Finally Friday

Yesterday I hurried from a day long "meeting/training" to get to spin. Luckily I was able to grab the last of the better bikes. Boo-ya! My training schedule stated that my workout would consist of spin with a 1 mile run afterwards. ... done and done!

This weekend I will be out of town and in the Greater Grand Forks area. The whole-fam-damily will be heading there to catch some hockey! I am SIOUX-per pumped! I promise not to drink too much beer (in one evening) or eat too much (junk food). But, I have to have a grinder from the Red Pepper.... it's a trade mark of the city! It was the best after a night of partying...

Due to being away for the weekend, I squeezed in my workout at the butt crack of dawn today! Can you believe it? This morning's workout was a wonderful nice recovery run and then some brief lifting and ab work. I have on my schedule a 3 mile run tomorrow, but I have given myself the option to save that for sunday if necessary.

Yesterday's Workout:
20.87 mile spin
1.55 mile run

Today's Workout:
2.05 mile run
strength training
abs

Have a great weekend, y'all!

"Don't be pushed by your problems. Be led by your dreams."

Thursday "Moment of Truth"

Well, y'all.... I am offically joining P.O.M. in her "Moment of Truth Monday". I wasn't going to do it because I am not fond of sharing my weight, especially since it shot up 10+ pounds since last spring (despite the clothing fitting the same). But, who better to share it with and get great motivation from then all my friends out there in bloggerland?!

It's not so much that I really want to lose weight, I think I am more bothered by the fact that I have gained weight when working so hard at the gym. But, I find that this will be helpful in getting myself to eat better. I have already given up soda... why not try eating better!?!

Here's the criteria:

• Post current weight
• Post goal weight
• Post reward if goal is achieved by February 2008

Here's what I got... gulp:

• Current weight: 1 *cough* 5 *cough* 0
  
• Goal weight: 135
• Reward if achieved by February 2008: Massage after completing first Triathlon!

I will be posting my progress... if any, on monday in the "Moment of Truth Monday" weigh in. Yuck. Take it or leave it people! Hopefully there will be some progress. It's definitely a moment of truth.... time to cut back on the cupcakes and beer!

Any tips on easy and healthy lunches, snacks, and dinners for "traithlete's in training" would be helpful! I don't have time to spend stand around the stove!

Goodbye October... Hello November

With tomorrow being a rest day, I thought I would take look at some stats from the past few months. Now, one of the reasons why I wanted to attempt Octapolluza was to get back into some sort of schedule and be consistent. With work, I have "settled-in". I have been able to leave work around 4ish instead of 5 or 6 and spending less weekend hours getting organized or caught up, which in return has been a huge help in getting into a regular schedule with the gym. Even though I went above my alotted "1 rest day" per week with Octapolluza (taking a whoppin' 10 rest days out of 31!), I felt this month was quite successful.

AUGUST

• Running = 17.39 miles
• Cycling/Spinning = 79.31 miles
• Swimming = 2150M

SEPTEMBER

• Running = 20.22 miles
• Cycling/Spinning = 118.78 miles
• Swimming = 0
  

OCTOBER

• Running = 30.44 miles
• Cycling/Spinning = 129.03
• Swimming = 1500M

Now there was definite increase in all areas... except for swimming. The pool was closed for almost 3 weeks in late August and September. Then, it took me a while to get my scared-self to get back in the water. I was dreading the fact that I had to reteach myself how to breath and do the american crawl the appropriate way. But, I got back in there. And... I HEART it. I HEART running...swimming...and cycling... being able to do all three on a regular basis keeps the gym from getting boring... I look forward to the next 14.5 weeks of tri-training! I will still continue to focus on running for the next few weeks to be ready for the big Turkey Trot on Turkey Day... mmm.. I can taste the stuffing, rice, and pumpkin pie already...

Have a great Halloween y'all! And those of you who are parents of littles ones... think of their teachers and having to deal with kids coming off a sugar highs from tomorrow's halloween parties and trick-or-treating candy in the evening. Lucky me, I will have a sub Thursday as us special ed teachers have a day-long meeting to partake in! Yippee!

Today's Workout:
4.06 mile run
strength training

Were you arrested today?

It is definitely Monday. When leaving for work I noticed my dome light was on in my car! Dang! Dead battery. I had to catch a ride from a co-worker. I think what made me more crazy was not the fact that my car didn't start, but the thought of not being able to get it taken care of in time to do my workout this evening!

Crazy, I know.

But, all was good.

