Ran 10 with Dan, Sarah, and Brenda today. I love running with Brenda because she has a Garmin so we always know exactly what distance we ran. Then again, it always seems to be less than what I thought.
No time to write more. We had great weather and good company - makes the miles go by so fast! Heading up to Eldora tomorrow with the kids for some more 'boarding. Then plan to ride like the wind on sunday (on my trainer of course!).
Friday, February 26, 2010
Thursday, February 25, 2010
I Thought I Liked Winter
I've always liked running in the winter. For some reason, the cold air feels refreshing to me. In fact, 35 degrees (with no wind) is my favorite running temperature.
Having lived in northern Maine for 3 years (where I trained for my first marathon), I've had the dubious pleasure of running in MUCH colder temps (like zero degrees).
This is me at Winter Park running with my hubby early in the morning in 5 degree tempterature. Not what I would prefer but it wasn't as bad as most people think.
But you know, come March, I'm tired of the cold and I start yearning for that first warm spring day when I can just throw on a pair of shorts and a singlet and head out the door....feeling the warm sun on my skin....ahhhhh, spring please hurry up!
So, what did I do this week? Not as much as I would have liked. Missed Master's swim Monday due to a malfunctioning alarm clock. This is not good. Rode my trainer for 30 mins on Tuesday - whoop-dee-do.
Swam on Weds and despite being way, way behind everyone else (not just way behind like Richard said I was last week), I felt good. Enjoyed the swim and wanted to do more but had to leave to get kids to school (those kids!). Got them to school and went for a very nice 5 mile run. Loved it. Totally lost myself in my ITunes.
Today I'm taking off because I basically didn't get my act together early enough but that's ok since I'll be running 10 miles with Dan tomorrow. Looking forward to that. Really want to get back to running more - yesterday I had that feeling like "gee I haven't done a regular weekday run in awhile".
I will lift today, however. Need to get stronger.
To prepare for tomorrow's run, I'll eat extra carbs today. Endurance athletes need 6 - 10 g/kg of carbohydrate each day. That's at least 400 g for most people. So I'll eat pasta tonight and snack on high carb foods throughout the day: dried fruit, fruit, yogurt, muffin, pretzels and/or pop corn (while watching the Olympics) and a certain hops-containing beverage.
Off to the races...
Sunday, February 21, 2010
Sunday Redemption
After sitting in a car for 4.5 hrs yesterday and then sitting on my butt watching the Olympics for 2 hrs last night (I'm totally hooked), I felt the need to exercise this morning. Nevermind the fact that all of my clothes are fitting a little too snug lately but that's another story.
Anyway, with 3 inches of fresh snow on the ground and more coming down, I decided not to run. Instead, I would ride my trainer. And btw, this is one of the advantages of being a multi-sport athlete: you have at least 3 different ways to get your training fix.
I was feeling pretty fiesty so I popped in Coach Troy Jacobson's Ride and Stride 10.0, one of my favorites. Its rated as extremely difficult which was perfect for how I was feeling.
But first I will a mention mistake I made in my nutrition this morning. I don't normally make nutrition mistakes because, well, I am a sports dietitian after all. I have a PhD in nutrition, for cryin' out loud. But even we "experts" screw up once in awhile.
And it wasn't really a nutrition mistake. It was a planning mistake. I ate my usual bowl of oatmeal (mixed with flax cereal, grape nuts, and reduced-fat granola) and thought I'd sit down with my son to listen to him read a book while I let my breakfast settle. My thought was that it would take awhile to digest so I might as well sit and read with him while my tummy does it's thing.
But the book was longer and harder than I thought, meaning that we sat for a very....long...time on the couch and I was itchin' to ride. I didn't want to say "sorry, Evan, mommy can't read with you, she has to ride her bike" so I pretended to be a good parent and patiently sat there while he read.
Then I hear a strange sound...it's my stomach growling. I'm hungry already which means I won't have a good ride. I always time my meals so that I ride or run when the food is digested and on it's merry way to the small intestine for absorption (you can actually feel that happening if you pay attention).
But food travels at different rates depending on what else is going on in the body. Suffice it to say that i should've rode much earlier - I was now going past the point of having plenty of fuel in my bloodstream for fast-moving muscles. ARRRGGGHH!
No big deal, right? Just ride later, right? No, I want to ride RIGHT NOW. So I did what any self-respecting Ironman trainee would do: I told my son that we would take a break so he could play the computer and I could, um, ride my bike.
It was a total win-win situation. He flew off the couch and raced to his room, promptly plopping himself in front of his computer to play a totally brainless video game. I raced off to get my bike gear on (envisioning his brain turning to total mush and his college scholarships going down the drain). But I had to do it now while I had the energy or else the day would be shot.
