This morning Tim and I went out for a ride near Ortonville State Recreation area. Why Ortonville you ask? Well, June 22nd, I'm doing an Olympic Distance Triathlon Relay with my cousin (swimmer) and my friend (runner) and I am doing the bike portion, which is a 26 mile course.
The course description says that the course will "kick your ass", but I didn't find it too bad except for two hills. One of course was at the 25 mile mark so it was tough, the other one was about 16 miles in. The rest of the hills were long and gradual, and a fair amount of false flats (it goes through a lot of farm lands and through the cute little town of Hadley).
But I averaged 16 miles an hour and it took me 1:40. I think I can do it between 1:20 & 1:30 (probably closer to the 1:30 mark), so I'll be training hard to bump up that time. We didn't really push it, so I was pretty happy with my time overall
Oh and it was a gorgeous day for a bike ride.
Saturday, May 10, 2008
Thursday, May 8, 2008
Running
Today I went for a run on a new route around my neighborhood.
Normally I run inside my neighborhood, but this one takes me out onto some of the surrounding and fairly busy roads, one being M-59. I am trying to increase my distance, so this is my first attempt at a 4 mile route, and I really don't like doing loops (because I have a hard time making myself do them), so I wanted something different.
I had a good run, 4.3 miles in 45 minutes, so I'm happy and I feel good.
Then I get a message from my cousin this morning on my voice mail: "Um yeah, it's 6:11 am and I'm on M-59 on my way to work, and I see this hot brunette running on M-59 between Prestwick Village and Livingston road with a reflector vest on. I mean she's totally hot, but kind of an idiot for running on M-59. Do you know her?"
Then I talked to her and explained that I was only on M-59 for 2 minutes and the shoulder is very wide there (a car width), so I am totally safe. She was impressed that I had the forethought to put the reflector vest on, running on busy roads, so I think she kinda approves now, not sure.
I just thought that a) her message was funny, b) It's so nice of her to be concerned about me and c) it was such a coincidence that she saw me when I was only on the road for 2 minutes and it was my first time!
Anyway, it was a good run. Next run: 5 miles.
Normally I run inside my neighborhood, but this one takes me out onto some of the surrounding and fairly busy roads, one being M-59. I am trying to increase my distance, so this is my first attempt at a 4 mile route, and I really don't like doing loops (because I have a hard time making myself do them), so I wanted something different.
I had a good run, 4.3 miles in 45 minutes, so I'm happy and I feel good.
Then I get a message from my cousin this morning on my voice mail: "Um yeah, it's 6:11 am and I'm on M-59 on my way to work, and I see this hot brunette running on M-59 between Prestwick Village and Livingston road with a reflector vest on. I mean she's totally hot, but kind of an idiot for running on M-59. Do you know her?"
Then I talked to her and explained that I was only on M-59 for 2 minutes and the shoulder is very wide there (a car width), so I am totally safe. She was impressed that I had the forethought to put the reflector vest on, running on busy roads, so I think she kinda approves now, not sure.
I just thought that a) her message was funny, b) It's so nice of her to be concerned about me and c) it was such a coincidence that she saw me when I was only on the road for 2 minutes and it was my first time!
Anyway, it was a good run. Next run: 5 miles.
Tuesday, May 6, 2008
Work out news
It's Tuesday and here's what I've done for the week so far:
Sunday - 35 mile bike ride
30 miles of 15 mph pace, and a 5 mile leisurely ride. I'm still having a little drama with the clip in shoes, but trying to work through it. And I didn't fall until the 5 mile ride, when I was standing still at an intersection. Only some minor bruising, a little road rash and a bruised ego. ;)
Monday - 1000M swim speed work, 20 mile bike ride
Nothing too noteworthy here, except I'm feeling better in the pool and it was friggin windy out.
Tuesday - 3 mile run speed work, 1000M swim
Increasing distance on the speed segments, and it's not totally killing me... yet!
Good week so far!
Sunday - 35 mile bike ride
30 miles of 15 mph pace, and a 5 mile leisurely ride. I'm still having a little drama with the clip in shoes, but trying to work through it. And I didn't fall until the 5 mile ride, when I was standing still at an intersection. Only some minor bruising, a little road rash and a bruised ego. ;)
Monday - 1000M swim speed work, 20 mile bike ride
Nothing too noteworthy here, except I'm feeling better in the pool and it was friggin windy out.
Tuesday - 3 mile run speed work, 1000M swim
Increasing distance on the speed segments, and it's not totally killing me... yet!
Good week so far!
Perseverance
This post is another dedication to Patti, my favorite cousin.
I won't go on this time, however, about how awesome she is, because we already know that! But this time, I want to talk about her character. She's been struggling with a knee injury ALL winter. It has squashed many of her plans for the summer. HOWEVER, she moves on despite of this. She's always planning around and figuring out how to keep moving forward even though she's in pain.
In addition to all the physical qualities that athletes have like strength, endurance, agility, above all else, I believe perseverance is number one. This makes Patti a strong athlete.
