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!

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.

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. (:

"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

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.

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.

Tri Training W3D4 / Cto5k W9D2

St. Mary's Life Center has lousy Elliptical Trainers!!! They still have the old Reebok ones from about 9 years ago, and after 20 minutes on one the backs of my ankles and my arches were killing me. i tried to finish my workout on the CardioFit machine, but it wasn't much better: if my feet were forward it would dump me all the way forward in my shoes, hurting my toes, and the machine creates way too much bounce, which was awkward. It was extremely hard to find a comfortable pace and i couldn't go backward on either machine. i had intended to lift weights (for arms, shoulders, and chest), but after a horrible 40 min. cardio workout i'd had enough. The stupid scale said that i've gained weight, too, but it's so old and has been moved so many times that i don't trust it. i hope my experience on the bikes will be better, because did not have a good time today.

Tri Training W3D3

Today i went to class instead of the Tea Party: i regretted it the entire time.

This afternoon the weather was windy and alternated between overcast and sunny. i took the dogs for a walk (they were pulling me practically the entire way): 1.8 miles in a little over 30 minutes. i joined St. Mary's and swam laps. The pool is only 16m long, so it's going to be harder for me to count how far i've swam, i'll try to figure it out before my swim from now on. i swam 9.5 laps (19 lengths) for 304m.

i also bought some gear today in the form of a new helmet, goggles, and some swim boy shorts. The helmet was on sale (sorry Bike Shop, i would have bought it from you, but i have to go where the deals are), but i didn't go for a cheapo this time: i'm going to be spending too many hours in one for me to buy a heavy, uncomfortable, ill fitting helmet (as it is, this one is barely large enough). For now i'll wear the boy shorts with the tankini i bought last spring (a year ago). In fact, it is soooo much easier to swim laps now that i'm not wearing the guys trunks that i was swimming in (they are knee length and baggy and heavy when wet). i've figured out which tri shorts i'm going to buy, but they can't be used in chlorinated water, and i figure that i don't have to buy them immediately. i'll gradually buy gear in the weeks working up to the race. i'm also going to register for the Girls on the Run 5k this paycheck.

Here's my gear thus far:

Giro helmet


Speedo Aqua Racer goggles


Pearl Izumi shorts that i want to get

Tri Training W3D2

i went to the gym after work and rode 6 miles, then lifted weights for my arms and shoulders. i'm trying to take it easy with the weights, but i know my arms are being neglected. i've gained 2 pounds, which is discouraging, but i'm sure it's muscle because my legs are definitely getting stronger. Give me a couple more weeks and my thighs and calves will be huge! As it is my waist and thighs have stayed the same, but i've gained like an 1 1/2" on my thighs. i expected a weight gain this week, i'm so hungry all the time, and am really working hard on this, but i was stupid this afternoon and got on the old scale... which told me that i had lost 5 pounds. i should have known better than to trust it. Overall, feeling good, looking forward to my swim and walk tomorrow, and hoping i can run 5k on Friday.

Tri Training W3D1

So today i swam 200m (100 free, 100 breast) and made good time doing it: it took me about 12 mins. Next i headed to Stoker Stadium to use the track. i warmed up on lap one, ran lap two, and then ran intervals the next two laps (mostly running the straightaways and walking the curves), and walked the final lap to cool down for a final distance of about 1.375 mi. After yesterday's bike ride i'm pretty tired and do have some sore bones in my butt... or pelvis or whatever, they're sore from being sat on a certain way, not from friction or anything. Anyway, i didn't feel strong today, was starving after my workout, and tried to eat more protein today.

i looked into joining St. Mary's Life Center but am really disgusted with the fact that you have to have a $50 initial session with a trainer unless you get the two-week pass first. It would be slightly more expensive for me to join the life center than continue paying cash to go to the Orchard Mesa Pool, but of course that's only if i don't use the gym as well (i would probably be using it some, but would like to predominately train outside). The pass is cheapest per swim, but will only cover eleven of my swims before Memorial Day (at which point it can't be used until Labor Day); after that i will still have six more swims. The plus side of the pool pass is that i can share it with family members, i can't do that with the gym membership, and i will be able to use the pass again next fall. Unfortunately it's buying in bulk and thus expensive. i could just continue to pay the individual fee each time i go in... which comes to about the same amount as the gym membership. Argh, i'm talking in circles.

