That's what I said after crossing the finish line of the Plunge & Run Sunday morning. Let me backtrack.
I woke up Sunday and thought seriously about bagging the race. After all, running still hurts, I'm slow as molasses, and wouldn't I be better off (i.e. burn more calories) doing a long bike ride vs. doing a 400 yard swim + 5K run? I quickly talked myself out of talking myself out of racing (got all that?) and drove to the health club where the race was being staged. It was a small crowd (maybe 40 people total?), and I knew several of the organizers and volunteers. I also got a great surprise when I saw my physical therapist from last summer, who was there with a student intern to stretch the athletes before or after the race. Yay! He told me to come see him afterward for what we affectionately called The Atomic Elbow. (Literally his elbows digging into my glutes, hamstrings, and hips. Ouch!) My stomach did its usual pre-race flipping and flopping (WHY oh why does it do that???), and before too long it was my turn to swim.
I had swum for the first time in 2 weeks the night before, and my shoulder was all kinds of jacked up; however, as soon as I got through my first two or three laps, I felt fine in the water. Whew! My swimming has been inconsistent and slow, so I was thrilled when my watch said 7:50 as I jumped out of the pool and headed to the transition area. Transition took maybe a minute (I had forgotten my race belt, so I had to pin my bib onto my tri top), and then I was off and running.
I started way too fast. I was running at about an 8:15 pace, which under normal circumstances would be a great pace for a multisport 5K, but in my current conditioning and training was way too aggressive. Mile 2 was more like a 9 minute mile (ugh), and then I probably slowed down even more. By my watch, my run time was 27:05. So disappointing. I knew I was dying out there, but to slow down that much between the first mile and the finish line was really discouraging. I walked back to the PT, and when he asked me how I did I replied, "Old, fat, and injured is a BAD combo."
Then he gave me about 15-20 minutes of Atomic Elbow, and while I was inside showering I missed the awards.... I ended up 2nd in my age group (out of 8).
Even though the run was disappointing, it did confirm for me that I made the right choice by switching from the Olympic distance to the sprint for my September 15 race. Now I feel smart for switching, not wimpy. :)
Wednesday, August 28, 2013
Wednesday, August 21, 2013
And the Worst Blogger Award goes to...
Me!
Egad, have I been inconsistent or WHAT? I totally suck at blogging. Good thing I never had any silly aspirations about being a professional blogger or anything. I'd starve to death. For reals.
So here's a recap of the past month. (Month! What have I been doing that I haven't had 4 minutes to write???)
- Glutes still hurt. Bah. But they're nowhere near as bad as they were. I have been stretching like a mofo, using the dreaded foam roller, and doing my cool glute-activating lunges whenever I remember to do them. (Note to self: do cool glute-activating lunges tonight at the Y.)
- Training has been The Suck. My biking has been fine; I feel more comfortable and confident on the bike, and my training has been fairly consistent. I can't say the same for my swimming and running, however.
- I went back to yoga last week for the first time in forevah! and thoroughly enjoyed myself.
- I have switched from the Olympic distance to the sprint for my September race. Most. Expensive. Sprint. EVER. $160 for a freaking sprint (since you know as well as I do that I won't be offered any money back for making the switch!). Holy hell. I'd better fucking win the thing. Or at least get a cool tech shirt.
- Spent a glorious, sun-filled week at the shore and got tan. Really tan. Like, my skin was darker than my hair by the end of the week. Now that's a successful vacation!
- I weighed the same at the end of vacation as I did at the beginning. Again, success!
- Of course, that weight is not where I want it to be, but at least I didn't come home a complete fatass!
- Work is insanely busy, partly because of the week off but mostly because I have a demanding, busy job. Luckily, I love it.
- As a hard training day as well as a practice race (and to see how hard I can push at the tri in September), I signed up for a Plunge & Run this weekend. Swim 400 meters and then run 5K. The run will hurt. A lot. Should be interesting! And by interesting, I mean painful and humbling.
More to come! I promise it won't be another month.
Egad, have I been inconsistent or WHAT? I totally suck at blogging. Good thing I never had any silly aspirations about being a professional blogger or anything. I'd starve to death. For reals.
So here's a recap of the past month. (Month! What have I been doing that I haven't had 4 minutes to write???)
- Glutes still hurt. Bah. But they're nowhere near as bad as they were. I have been stretching like a mofo, using the dreaded foam roller, and doing my cool glute-activating lunges whenever I remember to do them. (Note to self: do cool glute-activating lunges tonight at the Y.)
- Training has been The Suck. My biking has been fine; I feel more comfortable and confident on the bike, and my training has been fairly consistent. I can't say the same for my swimming and running, however.
- I went back to yoga last week for the first time in forevah! and thoroughly enjoyed myself.
- I have switched from the Olympic distance to the sprint for my September race. Most. Expensive. Sprint. EVER. $160 for a freaking sprint (since you know as well as I do that I won't be offered any money back for making the switch!). Holy hell. I'd better fucking win the thing. Or at least get a cool tech shirt.
- Spent a glorious, sun-filled week at the shore and got tan. Really tan. Like, my skin was darker than my hair by the end of the week. Now that's a successful vacation!
- I weighed the same at the end of vacation as I did at the beginning. Again, success!
- Of course, that weight is not where I want it to be, but at least I didn't come home a complete fatass!
- Work is insanely busy, partly because of the week off but mostly because I have a demanding, busy job. Luckily, I love it.
- As a hard training day as well as a practice race (and to see how hard I can push at the tri in September), I signed up for a Plunge & Run this weekend. Swim 400 meters and then run 5K. The run will hurt. A lot. Should be interesting! And by interesting, I mean painful and humbling.
More to come! I promise it won't be another month.
Wednesday, July 24, 2013
Top 10 reasons why my trip to Chicago ROCKED
10. Our hotel was located on Michigan Avenue, right in the heart of the Magnificent Mile and all its glorious shopping. Nordstrom and Neimans and Saks - oh my!
