Firstly, I was so moved by LouBob's recent post. She is the rockinest cowgirl around.
I really enjoyed my 60 minute run this morning. It's been awhile since I've run outside in the morning and with the threat of rain at bay I peeked outside around 6am and was glad to see dryness. Out the door by 6:30 am I headed over to the Berkeley Marina. Running along the mile pier that stretches out/back a little over a mile I tried to visulize what a quarter mile in open water would look like. I've been so stressed about the swimming and not running much the two have proven to be toxic combination. The fresh ocean air really cleared my head and I feel better than I have all week.
The group has a ride scheduled this morning at 9, I feel up for it. I left a message for the swim coach but she hasn't got back to me. I'll have to call again and leave more details I guess, as I was hoping to speak to her about my learning style and preference for more demonstration.
So yeah, the run this morning was exactly what I needed to get out of my funk. No watch, just checked in a couple time w/people on the streets to keep track of time so T could get to his appointment (Bloodwork and treadmill test) The ironic thing is I want to learn to swim so I CAN run longer, reap the ben's of x-training ya know. My new friends from triathlete.com have been helpful too, so now I don't have to yak so much about tri stuff here.
Saturday, April 08, 2006
Friday, April 07, 2006
special needs
I was too tired to go to grp. swim lastnight, for some unknown reason (maybe it was the previous days not-so-great swim lesson, the pm track workout, or the dryer finally dying and the mounting piles of dirty laundry.....) I woke up way too early..2:30 am too early on thursday. i tried to go back to sleep but after an hour it was clear that it was not gonna happen.
i packed up my bike and gear w/the intention of going for a ride at lunch time as it will most likey RAIN again this weekend. T called me around 11am at work and agreed w/needed to buy a new dryer and washer too! so i scrapped my plans for ride and we went to SEARS on my lunch break.
by the time i got home from work, i was toast, but i also think i need to rearrange the swim schedule 3 days in a row of swimming is too much. while the grp lesson was fun, the 1:1 session was discouraging. i'm also not so sure of my instructor. she showed up in street clothes and never got into the pool. nor is she a great communicator. sure, she's nice, but i have special needs and i already can tell i'm a challenge for her. after showing her what i could do on my own i.e. thrash maddly down the lane..........head bobbing upwards the whole time....
she asked "how far to you have to swim in the event?"
i said "a quarter of a mile"
and she said not so convincingly, "huh, okay that's doable"
( good fucking thing lady, cause you have some work ahead of you!!!)
the track workout with the tri group was fun, i was back in my comfort zone. we did an interval session, 3 slow laps 2 fast 2 slow 1 fast 1 slow. i shouldn't of ate pizza and hour before, but aside from a little tummy upset i led the pack. i'll remind you most of the folks in my group are NOT runners, a few of them are older, and most of them come from a strong swimming or biking background. after the discouraging 1:1 swim lesson it felt good to be good at something!
so here in lies my dilemma. fun is in most cases my internal motivator. if i'm not having fun i usually don't follow through. running while it wasn't always fun (speedwork, yuk) i have enough proficiency at it to get me through the less funner aspects.
swimming is a totally different thing. i suck at it. the swim instructor touched abit on muscle memory, and the need to practice good form but she's never demonstrated it only TALKED about it. i'm considering buying the TOTAL IMMERSION DVD, but hell, why spend MORE money??? i think she needs to talk less and get her ass in the pool and demonstrate. i need to open my mouth and ask her if she'll do this.
i packed up my bike and gear w/the intention of going for a ride at lunch time as it will most likey RAIN again this weekend. T called me around 11am at work and agreed w/needed to buy a new dryer and washer too! so i scrapped my plans for ride and we went to SEARS on my lunch break.
by the time i got home from work, i was toast, but i also think i need to rearrange the swim schedule 3 days in a row of swimming is too much. while the grp lesson was fun, the 1:1 session was discouraging. i'm also not so sure of my instructor. she showed up in street clothes and never got into the pool. nor is she a great communicator. sure, she's nice, but i have special needs and i already can tell i'm a challenge for her. after showing her what i could do on my own i.e. thrash maddly down the lane..........head bobbing upwards the whole time....
she asked "how far to you have to swim in the event?"
i said "a quarter of a mile"
and she said not so convincingly, "huh, okay that's doable"
( good fucking thing lady, cause you have some work ahead of you!!!)
the track workout with the tri group was fun, i was back in my comfort zone. we did an interval session, 3 slow laps 2 fast 2 slow 1 fast 1 slow. i shouldn't of ate pizza and hour before, but aside from a little tummy upset i led the pack. i'll remind you most of the folks in my group are NOT runners, a few of them are older, and most of them come from a strong swimming or biking background. after the discouraging 1:1 swim lesson it felt good to be good at something!
so here in lies my dilemma. fun is in most cases my internal motivator. if i'm not having fun i usually don't follow through. running while it wasn't always fun (speedwork, yuk) i have enough proficiency at it to get me through the less funner aspects.
swimming is a totally different thing. i suck at it. the swim instructor touched abit on muscle memory, and the need to practice good form but she's never demonstrated it only TALKED about it. i'm considering buying the TOTAL IMMERSION DVD, but hell, why spend MORE money??? i think she needs to talk less and get her ass in the pool and demonstrate. i need to open my mouth and ask her if she'll do this.
