The Numbers

January has come and almost gone. I can't believe it. Overall, I am pretty satisfied. I looked at my calendar, and despite taking 3 rest days every week with the exception of this week... I am happy with the numbers. I have had a pretty good work out everyday (since Saturday) this week, so that has helped as well.

Here's what it looks like:

Running: 30.57 miles
I only expect this to increase each month with training for this half marathon. I just hope my legs can hold up. My calves have been pretty tight during my last few runs, and my right knee has been a little iffy. But, I hope that this will be minimal as long as I get back into a good weight lifting regime.
Cycling: 41.36 miles
Well, this has definitely been higher in the past, but it's what happens when you only cicle twice in one month. that's right. TWICE. If all goes as planned, I would like to continue doing a run/cycle brick once a week, or a swim/cycle brick once a week.
Swimming: 7900 Meters
I swam more in this month that I did all of last year combined. I can't complain. I just hope to continue swimming once a week, sometimes twice or three times like this week. I will continue to focus on my form before distance.

There we have it. In the numbers. February is a shorter month, but that will not matter!

Picture taken near Crosby, ND ... beautiful Sundogs

Improving Form

Some of you had questioned how I motivate myself to leave my warm comfy home to venture out in the bitter cold ND weather. Today was just as bad as yesterday, with the wind chill being the same -42 degrees, but the temperature itself had dropped to -25. However, the sun was shining which made a huge difference. As weird as ND weather is, it somehow has warmed up starting this afternoon and is currently ONLY -12 with no wind. So, leaving home for the gym tonight wasn't as bad as it was this morning. That was brutal.

My swim went well. My friend had commented on how much faster and better I was getting. I shot her a look and said flat out that it wasn't my goal to be faster. I want to focus on improving my form before speed. I was trying my hardest to swim slow, pay attention to my arms in and out of the water, as well as taking a breath every 3 strokes. Why is it that I have a harder time taking a breath to my left rather than to my right? When I take a breath to my left, I find that my left arm is just hanging out above the water too long. Am I turning my head too late? Hmm.

There was a guy in the lane next to us that really knew what he was doing. I was in awe and stopped to watch him a few times. He was doing a little bit of everything but the thing that really caught my attention was the butterfly. He did it like a pro. I hate the butterfly and hated being forced to learn how to do it. I despised it. It was hard and if I never have to do it again, I will be fine with that. It was gorgeous.

Towards the end of our swim she had mentioned doing some sprints. I was up for it. We planned to race to the other end of the pool and I kicked her butt. Royally. It felt good. We did this a handful of times and then she gave up. She is still a better swimmer than I am though.

I'm tired and my arms are sore. I wonder how my lift session after my run will go tomorrow. Good thing Friday is finally a rest day!

OSN: 1250M

- finished off with 100M of sprints

Michael Phelps

Freakin' COLD!

First and foremost... it is freakin' cold here. FREAKIN' COLD. For those of you who are unfamiliar with this sort of cold weather, I had to start my car today at noon and let it run for a while. Boy, she was not happy with me! It was -12 degrees, -42 below with the windchill... It was so cold that I would lose feeling in any skin that was exposed for more than 10 seconds! Well, the windchill has decreased to -34, but the temp has dropped to -15.

This afternoon, I was able to catch a treadmill for thirty minutes prior to my spin class. Unfortunately, once again, the lady using it before me "lost track of time" and left me with less than 30 minutes. Damnit. Oh well. My right knee was a little sore so I took it pretty slow and steady.

Thirty minutes after my run I was finally on the bike and ready to go. I wasn't enthusiastic about doing all that fancy crap, up down, side to side, etc.; I just wanted to cycle for 45 minutes and make the most of it. You should have seen the crazy old lady in our class. She was wearing some god-awful knee length stretch pants, and at one point she removed her tank top and all that was left was what looked like a training bra! It was rediculous. To top it off... she was wearing knee high black leather boots! I felt bad for her. I think she was completely clueless... either that or on crack!

I think I need to ice my knees this evening and do a lot of stretching. I may have neglected to do that after my "long" run Sunday, which may be causing some knee pain/issues.

ORN: 2.2 miles
27:34 minutes
12:31 min./mile

OCN: 16.36 miles
47:14 minutes
2:53 min/mile

10 minutes

I went to the pool with all the intentions of doing a nice and easy 800M swim. Nothing too difficult, just nice and slow. Somewhere, I got a while hair up my butt and decided that it would be fun to do some sort of 10-minute time trial. Why, you ask? Well, if I am going to do this indoor triathlon in March that I am looking at, they only allow 10 minutes in the pool. 10 minutes only. period.

After swimming about 60oM, I took a nice break and then went for my 10 minutes. Obviously I went out too fast and had to catch my breath too soon. All in all I was able to do about 350M ... only. Pathetic. This will change. Don't you worry about it!

Tomorrow I have a scheduled 30 minute run, and I hope to get in a spin session. I know I won't be getting up in the morning which means I will be doing these back to back.Hmm. Should be fun.

Remember that nice weather I had yesterday? Well it was nice again today. But you can't get too comfortable with this kind of weather in January... in ND. We are currently under a winter weather advisory with blizzard like conditions. Not much snow in the forcast, but I guess the high tomorrow is supposed to be somewhere around a whopping negative 40 degrees with wind chill. YUCK.

