I'm a Rockstar

This was told to me by my friend Jo, when I told her I'd be late to help her pack on Sunday, due to my triathlon training. This is from the girl who ran the LA marathon 2 years ago. She's yet another inspiration to me. And for more than just the marathon.

Jo has been accepted into a Master's program on the other side of the country. She will be earning 2 master's degree in about 2 years. It's a huge deal and I'm sending her a shout out on a blog she may not read. I love all my friends, so I thought I'd tell everyone about it.

On to me. I had my first swim training ever on Sunday. We were in the pool for about 75 minutes, but I'd say only 60 of them were actual swimming. We did drills, used a buoy to not kick, and we tried to remember to exhale completely in the water, steal air from our armpit and open our eyes under water.

That last one was just me. Well, I think it was. I've never worn goggles before, so I kept closing my eyes. I'll have to learn to trust them at some point. Oh, and I learned how to put on a swim cap, another first. Apparently standing in the pool, or swimming with your head above water isn't really swimming.

I felt really good about the work out. My body was sore later, but not right after I got out of the pool and not sore like I was over exerted, just sore like I had not really used muscles like that.

I'm excited for my next pool session. It's Wednesday with the training group, and I planned my swim "homework" for Friday evening or Saturday morning.

Just Like Riding a Bike

I rode an actual bike for the first time in about 3 years today. I figured if it was going to be part of the trilogy of activities I'm going to do to complete the triathlon, I should make sure I didn't have to relearn it.
They are right, it did all come back. I didn't fall once. I did have my helmet on, though. Just in case. I rode around my neighborhood. I didn't want to get too far away from home in case I got a flat, or the chain busted due to lack of use.

It was uneventful, except when I decided to leave the neighborhood. This is done via a very large hill. You go down the hill to get to the main road. You have to pump your legs to get yourself up that very same hill. I think I stopped twice in that little more than an eight of a mile.

Swimming is all I have left to try. That's our work out on Sunday. I'm going to get in a bathing suit for the first time in 40 lbs. Well, not the first time, maybe the second time. I hadn't gone swimsuit shopping in 40 lbs. It was a stressful experience, but I found something that could be used as a training suit. It's not one that I'd just wear to hang out at the pool or beach in, but it's functional.

Oh, and I have 6 miles on tap for Saturday.

Wish me luck!

Get Over Yourself, Chickie

This is what my friend Viv told me as I was lamenting over my first group training with TriDivas.

Guess what, I did and it was fun. I don't train like that. Well, I guess I don't really "train". I follow a training program, but it's just mileage. Run 4 miles Monday, 2 Tuesday, etc.

Today I ran at a lap at a conversational pace, then two at an aerobic pace, then my fastest mile (possibly ever) 10:05 or 10:15, I know it had a 5, and sprinted up the straights and walked the curves twice, then ran 2 more aerobic laps and cooled down, stretched and left.

There was a brief intro into the training and how it would be structured. At the end there was a Q&A that reminded me I should eat something when I got home, not just go to bed.

I wasn't in the front of the pack but I wasn't in the back, either. I think I was in the middle, although no one really ran close to my pace and the faster runners were too fast for me to keep up. I'll have to work on that.

All in all it was awesome. I don't think I'd have the gumption to train interval type stuff on my own. Also, I did get chided on my form for being one of the "runners" in the group. But I knew that would be coming. My form isn't the best. I need to work on controlling my arms.