Life Is Beautiful

The first week of training didn’t go exactly as planned.   I try not too be hard on myself because that’s what people   say “aw, don’t be so hard on youself.”   The reality is that I am EXTREMELY hard on myself.   I no longer say terrible things to myself or “beat myself up” but I hold myself to a super-human standard with nothing less than absolute 100% adherence revered as victory. Ahem.   Okay.   Now that we got that out of the way…here’s the reality. Monday – got up and did my scheduled walk and stretch.   Monday is an optional day for making up missed workouts or taking a rest day, but I usually walk and watch The Walking Dead episode that came out the night before.   Get it – walking with TWD?   I wasn’t feeling great, still – my chest felt congested and I only made it one mile instead of two with a long stretch after. Tuesday – I took completely off.   I had a scare on Monday morning with not being able to catch my b...

This morning I participated in an indoor sprint triathlon.  This was the second year for this event (for me) so of course I have been scouring my email and my Garmin historical stats trying to see if I'm better than I was last year.  I couldn't find anything reliable, so I guess I'll compare myself to the Bryan Health Indoor Sprint Tri from last month. The format was similar to the Bryan Health Tri, with a couple of frustrating differences: Swim - 10 minutes; completed lengths counted. Bike - 30 minutes; average WATTS counted, minimum resistance set at 5. Run - 20 minutes; total distance counted, incline required to be set at 2%. My morning didn't start out real great and I briefly entertained not going at all.  I had slept super-duper hard and my body was sore like I'm coming down with something.  Of course I woke up shortly after 6:00am when I actually could have slept until 7:00am.  I got up, caffienated and fueled.  Read my book and enjoyed the ...

I am so excited to announce that my training for the Topeka Tinman 70 officially begins on Monday!  I've been diligently maintaining base fitness throughout the winter and getting my nutrition in check  trying to reign in my nutrition.  I'm ready to begin! If you are not familiar with a half-iron (70.3) distance triathlon, here's the breakdown: 1.2 mile swim - which is about 2100 yards.  Okay, no big deal - that's a regular weekday swim, right? 56 mile bike ride - okay...that turns up the heat a little.  Pacing and nutrition will be important! 13.1 mile run - have I lost my mind!? I'll be using a the Intermediate training plan from the book IronFit Triathlon Training for Women by Melanie & Don Fink.  I used their Olympic distance plan last year to finish the Topeka Tinman Olympic distance.  Same training plan, same venue...just a little longer event this time. This training plan begins with 6 hours per week of training and peaks at seve...

Today was my first triathlon of 2018! It was an indoor tri with the format as follows: 10 minute pool swim 30 minute spin bike 20 minute treadmill run I love an indoor tri because it really levels you and and allows you to focus on your own performance, not who's lapping you!  Everyone finishes at the same time, so you get to just do you.  It's the best way to TRY a TRI in my opinion. My wave started at 7:20am, so I left early enough from home to get there about 30 minutes early.  I didn't eat anything before, but just had a cuppa coffee.  When I got there I picked up my packet and headed to the locker room.  This race only cost $25 and I got a tech tee, a pair of socks and a swim cap in my SWAG Bag!  Not bad!  There was coffee, granola, yogurt and fruit set up for the athletes. I quickly realized one of my friends was in the heat right after me and we had a great time checking out the swanky facilities.  I made a new friend in my heat...

It sucks to be an overweight athlete.  Body of a cherub, heart of Wonder Woman and all that. Obvious reasons include - squeezing into spandex, finding appropriate clothing that is cut in a flattering and covering way, being slow (dang is THAT ever frustrating)...swelling of the feet and ankles (stuffing my club feet into tennis shoes is a challenge at times), bra strap fat, muffin top, etc. Less obvious reasons include - being constantly on a diet but constantly burning so many calories that I'm always HANGRY.  I can't win.  I volley back and forth between thinking I'm not eating enough to trying new stupid diets.  I've done the Renegade Diet, South Beach, Weight Watchers (points ad nausea), Low Carb, Low Fat, Calorie Cycling, Carb Cycling, Road Cycling...oh wait that's not a diet.  But you get the picture. Recently I cut *most* of the dumb-dumb calories out.  Dumb-dumb calories are the ones you ingest that make you want to then eat something salty to...

