Tri Me A River

Hotter N Hell 2010

2010-08-31T07:24:00.000-07:00

This past weekend I attended the Hotter N Hell 100 race in Wichita Falls TX. This was my 7th year in a row to attend and even though I had not trained at all, I was determined to go. And after a few days of thinking about it, I am glad I did. Right afterwards.....not so much.

I did the 50 mile ride which was kind of a stretch since that was just about how many miles I had put on my bike for the entire year. Luckily though, I was still able to get through it and actually had a pretty decent ride time, but it was not an enjoyable ride at all. The wind was a bugger, but the big problem was just my fitness level. Which is non-existent right now. But I fully plan on jumping back in the saddle again and plan on attending another ride in three weeks....this time with more rides under my belt before hand.

In other news, somewhere in the middle of my bachelorette party (most likely between bottle two and three of wine) I thought that signing up for the Houston Half Marathon lottery with one of my bridesmaids was a fantastic idea. We found out last week that we got in so I will now be training for a half marathon at the end of January. Even though I groan a little bit, I am really kind of excited.

Dear Joint Juice

2010-08-26T11:41:00.000-07:00

Dear Joint Juice,
Your "new and improved" sucks. Thhbbtt.
Sincerely,
Renee

-I promise to have more content soon. I am going to Hotter N Hell 100 this weekend in Wichita Falls. I am going to attempt the 50 mile ride even though I am completely untrained and unenthusiastic. I figure this will either rekindle my love for all things bike or I will be recovering on the couch for the next 3 days. Or maybe do both!

Disappearing Act Finished

2010-08-02T11:45:00.000-07:00

I always think it is so sad when bloggers just disappear and you never hear anything from them again. I am trying very hard to not become one of those people! Luckily, things have slowed down a whole lot since I GOT MARRIED!

I always thought I could plan a wedding, move, and never miss a stide and just keep doing everything I was doing. I am sure lots of people could, but not me! Now that we are back from the honeymoon and our house is unpacked I am ready to jump back into my swimming, biking, and running. I will be going to Hotter N' Hell 100 at the end of the month and have put my entry in for the lottery for the Houston Half Marathon in January. I am excited about getting back into working out, blogging, and especially reading everyone's blogs again and hearing what everyone has accomplished this summer!

A Beautiful Day In the Neighborhood

2010-03-30T10:47:00.000-07:00

We had snow less than two weeks ago and today they are expecting a record high of 92! Tomorrow is supposed to be just as beautiful. I think this may lead to a triathlon for me today....swim, bike, margarita!!

Three Things Thursday

2010-03-25T13:17:00.000-07:00

1.The lunges I have been doing while at the copy machine has had two results. The first is that I am sore as heck. The second is that I avoid the copier as much as possible. :)

2.There is a small triathlon April 3 that I hope to do. I am strangely nervous even though it is a pretty short one: 300 meter pool swim, 10 mile bike, and 3 mile run. I am not sure what I am worried about exactly. I am used to being the last of the pack so really I cannot go anywhere but up. Maybe that should be my new mantra. “You can’t really get any slower so anything is an improvement".
I have been doing triathlons for a little over a year and my goal has always just been to finish and survive but this year I would really like to start to see more of an improvement speed wise. It just time to start expecting more from myself than just finishing.

3.I started taking these vitamins again and my hair and nails are growing like crazy and my skin is really clear. I can’t remember what brand they but they come in a box with individual bags that have 6 vitamins in them. I am sure it is overkill and I probably don’t need half of them….but I really like the results!

Unconventional Love

2010-03-23T19:59:00.001-07:00

Proof once again that love knows no bounds. I wake up all of the time to these two cuddled up and usually it is the cats' purring that wakes me up. They are a sweet, slightly mismatched couple.

Back and Better!

