STWM - Week #5 Update

5 weeks in, 7 weeks to go until my next half marathon!

 

It still seems a million years away, but I know that once I get back into the swing of school time will fly quickly and 7 weeks will blow by!

 

That being said, training has been a little really lacking, not to mention the nutrition this week.

 

After being at the cottage, then a 3 day turn around to go to Arizona, running and nutrition has gone out the window.

I did manage to squeeze in a 3.75 kilometer run on Monday, but some lovely GI issues kicked in and after a fantastic first kilometer, the second and third were completely disgustingly bad. Bad as in the plus 6:30 mark. I managed to catch up with the boys who were at the park with my husband and we all walked home.

Upcoming week:

Monday - Rest
Tuesday - Traveling (that's exercise enough with the two boys)
Wednesday - Track workout (6x400 @ 2:18)
Thursday - Rest
Friday - 5k
Saturday - Bike ride
Sunday - 5 or 6 miles (depending on stomach issues)

This week also marks the last week of my summer vacation. I start back to work on September 2nd and my whole workout routine will be changing. I'll start doing my short runs in the morning before I go to work and on running rest days I'll be riding my bike to work (provided it's not raining). I also start my spin class on Sept. 9, which I'm really excited about. But I'll write more about my hopeful shift in my workout/nutrition routine in a couple of days.

For now I'm off to enjoy one last day of vacation before the chaos of travel begins again!



What are you up to this week?

To gym or not to gym...

...that is the question.

 

There is a gym around the corner from me that is fairly cheap. It's a very basic gym and I often see a lot of very muscle-y people in their pictures (which I clearly am not), but I'm torn as to whether or not to join.

 

 

It's $10 a month with different other fees thrown in, but overall it's less than $250 for a year, which I can't beat I'm assuming. The distance is only about 0.75 km away as well so I can't complain about it being too far away.

 

I know that once the winter comes, my motivation for running severely drops because of the freezing temperatures and the treadmill becomes very appealing. I'd also like to get more into toning (once I lose some more weight) and know that weights are the way to do that.

 

The gym does offer some classes, but not a ton and many of them do not fit into my schedule and are either in the morning, or around 6:30 which is my chance to spend time with the boys. I would solely be going for the treadmill and weights and maybe the elliptical and bike.

 

Since I'm going to start working on training for sprint triathlons next summer, I want to start doing triathlon training which would include some swimming and biking.

 

One turn-off from joining the gym is that there is no pool. I've also signed up for a spin class at a different studio because it fits my schedule better (8-9). To do swim training, I have to go to the community center during lane swim times, which costs and additional $3.50. That would be three different places to go to train.

 

 

Lastly, I worry about time.

 

Working full time as a kindergarten teacher, dealing with two little boys and spending quality time with my husband is busy but also very important to me. I have time to get to the gym and go for a run before work since we're up around 6:15, the boys leave at 7:00 and I don't have to leave until 8:30ish but I'm not a morning person. I'm thinking I need to become one.

 

 

What would you do?

 

Join the gym or just try to get it done at home?

Day 1 in Paradise!

I found my heaven!

 

 

The boys were really well behaved during the flight. The younger one didn't fall asleep until the last chunk, but it was still a nice break. My older one kept himself occupied with Angry Birds Go, MahJong and some Bubble Guppies. I didn't question my sanity once!

 

Now that I'm here, I'm excited to shop. However, my shopping priorities have changed. I used to hit up the big mall with clothes that I wasn't really comfortable in but needed to wear to work. Now, work is much more relaxed (yay, Kindergarten) and I'm looking forward to hitting up Under Armour, Nike Outlet and some other sporting goods stores. I want to find a nice pair of shoes for weight training/spin class and some nice running clothes.

 

Now let's see if I can make it to the treadmill at some point. At 11:00 it was already 90 degrees yesterday. The 3 hour difference doesn't help much either. The boys go to bed really early and get up really early.

 

Fingers crossed that I can run!

Leaving on a jet plane!

Today begins our final trip of our summer vacation and we're hopping onto an airplane!

My boys and I are heading to Arizona with my Mom.

Is it bad that I'm ridiculously excited for the shopping more than anything else?

I did bring my running shoes and some running clothes but with the heat, random crazy animals and trying to leave the two crazy, over-active little boys with my mom it might be difficult (plus shopping time might get in the way). I'll try though.

