We ride again!

I wanted to post this yesterday, but I was too damn busy being SUPERWOMAN! (I d id all of my laundry, cleaned all animals cages. did all animal laundry and did four sets of animal nail trims, stripped two rabbit coats [pre-summer shedding season], and gave one cat bath. Then I cleaned the house AND wrote one final lab protocol! Rockstar Status!)

Yesterday my run buddy and I did our first ride together in about 5 months! The weather was beautiful and we had a great ride. We did 22 miles at a pretty leisurely pace just to get her back in the swing of things. I LOVE working out with my buddy!

All in all a pretty great training weekend!

I am an idiot

Tonight I was supposed to meet my triathlon clinic group for a bike/run brick workout (that is a workout with more than one sport. There are no actual 'bricks' involved. Just so there is no confusion for Willie! ) long story short, I got stuck in traffic and missed them. Everyone was already out on the ride when I got there. If you have ever read one of my trail run blogs, you know that I get lost in a shoe box.

So, naturally, I decided to head out on my own, in an area that I am not very familiar with.

Yeah. I know, brilliant.

I decided to do 40 minutes. 20 minutes out, 20 minutes back. No turns. Just keep going straight so I don't get lost. That doesn't give much room for choice of terrain. So, 4 days after my marathon here is the elevation chart of my 40 minute ride.



Umm, a little more climb than I was going for. Well, at least I didn't get lost. It took me 40 minutes to go 9.2 miles.

I got back and decided, what the hell, let's go for a run. The run was supposed to be about 20 minutes, so I decided to do 2 miles (21:58). I was surprised at how great I felt. The first run after the Napa marathon suu-uucked. This was quite nice. Go me.

Easy Sunday Run/New Run Friend

Today I had a run with my triathlon clinic group. I think I actually made a friend. Until this point no one seemed to even remember my name from clinic to clinic. Today I had an actual conversation and a beautiful, easy trail run with one of the girls. She even emailed me about a possible marathon we could do and suggested we could meet up for long runs. Cool. (The marathon is the Bizz Johnson Trail Marathon, I put it on the schedule and am going to go for sub 5 hours. Check out the course profile) I am trying not to get too excited, but it would be nice to have someone to run with again. Even if only once in a while. We ran 6.5 miles with a 3.5 mile 500 ft climb in the beginning and a nice easy decent. Beautiful views and only two really hard sections. Nice taper run.

One week until San Diego Rock and Roll Marathon. I am getting excited!

I may not make it

April until mid May is a brutal time of year for me. End of the semester at State, so my masters classes have finals and work due, the class I teach at State has finals and grading, then at my real job, high school, my AP students have the National AP Biology Exam (the test we have been working toward since August).

It is balls to the wall until May 14th. I will be a very happy camper after May 14th. If I make it.

My diet has taken a hit this week. My training has taken a hit this week, but I am still worlds ahead of where I was at this time last year. This time last year I hit one the the lowest emotional points I have experienced in the 17 years I have been clean. It was then that I decided I needed to to make a change and not have exercise be a "summer thing", but a lifestyle.

In that vein (or should I say "vain"), I am going to make myself feel better about the HUGE volume of food I have eaten this week by posting my April training totals:

April Totals

Run: 88.9 miles
Bike: 126.1 miles
Swim: 11,460 yards

YTD 2008 Totals

Run: 315.8 miles
Bike: 282.8 miles
Swim: 18,110 yards

Official hardcore status

I had a two and a half hour ride on my training calendar today and after yesterday's fiasco I was concerned I might die, but I survived and rode 31 miles with hubby. Go me.

It was cold and windy. I don't know what is up with my beautiful California weather.

Well, it was beautiful, just cold and windy.

We Californians are such whiners. When it is sunny and warm I will bitching that it is too hot.

Gear Review:

The BEST lightweight running/cycling jacket EVER! This is seriously the best purchase I have made this season! I love it because it is breathable, feather light, blocks the wind, and of course, its bright PINK!

I would have absolutely died without it on for:
1. Napa Valley Marathon start
2. My freezing, nightmarish bike ride with the mean girls.
3. Yesterday's sub-arctic temperatures and gale force winds at Skyline Ridge.
4. Today's 31 mile bike ride.

