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Tag: triathlon

I Won’t Try To Do A Tri This Year

August 26, 2014

I had a goal set this summer that I would participate in a Women’s Sprint Tri this September.  I did take part in training, biking, running and “some” swimming.  But I didn’t get the chance to step up my swimming training and I also didn’t do any brick workouts. So after being on vacation last week and doing my first open water swim in a lake, I decided that I am just not ready for a race like this.  I can do well with the biking and the running, but I am too afraid I will run out of gas from just the 1/2 mile swim alone.

The medal they are giving for the race is a cute charm bracelet and that sure did tempt me to suck it up and do it anyway; but I talked to my husband and kids and told them I had made the decision to not do that race that I had been working for during the summer.  It was so cute when I told them.  The kids immediate told me “you can do anything you want to mommy! Don’t give up, you can do it!”  It was so obvious to me that they listen to me and what I tell them when I encourage them to keep trying and to not give up while they are doing something hard and get frustrated.  It was so sweet that they were telling me that I still had time to train and get myself better and ready for the race.  But I told them that sometimes I have to be wise and make a decision to NOT do a race to prevent myself from getting hurt.  I wanted them to understand that I wasn’t giving up; but that I was making my decision so that I could be safe and to know that next year I will work harder towards the goal.

I am slightly disappointed that I won’t be doing this race, but I also want to stay injury free and healthy as I prepare for the Philadelphia marathon and the Dopey Challenge in January.  Sometimes the best decision is to sit out an event rather than try to do it all.

I am so happy that my running hobby is also teaching my children some good lessons in life.

Boston Marathon World Run – A Success!

April 20, 2014

20140419-153342.jpgI ran my Boston Marathon World Run on Friday.  It was a perfect day for a marathon run. My dad watched my kids for me, which I am very grateful for!  I couldn’t do these races and training runs if not for the support of my husband and my family!  I can’t thank you enough for helping me make my dreams come true!  It means so much to me.

The day was a perfect temp, not too much sun and the roads weren’t very busy either! I mapped out my route ahead of time; but while I was out there, I made minor modifications to try to get in a few more mileage in the beginning closer to my house in a less hilly area so that I wouldn’t have to end the route on as many hills that I originally mapped out.  In the end that worked out nicely for me.  I had to end on a gradual hill on Route 17 but it was totally manageable and it was also the same road my husband drives home on so he was able to wait for me.  When he saw me I told him I had 1 mile to go and to pick me up there so I wouldn’t have to walk the last mile home and treck up our hill.  I just didn’t want to do it.  I was already out there over 6 hours and I wanted to be home with my family.

20140419-153408.jpgI felt great.  I did what Jeff Galloway recommended and set my intervals to 15/30 and walked the entire first mile.  When I was trying to go slow in the beginning my pace was coming up around 12 mins/mile.  Jeff recommended going no faster than 15 mins/mile.  I couldn’t slow down at first.  Eventually, I evened out around at 14 mins/mile pace. And when in a grove it would speed up to 13 mins/mile.

While out on the run, I enjoyed my favorite podcasts, Mickey Miles Podcast plays first, then Laugh or Go Crazy, followed by Two Gomers.  I had several saved up so I couldn’t listen to the rest of my favorite podcasts.  I will save them for my weekly shorter runs now and to listen to while at work!  I enjoyed laughing while running.  The Laugh or Go Crazy podcast really had me chuckling at one point and so did the Two Gomers.  I shared this with them via Twitter.  I think it is important to let them know that their podcast does impact our lives.  It’s great entertainment for me while out for 6 hours training!

The Mickey Miles podcast taught me so much about nutrition.  I also learned so much listening to Tara Gidus on the mickey Miles podcast that I am going to write a summary of what I took away from it and may consider hiring her as a nutrition consultant for my training.  She is VERY knowledgeable on the subject of nutrition and training, supplements, vitamins and much more.  Of course she should be, she’s the official nutritionist of runDisney!

The Laugh or Go Crazy podcast topic was about Living the Dream.  Are you living your life as if it were a dream and you are doing all that you dreamed of doing.  Are you handling the good and the bad as best as you can?  Life won’t always be perfect, there will be hard time and then there are the good times.  Are you making the best of your life?

The Two Gomers are on a quest to do the St. Anthony’s triathlon in St. Petersburgh,FL on April 28.  I am so proud of them.  They are way ahead of me in terms of stepping out of their comfort zone. They have talked for years about stretching out there and wondering if they would ever do a triathlon.  Their podcast has giving me the nudge to get on my bike more and I’m also working towards trying a new race this year.  I hope I fulfill my New Year’s one word resolution  and GROW towards that.  If anything, I am cross training with my bike which I hope helps with my running.

I’m very glad my training run was so successful.  I am not sore at all.  I did as Jeff recommended and didn’t have to rush home to pick up Adrienne from school so I was able to slow down my pace like Jeff said and it really makes a difference.  I haven’t run this weekend because I was busy with the kids, sports and the Easter holiday, but I could have easily gotten in a 4 mile run with hardly any leg issues if necessary.  I am heading up to Boston Monday for the marathon and hope to run in the evening or I’ll have save it for Tuesday.  I’m looking forward to watching the race and soaking in the excitement and using that as the fuel towards my quest to qualify for Boston one day!  If I can’t get there on my own within 5 years I will try to go on a charity bib.  But I want to earn it ON MY OWN!  It’s going to be the hardest thing I ever try to do.

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Providence is two weeks away and I’m looking forward to getting a PR for my marathon time and growing towards my next goals for this summer!

 

 

I Want To Ride My Bicycle, I Want To Ride My Bike

April 10, 2014

Look at that Gorgeous view!  I took these pictures at the Gouveia Vineyards.  I have the pleasure of either running or biking just 3 miles from my house to this beautiful area.  I took a bike ride up to the vineyard last evening and took these pictures.  I can’t wait until the vines start growing more and I will do it again and get pictures of the lush grapes growing and the green leaves on the trees.

I have been enjoying taking my bike out for little rides during the week.  I need to step it up and do some longer rides and build up my mileage.  Biking for me is a great complement to my running.  I felt different muscles working while I was riding the hills and I need that to help strengthen my legs to avoid injuries.

It is also important if I wish to participate in a biking/running event at some point this year.  I am still researching into a run/bike/run race or a sprint triathlon that I can register for this year in my state.  I’d have to use my mountain bike for  it because I don’t have a street bike.  I’d love to get a street bike but that will be an expensive purchase right now that I don’t want to invest in.

Do you know if any sprint tris or duathlons in the state that are good for beginners?

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