X-ercise Wii-Kend

Saturday morning I decided to do my first run in about 3 months. Initially I was going to do a 5 miler, but when I checked the 9 a.m. temp I realized it was almost 80degrees so I cut it to 3.2 miles.

I am so glad.

That run kicked my ass. 3.2 miles took 34:40. I purposely kept a slow pace, almost 11 minutes per mile. But it still really hurt. A lot.

I didn't look at the time or pace until I was done and I found that I ENJOYED my run. I liked watching the old people drinking their coffee on their porch and waving to me. I enjoyed seeing the funny dog trying to drink out of the gutter while his owner yelled, "Get back here!" It was nice to simply enjoy a run.

Sunday--Hit the bike trail on my bike for a 30 miler. Somehow, the day got away from me and it was 3pm before I got on my bike.

92 degrees.
Sore legs from Saturday's run.
Bike shorts a bit too big

You see where this is going, right?

I knew I was in trouble when my bike shorts kept sliding around my butt as I peddled.

By mile 10 my butt was on fire from chaffing.
But I kept going, mostly because of prodding from my husband.

Reached the halfway point in 1:06. Rested for about 2 minutes. Got on my bike and started peddling.

My chain promptly fell off the front cog.
I promptly fell on the ground.

Got back up. put the chain back on. Wiped my (now greasy hands) on my shitty bike shorts.

Rode back.
The last 5 miles were the worst.

Arms hurt
Ass hurt
neck and shoulders hurt.

Ok so I am a whiner. As I stumbled off my bike at the end I muttered, "I am never riding this thing again" which illicited laughter from my husband.

Dork.
95 degrees when we stopped at 5ish. Final time, 2:13 so almost an even split.

Rest day today. Then run Tuesday.

Patience is a virtue....Sigh... & Cal Bears Rock

I ordered the Jillian Michael's DVDs and Tri Power book--but I'll have to wait a while. :(

When will your items arrive? Delivery estimate: May 28, 2009 - June 10, 2009

I did another bike ride yesterday. 12 miles. 53 minutes. I stopped twice to rest. I'm up to 24 miles for the month--Hurray! I'll do 30 on sunday so that will make it 54 this week!

Tomorrow is my first run in like forever. I'm planning on a 5-miler using the run/walk (walk/walk) method.

Oh, and I bought some kettlebells from some guy on Craigslist! I pick them up tomorrow morning. He was selling them for only $20!

I think my time away has really helped me to HUNGER for workouts now. I feel so enthusiastic about working out. Kinda cool.

On the academic front--as I mentioned, all paperwork has been filed, etc. etc.. I mentioned this to a research librarian at UC Berkeley. Vanessa (librarian) has been assisting me for years with digging up primary documents for my thesis. Anyway, I sent a "thank you" email to her and she asked me to send to her (and UC BERKELEY) a copy of my thesis for them to keep in their special collection library! HOLY CRAP! I feel so honored! I guess since it is on such a unknown topic she wants it there. I had to do a little happy dance..

Cheers!

Garmin 310XT...and other lustful items

To buy or not to buy.. That is the question.

I have the opportunity to request an amazing graduation present from my S.O. I was considering the new Garmin 310 XT. It is hot, sleek, sexy and tracks all data during swim, bike & run. And I am a total gadget whore. Show me a new and exciting gadget and I get all hot and bothered and I will offer you my first born.

Well it turns out that the new Garmin does NOT do everything. I asked the Fleet Feet uber-gadget god, Justin, whether or not it tracked distance or heart rate in the water. He said "yes it does both." The Garmin Rep I e-mailed at Garmin Headquarters said, "No, it only functions as a stopwatch in the water."

WTF?

I called Justin back--"Garmin HQ said that it only tracks time in the water, no GPS or HR function. What do you think?"
Justin: "My Garmin Rep told me it does both during the swim."
Me: "Can you get a clarification from your rep? I don't want to spend $500 on something that doesn't do exactly what I want."
Justin: "Wow. I'll try to contact him."
Me: "Great.. thanks."

I have not yet heard anything from Justin. I wrote Garmin again too and have not heard back from them either. Apparently, they do not know the tennacity I possess. I mean, it took me 8 years to get a 2 year masters degree. I will not stop until I get something just the way I want. Just sayin'

Unlike a lot of other people, tracking HR and distance/pace in the water is very important to me. I panic in the water; I am slow in the water. I would like to have a training tool to help me with those two issues. A HRM will help calm the, "I think i'm going to have a heart attack" feeling. A distance/pace mechanism will help me track how well my pace is improving.

