Monday, March 29, 2010
Testing the wetsuit
While I am on a little vacay - I am testing out my wetsuit in a very cold swimming pool. I will post video upon my return.....FUN!
Monday, March 22, 2010
Spring has Sprung!
Spring has popped here in Maryland. In the past few days little buds of green are showing on the trees, forsythia is starting to bloom in all it's yellow glory, daffodils and crocus are showing their pretty faces and my nose is running, throat is itching, and eyes are watering. The early Spring trees are my worst allergens. I've been hit hard in the past week, of course I have been outside torturing myself and thoroughly enjoying the little mini heat wave we had. Sunshine! Glorious Sunshine! I know that my dear friend, Penny, was not so happy about unusual for March east coast weather for her weekend in NYC running the half marathon. Since I couldn't join up with Penny in the big Apple I kept myself busy here in Maryland.
Thursday evening 3/18, 14.5 mile ride with my favorite bike shop. It was a small group, but it was fun. I road with the co-owner of the shop who was "going light" on Thursday since she was racing on Saturday and we had two women, new to cycling, out on their first group ride. As always the shop owner is ever helpful and providing great tips on cycling. She even noticed that my cycling has improved! I am happy about this. I could tell that my indoor training over the Winter was quite helpful! Not that I was on the bike trainer all that often, but I did keep up with running, swimming, and weight work - so it is all good for overall fitness. I am in much better shape coming into this Spring than I was last Spring.
Saturday 3/20 I swam in my first swim meet in 30 years. The master's team I joined in January does this meet once a year. I thought why not swim an event or two. Mind you, I have not been training to swim in meets, just get my base up and train for my triathlon swim. The meet was fun. There were about 200 athletes signed up and ages on up into the 80's. I was inspired by a 78 women, Janet. She swam all the butterfly events offered - 100, 200, and 50 meters. I want to be able to do the butterfly when I am 78. Truly inspiring. I helped out at the event by being a timer. Each lane had the electronic pad and two timers. For those that thought they were going to beat records, a third timer would be added to your lane. I know one man broke the World Record for 100 IM for 60-64 age group. FUN! I did not break any records on Saturday, but I did get a 1st place in the 100 IM for my age group....... sadly I was the only woman in my age group that swam that event! :) I will still take my medal! This was my favorite event as a child and teen. I still enjoy it, although the next time I swim in a meet I will hopefully have learned how to pace myself better. I went out WAAAAAAAAAYYYYY too fast for the butterfly and back portion (44.80 split time) and then I was about PUKE and my heart fly right out of my chest during the breaststroke (my worst and least favorite stroke) and I managed to keep it together to get to freestyle. I was a head in my heat until the breast stroke and I saw the other lanes passing me by.... ugh... Oh well! Next time! I finished in 1:52:24. Nothing stellar, but I had zero expectations for time. I definitely hit my heart rate max for this one! The other event I swam was 50 freestyle other quick event. Why I didn't sign up for say 400 Free or something like that I don't know.... I don't remember my time in 50 free..38 seconds I think. There were more women in my age group swimming this event, I did not place. All in all the meet was fun and I will do it again.
Sunday 3/21, 30 mile bike ride. Sunday was a gorgeous day. I met up with some people I don't know all that well for a ride up in Frederick County, MD. Frederick County is not flat. Lots of rolling hills and some very challenging climbs. Sunday's ride was basically rollers, with a couple steeper climbs and then some awesome downhills. This is farm land, which is awesome for riding as the traffic is minimal on the roads we hits. We also hit the Utica covered Bridge , saw lots of cows and horses and smelled manure on the fields. These folks were great to ride with and I will ride with them again. The guy that routes this also puts together a charity ride that I have done for two years and I will do it again this year. I felt strong and good on the bike. Last night I was a bit tired, but today I don't feel sore at all. So I am pleased with my results for my first long ride of the season.
Now, we can tell from this post what are my favorites out for the three triathlon events. :) I do need to get some running in there. My last run was 3.5 miles a couple weeks ago! other than a treadmill interval run last week. YIKES!!! Now that I am about 3 months out from my first triathlon of the season, it is time for me to make sure all three are getting some attention.
I hope all had a good time this past weekend and I am sure there will be many race reports to read and catch up on!
Thursday evening 3/18, 14.5 mile ride with my favorite bike shop. It was a small group, but it was fun. I road with the co-owner of the shop who was "going light" on Thursday since she was racing on Saturday and we had two women, new to cycling, out on their first group ride. As always the shop owner is ever helpful and providing great tips on cycling. She even noticed that my cycling has improved! I am happy about this. I could tell that my indoor training over the Winter was quite helpful! Not that I was on the bike trainer all that often, but I did keep up with running, swimming, and weight work - so it is all good for overall fitness. I am in much better shape coming into this Spring than I was last Spring.
