My friend twisted my arm and had me swim the 1-hr postal challenge today. Which broke my "do nothing hard for 3 weeks" rule... sorta. The challenge is to swim 1 hr non-stop for distance. I did this challenge in 2006. Funny, reading back on my posts, I was really freaked out over the concept of swimming that long without stopping. Freaked over what my distance, soreness, fatigue during and after would be. Flash forward 3 years and its almost comical how "eh" I was today. There's many reasons for the "eh" - pretty much all my training in 2009. Completing a 2500 open water swim in Chicago, doing a Half Iron distance Aquabike, 2x a week workouts with ~3500 yards per workout. Doing the 3,000 yard postal challenge in October 2008 and 2009. Distance swimming for me is much more manageable and routine. Its hard to pick a workout (when I'm training) where I don't get in at least 3,000 yards. Back in 2006, I had this whole elaborate plan for the 1-hr postal - 5 x 12 minute "mini-sets". I even practiced it a few times before the event. This morning, I intended to do the 5 x 12 minutes and just wing it on the "mini-sets", but my watch timer wasn't working. I was 200 yards into the start of the swim and just decided that I was going to try 7 x 500 yards with a 50 of easy free or backstroke between each 500 yard interval. Didn't even get stressed over this, just went "eh, watch isn't working, what do I feel like swimming?"
I ended up swimming 3420 yards in 1 hour. I was kinda bummed - hoping to swim 3500. My 3,000 yard last October was done in 47 minutes (1:36 / 100 yard pace). I was hoping for more progress given the 3 years and all the training. However, what I need to remember is that I purposely wasn't working hard during the swim. I was never even out of breath. My coach even commented on how "easy" I took certain 50's. Part of me is mad at myself for not pushing more - I know I could have done better. However, taking things into perspective.... I've been doing off-season swimming since November (low intensity) and I'm in the second week of my three week "do nothing challenging" period. And I went into this swim without a plan. I should actually be happy that I essentially hit the easy button on this swim and had 50 more yards than 3 years ago, a swim that was challenging for me at the time.
I guess all things considered, I should be pleased. I just wish I felt good about this morning. At least I'm not sore :) There, that's something to feel good about.
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Monday, January 25, 2010
Log: Week ending Jan 23
I was actually a bum - YAY!
Swim: 0 [for the record, I did pack and set my alarm Wednesday but then decided that rest seemed like a better idea]
Bike: 0
Run: 0
Pilates: 2 hrs
It honestly took until Thurs before I could walk normally - my legs were that unhappy from the half marathon. So sleep and some easy pilates were right on target.
This was also the first weekend in a looooooong time that I didn't have to train. That meant sleeping in Saturday, spending the day with Will at the zoo, a late lunch at Little Bigs (sliders and a kaluah milkshake - yum!), and a birthday party that night. Normally I turn into a pumpkin by 10 PM at parties since I have to get up early and do something athletic, not to mention I really can't drink. But Saturday I was out until 1 AM and had some drinks! Craziness! Sunday was more sleeping in and a 90 min massage....
2 more weeks of bumming and I'm going to enjoy every minute of it :)
Swim: 0 [for the record, I did pack and set my alarm Wednesday but then decided that rest seemed like a better idea]
Bike: 0
Run: 0
Pilates: 2 hrs
It honestly took until Thurs before I could walk normally - my legs were that unhappy from the half marathon. So sleep and some easy pilates were right on target.
This was also the first weekend in a looooooong time that I didn't have to train. That meant sleeping in Saturday, spending the day with Will at the zoo, a late lunch at Little Bigs (sliders and a kaluah milkshake - yum!), and a birthday party that night. Normally I turn into a pumpkin by 10 PM at parties since I have to get up early and do something athletic, not to mention I really can't drink. But Saturday I was out until 1 AM and had some drinks! Craziness! Sunday was more sleeping in and a 90 min massage....
2 more weeks of bumming and I'm going to enjoy every minute of it :)
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Race Report: Houston Half Marathon
I'm sitting at my desk with my race number starring at me, yet I don't know how to begin. So, I guess I'll begin at the beginning!
Sunday morning I was up at 5 AM, out the door by 5:20. Breakfast consisted of my traditional Coke Zero and protein bar. Bad news was that I could still feel last night's dinner in my stomach... which was not a good thing! Got a free parking space ~3/4 mile behind the convention center. Ended up walking to the convention center (start of the race) with a guy who flew in from Georgia. Walked in the convention center and whoa.... that's a lot of people. Decided to hit the porta-john before the lines got go bad. Wandered over to find my running club, which thankfully had a sign, otherwise I would have been screwed. Did a bit of stretching, got my stuff ready for the day, wandered over to the bag check in to check my stuff, wandered back to my running club. Yup, lots 'o wandering. Then it was time to walk to the race start. We were in the second wave, probably about in the middle of the crowd. Even though it was in the mid-40's I wasn't cold. Partly because of being sandwiched btwn people, partly because of my awesome new arm sleeves. We heard a big KABOOM and realized that was the gun for the elites. More standing around, a bit of forward progress as the first wave went, more standing around. Then another gun and that was the start of our wave. I thought it was very cool that they were playing Iron Maiden's Run to the Hills at the start of my race. I was with my coach (Helen) and two other girls (Heather and Tara) who had been in my running group since July. The goal was to run together until the 9 mile turn-around point and then see what pace we could do after that point.
Lots of shuffling up to the start, then a slow jog. I haven't checked my Garmin, but given all the people, I'd estimate my pace was somewhere around a 12:30 mile. More shuffle running, trying to find space. Up the hill at the Elysian Viaduct. Helen instructed us to do a slow jog up the hill. I got confused and went into greyhound mode (I hate having people in front of me) and went a bit too fast.. which Helen promptly yelled "slow down and take it all in". Which kinda became a running joke when I fell behind later on. Up over I-10 then downhill into the Heights. This was the very cool part, since the Half and Full marathoners all merged here and the street was just a sea of people as far as you could see. Then it was just running with a lot of people. Lots of weaving around, trying to avoid the walkers, potholes, road patches, etc. We do a 5:1 run/walk ratio, and I was amazed with how good running felt. There are times where the 5 mins just drag on and on and on. For the majority of the race, when my watch beeped (all 4 of us were beeping in unison, it was pretty funny) it was like, already? time to walk? ok. *beep* time to run? no problem!
The first oh, hour or so flew by really quickly. What I remember is weaving through the crowd, chasing Helen (my coach), running past houses with residents outside cheering (some even were blasting music), random people handing out snacks to runners, the guy wearing a full-on furry cow costume, and just how good running felt. Nothing hurt, pace was good, I was having fun.
We hit the 10k part, went up a hill then south on Montrose, the one street that had familiar landmarks. At about oh, 8.5 miles, my digestive system decided it really did not like my dinner the previous night. It was uncomfortable, but not awful. No porta-johns in site, plus, I didn't want to lose my running partners. The GI thing passed, but I was slowing down by that point. Maybe not so much slowing down as Helen and this other girl got faster. Tara (who I ran with consistenly since July) and I stayed together, which turned out to be a good thing. At the turn-around, we lost Helen but trudged on. At mile 11, we hit Allen Parkway, which has a gradual hill and is the last stretch before you hit downtown. My GI was being difficult (very annoying) and Tara had a case of "everything hurt". Now, I don't even know Tara's last name and I'm pretty sure we'd never be friends IRL, but I was so glad to have her for that last part of the race. I kept her going (only 4 more run segments... we can do it) and she kept me going. Really, we were what eachother needed. I really think that if I didn't have her, I would have just said screw it and walked more than I did. But I didn't and I kept running.
