Just finished up with the study group. We worked really well together and really got a lot done while having fun. We plan on keeping going.
So this past week was kind of rough for me when it comes to diet. I really gotta get more strict about this. I'm determined to lose this weight! I weighed myself today and I was up about 2 pounds from the last time I weighed myself which was about a week ago.
I got to face the pot luck for the first time since starting all of this, on Friday. I did decent, better than I would have in the past, but I still ate too much. I'm wondering if I'm still paying for that.
I had a few slip ups last week as well but I'm more back on track now. I did really good yesterday and today was OK. We brought snacks for the study group. I think next time I'm going to buy fruit for myself because we had heavier stuff so I'm feeling a bit "heavy" right now.
I'm getting to know how my body feels when I eat good verses when I eat bad. When I eat good everything feels good and I do better when I exercise (run, bike, swim) when I eat junk, I get junk back out and I feel like junk.
I'm really trying hard to stick with this. I'm still at a net loss but I'd like it to be a little more than it is. I'd really like to have a net loss of 5 pounds right now. That would be good.
Now watch, I'll go weigh myself tomorrow or on Tuesday and I'll be down (I hope!)
I have my first test for level II on Tuesday. I'm going to take it Tuesday morning to get it done and over with then Tuesday night I'll do what I call my pseudo speed workout. I'm going to go early to Fleet Feet and do my speed work around a really nice park and then I'm going to get some new shoes and a bra because I need them and it's double points night which this purchase will give me a $25 gift certificate! Yay!! I may use it that night to buy a shirt I've had my eyes on. Not sure yet but we'll see.
I sang in church this weekend. It was fun as always. There's nothing quite like singing love songs to the Lord. He's my everything!
I almost didn't go because I forgot about it with starting school and all but then I told myself that I had to go. It always feels so good to get up and sing songs to the Lord and I feel so much better after letting it all out. It was also nice to reconnect with my choir family and talk to them about our auditions and what is happening in life in general. I really love those guys! A lot!
As always, God is good!
So I did the 44 mile bike ride on Monday. It went 100% better than I expected. I was sore on Tuesday so I rested and then on Wednesday I ran in the morning an easy hilly 3 miler and did a form swim in the afternoon along with weights. Thursday I did my first brick workout (10 mile ride/2 mile run). That was interesting. My legs felt like jello for the first mile of the run. I'm sure it will get easier but the transition from the bike to the run is a lot harder than I thought it was. I'm sure it doesn't help that I'm on a mountain bike either. :)
I did a super easy mtn trail run today of 3 miles. Went a lot better than expected as well. I'm really tired but I had a good week.
Tonight I sing at church. I'm looking forward to it. I'm sad won't be able to make it in June because of a race but it's OK. I'm allowed to miss when I have to. This is the on season anyway.
Went to breakfast after the run and hung out with friends. It was fun. I drank full strength coffee and now I'm wired. I'm wondering how long it's going to last. I think I have maybe an hour or so left and then I'll crash.
The weight loss is going good. I'm down about 5-6 pounds or so and I'm starting to feel it in my clothes which is super cool.
School is going OK. It's very busy but so far with the training and stuff I've been able to keep up with the reading and then studying. Our first test is on Tuesday and I'm a little anxious about it. Mainly because I don't know the kind of questions these teachers are going to throw out at us. Tomorrow I'm getting a small group together to study for the test. I really hope it helps.
Next Saturday I'm going to miss Albuquerque Fit because of the century ride. A friend and I are going to do the 50 mile ride. In a sick way I'm looking forward to it but it's not the actual ride I'm looking forward to right now, it's the food. I hear that when they support a bike ride, they SUPPORT a bike ride (not like a run where you rarely get food on the course). I think running people should take note of this, especially for marathons. Food = good! Yes!!!!!
