Congratulations to AMY for completing her 2nd triathlon! She was very sick, recovering from a shoulder/back injury, and it was raining!! I’m so proud of her!! She regrets having done the tri given her sickness, but, I think it’s awesome 
You rock Amy!!
I met a girlfriend for dinner yesterday and learned all kinds of new terms burpee, ugi… My dear friend is a cancer survivor, and she’s amazing. She is cancer free after undergoing a very difficult year of chemo to kill off her lymphoma. She was diagnosed when her 2nd child was only 4 months old. My friend gets up at 5:30 every morning and meets a girlfriend at the track to do an hour-long, self-choreographed workout. She did mention something about working out to the point of exhaustion (she said the word vomit, but I don’t think she has pushed herself that hard). I’ve been invited to workout with them next Sat morning, which I will gladly do. Look forward to THAT post!
So you simply must check out www.bodyrock.tv. Check this girl out. Zuzana. She’s rock solid. Gorgeous. Cute little accent. Her workouts are short and intense, and they’re definitely interesting. It’s hard not to gawk at her ripped body, which she keeps scantily clad. I would aspire to look that hot in a bikini, but I don’t think I can give up my tortilla chips and chocolate indulgences.
Did my first body rock workout (the hands free) and loved it.
Enjoy!!
You want to push yourself? Join a group! Better yet, join one with a coach!
Today was my long swim day. Here was our workout
300m warmup
200m kick (with fins)
25m pull (left) swim out the rest (25m) x2
25m pull (right) swim out the rest (25m) x2
25m pull (3 left, 3 right) swim out the rest (25m) x2
25m skully, swim out the rest (25m) x2
100m boey, 100m paddles (x3)
whew! that was hard I might be missing a few drills – her total was 2500 but she knocked off a few hundred for the slower folks. Great workout though!
I had always heard that spin classes are the best way to train inside for cycling. Well that may be true, but not until you have tried compu cycle training. The coach I swim with told me about this class so she could teach me some things, and boy did I learn a lot.
I showed up around 5am, though nobody was there. After a 30 minutes drive I was certainly getting nervous I’d gotten up at 4:20 for nothing. Within a few minutes the instructor showed up and we headed in with our bikes. It was an amazing little “tri” workout center. They have several trainers where you setup your bike and hook it into a magnet that transmits to a computer. The computer runs a series of hills. Each hill was one mile long, with a flat and then a downhill. My goal was to keep my RPM at 90 on the up hill, 100 on the flat, and go easy on the downhill. I had always done the opposite. I went slow on the hills, and fast on the downhills. I also had a few issues with my form, I rock my shoulders, point my toes down when I fatigue and don’t keep a very smooth circle with my feet. Apparently these are all things I can learn.
We went 12 miles and each hill she gave me something new to focus on, the computer measured how hard I was pushing, how much effort I was using and so forth. I was definitely tired by the end of the ride but I did my 12 miles in an hour which is great for me. I need to get out and get myself a computer. Its all about the cadence!
I absolutely love working out, but there are days that I can’t get myself to do it. I hit a slump mid-week last week, which continued through the weekend. I felt lethargic, lazy and pretty apathetic about it. I hate the fact that I am only disciplined about 50% of the time. I push myself really hard, and then I crash a few days later. I am searching for some middle-ground here.
I have always told myself that discipline is the key. Well, discipline with focus. I am the absolute queen of good intentions, and planning. I waste more time thinking about what I am supposed to be doing than actually doing anything at all. It’s such a wasted life! My answer to failed plans is always to plan some more. Internal pep talks, with a whole lot of obsession.
I read an article yesterday in Real Simple by Helen Schulman titled “Count me Out” and it registered with me. I’ve spent my entire life counting… workouts, length of workouts, number of workouts I missed this week, number of times I lost it with my kids, number of days left until the end of summer, number of days left of the school year, calories, numbers on a scale, … I’m sure you get the jist here. Helen stopped counting, with a great deal of effort, and found freedom in that. When I think about NOT counting workouts or calories I feel incredibly anxious.
So, I’ve been focusing less on the “I HAVE TO DO THIS” and more on the fact that everything is a choice, and the decisions I make have pretty clear cut consequences. If I choose to eat well, work out, spend 15 minutes a day getting myself organized, catching up on laundry, doing a project I’ve put off forever (like framing my wedding picture), or spending much needed time escaping into a book (or houzz.com) I find freedom and reap some significant rewards.
Do I sound like self-help book? I don’t mean to. I’m just all wrapped up in my thoughts these days. Too much time on my hands, too many kids and messes to watch and clean up after, and too many days until my work resumes. I promise to be more interesting the next time I post.