2010-03-23T12:47:00.000-07:00

I ran last night for the first time in weeks. I went on a one minute walk/one minute run plan and did this for 30 minutes. It was not a hard workout by any means, but for my first one back, it was a great one. When I got home, I was energized and excited which was a nice feeling. Now I can’t wait to get back out there tonight which I think is the measure of a really great workout.

After nearly 3 weeks off with the cold from hell, I am now 95% human and only 5% snot factory. It is amazing how the over-production of mucus can make you feel so incredible awful. I can say that the turning of the tides began with the time change. I love it staying light until later even though it is a tiny bit harder to get up in the mornings. It is totally worth it.

With crazy schedules, it is sometimes hard to get workouts in. I have found though, that you can grab small opportunities everywhere. My favorite time to work in a few exercises is at the copier. While I am waiting, I can usually get quite a few sets of lunges or calf raises. It may only be 3 or 4 minutes, but if I do it every time I go to the copier, that really adds up. Again, just little things, but those little things add up and I can see and feel a difference already. The downside to doing these at work is that if you get caught, people might think you are a little nuts. Luckily for me, my co-workers already think that so no harm there!

Do you have odd places you get a fast workout in? What kind of exercises do you squeeze in when you only have a few minutes?

So Lately....

2010-03-05T08:33:00.000-08:00

I have not:
-Done my Wednesday Weigh Ins as promised
-Swam
-Run
-Really done much of anything except lay on the couch for the last 4 days

I have:
-Temporarily been chewed up and spit out by wedding planning
-Had a cold/sinus infection from hell
-Run my first fever that I can remember having in years
-Watched more movies this week than the whole rest of year
-Ridden my bike once this week
-Lost at least three pounds due to the fact I have no sense of taste. This is probably been the easiest way to diet I have ever found.

I will be returning to real life and regular posting soon. Assuming of course my head does not actually explode the next time I sneeze. It could be iffy.

A little behind

2010-02-24T17:47:00.000-08:00

I am a little behind this week. Weigh in will be tomorrow plus I will do a review of my first p90x workout. Just to give you a hint.....gasp.

Treadmill Blues

2010-02-12T20:35:00.000-08:00

This is exactly how I feel about running on the treadmill right now. Sadly this cat makes my treadmill look tiny but really it is just the cat that is oversized. Hope everyone has a great weekend and good workout weather!

Wednesday Weigh In

2010-02-10T18:53:00.001-08:00

Today I was down another .4lbs. Not a big number, but I really need to start tracking my measurements as well because more importantly than seeing progress on the scale, I can feel it in my clothes! That is the best motivator ever.

Tuesday nights have now become my Biggest Loser/Last chance workout. I do swimming and then come home to watch the show while riding my trainer. Watching the transformation of these people is so cool and inspiring. It also gets me ready for my own weigh in the next day!

I hope everyone is having a great week and are staying warm! We actually have a tiny chance of sun in our forecast this weekend!! Hooray!

Sad Puppy

2010-02-10T06:39:00.000-08:00

Mom, why on earth are you on that trainer when you could be walking with me?

Dear Sun

2010-02-09T09:09:00.000-08:00

Dear Sun,

It feels like it has been months since I have seen you. I am so sorry for not appreciating you more when you were around and even at times complaining about your heat. I would really appreciate you coming to see me soon, even if it is just for a short visit. I promise we will do all sorts of fun things together and I will never take you for granted again.

Love,
Renee

Wednesday Weigh In

2010-02-03T18:23:00.000-08:00

Today I knew I was not going to make it across town to weigh in at Weight Watchers so I weighed in this morning at home on my scale which oddly is not nearly as kind to me as the WW scale. I only lost .6lbs this week.

Oddly enough, I was grateful even for that small amount. I did not even deserve that after this last week. The snow and ice hit here this week and instead of taking an opportunity to work out at home, I reverted to slug status and spent several days with my nose buried in books.

