Last fall as I turned 39 I felt this need to somehow mark 40 with an athletic accomplishment that said I was going into this next decade with enthusiasm, power and strength. I am still young and vital and can accomplish anything I put my mind to. This coming triathlon was the result of my need to do something big for 40. But I am over it.
I am ready to embrace 40. I am ready to be old. Bring on the wrinkles. Bring on the pre-menapausal symptoms, colonoscopy and mamograms. Buy me a pair of cheaters and lets call it a day. I don't need to enter 40 young and vital. I want to enter 40 slow and sluggish. I don't want to be a young mom of a 5 year old, I want to be mistaken for her grandmother. I am over it. Please let me move on. Why am I doing this triathlon? WHY???
Today as I ran 3.1 miles immediately following a 45 minute cycle class those were the thoughts going through my head. Please let me out of this triathlon. My knee hurt most of the 40 minutes and I walked at least half or better of the time. Yet I finished, ran through the digital finish line, and I am still functioning now back at home. So I must be ready. All this training is apparently doing something. In one week I will be flying down to Atlanta and 2 days later it will be over. My training seems to be doing its job so I just need to keep doing what I have been doing for months. I just need to keep putting one foot in front of the other and get the job done.
Thursday, May 27, 2010
Friday, May 7, 2010
For the Bible tells me so
In my bible I have been reading through the book of Hebrews lately and recently came across this verse in 12:12, "Therefore strengthen your feeble arms and weak knees." There it is, the bible wants me to go to body pump.
After 5 months of twice a week weight lifting class I don't feel nearly as feeble or weak, although I am resisting increasing my weights, and I really can see a change in my body. My arms and shoulders have definition and although there is still a lovely layer of fat over my thighs they don't seem to spread nearly as wide when I am sitting down. And I seem to have re-discovered my hip bones which went missing after the birth of Jake and I didn't think I would ever see them again.
Of course the bible is also full of commands to run. Shortly before the verse on strengthening our arms and knees it tells us to, "run with perseverance the race marked out for us." Paul also talks about running in other places. So it is apparently a God ordained exercise to run. And I really do find it relaxing to just plod along. Intervals and speed work make me think. I really love to just get stuck in a slow, simple pace and be in that moment listening to the world around me, contemplating my life and hearing God in while present in that space.
Unfortunately my body is stubbornly refusing to enjoy these biblical exercises with me. My knee continues to give me trouble when I run. I think I will be able to get through the upcoming triathlon but I see walking and biking on my summer plans rather than running. And while my arms look great my shoulder is bugging me lately. Luckily it doesn't feel like an injury, just an over worked muscle, so I should be fine in a few days.
I haven't come across a biking reference but Peter does swim into shore from the boat when Jesus appears to them after his death. Can we read into that? Either way I am committed to doing both along with the running in just over 4 weeks.
I feel good about the training I have done in each individual area but think it might be time to do 2 things. Number 1 combine a couple and number 2, get outside. Both are tricky because they require either child care or doing my workouts early in the morning or after dinner. A change in routine. I have gotten used to my schedule of running, swimming and biking on various mornings and Isabelle has made friends and enjoyed the classes they offer for her while I am taking my classes. Change can be fun or hard. I suppose it is all in the attitude. Having completed other responsibilities in my life last weekend I am telling myself this can be my focus for the month. I am ready to take it to the next level.
As I am getting tired of the training and want to quit it is so nice to have this looming to keep me getting out of bed. I have been telling myself for the last few weeks that I just have to get through this and I can stop. As if I don't have to ever exercise after June 5th. I can just go to jello. Well in a weak moment yesterday realizing I had to keep going, I signed up for the "Lazy Man Triathlon" at the Y. Starting June 1st I will be completing a full length tri over the course of 5 weeks. I will swim 2.5 miles, bike 112 miles and run/walk 26.2 miles. As I have broken it out into weekly mileage I can see that it really isn't significantly more than I am doing right now for training. So now I just have to maintain through to July 15. THEN I can quit and let my body turn to jello. Right?