As we approached the finish line, I was really expecting more "hoopla". I had visions of the last mile being full of noise and spectators. Really, it was the last 1/4 mile that was like that. The mile before that was a bit spooky, running through downtown on relatively empty streets (compared to the crowds of the day). My GI started really being unhappy, and with the finish line in sight I did say "screw it" and walked for a bit, until Coach Scott found me, put his arm around me, and made me run. Was it fun? no. But am I glad he did it? yes. My "realistic" goal was 2:45, my stretch goal was 2:30. I finished in 2:31 and am very very pleased. In fact, my 10k - 9 mile split had me running a whole 1 min/mile pace faster than my overall pace. Pretty cool. Did an arm pump as I crossed the finish line (mainly so you could see me in the pictures - which failed since I was behind giants and all you can see is my arm). Then we found our coach, took some pictures, and got our medals. And then I had a huge asthma attack (why now after I ran 13.1 miles???) and my poor legs transformed into stiff, sore limbs. That's ok, though, because they didn't hurt when I was running, and that's what matters.
So, in summary:
Got out of work early to pick up my packet on Friday. Nothing too exciting there. I suppose I was expecting "more" from the expo, but it was just ok. I picked up some new sunglasses and some arm-warmers, so that was cool.
Saturday I vegged on the couch for most of the day. Caught up on my TiVo list and played 2 hrs of Super Mario Bros Wii (why is that game so hard???). Dinner was at the Bull and Bear. Not the best choice (in hindsight) but I thought I was ok with a grilled chicken philly cheesesteak sammich. Home, got my race stuff prepped and was in bed by 10 PM.
Sunday morning I was up at 5 AM, out the door by 5:20. Breakfast consisted of my traditional Coke Zero and protein bar. Bad news was that I could still feel last night's dinner in my stomach... which was not a good thing! Got a free parking space ~3/4 mile behind the convention center. Ended up walking to the convention center (start of the race) with a guy who flew in from Georgia. Walked in the convention center and whoa.... that's a lot of people. Decided to hit the porta-john before the lines got go bad. Wandered over to find my running club, which thankfully had a sign, otherwise I would have been screwed. Did a bit of stretching, got my stuff ready for the day, wandered over to the bag check in to check my stuff, wandered back to my running club. Yup, lots 'o wandering. Then it was time to walk to the race start. We were in the second wave, probably about in the middle of the crowd. Even though it was in the mid-40's I wasn't cold. Partly because of being sandwiched btwn people, partly because of my awesome new arm sleeves. We heard a big KABOOM and realized that was the gun for the elites. More standing around, a bit of forward progress as the first wave went, more standing around. Then another gun and that was the start of our wave. I thought it was very cool that they were playing Iron Maiden's Run to the Hills at the start of my race. I was with my coach (Helen) and two other girls (Heather and Tara) who had been in my running group since July. The goal was to run together until the 9 mile turn-around point and then see what pace we could do after that point.
Lots of shuffling up to the start, then a slow jog. I haven't checked my Garmin, but given all the people, I'd estimate my pace was somewhere around a 12:30 mile. More shuffle running, trying to find space. Up the hill at the Elysian Viaduct. Helen instructed us to do a slow jog up the hill. I got confused and went into greyhound mode (I hate having people in front of me) and went a bit too fast.. which Helen promptly yelled "slow down and take it all in". Which kinda became a running joke when I fell behind later on. Up over I-10 then downhill into the Heights. This was the very cool part, since the Half and Full marathoners all merged here and the street was just a sea of people as far as you could see. Then it was just running with a lot of people. Lots of weaving around, trying to avoid the walkers, potholes, road patches, etc. We do a 5:1 run/walk ratio, and I was amazed with how good running felt. There are times where the 5 mins just drag on and on and on. For the majority of the race, when my watch beeped (all 4 of us were beeping in unison, it was pretty funny) it was like, already? time to walk? ok. *beep* time to run? no problem!
The first oh, hour or so flew by really quickly. What I remember is weaving through the crowd, chasing Helen (my coach), running past houses with residents outside cheering (some even were blasting music), random people handing out snacks to runners, the guy wearing a full-on furry cow costume, and just how good running felt. Nothing hurt, pace was good, I was having fun.
We hit the 10k part, went up a hill then south on Montrose, the one street that had familiar landmarks. At about oh, 8.5 miles, my digestive system decided it really did not like my dinner the previous night. It was uncomfortable, but not awful. No porta-johns in site, plus, I didn't want to lose my running partners. The GI thing passed, but I was slowing down by that point. Maybe not so much slowing down as Helen and this other girl got faster. Tara (who I ran with consistenly since July) and I stayed together, which turned out to be a good thing. At the turn-around, we lost Helen but trudged on. At mile 11, we hit Allen Parkway, which has a gradual hill and is the last stretch before you hit downtown. My GI was being difficult (very annoying) and Tara had a case of "everything hurt". Now, I don't even know Tara's last name and I'm pretty sure we'd never be friends IRL, but I was so glad to have her for that last part of the race. I kept her going (only 4 more run segments... we can do it) and she kept me going. Really, we were what eachother needed. I really think that if I didn't have her, I would have just said screw it and walked more than I did. But I didn't and I kept running.
As we approached the finish line, I was really expecting more "hoopla". I had visions of the last mile being full of noise and spectators. Really, it was the last 1/4 mile that was like that. The mile before that was a bit spooky, running through downtown on relatively empty streets (compared to the crowds of the day). My GI started really being unhappy, and with the finish line in sight I did say "screw it" and walked for a bit, until Coach Scott found me, put his arm around me, and made me run. Was it fun? no. But am I glad he did it? yes. My "realistic" goal was 2:45, my stretch goal was 2:30. I finished in 2:31 and am very very pleased. In fact, my 10k - 9 mile split had me running a whole 1 min/mile pace faster than my overall pace. Pretty cool. Did an arm pump as I crossed the finish line (mainly so you could see me in the pictures - which failed since I was behind giants and all you can see is my arm). Then we found our coach, took some pictures, and got our medals. And then I had a huge asthma attack (why now after I ran 13.1 miles???) and my poor legs transformed into stiff, sore limbs. That's ok, though, because they didn't hurt when I was running, and that's what matters.
So, in summary:
- Do not eat at the Bull and Bear before a race. Your stomach will thank you.
- KT tape is awesome
- Running with my training partners and coach was awesome.
- I ran just shy of my stretch goal, and exactly at my training pace
- At no point in time did I think "why am I doing this??? I'm a swimmer, not a runner!". I guess this means I'm a runner now.... eeps!
- Even though my legs still hurt (its Wednesday), I still get nothing but good feelings when I think about my race.
- And I'm looking forward to running this race next year! Woo!
Saturday, January 16, 2010
Day before the Houston Half Marathon
Goals for the day: watch tv, play Super Mario Bros Wii (its hard, seriously), drink a LOT of water (something I've not been good about lately), charge up my garmin, shower and re-tape my knee with KT tape, and pick up my bike from the shop.
So that's the pre-race day post. This is the first day in months that I've slept in on a Saturday and it was awesome. Hoping today goes well and that I have fun!
