26 January 2008

Rest break is over.

It's official. Today was my last day of rest. I actually did (almost) nothing for 6 days. I do not even remember the last time I did that. It's easily been years. During this time I've worked out a new training schedule that will (hopefully) not kill me. I've scheduled in 1 full day off every week. I may go for a hike or something on that day but it will be for fun.

So what did I do today? Not much. I cleaned house, did laundry, went out to lunch, did a little shopping. Oh, yeah!! I stopped in a running store that I never go to just to see what they had. I've been using stability shoes but with my new orthotics the chiro said I may not really need a stability shoe. The only way to know for sure is to try. Since I'm having some knee issues I decided I'd try a cushioned shoe. So I told the clerk that and this guy could not have been less helpful if he tried. He acted like I didn't know anything about running (he actually asked me what I would use them for?!?!?!) or pronation or my own freaking feet. I walked out of there and told hubby, if that guy had tried just a little I could have been talked into a pair of shoes. But apparently he had something better to do. Like read at the cash register. Now I know why I don't go to that running store. Although I did get a very, very cool pink Headsweats visor. I love it!!

That was about it. I'm still working on getting my computer all set up. Luckily it comes with a built in popup blocker so I don't have to worry about that.

I'm tossing around starting yet another blog. This one will be devoted to animals. My pets and others. I am the president of the parrot club, so those kind of things could be talked about. Our club is starting up a task force to try and help address the issue of bird care in pet stores (there is a nightmare story going on right now with one of our members), so those things could be included. And I've begun the first tentative steps towards getting a new bird. Hubby and I have decided on a baby bird this time and I'm in no rush, but the search might be interesting. So something I'm thinking about. That's what happens when I don't do any training for 6 days :)

25 January 2008

It's Friday.....

Yea!!

Well, apparently there is something in the air tonight, some kind of change in the weather. Some where some demons mixed some fire and ice together. Whoops!! Got lost in Jimmy Buffet there for minute :) But seriously. This afternoon I snapped at work. Some stuff came up and it I just snapped. Hey, it happens. But it seems Iron Matron Mary has a similar incident. Weird, huh??

Last night at cycling I had an issue. We went to an area and did some hill repeats. The hill was pretty steep but not all that long, so it was completely doable. The problem I had was that every cycling group was at this hill last night. There were easily 100 people going up and down this hill. This is a quiet residential area, I know if I lived there I'd be pissed off. At one point 3 people came flying by me at around 30 mph without a word. Scared the hell out of me and I almost went into a parked car. My problem is this, since we all know that every training group shows up on Thursday nights why don't we change the night. Tuesday night we did spinning on the turbo trainers. Why did we go to the hills on Tuesday and spin on Thursday? Every training group follows the same schedule and does the same rides on the same days. Why can't we break it up a little??? That ticked me off. I ended up only doing the hill once, it really wasn't worth it.

Also, by the time we were heading back to the car it was dark. I could not see the ground where I was headed and I don't like that. When I can't see where I'm going I kind of freak out a little. I don't like it when I'm running and I really don't like it when I'm biking. So that's my problems and I don't know exactly what to do about it. Hubby did get me a nice super bright headlamp that I'm going to rig up on my aerobars so that I can see the road in the dark. Hopefully that will help.

Tomorrow is my last day of slothfulness. Sunday morning it's back into the groove. But I will be taking days off and cutting back every 4th week so this doesn't happen again. Hubby and I are going out to lunch then out to the outlet mall. The prices our there are way better than even Macys coupons. Can't wait.

24 January 2008

I'm getting bored!!!

Time off is good!! Rest is definitely what my body needed!! But now I'm getting bored. I woke this morning at 3:30 am and just laid there. I listened to the dogs snore. I listened as the birds started getting restless in the trees outside my window. I kept thinking I should just get up, but then said why?? I wasn't going to work out and if I got up and got involved in some project I'd be late for work - I know myself!! So I laid there. Tossed and turned. Finally, at 5 I got up. I'm pretty sure I'm rested. But I set a return to workouts date of Sunday and I'm sticking to it. I am going to go to cycling tonight though - I have to do something.

In my early morning musings, I made some goals and some plans. I'm not sure when I'm going to share them here but I have some very specific goals in mind. They are kind of pie in the sky and I don't want to look like an idiot if I don't make them. Maybe once I make some progress towards them I'll share, we'll see. Suffice it to say it's going to take a lot of hard work.

Well, I must get to work.

