Chubbette

Recoup & a Challenge

After spending most of last week sick, I got out of bed this morning with the determination to go to the "big pool", the 50 meter one and try out my swimming there. The 50 meter pool is outdoors and waking up early and jumping in a cold pool is not usually at the top of the list for me...indoors is a little different. But the triathlon this weekend is at the outdoor pool and I thought it wise to go out and swim there a few times before Saturday.

As I got into the pool, I was surprised to feel that the water was warm. I timed my 500 meters (the distance for this Saturday's Triathlon). I am still pathetic but not as pathetic as I was last summer. Last summer I could do a lap (100 meters) in about 2:36 minutes, today, I was able to crank out the 500 meters in 11:14, not Michael Phelps by a long shot (despite the fact that we share the same last name) but I am faster than last year but still slow by swimming standards.

After the swim I came home and picked up my neighbor and we went for a short 5 mile run. It felt great to be out there again, running, sweating, and giving my body the much needed exercise it needed from last week's break. I was still able to run a 10 minute pace and felt that I could have gone faster...maybe the speed workouts are starting to have an influence in my regular runs.

Once I got home and started getting ready for the day, I kept reading on different blogs about the Push-Up Challenge and so decided to drop down and see how many I could do. Back in my HS days and when I was taking Tae Kwon Do, I could crank out 30 without dropping a sweat (but then I weighed probably 100lbs and was young). Today, I did 4...4...kind of sucks to see how wimpy I am in arm strength. Discouraging. But, it means that I have room for improvement...lots of room.  So count me in too in the challenge! Let's see if I can muster enough energy to get to 100 consecutive pushups.

I re-sized the banner from the website and made this button, it is on my sidebar too, it should help keep me motivated.

June Totals

June 1st-June30th Tally

Cycling:357 miles

Swimming:16.5 miles

Running:37

My running fell behind quite a bit this past month-37 miles is terrible. The swimming, I wanted to reach 20 miles but I need to dedicate more than 1 hour 3x a week, I will probably start swimming Saturdays to add the extra mileage.

Future Plans

July and part of August is going to be dedicated completely to running as I have the TOU 1/2 on August 23rd. My goal is to put in at least 100 miles in July and about 60 in August, before the half marathon. Swimming: will add an extra day to reach the 20 miles. Cycling: go out whenever I have some extra time but need to focus more in running this month.

MS Ride--another century!

The most amazing 100 miles ever! Hubby stayed by me the entire time and he pulled me along. During the hills I fell behind and he waited for me at the top and then we continued on together. The first 50 miles went by superfast, at mile 75, I thought to myself that if I had gone for the 75 mile route I would have been done right then and the ride would have been "easy" but going for the full 100 made it a challenge, a good type of challenge.

At mile 68 we had lunch and we met a few friends: Momber, Cannonball and his friend Mike. As we were eating we reflected on the fact that we only had 32 miles left--a piece of cake, we had biked 32 before and we knew we could do it. As we climbed on our bikes after lunch, the five of us took off and I lagged behind a bit and Mike made a comment on overcrowding me and I told him that it wasn't him, it was my shitty skills with the bike. As I explained to him how I just learned to ride a bike last year, he was impressed that I was already road biking. It hit me then that really, I was still like a 5 year old in my cycling skills and I was out there giving it all I had. It kind of made me smile and "dig in" for a little more.

As we approached mile 85, the heat was unbearable to me, due to my lack of skills on the bike, I cannot reach down and grab my water bottle so I had to make hubby stop for a quick drink every 5 miles after mile 85. The stopping not only help me hydrate but we realized that the little break gave me a burst of energy that made us go a little faster. From now on, whenever I do a century again, I am going to schedule stops after reaching mile 80 (every 5 miles or so).

