And it begins...

I've registered for the Strathmore Women's sprint triathlon on August 10th. Karen and Dawn are going to join me.

The race is 18 weeks away, so I'd better start training!

This week, I did 20 lengths of the pool with Karen on Saturday, and today I went for a run. 35 minutes total, with 5 minutes of running.

I've mapped out a 5km route from my house and most of the route is grass so hopefully my knees will object less.

So last week counts as 20, and so far this week counts as 40.

Tomorrow is a bike ride, and Karen is asking about a weekend bike ride too. I have another run on Friday morning.

Better find that foam roller! My IT band will be screaming soon.

2008 goals

Well. Another year starts.

I've been pretty slow to get my goals in order. I do know I want to do the Strathmore Women's sprint tri in August, but that's about it for race interest. I'd like to be stronger for kayaking by the time the lake ice melts at the cottage (approx. mid-April).

Goals like general fitness and strength are hard to quantify for goals. Nancy T. would tell me to put those in terms of process goals and the rest will follow. (Kind of like weight loss: you can't control the weight loss numbers but you CAN control what you eat and how active you are)

I think the exact goals can wait for a bit. What's really important is to start and JUST DO IT. I'm working on less computer time and less lounging around and more work: regular house stuff and errands.

So, gotta go and get some stuff done!

Lazy summer

I was lazy this summer. I didn't really do much fitness stuff. I avoided activity. And then I wonder why I don't lose weight?!?!?

Anyhow, today was my first kid-free time since June. School has finally started for both kids. Even though I had errands to do, I realized I had better go today or I'd be setting a slacker precedent.

I can't find my weight workout sheet. I have NO idea where I've hidden it.

So I walked on the treadmill for 30 minutes, then went to stretch and do a few crunches. Ouch. They hurt when you haven't done them for a few months.

This counts as 31 for the walk and 15 for the stretch, plus 10 minutes walking to school. 56 down, 64 to go for the week.

See Dianne Run

Karen was sneaky. She pushed the right buttons to motivate me to run.

She was contacted by a new runner. Who lives nearby me. Who needs an experienced runner to get her started. Who runs slowly, at about a run 1 /walk 1 pace.

So today we finally got together and ran. We started at 7:30pm, which was about perfect. The heat of the day had passed, the evening breeze had started, most sidewalks were in shade.

We tested run 1/ walk 1. It worked. So we stuck to that for about 10 repeats, and walked the rest. It wasn't much running, but it was enough to get us moving.

That counts as 10x2 + 43x1 = 63 units. Not bad for one workout. (do I get extra credit for pushing a stroller?)

swim

I managed 30 minutes in the pool while son#2 had his lesson. He seemed to have a great time today. He was laughing and giggling before he even started, which is a nice change from the clinging "mommy you swim with me".

I grabbed some flippers and started swimming. My quads will likely scream later, when I try to use them again.

digging out the bike

Instead of the gym, I rode my bike: Tuesday 13 minutes, Thursday 15 minutes.

I added the hitches for the bike trailer and the 'trail-a-bike'. I'm not so sure about riding with the trail-a-bike though. It's really heavy (think old mountain bike), plus a child. I'm going to try moving it to my heavier mountain bike and see if that feels safer.

I'm doubling the count for my bike rides because they felt way harder than walking, and one was pulling David in the trailer.

sunshine makes me happy

Thursday last week I went to the gym even though it was pouring with rain and I didn't really want to go. I had missed the previous Thursday and Tuesday, so I couldn't justify missing any more.

I arrived late, so I only did one set of everything, except the hack squat because the high school boys kept using it, one after the other...

So I did 10 minutes walking, 30 minutes weights, 11:09.2 rowing for 2000m, 5 minutes walking to cool down, and 15 minutes of abs work.

That counts as 10 + 15 + 22 + 5 + 8 = 60 WOW!

Just keep swimming

Today I swam while son#2 had his swimming lesson for 30 minutes.

That counts as 30, so I have 90x to go this week. I'll be at the gym tomorrow. Maybe I'll get some cardio in this time.

We have beautiful weather this week, so I should be able to get a bike ride or 2 (either pulling a bike trailer or 'trailer bike'.

Dragging my butt

I dragged my sorry butt to the gym. I didn't wanna go. I was very late. I went anyway.

I promised myself that I only had to do one set of weights, just to remember everything from Tuesday's review session. Of course, once I was there, I did 2 sets. Unfortunately :), that left me no time for core work. No crunches for this girl. My stomach muscles thank me.

That counts as: 10 minute warmup + 45 minutes of weights = 33 units.

This week I'm at 103: 17 to go!

Personal reminder

I had a review session with my personal trainer. We just went over the program she set up for me back in March. She checked my form and reminded me about squeezing butt cheeks and tightening abs and all that stuff.

