03 November 2007

Just had to post this

I just finished my workout for today. It's supposed to rain pretty hard this weekend so I don't know what I'll be able to do tomorrow. I really wanted to ride my bike but I also wanted to play with my new workout machine which is sitting in the backyard under a tarp.

So I went to play with the workout machine just to see what it's like. I got the weights set and did a real brief workout. Then I grabbed my bike and went for a ride. Okay, quick note to self - NEVER ride in running shorts again!!! Talk about pain!! So I just went for a short 30 minute ride. I just need to get out there because it's the best way to push myself.

When I got back I was just roaming around the house and I decided to go for a run. I was planning on doing it tomorrow but if it is raining really hard I'll wuss out. So I threw my running shoes on, grabbed my Nike+ (I have to do a post on this, it is too much fun for words), and headed out. Since I was supposed to kick it up to 3 miles I decided to do a 5k. The Nike+ has a feature where you can set your distance. I set it to 5k and headed out. I chose to go the opposite direction of my normal runs just for variety. What I had forgotten is that it's all uphill on the way out. It was hot, humid, no shade, and uphill. Yeah, good choice. As you run the Nike+ updates you on how far you've gone. That's why I like it so much. I can listen to the music and let my mind go and not focus on distance or time. All of a sudden I hear in my ear, you have gone 1 km.

Okay, this was just going to be a short post. Anyway, I ended up doing 5k in 39 minutes. I am very, very happy with that time. I am pleased with the way I ran, I watched my form and was virtually pain free the entire time. I am pleased that it was hot, humid, and uphill and I still gave a great effort and didn't quit. So I'm stoked. I've covered 10 miles today in 69 minutes. That's not too shabby.

Here come the weekend......

Wow, I really don't have anything to do this weekend. That's exciting. It's supposed to be pretty rainy and wet all weekend so I think I'll get some decent reading time in - woo hoo!!!!

I was reading Vickie's post about her off season and it seems like it's going to be similar to mine. I plan on lots of base building over the next couple of months with a heavy focus on running.

Just 3 months ago, before I started seeing the chiro, I was really starting to buy into the idea that I may never really run again. The PF had gotten so incredibly painful, I was moving towards the thought that my running days were over. Now, I love my running so much and it's so great to be relatively pain free (as long as I watch my form). So this has lead me to revive some old goals. These are very long term goals, but dreams I've had for years.

-The first is to run the New York Marathon. Since I started running again 8 years ago that has been one of my dreams. I'd love to do Boston but I'm not sure at this point I could qualify. So anyway, I'm going to try for NY.

-The second one is to do a half. Honu 70.3 in 2009 is in my sights. I'm not sure I ever want to do an Ironman, but I'd love to give a half a go. Also, in 2009 I'll be 50 and I think that's fitting, doing my first 1/2 when I'm 50 :)

Those are the 2 biggies. Those are the ones posted in my workout room and over my computer here. Those are the ones that are going to get me out the door every morning. Those are the ones that will keep me working. The drive to do them and the fear of blowing up during them. In my head, fear is a great motivator.

So right now I'm off. I'm thinking of going for a short bike ride before the rain starts. I'll run in the rain but riding my bike, no. I know - wuss!!!!

02 November 2007

I may have forgotten to mention this

but I'm participating in the NaBloPoMo so I'll be posting everyday this month. I generally post most days but this will really stretch me. I'm actually posting on all 3 blogs everyday this month. These posts might get really, really boring :)

I got up early this morning and had every intention of working out but I got sidetracked. I realized that some bills had to be paid so I thought I'd do that real quick then I started looking at some other financial stuff and before I knew it it was time to get ready for work. I was a little bummed out with myself. I was whining in my head about how I'm so easily distracted and why I can't seem to focus on more than one thing at a time. When it hit me, compartmentalization. I need to do this a little more. I need to dedicate time to things and set those times aside. For instance, I compartmentalize work really well. I start thinking about it as I'm getting ready in the morning and I think about it while I'm there, but once I walk out that door at 5 pm it leaves my mind. I very rarely think about it at night. Once it's done for the day it is over and done with and I do not stress about it in any way, shape, or form. That works well for me. So I've decided to start doing this to the things I want to focus on.

