So today was pretty scary while riding my bike. The last time I took the front wheel off was 2 weeks ago to bring it up to Sycamore. Obviously when I was up there, Nels put the tire back on for me. When I got back home and had to put it on, it was sort of a guessing game but I thought I had it right.
On my ride back home today I started hearing a jingling noise, so I looked down at my tire and noticed that one of the pieces that locks the wheel in was loose. I stopped to tighten it and as I reached for the other side, realized...the nut that locks in place was gone entirely. I was praying the whole ride home that the wheel wouldn't fly off and send my face smashing into the ground!!!!
Besides that freaking me out, I had a great workout today and I'm feeling really good. Training for today called for a 30 minute bike and a 15 minute run. I completed the bike ride then immediately started running. Lasted 2 miles/20 minutes. My legs felt so much better already! It only took about a minute for me to transition from bike to run.
Just checked out my training schedule and I don't have to worry about biking till Sunday. I plan on bringing my bike to Sycamore over the weekend so that Nels can teach me how to properly put my tire on. Focus on swimming and running for the rest of the week.
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Monday, June 28, 2010
Triathlon training: Week 2, Day 2
WOW so I learned something BIG tonight that changes quite a bit with my swimming...I've been counting the laps wrong and have actually been doing DOUBLE what the actual race will require!!! I was counting one lap as going down to one end of the pool and back. It turns out that just going from one end to the other constitutes as a lap. So last week when I felt so great doing an "extra" lap by swimming 11...I actually swam 22 laps that day!
This is such a relief, because I could not understand why I was getting so winded. I can run a 5K in 30 minutes, have been working out like crazy, and have been biking for hours. It just wasn't making sense! I feel so embarrassed that I've been like, "Yeah I swim 250 yards in 24 minutes! Woo, hope I can get down to 20!" I feel a lot better about the swimming portion now and am actually looking forward to working on my training for it.
I also *officially* signed up for the race today! Registered and paid, so no going back now.
Today was a strength day, so I went to my boot camp class in the evening. After the class, I ran for a bit over 25 minutes outside. It was a perfect, gorgeous night for a run. I ran 2.75 miles - just enough after my hour long class : )
Pretty proud of myself that during my first week of training, I pushed through 20 swimming laps. *Pats self on back*
This is such a relief, because I could not understand why I was getting so winded. I can run a 5K in 30 minutes, have been working out like crazy, and have been biking for hours. It just wasn't making sense! I feel so embarrassed that I've been like, "Yeah I swim 250 yards in 24 minutes! Woo, hope I can get down to 20!" I feel a lot better about the swimming portion now and am actually looking forward to working on my training for it.
I also *officially* signed up for the race today! Registered and paid, so no going back now.
Today was a strength day, so I went to my boot camp class in the evening. After the class, I ran for a bit over 25 minutes outside. It was a perfect, gorgeous night for a run. I ran 2.75 miles - just enough after my hour long class : )
Pretty proud of myself that during my first week of training, I pushed through 20 swimming laps. *Pats self on back*
Sunday, June 27, 2010
Triathlon training: Week 2, Day 1
Today's training called for 30 minutes of swimming followed by a 30 minute bike ride.
I don't know what went wrong, but I felt like I hadn't exercised in a year. I headed to the gym around 5:30 p.m. to use the pool - which, by the way, never has more than 1 person in it. Of course when I get there all the lanes are full - a guy doing laps in one, and then these 2 older women hogging 2 lanes just walking from one end of the pool to another. I sat on the pool steps with my goggles in hand hoping they would get the hint and SHARE a lane since they were just walking, but nope. 7 minutes later the guy doing laps got out of the pool. Now I was aggravated and self-conscious...I don't like people watching me swim.
I tried toughing through my laps, but was starting to feel nauseous. I also forgot to wrap my ankle, and while it felt fine for most of the swim, a few kicks at the wrong angle had it aching again. After 7 laps and 15 minutes or so of swimming, I got out of the pool. *sigh* looks like I will have to go back to the pool tomorrow morning...
This was my first time biking after a swim, and just as with the running, it took about 5 minutes to get into the groove of it. I took a route that my brother and I would often take with my dad as kids, and this one huge hill on the way back kicks my ass now just as much as it did when I was 12. I really hope that hill is not part of the race route, but it's possible because it's somewhat near the starting area. Ugh. I biked 8 miles in 40 minutes.
Feeling a little disappointed about the swim today, but just have to keep working on it. Hoping to see some improvement later this week.
I don't know what went wrong, but I felt like I hadn't exercised in a year. I headed to the gym around 5:30 p.m. to use the pool - which, by the way, never has more than 1 person in it. Of course when I get there all the lanes are full - a guy doing laps in one, and then these 2 older women hogging 2 lanes just walking from one end of the pool to another. I sat on the pool steps with my goggles in hand hoping they would get the hint and SHARE a lane since they were just walking, but nope. 7 minutes later the guy doing laps got out of the pool. Now I was aggravated and self-conscious...I don't like people watching me swim.
