise the chiropractor told me to do that I havent been doing. I'll try that. But I cant afford to rest it too long. I have too much training to do!

Daughters Before Swimming

I missed swimming again! Last night Andrea said she really needed
Esther 's and my help to pick out an outfit for a big work shing ding she has today. I said I would but had to be done by 9. So I had my swimming stuff packed and ready by the door so I could go straight to the pool when I got home. Well we didnt get back from shopping till like 9:45. Drats! Oh well...I had a good time with my daughters and whats more important. I am still sore from Tuesday's workout so it must have been a good one. I may go for a run tonight instead of the gym because it is nice outside. I should really go for a swim after that....but I'll see how ambitious I am or if duty calls again.

Missed Swimming

Good workout last night. Had to push myself to go. I didnt go swimming Monday night because for 6 weeks I have a church meeting to go to on Monday nights. Its a small group discussing community involvement. April 26 we are cancelling church and "being the church" instead and doing community work. So I wil try and go Friday night instead. I said "try". Tonight is swimming. I havent gone for awhile so I am looking forward to it. Sometimes when you have a break you notice improvement when you get back to it. I might have to change my triathlon date because I found out that my parents 50th anniversary is Sept 5. Then I would have to do the Orillia race which is Aug 23 and the bike part is 3 k farther and it says its a challenging hilly ride. Great.

Serious Training

Serious training was supposed to start this week....but.... Monday I had a meeting, Tuesday I had my hair cut and highlighted and it looked so good I didnt want to wreck it at the gym. But the rest of the week I made up for it.

Wednesday night: I was trained by Priscilla Lopez Schliep the Olympic bronze medal hurdler. Well...I pretended I was listening to my music and eavesdropped her training someone else....but that still counts. Im 99.9% sure it was her. She has huge muscles! I wanted to say something to her but of course I chickened out. I had a good hard workout. She inspired me to run my fastest on the treadmill.

Thursday night: I had another great workout. This time for cardio I did 1/2 hr on the bike. My legs felt like tree trunks when I was done. I love that feeling!

Friday afternoon: I did my first brick training. Don and I biked for 20K and then jumped off the bikes and ran around the block. That was so hard! Your legs really do feel like bricks! I thought I did pretty good biking. My husband put a speedometer on my bike. My fastest time was 29 kph. But then Don burst my bubble and said we needed to work on my speed. Booo on him. After that I went inside and did weights. I took my frustration over Dons comment on the weights. So it was a great workout. My bike is feeling really good. I cant wait till the warmer weather. It was sunny but the wind was still really cold.

Wimpy Weekend Workout

I had a wimpy weekend workout. Saturday was really crampy weather. Windy and rainy and cold. I wanted to go for a run or a bike ride so bad. I waited for the afternoon but the weather didnt improve. I just did a workout at home with weights and floor exercises. Kind of a wimpy one because I didnt do cardio. Sunday was cold but sunny but with church, visiting friends and driving kids around I ran out of time. Oh well. My body needs a break once in awhile. I did read a very inspirational article in the Runner's World magazine. A guy was training for a triathlon and the Boston marathon when he was run over by a bus when he was riding his bike. He survived and managed to run a marathon. It took him over 7 hours but he did it. It made me feel like a wimp! I also have been eating crappy on the weekends...which has to stop! I "Eat Clean" most of the time but weekends are hard. Well today starts a new week of training and Im going to get serious now. I mean it this time. Really. Oh crap. I have a meeting tonight. Ok...well Tuesday...the serious training begins!

Rainy Day Off

The gym was very busy last night. I did the machines and I did 1/2 hr on the bike. I did a two hill program. It was a great workout. I liked it better than I thought I would. I thought it would be really boring but on the screen of the bike if shows a graph of where you are on the hills. Today it is raining...I hope it is good weather on the weekend so I can get out and bike. I found a friend on Facebook that did a triathlon which is very helpful. I drilled her with questions. Anyways...dont have much to write today except that I get a day off today! Well if you call groceries and housecleaning after work a day off??? Although Im looking forward to Friday night taco salad and avacado dip!

