January 23, 2012-January 29, 2012 in review

The weather has been fairly calm here in Central New York. We have had a record for little snowfall in January this year! Last week was a great week. All the training was done, nutrition was a little better (except for that piece of chocolate cake, oh wait that cookie too) Hey it happens!

I have been swimming fairly well these past couple weeks and even in Masters swim I feel like I have some left in the tank afterwards. It helps when you have proper nutrition prior to going into your workouts!

Cycling, well lets just say Im trying to find comfort on my saddle again on the trainer. Very disappointing as I've tried all the saddles I have in my possession which is about a dozen!!!

Running...Im continuing to improve although Im not happy with my times still. I want to break that 25 min mark in a 5K. Im almost there. Im down under 9 min miles which was a goal at the end of my season a few months ago, now its getting down to 8:15-8:30s. Its all a process I keep telling myself. It takes time and consistent effort to get there. Its not going to happen overnight. Little by little I see those seconds falling off my times though.

Im onto my next adventure which is the Lake Effect Half Marathon. All proceeds go to help the Run 4 Life Campaign. The mission of Run 4 Life it to set up healthy events for Cayuga County and the surrounding areas. Helping to  fight child obesity, bringing child friendly events to the area and help local charities through these events. Check it out at Therun4life.org

I think it is sad that our youth are not expected or encouraged to be healthy and run. I told my ex that our 8 year old daughter ran 3 miles and I swear he was calling this child abuse. What?! Even when she rode her bike 3 miles while I ran he was hysterical about it! This is crazy! My daughter enjoys it! If she didn't she is also in Gymnastics, dance and swimming. She is very active and I plan to keep it that way. I even got a letter from Caitlins gym teacher for kids being active at least 6 days per week for 30min. This is a recommendation. Could you imagine if every child got a little more exercise than they do? We are too caught up in the Iphones, Computers, TV's that these children are not getting the proper exercise they need. My daughter is not allowed on the computer but 1 day a week supervised by me, not allowed to have a cell phone, and TV time is now limited as well. I don't think this is cruel but helping her to learn to be active, using her imagination at home as well as in the community.

This is why this race is a great race! It is sold out in its Inaugural Debut! 500 runners will take to the Snowy trails of Onondaga Lake Parkway in Liverpool, NY on February 25, 2012 for 13.1 miles!! Im getting that Long sleeve shirt...It Snowed, I ran, I conquered...13.1!!! Woot!



Phew! I got on a tangent there! But you get the picture Im sure.

Last week in Numbers:

Swim: 4300 yrds- 1.75 hours
Bike: 3 hours - On trainer
Run- 23.93 miles- 3.69 hours
Strength- 1.5 hours

Total Time: 9:56:31

Goals for this week: Be consistent, Have great hydration and nutrition..be a good role model to my little one! :)

Chilly Chili 5K Review

The Chilly Chili 5K became part of Cazenovia's winter Festival, which is held every year in January since 2005. This is a fundraiser for the Cazenovia children's house which offers full time day care, after School care and Preschool Programming for the Cazenovia area.

Today I had Masters swimming in the morning. Which was mostly all kicking sets!! Oh boy! I couldn't believe on the day I wanted to do well in a race it was all kicking! Well I sucked it up and still did the swim workout because Im a triathlete right?!

After Masters Swim, all of the coaches and my teamates got together at my coaches beautiful mansion house for a get together filled with yummy food.

We all piled in our cars and went out to Caz to get our run on. I was feeling antsy at the race start. I did my 15 min warm up including pick-ups as coach KRoe instructed, took a Mocha gel (bad Idea, BLECK) and settled in towards the beginning of the crowd. I went out slower and wanted to build into my 5K pace, which btw, I still have no idea what that is! I figured I would base it off my PR time.

I started off steady with some of my teamates, just enjoying all the energy around me. turned the corner and there was the *itch of a hill that seemed to go on forever. Half way up I heard a guy call out 9:05. Well hey, that was the first mile. A little slower than I wanted but I made it up that darn hill feeling good.

Next was a little elevation then some down hill which I tried to pick the pace up a little but everytime I tried to pass it didn't seem possible! I stayed back a bit, got up the next steep quick hill, Looked at my watch and we were almost 2 miles in at 17:50.

At this point it is pretty much downhill so I kicked it up a bit and let my feet land a little softer, quicker, like the runner I am (Cough, choke, sputter). Made the next mile in 8:13. Yes!!! Negative splitting here!

