Running with H1N1

Came home from black friday shopping yesterday and started to feel wiped out.  My entire body ached, especially my joints.  I ended up sleeping for four hours, in the middle of the day.  I started feeling better later in the afternoon but still don't feel 100% today.  I don't think I have the flu but it sure felt like it.  Mom and I did some intervals this morning. We got 12 intervals in before running into Ceci and Papa at the playground.  When's the last time you swung on a swing?

Thanksgiving Run with mom

Early morning run with mom. 
22 minutes
12 intervals jog @ 30 sec/walk @ 55 sec

Didn't want to do it!

The parents got in to town last night.  One of my favorite times is having coffee with my mom in the morning.  Just her and I and girl talk.  Motherhood, dating, family gossip and I made her read my blog finally.  I was so comfy curled up on the couch talking and drinking coffee I really didn't want to work out.  I finally motivated myself to get on the treadmill.  The workout and waiting for the most amazing french toast for breakfast is what I blame for my tardiness at work.  No one really noticed.  That is until I managed to spill coffee on my laptop.  "SHIT!"  Yes, outloud, at work.  Ever heard the sound a laptop makes when introduced to fluids?  Not good.  Something similar to the sizzle on a fajita plate. I borrowed a co-workers laptop who left for the holiday already and did training as the only thing I could access was the Internet. Then left at 3:00 as we're always dismissed early the day  before a holiday - SWEET!  Anyway, here's the workout:

25 minutes on the treadmill

• 3 minute warmup
• 12 intervals @ 3.5 walk (55 sec)/4.2 jog (30sec)
• 4 minute cool down
• 1.53 miles
• 220 calories
  

Bring it on

Anne - pencil this one in.....Firecracker Triathlon, Benton Harbor, MI 07/03/2010 (1/4mi swim/12.9mi bike/3mi run)
This will be our warm up for August!

Are you kidding me?

So I got up at 5:20 AM without an alarm this morning and went to the Y to swim. What ever happened to that 12 year old competitive swimmer?  I have no idea, because she wasn't in the pool this morning. I take back what I said about swimming. When you don't use those muscles for 20+ years, "owie" as Ceci would say.

• 14 laps in the pool
• 20 minutes on the stationary bike

Feeling sore as I sit here at work. I can really feel it in my arms from swimming and on the inside of my thighs from biking. I'm feeling great though and excited to keep going. I'm thinking once a week for the first couple months then we'll up it in February.
As I'm on the Schwinn in the cardio room there is this woman working out two rows up from me. (Picture this if you will) She is on a step machine wearing a thong. "How does she know this?" you may be asking yourself. Oh, because her shorts were see-through! But my thought, while I'm on the bike, is those things ride up your ass as it is. How uncomfortable to be working out on a step machine in a thong? I wanted to pick her wedgie for her. Good Lord.
Ran into a old co-worker from Gast in the pool. He also got the tri bug and just started training. Looks like I'll have another cohort. It's inspiring to see other people just starting out in this quest. Especially those of us who have a "long row to hoe".

Chariot

SWEET!  I've found several used Chariot Carriers in the Chicago area that come with the jogging and bike attachements.  You can get the cross country skiing and hiking options for this carrier too.  Ceci and I may be taking a road trip to Chicago today.  Let the fun begin!

20 while the little one sleeps

20 minutes on the treadmill (forgot to decrease the walk time)
warmup
10 intervals @ 3.5 walk(60 seconds)/4.2 jog(30 seconds)
cool down

1.2 miles
178 calories burned
knees feel good

Weight Loss Progress 2009

Here's the official weight loss for 2009 to date.  Steady progress!  Of course I'm not a complete idiot and would never post the actual weight, just the weight loss.  I'll post the actual when I get within 5 pounds of the goal.

Slow and steady wins the race......

QUICKIE

20 minutes on the treadmill while pounding coffee
3 minute warmup
10 intervals @ 3.5 walk(60 seconds)/4.2 jog(30 seconds)
3 minute cool down

1.2 miles
174 calories burned

knees are feeling strong
decrease walk interval to 55 seconds next round

Let the feast begin

No workout today but I coordinated one hell of a Thanksgiving feast at work.

Thursday's Log

Had time for a quick workout. 
5 minute warm up @ 3.5 MPH
Typical me started out too hard and the knees were screaming early.  Slowed to the following:
15 min of intervals @ 4MPH jog/3.5MPH walk 30 sec/1 minute
5 min cool down @ 3.0 MPH

219 calories burned
1.506 miles
10 intervals

Sneakers & Joggers

This is my catalyst. God knows I'm not going to be able to do this by myself. Mom has already signed up to cheer me on, on race day. Pencil it in Sue Ann. Last Sunday in August. Long Island, New York.


So as I texted Annie the other night, I went to a local running shop and bought my first pair of "big girl" running sneakers. What a difference it makes when you don't buy your sneakers on clearance at Kohl's. Saucony's. First pair I've ever owned. Fell in love with them the first workout. Now how often am I supposed to replace these suckers? I can already see this getting to be an expensive hobby! 

Speaking of expensive, I've been researching jogging strollers too. Here are the specs:
- rainfly and breathable mesh covers
- convert to bike trailer
- convert to skiing (optional)
- fold up to fit into trunk
- storage

Found a jogger at a store next to the running store where I got my sneakers called the Croozer. Doesn't have the option to ski, but fits the rest. They had a double stroller in the store. Ceci absolutely loved it. She made me buckle her in then refused to get out. She even insisted on wearing a "hat", as she called it, (child's helmet) located in close proximity to the jogger. At least I know the jogger won't get denied like the kelty did. Which by the way I have hanging out in the livingroom to try to get her used to it. I think it's more being up high than anything else. She'll sit in it when it's on the ground. Getting it up on mommy's shoulders is the trick. I digress..... the other jogger I've found is the Chariot. This one has the skiing option. How cool would that be?

Someone please talk me out of this!

Here it is. My training log. Now, don't go thinking this is some kind of performance cross training triathlon blog that you're going to get tips and tricks from. This is my motivational journal. A beginner at running. A one time distance swimmer. A sometimes "thinks she can" mountain bike-er. I've always been athletic but never routined in my sports. This is my lifestyle change.

My main motivation started back in September when my awesome friend Anne posted on FB that she had just completed her first tri. I met up with her and some other friends the following week and was instantly hooked. THAT was my goal. A mini triathlon. Most people I've talked to balk at the swimming portion. That I can handle. The only thing that worries me there is getting my lung capacity back to it's pre-smoking strength. I'm sure the Camel Special Lights did some good damage to the lungs. The biking I have the leg strethgs for and it's not so harsh on the knees. The running will be my crutch.
My knees are genetically bad (thanks dad) and ruined even more by 80 pounds weight gain during pregnancy. I've been slowly building them back up to be able to run. Slowly is the key word here. I have a tendency to get over zealous and end up two steps back in the process. Case in point when I started training with my friend Bethany a number of months ago. "I'll be fine, I'll be fine" I said running, proceeded by five days of barely being able to walk. Take it slow. Bethany has turned me on to interval training. Starting with a 10 second jog and a 1.5 minute walk I've buld up to a 30 second jog and one minute walk for up to 45 minutes at a time. This has been a scheduled and gradual build up versus running until I collapse.
Tobay Triathlon, Sunday, August 29, 2010. 1K swim, 15K bike and a 5K run. Someone tell me I'm crazy because right now I'm thinking this is very doable.