Been a week....bike...snowshoe...great!

The training has gone well over the past week! I struggled a bit with excess eating this weekend - but that is something else...

I have gotten in two swims since the last blog. One on Thursday - which almost didn't happen. A friend from home asked to grab a drink last minute since she was in Denver for the night, so we met for a drink (IPA nonetheless) :-) I made the good decision to still go to the pool after! Did 40 lengths and felt good, but funny after an IPA :-) Friday went in early to work to get in a bike workout since I took a half day. I was tired though! Only 5.5 miles during the 30 minute time.  Tough week!

No work yesterday and no workout but today got in a bike workout (6.9 miles) in 30 minutes and just got back from a swim! 40 lengths and felt great! I am still doing the 10 lengths and breaking. I can tell the breaths between each length is getting smaller and smaller. Next week I am hoping to either do another 5 or 10 laps, or extend the 10 lengths to 15 lengths between breaths.

Two other exciting things happened this weekend in the tri spectrum.
First on Saturday Aaron and I went to REI and test rode some bikes!!
The first was the Marin Terra Linda bike:

 It is a road bike but slightly hybrid. It felt great on the test ride! I couldn't believe how easy it was ride! The gears were great and it wasn't as hard to ride a road bike as I had thought. This bike is $769

The second bike I looked at was the Cannondale Quick 4 at $629. The tires were a tiny bit bigger which I liked since I'll also be riding it around town. It didn't seem as comfortable but I realized afterwards that I had a Men's bike, whoops! I definitely think one of these two bikes would be wonderful for the Tri and around town. I need to go back for a second ride around and read a few more reviews but they both seem like great bikes.

The other exciting even this weekend was the snowshoe that Aaron and I went on! Aaron already wrote a great write up at Colorado Rambler - his blog! It was a great 5.28 mile hike up and back to Lost Lake in Nederland, CO. One of the cool things was I brought my Garmin Forerunner 110 GPS watch! I had used it a few times for runs and a bike ride, but with my ankle I had only done 3 or 4. Also this was the first time I downloaded the data to my computer. Being an actuary, I love stats and numbers...and this had lots! It showed speed, distance and even elevation! We were able to look this over each mile and see which were the harder areas, etc. The watch also comes with a heart rate monitor, but I didn't wear it for the snowshoe. Below are two of the images from the stats showing the route (from GPS) and the elevation chart!

 So a pretty good week and I am excited to get going on the exercises this week. It felt great to be out and do some cross-training! I love getting outside and getting a workout in :-) 

The doctor also called today and my shoe insert orthodics have arrived! I am going on Friday to get them fitted, and am hoping to go to Boulder Running Company after work to find some new sneakers! Physical Therapy starts a week from tomorrow so I might even be able to run again soon! My ankle didn't hurt at all during the snowshoe. The outside part of my left leg felt a little inflamed the next day, but my calves also are still very sore! 

Happy training!

Week starting strong

Week has been going well! Got in my swim tonight (40 lengths) and elliptical/abs during work! Yesterday was a strong bike ride too :-) Calorie counting is going well, some days I am searching for healthy snacks to get my calories...others I can not believe how quick they add up! I know with all the exercising and strict calories I get really tired! I'm hoping for a really early bedtime!!

I still need to work on kicking. Tonight I did four sets of ten lengths with just tiny breaths between. Had my own lane for half and shared for a bit.

I think for this week I need to focus on being good, staying positive, sleeping a lot and not stressing! :-)

Exhausted, but great swim!

Another super busy week at work, I am not used to this!! The last two days have been 12 and 11 1/2 hour days! But, it has still been a good week :-)

Yesterday I was able to get a bike workout in at the gym. I had to use the other bike, which I haven't used before, so I was not as familiar with the settings. It said I only went for 4 miles, when the other bike says I go for 7 miles, I am a little confused about that! I also did arms, which I am feeling today! I added in a machine while I was waiting for a bench and apparently those muscles haven't been worked in a while :-)

I then gave blood at work yesterday, so I think that has a lot to do with why I am so exhausted! I have been drinking lots of fluids, but still wipes you out! I was in bed super early last night - I actually fell asleep with my contacts in because I fell asleep so quickly...that never happens.

The calorie counting this week has been going great too, actually. I have stuck to the same meals pretty much every day - but luckily I don't mind that :-) I had yummy stuffed peppers most of the week that AA and I made on Monday. Then this morning I threw frozen vegetables, a boneless chicken breast and some broth in to the crock pot! It was a healthy and easy meal before my swim tonight!

I went in to the gym before work this AM because I had a doctors appointment during the day and did not want to miss too much work! I was exhausted. I only did 25 minutes on the elliptical and didn't even have any energy to do abs or leg machines. I figured that was OK because obviously I was tired, and sometimes you just don't feel like it!

