Only 3 Days!

For the past week, I haven't been really looking forward to this weekend's triathlon. However, that changed today. I snapped out of this weird funk shortly after I completed my brick workout. Combine that with pulling out items to pack for the race, particularly my Zoot Tri racesuit (similar to this one), and I am a happy girl and ready for Saturday!

Only 3 more days!

This will be my first outdoor triathlon of 2010. I haven't done the Average Joe Triathlon before, so everything will be new to me. The race starts at 830am and since we are not staying in Perham the night before, we have to drive an hour and 20 minutes or so that morning. We plan to be on the road by 430am, hoping for no later than 445am, and ready for registration at 630am! If we have a little extra time, which I am sure we will, I am sure we will check out the race course.

Positive side of getting up at the butt-crack-of-dawn? Watching the sun rise!

Average Joe Triathlon - Perham, MN
The distances:
Swim - 1/3 mile
Bike - 12 miles (however it was noted 14 miles in a different source)
Run - 3.8 miles (don't know why this isn't just a 5K, but will find out soon enough!)

I know there are some of you who are racing this weekend as well, so I want to wish you a safe and happy race!

Updates All Around!

If you missed my Lifetime Fitness Indoor Triathlon Race Report and are interested in reading it - I posted it yesterday! Click HERE to read it! Thanks to all who have left such kind comments!

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Here's an update on my 3 Changes as part of the 3 Changes Challenge put together by Amanda over at RuntotheFinish:


1. Less Soda/More Water - I am doing really well with the cut-back in soda. Actually, I haven't had soda in 8 days. I am drinking more water and still cutting back on swinging through the drive-thru at Caribou or Starbucks for my coffee fix.

2. No treats at work - I really stunk at this last week. I don't know if it was because I was craving dairy or what not, but I just couldn't turn down a couple drumsticks after lunch with my co-workers. Plus, it didn't help that a co-worker of mine was pretty much shoving them in my face!

3. 4-5 days of 15-20 minutes Core and stretching each week - I only did this 3 days.

1:00-1:45 plank (1 time)

220 side crunches with 8# ball

50 side crunches (scissors)

45 reverse crunches

25 regular crunches

85 pushups

used foam roller two times

It will be interesting to see how week 4 goes. It's Teacher Appreciation Week and there are TREATS everywhere! It's SO annoying and DISGUSTING! Add on birthday treats from students and I am in deep trouble!

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I have done some deep thinking about the Olympic Triathlon I was hoping to do in August. After weighing the pros and cons, taking into account many of your wonderful comments and talking to my swim coach this morning, I decided that I am going to pass on this race....this year.

*sigh*

My swim coach, who did the Oly last year, reminded me that the Oly swim was longer than they stated and the Sprint swim was too short. For it only being my second triathlon, I even noticed that.

Plus, I am really looking forward to doing the YWCA (ALL WOMEN) Triathlon with my sister and a couple friends. It's going to be a great experience!

And, with the summer being jam-packed with weddings and other exciting things, I am okay with only doing a couple triathlons. I look forward to training smart and hard, and building off of what I consider to be a good base built already! And... just maybe....I will find a fall half marathon to do....

I am keeping my options open!

Indoor Triathlon Race Report & Upcoming Races!

Yesterday I completed my first triathlon of 2010! It was an indoor triathlon and I did it with my friend Jill, my sister Steph, and her friend Amanda! This was Steph and Amanda's first triathlon, evah!

I did this same sort of event two years ago, and it was my first triathlon ever, as well! Here's a comparison of what I did in March of 2008, what my goal was for this time, and what I accomplished this time around:


March 2008 ..........May 2010 GOAL.........May 2010 Results
Swim 17.5 lengths .......Swim 19.5 lengths ........ Swim 20 lengths
Bike 11.4 miles .......... Bike 15 miles .............. Bike 14.8 miles
Run 1.55 miles .......... Run 1.75 miles ............ Run 1.75 miles


The Swim: When all was said and done, I thought that I swam 22 lengths, but I guess I should trust those who were counting, right? I pushed myself pretty hard at the end and finished strong!


