I am luck enough to be able to summer up north, away from the heat of the Deep South. My summer town is having a Fun Run and Road Race on Saturday, July 30. I have no idea how long the race is - I'm assuming a 5K. So I will be almost at the end of the couch to 5k program at that point. I have no other information on it.
I hope one of my loyal readers will join me in it. Zoe - are you up for it??? Let's do it together!
Monday, May 23, 2011
Sunday, May 22, 2011
Gathering Tools
I downloaded a Couch to 5k program for my iPhone, to help with the running part. It's a nine week program, which I desperately need. I can do a mile, but more than that? I'm not sure... I'm going to wait until I get up to Cape Cod to start the program for a couple of reasons.
1. It is so FREAKING hot and humid here. Last week was beautiful - no humidity, in the 70s, and suddenly, BAM! Back into the normal weather pattern. Ugh. We tried to eat dinner outside tonight and had to turn on the outside fan to keep from sweating during dinner (Cheeseburgers, green beans, corn, baked beans and a blueberry peach cobbler made with a fraction of this morning's u-pick!)
2. I'll be a single mother for a week while Craig goes up to his cousin's wedding. I can't leave the kids alone in the house and I'm not going to buy a jogging stroller.
3. I'll be on the Cape for 10 weeks, so this is a nice goal to have while I spend the summer in paradise.
I'll work on my swimming while the kids are asleep, but the pool is frigid even though it's allegedly 76. I'm being very conscious of my language - I started out typing "I'll try working on my swimming..." I will by positive in all aspects of my training - physically and mentally!
1. It is so FREAKING hot and humid here. Last week was beautiful - no humidity, in the 70s, and suddenly, BAM! Back into the normal weather pattern. Ugh. We tried to eat dinner outside tonight and had to turn on the outside fan to keep from sweating during dinner (Cheeseburgers, green beans, corn, baked beans and a blueberry peach cobbler made with a fraction of this morning's u-pick!)
2. I'll be a single mother for a week while Craig goes up to his cousin's wedding. I can't leave the kids alone in the house and I'm not going to buy a jogging stroller.
3. I'll be on the Cape for 10 weeks, so this is a nice goal to have while I spend the summer in paradise.
I'll work on my swimming while the kids are asleep, but the pool is frigid even though it's allegedly 76. I'm being very conscious of my language - I started out typing "I'll try working on my swimming..." I will by positive in all aspects of my training - physically and mentally!
Friday, May 20, 2011
The Aging Body
I know I keep going on about turning 40 in November. I don't know why this is such a big deal for me, as I still feel like an awkward teenager on the inside. It must be because my body is failing me more often an more quickly than before.
I used to be able to jump out of bed and be raring to go! Now, I get out of bed gingerly and shuffle around until my creaky bones loosen up enough to stride. And this morning I gave a nice stretch and promptly pulled a muscle in my neck. Grand. I get started running again, thinking about how I'm going to exercise today and now I can't turn my head. Luckily my chiropractor had an appointment this morning, so I'm off to her.
What's the point of this post? To kvetch and to realize that even though my body is more delicate than before, it is still strong and I will do this triathlon. Oh yes, I will.
I used to be able to jump out of bed and be raring to go! Now, I get out of bed gingerly and shuffle around until my creaky bones loosen up enough to stride. And this morning I gave a nice stretch and promptly pulled a muscle in my neck. Grand. I get started running again, thinking about how I'm going to exercise today and now I can't turn my head. Luckily my chiropractor had an appointment this morning, so I'm off to her.
What's the point of this post? To kvetch and to realize that even though my body is more delicate than before, it is still strong and I will do this triathlon. Oh yes, I will.
Thursday, May 19, 2011
Bitch is Back!
I can't believe it's been almost a year since I blogged!
Hahaha! Yes, I can believe it! I got up to Cape Cod in July 2010, and promptly stopped training for a variety of reasons. My right achilles tendon was inflamed, and it hurt to run. Noah was still needing me an awful lot last summer, so I couldn't leave him to run, swim or bike and I got seriously lazy. I knew I wouldn't be able to do the triathlon in the fall of 2010, so I stopped blogging. (In reality, my achilles tendon hurt for a very long time.) Thankfully, my heel is back to normal, so I started doing sprints in January (with a time-out for the flu and post-flu recovery).
