It is New Years Eve and I just read a Facebook post reflecting on the year which got me thinking. I have to say 2015 probably wasn't my best year. We spent January and February and maybe some of March finishing the house and moving, which I did not call fun. I went to St. George and had a terrible race, had to find a new job because my old boss went to another school. I did put on a successful Bobca Triathlon to only have those fuckers and the institution of MSU take it away. I also got pregnant in May, so a lot of the year was spent with a lot of thought of this little creature growing inside of me.
Upon this reflection I need to make a more positive spin. (give me a break, I have been home sick for almost a week) In February we finished our beautiful house. I love my house! I suspect we will be here for a long time. I then got pregnant . It only took a couple of months and then bam, my life changed FOREVER. I have now been spending the last 8 months incubating a life inside of me and really that has been an experience that has been worth it. I was also able to gravel with amazing friends to triathlons, even if ,y races didn't go well or I didn't race at all. I got to spend some time at the beach with my Mom and another time on a nice trip with my husband. My new job is much better than the old one and although it keeps making uncomfortable, at the end of the day I feel rewarded.
I am excited for 2016 and what the year brings. Ivan will decide to join us in our beautiful new home here in the next few weeks. I am nervous and excited to meet him. We will never go back to our old way of life but I am pretty certain that the new way will be more fulfiling. I am excited to be able to go running outside. I want to do intervals on the bike and some good solid track workouts. Feel the gasping breath and blood in my mouth again. Oh, and to drink a full adult beverage will be nice. Maybe take a trip and get Ivan used to plane travel at a young age.
Here is to 2016. The best year yet.
12/31/2015
12/18/2015
32 weeks
I just read something on Facebook about not being afraid to follow your dreams because of the time it might take to accomplish them. Immediately I realized one of my dreams is to qualify and go to the Ironman World Championship in Kona. It sounds terrifying but I think I really want to do it.
I was trying to do some yoga on Wed. and the teacher of the you tube video had some really good thoughts that relate to how I am generally feeling. Some days I feel really pregnant, tired, have a lot of heartburn. Other days, I feel really energetic, get good sleep, and like my belly isn't quite that big. Yoga is the same. Some days feel good others don't. Just recognizing this now and accepting it is important. Realizing it is part of the process rather than being negative about it is important. I also have to realize that once Ivan gets here, life is going to be the same way. Unpredictable (for a while anyway) and some days, moments etc harder than others.
I was trying to do some yoga on Wed. and the teacher of the you tube video had some really good thoughts that relate to how I am generally feeling. Some days I feel really pregnant, tired, have a lot of heartburn. Other days, I feel really energetic, get good sleep, and like my belly isn't quite that big. Yoga is the same. Some days feel good others don't. Just recognizing this now and accepting it is important. Realizing it is part of the process rather than being negative about it is important. I also have to realize that once Ivan gets here, life is going to be the same way. Unpredictable (for a while anyway) and some days, moments etc harder than others.
11/26/2015
29.5 weeks and Thanksgiving
It is Thanksgiving and the perfect time to reflect on what I am thankful for.
1- So many great people in my life.
2- That at 29.5 weeks pregnant I can run a 5k with my baby and feel really good doing it.
3- A combination of the above. The fact there is a Thanksgiving day run and that this year like in the past couple of years I got to run it with my friends. Lawrence you are awesome and I got to run it pregnant. Ivan has done two 5ks already!
4- My amazing, smart, clever, and sweet husband who is about to be an even better father. I can't wait to love you even more Erik.
5- My beautiful, warm, comfortable house that my husband designed and my father built. They did such a good job I don't like to be anywhere else.
6- That I have a job that is rewarding and supplies us with great healthcare.
7- That I get to live in Bozeman and on days like today the sun comes out and warms the back of your legs just enough to say that I love Bozeman.
8- My Mister Man. Who is currently being tortured by the bob tail cat out the window. He is such a snuggle bug how can you not just love him.
Ivan you could be here in 6 weeks. I am getting excited to meet the little creature that keeps moving around inside me.
1- So many great people in my life.
2- That at 29.5 weeks pregnant I can run a 5k with my baby and feel really good doing it.
3- A combination of the above. The fact there is a Thanksgiving day run and that this year like in the past couple of years I got to run it with my friends. Lawrence you are awesome and I got to run it pregnant. Ivan has done two 5ks already!
4- My amazing, smart, clever, and sweet husband who is about to be an even better father. I can't wait to love you even more Erik.
5- My beautiful, warm, comfortable house that my husband designed and my father built. They did such a good job I don't like to be anywhere else.
6- That I have a job that is rewarding and supplies us with great healthcare.
7- That I get to live in Bozeman and on days like today the sun comes out and warms the back of your legs just enough to say that I love Bozeman.
8- My Mister Man. Who is currently being tortured by the bob tail cat out the window. He is such a snuggle bug how can you not just love him.
Ivan you could be here in 6 weeks. I am getting excited to meet the little creature that keeps moving around inside me.
11/19/2015
28 weeks, 3rd trimester, and my birthday
I was just thinking the other day that pregnancy in some ways is similar to Ironman training. The final day seems so far away for a while, then at a certain point you sort of start to get tired of it and are ready to be done, however, at the same time it seems so close and you still have so much to do to be prepared. Ivan, you are getting bigger and I can feel you a lot of the time. It makes me excited to meet you! But I still have to get so much done before you get here.
11/04/2015
25 weeks
It's time to write again. What has happened in the last three weeks and what are my thoughts for moving forward. I have bought more newborn clothes than I think Erik has clothes. I am a little concerned about my inability to see past the newborn stage. What am I going to do for clothes when he grows out of them in a month? The bedroom is a disaster and furniture needs to be sold and bought and blinds need to go in. I need to start checking some of this stuff off the list. Work needs to come together before I take leave. If it is not one thing that stresses me out, it is another. I have been trying to take the time to enjoy the moment more. Yoga, on the hydrobed at the chiropractor, or drinking a small cup of morning coffee. I keep trying to exercise and am motivated for triathlon again. Oh, yeah, I need to sell my bike.
Ivan- I dreamt that you were here and I was packing to take you on a trip. Sort of crazy dream with lots of way too big diapers. I then realized that I had lost you. I had lost you and had no idea where you went. It was hard to wake up because I wanted to find you first. The first thought I had when I got up (without finding you) was that I love you and that I will never lose you. I think that is the first time I have ever told you I love you.
Ivan- I dreamt that you were here and I was packing to take you on a trip. Sort of crazy dream with lots of way too big diapers. I then realized that I had lost you. I had lost you and had no idea where you went. It was hard to wake up because I wanted to find you first. The first thought I had when I got up (without finding you) was that I love you and that I will never lose you. I think that is the first time I have ever told you I love you.
26 weeks and thoughts on having it all
Ivan is getting bigger. I woke up the other night with his head above my belly button. When I tried to feel what all the pressure was about he moved away. I was sort of half asleep but that was probably the biggest connection I have had with him so far. I felt his little head in my belly!
This week I also discovered this things called diastasis. This is why you can't do everything and for a very good reason. I stopped trying to do plank and use my front core in yoga. You can make the muscles on your belly separate even more and wow, I think it might be hard to get that flat stomach back again. Currently, if I engage my front core my stomach tents. That is my guts being held in by my fascia. So gross.
I also read this very interesting article about women and men and ambition and success. To me it sounds like women have way too much expectation to do and handle it all while men are just more successful because they aren't expected to handle it all. They are just expected to be successful at their jobs. It sounds like although that sounds great and supportive when people say you can do it, they are also sort of setting us up for failure. I am not sure if it is possible to be successful in a job, balance a family, stay in sport etc. Something has to give and it sounds like women choose the job. I can say that although I value my job and I want to work (a little bit) and keep this thing in my life. I also don't want to lose out on time with my new son and I don't want to lose out on sport.
This week I also discovered this things called diastasis. This is why you can't do everything and for a very good reason. I stopped trying to do plank and use my front core in yoga. You can make the muscles on your belly separate even more and wow, I think it might be hard to get that flat stomach back again. Currently, if I engage my front core my stomach tents. That is my guts being held in by my fascia. So gross.
I also read this very interesting article about women and men and ambition and success. To me it sounds like women have way too much expectation to do and handle it all while men are just more successful because they aren't expected to handle it all. They are just expected to be successful at their jobs. It sounds like although that sounds great and supportive when people say you can do it, they are also sort of setting us up for failure. I am not sure if it is possible to be successful in a job, balance a family, stay in sport etc. Something has to give and it sounds like women choose the job. I can say that although I value my job and I want to work (a little bit) and keep this thing in my life. I also don't want to lose out on time with my new son and I don't want to lose out on sport.
10/09/2015
22 weeks with Crazy Ivan
I just read that I should write a letter to Ivan. It made me instantly decide to blog. I stopped during the first trimester in fe as r of somebody reading this and then something happening.
At 22 weeks I am really starting to feel pregnabt. My belly is big enough to get in my way and make it hard to get out of bed. I can feel Ivan kicking or moving around a lot. We had our ultrasounds and he is active.
Ivan seems to be the name. I am not 100% sold but it seems to be sticking. I want to think of a great middle name and Erik and I need to talk more about his last name. Zickovich? It makes my heart swell to know that Erik suggested it.
So, Ivan. Often when I think about you I think of what I hope for you as a core being of a person. I really hope you are calm. Calm and composed like your father. I hope you don't have a lot of anxiety in life and I hope I don't give that to you because of the anxiety I feel and have felt while incubating you. Ivan, I also hope for you to be strong. Strong physically and mentally. That you make a way in life that is defined by you and you do what makes you happy.
I flagged at a 5k running race today. Sorry Ivan. That cow bell was really loud. I was expecting some fast racers to come by but no, it never happened. I was sort of surprised how many people were walking and kids resting, getting carried, walking. Lots of kids and families. I think it is a good thing that they are all out there but again surprised by how tough 5k looked to some people.
I am telling you right now Ivan. You will not be getting carried. I hope you are that first kid through, running the whole race. I hope that your dad and I can be role models for you in our lifestyle, training, and racing and you believe in yourself to strong and fast.
At 22 weeks I am really starting to feel pregnabt. My belly is big enough to get in my way and make it hard to get out of bed. I can feel Ivan kicking or moving around a lot. We had our ultrasounds and he is active.
Ivan seems to be the name. I am not 100% sold but it seems to be sticking. I want to think of a great middle name and Erik and I need to talk more about his last name. Zickovich? It makes my heart swell to know that Erik suggested it.
So, Ivan. Often when I think about you I think of what I hope for you as a core being of a person. I really hope you are calm. Calm and composed like your father. I hope you don't have a lot of anxiety in life and I hope I don't give that to you because of the anxiety I feel and have felt while incubating you. Ivan, I also hope for you to be strong. Strong physically and mentally. That you make a way in life that is defined by you and you do what makes you happy.
I flagged at a 5k running race today. Sorry Ivan. That cow bell was really loud. I was expecting some fast racers to come by but no, it never happened. I was sort of surprised how many people were walking and kids resting, getting carried, walking. Lots of kids and families. I think it is a good thing that they are all out there but again surprised by how tough 5k looked to some people.
I am telling you right now Ivan. You will not be getting carried. I hope you are that first kid through, running the whole race. I hope that your dad and I can be role models for you in our lifestyle, training, and racing and you believe in yourself to strong and fast.
8/07/2015
Julie's rage page
I am planning on returning to this blog. Just read my most recent post and I need to remember that stuff sometimes. I am going in the future to write about my current life situation and changes but need to wait a few more days to release that information. Right now I am going to blog my current annoyance. Well maybe two.
What is up with triathletes that aren't even very good getting sponsorship? I think there is basically one difference between me and them. I will not put stickers on my car announcing anything. Let alone sponsors. I will also not take selfies and post them on Facebook with hashtags to all of my supporters. Bottom line. I guess there is nothing I will do about it. I don't believe I am entitlted to sponsorship but there are some out there that do and they also are not Facebook advertising themselves. How do these good people get themselves out there. This is brewing a new idea. More on that later....
My second rage is the Bobcat Triathlon. Honestly, I want to promote triathlon but after a couple of years I am not super excited about supporting the MSU triathlon Club. The kids are way to entitled. Or, think they are way too entitled. I just want to provide a really good race for the beginner and the elite athlete. I want to promote the sport to the community. MSU does not give back. MSU does not care about the local community. I don't think that the goals of MSU align with my goals for the race. Not to mention Maureen and all the staff up there are total dumbasses and have not sense of urgency.
Why- I want to support Masters swimming not the tri club kids and maybe even more, not MSU.
Options: Just keep going with MSU. Nothing will get better. Ever.
2- Talk to the City. What is going on with Bogert? Could we have the race in that pool? Still called the Bobcat but earlier in the year and not affiliated with MSU at all. Negative for this. The pool is on it's last legs. Race would be dependent on the pool.