Mornings will be devoted to training/working out. I will not even approach the computer until that is done. Work time is work time (unless I sneak a little blogging in, like now :). Blogging/financial stuffs at night. That's pretty good division and I think by devoting some time in the evenings to this stuff I won't have to think about it in the morning. So there.

People on lots of blogs are already starting to look towards the new year. I love the new year, I may have mentioned that, and I've started looking towards it too. This weekend I'm going to do a couple of things to prepare for the new year. First, I'm going to finish the organization of my computer room. I got it almost completed 2 weeks ago then stopped. This weekend I finish it. I'm going to purchase a desk calendar and start scheduling things so I know exactly what I'm doing and where I'm going at all times. I'm going to line up my early races. I know pretty well what ones I want to do but I want to start firming them up so that I can make sure I get all the training in. I have my running plan for the remainder of the year and I'm very pleased about that, I just need to know where I'm going from there.

A friend gave us this real nice workout machine, one of those all in one things. It's in really good condition and it is a nice one, not one of those cheesy ones. Unfortunately, it's too large for the workout room so we have to figure out where to put it. Right now it's sitting the backyard with a canvas tent covering it. This weekend I will get this situated somewhere permanent so I can start using it.

I'm pleased with my plans. I have 2 months to get all organized for the new year. I can't wait.

01 November 2007

Water, water everywhere, but how much do you drink?

The Honolulu Marathon is one month away and talk of hyponatremia is coming up again. There was an article in the Honolulu Advertiser today and it kind of bugged me. The guy who wrote if is a family practice doctor. Now I'm not degrading that but he is not a sports doctor so......

He talks about blood tests done on 2 women who died during a marathon and it really raises a lot of questions in my mind. He says not to drink at every aid station and only drink when you are thirsty.

I'd really like to know exactly how much these women drank at the aid stations. Did they drink a gallon at each one?? I walk through the aid stations so I can drink but even so I only manage to consume a few ounces at a time. I just don't see how you could over drink during a marathon. Of course, if you over drink before that might be part of the problem.

I was told years ago that you really can't hydrate during a race. You need to be hydrated for the day or two before the race so you go into the race with a full tank. I don't drink much before a race but I do drink at every aid station. Hmmmm.......

I do know they are questioning the old adage that by the time you're thirsty it's too late. They are starting to think that your thirst works just fine. That's interesting. I always wondered why your thirst didn't work right. All the intricate systems in your body that work perfectly yet your thirst doesn't. That always struck me as weird.

In other news, it seems home prices on Oahu have creeped up again. Maybe it's finally time to call a realtor and see what's out there. But then there's the whole big island thing.... It's too hard to make decisions.

31 October 2007

Connections made.....

but this time it was in my head :)

First, tragic news!!! I was without Internet all day at work. Do you know how hard that was?? Do you have any idea how much work I got done. It was a horrendous day.

Okay, on with my post. I headed out this morning for my run and I just wasn't feeling it. My runs have been so awesome since I started back running, I figured it was time for a run that sucked. I decided to just take it easy. I figured I'd go slow and just really take it easy.

About 1/2 mile in my knee started bothering me. I know how it goes with my knee. I have to spend time in pain until the muscles surrounding the knee get strong for running, then it will stop hurting. Having no cartilage in your knee is not fun. I know what's going on and what will happen but I still had to whine in my head, when is this knee going to stop hurting, wah!!!

Not long after that I realized that my right heel was hurting. I tend to be a heel striker and really have to watch my form. I also notice that the slower I got the more I heel strike. It's the absolute worst when I'm walking fast. This triggered a memory. Before I had all these injuries I had really been working on my form, on not heel striking, quick pull-up, and staying straight. So I decided to see if I could get it back.