A Multi-Sport Night

I was very good yesterday. I went for a run when I got home because it was sunny and mild. It turned out to be very windy though but it wasnt a cold wind. I just did an easy 6K run because I did a hard, fast run on the treadmill Tuesday. I felt very slow again but tried to not let it bug me and blamed it on the wind. Its frustrating though because this is supposed to be the sport Im good at. I just have to keep plugging away at all the sports and be patient for improvement. Anyways then later at 9 o'clock I went swimming as well! Wow I was proud of myself. I love swimming but I hate the changing part and the cold shower beforehand and then walking into the pool with my bathing suit. I know...whinnie. So I tried the training I learned from the website Tri-Newbies. It said to do 2 lengths then take a break for 15 seconds and keep repeating and that would build up my endurance. It worked well but I still feel like I cant do many lengths but like I said before I just have to be patient. Tonight is gym night but my legs feel sore today. I guess from having a hard workout Tuesday and then running outside the next day. Maybe I will go on the bike instead of the treadmill tonight.

Scale Not Cooperating

I had a great workout last night at the gym. I really pushed it and did my fastest treadmill time. I did some arm work with the free weights as well. I am getting frustrated though that I am not loosing weight. I know I know...muscle weights more than fat. My husband tells me that all the time. I hope it will be nice weather this weekend so I can get out and bike and run. I am learning alot from a website called Tri-Newbies. It has tons of information and training schedules. I might do the intermediate sprint training schedule. Its an 18 week program and its quite intense. So I would have to start it in the beginning of May which works out well. I dont know if I will be able to do it. It has you doing 2 sports everyday. Id have to go for a run early in the morning before work. I dont know??? Im not a morning person.

Feeling Funky

Saturday morning I went for a bike ride. Don didnt go with me because he had bad back pain. I think I went about 10K. It was very cold and windy on the way out but on the way back the wind was with me and the sun was shining and I went twice as fast. I could only go about 2/3 or 2/4 speed on the way out but on the way back I went the hardest speed the whole way. I am feeling more confident on the road. Andrea saw me on her way to work and honked at me which mad me smile. My bike feels a bit small but there is not much I can do about it. It only bothered me when I was going really slow. I really enjoy biking. I just worry that Im really slow. I felt like I was going really fast but then I asked Andrea later..."Did it look like I was going fast?" She said...no.

Last night I was supposed to go swimming but I was feeling what I call "funky". Thats when I feel kind of blue or meloncolly. So I decided to just have a relaxing evening. Just have a bath and watch Dancing With The Stars....the whole thing. Its OK to do that once and awhile I think. As long as it doesn't turn into several funky days or a funky week...etc. Tonight is gym night. Maybe if I get ambitious I will go swimming too. We'll see...depends how funky I feel.

Plodding Along in the Rain

Last night was gym night but I didnt feel like going. I felt unusually tired. (Do I say that alot?) I decided to just go for a 6K run outside. It was nice and mild. But it was a discouraging run. I felt sooooo slow! I feel sooo much faster on the treadmill! I gave myself a pep talk and swore at myself but it didnt work. I couldnt even do my whole Slash fartlek. I was frustrated with myself so I just put on the funky "Holmes Brothers" blues band and plodded (is that a real word?) along the rest of the way. It started raining about half way but it felt good. When I got home I even just sat in the rain for awhile and had a pity party for myself. My injury (groin area) was also hurting which was worrying me. Maybe my legs just need a break. Oh well....a bad workout is better than no workout I always say. This weekend is supposed to be nice so hopefully I will get some biking in on "Holmes". Thats what I named my bike. My kids and Don think I am very silly.

Am I Crazy?

Swimming was last night. I did 16 lengths in a row of front crawl! Although in the lake you dont get to push off at the end of each length. I have a long way to go but I have improved quite abit. Its hardest on my arms so I will have to do more work on my arms.
I've been searching for race times online and so far I could only find US races but the times were quite fast. I dont want to be the last one! The running times were OK. Don and I are going to go to the first Subaru race and watch. Its also in Guelph which is where the one I want to do is in September. Then I will get a better idea....and find out if Im crazy or not.

