Evening Swim
Tonight was the first time I have left for a workout while hubby was at home. He is OK with my training and very supportive but I don't like to take time away from him for my interests. I also don't really like swimming after dinner. I'll try to work things out better next time. Tomorrow is a rest day. Yeah!
Thursday, May 10, 2012
Vroom Vroom
What a beautiful day for a ride! The wind was under 10 mph and the temperature was in the mid 70s. It doesn't get any better than that. The only problem on the ride was my "sit bones" were very sore from my big ride a few days ago. My pace was a little slow but I enjoyed my 16 miles for the most part.
The best part of the day was when Traci and John W showed up to fix my bike. John had helped me on Saturday and was worried about me being on the road with a less than perfect axial. I heard their Harleys coming as they rumbled down the street of the neighborhood. Apparently they like motorized cycles too. Big one! After a few lessons in how to change out the axial and some pointers on how to make my bike flow a little better they were off again, and the echo of the vroom vroom had the neighbor kid's attention once more.
Traci is setting off on an amazing adventure for the summer. She's biking across America on her bike and traveling with all her needs on the bike with her; tent, food, sleeping bag, etc. I think she's crazy but a good kind of crazy. Traci is raising money for a local charity that helps those in need. I've added a link to her blog site so others can join in the cause and keep Traci peddling.
Traci's Bike Across America Blog
I've known Traci almost all my life and can say that running and cycling have made us even better friends. I've met so many wonderful, helpful, enthusiastic, dedicated, positive, I can't think of enough adjectives, people that I can't help but be humbled. I'm more healthy in mind and body and I wouldn't change a thing. Keep moving out there! Whatever you can, whenever you can.
What a beautiful day for a ride! The wind was under 10 mph and the temperature was in the mid 70s. It doesn't get any better than that. The only problem on the ride was my "sit bones" were very sore from my big ride a few days ago. My pace was a little slow but I enjoyed my 16 miles for the most part.
The best part of the day was when Traci and John W showed up to fix my bike. John had helped me on Saturday and was worried about me being on the road with a less than perfect axial. I heard their Harleys coming as they rumbled down the street of the neighborhood. Apparently they like motorized cycles too. Big one! After a few lessons in how to change out the axial and some pointers on how to make my bike flow a little better they were off again, and the echo of the vroom vroom had the neighbor kid's attention once more.
Traci is setting off on an amazing adventure for the summer. She's biking across America on her bike and traveling with all her needs on the bike with her; tent, food, sleeping bag, etc. I think she's crazy but a good kind of crazy. Traci is raising money for a local charity that helps those in need. I've added a link to her blog site so others can join in the cause and keep Traci peddling.
Traci's Bike Across America Blog
I've known Traci almost all my life and can say that running and cycling have made us even better friends. I've met so many wonderful, helpful, enthusiastic, dedicated, positive, I can't think of enough adjectives, people that I can't help but be humbled. I'm more healthy in mind and body and I wouldn't change a thing. Keep moving out there! Whatever you can, whenever you can.
Tuesday, May 8, 2012
First Swim In My Tri Suit!
It will never catch on at the beach, but for tri-swimming my new suit is cool! It isn't super tight (maybe I need a smaller size?) so it's not that hard to put on. It has handy pockets on the sides for supplies during the ride and run and enough support to keep the bounce to a minimum. My only problem was it sagged in the crotch when it was wet. This is most likely due to being too long in the torso. I'm fairly short waist-ed and it bunches around my middle a little. Add the weight of the water and it hangs down a little farther then I would like. But it did dry fairly quickly and was comfortable on the run. So fashionable or not, it's a keeper.
The run was pretty good. I'm still trying to double up on the distance and keep the intervals. My heart rate seems to be responding well to this training. I don't top out as high as I did in the beginning and my recovery beats per minute are dropping to where I want quickly. I still don't have the stamina that I want but I'll get there.
