This Week Was A Good Week!

Seriously, first good week in about a months time.  Solid good week. Woo-hoo!

I think this calls for a review 🙂

Monday: headed to the gym for a 30 minute morning swim.  Freestyle…good overall swim.

Tuesday: Back to spin class.  Woo-Hooo!!!!!!  Followed that up with a little HCC session.

Wednesday: Needed to run…wanted to run…and it was storming.  Go figure.  Before I lost my desire I jumped in the car and relegated myself to the gym treadmill.  It sucked like the treadmill tends to suck but at least I got in a run.

Thursday: Another 30 minute morning swim.  This swim sucked…like couldn’t get into a rhythm, my goggles were bothering me and I kept forgetting what lap I was on.  I just couldn’t groove.  I was actually happy when time was up.

Sunday: Did a HCC session before hitting the asphalt.  Had a great run…outside!!!  This was the perfect run’ it is how I wish every run could be.  The weather was perfect, the new route I took was great and I felt awesome the whole time.

Weekly High: Today’s morning run.  This was a good week in general and I am feeling great!

Weekly Low: Thursday’s swim.  Something was just off.

Three things I am grateful for this week:

1. Fall weather- it is lovely!  I miss summer, but I love fall too!
2. Bloggies- You are all awesome- thanks for always making me feel so special, especially when I am down 🙂
3. Friends with benefits- no, no…not like THAT…get your head outta the gutta!  My friend Greg is a podiatrist and has been helping me with some issues I have been having with plantar fasciitis.  He is also going to get me a brace to help with my shin splints- I will wear it during the day to help stabilize my legs.

Quote of the week: “Never give up what you want most, for what you want right now.”

She Runs! (And Works Out!)

I’m back kids.

This past week I got myself back into action.  And it felt great!

Over the course of the week, I swam twice, ran twice and did my HCC workout twice.  The plan that isn’t a plan (that Joe pointed out, actually still counts as a plan haha) is working so far.  Every workout was a success and I really believe that it is solely because the pressure is gone.  At some point by the end of summer, I got tired of working out.  It got to feel like a job and when I wasn’t training up to my ridiculously high standards I was frustrated.  Between the nagging calf pain after every race or training run and the fear of getting re-injured, I stopped being excited to get up and workout or throw on my kicks after a tough day.  And that led to working out less and less and putting few miles on my shoes- which meant goals weren’t being met and I was frustrated.  And that all led to a small burnout.  I think if I had kept myself at the pace I was going with all my racing and training, I would have been injured, instead of just slightly burned out.  So, as I have said many times, I think my decision not to race last weekend was a good one.

Both of my swims were great; it felt so good to be back in the water.  On both occasions, I just swam freestyle.  Now that tri season is over, I am going to spend the off-season working on my swim endurance.  I am looking to participate in a long distance swim race next spring/summer so I need to spend some serious time in the water just swimming for distance.  And about running…well, I did it!  I ran for the first time in 2.5 weeks and it WENT AWESOME!  I ran twice- once  in the beginning of the week for 25 minutes and later in the week for 30 minutes.  I think going out for time, and not miles, was a good idea.  Of course, I am aware I need to get a certain amount of mileage in over the next 9 weeks in prep for Philly Half, but I actually ran a better pace when I went out for time over miles.  I was a little crampy (not sore-yeah!) after my morning run Wednesday which ended up being just over 3 miles.  My legs bothered me at work and by the end of the night, I was so tight.  I broke out the stick and went to town on my calves.  By morning they were feeling much better.  I realize that I really need to keep up with my PT dynamics…as with everything else, I slacked over the last few weeks and it was big time noticeable.  If I want to have any chance of running well at and recovering well after Philly, I need to be vigilant about this!

As for biking…well, that didn’t happen this week.  Still haven’t gotten my bike from my parents house yet.  And I didn’t make it to spin class.  It would be easy to get mad about it but I am not going to do that; I am going to let it go and hope to get to spin class this week.  All things considered, I feel really good.  I have a good feeling about Philly and about the off-season.  I hope it stays that way! 🙂

Lastly, even though my workouts are seemingly getting back on track, I still feel like I am lacking inspiration and/or motivation with this blog.  I feel like posts are just lacking something…maybe because all summer I raced and had more material…I don’t know.  But I feel boring and uninspiring!  I need to find my blogging mojo!  I have been toying for a long time about getting my own domain and I think it might be time.  Perhaps if I re-vamp the site a bit…make necessary updates, add some pages, change my format…etc…I will get re-inspired.  Stay tuned 🙂

Week In Review- 8/16-8/22

Week in Review; 8/16-8/22

Monday: 1000 meter free swim at the pool.  And it was just that…a free swim.  No watch, no equipement…just swimming to swim. ♥

Tuesday: Planned rest day.

