Sick
I am getting over a viral infection. I haven't been sick since February 2008 when I did the Antarctica marathon. It isn't something I want to repeat. I had a bad viral infection and missed a couple days of work and now am on antibiotics. I wonder if that played a part in my bad showing at the triathlon for Nathan's. Oh well. I'm doing better.
I dyed my hair last Sunday a brunette color. I went to the store and found two boxes, one labeled "brown" the other labeled "chocolate espresso brown." I went with the later, as it sounded so much more alluring. Well, 10 minutes and hair dye all over the bathroom later, I ended up a brunette. Of course, now the shower curtain and floor were brown. I've not colored my hair at home and have always left it to the professionals and think in the future I will leave it to the professionals. Not sure how I feel about being brunette. I think a golden color makes me feel sunnier. I have just been having my hair ruined with chlorine, so thought this might make a good solution.
Yesterday I went biking in 20 mph winds and got pretty much blown off my bike. I had to actually get off and walk it through an intersection because my weight wouldn't keep me up. I've never had to do that before. Also, there were some trees hanging over the biking path and didn't have enough time to push them out of the way with my hands, so one branch sliced up my forehead.
I swear, I have a scar from my stitches from my bike accident, now a slice through my forehead and dried out brunette hair. What a sight am I? Battle wounds! Loving it.
Thursday, October 1, 2009
Nathan's Triathlon
On Sunday I participated in Nathan's Olympic Triathlon. I did this race two years ago and got into a very nasty bike accident. My bike came into pieces and I ended up in physical therapy for 3 months. But I did finish the race in 3 hours with the bike accident.
Sunday's race took me 3:17 and it was so frustrating. The swim took me 13 minutes longer than it did in 2007 and so that really screwed with my head for the rest of the race. My self talk was really negative because I thought I was so much slower in swimming, which doesn't make any sense because I have been swimming so much more than I ever have. So I was really bummed out. My bike took a while and then on the run, for the first time in my life, I got a side stitch. It felt like a hernia. I heard that to rid yourself of the stitch, you walk with your arms over your head leaning to to the side with the stitch. So I did and within 5 minutes it went away, but I did have to walk a little. I've never walked in a triathlon ever. So really frustrating experience.
Then I find out that the swim course was 300 m longer than it was supposed to be and even the elite athletes had their worst swim times. But still a frustrating race.
After the race, one of the ladies in my training group said to me, "well, maybe Ironman just isn't for you." I think that was the most hurtful thing anyone has ever said to me. I came home, got down on the floor and cried for 2 hours straight. I haven't even cried like that over a guy.
Maybe she is right. Or maybe that was just rude to poop on someone's goals like that. My coach told me that is wrong and that I am ready for it. Another girl told me yes, I should do the race. So it's nice to know I do have some supportive people behind me.
My mom thinks my priorities are screwed up. But my mom says that about everything in my life.
I have a hobby and I (usually) enjoy it (except for this race).
On Sunday I participated in Nathan's Olympic Triathlon. I did this race two years ago and got into a very nasty bike accident. My bike came into pieces and I ended up in physical therapy for 3 months. But I did finish the race in 3 hours with the bike accident.
Sunday's race took me 3:17 and it was so frustrating. The swim took me 13 minutes longer than it did in 2007 and so that really screwed with my head for the rest of the race. My self talk was really negative because I thought I was so much slower in swimming, which doesn't make any sense because I have been swimming so much more than I ever have. So I was really bummed out. My bike took a while and then on the run, for the first time in my life, I got a side stitch. It felt like a hernia. I heard that to rid yourself of the stitch, you walk with your arms over your head leaning to to the side with the stitch. So I did and within 5 minutes it went away, but I did have to walk a little. I've never walked in a triathlon ever. So really frustrating experience.
Then I find out that the swim course was 300 m longer than it was supposed to be and even the elite athletes had their worst swim times. But still a frustrating race.
