Lunch Ride

I like that I can get away from the office for 30-45 minutes and RIDE. For the last couple of weeks I have noticed that being at work isn't all that bad after all. Today I kind of took it easy and went out toward Lakeshore Avenue and rode north to 119th Street then to 21st Avenue and back to work via 94th Street. It wasn't terribly long - just 6.75 miles - which is good because I didn't have anything for lunch and I used the extra time to go and get some junk Chinese Food at Safeway. I really wanted the salt! I could have made better choices, but really, it's Friday and I am happy that I actually made it to the end of the week and with my 4 workout for the week. I'll ride tomorrow and we run on Sunday!

Oh yeah - I'm still psyched!

Running going REALLY well...

I'm sure that my good runs (on the treadmill) will be shortlived...I'll be increasing the mileage to 3 miles this Sunday - my "long run" day. So with the increase on Sunday I'll be increasing my mileage on the treadmill. This should be interesting, I'm already pressed for time - we'll see how things go. Should be good though, I'm sorta following the plan by running when I'm supposed to, but not running the pace that is suggested. Although, it is a suggestion, so if I feel good I'm gonna push it! Looking forward to Sunday and hope to find a good route that has some interest so that we don't have to go to the track.

I don't know how often I can say that I'm psyched, but I am! Having the extra half hour at lunch really makes a difference in my whole day and I don't feel so surly when we have weirdos coming into the station with their weirdo questions blah blah blah. I am actually enjoying being around my co-workers!

Also, I have not had any big problems with my foot, so I'm 99% sure that my stress fracture is healed. My bunion is noticeable at times, but not too bad. For some reason my hip hasn't been bothering me - must have figured out that I'm not going to stop anytime soon ;)

Oh, yeah, so I went into the workout room and 3 of the guys were in there already with one of them on MY treadmill. Fortunately Devon was done and he took off so I took my position in the corner so I could keep an eye on the other two. It was all good, they kept to themselves and left me alone. They know what's good for them - I CAN be helpful if they need something. I got to watch yet another P90X workout. Man, that guy is CRAZY!

So, did I mention that I'm PSYCHED?

I gotta get my eyes checked

Yeah, so the other day I was looking at the training plan that I created thru runnersworld.com and I thought I had to increase my distance from 2 miles to 3 miles this week. After an even closer inspection this morning before I headed out to work I saw that I'll be doing that bit next week. So I have another easy week of running ahead of me and increasing on Sunday to 3 miles. Since I know I can run 3 miles that won't be a problem, but I think I might have a mental and physical block when I have to do 4 miles or more, which is coming...YIKES!

This is sort of a deja vu thing from when I was training to do a 5K last Spring. I was looking at my book and somehow misread what I was supposed to do and ended up doing all sorts of walking, which I thought was totally weird...read that week wrong also...

Sheesh, maybe I just need to learn how to read!

I love running... ;)

Rest Day

This was a full week as far as riding and running. 4 ride days and 3 run days...I get to rest today! The most fun day had to be Saturday and our ride with Mark & Robin. Robin and her new bike just adds some excitement...I LOVE IT!!!

Went to the track to run yesterday after the snow melted. Did a pretty easy 2 miles and it felt pretty good. After looking at the training plan, it looks like I'll be adding distance this week - so I better rest up good today.

Nutrition

For some reason I have been craving cake and donuts more in the last couple of weeks, more than during the holiday season. I have to admit that I did not see that coming...it has to be the exercise or maybe it is because I WAS so good during the holidays that I feel the need to celebrate. It has to be the fact that I'm training - dang it all!

I better go grocery shopping and get some healthy snacks!

Run-Ride-Run-Ride

This week I officially started my 10K training according the the plan that I printed up on runnersworld.com. On Tuesday while on the treadmill I felt pretty good so I went ahead and did the two miles that was on the plan. My time was just a little off, but I found that it was fun. Yes, it was the treadmill. The only GOOD thing about it is that I get a workout in the middle of the day. It's a really good feeling to MOVE. The only problem is after I'm done on the treadmill it takes a long time to cool down...a little too long sometimes. I need to rethink my outfits on my run days! Yesterday I was running around here with my short sleeve T-shirt while everyone else was wearing jackets and/or job shirts. When the temps outside start to warm up a bit I may switch to road running.

