Oh, what a month September 30, 2005
Posted by vollenda in : General , add a commentThere was a sliver of a moon on the way to the gym this morning. It seemed it was grinning down at me as if it was the Chesire Cat and I was Alice. 
I had a good swim this morning (1100m 100 warm-up & 1×1000), still trying to be quiet. I also did weights for chest & back. The ride to work was really warm and a little bit smoky. Speaking of grinning…there sure was a lot for me to grin about in September! I have to say, it’s been the best month so far this year. Here’s a recap of the past 30 days:
*Most important and fun – my nephew Max was born on the 18th! Woo Hoo! Only 2 weeks til I get to hold him.
*I ran my second 5K with a new pr of 27:24 & 2nd in my age group!
*I joined a softball team (our 1st game is tonight).
*I met my goal of taking Blue out for a spin every weekend. Now I just need to up the mileage.
*I lost 2 pounds this week and 5 total for the month. I am officially no longer “overweight” (BMI 24.78) and now considered “normal”. Ha! Little do they know.
And the stats for the regularly scheduled programs are:
12,200m in the pool
463 miles on my bikes (63 of which were on Blue)
58 miles in my running shoes
I hope you all had a good month too and that your October is just as wonderful. And finally, remember this…"There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as if everything is." ~Albert Einstein
Speedy Gonzales September 29, 2005
Posted by vollenda in : General , add a commentLast night I did that beginner track workout. I intend to live up to that mouse's name yet! I ran 2 miles for a warm-up, then jumped around a bit, then did the 2×5x100. Finally, I ran another mile easy to cool down after. It wasn’t bad but I was pretty tired by the last couple. Did I mention this was after riding home in a headwind? Normally the wind is at my back on the way home but when the Santa Anas blow, they come from the desert (thus the warm weather) instead of offshore and I have to ride home in a head wind. Or a cross wind. These winds are also bad for fire season and last night I could see the smoke from some fires in the area. A couple of years ago, we had some really bad fires in our local mountains and the smoke and ash were horrendous. I hope they get these fires under control soon.
Today is an active rest day for me. No winds on the way to work so hopefully they are gone for now. My calfs were a little tight this morning. I have pilates planned for tonight so it should help.
They posted the results from the 5K on the web yesterday, the overall winners and the age groupers. I had to check it out of course. Just to make sure. Look ma, there’s my name! I’m a geek, I know. ;P
Quiet Swim September 28, 2005
Posted by vollenda in : General , add a commentWhat a fabulous morning I’ve had so far. Went to the gym this morning and swam 1100m (400 drills & 1×700). Felt really, really good. Usually I don’t feel the water til after I’ve done about 500m but this morning I felt the water right away. Could be because of an article I was reading this morning while eating breakfast. It was about kaizen swimming. I decided to try and be as quiet as possible in the pool today and it was interesting. Really made me focus.
After the swim, I worked arms & shoulders & glutes. Then rode to work. It was a little windy this morning but not bad. The wind was really warm. Santa Anas maybe? At a stop light, a guy on a motorcycle pulled up next to me and started talking to me. He told me that he sees me out there riding every day and asked me how far I ride. We talked for a few minutes until the light changed. He was cute. But ya know…most of the time, I’m in my own little world and I never thought about whether or not people see me out there. I am so focused on what I’m doing most of the time that it doesn’t occur to me that people are taking notice of what I’m doing. Kind of a weird feeling. But kind of cool too. I wonder what the people who pass me everyday are thinking. Do they think I’m crazy or dedicated? Do any of them ever think “Maybe I could do that?” Hmmm…
I’m going for a run tonight when I get home from work. I have a track workout planned for tonight. My first “official” one ever. TriTimKC shared an article with me on track workouts made simple and I’m going to try the beginner one tonight (2×5x100). Wish me luck.
Past Few Days September 27, 2005
Posted by vollenda in : General , add a commentThe past few days have been busy. No rest for the wicked I guess. After the race on Saturday, I rode back to my mom’s, called all my family, showered, then rode to work, worked for 5 hours, then rode home. I walked down to the store for groceries when I got home but was too tired to make dinner and just got some Del Taco – cheeseburger, fries, and a strawberry shake…and had the whole shake! I went to bed early that night and got a good night’s sleep though.