3- Offer to take over the Tritons race. Lots of options here. Bring long course back? Make this a good race! It may take a couple of years but we are already getting good numbers.
4- Walk away from Bobcat entirely and take over Xterra.
5- Stay with the Bobcat and take on Xterra.
I think a lot of these options go away from my goals.
What is up with triathletes that aren't even very good getting sponsorship? I think there is basically one difference between me and them. I will not put stickers on my car announcing anything. Let alone sponsors. I will also not take selfies and post them on Facebook with hashtags to all of my supporters. Bottom line. I guess there is nothing I will do about it. I don't believe I am entitlted to sponsorship but there are some out there that do and they also are not Facebook advertising themselves. How do these good people get themselves out there. This is brewing a new idea. More on that later....
My second rage is the Bobcat Triathlon. Honestly, I want to promote triathlon but after a couple of years I am not super excited about supporting the MSU triathlon Club. The kids are way to entitled. Or, think they are way too entitled. I just want to provide a really good race for the beginner and the elite athlete. I want to promote the sport to the community. MSU does not give back. MSU does not care about the local community. I don't think that the goals of MSU align with my goals for the race. Not to mention Maureen and all the staff up there are total dumbasses and have not sense of urgency.
Why- I want to support Masters swimming not the tri club kids and maybe even more, not MSU.
Options: Just keep going with MSU. Nothing will get better. Ever.
2- Talk to the City. What is going on with Bogert? Could we have the race in that pool? Still called the Bobcat but earlier in the year and not affiliated with MSU at all. Negative for this. The pool is on it's last legs. Race would be dependent on the pool.
3- Offer to take over the Tritons race. Lots of options here. Bring long course back? Make this a good race! It may take a couple of years but we are already getting good numbers.
4- Walk away from Bobcat entirely and take over Xterra.
5- Stay with the Bobcat and take on Xterra.
I think a lot of these options go away from my goals.
6/01/2015
Feeling inspired....
I learned something about myself this weekend. I was super crabby on Friday and Saturday morning. I think partially tired and partially not able to get good sleep ( bought a new mattress on Sunday). However, Saturday morning I decided to apply to a job. My mood changed. I was happy and felt productive because I was moving forward with my predicament of not having a job. I realized I can't sit back and let things happen. I need to be in control of my destiny. Even if I don't get this job I need to remember how the process felt. Further, I sent the cover letter to my good friend LeAnn. I knew she wouldn't be afraid to tear it up and provide good insight and suggestions. Of course she did and went one step further. Even made me excited about this new job. Coming from coach Elliot she helped my write why I have my goals not just what are my goals.
A couple other inspiring things that were said today were that there is not often a time when a good Elliot quote can't apply, and is your job big enough for your spirit? What do you think? i think your job and your spirit are quite evenly matched. I can definitively say that my current job is way to small for my spirit. I think my spirit may have even got beaten out of me in this job. I say good riddance. Time to move on.
So, back to triathlon.
Had a good week. Did a hard roller ride on Thursday, about died in the pool on Friday, was tired for the ride on Saturday but we rallied. Rode with Lawrence to Clarkston. I am also now a little inspired to bring back a 1/2 Ironman in Montana. The original Headwaters Half at Three Forks with a much better ride and run. We rode a little more than you suggested. Ninety miles total to get to the awesome four miles in the middle. Gotta love those motivating rides. Sunday was fun. My back to back was not exact. I swam and came home and got the bike ready and then rode. I then came home and ran. I didn't eat any normal food in between just lots of gels, sugar, and blocks. Think the whole thing was successful and not super hard. I felt very relaxed and not tired for the whole thing. Monday was hectic at work and I think my ride is going to consist of some commuting. Looking forward to that long run Wednesday!
Health- My legs, achilles, plantar, hamstring were all feeling a bit worked and tight this weekend. Feeling the wear of the last couple of weeks. I have been doing the PT, especially the stretching which is good. Just thought I would let you know my body is feeling fragile. Also, am getting orthotics (sp?) for my left leg mainly.
Schedule
Race-Leave on Thursday as early as possible. Drive as far as possible. Minimum Spokane and maximum when we are too tired. Friday- Get to ferry and Victoria as early as possible. Saturday is always so hectic.
Work- Busy day this Thursday. Then analyzing data. Boss is gone until Tues or Wed so not going to do much more.
Victoria 70.3 course- What can you tell me. I am going to create a program that normalizes all course profiles so that you can compare. I am really bad at reading them and accurately interpreting them. How big are the hills on the bike and the run course?
5/27/2015
Something went wrong- new post
The boss announced he is going to Dartmouth in August or so and now I am in limbo not knowing what my life is going to bring. Talked with a friend yesterday about how we wish we could go back to being okay with that, but I don't like limbo.
I have realized that I do like my job but it is not my own. I sort of wish I could be my own boss and take with me the knowledge and skills I have developed. As it is right now all my skills from the last few years might be done with. Again, limbo.
Casually interviewed with a new hire and she really wants to hire me. Weird. No one has ever been excited to hire me. Anyway, she only has enough work for part time and no lab. Mostly administrative. Science administrative but no lab work. This may be a good thing in the long run (I could get pregnant any time here) since the part time with benefits and flexibility is perfect.
Anyway, currently, I have realized how uninvested I plan to be in my current job for the next couple of months. For example, left at 3:15 yesterday for a Chiro appointment and sat in Norma tech boots for an hour. If nothing else it was nice to sit and read a magazine for an hour. Forced recovery. Bottom line- I want my priorities to be training these next couple of months and racing fast. I am excited for this opportunity! Please see other post for race list.
Training this week was good. You wrote it very well! PT sessions fit in without feeling stressed. Here is a list of what I remember.
1 Saturday swim was fun. Ran into Dylan and he gave me some pointers.
2 Practiced my nutrition on the run. Stomach training for more calories and caffeine. I did learn something at camp. Probably ran the back half faster than you told me.
3 stripped down 2x in a puddle after getting caught in the rain
4 had a very pleasant but hard ride on Monday. Saw a great gray owl. Lots of climbing.
5 did 2x miles on the track. Both under 7. Feeling good about running. No Achilles or plantar pain. Last year at this time I could barely walk.
Schedule
Work- small experiments next Tuesday and Thursday. Not huge but will probably take the day to get finished.
Other- here this weekend with no visitors. Yeah! I think Erik is even going to be gone on Saturday night.
I have realized that I do like my job but it is not my own. I sort of wish I could be my own boss and take with me the knowledge and skills I have developed. As it is right now all my skills from the last few years might be done with. Again, limbo.
Casually interviewed with a new hire and she really wants to hire me. Weird. No one has ever been excited to hire me. Anyway, she only has enough work for part time and no lab. Mostly administrative. Science administrative but no lab work. This may be a good thing in the long run (I could get pregnant any time here) since the part time with benefits and flexibility is perfect.
Anyway, currently, I have realized how uninvested I plan to be in my current job for the next couple of months. For example, left at 3:15 yesterday for a Chiro appointment and sat in Norma tech boots for an hour. If nothing else it was nice to sit and read a magazine for an hour. Forced recovery. Bottom line- I want my priorities to be training these next couple of months and racing fast. I am excited for this opportunity! Please see other post for race list.
Training this week was good. You wrote it very well! PT sessions fit in without feeling stressed. Here is a list of what I remember.
1 Saturday swim was fun. Ran into Dylan and he gave me some pointers.
2 Practiced my nutrition on the run. Stomach training for more calories and caffeine. I did learn something at camp. Probably ran the back half faster than you told me.
3 stripped down 2x in a puddle after getting caught in the rain
4 had a very pleasant but hard ride on Monday. Saw a great gray owl. Lots of climbing.
5 did 2x miles on the track. Both under 7. Feeling good about running. No Achilles or plantar pain. Last year at this time I could barely walk.
Schedule
Work- small experiments next Tuesday and Thursday. Not huge but will probably take the day to get finished.
Other- here this weekend with no visitors. Yeah! I think Erik is even going to be gone on Saturday night.
5/20/2015
Updates, Updates, Updates
Events-
5k swim Bozeman- June 7
Victoria- June 14
Rapelje- solo party- June 28
Xterra Freedom Fest Oahu Hawaii- July 4th
Great White North- July 5th
July 19 Bighorn Canyon - 15$. The price is hard to pass up
Lake Como- July 25
Madison Triathlon-August 2
Eriks Grandmas 100th Birthday party- August 8
Xterra Spearfish- August 15 (include a few days in SD seeing Devils Tower and Mt Rushmore- do some mt biking)
Bobcat- September 20th
key:
for sure
dream
What do you think?
I have a very informal interview today and probably tomorrow. The woman is in the department and studies the link between ecology and microbiology with bats and Big Horn Sheep. Very cool and the more I think about it the more excited I get. No more mouse work!!! Also, going back to more of what I did in grad school.
My dream plan for the summer is that I stay working with Josh through whenever he leaves and doesn't need help. August or September. I would then start working for another person on campus. I really want to stay at MSU. The benefits are amazing, including advising the Triathlon Club and being able to put on the Bobcat. Anyway, I digress. If I stay with Josh for the summer I feel like I have no vested interest and also don't really care. This leaves me a lot more time and energy to train and finish out the summer with a really fun and good season of triathlon!
I mention this is my dream because everything is still up in the air. I might not even like this woman, she may want to hire me immediately, or she may only be able to hire me part time. and a few other things that I will know more about in the next few weeks. (Post interview- she can only hire me part time and she doesn't even have a lab here, it would all be administrative)
In the meantime I have started my above plan of not caring and training however I was too tired yesterday to do that very well. Did I mention I sort of hit a bump in the road on Tuesday. Went to the brewery to commiserate with the grad student at 2. One beer and getting back to work at 3 turned into a few more and never going back to work. Also, not riding or swimming. Feel much better today though. Got lots of sleep last night.
Schedule- In addition to my plan to totally slack at work the boss is gone Wednesday May 27- Tuesday June 9th. So, how much good training and preparing can I do in that week to get ready for Victoria and/or other future races after that.
Weekend- Very productive weekend. You wrote this week really well! I realized the other day that I don't tell you that enough. PT sessions were so absolutely perfectly timed! It rained every day but Monday, but managed to get out. Got completely soaked, strip down in the garage because I was so wet, more than once. Maybe ran a little harder than told on Saturday but also brought along the proper nutrition and worked on eating more. Had a very good ride on Sunday. We climbed every big climb up Bridger Canyon that we could. Tried to go to Wilsall, but got rained out at the top of Battle Ridge. Saw a Great Gray Owl. So cool. Was very tired on Monday. Didn't sleep well Monday night either. Feel pretty good Tuesday morning- am going to the Chiro early today to sit in the NormaTech boots. Sick leave here we come!!
5k swim Bozeman- June 7
Victoria- June 14
Rapelje- solo party- June 28
Xterra Freedom Fest Oahu Hawaii- July 4th
Great White North- July 5th
July 19 Bighorn Canyon - 15$. The price is hard to pass up
Lake Como- July 25
Madison Triathlon-August 2
Eriks Grandmas 100th Birthday party- August 8
Xterra Spearfish- August 15 (include a few days in SD seeing Devils Tower and Mt Rushmore- do some mt biking)
Bobcat- September 20th
key:
for sure
dream
What do you think?
I have a very informal interview today and probably tomorrow. The woman is in the department and studies the link between ecology and microbiology with bats and Big Horn Sheep. Very cool and the more I think about it the more excited I get. No more mouse work!!! Also, going back to more of what I did in grad school.
My dream plan for the summer is that I stay working with Josh through whenever he leaves and doesn't need help. August or September. I would then start working for another person on campus. I really want to stay at MSU. The benefits are amazing, including advising the Triathlon Club and being able to put on the Bobcat. Anyway, I digress. If I stay with Josh for the summer I feel like I have no vested interest and also don't really care. This leaves me a lot more time and energy to train and finish out the summer with a really fun and good season of triathlon!
I mention this is my dream because everything is still up in the air. I might not even like this woman, she may want to hire me immediately, or she may only be able to hire me part time. and a few other things that I will know more about in the next few weeks. (Post interview- she can only hire me part time and she doesn't even have a lab here, it would all be administrative)
In the meantime I have started my above plan of not caring and training however I was too tired yesterday to do that very well. Did I mention I sort of hit a bump in the road on Tuesday. Went to the brewery to commiserate with the grad student at 2. One beer and getting back to work at 3 turned into a few more and never going back to work. Also, not riding or swimming. Feel much better today though. Got lots of sleep last night.
Schedule- In addition to my plan to totally slack at work the boss is gone Wednesday May 27- Tuesday June 9th. So, how much good training and preparing can I do in that week to get ready for Victoria and/or other future races after that.
