This weekend was amazingly busy, but in a good way. It's hard to imagine that I was supposed to be doing a triathlon this coming weekend, but I'm still trying to stick with the "everything happens for a reason" philosophy.
The BIG thing this weekend is that we did our first practice "super sprint" mini tris at Beaver Lake. I think it was like 500 yard swim, 3.5 mile bike & 1.5 mile wun.
First time I got in the water, my first thought was, "HOW THE HELL DID I DO THIS WITH OUT A WETSUIT LAST WEEKEND??" So we scared off some guys that were fishing at the park (one of them actually had a fish- so I know they are in there) jumped in the water, and were off. The swim was OK- I hung back a little bit, and rolled onto my back to calm down and breathe two or three times.
The wetsuit wasn't as tough to get off as I thought it would be (still thinking that sleeveless was a good choice), and I was feeling warm enough to leave off my arm warmers. I slipped on my race belt skirt to cover what felt like my nakedness in my tri suit (yeah, covers more than a bathing suit, but feels thin) and was off.
The ride was OK, but I did get a little cold. We were in a hilly area, with lots of trees, and I was also having some problems shifting. I think I need to get my shifter adjusted, since I seem to be able to giggle it into gear, but who wants to do that in a race, even if I'm not in that big of a hurry.
By the time I got back from the ride, there were several ladies back from their run, so my coaches had me just go out for 3 min, and back for 3 min. Getting off my bike, my butt felt like rubber. I think a lot of it was being chilly, but it really felt like when I actually started to wun like my chub should slough off. Like I really was wearing a fat suit.
The second time we went out, I was feeling more confident. I didn't roll over a single time on the swim, and actually got back right as the first runner was coming in for my bike ride. So this time, I decided I was going the distance on the wun. I ended up walking, but I didn't slow and I didn't stop. I also saw a little deer right at the turn around having a snack.
It was as I was on my way back in that second time that it occurred to me. I have jumped in the water, ripped off a wetsuit, jumped on a bike, come back & dumped the helmet, and the wan. I'm officially a triathlete! Maybe not a competitive triathlete yet, but a triathlete nonetheless. It was a mini tri, but I didn't feel OK about calling myself a mini ANYTHING. :)
On the wardrobe front, the wetsuit went great, the tri suit was very comfortable, and the race belt covered my rear, which was my mail point. It rides up a little, but between now and Sept 20, I'm thinking I can shrink the waistline at least enough to make that work. All in all, I felt great, and I MIGHT be able to do it this weekend, but I'm really happy to have more time to get better. :)
Monday, June 29, 2009
Friday, June 26, 2009
Dance, and Shout! Shake your body down to the ground!
OK- there's my MJ shout out. What I can I say, I grew up in the 80s. The man's music had an impact on my life, and as I've heard many others say, many of his songs are a part of the soundtrack of my childhood. And as they always said on American Bandstand- It's got a great beat, and you can dance to it!
So the passing of someone who was so much, but sadly could have been so much more has been weighing heavily on my world in the last 24 hours, as well as some crazy busy-ness at work. BUT I still managed to get my work outs in! Today I dedicate to how I made excuses, but still got my rear in gear anyway.
Wednesday night was the open swim in Lake Washington. Since we had a big announcement in the morning, I had a lot of last min questions that I had to answer before I could get out the door. And I work in Bellevue, 30 min from Seattle on a good day. Wed there was a Mariners home game. This does NOT make for a good traffic day.
Despite the fact that I left the office 30 min before the work out was supposed to start, and I KNEW I wasn't going to make it, I kept going. I called my mom to chat while I was on the road so that I didn't get REALLY grumpy, and having changed into my swimsuit under sweats @ work, put glide on my lower legs at stoplights.
It took me an hour to get to the park, and I was pretty sure I saw my team way the heck out in the water when I got there, so I pulled on the rental wetsuit that came in on Tue & waited until they came back. One of the coaches hung out with me so that I at least got part of the work out in, and despite the rain that threatened and the fact that Lk WA is COLD COLD COLD, it was a pleasant swim. Still getting over the panic attacks, but I know I'll get there. Oh, and did I mention that the smaller of the 2 suits worked just fine? WOO HOO!
Yesterday was supposed to be 45 min on a bike. My plan was to get up @ 6a when my work thing was happening, send a few e-mails for it and then go do my bike ride before I went to work. Wrinkle #1 came when I woke up at 2am & couldn't get back to sleep until after 3a. So then #2 I was EXHAUSTED when I finally got up, #3 my kiddo woke up early & was cuddly, and #4 work took longer than I really wanted it to. Needless to say with all of the wrinkliness, I didn't get it in.
Work was insane all day, and by the time I got home, all I wanted to do was collapse. Instead, made Ground Beef Stroganoff for my boys, got the little man into his PJs and read a little Despereaux, and went to the gym. It's funny that I seem to have a harder time getting my heart rate to spike there, but it occurred to me about 35 min in that there's actually a lot more pedaling involved at the gym. I don't do it all the time, but I think it's nice to mix things up when it's getting dark out so I can read to my kid on a tough day.
Today is a rest day. I got my outfit in, still screwing up my courage to take a pic & post it here. I may do Pilates DVD tonight since my Race Belt Skirt is a little tighter than I'd like... therefore I need to whittle the middle.
Tomorrow is our 1st practice mini tri. Exciting, scary, and I think I'm ready.
So the passing of someone who was so much, but sadly could have been so much more has been weighing heavily on my world in the last 24 hours, as well as some crazy busy-ness at work. BUT I still managed to get my work outs in! Today I dedicate to how I made excuses, but still got my rear in gear anyway.
