#noexcusesapril

[makingitupeachday]

that made me smile

soooo....in my infinite wisdom i read the lap swim schedule wrong (2x) today.  i got all ready and went to the pool thinking that lap swim was at 6:15pm and it was actually water aerobics, then i read the schedule again and thought that lap swim was at 7pm. so i went up stairs in my long sleeve tech tee and my knee length yoga pants (with the polyester bathing suit underneath) and decided that since i have time i would do some sprint intervals on the treadmill.  i decided to do a 1/4 mile walking on an incline and then 1/4 mile at like 8:20min mile and repeat until i got way too hot to keep going - long sleeve shirt and bathing suit was just way too hot....i did make it 2miles though so that was good.  then i ran into T talked to him for a bit and went down with the pool - where i ran into T again.  now normally i am not one that gets all giddy when i am better at something than someone, cause we all have our strengths and weaknesses and that is how it is - but when you are a faster swimming than your trainer - i gotta say that is kinda sweet (this wan't the thing that made me really smile though).  i LOVE the pool, the pool makes me happy, i am at home in the pool and seriously could just keep swimming forever (if it weren't for that stupid 30min rule).  anywho, T said i was a really good swimmer and then when he got out of the pool and we chatted for a bit and he said he was proud of me for everything i've been doing and where i am going with everything (more than just the fitness stuff).  that seriously made me smile :) it was nice to hear from someone i look up to (yes i look up to my trainer and not just cause he is tall).

[makingitupeachday]

cold, cloudy and crappy

AGAIN!! i am so tired of being cold and wet.  we had the most wonderful weekend.  there was sunshine and it was so warm (ok fine like 60, but that is still warm) it is now 48, cloudy and raining some.  i long for sunshine and warmth.  i get like this every year in april/may and seattle really doesn't get "summer like" until after the 4th of July weekend - when it does it is the most stunningly wonderful beautiful place.  i just really want to ride my bike outside with bike shorts on - not with running tights under them and a couple of layers of shirts and my shoe covers and winter biking gloves...is that too much to ask?

on a separate note, spin class was great today! i didn't get called out for the cadence check, but still hit my numbers and then some ;)  i also got invited to do the RSVP (Ride Seattle to Vancouver and Party) with someones group in my spin class - i'm on the fence - it's 180 miles and my passport is expired (yes that is a small thing) i'm really focused on tri training and i'm not sure how adding in the bike milage will be - i mean it isn't going to hurt at all, but still it's a lot....i'm gonna think about it more.  oh, and this weekend i get to buy a new bike!!!!!!!!!!!

I am heavily leaning towards the Masi Vincere look how pretty :)

[sweatlife-blog]

The Mental Aspect of Fitness

While so many articles and experts talk about the physical part of fitness (which is obviously important) sometimes the 'mental game' gets brushed to the side. As I am training for this half marathon I can see just how important it is to be mentally strong. On some days my mental game is on point and nothing can stop me. On the other side some days 1 mile feels like 8 and I just don't know how I am ever going to do this. On long runs I try to stay focused on each mile as they come but not forgetting how far I actually am going to run. Take each mile as they are. Trust me this is anything but easy. So all you fitness competitors, runners, crossfitters, or just plain fitness lovers how to you stay focused? What is your mental game like?

[makingitupeachday]

goals and such

so as of this weekend i am 12 weeks out from chelanman (olympic distance tri) my last two olympic times are as such:

2010 - probably at close to my heaviest weight

swim: 37:22

t1: 7:24

bike: 1:52:58

t2: 5:12

run: 1:29:49

finish: 4:12:43

2011 - lost about 40lbs

swim 31:26

t1: 4:32

bike: 1:37:06

t2: 4:01

run: 1:19:50

finish: 3:36:52

i apparently nap in the transition area - i just emailed this all to T and told him that he needs to kick my ass as i want to crush my 2011 time! i believe it is possible.  i have more heart this year and that is a lot of it.  i am stronger and lighter - i have more muscle than i ever have had in my life. i have a great trainer who pushes me to where i think my limit is and then to my actual limit - which happens to be way further than where i think it is.

to be honest, i'm not sure how much time i can shave off of last years swim - it will be a slightly easier swim in that it will be in a lake not ocean and apparently it is clear enough that you can see the lines in-between the buoys so you don't have to site.  it is the bike and run (and transition) where the most time can be taken off.  i need to get faster on the run!! i need to run more!

i'm not putting in a time goal here as i need to keep that in my head - i have two though, but to be honest just less time will make me happy.

