Tonight I'm getting back on track and doing a 40 minute swim at the YMCA. I spent much of the evening cleaning my car, the apartment, and tidying everything up for the English exchange chaperone who will be staying with us for 10 days. I hope she likes to exercise (or sleep in so I can exercise while she is sleeping!). I am looking forward to the beautiful weekend and getting outside for some runs! This time the weather better stay because this rain has really cut into my motivation.

Another Rest Day?

Tonight was supposed to be my long/easy 6 mile run, but since it was a hurricane outside that didn't happen. So, I was going to try to fit in a swim at the pool after a little nap, but the nap ended up lasting until 9. I missed my swim and run, but it seemed like my body was just saying it needed a rest (and yesterday wasn't enough!). I'm going to push forward tomorrow and get back on track. The good thing is that I have an extra rest day built into the week--I just ended up taking it earlier than I would have liked!

P.S. What motivates you to run in the rain (esp. cold rain)???

Resting with "Water-Lilies"

Last week was a pretty solid week in terms of getting in my workouts. I only missed one short swim workout. I'm disappointed that I did, but I am also satisfied that I got in all my long/intense workouts. This week is a lighter week (a slight recovery if you will), so today is actually a rest day. It really is the perfect day for a rest too--it is so gloomy and dreary outside. But to brighten my day I decided to look at one of my favorite paintings: Monet's "Water-lilies". I am drawn to this image because of the beautfiul colors and soft lines. It is peaceful and serene.

Running Uphill

Today I had to do an 8 mile run and it was one of the more difficult workouts I've done so far. I also had to wait until later in the afternoon for the weather to warm up a bit. I managed to finish the whole run, but I was really hurting! I tried to keep myself entertained with brainstorming for the week, etc., but I felt every hill and there were a lot of hills today...


"Somewhere in the world someone is training when you are not. When you race him, he will win."
- Tom Fleming's Boston Marathon training sign on his wall

Early Morning Workout Check, Now I Have The Whole Day Ahead!

Saturday morning tri-swim is a great thing for me physically, but it is an emotional struggle to get up at 6AM after a long week of work. I had my usual internal debate for about 20 minutes and then finally made myself go to the workout. After swimming for about an hour, I completed spinning class. Now it is 10 AM and I have the whole day to look forward to! I am feeling energized and ready to enjoy Saturday!

P.S. I had a multi-grain bagel with maple raisin walnut cream cheese after my workout and it was super delicious!

Running after Work

I fit in my 4 mile run tonight after taking a little nap again. I love that it is light until about 7 now because it allows me to get in those later workouts. I am pushing my 30 minute swim up to Sunday because I just needed to relax after my run. It felt pretty comfortable, but it was deceptively cold outside! What happened to the 50 degree days? Tonight it is supposed to drop to 11! Icky. I am ready for spring.

Long Swim

Last night was a long swim workout and I ended up completing it in between 8-9:30PM because I took a long nap right after school. Again, my theory is that at least I am getting the workout done! I swam 50 laps: 5 minute warmup, 10 X 200s (building on speed for each 200), and a 10 minute cool down. By the time I arrived home, I was too exhausted to blog, so here I am blogging during my Tech PLC at school :) Tonight I'm off to Quest yoga for a relaxing stretch!

Tip: The later swimming is really great because the pool is empty so you don't have to share the lane!

Treadmill Training

Tonight was a treadmill night...I know I was supposed to be at the GSRT track practice, but the rain was so cold! I actually enjoy running in the rain--if it is warm rain. Anyway, I took a little catnap and then headed to the YMCA for an evening treadmill workout. It was nothing special, but I got it done and that is what matters!

