Today is one those "off" days on Planet Daycare when no one wants to nap when they are supposed to and everyone is not acting their normal selves. There is no rhyme or reason to the schedule. I am grateful my moods are not off today and hormonal levels normal so I can handle it. April is a hard month with zero time off.
I have done pretty good with keeping up with exercising despite everything. I am pretty behind on logging it here. The week of April 10th--I can't remember but I think I went to Ride on that Monday, Power on Tuesday, swim on Wednesday, off on Thursday, ran Friday late afternoon, and did an awesome 22 mile ride along River Road and back on Saturday, and then a short 3 1/2 mile run Sunday evening. Last week was different as I did only one early morning, but I managed to get five workouts in. On Monday last week I had planned to go to Ride but was super tired from the weekend so I took the day off from exercise. I ran Tuesday late afternoon instead of going to Power. I did get to swim on Wednesday. I wanted to go to Power on Thursday but skipped out. Wednesday was a very long and somewhat stressful day. On Friday afternoon I rode the indoor bike. My bike is currently in the bike shop getting a tune up and some other work done. Saturday morning I went to Group Ride. On Sunday I ran a little over five miles and it was terrible. I felt fatigued all over and I could not breathe. I was overdressed and the humidity was high in the air--my body is not used to it. I pushed myself to get five miles in and it was tough. I redeemed myself with a better run Monday morning with Tracy. I got 4 miles in. On Tuesday I went to Power with her. Yesterday we swam. Today was a day off.
I am figuring on doing Deschutes Dash in July though I have not signed up yet. I want to bike this weekend but he's not done with my bike yet. So it might be indoor cycling again.
I have taken better care of myself. I started counting calories again this week and laying off the junk. I made myself a chart to try and do the following each day 1) very short yoga session with foam rolling and stretching--15 or so minutes 2) work on Bible Study 3) daily cleaning jobs based on a schedule I made years ago and don't always stick to 4) read for fun 5) play guitar This on top of a weekly to do list which has tasks based on my job/church/Banner/whatever else. I am not being perfectionist about it. On Monday I only hit one of the five, but yesterday I made four. Guitar is somewhat on hold right now, but my intention is to pick it back up again soon. I have too much going on right now. All in all I feel like I am taking better care of me. I think sometimes we think taking care of ourselves is spa days, buying things, and getting away from our kids. That has its place and we do need that. I am referring to the day to day things--eating good, spending time doing hobbies, keeping the house in a state where it does create anxiety. Stretching and yoga is good to maintain my stress level and also help with my IT band issues. My right ankle and now right knee hurt from time to time and it might all be related to the IT band.
I have found one of my biggest issues is simply getting started. I stall, do something unrelated, or give myself permission NOT to do something I should be doing. This happens when I sit down to work on my Bible Study, write an article, even read a book, go running with the kids. I think it's just a fear that it won't go well, it will not be enjoyable, I won't be able to focus, or that I just don't want to put forth the effort. Once I start going I get into it and I feel great. I have been making myself really aware of this and it helps tackle it. I had this with running and later swimming and still biking for many many years and I don't anymore with running and not much with swimming. I don't fear running except the super long runs with marathon training...but even so I never skip them. It helps tremendously just being aware of this. I can live my life a little more intentional. I see this in some of my kids too--their anxiety about starting something. It is easier to gravitate towards something that is easier. I want them to conquer the challenges even if it means they fail. I remember talking to my teacher my Indonesia back in February and I told him one thing I learned in Indonesia that it is OK to fail if you tried and gave it your best effort. Whenever you start something for the first time, it is going to be rough. My first run was painful. My first time swimming Wednesday mornings was embarrassing. My first open water swim was even more embarrassing. My first time biking in clips on the road was scary. My first article I wrote for the Banner was bad...thankfully I had a good proof reader that helped me turn it into a good article. My first year of child care was exhausting and I could barely handle two kids. I am giving myself grace and acceptance yet challenging myself at the same time.
Thursday, April 28, 2016
Sunday, April 10, 2016
Beaver Freezer and back to training
I have not updated in awhile and also have not blogged about Beaver Freezer. First last week...