Wednesday: Another great track workout!   4×400’s- 2:10, 2:09, 2:12, 2:10 =8:41  2×800’s- 4:44, 4:43 =9:33 and  2×400’s- 2:17, 2:19 =4:36 (9:12) with .25 warm-up and cool-down.  Did a 3 minute rest between runs and 5 minute rest between sets.  Did a much better job pacing myself although I still went out too fast on the first set of 400’s.  What is your favorite kind of track workout?

Thursday: Headed to the gym for a lifting session (arms) and did my PT active dynamics and HCC exercises.  For right now, they are pretty easy for me (at some point, I will eat those words, I am sure) because much of the HCC workout is stuff I have been doing for months as part of my PT.  The only thing I have not been doing, is the shoulder tap- I have ZERO coordination and look like a one-woman circus!  After work, I headed out for a bike ride.  I was tired and not in the mood but I made a deal with myself that if I went for a bike ride, I could enjoy martini’s at girls night later.  So even though it was only 6.2 miles, it was something!  And I drank my martini’s guilt free 🙂

Friday: Planned rest day.

Saturday: Wildwood Tri.  Race Report here.

Sunday: This could be summed up as a lazy day!  I really had hoped to get out for a reovery run of at least 2.5 miles, but my legs were just not going for it today.  At all.  So not worth it to hurt myself over- I have not been this sore in a long time!  Did I mention how tough the course was…cause it was tough!!  I settled for my HCC workout and called it a week!

Weekly High: Getting through the WW Tri despite pretty much everything going against me!  Woo hoo for sticking it out!

Weekly Low: I don’t feel like I did very much by way of work-outs.  Even though I know I needed the sleep and down time, lazy days make me feel so…well, lazy.

Three things I am grateful for this week:

1. Vacation- I leave next week…YEAHHHH!!!
2. Sleep- after waking up at 330am, it was so nice to sleep past 9am the next morning!
3. My mom- Wildwood was the first race that I did without any teammates, but as always, my biggest fan was there ♥

Quote of the week:  We are built to conquer environment, solve problems, achieve goals and we find no real satisfaction or happiness in life without obstacles to conquer and goals to achieve. -Maxwell Maltz-

Week In Review- 8/9-8/15

Week in Review; 8/9-8/15

Monday: Rest Day.  I cannot remember the last time I took Monday as a rest day, and I really prefer not to, but this week it just had to be done.  I was exhausted from the prior weekend and needed the sleep, especially because with a dentist appointment and a Team Board Meeting after work I knew my day wasn’t ending  until well after 9pm.  Sometimes, that is a workout in and of itself!

Tuesday: Headed out for a bike ride after work and decided to ride some hills.  “Hills” are relative here in South Jersey but there are a few small but steep ones right in my town.  I mapped out a route and ended up doing 12.1 miles.  It was a good ride!

Wednesday: 1000 meters in the pool–> 100 meter warm-up, 200 meter kick set, 200 meters with buoy, 400 meters free swim and 100 meter cool down.  Average swim; probably what I will stick to once or twice a week through the off season.

Thursday: Oh…just THIS superawesome track workout. 

Friday: Quick and easy 6.2 miles on the bike.  Pretty run of the mill ride.  (EDIT: I also did Jamoosh’s HCC exercises!!  8 out of 13!)

Saturday: Planned rest day.  Spent the day at a pool club celebrating the TT 5 year anniversary.  Fun times- was so nice to swim just to swim too!

Sunday: Half Marathon training has officially begun!  Went for a 5 mile run and felt pretty good.  It was definitely a confidence boost to get 5 miles in without pain.  🙂

Weekly High: Doesn’t it go without saying?  Track workout!!!!

