Biking

I went out on the only local bike path today. Rode to it and on it for 1/2 hour and then turned around and came back. It took me 6 minutes longer on the way back, but I had a headwind and it felt like it was all uphill. By the last 10 minutes, my mantra was, "I can do this, I can do this, I can do this, ow, my butt, ow, my butt, ow my butt."

I saw lots of squirrels, birds, and bunnies.

I thought I was doing pretty well by the halfway mark - I was going faster and farther without stop signs and traffic lights. But then a biker on the road FLEW by me and kind of made me disgusted with myself. Still, I guess I'm doing better than the 50% of people on their butts in front of the TV.

I seem to be using the word 'butt' a lot in this post.

I went 9.8 miles in 1:06 with a maximum speed of 20.1 (WooHoo!) and an average speed of 8.9 mph (bleh). At that rate, I would do 16.2 miles in 1:49. Not good enough by at least 20 minutes. But I am working on endurance now, speed will be next. If I finish the triathlon after everyone else has packed up and gone home, I will still have finished.

Crossing railroad tracks for the first time on the bike was kind of scary. But I am not afraid of the faster speeds like I was when I first started. My bike needs some work; it won't stay in gear. So I guess that gets added to the 'to-do' list for the week.

So Much Going On

I have been running nonstop. Highlights:

Left Friday for Gatlinburg. Was at my sickest with this last sinus infection. Felt better Saturday. Sunday I went hiking with Joe's stepdad. Joe can't hike because of his knees. Anyhow, we hiked to Rainbow Falls in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. My hiking map says it's 5.6 miles round trip and rated 'strenuous' (as opposed to easy or moderate). I did it, and my legs were SO SORE for 2-3 days afterward. They are a tiny bit sore today - I noticed it while I was swimming. The good thing is, I wore my Vibrams and they were great! I was worried, because whenever I would step on a pointed rock, I felt it and I just knew I would have stone bruises all over the bottoms of my feet the next day - but they were fine!



Notice I am wearing my Decatur Tri Club shirt!

Unfortunately, all the family dinners out canceled out my hiking. At least I haven't gained anything (so far). We got back Tuesday night, and I was out of town all day yesterday and today, so I am behind on training. I am going to compare the 12 and 10 week plans I have and figure out what I need to do. I may have time to bike tonight before it gets dark. Even though I am behind, I have been walking and hiking and swimming. I need to do some yoga - it has fallen out of my rotation, and I am paying for it. Swimming, biking, running, strength, yoga - all that is a lot to do!

Edited to add: I went for a 30 min. bike ride - did the first 4 miles in 27 minutes. That's 1:50 for 16.2 miles at that pace. Pluses - I had to stop for lights & water, and there were hills. Minuses - I only did a little over 4 miles, not 16.2, and it wasn't right after a 600 yd. swim. But I did get over 19 mph at one point!

Tri Club

I saw where someone on active.com posted "any other slow, overweight, newbie triathletes?" and after answering her with my plans, she mentioned that she lives in my town and that there was a new Tri Club having its first meeting the very next night! So I went, and learned a lot. I joined, got the t-shirt, and am waiting for them to approve my Facebook friend request so I can ask some more questions.

I went out biking tonight. Did my 5K route through the neighborhood. The route that is 3.2 miles on the closest edge of the sidewalk is 3.5 miles in the road. It took me 24 minutes, which comes out to 1:51 for 16.2 miles (the tri bike distance) if I kept that pace. The slowest time last year was 1:29, but I'm not too worried. First of all, there is a stop sign at almost every intersection in my neighborhood, and while I didn't stop at every one, I at least had to slow down to make sure no cars were coming. Second, I think my neighborhood is not as flat as the area around the lake where the tri is. It is billed as "flat and fast." Third, I haven't started my 12 week training.

Still, I would like to know what I could do. I need to either find somewhere that I think is safe to ride, or find out what setting on the bikes at the gym best approximates a real bike.

One more week until hiking and then tri training!

Goals and Rewards

I have set some rewards and goals for myself.

Goals:
* Begin the couch to 5k program next week
* Take the 5k route through my neighborhood the next day it is warm enough so I can see how long it takes
* Go hiking on our next trip to Gatlinburg
* Run in a 5k by the end of June
* Get a helmet so I can go biking as soon as my bike is fixed
* Add strength training to my regular exercise routine by the end of March

Rewards:
* At 200 lbs., a new wii exercise game
* At 180 lbs., a pedicure & haircut
* At 160 lbs., a new wii exercise game
* At 140 lbs., sign up for a yoga class
* At 120 lbs., get a full body massage (I've never had a massage)
* A t-shirt from the event when I run a 5k.

I think I need to print these out and put them up somewhere so I will see them every day and hopefully hold myself accountable.