Getting back into it....slowly!

Hannah:
Having spent 18hours of Thursday travelling I was too tired to do anything on Friday. So, I slobbed all day and recovered. On Saturday though I felt much better so went for a steady run. I ran for 30minutes. The first 25mins were good, the last 5minutes were a little lung bursting. I feel I have lost some running fitness in the last few weeks.

On Sunday we were out all day with friends so there was little time to train. Today Sophie had a swimming lesson which meant that I got to swim whilst she tried not to drown. I swam for 25minutes. The swim was broken up into..swim a few lengths, watch Sophie, swim a bit more, listen to the enthusiastic swim teacher, swim a bit, watch Sophie refuse to co-operate etc. Still, 25mins is better than nothing.

Not sure what training I will do this week but I know I need to run! For me, running gets me back to fitness far quicker than any other exercise.

Finally recovered

Lorraine:

The cold last week hit me pretty hard - plus the exhaustion from not sleeping all weekend. Altogether I didn't work out at all from Sat-Wed. Then I finally got back (somewhat) in gear:

Thursday: I started slow by doing a weights day, and then just ran a mile on the treadmill.

Friday: I cycled for 35 minutes, medium hard, but of course it felt extremely hard since I was still at the tail end of the cold.

Saturday: nothing! I had a full-day activity planned with the kids, so there was no way to fit in a workout.

Sunday: Definitely the best day in a while. I did a 45-minute spin class, which is always a good workout, then I went directly to the treadmill and ran 5k! I was quite pleased with myself. I did a few interval-like things. I ran the first mile slow, at 6mph, then bumped it up to 7mph for a mile, then back to 6.5 for the last mile, then 6.0 for the 0.2 to make it a full 5k. Anyway, after having done the cycling too I felt pretty proud, and I was sporting a nice red face for a good 20 minutes afterward. Then I took the kids to a sporting goods store to pick out a triathlon outfit. I didn't go for matchy-match because I don't want to look like I think I'm a professional :) so I just got some shorts (black) and a tank/suit top (green/yellow).

Monday: I took my new get-up to swimming this morning. I'm half-pleased. The top is great and felt like a regular swim suit, but I think I made a mistake in going larger on the shorts. I thought it would be a better idea to get longer ones, but now I realize they're actually too roomy and not that great for swimming. I am going to try to exchange them for the next size down...

Anyway, today I did the "new" swim workout - 15 laps (600m, like the course) trying to pop my head up and look forward halfway down the lane as if I'm looking for a buoy, then 10 laps alternating pull buoy and swimming head up/forward, then 10 laps kicking.

I'm feeling back on track except when I realize I'm gone the next two weekends camping! Ack! Hannah, tell me this won't ruin everything!

Oh, and I picked up my bike from the shop finally. Now just to find a time to ride it....

I'm baaaaaack!

Hannah:
I'm back- fitter and leaner than when I went away. There is nothing like a spot of warm weather training to fine tune the muscles!

Yeah right! I'm about 7lbs heavier, less fit, more flabby, but tanned! I ate far too many Moules Frites (Mussels and chips), drank too much wine and did too much lazing....oh well!

I managed a few bike rides with Sophie. I recall a 7miler and an 8miler on my mountain bike, complete with kid seat and 26lb child. We did a few shorter rides too but nothing that got the heart rate up. As far as running went, I did a lot of chasing a child along the beach. Swimming was a no no as there wasn't anyone to watch Sophie.

It was a great holiday though and I feel very rested. Back to it tomorrow...maybe!

Oh dear me...

Lorraine:

Last week went great - Thursday I cycled pretty hard for 30 minutes and then ran for 15. Friday I attended a 45-minute spinning class and then ran a mile after that (not enough time to do more) but I did the mile at a much higher speed than I normally would, so it felt like a good challenge. Then came the weekend! Friday night I left on a red-eye flight over to New York to attend a wedding. I had zero sleep that night, then was at a wedding, reception, and after party all day Saturday (let's just say I may have overindulged a bit) and then up Sunday for another full day on a plane and hanging out at airports - I got home just after midnight last night. So for the weekend I had no sleep and no exercise! Plus I managed to catch a cold. I hope to get back on track first thing tomorrow morning....

Missing Hannah!