Weekly Low:  I officially said good-bye to my office assistant this week.  He is a retired cop and worked a few hours a day in the office with me.  He was a huge help to me and over the years has become much more than a co-worker.  Recently he bought a house in Florida and yesterday he officially moved down there to be retired for real!  I wish him all the best, I just know I am going to miss him dearly!

Three things I am grateful for this week:

1. The gorgeous weather!!!!
2. Teammates who push me to be a better athlete.
3. New blog friends- hello new readers 🙂

Quote of the week: “The real glory is being knocked to your knees and then coming back. That’s real glory.” – Vince Lombardi

Week In Review- 8/2-8/8

Week in Review; 8/2-8/8

Monday: 4 mile power-walk after work.  I really wanted to run but planned to walk anyway because my legs were still quite sore from Belmar. 

Tuesday: Headed to the gym in the morning for a 45 minute lift session (arms, abs) and then went for a 6.3 mile bike ride around town after work.

Wednesday: 1000 meter swim before work.  For like the third week in a row, I could not get it together to get out of the house on time!  Still managed a good swim for being short on time; 100 warm up, 200 kickset, 400 free, 200 buoy, 100 cool down.

Thursday: Planned rest day.

Friday: 3 mile run, although close to a mile was probably walking.  I took a little outdoor tour of my new neighborhood so I went back and forth from running to walking as I explored the area.  So pretty- three lakes, quite shaded streets…I am going to LOVE running around! 

Saturday: Planned rest day. 

Sunday: Steelman Tri- I was the swimmer for a Oly relay.  1550 meter swim.  Did I PR?  If you are on my FB you already know, but if not…guess you’ll have to wait for the race report 🙂  After a post-race nap I headed out for a bike ride.  Did a few leisure miles with mom and then took off on my own.  Total of 10 miles.  Good ride. 

Weekly High: I spent Friday at the pool.  Score one for Fridays off, laying poolside…sweet summertime!

Weekly Low:  Half-marathon was supposed to start…clearly that did not happen.  Must happen this week!!!!

Three things I am grateful for this week:

1. SPF!  Seriously, those hours spent at the pool…I am SO BURNT (just on my stomach…off) and I wore sunscreen!  Thank God I did too because I don’t even want to know what I would look like without having worn any!
2. People who want to do relays with me.  Let’s face it, I am not the fastest racer…the fact that my teammates are into having a good time, with winning of non-importance, is so nice.  I love relays!
3. One more month of summer…it is going to fast but at least I still have 3.5 weeks until the kids come back!

Quote of the week:  Nothing will work unless you do. – John Wooden

Week In Review- 7/26-8/1

Week in Review; 7/26-8/1

(Yes, I realize I am posting this on a Saturday, however I am racing tomorrow therefore I can include the race into my week in review since a full report will follow.  Oh, and because it is my blog and I do what I want 🙂 )

Monday: Rode for 9.5 miles after work.  Pleasantly surprised at how good my legs felt after the weekend!

Tuesday: 800 meters in the pool.  100 warm-up, 200 meter kick set, 500 meter free swim.  Really strong swim but had to cut it short because I was running late that morning.

Wednesday: PT active dynamics and 45 minutes lifting in the morning and then 2.5 mile run after work- super hot!  Last short run before half-marathon training officially begins.

Thursday: Planned rest day.

Friday: Rest day- not planned…just started off lazy and then was out all day.  I had plans at night so I never quite got it together for a workout. 

Saturday: Did not want to go into a race day with three days off but also did not want to push it right before a race.  Therefore, I opted to take a leisure bike ride with mom down by the river and around town. Ended up being about 5 miles and even though it wasn’t anything hardcore, it got my legs spinning.

Sunday: Belmar Sprint Tri.  Race report to follow!

Weekly High: I signed a lease on a new place 🙂 WOO HOO!!!!

Weekly Low:  Lets face it, my workouts this week were less than stellar.  I won’t even lie…weeks like this, I am embarrassed to even post a review!

Three things I am grateful for this week:

1. All of you 🙂  Your wonderful comments on my Full Disclosure post mean more than you know!
2. My PT- even though I no longer go to her on the regular, she offered to tape me for last weeks race and is always there for me when I have questions and/or concerns.
3. Friends- I had a good friend really come through for me this week…I am forever thankful.

Quote of the week:  “The reward of a thing well done is to have done it.” Ralph Waldo Emerson

Week In Review- 7/12-7/18

Week in Review; 7/12-/18

Monday: Rest day.