Weekend- Very productive weekend. You wrote this week really well! I realized the other day that I don't tell you that enough. PT sessions were so absolutely perfectly timed! It rained every day but Monday, but managed to get out. Got completely soaked, strip down in the garage because I was so wet, more than once. Maybe ran a little harder than told on Saturday but also brought along the proper nutrition and worked on eating more. Had a very good ride on Sunday. We climbed every big climb up Bridger Canyon that we could. Tried to go to Wilsall, but got rained out at the top of Battle Ridge. Saw a Great Gray Owl. So cool. Was very tired on Monday. Didn't sleep well Monday night either. Feel pretty good Tuesday morning- am going to the Chiro early today to sit in the NormaTech boots. Sick leave here we come!!
4/27/2015
heading into St. George
Race:
I have been thinking a lot about how to approach St. George. The last time I did it I had been sick and wasn't 100% prepared. This year I wasn't sick but feel like this race is early and since it was snowing on my ride yesterday maybe don't have as much solid training under my belt as say Calgary, last year. Also, that race is hard. The are steep hills on the bike And run.
This is what I am thinking. Tell me your insight. Swim hard. Build in 3rds which works since there are two turns. Warmup/pace/race. This works for me mentally. I feel fortunate on the ride because I usually feel crappy right away on the bike. This course affords me a little time to settle in. I don't think I am going to try to ride super hard at the hills. Stay within myself . Hills will be hard enough. Sort of save myself for the run. On the run try and push it. Don't hold back, but don't blow up either. Especially push the second half of the run.
Nutrition:
Bike: bottles with 3+ hours of calories and electrolytes in them. A couple extra gels and maybe a snickers bar just in case.
RUN: a package of shot blocks to carry. Get water and more food on course.
What do you think?
The week
highlights:
Saturday- swam some of those 25 fasts on 15 seconds. Think I am obtaining a new idea for what fast is. Ran with my sister. I can't believe it. She had a whole big story to spew so I chased her around and listened. She runs fast when she gets excited.
Sunday- Rode in the rain and snow with Jo. I was tired. It was a little alarming.
Monday- Tired. Couldn't sleep on Sunday night. Not sure why. I was tired after my exercising on Sunday and spent the rest of the day puttering doing little projects and packing. Excited for a short swim! A swim that nearly made me throw up on that 400 fast/easy. Why the short FAST?
Schedule- Just a heads up. I really need to see my grandma. I have really neglected her and I don't want to look back and wish I had spent more time with her. So, the weekend after St. George I am going to Billings for the weekend and I don't want to plan much other than just hang out with her. I do like to run in Laurel, so that would be okay, but not much else.
Camp logisitics/thoughts/reality
I was so excited to do this Camp. I still am, just a little bit disappointed. I thought the whole Bozeman community would jump on the amazing opportunity. I would bring together all the triathletes here and we would all get to know each other and grow each other and the sport of triathlon. I used to think the scene in Bozeman was small because we needed something to unify us. I am not so sure now. I think there is no scene here because nobody wants to be part of it. I guess my enthusiasm for the sport isnt as widespread as I thought and just looking locally to find people isnt enough to grow the commeraderie.
So honestly. The people coming to camp are these people I was hoping for above. There are just fewer than I was hoping for. It is going to be really cool to see how we all work together for the weekend.
What do you vision for Friday and Saturday evening? A lecture with you standing or all of us sitting in a circle having a good discussion? I had reserved Erik's office those evenings but that fell through. Annoying story. I am thinking we just do everything at our house. I envision the evening more casual. We will be tired. It would be nice to have couches etc to sit on and if the weather is nice it would be great to use the deck. Further, it might make it easir logistically. People can leave bikes here etc.
I have an indoor area reserved for Saturday in case the weather sucks. What do you need for a transition clinic? What kind of space?
Thanks for the rant. I have been so grouchy the last week or so. Hope it goes away for St George.
PT on the deck. My husband is pretty much amazing.
I have been thinking a lot about how to approach St. George. The last time I did it I had been sick and wasn't 100% prepared. This year I wasn't sick but feel like this race is early and since it was snowing on my ride yesterday maybe don't have as much solid training under my belt as say Calgary, last year. Also, that race is hard. The are steep hills on the bike And run.
This is what I am thinking. Tell me your insight. Swim hard. Build in 3rds which works since there are two turns. Warmup/pace/race. This works for me mentally. I feel fortunate on the ride because I usually feel crappy right away on the bike. This course affords me a little time to settle in. I don't think I am going to try to ride super hard at the hills. Stay within myself . Hills will be hard enough. Sort of save myself for the run. On the run try and push it. Don't hold back, but don't blow up either. Especially push the second half of the run.
Nutrition:
Bike: bottles with 3+ hours of calories and electrolytes in them. A couple extra gels and maybe a snickers bar just in case.
RUN: a package of shot blocks to carry. Get water and more food on course.
What do you think?
The week
highlights:
Saturday- swam some of those 25 fasts on 15 seconds. Think I am obtaining a new idea for what fast is. Ran with my sister. I can't believe it. She had a whole big story to spew so I chased her around and listened. She runs fast when she gets excited.
Sunday- Rode in the rain and snow with Jo. I was tired. It was a little alarming.
Monday- Tired. Couldn't sleep on Sunday night. Not sure why. I was tired after my exercising on Sunday and spent the rest of the day puttering doing little projects and packing. Excited for a short swim! A swim that nearly made me throw up on that 400 fast/easy. Why the short FAST?
Schedule- Just a heads up. I really need to see my grandma. I have really neglected her and I don't want to look back and wish I had spent more time with her. So, the weekend after St. George I am going to Billings for the weekend and I don't want to plan much other than just hang out with her. I do like to run in Laurel, so that would be okay, but not much else.
Camp logisitics/thoughts/reality
I was so excited to do this Camp. I still am, just a little bit disappointed. I thought the whole Bozeman community would jump on the amazing opportunity. I would bring together all the triathletes here and we would all get to know each other and grow each other and the sport of triathlon. I used to think the scene in Bozeman was small because we needed something to unify us. I am not so sure now. I think there is no scene here because nobody wants to be part of it. I guess my enthusiasm for the sport isnt as widespread as I thought and just looking locally to find people isnt enough to grow the commeraderie.
So honestly. The people coming to camp are these people I was hoping for above. There are just fewer than I was hoping for. It is going to be really cool to see how we all work together for the weekend.
What do you vision for Friday and Saturday evening? A lecture with you standing or all of us sitting in a circle having a good discussion? I had reserved Erik's office those evenings but that fell through. Annoying story. I am thinking we just do everything at our house. I envision the evening more casual. We will be tired. It would be nice to have couches etc to sit on and if the weather is nice it would be great to use the deck. Further, it might make it easir logistically. People can leave bikes here etc.
I have an indoor area reserved for Saturday in case the weather sucks. What do you need for a transition clinic? What kind of space?
Thanks for the rant. I have been so grouchy the last week or so. Hope it goes away for St George.
PT on the deck. My husband is pretty much amazing.
4/20/2015
Grizzly
This week seems to be broken into a couple of categories.
The "yeah" category and the "funk" category
"Yeah"
- I went to the Chiropractor on Thursday to get all set for the race. My ankle has been bothering me and I finally pinpointed how to express how and when it hurt. Also, my left shoulder gets really tight when I ride and I have some serious pain when I try to move my head or turn. I told the Chiro about both and he did his magic. The ankle immediately felt better and on my ride on Sunday my shoulder was remarkably less uncomfortable. He said the should was some fascia impingement. I also had a rotator cuff muscle that was really sore that he worked out and by Saturday it was feeling great. I am getting sucked in. Never a believer of a Chiropractor before.
- St. George plans- Talked to LeAnn on Saturday. We are going to leave on Wed. night and drive a few hours so that we have a little more time in St. George. I would like to have time to swim, since I haven't worn a wetsuit or swam open water since September. We are also going to bring mt bikes and stay until Monday so that we can spend a little extra time enjoying the trip. I am excited. It will be nice to make a longer trip out of it.
- My Grizzly swim time was 15 or so seconds than last year. I wasn't the first out of the water, but as the years go by I am getting out less and less on the last end. The water was very warm and very murky and I sucked at a few of the turns. I also followed my plan to swim 500 at a strong pace, build 250, and race 250. I think it went pretty well and am happy with how my swimming is progressing.
-Sunday ride- This was a little hard to motivate for. I didn't plan on riding the full 4 hours until about 3 hours into it. I did a little loop that involved all the roads I like and took out all the roads I don't. I felt really good and like I said above my back was noticeably less restricted. I made a little adventure out of it and stopped and ate tater tots and Dr. Pepper from the Taco Time in Belgrade. Rode in the aerobars a lot. At about 3.5 hours into my ride I came out of my funk. See below.
- Bobcat opened Monday morning and at 1pm we already have 12 entries. Already off on a good foot for the race.
"Funk"
- The Grizzly put me in a funk and I can't quite pinpoint it. I am going to list a few reasons why.
1- Those top 3 girls were very far ahead. I felt a little demoralized and even more so after. In my head I had really gunned for top 3, but I was way back. I know that it all depends on who shows up etc. but my standards got higher this year. I also set myself up to do better than last year and other than the swim it wasn't.
2- That Megan girl wasn't very friendly. I think a bit self absorbed. That bothers me.
3- The energy of the race was lower than normal. Shaun Radley was hugely missed. I might have been biased but even Erik said he thought the race was off a bit this year. One thing that makes that race so great is the high energy. I am not sure I am going to be so excited for it next year.
4- I cramped up really bad on the downhill, again. I am very annoyed that this keeps happening and I really want to figure out why (more on this in a minute)
- I have this really traumatizing experience with a mouse that Mister caught on Sunday. It was so cute but injured and I couldn't kill it. Instead I prolonged it's torture. I have shed a few tears about it and still feel so sad about it. I know it doesn't make any sense. I am a mouse killer too. I just got emotionally attached to this particular animal.
Other-
Cramping- This cramping this really bothers me. What is going on? So, I decided I am a scientist. I should be able to figure this out. From my very limited research when laying on the couch last night I have one hypothesis. In downhill running your quads are eccentrically contracting and I never train them . I need to test this hypothesis and do some fast downhill running. I usually run hard going uphill and take it easy on the down. I am going to keep reading but at this point what do you think?
The "yeah" category and the "funk" category
"Yeah"
- I went to the Chiropractor on Thursday to get all set for the race. My ankle has been bothering me and I finally pinpointed how to express how and when it hurt. Also, my left shoulder gets really tight when I ride and I have some serious pain when I try to move my head or turn. I told the Chiro about both and he did his magic. The ankle immediately felt better and on my ride on Sunday my shoulder was remarkably less uncomfortable. He said the should was some fascia impingement. I also had a rotator cuff muscle that was really sore that he worked out and by Saturday it was feeling great. I am getting sucked in. Never a believer of a Chiropractor before.
- St. George plans- Talked to LeAnn on Saturday. We are going to leave on Wed. night and drive a few hours so that we have a little more time in St. George. I would like to have time to swim, since I haven't worn a wetsuit or swam open water since September. We are also going to bring mt bikes and stay until Monday so that we can spend a little extra time enjoying the trip. I am excited. It will be nice to make a longer trip out of it.
- My Grizzly swim time was 15 or so seconds than last year. I wasn't the first out of the water, but as the years go by I am getting out less and less on the last end. The water was very warm and very murky and I sucked at a few of the turns. I also followed my plan to swim 500 at a strong pace, build 250, and race 250. I think it went pretty well and am happy with how my swimming is progressing.
-Sunday ride- This was a little hard to motivate for. I didn't plan on riding the full 4 hours until about 3 hours into it. I did a little loop that involved all the roads I like and took out all the roads I don't. I felt really good and like I said above my back was noticeably less restricted. I made a little adventure out of it and stopped and ate tater tots and Dr. Pepper from the Taco Time in Belgrade. Rode in the aerobars a lot. At about 3.5 hours into my ride I came out of my funk. See below.
- Bobcat opened Monday morning and at 1pm we already have 12 entries. Already off on a good foot for the race.
"Funk"
- The Grizzly put me in a funk and I can't quite pinpoint it. I am going to list a few reasons why.
1- Those top 3 girls were very far ahead. I felt a little demoralized and even more so after. In my head I had really gunned for top 3, but I was way back. I know that it all depends on who shows up etc. but my standards got higher this year. I also set myself up to do better than last year and other than the swim it wasn't.
2- That Megan girl wasn't very friendly. I think a bit self absorbed. That bothers me.
3- The energy of the race was lower than normal. Shaun Radley was hugely missed. I might have been biased but even Erik said he thought the race was off a bit this year. One thing that makes that race so great is the high energy. I am not sure I am going to be so excited for it next year.
4- I cramped up really bad on the downhill, again. I am very annoyed that this keeps happening and I really want to figure out why (more on this in a minute)
- I have this really traumatizing experience with a mouse that Mister caught on Sunday. It was so cute but injured and I couldn't kill it. Instead I prolonged it's torture. I have shed a few tears about it and still feel so sad about it. I know it doesn't make any sense. I am a mouse killer too. I just got emotionally attached to this particular animal.
