Swimy Like A Fish

I've been forgetting to mention this, but I've seen 2 Bald Eagles since starting to train outside. Once I was only about 50 yards away from one. It's really cool to see our national symbol up close and personal in the wild.

I got a chair massage at work today which as really nice and relieved all the tension I had in my neck and shoulders.

Today I went back to the pool. I meant to do a bunch of 200s but once I got going I decided to change plans and increase my distance each time. Actually I lost track during my second 200 and just kept going. I ended up doing a 200, 250, 300, and 350. I think I'll keep this plan and start 50 higher each time I swim. That way I'm getting a lot of yards in and building to my race distance of 750. I was also meant to run today but I'm just so exhausted and tired that I decided to go home and rest instead. I've haven't been sleeping well or very long all week. I can combine my 6 mile run and hill work tomorrow.

Swim & Skate all in the Same Building

Headed to the pool after work, boy was it busy today! Most lanes had 2-3 people in them! Normally there are only a few that have to double up. Anyway started out rough because of all the activity and the fact I hadn't been in nearly 2 weeks. Once I got going I was able to find a good pace for me and do a bunch of 100 and 200 sets. I can tell the strength training is really helping my arms because I'm not sore after swimming anymore. I'm still slow, but not stopping nearly as much as I use to. I stayed in for 45 min. and I don't think I would have been able to go much longer. It's funny, once I get going, my mind wanders and thinks about whatever, it's kinda nice actually.

After I dried off and changed I headed to the other end of the building to the ice rink for my weekly figure skating! I got a really good warm-up in today and felt really good on the ice, that makes a huge difference for me. In class I learned edges, all 4 of them. I also got really good at my front crossovers, finally! I stayed late to work on back crossovers since we didn't do them in class today. I also got much better at one foot gliding, both feet both directions, and mohawks. I finally feel comfortable on one foot going backwards and even turning a little. I'm pretty sure I've already passed Adult 2 and may be nearing completion of Adult 3 (there are only 4 levels!) I know my back crossover need to get better before passing out of 3. I can tell the skating is making a difference in my leg muscles, it's working muscles from strength training and those I need while running.

Quads of Steel!

Super tired after work today and normally would have just been lazy and taken a nap, but Discover Strength has a 12 hour cancellation policy. It's nice because then I'm accountable to someone and feel obligated. This blog also makes me feel accountable and keeps me on track and motivated. I had a new trainer tonight and he was really good at pushing me. I also had some new machines. I really like the obliques one! We did a lot of legs at first and I had problems standing up for awhile; literally had to hold onto another machine because I was so shaky and Jell-O legged. My entire legs were shaking on the leg press and that's never happened before. Didn't feel as challenged on the arms and core muscles today, I'll maybe say something next time.

When I got home I found out that my dad is trying to loose 20 pounds, so that's interesting and will help keep better food in the house.

After eating and letting it digest I jumped onto the treadmill with my tape of Dancing with the Stars from last night. For some reason I really like running while watching that show. The time goes quickly and I can keep a better pace. I busted out 3 miles at a decent clip with a few sprints. I can tell my legs are getting much stronger because I could run about a minute faster per mile pace tonight than I have been able to in the past on the treadmill.

Ice Ice Baby

Wednesday was figure skating again, yippee! It amazing how far I've come since starting lessons in January. I've know how to skate since I could walk, but never took formal lessons at all. This week I did a lot of work on a few skills including mohawks (I'm getting really good,) front crossovers (which I'm actually doing correctly now,) and back crossovers in both directions. I think these are easier than front ones, but it's all a matter of getting my feet under me in a good way. P.S. Figure skating, especially backwards, is a great butt workout, just an FYI!

Thursday was my first hill workout and only my third time running outside this season. It amazing how much easier it is to just get out and go run. The weather is near perfect running weather right in the 50s and just before sunset. They are gorgeous around here. I tend to run on paved trails around the lakes in the area. It still seems like running in the fall, which is my favorite season and weather. Although it's weird to have all the leaves off of the trees and ice still on the lake. The sunset was just absolutely beautiful and was getting better for every set I did. I ran down the hill watching the sunset. I was felling so good that I took the long way home!

Friday I had another session at Discover Strength which felt really good today. My favorite song "One" by U2 was on the radio was I was doing the leg press at the beginning so of course I had to be good for the rest of the workout. When I got home I ran 3 miles outside because it was too beautiful not to run and if I didn't I would be extremely sore in the morning. The neighbors were having a bonfire while I was gone, so I stopped by after my run and a beer. Before you go all preachy on me it was a Michelob Ultra, so really it was water with a few extra carbs.

Took Saturday off because I had to work and was exhausted. Just means I have to be good the rest of the week.

Sunday I ran 7 miles on the treadmill. Discovered that it's easier to watch action movies then comedies while running. The action movies keep my attention better. The first few miles were a little rough but then found my groove for the last few.

Tonight I went for a 9 mile bike ride since it was 80 degrees today! It's never been that hot in Minnesota in March before! But there is still some ice on the lakes! I can tell my legs are getting a lot stronger from the running and figure skating. There almost isn't an ounce of fat on my legs now, whoops.

