December 31st
New Year's Eve Training• End of Week 5 Pushups test - still couldn't get past 30. Will repeat Week 5 again to get stronger.
• Upper body workout - did the usual
• Abs - 4X30 crunches
• Core workout - various exercises using my new stability ball.
• I thought about doing other stuff but felt pretty laid back today and just want to chill.
Final installment of my "Year in Review"
I learned a lot this year, but first and foremost, I learned that I still have a lot to learn. Not surprisingly.
Here are just a few of revelations I've had in 2008.
• I can do things I never imagined I'd ever be able to do. I know that's cheesy but it's true, what can I say?
• I can set goals and actually meet them. Finally.
• I need to keep adjusting my goal plan as I learn more about what my body can and cannot do.
• I have to listen to my body sometimes, and ignore it other times, but I haven't quite figured out which is which yet.
• I need to alternate between hard and easy weeks when I'm in the heaviest of my training.
• I don't give up very easily. I keep finding ways to try, try again.
• There is no challenge so great that it cannot be met by breaking things down into smaller steps, and in the case of open water swimming, micro-steps.
• I can swim! OMG, I can actually swim pretty well! (In a lake, over my head, without a wetsuit, even thru weeds - yes I can!)
• I AM an awesome biker (16/113 last summer)!
• I can run pretty fast but if I do, I suffer for weeks after. Running is my biggest challenge and will likely continue to be a challenge over the next few years.
• I am way more competitive than I ever thought. *sheepish grin*
• I am much more interested in doing really well on a sprint triathlon, than "just finishing" a longer tri.
• I still may do longer races but will hold off for at least another year.
• I can wear a bikini again - OK I'm not a 20 year old but I look pretty damn good for my age anyway. July - first time in a bikini in 30 years. (That may have been my biggest achievement of the year, LOL..)
• I feel a WHOLE lot better when I eat a healthy diet - trying to aim towards a quasi-mediterranean diet most of the time.
• I can eat under 2000 calories a day, exercise an hour a day, and STILL not lose weight (argh).
• I still don't drink enough water or get enough sleep.
• I have a tremendous support crew - family and friends (real and virtual), who have supported and encouraged me all the way along this journey. I cannot tell you how many times I did a workout simply because I didn't want to let people down. What an amazing motivator! Thank you all so much - I could not have accomplished so much without you!
• I am a very lucky girl who happens to love life!
Happy New Year everyone!
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December 30th
Went for a run this afternoon. Still snowy. Legs a bit tight and sore but ok. Went slow and did a 10 min walk/run warmup and walked 1 min after another 10 and then last 5 minutes walked home. Only did 4km.I cut this from my Beginner Triathlete log - my totals for 2008. Of course, I still have one day left so they may change a bit.
That is a total of 251:38:13
I averaged about 5 hours a week over the whole year. My winter hours were less and my summer hours were closer to 10 per week.
I love data...
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December 29th
It was interesting for me to look back at my blogging this year and watch the progression. I think if I had to sum up my year it would be in two words Determination and Perseverance. I was frustrated a lot of the time but I just kept making mini-goals and readjusting as I went. I celebrated every accomplishment, no matter how minor. I was surrounded by wonderful supportive friends and family. If I can do it - ANYBODY can!Looking back at 2008
January 1st I blogged about my goals and also added my ongoing mini-goals through the year.
Not long into the year, I began having trouble with my shins again and got orthotics.
Later in January, I continued to struggle with the running.
By the end of February, I started to stress about my impeding laser eye surgery, and more running problems.
By March, my running problems start to turn around.
In April, I was starting to understand my body, what it can do, and what it is telling me.
In May, I got a wetsuit!
By June, things were finally starting to go well.
My first 5k race of the season. Do I try to go hard or protect my legs?
At the end of June I finally got my new carbon Trek Madone 5.1 road bike
And I got into the 'zone' when I was running!
In July, I faced new fears - the open water swim....
I had another running race - 8km - went easy this time.
I realized I couldn't do any of it without Erik.
Later in July, I had to face my swimming fears.
Early August, planning, practicing, rehearsing,,,
My mantra....
Freaking out just before the triathlon. It's here!!!!
I did it! August 17, 2008
Zen Run 10k, for run, had to walk lots, still have leg pain.
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December 28th
Workouts in the past two daysDecember 27 - 5km run in 41:22 (snowy roads)
December 28 - upper body, situps, crunches, plank.
Past Goals
I've been thinking a lot about my goals and training plan for 2009 and I plan to post them sometime in the next few days but right now, I'm looking back to where I was time last year and reflecting on what I've accomplished this year.
It's funny but I found an old goal list the other day that dated back to 1996. It was the same goal every year, and only the date was changed at the top. In fact, I just crossed it off and tried again every year. And I never seemed to actually meet my goals. Yet in the past two years, I have been able to accomplish so much - what is different? - I really do not know. Time to reflect.
My Goals for 1996 2001 2002 July 2002 January 2003August 2003
1. To eat, exercise, and sleep properly for at least 21 days and establish a new habit of healthy eating, sleeping, and exercising.
I tried hard every year btu never seemed to make it stick. Then I started biking in the spring of 2006 and the following December, I set some goals for 2007.