I left work early yesterday to get my packet pick-up and to tour the Expo. I was actually well behaved at the expo and didn't buy a whole lot of stuff. Got a new pair of sunglasses (that make me look bad-ass. I figure I'm not fast, so I may as well look good, right?) and some arm warmers. I was really torn on what to wear at the start of the race for my upper body. Race-start temperature is ~40 degrees, which is a bit too chilly for all the standing around I'll be doing before the race starts. I usually wear a light weight long sleeve over my t-shirt (excuse me, tech short sleeve shirt) and then after ~1 or 2 miles I take the long sleeve off and tie it around my waist. I really don't want to have to mess with that (full disclosure: I don't want my race picture to have me with a shirt tied around my waist), and I really don't feel like buying a "disposable" long sleeve shirt, so the arm warmers are perfect. They're sleeves without the shirt, which means they're compact and I should be able to tuck them into my hydration belt. Plus I can use the sleeves on future runs and bike rides.
The goody back sucked, compared to other races I've been in and what I was expecting with all the sponsors this race has. No hats, towels, water bottles.... I don't even get a real bag - its plastic. The one really cool thing, though. My race number has my name on it:
Legs feel eh, still. I pulled something in my right inner thigh from IronStar and its still tweaky. Tweaky to the point that I've started limping when I run, which has made my IT band on my left knee go tweaky. I bought some KT Tape , which hopefully (?) will help. We shall see. I probably should add "ice knee" to my goal for today too.
So that's the pre-race day post. This is the first day in months that I've slept in on a Saturday and it was awesome. Hoping today goes well and that I have fun!
Thursday, January 14, 2010
Getting ready for hills
So, IronStar last November kicked my butt. Those teeny little 150 foot high hills hurt. IronStar was a warmup for the Boise 70.3 race - whose hills are 300 feet tall. I ran out of gear going up these tiny 150 footers and was really, really freaking out about having to go up hills twice the size. I actually planned to do weights in the off-season to strengthen my legs for those hills, except then I forgot until a week ago. Oops! And here I am, 3 weeks away from having to start training, and still in the hole for those hills.
I dropped my bike off today at the shop for its very first tune-up. Since I put 1,000 miles on Buzz last year, the tech said I needed a new chain and cassette. We were talking and I was lamenting about my wussy legs and Boise. So the tech busts out a different cassette with more gears. Why didn't I think of that??? I now feel a bit (but not much) better about those hills, knowing that I have engineering on my side.
I dropped my bike off today at the shop for its very first tune-up. Since I put 1,000 miles on Buzz last year, the tech said I needed a new chain and cassette. We were talking and I was lamenting about my wussy legs and Boise. So the tech busts out a different cassette with more gears. Why didn't I think of that??? I now feel a bit (but not much) better about those hills, knowing that I have engineering on my side.
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Blogging? what is that?
Ok, I need to get in the habit of writing things on here. Its hard, though, when life takes over and I get too busy. Or just want to veg. And having a blogging goal is a good way to try to focus.... In the past, I blogged about observations or how crappy my job was. Blogging was theraputic and I needed an outlet. 3 years later and I really don't need that sort of outlet... I'm happy (for the most part), which is a new thing for me. But my life is very fractured, mostly because my job is crazy but also because of my triathlon training schedule. Which makes coherent thought, especially when it comes to blogging.
So, if anything, I will try to blog weekly, if only to post training updates and total distances/times per week. And to post goals for the week/month/whatever. And we'll just see how it goes.
So, if anything, I will try to blog weekly, if only to post training updates and total distances/times per week. And to post goals for the week/month/whatever. And we'll just see how it goes.
Friday, January 01, 2010
2009 Training in Review
Funny, first post in a loooong time is looking back on training distances from 2009. I hope to do more active blogging on triathlon training for 2010.
2009 totals:
Bike: 92h 21m 04s - 931.87 Mi (includes spinning and cycling)
Run: 59h 23m 10s - 314.55 Mi
Swim: 123h 15m 55s - 305325.1 Yd or 176 miles
Pilates: 31h 15m
Stretching: 14h 25m
Yoga: 16h 05m
Races:
Lone Star
4/5/2009 965m/28 mi/6.5 mi
Places 31/157/619
swim: 20:16.4 2:06/100m
T105:15.7
Bike 1:35:55 17.5 mph
T2 02:39.2
Run 1:20:47 12:26/mile
Total 3:24:53
Silverlake
5/17/2009 400m/10 mi/3 mi
place: 20/35 312/467
Swim 8:17 2:05/100m
T1 2:28
Bike: 32:20:00 18.6 mph
T2 1:20
Run: 30:41:00 10:14/mile
Total 1:15:03
Memorial Hermann SugarLand
6/28/2009 300m/10 mi/3 mi
place: 10/44 236/555
Swim: 5:14 1:44/100 (long course pool)
T1: 02:22.0
Bike: ~30 min
no T2
Run:33:28.4 11:09/mile
Total 1:12:05
Jeff & Brede's
7/12/2009 300m/12 mi/3 mi
place: 11/30 243/404
Swim 5:07 1:43/100m (short course m pool)
T1: 03:00.0
Bike: 40:50:00 17.63 mph
T2 1:49
Run: 29:37.0
Total 1:20:22
TriGirl
8/16/2009 300m/11 mi/3 mi
place: 29/61 99/270
Swim 4:44.3 1:35/100m
T1 1:55.1
Bike 35:19.2 18.7 mph
T2 01:23.3
Run: 33:04.0 11:01/mile
Total 1:16:26
Big Shoulders Open Water Swim
9/12/2009 2500m swim
46:53:00 1:52 OWS Lake Michigan, sleeveless Zoot wetsuit
Firethorne
10/25/2009 500m/15 mi/3 mi
places: 18/33 402/598
swim: 8:57 1:47/100m
T1 2:31.2
Bike 50:54.9 17.7 mph
T2: 1:36.6
Run 31:45.9 10:35/Mile
Total 1:35:45.7
IronStar (swim/bike only) 1.2 mi swim / 56 mi bike
11/8/2009
swim: 41:28 2:08/100m
bike: 3:31:05.7 15.92 mph
no run (relay entry)
2009 totals:
Bike: 92h 21m 04s - 931.87 Mi (includes spinning and cycling)
Run: 59h 23m 10s - 314.55 Mi
Swim: 123h 15m 55s - 305325.1 Yd or 176 miles
Pilates: 31h 15m
Stretching: 14h 25m
Yoga: 16h 05m
Races:
Lone Star
4/5/2009 965m/28 mi/6.5 mi
Places 31/157/619
swim: 20:16.4 2:06/100m
T105:15.7
Bike 1:35:55 17.5 mph
T2 02:39.2
Run 1:20:47 12:26/mile
Total 3:24:53
Silverlake
5/17/2009 400m/10 mi/3 mi
place: 20/35 312/467
Swim 8:17 2:05/100m
T1 2:28
Bike: 32:20:00 18.6 mph
T2 1:20
Run: 30:41:00 10:14/mile
Total 1:15:03
Memorial Hermann SugarLand
6/28/2009 300m/10 mi/3 mi
place: 10/44 236/555
Swim: 5:14 1:44/100 (long course pool)
T1: 02:22.0
Bike: ~30 min
no T2
Run:33:28.4 11:09/mile
Total 1:12:05
Jeff & Brede's
7/12/2009 300m/12 mi/3 mi
place: 11/30 243/404
Swim 5:07 1:43/100m (short course m pool)
T1: 03:00.0
Bike: 40:50:00 17.63 mph
T2 1:49
Run: 29:37.0
Total 1:20:22
TriGirl
8/16/2009 300m/11 mi/3 mi
place: 29/61 99/270
Swim 4:44.3 1:35/100m
T1 1:55.1
Bike 35:19.2 18.7 mph
T2 01:23.3
Run: 33:04.0 11:01/mile
Total 1:16:26
Big Shoulders Open Water Swim
9/12/2009 2500m swim
46:53:00 1:52 OWS Lake Michigan, sleeveless Zoot wetsuit
Firethorne
10/25/2009 500m/15 mi/3 mi
places: 18/33 402/598
swim: 8:57 1:47/100m
T1 2:31.2
Bike 50:54.9 17.7 mph
T2: 1:36.6
Run 31:45.9 10:35/Mile
Total 1:35:45.7
IronStar (swim/bike only) 1.2 mi swim / 56 mi bike
11/8/2009
swim: 41:28 2:08/100m
bike: 3:31:05.7 15.92 mph
no run (relay entry)
Sunday, February 24, 2008
ramblings......
