Saturday- Bike 10, back was fine

Run 1 back hurt, walk 4

Backache

So, I am old and have worked out pretty hard this week, after just getting back to the gym. Now I'm paying for it. I haven't had back problems before, but it's been hurting a few days, and last night it started spasming (sp?). I wish I knew what caused it. My theories: 1) bad setup on the spin bike Monday, the seat sloped down, followed by a hard spin class Wednesday or

2) possibly swimming, I got two swims in this week and I'm a left sided breather, maybe....since the pain is mostly on the left. I tried to run last night and couldn't, I also had two good runs this week but running doesn't usually bother my back. Regardless, I'm taking today off to go to Orange County equipment shopping with Craig, followed by Christmas shopping and hoping the back will feel good enough tomorrow for a longish ride (or even a short one!)

Tuesday--3 mile treadmill run am
Wednesday--night spin class, hill climbing session, good class
Thursday-- am 45 minute swim, pm 5 mile walk--back hurts, from spin or swimming?

Spin Class

Sub spin instructor, he was great!

Good class today.

5 mile treadmill run--Saturday

This morning --finishing up my talk for church today.

One hour swim-easy.

Step 2 Training Plan

So tomorrow will make a whole week since my last diet Coke, no more headaches, and I'm not missing it (so much). So now it's time to move on to step 2 in my training plan. Lose 10 lbs. Better yet is the fact that this is Holiday time so if I can manage to get this done before the new year I won't have to lose even more for the Holiday indulgences.
10 lbs before Jan. 1
114

Amazing!

Last night Craig called me while we were doing our joint YM/YW Christmas carolling activity and said, "Check your e-mail." Checked my email and it wouldn't open, I had to wait till I got home.

It seems Santa's elves have decided to give me a little preview of my Christmas present!

I can't believe it, a Felt B2R

I feel like I've just got a Ferrari and have no clue how to drive it. I've always ridden my road bike in tri's, seriously, I don't even know how to shift it. There will be some learning curve here, but can't wait to start learning! Kyle says it's name is Bruno. Come on Bruno we've got a big date ahead of us. (Aren't those the cutest elves you've ever seen!)

3 mile treadmill run.

3 days no DC!

Craig to the airport in Ontario

Spin class

Kyle to school

Drive to PS

Before 8:30 am =

Tired

Once Again!

Once again....I am quitting Diet Coke, step 1 in my training plan! Wish me luck, I need it.

Sometimes I am just plain stupid and then there are times when I am very, very stupid.

Race #2

The Snow Canyon 5K is a little hillier than the Save a Sister 5k, I didn't do as well, 4th place. I am really concentrating now on putting speed bursts into my runs. I now have guaranteed entry into the St. George Marathon which is nice.

St. George Runners Series

Registered for the second race, it's Saturday November 7th.

I love the Beatles, but please, "I'm a Loser" on my marathon play list, it is coming off my iPod as we speak, wait, no....done! Should have taken care of this a month ago. Now for a run to try to undo a little Halloween candy damage.

Kevin and I went to St. George and did run #1. Trigranny has not been doing any running (or much of anything else either!) so my only goal was to keep running. I was so excited to finish under 34 minutes--barely, and barely under 11 minute miles. I placed 2nd out of 8 in my age group, Kev was first in his and third overall, he said he could have been faster. Got a cool lucite ribbon (think breast cancer ribbon) as an award. Now back into the groove and training, contemplating doing Vineman 70.3

Runner's Series

Kevin and I are signed up for the Runner's Series. You sign up, pay $10 (for which you get a t-shirt at the end) and then if you do two Washington County races you get guaranteed entry into the St. George Marathon. I figure I better do this or I will be ninety before I get into the ten year club. Kev is eyeing a run on December 5, it is a 50 mile, 5 person relay that sounds kinda fun, the only problem is that is right on the heels of Tour de Tucson and IMAZ, also the day I usually do my CE credits, so we'll see, I would really like to do it. It seems we are doing more and more events. I would like to do a few less, but you know 50 bucks and the fear of failure keeps you going.

Marathon Recovery Day

I swam this morning, sat in the Jacuzzi and bought healthy food to eat better.

TOU

See my race report on the family blog.  As far as my plan goes, well there were a few modifications, I didn't get there early enough to take the boys for their prizes, Craig did it for me.

We also didn't get to check out the restaurant I wanted to because I'm sure I would have thrown up.  We did watch most of the game, after visiting with Kerri and the boys.  Sad game :(

I really need to train better and race to improve not just to finish.

The Plan/The Plan

Ever get in your mind a plan of how things should go?  Me too, it usually doesn't go that way, but it's nice to think it will happen.  So this is my plan:

I leave tomorrow morning for Utah, nice uneventful drive.

