TriHawk #1

We completed the first mini tri today.  Loved it!  I stayed with Bill and Rachael so I didn't push my limits, but enjoyed every minute of it.  Of course swimming was the most difficult and I was a little surprised how some of the participant finished that portion of it.

The winds were awful but we pushed through it.  Rachael was first out of the water among us, but had a crappy mountain bike so she had the hardest time on the bike.  We stayed with her, giving her some blockage from the wind on the way back into town.  She was also huffing and puffing on the run.  I was a little surprised.  She really felt awful, but hasn't done any training for it, either.

I knew the BRick would be bad so I just kept telling myself s.l.o.w.  I'm sure we started out too fast, but I felt awesome and just wanted to keep going!  We decided we weren't out for medals or any kind of finish so we all just stayed together, motivating each other along the way.

The swim was about 15 min, the bike was about 17 min, and the run was about 8 min.  Not bad for first-timers who can't swim!  We are definitely runners!  Can't wait for the next one.  We'll be better yet!

Temperature: 87 degrees
Weather: scattered clouds, winds SW 23
Motivation level: 10
Energy level: 10
Today's Quote: "Inspire someone.  Pass it on.  Pay it forward.  While your running is personal, it is also something that you can give."

today's mileage: 400m swimming; 5 miles biking; 1 mile running

weekly mileage: 1650m swimming; 19 miles walking/hiking; 1 mile running; 5 miles biking

monthly mileage: 4 miles running; 25 miles walking; 6 miles riding; 1650m swimming

annual mileage: 130 miles running; 207 miles walking; 48 miles riding; 1.03125 miles swimming

TOTAL mileage: 386 miles

Mixed up days

What?!  That was my first reaction this morning about an hour after I woke up realizing today was NOT the day of the tri; it's tomorrow! DOH!  Good news: we got another training swim in today.

Another chance to swim is good since this is only the second day of the year we have been in the water.  Bill is still very nervous, but I think he is gaining confidence so that's good! :)

Again, my focus was on breathing and rotating in the water.  I think I did a better job of this today, but had problems taking in water and also with water getting in my ears.  I don't know if it was just the day or what was going on, but I also noticed I rotate more on my left side breathing than I do on my right.  I'm closer to 90 degree on my left and more like 45 on my right, at least that's how I feel I am doing.  I just might need another training session with Mr and Mrs Vardotrichic.

I also woke up this morning, weighed myself for the first time in 2 weeks and discovered that I lost about 6 pounds.  This is almost shocking as I really ate a lot of junk food.  The last week I tried to eat less and do a plank a day.  Last night Rachael started up her core exercises again.  Good to start getting back in the swing of things.  I hope this momentum lasts!


Temperature: 84 degrees
Weather: scattered clouds, winds SSE 16
Motivation level: 9
Energy level: 9
Today's Quote: "In life we need to hold on tight and let someone else carry us for awhile."

today's mileage: 750m swimming; 1 mile walking

weekly mileage: 1250m swimming; 19 miles walking/hiking

monthly mileage: 3 miles running; 25 miles walking; 5 miles riding; 1250m swimming

annual mileage: 126 miles running; 207 miles walking; 43 miles riding; .78125 miles swimming

TOTAL mileage: 357 miles

11th hour

Well, tomorrow is my first tri of the year.  I finally got in the water for my first swim since last fall!  The tri is very, very small, through the school's wellness program, and I convinced Bill to do it with me.  Nothing like waiting until the last minute to see how much the swim legs remember.

Bill told me on the way home from our 5900 mile vacation that he has never in his life swam a lap in the pool!  He never even had a swimming lesson until after our first year of marriage.  Woah.  This will be some true motivation tomorrow.  We went to the pool and tried to help him get from one end of the pool to the other.  I think we have a strategy to get through the swim.  The pool here has free adult swim from 12:00-1:00 daily so I have wanted to work on that this summer.  Tomorrow is only 4 laps so I think we can do it!

After he got comfortable with the water and swimming on his own, I took off and worked on my swim stroke.  I tried to focus on the breathing again and rotating.  I think both went well for the first time out and I got better the longer I was in the water.  I do need to work on making it all more proficient.  I still get tired at the end of each lap.  That improved as I swam, however.  I will keep working at it.

Good luck to me tomorrow and I won't stop moving forward!


Temperature: 74 degrees
Weather:  calm, scattered clouds
Motivation level: 9
Energy level: 9
Today's Quote: " The race belongs not only to the fastest and the strongest, but to those who don't stop running."

today's mileage: 500m swimming

weekly mileage: 500m swimming; 18 miles walking/hiking

monthly mileage: 3 miles running; 25 miles walking; 5 miles riding; 500m swimming

annual mileage: 126 miles running; 207 miles walking; 43 miles riding; .3125 miles swimming

TOTAL mileage: 357 miles

Bonding

One thing I love about running is that my daughter enjoys it too.  This night she asked if I would bike with her.  It wasn't a hard work out, just she and I biking casually through town, up and down the streets, chatting.  I love these times and miss marathon training with her.  She talks about anything and everything and I really get to see who she really is.  I love this time together.  It makes me happy!

The next day Bill asked if I wanted to do a quick Ethanol Loop on the bike.  Rachael wanted to join too.  This was another time to enjoy quietly with the family.  Bill and I were on our road bikes and Rachael was on her mountain bike.  We didn't put on biking gear (other than helmets) and just headed out.  We went slowly, but she was keeping up quite well!  At about mile 2 she said, "I realize now why bike shorts are important!"  I love my family and really just want to be this happy all the time!