If you want to join me on the Lazy Man Tri feel free. I will get a t-shirt through the Y but you can do it on your own with me. This event is just my style, there is no competition except with yourself and the follow through needed to stay on track and complete the milage on time. I will try to post my weekly milage so you can all keep me accountable to staying on track.
Keep flying everyone.
Maverick Out.
After 5 months of twice a week weight lifting class I don't feel nearly as feeble or weak, although I am resisting increasing my weights, and I really can see a change in my body. My arms and shoulders have definition and although there is still a lovely layer of fat over my thighs they don't seem to spread nearly as wide when I am sitting down. And I seem to have re-discovered my hip bones which went missing after the birth of Jake and I didn't think I would ever see them again.
Of course the bible is also full of commands to run. Shortly before the verse on strengthening our arms and knees it tells us to, "run with perseverance the race marked out for us." Paul also talks about running in other places. So it is apparently a God ordained exercise to run. And I really do find it relaxing to just plod along. Intervals and speed work make me think. I really love to just get stuck in a slow, simple pace and be in that moment listening to the world around me, contemplating my life and hearing God in while present in that space.
Unfortunately my body is stubbornly refusing to enjoy these biblical exercises with me. My knee continues to give me trouble when I run. I think I will be able to get through the upcoming triathlon but I see walking and biking on my summer plans rather than running. And while my arms look great my shoulder is bugging me lately. Luckily it doesn't feel like an injury, just an over worked muscle, so I should be fine in a few days.
I haven't come across a biking reference but Peter does swim into shore from the boat when Jesus appears to them after his death. Can we read into that? Either way I am committed to doing both along with the running in just over 4 weeks.
I feel good about the training I have done in each individual area but think it might be time to do 2 things. Number 1 combine a couple and number 2, get outside. Both are tricky because they require either child care or doing my workouts early in the morning or after dinner. A change in routine. I have gotten used to my schedule of running, swimming and biking on various mornings and Isabelle has made friends and enjoyed the classes they offer for her while I am taking my classes. Change can be fun or hard. I suppose it is all in the attitude. Having completed other responsibilities in my life last weekend I am telling myself this can be my focus for the month. I am ready to take it to the next level.
As I am getting tired of the training and want to quit it is so nice to have this looming to keep me getting out of bed. I have been telling myself for the last few weeks that I just have to get through this and I can stop. As if I don't have to ever exercise after June 5th. I can just go to jello. Well in a weak moment yesterday realizing I had to keep going, I signed up for the "Lazy Man Triathlon" at the Y. Starting June 1st I will be completing a full length tri over the course of 5 weeks. I will swim 2.5 miles, bike 112 miles and run/walk 26.2 miles. As I have broken it out into weekly mileage I can see that it really isn't significantly more than I am doing right now for training. So now I just have to maintain through to July 15. THEN I can quit and let my body turn to jello. Right?
If you want to join me on the Lazy Man Tri feel free. I will get a t-shirt through the Y but you can do it on your own with me. This event is just my style, there is no competition except with yourself and the follow through needed to stay on track and complete the milage on time. I will try to post my weekly milage so you can all keep me accountable to staying on track.
Keep flying everyone.
Maverick Out.
Saturday, April 24, 2010
Gear Up
When I started running almost 6 years ago one of the bonus features was that I didn't need to put out any financial commitment. I simply put on a pair of running shoes I had bought several years before, which the dog we briefly had chewed the heels out of, a pair of knit shorts, an old t-shirt and hit the road. After a week or so I made the commitment of a running tank and short and some new socks and a few months later made my first purchase of shoes from the Nike outlet store. I went along with that small sampling of gear for a good couple years. While I must confess to still wearing some of those 6 year old clothes I have recently purchased my 5th pair of running shoes.
This is the second pair I bought through a running store where someone knowledgeable in running shoe science actually helped me choose the appropriate pair. I have enjoyed a few runs in them but with my knee still acting up I am keeping my runs pretty short. The new shoes are for a neutral foot. I discovered that my old shoes were stability shoes which I really didn't need and potentially contributed to my IT band injury. I guess the professionals don't always get it right.
