I haven't been training with TIFL since RNR. This is my week to get back into the groove. Bonus I need to get ready for the mock Tri on Sunday, yeah 😍😍😍.
Tuesday is training run. I'm so not into running anymore. Blame it on the Bike Ike!! I love the bike. All I want to do is ride the bike or swim I the pool.
I pair up with the 1/1 pace group. Then we make a group decision to do 0:30/0:30 then we make a unanimous decision to just move. That works with me. The goal is to do the the run distance of the Tri which is 2 miles. We go out for 1 mile and turn Around. I don't know what it is my lower back always aches when I am either running or waking. I know it's because the lower back muscle is weak along with a weak core. It's something I have to work on. Did I mention I am work in progress.
According to RunKeeper (side note: I love that app & I need to send them a tweet or email) we did 2.1 miles. I'll take it. Tomorrow is swim training. This will be my first time making the Wednesday swim. Lazy Johanna has always thought 7:30pm was too late to be doing any form of exercises especially when it's prime recliner time. Since I'm off Thursday I'm there. Thursday is bike training, we are at baileywick, which is the race course. I've heard about the 2 hills that I have to look forward to. Woo hoo.
Tuesday, April 22, 2014
Thursday, April 10, 2014
The longest bike ride so far
For for first time on Thursday I actually drove to the bike ride from home. Because I was coming from a different direction, I took lumley road off 540 and then it hit me I should have take aviaton *Smacks head*
I get to our meeting place about 6:05pm and I see 1 of my buds Lillie already there. Few more tifl athletes show up. Few mentors show up as well. 1 of my fav mentor is the lead tonight, Helen aka Claudia, yeah she's in a witness protection plan because she has multiple aliases she uses. She has brought me a shirt from CRW(Capital Run Walk). They are giving away shirts. How cool is that :-)
We gather round for our route for the night. We are small in #. What's the saying where 2 or more are gathered. That's the PK coming out. 7 athletes and 2 mentors. 6 mile bike ride. I'm rolling with my padded bike shorts tonight. The left leg rides up and I'm showing generous amount of thigh. :-(
All the ladies know that if I am behind you going down a hill I will be "on your left" very soon. I love downhill. It's just me and the wind. "I believe I can fly" oh yeah I really do. What goes down must come back up. I told TIFL mentor Brittany I refuse to walk up the hill on Globe. It's a personal thing. I must ride it no matter how long it takes me. You know what that hill went down again. BOOM!!! Did I mention that Jane showed up after we took off. I love Jane. She's awesome sauce.
I'm feeling all kinds of discomfort on the bike ride. I don't know if it's the shorts or Aunt Flo but I'm in serious pain. I'm ready for the ride to be done so I can make some readjustments. We make it back to the parking lot. RunKeeper reads 5.8 miles. I yell out "I have to make 6 miles" and keep riding through the parking lot. I hit 6.04 miles and drop the bike and get the iPhone and walk around the parking lot with Julie and Lillie. Shoutout to Julie Reed who made her first Thursday bike ride with the group. Yeah!!!
In 3 days I have my next fun filled adventure, the inaugural Raleigh Rock'N Roll half marathon. I have not been feeling excited about this race. I'm really trying to not worry about the course time limit that they so nicely emailed me about the other day. All I could think was diva NMB and the sag van. Then there's the biggest loser Charlotte casting on Saturday that I won a front of the line spot for in a Facebook contest. I don't feel like driving back and forth the day before RNR. Can u say stressed? I can.
It just dawned on me that I only need 3 more miles and I will be at ramblin rose bike distance, woo hoo baby :-)
I get to our meeting place about 6:05pm and I see 1 of my buds Lillie already there. Few more tifl athletes show up. Few mentors show up as well. 1 of my fav mentor is the lead tonight, Helen aka Claudia, yeah she's in a witness protection plan because she has multiple aliases she uses. She has brought me a shirt from CRW(Capital Run Walk). They are giving away shirts. How cool is that :-)
We gather round for our route for the night. We are small in #. What's the saying where 2 or more are gathered. That's the PK coming out. 7 athletes and 2 mentors. 6 mile bike ride. I'm rolling with my padded bike shorts tonight. The left leg rides up and I'm showing generous amount of thigh. :-(
All the ladies know that if I am behind you going down a hill I will be "on your left" very soon. I love downhill. It's just me and the wind. "I believe I can fly" oh yeah I really do. What goes down must come back up. I told TIFL mentor Brittany I refuse to walk up the hill on Globe. It's a personal thing. I must ride it no matter how long it takes me. You know what that hill went down again. BOOM!!! Did I mention that Jane showed up after we took off. I love Jane. She's awesome sauce.
