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!