While I haven't been able to run much this winter I have enjoyed a weekly spin class which has really improved my biking skills. (At leased I think it has, my bike is still hanging from the garage ceiling at the moment.) The spin bikes have the option of either wearing your regular shoes and sticking your toes in a little basket on the pedal or wearing clip bike shoes and locking your foot to the pedal. Having now used the basket for almost 5 months and getting used to the push and pull you experience from that I knew I wanted to be able to ride like that on the road. I went to REI to check out the bike shoe options and told the sales people several times I was there only to check them out and try a few on but I would not be buying. Seriously I must have said it at least 4 times to the different sales people in the area. As you can imagine, in the end I bought a pair. They were on a great sale and happened to be the only ones that were really comfortable on my weird feet.
Thursday I brought them in and the spin instructor taught me how they work. I managed to get on and off the spin bike without a problem. Of course I didn't have to try and balance the bike while doing so. We will see how it goes in the real world hopefully soon. But in the spin world it was fun to have the clip shoes for the class. One thing I noticed with my new running shoes is that they are much softer so when I would wear them for spin they didn't give me the stability I needed. The new bike shoes are nice and firm for the ride.
As I prepare for this upcoming triathlon I am becoming obsessed with the gear situation. I really hate having the wrong gear. I am not one that needs to have everything, the latest and greatest, but I do want to have the right thing that makes me feel comfortable. I read a great little side article in a magazine a few months ago. Someone wrote in and said they were new to exercising and what did they need to know so they wouldn't look stupid at the club. The answer gave some very basic ideas but ended by telling her to go buy a new workout outfit because if you looked like you knew what you were doing everyone would assume you did. The best advice EVER. That is how I determine who knows what they are doing and who doesn't when I see people exercising. Thus I want to at least LOOK like I know what I am doing. There are so many other things to stress about with this triathlon, I don't want to be distracted because I am wearing the wrong clothes and afraid everyone is looking at me and laughing. (Yes I have issues, move on.) So I am currently wondering what I should wear to swim in. It will need to be something I can then bike and run in. Now I don't really require a heavy duty running bra or anything but I would probably be a little more comfortable in something with more support than my current swim suit which is really designed for laying next to the pool not swimming in it. So the answer to that question will likely be my next purchase.
We are getting down to the wire. 6 weeks from today Goose and I will be standing at the starting line (actually it is 2pm as I write so 6 weeks from right now hopefully we will be celebrating our success.) I guess it is time to get serious about our training. I have been working on all the parts but haven't put any together yet. I have sort of come to the conclusion that I may be walking part of the tri. My knee doesn't seem to want me to run more than 2 miles. I am hoping by the race I can do the whole 3 miles. I am rolling and stretching my leg everyday. I know Goose has started combining a few parts and it seems to be going well. I have been toying with trying an even easier triathlon than this one next weekend but I lack that other person who will brave a new adventure with me. Anyone want to do the lifetime indoor triathlon with me next weekend?
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Getting lapped by Grandma
Well it is official. If the triathlon was tomorrow I would definately drown in the lake.
On Sunday I met my friend Naomi, who is a swim coach and also does triathlons, for a little swim lesson and training. She put me through a bunch of drills and taught me the new technique for swimming freestyle. Apparently they have changed since we were kids. She encouraged me and told me I was much better than I had led her to believe and she thought I did a good job learning the technique she taught me. It was a crash course and I was trying to remember everything she said and make my body memorize the new moves as quickly as possible. I left feeling much more confident that I could swim laps without looking like I had no idea what I was doing. I also left exhausted.
