Thursday, September 1, 2011

Do It- (pop the trunk)

Wow has it really been a week since I posted on my blog?
A lot can happen in a week as well as a lot of no sleep and wasted hours. Vig has been keeping me up every hour every night for the last 2 months. Am I going crazy- Sure- Yes. I am surprised my family is still alive to be honest. But I think I owe my positive mood (most days) and motivation to working out. Somehow, Somewhere, I dig deeper and find the energy to "Just Do It"

With that, here is what i have "just done"
Saturday the 27th- Swam half mile
Sunday- No motivation= Nothing
Monday- Asylum Speed and Agility
Tuesday-Swam .31 of a mile and Asylum Strength

Wednesday- Biked to Work with Heather 11.3 mile and Asylum Core
The Bike ride was great. A lot of cars, side walks, down hills (dangerously steep) and rush hour traffic that made it ever so exciting. I went with Heather- She drove to my house, we rode in, got ready at work and Andy picked us up after work. We are going to do it all over again next week, but this time I will remember my shoes and not have to wear my shower flip flops all day long! We also said once it gets below 1000 degrees we will ride back to my house after work making it a 22.6 round trip log.

Today/Thursday- Ran 2.04 Miles with Rob- No Asylum as I was getting beaten up by the dentist instead.
This mornings run was fun. I went with my neighbor Rob who is a Category 2 bike rider (Cat 1 is pro) but has never done a Tri. He wants to get into it because he is a well known trainer in the bike world and wants to extend into being a trainer for the Triathlon world. Well since he hasn't experienced a Tri, he signed up with me for Nathans so he knows what he's talking about when training his triathletes.
This was the longest run he has even done in his life and he hated every second of it. It totally brought back memories of  my first 2 mile run and the thought of how I would ever go any further.

This weekend is Labor day but its also 3 weekends out from my Tri. So there will be no rest for the wary for me.
Friday- Swimming OR Biking (TBD) doing Game Day Asylum
Saturday- Swim- possible open water swim in Lake Barlett
Sunday- Brick of 15 mile bike ride and 3 mile run with Rob!!!

I will get back to you with results and confirmation that it all happened. Now I am accountable!

Lets Do It!!!

Have a safe and fun 3 day weekend!

Thursday, August 25, 2011

Swim and No Run- yet

I have created this awesome training calendar which I have yet to follow- it is so specific it even tells me when to throw a hat on after a swim and get dressed to walk Bella and our puppy Vig to the bus stop.

Yesterday I did do my outlined swim just at 6pm not 6am. I managed to swim .82 of a mile in 14 mins and 37 seconds. (60 laps in our pool) I thought that was pretty good considering I had to stop at lap 30 to see what our crazy dog was doing- he was running back and forth barking at me while I swam.

Most of you already know of Vigs, but just in case and so you have a visual this is Mr Vigs.

Doesn't he look sweet? Well yes he does but he is also the main reason I have not worked out in 2 months and couldn't muster up the energy to run today. I think I overheated him last night at the park while it was still 110 degrees because every hour except from 2:15am-4am, he barked to let him out only to go sit in our pool.  That 1.45 hours of straight sleep with a few 1/2 hours here and there last night put me in a world of hate and need of coffee, B12 pills and a nap! Unlike Vig, who was sound asleep on the couch as I left for work this morning, I dont have that luxury of a nap until hopefully tonight.

I AM going to try to run in the heat after it gets dark, just to log in my time and say I did something on Dailymile. Its good to be accountable OR at least know people are watching what you do or not do regarding working out.

We also started Asylum at work, we are on day 3 today- This is Insanity on steroids- actually you should finish Insanity before attempting this DVD series of workouts, but since I'm already Insane I thought I would try it. There are 4 of us at work doing it over lunch hour and today we get to incorporate weights.

Between the Asylum and short workouts each day, I am sure to be ready for the Sprint Tri in September. Right?

Happy Thursday!!!


Tuesday, August 23, 2011

She's Back!

