Thursday, July 31, 2008

Swapping not Skipping

The kids start school tomorrow. Hard to believe summer is over. Due to the kids going to school and me having to work, I would not have had time to get in the required 2200 yard swim and 2:20 bike. So I did them today and am saving today's 2800 yard swim for tomorrow.
I did the swim this morning before Ronnie left for work. Then I did the bike inside on the trainer at about 1:00 this afternoon. The plan called for hills so I did the Pedaling Strength DVD. It has been a while since I did that kind of trainer time and it took a lot of will power to keep going. How easy it is to just quit, don't have to keep going just to get home. But I did it and ended up with 35.5 miles of mostly big gear turning. I was sweating buckets.
On the hamster front...even an old grouch like Ronnie could not be mad once he saw how happy his daughter was. Helped that Dexter is cute too. He is a very sweet little guy and hasn't bitten any of us yet despite being man handled. He had spent most of the day sleeping and I am just waiting on the sound of his little wheel spinning to start.

Wednesday, July 30, 2008

Dexter

Today could very well be my last day here on Earth. Casey has been begging for a hamster and decided that is what she wanted for her birthday. So while we were in M'boro school shopping, we went to Pet Smart. Meet Dexter.Ronnie is going to kill me! He just said last night "we don't need a hamster, we are on the go way too much". Peyton (the dog) isn't too crazy about Dexter either. She does like the hamster treats though, hope she doesn't get sick.

At least I got in good workout before I die. Plan called for 1:40 ride and 0:30 run. I rode the same route as yesterday adding on Pomroy. It was a little short and I made it home in 1:33. Close enough. Plus my legs were feeling VERY tired. I averaged a whole 1 mph slower today then yesterday. The run was about the same as yesterday's, slow. I wasn't feeling great afterward. I have been tired all day.

Tuesday, July 29, 2008

I Don't Mountain Bike

Today's plan called for a one hour mountain bike and an hour ten run. I don't mountain bike and I am not starting for this plan!
So I just set out on my road bike at 5:30 this morning. I did some poor planning and ended up riding for 1:15. It felt good to be back outside on my bike. All that indoor stationary bike riding last week got old.
I returned home, changed shoes, and went out for a nice slow run. I wanted to quit several times. It was getting hot and I was still so tired. I finished all 70 minutes and am glad I did.
As cross training I cut the grass. Both the push mower and the weed eater died on me.
I have thought about doing ab ripper and weights (from yesterday), but I haven't gotten around to it. It's not going to happen now.
Tomorrow is regestration for the kids at school. I just found out they both got the teachers I wanted for them!! So tomoorw we just pick up the paperwork.

Monday, July 28, 2008

Time to get Back to Business

We got home this morning at 2. I slept for a few hours then got up for work. I decided to skip the swim this morning and do it this afternoon. Well, now I am too tired and just don't feel like it. Instead, I am going to bed early and getting back to hardcore tomorrow.

We had a great time on vacation and I actually got in some of the workouts. This is how it went.


Sunday:
Plan-rest day
Actual-travel day

Monday:
Plan- 40 minute run and 2300 yard swim
Actual-40 minute run on treadmill, lots of beer drinking in the rain

Tuesday:
Plan-1:10 bike and weights
Actual-1:10 bike on stationary bike, weights (had to skip the leg press since they didn't have that machine), 10 minute open water swim. water was VERY rough from the tropical storm and that is all I could stand fighting the waves. Drank more beer and watched the waves instead.

Wednesday:
Plan-1 hour run and 3250 yard swim
Actual- 1 hour treadmill run

Thursday:
Plan-1:30 easy spin and stretch/core
Actual- 32:50 pool swim and 1:30 easy spin

Friday:
Plan-1:20 run and 4200 yard swim
Actual- 1:20 run on beach (man that is HARD)

Saturday:
Plan-3:00 bike
Actual-1:10 spin. It was HOT in the room, I was bored, I had done the 3 hour ride the week before knowing I would never make it, I wanted to get out to the beach and the cold beer...

Sunday-
Plan-rest day
Actual-travel day

So that is it. I missed way too much of the swimming, drank way too much, and ate stuff I shouldn't have, but we had a GREAT time!!!!

Now it is time to get back to business, no more skipped workouts.

Saturday, July 19, 2008

Final Plea


I have until the end of the month to raise another $225.
If you can spare a few bucks, sponsor me here.
or you can mail in a check to
HOW100
2410 Patterson Street Suite 110
Nashville, TN 37203

It is a great cause and EVERY penny of contributions will go directly to research.

thanks for your help

Week of Stretching

The plan called for stretching 3 times this week. I am glad I have that x-stretch DVD because today I might have touched my toes and called it done.
Thursday was stretching only. So x-stretch and ab ripper it was.
Friday was an 1:10 run followed by a 1800 yard swim.
Today was stretching, abs and a 2 hour ride. I did 3 since I will be on vacation next weekend and there is no way I will be riding for 3 hours in Mexico.
I managed to get myself lost on today's ride. It was fun at first, new places, new scenes. But then I wondered if I would ever find my way home. I called Ronnie and tried to get him to figure out where I was. By the time he did, I had turned around and just did an out and back. Ended up with 51.9 miles.