Today we had a new kind of swim practice - 1 hr of pilates follwed by a 1 mile swim outside. This was really, really nice, mostly because it was a beautiful sunday afternoon. I love swimming after pilates. You're relaxed and very self aware. Swimming is just so easy feeling after pilates. The sun was wonderful too - even if my face did get a bit pink.
We're a little over a week away from our Rome trip. We're trying to keep our schedule pretty open. We arrive on March 5th in the morning and leave March 9th in the morning. We want to hit the archaeolgical highlights (Collessium, Pantheon, Roman Forum, Palentine Hill). We wanted to see Pompeii, but its a 3 hr trip each way on a train and pretty crowded. So, instead we're going to Ostia Antica for a half day or so. Its only a 30 min train ride and you pretty much get the same experience as with Pompeii, only with fewer people. Plus, we can hop on the train for one more stop and hit the beach on the Mediterranean Sea. And I'd love to rent bikes and spend some time biking down the Via Appia Antica (Appian Way). This is the section with the catacombs, which we may or may not see.
We're also considering the
Borghese Gallery, which apparently if you only hit one museum, this is the one to see.
I think we're going to pass on the Vatican, mostly because we only have 4 days in Rome and I really don't want to spend a whole day waiting in lines and then inside just looking at stuff. Sure, its cool stuff, but I'd rather be outside in a Piazza eating gelato and people watching.
Also on the list: taking a bazillion pictures, eating my weight in gelato, pizza, and wine, and just hanging out.
We're a little over a week away from our Rome trip. We're trying to keep our schedule pretty open. We arrive on March 5th in the morning and leave March 9th in the morning. We want to hit the archaeolgical highlights (Collessium, Pantheon, Roman Forum, Palentine Hill). We wanted to see Pompeii, but its a 3 hr trip each way on a train and pretty crowded. So, instead we're going to Ostia Antica for a half day or so. Its only a 30 min train ride and you pretty much get the same experience as with Pompeii, only with fewer people. Plus, we can hop on the train for one more stop and hit the beach on the Mediterranean Sea. And I'd love to rent bikes and spend some time biking down the Via Appia Antica (Appian Way). This is the section with the catacombs, which we may or may not see.
We're also considering the
Borghese Gallery, which apparently if you only hit one museum, this is the one to see.
I think we're going to pass on the Vatican, mostly because we only have 4 days in Rome and I really don't want to spend a whole day waiting in lines and then inside just looking at stuff. Sure, its cool stuff, but I'd rather be outside in a Piazza eating gelato and people watching.
Also on the list: taking a bazillion pictures, eating my weight in gelato, pizza, and wine, and just hanging out.
Sunday, February 17, 2008
Let the "I'm unprepared for Italy" dreams begin
I had my first dream about our upcoming trip last night. Clearly, I need to start packing NOW if this dream is any indication.
We're flying Delta (crossing fingers) from Houston to Atlanta to Rome. Houston has 2 airports, both of which fly to Atlanta.
In my dream, we roll into IAH, get onto our plane, only our plane doesn't take off. It leaves IAH, folds its wings up and DRIVES to the other airport. This is to pick up the other people going to Atlanta before we leave town. And during this drive, I'm a total wreck.
So then we get to the other airport and leave. I'm very thankful that the flight schedule we chose had 2.5 hrs of layover (our other IRL option had 50 minutes - and that equals lost luggage at ATL). So we get to ATL, only I realize I didn't bring any shoes, sunglasses, or sunscreen with us. How did I not pack those basics? But fortunately for us - there's a Target set up right in the terminal (or at least shelves with Target logos in the middle of the terminal walkways). So I'm shopping, but now panicking because I cannot find sunscreen. And who know if Italy has sunscreen...... and then I wake up.
Yep, definitely a sign that I should start a list and setting things aside now.
We're flying Delta (crossing fingers) from Houston to Atlanta to Rome. Houston has 2 airports, both of which fly to Atlanta.
In my dream, we roll into IAH, get onto our plane, only our plane doesn't take off. It leaves IAH, folds its wings up and DRIVES to the other airport. This is to pick up the other people going to Atlanta before we leave town. And during this drive, I'm a total wreck.
So then we get to the other airport and leave. I'm very thankful that the flight schedule we chose had 2.5 hrs of layover (our other IRL option had 50 minutes - and that equals lost luggage at ATL). So we get to ATL, only I realize I didn't bring any shoes, sunglasses, or sunscreen with us. How did I not pack those basics? But fortunately for us - there's a Target set up right in the terminal (or at least shelves with Target logos in the middle of the terminal walkways). So I'm shopping, but now panicking because I cannot find sunscreen. And who know if Italy has sunscreen...... and then I wake up.
Yep, definitely a sign that I should start a list and setting things aside now.
Friday, February 08, 2008
Hurrah! I can wear matching shoes again!
Buh-bye big ugly velcro bootie. I had a follow-up appt today and my foot is healed!!! The doctor showed me the before and after x-rays, and remember how I tried to convince myself that the bone wasn't *that* broken? Yeah, well.... it was actually really truly broken. Good thing I didn't run, huh? :smacks self on forehead:
So now I have 6 weeks in a super-hawt navy ankle brace. But at least most of my shoes will fit over that.
And the best part? No more making fun of me. I swear, if I heard another peg-leg or penguin comment...... and no more having to have this conversation over and over again:
Random Stranger: what did you do to your foot
me: I broke it
RS: no way - how?
me: I don't know
RS: what do you mean you don't know?
me: what I mean is, I have no idea how I broke it
and so on. trust me, it got REALLY old. Especially after the very drunk lady at happy hour who kept bugging me and told me that should I ever give birth, I won't need an epidural b/c my pain tolerance is high. umkay, thanks. Really, the less I can do to attract freaks, the better off everybody is.
So now I have 6 weeks in a super-hawt navy ankle brace. But at least most of my shoes will fit over that.