Saturday 3/20 I swam in my first swim meet in 30 years. The master's team I joined in January does this meet once a year. I thought why not swim an event or two. Mind you, I have not been training to swim in meets, just get my base up and train for my triathlon swim. The meet was fun. There were about 200 athletes signed up and ages on up into the 80's. I was inspired by a 78 women, Janet. She swam all the butterfly events offered - 100, 200, and 50 meters. I want to be able to do the butterfly when I am 78. Truly inspiring. I helped out at the event by being a timer. Each lane had the electronic pad and two timers. For those that thought they were going to beat records, a third timer would be added to your lane. I know one man broke the World Record for 100 IM for 60-64 age group. FUN! I did not break any records on Saturday, but I did get a 1st place in the 100 IM for my age group....... sadly I was the only woman in my age group that swam that event! :) I will still take my medal! This was my favorite event as a child and teen. I still enjoy it, although the next time I swim in a meet I will hopefully have learned how to pace myself better. I went out WAAAAAAAAAYYYYY too fast for the butterfly and back portion (44.80 split time) and then I was about PUKE and my heart fly right out of my chest during the breaststroke (my worst and least favorite stroke) and I managed to keep it together to get to freestyle. I was a head in my heat until the breast stroke and I saw the other lanes passing me by.... ugh... Oh well! Next time! I finished in 1:52:24. Nothing stellar, but I had zero expectations for time. I definitely hit my heart rate max for this one! The other event I swam was 50 freestyle other quick event. Why I didn't sign up for say 400 Free or something like that I don't know.... I don't remember my time in 50 free..38 seconds I think. There were more women in my age group swimming this event, I did not place. All in all the meet was fun and I will do it again.
Sunday 3/21, 30 mile bike ride. Sunday was a gorgeous day. I met up with some people I don't know all that well for a ride up in Frederick County, MD. Frederick County is not flat. Lots of rolling hills and some very challenging climbs. Sunday's ride was basically rollers, with a couple steeper climbs and then some awesome downhills. This is farm land, which is awesome for riding as the traffic is minimal on the roads we hits. We also hit the Utica covered Bridge , saw lots of cows and horses and smelled manure on the fields. These folks were great to ride with and I will ride with them again. The guy that routes this also puts together a charity ride that I have done for two years and I will do it again this year. I felt strong and good on the bike. Last night I was a bit tired, but today I don't feel sore at all. So I am pleased with my results for my first long ride of the season.
Now, we can tell from this post what are my favorites out for the three triathlon events. :) I do need to get some running in there. My last run was 3.5 miles a couple weeks ago! other than a treadmill interval run last week. YIKES!!! Now that I am about 3 months out from my first triathlon of the season, it is time for me to make sure all three are getting some attention.
I hope all had a good time this past weekend and I am sure there will be many race reports to read and catch up on!
Monday, March 8, 2010
Gotta make it fun!
At the tri expo at the LBS on Saturday I bought these:
Sugoi arm warmers! I love that they are not basic black. You have to have fun with this stuff! I also have a new helmet (S-Works by Specialized) on order as they didn't have the color I wanted in my size.
Other weekend activities: I visited the Workhouse Arts Center with my Brother, Sister-in-law, neices and daughter. We all had our creative juices flowing and wishing that we could have studios to create our respective arts interests all day. Many artists were there on Saturday, so it was great for the kids to get to see them working and ask them questions. What a great use of a former prison!
After swimming 3600 meters at swim practice on Sunday, I hiked ~7 miles scouting for hike that will be this coming Saturday. Despite all the melting snow it was not too muddy and only a few spots still had snow. For a close-in hike, it wasn't to terribly boring. The only thing I didn't do this weekend that I wished I had time for was getting outside on my bike. Hopefully, this coming weekend will be dry enough for that activity.
I am happy Spring is showing itself!
Friday, March 5, 2010
FRIDAY!
The sun was quite bright this morning. It was lovely. It is still cold though, 39 degrees currently. The weather folks are predicting nice, dry, sunny weekend days with temps in the 50's! Very exciting! I hope to get outside and enjoy it on foot and bike!