BTW, I found a triathlon training group and even though I haven’t joined in a single group ride, run or swim, I still feel like I’ve found my niche. I’m excited! I still need to find a tri to sign up for this fall. I’m procrastinating far too long on this chore.
AND, Bill and I are mid-way through month 2 on P90X. Corn Cob Pullups SUCK! OUCH! I’m feeling pretty strong these days though! and my husband’s guns are getting BIGGER!
Maybe the reason nikki beat me last time was because of her p90x training? Maybe it was her long legs? I can’t grow, but I can start p90x again! So off I go.
Here is my schedule for this week – I am going to be doing a VERY modified version of p90x to work with my schedule. I want to keep my cycling and my extra yoga in there!
Tuesday – Shoulders and Arms
Wednesday – Plyo and Yoga
Thursday – Legs and Back
Friday – REST
Saturday – Yoga
Sunday – Cycle & Run, Deep Stretch
The next week will be pretty different because my Tri Swim Class starts on Tuesdays. I have NO Idea what that work out will be like but I bet I wont want to do arms the next day! I may switch out Legs and Arms, but we’ll see.
I started having some heel pain from my running. I researched online and found that stretching your calves can help fix it so I tried it, and poof. It seems to have worked! Plus I’m wearing more supportive shoes.
AS far as the awesome triathlon, mine wasn’t so awesome, but I finished and I’m proud. Now I’m seriously working on speed. I currently bike 12 miles an hour and need to boost that. My next tri is 10 miles and I would love to do that in 30-40 minutes. IDK if that is possible but it never hurts to push yourself and try as hard as you can. I’m not concerned about the swim, I’ll just keep working it out as I have been.
My kids were enrolled in swim classes so I think I can squeeze in a workout while they learn to swim. We’ll see though! Keep tri-ing!
Mission Accomplished. Amy and I finished our first triathlon (notice I said “FIRST?”!) We were definitely NOT prepared for the run, but the swim and bike went great. LOTS of hills, but it was beautiful terrain. I am already excited to start training for my next challenge. I’m thinking about the Savage Man (half) in september. That would include swimming across deep creek lake. YIKES!
I’m a little sore today, but feeling good. My orthopedic inserts work awesome! My achilles survived a 40-minute walk/jog (yes, slow, I know… but I have NOT trained for running at ALL!). I have no pain in my achilles today. It’s an absolute miracle. The last time I tried to “run” — yes, it was a year ago– I had to call bill to come pick me up. So, I’m feeling very optimistic.
NO shoulder pain in the swim!!! I swam my a** off. I went faster and stronger than I have at any point in my training, and I didn’t have to stop even once to catch my breath.
Maybe I am becoming a good athlete… at this late age… *almost 40*!!!
In exactly one week we will be doing our triathlon. I’m comfortable with the swim (I did it in less than 10 minutes this week) – Yes I know that’s slow The bike will be fine but slow and we’ll walk / run as best we can. I know that I CAN do it. Its just a matter of how long its going to take.
I got the rules sent to me by email this week. A few interesting things popped out. First you aren’t allowed to draft. I figured I’d be so far back nobody would care, but I get it, its unfair. Second we can’t ride side by side. So Nikki and I will just have to meet up on the run. If we can’t talk whats the point? Another bad rule, no headphones. I usually just keep in one for safety but still, no music to keep me going? Ah well.
i’m honestly more prepared for my tri in Sept. which is slightly shorter. I’m also amazed how many people I am meeting training for their first tri’s. I didn’t know it was so popular!
On a side note my diet is going great. I am still doing weight watchers and have lost about 3 lbs in 2-3 weeks. Heres to summer!
Yes, 26 miles. Tomorrow I am going on my very first group ride. Its a no drop ride so if I suck wind, someone will hang with me. I have all my gear, my cute shirt, my cute matching socks, my cute pink camel back – its actually all pink. If I survive I’ll post an update.
Aside from that I’m back on weight watchers. Did you know that a margarita is like 15 points? Hello, that’s half my day – not worth it. THOUGH sangria is only 3. Definitely worth it. I traded chips and salsa for that. Its all about choices. We went to on the border, my favorito so I could get my chicken fajitas. I also learned corn tortillas are great as well as turkey sandwiches. I however have said goodbye to my beloved panera bagels. I’ll save it for once a week or something but its not an every day thing. Oatmeal or healthy cereal is a much better choice.
Summer is almost here and I need to fit in my shorts since I refuse to buy new ones!