I got a little massage today. My shoulders were a little sore from my long swim yesterday and now I'm feeling more relaxed. I heart massages. They're good. I'm planning on getting one before I do my next tri on August 1 and I'll probably get another one before I go to Denver since I'm looking to PR. I just hope it works out.
Life is good and all I can do is praise God for it! He is my rock that keeps me going (along with the hubby of course!!!)
What exactly can I do you ask?
Yes!
That's the simple answer.
School is going great so far this semester. You have to realize that it's only been one week though. The material is so much more interesting than last semester and I feel like I'm not being treated like a baby with my hand being held. We're finally being treated like we should be! YEAH!
I can also do the planned 40-44 mile bike ride tomorrow. I'm nervous about this because I've never gone this far before but this is going to be the ride that will determine if I do the 50 mile ride in the Albuquerque Centruy. I hope it all goes well. I'll let you know tomorrow.
I can lose weight! Another huge YEAH! As I was leaving work today, a guy I work with asked me if I had lost weight and I was over the top thrilled! I've lost somewhere about 5 pounds or so and I've been doing it the right way by eating fairly good but at the same time I let myself cheat. I think I let myself cheat a bit much last week but that's all part of the process and I'm new (again) at this so I have to expect some setbacks until this all becomes my normal routine.
And the last part. I can sing. I know I can and I know I can sing at church. I'm determined to do this and I know that if I keep at it I will. I enjoy singing so much. I'm also so thankful for the feedback that I got from my audition. From everything they said it really sounds like my nerves just got the best of me and made me freeze. I'm sure I looked terrified up there! Now my mission is to go out and sing where I can. Probably lots of kareoke because that will be in public with a mic and all that good stuff. Then I'll audition again. I really don't know if I'll audition in July or in October. It all just depends but, I WILL BE BACK and this time I'm going to own my performance and bring my own song to sing on top of what they give us. I just know I can do it with the right amount of work.
That's all.
Good night.
OK, what is happening here? I went for a run this morning. It was supposed to be a super easy 2 mile run out and back from my pad. Yeah, not so much. I felt like I struggled the whole time. I didn't feel super tired or anything. It's just wierd. I feel like I'm back at square one and I'm glad I still have a week and a half or so before I start my training schedule. What gives?!?!?!?!!?!!
This just bothers me how hard this run felt today. Now, about two and a half hours after I finished I feel fine. It's been over a week since my tri so I don't think I can blame it on recovery anymore. That excuse is gone.
I'm so stumped and I feel like the wind has been taken out of my sails. Tonight I am going to go for an easy swim. I need to destress after this run. That and I have a brand spanking new swim suit hanging up in my bathroom that I haven't worn yet. It was my reward for finishing my first tri and doing fairly well.
School is OK so far. I went into yesterday completely prepped for the wrong lecture though so now I'm even more behind in my reading than I planned but it's OK. I'm reading in little spurts here and there to get caught up. I'm expecting to be fully caught up by Thursday night. No worries. Then I can start working on the next lecture.
I felt like such a dum-dum when I showed up though. Luckily the lecture we had yesterday was given to us (the notes) so I wasn't lacking in that part at least. I did read that lecture when I got home and it was so boring! How many different ways are they going to push communication on us?!?!?!?!?!!? OY!
Oh well ,off to school for another full day.
I hope I'm not just getting myself all riled up but I survived the first day. I'm not too sure what to expect. I don't do change too well but I'm glad for the hours that I have anyway. They will work out good. I should find out within the next two or three weeks what my clinical hours will be. I really hope I get days because nights/evenings doesn't finish up until almost 10pm!!!!! That's nuts! I can't do that!
We started off with a lecture today and it was conflict and change. Basically just another way of saying "communication". The lady who lectured was so boring it took all I had to stay awake! At least she cut it short and let us out early.
We are in "the cave". That makes it hard too because it's a small-ish room that is generally dark and today it was very very stuffy. I hope it gets better, the stuffiness that is, otherwise I'm going to go nuts. It's very easy to take a nap in that room. I just has this "come and sleep now" ambiance.
