Archives

I’m Baaaaack!!!!

Aug9

I’ve been away for sometime now.  I fell off the grid.    Since last we spoke, I’ve not only done my first triathlon, but a second with a third just around the corner.   I’ve also done two mud runs (Mudderella and Dirty Girl), a few 5K’s, and even a Half Marathon.  What started out as just something that I needed to do to prove myself has quickly spiraled into so much more.     I’ve made friends along the way that are helping me to improve not just my time, but also my skills.    My goal with every race is to finish.   I, of course, want to finish to the best of my ability; but finishing is my ultimate goal.  With every race that I finish, I am amazed at how far that I have come and further amazed by how far I still have to go.

I’m turning 45 next year and I think that may be the year I up my game to attempt to do an Olympic Triathlon and possibly even a full marathon.   The very thought of these things scares me, but motivates me at the same time.   Right now my whole training focus is on my next Iron Girl Sprint in September.   Then the following month I am going for  Hat Trick where I will run a 5K have about an hour break and then run a 10K.    Then go home eat, sleep, and get back up the next day to run a Half Marathon.    I toyed with just doing one of the races, but I wanted to take it up a notch (plus I might be slightly crazy:).

I realized that as my training progressed, I missed having a place to mull things over.   This is that place and I hope you will come along for the ride.

One good thing really does lead to another

May24

Now that I have turned the corner and am serious about my excercise, I really have started to watch what I eat.   There is something about running on a treadmil or taking a spin class and knowing that you burned a couple hundred calories.    Then later you go to eat something processed.   Look at the wrapper and it’s 300 calories with half of them being fat.   You begin to question weather it’s worth eating.   Luckily for me, the stores are also packed with lots of healthy, tasty alternatives:)

I’ve been adding a lot of fresh fruit to my diet.   This means so has my family.   Every night with dinner, I have been putting on the table a healthy fruit salad.   Not only have I been filling up on a big bowl of fruit, but so has my family.    Last night my one son even asked why we have been eating so much fruit.    That’s a good sign.

One of the problems though (not really) is that some of the snacks that I buy just for me, I’m finding that my children also enjoy.    As an example, the other day I bought myself to bags of large rice cakes.   I though that might be a nice treat since rice cakes of today are not the rice cakes we grew up on.    My oldest son comes out of his room where all teenagers hide.    Goes into the kitchen for a snacks and grabs some of my rice cakes.   I’m thinking he doesn’t realize that they are a healthy treat and I’m not telling him.   

But one good thing really is leading to so much more.   Not just for me, but for my whole family.     Children really do model their parents behavior and now, luckily they are modeling some good behavior too.

Training Can Only Take You So Far

May21

As you know, I’ve been working my behind off.   As the Army likes to say, “Be all I can be.”    The problem with that is that even though I am working on all I can be, my bike can only be a mountain bike.   Now, I will tell you when I signed up for this adventure I really didn’t think that would make a difference.    Was I ever wrong!!!!

Apparently, your bike and tires really do make a difference.   My girlfriend and I went out for a bike ride.   We calculated a loop that would be 5 miles.   We figured that we would do it twice.    She has a brand new Trek Road Bike.   I have a 15 year old mountain bike.    Figured I would have to work harder but no big deal.    Well she smoked me!!    Before I knew it she was a half a mile in front of me on a flat road!    We only did one loop as I just couldn’t keep up.

Now the question is what to do?   What to do?    It really doesn’t make sense to spend the money on a bike for one race.   Especially if this is the only one I’m going to do.   Although, I have a sneaky suspision there will be more in my future.    But it still doesn’t make sense until I’m sure.   If I buy a cheap one now, then I can’t justify getting a better one later.   What to do?   What to do?

I’m going to try to see if I can beg, borrow, or steal one.   Ok, not steal, but beg and borrow.   So fingers crossed because I would hate to do all this training and be outsmarted by my bike:

Live, Laugh, Love

Shhhh………

May9

As you know my Bootcamp days are behind me.   At first, I was saddened by this.   But as time has gone on and I’ve watched the bootcamps turn into more of a crossfit class, I am not as sad anymore.   Plus it has enabled me to expand my routine some.   I’m still tweaking it and I do think each week will be slightly different with just a few constants.