I'm feeling all kinds of discomfort on the bike ride. I don't know if it's the shorts or Aunt Flo but I'm in serious pain. I'm ready for the ride to be done so I can make some readjustments. We make it back to the parking lot. RunKeeper reads 5.8 miles. I yell out "I have to make 6 miles" and keep riding through the parking lot. I hit 6.04 miles and drop the bike and get the iPhone and walk around the parking lot with Julie and Lillie. Shoutout to Julie Reed who made her first Thursday bike ride with the group. Yeah!!!
In 3 days I have my next fun filled adventure, the inaugural Raleigh Rock'N Roll half marathon. I have not been feeling excited about this race. I'm really trying to not worry about the course time limit that they so nicely emailed me about the other day. All I could think was diva NMB and the sag van. Then there's the biggest loser Charlotte casting on Saturday that I won a front of the line spot for in a Facebook contest. I don't feel like driving back and forth the day before RNR. Can u say stressed? I can.
It just dawned on me that I only need 3 more miles and I will be at ramblin rose bike distance, woo hoo baby :-)
Monday, April 7, 2014
Longest swim + hillest bike ride
Good morning Monday! It's taken me some time to recuperate before I blogged about yesterday's brick. For the first time during this TRI journey. I went to church in addition to the training. This running around is really for the birds. I make it 10:30am worship service. Then i have a PPR meeting from 12:30pm-1:30pm which I run out of at 1pm because i need to eat something before 2pm poolside. I run over to Cary, pick up a quick bite, sit in the car and meditate for a few minutes before it's time to get ready for the swim.
At this point, we are literally 6 weeks from Ramblin Rose and 3 weeks from the mock tri. We are at crunch time. Then it literally hit my like a ton of bricks that this will be my last Sunday training before the mock TRI. April 13 is rock n roll. I will probably be sleep or on the couch recovering next sunday around 2pm. I have weekend rotation Eater weekend. Then the mock TRI is April 27. That's life
Let me get back to the brick. Yesterday's brick was swim & bike. Little did we (TIFL athletes) realize that we would also be running after we came back from the bike ride. I'll get to that in a few :-)
We line up in the lanes, beginner, intermediate and advance. Some of my fellow athletes tell me "go on over there, you know you not a beginner" pointing to the intermediate lane. That still cracks me up. We go through our 100 yard drills which turned out being about 400 yards total. Then we are out of the pool. We are going to do 4 lanes of laps. A lap is down for 25 yards and back for 25 yards. We do 4 lanes of laps. In case I have completely lost you, this means we swam for 200 yards. Yes that comes to a total of 600 yards at this point. Who's keeping count? I'm not lol. The mentors are on both ends of the pool cheering us on. I'm on the last lane and i hear my partner in crime Julie yell out "Jo you got this" A little cheering on goes a long way. I take off down for the last lane. I get to the end and a mentor yells out "You only have 25 yards to go" You just don't know how good it is to hear that. 4 lanes done, 200 yards done. I'm out the pool and my heart is BEATING out my chest, my hands are shaking. No flashes of my life comes across so i'm still alive. Then Trish TIFL mentor yells out "anyone want to go for a 2nd round" what i was thinking is probably not allowed on blogger. I opt to not do a 2nd loop. A mentor comes up to me and mentions how fast my push off is and that i should glide through a lane instead of stroking because I am moving much faster. Another tip I will keep for RR.
Now it's time for the real fun, changing out of sweat swim clothes to dry biking clothes. This is the TRI life. This time I brought the biking shorts. They slide on very easy. As soon as I get dressed, wouldn't you know i have to go potty. The bladder of a baby I tell you. I'm walking out with someone who i can't remember right now. It's Sharon Johnson :-) I just remembered. We talk about how this this workout #2 walking the steps up from the locker room to the 2nd floor. I get bike ready.
