Yes I'm still Here!

I know - it's been quite a while since I've posted anything, so here' a quick whirlwind tour of the last 6 weeks or so.

Lovable's wedding planning is in full force. She's already over budget, but then she's my only little girl so what the hell?

Mr Smarty Pants is taking calculus in summer school. Glad those days are behind me.

I had a bump in the road with my training. Back started giving me major problems. I've never had back problems before and I felt (and looked) like an old lady. After trying chiropractor, massage and stretching I finally went to the doctor and got drugs. Don't know why I waiting 3 weeks to do this. I'm back on track now with less than 7 weeks to go.

Apologies for the long exercise log but I promised to keep myself accountable by publishing my exercise log and I'm woefully behind.



Workout Log
Monday, June 1
Bike ride on trainer 60 min

Tuesday, June 2
Running - speed workout 50 min

Wednesday, June 3
Swim 45 min at Lifetime

Thursday, June 4
Bike ride on trainer 55 min
Run 45 min

Friday, June 5
Swim 45 min

Saturday, June 6
Long Run 1:34
Open Water Swim 45 min

Sunday, June 7
Long Bike Ride 4 hours

Monday, June 8
Bike ride on trainer 60 min

Tuesday, June 9
Running - speed workout 61 min in College Station

Wednesday, June 10
Swim 45 min at Texas A&M Natatorium

Thursday, June 11
Bike ride on trainer 65
Run 46 min

Friday, June 12
Swim 45 min

Saturday, June 13
Long Run 1:30

Sunday, June 14
Long Bike Ride 4:10 hours
Open Water Swim 1:15 hour

Monday, June 15
Bike ride on trainer 60 min

Tuesday, June 16
Running - speed workout 69 min
Stretching 40 min

Wednesday, June 17
Swim 55 min
Yoga 60 min

Thursday, June 18
Bike ride on trainer 65
Run 45 min

Friday, June 19
Swim 45 min

Saturday, June 20
Long Run 1:30

Sunday, June 21
Long Bike Ride 4:10 hours
Open Water Swim 1:15 hour

My little girl is all grown up and engaged to be married. Lots of planning, shopping, fun, tears and who knows what else to come!

Workout Log
Monday, May 18
1 hour ride on trainer

Tuesday, May 19
Back still bothering me. Skipped weight training and stretched for 20 min instead. Ran 50 min of mile repeats at very fast pace

Wednesday, May 20
Swam 1900 yards outside at Lifetime
Yoga class with Becca

Thursday, May 21
55 minutes on the trainer
Lactate Threshold running test - boy that takes a lot out of ya!

Friday, May 22
Swam 40 min at Lifetime

Saturday, May 23
Rest day - spending time with Sweetie

Sunday, May 24
3:30 hour bike ride. First time the winds weren't a killer. Averaged 18.1mph for 65 miles. I think that's a first

Monday, May 25
100 minute run with Sweetie, Canadian Debbie and Chris

Tuesday, May 26
1 hour ride on trainer

Wednesday, May 27
Yoga - great class with Becca

Thursday, May 28
Day of rest - hoping back will get better from this

Friday, May 29
Day of rest for back issues. Finally it feels better after 2 days of doing no exercise

Saturday, May 30
45 min easy run

Sunday, May 31
Magnolia Hill Field Trip - 75 min bike ride, 20 min run, 45 min swim, 15 min swim

Still Going...

It's been a few weeks since I last wrote. I feel like the Energizer Bunny....keep going, going, going. I'm pretty excited because the first of my support crew is officially coming to Canada. Patty and my oldest sister Wendy bought airline tickets to make the trip. In the words of Wendy, "I have to come see what this Ironman thing you do is." I'm sure it will be very interesting to see her reaction. She has no idea! Of course Patty is THE veteran Ironman supporter and I'm sure will figure out a way to get on the official IM video that is distributed to all participants. She's 2 for 2 of the ironman races she has attended so far. Who knows what she has in store. See her first adventure in the picture above.




