Plans for the week

Monday- HIIT on the TM done
Tuesday - Lower body strength and W2 D1 of the 100 pushup plan done
Wednesday- TM run 3 miles done
Thurday - upper body W2D2 pushups nothing
Friday - HIIT TM only 1.67 miles of HIIT (tummy issues) and W2D2 pushups
Saturday- Stationary bike and lower body strength training
Sunday- Long run

Exercise Plan for the Week of December 8-14th

Ok so I'm going to Mexico in February and I've been putting on weight like crazy...not good, it would be nice to at least fit in my summer stuff when I go so since I seem to do so much better with a plan I'm going to put down here what I intend to do for the week, that way I can't mess around trying to figure out until it's to late, or I talk myself out of doing it. So without further ado....



Monday- Week 1 day 1 100 push up plan and upper body workout in the morning Done

TM easy run after work Didn't happen

Tuesday- 30 minutes on the stationary bike in the morning Nope, but did a 3.9 mile TM run after work

Wednesday- 25 minute HIIT in the morning nope nothing done

W1D2 100 push-ups and Leg workout did this on Thursday

Thursday - Swim in the morning No

Evening Upper body workout No

Friday - Off

Saturday - Run outside or TM depending on weather, try for longer outside run 4 mile easy run

Sunday - Stationary bike and swim W1D3 push-ups no bike or swim but did do pushups

Actual in red

I RAN!!!

I ran this morning!!! Nothing special but I've not been in the groove and this morning I could have talked myself out of it very easily..almost did, it was around 30ish but the sun was shining....it was great!!! Did 3 miles at for me a pretty good pace of 12:52. It felt so good to be outside and running. I'm glad I went. You know what is funny, when I was getting cleaned up after...I was looking at my face and everything just seemed to look better..my skin, the bags under my eyes. Now my food has been awful with a capital A so I know that's not it. I don't know if it was indeed the run, or just feeling better about my self for having done it, either way it's a much nicer feeling to look in the mirror and think things look ok.



Running miles
November: 33.1 Mi
October: 43.7 Mi
September: 53.1 Mi
August: 50.5 Mi
July: 50.4 Mi


See a pattern here...I've got to change that and get some more miles in. It looks like I will make 500 miles for the year which I'm pretty happy about, this being my first full year runing.

Lite on the training heavy on the eating

Well the title pretty much says it all. While I have been exercising, I've not spent any time to speak of either swimming or biking. It was my goal to exercise every day in November for at least 15 minutes. So I've done a bit of yoga, some Taebo DVD's, strength training and running. My running mileage is way down. Only 26.9 miles this month...wow not so good. I've had such a hard time with the idea of going out to run at 5am when it is so darn cold. Friday though I did do a bit of an HIIT run at the rec center in the morning and that worked pretty well so I will continue to do that. So while my mileage may be lower I think this will help a lot with my speed and endurance. I'm kind of following the Body for Life recommendations. I'm still looking at the strength training plan but think I will try to follow it also and see what happens. At any rate so far I've only missed 2 days of exercise this month. I feel pretty good about that.

My food has just been out of control...I'm not even going to get on that scale and see the bad news. Just try to get back on track.

Bad Blogger

Well haven't been here for awhile. Mostly because I've nothing to report. As you can tell from my totals for the month it's been a little slow. Somewhat of a slump going on here. I've just kind of been floundering since my 10k with nothing to train for and my strength class being over. My goal for November is to exercise at least 15 minutes everyday. So far I've done well. I've gotten a few yoga sessions in and actually went to the pool and swam for 20 minutes after riding the stationary bike yesterday. Now to get back on the running track... I had a whole 5.3 miles this week...tisk, tisk.

WooHoo!!!

Last night was my final class with the trainer. A one on one. We re-did tests that we had done at the beginning, 8 weeks ago. I was happy to see that my body fat percentage went from a 22.9 then to 19.6 YEA!!! I lost no weight because I've been eating like there was no tomorrow, so I was happy to see some results anyway! Maybe it will encourage me to get back on the diet wagon and lose some pounds!!! I was also able to go an inch farther on the sit and reach test, but my sit ups only went up one in the one minute time frame to 21...I so need to work on that. Anyway got some new exercises that I will be trying to do on my own, as I don't think I can join the class again this session. Wow....if that BF% is any where close to right, that is a pretty healthy percentage....amazing considering I'm still quite overweight.

Knee pain...and rambling...

I seem to have some pain in my left knee, well kind of below the knee actually. Not sure what that's all about, but I think it has more to do with the walking lunges and squats that I've been doing during my class with the trainer. It hurts a little getting up out of the chair and on stairs. I did manage to get in a 4 mile run both Saturday and Sunday. Should have gotten in some bike or swim time, but didn't happen. I actually got a few things done around the house! That hasn't happened for awhile. :) Tomorrow is my last class with the trainer. I don't think I will be doing another one right now because money is a little tight. I've got some other minor health things going which are going to result in some extra medial bills...soooo I will have to come up with some things to do at home. Actually will be kind of fun. I have some great DVD's that I haven't used since last winter. I don't want to quit on the strength training that I've been doing. I can also workout when I run at the rec center.

