Calling all Triathletes....

... or triathletes-to-be!

Here's the deal. We all know I have been struggling with running. But, not to the point that I can't run. I just have to take it easy, with more off days and more cross training.

But... I need all the help I can get. I am attempting to switch gears.

PAUSE.

Folks, I am thinking Triathlon.

PAUSE.

I know I will not be participating in any until 2008.... as I will not be ready for anything in the next 5 months.... there really isn't anything 'round here in the winter time ..... and the spring/summer is much more promising for necessary traveling.

(If you know of any good beginner-sprint-triathlons, now would be the time to share! please!)

... But, that is not why I have asked for you presence.

I have done some researching online and reading my Triathlon Training Basics by Gale Bernhardt, trying to figure out a great training schedule. ... .. Somewhere to start.. ... .. Anything. .... .. I don't necessarily need to "really" train just yet, I just want to be able to follow some sort of schedule... something to build a good base.

I need a schedule people. I am a schedule person!!

Anyone got any good ideas? Suggestions?? Thoughts??? ANYONE?

plans, plans, plans....

My plan was to wake up early this morning, attempt a couple miles, head to the school (location of my new job) to introduce myself to the secretary and take a walk around, fill my kitchen with groceries, return the lounging chair I bought from Target (because it was broke), buy new lounging chair for patio, and finish Harry Potter.

With the idea of getting up at a decent hour to squeeze that run in before it was too hot, it didn't happen. For three reasons. (A) I was up super late, on the phone with a good friend for 1.5 hours, (B) I was reading potter after getting off the phone at 12am, and (3) I was awoken at the butt-crack of dawn by construction workers. You see, I went to bed with the door in my bedroom (that opens to the patio) open, hoping to get fresh/cool air flowin' through the room. So, needless to say, between cuss words and moans of crabby tiredness, I attempted to sleep a little longer... calling off the run. hmmm.

So, I accomplished everything else except for finishing Potter. I have about 100 pages left and I am going to finish that today. Talking to my friend last night, we were discussing the idea of finding a weekend to meet up at his parents lake cabin with some other friends. I hope all works out, but my August is already consumed for the most part. And, he is trying to get me to come down and visit him in IA. When he had gotten this job, I said I would visit him... and gosh darnit, I meant it! But, being a teacher and all (enter sighs and pretend to feel sorry for me) I really don't have any long weekends available until Veteran's Day. Sigh. We'll see. I would really like to get down there, it would be a load of fun.

Tonight, I might find a nerve in me to get out and go for a short run. But, I will make sure I am back for some baseball. Bonds is playing tonight, and I wouldn't mind "possibly" wittnessing him breaking Hank Aaron's record! So with that, if you were there, and caught the ball, would you keep it, sell it, or give it to Bonds?? I ain't gonna lie, I am not the biggest fan of Bonds, but this is a big record to be broken!

A little bit of this, a little bit of that...

Saturday we had our anual family golf tournament. The weather last year was a near 100 degrees and humid, this year it was only about 80 degrees, but sunny. It was only nine holes, but the walking seemed like quite the workout, especially on some of the minor hills! We play "best ball" so it was not so tense and quite fun. The county fair was going on at the same time, so the tractor pull event was quite distracting on holes 1-4. All and all, our team came out with -2, as did many other teams. It just wasn't enough for us to get the big "W". But, it was fun! I am contemplating buying myself a set of clubs this fall (when they are on sale), and doing a little more practicing before next August. I only golfed once before this tournament.

Yesterday, I chose not to do any running or biking, but to relax with Mom and my sister before I left home. We hit up the movie "Hairspray" which was wonderful! And then, I spent the rest of the evening working on the binding of my quilt. Yes, people, that is correct. I have almost finished my first quilt. (That's what happens when I am home, with no summer job, and have that creative bug in me.)

Today has been another uneventful day. It has pretty much down poured all day (which is needed)... so there was no running or cycling... but tomorrow I am going to work on getting my gym membership, hoping to find a spin class to get into.... and eventually get back into the pool! It's been almost a year!

Baby Steps, baby steps

When reflecting on my running, I oftentimes take for granted how far I have come. When things start to become easier, it is only natural to want to push yourself harder, and further. When my running starts to flow, my mind starts to wonder with all sorts of things I want to accomplish... 10k's, half marathons, possibly a marathon (atleast one), a sprint triathlon, or even more. And then boom, something happens and puts me back. Two steps forward, one step back. This is the time in which I wish, and hope, that soon, I will be back on the road, feelin' good and doing a few miles every other day. As of right now, that is all I hope for.

OCN: 8.62 miles

Yesterday, in attempt to see how my knee would suit me on the bike, I went out with a bit of nervousness. Whenever I have been sore or down on running before, I have been able to get on the bike with minimal uncomfortness. When I did get on that bike, I will admit, the knee was a little sensitive at first, but after a couple miles, it warmed up. To be honest, after my ride, my knees felt a whole lot stronger.

