100 miles down!

So far I have ridden 100 trainer miles this year. In 16 days time - 5 bike sessions total (30,30,28,8,4).

Yes. My quads are screaming at me today, if only because I did an actual "quality" bike workout yesterday. For the first time I did a Spinervals workout -oh. em. gee. It was a Time Saver workout of 30 minutes but holy cow, one legged drills and speed intervals are not easy - especially after two days of between 28 and 30 mile drainer rides.

Now time to shower, get ready for work, and set goals for this week.

This week I need to hit the pool at least twice. I just need to do it. Nothing big, but maybe 1000 meters a go just to get back into the swing of things. I have not swam once all year, and I honestly cannot remember when I swam last. I just know that it was not good.

I also want to try to get to the FAST swim at Schoolcraft Saturday, and run my long run at KMP. I am going trail running at Maybury with Jaclyn Sunday.

Sweet!

These are the days I enjoy. Fun times with fun people!

Tracking the Yaks

May I just say that after less than 4 hours of sleep... I decided to go out for a nice little albeit cold run. And it felt wonderful!

Oh I struggled and needed to walk a few times, but it felt good. Sooooo good.


So I am bringing back the simple joys of running.

Simple joys of running, December 21st edition:

• Feeling the crunch of salt covered snow beneath your feet
• Feeling so alive as you are aware of every single breathe you take.. you feel it sear your lungs and you see it cloud out from your mouth. Your body is a machine and you see it in action on a level only visible in winter.
• Seeing the tracks of those a kin to you. We are a special family of people who in our solo treks leave a welcome and a wave in the path we leave behind us.
  

Peace with the past

I am at peace. Took me a while but I had a long hard look at myself today whilst shopping for a sweater and some jeans.

Why on earth have I let myself deteriorate? *shakes head*

I cannot go back in time and stop eating everything that I ate, nor can I make up all of the exercise my body so desperately needs. All I can do is look ahead and change the course I am on now.


I am getting back into the swing of things one lap, one pedal, one step at a time. Slowly but surely.

I want to run 1000 miles in 2010. I want to complete 2 Half Ironmen distanced races in 2010. I want to drop at least 35 lbs in 2010.

It all starts with action.

So this week I want to run a few times, ride the drainer a bit, maybe get 30 miles in this week on that and get back to the pool at some point. Swimming what? I only have a State Meet in like 3 months. Should probably get back into action on that topic, eh?

I did 7 miles on the drainer Saturday before heading to Cycle to Fitness to order my jersey, tri top, and team socks. I love that we have team socks.

Those 7 miles felt pretty good. My butt was feeling it, but I started just 2 years ago not being able to handle 5 minutes. After a good 4 months off from training... those 30 minutes sorta felt good.


I am not where I was in August, but I know that I can return there with some work. Then with more work - I can surpass 2009 in a huge way. I do not want a repeat, I want better and will do so much better to get there. I have seen the consequences of sloth and laziness first hand. UGH. No thank you.

So... time to work!

I am having lunch with the GREYHOUNDS superstar racer Trish M, so I hope to bounce some topics off of her beautiful mind. In the mean time... insomnia what? Geesh. It is quarter past 1 am and I am not the least bit tired.


Lesson for the day - junk in is junk out. Simple as that.

Peace, Love, and Biking... a study in expansion of self

Happy Holidays all!

Well, after a truly difficult 2009, things had to change in 2010. My only New Years Resolution is to work harder towards the things in life that I want. One of the biggest things is health. Not just one of the biggest, possibly THE biggest. And not just fitness and exercise either, but true health all around - physical and mental. Personally, I realized that I have taken the word "health" for granted. I run and am active as you all know, but I do not know that I engage in what I would call a truly healthy lifestyle 365.

A lesson that I learned hard in June (which is a lesson everyone can and should walk away with) is that just like your financial bank account - without making deposits into your health bank account, you may not have enough to cover the big checks.

My journey to a healthier life is participating in more whole-body and soul activities while staying active my entire life. A HUGE part of that is growing a long and healthy life with Mike.

I applied and was accepted to the RACING GREYHOUNDS (in all caps) competitive racing team for triathlon, while Mike applied for and was accepted to the RACING GREYHOUNDS touring road cycling team! While we will have different focuses in our journey, we are part of the same bigger team which is exciting and will keep us both motivated while still branching out on our own.

In 2010 I will be going for a few Half Ironman triathlons, and in 2011 I am contemplating going for the full Ironman distance, work and personal life allowing. :-)

Mike is starting his triathlon and road bike adventure and as such we will be doing some bike tours (MS 150, Susan G. Komen, etc.) as well as some fun local triathlons, and definitely a few road bike races along the way.

In support of this, our new adventure, and obviously loving our awesome new Road bike, Mountain bike, Cyclocross, Touring and Triathlon team members, we are selling tickets to the RACING GREYHOUNDS team fundraiser being held at Woodland Lanes, one of our sponsors.

Each year, The RACING GREYHOUNDS raise funds for their upcomming events. They do this in a fun way, providing hours of bowling and entertainment for a pretty low cost. The details are such:

WHEN: May 28th, 2010
TIME: 8 pm - 2 am
WHERE; Woodland Lanes, 33775 Plymouth Road, Livonia, MI 48150
WHAT: Unlimited bowling, pizza, music, and fun for one low price!
COST: $25 per ticket

I know that this is pretty far out in the future, so if you are interested in tentatively attending, let me know and I will send you the link to order tickets from directly. Mike and I have room at our new house for people to crash afterwards if you plan on driving from outside the Metro-Detroit area. No worries about logistics!


I wish for you and yours a happy and healthy 2010, and many more years to come.