Lorraine:

So I have to warn the very few people who might read this blog - Hannah is off for TWO WEEKS on vacation without internet access. I know, such a thing is imaginable in some ways ;) So we won't have any idea what she's doing with training until she gets back and posts a 10-page summary. Until then you're stuck with me.

Yesterday I went swimming and thank goodness for Hannah (my personal triathlon coach) had some new things to work on. She pointed out that swimming in a large lake is somewhat....different...than swimming in a small clean pool. Basically that I need to be prepared to lift my head out a lot to check that I'm on track. I can guarantee you that had I arrived on triathlon day without thinking of this, I would have been found somewhere out in the middle of the lake 30 minutes later. So I did as Hannah suggested - every three to four strokes I lifted my head forward as if checking for buoys. Then after doing my 600m, instead of doing 10 laps with a pull buoy, I did 10 laps alternating pull buoy and then swimming a lap entirely with my head up. Certainly took me back to my lifeguard days! I definitely found it harder and am glad I'm getting the practice. It also took a bit longer so I wasn't able to do my last (10th) lap with the kickboard before I had to hop out to let the next person in at 30 minutes. Alas....

Today was, of course, "Wednesday Weights Day." I've found I am able to comfortably do more weights on several but I still have pretty puny arms. I did a bit of ab stuff but there were a few people on the mat and I didn't want to crowd so I skipped the last part. Oh well!

I think tomorrow I might try another Hannah suggestion, running on the treadmill with it set to a hill. Sounds....um....fun.

Slow weekend

Lorraine:

Hmm, where did I leave off? Let's see. Last Friday I did nothin' as my break day for the week. Or so I thought, as I ended up taking another one. Saturday I did a spinning class, which was pretty good - speed work, which I tend to dislike, so it was really good for me. Unfortunately I wasn't able to run afterwards because of the new timing of the kiddos' swim class - we had to rush right off. Sunday I had to drive for 7 hours (!!) to pick up the big one from her grandmother's and just couldn't fit anything else in that day. I did manage to eat two cookies and a slice of lemon tart though, which is an entirely different type of exercising. Today I snoozed for an entire SEVEN minutes after my 4:50am alarm and therefore could not go swimming (tight schedule to make sure I get a lane!) so I went and ran around the lake. I saw an adorable fluffy/gangly Canada goose baby snacking with its parents. Other highlights included a Dachsund in a stroller. Ahem.

Last week of proper training

Hannah:
Last week was my last proper week of training. Sophie is now on her summer vacation so trips to the gym are limited. Training wise, I didn't really make the most of the last week. On Tuesday I did a bike session, I rode hard for 20km and then rounded my time up to an hour. It was a good bike session. Wednesday was the last day of school so a few other mums and I met for an 'end of term' coffee.

On Saturday Sophie took part in a local 1 mile fun run. Both John and I ran with her and I have to say, she did really well. The run was flat for the first half mile and then a steep down hill for the last half mile. It was probably a little short in distance as she ran it in 13minutes! She did run the whole way (her choice) and looked thoroughly knackered at the end!

Today (Sunday) I went for a gentle run. I ran for about 35mins and really enjoyed it. I spent the afternoon servicing my mountain bike and adding the child seat to the back. Sophie was insistent on trying it out so we rode round the village several times...my legs were wobbly with the effort, but.... that was my first outing on the bike in a few years! I plan on cycling rather a lot in the next few weeks whilst on holiday.

Today, I....

Lorraine:

Today I was feeling verrrrrrrrrrry tired, so I dragged myself and the bags under my eyes to the gym, grabbed a magazine, and did the bike for 38 minutes. I did manage to get nice and sweaty but I can't say I pushed myself extremely hard!



Tomorrow I plan to have an off day. This weekend might be a challenge as I'll be driving 6 hours to pick up and bring Amelia home again, so you may have to get me back on track Hannah. Except (gasp!) you're going on vacation! What will I dooooooooooooooo???

What to wear!

Hannah:

There are a number of different clothing options for taking part in a triathlon.

You can wear a swim suit for the whole thing. Some cossies have built in support and a padded gusset for that all important protection!

Then there is the crop top and cycle short combination...be prepared to show off the 6 pack.

