Chubbette

Tuesday Run

The first run after my slight accident on Saturday, I was afraid, and for good reason.  I have a huge bruise on the back of my right calf--it appears to be the shape of the pedal--sucks!

Mile 1 and mile 2 were grueling. I hurt. My entire right leg was throbbing. My mile 3, I was a little warmed up and I wasn't hurting anymore. By the end of mile 3, I was feeling much, much better. The day was still a little chilly...and I was wearing short sleeves (need to get gloves!)

Stats:

Distance: 4 miles

Time: 43 minutes

Fluid intake: 4 oz

Beefed It!

Pedaling along about 18mph, a railroad crossing coming up ahead. Look both ways, nope, no train it is safe to cross. I have crossed plenty of railroad crossings before so this was no biggy. Sam had gone before me and he had done just fine, my front tire went over and then I saw it and I knew right away that I was in trouble. The tracks were deeper than I was used to and not only that, they were set at an extreme angle. Crap! I felt my entire body tensed up, microseconds passed, and I knew that I was going to beef it. My back tire passed over the track but I was already heading to the side of the road. I tried to stop so I put on the brakes which sent my front tire skidding on the bloody gravel! My front tire falling, I tried to unclip and I couldn't, I braced myself for the worst--ending up in the ravine! I felt the crunch of the gravel as I slid down on my side. Finally the bike stopped...and I stopped...and I was trapped under it. Good thing is an all carbon bike thus light as a feather. I tried to move and I couldn't, my right shoulder hurt like bloody hell. Sam by this time had turned around and was trying to assess the damage. Can you get up? Nope, I can't. Please help me up. He helped me and held me for a few seconds. I could feel the tears swelling and on the border of spilling down my cheeks. Then a car stopped to ask if I was okay, I swallowed my tears and said yep. I was okay, and I truly was. I was in one piece, a little bruised but in one piece. I looked down my leg and blood was dripping from a little spot. Darn it! Our friends that were riding with us had turned back by this time and had joined us to make sure that I was okay. A little shaken but okay. As any other cyclist, I picked my bike up and inspected it closely....my beauty had fallen. How stupid could I had been?!?

Adding salt to the wound, as we were ready to pick up and go I saw that my front tire was a little flat...I touched it and sure enough it felt quite flattened. So we turned it around and there it was: a stinking thorn--I took it out and air just popped out of my tire! Darn it!!! At this point, I was sure pissed at my stupidity. I was holding our ride...we had just barely gone 15 miles and we still had 25 miles to go! They all asked if I wanted to go home. Go home, I answered? Nope, no, definitely not! Let's keep going. We are just 15 miles into our ride...we must continue.

15 minutes later we were on our way...new tube in my tire a little bruised but both of us in one piece. As I shifted, my gears were not working. My triple comp had only two of the gears working, all I could think about is the major hill coming up and how I would have to ride without one of my gears. My bike and I were limping away (but I know she has a heart and like my heart we don't give up easily). We just had to work together and put our chins up.

43 miles from start to finish. 28 miles after the mistake. My right side full of bruises. My bike needs a major tune up (thankfully the frame is not scratched anywhere!).

I am grateful that I was kept safe and that my scratches will heal up. I am grateful that Sam was with me to take care of me and my bike. I am grateful that my bike is okay. But most of all, I am SO grateful that my scratches are superficial enough so that I can still run the half marathon next week, I would hate to have had all my training go to waste!.

Saturday Run

Stats

Distance: 5 miles

Time: 49 minutes

Liquid intake: 10oz

The day was nice and warm, sunny, yet not too hot. The run felt wonderful. I felt very, very good.

The last long run before the half

13.4 miles...about killed me. At mile 11, I felt that I was ready to finish, it was hot, really hot and I didn't have enough water to cool myself off. I threw the last in my bottle on my head just to cool me off. I am grateful that there will be stations during the half and I can slosh as much water as I need on my head to cool me off.

Stats:

Distance: 13.4 miles

Time: 2:30

Effort: High

Temperature: way too hot, around 70 degrees and the sun was baking me alive!

Liquids: 20 oz

Had a potty break and a stretch break at around 7 miles into the run.

Splash!