I hear a lot about Garmin 305s functioning in the water. Then I hear the 405s short out with sweat. What to do??

So I am torn. Should I ask Hubby for Garmin 310 XT as a grad present? Should I look at other options --such as Polar or Sunuto? I'm trying to serreptitously do research on all geeky triathlon gadgets from my work computer. "Will you please go away? Can't you see i'm on two discussion threads at 'Slowtwitch' and 'beginnertriathlete'? I'm horribly busy. I will work later."


The second thing I am considering--is Jillian's 30-day Shred



and the TriPower book.

Dare-to-Tri has blogged about both of these extensively and I really want to try them out.. especially to get rid of the "muffin top" that has enlarged significantly during my thesis finalization process. I will order those through amazon this week and start working. Does anyone else have any ideas for getting rid of 'muffin top'.. It is the only out of control 'Big' Area I have. The other stuff I can work off. But the freakn' stomach is nasty. I look like I am pregnant--and I have NEVER BEEN PREGNANT--("rugrats" were birthed by another mother..)

Sigh.Grumble.Sigh.Snort.

In terms of working out--I swam monday night in the lake. The freezing lake. My tri training group swam for an hour--doing drills, etc. It was so freakin' cold. Basically melted snow. RugRat #2 went and swam too. She put on her wetsuit for the first time and went out there and tried her best. I was so proud of her! Poor thing--her lips were blue when she got out of the water. But she kept trying to do the Total Immersion techniques. I'll make a triathlete out of her yet!

Surprise ! I actually exercised

I biked 12 miles yesterday! The loop from home I used to normally do in 42 minutes. Yesterday it took me 54 minutes. Oh, and there is a ton of saddle pain today. OUCH!

I'm going to try to pull off 150 miles this month. That doesn't sound like much but going from 0 to 150 in one month is hard for me.

Also--the big endeavor I am not pursuing is............... I am going to start training with a Trail Running group that is coached by Tim Twietmeyer. You know--the guy who won the Western States 100 about a million times! It starts in June and has a 'graduation race' called "Blood, Sweat, and Beers."

Ha! I can't wait to get started running again!

Oh--and tonight is first Open Water Swim Class. I'm taking the rugrat with me so she can try out her brand new wetsuit.

Details to follow!

New and Shiny and Fun

I'm on the cusp of doing some thing exciting and new.

Hopefully I'll have good news about my new adventure next Monday or Tuesday!

Have a great weekend!

D
O
N
E


DONE as in DONE with THESIS as in FILED ALL PAPERWORK AND IT WAS ACCEPTED.
as in, I HAVE A CAP AND GOWN AND HOOD.


WHOO HOO!

And now, back to training for Triathlons.. This weekend--bike ride and run.

I ran

I ran.
I listened to a little ditty.
By a man named Joe.
On my run.
It was not pretty.
It was slow.
It was fun!

The thought of running crossed my mind

One of the checkout ladies in the grocery store mentioned to me on saturday that her husband was running the AR50 yesterday and that caused me to have a fleeting thought about running.

No, not running the AR50, but running 2 miles. I think it'll be fun. RugRat started swimming lessons this week and wants me to start practice swimming and running with her. She wants to do a sprint tri this summer with me so I might need to get in shape and actually get off the couch and peel the remote control out of my hand.

As soon as I run, i'll post.

Oh, by the way

The thesis was signed by first reader on Friday, March 27, 2009 at 3:06 p.m. Pacific Daylight time.

Puke

Update: Turned in Feces (thesis) on March 13, 2008 at 1:15pm for SEMI-FINAL review.
Sent email to reader, "Please let me know by April 1 of any final changes so I can make them and reprint for your signature by April 13 deadline."

Reader's email this a.m., "Do I sign the copy you gave me?"

In other words--HE IS READY TO SIGN IT!!!

Honestly, I think I might throw up.

The Vegan Foodie Hundred

The Vegan Foodie Hundred
The rules:

* Copy this list into your own blog, including these instructions.
* Bold all the items you’ve eaten.
* Cross out any items that you would never consider eating.
* Post a comment here once you’ve finished and link your post back to this one.
* Pass it on!