I wish I could get the miles done like in this cartoon, but it does not quite work that way ;)

Biking the Mooseman Course

Yesterday I did not even have time to blog because it was such a busy day! I woke up at 8 AM and drove up to Bristol, NH to meet up with Melissa. We got our bikes ready and set out for our first ride of the season. I was doing my first ride on my new bike! The major challenge of this course is Devil's Hill which is a steep climb right at the beginning of the course. I had only done this ride one other time and on that ride I tipped right over on the hill and had to walk up the rest of the way. This time was the exact opposite! My improved strength, bike, and skill took me up to the top of Devil's Hill with no fall and no walking. It was a major feeling of accomplishment to get up that hill. For the rest of the ride (27 miles!) Melissa and I had a leisurely ride and chatted. It was a bit chilly in the morning, but we warmed up quickly during the ride. After the ride, I had to drive back to Concord and work at Hermanos until 10 PM. So, I was just a bit exhausted by the time I got home! I really enjoyed the ride though and am glad my new bike handled so well. The course is a very pretty ride around Newfound Lake and I highly recommend it if you are looking for a challenging ride.

The Hills of Pain

This morning was a challenge to say the least. I had an internal battle about going to tri-swim at 6:30AM for about 15 minutes, but my motivated self finally made me go. I had a good swim and then went for a 6 mile run before working a day shift at Hermanos. My quads killed me for awhile at work, but I persevered. I am looking forward to getting out on the new bike tomorrow with Melissa! We are going to hit up the Mooseman course if the weather cooperates.

The Bike Has Arrived!

After waiting patiently for three weeks, my beautiful new FELT bicycle has arrived! I got it fitted at Revolution Cyclery and Herb did a great job! I rode the bike home and in that short amount of time I noticed a huge difference :) I can't wait to get out and enjoy the beautiful weekend.

A Little Jog

It was another gorgeous afternoon--perfect for an easy 5 mile run. I definitely prefer the long/steady runs over the track workouts. My body just does not like to go fast! I finished the day with a yoga class at Quest, which really gave me an opportunity to unwind and assess my life.


Favorite Yoga Pose for the Evening: Double-Pigeon (painful but effective!)

Late Workout

After dragging myself back to work today, I took a much needed nap after. Due to this little catnap, I missed spin class and had to do my own spin workout followed by a long/steady swim. So I defaulted to my cycling podcast and got through a decent workout with that. Then, I completed 40 laps in the pool. Now, I have a little time to relax and then it is time for bed.

Swimming Tip: The YMCA is VERY quiet at 8:15 PM--so if you like not having to share lanes, I highly recommend this time slot.

1st GSRT Track Practice

Tonight I had the opportunity to join the Granite State Racing Team at Memorial Field in Concord for an evening practice. It was definitely a challenge for me because I tend to be a slow/steady runner. The pressure of running faster on a track is a challenge; nonetheless, I did enjoy how I felt afterwards! Practice consisted of a warmup, 1 X 800 (with bounds), 4 X 400s (with 400 easy in between each) and we finished with an 800 at half marathon pace. It was a perfect evening for a run. Now, I feel ready to take on tomorrow!

10 X 200s = Intense Workout

The swim workout today consisted of a 5 minute warmup, 10 X 200s (building speed on each 200) and finishing up with a 10 minute cool down. All of this added up to a whopping 50 laps! I am a little tired from all that swimming, but I survived and will certainly try not to neglect my swim workout this week! My fastest 200 was 3:20, which didn't seem to shabby for me. I can work on it for future workouts! I am seriously ready for a nap now :)

Rainy Day Blues

This picture is the perfect representation of the weather today. It is really cold, cloudy, and rainy. I am glad that I did my long run yesterday and ended up spinning inside today. I did not complete a swim workout this weekend, but I plan on jumping right into that part of training tomorrow. S2 has a intense workout planned for me, so hopefully I won't wear myself out too much at Hermanos tonight. Rain, Rain, Go Away!

Tip: If life gets in the way of your workouts just push more the next week. I had a really tough time last week, so the swimming portion of my workout suffered (on a positive note though, I did not miss a single day of working out!). I am not going to get upset about it--I'm just going to work harder starting tomorrow!

Windy March Day

I was unable to wake up early for tri-swim today :( But once I finally did get up, I went for a 6 mile run in Concord. I like to run Auburn Street to Little Pond Road to Fisk Road and then back on Hopkinton Road into Concord. It is a hilly run, but very pretty. Today it was chilly and cloudy, so I had to bundle up. My heart rate seemed to be up higher today (Average of 162), but that may be due to stress. The run served to reduce some of that stress anyway. I have to see this latest change as something that will ultimately make me happier. I did a lot of thinking during my run and that is one of the reasons that I like running. It is a way to gather thoughts and find a focus. I am so grateful for all my friends and family who are sending positive vibes my way!