So, I look goofy in the pool, I look goofy when I run, but I don't care. The other night someone told me I keep looking younger all the time. Wow, that was great to hear. It makes looking goofy worth while.
It will never catch on at the beach, but for tri-swimming my new suit is cool! It isn't super tight (maybe I need a smaller size?) so it's not that hard to put on. It has handy pockets on the sides for supplies during the ride and run and enough support to keep the bounce to a minimum. My only problem was it sagged in the crotch when it was wet. This is most likely due to being too long in the torso. I'm fairly short waist-ed and it bunches around my middle a little. Add the weight of the water and it hangs down a little farther then I would like. But it did dry fairly quickly and was comfortable on the run. So fashionable or not, it's a keeper.
The run was pretty good. I'm still trying to double up on the distance and keep the intervals. My heart rate seems to be responding well to this training. I don't top out as high as I did in the beginning and my recovery beats per minute are dropping to where I want quickly. I still don't have the stamina that I want but I'll get there.
So, I look goofy in the pool, I look goofy when I run, but I don't care. The other night someone told me I keep looking younger all the time. Wow, that was great to hear. It makes looking goofy worth while.
Sunday, May 6, 2012
Record Ride!!
I'm taking a little break today but I think I've earned it. Yesterday I participated in my first long distance (at least for me) bike tour. My friend and I rode 62 miles and both set personal distance records on our bikes. It was an adventure from start to finish.
The ride was a "pick your distance" course so after looking at the map we decided to do the 62 mile route. The course was to take us by some of the country churches in the area and that distance took us by all of them. But my ride almost ended in the parking lot. I was checking the air in my tires when the valve core flew out. I didn't want to start with a risky tire and thankfully I had a spare tube, but my wheel wouldn't come loose from frame. I'm so grateful for the help of John W. for getting me fixed and ready to ride again. I felt so blessed that 9 riders waited for me to get up and running before they hit the road. What wonderful people!
We started our ride only 10 minutes behind everyone else and by the first SAG stop we were catching up to some of the slower riders. The going was pretty easy and we moved right along, even up the hills and over the brick streets of the first small town. At the second SAG stop we were feeling pretty good about the ride with 20 miles behind us.
The next 10 miles started to ware on me and by the time we got to the next town I was getting tired. But sitting in the shade of the church helped a lot. This was a lunch stop but I'm not a fan of peanut butter and jelly so I just ate some snacks and a banana. Big Mistake! Looking back I should have forced myself to eat more protein and gotten some electrolytes. I was drinking lots of water but not getting enough other things to keep my energy up. As a result I was out of gas and fading fast.
Also by then my feet were starting to give me problems. During long rides they tend to go dead and start hurting a lot. On the pain scale meter of 1-10 I would give them about an 8. The only help is to get off the bike and walk around trying to get feeling back in them. But we were determined to make our goal and what the heck, we were half way there. My friend Kate H. was a good sport about stopping when I needed to and slowing her pace to stay with me.
By then the temperature was over 90 and the wind had picked up. The next 10 miles took us into the wind to the little town of Schoenchen and a nice little church there. I was really questioning if I would make it peddling uphill against that wind. For a little while I really thought about calling it a day and having Kate ride with another group back to town and send a truck for me. But we sat in the shade of the church and rested with a group of riders and braced ourselves for the last third of our trek.
We went to the next SAG station and took a long break so I could gather my strength. We only had 9 miles to go and it was with the wind at our back and generally down hill. Halleluiah!
With stops at almost every three miles we made it back to the start with new personal records and pride in accomplishing something special. I won't say the last 1/3 of the ride was fun, but I now know I can push through adversity and finish what I start. I also learned that there are good caring people wherever you go and when you are surrounded with positive people anything is possible. I don't think I'm ready for a long ride again but I am proud that I tried something new. So I think I deserve a day off today but tomorrow starts week 4 of Tri-training. Woo Hoo!
I'm taking a little break today but I think I've earned it. Yesterday I participated in my first long distance (at least for me) bike tour. My friend and I rode 62 miles and both set personal distance records on our bikes. It was an adventure from start to finish.