The last ten miles were superb! We were already entering town and I knew we were close but what got me excited was that I looked at my average and I was at 16 mph!!!! I have been able to keep 16mph over short distances of 26 miles but not over a full 100!!! I was excited. I wanted to keep my average that high to the end. I pedaled for all I was worth, the last stretch I was cranking out 19-21mph...then the last train tracks came and with it fear struck me, fear got worse when I saw that there was already a fallen comrade on the side of the tracks surrounded by other cyclists and paramedics. I quickly glanced at the tracks and saw the extreme angle and froze for a millisecond, I glanced at my front tire and the train tracks, the word PERPENDICULAR came into my head and quickly shifted my front wheel. I held on as tight as I could to the handlebars and closed my eyes. I felt the rattle and I was over. I didn't fall. I felt terrible that it wasn't me on the side of the tracks but having been there a few weeks ago, the fear was still too fresh in my mind. After the tracks there was only a mile or two left, full of stop signs. Hubby had gone ahead of me by then, he knew I could do it from there by myself, but I wasn't alone, next to me was a couple wearing Fatty jerseys...I felt inspired being next to them and I felt in good company. I pedaled to the end and reaching the finish line had never felt so good. There were people cheering there for me, for everyone else coming through...people thanking us for riding for the cause.

100 miles. Sam and I together during the entire haul...him there to support me and to pull me along. My best time ever and my best mph ever. I cut about 1-1/2 from my previous Century, and I increased to 16mph.

This ride was the best event I have ever participated on. The support was fantastic. Some of the roads were closed completely to traffic and there were cops at major intersections to help us out. The volunteers at the rest stops were kind, corteous, and helpful---some of them even coming to the bikes to fill up your water bottles with ice and water! But that wasn't it--it was the fact that many of them stopped and said thank you to us for riding. I felt appreciation. At the last rest stop, I told them a huge thank you because without them there to help us out we wouldn't ride--it would be impossible to go 100 miles without some sort of support.

I can't wait for next year's ride!!!

Pictures: coming soon...zazoosh is still developing them. Thanks for sticking by to read the report. 

SpeedWork

Being new to the entire running arena (or to sports in general), I am unfamiliar with the tricks on how to get better. I figured that if I just went out there and ran that eventually, I would get faster....wrong! I haven't gotten any faster. I was running 10 minute miles when I started last Fall and I am still running 10 minute miles. Granted, I can run now for 14 miles rather than just 1 but I haven't gotten faster.

After reading a few magazines, books and listening to hubby's advice, I figured it was time to integrate speedwork into my schedule. I do want to be faster...I do. The previous 9 months of running has provided me with a nice solid base so yesterday I decided to jump. Being new to speedwork, I don't have much idea on how to do it and I wasn't at the track just out on the street so I ran as fast as I could from one light post to the next. Once I reached the end "post" I would just run at my regular slow-poke speed. I did it about 10 times. I came home dripping sweat. I didn't run much, not much at all, it was just a 3 miler but the speed-workout sure made a huge difference.

Today, I am sore. The back of my legs are screaming and my calves were feeling it this morning during my spinning class. Overall, the speed-workout session was a success.

Starting next week, I am going to hit the track once a week and work on speed. I have read such mixed feelings about speed-work that I went into it with a "I am going to hate it" attitude, however, giving my 100% felt great! I reached "the high" a lot faster and the adrenaline of pushing my body to the limits really made for a good mid-week challenge.

A Century Under my Belt

How does it feel to bike 100 miles! Awesome! Plain awesome!

I didn't think I was ready but I was...I went the 100 miles, slow and steady and I completed it. I told myself that I wanted to finish by 5pm and I came in at 4:15pm! The day was not really nice...not at all. We got rained on twice, the wind never stopped and it seemed that it was always against us and when it wasn't we were going up hill. We had one major hell hill but I didn't get off my bike, I conquered it to the top!

But what really made my day was three fans that kept following me around. Everytime I felt that I couldn't go anymore (after reaching mile 90, I thought I was going to stop) they were there to support me and to tell me..."Go Mom, Go Mom!"

A great day! Thanks to my family and friends for their support...for believing in me! I can't wait for next year to do it again!

Humble Bumble

There is nothing better than to be humbled! Especially when you have been thinking for the past few months that you have improved considerably at a task. I learned how to swim at 23, I swam for a bit then I got pregnant with my first and I didn't swim as much. Now, 7 years later, I have picked up swimming again, I have been swimming regularly since about March, 3x a week for about an hour each time.