AFter I emerged from my self imposed hibernation, I did my best to regain my lost motivation. It was easier than I thought because I realized that after just a few days of eating crap and being a slug, I felt like slug crap. Shock right? I had a tennis coach who always said "If you eat like crap, you play like crap". As a teenager, I rolled my eyes at this but it is so true. Our bodies crave good healthy food and reward us when we give it to them.

Today the snow and ice hit again but I am reacting in a different way. A long, somewhat slippery walk with the dog, a bike rde on the trainer, and a balanced dinner. Now, I can stick my nose back into my books for the night!

First Tri of the year on April 3!!!

Wednesday Weigh-In

2010-01-27T11:00:00.000-08:00

Today I am going to take about some weighty matters. (I am so punny!) I have decided to start a Wednesday Weigh-In on my blog. I am not brave enough to actually post my weight yet, but I think I will get there. On Wednesday’s I weigh in at Weight Watchers and so afterwards, I will be sharing my victories (darn well better be victories) with you.

I have about 40-50 lbs to lose. The thing about being fat and active is that it freaking HURTS. If I was just going home everyday and sitting on the couch, I am sure I would be fine, however when you have athletic goals, it makes for a lot more pain. Your feet hurt, your knees hurt, and you just do not feel great about yourself no matter the distances you cover with your aching feet. Basically, what it comes down to is that even though this is a triathlon blog, my weight is holding me back and therefore should be part of this blog. I know that there are several others that share weight loss goals and if you care to share about your journey or provide tips, please do.

The reason I am going with Weight Watchers is that it is easy for me to do. I can go online, enter my foods and have a point range to stay within. My problem with losing weight is that I am a binger, especially after working out. WW is a great way for me to track my foods and exercise and make sure I am not out eating my workouts.

Anyways, with that all said, I just got back from my weigh in and am DOWN 2.2lbs! Perfectly on track for my goals!

Ouch

2010-01-26T16:53:00.000-08:00

You know all that crap I wrote earlier about being ready fo anything my swim instructor dished out? Well she obviously could see my cockiness from a mile away and put me in my place.

Ouch.

Ready to Take It

2010-01-26T14:25:00.000-08:00

Last week I started back to swimming after taking off since before Christmas. I won’t lie, it was painful and awful. I was kicking myself for taking off that long and so two days later, I was back. The second time was so much better and I really pushed it and even added 500 yards to what I had planned on doing and really felt solid about it.

300 yd warm up
300 yd kick
100 fast, 50 slow X4
300 yd kick
300 cool down

Then I got out of the pool and melted into a pool of mush. I was feeling so great and then just collapsed in the locker room in an exhausted heap. I kept turning to my swim partner and whining, “But WHY am I so tired??”. Well, big duh there.

I have to say, it was a nice exhausted. Nothing really hurt, but I knew I had worked. Those are some of the best workouts. I go back today for a swim lesson and I feel much more prepared to take whatever beating my instructor dishes out.

A Bright and Shiny New Year

2010-01-14T11:06:00.000-08:00

I love the beginning of a new year. There is so much hope and promise with resolutions and everything just starting fresh. Every year starts this way, but this year....I am just really feeling it. It is going to be MY YEAR! The absolute best ever. Why am I so certain of this? For starters....

1) I am turning 30. I suppose I should be moaning the loss of my 20's, but while they were great, I am so ready to see what my 30's bring. I have not decided what I am going to do to make the actual day of incredible, but I have thoughts going through my head for sure.

2) I am getting married! Seriously, what can be better than that? Ok, so the reality of it is that the planning of a wedding is not so fantastic, but the marriage itself is going to be incredible. :) I had actually thought about scheduling my wedding the weekend of one of my triathlons and doing the tri in the morning and getting married late that afternoon. It was a sprint so really should not be a huge deal, but I decided to be rational and schedule the wedding the week before. Then the tri can be at the end of our honeymoon! Still maybe a little over ambitious, but it is still worth a try.

