Pre-race day....a day in pictures

So tomorrow is the Carmel half marathon race for me and Sarah! or is that Sarah and I?  who knows...
well, the weather is looking a bit peculiar...still not sure what I'm gonna wear but I think its gonna be shorts, compression sleeves and a long-sleeve dri fit top...and throw away gloves to keep the chill away early on.

I also decided that I needed a great lunch and a pre-race reward of some new running gear...so here is my day in pictures...oh and I think I'm randomly throwing in some pics of last weekends first sprint tri of the season (Carmel Sprint Tri)...new PR for me...it was an indoor pool swim, 10 mile bike and 3 mile run...short and sweet...I finished in 1:04 which I was pretty happy with..but still need to improve my swim speed and get my mile splits in the high 6's...a girl can dream!!!  I also rode my new Tri bike...for like the 2nd time...wouldn't you know that the winds were crazy that day and my aero wheels tought me a whole new form of balance!  I think I almost blew over 10xs!! but it felt fast....

Pre-race Sprint Tri Checklist....check it once, check it twice, check it a hundred times....
I'm so paranoid about forgetting something that is vital..or even not so vital...I swear road races are much less stressful to prepare for....

Today's delish lunch of salmon and spicy tuna rolls (mistake roll...YUMMY)

and last but not least, 3 new pairs of UA running shorts and 1 new half zip Nike running top..

UA has these new running shorts...thin mesh and stretchy, soft comfy waistband...I may have just found my new favorite piece of running gear!!!

It's all been a blur.....

So the last few days have been so very busy lately.  I feel as though there is simply not enough time to fit everything into one day...between workouts, parenting, cleaning, working, shopping for endless amounts of crap....I am so tired by the end of the day that I can barely sleep...as weird as that sounds it is true. I just can't turn it off at the end of the day and my mind keeps going and going and going and going. 

obviously we just celebrated easter....and I think i forgot to take pictures...how does this happen?  What I did manage to capture on film was my girls day out with my sister and my daughter.  We went to Build a Bear...haven't been there in ages...didn't want to go there for ages, but I'm glad we did.  I must say that their prices are much more reasonable.  Check out my baby girl with her hot dog doggie "bear" and my sister with her "hello kitty" - "bear"...so fun and so cute!

After Build a Bear and lots of shopping we ate sushi "LOVE SUSHI - COULD EAT IT EVERY DAY AND EVERY MEAL!!"

The next day I cooked up one of my all time favorite random dinners and I have been eating it just about every meal I am not eating sushi....its lean ground turkey, lots of seasonings, red peppers, onions, garlic, lil bit of japanese brown rice, coleslaw, light plain yogurt and salsa with avacodo and a little asparagus on the side!  it is the best food ever and sooooo healthy.

DID I SAY YUMMMM???!!!

Let's see what else did we do?  I celebrated by big 37 birthday!  OMG, am I really 37? I feel 27...so crazy...but I guess I'm lucky that I love to workout and eat pretty good...when I'm not eating cake (like this one below) that my hubby and kiddos suprised me with yesterday when I came home from work.

After a good run and weight work out after this treat, we had more sushi!!! YEAH! 

Well, that's probably more info than you need about my day or so...but let me leave you with what I find to be such a sweet gift from my husband.  He made my card and then wrote my gift inside it....since I obviously love triathlons (and I've been hinting about needing a wetsuit)...he gave me this....

I am sorry new balance

I tried out some new running shoes today.....first time I've run in something other than NB in years. They were remarkably comfy. I luv my NB minimus road shoes but since I've been putting in a lot of miles training for the 70.3 and full ironman, I thought it best to look into some shoes that have a bit more cushioning. I haven't ruled out anything yet but we'll see. I did just over 13 in the new Adidas this morning and so far do good and Iudt admit I absolutely love love love the style of Adidas in general!!

Will this make me any faster??

I'm so excited and in love with my new bike!! Yesterday we ordered my Trek Speed Concept 7.8 and it is sooo lovely! My husband was so against the whole new bike thing but he caved in the end and next week this beauty will be officially mine! I'm not sure I've been this excited in quite some time! Today I put in 90 min on my not even year old road bike but with my race schedule creeping up on alot more long distance tris, I really feel like the tri bike is a good investment. 🚲

Breakfast of champions

Nothing like a few tri mags and some Yaucono coffee (fresh from Puerto Rico)....to start off your day....next up 1 hr on treadmill followed by 1 hour on the bike!