I've also been looking at joining CWW (Colorado Wild Women) http://www.cww-triathlon.org/ a triathlon training group. Sounds like a pretty good deal at $350 for full season, with swim lessons, which I need, need, need....I have til January to think about it I guess.

Wow...a lot of rambling.. :)

Don't I feel stupid!

Oh yea I just realized to that at the Denver marathon there was this guy that they kept making this big fuss over. He had a group of people with him and they were all wearing the same shirts, they had run for the Make a Wish foundation, but every time someone crossed they would film it and pretty much just take over the finish line like they were the only ones there. Any way I just figured out who it was...duhh! It was Bill Phillips with Transformation...and if that name means nothing to you like it did to me...he's the author of Body for Life. Good looking guy he is. :)

Volunteering what fun!

OK so how fun was today!!!! I had a really great time volunteering at the marathon. The weather was beautiful! Started out cool about 45ish and went up to the mid 70's or so. I have to say though...I've never seen so many snotty noses and bleeding nipples! OUCH!!! Started out working in the food tent and then ended up handing out water at the finish line and then from there to entering numbers for the manual timing check. So how exciting to be right where it all was happening! Got to watch as they all took off which was very cool also. I believe there were about 8 to 10,000 runners in all. We were handing out water when the winners crossed the finish lines too and it was so cool! Imagine my surprise when I recognized the 4th guy to cross for the 1/2 marathon! It was a guy that I was talking to at the 10k that I just did. He took first there. It was wild to see him cross and recognize him..he was so close to the 3rd they were fightin to the finish. Oh my god the pain some of those finishers were in...I just can not believe the guts it took for them to finish. I had tears in my eyes many times. Amazing people, just amazing! Not sure how it made me feel about running one. I think I may end up running a 1/2 not sure if I can even contemplate a full.

Wow you can run without a Garmin!

So this morning when I went to do my tempo run, I was getting ready I turned on my Garmin and hummm....no battery left. Well I guess I can't run. I actually started to take my shoes off. Ok so obviously I wasn't really wanting to run to bad. I took a couple of minutes and I reminded myself that I could run without the Garmin. Slapped on my stop watch, mapped out a 3 mile run Running Ahead and off I went! I had a good run at a good time, and it was kind of fun running without knowing how fast I was going, or what my heart rate was.

Weekend workouts

Well I missed a Friday already for the Friday photo...so I guess that's done. :) I've been in a bit of a funk lately. I think it is the time of year. I'm not ready for cold and dark. I will miss the summer. I've had such a good time this year with all the training for the triathlon. The long bike rides with friends.

Well I didn't make my goal to get to the pool twice this week, but I did get there today. I didn't work to hard at it but I did get wet. :) I started my workout by doing a 1/2 hour on the stationary bike and then on to one hour on the treadmill for a slow easy run. I moved to the pool, but only swam a few easy laps for 20 minutes. It did feel really good to be in the water. I have got to find the time to get it in so that I can work on my breathing. I have so far to go before next spring. I plan on getting some swimming lessons in here some time also. Just not sure when. Maybe after the first of the year. I want to continue to work on my strength training with the trainer class for a few months. I do think I'm on track to increase my running mileage, although I would have liked a longer run this weekend.

I'm excited about next weekend and volunteering at the Denver Marathon. I've never been to a marathon before, in fact I've never been to any race that I haven't run in and I've only run a few. I hope I am able to spend some time at the finish line seeing some of the people cross and cheering. My duties will be in the food tent, so I'm sure to see most everyone I would think.

Great running!!!

So this morning I just had the best run! It was an easy run and everything just felt right. It was coolish about 50 degrees, dark and quiet. I decided to just kind of ignore the Garmin and run easy. I was going to go 3 did an extra 1/2 and would have done more had I had the time. When I loaded my run I was really excited to see my graph.

I never ever have that smooth blue line, that shows I was staying pretty consistent as far as my speed goes. It made me very happy! Now it was as usual pretty slow, 12.49 was my average pace, and my average hr was 144. Not to long ago 12.49 would have been a real struggle, so I feel great that it seemed so easy this morning.

Swimming and running

I have got to get back to the pool! It was my intention to do it today and well...just didn't happen. I did get a run in this morning, an easy 4 mile run. So now I need to sit down and come up with a schedule so that I will get some riding and swimming in as well as up my running. My goals for October.

1. Continue with the strength training class

2. Swim twice a week.

3. Weather permitting get on the bike at least once a week. (Would love to have one of the trainers, but really not in the budget, so as weather gets bad will have to go to a stationary bike, never taken a spin class, but I think that will be happening this winter also.)

