Triathlon Planning

Tuesday I went to the local pool and swam laps (the first time is free). I swam 600 yards in just under 30 minutes. The slowest time from last year's triathlon was 28:53, so I think I can make the cut. The only problem is I am swimming in a pool where I can push off from a wall every 25 yards. The triathlon swim is in a lake. I think the next time I will just stop when I get to the wall and not push off and see how fast I can do it. I did feel good that I could swim that entire time without stopping. I didn't push myself much, though. I wanted to make sure I had enough energy to go the whole distance.

Since this is the first time I have timed myself swimming, I think I can shave enough time off to make the cut. Only problem is, the pool is $100 to join. That's for a year, not so bad, but we just spent that much already on a new bike.

I went bike riding for fun yesterday, with a teenage friend of the family who was also looking for someone to ride bikes with. My husband had asked me the day before if my bike (some sort of Schwinn cruiser, lovely, but with no gears) would work for the triathlon. I told him since I just wanted to finish under the time limit, it should be fine. But after yesterday's ride, I realized it wasn't going to work. Any time there was a hill, I slowed down almost to a stop and really had to work to get it up the incline. Whenever we went downhill, there was no point in my pedaling as it had no effect. My friend let me try her bike with gears, and she talked me through how to use them. The difference was incredible - I could fly up the hills and pick up extra speed on the downhill inclines.

After our ride, we went by my husband's work to see him. He mentioned me needing a new bike again, and this time I agreed. So I now have a new Schwinn Jet Star with 21 speeds. I bought a speedometer to go on it. Today we went out again, but Miss Priss was with us (age 6) so I couldn't really let it out over a distance. I did speed up over some short spaces and got up to 14.9 mph. That concerned me, because the triathlon is 16.2 miles of biking. I was thinking I needed to complete that portion in about an hour, and that would require a speed of 16.2 mph.

When I got home, I looked it up and the slowest bike time was 1:29:08 which averages out to about 11 mph. I don't know if I can get it that fast and keep it that fast. I am still very shaky on the bike, and a little nervous. If I am on a paved road with few turns, and I build up some muscle and endurance, I may be okay. I really need to take it out somewhere where I can get up some speed.

I still have not made the running up to day 3 of week 5, but today was my first day running since I had been sick. I didn't push it, since I had already spent 45 min. on the bike this morning. I walked 5 min, ran 3, walked 2, ran 3, walked 2. Pitiful. But I am hoping to get a schedule worked out so I can run, bike and swim each week without overdoing it any day. I also don't want to give up my twice a week yoga, but I didn't even go this week. It just takes up so much time!

This week:
Tuesday: 40 min. swim
Wednesday: 45 min. biking
Thursday: 45 min. biking, 15 min. treadmill, 15 min. boxing

I may get some yoga in later - after the tummy bug I didn't exercise for a week and I think I have gained 3 or 4 lbs. back. I want to make it up while I can because next week I have to go back to work! This week has been our spring break.

Sometimes I feel like I'm crazy for even trying this (last year there were only 2 women in the Athena category - 150 lbs. or more - and I'm over 200), but I know even if I fail I will be so far ahead of where I am now. And if I fail, they aren't going to cancel all triathlons in the future - there will be more. And I will finish one.

Plotting and Planning

Did not exercise yesterday. I was disappointed, but I felt achy all over and my body hurt. I was complaining to Joe about it and saying that I didn't know what was wrong with me and he insisted it was still the bug we had earlier. Last night was the first time since last Monday he has been hungry, and he said he still aches all over. I hope to be better today and get some exercise in - my next mini goal is in a few days!

So, the Wet Dog Triathlon is out. There is another one that looks like more fun, but it is a couple of hours away. It is called the Mountain Lakes Triathlon and it looks lovely. My only concern is it is a lot longer than the Wet Dog. 600 yard swim, 16.2 mile bike, and a 3 mile run. The run is along Lake Guntersville, and there is a post-event party at the pool, and it is very family friendly. I just don't know if I can make those distances. I need to set up a training schedule and find a pool!

I looked at last year's results. The slowest time reported for the 600 yard swim was 28:53. The slowest time for the bike ride was 1:29:08, and the slowest for the run was 51:45. I already know I can do a 3.2 mile run in 45:04, so I am not too worried about the run as long as I stick to my couch to 5k running. I need to build up my endurance so I can do it after swimming and biking! I have no idea what I can swim or bike. The slowest race time reported was 2:48:56. I figure if I can beat each of the slowest times for each part of the event and make sure my total is under that 2:48, I should be okay. The goal is to finish before the event planners stop timing people!

This Week

Good morning!

I am out of school for the week. I have so much to do!

1. Paint dragonfly for public art project in my city.
2. Learn how to use airbrush since they required us to use a certain paint after I submitted my sprayed design (used spray on rustoleum last year).
3. Piece together and edit video for my fifth grade students' 'Designers' Challenge' spoof project.
4. (Hopefully) get to Guntersville to visit Unclaimed Baggage and more importantly, visit some friends that moved there a few months ago.
5. Pick back up with Couch to 5K - haven't done it in over a week because I still feel kind of bleh from the bug I had last week. My honey still is hardly eating. I am not feeling like exercising, but unfortunately I am feeling like eating!
6. Yoga Mon. & Wed. at the gym
7. Pick back up with cardio
8. Add strength training - leaving in a few to try & find some second hand 8 lb. weights.
9. Find a new sprint triathlon - see below.

This post was going to be about my next project post 5K - a sprint triathlon. Swim 400 yards, bike 15K, run 5K. I was shooting for the local one on July 17. Goal was to finish before the cutoff time, not to win anything. I was very excited. I love swimming and biking (who knew?), but I am not going to get to participate. We have been planning a trip to the beach with my inlaws, and they have made our reservation for that week. I mentioned to my husband that we could come back a day or two early, but he was having none of it. So I am going to hunt around and see if I can find another one. All the other ones I have seen in our area have been much longer, and I would be pushing it to do this short one. I guess there's always next year.

I need to get back on the bandwagon! No exercise except walking for a week is pitiful! Today is the day!