December Goals

I met Matt and Paul and Genine this afternoon to swim. G did her own thing, but M and P joined me for a great workout. I felt a little tired towards the end, but my free felt good and my fly is still feeling awkward, but better.

2 x {1 x 50 scull/ swim (1:30)
1 x 100 6-6-6/ swim (2)
1 x 200 negative split (4)
1 x 100 acceleration drill/ swim (2)
1 x 50 kick/ swim (1:30)}
5 x {2 x 100 Free AT (1:45) I did these in 1:29-1:34
{2 x 75 backstroke for 1st 75, fly-bk-br for 2nd (1:45) no idea on these times, practiced my backstroke start which was crooked and ouchy backsmacking at times but better towards the end I think...}
4 x 50 (1) in :42-:45 gasp gasp gasp
2 x 25 no breath Free w/ fins (1) AND I ACTUALLY DID THE FIRST ONE NO BREATH FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER!!!!! Yeah me!
1 x 100 50 surf kick/ 50 Flutter with breast Pull (2:15)
1 x 50 3-5 breath Free (1)
300 warm down
3750m total
Then lots of stretching and abs.

So, it is almost December! I can't believe it. I did very well on my November goals, except I didn't go to a specialist doctor for my asthma yet, so that one gets to roll over to December. If you haven't noticed, I have put up a tentative 2009 triathlon schedule to the right. One thing I have to figure out is my training schedule. I want to get triathlon coaching, but now that I am on a strict budget, I have to figure out how to work it in.

December Goals

• Get triathlon coaching or set out a plan for myself and have someone look it over to make sure there is enough rest and enough balance
• Go to therapy once a week (with the exception of the week I am in Michigan for Christmas)
• Spend 30 mins minimum everyday doing something to learn about myself--therapy, writing in my journal, or reading a book
• Get my running up to 4x a week by the end of the month
• Get my biking up to 3x a week by the end of the month
• Sign up for my Corporate Finance exam and study at least 10 hours a week
• Get a cute picture of the doggies in their jingle bell collars for a Christmas card (definitely the easiest one on the list, but also the one that needs to be done the quickest!)

Here's me with the doggies from some of last years photos. The doggies eyes look a little scary though...

Back on the Tacx

THE OREGON DUCKS CRUSHED THOSE PESKY OREGON STATE BEAVERS IN THE FOOTBALL VERSION OF THE CIVIL WAR 65-38!!!!! HA HA! GO DUCKS!

AND I DID FORGET TO MENTION THE OREGON MEN'S OVERALL AND INDIVIDUAL NCAA TITLES (GALEN RUPP) IN CROSS COUNTRY AND WOMEN'S RUNNER UP FINISH! GO DUCKS!

I AM A PROUD DUCK!

My Tacx Fortis VR trainer is finally set up for the winter, and just in time, because there was was a little "snow" outside this morning. In the pictures it looks like I am staring at a blurry white screen or a blob, but actually, I have very nice scenery, and a Maija avatar that bikes along the route for me, blond ponytail and blue and white bike and all. Up and downhills, wind, cows and sheep, people cheering. It is so fun.


I do still need distractions, so I have music playing too.

Here are the songs I had playing today.

• Boogie Shoes - KC & The Sunshine Band

• Can't Get You Out of My Head-Kylie Minogue

• Don't Ya-PussyCat Dolls

• Don't Stop the Music-Rhianna

• Forever-Chris Brown

• Free Fallin-Tom Petty

• Girlfriend-Avril Lavigne

• Here I go Again-White Snake

• Hollaback Girl-Gwen Stefani

• Hot in Herre-Nelly

I can't wait to do more riding, but I am quite out of shape for it, so I need to ease into it.

I also rode outside yesterday, for 20 mins, for the heck of it because it was nice. It wasn't that warm, so 20 mins was enough. 50 degrees with wind is cold enough for me!

I also swam yesterday afternoon. It was okay. I got really drained of energy suddenly and decided to leave right then. I wanted to stretch and do abs afterwards but felt very uncomfortable doing so I didn't. I can't stretch well at home because Frito always thinks I am playing some sort of game and tries to crawl all over me. I need to get over being uncomfortable and just do my thing. I ended up swimming 3400m. My flip turns felt good.

4 x {4 x 25 free Descend (:30)

2 x 75 Scull, Kick, Acceleration Drill (1:30)}

10 x 50 (1:30-2) in :38-:45 these just about killed me, don't ask me why

1 x 100 easy

1 x 400 breast pull 50, free pull 50

10 x 100 Fin Kick (25 surf, 25 kick on side, 25 surf, 25 kick on side) (2)

2 x 100 IM AT (2:30)

200 cool down

I had a difficult couple of days emotionally and had difficulty sleeping last night. I was up late reading and writing a lot. I wish that progress could always be forward and that everday could be good, but that just isn't the case. There are just some really hard days and some days where I slip back into old habits and feelings and it is frustrating. I know I am not perfect and I don't have to be. It is normal and expected to have setbacks, but it is so annoying!

The St. Anthony's Question

St. Anthony's Triathlon will open (and close) on December 1st, and so I have to decide for sure if I want to race it. So I made some lists to help me decide:

Pros:
-competitive Elite Amateur field, possibly the best of any race
-nice for post race vacation time
-relatively inexpensive as far as race travel goes
-'fast' course
-well organized race
-supposed to be one of the best races around

Cons:
-warm weather compared to what I will be used to
-$ to travel there for bike, flight, hotel, entry fee, rental car...
-maybe too big?, 4000+ people?
-early season, not always in great shape, so do I really want to travel to race?

Anyway, I had better make up my mind soon!

I was feeling mostly better yesterday, but not 100% at the pool, so I cut my workout short. I ended up with 2500m total. I swam most of it with Matt. The SVY swim team was there practicing and we were in the lane next to them which creates a little bit of turbulence in the water. I also accidentally printed off the wrong workout which I noticed halfway thru. I'm glad I was able to recognise that I was tired and not feeling well and go home and rest.

1 x 200 free

4 x {1 x 50 (scull/ swim) (1:30) #1 – Fly, #2 – BK, #3 – Br, #4 - Fr

1 x 50 (kick/ swim)

1 x 50 (drill/ Swim)

1 x 50 (negative split)}

3 x 200 (4) Free

14 x 50 (1:30) (10 yards above race pace, 40 yards easy) alternated free, back and breast

200 cd

Best in Show Frito

The Pointer Holly won the Best in Show during the dog show yesterday!

Frito was so proud of his breed, and has now earned himself the nickname 'Best in Show'. If he had the balls (literally), official papers proving his pure breed snottiness, and could kick his butt and crotch sniffing habits, I know he could kick some Dog Show butt. He is the prettiest pointer around! Just look at him point! Who cares that he is scared of gunshots!

I was sick with a cold still yesterday and used good judgment and took the day off working out. No Turkey Trot, no run at all. Nothing! I bundled up and took the doggies for a few walks, but that was it. I took 3 naps and guess what? I got better quickly! Amazing how it works.

So this morning I was able to do an easy run for 3 miles around our local park with the dogs. Later on I am going to meet Matt, Genine, and Paul and maybe others for a swim. Hopefully a long one, but I will see how I feel.

I finally made the FINAL Santa swimsuit design and ordered it the other day and it will be here for my meet! Yeah! Here it is:
Of course now I see Splish has a 20% off sale...so I may be ordering some new suits...to stock up.

The meeting with the lawyer went well on Wednesday. For tax purposes everything becomes final in January and everything I expected is going into the settlement which puts my mind at ease a bit. I will be staying in the house and the doggies will be staying with me which are both important to me. Mark is being very generous and fair and it is nice that we can be amicable about the whole situation. I moved to NJ for Mark's job in May 2004 and really didn't want to move here, but it has become home to me. I have made friends here. I have a job here that I love with great coworkers. Even though it is expensive and there is a lot of traffic, there are so many great things I love about where I live. There are great places to bike and run and it is beautiful here. I never believed that before I moved here, but it is! And way too many places to shop (dangerous!!!) and to go out to eat and close to NYC but not too close!

If you asked me 10 years ago that I would be single/divorced, an actuary, living in suburban NJ, driving an SUV, with 2 dogs, I would have laughed in your face. I never would have guessed that this is where my life would have taken me at the age of almost 29. But I am totally happy and OK with that. Plans in life change, I have changed. The plan now is to learn more about myself and to take care of myself and to enjoy being a strong independent women.

The Day Before Thanksgiving

The Turkey Swim workout (made up below in yesterday’s post) was completed this morning, for the most part. It was shortened to 2700m due to time constraints and lack of desire to do all of the no breath 25’s (which turned into 1 breath 25’s but I tried my hardest, I really did!). We did 4x25 1 breath 25’s on 1:00 instead and I only got in 4x200 choice instead of 5 and then needed to head off to work. I was pretty tired by that point. For my choices, I did 200-25 bk, 25 br; 200 free; 200-50 kick, 50 swim; and 200 back.