Lisa G is not only running, she is biking and swimming and will be doing her first tri September 25th in Tempe. I have been MIA and have not worked out since June 13, but hey I have to start somewhere again...

Lets start this off on why am I doing this? and the answer is I am not sure. Perhaps because I want to get in shape? I want to be a super model or simply because I am crazy. Actually Heather, my friend at work had breast cancer and is now cancer free, is a huge inspiration to me and has asked me many of Tris to join her and this time I agreed.

I just finished up my busy season at work with a weekend long convention, followed by a 3 day business plan writing to pass my Certificate Meeting Management (some people get their masters, doctorate, I'm getting my CMM which in the meeting world is pretty prestigious only 500 people in the world have it-  passing it involved a week long trip to Cancun to "prep," a test and a complete business plan pertaining to the meeting planning industry- much better than added years of school) ANYWAY- my point- I have a lot of time on my hands....and have decided to get back in shape and do my first Triathlon ever.

To start this kick again, Andy encouraged me to go to an open water swim/tri clinic at Bartlett Lake last Saturday through Red Rock Sports and ONE multi-sports to get educated on Triathlons and to get a workout in - we take our boat to Bartlett Lake and love it, however I never swam for exercise in it, just for dear life to get back on the boat or to get my next beer. I tried to get Heather and a few others to join me, but had no success and went all by myself (be proud) to this very scary group swim in which I had no clue on what to wear, what to expect, how I would do or who I would meet.

Surprisingly enough and thanks to my shopaholic husband I had a tri top and shorts laying around in my "workout drawer" (who would of thunk) to make me look and play the part. I showed up a little after 6am (its an hour and 10 min drive from the house to the lake) and immediately felt intimidated. There were about 35 out of the 85 of us registered and everyone seemed to be at the same skill set/first time Tri which made it a little less scary. I also instantly became friends with a group of girls that took me in and we are going to meet up to train together- Yay! 

The clinic was great. Frank from Sole swimming coached us on how to swim inside the group and then how to relax and be calm on race day. We then all jumped in the lake and swam 1500 meters, I think I did more, because I lost track of the buoys, got caught in the current and swam in place for a while before realizing I wasnt getting any closer to the shore. At that moment, I wanted to tap my head 3 times (international code for help when drowning) for someone to come pick me up, but my competitive side came out and I would be damned if anyone saved me on an open water swim. I finished this in about 40 minutes, next time I will bring my Garmin for exact timing.

Once we finished swimming, we got to eat bananas while Dan from ONE Multisport, an Ironman and an elite Tri guy gave us tips on how to transition from swimming to biking and biking to running- he showed us how to set up our gear for the best timing on everything. After that talk and break we all "transitioned" into our bike gear and headed up the 8% grade hill for a 10 mile bike ride. The ride out and first 5 miles were up hill and I think my forearms are the most sore from holding the brakes on the 5 miles back down the hill. This ride took about 35 minutes (again, did not have the Garmin).

We all scattered and spread out during the ride but I met up with the 3 girls back at the lake for a hamburger, chips and phone number exchanges. They also told me about Dailymile.com, which is basically Facebook for athletes. I joined that and now have 5 friends to motivate me and compete with (opps did I just say compete? I thought I was just doing this for fun)- Please join and find me if you want encouragement, competition or a good laugh at my miles.

I felt so good after this clinic AND the best part of that day was my phone call to my sister Karyn on my way back home to find out she had just ran, run ??? (again not an academic) 18 miles that day and how happy we were for each other that we are both doing things to push us mentally and athletically. We are both so proud of each other and I am happy to have her to keep me motivated!

Needless to say, I pushed myself too hard, got completely dehydrated and now today am feeling semi-normal and will be swimming (hopefully) tonight. 


I will keep you posted! Happy exercising!!!




Monday, February 21, 2011

Call Me Crazy

Or call me stupid either are apropos for yesterdays workout.
I have my workouts emailed to me 2 days prior. It is great because I have a constant reminder to workout and I know what I'm supposed to do.