1) Natto

2) Green Smoothie

3) Tofu Scramble

4) Haggis

5) Mangosteen

6) Crème Brûlée

7) Fondue

8) Marmite/Vegemite

9) Borscht

10) Baba Ghanoush

11) Nachos

12) Authentic Soba Noodles

13) PB&J Sandwich

14) Aloo Gobi

15) Taco from a street cart

16) Boba Tea

17) Black Truffle

18) Fruit Wine made from something other than grapes

19) Gyōza

20) Vanilla Ice Cream

21) Heirloom Tomatoes

22) Fresh Wild Berries

23) Ceviche

24) Rice and Beans

25) Knish

26) Raw Scotch Bonnet Pepper--shut up, I had a few drinks first.

27) Dulce de Leche

28) Caviar

29) Baklava

30) Pate

31) Wasabi Peas

32) Chowder in a sourdough bowl

33) Mango Lassi

34) Sauerkraut

35) Root Beer Float

36) Mulled Cider

37) Scones with buttery spread and jam

38) ‘Jello’ Shots

39) Gumbo

40) Fast Food French Fries

41) Raw Brownies

42) Fresh Garbanzo Beans

43) Dal

44) Homemade Soymilk

45) Wine from a bottle worth £60/$120 or more

46) Stroopwafel

47) Samosa

48) Sushi

49) Glazed Donut

50) Seaweed

51) Prickly Pear (cactus fruit)

52) Umeboshi

53) Tofurkey

54) Sheese or Teese

55) Cotton Candy

56) Gnocchi

57) Piña colada

58) Birch Beer

59) Scrapple

60) Carob Chips--unfortunately.

61) S’mores

62) Soy Curls

63) Chick Pea Cutlets

64) Curry

65) Durian--I really want to try this.

66) Homemade sausages

67) Churros, Elephant Ears, or Funnel Cakes

68) Smoked Tofu

69) Fried Plantain

70) Mochi

71) Gazpacho

72) Warm Chocolate Chip Cookies

73) Absinthe--YUMMM!

74) Corn on the Cob

75) Whipped Cream, straight from the can

76) Pomegranate

77) Fauxstess Cupcakes

78) Mashed Potatoes with Gravy

79) Jerky

80) Croissants

81) French Onion Soup

82) Savory Crepes

83) Tings

84) A meal at millenium in SF

85) Moussaka

86) Sprouted Grains or Seeds

87) Macaroni and ‘Cheese’

88) Edible Flowers

89) Matzoh Ball Soup

90) White Chocolate

91) Seitan

92) Kimchi

93) Butterscotch Chips

94) Yellow Watermelon

95) Chili with Chocolate

96) Bagel and Tofutti

97) Potato Milk

98) Polenta

99) Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee

100) Raw Cookie Dough

Sorry I've been a little absent

Ok Ok. I'm totally lame these days. I'm so busy with feces, (I mean thesis) crap that I am not doing much but figuring out the edits I got back from my editor. On top of that, my desktop computer crashed so I've been working on a foreign laptop (It is swedish--ha ha!)frantically trying to finish edits. The editor took a lot longer than I anticipated so I'm hurrying to make a stupid self-imposed deadline. On top of everything else, I've been having to take care of a sick family member both in the hospital and back at her home. Blah.

I have not run.
I have not biked.
I have not swam.

I'm total suckage these days. I am not doing Shamrock'n half marathon next weekend obviously. I'm not even sure about the season at this point. Should I even train to race? Once this thing is turned in, I'll have more time to re-assess my racing status. I may just "train for fun"--which kind of sounds like an oxymoron. The motivation I have for training now, is that I paid BT for their bronze level membership--I want to train the rest of the year so that the membership doesn't go to waste.
I HATE WASTE!
I just need to finish the freakn edits. I just find there are a lot of citations that I just don't know how to do correctly. Like how do you cite a footnote in Chicago style when the source document was never published and has no discernable page numbers? HOW??? Or if you are citing a quotation within another (secondary) source, but you can't tell (because it was translated) who was the original source? ARRRGGG!

Anyway, hopefully back on the bike soon. Only 9 more weeks until end of semester.

I have been putting on a lot of weight recently--although the muffin top has disappeared (HURRAY!). Probably all the boxes of Girl Scout Cookies I have been consuming. I was thinking that GSCookies would be great to eat after a race maybe alongside a big bowl of salty popcorn and a beer--which made me wonder... "What is the strangist thing you have ever eaten after a race?"

"What Kind Of Coffee Are You?" Quiz Results

I took one of the quizzes after reading Misty's blog

You Are an Espresso

At your best, you are: straight shooting, ambitious, and energetic At your worst, you are: anxious and high strung You drink coffee when: anytime you're not sleeping Your caffeine addiction level: high

What Kind of Coffee Are You?