A tri-suit is like a swimming costume with build in cycle shorts. They tend to have added support and the padded section. There are pockets on the back for candy! Quite practical...never dared wear one though!

Just wear the same suit for the whole race. You can use a race belt to pin your number on so that you don't have to swim with your number pinned on. If you are wearing a wetsuit then you can pin your number onto your swim suit. As you come out of the swim start peeling your wetsuit off to the waist, as you come into transition area remove the rest of it. Put on your bike helmet (whilst treading your wetsuit off) and then your cycle shoes. In the last 100yards of the bike take your feet out of your bike shoes...keep the shoes clipped in though, this requires some practise. You will leap off your bike and then run bare foot into transition. Rack your bike, remove helmet, put on running shoes and go!

Wardrobe!

Lorraine:
Let's talk triathlon wardrobe. What will you be wearing Hannah? I recently heard about the existence of something called a "triathlon suit" - it appears to be a quick-drying tank w/sports bra built in a quick drying shorts, and you wear that to swim, bike, and run. Seems like a good plan. And then there's no shoes, bike shoes, then running shoes. What is your plan? I haven't gotten very far down this path....

Hmm, that ticker is looking worrisome!

Lorraine:
The ticker showing how many days left used to look quite large and now it certainly doesn't!

Yesterday I ran around the lake in the morning - the only difference to note is that I was able to pick up the pace at the end, which is completely not my style. Of course then I was panting for minutes afterward. I do think I run faster outside than the pace I set on a treadmill.

Today was weights day in the gym, and I was able to increase the weights on the things that are typically the toughest for me. Yay! I'm not there to build huge bulging muscles :) but my arms tend to be quite a bit weaker proportionally.

A big moment!

Lorraine:
The big moment I'm referring to is actually taking my bike out of the basement. More on that later, first a quick recap on exercise activities over the past few days.

Wed - typical weights workout, mostly arms but some legs and abs. Why must it be so cold in the mornings?

Thur - Nothing! Gasp!

Fri - This was a public holiday in the US, so I went with the kids to the gym in the midmorning. I was excited to have a bit more time than usual, and I planned to do a bit on the bike and then a bit of a run. As I was settling my stuff onto an exercise bike, I heard a distinct squawking sound and realized that a spinning class was going. Although I was 10 minutes late, I managed to skulk my way into the back of the class. See, I know that I'll get a more intense cycling workout in a spinning class than by myself on a bike with a magazine! Anyway, it was an instructor I'd never had before and she was doing a full-class hills workout. It was a great workout. I did the cool down leg stretches with the class, dripping with sweat, then headed over to the treadmill and ran for 2 miles. I was pretty proud of myself! The most impressive part to me was that I felt really quite comfortable running the entire time - not out of breath at all, not tired. I wanted to go 3 miles so it would be more like a 5k, but keeping an eye on the clock I knew I was running up against the gym daycare time limit. I was wondering if the workout feeling so good was mostly about just increasing fitness, or also partly because I usually work out at the crack of dawn and the 10am hour is much nicer!

Sat - The spinning instructor was doing the companion flats/sprinting class on Saturday, so again I hauled the children to the gym and did the full class this time - it was about 50 minutes. It was actually harder for me than the hills workout, since I typically really like hills and hate sprinting. Another thing I need an instructor to make me do. After that I only had time to run for 1 mile due to the gym daycare time limit, but still a pretty good showing for two days.

Sun - I had to take Amelia down to Oregon to meet halfway with my mom - she's spending a week at my mom's house. This is a 3-hour drive each way to the meeting spot, and a 6-hour drive in total for each of us. This left me with no time for a workout, but in the afternoon after Oliver's nap I strapped him on my back in the Ergo (which I continue to love), grabbed my very flat bike, and headed off for a 45-minute walk to the bike store to drop it off for a much-needed tune-up and new tires. Shockingly it won't be ready until July 22 (!!) due to a local huge bike race that's happening - all the other local bike stores are the same. So I really won't be able to get on my bike until a couple of weeks before the triathlon! I'll keep up with the indoor stuff, but I know it's not ideal. Probably should have done this errand earlier! Anyway, no official workout but it was a long walk there and back in the sun with my 32-lb toddler on my back.