After the race, one of the ladies in my training group said to me, "well, maybe Ironman just isn't for you." I think that was the most hurtful thing anyone has ever said to me. I came home, got down on the floor and cried for 2 hours straight. I haven't even cried like that over a guy.
Maybe she is right. Or maybe that was just rude to poop on someone's goals like that. My coach told me that is wrong and that I am ready for it. Another girl told me yes, I should do the race. So it's nice to know I do have some supportive people behind me.
My mom thinks my priorities are screwed up. But my mom says that about everything in my life.
I have a hobby and I (usually) enjoy it (except for this race).
Friday, September 25, 2009
Splash and Dash
I participated in a duathlon last night with a swim and run. I am still as slow a swimmer as ever. Frustrating. I don't know what my problem is, maybe I'm just not built like a fish.
I also went to swim practice this morning and kept running into the person swimming next to me, which made my coach mad.
I am just not cut out for the swimming part.
I participated in a duathlon last night with a swim and run. I am still as slow a swimmer as ever. Frustrating. I don't know what my problem is, maybe I'm just not built like a fish.
I also went to swim practice this morning and kept running into the person swimming next to me, which made my coach mad.
I am just not cut out for the swimming part.
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Update on life
Tomorrow is a duathlon and this weekend is an Olympic triathlon. So I've got a couple races coming up. I got into a very, very bad bike accident in this race in 2007. It messed up my training for the Antarctica marathon and kept me out of P.F. Chang's Rock N Roll Marathon in 2008 and Lost Dutchman Marathon in 2008. So I'm kind of worried....hopefully all will be well.
A member of my group had a bad bike accident and ended up carted off in an ambulance on Saturday. He flipped over the handle bars and took a tumble. Biking is one dangerous sport. Plus, it's a huge production just to go out on a bike ride.
On Sunday when I was biking, my bike started changing gears on its own. So I brought into the shop for repairs. $127.00 later I needed a new cable. So hopefully it will be fixed and not all greased up as it has been. I'll probably take it in once more this year.
I've been very tired since my bike ride. Monday and Tuesday were hard days to make it through and to get out of bed. I slept probably 10 hours last night. Went to bed early, woke up late. Shame on me! Now it will be a long evening of workouts.
People at work have been asking if I've gotten skinnier. I don't think so, but I've toned up more. My arms are getting more cut, which is strange because I don't have the genetics to get cut arms. I have my father's body and no matter how much weight I lift or how many strokes I swim, I don't develop cut arms because they are so long. Usually compact bodies develop more muscles. My body is tall and lanky, which I'm not complaining about at all. I'd rather have that than short and stout. So my arms aren't buff by any means, but do show a little more tone. I think it's from the swimming I have been doing.
But this has let me eat more. I eat more than anyone I know. I swear I eat and eat. It'll catch up with me in about 7.5 years when I enter my forties and my metabolism slows down. But until then, I'll have my cake and eat it too.
Tomorrow is a duathlon and this weekend is an Olympic triathlon. So I've got a couple races coming up. I got into a very, very bad bike accident in this race in 2007. It messed up my training for the Antarctica marathon and kept me out of P.F. Chang's Rock N Roll Marathon in 2008 and Lost Dutchman Marathon in 2008. So I'm kind of worried....hopefully all will be well.
A member of my group had a bad bike accident and ended up carted off in an ambulance on Saturday. He flipped over the handle bars and took a tumble. Biking is one dangerous sport. Plus, it's a huge production just to go out on a bike ride.
On Sunday when I was biking, my bike started changing gears on its own. So I brought into the shop for repairs. $127.00 later I needed a new cable. So hopefully it will be fixed and not all greased up as it has been. I'll probably take it in once more this year.
I've been very tired since my bike ride. Monday and Tuesday were hard days to make it through and to get out of bed. I slept probably 10 hours last night. Went to bed early, woke up late. Shame on me! Now it will be a long evening of workouts.
