April 2009
1 post
Morning Workouts
So I’ve been trying (along with my good friend Amy) to get to the gym at least five times a week. Sounds easy. Is NOT easy. The only way I feel I can really get that many workouts in is to go in the mornings before work, which means waking up no later than 6:30 am (which is very, very difficult for me).
This morning went well. I got to the gym just a little after 7 and managed to do 25 min...
November 2008
3 posts
the mind and muscles are willing but the lungs are...
Since forever, basically, (fine, when I was 3) I’ve been living my life with asthma. It was pretty lame. I couldn’t play soccer (something I desperately desired to do) and sometimes I had to take a “play break” if things were getting to rowdy and I was wheezing.
Last night, I went on my third run since moving to Chicago on October 3rd. It was cold out, but I had prepared...
cold weather garb log
from bottom to top:
shoes and socks (duh)
one pair leggings
one pair workout pants
tank top
thermal
t-shirt
sweatshirt
scarf
green bay packers winter hat
Brrrr! It's cold in here!
So, I can’t wait anymore. I need to go running.
I moved to Chicago awhile ago and I haven’t joined a gym for several reasons (upfront cost, laziness, etc); but I need to work out. I feel yuck.
It’s pretty cold out these days but I thought I’d see how running outside goes.
Any tips on staying warm in the cold??
October 2008
2 posts
chicago run edition numero duex
well, i tried it again. first day of work in a new job in a new city confirmed that, in fact, i will not be seeing nikki, anna, cambria or any of those other ny clowns any time soon.
also, my new supervisor was really busy and forgot to tell me things like who the clients were, where the printer was and, you know, most anything about what i’d be doing. i’m all for jumping right in...
3rd times the charm?
In the many weeks since my triathlon I have gone to the gym exactly 2 times. I’m happy to tell you my excuses for it; too many friend memories to make, too much packing to do, too many plans to execute before leaving NY and heading to Chicago.
But today I am going to try this again. I’m here now in Chicago. In one week I’ll be in my own place. I will have a job and a schedule....
August 2008
4 posts
only a few more days
it’s here! the week of the triathalon has arrived.
am i nervous? not too much yet.
but i will be!
i’ll do as much blogging as possible over the next few days
open water?
so! i got a chance to do a little open water swimming while i was in wisco this past weekend.
for those of you who know somo lake, this was an interesting experience.
for those of you who don’t: somo lake is super irony. not irony the literary device, iron-y as in filled with iron. it is very red. and very cold most of the time.
it was so dark and so cold it sort of freaked me out. i had...
too many days to count
next week! the tri is next week!
i’m not nervous yet, but i anticipate much nervousness.
today was my first AM training session since i went on vacation. i worked out tuesday, but after work and yesterday was a break day.
ugh! was i tired today. tired mind, tired legs. i actually woke up and said, “why is my alarm going off? it’s dark out.” it took a few minutes for the...
Day 64
schedule: 20 min swim, 30 min bike.
ugh! i forgot my goggles and swim cap this morning. i had to swim backstroke and head out of the water breast stroke. not the funest swim but good thing it was only 20 min.
the biking went well. i did it inside because i don’t have a bike lock for my bike yet so i can’t exactly take it places and leave it there. must purchase this when visitors...
day 60
schedule: 35 min run
i ran outside today.
it was hot and sticky.
my legs were tired.
I GOT MY BIKE TODAY!