I just ran my first mile this morning since last year. I parked at my parents' house and ran to a restaurant that is a mile away to meet a friend for coffee. I rewarded myself with an order of bacon. I think I'm going to reward my exercise with bacon, especially since I just got a pork share from a local farm. This isn't as crazy as it sounds. Here's a link to an interesting blog post about fat fueling our bodies, not carbs.
http://www.marksdailyapple.com/a-metabolic-paradigm-shift-fat-carbs-human-body-metabolism/#more-21418
Marks Daily Apple website is a great resource to transitioning to the primal lifestyle. I am currently (mostly) primal/paleo, with an exception for dairy as Noah is allergic to egg whites. We still nurse, and Noah's allergy is so bad that he reacts to egg whites in my milk.
My weight has remained constant - this is a big deal, since I gained steadily before kids and lost it due to pregnancy and nursing. I attribute this to being grain-free for almost a year, and I feel SO GOOD. Seriously - giving up grains has not been a hardship for me. The only thing I really miss is pizza, and I just eat the cheese off Nathan's slice to get the taste. I ate Afghan food last week, and decided to go whole hog, so to speak. I ate three pieces of bread and rice, and I felt hungover the next day. That tells me my body has adapted to being low carb, and I'm going to keep doing it!
Long story even longer, I started training again because I turn 40 in November and time's a-tickin'. My sister Julie has offered to train and compete in a triathlon with me, so being the competitive sister that I am, I have to compete this October. No ifs ands or buts. We're doing a women-only tri in October in Orlando, one month before that 40th deadline. So, thanks, Jules. I'm totally going to beat you.
Hahaha! Yes, I can believe it! I got up to Cape Cod in July 2010, and promptly stopped training for a variety of reasons. My right achilles tendon was inflamed, and it hurt to run. Noah was still needing me an awful lot last summer, so I couldn't leave him to run, swim or bike and I got seriously lazy. I knew I wouldn't be able to do the triathlon in the fall of 2010, so I stopped blogging. (In reality, my achilles tendon hurt for a very long time.) Thankfully, my heel is back to normal, so I started doing sprints in January (with a time-out for the flu and post-flu recovery).
I just ran my first mile this morning since last year. I parked at my parents' house and ran to a restaurant that is a mile away to meet a friend for coffee. I rewarded myself with an order of bacon. I think I'm going to reward my exercise with bacon, especially since I just got a pork share from a local farm. This isn't as crazy as it sounds. Here's a link to an interesting blog post about fat fueling our bodies, not carbs.
http://www.marksdailyapple.com/a-metabolic-paradigm-shift-fat-carbs-human-body-metabolism/#more-21418
Marks Daily Apple website is a great resource to transitioning to the primal lifestyle. I am currently (mostly) primal/paleo, with an exception for dairy as Noah is allergic to egg whites. We still nurse, and Noah's allergy is so bad that he reacts to egg whites in my milk.
My weight has remained constant - this is a big deal, since I gained steadily before kids and lost it due to pregnancy and nursing. I attribute this to being grain-free for almost a year, and I feel SO GOOD. Seriously - giving up grains has not been a hardship for me. The only thing I really miss is pizza, and I just eat the cheese off Nathan's slice to get the taste. I ate Afghan food last week, and decided to go whole hog, so to speak. I ate three pieces of bread and rice, and I felt hungover the next day. That tells me my body has adapted to being low carb, and I'm going to keep doing it!
Long story even longer, I started training again because I turn 40 in November and time's a-tickin'. My sister Julie has offered to train and compete in a triathlon with me, so being the competitive sister that I am, I have to compete this October. No ifs ands or buts. We're doing a women-only tri in October in Orlando, one month before that 40th deadline. So, thanks, Jules. I'm totally going to beat you.
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
Good News, Bad News
I'll give the good news first. I ran 1.5 miles today! Or, more impressively, 2.41 kilometers! And Noah didn't wake up when I got out of bed, and even slept for an hour after I got out of bed. I think it's hit or miss as to whether he's going to freak out. If he had a restless night where he nurses a lot, his belly is fuller so he's not as aware and wanting to nurse around 6:30ish. If he had a good night and only nursed once or twice, his belly is empty and so he wants me around until he's up around 7:30. So I can't win for losing when it comes the mornings. Either it's a good night, bad morning, or a bad night and good morning.
