Huh.

First off, since my last post, I've actually been on the workout wagon (again. i know.) I ended up taking two days off after the race, starting back up on that Wednesday ... and my next off day wasn't until yesterday.

I'm not entirely sure how this happened. Maybe it's because I've been feeling productive - Wednesday was super-productive-cleaning-day for me and I scheduled in a long run and that newfound motivation carried on through. Maybe because summer's starting to turn into autumn (my favorite season) and I'm determined because of that. Whatever it is, though, I'm happy for it.

Anyway, this is what I've done:

8.19 - Ran 3.19 mi in 34:08 - 10:42.01/mi
8.20 - Ran 1.36 mi in 13:13 - 9:43.09/mi
8.21 - Ran random park sprints (almost an off day; didn't keep track of any distance or time)
8.22 - Swam 400m in 11:00 - 44:15.42/mi; lifted core and legs
8.23 - Ran 1.04 mi in 10:10 - 9:46.54/mi
8.24 - Swam 1000m in 25:00 - 40:14.02/mi; lifted arms (and am STILL FREAKING SORE)
8.25 - Ran 3.35 mi in 35:30 - 10:35.82/mi
8.26 - OFF DAY!!!!
8.27 - Ran 1.36 mi in 13:21 - 9:48.97/mi

Of note: I never walked anytime I ran (wooo!) and all swimming (except for like 50m on the 22nd) is done breaststroke (i know, i know).

However, one thing I've noticed happening - and I don't know if it's because it's starting to be fall or what - is that I've FINALLY been able to get my run times under 10 minutes/mile. FINALLY. It has taken all damn summer and look. Granted, it's only on my shorter runs, but that right there is a HUGE victory for me.

Granted, I know that in theory, my times should drop if I keep running enough, but that hasn't happened all summer. The fact that it finally is happening makes me giddy. I'm not down to the 8:30/mi that I managed to get down to in 2007, but maybe it'll happen by Autumn Color. Maybe.

Here's to my running FINALLY getting better, here's to all of you in hopes that you've had similar breakthroughs with training/life lately and here's to a whole crazy FOUR DAYS OFF from work ... two and a half of which will be spent in Minnesota. State Fair, downtown Minneapolis, the Mall of America, a Twins game and much fun will be had this Friday and Saturday. Woo!

Official Tri Photos!

In seeing that Brandon's been the good one in updating (and i've been totally bad about it), I realized I forgot to do a post with our official race photos! So, without further ado, here they are.

Thanks in advance to FotoJack, whom I ... um ... jacked these from.


Brandon on the bike. Look! He's happy!

Brandon on the run, looking like he's in some pain but still pushing. I'm not entirely sure where on the run this was taken, actually ...

He picked it up again it seems, just looking determined.

Me, on my way to the water.

Booking it around the corner to the finish line. As I believe I mentioned in my recap post, I started my kick a smidge too early and therefore apparently had to defy gravity going around the corner, praying I didn't fall over.

This picture could also be proof of a hockey background coming useful in a triathlon/road race, as I look marginally like I could be skating. Or did the first time I saw this picture. Either way.

Right before I crossed the finish line. This picture is almost comical. It shows my kick, but it also looks like I'm posed, ready to run as my back foot is still on the ground. Eh, I'm amused.

This last picture is courtesy Brandon/our friend Mark, as boyfriend didn't see fit to post the pic of me actually crossing the finish line. Meaniebutt.

This is me doing my best Steve in a Speedo one-legged pirate impression while crossing the finish line. Too bad I didn't have a watch to check.

If you HAVE Facebook and are friends with either myself and/or Brandon, I believe you should be able to click through and see the picture there. If not, come stalk us (or, at least me)! I like new friends. :)

Race #4 of the Season: My Way or the Tri Way

So. I posted my times in my preview post and I'll put them in again here in the sections.

Anyway, here is my post for my third triathlon - My Way or the Tri Way. If you recall from last year, I was so despondent after my tri that I didn't even want to post. Well, this year's post is a lot more upbeat than last year. So that's good.

Pre-Race

We woke up early Saturday morning, only needing to get dressed and eat breakfast ... as we were smart and packed up the Rav the night before. So, we got dressed and made some scrambled eggs and ham with toast. We left a few minutes later than we wanted, but we still made it to transition just after it opened - right after 6am.

We got there and unloaded the bikes.