...

Upon further contemplation, the two-week pass and one month of membership sound like the best bet, because that will only be four swim sessions left without a membership, which comes to about $.14 cheaper per swim than paying cash every time i go to the Orchard Mesa Pool. At that point i can go to any pool (Lincoln Park's pool will be open) or Highline Lake itself to practice swimming in open water. A day long park pass is $6, camping overnight is $14, which would be good for swimming one afternoon and biking the course the next day or vice versa. Hmm, maybe i should do a brick then. i sure am feeling ambitious considering how tired i am right now, i hope this gets better. Can i run a full 30 mins. again on Friday? i didn't feel like i could today.

i really, really need to do some research for next week's presentation for U.S. Lit. and i am totally unmotivated.

i know, i'm obsessed...

The crazy thing about Scrubs is... they're still going through the same exact situations on the show even though it's been years and they've changed networks.

Tri Training W2D5

This afternoon's bike ride yielded a new route. Sammy and Daniel came along, so i had to stop and wait for them A LOT: my detour down Martin Ct was so they could catch up, but enabled me to make this ride come to just over 8 mi. Daniel's chain kept falling off and his pants kept getting caught in the chain, too. My heartrate was higher than i would have liked, so the stopping and waiting helped keep me stay in a good range. If i do this route again i hope to make better time. i'm still learning the gears, it was my first time on my Mom's bike, which i must say is the best bike i've ever ridden.

It was nice weather, cool but not cold, and breezy. On the way back it started to sprinkle, and for the last mile the wind was blowing in my face and it was raining. i'm tired. It's worth noting that my knees never hurt me (like they used to in high school while riding a bike), which is really nice to know. Now if i could just figure out when to change gears....

ugh

i picked up He's Just Not that Into You at the grocery store the other day for a moment, and perused the table of contents:

You Are All Dating the Same Guy
1 He's Just Not That Into You If He's Not Asking You Out
2 He's Just Not That Into You If He's Not Calling You
3 He's Just Not That Into You If He's Not Dating You
4 He's Just Not That Into You If He's Not Having Sex with You
5 He's Just Not That Into You If He's Having Sex with Someone Else
6 He's Just Not That Into You If He Only Wants to See You When He's Drunk
7 He's Just Not That Into You If He Doesn't Want to Marry You
8 He's Just Not That Into You If He's Breaking Up with You
9 He's Just Not That Into You If He's Disappeared on You
10 He's Just Not That Into You If He's Married (and Other Insane Variations of Being Unavailable)
11 He's Just Not That Into You If He's a Selfish Jerk, a Bully, or a Really Big Freak

This was the source of one of the sinking feelings that i've had over the course of the past week. We can discard #4 (i'm not sure it's apt, seeing how i wouldn't let that happen), but i with Brad i was always a victim of #s 1, 3, 7. Then came #s 9, 2, 8, 11, 6, and 5. That's a lot of numbers! It's hard for me not to wonder if he ever really loved me, or was just using me. i don't want to think that way about him, i want to hang on to hope, to dream about the possibility of getting back together, which is just really, really stupid.