5 lbs More

I didnt feel like working out last night but you kind of just do it and then you start to get into it. I really need to change up my workout though because I have been doing the same thing for a couple months now. I saw a lady doing some mat work but I find it boring unless I am in a class. I did do some free weights though. 3 sets of 10 with 15lbs with bicep curls and triceps. I did the usual arm and leg machines but am putting the weights up higher. I do 100lbs on the leg press now and 65 lbs on the ab machine and I do 3 sets of 20 and 2 sets of 20 small crunches which I really feel. On the treadmill I did well because I had 2 fast guys on either side of me. I like that. It gives me a push to go faster. I thought my average time for the 1/2 hr was going to be over 6 for sure but it was 5.99. Bummer. Tonight is swimming. I dont know how long I will be able to keep this up. So far I am enjoying it. It takes so long to see results though. Yesterday me and Don were watching Utube videos of Triathlons. It was scaring me. Don said...maybe you should do a Tri-a-Tri. But I want to do something I have to really train for....some that will be cruelling. I dont know...maybe Im crazy. Everyone seems to have really expensive bikes too. I want to do the Subaru Series which says its for elite and beginners but maybe I should do a just womens series which is more geared to beginners. Well I havent registered yet....we'll see.

Enjoying the Swimming but Not the Raccoon Eyes

I enjoyed my swim last night. I feel I am improving. I did mostly front crawl but it was busy so I had to take quite a few breaks. I think I am getting faster but I need to practice continual swimming and keep track of the lengths. I am really enjoying the swimming training. I still had raccoons eyes from the goggles when I was done though and my eyes looked baggy this morning. Thats not really the look I am going for.

Test Drive

I tried out my new bike this weekend. It was pretty cold and windy for bike riding but I had to try it out. It worked great and it seems to fit me well. Its a fast bike but I'm a bit of a chicken with speed. I'll have to work on that. I did my 10K running route. Its quite hilly which I thought would be good to check out the gears. The gears have a few glitches but nothing serious so far. Overall it works great. I thought it would be very uncomfortable with the racing handle bars but it wasnt. I dont like where the brakes are though. It kind of scares me that I wont be able to get to the brakes quick enough but Im hoping I will get used to it. When I was done the 10K my thighs felt like tree trunks. I'm going to need alot of practice to do 30K! Sheesh...thats what I said about the swimming. I'll just have to keep plugging away at it and hopefully see some progress in about a month.
Don and I also went to the Bike Shop on Saturday to look at triathlon suits and look at "Real" road bikes. It was fun looking at all the beautiful bikes. Well the cheapest road bike was $1000.00 but it was so beautiful! They are works of art. Maybe some day.... but we'll see how this first triathlon goes first.

My New Bike

I'm so excited! Yesterday I was researching bikes online and I checked out Canadian Tire just to see what they had and they had a road bike on sale for half price! I read 18 reviews on it and it sounded pretty good. They all said it was a steal for that price. But they also said its not a "real" road bike. But anyways....I cant afford a "real" road bike. I hope its OK for the race. I'll have to see how it rides.
Last night on my way home from work I checked a Whitby location and it wasnt there and then I checked the Oshawa location. It was there but it was marked $299.99 so I went to the service counter and asked if it was on sale because it wasnt marked on sale. She checked and the computer said it was $149.00 and it was the last one left! So I bought it! I was very worried to tell Don because he is a bike expert. Maybe he'd laugh and say it was junk.
Don went to the store this morning to check it over and bring it home if he thought it was good for me. I just talked to him on the phone and he says some things about it are cheap but its a great deal for the money. So now I have a bike! One step closer to my goal! Its my early (May)birthday present.
Last night after going to Canadian Tire I went to do my workout. I was so excited about the bike that I had a great workout. The weights seemed lighter and I could run faster. My legs are sore today though from the leg squat machine. But its a good sore. I am going to use that machine more often because every time I use it my thighs and butt are sore. I do 100lbs on the leg press now too. 3 sets of 10. On the treadmill my average time for 1/2 hr was almost 6 so thats my highest so far. On my Slash fartlek I did 7.8 and felt like I could go faster but I didnt want to push it.
Hopefully it will be good weather this weekend so I can try my new bike out!

Goggle Wearing Newbie

Last night I bought swimming goggles. They worked really well except I had them on too tight and didnt realize it till I was finished swimming and looked at myself in the change room. It looked like I had hickies around my eyes. It looked terrible! And I had just said goodbye to the other swimmers not knowing I had these big red circles around these big puffy eyes. What a newbie. Anyways....I had a good swim but I definately need to practice alot. I do two lengths of front crawl and need to take a break. I need to be able to swim continuously for 40 lengths. I have to swim 750 m at the triathlon which is approximately 30 lengths. I am far from that. I have to be able to swim relaxed. Well practice makes perfect.