Wednesday night was the open swim in Lake Washington. Since we had a big announcement in the morning, I had a lot of last min questions that I had to answer before I could get out the door. And I work in Bellevue, 30 min from Seattle on a good day. Wed there was a Mariners home game. This does NOT make for a good traffic day.
Despite the fact that I left the office 30 min before the work out was supposed to start, and I KNEW I wasn't going to make it, I kept going. I called my mom to chat while I was on the road so that I didn't get REALLY grumpy, and having changed into my swimsuit under sweats @ work, put glide on my lower legs at stoplights.
It took me an hour to get to the park, and I was pretty sure I saw my team way the heck out in the water when I got there, so I pulled on the rental wetsuit that came in on Tue & waited until they came back. One of the coaches hung out with me so that I at least got part of the work out in, and despite the rain that threatened and the fact that Lk WA is COLD COLD COLD, it was a pleasant swim. Still getting over the panic attacks, but I know I'll get there. Oh, and did I mention that the smaller of the 2 suits worked just fine? WOO HOO!
Yesterday was supposed to be 45 min on a bike. My plan was to get up @ 6a when my work thing was happening, send a few e-mails for it and then go do my bike ride before I went to work. Wrinkle #1 came when I woke up at 2am & couldn't get back to sleep until after 3a. So then #2 I was EXHAUSTED when I finally got up, #3 my kiddo woke up early & was cuddly, and #4 work took longer than I really wanted it to. Needless to say with all of the wrinkliness, I didn't get it in.
Work was insane all day, and by the time I got home, all I wanted to do was collapse. Instead, made Ground Beef Stroganoff for my boys, got the little man into his PJs and read a little Despereaux, and went to the gym. It's funny that I seem to have a harder time getting my heart rate to spike there, but it occurred to me about 35 min in that there's actually a lot more pedaling involved at the gym. I don't do it all the time, but I think it's nice to mix things up when it's getting dark out so I can read to my kid on a tough day.
Today is a rest day. I got my outfit in, still screwing up my courage to take a pic & post it here. I may do Pilates DVD tonight since my Race Belt Skirt is a little tighter than I'd like... therefore I need to whittle the middle.
Tomorrow is our 1st practice mini tri. Exciting, scary, and I think I'm ready.
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Too much to say, too little time
I tend to think of all sorts of things that I want to say here as I'm working out, and then it takes me days to actually have time to write. So I'll just take a few min to let you know a few of the things I've been ruminating on, as well as w/o progress, and hopefully will have more time tonight. Not holding my breath.
Sunday was supposed to be a bike/run brick. When the thunderstorm started as I was starting out, I took that as a sign that I needed to spend Father's Day with my boys.
Monday was a swim- pool is a LOT busier now that school is out. There were some boys making fun of an older woman (not that she could her them, but I could) who, uh, didn't have a bathing suit physique. I managed to not give them a lecture, but reminds me how important it is to teach MY son right & wrong.
Tuesday night rode my bike. Did some laps in my neighborhood because I noticed my tire was low when I was about a 1.5 miles out & didn't want to tempt fate. Neighbor (over a block away who I've never met) saw me come by and said, "oh it's you again" which reminds me that I need to wear my Trek Training shirt more so that people know what the heck I'm doing. Yes, there IS a reason the chubby chick is riding past your house over & over, and it's NOT stalking.
Today we've got an open water swim (this time in Lake Washington- brr) and luckily my wetsuits came in, so I won't freeze anything off. I'm very excited to try them out, but as I tweeted yesterday, will have to work to get on right. I think what they sent are Men's, which kind of sucks. Most of my team looks kind of hot in their little wetsuits. I look like I'm getting ready to put on a Santa suit over it. It squishes my belly up, and my chest down so much I look like a man with a potbelly & moobs. It's REALLY hard to make me look like a man with my K cups, so I think I may need to do a little more looking into big WOMEN's suits. I've been avoiding going to a store for fear they will laugh at me, but I need to give over it or be content with uni-gut. Will let y'all know how they work in the water after tonight.
The other thing I learned today, I CAN NOT just go out an wun (tired of typing walk/run since I am trying, but in my 'hood's hills, there is very little running going on) with out eating or drinking anything 1st thing in the AM. DH is a teacher, so he's now home in the AM so I can do my w/o 1st thing, and we are supposed to both swim AND run today, so I thought I'd try to get up early & knock out the wunning early this AM. First his stupid alarm went off @ 5a. I was planning to go out at 6:30a. It was still DARK for goodness sakes! Anyway, kept hitting snooze and didn't bother to eat or drink- just went out. Was supposed to be by distance- 3.5 miles. I TOTALLY hit a wall at 2 miles. Got to 2.5 (my loop is 1/2 mile) and decided that it was a lesson learned, and hit the showers. Will try the 45 min bike ride tomorrow... but this time with SNACKS!
Finally, for anyone who decides to do something crazy like this, I highly recommend signing up to do it with a team. When I did the Breast Cancer 3 Day in 2001, I was working nights (when most teams train) and couldn't find anyone I already know to do it with me. (Like now, everyone I know thought I was nuts- but people did after I did!) So I trained all by myself, didn't know my tent mate at all, and met some random people on the trail (no idea how many people I taught the lyrics to "I will survive" to along the way- LOTS) but none of them became friends. It was all a transitional contact.
This time, I've got a team of AMAZING women who have taught me so much, encourage me, and make me push myself harder every time I'm with them. Each of us have our own story and challenges, but we all support each other, and I think I'm going to have to make some plans to go cheer for a few of them in races that I'm not participating in next month... :)
So ladies, if you read this THANK YOU! Could I do it with out you? Probably. But I am glad that I didn't decide to. You make me want to be better, and inspire me every day.
Sunday was supposed to be a bike/run brick. When the thunderstorm started as I was starting out, I took that as a sign that I needed to spend Father's Day with my boys.
