Thursday 9/18

Went to the Iron Girl clinic/meeting at Penn Cycle tonight - babysitter fell through - so once again the kids are involved in my training. Took along the double stroller - we lasted 1/2 an hour before impending meltdown forced us to leave.

My takeaways - no one comes in last - even if there is nobody behind you there are how many thousands of people who are just getting out of bed - you're way ahead of them.
true so true.

First-timers - don't worry about time. How are you supposed to know what your time should be when you've never done this ? Just have fun and finish.

Only two people got kicked off the course for going too slow - so I think I can do it.


Tape pictures of things that motivate you or make you smile on to your handlebars - that will keep you going when things get rough.


- then Ben started screaming - time to make my exit....

Tuesday - Wednesday 9/16-17

Tuesday 9/16
Spin Class at lunch - got final motivation and advice from Dee. She also gave me some great stretches to to for my hip - also to use between biking and running.


Wednesday 9/17

Took it easy - just walked downtown and back. Went to bed early - allergy season coming on full force. My nose is stuffy and sneezy - my eyes are watery with green circles under them. Pretty.



Thursday 9/18

Daycare closed today- owner is sick. Peter and I did half days. I am supposed to go to Iron Girl clinic at Penn Cycle tonight.

Monday 9/15

Ran to the Heritage Plant and back at lunch today. Approximately 3 miles. Have a bit of a hip issue. It's a dull ache. Nice run though.

Advice

Advice from Penn Cycle employee. Went there to get some gear the other night he asked me if I was doing Iron Girl. I said yes - He was familiar with the race and everyone coming in and said "Just go out there and have fun! Enjoy the energy from all of the other women, don't get too worked up about it. You'll have a blast!"

I will keep that in mind - I'd been having some anxiety about it. But he helped put it in perspective. This is my first time. I have been out of the fitness mix over two years being perpetually pregnant. I just want to finish.

Saturday & Sunday September 13-14

No workout - what a rainy soggy weekend it was .
Kids were sick and snotty too. So we didn't really leave the house on Sunday.
We did go to the Target Children's Book Festival on Saturday - but it was also a rainout - no bands played. Bummer.

Wed - Thursday

Wed 9/10

Run/Bike/Run - indoors.

Thursday 9/11

Walked downtown and back at lunch
Went to First Ave: Does dancing count as a workout? I think so!

Tuesday 9/9

Took the day off - got up early with the intention of doing 2 loops and one lake loop run. It was chilly out in the am. I need to remember to wear gloves. I ended up doing one loop (no gum this time) and then ran around the neighborhood at home. It's going to be rough switching from bike to running. I need to make sure I stretch well before running.
Didn't go to MOA. Did get haircut.

Monday 9/8

Ran and biked at lunch - looking forward to a day off tomorrow. Vivian has her 9 month appointment when she's 10 months. Taking the day off since the appointment is in the middle of the day - also hoping to check out an event at MOA for Parents magazine. Then getting a haircut later - life maintenance day.

Duct Tape Solves All Problems

Friday, September 12



Got an Iron Girl e-mail newsletter today - what to eat to prepare, what to bring on race day. Great information. Yet race day anxiety is starting to creep in.

Went out at lunch to run around the river. It seemed brisk out so I wore some old yoga pants to run in.

Good news is - they are now too big.
Bad news is - they are now too big.

I couldn't run without holding them up with one hand. Very awkward and uncomfortable way to run. Well, it just so happens after I crossed the Stone Arch Bridge and ran down St. Anthony Main I saw that they were setting up for Oktoberfest. (which my friend Sara is in charge of).

I literally ran into her along the street - told her of my pants dilemma. She directed me to a roll of duct tape. I wrapped it around my waist. Voila! The pants stayed on and I was able to finish my run comfortably.

I looked like a complete dork.

But I was a dork with my pants up above my hips.

Wind is a 4 Letter Word!

