Tag Archive | biking

Getting it done!!!!

Sep18

Today I finished a Sprint Triathlon that I’ve been loosely training for but steady enough that I felt confident that it was enough. This was not the race that I envisioned but was definitely the one I should have expected for several reasons…. Training being a key one.

I have been swimming. I have been biking. I have been running. I just might not have been doing enough nor did I do enough brick type workouts. I also realized that I never did one that incorporated swimming.

Here is the breakdown

Weather was literally picture perfect. Not to hot. Not to cold. Seriously just right.

The water looked calm to me, but that might have been because previous tri’s had extremely choppy waters. No wicked white caps of the past. To me it looked calm but hubby thought it looked choppy. Eye of the beholder I guess. Water temp was also perfect. Not shocking to walk in. So I got in the water feeling confident. Right up until I put my face in the murky water and a womans foot was kicking towards me. Luckily she did not connect. Then at the same time, a woman next to me started yelling “lifeguard. I need a lifeguard.” Then she was like “nevermind, I’m ok.” She may have been but I wasn’t. It really freaked me out and the rest of the swim was not so much a swim with all swim training going out the window, but an I’ve got to keep my head above water so I can keep saying WTF, WTF, WTF. I did no breaststroke. No butterfly. No backstroke. I ended up doing a combo of doggy paddle, sidestroke, and flailing in the water. I think lifeguards might have notice my non swimming swim as I noted one that seemed to follow me on his paddle board and then as I got clost to end was like “you’ve got this.” Lol

And I did….. Pulled myself out of the water. EXHAUSTED as I did not have a smart swim that didn’t expel a lot of energy. Shockingly I was 10:57 which I would have sworn was at least 20.

Get myself into transition and my head is not on straight. I am not thinking straight. I am exhausted. I am just thinking, put shoes on and go. Forget to put water on bike that had calcium in it (mistake). Don’t’ drink anything since I think I have my waterThrow a couple of jelly beans in my mouth and off I go. (1:04)

Almost immediately I feel how dead my legs are and the how exhuasted I am from swim. My lips start to tingle. I am just on autopilot. While biking, I did NOT pass one person but continuously heard “on your left.” To be honest during first lap, I thought I would not finish. I was contemplating stopping, But I didn’t. I just kept peddling and going. The volunteer at the turn around was saying, “slow down turn ahead.” I told him that if I slowed down anymore, I would be stopped. He said, “your are moving faster than those sitting at home.” So I kept going. 3rd and final loop, a 67 year old woman Kathy rode with me for a bit and we chatted. Then she passed me but I kept her in site. I made it to the finish of the bike as the last rider in making the elites look like elites. (1:07:43)

This time in Transition I remembered to drink some gaterade and more importantly talk some of calcium and my calcitriol. Contemplated stopping to use bathroom but figured if I stopped, I would never start. So off I went. (2:08)

With jello legs, I left for the “run.” Although I might actually call this a walk with purpose with short sprints of a run like you do when in a crosswalk and a car is coming. At this point, I knew no matter what, I would get to finish line. Part of me felt like I should push, but the part of the brain that deal with reality won out. There was no need to push myself to the point where it wouldn’t be good. This was not the day for that.

The last mile, I reconnected with Kathy and shadow followed her for a bit. We reconnected the last leg and walked for a bit. Then when we neared the finish, we ran. She asked if I wanted last or second to last as we were last on the course. I said, I would take pride in being last. We crossed the finish line together and hugged at the end. It was perfect! (44:22)

2:06:12

I seriously take pride in finishing. Done is done and that is all that matters!

Friday Five – Five Brands I LOVE!

Apr17

Here we are again for another Friday Five hosted by Eat, Pray, Run DC,   Mar on the Run, and You Signed Up for What? for hosting the Friday Five link-up!

Today’s theme

Five Brands I love

1.  Athleta – I think this should be a given being as I love their running pants, winter jacket, running vest, and basically anything that I buy from them.   Yes, they do cost more but they are worth it.   Sometimes you really do get what you pay for and with Athleta you are getting top quality.    Plus they have the best return policy I know.

