Just like butta....

I went swimming this morning before class.  It was so peaceful out.  There wasn't any chop.  The only movement to the water surface was behind the ducks and the occasional fish jumping.  I was able to swim .24 miles which is three laps alongside the dock.  It was hard to get started because the water was so cold.  It took my breath away at first.  I have a shortie but I don't want to wear it.  Maybe I should.  They add bouancy.  I did my modified breast stroke but because it was so calm I thought I would work on freestyle a little. I went a few strokes then had a bit of a panic attack. I tried again next lap.  I did ok but didn't get too far.  The Wife, who was a competitive swimmer in high school, told me that I need to turn more as I. Trying to breath.  I'll try again tomorrow if the water is calm.

Keeping me on my toes

When I first started running it was to get in shape for rugby.  I had also just gone through a bad break-up.  I would run and sob. A I ran I would just snotty cry.  I don't know how I ran I just knew that I needed it.  At some point I decided I would try to complete a marathon.  I would lead with my heel and follow through my whole foot.  I did not get far in my training.  I then ran sporadically until I was in a trail running group.  This is when I was doing my most running.  I ran on my toes because I was hoping over roots and such.  I would also often take a lap barefoot as my cool down.  Even as far back as my childhood I have always LOVED running barefoot in nature.

I think the trouble I was having when I first starting running this time was not knowing how to run.  I was doing a cross of leading with my heel, like when I was road running last, but I have run the most on my toes on the trails.  I think it was making it hard for me to find my stride.  Now that I figured that out a few runs ago it has made all the difference.  I'm enjoying my runs more and slipping in to them.  It is like im in the run instead of struggling against them.

How was the swim?

It was more of a drown, really.  I decided to bike this morning instead of three days in a row trying not to drown for .16 of a mile.  I did bike 8.3.  I wanted to do ten but didn't have time before I had to leave for class.  I thought I would provide some pictuers.

This is a horse that is staying at my neighbors.  He is a doll face and HUGE.  He is a bit in love with Benny.  He greets me every morning. 

This is me before the race this past Saturday.  I forgot to take a picture when I got home, before the garden tour.

This is going to be one of my new goals.  I will add it to my training.  I missed most of May so I'll start in June.

This is the YUMMY icing I made for my brick of a cake.

This is me and my brother's diabetic dog Blue. 

In the Water

Yesterday I went for a bike ride.  It was not very successful.  I was struggling and probably should have taken the day off.  I wanted to go 10 miles but ended up going 4.3.   I was full of self-doubt.  I was getting really down on myself.  Here I was struggling to bike, I hadn't been in the water yet.  Everyone who has done a tri makes a big deal about the swim.  I had even been in the water yet.  I'm flailing on two of the three events.  

I decided I would hit the water today.  Let me just see how bad I am at swimming.  I understand that swimming by myself and in a crowd of people are two different things, but let me just see where I'm jumping off.  I ended up swimming four lengths of the dock.  Not too bad.  I did my mortified breast stroke because the water was really choppy.  There were white caps and the like.  Tomorrow I'm going to bring my GPS and walk the dock to see how far a length is.  I need to be able to do a half mile.  I will let you know how it goes.

New PR!!!

Yesterday I ran a 5k.  It was along side Furnance Bay.  It was a very pretty, shady run.  It was organized, I use the term loosely, by Good Shepard Catholic School.  It was a small race maybe 50 or so runners.  There were quite a few kids.  They thanked me for participating.  THe start line was not clearly marked, we were all just kinda standing around for a while.  Father then lead us in a pre race prayer.  One of the organizers then came over and shouted us the directions, it was an out an Back all on one road so the directions were easy.  Being a solid middle of the packer I don't worry about directions too much.  There were about five or six yippee skippy runners that had run prior to the race and were jumping up and down before we started and the ran it several more times one they were finished.  For the first mile there was a woman running right next to me.  At that point the yippee skippy runs were headed back toward the finish.  We cheered them on.  The cheering broke the ice between the woman had been next to me for the past ten minutes.  We decided to run the race together.  I told her my goal was to run the whole thing., her goal was to finish.  We kept each other at a good pace.  It turns out that she teaches math where I go to school for nursing.  We exchanged information and may do some more running together in the future.  Her husband had finished and met up with us the finish with her, so I got to meet him as well.  They seem like a very nice couple.  She wanted to walk for a bit so I ran ahead and finished in 30:06!!!  I shaved 1:19 off my last time.  Not bad.  I think running with someone really helped.  There were not time chips, so I'm going off my Garmin, I figure it is more accurate the the race time.  I'm counting on a guy who grabbed the bottom part of my bib as I crossed to write down my time.  It was a nice morning.

I then got home and cleaned up.  The Wife and I then went on the Secret Garden Tour.  It s lovely seeing the different houses and gardens.  It  was a great way to spend time together.