Workout Log

Saturday, May 2
First Century Ride!!!!

Sunday, May 3
45 minute run. Felt better than I expected the day after 100

Monday, May 4
60 min on bike trainer

Tuesday, May 5
Weights with Hawaiian Christine
45 min hill run

Wednesday, May 6
60 min swim
60 min yoga

Thursday, May 7
45 min on bike trainer
45 min run

Friday, May 8
45 min swim

Saturday, May 9
3 hour HILLY bike ride in Texas Hill Country

Sunday, May 10
80 min run around Town Lake in Austin

Monday, May 11
60 min on bike trainer

Tuesday, May 12
Weights with Hawaiian Christine
45 min interval run

Wednesday, May 13
60 min swim
60 min yoga

Thursday, May 14
65 min on bike trainer
45 min run

Friday, May 15
40 min swim

Saturday, May 16
90 minute run

Sunday, May 17
3:30 on bike

Change of Scenery

Spent five days with Sweetie in North Carolina. He's such a doll and knows that I have to keep up with Ironman training even when I travel. So we worked everything around the training schedule but still kept if F-U-N.

The highlight was going to the Outer Banks (OBX for those in the know) for a Friday night of camping and awesome training ride on Saturday. It was a taper week, so it was ok to take it a little easy. We started from the campground. Rest Stop 1 was at the memorial to the Wright Brothers. Spent about 30 minutes viewing the memorial and the awesome view from the top of the very large hill that the memorial sits on. (Yes we did ride our bikes up the hill and then a lady with a cane pointed out to me on the way down that there was one - and only one - sign that said 'no bicycles'.) Rest stop 2 was the beach. Nothing better than taking off your helmet and cycling shoes for a little fun in the sand. Final stop was a small grocery for a refill of fluids. The last 8 miles of the ride were through a beautiful neighborhood of shade trees and blooming dogwoods.

Sunday was a trail run that follows the perimeter of a lake near the Raleigh/Durham airport. I'm so impressed with the Raleigh/Durham area with the number of parks, trails, sidewalks, bike lanes, etc. It's definately "Exercise Friendly". Wish H-Town was more like that!

I can't believe I'm now 3 months into Ironman training. Almost half way there!







Workout Log

Monday, April 13
45 min trainer ride

Tuesday, April 14
1 hr weight training
45 min hill run

Wednesday, April 15
1 hour swim
Yoga

Thursday, April 16
BRICK - 45 min trainer ride, 30 minute run. Had fabulous run. Did 9:30 pace

Friday, April 17
OFF

Saturday, April 18
60 miles on trainer - UGHHHHH....I hate the rain

Sunday, April 19
GREAT 2 hour run with the girls starting at Memorial Park then towards downtown. Followed this with brunch at The Hobbit and shopping at Lululemon.

Monday, April 20
45 min trainer ride

Tuesday, April 21
45 min hill run - not a good run, but finished it

Wednesday, April 22
Swam 1 hour at pool in Cary

Thursday, April 23
Brick in NC - 45 min hilly ride followed by 30 min hilly run

Friday, April 24
1 hour swim in Cary Pool

Saturday, April 25
AWESOME 42 mile ride on the Outer Banks of NC

Sunday, April 26
1.5 hour trail run around the lake in Raleigh

Monday, April 27
45 min ride on bike trainer

Tuesday, April 28
Weights for 1 hour with Hawaiian Christine
30 minute run with Canadian Debbie

Wednesday, April 29
1 hour swim in the 50 meter pool with Canadian Debbie. Nice to have the longer lanes for a change

Thursday, April 30
My big sis's birthday and also did a Brick - 45 min on trainer and 30 minute tour of the neighborhood

Friday, May 1
1 hour swim with Canadian Debbie

Easter in the Hills

After many years of hearing about it from the Master Lord, I finally went with Michelle and Canadian Debbie to the Easter Hill Country Tour. This event is 3 days of no-frills riding in the Texas HILL country....and hilly it was! Met a new training friend, Amy, who came along with Michelle.

