WAY TO GO JESS!!! WOW, you are a workout machine!

I had my first tri-class tonight. You were right Linda, Dan is THE
man. We biked for an hour and I am not sure I will be able to get out of
bed tomorrow.

Rock on girls!
Kathy

Weekly Wrap

Subtitles for this entry include "Why I Love My Dad," "New Shoes," or "Blogging is a Good Way to Procrastinate Studying for a Midterm."

Anyway, this week was good--six workouts with a well-earned Tuesday off. My goal for the week was to do 40 minutes on the treadmill at 6 mph, and I got there yesterday morning. (I had been doing 5.7 mph with 6 mph intervals.) I had a bummer of a swim this morning, but I suppose I can't win 'em all. ;-) I'm playing phone tag with the Y about a trainer session, but I'm hoping to have that ironed out early this week. Next up: my first spinning class tomorrow!

My dad called me yesterday to ask how training was going and got all excited when I told him about spinning. He's turning into my biggest cheerleader, and it's so cute.

I also made the annoying discovery that my running shoes were reaching the end of their useful life, so I bit the bullet and went to Playmakers today. I explained what I do to the gal at the store, and it turned out that I had instinctively been making good shoe choices. She set me up with a new pair of Asics, but I don't have a run scheduled until Wednesday. I'll be interested to see how they work out--I'm optimistic.

Okay, back to that midterm. Keep rocking, ladies!

Jess :)

Welcome back Linda!!!!
I start tri-class tomorrow night.
Just got back from a 4 mile run outside, it was ugly!
Feel soooo out of shape! So much different than doing
60 mins. of cardio at the gym but it is good to get
a good butt kicking from time to time. This has
proofed to me I have got to get outside at least
once a week, now if only the weather will make it
happen for me!!!!
Kathy

life gets in the way

Weel, this week life sure got in the way of my triathlon training. Between my own sickness - still not 100%, and travels to Mom in hospital (200 miles round trip x 3 days), and a return trip from Tampa and off to Chicago overnight tomorrow ...I got one spinning class in and lots of stairs and walking! I missed almost all of my regular workouts and my extra triathlon classes - yikes. I am looking forward to more of a regular routine this next week - which will include sleep!

Train On!
Linda

http://www.themac.org/news.asp?display=2093

Check out the MAC tri.....I think I am going to do it.
What do you think?
Kathy

Had our last swim class tonight, we swam a mile.
I find when I get tired my form goes out the window.
I hope to find a pool to swim at once a week that won't
cost me an arm and a leg. I am off to Owosso Saturday
to visit my mom and sister will be there also. I am hoping
my Brother can get us into the high school pool for a swim.

I am looking forword to the tri class next week.

Hope your Mom is doing better Linda.
Wait till you get the gift from Jess, I
LOVE LOVE LOVE IT!!
Rock on!
Kathy

Sorry you are so sick Linda but glad you had a good time in the sun.
Thank you for the package you left at Frandor, love it!
LOVED your article in the paper today!!!! I will cut it out
and bring it into Frandor this morning.
There was a VERY small window of non-rain Sunday so I took off
for a run, stayed out about 7 mins. too long, got a tad wet but not too
bad, felt good to get out.
Remember Linday, if you feel bad neck and above you can workout, neck down
don't workout.
Kathy

ugh under the weather

UGH!!!

I seem to have a whopper of a cold (with respitory junk) that will definitely impact my training for the early part of this week - I think it's airplane germs and being a bit run down. I will go to my triathlon class tonight - it's all about transitions - so 'll have information to share! I doubt I'll join in the running, biking, but I'll go dressed for it in case. But I'm going to pass on my cardio kickboxing class which I do before that, which is my favorite thing to do! I am sure I wouldn't fair very well - maybe I'll do some light treadmill walking instead at home - I took a 2 hour nap this afternoon and sat in the steam room for 30 minutes this morning. Drinking my 3rd cup of cold tea...had chicken soup etc. UGH!
Linda

resource

Hi,


http://www.f2r.com/

Seems to have some good info go to the Fit2Learn tab and read the articles - I found the information helpful to know - now it's just the application part:) One could also rent a wetsuit from this site/company.

Linda

Florida fitness

Hi,

Florida fitness weekend...

Friday, lots of walking and continual hotel stair climbs as we were on the 12th floor at the Marriot.

Saturday, I had the opportunity for a 25 mile bike ride in sunny Tampa enjoying the 80 degree weather, then a brief swim, as the pool heater was broken and the water was frigid - I was the only one who was in the pool swimming. It was so chilly, even the kids at the pool wouldn't go in to play....brrrrrr. I went for it eventually, because I figured it would help with the concept of our open water swim in June. I didn't stay at it long, because my brain decided it would much prefer thte 80 poolside sunning activity. Again lots of walking (blocks and blocks and blocks in Ybor City (Tampa) and hotel stair climbing several times.

Sunday - Rest.

Monday, started with a massage - nice! Amazing how knotted up the body gets! Back to the regular routine, with a Kickboxing class tonight and a triathlon training class afterwards.

Anyone available to swim this Friday morning?

Train On!
Linda

The Swim

WTG on the swimming Jess! Glad you are starting to enjoy it.

I agree with you to meet with a trainer at the Y. I waited a year
before I did that at the Powerhouse and it was dumb to wait
that long. I now have the trainer put together a strength training
workout for me about every 3-4 months. $40 well spent. I am
working on building up the legs now. Makes me use the machines
properly and gets me doing the free weights as well. I do cardio
6 days a week and weights 3.

I enjoy Yoga as well, love Fit TV. Love the streaches on the Yoga.

Kinda wishing now I would of taken Sara up on swimming at LCC today,
I like swimming twice a week.