9. Chicago is a beautiful city, and the architecture is just gorgeous. I mean, look at this place!
9. Chicago is a beautiful city, and the architecture is just gorgeous. I mean, look at this place!
8. The Chicago River runs right through the middle of town, adding to the natural beauty. We ran out of time for a boat tour, but I'll definitely do one the next time I'm there.
7. The food!! Greek Town, a wonderful steakhouse, and even a breakfast place with an omelette named after Jeff Spicoli. Chicago's reputation as a foodie's city is well deserved.
6. The food, part 2. Because Chicago-style pizza deserves its own place on the list. Oh. My. God! So yummy. Does anyone know if Giordano's delivers to the East Coast??? (It's probably best if it doesn't....)
5. Where else can you shop at fabulous stores, then walk 10 minutes away from them and end up on a beach???
Oh Lake Michigan and Ohio Street Beach, how I miss you already!
4. Running on Lake Shore Drive! I know I shouldn't have... My glutes both hurt, but I got out there for just 34 minutes along the lake and it. was. glorious.
3. Time with family!! I have 7 sets of aunts/uncles and 20 cousins in Chicago, and my wonderful cousin organized a brunch with as many of them as could make it Sunday. I haven't seen them in at least 12 years, and some even longer. It brought tears to my eyes to be able to spend a few hours with all of them and reconnect. I'll spare you the 87,000 pics we took that day and just post a sampling.
2. Time with my wonderful brother and his girlfriend, who didn't mind that I crashed in the hotel with them and ruined any chance they may have had for a romantic weekend. I had a BLAST hanging out with them for 4 days. Thank you, thank you, thank you A and D!
And the #1 reason my trip to Chicago totally rocked was...
1. PEARL JAM AT WRIGLEY FIELD. Need I say more??
Wednesday, July 17, 2013
Can I get some cheese with my whine?
I'm injured. Again.
It's my glute. Again.
Actually, that's not entirely true. It's BOTH glutes now. (Hey, I'm a Libra! I need to be balanced, even in my injuries.)
Remember last year how I tore my right glute (and had a smaller tear in my hamstring)? During the second run of the July 4 duathlon, my left glute was really hurting. Yes, the left this year. I didn't try to run again until that Sunday, and I turned around after 4 minutes because I could tell the planned 8 miles were going to do more damage than good. Honestly, the pain in the left glute was not as bad as what I experienced for months and months last year with my right glute, but I knew as I set off on that run that it could easily get to that point if I wasn't smart.
Since then, I have run a total of about a quarter mile as part of boot camp class (did not go well -- pain galore!) and have seen a sports massage therapist and a chiropractor. The problems, it appears, are many.
1. My hamstrings are very tight.
2. My hip flexors are apparently the tightest in America. Seriously, I couldn't win a cool award? I have to win Miss Tight Hip Flexor USA???
3. As a result of the super-tightest-worst hip flexors, my glutes don't activate the way they are supposed to.
4. My left hip flexor is apparently even worse than my right, causing my hips to be uneven and creating an unnatural tilt in my pelvis.
5. I'm old.
(#5 is not just self-mocking. My advanced age is working against me here. The massage therapist very kindly pointed out that my body at 46 is very different than my body at 26 was. The cumulative effects of all those miles and all the thousands of classes I've taught over the years are taking a toll on me now.)
6. I do too much sitting at work. Worse yet, my desk setup isn't even remotely ergonomically friendly, causing me to twist in my desk chair to see my second monitor.
7. I may be adding to the problem by always unclipping my right foot during cycling and then using my left leg (and, you guessed it, hip flexor) to get going again.
8. Doing three races in 2.5 weeks was probably not the smartest thing I've ever done.
Here's the thing, though. Based on that list, you would think my left glute would be SO much more painful than my right. Other than during the two short runs I've attempted since July 4, it's my right glute that's bothering me again. Last night I taught a step aerobics class and kept my step lower than normal. Afterward, I limped around the house for the rest of the night because my right glute hurt so bad. What, it can't stand that the left side was getting a bit of attention and wanted to make its presence known again??? Seriously.
So, the upshot is no running or yoga for at least 2 weeks while we try to get this under control through vitamins, better posture, some key glute activation exercises, foam rollering (it's a word), and better seated posture.
I can count the aborted run on July 7 as the beginning of the two weeks, right??? ;)
It's my glute. Again.
Actually, that's not entirely true. It's BOTH glutes now. (Hey, I'm a Libra! I need to be balanced, even in my injuries.)
Remember last year how I tore my right glute (and had a smaller tear in my hamstring)? During the second run of the July 4 duathlon, my left glute was really hurting. Yes, the left this year. I didn't try to run again until that Sunday, and I turned around after 4 minutes because I could tell the planned 8 miles were going to do more damage than good. Honestly, the pain in the left glute was not as bad as what I experienced for months and months last year with my right glute, but I knew as I set off on that run that it could easily get to that point if I wasn't smart.
Since then, I have run a total of about a quarter mile as part of boot camp class (did not go well -- pain galore!) and have seen a sports massage therapist and a chiropractor. The problems, it appears, are many.
1. My hamstrings are very tight.
2. My hip flexors are apparently the tightest in America. Seriously, I couldn't win a cool award? I have to win Miss Tight Hip Flexor USA???
3. As a result of the super-tightest-worst hip flexors, my glutes don't activate the way they are supposed to.
4. My left hip flexor is apparently even worse than my right, causing my hips to be uneven and creating an unnatural tilt in my pelvis.
5. I'm old.
(#5 is not just self-mocking. My advanced age is working against me here. The massage therapist very kindly pointed out that my body at 46 is very different than my body at 26 was. The cumulative effects of all those miles and all the thousands of classes I've taught over the years are taking a toll on me now.)
6. I do too much sitting at work. Worse yet, my desk setup isn't even remotely ergonomically friendly, causing me to twist in my desk chair to see my second monitor.
7. I may be adding to the problem by always unclipping my right foot during cycling and then using my left leg (and, you guessed it, hip flexor) to get going again.
