Tri Training: Already Feeling Stronger

Week 3 of tri training started out victorious for me.  Prior to my Monday AM training, I completed my homework with a 8 mile date night bike ride with the boyfriend.  The spinning classes are helping with my speed as at the beginning of the ride, it was asked if this was a race as I was going faster then normal.  I slowed down my pace as a couple who rides together, stays together.  

Monday morning started out with a strength workout at Thrive (http://www.thrivepersonalfitness.com). A lot of new exercises were introduced which means I have transitioned from my former workout routinue.  Usually after 4-5 weeks our bodies usually adapt to the exercises so we need to change it up. The new sets are challenging, but they are making me feel strong when I complete them.  

Right after my strength, I headed to join the ladies for spinning and running.  We started out spinning,

and I immediately knew it was going to be a challenging "hill" day.  We worked on a  lot hoovering over the seat and leaning forward to get up those hills.  We learned "jumping" which requires you to stand up/lean forward for eight seconds and then sit down for eight seconds and then back up for eight seconds.  Wow...I was feeling my hamstrings on this movement.  The class ended with what I call the "waterfall hill challenge".  Everyone starts spinning at the same resistance and increases during the ride.  When the resistances requires you to stand you stand up, and we continue to ride until the last people stands up.  Usually the instructor would be the last to stand, but one of the girls was able to go beyond her.  

My total mileage was only 6 miles, but those were a hilly 6 miles.  After the bikes, we went outside for a run.  Everyone I have talked to said one of the hardest transitions is from biking to running as the loss of your legs during the spinning.  Today was the first day I felt that uneasiness.  The first 0.25 miles was a warm up by walking and then I was able to transition to my running intervals.  I really pushed during my run intervals including at the end when I ran past the normal stop time to get back to the YMCA.  Total run distance is improving with being able to run/walk 1.3 miles.  

We were back on Tuesday for another swim lesson.  After my diving board experience this weekend, I was sad there was no diving board in this pool.  We started out with warm up laps of freestyle and breaststroke.  We are really using Tuesday to work on form.  I was actually shocked on what part of your body you are actually working when you are swimming.  Today I learned the kicking does not come from your legs, but from your hips.  

During our lessons today, we swam over 12 laps which is twice the amount needed for our tri so our endurance is increasing! The weakest of my swimming will be in the inability for me to breath underwater.  I have a tendency to take in water when I attempt to breath during swimming.  I hope to get to the pool this weekend to practice as I think this will give me a better time and of course, a better me!

Tri Training: Reverse Triathlon

(Sorry for the delay in posting.  Due to a storm on Thursday evening, I lost power and Internet on Friday. Just now getting back to being able to update)

There are 44 days until my sprint triathlon.  I have 6 weeks of training left and after the first 2 weeks, I am excited to really see what I can do during this triathlon.  At first when I signed up, I really thought it was going to be a struggle to do all the components, but with the way our training is going, we are all seeing it is possible to finish!

This morning started out with a 7 AM run at a local park with my trainer, Pam. I do not frequent this park often so I got lost on my way there.  Prior to our session, Pam warned me that she was going to take me out of my comfort zone, and she did.  She made me run a concisely under a 15 minute pace with NO walk breaks.  She would not tell me to distance prior to us running and said I have to move the entire time.

Her reasoning: I have to get my body used to running concisely without stopping.  That the first 15 minutes of moving, our body and energy level is wanting us to stop.  By "powering thru" we can get our body to in a sense "wake up" to exercise.  

It worked because I now know I can run for 0.8 miles without stopping and without dying!  I wanted to stop a couple of times, but Pam would not let me.   Afterwards, we did some more short run drills to run to certain areas on the track.  I did not have my watch, but in total, I am estimated that we ran/walked a total of 2 miles.

Then after a short refueling break, I heading to the downtown YMCA for my tri-training.  Today it was

biking and swimming.  Thursday's spinning lessons are more about pacing and consistence when increasing our speed.  Today we did that while climbing five "hills".  Totaled, I biked 7.4 miles in the 36 minutes.  Over halfway to the distance of the tri.  

We immediately transitioned to the pool.  I was excited to attempt to get the 300 yards in, but that was not my swimsuit's plan.  As I was putting on my suit, one of the neck ties broke.  I was unable to tie my suit around my neck.  Even after some MacGyver moves, I was unable to get the strap to stay.  But due to the creativity of our instructor, Kyla, I worked on my legs by using a kick board which allowed me to ensure I would not lose my suit.  I was able to get 3 laps in using the kick board.  Halfway to my six.    

So at the end of my morning training, I ran, biked, and swam...I completely a reverse triathlon!  I am really happy and surprised at where I am after the second week.  The more I am training, the more confidence and stronger I am feeling.  In addition, I am starting to bond with the ladies who are facing the same challenges as me.  When my swimsuit broke, one of the girls offered to sew it for me.  Excited to keep training and pushing myself to be a better me.

Successful Saturday: Galloway & Governor

After a week of rest due to health, I have started back on my running program and finally can start with Juneathon Challenge.  Most participates are across the ocean, but I consider Princess Kate my Princess so I figure we can Juneathon together!  (http://www.juneathon.com)  The challenge is to Run everyday,  Blog everyday, and Log everyday.  I will admit...I am going to keep my rest day as a rest day so you won't see any Sunday logging!

With the success of a personal record on my 5K on Memorial Day, I am putting a lot more focus and effort on creating consistence with my training.  That started this morning with my Galloway training program.  I have struggled to find a place in the running group as they actually make you commit to a consist run/walk ratio.  What I thought was a good interval for me the first week was not!  I became injured and lost on the route. 

On my personal record 5k, my brother helped me find a good ratio (30/45) and while it is not super fast, it is what I can do consistence!  Today, I was able to go the whole 4 miles at that interval!  Big step for me!  Plus no injury and enjoyed it.  They gave me some tips on my posture and running up those silly hills!  The purpose of the Galloway Long Run is to get the distance at a pace in which you feel you are going to slow in...and that was accomplished!

Then I was off to celebrate National Get Outdoors Day with the kickoff of the 100 Missouri Miles challenge!  Governor Jay Nixon is challenging every Missourian to move outdoors for 100 miles by the end of the year.  By moving, it can be walking, running, cycling, swimming, horse backing riding, paddling....just moving!  This is a great challenge as Missouri was just named the "Best Trail State" by American Trails, but still rank in the top 10 for obesity!  (www.100missourimiles.com)

I took Turbo, my step dog, along for the walk.  I did find out Turbo responses to people clapping by barking.  Luckily, the Governor responded by saying he was glad to have the support of the dog community as well as his desire to have the dog travel with him to provide that much encouragement at every event. 

The turnout for the event was AMAZING!  It looks like it was one of the larger turnouts in the state.  (A couple even came from Mid-Missouri to attend!) It was great to walk the trails with the Governor, met with community leaders, and represent Healthy Living Alliance (http://hlaspringfield.org).  

For the 100 Miles Missouri challenge, I am pledging not only 100 miles run/walking, but also 100 miles biking and 100 miles swimming!  I am pretty sure Turbo will join along as well.