I should have wrote this a week ago but I am sort of glad I'm a lagger. Last Sunday a friend's husband gave me a swimming lesson. He has experience as a competitive diver, lifeguard, teacher etc. I had asked her if he could help and once the schedules aligned we all went to the pool together (the kiddos too!)
It was not a large pool but enough to take a few strokes across one way. He actually said I wasn't that bad! I thought he was gonna shudder and shake his head when he saw me swim! So I got a ton of little tidbits that I knew would help but the #1 thing I learned was how to breathe! It seems so silly but proper breathing has transformed my swimming.
He asked how do you breath? Well I fill up my cheeks with air like a chipmunk, hold my breath then quickly blow out before getting more air...he chuckled...
I didn't think of it until after, when my swimming changed competely, but what it I ran like that?! Holding my breath! I couldn't I would be constantly out of breath, exhausted, I wouldn't go the distance I go. Well the same with swimming! Now that I know how to breath right my swimming is methodical, and I have a pace set by my breathing and my stamina is incredibly better! I feel like in the next 7 weeks I will totally be able to get up to swimming 500 yards easily! I even feel ready to tackle open water swimming!!
Sunday, July 25, 2010
Monday, July 12, 2010
Vacation-Training-Vacation-Training
I dont have time to take a break while on vacation, which is sad but good. The day we got here I took a run in the blazing heat WHEW!! I dont think I went very far but did about a half hour run. Luckily my cousin works at the community pool so the next day I was able to get in the pool for some laps. I havent swam in so long! I have been avoiding it because #1 I am not good at it #2 It is hard #3 Im scared...etc etc. The next day the kids and I took a stroll through the local park. It was a 2 1/8 mile loop with a bit of a hill. The loop was a good walk but then we had to walk up a huge hill back to the house. THAT was a bit much...my poor kids
I went for a second swim with her a few days later and she even gave me some tips...She was probably was shocked that I think I am gonna do a triathlon being such a BAD swimmer...gotta start somewhere though...right???
That afternoon we went for a bike ride...let me rephrase that we went for a bike to death ride...we took a common bike path that was AWESOME, great views, nice and flat...it was when we decided to go beyond Tommy Thompson when trouble brewed...we rode past the oil refinerys and she said it wasnt too much farther to just go around. In my defense the bike I loaned wouldnt shift gears the whole way up until that point past the refinery. So it was challenging to say the least. Then as we went around she said it was further then she expected so we decided to cut through the middle. It was actually really pretty country side views, until we rounded a corner and the hill of death came into view...I could shift all the gears and it was soooooooo hard. I was breathing so hard and my chest was pounding, as I began to fear for my life I finally had to walk the last bit of that hill. Then we ended up walking down the backside as it was SO STEEP it was a brain injury waiting to happen. Geez whose bright idea was this bike ride....oh yeah...mine LOL. It actually was good I always wanna push myself to do more than I think I can...I just wanna live through the challenges...OK
This morning I went back to Tommy Thompson trail. I wanted to run it so badly. NEVER in my life did I ever think I would be chomping at the bit to run something, somewhere...hahaha! It was such a nice flat, shaded, paved path that ran along the water and actually OVER the water on a bridge. I think it was about an hour so maybe I did 4 miles. LOVED IT!!! There was a lot of wind when I headed back and I really had to push it to get back...but I kept running. I should be able to get another swim in tomorrow and maybe Wed before we leave I will do the Washington Park loop again (its sooooo beautiful).
Im really happy that I got a lot of training in and excercise in general while up here. the part that is disappointing is I have totally gone off the diet. Boy do I notice a difference. It is just so hard to stick to it when I dont have my foods readily available & so much yummy non diet stuff available...sigh... looks like another fruit flush is in order when I get back...
I went for a second swim with her a few days later and she even gave me some tips...She was probably was shocked that I think I am gonna do a triathlon being such a BAD swimmer...gotta start somewhere though...right???
That afternoon we went for a bike ride...let me rephrase that we went for a bike to death ride...we took a common bike path that was AWESOME, great views, nice and flat...it was when we decided to go beyond Tommy Thompson when trouble brewed...we rode past the oil refinerys and she said it wasnt too much farther to just go around. In my defense the bike I loaned wouldnt shift gears the whole way up until that point past the refinery. So it was challenging to say the least. Then as we went around she said it was further then she expected so we decided to cut through the middle. It was actually really pretty country side views, until we rounded a corner and the hill of death came into view...I could shift all the gears and it was soooooooo hard. I was breathing so hard and my chest was pounding, as I began to fear for my life I finally had to walk the last bit of that hill. Then we ended up walking down the backside as it was SO STEEP it was a brain injury waiting to happen. Geez whose bright idea was this bike ride....oh yeah...mine LOL. It actually was good I always wanna push myself to do more than I think I can...I just wanna live through the challenges...OK
This morning I went back to Tommy Thompson trail. I wanted to run it so badly. NEVER in my life did I ever think I would be chomping at the bit to run something, somewhere...hahaha! It was such a nice flat, shaded, paved path that ran along the water and actually OVER the water on a bridge. I think it was about an hour so maybe I did 4 miles. LOVED IT!!! There was a lot of wind when I headed back and I really had to push it to get back...but I kept running. I should be able to get another swim in tomorrow and maybe Wed before we leave I will do the Washington Park loop again (its sooooo beautiful).