Monday was a swim- pool is a LOT busier now that school is out. There were some boys making fun of an older woman (not that she could her them, but I could) who, uh, didn't have a bathing suit physique. I managed to not give them a lecture, but reminds me how important it is to teach MY son right & wrong.
Tuesday night rode my bike. Did some laps in my neighborhood because I noticed my tire was low when I was about a 1.5 miles out & didn't want to tempt fate. Neighbor (over a block away who I've never met) saw me come by and said, "oh it's you again" which reminds me that I need to wear my Trek Training shirt more so that people know what the heck I'm doing. Yes, there IS a reason the chubby chick is riding past your house over & over, and it's NOT stalking.
Today we've got an open water swim (this time in Lake Washington- brr) and luckily my wetsuits came in, so I won't freeze anything off. I'm very excited to try them out, but as I tweeted yesterday, will have to work to get on right. I think what they sent are Men's, which kind of sucks. Most of my team looks kind of hot in their little wetsuits. I look like I'm getting ready to put on a Santa suit over it. It squishes my belly up, and my chest down so much I look like a man with a potbelly & moobs. It's REALLY hard to make me look like a man with my K cups, so I think I may need to do a little more looking into big WOMEN's suits. I've been avoiding going to a store for fear they will laugh at me, but I need to give over it or be content with uni-gut. Will let y'all know how they work in the water after tonight.
The other thing I learned today, I CAN NOT just go out an wun (tired of typing walk/run since I am trying, but in my 'hood's hills, there is very little running going on) with out eating or drinking anything 1st thing in the AM. DH is a teacher, so he's now home in the AM so I can do my w/o 1st thing, and we are supposed to both swim AND run today, so I thought I'd try to get up early & knock out the wunning early this AM. First his stupid alarm went off @ 5a. I was planning to go out at 6:30a. It was still DARK for goodness sakes! Anyway, kept hitting snooze and didn't bother to eat or drink- just went out. Was supposed to be by distance- 3.5 miles. I TOTALLY hit a wall at 2 miles. Got to 2.5 (my loop is 1/2 mile) and decided that it was a lesson learned, and hit the showers. Will try the 45 min bike ride tomorrow... but this time with SNACKS!
Finally, for anyone who decides to do something crazy like this, I highly recommend signing up to do it with a team. When I did the Breast Cancer 3 Day in 2001, I was working nights (when most teams train) and couldn't find anyone I already know to do it with me. (Like now, everyone I know thought I was nuts- but people did after I did!) So I trained all by myself, didn't know my tent mate at all, and met some random people on the trail (no idea how many people I taught the lyrics to "I will survive" to along the way- LOTS) but none of them became friends. It was all a transitional contact.
This time, I've got a team of AMAZING women who have taught me so much, encourage me, and make me push myself harder every time I'm with them. Each of us have our own story and challenges, but we all support each other, and I think I'm going to have to make some plans to go cheer for a few of them in races that I'm not participating in next month... :)
So ladies, if you read this THANK YOU! Could I do it with out you? Probably. But I am glad that I didn't decide to. You make me want to be better, and inspire me every day.
Sunday, June 21, 2009
"C" Athlete
I get a lot of philosophical thinking in while I'm doing my workouts. Haven't yet decided if that's a good or bad thing.
I realized as I was swimming, the only one with out a wetsuit, I thought back a little bit about my academic & athletic career. I was never a 4.0 student. Not because I couldn't be, but because I could be a 3.5-3.7 student without any effort.
So I think that has carried over a lot into my athletic career (or lack there of). I couldn't be even a B athlete with out effort, so I didn't really try. It's not exactly a proud realization, but I think it's an important one.
In this case, it carries over into an important lesson. I need to go make coffee cake for Father's Day, so I think that much of this discussion will wait for another time, but I'm frustrated that I've only lost a couple of pounds. I am starting to see some body differences, but considering the extra baggage I'm carrying, I'd love to not have to carry all of the extra weight through the course. But that would take more effort than I've been putting in. I need to do more cardio than just the min training time. I need to figure out nutrition that's more than just refueling, but for weight loss as well.
So back to the swim yesterday... once I got IN the water and acclimated, it went OK. I had a panic attack starting out again, but I think I need to not ATTACK the water, and give myself permission to ease in to it. So starting out I couldn't catch my breath enough to get my face in the water, and once your lungs seize like that, it's really hard to get back on track. I'm going to be asking my Dr for an inhaler, to be ready before I go in the water, but I also think that spending more time in the open water will be important.
Since I was the only one with out a wetsuit, I wore fins. Felt like cheating a little, but knowing that the other ladies had help floating I justified it in my head. I wasn't the slowest swimmer, but I stopped and floated more, so I still took as much time as the slowest. Considering swimming is likely to be my best sport (as long as I don't panic in the big crowds) I need to be pushing myself harder. I keep giving myself these excuses, and I need to stop. I may not be an elite triathlete like our coaches, but I can do better than I am.
With more than four months of training, I'm no longer shooting to just finish. I don't need a GOOD time, but if I'm going to push myself that little bit harder, it's not just finishing, or as my goal has been lately, not stopping, but finishing in a way that will make me proud.
If I do what I need to- Sally Edwards will not be the only one finishing after me.
I realized as I was swimming, the only one with out a wetsuit, I thought back a little bit about my academic & athletic career. I was never a 4.0 student. Not because I couldn't be, but because I could be a 3.5-3.7 student without any effort.
So I think that has carried over a lot into my athletic career (or lack there of). I couldn't be even a B athlete with out effort, so I didn't really try. It's not exactly a proud realization, but I think it's an important one.