See my grandsons and take them for special prizes for Kyle's new stitches in his forehead.

Enjoy my father in laws 80th birthday party (for which Craig is cooking prime rib all on his own)

Dash up to Logan, check into our hotel

Wake up early, bright eyed and ready to run

Check in

Ride 26.2 miles up the canyon

Float 26.2 miles down the canyon on light feet that hardly touch the ground

Celebrate with a great lunch/dinner at a restaurant in SLC that our friend Bob reviewed

Make it back to the condo in time to watch the BYU/Florida game and vegetate

If the game is too boring dive into Dan Brown's new book while occasionally glancing up at the game.

Sleep soundly and return to Redlands.

Tapering

Hmm..how do you photoshop off all that red, I don't think you can rest too much!  Tapering big time for Top of Utah.  Lovin' every bit of it too.

TriPapa's Spring Valley Lake Tri Race report!

Expletive deleted! @#&@#*

TriGranny's Race Report

Ok, my other blog has my rant about race management but here is my actual race report.  We got up about 4:l5, got dressed in tri shorts and tank, finished loading the car and headed over to pick up Lisa Davis.  Lisa was doing the tri and Brent was bringing the kids out later to do the kids tri.  We got checked in, body marked picked up t shirts and caps with no problems (especially happy it was so casual since I forgot to bring my id).  Bikes were racked with no problems.  I brought my wetsuit but decided not to wear it, Craig didn't either.  

Swim:  good, no panic but a slow start, I started to feel strong at the buoy and swam in ok.  Looked at my watch 20 minutes, I was happy with the time.

Bike:  Crazy bike, poorly directed, two wrong turns where I had to turn around and go back, several hills a la Puesta del Sol.  I think I would really like this course if it was well marked.  I don't mean cones, I mean adults with flags and law enforcement in a few key places.

Total Time going into T2 1:02, I was very happy with my times so far, if I just wasn't so slow on the run.  However my usual 5K is a slow 35-40 minutes so if it was really 3.5 (I didn't download Craig's Garmin) but it was advertised to be 3.5 then I'm ok with 40 minutes for 3.5 miles.  My total time (no splits) was 1:42.  My goal was 1:40 and I would have hit it without the bike errors.

I'm happy with how I did.  I always ask, "Would I do this race again?"  Yes, despite my ranting here, I would give this race one more try.  If there weren't changes making the bike course safer and well directed then I would not do it again.

TriGranny and TriPapa are

officially registered for the SVL tri tomorrow morning!  I went on a ride, good thing I had some bike mechanical problems, better today than tomorrow.  Swam 800+ yards, that's what the swim is tomorrow.  Trying to decide about the wetsuit, I'm thinking not but will wait to see what the water is like tomorrow.  Kyle and Brad are doing Raincross, Kev is taking a test and Brent (yay! Brent's home till early Monday morning) is our back up man/sag wagon/support guy for Kyle and Brad if they need it.

WalMart Awareness

Ok, I admit it, I'm a WalMart shopper. I didn't sleep well last night and finally got up at 4:00 am and decided I would go to WalMart, and then do a ten mile run when I got home. I promised Kyle I would get him a bike lock for his mountain bike. Since when did WalMart change their hours!!! Now it doesn't open till 8:00 am. And why, I'm sure you're wondering am I posting this on my training blog, well, i'm using it as my excuse for not running this morning. I went home annoyed, instead of running decided to make some banana bread with the decidedly old bananas on the counter, made breakfast and lunches, drove Kyle to seminary and decided to lift weights for about 15 minutes at the gym. That's it.

Too Late Now

Went for my morning run, 5 miles, felt good after my long 20 on Friday.  When I did my long run I was pretty much brain dead when I got home, I collapsed on the family room floor, stuck my legs up on the chair and ripped off my iPod, sunglasses, hat, shoes and socks.  Apparently forgetting to turn my iPod off so this morning...dead iPod, uggh.

Labor Day

Strong 20+mile ride

Strong 50 minute swim

Saturday

10 mile bike ride today, Craig started out with me but had to turn around because of a cassette problem on his bike.  As a result of the cassette problem he bought a chain whip and cassette removal tool to fix his bike.  Lucky me he had cassette probs, with the new tools he removed my cassette, thoroughly cleaned it and detailed my bike for me!  Thanks Craig.

On another note I think I'm doing Spring Valley Lake Tri next week.

