Whew!

This week has been INSANE!!!  I'm still trying to get used to two-a-day workouts and work has been extra hectic.  But it's been a great workout week!  After sitting at a computer all day long I honestly don't feel like blogging much.  So I'll be brief and give you another list (I like lists, can ya tell?) of what I've learned about myself during the last 2 weeks:

• I'm better at swimming than I thought I would be, but I've got a LONG way to go.
• I'm a weakling, but it feels good to be hanging out in the VIP section.
• I need to pay more attention to Dottie Pottie - she a bit depressed that I've been away from home more for double workouts - if I'm not careful she'll start liking Diggity more than me!  

• I'm ready to start running again - and that surprises me a lot!  (But I STILL don't want to think about another marathon.)  
• I'm still not a morning person - but I don't like spending my entire evening at the gym either - so I better figure something out soon!  
• I like the stress-relief benefits of great workouts!

Ok, that's it for now!  Hopefully next week I'll be better at blogging!

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Swim Easy

First things first:  I am SORE from yesterday's workout!  I feel like I got hit by school bus!   If only it was a cute little happy bus rather than a big mean nasty bus.  (It's a good feeling though, honestly)

- vs - 
 (source 1 & 2)

I was already a bit sore when I woke up this morning but tuffed it out and did my Half Commute with Diggity.  We rode faster than usual (mostly due to the fact that we left the house late...because I woke up late...but I digress...) and I completed the 12.38 mile round trip in 50 minutes for an average speed of just over 14mph - we normally average about 12mph for an easy morning ride.  I was quite happy with this time, but my quads weren't quite so thrilled...and they're still not. 

My 7:30 swim lesson came quickly after a REALLY hectic day at work.  I was nervous but excited at the same time.  My suspicions were correct - I was the only person in the class!  I got some more great tips from the instructor and in the end was able to complete several laps in a row!

The biggest lesson I learned tonight was SWIM EASY.  Here's why I need to remember this:

1. Swimming is intense.  A totally different kind of cardio workout than I'm used to.
2. If I try to swim too fast, I'll be gasping for air - and will probably snort and/or swallow more pool water than I care to.    
3. I'm still learning & need to focus on EVERYTHING all the time right now.  Swimming too fast causes me to lose my focus and basically sink to the bottom of the pool. 
4. I've got lots of endurance to build!  It's going to take a LONG time to get to the point where I can swim 36 lengths of the pool, so why overdo it now? 

Anyhoo, that sums it up for today.  More pool time to come on Wednesday morning - provided there's an open lane!   Bye for now!

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Conquering Fears & New Beginnings

I did it.  Today I conquered my fear of the VIP Section.  I took Leslie's advice and caved in to the awesomeness of free weights again.  (And by "free weights" I mean teeny tiny dumbbells that weigh 12lbs or less.)  I decided to start with the Fitnessista's Winter Shape Up Week 1.  Here's what I learned:

1. I look absolutely awful in my workout gear - thanks a lot full-length mirrors!  (Sorry to those of you that have to see me in the gym!)
2. It feels good to be lifting real weights and using my own body as resistance.  Those circuit machines should be called Monotonous Circle of Death.  
3. Jumping jacks are OK.  High knees suck.  
4. My legs are stronger than I thought! 
5. Those darn teenage boys and their girlfriends are still intimidating - so are the 40-something women that can lift bench twice their own body weight!  
6. Strength training is going to help me become a better swimmer, rider and runner!  

AND - drum roll please - I signed up for Adult Swim Lessons!  Here's the proof:

Tomorrow (Tuesday) will be my first lesson.  It's a group class but the instructor told me there was only 1 attendee last week.  So, this could turn into an almost private lesson!  I met the instructor on Sunday during my swim and he's already given me some good tips - I can actually swim with my FACE IN THE WATER and breathe at the right time without drowning myself!  

That's all the news I've got for now.  Tomorrow brings a Half Commute with Diggity in the morning and the aforementioned swim lesson after work.  

Wish me luck!   

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Tour to Sarasota

I might officially be a Roadie now.  I completed my first "tour"!  Diggity and I talked earlier this week about trying to get in 50 miles but that felt a little too ambitious - we settled on 30 instead.  