I think I may have a wee bit of a cold. I get sick so easily. I will have to see how I feel tomorrow to decide if I want to do the Turkey Trot 5k in Flemington. Last year I was out of shape and I was still able to eek out a 19:59. I was hoping to maybe do the same this year if I did run…

We have a jeans day at work today! I never thought wearing jeans would be such a privilege until I was only allowed to wear them to work on very rare occasions (and usually have to pay $ for charity to wear them). Fred, Lindsay, and I are all wearing our 7 jeans today, so we are sort of matching lucky 7’s! And we have yummy food to eat today! Oh the simple things that are found to be exciting when you work in an office.

I took yesterday off working out and spent time thinking and resting. I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t nervous about the meeting with the divorce lawyer tonight. I am ready to move on with my life, but am nervous about splitting everything up and about everything going as planned and all and being on a much smaller budget in such a bad economy. I know I will be fine, but I just a little anxious about it.

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone and safe travels to anyone out there traveling today!

Monday's are Busy!

Yesterday was a busy day. Mondays are turning out that way. On top of Cooper being sick and trying to decide on my Santa Swimsuit that is… I think I will go with the Naughty or Nice theme, because that fits my personality more. I think I may end up going with all black lettering though, because I think that will end up looking best when the swimsuit is made up. I also ran 3 miles in the morning with the doggies (possibly what induced the doggie vomiting incident?) Then I had a very good but intense therapy session after work We covered a lot of stuff and I was able to look back and see how far I’ve come in a few weeks and I was reminded of how much better off I am compared to where I was several years ago. I have a lot of work to do but I am doing really well and I am so proud of myself!

After therapy I had to spend some time going over some financial stuff for our meeting with the divorce lawyer on Wednesday. I am relieved to get things moving in that direction and I think I will feel really good once everything is resolved and over. I have a lot of changes coming my way, and normally changes scare and concern me, but I am excited and ready for this next stage of my life--To learn about myself and to finally do things for me.

And of course, the late Monday night masters swim session that I am not quite used to yet. I am certainly an early bird and am not used to working out so late anymore…
350 wu
4x50-25 kick, 25 swim on 1:15
4x75-50 kick, 25 swim on 1:45
4x100-75 kick,25 swim on 2:30
4x100-25 kick, 75 swim on 2:00 in 1:37-1:39
4x75-25 kick, 50 swim on 1:30 in 1:12-1:15
4x50-25 kick, 25 swim on 1:05 in :45-:49
100 easy free cd
200 choice cd
2450m total
Practice diving off the blocks at the end

All kicking was flutter kick, on stomach, no board, which for me made it a little tougher and slower. I worked on fly kicking off my flip turns. This workout was hard, with all the kicking I was out of breath a lot. I feel like I held back a bit though. Since I wasn’t sure what we were doing (was there going to be 10x50 fly or something at the end?), I kind of held back because I didn’t want to die off at the end like last time. It’s not good to swim the work out with fear that I will get tired later. DON’T HOLD BACK! Of course I will be tired at the end—I am supposed to be exhausted at the end and I wasn’t. So, next time—I have to give it my all the whole time!

I was tired this morning, so I slept in and no workouts. Maybe a doggie run this afternoon. Tomorrow morning, there is a plan to swim with a few people. I was thinking a Turkey themed workout like this:

T-Tenx100's (Easy Free, Drill, Scull, 666, Backstroke Spin, Fly, Back, Breast, Free, IM)
U-Underwater Fun--8x25 no breath swim on 1:00 w/fins
R-Recover for 200
K-Kick 10x50-alternate 50m fly kick on back and 50 flutter kick on 1:00
E-Enjoy! 5x200 choice, have to do at least 2 different types of 200's
Y-You've earned your cooldown-100m easy free

Although now that I wrote it, I am thinking a PUMPKIN workout would have been better, because we would have an excuse to get something pumpkin flavored afterwards…Pumpkin muffin, pumpkin donut, pumpkin latte, pumpkin pancakes, ohhh the choices…maybe on Friday there will be a pumpkin workout…

Naughty or Nice?

Courtenay has a funny graph on her blog about intelligence level and proximity to her kitty.
http://www.courtenaybrown.com/2008/11/i-miss-kitty/

This graph seems to work for me and the doggies as well. Just as I was giggling about Courtenay's graph, I heard a rip-rip-rip coming from upstairs. "Frito is that you? Are you tearing up books..." Like he understands. He looks over at me from the couch...for once he is not the trouble maker. Uh-oh, that means Cooper is tearing up the carpet! "Cooper, stop!" If you are going to try to communicate with an animal, Cooper is the one. He understands English very well, just ask anyone who knows him. "Cooper, do you have a tummy ache? Are you upset about something? Do you need to go outside to throw up?" Yes, I am sure he got all of that. He sits up at the head of the stairs alone for awhile, then just as I go to check on him, I get to see all of his breakfast come out on the carpet. "Poor Coopy Cooperson! My little guy, do you feel better now? Oh, puppy wuppy...you poor thing." So, the stupidness factor was definitely up, but I don't care, I love my Coopy Woopy. Even when he is being naughty and tearing up the carpet. He is only doing it because he is sick...



Last night I started playing around with the Santa swimsuit design. I will probably race in the one piece, but I like the 2 piece too. It seemed appropriate for the third version, which I don't intend on ordering/wearing, but designed as a joke...

The questions is, white or black lettering? The white lettering can be changed to the bold lettering style like the black...

Maybe this...Not sure how the lettering will show up...I'm so darn indecisive...

SCM Fall Classic Swim Meet Report

No pictures! I forgot my camera. It would be a much better report with pictures of me in my Superstar suit, trust me!

Even getting stuck behind a couple of accidents on Staten Island and Long Island, I still made it in in 1hour 20 mins or so! Sunday morning is the best time to drive! When I arrived at Eisenhower Park, I drove around FOREVER looking for how to get to pool parking lot. I could see the aquatic center (or what I thought it was and I was right) because it was huge), but really just drove around the golf course area wondering "where is this parking lot 1, they speak of..." Finally I found the further parking lot, and walked a little extra since I don't mind the extra walk. Whew, I made it!

After checking in for the 400m, I saw Alex, a guy from TNYA that I met at Aquapalooza and had talked to about the NYC triathlon which he does every year. Since I didn't know anyone else, I sat next to him, and the 3 other TNYA guys and next to these cute skinny 87 year old ladies that were just as cold as I was.

My first event was the 100m backstroke. I warmed up 400m in the diving pool. There were no flags in there so I only did 25 of backstroke and whacked my head. Whoops. It was so cold...I tried to keep moving to stay warm. The meet was moving quickly and ahead of schedule and I was worried I would miss my event, so I made sure to get out and get near the start. I was in the second heat, lane 8 out of 10.

I was nervous, but excited. I jumped in, grabbed the start and I seemed to start well. I didn't feel like my back smacked too much. My flip turns were okay and I didn't feel like I was traveling all over the place. I wasn't as powerful as normal, because I was concentrating on going straight and on turns, but the last 25 I tried to push it. I finished in 1:37 which was exactly my seed time. Not bad for a first back stroke race ever.

I swam 200 easy to cool down then dried off and tried to warm up. The 100IM was coming up soon. This time, I was in lane 6 of heat 2. So, I was, supposedly, one of the "fast" ones in my heat. I got up on the blocks, they started up quickly and I had a great start. Great start=less butterfly! My butterfly is a little funky right now with the changes I have been trying to make, and it was no different today, but I didn't have much to swim, so not too big a deal. Clean turn onto the back and motored back to the other side, onto the breast where I wasn't moving so fast but I was out front! At least compared to the people close to me. How fun! Then a clean turn onto free when I kick it home. Time was 1:38, my seed time. I get out thinking, do I know my abilities or what!?

100m cool down and I am freezing and getting tired. I am having my snacks, drying off with my towel and putting clothes on, but I am down to the set of dry clothes to wear home and one towel. I went and took a warm shower to warm up and moved around a little. The pool was so cold, that swimming in it didn't really warm me up unless I swam a long time.

Up next was the 400m. I was heat 2 lane 4. Right before I warmed up I watched the 4 TNYA guys race the 50m back all in the same heat. That and the 100IM were my favorite part of the meet. One of the guys, Brandon, swam in lane 10, his first backstroke 50m ever and won the heat in 36 something low. It was really exciting to watch and he was so excited and surprised when he got out of the pool, it was cool. It's fun to surprise yourself like that and fun to see someone else do that too.