I swam Wednesday morning and it was a normal workout. I felt faster and ready for Freezer. On Thursday I rested and slept until 6:30. On Friday I hoped to go to Ride but coming home from Bible Study at 9...and just feeling drained and tired--I could not do it. I figured the extra race before Freezer was not a bad thing. We had leftover enchiladas for dinner and watched The Amazing Race. I had a Diet Mountain Dew with dinner (around 8 PM) which was a mistake...I realized that later. Rob & I watched 20/20 around 10 and I fell asleep during it. I didn't have to get up too early for Freezer...just after 6 AM. Which is actually later than I get up for Power, Swim & Ride--honestly it felt a little like sleeping in!
Then I finally went to bed after 20/20 was over...around 11...I was not tired. Then Rob & I got in this conversation about my work schedule (which is pretty intense right now and the most hours I have ever done) and the demands of my business on top of everything else. The conversation really turned on all the anxiety that was already there about the race. Then I really couldn't sleep. It took A LONG time before I fell asleep. I stopped looking at the clock. I am guessing close to 2 AM. Rob putting on a second Seinfeld episode finally lulled me to sleep. I woke up at 5:30 and slept another half hour until I really got up.
I wasn't overly nervous for Freezer. I had done it before. I had trained really well. The biking still makes me anxious a bit, but it was only 12 miles and only one big hill. The weather was supposed to be warm and sunny and that would help a lot. I met my friend at the carpool lot at 7 AM and we made it to OSU on time. We were in back to back swim waves. I swam at 9:50 AM. I was overly confident going into the swim. I timed myself a few weeks back and I was around 11 minutes. Looking back I am not sure how accurate that is. The swim timer clock was broken so I was using the actual wall clock...I could have been a few minutes off. So I was in a wave with 10-11 minute swimmers. Going into the pool, I struggled at first. My anxiety was high, I kept bumping into the side rope, and I got passed twice. I was the last one out in my wave. The volunteer never told me I had one more lap--I had to pop my head out and ask. I think the timing was off as well. My swim time was 14 minutes which I think is slow--but I am guessing it was 13 something. I am actually going to time myself again soon and see where I'm at.
Going into T1, I was way more confident. My transition time was much better. Although I couldn't find my bike at first, I got right on quickly. I felt more confident on my bike. I got clipped in immediately, drank Gatorade on the bike without dropping my water bottle...or worse falling. I went at a good steady pace.
T2 I did better as well. The running is never that difficult for me. My time is always about 2 minutes slower than my normal 5K time which was the case here. I ran the whole way--just walked through the aid station. I tried to keep a good steady pace. I was tired--but not dying.
My final time was 2 seconds slower than the last time I did it...which was a little disappointing. But triathlon is still new to me--I haven't done as many of them as I have running races. I am still an amateur swimmer and nervous bike rider. I have improved so much in the last couple of years. I had fun and enjoyed being outside. I am not sure the swim time was accurate as it was listed.
I rested on Sunday but jumped right back into it on Monday. I did about 4 miles Monday morning with Tracy. On Tuesday I went to Power. We are regular swim on Wednesday and I really focused more on speed and pushing myself--I think I was faster than normal. Thursday I rested. Friday morning I made to Group Ride. I was quite tired and did not push myself on every single track but was thankful I made it. I have a history of intending to go on Fridays and choosing to sleep instead. Yesterday I ran 6 miles with Tracy in the morning and did lots of gardening. This afternoon I only biked a little over 9 miles on the Keizer bike path. I would have liked to bike more than that but it was so much stop & start. The bike path is only 3 1/2 miles long...hardly enough to get a decent ride in. The stop and start was good practice for me in terms of clipping in & out. I did really well. It was not worth it to drive all the way out there when the River Road/Independence route and Minto Brown is so much closer. I really need to find some riding friends. I may try the Salem Bicycle Club next month. I really wish there were bike path options and less fighting traffic, but maybe I can find some long country roads to ride with others on. I am probably going to do the Deschutes Dash in July but not sure if I will do the sprint distance or olympic.