Steve in a Speedo Interviewed Me

Steve in a Speedo Interviewed me and here are the questions and my answers. Enjoy!

Interview Questions:

1.) What's your best and your worst race experience? Explain.

Best experience was running the American River Half Marathon last year. I felt great--everyone was allowed to use IPODS so I listened to awesome music the whole time and I PR'd. Worst--there are two. My first half marathon ever, I took off too fast and at mile 5 my IT Band locked up so bad that I hobbled the remaining 7 or 8 miles and had to be off my feet for 2 months. The other worst one was my very first triathlon ever. I got in the lake and panicked--I basically had an anxiety attack and ended up dead last out of the water. It took me 45 minutes to swim half mile. It was humiliating.

2.) What was the race that got you "hooked?" Explain.

It was probably the crappy triathlon I detailed above--only because I realized that I needed to train in the water a lot more and after training I did another sprint tri two years later and finished the swim in 17 minutes--I cut my time in half! After doing that I realized I could do just about anything! In terms of running, I ran XC in high school and there was a local meet where the hill was crazy steep--we called it suicide hill. During the meet, I was upset about a boyfriend--prom issue and ended up sprinting up the hill passing everyone. It was kind of cool.

3.) If you could replace one leg of a triathlon (swim, bike, run) with ANYTHING else (canoe, 1/4 mile of monkey bars, off-road baja car race, pull-up challenge, etc), what part would you replace? Why? What would the new leg be? Why?

I would replace the swim with a girlscout cookie eating contest. I think it would make the bike and run portions VERY interesting because I don't think girls scout cookies settle down in the stomach very easily.

4.) If you could only wear one style of undies for 2 months, would it be thongs or granny-panties? Please explain.

I'd go commando cause it would just be easier than trying to pick between the two other choices.

5.) You're using a hammer and you accidently smash your thumb. What's your reaction? Silent rage? Deep grunt as you bite your tongue? "Golly-gee?" "Holy F***?"

I'd scream like a panther jumping from a tree onto a small animal.

Some Amgen Tour of CA pics

Made it to the TOC this weekend in Sacramento. I had a great time seeing all the cycling gods! First person I saw was Jens Voight. He is not nearly as tall as I thougth he would be.

Then as I walked away from the Saxo Bank Truck, Leipheimer, Horner and Armstrong rode/walked their bikes within inches of me trying to get out on the course !!!!

I waited at the astana truck for lance and company to come back. After about an hour of waiting Chris Horner showed up. I yelled, "Hey Chris" and he turned around and I snapped this picture.
Chris Horner


Then a few minutes later, Lance showed back up looking fit and trim--

Lance

I walked over to the OUCH truck and within 5 minutes a big escalade started down the street and inside was...tada! Floyd!!!

I was only able to get a pic of the back of his head though. He was smiling and he quickly hobbled/ran into the team truck. I milled around the team truck and saw Floyd's bike. I know it was his bike cause it had his name on it.

Floyd's Bike

This is one of the first pics I took.


I took a break for lunch and then came back around 2pm. I parked my big butt in front of the OUCH truck and waited with baited breath. Sure enough, within a few minutes, FLOYD came out and the crowd went wild asking for autographs, cheering and just being nuts!

Floyd

He got onto his trainer and hammered for awhile. He seemed kind of embarrased actually.

Floyd

At one point, he looked up and smiled at me. I melted. Of course, he was probably thinking, "I better play nice to the stalker-chick."


Anyway, after that we went a little ways away and started taking some pics as the guys went by during the timetrial.

Lance

Bobby Julich

He was in the same van as Jens I think.

Basso

Floyd

Yoga DVD Review

Last night I did Shiva Rea Creative Core Abs DVD.



The DVD was pretty tough. There are three sections to the DVD-- I did only the first 8 minute section. I have a few observations.

DVD has some weird background funky indian psychedelic music. If you are into that great. If not, then select the "instruction only" option.

A lot of the "fluid" poses are, well, not something I would ever want anyone else to see me do. I mean there are several poses with my legs straight up in the air split in half, and then toss them behind your head. It's fine if I am alone, but I know I could never do this workout with someone else in the room.

Shiva Rea is inspiring but also very intimidating. She has NO FAT on her belly. And for someone who was recently nicknamed muffin top it gives me hope. But also want to punch her.

Be sure to have a really good thick mat or carpet under you when you do this DVD. There is a lot of time spent on the knees (stop snickering) and on the back (ok now you can laugh) and if you are anything like me, your bones start aching after a couple of minutes.