Ok back to my swim...I went and warmed up 200m. I was shivering and probably should have warmed up more but I was so cold in the pool, and once I get cold like that, it is so hard for me to warm up. I just wanted to swim my 400. They put us up on the blocks and we stood there for awhile. I could feel myself shaking--from nerves and from the cold. Finally, take your marks, and go. I had a good start and was going well until...the flip turn. Some people had mentioned that on free the flip turns were hard to judge because the wall was weird. I found that out. The bottom of the wall was not there, connecting to the diving pool next to it. This somehow threw off my ability to tell how far away I was from the wall. First flip turn I hit the wall with my feet, but barely, and didn't get much of a push off. Ugh! I can't remember if it was 3rd or 4th lap, but I missed the wall completely! Oh how silly is that! I remember when I was learning IM turns and stuff for my first meet, Coach Joe told me that in free style the only rule is that you have to touch the wall at some point. Even if you miss the wall you can go back and touch it. I never thought I would need to know that. But I am so glad I did...I swam back, did an open turn, and continued on my way. The rest of the race, I focused on making my darn flip turns. I accidentally got too close once gut then made every last one. I slowed down do I could do it, but it was a practice race, so it is okay. I ended up with a 6:29, which I guess isn't so back all things considered.

After this I felt wiped out and cold. I was going to suck it up and just do the last 2 events, but I had really known when I signed up for 5 events that it was pushing it a bit and had told myself that I would possibly scratch 1-2 events if I got too tired. I had been cold for a long time and really needed to warm up. So i called it a day and drove home, took a hot bath, a nice long nap and I am not cold anymore.

Some things I learned/observed from today:
-I want to get one of those swim parkas if I do many more meets, Alex looked so toasty warm in his and I really was not warm enough with what I had.
-For now, I think 3 events in a meet is my limit
-Long Island is too far to go for a swim meet all by myself
-Practice/warm up in the pool I will be competing in
-I like racing IM the best (out of 2 meets, my favorite in both)
-People always love my swimsuits/ensemble!

My next meet is in 2 weeks and is close by at Rutgers! I won't be as worn out that week (hopefully). The swim workouts this Monday and Wednesday really took a toll on me and then the migraine wore me out. This was just a practice meet, so not a big deal, but at Rutgers I am swimming the 1500, 200IM and 200 back. I would like to rest up a little to do well there!

Promises to Myself in Triathlon

I had a lazy day today. I slept in, did some cleaning, a nap, and an easy prerace swim running through my events to practice my turns for IM and my backstroke start a few more times. I can't say I was totally focused. There was a diving meet going on which was fun to watch, and Esther, Matt, Genine, and Paul were there, but we were playing musical lanes and they were several lanes over and we were all doing different workouts it seemed. I did the least swimming and then got out and stretched and watched Esther swim and tried to answer some of her technique questions giving her the major disclaimer that I don't really know what I am talking about when it comes to swim technique...
100 wu
200-50 stick, 50 swim
100 back practicing start
50 easy
100 IM practicing turns
50 easy
400-50 fast, 50 drill, 50 build, 100 fast, 50 drill, 50 build, 50 fast
50 easy
200 IM practicing turns (a little rough, hit Esther after my backstroke flip turn, then accidentally thought I was doing 100IM and started doing free after 25 of breast stroke...will have to pay more attention tomorrow)
50 easy
200 back practicing start/turns, so so on the start
practiced a couple backstroke starts
100 cd
lots of stretching...and talking...
1600m total

We hit the Starbucks afterwards (Eggnog Latte and a Naked Mango smoothie yummm!) and discussed possibly stimulating the economy at some of the nice stores around there but decided we'd better not. We did head over to Borders and hang out on the floor looking at books and talking. Esther was sweet enough to listen to me talk about my problems sitting on the floor of the Borders, with people walking around us. I'm lucky to have a friend like her.

I have been doing a lot of thinking about how exercise and triathlon fits into my life and how I need to approach to be a happy and healthy person. Here are some thoughts I had on it.

I love to move, the feel of my feet moving beneath me as I run, the way my body moves through the water when I swim, riding my bike and seeing beautiful scenery. I love running on a trail, running with my dogs, being outside on a beautiful day and enjoying the blue sky, the trees, the sun, animals. I love running in the rain and feeling it on my skin, sort of like a cleansing. I love riding up a hill and getting to the top and enjoying the view. I love looking at a beautiful lake and thinking, I can swim across it! I love being fit and strong and knowing that I can do anything I set my mind to. I love being outside, and using my body to enjoy it's beauty.

I love the feeling of doing something I have never done before, breaking down barriers, accomplishing new things. I love the feeling of finishing a hard workout that I never thought I would be able to do. I like setting goals and working to achieve them.

I am a competitor. I love to compete. Sometimes this is good for me, sometimes this is bad. At times I am too competitive and too hard on myself. I compete at times when I shouldn't. I'm glad that I'm a competitive person, I just want to learn to relax and only compete when it matters.

Some promises I am making to myself, in regards to triathlon and exercise:

-I will always put my health and happiness as the #1 priority
-I will not measure my self worth by my times in a race, times in a workout, or place with respect to another person
-I will set my goals and plans based on what is best for ME
-I will not exercise compulsively
-I will follow a training plan but allow for flexibility in the plan
-I will always do my best and be satisfied with myself

To a lot of people these probably seem obvious, of course someone would do these things! But, it is not that easy or simple for me, and will take some effort and thought.

Meet Goals

I looked up how long it was going to take to get to my meet on Sunday—1 hour and 40 mins!!! What?! I suppose I should look these things up BEFORE signing up for meets…Oh well. I’m in now. I may take Esther up on her offer and stay at her place which is 40 mins away from the pool. She won’t be there though, so it won’t be very fun just hanging out there alone. I guess this pool is where the 1998 Goodwill games were held for swimming. It looks like a nice pool.

I figured I would put down some goals for the meet. I am still so new to this stuff I’m not sure to expect of myself and how I will feel, especially towards the end. I am shooting for these times, but if I don’t make them I won’t be upset. But I will try my hardest to get them!
100m back—1:30
100m IM—1:35
400m free—6:00
200m IM—3:23, improve from last time (it was my first event before, I think I may be tired by this time…)
200m back—3:15

Other goals include: Have fun (of course!!!!), no DQ’s, do flip turns whenever legal, bring enough food, stay positive!

I ran 1 mile this morning in the cold with the doggies. Just enough to run them around the block to do their business and burn off some energy. Then stretched for a long time.

Migraine Madness

I can't even remember when I started getting migraines, I think I have had them the entire time I have lived in NJ, I don't remember having them in college, and I am not sure about grad school/NC. But, I have had them for at least the last 4-5 years now. It seems like forever. I didn't start having them treated until 3 or so years ago when it got so bad I was missing work all the time and I felt like I couldn't function. I was getting them often, and at the worst, over 20 a month on a regular basis. With preventative medicine I have them normally down to 4-6 a month, and when I get them I take a Maxalt quickly for treatment and I don't suffer like I used to.

Well, with everything going on, I have been having a lot of migraines lately and I allowed my refills to run out and lost my written prescription. So when I started getting a migraine last night and it was still here this morning, I knew I was in trouble. I called the doctors office when it opened and asked them to have her call the pharmacy to refill it because I had a migraine. The receptionists failed to point out that she would not be in until 2:45 pm! The did say, check back with the pharmacy in a couple hours. What? So I did. Every hour. And it got worse and worse. Until I couldn't think and my eyes were watering from the pain and I was ready to punch anyone who talked to me. So, I left work and headed straight to the doctors. By the time I got there I was crying from the pain. I was nauseous, the pain had spread to most of my head and down part of my neck and I couldn't think. My blood pressure was high and they told me I needed to relax. I was starting to worry that it was going to last for days. I closed my eyes and laid down and silently cried but tried to relax. She gave me some Maxalt and then told me she was going to give me a shot. I hate shots, but I would to anything to make the pain stop. I was thinking a shot in the arm. Nope, drop your pants, it is in the left butt cheek! But first, I had to sign something. I don't think I was of sound mind to sign anything, I'm not even sure what I signed, but I didn't care, just make the pain stop! I think they give you a shot in the butt to take your mind off the pain and focus to that. It hurt so much. I know I am a wimp, but OUCH! Then the nurse got a barf bucket out for me, "just in case". Good lord, what did I just take. I laid there some more in the dark and silence. Finally it was a little better except for the throbbing in my left butt cheek and still a dull ache in my head.

Ughh! Not fun. I went home and took a bath, ate some soup, and took a nap with the doggies. Snuggling up for a nap with the doggies can be the best medicine there is sometimes.


A nap with Cooper and Frito, the best healers on the planet.

The migraine is gone now, but once the medicine wears off, I'm sure it will return, these things often last for days. So I need to head to the CVS and fill that prescription so I don't end up like this again. I am nauseous now, probably from the shot they gave me?

In fun news, since it is cold, Frito is now sporting his jacket. I asked him to model it after his walk.

He quickly grew impatient and started leading the way into the kitchen to his food bowls for his "payment". Notice the velocity of the tail way in the photos.