Tuesday: 1000 meters at the pool in the morning; 200 warm up, 300 pull buoy, 400 free swim, 100 cool down.  After work I set out for a bike ride that ended up being cut short at only 5 miles because a storm rolled in! 

Wednesday: About an hour in the morning at the gym.  PT dynamics, ab workout and lifted.

Thursday: 4 miles at the track; 1 mile warm-up walking, 4×800’s, 1 mile walking cool-down.  800’s only averaged about 2:50’s (EDIT: 2:50’s for 400’s!!!!!!! Like I run under a six minute mile!).  My calves were angry and did not want to be at the track.  In addition, it was about 98 degrees that afternoon.  Needless to say, this was not my best day at the track.

Friday: Free swim at the pool- 1350 meters timed.  Probably my best timed swim to date.  I would have swam longer, and planned to do at least a mile, but the rude-pool-hogs aqua-fit class came in and they needed the ENTIRE pool for all 15 of them. UGH!  Have I mentioned how that class ruins my life!!????!

Saturday: Rode 8.5 miles on the bike early in the morning.  Great ride.  I also danced all night at a wedding…a wedding I might add that required me to walk .5 miles to and from the car.  In heels.  Yeah, one mile total in heels.  Oh, and at the wedding I got a kicked in the foot and my ankle took a beating.  I iced it right away but danced all night and did all that walking, so yeah…ankle not happy.  Swollen and sore…check it out…

Sunday: Walked 2.4 miles.  Run was downgraded to walk when I noticed my ankle was twice the size it should be. 

Weekly High: I did not let anything get in my way this week- had to modify a lot and I did it without freaking out!

Weekly Low:  Hurting my ankle…seriously, do I need more issues with my legs/feet? 

Three things I am grateful for this week:

1. Summer vacation 🙂
2. New readers- hello everyone, so happy you are here!
3. Air conditioning…I know I have said it before, but I appreciate that this is a luxury I have, just like heat in the winter.  So many people suffering throught this weather; I know I am lucky.

Quote of the week:  ‎”When you judge another, you do not define them, you define yourself.”

And a few photos from the wedding:

The dress

The entrance…and my favorite pic of the night

The happy newlyweds!

With the bride and groom 🙂

Week In Review; 6/28-7/4

Week In Review; 6/28-7/4

Monday: 5 miles on the bike.  It was friggen hot and then my tire went flat.  I was in no mood to deal with it so 5 miles it was for the day!

Tuesday: 1700 meter swim.  Didn’t have a specific swim planned, just got in and swam.  Decided at about 400 meters to make it an endurance swim and went 1600 meters.  Then did a 100 meter cool down.  Possibly my best swim of the year!

Wednesday: 30 minutes lifting.  Woke up late and got to the gym late.  Settled for some PT dynamics and some arms/abs work.  Something is always better than nothing.

Thursday: TRACK WORKOUT!  Woo hoo!  Haven’t done one of these since last year.  800 meters jogged @ 5:20 for a warm up.  Then 5×800; Mile 1-4:30, 4:41= 9:11 and Mile 2-4:44, 4:41= 9:25 -4:52 2.5miles= 23:28.  Cool down was 800 meters walking.  Went out a little fast…had teammates there reminding me I am still recovering and to push, but not too much so I let up just a little.  Felt great!

Friday: 1000 meters in the pool.  Worst swim ever- I went later since I was off and I will NOT go at 10am EVER again.  There was ONE person in every lane…it was like geriatric swim hour or something.  And they all wanted to doggy paddle and take up the whole lane.  I decided to go with the one lady who actually looked like she might be able to handle sharing a lane but I was so very wrong.  Every time I swam by her I got hit in the face or leg or arm or something!  THEN…as if having one lane wasn’t enough…the old bat in the lane next to me doing god-knows-what kind of swim kept kicking her feet into my lane.  This was worst than OWS at a race!!!  And just when I thought it couldn’t get worse, the lady in my lane got out just as scuba Steve decided to get in and share lane with me.  He brought EVERY toy he owned to the pool.  He had on handweights, flippers AND a snorkel.  (side note: no fish in our pool!) He proceeded to kick his fins just as I would come up for air each time.  And you know what, after 1000 meters of swimming hell, I called it a friggen day!