Sunday 9/7

Sunday, September 7Did just one loop tonight 11 miles. Very windy. Hoping race day isn't like this. My quads are getting as big as redwood trees I swear. One thing with training - the scale has remained at a constant but the clothes are fitting looser. (except in my legs!)

I blame the gum, I popped a piece in my mouth before the ride. And I think it made me lazy. Chewing gum is a laid back not fast thing to do. I got wrapped up in my thoughts during the ride and realized I was way behind my usual time. Oh well - not every time is going to be ideal. I just basically did a ride in the park - casual loop. I'll leave the gum out of the equation next time.

September 2-6

Tuesday 9/2


Spin class!


Wednesday 9/3


Run/Bike/Run indoors


Thursday 9/4

walked 2.5

Friday 9/5


day off


Saturday 9/6

1.5 mile stroller walk

2 mile treadmill at night. not feeling terrible great .

SEPTEMBER!

Monday, September 1



I love September. Still warm - yet crisp. Sweatshirt and shorts. Good sleepin weather. Plus one of my favorite "workout" songs on my iPod is SEPTEMBER by Earth, Wind and Fire. All time feel-good song. Funny thing I noticed when I listened to the opening line.



Do you remembah

the twenty-first night of Septmembah?



I am looking forward to the twenty-first night of September. That means I'll have just finished the Iron Girl successfully and I'll be eating a big ol Sunday dinner!


What I'll be doing this 21st night of September is attending a benefit for a little hero, Tanner Brendan. He just had a liver transplant - he's only 11 months old and is the twin son of my friend Heather from Book Club. He and his brother Carter were born a month before Vivian. Heathe r and Iwere due at the same time, but twins usually go early. They've all had a very rough year. We are so thankful he was able to get a new liver and will celebrate this little guy's strength and fortitude.

I will dedicate my Iron Girl to him and think about him the whole time.

You can check out his caringbridge site here. www.caringbridge.org/visit/tannerbrenden

Sunday, August 31

Two loop Sunday. Tonight I did 22 miles on the bike. My goal is 45 minutes per loop - this took about 50 minutes each. Still less than 2 hours. You get kicked off the course if you don't finish the biking portion in 2 hours. So that is motivation right there. Also in my training there are pesky things like stoplights slowing me down - so hoping race day is faster.



Two breaktroughs tonight.

One: I didn't coast or put my brakes on during the downhill portions. I put it in a thick gear and pedalled all the way. The faster you go downhill the faster you can make it back up the upcoming one.

Two: I was able to grab my water bottle and put it back without falling off my bike. Who knew that that would be an issue? I have problems with balance. Something seemingly so simple as grabbing water always made me wobble. I found balance with the stabilizing my left leg while grabbing the water with my right hand. All the difference in the world.

Week of August 25-30

Monday 8/25
Run spin run in fitness center - my typical Monday routine.

Tuesday 8/26
8 year wedding anniversary! Spun @ lunch. Had a lovely summer evening with Peter and kids. He did well on the gifting. I needed a sports watch for Iron Girl and he remembered and delivered! Excellent.

Wednesday 8/27

Celebrating my friend Lisa's 45th birthday - girls night out at a fine Italian restaurant. Ran for 30 minutes on the treadmill to prepare.

Thursday 8/28

Spun at lunch - had to spin off my big pasta feed from the previous night!!!


Friday 8/29

2.5 mile walk downtown.


Saturday 8/30

Neighborhood stroller walk with kids - easy day.

Sprint!

Sunday 8/24

So I did the 11 mile loop tonight. At various points on the route there are spray painted pink arrows on the road. I was riding around Normandale Lake and noticed some arrows along with the word Sprint. And I was thinking "Wow - this is great - someone is spray painting strategy on the road for us. Motivation! Yes, this is a great fast flat place to sprint. I think I will. " So sprint I did, and then I noticed some other words spray painted on the sidewalk. Different power companies. Dang. Those weren't motivational arrows, just markers where the phone lines go....
duh.