I swam this morning, migraine and all. I'm sure that didn't help. Just easy to go over some back starts and IM turns.
1500m total
300-50 swim, 50 stick
200-25 scull, 25 swim w/ pull buoy
3x100 IM easy, work on turns
100 back-practice start and first few strokes hard
150-50 scull, 50 drill, 50 swim
100 back-same as above
150-50 scull, 50 drill, 50 swim
100 back-same as above
100 cd
My fly feels a little off in the timing because I am making changes to it. Hopefully it goes okay on Sunday!

Last night was masters practice. I was exhausted even at the start. My arms ached, and towards the end, midway through I even realized my legs were tired. I totally died. This fly is really working me over. It's good, cause I want to get stronger. Anything new is going to be tiring. But man--it sure is tough and a little humbling when you are that tired!
600 wu
12x50 on 1:15 25 fly kick on back, 25 flutter kick on stomach w/ no board
2x50 "sprint" free on :60 in :44 or :45?
8x50 pull-25 fly, 25 free on 1:45? Fly pull was hard, and I was dying, but it did give me a good sense of how I was supposed to be doing the pull. I think...
2x{4x50 on :50} started off the first one in :41 then everything blew up. Had nothing left, in my arms, legs. I looked over and thought, "Wow, Bob's going really fast!" Then I realized, no, I was all of a sudden just going really slow...
Starts!!!!! We all did them!!!!! Genine nailed it on her first try just like I knew she would! I got 3 or 4 in and I feel pretty good about it going into Sunday. Then I practiced the backstroke start and finally got the hang of it.
100 cd
1800m total

I'd better head to CVS so I can get back to watch Survivor and the Office with Frito! It is Thursday, right?

Day off...

Yesterday I took the day off training and had the whole evening alone with no workouts and nothing that I had to do and no where that I had to be. It was nice, but a little strange. I spent some time on the computer, some time walking and playing with the doggies, some time watching TV, and some of the time reading a book about Codependency. At the head of one of the chapters was this:

The Serenity Prayer

God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change;

courage to change the things I can;

and wisdom to know the difference.

Even though I am not a terribly religious person, this spoke to me. There are so many things that I worry and stress about and waste my energy on that I have absolutely no control over. I get anxious about situations and worry about people when I really need to think about my own needs. I am learning that I need to worry about my needs and take care of myself. And I need to learn to distinguish between normal concern and care about things and people and what is an unhealthy level of concern. I have already made huge strides to improve this, but I think as I continue to improve I will have more energy for myself and for the things I enjoy and the people in my life.

Speaking of things I enjoy, we have masters swim again tonight. I am guessing we may be working on butterfly again, but am not sure. My shoulders are still a little sore from Monday, but I'll live. Hopefully there will be time to work more on my starts. My meet is this Sunday and I am getting a little nervous. For the first one I prepared a lot more, working on the start and the IM turns. The rest of the week will be dedicated to that. Although I am not allowed to practice a regular start without a coach, so today will be my last chance! Eeek! I think I will be okay for that. What is the worst that could happen? I could get DQ'd--oh well, I am doing this for fun and to get better at swimming, so not a big deal. I could look silly and do a belly smacker--again, it wouldn't be the first time I do something silly in front of other people...I'll live. It's about having fun. Plus this is my practice meet, so I guess I am just going out there to practice anyway!

Esther asked me what suit I was wearing--The SuperStar one! I have worn it a couple times, then decided to save it for this meet because I knew the kitty cat one would get worn out from being worn in October and I wanted a fairly new one to race in.

And then I think I will order the Santa swimsuit for the 'Holiday Classic' meet at Rutgers in a few weeks. I was thinking of replacing the "Santa Baby" on the butt with "Ho Ho Ho", then thought it might not be a good idea...what else could I put on there?

Kick and FLY

Masters swim last night was one of the most exhausting ever! We did a lot of kicking, then some more, then some fly once we were good and exhausted. I always love a good kicking workout and I have wanted to work on my fly, so it was a perfect workout for me. I was so tired on the fly, I think my form was pretty ragged. I was trying to work on it but…ugh, I think it was ugly. Everyone there seemed to have fun challenging themselves and learning something new and ‘scary’. It was great! I’m so proud of everyone, including myself. Looking at how far I have come. In the pool alone—I can now do flip turns, dive off the blocks, I have raced the 200 IM in a meet. I have come a long way in swimming and in life. Sometimes you just have to step out of your comfort zone, even if it is scary, you are worried you will embarrass yourself, you are worried you will fail, and just try it. We did that last night. And we all had a great time and got our a$$es kicked by tough Coach Elana in the process.

When I got home I added up the workout and thought for sure I had missed something. I was so tired…I must have swum more? That fly…it did a number on me. And that is why I’m doing it.

100 wu
6x50 flutter kick, 50 fly kick on back on 1:45 which turned into--{2x{50 k, 50 fly kick on back}, 3x{50k, 100 fly k on bk}, 100 k, 100 fly kick on bk} because I was getting cold waiting. I saw Matt and Steve (formerly known as Pull buoy Steve} taking a rest at the end of the pool and said “keep going, I don’t think she is going to let you get out of doing any of the workout”, thinking that I was going to have to keep adding on laps until we were all done!
50 easy free
20 sec intervals w/ 10 sec rest vertical fly kick (we did maybe 8 or so of these) counting how many kicks and going as fast as we could, my highest was 48, I was trying to beat that and I thought I was going to stop breathing!
4x50 fly kick down, fly drill back in fins
50 free easy
4x50 6 fly kicks, one stroke in fins
50 fly (demonstration—I am not sure I was a good person to demonstrate, especially at this point as I was so tired that I was ready to sink to the bottom of the pool, but I think I was the only choice Elana had. The whole time I was hoping, please don’t be using me as an example of what NOT to do...at least not for everything…)
6x25 fly on :30 in fins still having trouble with technique, was tired as heck, but, hopefully getting better…
100 cd
Then we practiced a few dives, I had one that was not a belly/face smacker, but I guess my distance wasn’t that good. She wanted me to work on distance. Eventually, I would like to get good at that. Right now, I really just want to avoid the belly smacker….
1750m total???

I was tired this morning and slept in. It is a day off swimming. I may take the day off working out all together, but we’ll see, an easy doggie run could be in the cards in the evening too.

Ice Crystal Dress

This is a picture of the dress I bought the other day--the Ice Crystal Dress. Yes, I was shopping in the kids/juniors section.

http://www.freepeople.com/index.cfm/fuseaction/products.detail/productID/75ccc8ae-4ca9-40b5-a4f0-4f52f222502e/categoryID/3c77b415-a309-4742-bc3c-011f2c33ab60

With snow or ice possibly coming through tonight I suppose it is appropriate I have an ice crystal dress although it is a bit chilly to wear it. Only if I go out dancing somewhere. This weekend perhaps...

I am killing some time in between therapy and masters swimming. I had a really good session, but need to unwind a little. I am making really good progress towards understanding myself, my past and what I need to do to make myself happy. It feels really good and I am proud of what I have done in such a short time.

I sent in my entry for the December masters meet at Rutgers today--1500m free, 200m back and 200m IM! I will rest up more for that meet and try to get some good times. Tonight at masters swim I would like to practice a few starts of the block and backstroke starts if there is time as my practice meet is this Sunday and I feel totally unprepared! Ahhhhh! Hopefully there is time to do some. No one else will probably want to work on it, and I don't want to waste everyone's time, but I need to practice and am not allowed to do so without a coach (not to mention I need some coaching on the actual mechanics of the start). So, hopefully...

I ran 3 easy miles with the doggies this morning. It was cold!

Tag

I read "Girl on Top's" blog and she said everyone was tagged...and I love a good game of tag..here is the link to here site:
http://abetterkaolee.blogspot.com/2008/11/i-will-get-through-this.html

Here are the rules:
1. Link to the person who tagged you.
2. Post the rules on your blog.
3. Write six random things about yourself.
4. Tag six people at the end of your post and link to them.
5. Let each person know they’ve been tagged and leave a comment on their blog.
6. Let the tagger know when your entry is up.

6 random things about me:

• I like country music and hip hop
• I am a Detroit Pistons fan
• my car is messier than a frat boy's room
• I used to want to be a theoretical mathematician--algebraic or differential geometry to be specific
• I don't like eating fish--yuck!
• I've always wanted to go to Japan--I took a few Japanese art history classes in college and loved it.

Any bloggers that read this are now tagged! I know I am not exactly playing by the rules, but who likes to do that anyway...

Party and swim weekend

I hit the Bloomingdale's yesterday morning, armed with a 20% coupon from Genine (employee discount for friends and family thing) hoping that would be enough to justify the purchase of some expensive yet fashionable jeans. Well, once I tried them on and they were sooooo comfy and fit so perfectly, that was it, no justification needed. I easily could have dropped a lot of money in there, but I behaved and just bought a pair of 7 jeans and a cute dress. I just need to find somewhere to wear it...