First up was a 47 mile ride on Friday. Well, mile 9 almost did me in. The "BEAR", as it's known got to me about 1/3 of the way up. It was so steep that I thought I should upclip one side. BIG mistake. When you slow down enough to unclip on a very steep hill, you can't get enough momentum to get going again. It was so steep, I was sliding on my clips when I was WALKING up! Had to stop and put my clip covers on so I could get to the top. Made it through the rest of the hills.

Day two was 66 miles. Well, we should have known there was going to be a problem when the street sign even warned cars of the upcoming "hill". So what did they call all those other things I had been climbing without the warning sign. When we got to the top (I actually made it to the top this time cuz I WAS NOT walking even though this hill was steeper than the BEAR), the guy at the rest stop told us we were at "Eagle's Nest". Glad I didn't know the name before I started climbing.

Sunday we woke to rain and very wet streets. So we headed back through the storms back to Houston and I rode the 19 mile ride I was supposed to do in the Hill Country on the trainer.

Best part of the weekend was fun with the girls, meeting Amy and knowing that I'm one step closer to being ready for the mountains in Canada!


Workout Log

Sunday, Mar 29
2 hour ride, 30 minute brick run

Monday, Mar 30
45 minute ride on trainer

Tuesday, Mar 31
1 hour weights
45 minute hill run

Wednesday, April 1
60 minute swim with Canadian Debbie
Yoga 1 hour

Thursday, April 2
45 min ride on trainer
45 min run

Friday, April 3
OFF

Saturday, April 4
1 hour swim in New Orleans

Sunday, April 5
Support Crew at Ironman New Orleans 70.3 Ran about 3 miles!

Monday, Apr 6
90 minute ride on trainer

Tuesday, Apr 7
Overslept and missed weights
45 minute hill run in Land of Sugar

Wednesday, Apr 8
Swam 1 hour with Canadian Debbie
Yoga 1 hour

Thursday, Apr 9
OFF

Friday, Apr 10
47 mile ride in the Hill Country

Saturday, Apr 11
66 mile ride in the Hill Country

Sunday, Apr 12
Brick: 19 mile ride/30 minute run

I'm such a light weight. Went to Escalantes with Mr Smarty Pants for early dinner at 4:30pm. Decided to have one margarita since I'm not riding until 9:00am tomorrow. I'm laid out on the couch and can hardly keep my eyes open....That's what Ironman training does to you....

Workout Log

Friday, Mar 13
60 minute bike on trainer

Saturday, Mar 14
60 minute run
90 minute swim lesson at Richmond Y

Sunday, Mar 15
4 hour ride
45 minute brick run

Monday, Mar 16
60 minute bike on trainer

Tuesday, Mar 17
60 minute weight training
60 minute hill run

Wednesday, Mar 18
60 minute swim at LTF

Thursday, Mar 19
60 minute bike on trainer
60 minute run

Friday, Mar 20
60 minute bike on trainer

Saturday, Mar 21
90 minute run with Canadian Debbie
60 minute swim at First Colony

Sunday, Mar 22
4.5 hour ride Tour de Houston
60 minute brick run in downtown Houston

Monday, Mar 23
90 minute bike on trainer

Tuesday, Mar 24
60 minute hill run

Wednesday, Mar 25
60 minute swim at LTF
Yoga

Thursday, Mar 26
90 minute bike on trainer
60 minute run on TREADMILL - which I hate!!

Friday, Mar 27
60 minute bike on trainer

Saturday, Mar 28
90 minute run with Canadian Debbie
60 minute swim at LTF

Victorious Secret

On Saturday, March 7 - Sunday March 8 for the second year in a row, I was a proud member of Team Victorious Secret in the Second Annual Texas Independence Relay. This 203 mile race starts in Gonzales, TX and ends at the San Jacinto Monument in Pasadena TX. Our all-female team was quite victorious taking 3rd place in the Open Womens' Division. With a full complement of a team and a few stronger girls running this year, we managed to finish more than 4 hours faster than last year.

