i actually got better grades than i was expecting (i was anticipating a C in the Art History class and a B in Photojournalism). It's a relief that the semester is finally over! i'm still hoping to bring my gpa up more next semester, which will definitely be a challenge as all my classes are upperlevel.
History of Art, Prehistory to Renaissance B
Language Systems and Linguistic Diversity B
World Regional Geography B
Mountain Biking A
Hatha Yoga & Relaxation B
Fundamentals of Photojournalism A
Monday, December 21, 2009
Monday, November 09, 2009
the new center
When i was a kid, i seem to remember the news being rather unbiased, leaning only slightly to the left. In high school and beyond, this changed however, as the mainstream media started leaning farther and farther left and became more and more vocal about it. Then came FoxNews, which i constantly here degraded as a so-called conservative source. On campus, it's a running joke. i don't have cable, but i listen to KNZZ almost every day, and they use FoxNews every hour, and from personal observation i have to strongly object. FoxNews on the radio is not conservative, it is the new mainstream media, the same as mainstream media was in my childhood: they are slightly biased and leaning left. They allow Obama statements and viewpoints to run that are clearly not factual and propagandist in nature. Sure, Glenn and Sean are covering things that no one else on TV will, but their standard news service is too left for me. Being an unbiased reporter is dead, that's a big part of why i decided not to continue with my Mass Communications major, because no matter how much they touted the fact that they were teaching us to be unbiased, their everyday conversations and lectures are very, very biased. I have to wonder what FoxNews will be like in ten, fifteen years. Will they be as openly liberal as the major networks are now?
What sparked off this little tirade? Well it's their coverage of Senator Lieberman, who fortunately is taking a stand against healthcare reform. At the top of the article in an unattractive photo of him, which is unprofessional of them and indicates bias against him (you don't think the mainstream media would run an image making Obama look bad, do you?). i remember a day when i said that i would have voted for Lieberman before voting for McCain, but barring moving to Conn. i doubt that i'll ever get that chance. i greatly regret voting for McCain: i was really voting for Palin and against Obama. i wanted to write in Paul, but now he has betrayed our cause by taking bail out funds. i refuse to buy a product funded by that money.
Anyways, kudos to you, Senator Lieberman, continue to stand up for what you believe in, you're in my prayers.
ETA: More kudos for Senator Lieberman
What sparked off this little tirade? Well it's their coverage of Senator Lieberman, who fortunately is taking a stand against healthcare reform. At the top of the article in an unattractive photo of him, which is unprofessional of them and indicates bias against him (you don't think the mainstream media would run an image making Obama look bad, do you?). i remember a day when i said that i would have voted for Lieberman before voting for McCain, but barring moving to Conn. i doubt that i'll ever get that chance. i greatly regret voting for McCain: i was really voting for Palin and against Obama. i wanted to write in Paul, but now he has betrayed our cause by taking bail out funds. i refuse to buy a product funded by that money.
Anyways, kudos to you, Senator Lieberman, continue to stand up for what you believe in, you're in my prayers.
ETA: More kudos for Senator Lieberman
more on lupus and why Nikki's condition doesn't endorse reform
Quality of life and life expectancy for lupus patients varies greatly, based on the severity of the illness and how long the disease is present before diagnosis and treatment begins. The extent to which the disease has progressed at the onset of treatment greatly impacts the life expectancy for lupus patients. When caught early, lupus can be treated and brought largely into remission before the occurrence of serious organ damage. However, left untreated over a period of time, lupus can lead to serious problems with vital internal organs, including the brain, heart, lungs, and kidneys. Such damage can severely compromise the life expectancy for lupus patients.The Lupus4You webpage makes it sound as if Nikki was receiving the proper medical attention when she was diagnosed at the age of 21 then she should have never had to leave her job in the first place and never gotten sick. Lupus sounds like it's easy to live with, very manageable, like one of those "extinct" diseases. The drug that is commonly used to treat the disease, Prednisone, appears to be easy to obtain online for as little as $40 for 180 pills of a "standard dose" ($177 at the Canadian website i saw).
~ from Lupus4You.com
There must be a missing piece of the puzzle in this story. Was Nikki allergic to the drugs? Undiagnosed (if so, why would healthcare companies refuse to cover her)? In fact, why would they refuse to cover her at all when this preexisting condition seems to be very easy and cheap to treat??? It sounds like Nikki ignored a condition that she knew she had and killed herself. Of course that is sad, but it is not the government's job to protect us from ourselves, and the healthcare industry cannot force us to follow the best course of treatment, and the medical industry cannot guarantee that such a course of treatment is the best for every individual.
Sure, it's easy to just demonize healthcare industry, but blaming the party that didn't cause the problem and isn't the problem isn't a solution. The problem is the government. We do not need healthcare reform, we need the laws making it so easy to sue doctors for emotional trauma when they did everything they could but couldn't help to stop. Did Nikki's parents sue the doctors? i bet they did, when she waited so long to get help that there was nothing they could do for her, all the surgeries were to fix damage that her own body did to itself and that could have been prevented. That's not the doctor's fault. It's not the Healthcare industry's fault that she refused to seek care. It's painful, but then the truth often is. Let blame lie where it belongs, not on the big bad wolf.
sometimes nothing is better than anything
Back in September, one of my friends on Facebook linked to an article in the New York Times on her wall. The title of the Op Ed is "The Body Count at Home" and talks about a young woman who died from lupus. When i read it, i of course felt it was sad, but was offended by the fact that the article claims that certain members of Congress want us to do "nothing" for people like her (quote: "About as many people who were killed on 9/11 die every two months because of our failure to provide universal insurance and yet many members of Congress want us to do nothing?"). i wanted to say something to this friend, to everyone, but was worried about offending people, despite the fact that i had been offended. Since reading the article and not responding i have had writers block. i think of that article often and wish that i would have written something in response, and then it felt like i had waited too long. Well, the healthcare debate reared it's nasty head in Congress again this weekend, and i'm tired of having writer's block, i think that it's finally time for me to get this off my chest. Please keep in mind that i'm not writing this trying to offend anyone, rather to set some inconsistencies straight and point out some facts. As Rush likes to point out, a lot of people feel better about themselves because they feel sorry when something bad happens to someone, but their solution often only makes things worse for everyone, let alone that one individual.
To start off, this claim that about 1366 people in the U.S. are dying without healthcare every other month seems a bit steep. Where did that number come from? Did Mr. Kristof discover a source for that bit of info or did someone ad it onto the headline to catch interest and inflame people's sensibilities?
To sum up about Nikki (the 21 year old that the piece is about), she's a college grad with lupus that worked in healthcare that gradually got too sick to work so she lost her own healthcare. Kristof then brings up the author of a book who took up Nikki's plight (of course he's not trying to advertise said book, is he?), who says that Nikki couldn't find any new coverage because of her pre-existing condition. "She spent months painfully writing letters to anyone she thought might be able to help. She fought tenaciously for her life."
This flowery language draws sympathy but is weak in the facts department. One would think that because Nikki worked in the industry she would know a few things about keeping her coverage: the article makes it sound like she had the money to pay for it, after all. My question is, why didn't she use Cobra? That's how i paid for my wisdom teeth surgery after i quit working at KJCT. I find it hard to believe that she couldn't find one company to insure her or anyone else to help. There are other sources to consider such as research funds for those with Lupus, free hospitals/clinics, paying for her care out of pocket, and if she was truly disabled then drawing on disability from the government. Of course the next logical place to look for help would be the community: she could have tried raising the funds, asking for donations, seeking help at church, etc. A woman that goes to my church helped a friend raise money when that friend's daughter had cancer, and i am talking about extreme amounts of money, they were able to raise all the money. And, if all else fails, there is the emergency room, which is used every day by people that don't have an emergency but cannot afford medical insurance, often with no cost to the patient, just to the taxpayers.
Unfortunately, it seems as if Nikki liked writing letters until she was in pain more than the idea of actually getting care, because it wasn't until she "collapsed at her home" that she was "rushed to a hospital emergency room, which was then required to treat her without payment until her condition stabilized". By that point, her condition was apparently so bad that surgery wasn't enough... and died at the age of 32. Did you catch that? She lived 11 years after losing her job in the health care industry. She apparently had her own home. The medical workers were wonderful, but she "fell through the cracks."
Please don't misunderstand me, it's sad that she died at the age of 32... but the language that Mr. Kristof uses makes it sound like all of this happened overnight. She had ten years of her own choices that influnced what happened to her life. Mr. Kristof advises that it would have been better of her to rob a bank so she could get free healthcare (because it's so horrible the way we make sure our criminals stay healthy in the U.S.), i'm rather surprised he doesn't just advise her to move to Canada or the UK where they have this perfect healthcare system, where care is free for everyone, etc. My sympathies go out to her parents, but really... could this article be more overdramatic?
The saddest thing about this article is that the parents and author and columnist expect the government to fix the healthcare system. I am fully aware that such is the opinion of what must be done on one side of the issue. On the other side of the issue, we are looking at what the government has done with Social Security, the Stimulus package, etc., and are loudly saying keep your hands off. On this side, we are looking at countries such as Canada, where it takes weeks just to get to see a doctor, and the UK, where women are going to the hospital to have their babies only to be turned away, and giving birth in stairwells and bathrooms instead, and wondering what's so great about that system. Canadians, and British, and people from around the world come to the U.S. to get better medical care, not the other way around. I wonder about why people like Michael J. Fox want the socialization of healthcare when it means that all the funding for research is going to get cut in order to cut down on costs.
Would socialized healthcare have saved Nikki? Possibly, though i have seen no proof that there was any medical care to help her. All of the surgeries she received were reportedly ineffectual. What i do know is that Nikki's surgeries got paid for by our tax dollars even without the reforms that my friend is supporting, and that if those reforms go through then all the coverage for my grandparents will immediately be cut and rationed. My grandparents have paid taxes their entire lives, who is my friend or the government to tell them that they are no longer worthy of full coverage just because they have grown old? Grandad doesn't deserve any healthcare because he's got dementia? If the government can take away coverage because of that, what is to stop them from taking coverage away from Nikki? For that matter, what is to stop them from forcing coverage on me when i do not want it and then jailing or fining me because i want to have my children at home, not circumcise them, not get them vaccinated, and not tie my tubes? What's to stop them from anything when they control our health, our very lives? What indeed.
To start off, this claim that about 1366 people in the U.S. are dying without healthcare every other month seems a bit steep. Where did that number come from? Did Mr. Kristof discover a source for that bit of info or did someone ad it onto the headline to catch interest and inflame people's sensibilities?
To sum up about Nikki (the 21 year old that the piece is about), she's a college grad with lupus that worked in healthcare that gradually got too sick to work so she lost her own healthcare. Kristof then brings up the author of a book who took up Nikki's plight (of course he's not trying to advertise said book, is he?), who says that Nikki couldn't find any new coverage because of her pre-existing condition. "She spent months painfully writing letters to anyone she thought might be able to help. She fought tenaciously for her life."
This flowery language draws sympathy but is weak in the facts department. One would think that because Nikki worked in the industry she would know a few things about keeping her coverage: the article makes it sound like she had the money to pay for it, after all. My question is, why didn't she use Cobra? That's how i paid for my wisdom teeth surgery after i quit working at KJCT. I find it hard to believe that she couldn't find one company to insure her or anyone else to help. There are other sources to consider such as research funds for those with Lupus, free hospitals/clinics, paying for her care out of pocket, and if she was truly disabled then drawing on disability from the government. Of course the next logical place to look for help would be the community: she could have tried raising the funds, asking for donations, seeking help at church, etc. A woman that goes to my church helped a friend raise money when that friend's daughter had cancer, and i am talking about extreme amounts of money, they were able to raise all the money. And, if all else fails, there is the emergency room, which is used every day by people that don't have an emergency but cannot afford medical insurance, often with no cost to the patient, just to the taxpayers.
Unfortunately, it seems as if Nikki liked writing letters until she was in pain more than the idea of actually getting care, because it wasn't until she "collapsed at her home" that she was "rushed to a hospital emergency room, which was then required to treat her without payment until her condition stabilized". By that point, her condition was apparently so bad that surgery wasn't enough... and died at the age of 32. Did you catch that? She lived 11 years after losing her job in the health care industry. She apparently had her own home. The medical workers were wonderful, but she "fell through the cracks."
Please don't misunderstand me, it's sad that she died at the age of 32... but the language that Mr. Kristof uses makes it sound like all of this happened overnight. She had ten years of her own choices that influnced what happened to her life. Mr. Kristof advises that it would have been better of her to rob a bank so she could get free healthcare (because it's so horrible the way we make sure our criminals stay healthy in the U.S.), i'm rather surprised he doesn't just advise her to move to Canada or the UK where they have this perfect healthcare system, where care is free for everyone, etc. My sympathies go out to her parents, but really... could this article be more overdramatic?
The saddest thing about this article is that the parents and author and columnist expect the government to fix the healthcare system. I am fully aware that such is the opinion of what must be done on one side of the issue. On the other side of the issue, we are looking at what the government has done with Social Security, the Stimulus package, etc., and are loudly saying keep your hands off. On this side, we are looking at countries such as Canada, where it takes weeks just to get to see a doctor, and the UK, where women are going to the hospital to have their babies only to be turned away, and giving birth in stairwells and bathrooms instead, and wondering what's so great about that system. Canadians, and British, and people from around the world come to the U.S. to get better medical care, not the other way around. I wonder about why people like Michael J. Fox want the socialization of healthcare when it means that all the funding for research is going to get cut in order to cut down on costs.
Would socialized healthcare have saved Nikki? Possibly, though i have seen no proof that there was any medical care to help her. All of the surgeries she received were reportedly ineffectual. What i do know is that Nikki's surgeries got paid for by our tax dollars even without the reforms that my friend is supporting, and that if those reforms go through then all the coverage for my grandparents will immediately be cut and rationed. My grandparents have paid taxes their entire lives, who is my friend or the government to tell them that they are no longer worthy of full coverage just because they have grown old? Grandad doesn't deserve any healthcare because he's got dementia? If the government can take away coverage because of that, what is to stop them from taking coverage away from Nikki? For that matter, what is to stop them from forcing coverage on me when i do not want it and then jailing or fining me because i want to have my children at home, not circumcise them, not get them vaccinated, and not tie my tubes? What's to stop them from anything when they control our health, our very lives? What indeed.
Saturday, September 26, 2009
state of training
Over the past six weeks i have been doing yoga two times a week and mountain biking 2-3 times a week (usually just two, but sometimes with another day thrown in). i still haven't figured out how to record my workouts online, but i have been working my butt off. But of course the mod is quickly coming to an end (i think there are two weeks left in it) so my thoughts are turning to what i'm going to do afterwards. i do not want to lose my newly acquired mountain biking skills, and would like to continue to improve, so i think i'm going to aim for doing that at least once a week. But my main goals, i think, should return to running. i've only been doing a bit of jogging here and there, not even getting out of breath, just putting on bursts of speed while crossing the street or parking lot, etc. Truth be told, i cannot believe how light on my feet i feel when i do so, possibly because i am now used to (well, forcing myself to) pedal up steep inclines with a backpack on or walking around campus with a backpack on. i think that i will do the Couch to 5k program again, this time focusing on speed more than endurance, at least in the first 5-6 weeks or so. i am still worried about the possibility of me having E.I.A. but i don't know when or if i'll be able to see a doctor about it anytime soon. i could go to the Marrilac clinic possibly, but i'm not sure when i'll find the time... maybe after the mod ends. Anyways, after the cruise my thoughts will probably turn to training for my next triathlon, but in the meantime i will continue to build from where i am and challenge myself.
