Sigh!

There just aren't enough hours in the day.  Yesterday I raced around doing after work errands & then off to the gym.  Yes, I was the one on the eliptical at 8:30 with my weights trying to cram two workouts into one.  I skipped my usual Wednesday night off because I knew I couldn't get to the gym on Tuesday or Thursday this week.  Tonight I'm going to the city to see Wicked with the fam.  & as much as I really do love going into the city & seeing the sites, it's just tough to schedule work, life & working out into a single day.  I don't know how people do it.

& the worst part of it all is that there is just no chance for an outside workout at least until the weekend & by the looks of it.......it's gonna snow on Saturday.  But I shouldn't say that because they've been soo off when predicting snow lately that I'm just going to pack up the WOPR gps watch & head down to my aunt's in Ocean City.  It's going to be the inagural run for the WOPR, so I should make sure that it is charged up.  It comes with a bunch of fancy things, so perhaps I should read up on it prior to taking it for its first run.

There's so many gadgets & devices, it's overwhelming & easy to get sucked in.  I was reading about team Trek last night (maybe that's the name - who can remember - I'm lucky to have time to read anything!) and their GPS tracking device which one can wear during races.  It lets your family & friend track your progress.  That shouldn't be too hard.  The blip will be moving slooooooowly for me.  But hey, I'm up for figuring out how to use all this stuff.  & to think I was super impressed with the timing chip that you stick to your shoelaces way back when.

Bad Weather

It's been a very long time since I've been able to go outside and run or ride my bike.  It's getting depressing!  I got my copy of USA Triathlon Life & I was reading about how winter training can be boring.  Hmmmm....no kidding!  But as I sit here reading I can't say I'm training, more like trying to train.  Either way, after reading some of the articles, I have to get out there today & start the week off right.

I wish I could get out on my bike & go out for a ride.  It's 48 degrees today, heatwave!, but it's going to rain any minute, ugh!  I just can't win.  The two warmest days of the week (today & tomorrow) & rain, rain, rain is in the forecast.  I really can't wait for April when it starts to warm up around here & hopefully not rain as much.  I see all the people on the triathlon website that live in Florida & they're outside every day working out & getting tan.  Sigh, no tan in sight for me.

At least if I go to the gym this afternoon, it will be quiet, since I'm sure most people are home watching the Jets and eating football food like nachos and beers!  Yum!  I ate too much this weekend anyway, so it's probably better that I'm getting ready to go to the gym & get in a long workout.  I can't sit here all day watching the Housewives & football.  I really should plan something a little more exciting than being a couch potato today.

Off Day!

I'm not very technical when it comes to blogging.  I look at other blogs & I think to myself, wow their blog is so nice, why can't mine look like that?  I was fine with the basic templates that blogger provided when I first started, but after going through so many blogs I really wanted a new look.  Sure, I took this template from a site that provides free templates, but I think it really is more me than what I had before.

Today is Wednesday and it is usually my workout free day.  I really want to take a yoga class today, but honestly, I am in desperate need of a pedicure.  OK make that a manicure and pedicure, but I will settle for just a pedicure.  & here's the reason why.........apparently when you run a lot (or a little) or have ill fitting running sneakers, which I don't think that I do thanks to my nice new fitting from Shore Runner, your toenail can break and/or fall off.  Now I had a friend that ran the Dublin Marathon years ago & she told me her big toenail fell off after the race.  Ick!  I can't imagine how that must look and feel.  But right now I am almost in the same boat.  There is a huge crack across my big toe & I really want to get over to the spa to see if they could fix it somehow.  Wow, this is probably the grossest blog post to date, but hey, I'm keeping everyone informed of what really happens when you start running.  Or at least attempt to run.

Last night's spin class was tough, and of course packed again!  I only have to wait it out 11 more days til  February 1st when everyone gives up their "Get Healthy in 2010" resolution!  & you think I'm joking.  Nope, happens every year.

BLAST!

That facebook!  It screws me every time!  So I see on my friend Doug's status that he is going at 6:15 to take this class at the gym.  It's called BLAST.  I have no idea what BLAST means, maybe it's some acronym, I think I'll make up something whitty if there isn't.

I see that it's taught by one of the triathlon trainers.  OK, I took her class 2-3 years ago & I had to leave after 10 minutes (ok 5!).  It was that tough.  But that was then....not 2010 the year I'm training for my 1/2 Ironman.  I can do it.  & not being one to step down from a request from a friend, I'm going!  I totally succumb to peer pressure.  Is there a bridge?  Are you jumping off?  Me too.  If you can do it, I can too!  OK, so that's not the smartest thinking, but I didn't just want to get on the treadmill again tonight.  Too boring.

1 hour, that's it.  I can make it.  I go to spin all the time.  But that's on a bike, and you can go at your own pace.  This class is broken up into groups & you're 1 of 4.  So you can't just hide in the back.  There was a lot of situps, burpees, abs, etc.  You get the idea.  It was tough & I was sweating, but at the halfway mark I thought I'm ok...I'm not dying...I'm gonna make it.

