Insanity at the YMCA

So today was quite an interesting morning in the Women's Locker Room at the B-Town YMCA...

After brutal strength training session I walk into the shower area to see a woman's leg sticking out from underneath one of the shower stall doors.  I think "Holy Crap!  One of these elderly ladies fell in the shower!  Is she OK??!!  I didn't hear anyone yell for help!!!"

Then I realize she didn't fall - SHE WAS SITTING ON THE GROUND SHAVING HER LEGS!!!!  This just might be the most disgusting thing I've ever witnessed.  E.V.E.R.  Afterall, little kids use this locker room too...and we all know what can happen with a little kid in the shower when their bladder starts yelling "I've gotta go!".  Just GROSS.  


The next "locker room spectacle" I witnessed was a woman singing in the shower.  AT THE TOP OF HER LUNGS.  And she was singing the same line over and over and over and over....well, you get the point.  It sounded like a hymn from church, which in and of itself isn't necessarily a bad thing...But over and over and over???  And in a locker room shower?!?!  

To top it all off, when she came out of the shower area, one of the other ladies in the room says "What a beautiful voice you have!"  So of course, his meant more singing while the lovely soprano was taking her grand old time getting prettied up for the day.  UGH!!!  


Anyway, on a happy note, I've been on track with all of my workouts.  I started running again over the weekend and it feels good to be back on the road.  My goal is to complete the running leg of the Wildman Sprint Tri with no walk breaks.  (I trained for and finished the Disney Marathon using the Galloway walk/run method).  The extra push feels good, and the short distance makes me happy too! 


Tomorrow I'll be back in the pool - feels like AGES since I was there on Sunday!  Then a quick run afterwards.  Before I know it, another week will have passed and I'll be closer to race day - hope I'm ready!  


Happy Hump Day Everyone!  

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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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