Thursday, September 24, 2009
re: my recent weight gain
i have gained 3 pounds. One might think that this has made me upset, but it hasn't. You see, those 3 pounds are pure muscle. i haven't lost any inches around my waist according to the tape measure, but i have gained muscle there (i can open and close my belly button with my muscles now, it's really weird). For the first time since i started losing weight (a little over a year ago), my clothing is truly starting to get loose and fall off me. i have bought several pairs of size 16 pants, and the size 18's i bought right before school started are already getting looser.
Since i started this semester, i have decided that i do not want to be thin. i would like to be thinner, of course, but i do not wish to be a stick or a twig. All the Venuses that i have seen so far in my current art history class are HUGE; they used to be the ideal. Things have changed so very much! So many celebrities and models are too thin and it disgusts me. i will never be curvy, but i am curvier, as strange as that may sound (less flab, more feminine shape). i hope to never stop being an athlete, and i hope to never be so thin that you can see my ribs or washboard abs. Women are meant to be round: i embrace this. At the moment, i think i might be revising my goal to just get under 200, and then see where i go from there. i'm not sure that 165 is as feasible for me as it once was.
Since i started this semester, i have decided that i do not want to be thin. i would like to be thinner, of course, but i do not wish to be a stick or a twig. All the Venuses that i have seen so far in my current art history class are HUGE; they used to be the ideal. Things have changed so very much! So many celebrities and models are too thin and it disgusts me. i will never be curvy, but i am curvier, as strange as that may sound (less flab, more feminine shape). i hope to never stop being an athlete, and i hope to never be so thin that you can see my ribs or washboard abs. Women are meant to be round: i embrace this. At the moment, i think i might be revising my goal to just get under 200, and then see where i go from there. i'm not sure that 165 is as feasible for me as it once was.
exhausted
i used a gel at the beginning of mountain biking class today, and probably should have used one part of the way through as well. i forgot my ponytail holder, and was soooo hot, but i made it through the class, doing the same thing as the rest of the group the entire way. We had to walk our bikes part of the way (and some of us pushed them farther than others) because today we took a more difficult trail. i am vastly improved compared to where i started, but i still lack confidence when going downhill sometimes. What i am doing is rather unbelievable to me, and i'm actually reaching a point where i can tell myself: "Yes, you're scared, but you know how to do this. Don't tense up, just go with it." i have the tendency to lock up on the brakes, hold onto the handlebars for dear life when my hands should be relaxed (fingers extended and resting on the brakes), and mess up in places where i feel like i should be able to go, but i am improving. i am even able to go uphill more easily now, though i still have to push my bike a lot (the climbs in this area are brutal), i'm getting the technique down (i've discovered that i need to move forward in the seat but stay seated). Mom would be freaked out if she saw where i rode today, and i was at first, too, until i told myself to just ignore the drop off because to focus on it would guarantee that i would fall off the side of the hill. Right now, even though i'm improving, i'm concerned that i may have EIA (Exercise Induced Asthma), because sometimes after workouts i'm wheezy for several hours and have a bit of a cough (the day of the Highline Hustle and this past Tuesday come to mind). Anyway, i need to do some homework now and study for my first Art test tomorrow, but i thought i would check in.
On another note... i've been really wanting to write more on healthcare (besides the snippets on Facebook that are totally being taken out of context), but haven't found the time. Now it's been so long that it's sort of starting to feel like "What's the point?" But the fight is far from over. i've been wanting to start a podcast ever since the Fourth of July, too. The 5th of November is on the brain lately, as well.
On another note... i've been really wanting to write more on healthcare (besides the snippets on Facebook that are totally being taken out of context), but haven't found the time. Now it's been so long that it's sort of starting to feel like "What's the point?" But the fight is far from over. i've been wanting to start a podcast ever since the Fourth of July, too. The 5th of November is on the brain lately, as well.
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
tickets...
Today, we bought the (plane) tickets for our cruise of the Mediterranean (it's only two months away, now). i am so excited! i wanted to buy them Sunday night, but we actually saved money by buying them today, about $150 per ticket. i have a heinous headache, but the weather outside is cool and rainy, so i am ecstatic. i am so ready for fall.
Man, i really have a lot of schoolwork to get finished before the trip.
Man, i really have a lot of schoolwork to get finished before the trip.
Tuesday, September 08, 2009
i almost forgot!
Did i mention the girl in my class who i thought was going to be slower than me? She's not. Today, after she got her bike out of the back of the truck she carpools in, she rode up to me full tilt, skidded to a halt, and said loudly:
"I meant to tell you, I think you're a real inspiration!!!"
i was incredibly flattered and actually felt like i deserved the compliment, which is really unusual. It occurred to me today, when i was at the back of the pack again, my chain had slipped off, and i felt like i was about to hurl... i'm not used to riding with others, or running, or swimming. i have been training completely alone for almost a year now. i would like to be able to keep up with everyone, or even stay at the front of the pack. But my goal is always the same...
i'm not competing against anyone except my former self.
Maybe that will change in a year or two, but for now, it's working, so i'm sticking to it.
"I meant to tell you, I think you're a real inspiration!!!"
i was incredibly flattered and actually felt like i deserved the compliment, which is really unusual. It occurred to me today, when i was at the back of the pack again, my chain had slipped off, and i felt like i was about to hurl... i'm not used to riding with others, or running, or swimming. i have been training completely alone for almost a year now. i would like to be able to keep up with everyone, or even stay at the front of the pack. But my goal is always the same...
i'm not competing against anyone except my former self.
Maybe that will change in a year or two, but for now, it's working, so i'm sticking to it.
state of the education
Today Kristi learned that asking questions is answering questions! At least when a teacher does it!!! This is the complete opposite of what the same teacher taught her in her glorified grammar class, but there you go!
Today Kristi enjoyed yoga, but still finds it jarring when the class is trying to reach a meditative state and the instructor emphasizes "IN HALE" quite like a drill instructor!
Today Kristi got an A on her Photojournalism assignment!
Today Kristi didn't get injured in Mountain Biking! She was told to not take the extended loop with Throw-Up-Boy and Lose-Chain-Boy, and felt as if she could have ridden farther!
Today Kristi took her first test in World Geography and had a fascinating lecture on why communist countries have horrible pollution! She couldn't believe that the teacher sounded so conservative!
Today Kristi enjoyed yoga, but still finds it jarring when the class is trying to reach a meditative state and the instructor emphasizes "IN HALE" quite like a drill instructor!
Today Kristi got an A on her Photojournalism assignment!
Today Kristi didn't get injured in Mountain Biking! She was told to not take the extended loop with Throw-Up-Boy and Lose-Chain-Boy, and felt as if she could have ridden farther!
Today Kristi took her first test in World Geography and had a fascinating lecture on why communist countries have horrible pollution! She couldn't believe that the teacher sounded so conservative!
Sunday, September 06, 2009
wow, i'm speechless
i just heard about this video this week, but apparently it came out inauguration week. The video is, quite frankly, awe inspiringly scary. i do not quite know how to respond. Yes, i have a pledge, but it is quite, quite different from theirs.
i have been incredibly busy with school, barely getting assignments done, working more than i should, spending more than i should, and wondering what in the world i have gotten myself into. This was supposed to be the easy semester, i have largely been trying to ignore politics because i just do not have the time to properly inform myself and mount a defense, but... wow. How am i supposed to remain silent to what is happening? i am quite literally terrified for my family, friends, and self... no, for everyone. i wonder if these people still believe that Obama is as saint-like as they make him out to be in this video. i wonder if it is too late to stop what is happening, to get the truth out.
How is a young woman supposed to fight the darkness, support herself, finish college, and take a cruise? i've been doing a lot of inner inspection on these issues. Who am i, how can i change things? On the other hand, how can i remain silent, how could i not be going to these townhall meetings and taking a stand? i am, quite honestly, utterly clueless about what i should do. Right now i'm trying to wade through 1984, i hardly have the time. How am i supposed to take on more?
Tuesday, September 01, 2009
black and blue
Mountain bike class is proving to be frustrating. i am the slowest person in class. i was doing pretty good at the beginning (despite getting stuck in a rut and skinning my left knee at the beginning of the ride), but everyone but one guy took off. i held back so he wouldn't be alone... and then he just pushed past and left me in the dust! Later on when i finally caught up he said he felt sick, and i couldn't help but feel the slightest bit smug. It was hot (though cooler than last time), and about 2/3 of the way through i lost steam, was so hot, and then my body started freaking out and getting cold. i wasn't sure that i was going to make it, and once again it was just me and the teacher to the finish (well, he rode ahead and paused periodically, which is rude and not safe, but there you go). Then i accidentally locked my back break on the last big hill and my back tire skidded out, so i fell and scraped my right outer calf pretty bad. i was so frustrated, both by being left behind and not being able to keep up as well as the fact that everyone was too big of a jerk to wait for me. And of course at the end of the ride the teacher told me that i need to be riding more on the days that there is no class, but where am i supposed to find the time and how am i supposed to do that when i have NO ONE to go with me and you're always supposed to ride in a group of three.
So this afternoon was very frustrating, but i have already improved so much, my form is there i just need more endurance and practice. i'm sticking with the yoga class motto, though, which is something like: "I am not competing against anyone except my former self." In a way i am very proud of myself because a year ago i weighed 265 and there is no way that i would have been able to take this class. Now, i may be the heaviest person in the class, and i may be a bit slow, but i am totally kicking that girl's butt.
So this afternoon was very frustrating, but i have already improved so much, my form is there i just need more endurance and practice. i'm sticking with the yoga class motto, though, which is something like: "I am not competing against anyone except my former self." In a way i am very proud of myself because a year ago i weighed 265 and there is no way that i would have been able to take this class. Now, i may be the heaviest person in the class, and i may be a bit slow, but i am totally kicking that girl's butt.
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
undecided
i had a sleepy start today, mostly because i joined a group last night (while playing WoW) around 9:30 and before i knew it, it was already 2am! We got 2-3 achievements in H Nexus and i finally cleared H Occulus (another 2 achievements)! Now i only need to down Malygos to become a Champion of the Frozen Wastes. So i woke up after it was too late to leave for yoga (idk how i slept through 3 alarms, but i did), felt horrible, decided to sleep an extra hour, and got to Photojournalism a little tardy. The professor can be frustratingly confusing, but i am learning a lot in that class. i keep meaning to get Grandpa Jocko's camera out of the attic and figure out which shots it will be better for, but i'm still trying to figure out my digital camera! Today we went over f-stops again and progressed to shutter speeds. A lot of the information seems backwards to me, i hope it makes more sense once i get out there and start taking photos. i did figure out how to adjust some stuff on my camera though.
i'm undecided about trying to get workstudy. i keep going back and forth. ): Last night took forever, i hate working nights and having to clean up after the slobs i work with, but i can work there during Christmas break and Summer vacation, so idk. i wish i could get a raise, we're coming up on a year now.
i'm undecided about trying to get workstudy. i keep going back and forth. ): Last night took forever, i hate working nights and having to clean up after the slobs i work with, but i can work there during Christmas break and Summer vacation, so idk. i wish i could get a raise, we're coming up on a year now.
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
brag post
You all already know about my bike (at least if you were paying attention, if not, scroll down), i paid off the last of it on Friday. That wasn't all that i got, though. i also bought a new step-down-from-"gaming" pc and digital slr camera. Not only that but i have my old room back, a couple of new bras and pairs of blue jeans and tank tops, and the money set aside for my plain ticket to Barcelona. i feel like all i have done all weekend is spend money, but it sure makes me feel good to spend it. Now to buckle down again and save for shore excursions on the cruise.
back in class
As you have probably noticed, i've been pretty silent over the summer, mostly because i have been working and/or trying to figure out how to get the malware off my old laptop as opposed to listening to the radio as i go to class each day, training really hard for a triathlon, etc. i'm kind of out of the loop as far as politics right now, and most of my internet time has been devoted to playing WoW. But now school is back in session and things will probably be changing... including the leaves! It's hard to believe that the year 2009 is already over halfway over and it's almost FALL.
This semester i am going to try to have fun. As it turns out, i am retaking World Geography (i don't know that i'll ever retake Sociology, it was way too socialist for my taste), focusing on Photojournalism, and branching out with Yoga and Mountain Biking. i'm taking Art History (caveman days to Renaissance) for the minor i'll never finish and my sole English class is Language Systems and Linguistic Diversity. It's upper level and will be a nice elective to help out my upper level courses' gpa.
Thinking about a new blog name again... idk why i always feel the need to change it.
Oh, also, i have been biking all over campus, to Subway, and to the public library. It was nice and cool this morning but now i'm all tuckered out. The library is not cold today (like it was last spring! brrr), but it is quiet and cool.
This semester i am going to try to have fun. As it turns out, i am retaking World Geography (i don't know that i'll ever retake Sociology, it was way too socialist for my taste), focusing on Photojournalism, and branching out with Yoga and Mountain Biking. i'm taking Art History (caveman days to Renaissance) for the minor i'll never finish and my sole English class is Language Systems and Linguistic Diversity. It's upper level and will be a nice elective to help out my upper level courses' gpa.
Thinking about a new blog name again... idk why i always feel the need to change it.
Oh, also, i have been biking all over campus, to Subway, and to the public library. It was nice and cool this morning but now i'm all tuckered out. The library is not cold today (like it was last spring! brrr), but it is quiet and cool.
Thursday, June 25, 2009
kaching
Well today was the fourth day of VBS and especially stressful: i'm starting to just disconnect from it all, there's so much overload that i am opting to not go to parent's night tonight (this is also partially because i promised to be at a raid tonight in my new guild before i realized how late the program is starting). After VBS i felt a little shopping therapy was in order. First i went to Tangle and bought the size 4 dpns that i've been putting off for two months. Then i went and browsed at Brown Cycles (they have two locations now, with new bikes at the original store and used bicycles sold on consignment at Dirty Brown Cycles around the corner), but i didn't really like what i saw (the bikes were super expensive and i didn't like the feel of the store to be perfectly honest).
Next i went to the downtown post office and filled out the paperwork for my passport. i had my picture taken and then wrote a check, which they stapled to my application and birth certificate. That is supposed to take a month to arrive. The whole thing was rather anti-climactic.
i went to REI next because i had seen a lot of neat bags that customers have carried from there. i found several that i liked, but i didn't care for their pricetag; i just do not have the budget for a $40-60 purse. The passport carriers (both waist and around the neck varieties that are meant to be worn under clothing) were both overpriced and bleh. They came in tan and black and ranged from $15-35, but all looked like they had shoddy construction (many of the belts were merely cheap elastic). i feel that i could sew something myself for much cheaper that would be prettier and more comfortable. i did kind of like the oversized hiking fanny packs, but they were overpriced as well, some were uncomfortable, and the small cheap ones were UGLY. So i ended up buying nothing whatsoever. i'm wondering if i cannot use a purse, if i must have a fanny pack or cash hidden under my clothing, as it seems a little extreme to be tying a cord around my neck that i can be choked with for my cash and will, in fact, be visible even if it is tucked under my clothing.
Lastly i went to the Bike Shop and spoke with yet another sales person. i think the girl that i spoke to originally no longer works there. After test riding the same bike as last time, one a size smaller, and two other brands' hardtails, i finally decided to put a bike on layaway. The small Diamondback Response Comp '08 is apparently a better quality bike for less than a Cannondale would be, though it is also a bit heavier. The size was perfect and i loved riding it around campus, though of course i did not get to test it on any hills, there was plenty of rough terrain in the temporary parking lots. It doesn't have the trigger shifter that i really liked, but one where you shift only with your thumbs, but of course that means that i never need to take my fingers off the brakes. i feel kind of reckless buying it so suddenly, but it's the only model they have, it fits me perfectly, it's a nicer model for cheaper than the comparable Cannondale, and it's an '08 (so once it's gone, it's gone). The bike even looks good dusty. i didn't expect to purchase a red bike, but it's kind of a rusty color that is okay.
