For the first time in a long time I am home alone. (Or at least - I'm the sole human. I have plenty of crazed, furry company in the form of two squirrel-mad dogs.) Today is John's first day of work! Yay! It's so exciting.
In training news - I did in fact go for that run (with Donna) last week in the rain for track drills and then 40 minutes at Zone 2. I think we were supposed to do 15' at Zone 1, but as I've said before, I don't have a Zone 1 run (yet). If I slow down enough to stay below Zone 2, then it's a walk. Sigh. I hope as I build up aerobically and drop weight that I'll end up having a Zone 1 run. Then, in an exciting development, our next run was a 4 mile run which I kicked ass on. We have a trail close by that's a flat 3 miles. To get in the extra mile we ran there and back home again which we don't usually do because from the trail to our house is STRAIGHT UPHILL. But we did it - and even with the hill, I had the fastest pace on any run since the triathlon last year. Woo hoo! (Of course it hurt and was hard and I wanted to stop pretty much every step - but I did it anyway!) Total "yay me" moment. We had a swim over the weekend with the main set being 50's at Zone 3 then Zone 2. It was bizarre how consistent I was. In Zone 3 my times were :44, :45, :44, :45, :44, :45 and my Zone 2 50's were all :47 with two of them being the exact same to the millisecond (or whatever that next smaller number is called.) I am enjoying the swim workouts right now. Oh - but someone please answer me this - what exactly is the point of doing a kick drill with fins on? (The lady in the lane next to me freaked me out by lapping me on the kickboard until I realized she had some help of the blue plasticy kind.) I don't really understand the point of fins in the pool. They make a TON of sense to me in the ocean when you're snorkeling and want to be able to stay out longer and move faster with less energy expended - but in the workout pool?
In nutrition news - I am a wack job. I'm totally turning into one of those health nuts. I'm seriously considering doing this six week vegetarian food plan. The hardest thing for me is that I don't like beans. At all. Or tomatoes. They totally (and completely!) squick me out. Legumes. I don't even like that word. It sounds ridiculous. Like there was once a contest to find the word that sounded the dorkiest when you said it and that's the word that won - legumes. Still - the more studies I read, the more I learn about nutrition, the more I think I have to go gonzo on the fruits and vegetables (and legumes) and step away from the animal products. I can eliminate meat with very little problem. Probably won't even notice that part. It's the cheese that I love with all my heart and every fiber of my (chubby) being. But I am committed and serious and focused about finally (finally, finally) losing this weight! I want to be my right size when I toe the line in November. Eating healthy food is so much EASIER than working out with all these extra pounds on me. If someone said - you can keep eating all the stuff you like right now, but you have to wear this 40lb rucksack for every workout from now until November - I would absolutely say forget it, skip the anchor - hand me the health food. The Zone Diet has been a great start for me but I need ... more. Nutritionally dense food - here I come! Do you think giving up cheese will be as hard as giving up caffeine? ('Cause that took me like two years - and I only have seven months!) Wish me well.
I'm sorry I haven't been by to visit/comment much since last week. I'll try to catch up soon - but today is another four mile run and upper body weight training. Tomorrow, pals.
TODAY I LOVE: learning about nutrition
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a journey towards healing and renewal by way of triathlon
Woo Hoo! Did it!
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Everything it takes for a non-athlete fledgling athlete somewhat-experienced-but-still-gosh-darn-slow athlete to prepare for triathlons: training, gear, motivation, connection, frustration, determination, and healing. From roadkill to rainbows and everything in between.
Audacious Goal
June, 2014: Ironman France, Nice
My goal is to race smart and finish strong and healthy in under sixteen hours (yes, the cutoff for this puppy is only 16 hours - not the typical 17 of other Ironmans!) after swimming 2.4 miles (3.8 km) in the Mediterranean Sea, biking 112 miles (180 km) in the Maritime Alps, and running 26.2 miles (42.4 km) along the gorgeous Promenade des Anglais. I am Iron!
My goal is to race smart and finish strong and healthy in under sixteen hours (yes, the cutoff for this puppy is only 16 hours - not the typical 17 of other Ironmans!) after swimming 2.4 miles (3.8 km) in the Mediterranean Sea, biking 112 miles (180 km) in the Maritime Alps, and running 26.2 miles (42.4 km) along the gorgeous Promenade des Anglais. I am Iron!
Bon Courage! Allez!
Other Goals
You know, I'm thinking it might be good to run my first marathon and perhaps do a full century ride sometime in the next year or so. :D
Run:
OBX Half Marathon - Nov 11, 2012
Miami FULL Marathon - Jan 27, 2013
Bike:
Still trying to plan how to work up to that century mark! More info soon.
Behold!
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17 comments:
way to go on the runs! :)
As for the cheese, I could never give it up - it is an important food group!
I love beans & tomatoes. In fact my garden is approximate 1/3 beans & tomatoes! YUM! If you want some veggie cooking ideas, let me know. I have a great lentil stew recipe that could probably be made w/o tomatoes....
Green beans, lima beans, black beans, pinto beans, lentil beans, any bean except soy bean as either soy sauce or tofu, I used to hate too. Not sure what changed but in the last 15 yrs I've become OK with them, don't love them but don't hate them either (I even eat peanut butter and raisins now too!). Dave thinks it's because I've killed off so many taste buds from drinking coffee that I just don't taste things like I used to. Whatever, it's a good thing. I do envy that you can handle dairy products well and those 50 swim times, though!!