Long story short, I did the entire Ride and Stride workout and felt great. And lest you feel the need to chastise me for not finishing the book with my son, we DID finish it after lunch and he is now happily snowboarding over at the UNC hill. So there! It really was a win-win situation!
I share this story because I have a lot of women ask me how I train and be a mom at the same time. Well, it doesn't always work out the way I want it to, but most of the time I'm able to pull off both tasks fairly well. It comes down to planning ahead and simplifying your life so that you do have time for training (more on simplifying later). And to be honest, you have to "just do it" or it will never get done.
In other words, you have to prioritize your training (or exercise) fairly high. This may sound selfish but everyday I first think about when I will run/ride/swim/lift and then I plan my day around that time. I may not get all my housework done or all the phone calls made that I need to make, but those things have a way of working themselves out anyway. Just get the exercise done first and everything else will work out fine (most of the time). Really, it will!
Anyway, with 3 inches of fresh snow on the ground and more coming down, I decided not to run. Instead, I would ride my trainer. And btw, this is one of the advantages of being a multi-sport athlete: you have at least 3 different ways to get your training fix.
I was feeling pretty fiesty so I popped in Coach Troy Jacobson's Ride and Stride 10.0, one of my favorites. Its rated as extremely difficult which was perfect for how I was feeling.
But first I will a mention mistake I made in my nutrition this morning. I don't normally make nutrition mistakes because, well, I am a sports dietitian after all. I have a PhD in nutrition, for cryin' out loud. But even we "experts" screw up once in awhile.
And it wasn't really a nutrition mistake. It was a planning mistake. I ate my usual bowl of oatmeal (mixed with flax cereal, grape nuts, and reduced-fat granola) and thought I'd sit down with my son to listen to him read a book while I let my breakfast settle. My thought was that it would take awhile to digest so I might as well sit and read with him while my tummy does it's thing.
But the book was longer and harder than I thought, meaning that we sat for a very....long...time on the couch and I was itchin' to ride. I didn't want to say "sorry, Evan, mommy can't read with you, she has to ride her bike" so I pretended to be a good parent and patiently sat there while he read.
Then I hear a strange sound...it's my stomach growling. I'm hungry already which means I won't have a good ride. I always time my meals so that I ride or run when the food is digested and on it's merry way to the small intestine for absorption (you can actually feel that happening if you pay attention).
But food travels at different rates depending on what else is going on in the body. Suffice it to say that i should've rode much earlier - I was now going past the point of having plenty of fuel in my bloodstream for fast-moving muscles. ARRRGGGHH!
No big deal, right? Just ride later, right? No, I want to ride RIGHT NOW. So I did what any self-respecting Ironman trainee would do: I told my son that we would take a break so he could play the computer and I could, um, ride my bike.
It was a total win-win situation. He flew off the couch and raced to his room, promptly plopping himself in front of his computer to play a totally brainless video game. I raced off to get my bike gear on (envisioning his brain turning to total mush and his college scholarships going down the drain). But I had to do it now while I had the energy or else the day would be shot.
Long story short, I did the entire Ride and Stride workout and felt great. And lest you feel the need to chastise me for not finishing the book with my son, we DID finish it after lunch and he is now happily snowboarding over at the UNC hill. So there! It really was a win-win situation!
I share this story because I have a lot of women ask me how I train and be a mom at the same time. Well, it doesn't always work out the way I want it to, but most of the time I'm able to pull off both tasks fairly well. It comes down to planning ahead and simplifying your life so that you do have time for training (more on simplifying later). And to be honest, you have to "just do it" or it will never get done.
In other words, you have to prioritize your training (or exercise) fairly high. This may sound selfish but everyday I first think about when I will run/ride/swim/lift and then I plan my day around that time. I may not get all my housework done or all the phone calls made that I need to make, but those things have a way of working themselves out anyway. Just get the exercise done first and everything else will work out fine (most of the time). Really, it will!
Saturday, February 20, 2010
Kids Come First
Well, its Saturday and I didn't run today, first time in a very.....long....time. All my friends ran together today too (sniff, sniff). Where was I? Shleppin' my kids up to Eldora for snowboarding lessons, that's where!
My kids are good skiers but like every other red-blooded Colorado kid, once they saw snowboarding, skiing was history.
Kurt and I didn't get it at first. After all, we had skied with the kids for 3 years now and had a wonderful time together.
With a heavy sigh, we gave in and signed them up. But you can't learn snowboarding in just one lesson - it takes many lessons. Hence, the 6 week Trek program at Eldora.
So, no long run for me today. And I must admit, its hard giving up my long run. And I don't have to totally give it up - I can do it on Sunday but I missed running with the group. Its the only time I see most of my friends. But its ok, I had a good time with the kids.