All in all this DVD left my abs a nice kind of sore this morning. As I progress to the more difficult sections of the DVD, I'll let you know how it goes.

Citation Saturday; Swimmy Sunday

I'm brain dead but happy. I finished all citation revisions for my feces--I mean thesis saturday night. WHOOOO HOOO!!! I was able to locate some great forgotten citations from several old versions of my thesis and incorporated those. I am so relieved! Now just need to re-write a little and incorporate a couple of small details to smooth out the edges.

Then
I
AM
DONE!!

To celebrate, I went swimming sunday at the 24HOUR Fitness pool. Again, gross fat hairy pasty-pale, sweaty men were sitting on benches just watching us swim. I don't know if I should feel good that I have a great body (LOL) that someone wants to watch or if I should be creeped out.

I did the endurance swim #3 again. I still don't have paddles so I skipped the 600 yards of "pulling" but did the rest--1900 yards. The longest I have ever gone in my entire life. Ever. Ever.

It took about an hour total. I really focused on using my core to rotate through the water. WP watched me swim to give me some tips. She noticed one major flaw. I do not cup my hands! Seriously! For years I've been swimming without cupping my hands. No wonder I don't go anywhere. As soon as I corrected this, I started moving through the water a lot quicker. HURRAY! I feel like a real DOLT. How could I not be cupping my hands? They were just kind of open, flapping around as I pulled underwater. Something to practice from now on for sure!

I showered quickly after swim at the gym and then got home and showered again scrubbing my skin to get the chlorine smell off. It didn't work and I felt like I was awake all night because the chlorine smell kept waking me up. Is there a solution to this problem? The chlorine, besides smelling bad, is reaking havoc on my sensitive, dry skin. Do any of the "Chlorine Remover" shampoos/bodywashes work? Has anyone had any success with these?

Today is rest day--I will do a yoga DVD tonight.
Tuesday is run in the a.m. (4:30 a.m.)

That's it!

Silly sweaty laps

Went for a swim in the gross 24 hour pool last night. WP and I went at 8pm--much later than usual but family obligations and TOP CHEF kept me busy until then. We packed up and I drove us over. We both thought that since it was 8pm, that the pool would be empty.

WRONG!

It was fully of gross sweaty men sitting around. Let me elaborate, the men don't really swim. They just stand around or sit in the spa watching the women swim. When the men over heat or get all sweaty from sitting in the spa/sauna they jump into the pool to cool off. They don't care that there are people swimming laps. They don't care that their incessant gaze makes women uncomfortable. And at least on of them does not care that his political opinions are stupid and nobody wants to hear them.

WP and I swam for about 25 minutes. I have no idea how many laps, we just went back and forth. I tried to work on pushing my "buoy" down (chest) so my legs would float up and and not drag. One of the eccentric men from last years open water swim class was there and decided to try out two new wetsuits in the pool. He looked a little strange but we chitchatted for awhile anyway.

Another reason I don't think I can exercise that late is that I could not sleep last night. I had such a hard time falling asleep! It was almost midnight by the time I nodded off. That is just too late for old lady me.

Tonight is 5 mile run. I'm going to try to go faster than tuesday's run. Then saturday is long slow distance.

Oh--and I officially filed for graduation yesterday!! Whoo hoo! The grad coordinator said she will personally shake my hand as I cross the stage in cap and gown in May.

Hurray!

Funky Five Miler

Ran five miler around my neighborhood last night. It was hard, again up until the point I was about a mile from the house. Then I kicked it into high gear. It helped that "Slither" by Velvet Revolver popped onto my IPOD at the opportune moment.

47:03. That's 5 minutes slower than my 42:10 that I ran the same course last year. I suspect two things for the slower performance

1. I did not stop my IPOD whenever I stopped to stretch my calves, quads last night (twice). I think when I ran the 42minute time, I stopped my IPOD every time I had to stop and stretch.

2. When I ran the 42 minute time, I was in the thick of a prednisone induced rage. That makes me run fast and not care.

Any hoo-- Yesterday's time ends up at about 9:30 mile/hour. Not fast, not slow. I sprinted the last 400 yards--racing against my WP and beat her!!!! I can't believe it..She was ahead for about 300 yards and the last 100 I kicked it and passed her.

I'm pretty freakn sore today though. I'll drink a little Emergen-C today and hope to feel better. Have a 5 miler on Thurday and as a step back week, a 5 miler (long run) on Saturday.