8. Doing three races in 2.5 weeks was probably not the smartest thing I've ever done.
Here's the thing, though. Based on that list, you would think my left glute would be SO much more painful than my right. Other than during the two short runs I've attempted since July 4, it's my right glute that's bothering me again. Last night I taught a step aerobics class and kept my step lower than normal. Afterward, I limped around the house for the rest of the night because my right glute hurt so bad. What, it can't stand that the left side was getting a bit of attention and wanted to make its presence known again??? Seriously.
So, the upshot is no running or yoga for at least 2 weeks while we try to get this under control through vitamins, better posture, some key glute activation exercises, foam rollering (it's a word), and better seated posture.
I can count the aborted run on July 7 as the beginning of the two weeks, right??? ;)
Wednesday, July 10, 2013
Tunes are my life, part 3
Last year I posted a list of all of the concerts I've been to. Great list, great memories! Well, I can add a few more bands to that list.
Jason Bonham's Led Zeppelin Experience
Get the Led Out
Heart
(Yes, I've been on a major Led Zeppelin kick recently!)
I'm hoping to add Nine Inch Nails and Queens of the Stone Age to my list Labor Day weekend, too. Finger crossed that it works out.
Rock on, cyber friends.
Jason Bonham's Led Zeppelin Experience
Get the Led Out
Heart
(Yes, I've been on a major Led Zeppelin kick recently!)
I'm hoping to add Nine Inch Nails and Queens of the Stone Age to my list Labor Day weekend, too. Finger crossed that it works out.
Rock on, cyber friends.
Friday, July 5, 2013
1 week, 2 races
It's been a heck of a week over here!
Saturday - Sprint Triathlon (my second in two weeks after nearly 2 years off from racing)
Swim (.25) - After my disappointing swim time in the race 2 weeks earlier, I was determined to redeem myself at this race. Goal = 9:30. Actual = 8:49. Off to a good start!
Bike (13.2) - I was hoping to just do what I did 2 weeks ago, which was nearly 19 mph average. Unfortunately for me, I did a double workout the day before the race (who does that???), and I really felt it on the bike. It took 8 miles to feel comfortable, and the race was only 13.2 miles total. Goal = 42:00. Actual = 42:31. Could have been way worse, but obviously if I were a smarter person (i.e. don't work out 2x the day before a race), I could have killed that bike course!
Run (5K) - Oh boy. This is where the wheels came off. I'd had a stomach issue all week. It wasn't bad enough that I needed to stay home from work, lay on the sofa, and moan, but it was bad enough that food simply would not stay in me. (TMI? Sorry.) The run course for this race was in a very nice neighborhood. A nice neighborhood with not nearly enough shade. Holy hell, did it get hot out there! I suck in the heat anyway, but the combination of tired legs + direct sun + temps already in the mid 80s + literally no gas in the tank due to my stomach issues equaled a disastrous run. Goal = 25:30. Actual = 28:14. (Honestly, I'm surprised it wasn't 38:14. It felt that slow.)
My goal was a podium spot (I knew it would be tough) and 1:22:00 overall. Instead, I got 4th in my age group, missed the podium by less than a minute, and finished in 1:23:29. Aaaaaggggh! So close!!! :)
Thursday - Sprint Duathlon (very informal race put on by my running club each year)
I got smart and took Wednesday as my rest day. :) See, I'm not too old to learn new tricks!
Run 1 (2 miles) - I decided to treat the race as a hard training day, not a real race situation. This was easy to do because it's SO informal. No bike racks, no numbers, no entry fee, no course marshalls. Just show up and do it. My goal for both runs was to be around 17 minutes. Actual = 16:19. Ahh yeah.
Bike (13) - Rolling hills throughout, and after that first run my legs felt like DOO DOO! Honestly, I could not get my legs to turn the pedals over. Ugh. Oh well, it wasn't a real race anyway, right? No goal, other than to not suck. Actual = 48:43 (16 mph - suckage!).
Run 2 (the same 2 miles) - My only goal here was for my legs to outlast my brain, which was telling me how easy it would be to just quit. I mean, who would know? And what would it matter? Well, it mattered to me. I went out there for a good, hard workout, and that's what I was going to do. Much slower than the first run, but that was to be expected. Actual = 17:06. Hey, not as bad as I expected!
Total = 1:24:31, which is by far my personal worst for this race, but honestly I could not care less. (In 2011 I did it in 1:21:32, in 2010 I did 1:20:58, and in 2008 (when I was kicking ass and taking names) I did it in 1:15:30.)
The other interesting thing about the duathlon yesterday was that it was a forced experiment. The night before, D and I went to a ROCKING concert -- Jason Bonham's Led Zeppelin Experience and Heart (with both bands together for a 30 minute Zeppelin set at the end of the show). I didn't get to bed until 1 a.m., and the race was at 7. Why did I do this, you ask? Because on September 15 I am doing an Olympic distance tri, and the night before there's a concert I want to attend. Now I know it can be done. :)
Saturday - Sprint Triathlon (my second in two weeks after nearly 2 years off from racing)
Swim (.25) - After my disappointing swim time in the race 2 weeks earlier, I was determined to redeem myself at this race. Goal = 9:30. Actual = 8:49. Off to a good start!
Bike (13.2) - I was hoping to just do what I did 2 weeks ago, which was nearly 19 mph average. Unfortunately for me, I did a double workout the day before the race (who does that???), and I really felt it on the bike. It took 8 miles to feel comfortable, and the race was only 13.2 miles total. Goal = 42:00. Actual = 42:31. Could have been way worse, but obviously if I were a smarter person (i.e. don't work out 2x the day before a race), I could have killed that bike course!
