Not much to report- biked twice and cross-trained on the elliptical once....still not back on schedule from last week. Headed down south for a business trip...which yes means 4 more days without a workout. Hopefully I can control my eating as to not do too much damage!
I need to get back to 5 day a week workouts ASAP!!!!
Friday, March 27, 2009
Sunday, March 22, 2009
Still here...
So it's been a while since I posted...and let me try to recap what's been going on. So a lot has been going on and I got a bit off schedule. After my swimming success, I had a work "retreat" that basically took up two nights and one weekend day, and after that things just got turned around. Last week I ran outside one day, did spin one night and I tried to run one night inside but without much success. I think the outdoor stuff gave me shin splints, so when I got on the treadmill last Tuesday, it hurt to do anything. I ran half a mile, then had to run/walk the rest of the way (1 mile), so I ran a tenth of a mile and then walked a tenth, ran a tenth, etc. Then I walked another mile and half so I did about 3 miles total distance. I was pretty disappointed. I didn't get to work out the rest of the week- my uncle lost his battle with prostate cancer last week and I had to drive to Maryland for the funeral on Thursday. This has been probably the most sad I've felt in a very long time. I've known for a while that he was going down hill, but after I saw him a few weeks ago, I thought there would be more time. He owned the beach house that I spent my childhood summers going to with my family, and the time I spent there influenced me in many ways. I love the beach because of those summer and thanksgiving trips to the OBX. My memories of long car rides where we were always only "20 more minutes away from the house", waking up early, grabbing the bag of wonderbread from the kitchen to feed the seagulls on the deck, jumping in the hammock with one of my cousins, flying kites, crab feasts on the porch, (a few where I tried to "rescue" the crabs and run them up to the beach!), trivial pursuit games that lasted for hours, and, in later years, "cruising" around the town with my brother and our friends will forever be alive in my mind. "The beach house" gave me a warm feeling towards North Carolina (the people, the climate, etc.) and was the only reason I knew of, and considered UNC for college. UNC was my first choice and some of the best years of my life were spent there. And it's where I met the hubby. So, I credit my uncle with opening eyes to all that NC had to offer for me. The beach was one of his favorite places, and he definitely passed that love along not only to my cousins but to me as well. He will be missed!
So I know this upcoming week is going to be a challenge fitness-wise because I haven't been keeping up with my workouts. I have to teach twice, and I need to get back into the pool for sure. Then I have a business trip this weekend (and the following weekend as well, yikes) so I'll have to maybe do a double workout at least one day this week. And, I still want to buy P90x, but haven't gotten around to it yet. I kinda need to make sure I can devote the time to being a triathlete before I can add something else....but we will see!
So I know this upcoming week is going to be a challenge fitness-wise because I haven't been keeping up with my workouts. I have to teach twice, and I need to get back into the pool for sure. Then I have a business trip this weekend (and the following weekend as well, yikes) so I'll have to maybe do a double workout at least one day this week. And, I still want to buy P90x, but haven't gotten around to it yet. I kinda need to make sure I can devote the time to being a triathlete before I can add something else....but we will see!
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Correction....
So I just found out that 25 meters (one "lap" or "length" as some people call it) is .0155 mile. So, I really swam closer to .7 mile, since I swam 45 laps. Yay for me. But like all the other sports, it will be different when I get outside!
I can do it!
So I swam the entire distance- .62 miles WITHOUT STOPPING tonight. That's right. I started out trying to repeat my 20 laps without stopping. When I got to 20, I thought, well let's see if I can do 30. When I got to 30 I thought, only 15 more, let's just see. I did it! 45 laps. And don't worry, the last 10 laps were HARD. I was fighting the urge to stop. And I couldn't do it all freestyle, I threw in a lot of breast stroke so I'm not up to speed yet....but it feels good!
Side note, I was chatting it up with one of my class participants last night, who rides outside. He told me I should start practicing outside b/c I have to get used to falling. FALLING?! I did not even consider this. But, I guess it makes sense. You're clipped into the pedals just like in spin class, except when you're riding a real bike, you've gotta put your foot down at stop lights and stuff....and when you're first getting used to the bike and the clips, sometimes you can't get your foot out fast enough. Great. Falling was not on my list of things to conquer during this journey.....