And the best part? No more making fun of me. I swear, if I heard another peg-leg or penguin comment...... and no more having to have this conversation over and over again:
Random Stranger: what did you do to your foot
me: I broke it
RS: no way - how?
me: I don't know
RS: what do you mean you don't know?
me: what I mean is, I have no idea how I broke it
and so on. trust me, it got REALLY old. Especially after the very drunk lady at happy hour who kept bugging me and told me that should I ever give birth, I won't need an epidural b/c my pain tolerance is high. umkay, thanks. Really, the less I can do to attract freaks, the better off everybody is.
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
motivation to behave
I found new motivation to rest and let my foot heal. Well, rest is relative, meaning no half-marathons. I'm still swimming, though. But I am trying very hard to not do a lot of walking.
Anyways, the motivation....
Will and I are going to ROME (as in Italy) the first week of March. I'm beyond excited. The only bummer is that when I get excited, I tend to jump up and down. Only with my velcro bootie, the effect of jumping up and down excitedly is really just sad and pathetic and causes Will to break out into fits of laughter and call me a penguin.
Anyways, we have our airfare and bed and breakfast booked. We have 4.5 weeks to learn Italian and read a bunch of guidebooks.
Anyways, the motivation....
Will and I are going to ROME (as in Italy) the first week of March. I'm beyond excited. The only bummer is that when I get excited, I tend to jump up and down. Only with my velcro bootie, the effect of jumping up and down excitedly is really just sad and pathetic and causes Will to break out into fits of laughter and call me a penguin.
Anyways, we have our airfare and bed and breakfast booked. We have 4.5 weeks to learn Italian and read a bunch of guidebooks.
Monday, January 14, 2008
A very strange sequence of events
I'm a big believer of "everything happens for a reason". The past week (or so) is definitely proof of that.
I broke my foot, preventing me from running the Disney half marathon.
My friend (C, that I was running with) - her husband's grandfather's health had declined rapidly. C recently moved to FL to be closer to her family, while her husband stayed behind in SC until he could transfer to FL. When I called on Dec 31 to tell C that I broke my foot, she was in the process of moving out of her SC home, to get her husband moved into Granddaddy's house to better watch after him.
A week later, it was decided that C would be moving back up to SC and acting as Grandaddy's home health care provider. She'd be moving the same day I flew back home. I cancelled my trip so she could have more quality time with her own family.
Last Wednesday, C found out that Grandaddy was hospitalized due to complications from dimensia. She decided to move the very next day (which would have been the day I arrived in Orlando).
Last Thurs (the day I was supposed to be in Orlando), I got a call from my best friend from HS. Her husband's grandfather had passed away, and they were in Alabama for his funeral. They were flying back home with a layover in Houston, but were delayed and would most likely miss their connection in Houston. Sure enough, they were 3 hrs late and missed their plane - and couldn't get on another plane for 24 hrs. Since this was weather related, they were on their own for lodging, etc.
So for 24 hrs, I got to hang out with my friend that I don't get to see very often, because of a very bizarre chain of events. It was really so incredible that something good and fun came out of so many bad things. This almost never happens. Maybe I should buy a lottery ticket.
I broke my foot, preventing me from running the Disney half marathon.
My friend (C, that I was running with) - her husband's grandfather's health had declined rapidly. C recently moved to FL to be closer to her family, while her husband stayed behind in SC until he could transfer to FL. When I called on Dec 31 to tell C that I broke my foot, she was in the process of moving out of her SC home, to get her husband moved into Granddaddy's house to better watch after him.
A week later, it was decided that C would be moving back up to SC and acting as Grandaddy's home health care provider. She'd be moving the same day I flew back home. I cancelled my trip so she could have more quality time with her own family.
Last Wednesday, C found out that Grandaddy was hospitalized due to complications from dimensia. She decided to move the very next day (which would have been the day I arrived in Orlando).
Last Thurs (the day I was supposed to be in Orlando), I got a call from my best friend from HS. Her husband's grandfather had passed away, and they were in Alabama for his funeral. They were flying back home with a layover in Houston, but were delayed and would most likely miss their connection in Houston. Sure enough, they were 3 hrs late and missed their plane - and couldn't get on another plane for 24 hrs. Since this was weather related, they were on their own for lodging, etc.
So for 24 hrs, I got to hang out with my friend that I don't get to see very often, because of a very bizarre chain of events. It was really so incredible that something good and fun came out of so many bad things. This almost never happens. Maybe I should buy a lottery ticket.
Tuesday, January 08, 2008
cancelled
After a lot of thought, I've cancelled my flight to Florida. My friend has a lot going on right now and her training hasn't been going well either. We both decided it would be best if I cancelled my flight and tried to visit her during a less chaotic time.
Bummer.
And I have to work now.
However, husband is wanting to take a trip "just the two of us". Which, he never, ever requests. I know he had something more domestic in mind (he mentioned Vegas). I'm thinking 4 days somewhere in Europe would be fun.
I swear, all I do is work, eat, sleep, train, and plan vacations.....
Bummer.
And I have to work now.
However, husband is wanting to take a trip "just the two of us". Which, he never, ever requests. I know he had something more domestic in mind (he mentioned Vegas). I'm thinking 4 days somewhere in Europe would be fun.
I swear, all I do is work, eat, sleep, train, and plan vacations.....
Saturday, January 05, 2008
to run or not to run..... logic or doctor's orders need not apply
so, this whole "broken foot" thing and my brain really don't get along too well. Almost immediately after my doctor visit, I began to doubt that my foot was broken "that badly." I started searching the internet for medical discussions about my break "avulsion fracture of the 5th metatarsal". The pictures of this sort of break that were on-line were much worse than mine. These breaks were like lighting bolts through the bone, where as mine was a fuzzy patch on the back end of my bone. So,really, my break can't be all that bad, right?
Then my doctor took x-rays of both feet, but only looked at the right foot. I still want to call him, asking him to email me the xrays, so I can compare both feet to determine if my right *really* does look different than my left. So, is my foot even really broken? Does my doctor have something against me and running and just made this up?
And with 4 days of my foot being immobilized, it doesn't hurt anymore. So, I'm now thinking.... I walked/jogged on it for 9 miles with NO immobilization. Surely after 2 weeks of immobilization, adding on an additional 5 miles (for 13 total) will be ok (or not do that much more damage).
And on Thurs night, I was talking to one of our Subaru friends, who is running the Houston marathon the same weekend as Disney. He's german and a PhD physicist. His thoughts are that based on what I did before diagnosis, if I just wrap my foot really tighly, I should be fine for Disney. Then we started talking, and came up with the brilliant idea that I can start the race and if it hurts, then I can stop at a first aid tent and get a ride back to the meet-up area. Seems reasonable, right?
I think Will is going to have to lock up my right tennis shoe before I leave on Thursday...... Otherwise, odds are, I will be participating in the half-marathon... with a broken foot. And somehow, this seems all perfectly ok and justifiable in my wacky little head.
Then my doctor took x-rays of both feet, but only looked at the right foot. I still want to call him, asking him to email me the xrays, so I can compare both feet to determine if my right *really* does look different than my left. So, is my foot even really broken? Does my doctor have something against me and running and just made this up?
And with 4 days of my foot being immobilized, it doesn't hurt anymore. So, I'm now thinking.... I walked/jogged on it for 9 miles with NO immobilization. Surely after 2 weeks of immobilization, adding on an additional 5 miles (for 13 total) will be ok (or not do that much more damage).
