Ann M. Mione Tumblr

I Hate Re-Runs

Thu, 11 Dec 2008 21:40:31 -0500

I don’t watch a whole lot of television. The only thing I regularly turn the television on for is Grey’s Anatomy or a Red Sox or Patriots game. And I can usually count on the sports to be new materail. But I hate it when I am expected a new Grey’s Anatomy and then I get comfortable, plop down onto the couch, and a RERUN comes on. I’ve been looking forward to a new episode all week, and then they show one I’ve already seen. Come on ABC, get some new episodes out!

Back at It

Wed, 21 Jan 2009 23:02:00 -0500

I’ve hit the gym at my boyfriend’s apartment complex a few times so far this winter, and I’ve done the yoga dvd that I borrowed from my cousin a few times too, but that’s been the extent of my exercising thus far this winter.

Tonight I drove over to the DCR’s Connell Memorial Pool in Weymouth, Ma (it’s free!) and swam for about 25 minutes. I didn’t do any drills or time myself at all. I was just trying to get back into the groove of exercising. I have to say, I missed it. Swimming just feels so good on my muscles. It stretches them out from being tensed up all day, and afterwards I feel tired yet energized.

I haven’t signed up yet, but I am planning on doing the Gloucester Triathlon and the Marlborough Triathlon this summer (both are part of the same series that the my first tri was in, the Cohasset Triathlon). I’d do the Cohasset one also, but it’s already sold out. I just need to check scheduling with someone tomorrow before I actually go and register for the other two. I need to since I bought a wetsuit last fall and it won’t be worth the price I paid for it unless I do at least two triathlons!

One of the reasons I can do the triathlons is that my cousin Rob Cichocki has offered to sponsor me financially for it; otherwise I wouldn’t feel justified in spending that money right now. So thanks Rob, and let me know if you want me to wear any specific shirts on race day.

It's Official

Tue, 03 Feb 2009 21:27:05 -0500

I registered for the Gloucester Triathlon on August 9th (Sunday). Now I just need to start training!

Swimming should be fine. I got a copy of Total Immersion, which seems to be the triathlon swimmers’ bible, for $2 from a library book sale last fall. I’ve read most of it and now need to start doing the drills in it. I hope to kick ass in the swimming component since I’ve already been doing well in it for the past triathons I’ve done (all two of them, haha). I’ll be training at the DCR Connell Memorial Pool and Skating Rink…..in the pool part.

I just got a new bike helmet for Christmas (thanks Pete!!!) and a bike computer (thanks Dad!). I need to give my bike a tune-up and maybe try to get better wheels? for it. At the very least a nice spring cleaning and install the bike computer. It’s still full-out winter here in Massachusetts, in fact it’s snowing right now and has been all day, so I’ll also be going to Pete’s apartment’s gym or trying to fix the old (1980s) exercise bike in my basement until warmer weather.

For running I’d like to get some new sneakers once it gets nicer out. Right now I can go in my old ones so the new ones don’t get ruined. In fact, right now I’ll probably be hitting up a treadmill as it’s snowing…

Rob Belley of RBFit.com also made me up a great strength training program that I can do with just the free weights I have at home, so I’d like to get back into that. And while I’m being ambitious, I also have a good yoga video that I’d like to work into my training routine/schedule.

Went for a 15 minute run today. Don’t know the distance....

Tue, 10 Feb 2009 23:18:32 -0500

Went for a 15 minute run today. Don’t know the distance. Probably about 1.5 miles. Also mostly finished my training calendar for the triathlon. I’m waiting until March to start the official workouts, but will do my own stuff during February.

Swimming Total Immersion Drills

Thu, 12 Feb 2009 00:00:00 -0500

I went over to the pool tonight and did the first Total Immersion drill. It was “pressing the buoy”. Basically this focuses on swimming with the top half of your body pushing down into the water in order to keep the entire body in a straight line so there is less water resistance. After doing the drill a few times I actuall did the front crawl, focusing on pressing down the buoy and it really does work. It felt a lot easier to swim this way. I’ll continue to practice this until it is a habit, and then I’ll move on to the next drill in the book.

Besides swimming faster, it also just felt good to get a pool and swim. It’s such a great workout.

Photo

Thu, 12 Feb 2009 08:41:00 -0500

Another Easy Run

Mon, 16 Feb 2009 19:00:00 -0500

I went for another run today.

Time was 15:23. It was the same route as last time (about a mile and a half?). Cold out, but I felt fine in sweatpants, 3 layers on top (long sleeve performance shirt, zip up fleece and a sweatshirt), hat and gloves.

Run in the Snow

Wed, 18 Feb 2009 18:43:11 -0500

It started to snow before I went for my run after work today, but I bundled up and went out.