Other-
Cramping- This cramping this really bothers me. What is going on? So, I decided I am a scientist. I should be able to figure this out. From my very limited research when laying on the couch last night I have one hypothesis. In downhill running your quads are eccentrically contracting and I never train them . I need to test this hypothesis and do some fast downhill running. I usually run hard going uphill and take it easy on the down. I am going to keep reading but at this point what do you think?
4/11/2015
another good week
Wednesday- Left work at 1:30 or so to get ride done. There was an 80% chance of rain at 6pm. Went back to work until 8pm. Ride was fine. Not sure why I was so anxious for it. Much better than that workout on the trainer.
Thursday- Met up with my new friend Haley for the swim. She is 16, a good swimmer, but swims with an out of town team so she can travel to out of state meets. She swims on her own. I don't know how she does it. I wouldn't have been able to at her age. We did my workout, which with me chasing her around was really hard. She watched my flip turn and gave me some good tips. I would do like to swim with her at MSU once a week, if possible. Maybe I can do her workout next time?
Run- 6:50, 7:00, 6:40. This was hard. However, the next day I felt muscle soreness not other pain. To me that is huge! My quads were sore. Soas? Near the top. Should I do some strength work for that?
Friday- Swim. It was fine. I was tired. My 100s were not awesome 1:25s or less. Rode to and from work. Came home and got bike ready for Sat and sat on the couch.
Saturday- Race day. Race was hard. I don't care how unfit or injured Frank is. He is still going to destroy me. The first climb was fine. I tried to stay near the front in case people attacked. I find that if I am second or third wheel I can cover the attacks better. If I am farther behind I don't do as well. Once we got up on the plateau things changed. Everytime somebody attacked I thought, I can't hold on one more time. However, I did not want to get left up there. Then on the descent I got dropped. I almost got back on but then somebody went for it again. That is probably the longest I have ever stayed with Lizzy. Sort of took my time getting back to the big climb. Felt okay up the big climb. Like I was going to puke, but at least I could ride it. Not crawl. I wish I had stayed with the group the whole time, but am feeling that every week I am improving. So, am pretty happy.
Didn't ride more. Didn't have the fortitude. Physical or mental to battle that wind alone.
Sunday
Masters- Feeling excited and really good about my swim. This is the first year for the Grizzly that I am not nervous out of my mind because of the swim. We did 4x200 descend (pulling with paddles) and I was on the lead guys toes. Could have descended that much, much better. We did that last one on 3:10. In the 50 m pool.
Run- Ran to Story Hill. Ran hard up Story Hill. Ran back to the car. I forgot to look at my watch, but Story Hill probably takes 15-20 minutes to ride up on a bike (you rode up that with me once). So probably a little longer to run. Near the top, on my bike and now running, I usually lose a lot of steam. Kept pushing. So dorky, but told myself "this is where the magic happens." Ha ha. I think this was a great hill to prep for St. George. Next time I am going to drive closer and do Story Hill and then the dump road. Feel like I am feeling stronger every week.
Monday- I made a new friend. Lizzy and I are going to ride tonight. I think she will be a good riding friend. Someone to push me. Plus, I need some new friends in general. Decided my sister is never going to like me very much so need to find a new sister. (Sorry for that little vent)
Schedule- Heading over to Missoula on Friday after work. My cousin's house is full so booked a room at the Campus Inn. Reminds me of my soccer days. We always stayed there. Good karma. Also, can walk to race and Erik can do what he wants. Will come home on Saturday after race. I am sort of liking my Bozeman training right now (ie back to those hills for a run?). Want to keep it consistent. Also, have family staying at our house. 50 m pool is closed on Sunday, so no Masters. MSU should be open.
- Not anything huge at work. Lots of open ended experiments I need to figure out.
Thursday- Met up with my new friend Haley for the swim. She is 16, a good swimmer, but swims with an out of town team so she can travel to out of state meets. She swims on her own. I don't know how she does it. I wouldn't have been able to at her age. We did my workout, which with me chasing her around was really hard. She watched my flip turn and gave me some good tips. I would do like to swim with her at MSU once a week, if possible. Maybe I can do her workout next time?
Run- 6:50, 7:00, 6:40. This was hard. However, the next day I felt muscle soreness not other pain. To me that is huge! My quads were sore. Soas? Near the top. Should I do some strength work for that?
Friday- Swim. It was fine. I was tired. My 100s were not awesome 1:25s or less. Rode to and from work. Came home and got bike ready for Sat and sat on the couch.
Saturday- Race day. Race was hard. I don't care how unfit or injured Frank is. He is still going to destroy me. The first climb was fine. I tried to stay near the front in case people attacked. I find that if I am second or third wheel I can cover the attacks better. If I am farther behind I don't do as well. Once we got up on the plateau things changed. Everytime somebody attacked I thought, I can't hold on one more time. However, I did not want to get left up there. Then on the descent I got dropped. I almost got back on but then somebody went for it again. That is probably the longest I have ever stayed with Lizzy. Sort of took my time getting back to the big climb. Felt okay up the big climb. Like I was going to puke, but at least I could ride it. Not crawl. I wish I had stayed with the group the whole time, but am feeling that every week I am improving. So, am pretty happy.
Didn't ride more. Didn't have the fortitude. Physical or mental to battle that wind alone.
Sunday
Masters- Feeling excited and really good about my swim. This is the first year for the Grizzly that I am not nervous out of my mind because of the swim. We did 4x200 descend (pulling with paddles) and I was on the lead guys toes. Could have descended that much, much better. We did that last one on 3:10. In the 50 m pool.
Run- Ran to Story Hill. Ran hard up Story Hill. Ran back to the car. I forgot to look at my watch, but Story Hill probably takes 15-20 minutes to ride up on a bike (you rode up that with me once). So probably a little longer to run. Near the top, on my bike and now running, I usually lose a lot of steam. Kept pushing. So dorky, but told myself "this is where the magic happens." Ha ha. I think this was a great hill to prep for St. George. Next time I am going to drive closer and do Story Hill and then the dump road. Feel like I am feeling stronger every week.
Monday- I made a new friend. Lizzy and I are going to ride tonight. I think she will be a good riding friend. Someone to push me. Plus, I need some new friends in general. Decided my sister is never going to like me very much so need to find a new sister. (Sorry for that little vent)
Schedule- Heading over to Missoula on Friday after work. My cousin's house is full so booked a room at the Campus Inn. Reminds me of my soccer days. We always stayed there. Good karma. Also, can walk to race and Erik can do what he wants. Will come home on Saturday after race. I am sort of liking my Bozeman training right now (ie back to those hills for a run?). Want to keep it consistent. Also, have family staying at our house. 50 m pool is closed on Sunday, so no Masters. MSU should be open.
- Not anything huge at work. Lots of open ended experiments I need to figure out.
4/01/2015
Good week!
Question: When doing backstroke there is a drill where you put your arm up, put it back down, and then go through the stroke. In freestyle you "zipper" your arm up to a high elbow out of the water , back down, and then do the stroke. Backstroke is easier, free takes some coordination. Anyway, what is the point of that drill?
This is eating in our house. A hovering cat and use of two hands. One to move him away and one to shovel food in. He is especially fond of processed salty meat, milk, and avacasdos.
This was a good week. I took extra care to get to bed a little earlier, eat healthier food between workouts etc.
Swims
Tuesday
warm up
Lots of 50
10x 50 with paddles and buoy
8x50 with paddles only
6x50 with paddles and fins
4x50 no toys Fast
each set of 50s got a little faster. We were down to 55 on the last one in the 50m pool.
Total swim 2900
Thursday
500 choice we
8x75 kick (I actually got to the swim on time and did 150 extra waiting for people)
10×150
1 and 5 intermediate
2 and 6 50 fast 100 intermediate
3 and 7 pull
4 and 8 100 fast 50 intermediate
5 and 9 fast
2X
200 swim
4X25 fast
200 CD
my numbers above are off but you get the idea.
around 3500
Felt amazing this evening. Passed Dan and was catching the next girl.
Saturday ride- Rode with my friend Jo. I like Jo. I like to ride with him. He pushes me. We did two laps up Hyalite. The first took 38 minutes and was hard. I felt like the second wasn't as hard but I pushed it pretty good up the final climb. We didn't time it but I think we rode it faster. Why is it taking me so long to get the legs to feel good? Also, my left leg and the one with the hamstring problem felt much worse than the right. Why? Ride was more like 4 hours than 3.
Look. We can clean up pretty good!
I like that my friends dance at weddings.
I got a new helmet. It stayed straight for the whole ride Saturday. No more crooked helmets for me.
(I also got a new tablet which makes picture taking easier)
Sunday-Swim maybe wasn't so successful. Swam maybe 2000 and then we had an Easter egg hunt in the deep end. Run was great. Went up and down some longer more sustained hills than my usual town trail run. A lot like St. George actually. Had a little fiasco when I thought I lost my car key a drill ran up to my parents house to get another. We bought their old car. So run was a little longer than planned. Key was in the car door.
Was very tired after my run. Also, very tired for the last mile or so. Definitely felt like it was a successful training weekend despite other distractions.
Monday-Spent the whole week and weekend being organized for the weekend. I forgot about Monday. Not prepared. Very glad I just need to spin tonight. And PT. Definitely PT. Also, feeling very tired. Good place to be today, don't you think?
Oh, and I was Wednesday. So, I am mentally preparing for Wednesday.
3/30/2015
Speedwagon
Why is it that I feel like there are less hours in every day. I am constantly feeling like I have so much to do. For example, Lisa and Marta want to get together for a wine night. I can't even find a night to do it on. At this point too with St. George coming up (more below) I don't want to feel like I wasted time drinking. The point is, I do feel stretched for time and sometimes sleep.
Schedule-
Wedding is this Saturday, not next weekend. I just assumed it was next since Sunday is Easter and haven't double checked in invite. So, this weekend is already hectic. Wedding starts at 4 and then we are having people over to our house on Easter at 4 for dinner. I realize that St. George is coming up and I need to make the right decision here but need your help. Do we get a hotel in Big Sky on Saturday night or drive back to Bozeman? I want to enjoy the wedding but staying would mean a pretty worthless day on Sunday (I think, even if I tried it would be hard to get going and get in some good training). So, I probably answered my own question.
Bobcat bike race- Feeling much more inclined to participate since there is no wedding. It would be a good excuse to get out and get in a good ride that day.
Tuesday- Chiro appointment- Want to go. I think my knee needs some adjustment.The whole time thing, again.
Work- Nothing that I know of for the next week that is huge. Finishing up a bunch of stuff this week before moving on.
Thursday April 9- Wine night with Marta and Lisa. If swimming, can you write the workout.
Speedwagon- I already pretty much summed this up for you. Apparently the winds did a lot of damage. It was the slowest winning time in the history of the race. I did not ride back to the house. Matt and one other guy were the only ones. I figured, I had already been out there for a lot longer than expected and I could not ride in that headwind up that big hill. If that hill wasn't there then maybe. I honestly felt pretty good at the end of the race and felt pretty good for most of it. Maybe I have done it enough to know where I am and how much is left etc. Maybe could have used up a little more energy. Felt like I put in a hard effort though and had a good time. Such a good event with great people.
Other- Run on Sunday felt better than expected. I may have failed a little on the effort, partly because I didn't read it and partly because I am not sure I could have gone 90 minutes much faster. I didn't go super slow though and kept the effort up through the end. Did PT after to keep myself feeling good.
Swim- Maybe not as awesome as last week but pretty tough with all the pulling. A perfectly written workout. Anymore of those 200's and I wouldn't have been happy. Really tried hard to build to FAST on the last 50.
Schedule-
Wedding is this Saturday, not next weekend. I just assumed it was next since Sunday is Easter and haven't double checked in invite. So, this weekend is already hectic. Wedding starts at 4 and then we are having people over to our house on Easter at 4 for dinner. I realize that St. George is coming up and I need to make the right decision here but need your help. Do we get a hotel in Big Sky on Saturday night or drive back to Bozeman? I want to enjoy the wedding but staying would mean a pretty worthless day on Sunday (I think, even if I tried it would be hard to get going and get in some good training). So, I probably answered my own question.
Bobcat bike race- Feeling much more inclined to participate since there is no wedding. It would be a good excuse to get out and get in a good ride that day.
Tuesday- Chiro appointment- Want to go. I think my knee needs some adjustment.The whole time thing, again.
Work- Nothing that I know of for the next week that is huge. Finishing up a bunch of stuff this week before moving on.
Thursday April 9- Wine night with Marta and Lisa. If swimming, can you write the workout.
Speedwagon- I already pretty much summed this up for you. Apparently the winds did a lot of damage. It was the slowest winning time in the history of the race. I did not ride back to the house. Matt and one other guy were the only ones. I figured, I had already been out there for a lot longer than expected and I could not ride in that headwind up that big hill. If that hill wasn't there then maybe. I honestly felt pretty good at the end of the race and felt pretty good for most of it. Maybe I have done it enough to know where I am and how much is left etc. Maybe could have used up a little more energy. Felt like I put in a hard effort though and had a good time. Such a good event with great people.