Then of course, a nice long swim on the weekend. The pool was packed! And there were several masters swimmers there. I swam with my peeps--Matt, Genine, and Paul, but chatted a bit with the others too. We did a hard workout and kicked the workouts a$$!

1 x 300 Scull, Kick, Swim
8 x 75 50 Drill/ 25 Build (2)
1 x 3000 Free
1st 1000 Broken by 200s (:30) in 3:05 to 3:07's
2nd 1000 Broken by 100s (:20) in 1:30 to 1:35 (1:35 was on messed up flip turns...)
3rd 1000 Broken by 50s (:15) in :40 to :47 alternating free and back
200 cool down
4100 total

I planned to do more, but I was getting so tired so I figured it was time to call it good. I felt really good about how I did on the 200's and the 100's. I did flip turns on all of them and only had a few mess ups. I am starting to get much more comfortable with them. Backstroke they are tough because I get a lot more water in my nose. After swimming I did abs and stretching. I am being very careful to do lots of stretching to keep my hips and quads and IT loose especially so that I don't end up injured again.

Then off to dinner with Matt and Genine, then some time to spare before Fred's party. So, I found myself at the book store to kill time. I went in there to get a latte originally and maybe to look at magazines, but I found myself drawn to the self help section and stumbled across a book based on something someone had said to me recently. I sat on the floor reading for awhile, and found a couple other books that I decided to buy. I still got my egg nog latte though...Part of me wanted to stay and read, continue my self exploration, but I didn't want to be too late for Freddy's party.

And it was a lot of fun. All of his friends are so much fun and apparently I was the life of the party according to several of his friends...hmm, maybe not a good thing. I just like to dance, have fun, and will talk to anyone about anything. And my new 7 jeans helped me pass the fashion test. Those boys were very up on their fashion! Definitely a good time, but a little hard to get up this morning.

Another trail run at Jockey Hollow. This week we did maybe 6-6.5 miles on the hilly trail, with a flatter part at the end. Matt and I ran with Frito, while Cooper went with Genine and her sister Christie and her nephew, almost 3yr old Ian. It was tiring, but fun. Running is always the best cure for a hangover.

I dropped the dogs off, ate and headed to the pool for and IM workout. I basically planned on swimming until I was tired. That's what I did. Matt joined me with the same philosophy and did most of the workout.

4 x {1 x 50 scull (1:30)
1 x 100 8-3-8 (2)
1 x 100 IM (2)}
10 x 75 (1:30/1:45) 3x{fly,bk,br; bk; fr}; fl, bk, br for last one.
1 x 50 easy free
40 x 25 kick with board (:45) fins for first 10 and 20-30, odds were flutter, evens were fly kick
3 x 300 free, back, free cool down (5:30)
3700m total

A new late record...

I set a new record! Tardiness for a swim workout Friday morning--40 mins late! I set my alarm for 4;30 am as usual and then instead of hitting snooze, I guess I turned it off and woke up at 10 to 6 with a shock! Whoops! Luckily Matt and Esther had each other to swim with...
200 wu
100 back
200 focus on controlling the kick
200 breast pull--ouch my biceps felt tired on this! is that right?
400-50 stick, 50 swim
400 pull hard
try/practice some backstroke starts...aka back smack attack...I need to work on this with a trained professional...
200 cool down
1700m total
Then Esther and I hit the side of the pool for some ab work, stretching, and lunges and squats for me while she did push ups.

I thought I might run after work, but ended up going out with some coworkers and didn't get home until late. I had fun though.

I had a nice easy 4 mile run with the doggies this morning running through all the mud puddles in the park. I hardly ran all week and I missed it. Sometimes when I get out of the habit of running I forget how fun it is and how good it feels. And then I get out there and I am reminded of just what a natural thing it is and how good it feels to just run and think and feel my legs travel quickly under me.

I am SO UBER!

Thanks to everyone for your nice comments. I really appreciate all the support.

On a more exciting and unrelated note, I got an email yesterday from CGI racing and one from Matt asking "Are you UBER?" Hmmm... CGI is putting on a triathlon called the UBERMAN the day before the NJ State triathlon http://hosted.verticalresponse.com/168678/370b2b3663/134000471/831c4924b7/

It is a super sprint--250m swim, 4 mile bike, 1 mile run! So much fun! It is by invitation only and for 10 women and 10 men. Matt sent in some of my results and they said I was entered into the selection process. Oh, I hope I hope I hope I get to race. This sounds like the best race ever! Who is more uber than me? I will make a special Uber girl swimsuit to race in. I don't have a goal race for next year, why not make it the Uber race? I'm not sure I can quite get to the speeds they are asking though. I've never done a tri that short, I have no idea. Give me a shot! I'm the local speedster! Please please please! I AM UBER!

Okay enough dreaming about super sprint triathlons that are months away. I was super tired yesterday and slept a lot. I was still walking the dogs this morning when I got a call from Matt saying he was at the pool and there was a sign saying no warm showers. Maybe he was hoping for an excuse to bail? I already had my swimsuit on and was awake, so I figured, why not, I'll live, not the first time I had to take an ice cold shower at the 'effing Y.

I had a good flip turn day. No collisions with the bottom of the pool and I even flipped with flippers on--the big kind of flippers. We did a good mix of free and IM stuff.
200m-scull 25, swim 25
150m easy swim
200m IM on 4 in 3:39
50m fly on 1:30 in :49
100m neg split on 2 in 1:37
50m back on 1:15 in :49
100m neg split on 2 in 1:34
50m breast on 1:30 in 1:02
100m neg split on 2 in 1:33
100m IM
6x100m-50 kick, 50 swim--fl,fr,bk,fr,br-fly kick and breast pull w/ flutter kick for swim, fr on 2 w/ fins kept all except the breaststroke and fly under 1:30
200m cd
1900m total

I'm still feeling a little tired. People at work have been sick, so I am trying to be cautious and take it easy. At least for now...This will be a busy weekend. My friend Fred's birthday party is on Saturday, so that will likely leave me a bit tired. And I'd like to do some shopping before then...and after work we may go out for Fred's b-day too. Then I will of course do a few workouts on Saturday and Sunday. And I have to start looking into getting a roommate and have to go through things in the house. Whew! Good thing I am not racing this weekend. My swim meet is next weekend. It totally snuck up on me. Yikes.

So this got dramatic...

Since Monday I feel like I have just been going going going like crazy. Finally I get some time to relax. My throat is a little scratchy but I think it is from the pool--all those flip turns maybe. I feel achy, but I hope it is from my massage. I hope. I swam this morning but just took the doggies for a walk this afternoon and am going to head to bed early. The swim was pretty laid back and slow for me. I got there a little late...

2 x {1 x 200 Free (4)
2 x 100 5-3-5 (2:30)
4 x 25 Scull (1)
2 x 200 Free Build by 50s (4)
20 x 25 IM order (:45)
100 cool down
2000m total

I did flip turns for almost all the turns, got a lot of water up my nose, scraped my leg on the bottom of the pool, but I did it. It did help that there were lots of 25's though...I also tried to practice a backstroke start, an did a bit of a back smacker...I don't recommend that...OUCH!

My entry for the swim meet on Nov 23 has been sent in. I entered 5 events! What was I thinking! I entered the 100 back, 100 IM, 400 free, 200 IM, and 200 back. I suppose if I get really tired, I can always scratch one right? It seems people were doing that a lot at my other meet. I don;t intend to unless I really have to. It is only a practice/fun meet anyway, so who cares how slow I go if I get really tired.

I didn't make it to yoga last night, but that is okay. I met with my friend Bridget to catch up on life and for her to help me with nutrition and we just kept talking. It's hard for us to get together sometimes because she lives a little far away and our lives have taken up on sort of different paths. Bridget is 10 years older than me but we got married within one month of each other. I met Bridget in 2004 when we both were engaged (at a triathlon where she got first, I got second!) She took the mommy path and has an almost 3 yr old now and I have been on a career path, I suppose. I never realized until now that she hadn't talked about her past much, but to me it seemed that she had this great life--she had a happy marriage and a beautiful daughter. I suppose I was a little envious, because even though I knew I wasn't ready for it, I really wanted kids and I could see that I was a long way from that. So I hesitated for awhile to tell her what I am about to say and well, it may shock some people and some may not be surprised because I have not talked about Mark much lately. Mark and I are getting divorced. I struggled with it for a long time. I felt like a failure, it's not something I ever thought would happen to me, or something I would choose to do. I suppose no one does. I felt ashamed and upset and embarrassed. I felt confused and scared. So I finally told her last week. She was surprised, but was so unbelievably supportive. We have not been as close over the past year or so due to time constraints and sort of because I have been pulling away a little. She offered a place to stay, to let me spend holiday time with them, more than I could have asked for. I feel so lucky to have the support from friends that I do.