We put the front tires back on and made sure we were all full of air and ready to go. Once we had tires all full of air, we grabbed spots in transition.



After making sure we had spots next to each other, it was time to get body marked. In honor of fellow blogger Steve in a Speedo, I got a smiley face on my calf (which, weirdly enough, is the last part of my body marking to fade).



Once marked, it was time to get transition officially officially set up.


My spot all set up ... except for my run shorts which I was still wearing.


Our buddy Mark who came along to take pictures.

After we made sure our transition area was all set up, we went to test out the water as our open-water at Aurora Reservoir the week prior was COLD. 7.18.2009 - water temp about 68 degrees. 7.25.2009 - water temp in the mid-70s. So glad for that.


Brandon happy the water is warm. Photo is backlit, but I actually like it that way.


The soon to be triathlete couple!

Satisfied that the water would be a lot warmer than it was, we headed back up to transition. We both had sand on our feet and we couldn't find showers ... and I didn't want to use our water bucket just quite yet ... so I went for the unconventional (but fun!) method - the sprinklers.



From then, it was time to start prepping and stretching.


Brandon stretching me out.

Soon enough, though, it was time to start.

The Swim

At 8:07, seven minutes after Brandon started his first-ever triathlon, and after talking with some other women in the group, the women started their first leg of the race. I ran down the 150 yards or so down to the water ... which was a bad idea as it hurt me for the first part of the swim. Due to that small sprint, my breathing got elevated to the point where it was extremely difficult to get into a good rhythm. So difficult, in fact, that I swam most of the way to the first buoy with my head above water. Yeah. I also had to stop at one of the kayaks to clear out my goggles ... as my first attempt to do so while bobbing in the water trying to keep myself afloat didn't work out so well.

After I got my goggles cleaned out (well, mostly), my breathing got back into normal enough to get into a good groove in the water. By the time I hit the turn around, I felt great and was swimming well. I kept swimming even as I saw other people getting out of the water (and pretty sure i peed with about 100m to go) but waited until I got fairly close to the shore.

I mostly ran up the hill back to transition - total leg time (sprints and 750m swim): 24:07.

T1

This race was awesome in that there was only 550 participants so the transition area was pretty small. When we set up, we decided we'd rather be closer to the bike in/out. So, I rinsed off my feet (someone loved my water bucket), put on my cycling stuff, fished a glove out of said water bucket and trotted back out to the bike course. Total time in transition: 3:10.

The Bike

I'm glad Brandon and I rode at least part of this course a week ago as we knew what the first two miles and the last two miles of the 14 mile course would be.

The powers that be described the course as "rolling" ... which I'm convinced would be "hilly" most anywhere else in the country. I didn't get passed too often on the course and in fact, passed quite a few people - mostly on the uphills (which i'm so proud of). I didn't have too many issues on the first half of the ride ... except with the stupid cardboard race number I attached to the frame that kept trying to fly off and annoy me. I finally got that figured out, though.

My cyclometer was spazzing on the ride (although, in hind sight, i probably should have just cleared it out again and it would have worked), so I couldn't notice anything but cadence. My mph for the entire ride? 0.0.

Okay, not really, but it was nice to just have to pay attention to cadence and not be dispirited with my slow-ass speeds on the uphills.

I kept waiting to see Brandon on the bike and just as the turnaround was coming into view, I saw him. I yelled "SUSHI POWER!" at him in reference to the delicious dinner we had the night before and what our sushi chef jokingly said. He yelled something back and I kept on going.

Only about three people passed me on the second half of the bike course - one I don't remember, one was someone I had already passed and the other was when I was fiddling with my damn race number again and took a swallow of diluted Gatorade. My calves were starting to ache a little and I started going a tad numb, but I pushed it through, thanking course volunteers as I could.

I eventually rolled back into the transition area. Total leg time: 54:57.

T2

As I trotted my bike back into transition, I saw Brandon heading out for the run, so I naturally yelled at him. He waved and ran out while I got ready for my run. I changed shoes, tossed on my BU shorts, changed shirts, took the 30 seconds to put my hair clips in and I was off. Total time: 2:20.

The Run

I jogged out of transition and started the run ... though I had to stop very soon after to stretch out my calves which were cramping ridiculously. After getting them to the point where they weren't ouchy, I started running again. The run course, much like the bike course, was Colorado "rolling." I walked quite a bit within the first mile as well as saw a snake (probably a rattlesnake) and passed one or two people.