The last .17 was a little steeper then flat to the finish. I felt like I wanted to throw up. Note to self, no Banana bread prior to the run next time, and  definately not a MOCHA powerbar gel! ewww..

I saw the time and was a little disappointed this wasnt under 27min which I was hoping for.

I crossed the line 27:20

29/102 AG 30-34
147/655 Females
404/1158 total participants

We then went over to the Chili bake off and sampled some Chili from some nice restaraunts in the area. This was way better last year and it was a little disappointing this year. At least 3-4 of the stands had no more chili! How can I vote without these to taste too?! Oh well.

All in all, it was a fair race, the weather was nice, about 40F compared to Neg numbers last year!

Onto the next race, Lake Effect Half Marathon!!

1st week back at it.

First week back at a normal training schedule again. Lets just say I have been doing what ever I have wanted to do for the last 2 months. Its great that now I Can have a coach looking at my schedule and fitting my needs of being a crazy triathlete into the mix of it all.

This week I managed to get all my training in and then some.

Some highlights of this week:

- I actually did Hill Repeats, and I survived!!
- I have gotten a little smoother and faster in the water, balancing on my left side needs improvement
-I hate one legged drills on the trainer- feel the freaking burn!
- snow running 7 miles in about 3 inches of snow= burning quads and hammies

I'm getting ready to crush my 5K time at the Chilly Chili 5K in Cazenovia, NY next weekend!!

Swim-5700 yds- 2.33 hours
Bike- 3.5 hours
Run-19.81 miles- 3.33 hours
Strength- 30 min

Total time- 9 hours 40 min

Happy Training!!!

2012 Plans and Goals

I have to admit, this year was hard for me to choose my race plans and goals for this year. I have been pretty much strumming along with the "Ill do what I want" attitude. But I know that wont get me very far since that has included my sinful indulgences of M+M's and Ice cream.

I finally contacted Coach KRoe to get started. I will be at her hands for the 2012 race season. I hope she will be able to stand all my quirks and craziness when it comes to training! We met in the summer to decide about coaching and it seemed like a great fit. She is very easy to talk to and understanding.

I wrote out my race plans, dotted my A. B, and C races and sent her the, I do this on Wed, I do masters swim on this day...yada. Thank god I can still proceed with all my interesting combinations! Ha ha!

I got my first coached week starting tomorrow! Happy Martin Luther King day! Here you go! 45min on the trainer, 45 min in the pool!! YAY!

My race plan for this season includes, running a sub 2:00 standing 1/2 Marathon only. Maybe a sub 2:15 in 1/2 IM? We will see how this goes. I have already shaved 15sec per mile off my long runs which is pretty impressive to me! I am so much better with short distances with this. The longer it is, the harder I struggle. Something to work on this year!  Another goal is to be a stronger hill climber, whether on the bike or running. This is another weakness. Not that I cannot get up them but I slow significantly. I will be following one of my friends who is training for the Triple T, up alot of the bigger grade hills here in Central NY!

My goals are to do a few 70.3's, 1/2 marathon, marathon, a few duathlons and some smaller races.

I also recently was made aware of my qualification for AG nationals so I think I will plan on going there as well. Now to find a hotel in Vermont!

Happy Training to all!

Tagged!

My friend Rae Tagged me. So since I am a good person and I know you guys are just dying to know more about me, I decided to play along!

The RULES

#1. You must post these rules
#2. Each person must post 11 random things about themselveds on their blog
#3. Answer the questions the tagger has set for you in their post, then create 11 more for the people you tag to answer.

Here goes...

1. I have a morning ritual that I follow,  same order I do everything in. If it is not that way, I think Im cursed all day long
2. I always thought if I wasn't a Nurse Practitioner, I could be a cosmetologist
3. I am a day dreamer. I love to think of myself as an actress
4. Im in Love with Vampire stories.
5. I shake my hands when Im nervous..really weird habit.
6. I blush very easily. With everything!! LOL!
7. Nutella could easily be spread onto anything and enjoyed!
8. I am such a morning person. I get up at the same time almost everyday without an alarm
9. I have a pitt bull and he is such a baby! They get such a bad rap. All he wants to do is be my 50lb lap dog!
10. I hate it when people forget important things! Drives me nuts!!!
11. Sometimes I sleep with my workout clothes on so I don't have to get up and put them on in the morning!

