PI ready

I think we're ready for Parris Island!! Do I sound excited? I know, No. I'm tired.

As we're sitting on the couch with the munchkin, I think we're packed mostly for our trip to Parris Island for the tri. We'll be taking off tomorrow around lunchtime to get down there, pick up race packets, and meet with the newest and greatest triathlon team at Applebees. David is thrilled with the team, and the upcoming season. I'm nervous and excited to do my 2nd tri.

I am ready for a rest day tomorrow, as should be. Today, we had temps in the low 70's and to me, it was hot. Or at least, the hotest day this year yet. When I went back to work, I kept getting weird looks from people cause my face was beat red!

Wed: Swim 550yds - 13:10
Thur: Easy Run 4 miles - 41:14 (10:19)
Strength training - 30 min

Good luck to Viv on her Half-relay this weekend! You're gonna do so wonderful!!!!!
To EVERYONE out there - Train smartly and/or Race hard!!!!

Some full-body strength & pool time

Today's boring, workouts. Fortunately for me, I went to the gym at lunch and instead of my usual swim, I did strength training. But, I'm glad we planned on swimming tonight because at lunch the pool was packed with little ones taking swim lessons, and only 1 lane was open for us fools doing laps. This sucks! Don't get me wrong - I'm glad the youngsters are learning to swim, but during lunch hrs - Now, I've got to tweek my workout schedules. Yadda, yadda, yadda.... I was told "It's only during the summer". I felt like saying, "Yeah, my training for the upcoming triathlon is only during the summer too".

Lunch - 45min - Full-body strength training

3x15 Dumbbell bicep curls (8lb)
3x15 1-arm rows (8lb)
3x15 front dumbbell raises (8lb)
3x15 dumbbell bench press (8lb)
3x12 incline dumbbell curls (8lb)
3x15 dumbbell squats (10lb)
3x15 dumbbell lunges (10lb)
31 push-ups
150 abs exercises


This evening, David and I went to swim. After we saw Scott and Robin about to leave, and they got to see David in his barely there blue shorts, we started swimming. We shared a lane, which is a mistake as it shows how slow and weak I am in the pool, in comparison. This was just a horrible swim I had. I just wasn't in it, and was struggling a LOT.

500yds - 15:57

Strength training

Boring.....
No really great workout reports other than doing it... so boring report below.
Today, I'm feeling some pain in my shins still, and unfortunately just forgot to ice them last night. It is a must on my nightly to-do list tonight! I opted for some full body strength training. Good choice, since after icing my shins tonight, I should be good-to-go for 6 miles tomorrow.


Hit the gym at lunch and did the following low weight/high rep workout:
Elliptical - .5 mi (5:32)
3x15 dumbbell curls (10lbs - I actually meant to use 8lbs and picked up the wrong weights at first - no wonder it felt harder than last week)
3x15 1-arm dumbbell rows (8lbs)
3x15 dumbbell bench press (8lbs)
3x15 side raises (8lbs)
3x15 straight arm dumbbell pullover (10lbs)
3x15 squats (10lbs)
3x15 lunges (10lbs)
Upright bike 1.20 mi (5:00)
25 push-ups
20 crunches
20 obliques (each side)
20 hip raises

See the smiley over there down the page some <-----. I did loose the 2lbs. Now that I'm looking at weight loss with a realistic goal of 2lbs per week, I'm much more pleased. I know it takes a long time, and a week seems like too much time to just loose 2 lbs, but, healthfully, it's better this way. If I loose 2 lbs per week, I'll reach my goal by mid aug (which is right before my tri). I know I need to loose as much as I can soon, because Marathon training starts mid Jun.

Back in the gym... Hooyahh...

I can't just sit still anymore during lunch... MUST do something.


I went to the gym and did the following:
Warm-Up - 10 min Eliptical (83 cal burn, .77 mi)
Strength Train (high reps/low weights)
3x15 dumbbell curls (8lbs)
3x15 1-arm dumbbell row (8lbs)
3x15 dumbbell bench press (8lbs)
3x15 side raises (8lbs)
3x12 squats (8lbs)
3x12 lunges (8lbs)
20 Push-ups

Core
2x15 twisting crunches clockwise, & counter (on ball)
2x20 hip raises
2x20 crunches
2x20 side crunches
2x50 flutter kicks
2x60 sec prone plank (these suck at the end of the workout)

So, didn't plan on doing any lower body going into the gym, but I did lower the weights on the squats and lunges. The squats felt fantastic, however, the lunges, I could feel the tightness in my calf, and just kinda took it slow. Great workout, but, didn't fit in all my core training I wanted to accomplish, because of time.

David had to go to the track alone today - I blew off our date. :-( I really don't need to be doing track until I'm more healed - thinking about doing track friday. Interested in seeing his times out there today.

A "Nice" run & a little strength focus

Yesterday afternoon, I went out for a 4-5 mile run. I just set out to run, with no specific pace or distance in mind, which was more relaxing. Of course, when training starts again 6/1, it will be different. For now, this is working and I am enjoying it. I feel that this way, I won't get burned out. In fact, I'm starting to really enjoy the runs again, like I did a few months ago. I did a 4.2 mile loop near my house, with winds around 13-15 (I'm guessing) and I just closed my eyes while it was hitting me or looked down - "No big deal - afterall, I'm doing my marathon in the windy city" and got through it. I picked my pace up a bit on the back side of the run, which is a nice stretch of 1.5 on a great running road several of us use a lot. After I returned home to look at my pace - I was smiling because of an improvement of pace, with a small increase in distance. 9:31 pace.

Today - Lunch --
I headed to the gym for a quick full body strength session. I've read and researched so much lately on strength training for runners to get a good schedule down, that I can alter every now and then depending on the day/burnout. I've been sporadically doing free weights at home when I have extra time. But, now I want it in a regular schedule once a week, maybe 2. So, doing a full body routine is what I read as best for runners, that are focused on a specific running plan. So, here is what I did today... It will be changed up a little soon though.

To warmup, I hopped on the treadmill to do 5 min at a 8:58 pace.
dumbbell curls - 3 x 15 (8lb)
1-arm dumbbell rows - 3 x 15 (8lb)
dumbbell bench press - 3 x 15 (8lb)
side raises - 2 x 15 (8lb)
squats - 3 x 15 (10lb)
lunges - 3 x 15 (10lb)
Hopped on the bike to do 5 min, all out - 1.19 miles. Just pushing my legs fast after those squats and lunges - Loved the burn!

To top it all off - 100 curl-ups/30 push-ups

It felt good to get back in the gym, and lucky for me, I can do this workout at lunch as well. David and I used to eat out 2/3 times a week at lunch, now it is rare for us to eat out once a week. It's all working out!!! and I enjoy it much better. I do have to hurry though, don't want to take too advantage of the flexibility I have. So, I don't stop by the house anymore, and I bring in lunch from home in the AM.

Today I have a DR appt at 3:30, for my blood pressure. In March, at the YMCA, It was tested and Christine told me it was on the high side - to "monitor it", which I haven't until the other day, then again today - it is high. So, I'm getting it checked out today. Wish me luck...