In other news i'm starting to wonder if i should start biking to work and school, if it's even possible without me getting up at 5 a.m. Meh, moving forward, right? i'm not sure if i'll be in a race in July, but i'm planning to be in at least one more race this season and continue training this fall and winter.
Next i went to the downtown post office and filled out the paperwork for my passport. i had my picture taken and then wrote a check, which they stapled to my application and birth certificate. That is supposed to take a month to arrive. The whole thing was rather anti-climactic.
i went to REI next because i had seen a lot of neat bags that customers have carried from there. i found several that i liked, but i didn't care for their pricetag; i just do not have the budget for a $40-60 purse. The passport carriers (both waist and around the neck varieties that are meant to be worn under clothing) were both overpriced and bleh. They came in tan and black and ranged from $15-35, but all looked like they had shoddy construction (many of the belts were merely cheap elastic). i feel that i could sew something myself for much cheaper that would be prettier and more comfortable. i did kind of like the oversized hiking fanny packs, but they were overpriced as well, some were uncomfortable, and the small cheap ones were UGLY. So i ended up buying nothing whatsoever. i'm wondering if i cannot use a purse, if i must have a fanny pack or cash hidden under my clothing, as it seems a little extreme to be tying a cord around my neck that i can be choked with for my cash and will, in fact, be visible even if it is tucked under my clothing.
Lastly i went to the Bike Shop and spoke with yet another sales person. i think the girl that i spoke to originally no longer works there. After test riding the same bike as last time, one a size smaller, and two other brands' hardtails, i finally decided to put a bike on layaway. The small Diamondback Response Comp '08 is apparently a better quality bike for less than a Cannondale would be, though it is also a bit heavier. The size was perfect and i loved riding it around campus, though of course i did not get to test it on any hills, there was plenty of rough terrain in the temporary parking lots. It doesn't have the trigger shifter that i really liked, but one where you shift only with your thumbs, but of course that means that i never need to take my fingers off the brakes. i feel kind of reckless buying it so suddenly, but it's the only model they have, it fits me perfectly, it's a nicer model for cheaper than the comparable Cannondale, and it's an '08 (so once it's gone, it's gone). The bike even looks good dusty. i didn't expect to purchase a red bike, but it's kind of a rusty color that is okay.
In other news i'm starting to wonder if i should start biking to work and school, if it's even possible without me getting up at 5 a.m. Meh, moving forward, right? i'm not sure if i'll be in a race in July, but i'm planning to be in at least one more race this season and continue training this fall and winter.
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Recovery
All told, my recovery hasn't been bad. i'm curious about what my weight was before and directly after the race, but i have no way of knowing. On Sunday evening my knees were extremely tired. i went to City Market and got some hot chicken wings for a reward (and protein!). Then i went to a movie, had a medium popcorn (Carkmike popcorn is nasty stuff, as it turns out) to carbo reload, and fell asleep at 9 p.m. That is really unusual for me. Other than the knees my only real complaint was a slight cough and runny nose, probably from the swim in the lake (i almost swallowed a mouthful of water while trying to take a breath, remember?).
On Sunday there wasn't a trace of pain in my knees, which surprised me but enabled me to be up and down with the rest of the congregation, my only real pain was soreness in my right wrist. i'm guessing this is fatigue from the bike ride, but i've been knitting with the wrist, so it's kind of holding on. i kind of wish i knew where my needlework wrist brace is, but i think it's at Megan's, and it's really not that bad, just annoying. Breakfast was light fare for me, a big chunk of cheese and some bread that i gave half of away since the kids apparently hadn't had any breakfast. During church i finished the first sleeve of my Fair Ginny sweater; after church was a VBS meeting and then Mom and i had to wait for Dad to come pick us up to go to 4-H, where there was going to be a potluck. i was extremely hungry and starting to feel weak, and wasn't at all happy about not having anything to drink, at the least. i ate a lot of lunch, which was watermelon, pasta salad, fruit salad, bread, lemon cake, lemon meringue pie, coconut cream pie, and minute quantities of chocolate (goat) milk and ginger tea (which i had thought was lemonade and am not a fan of).
Sunday night i wasn't able to fall asleep until at least 2 a.m. Monday morning (and again last night/this morning... i'm not sure why i'm getting insomnia again), which isn't very good because i had to be at work at 10 a.m. Monday was my sorest day, kind of a general overall soreness that seemed to be exacerbated by standing all day and lots of squatting to retrieve paper (to wrap with), paper bags, and things like scissors and post its and exchange cards. One man got really mad at me, ranted and raved, and made me feel weird in the chest. He accused me of "just ignoring" his complaints, but would not even let me get a word in edgewise to respond. i hate it when customers are unreasonable. It's not my fault that Day'lah refuses to price products in the jewelry department and that the Lori from crafts was forced to do a pricecheck for me while running another register (the issue was that she said, "That costs $3.99... i think," which did turn out to be the correct price, but he was irate about being an uncertain).
i have the next two days off and would like to take a short bike ride perhaps, but i'm not sure my body is really ready for it. i'm petsitting for the next two days, which means internet and cable access, and i'm wary about returning to my training too soon and getting injured. My real consideration at the moment is, what do i train for next? i'd like to resume my training next week, which may be impossible with both work and VBS. There's an Olympic length triathlon at Highline Lake in 13 weeks, which would allow for 12 weeks of training, can i accomplish that? i went from 0-600m swims and 0-20 mi. rides in 10 weeks, can i go from 600-1500m swims, 20-30 mile rides, and 3-7 mile runs in 12 weeks? After reading Weakness Not Strengths i think i need to focus on biking the most, then running, then swimming, but i'm not sure how increasing my running will go, so i might have to focus on it more than i think. i'm also not sure if i really need to focus on biking a lot or just really need a new bike, it's hard to say how i would have done on a new one. My cadence seems to be strong, if i could keep it consistent and bring it up 5-10 rpms i would theoretically tear through the competition (but i'm not holding my breath on that, i cannot imagine being competitive on the bike, i simply have never done it competitively).
On Sunday the Sunday school class has been very supportive, and the teacher said maybe they could sponsor my race entries. i need to get a new bike, but first i need to get a passport for the cruise this fall. The hardest thing about doing triathlons is going to be paying for pool access/gym membership, entry fees, and hotel rooms for out of town races. i really don't think i want to compete in the Denver area right now, but i am considering races in Leadville July 19, Durango August 1, Glenwood Springs September 13, and of course the Western Colorado Triathlon September 19 (i obviously wouldn't be competing in both Glenwood Springs and at Highline again). These are all cheap races that sound small and are relatively nearby. Anyway, am going to ask for advice at the BeginnerTriathlete forums, but i'm not holding my breath on a reply, i don't seem to get good results there.
On Sunday there wasn't a trace of pain in my knees, which surprised me but enabled me to be up and down with the rest of the congregation, my only real pain was soreness in my right wrist. i'm guessing this is fatigue from the bike ride, but i've been knitting with the wrist, so it's kind of holding on. i kind of wish i knew where my needlework wrist brace is, but i think it's at Megan's, and it's really not that bad, just annoying. Breakfast was light fare for me, a big chunk of cheese and some bread that i gave half of away since the kids apparently hadn't had any breakfast. During church i finished the first sleeve of my Fair Ginny sweater; after church was a VBS meeting and then Mom and i had to wait for Dad to come pick us up to go to 4-H, where there was going to be a potluck. i was extremely hungry and starting to feel weak, and wasn't at all happy about not having anything to drink, at the least. i ate a lot of lunch, which was watermelon, pasta salad, fruit salad, bread, lemon cake, lemon meringue pie, coconut cream pie, and minute quantities of chocolate (goat) milk and ginger tea (which i had thought was lemonade and am not a fan of).
Sunday night i wasn't able to fall asleep until at least 2 a.m. Monday morning (and again last night/this morning... i'm not sure why i'm getting insomnia again), which isn't very good because i had to be at work at 10 a.m. Monday was my sorest day, kind of a general overall soreness that seemed to be exacerbated by standing all day and lots of squatting to retrieve paper (to wrap with), paper bags, and things like scissors and post its and exchange cards. One man got really mad at me, ranted and raved, and made me feel weird in the chest. He accused me of "just ignoring" his complaints, but would not even let me get a word in edgewise to respond. i hate it when customers are unreasonable. It's not my fault that Day'lah refuses to price products in the jewelry department and that the Lori from crafts was forced to do a pricecheck for me while running another register (the issue was that she said, "That costs $3.99... i think," which did turn out to be the correct price, but he was irate about being an uncertain).
i have the next two days off and would like to take a short bike ride perhaps, but i'm not sure my body is really ready for it. i'm petsitting for the next two days, which means internet and cable access, and i'm wary about returning to my training too soon and getting injured. My real consideration at the moment is, what do i train for next? i'd like to resume my training next week, which may be impossible with both work and VBS. There's an Olympic length triathlon at Highline Lake in 13 weeks, which would allow for 12 weeks of training, can i accomplish that? i went from 0-600m swims and 0-20 mi. rides in 10 weeks, can i go from 600-1500m swims, 20-30 mile rides, and 3-7 mile runs in 12 weeks? After reading Weakness Not Strengths i think i need to focus on biking the most, then running, then swimming, but i'm not sure how increasing my running will go, so i might have to focus on it more than i think. i'm also not sure if i really need to focus on biking a lot or just really need a new bike, it's hard to say how i would have done on a new one. My cadence seems to be strong, if i could keep it consistent and bring it up 5-10 rpms i would theoretically tear through the competition (but i'm not holding my breath on that, i cannot imagine being competitive on the bike, i simply have never done it competitively).
On Sunday the Sunday school class has been very supportive, and the teacher said maybe they could sponsor my race entries. i need to get a new bike, but first i need to get a passport for the cruise this fall. The hardest thing about doing triathlons is going to be paying for pool access/gym membership, entry fees, and hotel rooms for out of town races. i really don't think i want to compete in the Denver area right now, but i am considering races in Leadville July 19, Durango August 1, Glenwood Springs September 13, and of course the Western Colorado Triathlon September 19 (i obviously wouldn't be competing in both Glenwood Springs and at Highline again). These are all cheap races that sound small and are relatively nearby. Anyway, am going to ask for advice at the BeginnerTriathlete forums, but i'm not holding my breath on a reply, i don't seem to get good results there.
Saturday, June 13, 2009
Tri Training Rundown (the final report)
Farthest Distance in a Single Workout
Cumulative Distance
formula ~ April + May + June = total mileage
Swimming ~ 1.23 mi. + 1.99 mi. + 0.74 mi. = 3.96 miles
Biking ~ 49.32 mi. + 88.65 mi. + 37.9 mi. = 175.87 miles
Running/Walking ~ 21.72 mi. + 21.81 mi. + 2 mi. = 45.53 miles
Total Distance ~ 72.27 mi. + 112.45 mi. + 40.64 mi. = 225.36 miles
Cumulative Distance
formula ~ April + May + June = total mileage
Swimming ~ 1.23 mi. + 1.99 mi. + 0.74 mi. = 3.96 miles
Biking ~ 49.32 mi. + 88.65 mi. + 37.9 mi. = 175.87 miles
Running/Walking ~ 21.72 mi. + 21.81 mi. + 2 mi. = 45.53 miles
Total Distance ~ 72.27 mi. + 112.45 mi. + 40.64 mi. = 225.36 miles
Race Results!
Kristine Senko 200/203
Female 94/96
25-29 17/17
Swim 17:17 T1 1:54 Bike 1:23:39 T2 1:12 Run 47:54
Overall 2:31:55
Pace 15:27
This morning i woke up at the ungodly hour of 5 a.m. (; i left the house at 5:35 and reached Highline Lake at 6:28. i was in heat two (out of two), so we started swimming at 7:35. i didn't get nervous until about 7:31 (wading in after the first heat took off), at which point i breathed through it and said a little prayer. By the time i remembered my first gel (energy shot) i was already at the start and had no water with me, so i decided to have it after getting on my bike. The swim was utter chaos, i kept getting stuck behind people and not being able to go around them. As a result i did the breast stroke more than i intended to, but i got to draft off them. There was one mouthful of water that i spat out after a particularly large splash, and i didn't even freak about it, i just kept going. The distance from the water to transition was actually pretty far, i probably swam with an actual time of closer to sixteen minutes. i feel really good about how the swam went, i didn't panic, i kept my face in the water a lot (using a 2 stroke breathing technique), i felt strong. On the swim i was 153/203 (11/17), with a pace of 55:34, so i was passed by almost 50 people during the bike ride (i passed one guy on the bike, but then he passed me in the final stretch. i was quicker in T2, but he passed me again running).
Transition 1 was slower than i would have liked, and i'm not sure why other than the fact that i didn't run the entire way through the zone and the fact that the zone was so large. Actually, the bike computer fell out of one of my gloves as i was putting it on, i had forgotten to put it on the bike ahead of time, so that kind of slowed me down. However, taking only my transition time into account i was 58/203, so i feel pretty good about that! Even though the water was a warm 69 (it had to have been way colder than that last Sunday) i was one of the only people not wearing a wetsuit: i think a wetsuit would not have helped my swim enough to make it worth the extra time in transition, i would have been too hot and it would have taken me too long to take it off.
Let me just reiterate that i hate this bike route. There were three big hills, and i did alright on them, not great, but i got passed so much, but really do not think i could have pedaled faster. i kept telling myself that i wasn't racing against all of the thin people, i was racing against myself. About 2/3 through i started seeing spots and took my second gel about fifteen minutes early; that helped, but i still felt like i needed more energy for the run, and my left knee and hip were experiencing pain. i hopped off my bike jogging, ending dead last, with a pace of 05:13.
Transition 2 took me longer than it should have because i took the time to talk to my family while grabbing my stuff. They hadn't gotten to the park in time to see me get into or out of the water. As a matter of fact i passed Dad and Sammy on the road, and Mom, Aunt Polly, and Katie (i think... it's sort of a blur) were standing by the fence taking photos. i didn't remember to tell them that there weren't supposed to be any photos taken of people in transition until i was jogging off. My transition zone was 84/203 (12/17), i could have done better.
When i got to the sidewalk i started to walk. As i said, my knee was bothering me, and i needed to bring my heartrate down. When i got to dirt, i jogged, starting my interval timer, but walked across the asphalt. i did not get through my entire first 10 minute running. During my first one minute walk interval i had another gel and drank some water. i started running again after a minute but discovered that the rest wasn't quite long enough, so walked for about a minute and a half. so i ran about eight and a half minutes, walked through my second interval (plus 1 1/2 minutes), and ran for about six-seven minutes before reaching asphalt. i think this is right, i feel a little fuzzy on the details. Basically, i did poorly in mile one, better in mile two (which seemed to take forever), and was strong in mile three. There was a really big hill right after mile three (to get on top of the dam) that i walked up, then for about 20 more seconds, before running to the finish line, ignoring my last 1 minute walk. Abby, Polly, and Daniel ran with me part of the last .1 miles, and we passed Dad, then a cheering group of Mom, Aunt Polly, Katie, and Sammy, and i actually kind of sprinted up the final grassy hill through the chute. i was really out of breath when they took off my anklet, i kind of scared one woman by taking a couple of steps backwards, i think she thought i was going to pass out. i wasn't lightheaded, but i couldn't talk very well. My running pace was 15:26. As i noted earlier, i finished 200/203 and 17/17, which i'm not too happy about, but i am glad that i didn't finish last. i feel badly, however, because there was a woman that finished behind me because she had forgotten her inhaler and had to walk the entire run. She was behind me in line for the food and said that she felt like she had the energy, but she couldn't breathe.
i walked back into the transition zone, had my last gel, and some water, talked to my family, and we carried all my gear back to the car. The lunch was subpar in my opinion, an extremely bland sandwich, chips, cup of pasta salad, and a pickle. They didn't even provide water to drink! i had chicken salad, people were upset that there was no vegetarian option, and could have chosen a cup of fruit but i probably wouldn't have liked that better than the pasta. i left the park shortly after 11:30. i've peed a ton, taken some advil for the joint pain, have a slight headache, and think that i will go see Wolverine after a shower and changing. i must stink, but i can't smell it, just the bug repellent i put on after putting my bike in the car (i got bit by a mosquito setting up my transition, right on the buttock, but never had time to scratch).
