Why can't I get it into my head that I can swim??? Logically I know that I can swim but I have it in my head that I'm not a great swimmer and I can't shake it.
I've done a lot of work overcoming my 'internal dialog' for the last couple of years. I've gotten it out of my head that I'm lazy - not even a little. That I'm weak - I'm stronger then most people I know. That I'm unorganized - okay, still working on that :) But it's in my head that I'm a slow swimmer and I can't shake it.
This morning as I was swimming I got a real compliment. The head swim teacher, who also teaches life guards, told me that my stroke was really good and that I was doing great swimming. She also recommended that I join a master's program. So why can't I convince myself that I can swim???
13 June 2008
12 June 2008
I am hardcore
or crazy, not sure which :)
It rained so hard during the night that it woke us up twice. When the alarm went off I went outside to look at the sky. I had to decide whether to ride on the roads or ride my stationary bike. As I walked outside with my coffee the sky was clear and there were lots of stars out. Great! Clearly the rain clouds had moved off. I could ride outside and not worry about rain. Ah....the best laid plans.
I got ready to go and headed out. The back roads were a little tricky, the rain had caused some minor mudslides and the road was sketchy in areas. But I made it through. Then, in front of the sewer treatment plant, the road was flooded about 4" deep. Hmmm..... I rode through it on the way out but on the way back I walked around it. My bike was a mess.
I needed to do 2 loops to get in the time called for. After completing the first loop, things still looked okay so I headed out on loop #2. I hadn't gotten 2 miles when the rain started. At first it was kind of light and I thought it was water falling off the trees. Ummm.....no. By the time I was at the farthest point from my house it was pounding rain. The raindrops hitting my skin hurt. I could hardly see. It was crazy. I headed home.
I was supposed to ride for 70 minutes, I ended up going 55. I figure that is close enough. I had to wash down my bike when I got home and my clothes were absolutely soaked. So I'm either very hardcore and a total wacko :)
It rained so hard during the night that it woke us up twice. When the alarm went off I went outside to look at the sky. I had to decide whether to ride on the roads or ride my stationary bike. As I walked outside with my coffee the sky was clear and there were lots of stars out. Great! Clearly the rain clouds had moved off. I could ride outside and not worry about rain. Ah....the best laid plans.
I got ready to go and headed out. The back roads were a little tricky, the rain had caused some minor mudslides and the road was sketchy in areas. But I made it through. Then, in front of the sewer treatment plant, the road was flooded about 4" deep. Hmmm..... I rode through it on the way out but on the way back I walked around it. My bike was a mess.
I needed to do 2 loops to get in the time called for. After completing the first loop, things still looked okay so I headed out on loop #2. I hadn't gotten 2 miles when the rain started. At first it was kind of light and I thought it was water falling off the trees. Ummm.....no. By the time I was at the farthest point from my house it was pounding rain. The raindrops hitting my skin hurt. I could hardly see. It was crazy. I headed home.
I was supposed to ride for 70 minutes, I ended up going 55. I figure that is close enough. I had to wash down my bike when I got home and my clothes were absolutely soaked. So I'm either very hardcore and a total wacko :)
11 June 2008
My last post of the night....
I've been busy updating all my blogs and I'm just plain tired of writing. But I have to log my swim this morning.
The schedule called for 2600 m. I haven't swum that far in a long, long time. But I was up for it.
Side note: A nice benefit of regular workouts is the ability to wake up early. I go to bed by 9-9:30 and I wake up naturally around 4:30. My alarm is set for 4:45 so I usually lie there planning what I'm going to do when I get up. And, that 7 -7.5 hours sleep is plenty. I'm not tired during the day and feel great.
Okay, back to swimming. So I get to the pool early because I have a lot of water to cover - haha!!! First there were 4 x 50 drills for warm up. Those are just fun. I like doing drills. I'm crazy I know. Then there was 5 x 100 at 75%. That's a pretty good effort. I pushed it by racing people in other lanes, even though they didn't know we were racing :) Then came the biggie, 1 x 1200. Yowza!!! I did it though. I will tell you, my waterproof mp3 player is the best thing I've ever purchased. I get lost in the music and the time just flies by. I also find it much easier to keep track of the laps when the music is playing. It's great. So I did my 1200, then it was 5 x 100 at 70%. By this point I was tired and these 5 were tough. But soon enough I was at the 4 x 50 cool down. I had done it. Yeah!!!! My arms were tired and I could feel my lat muscles but damn it felt good. So I'm happy and off to work I toddled.