10420312_1537789829803820_5425913518295000332_n

2.   Savory Spices – Yes, I know this is a running blog.   That being said it is important to fuel your body with tastey and healthy food to keep it going.   Love, love, love their spices.    It is a great way to flavor your food without added fat.  Although, I admit that I may have a Spice problem, but I think there are worse problems to have;)

savory spice

3.  Trek – I felt so much of a difference when I switched to my Trek bike for my Tri’s.   NO, I do not have the top of the line Trek.   I don’t even have the middle of the line, but I know that it has made a huge difference in my biking.  Maybe one day I will upgrade, but for now I’m good.

4.  Gu – you either love them or you hate them.   To me, I’m in the love them category and I like them to refuel.   They are easy to take, tastey too.    I don’t care how good something is to fuel me on a long workout, if I can’t eat it.   Personal favorites are Caramel and Strawberry/banana.  Yummy!

5.   North Face –  They have some really great products and by far my favorite running bra.   Fits comfy.   Small storage pocket.   Double layered.   No chaffing.  What more could a girl ask for?

What are your  top Five?

Can’t wait to see….

Starting off on the Right Foot:)

Mar10

So this week as I said I would do, I climbed back on the wagon.

Yesterday was a rest day and I took full advantage of it too.   I figured the best way to start off on the right foot is with not necessarily pretty feet but good feet..   It’s been a hard winter and my feet showed it.   I’ve also been majorly overdo for a pedicure too and my feet showed it.   Normally they ask if you want callouses removed.   This time it wasn’t phrased as a question but a statment.

I felt bad for the girl who practically had to use a hacksaw to fix my feet.

feet1

I think her expression reflects the level of duress that she was under! I think she should have been wearing a hazmat suit.  Don’t look too closely at this picture as you may loose your lunch.  Also my legs are wrapped and that is why they look they way they do.    I’m just glad the chairs next to me were empty!  Don’t worry, I tipped well.

She did a great job and now my feet are ready to begin my training.

feet2

Yes, even Finn will now sit at my feet:)

And Yes, I snuck in a picture of my dog.

Since I’m trying to modify my training not just to alleviate boredom but also to try to keep over training injuries at bay, today I did 6 miles on the bike at the gym and some abs.  Can’t wait for the streets to be clear of snow as I really do need to train more on my actual bike.   Last year, I felt very uncomfortable with my bike at both Triathlons that I did. I was not fluid and felt out of step.   I need more bike time to fix that.   It was a hard decision not to run today because it really is so nice out, but if I’m going to have a plan I really should follow it.

Tomorrow, hopefully, swimming.   I haven’t done that in a LOOOOONG time.   I need to check the pool schedule and then see what happens.

What do you do to keep your training interesting?

You Spin me Round Round

Apr22

Who ever said biking way easy, obviously never took a Spin class.    I entered the dark domain of Spinners.    I’ve heard the music.   I’ve heard the yelling and the strange calls coming from within.  I’ve even seen them emerge dripping in sweat, but never entered.    One of my best friends who is one of those obsessed spinners was so excited that I was going and she doesn’t even live near me.   Me not so.    But I figured since I haven’t had a chance to get my actual bike ready for riding that I should start training with spinning.  

I’ve got one word to describe a spinning class…… Intense.   It is nothing like riding your bike around town.   It is more like riding your bike up a huge mountain peak dragging a block of wood.   I knew enough from my friend to make sure to get there early to set up my bike.   She further instructed me the rules of spinning,  “You don’t take anyone else bike and you don’t cheat.”    Well I did the first and tried to do the second without much luck.    Apparently, there really is not cheating in spinning.   Hmmm….

So, I’m there with my water bottle, my  towel, and my bike all set up.   I’m thinking that even though it’s intense, I’ll be ok.   I almost didn’t make it off the mountain.   I though I was doing good and I really didn’t think I was taking it easy on myself either.   Apparently, though I wasn’t pushing myself as hard as I was supposed to.    These instructor likes to go around and push you even further.   I must have a very expressive face because after he did mine, I looked at him.    My thoughts must have been loud and clear because he laughed and said, “I love you too honey.”   Oops, I’ll have to work on my cover up next time.

After class my legs felt like jello, my butt was numb, and I looked like I had stepped out of the shower.   My girlfriend has assured me that means I’m doing good.   Not to sure about that, but I will be back for more this Thursday.    Oh, the exciting life of training.

Live, Laugh, Love