On my not running days I have the choice to rest or cross train so I ride and I know that I'll need to add strength training - at some point. Yesterday, another one of the guys who was off-duty was doing the P90X DVD workout - this was the second time that I have had to run while one of the guys was upstairs also...so far so good, they are both good guys and don't irritate me...I'm sure that will be short-lived. I'm thinking that WATCHING a DVD of strength training then I'll get some benefit...sort of not really...but that would be cool!

I was concerned about my foot and what would have been left of the stress-fracture, but all seems to be good. The only thing that I have noticed is that my foot hurts where my bunion is while I'm running - that is new, as far as a I can remember. It's not so bad that I want to stop, which may have been my problem late last summer when I probably had my stress fracture.

Among the many goals that I have, I want to run a 10K. Not necessarily a race or fun run, but at least the distance. My reasoning behind this is so that I know that I can run that distance, just for the sake of endurance. I'll have to run a 5K twice for the Du so why not train to run a 10K? I may have to revamp my goals list, but we'll see how thing go in a few months.

I'm REALLY taking it easy...or something like it...life is good baby!

Why I push myself

This week I was visiting with our LifePak Tech/Rep about cycling and my quest to train for a Duathlon. He seemed interested in hearing more about the du - I may have him hooked on the idea we'll see if he's at Blue Lake on June 13.

Anyway, we were discussing cycling in general and how we each enjoy riding so much and as often as possible. Then he asked why I decided to do a duathlon and I had to think about it for a second - my reply was pretty simple - to improve my physical condition, to push myself to do more on my bike and to run more. I set the goals to get better, simple as that. It has been quite a process getting to this point.

For a couple of years I spent a lot of time just riding my bike and enjoying the freedom that comes with it not to mention the health benefits. After a couple of years which coincided with the last two or three of my chemo treatments I decided I wanted to do organized events. Not to race or anything, but to get used to riding with other people and to watch other people handle their bikes in different situations. Okay, so I wasn't thinking that so much in the beginning, but that is what I ended up doing. Although, I know that it was an opportunity to push myself a little toward the end of my treatments, to feel better physically and to help me keep a good attitude with all the cancer stuff I had gone thru up to that point, which was the summer of 2005.

Another year or two go by and we are participating in more cycling events and logging lots of miles, but somehow it was not totally fulfilling - so I started bike commuting like crazy last summer. That was for two reason - 1. I'm not that much of a fan of driving. 2. Gas prices were getting out of hand. So 2008 was the year of the bike. Not only did we ride a lot I challenged myself to train for the Livestrong Challenge 5K that was at the end of June. Training for that started in the middle of March, not much time, but enough to realize that I quitting would be plan ol' stupid after putting in so much time into running, an activity I have not totally embraced yet. At the end of last cycling season I felt so good and it was the product of setting the goals and my aversion to driving that got me to that point.

Now that I was hooked I started thinking about a new goal and what we could do to better our physical condition and the idea for the Duathlon popped up and I immediately was excited. Even more so now since I have a few friends at work that will be participating as well which will make the event that much more fun!

So I ride a bike not just for the sake of riding anymore...I ride with purpose and with the determination to do better than the day before. There is nothing like a goal to really get your attention. The Duathlon is June 13 and ready or not I'm going to participate. Since this is my first Du, my goal this year is to just finish. Next year I will go for time...I'm psyched!

Gym at work

Until this week I have not taken much advantage of the workout area that we have at the station - but then I have not wanted to do something as crazy as a Duathlon before either. This week I ran on the treadmill a couple of times and rode the other two days. Today is a rest day, but mostly because we had a lot going on today and I wanted to devote my energy toward the church survey, errands and getting dinner ready for our friends later this evening.