I swam Wednesday morning and it was a normal workout. I felt faster and ready for Freezer. On Thursday I rested and slept until 6:30. On Friday I hoped to go to Ride but coming home from Bible Study at 9...and just feeling drained and tired--I could not do it. I figured the extra race before Freezer was not a bad thing. We had leftover enchiladas for dinner and watched The Amazing Race. I had a Diet Mountain Dew with dinner (around 8 PM) which was a mistake...I realized that later. Rob & I watched 20/20 around 10 and I fell asleep during it. I didn't have to get up too early for Freezer...just after 6 AM. Which is actually later than I get up for Power, Swim & Ride--honestly it felt a little like sleeping in!
Then I finally went to bed after 20/20 was over...around 11...I was not tired. Then Rob & I got in this conversation about my work schedule (which is pretty intense right now and the most hours I have ever done) and the demands of my business on top of everything else. The conversation really turned on all the anxiety that was already there about the race. Then I really couldn't sleep. It took A LONG time before I fell asleep. I stopped looking at the clock. I am guessing close to 2 AM. Rob putting on a second Seinfeld episode finally lulled me to sleep. I woke up at 5:30 and slept another half hour until I really got up.
I wasn't overly nervous for Freezer. I had done it before. I had trained really well. The biking still makes me anxious a bit, but it was only 12 miles and only one big hill. The weather was supposed to be warm and sunny and that would help a lot. I met my friend at the carpool lot at 7 AM and we made it to OSU on time. We were in back to back swim waves. I swam at 9:50 AM. I was overly confident going into the swim. I timed myself a few weeks back and I was around 11 minutes. Looking back I am not sure how accurate that is. The swim timer clock was broken so I was using the actual wall clock...I could have been a few minutes off. So I was in a wave with 10-11 minute swimmers. Going into the pool, I struggled at first. My anxiety was high, I kept bumping into the side rope, and I got passed twice. I was the last one out in my wave. The volunteer never told me I had one more lap--I had to pop my head out and ask. I think the timing was off as well. My swim time was 14 minutes which I think is slow--but I am guessing it was 13 something. I am actually going to time myself again soon and see where I'm at.
Going into T1, I was way more confident. My transition time was much better. Although I couldn't find my bike at first, I got right on quickly. I felt more confident on my bike. I got clipped in immediately, drank Gatorade on the bike without dropping my water bottle...or worse falling. I went at a good steady pace.
T2 I did better as well. The running is never that difficult for me. My time is always about 2 minutes slower than my normal 5K time which was the case here. I ran the whole way--just walked through the aid station. I tried to keep a good steady pace. I was tired--but not dying.
My final time was 2 seconds slower than the last time I did it...which was a little disappointing. But triathlon is still new to me--I haven't done as many of them as I have running races. I am still an amateur swimmer and nervous bike rider. I have improved so much in the last couple of years. I had fun and enjoyed being outside. I am not sure the swim time was accurate as it was listed.
I rested on Sunday but jumped right back into it on Monday. I did about 4 miles Monday morning with Tracy. On Tuesday I went to Power. We are regular swim on Wednesday and I really focused more on speed and pushing myself--I think I was faster than normal. Thursday I rested. Friday morning I made to Group Ride. I was quite tired and did not push myself on every single track but was thankful I made it. I have a history of intending to go on Fridays and choosing to sleep instead. Yesterday I ran 6 miles with Tracy in the morning and did lots of gardening. This afternoon I only biked a little over 9 miles on the Keizer bike path. I would have liked to bike more than that but it was so much stop & start. The bike path is only 3 1/2 miles long...hardly enough to get a decent ride in. The stop and start was good practice for me in terms of clipping in & out. I did really well. It was not worth it to drive all the way out there when the River Road/Independence route and Minto Brown is so much closer. I really need to find some riding friends. I may try the Salem Bicycle Club next month. I really wish there were bike path options and less fighting traffic, but maybe I can find some long country roads to ride with others on. I am probably going to do the Deschutes Dash in July but not sure if I will do the sprint distance or olympic.
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