In this case, it carries over into an important lesson. I need to go make coffee cake for Father's Day, so I think that much of this discussion will wait for another time, but I'm frustrated that I've only lost a couple of pounds. I am starting to see some body differences, but considering the extra baggage I'm carrying, I'd love to not have to carry all of the extra weight through the course. But that would take more effort than I've been putting in. I need to do more cardio than just the min training time. I need to figure out nutrition that's more than just refueling, but for weight loss as well.
So back to the swim yesterday... once I got IN the water and acclimated, it went OK. I had a panic attack starting out again, but I think I need to not ATTACK the water, and give myself permission to ease in to it. So starting out I couldn't catch my breath enough to get my face in the water, and once your lungs seize like that, it's really hard to get back on track. I'm going to be asking my Dr for an inhaler, to be ready before I go in the water, but I also think that spending more time in the open water will be important.
Since I was the only one with out a wetsuit, I wore fins. Felt like cheating a little, but knowing that the other ladies had help floating I justified it in my head. I wasn't the slowest swimmer, but I stopped and floated more, so I still took as much time as the slowest. Considering swimming is likely to be my best sport (as long as I don't panic in the big crowds) I need to be pushing myself harder. I keep giving myself these excuses, and I need to stop. I may not be an elite triathlete like our coaches, but I can do better than I am.
With more than four months of training, I'm no longer shooting to just finish. I don't need a GOOD time, but if I'm going to push myself that little bit harder, it's not just finishing, or as my goal has been lately, not stopping, but finishing in a way that will make me proud.
If I do what I need to- Sally Edwards will not be the only one finishing after me.
Friday, June 19, 2009
An Unearned Day Off
Fridays are rest days, and despite the fact that I took Tuesday (kind of) and Wednesday as a rest day... here I am, resting.
I'm realizing that I'm going to do this more than I should... "Gee, the Tri is 3 months away! I can miss a day..." To some extent, that is true. If it were in 2 weeks, I would be a little freaked out, and I don't know that I would have been ready. I would have done it, but I may not have been ready. I KNOW that I will be ready September 20.
Other random developments this week: As I tweeted earlier, ordered a rental wetsuit from wetsuitrental.com. They are actually here in the Seattle area, and the guy I talked to on the phone was really nice. They are sending me a couple (2XL john & 3XL full) to try, and I'm sending one back as soon as I try them on. Unfortunately they don't SELL the 3XL because they are so hard to come by, so if I want to buy a used one from them, I have to hope I like the sleeveless.
I've also started telling more people about my blog, figuring that if I'm going to encourage someone to start this who wasn't thinking about it, I need people reading the blog. For people to read the blog, I need people to KNOW about the blog. So I have to step a little out of my comfort zone. As I sit here typing, I realize that I haven't even told my hubby about it... and he's usually in the room when I'm writing. He thinks I'm working. Obviously I work in the evenings once the kid is in bed a little too much.
So tomorrow morning is a lake swim with no wetsuit. Should be FREAKING cold. Thinking I'll wear my bra AND bathing suit, although two underwires doesn't sound great. I may rethink that once I get them on in the morning. This will be my first open water swim in a gazillion years, and I'm almost as nervous that I'll have a panic attack as I am about the swim itself. thinking fins are a good idea. Listening to it pour outside, I'm wondering if this is a good idea at all, but Beaver Lake is small, so RELATIVELY warm, and I'm going to be there with a team. Too bad you can't ACTUALLY freeze your ass off. Then I'd be all set!
I'm realizing that I'm going to do this more than I should... "Gee, the Tri is 3 months away! I can miss a day..." To some extent, that is true. If it were in 2 weeks, I would be a little freaked out, and I don't know that I would have been ready. I would have done it, but I may not have been ready. I KNOW that I will be ready September 20.
Other random developments this week: As I tweeted earlier, ordered a rental wetsuit from wetsuitrental.com. They are actually here in the Seattle area, and the guy I talked to on the phone was really nice. They are sending me a couple (2XL john & 3XL full) to try, and I'm sending one back as soon as I try them on. Unfortunately they don't SELL the 3XL because they are so hard to come by, so if I want to buy a used one from them, I have to hope I like the sleeveless.
I've also started telling more people about my blog, figuring that if I'm going to encourage someone to start this who wasn't thinking about it, I need people reading the blog. For people to read the blog, I need people to KNOW about the blog. So I have to step a little out of my comfort zone. As I sit here typing, I realize that I haven't even told my hubby about it... and he's usually in the room when I'm writing. He thinks I'm working. Obviously I work in the evenings once the kid is in bed a little too much.
So tomorrow morning is a lake swim with no wetsuit. Should be FREAKING cold. Thinking I'll wear my bra AND bathing suit, although two underwires doesn't sound great. I may rethink that once I get them on in the morning. This will be my first open water swim in a gazillion years, and I'm almost as nervous that I'll have a panic attack as I am about the swim itself. thinking fins are a good idea. Listening to it pour outside, I'm wondering if this is a good idea at all, but Beaver Lake is small, so RELATIVELY warm, and I'm going to be there with a team. Too bad you can't ACTUALLY freeze your ass off. Then I'd be all set!
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Brrr... no thanks!
I bagged on training again today, but I had an even better reason, woke up with a sore throat that didn't get better and today was our 1st open water swim, and I don't have a wetsuit. After yesterday's post, a commenter made the very good point that I can always re-sell my suit, so I'm thinking I'll make a call to a place that does rentals tomorrow to see what they carry in pre-padded size. Won't have it in time for Saturday's swim, but hopefully would be in for next week's swim & then practice tri.
So something that a lot of people have asked me. What is my favorite of the three events?
That's harder to answer than I'd think. When I was a kid, I spent summers in Alaska visiting my dad, and spent as much time as possible in Big Lake (near the recently famous town of Wasilla). I didn't stand up on the jet ski or try waterskiing, I would just put on a life jacket and swim around for hours.
