Wednesday, December 31, 2014

Rest Days Suck

Rest day.... Agh!!  


I know I am old and two rest days work best. When I don't rest after and before my long weekend- I can't sleep, my knees start hurting and I eat... All... The .... Things. Two rest days is good. 
I am running a 5k on Thursday so switched my day off to Wednesday. I woke up with that (awesome) pinging feeling in my muscles. I worked hard yesterday with an hour ride on the trainer and over an hour in the pool. I felt it- but my brain does not want a rest. 
Rest days are much much harder than it would seem!!!

Sunday, December 28, 2014

Recapping the Year... 2014

WOW!!  What a year I have had.  While my blogging for the physical changes have only been the last half of the year, my whole year has been pretty amazing.

  • I walked a half marathon in June
  • July and August I had some real good talks with my Ortho and decided to go through with the Euflexxa injections which have reduced my chronic knee pain to nearly zero most days
  • I bought a bike in August.... So much I can say about this, but in short - it has and I believe will continue to change my life
  • I picked up a 10+ year old bucket list goal to complete a triathlon.... and have viciously gone about the process of making a triathlete out of me
  • Triathlon Training took over the last three months of the year: 2 swims, 2 runs, 2 bikes, 1 long (discipline of choice), 1 Core and 1 strength session a week.  I followed through with this far more weeks than I didn't.
  • I walked a 5k for a charity near and dear to friend which led me to believe I could run one
  • So... I ran a 5k.. the whole damn thing
  • I signed up for a whole Training Vacation with Ironmen!!  Three whole days of swim/bike/run - repeat, with people just as obsessed as me!!
I am truly blessed with amazing friends who always know when to stand back and when to hold out a hand.  My beautiful children are becoming amazing adults of whom I am so very proud.  I became a Cookie (grandma) for the second time.
So yes, it has been a very good year...  I have loved, been hurt, won, lost and even surprised myself...
I am more than ready for a whole new year to begin.

Friday, December 26, 2014

Popsicle Stick Workout

I love Pinterest.... I have a serious Pinterest problem... that I intend to do NOTHING about!!
Mostly because it gives me so many great ideas... like this one!


We all waste time standing around, even if it is only a few seconds here and there.  I decided to make the popsicle workouts for two times - 1: in the kitchen.  We all wait one more minute for the oven time to ding, or the coffee to finish.  I am going to use these tiny little motivators to keep moving and hopefully make sure my metabolism gets a few tiny little bursts in the day.
I can also use them while on the sofa watching TV.  We all know those commercials are the best time to be moving and get an extra burn built into the day - I will use these for that purpose.
I decided to make four groups and ideally I will select one from a different group each time until they are all done.  Then start over.
Here are the groupings I made:


ARMS:
-25 Bicep Curls
-25 Kick Backs
-20 Overhead Press
-25 Tight Arm Circles (front and back)
-20 Pivoting Upper Cuts


LEGS:
-30 Calf Raises
-20 PliƩ Squats
-50 High Knees
-10 Squats
-30 Second Wall Sit


CORE:
-20 Oblique Crunches
-30 Second Bicycle
-20 Crunches
-20 Russian Twists
-30 Second Leg Scissor


WHOLE BODY:
-10 Burpees
-90 Seconds Jog In Place
-20 Lunges
-50 Jumping Jacks
-5 Jumping Squats

Wednesday, December 17, 2014

Why Wednesday




This Wednesday I am feeling good, strong, and just about back to full health.  That dumb bronchitis takes me a full month to get over.  But since I have been home I can take an almost full breath and am so happy to be on a training plan again.  I have three good work outs in three days… one bike, one swim and one run – I can feel the changes in my mood already.

Not that I wasn’t in a good place on vacation – I was surrounded by my daughter’s family and able to nurture and coddle and love them… which was awesome.  But in a different way.

Being home means I eat better, sleep better and train harder… and the sense of peace I have within is truly notable.

So this Wednesday, this feeling of peace and strength and confidence and calm.. is why I have decided to make myself an athlete again.  When I train and eat well I feel better.

Is there a better reason???

I am not a very consistent blogger, but I like the idea of doing this topic for a while.  When I feel like it :)

Monday, December 15, 2014

Back in the Saddle

Travelling is so much fun – I love to be out of town… different food, different views.  This trip I got a new grandbaby, too!!  I was gone for two whole weeks… just about too long, honestly.  I am just as happy to be home.  And back on my training plan.  I am going to ease back into training as I didn’t get in as much as I would like due to being Cookie (our word for Grandma) on call and the lingering bronchitis. 

