Back on the street...

...pounding the pavement. Ran 7 mi. in 1 hr. 19 mins last nite at 11:00. Slow but felt good about it for a first running workout. So I'm done with the running quota for the week. Just gotta catch up with the biking quota (didn't bike to the subway yesterday as planned :-(

Starting to gain some confidence on the race. I feel like if I just keep up with the training (following an Olympic than a Half-Iron sched now), I can at least finish it.

Lesson I'm learning at recovery right now:
Embrace my curse! That God put this struggle in life for at least 2 reasons:
1) to humble me and to always acknowledge my need for God (2 Corinthians 12:6-8) so I treat it now as a gift, not a curse
2) to help others that suffers from it (2 Corinthians 1:3-5) once I overcome it

Catching up with Training

Exactly 18 weeks before the race. And the actual training begins!
Here's the sched for this week:

Date	Swim	Bike	Run
Mon	750 yds.	15 mi
Tue	750 yds.		20 mins.
Wed		15 mi.
Thu	1000 yds.		20 mins.
Fri
Sat			30 mins.
Sun		20 mi.

I'm behind schedule by 2 days, so I tried catching up today on the swimming. Did 84 x 25 yards (2100 yds) this evening in 55 mins. Planning to ride my bike to the subway station (10 mi. one way) tomorrow to catch up with the bike training as well. And I'm excited that I will start running again! I miss it.

Scripture says:
1 Timothy 4:8
For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.

So I will include some of what I'm learning in recovery as well:

1) Coming back to the program, I am more accepting of flaws in people, specially sponsors and members, that they are not required and impossible to be perfect.

2) I am more accepting of myself: my failures and weaknesses. I am more forgiving of myself when I fail. God forgives me, why can't I?

3) Advise and direction is only good if put into practice. Nobody overcomes by knowledge alone.

Yesterday and Today

Ended up at the gym on the treadmill for two days in a row now. I find the treadmill painfully boring. Yesterday, I was set to do 4 miles, but 20 minutes in to my run, a woman who REEKED of cigarettes took the treadmill next to me. She must've had more than one in her car with the windows rolled up right before she walked in to the gym. It was awful. On top of this, she is someone I know who always attempts to engage in conversation with me no matter how much I avoid her general direction and (at times) pretend I don't even know she's there right next to me. I don't go to the gym to socialize. I go to accomplish something and (ideally) conjure up some positive feelings. I can socialize any other time. When will this person get the message?

I resigned to a 30 minute run so it was about 3.4 miles or so when it was over. Coincidentally, the woman who joined me finished her workout at the same time and followed me to the locker room, then to the parking lot... This means she went to the gym to spend maybe 12 minutes walking while holding on (a pet peeve of mine-why are you holding on?) to a treadmill.

Okay, that's enough whining...

Today I ran 3.4 at the gym after a somewhat lazy day which included watching Chris' baseball game in outside on a windy 55 degree cloudy day. I hope to get a good 7 mile run in tomorrow or Thursday and then another on the weekend. I signed up for a ten mile run on May 23. I'm ready enough, but would like to be more confident...

Born to run!

Amy Palmiero-Winters

I give up: No more excuses!

Relay... forgot!

Forgot to mention that the marathon relay was great. The best part about it was that all my boys were present through the whole race and they all CAN'T WAIT to be old enough to run it! Charles will run the short leg next year and Christopher has already agreed to take the 2nd shortest leg (4.5 miles) so that Charles can participate. I am grateful that my sons are seeing the many benefits of healthy habits. Christopher said he felt "awesome" when they announced our team name as he crossed the finish line. I told him to make sure he remembers this- this is the type of feeling you cannot buy. It comes from within- a sense of accomplishment after and pride after conquering a challenge.

I'm heading to the gym on this rainy Monday to run on the dreadmill. Either 4 paced miles, or a fast 3. Haven't decided yet...

Saturday April 24, 2010:
I am still working on being consistent with training. Feeling guilty in the past week for not working out, I pushed myself this weekend. First thing in the morning (after my quiet time of course), I went on a 25-mile bike ride, ending at the community swimming pool. (I did take a 20-minute breakfast rest at a donut shop a couple of blocks away! ;-)
At the pool, decided to max out on what I can do since this would be the last week for my swim training. With my cheap wetsuit on, I finished 90 x 25 yards in 1 hour 4 mins! This built my confidence that I can do well in the swimming leg of the race.

