Every swimmer is beautiful.. well at least at LifeTime Fitness in Tempe, AZ.
Yesterday I took off work because I am suppose to be on a beach in Cabo right now, but due to the snowmaggedon our flights were canceled and we had to postpone. I didnt really feel like going to work and kept my day off so there!. Anyway... I got to spend the day running around with Andy finding bike parts (he works really hard from home). We went to a few cool Tri/Multi sport stores and I picked up new Kaiman goggles- new brand for me, with rave reviews, of course!
Later that day, Heidi and I planned on still meeting for our Thursday training, but Heidi decided she was too tired. I was so excited to try out my new goggles that I went to the gym by myself. (dork, i know)
I got there at 5pm, not sure why I waited to join the after work crowd when I didnt have to, but I did and of course all of the lanes were taken. I procrastinated fixing my Garmin, getting my buoys and kickbooard for a little while until a lane opened up. Yay. I plunged in the pool, turned on my watch, put on my NEW goggles and pushed off the wall.
WOW is all I can saw about the new goggles, they didnt fog up, they fit perfectly, they have crystal clear viewing, great for contact users.. the only problem- they are so clear that you can see all the nasty things floating in the water with you. At least with fogged up goggles I never thought about or saw what might go into my mouth if I took a wrong breath!
This got me thinking and about 8 laps into it, I kid you not with my mind going and everything, there was a whistle and everyone had to evacuate the "play" pool (thanks God I was in the lap pool).. There was an A.F.R. (accidental fecal release) in the play pool. At this time I didn't want to miss the action, so I decided to use the kick board to keep an eye on the scoop (literally). All lifeguards on deck had on rubber gloves and the big net trying to capture the "baby ruth". They got it all out (i hope) and then closed that pool for the rest of the time.
After that ordeal, I continued with my workout and then the masters swim was about to start. Have you seen swimmers? Ok male swimmers? Oh my.. I think I belong to a great gym because every one of the swimmers (girls too) was ripped and in perfect shape. So again I took to kick boarding to check out the scene for a while until a very hot guy was standing at the end of my lane... and I knew he was going to ask to share, but before he could ask, I was pretty much done with my work out and I managed to spit out the words "I'm finished, you can have my lane"... Maybe I should have shared--- ahhh nah!!!
Needless to say I had a fantastic workout. Its amazing what you can do when you have new goggles. I swam .91 of a mile in 40 minutes. My abs hurt so bad today, but it is so worth it!
Until next time!!! Ciao!
Friday, February 4, 2011
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
Making a Come Back
So proud of myself. This past weekend I ran 4 miles on Saturday and 3.9 on Sunday with Barb and her friend. Then went swimming for an hour after running on Sunday. I may not be an athlete, but I'm back on track with working out!
Barb, her friend Joy and I have started our own run club. It will be on Saturdays (just this past weekend we had it on Sunday because the PT could not decide if he was going to race in Tucson or not W-E). I had the brilliant idea to maybe start charging for the "run club" and will promise not to ignore anyone who joins. Thats what happened to Barb and I when we would go to the Sole Sports run club on Saturdays so we have decided to launch our own- So There!
I also have become a personal swim coach to one of the girls at work. This newly appointed position was created on Sunday when I met Heidi at LifeTime Fitness to sign her up and start swim training for our Triathlon.
First of all, its always very awkward to have to undress (mind you we were already wearing our swim suits) in front of people but with a co-worker whom you respect is awkward times 10. After we (ok I) got over hurdle #1 we walked around grabbing the kickboards, pullys and stood by the edge of the pool lanes. I started off by saying "lets warm up with a 200 free, 200 kick and 200 pull and see how we feel if we want to do sprints or anything else". She just looked at me and then told me that she read an article on how to swim and it said how you should bend your elbows and reach in the water and to keep your legs straight as you kick etc. etc. etc. I let her go on for about 2 minutes until I had to stop her and say "not to interrupt or be rude, but I swam competitively pretty much all my life- do you know how to swim?" She said "well yeah" Then we both jumped in the water and started swimming.