Mon - today is swimming day, not to be boring or monotonous or anything. I did the same 30 minute workout as always. I have noticed it's getting a bit faster, so I'm left with 2 extra minutes of kickboarding at the end. Which I need - my kicking isn't the best!

My race in the rain!

Hannah:
I awoke this morning to a downpour, the wind was blowing and the rain was falling. We made our way to the race venue with the rain still coming down. We decided to stay in the car as long as possible so that we didn't get too wet. Eventually we thought we'd brave the rain, we were greeted by a lovely cold shower. I went to the start whilst John and Sophie went back to the car.

The race was part of the 'Race for Life' series in the UK. Each race is 5km long and open to women only. Women can walk, jog or run the course. All the proceeds go to the Cancer Research charity. Today there were 2500 shivering wet women taking part. Each competitor has to wear a race number. There is also an option of wearing a bright pink sign on your back naming the people you are running for. It is very emotional reading the pink signs. Today I ran with the name of 'Seth' on my back, a 12 month old boy who has recently been diagnosed with cancer. Putting the pink sign on my back with Seth's name on it was heartbreaking.

There was a minute of silence at the start and then a countdown began. The crowd and competitors provided a great atmosphere during the countdown. The klaxon then sounded and we were off.

I set off quite fast, as I felt good. I splashed my way through the fields still feeling good. We then hit 4km, I then started to feel a little tired, my lungs were hurting, my legs were cold and the rain was beginning to annoy me. I focused on the girl in front and caught her up. With 500yards to go I started my run for home, the girl I'd caught was still on my shoulder..she was very young so I let her pass as we crossed the finish line. I finished in the top 10 with a time that I am quite happy with- 23:05. I'm rather pleased with myself!

The last few days

Hannah:
On Tuesday I woke with sore legs from my speed session so I decided to ride the bike at the gym. I did a slow 20km followed by an even slower spin to round my bike time up to an hour. I then swam for a bit by plodding up and down the pool. I lacked the energy that day!

I ran for 30mins on the treadmill on Wednesday. It was sooooo hot in the gym that I sweating buckets after about 2mins. Feeling quite self conscious of the fact I was running on water, I slowed down...didn't help really! I had a quick swim afterwards where I actually felt like I was making some progress in the pool. I felt strong and my stroke was decent!

Today I had a coffee with some of the other mums in Sophie's class. We then went into the gym together where I ran a good 30minutes. I felt quite good though a little hot again! We warmed down with another coffee!

This weekend I am running a 5km charity run (Race for Life again). I would quite like to run a fastish (for me) time. I'm looking forward to it a lot.

Long delicious weekend

First a quick note - last Wed I did a gym/weights day, mostly arms but some legs. Then Thursday since it was the start of vacation I did nothing, as in nothing. Mary and I headed off for the San Juan islands that afternoon for a lovely kid-free (at their grandparents) weekend for my birthday! Woo hoo! I can't decide if I should be apologizing to my training schedule for taking two of the days totally off (Thurs and Sun) or boasting about the other two very active days. One thing is certain - it was a huge boost to my training to get on a real bike, in the real out-of-doors. I've even gone so far as to drag the bike out of the basement! I think it needs a real tune up though after 6 years of inactivity....

Friday we borrowed the B&B's bikes and went for a 18 mile round trip bike ride, which was really lovely and would have been even more so if one of the bikes hadn't been far too short and constantly shifting itself. There were some middle-sized hills, but we made it to our destination of awesome views and had a nice break by the water reading a travel book. Then we made it back for a light lunch and then went on a 3-hour kayak excursion! We were lucky enough to be the only two in the group, so we moved at quite a clip (and had quite sore arms!) - so much so that we had an extra 45 minutes, so we stopped on a tiny island and hiked around the perimeter. Very pretty. It was our first time ever kayaking together!

Saturday was quite a big day as I was determined to circumnavigate the island despite having done one bike ride together (the previous day) in six years. So we headed off to a bike rental place and rented road bikes that actually fit us, packed the bags with a book, some coats we would never need, and a few snacks, and headed off. The loop around the island with a couple of short detours was about 35 miles - long story short we made it! There were some big hills but overall it was a lovely ride. So much fun to do something active together like that! Then we collapsed and didn't move a muscle unnecessarily on Sunday.

Monday I did my usual morning swim, and today I went for a run around the lake (3mi). Back to routine!