Also in my youth, I had a friend who lived a few miles away, and I would ride my bike to her house in Goldcrest, and then we'd ride a few more miles to Capital Mall... we'd even ride downtown sometimes, usually getting a ride back up the hill to West Oly.
Anyhow, I (slightly) digress. Swimming and riding both have terrific childhood associations for me. Running, not so much. As I mentioned before, I've never been an athlete. I was talked into playing basketball in 7th & 8th grade by the bike-riding friend, Melissa, and our other friend Jen. But I had problems with heat exhaustion, and all together not loving the running. I'm ok with walking, even walking quickly (hell, I'm 5'8" and all leg, when I get going, my husband almost runs to keep up) but I HATE running.
That said, I'm starting to understand how it is people can love it... maybe there was a moment when others loved running as a kid? Maybe they can breathe and don't have sore knees when they get done?
So the answer to, what is my favorite event? Swimming. Or Biking, depending on which one I'm doing at the time, and how hard it feels while I'm doing it. The only thing that will redeem the running? It's at the end, so it's the only way I'll get across the finish line.
And once I'm done, give Sally Edwards a high five, and collapse on the ground for a couple of min, I'm sure I feel like a kid again. At least until I take my son to his very 1st flag football practice that afternoon!
So something that a lot of people have asked me. What is my favorite of the three events?
That's harder to answer than I'd think. When I was a kid, I spent summers in Alaska visiting my dad, and spent as much time as possible in Big Lake (near the recently famous town of Wasilla). I didn't stand up on the jet ski or try waterskiing, I would just put on a life jacket and swim around for hours.
Also in my youth, I had a friend who lived a few miles away, and I would ride my bike to her house in Goldcrest, and then we'd ride a few more miles to Capital Mall... we'd even ride downtown sometimes, usually getting a ride back up the hill to West Oly.
Anyhow, I (slightly) digress. Swimming and riding both have terrific childhood associations for me. Running, not so much. As I mentioned before, I've never been an athlete. I was talked into playing basketball in 7th & 8th grade by the bike-riding friend, Melissa, and our other friend Jen. But I had problems with heat exhaustion, and all together not loving the running. I'm ok with walking, even walking quickly (hell, I'm 5'8" and all leg, when I get going, my husband almost runs to keep up) but I HATE running.
That said, I'm starting to understand how it is people can love it... maybe there was a moment when others loved running as a kid? Maybe they can breathe and don't have sore knees when they get done?
So the answer to, what is my favorite event? Swimming. Or Biking, depending on which one I'm doing at the time, and how hard it feels while I'm doing it. The only thing that will redeem the running? It's at the end, so it's the only way I'll get across the finish line.
And once I'm done, give Sally Edwards a high five, and collapse on the ground for a couple of min, I'm sure I feel like a kid again. At least until I take my son to his very 1st flag football practice that afternoon!
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Wardrobe Malfunction in the Making?
I admit it, I'm bagging out on training again today. This is the one thing I need to worry most about with the Tri moving to 10/22, thinking, "Aww, it's 3 months off, I can skip a day..." However, I have been careful to make sure that I'm only doing this when I have a) no childcare or b) other exercise so that I can mentally justify my slackerness. Today it was three hours trying to keep up with Kindergarteners at the zoo.
So today I'm going to focus on something that continues to weigh heavy on my mind (get it- weigh heavy tee-hee) what on EARTH am I going to wear for this thing?
Tomorrow is our 1st open water swim, and I think I'm the only one who doesn't have a wetsuit. Let's be real, it's my 1st tri. Do I really want to spend that kind of $$ on something I may only use once? And if I do another tri- I'm hoping to need a significantly smaller size, right?
But in other wardrobe areas- where do I want to go? I was all excited about the fact that my butt only hurt for the 1st 5 min or so of my "run" on Saturday since I tried to go with out something padded (I think I mentioned, can't run in my bike skort... it rolls down as I go) since they don't make "tri shorts" in super big booty size, and I don't think I want to run in padded shorts anyway. My coach suggested a gel seat cover, and unpadded shorts. I'm looking in to this now.
So beyond that controversy... what am I going to wear on top? Should I bite the bullet and get a bike top that's big enough, and therefore long enough for me to keep me from developing a sunburn tramp stamp on my lower back? I really like the idea of getting out of the water and and slipping on a dress... but do I need to pockets? And does anyone MAKE the dress in a XXXL? Let's face it, even as I lose some flab on the bottom, the girls are hard pressed to fit in even that size...
So there's my musings for today. Picked up a Champion C9 skort in XXL at Target today, but the shorts have a 1" inseam... so I'll have to break out the body glide if I'm to make that work... at least as I sit here typing it's riding up, not down. Will report back once I take it out for a spin.
So today I'm going to focus on something that continues to weigh heavy on my mind (get it- weigh heavy tee-hee) what on EARTH am I going to wear for this thing?
Tomorrow is our 1st open water swim, and I think I'm the only one who doesn't have a wetsuit. Let's be real, it's my 1st tri. Do I really want to spend that kind of $$ on something I may only use once? And if I do another tri- I'm hoping to need a significantly smaller size, right?
But in other wardrobe areas- where do I want to go? I was all excited about the fact that my butt only hurt for the 1st 5 min or so of my "run" on Saturday since I tried to go with out something padded (I think I mentioned, can't run in my bike skort... it rolls down as I go) since they don't make "tri shorts" in super big booty size, and I don't think I want to run in padded shorts anyway. My coach suggested a gel seat cover, and unpadded shorts. I'm looking in to this now.