Wednesday, April 05, 2006
FUN
geez, all day yesterday i was in a funk, feeling neglected, taken for granted, the self-pity was in abundance. i got home a few hours before my swim class, feeling apprehensive, unmotivated and unfocused. i kept fiddling w/my swim bag but never really getting around to getting ready. i asked t for a ride to the Y just so i could skip the aggravation of parking, one less thing ya know.
i head for the pool locker room and to my horror realize i've forgotten my swim suit.wtf!!! surprisingly, my funk gave way to determination as i booked over to the lost and found and managed to scrounge up a bikini top and some boy's swim trunks! i was totally lucky there cuz the choices were slim, it was this or the waaaay too big one piece, you know the ones with the padding in the boobs.
lindsey, our instructor was way cool and my 6 other classmates ranged in ages and abilities. we're a good crew. the focus was on side breathing and rotation, we used kick boards and fins (a first for me, like the road bike, fins are wicked fast, now if i can figure out how to sneek them in the event i'll be cruising for sure! lol!!) we also did some goofy looking "chicken wing" drill. the 45 mins flew by and i regretted having t drop me off cuz i would've stayed to practice longer, but then on the other hand, had i had my car when i realized that i'd forgotten my swimsuit i mighta gone home, who knows? one thing i do know is i had FUN and am looking forward to this afternoons lesson. woohoo!!!
i head for the pool locker room and to my horror realize i've forgotten my swim suit.wtf!!! surprisingly, my funk gave way to determination as i booked over to the lost and found and managed to scrounge up a bikini top and some boy's swim trunks! i was totally lucky there cuz the choices were slim, it was this or the waaaay too big one piece, you know the ones with the padding in the boobs.
lindsey, our instructor was way cool and my 6 other classmates ranged in ages and abilities. we're a good crew. the focus was on side breathing and rotation, we used kick boards and fins (a first for me, like the road bike, fins are wicked fast, now if i can figure out how to sneek them in the event i'll be cruising for sure! lol!!) we also did some goofy looking "chicken wing" drill. the 45 mins flew by and i regretted having t drop me off cuz i would've stayed to practice longer, but then on the other hand, had i had my car when i realized that i'd forgotten my swimsuit i mighta gone home, who knows? one thing i do know is i had FUN and am looking forward to this afternoons lesson. woohoo!!!
Sunday, April 02, 2006
Striving to do more
This weeks wrap up:
Tue: 30 min treadmill.
lunges/10# and squats/45# 3x10
leg presses 3x15 45#
Wed: 60 min Yoga class
Fri: 45 minute run outside (the one day this wek the sun was out);
Headwinds and Hill repeats, oh yeah!!
Sun: 70 minute run
Doesn't look too impressive for a multi-sport training week, however if you count the many hours I've spent finishing up this damn quilt, er, I mean this darling quilt that'll be finished tonight if I have anything to do with it!!!...it's been a pretty balanced week. Throw in chaperoning a field trip to Monterey Bay Aquarium on thursday and working 32 hours this week, I'm not feeling too slothful. No swimming or bike riding though.
Spent most of saturday cleaning up the nest and sewing, taking care to stretch periodically.
I skipped the tri-club get together on saturday, they headed over to the city for a gait and running shoe clinic. This wednesday night though, we're meeting at the Berkeley H.S. track for a workout w/coach woohoo!!
Good sleeps and eats all weekend. M made the yummiest banana bread w/chocolate chips and walnuts.
I was asleep by 9:00 pm on friday!!
Okay, back to the sewing machine . I'm going in for the kill!!
Tue: 30 min treadmill.
lunges/10# and squats/45# 3x10
leg presses 3x15 45#
Wed: 60 min Yoga class
Fri: 45 minute run outside (the one day this wek the sun was out);
Headwinds and Hill repeats, oh yeah!!
Sun: 70 minute run
Doesn't look too impressive for a multi-sport training week, however if you count the many hours I've spent finishing up this damn quilt, er, I mean this darling quilt that'll be finished tonight if I have anything to do with it!!!...it's been a pretty balanced week. Throw in chaperoning a field trip to Monterey Bay Aquarium on thursday and working 32 hours this week, I'm not feeling too slothful. No swimming or bike riding though.
Spent most of saturday cleaning up the nest and sewing, taking care to stretch periodically.
I skipped the tri-club get together on saturday, they headed over to the city for a gait and running shoe clinic. This wednesday night though, we're meeting at the Berkeley H.S. track for a workout w/coach woohoo!!
Good sleeps and eats all weekend. M made the yummiest banana bread w/chocolate chips and walnuts.
I was asleep by 9:00 pm on friday!!
Okay, back to the sewing machine . I'm going in for the kill!!
Tuesday, March 28, 2006
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!!!
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!!!
Sunday, March 26, 2006
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:)
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:)
Thursday, March 23, 2006
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.
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.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)