Half Ironman Training Update

During January I've been able to reach my target goals for training.  I'm surprisingly not as exhausted as I thought I would be - strange, right?  I am surprised how much laundry I generate - hardly any from my work clothes, but wow the WORKOUT clothes are multiplying.

So during January, I am averaging 3 days a week swimming and I can swim 1500 yards without stopping.  No, I can't do flip turns without having the coordination of an elephant in water.  I tag the side of the pool and hope I'm counting correctly.  And counting? Holy crap, my math skills suck and I know this from trying to figure out the difference between swimming laps in a pool that's 20 yards length versus 25 yards length. The good news is I signed up to be a part of the Ohio Masters Swimming group and I am excited about doing drills and having help to impove my stroke. I have A LOT of work to do.

Biking.  Phew, what an ass pain! I fortunately have "toughened" up my "seat" and can now bike on the trainer for an hour with minimal squirming. I'm like a Starbucks cup of tea, though - I feel better if there's double insulation versus just a sleeve, if you know what I mean! I'm bored out of my mind.  I have tried to watch TV, but I hate the commercials.  I can't read because I slow down to turn the page and, before I know it, I am spinning at 11-12 mph pace and that just won't help me finish.  I think I'll have to go to a spin class or maybe take 2 classes back to back to get in a good session.

Running is funny.  I am completely disarmed by the fact that I don't have a long run.  I have been running half marathons and marathons since 2006 and my mind just can't adjust to only doing 3-5 miles regularly. The training plan I'm using got Greg through the Wildflower Half Ironman, so I know it's tried and true and well-tested. I do have to admit I like my body not taking the constant pounding of running - so that part I sure can adapt to.

For strength training, I've been going to Pure Barre classes once a week for the past 3 weeks.  I'm in love with this class.  Each instructor has had slight modifications, but I love that I'm really working my core (abs, arms, legs) without wrecking my knees.

Best part of all this is I'm down 4 pounds since the New Year!

Summer Vacation: Turks & Caicos

Another amazing family vacation. Every two years, Greg's family takes a combined vacation. In 2006, we ventured to Paris, followed by Outer Banks in 2008, Atlantis in 2010 and, this year, the location was Turks and Caicos in the Caribbean. Simply gorgeous location and fantastic weather. We were able to try new activities, including Stand Up Paddleboarding (SUP), kayaking and the aqua cycle. Meg and I squeezed in the traditional core fusion yoga class at Exhale Spa in the Gansevoort resort, which was set against beautiful folage and a breathtaking view of the ocean. Our yoga instructor may have been one of the best we've ever experienced. We enjoyed two nights of family outdoor movies, ate way too much food, sampled too many drinks to name, and lounged non-stop in the pool. We are excited to see what 2014 brings!

View from our room. We had the amazing pleasure of waking up every morning to the sights and sounds of the ocean.

Lots of pool time. The Lazy River may have been one of my favorite lounging spots. Megan and I would float while Bridget tried to direct our floats toward the waterfalls so we'd be drenched. The waterslide was hands down Bridget's favorite and the pool bar (with a drinking age of 18) became Meg's favorite. Such fun!

The character breakfast was exciting for the kids. They got to meet and dance with Bert & Ernie, the Count, Cookie Monster, Big Bird, Abby Cadaby and Zoe from Sesame Street.

Such a beautiful picture of the two cousins!

Love this picture of Greg and Kim.

Fun morning excursion on a submarine so that we could see all the ocean life. We saw huge starfish, sting ray, barracuda and some of the most colorful fish!

Meg getting ready to sweat during a very physical core fusion yoga class!

Can you believe the amazing backdrop of this location? Such a gorgeous sky and a trip that we will always remember!

New Goggles Make the Girl

Bridget wearing her first pair of goggles for her nightly swim lessons. So. darn. cute.

OWS with Liquid Lifestyles

Tonight I attended an open water swim clinic with instructor Leah from Liquid Lifestyles. Best $20 spent. It was an hour fighting 3-5 foot swells, which terrified me at first. But after listening to her relaxing way of coaching, I actually started feeling more comfortable and found myself really enjoying the water. We practiced running in, dolphin diving, freestyle with breathing from different sides, breast stroke, sighting and exiting the water.

When I first got there and saw the choppiness, I almost ran back the car. Thank goodness I prepaid! So I put my big girl panties on, zipped up my wetsuit and introduced myself to Leah. I'll be going back to the next session in two weeks - it was THAT enjoyable!

I'm not looking to blaze any trails Sunday, but I at least know I'll be better prepared after tonight.

OWS and a Family Bike Ride

Sunday was a most excellent day spent with my family. The morning started off with my first open water swim in Lake Erie of the year. What drama, too! Megan, my swimmer who doesn't allow excuses, simply wouldn't let me whine my way to defeat. While I stood there ankle-deep in the water, she asked me if I needed my hand held to go further. Hell no, I can do this (a hand might be nice...just kidding). Then when I wasn't moving out there quick enough, she threatened me with her coming in. That's exactly why I brought her with me. This was also my first time in a wetsuit and it just didn't feel natural right away. I found it weird that I floated too much and couldn't get my strokes to work out. When I came back to shore to complain to Megan, she sent me back out and told me to keep trying. Smart advice because the more I went out, the farther I managed to swim and became a little more confident with each stroke. I'm not speedy, no sir, not me. But I found a little rhythm with 10 strokes, take a 2-3 second break, find myself, 10 more strokes. That seemed to work fine for this newbie. But since I do want to get better, I signed up for an open water swim clinic for beginners with Liquid Lifestyles. I'm very excited and hope that the more I get into the lake, the more comfortable I feel.