Soon after starting the second mile and right before I hit the water station, I saw Brandon not too far in front of me. However, I was still running/walking. I walked three total times in mile two - once was at the water station to get some water (damn sun finally came out) and the other times were on some killer uphills.

Fairly soon after I passed the second mile marker and started on the last 1.5 miles of the race, I started seeing Brandon in front of me. And he stayed in his sights in front of me until probably the last half mile of the race when I finally caught up to him. We stayed together for most of the end of the run until I finally took off (a stark contrast to our other races this season when he's left ME in the dust). Total leg time: 37:41.

T3

Yes, because this race was "My Way or the Tri Way" with people doing the disciplines in whatever order they so desired, we had a T3 which took us back into transition and down another 200 yards or so to the finish. I ran through transition, confused on why this one guy right near Brandon and I just walked and continued on down toward the actual finish line.

I waited to kick due to a few curves and pedestrians crossing the course, but I finally did ... with one killer curve left where I almost biffed it. Still, I blew through the finish line for a total leg time of 1:26 and a tri time of 2:03:38.

Our buddy Mark got a picture of me crossing that is similar to Steve in a Speedo's "one-legged pirate" shots, but only Brandon has a copy of that one. Boo. FotoJack got some good shots of my kick, but those are for tomorrow.

When I finished, I grabbed my shirt and immediately started looking for Brandon because I knew he'd be finishing right behind me. He crossed the finish line, dove into my arms and almost collapsed from the joy, exhaustion and exhiliration. I know that training for, doing and completing this race meant so much to him and I was so ridiculously proud of him when he crossed that finish line. Honey, I love you and I am SO PROUD OF YOU. Even now, three days later. SO PROUD.

Et Cetera

I'm glad this tri went well especially considering my training this year has been a struggle. Cycling has been crappy. My running has been downright awful. Swimming had been the only good thing for me. Somehow, though, everything came together. This was my fastest ride I've done all year which was AMAZING. The run was about average and the swim was slower (open water, goggle issues, etc.), but I don't care. I'm just happy I was happy after this race.

I think the key is for me to not care and just go into the race with an "eh, whatever, this is going to be fun!" attitude ... which is weird for me to have as an athlete and as a competitor. I am a competitive person ... who performs best when she's chilled out. Finally figured it out for hockey and I guess triathlon's going to be the same way. That's probably the reason why last year's race went so poorly - I had so many goals and aspirations and expectations that I set myself up to fail.

This year, I say "screw it" to all of that and I bust out a time that's sure, a few minutes slower than last year, but on an overall longer course. Mentally, I go to another place during competition and I think it helps.

Next year? Hopefully an Olympic. I know I'm mentally ready, but physically will still be the question. And for sure ... Ironman by 40. I've got 14 years - I'll do it.

My Way or the Tri Way - Teaser!

Quick blog here ... I know I've been Slacker McSlackerpants lately regarding blogging, but Brandon and I finally had our triathlon this morning and I wanted to write up a quick teaser post.

- Went well; better than I had hoped
- Friend who came down to take pictures didn't use my camera much (boo) so depend on Brandon for photos
- Honored a fellow blogger
- Decided to not retire from racing
- First and probably only tri I will do with a T3

I will, however, give you the stats:

750m swim - 24:07 (51:44.96/mi)
Leg 1 rank - 214 (out of 550ish)
T1 - 3:10
14mi bike - 54:57 (15.29mph avg)
Leg 2 rank - 201
T2 - 2:20
3.5mi run - 37:41 (10:46/mi)
Leg 3 rank - 217
T3 - 1:26

OVERALL: 2:03:38

More tomorrow! ... or whenever I upload photos.

Go Figure

The motivation I found two weeks ago has been lacking lately. Maybe it's because I was working so much and when I finally stopped my brain and body just gave up on me. Maybe it's an internal self-sabotage. Whatever it is ... it hasn't been good.

The first week of the tri journal was awesome - run, swim, off, cycle/lift, run/softball, off, run/swim. Then ... not so much. Lift, off, off, off (!!!!!!), crappy cycle, longhardcrappy run, cycle around downtown not caring about anything. Then there's been this week - throwing around a softball, crappy run, crappy swim ... and today.

