Today I Completed My First Triathlon . . . Kind of!

July 31, 2008 By 2 Comments

Today I began the full three events-swim, bike and run-at the gym.

I started off with a 1,000 meter swim. Not bad, as I did it first and was glad that I did because the pool was open with only one other swimmer. The swim was a good one and I realized something funny during it: While I love swimming, I loathe biking, but only at the gym. I have a feeling if I were working out outside, swimming would be tough in the ocean or lakes because I’d be concerned about whatever was below the surface and biking would be great because I’d actually be going somewhere!

Swim: 1000 meters/40 laps; approx. 29 minutes. I stopped a few times to listen for the paging system, in case my youngest needed to leave childcare! I want to do this entire swim next week without stopping, and I’d like a better way to time myself. I know that I did the first 250 meters in about 5 1/2 minutes without stopping; after that, it’s a guess.

The transition was easy: I shed my suit, put on my running clothes and headed upstairs. I did a five mile bike ride. The other day when riding I stood up after and had a really sharp pain in my calf muscle. I made sure that night and the next day after my run that I stretched the hell out of it. It felt better today; no sharp pain. I took it easy on the levels though just in case. I have to do a 11 mile run on Saturday and don’t want any odd pains to stand in my way!

Bike Ride: 5 miles (like 5.2 or something) in 15 minutes.

I then stepped onto the treadmill, glad to see my legs held me up. This is only the second time I have biked and then run after. I’m sure when I get going a little farther on the bike, the run after will be more tough.

I did 2 miles and averaged just 9:30 min miles. I really wanted it to be closer to 9, and I did get down to 8:40 min miles a few times, but not enough.

The entire workout took about 65 minutes. I got done feeling great but really, really hungry! I had started off this morning with a cup of coffee, a hard boiled egg and a banana before the workout. I have a feeling if I go much longer than the sixty-five minutes I’m going to need to eat something during, or take one of my gel packs that I use on long runs.

I realized something about the bike: I need to practice. I don’t enjoy biking. I love to swim and run, so I want to do these two, and I don’t want to increase the bike because I don’t enjoy it. I think if I were outside, again, I would, but inside I just don’t.

So, with shower and all I was at the gym for about an hour and a half. The girls, of course, did fine in daycare, though I was feeling a bit guilty by the amount of time it took. And I know that when I get to doing some longer bikes and runs it will take even longer. However, I think I will cap myself at a certain point before this triathlon. I have to check and see again how long the distances are, but I think the run is only four miles, which isn’t too bad.

Completing all three of those today really made me feel great! I am feeling a bit more confident, like the triathlon won’t be unattainable, especially if I start small.

A question for all of my tri friends; How far are you going in training before a race? Do you try out the entire length first? Or, like a marathon, only go to a certain point in training and push it a bit farther on race day?

Filed Under: Biking/Cycling, January 2008, July 2008, Long Distance Running, March, October 2007, Racing, Reflections on Running, Running Gear, Swimming, Training for a Marathon, Triathlon Training Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

Finally, a Good 8 Miler

October 29, 2007 By Leave a Comment

I got out early this morning-5 am sharp-and ran down to the ocean, up half a mile, back half a mile and then back home again. I completed 8 miles in about 85 minutes. Would like to cut that down to 80 minutes, 10 minute miles, so I can have about 9 something in the race but who knows. I’m just glad I got back out!

It was a perfectly cool morning, no smoke in the air. I was really hungry and ate my gel pack a little early in, around 45 minutes. I stopped a few times when my toes began to tingle, only at red lights though, and stretched, and then I worked on stretching them and running with a different gait throughout the run. They didn’t go completely numb, which was good, but they did hurt.

Last night I filled out my race plan. I have 14 weeks before the marathon! I will do 11 on Saturday, 13 next Saturday, and work up to 20. I will also begin swimming this week at the gym. My plan is to increase my longer middle of the week run to 6-8 miles before the race. I’m at about 4 now. I’ll keep two, 3 mile runs during the week; on those days I will go to the gym and swim after, and possibly do some biking as well. I don’t want to do anything too strenuous or different at this point, with the marathon just a few months away. The last thing I need is an injury!