My legs were too tired to go to my regular workout so I decided to sleep in and go later in the day. Since I ran the 12 miles on Tuesday, I needed an "easy" day to let my legs rest so I decided to not spin nor attend aerobics class, instead I just swam. I have never swam for such a long period of time...I like it! After the first 30 minutes my body started warming up and then the flips became easier and I felt like I was one with the water, just gliding away.

Stats

Swimming

Time: 90minutes

Type: Front Crawl, Backstroke, Breaststroke. A few laps with hand paddles and a couple of laps with fins.

Notes: I weighed myself again today just for kicks and I am down a couple of pounds. Down to 127 lbs! Nope, I am not starving myself, I still eat tacos and pasta and rice and lots, lots of white bread!

Long Run

I changed my long run days to Tuesdays as I will be going riding/cycling on Saturdays and I know that my legs cannot handle a long run and a long day riding on the same day.

Stats: 12 miles

Time: 124minutes

Fluids: 30oz (Refilled at the Milville Park)

Weather: Sunny but not too hot--around 60 degrees. Wore SPF80 on my face and arms...safe is the word.

Ran alone with my iPod to keep me company. I love this town! It is perfect for outdoor activities. The mountains, the quiet neighborhoods...just divine for the run.

I felt really great all during the run, I was going a good pace, my legs didn't cramp. My shins didn't hurt and when they did all I had to do was change the way I was stepping and the bothersome ache went away.

Change to implement: If I am going to wear a tank must put vaseline under my arms! I got chaffed due to my chubbette arms! Dude, no fun!

Monday WorkOuts & Cycling Sneaks

Stats:

Swam: 50 minutes

Spin: 45 minutes

Came home right after spinning. Sam had to go down to SLC to talk to a guy about a loom mold.

The swim coach from the local high school was there and he gave us a few pointers.

• Wear the hand paddles and then swim 4 lengths breathing every 3rd stroke.
• Swim 4 lengths breathing every 5th stroke
• Swim 4 lengths breathing every 7th stroke

Repeat the above for a couple of weeks and then increase each by two lengths. I am going to try it out and hopefully my swimming will get better.

Afternoon cycling sneak: Nisha, Laurie and I went on a little ride yesterday afternoon. 10miles out and about. It felt good to be on the bike again.

Saturday Roadies

When the sun shines and the kids are out on a sleep-over, what do we do? We take out the bicycles! Saturday morning met us with a beautiful sunny day, a little chilly but not so chilly to deter us from climbing on our bikes and going out for a little ride. A group of eight roadies got together in our cul de sac ready for a morning of adventure. Checking tires, pumping some air into the tubes, checking shoes and filling up water bottles is part of the routine. It is a moment that I really enjoy as we are all together and the excitement of the upcoming ride just passes like electricity from one to another until it converges and it explodes as we roll out for the day's ride. 

25 miles out and about, despite the nice bright sun, the day was still a bit chilly, especially for our hands and ears. Hubby and I had our "winter" cycling gloves on but we were still freezing! At one point, it got so bad that Momber and I drafted off each other so that we could keep each other warm by finding the "sweet spot" which is usually a little warmer. It worked like a charm! A few minutes behind there drafting off and getting warmer was enough to keep us happy. Heck, we were on our bikes we were definitely happy. All eight of us were stoked just to be out there cycling away...even if we were little icicles!

Our little ride took us out on a route out to Mendon, which happens to be also the very first route that I went on last year on my very first ride ever. The specific route has a little hill entering the Mendon town and I remember last year I had such a hard time climbing it. I remember clearly, how Jo and Dom made it to the top with hardly any effort and I kept swerving from side to side trying to make it up...huffing and puffing, I finally made it up. However, this year it was a lot different, first of all, the hill is not really a hill, it is more like a little bump on the road, and if you just pedal and stop swerving from side to side it is actually pretty easy to go up it. A year sure makes a huge difference!  Also where before I was about 10-15 minutes behind everyone, this time, I was right behind...and by golly at times I wasn't the last one! I have improved...I am so happy!