July 2008
19 posts
day 57
i’m sorry guys. i HAVE been doing my work outs i just haven’t been blogging them.
last week was a rough one for me. my scheduled times were up and my energy was WAY down with a little crabbiness thrown in to the mix. this means i did my workouts but they were hard and i wasnt’ happy about it.
this monday morning however i woke up in a stellar mood. hopefully it will continue...
day 52
geez, i’ve been doing this for a long time!!
schedule: 25 min run
i have to say, this morning thing went from hard to easier and back to hard. i’m thinking it has to do with diet? but i’m not sure what to do better, must research this.
the triathlon is official a month away. from here the times get longer and i will, presumably, get more nervous.
running today was fine. i...
day 51
schedule: 25 min swim, 35 min run
i can definately see my minutes ramping up over the next few weeks. am i ready? we shall see.
this was a bit tough, particularly the running.
the swim was good though and after 25 min i wasn’t really ready to get out of the pool
the thing that is tough about these longer am workouts is that i start to get nervous i’ll be late for work. a...
day 50
this was also yesterday.
schedule: 35 min run
headed to the gym around 1pm, after having some late breakfast, and it was great! i had tons of energy and was able to really push myself. i ran 3 miles in the 35 min. my goal is that by the end of this training, i can run 4ish miles in 35 min. that i way i figure for the race when i’m tired and on my last leg, i will still be able to get...
day 49 (this was yesterday)
schedule: 30 min swim
i went to the pool at the responsible, post-brunch hour of 130. When i got there they said no lane would be available until 6pm!!!!!! stupid hot weather cramping my style.
it was very frustrating but i made a lane reservation, did errands, went home, took a nap and returned to the gym to do my swim.
the swim was fine. nothing special, not too hard.
it was crowded tho...
day 46 and 47
day 46 sched: 35 min run
day 47 sched: 50 min bike
whew! this is an intense week! My legs and muscles are definately feeling the strain. i think i’m going to take tomorrow off instead of Saturday and let my legs rest.
The run yesterday was hard. I’m not sure what happened but by the end of it I was exhausted. I think running that much on an empty stomach had a lot to do with it. I...
yogarific
went to yoga tonight. had a great great instructor who vacillated comfortably between serious yoga guy and silly real life guy.
it was a lot of hard work but by the end i was so relaxed and satisfied.
i decided to take the day off that i’m given tomorrow and do individual weight training later in the week.
talk to you on wednesday!
day 45
schedule: 25 min swim, 35 min bike
I actually did these in reverse order today. I know to practice for “game” day i should have done it in the correct order, but its just much easier to bike first and then swim.
The bike went pretty well today and in 35 min I was less that 4 miles shy of the 17.5 miles I will be biking the day of (how long all this will take me is constantly in...
day 44
schedule: 25 min bike
working hard to get back on schedule here. today i did this.
also, my trip to the gym was accompanied by a special guest, JOE! he worked out in the weight room with the other boys (scary!) while i rode my bike.
i am pretty satisfied with today’s effort. i didn’t bring a book and i didn’t watch tv. i listened to my music and concentrated on what i was...
day 42
schedule: 20 min run
actual: 25 min bike
i’m all messed up this week. mainly due to the fact that i didn’t bother to look at my schedule before hopping off to the gym
ah, well. the 25 min on the bike was good this morning even if the memory of the day i slept in is haunting and tempting me like sugar tempts a fly.
i’m supposed to work out tomorrow too. we’ll see cuz...
day 40 and 41
day 41 sched
sched: 25 min bike
actual: 30 min run
for some reason i was convinced i was running today. tough run today, i was hung over. and for some reason i had a very sore left calf muscle.
i just ran and got it over with.
yesterday i biked. it was great. but not as good as biking will be when i get my bike next week!!
it's all happening!
eeps! just got my 6 weeks till the tri email!
excitement.
day 39
schedule: off
actual: 45 min strength class at the gym
since this was the second class i went to it went a lot better, mainly because i knew what was coming, sort of and so it didn’t seem to go on forever and ever.
i really hope this helps me get stronger and more toned and what not, however, i will still have to do some sit up type action. this class definately doesn’t do enough of...
day 38
schedule: 15 min run (last day of rest week!)
today was easy! 15 min? pft. (said the overconfident girl). actually yesterday i got home from the beach (read: feeding fest) and was so compelled to work out i basically dropped my bags, changed and hit the gym!
