Museum of Aviation 5K - 2011

I did the Museum of Aviation 5K again this year. The first time I did it I finished in about 50 minutes and walked most of the time. This time I wanted to run the entire thing and do it in about 30 minutes. I did run the entire distance! No stopping :)

My official stats:
Official time= 35:52, pace per mile= 11:33, 26th place in my age group

So not bad for a year's difference.

I've also finally started to run more, which I attribute to me being able to run the entire 5K. I started running with a group that meets every Sunday at 9am at the Bare Bulb Coffee shop in Bonaire where I live. It's great to have people to run with and we can encourage and learn from each other.

I have also biked more. I have started doing spin class twice a week; Monday's and Wednesday's. I really have gotten addicted to spin. I just feel so good afterwards. It's always worth the sweat, and my back side has never looked better, ha!
I also have been biking outside with my friend Lisa. Last ride we did 20 something miles, and we plan to do many more.

I guess the only thing I have to do now is start swimming again. Swimming and running were the two areas of my triathlons I needed to work on. Swimming the most, so when I finally schedule my first triathlon for this year, I'll have to set up a swimming plan. Definitely need to put in more laps this time.

Besides all the running, biking, and swimming (oh my! lol) I ordered the P90X system. I ordered it on Amazon and got a great deal, and free shipping. Unfortunately I ordered it early this January and I just got it today. The snow we received in GA slowed everything down, including UPS. It was nice to have a snow day in the south though, so I can't complain too much.

I will try to update this blog with my progress on the P90X program. I'm hoping to be able to do at least one chin up after all the hard work. I have never been able to do a chin up or pull up, ever, in my life. I would like to build the upper body strength, finally, to meet this goal. Also, the strength training will 0nly help my triathlon training, so I am excited.

Training or Off-season, don't know

Whelp, I've still been at it, although I do not know what I'm training for right now. I kind of want to do a half marathon, because that would be one step closer to me training for a marathon. I have decided I want to run a marathon one day. Not sure how soon that will be, but I feel it will happen. I just want to push my body to it's limits. For some strange reason, it makes me feel like I am real, I am not putting on a show, I am just me. I know, I know, I sound kind of existential, but say la vie. However, I don't know if I will do another triathlon before the half-marathon or not. Maybe a half marathon could help me train for my next triathlon. I just get bored with one sport; I like the swim, bike, and run!



My training so far has consisted of going to spin class every Monday and Wednesday at the end of the day fitness leave at work. On Friday's I will either walk with David on the 3 mile trail or run on the treadmill. I've also been working out with my Mom on Saturday's or Sunday's at her gym. Every time I go with her on the weekends I will run 3 miles. Last time I was able to only stop twice, and jogged/ran the 3 miles in 40 minutes. My goal is to run a 5K in 30 minutes, so I just need to get faster. I will sprint while I jog to try and gain speed, but it will take time. At least I've gotten past the initial pain of running. It feels good to finally be able to jog for a long period of time and not feel like you're going to pass out.



Goals for the future include running in the mornings before work in my neighborhood, eventually everyday, but twice a week would be a good first step. I would like to bring Cody, my dog with me on the runs as well. I would love for him to run a 5K with me someday. I know he could do it, he's so full of energy. He's also a very good runner. With some training and plenty of water and energy packed treats, I think he could do it :P Of course the first sign of anything going wrong with him and it's no more training. I have to take care of my sweet Cody man :)



Also, I would like to start riding my bike after work with my friend Debby on base. This will require me to wake up early on those days, to get to work early enough to take off in time for me to meet her and go riding. Ha! Wish me luck on that one, lol. But I really would like to start group riding more. I plan to get a road bike next income tax return, but for now I only have my mountain bike. So I will group ride with my friends, and then hopefully join the Bike Store's group rides when I get my faster bike.



OK, I think that's a recap on me for now. Until next time.