So yesterdays workouts earned me 10 activity points and today was 11. I tend to go 'light' on the activity points because I don't want to over estimate. I'd much rather underestimate and eat some WPA's then overestimate and gain weight. Does that make sense? The really exciting thing is that I've already earned 40 activity points this week and it's only Wednesday :) I still have 2 more days of training. Woo Hoo!!!
Okay, that's it. I'm going to go eat dinner and get ready for tomorrow.
The schedule called for 2600 m. I haven't swum that far in a long, long time. But I was up for it.
Side note: A nice benefit of regular workouts is the ability to wake up early. I go to bed by 9-9:30 and I wake up naturally around 4:30. My alarm is set for 4:45 so I usually lie there planning what I'm going to do when I get up. And, that 7 -7.5 hours sleep is plenty. I'm not tired during the day and feel great.
Okay, back to swimming. So I get to the pool early because I have a lot of water to cover - haha!!! First there were 4 x 50 drills for warm up. Those are just fun. I like doing drills. I'm crazy I know. Then there was 5 x 100 at 75%. That's a pretty good effort. I pushed it by racing people in other lanes, even though they didn't know we were racing :) Then came the biggie, 1 x 1200. Yowza!!! I did it though. I will tell you, my waterproof mp3 player is the best thing I've ever purchased. I get lost in the music and the time just flies by. I also find it much easier to keep track of the laps when the music is playing. It's great. So I did my 1200, then it was 5 x 100 at 70%. By this point I was tired and these 5 were tough. But soon enough I was at the 4 x 50 cool down. I had done it. Yeah!!!! My arms were tired and I could feel my lat muscles but damn it felt good. So I'm happy and off to work I toddled.
So yesterdays workouts earned me 10 activity points and today was 11. I tend to go 'light' on the activity points because I don't want to over estimate. I'd much rather underestimate and eat some WPA's then overestimate and gain weight. Does that make sense? The really exciting thing is that I've already earned 40 activity points this week and it's only Wednesday :) I still have 2 more days of training. Woo Hoo!!!
Okay, that's it. I'm going to go eat dinner and get ready for tomorrow.
Tag, you're it.....
I've been tagged by Irene, so here goes.
The Rules:
Tagging is easy. Just copy the following onto your post. The rules of the game are posted at the start of your blog post. In this case, I'm asking you 5 questions about running. Each player answers the 5 questions on their own blog. At the end of your post you tag 5 other people and post their names. Go to their blogs and leave a comment on their blogs telling them they've been tagged and to look at your blog for details. When they've answered the questions on their own blog, they come back to yours to tell you. Got that? (Stolen in it's entirety from Magazine Smiles ;)
The Questions:
1. How would you describe your running 10 years ago?
10 years ago I was just getting into running. I had purchased a marathon book in 1995 and had a dream of doing a marathon. But at 225 lbs that didn't seem likely. October 1997 I had started WW for the first time and by March 1998 I'd lost a good amount of weight. I decided to join a group and do the Honolulu Marathon that year. It didn't work out but I had taken my first steps towards becoming a runner.
2. What is your best/worst running experience?
It was actually the same race. My first marathon in 2001. I had joined a group and a friend and I, who was the same pace as me, did the whole thing together. We didn't run the whole way, in fact we walked a lot of it. Towards the end it was hot and it was beginning to feel like a death march. I saw the finish line and was never so happy to see anything in my life. I can still hear the song that was playing when we danced (literally) across the finish line together. I was on top of the world. Only a few short years before I was huge, now I was doing a marathon. I was ecstatic. I got my medal and t-shirt, some nutrition, chatted with some friends, and sat down to relax. Over the next 1/2 hour my plantar seized up and I don't think I walked right for a month. I swore I would never do another marathon. It took me 4 years before I attempted another one, which turned out much better :)
3. Why do you run?
I just love it. I ran in middle school until I injured my knee. When I started running again, 25 years later, it brought back all those feelings from when I was a kid. I still get that feeling every time I head out on a run. I guess running reminds me of childhood and freedom and that's why I continue to do it.
