I apologize

Sorry it has been awhile since I have posted but it has been pretty busy with visitors around our house lately. I am happy to report that I have made both appointments with my trainer this week. Yay! Time to tell a trainer story... tonight she tells me that I am a joy to work with...lol. She tells me that I am the only person that she tells to do 5 more 10 more reps and I smile and laugh and then always give it my best. I figure why not smile and laugh... the workout is going to hurt even more if you don't. I didn't notice that I did that until she pointed it out. 

Pushup Challenge I have started over at the beginning. I needed a fresh start. This weekend a good group of friends is going to do the Maribelles 5K. I must say I am a little (lot) nervous about getting shin splints again. So I think I am just going to take it easy and try to beat my time from the Lunar run which I am hoping will not be too difficult since it was SLOW :). But my goal right now is just to get better so that I can improve my running for my triathlon in October and complete the 1/2 marathon in November. 

Slow Week

Been in sort of a funk this week. Haven't done any working out this week. I have just been tired and under the weather. I just can't seem to drag myself to the gym or even around the block this week. I have missed 2 meetings with my trainer cause I have felt rough. I am sure this week will put me behind but I will deal with that tomorrow when I make it to the gym.
This weekend I am going to focus on working on my 5K time. I have another race on Aug 2nd and am hoping to much improve my time and figure out what I need to do to prevent the shin splints. I am also going to make a goal to get on my bike trainer every day for atleast 20-30 minutes.
On the weight loss front I have not gained nor lost this week. I am static. (which is very surprising as I have eaten nothing but junk. I am just worried now that all that junk will show up on the scale next week).
This week has been so lazy I haven't even worked up a workout schedule. I still have last week's schedule posted.

Pedi from Heaven

I just had to share that I got the BEST pedicure. That was just what I needed. I have lovely new tips accented by a nice purple toe on the left foot. I didn't realize how purple that nail was until she removed the old polish. It wasn't purple when it got painted over a month ago. The massage on my feet and calves was absolutely glorious. Made me want to pay her to just keep rubbing out my sore calf muscles for another hour. Sitting in that wonderful chair with the kneeding back action was also a plus. Now all I need is to schedule a 1 hour full body massage and a nap and life will be good.

Holy Shin Splints Batman!

Ouch! The first mile of the 30th Annual Lunar Rendezvous run was pure torture. I stretched before the race...I did! I stretched the night before. I got up early stretched and rolled out every muscle in my legs. I even had the good doctor give me acupuncture on my knee again for good measure. I guess it could have been worse if I hadn't done all that. I was near tears that first mile. Ever single step hurt. I wanted to just stop and sit down but I kept telling myself, "They usually go away or calm down if you just keep walking, and you don't want to quit! People will be waiting to hear how you did. It is better to eek it out slowly than not to finish. It isn't like it is a 1/2 Marathon or anything." Those were all of the things running through my head. I am so glad that I brought my ipod, the music really helped. The hardest part in the beginning was watching lots of people pass me. I am competitive by nature and it hurts to get passed up. As my legs were screaming I was mentally saying to myself "I should be faster than that person!" Finally somewhere during mile 2 my pain started to ease and I started to get closer to a few of the people who had gone ahead. Special thanks go out to the lovely woman Susan who spent the last mile and half chatting with me. That really helped too. The last mile I walked the first part as fast as I could possibly go and then the last half mile I jogged/ran to the finish. My time was under an hour so I was happy with that being that in the beginning I didn't think I could finish. Overall I think it was a good race. I learned that I need to walk more outside. Before a race I should walk it out. (not sure how far or how much but maybe that will help) I need to stretch even more than before. I have a long way to go before I am ready for a 1/2 marathon. 

FYI : The race was onsite at JSC. It looped all the way around from the Space Center, went in front of our building, then around to near the main gates. It was a nice course around.  

Now I just have to get geared up to do another 5K in two weeks. 

