How Many Miles?

Okay, okay, I wasn't going to do this, but someone asked me how many miles I had actually swam, biked and ran this year.

 

And since I had to pull out the calculator to add some stuff up, I decided I may as well blog about it.

 

 

Last year (2012) I posted that I had swam, biked and ran 3,580 miles, which was 1,236 more miles than I logged in 2011.

 

This year (2013) I logged 3,709 miles - just 129 miles more than last year.

 

70 of those MORE miles was on the run - literally.

58 miles of the MORE was on the bike.

 

And I swam 1 mile more this year than last.

But swimming has become so much easier and enjoyable for me than it was a year ago.

 

Don't I look as if I am having fun?

Really, I am!!!

 

How many miles will I be logging this year?

 

I'm guessing about the same - if maybe a little less.

 

What? Less Miles?

Yep.

This year I will focus more on building strength.

 

 

I plan to swim about the same amount, but continue to work on technique and building some speed.

 

I think I'll probably get more bike miles in this year.

 

And since I am running to Venus (with the Moon Joggers), I know I will have to run more - about 160 MORE miles next year that this year.

 

What's going to keep me on track?

 

The journal at the top is from 2011. The one in the middle from 2013....and the one on the bottom is for 2014. Before 2011 I didn't keep track.

 

So now I am closing up my mileage journal from this year and putting it on the shelf with last years.

Time to log forward, I mean look forward to the New Year!

 

Happy New Year!

May your New Year be filled with fun, fitness and friends!!!

 



 

 

 

 

 

 



I'll Be Running to Venus in 2014



I'll be running to Venus in 2014!

Me and 24,999 other "Moon Jogger" runners from around the world.

It's 25,000,000 miles to Venus, but putting our miles all together, we should be about to get there.

 

 

 

 

 

And anyone who puts on running shoes and steps out the door is a runner.

 

 





2014 is the year that I am going to BE a runner.

 

I've started out slow...and slowly progressed through the years.

 

And when I say YEARS, really I only mean four years. Before 2010, I did NOT run, except to the store or the bathroom and neither one of those actually involved running.

 

2010, I logged about 120 miles and that included running the Laguna Hills Half Marathon and the Seattle Marathon. Again, I am not sure I would say I was running. It was more jogging/walking/ending with a hobble.

 



Carolyn and me at the finish line at the Seattle Marathon.

If you look closely you can see a huge bulge by my left knee. That is an ice pack.

For the longest time I had a problem with my left knee seizing up whenever I ran more than 3 miles. Finally I got some great orthotics from my ART Chiropractor Dr. Pete and no more LEFT knee problems.

http://train-n-tri.blogspot.com/2012/01/running-without-knee-pain.html

Now I just have issues with my RIGHT knee after falling against the bricks of my fireplace....but that's another story.

 

 

2011 - I ran about 312 miles. I had a triathlon coach who wanted me to run more, further, faster, more....but this is what I managed. This was the year that I also discovered that the major arteries in my right leg are freakishly small. That's why when I start to run my leg would hurt so much. Actually running has improved the circulation in my leg.

 

 

I won't bore you with all the stats from my doctor.

 

2012 - I ran about 427 miles.

I was basically injury free except for my fireplace aka laundry accident.

http://train-n-tri.blogspot.com/2012/08/jumpers-knee.html

 

2013 - Yeah, I know we are still in 2013, but there aren't too many days left of this year, so I can pretty much tell you that during 2013 I ran about 350 miles.

 

Yes, I ran LESS than I did in 2012, but I feel much better about it. I can run farther at one time and not feel too horrible at the end. It doesn't take me as long to recover from a long run. I can run faster at shorter distances and it doesn't take me as long to recover.

 

So my goal for 2014 is to up my mileage and work on running to Venus while still feeling good about being a runner.

How am I going to do that?

I am going to be more consistent...but I am only going to run 3 times a week.

 

I am reading the Runner's World Run Less, Run Faster and I am going to give it a try for 2014.

 

 

 

Anyone who wants to join me in my and the other "Moon Joggers" run to Venus can still be a part of the event.

You can even join my team - Train-n-Tri.

http://www.moonjoggers.com/



2013 You Rocked!

2013

 

I loved this year!

 

 

I'm not going to share my stats or talk about my events for the past year, other than to say I swam, biked and ran more this year than last, but less than I plan on in 2014.

 

I made it through the year without a major injury...and really without a minor injury, or maybe I did have an injury, but it was so minor I don't remember it.

 

My immediate family members are all healthy.

 

 

 

My husband is employed!

I'm grateful he is the big breadwinner so I can be the little breadwinner, though I'd happily be the big breadwinner if I could get paid big bucks to do what I like doing.

 

I became a USA Triathlon Coach early in the year and was given the opportunity to coach a few athletes in their pursuit of the finish line.

 

I got to spend time teaching a lot of different age children in the local schools. On some days I was grateful to have a lot of fun teaching ....and on other days I was grateful that I didn't have to spend the entire school year trying to get some kids to want to learn.

 

During 2013 there was food in my fridge and dirty dishes in my sink.

 

My heater and air conditioner have worked when I needed it to this year.

 

My pets have been healthy.

 

 

 

My friends helped me and supported me and encouraged me and kicked my butt when I needed it this year.

 

I am so grateful for all my friends.

I am so grateful for all my triathlete friends.

 

I am so grateful for all my Jazzercise friends.

I am so grateful for all my school teacher friends.

I am so grateful for all my cycling friends.

I so grateful for my best friend, Robert.