Run (5K) - Oh boy. This is where the wheels came off. I'd had a stomach issue all week. It wasn't bad enough that I needed to stay home from work, lay on the sofa, and moan, but it was bad enough that food simply would not stay in me. (TMI? Sorry.) The run course for this race was in a very nice neighborhood. A nice neighborhood with not nearly enough shade. Holy hell, did it get hot out there! I suck in the heat anyway, but the combination of tired legs + direct sun + temps already in the mid 80s + literally no gas in the tank due to my stomach issues equaled a disastrous run. Goal = 25:30. Actual = 28:14. (Honestly, I'm surprised it wasn't 38:14. It felt that slow.)
My goal was a podium spot (I knew it would be tough) and 1:22:00 overall. Instead, I got 4th in my age group, missed the podium by less than a minute, and finished in 1:23:29. Aaaaaggggh! So close!!! :)
Thursday - Sprint Duathlon (very informal race put on by my running club each year)
I got smart and took Wednesday as my rest day. :) See, I'm not too old to learn new tricks!
Run 1 (2 miles) - I decided to treat the race as a hard training day, not a real race situation. This was easy to do because it's SO informal. No bike racks, no numbers, no entry fee, no course marshalls. Just show up and do it. My goal for both runs was to be around 17 minutes. Actual = 16:19. Ahh yeah.
Bike (13) - Rolling hills throughout, and after that first run my legs felt like DOO DOO! Honestly, I could not get my legs to turn the pedals over. Ugh. Oh well, it wasn't a real race anyway, right? No goal, other than to not suck. Actual = 48:43 (16 mph - suckage!).
Run 2 (the same 2 miles) - My only goal here was for my legs to outlast my brain, which was telling me how easy it would be to just quit. I mean, who would know? And what would it matter? Well, it mattered to me. I went out there for a good, hard workout, and that's what I was going to do. Much slower than the first run, but that was to be expected. Actual = 17:06. Hey, not as bad as I expected!
Total = 1:24:31, which is by far my personal worst for this race, but honestly I could not care less. (In 2011 I did it in 1:21:32, in 2010 I did 1:20:58, and in 2008 (when I was kicking ass and taking names) I did it in 1:15:30.)
The other interesting thing about the duathlon yesterday was that it was a forced experiment. The night before, D and I went to a ROCKING concert -- Jason Bonham's Led Zeppelin Experience and Heart (with both bands together for a 30 minute Zeppelin set at the end of the show). I didn't get to bed until 1 a.m., and the race was at 7. Why did I do this, you ask? Because on September 15 I am doing an Olympic distance tri, and the night before there's a concert I want to attend. Now I know it can be done. :)
Monday, July 1, 2013
Check-in
At the end of last year, I made some resolutions. Since we are halfway through the year, I thought I'd revisit them to see how I'm doing (and to remind myself of what they were!!!!). The results are very mixed.
1. Lose weight. And since I know that specific goals are more likely achieved than vague goals like "lose weight" are, I will further specify that my resolution has two parts.
a) Lose 5 pounds by March 1.
b) Lose an additional 5-10 pounds by Memorial Day.
EPIC FAIL. As of the last time I weighed myself (about 2 weeks ago), I was up two pounds. Mother effer!
2. Put 50% more money in savings each month. This is not as ambitious as it sounds, considering the paltry amount I am currently channeling into a savings account. I can do better, and I will.
Done! I upped my contribution to savings back in January .
3. Make it to yoga at least twice a week. Yes, I said at least twice.
This one was going well until June. Now that I'm in tri training (and now that I've realized and accepted that yoga is one of the activities that most hurts my glute), I have backed down quite a bit. I will try for once a week, but we'll see.
4. Renew my fitness teaching certification(s) and attend at least one continuing education seminar, workshop, class, or conference. I need to get psyched about teaching again.
In progress. I am in the middle of renewing my Pilates certification, and in August I will attend a fitness cert seminar.
5. Go to bed earlier. Even if I don't turn off the lights to (try to) sleep, I want to get snuggled under the covers and read for a while every night.
I have been reading like mad, but I'm definitely not going to bed earlier and/or getting more sleep.
6. Get a library card so I can read every night without spending a fortune at Barnes and Noble. :)
Done! :)
1. Lose weight. And since I know that specific goals are more likely achieved than vague goals like "lose weight" are, I will further specify that my resolution has two parts.
a) Lose 5 pounds by March 1.
b) Lose an additional 5-10 pounds by Memorial Day.
EPIC FAIL. As of the last time I weighed myself (about 2 weeks ago), I was up two pounds. Mother effer!
2. Put 50% more money in savings each month. This is not as ambitious as it sounds, considering the paltry amount I am currently channeling into a savings account. I can do better, and I will.
Done! I upped my contribution to savings back in January .
3. Make it to yoga at least twice a week. Yes, I said at least twice.
This one was going well until June. Now that I'm in tri training (and now that I've realized and accepted that yoga is one of the activities that most hurts my glute), I have backed down quite a bit. I will try for once a week, but we'll see.
4. Renew my fitness teaching certification(s) and attend at least one continuing education seminar, workshop, class, or conference. I need to get psyched about teaching again.
In progress. I am in the middle of renewing my Pilates certification, and in August I will attend a fitness cert seminar.
5. Go to bed earlier. Even if I don't turn off the lights to (try to) sleep, I want to get snuggled under the covers and read for a while every night.
I have been reading like mad, but I'm definitely not going to bed earlier and/or getting more sleep.
6. Get a library card so I can read every night without spending a fortune at Barnes and Noble. :)
Done! :)
Monday, June 24, 2013
Weekend workouts
My workouts kicked ass this weekend! Specifically, mine!
Friday:
a.m. swim - This was a redemption swim after one of the worst swims EVER on Wednesday
p.m. boot camp class - Lots of intervals, lots of burpees, lots of fun
Saturday:
Long (and I use the word loosely) run of 7.5 slow miles, mostly in the trails where it was cool and lovely
Sunday:
Long bike ride that was supposed to be a shorter bike ride and brick run, but my bike partner and I were having so much fun that we just kept going! We ended up with 38.6 miles and three really significant hills -- one on the way out and two on the way back. Ouch! Keep in mind that my previous weekend rides were all under 20 miles because I was focusing on shorter, more tempo rides to get ready for last weekend's race, so 38.6 (hilly) miles was a HUGE jump. As a result, I skipped the brick run afterward. I probably should have done it because...