March is a strange month and a strange time of year.  I'm reminded of things I don't want to think about and my mind starts to play tricks on me.  I look to God's Word, my Friends and Family, of course my Husband, and Prayer for encouragement and strength. It's been a while since I've been so candid about this part of my life -- sometimes it seems like a lifetime ago, like I was a different person (and believe me, I was!).  Other times, it's so close I can smell and feel the environment that I wish would stay "long long ago." Without going into too much detail, I will paraphrase this story of my past by saying: A long time ago, I lived with someone who was very sick.  This person didn't love himself or anyone else and lived his life as such.  Holidays were always a reason to abuse a variety of substances, and St. Patrick's day was a week long "event" due to this persons Irish ancestry.  I could never prepare myself for wha...

Totally (un)Toasty Tuesday Workouts 30 minutes of strength training 2+ mile run on the treadmill while watching Continuum . It was a balmy 18 degrees at 4:30 this morning.  The real feel was FIVE.  I don't know why I hold out hope that my run will happen outside anytime soon.  It's only week two of Workout Jail and I'm already fussing and whining about being in the basement.  Reminds me of one of the kids that used to say "hotside" for outside.  He'd stand by the door and demand to be set free.  Yep. Hold cold is it?  It's so cold that the cat won't even go out.  It's so cold that my skin is two sizes to small and cracking!  It's so cold that...it's just cold.  How's that for some literary genius. Ew, right? I really should have run a full 3 miles this morning - but - I had to get started an hour earlier today so that I could be at work early.  I slept pretty solid (thank you Ambien) so at least there's that.  I ju...

Monday is a Rest Day, Halelujiah. Yesterday I got my 6 mile run done on the treaddy - but I waited til after Church thinking that I would be able to do it outdoors...nope.  So - I missed my swim, but I'll not be beating myself up for that.  No sir.  Also, a run that late in the day followed by sitting in my rocking chair made for some really sore legs in the night and today.  Just getting old, I guess. Susan holding Stella being kissed by Cameron I did manage to get a run in on Friday morning before we left for Kansas City, but needless to say - I wasn't feeling a Saturday morning long bike after staying in a hotel room Friday night.  The beds were super comfy and the place was quiet - but our 8 year old had a hard time settling down.  Couple that with her sharing a bed with our 13 year old aaaand you have a short and restless nights sleep. We had a good time seeing my sister and two nieces, though.  I was really glad to get the cousins toget...

This year saw lots of changes with our household.  I think the coming year will be equally interesting, but hopefully less frustrating.  But that's life! This past year started out with a bang.  We had some issues with one of our children that uncovered even more issues, that just grew and grew until we realized we had a real mess on our hands.  I won't continue to talk about that.  It's sad and hasn't resolved, but will culminate with our son leaving for boot camp in June hi with no intention of ever returning.  Life has a way of working out, I'm told.  In March, I was hired at Baylor Evnen !  I closed Small Steps Childcare after seven years of caring and cuddling for the best little people around, and went back to work.  It sure was an adjustment for our whole family!  I was really scared that I wouldn't fit in.  I've never worked in the legal field plus it had been a long time since I'd done any clerical work.  But,...

Thinking It's Thursday Workouts 30ish minutes of weights from the Tri-Power book. 30 minutes on the bike - indoor trainer.  And HOW many miles did I cover after I entered the correct wheel size??  About 30% more!  Glad I fixed that little issue. When I ride and run inside in the winter, I often work my way through a series on Netflix.  Currently, I'm working on Continuum and The 100 .  The 100 is a Sci-Fi series that centers around a group of 100 young people that are basically incarcerated on a space station.  The earth has long been abandoned due to radiation contamination.  The elders decide that the earth might be viable again and - to save oxygen on the aging space station - they send the 100 to check it out. Most of the 100 are ages 15 to 19 (though the beards on some of the boys say they are much older...)  It's been interesting to see how the conflicts and hardships they endure on the earth "age" them.  The main character is a...

