swimmers dry face

Have either of you experienced dry, flaky, facial skin after swimming? If so, I have found a product that seems to help! Mary Kay Extra Emmolient Night Cream, before and after, has seemed to make a remarkable difference - let me know if you'd like samples!
Linda

week in review

Hi rockstars, thanks for the photo Linda, and thanks for posting that one and not the thigh photo.
Still have not gotten my medal in the mail, ugh.

You two are rocking out on the workouts, wow!!

Tri-class Monday night was good, 50 mins. on the bike right to the track to work on the transition, good tip..don't force your body to run, start slow and just work on turning the legs over. Didn't swim but will do that today at the Hannah Center.

Twice I got out to run 6 miles, that was good. Other than that it has been 40-60 mins. of cardio at the gym and doing weights 3 times a week. I feel my legs getting stronger and on bonus news, that kicking in the pool is helping out the backside!

I am ready to roll on my bike, new tires, a friend gave me his old computer chip for the bike, miles, speed, pretty cool, I have a new tire pump....have not been out on it yet, burrrrrr.

Rock on girls!
Kathy

Who does this?

All right...I finished with my meeting at LTC early tonight - no GS session - then what? So I decided to go to the Westside YMCA. I called ahead to find out what group fitness classes were available. Next thing I know I am zooming there to do a Boot Camp class with Mr. Marine Sergeant! Who "drops in" for Boot Camp? It consisted of a circuit workout with about one dozen stations! All and all I fared very well - the thing that is toughest for me is push ups - ugh - though I am improving. Each circuit had 25 - I made 3 circuits though I cheated on the second 2 circuits and only did about 20! Hopefully, I will not be in too much pectoral pain by Thursday! One lady didn't fair so well overall and had to stop - she wound up laying down - not sweating - she was dehydrated! This illicited a firm talking to the group about good nutrition being a necessary part of the workout equation! He said he has seen many a man go down from dehydration. Recommended on hard workout days - 10-12 glasses of water and 4 meals - FYI.

I finished up by joining a cardio kickboxing class after - though I didn't finish the whole class, as I had forgotten socks and I felt I was risking a blister after both workouts, and a blister might impair my routine for the rest of the week - no thanks!

Train On!
Linda

wkly recap

My training schedule has been ever so challenged with the family business these days! But I was able to get in cycling classes and some kickboxing and even weights. There is a contest at my YMCA, I'd love to go off and win it. In the contest time blocks=mileage. The contest goal is to "finish the St. Pat's Marathon (26.2 miles)" in 6 weeks! Finishing is not a problem, but I'd like to finish number one for the ladies - it's that competitive ege!

I just signed up for next session of classes at the YMCA, and it will include a weekly running session, which is good - can't say I love running, but I can do it, and I'd like to be better at it!

I have managed a few swims, and have been reading my triathlon books - thanks Kathy, Jess they'll be headed your way soon to glean any helpful info! I am looking forward to our swim lesson, and I know another swimmer (WW member - hi Michelle!) who has offere to share tips - we just don't have easiy schedules to work around.

In another challenge, I am "riding my bike" to San Francisco - Barb is "riding her bike" to Silverdale, WA (near Seattle) - so far I've "rode" 110 miles! Fun!

Wishing everyone a great "Fit, Fearless, and Fab" week!
Linda

Well, my last couple of weeks haven't been as exciting as Kathy's, but I'm still happy with my progress. :) I've still been getting in six workouts a week, though I had to opt for aerobics at home yesterday since the Y was closed (the nerve!) and despite my increased willingness to put on the big-kid pants and brave the cold in the name of training, the 22 degrees weather.com listed when I woke up was far below my threshold.

In other news...

• I can now (slowly) swim the whole distance of our event, which makes me happy.
• I'm 99.9% sure my wimpy stomach is directly related to the treadmill. Last weekend, I went for an outdoor run because I was visiting my parents and didn't have a problem. On Friday, I used the track at the Y instead of a treadmill and was fine too (though my pride was slightly wounded from watching the army guys run two laps to my one).
• I've gotten to really enjoy spinning, though it kicked my butt today both figuratively and literally. (The seats are hard--even with the padded shorts--when we don't get to do any standing segments!) I figured out a way to make it work into my schedule for the next session, so I'm definitely going to sign up again.

