65 Roses Race Report

My friend Jane talked me into running the 65 Roses 5K race with her this weekend. The race was in Cleveland, TN - so I had to get up early and drive 45 minutes to get to the race site (Lee University). I arrived about 45 minutes before the start of the race because I wanted to give myself plenty of time since I was unfamiliar with the area. Packet pick-up was well set up - so I grabbed my stuff and headed back to the car to get set up. I told Jane I would meet her at the start line, which I had no idea were it was....Luckily a huge crowd started morning in one direction, so I followed.

Once I reached the starting line I did not see Jane anywhere!! It was so hot and humid, I did not want to run at all!!! A day before the race I was hoping to run the 5K in under 28. However, once I awoke and went outside I realized that I was not going to meet that goal. I ended up running the race in 29.12, which is not bad because I have not run in these conditions since summer of last year.

Weekly Rap Up...

This was a hard week of exercising. Mother nature was playing an evil trick on us with all the heat and humidty...among other things. This week we did not have church service on Wednesday, so we switched our schedule around a little - so Gary mowed on Wednesday so we could do an open water swim on Thursday.

The Thursday night swim did not go as well as planned at all!!! Gary and I purchased wetsuits a couple of weeks ago and wanted to try them out b/c our first triathlon is fast approaching (May1st). From diving I knew the water temp wouldn't play that large of a factor since we had our suits, but I did not take into account we would not swim with gloves, booties, and face masks. Once in the water our feet went totally numb and hands/face felt like pins were pricking every inch. Needless to say, the first open water swim didn't happen.

Then Saturday's run and bike workout was miserable! It was so hot and humid....so much so, I was wanting to quit cycling and give up triathlons. Alas - we made it through a 50 miler in 86 degree weather with humidty at 75%. Sunday early morning ride was a dream compared to Saturday's ride.

Weekly totals: r~10 miles, b~71 miles, s~3400 yards

A good day.....

Today was a productive day, when it came to training. This morning Gary and I woke up and went to the gym to swim. I ended up swimming 1900 yards, while waiting on him to complete his 1500 yard workout. Then at lunch ran with some friends and ended up running 5 miles. After work, Gary and I met up with another friend and went on a 21 mile bike ride with some monster hills. The "Wall", so the locals call it, was not as bad as I thought. However, Jason (our friend) talked Gary into riding to his house and then he would drive us back home b/c it was getting late. Those last three hills in his subdivision were killer hills!!!! Killer hill #1 - had to weave back and forth 1st have of hill, then realized I wasn't going to make it....very-very hard to un-clip going up a freakin' big hill. I cannot believe I didn't fall!!! Killer hill #2 - not as bad as #1....nothing is bad as #1. Killer hill #3....looked at it then got off my bike to walk up the hill.

Great day!!! Tomorrow is strength training day, which I am kind of looking forward to now. Picture below is me at my very first triathlon. Sports Barn Sprint, which occurred in August - the hottest month in the south!!! Plus, I did the bike ride on my mountain bike. Soon after the tri I purchased my first road bike b/c I was tired of hearing "on your left". Oh and the sign was made by my sister before she went back home to Chicago....so my mom and aunt held it up and yelled ever time they saw me. Gotta love that kind of support.

Plans Change....

Last night I was talking to Gary about running before church and he convinced me to go run with him after church b/c he wanted to sleep late. Well after church we went and ate lunch by the creek in Ringgold - it was so nice. Afterwards we came home and did a little house cleaning to let our lunch settle. Before we left the house to go over to the park he said that he was going to take the dog and just run a couple of miles with her, meaning I was going to basically run 9 miles by myself :(

Well about two miles into my run I realized it was such a beautiful day and I did not want to spend part of it alone running, so I doubled back until I ran into them and we ended up hiking trails instead. Therefore I ran only 2 of the 9 miles and hiked 3 miles. I do think it was worth it, but that means I am going to have to run 9 tomorrow.

I just could not resist her cute face!!! I just felt so bad about not spending any quality time with her b/c she was by herself yesterday while we were out riding bikes all day.

Hope tomorrow will be a little more productive - training wise.

53 Miler Complete

Well - it was super windy today, felt like there was 20+mph wind gusts. We started out meeting some friends up at Grandview Medical Center in Jasper, TN around 1pm. Due to time constrants we only rode 23 miles with them (their daughter had her first softball game at 4pm). The wind on this route was crazy!! The route is wide open, so we had nothing to block all the wind gusts. It was really hard to get into the areo position for me because I have never rode in this type of weather condition. After our friends headed out Gary and I had a decision to make (1) do another out and back in Jasper or (2) head to Chickamauga Battlefield Park to ride.

Gary and ended up going to the park and I am very glad we did. I think the trees blocked a lot of the wind, which was a relief. We started at the visitor's center and ended up in a rural area in Rock Springs and then headed back to the visitor's center. (Only chased by 1 dog!!) We finally finished our last 30 miles for the day :)

Afterwards, Gary said he was pretty sore - I told him that I was ready to run if he wanted to go ahead and get that in. The look he gave me made me realize that it would be best if I kept my mouth shut. 53 miles - 3hrs 36 min - @ 15mph pace....pretty happy about this due to the wind gusts that seem to always be in our face!

Up next.....9 miler before church tomorrow. Now....time for bed!

It's been awhile...

Apparently, I have not posted anything since 2009! So, I've either been busy or have completely forgot about this blog. After about 30 minutes of trying to figure everything out again, I think I am back on-line, so to speak.

Basically, I am going to start blogging again to keep myself accountable for the training Gary and I are about to endure. What you ask?? Well, May 21st we are doing our 1st century bike ride. We are also about to beginning training for our first half ironman, which takes place in August. Then we will also be training for our first marathon coming up in November (unless I decide to sign us to for the one in Chattanooga in October). A marathon back-to-back, I'm not too sure about but we will see.

Tomorrow - we have on schedule a 50 mile bike ride. It's going to be a beautiful day, so I'm pretty excited about it. Sunday - we have on schedule a 9 mile run.....I am trying to get ready for the Chickamauga Chase 15K coming up April 16th.

Until next time.....