This morning started out really early (a 5:00 am trip to the airport), so please send good thoughts that the flight with a 2 year old, 3.5 year old and my mom went well and I didn't lose my mind (because I still have to head back with them all).

Hope you have a great day (I know I will...once we land)!



My BIG 5 year goal!

I have decided on my five year goal.

If someone asks me who I want to be in five years, my answer will be an...

Ironman!

(Or is it Ironwoman)?

It is a far away goal, but I think that doing it in five years is definitely doable. I'm thinking that for most people it's probably doable in 2 or 3 but with a full time job and two young boys that require a lot of attention five years is doable but still challenging, especially since I haven't done an actual triathlon yet.

My goal race is the Ironman 70.3 in Muskoka. I chose this race because it's the one closest to home and trying to determine race and travel logistics (even five years out) seems as though it'll just add a whole bunch more stress when I don't really need it and probably won't need it!

I also figure that within five years I can get all the proper equipment to do a triathlon, considering I currently have a large, heavy bicycle, a helmet, a bathing suit and some running shoes. Nothing near what I need to actually complete a high level triathlon very effectively. I'm hoping that the five years will give me time to collect enough money and therefore be able to purchase some better equipment than what I have. I'm also hoping I'll have a lot of "supportive" hometown fans!

I also really need to get my half marathon time down to preferably somewhere under 2:00, which I'm working on and hope to be closer to the 2 hour mark than the 3 hour mark.

I haven't really laid my goals out to my husband yet, but I know that since it's a long way away he'll be supportive and that he'll be there to cheer. If it was next year, he tell me I was crazy and probably admit me to a mental health ward!

STWM - Week #4 recap

No running.

Summer, I give in, you time sucker you!

That's right. Nada.

Between traveling and sleeping in different beds, my back is a total mess.

The week at the cottage was cold and miserable. It was raining when we got up there and remained gray for most of the time. There was one day with sun, but it was so windy that the sun was completely overshadowed.

That being said, no swimming (which was supposed to be my exercise) as it was so cold. My husband even went into town to buy hot chocolate for much more than it is worth because I was so cold.

I suck!

This week:

Monday - 5K

Tuesday - Bike ride

Wednesday - Traveling

Thursday - Unsure

Friday - Who knows

Saturday - Does suntanning count?

Sunday - What about shopping?

My mom and I are taking the boys to Arizona for a week. I honestly don't know if I'll get a chance to run. There are some nice paths where we are staying, but it's Arizona and there are lots of interesting creatures, including these guys:

A javelin (wild pig essentially)

After we get back, it's into the classroom to get it set up for my next round of Kindies, a long weekend with the family and then back to school and hopefully a renewed dedication to my half marathon plan!



STWM - Week #2 & 3 Recap

I'm glad I built in buffer weeks for my training.

This is one of those weeks where things were all over the place.

My husband took the week of work to spend some time with the boys and then to head up to my aunt's cottage.

Monday - Rest

Originally I was supposed to do my long run that I had missed on Sunday on the Monday, but that didn't happen. I ended up going shopping with my mom and then in the evening the rain came along.

Tuesday - 6.5 km

I finally got out for the long run. My husband 'pushed' me out the door. I kept putting it off and putting it off and of course the minute I step out the door, it started to rain but I persevered and made it through my long run. Of course, I came back with my first blister.



Running in the rain led to my first blister!


Wednesday - Sunday
We were away for the weekend so I didn't do any running. I probably could have, but with the two boys at the cottage it's a lot to get out by yourself for more than 15-20 minutes. I did manage to swim a couple times and try to get more comfortable in open water. I have to admit, I was nervous, especially when we kept seeing turtles everywhere and I know that there is a gigantic snapping turtle in there somewhere.

For week three, I only got in two runs. I squeezed my long run on the holiday Monday. I did 8 k (4 miles) at probably the most ridiculous time ever. I went at 10:45 (while my husband took the boys to the park) and felt like I was going to pass out when I got home. I immediately took a freezing shower and had a Gatorade (left over handout from a race) and felt better. I was very proud of myself for doing it. My next long run will be with the running club. I need support to get these long runs done.

I also upped my track workout. I did 6x400m in under 2:18 ech time. The last one was definitely difficult. I felt it big time but man do I love track workouts now!

Upcoming week:

More cottage! Time to work on some more swimming, reading and suntanning!

I'll be back the week after when training really needs to pick up since I've definitely taken a break this last little bit.



Ahhh, sand and sun (and mosquitos but they're worth it)!