yesterday was better than today. i actually really don’t like going to the gym in the am. i’m tired. it takes me about 20 min...
day 35 happy birthday america!
schedule: 15 min run
15 min?! that’s it?! amazing. i’m in new jersey right now, staying with a friend. this meant i had to run outside, in an area that I dont’ know very well. It worked out just fine, 15 min is not very long to run and also my friend here lives on a cul-de-sac. it made it pretty difficult for me to get lost.
it was also nice to run outside. i didn’t...
day 34
schedule: 25 min bike
this is a testimony, as stated above, of my battle to get in shape for a triathalon in the face of things i love, like beer.
i would say that last night, beer won. and so did nyc as i was out wayyyy past this girl’s bedtime for school night
so this morning there was quite a fight going on in my groggy mind: to get up and bike or not to get up and bike.
i’m...
day 33
schedule: 20 min swim
i love rest week! 20 min in the pool feels like i haven’t barely gotten wet!
also, since i’ve been doing basically all of this training in the morning, my body has finally adjusted (aided by the fact that at 6am it is actually sunny) so today i woke up just as my alarm was about to go off. it was perfect.
my arms and legs were a <i> little</i> sore...
day 32
schedule: off!
actual: 30 min strength training class at nysc
i’ve been saying for a while that i wanted to do more strength training. after a month of little to no measurable activity, i decided i was lacking confidence and motivation on the subject.
i decided to go to this class to kickstart my efforts.
OH BOY.
at the end of class going Down stairs was hard and lifting my arms to...
June 2008
18 posts
day 31 REST WEEK!
schedule: 15 min run
Every Monday for the past 4 weeks I have been at the pool and on the treadmill or bike. Imagine my surprise when, after packing up my bag, I looked at my schedule and saw “15 min run” in the box where “25 min run, 20 min swim” or something usually stood. In short, I LOVE REST WEEK.
I decided to try and make the most of my 15 minutes so I actually...
day 28
ah! friday!!
i got to the pool and it was EMPTY!! woo!
then 1/2 way through someone decided they need to share with me! gurg!
but swimming was really good today. i tried to push myself a little. also, i had been really crabby and worn out from the week when i went in and i was so happy and chipper by the time i left.
swimming is so good.
day 25
schedule: 30 min bike
the fact that i have had no break since sunday is taking it’s toll.
plus we had trivia last night.
i am exhausted.
funnily enough just last night we were discussing the hierarchy of stationary biking
hardcore: cycling class
mediocre:upright bike
lazy: “recliner” bike
can you guess which one i chose today?
ah well, maybe a bit of a pointless workout...
day 24
schedule: 25 min run
running is definitely getting easier which i totally love. its so nice to feel the results of your work and being able to increase the pace on the treadmill is so satisfying!
i’ve been having a hard time getting up. it’s sunny. i have weird dreams. it’s weird.
but boy i’m looking forward to having a day off.
day 23
schedule: 30 min run
Today’s work out was left over from last week/weekend’s chaos. I sort of wish I could sleep instead.
I’m really glad that I’ve made myself get up and go to the gym every morning and I hope the morning never comes where I let myself sleep in. That will be the beginning of the end of successful training.
I think I owe my success to two things. 1. my...
day 22
schedule: 25 min swim, 30 min bike
weekly weigh in 159 :( no change
skipped workouts this whole weekend. well, not skipped perse, readjusted.
on saturday i actually really wished i could go running, which is odd because it was pretty sunny and hot in dc.
the workout went fine this morning and i got to work in plenty of time.
i feel like i don’t have very much interesting to say about...
Day 19
Revised Schedule: 45 min bike
Clearly this is longer than I would usually work out on a school (read: work) morning. I’ve changed up the schedule because I’m going to DC this weekend and while I did consider running on Sunday in DC(now decided against it) I knew I would not have a bike.
I was too tired to even think about being tired this morning and its a good thing I packed for DC...