Since I picked up swimming again, I learned how to do flip turns, and I have acquired an array of paraphernalia to make my swimming less monotonous. My speed has gotten a little better..okay I shaved about 15 seconds off each lap. However, I knew I was slow but I didn't know how slow I really was until this morning when I was talking to some friends at the gym and they told me that they had done an Ironman this weekend up in Idaho. I came home and decided to look up the event...yes, I am new to exercising overall and I am very, very new to competitive/challenging events. But I thought I stood a chance with my swimming...until I saw that my friends, who rarely swim worked through a 1.2mile swim in less than 40 minutes!!! I would like to think that it was all in their wonderful speedy wetsuit, but I know better than that...I am just plain slow!

The Silver Lining: I guess this leaves me with just lots of room for improvement!

In yesterday's post, I made a mistake in the distances for the Tour this weekend, there are actually 5 distances, a 36, 46, 64, 80, 104, I was missing the middle one--64. Still, I haven't decided which one I will be doing. Many of my spinning friends are doing the 104...hmmm, peer pressure, lol.

Stats of Today's Workout

Swimming: 1.5 miles

Time: 55 minutes

Spin: 90 minutes

Racing...mind and legs

A short ride on the bike usually allows one the time to reflect upon certain issues in one's life. I am grateful to say that right now I don't have anything big that I have to think, at least nothing that is life threatening. As I rode yesterday, the big question running through my head was: which ride am I going to do this Saturday. Options make my mind wonder and the more it wonders the more I doubt myself, I need only 1 choice and then go for it. But the ride this Saturday offers 4 options 36, 46, 80, and 10 4 miles. Which one should I choose?

As I talked with my friends they all had already chosen their ride, Lou is doing the 46, Laurie is going for the 80, Jo is doing the 45, Momber the 104 that leaves me in wonderland! Am I strong enough to do 104? Should I just do the 80, or should I just go with 64 and call it good and end up feeling good rather than exhausted with the 104 or 80? Can I muster enough energy for a 104? I have done a half marathon and that sure is thougher on the legs than cycling. Choices, options, what should I do?

One thing is for sure...I am excited! I should push myself to the limits and go for the 104...how else am I going to know if I am ready for a century other than going for it.

Ride stats:

Distance: shorty 15 miler

Pace: Slow enough to visit and chat about the upcoming ride: 12mph

Can I really call it a Work Out?

The spinning class was cancelled today and I was too much of a bumb to sit there spinning by myself with my iPod so instead I stayed at the pool. No, I didn't swim any more laps than I usually do, instead I got up late and got to the pool late--it sure sucks when I don't wake up exactly at 4:20am. I laid in bed for 20 minutes debating going or staying...at the end, I got off the bed and went out. I don't know why I do this to myself, everytime I have second thoughts about going I end up going, so I should just stop the second guessing and get off the bed. It is soooo hard to get off the bed though, especially when you have a nice toasty body next to yours.

Despite my getting there late, I swam a good hour, going through the different "toys" I have for my swimming for 4 laps each. I completed 48 laps...1.5miles and then I swam and extra 2 just to make it an even 50 laps. Still, I felt like I was cheating myself from a good work out. I should have gone upstairs and sat on the bike and spinned. I should have gone upstairs and lifted weights. Instead I came home and had Ranch Potatoes for breakfast. Talk about digressing!

Stats:

Swimming: Front crawl

Time: 60 minutes

Distance: 1.5 miles

Weekend Wrap Up

I can hardly believe that June is here! Time sure goes fast...but what makes it harder to believe is the type of weather we are having for June. We still have rain, rain, rain, and more rain which makes going out cycling difficult if not nearly impossible. Temperatures haven't gotten high at all, typically by this time we have 90s and above and we are barely scrapping high 70s--which makes it nice, if it wasn't for the constant rain.