Before I go into today's stupidness, I want to talk about the swim workout Brandon and I did yesterday. We warmed up as usual and after that first 100m, I knew I didn't have it in any way, shape or form. Kind of like a lot of my workouts lately. So, we ended up doing about 250m in 25m chunks chasing each other. One of us started off, the other stayed on their heels so we ended up basically kicking each other - tri style. So, while it wasn't the best swim I've ever had, at least we ended up making it somewhat race-day functional.

So, today. It's been raining A LOT here in Colorado and reminding Brandon of his old life back in Minnesota (seriously, what's with the rain? it's nice that it's green, but sheesh). I scheduled in a two-a-day today - cycling and running. However, it started raining late this morning. And kept raining. So, I told myself that if the rain didn't stop by 2pm, I'd go to the gym and get in a workout on the stationary bike.

So I do. 30:00, level nine, hill setting. Did 10.8 miles which works out to a 21.8mph average ... which I never come close to on an actual bike for an average. I stretch afterward, see my dad playing hooky from work in the pool, say hi, walk outside ...

... and see that it stopped raining. See that it was sunny outside. Look outside the window now, three hours later, and see that it's still freaking sunny.

Oh well, I'll just count that ride as a cadence ride (tried to average around 90rpms; 10 more than i do when outside) and try to get in some sort of run later when Brandon gets home from work.

Rocking and Rolling

It's been a week (well, almost) since I had my revelation-type thing and training's gone well.

I told you all about my run on Monday and since then ...

- I swam on Tuesday. 1000m total (100m warmup; 900m continuous) AND tested out awesome new goggles - AquaSphere Kayennes. $25 and worth every penny.

- Took Wednesday off. Walked around a bit, splashed in the neighborhood pool a bit ... and had date afternoon. Worth it.

- Cycled and lifted on Thursday. Got back on the C-470 trail in seriously like the first time in almost a year and still hate it. Hilly and windy, it KILLS your speed times. However, I'm slowly starting to get the hang of that whole "make the bike do the work" in regards to shifting, so that's good. Brandon and I also managed to put in a quick, small upper body lifting session that night. I was worried about it since I ate something that didn't agree with me and I ended up skipping sushi, one of my FAVORITE meals, in favor of trying to puke up whatever didn't agree with me. Once I did, though, I DID feel better.*

- Ran and played softball on Friday. Friday's run was a 1.92 mile loop that took me up that same damn trail hill I mostly ran up on Monday. Friday I actually made it up the hill and the whole loop took 19:18 for a 10:03.12/mi. The softball game (on a team through work), however, went crappily and I totally SUCKED and took a ball of the inside of my foot so I'm nice and bruised now. Ow.

- Took yesterday off. Was only going to do a light lifting day anyway, but really, sometimes sleep is more important.

Which brings us to today. I did the same 1.92 mile loop as Friday, but I went the other way ... which took me down the trail and up Lone Tree parkway. Which makes me think that long, gradual hills are worse than short, steep ones, as I did the same distance in 19:37 for a 10:13.02/mi. A whole 10 seconds slower per mile thanks to that other stupid-ass hill.

I'm skipping dinner with the family tonight in order to eat some fruits and veggies and have a very plant-based meal as I feel my diet's been lacking in those lately and then SWIMMING!!!!! tonight before I have to sleep and go back to work again for the sixth day in a row (of a ten day stretch).



* Okay, so I'm sure reading about vomit isn't pleasant, but at least it's not poop. :-p

Now ...

... I don't know what it is about swimming (and, more precisely, a GOOD swim), but I almost always exit the locker room afterward feeling good about myself. Maybe it's the total body workout, maybe it makes me stand taller, but I almost always feel stronger and leaner and have a good body image after putting in a good swim.

100m breast warm-up, 800m breast, 25m back and 25m free cool down. 950m in 25ish minutes. I'll take it right now.

Groovin'

I don't know whether it's the imminence of the Cherry Creek Sneak (SUNDAY!!!!) or the tri (END OF JULY!!!!) or the good weather (!!!!) after the giant snowstorm we had out here, but Brandon and I have been motivated lately.

Don't get me wrong, we've had our struggles - including the lifting session Tuesday that STILL renders walking painful - but for the most part, we've pushed onward and upward.

I posted last Wednesday that we ran, which we did. But, I didn't manage another workout until Sunday the 19th, when I swam. It wasn't a good swim workout given that I've been weak and out of shape and sick for what seems like forever, but I managed.

