• Type: Cycle
• Date: 08/14/2008
• Time: 06:45:00
• Total Time: 00:32:00.00
• Distance: 6 miles
• Average Speed: 11.25 mph

When I pulled my bike out of the garage, I realized this was the first time I had been on it since the triathlon. Whew.

It actually was a really nice ride. The trail was extremely flat, cool, so nice… and I surprised myself with how not out-of-shape I was… as far as the bike goes. (Let’s not talk about running.) I am really looking forward to getting clip pedals next month (is that what they are called?), I can’t wait to see how much it helps improve my time and speed!

This was a quick ride, but really nice. I prayed a lot and enjoyed it. (Complete opposite of my runs.) I met up with Sarah and she pulled ahead of me immediately. But had she not been there, I don’t think I would have pushed myself as hard as I did. I love the accountablity of fitness friends! She also helped me figure out why I have never successfully pumped my own tires — because my pump doesn’t actually fit my tire. Duh. Anyway, it was great to see her again and I hope to train with her more often… she challenges me and I like it!

I need to bike more — it’s something I enjoy. I need to participate more often in the (what I consider) enjoyable side of fitness to remind myself why I am doing this. Because it is fun and good for me.

• Type: Run
• Date: 08/13/2008
• Time: 18:10:00
• Total Time: 00:35:00.00
• Distance: 2.4 miles
• Average Pace: 14:35.91/mile

Met up w/ Megan again. This time in my neighborhood — the rolling course. I showed her the ropes. She likes my neighborhood, saying “it’s pretty.” Haha. I think our walk/runs are good for my soul. I was a little dehydrated but she pushed me through it. When it gets hard and we want to walk, we’ll say it and then let the other make a mini goal for us: “Okay, we can walk when we reach that stop sign up there.” I think that is helping us push one another. We both miss being able to run the full two miles and enjoy it the entire way.

So, we’ll get there!

This was nice. Actually I hated it, but…. not as much as the first day. It’s getting easier.

• Type: Run
• Date: 08/11/2008
• Time: 18:00:00
• Total Time: 00:20:00.00
• Distance: 1.5 miles
• Average Pace: 13:20/mile

Megan and I met up for a slight jog. She was babysitting her cousin’s daughter and wanted so badly to NOT miss our run because of it that she went out earlier that day and bought a jogging stroller! Do you remember that this is my newlywed friend, Megan? Haha. I admire her dedication. She said “I am going to need one some day anyway!”

I was relieved to find that she was just as out of shape as I was… though she was pretty disappointed in herself. We spent most of the trail walking and talking. I think we might have needed the talk more than the run. But overall, it was a good time!

We’re meeting again tomorrow to run in my neighborhood — a rolling course! Yikes! Hopefully we’ll do more running than walking. (I think we will.)
Last night Tommy told me I should do some push-ups because I “have great arms” and push ups would make them “look even better.” How funny is he? I told him about the 100 push-up challenge and he said he would do it with me. I guess we’re starting it today.

MAN I am terrible at self-motivation!

Also, I mentioned to him that “everything seems so much better when I am working out.” He agreed whole-heartedly. I feel better, I drink more water, I eat better, I see friends more and get better conversation which is good for my soul, and I get more sunlight which also does a lot more than people give it credit for!

We can’t be eating dinner directly before bed time! So I suggested we “eat raw” for dinner… to avoid eating bad foods and then hitting the sack immediately and cancelling out all of our hard work during that day. He is up for that!

Well, that poses another challenge. If he is eating raw for dinner, that means he needs to be eating good, solid healthy foods through the day. PLANNED meals. Well, I know what snacks are good for me to eat and what are good portion sizes for me. But I have no idea how to help my husband maintain a good diet throughout his work day. Plus he is 1.5 hrs away from me so it’s not like we can meet for lunch and hold each other accountable.

Any ideas of good snacks I can pack for him for his work day? He leaves the house at 4:45am and isn’t really up for eating anything until after his 7am run. He eats lunch at 12pm on the dot every day and those meals range from a Subway sandwich to a full on Italian meal, depending on his attitude towards his diet that week and who is inviting him to lunch (or not). I would like to pack him a variety of snack food he can eat throughout the day and advise him of a few different lunch options he can choose from throughout the week at different restaurants in the area (ceasar salads, subway sandwich, etc?).

I think I am trying to gain all of the same nutrition information I’ve learned about my own body in the last 10 years about HIS body in the next week. Ha ha. Can anyone give me a heads up?

