Catching up.

I'm always thinking of what I'd write on my blog, but actually sitting down at the computer happens so little. I want to be a bit more diligent in this, so that I can keep track of my training...and also share my thoughts that roll around in my head all day. Here's a bit of catching up from the last week or so...

Thursday I got a bike fit at Maplewood Cycle...Stewart was great. It seemed wonderful. I got new handlebars, a new seat, and adjusted just about everything. I got home that night, though and rode on my trainer to get my ride in...and my seat was really hurt my right hip (opposite of what it was previously). I was mad. Jesse consoled me and I decided I must break the new seat in. Hopefully it'll be a better ride soon. We'll see tomorrow.

I like Sunday workouts. Sunday is a very full day, but it's about the one day that I swim with Jesse. He's super fast and kicks my butt in the pool (as with everything else :)), but I like him watching me and giving me tips on my swim stroke. I was having goggle issues...again. Ticked off, but felt a bit stronger. I swam 200 m in less than 5 minutes, which was super exciting for me. My fastest up until then was 5:10.

I'm more and more aware of how much my core and strength play a huge role in my performance. I had a good lift (upper and lower extremity, along with core) yesterday (Monday).

Today I bought some lower profile goggles...some Speedo goggles. I tightend them up, put them on and they actually didn't leak at all. Lovely. But that's what I thought of the Barracudas (see previous post) and then they leaked in like 5 swims. Boo. Maybe I have a misshapen head. We'll see.
Today I felt pretty strong on the swim, but I realized that I'm torquing my arm, especially my left arm. I need to work on gliding better with my non-pulling through arm. I swam 800m, then I sat in the dry sauna. Love the dry sauna. Ran 3 miles on the treadmill. I do not like running on the treadmill--it practically drives me crazy, but I just had to today because of the time of day.

I've been super tired recently. I haven't been sleeping well every night. I feel exhausted during the day. I don't know why. I just haven't been feeling myself.

I'm also studying to be certified in Active Release Technique. I'm travelling to Dallas mid-May to be certified in Lower Extremity. I am excited to master this technique and further my career as a physical therapist.

Overcoming.

We rode 2 hours and 45 minutes Saturday--I rode all but about 30 minutes by myself. I stuck to the country rodes and the bike trail that leads to/from Creve Coeur lake.

I'm overcoming my fear of clipping out--successfully (but super early! :)) clipped out each time...also with less anxiety. Also, I rode to Creve Coeur Lake by myself, which didn't end up being a huge deal, but it was in my mind before I did it.

I am bruised on the right side of my pelvic bone, which made staying in my drop bars uncomfortable/painful, but I did it some to switch up positions.

The biggest thing I need to improve in now on the bike is my balance. That tiny, little road bike tire is difficult to balance on with any kind of weight shift, especially when you're getting tired. Also, I need to work on and experiment with my nutrition on the bike.

Today I noticed a lot of tightness in my hips again--may have strained the origin (top part--closest to your hip) of the hamstring. I am having pain with walking (the stance and push-off phase of gait) on my left side. I'm hoping stretching, some rest, and massage will work that out.

Tomorrow back to the pool (which always makes my back feel better...loove the distraction and stretching you get in the water), a good run, and some lifting.

I'm getting stronger.

Firsts.

It's been awhile, but I feel that blogging will begin again. Today was a day of "firsts" in my beginner triathlete world...

*First ride outdoors for the spring season...we rode down to Creve Coeur Lake and back--about 30 miles...and took a little under 2 hours. Jesse is very strong and fast...I, apparently, didn't work hard enough on the trainer and am clearly a new cyclist--practically died on the road today due to weak legs and my mid back killing me. Jesse gave me this great mantra that I'm telling myself now "I'm getting stronger"...I told myself that over a hundred times today--like when Jesse was flying far ahead of me and it was all I could do to keep pedaling--"I'm getting stronger".

*First fall on the bike...on the road. So I do have this fear of clipping out...maybe I'll give the background story some other time because there is a good reason why I have this fear. Here we were stopped at a light, I clipped out, all was well. One foot clipped in, one foot clipped out and on the ground, talking with Jesse...somehow lost my balance towards my clipped in side (not something you should do) and I bit it. Bike seat nose in my pelvic bone. And a middle aged woman rolled her window down to ask if I was ok. I think I've conquered that fear--it happened, my worst fear, and I survived.

*First time I had a small glimpse at what it means to be a triathlete, as I did my first "brick" workout. So, after the ride we changed into our running shoes and went for a short run. I had no control of my legs. (Hence the name "brick" run...your legs feel like bricks...I get it now!) I felt completed wasted...but I did it. We ran about 10 minutes and it felt like a marathon. This is what it's about--pushing your body through these three totally different events, and completing it. Before I was like "yeah, I can swim...I can bike...I can run" now, I have a whole new perspective--this is a huge challenge, freakin hard...and I'm going to work my hardest to feel good on race day.

Side note, but important: I'm so glad that my wonderful husband is helping me with this and "by my side"--not always literally, because he's amazing and strong, but I love pushing ourselves/each other together and talking about muscles and training stuff together. He's great.

I'm scared for Steelhead...but I'm super excited.