20 Mile Long Run

Well that's it, my last long run before Top Of Utah. It was torturous, I decided to do two 5 mile loops on Sunset and 1 ten mile loop. This is way too hilly for me, but I'm in my comfort zone in this area. Craig would be taking the boys to seminary/school etc so I was largely on my own.
Lessons learned: One half eaten bag of gummy bears is not enough. How can I have chocolate on the marathon without it melting? I was craving a UNO candy bar, like those are even easy to find! Craig did find me and bring me cold water bottles. Kev was out riding and found me too and I was able to switch out my empty water bottle for his full one. Thanks guys! I saw Terry Davis this morning when he was taking Taylor to seminary and just as I was about a mile from finishing I saw him out riding when I stopped to talk to him I bonked. I actually called Craig to come get me and I would be happy with 19 miles, but Craig didn't hear his phone and I suppose I am glad so that I could actually accomplish the whole 20 I set out to do. It was slow, I'm hoping the lack of hills at TOU will translate into a bit better time. We'll see.

Swimming with rocks in my stomach

AM- 5 mile run

PM-Swim, (see title) don't know what that's all about

Flag Hill 14 Mile Long Run

This is a favorite run that Craig does sometimes with Steve and his Yucaipa running buddies.  You leave a car at the U of R, drive to Flag Hill and run back to the U of R.  I hadn't done it before but was game for a new long run.  I like it, I changed it up a bit and ran to the airport to the Pioneer Bldg. trying to get a few more miles in, actually ended up with less, it was only 12 and since I'm behind on my long runs anyway I wanted at least 14.  I ran another two after we got back to Flag Hill which felt like 5.  I sure hope TOU is a nice cool day.

Pepto Bismol Love

I didn't do my long run today, instead I did three miles on the treadmill, 1/2 hour swim, and a ten mile bike ride.  So I ended up doing my very own sprint tri today.  TriGrannys Mediocre Effort Tri.  I had stomach problems today.  Stomach problems that I have never had before.  I'm feeling bad for Kev who occasionally has very severe, roll on the floor in pain type of stomach problems.  Mine were no where near that, but not fun.  I tried my friends Imodium trick, that didn't help, then found some Pepto Bismol and miracle.  I now love that pink stuff.  I send it to my boys while they're on their missions, luckily we had a bottle here.

Wednesday, oops Thursday

Where has the week gone!
1/2 hour swim this morning. Not enough, I know, hope to get in another workout, maybe a few miles on the treadmill and some weights. I need to get my long run in 16 miles this week, I'm hoping to do it on Friday and save Saturday for an early morning ride. Kev doesn't have class tonight so he's taking Kyle and Brad to jr crit practice and I think they are all staying for mens.

Lucy in The Sky With Diamonds

I ran this morning, my usual 5 mile Sunset Loop, first song out of the driveway: "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds" just as the sky was beginning to lighten.  Tomorrow I will wear a watch and start recording my time.

Sunset Dr. Run

Back to my 5 mile early morning runs on Sunset.

Wedding Revelry

Wedding partying done!  

Ahh...it has been a blissful two weeks.

Ok it's back to the gym.

Swimming--done :)

Attack of the Giant Rooster

NO kidding, Saturday morning Craig, and the boys are hiking Timp with Dave Kenison and the Cannons so I'm out doing my long run by myself.  Normally I don't mind running alone however Saturday this giant rooster standing by the side of the road comes barrelling toward me as I'm trotting along.  Scared the heck out of me!  He attacks my leg, I try to run faster.  There is no way, I didn't know a rooster could run so fast.  I screamed and yelled at it to get back, like you would a dog.  For some fortunate reason he retreated.  I read up on rooster attacks when I got home, apparently they are common, vicious and they will usually strike repeatedly, I guess I was lucky.  I've had a few dog scares while on my bike, but a rooster is a first and hopefully last.  Next time I run that road I will carry a big stick!

Thursday and Friday--no workouts

Saturday 12 mile run.

Tuesday

Took Kyle to Cross Country practice.

Gym-Upper body weights

AC/DC or A Fine Frenzy

5 mile run on the road this morning, beautiful sunrise, pink and blue sky changing to brilliant white/gray as the sun rose over the mountains.  I remembered my iPod this morning.  Running song of the day:  AC/DC  Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap also on my iPod, Almost Lover-A Fine Frenzy while I love this song, it had the audacity to pop up twice during my run...it is not a running song.  AC/DC popping up twice would have been fine.

40 minute evening swim.

Top of Utah ?????

10 mile run/walk, nice gloomy, cool morning.  If I can follow this plan for my long runs:

Aug. 8 12 miles

Aug. 15 14 miles

Aug. 22 16 miles

Aug. 29 18 miles

Sept. 4 20 plus miles

....then I think I can go into Top of Utah knowing I can finish, not really well trained, but it would be doable.

CCR or Marvin?