T1: I swear we didn't get our full 10 minutes for transition, but whatev. When we reached the cycling studio, the guy told us we have 1 minute to get on our shoes, adjust the bike and get on. I had to have the girl adjust my seat and handlebars when I started cycling.


The Bike: I felt really good on the bike. I don't think I could have turned my legs over any faster! It was a great 30 minutes of riding!


T2: We had 5 minutes here. I had to kick of my clipless shoes, put on my tenners, and run upstairs to the treadmill.


The Run: My quads were pretty tight but it probably took less than a minute or two to transition into a good stride on the treadmill. I did a bit of walking here and there but pushed myself really hard in the last 6-8 minutes of the 20 minute run. I ended up sprinting (sprinting for me) the last couple of minutes with a pace less than 8:00 minute mile. As soon as I hit pause on that treadmill and jumped off, I thought was going to puke for coming to a quick stop.

I met my goal in all areas but the bike! But, I must admit that the goal I set for the bike was quite a jump from last time. I placed 29th out of 52 participants and both newbies kicked my butt! Congrats, Steph and Amanda on your first triathlon!


Here are a handful of photos:

My sister and I

(wow, I look rough in the morning...messy hair and no make-up!)

Waiting for our wave to start...

On the bike...

Unfortunately, there are no pics of us on the run. The time went by too fast and I forgot.

I've said it before, and I'll say it again: If you have a Lifetime Fitness near you and are looking to try a triathlon, this is the place to start! Doing an indoor triathlon is a great way to get a feel for the sport!
There was a lot of discussion about race schedules this weekend with these lovely ladies. So much discussion that I am thinking of revamping my race schedule. I have come to the concensus that I will be doing the Average Joe Sprint Triathlon (June 26th) in Perham, MN, and the YWCA Women's Sprint Triathlon (August 15th) in Minneapolis, MN.

However (there's always my signature "however"), I have had the Younglife Olympic Triathlon (Aug. 21st) stuck in my mind for months. I did the sprint distance at this triathlon last year and loved it. I was really looking forward to doing this one as an olympic distance, since I am familiar with the course. The thing is, it's 6 days after the YWCA Women's Sprint Triathlon and I don't know if it's a good idea to do my first olympic triathlon that soon after a sprint triathlon. I am torn. I was hoping to get in an olympic traithlon this year, but it doesn't look like it will happen.

Sooooo..... calling all triathletes, what are your thoughts? Do you think I should/could do the sprint one weekend and then the olympic 6 days later?!

Last week's training & decision time

Training:


I think I might have found my groove. The following is my training schedule from this past week with what I planned in blue and what I actually did in red:



3 runs with one 6 miler/ 3.5 mi, 2.5 mi, 6.3 mi - CHECK!
2 swims (approx. 4000Yds)/2300Yds, 1800Yds - CHECK!
2 bikes (one long, one short)/ 16 miles, 14 miles - CHECK!
1 BodyPump Class/ 1 BodyPump Class - CHECK!
1 Hour of Yoga/ 1 Hour of Yoga - CHECK!
3-4 days of TriPower/ 3 TriPower days - CHECK!


Totals:
Run - 12.3 miles
Bike - 30 miles
Swim - 4100Yds (2.33 miles)

It was a good week with 2 rest days and got in yoga for the first time in months! Slept well. Ate well. Wasn't exhausted. Solid Training. Consistent. Good.

This week's training plan:
3 runs - 3 mi, 3 mi, 4-5 mi long run
2 bikes - 2 short bikes (15 miles or less), one with a 1 mile run-off
2 swim - approx. 3500 - 4000 Yards
1 bodypump class
1/2 hour of yoga
1/2 hour of pilates

Looking at my schedule, this should be more of a recovery week. I am going to cut back my long run a bit and do two shorter rides instead of 1 long and 1 short. Instead of an hour of yoga, I am going to do 1 half hour of yoga and a half hour of pilates. It should be a good week!



Fargo Marathon Decision:


I have finally made a decision about the Fargo Marathon.... drum roll, please.