Hubby pointed out that I actually keep a really good cadence, my problem stems from not knowing how to  shift and also the fact that my seat was too low, he raised it already and hopefully this will make a difference on the next ride. At times, we were right next to each other and I kept pedaling and pedaling but not moving while he only pedal a couple of times and moved quite farther than I did--not fair!! I must learn how to shift! It is a bit difficult for me due to the triple composition of my bike (Specialized Ruby Comp) and the fact that I have zero knowledge of how a bike works. But, I'll learn as I go on...so much too learn, so little time!

In the afternoon, when the kids came home from their sleep-over at uncles, we planted the garden and then I went out for a little 6 mile run and had yummy Chinese food for dinner..that's what I call a perfect Saturday at the Phelps' corner.

Stats:

Distance: 25 miles

Fluids: About 24oz

Average speed: 14

My toe bled again!!!

But I don't know where it is coming from? I took off my sock after my running today but I couldn't find the source of the "blood leakage". I step and I don't feel pain, I looked at my toes closely and my foot but I don't see anything that will be causing my foot to bleed. I do have a toe-nail that has the nail higher than the others as if it was coming off, so I am assuming it is coming from there. It doesn't hurt though. Weeeeird!

Today, I went out for a 3-mile run but I was feeling so great and not tired at all that I continued and finally turned back and finished by running 5-miles. My body has gotten used to the running and I am actually loving the feeling of being outside...all on my own, just running. I love it! I love the feeling that running gives me, the sense of accomplishment when I come into my house and I realize that I have actually run 5 miles--without stopping! I guess the long runs on Saturdays make my shorter 5 milers seem like nothing. My legs feel refresh and I feel quite content. I wish I had known years ago the great feeling that running gives me.

2 years ago, or even a year ago I would have never considered running as an exercise option. I have always been such a huge couch potato. I was skinny when I got married but I never exercise, I was just skinny, then I had kids and my waistline grew, so did my b00bs, and my thighs stayed pretty much the same--small. I have skinny legs and a big chunky torso, and skinny arms...but I have come to embrace my apple shape. As it turns out, the chunky middle provides me with loads of energy during my runs and my skinny arms and legs do all the work. Perfect combo!

I don't consider myself a runner yet but I can see myself getting there. I believe to be a runner or a cyclist or a swimmer  (or any other sport) you have to be doing it for a few years. As of right now, I am pretty much brand new to it all. I have swam for awhile and I love it....actually it is my top choice of exercise but I still don't consider myself a swimmer, however, the day I learned to do flip turns pushed me more into the "I am a swimmer" mentality. I believe that once I run a full marathon I will consider myself in the ranks of "I am a runner". In the meantime, I'll enjoy the journey of getting there. It is all about the process.

Stats:

Distance: 5 miles

Time: 49 minutes

Fluid Intake: 10oz

Effort: easy

I loved my run today. It felt great and I enjoyed every minute of it!

Monday Dragg

I had to literally drag myself out bed this morning. I was still so tired despite going to bed at 10pm last night. My legs are still sore from Saturday's run...I was very impressed about my performance on Saturday but my legs just haven recuperated. As I got out of bed at 4:30, I lazily went to the bathroom to put my bathing suit on and I kept contemplating going back to bed. As I brushed my teeth I kept making excuses to myself and trying to talk myself out of going to the gym. As I drank my Carnation breakfast, I kept thinking how comfy the bed was and how warm I would be if I laid down next to Sam. I went up to give Sam a kiss goodbye and with it a goodbye to the bed.

As I pulled into the Sports Academy parking lot, I just didn't feel like swimming...and that's a big deal for me. I went upstairs and saved my bike and then headed to the pool. At the pool, I opted for an easy way out: used a pull buoy for most of the swimming time which is okay as it helps me tilt my hips the correct way.

Spinning class was a killer...my right calf was too tight from the running but after spinning for 45 minutes, my calf felt a lot better...still is tight but not as tight as it was when I started.

The toning class was fun but I had to leave after 30minutes as I needed to head home and get Wonderboy ready for school. I was actually okay with heading home early, give my legs a little rest. I was able to get a little bit of upper body workout.

Stats:

Swim: 35 minutes. Freestyle/Crawl with flip turns

Spin: 50 minutes. Speed Intervals.

Toning: 30 minutes.