I have a Friday evening date with the compu-trainer at the LBS. Such the active social life for me! Perhaps there will be others ? The last time I was there on a Friday, it was just me. Saturday morning I am thinking I will go for a run - OUTSIDE!!! Saturday afternoon the LBS is having a tri expo. Various vendors and discussions about training and lactate threshold, etc. I am planning on stopping by. I love to go get information and learn something new. I like drooling over the gear too. Note to self: leave credit card at home! While I really would like to have a tri bike, my lovely, only year old road bike, (Orangina) is just fine for me right now!
I have swim practice on Sunday morning and I have to scout a hike for hiking club on Sunday afternoon. I am sure that the trail is going to be a giant mud pit. The original hike I was to scout this weekend we had to cancel due to too much snow still on the trail. I called the park ranger's office and they chuckled when I asked about trail conditions. Still about a foot of snow on this particular mountain. Hee hee... That will probably take the rest of the month to melt down! Scouting this weekend and taking club members to hike it next weekend not possible! So the alternative hike is a close-in suburb hike. I will have to piece together a group of trails to come up with an 8 to 10 mile hike that hopefully isn't too dull.
Good Weekend to all!
I have a Friday evening date with the compu-trainer at the LBS. Such the active social life for me! Perhaps there will be others ? The last time I was there on a Friday, it was just me. Saturday morning I am thinking I will go for a run - OUTSIDE!!! Saturday afternoon the LBS is having a tri expo. Various vendors and discussions about training and lactate threshold, etc. I am planning on stopping by. I love to go get information and learn something new. I like drooling over the gear too. Note to self: leave credit card at home! While I really would like to have a tri bike, my lovely, only year old road bike, (Orangina) is just fine for me right now!
I have swim practice on Sunday morning and I have to scout a hike for hiking club on Sunday afternoon. I am sure that the trail is going to be a giant mud pit. The original hike I was to scout this weekend we had to cancel due to too much snow still on the trail. I called the park ranger's office and they chuckled when I asked about trail conditions. Still about a foot of snow on this particular mountain. Hee hee... That will probably take the rest of the month to melt down! Scouting this weekend and taking club members to hike it next weekend not possible! So the alternative hike is a close-in suburb hike. I will have to piece together a group of trails to come up with an 8 to 10 mile hike that hopefully isn't too dull.
Good Weekend to all!
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
A little of this and a little of that!
Work has gotten busy again... that is a good thing!
Last week, I got some strength and core work done and a 4 mile run on the treadmill last Thursday.
Saturday 2/27 I did 18 miles on the bike compu-trainer at the bike shop. There were 4 others there - 2 guys and 2 other women. It was good to have others to "ride" with. We did the Ironman Switzerland bike course (18 miles of it for 4 of us - uber athlete dude did 26 miles). There was a killer 6.9% grade hill at the beginning and then it was flat at the 18 mile mark was a 7.7% grade hill...a good stopping point! LOL.. I felt really good about the session. I want to get my cycling stronger, so this is good.
Sunday 2/28 was my Birthday. Another year older! ugh! New age group for events! I started the day at swim practice. 2700 meters... usually we get in 3200 meters but I needed to leave a bit early to meet up with some other women (and a few men) for a bike racing clinic! It was fun! Got some experience riding in a tight pack, drafting, and moving up within the pack, etc. The wind was brutal on one part of the ride, so making sure you were in the pack was important! After the Winter we have had this year, it was great to be outside on the bike! I am contemplating a bike race in March - stay tuned. FUN!
The highlight of my Birthday was stopping at Georgetown Cupcake and getting yummy cupcakes! Chocolate and Devil's Food YUM!
Last week, I got some strength and core work done and a 4 mile run on the treadmill last Thursday.
Saturday 2/27 I did 18 miles on the bike compu-trainer at the bike shop. There were 4 others there - 2 guys and 2 other women. It was good to have others to "ride" with. We did the Ironman Switzerland bike course (18 miles of it for 4 of us - uber athlete dude did 26 miles). There was a killer 6.9% grade hill at the beginning and then it was flat at the 18 mile mark was a 7.7% grade hill...a good stopping point! LOL.. I felt really good about the session. I want to get my cycling stronger, so this is good.
Sunday 2/28 was my Birthday. Another year older! ugh! New age group for events! I started the day at swim practice. 2700 meters... usually we get in 3200 meters but I needed to leave a bit early to meet up with some other women (and a few men) for a bike racing clinic! It was fun! Got some experience riding in a tight pack, drafting, and moving up within the pack, etc. The wind was brutal on one part of the ride, so making sure you were in the pack was important! After the Winter we have had this year, it was great to be outside on the bike! I am contemplating a bike race in March - stay tuned. FUN!
The highlight of my Birthday was stopping at Georgetown Cupcake and getting yummy cupcakes! Chocolate and Devil's Food YUM!
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