Strawberries and Chocolate

Yesterday I had a great workout. I planned on doing the machines at the gym but then go for a run outside instead of the treadmill since it was so nice outside, 15 C in March! It was dead at the gym probably because everyone was outside. I did my workout but when I got home it was hard to switch gears and go run outside. I thought of just skipping it. I felt tired and it felt like I was done for the night. I told myself I would just go slow. But it turned out to be a great 6 K run and I even did my Slash fartlek. I was proud of myself but then later Esther was bored (its March break) so we decided to go shopping and get some special snacks with TV. We bought strawberries and chocolate. Just slightly naughty. It was delicious!

Goggles

I did my swim last night. Aprox. 30 lengths/30 min. Maybe less because it was busy this time. One man got mad at a lady because she was swimming back and forth instead of circles. Later he asked me if I wanted to borrow his extra goggles. I thought Id better say yes (Don says I should have said no). I realized I was the only one swimming without goggles. They felt weird and I felt like a martian but I guess everyone does. My eyes didnt hurt as much though. Guess I better get some.

Im researching Triathlons. I think I am going to do one from the Suburu Series in Guelph Sept 5. Its a 750 m swim, 30 K bike, 7 K run. A bit longer than most Sprint triathlons. But then I have the whole summer to practice and I can practice swimming in a lake while Im camping. Its also the long weekend. I havent registered yet though. Yikes.

Sunny Afternoon Run

Ooops. Slept in Saturday morning. Couldnt fit in a run before breakfast so we just went to breakfast and said we'd do our run in the afternoon. I felt like we were being sneeky and playing hooky. But we actually did do our run in the afternoon. Usually if we dont get our run in before breakfast it just doesnt happen. But it was so sunny and beautiful outside and we have to stick to our schedule if we want to do a half marathon in the spring. We did 6K but it felt really short....which is good. Next week we do 10K.

Go Slash Go

I had a good workout last night (Thurs). Im starting to see some improvement. I am raising the weights by 5 lbs and when I finished my 1/2 hr run I felt like doing more. On my runs I start out with walking 2 min, then speed 5.5 for a few minutes, then up to 6.0 with a few songs (Aerosmith, Police) then to 6.5 with two songs that are awesome for running hard "We'll Be Together Tonight by Sting and Annie Lennox" (I LOVE that version) and "Slither" by Velvet Revolver. Then when Slash starts the lead break I do a fartlek at 7.6 till the end of the song. Then the rest of the half hour I run to The Holmes Brothers (gospel blues, very funky). Thats been my 1/2 hour treadmill routine for about a month or so now. I'll have to change it up in awhile but for now nothing makes me run faster than a lead break by Slash.

No Swimming For Me Today

I was the first one at the Walk-In Clinic this morning! Yeah me. But I have a UT infection. Boo me. TMI. Wednesdays is swim night but I dont think it would be a good idea. I'll wait for the medicine to kick in.

I'll use this space to write my schedule out.

Monday- Swim 1/2 hr (Aprox 30 pool lengths)

Tuesday-Gym workout, weights/machines (extra on arms) and 1/2 hr on treadmill.

Wednesday-Swim 1/2 hr

Thursday-Gym workout, machines (extra on legs) and 1/2 hr treadmill

Friday-Swim 1/2 hr ?

Saturday-Long run with Don in the morning

Sunday-Day off

Where is the biking??? Well I think I'll wait till the nice weather and do biking outdoors on Sundays. I dont know where else to put it. Maybe on the swim days I'll stick in a bike ride as well. Yeah thats what I'll do. Wow...its going to be hard to fit everything in. Yikes!