 

 

 

I got to ride my bike - a LOT!!

My son got a bike this year and started riding with me.

 

I rode my bike up GMR (aka Glendora Mountain Road).

I rode my bike to Oceanside.

I rode my bike a lot!

 

 

This year I really started to enjoy swimming. I now look forward to swimming - in a pool or a lake or an ocean. I like water.

 

I got invited to the USAT Duathlon Nationals and the USAT Olympic Distance Nationals.

Thanks for the invites, but sticking close to home.

 

I enjoyed spending time with my mom this year. She was diagnosed with MDS (Myelodysplastic Syndrome) during the summer.

 

2013 is the year I learned that everyday could be my last day, so everyday was a day to enjoy.

 

Enjoy the rest of your 2013.

I'll be enjoying mine with family and friends...and with a swim, and a bike and a run, a maybe a movie, and working in my garden, a good book and laugh or two.

I want 2014 to be a lot like 2013, but more!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

First Day of Winter

The first day of Winter was today.

The Winter Solstice.

The shortest daylight of the year and the longest nighttime of the year.

I am putting it to good use.

After a couple of weeks of sitting my butt on the couch, with only a few dog walks up Mt. Rubidoux and easy bike rides looking at Christmas lights, the scale screamed at me that it was time to get a move on to get the weight off.

This morning the Winter Solstice seemed like a good day to start.

I got up and put on my swim suit and headed to Shamel Pool for a mile swim in the warm water. Yes, this is a picture of today, December 21. There was steam coming off the water when I got there, but only because the water was about 80 and the outside was about 50. The temperature outside was about 60 when I jumped out of the pool.

Yikes, I don't look too happy to be in that pool, but really it was wonderful. I guess I need to practice taking pictures in the pool without looking as if I am worried about my phone getting wet. I was using my X-1 phone holder and since I have learned how to use it I don't worry anymore about wet phone. Now I just need to learn to not look as if I am worried. 

I got home just in time to change into my bike clothes and jump on my bike to ride to lunch.

Shirley and I rode down Victoria Avenue to the Greek Street Grill. It's been open about 6 months and has the best Lemon Chicken Rice Soup. Their kabobs are really good, too, but I wanted something light (I am trying to lose some weight after basically sitting on the couch for 2 weeks). But FYI - the lamb chops are also delicious.

When I got home, my goal was to clean my house. It's hard to clean my house...first, I HATE cleaning....second, it was so nice outside that I didn't want to waste my day cleaning. I did a couple of loads of laundry (carefully, so I didn't get any injuries as I have in the past), unloaded the dishwasher and started organizing my desk.

http://train-n-tri.blogspot.com/2012/08/jumpers-knee.html

(how I injured my knee last year while doing laundry)

I was so grateful when Robert called me and said the PC HOUSE guy called and said he put ALL my data on a flash drive. My computer "fried" last week and I didn't have access to a computer. Well, I have my iPhone and while I can check my emails and see Facebook, it is almost impossible to blog, send emails, or write training plans from my phone.

I went to PC HOUSE and not only saw all my data on the flash drive, I bought another computer and I'll get it on Monday, with all my information on it.

I was feeling so happy about my "Christmas" present purchase that I stopped at Dairy Queen and got a small chocolate cone.

Yes, this is from today, December 21st.

I stopped on my way home and picked up my weekly order of organic eggs.

Don't pay any attention to the cartons. The cartons are only to hold the eggs. 

My eggs come from range free chickens that eat great stuff and are happy and I am happy to support my friend and her chickens. 

And I love these eggs!!!

I got home and it was still daylight. I forced myself to do a little dusting and more laundry.

Then the mail came.

I was Smurfed.

This is a Christmas gift from my Secret Santa from my Aquaphor Team. 

Now that I am about done blogging, it is dark.

But my first day of Winter is NOT over.

I am going to use a lot of the dark of Winter Solstice dancing.

 This year I am NOT slipping in beer and getting a concussion. 

http://train-n-tri.blogspot.com/2012/12/my-concussed-christmas.html

(Last year's Dead Man's Party with concussion recap)

This may be the shortest "day" and "longest" night, but I am enjoying every minute of it.

I'm Allergic, TOO!!!

Olympic Weightlifter Holly Mangold got dropped from "The Biggest Loser" on the last episode because she didn't lose enough weight.

She blamed it on her allergy.

 

I have the same allergy

 

"I think I realized that my body might be allergic to running," she said after being booted from the competition.

 

 



During her 7-week stint on the show, Mangold did drop 90 pounds - That's almost 13 pounds a week.

But the last week she only dropped 3 pounds and she was eliminated.

 

According to reports, her last days of exercising were hard ones running on the treadmill.

 

I guess she didn't like it because she said she found the solution to her so-called "allergy" and stopped running.

 

I can relate.

Though I didn't stop running.

I just stopped running on the treadmill.

 

I'll run outside anytime - cold, hot, raining, dark.

Just please, please don't make me run on the dreadmill.

 

 



She said she hasn't stop working on her weight-loss goal.

 

Here's my advice to Mangold - get your friends and go for a hike, then go on a trail run, then go on a bike ride, then a swim, and then go play some tennis, or swing on the swings at the playground and play on the monkey bars, then take your friends and go paddle-boarding, and running on the beach, then skate on the boardwalk, then fill in the blank for what sounds like fun and is active.

 

 

But stay off the DREADMILL!!!

 

Exercise should be a fun and lifestyle, not a chore.

Good Luck, Holly!