Saturday: This was an intended rest day, but given my weak workouts on Monday, Wednesday and Friday I decided to venture out on a bike ride.  I rode for close to six miles.  Afterwards I went for a short walk with my mom.  Have I mentioned how much I lovvvveeee being in the sun??  Cause I do.  A lot.

Sunday: Had a run planned but changed it to a walk/jog when I woke up with sore shins.  Did 3.7 miles down by the river and felt great; I actually think I engaged my shins/calves more walking without pounding on them.

Weekly High: Track workout, which was bytheway followed by some yummy ice cream!  Oh, and my Tuesday swim too!

Weekly Low: The intensity of my Mom-Wed-Fri workouts was mediocre at best.

Three things I am grateful for this week:

1. No parents, no kids, no teachers at work 🙂
2. Teammates that push me to be better!
3. Air conditioning…seriously…NJ heat wave coming in with the whole next week slated to be 97+ degrees!  And that is BEFORE the humidity!

Quote of the week:  “Those who desire to give up freedom in order to gain security will not have, nor do they deserve, either one.”  Benjamin Franklin

Hope everyone has a safe and happy 4th of July!!!!!

Week In Review-less…

Yeah…so about a week in review.  One would have to actually DO something in order to have something to write about.  Okay, maybe I am being tough on myself, but honestly this week was a wash.  My exhaustion level was high and my motivation level was low.  I won’t embarass myself my telling you my exact workouts but it was a total of one swim, one bike and one walk.  No runs- had to give my shins/calves a break.  I have a heavy race schedule in July and August and this is really the last week I could pull off not running.  So it was a sucky week.  So it happens, right??  Onto the next week 🙂

In the non-workout department, my weekend was FABULOUS!!!!!!  Seriously, it was non-stop fun (and mostly catching up on sleep in the afternoons!) and it was a blast!  Friday night was my friends reception, Saturday was spent on the lake BBQ’ing and watching fireworks and today I spectated the Philly Tri and then took a walk with my friend that ended with drinks on a deck 🙂 

That’s about all I have right now.  I am sooooo tired!  I’ll leave you with some pics from the wedding- enjoy 🙂

That’s me 🙂

Introducing…Happy Bride and Groom!

With the bride, my good friend Lisa

I love these girls!

 

Hope you all had a great weekend!  Can you believe it is almost the 4th of July?!?!?!?!

Week In Review; 6/14-6/20

Week In Review; 6/14-6/20

Monday: 1400 meter swim. Progression swim: 200 meters, 400 meters, 800 meters w/30 seconds rest in between.

Tuesday: 6 miles on the bike followed by abs workout and my PT active dynamics.

Wednesday: 1400 meter swim.  100 meter warm-up, 4×200’s, 100 meter kick-set, 300 meters free swim, 100 meters cool-down. 

Thursday: Chaperoned the 8th grade trip to Dorney Park.  Laid by a pool pretty much all day then walked a good couple of miles through the hill park.  I really enjoy this trip but I was completely exhausted!

Friday: Is it possible to be hungover from a trip?  Cause I was!  I barely got through work…no energy= no workout!

Saturday: Went for a fairly lesuire 7 mile bike ride with my mom.  I volunteered a TRI that morning so we went in the afternoon and it was brutal hot!!  Kept it mostly near the river and took it pretty slow.  Although I am not back to true training rides, I am feeling really good on the bike. 

Sunday: Early morning run around one of my favorite river loops.  4 miles total and it was humid!  My shins/calves held up just okay; I had to take a few walk breaks but pushed through most of it because I am going for a leg massage this afternoon and I know I’ll get some kinks worked out 🙂  I love massages!!!!

Weekly High: Today’s run- my last run was such a downer and I was really worried I wouldn’t be able to get through 4 miles because of my calves.  The Graston is working because the difference was amazing!

Weekly Low: I honestly didn’t really have one.  I felt good about all my workouts this week!

Three things I am grateful for this week:

1. My Daddy ♥
2. Air conditioning.  I love summer but the heat can be intense.  Thank goodness for air conditioning!
3. Half-days…we finish the school year this week and have half-days Mon-Wed.  YIPPPPEEE!!

Quote of the week:   “Perseverance is the hard work you do after you get tired of doing the hard work you already did”