Me: "Hey there, nutritious-looking food! Are you as good for me as you look?"
Nutritionally-Dense Food: "Guuuuuhhhh, I dunno. Guhhh, Da grocer man jus' tol' me ta stand here, he did, so I did jus' what he tol' me, didn't I, George?"
Me: "Think I'll have a Smart Candy bar ..."
Kidding, sister!
Right attitude with the foodstuffs! Keep up the good work!
Guhhhh ... but whadda I know, George? Hey, THIS looks fun! [gqh sticks wet finger in electrical outlet. zzzzztttt!!!!]
i love a good bean, but tomatoes taste like dirty water to me. i still grow plenty in the garden, kelley loves them. and i like them green and fried.
try switching to lowfat or fat free cheese. that's the weight watchers way. it has worked wonders for us. we also limit meats to the lower fat options, like chicken, turkey, lowfat roast beef and top sirloin steaks.
i hope John likes the new job he started today! i talked with erica earlier today (finally); she's really nice and will be easy to deal with.
I don't have a zone 1 run either.... and zone 2 is sometimes still a challenge, but great job! I need to change my eating too :)
First: Wow! Way to go on that run! Kick butt
Second: Wow! Way to go on the swim!! I didn’t know I was talking to a fish. Do the gills interfere with your daily life?
Third: Give up Cheese? Are you crazy? I have several friends who are vegetarians and they say no way! Of course they'll also eat fish and have been known to eat hard boiled eggs (for the protein), but they are BIG cheese eaters. Just the whole (foods) organic kind. (Personally, I think that it cost so much they can only buy it every once in a while and that's they're secret plan!).
Without the beans, you'll need to find a good substitute for protein.
You may be OK now but don't forget that you are building a triathlon beating, mileage eating machine. It's gonna need fuel for all that future butt kicking (actually the butt kicking is already here!).
Good job on the running and the nice 50s in the pool.
No help from me on the vegetarian thing. I have come to the conclusion that *I* need more protein than the food pyramid suggests and I get a lot of it from lean meat and milk (and soy supplements). Personally, I couldn't do it wihtout meat, but the key is turkey and fish and such - for me that is.
I don't blame you on the tomatoes. It's really weird because the Mr and the kids eat them like apples and I want to gag. Tomatoes in sauce? Fine. regular tomatoes? Gross!
I love my cheese. You can work it in though - easiest thing is go for one slice instead of two, and try to limit it to one dish per day. There are sooooo many items that are so much unhealthier than cheese. Meaning, the way I look at my daily diet/nutrition plan - if cheese is the item that's breaking the bank, then I'm doing something wrong.
Nicely done on keeping the runs in zone though - I know that's tough.
good luck with the food plans. i bet ypu'll come around to loving the old legumes. that is a funny word! especially when you say it several times...
How funny, I just did my run workout today and had to be in Zone 1. but unfortunately, I can never seem to find it either. That goes for Z2 as well. I'm just beginning to find Zone 3. It's so frustrating as I'm sure you know! Keep up the good work...great job on the hills and in the pool!
Beans...hmmm, love beans. They are great for fiber and protein. Maybe you can try adding them with other foods (e.g. black beans and pico de gallo) to kinda hide the texture. Oh crap, you said you didn't like tomatoes either. Ok, just mix with your favorite food.
Great job! I've been thinking of going vegetarian, but then I see bacon and it's all over. I am also not a fan of tomatoes. In salsa or sauces, great, but not by themselves. I think it might be a texture thing.
You know someone is serious about their training when they are willing TO WALK TO STAY IN ZONE 1. nuff said...
Working out in a pool .. with fins .. doesn't make much sense to me.
Maybe you could try using a small amount of meat in a vegetable dish.. and top it with just enough cheese for that yummy flavor.
Cutting out meat and cheese may not work much better than cutting out food altogether. When training.. or trying to lose weight variety and moderation (nasty words.. but) .. they might be something to live and run by.
For what it's worth, I've been told that fins in the pool help get your ankle in the proper line and with flexibility. They also increase your pace therefore you heart rate which helps me get used to swimming at a higher heart rate and a faster pace. They make my legs VERY sore so I feel like I'm working those muscles. They also help with drills that are slower so you don't feel like your losing balance :-)
Oh, and they are shorter, different fins than snorkeling/scuba. I love mine. It is another tool to give me variety.
Good job all around!
I'm finding it harder and harder to blog/read up on blogs as this training progresses. I haven't forgotten people, I just don't get to the computer as much! (Maybe that's a good thing??) As for vegetarianism--can't give up the meat. I just cannot stay filled enough with fruits, veggies, or beans. I don't eat/like ANY cheese, so that is not a backup option. I eat a lot of fish however. As for staying in your HR zones. I don't think I even have a Zone 1, 2, or 3 for running, but at least have been able to maintain not going off the charts for longer periods, so I call that success.
Great work on the runs! Use the time alone to cuddle with the pups =)...that's what I would do.
I personally love beans and could never, never, never give up meat again. I was vegetarian for a few years but I haven't a clue how I did it.
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