4. Increase running miles, I want to hit 58 miles this month.

Well that should be enough. :)

Let's see what we can do!

Thoughts from my bike ride...

This weekends ride was the first time that I have done a longer bike ride by myself. I was suppose to go with some friends but for one reason or another they had to cancel, so that left me to do the ride alone. I was determined though to get out on that bike. It was a coolish morning around 60 degrees and overcast. I decided to ride the bike path to Golden, I knew that would be around 30 miles round trip. So one of my first thoughts as I head out is...I really need to ride more often. I so enjoy it! About 3/4 of the way there I pass 2 couples taking a break, the 2 women of the group (both pretty large) are off their bikes sitting there smoking. Thought number 2...I am so glad that I quit smoking and started exercising. It's not a hilly ride you climb about 500' over 10 miles, most very gradual but one killer hill as you crest out at the top before descending down in to Golden.

Looking down over Coors Brewery

At the top of the hill, I had decided that was were I would turn around, I got off to have some Gatorade and a Lara bar, my legs were shaking. Thought number 3..riding by myself sometimes is good. I rode the first 1/2 without stopping at all. When riding with friends we tend to take quite a few short breaks. After a short break I turned around and headed back...so much fun going down hill! I did the whole ride trying to keep it pretty easy. I have a tendency to put it in a hard gear and then end up with sore knees. So I stayed in the two smaller rings for the whole ride and kept it to where it felt easy and just spin faster. On the way back out passed the two couples again. The were putting their bikes on the car this time women smoking again...Thought number 4..man I'm really glad I quit that!

We have had such beautiful weather here in Denver, I am so not ready for winter. The trees in town this year however have been pretty disappointing. This picture does not do these justice, but there are a few pretty ones. About 3/4 of the way home the legs are getting tired...thought number ?... as my quads are starting to cramp, Julie you can not go out after not riding for 2 weeks and do a 30 mile bike ride...this isn't smart . Continue on easing up a little knowing that I'm going to have to climb some hills to get home.....ok here comes the hill before I'm home. It's not that big, but is fairly steep...thought number??...I'm going to end up walking a hill for the first time ever...no, no I can do it...just sit and spin Julie...Oh my gosh, I'm going so slow I may go backwards...just keep spinning...Wow! I made it to the top! Good ride 29.37 miles 2 hours 21 minutes.

My life as a sit com

Fridays photo is actually from Monday. I had jury duty this Monday and well at the risk of offending someone I have to tell you that it was the most bizarre experience! I'm not sure that that is the way to put it but...wholly cow what a mix of people! I know that's the point, but I'm telling you in the group I was with that got called back, there were 2 ladies there that were easily in their late 70's with one probably in her early to mid 80's. There was one man who was so large that I really did not think that he would be able to sit in the chair. And my personal favorite, the young girl who when we were still in the main room continued to text while a judge was up front talking to us, which wouldn't be so bad if she had turned off here ringer, and then when we were called back proceed to get pretty "green" and say that she needed to leave because she was so hung over...and it was very obvious. And then there was the defence attorney... The man was the worst! He looked exactly like what you would think of when you think of a shyster/ambulance chaser lawyer...he had a limp, a lisp, and a twitch. His hand gestures were extreme. The case was a DUI (makes you wonder about the above girl and how she got to the courthouse! LOL!) and I'm pretty sure if the defendant had, had even a remotely decent lawyer she could have gotten off. What a day, we barley got to a decision by 5... And I completely forgot about the lady who approached 2 other jurors and myself at lunch...she said she had a fight with her husband and did not make it to jury duty, but she could not go back and tell her boss that. So she wanted to know if we could explain to her how selection went, and wanted to know what kind of case we were on....very strange...I pretty much, scratch that, I did just say "good luck with that" . Now on a more serious note...wow what a huge responsibility! It was hard to make that decision especially when feeling like really neither side had done the case justice.

Now as far as training for the week...been very light. Only one very short run and 2 strength training classes. I plan to run tonight, and get in at least a short swim. Biking tomorrow and hopefully a long run on Sunday. I need to make a schedule, without one I flounder. I don't know what to do, when to do it, or for how long. Another thing to do this weekend. But I keep thinking I need a goal. Maybe I don't, other then to improve all of the above for next season, which for me still requires a plan.

First 10k complete!

Near perfect running conditions! It was probably around 55ish degrees at the start and maybe 65ish at the end. I feel like I did a good job, and not only that but I really felt like I gave it pretty much all I had. I stared out to fast, going with the group you know, my first mile was 10:14, and then they got slower from there. This biggest problem I had was I had to go to the bathroom. I went right before the race, but obviously I had to much coffee or something... the last 3 miles and especially the last mile was torture, I truly was not sure I was going to make it. Every bush I passed I looked at with longing, and had there not been quite a few people around me I so would have used them. Not one bathroom the whole run. Have you ever tried to run with your legs crossed...it's not easy. Explaining why my last mile was 13:35. But my average according to my Garmin, (results will be posted later today) 12:02 with a finish time of 1:13:53! Yea!!! I beat 1:15!! WooHoo!!!