Wednesday, July 16, 2008

Fear

One thing I hate about training alone is that I worry about something happening to me and there not being anyone around to call for help.
One of those something is Coyotes! All winter running alone in the dark on back country roads I would jump at every sound. But this summer, since it is light out, I haven't even given coyotes another thought. Until yesterday...
I went out on my bike at first light for a 45 minute easy spin. I wasn't 3 miles into my ride when a coyote came running across the road in front of me!!! Scared the sh!t out of me. So much for a zone 1 ride.
I made it home and changed shoes for the 30 minute run. I decided to stay in my neighborhood and avoid all wild creatures.

This morning I knew I had a long workout on schedule, so I prepared. I told my boss I wouldn't be in until 9:00, I pack the kids lunches and laid out clothes last night.
I met Tracy, Eric, and Lana at the rec center. Tim was out running and Lana waited for him while the rest of us went out so we could pick up Amy on the way. We had a great ride, 24 miles. Afterwards, I went inside for a 2900 yard swim. I ended up having to cut out the 200 yard cool down because it was 8:00 by that time and Ronnie said he had to leave at 8:15.
I was still rushed today and my hair looks like crap but I made it to work on time and didn't have to fuss at anyone.

Monday, July 14, 2008

Quick Check In

Still have a million things to do before bed but wanted to do a quick check in before I get too far behind again.
Yesterday was a "recovery" day. 30 min easy spinning and 20 minute run off. I headed out on my bike at 5:30am. It was cloudy, cool, and still on the dark side. Then it started to mist. I rode an easy 7.7 miles, made a potty stop, then ran 2.04 miles extra easy.

This morning I PROMISED myself no rushing, no fussing, get the day off to a good start. I hit snooze. I am so not a snooze person. I did get up before the second alarm but now I was already 7 minutes behind schedule. I went to the rec center and did 2.85 miles in 25 minutes then went inside and swam 2000 yards.
But I was prepared this morning. I had lunches and backpacks already packed and my clothes ironed. We were still rushing out the door late but it was a much calmer rush.
Tonight I did the 1 hour x-stretch DVD and the 15 minute ab ripper DVD that came with the P90X. The stretching felt great.
Now a little bragging on my child. Got a call from her gymnastics instructor this evening. She wants to move her up to the next class. She will be 8 soon, going into the 3rd grade. The class she is moving into is all middle school and high school girls. The instructor says she is ready, the bigger girls will make her push herself more. I hope I am doing the right thing.

Saturday, July 12, 2008

Morning Rush


I have been grumpy all week.

These early mornings and too late nights are catching up with me. I have gotten up at 4:45 every day this week and I am not getting to bed early enough. Even getting up early I am still rushed to get my workout done, get home, get myself and kids ready, and get out the door on time. I can't even tell you how many days Casey went to day camp with just a finger combing and a ponytail.

Yesterday was the worst day so far. I had a 35 minute run and a 2500 yard swim. I was moving in slow motion. For the run I only got in 3.55 miles and the swim took 54:32. I got home to find Ronnie getting in the shower and the kids still asleep. It was a mad rush to get out the door so that the kids didn't miss the bus for the field trip. I end up fussing at the kids to hurry and we all end up grouchy.

Thursday, July 10, 2008

Trainer Riding

The plan called for a trainer ride this morning followed by a 40 minute run.

The ride was 10 minute warm up then 5 minutes each at 60, 70, 80, 90 rpms, then back down 80, 70, 60 and a 10 minute cool down. 55 minutes total. I was sweating buckets by the end. Forgot how hot I get on that trainer.
The run was suppose to be low hear rate, pretty running again. I picked up the puppy at the end of my run. He got spooked by a car once and a dog another time. Both times he ran under my feet and almost tripped me. He is lucky he is just so darn cute.

Wednesday, July 09, 2008

Back in Business

A while back my HRM quit working. I never remembered to put a new battery in it and when I finally did it still didn't work.
Recently the plan had a heart rate run scheduled and since I didn't have my HRM working I just ran it based on feel. Doesn't really work well for me.
So last night I finally remembered to see what I could do to get the stupid thing working again. Found a rest menu and got back in business.
This morning it was up at 4:45 after a very sleepless night. Bryce ended up in bed with us at midnight. He wasn't feeling good yesterday. It is amazing how much room such a small person can take up in the bed.
Anyway, The plan called for a 30 minute run and a 2500 yard continuous swim. So I was off to the rec center by 5:00.
I ran around town, not flat like the plan said, but I did run slow enough to keep my heart rate down (most of the time).
Then it was inside for the swim. 100 lengths, 50 laps. I wish I could say I lost count and threw in a few extra but I didn't, I just swam slow. 2500 yards in 55:55.

