Relaxin' & Chillaxin'

Sunday's Workout:

Just a quick 20 mins on the bike to get it out for the 1st time.

Sweating myself to death in the heat was all the workout I had time for Sun afternoon while doing lawnwork. I also purged a bunch of things straight into the trash can.

I got on a roll! ha!

Labor Day Fun Workout:

I spent about an hour and 20 mins putzing around T-town on the bike. Taking a break at cousin, Pam's house. (uhhh, I think I'll go buy the SUPER padded shorts now! The Tri shorts I have may not be padded enough to my liking.)

Happy Labor Day Weekend to me!

Alex from "Pro Cycling" just called. My friggin' bike is in & ready for me to try out!
The only downside is the "speedplay" pedals aren't in yet. He said the supplier/manufacturer hasn't got back with him yet. Plus his shipment of helmets hasn't come in yet. So, I'm waiting till Saturday to even go try it out. (I've been invited to go to the Sommet Center to see Bull Riding Sat night.) So, Saturday will be a day of "firsts" for me. My first REAL bike & my first Bull riding event. Too funny!

I'm officially on the mailing list for the Vancouver Winter Olympics. Tickets go on sale Oct 3rd '08 for Canadian residents only. A lot of the more popular events are by lottery only (figure skating & probably hockey) so I'm going to complete an application for their lottery. (sound familiar, June? ha!) There's some talking amongst friends regarding a trip to London for the 2012 summer Olympics. Hannah's Jeff has some connection to the Olympic construction sites so we're looking into that possibility. Hey, it's not like I'm independently wealthy but I think I can save up for that trip over the next 4 yrs.

Tonight:
Ab work
1 hr of spinning
30 mins aqua jogging (really HARD when you have just trashed your legs spinning an hour!)

Sleepy week still....

Even though I knew the results, I tuned in anyway & stayed up too late.
Who could miss Jeremy Wariner & LaShawn Merritt? Tough competitors!
When do they race the final, June? I know you know! :P Thursday night?

I think my heart broke into for Lolo Jones & Sanya Richards. (especially Lolo!) ...but Dawn Harper, who trains with the Kersees sure held it together & was so shocked she actually won it. Too funny! I saw Bolt about to run but was too busy to pay that much attention last night. Amazing speed!

Shawn Johnson finally got a Gold on balance beam. I'm always so enthralled with the gymnast's skills, especially balance beam. Falling on that beam would terrify me. OUCH!
Such tremendous emotion from Johnson's parents in the stands... All that hard work, worry, money, sacrifice finally paid off. :)

I think the "jumping" in spin class this week has made my shin sore. I need to turn down the intensity on my spin bike a little & back off. Tues night instructor told us that during the winter he makes it a little more tough. I'm looking forward to it but I'm sure what I'm doing is probably adding extra healing time to my injury. Oh well... A coworker used the bone stimulator on his fractured foot about a year ago. He said it took nearly a year to fully heal. I know I can't go on what others experiences have been but I'm prepared to wait this out. I have no choice!

Since I've decided against Ft. Walton for Labor day, I may help with the Franklin Classic. Still nothing new as far as a bike. I will get on that as soon as I can make the time for it! Distractions, distractions!

Visions of Chinese Food

After 65 mins of walking & some arm weights, I caved into the craving for Chinese food. I didn't even want 1/2 of what I got. Blah! This only happens about once every 3-4 months. I'm not big on Chinese like I am Mexican.

Terri said "Staggerwing" went well. She's actually in one of Michele's photos on her blog. :P
She lives 2 streets over from me & has agreed to show me how to ride without looking like a total dork. Don't get me wrong, I can ride a bike but this isn't the same as when I had pigtails, a banana seat, & streamers coming off my handle bars, ya know... Come to think of it, it might be easier this time around without a poodle in a basket on the front of my bike. Ummmm....

Tomorrow, I'll mow or rest or whatever...I had a dinner invitation that I think I'll pass on. By fridays, I'm not worth killin'.
I spent a lot of time staring at the schedule for the Olympics today. YES, I plan my workouts around the Olympics! What's wrong with that? :P The gals run their marathon on the 17th, the guys run on the 24th. I am pretty sad that the Hamms aren't competing in gymnastics. (So heartbreaking for both to be injured right now.)

I'm not even going to comment on Brett Farve but I will say this, he will be ONE year older than his coach. :P

I hope everyone has a GREAT weekend. I've got a margarita with my name on it at LP Field this weekend. It's going to be great to hang out with my football buddies. Everyone in the office is scrambling for tickets. Me, the Ultimate Planner, have had mine for a month now. Hannah has a new source for season tickets now. I haven't said it enough lately but that girl is just awesome. I'm not just saying that because she (or her mom) reads my blog either. ha!

Hope everyone "rocked" their vote!

Ready or not, here I come...

I got in a good stretch & some ab work on the floor before spin. An older gentleman remarked that I work my abs a lot. I told him I have some fat at the waist line that just won't disappear. He said I didn't have much. (ok?) Thanks, kind gentleman...

Spin was FUN! We did lots of jumps, speed, & hills. Believe it or not I like the hills the best. Over the loud music the instructor screamed out at me during the class, "Did you find a bike this weekend?!" I said, "Yes!" She screamed again, "Did you buy one?!" I said, "No, but I know what I want!" She asked where I went & I yelled, "Several places, leaning towards Acme!"

So much for anonymity...ha! A coworker, who was in Spin, asked me on the way to the pool. "Are you ready for a bike already?!" I said, "Hell YEAH!"
If I love being on a bike even a fraction as much as I love spinning, then that's just fabulous.

20 mins of aqua jogging, 20 mins walking, & 10 mins in the therapy pool with the jets hitting my hip flexor finished me off. I should sleep well tonight.

Don't have a heart attack but.....

...I actually did speedwork 2 weeks in a row. I'm obviously not a big fan of it & as I did it I thought to myself just how much of it I've done over the years. I have to admit, it probably only makes up maybe 5% of my overall miles over MANY years. I'd rather do a hard tempo run any day.

So, here are the "ugly" results of tonights trip to the THS track. I'm guessing that I'm off by maybe 5-6 seconds over last years speed (when I did it, which wasn't often)

2 mile warm up - 9:31 pace (did the parking lots)
1st x 400 - 1:53
(walk/jog, moved hurdles)
2nd x 400 - 1:52
walk/jog
1 x 800 - 3:59 (threw in an 800 which nearly killed me!)
walked entire loop to recover
3rd x 400 - 1:54
walk/jog
4th x 400 - 1:54
Started cool down immediately
2 mile cool down - 9:06 pace (around the track)

I'm gradually throwing in the speed. Thursdays seem to be the best night for it right now. It was a beautiful evening. Baseball game going on, children playing on the tennis courts, & I basically had the track to myself most of the time. There was the Harvey's gym Karate coach out there & some other guy. Before I left there were 2 girls about age 10 who were doing some kind of "training". I asked them if they wanted to run with me on my cool down. They politely told me they were on a "schedule". I thought that was cute. :)

The gym was rather packed. All I did was 45 mins on the bike while talking on the phone & talking to Linda W. (Pam's mother in law) Linda's in her mid-60's & she's simply gorgeous! She's a perfect example of what clean living, exercise, good skin & hair care will do for you.

Pam has bronchittis again. She's back on antibiotics & she got 2 shots. I pray she can get back into the training SOON!

Tomorrow:
Cross training (I'm off work)
Saturday:
Attempting 12 miles with the striders
Sunday:
I'd LOVE to get my new trail shoes out & head over to the base. (If Pam is still too weak to get in her walk/jog, then that's the plan)