Monday night was so much fun! When Dave and I got home from work we immediately hopped on our bikes and set off on my first official ride. I was a little bit nervous at first. I still can't get over the idea of riding on a tire that is only an inch thick and I hate that you can feel every bump and crack in the pavement. What I love about the new bike is how light I feel. I feel like I can go so much faster with much less effort..... I love my new bike.
We biked about 10km and then headed home to get ready to swim. As I had mentioned earlier, both of my parents are also doing the triathlon. They have made it quite clear that they are very nervous about the swim portion and my mom asked if Dave and I would teach them a few tricks in the pool. I used to be a swim instructor so I knew it would be a lot of fun.
When we got to the pool my mom was a little bit nervous. She was so cute in her swim cap and goggles and both her and my dad were willing to work really hard. We did 200m kick to warm up and then went on to some stroke improvement. After a few tips for my parents I wanted them to do the full 350m just to see what the distance feels like. They ended up doing really well!
Yesterday was my medium run day. I have to admit that I was not in to it at first. I am so tired this week and I just wanted to eat dinner and hang out. So I put on my shoes and set off on my way. I ended up running at more of a jogging pace but I did about 3.5km in 22 minutes.... which I guess is ok. I just want to be able to do my 4.5km run on race day in under 30minutes.....
So today Dave and I are going for a swim and we will be going to his road running race as well. Maybe if I feel good I will sneak in a short run. We'll see!
Talk to you soon
Steph
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Sunday, May 24, 2009
What a Strange Few Days!
So the past few days have been a little bit strange for me..... After having a great training day on Wednesday I had a horrible day on Thursday. I was supposed to go for a run and ended up stubbing my toe so bad that I broke it. My toe is completely purple and so sore! I was so mad that I had done it that at first I wouldn't ice it or stay off of it. Eventually I gave in and decided to take the rest of Thursday and Friday off. So I missed a bike and a run and I was starting to feel lazy.
Yesterday was my day off so Dave and I spent the day building my bike! Dave ran out to the bike shop and got the rest of the parts that we would need to put it all together. After some issues with the brake cables and two blown tubes (Darn cheap MEC Tubes!) we were off and running! I put the bar tape on myself and then headed out on my first ride! I was completely nervous but had a great time. It is such a difference being on a road bike! I feel so much lighter and faster! Riding the bike was almost effortless.
This morning Dave and I woke up early and headed down to his second race of the year. The Coronation Triathlon is a long sprint race and Dave did great! It was so sunny out and the weather could not have been any better. My bother Matt and his girlfriend Chantal came along to watch as well as our good friend Ryan.
After the race we came home and I went out for my longer Sunday run. It was supposed to be a 32 minute run but I had mapped out a 5km route in our neighborhood that I wanted to complete. I am not a very fast runner so I aimed to finish it in as close to 32 minutes as possible. I ended up doing it in 33 minutes which is an awesome time for me! The only problem was that I did a lot of walking. The heat started to get to me and I was so thirsty but didn't have a fuel belt on me. I think that a fuel belt will have to be my next investment.
Tomorrow is swim and short bike day and I am really looking forward to it. I will also put up some pictures from the race and a picture of my bike as soon as I get a chance.
Talk to you soon!
Steph
Yesterday was my day off so Dave and I spent the day building my bike! Dave ran out to the bike shop and got the rest of the parts that we would need to put it all together. After some issues with the brake cables and two blown tubes (Darn cheap MEC Tubes!) we were off and running! I put the bar tape on myself and then headed out on my first ride! I was completely nervous but had a great time. It is such a difference being on a road bike! I feel so much lighter and faster! Riding the bike was almost effortless.
This morning Dave and I woke up early and headed down to his second race of the year. The Coronation Triathlon is a long sprint race and Dave did great! It was so sunny out and the weather could not have been any better. My bother Matt and his girlfriend Chantal came along to watch as well as our good friend Ryan.
After the race we came home and I went out for my longer Sunday run. It was supposed to be a 32 minute run but I had mapped out a 5km route in our neighborhood that I wanted to complete. I am not a very fast runner so I aimed to finish it in as close to 32 minutes as possible. I ended up doing it in 33 minutes which is an awesome time for me! The only problem was that I did a lot of walking. The heat started to get to me and I was so thirsty but didn't have a fuel belt on me. I think that a fuel belt will have to be my next investment.
Tomorrow is swim and short bike day and I am really looking forward to it. I will also put up some pictures from the race and a picture of my bike as soon as I get a chance.
Talk to you soon!
Steph
Thursday, May 21, 2009
A Wicked Training Day
So yesterday was my big training day to catch up on everything that I have missed this week.
I hit the pool and started with 200m kick and then went right into my timed swim. I knew I wanted to get my time down so I made a conscious effort to really more fast and efficiently and get a good, quick push off the wall at every turnaround. I knocked a full minute off of my time! I did the 350m swim in 9:20! Only 1:20 to go and I have reached my swim time goal! Yay! After practicing a few flip turns and getting in about 300m of cooldown I was off to the gym.