On Sunday I was going to take it easy but when I looked outside, it was too gorgeous to stay in. So I took Blue out for an hour’s ride and then ran 3 miles very easy. After taking a shower and reading the Sunday paper, I decided to ride down to the book store for a few treats. And since it’s only a mile from the gym, I took my gym stuff with me to do the arms & shoulders routine I missed on Saturday. While I was there, I asked one of the trainers to measure my body fat %. It was 25.79%. Which she said was good for my age. Whatever. I think it’s all on my backside.
On Monday, I was back to my normal routine…rode to the gym, swam 1000m (100 warm-up, 1×900), did weights for chest & back, and rode to/from work. A good day.
This morning I ran 3 miles (easy) before work on the tracks. Realized I haven’t tripped in quite a while then looked around for wood to knock on, just in case. My legs were noodle-like however, like I’d just flirting with a guy who made my knees go weak. I was a little tired this morning because I decided to do housework at 9:00 last night and went to bed much later than planned. Once I start something, I have to finish it or it will just bug me. I don’t know when to say quit which can be a good thing for this sport I’ve chosen. Anyway, I had my breakfast when I got back from the run and was fine by the time I left for work. The ride to work was pleasant and warm. We are having absolutely beautiful weather right now - warm, sunny, clear & smog free, deep blue skies. The kind of weather that makes you want to call in sick from work and go play and explore
Cloud 797 - San Dimas 5K September 26, 2005
Posted by vollenda in : Race Report , add a commentI was floating on cloud 797 on Saturday. 797 was my race number for the 21st Annual 5K Run in San Dimas. The day started off cool (55) and overcast – perfect running weather. When I arrived, people were milling all about. There were about 200 people for the 5K - men, women, children of all ages, entire families, track teams, and a couple of dogs. One of the men was pushing a woman in a “stroller” and it reminded me of Team Hoyt. I warmed up, stretched, jumped around on the play ground and was ready to go. My goal for this race was 28:30.
The gun went off at 7:30 and the masses started running. I felt pretty good, running hard, but not all out. When I got to the 1 mile, the volunteer said my time was 8:45. Faster than expected and I slowed down a little knowing that the next mile would be almost all uphill. When I got to the volunteer at mile 2, my time was 18:07. Still on track. After mile 2, I turned the corner and it was a long glorious downhill. I let myself kind of free fall down the hill and it gave me a chance to catch a little breath. I turned the final corner, one last bit of a hill, and then at the crest you could see the finish line a couple of blocks ahead – the home stretch. For almost the whole race, I was a few yards behind this one guy. I passed him on this last little hill, but I guess he wasn’t having any of it. He passed me and then we leap frogged until the finish. I heard him coming one last time and started running all out to the finish. I heard someone yell “nice kick” and I grinned. He ended up beating me but only by a fraction of a second and HA, I made him work for it!
I glanced at the clock as I crossed the finish and saw the time and thought there must be some mistake. It couldn’t be right, could it? Checked my garmin and they were the same. What? How did I do that? 27:24! Could I have really beat my time goal by that much? I walked around and checked out the booths and drank lots and lots of water. Then I wandered over to boards. I was 75th and yes, my time was 27:24. I think I let out a laugh and I know I was grinning from ear to ear. But wait, there’s more…
I started talking to this couple. She had run but he hadn’t because he was doing the Long Beach Triathlon on Sunday. I found out that he had only done a pool triathlon where the swim was at the end. So I was telling him about the joys of the mass swim start. Imagine that…I actually helped someone and gave them advice about tris! The best piece of advice I gave him was to check out trifuel! But then while I was talking to them, I heard another woman telling her husband that her time was 27:39 and she thought she’d placed third in her age group because there were only two 5s in front of her. And I was like, wait a minute…I’m a 5! And my time was faster. Could it be? So I ran back to the boards and yep, 2nd in my age group! It didn’t seem real until they called my name for the medal. Woo Hoo! I’m not sure how, but I refrained from doing the Happy Dance (as inspired by Snoopy and a future tatoo for my ankle).
Can you all tell I’m a bit excited about this? I actually don’t know how many women were in our age group, but that’s okay. I was ecstatic over the time thing and this was just icing on the cake! Man, I love racing. I should do this more often!