People at work have been asking if I've gotten skinnier. I don't think so, but I've toned up more. My arms are getting more cut, which is strange because I don't have the genetics to get cut arms. I have my father's body and no matter how much weight I lift or how many strokes I swim, I don't develop cut arms because they are so long. Usually compact bodies develop more muscles. My body is tall and lanky, which I'm not complaining about at all. I'd rather have that than short and stout. So my arms aren't buff by any means, but do show a little more tone. I think it's from the swimming I have been doing.
But this has let me eat more. I eat more than anyone I know. I swear I eat and eat. It'll catch up with me in about 7.5 years when I enter my forties and my metabolism slows down. But until then, I'll have my cake and eat it too.
Monday, September 21, 2009
Weekend
Friday I ran 18 miles and did an hour swim. Then Saturday I did a 4000M open water swim race in very choppy waters. We were near the boats and water skiis that made for a very bumpy swim. I am super prone to getting sea sick and I did during the race. The waves made for a very nauseating swim. It was one of the hardest physical challenges of my life. After the race, I did a 2 hour bike ride in 105 degrees.
It is almost October and still having the same heat as in July. This heat will not end.
On Sunday, I did a 90 mile bike ride with a group of bikers. The group had set up aid stations and I got to refill with ice cold water. Lovely! I was getting used to drinking warm water on my rides. Cold water just quenches the thirst so much better. I also had no flat tires! Happy day.
Friday I ran 18 miles and did an hour swim. Then Saturday I did a 4000M open water swim race in very choppy waters. We were near the boats and water skiis that made for a very bumpy swim. I am super prone to getting sea sick and I did during the race. The waves made for a very nauseating swim. It was one of the hardest physical challenges of my life. After the race, I did a 2 hour bike ride in 105 degrees.
It is almost October and still having the same heat as in July. This heat will not end.
On Sunday, I did a 90 mile bike ride with a group of bikers. The group had set up aid stations and I got to refill with ice cold water. Lovely! I was getting used to drinking warm water on my rides. Cold water just quenches the thirst so much better. I also had no flat tires! Happy day.
Thursday, September 17, 2009
Working hard
I am hard at work with training. I just did a 15 mile run and then Friday before work I will do an 18 mile run and then Saturday I am doing a 2 hour bike ride followed by an open water swim. Sunday I do a 6 hour bike ride...6 hours is an awfully long time to be seated in a saddle. I truly am trying to dig deep to find the motivation for that...I can only listen to my iPod for so long before I get tired of the songs and the radio plays the Black Eyed Peas at least 6 times an hour. So I'll try. It's still very hot and training in heat is very hard on the body.
I have been contemplating a hair color change for a while. I've been blonde (fake blonde) for about 13 years now. I'm thinking of going brunette for a while. Chlorine makes the blonde just wash out anyway and it's expensive to up keep, although I've been doing it for so long. Might be fun to see what life is like on the other side. I really don't remember what it is like having dark hair. I have no one to impress, so if it doesn't work for me, it's not like it'll really matter. I haven't been very social lately. Just training, working in an office where I don't have much interaction with people, and watching television.
I am addicted to the Real Housewives of (fill in city) series. I also am loving the Rachel Zoe Project. I just like seeing all the beautiful fashion and dreaming of far away lands where I get to be dressed up and have people do my hair and makeup and look fabulous or "bananas," as Rachel would say. But no walking red carpets for me in Dior and Jimmy Choos high heels. Instead it is jogging paths in Under Armour and New Balance shoes. At least I'm more comfortable.