What, it's Wednesday Already!? Workout 60 mintues on the bike - indoor trainer.  And just how many miles did I cover in that hour?  10.9...what!?  Really, that's it?  Garmin says I burned 525 calories in that hour.  11mph is like la-dee-dah lets go for a nice relaxing bike ride - not a 500 calorie per hour sweatfest! Why do I tell you this?  Well - I tell you this because I figured out what a huge dork I am and why, after months of consistent workouts and better nutrition, why I am actually getting slower on the bike. Well. Back in the Fall, I finally got enough saved up for a new Garmin.  I was rocking the 310XT with it's beautiful 1/2" thick orange and gray face and monochrome display for two years.  Two years of a GPS enabled multi-sport watch that you can't wear anywhere else because it's SO DANG BIG. The 310XT - functional, but huge. So the lovely day occurred when I got the white faced watch with optional purple strap and I pr...

Terrific Tuesday Workouts 30 minutes of weight training - I began a more assertive program in one of my books.   Tri Power by Paul Frediani & William Smith was included in my registration of a weekend long Triathlon Camp at the local YMCA in 2014.  It's a wonderfully well rounded program that focuses on functional strength, flexibility and injury prevention. 2+ mile run - on the treadmill.  Boo-hoo and wah-wah.  We will all bitch and complain until mid February when the icy tundra of Nebraska recedes again to just "Winter" and not "Holy Crap the Air Hurts to Breathe and My Nose is Now Frozen, HELP!!" Yesterday I moved my bike and all my weights back into my basement where they are once again nestled lovingly next to the treadmill.  Hate to do it, but gotta get training done in these frigid months.  And I know, I know, there are people in Canada that are outside getting it done in -3 with 40mph winds...but not me, alright.  As an evolved hum...

Wonderful Wednesday Workout - None.  I slept in until the very last possible moment when I could awake. Somewhere along the line yesterday, I ate something that didn't just disagree with me, it had an all out ugly divorce with my digestive system.  Had a rough night, so figured I'd stay in bed this morning. I feel so badly when I miss an evening with the kids.  Last night, as I laid in bed, groaning and wishing the vile offender would make its exit, I could hear the fun I was missing.  David even read the book to the kids. Aren't they cute? :) We are reading through The Chronicles of Narnia.  If you've never read them, do it!  You've probably heard of some of the movies, or even seen one.  Let me be the first to tell you, the books are even better! So, not much else to say, today.  I've not felt well at all and have had a few slices of toast and two bananas to eat all day.  The girls bought pizza at work and offered me a slice (t...

Terrific Tuesday Workouts - 30 minutes of weight training in the garage while watching Agents of Shield...I'm in the endish of Season 2 and I gotta say that I sure liked the team better in Season 1.  Coulson is so weird now and I'm confused... - 2.25 mile run in the nice cool 25 degree air.  There was very little wind and a nice covering of frost on the ground, kind of pretty! This mornings' run in the cold made me realize that I might actually be somewhat cold-acclimated!  I have been a runner for 10 years and I think this is the first winter that I have seriously committed to acclimating to the cold.   Just like anything that ends up being good for me, the cold acclimation is somewhat out of necessity.  My treadmill is in the basement and our 17 year old son's room is right next to it.  Have you ever tried to sleep while someone is pounding the belt on a treadmill right next to your room?  Not easy.  And...with our relationship not...

I just love a new year!  So full of possibilities!  I'm not necessarily a resolution setter, but I am one who likes a fresh start.  2015 was a great year for me personally.  It was really, really, hard, but it was a great and wonderful teacher.  I learned oh, so much about limitations and how those can actually help you grow!  I have long been one to bow up my back against any and all limits, hurdles, or things trying to stop me.  How dare it!  But this year I finally, finally, learned a lesson that God has been trying to teach me for a long time.  Even I have a limit. Enough of that, let's move on to the new year! On Saturday June 4, 2016 I will go for finish #2 of  IronMorton 70.3!  This is one of my homspun events that satisfies the distance requirement without costing me a small fortune.  A comprable event in Boulder Colorado costs $300 just for the entry fee...not to mention travel, hotel, meals, etc. Point of informat...