Yesterday was the first time we really sat down and talked about it. Last week she mentioned that she had been married and divorced when she was around my age but never talked about it much because it was a hard time for her. She gave me so much good support and advice. I wish I had talked to her sooner. Talking to her and to my therapist on Monday were probably the most important things in making me feel okay and good and confident in this decision. I know that this is the best thing for me and my happiness and that I have nothing to be ashamed of. I'm not sure what is ahead of me, but that is okay. I just feel really lucky to have friends like her, Esther, Matt, Genine, and others to talk to.

Busy Bee

Yesterday was a busy busy day. I chose sleeping in over running yesterday morning, and the doggies were still tired from Sunday's run, so they were happy to stay curled up in bed. After work, I headed straight to therapy and had a really good session. Then off to get a massage where my horrible neglected muscles got some work. She did a number on me! My traps, back and IT bands are in bad shape and she worked them over. Ouch! It's good for me, it's good for me...I kept telling myself.

Then right off to masters swim. First we had a meeting with the new coach and director of competitive swimming. I'm not sure we accomplished much in the meeting.I was hoping to discuss some ideas to grow the program and ideas I had and if anyone else had ideas. It seemed to be more of a schedule discussion and seemed like a lot of the people there don't have much of an interest in the program growing. They just want to come, swim their freestyle, only have triathletes in the group, have a couple days a week that work for them, and that's it. At least that is what it seemed. Matt D. the director of competitive swimming, suggested a lunch time group that he would coach. I thought it was a good idea even though I can't make it at that time. No one seemed interested that I could tell, because it didn't impact them directly, but I think it would be great to get more people involved and have more times offered and multiple coaches. I would like to have other people in the group that want to go to meets with, to learn from, and that can push me. So unfortunately, the meeting wasn't as productive as I had hoped, but, it's a start. The new coach Elana is very nice. She was probably a little overwhelmed as it was her first time coaching adults.

I had planned on an easy workout and my body was funky from the massage, but I was ready for whatever she threw at us. So, after 150m wu (practicing my flip turns), she says, ok, how about 10x50m on :45? How much rest do you want us to get? we asked, and settled in on 10x50m on 1:00 for our group hitting between :40-:45 as Bob and I alternated the pace keeping duties. After this she asked (sounding a little disappointed I think, or maybe just, realizing how much work she had to do) "you guys don't do flip turns?" I told her I was learning and explained why I was concerned about doing them on the fast intervals for now (i.e. hitting the bottom of the pool, hitting Bob head on, etc.). I showed her my flip turn, and she explained that I was launching towards the bottom of the pool, because I was trying to turn onto my stomach before I pushed off. After that, I was much better! Here's the rest of the workout:
100 easy
4x25 on :30 in :18-:22
4x50 on :55 in :42-:45
200 easy (did breast, free and back and flips)
4x75 on 1:25 in 1:10ish threw in a flip when i was leading the pace!
300 easy (br, fr, bk and flips)
4x100 on 1:45 in 1:30-1:35 threw in one flip turn
150 cool down
2400m total
So much for the easy workout!

Oh, and she taught me how to do a backstroke start! I only tried it once and I sort of veered off to the left, but it was so fun! I can't wait to go practice tomorrow!

This morning I ran the doggies 1 mile. Yup, just one frozen, sore legs and shoulders from my massage I don't feel like running anymore so I'm not gonna mile. I meeting my friend Bridget after work today for a light dinner. To talk about life, nutrition, triathlon, etc. I haven't seen her in awhile, so it should be fun. Then if I have time I may go to a Bikram Yoga class since I will already be in Westfield and they have a studio there. I went to one a couple years ago, and liked it, but just never made the time for it.

Fall trail run

This morning I picked Matt up and we drove up to Jockey Hollow to run. This my absolute favorite place to trail run. Good hills but not killer like Round Valley. George Washington history if you're in the mood. Lots of trees and miles and miles of trails. The plan was to do something easy so Cooper got the invite. Oh man was he excited! A car ride and a trail run is a super duper day for the dogs. Many of the leaves are down, but a few are left. We got some pics before and after, not during though. You try handling 2 crazy dogs and running rocky, hilly trails and then try to bring a camera!


Can we start running yet?

Cooper says "Smells like fall! I love it!"

Frito you need to hydrate after you run!

What a spoiled puppy!

Post run with the doggies--Frito looks serious and tired from dragging me up the hills, Cooper was squirming as usual and needed to be in a head lock to stay in the picture!

We ended up running around 5.5 miles around the hilliest loop of the park. We got some stops courtesy of Mr. Cooper, but it was just nice to just get out, enjoy the leaves, see the dogs having fun, enjoy the crisp fall air and blue sky, and to just run for fun with a friend.

Afterwards we stopped at diner and got pancakes and smuggled bacon out to the car for the doggies. Mmmm...BACON, Frito says as he drools. Cooper continued to sniff the bacon grease covered napkin all the way home and tried to eat cupcakes I got for my friend Fred who is sick. No luck Coopy.

After a nap, I headed to the pool where I was left to swim all alone. It ended up being a very good swim as I focused on my own times and technique. I did flip turns on the easy laps but was not quite so daring on the fast ones. I had a few mishaps with the flip turns. My problem is that I tend to launch myself downwards instead of straight out. Not always, just sometimes. In the shallow end I scraped my shoulder a couple of times. Mostly just injured my pride though.

4 x 200 Scull, Swim, Kick, Swim (4:30)
4 x 50 (1:15) Mini-Maxi hit 80,80,79,80 with times ranging from :41-:45
500 Free Race (9) in 8:01
5 x 100 Free Race (1:45) in 1:29, 1:30, 1:29, 1:30, 1:29 It felt really good to hit all these under 1:30 all by myself with no one there to push me!

100 easy (2)
400 IM (9) I didn't want to do this, but I did, full 100fly to start, not drill all fly, it hurt, it was ugly, but I did it!!!!
4 x 100 Back (1:50) in 1:39-1:42
1 x 100 easy (2)
4 x 200 Scull, Swim, Kick, Swim (4:30)

4 x 50 (1:15) stroke count fr bk,bk, bk

200 cool down

4200m total

It was a really good workout with flip turns and pushing the free and all the technique. I feel like my swimming is on the verge of the next breakthrough. Once I am rested. I am doing so much swimming right now, it is hard to swim fast. Once I cut down for the meet in Dec, I think I will make some good improvements.

Tomorrow is going to be busy. After work I have therapy and then we have our masters swim meeting in the evening with our new coach. I'd like to run the dogs in the morning if I get up early enough, but I'll see how I feel.

Here are my goals for this week:

1) Write in my personal journal every day

2) Send out my swim meet entry

3) Set 2 doctors appointments

4) Set up my Tacx VR trainer and ride it 2x

5) Write down my food the next 2-3 days (don't worry i won't post the boring details of what I eat on the blog...)

I'm a flip turner!

I woke up Friday morning to go to the pool and remembered a very important item I forgot to put on my list from Thursday: Get enough rest! So I went back to bed. After work I took the dogs for a 3 mile run around the neighborhood. My legs felt really fast for some reason so I did some short pickups.

I thought about biking on Saturday, to get out and enjoy the leaves and all, then it started raining, so I stayed in and took a nap and cleaned. I had to get the house cleaned up anyway because Esther and Genine were coming over to watch Sex and the City and have a girls night. There was a plan for doing beauty masks...but we never did get around to it.

Before they came over I went to the pool. There was a swim meet going on. As soon as I pulled into the parking lot I knew something was up...it would really be nice if they put up a sign saying there was a meet going on. It is fun to see the kids swim and all, but it gets so loud in the pool and all the parents are there and the locker room gets packed full of screaming little girls. I would really rather come at a time when the meet is not going on. Anyway, so Matt, Genine, Paul and I grabbed two lanes and were joined midway by super fast Oscar. My backstroke, free, and breaststroke feel really good. My fly...I still can't get it right. I tried doing the fly part of the warm up with fins to get the rhythm right and that seemed to help.
4 x {6 x 25 Drill/technique (:45)
2 x 50 Swim (1)
Reverse IM Order}
2 x {20 x 50 (1) first round I did 2 free, 1 back and was doing free in :42-:44, back in :46-:47; second round Reverse IM Order
1 x 200 (4) easy
Reverse IM Order}
2x50 easy turns
3500m total
Then flip turn practice which Matt joined me for. It helped me to have the moral support. My flip turns finally feel much better. I don't get as much water up my nose. So, after several practices, we decided, it was time to incorporate them into some swimming. We did 2x50 easy with a turn at each and then come back and rest after we turned at the 50. And I did it! I am a flipper! Or flip turner! Whatever. I will probably first incorporate it into easy stuff, then put it into everything and work off pushing off hard. By the time I do my meets I will be awesome.