Other- Run on Sunday felt better than expected. I may have failed a little on the effort, partly because I didn't read it and partly because I am not sure I could have gone 90 minutes much faster. I didn't go super slow though and kept the effort up through the end. Did PT after to keep myself feeling good.
Swim- Maybe not as awesome as last week but pretty tough with all the pulling. A perfectly written workout. Anymore of those 200's and I wouldn't have been happy. Really tried hard to build to FAST on the last 50.
3/23/2015
Swimming- State Meet Style
Highlights
Saturday ride: Felt good this day. Sometimes I have days where I don't really feel like riding but this day I was stoked to get out on some Polson dirt and the feeling just kept going. Didn't quite make the "dentist" loop. It was really remote out there and I got a little spooked. Riding I was fine but I got a flat and when I stopped to change it I got a bit more paranoid. Did most of the Speedwagon course. Rode for 3+ hours. Was pretty tired.
1000 swim- Decided to build the swim rather than just die within the first 200. Talked with an experienced teammate and he said that he learned to go at pace for the first 500, build the next 250, and race the last 250. I tried that. It worked pretty well. My time was 15:10. I was NOT in the hurt locker at all for the first 500 so I think at the Grizzly, if I go with that plan, I will go a little harder for the first 500. I actually thought that 1000 hurt less than any other. So, I probably have more in me. I was happy to experiment and see how it went.
Ask Dylan about his 1000 swim. He has a funny story to tell.
Tuesday swim- I texted yoi. I was so floored. I decided to swim those 100s and descend them in groups of 4. The first four were easily on 1:30. The next 4 were easily on 1: 25. I was so stoked and surprised. I have been aiming for that all year. The last were on 1:23 or 22. I guess swimming demoralizing times I'm warm water in a 50m pool actually works.
I found a nd a new bike: Seems like a really good deal, if it fits.
https://bozeman.craigslist.org/bik/4944699554.html
Health:
Feeling really good, as far a my various aches and pains. Have actually rescheduled my Chiro appointments because I haven't been having the time and also not super motivated since I am feeling good. I try to follow your schedule for PT but if that doesn't work out, try to get the stretching and general exercises done periodically and then get in a couple good sessions a week.
My breathing seems to be getting better. In Polson, I felt like I actually had my normal breathing back. The elevation is a little lower, so that may have helped.
Schedule:
Going to Polson this weekend to race the Speedwagon!! I am really glad to have ridden there last weekend, feel like it put me in a mental place. Here is my plan.
1- Have liquid calories in bottle in cages on my bike. That way I can eat fast and often. Also, have a few extra gels in my pockets.
2- Try to not get so caught up in the first attack that I completely blow myself up. I am not going to keep up with the fast guys, so try and target the people that I can race with and focus on staying with them. Most importantly, stay within myself. If I blow up it takes too long to recover.
3- The ultimate goal of the day is to have a hard ride to prep for St. George. This is the best race out there to get ready for that race.
4- Secondary benefits- fun people, good course, etc.
We are going to leave Friday after work and come home Sunday. I am finding out right now when on Sunday.
5- Don't overdress. I find that I am very uncomfortable being too warm at this time of year.
St. George W30-34 you are going down.
http://www.ironman.com/~/media/bb87921ab28b45209cfe0b499577a716/2%2027%20st%20george%2070%203%20swim%20waves%203.pdf
Saturday ride: Felt good this day. Sometimes I have days where I don't really feel like riding but this day I was stoked to get out on some Polson dirt and the feeling just kept going. Didn't quite make the "dentist" loop. It was really remote out there and I got a little spooked. Riding I was fine but I got a flat and when I stopped to change it I got a bit more paranoid. Did most of the Speedwagon course. Rode for 3+ hours. Was pretty tired.
1000 swim- Decided to build the swim rather than just die within the first 200. Talked with an experienced teammate and he said that he learned to go at pace for the first 500, build the next 250, and race the last 250. I tried that. It worked pretty well. My time was 15:10. I was NOT in the hurt locker at all for the first 500 so I think at the Grizzly, if I go with that plan, I will go a little harder for the first 500. I actually thought that 1000 hurt less than any other. So, I probably have more in me. I was happy to experiment and see how it went.
Ask Dylan about his 1000 swim. He has a funny story to tell.
Tuesday swim- I texted yoi. I was so floored. I decided to swim those 100s and descend them in groups of 4. The first four were easily on 1:30. The next 4 were easily on 1: 25. I was so stoked and surprised. I have been aiming for that all year. The last were on 1:23 or 22. I guess swimming demoralizing times I'm warm water in a 50m pool actually works.
I found a nd a new bike: Seems like a really good deal, if it fits.
https://bozeman.craigslist.org/bik/4944699554.html
Health:
Feeling really good, as far a my various aches and pains. Have actually rescheduled my Chiro appointments because I haven't been having the time and also not super motivated since I am feeling good. I try to follow your schedule for PT but if that doesn't work out, try to get the stretching and general exercises done periodically and then get in a couple good sessions a week.
My breathing seems to be getting better. In Polson, I felt like I actually had my normal breathing back. The elevation is a little lower, so that may have helped.
Schedule:
Going to Polson this weekend to race the Speedwagon!! I am really glad to have ridden there last weekend, feel like it put me in a mental place. Here is my plan.
1- Have liquid calories in bottle in cages on my bike. That way I can eat fast and often. Also, have a few extra gels in my pockets.
2- Try to not get so caught up in the first attack that I completely blow myself up. I am not going to keep up with the fast guys, so try and target the people that I can race with and focus on staying with them. Most importantly, stay within myself. If I blow up it takes too long to recover.
3- The ultimate goal of the day is to have a hard ride to prep for St. George. This is the best race out there to get ready for that race.
4- Secondary benefits- fun people, good course, etc.
We are going to leave Friday after work and come home Sunday. I am finding out right now when on Sunday.
5- Don't overdress. I find that I am very uncomfortable being too warm at this time of year.
St. George W30-34 you are going down.
http://www.ironman.com/~/media/bb87921ab28b45209cfe0b499577a716/2%2027%20st%20george%2070%203%20swim%20waves%203.pdf
3/16/2015
Spring Break and lots of Montana riding
I picked an amazing week to take some time off and get in some good training. It was so nice here I didn't have to spend the time driving south. It was nice until yesterday afternoon that is. Went to work and it was 60 degrees, left work and was probably 25 with a fierce cold wind.
Just looked up St. George swim waves. I am wave 19 out of 22. Suck. That was how Mont Tremblant was and I hated it. Felt really far behind even though that wasn't necessarily true. I am going to need some help with how to go about this and think about it during the next month +.
Been thinking about our conversation about mental toughness. Especially on my ride on Saturday. I think the capacity for mental toughness can increased. I don't think it comes through say, doing to same miserable workout over and over, for me it comes with handling the unexpected or tough conditions. Then, when faced with adversity in a race it is something to fall back on. " I can do this, I already did this much longer on that one training ride."
So, if I remember this correctly, I think I got in three 3+hours rides and one 2.5 hour ride in the course of seven days. Lots of good riding. Wed intervals were in the wind. Tried to mix it up so that some were in the wind. It's nice but not super productive to do all the intervals with a tailwind.
Saturday was good, good and windy. Rode 3 hours over lots of big hills by myself and then met up with a friend for another hour. It was crazy windy and I don't think I would have persevered that other hour without him. He even made me work quite a bit. Ran 30 minutes off the bike and felt tired but no gut or stomach problems. Stuck to my maltodextrin and lime diet for the whole ride and apparently it worked. Didn't even crave other food even though I had it and even stuck a credit card in my pocket for emergencies. The ride was difficult because of the wind and I am definitely not in biking shape but felt better than even a week earlier.
Tuesday run- I love my little loop. I had to modify this workout a little. Took out some of the rest. Managed to give the dog a little exercise and pick up some lunch during this workout. Probably not optimal but I was crunched for time. (Taking care of my moms dog for the next two weeks, she is getting old and can run but is also obstinate and will stop if she gets too tired or suspects you are tricking her into an adventure that is too long) I thought she would maybe run a mile with me, but that was pushing my luck. (I think she is also competetive and likes to be in front, once you pass her she gives up) Anyway, the loop is great. Gives a good sense of reality. One direction us slightly uphill, the other windy, etc. Ran a 6:50, 7:10, and 6:57. I pushed the first too much. Tried to build into the second two instead of starting out way too hard. Felt like I was at a good 10k pace for parts.
Swimming- Masters is tapering for State so workouts have been kind of short. Also, swim times at the Swim Center are 5:30-7:30am, 12-1, and 6:30-9. Masters swims from 6:30-8:30 so I feel like I am in a little of a dilemma when I have my own workout to do. Thoughts or suggestions. I won't make the am swim. The 1hr lunch swim is kind of short, and the pm swim I either swim with masters and do my own workout which is rude, or swim in the other lanes, which the coach indicated she doesn't think is very nice either.
Weekend- Drive up Friday, maybe leave at 2? I hope later. Swim Saturday and Sunday. I want to bring my bike. What do you think? Run?
Schedule- Nothing huge at work next week. Pool at MSU closed until the 23rd.
will try to add some more, running out of time....
Just looked up St. George swim waves. I am wave 19 out of 22. Suck. That was how Mont Tremblant was and I hated it. Felt really far behind even though that wasn't necessarily true. I am going to need some help with how to go about this and think about it during the next month +.
Been thinking about our conversation about mental toughness. Especially on my ride on Saturday. I think the capacity for mental toughness can increased. I don't think it comes through say, doing to same miserable workout over and over, for me it comes with handling the unexpected or tough conditions. Then, when faced with adversity in a race it is something to fall back on. " I can do this, I already did this much longer on that one training ride."
So, if I remember this correctly, I think I got in three 3+hours rides and one 2.5 hour ride in the course of seven days. Lots of good riding. Wed intervals were in the wind. Tried to mix it up so that some were in the wind. It's nice but not super productive to do all the intervals with a tailwind.
Saturday was good, good and windy. Rode 3 hours over lots of big hills by myself and then met up with a friend for another hour. It was crazy windy and I don't think I would have persevered that other hour without him. He even made me work quite a bit. Ran 30 minutes off the bike and felt tired but no gut or stomach problems. Stuck to my maltodextrin and lime diet for the whole ride and apparently it worked. Didn't even crave other food even though I had it and even stuck a credit card in my pocket for emergencies. The ride was difficult because of the wind and I am definitely not in biking shape but felt better than even a week earlier.
Tuesday run- I love my little loop. I had to modify this workout a little. Took out some of the rest. Managed to give the dog a little exercise and pick up some lunch during this workout. Probably not optimal but I was crunched for time. (Taking care of my moms dog for the next two weeks, she is getting old and can run but is also obstinate and will stop if she gets too tired or suspects you are tricking her into an adventure that is too long) I thought she would maybe run a mile with me, but that was pushing my luck. (I think she is also competetive and likes to be in front, once you pass her she gives up) Anyway, the loop is great. Gives a good sense of reality. One direction us slightly uphill, the other windy, etc. Ran a 6:50, 7:10, and 6:57. I pushed the first too much. Tried to build into the second two instead of starting out way too hard. Felt like I was at a good 10k pace for parts.
Swimming- Masters is tapering for State so workouts have been kind of short. Also, swim times at the Swim Center are 5:30-7:30am, 12-1, and 6:30-9. Masters swims from 6:30-8:30 so I feel like I am in a little of a dilemma when I have my own workout to do. Thoughts or suggestions. I won't make the am swim. The 1hr lunch swim is kind of short, and the pm swim I either swim with masters and do my own workout which is rude, or swim in the other lanes, which the coach indicated she doesn't think is very nice either.
Weekend- Drive up Friday, maybe leave at 2? I hope later. Swim Saturday and Sunday. I want to bring my bike. What do you think? Run?
Schedule- Nothing huge at work next week. Pool at MSU closed until the 23rd.
will try to add some more, running out of time....
3/10/2015
And one week goes really fast.
The week:
Friday- Lunch swim at the 50 m pool. Feel grateful that I can swim at MSU when it is open and developed some patience and stabilizing skills because lunch swim is in a 50m, 7 lane pool with no lane lines. :) Rode my bike to work, rode to the pool, and took the long way home. It felt so nice to not get on the rollers or the trainer.
Saturday- Good swim. Hard swim. The one minute 50's were tough. Also had a decent run. I went on a trail and it was much snowier than I had anticipated. I saw a moose. It is challenging to run downhill on snow. I think that trail will be last day of camp run. It is kind of steep but not super steep and has amazing views.
Sunday- Time change made this a bit more challenging however Erik and I rallied. How can one pass up a group ride with a group that stops at the donut shop on the way out of town. This ride was a little long. We left at 10 and got home at 5. There was some stopping and bike walking because we chose to take a road that was too muddy and ended up turning around. We also ate lunch in Manhattan. I was worked though. Felt very out of shape and had the thought more than once that if the Speedwagon does happen, I am way too out of shape.
