Official Week 1 Training (and some positive self-talk)

Here is my Official Week 1 Triathlon Training Schedule! It's basically a repeat of last week, but it is now 12 weeks until Race Day. My goal is to get in 2 each of Swim/Bike/Run and Strength Training. This is when I start marking off each day with my fat black marker.

Now for positive afirmations. Repeat after me:
"My training is important to me and I will not allow life or lazy get in the way!"
"I will make good food choices so that I feel strong, not sluggish and cranky!"
"I love water. I love water. I love water. Mmmmm water."
"One day closer. One day stronger. One day faster!"

May 11-17
Mon - Bike. 10-12 mile easy ride with the LBC (see previous post)
Tues - Strength during lunch/Swim
Wed - Run
Thurs - Strength during lunch/Bike
Fri - Run
Sat - Rest or Short Run
Sun - Swim

Last Week (What actually happened)
Mon - Run/Swim (This is switched to Bike because of the Bike class I'm taking)
Tues - Strength
Wed - Bike (Swited to Swim. See Monday's notes)
Thur - Strength/Run
Fri - Run
Sat - Rest
Sun - Rest

A Case of the Mondays - Bike Ride Tonight!

I'm having a little trouble getting my attitude in gear this morning. It's Monday. I am not a Monday or Morning person. I do try. I just wasn't blessed that way. I had to travel quite a bit this weekend and so I missed my swim workout yesterday. Everything was hectic up until time to go to bed last night and I really like to have a calm, settled Sunday night.

My wonderful son did take me out to see the new Star Trek for Mother's Day and gifted me with and awesome running shirt. I hope all of my other mother friends had great days with their children!

I am looking forward to the ride tonight. Are you new to cycling also? Then come check out the Louisville Cycling Club's newbie ride tonight. I promise I'll be in a better mood by then! Promise, promise.

Bike Handling Class – Clothing & Gear, Gearing & Shifting. Become a better cyclist!. Participants should plan on attending as many sessions as possible. Classes will start promptly at 6:15 with a hands-on activity and conclude with a short 10- to 12-mile ride. Waterfront Park, Yellow Parking Lot. All skill levels welcome. RC: Tom Armstrong 502-523-9581, education@louisvillebicycleclub.org.

I'm Also a Logger

Next Friday, my company will begin round two of it's version of a Biggest Loser Contest, Pfit. Right now, I'm going over in my head what made my first bout so successful and am preparing to tighten up any habits I may have let loosen over the past month. Although I've been working out like a mad woman, I've also been letting myself eat more than I did while in the first round of the contest. I'm evidently in a state of perfect equilibrium since the scale hasn't budged in a few weeks. Since I'm still several pounds heavier than I would like to be, I'm going to use Pfit2 to go back on the offensive.

One thing that I did religiously during the competition is log my food. Write it all down. Every bite. Gum included. I used The Daily Plate on livestrong.com. There are thousands of foods in their system and it's very easy to register, set your weekly weight loss and/or calorie goals and then log your food and fitness workouts for the day. And if you really want to geek out, there are lovely charts all over the place to show you how you are doing and how what you are eating breaks down.

I know that all the skinny experts tell you to log your food. Blah, blah, blah. I'm sorry Sweets, they're right. Logging your food can show you if you are eating too much, or too little. So many people, women especially, eat too few calories while trying to lose weight and it can cause your weight loss to stall. You definitely have to fuel your body.

And do you ever have those days where you get off track and by the afternoon you think you've blown it so you just call it bust and stuff your face the rest of the day? I certainly have. If you log your food, even when you fall off the wagon, you may find that you haven't blown it as badly as you think and still have calories remaining for the day. Have a salad and pat yourself on the back. Your setback was miniscule!

So, log your food. I know. It's a pain. But only at first. Once it's a habit, it fits right into your daily routine and it will be just like brushing your teeth. If you don't brush your teeth I really can't help you. You're on your own.

Monday Night Cycling

Monday night Seth and I attended our first Bike Handling Class and Ride.

Thank you to all the wonderful volunteers from the Louisville Bike Club! They were great. They were very welcoming to a couple of newbies and were kind enough not point out a myriad of obvious mistakes that we made. And when they did need to correct us on something, they did not make us feel stupid or discouraged about it.
Special thanks to Laura who stayed with us after a dropped chain incident. She lead us safely through the streets of Louisville and our fun was not interrupted by our little snafoo.

Some lessons learned in addition to the ABC Quick Check that Tom went through:

• Wear pants that are snug about the ankles or that end before your leg reaches the chain-wheel. I destroyed the right leg of my favorite pair of workout pants.
• Wear a bright shirt so that you are easily seen. I wore a medium blue shirt and was very conscious of the fact that my day-glo yellow co-riders were much more visible that I was.
• It really is just like riding a bike. You don't forget. And other skills, like gear shifting, kick in quickly.
• Gloves are good. My hands hurt after the ride. You don't realize how hard you are gripping your handlebars. This will probably ease up as my brain realizes that I've got a fair chance of not dying.

Next class: Clothing & Gear, Gearing & Shifting. Become a better cyclist!. Participants should plan on attending as many sessions as possible. Classes will start promptly at 6:15 with a hands-on activity and conclude with a short 10- to 12-mile ride. Waterfront Park, Yellow Parking Lot. All skill levels welcome. RC: Tom Armstrong 502-523-9581, education@louisvillebicycleclub.org.

May Lap Swim Calendar - UL Natatorium

Here is the May Lap Swim Calendar for UofL's Ralph Wright Natatorium. Since this place is about 2 minutes from my house, it is my pool of choice.

Length Schedule Days:
Tue, Wed & Thurs. - The pool will be set up 25yd lanes (short course)
Fri, Sat, Sun & Mon - 50m lanes (long course)

Does that mean I have to become a Cardinals fan? Maybe for the Swim team.

Louisville Ironman - Volunteer Confirmation

I've received my Ironman volunteer confirmation. If you are going to be competing, I may be helping you out.

Friday, August 28 - Althlete Check-In
Saturday, August 29 -- Bike & Gear Check-In
Sunday, Augutst 30 - Chip Retrieval

Good luck to all!
You can volunteer, here.

Bike Handling Class Tonight!

The Louisville Bicycling Club will be starting a new Bike Handling Class this evening with several Monday sessions over the next few weeks. If you want to see something funny you will come out and join my 14-year-old in making fun of me since I haven't been on a bike in years. Here are the deets:

Bike Handling Class – ABC Quick Check, Road Rules and Etiquette. Become a better cyclist!. Participants should plan on attending as many sessions as possible. Classes will start promptly at 6:15 with a hands-on activity and conclude with a short 10- to 12-mile ride. Waterfront Park, Yellow Parking Lot. All skill levels welcome. RC: Tom Armstrong 502-523-9581, education@louisvillebicycleclub.org.