The Letter S

Today I learned something quite fabulous ... and that is that the fabulous author of "Slow, Fat Triathlete" has come out with a second tome of wisdom-

"Shape Up with the Slow Fat Triathlete: 50 Ways to Kick Butt on the Field, in the Pool, or at the Gym--No Matter What Your Size and Shape"

Now, I haven't had a chance to review anything besides the "look inside" preview pages but I can tell you, she's singing my song. You see, despite being pleased with myself for actually running for an hour straight this morning, I was still extremely disappointed in my speed. But happening along this book reinforced some of my negativity and now I'm feel energized again! You see, as an emerging athlete (I LOVE this phrase), I must repeat to myself this:

"Spandex is my friend."

Because, you see, there are some magical qualities within the tight weave of these magic fibres. In fact, they can even make you feel invisible because they render the garment (insert shirt/shorts/uni-suit)

"Soft, smooth and supple"

And I need fabric with those qualities so that there is no chafing or rubbing together of the thunder thighs unnecessarily. Cotton would just get wet and heavy, and not help much at all.
I can't wait to actually read the book and see if I can glean any more truths that will help me get up, out of bed, and to the meeting point for that swim/run/ride with my fitter friends.

Spandex stretch ...

So, I did it! Woke up this AM at the crack of 5:30 and got ready to venture out for our "surprise" run. I guessed that it would be the dreaded Meridian Hill ... and I was right. I had dressed up in my black tri-suit and layered on top the Y-tri uniform shirt. STILL SMALL but successfully squeezed my girls together and provided yet another layer of support. I believe that I will try it out at the upcoming tri in DC ... I'll pin my number on there and throw it on after the swim. One fellow club member wore hers today with nothing underneath and it kept on rolling up ... not a good luck (especially for anyone who is 200).

Back to the workout ... I was feeling pretty good about motoring up 16th Street, rounding out the hill until I realized that I would only have enough time to do 2 loops whereas most everyone else did 3 or 4 loops around the park. ARGH. I have vowed to go by myself on an offday just to work up my stamina. And then it got worse ... as I ran back to the Y I noticed a shadow to my left. Turns out there was a guy walking to work, probably twenty years younger than me, listening to his Ipod and matching me stride for stride. Of course this inspired me to push on faster- but how embarassing for me to be so slow!! (At least it wasn't like a grandma or someone like that who was beating me).

I haven't managed to cut back on the caffeine yet- but I'm getting there. The migraine I induced on Sunday was enought warning to take it slow and to wean myself ever so much off the addictive substance. But good news on the breakfast front- oatmeal for two days in a row, with a midmorning snack of two boiled eggs (no yolks). Now to forage for a healthy lunch since I can't find my lunchbag!!

(Oh, and in case you were wondering why on earth I subjected myself to the uniform trial this AM- it was because we had our picture taken after the run ... stay tuned! I of course stood in the back row ...)

Really??

Is this what an XL looks like? If so, I'm sadly way off the goal line. The Y-tri outfits came in today and the top part of the tank top barely measures twelve inches!! Imagine trying to squeeze not only my girth, but the lovely ladies themselves into this mini top even with the spandex. Twelve inches does not do them justice! Katie, my lovely assistant, is modeling the measurements here as well agreed that it is quite the tiniest XL we've ever seen. Made by Sugoi.

And add to that my dismal performance in the time trials today. We ran six weeks ago and clocked ourselves going around the reflecting pool. I was traveling for work so went out with the help of Lorey to time myself. Today, after feeling pretty good about getting down there I became the sole person to NOT have improved after this base building period. Sure, my bronchial flu and heel spur are partly to blame, but it probably is a more accurate reflection of my abhorrence for running!!

Tonight's double feature includes happy hour with the Y-tri club (where perhaps I can discuss the missing inches of spandex from my uniform!!) and then dinner with the Sesame Street gang from NYC. Should be fun ... and I'm glad that I'll top it off by biking to the bar, then the restaurant, and then home as it means I'll get just that much more exercise today. (Of course, the extra adrenalin pumping through me as I get over my fear of getting run over, inability to climb up a hill, etc will surely kick in at some point or other!!).

New rhythms ...

OK, its back to feeling 100% healthwise. No flu, no cold, and no bodily aches. Pretty exciting, eh? Then why oh why do I suddenly spy grey hairs everywhere? I had a lovely conversation with my favorite faux husband last night who would never dream of dying his hair ... whereas I might have reached my tipping point.

I've been on a high ever since my birthday ... must mean that 39 is going to be my year! I feel surrounded by many great friends- and as if there's nothing I can't accomplish. Meeting my workout goals has been possible, I've cleaned my house so that it is even deemed visitable by Miis Lorey ... and I just paid off my 3rd credit card. Yippee!! I'm still struggling with the decision to buy my new homestead or not ... big investment and not sure if I should be saving my money to live off of whilst potentially unemployed? Or maybe to help the stork? Or should I just go ahead and get into a home where I can be happy and start building equity??? Too many decisions ...

One decision was quite easy not to deal with ... and that was riding my bike UP a big, hoary audacious hill in Rock Creek Park. Actually, it was by the Mormon Temple. I took my free rental car (thanks Avis!) and drove to Peirce Mill where I met the tri gang. We headed out for a 30 mile ride ... I got behind as I tried to remember how to shift- and then fixed my shoelaces so that I wouldn't get it caught in my pedal. And that turned out to be my downfall ... the group went out of sight and although I persevered, crossing over East West HWY and Eastern Ave, I reached a stopping point at the intersection of Jones Mill where I didn't know which way to go ... so I decided to ride back to the meeting point- and cap my ride at 25 miles. And you know what, I felt fine afterwards despite the hills. I am still afraid to stand up in the saddle though ... after my last two crashes, its just a bit nervewracking. Maybe spin class will help- though I doubt it because I have no issues in jumps or standing there!