First Tri is Scheduled

I have registered for my first triathlon. It is the Georgia Veterans Triathlon in Cordele, GA, at Lake Blackshear.
I will: Swim ¼ mile, Bike 13.6 miles, Run 3.1 miles
The Race Date is Saturday, August 14, 2010

I have been training, but I will be doing more to prepare for August. Spin class is the best trainer ever! I have started to run after spin class as well, to work on my transition from bike to run. My parents also just got a new pool, so I have my own personal swim training area, that is going to be awesome. Now I just have to make sure I can at least swim 16 laps around the pool in a row without stopping!

I also have a bike ride planned. It is the Tour De Moose at the Avionics Museum. I will be doing the 30 mile with my friend Christina.

Also in training news I have bought a power yoga DVD to work on strength and stretching. This along with my kettlebell workout should help me gain some stability and muscle. I love my 18 lb kettlebell, I will have to post a picture of it soon.

Training Update- May 2010

I have not posted in a while so I thought I spend some time re-capping my training.
I have been mostly running and walking. At least three days a week I have been walking the 3 mile trail with David. He walks fast so this is a good workout even if I am not running. I have started to run more on the treadmill lately because the humidity is getting to be to much. I can run, with short 5 minute walking breaks, 2 miles in 30 minutes. This seems to be my normal pace. I need to work on speed and longer running portions so I can get to 3 miles in 30 minutes. This is my mid-term goal.

I need to get more bike and swimming time in somewhere. I am going to do a June biking event at work called the "Tour de Moose". Weird name I know, lol, but it is a biking century on Base and the Air Force Museum. I will be doing the shorter route, but still it will be longer than I've ever gone on bike. Need to start going to spin class again to train!

I am also going to try to get into Kettle-bells. David does these to stay in shape. I think a nice women's set will be fine. I need to do something to strength train. I think this could be fun, and less monotonous than a gym weight lifting workout. Kettlebells are the Russian strong-man way of building strength and rock hard muscles. How can I go wrong with that, lol. I'll have to save some money and buy a set. The link I have provided is the best brand of kettlebell, and David highly recommends it. And if anyone is thinking about doing kettlebells, please get the guy from the website's book and read it from front to back before deciding. He gives really good advice and 'get ready' tips. I need to start that soon, lol.

Anyways, that is my training for now. Mostly running and walking, need to get more bike and swim into my routine, and want to start Kettlebells. Avior.

Training Continues

Well training has been going well. I got sick about two weeks ago, and was house bound for a week! So glad to be jogging and biking again. I really do need to get some more pool time in, but o'well.

Today I ran the three mile loop on Base. It was hot, so i was glad I brought a big bottle of water. I added some fitness powder to it, and that helped. It was strawberry-kiwi flavor, yummy!I will have to experiment with making my own fitness drinks. Water is great, but it does get a little boring.

Because of the heat, i was only able to walk/jog the 3 miles in 40 minutes. That's not too bad, considering I just started, and that my fastest 5K race is only 42 minutes. Training in the heat, I'm hoping, will only make morning races seem that much easier, lol. But I am not about to kill myself out there, so if I need to stop in the shade, I will. I also wear plenty of sun-screen. I found the spray on kind, makes it super easy to apply. No excuses for sunburn; only room for a great tan ;)

Anyways, Mr man got me a wireless odometer for my bike and I had to try it out. I think I need to clean the contact for the battery, and then it will work better. It was really easy to install though. I am happy :) I ended up riding my bike for about 20 minutes after I got home from my run. Now if I can just run and bike back-to-back, I'll be half way there to my first tri.

Thinking about doing a super sprint in May, that's a little triathlon, usually with only a short swim, an 8 mile bike, and 2 mile run. I think this will be a nice ice-breaker. I'm also looking at one for June that's a first timers sprint triathlon. That's a slightly longer swim, about 13 mile bike, and 3 mile run. We shall see if I can make it.

Well, that's it for an update. Glad for not being sick!