And on Thurs night, I was talking to one of our Subaru friends, who is running the Houston marathon the same weekend as Disney. He's german and a PhD physicist. His thoughts are that based on what I did before diagnosis, if I just wrap my foot really tighly, I should be fine for Disney. Then we started talking, and came up with the brilliant idea that I can start the race and if it hurts, then I can stop at a first aid tent and get a ride back to the meet-up area. Seems reasonable, right?
I think Will is going to have to lock up my right tennis shoe before I leave on Thursday...... Otherwise, odds are, I will be participating in the half-marathon... with a broken foot. And somehow, this seems all perfectly ok and justifiable in my wacky little head.
Thursday, January 03, 2008
broken
So, my body really doesn't like the idea of me being athletic.
I broke my foot sometime before Christmas..... It started hurting on Dec 19th. It didn't get diagnosed as broken until Dec 31st. During the time between it hurting and being diagnosed, I went skiing (I swear it didn't hurt then), snowmobiling, and walked/jogged 9 miles.
It was the 9 miles that did it. My foot felt ok during the first hour. I stopped to turn around after 1 hr because I was freezing (we were in Idaho) and *wham* acute pain. When I got home, I had a random bruise on my foot, which is what finally freaked me out enough to make a doctors appointment.
So yeah. I have an avulsion fracture to my 5th metatarsal on my right foot. Basically, the tendon that wraps around the outside of my ankle and attaches to that bump on the outside of my foot pulled away and splintered the bone. Good times. Now I get to wear a uber-hawt velcro boot that goes up to my knee for 4-8 week. At least I can still swim.
But no half marathon for me. Which sucks beyond words.
I broke my foot sometime before Christmas..... It started hurting on Dec 19th. It didn't get diagnosed as broken until Dec 31st. During the time between it hurting and being diagnosed, I went skiing (I swear it didn't hurt then), snowmobiling, and walked/jogged 9 miles.
It was the 9 miles that did it. My foot felt ok during the first hour. I stopped to turn around after 1 hr because I was freezing (we were in Idaho) and *wham* acute pain. When I got home, I had a random bruise on my foot, which is what finally freaked me out enough to make a doctors appointment.
So yeah. I have an avulsion fracture to my 5th metatarsal on my right foot. Basically, the tendon that wraps around the outside of my ankle and attaches to that bump on the outside of my foot pulled away and splintered the bone. Good times. Now I get to wear a uber-hawt velcro boot that goes up to my knee for 4-8 week. At least I can still swim.
But no half marathon for me. Which sucks beyond words.
Wednesday, December 12, 2007
My arms won't move anymore
I swear, my swim coaches are trying to kill me.....
Tues night swim practice...
My arms are completely worthless right now. Today should be entertaining.
Tues night swim practice...
- 200 warm-up
- 4 x 50 breastroke (25 drill, 25 swim)
- 4 x 50 butterfly (25 drill, 25 swim)
- "December to remember set" (she makes us swim one of the more er, challenging events) = 200 butterfly swim (no drill or kick). [this is what killed me. but we have a 66 yr old woman on the team who swims this at meets, so if she can do it, then I should to)
- 400 free, 80% pace
- 2 x 200 choice stroke, 80% pace
- 4 x 100 free, decend slow to fast (my lane crashed and burned at the third one - we weren't any where close to making time)
- 4 x 50 free sprint
- 300 pull cool down
- warm-up (400 swim, 200 kick)
- 200 IM (25 drill, 25 swim)
- "recovery set" (I begged Jason to give me an easy set since my arms were toast. He said this was a recovery set just for me. But really, this was the set everyone did, and it wasn't easy).
- 8 x 250 free - 100 moderate, 50 sprint, 100 moderate (no rest during the 250)
- cool down
My arms are completely worthless right now. Today should be entertaining.
Monday, December 10, 2007
playing tag
Thanks KT....
1. Link to your tagger and post these rules on your blog.
2. Share 5 facts about yourself on your blog, some random, some weird.
3. Tag 5 people at the end of your post by leaving their names as well as links to their blogs.
4. Let them know they are tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.
So, here goes....
Factoid Numero Uno - I was suspended in the 7th grade for a week for drinking whiskey in school. I avoided death at my mom's hand by playing the "I just wanted attention from my divorced parents" card. Really, I just wanted to drink during school. I was a dumbass, though, and stored it in a glass jelly jar that must not have sealed so well, because well, you could smell the whiskey from 100 feet away.
Factoid Numbero Duo - the first guy I ever slept with is now an ob/gyn. That creeps me out. A lot.
Factoid Numero Tres - I took 4 years of latin in high school and was even JCL president my senior year. I don't remember any of it now. Really, I just signed up b/c it looked good on a resume and we spent a week in Estes Park for the Colorado latin convention. Which sounds like a complete geek fest (and for the most part is was) but I always managed to find some of the less geeky guys and ditch the convention events to go hiking.
Factoid Numero Quatro - I love asian food and could probably eat it at least 4x a week. Vietnamese, japanese, sushi, chinese, thai. I love it all.
Factoid Numero Cinco - ummmm...... why am I having problems coming up with 5 random facts? Weird facts.... um.... Oh, I guess this counts as weird. For the past 2.5 years I've been getting electrolysis for my underarms. Its actually working but really isn't the most comfortable thing to do. Still, beats shaving.
So, there it is!
And now tag - to these people:
Jess (who needs to post more)
Jodi (just because she commented to my post last week)
Paula (hi Paula!, um you haven't updated your blog for a while either....)
And sadly, I can't even tag 5 bloggers, because they either don't post very often, they've already been tagged, or their too big to tag. *sigh*
1. Link to your tagger and post these rules on your blog.
2. Share 5 facts about yourself on your blog, some random, some weird.
3. Tag 5 people at the end of your post by leaving their names as well as links to their blogs.
4. Let them know they are tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.
So, here goes....
Factoid Numero Uno - I was suspended in the 7th grade for a week for drinking whiskey in school. I avoided death at my mom's hand by playing the "I just wanted attention from my divorced parents" card. Really, I just wanted to drink during school. I was a dumbass, though, and stored it in a glass jelly jar that must not have sealed so well, because well, you could smell the whiskey from 100 feet away.
Factoid Numbero Duo - the first guy I ever slept with is now an ob/gyn. That creeps me out. A lot.
Factoid Numero Tres - I took 4 years of latin in high school and was even JCL president my senior year. I don't remember any of it now. Really, I just signed up b/c it looked good on a resume and we spent a week in Estes Park for the Colorado latin convention. Which sounds like a complete geek fest (and for the most part is was) but I always managed to find some of the less geeky guys and ditch the convention events to go hiking.
Factoid Numero Quatro - I love asian food and could probably eat it at least 4x a week. Vietnamese, japanese, sushi, chinese, thai. I love it all.
Factoid Numero Cinco - ummmm...... why am I having problems coming up with 5 random facts? Weird facts.... um.... Oh, I guess this counts as weird. For the past 2.5 years I've been getting electrolysis for my underarms. Its actually working but really isn't the most comfortable thing to do. Still, beats shaving.
So, there it is!
And now tag - to these people:
Jess (who needs to post more)
Jodi (just because she commented to my post last week)
Paula (hi Paula!, um you haven't updated your blog for a while either....)
And sadly, I can't even tag 5 bloggers, because they either don't post very often, they've already been tagged, or their too big to tag. *sigh*
Why training during December is no fun
Because I now have internal debates on when to work out, due to my social schedule getting in the way.