In 2007:
1. Do a century ride.
2. Ride to Vernon and back.
3. Climb Anarchist Mountain as fast as the boys.
4. Climb Gordon Hill in less than 4 minutes.
5. Beat my previous TT Route time of 33:50 minutes, 28.3 km/h.
6. Do a 5 km running race, goal to finish in 30 minutes or less.
7. Do some long rides - 200+ km at least 2 times this season.
In December 2007, I reflected on those goals and noted that I:
1. Rode 100 km several times this summer. May 27, 2007 Metric Century in 3:47Then, I set new goals for 2008:
2. Rode to Vernon and around the lake - 162 km, 100 miles on August 24, 2007
3. Anarchist Mountain 46:35. Beat Yogi, beat Erik's 2006 time.
4. Gordon Hill in 3:30 on June 16, 2007
5. TT Route in 32:28, 29.6 km/h on May 11, 2007
6. I started running last January after spending years thinking I could not run. In June 2007 - ran my first 5km race in 26:17. Came in 5th in my age group and 23rd overall. Followed that with severe shin splints and didn't run much for the rest of the year.
7. Didn't get to do any long rides but did cycle 340 km over 9 days in Provence, France.
1. Return to running asap. Start slowly, build slowly. Work my way back up to 5 km, then 10 km, and hopefully do half marathon in October.Reflecting on these goals now:
2. Do a duathlon in May.
3. Start swimming in January.
4. Do a triathlon in August.
1. I built up my running again with physio, massage, orthotics, and perseverance.
- 5k race June 10, 2008, 26:26 3rd in my AG
- 8k race July 9, 2008, 46:17
- 10K Zen Run for fun, Oct. 10, 2008,. 1:08:00 (leg pain, had to walk lots)
2. Did not do the duathlon in May. My running was not strong enough yet.
3. Took swimming lessons in January and swam 2-3X a week all winter/spring. Overcame a huge fear of open water during the summer and managed to do the triathlon without a wetsuit at the very last minute. (OMG)
4. Did the Apple Sprint Triathlon on August 17, 2008. I came 4/12 in my age group (55/113) and did awesome on the bike split coming in 16/113 overall in the bike. My run was my weakest event because I'd had a lot of shin problems all summer and hadn't run much in the two weeks previous. I was ecstatic about my results and exceeded my goal of 1:35-1:40 with a time of 1:30:04.
So now I have to decide what my goals are for 2009. The long term plan was to do an oly or a half iron in 2009/2010 and maybe IMC in 2010 or later. What will I do? Stay tuned.
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December 26th
Gee, guess it's time for a catch-up. Not surprisingly, I've been pretty busy getting ready for Christmas. As a teacher, I tend to leave all my organizing until I'm out of school on the 19th and then hit it hard. Subsequently, I've done nothing but cook, clean, shop, wrap, (and party!).Here's a quick recap of the workouts I did manage to squeeze in.
Dec. 18 - did the week 5 push exhaustion test. Only did 30, needed to do 45 so repeating week 5.
Dec. 21 - Week 5, day 1 pushups, situps exhaustion test (50), 3X20 crunches and 2X30 plank.
Dec. 23 - 4.3km run in 31:19. Snowy, -12C, felt ok.
Dec. 24 - Week 5, Day 2 pushups
Dec. 25 - 30 min snowy walk with the dogs. Dec. 26 - Week 5, day 3 pushups (13+13+15+15+2+12+10+31=121
- Week 1, Day 1 situps (double the pushups plan, column 3) 20+24+14+14+18=90
- Upper body strength workout
We had a wonderful Christmas with lots of good food, and good company. I'm still waiting for my sister and her family to make it here to Kelowna if it ever stops snowing on the coast...
My kids gave me a beautiful framed photo of the three of them. Gorgeous kids if I do say so myself. :)
Merry Christmas everyone!
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December 24th
It was a small group at my house on Christmas Eve but we had a ton of fun. My two very musical brothers, my musical husband, and my mom on Djembe. I'm playing the 'egg" in this shot.
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December 23rd
Merry Christmas everyone!From Kelownagurl and Mr. Kelownagurl.
And here are the less-angelic sounding outtakes of Jingle Bells, much later on that evening...
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December 19th, 20th
Doubling up these posts because I've been so busy. Did a ton of shopping, errands, and other related Christmas stuff today. By the time I had a moment to workout, I was totally bagged. Tomorrow is more snow (can't believe it ) and a wind chill warning of -36C (-32F) "Frostbite will occur in minutes." Guess I won't be running but I WILL do something for SURE.
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December 17th/18th
Overwhelmed at school, meetings, errands, still sick. Every night I've come home and fallen asleep before I made dinner. Then gone to bed early on top of that. Didn't want to run in the cold air with this cough. I just wanna be better by Christmas.So those are my excuses for not working out. :P
Did my exhaustion test to end Week 5 but couldn't do 45 pushups. Guess I'm repeating Week 5....
Good news - one more day of work then TWO WEEKS OFF!!!! :)
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December 16th
Well I do have a new cold, darn kids at school, catching me when my resistance is low - the only thing running today was my nose. I didn't want to risk running outside in -20 temps with this cough. I am doing yoga tonight and that's it.GO AWAY STUPID COLD!
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