Motivation August 17-23

Really, how can you not have a good run when you have those eyes looking up at you? She coo's with glee on the run - Ben sings ABC's.

Sunday 8/17

6 mile bike ride

Monday 8/18

indoor treadmill/cycle
1.5 mi run
20 minute bike
1 mile run

Tuesday 8/19

Spin class - personal training session - I was the only one in attendance.

Wednesday 8/20

8 mile bike ride when I got home - post dinner pre bedtime

Thursday 8/21

Yet another personal spin class. Where is everyone?

Friday 8/22

2 mile walk downtown and back - pretty casual.

Saturday 8/23

2 mile run. Took kids in stroller to Lunds again - it helps to buy perishables - makes you run faster on the way home.

A Successful Run

Well, at least 50% successful - anything that works to get them to take a nap. The stroller often seems to do the trick!

Blogger Slacker

Geez - I haven't posted online since mid-August. I have been working out and logging my experiences - just not blogging them - time to play catch up - more posts coming soon!

Met some fellow Iron Girls in Training

Saturday 8/16

Today I went to Normandale Lake to do the 2 miler run again pushing the kids in the stroller. That's pretty much all I can do when Peter is at work. We are trying to strategize who gets to go do their long solo workout and when. Neither of us woke up at 5:30 am as planned. Well actually

I was up at 5:00 am unplanned as Vivian woke up hungry. But didn't feel like going out the door - after I fed her. Just slipping back under the covers was too tempting.
We went to the Lake around 10 am. When I was unloading the kids in the parking lot - I noticed a woman sitting alone in her SUV. Last time I was there - I witnessed suspicous activity that was either a drug deal or the new "wide stance tap". I just note when people are just alone in a parked car for no apparent reason - especially when I have my purse in my car.

As I was putting the stroller together three women came zipping through the parking lot on their bikes. And the woman jumps out of the SUV and said how was it!? "Lots of hills!! Phew" I smiled and thought - nope no drug deals going down today. They are for sure Iron Girls!!! I yelled over to them "Training for Iron Girl!? " "Yep!!" I hustled over to them to chat. Turns out they were on a Team in Training for Leukemia and Lymphoma and the woman waiting for them was their coach. I was able to ask some questions I'd been wondering about the route.
Like - what about the stoplights? - Someone is there to direct traffic - you can go right through! (nice) . Another woman had 7 knee surgerys and she was most concerned about the run. She said it was slow going for her. But -they were all so motivated and positive and happy about their workout. If that was just a tiny cross-section of the energy and positivity that will be around that September morning - I can not wait!

Back on the Saddle

Tuesday 8/12
sick-o fevery gal (me) no workout.

Wednesday 8/13
same old sicky 101.5 temp when I got home

Thursday 8/14
I decided I needed to SWEAT that fever out of me once and for all. I was feeling better - on the mend so I went to noon spin class and pedaled and pushed and pulled away. So glad I did!

Weekend Update Fri-Monday 8/8-8/12

Friday 8/8:
Fitness center workout - 20 minutes run 40 minute bike. Felt great!! Listened to my i-pod on my 80's mix. Toying with the idea of getting Spin instructor certification. Would love to teach an all 80's music class. Generation X-ercise? It would be a fun way to keep me motivated and get fit.


Saturday 8/9/08:
Friend Sara called up early Sat am to go on a walk around Lake Harriet. Loaded the kids up and went. Perfect! Love spontaneous exercise. Bagels at Brueggers after our walk were a big hit with Ben.

Then when Peter got home I went on an 11 mile ride around the first loop of the Iron Girl course again. Peter put my new odometer on 12mph average - I gotta speed that up. Again there are a lot of hills pulling down my average speed. My big thing. I put my brakes on going downhill. I know I've got to get over that - Peter says that's where you make up lost time. But I'm just so afraid I'll get t-boned at an intersection or hit an errant piece of gravel and wipeout at high speed. I need to proceed - with caution and with confidence.


