Uh Oh!

I was planning on just throwing on a pair of jeans & coming to work today, but the jeans were tight.  Very tight!  That's from the 10,000 calorie Christmas Extravaganza!  But not to worry, I have gone back to the gym & planning on starting my 70.3 training a week early.  January 1st was going to be my big day, but forget it.  It started December 26th.

I'm sure I'm not the only one that wants to slim down in 2010.  You know how I know this?  Because there were 1,000 new people at the gym on Saturday.  They must be trying out their new gym memberships.  Ugh, I have to tell you, I hate January newbies.  & listen, I am all for getting in shape, and I would encourage anyone to do so, but I really hate when people get all psyched to join, then clog up all the gym equipment & then quit February 1st.  Last year I remember actually having to sign up for a treadmill & wait my turn.  That's not really convenient when you have an entire workout plan to get through. 

Yesterday spin class was packed, not one free bike.  Which is fine because I'd have to say that Wendy's class (Sunday 9:15 am & Tuesday 6 pm) is always packed.  I listed the times in case anyone would like to join me.  It's a great class w/ great music & she always seems to run over & you get an extra few minutes in the class.  This class has the newer Keiser bikes, which are much better than the old "turn the knob" spin bikes that they still have in Red Bank.  But don't tell the Red Bank TACers that, ho-ly - I learned that the hard way.

Thanks for listening to all my rants, pet peeves and complaints this year.  Stay tuned, I am sure 2010 will bring an entire new slew of issues!!!!  Happy New Year!

Merry Christmas!

As 2009 comes screeching to a halt, in comes 2010.  A new decade!  I didn't even realize that until I logged on to the computer the other day at work & it said the decade in review.  Wow, an entire decade & nothing to show for it.  I think I need to plan ahead for this decade.  I can't imagine looking back in 2019 & thinking that I didn't do anything in that decade either.  So in case anyone is interested (& still reading this blog) I'm planning on some New Years Resolutions.   Lets see how many I can actually keep & or accomplish.

1.  Train hard for my first 70.3 triathlon in August.
2.  Try hard to get that flat stomach that eluded me in 2009.
3.  Be a better saver, stop wasting money!
4.  Declutter
5.  Buy a new house - need more space & Louie needs a backyard.

OK, so it would be a lot to even try to keep one of these Resolutions, but I'm a multitasker!!  To all my friends out there, feel free to keep me honest.  Don't let me fall off the wagon!  If I can keep one of my resolutions, then it should be #1.  Big time training for the big time event.  Wish me luck.

Merry Christmas!

SNOW!

Too much snow & the gym is closed today.  I should have gone to the gym yesterday, but it was snowing & I wasn't sure how late they would be open & I was certain that it would be open today.  Maybe I'll call them later & make sure they're open.  I can't be the only nut that wants to workout.

I can't believe how much snow we got.  & it's pretty chilly out, so it doesn't look like it will be melting before Christmas.  Now, my friend Suzanne is probably out running around in her underwear making snow angels right about now (think snow nut), but I personally hate snow!  How many days til Summer?  Is anyone counting?  I think we should start a countdown.  Yeah yeah I get the whole White Christmas thing, but a light dusting on Christmas I'm ok with.  A foot of snow on the weekend?  Ugh.  At least I don't have to work today.

I suppose there is some kind of snow workout I can be doing, but I guess I'm just going to stay in the house with my hot cocoa (thanks Mom for getting me the fancy kind from Williams Sonoma - not just the powdery Swiss Miss) and my marshmallows & watch some football today.

Tomorrow I'm going to do a brick workout at the gym.  3 mile run then the lame 45 minute spin class.  I really prefer the other spin class on Sunday mornings and Tuesday nights, but I've been busy running around & haven't had the time to get to the other class.  Gotta get a lot of gym time in this week - lots of calories coming up.

Off to take some pictures of the snow.  Will post some later!

246 Days

246 Days til Winnipesaukee.

I was considering taking a picture of myself every month (around the first of the month) to see any changes.  I am seriously going to buckle down & train really hard.  70.3 miles is a lot of miles.  I know I can drive that far in a day, but can I seriously move my body in the water, out of the water, on the bike & through the run?  We'll see in 8 months!

I'm also considering a duathlon in May.  The details are a little scattered right now.  It seems that there may be 2 distances in this event.  A long & short course.  I think that I should start seriously considering doing the long courses in my events leading up to NH.  Oh well...only time will tell how strong I get this year.  2 weeks left to go in 2009, then the serious training begins.  2010 brings in an entire new decade with lots of new goals!

& bah humbug to all you naysayers out there that say I can't do it.   Merry Christmas!

Slacker

Since I started working out on a more consistent basis & training (somewhat) for next year, I have been looking through a few of the other blogs that I read & that's when I get depressed.  Sure, I read one blog for a guy that is training for the 2012 Olympics.  Inspirational, yes.  Can I relate to it, um, yeah....NO! 

I'm a beginner.  If there was something lower than a beginner, I'd consider myself that.  Seriously, I did finish 3 sprint triathlons, but now I have to move on to Olympic tris next year if I want to seriously consider even coming close to finishing a 70.3 in NH.

Reading through other's blogs has helped, but I am wondering if I am doing something wrong, is there more that I can be doing?  Am I strong enough?  Do I need more motivation?  This is the wrong time of year to be dieting, didn't I say that last week?  At least I have cut my 4 dinners this week down to 2.  Tonight it is homemade stuffed veggie peppers for dinner.  That should balance out the 7 course meal we had last night at the Fromagerie is Rumson.  SWANKY!

For now I will keep up the workouts & try to add new things into my routine just to keep from burning out or getting bored.  My knee is still a little wobbly, so that means more pool time, but it's not the swimming I need to improve, it's the running.  At least I have a lot of reading to do while I rest up.  January starts the serious training.  Hey, it's only 21 days away!

Food!

I just realized that I am supposed to go out to eat 4 times this week.  That's about 3 times too many, but I have a lot of holiday plans.  Also, I think that I sprained/strained one of the ligaments in my knee.  Google has directed me to my MCL, and all the symptoms point to that being the root of my knee pain.  CRAP!  Not good.   That means more hours in the pool this week, which is fine, except for the straw hair I will have by Friday afternoon.  I suppose I can do some weight training too.  No knees though! 

& it's not that I don't want to go out to eat, I do, but this is a terrible time of year, lots of great food & friends & it's hard to just sit there & be like I'm on a diet.  Wednesday I'm going to the Fromagerie with the girls, delicious!  Friday I'm going to Cuba in NYC with Jenn, Saturday out for Japanese with Carolyn & Ailish & Sunday family dinner.  Wow, that's going to mean a lot of workout time.  Can you say 1 meal a day.

At least I will have a lot to do in January when it comes time to really buckle down.  Ho hum. 

Friday Night Workouts

I've been a slacker this week.  Only have been to the gym twice.  Bad!  I am going tonight, going to try to get in a 4-5 mile run. 

It's getting colder & I really need to ramp up some workouts before snow lands on the ground.  I think I will make it up to Middletown tomorrow and do some trail running, but not too much because I am still working on a little bit of a sore hamstring.  Can you say chronic hamstring pain?

I have a copy of the Asbury Park 1/2 Marathon training sign up form on my desk.  I am on the fence.  I really would like to sign up, but am I interested in paying $120 to run outside for 16 weeks in the winter?  I think I'm going to take my friend Katie's advice & look into the FREE plan that she did.  She ran the Philadelphia 1/2 Marathon this summer, so I think I'm going to start bugging her for some tips.

Have a great weekend!