After sleeping until 10am (AWESOME) and a fabulous breakfast of mini Mickey pancakes, eggs and turkey bacon we set out with full panniers and planned to ride form Coquina Beach in Bradenton to Ryder Bikes in Sarasota, then ride back home after a stop at Jimmy John's.  

We had a great time - here are the highlights:

1. Longboat Key just might have the best bike lanes in all of Florida!
2. It's scary when ultra serious riders whizz by you leaving only about an inch of clearance.
3. Hitting 27 mph riding down the Ringling Bridge was terrifying exhilarating!
4. Jimmy John's is not open at 3:00 p.m. on a Saturday - heartbreaking, I know.  
5. I need to keep my weight back in the saddle and loosen up my grip on the handlebars - my shoulders, arms and wrists got really tired around mile 20.  
6. Riding is a really great workout!  My legs are tired from the miles today but I can already tell they're getting stronger since I started riding again!  Yay!  
7. Me & Diggity had a really fun time together!  It's great to have a hobby that your spouse loves too!   (Ok - he LOVES riding - he even rides to & from work!)    

Sadly, my ankle is aching after today's ride - I hope this doesn't mean I'm in for a longer hiatus from running.  I never thought I'd say this, but I actually miss it!  For now though I'll keep working at swimming and riding and heal-up in due time.

Tomorrow brings my longest swim yet - 30 min in the water!  I'm loving all of this "workout variety"!

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Thinking Cap Required

Well folks, today was my first "two-a-day".  I rode with Ryan this morning - my 12 mile "half commute" - before work.  Then some strength training work at the grand old Bradenton YMCA.

Since I'm just starting back up with strength training I've stuck to the weight machine circuit.  It feels good to be lifting weights again but I can tell that "Circuit Land" is going to get boring FAST.  It's just not satisfying and since it's not satisfying I'm not pushing as hard as I should. But, I'm afraid to venture over into the VIP Section - the Free Weights.  Here's why:

1. It's been about a year and a half since the last time I lifted a dumbbell or barbell.  
2. It's is full of really buff teenage boys and their intimidating girlfriends who might kick my arse if I get in their way.
3. I am not confident I have enough strength right now to keep good form.
4. It just won't be the same without Leslie (my old trainer - she moved to Raleigh over a year ago & I gave up on the VIP Section after she left. )
5. I can't remember what I'm supposed to do! 

So I have a decision to make - do I stick it out on the machines and try to make it a worthwhile experience?  Or do I buck up and venture over and pretend I'm a VIP again?  I'm also considering doing the Intro to Iron Pumping program the Fitnessista created.

I don't have another strength training session scheduled until Monday so I've got some time to make a decision.  Guess it's time to put my thinking cap on!  (Image source)

Tomorrow brings another try at swimming followed by biking - gonna try to squeeze both in before work.

p.s.  Ryan got a new computer and monitor tonight - I'm totally jealous!!!  (No offense to my trusty MacBook "Macky")

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Maiden Voyage

Today I tried my hand at "real swimming" for the first time - I've decided to forever refer to it as my Maiden Voyage since lap swimming is a whole new thing for me.  Here's what I learned:

1. I might be the youngest member at my YMCA (ok, except for Ryan...he's 8 months younger than me)
2. Front Crawl is HARD (this is what I'll call "freestyle")
3. Breast stroke is slightly less hard
4. I am a champion pretty good at the backstroke.  
5. Goggles are the bomb even though I feel like they are sucking my eyeballs out of my head
6. Swim caps are insanely tight but may prevent my hair from turning into straw
7. I need to invest in some earplugs (my ear STILL has water in it 12 hrs later!)

When freestylin', I felt like I had just run up 30 flights of stairs - and I probably only traveled 25 yards.  (ok, that's admittedly an exaggeration).  In between attempts at freestyle I would use the backstroke and breast stroke for an "active rest period"...eventual goal is MORE FREESTYLE, less everything else.   

The weirdest part of lap swimming is that I was huffing & puffing and was exhausted but NOT SWEATING! I guess that's one of the joys of swimming versus running, right?  Just an odd sensation though.  