I’ve been compiling a list of music that I want to have during the race. Some songs include:
YMCA, anything by Everclear, some Green Day, and some upbeat tunes from the 80s, like I will walk 500 miles . .  they played that at the start of the Long Beach half, and it really got me going.

Now, need to work. It was a good run. Glad to be back out doing a longer one!

Filed Under: October 2007 Tagged With: ,

If I Don’t Have a Good Run Soon . . .

October 27, 2007 By Leave a Comment

Guess  I should have read the gym hours. The ones that said the weekdays they open at 4:30; the weekends, 7 AM.

This morning I showed up loaded with my goods only to be turned away by two locked doors.

I did a short run outside. By the end my nose was clogged up. Not good to run outside when the air is not healthy, but if I don’t have a good run soon I’m gonna explode. I can feel it in my body, the ‘stuff’ that wants to pour out of my pores – I really need to get out and purge LOL.

Doesn’t sound scary now does it?!

I wanted to run on that treadmill for as long as I could run this morning. I hate treadmill running but it has been two weeks tomorrow since my half marathon and in that time I’ve only had one longer run, which was last Friday, 8 miles. I’m goung to have to start all over again if I don’t get out and do a long one soon.  Besides, my body got used to running distances and now these half hour runs just aren’t cutting it.

I need a good 10 miler.

So here’s my plan: take tomorrow off and head to the gym bright and early on Monday morning. Run 8 miles on the treadmill if I can make it. Then, next Saturday (that’s a week from today! a whole week!) do an 11 miler. The following week, 13.

I can’t be too depressed about this. Other people have lost their homes. Those runners won’t be running for a while.

It’s just tough when you want to get out there and you can’t.

In other news, I’ve decided to try mat pilates at the gym on Wednesday. Going to put my two daughters in the day care and see how that goes. I’m hoping that my one daughter will soothe my second daughter.  I’m sure I’ll get called out to leave early, with my youngest screaming uncontrollably. But, you never know. And if this works out, maybe I can even take that ultimate body boot camp class!

Happy running, mothers. I hope to get out there with you one day really soon.

Filed Under: October 2007 Tagged With: ,

Today’s Run: Smoky. Tomorrow’s Run: Not Much Better It Seems

October 25, 2007 By Leave a Comment

We are in a sad state here in Southern California. If you haven’t heard, and how could you not, fires have destroyed homes and caused people to leave behind their possessions or chance dying trying to save them.

Our skies are orange, it is extremely hot and things don’t seem to be getting that much better. The winds have died down some, but the fires continue on. Outside it looks as though the end of the world could be coming at any time. It is that eerie silence, that orange sky, the ash falling down on our cars.

I am glued to the television, feeling so sad for the people who have lost possessions. I can’t imagine losing my home as these people have. Imagine, the pictures, the memorabilia, the necessities that we all take for granted.

I’d say that it sucks running in the smoky air, but you know what? It doesn’t suck nearly as much as it could. I’m lucky. I have to breathe in the dirty air for half an hour or forty five minutes but I get to go home, to my home, and take a shower in my shower, and wear my clothes and look at my pictures.

Today’s post isn’t about the sucky runs. Instead, it is about remembering all of the people who are fighting these fires, from the firemen to those living through the destruction.

I’m putting together a plan to raise items for children birth to eighteen through my company. I’m hoping to set up a few drop boxes around the city, collect the items over the next month and then deliver them all to the Red Cross. I’ll start making phone calls tomorrow to local businesses and churches to see if this is possible.

It is important to me that I help for several reasons. For one, I want my daughters to understand the importance of giving back to the community and to those that are less fortunate. Tonight we made brownies for the firefighters down the street, and my daughter drew a card, which we will deliver tomorrow.

It’s also important that as a business owner I support my community.  As a business owner I have resources that individuals don’t have, such as connections with other business owners who might be able to lend a hand, and so I know it is my place to help those who have been so beaten down these last few days.

So while my runs are not looking good this week-and I’m not sure how I’ll do that 11-13 miles on Saturday with the air as bad as it is-my days and nights certainly look a lot better than those that many other people are facing.  And for that reason, I can’t complain about sucking in a little ash when I run.

Keep everyone in Southern California in your minds, and do what you can to help support the people who have lost their homes.