[makingitupeachday]

one glorious hour...

in the pool - there is something about being in the pool that once i get past the first 20minutes i just seem to zone out and it's like i am on autopilot.  i just keep swimming and swimming and time just keeps passing and then wham it's been an hour...i love the silence of the pool - i used to swim with music, but i stopped doing that and find that i really enjoy just zoning out.  i run without music now too, but i find that i can't get my mind to stop while i am out for a run, i am constantly thinking - but swimming, swimming it is like everything just stops and all that matters is the act of swimming.

it was a great swim, i can feel myself getting stronger and i am using my lats more and more on my stroke.  my stroke is also getting better which is super great, i am getting a pretty sweet glide that i can feel in the water.  since my pool at the gym only allows you to have 30minutes if there is someone waiting - i lucked out today that when i got out after my 30 minutes and re-signed up on the board i only had to wait about 30seconds for a lane to open up and bam i was back in the pool :)  i like it when things work out like that - it makes for a pretty awesome start to the day!

[makingitupeachday]

i can walk!

ok not that i thought i wouldn't be able to walk - but i was thinking that it was going to hurt like hell today and it doesn't!!! i am so happy i survived yesterday!

seriously the peak performance class workout was so hard.  back lunges with heavy weight - i always seem to get handed the heaviest in class - two 35lb dumbbells.  ok i did start with the 32.5lb ones on my own and all.  we did some fun kettle bell stuff - i kinda really like doing figure 8's they were easy even with the 20kg bell....and then it was onto circuit B - some crazy thing with a BOSU ball - more back lunges with lighter weight higher rep and a shoulder press and cycling oh cycling...by the way same instructor...fortunately i didn't get called out but when T said cadence check i might of shed a tear - it was so hard, especially when you do your first cadence check get 24 and then someone comes around and adds almost a full turn of tension and says great now go 4-6 higher - i gave it every ounce of strength and heart i had and hit 24 again :( that made me sad, but i tried and that is really all i can do.

today is a rest day - woohoo rest day!! i love you rest day, you are the best thing in the world - yeah rest day!! (i may or may not of danced a little in my chair while singing that in my head - yeah it happened :)

[makingitupeachday]

holy hell my legs are tired!

spin class this morning cadence ride and hills...guess who's ass got called out in the very beginning of class - yep, me!!

so i guess it is my own fault really, sit in the front, friends with the instructor, he's my personal trainer too (T) - right so the class...we started on a flat road, then added half a turn.  counted cadence - T goes Vicki what are you at i say 29 (that would haunt me) then he goes great now everyone whatever your cadence you need to do 10 higher and add some tension....ok well legs are still fresh, i can do this, damn i'm hungry, ugh...it's so early...one minute and now count cadence - vicki did you hit 10 higher? - yep - great, i'm checking in with you the entire class now.  we then did this three more times had to add tension then hold cadence at 8 higher, then add then 6 higher...I got all of them the first time...then hills....then back to cadence check - i got a bit smarter and added a tiny bit more tension and didn't hit 29 (but still 27) and every time i either hit it of was one off...the best time was when T goes vicki did you hit 10 higher and i said nope, i hit 11 ;)  it was a really tough class! made harder by my pride and being called out and that fact that i had to give whatever i had in me to hit that number - saying that i didn't hit it killed me, but i still gave it all i had on the times i hit the number, the times i missed by one and the times i passed it by one...and i guess that is what it is all about giving it your all :)

i'm really not sure how i am going to get through my peak performance class tonight with how my legs feel right now - but i'll manage and right now i am happy to be sitting :)

[makingitupeachday]

don't let go!!

i totally forgot to tell you guys that T totally hurt his finger during our work out yesterday - we were using the workout bands and he was holding onto a set and i had a set and he was like oh, i need to move back - she is getting stronger and for some reason he let go - don't ever let go of giant rubber bands under tension...so aside from scaring the shit out of me the handle whipped back at him and got his finger pretty good...it bruised up pretty quick - but seriously who let's go of a giant rubber band!!!  

anywho i checked in with him over email and he said all was good finger is still attached - but he said he loved my intensity yesterday during the work out - i told him i knew i was a badass...but i'm happy right now (remember that is the #1 goal for April) and apparently happiness for me brings me better workouts :)