To celebrate, I went to the book store yesterday and bought a book, a new training log, and today I am ordering this shirt…
"We are the dreamers of dreams" September 23, 2005
Posted by vollenda in : General , add a commentThe 21st Annual 5K run in the world famous city of San Dimas is tomorrow. World famous that is if you ever saw Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure. I’m riding to my mom’s house after work to spend the night since she only lives a few miles from the race. It starts at 7:30 so I’ll ride over there about 6:15 and check-in. It will give me a chance to warm up and check out the competition. 
There is a Family Fun Run after the 5K and then a Family Fitness Fair. It should be fun. I’m going to wear my trifuel jersey and my running skirt (which, btw, is really kicky). I have a goal, of course, so there will be a little work going on, but fun it shall be.
Yesterday I signed up for the Steamboat Tri (also in San Dimas) on Oct 9th. I had been thinking it was 2 months away, but it was only a month and now it’s only 2 weeks away! But I’m ready & rarin’ to go. Excited. Not as nervous as I was for my first in June. Now I know what to expect both from the race and myself.
This morning I swam 700 again. Worked chest & back. And then cruised to work thinking about what a cool small town San Dimas is. Not only do they have a Triathlon series (which I will be doing next year), the Steamboat, a Muddy Buddy, and 5Ks but they also hold the San Dimas Stage Race in March – three days of time trials and road races, men and women. I love to watch it and listen to the singing of the tires as they race by in a dizzying array of color. It gets my heart pumping and my legs twitching to get out there and fly too. Not to mention the all those lovely bikes to drool over. And did I mention there is the annual rodeo too? Yep, all this right in my own back yard. Well, okay, my mom’s back yard.
Speaking of Bill & Ted…what I wouldn’t give to have a time machine and go back in time to when I was a teenage and kick my lazy butt into gear. But it is what it is. And because I’m in silly movie mode, here’s today’s quote…
“We are the music makers and we are the dreamers of dreams.” ~Willie Wonka
The Perils of Bike Commuting September 22, 2005
Posted by vollenda in : General , add a commentI ran last night. I’m a nut , I know. I have a hard time figuring out whether I’m being lazy or if I really need to take time off. If I’m going to err, it will most likely be on the side of working out too much since I’m so afraid of falling back into old habits. I need to get over that. I just don’t feel like I can relax yet. Not until I’ve reached my goal weight and maintained it for a couple of years. Anyway, I had kind of a frustrating afternoon so I ran to get rid of some of the ickiness. I had an energy bar when I got home and then went for a 3 mile run. Came home, ate dinner, then took a nap. So I could stay up late and watch Lost until 10.
I slept in til 5 this morning since it’s my rest day. Took a nice long soak in the bath tub and then left for work. I leave home about 6:45 when I don’t go to the gym and get to work about 7:15/7:20. Cool down and stretch for a few minutes. Start writing my blog. Then do the phone booth thing a la Clark Kent. And voila, ready for work.
I really do enjoy not having a car and riding everywhere. It’s much less stressful. However, there are days when things go awry and such was the case this past week – in the undergarment zone. Last Thursday, I forgot to pack my bra. Had to wear my workout bra, which is of course a racerback and black and showed under the WHITE shirt I had packed for the day. I wore my sweater buttoned up to the neck the whole day but you could still see the straps at my neck. 
Crisis mostly averted. Then last night I changed into my bike stuff to head home and was packing my bag to go when I turned around and noticed my underwear lying on the floor outside my cubicle. I’d dropped it! I must have turned 50 shades of red, grabbed them, and stuffed them in my bag. Oh the horror. Who knows how many of my coworkers saw them. :O And were they cute Victoria’s Secret ones? Oh no, I’d packed in the dark yesterday morning and grabbed the first pair out of the drawer – Granny, white, Hanes Her Way. Aaaaaaahhhhhhhh! I think I have to find a new job. Nobody told me commuting could be so dangerous. So I was a little frazzled on the way home and decided to go running to feel better.
On a happier note, I weighed myself this morning and I’ve lost 3 lbs so far this month. I am now only 15 pounds from my goal weight.
Oh, and here’s my new nephew Max…
Wednesday Dip September 21, 2005
Posted by vollenda in : General , add a commentThis morning I finally introduced myself to “The Machine”. His name is Tim. After 7 months of “good mornings” and “how’s it goins”, I figured it was about time I knew his name. Especially since I use him for inspiration in the pool and as a measure of how well I’m doing. Sometimes I try to match his pace for as long as I can and it’s getting easier.