Well Saturday I was supposed to do a base builder 3 which I explained earlier but its intervals in zones 1, 2 &3 for 45 minutes. Great! Did I go Saturday- nope! I also called my nutritionist to confirm our meeting at 1pm on Sat and she said she never got the email from my PT. So I  had to reschedule for next Saturday at 8am.


Anyway, it was the storm watch 2011 (2 days of on and off rain) and I had to run. At around 9:30am yesterday, there was a break in the storm and the sun was actually out. I geared up and was angry with everyone that I had to workout and then headed out the door.  I warmed up for 10 minutes and started in Zone 1 for 2 minutes- easy, then Zone 2 for 2 minutes a little quick for me, but easy, then Zone 3 very fast running speed for me, but I managed to get through the 1 minute. I did this for 2 more times and at the 4th time of me having to do it, my heart rate wasn't coming down fast enough so I tried to do the other zones without my heart rate ever going back into Zone 1 for the entire 2 minutes (confused? try running, listening to music and figuring out where you are at with the times- talk about confusion).

I had to stop and walk to bring back my heart rate, then I started to cry and feel sorry for myself, then I held back puking, then I stopped before I passed out. Nice workout eh? After that fiasco, it started to rain.  First a drizzle then a down right pour. The other runners/bikers and I were all giving each other thumbs up for being that brave err stupid to be out in the "Storm".

I was on my way back to our house, and at this point I just wanted to get home so I wasn't paying attention to my HR monitor but the few times I did look at it I was in Zone 4 which for me is near death rate ha.. j/k, but it was about 185-187. I looked ahead which was hard to do with the rain hitting me in the eyes, and thought I saw our maroon truck turn the corner about 100 yards ahead of me. I was wearing a bright pink shirt and started waving my hands so he (Andy) would see me. I felt like one of those people trapped in the ocean and they see the helicopter and start waving and it just goes right over them not seeing the spec in the water (ok dramatic I know BUT). He was gone and he did not see me. I continued as fast as I could to get home.

I was about 45 minutes into my workout if you want to call it that and here comes that same truck and it was indeed Andy, he was out looking for me he said, for about 20 minutes going through all my routes. Of course I went a different route yesterday the longer route that I have never told Andy about. I hopped in the truck and he swept me home (my hero).

I got in to the warm dry house and hopped on my bike to finish the last 15 minutes for good faith!

I dont even know how to log this workout, just lets say I did something! Not sure if you can tell by the tone of this blog, but Im very frustrated with working out right now and about to say I love my body the way it is (which would be a lie, but sounds like the easiest thing to do).. Hopefully tonight's workout will bring the run  bug back.

On A Side Note:
Today after my mom and a few friends scared the begeezes out of me I went to my doctor to see what the deal was with my heart rate. My Dr does think its a high heart rate, but it could be how my body works, she did an EKG and it was normal. She did refer me to a cardiologist to make sure its truly ok. FUN!

Friday, February 18, 2011

And We're Off

This new training schedule has started and is actually harder than it appears on paper. When my PT, Bridget gave me the calendar marked out with all the days to do stuff (Mon and Fri off) I was like bring it on, this looks great. Only 1 hour of different interval and easy heart rate workouts. Newsflash- An hour is a LONG time to workout!

Wednesday, my first workout day on the program. Like an idiot, I went for a walk (over and above the scheduled workout) at lunch for 4 miles. Well, I didnt have socks and thought is would be ok to walk that long in new crosstrainers- Not so much- I now have 4 huge blisters on my feet, 1 on my top of my foot, 2 on the backs of the heels and 1 huge one on the bottom of my right foot. This makes it nearly impossible to wear any shoes except flip flops.

So after that stupid move, I was scheduled to run for 60 minutes- 10 minute warm up then intervals 2 minutes in zone 1 and 1 minute in zone 2 for 15 times (45 mins) then cool down for 5. Since I could not put on my running shoes, I decided I would try this on the bike instead. Bike shoes still hurt but not as bad as my Brooks and a lot less pressure.

