My new toy, Char-char Marley!!!

Meet Char-char Marley!!

 He's a 2012 Hybrid bike that I purchased on May 25. Above, that's me getting ready for my 7:30 am bike run on the 26th. I ended up doing 14 miles with other ladies training for Ramblin Rose Triathlon. I attempted to train on my current mountain bike but that was a disaster to say the least. It's at least 15 lbs heavier than a Hybrid and 30 lbs of a road bike. I tried a road bike but didn't feel too comfortable and balanced on it (awkward handles and skinny tires). The mountain bike WILL give you a serious workout since you're working at least 10x harder than everyone else but I didn't like how much slower I was going compared to everyone else. I'm at least 10x physically active than the other ladies but their bikes left me wondering which direction they went and feeling like a frustrated Fat Albert (I was so exhausted during our bike rides). I took Char-char for his second bike ride of 11 miles on Memorial Day and we had an awesome ride throughout the city. He was a pretty expensive toy but I'm happy. So far, so good.   

Summer salad at its best~

I love the creative possibilities....

Organic salad mix w/jalapeno peppers, grape tomatoes, mango salsa, red onions, fresh strawberries/blueberries, cucumber, scrambled tofu, flaxseed oil and almonds.

Swimming update~

Thursday May 17th, 2012 

Simmons YMCA;

70 minutes of swimming

I got there a few moments before my one hour session and reunited myself with the pool. Once my instructor got there, he asked me what I wanted to work on and I opted try something new. I completed a lap (down and back) of three different strokes which reassured me that I didn’t forget how to do them after being absent from the water for a few weeks (first time going all the way to the deep end and back). This particular pool is six feet deep.

My freestyle took up the remainder of my swim session as I’m still working on improving my abilities to breathe-turn-roll etc to keep from stopping on this particular stroke. I got frustrated a few times but it only lasted a  second before I was back under the water (continuously). Naturally, I told my swim instructor to expect improvements by next Thursday. Early on he mentioned that my kicks are extremely strong and asked a few times if I wasn’t exhausted due to the power of my kicks. After being asked this a few times, I informed him that I was neither tired nor had time to be after missing so many days out of the pool (he laughed at my facial expression and comment). Finally, he emphasized that I'm swimming and hope it builds my confidence in the water.  

Before my ear infection, I was getting in the pool 3-5x per week so I was elated to see my acquired skills were still there. I'm actually four weeks out from my Mock Triathlon (June 16th) and eight weeks out from the Triathlon (July 15th). There is still a lot to learn and improve on but for right now, I'm gratefully to be getting back on track (practice, practice). None of the other ladies came so I had one on one coaching which was greatly needed and appreciated ;). 

Stay tune for another update in two weeks regarding my freestyle stroke. Praying to report I'm able to get from one end to the next without stopping.

# I shall swim like a fish eventually 

The awesomeness of Graduations

Congratulations my dearest sister!!

We're so proud of you.

It has been a long road but you finished strong, with honors.

Being there to witness it all brought back many memories of dropping you off and the journey itself.

You're official--a college grad;)!!

Fitness Recap May 6-12

Sun:   2 hour swim session

Mon:  60 min weight training

Tues:  0 min

Wed:  30 min treadmill/stair climber

Thurs: 70 min run at BWI

Fri:     129 mins walked the National Mall and Monument Park

Sat:     0 min

Since last Saturday was the first day getting back to exercising, I opted not to push myself too much in the gym or on the pavement especially with vacation from Wednesday through Sunday. Shoot nobody likes to be sore and or sick on vacation. I'm proned to be sore with all my morning weight training so I only weight trained on Monday morning. Surprisingly, Thursday's run was great. As of my April 14th race, I decided to put running on the back burner while trying to fit in more swimming and was happy to feel strong on my run. The best part of running at the airport (my hotel was about a half mile from the terminal) was having employees tell me they started running as I came on their premises with a big smile on my face. It was my most memorable run to date.

Who would have thought running throughout an airport would be so much fun???

Fitness Recap April 29-May 5

Sun: none

Mon: none "home sick from work"

Tues: none "home sick from work"

Wed: none

Thurs: none

Fri: none

Sat: Bike 7.4 mi/run 1.8 miles (a runners worst nightmare)

I was an emotional wreck since I rarely get sick; and missing any workouts have never happened due to an illness in the past five years (never having an ear infection then getting two at the same time in the same ear was awful). Naturally, after shutting down physically, it only made sense to ease back into my training so I attended my Saturday training even though many suggested I did not. My attitude was I'm laid around for seven days and ready to get back to normalcy before insanity crept in.

Of course it was a struggle especially on that darn mountain bike on our hilly route but I survived and felt great about attending. Two hours later, I had my monthly self defense class which was good also. It's the last day of the week but I felt like the first day since my pity party was ending ;).

April 22-28th Fitness Recap

Sun:   2 hour swim session
Mon:  60 min weight training
Mon:  2 mile run
Mon:  90 min swim session
Tues:  45 min swim practice
Wed:  42 min; 7 mile bike ride; 35 min road safety & assessment
Thurs: 60 min swim session (am)
Thurs: 60 min swim session (pm)
Fri:     70 min ( lawn care-mow, edge & clean up)
Sat:     0 min

*And after all of that, I intentionally slept through Wednesday and Friday's early morning weight training session. I am certain my body enjoyed every extra minute of rest it received. It was super busy professionally and personally.

Friday I complained about not feeling to well at work and struggled to get motivated and energized to clean but finally did so after taking longer than normal. My ear began to bother me more than it did while at work as the hours progressed; I decided to trade my Saturday bike and run session for Urgent Care. The doctor concluded I had an external and middle ear infection which was indeed painful on every level. I inquired if it was swimmer's ear since I started swimming sessions a month prior but he noted there were no signs of it. Needless  to say, my very busy weekend of physical and fun activities took the backseat to antibiotics and ear drops. It is still a roller coaster six days later hence my late post regarding last week's recap. Too be continued regarding the infections.

Busy, busy Triathlon training indeed ;)