So, overall... yeah it's disappointing that i didn't do better, but at least i wasn't 603/606 (last year there was over 600). i was faster than one of the teams! Dad said my tires were low, i had aired them up beforehand but they seem to have a leak, so that didn't help. i think getting a new bike, one that's lighter and that i have smooth tires for, would help a lot. Mom's chain is kind of rusty and her gears aren't the best (though i like her bike a lot better than Dad's). The swim and run i feel good about, i think i will improve upon losing more weight and having more training. It's hard to believe that i did this after training for only 10 weeks. My run was probably stronger today than the fresh run at Girls on the Run was! i totally could not have finished this without the Clif Energy Shots, and maybe i would have done better if i had been fully rested (instead of standing on my feet for seven hours yesterday and getting less than five hours sleep), but i am so glad that i finished today, no matter what my place. i did better than J.D. on Scrubs, i finished on my own two legs! Yeah, i'm pretty happy about how i did, i'm sure that i can do better next year, right now i'm just wondering what race to do next, because i doubt that i can do an Olympic event in three months, but i would like to do another Sprint or two this year.
Female 94/96
25-29 17/17
Swim 17:17 T1 1:54 Bike 1:23:39 T2 1:12 Run 47:54
Overall 2:31:55
Pace 15:27
This morning i woke up at the ungodly hour of 5 a.m. (; i left the house at 5:35 and reached Highline Lake at 6:28. i was in heat two (out of two), so we started swimming at 7:35. i didn't get nervous until about 7:31 (wading in after the first heat took off), at which point i breathed through it and said a little prayer. By the time i remembered my first gel (energy shot) i was already at the start and had no water with me, so i decided to have it after getting on my bike. The swim was utter chaos, i kept getting stuck behind people and not being able to go around them. As a result i did the breast stroke more than i intended to, but i got to draft off them. There was one mouthful of water that i spat out after a particularly large splash, and i didn't even freak about it, i just kept going. The distance from the water to transition was actually pretty far, i probably swam with an actual time of closer to sixteen minutes. i feel really good about how the swam went, i didn't panic, i kept my face in the water a lot (using a 2 stroke breathing technique), i felt strong. On the swim i was 153/203 (11/17), with a pace of 55:34, so i was passed by almost 50 people during the bike ride (i passed one guy on the bike, but then he passed me in the final stretch. i was quicker in T2, but he passed me again running).
Transition 1 was slower than i would have liked, and i'm not sure why other than the fact that i didn't run the entire way through the zone and the fact that the zone was so large. Actually, the bike computer fell out of one of my gloves as i was putting it on, i had forgotten to put it on the bike ahead of time, so that kind of slowed me down. However, taking only my transition time into account i was 58/203, so i feel pretty good about that! Even though the water was a warm 69 (it had to have been way colder than that last Sunday) i was one of the only people not wearing a wetsuit: i think a wetsuit would not have helped my swim enough to make it worth the extra time in transition, i would have been too hot and it would have taken me too long to take it off.
Let me just reiterate that i hate this bike route. There were three big hills, and i did alright on them, not great, but i got passed so much, but really do not think i could have pedaled faster. i kept telling myself that i wasn't racing against all of the thin people, i was racing against myself. About 2/3 through i started seeing spots and took my second gel about fifteen minutes early; that helped, but i still felt like i needed more energy for the run, and my left knee and hip were experiencing pain. i hopped off my bike jogging, ending dead last, with a pace of 05:13.
Transition 2 took me longer than it should have because i took the time to talk to my family while grabbing my stuff. They hadn't gotten to the park in time to see me get into or out of the water. As a matter of fact i passed Dad and Sammy on the road, and Mom, Aunt Polly, and Katie (i think... it's sort of a blur) were standing by the fence taking photos. i didn't remember to tell them that there weren't supposed to be any photos taken of people in transition until i was jogging off. My transition zone was 84/203 (12/17), i could have done better.
When i got to the sidewalk i started to walk. As i said, my knee was bothering me, and i needed to bring my heartrate down. When i got to dirt, i jogged, starting my interval timer, but walked across the asphalt. i did not get through my entire first 10 minute running. During my first one minute walk interval i had another gel and drank some water. i started running again after a minute but discovered that the rest wasn't quite long enough, so walked for about a minute and a half. so i ran about eight and a half minutes, walked through my second interval (plus 1 1/2 minutes), and ran for about six-seven minutes before reaching asphalt. i think this is right, i feel a little fuzzy on the details. Basically, i did poorly in mile one, better in mile two (which seemed to take forever), and was strong in mile three. There was a really big hill right after mile three (to get on top of the dam) that i walked up, then for about 20 more seconds, before running to the finish line, ignoring my last 1 minute walk. Abby, Polly, and Daniel ran with me part of the last .1 miles, and we passed Dad, then a cheering group of Mom, Aunt Polly, Katie, and Sammy, and i actually kind of sprinted up the final grassy hill through the chute. i was really out of breath when they took off my anklet, i kind of scared one woman by taking a couple of steps backwards, i think she thought i was going to pass out. i wasn't lightheaded, but i couldn't talk very well. My running pace was 15:26. As i noted earlier, i finished 200/203 and 17/17, which i'm not too happy about, but i am glad that i didn't finish last. i feel badly, however, because there was a woman that finished behind me because she had forgotten her inhaler and had to walk the entire run. She was behind me in line for the food and said that she felt like she had the energy, but she couldn't breathe.
i walked back into the transition zone, had my last gel, and some water, talked to my family, and we carried all my gear back to the car. The lunch was subpar in my opinion, an extremely bland sandwich, chips, cup of pasta salad, and a pickle. They didn't even provide water to drink! i had chicken salad, people were upset that there was no vegetarian option, and could have chosen a cup of fruit but i probably wouldn't have liked that better than the pasta. i left the park shortly after 11:30. i've peed a ton, taken some advil for the joint pain, have a slight headache, and think that i will go see Wolverine after a shower and changing. i must stink, but i can't smell it, just the bug repellent i put on after putting my bike in the car (i got bit by a mosquito setting up my transition, right on the buttock, but never had time to scratch).
So, overall... yeah it's disappointing that i didn't do better, but at least i wasn't 603/606 (last year there was over 600). i was faster than one of the teams! Dad said my tires were low, i had aired them up beforehand but they seem to have a leak, so that didn't help. i think getting a new bike, one that's lighter and that i have smooth tires for, would help a lot. Mom's chain is kind of rusty and her gears aren't the best (though i like her bike a lot better than Dad's). The swim and run i feel good about, i think i will improve upon losing more weight and having more training. It's hard to believe that i did this after training for only 10 weeks. My run was probably stronger today than the fresh run at Girls on the Run was! i totally could not have finished this without the Clif Energy Shots, and maybe i would have done better if i had been fully rested (instead of standing on my feet for seven hours yesterday and getting less than five hours sleep), but i am so glad that i finished today, no matter what my place. i did better than J.D. on Scrubs, i finished on my own two legs! Yeah, i'm pretty happy about how i did, i'm sure that i can do better next year, right now i'm just wondering what race to do next, because i doubt that i can do an Olympic event in three months, but i would like to do another Sprint or two this year.
Thursday, June 11, 2009
race packet today!
So i went to Grand Junction Parks & Rec during lunch and picked up my race packet. i'm number 151 and am in heat 2, which pretty much guarantees that people will be passing me all day long. Inside my packet there was my t-shirt, swim cap, racing bib, a coupon for the Bike Shop and a Road ID, and an ad for an Olympic-length triathlon at Highline Lake in September. It is a .9 miles swim, 25 mile ride, and 6.2 mile run. Depending on how much it costs i may be interested in closing out my season with said race; my biggest challenge would most likely be the run.
After work i went to Adventure Sports and tried on a couple of wetsuits. i got one all the way on, but it was a men's suit and fit badly. i bought neoprene socks and gloves instead, since that's where i get coldest. If i race in September i will probably rent a suit, but hopefully by then i will have lost more weight. They did not have a shorty suit in my size (which is what i wanted), though that was one of the suits i tried on, i could not get it to zip up in back. i must say that wetsuits are really hard to get on, really hot, but are easy to take off. If i ever buy a suit i want it to be triathlon specific.
Next i went to the grocery store and bought Gatorade (it was on sale, so cheaper than Powerade) and water. i also bought some bread, lunch meat (Hormel's Deli Smoked Turkey with no preservatives), organic yogurt for Saturday breakfast (key lime with a kangaroo on front), Oroweat potato bread, Mission chips, Salsa Casera (Medium), natural sour cream, and two avocados. i want to eat healthy and fuel up for the race. i'm going to watch the video at BeginnerTriathletes.com about fueling for a race after starting a load of laundry.
As it turns out, the campground at Highline Lake is full. i'm not really surprised, but it is disappointing, because it means that i will have to get up at 5 a.m. to get there by the time / shortly after check in starts. i'm not really sure what to do to prepare for race day now except rest, eat a lot, and make sure i have everything packed and ready to go. Other purchases today were a small bag to put my gel shots in (i can velcro it to the handlebars), a white visor that i dyed turquoise with some fabric tie dye spray paint, and a silver paint marker to write my name on all of my gear.
i feel ready but wish i would have gotten more workouts in this week: of course, i'm working really long hours (an extra day this week, and two of my shifts were eight hours rather than 6-7). i'm really excited, but the nerves haven't hit yet. That was the worst thing about competing in swim team, i would basically stop breathing right before a race and have to force myself to breathe. i want to make sure i get to the lake early so i can set up my transitions and go to the bathroom and warm up and feel prepared. i sure hope this goes better than the Girls on the Run 5k did.
After work i went to Adventure Sports and tried on a couple of wetsuits. i got one all the way on, but it was a men's suit and fit badly. i bought neoprene socks and gloves instead, since that's where i get coldest. If i race in September i will probably rent a suit, but hopefully by then i will have lost more weight. They did not have a shorty suit in my size (which is what i wanted), though that was one of the suits i tried on, i could not get it to zip up in back. i must say that wetsuits are really hard to get on, really hot, but are easy to take off. If i ever buy a suit i want it to be triathlon specific.
Next i went to the grocery store and bought Gatorade (it was on sale, so cheaper than Powerade) and water. i also bought some bread, lunch meat (Hormel's Deli Smoked Turkey with no preservatives), organic yogurt for Saturday breakfast (key lime with a kangaroo on front), Oroweat potato bread, Mission chips, Salsa Casera (Medium), natural sour cream, and two avocados. i want to eat healthy and fuel up for the race. i'm going to watch the video at BeginnerTriathletes.com about fueling for a race after starting a load of laundry.
As it turns out, the campground at Highline Lake is full. i'm not really surprised, but it is disappointing, because it means that i will have to get up at 5 a.m. to get there by the time / shortly after check in starts. i'm not really sure what to do to prepare for race day now except rest, eat a lot, and make sure i have everything packed and ready to go. Other purchases today were a small bag to put my gel shots in (i can velcro it to the handlebars), a white visor that i dyed turquoise with some fabric tie dye spray paint, and a silver paint marker to write my name on all of my gear.
i feel ready but wish i would have gotten more workouts in this week: of course, i'm working really long hours (an extra day this week, and two of my shifts were eight hours rather than 6-7). i'm really excited, but the nerves haven't hit yet. That was the worst thing about competing in swim team, i would basically stop breathing right before a race and have to force myself to breathe. i want to make sure i get to the lake early so i can set up my transitions and go to the bathroom and warm up and feel prepared. i sure hope this goes better than the Girls on the Run 5k did.
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Race Week
My knees have been kind of sore after Sunday's extreme workout and the past two days' headaches haven't helped my training schedule. Today i went to the Bike Shop for my energy shots (Espresso, Mocha, and Strawberry, the extra umph of caffeine helps), then walked all over Wal-Mart and the mall looking for a visor that i liked (the only one i could find that i liked was Under Armor and cost $22.99, so it was a wee bit outside my budget)... but not after test riding a couple of bikes! That's right, it's so weird for me, but i asked about which bike would be best for my purposes and discovered that i can buy a really good Cannondale mountain bike for about $450 (it's not great, or top of the line, but it's good enough). This bike is lighter than Mom's, has a cool shifting setup, and felt great to ride (at least around the parking lot). i assumed that i would have to buy someone's used bike to avoid paying around $2000 at the Bike Shop, but it turns out that such is not the case. So i should be able to easily save that much money by the beginning of the fall semester.
So, when i got home, i wasn't feeling at peak condition, but i really wanted to take a bike ride because the weather is so nice. i decided to test Mom and Dad's bikes against each other. i didn't use the computer, but the results are as follows:
Race Week - Dad's Bike
Start: 20:17:00
End: 20:35:00
Time Taken: 00:18:00
Total Distance: 3.20 mi.
Pace: 05:37 (avg)
Speed: 10.68 (mi/hr) (avg)
Mom's Bike
Start: 20:40:00
End: 20:57:00
Time Taken: 00:17:00
Total Distance: 3.20 mi.
Pace: 05:17 (avg)
Speed: 11.31 (mi/hr) (avg)
i would just like to add that the wind was blowing a bit harder on the second leg than the first, and that i'm definitely more comfortable on Mom's bike than Dad's. Of course, as the former Marshmallow would say, "It's not the bike, it's the engine."
So, when i got home, i wasn't feeling at peak condition, but i really wanted to take a bike ride because the weather is so nice. i decided to test Mom and Dad's bikes against each other. i didn't use the computer, but the results are as follows:
Race Week - Dad's Bike
Start: 20:17:00
End: 20:35:00
Time Taken: 00:18:00
Total Distance: 3.20 mi.
Pace: 05:37 (avg)
Speed: 10.68 (mi/hr) (avg)
Mom's Bike
Start: 20:40:00
End: 20:57:00
Time Taken: 00:17:00
Total Distance: 3.20 mi.
Pace: 05:17 (avg)
Speed: 11.31 (mi/hr) (avg)
i would just like to add that the wind was blowing a bit harder on the second leg than the first, and that i'm definitely more comfortable on Mom's bike than Dad's. Of course, as the former Marshmallow would say, "It's not the bike, it's the engine."
what a weird day
i didn't work out today. i wanted to, but i felt really horrible due to a horrific sinus headache that left me feeling nauseous and light / sound sensitive for most of the day. i went shopping with Mom instead for VBS decorations (the theme is Australia... got to say that like they do in the Outback commercials! Awww Strail Ee Uhh).
i finally broke down and started making a list of things i need to have ready on race day turning check in:
to wear
bra
top
shorts
sunscreen
watch set with 10/1 intervals (for the run leg)
goggles
swim cap (will be provided)
race chip (apparently an ankle strap?)
first transition
water to rinse feet / towel to stand on
socks
shoes
shades
helmet and gloves
energy shots
full camelbak
bike (duh)
second transition
race belt w/ number
water and powerade for run
hat or visor
i'm completely torn about whether i should try to rent a wetsuit. i really don't see when i would go shopping for one as i'm working a lot over the next couple of days: Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday. In fact, i should be going to bed right now, but i think i'm going to take a shower first.
i finally broke down and started making a list of things i need to have ready on race day turning check in:
to wear
bra
top
shorts
sunscreen
watch set with 10/1 intervals (for the run leg)
goggles
swim cap (will be provided)
race chip (apparently an ankle strap?)
first transition
water to rinse feet / towel to stand on
socks
shoes
shades
helmet and gloves
energy shots
full camelbak
bike (duh)
second transition
race belt w/ number
water and powerade for run
hat or visor
i'm completely torn about whether i should try to rent a wetsuit. i really don't see when i would go shopping for one as i'm working a lot over the next couple of days: Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday. In fact, i should be going to bed right now, but i think i'm going to take a shower first.
