This last week has been pretty good. I start my week on Sunday, not Monday. I like to start the week with a day off of work and end it that way as well.
I started last week with my first trail run in like 15 years. The last time I ran on a trail was probably when I was 16 or 17 and in high school. We would trail run in the woods in Snohomish. These were fun runs and didn't even seem like work.
When hubby got home from his mountain bike ride last Saturday, he told me about his ride on the Arizona Trail. This trail is 800 miles long and extends from Mexico to Utah. Part of the trail runs through the desert and mountains not too far from our house. As he was telling me about it, I was thinking it would be fun to run on. We went out the next day and spent an hour or so run/walking, okay walk/jogging.
The trail was beautiful and it was a perfect day for running.... 70 degrees or so and slightly overcast. It reminded me of those high school days running in the woods or out to pick apples to turn into cider to sell at football games. Even though the Saguaro and Cedar tree provide completely different scenery, running away from everything was so peaceful.
I completed another run with my group on Tuesday and hit the pool on Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday. On Saturday, I had another personal best, swimming 500 continuous meters. It takes me a while, but I'm getting there.
I'm feeling pretty good about my training and getting in workouts about 5 days a week. The only problem is.........
The BIKE!
I have completely forgotten about the bike aside from a few little rides. When I first started training, I was blown away by my lack of swimming ability and have focused most of my time on the swim. I have recently started putting in run time, and now I have to put in the bike. Finding a balance in training has proven to be interesting if not somewhat overwhelming.
On the good side, I am gaining muscle. I visited my massage therapist last week, and she was finding muscles that I didn't have three weeks ago. Yes, I know I had the muscles, I just didn't know I had them at the time. I haven't lost any weight yet, but I think that has to do with the constant eating I do. Training makes me hungry. I do need to make better food choices though.
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Friday, February 13, 2009
Woo Hoo!
I had a major swimming breakthrough today......
I was able to swim 250 meters continuously. To many triathletes and swimmers, I know this is not much, but to me it is a major milestone. And I'm not a triathlete. Yet!
Four weeks ago, I was sputtering and sidestroking through 75 meters, and that was an accomplishment at the time.
Tonight, I met with my coach, Geoff, at the UofA. Last week, I swam a 150 for him with my fins, so my workouts for the week included 150's with fins and 100's without fins. Yesterday was the first time I swam a 100 without my fins. As a matter of fact, I swam seven of them. Geoff decided that he wanted me to swim 125 or 150, it was up to me and how I felt at the end of 125. When I got to the wall at the end of my 125, I came up for air and dropped down to kick off the wall (no flip turns, yet). When I reached the wall at 150, Geoff quickly asked if I could do more.
I dropped down for another kickoff without missing a beat, came back for 200, and went again. When I reached the wall for 250, I was going to go for 300. But, he stopped me to check my heart rate. I was only at around 144. Not bad at all.
Geoff knew I would push it tonight, but I think I surprised him. I surprised my self a little. Maybe it was all that sugar floating around the classroom today.
Happy Valentine's Day!
I was able to swim 250 meters continuously. To many triathletes and swimmers, I know this is not much, but to me it is a major milestone. And I'm not a triathlete. Yet!
Four weeks ago, I was sputtering and sidestroking through 75 meters, and that was an accomplishment at the time.
Tonight, I met with my coach, Geoff, at the UofA. Last week, I swam a 150 for him with my fins, so my workouts for the week included 150's with fins and 100's without fins. Yesterday was the first time I swam a 100 without my fins. As a matter of fact, I swam seven of them. Geoff decided that he wanted me to swim 125 or 150, it was up to me and how I felt at the end of 125. When I got to the wall at the end of my 125, I came up for air and dropped down to kick off the wall (no flip turns, yet). When I reached the wall at 150, Geoff quickly asked if I could do more.
I dropped down for another kickoff without missing a beat, came back for 200, and went again. When I reached the wall for 250, I was going to go for 300. But, he stopped me to check my heart rate. I was only at around 144. Not bad at all.
Geoff knew I would push it tonight, but I think I surprised him. I surprised my self a little. Maybe it was all that sugar floating around the classroom today.
Happy Valentine's Day!
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Running
Last week, Hubby and I started running with a 5k training group. The first week sucked, but I have NO idea why. I was the last in the group on every run interval (A position I'm used to). My legs hurt to even walk and the running was pathetic. It was a 1 minute run interval followed by a 4 minute walk interval. We did this seven times with a 5 minute walking warm-up and cool down. I had been running this interval for a couple weeks before and had no problems.
The day after the run, my legs felt like they were going to explode. By my legs I mean the tips of my toes to the top of my butt. They had never felt like that before. It took four days for them to recover. To say the least, I was not excited about going back this week.
This week's run interval was a 5 minute warm-up walk with a 1 minute run interval followed by a 3 minute walk interval. Repeat 10 times with a 5 minute walk cool-down. No worries. I was in the back of the group again. This time though, I was joined by a girl for a few intervals. She was always a step or two away, but not far. And, to top it all off. Today, I have very little pain. Only some soreness atop the the base of my toes (I'm sure that area has a name, but I don't know what it is).
