Swim - Checking In

Swam tonight - felt good and swam happy. Is it time for me to graduate to a Speedo? I do need to get myself a funky swim cap ASAP. I found myself a coach -I'm going to meet/swim with her a week from tonight.. Looking forward to that. I have been swimming all my life, but I've never had any formal training so it should be interesting.

Feeling like I gotta start getting more serious about running...and I really want to bike at least 10 miles a couple times this week. Figuring out the gears on my bike..now that is hysterical. The clip ins and now having to learn all about gears...I'm afraid I need to learn to change a flat as well. Can you hear me whining?

Progress Is: Sticking with it, even when it hurts.
Progress Is: Making it work, even when my schedule is hectic and training is inconvenient.
Progress Is: Happy Training.
Progress Is: Envisioning the FINISH LINE.

Iz and I in New Castle.

Training Happy...

Have decided it's time to train with a swim cap.

Why is it that Meg is so cute with hers on?

And I look like this..

After the transition clinic and a short bike ride.

My training partners, Meg and Iz.

Getting ready to hit the pool.

Training...49 days and counting

My butt hurts, a good sign from riding my new bike.
Rode part of the course with Rich Friday night. Only died a little.
Went to the transition clinic yesterday morning - learned a lot and saw enough to freak me out! But now I know where we swim and I am determined to get in the water for an open water swim soon. I've decided what wetsuit to buy - got to figure out what Tri-Shorts I will use and I want to order a funny tank- one that says something like, "I'm only doing this so I can post a picture on Facebook" or "If it weren't for me, you'd have no one to pass."

I know I need: a new helmet, a race belt and speed laces. I think that's about it tho.

This morning we're watching "FIFA" as Iz calls it, she has been inspired and is searching for her cleats so she can go play - but not after reprimanding her dad and I for spending all day in front of the TV and on the computer. Which is a bunch of hogwash anyway.

Progress Is - Tuesday June 22, 2010 - Starbucks...

When we went to Hawaii in the Spring of 2008 I met the Sbux Iced Caramel Macchiato. After that trip and after a short & sweet courting period, Me and the CM...well, we fell in love. I would get them BIG and I would get them OFTEN.

2 Years later...Progress is...moving from a Venti to a Grande, modifying from 2% to SOY milk and decreasing the pumps of vanilla...

Oh, and even more important, now I only get them as a special treat and I find myself enjoying them even more now than ever!

Happy drinking.

Check In - TFC is in 7 weeks.

Tonight I biked for 20 minutes with Iz - then ran for 20 minutes while she rode along with me. It was nice to have a partner until she started complaining - she got tired before I did!!

While I was biking I was thinking, "Woman, you better not crash" and "Holy smokes, these clips scare the crap out of me".

Most of the time while I was running I was thinking "How the hell am I going to do this?" Part of the time I was thinking how it will feel to cross the finish line. At some points I was thinking of songs I want to use to create the perfect TFC playlist to keep me inspired and pepped up on the big day.

And then I felt happy.

Now I feel tired.

Good night

Progress

No energy, time, or desire to try to be witty or clever.
Just happy I ran today - thanks to my dear friend A - we did a little over 3. Stopped to walk 3 times. It was a good workout and I am feeling proud. Thank you A, couldn't have done it without you.

Laps and Lengths and Meters, Oh My!

Hopefully I swim better than I count...it has taken me 15 minutes to figure out how far I swam tonight...(Great Christ I stink at math) -- The good news is, 12 "down & backs" is (a teeny bit) more than 1/3 mile! Shout out to my training team - Iz, Rich & Miss Meghan! Thanks for the support guys. And Iz, thanks for "pointing" out to me that you could see my PIMPS - a/k/a NIPS.

While I am thanking people, I also shout out a thank you to Beth and Meg Herrick, Christie Cannell & Meghan Livingston, and Lisa Molnar for their recent donations! I am almost at my fundraising goal.