Which brings me back to the first source of that sinking feeling. In Brit Lit this week we read "Impercipient" by Thomas Hardy, which is kind of a made up word, and the teacher asked the class to define it. One guy said: "It's the chick that still thinks that she and her boyfriend are going to get back together months after he broke up with her." Yeah, i've been feeling stupid lately, what with my dreaming of Brad, getting in arguments with my "friend" Laz (he certainly hasn't been acting like a friend), and trying to reconnect with old online friends that have lied to me (see, this rogue Curse has always claimed to be a girl. A long time ago we were in UBRS and BWL and (s)he wouldn't get on Vent so we were saying... you must be a guy. Megan always thought Curse was a guy, i was sure she was a she. It turns out... Curse is a guy. i don't understand why he couldn't say that up front, now it feels like a betrayal). How is one supposed to trust people that aren't honest???

shopping for sports bras online

i just measured myself, and apparently i am a 46B. i kid you not. i don't think they even make bras in that size.

ETA: i tried on a 44B at Wal-Mart, and as i expected the band was way too big and the cup was way too small. i think i'll stick with my 42DD tyvm.

Tri Training ... just let me swim

The ironic thing is that last night when i left work i was raring to go: my arms were killing me, but i was dying for a bike ride. i decided that i needed the rest day. This morning i woke up feeling bleh. i kept meaning to go running but finishing an assignment took me longer than i thought it would and i really just did not feel up to it, even after having salmon and stir fry for lunch. So i went swimming but pushed myself to 300m even though it was only meant to be a 200m week. i took my time, breast stroked the first 25m, did 30 bobs, crawled 175m, breast strokes 25m, crawled 50, and cooled down the last 25 with the breast stroke. i talked to the girl that i shared the lane with last time today, she was nice. She is sooo fast, but her form could really use some work (she splashes too much an her flip turn is really far from the wall). Then right when i was ready to leave a older gentlemen got in and it turns out that he's training for the Highline Hustle, too, so i'll probably be seeing both of them from time to time. The good thing about my workout today is that i kept my heartrate under control and paced myself. i should have stayed in the water for a while longer to cooldown, but i was in a hurry to get back to the house: i have no idea why as i had nothing special planned.

i did stop by the Bike Shop and REI this afternoon. i didn't see anything at the Bike Shop that jumped out at me other than training computers. i don't know if i need one, but they're more expensive at REI. At REI i tried on a lot of stuff, the two tri tops, two tri bottoms, two pairs of bicycle shorts that are composed of two layers, a couple of bras, and a pair of running capris. i should say that some of the stuff i tried to try on but was too small, the bras being chief in my mind. The Danskin Tri items were way too tight and uncomfortable, which surprised me because i like to buy their stuff at Wal-Mart to work out in. The Zoot shorts were a tad uncomfortable, but the top was great except for the awkward piping that should be under my breasts but was in the middle of them instead. i hate being busty. The typical cycling shorts are not my thing at all, my butt may feel great but it looks horrible in spandex, not to mention that some of the items were semi-see-through. What i really liked was the casual shorts and bicycle shorts in one, you can have the padding without giving people a reason to stare at you. So i'll probably get a Tri top (not sure about 1X or 2X: the 1X was a little tight, but not overly so) and wear some bikini bottoms or boy shorts to swim in, then pull on the bike shorts. i still do not want to get a wetsuit but i have a feeling that i should talk to the people who have swam the Hustle in the past to be sure.

So there's the rundown, my first week of training nearly complete (i'll bike 8 mi. tomorrow or the next day), and another week of school survived. As for the running: as i said, i'm not as worried about it at this point, i still haven't pushed the 3 mi. mark, but i'm confident that i will soon. i need to focus on my swimming and biking for a bit.

alternatives to the wet suit

i really, really do not want to buy a wet suit. For one thing, they're expensive. For another, the user must be careful not to tear them, as they are delicate, which isn't exactly conducive to quickly removing one during a transition. For another thing, they have the tendency to chafe (ouch). For another thing, i know i'm not the most streamlined creature, but i do not feel that i have a need for extra buoyancy: i have some built in. And lastly, if i only am in one triathlon ever, or am in this one and continue to lose weight, what am i going to do with a wetsuit that i don't need / doesn't fit?