I bring it with me for any run or ride, just in case. It does not take up any room, it does not weigh anything, and I LOVE IT.

Novara Stowable Women's Bike Jacket from REI

Still Alive.

I was tagged

Now Ms. Calyx tagged me, so here are the rules and my 6 word meme.

Rules:

1) Write your own six word memoir.

2) Post it on your blog and include a visual illustration if you’d like.

3) Link to the person that tagged you in your post, and to the original post if possible so we can track it as it travels across the blogosphere.

4) Tag at least five more blogs with links.

5) Don’t forget to leave a comment on the tagged blogs with an invitation to play.

6) Have fun.

Meme:

No longer numb. Finally found me.

Tagged:

Tracy, Shelley, Andrea, um... Calyx already tagged everyone I know. I would love to see what Jane and Shirleyperly did with this but since I don't really know them I just blog stalk them. I feel a little weird... Let's see if I am brave enough to tell them they are tagged (good money, says 'no')

Back to the regular wrap up

TWT: Training While Tired

I am so tired I can barely sit down without practically (or actually) falling asleep. I did all of my training calendar this week, but I did not do my extra run on Thursday and I missed a bike ride because of the 10K in Sacramento on Sunday. I was so tired and I thought I needed to rest for the half marathon trail run that I am doing tomorrow. I did go to swim class on Thursday, but it was not an impressive performance. We did about 600 yards of kick drills which I SUCK AT. I am not being self-deprecating, I am being honest. I don't know what I am doing wrong. Overall my swim feels like it is getting a little better, but I can not do the f-ing kick drills.

Work is insane, but I think the calorie reduction is affecting me too. I know I will get used to it. I have been down this road more than a few times. But it is hard to get everything done when the "batteries" are so low.


The "Let's Get Some Weight Off Stacey's Arse before the San Diego Marathon" Project

Weight Watchers Week 1 went pretty well. I was on point everyday except today. Hubby and I went to Thai food and I ate an extra 7 points today. I did earn 38 activity points this week that I did not swap out, so all in all a pretty good week. Weigh in is tomorrow so we will see how it goes.


Running News

I am running the Skyline Ridge 1/2 Marathon Trail Run tomorrow. It is supposed to be beautiful. I will be sure to snap some photos!

Tri Group Swim Workout #2

Ok, I get MAJOR points for going to swim practice last night. It was cold, windy and, as you can tell for yesterday's post, I was NOT in a good mood. Swimming in an outdoor pool sounded like a little slice of Hell, but I sucked it up and went anyway.

It wasn't so bad.

The pool was heated so once in the water it wasn't so bad as long as you kept swimming, and believe me we did that. We did 2260 yards of drills (now, to you real triathletes, that doesn't sound like too much, but to this hater-of-all-things-swimming it was a lot!) and we swam pretty much for an hour and fifteen minutes straight. The girls (Note: I did not say mean this time. Things are improving) were much nicer. Some of them are too good to talk to the slow, fat girl of the group, but I have a few that have accepted me. Even one of the hardcore gals is nice to me. We will take it as a win. I would have loved to gotten a training partner(s) out of this, and I don't think that is going to happen, but at least it is tolerable and I am learning a lot.

Unfortunately, the one swimmer from last time that was slower than me was not there last night and several of the other girls from the slow lane weren't there either, so I was BY FAR the slowest swimmer (except for one injured girl. I would count her, but she did just have shoulder surgery, and that would make me an asshole, so I guess I can't)

I do have a couple of questions:

1. If fat is supposed to make you buoyant, why can't I keep my ass up in the water?! Not fair. If I am going to walk around with this more than ample booty I should AT LEAST have the "pull buoy" effect when swimming!

2. How can I use these legs to run 26.2 miles, but can not for the life of me get ANY forward motion when using a kickboard for kick drills? I list to the right like a sinking ship, run into the lane line, and am panting like a dog, while everyone passes me (even the girl that had surgery) and tells me to pull my hips up (see #1).