Ugg

Took Monday off too since I was still ubersore from the strength training on Friday and being on my feet all day Saturday.

Tuesday I ran on the treadmill. My goal was suppose to be 10 miles, since I didn't do that on Saturday. I ended up going almost 7, but complications arose just before 5 miles which hindered my progress and drive. I've heard that I need approach long runs as if they were the race itself and use water and goo accordingly. I did have one goo, but ended up not needing it since I didn't last long after that. I found out that running while watching Dancing with the Stars is a good combination!

Pain, Lots & Lots of Pain!

Friday I got my ass kicked at Discover Strength, a weight and strength training facility that I was intorduced to via the Calhoun Beach Running Club last summer. I was so physically tired it was hard to drive home!!! Forget trying to run a little!

Saturday I run the 100% Irish for a Day 5K around Lake Harriet with my cousin. It was a bit chilly, but got better as the race went on. I really suprised myself, my first mile was 11:49! My overall time was :22 short of my personal record! Not too shabby considering that I was ill that morning, sore from training the day before, there was no water on the course and had only run outside once this year before today! My time was 37:42. The season has officially begun for me now.

Took Sunday off because I was working, sore, and very drained!

I Don't Heart Block Training

Really tired all day today, so almost didn't go swimming again. I think I'm getting better with this whole will power thing because before I knew it I was at the pool. I think it helped that I knew I only had to do a short workout today. The bummer was that I had to share a lane which I'm really bad at since I swim really slow. Today I was working on being able to swim more than 50 yards without stopping. I also decided that I needed to work on doing this freestyle only. I ended up doing 5 x 100 yards of freestyle to improve my endurance. I really need to learn how to do flip turns! Anyone want to teach me?

Changed real quick, got home and jumped on the treadmill since it was below freezing, really windy and very icy. I managed to go 5 miles in a faster time than I did it last week. I saw that as improvement especially since I had just swam beforehand and hadn't the week before. I don't mind the treadmill so much because I can watch movies while I run. Crap TV signal though so I had to record Ugly Betty & Grey's Anatomy. That's the only downside to this whole training thing. All I do is work, train, and sleep! I'm too exhausted to do anything else and live for the weekends so I can catch-up with everything that happened and/or needed attention during the week.

Tomorrow I'm starting strength training, which comes in the form of an ass whooping from Discover Strength, a local place here that just does weight training. This could spell disaster for my Irish 5K on Saturday, but we'll see!

Guinness & Figure Skating = Lethal Combination

I had every intention of going swimming right after work and then heading over the the ice rink, well those plans got turned upside down when my dad called, out of the blue, at 4:30 wanting to know if I wanted to go with to Happy Hour with him, his buddy Gordy, Gordy's son Jonathan, and his friend Chantal. FYI, Jonathan & Chantal are both about my age. Well my better judgement did not win out in this round. A Blue Moon, 1/2 a Guinness, buffalo wings, & artichoke crab dip later and I was in fine shape for skating. Off I went to my lessons. I really don't like having a shortened practice/warm-up period. I was really timid on the ice and anyone who knows me knows that I'm kinda a daredevil, especially with skates on my feet, or so it seems lately. My front crossovers were not going well neither were my backwards one foot glides. My backward stroking (get your minds out of the gutter, or I'll backward stroke up your back with my skates on!) got a lot better magically. I also learned 3 new skills: pivots, mohawks, and backward crossovers! I'm suppose to be in Adult 2, but pivots were the only things I didn't know, so now I'm working on Adult 3 skills! P.S. There are only 4 adult levels.

And So It Begins

Today marks the first day of outside training. For the last month I have been driven indoors due to -35 degree weather and 2 blizzards. Because of this I have had to get creative with my training. Consisting of running on the treadmill in my basement, swimming laps at the community center pool, and figure skating weekly at the local ice arena. Today was a balmy 60 degree spring day here in Minnesota. Rare because we were buried in 3 feet of snow just over a week ago. Anyway I moved outside today when I realized I had a bad case of spring fever and it was too nice not to be outside. I managed to pull my bike out from the depths of my garage and I was off! I headed off to the trails I covered countless times last summer. It's a very good thing I have a mountain bike as it turned out I was a little too eager for spring. I had to ford a stream and drive through snow and ice on the path. I was forced to turn around about 1.5 miles in when the snow and ice got too bad to continue. Biking on snow is way dangerous! It seems more slippery than just walking on it! By the time I made it back my entire rear end and back were soaked from water and snow being sprayed up onto me. No matter, I lost the bike and headed back out for a run. I haven't run outside since my half marathon back in late October in Kentucky. My muscles were a little miffed at what it was I was trying to make them do, especially after biking nearly 3 miles. After a little while my legs relaxed and the natural rhythm came back to me. Up and over a big hill, back again, and a sprint to the finish. I forgot how good you feel after a good workout. I also forgot how fast I can go when sprinting! Completely drenched from water, snow, and sweat; not a better way to start off the outdoor training season.