We'll see how it works out.
I'll just keep praying to God to give me the strength to make it through. I know I can trust in Him to get me through this.
I looked at my schedule from this past week and realized that I exercised 6/7 days. The 7th day was when I was at work which does count in some way as exercise since I'm on my feet a lot and doing frequent moderate lifting/pushing/pulling/turning, etc.
So today was a rest day. I slept in until about 0900 which was perfect. The cats actually woke me up this morning which is OK. I love those guys! :-)
So on my "rest" day I cleaned the house. Don't get me wrong, I lounged around in the morning but after that I got tired of just sitting there and got off my butt and cleaned.
I dusted and waxed the dining room table and all 8 chairs. I try to do this (the waxing) about 3 times a year. I also rotated the chairs out to hopefully give them even wear. Oh yeah, before I did that I went on a throwing away spree where I threw away things that I didn't want or need. That always feels good.
After I finished with the table and chairs I cleaned out half the room and vacuumed. Then I put the chairs back, moved the other chairs and random things and vacuumed the other half of the room. Of course I put it all back together and now it looks so nice! I hope it stays this way for a while.
During this time I also had a load of dishes going.
Then I vacuumed the rest of the house and cleaned up the cat box and vacuumed really well around it to get all the excess litter out of the carpet. I know this won't stay this way for long because cats are messy but it always feels good to get it done.
Now I'm resting again.
I have the chicken marinating tonight for dinner and threw some extra in for my lunch tomorrow at work. I also got my protien powder ready for work as well.
Friday was date night so we went to dinner and a movie. While we were waiting for the movie to start we walked around the mall and went into Vitamin World. I've never been in this store but I'm hooked now! The prices on supplements are so much better than GNC and from the reviews I've seen, they are just as good of quality.
I bought this thing called a blender bottle and I LOVE IT!! It's a 20 ounce bottle that has this metal thing in it that represents the springy part of a whisk. You put your stuff in the bottle (for me it's two scoops of protien powder and water) shake and VIOLA! it's all mixed perfectly!!
I had a few not so good meals over the past few days. More than I should have had so I was worried when I stepped on the scale this morning but all was good. With everything I ate, there was only a 0.5 pound difference which in the grand scheme of things, is minimal so I'm very happy about that.
I go back to school on Tuesday so we'll see how this week works out. I'm going in with high hopes. :-)
It's been a very good week for me. Sunday was my race and I worked Monday. Tuesday was a super super easy bike ride in the evening (avg 10.5mph). Wednesday morning I tried my first post tri run and did just 2 miles. Again super super easy. Then I went to Wal Mart, got my oil changed and groceries shopped. Came home and took a nice long nap. I was still tired from everything. Thursday I was going to try to run again but 6am came around and I just turned the alarm clock off. My body was telling me no as was my mind. It said "I hurt please don't do this to me" so I said OK body, I'll be kind to you today. So I slept in until about 0730 then hung around the house all morning getting caught up on laundry and swam a super super easy workout later that day. I also lifted weights. It's Saturday and I'm still sore from that venture. ha!
Friday brought another easy bike ride. It was also our city's bike to work day so we rode down to the train station and got a bunch of goodies and some breakfast. It was really nice. Friday night was also date night so the hubby and I went out for dinner, walked around the mall, and went to see Angels and Deamons. I've read this book before and really liked it so I was psyched about the movie. Since I already knew what was going to happen it kind of took the trill out of it in that aspect but otherwise it was good. Go see it.
I woke up this morning at about 0615 and rolled out of bed about 15 minutes later. I remember hearing on the news that we may get some storms so I wasn't surprised to wake up to wind. Well, the storms are on the other side of the mountain so that is what we have. Wind. Yuck. Luckily on the schedule today was only a 3.3 mile run. Yay! Going up this good hill was pretty bad though because that is when the wind was to our faces. Boooo!!! On the other side of our loop it was good though. Downhill with a tail wind. Talk about a relief! :-)
So that's my week.