4x25m free
4x100m breast
2x25m kickboard

Monday, it was treadmill sprints, and murderous ones at that. I was on the treadmill for 11 minutes and was dead after those 11 minutes. Walked for two minutes easy, then did the following:

2:00-2:15 run 8.0mph
3:00-3:30 run 8.5mph
4:00-4:45 run 8.5mph
5:00-6:00 run 8.5mph
7:00-7:15 run 8.0mph
8:00-8:30 run 8.0mph
9:00-9:45 run 8.0mph
10:00-11:00 run 8.0mph

Basically, it was a variation of a bike sprint workout I did for hockey in college. 15 on, 45 off. 30 on, 30 off. 45 on, 15 off. Minute on, minute off. Rinse, repeat. I maybe could have pushed myself another set at 7.5mph, but honestly, I don't know if I could have. Still, one hell of an interval workout.

Tuesday, Brandon and I lifted for the first time in forever as well. We did some squats at the squat rack and I was basically reduced to tears knowing how far I've fallen in strength from two years ago. Then, it was most of some Men's Health workout he found ... which we've decided is seriously only for people who already lift a ton and are looking for variation. Anyway, it was wide-grip deadlifts, reverse lunges while holding a weight above our heads and then some YTWLI lifts on a ball. What that means is you're balanced on a stability ball just below your chest holding dumbbells and you make each letter doing some specific lift.

It. Was. A. Bitch. 8-10 reps of each letter, do each five letters without stopping, rest? HA. RIGHT. It was so hard. We kept dropping our weight just to get through it, but we managed.

That workout killed us to the point where walking - hell, MOVING - hurts. Still, we managed another swim workout last night.

50m breast warm up
4x25m free
2x200m breast
1x100m breast sprint
50m back cool down

That brings us to today. Brandon, due to his flying schedule, is taking today off. I might, but I'm thinking more likely that I'll go for a run. We'll see, though. I do need an off day eventually ...

The New Failblog?

Wow.

I haven't blogged in forever - partially because I haven't worked out in forever. I've barely had time to check my e-mail, much less check up on the blogs over on that ol' blogroll (and the others i haven't yet added).

The last time I probably seriously worked out was last Tuesday when Brandon and I went swimming. It was a decent workout:

4x25m free
1x300m breast
2x25m kickboard
4x25m free
2x25m kickboard
1x100m breast

for a total of 700m, but that's so not enough. I'm hoping I'll have a chance to focus more after this weekend (wcha conference tournament; no more column taking up my week!), but we'll see. With all the crap that's been going on, I've been neglecting myself in terms of working out and eating well and I've noticed. I've been feeling like crap the past week and I know why. I just need to suck it up and take time for ME and my health and well-being.

Hopefully we'll have time to at least lift and do SOMETHING before hitting the road to head to Minnesota for the WCHA Final Five tournament. Hopefully.

Swim

Yesterday I decided to get off my lazy butt and swim with the girlfriend. We grabbed the close lane and went at it. I ended up doing 1000 meters free without stopping, and then 50 meters kickboard.

Not bad, progressing still.

Why Wii Fit Can Suck (and race news!)

Before I get into explaining my title, I first want to talk about last night's swim workout. As we can on Sundays when Brandon's home, we split up our scorekeeping shifts so we can both work out - I do the first two games while he does whatever and then we switch for the last two games.

Anyway, we typically take the time to swim. Brandon came back to work telling me that he swam 1000m continuously for an endurance swim, which is AWESOME.

I got to the gym, luckily got a lane (pool was unusually crowded) and started swimming. I was thinking of an endurance swim, but my first 100m breast were really tough. So, I paused, took a breather, and did 4x25m freestyle because I really want to be able to swim crawl for my tri this year*. After that, I went back to breaststroke and did 800m without stopping ... barely. Then, for a cooldown, I did 4x25m back for a total of 1100m. Woo!

Anyway, onto the title. Since both Brandon and I were a tad sore from swimming last night, we both decided to do a bunch of Wii Fit today. We both did yoga, strength training and balance exercises and I also did some crazy hula hooping.

If you've never done Wii Fit before, when you first go into your Mii (character), the balance board (yes, it's an anthropomorphic character. that's annoying and something i want to stab half the time) says hi, mentions how long it's been since you've last been on and typically offers you a fitness tip. It gets cranky if you don't accept the tip, so we always say yes to the board.

Well, I don't remember what the complete tip was, but at the end of the tip, the board "said" that "Remember there's always something you can improve on!"