5 mile run--running song of the day,  "I Heard It Through The Grapevine"  it's probably my favorite running song, CCR (anything CCR for running is a fav) although Marvin will do too.  I love it when it pops up on my iPod.  Dang those California raisins are fast!

10 mile bike, the boys were supposed to lap me, thought I had them but when I got home there they were!  They didn't do the second loop.

Thursday

Wednesday--Rest day, got to the parking lot of the gym, just couldn't go in.
Thursday--Upper body weights.

Hey Guys!

I returned form my 10 mile bike ride this morning to find the whole cross country team in my front yard. "Hey guys, did you drag Kyle out of bed?" YES! I think Kyle has only been to one cross country practice this summer, so now he is drug back into the groove. Go Kyle, remember you really enjoyed passing people on the run at Spudman.

AM 5 mile run, Sunset Loop

PM  3o minute swim

Can I really do Top of Utah marathon?

Spudman Race Report

I haven't kept up my training blog very well while I've been in Utah.  I continued training for Spudman.  I was very happy with the overall day, we all had a good day, though I was disappointed with my results.  That being said, I will have to work harder at it for next year.

Swim:  The swim was good, no panic this time.  I zipped my wetsuit early instead of the last minute, maybe this helped getting used to the compression.

Bike:  Was going well till I looked down and noticed there was no timing chip on my ankle, at that point I began debating in my mind how much effort I wanted to put into this for a DNF.  Finally I convinced myself I was in it to do my best and I was going to finish no matter what.  I probably lost quite a bit of time while I was arguing with myself just not putting as much effort into it as I should.

Run:  I could tell my run was not as good as last years even though I can't compare them, I didn't walk at all but it was pretty much a slow jog.  Many thanks to the young man at mile three who was handing out cold bottled water, you'll never know how many people loved you for that.  A big thank you to everyone who set your sprinklers out at the road, I ran through everyone, sometimes twice!

TriPapa's New Ride

Check out TriPapa's new sweet ride!!!

New York Body Plan workout--

3mile run.

Birthday iPod

I had a good 5 mile run this morning, nice to be wired again. I love this iPod, it's just like my old one that got rained out at the St. George Marathon. I particularly like it because it is pink and my boys never borrowed my old pink iPod, not that I mind loaning it out particularly for the purpose of running, however it is sometimes difficult to keep track of, I have enough trouble keeping track of it myself.

Yesterday I had a good swim, not even whining about it!  I read on the Orem Rec Center site that you can get a non-resident family pass for a month.  I think that's what we're going to do so we can keep cramming fitness 'til Spudman.  Who says you can't cram fitness, we're not talking Ironman here.

Bike

20 mile ride with Craig, two loops on Sunset, pokey pace, felt good.

Ride

It didn't cool down last night enough that I wanted to ride, went to the gym instead, bored to death without my iPod so I went home without much of a workout. This morning I got a ride in at 5:30, beautiful, cool morning. Only 10 miles, but a good 10. If it's cool I would like to run outside tonight, otherwise I may try a short treadmill run or swim.

Lost iPod

Lost iPod again, that's my excuse for not running. I think I'm going to tell Craig that's what I want for my birthday. Another clip, hot pink of course! Last week consisted of NO training. Not good with Spudman coming. This week I got back in the pool yesterday, not bad. I didn't want to work out this morning but forced myself to go to the gym and at least walk. I want to get a ride in this evening when it's cooler. I need long runs every week.

Sunday

Nice 3 mile Fathers Day walk with Craig this morning, we hurried back so he could have his gifts with the boys before church. He and Jackie are headed back to Utah.

Saturday

      Click  Here    for todays training post.

Found iPod

Yippee!  I had left it in my swim bag.  8 miles this morning on the treadmill.  No more treadmill long runs, can't do it anymore.

Helmet

So what happens when your helmet went on a trip with one of your children (mom has a very "cool" helmet)?  Kev and Kyle were at crit practice so I couldn't borrow Kyle's.  Ok, so no evening ride.  It's a rest day.  

First Entry

I thought it would be good to start a separate blog where I could ramble on, whine, complain etc about my training for whatever upcoming event that I foolishly registered for. Right now next up on the calendar is Spudman...still have a month. Hey that's plenty of time right. Hit the pool this morning, not something I like to do however LA Fitness has been way less crowded lately and I actually had a lane to myself the whole time. I always wonder as I shiver when I hop in that lukewarm water how I'm going to hop in the Snake River even with my wetsuit on. And speaking of wetsuit....Brent had taken my bathroom scales upstairs when he was packing for Hawaii and I just left it there. I finally retrieved it and stepped on this morning. Sad news :(. Hmmm since I refuse to buy a new wetsuit, I guess I've got to start budging the scale.