It was way too cold to train outside yesterday so I had to do my bike and run inside. I sat on the spin bike for half an hour and then went straight to the treadmill for a quick 15 minute run. I was really excited that I didn't get that feeling of dead legs off the bike. It may have been because I was only on a spin bike but I am hoping that I feel the same way on race day.
After everything I felt tired but strong. I know that if I keep on working really hard I can get all of my times down and be more comfortable throughout the entire race.
When I got home I made dinner for Dave and I (he was at baseball practice) and cleaned the house a bit. When Dave came home he had the best surprise for me! A new set of wheels for my crappy road bike frame along with a new cassette and new brakes! He put it all together for me and everything works! The only thing we have left to do is clean up the bike a bit, run the brake cables and get some new bar tape and I am ready to ride! I have to admit that I am getting nervous about getting on the road bike for the first time. It feels like such an awkward position and I am so scared of crashing. I think I will definitely have to get used to it.
Talk to you soon!
Steph
PS. I will post a picture of the bike as soon as I get the chance.
I hit the pool and started with 200m kick and then went right into my timed swim. I knew I wanted to get my time down so I made a conscious effort to really more fast and efficiently and get a good, quick push off the wall at every turnaround. I knocked a full minute off of my time! I did the 350m swim in 9:20! Only 1:20 to go and I have reached my swim time goal! Yay! After practicing a few flip turns and getting in about 300m of cooldown I was off to the gym.
It was way too cold to train outside yesterday so I had to do my bike and run inside. I sat on the spin bike for half an hour and then went straight to the treadmill for a quick 15 minute run. I was really excited that I didn't get that feeling of dead legs off the bike. It may have been because I was only on a spin bike but I am hoping that I feel the same way on race day.
After everything I felt tired but strong. I know that if I keep on working really hard I can get all of my times down and be more comfortable throughout the entire race.
When I got home I made dinner for Dave and I (he was at baseball practice) and cleaned the house a bit. When Dave came home he had the best surprise for me! A new set of wheels for my crappy road bike frame along with a new cassette and new brakes! He put it all together for me and everything works! The only thing we have left to do is clean up the bike a bit, run the brake cables and get some new bar tape and I am ready to ride! I have to admit that I am getting nervous about getting on the road bike for the first time. It feels like such an awkward position and I am so scared of crashing. I think I will definitely have to get used to it.
Talk to you soon!
Steph
PS. I will post a picture of the bike as soon as I get the chance.
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Bad Stephanie!
So, Yesterday was not exactly the bast day I have had so far..... I was supposed to make up Monday's bike and do my run but it just didn't happen....
Dave and I modelled in a shoot for the Ben Chrisman workshop that our wedding photographers Michael and Haley are hosting. There were over 17 photographers there and I have to say.... It was a workout! We were all over the University Campus and we posed our butts off! I am actually sore today which is weird because i am in pretty good shape. I think it was just one of those activities where you use muscles that you didn't even know you had.
As a result of not doing anything yesterday I am going to have a huge day today! I am going to head to the pool and get a 32 minute swim in and then I am off to the gym (it's too cold to workout outside today) where I am going to do a 38 minute bike and then hop on the treadmill for a short 19 minute run.
Can't wait to see what happens! I may be passed out on the floor of the gym.
Talk to you soon
Steph
Dave and I modelled in a shoot for the Ben Chrisman workshop that our wedding photographers Michael and Haley are hosting. There were over 17 photographers there and I have to say.... It was a workout! We were all over the University Campus and we posed our butts off! I am actually sore today which is weird because i am in pretty good shape. I think it was just one of those activities where you use muscles that you didn't even know you had.
As a result of not doing anything yesterday I am going to have a huge day today! I am going to head to the pool and get a 32 minute swim in and then I am off to the gym (it's too cold to workout outside today) where I am going to do a 38 minute bike and then hop on the treadmill for a short 19 minute run.
Can't wait to see what happens! I may be passed out on the floor of the gym.
Talk to you soon
Steph
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Long Weekend Training...
So this weekend was a tough weekend to train. It was May long which means lots of time out at the lake and lots of visiting with friends.
On Friday Dave and I went for a bike ride together. He took me to the actual bike course we will be racing and showed me the loop we will be doing. It's not bad.... no hills and the roads are pretty good. But I was so tired! I have no idea how this is all going to come together..... could be interesting. Anyway.... we figured that if I was biking at the pace we went on Friday I would finish the bike in under 40 minutes which seems really long..... I am going to have to work on getting that time down.
Saturday was break day! It was so nice and my body totally needed a break from all of this physical activity. I did find myself wanting feeling guilty for not doing anything though. I felt kind of like I was cheating. Dave and I even had pizza and cookies for dinner.... It was awesome! Feta and spinach pizza is the best!