Gear Review:

For those of you that mave motion sickness issues while swimming or just truly HATE getting water in your ears. Here are my reviews of ear plugs. I have tried several!

1. TYR ear plugs: HATE them. May as well try to stuff rocks in your ears. Worthless.



2. Mack's Ear Seals earplugs: Don't completely block water, but ok. The leash holding them together makes it easier not to lose, but is a pain in the ass during a race. They got pulled out several times as I was swum over by nine trillion people. (Yes, I started in the back of the swim wave. It was subsequent waves that got me)



3. Mack's Pillow Soft earplugs: Are NOT pillow soft. See TYR review.



4. Doc Blocksurf problock earlpugs w/ leash: Pretty good seal. It says you are supposed to be able to hear with them (not true, about the same as any other ear plug) the plastic, clear leash is a MAJOR pain to deal with. Too expensive and the sizing is very confusing.



5. Putty Buddies ear plugs: Made for kids, soft and fit in ear without pain. A little sticky like playdough, but completely seal out water and you can hear about as well as any other ear plug. These are the ones I am going to stick with for now. You get them through Amazon.com (putty buddies).

Sunday Long Ride

Alternate title: Wind sucks

Today I broke my long ride up into two rides. I got up early and rode 12.5 miles (almost an hour, the return trip was faster then the trip out, so I got back a little early and I didn't feel like making up the difference riding around the neighborhood for nine minutes, like an idiot.) Then later, after my meeting, I went out with my husband for a 2 hour ride where we did 25.5 miles.

Total biking mileage for the day: 38 miles

Morning ride: Uneventful and a little dull, but I do notice that I am getting more comfortable on the bike. That is a good thing. People have often wondered, "if you hate the swim and don't like the bike, why exactly do you do triathlons?" Completely legitimate question. One for which I have no answer.

Afternoon ride: The reason I did two rides was because my husband, who in years past has done 100s of century rides and two double centuries, says he has hung up his long distance riding hat and only wants to do shorter rides. Well, shorter rides where he rides like his ass is on fire, which is why, until now, I have NEVER wanted to ride with him. Picture: Me and hubby heading out for our ride. Note my head/ear warmer. Windy and cold!

Anyhoo, he said he didn't want to go over an hour and a half. Yeah, right. He rode (at the aforementioned 'ass on fire' pace) for 2 hours until mercifully we were close enough to home for me to cry uncle. Sheesh! You would think I would have figured him out by now.

While we rode at this ridiculous pace the Nordic God of Wind, blew in our faces the ENTIRE time. I am not sure how this is even possible on a looped course. Shouldn't it be at your back or at the very least your side at SOME point? Christ! I must have pissed off someone in the Wind God family somehow.

But I survived and completed another long bike ride. Go me.

Girl Power!

Today on the trail for my long run I was struck by the number of women on the trail. We outnumbered the men by at least 5 to 1. It was quite awesome. There were women running solo, women running and walking in pairs, women biking alone and with their children, walking their dogs, it was quite a cool thing to be a part of.

Side note: Last week on my long run I thought I saw Willie on the trail. Obviously this couldn't be true. No way would he be in sunny California and not tell me or Southbay Girl. Well, today I had another phantom Willie sighting. I think it was the same Willie-look-alike guy. Either Willie has a twin or he is lying about being in Oklahoma. Hmm, I will have to scrutinize his pictures more carefully.

Anyhoo, back to Girl Power Day on the trail. To be honest it may always be this way, but I am usually so focused on the dogs that I don't notice the people so much (I am a dog watcher. Dogs on the trail, at the park, and on the beach make me exceedingly happy)

The run itself was great. It was one of those runs, that reminds you why we do this (and blog about it incessantly) the weather was PERFECT. I got my 57 degrees and sunny! I ran 10 miles in 1:51:01 (11:06 min/mi) and it was beautiful.

Weekly Training Summary:

Run: 20 miles
Bike: 42.3 miles
Swim: 2700 yards

Two-a-day Thursday

I am feeling a little hardcore with two, double workout days this week. I am feeling a little hardcore, but a WHOLE LOT tired.