So, a few notes on the last few days:
Weds, Feb. 17th
Short, sloppy 4 mile run after swimming...not great but I got 'er done.
Thursday, Feb. 18th.
Well, what a run I had that day! I didn't get my morning run in so I thought I'd take Daisy with me when I went to pick up the kids and run with her, while Kat was at WOW at tennis lessons (Evan went with Kurt to FC. When I left the house, it was partly sunny and 34 degrees. I wore my usual number of layers for mid-30 temps. By the time I got to Monfort, the temp had dropped 10 degrees! The wind picked up and it started snowing.
I dropped off K at tennis lessons and by then, it was downright freezing cold. The wind was fierce and it was snowing/sleeting steadily. Daisy was going crazy knowing that she was going for a run so I had to make a decision. Do I bag the run and watch K while staying warm and cozy or do I brave the wind and sleet for a good run with Daisy. I chose the latter.
We ran about 5 miles and I was frozen when I got back to the car. I had not dressed for the cold wind but decided to gut it out anyway. I ran Daisy behind Aims Community College and let her off the leash. That was fun! She zoomed all over the place like any respectable golden retriever puppy would do and I attempted a tempo run to keep warm.
But one thing I didn't think of...because the temperature had been warmer that day, there was a lot of mud. Daisy ran through as much of it as she could possibly find. When we got back to the car, she was soaked in mud, sleet, and snow. Lovely. I put her in the car pinching my nose already, knowing how much the car would stink when I came back.
Despite the bitter cold wind and the fact that my face was covered with sleet, I didn't care. I had a great run!
Friday, 2/21
45 min Spinerval workout - ooh la la! Felt great and really went for it. Felt so good I couldn't stop and did something that I have never done: made my kids 20 mins late for school! I just couldn't stop...shhh...don't tell anyone in the administration office at Monfort Elementary School!
My kids are good skiers but like every other red-blooded Colorado kid, once they saw snowboarding, skiing was history.
Kurt and I didn't get it at first. After all, we had skied with the kids for 3 years now and had a wonderful time together.
With a heavy sigh, we gave in and signed them up. But you can't learn snowboarding in just one lesson - it takes many lessons. Hence, the 6 week Trek program at Eldora.
So, no long run for me today. And I must admit, its hard giving up my long run. And I don't have to totally give it up - I can do it on Sunday but I missed running with the group. Its the only time I see most of my friends. But its ok, I had a good time with the kids.
So, a few notes on the last few days:
Weds, Feb. 17th
Short, sloppy 4 mile run after swimming...not great but I got 'er done.
Thursday, Feb. 18th.
Well, what a run I had that day! I didn't get my morning run in so I thought I'd take Daisy with me when I went to pick up the kids and run with her, while Kat was at WOW at tennis lessons (Evan went with Kurt to FC. When I left the house, it was partly sunny and 34 degrees. I wore my usual number of layers for mid-30 temps. By the time I got to Monfort, the temp had dropped 10 degrees! The wind picked up and it started snowing.
I dropped off K at tennis lessons and by then, it was downright freezing cold. The wind was fierce and it was snowing/sleeting steadily. Daisy was going crazy knowing that she was going for a run so I had to make a decision. Do I bag the run and watch K while staying warm and cozy or do I brave the wind and sleet for a good run with Daisy. I chose the latter.
We ran about 5 miles and I was frozen when I got back to the car. I had not dressed for the cold wind but decided to gut it out anyway. I ran Daisy behind Aims Community College and let her off the leash. That was fun! She zoomed all over the place like any respectable golden retriever puppy would do and I attempted a tempo run to keep warm.
But one thing I didn't think of...because the temperature had been warmer that day, there was a lot of mud. Daisy ran through as much of it as she could possibly find. When we got back to the car, she was soaked in mud, sleet, and snow. Lovely. I put her in the car pinching my nose already, knowing how much the car would stink when I came back.
Despite the bitter cold wind and the fact that my face was covered with sleet, I didn't care. I had a great run!
Friday, 2/21
45 min Spinerval workout - ooh la la! Felt great and really went for it. Felt so good I couldn't stop and did something that I have never done: made my kids 20 mins late for school! I just couldn't stop...shhh...don't tell anyone in the administration office at Monfort Elementary School!
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
National Lindsey Vonn Day
Ok, so there's no such thing (yet) but after hearing that she won the gold today, I think there should be. First American female to win an Olympic gold medal in women's downhill skiing. Plus, she's won the World Championships at least once. Enough reason for a holiday for me!
So, today I did Master's swim and again, I couldn't hang with the rest of the group. Richard tried to make me feel better (and he actually did) by commenting on how far I've come since I started Master's a year ago.