Hopefully, the rest of this week and next week's group run goes as well.
Tomorrow night is Happy Hour after work. I am going to run from my school to the bar, have some water (maybe another beverage) and run back to my school before driving home. I told you I had a little crazy in me.
The day after the run, my legs felt like they were going to explode. By my legs I mean the tips of my toes to the top of my butt. They had never felt like that before. It took four days for them to recover. To say the least, I was not excited about going back this week.
This week's run interval was a 5 minute warm-up walk with a 1 minute run interval followed by a 3 minute walk interval. Repeat 10 times with a 5 minute walk cool-down. No worries. I was in the back of the group again. This time though, I was joined by a girl for a few intervals. She was always a step or two away, but not far. And, to top it all off. Today, I have very little pain. Only some soreness atop the the base of my toes (I'm sure that area has a name, but I don't know what it is).
Hopefully, the rest of this week and next week's group run goes as well.
Tomorrow night is Happy Hour after work. I am going to run from my school to the bar, have some water (maybe another beverage) and run back to my school before driving home. I told you I had a little crazy in me.
Thursday, February 5, 2009
Accomplishements, Challenges, and Changes
Oh, I so sound like a teacher with that title, but here goes.
I seem to be having more challenges than anything lately, but some of them have turned into accomplishments (I think).
Today, I only swam 500 yards. It was a challenge, but it shouldn't have been. 500 isn't much and I swim them in sets of 50; however, looking back, I did swim the entire 500 without fins. This is the first time I've done that. So, I guess a bit of an accomplishment.
The running is soooooooooo a challenge. I started my 5k program with Fleet Feet this week. It was hard. Harder than usual, and my feet and legs were killing me. The feet have been causing me problems for some time now. I met with the pedorthist that Cheryl recommended yesterday. Basically, he told me I was all jacked up. My right leg is shorter, and not just a little bit, than the left, and my hips are uneven. The right one is dropped lower than the left. The left foot over pronates in order to compensate for its length. The right foot pronates a little, but........ It also twists and goes flying off to the outside. He is making me special inserts so that my feet are somewhat normal. I'm hoping for magic on this one. I know running will still be hard, but I just hope my feet don't hurt as bad. So running, a huge challenge.
On the good side though, hubby is doing the 5k group with me. He smoked all the other people. He was the lead of the pack, I was bringin up the rear. Hopefully, he enjoys doing this and keeps at it. I know he would rather be mountain biking and racket balling.
The biggest challenge lately has been my energy. I have no energy at all. I hate getting up in the morning, so my workouts take place in the afternoon. I come home from work exhausted and take a short break. By the time I get ready, its a wonder I even make it out the door. I'm trying to go with the idea that if I can just get going, my energy will return. Not so much. I'm sure it has something to do with diet. But, I need help on this one. How do I get some more energy?
I have a few changes to make to try and help. I am going to start bringing my gym bag to work with me and head out straight from work to the pool, or bike, or run. I'm hoping that if I stay away from the house, I won't get as tired. I will also start doing some morning stuff. Maybe a few days a week at first.
So, please send me any ideas that you have for energy and such.
I seem to be having more challenges than anything lately, but some of them have turned into accomplishments (I think).
Today, I only swam 500 yards. It was a challenge, but it shouldn't have been. 500 isn't much and I swim them in sets of 50; however, looking back, I did swim the entire 500 without fins. This is the first time I've done that. So, I guess a bit of an accomplishment.
The running is soooooooooo a challenge. I started my 5k program with Fleet Feet this week. It was hard. Harder than usual, and my feet and legs were killing me. The feet have been causing me problems for some time now. I met with the pedorthist that Cheryl recommended yesterday. Basically, he told me I was all jacked up. My right leg is shorter, and not just a little bit, than the left, and my hips are uneven. The right one is dropped lower than the left. The left foot over pronates in order to compensate for its length. The right foot pronates a little, but........ It also twists and goes flying off to the outside. He is making me special inserts so that my feet are somewhat normal. I'm hoping for magic on this one. I know running will still be hard, but I just hope my feet don't hurt as bad. So running, a huge challenge.
On the good side though, hubby is doing the 5k group with me. He smoked all the other people. He was the lead of the pack, I was bringin up the rear. Hopefully, he enjoys doing this and keeps at it. I know he would rather be mountain biking and racket balling.
The biggest challenge lately has been my energy. I have no energy at all. I hate getting up in the morning, so my workouts take place in the afternoon. I come home from work exhausted and take a short break. By the time I get ready, its a wonder I even make it out the door. I'm trying to go with the idea that if I can just get going, my energy will return. Not so much. I'm sure it has something to do with diet. But, I need help on this one. How do I get some more energy?
I have a few changes to make to try and help. I am going to start bringing my gym bag to work with me and head out straight from work to the pool, or bike, or run. I'm hoping that if I stay away from the house, I won't get as tired. I will also start doing some morning stuff. Maybe a few days a week at first.
So, please send me any ideas that you have for energy and such.
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