Week 8; Day 4: Thursday (plus catch up)

Daily learning / random notes: As I suspected, I have not had a lot of time or energy to train this week. I have a big creative event happening on Saturday and my energy is going into preparing for that.

I got a whole bunch of books from the library and have been working my way through them. As someone who is training for her first triathlon, some books were less meaningful than others. One of these books, which is more appropriate for someone who is not on her first triathlon, is called The Triathlete's Training Bible by Joe Friel. I did find a great quote in this book that really struck me, "Swimming, cycling, and running reduce life to its most basic elements---breathing and movement." The quote is in a section called "Training to Go the Distance" and is all about why people do triathlons. What it says is that it is less about the races and more about the training. Having not actually competed in a triathlon, I cannot comments on this but it resonates with me.

I signed up for a Master Swim class at my pool. It will be only one of the 3 swimming training days each week. I do think it is exactly what I need to make sure that a) I am swimming correctly and b) I can figure out how to get faster (I am s-l-o-w). This added to the total training cost but I think it will be worth it. It doesn't start for a couple of weeks though. I will report back after it begins.

Total training cost: $198.50

Total distance swum: 11150 yards. (6.33 miles!)

Results of past few days:
Monday - Swam 32 laps, ran/walked for 15 minutes as my partner couldn't go.
Tuesday - Supposed to bike but did not because I had to watch kids for spring break.
Wednesday - Swam 22 laps, ran/walked for 60 minutes. Not motivated today but trained anyway.
Thursday - Today is supposed to be my day off but I need to change my training schedule because I am not getting to work out on Sundays. According to that, I should do a 10 mile bike ride. Ok - done. It took me 48 minutes and 40 seconds. I was in traffic for part of that. And coming home there was a huge headwind. Yuck. This is the first time I have ever timed myself. I really like riding by the river.

Week 7; Day 7: Sunday

Daily learning / random notes: All right...so this is more of a catch up post than anything else. I will say that posting this week is going to be spotty as I have some other stuff going on. I am definitely not biking enough times a week or running long enough. I need to up my training. I am not sure it will happen this week.

Total training cost: $154.50

Total distance swum: 9800 yards.

Results of past few days:
Friday - Swam 32 laps - Personal Record! Did not bike as we went out of town.
Saturday - Ran 20 minutes on beach.
Sunday - Took the day off (due to exhaustion).

Week 7; Day 5: Thursday

Daily learning / random notes: I like biking but I am having some neck pain. Is that normal? Technically this was my day off but I wanted to make up the bike ride I missed on Tuesday. I am thinking of mixing it up a little.

I am also thinking of doing a run - Bridge to Brews. I would run over the Fremont Bridge (which I have always wanted to do) AND get two beers at the end. What could be better?

Total training cost: $154.50

Total distance swum: 9000 yards.

Activity	Distance	Results
Swim	Off	n/a
Bike	6 miles	Biked 6 miles.
Run / Walk	Off	n/a

Catching up...

Ok, it may seem like I gave up on this whole endeavor. But I haven't, really! I have just had a few obstacles. The last time I wrote was March 9th. Here is an update on what I have been doing since then.

As you may remember, I had fallen on March 8th. This ended up causing all sorts of problems which were fixed (?!?) by rest and chiropractic appointments.

March 10th was a bike ride which I skipped because I had a sprained wrist.
March 11th was a swim and run. I did swim 16 laps (and bought another 10 swims for $65).
March 12th was my day off and I took it.
March 13th I swam 30 laps but did not bike because of wrist.
March 14th and 15th I had no childcare and didn't exercise at all.
March 16th I went to Boot Camp which ended up being a mistake and within that hour I ran for 13 minutes. I also went swimming but sadly I didn't track how many laps I did. It would have been at least 20.
March 17th I was supposed to go for a bike ride but I was too tired.
March 18th I swam 20 laps and walked but mostly ran for about 30 minutes.

Which brings me to today. I definitely was de-motivated in general and more so by my fall. But I feel like I am back. I understand that these ups and downs are a normal part of training.

Week 6; Day 1: Monday

Daily learning / random notes: Last night I fell and wrenched my right side (neck, arm and hit my wrist). I decided to skip swimming today because of the pain in my wrist. But I did get to go run/walking! Yay

Total training cost: $89.50

Total distance swum: 6850 yards.

Activity	Distance	Results
Swim	Warm up, Freestyle 300 yards, Cool down 100 yards	Skipped swimming today.
Bike	Off	n/a
Run / Walk	35 minutes	Walk 4:30 minutes / jog 2:30 minutes. My friend and I both forgot our watches but we walk / ran anyway. It was all good.

Week 5; Day 7: Sunday

Daily learning / random notes: Because I got a cold, this week was not a very intense week for me. But I feel like I finished strong...

I am struggling with what to do about the cost of swimming. It may actually make sense for me to join the health club where I have been swimming. I need to do the math.

Another question I have is about neck tension while riding a bike. How do you not get it? Where are you supposed to be looking? What is the proper neck angle. More research to do.

Total training cost: $89.50

Total distance swum: 6850 yards.

