Woo! After my grumbling, I've managed to get back on the proverbial wagon (horse?) and work out the past two days. Still no more pool time, but I'll get to that - I think I need to get me a lesson somehow.
In any case, I was a crazy machine tonight - I was at the gym for 195 minutes (that's right, 3hrs 15min), being a machine. I officially got there at 4ish to get a parking spot (can't get anywhere near the place at 5pm) and, after arriving, was fortunate enough to snag an elliptical. True, ellipticals aren't technically tri-specific, but I figure building my cardio endurance up is also good. After 25 minutes on there, I stretched out (been forcing myself to get back into that before i injure myself) and did this foam roller thingy one of the trainers showed me to stretch out my thigh muscles. At this point, I was extremely fortunate enough to snag one of the GOOD treadmills, so hopped on there for 12 minutes (3 cooldown) at 5.7 mph (last two minutes were at 6 and 6.5 mph, respectively). Usually the ol' lungs can only do about 7 minutes, so this was a good improvement. :)
After that I took two aerobics classes with one of the trainers (talked her into staying through the entire 24tease and she convinced me to stay through turbo kick boxing) then contined on to do upper body weight work (ugh, pathetic) and a 12 minute cooldown on one of the recumbent bikes (level 6 random). All in all, I hope I didn't overdo it too much and will be good and take my cardio easy tomorrow.
Monday, January 29, 2007
Saturday, January 27, 2007
*grumbles*
Figures, I start a blog about triathlon training progress and I haven't been able to work out in two days. *sigh* ...
Thursday, January 25, 2007
The psychology behind Amber's decision to "tri it."
The Breast Cancer component:
So, basically I have always supported causes that benefit breast cancer awareness and research. Two of my great-grandmothers (my dad's and my mom's maternal grandmothers) had breast cancer and had to have mastectomies as a result. Knowing that I'm at a higher risk for developing breast cancer has led me to support this cause any time I have the chance.
I also saw a vibrant, gorgeous and energetic young woman on The Today show one time who was diagnosed with breast cancer when she was only 27 years old. Her soul had so much life left... in fact, she found out that she had cancer when she went in for an appointment with her Ob/gyn to ask about pre-natal vitamins as she and her husband were trying to conceive their first child. So sad. She wrote a book detailing the trials and tribulations she experienced with the aggressive medical treatments she endured, and I immediately ordered it from Amazon and read it out of curiousity. It was fabulous, highly recommend it: "Why I Wore Lipstick to my Mastectomy" by Geralyn Lucas. It really opened my eyes to the degree of physical, emotional, and spiritual suffering that women with breast cancer experience as they fight this disease, which more or less maims the essence of their womanhood. Thus, I'm a big fan of supporting the cause to find a cure. I hope I never have to fight this awful battle.
The Triathlon/athletic component:
I've done the Race for the Cure (5K) for several years, but I've always had my eye on the July and August triathlons (Danskin and Tri for the Cure, both of which benefit breast cancer foundations). I actually heard about the Danskin triathlon first, when I worked at Nordstrom two years ago, because they were a sponsor. That's when my "wheels" started turning. Then, last year I heard about the Tri for the Cure, and read more about it. I also started to run across more and more women who had participated in either or both of these triathlons in recent years. All of the coincidences I was experiencing and signs that I was receiving were pointing me toward participating in one of these triathlons. Thus, my interest in doing so has been growing exponentially over the past couple years.
However, since I started college I've been somewhat of an "off and on" athlete. Working out rather inconsistently for the past five years, I now find it difficult to motivate myself to maintain a suitable fitness level for any considerable amount of time. In high school, I was a member of the JV swim team and Varsity tennis team, and I looked forward to my daily workouts. Mainly because I was a member of a team where I had coaches and teammates who pushed, encouraged, and depended on me. The structured and mandatory practices didn't hurt much, either.
So, although I have been feeling empowered about the idea of competing in a sprint triathlon for several years now, I haven't been able to muster the motivation to do it alone. I've tried to recruit friends to train and compete with me, but hadn't been able to find anybody to rally. Then, last week I saw on Theresa's away message that she was beginning to train for the Tri for the Cure with Genevieve. I was ecstatic that these fellow civic-minded St. Mary's alumns of mine were taking the plunge, so I asked T if I could join them and here I am/we are! : )
On a personal level, I've been dying to get back in shape after putting on 15 lbs last spring/ summer when I had a difficult four-month bout with MONO. My energy has been significantly lower than normal and has been increasing at a dishearteningly slow rate since last summer. I know it will be a rough and demanding journey from the point I'm at now until the finish line of a triathlon, but I'm confident with all of my heart that I can do it. I am so grateful for the opportunity to train for what will be such a significant physical accomplishment, and one that benefits the social cause that is nearest and dearest to my heart. To have an opportunity to join my long-lost and recently re-discovered high school friends throughout this six-month process of mental and physical pain, growth, strength and endurance is just fabulous. I couldn't be more excited for what's to come! (Even if that is a 1/2 mile swim, 12.4 mile bike race, and 3.1 mile run...)
: )
So, basically I have always supported causes that benefit breast cancer awareness and research. Two of my great-grandmothers (my dad's and my mom's maternal grandmothers) had breast cancer and had to have mastectomies as a result. Knowing that I'm at a higher risk for developing breast cancer has led me to support this cause any time I have the chance.