So beyond that controversy... what am I going to wear on top? Should I bite the bullet and get a bike top that's big enough, and therefore long enough for me to keep me from developing a sunburn tramp stamp on my lower back? I really like the idea of getting out of the water and and slipping on a dress... but do I need to pockets? And does anyone MAKE the dress in a XXXL? Let's face it, even as I lose some flab on the bottom, the girls are hard pressed to fit in even that size...
So there's my musings for today. Picked up a Champion C9 skort in XXL at Target today, but the shorts have a 1" inseam... so I'll have to break out the body glide if I'm to make that work... at least as I sit here typing it's riding up, not down. Will report back once I take it out for a spin.
Monday, June 15, 2009
Can Somebody Check My Back...
... I can't seem to find the zipper to this fat suit!
I was working from home today, sitting in my fav spot with my laptop on my lap when I noticed that I have ROCK HARD quads. Not sure about any other muscles, but I think there's some pretty decent muscle tone under this padding...
I really think that the swimming, biking, running, and CLOTHES SHOPPING would be easier if it would just magically disappear.
This would not make me an athlete, but would sure as hell make it easier to pretend that I play one on TV. Crap, I'm never on TV, even on accident anymore... play on in my not so secret blog life?
Didn't swim yesterday after Pilates kicked my booty- was PLANNING to swim AND run/walk (I refuse to call what I do running) but when I got to the pool I noticed that the track that is next to the pool (Issaquah Middle School) is not open as I thought it would be. POOP!
So I did more swimming than was on the schedule to make up for it. I did a 1/2 mile in less than 30 min, not really trying to go fast, just trying to keep going. Usually I have long rests. Not tonight. I still used fins, but since I'm still working on breathing and form, I'm not going to beat myself up there.
So the everything happens for a reason moment was as I was about to leave. This woman who I saw doing laps when I was there last week saw me wearing my Trek Training shirt that I meant to go run in. She asked if I was training, and I told her about it moving to Sept. She has done several triathlons, LOVES it, and the only reason she didn't sign up for the Trek was that she's out of town July5. She's going to sign up, and she was super excited.
So I'm part of my way to my goal of getting someone to try something crazy... she's just already done it before so she doesn't really count as getting 100% there.
Tomorrow is a bike ride- after a TON of walking on a field trip to the zoo. Wed is our 1st open water swim. I do not have a wetsuit (DO NOT want to buy one this size!) so this could get interesting!
I was working from home today, sitting in my fav spot with my laptop on my lap when I noticed that I have ROCK HARD quads. Not sure about any other muscles, but I think there's some pretty decent muscle tone under this padding...
I really think that the swimming, biking, running, and CLOTHES SHOPPING would be easier if it would just magically disappear.
This would not make me an athlete, but would sure as hell make it easier to pretend that I play one on TV. Crap, I'm never on TV, even on accident anymore... play on in my not so secret blog life?
Didn't swim yesterday after Pilates kicked my booty- was PLANNING to swim AND run/walk (I refuse to call what I do running) but when I got to the pool I noticed that the track that is next to the pool (Issaquah Middle School) is not open as I thought it would be. POOP!
So I did more swimming than was on the schedule to make up for it. I did a 1/2 mile in less than 30 min, not really trying to go fast, just trying to keep going. Usually I have long rests. Not tonight. I still used fins, but since I'm still working on breathing and form, I'm not going to beat myself up there.
So the everything happens for a reason moment was as I was about to leave. This woman who I saw doing laps when I was there last week saw me wearing my Trek Training shirt that I meant to go run in. She asked if I was training, and I told her about it moving to Sept. She has done several triathlons, LOVES it, and the only reason she didn't sign up for the Trek was that she's out of town July5. She's going to sign up, and she was super excited.
So I'm part of my way to my goal of getting someone to try something crazy... she's just already done it before so she doesn't really count as getting 100% there.
Tomorrow is a bike ride- after a TON of walking on a field trip to the zoo. Wed is our 1st open water swim. I do not have a wetsuit (DO NOT want to buy one this size!) so this could get interesting!
Saturday, June 13, 2009
Courage and the Casual Athlete
I know, it's hard to think of a triathlon as "casual" but I'm not a pro, or even a competitive athlete.
So during Wednesday's group workout, I started to think about the courage it takes to do something like this. I hear from my friends that they are proud or impressed. When I sign up for something like this or the three day, it doesn't usually occur to me that this is a big deal until I'm already pretty committed.
Wed we were at Redmond High, a track workout, and there were some kids taking graduation pics on the field while we (ok I) huffed and puffed around. So many of the ladies on my team seem like they have SOME type of athletic background.
That would not be me. I was the kid who would rather read a book than play outside (still am) and the only time I was involved in sports was as a basketball player in 7th & 8th grade. So I'm trying to set my son up in a different way. I don't over program his life, but he's almost always got SOME physical activity scheduled. I want it to be the norm for him.
For people who start athletic, it doesn't take the same type of resolve to keep going. My son is small, one of the youngest in his grade, and has my klutz gene. For him, the courage will come when he doesn't do well, or if other kids give him the hard time.
For me, it's sticking with it. I was REALLY self concious Wed, and again on our Bike/Run brick today. I've never really liked for people to look at me. I kept feeling like people are thinking "Why is that fat chick on a bike?" or "Is that fat chick trying to run?" I like to wear my "Trek" training shirt so that people can see I have a purpose, but I tend to feel not good
enough to be out there.
That's when I decided that what I'm doing now takes more than just some stubborn. It takes a decent amount of courage. It's not that hard to resolve to start. It's not even that hard to get going. I'm always so excited to start something new, full of promise and energy.
The hard part is to keep going. There are days I don't want to train. But the only person I'm cheating is the me that's going to be dragging my butt over the finish line. But when your legs are sore and your knees are weak, there is courage in picking a spot on the track and saying, "I will run to there," then getting to that spot and saying, "you know what- I can keep going to there." There is no shame in walking, but there IS shame in never trying to push your limits.