ANYWAY - I like the fact that there is a workout area and it's mighty convenient to go and run during my lunch break and if I feel really ambitious I could even lift some weights. HA! I know I have to do that at some point, but I think I need to get comfortable with being up there in the first place...the fire station is such a manly place and sometimes it is hard being one of only a few women there. Especially where the "gym" in concerned. The other day one of the guys was up there when I arrived. Oh well, might as well make myself as much of a spectacle as he was - no big deal. I'll stay out of his way and vice-versa. I have to get over myself anyway...they know me and what my goals are...so all is well.

I'm getting psyched for the duathlon even though it is a ways off. I know that it will be here before I know it and whether I'm ready or not is another deal altogether. At least I will have worked at preparing for the day!

Working up to 10K training

This is my first week of getting back into a routine of sorts. The idea to rearrange my work schedule ever so slightly will work out until I can get out on the road and track during the daylight hours of DST this Spring.

The treadmill is a new beast for me - it's not bad, but it isn't that great either. I like that I can choose the pace I want to do though, so for impatient me, that is a good thing. With my riding I can't get much more than a 30 minute ride in so the mileage will be minimal until DST. I can't possibly go back to my trainer now...there is no way!

I have yet to start the actual training plan as I'm still starting up slowly so as not to reinjure my foot...stupid loser stress fracture. Although, my foot feels good after a what I have done this week - may step it up next week. Will also need to add strength training too...ugh.

Having a little workout time in the middle of my day has helped in keeping me more content - and that is a good thing for anyone who has to work with me!

It's training time!

Today is the first day of my training! I'm excited...I've got my running clothes ready to go - will get to work at 8:00 and then run the treadmill for 30 minutes or 2 miles, whichever comes first, during lunch and then back to my desk. I don't know why I didn't think of this before. Look out Blue Lake Duathlon here I come!

Moving Forward

Lately I have been feeling a bit frustrated - it's too dark to ride or run in the morning and when I get home from work. Riding on the trainer is not necessarily out of the question, but it doesn't seem worth it to go to where I have it set up. Winter is really slowing me down! Well, actually it's Standard Time - can't wait until DST starts again!

So, I have been thinking of a solution and while I was sitting at work watching the cyclists ride by it occurred to me that I start work at 8:30 and that it would be easy enough to start at 8:00 and take an hour lunch for my training/workouts. I didn't see too much of a problem with that plan so I I went to my supervisor to present my request and the purpose and starting next Tuesday I'll start my training plan for running a 10K. Also have the Duathlon to think about! Also, the Worst Day ride is just over a month away and I want to do the 40 mile route...that might be a lofty goal, but 18 miles just isn't enough of a ride anymore.

I'll have to figure out a place to store my bike at work since I plan to bring my Trek with me. I don't think that will be much of a problem. There are a few hiding places around the station.

This is exciting - I haven't felt this way in a long time.

I'm running!!!

Well, I'm not running a whole lot, but I'm back at it. So far so good with my foot, no new pain to speak of really. I have been thinking a lot about training and running and hopefully I'll be back on my bike soon, even if it is on the trainer. As much as I would like to ride to work, it's TOO dark and there are TOO many people in this area that do not like cyclists on the road. I get a little wary during the daylight hours!

It's time to start planning when I'll start riding my trainer - most likely won't happen until I start to train for real to get to a 10K distance. I can always use trainer time on my "rest" days for cross training.

Until then I'll be running a mile here and there just so I don't do more damage to my already damaged and slightly deformed foot!

Happy New Year - I'M BACK BABY!!

Tom and I did the First Run & Walk in Portland at Midnight. There were a ton of people which made the start a little slow, but it was a lot of fun! Totally had a good time...this was my first run, albeit short - 1.5 mi - since my visit to the podiatrist on December 16. Did a decent pace of 12.21, not bad for being mostly out of shape and not doing anything for the last couple of months. I need to start up slowly, low miles for a couple of weeks and incorporate the cycling in too. Hopefully in a couple two or three weeks I'll start training for the duathlon. I want to get to a 10K distance just for the sake of endurance. I'm starting to feel like things are looking up again, but the break was good. Needed to rest for sure. Rest is OVER!

I'm excited, gonna start up running again and probably hop on my trainer a few times. Need to get some miles in my legs for the 40 mile route of the Worst Day Ride in February!