Tuesday, June 23, 2009

Today, I must .......

1. Update this blog - I have come to find that this thing does not write its self!

2. Clean my room at my Eric and Mary's house

3. Do some laundry

4. Strength Train

5. Ride my bike - Gorgeous riding weather!

6. Catch up on blog reading - especially the CDA posts

7. Eat something healthy for lunch

8. Try not to drive my brother and sister-in-law crazy (Not sure this is possible)

What should I do first?

Enjoying the beautiful Pacific Northwest and having fun times with the family. Payton and Marley got a new puppy. She is fun to lug around. Puppies put smiles on everyone's face. Spectathleted at the Moses Lake Tri. Mary, Eric, and Margaret had great races. Our drive here was beautiful, yet mostly uneventful, which is the way I prefer to travel. My leg is almost completely healed, and I am able to put it back to work now.

Hope everyone is having and equally fantastic day/week/month/summer - you name it!

Wednesday, May 6, 2009

Oh, the Pain!

So, I bit the bullet and hired a trainer. So far, we have done a strength and flexibility test and came up with this:

Strength:
Upper body strength: poor
Abdominal strength: below average

BMI:
Obese (>32% body fat)
Present Goal: 31% body fat (average category)
Present weight loss goal: 16 pounds
Reevaluate in 2-3 months

Flexibility:
Trunk: very poor
Trunk Extension: Ave
Hip Flexion: Ave
Hip Length: Ave
Shoulder: Excellent

Oh, lovely! And this is after training for four months. Lord knows what would have happened then. But, check out the shoulder flexibility: Excellent! It's nice to have something that isn't average or very poor.

One of the great things about this trainer is...... I meet her at 5:30 In. The. Morning! I am sooooo NOT a 5:30 in the morning kind of worker outer, but it has been pretty good so far, except for the pain.

Oh, Yeah, I can barely sit down without assistance from a nearby table or chair. I met her for my first actual workout on Tuesday, and I only did one set of each exercise. That one set, however, just about killed me. And...... I have to go back tomorrow morning and every Tuesday and Thursday morning at, yes, 5:30 AM after that until the end of May, which happens to be when I head out of the frying pan and into the rain shower, also known as the Beautiful, Pacific Northwest. A few days in Moses Lake, a few in Spokane, over to Lake Stevens (Back and Forth, Back and Forth for most of the summer).

Hubby and I will be road tripping up to WA, from which he will return by plane while I stay out of the heat. I will then be road tripping back to Arizona with a friend from work, cause hubby can really only handle one way of a road trip, and that is gonna even be interesting. He's a plane kinda guy.

School is out in TWO weeks, which will be so very beautiful!

Saturday, April 25, 2009

My Little Sunshines

Actually, they are tigers, and can they roar!

Today, I spent the morning and early afternoon with the Tigers at the TUSD All City Track Meet. Our team wasn't very big, but the fourth and fifth grade boys and girls who attended from all over Tucson ran, jumped and threw their hearts out.

The meet started a little after 8:00am (In the history of sporting events, has one ever started on time?) It was already hot out, and there were a few casualties and lost breakfasts on the 500m. It was a little challenging to watch. Overall, my tigers came in 7 and 8 in the A Girls 500m, 5th in the B Boys, and 3rd in the A Boys. They did well against some tough competition.

Oh, all the kids are grouped by height and weight, with A being the largest and D being the smallest.

Other notable finishes: 2nd in heat #2 of B Girls 100M, and 6th in the final. 5th in B Girls Long Jump, 2nd in A Girls Long Jump, and 2nd in B Boys Long Jump. We had one girl place 2nd in the B Girls Softball Throw (Elementary substitute for Discus). 2nd in heat #2 of A Girls 100M, and 4th in the final. 2nd in heat #2 of the A boys 100M, and 7th in the final. 3rd in the A Boys 500M Relay and 4th in the A Girls 500M Relay.

I was proud of all our kiddos.

Sunday, April 19, 2009

World Culture Club 5k

In February, Hubby and I signed up for a 5k training group with Fleet Feet Tucson. We met with them each Tuesday night for twelve weeks and had our graduation run on Saturday, April 18th.

Here is our crew. There are a few runners missing. They weren't able to make the race.
Left to right: Brent, Leslie, Jenny, Linda, Coach Jenn B., Meagan, Heidi, Karie (me), Ruth, Aaron (Hubby), Rhiannon, Coach Jeanne, and Coach Jenn S.


The race was at 49'ers Country Club in the Tanque Verde Valley. It was a beautiful day, with no wind that morning. We met our group and quickly began to laugh at the guys from Robeks trying to blow up one of those gigantic, inflatable smoothie cups. They had a tough time with it. We all watched as the 1/2 marathon took off and then went for a little warm-up.

At the start line, we found out the course that was printed on the web was actually backwards, so we ran the opposite of what he had driven the night before. No biggie. It was a pretty small race, about 300 people between the 1/2 and 5k. The course wound through the neighborhood, and we got to look at all the pretty houses, some even for sale. I looked them up later that night on-line, and only one was in our price range. It was one I liked though.