It actually went a lot faster than I thought.  Then out comes the dreaded stepper - you know the Reebok stepper circa 1997.  You had to jump straight up on it.  Uh oh.  This presented a problem.  Years ago, I was in a car accident & my left ankle & heel was broken in about 3 or 4 places.  6 pins, 2 screws, a plate & 2 surgeries later, the ankle doesn't bend that well & balancing on one foot?  Yeah, not happening!  I felt like I was cheating, only being able to do 10 jumps when everyone else was doing 25, but each time I landed on that left foot - the tendons & tiny ligaments just burned with pain.  I had to resort to one foot up at a time.  I just couldn't do it.  But that was towards the end of the class & at the end I approached the  instructor.  I didn't want her to think I was cheating, I am just physically unable to make that ankle bend. She was really nice when I showed her the 8" scar & said I just can't do it.  Not to worry she said - you did a great job keeping up on your first try!

Great, words of encouragement!  I think I'll come back next week.  It really was a great class, we had a blast too....wait a minute, maybe that's why the call it that!!!!!  OK, I'm a dork, but it was a lot of fun!

2 down!

I hate weighing myself.  But then, I really don't know too many people that are happy to jump on the scale.  Do you?  I am down 2 more pounds from Christmas.  Woo hoo!  Well, make that Thanksgiving & Christmas & every cookie in between! 

Last night I eeked out a measly 3.5 miles on the treadmill.  Again, I stand firm in my belief that the pedometers on the treadmills are highly inaccurate, but I'm going with the low number & if it is actually more, that's even better.  It's always better to err on the conservative side!

This is all a work in progress.  The real test is in August & we will see if my plan has worked!  I think I'm setting a good base for now.  There are some things I really need to do, like more time in the pool, but it's been so cold!  I have always hated swimming in the dead of winter.  It's like you're always wet & chilled to the bone.  I'm going to have to email my friend Christie, and see what she thinks, but she probably swims 4 nights a week, so I know I'm not going to get any sympathy from her!

Tonight I'm going to spin, I forgot how much I really like that class.  Sure, it's no substitute for being out on the road, but it is a lot warmer & safer!  I think I am going to start my brick workouts in February.  I have about 3 weeks before that so I will have to get planning.  Stay warm!  & think Spring!!!!  I hope that damn groundhog doesn't see his shadow!

Ballet Bar

They have a class at the gym that I wanted to take last year, but I was a little intimidated.  It's Ballet Bar & it's taught by someone from my gym that was a ballerina in the NJ Ballet.  Nice!  I've always wanted to take ballet ever since my mom took us to Mrs. Kirby's ballet & tap class in the Methodist Church in Little Silver.  But.....I am not graceful, at all!  Think elephant.

I have heard from a few that this is a great workout.  It's an hour on Sunday mornings & I think I could still go to spin in the morning, grab a quick stretch and/or soak in the hot tub & then try out this class.  Yeah, I know it's a little ambitious, but I do love my Sunday morning spin class.  I wonder what you wear to ballet bar class?  I am hoping they have pink tutus for us to wear, sweet!!!  The class seems reasonable too!  $90 for 6 classes, but I already know that I have to miss 2 of the classes, so I am going to ask if they can give me a bit of a discount, who knows, it never hurts to ask!

I really feel like I am getting back into the workout mode again.  I have been following my illegally obtained copy of the Half Marathon plan obtained from my nameless friend who is taking the class.  This week I ran 15 miles.  I even did some dreaded ab work yesterday.  I have to get back into doing that & weights.  I think that is really what helped me get in better shape last year.  My plan this week is to increase my miles from 15 to 17.  I think that's reasonable.  It was suggested that I suck it up & go for my long runs outside.  I should, so I am going to have to go through my ski wear & find some of those long sleeved ski shirts for underneath & a neck warmer.  If not, I can justify buying a new neck warmer.  How much could they be?  $20.

I signed up for the Hoboken Hot Chocolate 5k.  Now listen, all of these other runs offer free beer after the race, but this one is on Valentine's Day.  & lets face it hot chocolate in February is way better than a Miller Lite!!!!!  At least this girl thinks so!

& I did get over to the running store yesterday to get a pair of running shorts for $19.99, not bad.  I know I am trying to spend less this year, but there are some things I do need.  I can't keep wearing sweats from Old Navy to the gym.  They're just not comfortable, nor are they really appropriate for a 5 mile run.

OK all, hope you are keeping warm on this frigid Sunday.  Don't forget football today!  There's only a few weeks left, sigh.........

High School Reunion

20 years!  Unbelievable.  I almost am shocked when I think back that far.  I can't even tell you what I've done in the past 20 years, besides spend money, probably nothing exciting.  But that all changes in Twenty Ten!  Why?  I don't know why, but I can't be boring any longer!

Sigh.  Another facebook poll gone wrong.  I posted a picture of my new favorite shoes that I must must have for my high school reunion (see below) after all the mexican food, Carmen Miranda & Charo comments I received, I have just figured out that my friends obviously cannot see the beauty in footwear like I do.  Nor do they understand how slimming 4" heals make my legs & how freakin' tall I will be.  Their loss!

