Progress

In our household transitions of any kind pose a constant challenge. Stopping, starting, being on time they all require effort and patience. M and I have our challenges, like most mothers and daughters I suppose. The thing is we're both drama queens and so it gets fairly intense fairly fast...Or as one of her books states "bombaloo!"

We seem to have a little dark cloud hanging over our heads whenever we try to get active together. Bike rides seem especially cursed. Pretty much without fail, we run into a snag of some kind. Once her gears broke, another time it was a flat. When she was a baby, we got one of those nifty trailers that hitch to the back of the bike. She hated it. She would scream the whole time time. I finally gave up after she started projectile vomiting to make her point.

One thing she did seem to enjoy was swimming.

So, Sunday I suggested we ride our bikes to the Y to swim. T fixed the flat, from the last time we rode and in our usual fashion we met our first obstacle: locking up the bikes. I was prepared with a lock, but the cable I thought would work was too short for 2 bikes. First stop REI for a longer cable. Once we got the store..Which is just a couple of blocks away I realized she didn't have her helmet.....Arrack. I run into the store hastily pick out a cable and then we head back home to retrieve her helmet.

Finally, we're off to the Y. Locking our bikes up outside, I soon realize that we only have one lock, we need the second to secure our stuff in the locker room. We get to the locker room, shower and stash our stuff w/the exception of my wallet in an unlocked locker and I wrap my wallet up in a towel and head for the pool. Earlier back at the house, I had both locks together and M thought it would be helpful to hold one, I got mad that she had separated them and ended up leaving the one behind. This is so typical, we argue about bullshit stuff like this all the time and I inevitably forget something.

After Friday's frustrating attempt at swimming together we agreed that we would spend the first 1/2 hour on our own and then swim together the last 1/2 hour. This worked out so much better. I felt like I got to focus on a few things by myself and then was relaxed enough to play and let her "coach" me. We were finally having a good time.

Afterwards we showered and the ride home was so pleasant. M was hungry so we grabbed some corn nuts at the gas staton and I taught her how too push off from the curb on her bike, she was thrilled about this.

The effort was well worth it, sharing time with my girl despite the glitches here and there turned out to be the best kind of progress.

Oh, and lastnight I signed up for my swim lessons, I start next week. T and Th nights are a group lesson and I scheduled one 1:1 session for next Wednesday. Yeah!!!

Balancing Act II

Holy Cow!! What a week, when I was just doing one activity it was a lot easier to fit a run in here and there. Now that I'm juggling 3 activities there's a greater need for some structure...And I like LOOSE structure at best. I've had to remind myself several times this week to CHILL and let it work itself out.

M and I went to the pool on Friday night and to be honest it was a little frustrating, but once I adjusted my expectations it was fine........While I certainly have my own agenda as far as getting fit and woking hard, I need to step back every so often and remember why I'm really doing this: to be an example for my daughter, to instill in her a love for being active and strong and capable. She has been so supportive, and almost never complains when I need to go train.

I've been quite edgy this week, stressing about the swimming, still no lessons in place, I'll need to contact the pool dept. to arrange for private lessons that work for my schedule. Great more money to spend!! The cost is racking up and I haven't even bought clothing yet!! Swim lessons is a good investment though, it's something I've been wanting to do for awhile, I need to buckle down and and make it happen.........Do I sound a little conflicted chill/buckle down???

Yesterday was a group ride on the new bike, I had a little trouble w/the left cleat locking in place. After the ride I headed over to Mike's Bikes, and Jonas fixed me right up. Those guy's are pure gold!!!!

I jogged over to yoga this morning, T picked me up afterwards. I then jogged somemore over to the track and did a little speedwork. It went like this:
sprint halfway around the track,
then walked halfway around the track (200 meters?)
did this 4x's.........each sprint felt slower than the last....I then walked home. Tired as hell!!

M and I are going to the pool, just to play. Our time in the pool will more for her than me and that's gonna be great for US!!!

Thanks for stopping by and have a great week:)

Dolce Vita

I've always considered myself a mountain bike person. Road bikes were for skinny people or so I thought. Yesterday after my fun yet strenuous ride up a very muddy Wildcat Canyon, I wandered over to Mike's Bikes, they are one of T's clients and we have a bit of trade there. A bike that I've had my eye on for over a year was on sale, and well long story short, I got a new bike, a Specialized Dolce. It's purple w/silver accents. A total hottie! Tonight I was fitted and instructed on how to use clipless pedals (this makes no sense since you literally have to clip in your cleats...whatever) I think it weighs less than 25 lbs. and until I get a rack I can put in the back of my Acura Integra w/the seats folded down w/o having to take off the front tire.

Lastnight at the tri-club meeting, a gal from the Sports Basement gave us the low down on tri-gear. Totally low key, no pressure she educated the group on what was out there, what was essential and what was just fun. I'm leaning towards a tri short that can be worn for all 3 disciplines, a sports bra, a singlet for the bike and run. Since I have cleats now I'll need to change into my running shoes once in the transition area. At the end they played trivia, and one of the questions was how large was the Presidio Sports Basement (remember, I was there for the Presido race last Nov.) first I guessed 70,000 sq. ft. higher..80,000...higher........85,000 sq. ft.......Correct!! My prize: a nifty bib belt to use instead of having pin your number, kinda cool.