Now the only issues I had (besides that bathroom thing. ) I was getting the goose bumps during the last mileish...why is that...dehydration ? Did it during the triathlon too. I will have to google.. And after the race when I was stretching, my left calf kept wanting to cramp up. Did that the other day too. Hmm...more potassium?

Bruises

So Fridays photo and thoughts for today...what in the hell do I do to myself that I end up with so many bruises?

This is just one of maybe 5 that I have right now...and actually my legs are looking pretty good, compared to this summer when I first got my bike and started riding. My thighs were both solid bruises....Tell me how do I manage to kick my ankles? Is that were they come from?

So I have a 10k race coming up on Sunday. I hate calling it a race, because well I'm really only "racing" myself. And since I've never done a 10k before, well I'm guaranteed a PR right? I'm a little bit nervous about two things. 1. I don't want to be last, and 2. well it's put on by Panera Bread, I hope there is still food by the time I finish. :) I would love to do it in under 1:15 that would be great for me. I don't know if I can or not. I'll let you know on Sunday.

Mysteries of life....

Why is it that on the weekend I am wide awake and ready to go at 4:30-5:00 in the morning. And come Monday morning when my alarm goes off at 5:20 I'm still dead tired?

Lazy Sunday

I had an 8 mile long run on the schedule for today. After yesterday's ride I really wasn't sure that any running would be happening today. However as luck would have it I was feeling pretty darn good this morning. So I finally headed out on a run I had convinced myself would not happen. It was very slow and easy and I felt really good, had a short break to talk with a not to bad looking guy at the lake as our dogs sniffed each other, (can never pass up those opportunities) He was in dressed for biking, so of course I asked if he was headed out...on his way to work....ok wait back to the run. :) I felt really good absolutely no knee problems, calves got a little tight but stretched those out around mile 2 and continued on. I did decide to stop at 5 miles, deciding that if I was going to get anything else done today I would have to stop there. But I feel great that I did it. Just a few more runs and my first 10k next Sunday.. I'm a little nervous. I am such a slow...and I do mean slow runner. And not only that...I never run with out my Duke...how will I do it?

I live for downhill!

Note: I added the elevation from Running Ahead for the miles that I could remember, I honestly don't have much of an idea of the route we took...I just followed. It just seems to look more like what it felt like. :)

Over 1000' of climbing total...pretty cool.

Well that was a workout! After not being on the bike for 3 weeks it got pretty tough in a few places. Not to mention this may be one the hilliest rides I've done. It was good though, really good. We climbed about 400' in the first 11 miles. We saw some miniature horses...oh my gosh they were cute! After mile 11ish it was so nice for awhile downhill and fast...I like going fast...well fast for me is 23-28...I love it! Especially when you have worked so hard to go up! We stopped for lunch about 17 miles in...one of the worst I've ever had at a small town diner type place.. and then faced some more hills.

This was around mile 25ish looking back at what we had just ridden up. Not a great picture, all I had was my cell phone. That last hill was kind of a killer. For the very first time I was in my very lowest gear...one and one. It was around there that we saw some llama's how cool is that! Miniature horses and llamas on the same trip. And some houses that were huge!! And I mean huge! And then it got hard. :) Miles 30 and up I was really afraid that I was going to get a cramp in my thighs...oh my gosh! But I just kept going and I did of course make it. Just about 39.2 miles and 14.4 average speed That's actually up from previous high of 14.2 so with all the hills and lack of riding I feel pretty good it.

And then...the pool...ahh...the girl who's house we choose to leave from has a pool, so we got in and cooled off and floated around. And then sat in the hot tub for a little while...you know, I don't know if it gets any better.....

I guess I'm not an animal...

Yet.
Funny isn't it how when your thinking about something you come across something that pertains to it. I was just commenting that I don't think I push myself. I don't know if I just don't like the pain or I'm lazy or I just don't know how. I may push myself to exercise, but I don't push myself to run faster, or to not walk. If I feel tired I will walk, when in reality I know I could run farther. Now I know that I obviously have pushed myself some to get to the point I am, but I don't know that I push myself enough....no that's not right.... I know I don't push myself enough.....I think I want to be an animal...but do I have what it takes?

