I am not superwoman.

Although I totally play her in my dreams.

I came to this realization this weekend while on my 5o mile bike ride. I am just over 1 month out from my half ironman. I have so much more work on the bike to do since I was without one for nearly 3 months due to manufacturer issues. Yes issues. Three separate issues in fact.

I figured, well I will just double my efforts on the bike in the next month. And then I realized that my time for training was coming to an end due to vacation and school and I was not going to enjoy the race experience this year with a major graduate paper hanging over my head. My half iron race, as it turned out, was in the middle of finals week and this term I have a really crazy busy class.

I realized that between work, school, marathon training, half ironman training, and home I only have so much time. Notice how I did not put sleep in there. I wrote an email to Revolution3 Triathlon requesting a credit on my entry so I can register for 2012, and withdraw from 2011.

I am upset only in that I was really excited for this race, but I have too much going on and the race will always be there. My schooling ends in December only if I work my butt off until then. So - the triathlon had to go. Overall I am happy with my decision as it really was the correct one.

So I have a 5k race this week Thursday, a sprint triathlon next week Wednesday, a half marathon in October, and the marathon in October to pull me through the rest of the year. I still have a lot on my plate, but now it is more manageable. :-)

Accepted!!!!

After filling out the application, writing an essay, obtaining letters of recomendation, and submitting both my undergraduate and graduate transcripts - it is official.

I was accepted into an accelerated MBA program this week! I am transferring schools starting this month, and although the new program is pretty intense (running on 6 week classes), I feel confident that this is the right move.

I told you that my '08 was going to be busy! :)

I have completed 4 classes in the MBA program at another school as of this past Winter term. After some soul searching I had decided previously to drop out of the program and switch paths as soon as possible.

Well, after a discussion with my boss about leaving the program, as well as the discussion about the promotion, I feel that it is in my best interest to complete the degree realizing that the benifits will be there even as I change careers.


The school I was at definitely increased tuition costs. Not a huge deal, but this put a major limit on the number of classes that I could take in a year - resulting in a graduation date well into 2010. NOT GOOD.

The new school has accepted all of my classes taken so far as transfer credits, so that saved me 16 additional hours. Plus with the accelerated program I can take all my remaining classes in less than one year. I retain the option of taking a 6-week break or two should I choose to, and still be on target for a 2008 graduation. VERY GOOD.

I LOVE it when a plan comes together.

I posted a while back about the imminent career change. That is still the goal. I need to get up to speed so I am "dual-pathing it" so to speak. Moving up in my current career path, while gaining the knowledge and experience in my second.

It will be a lengthy process, however one that I am prepared to take and I know that this is what will make me happy. For those new to my blog, I am leaving my current industry in the next 5 years and moving into the health field. My MBA will carry through, so there is no loss!


So here is the schedule of classes that I am embarking on starting Nov. 1st, 2007 (T designates transferred class).

And yes the above picture is from my spreadsheet... I am a nerd. Always will be. Always have been.

Give or take - I should be done by November 2008. Wow. I will have a busy 2008 on my hands with the racing season and school, so I will certainly need to retain some time for me to get into trouble LOL.

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Tomorrow is the Great Pumpkin Duathlon at Kennsington Metropark. Next year I will be a participant, but for this year I am happy to be helping the racers out. I will be providing a report tomorrow after the festivities to show you all what an 80+ degree fall looks like here. Oh yes... it is 84*. In October. In Michigan.

On the schedule for today is a trip to IKEA for birthday gift purchases, as well as the possibility of laps in the pool. I need to get back in the pool as these 6 lbs I have gained make me uncomfortable. BLAH. Today will be focussing on technique and breathing. I WILL CONQUOR THE BREATHING!!!!

Have a great weekend - and to all of my peeps running in Chicago tomorrow - kick some ass!

})i({ RunnerGirl

Not out of the woods yet but I see the light!!!!

Allllllllllrighty then.

This morning we went to the gym to get in a work out. Mike walked around the track while I warmed up with a nice mile on the dreadmill before working out back and biceps.

Hey guess what... NO SHIN SPLINTIES!