Spent the evening at Fairmont. It was fun. Spent some good quality time together. I won't get into the stories of that trip.
Monday- Guess what? I was so tired. In addition to that long ride, I don't feel completely healthy. My asthma is acting up. I think it is the spring air. Lot's of coughing and sometimes hard to get in a good breath. Also, those antibiotics, I swear are giving me chapped lips that won't go away. Chapped lips combined with a dripping nose does not feel good. Anyway, I rallied, and had a good ride. Climbed some good big hills. Went home and ate something and watched the cat hang out in the field across from our house (then almost get hit by a car) and then went to swimming. This is where it all caught up with me. My body did not want to go FAST. I did all the 200s except for the FAST 200s. Those I did slow. Did this at Masters and took advantage of the new coach on deck and got some pointers on my stroke. At least the the workout wasn't a total bust. I think I was only a couple hundred short of the total yardage.
Tuesday- Went to PT to get a group of exercises and stretches to keep me maintained. Good stuff and not too much. Lots of core, hip, glute, and hamstring stabilizing/strength stuff. Most of it I was already doing. Also a few shoulder things.
Run- Great run. Had an episode at work that required some heavy thinking, so the run was great. Didn't push the strides really hard. Just kept a good cadence and good form. Did my hamstring exercise halfway though and it felt much better.
Comments/questions
This week blew by. I feel like I haven't had much time to think about anything but just getting it done. I can tell you about our mystery knockout mouse though, or running CS and T on the Fortessa.
I am good with my choice to not go on Spring Break. It is beautiful here. I was running in a t-shirt today.
Speedwagon- March 28th.
Schedule- We are in Bozeman this weekend. Nothing planned. Nothing huge at work next week either. I have some smaller experiments that I am doing and those just take a couple of hours. Not long or stressful.
Friday- Lunch swim at the 50 m pool. Feel grateful that I can swim at MSU when it is open and developed some patience and stabilizing skills because lunch swim is in a 50m, 7 lane pool with no lane lines. :) Rode my bike to work, rode to the pool, and took the long way home. It felt so nice to not get on the rollers or the trainer.
Saturday- Good swim. Hard swim. The one minute 50's were tough. Also had a decent run. I went on a trail and it was much snowier than I had anticipated. I saw a moose. It is challenging to run downhill on snow. I think that trail will be last day of camp run. It is kind of steep but not super steep and has amazing views.
Sunday- Time change made this a bit more challenging however Erik and I rallied. How can one pass up a group ride with a group that stops at the donut shop on the way out of town. This ride was a little long. We left at 10 and got home at 5. There was some stopping and bike walking because we chose to take a road that was too muddy and ended up turning around. We also ate lunch in Manhattan. I was worked though. Felt very out of shape and had the thought more than once that if the Speedwagon does happen, I am way too out of shape.
Spent the evening at Fairmont. It was fun. Spent some good quality time together. I won't get into the stories of that trip.
Monday- Guess what? I was so tired. In addition to that long ride, I don't feel completely healthy. My asthma is acting up. I think it is the spring air. Lot's of coughing and sometimes hard to get in a good breath. Also, those antibiotics, I swear are giving me chapped lips that won't go away. Chapped lips combined with a dripping nose does not feel good. Anyway, I rallied, and had a good ride. Climbed some good big hills. Went home and ate something and watched the cat hang out in the field across from our house (then almost get hit by a car) and then went to swimming. This is where it all caught up with me. My body did not want to go FAST. I did all the 200s except for the FAST 200s. Those I did slow. Did this at Masters and took advantage of the new coach on deck and got some pointers on my stroke. At least the the workout wasn't a total bust. I think I was only a couple hundred short of the total yardage.
Tuesday- Went to PT to get a group of exercises and stretches to keep me maintained. Good stuff and not too much. Lots of core, hip, glute, and hamstring stabilizing/strength stuff. Most of it I was already doing. Also a few shoulder things.
Run- Great run. Had an episode at work that required some heavy thinking, so the run was great. Didn't push the strides really hard. Just kept a good cadence and good form. Did my hamstring exercise halfway though and it felt much better.
Comments/questions
This week blew by. I feel like I haven't had much time to think about anything but just getting it done. I can tell you about our mystery knockout mouse though, or running CS and T on the Fortessa.
I am good with my choice to not go on Spring Break. It is beautiful here. I was running in a t-shirt today.
Speedwagon- March 28th.
Schedule- We are in Bozeman this weekend. Nothing planned. Nothing huge at work next week either. I have some smaller experiments that I am doing and those just take a couple of hours. Not long or stressful.
2/25/2015
Two weeks makes for a lot to tell.....
Saturday morning (2/28) I started to come down with a cold. I wasn't sure so went about Saturday as planned. Had a great swim and a great run. Felt a little worse on Sunday. Only rode for an hour. Started the trainer workout but didn't feel good and didn't want to get worse. As you know, it is Monday and I am still getting worse. Going to doctor. Got a prescription for antibiotics and a strong suggestion to not fill it for a couple of days. I hate this. I know if I don't fill it, I will be miserable until then, but get worried about taking antibiotics. In the long run, I figure I will take them anyway. Might as well start getting better sooner.
Spring break- We are NOT going away for spring break. Erik is swamped at work and can't get away, and I would feel like a very bad wife leaving him. This is a good time for me to get in some hours, especially on the bike, correct? I was hoping, thinking, I would take some time off work and do some training over that week anyway. A nice day- skip out on work and ride. A long swim and a long run- only work for a few hours. I have enough vacation time to take a little bit and now that we are getting settled with the house I would really like to get my butt kicked (with training damnit, not stupid house shit). After all St. George and the Grizzly are coming up. Do you think I can get similar benefits by staying home?
MSU pool closed until the 23rd. Effers. Don't they realize the I need to get ready for the Grizzly. So, here is to a new goal. Swim 1:30 100s in a 50 meter pool. Which reminds me- my flip turns are slow. I must speed them up. Can you help? I was thinking of trying to get a session with Dylan.
Erik and I are also going to try to get out and do something for a weekend. I told him to get his mt bike ready. Billings has some good riding or Pipestone or the Caverns. Then maybe go stay at Chico or some other hot spring. Erik really needs a break and I think our marriage might need some time together too. I think we want to do that next weekend. (This now depends on how sick I am) I wonder what Polson riding is like? Maybe head up there)
Questions
1- I probably should have asked this a long, long time ago. When you write two workouts a day and write one first and the other second is that the order you want me to do them in? I usually look at the day and figure out how to do both irrelevant of order. That is, of course, unless you say run immediately after swim. Just want to make sure I haven't been making years of mistakes and/or that I need to start changing things.
2- State Swim Meet- I need to register. What events? I like to do the 1000 because it helps me gauge the Grizzly. How about the 1650? Would it be good for St. George? Other events, you probably don't really care about. I like 50 fly, 100 free, and 100 IM. I am planning on bringing my bike and would like to ride up there if the weather is good and if other people want to ride. Definitely cross bike.
3- Since Spring Break is out, what about a good old road running race? Run to the Pub is March 14th. 10k or 1/2 marathon?
Comment- I just read somewhere (Lauren Fleshman's twitter) that "if athletes are coached with acceptance and friendship they learn to find love in the sport." So true, don't you think? I think so.
Significant training days-
3x1 mile intervals. I used my favorite loop. The one I told you about before. It is exactly 2 miles around. Perfect, because you can start anywhere and end on the opposite side. Also, I am hoping I can use this route to judge my fitness and see if I am getting stronger. The run was good. As a reference mile 1- 7:45, mile 2- 7:05, and mile 3- 6:45. I was happy with that. And, the most important thing. The next day my hamstring/back was fine. The higher intensity did not hurt me!!!
Sunday ride- (1,2,3,4 minute intervals at 1/2 IM pace) This looked easy and started out easy, but ended up being hard. I think I raised the temperature of the bike shop by 5 degrees. Dripping. I don't drip on the rollers either. Felt good.
Hill repeats- I had to do this on the treadmill. It was so cold out. A very biting east wind. This took a bit to get set up. I set the incline to 6, I tried not to think about my pace, just my effort. Found a speed that was a lot of effort. This was how the 6 repeats went. (My internal dialogue) Feeling good, that was only 30 seconds, okay, now I am not feeling so good and I still have a long time to go, okay keep your form, you are feeling okay, (breathing is getting much more labored), check time 1:30, I don't know if I can do this, now you only have one minute to go, you can do this, look at the 2009 picture of Chrissy Wellington and Andy Potts,this would be easy for them, count out the last 30 seconds. Done. Now I have 5 more of those, oh no, maybe I should lower the pace a little. It's okay, I feel better already. ( I wish I was a better writer, that sounded so much better in my head before writing it down).
After the last one though when I was cooling down I was overwhelmed with the deepest sense of appreciation for a good run. I read an article in an old Runner's World today about the benefits of running. This was one of them. Each and every run you are just filled with the sense of joy. Others were funny but so true. Showers, eating, and a few others just aren't as pleasurable unless you run. I need to send that article to my parents. Oh, and the best part about that run. My hamstring was not hindering me!!!
Bad decision-
-Drank beer on Friday(3/20) instead of going home to ride the bike.
-Got to the pool too late and missed 400 of the workout with all the band stuff (I was still sore the next day).
-Swam with the tri club kids- My workout wasn't really that bad after I ended up modifying the workout and moving over to have my own lane. Get this- They swim in 2-3 lanes. They all do the workout, but they don't do it together. I don't even understand how that works. I feel like a huge benefit of swimming with a group is that you can push each other. Also, no time intervals. Just rest intervals with no prescribed effort. Weird. I fear those kids aren't going to improve their swimming. I think the coach's philosophy is that you improve with technique. He forgets about fitness.
2/15/2015
Sunshine and swimming pools
The rest of the week in California was really good. Work training was really good and I have a lot of knowledge to bring back to my job. Vacation was amazing. Training got shifted a little.
Wed- Got out early from training. Ran to a trail and ran on the trail for a little while. My legs felt awful. Really heavy. I was having a hard time breathing. Not a good run. The area is not pedestrian friendly. Sidewalks just end. Lots of stoplights.
Thursday- Busted out 40 minutes on the hotel treadmill. The hotel was located in a not so pedestrian friendly location. I would have spent 20 minutes at stop lights. I have always thought that the MSU treadmills seemed fast and now I am even more convinced. I had to keep upping the speed on the hotel treadmill from what I normally run to what I think I actually run outside. Watched The Dictator. I find Sasha Koehn movies very funny. Felt much better this day than Wednesday.
Friday- Long swim in hotel pool. I had the time and felt like a fat cow from the week. Took a little bit to get used to flip turning etc. Water was a good temp. My 75s were a few seconds slow. I think it could have been from 1- flip turns and 2- it being dark and having to turn the light on my watch to see the time. I thought it was and is good practice to swim in a not so controlled environment though.
Saturday- We spent Saturday in the sun. I ran on new trails with amazing ocean views, big trees, open meadows, and dark forests for 2+ hours. Climbed lots and ran down steep lots. Then walked the beach with my feet in the water for a couple more. It felt so good to be warm and in the sunshine. The middle of my lower back was very achy on the downhills. I also was getting cramped up on the downhills. Am still pretty sore from that.
Sunday- Another beautiful day, but also one of those days where you have to be out of the hotel room and at the airport and not much can get done. I did the other swim in the morning. It was good. Nice and solid. Felt really good. Could have swam another 2000. We then drove down the coast and traffic was terrible and we spent most of the day in the car. Yuck. But there wasn't much else we could have done.
Sidenote: I have a theory for why I cramp up sometimes when racing. I really like to drink carbonated water. However, it looks like carbonation is slightly acidic. pH of 3 or 4 vs. pretty neutral for normal water. Do you think that drinking carbonated water could affect my bodies pH (or at least trigger something in my body that is triggered to neutralize pH. At Mont Tremblant I drank a lot of carbonated water. Or, carbonated water isn't absorbed the same way as water. Anyway, it is just a theory and I think I am going to stay away from carbonated water around race times.
Monday- Going to ride rollers at home. Am excited to be at my new home. We closed last Tuesday!!!
Health- Achilles, plantar are awesome! Keep stretching and doing PT to keep those good. Hamstring felt good on Saturday but my back was feeling really off. Have a Chiro appointment tomorrow (Tuesday) and am going to ask about it. I think sitting is bad for my back.
Schedule-
Work- No experiments planned and the boss gone until next week. So not much than a normal work day.
Weekend/s- No plans. Still working on getting out of our old place. Cleaning out garage. Maybe painting a little. Definitely getting wrapped up by the end of February so new renters can get in.