My workout was a okay okay. My 2 mile run seemed almost impossible and I felt as if I was moving in slow motion. It took forever to get those 2 miles down. Then I hussled to the locker room to get ready for the pool. Once in the water, I noticed my triceps were a little sore. I couldn't imagine it was from my lifting on Saturday. But, I pushed through my swim. I probably could have done more but didn't want to push it too hard. I have never done a run/swim session before. On a scale of 1-10, 10 being super-awesome, I would have to say this was an interesting 7.

On the way home from the gym today, I heard a funny on the radio. I guess the cops in town had sent out letters to people stating that if they were interested in free tickets to Ozzy's concern tonight they should show up at a local bar today to receive them. First of all, this bar is currently closed for remodeling. Second, the people that did show up, were arrested! Supposedly they had warrants out for their arrest! Ha! Isn't that hillarious? I was amused.

Octapolluza has been pretty much thrown out the window. Every since my weekend of painting and then starting with this triathlon training last week. Oh well! It was fun while it lasted!

Today's Workout:
2 mile run
500M swim

Good Times

Last night a bunch of us went out for dinner and then to my place to get ready to go out! Our plan was to dress up in our halloween costumes and then head to a bar not far from my place. We were afraid that not many were dressing up, but we went anyway! A couple went as eighties girls with hair crimped and all, but I won't post their pics... Here are a few pics....
Yes... I went as a Referee.... a Basketball Referee to be exact! So comfy! Some abnoxious guy kept yelling "safe" when I passed him... do I look like a baseball umpire to you? geez.

Whatcha drinkin' there... little miss red riding hood?

You started it... "too-cool-to-dress-up-guy!".... bring it!
(Don't worry...he's a friend of mine)

Can you tell this is the end of the night? All huggy huggy with my best bud!

Tons of fun was had by all!

Now, I am off to watch some Vikings in my purple jersey. Hopefully I will make it to the gym later today if I can rest my sore muscles for a while first!

Funk

Yesterday I was in a total funk. And, I am sure it stemmed from everything going on this week at work, getting in some workouts, and then not getting enough sleep at night.

I was planning on running yesterday afterschool and then doing some bowling with a few friends. I backed out of both. Instead, I left work, grabbed some essential groceries, made dinner and fell asleep on the couch a little after 6. I didn't take a nap. I slept. Until the tv woke me shortly after midnight. From there I crawled into my bed and slept until 8. I know that I need atleast 8-9 hours of sleep each night, and when I am getting 6-7 hours and not sleeping well, I can't function. I am tired at work, and I struggle at the gym as well.

This morning I laid around for a couple hours (after feeling completely rested) and then headed to the gym for a nice run. I focussed on do a little speed work and a lot of hills. I am sure my quads will thank me tomorrow. Before leaving the gym I did a serious ab workout and lifted a bit to beef up da pipes! ha!

Y'all still haven't guess my halloween costume. Perhaps I will post a pic later!

Today's Workout:
3.3 miles run
abs
weights - arms

Twenty Thursday

Now, all of those who have attempted to guess my Halloween costume ... no one has had a correct answer, yet. Which means either it is pretty clever or original .... or it is extremely lame and boring. Either way, I am not looking for something else! The guessing booth is still open!

I thought my day had reached it's peak when I was able to accomplish 20+ miles in spin tonight! But no... I got home from a friends house after having a nice meal and a glass of wine while watching Grey's Anatomy.... only to find only 1 item in my mailbox. What might that be, you ask? It was this month's issue of Runner's World! I had such a difficult time switching my address with the dang automated answering machine, that I wasn't expecting this issue! How pumped am I?! Super pumped.

Tomorrow I plan to do a short run after school, freshen up and then a few of us are going bowling! Yep! And there is a cowboy theme. I just need to find something to wear!

Have a great Friday, y'all!

Today's Workout:
20.36 miles in 60 minutes
intense ab workout

Wacky Wednesday

I don't know if it was a full moon, something in the water, or fried brains from the third morning full of statewide testing, but the kids were full of it today. Some were talking about having guns (you know...the big bazookas .. their arms), having six packs, one having gas from lunch (the 4 day in the past week); one was taking about dressing her dog as a pimp for halloween, having crushes, and a fourth grade student scared of a girl because she was telling him she wanted him to marry her.... it was a wacky wednesday. Most definitely. They make me laugh though. It was a good day.

I went shopping for Halloween costumes today after school. There's nothing like leaving it for the last minute. Some of those dang costumes are so skanky. I couldn't do it! So I opted for something more comfortable and semi-homemade. I'll give you a hint. ... I will be in black and white from head to toe!

Today's Workout:
2.6 miles run