Tuesday, July 08, 2008

Kickin' Off Week Four

Sunday was a scheduled rest day. I had planned to do the ab ripper DVD anyway but never got around it to. Totally lazy day. Love it.

Monday I ran for an hour around town then swam, remembered my suit this time. Lana was at the pool and asked what the schedule called for. I told her 500 warm up, 5 x 100 at T time minus something, and 500 cool down. My 5 x 100 I did as fast as I could but they were not T time minus much. When I got home I looked at The Plan again. Oops. The 5 x 100 were suppose to be done at a 6-7 of 10 effort level.

Today I met Don and Tracy at the Rec Center for a ride. We did the usual route. Ended up with 18.66 miles in 1:10. Tracy had a stop sign tip. Ouch.
After the ride I went inside for 3 set each of push ups, dips, pull ups, leg press, squats and jumping jacks. After work I did the ab riper DVD.

Saturday, July 05, 2008

Forgotten Suit

This morning I got to sleep in. It was wonderful!!!!
I drove over to the rec center at about 8:30 for my scheduled run, weights and swim.
I ran the greenway and town. It was suppose to be a speed run but the plan called for planned marathon pace minus 30 seconds. I don't have a planned marathon pace! I just hope to finish the thing. So i just ran. I ended up with a 9:11 overall pace for just under 54 minutes. For the last mile I had to potty BAD so as soon as I got back to the Rec Center, I stopped my watch and ran to the bathroom.
I went upstairs and did the required weights. 2 sets each of squats, pull downs, leg presses, rows, leg extensions and leg curls. then I threw in 2 sets of triceps, I hate that under arm jiggle.
I realized I had forgotten to pack my swim suit. I thought about swimming in my running clothes but decided against it. I went home.
I have tossed around the idea of swimming in my pool but it is so short it makes doing laps tough. Now it is pouring rain so looks like I am just skipping the workout. Guess if I don't make it out of the water in 2:20 or less on Nov 1st I can blame this missed swim. :)

Friday, July 04, 2008

Happy 4th of July


Hope everyone is having a great 4th.
I have already gotten my 2 hour ride finished and put a coat of paint on the bathroom walls. Now it is time to make lunch and enjoy the holiday.

I rode this morning with Tracy. I left my house at 5:15 at first light and rode toward Tracy's house. I met up with her and we rode a 25 mile loop and then I rode home.

I am doing a 100 mile ride on Sept 6, the HOW10. It is a fundrasier for breast cancer research. I just got an email from them and they are offering a free bike jersey to anyone who can raise $500 by the end of the month. So if you can spare a couple of bucks and have paypal, go here and pick my name from the pull down. Thanks!!!

Wednesday, July 02, 2008

Arm Warmers in July

Here it is the second of July, I should NOT be using the word cold to describe my ride. But it was.
The Plan:
Bike-30 minutes easy spin in small chain ring, zone 1 only
Run-60 minutes on flat course, zone 1-2
Swim-2400 yards (300 Individual Medley, 3x150 free, 3x150 back, 3x150 breast, 3x150 kick board, 300 free easy)
I got up at 4:45 and was at the Rec Center ready to ride at 5:15. I was cold even with arm warmers on. I just did an out an back on the highway. Got in 8 miles.
Then I ran. The cold felt much better once I was on foot. I ran a few hills just because it is hard to find 6+ miles of flat road around here. I ended up with 6.39 miles.
Next it was inside to swim. This is the first time I have done the butterfly in YEARS. Man, that is one hard stroke. I had to skip 2 of the 3 sets of kick. I ran out of time, can't make Ronnie late for work.

Tuesday, July 01, 2008

Later

So far this week, I have been doing my training later then normal.
Sunday I met Tracy and Gary at 5:10 PM. We did a 20 mile ride then Tracy and I did a 30 minute run. I came home and did ab ripper.
Then Monday the pool didn't open until 2:00, so I had to wait until after work. I got to the rec center about 6:00 PM. I did the required weights very quickly then hit the pool. I ended up having to cut the swim a little short (I skipped the 200 yards of kick) so that I could get home and take my kids to the drive in. We stayed for both movies so it was after 1:00am when I got home.
I am off work today so I got to sleep until 6:30am. I got up and rode for 45 minutes (actually went to little long and got 47:30), ran for 20 minutes, then did ab ripper.
Now time to get some stuff done around this house.