So today, I had a 5 minute warmup, about 50 minutes of weights, and 20 minutes of cardio on the treadmill. And last night, I had a brisk walk from the LRT to the arena (about 10 minutes each way). So I'm at 70/120 for the week.

little swim

I had a short swim today during #2 son's swim lesson. I probably swam about 15 minutes.

Tomorrow, I have another session with the personal trainer to review my weight program. She's going to teach me again since I forgot everything she showed me last time. Duh.

gym time

The YMCA was in a state of controlled chaos. Some kids have spring break, so there were day camps scattered around the building. Some high school kids are in school, and they use the Y for gym class. And the normal volume of people were there too.

However, I managed to get my weights workout done before a batch of high school kids arrived, so I had some peace and quiet.

Today's workout: 10 min walk, 30 min weights, 9 minutes run/walk, 10 min rec. bike = 49 units

And it's a beautiful day, so I might go for a bike ride with son #2, if I can get my back tire inflated properly. I'm having trouble getting the valve stem in the pump properly. I'm sure it's just me...

finding the wagon

I need to get back on the workout wagon. First I have to find it. I could have gone to the gym today, but I went for coffee with a fellow pre-school mom instead.

I did nothing on spring break except the hiking required to get to wherever we were heading. I chose to pack up for departure instead of swimming.

I did do a good grocery shop yesterday so we have lots of healthy stuff to eat around here.

Tomorrow is a play date for my son. Gym on Thursday for sure! I have to get running to catch Dawn!

on the bike

(oops! this has been sitting as a draft for 2 weeks...)

I did manage a 15 minute bike ride with my kids. Son #1 rode his bike and son #2 rode in the bike trailer. I need to acquire a second 'hitch' attachment for the 'trailer bike', and see if #2 is able to ride it.

I Ran!

When I woke up, I didn't want to get out of bed. However, being late means my son is late for the bus which means I have to pack up his brother too and drive him to school. Too much work. So I dragged my sorry butt out of bed and got son #1 out the door.

Now for son #2. Pirate day at preschool. He won't wear his bandana. Fine. I get myself ready for the gym, even though I really don't want to go. My house cleaners arrive and I get out the door finally. Son #2 wants mommy to stay at school with him. 30 minute later I manage to sneak out and head off.

Once I'm child free, I come up with 20 different things I could do instead of go and workout. I could go out for breakfast (I haven't eaten). I could shop. I could ... just suck it up and go to the gym. I bought a granola square to eat on my way into the locker room, and save half for after.

Once I'm upstairs at the weight room, I check out the program Jen wrote up for me. Hmmm. I'll have to decipher it later.

I walk for 12 minutes on the treadmill, trying to get my heartrate higher than 65%. The only way is to run. And I really don't like running on a treadmill. So I head to the track which circles the weight room.

I ran 1 minute / walked 1 minute, eight times. That was enough. I walked for another few minutes and headed out.

I'm not as tired anymore.

Counts as 12 (walk) + 8 (walk) + 16 (run 8) + 5 (walk) = 41

Rowing challenge

There's another rowing challenge. Our virtual team rows as many meters as possible from March 15 through to April 15.

So I have a reason to get rowing again.

Swimming again

So today I got back in the pool. My triceps were objecting. They thought the water was too thick today. I did about 20 lengths in about 20 minutes. That was enough.

I'll be heading to the gym tomorrow.

120 - 20 = 100 minutes to go this week

Cardio today

Today I did cardio, since Jen hasn't finished writing up my new weight workout yet.

I did 30 minutes walking on the treadmill, followed by 2000m on the rower (11:26.9 min). Then I did 2 laps of the track and headed out.

It didn't even occur to me to stretch. Duh.

Me and my trainer

I had a one hour session with a personal trainer today (which ended up lastin 90 minutes!). The intention was to consolidate my 2 weight workouts into one, and replace some of the free weight moves with machines - since I tend to skip the free weights, but do all the machines.

I used a bunch of different machines that I've never used before. It's amazing what they've created to replace free weight moves. Jen (the trainer) was very good about making sure that I was using the right muscles properly. I think she took one look at me with my large stomach and large butt and decided that she was going to make me smaller.

One machine that works the shoulder blades is still killing me. Ow. I must have pulled something. I was doing weights to fatigue, not exhaustion. Well, that fatigue caught up with me at about 4pm. I lay on the couch and napped for 2 hours. I can't even remember the last time I needed a nap.

She's going to write it all up for me and it should be ready by Friday. So I guess I'm doing cardio on Thursday.

Swim (not!)

Monday, I was lazy. I didn't swim. I didn't even take my son to his lesson. We were late getting organized to head out and it just didn't happen.