4. What is the best or worst piece of running advice that you've been given about running? When I was starting running, a local coach told me to just keep moving. If I need to take a break either shuffle my feet or walk briskly, but keep moving. Once you stop it's over. I've always followed that advice and it's gotten me through lots of brutal training runs and races. I say it to myself frequently, Just Keep Moving.
5. Tell us something surprising about yourself that not many people would know.
Let's see, I don't want to shock you guys too much ;) I've mentioned in another meme that I worked in an adult theater in my early 20's. I will further say that this theater featured live dancers and I was a cashier for awhile. Later I did other things, but I'm not saying what :)
It's here that I'm supposed to tag 5 people, but everyone has been tagged already. So here's the deal, if you haven't done this meme yet, consider yourself tagged.
The Rules:
Tagging is easy. Just copy the following onto your post. The rules of the game are posted at the start of your blog post. In this case, I'm asking you 5 questions about running. Each player answers the 5 questions on their own blog. At the end of your post you tag 5 other people and post their names. Go to their blogs and leave a comment on their blogs telling them they've been tagged and to look at your blog for details. When they've answered the questions on their own blog, they come back to yours to tell you. Got that? (Stolen in it's entirety from Magazine Smiles ;)
The Questions:
1. How would you describe your running 10 years ago?
10 years ago I was just getting into running. I had purchased a marathon book in 1995 and had a dream of doing a marathon. But at 225 lbs that didn't seem likely. October 1997 I had started WW for the first time and by March 1998 I'd lost a good amount of weight. I decided to join a group and do the Honolulu Marathon that year. It didn't work out but I had taken my first steps towards becoming a runner.
2. What is your best/worst running experience?
It was actually the same race. My first marathon in 2001. I had joined a group and a friend and I, who was the same pace as me, did the whole thing together. We didn't run the whole way, in fact we walked a lot of it. Towards the end it was hot and it was beginning to feel like a death march. I saw the finish line and was never so happy to see anything in my life. I can still hear the song that was playing when we danced (literally) across the finish line together. I was on top of the world. Only a few short years before I was huge, now I was doing a marathon. I was ecstatic. I got my medal and t-shirt, some nutrition, chatted with some friends, and sat down to relax. Over the next 1/2 hour my plantar seized up and I don't think I walked right for a month. I swore I would never do another marathon. It took me 4 years before I attempted another one, which turned out much better :)
3. Why do you run?
I just love it. I ran in middle school until I injured my knee. When I started running again, 25 years later, it brought back all those feelings from when I was a kid. I still get that feeling every time I head out on a run. I guess running reminds me of childhood and freedom and that's why I continue to do it.
4. What is the best or worst piece of running advice that you've been given about running? When I was starting running, a local coach told me to just keep moving. If I need to take a break either shuffle my feet or walk briskly, but keep moving. Once you stop it's over. I've always followed that advice and it's gotten me through lots of brutal training runs and races. I say it to myself frequently, Just Keep Moving.
5. Tell us something surprising about yourself that not many people would know.
Let's see, I don't want to shock you guys too much ;) I've mentioned in another meme that I worked in an adult theater in my early 20's. I will further say that this theater featured live dancers and I was a cashier for awhile. Later I did other things, but I'm not saying what :)
It's here that I'm supposed to tag 5 people, but everyone has been tagged already. So here's the deal, if you haven't done this meme yet, consider yourself tagged.
10 June 2008
Not a chill to the winter but a nip in the air
I lay in bed listening to the rain and trying to convince myself that I shouldn't ride my bike in the rain. Luckily I failed. The alarm went off and I popped out of bed like a jack-in-the-box and was ready to tackle my workout. It was going to be a tough one and I was really looking forward to it.
On the schedule was intervals. On the bike and running. Intervals. For the bike I was supposed to do 5 - 3 minute intervals @ 90% with 4 minutes rest @ 60%, plus 5 minutes warm-up and cool down. It was dark with ominous black clouds and wet pavement, but I headed out anyway. My 5 minute warm up was easy enough though there was a little nip in the from the dark and the rain. I did my intervals and could feel it in my legs due to my strength training session yesterday. The last interval was tough but the cool down was fun. Now to the run.