Im really happy that I got a lot of training in and excercise in general while up here. the part that is disappointing is I have totally gone off the diet. Boy do I notice a difference. It is just so hard to stick to it when I dont have my foods readily available & so much yummy non diet stuff available...sigh... looks like another fruit flush is in order when I get back...
OK so I SUCK @ blogging....
I can't believe how lame I am at keeping up with this...
So I ran the 4th of July 10k. I wish I hadnt signed up for it during triathlon training because I spent the 2 weeks prior to the 10k so focused on running. I never got up to 6 or even 5 miles like I had hoped. I ended up doing 4.5miles a few days before. I wasnt sure what would happen when I did the 10k. What happens after 4.5 miles I kept wondering. I set my goal to just go the 4.5 miles I knew I could do and then if I felt like walking I would BUT I ended up running the whole 6.2 miles!!! the last 1/4 mile is all down hill which was NICE.
The feeling of setting out to do something I didnt ever think I could do and acheiving it is something I can't describe but LOVE!!! I was ready to give up, back out and not show up...but I went and didnt stop until I finished. Im not fast, didnt finish first, didnt finish last either...
I'm so proud that I kept it up and saw it through.
glad that it is over so now I can focus on the triathlon which is fast approaching!!!
So I ran the 4th of July 10k. I wish I hadnt signed up for it during triathlon training because I spent the 2 weeks prior to the 10k so focused on running. I never got up to 6 or even 5 miles like I had hoped. I ended up doing 4.5miles a few days before. I wasnt sure what would happen when I did the 10k. What happens after 4.5 miles I kept wondering. I set my goal to just go the 4.5 miles I knew I could do and then if I felt like walking I would BUT I ended up running the whole 6.2 miles!!! the last 1/4 mile is all down hill which was NICE.
The feeling of setting out to do something I didnt ever think I could do and acheiving it is something I can't describe but LOVE!!! I was ready to give up, back out and not show up...but I went and didnt stop until I finished. Im not fast, didnt finish first, didnt finish last either...
I'm so proud that I kept it up and saw it through.
glad that it is over so now I can focus on the triathlon which is fast approaching!!!
Thursday, July 1, 2010
a few more things...
I want a ipod armband holder for running
A computer thingy that tracks for the bike
New water bottle for my bike
A water belt thingy for runs
Hey, a girl can dream :)
A computer thingy that tracks for the bike
New water bottle for my bike
A water belt thingy for runs
Hey, a girl can dream :)
my wish list....
A few things that I want & some things I need before the next race...
I NEED a bike helmet
I want new:
Goggles
Bras
Wetsuit
A personal trainer
While I'm wishing a shiny new bike :)
I NEED a bike helmet
I want new:
Goggles
Bras
Wetsuit
A personal trainer
While I'm wishing a shiny new bike :)
set backs, & steppin up
10 days since my last post...I thought I would be better at this. Well I certainly have trained in the last 10 days. About the middle of last week I was ready to call off the 10k. I didn't think I could so it. A 5k I'm running no problem but there was like this wall I was hitting. Well Saturday I busted down that wall. I did a run by my home 4 miles with out stopping. It's cool that I did it on an outdoor run cause it boosted my confidence for the race. Then yesterday I did 4.5 miles on the tredmill 60minutes non stop. I know I can push myself to finish the 10k. I wish I hadn't stuck this race in the middle of my tri-training but I know this will help my endurance!
After the race I am going to pour everything I got into tri-training! The bike & run distance I can do by themselves. Its the swim that literally freaks me out. I decided to swim 3 times a week & run 1-2 times & bike once. Until its time to double up & do them back to back.
I have a prayer I keep praying: Lord thank you for making me a runner now could you help me become a swimmer.
After the race I am going to pour everything I got into tri-training! The bike & run distance I can do by themselves. Its the swim that literally freaks me out. I decided to swim 3 times a week & run 1-2 times & bike once. Until its time to double up & do them back to back.
I have a prayer I keep praying: Lord thank you for making me a runner now could you help me become a swimmer.
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