On Sunday we were heading out to the lake so I woke up early to get my run in. I was tired..... really tired.... And for some reason it is still winter in Edmonton so it was absolutely freezing! I had very little motivation to run at all so I ended up doing 4km in 30 minutes which is really slow.... My goal time for the race is well under thirty minutes for the run.... thirty minutes would be my max.
Yesterday Dave and I both had the day off (Yay long weekend!) and it was my swim day so we headed down to the pool. It was supposed to be swim and bike day but it was snowing outside so instead we just put in a really long swim and I will bike and run today... unfortunately it will be inside. I started my swim workout off with a few lengths of kicking to warm up and then I went right into my 350m timed swim. I ended up finishing in 10:30 which is OK.... I really want to go faster. I figured that I was wasting too much time on my turnarounds so I kidnapped Dave from his swim workout and made him teach me flip turns! It is not easy.... But I picked up the motion really quickly. I figure that if I practice every time I swim, I should be able to do them on race day! I am hoping to knock a lit of time off by doing them.... and I might actually impress some people!
Well today is going to be busy. Work, modelling in a photo shoot for a workshop that our wedding photographers are hosting and training. I should be able to swim really well tonight. Hopefully it all goes well!
Talk to you soon!
Steph
On Friday Dave and I went for a bike ride together. He took me to the actual bike course we will be racing and showed me the loop we will be doing. It's not bad.... no hills and the roads are pretty good. But I was so tired! I have no idea how this is all going to come together..... could be interesting. Anyway.... we figured that if I was biking at the pace we went on Friday I would finish the bike in under 40 minutes which seems really long..... I am going to have to work on getting that time down.
Saturday was break day! It was so nice and my body totally needed a break from all of this physical activity. I did find myself wanting feeling guilty for not doing anything though. I felt kind of like I was cheating. Dave and I even had pizza and cookies for dinner.... It was awesome! Feta and spinach pizza is the best!
On Sunday we were heading out to the lake so I woke up early to get my run in. I was tired..... really tired.... And for some reason it is still winter in Edmonton so it was absolutely freezing! I had very little motivation to run at all so I ended up doing 4km in 30 minutes which is really slow.... My goal time for the race is well under thirty minutes for the run.... thirty minutes would be my max.
Yesterday Dave and I both had the day off (Yay long weekend!) and it was my swim day so we headed down to the pool. It was supposed to be swim and bike day but it was snowing outside so instead we just put in a really long swim and I will bike and run today... unfortunately it will be inside. I started my swim workout off with a few lengths of kicking to warm up and then I went right into my 350m timed swim. I ended up finishing in 10:30 which is OK.... I really want to go faster. I figured that I was wasting too much time on my turnarounds so I kidnapped Dave from his swim workout and made him teach me flip turns! It is not easy.... But I picked up the motion really quickly. I figure that if I practice every time I swim, I should be able to do them on race day! I am hoping to knock a lit of time off by doing them.... and I might actually impress some people!
Well today is going to be busy. Work, modelling in a photo shoot for a workshop that our wedding photographers are hosting and training. I should be able to swim really well tonight. Hopefully it all goes well!
Talk to you soon!
Steph
Friday, May 15, 2009
The Schedule!
For anyone who is curious about what my actually training schedule consists of..... Here it is. I know it's a little bit ambitious but I believe it is what I need to do in order to be successful. Click on the schedule for the full size image.
Running Slow But Not Tired.....
So yesterday I went for my short run. It was only 21 minutes and it was freezing out! I thought I would be ok once I got moving but it took me forever to warm up . The first half of the run was brutal. I had to stop to walk twice in the beginning and my lungs were killing. The second half was like a whole new run! I felt great and could have keep on going for a really lone time! I think I got into a good rhythm and started to have a little bit more confidence in my running abilities.
To be honest... this is the part of the race that I am the most worried about. I feel like swimming will get better and biking should be no problem. My fear is that I will get off the bike and have nothing left in my legs for the run. I really hope that is not the case.
All in all I ended up running 3km in 21 minutes which would put my 4.5km finish time at around 32 minutes on a good day. I know I can pick op the pace with more practice and my goal is to do the entire run on race day with no walking in under 30 minutes. The sad thing is..... 4.5 km would take Dave 18 minutes at the most! Gross..... oh well... maybe one day I will beat him!.
This afternoon is my long bike so it should be interesting.
Talk to you soon!
Steph
To be honest... this is the part of the race that I am the most worried about. I feel like swimming will get better and biking should be no problem. My fear is that I will get off the bike and have nothing left in my legs for the run. I really hope that is not the case.
All in all I ended up running 3km in 21 minutes which would put my 4.5km finish time at around 32 minutes on a good day. I know I can pick op the pace with more practice and my goal is to do the entire run on race day with no walking in under 30 minutes. The sad thing is..... 4.5 km would take Dave 18 minutes at the most! Gross..... oh well... maybe one day I will beat him!.
This afternoon is my long bike so it should be interesting.
Talk to you soon!
Steph
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)