Naomi confirmed what others had already told me, I need to practice at least 2 times a week, 3 would be better. So today I decided would be the day. I woke up immediately dreading it. Since Jake had late start and John was still home I decided to just get right out of bed and head over early without Isabelle to get it over with. I felt that I would wimp out if I had to wait until Isabelle was up and organized to go. I got there and did one lap down and back and almost died. Tried to do another length of the pool and found myself breaking form and gasping for breath half way down the pool. Thus began the routine of one length, catch breath for several minutes, length, catch breath, length, catch breath. To add insult to injury I was sharing a lane with a 70 year old woman who, while much slower than me, never stopped swimming the entire 30 minutes I was there, had been swimming when I arrived and was still swimming when I left. I told her as I left that she was going to be my inspiration to keep coming back.
I did find that the lengths where I was focused on one of the aspects of form that Naomi had talked about seemed easier than when I was just swimming and trying to think of it all. And really, I need to relax so my breathing isn't so labored. Naomi did say I looked like I was gasping for breath the whole time and that is exactly how I feel. So I know what to work on.
All in all I felt like I have conquered a fear and am looking forward to seeing progress in this new activity. I suppose it is like when I started running. The first time I ran I could hardly go 1/2 mile but it was amazing how quickly I was able to improve when starting from zero. A few years ago Iceman and I were meeting to take turns swimming laps and watching each others children. I remember that each week I did seem to improve. I look forward to experiencing that again.
Now could someone tell me how to get this chlorine smell off my skin?
Iceman and others who won't do the tri because of the swim. Get a coach, take a swim lesson. When the move is broken down for you by someone knowledgeable and you get to practice each piece suddenly it seems so much more doable. I'm just saying...
On Sunday I met my friend Naomi, who is a swim coach and also does triathlons, for a little swim lesson and training. She put me through a bunch of drills and taught me the new technique for swimming freestyle. Apparently they have changed since we were kids. She encouraged me and told me I was much better than I had led her to believe and she thought I did a good job learning the technique she taught me. It was a crash course and I was trying to remember everything she said and make my body memorize the new moves as quickly as possible. I left feeling much more confident that I could swim laps without looking like I had no idea what I was doing. I also left exhausted.
Naomi confirmed what others had already told me, I need to practice at least 2 times a week, 3 would be better. So today I decided would be the day. I woke up immediately dreading it. Since Jake had late start and John was still home I decided to just get right out of bed and head over early without Isabelle to get it over with. I felt that I would wimp out if I had to wait until Isabelle was up and organized to go. I got there and did one lap down and back and almost died. Tried to do another length of the pool and found myself breaking form and gasping for breath half way down the pool. Thus began the routine of one length, catch breath for several minutes, length, catch breath, length, catch breath. To add insult to injury I was sharing a lane with a 70 year old woman who, while much slower than me, never stopped swimming the entire 30 minutes I was there, had been swimming when I arrived and was still swimming when I left. I told her as I left that she was going to be my inspiration to keep coming back.
I did find that the lengths where I was focused on one of the aspects of form that Naomi had talked about seemed easier than when I was just swimming and trying to think of it all. And really, I need to relax so my breathing isn't so labored. Naomi did say I looked like I was gasping for breath the whole time and that is exactly how I feel. So I know what to work on.
All in all I felt like I have conquered a fear and am looking forward to seeing progress in this new activity. I suppose it is like when I started running. The first time I ran I could hardly go 1/2 mile but it was amazing how quickly I was able to improve when starting from zero. A few years ago Iceman and I were meeting to take turns swimming laps and watching each others children. I remember that each week I did seem to improve. I look forward to experiencing that again.
Now could someone tell me how to get this chlorine smell off my skin?
Iceman and others who won't do the tri because of the swim. Get a coach, take a swim lesson. When the move is broken down for you by someone knowledgeable and you get to practice each piece suddenly it seems so much more doable. I'm just saying...
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Iceman's 2010 Summer Racing Schedule
I wanted to post the races that I have been thinking about participating in this summer. So here goes:
1. April 24th is the Get In Gear Races over at the Minehaha Pavilion. I'm going to do the 5k and start my racing season slowly. (In more ways than one... )
2. May 2nd is the Bud Break Race at the local Arboretum. It's hilly, but beautiful. This is another 5k. I'm excited to have my kids participate in the Daffodil Dash! A little too cute, huh?