And did I mention that the sun is now shining before six am? VERY EXCITING!!

Happy Monday- I'm super positive because I swam this morning, kept up with the group, and feel fabulous because I've already gotten a great workout in. Yeah!

Rocky start ...

Uh-oh ... only the first day after my posting of the thirty-nine mini goals I hope to accomplish on a regular basis and I committed the first foul ... I overslept this AM completely, thereby missing my Tuesday AM group run. (Natch- this will be the fourth Tuesday in a row due to travel and sickness). Argh. My alarm went off at 5 am for some reason although I didn't need to leave the house til 6 am. I did pack my gym bag, though, and will get a run in BEFORE happy hour at 5:45 pm.

What HAVE I accomplished today thus far?

1, 3 15, 16, 17 (and its only 1:30!), 28 (duh!!), 29, 32, 33 and 39

So, the day is young ... let's hope I can cross off more mini-goal as the hours go by ...

#39

In honor of my 39th year, I have come up with the following list of things I can do to achieve my mission with an energetic attempt to maintain a positive calorie deficit to get in shape.

1- Walk to and from work every day
2- Once a week walk to the West End library during lunch hour
3- Drink water
4- Attend every Monday AM swim class. If I have to miss due to travel, attend on Friday.
5- Swim an additional workout of 1500 meters once a week.
6- Attend every Tuesday AM run.
7- Wednesdays take an additional run of 3-4 miles.
8- Attend every Thursday spin/run brick.
9- Friday- enjoy a day off!
10- Saturday- attend the long bike ride.
11- Sunday- engage a friend in some sporting activity.
12- Journal ALL food that is eaten.
13- Plan meals for the week in advance, thus eliminating opportunity to make poor decisions
14- Weekly weigh-ins on Tuesdays!
15- BYO breakfast ... every day!! Added bonus of saving $
16- BYO lunch ... except for Chipotle chicken burrito bowl with Jennifer on Wednesdays.
17- Drink at least 64 oz of water daily.
18- Eat at least two pieces of fruit daily.
19- Ensure that a minimum amount of calcium is eaten daily.
20- Plan to eat and prepare five mini-meals instead of one-two large meals daily.
21- Eat at least three servings of vegetables daily.
22- Opt to have a minimum of one meat-free meal a day.
23- Keep small treats handy so major splurges are necessary.
24- Forsake Diet Coke once and for all for water or seltzer.
25- Three evenings a week do core exercisers, either via Wii or on the floor.
26- Walk up the stairs of my apartment building two times each week. C'mon 7 floors is nothing!!
27- Stretch!!
28- Sleep!! And that means a minimum of six hours a night ...
29- Lay out workout clothes and work clothes the night before ... this will offset the dread of getting out of bed in the morning!
30- Multivitamins daily. Enough said.
31- Pamper thyself. Once a month indulge in a massage at Tulsi Holistic Living center.
32- Sit up straight and be conscious of body posture while at work.
33- Take a break and walk around the office once every hour or so.
34- Find some adventure ... take a Bollywood or Zumba dance class.
35- Dance, baby.
36- Shop for fruits and vegetables at the farmer's market. Good for the environment- and extra exercise!
37- Bike to visit friends houses ...
38- Offer to babysit or play with friends kids ... they make you run around- and laugh!
39- Smile! Even if the day is gray, smiling will make me think happy thoughts.

Crazy May Day!!

I do believe that preparing for my first ever Olympic distance triathlon by chugging a couple beers, eating some cake and a cheeseburger whilst celebrating my birthday with friends was the correct thing to do. How can you refuse such handsomeness in their encouragement (even if it was an attempt to get me to drink some hard alcohol) and support?

What I wouldn't recommend, however, is the less than five hours sleep. My stride was a bit panicked as I realized that even though this was going to be the biggest physical challenge I had ever put myself through, I was even more woefully underprepared than I thought!! I only packed one water bottle, didn't remember to have at home a banana or any food to refuel with and as luck would have it ... my goggles broke. When I jumped into the pool to start I was nervous to have someone counting the 32 laps as I was sure that he'd only by critiquing my poor, slow form. And that didn't turn out to be true ... my counting god managed to find a new pair of goggles for me, and proceeded to encourage me and give me updates on the countdown so that the last three laps were easier than the first!!

Up, up away I went to the spinning room ... unfortunately being competely wet on a spin bike is a bit different than being out in the sun on a road bike. And oh, my right pedal wouldn't clip in which was a bit awkward. Argh ... the spinning component felt like it went forever, but it was great to have music interspliced with the cheering on as people ran in and ran out with their time up. AND there was great music- something you never hear during a real triathlon!! A nice girl left me a mango bar so I ate that when I ran down to leave for the run ... and immediately afterwards it was probably the fastest part of the entire 10K. Need I remind you that this body was not meant to run? I'm sure there are grannies who can walk as fast as I plod along. The sights were spectacular, however as first the Washington Monument and then the Capitol Building became my targets for turnarounds. Also along the route were the Avon Breast Cancer walkers who were doing the 60 mile walk ... we cheered each other as we passed.

When I finally made it back into the Y, hampered by a sore spot on my upper leg where my suit rubbed a raw point, all the Y-triers erupted in cheers for this Queen of BUTR. What a fabulous way to spend my morning! And here's the after shot ...