I signed up for another race! This weekend! Yes, I'm a nut!
Friday:
a.m. swim - This was a redemption swim after one of the worst swims EVER on Wednesday
p.m. boot camp class - Lots of intervals, lots of burpees, lots of fun
Saturday:
Long (and I use the word loosely) run of 7.5 slow miles, mostly in the trails where it was cool and lovely
Sunday:
Long bike ride that was supposed to be a shorter bike ride and brick run, but my bike partner and I were having so much fun that we just kept going! We ended up with 38.6 miles and three really significant hills -- one on the way out and two on the way back. Ouch! Keep in mind that my previous weekend rides were all under 20 miles because I was focusing on shorter, more tempo rides to get ready for last weekend's race, so 38.6 (hilly) miles was a HUGE jump. As a result, I skipped the brick run afterward. I probably should have done it because...
I signed up for another race! This weekend! Yes, I'm a nut!
Monday, June 17, 2013
Race Report
I have to admit that it feels good to write a race report! :)
Yesterday was my first triathlon in nearly two years, the last one being the ungodly hot Olympic tri in July of 2011. After that race, I was completely burned out (literally and figuratively, haha), and I took a long break from just about everything triathlon-related. Then last year, I got injured and was forced to take a break. Now that I'm operating at 90%, I was ready to tri again. (HAHAHA, I crack myself up.)
I signed up for a race that all of my friends have done and raved about, even though it meant I would be racing against my training partners -- and losing. They are all much faster than I am, and I find it depressing to always come in last place in our little group. Nonetheless, I sucked it up and registered. The race is held at a boarding school, interestingly the campus where Dead Poets' Society was filmed. Quarter mile pond swim, 16 mile pretty flat bike course, and 5K cross-country run. I figured the whole thing would take me 1:30ish.
I will be the first to admit that I had NO IDEA what a cross-country run entailed. HOLY CRAP! It was mostly a single track trail run with roots and rocks underfoot, or grass that hadn't been mowed in weeks, and HILLS! Short, steep, curvy, twisting hills. I was so not prepared -- mentally or physically -- for that sort of run. But I digress.
SWIM - my mantra was Be Calm
Apparently, I was way too calm. My swim time was 10 minutes! That matches the swim time of my first triathlon ever, back in 2007. Ugh. I have no idea what happened.... Maybe I just took it too easy? I was expecting 8:40ish and hoping for 8:30. 10 minutes was a huge disappointment. Then, the run to transition was a good quarter mile (starting uphill), so my T1 time was way higher than usual. In my head I said, "Get to work. You need to make up 2 minutes on the bike!"
BIKE - my mantra was Be Aggressive
My goal was to hover around 20 mph for as much of the bike as I could. While the course was pretty flat, there were some small rollers that slowed me down to 14-15 mph. Every time I slowed down on an incline, I told myself, "OK, now you have to spend some time at 23-24 mph to make up for this!" I knew I'd be under 55 minutes for the bike but was hoping for around 52 minutes. Bike time = 51:25. Whew! And my T2 was under a minute. They should give out awards for T2. I would win every time. I rock in T2!
RUN - my mantra was Be Strong. It should have been Be Afraid!!
Well, I've already covered the run. I was hoping for 25-26 minutes (closer to 25, if I'm being honest), but I was woefully unprepared for that particular run. If it had been a flat run, or even trail run without so many twists, turns, and hills, I would have smashed that goal. My legs felt good, even if my glute really started to hurt, and I wasn't winded or tired. It was just a hard run. Run time = 26:13.
Total time = 1:32:21. Fourth in my age group (really 6th, but we all got bumped up because the first two women in my age group were also the top two females overall! YEAH! Old ladies rule!!!!!!!!!!). My friends A and D were 1-2 in our age group. Woo hoo!! And my friend M was 2nd in her age group (she's younger than we are). Woo hoo again! AND I got to see a dear friend from high school that I haven't seen in at least 6-7 years. Such a great surprise!!
I'm happy with the race and results. And I'm already looking for another tri or two for this summer. :)
Yesterday was my first triathlon in nearly two years, the last one being the ungodly hot Olympic tri in July of 2011. After that race, I was completely burned out (literally and figuratively, haha), and I took a long break from just about everything triathlon-related. Then last year, I got injured and was forced to take a break. Now that I'm operating at 90%, I was ready to tri again. (HAHAHA, I crack myself up.)
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| Me and my friend A at the swim start. She ended up first in our age group. |
I signed up for a race that all of my friends have done and raved about, even though it meant I would be racing against my training partners -- and losing. They are all much faster than I am, and I find it depressing to always come in last place in our little group. Nonetheless, I sucked it up and registered. The race is held at a boarding school, interestingly the campus where Dead Poets' Society was filmed. Quarter mile pond swim, 16 mile pretty flat bike course, and 5K cross-country run. I figured the whole thing would take me 1:30ish.
I will be the first to admit that I had NO IDEA what a cross-country run entailed. HOLY CRAP! It was mostly a single track trail run with roots and rocks underfoot, or grass that hadn't been mowed in weeks, and HILLS! Short, steep, curvy, twisting hills. I was so not prepared -- mentally or physically -- for that sort of run. But I digress.
SWIM - my mantra was Be Calm
Apparently, I was way too calm. My swim time was 10 minutes! That matches the swim time of my first triathlon ever, back in 2007. Ugh. I have no idea what happened.... Maybe I just took it too easy? I was expecting 8:40ish and hoping for 8:30. 10 minutes was a huge disappointment. Then, the run to transition was a good quarter mile (starting uphill), so my T1 time was way higher than usual. In my head I said, "Get to work. You need to make up 2 minutes on the bike!"