What Rae asked:

1. What is one of your Goals for 2012??-One of my goals is to work on nailing the 70.3 distance. With focusing more on the run leg, decreasing run times

2. If you could have one super power, what would it be??- To be able to heal people.

3. What is your favorite season??- I would have to say summer!! I love the sun on my face, a nice tan, swimming outside, BBQs...the list goes on and on!

4. If you had to give up one sense, what would it be??- Taste..then I wouldn't eat all the goodies!! ha ha!

5. What accomplishment are you most proud of?? Struggling through a divorce, being a single mom, and still making it through my masters degree with a 3.9 GPA!

6. If there was a fire in your house and you could only save 3 things, what would they be? My daughter, my honey and my doggie. Other stuff can be replaced!

7. What is your dream race? No Brainer....KONA!

8. If you won a million dollars, what's the first thing you would buy??- A new house.

9. If you were picked to be on a reality show, which one would it be??-  The Great Race

10. If you had to live in a different country for a year, which one would it be? France! I love romance!

11. Why is your blog named what it is?? My blog name was different at first..but changed because I love the sport and what it has done for me not just athlete wise but professionally and in my personal life. Nothing comes without hard work and dedication.


MY 11 Questions:

1. If you could be any famous person, who would it be?
2. If you had to give up one thing in your life, what would it be?
3. Who had the greatest influence on you when you were a child?
4. If you could live in another time, when would that be?
5. What one word would you use to describe yourself??
6. If you could change one thing in your past, what would that be??
7. What do you dislike most in others??
8. If you could be best at something, what would that be?
9. What would you say is your worst/best quality?
10. Would you rather have a large bank account or have love if you couldn't have both?
11. if you could replace on body feature and replace it with another, what would it be?

TAG!
Anyone that wants to so this because I don't want to single anyone out to do this! Have fun!

Mother Natures Snow

Mother Nature finally told us we had enough of this nice weather and decided to slam the snow our way. As I was driving home from work last night I was actually afraid to drive. I went on a highway, couldn't see, ended up using the whole road. Good thing there wasn't any cars around me at the time!

Today its just a blanket of snow. I love how the sun reflex off the snow giving the glistening appearance. Its so perfectly beautiful.




Anyways, its been one of those days to cozy up in the warmth at home. I am not doing that however, I am going to get up on this bike in a minute and cycle!

Heres to winter snow finally coming, and now you can pass on by and keep going!! ;)

Resolution Run 2012

There is such a great feeling when you can pass up the booze and run about 5 miles on New Years Day! Starting out the New Year with friends I've made in the last few months was just what I needed!

Every year for the past 3 years I have done this fun run and I think it will be on my calendar for years to come. This race is a fun race. No timing, unknown mileage, weird raffles. Just a great group of people getting together for the same purpose. Not to mention free Chili, Ziti, bread with Garlic butter, beer and Coffee!!!
What else could anyone ask for?!

The race starts at the Spaghetti Warehouse in Syracuse and we run the streets surrounding this area. The mileage is unknown until run day but is usually between a 5K-10K. Last year it was 4.1 miles, this year 4.7 miles.

My daughter wanted to run it with me and I forewarned her it wasn't going to be easy as there are a few steep hills at the beginning of the race and she has at max ran only 3miles at a time. But, she begged and begged so I agreed. It wasn't a race, no timing, I didnt care where I placed. My friend, M, who is also my nurse, was coerced into doing the race as well with her daughter who is my daughters age.

We started the race at 10:08AM. Weird time I know but its always like that. We started out around a 9:30pace. I was impressed at how the girls were doing. Yes, the next mile slowed and we were run walking the rest.

There was a steep hill, John street hill about 2 miles in. I went up it twice! Ha!

John street hill. yeah. Its steep!

I was running a little faster after this and because I was wearing Bright Pink socks with bright yellow shoes, the News 10now camera guy decided to run behind me with the camera on my running form! I started picking up the pace to see if he could run it. But, then he stopped..Hmmm that reminds me I need to look at the news feed.

About mile 2.5miles was a Champagne stop, toasted to a New Year with Daughter having a glass of water of course.

With a few more getting to the next lamp post, the next stop sign, around the corner games with the little ones, we are proud to say they finished almost 5 miles in 1:08!

Heres to a New Year with many more races to come!