Been Awhile

It has been awhile since I have participated in a 5K race. Lets just say that I am a little nervous. I know it will be HOT. It is Houston in the summer. I am just wondering how HOT! I know it wont be my best race. I am hoping to jog atleast a little, but how far will I get. I plan to use this as a starting point. As most people know I am not a runner. I have completed 2 sprint triathlons so far and the running portion by far is my worst of the 3 events. It is the part I dread the most because I am not good at it. On the same line it has been the part I have been working on the most. I dream that one day I will get up and take off on a run and enjoy the scenery and not feel the aches, pains and shortness of breath. My goal is to run a whole 5k the whole time and not need to walk. I want to be able to run a 10 min mile. Why am I thinking of all this now? I am nervous to see how tomorrow will go, but anxious to get it over with. You have to start somewhere. I am improving my running every day.... or every other day!

Knee Pain and a Pain in the A#%

Tuesday night my knee was killing me. I had the good doctor give me an acupuncture treatment, I soaked it in mineral salts and then put an ice pack on it. Woke up today better but still in pain. Had the good doctor give me another acupuncture treatment and was off to work. It started to feel better except walking up and down stairs. Ouch! After work I went by and got the good doctor to tape my knee before going to meet with the trainer. Boy did that help...hardly noticed the knee. It felt so much better.

On my schedule I was supposed to do 3 miles on the treadmill but with the knee I opted for 1 mile moderate walk while waiting for my turn with Nina. Didn't feel as bad as I was expecting. Nina had me work lots of upper body in prep for my 100 pushup challenge. She also helped me stretch out my leg muscles. (Thank you!!!)

Tonight after getting home from the gym the hubby and I set up the new bike trainer in the garage. Note: Our garage is as hot as Hades. The bike trainer is wonderful. It is quiet and an easy ride. If my arms weren't killing me from plank pushup hold and it wasn't so hot I probably would have enjoyed the ride more. Altogether I probably rode about 20 min. I believe for my knee getting the clips was a good thing. It helps me stay in the correct position. My feet don't care for them too much yet.

Now for the pain in the Booty part of my evening. Went to meet the trainer for 8pm. I drive up to the gym and start looking in my purse for my id card. Can't find it. It dawns on me that I left it in my swim bag at home. Instead of driving back home and being late I think...."They have a computer system I am sure they can just look me up and by now someone will recognize me right!" Get to the front desk it isn't one of the people I recognize. She holds out her hand for my card and I politely tell her I left it at home. She looks bothered. I tell her my first and last name. She spells both wrong and has to go back to retype them. Now she looks really bothered. She enters me and I say Thank you! She says to me in the most condescending tone "I would appreciate it if in the future you remember your card and also you need to bring a towel too!" At that point I wanted to jump over the desk and strangle her. Like I forgot my card on purpose just to ruin her day and if I didn't have an appointment with the trainer I probably would have drove home to go get it. I wanted to just walk out of there. Maybe I am overreacting but I don't need to be talked to by a teenager like I am a 2 year old. I realize I forgot my card. Now for the fun part this is a poll.... Should I bring her absolutely rude behavior up to gym management or just forget it.

To Swim or Not to Swim...

To swim or not to swim that was the question of the evening. We (Jodie, Bryan, Landon, Danny, Danny's Girly Friend, Max & Maddox) went to watch the Bay Area Toros play this evening. I had scheduled for the day to swim a little and do 15 min on the treadmill. My knee was starting to hurt a little bit so I was thinking of just doing the water work since I have a killer day scheduled for tomorrow. I haven't been in the pool in ages. Mind you I love to swim. I love the pool. I love laps. I love to race even more. I spent most of my young life either in the pool or around the pool. Swimming, however is not like biking or running, in that you have to prepare all your gear for it. This often keeps me from swimming. You have to get your suit, goggles, cap, flip flops, towel, swim ear drops, change of clothes, and any extra gear you want like kick boards, paddles etc. and get it all ready for the pool. I always feel like I am packing for a trip out of town when I go to the gym to swim. And then when you are finished you are wet... not just wet but chlorine wet. Which means a shower right away so you don't get crocodile skin or green, dry hair. So by now I bet you are wondering if I made it to the pool.