Running hurts. It always has. Woolly mammoths didn't just roll over onto a plate and serve themselves up to prehistoric man with fries and a shake. They had to be caught - and running down woolly mammoths was a bitch. Guess what?Running is still a bitch. But one with a purpose. It teaches us that good things do not come easy. It teaches us that we are capable of more than we think. It teaches us that hard work will be rewarded and laziness will be punished. Don't expect to learn those life lessons from running's shiftless stepchild, jogging.Next time you
suffer on the roads or trails, suffer proudly. It means you run like an animal. ~ Pearl Izumi

TGIF!!!!

Pic is of my youngest son...Isn't he cute!

This pic shows how I feel about waking up this morning feeling really good after a darn good tempo run last night. Now I'm a slow runner, and I may always be a slow runner (even though I'm taking steps to become a faster runner.) Last night I did a mile warm up and cool down, mostly walking and a tempo run of 3. 38 at 12:56 pace, and that includes watering the dog 2 times during those 3 miles. So I'm pretty happy with it. And this morning, no pain anywhere. Yahoo! Recently I have also come to the conclusion though that I have a hard time pushing myself. Now that may sound funny, considering a certain amount of pushing is required to go from a non exercising person to completing even a sprint triathlon, but it seems I stop short of pushing myself toward any real work. When I run I tend to stop and walk before I get to uncomfortable and I know I should push myself to keep running. I'm sure the same is true of all my exercise it just happens to be most noticeable to me in my running. I need to work on this...

This picture also shows how I feel about the fact that I am going to ride my bike for the first time all month!!!! I'm so excited!

Hurts so good!

I didn't realize that I had missed that feeling...waking up in the morning and laying there thinking...ahhh what hurts this morning? Yep abs feel a little sore I can tell I did ab work...arms? yep new strength training is working.... I enjoy feeling like I've used my muscles...not over used, just worked them enough to have them give me a gentle shout out in the morning before I get moving...

Good morning!


I hope I'm not the only one now singing. Hurts so good...come on baby make it hurt so good.....

Wow I did it, 8 count them 8 miles!

8.15 to be exact. I did it! 8.15 miles!!! My longest run evah!All in all not to bad! The dog and I headed out not really sure that I would get the 8 miles in. I knew I would have to come back by the house at some point as I didn't think the dog would make 8 and I knew I would need to go potty....I had already consumed about a pot of coffee! I was working at keeping my hr on 140-145 for the fist 6 miles and that is when I dropped the dog off. After that I just turned off the HR alert and ran whatever felt comfortable and walked when I needed. So while the first 6 averaged anywhere from a 14-17 minute pace, including dog water breaks, and drop off potty and drink breaks, the last 2 were 13:22 and 12:28....I tend to speed up when I just want to get done. :) All in all right at 2 hours. I am thrilled to have passed the 8 mile mark! I am now confident that I can finish the 10k I have coming up in 2 weeks. It won't be fast but it will be finished!

This is Duke after his almost 6 miles. Note the bone just laying under his mouth. Luckily I look a little better. Not real motivated though.

When you gonna take me running?

I got the idea from Adventure Seeker http://nikemomof2.blogspot.com/ to do a Friday photo. I'm going to try and post something each Friday. This is my running partner Duke. He's a little sad that we haven't been out. I ran on the TM earlier this week so he's been neglected. He will get a workout later this weekend when we do a long run.

Pretty easy my A$$!!!

So I only thought that class was easy...or it was but certainly used some muscles that have not been used in a long while...my a$$ and thighs are a little sore today! Can't wait to see how my one on one goes tomorrow!

Thanks!

I just want to say thanks to those of you who have taken the time to read my blog and leave me a comment. All comments and advice are welcome. I am such a total newbie to this and now I have this whole winter to get through and train through, before I can do it again...If I had known I was going to enjoy it, I would not have waited until August to do my first triathlon.

Results Group

Started my new class today. Results group Personal Training. It's pretty nice. There are about 9 of us and a personal trainer. Today class was pretty easy and part of the time was spent filling out paperwork and stuff. I do see some potential for pain though. :) And I'm sure that I will come out of this stronger with a little more knowledge. I have such a hard time with strength training....I hate squats and lunges... hate em...no wait I better apply some positive thinking here...I can't wait to do more lunges and squats...they will give me a butt to die for!

I have not gotten any riding in yet this month...or swimming for that matter... bad Julie. I missed the riding this weekend. It's harder for me to do on the weekends I have my kids. My focus has been the running since that is my next thing on the calendar, the 10k in 3 weeks. But that does not mean I can let the rest of it fall by the wayside. Winter is going to be so hard. I need to write a schedule, I do much better with some kind of training guide. I have my running planned out for the next 3 weeks any way, I have the personal trainer classes 2x's a week for the next 2 months, just need to figure out how/where to fit in the rest.

Slow week....