I definitely have my work cut out for me but it's fun to be embarking on a new adventure!  And who knows - if I keep this up I just may end up with a body like Amanda Beard.  Not likely, but nothing wrong with setting a slightly unrealistic goal, right? 

Tomorrow brings my first "Two-A-Day" with a trip on Red Beard in the morning followed by strength training after work.  Whee!  

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Sleeping Late & Pumping Iron

Today was officially the first day of my Triathlon training and I'm happy to report I'm on track with no missed workouts (seriously, I'm proud of this - better than "starting tomorrow"right?).  So, I'm giving myself a big shiny star for the day:

I'm doing this training program published by Hal Higdon.  It looks doable for a Triathlon newby, and most importantly it's free.  I'm modifying the first two weeks, no running while I recover from ankle/foot tendinitis after the Disney Marathon, so I'll be swimming or biking in place of the runs.  

Three things I learned about myself on this First Day:

1.  I am not a morning person.  (So I didn't just learn this...perhaps "re-confirm" is a better expression.)

2.  I've got puny muscles and need to pump some iron badly. (A la 1990's Arnold Schwarzenegger.)

3.  This is going to be harder than anything I've ever done.

Tomorrow is my first real swim - fingers crossed that I don't let the "professionals intimidate me" drown in the deep end!

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What a cutie!

Just because she might be the cutest dog ever, I thought I'd share some recent pictures of Dottie Pottie. Enjoy!

The Masked Bandit at her finest.

Hunting lizards.

Chow time.

Chillin.

Barking up the wrong tree?

Purely Content.

Lata Betches!

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Marathon Wrap-Up

Well, after 18 weeks of training, the Disney Marathon came and went faster than I ever expected.

Someone tipped us off last year about staying at the French Quarter so we were able to walk to the start which meant sleeping until 4:15am which was heavenly if you ask me! We anxiously waited (bundled up in light of temps in the 20s) until our set of fireworks and off we went past Mickey, Minnie, Donald and Goofy who came out to cheer us on at the start line. We were pumped and were making good time due to the excitement of this being my first marathon & simply because we were at Disney World. Somewhere along the line the sun came up but it didn't bring much warmth at all - our FL bones apparently used to temperatures in the 20s & 30s.

Mile 10 brought us to the Magic Kingdom where we pranced along to some GREAT techno music while we passed Tomorrow Land, the Mad Tea Party and ran thru the Castle. Then what I call "the real fun" began...and by "the real fun" I mean "the most miserable portion of the marathon". We twisted and turned on various back roads leading to Animal Kingdom from miles 12-16 and each step seemed to suck more of the life out of me. Poor Ryan had to practically drag me down the course (he literally had to take me by the hand and lead me forward so I didn't stop moving a couple of times). I was chilled to the bone and was absolutely miserable - I didn't want to take another step. (Jeanine wasn't lying when she told me everything in my body would eventually tell me to "STOP MOVING!".) Admittedly I got pretty darn bitchy at this point & basically took it out on Ryan (sorry babe). I don't even remember going thru Animal Kingdom.

Once we hit mile 20 near Hollywood Studios (formerly MGM) I started to perk up a little - the end was in sight! By now though Ryan was starting to hit the wall - but bless his heart, he didn't get nearly as bitchy as I did! Although I felt like we were really draggin, we kept passing people along the course and managed to pick up our pace a bit once we hit Epcot and the World Showcase (I could practically taste the beer as we passed Germany!). Once we were back at

Spaceship Earth with only .25 miles remaining we picked back up to a pretty good jog and crossed the finish line with smiles on our faces! We collected our mylars (a godsend if you ask me) and our finishers medals and posed for our "official pictures". Then we trudged to the waiting bus, pulled ourselves inside and patiently rode back to the French Quarter for showers and WARMTH!

We all accomplished the goals we set out to attain for the weekend - Jeanine, Mom, Tammy, Leah and Ryan completed Goofy and earned their special 5th Anniversary Medal and I successfully completed the Marathon and the 5k. We celebrated with our customary champagne toast and then some "park hopping". Fun was had by all!

As we all continue to recover from the weekend's festivities, the temperatures in FL continue to rise and we're all starting to plan our "big events" for 2010. Thanks again for all of the support and encouragement!

Check out all of the pictures here

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