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| Me coming out of the water. |
BIKE - my mantra was Be Aggressive
My goal was to hover around 20 mph for as much of the bike as I could. While the course was pretty flat, there were some small rollers that slowed me down to 14-15 mph. Every time I slowed down on an incline, I told myself, "OK, now you have to spend some time at 23-24 mph to make up for this!" I knew I'd be under 55 minutes for the bike but was hoping for around 52 minutes. Bike time = 51:25. Whew! And my T2 was under a minute. They should give out awards for T2. I would win every time. I rock in T2!
RUN - my mantra was Be Strong. It should have been Be Afraid!!
Well, I've already covered the run. I was hoping for 25-26 minutes (closer to 25, if I'm being honest), but I was woefully unprepared for that particular run. If it had been a flat run, or even trail run without so many twists, turns, and hills, I would have smashed that goal. My legs felt good, even if my glute really started to hurt, and I wasn't winded or tired. It was just a hard run. Run time = 26:13.
Total time = 1:32:21. Fourth in my age group (really 6th, but we all got bumped up because the first two women in my age group were also the top two females overall! YEAH! Old ladies rule!!!!!!!!!!). My friends A and D were 1-2 in our age group. Woo hoo!! And my friend M was 2nd in her age group (she's younger than we are). Woo hoo again! AND I got to see a dear friend from high school that I haven't seen in at least 6-7 years. Such a great surprise!!
I'm happy with the race and results. And I'm already looking for another tri or two for this summer. :)
Tuesday, June 11, 2013
Theia and the terrible, horrible, no good, very bad run
Ugly run this morning. Ugly, ugly, ugly. It was almost but not quite the type of run that makes you hate running.
I met four of the Fastholes at the Y at 6 a.m. and we set out on our 4-mile loop. Quickly, two of the Fastholes were in front of the rest of us. Just as quickly, the distance between the groups started to increase. About 1.5 miles into the run, I told the two running with me to just leave me... and they did. I got progressively slower and slower for the rest of the run, watching as the two duos got farther and farther away from me. Despite the humidity (which was significant!), my lungs were not labored. I simply had no speed nor energy in my legs. They were just dead. I tried to do 4-5 pickups toward the end of the run, but they were really not that fast (if I'm being honest) and probably did very little to improve my overall pace.
I am hoping that running is like the theater... Bad dress rehearsal equals a great opening night performance. 5 days 'til race day!
I met four of the Fastholes at the Y at 6 a.m. and we set out on our 4-mile loop. Quickly, two of the Fastholes were in front of the rest of us. Just as quickly, the distance between the groups started to increase. About 1.5 miles into the run, I told the two running with me to just leave me... and they did. I got progressively slower and slower for the rest of the run, watching as the two duos got farther and farther away from me. Despite the humidity (which was significant!), my lungs were not labored. I simply had no speed nor energy in my legs. They were just dead. I tried to do 4-5 pickups toward the end of the run, but they were really not that fast (if I'm being honest) and probably did very little to improve my overall pace.
I am hoping that running is like the theater... Bad dress rehearsal equals a great opening night performance. 5 days 'til race day!
Thursday, June 6, 2013
I get to do my most favoritest workout tonight!
I call this one my Crazy Ass Brick workout because (A) it's crazy, (2) it's a brick, and (d) you feel like ass doing it. I always throw one in about 10-12 days before a race.
Here's how you do it. Set your bike up on a trainer, wherever you usually do your trainer rides. Get dressed for a cycling or brick workout, whatever you typically wear to bike, but put on your running shoes. Place your cycling shoes right next to your bike.
Go run a mile. It doesn't matter where, although outside is preferable to inside on a treadmill. Just run it. HARD.
Come back to your bike, switch your shoes, and bike for 15-20 minutes. Again, hard. The bike is not recovery. You'll recover at the end of the hour (or so).
After 15-20 minutes, switch your shoes again and run another mile. Try to go faster than your first run.
Swap shoes, hop on your bike, and do another 15-20 minute hard trainer workout.
For the last time, change your shoes and head back out for your last mile. Your goal is to do this one the fastest of all of them. It will hurt. It will suck. You will curse me. That means you're doing it right.
Stretch like mad and eat a big meal. You've earned it.
Why is the Crazy Ass Brick so awesome, you ask? I'm glad you asked. Here are all the reasons it's so awesome.
1. You get a killer workout in about an hour.
2. You're basically doing mile repeats, but you get to bike in between them so they don't feel like mile repeats on the track (which, let's admit it, suck ass).
3. Your neighbors will think you're nuts. They will be right.
4. You will practice transitions.
5. You will practice clipping in and out of your bike pedals.
6. You will feel like a total badass.
Here's how you do it. Set your bike up on a trainer, wherever you usually do your trainer rides. Get dressed for a cycling or brick workout, whatever you typically wear to bike, but put on your running shoes. Place your cycling shoes right next to your bike.
Go run a mile. It doesn't matter where, although outside is preferable to inside on a treadmill. Just run it. HARD.
Come back to your bike, switch your shoes, and bike for 15-20 minutes. Again, hard. The bike is not recovery. You'll recover at the end of the hour (or so).
After 15-20 minutes, switch your shoes again and run another mile. Try to go faster than your first run.
Swap shoes, hop on your bike, and do another 15-20 minute hard trainer workout.
For the last time, change your shoes and head back out for your last mile. Your goal is to do this one the fastest of all of them. It will hurt. It will suck. You will curse me. That means you're doing it right.
Stretch like mad and eat a big meal. You've earned it.
Why is the Crazy Ass Brick so awesome, you ask? I'm glad you asked. Here are all the reasons it's so awesome.
1. You get a killer workout in about an hour.
2. You're basically doing mile repeats, but you get to bike in between them so they don't feel like mile repeats on the track (which, let's admit it, suck ass).
3. Your neighbors will think you're nuts. They will be right.
4. You will practice transitions.
5. You will practice clipping in and out of your bike pedals.
6. You will feel like a total badass.
Wednesday, May 29, 2013
Tuesday, May 28, 2013
Not for the dainty
I went to a hot vinyasa class yesterday, and I do mean HOT. If I had to guess, I would say the room temperature was 100-110.