Doing the happy dance for that one!

I think that I may have deduced the reasoning behind the pains of late... MY INCREASED SPEED.


I started out today's run at an easy 13 minute mile pace. I then moved it up to 2 minute mile pace for the next .25 mile. I was shocked how slow that really is for me now. I decided to kick up the speed to an 11 minute mile pace. Hmmmm.... still really easy for me. I stayed there for quite awhile, then increased the speed gradually until I finished the mile cruising at an 8:41 minute mile pace. (My total time for the mile was 10:51)


I was working it towards the end but I was not dying. I also know that I could not have sustained this pace for more than .25 mile without sacrificing form. However I felt really good with the pace between 10 and 11 minute miles. I mean sustainably good. As in I could go for a few miles at that speed and still have energy to sprint at the end.


With this increase in speed came the potential answer to the shin-splint drama. When I cruised on down to the 8:41 minute mile pace that is when my leg muscles started to tighten. I knew if I pushed on like this for much longer they would be back.

A-ha! It is speed related! At least partially. So now I know... and knowing is half of the battle.


No matter the reason the shin-splints came to me, I am not calling the game quite yet. One mile is just that. One mile. I will ease back up to a 5k over the next few weeks just to make sure that the splints are not in hiding.


An added side-effect of today's little experiement is that I have the possibility of crushing my former running speeds in the 5K. I know now that I can work on really increasing my pace in 08. I want so badly to be a sub-10 minute mile 5Ker... and beyond.

Speaking of 2008 - I am happy to say that I am getting ready to post the first draft of el manifesto de Jenniferlyn.

I know you all are just rattling with excitement. I can hear it as you type. ;)

I wish everyone good weekend, especially AJ who is attacking the Boulder Half Marathon!

})i({ Runnergirl's back. Back again. Yes she's back. Tell a friend.

• Workout Summary for Saturday:
• 1 mile treadmill easy- 10:51 total time

Wrapping Up, Part 2

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"If winter is slumber, spring is birth, and summer is life, then autumn rounds out to be reflection. It's a time of year when the leaves are down and the harvest is in and the perennials are gone. Mother Earth just closed up the drapes on another year and it's time to reflect on that's come before." (Northern Exposure)

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With fall comes the close of the current racing season and the subsequent planning of the next. I have two remaining races in '07. I am happy to report that when I am finished with "The Racing Season from Hell" on Oct. 21st, I will have quite a number of happy reflections.

2007 was not a hellish year in a technical sense. I will have completed 3 half marathons and a few 5k's. I will have gotten back in the saddle for my bike fun, and after so many years I am back in the pool making waves. Oh those beautiful waves...

It was most certainly a hellish season in the sense of personal obstacles. I started this year disillusioned. In the middle of the year I was frustrated. I am ending this year in accomplishment and triumph.

I start the '08 season in January, but it will be unlike any other season. I am fine tuning my schedule and training and once all of the potential races have posted their dates, I will be able to publish my season plans... el manifesto de Jenniferlyn.

2008 is going to be my year. I am ready for it now. I wasn't ready for it before now. I still had a lot to learn about myself, and unfortunately about those around me. I shed a lot of tears this year in idle frustration. I also shed a lot of weakness and doubt this year.

The more of the later I shed, the less of the former. I grew stronger and more dedicated just by taking the pressure off of myself.

So to 2008 I say bring it on biiiiatch. Because you and I are about to tango, and this time I am taking the lead.

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"The woods are lovely dark and deep, but I have promises to keep, and miles to go before I sleep, and miles to go before I sleep." - Robert Frost

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Todays stats:

Master's Swimming

2400 meters

1 major toe cramp

})i({ RunnerSwimmerGirl

The Triathlete's Dilemma. I think.

Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha. *clear throat* Uuuuhhh... yeah.

Just like Jess, I too missed my Saturday AM Running Club run. Why? Trails sorta hurt my body. Well, when I am not used to them that is. I got up at 7AM ready to head out to the meeting place, but my body was telling me "Oh no girlie! You are nOT going running this morning. I am SORE. " So today I am thinking of doing a weight/cardio DVD (TheFIRM) then tomorrow head out for my long run. I am aiming for between 7-9 miles.