The bad news: I had my annual physical with my GP yesterday and my fasting blood sugar was pretty high. Not quite in diabetes range, but close enough that I'm freaking out about it. So I think I have to go back to eating primally, i.e. protein, vegetables, fruit and nuts. No sugar, low carbs. Ugh. I have to make this commitment so I stay healthy for all my boys (Craig and N squared). However, sugar is yummy. Really yummy, especially when I'm the baker. But, I want to keep my legs attached to my body and my vision, so I have to eat better. Luckily I've already started the exercise portion of blood sugar normalization.
Tomorrow is either swimming or biking. We'll see!
The bad news: I had my annual physical with my GP yesterday and my fasting blood sugar was pretty high. Not quite in diabetes range, but close enough that I'm freaking out about it. So I think I have to go back to eating primally, i.e. protein, vegetables, fruit and nuts. No sugar, low carbs. Ugh. I have to make this commitment so I stay healthy for all my boys (Craig and N squared). However, sugar is yummy. Really yummy, especially when I'm the baker. But, I want to keep my legs attached to my body and my vision, so I have to eat better. Luckily I've already started the exercise portion of blood sugar normalization.
Tomorrow is either swimming or biking. We'll see!
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
Swimming!
I woke up again this morning and exercised! I figured out that 54 laps in my tiny pool equals 1/3 mile, the length of the swim portion of the triathlon. So, I did the 54 laps! It was a combination of freestyle and breaststroke, with some pauses in between to reassure Noah that I was still around.
Noah woke up the minute I got out of bed this morning at 6:30am. He cried until Craig brought him outside and sat him on a chair on our patio, so he could watch me swim. He watched me avidly, wanting waves and verbal reassurance that I was close to him. *Sigh* This is what makes exercise so hard to do these days. Noah won't be comforted by anyone, including his daddy. It's me or tears. So I can't do the gym. I was hoping that I would be able to slide out of bed and exercise before he noticed, but that doesn't seem to be working. Craig is just going to comfort him as best he can while I (selfishly?) take time out to exercise so I can be healthy for him and for me.
Next up, running 1.5 miles tomorrow. I'll bike on Thursday.
Noah woke up the minute I got out of bed this morning at 6:30am. He cried until Craig brought him outside and sat him on a chair on our patio, so he could watch me swim. He watched me avidly, wanting waves and verbal reassurance that I was close to him. *Sigh* This is what makes exercise so hard to do these days. Noah won't be comforted by anyone, including his daddy. It's me or tears. So I can't do the gym. I was hoping that I would be able to slide out of bed and exercise before he noticed, but that doesn't seem to be working. Craig is just going to comfort him as best he can while I (selfishly?) take time out to exercise so I can be healthy for him and for me.
Next up, running 1.5 miles tomorrow. I'll bike on Thursday.
Monday, June 21, 2010
The secret to exercise? Getting up at 6am.
As the title says, I've decided to start getting up at 6am to get my exercise in. Even then, Noah is having problems if I am gone. Since we sleep in a family bed, he knows when I leave it, and this morning I got back from my run only to hearing heartfelt wailing coming from the bedroom. He won't be soothed by anyone but me, hence I can't go to the gym and leave him in the daycare yet. So I hope I can ease out of bed and get a run, ride or swim in before he wakes up.
I'm now able to run a mile without stopping, which is a victory itself. I realize that I have to run two more miles, plus have bike and swum before it, but I am now confident I can do it.
I am a competitive person, although sometimes I forget that. My friend Stephanie did her first triathlon a couple of weeks ago. That has spurred my competitive nature. Why can't I do one, too? I can! So I will. I am still having problem with my right lower leg. I don't think it's an achilles tendon, it feel more like a middle calf muscle, if that makes sense.
I've also started swimming laps in my pool, although it is so short that I take 5 strokes and I have to turn around again! I can't wait to get up to the cape so I can do open water swimming in the ponds and do a longer distance.
I'm now able to run a mile without stopping, which is a victory itself. I realize that I have to run two more miles, plus have bike and swum before it, but I am now confident I can do it.
I am a competitive person, although sometimes I forget that. My friend Stephanie did her first triathlon a couple of weeks ago. That has spurred my competitive nature. Why can't I do one, too? I can! So I will. I am still having problem with my right lower leg. I don't think it's an achilles tendon, it feel more like a middle calf muscle, if that makes sense.
I've also started swimming laps in my pool, although it is so short that I take 5 strokes and I have to turn around again! I can't wait to get up to the cape so I can do open water swimming in the ponds and do a longer distance.
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