So I'm always looking for a new workout to try and this one came via twitter from Triathlete Magazine none too soon.  The full workout is included below, but due to time contstraints, I did the workout you see below up to the point of the run coming in 5 minute intervals.  I am going to do the full version this weekend....but it was definitely great for the legs.   From an intensity perspective, I tried to just push for a running pace on the treadmill equivalent to what I do for my sprint triathlons and the bike, I try to keep it at 21mph + on the trainer...not full proof but you do sweat alot.

The workout:

30-minute warm-up on the bike  (I did about 10 minutes warm up, the remaining 20 at high intensity)

10 minutes of running

10 minutes of cycling

10 minutes of running

10 minutes of cycling

5 minutes of running
10 minutes of cycling
5 minutes of running
10 minutes of cycling
5 minutes of running
10 minutes of cycling
5 minutes of running
20-minute cool down on the bike.

I'm excited to join Sarah at a cycling class at LA Fitness tonight....I've never been a huge fan of "classes" but once again....looking for a change of pace...so we shall see..I'm sure if Sarah loves it, I will too. 

and since I always have to include a photo, related, random or otherwise...here's my baby spiderman...love this new app (instagram) on my iphone...lets you do cool crap with your pictures...

Later!

A little bike = a little burn

Nothing like a 3 hr bike ride to burn off my 2nd thanksgiving dinner ... Here goes fun!

Random bits of nothingness

I'm a little bit sleepy today.  I went home last night after work and rode the good ol bike for 20 miles...instead of watching some catch-up shows on my dvr, i rocked to some new downloads off of itunes
Is it bad that my new fav song is my Selena Gomez (I love you like a love song) oh my I really do love that song....isn't she like 12 or something....I do love that song. 

Anywho, I avg'd just under 21 mph...so it was a good intense ride and I was drippin buckets o sweat.  pretty picture in your mind i'm sure.  This morning I didnt want to get out of bed, but alas I did and busted out a four mile tempo run on the treadmonster! not a huge run, but considering it was the 3rd in a 24 hour period...I can't complain.  Tomorrow my legs will surely be appreciating my pilates class.

Check out my new purchase of the day....or soon to be purchase

Swim Swim Swim

Today was a Masters Swim day….and today was distance day! Can you hear the excitement in my voice??!!

I am looking more and more forward to swim sessions….it is just so tough to get up at 4:40 in the morning for the 5:15 session especially when you don’t even lay down to try and go to sleep til after midnight.  And then….I can’t sleep…so I read and then I finally get tired and then I worry about not waking up in time so I wake up every hour and then can’t go back to sleep because well…you know…because I’m afraid I won’t wake up…ohhh the pain!  But I got up! And this was the work out…

1 x 400 on 8:00 Warm up
8 x 100 on 1:30 Swim even PACE
4 x 200 on 3:45 Swim IM or Stroke
2 x 400 on 7:30 Swim IM or Stroke
1 x 800 on 12:00 PULL - steady pace
4 x 100 on 2:00 100 Kick/100Swim...etc.
Total 4,000 Yards

If you are anything like me…you can’t do 8 100s at 1:30 pace and have any rest between so I have to do 75s but other than that…this was my workout and it worked me out.  Tonight the goal is to get some bike miles in…maybe 20 hard miles.  We’ll see..

Not much else exciting has been transpiring lately..went to the colts game Sunday…which they lost….uggg again! I do love our mascot though…Air Blue is very cute!

And I am looking forward to seeing this movie this weekend…I am in fact very excited to see this flick!

Training Suit can be cute!

I'm excited to have found my new training swim suit...being that I am pretty girly I wanted to find something different.  I ended up going with this one...but there were 2 runner ups......

The Chosen One...

The Runner Ups.............

The really liked the last 2..but my swim club might not take me too seriously if I'm dressed like Wonder Woman or like I am straight out the 70's... 

Blogger break has to end....

So I'm officially back and trying to be regular with this blog thing.  I haven't posted in hmmmm we'll go with forever...and that sucks really.  I've been really busy training all year and I need to be better about posting about it.  I like writing what I do because it keeps me accountable...and I must admit I like seeing it on paper...well screen.  So anyway since the last I posted I've done quite a few races....a couple half marathons, a couple 5Ks,  several triathlons etc.  My next big goal is the Half Ironman in Muncie in July.   It's a ways away but I train year around and increase my distance closer to the actual event. 

The biggest adjustment to my training routine has been 2 a day workouts and Masters Swim.  I don't do 2 a day's every day, but I've been trying to about 2-3 days during the work week and then doing 2-3 hour bike rides on Saturday and 10-20 mile runs on Sunday.  Masters swim has been a great addition to my workout.  You don't know how bad you suck at swimming til you join Masters and literally look like  you are going backwards because everyone else is swimming past you so damn fast.  I've definitely seen some improvement which I'm loving.  My 100 meter time has definitely improved by a few seconds over long distance and over shorter distances, I've improved about 10 seconds.  Today's swim workout was 300 warmup freestyle plus six - 10 minute swims with increasing spped/distance each interval (so basically you had to go faster)...then cool down.  I love the way a good hard swim workout makes you feel...its the best all over workout.   

