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Slow As She Goes March 31, 2006

Posted by vollenda in : General , 4 comments

I got a good night’s sleep last night. Woke up feeling pretty good and decided to go to the gym and run. It was a mad rush to pack my Zoot bag with all the gear I would need. I also grabbed my heart rate monitor as I walked out the door. Rode hard to the gym, avg heart rate was 149. Oops. :) But I wanted to make sure I had enough time for a 45 minute run this morning.

It was a good, if frustrating run. MY treadmill was open - it’s by the window so I can look out while I’m running. I figured out that the max time on the treadmill is 30 minutes. Last time, I’d just used the quick start so it automatically sets to 30 min. This time, I tried the manual mode and it wouldn’t accept 45 min. Bummer. So, I set it for 30, set my hrm, and I was off. Felt pretty good and then after about 5 minutes I looked down at the hrm and saw it was at 144. Darn, I’m supposed to be running at 138. So I slowed it down a little but it wouldn’t come down. So I took a 1 min walk break to bring it down. The rest of the run was a struggle to keep it down. I reset the treadmill for another 15 minutes when the 30 was up and I ended up taking a total of 4 1 min walk breaks during the 45 min. Average heart rate for the run was 143. And really, if I’d gone any slower, I would have been walking the entire time. That just can’t be right. Sometimes, I really hate that heart rate monitor. Nothing like a stupid little watch to tell you how out of shape you are, eh? Oh well. Maybe I lost more than I thought during my little break? Just means I have more work to do, I guess.

Pilates tonight. Should be an interesting weekend. It’s supposed to rain tonight and into tomorrow. I’m hoping I’ll be able to get a long ride in tomorrow afternoon. I also need to fit in a swim tomorrow and work too. On Sunday, I am volunteering at the LA Tri Series triathlon where I hope to meet a couple fellow trifuelers. :) Should be fun to watch as I’ve never watched a race before. I know I’ll get at least a few hills in on the ride to Bonelli. Or, I could run there. We’ll see.

Have a great weekend everyone. :)

Lapnesia and Swimvy March 30, 2006

Posted by vollenda in : General , 5 comments

Rode to the gym and swam 1800 this morning. At least. I say at least because I had a severe case of lapnesia this morning and I think I repeated laps O and August. So I might have actually done 1900, but I will say 1800 just to be sure. :) I felt pretty good this morning and had a good rythym. Swam the set straight thru with 2 brief pauses - once to say hi to Kylie and once to tell “The Kid” that it wasn’t nice of him to show off like that. He had been doing one armed drills and STILL he was faster than me. So I was laughing and told him it wasn’t fair. He blushed a little. :) But really, I was watching his form and I think I’m doing it just like him so how come he’s so much faster than me? I know, I know. Who cares that he’s faster than me? I just wanna finish the Vineman swim under 2 hours!!!

I am still feeling a little bleach. Yesterday afternoon, I had that lead weight feeling in my arms and legs so when I got home I took a nap. I did end up doing Pilates while I watched Lost. If I’m going to stay up, I might as well make the best of it. Nothing else is scheduled for today and I hope to be asleep by 8 tonight.

One more thing…yesterday, beads sent out this email asking us to describe him in one word. I did the same and one of the responses I got back from my friend Angel was “Ironwoman”. Pretty cool, huh? I’m not one yet, but I’m going to be soon. :)

Morning Brick March 29, 2006

Posted by vollenda in : General , 2 comments

I left work after an hour yesterday and slept the whole day. I ended up riding the mile over to the bus and then taking the bus home. I was feeling wobbly. All that sleep did me a world of good and by night, I was feeling better. Woke up this morning and had some orange juice. So far, so good. So I rode over to the gym before work and ran on the treadmill for 40 minutes. Steady pace run, no walking. I felt a little loopy when I got off the treadmill, but I usually feel like that when I get off those things. Like the ground hasn’t stopped moving. The new gym also has rows and rows of treadmills and elipticals so there was no waiting like at the RC gym. AND the new treadmills have fans in them. Woo Hoo! Not quite as good as the fresh air of running outside (my fave) but still better than stale air. I decided to run at the gym this morning because all of the rain has turned my dirt tracks into mud central. I knew I wouldn’t want to wade thru it tonight, hence the gym this morning. I feel pretty good. I tried to concentrate on my form and feet placement. Mostly so I wouldn’t fall off, but also because I seem to have forgotten the Evolution style during my lay off. I did lose my towel at one point, but other than that, it was a good run. :) Pilates tonight since I skipped it yesterday.