Yes!!! I did a good 30 min workout in the pool. I believe my day called for 8-12 laps. I doubled that atleast. Now I just need to get my hubby to put some needles in my knee before tomorrow and all will be well with the world. 

Mostly Over Monday

Today is mostly over. All I have left is to finish writing this entry, take a shower, set out clothes for tomorrow, watch a little bit of the Tour and hit the hay. 

At the gym this evening, I did 1 mile on the treadmill before the hour with Nina. We did a lot of CORE work this evening to build up some more strength for my Pushup Challenge. Then I finished up my evening at the gym with 2 more jog/walk miles on the treadmill. For the pushups I did 7, 7, 5, 4, 10. Glad that is over with. 

On the slimming down front, I haven't weighed this week but am hoping to see a little loss on the scale come Wednesday morning. I just wanted to mention that since starting Viv's weight loss challenge the beginning June I have lost 1/2 inch in both arms, 1 inch in my waist, 1 inch off my stomach, and a 1/2 inch off my thighs. So my 7 lb loss so far is not just water weight. I am really looking forward to getting back the athletic body I once had and keeping it. 

Migraines & Rest

Friday I woke up with the worst headache. Spent all day getting treatment and recovering. Absolutely no workout.
The rest of the weekend was pretty much spent resting, relaxing, cleaning and hanging out with friends.
Going to spend the afternoon making a new training plan that encompases all of the things I want to do in the next 6 months (5K, 10K, Triathlon, 1/2 Marathon and a Pushup Challenge). Should be interesting.

Pushup Challenge & the Trainer

So last night as usual for a Wednesday I met with Nina (my trainer). While working out I happened to mention the Pushup Challenge. So I am thinking she will have me do some pushups. No biggie cause I need to find out how many I start with. She has me do 2 sets of 15 pushups on the stability ball. OUCH!!! My second set was the fastest set of pushups she said she had ever seen. I just wanted them over with cause being on that ball was killer. We finished the hour once again working out just about every body part I have. Good workout but afterwards I was beat. I was planning to do some mileage after the workout but it was getting late and I was more tired than usual. I got in 1/2 mile on the treadmill afterwards and before the workout I had done 5 min on the rowing machine and about 15 min on the elliptical.
Believe it or not I am really looking forward to being able to do 100 pushups! Maybe by the time the I am through with the challenge I will be able to do some 1 arm pushups...lol

Change In Plans

Last night I got my 2 mile run in and 3 miles on the bike. I also finished my "clip in, clip out" practice on my new bike. I am getting a lot better. I am going to try to take the bike out this weekend. Wish me luck.
Had to reschedule with the trainer yesterday. She was under the weather. So I am going to try to make up the time Friday or Sunday. Not sure which or if either will work.
Ran into my next door neighbor at the gym last night. It surprised me to see a familiar face. I am still not used to seeing people out and about here. It isn't like back home where every place you go there is someone you know. He said his wife works out Tuesdays and Thursdays. Maybe I can see what kind of workout she does. It always helps to go with someone you know. You are more likely to make it even if you don't want to.

The 4th etc.

So much going on recently I don't know where to begin and I am sure that I will forget to mention something.
June is finished and July is here. Finished the Independence Weight Loss Challenge and lost a total of 10.5 lbs. I was 6th overall and scored two awesome pairs of Wigwam socks. I am so excited to try the socks. I love a good pair of socks. Jodie was 2nd overall. She kicked some serious butt. I know that she is low key about the whole thing but she worked really hard and did a super job. Nicole even though she wasn't in the challenge has been a real inspiration throughout. Her weight is just melting off and she is keeping it real. They have been a real rock to motivate me this last month. Also serious kudos to Viv for putting on an awesome challenge.