I started my warm up- great easy- then the intervals came and I could not get my heart rate past zone 2 (my zone 2 is 173-178). Trying to get past that was very difficult- which I guess is good because that is a high rate. I actually was crying at one point and yelling at Andy because he put on music for me (nice) and it went to a horribly slow song so being in the rage of the hardest training and the horrible music- I may have blown up a bit- Just sayin! Needless to say I did not complete workout #1- I stopped after 35 minutes and called it a workout!

Yesterday was my swimming day- yay! I was already to workout after work- go right to the gym and get it over with, but no. I forgot my heart rate band and since I had to keep my heart rate in Zone 2 for the entire 1 hour swim I needed that band. I went home ate dinner (Quinoa Pasta noodles- no wheat) and then somehow found the energy to get in the car and drive all the way back to the gym to swim for 1 HOUR. I got there pretty late, the Masters Swim team was just finishing up and their workout was still on the whiteboard, so decided to follow that routine.

I put on my cap, goggles and hopped in the water. My heart rate was tracking just fine until I put the strap under the water. Hmmm its not working? I stood up so the strap would come out of the water and it would work, then I would go under the water and it would stop. Damn Sam it didnt work for my swim. I did finish my Long 1 hour swim, which I must say was pre-tty boring.  I got home and read up on Gamins and water only to find out that NO HR monitor works in the water because of the electrical current of the waves (even ask the Navy one blog said).

Why is everything so technical? What happen to the Eat Less, Move More theory? And now I have to worry about electrical currents?

Tomorrow I have an even harder interval training 2 mins in Zone 1, 2 mins in Zone 2 and 1 min 1 Zone 3- repeat 9 times (9 Times?-Ferris hasn't been absent 9 times). I also get to see my Nutritionist at 1pm.. Look out summer this girl is going to be too hot for AZ!

Ciao
 

Wednesday, February 16, 2011

Taking Action

After seeing Lady Gaga on the Grammys and wanting her body I need to take action now and just DO IT already!.

Yesterday at 7am I went to see a real personal trainer and had my Resting Metabolic Rate (RMR) checked and my Cardio Point testing at Lifetime fitness. The first test was me wearing a really tight neoprene mask laying in a very comfortable chair breathing in and out. I had to fast the night before (yes on valentines day- no chocolate for me). Once this was finished she asked what my goal weight was.. I said "136", she looked up from the computer and said, "now do you think that is a realistic goal?" I laughed and said "maybe not????" She said "lets put 140 instead"- My dreams of being the 2011 Twiggy have been shot! Oh well at least I will lose some weight and still look good without looking sick.

I went back last night to take the 2nd part of the test, the Cardio Point. This one was the rigorous test. I had to run on a treadmill wearing the same neoprene mask for 12 minutes, sounds easy right? Well let me tell you how easy it was NOT. The test starts off walking and upping the speed by .5 of mph each time, then after a 5 minute warm up, the speed is increased to 5.0 then every 2 minutes after that the incline raises until it reaches10, then you run until you reach your Anaerobic Threshold (AT).

When I first started my PT, Bridget, immediately asked if I had a high heart rate. I shook my head yes because I couldnt talk with the mask on. I wanted to tell her all about my heart rate and that was the reason why I was there, but I had to wait until later. Speaking of the mask, it was so tight and there was only just a small tube to breathe in and out of that halfway through the test the tube blew off and fell to the ground, I had to step on the side of the treadmill while my PT put the tube back into the mask. Then about a minute later it happened AGAIN. After I reached my AT I was able to cool down and Bridget kept telling me to take deep breaths 3 seconds in, 3 seconds out. I guess I was hypervenilating and didnt even know it. Im surprise I didnt pass out and lose my bladder (oh thats another blog)...