I don't have class on Thursday nights, but I do monitor the after school homework center on Thursday afternoons, so I have to do some creative scheduling to get both workouts in. I am not sure if I will be able to keep this up, but we will see.

Summary:

Run: I left school at lunch ran 6 miles (1:05:33, 10:54 min/mi pace) on the bike trail and made it back in time for Homework Center. Boo yah! It was a nice run. My legs felt pretty good. Probably because I took an unscheduled rest day on Wednesday. I have a tight schedule on Wednesdays and I was just bone tired and bailed on the 50 minute bike ride that was scheduled.

Swim: About 1500 yards at my pre-masters swim class. He began class by saying, "Tonight we are doing a real workout. I hope you brought water!" Yikes. I kept up pretty well. The drills are exhausting to me and my shoulders are pretty tired today.

Two-a-day Tuesday

Thank you Thank you!

Thank you all for your kind words for my birthday. I don't usually broadcast it in non-recovery arenas, but since this is essentially my diary, and it is pretty cool to me, I figured, why not?

My birthday always makes me reflect on my life and all that I am grateful for and I am very grateful for all my new virtual friends. You have helped and inspired me more than you know in this quest for fitness, balance, and healthier lifestyle. Thank you for being a part of my journey.

I was thinking about the "Marathon in All 50 States" thing that Shirleyperly is doing. I thought I could do a modified goal and do a "Marathon in all my friend's hometowns" type thing. I guess, it could be alternately titled, "RBR's Blog Stalker Fantasy Tour" Tracy already knows my stalker tendencies! lol!

Side note: Hmm... I put the 'lol' so it wouldn't seem so creepy, but I think it actually heightened the creep factor. Sorry about that.

Anyhoo... just thoughts rambling about in my head. I would love to meet you all of you in person. Watch out! RBR may be coming to a marathon near you! Hey, I think that makes Southbay Girl first! San Diego in June baby! (Alright, technically you are not in San Diego, but us Northern Californians think of everything below Santa Barbara as one big city called "So Cal" anyway. )


Back to our regularly scheduled programming...

Because I have decided I need two rest days (Monday and Friday) and I need to get three run days in to train for the marathon I need to double up on Tuesdays and Thursdays. I will run at lunch and then go to my swim class on those nights.

Yesterday was my first Tuesday doing this. I did it last Thursday, but Thursdays are an easier day for me schedule-wise.

Summary of workouts: I am pooped.

Ok, really here is the breakdown:
Run: Total distance was 4 miles with 5 X hill repeats. The dam trail I wanted to run up was closed, so I had to go up a freaking billy goat trail. That GREATLY reduced the distance I was able to cover on the hill repeats. I was supposed to do 2 min climbs, but I could only handle 1:15. I did 5 of them, but I guess I am going to have to work on that or find a hill to climb that doesn't require a fucking ax pick to get up it!

Swim Class: Total swim time 1 hour. We did various drills for a total yardage 1200. I went, so we count that as a win. I had my earplugs this time and I was able to complete the whole class without getting sick. Yay! It went pretty well. I still hate swimming and I don't think I am any better yet, but I have only had two swim classes. I like the instructor and I fit in with the class, so I guess I will keep going.

Wow, that was hard

We started out in Aptos at elevation of 0 ft and climbed to the summit of the Santa Cruz Mountains at about 2000 ft. There was a total uphill of 3,645 ft and believe me I felt every foot of it. I rode for a total of 42.3 miles. Although about 2 of those miles weren't recorded on my Garmin, because I turned it on and then promptly hit the 'stop' button on accident. Here is the elevation chart:




My tri training group divides the long workouts by distance and difficulty: the 'pink' group is the easiest/shortest, 'blue' group mid-range, and 'black' hardest/longest. My hubby and coach talked me into being 'blue' today. A fact that I did not for ONE SECOND forget as I was climbing those hills today.

Anyhoo, I was pretty nervous about the 'blue' thing because of the big climb in that ride. I knew it was going to be long. I am just glad that I didn't know how long or how hard because I am sure I would have wimped out and done the 'pink' ride which only went about 20 miles and only had one climb. We had ... um,... I have no idea how many. There was the one, 11 mile climb, that I remember quite distinctly, but after that, it was more like "Are you fucking kidding me? How can we be going back up again?" And I am not sure how many times I said that.