I tried toughing through my laps, but was starting to feel nauseous. I also forgot to wrap my ankle, and while it felt fine for most of the swim, a few kicks at the wrong angle had it aching again. After 7 laps and 15 minutes or so of swimming, I got out of the pool. *sigh* looks like I will have to go back to the pool tomorrow morning...
This was my first time biking after a swim, and just as with the running, it took about 5 minutes to get into the groove of it. I took a route that my brother and I would often take with my dad as kids, and this one huge hill on the way back kicks my ass now just as much as it did when I was 12. I really hope that hill is not part of the race route, but it's possible because it's somewhat near the starting area. Ugh. I biked 8 miles in 40 minutes.
Feeling a little disappointed about the swim today, but just have to keep working on it. Hoping to see some improvement later this week.
Triathlon training: Week 1, Days 6 & 7
Day 6 on the schedule was designated as a rest day. I went to Moline for the weekend and went with Nels and his family on his cousin Heather's awesome boat:
Nels' stepmom Laurie, sister Heidi and his dad:
Nels' uncle Daniel and cousin Heather:
View from the Mighty Miss:
Heather's dog Ozzie:
Group photo: Me, Nels, Laurie, Heidi, David:
Docking for dinner:
I like this random photo Nels' uncle snapped of us walking:
I wish we would have had more time to be on the boat, but it was fun and good to see everybody. I also got to check out Nels' new apartment in Moline this weekend. It's an older apartment, but has a lot of good space and storage. It desperately needs to be organized and fixed up though : ) he just has boxes of things laying everywhere! Once Nels moves the rest of his stuff out of his Sycamore apartment, we'll try to get the place fixed up and in order. Doubt Nels will keep it that way with me only being up there twice a month ; )
Saturday I was supposed to go for a 30 minute run. I had every intention of making this happen. I packed all my running stuff. Nels isn't a runner, so he was going to lead the way for me on his bike since I don't know the area. We woke up around 8:45 and made some waffles and rested for a bit. Before we knew it was about 10 a.m. and we had to shower and get ready to meet his mom and stepdad for lunch. So then we agreed that we'd go at 8 p.m. that day. Things came up with his dad and sister, and before you knew it...day was over and I didn't go running : (
Nels' stepmom Laurie, sister Heidi and his dad:
Nels' uncle Daniel and cousin Heather:
View from the Mighty Miss:
Heather's dog Ozzie:
Group photo: Me, Nels, Laurie, Heidi, David:
Docking for dinner:
I like this random photo Nels' uncle snapped of us walking:
I wish we would have had more time to be on the boat, but it was fun and good to see everybody. I also got to check out Nels' new apartment in Moline this weekend. It's an older apartment, but has a lot of good space and storage. It desperately needs to be organized and fixed up though : ) he just has boxes of things laying everywhere! Once Nels moves the rest of his stuff out of his Sycamore apartment, we'll try to get the place fixed up and in order. Doubt Nels will keep it that way with me only being up there twice a month ; )
Saturday I was supposed to go for a 30 minute run. I had every intention of making this happen. I packed all my running stuff. Nels isn't a runner, so he was going to lead the way for me on his bike since I don't know the area. We woke up around 8:45 and made some waffles and rested for a bit. Before we knew it was about 10 a.m. and we had to shower and get ready to meet his mom and stepdad for lunch. So then we agreed that we'd go at 8 p.m. that day. Things came up with his dad and sister, and before you knew it...day was over and I didn't go running : (
Thursday, June 24, 2010
Triathlon training: Week 1, Day 5
Tomorrow is my 1st rest day!!!!! YAY! Haha, I was thinking of still going for the Stairmaster or crossramp tomorrow morning, but with the way I'm feeling right now, I think I'm just gonna take the rest day!
Today's training called for a 20 minute swim and a 25 minute run. I swam the 20 minutes today and I felt like my breaks inbetween the laps were a lot shorter. I felt pretty good for most of the laps. I still got my 10 laps done, and that's an improvement on my time from yesterday - again, not as many breaks. My arms and legs were feeling more tired than yesterday though - likely because this was the 2nd day in a row of a swim/run combo.
I toughed out the 25 minute run. Just like yesterday, the first 10 minutes or so were pretty hard to push through. But I didn't stop and kept at a pace of 5.8/6.0 mph for the run.
Can't wait to take a day off tomorrow : )
Today's training called for a 20 minute swim and a 25 minute run. I swam the 20 minutes today and I felt like my breaks inbetween the laps were a lot shorter. I felt pretty good for most of the laps. I still got my 10 laps done, and that's an improvement on my time from yesterday - again, not as many breaks. My arms and legs were feeling more tired than yesterday though - likely because this was the 2nd day in a row of a swim/run combo.
I toughed out the 25 minute run. Just like yesterday, the first 10 minutes or so were pretty hard to push through. But I didn't stop and kept at a pace of 5.8/6.0 mph for the run.
Can't wait to take a day off tomorrow : )
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
Triathlon training: Week 1, Day 4
Crazy storms we had tonight!!!! Glad my training didn't call for any biking outside, because today was definitely a day for indoor workouts only.