ORN: 2.25 miles

Today, after spending most of the day doing other little things around the house, my laziness got the best of me, and I was just itching to get outside and do something. I just had to. For my sanity. So, at about 4pm, during the hottest part of the day, I put on my shorts and tank, tied up my shoes, grabbed my heart rate monitor and nano, and headed out. My goal? 20 minutes. 20 minutes of walking and jogging. In the end? 27 minutes, a little walking and more jogging. Overall, it went better than I thought and I was somewhat pleased. I came home, popped in some ibuprofen and iced my knee.

Baby steps, baby steps. That is all I can say.

"Sweet Home, Chicago"

I don't know about you, but when I think of Chicago, I think of great music, great food, and great shopping! We, that being the 'rents, my baby sister and I drove all the way to Chicago... for...Eric Clapton's Crossroads Guitar Festival. (in aid of THE CROSSROADS CENTRE ANTIGUA)And wonderful it was! We were there bright and early saturday morning to plant our rears on our blankets on the ground of the Toyota Park (location of Chicago's soccer team), and waited until noon for the day-long show to start. It was humid and warm in the morning with clouds, hot and very sunny in the afternoon, and cool and calm in the evening..Bill Murray was the host, and he was hillarious. I will not post pics of all the artists that performed, but I will list them: Allison Krauss & Union Station, Jeff Beck, Robert Randolph and the Family Band, Sheryl Crow, Vince Gill, Willie Nelson, John Mayer, Doyle Bramhall II, Robert Cray, Buddy Guy, Albert Lee, Los Lobos, John McLaughlin, Hubert Sumlin, The Derek Trucks Band, Jimmie Vaughan, Johnny Winter, Steve Winwood, and B.B. King.

Each person performed about 3-5 songs. I can't really complain about any of the artists, they were all wonderful. Jeff Beck did have a heavier type of music... a lot of guitar and not much else. Plus, his songs were really long and it seemed as if he was up there too long. But, I must admit, he is quite the artist. He is one mean, playin' machine... hands-down.

I was so excited to see Eric Clapton,

B.B. King, Allison Krauss & Union Station, John Mayer, and Sheryl Crow.

And.. I was excited to hear of more awesome artists and have fallen in love with the music of The Derek Trucks Band (featuring Susan Tandeschi).....

Derek Trucks has his own band AND performs with Eric Clapton as well... (see video of both performing at the concert in post below)

.... and Robert Randolph & the Family Band.... This was one of the greatest concerts I have ever been to. Mostly because of all the wonderful artists... TRUE MUSICIANS... I have always liked a lot of these artists, but to actually see them perform and there musical (guitar) abilities... it just blows my mind away... especially John Mayer, Eric Clapton, Derek Trucks, B.B. King, and Robert Randolph.

(I have alos posted another video of John Mayer and Eric Clapton from a while ago.... you can see their awesome talent!)

There had to be over 20,000 people at this concert. The seats were full and the actual soccer field was ful of atleast 5,000 people! After a near 12 hour concert, whether on our feet dancin' to the music or sitting between sets, we got home late that night, but slept in Sunday morning. From there we spent a good portion of our daying consuming wonderful shopping, and great food! The Kerryman... a wonderful Irish Pub!

And .... Dinner.... ....at..... Mmmm. What a perfect way to spend the last night in Chicago!

John Mayer and Eric Clapton - Crossroads (ABC News)

Awesome... awesome... AWESOME!

Crossroads II Guitar Festival - Eric Clapton/Derek Trucks

Just a little snippit of how awesome this concert was! Anyone that truly enjoys all kinds of music would like this concert!

It was less than two weeks ago...

..... I went out for my 7-miler run. Less than 2 weeks ago my running was actually getting somewhere. Less than 2 weeks ago, I was able to run. In the past two weeks, I have moved into my new place, unpacked, unpacked, organized my things, traveled to Chicago for a long weekend, and I am back in ND. I have attempted to run twice in the past two weeks. I went out a week ago for a short jog, but the heat and my knee got the most of me.... barely logged 1.5 miles. Today, I was bound and determined to get out there and atleast try a couple miles. Well, the 2 miles came and went, and I am still struggling with my knee. How can I have an almost perfect 7 mile run, and then not be able to do more than a mile or two, 2 weeks later?

I can count (on one hand) how many times I have struggled with my running in the past year. Just as soon as I have gotten on a role, something has happened, whether it was as minimal as shin splints, sore ankles, or sore knees... this time it is something different. It feels really weird when I run. And when I walk up and down the stairs, it cracks. It doesn't really bother me when I walk. I can't even explain the feeling I have in my knee when I do attempt to run. Maybe something is pinching, maybe something has shifted, maybe it's just because I have bad knees from the start.

I am at my wits end.

I just don't know what to do anymore.

I can't handle the idea of not being able to run. I don't have to run a half marathon or marthon to be happy (as much as I would like to accomplish both), I just want to be able to go out and do a few miles 3-4 times a week. With that in mind, I have put off all training, including the Dick Beardsley and Nike Women's Half Marathons.

*sniff, sniff*

I am completely and utterly frustrated right now.