We swam 2 laps and Heidi stopped me and asked "why does it look like you just glide in the water and I feel like I'm drowning?" I said "swim for me, let me see what you are doing." She swam, stopped and asked "what am I doing wrong." I said "I'm going to be honest there are a few things going on that shouldnt be" So there it started I spent the entire hour teaching Heidi how to swim freestyle more efficiently and I have to admit I am a pretty damn good teacher, she looked 100% better after my advice- we still have a little way to go!
I think the best part was when we were both kickboarding and she was kicking the hardest she could, but she wasnt moving forward, she just got stuck in one spot. I went ahead of her and she was yelling to me to help her. I waded back to her and sure enough, she was kicking as hard as she could and was NOT moving. I finally said "by the law of physics there is no way this is possible" we just laughed hysterically and then continued our training.
Last night we did Insanity and today I get to be a swim coach tonight again- which I do have to say I love it!
Keep on running, biking, swimming- what ever you enjoy to keep yourself motivated and working out!
Barb, her friend Joy and I have started our own run club. It will be on Saturdays (just this past weekend we had it on Sunday because the PT could not decide if he was going to race in Tucson or not W-E). I had the brilliant idea to maybe start charging for the "run club" and will promise not to ignore anyone who joins. Thats what happened to Barb and I when we would go to the Sole Sports run club on Saturdays so we have decided to launch our own- So There!
I also have become a personal swim coach to one of the girls at work. This newly appointed position was created on Sunday when I met Heidi at LifeTime Fitness to sign her up and start swim training for our Triathlon.
First of all, its always very awkward to have to undress (mind you we were already wearing our swim suits) in front of people but with a co-worker whom you respect is awkward times 10. After we (ok I) got over hurdle #1 we walked around grabbing the kickboards, pullys and stood by the edge of the pool lanes. I started off by saying "lets warm up with a 200 free, 200 kick and 200 pull and see how we feel if we want to do sprints or anything else". She just looked at me and then told me that she read an article on how to swim and it said how you should bend your elbows and reach in the water and to keep your legs straight as you kick etc. etc. etc. I let her go on for about 2 minutes until I had to stop her and say "not to interrupt or be rude, but I swam competitively pretty much all my life- do you know how to swim?" She said "well yeah" Then we both jumped in the water and started swimming.
We swam 2 laps and Heidi stopped me and asked "why does it look like you just glide in the water and I feel like I'm drowning?" I said "swim for me, let me see what you are doing." She swam, stopped and asked "what am I doing wrong." I said "I'm going to be honest there are a few things going on that shouldnt be" So there it started I spent the entire hour teaching Heidi how to swim freestyle more efficiently and I have to admit I am a pretty damn good teacher, she looked 100% better after my advice- we still have a little way to go!
I think the best part was when we were both kickboarding and she was kicking the hardest she could, but she wasnt moving forward, she just got stuck in one spot. I went ahead of her and she was yelling to me to help her. I waded back to her and sure enough, she was kicking as hard as she could and was NOT moving. I finally said "by the law of physics there is no way this is possible" we just laughed hysterically and then continued our training.
Last night we did Insanity and today I get to be a swim coach tonight again- which I do have to say I love it!
Keep on running, biking, swimming- what ever you enjoy to keep yourself motivated and working out!
Friday, January 28, 2011
I Am Not an Athlete...
Nor do I want to be one... please tell my PT (aka husband, Andy) so he will stop treating me like it.
As you may have noticed I went MIA. After my crazy event in Vegas I was hit by the flu bug and have finally rejoined the living just this week. Actually I'm still sick at night and in the mornings, but from what I was, Im a million bucks!
We started Insanity back up at work so Mondays and Wednesdays we have a group of us dying at 5pm for an hour. If you dont know what Insanity, please Google it so you can have a glimpse of what my body will be going through 2 days a week from now until June! I did my first session this past Wednesday and still cannot sit or go to the bathroom without being stuck for 3-5 seconds trying to use every hurting muscle to get up.
I also just officially signed up for my first Triathalon- Tri for the Cure March 20th.. its a mini one.. 400 yards swim, 8 mile bike ride and 2.2 mile run! I think I mentioned this before but I actually paid my dues today so now its official in my mind and the real training must begin!