We started our ride only 10 minutes behind everyone else and by the first SAG stop we were catching up to some of the slower riders. The going was pretty easy and we moved right along, even up the hills and over the brick streets of the first small town. At the second SAG stop we were feeling pretty good about the ride with 20 miles behind us.
Also by then my feet were starting to give me problems. During long rides they tend to go dead and start hurting a lot. On the pain scale meter of 1-10 I would give them about an 8. The only help is to get off the bike and walk around trying to get feeling back in them. But we were determined to make our goal and what the heck, we were half way there. My friend Kate H. was a good sport about stopping when I needed to and slowing her pace to stay with me.
By then the temperature was over 90 and the wind had picked up. The next 10 miles took us into the wind to the little town of Schoenchen and a nice little church there. I was really questioning if I would make it peddling uphill against that wind. For a little while I really thought about calling it a day and having Kate ride with another group back to town and send a truck for me. But we sat in the shade of the church and rested with a group of riders and braced ourselves for the last third of our trek.
With stops at almost every three miles we made it back to the start with new personal records and pride in accomplishing something special. I won't say the last 1/3 of the ride was fun, but I now know I can push through adversity and finish what I start. I also learned that there are good caring people wherever you go and when you are surrounded with positive people anything is possible. I don't think I'm ready for a long ride again but I am proud that I tried something new. So I think I deserve a day off today but tomorrow starts week 4 of Tri-training. Woo Hoo!
Friday, May 4, 2012
Fashion or Function
Workout clothes can be really cute, or they can be really not so cute. But cute is in the eye of the beholder.
Being a very practical person has it's advantages. I don't mind when the riding top I wear is bright, and I mean BRIGHT reflective yellow. I would rather the trucks and cars see me and hit the breaks rather then not see me and then look at my broken body and say, "By the way, that's a nice top she was wearing." The cycling shorts do nothing to make my backside look smaller, in fact the padding makes me look well rounded. But the padding is by far more important then a cute tush.
As for my Triathlon suit, well lets just say function far out distances fashion on that one. It's not overly tight but still shows every bump and bulge and I have too many of them to try and keep them all sucked in. I know they try to put a little style into the design but this is not going to be what one wears to the beach. It covers me from just under my neck to mid thigh. It is made to take you from swim to ride to run with no problems and I think it will do the job fine. Not too much padding to interfere with the swim and run, but enough to keep you in the saddle on the ride. I'll try it out next week when I hit the pool.
With shorts to mid thigh and socks over my ankles you can imagine the tan lines I'm getting. I always wear sunscreen and do my best to protect my skin. Somehow it just throws the look of sandals and a sun dress out the window. But I know why I have those tan lines and how hard I've worked to get them.
While my gear may be geared toward function, I think it's just fine and yes, cute. I feel good when I'm wearing it and I look better because if it. So I'll take function with a little bit of flair anyday.
Yesterdays workout was a 16.48 mile ride. Riding through town is not for me, especially on major streets. I'll take a different route next time.
Workout clothes can be really cute, or they can be really not so cute. But cute is in the eye of the beholder.
Being a very practical person has it's advantages. I don't mind when the riding top I wear is bright, and I mean BRIGHT reflective yellow. I would rather the trucks and cars see me and hit the breaks rather then not see me and then look at my broken body and say, "By the way, that's a nice top she was wearing." The cycling shorts do nothing to make my backside look smaller, in fact the padding makes me look well rounded. But the padding is by far more important then a cute tush.
As for my Triathlon suit, well lets just say function far out distances fashion on that one. It's not overly tight but still shows every bump and bulge and I have too many of them to try and keep them all sucked in. I know they try to put a little style into the design but this is not going to be what one wears to the beach. It covers me from just under my neck to mid thigh. It is made to take you from swim to ride to run with no problems and I think it will do the job fine. Not too much padding to interfere with the swim and run, but enough to keep you in the saddle on the ride. I'll try it out next week when I hit the pool.
