Road to First Mini Triathlon

5/29/13

Ran yesterday, check

Biked 30 today 20 of it uphill, arggh. Can def feels abs, quads and inner thigs getting a workout. Our ride is either super difficult or easy - uphill all on the way out, at least you get it over with.
I know why gloves are important - sweaty paws don't make for a good grip. Shorts helped today. Took little 30 seconds breaks on the up hill. Gears and I are becoming fast friends


Swim - check

Running almost as fast as biking, not sure if that is saying much for either :)

6/5/13

Finished first week of training and completed all tasks. Swimming was overall good but def need goggles and to put hair in ponytail for freestyle - did breast stroke instead.

Week 2 of Biking, hills still kicking my butt - feeling the burn in quads front, anterior and lateral also feeling it on the uphill in abs (which I like)

6/7/13
Officially signed up for the Big Event! No backing out now, although I did buy the insurance in case something happens :)
Signed up for just for fun and co ed - two weeks after the competitive bug hit, changed to age and women's only event


6/16/13

Finishing my third week of training, can't believe it!  Wetsuit arrived yesterday -- neosport sleevless - it is great, easy on/off not constricting and got delivered from Amazon of course :) Also purchased some biking shorts to keep legs from chafing and bum from getting sore - it now makes sense to me why all the bikers wear those goofy outfits!

Went on first group ride and 17miles -- it was awesome. What a fantastic time, great people, beautiful ride. I am being told my bike is a piece o Crapoli (at least for this type of riding) and it needs to go back :(Apparently I am working much harder than I need to because of the bikes performance ability. I guess the good news is I am getting a better workout and I when I get on a proper bike it will be like cheating (we will see). I am grateful to my little bike though b/c it got me to the point yesterday where I could go out on the group ride, go 17 miles and have such a terrific time. 

One month down - month two - step up the swimming.
This month starts swimming 2 x per week.  I haven't missed a training yet and today have learned a great lesson in determination, perseverance and persistence oh and don't forget "artful dodging"

Note to self - correctly check the open swim vs lap swim schedule. Today my horoscope said I was going to have a momentous day --

I think if you mean by momentus swimming with a pool full of sea urchins making artificial waves with no lap lanes as in good training for the masse of peeps that will be racing against in open water, then --- yes :):):) 

6/28/13

2 months before the big event!

Did first "brick" training. 30 minute ride (took a minute off my uphill - yeah).
29 minute run to follow - not as easy :( between the wobbly legs from the bike, the resistance of the dog and all the up hills - kind of a struggle. I did do it, just much slower than I would have liked to.

I am learning that form and breathing play a big part in a successful outcome so I am trying to improve on those aspects.
Tomorrow is the pool - hopefully we can get there before all of the summertime sea urchins do :)

Road to First Mini Triathlon

5/25/13

When my sister asked if I wanted to do a mini tri in August I originally thought, thanks but no.

Then I gave it some consideration and thought what a great way to work some more muscles, tone, define and broaden my horizon. 
I already ran, I use to swim in high-school and seriously, how hard could riding a bike again be???

I downloaded a training schedule, bought a bike at Costco along with helmet.  I tested it out by riding around in my suit and heels in the store and scored the floor sample so I didn't have to do the necessary "assembly required".
Brought it home and said Yes to the mini tri!

Ummmmm, seriously underestimated the bike riding ease!  Riding a bike is not the childs play that I remember it to be. I curse the hill we live on :):):) PS. Is it normal for your lady parts to fall asleep while riding? 

About five minutes in (all uphill btw) I thought thank God I only spent $250 and Costco would take it back cause this blows!

Alas, I couldn't quit this soon into it and  I decided to trudge on and make it up the hill. 

I read a blog on line about tips for beginning cycling and was getting confused by what all the gears do and when to use them. One learns very quickly what all the gears do and don't do, what makes the bike faster, slower, harder and more efficient, why you don't wear floppy pants especially on the chain side and how to put the chain back on if it slips gears cause there is no way you are walking you and the bike home.

Day 1 conquered the hill! once I became one with he bike and familiarized myself with how to properly ride it, all was good, not easy, but good. Did 22 Minutes, legs wobbly but overall had great time :)

Vitamix in the house :)

5/25/13

Inaugural kick off of the Vitamix!

She had me at the thai soup.  Sally was demonstrating her Vitamix at the Costco in Torrance.  Sally has a great attitude, a lot of personality and the ability to show you how to make delicious creations in minutes and the clean up is even faster!

Sally made us thai soup, green drink, tortilla soup and banana freeze which even I (a known banana dis-liker as is her sister) thought was delicious. I asked her not to tell my family that I like the bananas freeze as I have been so adamant about Never liking bananas but I decided to fess up myself.

I was sold!!!! Everything was so nutritious, colorful, efficient and effortless -- what more could you want?

I got one of the last white ones, brought it home, cleaned it and displayed it proudly on the counter.

Today I made my own Green Drink that I normally would have juiced.  Kale, spinich, arugula, cilantro, dandelions, carrot, green apple and mango -- added some filtered water and ice ---- Delicious!!!! Took minutes including the clean up as well. Didn't have all the leftover pulp, used way less veggies and fruit and it yielded enough for extra. My juicer looks a little nervouse :(

Next will be soup :)

Unencumbered

I wrote about if it is broke, fix it on 12-2-12.  I decided that I have to take my own advice.  I started with getting AAA out to jump start my car that I had been procrastinating for 3 weeks.  That was the catlylyst that started a monsoon of projects.
I am ecstatic to say that I am sitting here right now typing, feeling serene, calm and accomplished.  That one act lead to checking off a to do list a mile long.  A couple of highlights were:
getting the house painted (muchhhhh needed), going through every closet,  every cupboard, every drawer and oh yes, wait for it........"the garage"!  Within a matter of four days, I had more stuff to donate to the Salvation Army than they were probably even ready for.  When the "army" came that Saturday, I think they gave me more "salvation" than I gave them :).
I feel liberated, free and yes "unencumbered".  Instead of taking a road trip for our holiday vacation time, we dedicated it to checking off the "to do" list........it was sooooooo worth it.  I am more relaxed and anxiety free than any vacation could of given me.

It is true with so many accomplishments - we all know this in our hearts and souls.  It all starts with one small step.

Take the first step and the possibilities are endless :):)

Take it!

If it is broke, fix it!

Start with the little things that are on your list of things that are broken.  A figurine that needs a piece glued on, a doorknob that needs its screw tightened, your Internet connection that you just need to call the provider to come fix -- the small things will lead to bigger things. Your to do list will start shortening before your eyes and your stress level/tension will start to diminish.

You will probably find that completing these tasks frees up your brain to start accomplishing other, maybe bigger tasks, creative, financial, etc..

Small Steps, Big Things :)

Take the first small step!