I've added some new blogs to our sidebar that I have become obsessed with.  Triathlon is my new love...I did my first sprint in April of 2011 and I did a total of 7 I think through September.  I also set a new pr for my half-marathon but I definitely need to improve that still..so I can do well in my longer tris. 

Well, I will leave you with some pics from some of my summer races because no blog is complete without pics.  talk soon - Danielle

Sarah and I in September running a half marathon...love how this pic turned out !

I think most of these were from the Go Girl Triathlon at Eagle Creek Park...I'd love to buy pics from

every race...but I'd go broke....

Better late than never..Race pics



Getting dressed and grabbing my bike after the swim



FINISHED!!



Greeting my kiddos at finish....check out their signs!  GO MOM!!



Posing with friend and fellow triathlete Leah!



I had to record a pic of my first race numbered arm!



                         

Running my bike in to transistion area to get ready for the 5K



           Probably should have posted this part first.....pic of the pool
where we completed the first part of the tri- 400 m swim.



Back at it!

Well I still haven't downloaded my pics from the race....soon though...I must find time.  I've been trying to figure out how best to transition into training for my next 2 events....the Geist Half Marathon on May 21st and another Triathlon at Eagle Creek on June 18th.  This will be an open water swim in Eagle Creek Reservoir...hmmmm all those little fishies around me (not super excited bout them....but you do what ya got to do).

I wasn't sure if I should take a rest day after the tri on Sunday, but I felt good Monday morning....so I didn't.  I ran 6 miles....1 mi warmup, 2 mi at 8:00 pace, 2 mi at 7:34 pace and 1 mile cool down. 

Today I did 17.5 miles on road bike.  Tomorrow...5K run and 1200 m swim...or atleast thats the plan.

Starting out in tris has introduced me to a vast world of new workout gadgets...tri-shorts, wet suits, lock-laces you name it....one of my newest faves are the lock laces.  Basically, I never have to tie my shoes again.  You put them on like normal laces and bring them to the right fit and lock em in...they are made of elastic so you can slide your shoes off and on and they fit perfect....the perfect transition time saver in triathlons.

Training and Triathlons

So I completed my first official triathlon yestderday.  I hope to get all my pics downloaded tonight so I can post lots of pics from the actual event tomorrow.  It went pretty well....

The swim was my biggest disappointment.  I guess its hard to prepare yourself to get crowded in to a lane and get pulled on and kicked....but I think I did my fair share of kicking in the face of others too....its just hard to pass and that's what happens.  I was a minute over my swim goal time! BOOOOHHHH!

As for the bike, it was tough.....lots of hills, lots of turns, lots of street roundabouts that forced huge slow downs and tons of winds!...it was crazy windy!.  I was only passed by 2 people on the bike but I passed probly a dozen or more...I was pleased....this was my first time riding my new bike outside.  Not always the best plan of action but it was necessary.  I was on a ride with my friend Leah about a week ago and got a flat tire..I also just didnt feel like my  bike was allowing me to go fast or hard enough...tough to explain but nevertheless true.  I went into Performance Bike and explained by predicament...they looked at me like I was an alien on crack!  Like..."how could you, a newbie bike rider, be complaining that your bike isn't hard enough to ride?"...but it was.  They said to me "maybe you should rethink your day job and be a professional cyclist?"...they were being smartasses!....but, when they pulled up my bike specs..they quickly realized why.  Apparently a large majority of bikes come with a Compact Crankset not a Standard Crankset...I apparently needed a Standard Crankset which would allow me to gear harder and go faster....   Well, instead of changing out a bunch of stuff on my bike, I traded it in for a better bike that was on sale because it was a 2010 vs a 2011....but I got a much better bike and I think it paid off for me. 

I placed 243 out of 625 on the bike...not too bad for first ride on it on the roads, my 3rd ride on it period and only my 8th time riding a road bike period...

LOVE LOVE LOVE
LOVE LOVE LOVE
LOVE LOVE LOVE
biking! 