On that note, I still haven't decide on my events! I would like to do the 200IM to see how much I have improved. And I would like to do At least one backstroke events, maybe both 100 and 200. For the 100m back, I want to see if I can break 1:30. My best in workouts is 1:37 without flip turns and without knowing how to do the start properly. For 200m back, I think my best is around 3:23 or in that range. Maybe 3:10? I need to do a 200IM time trial to see where I am. I swim so much faster in the meet than I ever had because of diving off the blocks and racing head to head that my time in the meet was better than I thought.

We had a lot of fun at our "girly" night. We went out to frozen yogurt with Matt and Armando first at this great place called "Fruity Yogurt". I love it! I had vanilla yogurt with raspberries, strawberries, kiwi, brownie dough, cookie dough, reeses peanut butter cups, gummi bears, and hot fudge! Yummm! I have been doing quite well on my nutrition and am going to get together with my friend to talk about nutrition this week. But, there's always room for some yummy stuff in small doses. After dessert first, we got real food, then had drinks and strawberries and kiwis (the other girls had dark chocolate) while we watched our movie. The doggies had lots of fun begging for all the food and Cooper loved being the ladies man. It was too bad that Claudia and Fred couldn't make it. Fred lent us his copy of Sex in the City but was sick so he couldn't come. I have to make him some cupcakes for when he feels better. Or maybe just buy some really good ones, he won't care as long as they taste good! He loves cupcakes as much as I do. Well almost.

November's Random Post

I have lots of different things on my mind, so today may be quite random.

Frito chased the kitty away from the dumpster this morning and he was so excited that he got to see his favorite neighborhood pet. Then he curled back up in bed. He likes to sleep. I love pictures of sleeping Frito. Want to see some?

I swam this morning, with Matt, I was late, I felt a little slow and tired, and I forgot to do my flip turns at the end gosh darn it!

1 x 400 scull (10)

2 x {4 x 25 Free Descend (:30)
{1 x 100 5-3-5 Free (2:30)
{4 x 50 Choice Negative Split bk,fr,bk, fr then IM order on 2nd round (1)
1x{200 free (3:45)
{4 x 100 back (2)
{4 x 75 Free (1:30)

100 warm down

2200m total

I had a nice 3 mile easy run with the doggies after work and now here I am.

I really like writing in my journal. I write until my hand cramps up and then I have to stop. I really should just type it, but...that just isn't the same...

I should have known that the "mean girl" that blamed me for her issues yesterday wasn't going to apologize to me. She called me selfish and said my lack of maturity and selfishness had impacted others in a negative way. Funny because I have been told by many people that I need to be more selfish and worry about helping people less. And I have always been told I am very mature. She really should not take her issues or her crankiness out on me. Not cool. I don't like when people say untrue things about me and spread them around. Gossip is stupid and should be left for HS kids.

So on that note, since I am supposedly to blame for making it impossible for her to improve her swimming, I am going to suggest ways to improve swimming. I have improved my swim a lot.

My first 1500m swim in a triathlon back in 2002 was in the 31 min range I think. And I was dead tired after it. I failed to really do much with my swim for a long time, I just went to the pool and swam on my own and didn't get much instruction for awhile and didn't improve very much.

I joined masters swim at the Y with coaches Mel and Don Fink in 2005 and only went in the summer and wasn't very consistent. I didn't swim more than 2-3 days a week and in the off season I stop swimming completely. In 2006 I got more consistent with masters but still didn't swim much and the coach didn't give us a lot of feedback on our stroke. I swam around 26:30 that year. 2005 was mostly 27's and 28's.

In 2007 we got a different masters coach, Coach Joe, and I also started swimming more consistently but still only 3-4 days a week and shorter swims. He gave us much more stroke feedback and my technique improved. My best swim was low to mid 25's. In the off season I started swimming more often, more masters practices, and more days. I cut back cycling almost entirely and cut back the running. I worked hard at it and showed up for every masters practice unless I was sick. My best 1500m this year was 22:20 and I am mastering all strokes (mastering being used loosely here...) and did my first swim meet with more to come. From runner girl to fishie!

So I have some tips and some things I want to do to continue to improve because I still have plenty of time I want to take off, please add any suggestions:

1) Don't be afraid to try new things

2) Swim with other people, fun ones preferably

3) Don't rely on just one coach or resource--there are so many people to learn from

4) Swim all the strokes, it is fun and is good for you!

5) Get stroke videotaped and analyzed

6) Get regular feedback on your stroke

7) Do regular time trials checks, but do let the clock rule your life!

8) Don't complain or whine about the workout--just do it for heavens sake!

9) Get a swimsuit that makes you feel awesome every time you put it on!

10) Set goals and then go after them

I was thinking one of these two suits to wear for my swim meet in Dec to help with #9?

I guess it turned into a top ten, no particular order.

My friend Fred's birthday party is coming up soon and I need to make sure I pick the right outfit for it. He says they are all jeans and t-shirts guys, so not to worry, but this will be my first party with a large group of gay men there and I don't want them thinking my outfit, and especially my shoes are bad. May need to do some shopping. It is bad enough having Lindsay the fashion nazi at work!

I was talking about my Mom the other day and how we are so much alike that often when I am having a hard time I push her away. When I am upset with myself, I get upset with her because she reminds me so much of me. And sometimes I feel like a lot of the things that make me the way I am, I got from her--my dramatic and emotional side, my excessive worrying about other people, depression, and I find it frustrating to talk to her. So when I probably need her most, I often push her away because she irritates the heck out of me. I think she understands, but it is hard for her. And eventually, I come around.

Here's me and my mom at the beach in Oregon.

Progress for me

So, first off , thanks everyone for the nice comments and support on and off the blog. I really appreciate it.

I swam this morning with Matt, Claudia, and a new girl Suzanne. We did a 1500 time trial and I did a 200m back stroke time trial. Here's how it broke down:
250m warm up
1500m in 24:37, had a hard time pushing the pace, maybe a little fatigued to go fast, but it is a good "starting point"
250m easy
200m back in 3:23
100m cd
flip turn practice, getting better slowly...

I love doing backstroke. I don't know why, I just do. It feels good, I like having my face out of the water and I feel powerful.

This is the next meet I want to do: http://www.metroswim.org/entryforms/112308SCMmeetEntry.pdf
I have to figure out which events I want to do out of the 100 back, 200 back, 100 IM, 200IM, and 400 free. I don't think I can do all of them, but I'm not sure which ones to do.

Then I have a meet at Rutgers in Dec with the 1500m and probably 200m IM and maybe some backstroke. I have to get my entries mailed out soon though so I have to decide!

I got a mega migraine at work today and forgot my medicine so it made for a miserable second half to the day. I took my medicine when I got home and it is finally gone. I ate better than I have been at work today-I ate all the healthy food that I brought with me and only had 3 small pieces of Halloween candy (my limit for the day was 5). I emailed my friend about the nutrition thing--she has an MS in nutrition from Cornell and is a Dietitian for those concerned Dietitians out there.

I also set some good goals in my journal and have been writing in that some stuff I can't write here.

I have been working to help get the masters swim program going again at the Y and have been realizing that a lot of people are happy to make suggestions or complain, but not often do the work or even show up. I was especially upset and annoyed to get an email from someone that I had included that blamed me for the previous coach quitting and blamed me for her swimming not being good. The nerve. Here I am going out of my way to do this and you blame me for this? And for the fact that your swimming is not going well. I don't even know this person that well. Seriously. Ugh. Grow up. Get over yourself.

It's funny, because one of my big issues is always blaming myself for everything even if it is not remotely my fault and as I mentioned yesterday, taking on other peoples issues. I was extremely annoyed that on this day, as I working on these issues she chose to mention that she blamed me for something that was completely not my fault and completely something where she needs to look at herself and ask why she is attacking me. I took the opportunity to stand up for myself. In the past I may have felt bad and questioned myself. I am happy to say, I didn't question myself for a second, this is her issue.

November Goals

Another tough day for me. I slept in and took the morning off workouts. I had a nice relaxing run in the dark with the doggies this evening. 5 miles total, wandering around the peaceful, dark neighborhoods. Running in the dark can be a really good time to think. A good time to be alone. I like the fall and winter runs. I forgot how much I enjoyed going out early in the morning or out at night in the dark, bundled up with the dogs and just being alone with my thoughts.

For me, it is much easier to help other people and worry about other people than about myself. I can't do that anymore. I have been neglecting some of my problems for too long. So, to some of my friends or people who know me, I may start to seem selfish. I can't give out so much advice or plan so much stuff. I need to focus my energy on me.

Back in March, I got bronchitis. When I couldn't exercise for a full week or work for a couple days, I started to realize how much I had buried myself in triathlon and work and other things to distract myself from my problems. When I was sick, I couldn't hide and it was difficult. I thought then I was going to start to make progress, but unfortunately, I have found other things to distract myself and continued to make some of the same mistakes.