Tuesday, June 09, 2009
race day weather forecast
Details for Loma, CO (from Weather.com)
Saturday, June 13
Partly Cloudy
High 83°F
Precip: 10%
Wind: S 13 mph
Max. Humidity: 25%
UV Index: 9 Very High
Sunrise: 5:49 AM MT
Avg. High: 87°F
Record High: 98°F (1956)
The best news, quite honestly, is that 13 mph wind. i don't think i could survive another headwind like on Sunday.
Saturday, June 13
Partly Cloudy
High 83°F
Precip: 10%
Wind: S 13 mph
Max. Humidity: 25%
UV Index: 9 Very High
Sunrise: 5:49 AM MT
Avg. High: 87°F
Record High: 98°F (1956)
The best news, quite honestly, is that 13 mph wind. i don't think i could survive another headwind like on Sunday.
Saturday, June 06, 2009
TriNewb W10D3... 500m swim!
i swam 500m straight today! i forewent the bobs and dove right in (pun intended, i didn't literally dive in, though i could have, i would have gotten in trouble with the lifeguard because the water is "too shallow", even though i've dove into water that was shallower), with a 50m warmup (breast, of course), 500m workout (mostly freestyle, some breaststroke and 2 stroke breathing thrown in... i usually breathe every third stroke), and a 50m cd. i finished the 500m in 15 minutes and 4 seconds with a pace of 48:14. i didn't have any problems at all until i was pushing off the wall for the last time, halfway through my cooldown, when my back spasmed. i got out and plopped down in a chair for a minute... i was pretty well spent and needed to recover for a minute! So this proves that i can swim 500m in fifteen minutes: we'll have to see how i do on race day with no wall and a gel shot fueling the engines.
Lap times were as follows:
Lap 1: 1:19 = 1 min. 20s
Lap 2: 2:44 = 1 min. 25s
Lap 3: 4:18 = 1 min. 34s
Lap 4: 5:48 = 1 min. 30s
Lap 5: 7:24 = 1 min. 36s
Lap 6: 8:54 = 1 min. 29s
Lap 7: 10:31 = 1 min. 37s
Lap 8: 12:08 = 1 min. 37s
Lap 9: 13:36 = 1 min. 28s
Lap 10: 15:02 = 1 min. 26s
Lap times were as follows:
Lap 1: 1:19 = 1 min. 20s
Lap 2: 2:44 = 1 min. 25s
Lap 3: 4:18 = 1 min. 34s
Lap 4: 5:48 = 1 min. 30s
Lap 5: 7:24 = 1 min. 36s
Lap 6: 8:54 = 1 min. 29s
Lap 7: 10:31 = 1 min. 37s
Lap 8: 12:08 = 1 min. 37s
Lap 9: 13:36 = 1 min. 28s
Lap 10: 15:02 = 1 min. 26s
Friday, June 05, 2009
rearranging my schedule
When i registered for the fall at the end of March, i was pushing forward, trying to graduate as soon as possible, and worried about how i'm ever going to be able to bring my gpa back up. i basically wasted an entire year, first when i was working at KJCT overtime and flunked out of all my classes (three of which i have retaken and passed), the second semester where everything was over the internet and i dropped the ball during my then-boyfriend's visit (i passed one class with a C, one with a D and flunked the rest, one because the teacher would not work with me and did not accept some of the work i turned in, the other because i gave up). Basically, it turns out that in order to graduate i will need to retake one of those internet courses (but it will not be offered again until next Spring), and i could retake some of the others to bring my gpa back up significantly (i have already brought it up some through a year of good grades). So my schedule was purely graduation driven for the most part, and i was scheduled to take:
ENGL 421 History of Literary Criticism
ENGL 492 Senior Seminar in Writing
ENGL 381 Creative Writing:Fiction
ENGL 296 Topics: Sci-Fi Fantasy
KINA 168 Hatha Yoga & Relaxation
The Sci Fi / Fantasy class i would really love to take but don't need, it's just another elective (and would be more helpful to me as a 300 course). The Yoga is for my back. The first three classes i will have to take sooner or later, they are all required for my major. i felt like i was in a nearly perfect position for graduating next spring.
And then... i discovered that my grandma, Frankie, is taking Katie and Sammy on a cruise, and i really yearned to go. So after much deliberation i have totally juggled my fall schedule to be far less intense (which, to be honest, the break will be very welcome, as last semester's pressure was very stressful) and be able to go on said cruise without totally wrecking my college career. Even if i had pressed ahead, i do not think that i could have graduated next spring because my upper level English courses have a gpa that is too low. i will have to retake the English class that i blew off for Brad in order to graduate, even though it makes no sense from a career point of view (it's not a fiction course, i never should have taken it in the first place), but that will be next spring. So it appears that i will most likely (hopefully) be graduating in Fall 2010. My Fall 2009 course load is now as follows:
On Campus
KINA 168 Hatha Yoga & Relaxation I (for my back)
KINA 141 Mountain Biking (for fun, and in hopes of increasing my cycling skill and opening up new racing opportunities)
MUSP 258 Women's Chorus (i've been missing Mrs. Niles)
Online
SOCO 144 Marriage and Families (retaking this Sociology course with the same professor, i hope i don't regret it)
ARTE 118 History of Art, Prehistory to Renaissance (required for the Art Minor i don't know that i'll ever finish)
Waitlisted
Online - ENGL 343 Language Systems and Linguistic Diversity (another attempt to pick up an upper level elective and bring up my gpa; it should look good on my transcript)
On Campus - MASS 320 Fundamentals of Photojournalism (a very popular course, i don't know if i'll be able to get in: i would not be able to miss any classes before the cruise)
So it looks and feels like i'm slacking in a way, but i think it will round out my transcript and education nicely. It really hinges on me getting into my waitlisted classes in a way, i need one more class (i haven't dropped the Creative Writing: Fiction class yet as a result). i thought about taking World Geography again (failed while working at KJCT), but it would be in Montrose, and i'm not sure they would like me missing 2-3 classes, and i wouldn't be able to take Chorus again. i might switch it back, but i really don't want to commute that again (i did so for my second semester of Spanish). i don't know which of the two waitlisted classes i would rather take (both have pros and cons), but this does mean that i will need internet access on the cruise. It also means that my work schedule will become utterly plausible, even easier than this past semester, but will require me to shift to working MWF instead of TR. Maybe i could get some Saturdays off? Of course, i would prefer just to film the football team again, but i don't know if that's going to happen.
Things i will most likely have to buy:
my own mountain bike or a hybrid bike (can't use Mom's forever)
a nice digital camera (or use the camera Grandpa Jocko gave me, which uses film, an added expense)
All in all, i'm excited.
ENGL 421 History of Literary Criticism
ENGL 492 Senior Seminar in Writing
ENGL 381 Creative Writing:Fiction
ENGL 296 Topics: Sci-Fi Fantasy
KINA 168 Hatha Yoga & Relaxation
The Sci Fi / Fantasy class i would really love to take but don't need, it's just another elective (and would be more helpful to me as a 300 course). The Yoga is for my back. The first three classes i will have to take sooner or later, they are all required for my major. i felt like i was in a nearly perfect position for graduating next spring.
And then... i discovered that my grandma, Frankie, is taking Katie and Sammy on a cruise, and i really yearned to go. So after much deliberation i have totally juggled my fall schedule to be far less intense (which, to be honest, the break will be very welcome, as last semester's pressure was very stressful) and be able to go on said cruise without totally wrecking my college career. Even if i had pressed ahead, i do not think that i could have graduated next spring because my upper level English courses have a gpa that is too low. i will have to retake the English class that i blew off for Brad in order to graduate, even though it makes no sense from a career point of view (it's not a fiction course, i never should have taken it in the first place), but that will be next spring. So it appears that i will most likely (hopefully) be graduating in Fall 2010. My Fall 2009 course load is now as follows:
On Campus
KINA 168 Hatha Yoga & Relaxation I (for my back)
KINA 141 Mountain Biking (for fun, and in hopes of increasing my cycling skill and opening up new racing opportunities)
MUSP 258 Women's Chorus (i've been missing Mrs. Niles)
Online
SOCO 144 Marriage and Families (retaking this Sociology course with the same professor, i hope i don't regret it)
ARTE 118 History of Art, Prehistory to Renaissance (required for the Art Minor i don't know that i'll ever finish)
Waitlisted
Online - ENGL 343 Language Systems and Linguistic Diversity (another attempt to pick up an upper level elective and bring up my gpa; it should look good on my transcript)
On Campus - MASS 320 Fundamentals of Photojournalism (a very popular course, i don't know if i'll be able to get in: i would not be able to miss any classes before the cruise)
So it looks and feels like i'm slacking in a way, but i think it will round out my transcript and education nicely. It really hinges on me getting into my waitlisted classes in a way, i need one more class (i haven't dropped the Creative Writing: Fiction class yet as a result). i thought about taking World Geography again (failed while working at KJCT), but it would be in Montrose, and i'm not sure they would like me missing 2-3 classes, and i wouldn't be able to take Chorus again. i might switch it back, but i really don't want to commute that again (i did so for my second semester of Spanish). i don't know which of the two waitlisted classes i would rather take (both have pros and cons), but this does mean that i will need internet access on the cruise. It also means that my work schedule will become utterly plausible, even easier than this past semester, but will require me to shift to working MWF instead of TR. Maybe i could get some Saturdays off? Of course, i would prefer just to film the football team again, but i don't know if that's going to happen.
Things i will most likely have to buy:
my own mountain bike or a hybrid bike (can't use Mom's forever)
a nice digital camera (or use the camera Grandpa Jocko gave me, which uses film, an added expense)
All in all, i'm excited.
Wednesday, June 03, 2009
TriNewb W10D1-2... final brick!
It wasn't on the schedule, but i never got around to biking the last five miles after work yesterday because of the rain. i spent most of the night reading a blog i've been working my way through, From Marshmallow Man to Ironman, and felt guilty because he had an entire spiel about training in the rain because you never know what race conditions will be like.
So today i headed to the pool and swam 600m, trying to see how long it takes me to swim 50m freestyle vs. 50m breaststroke, and then trying to swim 100m straight by working in a little breaststroke when i start to get winded. i'm staying in a good zone cardio wise, but will need to pace myself a bit race day because there's no place to rest.
After i got home i rode to the highway and back, then out to the dirt road (just past the cattleguard). i ran half an hour, in pouring rain for ten of those minutes, then rode home. When i got back to my bike it had fallen over and there was mud all over one handlebar, my helmet, and a bit on my gloves. i opened the Camelbak up and rinsed off what i could on the handlebar, inside of the helmet, and gloves, before continuing (which added to my rest time). The entire trip took me an hour and eight minutes (those eight minutes largely being one pause for a breath halfway through the bike ride and transitions). i also practiced my swim to bike transition twice before starting out, once in flip flops and once barefoot (owie!), improving my time the second time. Worked on cadence and changing gears again, this time often settling into a 96 rpm stroke, which is really good but i think indicates that i need to shift up just one gear more and push myself a little harder. i'm not sure i'll really be able to improve my cycling much more before the race, but i'm starting to think about working on it more afterwards.
The run itself was a challenge because it was a brick, and uphill the first half, and in the rain with my hair matted to my face, and with a headwind on the way down, but i went farther than i was expecting to (since i felt so weak at the beginning), 2 miles, and i actually had an okay pace of 4 mph average. My runs are going okay, not great, and i didn't feel like i had the greatest day (considering how strong i felt on the way to the pool), but it does feel good to know that i just finished another mini-tri (albeit with a really extended swim). ETA: i did also notice at the beginning of the second interval of my run that i had recovered quite a bit and felt like i had more energy on the way back than out. i also noticed during Int. 2 that my thighs don't rub together as badly anymore: new measurements indicate that i have lost 3" on my thighs, down 1" from my pre-training measurement. i also noticed this on Monday when my favorite pair of jeans were uncomfortably loose, which is bittersweet to say the least.
A week and a half to race day!
So today i headed to the pool and swam 600m, trying to see how long it takes me to swim 50m freestyle vs. 50m breaststroke, and then trying to swim 100m straight by working in a little breaststroke when i start to get winded. i'm staying in a good zone cardio wise, but will need to pace myself a bit race day because there's no place to rest.
After i got home i rode to the highway and back, then out to the dirt road (just past the cattleguard). i ran half an hour, in pouring rain for ten of those minutes, then rode home. When i got back to my bike it had fallen over and there was mud all over one handlebar, my helmet, and a bit on my gloves. i opened the Camelbak up and rinsed off what i could on the handlebar, inside of the helmet, and gloves, before continuing (which added to my rest time). The entire trip took me an hour and eight minutes (those eight minutes largely being one pause for a breath halfway through the bike ride and transitions). i also practiced my swim to bike transition twice before starting out, once in flip flops and once barefoot (owie!), improving my time the second time. Worked on cadence and changing gears again, this time often settling into a 96 rpm stroke, which is really good but i think indicates that i need to shift up just one gear more and push myself a little harder. i'm not sure i'll really be able to improve my cycling much more before the race, but i'm starting to think about working on it more afterwards.
The run itself was a challenge because it was a brick, and uphill the first half, and in the rain with my hair matted to my face, and with a headwind on the way down, but i went farther than i was expecting to (since i felt so weak at the beginning), 2 miles, and i actually had an okay pace of 4 mph average. My runs are going okay, not great, and i didn't feel like i had the greatest day (considering how strong i felt on the way to the pool), but it does feel good to know that i just finished another mini-tri (albeit with a really extended swim). ETA: i did also notice at the beginning of the second interval of my run that i had recovered quite a bit and felt like i had more energy on the way back than out. i also noticed during Int. 2 that my thighs don't rub together as badly anymore: new measurements indicate that i have lost 3" on my thighs, down 1" from my pre-training measurement. i also noticed this on Monday when my favorite pair of jeans were uncomfortably loose, which is bittersweet to say the least.
A week and a half to race day!
Tuesday, June 02, 2009
TriNewb W10D2
Can't get to the pool today before work, so i went biking instead. i didn't really have time for a full fifteen miles, so i'll try to fit in 5 more miles after work; it's not ideal, but it will have to do.
Focused on RPMs today, aiming for 90. i should have given myself a little bit more warmup. Started on the downhill side today, actually found 90 rpm to be very easy, sometimes tapering to 85ish on the small hills. At the turnaround point it became a new ballgame, as it's a 300 foot climb. The first half i was averaging 80-85 rpms, sometimes falling below that on steep hills, but never below 60 rmp (low end was usually 65-70 rpm). About 2/3 of my way up the hill i gave up on counting rpms and focused on breathing and form. i definitely wasn't keeping up the pace, and then i discovered that i was inexplicably in the highest gear up front, while i thought i had been in the middle. i spent a lot of time in the lowest gears for the rest of the time, upshifting for declines, and actually bouncing in my seat at one point (was a new experience for me). Tried leaning forward on my elbows a couple of times, bothers my knees less now and my arms more. Maybe i could get some clip on aero bars?