As we break out into the bike levels. I line up with the intermediate group because i am no way fast. I do like to bike ride. We are told we are going to do 4.8 mile bike ride. I'm thinking that's cool. We did that on Thursday. We hit hills that my thighs are not familiar with. We go through neighborhoods i am unfamiliar with and we hit one hill that i just say FU and walk it. I look up and Jane Waltz is walking it as well. There is no shame in walking your bike up a hill. No there is not. Once I get to flat ground I get back on the back. Snap, crackle and pop goes a muscle. I'm really starting to rethink this whole TRI stuff at this point. We keep on biking, more hills. TIFL mentor Martha is riding with me. She asked me "did you ride up that hill" I nod because at this point speaking requires too much energy. She's more excited than i am that i took down another hill. We run into some more TIFL folks who have made a wrong turn. As we contiune on our ride we wonder where they are. We finally hit the route i am familiar with. We pass that cool as a fan blue corvette. That car is caliente HOT. We get down the hill and turn back towards TAC. As we head back to the picnic tables, i see Julie running but everyone else is done. I guess that means i missed out on the running. I'm all torn up inside lol. Another TIFL brick is done. 200 yard swim (only 50 more yards for the race) + 4.8 mile bike ride. My ASS yes i said ass because that is what it is. I can clean it up my bum is hurting (foam roller i'm coming for you when i get off work). Every time I stand up from my chair i have to brace myself because the butt muscle talks back to me and soon as i prepare to walk away from my chair the muscle decides to do a cha cha. Lord give me strength to make it through this day.
At this point, we are literally 6 weeks from Ramblin Rose and 3 weeks from the mock tri. We are at crunch time. Then it literally hit my like a ton of bricks that this will be my last Sunday training before the mock TRI. April 13 is rock n roll. I will probably be sleep or on the couch recovering next sunday around 2pm. I have weekend rotation Eater weekend. Then the mock TRI is April 27. That's life
Let me get back to the brick. Yesterday's brick was swim & bike. Little did we (TIFL athletes) realize that we would also be running after we came back from the bike ride. I'll get to that in a few :-)
We line up in the lanes, beginner, intermediate and advance. Some of my fellow athletes tell me "go on over there, you know you not a beginner" pointing to the intermediate lane. That still cracks me up. We go through our 100 yard drills which turned out being about 400 yards total. Then we are out of the pool. We are going to do 4 lanes of laps. A lap is down for 25 yards and back for 25 yards. We do 4 lanes of laps. In case I have completely lost you, this means we swam for 200 yards. Yes that comes to a total of 600 yards at this point. Who's keeping count? I'm not lol. The mentors are on both ends of the pool cheering us on. I'm on the last lane and i hear my partner in crime Julie yell out "Jo you got this" A little cheering on goes a long way. I take off down for the last lane. I get to the end and a mentor yells out "You only have 25 yards to go" You just don't know how good it is to hear that. 4 lanes done, 200 yards done. I'm out the pool and my heart is BEATING out my chest, my hands are shaking. No flashes of my life comes across so i'm still alive. Then Trish TIFL mentor yells out "anyone want to go for a 2nd round" what i was thinking is probably not allowed on blogger. I opt to not do a 2nd loop. A mentor comes up to me and mentions how fast my push off is and that i should glide through a lane instead of stroking because I am moving much faster. Another tip I will keep for RR.
Now it's time for the real fun, changing out of sweat swim clothes to dry biking clothes. This is the TRI life. This time I brought the biking shorts. They slide on very easy. As soon as I get dressed, wouldn't you know i have to go potty. The bladder of a baby I tell you. I'm walking out with someone who i can't remember right now. It's Sharon Johnson :-) I just remembered. We talk about how this this workout #2 walking the steps up from the locker room to the 2nd floor. I get bike ready.
As we break out into the bike levels. I line up with the intermediate group because i am no way fast. I do like to bike ride. We are told we are going to do 4.8 mile bike ride. I'm thinking that's cool. We did that on Thursday. We hit hills that my thighs are not familiar with. We go through neighborhoods i am unfamiliar with and we hit one hill that i just say FU and walk it. I look up and Jane Waltz is walking it as well. There is no shame in walking your bike up a hill. No there is not. Once I get to flat ground I get back on the back. Snap, crackle and pop goes a muscle. I'm really starting to rethink this whole TRI stuff at this point. We keep on biking, more hills. TIFL mentor Martha is riding with me. She asked me "did you ride up that hill" I nod because at this point speaking requires too much energy. She's more excited than i am that i took down another hill. We run into some more TIFL folks who have made a wrong turn. As we contiune on our ride we wonder where they are. We finally hit the route i am familiar with. We pass that cool as a fan blue corvette. That car is caliente HOT. We get down the hill and turn back towards TAC. As we head back to the picnic tables, i see Julie running but everyone else is done. I guess that means i missed out on the running. I'm all torn up inside lol. Another TIFL brick is done. 200 yard swim (only 50 more yards for the race) + 4.8 mile bike ride. My ASS yes i said ass because that is what it is. I can clean it up my bum is hurting (foam roller i'm coming for you when i get off work). Every time I stand up from my chair i have to brace myself because the butt muscle talks back to me and soon as i prepare to walk away from my chair the muscle decides to do a cha cha. Lord give me strength to make it through this day.
