Slogging...

That is the only word I can come up with for today's run. It wasn't running, it wasn't even jogging, it was slogging...heavy, heavy legs and a sore back from lifting a full milk jug from the floor up to the counter. Huh? Yes, the muscles right between my shoulder blades did not like that little move!! I don't think I saw my heart rate get above 140 the entire hour. Oh well, need days like this too. The area I live in is old and was built on one mile grids, back in the day when they meaured things in miles. So, my last two miles I just pretend, sometimes, I am coming down the home stretch at the race. Today was a classic as I was thinking that my kids need to see me running at the end of the race so I might as well practice it now...when my legs are tired and full of lead.

frustration

As planned, I set up my trainer and my bike and got into all my biking gear that some of the tri folk actually laughed at last summer. Just cannot bring myself to wear spandex so I bought a pair of nylon biking shorts. Not very aerodynamic but neither am I so we work well together. Anyway, I jump onto my bike, and start pedalling. I am thinking to myself, WOW, I am doing this! Bought the bike last fall and it sat in my basement all winter. Bought the trainer this fall and have actually put my bike ONTO the trainer and now me ONTO the bike...this is progress!! I am pedalling away thinking these things and also thinking this really isn't that bad. Then I look at my watch...an entire 4 minutes have passed...OH...MY...GOD!! Then I realize I did not bring my water bottle downstairs and I am going to need that. So I go to get off the bike and I guess I did not have the thing secured correctly in the trainer and down we go onto the basement floor. Yup, I wiped out in my own basement. Better there than in front of everyone this Wednesday. Now, I am a bit shaken, but I am determined to get a handle on this bike thing. So up I go to grab my water, and back down to get back on the yellow cervelo. I get going and now I don't feel like my tension is right. Off I get a few times to fiddle with the gadgets but I can't figure this out...it just does not feel like it did when Neil at Bruce's Cycle was showing me what to do. And it does not sound correct either. Rather than take a chance at breaking something (which I understand is highly unlikely, but I don't know for sure) I decide to just can the whole bike workout for today. But I WILL be back....

That one is in the tank.

Did my long run this morning. Was a treat to go out in daylight!! Was a cool morning but once I got going, it was gorgeous. Saw Jenna on the run, just as she was finishing. The last few weeks, I have been lucky to have met a person or two on my long run and they have been kind enough to let me run with them. Not today...so I had a few walk breaks. A good thing it was cool cause my walk breaks only could last a few minutes and then I would get cold so I HAD to run!! Felt pretty good, a little tired but it is done. Last year there was a group of tri people that went out on Saturday mornings but I have not heard about that this year. I am thinking of calling my old running partner and see what she is up to on Saturday mornings. I put some new tunes on my iPod last night so that helped pass the time. The Riders are in the playoffs and I plan to watch the game tomorrow. I figure I should try to get on my bike and do a few minutes while the game is on...yes, you read that correctly, my bike!! Our cycling coach from my Wednesday sessions sent us some workouts to "consider" so I am going to grab one of those and see what happens.

Another day, another run

I wish all my runs could feel like the one I did this morning! I was flyin! For me, anyway. Nothing much to report on the run today...kept my HR where it was suppposed to be, felt really good, added on yet another block.
I don't know if anyone else gets this, but lately when I tell people I have entered in a half-ironman they ask me "why" with that annoying look on their face that says "you are just plain crazy, with a side of crazy".
Here are my reasons:
1. Just thinking about how fit I am going to be, keeps me motivated lots of days. I have always liked athletic challenges...when I am trained and ready to go. I want to get to that start line with no excuses.
2. I think this training not only keeps your body fit, but your mind fit as well. Running has always been a way to relieve stress.
3. Bragging rights...seriously, how many people can say they have done this! I have my Disney marathon medal framed and hanging in my office and it is always a conversation piece.
4. And my family and I were in a horrific car vs train accident when I was a kid. Will spare the details but I do think about it sometimes in that I was left here for a reason. I have not totally figured it out, but it is a good lesson to do the things you want to do and try to do them well and pack as much into your life as possible. Cause you just never know when the next train is coming....OMG how GOOFY is THAT!!
But it's my blog and I can type what I want!!

Biking HR Test

Well, not the most fun thing I have ever done. About a 10 minute warm-up and then 2 x 8 minutes of as hard of a biking pace as you can hold for 8 minutes. Neil at Bruce's Cycle standing over me, watching my heart rate and recording it every minute. Trying to be supportive, he was funny in the first few minutes, I wanted to put his head through the window near minute 7 and 8!! I showed up early as I needed someone to look at my bike tire and put a trainer tire on. Ended up dropping a few hundred bucks on a tire, a trainer, the front wheel thing that was an extra piece for the trainer (why they don't sell them together...?), a couple of gadgets Neil said I "needed". I was only on the bike for about half an hour total, and boy my butt hurts today!! Not as bad as it has hurt before, but I need lots and lots of hours on that trainer this winter. THAT little facto was slapped into my face last night!!

Got up and did my hour run today. It was gorgeous outside. Just a hint of snow on the streets which really brightens things up. And no wind and a perfect temp for a run. In the hour, I have actually had to add a couple of blocks as I am not quite at an hour for my usual route...I am seeing some progress and that is COOL!!