Dictionary.com has the following definition of perseverance:
1. Steady persistence in a course of action, a purpose, a state, etc., esp. in spite of difficulties, obstacles, or discouragement.
—Synonyms 1. doggedness, steadfastness. Perseverance, persistence, tenacity, pertinacity imply resolute and unyielding holding on in following a course of action. Perseverance commonly suggests activity maintained in spite of difficulties or steadfast and long-continued application: Endurance and perseverance combined to win in the end. It is regularly used in a favorable sense. persistence in a belief; Tenacity, with the original meaning of adhesiveness, as of glue, is a dogged and determined holding on. Whether used literally or figuratively it has favorable implications: a bulldog quality of tenacity; the tenacity of one's memory. Pertinacity, unlike its related word, is used chiefly in an unfavorable sense, that of over insistent tenacity: the pertinacity of the social climber.
All of these things and more describe her tenacious nature, which I am learning through osmosis.
I won't go on this time, however, about how awesome she is, because we already know that! But this time, I want to talk about her character. She's been struggling with a knee injury ALL winter. It has squashed many of her plans for the summer. HOWEVER, she moves on despite of this. She's always planning around and figuring out how to keep moving forward even though she's in pain.
In addition to all the physical qualities that athletes have like strength, endurance, agility, above all else, I believe perseverance is number one. This makes Patti a strong athlete.
Dictionary.com has the following definition of perseverance:
1. Steady persistence in a course of action, a purpose, a state, etc., esp. in spite of difficulties, obstacles, or discouragement.
—Synonyms 1. doggedness, steadfastness. Perseverance, persistence, tenacity, pertinacity imply resolute and unyielding holding on in following a course of action. Perseverance commonly suggests activity maintained in spite of difficulties or steadfast and long-continued application: Endurance and perseverance combined to win in the end. It is regularly used in a favorable sense. persistence in a belief; Tenacity, with the original meaning of adhesiveness, as of glue, is a dogged and determined holding on. Whether used literally or figuratively it has favorable implications: a bulldog quality of tenacity; the tenacity of one's memory. Pertinacity, unlike its related word, is used chiefly in an unfavorable sense, that of over insistent tenacity: the pertinacity of the social climber.
All of these things and more describe her tenacious nature, which I am learning through osmosis.
Monday, April 28, 2008
Trial Tri
Today Tim and I did a trail triathalon with all of the distances of the upcoming June 1st triathlon at Hawk Island in East Lansing. I swam the 400 in about 11.5 mins, biked in about 30 mins, and run 3 miles in about 31 mins. I was pretty pleased that that. I still have four weeks and need to train harder, but I feel mostly ready and at this point so early in the game, that is a good thing! Our transitions were a little longer than they will be for real, but still, it was a great start!
Sunday, April 20, 2008
Spring has sprung
Well, we are having a glorious spring here in Michigan.
It is unseasonably warm, and that's ok with us who put up with a pretty harsh winter!
This past week has mostly been in the seventies, and I've been on my bike 5 days in a row. I haven't really hit it hard on the bike until today, because I'm still getting used to the damn clip-ins. The last few days have either been in the neighborhood only, or around some main roads not too far from the neighborhood. Today was the first day I didn't have a meltdown out of frustration of not being able to clip in or fall on my butt. So it was a good day. It was only a 12.5 mile bike, but we averaged about 17 mph, so that's a good start and we'll start kicking up the mileage and speed now that I'm getting comfortable.
Yay spring!
It is unseasonably warm, and that's ok with us who put up with a pretty harsh winter!
This past week has mostly been in the seventies, and I've been on my bike 5 days in a row. I haven't really hit it hard on the bike until today, because I'm still getting used to the damn clip-ins. The last few days have either been in the neighborhood only, or around some main roads not too far from the neighborhood. Today was the first day I didn't have a meltdown out of frustration of not being able to clip in or fall on my butt. So it was a good day. It was only a 12.5 mile bike, but we averaged about 17 mph, so that's a good start and we'll start kicking up the mileage and speed now that I'm getting comfortable.
Yay spring!
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
Mama's got a new pair of shoes
While I was on one of my trips, my wonderful husband went to REI and bought me some new biking shoes with coordinating new pedals.
Then when I was on another trip, my awesome husband (yes, the same guy) took my bike to the bike shop, got it tuned up and put the pedals on and put the clips on the shoes.
Today was the first day that I got a chance to try them out. I've been a little stressed out about them, because I have a fairly big fear of falling, and I don't love the idea of being physically attached to my bike.
So I went out into the grass to practice while my wonderful husband (still the same guy!) was inside eating and watching out the back door. I had a really hard time starting, because I was so afraid to fall. And guess what? It was no big deal!!! I did fall twice in the grass, but it wasn't that big of a deal. I even ventured out into the road a little. I think tomorrow we'll go out a little more in the neighborhood until I get really comfortable.
I'm so proud of overcoming my fears. :)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