Cut the Crap Hamlet, My Biological Clock is Ticking and I want Babies Now

My biological clock is running a muck.  I'm crying at EVERYTHING and I'm nesting.  I I have cooked really good dinners this week and have started baking.  This is absurd.  My mother does not nor has not ever baked.  I have never baked.  I made cornbread this week that went really well.  Tonight I made rolls and a yellow cake with chocolate icing.  Well, I only keep unbleached whole wheat flour in the house.  My rolls and cake were dense.  After dinner of yummy chicken salad on these rolls, I felt like my stomach was a cement mixer.  I wanted to go for ten miles but there was no way that was going to happen.  I went 4.3 instead.  Maybe it will help me in the morning for my 5k.  I think will have to bake for carb loading before the race in August.  A few rolls and a piece of cake it is like power pellets packed with complex carbs.  The Wife is such a good sport.

Sneaky Broads

My mom is a member of a walking club.  They are three women that meet in the community park and walk.   I lovingly call them the Sneaky Broads.  She is also a member of a book club that I call Broads on Books and a garden club that I call The Dirty Broads. Anywho, the community park is also where the transition area is for the tri.  This morning I grudgingly decided to wake up erly and go to the park and run the 5k of the tri.  I got back to the park in perfect time to join the Sneaky Broads for their morning constitutional.  They meet at 7:30.  We walked for 50 mins. And talked about grandchildren and the houses we passed.  It was very nice.  They did comment that they thought they were going faster than normal.  They decided they were showing off for me.  W passed several schools in our journey.  We got to talking about parent pick up and drop off.  I told them what we used to do at the Catholic school.  One woman asked how can you tell which child goes in what car.  My response, "Well, it is a Catholic school so anywhere between 3 and 6 kids get into a car, you kinda get to know the family."  My mom thought this was kinda funny.

Now that the new mailbox post is cemented in, I'm going to move the mailbox over and then head back down into the shop.

Bike in the "Shop"

With working last night, I decided not to run or bike today.  After cementing the new mailbox post I brought the Nora the Wonder Bike 'down to the shop'.  The shop consists of a hook  in the ceiling next to my sewing table and a piece of string I use to suspend the back of the bike.  I adjusted the pedal cages and ran the bike through her gears.  It did slip on one of my back cogs, I have a bit of research to do to diagnosis the issue.  I did, however, start to install the new happy birthday bike computer.

From the Mouths of Babes

Friday:  I rode 7.65 miles.  I'm still working on trying to upload the trip from the Garmin.  I just haven't sat down to do it.  It was a good ride, but my bike would slip in and out of gear as I was pedaling.  It will have to come down into "my shop" for some work.  I would love to do it today.  That way I can alter the pedal cages and attach my new bike computer.  When I got off the bike I then went for my first BRICK.  I was going to run a mile.  I got off the bike and started the run and felt good.  I run around the yard after each bike ride so my legs are pretty use to it.  Once I tried to make them go farther then the yard, they protested.  I ended up walking most of the mile with a tight left quad, but I still did it.  I ran it home and sprinted at the end.

I also then mowed the lawn and weed-wacked the hell out of it.  I totally consider that x-training.  I was a major arm workout that I felt for a few days.  Plus my four year old niece was visiting.  We went to the water and got in up to our shorts.  It was cold but not too cold where it took your breath away.  I think I will get to start swimming soon.

Saturday:  We went to an awesome canning class in Philly.  We have a big garden and are going to join a CSA.  I want a way to preserve all this good food but am afraid of getting people sick with canning.  I feel much more confident now.  Plus the strawberry jam we made is are REALLY YUMMY!

Sunday: I slept most of day since I had worked the night before, but then went to Mom's house for dinner where we did the cooking and cleaning.  Then we played a few games of rummikub and watched the season final of Project Runway.  The Whip made a wonderful meal of stir-fry shrimp and asparagus, brown rice, and a fully homegrown spinach, arugula, and radish salad.  For desert we had vanilla ice cream with our strawberry jam as a topping.  The jam is made with a different type of pectin so it uses much less sugar then normal so you really get to taste to fruit.

Monday:  Today I went for a run.  I ran 2.8 miles.  I ran most of it and walked some.  I did it in 29:23.  I think the biking is building different leg muscles which is making it harder to run.  I have decided that every day that I exercise will include at least a mile run, just to keep the running part of my legs developed too.  I have a 5k this weekend and I have a good feeling about it.  I enjoyed my run this morning.  I was hoping to swim a bit today but I think it might storm so I'll stick to the kitchen.

As I said my four year old niece was visiting. 

Niece: You have a booboo on your hand.
The Wife: Yes, I was playing with our cat and she got a little too rough.
Niece: You have a cat?
TW: Yes, we have two.
N: You have two?  Are they both girls?
TW: Yes
N: Why?
TW: Well, they are sisters.
N: Are they married?
TW: No, they are sisters.