I managed to run 3 miles today after a very long break and it hurt with every step from Insanity AND my time went way down again.. back to 11 min miles- oh well... it will get better from here!
On a side note, my PT (the true athlete, who wants to be one) just got his first sponsorship from strava.com for bike riding, this means free stuff, free memberships, free riding gear, free bike AND 25% off Garmins. Strava is a website mainly for bikers, but they have a running one too, that tracks your workouts and gives training advice to athletes (not me). It also connects you to fellow bikers/runners who workout the same routes as you and compares/competes you against each other. So Andy has been on this for a while now and has beaten all records (can you believe that? ha) so they decided to sponsor him as an Athlete (again, which I am not).
How does this benefit us you ask? Well if you want a free membership to it, I/he can get you that OR if you want a discount on a Garmin we can do that too.. just post a comment and I can hook it up!
Anyway... Its Friday and I'm so looking forward to a weekend of working out and training for the next big race! Happy Running!
As you may have noticed I went MIA. After my crazy event in Vegas I was hit by the flu bug and have finally rejoined the living just this week. Actually I'm still sick at night and in the mornings, but from what I was, Im a million bucks!
We started Insanity back up at work so Mondays and Wednesdays we have a group of us dying at 5pm for an hour. If you dont know what Insanity, please Google it so you can have a glimpse of what my body will be going through 2 days a week from now until June! I did my first session this past Wednesday and still cannot sit or go to the bathroom without being stuck for 3-5 seconds trying to use every hurting muscle to get up.
I also just officially signed up for my first Triathalon- Tri for the Cure March 20th.. its a mini one.. 400 yards swim, 8 mile bike ride and 2.2 mile run! I think I mentioned this before but I actually paid my dues today so now its official in my mind and the real training must begin!
I managed to run 3 miles today after a very long break and it hurt with every step from Insanity AND my time went way down again.. back to 11 min miles- oh well... it will get better from here!
On a side note, my PT (the true athlete, who wants to be one) just got his first sponsorship from strava.com for bike riding, this means free stuff, free memberships, free riding gear, free bike AND 25% off Garmins. Strava is a website mainly for bikers, but they have a running one too, that tracks your workouts and gives training advice to athletes (not me). It also connects you to fellow bikers/runners who workout the same routes as you and compares/competes you against each other. So Andy has been on this for a while now and has beaten all records (can you believe that? ha) so they decided to sponsor him as an Athlete (again, which I am not).
How does this benefit us you ask? Well if you want a free membership to it, I/he can get you that OR if you want a discount on a Garmin we can do that too.. just post a comment and I can hook it up!
Anyway... Its Friday and I'm so looking forward to a weekend of working out and training for the next big race! Happy Running!
Thursday, January 20, 2011
Back to square one
After literally one week of not formally working out i.e. running, treadmill, elliptical etc. I am back at square one, week one, first run ever mentally.
Working a convention or any event beats you up. Going from meeting space to sleeping rooms back to meeting space over and over again (not through the back halls this time) I probably walked 5-10 miles a day from Thursday- Saturday last week. And danced my little (now big) butt off until 4am on Saturday night after the event in Las Vegas. This all counts right? According to my PT, Andy- its not cardio enough to make a difference-Party Pooper!
Im exhausted. I took 2 days off of work, did not workout and am still exhausted. I could probably fall asleep right now typing this if people wouldnt notice me slumped over on my desk.
Yesterday I got up to run, got dressed, Ipod on and everything and went back to bed for a 1/2 hour. When I got home from work, I passed out on the couch at 7:30pm and Andy nicely woke me up at 10pm to ask if I wanted to "go to bed". Im probably going to do the same tonight, except we have the kids and I will have to entertain until at least 9pm.
Tiredness and all, I got up this morning with my mind set on running 4 miles. After my water bottle fanny pack thingy sliding all the way down my legs and having to stop and re-adjust that, I headed out of our cul du sac. I couldnt even make it up our small hill without wheezing and gasping for air, that's when the mind took over AND I knew it was going to be a struggle. Excuse me body, but did you forget everything you learned in the past 4 months? One foot in front of the other makes you run???? To top it off, for some reason we were having a windstorm that made it even more challenging- so there I was tumbleweeds and all at 6am trying to run.