Activity	Distance	Results
Swim	Off	n/a
Bike	4 miles	Biked ~9 miles today. I biked to the path that runs along Marine Drive which was almost 3 miles just to get there. I did have to go over a bridge where there is not much room for a bike but it was ok. I am sure I will be sore tomorrow.
Run / Walk	Off	n/a

Week 5; Day 6: Saturday

Daily learning / random notes: Today was another sick day.

Week 5; Day 5: Friday

Daily learning / random notes: I am feeling super sick today so I made a decision not to exercise. I hope I get better soon. I know the race is a long way out so missing a few days here and there isn't going to mess everything up but I had been in a good groove I don't want to lose.

Total training cost: $89.50

Total distance swum: 6850 yards.

Activity	Distance	Results
Swim	Warm up, Freestyle 200 yards, Cool down 100 yards	Did not swim.
Bike	4 miles	Did not bike.
Run / Walk	Off	n/a

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Week 5; Day 4: Thursday

Daily learning / random notes: Today is my weekly day off and I celebrated (?!?!) by getting sick. Groan.

Total training cost: $89.50

Total distance swum: 6850 yards.

Week 5; Day 3; Wednesday

Daily learning / random notes: My walk/job partner thought I was busy tonight and went early. I didn't feel like going out in the dark by myself so I did not go. I guess this is one of the bad things about waiting till night time to exercise. My shoulder was sore in swimming but less than on Monday. I think switching my mouse to the other hand has helped.

Total training cost: $89.50
Total distance swum: 6850 yards.

Activity	Distance	Results
Swim	Warm up, Freestyle 200 yards, Cool down 100 yards	30 laps of 25 yards = 750 yards.
Bike	Off	n/a
Run / Walk	Walk/jog for 20 minutes	Did not do this today.

Week 5; Day 2: Tuesday

Daily learning / random notes: I think I need to move my mouse from my right hand to my left hand. I can't believe that I didn't talk about bike fit yesterday! My friend C offered to help me fit my bike. I brought my bike into work and he helped me get the seat set up and checked the pedals. There are a few issues. One is that my seat is quite a bit higher than the handlebars. About 10 cm actually. The top stem (?) is at it's maximum height so I won't be able to get height there. Unfortunately, it is also an older style so it would be very difficult to change out. I am going to try putting my pedals on the bike and just try it out. Basically if it hurts to ride it, it is not right. I will test it out today.

I am grateful to C and all the others who are helping me to meet my goal of doing a triathlon.

Total training cost: $89.50

Activity	Distance	Results
Swim	Off	n/a
Bike	5 miles	Rode 5 miles. My hands definitely got numb at points which I don't think is a good thing. I also had to be a little careful because in some positions my right knees was hurting. I still have to put my pedals on.
Run / Walk	Off	n/a

Week 5; Day 1: Monday

Daily learning / random notes: I got a book on Triathlon from the library but it doesn't appear to be the right book for me. I am hoping that one of the other ones I reserved will be better. I was flagging last week but I feel like perhaps I am ready to get back to it.

Total training cost: $89.50

Total distance swum: 6100 yards.

Activity	Distance	Results
Swim	Warm up, Freestyle 250 yards, Cool down 100 yards	26 laps of 25 yards = 650 yards. My shoulder is still bothering me a tiny bit. I tried a variety of strokes today to minimize using my shoulder.
Bike	Off	n/a
Run / Walk	20 minutes	Walk 5 minutes / jog 2 minutes. This is the first time I have jogged in this whole training plan. I did cycles of walking 5 minutes and jogging 2 minutes. My friend P and I did this for about 40 minutes. My knees are sore.

Week 4; Day 7: Sunday / 1 Month Recap

Daily learning / random notes: Today marked the end of the first month of training. I wish I could say I went out with a bang but I am afraid I am going out with a frizzle. Sundays are just not good days for working out. I think I may have to trade my "off" day so that it is on Sunday. Up to now I have been unwilling to change the plan at all but I think I will be more successful if I do.

I have been feeling a little bit down and it is reflected in my motivation. Hopefully I will be able to get it back together.

Total training cost: $89.50

Total distance swum: 5450 yards.

Activity	Distance	Results
Swim	Off	n/a
Bike	5 miles	Biked zero miles.
Run / Walk	Off	n/a

Week 4; Day 6; Saturday

Daily learning / random notes: I really enjoyed a hike at Hoyt Arboretum with my family. This is the second week in a row and I love it there. It was much more fun than just going for a walk.

Total training cost: $89.50

Total distance swum: 5450 yards.

Activity	Distance	Results
Swim	Off	n/a
Bike	Off	n/a
Run / Walk	Walk / jog for 25 minutes	I did not "walk" to walk today. However, I did go for a hike for about an hour. In the middle of it, I did three sets of stairs.

Week 4; Day 5: Friday

Daily learning / random notes: I was actually driving to swim when I realized that my shoulder was hurting so at the last minute I decided not to go. I think I made a good decision.

Total training cost: $89.50

Total distance swum: 5450 yards.

Activity	Distance	Results
Swim	Warm up, Freestyle 200 yards, Cool down 100 yards	Skipped swimming today because my shoulder was hurting. I am hoping it is only because I did a bunch of push ups yesterday and not because I am swimming improperly.
Bike	4 miles	Biked 5 miles on bike a gym.
Run / Walk	Off	n/a