Thursday, April 3, 2014
1st Real spring bike ride plus a little transition
I love Thursdays. I always have. Thursday = Friday eve woo hoo!! Thursdays used to Ugly, Grey and Lost on ABC. TV Addict party of 1. Now Thursdays mean it is TIFL bike ride, my fav sport of triathlon. Apparently I did not eat alot today because i am starving when i leave work at 4:30. When I make my weekly stop at Chick-fil-A Brier Creek to make my wardrobe change, i order a full combo and completely inhale it in like 3 minutes. Can you say HUNGRY???
I'm chilling at our meetup spot. I normally am not alone but I am. Don't worry, the cashpoints ATM is getting more action that a lady of the night working her corner. A little after 6, i see a fellow TIFL athlete is pulling into the parking lot. I get my bike prepped and ready for wheels down at 6:30. I'm getting more handy with loading and unloading my bike and checking the tire pressure.
Martha our TIFL mentor bike lead announces that after we ride our 4.8 mile loop. We will come back and run or walk a few laps around the parking lot. If you want you can do a 2nd 4.8 mile loop. You want to guess what i did. If you guessed laps around the parking lot, you would be correct.
I've been riding my bike for awhile now but the next ride the sore spots from the last ride wake up and yell out "We're back" I packed my compression shorts and not the padded bike shorts. Sunday I will pack the padded bike shorts :-)
Last week, i was told to lead my body down as i go downhill. I did that again as we are going downhill on Globe. I was flying. Lenny Kravitz was singing beside me "i want to get away, i want to fly away" What goes down must go back up. I pedal one peal at a time back up the hill. I refuse to walk up that hill. I REPEAT i refuse. Hill training is good. that's what i keep telling myself. 4.8 mile loop is done. I dropped my bike by the Max and i walked around the parking lot for 2 laps. Initially once i started walking my legs felt wobbly but then they warmed up and i was good to go. Another bike ride is in the books along with a transition to a walk.
T minus 10 days until Rock 'N Roll. Lord give me energy and motivation.
I'm chilling at our meetup spot. I normally am not alone but I am. Don't worry, the cashpoints ATM is getting more action that a lady of the night working her corner. A little after 6, i see a fellow TIFL athlete is pulling into the parking lot. I get my bike prepped and ready for wheels down at 6:30. I'm getting more handy with loading and unloading my bike and checking the tire pressure.
Martha our TIFL mentor bike lead announces that after we ride our 4.8 mile loop. We will come back and run or walk a few laps around the parking lot. If you want you can do a 2nd 4.8 mile loop. You want to guess what i did. If you guessed laps around the parking lot, you would be correct.
I've been riding my bike for awhile now but the next ride the sore spots from the last ride wake up and yell out "We're back" I packed my compression shorts and not the padded bike shorts. Sunday I will pack the padded bike shorts :-)
Last week, i was told to lead my body down as i go downhill. I did that again as we are going downhill on Globe. I was flying. Lenny Kravitz was singing beside me "i want to get away, i want to fly away" What goes down must go back up. I pedal one peal at a time back up the hill. I refuse to walk up that hill. I REPEAT i refuse. Hill training is good. that's what i keep telling myself. 4.8 mile loop is done. I dropped my bike by the Max and i walked around the parking lot for 2 laps. Initially once i started walking my legs felt wobbly but then they warmed up and i was good to go. Another bike ride is in the books along with a transition to a walk.
T minus 10 days until Rock 'N Roll. Lord give me energy and motivation.
Tuesday, April 1, 2014
April Fools TIFL run
I almost forgot it was April fools day until tonight's TIFL run. We met at 6:30pm on Tuesdays at the crabtree creek trail near the bridge. As we gather together and break into our pace groups, our fearless TIFL Raleigh Chapter President talks about having a strong core. She said a strong core is needed for the sport of triathlon. Tonight after we do 3 intervals of run/walk, we would drop and give her 10 pushups. Right then and there I was thinking about Cartman in Southpark "screw you guys i'm going home" OMG i love me some cartman. I even have a stuffed cartman thanks to an ex-boyfriend. Then Trish says "April fools" The BEST april fools prank ever.If you could have seen the expressions on the faces of myself and my fellow athletes. Where was Helen Bac when you need her to record this moment. It was priceless. I'm still getting a kick out of it hours later. Shoutout to Trish Crabtree, best April fools joke!!