I managed to run/walk (yes i said it, back to walking) 2.63 miles in 28 minutes (BOO HISS)
Hopefully tomorrow will be a better equipment, mind, body and weather experience!
Working a convention or any event beats you up. Going from meeting space to sleeping rooms back to meeting space over and over again (not through the back halls this time) I probably walked 5-10 miles a day from Thursday- Saturday last week. And danced my little (now big) butt off until 4am on Saturday night after the event in Las Vegas. This all counts right? According to my PT, Andy- its not cardio enough to make a difference-Party Pooper!
Im exhausted. I took 2 days off of work, did not workout and am still exhausted. I could probably fall asleep right now typing this if people wouldnt notice me slumped over on my desk.
Yesterday I got up to run, got dressed, Ipod on and everything and went back to bed for a 1/2 hour. When I got home from work, I passed out on the couch at 7:30pm and Andy nicely woke me up at 10pm to ask if I wanted to "go to bed". Im probably going to do the same tonight, except we have the kids and I will have to entertain until at least 9pm.
Tiredness and all, I got up this morning with my mind set on running 4 miles. After my water bottle fanny pack thingy sliding all the way down my legs and having to stop and re-adjust that, I headed out of our cul du sac. I couldnt even make it up our small hill without wheezing and gasping for air, that's when the mind took over AND I knew it was going to be a struggle. Excuse me body, but did you forget everything you learned in the past 4 months? One foot in front of the other makes you run???? To top it off, for some reason we were having a windstorm that made it even more challenging- so there I was tumbleweeds and all at 6am trying to run.
I managed to run/walk (yes i said it, back to walking) 2.63 miles in 28 minutes (BOO HISS)
Hopefully tomorrow will be a better equipment, mind, body and weather experience!
Thursday, January 13, 2011
Pharma and the Meeting Planner
Be proud.
Knowing this would probably be the only day to go, I actually made an effort (understatement) to workout.
I got on my workout gear and headed to the elevators.
Well, we are sharing the Rio All Suites Hotel (quality) with 3000 Pharmaceutcal Reps as they have a meeting in the convention center where we are having ours. If you didnt know this, Pharma companies only hire the best looking sales reps to sell their drugs. So with that knowledge, when I arrived at the elevators they were all waiting to take the elevators down to their convention.
There I was in my sporty workout outfit amongst the sea of well manicured well dressed with True Religion Jeans, Louis Vuitton bags, Manolos 2 inch heals waiting and trying not to breathe in fear I smelled like a brew pub from the beer and wine last night. I also pretended to be busy on my blackberry, catching up on Facebook so I wouldnt have to make eye contact with anyone. After about 7 minutes of every elevator being full, I thought I would take the stairs and get a head start on my workout.
I was not the only one. I opened the stairwell door and jumped in with all the other well dressed beautiful people who had the same idea. I felt like we were on an episode of Biggest Loser running down the stairs to win a challenge.
We finally got to the emergency exit doors. Everyone had stopped and was debating on opening the door because it said it was alarmed. I managed to work my way up to the door saying, they never put the alarms on and pushed opened the door and walked down another hallway with about 300 beautiful people behind me. They all continued to follow me through the back halls of the convention center. I heard a guy say, how does she know where shes going. I turned around and said because Im the meeting planner for the group after yours and know my way around this hotel.
Finally after 16 flights of stairs and a dozen hallways, I pushed open the last "emergency exit" door (without an alarm) to the meeting space where all the reps behind me had to be. They all thanked me and we went on our merry ways.
I am very proud to log
Today- 16 flights of stairs, 30 minutes on the elliptical and 20 minute walk around a convention center.
Knowing this would probably be the only day to go, I actually made an effort (understatement) to workout.
I got on my workout gear and headed to the elevators.
Well, we are sharing the Rio All Suites Hotel (quality) with 3000 Pharmaceutcal Reps as they have a meeting in the convention center where we are having ours. If you didnt know this, Pharma companies only hire the best looking sales reps to sell their drugs. So with that knowledge, when I arrived at the elevators they were all waiting to take the elevators down to their convention.