Over the weekend, I was supposed to do the 60 mile ride but timewise I wasn't able to get it done. I had to get back home to go to a Bridal Shower (which I got to on time only to find out that everyone else invited got there an hour late! If I had known this, I could have gone on my 60 mile ride), anyways, instead of a 60 I went on a 30+ mile ride. It was sure fun. The weather was chilly when we started but then the day warmed up a bit and we had a blast!

During the ride, I took some GU as we left a little early and I didn't have time to get a real breakfast in. I seem to be acquiring a taste for the GU and disliking the Shots more and more, something to do with the stickiness of them.

In the evening, okay more like nighttime I went out for a short run. It was 8:30pm and I had not run since Tuesday so I had to get at least a little bit of running in. I went out and ran 3 miles. By the time, I came home I was barely warming up and I sure wanted to continue running but it was already dark out.

Going through my Mind

Recently, I received an email from a blog reader (at my other blog). The email was short and kind, it didn't say much, just a few words. In essence, the email asked if I had given up the joys of knitting in exchange for the tortures of exercising. Now this email was not the first of its kind, I have received many of the kind before but most of them I just shrugged them off. I do not know what made this email strike a chord within me, maybe it was that it was raining outside and I was already in a crappy mood but after reading it, I just wanted to punch someone!

I am no one special in the knitting community nor in the looming one so I know that my presence in either one will go unnoticed and unmissed. But...what made this blog reader believe that I wasn't happy with my new choices. What made them believe that I was "torturing" myself with the rigors of my new lifestyle. Today, while I was mowing the lawn this kept eating at me. Why would anyone think that? Is it because I rarely play with my yarn, needles and looms? Or maybe if I showed a bit more of my knitting they wouldn't be bother by my new hobbies. Hobbies, that's what my exercising has become. Three times a week, I look forward to my workouts. Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, the first thing I do when I wake is turn my head towards the window to see if the day is sunny and then if it is, a smile forms and I get out of bed and put on my running clothes and rush outside.

It is not that I do not love my other hobby, knitting, I still do, I just have realized that I have a truly better day if I get my daily dose of workout. My body needs it. My mind needs it. It is the only time I have without my kiddos chasing me around...it is my time. Mine only.

So to answer the question of the blog reader: no, I haven't given up the joys that knitting brings. I am just postponing it till later...in the meantime, I'll get my highs on my workouts.

During this train of thought, I came to the realization that I am a 100% girl. When I focus on something, I give it my all. I do not go 50, 50, I give it 100 or nothing. In this case, I have chosen to focus my little spare time on me and changing my body. A couple of years ago, I gave a comment to my hubby that I never thought I would make. I was weighing about 145 (I am a shorty thing too--5' 1") and I was in the middle of writing my first book. I was eating crappy, feeling crappy, being a crappy mother and wife all for the sake of the craft. Anyways, I told him, my husband, maybe I am just supposed to be fat! I had given up all hope.  I can't lose weight and I do not have the time nor the determination to do it. With little time to cook, we ate crappy each night and I ate junk all day long. My weight skyrocketed which just made me feel worse about myself. Fast forward a few more months and I was landed with another little job, this one I really wanted so I took it and enjoyed every minute of it. I was able to eat a little better but my weight stayed the same...I was still a chubby round little thing.

My children knew were I was at all times....the couch, sitting, knitting, or downstairs writing. A few more months went by and the third and last book came into my life. At this point, I had made some decisions, I wasn't going to kill myself for it and I wasn't going to get fatter while working on it either...I was on my way to change. Then the major change came about, on October 17th, 2007, I took my driver's test and I passed. I was a "free woman" in a sense. The next day, I drove my little car to the gym and found my "place" in there. I found classes I enjoyed and put on my bathing suit and did what I have always enjoyed: swimming. Granted, I looked like a whale that had jumped in a wetsuit. But, I had made the first step.

It is now about 9 months later and I am still a bit chubby...not as much as I was but I am working to change what I didn't like about myself. I feel a lot better and I am finding out muscles that I never knew I had...even when I was a skinny bean pole.

Now my children do not look for me by the couch, instead they see me and they ask if I am going running or biking!  In my mind, I have made a decision that has benefited me and my family. I am no longer the couch potato...in time, I may even become an inspiration to my children.