Just for training/tracking purposes I do want to give myself credit for running on Saturday. I spotted one of my little Girl Scouts and just HAD to stop to say hello (breathe) and a few streets later I made a point to run by a friend's house hoping to spot her...and I did .. but only after peaking in the window and waving like a mad woman. Again, I HAD to stop to say hello (breathe) - can't be rude! The good news is..I ran longer than I had hoped, and I ran happy. I listened to my Beach to Beacon playlist and it really gets me going.

Anyone want to lend a hand on my 39 for 39 quest? I'd love some suggestions for songs/music to run to... One goal is to make a playlist of 39 songs/artists that are new to me...Please post some suggestions of artists or specific songs that you think I might enjoy! Help me explore new horizons musically!

Gotta get on my bike!

Progress Is - June 6, 2010

Progress is recognizing that I haven't left myself enough time to finish all I want to do between now and Wednesday....and knowing that life will go on if things are not perfect and even if it all doesn't get done.

Getting a grip.
Keeping it in perspective.
Thankful for my family.
Grateful for my friends.

Progress Is - June 4, 2010

Coming home at 10:15 on a Fun Friday Night with Friends...even tho you wanted to stay out. My boss once told me, "Nothing good ever happens after 10:00" - and, as usual, he was right.

Progress Is

Remember that Charlie Brown book, "Love is Walking Hand in Hand" ? Page after page of delightful quotes about what love means to different people. One of my oldest friends, Darcy Jill, gave the "LOVE IS" book to me for Christmas my Junior year in High School... (Darce & I were so ahead of the times reading deeply thought provoking material like Peanuts quote books and our other favorite, "Dr. Ruth's Guide to Good Sex" - MAN that book was worn and torn from all the reading (and giggling) we did..we passed that book back & forth time after time)...oh how I love to digress, honestly I must say learned a LOT from that gem of a sex book - published way back in 1983!!

So, ... my point is that I've decided to model my Thirty Nine for 39 signature posts (made that term up myself) after the Peanuts quote book, they will start with "Progress Is". I'll pat myself on the back whenever I can...I need all the help I can get. The progress I tend to make can usually be recorded in baby steps - but they are forward baby steps so I'll take them.

SO, here's my first "Progress Is" post...

Progress Is...having (and enjoying!) a small crunch cone in lieu of a Peanut Buster Parfait or Medium Peanut Butter Cup Blizzard.

Progress Is...swimming over 1/4 mile in 35 minutes; (even if it wasn't continuous and some of the laps were with a kickboard)!

Progress Is...two blog posts in two days.

Progress Is...weighing myself (stupid mistake) and NOT beating myself up...and actually realizing 2 hours after I got off the scale and looked at my Lose It log that I have in fact LOST 4.5 pounds. Another 4 pounds will take me to a huge personal milestone. Stay tuned!

Progress Is...being happy and keeping things in perspective. Oh, and having one of Sarah's MONSTER COOKIES in the house and not eating it...I'm saving it for tomorrow!

nighty night

Ok Ok, I turn 40 soon

It's coming up - gotta start planning out my goals, some specific and some more general.

One major goal - the TRI. http://triforacure.kintera.org/faf/donorReg/donorPledge.asp?ievent=317519&supid=207289421 Why am I finding myself almost embarrassed when people ask me about it or comment on it? Maybe because I am the textbook "Slow Fat Triathlete Wanna Be" ? Reading that book, by the way, has been a lot of fun and very inspirational. Check it out for your humor reading...http://www.slowfattriathlete.com/
Anyway, as Jayne puts it so well, "Being a slow fat triathlete means being a beginner. It's shorthand for anyone who can find it in themselves to do a little training and take part in triathlon at their own pace, on their own terms, for their own reasons, with a mix of pride and humor." So, I will swim, bike and JOG, I just cannot call it running when it is so God damn slow. My goal is to finish. FINISH. And to continue to train - following my geezer training....I may hold myself to accounting for my training here...just to nudge me along for all of my (zero) readers!


Ok, that's enough - I have a lot more to write about, but man this exhausts me. Plus the deal was, "I'll mix the tuna up, if you make the sandwiches." So, off I go to make a couple of Po-Boys for my main man...


Phew, my first real blog post - I don't consider the Troop 1529 Blog a true blog....should I feel bad about that?