I still have not swam this week. I expresed some concern about the canceled class and Hae Wan (the tri-cub director) said the open water swim is basically just about getting out alive. Sure you want to build up your endurance and swim as efficiently as possible, but it's really a matter of just getting the hell out of there in one piece, with all those bodies so close together your not really going to have alot of room for full extended strokes. It occurred to me that I don't really have to swim so much as NOT DROWN. Oddly enough, thinking of it in this way has taken some of the worry out of it, I know I won't drown, I can always float/swim on my back if I get tired.

I WILL go swimming by the end of the week!!!

I ran for the first time today since Sunday, a quick almost 30 minute run around the neighborhood.

Saturday is another group bike ride.

TRI-lingo: a brick is any time you double up during training. After the bike ride yesterday, I wondered how well I would run afterwards. While I'm in fair shape there's lots of room for improvement. Just finishing the TRI is going to be an accomplishment of monumental proportions for me.

go figure!

yesterday's nothing special workout (except for maybe the fact that i arrived at the gym by 6:30 am) hardly seemed worth mentioning. 20 mins on the bike (low gear means spinning fast the whole time) followed by some lt. stretching and lifting. this morning my arms and butt are so stiff!! i wasn't going to do anything today until tonights swim class.....until i tried to reach down and couldn't touch my toes. alas, no time to go to yoga at the gym, but at 6am on lime television i followed along w/ "yoga zone" for 1/2 an hour. it help alot and i was bendyliscious by the time we had to hit the road. i didn't swear once on the drive to work either!!!

swim 101 class was canceled and the tri club director is out of town until tomorrow.
i couldv'e gone to the pool and swam on my own but instead spent 20 minutes on the phone trying figure out with the front desk person at the Y other options for a beginner swimmer.

then T and M showed up w/sushi and well tomorrow is a new day as they say.

the thing is i haven't paid for the tri-club yet which might explain why i'm not on the e-mail list yet, the tri-club director assured me it was not an issue and that i could settle up on thursday, but she would keep me posted on the schedule.

okay, no biggie, just a little glitch...

Balance act

During my run this morning at inspiration point (8 miler) the weirdest thing occurred. my right hand was swollen, dry and tight and pretty much remained that way the entire run. the left hand was slightly edematous but not tight or dry. strange. it's "that time of the month" and i probably am slightly dehydrated. weird.
i felt great the first 6 miles, even picked up on the hills..breathing got a little out of control at this point, so i slowed it back down the last 2 miles.

i finished in exactly 80 minutes.

i'm supposed to be finishing up that 2nd baby quilt, already had to pull out one row of sashing after not paying attention and messing up. i gotta get this thing done! it's purely a matter of time management at this point, the weather is so nice today, only adding to my lack of motivation w/this quilt!!

i start swimming 101 on tues and thurs nights this week. tri grp. on wed and sat, plus my "homework"

thinking about my new years post and my desire to achieve balance, this current direction i'm taking feels right.

have a great week ya'all!!

Bring It On!

I've decided to go for it. After the meeting on wednesday, I still felt excited and it didn't hurt that among the group folks from last years event were present and said what a cool positive experience it was.

So, the journey began this morning with a 9 am group ride over at the bayside trail near the Seabreeze Market. I chose to ride with the beginner group and the leader went over the basics. Nothing too strenuous just a flat 5 miler with emphasis on getting to know the gears. I have a mountain bike and will need to switch out my knobby tires. No need to buy a road bike for this event, though I may consider switching from toe clips to real biking shoes that attach to the pedal.

I'm just gonna take it one week at a time.

Tri-for-fun

Considering my need for variety it makes perfect sense that a triatholon would appeal to me.
Why should I let the fact that I can't swim deter me?
Okay, I can float on my back, dog paddle, and put my face in the water.
When I try to swim on top of the water it resembles something more like a shark attack, with arms flailing....it's not pretty.

I ran over to the Y this morning and went to yoga. Feeling especially good afterwards, on my way out I noticed a flyer for YTRI 2006.
It appears to be beginner friendly, 1/2 mile swim (gulp), 12 mile bike (I have an awesome mountain bike) and a 3.1 mile run (piece-o-cake).

I carefully folded the flyer and put in my pocket and mulled it over on the run back home.

Tonight is the first meeting and I've got till 6:30 pm to make a decision.

I'm just giddy thinking about the possibility.....me.....a triathalete........no way!!!.............why not!!!!......uhhh, don't go there.........maybe.

The swimming has me most concerned. I think I could learn though.

The program includes:
training schedules
informational talks
open water practice (gulp, gulp)
track workouts
personalized coaching
group cycle rides
swim/stroke technique clinics
a practice triatholon

Maybe I'll go, just to check it out, get the scoop ya know, what can it hurt, right?