Actually, I think I knew a few weeks ago what I wanted to do, but just wasn't ready yet to commit to my decision. As much as I would like to do the 5K/Half Marathon Challenge, I am just not feeling the Half Marathon right now. I am able to run 5-7 miles pain free for the first time in months and months and I am not ready to push myself too much further just yet.

I have never done a 10K before, so with that in mind I am planning on doing the 5K/10K Challenge! I will be participating in the 5K Friday night and then the 10K Saturday morning! I am kind of kicking myself for waiting so long to register as it was a bit spendy, but I have to think of this as TWO races not just one, and then the cost doesn't bug me too much!

I am super pumped!

A side note... Remember how I was grumbling over not being able to do many races this summer with all the busy weekends I have? Well, a smart cookie named Whitney, suggested checking to see if there were any events going on where I was going to be for those weddings. I looked into a few weekends between being home for weddings or in the cities for other events and found a triathlon in Bismarck the same weekend I am going to be home for my cousin's wedding! Needless to say, I am super pumped, but I need to check into this race before I commit myself completely! Wahoo!

My race schedule is slowly falling into place!

Happy Monday, y'all!

What's with the BA?

I think I have a bad additude about this upcoming triathlon. It will be the last one of the season; shouldn't I be super excited? I am not. I am sure things will be different once I wake up at the butt crack of dawn Saturday morning and drive the 45 minutes to Detroit Lakes for the event. But right now, I kind of just have that "meh" feeling.

Whatev.


School hasn't started back up yet, but I have been in and out of work a lot this week, working on organizing my room and then some paperwork. Next week I am back for 4 days of staff developement and workshops, have 3 days off, and then we start school on the 26th with the kiddos. I am super excited to get back with my kids. Oh how I miss them! (Remember this in a few weeks when I am pulling my hair out. LOL)

After the tri, I am sure I will be consumed with the whirlwind events of transitioning back to school, so I plan to take it pretty easy over the next 2-3 weeks. Workouts will still be there, but no tight schedule or long training sessions.

I have some ideas of what I want to do during the fall to preprare myself for half marathon training after the new year. Yes, I said half marathon training. I think I am going to give the Fargo Half Marathon another chance. Last year I struggled with an injury and was only able to do the 5K. I hope to run a few times a week, swimming and biking once or twice a week, and strength training 2-3 times a week (which will include my Tri Power workouts). Actually, I wouldn't mind trying some of the different classes at the Y (that I proclaimed I didn't have time for while training) - such as Kickboxing, BodyPump, Pilates, Yoga, and Hip Hop Hustle?! Wahoo!

Did I mention that I joined the committe for the Fargo Marathon Youth Run? I think we meet once a month! I am super excited!


Well, I am sure the next time I post I will be writing up a race report after Saturday. I wish everyone who is racing this weekend GOOD LUCK and HAVE FUN! That's what's important, right?!

Peace.

What's going on?

Teacher Appreciation Week...
The week started off with $60 in cold hard cash from our PTA as a thanks for all we do. Seriously, we are so lucky to have such a wonderful PTA, and it's not just about the money! They have been very involved and supportive in our school and district. On top of the money from the PTA, our district administrators, support staff, and district educator's association, have been providing treats in the lounge each day... meat and cheese tray, root beer floats, muffins and rolls, pies, etc.


Triathlon to Come...
Less than two weeks ago, I came across a triathlon I wanted to do. It's part of the Prairie Rose State Games that takes place here in ND every year, rotating between four locations. This year it takes place in Grand Forks, only an hour drive from here and the cost is only $15!! For my first outdoor triathlon, I just couldn't pass it up. The knee is feeling stronger than ever, I have started an 11 week training plan, implementing Tri Power, and I am super pumped!


Fargo Marathon...
This weekend marks the 5th annual Fargo Marathon. As much as I was looking forward to doing the Half Marathon again, I am okay with down-sizing to the 5K run. This race is going to be for fun! I plan to take my camera with me, taking pictures along the way, and finishing with extra time to watch the rest of my family finish. My sister Susan will be walking across the finish line with other friends, my sister Steph will be finishing her very first Half Marathon, and my parents will be completing their umpteenth Half Marathon. It's a family affair. If anyone is looking for a flat course with a great crowd to work towards their BQ, this would be the one!