 So this week just one work out a day.  But I am going to make it count!
Monday – Swim at least 45 min or ¾ of a mile which ever takes longer
Tuesday – Run 5k on elliptical
Wednesday – Weather looks like I might get in a ride outside… if not Run 5k on elliptical
Thursday – Rest Day
Friday – Hoping I can ease back in to two a days with a bike/swim
Saturday – Swim/Run
Sunday – Endurance Day… I pick one of the three and go longer in time or distance than I have before
 
Next Week : Two a days with a quiet work week and get the Core/Strength back on the schedule, too
 

Saturday, December 6, 2014

Have I mentioned... I love this biking thing??

The Florida Komet is working out just fine while I stay with my kids on a military base and await grandbaby #2.  And I am so happy to be able to ride while I am visiting the kids.  I think they are happy for mom to GO AWAY for an hour, and I have desperately missed that endorphin rush I get from the bike.  Today on my ride I saw US Air Force planes lifting off and landing at the strip here on base, lots and lots of young (and some not so young) men and women going about the daily business of defending our country.  Regardless of politics, my heart swells with pride to see every single airman/woman I pass.
There is also a super cool aircraft museum that has a few dozen huge old AvGeek Eye Candy on display.  That will get your heart rate going... well mine!  I majored in Aviation and a plane does the same to me that Channing Tatum  does to other women.


I have been fighting my annual round of bronchitis for three weeks now and not much training has taken place.  Which is ok... I guess, because that is the right thing.  But I have been on such a roll I miss it... I miss the bike rides and especially the rush that comes from climbing a hill and tapping out speed (and dropping boys... though I am the only rider here).  But the decision to buy this inexpensive bike off craigs list has allowed me to get back it while the weather is SOOOOO Much nicer in Florida than Chicago :)
I climbed on the bike a couple times earlier this week but only for 10-15 minutes as it needed the chain lubed and I had to get an adapter to air one tire (One had a presta plug and one an old school one)  But both of those were resolved today.  So I hit it!!
I definitely go faster on this road bike, so fast I had to stop at one point because my bronchitis lungs were not... NOT happy.  Once I caught my breath and talked myself out of the personal race I really enjoyed a 12mph ride back to the kids' home.

Not great speed and only an hour... but I got the rush and was so happy to get even a short ride in :)





Next up... The new bike needs the shifters/derailleurs adjusted - and I have watched enough youtube videos I think I can do it tomorrow... If this cutie doesn't become a big brother over night - then we will have to go to plan b!!

Wednesday, December 3, 2014

Quasi Vacation Training Plan


Meet the Florida Komet :)


I am currently out of the winter weather and happy to be in Florida for a couple weeks.  I am not exactly on vacation as my job requires I check in a bit… but more importantly, my daughter is about to give birth to baby #2.  I am trying to be helpful to her around the house as waddling to the sofa is about all she can manage.  AND!  The best part… making sure grandbaby #1 is getting lots of fun and cuddles.  So it isn’t like I have buckets of time to train in this beautiful 70 degree weather.

But I am fitting it in.  I have been a bit quiet on the blog and twitter the last couple weeks due to my nasty annual go round with bronchitis.  It is mostly cleared up, but if I get moving too fast, laughing too hard or talking too much… all a risk with spending time with family – I get out of breath and the coughing starts again.  Regardless, I am determined to get out in this weather.

How am I going to fit in the Tri Training?

BIKE:  I found a road bike on craigs list for a whopping 50 bucks and picked it up yesterday.  It is just short enough for me with the seat all the way down so it will be just fine!!  It is a bit old and heavy, but my goal is time in the saddle and this will be great.  Besides – I can’t beat the price!  After my son-in-law lubed, aired and adjusted it for me I did manage a quick spin today which felt great!  Looking forward to a longer ride tonight.

SWIM: I also brought a wet suit to get some open water swimming logged while I am here.  My kids live on a military base and have a great little beach right here. I love swimming and being in the water so I am probably looking forward to this most of all!

RUN: The base has great running trails mapped out and even an app to navigate.  I have already been on a 3 mile brisk walk since I got in yesterday.  I am not sure the bronchitis laden lungs are going to allow a run, but I can do a good brisk walk for sure.

It is a bit difficult to make plans because my first priority is helping my daughter – but the goal is to get up early and ride then walk or swim in the evening when it gets quiet…. Until the baby comes and then we will have to revisit it all over again!!

I have really missed training/gym time while being so under the weather the last couple weeks and happy that I can be in sunny Florida!!

Friday, November 21, 2014

Week 7 Habits are Forming




What is that saying about XX days to a habit.  Training has truly become a habit for me.  Instead of looking for valid reasons I can’t work in a work out – I am rearrange things to make time for training.