I've not accomplished much this week at all....so far one 2 mile run...wow.. I was scheduled for a tempo run this morning, but it didn't' happen. Will try to get it in tomorrow. I guess I feel a little lost now that I'm not training for a triathlon. (although working on training for a 10k) Next week I'm starting a 2 month, twice a week class with a trainer, I'm excited about that, as I've really not done much strength training and never used any weight machines. Hopefully I can gain some insight into how to best train for my goals for next year. I've not done hardly any swimming and I need to work on fitting that in sometime. It is one of my biggest weakness...swimming that is, not fitting things in, although that may be a weakness too. I don't really have any strengths yet, I'm just king of average (or lower) at all of it. But I love it. :) I don't mind being a back of the packer... :)

So my objective is to figure out what to do from here, where to go, and what to do to be able to compete better and stronger and longer (I would like to do at least an oly) next year. Input?

Decision made

Well I'm bummed but I finally made the decision not to do another tri this year. Financially I just can't right now. (I'm going to have to start a fund for next year! ) I have signed up for at least one 10k as well as a class with a personal trainer that goes for 2 months, that will start on the 8th. I want to sign up with Tri club that is registering now and starts in ?January? So at this point my plan is to just get stronger and be ready to compete next season...I'm going to need a new bike at some point too...I don't think Sissy is going to cut it. But not right now.

And on that note had a pretty good ride yesterday. Forgot my helmet...grrrr...so had to pick up a new one at the bike store, but that's ok a spare is good. A couple of the girls that went with us were in from out of town and don't ride much. They rented some bikes. I struggled some, would guess in part because of the 6 mile run the day before and in part because of the absolute crap I've been eating! The route was not real hilly but had one 3 mileish hill which climbed about 300' (not big by many, maybe even most, people standards) and one smaller steeper hill, and then just some rolling stuff. 33.8 miles, 2 flats on the rented bikes, but other then that good.

Attitude adjustment day

I've been having a pretty bad attitude of late. I'm not sure why. I do think part of it is work, but I think a large part is I keep thinking winter is coming soon. I have had such a great summer running and riding with friends that I don't want it to end! So I decided I needed an attitude adjustment day and took Friday off from work. I made my plans. I did a long run. A very, very, very slow long run. I kept putting it off, but finally went out and did it. Cut it short at just over 6 miles instead of the full 7 but I had already run past my car once and just couldn't do it again. Besides the dog was pretty much done. Yea that's right...I'm blaming the dog. It was a pretty good run though a path that I had never run. Lots of places to potty and drink which is great! I was hoping to get closer to 55 miles this month but looks like I will just get a little over 50. I'm ok with that.

And then it was off to the spa where I spent 3 1/2 hours being scrubbed, rubbed, extracted, waxed, and polished...ahhhhh what a day. Met a friend for a little shopping and some dinner....Nice, very nice, in fact doesn't get to much better then that.

Let's see what it's all about!

I just signed up to volunteer at the Denver Marathon in October. I'll just get a look at what it's like before I go making any commitments to if I want to do this or not. :)

Sunday rides....

Happy Sunday all!

Good day so far! Went on a 45 mile bike ride this morning/afternoon it was fantastic! We took a bike path that goes clear across Denver. It is a very flat ride along the river the whole way. Some day I would like to do more of it, but for today this was a good start. Kind of funny because we were about 10ish miles into the ride and looking at downtown on the horizon and I said I can't believe we are going to ride that far. So we rode through downtown and kept going and finally when we were reaching around 22ish miles we turned around to head back. When we were stopped to turn around we looked back at where we were headed and it was at least as far back to downtown as I had seen from the other side. Kind of cool to be looking at it from the other side. Then I took my bike in to the bike shop and had them adjust a few things. The front brake was rubbing, had them put on knew pedals and adjust a couple of other things. He told me I needed to oil my chain, which I came home and did. (Note to self: I need to get on line and see about some basic things I should be doing to keep my bike in order.) He was just amazing..just fixed up these little things like that. Of course he probably does it a 100 times a day.

So also at that 10ish mile mark I was thinking about running a 1/2 marathon....and how far we had ridden and I was trying to imagine running that....can't....but would like to I think.

What next?

It was such a beautiful evening that I took the bike out and did an 11ish mile ride. It was pretty good. I actually road the path that I was suppose to run this past weekend and then some which took me over to a path that I had run a couple of times last fall during my DS's soccer practice. It was a little rougher, partly because I've not been on the bike for awhile, but also because it was all gravel. I'm not used to that, but it wasn't to bad once I rode for awhile. Still managed to keep an average of 12 mph.

Ok so you know what it's kind of funny, I was thinking while riding about wanting to do another tri before the end of the season here...and I have two things that are holding me back...no 3 things I think...
1. Money...
2. The ones I'm looking at are farther into September and the water will be getting cold...I'm afraid of wet suits....ok maybe not the suit itself, but getting in and out, how I will look...renting one (not ready to buy) and I don't know what other things
3. Will I look like a full with my bike "Sissy"...it's not a road bike, it's a girls comfort bike, and while I do ok with it, I wonder if I will look really funny....