Friday night we went to a pub crawl - stayed out until 12 AM. Woke up at 11 AM Saturday. It was hot again (whyyy? December in shorts and sweating your ass off is NO FUN. Seriously, just try to be festive while sweating and hanging lights. Its not easy.) It was hot and we had a party Sat night, so I decided my day would be best spent on the couch watching all my TiVo'd shows before the DirecTV guys showed up to switch out our receivers.
We got a HD DVR b/c our 2nd TiVo unit is slowly dying. We got a good deal on it, so hey, why not. Guys were supposed to show up btwn noon - 4. We had the party at 7. Guys called at 2:30 asking if they could show up at 5 since we were last on their list. I told them we had to leave at 6 for the party and they said that they could be done by 6 no problem. Which really wasn't helpful, since I still had to shower and get ready for the party - and that simply wasn't going to happen with random repair guys in my house. They did actually show at 4, but left at 6. They did something to mess up our TV. Its a projection TV, but its one the last projection TVs that were made before flat screens became affordable, so really, its still a pretty nice TV. I still don't know what they did, but I encouraged them to leave by nearly growling and throwing my new remote at them.
Went to the party - it wasn't that exciting. Combined office party with the boss's friends and family. it was um, odd at best, especially since we didn't really know anyone. Got home at 1 AM. Woke up at 11:30.
And since I still had my long run to do, that left Sunday afternoon. My hip is still really tweaky - I think some scar tissue from my 2001 bout of ITBS popped on tuesday and the tendon is really angry at me right now. Seeing as how it was hot out and my hip hurt, I headed to the gym for some quality time on the dreadmill. There were no freaky people there (bummer) and the TV shows that were on were horrible. I had to spend an hour watching DinoLab on Discovery Science (It was either this or ice skating). I cannot imagine having to be an "actor" on this program - it was soooo horrible. Its like they were doing a Jurassic Park experiment but combining it with educational properties instead of slash and gore.
Friday night we went to a pub crawl - stayed out until 12 AM. Woke up at 11 AM Saturday. It was hot again (whyyy? December in shorts and sweating your ass off is NO FUN. Seriously, just try to be festive while sweating and hanging lights. Its not easy.) It was hot and we had a party Sat night, so I decided my day would be best spent on the couch watching all my TiVo'd shows before the DirecTV guys showed up to switch out our receivers.
We got a HD DVR b/c our 2nd TiVo unit is slowly dying. We got a good deal on it, so hey, why not. Guys were supposed to show up btwn noon - 4. We had the party at 7. Guys called at 2:30 asking if they could show up at 5 since we were last on their list. I told them we had to leave at 6 for the party and they said that they could be done by 6 no problem. Which really wasn't helpful, since I still had to shower and get ready for the party - and that simply wasn't going to happen with random repair guys in my house. They did actually show at 4, but left at 6. They did something to mess up our TV. Its a projection TV, but its one the last projection TVs that were made before flat screens became affordable, so really, its still a pretty nice TV. I still don't know what they did, but I encouraged them to leave by nearly growling and throwing my new remote at them.
Went to the party - it wasn't that exciting. Combined office party with the boss's friends and family. it was um, odd at best, especially since we didn't really know anyone. Got home at 1 AM. Woke up at 11:30.
And since I still had my long run to do, that left Sunday afternoon. My hip is still really tweaky - I think some scar tissue from my 2001 bout of ITBS popped on tuesday and the tendon is really angry at me right now. Seeing as how it was hot out and my hip hurt, I headed to the gym for some quality time on the dreadmill. There were no freaky people there (bummer) and the TV shows that were on were horrible. I had to spend an hour watching DinoLab on Discovery Science (It was either this or ice skating). I cannot imagine having to be an "actor" on this program - it was soooo horrible. Its like they were doing a Jurassic Park experiment but combining it with educational properties instead of slash and gore.
In a futuristic stadium-sized state-of-the-art laboratory/gym, scientists study a remarkably realistic cast of digital dinosaurs and put them to the test - from running on a treadmill and pulling weights to navigating an obstacle course. Outfitted with a 50-metre long motorized treadmill, a massive water tank and a wind tunnel; plus pulleys, cranes and levers for hoisting and manoevering the unwieldy creatures, this environment is the perfect testing ground for paleontologists' latest insights into the lives of dinosaurs. How fast could the T-Rex run? Long considered the biggest, meanest, fastest, strongest killing machine, the T-Rex is pushed to its limits on the giant treadmill. But just what happens when the T-Rex falls at more than 40kph? Also, watch a flying Pterosaur - with a wingspan of eight-to-nine metres - hang-glide in a wind tunnel; and in a glass-walled tank, see how the prehistoric king of the sea, the Plesiosaurus, thrashed its three-metre neck to stun its fishy prey. In addition to testing the mettle of these mythic dino monsters, Dinolab also reveals the surprising connections between some prehistoric creatures and modern-day animals. Consider the Triceratops: How could an herbivorous animal with a thick hide, long horns and large, low-slung belly not be the Cretaceous counterpart to the modern rhinoceros? The analogy is obvious to the most casual observer - but it's also wrong. Experts reveal that the real Triceratops is closer to a cross between a crab and a bull, demonstrating that its quick rotations and lunges made it a fierce match for the T-Rex in battle.
So they have real actors with cattle prods who "encorage" an animated T-Rex into this sub-level box with an open top and a treadmill. Then they turn the treadmill and watch him "run". And a "scientist" scans the T-Rex with some sort of thermal scan. And then they crank up the treadmill speed and T-Rex crashes, gets pissed, and eats an electrical transformer. And at no time does the pissed off T-Rex jump out of the research hold (which appeared to have an open top with open access) and get all slashy with the "scientists". Oh, and they were doing something weird with a velociraptor - backing it into a corner and tossing basketballs and raw hamburger. I wasn't listening to the show to figure out what the hell this "research" was for.
So, um yeah. Good entertainment while spending an hour on the dreadmill!
Hoping that my hip is better and the air temps are back to "cool" for next weekend.
Monday, December 03, 2007
Bad kitty mommy, heat, knees, and possums
Took Swift to the vet Friday afternoon for her annual appointment. She checked out fine, except she has worms, which apparently, come from fleas. I was floored. I’ve had the cats 12.5 years and this has never, ever happened. I don’t know which I feel worse about: The fact that I didn’t notice that my cats had this issue – or the fact that this happened in the first place. Will and I were both surprised, as neither cats have shown any signs of fleas. Sigh
So, my Friday night started with bathing both cats. Which is never a good time. Ernie managed to latch on to my wrist with his teeth and drew blood. But they both got wet and sudsed – while Will was at happy hour. Then the spent the rest of the night pouting.
Saturday consisted of disinfecting / laundering nearly every surface in the house. And putting that horrible flea oil stuff on the cats. Oh, and forcing huge pills down their throats. I should have done my long run on Saturday, but I was so squicked out by the cat situation that I decided my time was better spent cleaning.
Sunday Will raced his car, so I decided to get off the couch and do my long “run”. Pretty much, all signs pointed to “do not pass go”. My digital watch is dead. I need to buy a new one, since the wristband is shot as well. All our AA rechargeable batteries were nearly dead. So I grabbed 3 and hoped that 3 nearly dead batteries would last 2 hrs in my MP3 player. Headed to the trail and it started raining as soon as I got out of my truck. Fortunately, the rain didn’t last very long, but it was 80 degrees out, so the rain just made things miserable and sticky.
