Saturday, August 16, 2008

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!

Thursday, August 14, 2008

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!

Tuesday, August 12, 2008

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 .

Thursday, August 7, 2008

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)

Monday, August 4, 2008

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 ____!

Friday, August 1, 2008

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.