3. July 3rd is the Excelsior Firecracker Run. This will be the 1st 10k for me of the season. But I'm hoping not to even notice the extra mileage because running around Lake Minnetonka is going to be beautiful! (Check the link above for when the open registration. You'll see it under July)
4. July 24th is the Lumber Jack Day Race in Stillwater. I think the family and I are going to make a trip of it. We'll be camping and enjoying Lumber Jack Days. This will be a test for me because it is a 10 MILE course... There is a race for the kids also!
5. August 21st is Maple Lake Days Race. This will probably feel easy after the 10 miles in July! More kids races again. I wonder if my kids like to run?... :)
6. October 3 Medtronic Twin City Marathon. NO I won't be running the marathon. I thought I would go for the do-able 10 miler. Now the participants are chosen by lottery. So we'll see if I get into this race or not...
Now to keep it all real. I haven't actually signed up for any of these races. So if anyone has any better ideas let me know.
Also does anyone want to join me?!?!?! It'll be great fun!!
1. April 24th is the Get In Gear Races over at the Minehaha Pavilion. I'm going to do the 5k and start my racing season slowly. (In more ways than one... )
2. May 2nd is the Bud Break Race at the local Arboretum. It's hilly, but beautiful. This is another 5k. I'm excited to have my kids participate in the Daffodil Dash! A little too cute, huh?
3. July 3rd is the Excelsior Firecracker Run. This will be the 1st 10k for me of the season. But I'm hoping not to even notice the extra mileage because running around Lake Minnetonka is going to be beautiful! (Check the link above for when the open registration. You'll see it under July)
4. July 24th is the Lumber Jack Day Race in Stillwater. I think the family and I are going to make a trip of it. We'll be camping and enjoying Lumber Jack Days. This will be a test for me because it is a 10 MILE course... There is a race for the kids also!
5. August 21st is Maple Lake Days Race. This will probably feel easy after the 10 miles in July! More kids races again. I wonder if my kids like to run?... :)
6. October 3 Medtronic Twin City Marathon. NO I won't be running the marathon. I thought I would go for the do-able 10 miler. Now the participants are chosen by lottery. So we'll see if I get into this race or not...
Now to keep it all real. I haven't actually signed up for any of these races. So if anyone has any better ideas let me know.
Also does anyone want to join me?!?!?! It'll be great fun!!
Monday, March 15, 2010
The Go-To Food
One thing I have noted in reading health/diet books is that the writers really love their health food but seem to have some go-to food as well. One of the first books I read the woman talked about the first healthy food she fell in love with was this rice and rye combo she would make and mix with veggies or just eat plain. In another book the writer is in love with oatmeal. He talks about how he would love to eat it 3 meals a day but realizes he needs more balance in his diet.
I realized last week when I decided it was time to pump up my healthy eating lifestyle that I too have a go-to meal. Rice and Beans. When I don't feel well or don't know what to eat but want to eat healthy I pull that out. I love it. Almost as much as salads, another of my go-to foods. My body just feels happy when I eat rice and beans. And I have discovered that it is good no matter what kind of bean you use. The usual is a dark red kidney bean but I have experimented with black beans and white beans, still good.
So how to make...
saute some onion in olive oil in a pan or wok until soft, add a bunch of rice and 1-2 cans of rinsed beans. Add some random spices. I tend to go with curry and cumin and maybe some garlic powder. I then add some balsamic vinegar because I love it but you could add any vinegar or no vinegar at all as well as many other little additions that you have cluttering up the fridge like tomatoes or mushrooms or whatever. And then you are done and you eat. Yummy!
I realized last week when I decided it was time to pump up my healthy eating lifestyle that I too have a go-to meal. Rice and Beans. When I don't feel well or don't know what to eat but want to eat healthy I pull that out. I love it. Almost as much as salads, another of my go-to foods. My body just feels happy when I eat rice and beans. And I have discovered that it is good no matter what kind of bean you use. The usual is a dark red kidney bean but I have experimented with black beans and white beans, still good.