I start nursing school again this Tuesday. Everyone is asking me if I'm excited and actually no, I'm not. I really enjoy having the time to spend with my friends and it makes me sad to know that is going away next week. I do know it's not forever and if I didn't do this now, I would never fulfill my dream of being a nurse so it makes it so worth it in many many ways.
The other question I get a lot is how do I manage to train for half marathons, triathlons, go to school full time, and work.
Well first off, I only work one day a week which is Monday and I work at the hospital for about 13 hours (a standard shift) so I know on Monday that I am not doing any working out. I have school on Tues, Wed, Thurs, and Fri but it's a set schedule. This semester I don't have to be at school until 11:30am so it leaves me the most productive part of the day to get my workouts in. Thursday and Friday are clinical days in which I will have to be at the hospital at 0700 but I get out at 2 or 3 (not sure of the exact time for this semester yet) so that leaves me the afternoon to study and get a quick workout in and I mean quick.
So this is what a typical week looks like for me:
Sunday: long bike ride and weights. go home, clean up, study and prepare for my week
Monday: work all day
Tuesday: moderate speed work am, school, right after school to go gym for easy/form swim workout
Wednesday: easy run in am, school, go pickup patient assignment, do care plan and study
Thursday: clinical am, brick workout in pm
Friday: clinical am, long endurance swim pm
Saturday: long run/coach, church pm
So when you look at it, the schedule isn't that bad at all. It leaves an ample amount of time for studying and sleeping. Housework usually gets neglected while I'm in school although I do my best. It just takes some discipline to stick to it but in the end it's really worth every ounce I put into it.
It's easy do do what I do because I LOVE WHAT I DO and I see VALUE in everything around me.
The diet: yes it's getting cleaned up and I'm down a few pounds this week which I'm really happy about. My diet goal is to be 20 pounds lighter for the Chile Harvest Triathlon August 1st. I've started eating smaller meals more frequently and eating like I did when I lost all my weight the first time (no, I haven't gained any back either...I've just maintained for about 5 years now) so my body is falling back into this routine very nicely. I've found that even when I do sit down to a big meal I'm not eating it all because I get full that fast from keeping my metabolism up by eating as frequently as I do.
The pivital point this week was just purging my cabinets of the junk food such as potato chips and stuff like that. It's still not perfect but if I can keep my good clean eating 90% of the time and cheat on say, 3 meals a week (not days!) I'm super happy with that.
So this past Sunday, May 10, 2009 I completed my first ever triathlon. It was such a blast!
I stated the day at about 5am. I wanted to leave the house at 0530 to be at the gate to Kirtland AFB by 0600 when it opened. Goal met. Got through security to get on the base (it wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be), found a place to park and then waited just a few minutes for Denise to catch up.
We got all of our gear out of our cars and headed over to the transition area to get it set up. Valerie joined us while we were setting up.
We decided to go with the rack that would be near the bike transition so we wouldn’t have to run with our bikes that far. I think next year when I do this race I am going to go more toward the back so I don’t have to run as far barefoot for the swim. Ouch!
Surprisingly I wasn’t too anxious while getting everything set up. It was nice getting there so early. The transition area opened up at 0630 and we were some of the first people in so we had our choice of racks. Yay!
Slowly people started to show up from Albuquerque Fit. It was so cool to see so many of us! Some I didn’t even know did tri’s and I found out they have done this tri 11 times!!! Very cool!
We went inside to see if Denise could change categories. No go which was really sucky. After we did that we went to check out the pool so we would know what we were getting ourselves into. The pool wasn’t all that bad. The only tough part is that the lane lines were really pale and the actual lanes were a little more narrow than what I was used to swimming in.