Which, granted, I agree with ... to a point. Still, part of me thinks it's such a bad message to send to those doing Wii Fit, telling them that their bodies will NEVER be perfect and that they should never, ever be satisfied.

Not to mention that I hate that Wii Fit measures your fitness by using BMI. According to the balance board, Brandon's overweight. I'm somehow normal but thinks that my ideal weight should be 148.6lbs ... something I haven't weighed since probably sophomore year of high school. Yeah.




* Brandon and I signed up for a tri! We're doing My Way or the Tri Way on July 25. We both signed up to do the tri the "traditional" way of swim-bike-run, but you can choose to do a triathlon, duathlon, aquathlon (swim-run-swim or run-swim-run) or aquabike (swim-bike-swim or bike-swim-bike). Given that I'm over 150lbs, I was pondering signing up for the Athena division, but went for age group anyway. Should be fun!

Catching Up

Wee, haven't blogged in a few days. I was too tired Sunday, forgot to catch up on Monday, and forgot again yesterday. I'm so bad.

Anyway, I've been managing to get in some decent workouts lately, which is good.

Sunday, Brandon and I split up my scorekeeping shifts so we could each go to the gym (him for a two-a-day since he already ran that day). I decided to swim and did 800m (all breaststroke) in about 19:00 which isn't bad, considering. I was going to do some freestyle as well, but was too tired. I do want to phase in the crawl, but I think I'll do it on the days I don't just swim for endurance.

Monday ended up being an off day (though i think we did do some wii fit). We were going to get in some leisurely ice skating, but the idiot that ran the temporary outdoor rink we were hoping to go to didn't crank up the cooling system (probably because he was lazy and didn't want to work). Therefore, no ice and our date was mostly ruined. Boo.

Then, yesterday, Brandon and I went on a longer run. I know I've been needing to up my distance, but lately it's been hard to force myself to do so. But, since it was almost 70 degrees yesterday (unusually warm!), we went and we ran. We took it slow and did 2.89 mi. I did it in 31:57 (weird, because brandon started seconds after and came in seconds later and had a quicker time. um, zuh?) for a pace of 11:03/mi. Not great, but I'm okay with that for now. Plus I felt good at the end, so that's all that matters, right?

Doing something later today, but I don't know what yet. I do need to catch up on what the rest of you have had to say, though, as I haven't read blogs in a few days, so I'm going to do that first.

2 workouts in one day???

Hi.

Didn't blog yesterday since I got home ass-late from scorekeeping, but here it is. Armed with my new go get 'em attitude, I went for a long run yesterday. Long is relative, since most of you can run like 55 miles without blinking, but I did 3.88 miles. No concern about time, no pushing myself, this was purely an endurance run. I did it in like 45 minutes, but that's ok, because it is just something to build on.

Second workout was last night, and it was swimming. I swam 1000 meters without stopping. Again, endurance, but it went really well and I felt really good.

It's time to kick it up, people.

Pondering ...

... but not elaborating right now, given that it's 11:30pm, I have to shower still and wake up relatively early so I can annoy coaches and write a column. I should have time after that, though.

Anyway, I will say that I did finally manage to get back to the gym today. Did 17 minutes in the pool (1x200m, 1x300m, 1x100m breaststroke and 1x50m crawl), stretched and then did 10 minutes and 1875m on the ergometer. Water-related workout day, I guess.

More tomorrow.

Wii Fitting, and swimming!

Since girlfriend has been sick and work has been a cluster over the past few days, working out has kind of taken a backseat. I have however been doing Wii Fit pretty regularly and my weight has maintained, according to that.

tonight, however, we made it to the gym for some swimming. I swam 500 meters without stopping in about 10 minutes which I am pretty happy about. I can do better of course and will, but for now, I am pretty satisfied with that.

Lift tomorrow.

Giving It Another Go

Since today is the first day since Sunday that I woke up NOT sounding like death, Brandon finally let me work out again today. Yay!

So, after a day of not really eating well (my eating habits go to hell when i get sick. seriously, i crave sugar, fat and carbs. no idea why.), we headed off to the gym for some swimming. I managed 550m, but in chunks. 150m, 150m, 100m, 100m breaststroke and then 50m crawl. Gotta get that stupid crawl in now and then if I have any hope of using it in my tri(s) this year. Boo.

I had to take pauses for my lungs (they've still got some mucus in them) and breathe, but I managed okay.

