Sunday, June 29, 2008

My first open water swim!!!!

I did it!

At the beach, in the ocean- swimming away for over an hour & holding my own pretty beautfully without a wetsuit. Wow!! Most people in the group had their wetsuits so they were floating better than I. I'm so friggin proud of myself. Someone bring on the cotton candy because I deserve a treat!!!

I learned a sexy move for going around buoy's. It felt pretty easy swimming in the ocean. Yeah yeah buoyancy. But I also think I've done my time especially when I was swimming intensely earlier this year. Damn is that water salty. I swallowed so much I had to pee AFTER I got out of the water.

I feel confident for my race, especially knowing that I'll be swimming with the current.

I'll be going to the SwimBikeRun store this week...

Friday, June 27, 2008

Getting stronger!!!

So I've been very consistent with my strength training program. The last time I'd had a consistent routine was July 2007, so it feels good to be back on track. It's a total body program and I strength train 2-3 times a week. For the past 4 weeks it's been going strong.

Yesterday I increased my bench press amount by 5lb and I also started to do wide grip bench presses in order to target my chest. Hopefully this will improve my pushups soon.

I woke up today & my chest hurts like bloody hell. My shoulders hurt, everything hurts today. I was going to go swimming at 5:30 am but instead extended my sleep time to 10:30 am. And I still hurt. I need to do at least some yoga today though. I'm not opposed to rest days at all. The sports masseuse will be back in town in two weeks and I'm definitely getting one of those before my race.

Tommorow is my first open water swim. Wish me luck!!!

Tuesday, June 24, 2008

Do athletes have clear skin?

I've been eating very well and training consistently, but my skin isn't clear. And no, I'm not doing this triathlon in order to attain clear skin, but usually, when I'm on track, my skin isn't acned and rashy. Ugh, I hate this. Cheap dermatologist anyone?

My new routine begins on Friday June 27th. From June 27th to July 20th, my excercise will be stepped up a little. I'll be adding morning yoga, dance & core routines & my exercise will be in the mornings except on Tuesdays when I have sword fighting & kickboxing in the PM. Just a little fun cross training, I guess.

I'm probably renting a wetsuit for this first race...

Monday, June 16, 2008

Outdoor training!!!

As the weeks move on, I'm transitioning to training in the parks & in open water. I'm quite excited about this. My gym membership ends soon , but come January, I might sign up again.

I almost bought a tennis racket yesterday, but decided to wait till after my race to play tennis:):):)

More actual training updates soon.

Saturday, June 14, 2008

3...2...1...Step it up the Clean Crash week!


So tommorow is the start of me taking my training a little more seriously. I've been doing relatively ok. I'm struggling at times though. Today is an off day just so I can get my life in order, do grocery shopping etc. Staying motivated is really really hard for me right now. I do very well with AM workouts, but it's not always possible to leave my house at 5am, you know. I'm trying.

For the next seven days, I'll be eating pretty clean & healthy - eating enough and an lot though, but good stuff, sweating like a pig, sticking to my routine & hopefully enjoying the process...allergies are getting in the way though:(

Tuesday, June 10, 2008

heat wave...discipline...new trisuit!!

Hooray!!! The store replaced my trisuit. It's now proudly hanging in my room:)

This weekend I had a work retreat at this hotel in NJ. Guess who ate well throughout the stay and went to bed early and woke up at 5Am to do an intense exercise session????!!! Me!

I'm stronger than before. My current philosophy is working out smarter not longer or harder. I'm spending probably an hour in the gym lately, then I leave to live the rest of my life. I feel balanced & healthy because I just fit in what I need to do & do it throroughly instead of wasting mediocre hours.

I'd like to register for the Toronto Island Triathlon in August. This is what my workout has looked like this week:
Sunday: strength training
Monday: swimming & spinning
Tuesday: swimming & running

Oh- you wouldn't believe it! Yesterday was the hottest day of the year so far. And guess who went to Bikram Yoga class just to add to the misery! Me!!! Crazy or hardcore? Does it matter??? I don't know how many liters of water I drank yesterday. Definitely enough!