There I was in my sporty workout outfit amongst the sea of well manicured well dressed with True Religion Jeans, Louis Vuitton bags, Manolos 2 inch heals waiting and trying not to breathe in fear I smelled like a brew pub from the beer and wine last night. I also pretended to be busy on my blackberry, catching up on Facebook so I wouldnt have to make eye contact with anyone. After about 7 minutes of every elevator being full, I thought I would take the stairs and get a head start on my workout.
I was not the only one. I opened the stairwell door and jumped in with all the other well dressed beautiful people who had the same idea. I felt like we were on an episode of Biggest Loser running down the stairs to win a challenge.
We finally got to the emergency exit doors. Everyone had stopped and was debating on opening the door because it said it was alarmed. I managed to work my way up to the door saying, they never put the alarms on and pushed opened the door and walked down another hallway with about 300 beautiful people behind me. They all continued to follow me through the back halls of the convention center. I heard a guy say, how does she know where shes going. I turned around and said because Im the meeting planner for the group after yours and know my way around this hotel.
Finally after 16 flights of stairs and a dozen hallways, I pushed open the last "emergency exit" door (without an alarm) to the meeting space where all the reps behind me had to be. They all thanked me and we went on our merry ways.
I am very proud to log
Today- 16 flights of stairs, 30 minutes on the elliptical and 20 minute walk around a convention center.
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
Security Blanket
Everyone has a security blanket or something they do to make them feel better. OR a ritual when they run.Well mine is to have my water bottles.
My awesome water bottles not only wet my whistle in the dry Arizona air but they hold Heed- my ultimate energy boosting sports drink. Even on a 3min run I always have at least one bottle filled and will actually drink all of it during that short of time. I usually do not put Heed for the short runs because that would be an extra 100 calories to burn, so water is good enough.
I showed up for morning coffee (Andys bike team meets everyday for coffee and I go when I can) and they all laughed at all my water bottles and that they were all empty (that day I ran 7.6 miles so there!).. When Barb and went for 6 miles I had all 4 bottles filled up and Barb did not even have 1 so I told her she could borrow one of mine if she needed.
So for the last 2 runs I wanted to see if I could do a run without my security and didnt bring a water bottle. I did wear my fanny back thing to hold my phone and I-touch but just didnt have the water. It did NOT go very well. Yesterday I was dying of thirst at about mile 2 and I only had 1 to go so I managed and then today again I was wondering where my water bottles were and wished I had packed one.
Maybe one day I will not need a water for a 30 minute run, but from now on, I'm going to run with pride and my water bottles.
Log for a while (can you tell I have a major event that I've been working on? sorry for the lack of postings):
Saturday 6.13 miles under an hour with Barb
Sunday 30 minute swim (did I tell you Im training for a tri now?)
Monday Rest (no pumping iron)
Tuesday 2.6 miles (did not feel like running plus my pants kept falling down and I was annoyed so I came home early)
Today- 3.6 miles in actually 9.3 avg mile very nice!
I am in Vegas now and we will see how much running will take place between working 15 hours a day and drinking afterwards.
Happy Running!!!
My awesome water bottles not only wet my whistle in the dry Arizona air but they hold Heed- my ultimate energy boosting sports drink. Even on a 3min run I always have at least one bottle filled and will actually drink all of it during that short of time. I usually do not put Heed for the short runs because that would be an extra 100 calories to burn, so water is good enough.
I showed up for morning coffee (Andys bike team meets everyday for coffee and I go when I can) and they all laughed at all my water bottles and that they were all empty (that day I ran 7.6 miles so there!).. When Barb and went for 6 miles I had all 4 bottles filled up and Barb did not even have 1 so I told her she could borrow one of mine if she needed.
So for the last 2 runs I wanted to see if I could do a run without my security and didnt bring a water bottle. I did wear my fanny back thing to hold my phone and I-touch but just didnt have the water. It did NOT go very well. Yesterday I was dying of thirst at about mile 2 and I only had 1 to go so I managed and then today again I was wondering where my water bottles were and wished I had packed one.
Maybe one day I will not need a water for a 30 minute run, but from now on, I'm going to run with pride and my water bottles.