I go out with the 1:1 intervals. I already know I will probably make it through 1-2 intervals. Running for 1 minute just doesn't work me. I felt so sluggish today. I don't if it was the pepper steak from New China that i completely devoured for lunch like i hadn't eaten in weeks. Or is that i feel like a stuffed ham on Easter Sunday when I run. Who knows. After interval 2, my lower back, my nenemsis starts to talk to me and not in a good way. Thank goodness I have an appointment with Dr. Jessica, the BEST chiropractor in the Capital City. She works at Active Chirorpactic on St. Mary's Street. Yes this is a plug. Please tell them I sent you. I have no idea if there is a referral bonus involved :-) My other nemesis started talking my shins, calf muscles. I'm wishing i had packed my calf sleeves. Last time i wore them them started sliding down to my ankles, truly not a good look. I need to put them back into the rotation or bring for a new pair. For the rest of the duration, TIFL mentor Len and I just take it nice and slow. We chit chat about everything from movies which if you know me is my FAV thing to talk about to corporate america and the weather. Hallejuah we are turning around. A few of the other groups have passed us and waiting for us near the bridge. Len says to me "You want to finish strong and pass them" I'm thinking to myself "are you kidding me" Deep down inside there is a competitive chick who shows up every now and then. So you know what I did I took off I mean I really took off. If only I could keep that run forrest run pace every time I might be on to a new PR. RunKeeper definitely got confused because according to it, i ran a 14 minute pace. That's just kra kra. I haven't even check to see what the Garmin said. It will probably have the real pace on it lol
What are we?Triathletes
What do we do?Finish strong
After the run, it's my FAV part the social. We head to our tuesday night hangout, Panera. There must be a connection between athletes and Panera. 2nd time this week i've been there with fellow athletes.
I do this, Panera makes the bomb food and it's not cheap but this salad right there was delish
I go out with the 1:1 intervals. I already know I will probably make it through 1-2 intervals. Running for 1 minute just doesn't work me. I felt so sluggish today. I don't if it was the pepper steak from New China that i completely devoured for lunch like i hadn't eaten in weeks. Or is that i feel like a stuffed ham on Easter Sunday when I run. Who knows. After interval 2, my lower back, my nenemsis starts to talk to me and not in a good way. Thank goodness I have an appointment with Dr. Jessica, the BEST chiropractor in the Capital City. She works at Active Chirorpactic on St. Mary's Street. Yes this is a plug. Please tell them I sent you. I have no idea if there is a referral bonus involved :-) My other nemesis started talking my shins, calf muscles. I'm wishing i had packed my calf sleeves. Last time i wore them them started sliding down to my ankles, truly not a good look. I need to put them back into the rotation or bring for a new pair. For the rest of the duration, TIFL mentor Len and I just take it nice and slow. We chit chat about everything from movies which if you know me is my FAV thing to talk about to corporate america and the weather. Hallejuah we are turning around. A few of the other groups have passed us and waiting for us near the bridge. Len says to me "You want to finish strong and pass them" I'm thinking to myself "are you kidding me" Deep down inside there is a competitive chick who shows up every now and then. So you know what I did I took off I mean I really took off. If only I could keep that run forrest run pace every time I might be on to a new PR. RunKeeper definitely got confused because according to it, i ran a 14 minute pace. That's just kra kra. I haven't even check to see what the Garmin said. It will probably have the real pace on it lol
What are we?Triathletes
What do we do?Finish strong
After the run, it's my FAV part the social. We head to our tuesday night hangout, Panera. There must be a connection between athletes and Panera. 2nd time this week i've been there with fellow athletes.