So how to make...
saute some onion in olive oil in a pan or wok until soft, add a bunch of rice and 1-2 cans of rinsed beans. Add some random spices. I tend to go with curry and cumin and maybe some garlic powder. I then add some balsamic vinegar because I love it but you could add any vinegar or no vinegar at all as well as many other little additions that you have cluttering up the fridge like tomatoes or mushrooms or whatever. And then you are done and you eat. Yummy!
John loves it too. And our bodies smile when we eat it. Keeps us healthy and happy.
So what is your go-to food when you feel unhealthy?
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Goose in Gear
Okay, after my pity party earlier today, God gave me 50 degrees and sunshine by the time the girls got out of school, so I headed out for a run as soon as they got home to watch the little ones.
I have been feeling so sluggish this week with my period. Hadn't exercised in two days. I started running and thought, no way I can't do this! Why does the first mile hate me so much? I puffed through and felt my stride by the 2nd mile.
I haven't pushed past the 45 min run yet, but have had a secret goal to run for an hour..about 6 miles for me. I decided I would see how I felt towards the end of my 4 mile run. Well, I felt good, like I always do lately, so I kept going. I ran for a whole hour just to prove to myself I could!! My cardio system still felt great at the hour mark, but my knees were feeling a little stiff and crampy.
I realized that I have to emotionally accept the fact that I have been working out non-stop for four months now and I AM IN DARN GOOD SHAPE! I have to get over myself. I felt so discouraged this past week with my poor eating habits and then not exercising for two days. I have this mental mindset that I am lazy and unfit. But its not true! I am actually really, really fit and strong and healthy...why is it so hard to reprogram our minds when we have reprogramed our bodies?
I re-read some of my first posts on here to try to recapture some of that enthusiastic machine that I was in December. Its like I have this horrible fear that if I sit around and eat terribly for a few days that all my work these last four months will just disappear. I'm trying to find the right balance of fitting exercise into my life, rather than having it consume it...eating healthy but enjoying food and not freakishly fixating on it or thinking I have ruined everything if I eat chips, too much cheese, or peanut m&m's.
I am not a moderate kind of gal, have you ever noticed this about me? I know, you learn something new every day. haha
Going out of town this weekend with the family. The hotel should have a treadmill that I plan to use. As long as I am getting my exercise in I will feel okay about all the eating out we will have to do.
Goose out.
I have been feeling so sluggish this week with my period. Hadn't exercised in two days. I started running and thought, no way I can't do this! Why does the first mile hate me so much? I puffed through and felt my stride by the 2nd mile.
I haven't pushed past the 45 min run yet, but have had a secret goal to run for an hour..about 6 miles for me. I decided I would see how I felt towards the end of my 4 mile run. Well, I felt good, like I always do lately, so I kept going. I ran for a whole hour just to prove to myself I could!! My cardio system still felt great at the hour mark, but my knees were feeling a little stiff and crampy.
I realized that I have to emotionally accept the fact that I have been working out non-stop for four months now and I AM IN DARN GOOD SHAPE! I have to get over myself. I felt so discouraged this past week with my poor eating habits and then not exercising for two days. I have this mental mindset that I am lazy and unfit. But its not true! I am actually really, really fit and strong and healthy...why is it so hard to reprogram our minds when we have reprogramed our bodies?
I re-read some of my first posts on here to try to recapture some of that enthusiastic machine that I was in December. Its like I have this horrible fear that if I sit around and eat terribly for a few days that all my work these last four months will just disappear. I'm trying to find the right balance of fitting exercise into my life, rather than having it consume it...eating healthy but enjoying food and not freakishly fixating on it or thinking I have ruined everything if I eat chips, too much cheese, or peanut m&m's.
I am not a moderate kind of gal, have you ever noticed this about me? I know, you learn something new every day. haha
Going out of town this weekend with the family. The hotel should have a treadmill that I plan to use. As long as I am getting my exercise in I will feel okay about all the eating out we will have to do.
Goose out.
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