I love it.  I think the niece is still trying to figure out my marriage.  The niece just turned four and The Wife and I have been together 5 years in November, so The Wife is not new, but our wedding anniversary is June 30. 

I hope everyone had a wonderful Mother's day.  I'm off to buy a new mailbox post someone has run into ours yet again.

I might could...

I might could type good.  We had our nursing final today.  We started drinking at 10:30am.  I haven't done that since college the first tme.  Then we all Tom naps in the afternoon.  I had t go to mms for dinner ans more drinks.  I already have a headache and feel hungover.  It last a lot longer now that I'm older but it starts sooner too apparently.

Sleep Attire

Yesterday, after a fairly inactive week, I hoped on the bike and rode six miles.  It felt really good to be out there.  It was the same route I did last week that I wasn't sure the mileage, while I took my new happy birthday garmin with me.  It is six miles.  Please don't think I'm pretentious for writing out six. I often type this blog on my iPad and it is just easier to type out the word than switch to the number keyboard.  Anywho, it took me longer yesterday. 29:05 that includes a very short jog after the bike.  Every time I bike I go for a little run, like around the front yard to teach my legs that they can/will run after biking.

Today I ran a mile in 9:18.  I was thinking I would do two but I had had such a bad run last week that I wanted to have a good experience.  I ran the whole thing, sprinted at the end.  It felt short but I'm ok with that.  I might go out again later today, but probable not since tonight is family dinner.

I have found that if I have nothing planned for a day, it is really hard to motivate to run.  Yesterday I had to go to the hospital for my last day of clinicals, I'm certainly glad to not have to wear my whites for a few months, then I got to hear a speaker, it was easy to hope on the bike.  I was still dressed up from hearing the speaker when The Whip got home, so we decided to go out to eat.  It was a very nice dinner.  We sat out on the deck and the food was to die for.  We came home, changed my clothes and was off. On a side note.  I put on my spandex base layer and was donning my tech jacket when The Wife gave me big kisses and told me I was getting skinny.  She know how to make a girl feel good.  I rode my six and came home finished sweating, I always seem to sweat more when I finish exercising then when I'm out doing it.  I then took a nice long bath in Epsom salts.  I thought my hammies could use it.  Due to my possible lack of motivation today, today's schedule run and study, I slept in my running clothes last night.  I do this often to help encourage myself to get out there.  It is one less excuse I get to use.  At school I also like to park in front of the gym even though it is a longer walk because then maybe I'll walk in and use it.  I think they school may have caught on because they are now building a building in that closer lot and everyone must park by the gym.  I wonder if it is helping to bring up the gym user numbers. 

Guest Speaker:  Yesterday I had the opportunity to listen to Sorrel King speak.  She has become an author, public speaker, and patient safety advocate even since her 18 month old died to medical errors.  She was a guest speaker in honor of nurses week at the hospital.  It is a sad story, but what she has done with her sadness and anger is amazing.  She is trying hard to change the culture surrounding medicine.  She has helped implement family/patient activated rapid response in many hospitals as well as trying to create other things in empower the patient/family.  If you ever have the chance to watch the video of her speaking at the IHI conference, DO IT.  She spoke at Grand Rounds at Johns Hopkins after her daughters death and then she was invited to speak at the IHI conference.  (Institute for Health Improvement)  Someone video taped her speaking and that has become the film Jossie's Story which is showed at hospitals, med schools, and nursing school.  It is a very moving video. I'm getting choked up just thinking about it.   I have ordered the book and cant wait to read it.  That will be one of the first things I do after summer school.  I will let you know what I think when I get there. 

Ok, I really need to study now.  Have a great day.

Long Week

Monday: I was debating going for a ride but decided against because it was a scheduled rest day.  Hindsight is 20/20.  I should have gone.

Tuesday: I spent the day trying not to toss my cookies.  I really thought I was going to lose it in a patient room during morning rounds.  No, I'm not preggo, we are not even trying.  I'm just sensitive to hormonal changes in my body.

Wednesday: I got out a rode.  I did over 5 miles because I took the long way home.  I'll clock it soon. I did it in 28:10.  Not bad.  There were two cyclists going the other way on the road and they waved.  I sent sure if I was capable of waving back but I smiled and nodded.

Thursday: I did nothing.  I wasn't suppose to do nothing.  Wednesday was my last lecture of the semester and I just didn't want to change out of my pjs, so I didn't until the whip came home and we went out to dinner.

Friday: I tried to run.  I was going to go for 2.6.  My calves were burning.  I ran the beginning and part of the end but I walked most of it.  I think it took me somewhere around 36 minutes.  I stopped a few times to stretch out my calves.  I also allied that I had not ran since Sunday.  Im going to make more of an effort to do bricks, just to keep my running up.  I worked Friday night and tonight so I did not run during the day today.

Since my calf issues I pushing my fluids again.  I have never beenone to take in many fluids.  This is something that I need to work on.  I now have a job that enables to go to the bathroom often, I need adjust my fluid intake.