I sweat more in that 75 minutes than I think I've ever sweat in my life! Toward the end of class when we were doing less flowing/moving and more stretching on the mats with brief rests in between, I would wipe my face and arms with my towel. As soon as I moved again, I was drenched with more sweat! I have no idea how my pores were still producing that much sweat.
But the real kicker came at the very end of class. I tried (unsuccessfully) to wipe off my mat before rolling it up. And of course I had to wipe the floor around my mat because sweat had dripped off my forehead in several poses, creating little puddles around me.
And then I finally lifted my mat... to discover SWEAT UNDERNEATH IT! Yes, that's right folks, I SWEAT THROUGH MY YOGA MAT. WTF? Who does that????
The class was noteworthy in other ways as well... specifically the man next to me who smelled like rotten BO and the woman in front of me whose pants were falling down, giving me an unwanted view of ass crack the entire class. It certainly was memorable. :)
I sweat more in that 75 minutes than I think I've ever sweat in my life! Toward the end of class when we were doing less flowing/moving and more stretching on the mats with brief rests in between, I would wipe my face and arms with my towel. As soon as I moved again, I was drenched with more sweat! I have no idea how my pores were still producing that much sweat.
But the real kicker came at the very end of class. I tried (unsuccessfully) to wipe off my mat before rolling it up. And of course I had to wipe the floor around my mat because sweat had dripped off my forehead in several poses, creating little puddles around me.
And then I finally lifted my mat... to discover SWEAT UNDERNEATH IT! Yes, that's right folks, I SWEAT THROUGH MY YOGA MAT. WTF? Who does that????
The class was noteworthy in other ways as well... specifically the man next to me who smelled like rotten BO and the woman in front of me whose pants were falling down, giving me an unwanted view of ass crack the entire class. It certainly was memorable. :)
Friday, May 24, 2013
Today's swim workout
It was a doozy!
450 swim
450 pull
OK, after boot camp and a ridiculously hard yoga class yesterday, my shoulders were screaming at this point. Just in time for...
10 x 50 sprint!
I shared a lane with my fasthole training partner (seriously, she's fast). My first 50 was THREE SECONDS FASTER than any other 50 I've ever done! 42 seconds, baby! That is smoking fast for me. Of course, the next one was my regular pace (46), and then my third one was slow at 49 seconds. After that, I paced well and did all of them in 46-47 seconds until the last two when Fasthole joined me again and paced me. 43 and 43 for the last two. BOOM.
400 kick to cool down
I may need a nap at some point today! That was a toughie. Take THAT, stupid glute! hahaha
450 swim
450 pull
OK, after boot camp and a ridiculously hard yoga class yesterday, my shoulders were screaming at this point. Just in time for...
10 x 50 sprint!
I shared a lane with my fasthole training partner (seriously, she's fast). My first 50 was THREE SECONDS FASTER than any other 50 I've ever done! 42 seconds, baby! That is smoking fast for me. Of course, the next one was my regular pace (46), and then my third one was slow at 49 seconds. After that, I paced well and did all of them in 46-47 seconds until the last two when Fasthole joined me again and paced me. 43 and 43 for the last two. BOOM.
400 kick to cool down
I may need a nap at some point today! That was a toughie. Take THAT, stupid glute! hahaha
Thursday, May 23, 2013
Thursday, May 16, 2013
I did this for the first time on Saturday
I've been anxious to try a tripod headstand in yoga for literally 2 years. It took me more than a year just to get my head to the floor in a wide-legged forward fold. Once I did, I was paralyzed by fear. How on earth could I lift both feet of the floor, place my knees on my forearms, and then gracefully extend my legs wide and bring them together overhead???? So I just stayed in that wide-legged fold with my head down to the floor, looking wistfully at the people behind me in class who could effortlessly (it seemed) take it to the next level.
Turns out my hands weren't aligned in the right spot, so it was little wonder I couldn't imagine getting to even that point above. Once the instructor moved my hands (they were too far forward), it was easy as could be.
Next time, the legs are progressing all the way up to a headstand.
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| That's not me, in case you were wondering. |
I've been anxious to try a tripod headstand in yoga for literally 2 years. It took me more than a year just to get my head to the floor in a wide-legged forward fold. Once I did, I was paralyzed by fear. How on earth could I lift both feet of the floor, place my knees on my forearms, and then gracefully extend my legs wide and bring them together overhead???? So I just stayed in that wide-legged fold with my head down to the floor, looking wistfully at the people behind me in class who could effortlessly (it seemed) take it to the next level.
Turns out my hands weren't aligned in the right spot, so it was little wonder I couldn't imagine getting to even that point above. Once the instructor moved my hands (they were too far forward), it was easy as could be.
Next time, the legs are progressing all the way up to a headstand.
Monday, May 13, 2013
It's time to cram
So after a self-imposed hiatus from racing, followed by a never-ending injury that prohibited me from racing, I decided I'm racing this year.
Not only that, but I'm doing what I said I would never do again, which is race in an event that all my friends are also doing. (I'm the slowest of the group, so doing a large group event is nothing more than frustrating and depressing for me, but I'm changing my outlook this year and trying to have a positive attitude about it.)
Not only that, but I really haven't started training in earnest yet. I mean, one swim + one bike ride + a couple of runs per week doesn't really count.
And let's not forget that I have added a few classes (teaching), which limits my training time.
And of course... wait for it... the race is in less than 5 weeks. Five weeks from yesterday, to be exact.
Too late to turn back now. I'm registered and ready (mentally) to do this. Now I just have to get my body ready, starting immediately. I guess I should start doing some brick workouts, huh? And maybe something faster than the 8:30 to 9:30 pace I've been running. And some shorter, faster bike rides. And more than one swim per week. Here's this week's schedule. Don't let me deviate from it!