For the 4th we stayed close to home. We usually travel, but this year we decided we needed some time at home. We went to Jodie's for the 4th and had some awesome food. Over the holiday weekend I did a lot of eating out. I know my weight will be up this week from all of the food I enjoyed last week, but I am back on track this week. Between all of the events, my son being in quite a mood, and my mother visiting I didn't get a lot of working out done over the last couple of days. On one day I did get a 7 mile ride and a mile jog in but I don't remember whether that was Thursday or Friday. lol

One of the big highlights of my weekend was finally going out shopping for my new Tri Bike. After I raced in April I had come to the conclusion that I needed a new set of wheels. Love my hybrid Mountain bike but when people were zooming by me in the race and I was pumping my little legs harder than they were I knew it was time to move up to a faster set of wheels. I tried out 6 different bikes this weekend. I usually shop by color so actually shopping and not looking at the color was very hard. One of the cutest bikes was also the most uncomfortable. I settled on a Trek 2.1. I fell in love with the gear shifting... I usually go for black and red but this pretty silver and blue combo gives me a new reason to shop for accessories. The most amusing part of the trip to the bike store was my hubby and the sales guy talking me in to a set of clips and shoes. I know one day I will thank them, but right now having that new bike in my garage and not being able to just jump right on and ride off into the sunset is killer. I need to practice "clip in, clip out" until I am comfortable before I take my beauty out on the road or I could end up black and blue.

This week we start our next leg of the Friends challenge. It ends the end of the month which happens to be Jodie's anniversary. We are challenging ourselves to meet our own personal goal. So it is the percentage of your own goal that you reach. My goal for this month is 8 lbs. I am also going to do the 100 pushup challenge with Jodie & Nicole. I have also added some new events to my schedule. I am looking forward to a great month!

Gym Party

To get my son to go stay at our gym's daycare we told him from the beginning that he was going to a gym party. We figured if we told him it was a party he would want to go and wouldn't be as unsure of it. It worked beautifully. In the last 3-4 months I would say he has been @ 4 times. So we don't bring him often, usually my hubby watches him while I am at the gym. Today hubby had to work late so it was time for a trip to the gym party. He usually gets really excited and he really likes it. Today he tells me "I no want go to gym party! There are zombies at the gym party!" Me: "There are what at the gym party?" Son: " Zombies Mommy, There are zombies at the gym party!" LOL...As soon as we got there and he saw there was a cartoon on the big TV he took of running to go have fun at the gym party. So I guess the zombies didn't stick around.

While my son was at the gym party I worked out. I did 5 minutes on the rowing machine and then a 16 minute mile. I was going to bike but I went during a busy time and there were no bikes open. I then did an hour with my trainer Nina. Once again you name it we worked. I am soooo sore from working out Monday with her and then running for the last 4 or so days in a row.

My Own Ladder

Tonight I decided I would do 3 miles on the treadmill. Nothing major right. So when walking the first mile I decide I am going to try to get faster with each mile. Sort of like climbing a ladder. So the first mile I complete was a 20 min mile, the next one was a 17 min mile, and the last one....are you ready for this 12.45. I did each one faster than the previous and I smoked the last one. Well atleast for my non-runner self I smoked it. Total I ended up doing 3.2 miles just to make sure I got my 5K in.
I weigh my final time for Viv's challenge tomorrow. I didn't get to do it this morning. Not sure what the scale will say but I am very happy with the progress that I have made this month especially with a broken toe, a virus and a vacation. I had a lot to overcome and I believe that for myself I did a pretty good job. I didn't/wont win the challenge but I wont mind buying Jodie her mani/pedi for doing such a great job. I am really proud of all of us. Nicole, Jodie and I had a wonderful month. Now we just have to keep up the momentum!