I focused on the lifting portion of the movement rather than the landing part. I made sure I was standing up straight and had really good form. Then focused all my energy on the pull. After a couple of minutes I noticed a couple of things. I had stopped heel striking and the pain in my heel was gone. I then noticed the pain in my knee was gone. I felt a lot lighter on feet. And I was running faster and easier. Hmmm, what was going on here???

Finally, my still sleepy brain started making the connections. When I run with good form all these good things happen. Could they be related?? After careful consideration, I decided that they were and I really need to work on my form more.

I finished my run, 2.5 miles in 31 minutes. That works out to 12:26/mile. If that's slow I'll take it, at least for now. I'm almost back to where I was 2 1/2 years ago and that really is exciting. This run did lead to a couple of decisions.

Next week I hit 3 miles. I'm going to stay there for 2-3 weeks and try to get a little faster. I figure it's time to start doing some intervals and hill repeats. Then, the week of Thanksgiving I'm going to start a 6 week 10k training program. There is a 10k on New Years Day and I want to do it in 1:05. My 10k PR is 1:08. I think I can do it.

So there you have it, the synapses in my brain are working again :)

30 October 2007

I had a thought but it died of loneliness :)

I kept forgetting things today. What I was doing mainly, but also where I was going and what I was looking for. It was really bad today. I've also developed a strange problem. It seems I have adult onset dyslexia. This is becoming a huge problem. In my work I'm constantly calculating stuff and I've developed a horrible habit of reversing numbers. I've also noticed I'm doing it a lot with letters. Almost every typo I make is flipping letters in words. I don't know what's causing it or why it's happening but it's freaking me out a little. I'm hoping it's just stress and being tired. I hope.

I have decided to stop trying to lose weight. I've been so completely focused on that all year and I'm sick and tired of thinking about it. I'm really getting into my workouts, running, strength, and biking, so that's what I'm going to focus on. I'm going to continue to eat well and track my food in FitDay, but no more obsessing over calories, fat, protein, blah, blah, blah.... I'm really tired of it. So that's something that happened today.

Tomorrow is Halloween and I have no candy or anything. We had talked about decorating the house but we lost interest in that. This is what happens when you don't have kids anymore. Halloween might be a good time to think about children insurance. The little ones will be out the running amok, they should be covered.

That's it for tonight. I'm kind of tired and think my brain needs a rest. Maybe some vegging in front of the TV is what's called for.

29 October 2007

Connections made

So I'm reading all the reports from the SOMA group. Turns out lots of bloggers made it to Arizona and sounds like they had a great time. But reading these really got me to thinking.

I've been keeping a blog for 3 years now and it's only once I stumbled onto the tri blogs that I really felt like I found where I belonged. I initially gravitated towards the weight loss blogs, but once I started losing some weight I quickly lost any connection I felt with them. Once I started losing weight I wanted to become active, athletic. Most of the weight loss blogs battle with activity. I wanted it to become and integral part of my life. I wanted it to be as necessary as brushing my teeth. The weight loss group looks at activity as a necessary evil. That's not how I wanted to view things.

Then I stumbled across the tri blogs and that was it. I felt like I had found a home. Actually, more a place to hang out where I was welcome - like Cheers :) I love how everyone works to get those workouts in. How working out will take place early in the morning or late in the evening, whatever it takes to get them in. Some are considerably better athletes than others, some are weight challenged, all are motivated, all are nice, and all are supportive. It's really great. I have enjoyed reading everyones reports from SOMA, the good, the bad, and the ugly as another blogger says. It's really great to feel connected to such a great group. I hope that I get to meet up with them someday.

