Back to the pool

Goodness, it's been far too long. According to Strava, the last time I swam was waaaay back at the end of October. Yikes! It was back to the pool today and as I swam lap after lap, I could tell it had been a while but I also remembered why I love going there.

I watch the large clock/timer on the wall at the far end of the pool deck and wait until it is at 57 seconds. Then I start the chrono on my watch and slip into the pool, push off the wall and start to stroke fast. The water feels cold and it takes me about two and a half laps to warm up. The next 20 or 30 seem effortless, back and forth, back and forth, reach and roll, pull, elbow out, reach and roll, pull. I know my stroke needs work. I am slower now since I haven't been in the pool for awhile, but I will hit a plateau after a couple of weeks and not be able to go any faster. I think it's my stroke dynamics, or lack thereof.

Ah, well. I am not a racer. I am a plodder in the pool, but I'm ok with that. The point is to be there, to enjoy the swim and enjoy how good I feel when I'm done. The best kind of tired.

Catching up #1

Oh, my word ...it's been way too long, friends. I apologize. Though I do sometimes wonder if anyone lands in this space any more and bothers to read since I have been so remiss about posting lately. That's gotten to be a constant refrain, hasn't it?! I think about posting, but there just doesn't seem to be physical time or mental space to sit down and plunk it out here. But, I have hopes ... hopes of writing more.

How about a little catching up to start with. The last post was pre-triathlon. Andrew and I did the TriLatta on June 13th and I can honestly say that it was a blast! I was worried about the swim and figured if I made it through that open water swim without freaking out, I was good. I am happy to report that doing the practice swims paid off and I was calm and happy during the race. I never felt like I was hyperventilating, never had to roll over on my back, hardly even breast-stroked. It was easier than I anticipated to site the large red tomato shaped buoys and I even sort of "drafted" behind or alongside other swimmers. I was so happy when I finished the swim that I flashed a thumbs up at my cheering squad and headed up the hill to T1 (first transition).

I took my time getting ready for the ride. Wiped the sand and dirt off my feet. Put on socks. Drank some electrolyte drink. Remembered to tie on a bandana for the sweat (I hate getting sweat in my eyes) and buckle my helmet.

The bike ride was fun. I passed people going uphill. That, my friends, was a thrill that I had not expected. I passed a woman I had met the night before (at the pre-race meeting) on the uphills and she leapfrogged past me on the downhills. I ended up finishing before her in the bike portion, but she passed me on the run. No surprise there.

The run went pretty much as I expected, which is to say ... slow. Quite slow.  I walked some of the uphills, but did it with no shame as I saw people who were in front of me also walking. It was so encouraging to see Coty at several points along the run course. He is the epitome of race spectators. He figures out just where to go and shows up oftener than you expect along the course with claps, cheers, words of encouragement, and coaching. "Drop your shoulders, sweetheart. You're looking great!" (which I don't really think I was at that point, but it was still nice to hear, and yes, I did drop my shoulders and try to relax the rest of the way to the finish).

After crossing the finish line and seeing Coty and Andrew, I burst into tears. Just. so. happy! Andrew had finished strong, running the 5k at the end faster than he expected. We talked about doing the TriLatta again next year or finding another race. I'm thinking about a race in the fall, perhaps. We'll see. Anyway, I'm so glad we did it, enjoyed it thoroughly, and want to continue doing triathlons as long as I'm able.

Just a few more yards to go. 

There's Coty in the red shirt behind me heading toward the finish line.

 

My triathlon partner moves to New York City next week. Though we haven't trained together, except for a few bike rides, it meant a lot to work toward the same goal with my son, Andrew. Hoping we'll both keep it up and compete in another race together before too long!

 

Just the stats ... and a little more

This wasn't my best workout week of the month. I got busy and lazy on Thursday and Friday (excuses, not reasons) and I didn't make it to the pool at all. Again, just couldn't muster the umph to get there. But, it was my longest distance week, since I went on two longer rides - 17.67 and 18.65. Don't you like the tenths and hundredths of miles. That's what happens when you record workouts on a phone app with gps mileage calculations. Right down to the hundredths. They add up.

Anyway, here's the lowdown on tri-training for the month of January. I'm happiest with the cycling. I went twice a week for three of the four weeks this month and starting increasing my mileage. I didn't think I'd be able to ride this much in January, but we've had plenty of high 40, 50 degree, sunny days and I've managed to get out on my bike. Yay! My goal for February: at least one 25 mile ride and two rides a week, weather permitting!

I need to swim more. My goal for February: swimming twice a week and adding open water swim drills each workout.

Walking/running was fine. I'm still on track with my Couch to 5K program and fairly happy with the progress. My new running shoes should come in this week and that will undoubtedly make me run faster, jump higher ... all that good stuff. My goal for February: stay on track with the C to 5K; do a hill workout once a week. (I hate hills, this will be good for me, right?!)

