In which I am transformed into a food product

so - so week so far - only one long run, almmost no bike work, and a few swims. Work has been SO stressful and making me tired, so my second workouts have been non-existent this week.



I got an email reminding me that the tri training class I signed up for 100 years ago starts this Sunday....and that I will need a wetsuit.



Okay.....



I went to a tri store recommended by several people on BT, and wound up with a Zoot Fuzion long sleeve. I managed to get it on pretty painlessly, although I sweat like a hooker in church with it on for even two minutes. It was on sale, too; even though it was more than I wanted to spend - and now I am broke - I was relieved that it fit.



But guess what?



I LOOK LIKE A BLOOD SAUSAGE with my wetsuit on. For crying out loud, how the heck am I going to wear this in front of other people, out of doors, and not be sighted by a bear hunter or mistaken for a circus performer? I have endured waaaay too much humiliation already, this has put me over the top. I mean really...have you SEEN a blood sausage? Enter Exhibit A:










<----- me in my wetsuit. (sigh)









I am going to bed. I'm depressed. I'm a broke blood sausage.

where did the month go?

May has positively flown by, and busted my ass in the process. Seriously, while I am so behind, I am doing so much physical work. Bootcamp is over for the month, and I will not be renewing for awhile so I can focus on swimming which .....

(drumroll please)

I started back on Friday! oooh, and it felt soo good. I am still slow, but I was able to do about 700 meters (maybe more, how DOES one keep count?) pretty neatly. I plan to spend the mornings I would have been in bootcamp in the pool.

I have made some progress! aside from the pool, I did a second timed mile at the end of bootcamp - the first one, my time was 10:33. My mile at the end of camp was 8:58!!!!! WOOHOO! someone play a rousing rendition of N.E.R.D's "She Wants To Move"...I can't believe it.

I got some Spinervals tapes for the bike trainer...it's helping to keep me from getting bored. Spin class has been packed lately and I missed the 8 am class yesterday ( on a holiday Sunday, spin class was maxed out. Heathens.) So I didnt get to have La Baker - but I did have the potato girl ( for her shape. Don't sleep - she is a killer) who proceeded to play so many of my secret favorites - Elton's " Funeral for a Friend" and Led Zep " The Ocean" and made me go harder, faster than I thought possible. That was really a breakthrough spin class for me, plus the first I have taken after spending so much time on the trainer. I did a brick - ran three miles afterwards and felt great.

I have been running regularly as well - increased the five milers to twice a week and drills/bricks otherwise. I am trying not to overdo it and adhere to the 10% rule. I just went and practically broke my middle toe yesterday ( I have mentioned how graceful I am right?) so I may not have a choice...

Next weekend starts a tri training class. Three hours long, we WILL swim bike and run each class (as per latest email) so COME PREPARED. ( insert psycho music )I have nothing to wear - I will probably need to at least pick up a trisuit this week, if not a wetsuit ( we will be doing open water swims and the lakes are still damn cold) UGH!

I haven't seen one design that will not make me look like an absolute freak.

I am also going to have my swim stroke videotaped - not that I will watch the tape myself but hopefully after paying my 10. the instructor will not be too horrified ...and maybe will give me some pointers (other than, "don't bother" LOLOLOL)

I am loving my diet mostly, even though I am still eating probably too much it is all CLEAN eating. Oh, I adore Ezekiel bread...leafy green mesculun salads ...and Greek organic yogurt...and blackberries, cantelope, mangoes....

shoot, its time to eat.

Managing

I had a pretty good run this morning, 5 miles. Very long for me, and at an unholy hour, but it was one of those mornings where the start is tense and rough and once my body got warmed up and into it, I felt great. I actually pushed myself a little on this one, and worked through the pain more than once. Not too bad.

I still feel as heavy as an ox moving. I am agile and graceful when I need to be otherwise but I feel like a huge CLOD running. It's interesting and somewhat psychotic that I was feeling so good about my size and fitness until I got into this tri training thing.

I'm still tired. The low barometric pressure and stress at work makes me tired and I am doing well with waking up at 4:30, but it is more difficult to make myself go to bed earlier at night. Hey normally I would go to bed around midnight or later. So this 11 pm stuff is killing me, and I really should be in bed by 10. HA!