Sunday 8/10/08
Ran/walked 3 miles to the store and back for necessities - milk and baby food. It's really is just easier to go with the double stroller than to go through all of the buckling rigamarole. Buckle up unbuckle - buckle into the cart unbuckle, buckle back into the carseat unbuckle - yada. Plus it was sample day so we got lunch! Hill running was actually easy. Biking is definitely helping my running and vice versa.

Took Chloe on a late evening 1.5 mile walk.

Monday 8/11/08

Lunchtime workout 15 min run 20 minute bike 10 minute run. You just fit in what you can in an hour .

Metaphors and Meaning

I keep finding parallels in parenting/life in general and my training workouts.

Some days are seemingly all uphill but then with each uphill trek comes a downhill reward. Usually. Might just being able to sleep through the night be a reward? I'll take it!

Becoming a parent has definitely made both of us switch gears.

Some, no - most days you feel like you hit the ground running at a full sprint.

Then there are exhilirating moments - the riding with no hands breeze running through your hair moments of parenting. There are the heart leaping up moments when Ben gives Vivian a hug or sweet kiss- says please and thank you without being prompted, the glee from two giggling baby sharing a laugh together just the two of them. These are riding with no hands exhilirating moments.

And there are days when you are in the thick of it that all seems so hard but then looking back it really wasn't so bad and you are so glad you did it.

You never regret working out - you only regret not working out.

Week of 8/4 Updates so far

Monday, August 4
Evening 45 minute 9.5 miler - through Hyland Park over to Bush Lake and back down Normandale. Need to increase speed.


Tuesday, August 5

Tood spin class again with Dee - I was the only one in class. A brutal personal training session. I was pretty much a puddle of perspiration - and she spins for the full 60 minutes plus.


Wednesday, August 6

Beautiful day and I didn't workout inside - nice walk in the evening - recovery day. I like those days.


Thursday, August 7

2 mile lunch walk - suppose that 's recovery day #2 - Was planning on taking the kids for a run tonight but Vivian conked out and went to bed @ 6:30. She's teething and not feeling 100%.
Perhaps a treadmill run after Ben goes to bed (sometimes a workout in itself)

Weekend Update

Friday 8/1
20 minute run - 15 minute bike - 10 min run - gotta love the fitness center at work.

Saturday 8/2
Biked the 11 mile + loop of the race - lots of low and slow grades and some just plain steep hills. I say 11 + cause I missed a turn and went way out of my way and had to backtrack. Now I have a feel for the course. I'm most concerned about the running after the biking and getting my legs back/

Sunday 8/3

Day of rest. Went to Thomas the Tank with Ben. It was a big deal! And good fun.

Talked to my friend who prefers to remain nameless - She said my training for the Iron Girl inspired her to do an event. She signed up for an event after a few glasses of wine. Warning: Don't Drink & Register. No this wasn't a 5K she signed up for but a 25K. Twice around the Mpls chain of lakes. Lovely scenery - but no way could I run that far. Good on ya ____!

Keeping Commitments

July 29
Spun my butt off in Dee's lunchtime spin class - she went for the full 60 minutes and I was a puddle of perspiration by 1 pm.

Then later we went on a 2 mile family walk on a loverly summer evening around Normandale Lake.

July 30
recovery day - noontime lunch walk. 2 miles


July 31

Spin class - was 10 minutes late- oops - made up for lost time though.


August 1

On my way to workout in fitness center - will report back.

Back on Track

July 22
Biked and did hillwork for 1/2 hour


July 23

Family walk 45 minutes.


July 25

Peter was out of town - busy night with kids and diapers after work. Got on the treadmill @ 11pm for a 30 minute run. You do what you have to do.

July 26-27
Workout? Not so much. A weekend off.