I do this, Panera makes the bomb food and it's not cheap but this salad right there was delish
Sunday, March 30, 2014
Last brick of March 2014 & bucket decorating
Today's TIFL training session including buckets and tutu's and swimming and run and cold winds. I opted to sleep in and get some well needed rest and skip church. I know I am being such a bad PK :-(
TIFL started at 1pm at TAC. I went shopping at AC Moore yesterday. Apparently I was taking too long because my first born called and said "Jo we are waiting on you" I was actually walking out the door when he called. I asked my BFF was I in there that long. She said "Jo it was 15 minutes" I asked Naish AKA my 1st born "why you call me and tell me you all were waiting" Naish "Jo you were in there like 30 minutes" Kids have no patience lol
Sunday is here and as I am getting some gas i realize that i did not dress properly because it is cold as ice outside and i'm in my yoga pants and jacket and flip flops like it's warmer outside. I'm thinking i might not have brought the right running clothes for after the swim. Oh well, it's after 12:30 and I have to drive to east cary from north east raleigh. I get to TAC and ladies are there with the buckets and starting to get started. The over zelous part of me bought way too much stuff at AC moore as i am pulling it out and laying it on the table. I watch one lady use the duct tape as wallpaper on her bucket. I think that's pretty good let me do the same. Now I'm starting to get into this decorating thing. Let me not forget to shoutout to my very good friend Julie Reed who surprised with my very own roll of minion duct tape. In case you don't know I LOVE the minions. They are happy creatures. We have all gotten caught up with the decorating and realize we need to start getting ready for swimming because it's almost 2. We find out we have to take our buckets to the car. Julie and I carry our buckets to the care. We both agree that was workout #1
We head back in and change for swimming. I love to swim. Swimming in a race is totally different than what i do during the summer at the pool and the beach. We run through various drills. one of the mentors shows me proper kicking form. OMG it's like i just learned the secret to life. I moved so much faster after that. We continue on with the drills. The TIFL mentor who's name just came to me, Barb, she shows me about how the proper form of a full rotation of strokes with leaning on my side to breath. Every training is a learning experience. Then they announce that we are going to do a few laps like we would do in the race. Everyone needs to get out the pool and line up. Getting myself out of the pool is fun all by itself. I actually did much better today than the first time. Progress, progress!!
We line up based on speed. One lady told me "why are you in the back, you are fast". I keep getting told that it just cracks me up because I don't think that I am. We are off to do up and back and cross over 3 lanes for a total of 150 yards. I'm doing ok but i am working on my breathing under water and every now and then i start to freak out and start coughing. I almost think i might have had a panic attack but i get it under control and continue to the next lane. I love when you get to the end of the lane and the mentors are there giving you words of encouragement. I'm on the last lane and one of the mentors tells me "last lap" She had no idea how happy i was to hear that. I swim down for my last lap and the mentors on the other end are clapping and cheering. It was so great to hear. I felt like i just won gold at the Olympics. then we are done with swimming and changing for running. Yeah that's the fun part. Putting on dry clothes on top of wet skin. Of course I have to go potty again. I tell you i have the bladder of a kid. I am so glad i brought my other City of Oaks hat. Shoutout to Ron Wahula COO Race director for those hats.
We meet up by the picnic tables and break up into groups for the run. At this point, i'm still wet, cold and my heart has not calmed down from the transition. I opt for the walkers. We head out to the back of TAC like the bike route. My lower back is screaming back to me like i have done it wrong. I can't wait to see Dr. Jessica on Wednesday, she's my Chiropractor and she ROCKS! Slow leisurely walk with Julie and mentor Karen. We head back and see Valerie at the turn back to TAC. We literally get run over by the runners. Did they forget to say runner back? lol
I have survived another brick training. I am so tired that it doesn't make sense but i'm glad i got it. It's about T minus 10 minutes until Sunday night TV, OUAT and TWD season finale. Woo hoo!!
TIFL started at 1pm at TAC. I went shopping at AC Moore yesterday. Apparently I was taking too long because my first born called and said "Jo we are waiting on you" I was actually walking out the door when he called. I asked my BFF was I in there that long. She said "Jo it was 15 minutes" I asked Naish AKA my 1st born "why you call me and tell me you all were waiting" Naish "Jo you were in there like 30 minutes" Kids have no patience lol
Sunday is here and as I am getting some gas i realize that i did not dress properly because it is cold as ice outside and i'm in my yoga pants and jacket and flip flops like it's warmer outside. I'm thinking i might not have brought the right running clothes for after the swim. Oh well, it's after 12:30 and I have to drive to east cary from north east raleigh. I get to TAC and ladies are there with the buckets and starting to get started. The over zelous part of me bought way too much stuff at AC moore as i am pulling it out and laying it on the table. I watch one lady use the duct tape as wallpaper on her bucket. I think that's pretty good let me do the same. Now I'm starting to get into this decorating thing. Let me not forget to shoutout to my very good friend Julie Reed who surprised with my very own roll of minion duct tape. In case you don't know I LOVE the minions. They are happy creatures. We have all gotten caught up with the decorating and realize we need to start getting ready for swimming because it's almost 2. We find out we have to take our buckets to the car. Julie and I carry our buckets to the care. We both agree that was workout #1
We head back in and change for swimming. I love to swim. Swimming in a race is totally different than what i do during the summer at the pool and the beach. We run through various drills. one of the mentors shows me proper kicking form. OMG it's like i just learned the secret to life. I moved so much faster after that. We continue on with the drills. The TIFL mentor who's name just came to me, Barb, she shows me about how the proper form of a full rotation of strokes with leaning on my side to breath. Every training is a learning experience. Then they announce that we are going to do a few laps like we would do in the race. Everyone needs to get out the pool and line up. Getting myself out of the pool is fun all by itself. I actually did much better today than the first time. Progress, progress!!