This week though, I did add something special to my routine.   I started with a Personal Trainer.   She was actually my Bootcamp instructor and I think she will be a good fit for me as we seem to mesh.    I will admit that on my way to the gym this morning that I was actually nervous to think that for a full half and hour her sole focus would be on me.   I was right!   It was worth it too!   On the outside, it may not have seemed like an aggressive workout but by the end I was dying.    Profusely sweating and all.   It was lovely:)

One thing that I did notice when working with her is that she kept telling me to slow it down.    I think many times, I am so focused on finishing the routine that I do rush it.    What a difference slowing it down makes though.   It gives a whole new burn to the exercises especially when working on Abs.    Then at the end, we (and I mean me) did planks.   Another exercise that looks so easy until you actually do it.    Then when she wants me to raise my leg, it brings it to a whole new level of torcher.    Good burn though.   I

I think what I need to do is keep my eyes on the prize.   Remember that I am doing this for me and only me.   As a mother of three boys and a big boy husband, I really don’t do much for just me.   I think this may be it.   Sad maybe, but more than likely true.    This is all about me.   So if I am going to do something just for me it minds well be something that is good for me.  Right?

When I started all of this I did not realize how committed I would become.    In my youth a million years ago, I really did love to work out.   It was a social thing that I did with my friends.   I forgot that I actually (shhhhh don’t tell anyone) like to go to the gym.   I do have a reputation to uphold:)

It’s gotten to the point that I actually feel guilty because today I only worked out for a half an hour.    God help me!   What is wrong with me?

Live, Laugh, Love

 

Just Do It!

May6

It really is amazing how when you first start out the impossible seems so out of reach.   Then with time and a lot of work, it seems like it might just be in your grasp.    I NEVER in a million years thought I would be able to do this and some days I still wonder if I will finish.    Then there are days like today where it finally seems like it is all coming together (even if I’m still stuck at the 10 pound mark.)

What changed?    Really nothing.    But I realized that my attitude has changed when I’m working out.   It’s not like, “What the Hell am I doing”   to “I can do this.”    Today, I went to the gym did my normal strength training for about an hour.    I was by myself and still pushed it……

Three sets –  wall balls with a 9 pound ball, jumping rope, and TRX rows

Then

Three sets – Abs, Renegade Rows, and lunges with weights

Then

Chest presses, tricept curls, and pushups

Finally

I ran without stopping for a little over 30 minutes and ran 3 miles.     I kept a good speed between 5.5 and 6.5 and also alternated incline.   I did not go crazy and kept the incline at no more than 1.    But I did it!

So the key seems to be as Nike says, “Just do it!”

Today I feel good.   We will see about tomorrow:)

Live, Laugh, Love

Which Way is up?

May1

Until recently, I’ve never even heard of a Bosu and then when I did,  I still didnt’ know what it was.   I walked past a class where people were jumping on a half a ball.   Looked strange.   One of my friends said it was intense and that we should try it.    Ok…….

Oh my God!!!   Intense was not the word.    I don’t think I sweated as much in any of the bootcamps or spin classes that I have taken since I started working out.    Wow!!   Intense really does not begin to describe a Bosu class.   Imagine bouncing on a ball while doing squats, lunges, and other things the instructor throws at you.   If you ever get a chance to take the class and don’t have a heart condition, take it.

I found out that BOSU stands for Both Sides Up.   It makes sense because the BOSU ball is really a half of ball that you can use either way.   Both ways hurt is what I do know!

Here is a small example I found online to demonstrate what a Bosu is…..

Looks like fun, doesn’t it?    I will say that as far as “fun” exercises go, this one really is one of the better one:)

Live, Laugh, Love

Sometimes You Just have to Say…..

Apr26

To quote a famous movie, sometimes you really do have to say what the heck.    Today is one of those days!    I have been really good.   I’ve been going to they gym on a regular basis and really been a good girl.    But today I need a day off.    I need to recharge himself and I also need to take care of myself other than training. This is just as important as the training.    

Today instead of getting up pulling my hair back into a ponytail and putting on  my gym clothes, I actually showed, put on some makeup, and did my hair.   My kids didn’t know what to think.    They looked at me like I had two heads and wanted to know where I was going.    I took this as a good sign.   This means that I’ve been going to the workout enough that it has become part of the family routine.     Yeah me!!

So today instead of working up a sweat, I am going to work on getting my feet pretty.   I’m meeting a friend for coffee and a spa pedicure.    My feet have been taking a beating with all this training.    And if I expect them to carry me across the finish line, I better plan on taking care of them.    Besides, I so need a pedicure!!!

Live, Laugh, Love

Getting Deeper and Deeper

Apr25

It seemed easy enough.  Ok, easy is not the right word, but it seemed straightforward.   One of my girlfriends says, “Hey your working out now.   You should sign up for the Tri with us.”   Seems reasonable.   Seems like a good way to set my goals.    I didn’t have a clue as to what I was signing up for!