On to the training notes. I've altered my workout schedule just a little. I'm doing weights and running on Monday, Wednesday, and Fridays. Tuesday and Thursday I'm doing the bike on the trainer, I've got to get my legs back. Weekends will be for fun stuff, bike riding, hiking, swimming, whatever I feel like. Starting in January I'm back in the pool and getting ready for the tri season.

I'm tossing around doing a race on November 11th. It's a 5k right around the corner from my house. The only thing is I'm going out to dinner on the 10th and have a bird club meeting in the afternoon of the 11th. I'm thinking about it.

28 October 2007

Dude, I have no legs!!

I'm serious. I just got back from a short bike ride and I have no legs. I did 6 miles in 31 minutes - that's slow even for me. I've got to start getting my legs back if I plan on doing tris next year. I want to take a bike clinic in January but I don't want to be the slowest person there. Dude, where are my legs???

Fat people really don't know this....

Yesterday I went through the United Animal Nations(UAN) Emergency Animal Rescue Services(EARS) training. So now I am an EARS volunteer and can be "deployed" next time there is a disaster and animals need help. It's kind of cool.

Since this is a health and fitness blog I must discuss the food issue. I'm in one of my stages where food just does not appeal to me. I get hungry and I eat but nothing sounds, or tastes, particularly great. I could eat an apple or key lime pie, they would both appeal to me the same and I would be excited about neither. So that's the state I'm in. I go to this meeting yesterday and they offer a vegetarian lunch. That's fine with me and considering the state I'm in it really doesn't matter anyway.

So we had some veggie wraps, roasted veggies, vegetarian chili, pasta salad, and fruit. It was all very good. I ate some because I was hungry and thought I'd be fine. About 30 minutes after eating I was hungry again. Huh??? So I had another little wrap and the only thing they had to snack on was candy. So all afternoon I kept getting hungry and ended up snacking on candy. I would eat the candy and 20 minutes later I was really hungry again. Hmmm, interesting.

This went on all afternoon. I drove home eating some stale almonds I had in my car and by the time I got home was ready to gnaw off an arm. Hubby had planned on going out to dinner so we went to Outback. We got seated and immediately ordered a beer and a an appetizer. When the crab cakes came I devoured them. After I ate them I felt 100% better. This got me to thinking.
Things like this have happened before and I'm finally seeing the pattern. When I eat I always make sure there is X amount of protein in what I'm eating. Whether it's a meal or a snack, I always make sure there is at least a certain amount of protein. I also try to include a little fat and some carbs. Eating this way fills me up without getting me stuffed and I don't get hungry quickly. Well, yesterday, eating basically carbs, I could not get filled up. Not at all. I find this absolutely fascinating for a number of different reasons.

First, I'm assuming this has always happened. But, until I started eating more protein I didn't notice it or realize it. Second, people who need to lose weight don't know this. I can guarantee it. I know, because I've been there, that people who are counting calories or points or whatever, try to get the most bang for thier buck. So they will take a carb snack that's low in points or calories or whatever, over a higher count protein snack. Little do they know that by eating that carb snack they won't get full and will want something more soon. But, if they ate the protein snack, they would stay full longer and therefore probably eat less overall.

Yes, people have been saying this for a long time. But, I don't think they've been saying it effectively - i.e. explain that I will be hungry in 20 minutes, don't tell me it won't last as long. Also, having been a Weight Watcher for year, I think too much emphasis is placed on points/calories/etc. I have found it much more effective to look at the components of what I'm eating, protein/fat/carbs, than the calories. There are days when I eat 1000 calories and could not eat another bite. Those are days where my ratios have been perfect. Other days I can eat 2000 and still be wanting more. On those days I've usually eaten more carb heavy with probably some empty calories in there.

That was my great revelation from yesterday. I've experienced this before but, as is typical, it takes a few times for it to sink into my thick skull :)

Conversation with Hubby

 So yesterday morning I presented my idea of working out at home to the Hubby. Once I presented it to him, he said he was in. I told him I h...