However - the temps here are perfect - 70* currently - and tomorrow it will be back to 80*, so I am tempted to go out today. I will see how I feel in, say, 2 hours. I HATE passing up perfect running weather!

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As in all things in life... when you take on more activities, responsibilities, etc., you have to juggle your schedule more. I am not a cyclist/swimmer by nature so for the 2008 training season I will definitely have to spend more time on my weaker areas and less on the strength. I laugh at the thought that running is my strength. So, let's just say that I am at an acceptable level to not worry about that portion. ;)

After finalizing my classes and group training times, I have the following schedule* to wrap up 2007. This will really only be in effect up until the Freep on 10/21:

MONDAY
Work 7AM - 4PM
Gym 4:30PM - 5:30PM (strength/stretch)
Class 6:30PM - 8:17PM

TUESDAY
Work 7AM - 4PM
Gym 4:30PM - 6:00PM (3-5 miles or speedwork,
stretch)

WEDNESDAY
Work 7AM - 4PM
Swim Lessons (Milford) 6PM-9PM

THURSDAY
Work 7AM - 4PM
Running Group 6:30PM - 7:30PM (3-5 miles)

FRIDAY
Work 7AM - 4PM
GYM 4:30PM - 5:30PM (Cycle, stretch, abs)

SATURDAY
Tri Club Swim Practice 7AM - 8:30AM
Run Club Practice 9:00AM - ?????? (Long distance work or
some short tempos)

SUNDAY
Cycle

After which this will be my very tentative schedule through the winter months:

MONDAY
Work 7AM - 4PM
Gym 4:30PM - 5:30PM (strength/stretch)
Class 6:30PM - 8:17PM

TUESDAY
Work 7AM - 4PM
KMP (cycle)

WEDNESDAY
Work 7AM - 4PM
Swim Lessons (Milford) 6PM-9PM

THURSDAY
Work 7AM - 4PM
Running Group 6:30PM - 7:30PM (3-4 miles)

FRIDAY
Work 7AM - 4PM
GYM (strength/stretch/swim) or KMP (cycle)


SATURDAY
Tri Club Swim Practice 7AM - 8:30AM
Run Club Practice 9:00AM - 10AM (3-4 miles)

SUNDAY
Cycle long distance or brick

Obviously, once I start training for my tris, I will in all reality have to develop a new schedule based on how often I need to practice what. As I become a better swimmer, I plan on dropping the Wednesday coached swims and swim after my strength workouts on my own.

It is official. I will be so glad when Oct. 21st hits, because then I can drop the longer runs, and be back to a nice 3-4 mile run, plus I can then start focusing on biking a little more. I love the three sports individually, so I am glad that I can do them all at once! God bless the man who invented the Sprint distance.

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I am currently only planning on 1 half marthon in 2008, which will be the Detroit Freep that I run every year. I am going to be focusing on my sprint triathlons and getting a good 5K time out of me!

I will never leave the sport of running. It is too ingrained in my fiber of being. I want to branch out into crosstraing without the guilt that I am not running. Yeah, it is a Jenn thing. Everytime I am doing something that is not running I feel like I am cheating on the sport. Silly I know! That is why the tris are a perfect fit for me.

I can cycle and swim, and not be worrying that I should be running - because every workout is getting me to the goal! I need to look at it this way - I am being active, I can keep my motivation up, plus I get to perform a variable slew of drills that I have never experienced before.

I think that after my training for my first tri, I will be a stronger runner. I know for sure that I will be a stronger person.

})i({ Runner Girl


*You know that me being an enginerd means that I am a type-A personality. Lists, graphs, schedules, plans, etc. make my day. Seriously. I was not a math minor for nuthin'. ;) Go nerd power!

Training Schedule

Here is my ROE (Run out Epilepsy) Training chedule that I developed for every distance from 5k to 13.1 miles.

http://spreadsheets.google.com/pub?key=pRoXonecUmE7l94k09aj4ag&output=html&gid=0&single=true&range=a1:e14