We waited around forever it seemed like! I went and talked to the head ref and asked him what wave I should be in. I didn’t get to start until the 3rd wave which went off at 0840!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It was already hot and I had sweat rolling down my back while waiting to go. I knew that right off the bat this wouldn’t be my best run ever and that I should take it easy and push on the bike and the swim. That’s exactly what I did.
I made the classic mistake of going out too fast on the run but quickly slowed it down. Somewhere around the 1 mile mark I found someone from Albuquerque Fit and ran with them for about a half mile to the water station. I took several walk breaks to this point. I took a little longer walk break at the water station to drink some water (only drank one small Dixie cup……stupid me!) and pour some water over my head. Then I found someone else to run with who was going at a very comfortable pace (for me) and hung out with her for about a half mile to keep myself in check. With less than a mile to go I broke away from her and picked up the pace again all the way to the transition area. I had my eye on a target to pass and I successfully passed her shortly before reaching the turn to the transition area. Yay!
Everything was very clearly and nicely marked with volunteers at all of the turns telling us where to go.
It was funny because on the run a lady passed me and said to me “You’re a swimmer huh?” I asked her if it was that obvious and she just smiles. Now I’m curious why she asked. I’m thinking it’s because of all the walk breaks I took. Ha!
I was not in good running shape for the race so the run was the hardest part for me.
I get to the transition area and am keeping my eye to my left for my orange towel with flowers on it (thanks for the idea of an orange towel Marc! It worked like a charm!) I spot it in no time, put my helmet on, roll my bike off the rack, grab a drink, and I’m out of the transition area in 1:08! Whew! That was a fast transition! I did not change shoes. I have cage pedals on my bike right now.
So I’m off on the bike. The first thing I do is drink the Amino Vital that I have in my water bottle and that I trained with. In training it was great! In racing it didn’t stick with my stomach so well so it was either keep drinking it and get sick or stop drinking it and take my chances. I stopped drinking.
During this time I’m picking up speed and passing people like mad. It felt so good! I was ready and excited for the bike!
The bike is on a Y shaped course so I’m on the first leg of the Y and I’m really picking up speed trying to pass this lady. As soon as I know it, I see the turnaround with a volunteer there and she calls out my number. All I could think is “Oh crap, I hope I didn’t just get a penalty!” I was fairly close to the lady I was trying to pass at this point. Right after the turnaround I stood up, huffed it out, and passed her. Then I missed the turn to get out of the parking lot and had to brake to make it. She passed me right back. J LMAO!!!!!! I ended up staying close behind her for the rest of the ride.
This ride was freakin hilly and I’m so glad that I rode the hills that I did! If I didn’t I would have suffered BAD!
Picture this…………. You’re a rider on a nice road bike when next thing you know it some chick on a PINK mountain bike comes barreling past you like you were standing still. Yeah…that’s me on the mountain bike baby!!!!!!!! I can only imagine what I could do on a real road or tri bike!
We had a little bit of a headwind coming back off of the first leg of the Y. The second leg of the Y was the most hilly! I made awesome time going out on the second leg. There was this one hill that I absolutely flew down! I dropped down as far as I could to gain as much speed as possible. It was so much fun! Of course I had to ride this hill back UP! I managed to stay in my big sprocket in the front but barely! I was so tempted to downshift but I knew I could do it and I just gave it all I had to get up that hill. I managed to pass several people on this hill as well and only got passed once but one I topped the hill I passed that person right back. ZZZOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!!! Hahahahaha!!
I knew that the worst of the hills was over at this point so I just kept going and pushing and pushing. I did have to take a hit off my inhaler after that hill because I put so much into it.
Once I saw the intersection that brought us back home I knew I was set so I just let it rip to the dismount line and passed a few more people here.
Now I’m back at the transition area for my second transition (T2). I put so much effort into the bike that I was in a daze. Scott and Ray and several other people were right by the rack and yelling things at me like “take off your sunglasses” (thanks Scott) and then Ray yelled at me to take my number/skirt off. Thanks Ray! I know there were other people there probably shouting and I’m sorry…those are the only two that I heard.