Git R Done

Tues night is gym night and I usually go straight to the gym when I get home from work but by the time I got home I wasnt feeling well so I thought I'd Git R Done and go straight to the Walk In Clinic. Well it was jam packed so I thought forget it, I'll come in the morning and be the first one. What a waste of time. Then I realized that the place where I got my nose pierced was just nextdoor to the walkin clinic. I had taken the piercing out 2 weeks ago because it was crooked and it had to be redone. I hate going in that place...its scary. All the tatooed scary people with their ear lobes hanging down....Git R Done. I had it done by a different person this time and she was really nice. It was so quick and it didnt hurt! I was so happy that I did it that I decided to just go to the gym anyway and just Git R Done. OK enough Git R Dones.
I told myself that I would just do a few machines and skip the cardio but once I got to the gym and got into it I did my usual workout. GRD!

No Dancing Just Swim

Last night I was watching the first show of the new season of Dancing with the Stars. I suddenly realized it was 9:10 and lane swimming is 9 - 10. It was hard to pull myself away. But I quickly changed, threw stuff in my gym bag and went to the pool without thinking about it too much. It helps when your gym is just down the street. Yes...I did it. Just getting there is the hardest part. The pool was busier today. I had to wait between lanes sometimes because we have to swim in circles when there are more people. I think Im starting to notice some improvement in my front crawl stroke. I think of my arms as a propellor, one arm up and one arm down that keeps going in circles.

Feels Like Spring

Saturday mornings Don and I sleep in, then exercise and then go out for breakfast. We have been doing this for years. Sometimes we skip the exercise part but then breakfast doesnt taste nearly as good. This morning it was unusually mild out and felt like spring. So we decided to go for a run outside instead of hitting the gym. I was feeling great at first but then soon started stiffening up. Running outside is so much harder than the treadmill. It feels like Im going so fast on the treadmill but outside I feel so slow! Don was trying to act like I was the only one sore and he would do the shorter route for MY sake. So to bug him I started doing the longer run but then changed my mind to the shorter run. I was glad we did. We did about 6 K but it was kind of discouraging how rusty I am. Oh well...it will get better....and breakfast tasted awesome!

Friday Night Swim

Friday nights are always the same....except this one.
I come home from work early, go grocery shopping, buy some wine, put the groceries away, do a little cleaning and then relax with some pizza, wine and a movie. Well except the last few Fridays I've been making myself taco salad with ground turkey, lite feta cheese, lettuce, tomato, crumpled up blue chips and catalina dressing. I love it. Ive been trying to cut back on pizza. Pizza is my weakness just ask my sister. She's always bugging me about it. Anyways I had this craving to go back to the pool and be in water. Weird aye. Also I didnt do a workout Thursday so I felt like I needed to get back there. So I went and I was able to do 8 lengths of front crawl. Altogether I did 30 lengths in a half hour. I felt so relaxed when I got home maybe a little too relaxed. Don wanted me to watch a movie but I went straight to bed and fell asleep as soon as my head hit the pillow. It felt great....and I get to sleep in tommorrow!

Have a Smoothie and Relax

I was going to do a workout today when I got home but Esther informed me I had to bring her to school at 6. So I didnt have time to make supper before then so I thought well I'll just go swimming at 9. After dinner I felt really tired. I dont know why. I have been taking my iron pills and drinking water. I decided I felt too weak to go for a workout and besides Esther needed to be picked up at 9. So I decided to make a blueberry/protein shake and relax instead.

First Day of Training

I am marking yesterday as my first day of my triathlon training because it was the first day I finally got myself to go to lane swimming. For some reason I was afraid to go. I dont know why. Its scary doing something for the first time. Maybe Id bump into all the serious swimmers and they'd be pissed off and kick me out. Maybe they would all giggle at my bathing suit and glowing white skin.
Anyways...yesterday I decided that I was going to play hooky from motherhood. I decided that when I got home from work I would go to the gym and do my usual workout, then go to the shopping centre and have a whole wheat veggie/turkey sub and go to Chapters and have a white mocha and then head back to the gym and do lane swimming which started at nine. I almost convinced myself to skip the swimming but knew I would be so disappointed in myself if I didnt go and would feel so great if I did. Well I did it and it felt awesome! I was able to do about 30 lengths but only 2 lengths of front crawl in a row. But thats better than I thought I would do! I felt great and very relaxed when I got home. But sadly no one really noticed that I was gone all night. Don had just come home from work. No one running to the door when I got home saying...Where were you??!! Oh well...I had a great evening.....an evening all to myself to do whatever I wanted....but..... I missed my family.