One might think that having 13 women (12 runners and 1 driver) in two vans over the course of more than 30 hours would create drama, but the truth is we had a blast and I think all the drama was on the co-ed teams. We laughed, we cried, we ran, we ate, we didn't sleep, we ran....all for over 30 hours.

I have to admit that the lack of sleep (approximately 30-45 minutes sitting upright in the driver's seat of a parked car) did impact my training this week. But Coach Sam had anticipated that and adjusted the schedule accordingly. It's 6 days later and I'm still feeling somewhat sleep deprived. Oh well - as Team Victorious Secret's motto says --- SUCK IT UP CUPCAKE!!!!


I can't wait to do it again next year!



Workout Log

Thursday, Mar 5
60 minutes on bike trainer
45 minute run in Land of Sugar with Canadian Debbie

Friday, Mar 6
60 minute swim at Lifetime by myself (and vacation day)

Saturday, Mar 7 and Sunday, Mar 8
Texas Independence Relay - ran 16 miles over the 2 days

Monday, Mar 9
45 minutes on bike trainer

Tuesday, Mar 10
60 minute run on hills with Canadian Debbie

Wednesday, Mar 11
60 minute swim at Lifetime with Canadian Debbie

Thursday, Mar 12
45 minutes on bike trainer
45 minute run with Sweetie and Patty

The Bachelor is a Loser!!!!!

Just got finished watching the taped versions of the final episodes of The Bachelor. This is one of the shows that I watch only when exercising. I cheated and watched it tonight after yoga class instead of waiting until morning when I was riding on the trainer.

What a L-O-S-E-R he is! That's all I'll say. I used to think Jason was such a good guy....until he picks one girl and decides less than 6 weeks later that he's still in love with the girl he dropped on the last episode. Make up your freaking mind. If I was Molly I would have told him to go fly a kite.



Workout Log

Friday, Feb 13
Swam 1 hour at First Colony Aquatic Center

Saturday, Feb 14
Ran 1 hour with Sweetie

Sunday, Feb 15
Bike ride 3 hours, Ran 45 minutes with Canadian Debbie

Monday, Feb 16
60 minute ride on traininer

Tuesday, Feb 17
Weights with Hawaiian Christine
Ran hills 60 minutes with Canadian Debbie

Wednesday, Feb 18
60 minute ride on trainer

Thursday, Feb 19
30 minute run at White Rock Lake
60 minute swim at Dallas Y

Friday, Feb 20
60 minute ride on trainer
60 minute swim at Dallas Y

Saturday, Feb 21
30 minute run at White Rock Lake

Sunday, Feb 22
2 hour ride, 30 minute run in Austin

Monday, Feb 23
45 minute run around Town Lake in Austin

Tuesday, Feb 24
45 minute ride on trainer

Wednesday, Feb 25
60 minutes swim at Lifetime with Canadian Debbie
60 minute yoga class

Thursday, Feb 26
45 minute ride on traininer
45 minute run at Memorial Park with Zeenie, Darwin, Canadian Debbie

Friday, Feb 27
45 minute ride on trainer
60 minute swim at FCAC with Jannelle

Saturday, Feb 28
3.5 hour windy ride with Candian Debbie
30 minute windy run with Canadian Debbie

Sunday, Mar 1
60 minute run in the neighborhood

Monday, Mar 2
45 minute ride on trainer

Tuesday, Mar 3
30 minutes of weights - without Hawaiian Christine!
60 minute run in the Land of Sugar

Wednesday, Mar 4
60 minutes swim with Canadian Debbie
60 minutes of yoga with Margie

Friday the 13th

So my morning of Friday the 13th started with me waking up to do my 1 hour trainer ride as per the schedule. Thirty minutes into it, things seemed to be getting too easy. "Maybe I'm just peddling harder because I'm really motivated by these folks on The Biggest Loser episode I'm watching on the DVR." No it's a little too easy. Get off the bike and I have a flat on my rear tire.