Tonight was my first brick workout and only my 2nd swim, so it was a tough one. I was supposed to swim 30 minutes and run 30 minutes. I completed 11 laps and swam for 24 minutes. I wanted to push myself for the full 30, but I just couldn't take it any longer. I wanted to stop after 10 laps but forced myself to complete one more.
That doesn't look like a very good time or pace for swimming, and that's because I had to take short breaks after each lap to catch my breath. Nels is going to try and help teach me a little more about the breathing and swimming this weekend, because this just isn't adding up. I don't feel like I should be so out of breath when I do 60 minutes of cardio regularly and run regularly. I still feel like I am just "gulping" air straight to my stomach when lifting my head out of water for a breath. It's hard to inhale through my nose when you come up, because there's always water around your nose that you end up swallowing/choking on...ugh. Still, I pushed through the laps.
I had about a 7 minute break in between the swim and run because I had to change. Now during the actual race, I'll just be throwing a sports bra, tank, shorts, and gym shoes over my swimsuit. But at the gym, I don't want to look like a weirdo so I changed completely. It is such a pain to try to get clothes and socks on when you're soaking wet! I cannot imagine doing this whole race in a sopping wet swimsuit.
Then came the run. By minute 7, my thoughts were, "I'm not going to make this." But I did - largely in part to the Black Eyed Peas, Usher, and Ludacris. I ran the full 30 minutes and completed 2.8 miles. At minute 21, I had completed 2 miles, so I am still on my regular pace even after the swim. However, I have to remember that running on a treadmill is easier than running outside. The next time we have nicer weather, I'll have to put my pacing to the test.
I'm trying to stay positive that the swimming will improve, after all, this is only the first week. So I'll continue to stick to the plan and see what happens.
Tonight was my first brick workout and only my 2nd swim, so it was a tough one. I was supposed to swim 30 minutes and run 30 minutes. I completed 11 laps and swam for 24 minutes. I wanted to push myself for the full 30, but I just couldn't take it any longer. I wanted to stop after 10 laps but forced myself to complete one more.
That doesn't look like a very good time or pace for swimming, and that's because I had to take short breaks after each lap to catch my breath. Nels is going to try and help teach me a little more about the breathing and swimming this weekend, because this just isn't adding up. I don't feel like I should be so out of breath when I do 60 minutes of cardio regularly and run regularly. I still feel like I am just "gulping" air straight to my stomach when lifting my head out of water for a breath. It's hard to inhale through my nose when you come up, because there's always water around your nose that you end up swallowing/choking on...ugh. Still, I pushed through the laps.
I had about a 7 minute break in between the swim and run because I had to change. Now during the actual race, I'll just be throwing a sports bra, tank, shorts, and gym shoes over my swimsuit. But at the gym, I don't want to look like a weirdo so I changed completely. It is such a pain to try to get clothes and socks on when you're soaking wet! I cannot imagine doing this whole race in a sopping wet swimsuit.
Then came the run. By minute 7, my thoughts were, "I'm not going to make this." But I did - largely in part to the Black Eyed Peas, Usher, and Ludacris. I ran the full 30 minutes and completed 2.8 miles. At minute 21, I had completed 2 miles, so I am still on my regular pace even after the swim. However, I have to remember that running on a treadmill is easier than running outside. The next time we have nicer weather, I'll have to put my pacing to the test.
I'm trying to stay positive that the swimming will improve, after all, this is only the first week. So I'll continue to stick to the plan and see what happens.
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
Triathlon training: Week 1, Day 3
I'm hurtin' today! All my muscles are aching from boot camp, felt it as soon as I woke up this morning. Today's training scheduled called for a 30 minute run, and that's all I did. Actually, my run ended up being 28 minutes with a distance of 2.67 miles. Eh, close enough.
Wasn't feeling it today, maybe because I was carrying a cheeseburger and hot dog in my stomach. There was a cookout at the office today, so that's what I had for lunch...along with a cupcake. I really frustrate myself sometimes. I knew I shouldn't have eaten those things - and since it was those frozen hamburgers bought in bulk and cheap-o hot dogs, they weren't worth it taste wise or calorie wise. I once saw this episode of "True Life" on MTV where this guy pretty much refused to leave his apartment in order to lose weight - didn't see family, friends, didn't work. Of course this is crazy, but some days, it feels like that's what it would take in order for me to eat right!
Nevertheless, I finished today's training and am still on the right track there. Tomorrow calls for a swim/run combo...eek.
Wasn't feeling it today, maybe because I was carrying a cheeseburger and hot dog in my stomach. There was a cookout at the office today, so that's what I had for lunch...along with a cupcake. I really frustrate myself sometimes. I knew I shouldn't have eaten those things - and since it was those frozen hamburgers bought in bulk and cheap-o hot dogs, they weren't worth it taste wise or calorie wise. I once saw this episode of "True Life" on MTV where this guy pretty much refused to leave his apartment in order to lose weight - didn't see family, friends, didn't work. Of course this is crazy, but some days, it feels like that's what it would take in order for me to eat right!
Nevertheless, I finished today's training and am still on the right track there. Tomorrow calls for a swim/run combo...eek.
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