So, here are the stats for January:

Swimming: 4 swims, 3.63 miles (256 laps)
Cycling: 7 rides, 111.63 miles
Walking/running: 14 workouts, 41.19 miles

For a grand total in January of 25 workouts and 156.45 miles.

Not a bad start to the year. Hoping to up those numbers in February.

A winter ride

I wish I had pictures to show you, but alas, I don't. I went on a ride yesterday afternoon and all the time, I kept thinking how beautiful the winter afternoon was and what I had the privilege of seeing. And to think, I almost missed it.

My husband, ever faithful, ever disciplined, rarely deterred from exercising because of weather or anything else was getting ready for a ride. I'd been sewing all afternoon and was happily closing in on finishing a project. It was 42 degrees. I was feeling not exactly lazy, but just not up for going out, knowing I was going to be cold ... and you know how I hate to be cold. I was battling the inertia inherent in stopping one activity in which I was totally engrossed and starting another one which I knew would not exactly be pleasant, at least at the beginning. I was rationalizing not exercising by saying I needed to finish my project. But, I really didn't need to finish. It was just an excuse.

Coty asked if I wanted him to wait for me. "I don't know," I moaned. "Just go ahead," I finally told him, not sure if I was actually throwing in the towel for the day or not.

This is where having a goal that you've stuck to for a while helps. That two walks, two swims, two bike rides a week goal that I set back in November has become more or less routine. It is so much easier for me now to rouse myself to get out there and walk, ride, or swim so that I will stay on track with my goal. I don't have a perfect "streak" but I've been sticking with it. So, I went upstairs and changed into cycling clothes, found a hood to wear under my helmet to keep my ears and neck warm, and headed out.

A little observation - the act of changing into workout clothes means I've won. I've overcome the inertia and will soon be out the door.

As I expected, I was cold. I know that 42 degrees isn't frigid. It's really pretty pleasant for early January, especially if it's a gloriously clear and sunny early January day. But remember, when you ride, there's "wind chill." Pedaling faster at the beginning means I'm going to be colder. Speeding up as I go downhill means I'm going to be colder.  And you know how I hate ... yea, I said that already.

It took two miles for me to warm up. Fingers and toes stayed cold the whole ride, but the rest of me was fine. And then, I started noticing things like ...

• the crisp, clean feeling of the winter air on my face,
• the way the slanting afternoon sun turned the siding on the houses I passed to lavender, salmon, and pink,
• the stillness of a hawk on a phone line, perched, watching, waiting,
• the beauty of a field of dried grasses waving in a slight breeze
• the winter sun and its halo and then in the last mile, a sundog

I had decided when I started on my ride that I would not concentrate on time or pace. I was just going on a ride with the intention of overcoming the cold aversion and enjoying myself. I did. 15 miles of pleasure. Further than I intended to ride. It just felt good to keep going.

The memory of yesterday's ride will help me keep going through the remainder of this winter. There will likely be colder rides. I will likely battle inertia again and likely complain about the cold. But I'll try to remember the lavender houses, the hawk, and the sundog, and then slip into my thermals and head out.

Exercise Goals Update

Back at the end of October I set some ambitious exercise goals for myself . I'm pleased to tell you that almost three weeks in this month, I'm still on track.  2 bike rides, 2 swims, and 2 walks each week for 3 weeks now (well, I've got one more walk this week, but that'll happen tomorrow morning, early).  It hasn't been as hard as I had thought.  I've watched the weather, tried to get my bike rides in early in the week if the weather's good and enjoyed getting back into the water on a regular schedule.

So how's it going?  I feel stronger, especially in the pool.  I've been able to pretty quickly up my laps and my times are getting faster.  All good.  I love the pool.  Love. love. love the pool.  I haven't talked with the Masters swim coach yet, but I did email him and I did ask at the front desk.  So, that's something, right?  I'm still not altogether sure that training at 5 AM is for me, but still thinking about that.  

Cycling is good.  The longest ride so far has been 19 miles on a lovely fall day on the American Tobacco Trail.  Today I did a cadence ride.  That's a shorter distance at a higher cadence - aiming at 90-95 revolutions per minute.  I felt lethargic before I started and didn't really want to ride because I had lots to do, but I pulled on my thermal tights and that was the cue ... get going!  So, I did.  And I'm glad.  It always feels better to have exercised when you don't feel like it than to skip it because you're feeling lazy or tired. 30 minutes and 6 miles later with six reps of my cadence distance and some easy cycling before and after and I felt much better.

I haven't run a step. I'm walking ... briskly, and thinking of trying one of those couch to 5k training programs.  I can walk forever, but I'm not a runner.  A program like that might help me up my pace a bit. Since I've started thinking about a sprint triathlon with Andrew in the spring, I need to be able to run a 5k.  So, we'll see.