If you're a triathlete in training too & you have a blog, leave a comment- would love to tap into more online tri support through reading blogs & such.

Friday, June 6, 2008

my first triathlon...tri tantrums

Thursday am I find myself at the gym at 5:30am in my brand new Danskin tri suit.

I did my first triathlon ever!!! I swam for 30 minutes, then cycled for 30 minutes, then ran for 30 minutes- one after the other & all in the same trisuit! It was awesome.

How do I feel about my first tri? Here are my numbered thoughts.(How organized am I!!)

1. Swimming with the tri-suit, I felt heavy and fat at first, then by the end it was better.

2. The tri-suit does improve my bouyancy so I'm not as concerned about drowining.

3. My stroke was good towards the end of my swim session. In terms of endurance, I just need to keep on swimming. I can feel my heart struggling to get stronger

4. The transition from swimming to cycling(indoor) was ok- it was just rather wet because I kept my trisuit on.

5. When I got off the bike and onto the treadmill, my legs felt like rubber. So friggin strange. Maybe that's why they call it the brick transition. I actually started out by walking, then went into my jog. I took it easy with slow increments in speed and my final speed was just the ten minute mile. I'm content with that because this is my first week getting back into running.

6. Afterwards I felt such wonderful accomplishment. I was a ball of sweat. Bathing in endorphins. Absolutely amazing.

7. I'm a triathlete!!!!

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3am the next morning I wake up and look at my trisuit. I notice a little defect. I'm freaking out. Yes- tantrum style. Internally I guess. I bought this from my all time favorite fitness store & it's an investment so I'm upset. I have to wait until the AM to call the company. Oh well. That's life. I must calm down & grow up.

I don't know why I'm wide awake so early. My sleep patterns are terrible. I do try awefully hard but I'm an early early early morning person.

Here's to a good week of training!!

I've been eating well & when I don't eat well, I just plan on improving the next time. I'm not eating meat(except fish) until after my triathlon. Yesterday I did exceptionally well with my eating habits. Free food was available all day at work, but because it was all bagels and pizza and cake, I brought my own lunch and breakfast- soup, blueberries, yogurt & tons of goodness:):):) Go me!!! Free food doesn't entice me anymore- what has happened to me???

Will post more update this weekend.

Wednesday, June 4, 2008

mid week 1 update- I bought a tri-suit

My body hurts from running. My allergies are flaring & I'm a non-believer in medicating. Running is hard. I am sleeping way too much. I hate when my hamstring cramps. I can't imagine being able to swim for a mile. Morning workouts are hard to do before I go to work. Evening workouts are hard to do after work. I think I'll workout in my sleep.

The theme of this training week is "What was I thinking when I signed up for the triathlon?!"

I bought my tri-suit from Danskin yesterday! I need to get a wetsuit soon too.

Need to find some sprint & olympic distance triathlons to do in Canada. Any insight on this is much appreciated:)

Sunday, June 1, 2008

Training Day 1

So y'all know I haven't been running since the Turkey Trot race in November due to my injury.

Anyhow, today I was supposed to take 7am yoga, but shock horror, I overslept. 8:30 am a text message from my roommate wakes me up. "Would you like to go running?"

dum dum dum...

Ok, I NEVER say no to someone wanting to sweat with me so I find my dusty running gear and hear this!

I can still run!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ok, minus the misery I feel while doing it (this used to be bliss for me...), I can do it! We ran 2.5 miles - running the whole way! Well- he is 6 ft 3 & uber athletic, I am 5 ft 2 & pseudo athletic so I'm sure it was more like a walk for him!! I came back drenched in liquid, but still going strong! Wow.

Pace needs to improve majorly, but I'm more concerned with endurance. I need to build back the kind of endurance that can run for 6 miles and still feel like running for 6 more miles after. I'm also good at running with other people so I'm going to start enlisting everyone I know to come running with me any chance I get, even at work.

No pain in ankle at all. For that I am grateful. I think the yoga & taking it easy has helped, as well as the goodness that comes from the universe & other powers.

I'll be posting my training updates & plan once I have it. I'll be updating blog a lot. I need so much encouragement now more than ever. Triathlete Wannabe, Triathlete Gonnabe.