The run was soo freaking hard!  My legs were jello...they didn't want to move at all.....I didn't think I could and to top it all off...I left my GARMIN on my bike handles so I had no way to pace myself.  I felt like I was running at maybe 10 miles per hour if I was lucky....and apparently I was because when I got my times...I averaged 7.36 minute miles...Yeah!  I have to say that I have never felt so accomplished or strong or confident in myself.  Triathlons give you something that allows you to truly feel like an athlete.  I may never win....but I sure feel like a winner.  Just as an fyi...I placed 215 out of 625 on the run (so beat some men too!) and overall, I placed 224 out of 625 and 7th in my age group (7 out of 44).  My goal is to place top 3 in my age group...!  More tomorrow!

and I'm signing up for 3 more tris this week!  I think I'm hooked!

Paninis, Sweets and Triathlons

This weekend was bizarrely uneventful yet fulfilling at the same time.  Went out with some friends on Friday to watch a great band.  I knew that Saturday would not be the most productive day of the week since Friday would be a late night but it was a nice relaxing day. 

Sunday was a great day...my friend Leah and I met up to do some official "triathlon" training...or a BRICK as we true professional (lol) triathletes call them...

First off...22 minutes on the spin bike.  I usually ride on a mountain bike outside or on a good ol stationary bike...and this was so much better.  Definitely better for training for the bike leg of the race until I can actually get some decent weather here in Indiana.  Next did 3 miles on treadmill....6.5 up to 9.0 speed on treadmill....just shy of 23:30 time. And then we hit the pool.  Well because I haven't done lap swimming in forever and don't usually require a training suit or goggles...this was extra fun.  I swam 400 meters about half breaststroke and half freestyle.  Swimming will be the hardest part of this event for me!! No Joke! My eyes were killing me and my suit so did NOT want to go swimming with me!  alas I made it through.  It was a great workout and I felt super strong afterwards!!

maybe not this strong! (this is not me!!)

After our workout....I decided to go buy a panini press sandwhich maker...no idea why really but it sounded good!  So I picked up this little number. 

and it made the best sandwhich!!!  Some 9grain bread, sprouts, spinach, havarti cheese, lean meat and avacado grilled on the new sandwhich maker and you have heaven on a plate.

this is my sandwhich in progress while my husband tried to ruin my picture by
sticking up his finger...hmmmm.

and this is what my hubs brought home for us all to enjoy...isn't that sweet? Good thing I
don't like cake! yeah for me!  but my kids were super happy with the cupcakes, eclaires, lemon and raspberry squares and popcorn!  They are still on a sugar high.

Cheese and Vanilla and Blueberry Flavors! Yeah for Daddy!

and on to more healthy topics!  TODAY'S WORKOUT:

5K + 20 minutes Elliptical + Bodyrock (lunges, abwork, pushups and more abwork) Woohoo!

Random Saturday Stuff

1.  Fridays workout was a good one:  5K Run, 6 Mile Bike Ride, Bodyrock workout -  I am sore today!

• Jump Up & Star Lift 60 reps
• James Bond Lunges 60 reps (alternating legs)
• Monkey Business Exercise 60 reps
• Side Crunch 30 reps on each side
• Breakdance Push Up & Knee Tuck 60 reps

2.  Today's Workout - TBD - I have a headache...a little too much fun last night.  My workout thus far has consisted of reading about workout out....see below:

I think I have built up a collection of 1000s of magazines!
Does anyone else have trouble throwing away magazines?

3.  I wore my new "I wanna punch running in the face" tee to work yesterday.  Love it! So glad I bought 3 of Skinny Runner's tees before she sold out!

4.  Ms. Luna is also enjoying a relaxing day of tv and magazine reading.


I am a princess!

 5.  Tomorrow, I am going to the Y to swim, bike and run with my friend Leah, who also happens to be my pilates instructor.  You can check out her website here - Just Breathe Pilates.  I love pilates and it has given my abs some of their pre-baby glory again.  We are training for the Carmel Sprint Triathlon. Yeah!

6.  I've been researching what I need to buy for my first official tri....and this is what I've come up with so far.  You can can find this list and longer lists for Olympic, Hall Ironman and Full Ironman Tri's at OneTri.  I better get shopping!!

Sprint Triathlon Race Checklist

Swim:

Swim suit or tri shorts
Wetsuit
Goggles
Swim Cap
Lubricant or anti-chafe
Towel
Ear Plugs

Bike:

Bike
Helmet
Bike shorts or tri shorts
Bike Shoes
Sunglasses
Water bottles w/energy replacement fluids
Energy gel or snacks
Biking gloves
Sunglasses
Spare Tube, CO2, Tire Levers

Run:

Race shoes with elastic or quick laces
Cap or Visor
Lubricant for feet
Race number on race belt
Energy gel or snack

Other:

Warm clothes or Rain clothes
Sunscreen
Bag
Extra Energy gels and snacks
Sandals
Change of clothes for post race