Last night I did another 4.10 mile run.  It was a little tough.  I guess some days are harder than others.  I have been really trying to stretch after my workouts as well.  I'm not doing the best job, but 5-10 minutes is still better than the 0 minutes I was doing before.  I am even trying to stretch with the fitness bands (I wonder what Suzanne thinks about that???) and as I was doing so last night it slipped off my foot & lashed me right in the boob.  I can hardly wait to see the bruise that develops.  Oh well.  Still a clutz!!!!!

New Year, New Color!

I changed the layout of the blog, for those of you that are actually still reading.  I thought I should try something new.  & speaking of new.....how about signing up for a 1/2 marathon.  That's really new!  Considering I used to hate running.  Not that I like it now, I see it as a means to an end at this point.

The hardest part to working towards this 70.3 is keeping motivated.  It's not enough just to go to the gym & try to run 4-5 miles every night, it gets really boring.  Last night in spin class I was actually thinking, what am I going to do tomorrow for a workout?  Who am I?  The old Jenn would have been thinking about anything else besides working out.

& here's a funny story for those of you that are still reading.  I have been a member at my gym 14 years, yeah crazy.  In those years I have seen tons of funny things happen there, but I think one of the funniest experiences happens in spin class, where it's dark & you're in there with 30 other people riding bikes to nowhere.  Some people come in regular workout wear, some people don the bike shorts & then there are other, nameless people that come in full biking regalia.  Hey, whatever floats your boat, what do I care what the guy next to me wears?  Well, there is one person who sits up front in full gear spinning away.  He must be a serious bike person because he's always talking about how he rides outside & winter stinks, but I digress...........about 40 minutes into the ride he starts grunting during the tough "hills".  & by grunting, I mean kinda like what you'd hear coming from a guy's dorm room on a Saturday night at 3 am.  Seriously, it's like he's having sex with his bike.  It's just too funny & so loud, I just don't know how the whole class isn't falling off their bikes laughing.  I myself have to cover my face with my towel & pretend I'm wiping sweat off my face because it is just that funny.

Yes, I know it's not nice to tell tales out of school, but who says I'm nice????  :)

Fireman Ironman

A friend sent me this link today on facebook http://firemanironman.blogspot.com/  .  It's for a triathlon training camp.  I really am interested in signing up.  It seems pretty reasonably priced, but I have a bunch of questions, like does that include lodging?  Oh yeah, I'm only concerned with where I will be sleeping, not the whole working out aspect of this camp.  I'm going to have to shoot them a quick email.  I really think any kind of training would help me at this point.  I did look through some of the pictures, eek!  These people are in great shape, but the website does say (in several places) all levels welcome.  Beginner is a level!  Well, it is as far as I am concerned.

The camp is in Lake Placid & there are 2 camps.  One in May and one in June.  I'll have to see which one works better for me.  I'm hoping to go on vacation this year too, so we shall see.  My main concern is that I am just too much of a newbie, but June is six months away & I can really get a lot of work done by then.  Plus.....it looks like my 20th high school reunion will be held this summer, so I have a serious goal to look good & get in great shape prior to June!  I can't look gross for my reunion.  I don't have an excuse, I have no kids!  How can I go to a reunion looking like a frumpy mom when I don't have kids?????!!!!!!  That would be bad.  Very bad!

OK so that sums up my big day so far today.  & if anyone has counting, I have been to the gym every day this year.  Ha ha ha.  I so love January!  :)

2010

 Twenty ten.  It has such a cool ring to it.  I don't know why, but it sounds good - and that mean it's going to be a great year.  Ha ha, who thinks like that?  I do!  So many times in the past I've made resolutions, but not sure if I've ever really stuck to them.  In 1991 I vowed to stop biting my nails, that's one resolution I can remember keeping.  Hey, it's a start & I even remembered the year.  Last year it was to get in shape & I think I did that.  Even though I started running in April of 2008, I really vowed to get into better shape starting in 2009.  I went from a size 14 to a size 8 (sometimes a 10).  But this year it's serious.  

This year, I had a list of resolutions, but my 2 main ones are training for the 70.3 in NH & getting out of debt.  I can't decide which is harder.  Probably the debt resolution.  Think about all the gear I am going to need for August!

I did go buy myself a new pair of running sneakers, but that was in 2009, so I'm in the clear.  They are super comfy & I even got in a 4.5 mile run in today.  If you haven't been to Shore Runner in Pier Village, I suggest you go.  Chris helped me & she was really nice & gave me a lot of great advice.  They even have a running clinic there on Wednesday nights & a training program for the 1/2 marathon.  I'm definitely going to look into that!  Plus I saw the best shirt in her store - it said - Will Run For Wine.  Classic!!!!  

Yesterday I did a quick workout with Lisa & some weights.  You always have to workout on January 1st.  You can't start your resolutions on January 2nd.  Well, at least that's my wacky logic.  But it is finally official.  On December 31st I paid the $265 (holy crap that's outrageous - but still it was in 2009) & signed up for the Timberman.  I guess Twenty Ten is shaping up to be a good year, so far.......  :)