23 January 2008

I bailed

last night on my cycling training. When I looked at the schedule I realized we were only going to be spinning in the park. I can spin at home. So home I went. I am definitely getting into this relaxing thing. It's kind of funny though how long it's taking me to 'catch up' on my rest. I've never really experienced this before so I really don't know what to expect. What I do know is that I'm sleeping better (hadn't realized my sleep was compromised); I'm more interested in doing the things I need to do; I'm not near as grouchy (which I'm sure makes everyone happy :). I never really seriously considered I could be overtraining since I know lots of folks who workout way more than I do (you know who you are). But I guess I was pushing the envelope, for me. Anyway, I'm feeling better and I'm sure by the end of the week I'll be climbing the walls :)

That's it. I've been working on other things. I'm putting together a newsletter for the bird club. I'm still getting my new computer set up. I'm reorganizing my financial stuff since it's tax time. All pretty boring stuff, but I'm enjoying it. Okay, off to work.

21 January 2008

A decision has been made....

I was looking through my workout logs for the past few months. Except for a couple of days here and there, I have taken no real break in about 5 months. Even on days that I say I did nothing, I generally rode the stationary bike for at least 30 minutes. In my mind that doesn't really count so I would say I did nothing. When I saw that this morning I knew what needed to be done. So a decision has been made! I'm taking this week off. I will only go to my cycling clinic on Tuesday and Thursday. That's all!!! Nothing else!!! Interesting phenomenon. For the past 2 weeks my neck and shoulders have been bothering me. They have been super tight and nothing seems to loosen them up. As soon as I made the decision this morning to take the week off, my neck and shoulders stopped hurting. Related??? Maybe :)

I should have realized I was way to stressed just by looking around. My desk is a mess (much more than normal). I haven't put my workout stuff away in 2 weeks, I just rotate clean stuff. I haven't been keeping up on any of my normal routine things. That should have been a big red flag. But I missed it.

So I slept in until 6 am this morning. How nice. I got up, had coffee, and read some blogs. It was nice. I can't tell you how relaxed I feel. This was a good decision. I kept checking my watch so I didn't run out of time to exercise only to remember I'm not!!! Maybe I should get a pocket watch so it's not so easy to see :)

Okay, well, I don't have today off so I guess I'll get to work.

20 January 2008

A Wall

A giant, brick wall

This is what I ran into this weekend and I think it fell on me.

Thursday and Friday I was feeling pretty tired, as I posted previously. Friday night I came home in a foul mood. I actually got into a fight with hubby! I mean, come one, after a certain point in a relationship you don't fight anymore. I don't remember the last time we got into a fight. Anyway, I knew things were not good when that happened.

When I woke up Saturday morning I just felt blah!! Just blah!! I was scheduled for a run but there was no way I was going. I did talk myself into doing some strength training and some intervals at least. Then I had to run to work, run some errands, take the dogs to the vet, blah,blah, blah........ By the time I got home at 4 pm I was literally wiped out. I felt like a dishrag, I was so tired and weak. After dinner we sat down to watch Pirates' of the Caribbean At World's End (or whatever it called). Within 10 minutes I was sound asleep. I woke up and went to bed at 9 pm. Once I got into bed I had trouble going to sleep. When that happens I really know there's something wrong. I can sleep anytime, anywhere. I finally did get to sleep.

My alarm went off at 4:45 am for my bike clinic. I laid there and seriously debated about not going. My heart was not in it and I knew it was going to be a tough day. But, I finally got up and went. It was okay. I had zero energy and battled the bike the whole time, but I am glad I went. I got a flat on the final leg back to the car, that was a bummer..... At least I didn't fall :)

After I got home, hubby made breakfast and after I laid on the couch for a few minutes. Two hours later I woke up starving. I ate lunch and fell back asleep for another hour. When I woke again I realized what was going on. I had slammed head first into a brick wall. I have not done this in a very, very long time which is why I didn't realize what was going on. I have been pushing myself pretty hard for a pretty long time. I had just reached the end of my energy. Even as I sit here typing this I'm exhausted and feel like I could take a nap before dinner.

I'll be heading to bed very early tonight and I may not do anything in the morning. When I get like this it generally takes me 2-3 days to get back into the swing of things. I guess that's why all the training plans have you dial back the training every 4th week. You body can not take this intensity all the time.

So there you have it. In other news, today's time spent laying on the couch has made it more than evident that we need a new couch. Ours is kind of old, and though it doesn't get used much it's still in pretty rough shape. I really wish there was a directbuy

Well, writing this post has exhausted me. I have to go lay down for a while :)

Conversation with Hubby

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