i'm on a budget and i need to be practical. i'm probably going to be borrowing a bike from one of my parents, running in the same outfit and shoes that i cycle in, etc. Wouldn't it be great if i could swim in the same thing? Well apparently you can if you get a Tri Suit (or Tri Top and Shorts). The nicest ones are about the same price as the cheapest wet suits, and the cheapest ones are half as much. To buy one of these sets would cost me a lot: $50-200 depending on the brand, quality, etc., but if i buy a wet suit then i still have to figure out what i'll be biking and running in (and what swimsuit i'll be training in), which costs even more money. i think that i'll go this route instead, the real question is what i'll be doing for a bra, as the one sports bra i own does not provide enough support to run in and i kind of doubt any built in bra will do the job.

So yes, this option is expensive, but it seems to be the best that i can come up with. Who knew that training for a triathlon would be so expensive? i'm almost afraid to tell everyone what i'm investing in this. Another question is whether i should buy these items as soon as possible or wait until i'm certain that i'll be able to participate... and haven't lost weight changing my size. If i am working out five days a week and don't lose weight i am going to be super mad.

Tri Training W1/2D3

Well yesterday i swam 3 laps, and thinking myself all accomplished got out of the pool because the lane was getting crowded and i wanted to find a better place to do bobs. i was a bit wobbily, and then realized that i should have warmed up and that my heartrate was at the top of my zone. i need to be more careful about that, i was working myself too hard even though i was the slowest person in the lap lanes.

Luckily i asked a lifeguard how far across the pool was: turns out it's 25m across and i had only done 150m (i had thought it was 50m across). After doing some bobs and working on my form against the wall, i did three more lengths in the lap lane, bringing my total of the day up to 225m. So i did better than the last time i did laps last August, but overall: i have my work cut out for me in the water. Today is an off day, and i'm so sore in the arms. My form was sloppy yesterday, probably mostly because my arms were tired and breathing in the pool is so different than breathing while running. Swimming is definitely going to be my biggest challenge in training.

i read an article at Tri-Newbies.com about how most swimmers train by swimming all out, at a speed where their heart rate is at the maximum level. As a triathlete that's bad because if one works too hard at the beginning of the race they will be worn out before they even get to transition, and the fatigue and elevated heartrate snowballs from there. In a triathlon the competitors never get a chance to rest, so if one's heartrate is too high at the beginning, it will never come down enough to make up for that. i'm already a slow swimmer, always have been, my hope is that i can get my breathing to a level where i can swim comfortably without getting my heartrate too high.

i think that i'll go swimming and running tomorrow both, because that's the workout for W2D1 (in fact i think all the swims are followed by a run or walk from W3 on) and if i go after 5:30 it will cost less than $3. i'm thinking about getting the punch card, which will only be good until Memorial Day (and again after Labor Day), but i can share it with Mom or my aunt. Each swim costs less than $3 if i go that route, and if i can go halvsies or thirdsies on it, so much more the better. After that i'll probably get a gym membership, at least until race day, but right now i'm going to the gym at the college, where the pool is currently closed for construction.

Now to figure out whether or not i need a wet suit, helmet, and heart rate monitor (which is probably maybe, yes, and yes). i almost definitely need to get a swim cap, goggles, and new suit.

last night... SDP W1D2 / TriTraining W1D2

This day had been sooo weird. My first two classes of the day were canceled. i'm petsitting for a friend of my mother's again (for free, but hey, she has satellite and the house is quiet). i'm so ready for my third day of triathlon training.

