Swim, run...snow!

I swam this morning (4x 500) at race pace. It was an interesting experience sharing a lane with someone who was committed to doing surface dives every 10 feet. Thinking ahead, my goal for the weekend is the following workout:
Sat morning: 10 lap warm-up, 3x30, 10 lap cooldown- total laps 110
Sat afternoon 8x8x8 (E/H/E)
Sun Morning 10 lap warm-up, 25K, 10 lap cooldown
Sun evening 8x8x8 (E,H,E)

tomorrow morning- SWIM? maybe

"A bird does not change its feather because the weather is bad"

I received this Nigerian proverb about persistence today and found myself thinking just how timely it was. I have had a bit of a backslide motivation wise, I am not sure if its because I am so so tired, or if its just one of those things. My nutrition has been horrible this week. I decided today to force myself out for a 45 minute run, something positive for my soul.

Speedskates are sharp!

I just got back from a weekend in in Placid. That drive is starting to get to me. I am so glad that our tenure there this season will soon be less urgent as Nationals is in two weeks. While I love that place, its just makes for an exhausting pace.

This week has brought some nice changes:
I swam both Tuesday and Thurs morning, and each morning my goals were taken care of despite not managing the quick paced miles due to the icy roads and shortened pool times.
I ran and hit the weight room, though the weight room was more of a training session (that left me really sore) for my level three completion. If all is said and done, I should be done by March.
I skated a few days as well, including the days on the oval.
I lost 5 pounds!
Three weeks until I skate the BAY!
Speedskates are sharp -to the tune of 9 stitches in the thumb!
4W

Looking forward

You know how there is a calm before the storm and its darkest before the dawn? Today I took a step that is quite scary, but will help me in the long run. I decided that all of my life needs to be in order, not just the physical and nutritional, but every aspect of it. I wake up each morning lately asking myself "What can you do for yourself or your family today that is positive? Today I took one of those big leaps of faith. I decided to put my financial house in order. Numbers scare me, heck money scares me, regardless of the have not have scenareo.

I did however in all the frenzy end up blowing off my workout. It was dark out by the time I got home from work, and at this point, I can't even squeeze a skate in. Its too late for me, especially when I have a 4:45 AM wake-up if I am going to make the pool by 5:45. I plan on swimming at least 3300M tomorrow morning beore school at a fairly quick pace (21minute miles).

Life is such a wonderful wurlwind!!!

Its Snowing!!!

I spent my weekend immersed in activity. I walked a few miles yesterday because I needed a break, and managed a run today before the long drive to Saratoga and back before heading to Shelton to practice. I didn't get the kind of ice time in that I thought I would, as there were too many new people on the ice, but I did get to move a bit. I am hoping that I will make the session in Brewster tomorrow, but that kind of depends on work.

Its snowing and I am thinking about cycling. really thinking about it, between the ride Chris and I are planning, Port Huron to NYC for Right to Play (this will be a sans organization event- totally grassroots effort) and the ride my friend is doing (PAN MASS CHALLENGE) for the Jimmy fund...
http://www.pmc.org/mypmc/profiles.asp?Section=story&eGiftID=SB0159
http://www.pmc.org/mypmc/profiles.asp?Section=story&eGiftID=TT0079

I am totally thinking ahead towards next month when I can get back out in earnest. Maybe start with my favorite GOLD coast ride to warm things up - nothing like riding along the beach in the winter then going to the Greek Diner for lunch. Chris will love it.

Now for the real meat:
goals for this week - bring workout times up to 1.5 hours a day (and mix up the intensities)
Run: Sun/Mon/Thurs
Skate: Sun/Mon/Tues/Sat
Swim: Tues/Thurs
Stay on track with nutrition - no processed foods!


Its going to be a great week!

It caught me!

I have spent the past two weeks trying to avoid stress, and I have to say I have really enjoyed them. The hard work and reframing of thoughts have been a welcomed and exhausting proposition. Today however, I cracked. I spent the day in a really foul mood, not sure if it was overtraining or exhaustion, but something set me off. Curmudgeon describes it well.