3) I am going to be fit. Period. My whole goal is not to be skinny for my wedding, but fit and happy. I have about 40 lbs I would like to shed and have already started to put a dent in that thanks to my new bike trainer. I usually am pretty bad about not touching my bike until March or so, but this year I have a huge head start on my training and it feels great. I have to say that riding on the trainer is a lot harder than I thought it would be. I am not 100% sure why that is, but I really feel it when I get off of the trainer.

Why do you think 2010 is going to be fantastic for you?

I said YES!

2009-12-28T08:08:00.000-08:00

So, a new "race" is being added to my calendar for 2010 as my boyfriend proposed last Tuesday before Christmas! We had talked about it and had been making plans but he still managed to surprise me. I am very excited about our future together as he is my best friend, my love, and my biggest supporter all rolled into one great guy!

Just to prove what a perfect guy he is, in addition to getting me a beautiful ring, I also got an incredible bike trainer that is way nicer than I had asked for. As it has been snowing here, it is a perfect time to get going on it. It will be great to get a jump start on my cycling for the year as well as shaping up for the wedding. We are thinking of mid-July so that he will be off from work (teacher) and I can still get my favorite races in! :)

2010 Goals

2009-12-15T14:33:00.000-08:00

Whew, things get crazy around the holidays! Or at least, that is the excuse I am using for not having blogged recently. The truth is, there has not really been anything exercise blog worthy going on. While I am still swimming and playing tennis, all other training has gone out the window. I am not overly sad about it right now, but am starting to miss it which is a good sign!
Since I have not been doing a lot lately, I thought this would be a good time to talk about goals for 2010. More specifically, my goal races for 2010. There will be some smaller races thrown in here, but these are the most important ones.

1. First Half Marathon- Lamesa Great Hogg Race. March 27, 2010
2. DF Ranch Sprint Triathlon-July 24, 2009
3. Hotter N Hell 100-First 100 mile ride August 28, 2010

I am considering an Olympic length triathlon too, but I have not nailed down which one. I will probably do a few other sprint triathlons as well, but the three above are the ones I would really like to do well at.

I am really excited about 2010. I really feel like it is going to be my year to accomplish a lot. It is a big year age wise as I will be turning 30 so that is exciting too!

What are your goals for 2010?

Thankful

2009-11-24T09:13:00.000-08:00

This morning, I got up early and decided to make the most of my time by doing a yoga video at home instead of trying to get to the gym and then come home and get ready for work. I thought it would be a much better use of the time I had as I have been pretty stiff lately. My session went like this:

-Put DVD in and because it was freezing in the house, turn up the heater.
-Get started with the warm-up.
-The dog starts whimpering so I run over and let him out of his cage. Go back to warm up.
-Dog decides to help with my warm up by licking my arms while I am (ironically) in the downward dog postion. I ignore him.
-Realize that now I am moving, I am burning up and don’t need the heater on and go run and turn it down.
-Hear a giant crash in the kitchen and run in there to find the cat has knocked over the trash. Throw cat outside and resume video.
-Dog decides doing the plank is not hard enough and tries to play tug with my hair to make it more of a challenge for me.
-Finished video, guessing I actually “did” 30 out of 45 minutes.

If working out at home is this hard with pets, how on earth do you people with kids ever get anything done? I am in awe.

Turns out doing the yoga this morning was probably a very good decision as I got hit going through an intersection on the way to work. I would like to think being relaxed and loose probably helped me from getting hurt! I am ok, car will eventually be ok, and I am just thankful it was not worse….or that I was not on my bicycle!

Water Torture

2009-11-19T08:54:00.000-08:00

I felt like this was my expression the entire time I was swimming on Tuesday. I take a lesson once a week with a coach and lately I have just been dreading it every week lately. Why? Because of this:

It is the bane of my existence. You see, I hardly kick at all while I swim. I use almost all arm strength. Trying to kick constantly is a lot like trying to pat my head and rub my tummy at the same time. I just suck at it. So, to work on this I get to work with the kickboard. The good news is that I can tell it is helping, but it sure is hard to get motivated to go.