Back to the race. I was feeling pretty stiff for some reason and was having some lung difficulty. The lung stuff could quite possibly be contributed to the endless winds we have had lately. I did okay though. I stuck to my plan of running 3 minutes with a walk break of 1 and 1/2 minutes. I walked through two run intervals at around miles 1.5 and 2.5, but for the most part, stuck with the plan.

As I rounded the corner and headed in to finish, I saw my hubby and Coach Jenn S. waiting at the beginning of the finish chute. Jenn took this picture as I was coming down the street.


When I rounded the corner, I heard the race announcer call out that there was another Fleet Feet member coming in. Hey, that's me. At that time, I started on the grass and promptly tried tripping. The announcer also told me not to trip on the grass. Thanks, buddy. Just a little too late. Luckily, I didn't fall. I ran up the rest of the finish chute with a bit more speed than usual to the rest of my group waiting to cheer me in. Overall, a nice little race, tight legs and lungs and all. This is only my second stand alone 5k (third 5k counting the one at the end of the tri). My time was 57:02, about 4 minutes faster than the first one, and 1.5 or so faster than the Tucson Tri 5k. I'm getting just a little faster. I start building mileage this week, Woo Hoo!

Friday, April 17, 2009

Pool Problems

If I were feeling particularly alliterate-y today, I would add Pissed Off to the Pool Problems issue.

After returning from my weekend in Vegas, which included little to no debauchery (Sorry Cheryl). I decided to go for a swim. Actually, I needed to go for a swim. This was Wednesday, I think. On this particular day, the winds were 40 - 50 mph, and there was no way in hell I was getting on a bike. I really didn't want to go to the pool either, as the pool is outside and they don't clean it very often (they say once a week, HA). I've swam with the same leaves in there for weeks on end. Sometimes, I almost think it could qualify for a lake swim, ick!

Anyway, I had to talk myself into getting my suit on and gathering my towel and gear bag. Then, I had to talk myself into actually driving to the pool, since I tried to either turn around or go somewhere else at least three times. Once in the parking lot and out of the car, I tried, again, to turn around and go home more times than I can remember. I also noticed the ducks that reside in my pool that usually swim with me were in the front garden area of the gym and not in the back by the pool. I should've know then. I finally decided that I needed to go into the pool, or I would feel even more crappy with myself. And then this happened .......

While schlepping to the front door to the gym, I hear yelling. Not like people having fun yelling, but ridiculous, over-bearing screaming coming from the pool area. As I approaced the front desk and looked toward the pool, the water was amass with flailing adolescent arms. The yelling was coming from the swim coach girl walking up and down the side of the pool. Oh, F... it's swim team season.

I approach the front desk and grab the pool schedule, no swim team listed. I say to the front desk girl,
"There was no swim team last week."

"Oh, No! It started yesterday."

"It isn't listed on the schedule. What time does it run until?"

"8:15"

"8:15? When does it start?"

"4:30, Monday thru Thursday."

"4:30 until 8:15 Monday thru Thursday? That doesn't leave much time for anyone else to swim does it?"

"Oh, well the pool is open all day. Do you work or something?"

"Yes, or something!"

My or something consists of spending my day with 28 fifth graders. The last thing I want to do is show up to my gym and see even more of them spashing around in the pool.

So, Pissed off about Pool Problems and Picking a new Plan.....

Sunday, April 5, 2009

In the Swim of Things

I didn't intend on taking nearly a week off of training after the tri, but I did. I finally got back to it on Friday with a late night swim with Coach Geoff.

I started off with a 200 meter warm-up while he finished with his other client. Then we chatted for just a moment about my swim last Sunday. He decided that it was time to put some speed in the training routine.

We made some small adjustments to my stroke. Apparently, I have been entering the water and then scooping my fingers up. How one establishes this routine, I do not know. So, I worked on entering the water correctly, fingers down without scooping. We also made some adjustments to my catch. I have been swimming with a full catch in order to correct my stroke and breathing issues. Now, one arm gets to leave just a bit before the other gets there. After practicing this, Geoff decided to incorporate some anaerobic work into my training.

Oh yeah, I paid attention in middle-school gym class. I know anaerobic means "without oxygen", which means I have to move it. He wanted me to do 6 x 25 as fast as I could, which quickly turned into eight, which quickly turned into twelve. Geoff mentioned once that he wondered if I would be talking to him after this. I would have if I could have actually talked between my feeble attempts to gasp air.

After 12 x 25 sprints. I did a heart rate check. It was around 190. Hello, I think the last time my heart rate hit 190, I was having a panic attack. I like it better when I know why my heart is beating out of my chest.

Monday, March 30, 2009

Tucson Tri Race Report

My very first race report, Yea! (Sorry, this is very long)


About four months ago, I signed up for this tri. I started training with swimming in mid-December, running in February, and did a couple of bike rides here and there. It all had to come together on Sunday morning.