I knew this transition would be slow because I had to redo my hair to get it under my swim cap. I had done the run and the bike with a low ponytail so I could just put my bike helmet right on but now I had to go to a high ponytail. That took some time. I also drank here although not near the amount I should have.
I slipped my shoes and socks off and power walked it to out of the transition area to the pool. There was no running for me because of my sensitive feet. I remember looking for the rubbery parts where they repaired cracks to walk on. Ha! I bet I was a sight to see.
Yay to the swim! I had been looking forward to this point the whole race. As soon as I get through the door to the pool I put my goggles on and the volunteer race guy was there telling me to get in at that point. I heard people yelling my name. Don’t know exactly who it was but thanks! I couldn’t see anything through my goggles! I was so sweaty when I put them on that they instantly fogged up. That’s why I was concerned that the lane lines were so pale. With foggy goggles they all just blurred together and I guessed as to where I was in the lane. I only had one major snafu (is that a word?) during the swim. I was about 250 meters into the swim and I just couldn’t catch my breath for the best of me so I remembered Marc saying to do the backstroke so I did that for about 20 yards or so. Did the trick just perfect and I was able to finish the last 100 meters feeling very strong and picking up speed.
The swim wasn’t as bad as I had thought it would be. I don’t remember getting passed at all. I wish I would have kept track of all the people I passed though! That was the best part of it all! I felt like I just flew through the swim and it was over before I knew it!
The only major hiccup (other than the backstroke) is I passed this girl doing the breast stroke. I did what I was supposed to do as I approached and I tapped her left ankle. No response. Tapped again. Same thing. Third time I actually put my hand around her ankle. No response and she kept on frog kicking. I was tired of messing with it at this point and sped up to pass her. She just kept on going with her stroke. Note: other people doing the breaststroke that I passed would at least switch to a one legged frog kick and changed their hands so they wouldn’t hit me after I tapped them. This girl didn’t do any of that and actually socked me really good right in my side just as I was overtaking her. So I take my stroke (freestyle) but bring my right hand out from my body during the pull phase of the stroke (very inefficient I know) and wacked her back. Probably not the right thing to do but I tried and tried to tell her I was there and the she wacked me. It hurt! She got me right in my right side just below my ribs!!!
I remember looking up on my last 50 meter lap to spot the ladder I needed to get out at. All I kept thinking is that ladder is coming up and I couldn’t wait to finish my first tri. I came to a ladder at the 25 meter point and thought that was it. I put my head up to spot and realized I still had a little bit to go so I huffed it out to the second ladder and shot right out of the pool, walked very fast to the door with the timing mat and rejoiced that I finished!
There was a guy there who took my chip off my ankle and handed my chip holder back to me then I made it back inside to meet Scott and friends. It was the best feeling ever!!!
My first words when I saw everyone (besides no hugs right now can’t breathe) is “That was fun!!!!!!! When is the next one?!?!?!?!?!”
Then I was asking for my inhaler. You see, I forgot to take my inhaler out of my pocket during T2 so I threw it out before I got into the pool and I really needed it when I finished. Luckily Mike, Val’s husband was there and had his inhaler on him and let me use it (same medicine as the one I have).
Andie was at the pool when I finished so I went over and talked to her and gave her a big hug! I told her thanks for putting this whole tri thing in my head almost 5 years ago! She’s so awesome!
I didn’t place in my category (Athena) but I did come in 5th place! This is the highest I’ve ever finished in any race I’ve been in.
I’m thinking there may be a triathlete in me just waiting to come out! Needless to say that it definitely suits my ADD personality. J
Biggest mistake made during the race: HYDRATION!!! Next time I need to make sure I drink way more fluids than I did! I maybe took in 10 ounces during the whole race. Dumb dumb mistake! For the next one I will keep water and sport beans on my bike and make myself drink all the water.