Going over a creek east of Lincoln on my mountain bike. I don't even know where to begin with this fabulous weekend!  I love taking pictures with my phone, so I don't forget anything.  Of course only the good, weird or otherwise pleasant things get a photo op. :) I didn't take a picture of the vomit fountain I experienced in my hands on Friday night.  Turns out my 6-year-old flew under the radar and had sugary cereal for dinner, then had a small blizzard from Dairy Queen and, well, that's a lot of sugar.  Erp. Saturday morning I went out for my long run about 6:30.  I looked at the radar and we were in for some rain in the next thirty minutes or so, but I didn't want to wait so I went out anyway.  Sure enough, about 20 minutes later it started to sprinkle.  It wasn't bad, and even the full on rain was warm and there was no wind.  My shoes didn't even get that wet. Camelbak + headphones It was amazingly NOT HUMID AS HADES and I felt...

Magical sunrise that I tried to ignore. I really, really, really, really, really, did not want to ride my bike this morning.  There is something about me that I've come to realize over the years.  Well, there are a lot of things - some of which are not fit to print - but one thing is that the harder I resist doing something, the more I probably need to do it. I'm mad, you see.  Mad at cycling. Mad at helmets and traffic and bike paths and clip in pedals. I'm oftentimes angry.  I guess it's a "thing" with me.  I get riled up about something and I just get madder and madder.  It starts with something like my kid getting hit on his bike and it blows up into the whole world hating cyclists.  I get more and more worked up and isolate so that nobody knows what a big baby I am being.  Before you know it, I'm back to some very unhealthy behaviors and things are falling apart.  Not that you'd ever know.  I'm also a very good stuffer. ...

Beautiful Nebraska between Lincoln and Nebraska City on Hwy 2 It is SO hard to get back on the bike after you crash. The first time. Then after that you realize that hitting the ground - or a tree as the case may be - is a possibility each and every time and you just pedal and try to get over that nagging sensation that it might happen again. Right After Impact And it might. Just like many undesirable things in life - crashing a bicycle isn't usually a one time deal.  Life tends to give me varying degrees of suckiness, as it does all of us.  The level of suck usually depends on one thing. My reaction. When I crashed into a tree on Saturday I wasn't going very fast.  I'll bet I wasn't going over 10 mph and really I bumped the tree and fell off my bike.  It was a thud-twump kind of deal.  I laid there in the grass for a minute with the rain falling down on me, trying to catch my breath and I shouted "I hate freaking RAIN!" ...

Tuesday - Run Speedwork Day - One mile super easy, increase treadmill speed by 2 clicks every half mile, one mile super easy.  4 miles total. Got up and did my run this morning, though, I would have rather not. :)  I got back from the pool about 8:15 last night and it felt like I hadn't really slept yet.  I slept pretty well for once, but bed at 10 -- hubby's alarm at 4 -- mine at 5 -- you know how it goes! Last night's swim was largely drill and technique work.  I take my 12yo daughter and she kicks like crazy with the kick board and makes me try to keep up!  A family was swimming in the lane next to us, so of course I started talking to the Mom.  She had a beautiful stroke and I figured she was a life long swimmer.  She offered to look at me swim and offered some valuable advice on drills and dry land exercises to help improve my stroke. She also said I had a "pretty nice stroke".  Boy oh boy did that bolster my self confidence! Photo ...

Monday - Upper Body Strength Training & Swim Technique Work I hadn't done P90X Shoulders & Arms for a while.  I love Tony Horton , I think he's really funny and his no-nonsense approach really gets me motivated.  His tip of the day was "breathe" but later in the workout, he joked that it was "don't smash your face."  I made the mistake last week with Legs & Back, thinking that I wasn't working especially hard and paying for it the next day.  And the next day. After working out with Tony and the fabulous Dreya Weber I made sure to add some BCAA's to my recovery drink.  I have read the ingredients on a lot of recovery formulas and I'm confident that my home spun version is just as good and more easily adjusted to the intensity/duration of the workout I just finished. Andrea's Recovery Drink 1c. 1% milk (1.5c for men) 1/2 scoop protein powder (1 full scoop for men) 10g of BCAA powder (15g for men) Shake up and drink a...