Train on!
--Jess :)

Yay Kathy!

Here's a photo of Kathy as our group's first official triathlete. How much does she rock? :)

LOVE the photo!
Ok, so I was checking out the results of last years MAC tri just to kinda give
myself a goal. I was looking at the women in my age bracket. Ok, good, got
some goals. Then I was checking out the 6 people in my time group, ok, so then
I looked to see their results from last year, one women was in it last year so I checked
out her times and I thought, oh, her swim is pretty close to what I was hoping to do, I
was hoping to run farther but still not off by much.....then I noticed she was in the
60 and over age group. HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
Signed, humbally yours, Kathy

Proof that we actually do swim. ;-)

Way to be on the ball and bring a camera, Linda!

--Jess :)

thanks

It was good to get together on Friday and swim - I did get in spiing a couple times and cardio kickboxing ast weekm too. Although my schedule has gotten complicated - I am still getting workouts in. I found my IPod thanks to Craig. I had left it in my laptop case from my Florida trip. Scary that when I aske him "Honey...have you seen my IPod?" - he actually knows me well enough to guess where I might have left it..yikes -I asked hime this weekend, and the Ipod was MIA since Feb. 16 Florida.

Swimming tonight with Dan YMCA tri trainer was good. I am feeling better about the swim, though I still have a ways to go for swimming - as far as technique and endurance. If my technique inproves, it won't take so much "work". I feel my imperfections are getting in the way and causing me to work harder. I am learning so much - it's cool and I know I'll "get it" and be able to put all the "tips" to use in practical application!

Train on!
Linda

Another week down...

...twelve more to go!

I discovered today that we have more time than I thought--we're so going to be prepared. :) I figured out that I'd need to start the eight-week plan from Julie (Here's a link if anyone's interested. She said she's used this guy's stuff to finish three marathons, so it sounds like a pretty good bet.) the week of April 6, which actually works out really well. That's the last week of spinning, so I won't need to worry about working it in. I think I'm just going to follow it as written and switch my day off to Friday because I can't see myself doing a long workout on any day except Sunday. Until then, my plan is to alternate biking and running for cardio and fitting in weights, core, and swimming twice a week each wherever they fit best. I did my first gym weights workout this morning, and I think that's going to be good once I get the hang of all the machines.

I'm working on t-shirt ideas/info, so I'll send out an e-mail later this week. I think the idea of a logo is a little too ambitious, though, since art isn't my strong suit--we might need to end up going text-only. ;-)

Oooh, and I have one last thing: I need some advice on pre-running food. I can do cereal or oatmeal before biking and even swimming, but my stomach can't take anything more than a banana when I run (even when I give it time to settle). Any suggestions?

LOVE the MP3 player.....Love the songs you gave us Jess!!
Thank you Thank you!
Kathy

It was great swimming with fellow rockstars so I was fine with it.

Took my bike in today for a tune up, he suggested new tires too so
I am getting that done.

Love the t-shirt idea Jess, I say if you do all the work I'll pay for your
t-shirt! I like a large.

Way to go running faster Jess, that is what I need to work on, I am a slow
runner. I did get an MP3 player today, maybe that will help!
Kathy

Sorry about the swimming weirdness today, gals. Maybe next time we should sneak into a hotel or something. ;-) Kathy, the "rotten kids" followed me into the locker room, so I hope you got a good swim in after that! I ended up doing a 30 minute run instead of 40, but I did a faster pace than usual and ended with a ten-minute walk up an incline.

I'm feeling really good about all this, though--I can't wait to get on a big-kid bike outside. I hope you guys don't mind putting up with a slowpoke for a little while. ;-)

Okay, time for homework. Train on!