Some of you know that I have rheumatoid arthritis.  After some tests that indicated that my RA was really out of control and aggressively affecting my joints, and after a long heart to heart with my rheumatologist back in October, I have started on a new medication.  She pointed out that I had likely forgotten what it felt like to not hurt all the time.  She was right.  The constant pain had become my normal and I thought that was just how it was going to be.  With some trepidation, I decided to heed her recommendation and begin this new med.  People ... I am amazed.  I didn't know I could feel like this.  Didn't know I could sleep through the night without frequent painful insomnia.  Didn't know I could wake up in the morning and not hobble across the bedroom and painfully make my way down the stairs.  Didn't think I could ever do push-ups or planks again.  Didn't think I'd ever get my favorite ring back on my finger.  I do not typically advocate medication.  I don't like it.  I am still nervous about it.  But it has made a big difference in how I feel.  So, I'll stay on it for now which also means, I am able to exercise more and feel better in every way!  

I don't think the medication is the only answer.  Diet and exercise are key.  I am mostly gluten free and eat a very healthy diet (except when I'm having a family celebration and then I relax the rules quite a bit).  Lots of fresh, raw fruits and vegetables.  Pretty low carbs. Very little processed food. Very little sugar.  But I was doing that before I was on this new med and while I'm sure it helped, it wasn't enough. My joints were not just hurting but were being destroyed by my immune system.  That's what RA does.  Now, I think ... I hope ... that joint damage is being minimized.  Inflammation and pain are greatly reduced.  I feel, at times, like a new person.  And that's pretty exciting.

It was important for me to set the bar high.  More than once, I've made myself get out the door, made myself pull on the goggles and slip into the water.  Every time I do it, I'm thankful.  

November fitness goals

A couple of months back, my most-disciplined-exerciser-in-the-world husband asked me what my fitness goals were for the next few months.  I'm glad he asked the question because I've been rather hit or miss in the exercise department.  More hit than miss, but still, on my mapmywalk monthly workout summary, there are far too many empty spaces.  I feel it in my legs when I hop on the bike.  I feel it in my arms when I get in the pool.  I am neither as strong nor as cardiovascularly (is this a word?) fit as I have been in previous months/years. I needed the gentle nudge of Coty's question to get me thinking more seriously about my goals and formulate a plan to put them into action!

So, here are my November goals.  I'm planning to ...

1)  Exercise on a regular schedule:

Swim - twice per week
Cycle - twice per week
Walk/run - twice per week
That gives me one day off.

The key to maintaining this workout schedule will be planning ahead for swim and cycling days.  It's no big deal to get out the door and walk, but with cycling, weather is a much bigger factor so I'll need to look ahead at the forecasts and figure out at the beginning of each week which days will be my cycling days.  Swimming takes advanced planning, too, since it requires a bigger chunk of time.  I have to drive to the pool and back and there's changing and shower time included.  Also, I like to swim when the pool is least crowded (middle of the day) so I have to do it on a day when my mid-day is free.

2) Talk to the Masters Swim coach at the aquatic center and find out about swimming with the Masters swim team.  OK, this feels pretty scary to me.  I've never been on a swim team, never had any swim coaching or training.  Just community pool swimming lessons as a kid and lifeguard training at the Y in high school.  I have a LOT to learn.  I feel sort of intimidated by this and don't know if I'll do it.  The practices are from 5:30-6:30 AM.  It's dark then.  And cold.  And you have to go and jump into a cold pool.  After driving in the dark.  And the cold. I hope the lights are on in the pool.  But the water will be cold.  You get my drift.

But, this is the year of overcoming cold and dark wimp-hood for me.  I'm determined.  I'm going to embrace the dark ... and the cold.  My new motto, with thanks to a Minnesota friend, is, "It's never too cold.  You're just wearing the wrong clothes."  (I don't know how that works with a bathing suit. Not much you can do there, unless you don a full wetsuit, which I don't own or plan on purchasing. But I guess I can make sure I'm clothed sufficiently warmly on the way to the pool and back which, frankly, will be much easier in North Carolina than in Minnesota. Thank goodness for that).

3) Finally, in keeping with the above determination and my new motto, I plan on cycling through the winter this year.  I'm figuring out what the "right clothes" for winter cycling are for a small Southern woman who is cold from October til June.  I have thermal tights.  I have full finger cycling gloves and insulated lobster mitts.  I have a very bright cycling windbreaker. I'm looking at thermal cycling shirts, balaclavas and shoe covers. I have a warm house to come home to, hot showers, hot tea, hot chocolate, a heating pad, a space heater, a down comforter, a hot husband ; )  If I get cold, guess what?! I can warm up again.  I hope.   

So, that's it.  Those are my November fitness goals.  If I survive the month, I'll press on through the rest of the winter.  Hold me to it. OK?