Was hoping to run outside today, roads are clear and dry but too cold
for me. Off to the gym. I think today will be 14 mins. on a steps, run for 10
on the treadmill, 14 on elpitical, run for 10 and 14 on something else and run
for 10. I do that about once a week to pump it up a notch.

Train on girls!
Kathy

It's the little things. :)

Can I have just a second to brag a little about swimming? Today I concentrated really hard on the "body roll" idea I worked on in class on Monday, and this morning was the first time since I started swimming that I noticed I was getting water in my ears. Jessica (my class instructor) was the lifeguard on duty this morning, so I asked her about it. She said it was normal to get water in your ears, and it just means that I'm actually doing it right now. (I'm paraphrasing--she was much more tactful. Haha.) I also did 250 meters without stopping this morning, which was an improvement over the 200 I've been rocking for the last two weeks.

I'm almost ready to say that I like swimming now, but I'm still not a fan of the dry skin. ;-)

To quote Linda, "train on!"

Jess :)

Week in review...

Swimming is coming along! Slowly, but surely, I think I'm getting it. At last week's lesson, Jessica had me work really hard on kicking (which was part of the reason why my butt kept sinking). This week, Tom had me work on my side roll and stroke. By the end of tonight, I finally felt like I could (at least sometimes) get my upper body and lower body to do what they're supposed to at the same time. Tom and Jessica both said they can tell I've been practicing (Thanks, Linda!), which made me happy.

I ended up doing six full-on workouts (half gym, half at home), and one rest (yoga DVD) day. I've actually come to look forward to the break on yoga day. Apparently, I'm not actually the bionic woman. ;-)

I think I'm going to have to put on the big-kid pants and learn how to use the machines at the gym. Like I mentioned in the comment to Linda's last post, I think they'll be a more efficient use of my time than my beloved Firm DVDs. I think the same thing goes for my aerobics DVDs (fun, but not so much triathlon-related), so I think I'm going to see about meeting with a trainer at the Y when swimming is over to learn about strength training so I can go all-gym (at least until the weather breaks and I can go outside again).


Jess :)

buddies rule

Hey,

The buddy system is great - got in 2 swims Fri. and Sat. with buddies thanks Jess and Kathy. I got in workouts all last week, each day. I am meeting with a personal trainer tomorrow - casually, as I want my training efforts to move me forward, not backwards with over training or ineffective recoveries, etc. Want to make sure my nutrition thoughts are working for me, as well.

I will be swimming then biking at my tri class tomorrow, and a few other workouts this week, then off to Tampa for 3 nights. I will use the hotel pool and beach if the water is warm enough. I am researching a Tampa YMCA location - close to the hotel and looking to find a bike rental shop. I'd love to ride long in 70 degrees plus and sunny weather!

Train on!
Linda

cycling tips

Dan, my Monday night tri-coach gave us a pretty good workout.

Cycling to running (primarily cycling). He worked us way hard on the bike to get the feeling of the run transition.

some tips you may or may not know...
head position looking forward (people tend to look down)
back natural and straight
knees very slightly turned in
start out the cycle leg easy for a mile or maybe 2
watch out for other's dropping water bottles on accident causes crash potential
removing H2O btl - ask me - too long to describe
use short bursts to pass others
seat position could be over the pedals - like a running motion
seat position slightly back - more quad use
recommends cycling shoes, makes for more efficient pedaling
plan for nutrition on the cycle leg (energy gel perhaps)
you can use duct tape to tape a gel to your shirt

I am sure there are a few more that escape me.

http://www.trifuel.com/ a sight he recommends - said good swimming tips.

He may have access to a few free energy samples - I will try to acquire some for all!

He will talk transitions soon and a long swim session next Monday - then to bike.

Train On Rockstars!
Linda

attitude is everything

All right -

In an article forwarded to me about swimmig "DO NOT GET IN YOUR OWN WAY" - Ruth Kazez. This was inreference to body movement, but I can tell you it means the mind as well.

I was "whining" about the 5K today - good job ladies! "Too cold", "Never ran in the winter", "Haven't run outside since Sept. 07", "Am I dressed right, because I don't have any cold weather experiece", "I'm not going to turn in a great time", "didn't run really for the last two weeks", "I'm tired", blah, blah....

It's all mental - hello!

"Ability is what you are capable of doing. Motivation determines what you do. Attitude determines how well you do it". Unknown

For me, lesson learned (early in the tri-training j0urney), I didn't have the kind of time I would have liked to have had. My thinking got in my way. It's called focus and positve mental attitude! I can do these 5K runs and post a more satisfactory time, personally. Of course I do recall the days, when I couldn't run more than 2 mailboxes distance - how far this journey as led me!

I am looking forward to a March race event - I'll post which one, when I figure it out.

Good to see you all - rock on! We are all awesome! I'm glad I did the 5K with your guys - Kath thanks for the tough "candy" love!

Linda

attitude

photo

LOVE the photo Jess!! Can you e-mail it to me? I'd like to order a copy, thanks.

I really do enjoy the team side of this, it was nice knowing you were all
going to be at the race, it was nice seeing you before and after, it is nice
knowing we are all training. Although, being the senior member of the group,
I did not swim like Jess did after, way to go Jess. We went to Home Depot as
a post-race cool down and got stuff to finish the bathroom we painted.

Kathy

team photo!

Crazy? Perhaps, but I still say we rock. :)

I did a 30-minute swim at Parkwood on my way home. The deep end was a little less unnerving this time, so that was good.

In other training-related news, I picked up this workout log the other day, and I've been using it since Friday. I had been using an Excel spreadsheet to track my workouts since Thanksgiving, but my inner geeky librarian needs to put pen to paper. I like it so far--it has quite a bit of good general fitness info and some goal-setting and nutrition tips.

Time for me to hit the books!

Jess :)