So after the testing I took off the mask and said Steve (the PT I borrowed the mask from- dont worry I disinfected it) needs a new mask, the rubber part must be worn out. We proceeded to go to her office where she had printed off about 50 pages of results. But before she gave them to me, she said that I am not getting enough oxygen and thats why I felt like I was hyperventlating. She also told me that out of all of her years doing these tests that no one has blown off the tube like I had. I looked at her and started laughing so hard and said "so the mask isnt worn out, I just was breathing that hard, and Steve doesnt need a new mask" WE both were in hysterics.

Ok do you want to know my results... ? here they are whether you like it or NOT!
1. My Resting Metabolic Rate is 1130,  Normal non working out adults are about 1600. Athletic/healthy adults should be around 1800-2000.  Metabolism? What Metabolism? My body pretty much is always in starvation mode therefore I am not burning any fat EVER. My body thinks it is starving so every Carb or Sugar I eat gets taken up and never allows my body to tap into my stored carbs let alone fat.

2. My Cardio Point test- When working out, your heart rate goes into Zones 1-5.  1 being a warm up- easy and 5 your absolute highest it can go without dying. Zones are broken out by BPMs 
Here is a comparison of normal vs Lisa
Zone Normal Lisa
1 Recovery 90-116 159-173
2 Aerobic 116-137 173-178
3 Endurance 137-156 178-183
4 Anaerobic 156-176 183-193
5 Threshold 176-195 193-Dead

As you can clearly see, something is not right.. long story short... I have hired Bridget to be my coach to get my heart rate zones to normal. She also said that my body is under constant stress from not breathing and working out too hard and that my Adrenals, Cortisol and Thyroid are out of whack (even though all tests show normal). She also said this is probably why I have not been able to get pregnant.

OMG this is a long post.. I am so sorry.. just a little more

I am now on a very strict diet of no dairy, no wheat and no beer (mom you should be happy) for 3 months to start.. I can still drink, just clear alcohol and if I do have a drink No Carbs what so ever with it. I have to eat 6- 250 calorie balanced meals of protein and carbs a day. And I have an hour workout combining intervals and low heart rate runs/swims each day except Fridays that gets sent to my email the night before so I know what to do.

I see a nutritionist next week and go back for testing in 3 months to see if my numbers have lowered.

Wish me luck, this will be a huge challenge for me (especially the beer part) but it will all be worth it and a whole lot less expensive then IVF!

Phew- Im Done!

Thursday, February 10, 2011

Looking Back

The other day I was bored at work and started reading my first blog posts and had to truly laugh, cry and be proud of myself (it was a real "much better than cats" moment). From where I started to where I am now with the running is AMAZING.

When I first started I could barely walk for 30 minutes let alone run the entire time. Now I have no problem physically (mentally, always) running continuously for up to 10 miles probably more, just have not tried it- yet.

Yesterday was a huge milestone for me. There is a gentleman I work with, Chris (our CFO), who is a 5 or 6 time marathoner. He has the body, the talk and the workout routine to prove it.  Every Friday at lunch, he leaves from our office, runs 2 miles to South Mountain, does hill repeats for I dont know how many times then runs 2 miles back, takes a shower in our work showers (gross) and continues on his day. He always invites our wellness committee to his runs but I don't think anyone goes.

ANYWAY... our normal Insantiy workout had to be canceled due to a meeting booked in the same space we work out in. So I had a brilliant idea to see if anyone wanted to run around the Tempe Diablo Stadium (where the Angels hold spring break training)- 2 times around is about 3 miles. To my surprise 5 of us said we would go. Chris was one of the 5. We started off together and then broke out into twos. I ended up hanging with Chris and ran the entire 3 miles at a 6.7 pace (except going up the Buttes Hill YIKES). I kept saying I dont run this fast and he kept saying most people dont realize how fast they can run and stop looking at my watch. We talked the entire 26 minutes about running. When we finished I thanked him for the push and said we should run more often.. he invited me to his hill repeats but I have not committed to anything yet!


From Zero to 6.7 pace in 6 months- I think can officially say I am a runner!