So I am committing now to working on the problems I have been trying so hard to bury with everything else. Yes, I will still do triathlon, but not entirely surround myself with it. And I will still be a helpful caring person, that is who I am. But I am putting myself first for awhile. Why am I putting all this on my triathlon blog? Because me being happy and healthy has everything to do with my success in triathlon. And it is my blog and I can write what I want.

So for the month of November I have these goals, some are directly triathlon related, others life related:
-Go to therapy at least 1x a week
-Talk to my friend about my nutrition because I can't just eat donuts and candy all the time
-Go to an asthma specialist doctor (whatever they are called)
-Sign up for swim meet at the end of Nov
-Be able to do flip turns during my swim meet at the end of Nov

Some other goals that I am not posting but am writing down in my journal.

Tomorrow morning we are doing swim time trials so that I have times to put down for my swim meet applications. So I will have some more goals to write down perhaps.

Tough Day

I had trouble sleeping last night and didn't want to get up to swim. I still did, and I actually felt pretty good in the water considering my "mega mileage" in the pool this weekend. Matt was there alone when I got there. Clinging to his pull buoy for dear life since I wasn't there to make fun of him for using it. Mostly technique with a little fast stuff today.
300m wu
2x200m-25 scull, 25 swim
300m-50 stick, 50 swim
4x50m descend in :49, :47, :46, :45 on 1:00
5x100m on 2:30, first 10m or so fast fast fast, rest easy (3rd one did back)
2x150m 50 bk, 50 br, 50 fr warm down
2000m total

We do finally have the masters program going again I think. Thanks to me asking the Director of Competitive Swimming who was much more on the ball than the Aquatics Director we have swimming probably 2 nights a week. We have a meet and greet with the new coach next Monday night to discuss stuff and then swim of course.

I had a rough day at work. I had a horrible anxiety induced stomach ache and migraine. I got caught crying by two of my coworkers who luckily are also friends. My stomach hurt so much it was hard to stand up.

Today I was supposed to take Exam 4 of the SOA/CAS exams. I failed it in the spring (mostly due to lack of study time and focus). When I got back from nationals and was told we were working Saturdays and was already behind on my studying, ugh. So several weeks ago I decided I couldn't confidently do the exam. Not with the extra work and not getting the study time at work and with some of the stress I have had in my life. I feel like a failure for not even trying, but I couldn't handle failing the exam again, especially knowing I was going in underprepared again.

I went to a new therapist today. Yes I go to therapy, can you tell, I have issues? He was really easy to talk to and so far much better than others. It was rough talking though.

I am so tired now. It was a rough day all together.

Shopping with huge lats

All morning I watched the live NBC coverage of the NYC marathon. I kept thinking, I should be out there doing this, not watching. I was so excited to see Kara Goucher race with some serious guts and go out hard with Paula Radcliffe and finish in 3rd. She is my favorite distance runner so it is great to see her do so well.

Speaking of doing well, my friends Chaz and john raced at IM Florida yesterday. It was Chaz's first IM and he did great! (so did John, but it wasn't his first) Chaz did awesome in the swim, and in true Chaz style crushed the bike!

My friend Todd raced the Escape to Bermuda Tri today, but results are not up yet...so I am guessing he did quite well and he is off having lots of fun at the Bacardi party!

So after watching other people run on tv, and looking up results, then napping, I finally decided to workout. I swam of course. Weekends are the only days when I can get in longer swims. Just wait, next year I will be swimming so freaking fast!

2 x 500 #1 – Fr, Fly, Fr, Bk, Fr #2 – Fr, Bk, Fr, Br, Fr did 50m of fly drill on the 100fly
4x <1 x 200 Free (4) in 3:10, 3:14, 3:15, 3:17 (I barely got rest before the 200's!)
<1 x 100 back on odd, IM on even (1:45) in 1:37!, 1:42, 1:39, 1:45
24 x 25 (:35) odd – technique, even – Race, IM order, 3x through 2, 25's of each
2 x 200 Scull Front, Mid, Rear, Free
300 warm down
3500m total

I was tired from yesterday's swim, but I felt pretty good swimming too. All the swimming is starting to pay off and I feel good in the water. Except on fly. Every once in awhile I feel like I get it, but most of the time I feel like I am flailing around like I am having a seizure or something. I had my "Who Rocks?, I Rock!", and gosh darn it, I thought, I do!!!!! So that helped me push. Especially on the 200 free, 100 back/IM section. I was really happy with the 100 back in 1:37. I am still not doing flip turns during my swim so once I get that in there...And speaking of flip turns, I practiced at the end of the workout on Friday and today. They are getting better, but not even close to being added to the actual swimming yet. The teenage lifeguard looked a little concerned when I was practicing them. Or maybe I was just concerned for myself and I hoped he was concerned...

After my swim I went for some retail therapy at Ann Taylor and Banana Republic. Every time I shop I am reminded of what a freakishly weird body I have. I have to travel back and forth between the regular and petite section to find stuff. Usually I get 00P or XS. For shirts, 00p won't fit for a lot of shirts because of my disproportionally large lats. But larger shirts are too lose on my stomach. So I go to the regular clothes to get XS or 0 which are impossible to find (no 00 over there). I tried on a 00P shirt and almost ripped it trying to zip it up over my massive swimming lats...but tried on 00P pants and they are too baggy. What is wrong with this picture? I don't like feeling like a freak of nature when I shop. It is all the other people who are weird...right? I still found some good stuff. A cute long orange sweater on sale, a pink top (the one I couldn't zip up, I sized up...) to wear out dancing, nice camel colored wool pants, purple and gray striped cashmere sweater, a cute girly baby blue shirt on sale, and some dress socks. Not too shabby.

Halloween and November

Halloween came and went. Nothing too exciting unfortunately. I got up early to swim in the lovely cat suit. Even wore my cat ears to the pool and got pointed at by some high school boys. I did not swim in the ears, I must note. Just wore them out onto the pool deck. I had a decent swim and finished the month at 60,050 meters! Woohoo!!!

2 x <1 x 50 scull/ swim
<1 x 100 6-6-6/ swim (2)
<1 x 200 negative split (4)
<1 x 100 acceleration drill/ swim (2)
<1 x 50 kick/ swim (1:30)
2 x <2 x 100 Free AT (2)
<2 x 75 Stroke AT (1:30)
4 x 50 IM order ( 1)
2 x 25 Free (:30)
1 x 100 50 surf kick/ 50 Flutter with breast Pull (2:15)
1 x 50 3 breath Free (1)
200m kick
200m back in 3:28
100m cd
2600m total

I wore my cat ears to work even though we had a jeans and Hawaiian shirt day (I don't have one and wasn't going to buy one). Thankfully, everyone liked my cat ears. And I feasted on donuts, cookies and candy corn for my post swim breakfast. Mmmm.

When I got home I ran the dogs 3 miles easy. My IT band a little tight so I stretched a good bit when I got home. But first, I got the doggies in their costumes. Frito is not one for dressing up, so he just wears a bow tie. I'm not really sure what he is supposed to be other than really cute...


And Cooper was Superman as usual.

I was so tired I fell asleep before dinner and trick or treaters.

This morning I woke up early and was all set to go to race a XC meet down in Holmdel. Then, I decided not to go. Every other XC race I had an excuse, I had to work, I had been out with friends the night before. But not this time. I was rested, I was up, granted, I am out of running shape, but still...I could go and bust out a good time. I realized I was scared to race. I have been scared to do a running race ever since my asthma attack at nationals. I haven't seen the doctor since then and I really need to because it is getting worse. Not sure why, but it is. And I need to deal with it and get over the fear of it. Not that I need to be racing right now, but eventually.

Anyway, instead, I ran 8 miles around the neighborhood with the dogs--1 mile easy with both, 6 miles with Frito at a faster pace, 1 mile easy cool down with Cooper. It was the longest I've done in a long time.

A little later off to the pool to attempt a 6500m swim. I did 5500, and would have probably done the full thing but I couldn't find paddles that were intact at the pool, so that was my excuse for leaving that part out.

65 x 100

1-5 Build
6-10 IM
11-15 Fly--did this as drill and kick
16-20 Backstroke Spin Drill--did this as drill, swim backstroke, drill, bk, bk
21-25 Breast--did kick for the third one
26-30 Free
31-35 Paddles--skipped these ones!!!!
36-40 Paddles/ Buoys-skipped!!!
41-45 Buoys
46-50 Pull w/ Board
51-55 Swim w/ Fins
56-60 Fins/ Board--alternated flutter and fly kick by 100
61-65 Kick w/ Board--alternated flutter and fly by 100

5500m

25 Minutes ABS

Paul joined me for the first 3000 or so. He asked what 25 minutes ABS stood for. I laughed...

I did do abs and stretching, but not 25 mins of ABS. I think that is what ABS stands for...now I am wondering...

I think 5500m is my longest swim ever. Or at least pretty darn close to it.