Self Doubt and What the Hell Did I Sign Up For?

Yesterday I ran a simple 3.5 mile run. I have done this run a million times. It sucked. And all the while I kept saying to myself "how in the world and I going to run 13.1 miles after a long hard 55 mile bike ride,if I can't even run a decent short run? What the hell did I sign up for?" I kept thinking to myself over and over I'm not going to be able to do this. It's weird some days I feel like I can conquer the world and go fast and try to be a superstar and other days just blow! Yesterday was one of those days for sure. It also doesn't help that you have two ginormous hills I must walk up because of my IT band, it makes for god-awful average running pace. Which then makes me feel even slower.

Okay, running is not my thing. I can say I enjoy it on occasion but most of the time it feels like a real chore to me. It's hard, I'm not fast I make up any excuse in the book as to why I need to stop:

my ponytail isn't tight enough
my shoelaces are too loose
my nose is running
I need to check my phone
I can't change the song on my iPod without stopping
My sunglasses are all fogged up
I need to stretch my hip
My knee hurts (that's legit)
and on and on and on

When I got home from my run I decided to pick up the lastest Triathlete magazine. I hate that magazine. You want to feel self-defeated, pick up one of those puppies. Of course they are going to feature all of the top altheletes in the sport, feature gear that is so expensive, but "so needed" (according to them) and people with all the time in the world that they can dedicate to training their tushies off. Blarghhhhhhhh! I want to read about real people who have a hard time fitting it all in. I want to read about real people using old gear, used gear and don't have the latest and greatest bike but do their best to cross the finish line!

Anyway, back to the grind today! Not sure what I am doing tonight. I think it's supposed to be a swim and run, but I already swam a ton this week, I need to focus on my bike and run, so maybe I'll do that!

Happy Training!

The Goal Today Was...

To swim and then run down to the track and do some sprints. I only swam. Oh well, I was really, really hungry and didn't bring any food with me. So I went home and had some lunch! Here is my swimming workout for the day:

200 SKPS (200 each of swim, kick, pull, swim)

400 IM Drill

4x125s
1. 25 fly easy, 75 free moderate, 25 fly hard
2. 25 back easy, 75 free moderate, 25 back hard
3. 25 breast easy, 75 moderate, 25 breast hard
4. 25 free easy, 75 free moderate, 25 free hard

400 easy free
4x100s choice hard
300 easy free
4x75s choice hard
200 easy free
4x50s choice hard
100 easy free
4x25s choice hard

4x25s underwater no breath 25s (with fins)

200 easy warmdown

I almost didn't want to get out of the water today, but lap swimming time was over :(
Teaching Zumba tonight as a sub! I always get nervous, even though I know the routine backwards and forwards!

Swimming Tip of the Week: How To Get the Chlorine Out of your Locks

We've all had that chlorinated build-up in our hair at one point in our lives or another.   I am here to tell you that you don't need a "special" swimming shampoo to get that lustre back in your locks.

All you need is two ingredients that are easily found in your kitchen cabinets: Baking soda and vinegar! It's so simple, so cheap, so easy, and it works like a charm!

Combine the vinegar and baking soda to make a thick paste. Don't forget about that chemical reaction that takes place when you mix the two together!! ;)










 

Mix together with your finger to create a thick paste.






Work into hair while in the shower. Let stand in your hair for a few mintues. Rinse well. Condition as normal.  There. Chlorine free hair!

You can also pack a small container of this miracle paste with you when you go to the pool!

Happy training!!!

Bad Weather= No Bike

My plan yesterday was to ride my bike for 75 minutes. It was just crappy out; rain, wind, cold and everything in between. I decided to nix the bike workout for a swim and a treadmill run. Here is what I did:

200 SKPS (200 swim, 200 kick, 200 pull, 200 swim)

400 IM Drill

4x100s (des. 1-4 on 1:30)
4x100s IM (des. 1-4 on 1:40)

300 Kick

3x200s pull

200 warm down

Took a quick dip in the hot tub and got dressed for my run on the treadmill. 40 minute run that included hills, and sprints. Walking cool-down.

Much better than freezing for 75 minutes on my bike. Today the sun is shining but it's still cold, I think I just may ride the trainer tonight unless it warms up considerably!

Happy Running and Training!

Things that can't be Safe: Part Deaux

Riding your bike and talking on your cell phone, without a helmet.

Feel free to add your own "Things that can't be Safe" cycling or otherwise!!

Things that can't be Safe

I went on a 2 hour bike ride today and noticed two things that can't be safe:

1. Tethering yourself to your giant dog while running. Now, I am sure this person made it home just fine and dandy. But what if the dog got spooked and took off? Do I need to explain anymore?

2. Tethering yourself to your giant dog, whilst riding a bike with your baby attached to the seat behind you. Again, I am sure all three of them made it home safe and sound... but again I ask, what if the dog got spooked? Do I need to explain anymore?

People, don't tether your giant dog to anything!!

Swimming Tip of the Week

I've been thinking about something to add to my blog every week and since I LOVE me some swimming I thought I would give a swimming tip a week. I was thinking about drills, etitquette, open water swimming, gear, workouts etc.

Introducing your first swim tip for the week and it's a biggie!

Lap Swimming Etiquette
You enter the pool area and you are overwhelmed by a myriad of swimmers filling each lane and you think to yourself, "Where should I go?"

1. Most lap swim times will have designated lanes: slow, medium, fast, very fast and possibly a lane for a masters group. If you are unsure of your speed take some time to look at each lane to see how people are swimming. I often think of myself as a fast swimmer, but when I scan the lanes there might be some faster swimmers in the fast lane and I should not be there. Time to pick a new lane.

2. Once you have decided your lane, wait until there is an opening or a space for you to slide into. Please make sure you start right away and don't hang out on the wall too long. Have your cap and goggles ready to go, especially if the lane is crowded, no one likes a wall-sitter!

3. Please circle swim to the right of the lane if there are more than two swimmers in a lane. If there is just you and another swimmer, politely ask them if you could split the lane (one swimmer on the right of the lane and one swimmer on the left). Once someone joins you or you are joining lane splitters please let both of them know you will be joining them. No one likes to be surprised when they see someone swimming head-on directly towards them.

3. If you are consistently passing slower swimmers in your lane you need to move to a faster lane. No one likes to be passed all of the time. Same goes if you are being passed many times... time to suck it up  move to a slower lane.

4. Have you noticed the big black + on the wall? Please don't stand in front of it. That is where swimmers turn. If you have made a swimmer mad, they will flip-turn on top of you. Please be aware of other swimmers around you.

5. Please don't start swimming when you know a fellow swimmer is about to do a flip-turn or open turn at the wall, you will get in their way.

6. What if you need to pass someone who is kicking or doing drill work or just plain going slow? Tap them on the feet to let them know you are there. They should move to the right and you pass in the middle, or you can wait to the wall to pass them.

7. If you notice someone in your lane is trying to do a workout and using the pace clock, try to stay out of their way. Or if don't know just politely ask, "Are you using the pace clock?" If they are just let them go first when their rest time is up. Or they may just tell you to go if their rest is longer.

8. If all else fails and you find yourself following the rules and your fellow swimmers aren't, have a little chat with the lifeguards about your concerns, they'll almost happily want to help you out!!

9. Now go have fun!!