We line up based on speed. One lady told me "why are you in the back, you are fast". I keep getting told that it just cracks me up because I don't think that I am. We are off to do up and back and cross over 3 lanes for a total of 150 yards. I'm doing ok but i am working on my breathing under water and every now and then i start to freak out and start coughing. I almost think i might have had a panic attack but i get it under control and continue to the next lane. I love when you get to the end of the lane and the mentors are there giving you words of encouragement. I'm on the last lane and one of the mentors tells me "last lap" She had no idea how happy i was to hear that. I swim down for my last lap and the mentors on the other end are clapping and cheering. It was so great to hear. I felt like i just won gold at the Olympics. then we are done with swimming and changing for running. Yeah that's the fun part. Putting on dry clothes on top of wet skin. Of course I have to go potty again. I tell you i have the bladder of a kid. I am so glad i brought my other City of Oaks hat. Shoutout to Ron Wahula COO Race director for those hats.
We meet up by the picnic tables and break up into groups for the run. At this point, i'm still wet, cold and my heart has not calmed down from the transition. I opt for the walkers. We head out to the back of TAC like the bike route. My lower back is screaming back to me like i have done it wrong. I can't wait to see Dr. Jessica on Wednesday, she's my Chiropractor and she ROCKS! Slow leisurely walk with Julie and mentor Karen. We head back and see Valerie at the turn back to TAC. We literally get run over by the runners. Did they forget to say runner back? lol
I have survived another brick training. I am so tired that it doesn't make sense but i'm glad i got it. It's about T minus 10 minutes until Sunday night TV, OUAT and TWD season finale. Woo hoo!!
Saturday, March 29, 2014
Soak to the bone
Soaked to the bone wet
Saturdays represent Galloway training runs. I kept am eye on the forecast and it keep calling for rain. I don't like to run in rain. Myrtle was my first experience of running in cold, wind and rain. The worst weather you can ever imagine to do a race in. I laid my gear out the night before. It truly makes a difference when you are up in the morning and looking like a chicken with its head chopped off trying to find your gear. When the alarm clock went of at 6, I hit the snooze button twice. I finally dragged out of bed. I was not feeling like doing anything. I got on up and dressed and noticed my left eye was puffy like pink eye. I think it was because I was tired. I go through my pre-run routine and get my fuel ready, peanut nutter and bagel. I can hear the rain. I'm even thinking why am I up? It's a mental game. I was really trying to talk myself out of it. I got up and got ready. I knew I needed to get the workout in since rock n roll is in 2 weeks. I needed to take my new camelbak our for a test drive. I put on my city of oaks hat and rain jacket and headed out to meet my fellow Galloway peeps. We were meeting at the new fleet feet location I'm north Raleigh off six forks. As I get closer to the store, I see other crazies running to the store. As I pull into the parking lot I see a friendly face, Cheryl who I knew from Fit-Tastic. I tuck my keys and phone in my camelback and head to the store where most folks are inside staying dry until the start. I see one of the pace leaders with a ziploc bag and I remember I was going to put my phone in one and totally forgot. I go up to the cash register and ask the fleet feet cashier is they have ziploc bag. She goes and checks, no bag but she gives me a trash bag which wrap my phone in like a precise meat at the butchers counter. Thanks Fleet Feet lady who's name I don't remember.