Focused on RPMs today, aiming for 90. i should have given myself a little bit more warmup. Started on the downhill side today, actually found 90 rpm to be very easy, sometimes tapering to 85ish on the small hills. At the turnaround point it became a new ballgame, as it's a 300 foot climb. The first half i was averaging 80-85 rpms, sometimes falling below that on steep hills, but never below 60 rmp (low end was usually 65-70 rpm). About 2/3 of my way up the hill i gave up on counting rpms and focused on breathing and form. i definitely wasn't keeping up the pace, and then i discovered that i was inexplicably in the highest gear up front, while i thought i had been in the middle. i spent a lot of time in the lowest gears for the rest of the time, upshifting for declines, and actually bouncing in my seat at one point (was a new experience for me). Tried leaning forward on my elbows a couple of times, bothers my knees less now and my arms more. Maybe i could get some clip on aero bars?
Saturday, May 30, 2009
Oh no! The dreaded 666th post!
Yesterday Katie and i headed to Highline Lake for a training session. She floated in the swimming area while i swam in open water for the first time, about 576m in all, following the buoys and fighting the boat wakes. i breast stroked a lot more than usual, and rested more, partially because one length was about 72m long (i'm still not really used to swimming 50m straight). So the swim took longer than usual, but i felt really strong during the breaststroke, it kind of helped with the wakes because i could stroke when the water was high and breathe when it was low without too much effort.
Next, Katie and i ran and walked the Highline Lake Trail, partially on the East Bluff Loop, running about 15 minutes (not continuously!) and walking the rest. It was really hot at first and had really rough terrain (steep hills and very narrow path). The Highline Lake Trail proper was easier but by that time we were worn out and i had a blister. It got cool about 2/3 of the way through, there were great views, but i couldn't help but think it would have been more enjoyable (yet nerve racking) on a bike. It was my first time out with my tri shorts, which felt a little weird to run in at first. Using the online mapper at mapmytri.com was difficult, it came up with 3.45 miles, but i think it was farther than that. I had a Razz Clif Gel between my swim and run as well.
Tonight, after work, i ran around 5k / 3.1 mi. i had a Strawberry Clif Gel, and my run went a lot better. My blister finally stopped hurting about 2/5 of my way through (it bothered me all day at work), in the middle of my second interval (i ran 30 minutes in all, 3 ten minute intervals). My walking intervals were pretty long, next time i'll run more and walk less, maybe get even farther.
i didn't feel good about my performance at Highline Lake, but feel really good about how i did tonight. i figure that the portion of the Highline Lake Trail that we skipped was way easier than what we were doing (it sure looked that way from across the little valley). i'm probably challenging myself more than i should be, which is discouraging in a way because i'm not making my mark, but encouraging because i am getting farther than i would have ever dreamed a year ago. i was starting to think that there was no way i would be able to finish this thing with any semblance of time, but the water should be less choppy on race day (no wakes to fight against), the climate will be much cooler (early morning instead of mid-afternoon), and i will have another week and a half of training under my belt. It's getting to the line here.
Incidentally, i got my tri shorts at about 2/3 of list price because the lady at the Bike Shop felt so bad about my delays in getting them. They fit great, a little looser than i expected actually. i adjusted my shoes tonight, too, because they were laced up one hole too high, which i think was the cause of my problems. Tomorrow i need to do laundry and will ride 20 miles on Mom's bike if it kills me... but i won't be riding up any big hills. i think i might go out the dirt road and see what it's like out that way because i've never been that far out it.
Next, Katie and i ran and walked the Highline Lake Trail, partially on the East Bluff Loop, running about 15 minutes (not continuously!) and walking the rest. It was really hot at first and had really rough terrain (steep hills and very narrow path). The Highline Lake Trail proper was easier but by that time we were worn out and i had a blister. It got cool about 2/3 of the way through, there were great views, but i couldn't help but think it would have been more enjoyable (yet nerve racking) on a bike. It was my first time out with my tri shorts, which felt a little weird to run in at first. Using the online mapper at mapmytri.com was difficult, it came up with 3.45 miles, but i think it was farther than that. I had a Razz Clif Gel between my swim and run as well.
Tonight, after work, i ran around 5k / 3.1 mi. i had a Strawberry Clif Gel, and my run went a lot better. My blister finally stopped hurting about 2/5 of my way through (it bothered me all day at work), in the middle of my second interval (i ran 30 minutes in all, 3 ten minute intervals). My walking intervals were pretty long, next time i'll run more and walk less, maybe get even farther.
i didn't feel good about my performance at Highline Lake, but feel really good about how i did tonight. i figure that the portion of the Highline Lake Trail that we skipped was way easier than what we were doing (it sure looked that way from across the little valley). i'm probably challenging myself more than i should be, which is discouraging in a way because i'm not making my mark, but encouraging because i am getting farther than i would have ever dreamed a year ago. i was starting to think that there was no way i would be able to finish this thing with any semblance of time, but the water should be less choppy on race day (no wakes to fight against), the climate will be much cooler (early morning instead of mid-afternoon), and i will have another week and a half of training under my belt. It's getting to the line here.
Incidentally, i got my tri shorts at about 2/3 of list price because the lady at the Bike Shop felt so bad about my delays in getting them. They fit great, a little looser than i expected actually. i adjusted my shoes tonight, too, because they were laced up one hole too high, which i think was the cause of my problems. Tomorrow i need to do laundry and will ride 20 miles on Mom's bike if it kills me... but i won't be riding up any big hills. i think i might go out the dirt road and see what it's like out that way because i've never been that far out it.
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
weird
i have no idea how much weight i've lost over the past month. i'm not going to the gym at Mesa State regularly anymore, with their super accurate super scale to pet my ego. Today i noticed that my kelly green fitted t-shirt--the one i got on March 15th for like $5 at Wal-Mart because i had absolutely nothing green to wear on the 17th--has somehow gotten looser since the last time i wore it (about 2-3 weeks ago). Either it got stretched out in the wash... or my arms and stomach have gotten thinner. It's just really weird to have my clothing fitting differently while the tape measure is fluctuating in the 44-46" range for my true waistline and holding steady. i mean, it's great that i'm losing the paunch, but is it too much to ask for my measurements to change? i have some goal clothes that i would really like to be able to fit into. But of course we only measure ourselves at the pre-ordained locations that make absolutely no sense for me. My waist and hips are always exactly the same as each other while my breasts, while not proportionately larger than my waist, are huge compared to anyone's definition of normal.
Shopping for a swimsuit has been murder for me because some retards seemed to have gotten together and assumed that the standard for swimsuits should be that if you are large on top you must have an even huger bum. Case in point, at Target i tried on numerous sizes, the results were that i fit in a 24W on top and 16W on bottom. The lunacy continues in the running clothes department, where my sizes range from 1X (as with my singlette) to needing an unavailable 2X (in the fitted tanks), while as far as bottoms 1X is too large while Large is still a little snug and all of the shorts were too short. If i try on a one piece swimsuit, the top is usually too tight while the bottom is way too big and the length is always too short or too long. My dimensions do not make any kind of sense when it comes to manufactured clothing.
Anyway, i was trying to fall to sleep, but my brain wouldn't shut up: sorry if this post was any kind of redundant.
Shopping for a swimsuit has been murder for me because some retards seemed to have gotten together and assumed that the standard for swimsuits should be that if you are large on top you must have an even huger bum. Case in point, at Target i tried on numerous sizes, the results were that i fit in a 24W on top and 16W on bottom. The lunacy continues in the running clothes department, where my sizes range from 1X (as with my singlette) to needing an unavailable 2X (in the fitted tanks), while as far as bottoms 1X is too large while Large is still a little snug and all of the shorts were too short. If i try on a one piece swimsuit, the top is usually too tight while the bottom is way too big and the length is always too short or too long. My dimensions do not make any kind of sense when it comes to manufactured clothing.
Anyway, i was trying to fall to sleep, but my brain wouldn't shut up: sorry if this post was any kind of redundant.
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Tri Training W9D2
In some ways, this workout was better than Sunday's; in some ways it was worse. i got to my usual turnaround point, and my heart started pounding in my chest. i think i might have been hyperventilating, which is a new experience for me. i had to sit down for a couple of minutes and thought that i was going to hurl. Once again, i only rode half as far as the workout called for, partially because of time constraints, partially because i didn't have the energy.
Right now i don't have as much energy as i'd like: i think my diet is the culprit. Unfortunately my training has kind of fallen by the wayside since finals, and i really need to focus over the next two weeks. i may get some Clif Bars or Gels to have right before a workout, because this is ridiculous, i really feel that i should be doing better than this at this point in my training, seeing how it wasn't really a problem in the weeks leading up to finals.
My hands' propensity to fall asleep is also worrisome, i think i'm just going to have to break down and buy some gloves.
Right now i don't have as much energy as i'd like: i think my diet is the culprit. Unfortunately my training has kind of fallen by the wayside since finals, and i really need to focus over the next two weeks. i may get some Clif Bars or Gels to have right before a workout, because this is ridiculous, i really feel that i should be doing better than this at this point in my training, seeing how it wasn't really a problem in the weeks leading up to finals.
My hands' propensity to fall asleep is also worrisome, i think i'm just going to have to break down and buy some gloves.
Sunday, May 24, 2009
State of the Triathlon Training - Week 8
This week i was constantly exhausted and i have no idea why. i tried to get up early to train several times, but was totally unmotivated, and always slept through my alarms. At this point i feel like my entire life is work, and i've only picked up one day so far. i don't think i can handle working any more, i don't know if i can handle working next semester, but i also can't afford to quit.
On Wednesday Katie and i went tubing on the Gunnison River. i didn't realize how high and fast it would be, found out after we got home that Aunt Polly had heard that it wasn't safe to swim in yet because they were letting more water out of a reservoir upstream. We hiked up the tracks about 2 miles, drifted in freezing cold currents about 3 miles, and then hiked back up the track 1 mile to our car. Finding a place to put in required a little hiking, and getting out required quite a bit of exertion, mostly because the mud under the gravel we were standing on kept sliding down the little embankment. It didn't help that we had both broken our flipflops (i could only find one of my generic Teva sandals ): ). In the end i could not find a foothold and had to pull myself up with my arms by holding onto a root. You wouldn't think it to look at me, but i am strong and flexible and despite my klutzy tendencies have pretty good balance. i did end up getting some tiny scrapes on my legs though, the largest one being on my ankle, but none of them serious. It was a miracle that i didn't step on any thorns or splinters though. After we got back to the canoe take out we soaked our legs for a while and rinsed off and joked around and talked about the Lost finale.
On Thursday i didn't have enough time for a full brick and a shower by the time i got outside: i rode 10 minutes (up a hill), ran 10 minutes, and biked back home in 6 minutes (down said hill). i really felt like i was running very slowly, but when i got home and added it to my training log i discovered that i was probably running about 4.5 mph, which is pretty fast for me. i guess my excruciating speed drills have paid off a little.
Today i actually rode up this huge hill that's up the road from our house (i'm not sure if it's called Whitewater Mesa or something else). i meant to ride 20 miles today, up that hill, and around behind it, coming back on Kannah Creek Rd and the highway. Unfortunately there was a headwind the entire way up, and it's really steep hill (steeper than i had realized), enough so that i could barely push my bike up the steepest .3 miles at 2.5 mph (i usually walk at 3.5 mph). Frankly just the thought of riding down that hill is a little bit scary.
i rode farther uphill than i ever have before and it quite wore me out, so once i got a ways on top i decided to turn around and come back home, hoping for a 15 mile round trip, but it turned out to be closer to 10 miles. i coasted most of the way home, breaking through all the steepest portions and not letting myself coast until i reached my usual turn around point. The gears were problematic today it seemed like, but maybe it was just because i spent so much of my time riding uphill. ETA: One thing i have learned since starting to train for this triathlon is that cyclists depend on their arms a lot more than one might expect. My arms have gotten a lot stronger, but i still can't imagine riding with those weird curved handlebars.
So my training schedule this week was eclectic. i didn't follow it exactly, partially because i couldn't really afford to go to the pool (i have enough money to go one more time before i get paid). Last weekend i ordered my shorts (the Bike Shop was out of stock so i ordered it through them and put half down) and found a swimsuit top on sale online. i might just end up returning the swimsuit top, i think i'll be fine swimming in my new running bra and Champion top that i bought last spring, way before i even decided to train for a triathlon. Hmm, i guess images are in order:
my new Moving Comfort Fiona bra <3
i swear, i have never wanted to show off a bra so much! i hardly bounce at all in this beauty, and it's super comfortable. i want to get it in "Ocean/Sky" but am a size too large: only white or black for me, apparently.
horrible cell camera pic of me before the Girls on the Run 5k in said turquoise singlette: it's from the C9 line at Target and, as it turns out, one of my cheapest training purchases (i guess my laces were cheaper).
speaking of which... my lock laces
The only other gear i'm considering is some bike gloves, but the ones at the Bike Shop (while really nice) cost upwards of $30. Man this is way so expensive. i don't know if i should just tough out my hands going to sleep and cramping or not. Eek i need to get myself over to JUCO.
On Wednesday Katie and i went tubing on the Gunnison River. i didn't realize how high and fast it would be, found out after we got home that Aunt Polly had heard that it wasn't safe to swim in yet because they were letting more water out of a reservoir upstream. We hiked up the tracks about 2 miles, drifted in freezing cold currents about 3 miles, and then hiked back up the track 1 mile to our car. Finding a place to put in required a little hiking, and getting out required quite a bit of exertion, mostly because the mud under the gravel we were standing on kept sliding down the little embankment. It didn't help that we had both broken our flipflops (i could only find one of my generic Teva sandals ): ). In the end i could not find a foothold and had to pull myself up with my arms by holding onto a root. You wouldn't think it to look at me, but i am strong and flexible and despite my klutzy tendencies have pretty good balance. i did end up getting some tiny scrapes on my legs though, the largest one being on my ankle, but none of them serious. It was a miracle that i didn't step on any thorns or splinters though. After we got back to the canoe take out we soaked our legs for a while and rinsed off and joked around and talked about the Lost finale.
On Thursday i didn't have enough time for a full brick and a shower by the time i got outside: i rode 10 minutes (up a hill), ran 10 minutes, and biked back home in 6 minutes (down said hill). i really felt like i was running very slowly, but when i got home and added it to my training log i discovered that i was probably running about 4.5 mph, which is pretty fast for me. i guess my excruciating speed drills have paid off a little.
Today i actually rode up this huge hill that's up the road from our house (i'm not sure if it's called Whitewater Mesa or something else). i meant to ride 20 miles today, up that hill, and around behind it, coming back on Kannah Creek Rd and the highway. Unfortunately there was a headwind the entire way up, and it's really steep hill (steeper than i had realized), enough so that i could barely push my bike up the steepest .3 miles at 2.5 mph (i usually walk at 3.5 mph). Frankly just the thought of riding down that hill is a little bit scary.
i rode farther uphill than i ever have before and it quite wore me out, so once i got a ways on top i decided to turn around and come back home, hoping for a 15 mile round trip, but it turned out to be closer to 10 miles. i coasted most of the way home, breaking through all the steepest portions and not letting myself coast until i reached my usual turn around point. The gears were problematic today it seemed like, but maybe it was just because i spent so much of my time riding uphill. ETA: One thing i have learned since starting to train for this triathlon is that cyclists depend on their arms a lot more than one might expect. My arms have gotten a lot stronger, but i still can't imagine riding with those weird curved handlebars.
So my training schedule this week was eclectic. i didn't follow it exactly, partially because i couldn't really afford to go to the pool (i have enough money to go one more time before i get paid). Last weekend i ordered my shorts (the Bike Shop was out of stock so i ordered it through them and put half down) and found a swimsuit top on sale online. i might just end up returning the swimsuit top, i think i'll be fine swimming in my new running bra and Champion top that i bought last spring, way before i even decided to train for a triathlon. Hmm, i guess images are in order:
my new Moving Comfort Fiona bra <3
i swear, i have never wanted to show off a bra so much! i hardly bounce at all in this beauty, and it's super comfortable. i want to get it in "Ocean/Sky" but am a size too large: only white or black for me, apparently.
horrible cell camera pic of me before the Girls on the Run 5k in said turquoise singlette: it's from the C9 line at Target and, as it turns out, one of my cheapest training purchases (i guess my laces were cheaper).
speaking of which... my lock laces
The only other gear i'm considering is some bike gloves, but the ones at the Bike Shop (while really nice) cost upwards of $30. Man this is way so expensive. i don't know if i should just tough out my hands going to sleep and cramping or not. Eek i need to get myself over to JUCO.