So yes, i am taking the plunge and starting to train for my first triathlon, the Highline Hustle Sprint Triathlon at Highline Lake June 13. The distances are swim 500m, bike 16 mi., and run 3 mi., in that order; there are new exercise tickers at the bottom of my blog to reflect my new goals. The good news: my running is already where it needs to be on race day, and i don't think i'll have that much trouble coming up to speed on my biking and swimming. The bad news: i thought i had eleven weeks to train, but i only have ten because the race has been moved up a week compared to last year to (i had thought the race was June 20th). i'm using TriNewbies 10 Week Sprint Distance Program - Beginner (which is actually ten weeks of training and then an easy eleventh week before the race) for my training, and will just have to combine week 1 and 2, but as i said, i'm already there physically and the running in their program is a big step back for me. So as far as my running i'm going to finish out week 9 of Cto5k and then start doing some shorter intervals (probably 5-10 minutes in length) and possibly some speed drills. So i have a lot of work ahead of me, workouts five days a week, serious bike riding for the first time ever, and serious swimming for the first time in about ten years (wow, it's hard to believe it's been that long). i plan to swim 200 yards this afternoon and bike 8 miles Sat. or Sun. (at the moment i'm on Thur. even though it's only Wed... it will probably be better for me to work out on Sundays once AWANA ends for the year, but right now that's a better day off for me than Mondays).

Bad thing about petsitting... the case of Coca-Cola in the fridge and abundance of junk food in the house. Good thing about petsitting... built in work out partners.

Cto5k W9D1

So last night i couldn't sleep, and was up late trying to work on a paper for school. i mean i was up really late, like until 4am. i eventually decided to sleep in and forget school for the day, i've been in a weird head zone over the past week. Anyway, i slept until around 11am, had yogurt and frozen fruit and grilled cheese for lunch, and ran about 2.8 miles. On the way out i felt great, pushed myself all the way up that hill for the first time, and then promptly grew bored on the way back down said hill. i paused in the usual places (i.e. the catttleguards), and paused at the top of that hill, too. i think i didn't have enough energy to really focus on my form for the last half of the run, i didn't feel tired or anything, just unmotivated. The second time at the cattleguard i was the slightest bit dizzy, and i had to force myself to finish the end of the run, again not because i felt too tired, but because i had to concentrate just to keep moving. i should have eaten more this morning.

Anyways, i'm considering running in a 5k in May and starting to work towards a triathlon in June... which means i need to start training this week. i should be fine as far as the running, it's the swimming and bicycling that i need to focus on mostly. So tomorrow i might just be going for a bike ride... i'm not sure yet. Unfortunately, my left ear bud went out today; i've been considering buying an mp3 player designed for running with (and maybe even swimming with).

Right now i think i'll eat again and then maybe do some yoga.

i don't have a single friend in the world anymore, just my twisted perceptions that feel so right and yet so wrong all at the same time.

Cto5k W8 Complete!

Ugh, i don't feel good today, though oddly i was overeager to run. My first two laps i ran too fast, and my muscles didn't like it. i didn't get any cramps, but my legs were tight, so i had to pause and stretch once, and paused to drink more than usual (which added to the length of my workout time, because i would pause the music and drink water walking back and forth, then resume my run). Not my strongest finish, but i'm excited to run 30 minutes straight come Monday. i'm sooo glad that it's the weekend, but am not looking forward to work tomorrow. Incidentally, i used the track in the indoor gym for the first time (because i wanted to run, not use the elliptical, but it's too wet outside), and as predicted i didn't like it. 13.7 laps = 1 mi., so i had trouble keeping track of my laps, and i'm not sure that i counted them right.

The good news that i have to report... i lost 3 pounds! /woot

Cto5k W8D1 + 2

i actually started week 8 Tuesday a week ago, and never got around to updating MapMyRun until today. The weather was nasty so i stuck to the gym and didn't push myself on the elliptical trainer. Then i discovered that i've gained a pound. ):

Today i hit the road despite cool temperatures and light snow. It was the best run i've ever had; i pushed it today and ran .4 miles farther than i had ever gone on this road before... right up a hill. i need to be running more often, but it's so frustrating to not see any results at all after six month on the scale: i've only lost 5 pounds, and am still wearing the same clothing. i don't know how to find time to run more, it's really frustrating.