Hopefully I'm over this cold. That's all I've got to say.

A Bright Spot

I swam today ... and I did 500m breaststroke without stopping!* The first 150-200m were tough, but I fought through it and kept going.

Given that I stopped after 100m last time ... I consider this a victory.

All in all for my swim tonight, I did 500m breaststroke, 4x25m crawl (gotta start working on that), 100m breaststroke, 50m back for a total of 750m. Not a bad workout at all.

If it's 60 again tomorrow like today, going for another run. But we'll see.

Now, since it's after midnight and I'm tiiiiiiiiiired ... sleep.


*of course, since I can't do flip turns, "stopping" is a relative term as I have to change directions at the wall above the water. Y'know.

Good Cardio Day

I'm blogging about yesterday's workout now because Brandon and I didn't get back home from scorekeeping until after midnight and really, all we wanted to do was sleep. So we did.

Anyway, we split up my four game shift two and two so both of us could work out. I worked the first two games while Brandon worked out and vice versa.

For me, I had wanted to either swim or bike. I ended up doing both. Warmed up on the stepmill, stretched and hopped on the stationary bike for 15 minutes for - I guess - a cadence ride. I've decided that until the weather gets better and I get my actual bike in for a tune, I'll just do cadence rides on the stationary. Once I start cycling outside, I'll use the stationary for sprint rides since, for some odd reason, I don't like doing sprints on an actual bike.

Anyway, since I really didn't feel like I accomplished much after the bike, I checked out the pool, noticed there was an open lane, quickly changed and hopped in. My original thought was to see how far I could go ... but my arms were still sore from lifting on Friday so I only managed 100m.

So, I had the genius idea to turn it into a "sprint" workout - 4x100m, 4x50m and 4x25m (all breaststroke) and did it in about 20 minutes. I also did try to sprint the latter halves of the 50m's as well as the 25m's.

All in all, a good workout. Up for today: upper body lift and SNOWSHOEING!

Swimming

Well, I forgot to blog from my workout Tuesday morning. It would make sense as to why I have been so silent over the past few days.

I was playing hockey with our buddy Jimi and his little hockey team. Well, in an effort to make the kids work harder, I slid into the boards full speed and mildly sprained my ankle. Well, obviously, that made working out a struggle. Or just non-existant. Whatever. The bottom line is, my ankle is healed and we headed to the gym for a workout today.

It was agreed that we would swim if the pool was open, or elliptical if the pool was not. The pool was open, so we swam. I swam about 700 meters total. Slowly, and yes, it was a struggle, but I still got it done.

The final 3 months of the year have definitely not gone well. And really, both girlfriend and I have been making excuses for not working out. Pretty sad, if you ask me. But we will turn things around. I vow it.

Such Slackers

I should never sign off on this blog by saying "be back tomorrow!" because really, odds are that I won't.

And I hate it.

But, given work and the holidays and the apparent lack of hours in a day, workouts just don't happen for me as much as I'd like. I opened three days last week and, as a result: took two naps (i NEVER nap), overslept and got to work 30 minutes late and, after it was all over, slept 10 hours before my next shift. Yeah.

Still, whenever I've been feeling guilty about it, I remind myself of a post Merry made over at Cranky Fitness about exercise and sleep. Both are important, but when it comes down to it, you need your rest. The main day job keeps me pretty active during the day, what with running around the store and everything, so I figure I'll get in some activity when I can and when I have spare time, try to sleep instead.

However, on days where I don't work much (like today! only working a hockey game ... and am blogging instead of paying attention. oh crap, there's a goal ... nevermind, i'm good), fitting in a workout is a manageable thing. Therefore, Brandon and I made it to the gym. We decided that if the pool was relatively empty, we'd swim - if not, we'd do some elliptical (lower impact as his heel's still acting up from the other day) and lift.

There was ONE lane open, so we grabbed it and shared it. I ended up doing about 600m total (he did 700m) though it took a while. Not surprising as neither of us have swam in who knows how long. Still, it felt good to get in the pool and be slightly achy as we walked back to the car.

The goal for the rest of the month is to not go overboard on the food and work out whenever possible given the general craziness of life. Not to sound like a New Year's Resolutionist or anything, but January is when we'll start our tri training and whatnot.

But, to keep Mr. Blog updated, I'll try to be back with other sorts of posts, since I'm sure just reading about our workouts gets boring. :-p