Question- Let me preface this with. I love long runs and one reason is because I get to think about stuff for a long time and it is sometimes interesting where the mind goes. Further, during cyclocross this year Lisa was telling me how she had chatted with you about me and cyclocross. She ended up telling me that you "know" that I could be really good at cyclocross. We have never had that conversation about any of these sports that I try out. So, I am just curious. What do you think I would be/am good at? Any particular sport or triathlon distance in particular?
You do not have to answer that question because I realize that discussion may be risky territory. All of a sudden my dreams and goals could become different. So, I guess do what you want with that.
I want to make a list of goals(some have a timeline, some don't). Very quickly that I have been stewing over.
Grizzly- I want to podium! I know this is entirely dependent on who shows up, hoping I can get lucky some year.
St. George- AG Podium (lots of work to do in the next couple of months, need to get outside on the bike)
Question- Spring Break would be really good for this huh?
Victoria- AG Podium
I realize all these are dependent on things entirely out of my hands, however, I want to work on the mental part of things to go into these races thinking positively and keep my head in the game the whole time.
Thursday swim- This is what is on their training plan. Not sure what the warm up is.
WU
1x400 FREE/BACK, 1:00 RI 1x200 PULL, 1:00 RI 1x400 FREE/BACK, 1:00 RI 1x100 PULL, :30 RI 5x(25 kick, 50 drill, 75 FREE), :20 RI
CD
Thursday swim- This is what is on their training plan. Not sure what the warm up is.
WU
1x400 FREE/BACK, 1:00 RI 1x200 PULL, 1:00 RI 1x400 FREE/BACK, 1:00 RI 1x100 PULL, :30 RI 5x(25 kick, 50 drill, 75 FREE), :20 RI
CD
Okay, time to get home.
Chat tomorrow.
2/08/2015
A new house and California
A couple of things.
1- I am committed to Masters state on March 21-22. I am hoping to bring a bike and ride with some of those people.
2- I signed up for St George and booked a hotel with my lovely friend LeAnn.
3- Spring break is the week of March 13th. We want to do something. Not sure what uet.
4- MSU pool is closed on March 2-23.
California- After all my work to find a pool, there was a swim meet. Pools are tough to find. I think they exist. They are just run by swim clubs and hours and phone numbers are hard to find. I know of one open during the week but not Sunday. I found a park that had some trails and went on a long run instead. Ended up on a paved trail along Coyote Creek that went along forever. Ran 2 hours total. A little longer than I probably should have but felt good and kept mindful of good form. Had a lot of time to think about graduate school and being in San Diego. I used to collect insects out of very similar gross dirty streams. I got chased by border patrol once. Tripped some sort of detector? Also, I was probably 10 people total in the two hours. In such an urban area, it is crazy to me. Never escaping the freeways. I love California for asian food, good IPAs, and funny discount grocery stores with funny food but love Montana for the quiet.
Monday- found a nice outdoor pool. It was 25 meters or I was really a slow. Did the 3500 workout. Felt pretty good until the 100s. Didn't do them super fast. I love outdoor pools!
Schedule- think I will do other swim tomorrow. Mom gets here Wed and pool is closed Thursday. Run and PT other days. We have a hotel with a big pool Friday and Sat!
Health- Achilles and plantar feel great! Hamstring getting better. Got a few more exercises (flossing?) that I have been doing.
Need to read some stuff and do a little pt. Talk tomorrow
2/02/2015
Moved
The biggest thing that happened this weekend is that we MOVED! I can't believe it. Feeling very emotional about the whole thing. It isn't all over yet but so close. Thank you so much for working with me on this for months and months.
I did work pretty hard leading into the weekend and feel pretty good about training. A few examples with comments are listed below.
1- swim on own with 12x100 at a 1k pace. My goal is to do these on 1:25. I definitely can hold a 1:30 but keep hitting a 1:27 or so. Also, glad to get back to my own swims. I feel better with them being more focused.
2- 1 hr swim should be on the calendar every year. It is great for my confidence. I swam 1hr strong. I can swim St. George. No problem!
3- Friday run. At first I was tired and didn't feel like doing it. Also, it is important to have a good place to run for 10 minutes. That is a long distance and it is so icy out. So, I came up with a route. It is this big square from campus that is all right hand turns, on good big sidewalks or bike paths, and isn't hilly(minus the general uphills and downhills) I see college kids ( cross country) running there often.
So route was great. Felt really good. My hamstring is doing good. I can still feel it, but need to get a bike fit ASAP. It doesn't feel like it is limiting me like it was last year. Also, have Chiro appt tomorrow where I am going to talk more about appropriate PT.
Schedule- leave for San Jose early Sunday morning. I wouldn't mind spending the day Sunday doing a long run and/or swimming. Still am working out pools, transportation etc. Haven't had enough time.
Am in San Jose through the following Sunday afternoon. Getting a hotel for Friday and Saturday night with a 25 yard pool! Outside!
1/26/2015
Moving
We are finally moving. This time it is for sure this weekend. I just received a photo from Erik of the Certificate of Occupancy. Wow!! Also, this blog is going to be bad (maybe just short). It is 6:10pm on Monday I just finished an experiment, am tired, mad at our loan guy, and just want to go home.
General comment- I feel like I am getting back into shape. Feel like this week had a couple more sessions? Or was that just me and my planning ability?
The week and how I managed it. I don't do well with checklists. Feel like it all gets crammed in during the last couple of days.
Thursday- I have decided that Thursday Masters swim has been messing me up. I think in general in the future it will be better to not swim with them on Thursdays. This week I did the 3000 swim at lunch and then rode the bike in the evening. Otherwise, I end up riding on Friday nights which has potential to end badly.
Friday- Ran the 6x2:00. Those were pretty hard. Stayed consistent. Went the exact same distance each time.
Saturday- ski adventure
Sunday- 1hr swim. Feeling good about my swim. 3100. Rode the trainer with the 1, 2,3,4 minute intervals in the evening.
Monday- Ran 1hr flat ( legs are tired)
Tuesday- Run hills at lunch at work and go to Masters.
Wednesday- Swim 3400 at lunch and ride at home in the evening.
Got some PT in there as well.
(Does that sound okay)
Schedule-
I need a couple of days off or a lighter load for the weekend. No ski adventure on Saturday. For moving
Work- Don't have anything huge. Fridays are going to get hectic again. Lab meeting from 3-5. That starts this week.
That's all I have for now. Will add more if I think of something.
General comment- I feel like I am getting back into shape. Feel like this week had a couple more sessions? Or was that just me and my planning ability?
The week and how I managed it. I don't do well with checklists. Feel like it all gets crammed in during the last couple of days.
Thursday- I have decided that Thursday Masters swim has been messing me up. I think in general in the future it will be better to not swim with them on Thursdays. This week I did the 3000 swim at lunch and then rode the bike in the evening. Otherwise, I end up riding on Friday nights which has potential to end badly.
Friday- Ran the 6x2:00. Those were pretty hard. Stayed consistent. Went the exact same distance each time.
Saturday- ski adventure
Sunday- 1hr swim. Feeling good about my swim. 3100. Rode the trainer with the 1, 2,3,4 minute intervals in the evening.
Monday- Ran 1hr flat ( legs are tired)
Tuesday- Run hills at lunch at work and go to Masters.
Wednesday- Swim 3400 at lunch and ride at home in the evening.
Got some PT in there as well.
(Does that sound okay)
Schedule-
I need a couple of days off or a lighter load for the weekend. No ski adventure on Saturday. For moving
Work- Don't have anything huge. Fridays are going to get hectic again. Lab meeting from 3-5. That starts this week.
That's all I have for now. Will add more if I think of something.
1/19/2015
Feeling the light
It is starting to be lighter in the evenings and in the mornings. It feels good.
Swims
Tuesday:
200 SKIPS (1000 total)
4x75 kick/drill/swim by 25
4x100 on 2:10
100easy
3x100 on 2:05
100easy
2x100 on 2:00
100easy
1x100 FAST
100 easy
300kick (person in back kicks around to the front on 50. We didn't do this very well. Good 300 cool down)
Thursday- Missed swim. Went over to house to oil table and ended up cleaning up and tending to tasks until 8:30. We had an appraiser there on Friday so this was probably time well spent. I was annoyed to miss it though. Had a very stressful day at work and was really looking forward to the monotony and regimen.
Sunday:
400swim
400IM (I got there a little late and missed all the IM)
200 kick(didn't kick either, needed the whole 600 swim to warm up, feeling sore)
8x50 from middle of pool practicing turns. Evens free, odds IM order
4x250 with the 200 free and the 50 IM order fast (Shotgun start. Start when last person hits wall. This really sucks for me because I suck at IM and never get a rest. Might as well been a 1000 continuous)
8x100 swim on the 1:45 leave on the 2:15
Note: I might be getting more interested in only swimming with Masters one day a week or so. Sunday sort of got me mad for various reasons. I would also maybe like to get back in the pool a couple more times a week. Feel like swimming is going good but afraid to lose anything. ( I am about to rant, so reading the next paragraph is optional) #1- The coach assumes everybody knows how to swim like they grew up on a swim team. I have a hard time with back stroke turns and was asking about how to do them. She said "just push off the wall." and then laughed. Had no helpful hints for a beginner. #2- those effing shotgun starts. With IM everybody waits on the wall for me and then goes. I get a 5 second breather. This week Audrey was even starting again before everybody got to the wall. I like specific intervals. Either swim on a certain time or rest on a certain time. #3- Don't be a coach if you either don't want to be one, or can't do it very well.
Notable items/comments/questions:
I think I picked up some stomach bug when we ate out on Friday night. Saturday I got up to ski with William and my stomach was very crampy and I was very tired. Had a hard time rallying while skiing and wanted to curl up and take a nap when I got home. Worked on the house and then laid on the couch under a blanket in the evening. Felt super shitty. Stomach hurt, a little fever, achy. Didn't sleep that night well but went to swimming on Sunday, did the run, worked on the house, and rode the rollers. Tired but stomach was feeling better. Finally slept better halfway into the night on Sunday. Feeling better on Monday but still stomach is a little crampy.
Ski on Saturday- Besides being tired and stomach feeling weird we had a really good ski. Got in 30km and all the way up to Moser. It is a pretty tough uphill for half of it. Had a stupid little fall on the way down and my right shoulder got yanked. I think it is okay, but it is very sore. Can't do double arm backstroke and the muscles are very tender.
I think (not for sure) we might actually be moving in this weekend! So, can I have a few days off? Or better yet, an optional checklist. If we don't move in I will ski with William on Saturday. Sunday is the One Hour Swim at Masters. Is a one hour time trial something good for me right now? If you think so, and we aren't moving I will do it.
Ended up working Monday and am taking Tuesday off. It didn't work out with my experiments to be at the house and work on Tuesday. Am going home now to do the bike workout. Looks tough.
Schedule- Work is busy this week, but nothing out of control. I won't have any big mouse experiments for a couple of weeks. I already asked about the weekend above.
Swims
Tuesday:
200 SKIPS (1000 total)
4x75 kick/drill/swim by 25
4x100 on 2:10
100easy
3x100 on 2:05
100easy
2x100 on 2:00
100easy
1x100 FAST
100 easy
300kick (person in back kicks around to the front on 50. We didn't do this very well. Good 300 cool down)
Thursday- Missed swim. Went over to house to oil table and ended up cleaning up and tending to tasks until 8:30. We had an appraiser there on Friday so this was probably time well spent. I was annoyed to miss it though. Had a very stressful day at work and was really looking forward to the monotony and regimen.
Sunday:
400swim
400IM (I got there a little late and missed all the IM)
200 kick(didn't kick either, needed the whole 600 swim to warm up, feeling sore)
8x50 from middle of pool practicing turns. Evens free, odds IM order
4x250 with the 200 free and the 50 IM order fast (Shotgun start. Start when last person hits wall. This really sucks for me because I suck at IM and never get a rest. Might as well been a 1000 continuous)
8x100 swim on the 1:45 leave on the 2:15
Note: I might be getting more interested in only swimming with Masters one day a week or so. Sunday sort of got me mad for various reasons. I would also maybe like to get back in the pool a couple more times a week. Feel like swimming is going good but afraid to lose anything. ( I am about to rant, so reading the next paragraph is optional) #1- The coach assumes everybody knows how to swim like they grew up on a swim team. I have a hard time with back stroke turns and was asking about how to do them. She said "just push off the wall." and then laughed. Had no helpful hints for a beginner. #2- those effing shotgun starts. With IM everybody waits on the wall for me and then goes. I get a 5 second breather. This week Audrey was even starting again before everybody got to the wall. I like specific intervals. Either swim on a certain time or rest on a certain time. #3- Don't be a coach if you either don't want to be one, or can't do it very well.
Notable items/comments/questions:
I think I picked up some stomach bug when we ate out on Friday night. Saturday I got up to ski with William and my stomach was very crampy and I was very tired. Had a hard time rallying while skiing and wanted to curl up and take a nap when I got home. Worked on the house and then laid on the couch under a blanket in the evening. Felt super shitty. Stomach hurt, a little fever, achy. Didn't sleep that night well but went to swimming on Sunday, did the run, worked on the house, and rode the rollers. Tired but stomach was feeling better. Finally slept better halfway into the night on Sunday. Feeling better on Monday but still stomach is a little crampy.