Co-ed softball just around the corner...
I had originally planned to can co-ed softball this summer but I just couldn't. I told our "manager" that I would be willing to be a sub, and he asked that I play the first couple weeks to get me on the roster. Then, a shirt was ordered for me, and I really wanted to play. We have more girls this year, so I opted to rotate in, playing maybe one game each week rather than both games and I am completely fine with this! We start next Tuesday, playing at 9 and 10 pm! This will be late nights for the last few weeks of school, but I can't handle it!


Sand Volleyball ?!?...
When I was living in GF, a handful of us played co-ed sand volleyball at a local bar for years. It was sad to see that come to an end and I really missed not playing last summer. So, a friend of mine set up a Co-ed team for this summer and I am going to be playin' baby! This will start in a couple weeks, the same night as softball but just a few hours earlier. Hopefully there will be just enough time for a cold beer or two between the two sports! Just another reason to look forward to summer!



Monday's Workout:
Bike 12.5 miles, 38:00, 19.73mph

Tuesday's Workout:
Run 2. 75 miles, 31:06, 11:18/mi avg.

Freezin' my Tail off

First of all ... I officially signed up for the Lifetime Fitness Indoor Triathlon in Maple Grove, MN! I can't wait. I spent some time looking over the results from the Chanhassen race last year, looking at the high and low numbers for the women in each discipline and trying to think about possible goals for myself. I will be attempting a "mock trial" on my own the first weekend in March to get an idea of what it will be like and what my goals should truly consist of. I feel as if I am more than ready for this Tri, but I am going to continue doing what I am doing with maybe a little more cycling as this seems to be the first thing neglected when I have been too busy.

Now, I just need to register for my Half Marathon in May ...

Just throwing this out there.... I will be thinking about doing either the 6.7 mile run or Half Marathon at Crater Lake August 9th. My parents are planning on doing the Half Marathon and my sister was thinking of joining, thus we are contemplating making this a family trip. Like I said... I am just throwing this out there. Isn't the picture worth doing the run? Makes me kind of feel warm and fuzzy inside!

My morning workout #1 this week was successful. I was able to get in a 3 mile run this morning. I didn't go for 40 minutes, but I had a little soreness from my "faster" 2 miles last night. Instead of lifting, I took the time to stretch real well and do a bit of an ab workout. Somewhere down the road I am going to have to incorporate lifting into my schedule on a regular basis. Right now it is just shoved here and there, whenever I know I have enough time before or after a given workout.

It's freekin' freezin' here. Point blank. I was hoping it was going to be warm enough come this weekend to do my 6.5 miles outdoors... probably won't happen.

Question of the day: What is everyone's favorite Half Marathon Training Plan/Method?
I am currently using the Jeff Galloway Plan and all is dandy, but I was comparing it to Hal Higdon's and they are very different.

ORN: 3 miles
34:00
11:20 min/mile

Triathlons and Half Marathons

I was out of town this weekend, visiting my wonderful sister and brother-in-law in the Twin Cities area. We celebrated a friend's birthday friday night and despite all the drinking, Steph and I were still able to get up at a reasonable time and make it to cycle 60, a spin class, at Lifetime Fitness. I was in heaven. It has been over a month since my last spin session. Afterwards, she gave me a tour of the gym and I was just in awe.

When I returned to ND today and began reading the comments on my previous post, I was excited to see a message from Steve stating the date of the indoor triathlon at the gym my sister belongs to. Then came the disappointment. I was truely upset to find that it conflicts with another committment of mine. I so wanted to do that tri!

Now I am back to square one. I need to find a triathlon to participate in this spring/summer and have no idea where. A part of me was hoping to do one in the area, but can't seem to find one that doesn't conflict with some other things. How does one travel across country for a triathlon ... with all that stuff... especially the bike?! This is new to me... any suggestions as far as great races for beginners and traveling?

Tomorrow brings the beginning of my half marathon training. I hope I can continue to swim and bike on a regular basis as well. Swimming has been a great form of cross training for me in the past couple weeks.

OCN: 25 miles
1 hour
587 calories