Day Forty-Six

Bike

I had to go to Marin to pick up Ryan's bike this morning.  I took advantage of being up there and went for a ride. Ryan (with his dad) are doing The Relay, a relay run from Calistoga to Marin, so I was alone for my ride.  It was nice being out on the road with my thoughts.  It is how I remember riding when I first began to love cycling.

The road out caught me by surprise with a good climb at the beginning.  This was followed by a long gradual descent.  The descent made me nervous because I felt like I was riding down hill forever and had no idea how I was going to make the climb back up.  It ended up being NOTHING, when I got to the top I thought I was just at the beginning of the climb.  I guess it was really gradual.  The ride was nice, nothing special as far as effort or distance, but nice.

I think I am getting sick.  blah

Day Forty-Five

Swim/Run

Swam in the am at the pool.  Ryan was going to join me, but decided he wanted to sleep.  The pool seemed dirty.  Weird right?  I just swam in the bay where I cannot see anything because the water is so dark.  I guess maybe not seeing feels better.  I do not see a clump of hair or gum wrappers on the bottom of the bay, so it feels cleaner!?  The pool seemed nice before open recreation swims and high school swim team started for the season. 

Ran in the afternoon.  It was nice and sunny out.  I was feeling fine about running when I left the house, but once I had to start running....ahhh I wanted to do anything besides run.  I was wishing my foot hurt so I had an excuse not to run, but no, my foot felt fine.  I struggled the entire time to stay motivated enough to run the next step instead of giving in and walking it.  But I did it.  I actually did enjoy a little part of it on the trail where the water had dried up some so you could jump around the puddles like a kid (or maybe a kid would be jumping in the puddles so I was acting like an adult but with a youthful spirit :)) The fun only lasted a few hundred yards and then I was back to hating running for the day.  My legs were tired so maybe that is why I struggled with my attitude.

Day Forty-Four

Bike

I was called in late to work in HMB today so brought my bike with me to ride after I was off.  At 300 when I was thinking of riding it was really windy.  I mean really windy.  So I did my ride on the trainer.  This at least the 5th trainer ride in a row.  I will enjoy being outside on Saturday.  I did get a challenging 90 minute ride in, hopefully prepping me for hills to come.

Day Forty-Three

Swim Run

I checked out the Dolphin Club at Aquatic Park yesterday.  The people were encouraging and happy to have someone else interested in the club.  The man I talked to mentioned that the women are more hard core than the men (I read about this on yelp).  There is an older group of ladies that sued in the 70's to be part of the 'men's only club' and they are a tough group still proving that they deserve to be there.  He also let me know that wetsuits are frowned upon...again especially for the woman.  The club is interesting, historic, with beautiful wooden boats inside.  Today I went out to swim and again I met great people.  I swam around the buoys twice.  The nice lady that I met in the shower, cooky (of course everyone that swims in 50 degree water is probably a little nutty) but kind, said that that is a woman's mile.  I guess if I want it to count as a full mile I have to swim to a gray boat, not the pier.  I was in the water for about 25 minutes and actually felt good.  I was not freezing cold, and I only freaked out about seals once or twice...pretty good.  The sauna was not as warm as I had hoped, but it still warmed me up from the chilly water.  Everything was great..until I found a ticket on my car...only a little bummer after the great experience. 

Headed home and ran at the beach.  Ryan wants me to try Chi Running to possibly help with my foot pain.. so he gave me 20 pointers for my run.  I can only focus on one thing at a time, so I focused on kicking back my feet.  I ran for 30 minutes NO PAIN!!!  YEAH!!!!  Only 19 more points to learn.

Day Forty-Two

Bike

Today was an hour and twenty minutes on the bike with 11 one minute hill climbs.  I really pushed it through this entire workout.  Even when I was recovering I was pushing it.  Great way to start the week.  Legs felt great.  I just have to remember to continue to relax my arms when I ride.  I am on the trainer, why am I holding such a stiff position?!?

Day Forty-One

REST REST REST

Ahhhhh.....I am just going to walk the dog today.

Day Forty

Swim Run

My rest day yesterday really helped me out.  I also let myself sleep in this morning, which also really helped out. I had plenty of energy for my swim and stairmaster workout.  Swam in the morning, nice sunny morning, warm sun on my back...really nice to swim when the sun it out.  Then I went to the gym.  I am still not able to run, I am only using the stairmaster and the precor crosstrainer.  I have to stay very focused to get good work, but I am able to get the work despite my annoying foot.  In the afternoon we relaxed in the sun at the beach.  It was great!

To neoprene or not???  I am not sure.  I emailed the swim instructor about what suit to get and she encouraged me to stick it out and not get a suit yet.  Her experience was five swims before her body adapted.  I only have 3 more to go.  :{  I will try to swim at aquatic park (sauna at the Dolphin Club!!!!) on the weeks that I do not swim with SwimArt.  Hopefully that will help me adapt sooner and my body will not have to go into the crazy survival mode that takes me forever to recover from.