July 28
Did the mini mini mini duatholon @ work. Ran 20 minutes Biked 15 minutes Ran 10. Again - you do what you can in a lunch hour. Hoping to go on another bike ride after the kids go down and Peter gets back from an oil change. Our friends Don & Jenny gave me a refector light for my bike that no car could miss in the dark.
Told our spin instructor at work that I am committed to the noon spin class Tuesday & Thursday and I'm sticking to it. I struggle if I work through lunch and don't work out. It's counterproductive not to take a lunch hour really.

A Body In Motion Remains in Motion

A Body at Rest Remains at Rest....isn't that the truth?


Thursday & Friday July 17-18
I missed 2 days of "real" read: sweat enducing/cardio workouts due to various reasons. I did manage to do 2 miles Thursday & Friday of walking downtown and back each lunch hour. Plus situps at night.



Saturday July 19
I packed the kids up for a run around Normandale Lake where the event is taking place. As we drove raindrops started hitting the windshield. Fine for me - but I'm not taking the kids out for a run in the rain. Plan B? Target. Grabbed some things I needed and by the time I was done the sun was out. Went back to Normandale Lake and pushed the kids. Surprisingly subtle hills for a lake run. 2 miles 20 minutes with a few stops.

Sunday July 20
Post 40th birthday party - no morning workout no way. The night was another outing to First Ave to see the English Beat. 2 hours of some serious dance cardio. Again - does that count? Not on the duathlon training regimen.

Monday July 21
Turned 40. Spent the day strolling around the MN Zoo. Had to be some miles we walked. Majority of my presents consisted of bike gear. In the evening Peter sent me out. I did about 45 minutes of riding and tried out some of the route for the Iron Girl. Brutal hills, that's all I have to say.

Monday, July 14

Balance. It's a delicate one trying to prioritize family, work, house maintainance and manage to squeeze in the workout.

Peter was a peach and kicked me out the door for a post dinner bike ride while he gave the kids a bath. He had been with the kids solo all weekend while I was out of town, so it was especially peachworthy.

But he also got in a 3 mile run with them earlier, so he had that momentum under his belt.

If we're doing this we have to support eachother and remember how good it feels to get the sweat in.

Watch Bikes With Daddy!

This morning Ben was up with the sun. (which is pretty early these summer morns.)

He's out of the crib and into the big boy bed, meaning free roam of his room. He was standing at the door blocked by the baby gate, peering into our room calling "Up up up!"

I needed to be up up up anyway.

We headed downstairs and he declared "I want to watch bikes with daddy!" (meaning the Tour de France which is on our TV pretty much constantly in the month of July, and probably the only reason we still have cable.) That was sweet incentive enough to get daddy out of bed. The Tour starts at 7 am, so he had time to make coffee and read too.


I didn't get up up up early enough to get out on an am. ride and get ready for work sooo...
My workout today consisted of a post bedtime run on the treadmill - 30 minutes.


Peter's was a hilly 5 miler with the 2 in the jogging stroller. He swears they help his training and his calves are getting bigger pushing their load up the inclines. Vivian fell asleep, and Ben kept cheering him on "ready set go!!"


When we put him to bed we asked him what some good things about today were. His answer? "Waffles, and watching bikes with daddy."


A good day indeed.

Catching Up

Two out of town trips without computer access have gotten me behind on keeping up with the blog and keeping track.



Monday 7/7:
Drive to Illinois - only workout was the gas station stretch

Tuesday 7/08:

Ran 2.5 miles on my old high school cross country route. Thought back to the days when I was a gangly legged spider vein free freshman. My "#1 problem" has returned in full force. 2 kids will do that to a gal. Very embarassing, but motivated me to run faster. This issue doesn't happen on the treadmill only the pavement and started at about the mile mark. Pavement makes me pee. Note to self: invest in black shorts with really good wicking material. Oh, and kegels, kegels, kegels.