Biggest mistake during training: not concentrating enough on running. But now that I realize that, I can fix it for my next one.
A major thanks to all the people who supported me though this journey. I wouldn’t have had the experience I did if it weren’t from all the great advice I got!
Here is my official time:
Place Age state Total Run Pace T1 Bike Mph T2 Swim
5 Terie 29 NM 1:38:33.45 34:47 11:36 1:08 49:26 15.1 2:25 10:49
Notice that there is no penalty! Yay!
Wow! I have less than one week until my first ever TRIATHLON!!! I'm super excited about it! I really pray to God that I place in my category (Athena) but if it doesn't happen, that's OK to. I have another tri on my race list this year and this one is in August so I have time to brush up on my mad skillz! ha!
So Saturday was supposed to be an easy day because I did the Run for the Zoo 10k on Sunday. I messed that one up. I ran a super easy 2.5 miles with someone from the running group that I coach. Then I headed off to the West Mesa Pool (LOVE this pool!) for some tri training. The pool opened up to olympic distance (50m) for this weekend only. I HAD to hit the pool because I have never swam a straight 50m in my life and the Jay Benson Tri swim is set up in a pool with a length of 50m. I figured it was a great idea and I'm so glad I did it!
It was so different and I have to admit that I liked it a lot better than the 25 yard pool at the gym I'm used to. Swimming 50m at a time allowed me to fall into a zone and really get into myself. I would equate it to being a lot like running after your warmup. You just get into a zone and GO!. I wish there was a pool that I could swim in like this all the time. Total swim workout distance was 1800m (about 1.1 miles) in about an hour.
So then on Sunday was the 10k race. My goal for this race was not to PR and that's a hard thing for me to usually do. Try not to PR. I'm a competitve person by nature and it's hard for me to not try to do my best. This was an exercise in futility.
It started off looking like I was going to PR. I hit the first mile in 10:35 which is good for me. Then at the second mile things went south. I ate something for breakfast that I never should have and I paid for it dearly. I spent the next 5.2 miles trying to to throw up. It was miserable. I had to walk every quarter to half mile because my stomach would scream at me "Go any more and I will make a fool of you!" Argh!
The good thing that came out of it all is that I hit my goal of NOT PR-ing. I was about a minute slower than my normal overall time so all considering I still did well.
This week is still busy but I'm carefully planning my workouts so that I have some taper time before Jay Benson. The plan is to not exercise at all on Thursday and Friday which will be so hard. I'm not good at sitting around so I figure I'll clean my house up on those days. Saturday I have to coach but I'm not running, instead I will be walking. I was really thinking of cycling down there from home but then I remembered how I felt on Sunday with no taper and decided that would be a bad idea.
Today, Tuesday, I am going to run an easy 3 miles. Wednesday morning I will bike a super easy 15 miles with the emphasis on fast turnover and slow speed. A REAL recovery bike ride.
Wednesday afternoon is my audition day for church. A friend and I got together Sunday afternoon after I had time to rest from the race and get my insides back in order. It was very helpful. I helped her with harmony and she helped me with my solo song. For now I am just auditioning for a feature song which is a solo song. I know how to harmonize but to sing it is wierd to me. I always feel off and am not really confident in my harmonizing skills although after Sunday I'm ready and willing to give it a try. I'm going to let my voice rest for today since I sang for almost 3 hours straight on Sunday and sang for about an hour last night.
I have a lot to be excite for this week so I'm really looking forward to it.
Oh yeah, the other half of my training plan (not counting workouts and rest) includes good nutrition and stretching/yoga/massage to help ease this constant ache I've had in my quads for the past two weeks when I was peaking in training.
So say some prayers for me to do well this week. I could use all the help I can get. I know the Lord wouldn't put me where I am now if He thought I couldn't do it but it's nice to know that I have other people backing me up as well.
God bless!