With shorts to mid thigh and socks over my ankles you can imagine the tan lines I'm getting. I always wear sunscreen and do my best to protect my skin. Somehow it just throws the look of sandals and a sun dress out the window. But I know why I have those tan lines and how hard I've worked to get them.
While my gear may be geared toward function, I think it's just fine and yes, cute. I feel good when I'm wearing it and I look better because if it. So I'll take function with a little bit of flair anyday.
Yesterdays workout was a 16.48 mile ride. Riding through town is not for me, especially on major streets. I'll take a different route next time.
Wednesday, May 2, 2012
Oh, The People You See
Some of my fellow fitness fans are becoming familiar to me as I see them time and again on the road or in the pool. I wave or nod and they smile back and I'll never know their names or anything about them except they are moving and doing something to improve their health.
Like the older lady in the pool who keeps going and going and going. Not fast mind you, but steady. Or the man who runs like the hounds of hell are after him, arms flailing and face a mask of agony. Or the husband and wife who plod along, him in front looking for all the world like he doesn't want to be there and if SHE hadn't made him do it he would be sitting at home in the recliner. She trots behind and smiles and looks like she is the cat that ate the cream.
There are all types of people and all fitness levels out there, and all have a story to tell. I wonder what they think of me as I pass by.
Some of my fellow fitness fans are becoming familiar to me as I see them time and again on the road or in the pool. I wave or nod and they smile back and I'll never know their names or anything about them except they are moving and doing something to improve their health.
Like the older lady in the pool who keeps going and going and going. Not fast mind you, but steady. Or the man who runs like the hounds of hell are after him, arms flailing and face a mask of agony. Or the husband and wife who plod along, him in front looking for all the world like he doesn't want to be there and if SHE hadn't made him do it he would be sitting at home in the recliner. She trots behind and smiles and looks like she is the cat that ate the cream.
There are all types of people and all fitness levels out there, and all have a story to tell. I wonder what they think of me as I pass by.
Tuesday, May 1, 2012
Something You Don't See Everyday
I'm relatively new to swimming but even I know when you lap swim you stay in your lanes. Our pool only has ropes up for the first two lanes but the lines are clearly marked on the bottom of the pool. None of this explains the man who was doing his swim from side to side, across the lanes. I had to stop my swim at least 4 times to let him pass in front of me. I don't think he was a very confident swimmer and was afraid to go to the deep end, but still, that was strange. Finally as I was leaving he ventured to the far end of the pool and was hanging on to the side for dear life.
The swim was followed by a run and I'm really working to keep my heart rate under 160 but it's not easy. I'm doubling the time recommended for the run but keeping to the intervals suggested. As the time increases this is going to be hard to maintain. When the plan calls for increasing time by 10 minutes, that will be 20 minutes for me. Yikes. But keeping the intervals and working on my heart rate are going to pay off in the end.
All in all, it was a good workout. I survived the strange swimming guy and I felt like the run was OK. So starts week three of Tri-training.
I'm relatively new to swimming but even I know when you lap swim you stay in your lanes. Our pool only has ropes up for the first two lanes but the lines are clearly marked on the bottom of the pool. None of this explains the man who was doing his swim from side to side, across the lanes. I had to stop my swim at least 4 times to let him pass in front of me. I don't think he was a very confident swimmer and was afraid to go to the deep end, but still, that was strange. Finally as I was leaving he ventured to the far end of the pool and was hanging on to the side for dear life.
The swim was followed by a run and I'm really working to keep my heart rate under 160 but it's not easy. I'm doubling the time recommended for the run but keeping to the intervals suggested. As the time increases this is going to be hard to maintain. When the plan calls for increasing time by 10 minutes, that will be 20 minutes for me. Yikes. But keeping the intervals and working on my heart rate are going to pay off in the end.
All in all, it was a good workout. I survived the strange swimming guy and I felt like the run was OK. So starts week three of Tri-training.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)