Sunday, May 17, 2009
TriNewb W7D6
i guess today was a 2/3 tri, i swam the full 500m and rode 2/3 of my race distance. i've improved my pace again this week, too. i mean to turn around early, but i made it to the original turn around point not quite as winded (though it's still quite a climb, it doesn't look quite so high anymore! By race day, i may not even think it's a significant hill, who knows). ETA: It's been another week, it's still a significant hill. ):
Saturday, May 16, 2009
TriNewb W7D5
i got off work late, didn't want to run at the track (Mesa State was having a baseball game or something), partially because i felt really unenergetic after standing on my feet for 9 hours. i had a Clif Gel (Mocha), grabbed my cellphone, and realized that i didn't have a suitable podcast on it. i programmed 3 alarms during my workout and new ones as the old ones went off. i had a 5 min. warmup, 10 min. run, 3 min. walk, 5 min. run, 2 min. walk, 10 min. run, 7 min. cd (the schedule called for a 45 min. run., this was only 41 mins., but i was tired, and did really well for all my energy being on the gel shot). Those little things taste kinda funny but they really work.
Friday, May 15, 2009
eek!
So first off, a big wow, but i have swam, rode, and ran 48.13 miles so far this month. In other news, the Highline Hustle Sprint Triathlon is in just over four weeks, and my training kind of fell by the wayside during the pressure of finals, but school is over for the semester! i haven't gotten to relax like i did today in a good six months it seems like.
TriNewb W7D3
My first brick outside the gym: Katie and i took a leisurely ride, then ran a bit. Ran two five minute intervals, walked the rest. Katie runs a little bit faster than me, i ride quite a bit faster than her (partially because she doesn't have as good of a bike).
ETA: According to my training plan, a Brick equals a 30 min. ride, 10 min. run, and 20 minute walk.
ETA: According to my training plan, a Brick equals a 30 min. ride, 10 min. run, and 20 minute walk.
Monday, May 11, 2009
so irritating
Was looking for a forum or blog about being a virgin... there is WAY too much out there that screams that there's something wrong with someone if they're a virgin at my age, that you must be ugly, stink, or brainwashed by a repressive religion. i am so tired of being single, but have no prospects, never have had any prospects except for the once (and we all know how that turned out). i am a virgin by choice, and it doesn't mean that i have no sex drive! i am very frustrated and really, really want to meet the right guy and get married already!!! But i am also committed to making sure that i find the man that God wants me to marry and remaining pure until we are married. I WANT A MALE VIRGIN THAT DOESN'T HAVE MORE BAGGAGE THAN I DO. i'm sick of the warped mindset that pervades our culture. Casual or premarital sex of any kind is not good, sex is sacred.
The more i think about Brad, the more i want him... Why? Because i am so desperate to not be alone and he is the ONLY guy who has EVER shown the slightest interest in me. Okay, there was one guy who was nice to me last semester, but as it turned out he has a baby with his girlfriend. The problem is that i'm sure that Brad isn't right for me but i still love him anyway and i am way too desperate, no matter how hard i try to be patient, it just doesn't work. So basically, i'm either feeling like there's no hope at all, why even bother looking, or feel hopeful but so impatient that i am borderline desperate. Is it too much to ask for to find a guy who loves God and me enough to wait?
The more i think about Brad, the more i want him... Why? Because i am so desperate to not be alone and he is the ONLY guy who has EVER shown the slightest interest in me. Okay, there was one guy who was nice to me last semester, but as it turned out he has a baby with his girlfriend. The problem is that i'm sure that Brad isn't right for me but i still love him anyway and i am way too desperate, no matter how hard i try to be patient, it just doesn't work. So basically, i'm either feeling like there's no hope at all, why even bother looking, or feel hopeful but so impatient that i am borderline desperate. Is it too much to ask for to find a guy who loves God and me enough to wait?
Friday, May 08, 2009
i survived the last week of classes!!!
/gasp It's so shocking, i never thought i'd get here, i even turned in my U.S. Lit paper on time (albeit barely six pages instead of a full six pages long). It was funny, i had just gotten to my desk in Brit Lit this morning when a wave of nostalgia ran over me: i'm going to miss the girl's corner we had going on and Brian, who sometimes kind of reminded me of Brad. i will not miss Brit Romanticism (though i enjoyed some of the girls in there, too), and actually came to like Hancock (despite the Obama groupieness). And of course i will miss Professor Christ (pronounced krihsst, not how you would think) even if Creative Writing was very easy, she's so funny and nice. Now i have to finish writing a 7-8 page paper and rewrite the 8 page Monk fiasco before finals on Wednesday and also have one final on Thursday.
Oh, i am also halfway through my triathlon training now! i totally ditched yesterday, i think i was overtired cuz of the race and speed drills, plus i didn't have time to work, finish papers, and exercise, so i had to make a sacrifice and had a half triathlon today. If i maintain the speed i did today, theoretically i can finish the full sprint triathlon in under three hours, however i am hoping to improve my time. It breaks down as follows:
8 min 250m swim (~16 min 500m swim, i hope to bring this down to 12min)
30 min 4 mi. ride (~2 hour 16 mi ride, i hope to bring this down a lot! the stationary bike was wonky, based on my ride last Sunday i should be able to ride 16 mi. in 1 hr. 49 mins. at my current speed, i don't know how much i'll be able to chisel that down over the next few weeks)
10 min .8 mi. run (~40 min. 3.2 mi. run, i'd like to get this down to half an hour)
i have my work cut out for me!
Oh, i am also halfway through my triathlon training now! i totally ditched yesterday, i think i was overtired cuz of the race and speed drills, plus i didn't have time to work, finish papers, and exercise, so i had to make a sacrifice and had a half triathlon today. If i maintain the speed i did today, theoretically i can finish the full sprint triathlon in under three hours, however i am hoping to improve my time. It breaks down as follows:
8 min 250m swim (~16 min 500m swim, i hope to bring this down to 12min)
30 min 4 mi. ride (~2 hour 16 mi ride, i hope to bring this down a lot! the stationary bike was wonky, based on my ride last Sunday i should be able to ride 16 mi. in 1 hr. 49 mins. at my current speed, i don't know how much i'll be able to chisel that down over the next few weeks)
10 min .8 mi. run (~40 min. 3.2 mi. run, i'd like to get this down to half an hour)
i have my work cut out for me!
Wednesday, May 06, 2009
TriNewb W6D1 + 2
Yesterday i ran speed drills for 20 mins. with 5 mins. of warm up and cool down (for a total of 30 mins.). i really feel as if my training is causing my running to suffer. i am not saying that my running was ever easy, but it seems harder than ever. My bicycle riding is progressing nicely, and my swimming is going very well. Today i swam 64m sets, and another person complimented me on my form (she asked if i've always been able to swim "like that" and said she wished that she could swim like me). i had a little trouble with my breathing (i wasn't getting out of breath, but about halfway through my workout i stopped breathing out underwater), but overall the workout went well. The water tasted nasty today and i got a bit overheated so i didn't get in the hot tub after my workout.
In other news, my elastic shoelaces got here the day before my bra did. Part of the trouble with my run on Tuesday was that my laces were too tight and i was still worn out from my ride on Sunday. i wore my new bra today, haven't ran in it yet, but i can honestly say it's the best sports bra i have ever had. It's very comfortable and supportive.
School has been going as well as can be hoped: i have 3 poems to workshop for one class, a 2 page paper to write, and a 6 page paper to finish for Friday. For tomorrow all i need to do is read some of the 9/11 poems to discuss in class tomorrow. i have a feeling that it's going to be another long night.
In other news, my elastic shoelaces got here the day before my bra did. Part of the trouble with my run on Tuesday was that my laces were too tight and i was still worn out from my ride on Sunday. i wore my new bra today, haven't ran in it yet, but i can honestly say it's the best sports bra i have ever had. It's very comfortable and supportive.
School has been going as well as can be hoped: i have 3 poems to workshop for one class, a 2 page paper to write, and a 6 page paper to finish for Friday. For tomorrow all i need to do is read some of the 9/11 poems to discuss in class tomorrow. i have a feeling that it's going to be another long night.
Sunday, May 03, 2009
Girls on the Run 5k and TriNewb W5D5+6
So yesterday Katie and i ran the Girls on the Run 5k and it wasn't the most pleasant experience. The weather was overcast, pleasantly cool, a little breezy (i was comfortable, Katie was cold until about 1/3 of the way through the run when she took off her hoodie. i made the mistake of leaving my cellphone with Mom, so i didn't have any concept of time or real concept of distance throughout the run. i haven't walked so much in a long time. My second wind didn't kick in until the last half mile of the run at the earliest. We ran most of the way, but the concrete and asphalt really bothered her arches, the hills really bothered my lungs. (: Both of us hadn't gotten enough rest the day before.
So i've been thinking about it, and i think most of my problems were psychological. Trying to run while surrounded by people is not at all conducive to being able to relax and focus on breathing. It was a challenge to run with people because they might cut me off, might be running too slowly in front of me, i was wondering if i was running too fast when i was passing them, etc. Plus i'm not used to running with a partner, and i felt like i was holding Katie back, but at the same time i didn't feel as if i could run any faster. i think a big part of my problem was that most Saturdays i stand on my feet all day and don't exercise at all, i wasn't familiar with the course and couldn't really let myself know where the halfway point was, and it was probably largely psychological. Somehow my body knows that when my mind says halfway done that it can let go of some more energy and the adrenaline kicks in. So it was a pretty miserable run, but i'm hoping that i'll feel as good (hopefully even better) during the Triathlon (which means after swimming and biking).
The beginning of the race consisted in standing in the middle of a crowd, chatting with a friend of my mother's, and then trying not to run over others or be run over after the race started. We walked a lot at the beginning waiting for the ranks to thin out so we could actually run. The last few hundred feet of the "race" consisted in standing in line so they could record what order we passed the finish line in and our "time" (which is going to be at least five minutes after when we stopped running because we had to just stand there so long). Then it took us another ten-fifteen minutes to find our parents, aunt, and sisters. So i think we finished the run in about 35 minutes, which isn't bad, but it certainly felt like forever, and it felt like it was all uphill. As i said, conditions alternated between asphalt parking lot/street and sidewalks with uneven grass or dirt on the shoulder. i tried to stay off the concrete as much as possible, but for the last half mile or so i didn't want to risk turning an ankle in the grass. i hate running on concrete, but at least it's even, and it was a lot less taxing than last time i had tried it (i don't know that i've lost weight, but i know that i've lost fat and gained muscle).
Today i rode my bike about 12 miles. The odd thing is that my biking has improved a lot but i think it's still my weakest event. i'm starting to get used to shifting but still look to make sure i turned it the right way. My arms didn't get tired today, even though i leaned on them more, but my hands did halfway through (luckily no cramps this time though). The reason i'm wondering about how psychological my second wind is: exactly halfway through my bike ride i got my second wind.
i'm almost halfway through my triathlon training now, and have come so far, but i can see that i still have a long way to go if yesterday was any indicator. Last year, there were less than 600 girls at the Girls on the Run 5k; this year, they said 1200 registered. All i can say is, wow.
Friday, May 01, 2009
Tri Training W5D4
So today i watched Katie's relay team win both of their heats! One was an all girl relay (she ran third, catching up with the other runners, while the first and second girls had been in last) and won first place overall, the other had two boys and two girls and won second place overall. It was exciting, and my face got a bit sunburned.
Today my swim was increased to 400m; i expected it to take me half an hour but it only took me about twenty minutes. My heartrate got a little bit higher, spiking at 150 bpm two or three times, but still spent most of its time in the 132 bpm range. i bought a swim towel which is weird: it doesn't feel like a normal towel, but it's supposed to absorb a lot of water quickly.
On Thursday i got some Clif bars on sale at City Market and tried them. No adverse digestion affects that i could tell! i actually enjoyed them despite the soy. i wanted to get ready for race day tomorrow and also make sure that they didn't make me sick so come Triathlon day if i eat them i'm not puking off the side of my (Mom's) bike / the trail.
Today i also bought the supplies for a race belt: total cost came in under $4. The only one i could find in town was something like $12 while most online are $10-15. i realized once i got to Hi Fashion Fabric that i could have (should have?) made my own elastic laces and worn them tomorrow, but they're already paid for (and finally on their way) so not much point now. So much for two day shipping, however, seeing how the bra is scheduled to arrive on the 5th and the laces the 6th-11th. To be perfectly honest, the laces weren't two day shipping, but i don't understand why it took the bra over twenty-four hours to leave the warehouse (it shipped about an hour ago). i ordered it on Thursday morning for crying out loud, it should be getting here tomorrow!
Lastly, i went shopping for shorts (mine are old and a little loose and worn out) and discovered that the current trend for athletic shorts leaves them... way too short. i don't want to buy shorts that are shorter than my fingertips when my arms are at my side. i don't want to buy shorts that are so baggy that i feel like my bum is hanging out. And i don't want to buy shorts that are so see through that my pantyline is blatantly obvious. Those shorts made me feel half naked. It also seems that my size is somewhere between a L and XL at Target and a perfect XL at JCPenney. The shorts were on sale, but i decided that i don't want any shorts that are in my current size, tyvm, i want shorts in size L. It's going to be soooo weird not having to hunt for XLs as much (though to be perfectly honest i'll probably always be looking for XL or XXL tops because of my bust size).
Anyway, training is coming along well, i'm looking forward to the race in the morning, and then i have a paper to write.
Today my swim was increased to 400m; i expected it to take me half an hour but it only took me about twenty minutes. My heartrate got a little bit higher, spiking at 150 bpm two or three times, but still spent most of its time in the 132 bpm range. i bought a swim towel which is weird: it doesn't feel like a normal towel, but it's supposed to absorb a lot of water quickly.
On Thursday i got some Clif bars on sale at City Market and tried them. No adverse digestion affects that i could tell! i actually enjoyed them despite the soy. i wanted to get ready for race day tomorrow and also make sure that they didn't make me sick so come Triathlon day if i eat them i'm not puking off the side of my (Mom's) bike / the trail.
Today i also bought the supplies for a race belt: total cost came in under $4. The only one i could find in town was something like $12 while most online are $10-15. i realized once i got to Hi Fashion Fabric that i could have (should have?) made my own elastic laces and worn them tomorrow, but they're already paid for (and finally on their way) so not much point now. So much for two day shipping, however, seeing how the bra is scheduled to arrive on the 5th and the laces the 6th-11th. To be perfectly honest, the laces weren't two day shipping, but i don't understand why it took the bra over twenty-four hours to leave the warehouse (it shipped about an hour ago). i ordered it on Thursday morning for crying out loud, it should be getting here tomorrow!
Lastly, i went shopping for shorts (mine are old and a little loose and worn out) and discovered that the current trend for athletic shorts leaves them... way too short. i don't want to buy shorts that are shorter than my fingertips when my arms are at my side. i don't want to buy shorts that are so baggy that i feel like my bum is hanging out. And i don't want to buy shorts that are so see through that my pantyline is blatantly obvious. Those shorts made me feel half naked. It also seems that my size is somewhere between a L and XL at Target and a perfect XL at JCPenney. The shorts were on sale, but i decided that i don't want any shorts that are in my current size, tyvm, i want shorts in size L. It's going to be soooo weird not having to hunt for XLs as much (though to be perfectly honest i'll probably always be looking for XL or XXL tops because of my bust size).