After a quick clean off, Meg headed to work and Greg, Bridget and I headed out to Peninsula to ride the Towpath. We had lunch at Szalay's Farm - mmmmm Roasted Corn on the Cob and fresh-squeezed lemonade. Picked up some yummy fruits and vegetables, finished off our ride by going out to the Boston Store, then back to Peninsula. Great afternoon logging 12 miles with the family.


Best popsicle EVER!

My 32nd State - Fun Facts About Connecticut

Lots of excitement due to my upcoming race in Connecticut. First, it will mark the 32nd state for this family. Second, I am signed up for a sprint triathlon - a challenge for me with weak Open Water skills. And third, the girls and I will be making a little pit stop along the way to the Punxatawney Phil Groundhog Zoo to break up the monotony of traveling 9 hours along Interstate 80!

As with most of my races, I try to add a little fun trivia - watered down education, if you will. So, here are a few claims to fame for the great state of Connecticut:

1. Issued the first telephone book in New Haven with 50 names in February 1878.
2. They never ratified the 18th amendment (prohibition).
3. Home of the oldest U.S. newspaper still being published, the Hartford Courant, established in 1764. I'll definitely have to pick one up!
4. Home to the first hamburger (1895), Polaroid camera (1934), helicopter (1939), and color TV (1948).
5. First lollipop-making machine opened for business in New Haven in 1908. George Smith named the treat after a popular racehorse (did not know that!).
6. PEZ candy is made in the city of Orange (but they don't allow factory tours-bummer!).

The biking and running have been going quite well. I've been biking to work and pedaling more/coasting less, which is promising. I've been trying to get in an OWS, but each morning I'm free, the weather has not cooperated. Rain today, so Sunday must result in some valuable OWS time followed by a ride along the Towpath and a stop at Szalay's yummy farmer's market!

Hope your holiday weekend is shaping up nicely, too!

Swimming MILEstone

For the first time, I swam a mile! I was useless afterwards and often wondered if my knuckles were dragging against the floor from my fatigued arms, but... I SWAM A MILE! I will definitely sleep like a baby :)

My First DNS

Today was the Cleveland Rite Aid marathon, half marathon and 10k. I was originally signed up for the 10k race. But after spending 6 days experiencing all the joys that rotavirus has to offer, I decided today would not be my day to run a 10k. Best. decision. ever. Feeling like a new person this afternoon and I've had the best 6 hours of my entire week. I'm on the mend.

Hopefully I'll have more to report this week on multi-discipline training. I am scheduled to swim 3 days, run 3 days and bike 2 days. I'll swim during my lunch hours, run during the evenings with Bridget in the stroller or Jameson on his leash, and hopefully bike to work at least one of the days and maybe a nice long ride with Greg on Saturday.

So what exciting kind of schedule do you have this week?

Goggle Eyes

Help - I have "goggle eyes." After swimming during my lunch hour this week, I came back to work with that tell-tale racoon eyes look. Several coworkers asked either "what happened?" or "were you swimming again?" The speedos that I have are a mid-range price pair, but in order to keep the water out, I have to pull them tighter. My old pair never had this problem, but I can't find them anywhere.

Suggestions?

Here Fishy Fishy

Earlier in January I bought a new racing swimsuit. It was on clearance and my old one had gone through all the pallette combinations of a Sherwin Williams paint sample and now needed to be discarded. So this week, I figured I would break in my new Speedo suit. I love where I work out because I am ALWAYS the youngest person - including in the pool. It's me and the three old men. They pool walk back and forth and I wish like hell I could hear what they're saying. There's times I just want to join in and start walking and bobbing along. Even more fun than that, I get to see them underwater with their super baggy swim trunks wondering if they're changing into their Sansabelt Men's Comfort slacks when finished.

Before I got into the pool today, I saw an older lady gliding along in the pool. I thought, "Oh, she's not going fast. Just enjoying a nice swim." You guessed it. She blew me away. It had been the first time I suited up this year, but she totally chic'd me. I must work on this thing called swimming...

First Day in the Pool

Today was my first swim practice...and I'm exhausted. I could barely stay awake during a meeting I was facilitating. I went to this fantastic swim facility near where I work during my lunch hour. Funny part was that I REALLY brought down the average age while I was there! I got into a lane and immediately complained to myself that the pool was much colder than I remembered (man, I am such a wimp). The pool was 25m in length and I managed to complete 350 meters. I compared my 50m swim time to my 15-year-old daughter's swim time. Now keep in mind, she is on the swim team (please note the disclaimer). I managed to eak out a very pathetic time of 1m12sec and she just shook her head. I guarantee that next Tuesday I will be able to shed at least 15 seconds on my 50m swim time. I plan to swim a T/W/Fri schedule during my lunch hour until the Portland Triathlon the end of August. I should be able to handle a 750m sprint distance (I know...longshot...but bet on me on this one). Biking is going well and I'm splitting my running between trail work and long runs on the road. I'm finding it incredibly challenging to train for a triathlon while also training for a 10-mile trail run. Each race should sufficiently kick my arse during the month of August. It's doubtful that I will relax in September...especially since I hear there's a pretty cool half marathon trail run mid-September. Ahhhh, fall racing :)