After work, I didn't have much time to think about going or not going to swimming since I was short on time and lap swim ends at 8. I was second guessing my decision a little, but was happy to see the pool was pretty much empty, only 1 person per lane. I started out doing 4 length sets and resting. I am breathing pretty hard and count to about 20 and then continue. I felt OK, I could tell I was a little tired, but definitely still felt good and did not want to stop. I was only aiming for 30 lengths. After 20, I decided to slow it down a little and see how it felt. I ended up doing 10 lengths without stopping!! I take about 3 seconds as I turn around - but I think I would rather focus on my endurance and form rather than my speed. After the 30 laps it had only been 20ish minutes (when I first started it took me 30!) so I decided to go a few more. I honestly can't remember if I went 4 or 6 more....it is really hard to keep count! But I was very happy with my swim for tonight - and the fact I went through with it anyways.

As I mentioned I went back to the doctors today. I have peroneal tendonitis. He also mentioned you can get shin splits on the outside of your leg, where the muscle comes apart from the bone. He recommended physical therapy to strengthen the muscle and get a better recovery plan. He took a 3D scan of the bottom of my feet for inserts for my shoes. I can pick those up in 10ish days and then go get new shoes. He said my running shoes were too stiff and I need shock absorbing ones. I pronate to the outside of my foot, so the insert will help me land flat. I still am having pain, so he said to keep off of it until it is feeling better. I guess it just came down to overuse, and that muscle wasn't strong enough for all the stress I was putting on it.

Tomorrow is Friday which I am excited about! Two friends from Hartford are in town, staying with another friend, so we are going to an Avalanche game tomorrow, and then Aaron has the night off so he can meet up with us! Not much else planned for the weekend. Maybe skiing Saturday - or might take it easy. AA also has Saturday night off so I feel spoiled :-) Hopefully a bike workout tomorrow! 

Motivation continues!

After my re-motivation on Saturday night things have been going well!

First, the Giants won on Sunday! While I am now a Bronco fan, I am from NY and grew up in a Giants household :-)

My sister started a blog recently about healthier eating and lifestyle in general. She mentioned a calorie counter app. I used one before that was great, so I figured it'd be great to do that and try to get off some stubborn last pounds! Started yesterday and really enjoying it. Helps to see everything all in one place. If you only have a certain # of calories, do you want that cheese? Sometimes no...sometimes yes!

Got in a bike/arm workout yesterday then elliptical/ABS during work today and swimming after! I'm writing this from my phone in bed so I have to keep it short. I was about to turn out the light and remembered I forgot to post!

Did another 40 lengths today. Did 10 sets of 100 meters! = 4 lengths. Gotta still sign up for lesson but focused on doing better kicking.  I tend to only use my arms.

Goodnight!

Slow Moving

Not a lot of good things to report on :-(
Work got extremely stressful at the end of the week - and unfortunately I let it get the best of me. I was having a strong week, with a swim Wed morning and gym Mon/Tues/Wed. However, Thursday was a tough day at work. I did not get to the gym on Thursday or Friday and didn't get my swim in Thursday night. I know this is a weak spot of mine that I need to work on. I let the stress and work get the best of me, and get very anxious and nervous - and in turn eat way too much! I am sitting here on Saturday night still trying to get work done! Luckily I finally got my remote connection working so I don't have to go in to the office :-)

BUT - last week I had ordered Your First Triathlon by Joe Friel.

It had been sitting on the couch for a few days. While waiting for a few models to run for work tonight - I decided to start reading it. And I am sure glad I did! I think it gave me back some motivation and got me excited again about my training. It reminded me of what I am trying to do. When I am learning something new, I like lots of information, and I love details. So getting a 'what to expect' book seemed appropriate. I am already half way through and am very happy with my selection. I had read some reviews, which were accurate in the fact it is a beginner type book and doesn't go in to too many nitty-gritty details, but still gives you a good high level background.

It has gone in to things like nutrition, motivation, support and other 'pre-training' topics. It then breaks down the swimming/biking/running and gives some training plans. I am already excited again to get back on track this week. Aaron and I are planning to go to the gym in the morning too!

We did get a fun little snowshoe this morning :-) We got about 16 inches of snow yesterday so we wanted to take advantage! Aaron had to work in the afternoon so the plan was to head to Cherry Creek State Park for a quick snowshoe! We found the park! But not the entrance...we ended finding another place to go - and worked on my map and compass skills - so it was a success :-)

Tomorrow is the Superbowl, and while I wish it was Timmy and Broncos...I will be a bandwagon Giants fan since that is where my family loyalties lie :-)

Successful Cycle Morning Swim!

I headed to WPRC and got there around 6:15 AM. It was PACKED! I knew i couldn't walk away again, there were 3 people in every lane! So everyone was already cycling. I asked the lifeguard what to do - he said pick appropriate speed lane and let other swimmers know joining.
I stared for a while - but then hopped in one of the slow lanes. Couldn't look back :-)

Felt great this AM! Did 40 lengths! With the other people it was harder to time so it was pretty continuous with tiny breaks in between. There was an old guy who was really nice, and told me to go ahead of him a few times when he was resting. He said his friend was complaining, I think he was mad about all the people. The other girl was super friendly.

So it was a great morning swim! Might need to do that more often! :-)