OSN: 1050M
10 minute time trial = 350M

Happy Days

After lying around reading and watching basketball all day yesterday, I was ready to get out of the apartment as my ADD was kicking in ... which a couple could vouch for at dinner. Dinner at Outback was good .... and so were the margarita's ... we had to take advantage of the 2-for-1's prior to 7pm ... It just looked pretty bad when all the glasses took up the majority of our table... can someone please come and take a few of these away?Afterwards we checked out a local band, Serious Sam, at one of the bars in town. They were just a cover band, but pretty good.

After church, pizza, and a disappointing Celtics game, I was itching to get my "long run" in. I had talked previously about the nice weather we were going to be getting today and I just had to take advantage of it. 3.5 miles was on the "schedule", but I was hoping to do more than that. I probably overdressed; wearing pants, tank top, long sleeved shirt, zip up jacket, light weight mittens, and a head band. The mittens were gone about 10 minutes into it. After avoiding small puddles, packed snow, and ice patches; I had completed one large neighborhood loop consisting of a close 4 miles. What a great way to finish off the first week of this half marathon training. If I could have it my way, it would be nice every weekend so I can do my "long runs" outdoors and get the feel for it on the road, rather than on the thrillmill.
ORN: 3.91 miles
Fair 34°F (Feels Like 26°F)

Congrats, to Jess on completing the Miami Half Marathon! Way to go! ... and nice job, Steph, on your endurance ride today... 38 miles?? You're hardcore!

I am off to watch some b-ball and read my book!

Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood

If you haven't ready Vanilla's post, Advice for a New Runner, it's a must. It's so true... and it made me chuckle. I think it was/is me to a T.

On my way to the gym, I passed a handful of runners. They must have been part of the running group from the YMCA, training for the Fargo marathon. I thought they were crazy for being out there. The sun was barely up, and supposedly it felt like it was 15 degrees below zero.

I went for a dip in the pool. I was a little hesitant with this head-cold-thingy going on, but I couldn't pass it up and I was dying to get back into the water. Forgive me father, for it has been three days since my last workout. If I would have timed it a bit better, or thought about it ahead of time, I could have participated in spin afterwords. As I was heading to the showers, I could hear the spin bikes being pulled across the floor above me. I will remember this the next weekend that I don't have a long run on Sunday.

The weather has finally reached a decent temperature (above zero)... for January that is. The sun was shining this morning, and my car started without making sound as if it were frozen. It is supposed to reach 32 degrees tomorrow, and if that is the case ... my plan is to run outdoors. 30 degree weather is awesome this time of year!

OSN: 1200M
sore arms and legs!

Now, it is time for some college basketball!

Rest and Relaxation

I went to work this morning not feeling any better than yesterday. It felt as if my head was in a fog. My balance felt off, and no matter how many times I plugged my nose and mouth and tried to pop my ears, it didn't help. This afternoon it seemed as if things were starting to loosen up and it actually felt like air was moving through my right ear. However, my left ear has been ringing all day. It's so annoying. I am going to take another evening of R&R; watching my Harry Potter movie and then reading Water for Elephants..... with some blogging as well. I got to see what you're all up to!

I should really get up and run in the morning tomorrow, but something just keeps telling me that I should just take that extra hour of sleep and enjoy it; preventing myself from getting more sick. We are attending a boys basketball game friday night, and then if I am feeling well enough, a friends band is playing as well. It's all up in the air.

poop, basketball, and early morning run

I am sorry, it has been a few days. It's been a busy week. Let's recap the week so far...


Monday: I was hoping to do a good three miles on the thrillmill prior to my short swim, so I could take Tuesday off to take in a double header basketball game. Well .. the three miles didn't happen. I guess everyone is still sticking with their new years resolutions. The gym was packed! I was only able to find a 15 minute slot ... and I didn't even get the full 15 minutes! Better than none, I guess. After my short run, I headed for the pool for a scheduled 600M. I was more than half way through with my swim when I noticed a long brown thingy in the bottom of the deep end. Ew. Use your imagination! I pointed it out to my friend. We decided we were done swimming in what could have been poop-infested water. The lifeguard was informed, and the band-aid was fished out.... still. gross. yuck.

Tuesday: REST DAY ... nothing but watching some high school basketball.

Let's take a moment of silence for the loss of a great actor... one of my favorites, Heath Ledger.

Wednesday: I was up early and at the gym at 5am. I really do like this better than in the evening. It just feels so much better. I was hoping to go to the pool tonight but that has been scratched. I ended up taking the afternoon off, taking a half of a sick day. I went home and slept like a rock for 3 hours and then went to my doctor appointment. My ears/sinuses have been bothering me for the past week on and off and I guess I have some sort of viral type thing. I was given a prescription, but advised to maybe wait it out a day or two just to see if it will leave on it's own. The doctor noticed that I take care of myself and am in pretty good shape. He asked if I ever get any symptoms of asthma when I run... which I ocassionally do, especially in the cold weather.

Tomorrow, if I am feeling better, I will try to run. If not, I will do it Friday morning!

Monday ORN: 1.15 miles
Monday OSN: 700M

Wednesday ORN: 3.25 miles
38:14 minutes
11:45 min/mile