HOW THE HECK DO YOU GET A FLAT ON A TRAINER. THIS SUCKS!!!!

It's 7:30am already, so guess what I'll be doing this evening? The other half of my workout from this morning!!!!!


Workout Log

Tuesday, Feb 10
Weights with Hawaiian Christine
60 minutes of hill running - even in the rain. We just didn't go to the top deck of the parking garage!

Wednesday, Feb 11
1 hour swim at Lifetime
1 hour yoga followed by Andy's Bra Bash and the purchase of 2 new sports bras!

Thursday, Feb 12
1 hour ride on bike trainer
1 hour run (Did a bonus 15 minutes. I thought the schedule said 1 hour and it was really 45 minutes. Does that make up for the 30 minutes of bike riding I still have to do today?)

I Will Survive

Well it's finally here. Training plan for IM Canada has started and I'm loving it. After recovering from a week of flu or some other unidentified virus, I finally get started on Coach Sam's training plan for Canadian Debbie and I.

I've finished Week One and I feel like a Donna Summer song--I Will Survive! Been setting the alarm clock earlier and even waking up before it goes off. I'm sure this will get old long before August 30th, but right now my life finally feels like it's in order again.

Some might call it a sickness, but I love it!

Workout Log

Sunday, Jan 25
Bike trainer ride 60 minutes

Monday, Jan 26
Bike trainer ride 60 minutes

Tuesday, Jan 27
Weights with Hawaiian Christine

Wednesday, Jan 28
SICK

Thursday, Jan 29
SICK

Friday, Jan 30
SICK

Saturday, Jan 31
1 hour run around Town Lake in Austin

Sunday, Feb 1
Bike trainder ride 2 hours

Monday, Feb 2
Swam 30 minutes
Bike trainer ride 45 minutes

Tuesday, Feb 3
Weights with Hawaiian Christine
45 minute Hill Run

Wednesday, Feb 4
1 hour swim at Lifetime
Yoga class

Thursday, Feb 5
45 minute ride on trainer
45 minute run

Friday, Feb 6
45 minute ride on trainer

Saturday, Feb 7
1 hour run

Sunday, Feb 8
2.5 hour ride/30 minute run

Monday, Feb 9
45 minute ride on trainer

The Results are In...

Well another one for the record books. Finished my 8th Houston Marathon and 9th time participating in the Houston Marathon weekend. (I did the half marathon with Lovable in 2008.) Won't dwell on it, but let's just say I didn't make my goal time, but I had a blast! Jean stayed with me the entire time and even would take my water bottles and fill them at each water station. The highlight was the weekend stay at the Hilton with the Spa Girls. Although the four of us don't do as much together as we used to, we are forever best of friends and I love them all to death!

I cried 50 yards from the finish line when I saw Sassy Pants and Sandy cheering me in. I was running to raise money (and I beat my fund raising goal) for CanCare and also in celebration of her hubby's recent discovery that he had KICKED CANCER'S BUTT! They had written me the most touching email when they found out and to see Sassy Pants at the finish line was just awesome....I still miss her on our Saturday long runs since she moved to the KUNTRY (as she calls it).

A few steps later, my kids were holding a giant sign that said "My Mom is My Hero. 4:30". Well even though I didn't make the 4:30 goal, it was even better to see that poster. When we got home, I told them we were keeping that poster and they would have to hold it at the finish line every year until I made 4:30 or less! (And we really did save it. In case I ask any of you next year where I put it, it's in the hall coat closet.)

Now the real training begins! 8 days until Ironman Canada training starts. Coach Sam - I'm counting on ya!


