the wall. I hit it.

After over three weeks of pretty intense workouts, lots and lots of intervals on my bike and in my runs, I hit the wall at swimming today. I know the exact moment. We were doing a set of 4 x 100s; 10secs faster than your race pace, with about one minute in between. The first one was at 1:17ish...the second on 1:20ish...the third on 120ish..the fourth, and I was digging and scraping and my arms and my legs were on fire, and it was around 1:30ish...ooops!!! The last 50 meters of that last 100, I thought "this is the wall!! I am there!! Yippee!!" But still had 50 meters to swim. Did a bit of a warm down, chatted with many people on deck about all sorts of stuff...lots of races coming up and I seem to have gotten myself involved in all of them. I am in charge of the medals, fundraising, race bags for the Kids of Steel triathlon in June....I am helping work on the fundraiser for the Children's Discovery Museum 5km walk/run...I was the co-race director for the local duathlon a few years ago and it was cancelled last year, so I have offered my help to the new director...my buddy Tammy was at the pool today and she runs the Y-Not-Tri it program for ladies only...120 participants have signed up!! Isn't that cool!! So we were sharing ideas and strategies and just brainstorming about race organization stuff. I love organizing...everything...to a fault...

Check this out:

http://www.philridesacrossamerica.com/

wipe out!!!!

Yep. Was a gooder. Just as I was thinking, wow, the paths are in pretty good shape! And I was being all smug thinking...look at me! I have not seen any runners out today!! I am a friggin ROCKSTAR!!!

WHAM!! I am down on the ground looking up at the blue sky. No damage, just my ego, and my first thought was "If I have ripped my new running tights, I will be seriously pissed." And I have tried to take Darren DeReuck's advice and only look a few meters ahead of myself. He said to try not to look to far ahead, especially if you are running up a hill, and I took my eyes off the path for one second to glance across the river and whoa...down and out.

Even with a good wipe out, the run was pretty darn good. The sun was coming up, it was a beautiful morning, had the paths all to myself. 3 times 10 minutes again in my steady state HR the entire run was about an hour and 5 minutes. Treated to myself to a Roastery coffee afterwards. A good start to a Saturday!!

2...to...go...

So I opened my big mouth to Coach Justin this week and said "I want more!! Is that all you got!! I can handle MORE!!!" This week was supposed to be a recovery week but we chatted, he asked me 1 million questions about stuff, and re-arranged my schedule.

Yesterday was a hard run...3 times 10 minutes in my steady state HR...run for an hour. It almost didn't get done. Just busy with the day etc and hubby was supposed to play hockey but it got cancelled so I threw my gear on and headed out the door after supper. I had not got my ass out of bed in the am to do the run cause I watched the movie "Twilight" too late...and by the way, what? was that movie? I have not read the book, but the movie was not great...lots and lots of holes in the plot that I did not really get but I guess if I read the book, it might all make sense...? And that girl actor annoyed me...he is in love with you, you should be smiling (mind you he's a vampire...) but all this teenage angst is making me ill....

Anyway, back to the run...was a really nice night, the sun was going down, the footing was crappy but could still get on some decent stretches of road and got the intervals in. Yey!

Today was yet another 90 minute bike ride. Done. 5 sets of 10 minutes again, in my steady state HR. I did 6 sets cause if I just spin on that bike it is a bit of lalalalalalalalalaaaaa....looking around the house and coming up with all sorts of "projects". I have to keep my self entertained.

Next up is a run tomorrow similar to what I did yesterday and then my Sunday swim. THEN a recovery week...and he says I have to do it no matter what...

Things my kids have said

"Mom, if we go in a spaceship, I bet we can land in God's front yard." - Matthew, age 6.

"I need a MEDIC!!" - Luke, age 2.75, after banging his knee. How he knows the word "medic" I have no idea.

"Mom, I think you pee out of your bum because you don't have a penis." - Matthew

"I think you can win that triathlon this year, Mom." - Matthew

We were out somewhere and ran into people we have not seen in a long time. I am introducing my kids as "This is Matthew, he is our quiet, sensitive one and this is Luke, he is our funny one."
Luke pipes up and says "MOM!!! I am NOT F*CKING!!!"

"That's berskusting." - Luke's word for disgusting.

We were having supper the other night and I said "Because of the recession we have to give one of you away....who should we give away?" Matthew says "We should give Luke away but make sure we keep all his toys."

"Mom, if I swallow bubble gum, does this mean I can fart bubbles??" - Matthew

wed swim

Got to swimming today.

Had to drrrraaaag my sorry butt outta bed, into the cold, warm up the vehicle, sit there with that half asleep stare while it warmed up, make my way through the snow and ice and darkness to the pool. Spring? Oh Spring??!! Where art tho?

Was kind of a long steady swim with no real thinking involved so I came up with the following nicknames for the guys I swim with:

Mr. Intense....is a well-known surgeon in town. Does nothing half way. Not even warm-up. I think he has said about 8 words to me (in total) in all the years we have swam together.

Mr. Money....is a very successful stockbroker, his wife is a dentist...need I say more. Have known him my entire life as we swam together as kids. One of the most down to earth people...ever!!

Mr. I-will-swim-up-your-ass...this is one of those guys who never, ever lets me go ahead of him unless I ask or tell him I am going ahead of him. He doesn't ever seem to get the cue that when I am up his butt, he needs to let me go by.

Mr. Too Nice...just started into triathlon a year or so ago, about the same time I did. He is fun and chatty and works very hard. We often hang at the back of the lane and giggle and make funny comments about all sorts of stuff.

Mr. Vent...always has something to squawk about. Ripped me one time over the stock markets...not even a client!...was on the verge of being mean...I know he was just venting, but really...

Mr. Hot Stuff...So fit and nice to look at. tee hee!!!!

Mr. Hot Stuff 2...just one of those guys who is fit and muscular and looks good in a bathing suit...

Mr. Sweaty Stuff...I know how much this guy sweats as been out for runs and bike rides with him...I just can't help to think what is coming out of his body into the pool...ewwwwy.

Mr. Grumpy Pants...used to be friends. He told me crap, I called him on it, he sent me an e-mail that effectively ended the friendship. Whatever. Love beating him in the pool!!!

Mr. Banter...I enjoy our trash talk...he has been around the sport forever and is super encouraging and supportive and has done every single race everywhere...I am pretty sure of it.

And that's it! My weather stalking tells me the nicer stuff is on its way....have a run to do tomorrow so into the darkness and snow I go...bleh.