So during Wednesday's group workout, I started to think about the courage it takes to do something like this. I hear from my friends that they are proud or impressed. When I sign up for something like this or the three day, it doesn't usually occur to me that this is a big deal until I'm already pretty committed.
Wed we were at Redmond High, a track workout, and there were some kids taking graduation pics on the field while we (ok I) huffed and puffed around. So many of the ladies on my team seem like they have SOME type of athletic background.
That would not be me. I was the kid who would rather read a book than play outside (still am) and the only time I was involved in sports was as a basketball player in 7th & 8th grade. So I'm trying to set my son up in a different way. I don't over program his life, but he's almost always got SOME physical activity scheduled. I want it to be the norm for him.
For people who start athletic, it doesn't take the same type of resolve to keep going. My son is small, one of the youngest in his grade, and has my klutz gene. For him, the courage will come when he doesn't do well, or if other kids give him the hard time.
For me, it's sticking with it. I was REALLY self concious Wed, and again on our Bike/Run brick today. I've never really liked for people to look at me. I kept feeling like people are thinking "Why is that fat chick on a bike?" or "Is that fat chick trying to run?" I like to wear my "Trek" training shirt so that people can see I have a purpose, but I tend to feel not good
enough to be out there.
That's when I decided that what I'm doing now takes more than just some stubborn. It takes a decent amount of courage. It's not that hard to resolve to start. It's not even that hard to get going. I'm always so excited to start something new, full of promise and energy.
The hard part is to keep going. There are days I don't want to train. But the only person I'm cheating is the me that's going to be dragging my butt over the finish line. But when your legs are sore and your knees are weak, there is courage in picking a spot on the track and saying, "I will run to there," then getting to that spot and saying, "you know what- I can keep going to there." There is no shame in walking, but there IS shame in never trying to push your limits.
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
Just a small town girl, livin' in a lonely world
Yes, I've had "Don't Stop Believing" stuck in my head for days. I blame Glee, and Bedtime Stories, which we watched with my son about the time it started...
Tonight was a swim. Swimming is deceptively tiring. I did the whole length of what I'll do for the tri, a half of a mile in about 40 min, and felt like I could keep going forever. Unfortunately, I felt much more that way with my practice fins on.
The good news is that I didn't have to stop and float on my back at all. I at least made it to the wall before I took a short rest.
The bad news? I think I swim much more slowly when I'm not training with my team.
Since I'm going to do a little more outreach to recruit people to my little blog here, just want to explain my purpose again. Part of what I want to do is a social networking experiment, to see if I can get attention to the effort. But my MAIN point here is to prove to myself, and anyone else who is interested, that I can do this.
My stated goal is to get ONE woman who didn't think that she could do something like a tri to go for it. But to get to that goal, I'll need to know what YOU think? What keeps you from giving it a try?
Tonight was a swim. Swimming is deceptively tiring. I did the whole length of what I'll do for the tri, a half of a mile in about 40 min, and felt like I could keep going forever. Unfortunately, I felt much more that way with my practice fins on.
The good news is that I didn't have to stop and float on my back at all. I at least made it to the wall before I took a short rest.
The bad news? I think I swim much more slowly when I'm not training with my team.
Since I'm going to do a little more outreach to recruit people to my little blog here, just want to explain my purpose again. Part of what I want to do is a social networking experiment, to see if I can get attention to the effort. But my MAIN point here is to prove to myself, and anyone else who is interested, that I can do this.
My stated goal is to get ONE woman who didn't think that she could do something like a tri to go for it. But to get to that goal, I'll need to know what YOU think? What keeps you from giving it a try?
Monday, June 8, 2009
Waist- >2 in, Hip > 1.5 in, Chest- SAME
WTF. First, I spent 40 min writing a lovely blog about the wonderful community that I'm meeting as I train for this tri... and then it got lost.
Now, I measure and yes, losing in waist & hips, but NOT AT ALL in the chest. If I get down a bra size & don't get down a cup size, I'm going to be TICKED. But this blog is not all about my boobs... I digress.
So I have a BUNCH of workouts to catch up on here, but I'll just hit the highlights.
Last Wed: Wed & Sat are our group days- and last week was pretty hot. We did a bike/run brick, and our very first transitions. I learned two important things.
1) My bike Skort doesn't work for running. Slips down @ the waist when I try. Not a good look. Now considering taking a skort, putting bike shorts on UNDER, and then taking that layer off at transitions. Saves the butt from pain and saves the world from seeing the butt...
2) My teammates are amazing people. I'm still the slowest, by far. I was about 2/3 of the way through the bike ride, passing the whole team just before I hit the 1/2 way turn around. So when I heard one of my teammates come up behind me, I was confused. She came back for me so that I wouldn't have to ride alone. I managed to not start crying until we finished the ride and I was transitioning to run.
Saturday: We went to Coleman Pool- I learned that chlorinated salt water is NASTY, I LOVE using fins to practice, and that I need a map of the park before I go next time. I also learned not to follow the coach's boyfriend straight up what seemed like 500 stairs.
Sunday: Pilates getting better. Instructor didn't work me to fatigue, but I still bailed on running since I was pretty beat.
Today: Miscalculated the time to get home uphill, so I went long, but still OK. My butt feels fine. Best it's been after a ride yet. This means one of two things, either I've figured out how to sit, or I'm growing immune.
Tomorrow is a swim, Wed is a team track run. The BEST thing I noticed after the horrible stairs on Sat? I may get winded super easily, but I'm recovering faster. It's good to know that I'm getting somewhere with cardio health. Maybe sometime I'll even be able to run... NAH!
