From Fat to Triathlete

Archive for January, 2012

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A Marathon + 19.3

January 31, 2012

janJanuary has come to a close, and I am proud to say that I did something (ran or walked) every day!  My mileage total for the month was 45.5 miles (which is equal to a marathon plus 19.3 miles).  I’m sure that’s a new high for me – EVER!

I’m still extremely excited about the Beach2Battleship.  I keep up with my countdown and even though 262 days seems like an eternity – it will be here before I know it!

My goals for February are to keep up with the running and to add in cycling and swimming.  I have to get new tubes for my bike tires and a swimming pass, which should happen next week.

Here are some January highlights (and lowlights)

  • Longest (distance) workout – 2.13 miles at a 19.4 min/mile pace
  • Fastest pace – 2.11 miles at a 19.0 min/mile pace
  • Longest (time) workout – 42 minutes
  • Slowest pace – 0.8 miles at a 37.3 min/mile pace – In my defense, this was my worst sick day and I just wanted to be in bed!  But I walked – slowly and not very far….but done!
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    I run, I ran, I am running

    January 30, 2012

    After fighting a cold for the last week, and not getting any running done, (I did walk every day….even when I didn’t want to) I decided that I had to get back into my training or I would be way behind.  So today, I ran.

    I could have used this today

    I could have used this today

    I didn’t go as far as I had been before I got sick, nor did I go as fast, but I did more running (and less walking) than I thought I would.  That’s why I’m choosing to call this workout a big success!

    The temperature was in the high 30′s, but after I get moving it’s not too cold, except for my feet.  These “toe shoes” are not built for warmth.  That said, I wouldn’t trade them for anything…even in the cold.  My long pants and sweatshirt are just perfect.

    The numbers – I ran/walked 1.8 miles in 38 minutes which is a 21 minute mile.  I really want to get that pace down to a 10 minute mile by the Ironman, but will be happy with a 12 minute mile.

    I have been doing some calculating in my head and am coming up with times that I would like to finish each leg of the triathlon in.  I’m even formulating my A, B and C goals.  I don’t think it’s too soon to start that, do you?  It keeps me motivated to keep going and pushing myself, so I doubt I’ll stop just yet.  Although, what does it say about me that I like doing math calculations in my head while I’m running?  I’m sure there is some deep psychological meaning to it all.  We’ll save that analysis for another day.

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    Rest Day

    January 24, 2012

    Since it is still early in my training, every other day is a rest day.  This will change in about 2 weeks, and I will only have 2 rest days a week, then as training progresses, that will drop to one.  On my rest days I don’t fully rest, I walk.  There are two reasons for this;

    1. It’s important for Wrigley and Marshall to go on  a walk each day, so I go for them.  Plus, I like spending time with them to start my day.
    2. I feel like if I don’t do something it will be easy for me to lose my momentum and I will quit all together.

    So, on rest days I walk.  Somewhere between 1.2 and 1.5 miles.  And I don’t walk fast.  Although, some days I wrestle with that decision.  I wonder if I should turn it into a “power walk”  and really expend the energy.  But then I think that defeats the purpose of  a rest day.  And I know I get faster as I get more in shape, but for now, I’m not pushing the fast on rest days.

    What do you think?  Should I turn my walk into more of a workout?  Or should i continue with my slower less taxing walks?  I’d be interested to hear different opinions.

    Today’s walk was 1.23 miles in 30 minutes.

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    Swimming in Caramel

    January 23, 2012

    Remember that commercial where everyone was swimming in caramel?  I don”t remember what it was for, but I do remember the noise made when the swimmers landed in the pool. (As an aside, i hate loud food noises…..)  ANYWAY, I did not go swimming today, but the second mile of my run did feel like I was running in caramel.  Everything felt slow and required way more effort than the first mile.  I did slog through it, walking more than I should have, but I got those two miles finished.

    I am still on my streak.  I’ve walked or run at least a mile every day in 2012.  My focus now is on getting faster, I’m trying not to stay at the same pace, but push myself to pick it up!

    Today’s workout was a 2.12 mile run/walk in 42 minutes.  My pace was a 19.5 min/mile.

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    Observations

    January 16, 2012

    quote

    Over the past few days I have made some observations regarding my training.  I think they are things that also spill over to life in general as well.

    1.  The most difficult training days are the rest days.  I am early in my training, and also still very excited about it.  And I see improvements almost every day.  My natural instinct is to want to build on those improvements quickly by pushing myself harder and harder.  I know in my head that this is not a good way to train, that it will cause burnout and injury; slowing down my improvements.  So, I rest.  I still get out and walk on these days, but it’s a slower, less-strenuous walk.   And it’s good for me and my training, I know it is.

    2.  I walk and run with my head down, looking at the ground.  It’s bad posture, and probably slows me down, but I spend a lot of time looking at my feet.  The other day I made a conscious effort to look up – at the world around me.  The first thing I noticed was that the moon was beautiful!  It also just improves my mood in general.

    3.  I have to give myself permission to have a bad training day.  I can’t have a ton of bad days, but it’s not going to kill me if I have a day where I’m not faster than the day before, or if I just don’t feel up to finishing my entire workout.  I can’t let one bad day ruin my entire week, or month.  I have to give myself permission to let it slide, and realize that tomorrow is another day to start fresh.

    4.  I don’t need my iPod to run anymore.  In fact, it’s more of a distraction then an aid.  It had been needing a battery change for some time now, and I finally found the charger and got it going again.  I used it twice, but just didn’t feel the same need to have it that I once did.  Which is a good thing!  I think it means that I am more comfortable with my thoughts and don’t need the distraction of some other noise.

    I’m not sure yet what can be concluded from these things, other than I can’t just go out on auto-pilot, do the mileage that I’m supposed to and come home.  There needs to be thought and effort in everything I do.  And I know that this is true for my life in general.  In fact, I have started another blog that will be focused on the changes I want to make in my life, including paying more attention to the world around me and not just shuffling through on automatic.  You can follow along with this blog at The Science Nerd

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    So Far, So Good

    January 5, 2012

    OK, so when I first typed the title of this blog, I typed “So Fat, So Good”.  Probably not the best title, although it does go along with what I’m trying to accomplish.

    I can honestly say I’ve been out running or walking every day this year.  Even yesterday, when the temperature was in the 20′s.  I also have my training schedule mapped out from now until October 20th, which is exciting to me.  I know things will come up and workouts will have to be moved or modified, but it’s nice to have a firm plan in place instead of just taking it as it goes.

    I still need to get to UNCW and get my swim pass.  I also need new tubes for my bike, but I built that into my training plan and am sticking with just running until Feb 15th.  That gives me time to build up a fitness base and also time to get things together to start biking and swimming.

    Now it’s time to get to work.  Don’t you wish we all could be like Wrigley after every workout?

    wrigley post workout

    Wrigley after a run

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