I also saw a vibrant, gorgeous and energetic young woman on The Today show one time who was diagnosed with breast cancer when she was only 27 years old. Her soul had so much life left... in fact, she found out that she had cancer when she went in for an appointment with her Ob/gyn to ask about pre-natal vitamins as she and her husband were trying to conceive their first child. So sad. She wrote a book detailing the trials and tribulations she experienced with the aggressive medical treatments she endured, and I immediately ordered it from Amazon and read it out of curiousity. It was fabulous, highly recommend it: "Why I Wore Lipstick to my Mastectomy" by Geralyn Lucas. It really opened my eyes to the degree of physical, emotional, and spiritual suffering that women with breast cancer experience as they fight this disease, which more or less maims the essence of their womanhood. Thus, I'm a big fan of supporting the cause to find a cure. I hope I never have to fight this awful battle.
The Triathlon/athletic component:
I've done the Race for the Cure (5K) for several years, but I've always had my eye on the July and August triathlons (Danskin and Tri for the Cure, both of which benefit breast cancer foundations). I actually heard about the Danskin triathlon first, when I worked at Nordstrom two years ago, because they were a sponsor. That's when my "wheels" started turning. Then, last year I heard about the Tri for the Cure, and read more about it. I also started to run across more and more women who had participated in either or both of these triathlons in recent years. All of the coincidences I was experiencing and signs that I was receiving were pointing me toward participating in one of these triathlons. Thus, my interest in doing so has been growing exponentially over the past couple years.
However, since I started college I've been somewhat of an "off and on" athlete. Working out rather inconsistently for the past five years, I now find it difficult to motivate myself to maintain a suitable fitness level for any considerable amount of time. In high school, I was a member of the JV swim team and Varsity tennis team, and I looked forward to my daily workouts. Mainly because I was a member of a team where I had coaches and teammates who pushed, encouraged, and depended on me. The structured and mandatory practices didn't hurt much, either.
So, although I have been feeling empowered about the idea of competing in a sprint triathlon for several years now, I haven't been able to muster the motivation to do it alone. I've tried to recruit friends to train and compete with me, but hadn't been able to find anybody to rally. Then, last week I saw on Theresa's away message that she was beginning to train for the Tri for the Cure with Genevieve. I was ecstatic that these fellow civic-minded St. Mary's alumns of mine were taking the plunge, so I asked T if I could join them and here I am/we are! : )
On a personal level, I've been dying to get back in shape after putting on 15 lbs last spring/ summer when I had a difficult four-month bout with MONO. My energy has been significantly lower than normal and has been increasing at a dishearteningly slow rate since last summer. I know it will be a rough and demanding journey from the point I'm at now until the finish line of a triathlon, but I'm confident with all of my heart that I can do it. I am so grateful for the opportunity to train for what will be such a significant physical accomplishment, and one that benefits the social cause that is nearest and dearest to my heart. To have an opportunity to join my long-lost and recently re-discovered high school friends throughout this six-month process of mental and physical pain, growth, strength and endurance is just fabulous. I couldn't be more excited for what's to come! (Even if that is a 1/2 mile swim, 12.4 mile bike race, and 3.1 mile run...)
: )
The Whys and the Hows ... Among Other Stuff
So I kinda forgot to mention in my last post why I decided to do the Tri for the Cure in the first place. Gen decided that she wanted to do a triathlon and, based off that, one for a good cause. How she stumbled upon the Tri for the Cure I'm not exactly sure, but once she suggested it, I thought, "sure, why not?" I've run two 5Ks before (the ol' neighborhood has been doing them the past two years for the 4th of july) so really, what's .5 miles of swimming and 12.4 miles of biking before that? Pffffft ...
... kidding, of course. Even though I've "run" 5Ks, it doesn't mean that I was necessarily successful at them. 34:17 my first year and 31:31 last year (new goal this year - break 30), and that included some walking ... stupid sports asthma. I'm not worried about the biking/cycling(?) at all - hills are evil in wind, but Cherry Creek State Park isn't all that hilly. Also, on the stationary bike (sport specific, level 7/8), i'm averaging just under a three minute mile, so that's good.
However, swimming will kill me. I can swim enough to keep myself alive - I do what can really only be described as a modified breaststroke. Try swimming in the "normal" style though? Yeah, not so much - I feel like a snail moving through molasses. Hopped in the pool at work (work at a gym to pay the bills) the other day and managed 15 minutes in the pool before I died. The legs burned and the arms were bad and yeah, it just wasn't pretty. At least I know what I really need to work on though ...
... kidding, of course. Even though I've "run" 5Ks, it doesn't mean that I was necessarily successful at them. 34:17 my first year and 31:31 last year (new goal this year - break 30), and that included some walking ... stupid sports asthma. I'm not worried about the biking/cycling(?) at all - hills are evil in wind, but Cherry Creek State Park isn't all that hilly. Also, on the stationary bike (sport specific, level 7/8), i'm averaging just under a three minute mile, so that's good.
However, swimming will kill me. I can swim enough to keep myself alive - I do what can really only be described as a modified breaststroke. Try swimming in the "normal" style though? Yeah, not so much - I feel like a snail moving through molasses. Hopped in the pool at work (work at a gym to pay the bills) the other day and managed 15 minutes in the pool before I died. The legs burned and the arms were bad and yeah, it just wasn't pretty. At least I know what I really need to work on though ...
Post the First
Hey there ... Theresa here. I started this blog to document the exploits of two friends from high school and I as we train for (and compete in!) the 2007 Denver Tri for the Cure. I hope that I can get them to join me here in posting so you can read stuff from their point of view as well.
Oh to explain the address of tagtri4the cure ... our three initials make up the word "tag." Nifty, eh?
Oh to explain the address of tagtri4the cure ... our three initials make up the word "tag." Nifty, eh?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)