Now, I measure and yes, losing in waist & hips, but NOT AT ALL in the chest. If I get down a bra size & don't get down a cup size, I'm going to be TICKED. But this blog is not all about my boobs... I digress.
So I have a BUNCH of workouts to catch up on here, but I'll just hit the highlights.
Last Wed: Wed & Sat are our group days- and last week was pretty hot. We did a bike/run brick, and our very first transitions. I learned two important things.
1) My bike Skort doesn't work for running. Slips down @ the waist when I try. Not a good look. Now considering taking a skort, putting bike shorts on UNDER, and then taking that layer off at transitions. Saves the butt from pain and saves the world from seeing the butt...
2) My teammates are amazing people. I'm still the slowest, by far. I was about 2/3 of the way through the bike ride, passing the whole team just before I hit the 1/2 way turn around. So when I heard one of my teammates come up behind me, I was confused. She came back for me so that I wouldn't have to ride alone. I managed to not start crying until we finished the ride and I was transitioning to run.
Saturday: We went to Coleman Pool- I learned that chlorinated salt water is NASTY, I LOVE using fins to practice, and that I need a map of the park before I go next time. I also learned not to follow the coach's boyfriend straight up what seemed like 500 stairs.
Sunday: Pilates getting better. Instructor didn't work me to fatigue, but I still bailed on running since I was pretty beat.
Today: Miscalculated the time to get home uphill, so I went long, but still OK. My butt feels fine. Best it's been after a ride yet. This means one of two things, either I've figured out how to sit, or I'm growing immune.
Tomorrow is a swim, Wed is a team track run. The BEST thing I noticed after the horrible stairs on Sat? I may get winded super easily, but I'm recovering faster. It's good to know that I'm getting somewhere with cardio health. Maybe sometime I'll even be able to run... NAH!
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
The Swish Swish Song
Ok, so it's not a song, but I discovered last night why I NEED to have music when I walk/run. So that I don't have to listen to the sound of my chub rub swishing as I moved.
I took the dog with me for the first time, and it amazed me that I could hear his nails click on the sidewalk over the sound.
It amazed me I could hear my breath wheeze when I was trying to push my heart rate over the sound.
It seemed so loud, I half expected people to come out of their houses to yell, "What the hell is that Swish Swish sound??"
Needless to say, next run/walk will involve music. And since it's my 1st brick tomorrow with the team (we're doing a bike/run set) it will not involve the dog.
Had to miss another day today- more meetings for DH until after dark/too late for the gym. Considering getting out my Pilates DVD just so that I don't feel like a total waste, but it's REALLY hot (for a Seattle girl) so it's hard to convince myself to move. Perhaps once DH falls asleep- I can make him take the dog so that he doesn't try to lick me while I work out. (Dog, not husband. That would be awkward.)
Will update after tomorrow's brick if I can run in my bike Skort with out feeling like I'm wearing a diaper or having to pull it up the whole time. Fingers are crossed.
I took the dog with me for the first time, and it amazed me that I could hear his nails click on the sidewalk over the sound.
It amazed me I could hear my breath wheeze when I was trying to push my heart rate over the sound.
It seemed so loud, I half expected people to come out of their houses to yell, "What the hell is that Swish Swish sound??"
Needless to say, next run/walk will involve music. And since it's my 1st brick tomorrow with the team (we're doing a bike/run set) it will not involve the dog.
Had to miss another day today- more meetings for DH until after dark/too late for the gym. Considering getting out my Pilates DVD just so that I don't feel like a total waste, but it's REALLY hot (for a Seattle girl) so it's hard to convince myself to move. Perhaps once DH falls asleep- I can make him take the dog so that he doesn't try to lick me while I work out. (Dog, not husband. That would be awkward.)
Will update after tomorrow's brick if I can run in my bike Skort with out feeling like I'm wearing a diaper or having to pull it up the whole time. Fingers are crossed.
Monday, June 1, 2009
New Bat Time, Same Bat Channel
Ok, it's been WAY longer than I meant for it to be since the last time I wrote. In the interim, I took three days off of training while DH was out of town and I couldn't figure out how to get in while the kiddo was alseep, had my 1st day back @ pilates since i started training & remembered OTHER muscles that get sore, and the tri moved 2 months.
What is that you say, it moved? Yes, it moved. Someone at the City of Seattle finally looked at staffing and a calendar, and realized they don't have the resources to do this kind of event on July 5th. Duh.
So now it has moved to September 20th. ON the plus side, since I'm so amazingly slow, I have more time to start training. On the down side... I have to spend more time training. My team is working on some modifications & some of the ladies are going to find another event to do over the summer, but I REALLY feel like a women's only event is the best thing for me for my 1st time, and let's face it, I could use the extra practice.
I'm also going to bite the bullet & mention this random blog to my FB friends, hoping to stop hijacking their pages with the current status of my butt hurting, so for those of you who are now checking out my ramblings, welcome.
This will now be at least a 4 1/2 month blog effort, and for anyone who wants to join me in training or on the tri now that we've got more time... the more the merrier!
What is that you say, it moved? Yes, it moved. Someone at the City of Seattle finally looked at staffing and a calendar, and realized they don't have the resources to do this kind of event on July 5th. Duh.
So now it has moved to September 20th. ON the plus side, since I'm so amazingly slow, I have more time to start training. On the down side... I have to spend more time training. My team is working on some modifications & some of the ladies are going to find another event to do over the summer, but I REALLY feel like a women's only event is the best thing for me for my 1st time, and let's face it, I could use the extra practice.
I'm also going to bite the bullet & mention this random blog to my FB friends, hoping to stop hijacking their pages with the current status of my butt hurting, so for those of you who are now checking out my ramblings, welcome.
This will now be at least a 4 1/2 month blog effort, and for anyone who wants to join me in training or on the tri now that we've got more time... the more the merrier!
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