I enjoyed reading the comments on my last post about the time limits my running club is putting on some of their longer races. I think there are several sides to this story but basically what I need to focus on is just getting faster and more consistent and it will not be a problem.

A big THANK YOU to Leah at BecauseITri She ran a picture caption contest and I won a runner up prize of a dozen gels that I know will come in handy soon! Thank Leah!

Slow Runnings

2009-11-10T10:56:00.000-08:00

Yesterday in the mail, I received my runnings clubs latest newsletter. On the front page, there was an statement annoucing that the board members had voted to put time limits on several of the club races. Their reasoning was that if you could not run a 13 minute mile, you were undertrained and should not be running. The other reasoning is that if you were slow, it was not fair to make the volunteers wait around for you to finish. There are now going to be cut off times at certain mile markers and if you were not there at that point, your bib would be pulled.

I am of several minds about this. Yes, 13 minute miles are slow. Being slow myself though my first reaction was anger. Obviously, if I am mad about it, then I just need to faster and it will not be a problem. Fair enough. Then I think about all of the people out there (not a whole lot, but still there are some) who are slower than me. I think if I got pulled off the course of a small local race, I would not come back. Is that the message we want to be sending to people? "We welcome all runners, but by gawd, you had better MOVE!!".

I guess I can understand large races having cutoff times, but this is a smaller local club (300 members or so) and something about it just rubs me the wrong way. I don't want people to hurt themselves trying to do distances they are not ready for, but I think in this society, we need to encourage people to come out and get moving.

What are your thoughts?

2009 Livestrong Austin

2009-10-29T14:08:00.001-07:00

This post has taken several days to write just because there were so many thoughts swirling around in my head that I did not know where to begin. Livestrong was such an incredible event with so much emotion wrapped up into it. I guess I should have prepared myself for that but I was so worried about the hills and the bike riding part, that I never thought about how sentimental it would be.
There is so much I could write about the Livestrong weekend. I think the whole reason why I was doing this hit me in the beginning of the ride. It was one thing to pass someone in their 50's who had a "In Memory of Dad" sign on their back. It was a different thing all together to pass by two 8-10 year old boys with that kind of sign on their back. Sadly, they were not the only children I saw with "In Memory" signs on. That part was tough, but it made me really think and be grateful that everyone in my life who has had to fight cancer won.
In my head, this was going to be a one time event. I hate fund raising and asking people for money, but I will be back next year. It is too important not to go back.

LIVESTRONG AUSTIN!!!

2009-10-22T08:48:00.001-07:00

It has been a few weeks, but I did actually do the 5k I talked about awhile back. It was slow, cold, and miserable. My usual running partner, Julie, had some pathetic excuse like being sick and was not able to run, although she did show up and was an excellent sherpa as she lent me headphones when mine broke and had an extra pair of gloves when I realized my hands were going to freeze off.
The run itself was uneventful except my foot really felt like it was on fire the whole time. I ignored it and kept on, but kept having to walk more and more and was pretty frustrated by the whole thing. It was not until I got home and examined it that I found this:

I have never had a bruise on the bottom of my foot before. I remember stepping on something a day or two before that really hurt but had forgotten all about it until that moment. I felt a little better about my constant walking and miserable time after that. It is still a little sore, but I am going to attempt to redeem myself this weekend at Austin Livestrong.

I have signed up to do the 5K run on Saturday and the bike ride on Sunday. I am excited not about the running or the riding, but about maybe getting a chance to meet Fatty. Oh yeah, that Armstrong guy will be there too…..but FATTY! Seriously, this guy is a rock star and I am stupid excited about being at the same event he is at. I am even considering purchasing a new camera that is thin enough to go in my jersey pocket for picture opportunities. I have actually wanted one for awhile, but this may be the reason I get one!

If you have not donated to LIVESTRONG yet and would like to, there is still time. Please visit my page here.