Temperature: 64 degrees
Weather:  winds S 15, overcast
Motivation level: 9
Energy level: 5
Today's Quote: "Believe in yourself and all that you are.  Know that there is something inside you that is greater than any obstacle."

today's mileage: 3 + 5 mile biking

weekly mileage: 8 miles biking

monthly mileage: 0 miles running; 7 miles walking; 8 miles riding

annual mileage: 126 miles running; 207 miles walking; 38 miles riding; 0 miles swimming

TOTAL mileage: 357 miles

I am stronger than you!

This year has been my mid-life crisis I think.  I am anticipating at least another year worse than this one however.  Maybe that's pessimistic thinking, but it's my reality.  I feel so stressed pretty much all the time and keep getting knocked down even more.  Today I was went out to conquer my stress!

The stress has been preventing me from many things I love doing.  It has also prevented me from running all my runs, and running through negative thoughts.  Today no matter how much I wanted to give up, I just kept repeating to myself, "I am stronger than you! I will conquer you!"

I originally set out to do 8, but I knew I hadn't run for awhile, ok 8 days.  So, when I was struggling after the first mile I figured I'd do my usual 5 and be done.  The heat was the hottest it's been since last fall so that was wearing on me too.  I know I know, another excuse.  I did complete the 5, running each step of it!



Temperature: 74 degrees
Weather:  winds SE 45, overcast, humidity 62%, flash flood warning
Motivation level: 9
Energy level: 5
Today's Quote: "Running is like mouthwash; if you can feel the burn it's working."

today's mileage: 5 mile running

weekly mileage: 5 miles running

monthly mileage: 17 miles running; 51 miles walking; 20 miles riding

annual mileage: 126 miles running; 201 miles walking; 30 miles riding; 0 miles swimming

TOTAL mileage: 357 miles

The First 10 Steps

The first ten steps.  That's when I know how the entire run will go.  Doesn't matter if it's 3 miles or 20 miles, the first ten steps tells me.  Today?  It was an amazing 10 steps.

My last run I wanted to stop a million times.  It was all I could do to push myself through the five miles.  Today I wanted to stop a few times, but it was a great feeling to keep going.  We started off with a 10:21 pace and ended nearly a minute faster.  I love those runs.  We sprinted what I'm guessing was well under 9:00 minute pace.

Once we got to Ellsworth we were at 3.5 miles.  I asked them if they wanted to go 7 or 8 today.  Rachael said, "I just want to run."  After some discussion we decided to just turn around and complete 7.  Later when I wanted to walk, I felt like Team Hoyt, where I was out there for my child who loved every minute of the freedom of being outside.  I could endure pain and strife for the love of my child.  Keep me going Rachael....


Temperature: 67 degrees
Weather:  winds SSE 18, overcast, humidity 92%
Motivation level: 9
Energy level: 8
Today's Quote: "Every mile begins with a single step."

today's mileage: 7 mile running

weekly mileage: 7 miles running

monthly mileage: 12 miles running; 35 miles walking; 20 miles riding

annual mileage: 121 miles running; 185 miles walking; 30 miles riding; 0 miles swimming

TOTAL mileage: 336 miles

Dusting

Last week Bill and I did a "big" ride after school.  Unfortunately the night before I only got about 2-3 hours sleep.  I was really running on empty.  When we left I wanted to do a BRick, but about mile 15 I knew it just wasn't going to happen.  I crawled back into town to complete the 20 miles, but I finished.  About mile 18 I really felt like lying in the ditch on the cold grass and sleeping.  My head was pounding and I just felt awful!  I don't even know if I was riding in a straight line anymore.  It was like I hit the wall running, only I was on a bike.  Needless to say we didn't do the originally planned BRick.  I got in the house, took off my shoes, and lied on the couch.  I was out!  Bill woke me up and I went to bed.

When we were getting ready, I got out the Garmin and attached it to the bike, as usual.  It had been over 5 weeks since I used it so I had to dust it off!  wow.  I took a conscious break, due to terrible shin pain.  It was reminiscent of my stress fracture.  When I ran, it became numb.  As soon as I stopped, it was extremely achy and painful.  I have been running home for lunch, literally, to test the proverbial waters.  Just when I thought I was ready to run, it would still shoot pain through the bone.

Tonight it was really nice so me, Bill, and Rachael went out around the Ethanol Loop.  Tomorrow is supposed to be in the mid 90s so this was a perfect day to get out for a run.  I dusted off the Garmin again and we were out the door.  As usual, it started off tough, but about mile 2 I started to feel pretty good.  The last mile a bit rough again, but I did finish and it felt good.  The winds were horrible and we pushed through it to the end.


Temperature: 70 degrees
Weather:  winds SSW 28, overcast
Motivation level: 9
Energy level: 6
Today's Quote: "You were strong enough to get this far.  You are strong enough to keep going."

today's mileage: 5 mile running; 20 miles riding

weekly mileage: 5 miles running; 20 miles riding

monthly mileage: 5 miles running; 26 miles walking; 20 miles riding

annual mileage: 115 miles running; 176 miles walking; 30 miles riding; 0 miles swimming

TOTAL mileage: 321 miles