I do wish I had brought my camera because it WAS a beautiful ride, but I was more concerned with not being left in the dust, and, well, not falling off my bike, so obviously no pictures today.

The downhill was almost (Note, I said almost) as hard as the uphill, because you were FLYING had to watch for potholes, crazy, road rage drivers, and it was FREEZING! My hands and feet have never been so cold and my shoulders and hands were hurting because of gripping the handle bars and brakes for dear life.

I had one asthma issue, but it resolved relatively quickly with my inhaler. The moist air of the redwood forest got me.

Mean girls: I talked to a few of the women today and rode briefly with some. I wasn't the slowest, but I was close. It seems like they are warming up to me, maybe by the end of this damn thing I will stop referring to them as the 'mean girls', but I am not quite ready to make that jump just yet.

All in all, I am very proud of myself for doing it. It is my longest and hardest ride to date.

First double digit run since the marathon

Since I am training for San Diego Marathon on June 1st, I decided I needed to start getting my miles up. Today I ran 10.1 miles on my beloved bike trail. I was not daring enough to try a long run on real trails. Especially considering my penchant for getting lost. (Picture: Lone coot. My favorite water fowl and a regular along the trail.)




I started my run in a different location on the bike trail so I could change my scenery a little. The first three miles did not feel good. My legs felt sluggish like they have on all of my runs since the marathon. I kept my pace slow because I wanted to make sure I could complete the full 10 miles. The weather was perfect running weather, 55 degrees and slightly overcast (I wish you could have 55 degrees and sun, but oh well) It was a little humid so I was having a little trouble with my asthma. I had to use my inhaler twice for wheezing and I sounded AWFUL when I ran past people but I actually felt ok, so I kept running. (Picture: Bridge over the Los Gatos Creek)

At mile 5 I was exactly at a 12 min/mile pace which was what I was shooting for. I knew I would be a little faster on the way back, because the first 5 miles are slightly uphill, making the last 5 slightly downhill. (Picture: Around mile 4. This is one of my favorite stretches of trail. I call it the Tour of Homes I will Never be Able to Own)

At mile 6 I was ecstatic to see that my run buddy had rode her bike out to meet me and she rode the last 4 miles with me which was WONDERFUL. It was so nice to have someone to chat with (I am sure you are shocked to hear that I am a "chatty runner". I actually annoy the hell out of a lot of people, but my run buddy loves me anyway!)

The rest of the run went really quick with a buddy to help distract me. She was a little concerned with my breathing. She has seen a full blown attack and would rather not again, but I assured her I was fine. I finished 10.1 miles in 1:54: 16 (11:19 min/mile pace).

I was very pleased with the run. My knees are a little achy, but I stretched and iced and I am sure they will be fine for tomorrow's ride.

This week's workout totals:

Run: 15.1 miles
Bike: 48.2 miles
Swim: 2000 yards

Not too shabby if I say so myself!

Second swim workout of the week

This one was not such a rousing success. I went to my first pre-masters swim class on Thursday. I was pretty proud of myself for going as, you all know, I DID NOT WANT TO GO. I was bolstered by the "non-horrific" swim workout on Tuesday so I went.

Let's start with the good parts:

1. The pre-masters swim class was in the "bubble" (Picture: Swim Bubble. It is like a big round tent over the pool) at the local pool, so it was warmer in there and I didn't have to "strut my stuff" outside. A part of swimming that I TRULY detest.

2. The people in the pre-masters swim class were VERY nice and welcoming. There were only about 8 in the class.

3. The coach was very nice and laid back. He wasn't one of those freakishly tall, triangular swimmers with 0% body fat. He had great tips to improve my stroke and forced me to do bilateral breathing ( I only breathe on the left. I have never even tried to breathe on the right, although I hear for triathlons you really need to know how to do both.)


Things that didn't go so well: Ok, it was only one thing that didn't go so well, but it was a BIGGIE!