I actually faced a choice at this point. I could head out on my run intervals or I could do them at lunch. Doing them at lunch really would have been the easy way out. My legs were worked from the bike and I could feel every muscle in them. I knew that running at this point would be slow and painful. I also knew that I would get a lot of benefit from doing that since that is what triathlon is all about. So I put on my running shoes and headed out. Oh momma it hurt. I did my 5 minute warm up with a slow shuffle. I figured as long as I was moving I was doing good. My intervals were supposed to be 3 minutes @90% and 1 minute recovery, 5 times. The first interval starts. I take off. I immediately want to collapse on the ground and cry uncle. But I toughed it out. 3 minutes is a freaking long time. But I did it. It wasn't as fast as I'd hoped but I held a good pace for the entire time. The one minute rest comes and I had to walk. I was a little disappointed with myself but, again, I kept moving. The next 3 minute interval started and I took off running. I managed to finish all 5 intervals even though I walked during the recovery. By the time I was done the sun was up and the sweat was pouring off me. I needed a microfiber mop to clean it all up :) It was tough and painful and I felt like a track star when I was finished. Plus now I don't have to think all morning about doing this at lunch.
I've been having some pain when riding my bike lately and I couldn't figure out what was wrong. My back was hurting and my knee would bother me. This morning I realized what was wrong. For some reason I wasn't keeping my knees straight ahead but they were sticking out to the side. Clipped in that put pressure on my knees and my back. I don't know when or why I started that. I made it a point of keeping my knees pointing forward and I had no pain. Heh!!! Who knew???
So my toughest workout this week is done and I'm excited. Now I have to go figure out how many WW points that's worth :)
On the schedule was intervals. On the bike and running. Intervals. For the bike I was supposed to do 5 - 3 minute intervals @ 90% with 4 minutes rest @ 60%, plus 5 minutes warm-up and cool down. It was dark with ominous black clouds and wet pavement, but I headed out anyway. My 5 minute warm up was easy enough though there was a little nip in the from the dark and the rain. I did my intervals and could feel it in my legs due to my strength training session yesterday. The last interval was tough but the cool down was fun. Now to the run.
I actually faced a choice at this point. I could head out on my run intervals or I could do them at lunch. Doing them at lunch really would have been the easy way out. My legs were worked from the bike and I could feel every muscle in them. I knew that running at this point would be slow and painful. I also knew that I would get a lot of benefit from doing that since that is what triathlon is all about. So I put on my running shoes and headed out. Oh momma it hurt. I did my 5 minute warm up with a slow shuffle. I figured as long as I was moving I was doing good. My intervals were supposed to be 3 minutes @90% and 1 minute recovery, 5 times. The first interval starts. I take off. I immediately want to collapse on the ground and cry uncle. But I toughed it out. 3 minutes is a freaking long time. But I did it. It wasn't as fast as I'd hoped but I held a good pace for the entire time. The one minute rest comes and I had to walk. I was a little disappointed with myself but, again, I kept moving. The next 3 minute interval started and I took off running. I managed to finish all 5 intervals even though I walked during the recovery. By the time I was done the sun was up and the sweat was pouring off me. I needed a microfiber mop to clean it all up :) It was tough and painful and I felt like a track star when I was finished. Plus now I don't have to think all morning about doing this at lunch.
I've been having some pain when riding my bike lately and I couldn't figure out what was wrong. My back was hurting and my knee would bother me. This morning I realized what was wrong. For some reason I wasn't keeping my knees straight ahead but they were sticking out to the side. Clipped in that put pressure on my knees and my back. I don't know when or why I started that. I made it a point of keeping my knees pointing forward and I had no pain. Heh!!! Who knew???
So my toughest workout this week is done and I'm excited. Now I have to go figure out how many WW points that's worth :)
08 June 2008
Some random thoughts
I'm about ready to head out on my run and as I was eating a yogurt I was reading some boards and forums. Most of them were weight loss related and it was blowing me away. Many of the people on these boards are setting themselves up for failure. Before even starting they have their excuses all lined up and ready to go. 'I'm on X medication and it's hard to lose weight on that' 'I injured myself and can't do X' 'I have small kids/animals/elderly parents and can't find the time to eat right and exercise' Don't they realize what they are doing?? Everyone is super busy. Everyone has something in their life that makes this journey hard. If it was easy we wouldn't have these problems, we'd just lose the weight and be done. It just amazes me that people say the want to lose weight but............ and then give themselves an out. I know I do it with my workouts but I'm aware I'm doing it and trying to break it. Plus I go into something convinced I'm going to do it. Okay, enough. I'm off on my 5 mile run.
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