One of the greatest parts of this event was my Friday night suprise. After work, I went to a happy hour with my old school in celebration of our friend's life. Shortly after arriving, my husband arrived to meet me. When I turned around to say hi, my brother and sister-in-law were standing there. They had flown in from Seattle to cheer me on. It was a bit of a suprise, and I cried..... but just a little.

After a very fun (too much happy hour) Friday and a very busy Saturday, I put together my gear bag and double checked my list (okay, I checked it like five times). Mary made me my carbo dinner of a nummy pasta, salad, bread, and a little ice cream for dessert. It was perfect. Going to sleep though, not so perfect.

I tossed and turned all night. During my panic stricken attempt to sleep, I realized that even with my list and the checking it five times, I had forgotten to put on my race numbers. Wouldn't that have been great? I quick grabbed them and threw them in my bag and continued the near panic-attack.

When I got up and got ready, I tried to eat some breakfast, but I could only choke down a banana and a quarter of a bagel. When we got to the race, I set up my transition area and went into the pool area. After some convincing from my cheer squad, I got in the pool for some warm-up. After I warmed up, I realized that I didn't have a timing chip. I started looking around and noticing that no one had timing chips. I ran into Cheryl right before I got in the pool for the swim. I asked her about the chip and she said they didn't chip time. She stood by the pool took pictures and cheered me on. I couldn't ask for a better person to get support and knowledge from. Thanks Cheryl!

I have NO idea how I made it through that swim without losing the little breakfast that I had, but I did. After about 200 yards, I calmed down and realized that I was doing it, and I didn't need to fret over it anymore. I swam the whole 825 yrds without stopping at a very slow but steady pace. I have to remind myself that 8 weeks ago, I couldn't swim 75 yrds without stopping and gasping for breath. My swim time: 26:02. It was close to three minutes faster than my last test, so I'm making progress.

Then there was the transition. I so understand the need to drop a whole bunch of weight after this. Not only for my health and because it will help with this whole moving your body thing, but because I need to be able to get into tri shorts or a tri suit or something. Putting on tight fitting clothes when you are wet.... what a pain! But, I made it through and rode away.

I hate biking. I love the idea and hope that I will soon come to love the bike, but really, I hate biking. I have to ride with a camelback because I can't balance and reach down for a water bottle all while pedaling and not running into things. It is a little scary. I haven't mustered the courage to put my pedals on my bike, so I ride in running shoes. My bike is heavy and too big. Oh, the excuses. It really boils down to - I didn't really train for the bike, and boy did it show! Bike time (including transitions): 1:24:36 - I told you - NO Good on the bike.





Transition to run went a little smoother, mainly because I was done with the bike, but I also realized that I was almost there. Three little miles to go. I had planned on walking the whole run. I did my first brick last week, and my legs were no good for running after this. I started walking out of the transition area, and this lady asked me if it was okay for her to run or if she had to walk. I smiled and told her she could go ahead and run. Her first tri, too?

The run was two nice, flat loops around the mall at the U of A. I walked the first one and by the time I got closer the the start of my second loop, I realized that my legs were feeling pretty good, and decided to run a little. Plus, the extrememly annoying support person at the corner by Old Main gave me so much motivation. Not from her cheers themselves, but in trying to go faster to get away from her ridiculous yelling. I did five or six intervals of two minutes running and one minute walking before heading into the finish. As I approached the finish, I realized that I was feeling pretty good, so I ran it in and smiled for the pic. Run time 58:55 - almost three minutes faster than my last 5k (walking).



Total Time - 2:49:33 - Gotta start somewhere



Hope it turns out good. As I finished, I turned to see that Cheryl was just heading out for her run (she is a fast swimmer, so she gets to swim MUCH later than me. She's fast on the bike and run too).

I got my t-shirt found Aaron, Eric, and Mary and went to watch the last wave of swimmers (super fast). When I was there, someone tapped me on the shoulder. It was a friend of mine form school, and two other friends were with her. Plus, the other fifth grade teacher at my school, showed up early, at 6:30 in the morning to watch me swim and bike. I work with a great bunch of people.



After seeing my friends, we all headed down to the finish line to wait for Cheryl and cheer other people on. It was really cool to watch some incredible athletes come in to the finish.




After going home and trying to sleep, we all got cleaned up and headed out to meet Cheryl and her hubby and Jenn and her hubby. Jenn is the best massage therapist in the world, and she ran the Arizona Distance Classic that morning (I think her first 1/2 Marathon).

Thank You to Jenn, Cheryl, Aaron, Eric, Mary, Rochelle, Cass, Tracy, and Bri! It was so great to have your support! Oh, and for the pictures :)

What's Next? A 5K in April, another sprint in May (?), the Moses Lake Tri in June, the Seattle Rock-n-Roll 1/2 Marathon in June, another sprint in July (?), and the Tinfoilman in October. We'll have to see what else comes up. That should help with the whole getting into a trisuit.

And, I almost forgot, I'M A TRIATHLETE!