4. I lost one of my earplugs at the Tuesday swim practice and I didn't have time to get a new pair. I have equilibrium issues when I swim (read: I get sea sick. Yes, even in the pool) I wasn't sure if the earplugs helped or if I got over it. Uh, yeah, the earplugs helped. I was sick as a dog after about 500 yards and had to get out of the pool before I made myself VERY unwelcome.

I watched the rest of the class and learned some things and I will go back on Tuesday (this time with earplugs!) and try again.

Overall, training this week was really good.

I am going to head out on a long run in a little while here. I am planning on 10 miles today depending on how the ol' knees feel. It will be my first double digit run since the marathon. My tri training group has a big bike ride on Sunday it looks like I will be doing about 40 miles (Yikes!) I will let you know how that goes.

I finally made it to a swim workout!

Tri Clinic Swim Workout

Tuesday night I went to my first swim training with the triathlon clinic group and it went pretty well. I was so stressed driving there that I had created a list of conditions that would cause me to turnaround and go home.

If I hit traffic, I am going home.
If I get lost, I am going home.
If everyone ignores me again, I am going home.

Well, none of these things happened so I actually made it the the practice. As a whole women weren't any friendlier, but there were a few that were nice and introduced themselves to me. After the workout I was chatting with a woman that was going to be doing a 1/2 Ironman this weekend. She was nice. So hopefully, this won't be completely uncomfortable EVERY time I have to meet with this group.

We did drills and the coach gave me some tips that helped. I wasn't even the slowest swimmer, ok, so I was the second to slowest swimmer, but whatever. We had a relay at the end of practice and I felt like I might throw up when the coach sent me the fast lane where all the mean girls were (don't get excited, they were evening things out so it would be fair the slowest swimmer was out of the pool getting help from the masters coach so I was promoted to slowest swimmer). Great, now I got to the the mean, fast girl's handicap. Awesome. Fortunately they were SO fast that it didn't matter and we won anyway. They were SUPER competitive. This relay was SUPER important to them for some reason.

Whatever, I did it and I survived.

Wednesday's workouts (alternative title: Why RBR is a ROCKSTAR!)


I left school after I ditched the cherubs. "Can you stay after school? Sure, but be on time, I wait 10 minutes and if you are not here I am going running." I waited 11 minutes ( I am THAT caring) and bailed! Woo Hoo!

I went to the trail and ran 5 miles. Not a fun run. Afternoon runs after you have been standing on concrete all day, just suck, but I did it.

THEN....

I went for a 18 mile bike ride with hubby! Yep, you heard right, a two workout day. State is on Spring break, so I did not have to go teach the college cherubs last night. Go me!

It was windy, but it was still a pretty decent ride. My husband has made it his mission to make me more comfortable riding in traffic, so he drug (dragged? Whatever, stupid verb tenses.) me through the center of town, but it was good practice.

Easter Sunday Bike Ride

My run buddy is sick, so she had to cancel today for our long ride. I seriously hope she doesn't have the Flu of Death. Picture: My pretty purple bike with my pretty purple helmet!The bike was a Christmas present from hubby after my first triathlon and the helmet was a Christmas present last year.

Anyhoo, that means I was on my own for a 2 hour bike ride today. I am pretty proud of myself for going anyway. The ride I chose is a tough course for a pretty flat ride. It has miles of gradual uphill that can wear on you. I rode for 2:18 minutes for a total of 30 miles. The weather was absolutely perfect and I actually enjoyed myself. That is tied for the longest ride I have ever done. I rode 30 miles in Santa Cruz along highway 1 in 2005 when I was training for my first triathlon, but I have not ridden anything close to that long since other than the bike course in the actual triathlon itself which is 24.8 miles.

I learned an important lesson in these last two rides that I feel compelled to pass on to my female friends that ride bikes or are interested in riding bikes,

GET THE GOOD SHORTS! DO NOT BUY CHEAP CYCLING SHORTS!

I have been riding in REI cheapo shorts since I started cycling and I am ALWAYS uncomfortable. It is like riding on a HUGE maxi pad. I thought, what would change if the shorts were more expensive? Sure they fit better, or look better, but they wouldn't feel any better, down there.

WRONG!!