And he's right....I was whining about being way slower than the rest of the group and he said "yeah, but you used to be only way, way slower". So I guess I'm only way slower...not way, way slower...that's different!
Managed to eek out 6 150's but no time for more. Went home, got kids breakfast and took them to school, and went for a quick run. A short, not-so-great run but that's ok, it was better than nothing.
So, today I did Master's swim and again, I couldn't hang with the rest of the group. Richard tried to make me feel better (and he actually did) by commenting on how far I've come since I started Master's a year ago.
And he's right....I was whining about being way slower than the rest of the group and he said "yeah, but you used to be only way, way slower". So I guess I'm only way slower...not way, way slower...that's different!
Managed to eek out 6 150's but no time for more. Went home, got kids breakfast and took them to school, and went for a quick run. A short, not-so-great run but that's ok, it was better than nothing.
Monday, February 15, 2010
President's Day
But first, let's catch up from last week. Lots to write about. Here is a recap of my workouts:
Wednesday, 2/10:
Master's swim and 30 min Spinerval workout. That's all I remember, too long ago (this is what happens when you get old)
Thursday, 2/11:
Five mile run after dropping kids off at school. Felt tired and sluggish, wanted to stop at mile 3. Pushed through last 2 miles but it was not pretty. Strangely, I got really hot and did something I never do: took off my gloves. I also took off my base layer top but I do that frequently but I always keep my gloves on when the temp is below 40. But for some strange reason my hands got hot - really weird. The last 2 miles seemed like another 5 miles. Strange all the way around.
Friday, 2/12:
Day off and for the life of me, I don't remember why. Probably because I knew I was running long on Saturday. See, my memory is totally shot.
Saturday, 2/13:
11 mile run with friends (see pic above). This was a good/bad run. Good because I ran 11 frickin' miles with people I really like (and we laughed the entire way) but bad because well, I felt like crap. Started off good but could hardly finish. I was very sore and tired. Everyone else was fresh. Great. Me, the one who just did an Ironman in November (remember?), could hardly do 11 miles.
The other picture is pretty funny. We were out in the middle of nowhere on a dirt road that no one uses and guess what's out there? A hospital sign! That wouldn't be so funny if you didn't know that there isn't a hospital anywhere near that sign. NCMC is way, way far away. So we call this route "the hospital route".
And if you're not from Greeley you wouldn't know that there is a bitter rivalry between Greeley's hospital (NCMC) and the new one outside of Loveland (MCR). My husband works at NCMC and Brenda works at MCR so we had to get a shot of them pointing the way to "the hospital". Too funny.
Sunday, 2/14:
Two mile run with Daisy in bitter cold wind. I actually wanted to run farther but my kids were singing in church that morning and I didn't have time. Plus, Daisy had just eaten before we left and she stopped a lot so I cut it short.
And as I said above, today was Master's swim. I'm beginning to sound like a broken record here but gee wiz, will I ever catch up with my swim-mates??? I was so far behind today that half of them left before I finished the main set. I even started with fins!
I shared a lane with Kurt and HE was actually slower than me (for once). He got there late and didn't get to warm up so he was fairly slow. Cool. I out-swam someone and it was my husband. For once, I have bragging rights in this household.
This was the main set. Comments are welcome!
2 x 250
2 x 200
2 x 150
2 x 100
2 x 50
I did about a 500 yd warmup and then this main set. I liked it but wish I could swim with everyone else! Even Sarah who has been injured for 2 months blew me away.
But I redeemed myself on a fast tempo run 2 hrs later. Felt fantastic! Ran 40 mins, with 3 ten-minute surges, holding a near all-out pace. Woo hoo!
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
No Dog, No Love, No Joy...
Today was one of those days that it was hard to find time to exercise. I had a lot to do and a lot on my mind. I could've easily blown it off.
But not when you have a 1 yr old Golden Retriever puppy staring up at you with those big brown eyes...begging you to take her on a run.
So I did and it was great. I went at 5:00 PM, which is odd for me; I usually run in the morning but since I teach on Tuesday mornings, i couldn't go this morning. It was a nice change. The sun was heading over the horizon and the sky had that "dusky" look.
We ran through some neighborhoods and down to Sanborn Park. She did her usual "stopping" thing, where she stops and rolls on the snow, about 4 or 5 times. But I didn't care. I wasn't in any hurry.
There's just something special about running with your dog. It is the ultimate de-stresser. How can you not be happy running at a comfortable pace with a gorgeous dog trotting along beside you?
We only ran 30 mins but it was all I needed to unwind from a busy day. And judging from the way she is curled up by my side right now, I would say it was enough for her too.
Off to bed early tonight...tomorrow is Weds and I want to make Master's swim, which means getting up at 5:15. Too bad I can't take Daisy with me to the pool!
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