Day 47

Wow, time is flying by. I did not get much training last weekend due to the holiday. Now that I am ready to run and bike outside, it is over 95 degrees out. I did get in a 9.3 bike ride yesterday before it became to unbearable to ride outside.

I am coming to the acceptance that I simply have not trained enough, therefor will not be ready for the mini sprint. I am still going to do it though. I figure it will take me about 2 hours, probably at least a 1/2 hour more or longer than anyone else. But you know what? I don't care. Of course I do not want to the humiliation of having people drag myself around the track, but it is what it is. It is a shame that I am so slow on the bike. When I went out yesterday, a girl passed me so fast; it made me feel like a turtle.

As soon as the heat wave breaks, I will do a brick workout at least every other day if not every day. I also want to get in another 3 swim practices before the race. It is 2 weeks from Saturday!

Kevin is running the Boilermaker in Utica this weekend. Despite being sick with Mono for over a month, he managed to get in enough training to do the 15k race. Kevin; you are awesome!

One last note; we went to Green Lakes over the weekend. After I jumped off the deck, I would swim around around as opposed to climbing up the ladder. It was a taste of open water swimming. I liked it! Granted it will be different next year for Iron Girl, but it is a start!

Taking the kids to the overcrowded, full of crazy kids public pool. Should be interesting!

Day 42

Well I did it; I biked, ran, and swam within a two hour span today. I started off with a bike ride up 370 (did not get far; ended up pulling into another subdivision and riding that route), then came home and ran/speed walked 3.5 miles, than did laps in my neighbors pool. I went swimming in the same outfit that I plan on racing in, and it felt good. I am now exhausted. It probably did not help that I was drinking rum and diet cokes last night like they were water. Note to self: stick to one drink while training.

My weight loss is moving along steadily. I have lost a total of 35 lbs since mid February. I was hoping to have lost more weight by now, but I am happy with it.

Kevin is training for his race (Boilermaker)so it is nice to have someone to commiserate with. I am trying to get him to do the "Y not TRI" with me but he is not confident with his swimming. I am hoping that by next year, I will be fit enough to run with him. It makes all the difference in the world to train with someone. My workouts are getting lonely!

This weekend I plan on getting in another brick workout and a long bike ride. The kids start their "playground summer camp" (with they are dreading) on Tuesday so I can start going back to the YMCA. Yea!

Day 39

What is my problem? Two days in a row now of lousy athletic performance. Yesterday I only did 15 minutes on the treadmill before calling it quits and today was not much better with 30 min. I really tried hard today but my lower back was really sore. The good news is that my bike is calling my name. I plan on doing the 9 mile loop after dinner tonight. I am enjoying biking much more. What I would love to do is to be able to buy a road bike. I think the mountain bike is slowing me down. Not on our budget though; we really want to get hard wood floors put in downstairs and that won't be cheap.

Tonight: bike ride. Tomorrow is a swim day if I can get a babysitter.

Day 37

The past of days have been busy. I was able to get a pool workout in on Friday and a nice workout on the treadmill yesterday. Last night was Abbie's birthday slumber party so I was happy to get in any excercise at all.

The day did not start off so great. I hit my neighbors car while backing out of my driveway. Of course I had a carful of kids with me. They were trumatized! The damage looks expensive. There goes the new kitchen floor I wanted.

At least Kevin talked me into a bike ride. We went 9.3 miles and it took about an hour. I felt great after it, but did not attempt to run since it was time to start cooking dinner. Now I have a new route to ride.

Tomorrow; repeat bike ride and attempt to run immediatly after. Even if I can only run a few minutes, it will be considered a "brick" workout.

Day 34

Happy Birthday to my big girl Abbie! I cannot believe that I have a 9 year old.

Today was....tough. I attempted my first long ride outside and I did not get far. Running outside is much more difficult than running on a treadmill; at least for me. I went about 2 miles and probably walked 90% of the way. It was really pathetic.

I am actually having some serious self doubt as to whether I can do a triathlon this summer. As my blog started, the goal was to do Iron Girl NEXT year. I might have bit off more than I could chew. The mini-sprint is 4 weeks from today. I just do not know at this point.

As my husband says, I just need to focus on the training and put the race out of my mind. I am going to see where I am physically in three weeks. If I am not ready, than I am not ready. I am not going to beat myself up for it. In the meantime, I will stay positive and keep plugging away.

Tomorrrow my parents are driving up from Watertown so that I can go swim at the Y. Yippee!

Day 33

Well it happened. I was out on a bike ride this morning when it "broke". I just knew this would happen sooner or later. Silly me for thinking it would not happen any time soon.

I was in the middle of doing two mile "loops" in my neighborhood. I was huffing away at a decent size hill when in the middle of shifting the chain came off. I did not realize that is what it was (obviously not bike savvy yet). So I had to do the walk of shame all the way back home (about 1/2 mile). Whenever a car drove by, I wanted to shout "I am not being lazy; the bike broke!".

When I got home, Kevin fixed it and showed me how to do it if it happens again. The funny thing is I did not realize that you could shift the bike on the left. I never noticed it. Here I am shifting on the right all this time. No wonder I am so slow! It will be interesting to go out again and see if this improves my time.

I was going to swim today but Kevin had to get a procedure done and the Dr. was late. Open swim is only from 12-3 so it is limited. Tomorrow I will do a long bike ride, and attempt to run right after (eeks, a "brick" work-out).

Day 32

So happy to report that I did my second long bike ride this morning. I went a bit longer this time; going into Onondaga Lake Park. I somehow have to find a way to get my water bottle without stopping though. I guess I just do not feel confident enough on the bike yet to reach down for it without stopping. Here is the bummer part of biking; saddle sores. Yikes, they are painful.

Yesterday I tried to run in the afternoon, but I just ended up speed walking 75% of the time. My heel has been bugging me the past few days. I am hoping it is not my plantar facititis flaring up.

Tomorrow is a swim day. I wonder if I will be the only racer that wears nose plugs?