My knees ended up being very tweaky after my last long run. They’re very tight on the inside – not sure if its just that I need to stretch more or if its connective tissue is rubbing on something. My 3 mile on Tues was more of a walk, and not a fun one either, due to my knees rebelling. So this time, I decided to walk the first mile to warm up then do slow bits of jogging. My knees still were tight, despite the rest and warming up. At mile 4, I could jog a bit longer but they were still very tight, so I just decided to walk the whole 7 miles. At mile 5, my hips then started to get sore, so I hit the dirt trail for the last 2 miles. It went ok – and as a bonus, I saw a possum.
So, my Friday night started with bathing both cats. Which is never a good time. Ernie managed to latch on to my wrist with his teeth and drew blood. But they both got wet and sudsed – while Will was at happy hour. Then the spent the rest of the night pouting.
Saturday consisted of disinfecting / laundering nearly every surface in the house. And putting that horrible flea oil stuff on the cats. Oh, and forcing huge pills down their throats. I should have done my long run on Saturday, but I was so squicked out by the cat situation that I decided my time was better spent cleaning.
Sunday Will raced his car, so I decided to get off the couch and do my long “run”. Pretty much, all signs pointed to “do not pass go”. My digital watch is dead. I need to buy a new one, since the wristband is shot as well. All our AA rechargeable batteries were nearly dead. So I grabbed 3 and hoped that 3 nearly dead batteries would last 2 hrs in my MP3 player. Headed to the trail and it started raining as soon as I got out of my truck. Fortunately, the rain didn’t last very long, but it was 80 degrees out, so the rain just made things miserable and sticky.
My knees ended up being very tweaky after my last long run. They’re very tight on the inside – not sure if its just that I need to stretch more or if its connective tissue is rubbing on something. My 3 mile on Tues was more of a walk, and not a fun one either, due to my knees rebelling. So this time, I decided to walk the first mile to warm up then do slow bits of jogging. My knees still were tight, despite the rest and warming up. At mile 4, I could jog a bit longer but they were still very tight, so I just decided to walk the whole 7 miles. At mile 5, my hips then started to get sore, so I hit the dirt trail for the last 2 miles. It went ok – and as a bonus, I saw a possum.
Got home, stretched, showered. Then went grocery shopping. I do not recommend grocery shopping after a distance set. It really wasn’t fun. But neither is going without dinner or lunch for the week, so I just shopped very slowly…..
I did pick up a bottle of Accelerade – I’m curious to try it out. I can’t really have Gatorade b/c of my hypoglycemia. I appreciate the fact that I’ll need a boost at mile 10 of my half marathon, but I really worry about the sugar and if I’ll crash and burn if I have Gatorade. So, I think on my next long workout I’ll try 8 oz of Accelerade and see how I feel.
The other thing I’m curious to try are the new Cliff Shot Blocks. I think they’ve got goo that’s recovery with protein, which I think would be good during my race. They didn’t have any at the store, though, so I’ll have to hunt around for them.
Swimming today wasn’t bad – it was 50 degrees. I warmed up inside (ugh – bath water temperature) then made the bold leap to the outdoor pool. Workout was another “its cold and Jason doesn’t want to go outside” set. Meaning, he just gives us a very long main set so he doesn’t actually have to go out in the cold and talk to us. Workout consisted of warmup (400 + 200 kick), then 10 x 200 (broken) – sprint the first 50, moderate w/good form for the remainder. Odds free, evens choice. I was pretty proud of myself – I did breast-stroke for my choice. I figure if I’m going to try to swim this at nationals, I need to do more than 50 yards at a time. The air temperature wasn’t too cold, and overall, the workout was pretty good.
Hopefully my knees will be feeling better for my 3 miler tomorrow…..
I did pick up a bottle of Accelerade – I’m curious to try it out. I can’t really have Gatorade b/c of my hypoglycemia. I appreciate the fact that I’ll need a boost at mile 10 of my half marathon, but I really worry about the sugar and if I’ll crash and burn if I have Gatorade. So, I think on my next long workout I’ll try 8 oz of Accelerade and see how I feel.
The other thing I’m curious to try are the new Cliff Shot Blocks. I think they’ve got goo that’s recovery with protein, which I think would be good during my race. They didn’t have any at the store, though, so I’ll have to hunt around for them.
Swimming today wasn’t bad – it was 50 degrees. I warmed up inside (ugh – bath water temperature) then made the bold leap to the outdoor pool. Workout was another “its cold and Jason doesn’t want to go outside” set. Meaning, he just gives us a very long main set so he doesn’t actually have to go out in the cold and talk to us. Workout consisted of warmup (400 + 200 kick), then 10 x 200 (broken) – sprint the first 50, moderate w/good form for the remainder. Odds free, evens choice. I was pretty proud of myself – I did breast-stroke for my choice. I figure if I’m going to try to swim this at nationals, I need to do more than 50 yards at a time. The air temperature wasn’t too cold, and overall, the workout was pretty good.
Hopefully my knees will be feeling better for my 3 miler tomorrow…..
Tuesday, November 27, 2007
brrrrrrr!
While I'm happy for more seasonal weather (ie lows less than 65) I'm not too happy working out when its cold.
I really like my new swim team. I like the coaches, the workouts, the facility, the locker rooms. The one thing I really don't like is the climate control. We have 2 pools - an indoor and an outdoor, both heated. The indoor pool is a constant 85-86 degrees, for the little old ladies and their water aerobics class. That is really too hot for lap swimmers. The outdoor pool is a constant 80 degrees, which is fine and dandy for lap swimming. However, the air above and around the outdoor pool is subject to "nature".
I'm not sure how I'm going to handle this. On the one hand, I really can't do any sort of speed workouts in the indoor pool, b/c of the heat. On the other hand, the idea of sprinting in and out of the outdoor pool and attempting to keep every last inch of my body submerged so I don't freeze to death isn't very appealing. Morning practices are held either in or outside. Night practices have to be held outside, since they have swimming lessons going on inside.
Yesterday morning it was 41 degrees out - so I swam inside. I have no idea what the air temperature will be tonight, but something tells me I'll be doing quite a bit of cursing and grumbling about the cold.
(and I walked 3 miles this morning - I never did really warm up, despite wearing a sweatshirt....)
I really like my new swim team. I like the coaches, the workouts, the facility, the locker rooms. The one thing I really don't like is the climate control. We have 2 pools - an indoor and an outdoor, both heated. The indoor pool is a constant 85-86 degrees, for the little old ladies and their water aerobics class. That is really too hot for lap swimmers. The outdoor pool is a constant 80 degrees, which is fine and dandy for lap swimming. However, the air above and around the outdoor pool is subject to "nature".
I'm not sure how I'm going to handle this. On the one hand, I really can't do any sort of speed workouts in the indoor pool, b/c of the heat. On the other hand, the idea of sprinting in and out of the outdoor pool and attempting to keep every last inch of my body submerged so I don't freeze to death isn't very appealing. Morning practices are held either in or outside. Night practices have to be held outside, since they have swimming lessons going on inside.
Yesterday morning it was 41 degrees out - so I swam inside. I have no idea what the air temperature will be tonight, but something tells me I'll be doing quite a bit of cursing and grumbling about the cold.
(and I walked 3 miles this morning - I never did really warm up, despite wearing a sweatshirt....)
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