I have also been informed that I should take off some weight to increase my chances of doing better in the water (haHA) and overall fitness.


More on that later, I guess. All this exercise does have me like a bear fresh out of hibernation scavenging for food, but the idea of dieting on top of everything else seems too overwhelming to me.

PUNK ASS RAIN

I love rainy days. I really do - always have. But rainy days and early morning workouts do not mix well. This is hard; all I want to do is sleep.

KILLER bootcamp workout on Monday morning. (Why do I sweat so much? Some people never sweat. I feel like slapping them. ) I went home and later did some speed running drills on the dreadmill (it's raining, remember?) I broke in my new sneax a bit and noticed that white hot tightness in my hamstrings and groin that are hallmarks of doing 2000 squats and lunges in 2 minutes. Super tight baby - too bad these muscles of steel are still swathed in chocolate jello. Oh well.

I planned to get up early and hit the pool, finally. At 4:30 am, I knew there was no way in creation that was gonna happen. The whole house overslept. I was so lethargic (and stiff!) I was late for my morning appointment. I put my gym bag in the car, planning to hit a hopefully empty pool for a few laps in the afternoon. The woman I met with was pissed that I was late, because she proceeded to talk for FOUR HOURS straight. I was so hungry leaving, and exhausted, and late - well, the pool was out of the question. Damn! I was so hungry when I got home I was nauseous.

ooooo, I am hurtin bad. Stiff as a board.

I will get on the trainer tonight...."long run" tomorrow (long for me anyway).

I see the tri in Syracuse has a swim clinic planned, and a training party - I am so jealous. Nothing here in NYC though. I want a swim clinic! Wah! I want someone to carry me to the empty pool and place me in the water, three times a week for an hour minimum!

Thats what I'm talkin about!

The Highs and Lows

This week I spent at a conference up in incredible Blue Mountain Lake. I plan and conduct this every year; and every year there are stories to tell. This one was no execption at all. We had a reception the first night at a nearby art center that featured an incredible band, Flame. We all snickered when we first saw them on stage - these are individuals with handicaps, some are mental and some physical. It was awkward to say the least. I steeled myself for the politically correct response to their performance. But hey - these guys truly rocked! They had us all singing along, sweaty, clapping, hooting and hollering (no there was no liquor involved). Kudos to Flame, a kickass band.

I managed to get out each morning into the chilly air and do a run on undulating roads. What a relief for these city lungs to get crisp Adirondack air. Once I get over the panic of the quietquietquiet I kinda zone out and hear the greensong of everything around me (thanks Orson!) and these runs were EASY.

Like, scary easy. Like - I usually am pushing it at 3.5 - 4 miles, and I did 6 and 4.5 and 3 (on hills!) and finished feeling energized?!

Love it. Mind you my knees are training for all city chorus right now. I need to work on my quad strength and GET IN THE POOL dammit. Ease up some of this creaking. Oh - and get new sneakers, my current Asics are beat and need a decent burial.

I came back mid week and hit bootcamp class the next morning even though I was flat out exhausted from traveling and being "on" for four days. Class was a 4.8 mile run which I did with another classmate and I didn't even need my headphones! As chilly as it was I am always a sweaty mess after exertion, my pants looking like I peed and my scarf so wet it is dripping down my shirt. Not one of my more admirable traits.

I was to return the next day to class and I could not move out of bed. I felt fine but was so tired. Saturday too, I took a two hour nap in the middle of the day(or fainted). I just don't do that sort of thing. It was delicious.

I managed to sit on the trainer a few nights and boy that seat hurts like hell. My omega three fatty ass is not making it any more comfortable for my ...uh...delicates. I'm sore for all the wrong reasons. Me no likey. I have to spend more time in the real saddle....apparently spin class is just pampering my booty.

I did a brick today after spin class - 2.5 miles on the treadmill. I felt great, but again I just generate so much water I felt that how I looked was making other people uncomfortable, probably wondering if they coudl move me when I passed out and hoping I didnt collapse in their general direction. Asses. My clothes were so wet when I was done it was difficult to get them off.

I am amazed at how much laundry I am generating, how much I just want to sleep, and how HUNGRY I am, like, always.

They are saying rain all week. Does not sound good for outdoor activity, but I will keep my fingers crossed.