Sunday, April 25, 2010:
Coming back from a 7-hour drive from Sacramento, attended a meeting and then went on a 12-mi bike ride. I feel bad at times that I have to sacrifice training specially for meetings and other commitments.
I asked my mentor on the program about this and he says my recovery and my relationship with God comes first and foremost. He encourages me to continue with the training but not to the point that it gets in the way of what's more important. He urges me to still join the race but not to break some record. Just finish...for now.
Found a 2008 top of the line wetsuit on sale for half the price! Was contemplating whether to take advantage of the sale (since the offer is only good till Monday) or wait since I have to charge this one on card. After a couple of advices from friends, decided to finally get it.

Running into running partners

Yesterday I ran a little more than seven miles. On my way out (away from home) I noticed a runner about 200 feet behind me. This guy didn't know it, but he was "pushing me" through the whole run. This was to be my first seven mile run of this season. I gave myself an "option" to cut it short and do six instead, but since this man was still trudging behind me at the 6 mile turn around point, I felt like I had to keep going... because he was still going... He caught up to me and I encouraged him to pass and he said "I'm going to keep right where I'm at. I'm running 10 miles today." And we ran alongside each other for awhile. He told me he was training for his first half marathon and I congratulated him and wished him luck. When I turned around at 3.5 miles, and we waved to each other as he kept on, I allowed the thought of walking the last mile to enter my mind. "I'll get through six miles, then I'll walk the last one." At mile 5 I approach the bridge in Belmar. I secretly "wish" that it could go up and I can have a reason to stop... And it does!



Another runner catches up with me and waits for the bridge. I confess to him that I wished for the bridge to go up because this run was starting to really challenge me and I wanted a reason to stop. He says "Well, let's finish it together then." And so we do. Chatting the whole way about running, family, the Jersey Shore, and why he still runs at age 66. When we approach my street, we shake hands, bid each other well, and I thank him for pulling me for the last 1.7 miles and I exit the boardwalk. He continues for another mile to his home in Asbury Park. I am grateful for "coincidences" like this. Small ways that God shows me that He is ever present and wanting to help and encourage me even in the smallest endeavors.

Distance vs. Consistency

I read a bike training tip, that consistency is better than reaching milestones in distances. Meaning it would be better to cover 35-miles throughout the week than doing the whole distance at the end of the week. Which I haven't followed. I am to bike more consistently than aiming to go farther (but eventually I should aim for distance as well).

I just came back from a 13-mi. bike ride since I didn't wanna make more excuses (came home at 11:00 from a meeting). Did 51 x 25 yds. swimming yesterday biking 12 mi. to and from the swimming pool.

Aiming to bike (and possibly swim) after work tomorrow.

slack!

I have been running... Really I have, but I have been online maybe 1/8th of the time that I usually am! I started a new job 4 weeks ago and transitioning from being home all the time and doing all of my sewing here to working elsewhere has been major. I am not complaining! I enjoy it.

Here's what I remember:
Today I ran 3 miles on a treadmill at the gym at an easy pace.
Wednesday I ran 4 miles on the treadmill at the gym also at a comfortable pace.
Monday I ran 4 miles at a moderately higher pace at the gym.
Sunday, 4 miles on the boardwalk- this was a grueling run for some reason...
Saturday, 6 miles on the boardwalk- felt strong and could've continued!

Tomorrow is our marathon relay. I run the first leg (6.1 miles) at 8 am. I will run with my son as well, if he wants me to for his 2.7 mile leg. I am ready!

I come home from work with blisters, scratches, cuts and callouses on my hands and with my biceps and forearms sore- does that count as a workout? :)

Busy-ness and Training

Let's see: setting up a company picnic for Summer, planning a 70th birthday for my Dad in June, going to meetings 3 times a week, church activities, and just settling in to my new place. Shouldn't be an excuse, but it is.
I really need to find the time to train. Have only done around 20 miles biking this week so far. :-(

Sickness and Training

I had a cough and a cold pretty much the whole week, and so I didn't have any training. Today, I still had a little cough, but I just have to do some training this week. I biked to the local swimming pool which was 5.5 miles away and swam 42 x 25 yards and biked back.
I am kinda tired but we'll see tonight if I don't cough up a storm for exercising.

Race Day

I ran a 5k race today as did two of my relay teammates. Didn't make a new PR, but I did better than the last race. There is something about the energy in a large group of runners. I used to crave running for the solitude it gave me. Now, I'm starting to see how running with others motivates me.

"People can't understand why a man runs. They don't see any sport in it. Argue it lacks the sight and thrill of body contact. Yet, the conflict is there, more raw and challenging than any man versus man competition. For in running it is man against himself, the cruelest of opponents. The other runners are not the real enemies. His adversary lies within him, in his ability, with brain and heart to master himself and his emotions." - Glen Cunningham; 2-time Olympian

Yesterday I ran a 5k in just over 27 minutes. Monday was weights/resistance for back, biceps, and abs. This text feature only allows 160 characters!