Workout Log

Saturday, Jan 17
Rest for marathon

Sunday, Jan 18
Just a little 26.2 mile run through the streets of Houston

Monday, Jan 19
Stretching

Tuesday, Jan 20
Walk/jog and stretching for 40 minutes

Wednesday, Jan 21
Yoga

Thursday, Jan 22
Weights with Hawaiian Christine

Friday, Jan 23
Nothing

Saturday, Jan 24
Easy 4 mile run. Felt a few little post-marathon aches, but nothing major that one shouldn't expect 6 days after a marathon

Marathon Weekend

It's finally here! Weather is predicted to be be good. Spa Girls are pacing me. No excuse not to have a great time. And oh-by-the-way, going to go for the big PR and crash 4:30. I'll give it my all and you can't ask for anything more!

Workout Log

Wednesday, Jan 14
N-O-T-H-I-N-G (Fort Bend Fit Pasta Party

Thursday, Jan 15
N-O-T-H-I-N-G

Friday, Jan 16
N-O-T-H-I-N-G

HAPPY BIRTHDAY LOVABLE

Do I really have a 21 year-old?

Smart Lovable

Today Lovable takes her Dental School Entrance Test. I can't believe my little girl is big enough to go to dental school. Please send her SMART thoughts! She's been studying her a$$ off!

Workout Log

Sunday, Jan 11
Volunteered from 5am to 2pm at USA Fit marathon. I think that was harder than running the marathon....NOT!!!

Monday, Jan 12
Nothing....Met with Coach Sam to discuss Ironman Canada training plan

Tuesday, Jan 13
Weights with Hawaiian Christine

Traditions

Remember the movie Fiddler on the Roof and the song "Tradition". It's one of my earliest movie theater memories as a kid. Our family rarely went to the movies....too much money. But I remember the whole family of 6 going to the theater to see Fiddler on the Roof.

So, this week starts Tradition for me. Houston Marathon weekend #9. The countdown has begun. I'm now one week, seven days, 154 hours from the start of the 2009 Houston Marathon. The traditions have also begun. The first tradition is to have a HORRIBLE last long run on the weekend prior to the marathon. So I had to uphold that! After a good 21 miler six days earlier, I started running on Saturday. After about 1.5 miles, I decided that I'd rather walk this weekend, than spend the last few miles on Jan 18th walking. So I finished the run with a long, slow 2.5 mile walk. It was a great time to think about the good times and bad of the past year.

This week will be a comfortable week of more traditions (massage, pasta dinner, expo, pre-race dinner, etc) culminated by a run with my four original Spa Girl running buddies pacing me for the 26.2

I CAN'T WAIT!!!!


Workout Log

Sunday, Dec 28

Monday, Dec 29
45 minutes on the bike trainer. It's been a while! Did a wattage ride for the first time like Coach Sam taught us a few weeks ago. It different.


Tuesday, Dec 30
Weights with Hawaiian Christine. Yikes she took my body fat and measurements. Gained 3 pounds and lots o'fat! Back to the eating program on Jan 5. She'll take my measurements again on Jan 20.

Ran 46 minutes of parking garages with New Angie and Yvonne.


Wednesday, Dec 31
New Year's lifting of glasses and toasting. Had more martini's than I usually have all year....uh-oh


Thursday, Jan 1
WII Fit with Sweetie and the kids. Yes, it really does count!


Friday, Jan 2
Day of Rest

Saturday, Jan 3
Day of Rest #2 in prep for big one

Sunday, Jan 4
21 miles with Sweetie, Canadian Debbie and Chris. Hot as H-E-L-L. So where does the Big Man get making it 75 degrees and 110% humidity in January? I was happy with our time given the weather. I even got a little kick at mile 19.5 and ran ahead of the group for about 5 minutes.

Monday, Jan 5
Recovery

Tuesday, Jan 6
SICK :-(

Wednesday, Jan 7
Yoga

Thursday, Jan 8
Weights with Hawaiian Christine

Friday, Jan 8
Rest

Saturday, Jan 9
Ran 1.5 miles, walked 2.5 miles