Later in the day, Mark and I went to meet Crystal in Portsmouth for lunch. That is why I have included a picture of Portsmouth in this blog today. I love everything about Portsmouth and wish I could spend more time there (especially when it gets warmer!).

Changes on the Horizon

Well today is my rest day--it just happens to be on a day where I could really use some physical exercise. I really enjoy this job, but something just isn't syncing.

Anyway, I am trying to grab some of the positive energy from yoga class last night and move forward.

4 Miles at 4 AM

With another round of parent-teacher conferences on the agenda, I knew I'd have to get my run in early today. So, I laced up my running shoes and set off for an early morning "easy" 4 mile run. The main challenge (for me) on the early runs is making sure I don't trip on objects in the dark. This limits my running route to mainly downtown where it is well-lit. This, of course, is also important for safety. I think I probably should get some reflective gear to avoid becoming road kill! Anyway, it was cooler than I would have liked this morning, but I survived the chill and made it home in time to quickly prepare for the day.

Currently, I am in between conferences and I can't wait to be done with school so I can to go to yoga class at Quest.

I Strongly Dislike My Alarm

This morning I had an argument with myself about why I did not want to get up and go to Planet Fitness for a 45 minute ride on the stationary bike. Luckily, I did finally drag myself there. I used another podcast that had a cycling instructor giving instructions, which was somewhat motivational--although a real person is much better!

Parent-teacher conferences ran over a bit tonight so I could not get to the YMCA for my swim workout and I feel really guilty because it is the first part of my workout plan that I missed this week :( Hopefully I can fit it in somewhere, but I am finding that I am insanely busy this week with conferences, meetings, etc. I hate when work gets in the way of life!

Speed Play

Frequently, I put stars or stickers on excellent student work. I feel that tonight I earned my own star for sticking to my run workout even though it was dark outside and I was tired from a long workshop day. I did a mixed easy, steady, fast workout also known as fartlek.

"Derived from the Swedish term that means ‘Speed Play’, fartlek can provide an excellent endurance and strength session, as well as help improve your speed and race awareness. Fart=speed and lek=play

The use of 'fartlek' came about to provide a less structured approach to that of interval training. Its origins and use were developed in the 1930's. Whereas, in interval training the structure prescribes a given distance run in a given time with a given rest, fartlek's approach is to have you run at a given time, 2 minutes for example over undulating terrain or flat wherever your run may take you. The effort prescribed can be at 10k race pace to whatever speed you wish to make your effort. The rest in-between is normally at an easy pace to allow recovery before the next effort.

The intensity, duration and terrain is determined by the runner. Fartlek can be used on all terrains, even on a track surface."

So after my three mile run, I am going to sleep well knowing that I've put in my all for the day!

Exercise = Great Stress Relief

My initial thought regarding a late evening swim workout was ick! However, as my day got progressively worse (thanks to the wonderful world of teaching/education system), I actually started to look forward to jumping into the pool and focusing on my workout and nothing else. So at 8:00, I did just that. I warmed up with 5 minutes of steady/easy swimming, followed by 15 X100s at an average of about 1:48 per 100 yards, and finished with a 20 minute steady swim. The grand total was 50 laps ( over a mile!) and the stress of my lousy day was erased (at least for now).

Now I can go to sleep and face the other junk tomorrow. "After all ... tomorrow is another day." (quote from my favorite movie of all time...Can you guess what it is?)

Sunny Days Make Me Happy!!!

I just got back from a 6 mile run and I feel fantastic! It was 55 degrees and sunny, which made the run that much better. As I was running, I thought about sources of inspiration. My newest source of inspiration is joining the S2 group. Although I am relatively new to the group, I am so inspired by all the incredible things that the team members have accomplished. One just won the snowshoe nationals, many are winning their age groups in runs, bike races, and triathlons. These people are phenomenal athletes and just fun to be around! I hope that I will be able to accomplish a tiny fraction of what these athletes have done...