7:30 is here and we roll out my pace groups. My group is the honey badgers. We run 14-15 minute mile. I should say that's the goal but I've never gotten that fast. It's coming. We are small in #. I think where 1 or 2 are gathered. That's the PK coming out. We start out our on 8 mile journey. It's raining but the temp is in the 60s which is very bearable. Our group breaks out in men who are doing 30/30 intervals and us girls who are just out here to move and we make a mutual decision to just walk. I'm thinking the race jacket was a good choice until a about a mile 1. I'm sweating like a hot yoga class. We go up and down the hills on six forks road. I'm starting to feel the hills. You should know that me and hills are not friends. We hit the greenway on Longstreet and I'm starting to start to feel real sluggish and tired and ready to be done with this foolishness that is running. We met the male honey badgers after we cross the 2nd bridge. I decide to turn back with them, they continue with their 30/30 and I confine to put one foot in front of the other. I have just passed sawmill drive. There is a puddle that looks like lake Crabtree. I walk around it I'm the grass and wouldn't you know it my left food goes right into a hole. The entire foot is submerged and completely wet. I be damn it must be time for me to get the H-E-double hockey sticks out this weather. A few of the fast pace groups pass me and yell out "good job Johanna". One lady smacks me on my back. I thought that was hilarious. I make it to six forks and it's up hill to 1 get about a mile from colonnade drive and it flattens out. I'm so excited when I can see the intersection. I wait patiently and cross over and I hobble over to my car and sir and recoup for a minute. I know there is a dry shirt waiting for me and panera with my fellow Galloway peeps. The Garmin read 4.58 miles. I'll take it. Tomorrow is TIFL brick of swimming & running. Lord give me strength.
Saturdays represent Galloway training runs. I kept am eye on the forecast and it keep calling for rain. I don't like to run in rain. Myrtle was my first experience of running in cold, wind and rain. The worst weather you can ever imagine to do a race in. I laid my gear out the night before. It truly makes a difference when you are up in the morning and looking like a chicken with its head chopped off trying to find your gear. When the alarm clock went of at 6, I hit the snooze button twice. I finally dragged out of bed. I was not feeling like doing anything. I got on up and dressed and noticed my left eye was puffy like pink eye. I think it was because I was tired. I go through my pre-run routine and get my fuel ready, peanut nutter and bagel. I can hear the rain. I'm even thinking why am I up? It's a mental game. I was really trying to talk myself out of it. I got up and got ready. I knew I needed to get the workout in since rock n roll is in 2 weeks. I needed to take my new camelbak our for a test drive. I put on my city of oaks hat and rain jacket and headed out to meet my fellow Galloway peeps. We were meeting at the new fleet feet location I'm north Raleigh off six forks. As I get closer to the store, I see other crazies running to the store. As I pull into the parking lot I see a friendly face, Cheryl who I knew from Fit-Tastic. I tuck my keys and phone in my camelback and head to the store where most folks are inside staying dry until the start. I see one of the pace leaders with a ziploc bag and I remember I was going to put my phone in one and totally forgot. I go up to the cash register and ask the fleet feet cashier is they have ziploc bag. She goes and checks, no bag but she gives me a trash bag which wrap my phone in like a precise meat at the butchers counter. Thanks Fleet Feet lady who's name I don't remember.
7:30 is here and we roll out my pace groups. My group is the honey badgers. We run 14-15 minute mile. I should say that's the goal but I've never gotten that fast. It's coming. We are small in #. I think where 1 or 2 are gathered. That's the PK coming out. We start out our on 8 mile journey. It's raining but the temp is in the 60s which is very bearable. Our group breaks out in men who are doing 30/30 intervals and us girls who are just out here to move and we make a mutual decision to just walk. I'm thinking the race jacket was a good choice until a about a mile 1. I'm sweating like a hot yoga class. We go up and down the hills on six forks road. I'm starting to feel the hills. You should know that me and hills are not friends. We hit the greenway on Longstreet and I'm starting to start to feel real sluggish and tired and ready to be done with this foolishness that is running. We met the male honey badgers after we cross the 2nd bridge. I decide to turn back with them, they continue with their 30/30 and I confine to put one foot in front of the other. I have just passed sawmill drive. There is a puddle that looks like lake Crabtree. I walk around it I'm the grass and wouldn't you know it my left food goes right into a hole. The entire foot is submerged and completely wet. I be damn it must be time for me to get the H-E-double hockey sticks out this weather. A few of the fast pace groups pass me and yell out "good job Johanna". One lady smacks me on my back. I thought that was hilarious. I make it to six forks and it's up hill to 1 get about a mile from colonnade drive and it flattens out. I'm so excited when I can see the intersection. I wait patiently and cross over and I hobble over to my car and sir and recoup for a minute. I know there is a dry shirt waiting for me and panera with my fellow Galloway peeps. The Garmin read 4.58 miles. I'll take it. Tomorrow is TIFL brick of swimming & running. Lord give me strength.
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