Anyway, training is coming along well, i'm looking forward to the race in the morning, and then i have a paper to write.
Thursday, April 30, 2009
argh
Went to Gene Taylor's today, tried on a swim cap, decided not to get it, but bought a swim towel. They still do not have any swimsuits in my size. From what i can tell, i need a 22 or 24 top (and if i needed them 18 or 16 bottoms)... they only have one pieces and string bikinis, so of course none or their suits will work for me. Apparently they've had to cut back on inventory. How am i supposed to buy anything if they don't carry my size??? i don't know what to do for a tri top, i could stuff myself into an XL (if i can even find one!) and be uncomfortable, when what i really need is a XXL or XXXL. i have no hips, but i have a huge bust!
Monday, April 27, 2009
GotR 5k
Last year 559 women ran in the Girls on the Run 5k. Wow, i wasn't expecting so many! Only the top 119 did it in half an hour or less. That's my goal (only the first 100 get t-shirts).
Tri Training W5D1
It was a short run today, twenty minutes all together, two five minute intervals, and i actually ran more than i was "supposed" to. i edited the Podrunner Interval W5D1 podcast last night to fit the workout and even though the rest period was only a minute long it felt like forever. i was sure that i must have accidentally edited out the chimes that told me to start running again, so i did starting running again, probably about 45s into the rest! It was a short run, i'm not sure how far i went (i stayed on the road again, and by the time i had gotten back home didn't remember where my turn around point had been), but i'm sure that it must have been less than two miles.
Fitness finally seems to be catching on with the adults in the house / on the property! This week Aunt Polly started the Cto5k program and Mom and Dad joined the gym. Katie will be running in the Girls on the Run 5k with me on Saturday (i don't know if we'll stay together, but we'll both be there). i've been kind of wishing for a training partner lately, but even training alone i feel like exercise has become addicting! i constantly want to exercise more and have to pace myself so i won't get injured. i actually have a bruise right now that i have no idea where i got it (unless it was from when one of the dogs jumped on me last week, and if so it sure took it's time showing up) and my left forearm is sore. i just read that you're more likely to bruise the less fat you have; who knew?
Anyways, looking forward to my swim tomorrow.
Fitness finally seems to be catching on with the adults in the house / on the property! This week Aunt Polly started the Cto5k program and Mom and Dad joined the gym. Katie will be running in the Girls on the Run 5k with me on Saturday (i don't know if we'll stay together, but we'll both be there). i've been kind of wishing for a training partner lately, but even training alone i feel like exercise has become addicting! i constantly want to exercise more and have to pace myself so i won't get injured. i actually have a bruise right now that i have no idea where i got it (unless it was from when one of the dogs jumped on me last week, and if so it sure took it's time showing up) and my left forearm is sore. i just read that you're more likely to bruise the less fat you have; who knew?
Anyways, looking forward to my swim tomorrow.
Sunday, April 26, 2009
TriNewb W4D4 / Cto5k W9D3... COMPLETE!
Wow, i've done 17 workouts this month already, a far cry from the 3 i did last month! The last time i did anywhere near that much exercise was in October with 13 workouts. i was faithfully running 3 days a week in September and October, but from November to March... not so much. i didn't work out once in December, and it was only 3-4 times a month the rest of the time. i kept wondering why i wasn't losing weight: i felt as if was doing my part, but my workout log (and how long it's taken me to finish the Couch to 5k program) tells the truth... i wasn't making the time to work out.
Of course, now that i have made changes, i've only gained weight, but i am healthier for it none the less. i'm sure that my body is going to start slimming down in the coming weeks.
i'm excited to announce that i have next Saturday off work and will be running in the Girls on the Run 5k at Long's Park. The largest t-shirt size i could order online was a Large... ): i don't even know if i'd ever be able to wear it (maybe i could turn it into a bag or something, stow my triathlon gear in it). On their mail-in registration form it says that they have Youth S-L and Adult S-XL, so i e-mailed them to see if i can get an XL instead.
Regarding my triathlon gear, it turns out that there isn't any mounts for cages on my mom's bike, so i'm going to be wearing my dad's Camelbak instead. i looked at them online a couple of days ago, they're expensive, and the ones that hold enough water are hard to find at closeout prices and never in the colors that i like. i know, i'm superficial, but if i'm going to spend $50+ on any piece of equipment, i better like the color and not be embarrassed to wear it! Also, the gear should fit me and not be see through. i meant to mention this about a week ago: i tried on Under Armor compression tops at Sports Authority (as they were recommended over Tritops at the TriNewb forums) and most were see-through and all were too long. i don't want people staring at my rolls while i'm exercising or competing or ever.
Now that Couch to 5k is complete i'll be running intervals and trying to increase my speed. This week i start bricks, which is when one rides her bike, then runs immediately afterwards, to adjust to the change in motion and in preparation for doing so in a triathlon. i'm enjoying triathlon training even more than i enjoyed running, and am already starting to wonder if there will be another Sprint Triathlon this summer that i might be able to compete in. i am going to make sure i complete my first before i think too seriously on that probably though. (:
Of course, now that i have made changes, i've only gained weight, but i am healthier for it none the less. i'm sure that my body is going to start slimming down in the coming weeks.
i'm excited to announce that i have next Saturday off work and will be running in the Girls on the Run 5k at Long's Park. The largest t-shirt size i could order online was a Large... ): i don't even know if i'd ever be able to wear it (maybe i could turn it into a bag or something, stow my triathlon gear in it). On their mail-in registration form it says that they have Youth S-L and Adult S-XL, so i e-mailed them to see if i can get an XL instead.
Regarding my triathlon gear, it turns out that there isn't any mounts for cages on my mom's bike, so i'm going to be wearing my dad's Camelbak instead. i looked at them online a couple of days ago, they're expensive, and the ones that hold enough water are hard to find at closeout prices and never in the colors that i like. i know, i'm superficial, but if i'm going to spend $50+ on any piece of equipment, i better like the color and not be embarrassed to wear it! Also, the gear should fit me and not be see through. i meant to mention this about a week ago: i tried on Under Armor compression tops at Sports Authority (as they were recommended over Tritops at the TriNewb forums) and most were see-through and all were too long. i don't want people staring at my rolls while i'm exercising or competing or ever.
Now that Couch to 5k is complete i'll be running intervals and trying to increase my speed. This week i start bricks, which is when one rides her bike, then runs immediately afterwards, to adjust to the change in motion and in preparation for doing so in a triathlon. i'm enjoying triathlon training even more than i enjoyed running, and am already starting to wonder if there will be another Sprint Triathlon this summer that i might be able to compete in. i am going to make sure i complete my first before i think too seriously on that probably though. (:
"Slow and steady wins the race..."
or How to do the Couch to 5k running plan by luinel
It took me: 32 weeks
It made me: Feel Strong
How I did it: i started out slow, not able to run the entire intervals in week 1, so i repeated week 1. The first five weeks of the program i ran faithfully, and improved a lot, then repeated part of week 5 because i had trouble running that long. In week 6 i bought new shoes, and they gave me blisters, then i got sick, and had finals, so the program fell by the wayside. For 10 weeks i had winter break, worked full time, and got sick again.
When the spring semester started again, i repeated week 5, but it actually took me two weeks to get in all 3 runs. In February it took me two weeks to run week 6, and i started week 7 at the end of the month. At this point, i was feeling discouraged because i had school and work and was stressed. i didn't feel like i had the time to relax, let alone work out. i finished week 7 in the first week of March, but didn't even start week 8 until March 24.
At the beginning of April i decided it was time to stop procrastinating and focus on taking care of myself. i finished week 8, then started training to compete in a triathlon in June. Over the past 3 weeks i have worked out 4-5 times a week, running on the days my new training program called for it, but following week 9 of the Couch to 5k program, except for one day when i was too exhausted to run that far, and ran short intervals instead. At the same time i am going to school full time, working part time, and getting ready for finals. Has it been challenging? Yes, but right now i feel like i can face anything.
Lessons & tips: i'm not focusing on my running anymore, i'm focusing on becoming a
triathlete and taking care of my body. i could not have become a runner without this program, but i have always listened to my body. There were times where i would get a cramp in the middle of my run, or a stitch in my side; i would walk it out, or sometimes press on, but i discovered that my body is capable of doing more than i realized. Every time that i felt like i couldn't make it, i did.
Today i ran and walked 2.9 miles. The day before yesterday i biked 10 miles, and the day before that i swam over 300m without getting tired out. Next Saturday i hope to run my first 5k at a local Girls on the Run event.
Resources:
DJ Beatsmith's Podrunner Intervals podcasts
lots of water
a healthy diet with few processed foods
giving up Coca-Cola and high fructose corn syrup (for the most part)
prayer
It took me: 32 weeks
It made me: Feel Strong
How I did it: i started out slow, not able to run the entire intervals in week 1, so i repeated week 1. The first five weeks of the program i ran faithfully, and improved a lot, then repeated part of week 5 because i had trouble running that long. In week 6 i bought new shoes, and they gave me blisters, then i got sick, and had finals, so the program fell by the wayside. For 10 weeks i had winter break, worked full time, and got sick again.
When the spring semester started again, i repeated week 5, but it actually took me two weeks to get in all 3 runs. In February it took me two weeks to run week 6, and i started week 7 at the end of the month. At this point, i was feeling discouraged because i had school and work and was stressed. i didn't feel like i had the time to relax, let alone work out. i finished week 7 in the first week of March, but didn't even start week 8 until March 24.
At the beginning of April i decided it was time to stop procrastinating and focus on taking care of myself. i finished week 8, then started training to compete in a triathlon in June. Over the past 3 weeks i have worked out 4-5 times a week, running on the days my new training program called for it, but following week 9 of the Couch to 5k program, except for one day when i was too exhausted to run that far, and ran short intervals instead. At the same time i am going to school full time, working part time, and getting ready for finals. Has it been challenging? Yes, but right now i feel like i can face anything.
Lessons & tips: i'm not focusing on my running anymore, i'm focusing on becoming a
triathlete and taking care of my body. i could not have become a runner without this program, but i have always listened to my body. There were times where i would get a cramp in the middle of my run, or a stitch in my side; i would walk it out, or sometimes press on, but i discovered that my body is capable of doing more than i realized. Every time that i felt like i couldn't make it, i did.
Today i ran and walked 2.9 miles. The day before yesterday i biked 10 miles, and the day before that i swam over 300m without getting tired out. Next Saturday i hope to run my first 5k at a local Girls on the Run event.
Resources:
DJ Beatsmith's Podrunner Intervals podcasts
lots of water
a healthy diet with few processed foods
giving up Coca-Cola and high fructose corn syrup (for the most part)
prayer
Friday, April 24, 2009
TriNewb W4D5
Was a bit breezy today, and i felt a run would be ill advised, so i skipped day 4 of week 4 (will probably run it tomorrow). i jumped on Mom's bike and rode 9.898 miles instead, with the wind blowing against me most of the way (it kept changing directions, and never in my favor). Around mile 7 my left hand cramped for a while: my arms are so short that to hold the grips in my palms i have to lean forward and bear my weight. It gets painful after a while, i try to sit up as much as possible and not grip the handlebars tightly. Shifting went better today, though it's a pain to get it to go into third (on the left hand shifter). i climbed about 300 feet today, it was a really big workout, but i'm looking forward to shaving time off of the ride in the future (it took me nearly 50 minutes). My slowest speed was 6.6 mph at the steepest, my fastest 23.3 mph on my way back down. Oh, and i used the bike computer for the first time today (obviously), Dad had it lying around: i installed it last night. i might end up using his camelback instead of bottles in cages, i need to check to see if the bike even has the capability of mounting cages.
Incidentally... my weight and waist have gone up, but my thighs and calves have definitely gotten more muscular. And, disgusting as it might be (is), my waistline is not the thickest part of my waist. My upper roll has finally shrunk to the same size as my lower roll, so i'm psyched. Now if i could only get both those rolls to the same size as my waistline, and even smaller.
Incidentally... my weight and waist have gone up, but my thighs and calves have definitely gotten more muscular. And, disgusting as it might be (is), my waistline is not the thickest part of my waist. My upper roll has finally shrunk to the same size as my lower roll, so i'm psyched. Now if i could only get both those rolls to the same size as my waistline, and even smaller.
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
training and school
If you've been checking out my Facebook or MapMyTri, you know that i've been continuing to train. i'm not enjoying the gym at St. Mary's thus far, all of the elliptical trainers are causing me injury instead of preventing them. Next time i will have to use one of the treadmills, which isn't a great option because the really good ones have a twenty minute time limit and the they're all old. Running outside would be so much better but would require me to drive somewhere good to run. The ellipticals at Mesa's gym are so much better, but then, the pool is closed there. One thing that is driving me crazy is riding the bikes indoors, there's nothing wrong with them, but i get so hot indoors and would really love to feel a breeze.
Today in US Lit my group finally did our oral report. i only had five minutes, and i was so nervous that i wasn't as articulate as i would have liked. i didn't have enough time to say what i would have liked, but i haven't frozen so bad ever before, i don't think i could have done it without my notes. i'm much more comfortable speaking from my desk than from a podium.
Now that is out of the way, i have another reading response to write and a research paper to work on... and that's only for U.S. Lit. In British Romanticism i ahve an 8 page literary analysis to write on one of the poems or authors we've covered this semester (the bright spot in this is that i won't have any classes the week after next in that class, only conferences with the teacher to work on our final papers) and an open book test to study for. In Brit Lit we have a presentation next week (sounds easy enough, but he hasn't discussed it in class yet) and another paper Monday (that he also hasn't discussed yet). Creative Writing is my easy class, we write about a poem a week and i will have to revise about 5 of them for my final portfolio.
So, to sum up: 8 page paper, 5-6 page paper, 2-3 page paper, oral report, portfolio. My training is keeping me centered right now: i'm thinking of trying a new church but have been too exhausted to get out of bed far too many Sunday mornings (it's basically the only day i feel i can sleep in without getting fired or flunking). i'm most worried about my grade in Brit Lit, what papers he FINALLY handed back didn't look good. At this point, i'll be happy with a B in there, and i really wanted to make straight A's this semester. Yeah, don't think i'll be blogging much for the rest of the semester. i'd like to post my papers and poems though, we'll have to see if i can find the time.
Today in US Lit my group finally did our oral report. i only had five minutes, and i was so nervous that i wasn't as articulate as i would have liked. i didn't have enough time to say what i would have liked, but i haven't frozen so bad ever before, i don't think i could have done it without my notes. i'm much more comfortable speaking from my desk than from a podium.
Now that is out of the way, i have another reading response to write and a research paper to work on... and that's only for U.S. Lit. In British Romanticism i ahve an 8 page literary analysis to write on one of the poems or authors we've covered this semester (the bright spot in this is that i won't have any classes the week after next in that class, only conferences with the teacher to work on our final papers) and an open book test to study for. In Brit Lit we have a presentation next week (sounds easy enough, but he hasn't discussed it in class yet) and another paper Monday (that he also hasn't discussed yet). Creative Writing is my easy class, we write about a poem a week and i will have to revise about 5 of them for my final portfolio.
So, to sum up: 8 page paper, 5-6 page paper, 2-3 page paper, oral report, portfolio. My training is keeping me centered right now: i'm thinking of trying a new church but have been too exhausted to get out of bed far too many Sunday mornings (it's basically the only day i feel i can sleep in without getting fired or flunking). i'm most worried about my grade in Brit Lit, what papers he FINALLY handed back didn't look good. At this point, i'll be happy with a B in there, and i really wanted to make straight A's this semester. Yeah, don't think i'll be blogging much for the rest of the semester. i'd like to post my papers and poems though, we'll have to see if i can find the time.
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