I am working on a positive outlook on life. So I am listing a few things that make me happy:
1. With my love of running, I can eat sweets and no guilty feeling comes.
2. I like being alone. Most people aren't introverted, so when they are alone, they hate it. I love it.
3. I will have straight teeth when these braces come off. I think that will be the happiest day of my life.
I am hard at work with training. I just did a 15 mile run and then Friday before work I will do an 18 mile run and then Saturday I am doing a 2 hour bike ride followed by an open water swim. Sunday I do a 6 hour bike ride...6 hours is an awfully long time to be seated in a saddle. I truly am trying to dig deep to find the motivation for that...I can only listen to my iPod for so long before I get tired of the songs and the radio plays the Black Eyed Peas at least 6 times an hour. So I'll try. It's still very hot and training in heat is very hard on the body.
I have been contemplating a hair color change for a while. I've been blonde (fake blonde) for about 13 years now. I'm thinking of going brunette for a while. Chlorine makes the blonde just wash out anyway and it's expensive to up keep, although I've been doing it for so long. Might be fun to see what life is like on the other side. I really don't remember what it is like having dark hair. I have no one to impress, so if it doesn't work for me, it's not like it'll really matter. I haven't been very social lately. Just training, working in an office where I don't have much interaction with people, and watching television.
I am addicted to the Real Housewives of (fill in city) series. I also am loving the Rachel Zoe Project. I just like seeing all the beautiful fashion and dreaming of far away lands where I get to be dressed up and have people do my hair and makeup and look fabulous or "bananas," as Rachel would say. But no walking red carpets for me in Dior and Jimmy Choos high heels. Instead it is jogging paths in Under Armour and New Balance shoes. At least I'm more comfortable.
I am working on a positive outlook on life. So I am listing a few things that make me happy:
1. With my love of running, I can eat sweets and no guilty feeling comes.
2. I like being alone. Most people aren't introverted, so when they are alone, they hate it. I love it.
3. I will have straight teeth when these braces come off. I think that will be the happiest day of my life.
Friday, September 11, 2009
Update
Last Saturday I attempted a 5 hour bike ride, but was met with pouring rain and lightening. Due to safety issues, I had to stop after 3 hours. It was actually quite cold and shivering. So I went to the gym, ran 8 miles on a treadmill and then swam 2000 meters. The next day I met a group for a 12 mile run on a trail; then Monday, a holiday, I got in my 5 hour bike ride. I didn't end up riding too many miles though in 5 hours. Guess I was a slow biker that day and I did get a flat tire. On Saturday, a member of my training group was off to the side of the road changing a flat so I stopped to help. She said a staple went through her tire...a staple? No way, I thought. But then guess what? Monday comes and I get a flat. I always try to find the source of the problem before I put in the new tube and wouldn't you know? A staple had found its way through my tire and tube. Maybe I was jinxed.
My long swim this week lasted 3500m and went just fine.
I have been very tired lately and getting bad headaches. I think my teeth from my braces are shifting quite a bit, so maybe that is why. Or maybe it's the never-ending heat. But I hope it goes away.
Today is September 11th and it's nice to see all the American flags flying in people's yards.
Last Saturday I attempted a 5 hour bike ride, but was met with pouring rain and lightening. Due to safety issues, I had to stop after 3 hours. It was actually quite cold and shivering. So I went to the gym, ran 8 miles on a treadmill and then swam 2000 meters. The next day I met a group for a 12 mile run on a trail; then Monday, a holiday, I got in my 5 hour bike ride. I didn't end up riding too many miles though in 5 hours. Guess I was a slow biker that day and I did get a flat tire. On Saturday, a member of my training group was off to the side of the road changing a flat so I stopped to help. She said a staple went through her tire...a staple? No way, I thought. But then guess what? Monday comes and I get a flat. I always try to find the source of the problem before I put in the new tube and wouldn't you know? A staple had found its way through my tire and tube. Maybe I was jinxed.
My long swim this week lasted 3500m and went just fine.
I have been very tired lately and getting bad headaches. I think my teeth from my braces are shifting quite a bit, so maybe that is why. Or maybe it's the never-ending heat. But I hope it goes away.
Today is September 11th and it's nice to see all the American flags flying in people's yards.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