Easy run...

Had a very good long (for me) run of 6 miles this morning. I started last week on a training program from Runner's World, (using the Smart Coach) for a 10k I'm going to run in about 7 weeks. So far 6 miles is my longest so it will be interesting to see how this goes. I'm working at making my long and easy runs easy though, and keeping my heart rate/speed low. Today's run was verrrrrry slow, but I kept my HR in zone 2. Took me about an hour and half which is a 14:56 pace...pretty, no as I said above verrrry slow, but that does include a potty stop and a stop to water my dog who runs with me. It was a very nice run, although it was very humid after all that rain. Even though I didn't work hard I was pretty wet when I got home. Oh the schedule for this week, is a short 2 mile easy run, 5 mile speed work and a long run of 7 miles...that makes me nervous adding another mile.

Did I mention it was raining here?

I was awoken to thunder and lightning about 3:30, got up around 5:30...well maybe it doesn't look to bad, I think its slowed down....finally gets light..yea it's not that bad...get ready...drive to the race....the rain, it's getting harder, or seems so anyway...what am I doing...am I crazy....maybe I should just go home, no I've told everyone I'm running...it's only 1/2 hour right? I can do that...do I really want to run in this rain?....ok there's a guy standing there directing...RACE IS CANCELLED!! Trail unsafe.

I don't have to run in the rain and I didn't chicken out!
They won't let me!

The picture was taken during a brief lull in the rain this afternoon. It is usally a small maybe 2 feet wide creek. The path is one I run onsometimes and the one that I get on when I ride my bike to work.

Rain?!?!?!

It is raining here....it has been raining here all day.....it hasn't rained in months....it is suppose to rain all day tomorrow....I signed up for a 5k tomorrow morning......it's mostly a trail (gravel) run....I think I'm going to be wet and muddy!

It's been a good week!

Training (I prefer to call it training over exercise, makes me want to do it more, mind games you know!) this week has been good, really productive. I decided this week that I'm going to learn how to swim. Now I know that sounds funny considering I've done 3 open water swims at the Boulder Stroke & Stride and an open water swim in the Tri for the Cure, but that face in the water thing had just not been working for me. :)So I've finally learned to listen to the fishys and talk to the fishys (as the kiddie swim instructors say)...I was able to do a whole lap keeping my face in the water with proper breathing, well at least closer anyway! I feel like this is such a huge accomplishment! I also did my first real speed work in a run. As I'm sure I stated above I am a very slow runner, so I did 3 x 800's at about a 10:00 pace, well ok actually one was 11:00 the other 2 were 10:00. For me this was another huge jump. I actually started to feel like some day I could be a faster runner!

I'm a Triathlete!!!

Ok first off a little background about me and how I got into this tri. I'm 43 and overweight and I've never been athletic, I've always hated exercise and been at least a little overweight and had food "issues". After or during my divorce in 2001 I lost about 50lbs and started doing some moderate exercise, mostly walking and dvd's. Over the years I've put back on about 20lbs and lost gained 10-15 over and over...some of you will know that feeling....any way last September (2007) I started the c25k running program and found that I really enjoyed it. I had a small injury that sidelined me for a while but have been fairly consistent. I am slow but I'm pretty steady. :) So anyway in February a friend of mine said...hey let's do the Tri for the Cure... 'THE WHAT!!!??!!" You want me to do a triathlon!? I don't swim! I don't own a bike (I don't think the $40 garage sale bike counts.) And I barley run!...But the thought just didn't leave my mind. I mentioned it to a couple of friends, and mentioned it on the SB board that I hang out at. The next thing I know there are 5 of us who plan to do the Tri in August. So I get a bike, it's a comfort bike, Sissy, which I love (but now think I may need to upgrade!) I didn't ride a whole lot yet, it's cold outside! But I start to ride a little on the stationary bikes at the rec center, and I start to swim a little and I start to read blogs and any other info I can find. I come up with a plan from BT and go with it. The 5 of us do the Aflac Iron woman 5k in Denver May and have a blast! Continue on with training...nice weather gets here and several friends (2 of the ones doing the tri and another) start to bike ride, nice long (for me) bike rides 20-40 miles...I LOVE IT!!! I'm swimming but I'm not....I can't do the whole breathing, face in the water, freestyle thing. But I keep plugging away. July gets here and 2 of my tri friends, (by now it is pretty certain the one who started us on our way is not going to be joining us, and the other lives about an hour away in Colorado Springs) decide to do the Stroke & Stride in Boulder. We need open water experience. Only one of us is actually a swimmer, myself and the other girl, well whatever it will take to get us that 750 meters is what we will do. So on July 3rd I did my first open water swim and let me tell you it was an experience!!! We show up and everyone is so athletic looking and putting on wet suits and all the gear...well not us! You have the choice of doing one lap (750 meters or 2 and then the 5k) we of course are doing one. So the 2 lappers start 5 minutes before the rest of us. We do meet a couple of girls who are also doing the Tri for the Cure. So off we go (about 100-150 of us) I get not very darn far and take a huge!! drink of water...and start to panic, I'm screaming at myself in my head 'JULIE!!! DO NOT PANIC!!! YOU CAN DO THIS!!! DO NOT PANIC!!! Took like what seemed forever but I got control and continued on. I swam, and I swam, and I swam some more, about the 1st buoy the 2 lapper past me and that wasn't as bad as I had thought (one girl had said she got run over quite a bit. )then I swam, and I swam and I finally got to the end. I came out of that water just exhausted! I had no idea how long I was in there. I got up to my transition area and sat down to rinse my feet, you have to run up the beach, and just thought...What in the H$!! are you doing!? But I put my shoes on and started out for the run...ok the walk....I didn't do much running...Final time was 1:06 I was very pleased with that 23:20 swim, T!3:57 and walk :) 39:02. That wasn't so bad! Felt ok after finishing! Did a couple more of those before the tri and it made such a difference. I don't really know how much my times improved they kept making the swim longer for some reason, the 2nd one was 835 meters and the 3rd 813 or something. But by the last one I definitely felt stronger.