Side note, I was chatting it up with one of my class participants last night, who rides outside. He told me I should start practicing outside b/c I have to get used to falling. FALLING?! I did not even consider this. But, I guess it makes sense. You're clipped into the pedals just like in spin class, except when you're riding a real bike, you've gotta put your foot down at stop lights and stuff....and when you're first getting used to the bike and the clips, sometimes you can't get your foot out fast enough. Great. Falling was not on my list of things to conquer during this journey.....
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Random mid week status
1) Sunday I tried to run outside and the tops of my toes on my right foot hurt like hell so I only run about .5 mile.....walked the other 1.5.
2) Yesterday I taught my spin class, and ran for 10 minutes after on the treadmill. I will call this a "baby brick" . I've learned from my triathlete research that "bricks" are when you stack two of your sports into one workout- so like doing a medium bike session immediately followed by a medium-length run. Apparently you HAVE to do these to get used to the transitions and putting all three sports together. I haven't figured out just how I will do swim/bike bricks, since my pool isn't really near any good bike routes. I guess when it gets warm I can swim in my mini neighborhood pool and have my bike with me and ride after. Not sure how this will work. But, for my "baby brick" this week, I have to say I was proud b/c a month ago 10 minutes of continuous running was not an option for me, let alone after 55 minutes of spinning.
3) I am REALLY intrigued by P90x. You've seen the Sunday afternoon info-mercials- it's a set of like 12 home fitness DVDs that promises to change your body in 90 days. I've seen the sample workouts, and I can tell you as a former trainer that the system will absolutely work if you follow it and actually stick to the schedule. I think the hard part is sticking to the schedule- it's rigorous. But it's all about muscle confusion, changing your routine constantly, and I KNOW that works for my body type. So, I was thinking that there's no way I could train for the triathlon AND do P90x, but I'm thinking about it. Especially after discovering these blogs of current P90xers. Meg is my old so-ro sister from college- check her out! http://90daystohealthy.blogspot.com/
And- My bro sent me this one today- This chick is not only doing P90x, but ALSO signed up for the SAME triathlon that I am! So, if she can do it, I can do it! Get the debit card ready, I've done my self imposed 24 hour waiting period (I do this when I want something badly but think it might be an impulse buy), and I think I'm doing it. The hubby said he'd get up in the AM and do it with me, and will even buy me a pull up bar for the garage. So...I guess I could do twice a day work outs....we will see, final decision to be made tonight after I teach spin, again.
2) Yesterday I taught my spin class, and ran for 10 minutes after on the treadmill. I will call this a "baby brick" . I've learned from my triathlete research that "bricks" are when you stack two of your sports into one workout- so like doing a medium bike session immediately followed by a medium-length run. Apparently you HAVE to do these to get used to the transitions and putting all three sports together. I haven't figured out just how I will do swim/bike bricks, since my pool isn't really near any good bike routes. I guess when it gets warm I can swim in my mini neighborhood pool and have my bike with me and ride after. Not sure how this will work. But, for my "baby brick" this week, I have to say I was proud b/c a month ago 10 minutes of continuous running was not an option for me, let alone after 55 minutes of spinning.
3) I am REALLY intrigued by P90x. You've seen the Sunday afternoon info-mercials- it's a set of like 12 home fitness DVDs that promises to change your body in 90 days. I've seen the sample workouts, and I can tell you as a former trainer that the system will absolutely work if you follow it and actually stick to the schedule. I think the hard part is sticking to the schedule- it's rigorous. But it's all about muscle confusion, changing your routine constantly, and I KNOW that works for my body type. So, I was thinking that there's no way I could train for the triathlon AND do P90x, but I'm thinking about it. Especially after discovering these blogs of current P90xers. Meg is my old so-ro sister from college- check her out! http://90daystohealthy.blogspot.com/
And- My bro sent me this one today- This chick is not only doing P90x, but ALSO signed up for the SAME triathlon that I am! So, if she can do it, I can do it! Get the debit card ready, I've done my self imposed 24 hour waiting period (I do this when I want something badly but think it might be an impulse buy), and I think I'm doing it. The hubby said he'd get up in the AM and do it with me, and will even buy me a pull up bar for the garage. So...I guess I could do twice a day work outs....we will see, final decision to be made tonight after I teach spin, again.