I got home and decided to run instead of fighting the weather to go skate. A few things came to light; I should have taken the day as a rest day, doing low-walks as farlicks after a 2 mile run is FRIGGEN HARD, and if I wasn't fried enough the half a mile trek home up that stupid hill did me in...ok, I think I am suffering from a bit of overtraining.

Tomorrow is another day- I'll smile then.

Its all about balance

I found myself talking about balance at Tuesday's practice, mostly because it was one of those things that the world (NY Times and Stamford Advocate)seemed to focus on in the papers that day. I got to thinking about how true that is, Balance is key, and as we age, we loose quite abit of the ability to keep it, both literally and figuratively. Stress seems to be a key component in its loss.

I managed to stick to my workout goals so far this week. I skated, ran, and swam. I also managed my nutrition pretty well. I have started to notice a difference in the way things fit, and I am falling in love with that feeling again. Starting to feel the need to push beyond limits all while reframing negatives. This New Years resolution to find happiness in the true sense of the word is exhausting but exhilirating just the same.

Content and pleasantly tired

I spent the weekend in Lake Placid, racing. Yes, I said racing. Ok, maybe I was not really racing, in the true sense of the word, remember, I barely get out of first gear. I think of myself as the slow and steady type. I know that if I work at it though...Its the fact that I got out there. I didn't psych myself out, the mere fact that I decided that mental stress was not in the vocabulary this weekend as the physical would be more than enough and stuck too it was amazing!

My 500 time (1:05) was faster than last week (1:13)
My 1000 time (2:13) was way faster than last week (2:39)
My 5K time (12:38 or something) was indicative of my survive a marathon pace

Best of all, I was SO happy. I did really well at reframing negative thoughts. Actually, I never let them enter my head. It was just fun.

On another note it was great to see such commradery at this meet. The crowd cheered for everyone on the track. People seemed to come out of the woodwork too. I saw so many that I haven't seen in awhile. It was especially nice to see Mitch back on the ice.

Chris (polka-dot skin) had 4 PR's and almost caught Dave (.14 off). Chris H. (1st), Kristen (4th) and Andrew (2nd) skated well. Jack made a comeback to racing after 20 years and managed 4th place. Nationals is only a few short weeks away. It seems that everyone is so keyed up, so ready.

GOal for today: Its such a beautiful day that a ride may be in order but 1 hour of excercise at an active recovery pace. I also would like to turn in early as tomorrow is a pool day (5:45 AM after a 45 minute commute).

OUCh its CoLD!!!

It was such a beautiful day that I was excited about working out. I was half tempted to ride, but resolved that a run would be more feasible not to mention warmer. My plan was to make it at least half a mile longer than two days ago. I concenrated on picking up the pace and working on arm swing. That part was easy. The temp outside was hovering at 12 degrees and it was a bit windy. No matter how well dressed I was the air hurt anything exposed. I was listening to this playlist I have created for running, with a snappy mix from Galactic to Angelique Kidjo and thinking about something that came up in class today. There was this conversation about how boring track was and how painful running was. I told them that they had it all wrong, that running shouldn't be boring, but should be a place where they can solve the world's problems (thier world's problems anyway). I spent my last mile trying to take that advice, and came up with a decision that its time to clean up the clutter in every aspect of my life. Clutter is an exhausting albatross that gets in the way of life. On that note...looking foward to skating this weekend.
Today's goals? OK, just getting out there was enough of a goal. Moving for 45 minutes...

out for a run

I didn't do too much yesterday, I was really spent from the week in Lake Placid, skating a few hours a day, and driving home in snow yet again. This morning however, I found myself still hurting, and despite the temptation of allowing myself to be glued to the Saber/Penquin game, I managed to get out for a short 35 min run, which turned out to be a bit of a soul searching endeavor. I found myself picking my brain about specific goals, and trying not to compare this time to last time. I does no good to beat myself up about the past. What is more important is that I remain positive and move forward as each journey is different. I tried to think of how I wanted to break down each task. On excercise, I know that if I give it a month of consistant effort, then the hard work will start to become second nature. (7 days down- 21 to go)
Today's goals:
exercise for at least 30 minutes - This was completed and exceeded
eat only whole foods (and in moderation)