Wednesday
A red day… I don’t know if it was having a post-race fall out or what.  But I did not work out and made bad food choices.  I am owning it and moving on.
Thursday
Determined to get back on track.  Since I blew off the plan Wednesday I ‘pretended’ like I was just swapping the rest day.  So…  I got an outdoor run and a stationary bike at the gym in.  Being outside for a run – not a walk/run was great!!  Even if it was very cold.  I am not run/walking anymore.  The Hot Chocolate proved to me I can run… so I do.  Just not too far/long.
Friday
Swam in the morning, run at lunch and a core work out before heading out for dinner with the girls… that is a GREAT DAY!!  Really happy I made time to get it all in
Saturday
Bike and elliptical block style at the gym.  I only did 30 minutes on each.  Next weekend I can up that to 45 minutes each.  I did… however, find a spin class style bike that isn’t in the spin room and that is a much better workout for me than the traditional stationary.
Sunday
I had a birthday part to attend right in the middle of the day.  It would have been very easy to have one too many mimosas and skip the workout… but I went to the gym at5pm to swim a half mile.  44 times I touched the wall and said… not done yet J
Monday
The brick style work outs on the weekends are leaving the joints a bit more creaky and unstable than I would like.  As much as I hate it, I think I need two rest days.  So I am going to make Mondays a core workout.  Not total rest, but no joint issues.  (The kind of arthritis I have makes even swimming hard on the knees)
Tuesday
Commuting in Chicago was BRUTAL!  After 90 minutes outdoors in 18 degree weather… I worked from home.  Which meant I could get my swim in at lunch time.  Another half mile, time to up that  - but I really need a longer pool.  Frankly – I get sooooo freaking bored.  Half a mile is 44 lengths.  43 times I touch the wall and come up with a reason to stop… and so far, a better one to go on.  I am hoping the new gym has a longer pool.  Which it almost has to.  I think 40 is as short as they get to still offer ‘laps’.  Regardless… I DID IT
The Knees: The left knee has not been super happy this week.  I wore heels one day, which I desperately miss… and I think that has cause the issues.  I am popping advil again and back in flats hoping it is working itself out.  The bike doesn’t aggravate it, so no excuse to sit on the couch.

Friday, November 14, 2014

First Cold Weather Run





I ran today… I completed the Hot Chocolate on Sunday and Friday(today) is the first time I got outside and ran on pavement since that time.  My knees were pretty tender Monday and Tuesday and Thursday I kept on the elliptical at the gym.  I am really worried about causing an injury, hence the nursing of the knees. But today I just wanted to get outside and  breath some fresh air! 
So I did.  I bundled up and told myself... 30 minutes, I can do anything but Rap Music for 30 minutes.  I have started listening to books on tape instead of music because they don’t have a 3 ½ minute switch.  I find that I play games with 'one more song then you can walk'.  But with the books, I get really into it and there is no logical stopping point... so I don't stop!
Today I didn’t want to get to far from home since I had to be on a conference call in 45 minutes so I just wove up and down the side streets off my road.  That worked out really well.  And I covered more ground that I would have thought. 
My pace was slow, but I didn’t hurt – not one single step.  And I felt great to be outside, listening to my book (Gone Girl right now) and working up a little sweat.  I had a rough day Wednesday and instead of letting that pull me down I am back at it and moving forward.
Life is good

Thursday, November 13, 2014

Winter Is coming and I am ranting...



Meh.. I had a bad day.  Only the second time in six weeks I have blown off my training plan for no good reason.  I might be coming down with a bug… but I might just be pissy over this CRAP weather that has come to Chicago.  I hate winter.  No…. I FUCKING HATE THE GOD DAMN COLD AND SNOW and shit and stuck in side and holidays (yeah, I said it) and darkness and boredom and confinement that comes with Chicago WINTER.  So I pouted, worked from home, ate crap and didn’t work out.  I am painting the day red on the training plan and owning it.
New day… Thursday is usually a rest day but since I ummmm rested yesterday, today I am going to get on track.  I have a good bike work out planned for lunch time and will make better food choices… at each meal!

Meanwhile, from the couch… I have convinced myself I am changing gyms.  The one closest to my home is dingy, really kind of yucky… but functional, eh.  I only go there to swim really in the good weather.  Now that it is cold and miserable I will have to hit the gym much much more.  I just can’t take that ugly dirty place this winter so I am going to spend some real coin and upgrade to the Fancy Gym…. And while I am throwing away disposable income… I am signing up for the TriMonsters program, too!  They have computrainers available alllll day!  I love the idea of being able to ride my own bike and not those miserable one size fits all gym beasts.
With the grandbaby due any day now, I will wait until I get back – but mid Dec at the latest I will be rockin the new gym… That is exciting.