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.

We ride again!

Today at work was better than yesterday (really, how could it not be?) and it is Friday, so no cherubs for 2 whole days. I will take it!

After school hubby and I went for a bike ride. We rode a loop that he usually does which is 17.3 miles. It was a good ride and the weather was gorgeous. My legs are still feeling pretty crappy from Wednesday. Hopefully they will be ok for my run tomorrow.

Which leads me to my next bit of good news: my run buddy from LA is here! She is going to run with me tomorrow. I have picked a new Open Space Preserve to run and a loop that will be 7.2 miles so we will see how it goes.

I am beat. I am going to hit the hay!

Very Tired Monday

Melvin Update
Thank you for all the well wishes for Mr. Mel-man. He is doing fine. We are waiting on test results. He is eating and active and time will tell if his issues are resolving. He is very glad to be home and I am glad to have him home.

Exercise
Swim (approx. 26:00 forgot watch)
Swim 1000 yds.
Total calories burned (237 cal)

This little item (H2Oaudio.com iPod case) is AWESOME. It is a waterproof case and headphone set for your iPod. I greatly dislike swimming. I think many people feel the same way about running on a treadmill, but swimming laps makes me continually think, "when do I get to stop?" The addition of music to the incessant laps helped a lot. I had planned to swim 600 yards, but I swam 1000 yards. I would have even kept going for an even 30 minutes, but the lap swim time was over and they were going to start a class in the pool. This rocks!

Food
Breakfast
English Muffin & jam/coffee (155 cal)
Snack
JC French Toast/banana/coffee (320 cal)
Lunch
Sushi: Golden Bell Roll/Tamago (700 cal)
Snack(s)
Yogurt & 1/4 c. cereal (150 cal)
Dinner
JC Chicken Carbonara (260 cal)
Snack
1/2 pc. Choc. cake/yogurt & 1/4 c. cereal (350 cal)

Total calories in: 1935 cal
Total calories burned from exercise: 237 cal

Super productive Sunday

Today
I was a busy bee today. I had to get my life in order at home. I started my day by avoiding the gym. I looked around my house and decided it needed to come first today. I told myself I would go swim if I got everything at home done. So I went to my Sunday morning meeting, came home and did all the laundry including all animal bedding (no small order with a dog, 5 cats, and 2 rabbits), I cleaned the house and all animal cages, washed all their bowls and place mats, sorted my nightstand books (the pile has gotten ridiculous. I have a book addiction. My husband made the rule that I have to donate a book before I buy a book. I break this rule ALL THE TIME.) and created piles of books to be returned to their owners and books to be donated, packed some returns from internet orders gone wrong, and after a brief nap I went to the gym to swim! I am quite proud of myself. Not only did I fulfill my promise to swim once a week I swam 750 yards instead of the 500 yards I had planned.

Unfortunately, I am not done yet. I have some final grading to get done before grades are due tomorrow morning and then I have to plan my lessons for tomorrow.

Exercise
Swim (20:56)
Swim 750 yds.
Total calories burned (198 cal)

Food
Breakfast
2 pcs. wheat toast w/margarine/coffee (240 cal)
Snack
1/2 pc. chocolate cake (200 cal)
Lunch
JC Cheesy Enchilada (260 cal)
Snack(s)
sl. wheat bread w/margarine (120 cal)
Dinner
JC Carbonara (260 cal)
Snack
1/2 pc. chocolate cake/yogurt w. 1/4 c. cereal (350 cal)

Total calories in: 1430 cal
Total calories burned from exercise: 198 cal

Monday: Honor the memory - MLK Jr.

We must develop and maintain the capacity to forgive. He who is devoid of the power to forgive is devoid of the power to love. There is some good in the worst of us and some evil in the best of us. When we discover this, we are less prone to hate our enemies.
-Martin Luther King Jr.








Exercise
Spin Class (1:00:00)
HR monitor: Total calories burned (525 cal)

I went, I went, I went. Yay me! The instructor was very nice and helpful. Unfortunately, the YMCA is canceling this class as well (Am I a curse?) but, I did meet a very nice lady who recommended a yoga class on Tuesday nights. So maybe I will try it out after my Tuesday run.

Food
Breakfast
JC French Toast & banana/coffee (320 cal)
Snack
none (0 cal)
Lunch
Sushi: Golden Bell Roll/Tamago/Diet coke (700 cal)
Snack(s)
Power Bar (200 cal)
Dinner
JC Mac & Cheese (250 cal)
Snack
Choc. cake (not JC the real kind)/Yogurt & cereal (450 cal)

Total calories in: 1830 cal
Total calories burned from exercise: 525 cal

What the hell is 'cyclates'?

Today I had my ass handed to me on a silver platter

Exercise
Cyclates: Spin Class (50:00) Pilates (20:00)
HR monitor: Total calories burned (580 cal)

I wasn't sure if I should go to the Cyclates class (that is what the Y calls it) this morning after the 11 mile run yesterday, but I decided to go. I promptly regretted that decision, and proceeded to get my ass handed to me for 50 minutes. Thank God she stopped at 50 minutes. I had to sit down and turn down my resistance several times to rest. My quads were screaming! After that was the pilates part of the class. I only stayed for 20 minutes of the class because I had to go meet a friend, but that was plenty.

Food
Breakfast
JC French Toast/coffee (250 cal)
Snack
Lindt chocolate ball (78 cal) (Whoa! One little chocolate!)
Lunch
Oatmeal/2 pieces toast (dry)/coffee (400 cal)
Snack(s)
Yogurt & 1/4 c. cereal (150 cal)
Dinner
Taco Bell: Crunch Wrap Supreme/taco (730 cal)
Snack
White cake (310 cal)

total calories in: 1783 cal (Yikes, the slippery 'bad meal' slope. One planned night turns into 2)
total calories burned from exercise: 580 cal