In case anyone is curious, my layers were:

regular socks ( I actually just kept my socks on from work, gross but it saves laundry!)
spandex/nylon leggings - just an old pair I got from Salvation Army to use for layering when hiking in the cold; they actually stayed up this time, usually they sag
thin cotton/poly blend yoga/sweatpants
old cotton/poly blend tee shirt
100% polyester 1/4 zip pullover long sleeve
large, loose fleece 1/4 zip pullover
knit hat
Northface gloves that didn’t keep my hands warm, next time I’ll use my other pair that are fleece—they worked better on my last run
and they are not layers, but I also wear a white reflective safety belt when running at dusk or later, and tonight I also wore an LED headlamp/flashlight to make sure drivers could see me in the snow

And my time was 16:36. Once again, I believe it’s about a mile and a half route.

Video

Wed, 18 Feb 2009 18:44:33 -0500

I usually listen to music while I’m running. 99% of the...

Thu, 19 Feb 2009 20:02:33 -0500

I usually listen to music while I’m running. 99% of the time it’s music off an mp3 player. Lately I have been starting off my runs with Johnny Cash’s version of Ghost Riders in the Sky. The main reason has been that it is the first song on the mp3 player that pops up when I pull up “all titles” (due to some parentheses in the front of the song title tag). I used to just hit next and shuffle through, but now I’ve been listening to it to start my runs because it’s a good beat and it gets me motivated. It’s not too fast, but it’s fast enough.

Time today was 15:57.

Went for a Swim

Mon, 23 Feb 2009 00:00:00 -0500

I left the house late, but got to the pool in time to squeeze in a twenty minute swim. I practiced the buoy drills some more and also did some swimming using that technique. I definitely felt like I was swimming more efficiently.

I’m having some computer issues so I’m not sure when I’ll post again.

More Swimming

Mon, 09 Mar 2009 22:09:56 -0400

Time 24:54

I did more Total Immersion swimming today. It was a little tougher than the last drill. This drill involved floating on my back and then rolling onto my stomach and then swimming on my stomach/front and then rolling onto my back. I definitely got a bit of water up my nose, and boy does that sting.

Overall it felt good though. I continue to feel like my stroke is improving. Ideally I’ll have someone count my strokes for 25 yards. I can’t count myself because I unconsciously count for my breathing. Once I know how many strokes it takes me to swim the length of the pool I can begin to measure my progress because as I improve it will take fewer strokes.

Running

Thu, 12 Mar 2009 22:28:06 -0400

Tuesday I went for a run/walk with a friend for 1.65 miles (30 min).

Then today I ran again (about 1.65 miles) this time for 23:01. Cold but good.

2.14 mile run

Mon, 16 Mar 2009 18:36:23 -0400

Ran it in 24:07. Wish it was warmer out. I ran in a hat and gloves. I can’t wait for the day I just go out in shorts and a T-shirt.

Back from vacation

Wed, 29 Apr 2009 00:06:08 -0400

I’ve been slacking off again, and was on vacation last week. It’s finally warmer now though and I’ve got my bike set up and put the new bike computer on it.

Did a quick ride today for about 6 miles in half and hour.

I’m also back to riding to and from work (only 1 mile though!)

Run

Mon, 04 May 2009 21:45:39 -0400

had to take care of some work stuff tonight but did a quick 12 minute run around 9:15pm. used my head lamp and reflector belt also.

Last week + today

Mon, 11 May 2009 23:17:48 -0400

Last week I biked once (about 7-8 miles) and ran twice + walked about a mile or so.

Today I did an 11.5 mile bike ride. It was easier than I expected, but I get bored. I’ll have to get Pete to do some rides with me.

a full 3.1 today

Tue, 12 May 2009 18:22:11 -0400

ran 3.1 in 33:35 today.

now i just need to get myself to the pool. i don’t mind the swimming. in fact i like it. what i don’t like is the drive to get there.

all the way up my most hated route, literally…rt 18 and then 53. there is just no easy way to get there. and i like to bike it but i’d be afraid on those streets + they are full of potholes.

good news being that i realized that i can maybe get some open water training in at pete’s beach on saquish once it warms up a bit more. it’s still a mite cold for me even with a wetsuit!

No official exercise but...

Wed, 13 May 2009 22:51:54 -0400

rode the bike to work. It’s 3 miles round trip. Wooo! Saves on gas at least! and it takes the same amount of time as driving.

Run in Bridgewater

Sat, 16 May 2009 10:11:52 -0400

Ran about 3 miles or a little less through Bridgewater and the BSC campus. 30:14. Beautiful 65 degree weather too.