February Totals!

So now that February has come and gone, I thought I'd put together some totals from my exercise record that I record on the Runner's World Calendar (see photo above) hanging in my bathroom!

Runs (5): 9km, 10km, 9.5km, 5km, 10km = 43.5 km

Walks (1): 45 minutes

Spin classes: 3

Swims (4): 1500, 1500, 1700, 1800 = 6500 meters

Basketball: 3 games played (1 hour each)

Ski days: 2 at Marmot in Jasper

So I had 18/29 days with some form of exercise, over the course of four weeks. That works out to 4.5 days of exercise each week. That's not a bad start, but I really would like to kick things up a notch in March, as I am still not feeling anywhere near as in shape as I would like to be, and there are only 119 days left until the Great White North half ironman triathlon - or 17 weeks to go.

March will be a short month for me, since I'll be in Mexico during the last week - hooray for spring break! So over the next 3 weeks, I would really like to complete the following:

at least 5 swims, at least 5 spin classes, at least 6 runs, and one more ski trip of course! If I can get in more than that, even better.

Here's a sample of my training schedule for this week:

Sunday (today): 14km long run

Monday: swim training (1500m or so)

Tuesday: basketball game

Wednesday: swim training (1500m or so)

Thursday: spin class, followed by at least a 20 minute brick run

Friday: off

Saturday: skiing in Jasper

I feel REALLY busy, and I am still not at my dream of 2 runs, 2 bikes, 2 swims per week. Add in work, friends, family and an amazing new boyfriend...how does one fit it all in?!? Thank goodness I get to work out with friends and run with the boyfriend, or I'm not sure what I would do.

I have to be proud of myself for what I've gotten done, even if it's not at any kind of elite level, it's still way more than the couch potatoes of the world did last month, and my health and fitness is increasing, even if it's taking time.

"I feel good..."

So here I am in the midst of week number two of truly getting back into a workout routine, and I'm feeling good!

Last week, I ran, played basketball, went swimming, and went to spin class twice! I'm definitely proud of myself.

So far this week, I ran, went swimming, played basketball and went swimming again already, and it's only Wednesday today! I also managed to fit a couple of dates in between all of that too. Now that's crosstraining! lol :)

This weekend will be back to skiing and snowboarding as crosstraining, and I'm super excited to get out to the mountains again. My long run this weekend will have to be on Monday, but that's fine as it's the Family Day long weekend here in Alberta and I have Monday off!

I am riding a wave of good endorphins this week, and ♪♪ "I feel good..." ♫as James Brown so eloquently sings...gosh I hope this is how I feel once the kilometres start increasing as this triathlon training progresses....

Swim training: fear, anxiety...success!

So I finally went swimming tonight! After a few weeks of talking about how I should go, and could go, I finally went, with my triathlon training buddies Shauna and Elisha. Never underestimate the power of training buddies!

I was initially a bit fearful and anxious, partly because I haven't swam in five months, and partly because this wasn't going to be just a few casual laps...we were going to "swim training!" This meant that we were going to be following a pre-planned program, alongside many skilled swimmers, with the assistance of a coach.

However, when we got to the pool, I have to say the prospect of just doing some prescribed laps was far less daunting than when I had done the swim leg of my last triathlon in the very same pool about five years ago. I wasn't going to be racing tonight, just training!

I was also worried that I'd be the slowest person in the pool, but I wasn't, this time anyway! The workout we followed was actually quite manageable, even in the 50m pool. The coach stopped me at one point to talk about my arms, and ask why I was using a dramatic "S" curve under the water. I'd been coached to do that in the past, and it was just the way I knew how to swim! He got me to try using my arms in a straighter position instead, and it gave me a lot more power. Coming to swim training was worth it just for that learning point alone!

We did 1500m of swimming in total tonight, and I felt really good for most of it. The final 400m was with swim fins on, and that was fun and fast...until I got a serious leg cramp in about the final 25m, so I had to swim in kicking only one leg - quite the sight I'm sure!

I kept saying to myself throughout the afternoon that going to swim training tonight was going to be my, "Do one thing everyday that scares you" event. Well, it didn't scare me as much once I got going, that is for sure! I'm glad I took that step outside my comfort zone in the name of progress. I am looking forward to swimming again next week!

And once again, in regards to my training buddies, in the words of the musical group The Wanted, "I'm glad you came!"

First "long" run of 2012 done!

Yesterday's workout didn't happen. I was proud of myself for waking up in time to eat a healthy breakfast and get myself to the gym in time for Saturday morning spin class...I got there with time to spare, and then... when I went to grab my workout bag from the car, SURPRISE!

I forgot my running shoes at home!

I screamed, I cursed, I pounded the steering wheel, and I literally cried as I drove home. I took care of my frustration by debating whether I should go for a run or not, and sink into the sofa under a soft, fuzzy blanket and watch Grey's Anatomy on the PVR instead. Lame, I know, but calming down and forgiving myself was the priority.

Today was much more successful. I headed to the Running Room this morning to resurrect the Sunday morning long run!