So very, very wrong! I was reading (read: Blog stalking) on one of my favorite blogs The Athena Diaries and she started this kind of advice for triathlete newbies series. Well, one of their topics was chafing and saddle issues and the subject of bike shorts came up. There was tons of great advice and I decided to purchase some of the shorts they recommended. I got the Shebeest Triple S shorts and the Shebeest Ultra D shorts from Team Estrogen (see link above). HEAVEN! Absolute heaven compared to straddling an ill-fitting, oversize feminine napkin for 30 miles.


Happy Easter! I am not a religious person, but Easter is special to me for a variety of reasons. The primary reason is a story for another time, but Easter also marks the beginning of spring and the end of the winter time blues. Plus I loooooove bunnies (Pictures: my bunnies Edgar and Ozzy) I also love pretty pastel colors and all of the commercial trappings of Easter!

Not the least of which is the ever perfect Reese's peanut butter Egg! It is truly the perfect mix of chocolate and peanut butter.















If you have not seen the picture on Willie's blog you absolutely MUST! It is hilarious! I hope you all had a FANTASTIC Easter!

Back at it

I finally went back to work on Tuesday, but I still wasn't quite 100% so I did not work out, but yesterday I went for my first run, post-'Flu of Death' and it was positively...

awful.

It was like running through wet cement for 5 miles. It was of those runs you do because you are supposed to, not because it feels good.

Tonight I am going to my first pre-masters swim class. Can you sense the excitement? No? That is because there is no excitement. I don't want to go, but I am sure I will feel better after I do.
It is one of those "conquering your fears" things.

Update: I wrote the first part of this at 5 in the morning, it is now 7:15 pm (interestingly enough the exact time my pre-masters swim class starts) and no, I did not get a waterproof lap top, so I wimped out. I was tired and I just plain didn't go. I don't have a good excuse or reason. I just didn't.


The Pedagogical Roller Coaster that was my day:

DOWN Email from Vice principal that I did not include enough comments on my grade reports for students that have D's or F's in my classes. Apparently, we are too assume that parents do not understand that not completing homework and failing test scores, are how students get poor grades in their classes until we enter the code for "Homework not completed" and "Low test scores" on the report card, that the student probably stole out of the mailbox anyway. This email was cc'd to my principal.

I am on the "bad girl" list again. (or still I should say)


UP Have one of the best lectures and discussions on Genetics of my whole career. My 5th period was engaged, laughing, learning. It rocked.

Ultimate teachers high.


and back DOWN Sixth period. If you had ever actually been to my sixth period I wouldn't have to write another word. I can't joke, I can't use silly examples. Basically, I can't have ANY fun as a teacher, at all . I have to be the policeman the entire period. I pick up my chair and bull whip when the first bell rings and I can't put it down until the last bell rings.

This glorious day with sixth period culminated with a less than pleasant interaction with student that I spend at least 75% of the class period admonishing for inappropriate outbursts, touching/harassing other students, not working on the project he is supposed to, and just generally being an asshole. He was shouting out something obnoxious about his sperm (not as bad as it sounds. I teach biology, but still!) and I told him to stop AGAIN. He starts to argue how, of course it was someone else's fault that he is an asshole and I tell him I do not care why he is talking I just want him to stop. His response, "you're stupid!"

Awesome.

At this point the child is safer the farther away from me he is. So in the interest of his safety, which of course, is my primary concern, I send him to the dean of students.

Soooo, glad I get to do this again tomorrow.

Well, I wanted a break, but not this way...

Poor me. I have the stomach flu. I thought the marathon had caught up with me, because I was so tired, but I guess I was getting the flu.

Picture: Cleopatra's Deathbed (a smidge dramatic, sure, but I feel pretty damn bad!) Random Trivia Moment: One of the stories of her death is that Cleopatra committed suicide after Octavian invaded Egypt and all of her armies defected. She used the venom of the Egyptian Cobra. She decided on this particular venom after having several species of venomous snakes tested on her servants and observing their deaths. What a sweetie!