Ski on Saturday- Besides being tired and stomach feeling weird we had a really good ski. Got in 30km and all the way up to Moser. It is a pretty tough uphill for half of it. Had a stupid little fall on the way down and my right shoulder got yanked. I think it is okay, but it is very sore. Can't do double arm backstroke and the muscles are very tender.
I think (not for sure) we might actually be moving in this weekend! So, can I have a few days off? Or better yet, an optional checklist. If we don't move in I will ski with William on Saturday. Sunday is the One Hour Swim at Masters. Is a one hour time trial something good for me right now? If you think so, and we aren't moving I will do it.
Ended up working Monday and am taking Tuesday off. It didn't work out with my experiments to be at the house and work on Tuesday. Am going home now to do the bike workout. Looks tough.
Schedule- Work is busy this week, but nothing out of control. I won't have any big mouse experiments for a couple of weeks. I already asked about the weekend above.
1/08/2015
The greatness of purgatory
I am stuck in purgatory. This almost new house being done thing is going to kill me. Erik and I worked really, really hard over the weekend. He feels like he got work done, I feel like we got a lot accomplished. That with the weekends training is making for a very tired Monday.
Masters Tuesday
200 SKIP
4x75 kick/drill/swim by 25 IM order
5x100 50 build/50 DPS pull
3x100 on 2:10
3x100 on 2:00 ( they were trying the Luma lanes which didn't work and these intervals were too slow, so I took control)
3x100 on 1:40 leave on the 2:00
5x100IM
100 CD
3000?
Masters Tuesday
200 SKIP
4x75 kick/drill/swim by 25 IM order
5x100 50 build/50 DPS pull
3x100 on 2:10
3x100 on 2:00 ( they were trying the Luma lanes which didn't work and these intervals were too slow, so I took control)
3x100 on 1:40 leave on the 2:00
5x100IM
100 CD
3000?
Thursday Masters
300. 50 swim/50 drill
300. 50 swim/50 kick
300. 50 free/50 non free
300. 50 swim/50 drill
300. 50 swim/50 kick
300. 50 free/50 non free
4x 50kick,50 drill, 50 swim IM order
4x100 on 2:00
400pace
3x100 on 1:55
300pace
2x100 on 1:55 (those effers missed the interval, messed the last and best one up)
200 pace
400pace
3x100 on 1:55
300pace
2x100 on 1:55 (those effers missed the interval, messed the last and best one up)
200 pace
100cd
3400?
Masters Sunday- I skipped it. Had a huge list of stuff to get done for the house. I don't regret it. I am also very sore from the ski on Saturday and didn't think I would do well at swimming anyway.
Masters Sunday- I skipped it. Had a huge list of stuff to get done for the house. I don't regret it. I am also very sore from the ski on Saturday and didn't think I would do well at swimming anyway.
Side thought...
So, I have the November photo of the 2014 Men of Triathlon calendar on my bench at work. Long story how it got there, but it is the Ben Hoffman month. So, Justin came in the other day and was scowling at it. Asking why it is there. (Many men do not like the Men of Triathlon calendar, especially him) I said for inspiration or motivation or something of the sort. Then I said I was going to win the World Championship someday. He said "the chances of that are the chances of me winning the lottery." First, it got me thinking. I feel sorry for him that he can't understand why that would be inspiring. Second, I am inspired. That photo reminds me to think, dream, hope that I have greatness. I really do have greatness and can always keep getting greater. This year is going to be great. I have secret hopes of getting on the podium at St. George. (just so we are on the same page). I don't go into the race with that as the goal, but it would be pretty sweet to have a race that placed me there.
Open my soul thought....
I am going to be honest here because this is bugging me and I think it should not even be an issue or something I am even thinking about. If one gets pregnant and has a baby shouldn't everything else (especially training and racing when it is only a hobby) be not as important. So, here is what is bugging me. I feel like if I get pregnant and have a baby I am going to lose you. (okay said it, and I can't believe I just said that). You are like my therapist, my rock. I can't imagine life without you in it. Anyway, what happens? Being pregnant I obviously can't race. The first year or so will probably be tough. Have you gone through this before with other athletes? Can you stay on board with me through it all? Do we take a break? Can I have you back?
Okay, let er rip.
Schedule-
1- I get to go to San Jose in February for work!! February 9th-15th. I have a training on the 9th-13th and then my mom is going to fly over (they are in AZ) for the weekend. We are going to hang out in San Francisco or Marin County or something for a couple of days. I hope we are moved in by then. I looked into bringing my bike but the training is 9-5 and the sun sets at 6. Probably won't work. I want to try and find an outdoor pool to swim and there is definitely running and PT. My thought is to go to training, workout, eat dinner, and go to bed.
2- This week. Nothing huge. Lots of data analysis. Helping a grad student to not get scooped. Monday is a holiday that I will take to finalize things on the house.
Highlights from the week:
Friday- Ran on the treadmill. Just felt like sweating it out rather than being cold outside (it was cold out too). First- have you ever seen those human powered treadmills? Started out on one because the others were full. They are hard. It is hard to control speed. Kind of fun though. Second- keep getting bloody noses. Got one while running. Think it is the dry air. Feeling good though. Chiro and PT is definitely doing something good. Did a good PT session after.
Saturday ski- Absolutely beautiful and fast conditions. The sun came out for a couple of hours which happened to be the couple of hours that we were skiing. We made it to the lookout. About 7.5 miles up. Fast going up and even faster going down. So much fun.
LeAnn (my awesome Helena tri buddy) was in town on Thursday. We met up to chat because she is the new Spring Meadow race director. I think we need a collegiate qualifier race in Montana. It sounds like they are going to look into it. Yeah! She went to Masters and then we ate fried chicken for dinner. Am most likely going to go to St. George with her.
Sunday ride- Got on bike pretty late. 7pm. Later than normal especially for the weekend. Was sort of wondering if odd hours of training is bad for me? Workout was really, really good. I hate high cadence. Especially on the trainer. It is really hard. I don't have a high cadence. However, it seems like it sets me up for harder intervals well. I felt like riding and felt like pushing those 20x1 minute intervals. (I did the ride on the trainer. Not enough time to disassemble the set-up)
Questions:
When going easy for swimming, biking, and running, how easy? Here are some examples- I can swim really, really slow. Bad enough that people pass me at Masters or I will get lapped in warm up. However, I can also put in the effort to swim really hard and I am often swimming slow to recover. Also, I can run a 10 minute mile pace on the treadmill and it doesn't feel that easy. On the trainer I can spin very easy and sometimes slowly (no high cadence there) Should my easier be getting faster? Should my easy pace in swimming be faster? Running? Why is it that I can run a race faster than I ever do in training? (running).
Open my soul thought....
I am going to be honest here because this is bugging me and I think it should not even be an issue or something I am even thinking about. If one gets pregnant and has a baby shouldn't everything else (especially training and racing when it is only a hobby) be not as important. So, here is what is bugging me. I feel like if I get pregnant and have a baby I am going to lose you. (okay said it, and I can't believe I just said that). You are like my therapist, my rock. I can't imagine life without you in it. Anyway, what happens? Being pregnant I obviously can't race. The first year or so will probably be tough. Have you gone through this before with other athletes? Can you stay on board with me through it all? Do we take a break? Can I have you back?
Okay, let er rip.
Schedule-
1- I get to go to San Jose in February for work!! February 9th-15th. I have a training on the 9th-13th and then my mom is going to fly over (they are in AZ) for the weekend. We are going to hang out in San Francisco or Marin County or something for a couple of days. I hope we are moved in by then. I looked into bringing my bike but the training is 9-5 and the sun sets at 6. Probably won't work. I want to try and find an outdoor pool to swim and there is definitely running and PT. My thought is to go to training, workout, eat dinner, and go to bed.
2- This week. Nothing huge. Lots of data analysis. Helping a grad student to not get scooped. Monday is a holiday that I will take to finalize things on the house.
Highlights from the week:
Friday- Ran on the treadmill. Just felt like sweating it out rather than being cold outside (it was cold out too). First- have you ever seen those human powered treadmills? Started out on one because the others were full. They are hard. It is hard to control speed. Kind of fun though. Second- keep getting bloody noses. Got one while running. Think it is the dry air. Feeling good though. Chiro and PT is definitely doing something good. Did a good PT session after.
Saturday ski- Absolutely beautiful and fast conditions. The sun came out for a couple of hours which happened to be the couple of hours that we were skiing. We made it to the lookout. About 7.5 miles up. Fast going up and even faster going down. So much fun.
LeAnn (my awesome Helena tri buddy) was in town on Thursday. We met up to chat because she is the new Spring Meadow race director. I think we need a collegiate qualifier race in Montana. It sounds like they are going to look into it. Yeah! She went to Masters and then we ate fried chicken for dinner. Am most likely going to go to St. George with her.
Sunday ride- Got on bike pretty late. 7pm. Later than normal especially for the weekend. Was sort of wondering if odd hours of training is bad for me? Workout was really, really good. I hate high cadence. Especially on the trainer. It is really hard. I don't have a high cadence. However, it seems like it sets me up for harder intervals well. I felt like riding and felt like pushing those 20x1 minute intervals. (I did the ride on the trainer. Not enough time to disassemble the set-up)
Questions:
When going easy for swimming, biking, and running, how easy? Here are some examples- I can swim really, really slow. Bad enough that people pass me at Masters or I will get lapped in warm up. However, I can also put in the effort to swim really hard and I am often swimming slow to recover. Also, I can run a 10 minute mile pace on the treadmill and it doesn't feel that easy. On the trainer I can spin very easy and sometimes slowly (no high cadence there) Should my easier be getting faster? Should my easy pace in swimming be faster? Running? Why is it that I can run a race faster than I ever do in training? (running).
1/05/2015
cold and antsy
This blog is very last minute. So, we will see how it goes. Now it is very last minute and it is going to suck.
Comments/questions/significant things
1- I feel like a fat cow after feeling cooped up all weekend. Friends can be bad influences. Was planning on getting so much done Friday and then the cold prevented me from running. Went to the house and was working. Then Erik and Justin were hungry and wanted to drink beer. Went with them. So much for a lot done.
1- One of my favorite things- To be outside in the winter when I am warm. I skied on Monday night after it went from being 6 degrees out to 35 degrees. Went up Bozeman Creek for 1:15 and came down. Whole ski took about 1:45. My headlamp started to run out with 5 miles to go. It was a little creepy but fun.
2- I need to ask you a question about camp. The pool rental is turning into a rich mans training camp. Not for the working man. I need insurance, however, was thinking that depending on the cost it might be good to get insurance anyway. Then the camp can be a little more available to other people that I don't necessarily know and trust.
3- New Year's Eve ride- Bailed on Justin and Erik and didn't get sushi with random people and watch Justin drink too much. Stayed home. Had a good ride and followed with a delicious dinner that I made just for myself. I am glad the new year came about with a whisper. Good things to come this year!! Ride was difficult. The last 7 minute interval was a sufferfest.
4- Signed up for the Grizzly. So did at least 10 MSU Tri Club kids. I am very excited about that. I think it is an indication that the club is growing and getting stronger. Last year I think only one or two students did the race.
Okay, sorry. That is all I have. Need to get to running my cells. Let's hope this isn't a fad for the new year.
Comments/questions/significant things
1- I feel like a fat cow after feeling cooped up all weekend. Friends can be bad influences. Was planning on getting so much done Friday and then the cold prevented me from running. Went to the house and was working. Then Erik and Justin were hungry and wanted to drink beer. Went with them. So much for a lot done.
1- One of my favorite things- To be outside in the winter when I am warm. I skied on Monday night after it went from being 6 degrees out to 35 degrees. Went up Bozeman Creek for 1:15 and came down. Whole ski took about 1:45. My headlamp started to run out with 5 miles to go. It was a little creepy but fun.
2- I need to ask you a question about camp. The pool rental is turning into a rich mans training camp. Not for the working man. I need insurance, however, was thinking that depending on the cost it might be good to get insurance anyway. Then the camp can be a little more available to other people that I don't necessarily know and trust.
3- New Year's Eve ride- Bailed on Justin and Erik and didn't get sushi with random people and watch Justin drink too much. Stayed home. Had a good ride and followed with a delicious dinner that I made just for myself. I am glad the new year came about with a whisper. Good things to come this year!! Ride was difficult. The last 7 minute interval was a sufferfest.
4- Signed up for the Grizzly. So did at least 10 MSU Tri Club kids. I am very excited about that. I think it is an indication that the club is growing and getting stronger. Last year I think only one or two students did the race.
Okay, sorry. That is all I have. Need to get to running my cells. Let's hope this isn't a fad for the new year.
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