Log for a while (can you tell I have a major event that I've been working on? sorry for the lack of postings):
Saturday 6.13 miles under an hour with Barb
Sunday 30 minute swim (did I tell you Im training for a tri now?)
Monday Rest (no pumping iron)
Tuesday 2.6 miles (did not feel like running plus my pants kept falling down and I was annoyed so I came home early)
Today- 3.6 miles in actually 9.3 avg mile very nice!
I am in Vegas now and we will see how much running will take place between working 15 hours a day and drinking afterwards.
Happy Running!!!
Thursday, January 6, 2011
Drivers
I think Drivers are my biggest fear when running. They are when I bike for sure but now while running too. I always stay on the sidewalk just because of that fear and because of something I witnessed when I was 16.
Around 6am in the morning, I was waiting for my friends to pick me up to go skiing when someone came knocking at our door. We answered the door expecting my friends but opened it to a man frantically saying call 911, call 911 and get a blanket. I cant remember who called 911 or who grabbed the blanket, but I do remember going to the end of our street and seeing shoes in the middle of the road about 20 feet back from the car, the cracked windshield and a lady laying on the ground from being hit by the mans car while running in the street. I will never forget how she was laying, the sound of her last breath nor the realization that it was our neighbor that lived right above us. So for this reason alone, I wear a bright colored top and run on the very inside of the sidewalk.
I get why runners like to run on the street because it is a pain in the ass to lift your leg a little higher when jumping up on a curb at a crosswalk but come on. Its also funny how you can tell the difference of drivers who work out vs. the ones who don't.
The drivers who workout tend to stop for as long as you need to get across the street or some anticiapte you crossing the street only to find out you turned the corner- I always wave to thank them anyway-
The non worker outters on the other hand, see you and push on the gas pedal so they dont have to wait. Have you ever looked inside the cars who go faster to get ahead of you? They tend to be on the heavier side especially the ones who do it to me each day when I cross the McDonalds parking lot in the morning, and YES they are heavier and yes I would give anything for their Egg McMuffin and Hash brown at that moment, but instead I just look at them, shake my head (sometimes give the bird) and laugh.
So next time you run, be careful on the streets, check out the drivers, then smile at the (large) morons who don't have patience to let you run in front of them before they devour their McD's.
Log for the past 2 days
Wednesday-3.07 miles avg 10:07 288 Kcals burned- 1 hour of pumping iron with my PT
Thursday-3.02 miles avg 10:05 359Kcals burned
Around 6am in the morning, I was waiting for my friends to pick me up to go skiing when someone came knocking at our door. We answered the door expecting my friends but opened it to a man frantically saying call 911, call 911 and get a blanket. I cant remember who called 911 or who grabbed the blanket, but I do remember going to the end of our street and seeing shoes in the middle of the road about 20 feet back from the car, the cracked windshield and a lady laying on the ground from being hit by the mans car while running in the street. I will never forget how she was laying, the sound of her last breath nor the realization that it was our neighbor that lived right above us. So for this reason alone, I wear a bright colored top and run on the very inside of the sidewalk.
I get why runners like to run on the street because it is a pain in the ass to lift your leg a little higher when jumping up on a curb at a crosswalk but come on. Its also funny how you can tell the difference of drivers who work out vs. the ones who don't.
The drivers who workout tend to stop for as long as you need to get across the street or some anticiapte you crossing the street only to find out you turned the corner- I always wave to thank them anyway-
The non worker outters on the other hand, see you and push on the gas pedal so they dont have to wait. Have you ever looked inside the cars who go faster to get ahead of you? They tend to be on the heavier side especially the ones who do it to me each day when I cross the McDonalds parking lot in the morning, and YES they are heavier and yes I would give anything for their Egg McMuffin and Hash brown at that moment, but instead I just look at them, shake my head (sometimes give the bird) and laugh.
So next time you run, be careful on the streets, check out the drivers, then smile at the (large) morons who don't have patience to let you run in front of them before they devour their McD's.
Log for the past 2 days
Wednesday-3.07 miles avg 10:07 288 Kcals burned- 1 hour of pumping iron with my PT
Thursday-3.02 miles avg 10:05 359Kcals burned
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