Running Tip: Download free podcasts from ITunes for long runs. I am a fan of PodRunner because it does the BPM to keep the runner focused on his/her heart rate.

Spring is Approaching!

When I woke up at 6 AM for swim practice today it was already a beautiful day! I completed my tri-swim practice and followed that up with a 60 minute spin class. I really wanted to get outside and run, but I had to work a shift at Hermanos during the day. However, I did get out of work early and am looking forward to a nice walk outside. Tomorrow will be another awesome day, so I plan on getting outside for my run!

Hurry up spring! I am ready!

Rest Day!

Friday is my rest day and I certainly need it! I am slowly moving through my day at school and looking forward to a nap when I get home. Today there are no club meetings, conferences, or anything else.... Every now and then (or once a week, according to S2!) I need to give my body a rest. I fully intend on enjoying that suggestion :)

Cloudy with a Side of Rain

I basked in the opportunity to sleep in until 5:30 today. I knew that I would complete my workout later in the day, so I slept very well. Today was a rather dreary day; therefore, I had to do my run workout on the treadmill. I have to say the speed intervals were my least favorite workout so far this week! But I did burn 500+ calories--that is a plus I guess!
Tonight I had S2 yoga class at Quest Yoga Studio in Chichester, NH. I LOVE this class! I stretched, restored, and relaxed. The final relaxation pose at the end made the rest of the day disappear and I left feeling so much better than when I arrived. Tomorrow is my rest day and it is nice going into that after completing a great yoga class.

Namaste.

Nap, Swim, & Spin

Today I completed my workout in the afternoon following school. However, a little cat nap was necessary to get through the workout. After a brief period of relaxation, I completed a 30 minute steady swim followed by an easy 45 minute spinning/stationary bike routine.
During the swim, I recalled my experiences in 8th grade Phys Ed. class. I was an overweight, out-of-shape teen who could not stand swimming in gym class! The 20-minute swim was my own personal hell due to exercise induced asthma (aka out of shape and couldn't breathe) and my embarrassment from wearing a bathing suit. In contrast, today I loved being in the pool! I glided along with strong form and alternating breathing. It is wonderful to feel the accomplishment of coming so far and to know that I am in better shape at age 28 than I was at 13!

Swimming Etiquette Tip: If you are finished swimming, it is not polite to stand in a cluster with other swimmers still trying to complete their workout! I actually had to ask a group of people today if they were going to start swimming or get out of the pool because I could not reach the end of the lane to push off. Arghhh.

50 Degrees is the Perfect Running Temp

Waking up at 4:00 AM was just not happening today. My body was sore from swimming and working at the restaurant last night. I climbed back into bed and decided sleep was more important. I would run later in the day. This was an excellent decision since it was 50 degrees (my favorite running temp) and still light out. I laced up my Asics, downloaded an aerobic podcast, and headed out for a relaxing 40 minute moderate-paced run. It was such a lovely afternoon and I enjoyed breathing in the fresh, crisp air. The experience reminded me of college afternoons where I used to run a few miles just to decompress. I was able to brainstorm for school and go over plans for the next day. I arrived at the apartment full of energy and ready to enjoy the evening.

Helpful Tip: If you have really narrow feet like I do, check out Asics running shoes. They are super comfortable! I put a picture of mine in this blog.

Day One!

Today I woke up at 5:30 (I got to sleep in because it was a professional development day!) and eagerly put on my swim gear and warmups. With groggy anticipation, I drove to the Concord YMCA for a 50 minute swim. I did an easy warmup (5 minutes), followed by 10 X 100s (timed with the hr monitor) and then finished the workout with a steady swim. I felt fantastic! Day 1 was a success--94 days to go!

I have enlisted the coaching of S2 to prep for the Big Lake half and the Mooseman and his enthusiastic attitude is inspiring.

This is my blog...I don't know how it will turn out, but at the very least it is a record of my journey...

Please comment if you have any suggestions, thoughts, or stories to share!