So that brings us to race week. The Saturday a week before the race, we gather for a long bike ride and one of the tri buddies (and at this time I've not heard from the girl in the springs for months) says she will not be able to do the tri because of a medical treatment she will have to have this week. She is so bummed and we are bummed that she will not be joining us. On Monday night the other tri buddy calls and says she has had a medical issue and also will not be able to participate...She is reallly bummed!!! The first girl made the choice herself, the second had no option. I am really bummed as well as a little nervous because now what started as 5 seems to be....me! I'm a Buddy with no buddies! (You can and we did sign up in a Buddy classification instead of age so that you can compete with your friends) but I never considered not doing it. I figured with 3000 women, I would find someone to talk to! Yes this was an all women's tri, and very large, but I also knew that there would be all sizes, ages and athletic abilities so I felt pretty comfortable.

Ok I'm running off for a bike ride......I will be back to post about race day later!

Ok well didn't get back to this as quick as I thought I would....
So sleep is something that just doesn't happen much before the night before. I was a wake a lot. But at least I know I won't be late. I head out pretty early get there by about 6:30, the traffic is kind of bad getting in, probably the only real downside and even that wasn't that bad. I look around in wonder at all the people, get body marked and find my transition area. It's set up by waves. Turns out I set my transition area up right next to 2 girls I met at the Stroke & Stride! How excited was I to see some faces I knew! I got all set up and wondered around to get my bearings, find the in's and out's of the bike and run and then go over to cheer for some of those that have already started. The first wave went at around 7 and I wouldn't be going til almost 9. I was surprised that I really wasn't nervous. I felt prepared. I'd not done a swim to bike, but I wasn't worried as I really thought that would be easier the the swim to run's I had done. So it is finally time to line up for the swim, we are almost the last wave, I wait with the girls from the S&S and we chat about next year and what we want to do. Finally we are in the water...the gun goes off....and it is a struggle to get away from the rest of the people. I pretty much take it easy (although it does not look like it from one of the very worst swim exit pictures I have ever seen!) because I don't want to wear myself out. Pass quite a few people, as I knew I would, I'd seen the times from the year before some people took close to and over an hour for the swim, knew I could do it in around 20ish minutes. Out of the water and over to find the bike. It was a pretty good distance and I walked fast but did not run. Feeling pretty good about things, got my shoes on ate a quick gel and some Gatorade, did I mention it was around 90 degrees. And took off with my bike, lined up on the wrong side of my bike for some reason so when it was time to get on I had issues...and I have the bruises to prove it! But once I got started it was good, passed quite a few people, went back and forth with one group, I pass, you pass...and so forth, not sure what finally happened to them. The course was almost all flat, one pretty longish hill, not real steep, but right in the middle of the ride. Felt like I pushed it pretty hard on the bike and felt good. Back to transition, another gel, more Gatorade and off to the run. The run starts uphill to get up on top of the Dam road across part of the Dam and back, I walked a lot, I passed quite a few people...walked a lot...looked around at all the line of people walking out...walked a lot...And ran it in (downhill remember!) smiling and happy! My Dad brought out my 2 boys to see me cross the line and the 2 girls that had trained with me were there with flowers. How great it felt!

My Dad looked at me with suprise and maybe even some awe and said...you don't even look tired! I felt great and ready to do it again!

Overall place 1717
Rank Class 185
Swim 00:22:14
T1 00:07:11
Bike 00:43:06
T2 00:05:25
Run 00:39:19
Pace 00:12:41
Final Time 01:57:17