Monday:
XT day -- boot camp in the morning, yoga and Pilates in the evening
Tuesday:
run in the morning, XT in the evening
Wednesday:
swim in the morning, bike or yoga in the evening
Thursday:
tempo run in the morning, yoga or bike (whichever I didn't do Wednesday) in the evening
Saturday:
swim and longer run
Sunday:
longer bike and short brick run
The countdown has begun!
Not only that, but I'm doing what I said I would never do again, which is race in an event that all my friends are also doing. (I'm the slowest of the group, so doing a large group event is nothing more than frustrating and depressing for me, but I'm changing my outlook this year and trying to have a positive attitude about it.)
Not only that, but I really haven't started training in earnest yet. I mean, one swim + one bike ride + a couple of runs per week doesn't really count.
And let's not forget that I have added a few classes (teaching), which limits my training time.
And of course... wait for it... the race is in less than 5 weeks. Five weeks from yesterday, to be exact.
Too late to turn back now. I'm registered and ready (mentally) to do this. Now I just have to get my body ready, starting immediately. I guess I should start doing some brick workouts, huh? And maybe something faster than the 8:30 to 9:30 pace I've been running. And some shorter, faster bike rides. And more than one swim per week. Here's this week's schedule. Don't let me deviate from it!
Monday:
XT day -- boot camp in the morning, yoga and Pilates in the evening
Tuesday:
run in the morning, XT in the evening
Wednesday:
swim in the morning, bike or yoga in the evening
Thursday:
tempo run in the morning, yoga or bike (whichever I didn't do Wednesday) in the evening
Saturday:
swim and longer run
Sunday:
longer bike and short brick run
The countdown has begun!
Tuesday, April 23, 2013
Monday, February 25, 2013
Oscar observations (Obscarvations?)
- Does Charlize Theron ever look bad? Or George Clooney, for that matter?
- No one should ever stand next to Kristen Chenoweth -- ever. Unless they too are 4'2" and 70 pounds.
- I could do without those stupid high bun hairdos.
- Melissa McCarthy should fire her stylist immediately. She's such a beautiful woman, but her dresses always look like sacks on her. Compare that to Queen Latifah, who is also full figured but dresses beautifully and knows what styles flatter her.
- Why was Kristin Stewart even there, much less a presenter with a prime seat up front? The girl has ONE FACIAL EXPRESSION (which I like to call, "OMG, I think your baby's diaper needs to be changed."). How is she Hollywood elite???????
- Jennifer Lawrence is a cutie patootie.
- 99% of Hollywood actrresses are in desperate need of a sandwich.
- So good to see Robin Roberts!!!!
- I found it ironic that one of the two women who won for hair/makeup had no makeup on and looked like her 4 year-old daughter did her hair.
- Adele = awesome.
- I doubt Seth MacFarlane will host next year.
- Overall, the show had no flow. Therefore, I doubt the show producers will be back next year either.
- Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner are the cutest couple in America.
- Jessica Chastain should just change her name to Jessica Rabbit.
- What was Barbra Streisand wearing? She looked like a blonde Elvira.
- Who knew Daniel Day Lewis was funny?
Monday, January 14, 2013
Shortest workout EVER!
With the amount of stress in my life right now, it's little wonder that I am sick. To be honest, I'm surprised it took this long for me to catch something! For now I'm dealing with a head cold and headache; hopefully it stays right there and doesn't evolve into something worse.
Yesterday my running partner and I met at the Y to do 7-8 slow miles together. It was misting, colder than forecast, and foggy as all get-out. In other words, not a great day for a run when you're sick to begin with! Still, I wanted to get some miles done, and she's great company (and frankly, I needed to have some time to vent, sort through everything that's going on with someone who knows me so well, and also be distracted by other stuff we would talk about over an hour plus of running together), so I got dressed and met her.
Literally two minutes into the run, I had to stop. My stomach hurt, my energy was nonexistent, and I thought I would surely die if I took one more step. So we turned around and jogged back to our cars.
Shortest. Run. Ever. 4:33 total.
So we're telling people we did a mile. :) It was totally our plan to do a timed mile yesterday. With that perspective, a 4:33 workout is rather impressive! :)
Yesterday my running partner and I met at the Y to do 7-8 slow miles together. It was misting, colder than forecast, and foggy as all get-out. In other words, not a great day for a run when you're sick to begin with! Still, I wanted to get some miles done, and she's great company (and frankly, I needed to have some time to vent, sort through everything that's going on with someone who knows me so well, and also be distracted by other stuff we would talk about over an hour plus of running together), so I got dressed and met her.
Literally two minutes into the run, I had to stop. My stomach hurt, my energy was nonexistent, and I thought I would surely die if I took one more step. So we turned around and jogged back to our cars.
Shortest. Run. Ever. 4:33 total.
So we're telling people we did a mile. :) It was totally our plan to do a timed mile yesterday. With that perspective, a 4:33 workout is rather impressive! :)
Wednesday, January 2, 2013
2012 Year in Review
I tallied up my mileage on New Year's Eve (run = pitiful, bike and swim = decent), but I was curious about other workouts too so I just checked my log...
2012 Fitness Totals:
559.2 miles running
1,464.6 miles biking
54.9 miles swimming
65 yoga classes attended
108 other workouts (boot camp, weights, etc.)
Not bad, I guess. That running total needs to go WAY up, but other than that it was a decent year for fitness. This year I'd like to keep the biking and swimming miles intact, get up to 100+ yoga classes, and get that running mileage up to about 800 miles.
I also need to win the lottery so I can quit my job, apparently, in order to have time to do all of this!
2012 Fitness Totals:
559.2 miles running
1,464.6 miles biking
54.9 miles swimming
65 yoga classes attended
108 other workouts (boot camp, weights, etc.)
Not bad, I guess. That running total needs to go WAY up, but other than that it was a decent year for fitness. This year I'd like to keep the biking and swimming miles intact, get up to 100+ yoga classes, and get that running mileage up to about 800 miles.
I also need to win the lottery so I can quit my job, apparently, in order to have time to do all of this!
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