Day 18
Schedule: 25 min swim
Slooow to wake up today.
The pool was crowded when I got there. I had to swim in the lane with the ladder in it. Against the ladder with this “I’m Super Into Swimming” guy. It wasn’t cool.
I switched lanes asap and it was MUCH better. I started thinking about the way I’m swimming. When I started, I mainly just wanted to get back in the pool,...
Day 17
schedule: 25 min run
omg! i woke up today bright-eyed and bushy tailed to a sunny bedroom and a 5:50 alarm. that almost never happens.
my run felt good and i ran the whole 25 minutes without groaning or moaning. it’s hard to tell if this is because of the way i woke up or the training paying off. honestly, does it matter? nope!
i did some quick stretches and headed home to get out the...
day 15, ugh monday
schedule: 20 min swim, 30 min bike
weekly weigh in: 159
ugh, getting up this morning was horrible. i wanted to sleep forever. my weekends are never as recharging as they are draining.
on the bike this morning my legs were exhausted from the 45 min i did yesterday but i’m reading stephen king’s on writing so i had ample distraction.
the water in the pool was super cloudy and gross.
...
day 12
schedule: 35 min swim
i love swimming!! what a good way to start off the day!
not a good way to start off the day? being too tired to actually get up. i had a lot of work to do today and wanted to get in early and get stuff done before everyone got in which means getting my workout in early.
it didn’t exactly work as expected but, oh well! what can you do?
i had a lot of fun in the pool,...
day 11
scheduled: 25 min run
whew! i knew there would be tough days but i didn’t expect them to come so soon!
i slept in today because i knew i would have time after work to go to the gym. its the first time in 2 weeks (TWO WEEKS) i haven’t had a social engagement planned for after work. it’s been a fun two weeks but i was looking forward to getting back on my schedule today.
...
day 10
schedule: 30 min bike
sooooooooo hard to get up this morning. it was finally cool in my room due to the newly rediscovered oscillating fan and the delightful rain last night.
i just wanted to stay and sleep in the cool.
instead i got up and went to the gym. the biking was okay but i was reading the whole time (on writing by stephen king lent to me by my good friend anna) i only went about 10...
day nine
schedule: 25 min bike, 20 min swim
monday morning weigh in: 160
uuuuuuuugh it was so hard to get up this morning. especially after the tumblr meet up last night! but i forced myself (the terrifying thought that i won’t be prepared come aug 24th is a surprising motivator). also, it was hot and sticky in my room, not ideal at all!
i sat on a low bike today rather than an upright one. i...
day 8
i really enjoy that i have a schedule that allows me two days off a week.
usually i try to go to the gym every day knowing that i will fail in that attempt at least twice but with two included days off i don’t have to feel guilty!
also, i left a sunday night party earlish to be able to get up and go to the gym tomorrow. i think that’s pretty good!!
happy sunday!
day 7
scheduled: 45 min biking
switched the sched around a little bit. 45 min at the gym on a sunday would srrsly compromise my brunch schedule. it’s very important that remains.
got to bed by 2 last night (early!) so it wasn’t too hard to get up and get my workout done before noon. i can’t seem to truely figure out the bikes at the gym and so i never feel that i’m doing it...
day 6 FRIDAY
schedule: 30 min swim
it was hard getting up this am. but the swimming went fine. i had to share a lane with a bear. see katherinemarie.tumblr.com
ate a pb and j on the way to the gym which was good cuz i wasn’t hungry during the swim.
not much else to report. getting to the gym on sunday is going to be HARD.
need to fig how to put a calendar of my training schedule on this site.
Day 4
According to the schedule: 20 min run
Hopes: 20 minutes, all running
Weigh In: 163
Acheived? 17 minutes all running above 5 on treadmill (not too bad!)
I made the hard, and very uncharacteristic, decision last night to only go to one bar and not continue drinking. I think knowing I had to get up and work out (where usually I would just excuse myself for the day) had a lot to do with it....