Tuesday after AP Parent night at school I was headed to the gym to do my swim and I started to feel like I had eaten something bad. It has all been down hill from there. The all over body aches are the worst part. I have never hurt, all over, this bad. Ever heard the expression, "so bad that my hair hurts"? Yeah, that bad. Plus. I haven't eaten anything since Tuesday at 2 pm except for a 1/2 a peanut butter sandwich that my husband hounded me into eating at 8 o'clock last night and that made me VERY ill. I hope he is guilt ridden. I am sure you are shocked to discover that I am a 'mean sick'.

Anyhoo, now you KNOW I am sick. We are approaching 48 hours of next to no food.

So I have missed some trainings. Workout for the week: Tuesday: none, Wednesday: none Thursday: will also be none. Since I am actually awake today (I literally slept 23 hours of yesterday, it is 11:30 and this is my first time awake today) I am hoping I can go swim tomorrow. I am trying to talk myself out of swimming and going for a run, because, frankly, I would rather run. However, since I am running on Sat and biking on Sun, I SHOULD swim on Friday. Did I mention before that I greatly dislike swimming?

That didn't go so well...

Let's start with yesterday:

The bacteria grew, so we were able to do the lab (Thank God!) It went well.

The bike ride was great. We went 20 miles in about an hour and 40 minutes. I had to wait for my run buddy a few times. This was her first ride in a while and she was having seriously bad traffic light-ju ju. The weather was beautiful. The ride was essentially flat. I definitely have to build my bike fitness before I try to climb anything serious the very few uphills we encountered were tough for me.

Today:

I met with my triathlon training group this morning. We were supposed to meet at 7 am I got there about 45 minutes early. The email said to meet at the entrance to the park. I drove in and waited by the ranger stand. At 6:45 when no one else was there I tried to call the coach to see if I was in the right place, no answer. I continued to wait. At 6:55 I called again, this time I reached her, no "we call that the kiosk. Drive back out to the main street." Great, I HATE being late, especially when I am already uncomfortable. I guess, technically I was not late I got there at 7, but I was still unhappy.

Then I approach a group of women that I presume are the triathlon group. Not one person says a word to me. Finally I ask is the the triathlon training group. One woman barely looks away from her friend to say simply, "yes" before turning back to talk to her friend. Apparently, they all are in the same triathlon club and know each other.

We were divided into three groups for the run: "pink", "turquoise", and "black." The pink was the lowest mileage and the black was the highest. Most of the pink runners had bailed and there were only three or four. It was hard to tell since no one was talking to me. I ran with a woman that was kind of left behind the other pinks. She was nice (kind of), but I don't think she would have chosen to run with me. She obviously got left my her buddies and she and I were the same pace, so she was kind of stuck with me.

It was a pretty shitty feeling.

Triathlon Training

I got my training schedule from my coach and can I just say, "Holy cow!" And this is supposed to be my "easy week" to allow me to recover from the marathon. I could quite possibly be in serious trouble.

Here is what I have done so far this week:

Sunday: Run 26.2 miles - Napa Valley Marathon (hee hee one more opportunity to say that!)
Monday: Rest (Thank God)
Tuesday: 1500 yd. swim (Very unmotivated to do this, but my new h2oaudio iPod case helps a lot!)
Wednesday: Bike 45 minutes (did this with hubby, did 11miles for a total of 45 minutes)
Thursday: Run 20 minutes/weight training whole body 8 exercises, 2 sets of 12 reps for each exercise (Run SUCKED! My were legs very tired. The weight training was lame. I only ended up doing 5 exercises, 2 sets each for 12 reps. I felt totally uncomfortable in the weight room and didn't know what machine to use or how to do all the exercises she assigned.)

Here is what she has planned for the rest of the week:

Friday: Rest (Thank God, again)
Saturday: Bike 1 hr 30 minutes (How is this a recovery week?)
Sunday: Trail Run Clinic with Tri Training group. (I am totally scared and intimidated. I DO NOT want to go, but I will)

Next week is worse, much worse. Yikes!

I have also decided to bite the bullet and, at the recommendation of my coach, I have signed up for a pre-masters swim class on Tuesday and Thursday nights. This will start on the 18th. I am determined to avoid the nightmare that was Pacific Grove Triathlon Swim 2007.


I am a smidge overwhelmed.