Stomach Virus? March 28, 2006

Posted by vollenda in : General , 4 comments

I think I might have a stomach virus or something. Yesterday afternoon, I started feeling sick to my stomach. By the end of the day, it was all I could do to get on my bike and ride home. I stopped and got some soup and just vegged the rest of the night. Good thing it was an active rest day yesterday.

I felt better when I woke up this morning so I rode to the gym to swim. It was raining a little but not bad. I was hoping to do 2000 today but only made it to 1500. Around 1200, the nausea came back and that last 300 were horrible. I actually didn’t feel the water at all this morning. And to top it off, there were two distractions swimming next to me and both of them were flying thru the water. I was so slow compared to them, it was like I was swimming in molasses. Oh well. The five minutes from the gym to work weren’t much fun either. I’m sitting here, hoping it passes so I can get a full day in. Or at the very least, feel well enough to ride home. The only thing I had planned for tonight is Pilates. At least I don’t have to worry about overeating right now. I can’t even think of food right now. :( Is it tomorrow yet?

A Day at the Races March 27, 2006

Posted by vollenda in : General , 8 comments

On Saturday, Kylie and I took a trip out to see the Redlands Bicycle Classic races. We arrived just in time to hear the women take off. There were some fearless women in that race. Girl Power! :) We watched the race, walked around and saw the sites, saw many cute cyclists, and lots and lots of legs. Oh, the muscles!!! :P The men’s race was wild, wild, wild. We walked around the course so we got to see them at various points during the race. The sound of the tires on the pavement was music to my ears. And it was very, very, very cool to be just inches from them as they flew past in a blur. I finally decided the sound reminding me of a river rushing by. :) A river of bikes, and tires, and jerseys, and helmets – all in myriad of colors. It was dizzying. What I wouldn’t give to go that fast just once. Soon. Soon.
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141 Days March 24, 2006

Posted by vollenda in : General , 4 comments

I woke up this morning at 5 to go swimming. It was easier to get up today since I went to bed early last night. First thing I did was call the gym to see if it was open. It was. Yeah! 1600 this morning. My triceps were a little achy this morning but otherwise I felt good. Once again, I just swam a straight set with just one pause half way to make adjustments. Once again, I had the pool to myself. It’s selfish of me, I know, but I’m glad there doesn’t appear to be many swimmers in Upland. While I was swimming this morning, I was thinking about the Vineman and how it SEEMS like it’s still far away - Aug 12th. But the time will fly by. 141 days. 20ish weeks. 4+ months. I need more time. I want more time. I’ll be ready. :)

I did some pilates last night. Not a full set though because I just wasn’t feeling it and my stomach did not appreciate the core work at this time of the month. Run tonight. Woo Hoo! My legs are doing pretty well. Funny thing…the left knee is a little sore today. I think I’ve been pushing my left leg harder on the bike to give my right knee a rest and now it’s complaining about doing all the work. It should be fine now that the right knee is and I’m even again. Well for me anyway. Have I ever mentioned that I think my right leg is shorter than the left and crooked? From when I broke it a few years ago. My friends think I’m out of my mind, but I KNOW it’s different from before.

I am so ready for the weekend. Have a great weekend everyone. :)

An Hour In The Sun March 23, 2006

Posted by vollenda in : General , 4 comments

The brick went pretty well last night.  Whew.  It was 60 degrees when I rode home.  Joy, joy, joy.  I got home, changed into my running stuff, grabbed my tunes, and went for a 30 min run on the dirt tracks.  No walking, although various body parts were complaining.  I can definitely tell I’ve gone soft where running is concerned - left arch and ankle, hips and glutes.  I just tuned out my body and listed to Depeche Mode instead.  My heart definitely wanted to do more, but I thought I better not push it.  I’ll go for 45 minutes on Friday and then build from there. :)   Took my time stretching afterwards (listening to Fiona) and there’s really no soreness today.