Now as I’m into this training, reading up on it, and actually training; I realize that I really didn’t have a clue.    I don’t know what I was thinking.   It’s kind of like something one of my sisters said, “Most people start out small.   They sign up for a 5K or some other normal race.   Not you.   You have to sign up for the whole enchilada.”    I guess it’s a good thing that I really like enchiladas!    So onward I go.

I do admit that there might be some truth to what my sister said, but I have never been one to follow the normal path.    Why not jump in with both feet and swim a half mile while your at it.    But I will also admit that I really did not know how committed I would become to this training.   Not because I think I’m going to smoke the other races because I am really only competing for myself.   

My whole goal has just been to do this race and finish it.   I’m stubborn that way and I guess some of that stubbornness is finding it’s way into my training.    If I’m going to do this, I am going to do this to the best of my ability.   Now my ability is by no means that of a trained athlete, but I will still make it.    Please remember, up until mid January I was sitting on the couch with no exercise routine AT ALL.   Since then I have taken 2 months of Boot Camp,  started strength training, started running, and lets not forget spinning.    And to take it one step further, I just signed up for personal training with the Boot Camp instructor.   She has said, her goal is to get me ready for my Triathlon.    Oh Boy……

 

Live, Laugh, Love

Don’t Stop Believing

Apr24

The problem with training is that you never feel like you did enough or there is enough time to do what you want and keep up at home.     Today was Strength Training with my friend, but the problem was life got in the way.   My husband last minute needed me to do some errands for him which meant I didn’t get to the gym when I wanted.   My friend and I still managed to do a few things and then I spent some time on my own Strength   Training and doing Abs.   And for the love of all that is holey, can someone tell me when all these Ab exercises are going to kick in!?!   I am so tired of not seeing any toning with my abs.   I can’t be the only one.

Somehow I still managed to squeeze in an hour workout, plus a 30 minute run on the treadmill.   Not too shabby, if I do say so myself (and I do). 

Image 

Still…….

The doubts….

Am I making progress????

Can I do this?????

and

What was I thinking??????

 

I just read an article about how runners never feel like they are fast enough and this keeps many from joining running groups.    Even elite runners, don’t see themselves as they should.   I wonder if this is just human nature.   Yes, I know that there are those that think they are better than everyone else, but I believe these individuals are not the norm.  That is probably why we often notice them and roll their eyes at them too.

I believe most of us look in the mirror, the scale, the pant size, the time on the treadmill and it just never seems to be what we think  it should be.  We are plagued with self doubt.  We are are harshest critics and it is so easy to pick out the flaws.  But I guess the real test is what we do with those feelings?    Do we pack it in and say, “Never mind I will never be able to do this.   I will never be good enough.     What was I thinking.”     

I say no.    Not that I think I know what I’m talking about, but I do know what I need to do.   I need to keep on moving.    I need to keep believing that maybe, just maybe I will be able to do this.    They say it really is mind over matter and if I don’t believe I can do this, how will anyone else.

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Live, Laugh, Love

 

The Little Engine that Could

Apr23

I think I can.   I think I can.   I think I can.

But only if I prepare for it.

 

You know your  serious training, when you expect to be sore all the time.   I keep pushing myself.   Why I’m not sure.    I haven’t turned crazy with my training, but I really have started to push myself a little more.  I actually have a routine for my training now that I really try to stick to.

Monday – Total Body Strength Training
Tuesday – Bosu Class & Swim PM
Wednesday – Total Body Strength Training
Thursday – Spin
Friday – Total Body Strength Training
Saturday – Couch to 5k Training
Sunday – Rest Day

Looks like a decent training schedule.   Strength training is good, but it won’t get me across the finish line.   And when you think strength training, don’t think becoming a muscle head.   Think more whole body toning including abs.      But I realized that as time goes on, I am going to have to add more swimming, biking, and another day running.    So I am starting to take that up a notch.

Yesterday, my friend who I usually do the strength training with drove us both to the gym.   We clocked the distance and it is almost exactly the same distance that I will be running in the triathlon.   So what did I do with that knowledge?    I had my friend take my stuff with her when she left and I jogged home.    Not a fast jog and I did walk a little, but i did it.    This was my second time doing it.   Both times I have averaged a little more that 10 minute 40 seconds.    I hope I can keep this up…..

I really never imagined when I signed up for this how much training or how serious I would start to take it for this event.   I know people who are going to do it, who do very little training and still finish.    So I’m hoping that with all this training I am doing will help me finish well.   Now when I say “Well,”   I mean well for ME.    I have no illusions that I am going to finish in the top of the pack.   I just want to finish respectfully in the middle/back of the pack:)   I hope so…….

Live, Laugh, Love