Filed Under: October 2007 Tagged With: ,

Tomorrow is the Long Beach Half Marathon

October 13, 2007 By Leave a Comment

Well, tomorrow is the half, which is the halfway point to my goal. I’ve trained now for several months, taking my long morning runs before the sun peeks over the clouds.

I’ve gathered my necessities:

gel pack

gatorade

fanny pack

tissues

IPOD

few dollars

clothes and gear

The weather is supposed to be cold and overcast, yay! I’m so excited. I can’ t run in the heat, and since this run starts at 7:30, when I am usually winding up my runs, I’ve been concerned about the heat. This morning is is rainy and overcast, so if it is like this tomorrow that would be fantastic.

I received an email yesterday that one of my close friends passed away the night before due to what they believe might have been bronchitis or complications of. A few hours laterIi learned that a family friend has been diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer. He has three young children and while in his mid-thirties should have years and years of life before him.

It was a horrendous day, and I querstioned why I was going to try this race, and then the 26.2.

Then I woke this morning and decided I would run this in memory of my friend Karen and with our other friend in my mind. I can get out there and do this. I have the training behind me, and I am alive, and I know that she will be watching and cheering me on.

Yesterday I was dreading this race; today, I can’t wait.

I’ll report back and let you know how it goes!

Filed Under: October 2007 Tagged With: , , , ,

Saturday’s Long Run

October 10, 2007 By Leave a Comment

I had a great run on Saturday. When I began to hit the dreaded wall I started thinking that, really, this is for fun! I am doing this to have a good time, not to kill myself, and if I start to hate it then why am I doing it?

I also thought about those people that run during races and just talk, have a good time, stop and say hi to people, urge people on. I want to be one of those in the races. I don’t want to dread the entire race. It is easy to get caught up in the runner’s  wall and then hate the run. I don’t want to be that runner.

And as I always say, running is mental anyway. I want it to be good mental, not bad mental. So, my attitude is going to change. When I do start to hit a wall I’m going to do everything mentally in my power to get out of that wall. It worked on Saturday. Hopefully, it will work this Sunday when I run the Long Beach Half Marathon. The conditions will be different than the runs I am used to. I’ll be running in the sun-I usually finish at 7:30 but this run will start then! I’ll be running after eating a light breakfast.  I’ll be running with other people.

But if I start to get down, I will think, This is for fun, and I hope that will carry me through to the finish line!

Filed Under: October 2007 Tagged With: , , ,

Better AM Run

October 4, 2007 By Leave a Comment

So today made up for yesterday’s awful run. I woke early, at five, fed the baby and took off at five thirty. I ran for thirty five minutes. Yesterday I pulled a muscle in my back, talk about pain! I’m sure it had something to do with all of the back exercises we completed in yoga on Monday night, sigh! I thought it was supposed to be GOOD for my back LOL! Anyway, the run was great and I felt much better today after, rather than feeling awful after like I did yesterday. I just can’t run and push that stroller. I’d rather do thirteen miles alone than three pushing that thing!

Have to get to work now. A client will be calling soon and I should be working, but blogging is just so much more fun! Just a little over a week until my second half marathon ever! it’s in Long Beach and should be a great course, flat and fast. The course, not me (at least not the fast part!)

Filed Under: October 2007

A crappy run today . . .

October 4, 2007 By Leave a Comment

Last night my nine month old woke from 3:30-5:30, screaming in pain. She is teething, again. The poor thing already has 8 teeth and is working on #9. I was supposed to get up and do a 45 minute run. Generally I get up at 5:30, but I was so tired I actually crept back into bed when I should have been rising. So I did the run pushing the double stroller at 9 this morning, and it was horrible. So tough to push 50 pounds of baby while running. I made a half hour. I’ll do my longer run tomorrow.

Filed Under: October 2007

Welcome to my site!

October 4, 2007 By Leave a Comment

momamandahalf1.jpgI decided to begin a blog about being a marathon mama after waking for many months and running in the wee morning hours, while my two daughters slept along with my husband. My oldest is three and a half and my youngest is only nine months, and she is still not sleeping through the night.

Running distances is a challenge; doing so when you have two young children and a company to run can be next to impossible. This blog will chronicle my journey to the 26.2 in February ’08 and, I hope, beyond.

For now, I’ll keep putting one foot ahead of the other and moving forward as quickly, or slowly, as I can.

Filed Under: October 2007