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
Improvement?
So in a weird change of events, I improved my mile running time by 59 seconds tonight. And, when the mile was over, I could have kept going for a bit longer I think. My legs weren't feeling like they were going to break and my lungs weren't collapsing. Yes, I ran the mile in 13minutes and 6 seconds. Which is still not ideal, I realize, but major improvement. Could this mean that I'm actually building my running capacity already? I hope it's not a fluke. I walked another mile and was so happy I threw in a couple running intervals (at a much faster speed than my mile) just for fun. Side note- I think my ipod selection might have helped. I used RPM music, which is pretty fast beats per minute. So I think that might have helped me set a rhythm to my pace.
Monday night I walked for 20 minutes and then taught my spin class. And last night, another possible improvement-I swam my 40 laps, 10 laps and then some rest, but the last 20 laps I swam without stopping. Which was extra surprising b/c I thought I was having an off night. I left work late and was not feeling swimming at all but I made myself. AND I could do 20 laps without hanging onto the wall or stopping.
Is my overall fitness level increasing? Could it be? I think so unless it's a coincidence. So, my question is then- why haven't I lost a damn pound?! And don't give me the "you're building muscle" speech. I was a personal trainer and I've used that one. And it's sometimes true, except when you're already sporting a bunch of muscle under your fat-tasticness, which I think I am.
Monday night I walked for 20 minutes and then taught my spin class. And last night, another possible improvement-I swam my 40 laps, 10 laps and then some rest, but the last 20 laps I swam without stopping. Which was extra surprising b/c I thought I was having an off night. I left work late and was not feeling swimming at all but I made myself. AND I could do 20 laps without hanging onto the wall or stopping.
Is my overall fitness level increasing? Could it be? I think so unless it's a coincidence. So, my question is then- why haven't I lost a damn pound?! And don't give me the "you're building muscle" speech. I was a personal trainer and I've used that one. And it's sometimes true, except when you're already sporting a bunch of muscle under your fat-tasticness, which I think I am.
Monday, March 2, 2009
Another full week
So this week I biked (indoor spin class) twice, swam once and ran once. I also threw in a day of cross training with elliptical training. Swimming is definitely getting easier, especially with my new speedo bathing suit. I did another 4 sets of 10 laps. The first set I swam a 50 yard warm up, then swam every other lap freestyle, alternating with breaststroke. The next set I swam 3 laps of freestyle, followed by one lap of breast stroke. Next set I tried to work on breathing, extending the freestyle laps to breathe every 6 strokes instead of my usual 4. I think it helped with breath control and speed, etc. I'll probably build my distance this coming week, while still throwing in some breathing exercises.
Running was outside, and I think it was about a mile total though I had to stop a bit. Outside running was definitely harder than treadmill running, so I think that I will have to do some running outside to get an accurate feel for how I'm doing. I walked on the way back, so about 2 miles of distance total.
This coming week will be bike tonight, swimming twice and hopefully running twice. May try to throw a second bike in as well b/c I have to learn my new music for my class.
My new bathing suit cost $44 BTW...so pool wise I'm in up to $102 investment (pool pass, goggles, ear plugs, new suit). Still not bad!
While I haven't dropped any weight yet, I can tell a difference in my arms. They looked slightly more toned and I can feel that they are stronger. Presumably this is from the swimming....if only my stomach would start to follow.....
Running was outside, and I think it was about a mile total though I had to stop a bit. Outside running was definitely harder than treadmill running, so I think that I will have to do some running outside to get an accurate feel for how I'm doing. I walked on the way back, so about 2 miles of distance total.
This coming week will be bike tonight, swimming twice and hopefully running twice. May try to throw a second bike in as well b/c I have to learn my new music for my class.
My new bathing suit cost $44 BTW...so pool wise I'm in up to $102 investment (pool pass, goggles, ear plugs, new suit). Still not bad!
While I haven't dropped any weight yet, I can tell a difference in my arms. They looked slightly more toned and I can feel that they are stronger. Presumably this is from the swimming....if only my stomach would start to follow.....
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