Wednesday 7/09:
40 minute bike ride - hillwork. I rode at dusk while Peter put the kids to bed.


Thursday 7/10:

45 minute stroller walk : back to being gun-shy about running outside. Kegel, kegel kegel.
We took a tour of the post storm neighborhood and dodged branches. We were serenaded by chainsaws and woodchippers.

Friday 7/11 :

Left work early today as the day care provider had no electricity - it was sultry hot. No refrigerator, no hot meals - they ordered take out. Took the kids off her hands early. Leaving town the next day - no workout unless going back and forth 4 times corner to corner pushing a 50+ lb cart at SuperTarget counts. (and I think it just might)....I'm sticking with it.


Saturday 7/12:

Up with the birds. 6 mile early morning bike ride before heading to Des Moines for girls weekend. College reunion for all of us turning 40.


Sunday 7/13: Nada.

Accountability

Accountability: That is the main reason I'm maintaining this blog on top of my family life, full time job, and keeping up with my end on the other blog (dearest Cribsheet). I need to stay on top of my workouts and log them daily. If I know I have to report in - I'll stay on task.

So I'll catch up with my workout log. Also tracking Peter - just to figure out how we do the balance and trade off of both trying to fit in workouts in our few hours we have together. Kids come first always. We'll work around naptimes, dinner, and heat. Training in the summer adds that extra element. So far no fussiness with the outings. They love being outdoors.

Friday, July 4:
60 minute solo bike ride - maiden voyage on my new Marin hybrid felt great, exhilirating. Years since I've been out on a bike.
While I biked alone Peter took the kids for a run - also 1 hour.
Ben is our little motivator -Peter said he kept saying "Run Daddy Run, Go Daddy Go!"

Saturday, July 5:
I went on a 25 minute bike/hill work after dinner, Peter handled bathtime.
hills = brutal and there are a lot of them on the Iron Girl course.
Peter went on a solo bike ride/cross training - before dinner, he did about 12 miles in 30 minutes. Came back sweating and appreciative to go it alone.

Sunday, July 6:
Hot and humid. I took the kids out for a 40 minute run/walk in the morning. Tried to stay in the shade as much as possible. This is working better now that Vivian is letting us sleep through the night (2 nights in a row - knock on wood) Whoo hoo! It's been 8 looonnnngg months of sleep deprivation. The walk/run session ended with a stop at the playground for Ben. And a snooze in the shade for Vivi.


Now, off to Illinois tomorrow for 3 days. We are both planning on getting up early - Peter to take the dog for a run before she's in kennel land, and me to go on the treadmill before the kids wake up. We set our alarms! Also packing our gear to do a run whilst in Rockford and grandma watches the kids.

Trial Run

Just practicing uploading photos from my Picasa account . Nice & easy feature!

Here is Benjamin our (drill sargent, coach, motivator, eldest child) last fall. This was taken just days before Vivian was born. His last picture as an only child. We had just come home and he grabbed a pumpkin from my makeshift fall display in front. I snapped a shot just as he looked up, and it's one of my favorites.

Introduction

My name is Kay. I'm a parent in training to Ben and Vivian. I am also in training for the Iron Girl duathalon in September. It is a women's event where you run 2 miles bike 22 miles and run 2 miles. I am a race rookie aside from a handful of 5K fun runs. It is my goal to finish this event in honor of my 40th birthday. I also want to get healthy and fit after being perpetually pregnant since 2005.

My husband Peter, is also a parent in training. In addition, he is training for the Twin Cities Marathon which takes place a few weeks after the Iron Girl. Peter is no stranger to marathons, but put 2 little ones in the mix and it adds extra challenges.


So, are we nuts? Two parents with two under three trying to fit in time to get fit? Perhaps. But we are enjoying the journey to our goal along with our kids in tow.


To quote our son Ben "Go Daddy Go!" "Go Mommy Go!"