I got to run 9km with my friends Tanis & Jocelyn (& others in my pace group), and then go for post run treats at the Wild Earth bakery with my long-time running pal Tess.

Unfortunately, I couldn't run with Tess because during my 6 week hiatus from running, she diligently kept training & sped up, & I naturally slowed waaaay down. I'm not really surprised, I always end up letting skiing/snowboarding become the priority in December and January, but I'm still disappointed to feel so much slower.

Now to set my goals for the upcoming week: 1 basketball game, 2 more runs, 1 swim and 1 spin class.

It's all about reasonable goals! Better to start slow than to not start at all!

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I ran! All by myself!

It was a beautiful 5 degrees outside when I got home from work around 5:00 p.m. today, AND it was still daylight outside! So, the first thing I did once I got inside was to steer clear of the sofa, and change into my running clothes, right away.

I got out for a nice, steady half hour run around my neighborhood, and it felt great. First run of 2012, and first run in a month, but it's a start! I'm proud of myself for exercising alone for once. And it even made me feel a lot better about the fact that I was told today that my car needs $1800 in repairs and maintenance. :(

Running is better than drugs or alcohol as a mood enhancer, that's for sure!

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Triathlon training has finally begun!

So I have made progress...I went to my first spin class of 2012! This means that my triathlon training has truly begun!

I went to World Health Club with my friend Shauna yesterday, and the hour long spin class was a clear reminder that 4 weeks off running will really reduce a person's cardio levels! The class was good, although I wanted to shoot the overly cheerful instructor every time she "Woohoo"-ed, rather incessantly. By the time I left WHC, I had signed up for a month-to-month membership. Now I'm financially motivated to get my butt to at least one, if not two spin classes each week, with the added bonus of having Shauna to work out with (again!), and I'll also have a warm and not icy place to run as well.

My friend Jinhee commented on Facebook today how triathlon training is hard, and was lamenting that she is "only" running 2x a week, swimming 2x a week and getting to one spin class. My goal is to be just like Jinhee, and hopefully do 2x spin as well, plus get in some occasional Friday night hot yoga classes, like I was doing during my half-marathon training this fall. Hot yoga is both an excellent way to stretch and a fabulous wind-down from the week that lets me start the weekend all relaxed and content.

I came across this quote yesterday on Pinterest, and I think if I reworded it with "finish each month," then I would say it's a great mantra for me for the time being!

Finish each day & be done with it. You have done what you could. Learn from it; tomorrow is a new day. -Ralph Waldo Emerson

The running shoe isn't tired yet...

So my January started without a schedule...and the result has been a complete lack of any regularly scheduled running, swimming or cycling. In fact, the only exercise my body saw this month was 7 days of snowboarding and skiing, and a couple hours of basketball!

Now before I beat myself up too much, even if I haven't become a powerhouse triathlete (YET!), I am still proud of myself for some accomplishments this month. I've been skiing since I was a little girl, but for the past several years, I had become an avid snowboarder, to the point that my skis were starting to gather dust. I splurged and bought a new pair of skis at the end of November, and they've already seen 4 mountain days of skiing! The snowboard isn't completely neglected though, and got out for 3 mountain days.

My new skis ready to go on their maiden voyage at Blackcomb...

along with my purple poles from 1988!

I went to Sunshine and Kicking Horse over the New Year's weekend with a big crew of my friends, and we rang in 2012 together in Canmore, Alberta. Then I was off to Whistler/Blackcomb the next week, and got to ski with my best friend Michelle! The next weekend I was one of three teacher supervisors who took a busload of teenagers (49 this time!) to ski in Fernie, B.C. Last weekend I went to Jasper in January, and skied Marmot Basin with two of my favourite run buddies.

Snowboarding at Kicking Horse

Basketball has also come back into my life for the first time in quite some time! I played basketball in high school, and I coached junior high girls' and boys' basketball for years, but this is the first time I'm playing basketball with a team in a very long time. I played in my first game last night, and it was a lot of fun! I got in one nice layup, and our team won. And I got to feel the runner's high for the first time in weeks - I was SO happy to feel those endorphins again.

My brand spankin' new high-top basketball shoes

- my first pair in over 20 years!

So even though I haven't maintained my running from 2011, or really even begun training for my triathlon yet, I really enjoyed my January of cross-training in the mountains, and that's what I'm going to call it!

I think what I've clearly reaffirmed this month are two things: 1) I need a schedule or else I won't get out the door to exercise, and 2) I need my workout buddies to keep me on track too.

I'm planning to head to my first spin class tomorrow night, and then, big surprise, I'm heading back to the mountains for more skiing this weekend in Banff! At least the friends that I'm going skiing with are also my workout buddies, and we can sit down and draft a schedule while we're together this weekend.

If at first you don't succeed, don't cry because it's over, smile because it happened. I love my friends, and I love skiing and snowboarding with them, so all things considered, I am thankful for a very fun month, and find myself very eager to get back into running and training! Really, that can only be a good thing!