• Type: Run
• Date: 08/07/2008
• Time: 17:20:00
• Total Time: 1:00:00.00
• Distance: 4 miles
• Average Pace: 15:00/mile

This was a “let’s run on Thursday” plan with Jen. So we met up… and it was miserable. And I KNOW everyone says “Running is 90% mental.” And I countered that the whole time saying “I hate this… I hate this… this is absolutely miserable.” Because it WAS. I hated it.

Jen said “Why? Why do you hate it?” And I thought about it and analyzed it and here’s what I came up with: I am heavy! And it hurts when my body bangs to the ground! And I haven’t worked back up to running again or even halfway enjoying jogging.

By the end of the “run” (ha ha) I remembered what it was that got me into enjoying the jogging scene (no I was not enjoying myself, but I did recall what might help me enjoy myself in the future). And that is music and deep breathing. I do enjoy listening to my breathing and hearing myself get healthier (that’s what I like to think of it as). All the while listening to my little ipod and encouraging myself. So, maybe I need to get out there for a few jogs on my own.

Time’s a’tickin’….

Tomorrow I have plans to meet Jen for a run at 5:15pm at my favorite trail in town. Yippee! Yesterday Megan and I planned two runs a week for the next four weeks. They are on our calendars and we’re serious about them. I am so excited!

Tommy and I also talked last night about watching our diets and getting serious about being more active. He’s running 4 miles a day at work now. They just started a compressed work schedule and he gets paid for PT, so I think he’s trying to spend MORE time doing PT, haha. So that is encouraging to me, too!

I am excited! It’s actually really fun to go back and read older blog entries of mine, too. More encouraging than I thought. Pretty neat.

• Type: Run
• Date: 08/04/2008
• Time: 08:15:00
• Total Time: 00:40:00.00
• Distance: 3 miles
• Average Pace: 13:20/mile

I found a friend to run with. If you all remember, my being able to get out there and run highly depends on me finding a running partner. Well, I found a new friend who also wants to train for her second triathlon also, so we are in this together! It’s great because we are on the same level, too.

We walked/jogged a lot of this 3 miles but I couldn’t believe how quickly the end came! At one point she said “let’s run again, that’s the end up there.” I said “What!! It is?! Okay, let’s go!” She lives about 45 mins from me and we met halfway to run a well-known loop. We passed a few runners and  lots of other walkers, too. I am excited to stick to familiar trails because it’s so great to see myself improve and KNOW I am improving when I run the same trails.

In perfect timing, my friend Megan emailed me today and said “I want to start running again, tell me your schedule and I will work around it. I will even come to your neighborhood.” How great is THAT!

In addition… I just spent the last 15 mins or so reading through all old entries under the category “run” and wow… was that encouraging. I am glad I was so open and honest in my writing. I had forgotten how fun it was to run and see myself improve so quickly. Not to mention, I do really miss the camaraderie around here.

Alright, so this week I hope to get in two more runs and at least one bike ride. I also hope to get new (clip) pedals put on my bike early next month. Woohoo. I think this triathlon I will have to do without new running shoes. We’ll see…
I’m excited!

I have a new goal. The 1/2 marathon fell through. I’m sorry. I just don’t like running.

I’m going to shoot for the Giant Acorn Sprint Triathlon near my parents house on October 4th, 2008. I’m using this training plan. I’ve only got 10 weeks so I’m on week 3 already.

I met with a nutritionist this morning who put me on a diet plan. 1500-1600 calories a day and accountability. For free!

Awesome. I’ll be tracking workouts here and also on my Wii Fit. Hehe.

Here we go!

Wedding pictures HERE. (And here, too!)

Honeymoon pictures HERE.

Latest and greatest workout plan coming soon in the Training Plan area (see up above).

I start training for the VA Beach Rock & Rock 1/2 marathon tomorrow. 18 weeks to go. A lot of miles ahead of me. A lot of mental training ahead of me. A lot of hydrating ahead of me. A lot of praying ahead of me.

But I can do it. I’m pumped. This is going to be a lot more intense than the triathlon was, and I know it. I can’t just slide by in a 1/2 marathon. No way jose. I have to seriously train and I really want to do this. So I’m going to do it. Tomorrow morning is Day 1!

I’m excited! But nervous. I already am not looking forward to getting up and leaving the house early. I really like my mornings at home. I enjoy making our bed and doing the dishes in the morning. I know, how silly. Oh well. You gotta sacrifice if you want to be a runner, right?

So! Here we go!!

And then on Monday we’re headed here for the honeymoon.

And once we’re back, we’re starting a training plan for the August 31st VA Beach Rock & Roll 1/2 marathon.

See you then!!