Jess :)

PS--I think we need team t-shirts. Any ideas for a slogan/picture ("future triathlete rockstars" is the first thing that popped into my head). I'm on spring break next week, so I have a little extra time to look into doing something up if you're interested.

help please jess

Jess,

Obviously I had an issue with the comment - reply to the last post - maybe you could delete the extra duplicate comments? Don;t know what happened, plus I am tired and challenged to try to figure it out! Good luck - thanks!
Linda

Glad it went well with the trainer Jess, pretty funny she is Dan the Mans sister!
What you said makes a lot of sense, lets not over think this thing. Just train and
go for it.
I am looking forword to the indoor tri at the mac on the 14th. I think it will give me
a good "point of reference" on what I need to work on for the tri.
I am looking into a tri top and bottems, so I won't have to change.
I will forword you both the e-mail Dad sent with places to order stuff
on line. I wouldn't mind going somewhere and trying them on but I tried
both Playmakers and Dicks and they have zippola.
Anyone want to swim Friday?
Kathy

Getting some focus...

I had a meeting with a trainer at the Y today (who, incidentally, is tri-coach Dan's sister--small world!), and I had done some thinking over the weekend about exactly what I'm trying to accomplish and how much time I can devote to training. I decided that my time commitment level is working out fine (an hourish six days/week--mornings only, no night workouts), but that I was getting too hung up in all the "academic" stuff in the books and websites I've been reading. I think trying to decipher all the info on training zones, heart rate monitoring (I stay in my target zone, but I haven't figured it out much beyond that), breakthrough sessions, etc. was becoming overwhelming.

I explained all this to Julie and she set me up with an 8-week plan that entails pretty much everything I'm doing now, but with more of a set structure. I just need to sit down and lay it out based on a Tuesday off instead of a Friday off and work in Monday spinning. She also assured me that I don't need to worry about the "academic" stuff if I'm staying in my target heart rate and am challenging myself with the workouts. Oh, and I have a handle on the strength training stuff now too. Apparently, doing too much of it can actually get in the way of other training, so she set me up with a routine I can do once a week (and work up to twice if I feel like I can) and said I could swap in more stability ball work (which I love and had gotten away from a little bit lately).

Linda, big hugs to you and your family.

Jess :)

PS--My friend sent me this link today in an e-mail with the subject line, "you should get this for your triathlon!" (It's a reference to Double Dare, which was a Nickelodeon after-school staple when we were kids). I may have to order one.

Tough week

HI Guys,

As you know....a tough training week due to my Mom's health concerns. I spent Mon., Tues., Wed., Sat., and Sun. down at Karmanos Cancer Hosp. in Detroit. I checked out 5 nursing homes in the Metro Detroit area and had 1 completely sleepless night (hospital) - not to mention countless paperwork time and phone time. No sympathy for me though - my Mom is deserving of genuine sympathy and prayers. Though we will be signing her OFF Hospice tomorrow - which is good news, and she will go to a nursing home and be able to receive some physical therapy which will give her some sense of purpose and dignity in the weeks ahead. She is so courageous in her cancer battle! I strive to have her grace and courage in my personal endeavors.

I did manage to eat pretty well and do 2 spinning classes and a salsa dance aerobics (was supposed to be cardio kickboxing, but there was a sub). I did do many sets of stairs and walked extra steps at every opportunity. It's hard right now to sneak out for a swim - due to logistics. I did try to swin last Sunday in Chicago - can't recall if I already posted this - the pool was so warm - I couldn't swim, plus too many people, but I did manage a few laps. While in Chicago across the street was the Annual Hustle the Hancock building - 94 flights I believe - might HAVE to do it next year.

Craig and I are signing up for the Fifth Third River Bank Run in Grand Rapids on May 10. Craig is doing the 10K and I'll do the 5K - we might even sign our kids up for the 5K - we'll see on that.

Speaking of running, in all the chaos of late I have misplaced my IPod with all my great songs for running - I will try to locate it this week - yikes!

I am with you in spirit and plan to keep getting some better training as time allows.

Train On!
Linda