So…this morning, I woke up at 5 to go swimming at the gym.  I had packed my swim stuff the night before and was all set to go.  I WAS a little tired this morning from staying up late to watch Lost and also starting my period this morning.  I had slight cramps as well, but I threw on my clothes and headed out the door.  Success!!!  Then I get to the gym and the parking lot is empty.  What?  I know that not many people know it’s open yet, but 2 cars?  Then I see a sign in the window.  Uh oh…Yep, just as I feared…CLOSED.  Argh!!!  Apparently they had water issues yesterday and they had to shut off the water and close the gym while it was repaired.  Now what?  Go to work and get some extra work in?  Or get an extra hour of riding in?  Extra hour of riding, baby!!!!!!  It was a beautiful morning and a warm 50 degrees so of course I chose to spend it outside rather than be cooped up in the office.  :)   So no swim but the morning wasn’t a loss.  I actually had enough time to ride home and change out the swim stuff in my bag for another set of work clothes for tomorrow.  The gym is supposed to be open by tomorrow and I can swim tomorrow instead.  Pilates tonight, I think.  No, I know.

You know, it’s funny.  While I was riding this morning, I was thinking about The Alchemist.  There’s a theme in there about how when you get close to your goals or dreams the universe throws in a few obstacles to test you.  Am I being tested right now?  Or am I just a slacker?  Lisa “S” as BBB likes to call me now.  I don’t want to be Lisa “S” so I’m determined to get back to it and BE CONSISTANT.  By the way, I have to say thanks to BBB for pushing me to get back to it.  Thanks BBB. :)

No More Bozo March 22, 2006

Posted by vollenda in : General , 2 comments

Oops, I forgot to do intervals on the way home last night.  I had kind of a crappy afternoon at work and I was so frustrated I rode hard all the way home.  Nothing like a good hard ride to get rid of the bleahs, right?  What the bike didn’t cure, Pilates took care of.  Boy, did it feel good last night.  I have been really bad about stretching and I felt like I was completely wound up.  When I was done, I was nice and relaxed and fluid.  :)   I didn’t remember about the intervals til I was falling asleep last night.  Oh well.

I also rode hard on the way to work this morning since I left the house late.  I decided to cut my hair when I got out of the shower this morning.  I’ve been looking like Bozo the Clown lately.  My hair is too short to put in a pony tail but long enough to stick out from my helmet and baseball caps.  So I cut it.  It’s pretty wavy/curly so I can’t really screw it up and if I do, the curls will hide it.  :)   It’ll be eaiser to fit in my new Whoosh butterfly swim cap.  Oh, and the money I saved on the haircut I can use to buy new gloves!  Woo Hoo. :)

So, tonight will be intervals on the way home and then a run.  Haven’t done a brick in a while.  Distance to be determined.  No results from the MRI yet but I think I’m good to go.

A Shiny New Gym March 21, 2006

Posted by vollenda in : General , 7 comments

I went swimming this morning. Woo Hoo!!!! 1500 at the shiny, new 24HR Fitness that just opened up 5 minutes from work. It’s great right now because not many people know it’s open already and it wasn’t crowded at all. I had the whole pool to myself. No sets, just straight thru with one short pause to adjust my swim cap and goggles. I need to build up my stamina again. It was a good swim. :) The only bad part about swimming so close to work is that I still have the goggle imprints right now. Oh well, everyone knows I am a crazy triathlete so they’ll just shake their heads. :P

I think I’ll throw in some intervals on the way home and then Pilates tonight during American Idol. The commutes have been great so far this week. It rained overnight but it was clearing up this morning. It’s been cold, which isn’t bad but the wind has a little bite to it. It’s supposed to be in the 70’s by Thursday. Yeah!!! It’s going to be a great weekend for riding this weekend! Can’t wait.

I Ran March 16, 2006

Posted by vollenda in : General , 4 comments

Yesterday, they let us out at noon in honor of Mrs. L. I took advantage of the beautiful day and went for a run on the tracks and then rode to the gym to swim. What’s that? No, it’s not a typo. I ran yesterday! Woo Hoo! Only 2 miles and I walked a little bit but nothing hurt. Well, my knees didn’t anyway. Other things were tight from not having run in a while but it was good. :) I went running before I went swimming so I wouldn’t back out. I had a gel when I got back from the run and then rode to the gym. I swam 1200. Again, I had cramps in my feet, even down to my toes!!! The gel had electrolytes in it. I never had this problem when I swam before work. It’s very weird.

My knee was a little sore last night but the legs felt good this morning. The ride in to work was great. Again I felt strong and it was warmer this morning - 40 degrees. Life is good. Now, if I could get a handle on my allergies and stop sneezing, life would be perfect. :)