So I swam 700m this morning (100 warm-up, 1×600). Felt really good in the pool, still just cruising along. Then worked arms, shoulders, and glutes. And experienced a major drop in energy. Like a bonk, really. The ride to work from the gym seemed like it took forever (only a few minutes slower than usual). But I was praying for green lights all the way since stopping and starting just took too much energy. I just ate a Balance Trail Mix bar and I’m starting to feel a little more normal (for me anyways ). I have a run scheduled for tonight so hopefully I’ll feel better by this afternoon. I am really looking forward to tomorrow where I have nothing planned but the commute to work.
I only got about 6 hours of sleep last night so it could just be that I’m tired. Or I wonder if I’m eating enough. I’m still trying to get to my goal weight so I’m still trying to lose. But am I eating too little? Maybe I should shoot for ½ lb instead of 1-1 ½ lbs a week. That would give me a few hundred extra calories a day to work with…
Rainy Tuesday September 20, 2005
Posted by vollenda in : General , add a commentThis week is a rest/easy week for me. Which is a good thing since I was so sore from the weekend. So yesterday I swam 700m and rode to/from work. Really slow. I was hoping the cool pool would ease my muscles some and it helped a little. I should have done Pilates last night but instead I took a bubble bath and went to bed early. I had the sniffles anyway, I think/hope it’s my allergies.
This morning I ran an easy 3 miles in the rain. I was planning on 4 miles and there was a nice light rain when I left the house. When I was 1.5 miles from home, the skies opened up and it started raining buckets. Ok, that’s fine, bring it on. Love running in the rain. And then mother nature said okay, you asked for it…and lightning flashed across the sky and thunder rumbled all around me. She won and I headed for home. The lightning/thunder stopped by the time I left for work and most of the rain too. Just enough to force me to ride slower than I normally do which is good since I’m supposed to be going easy. I forget sometimes when I’m riding. It should be clear by the time I head home tonight. Still a little sore so Pilates tonight
He's here! He's here! September 19, 2005
Posted by vollenda in : General , add a commentMy nephew Max is here! He decided he couldn’t wait to see this wonderful world we live in and came two weeks early. He weighed in at 7 lbs 5 oz and was 20 inches long. Ten perfect fingers and 10 perfect toes. Woo Hoo! Both he and my sister are doing fine. I cannot wait to see him and the only bummer for me is that I have to wait a whole month to hold him. Hopefully this month will fly by in the blink of an eye.
So, besides all the excitement in the family, I also had a great weekend workout wise. And every inch of my body is sore because of it. Except my left big toe…wait…no, that’s sore too!
On Saturday morning, I slept in until 5 am and rode to the gym at 5:30. When I got there, I lifted for arms & shoulder and did a little legs. Then I was rarin to go at 6:30 with the group. On this run I ran around the track 4 times and did a total of 5.5 miles. How did I do? Very well, thank you. Our average pace was 9:40. My legs were really tight after and I was spent. Now for the important part – At the bagel shop, I had a cinnamon raisin bagel with peanut butter AND honey. Scrumptious. Afterwards, I rode to work, worked a couple of hours and then rode home.
Yesterday, I went for an easy 3.5 run in the morning and did my usual sets of plyometrics. My legs were still tight so I stopped a couple of times to stretch them out. After lunch, I went for a quick 13 mile spin on Blue. A good ride on a warm, sunny afternoon.
Then finally, it was time for softball practice. This is where most of the soreness comes in – my quads, hamstrings, glutes, arms, shoulders, back. Various softball size bruises on my hand, leg, and foot. But I did really well. Hitting went great. Catching went great (I’m playing catcher). The only thing they said I need to work on was my throwing. Apparently I throw like a girl. I said, “well, I am a girl”. But I agree, I need to work on it. I thought I would be able to throw much father what with swimming and working out with weights, but not so much. It was a lot of fun. We went out for pizza after and I was so hungry, pizza never tasted so good. Our first game is on the 30th so I have a couple of weeks to practice.
So all in all, I had a fun-filled, exciting weekend filled with surprises and much joy. I hope you all had as good a weekend. Um…did I mention my nephew is here!!!!!!!!!!