Ghoulie eliptical v ST November challenge II (Page 15)

well.  w/ the exception of the tree and some outdoor lights that need replacing, our house is officially decorated.

WILD THING 2&3 were a big help.  saved multiple trips up and down the stairs.

and make the work easier and a lot more fun.

its always great to hear their reaction when the stockings are 'uncovered' and how enthusiastic they are about getting them hung up on the fireplace.  [i remember i had the same reaction as a kid....my mom knitted my stocking, and i still have it packed in the christmas stuff...]

this time of year is simply splendid.

stacieb

We got our tree on Friday when I got home from work. I thought we were just going to go tag one and bring it home later, but nope, we got the tree. The kids were so excited, I don't think they'd have left us leave without it.

We didn't put it up until Saturday morning though since we weren't prepared at all.

Our tree was just over 11 feet tall. We had to cut it down just a bit so we could put the angel on top, as it was it went all the way up to the ceiling.

I had to go out and buy an extra set of lights to finish off the top.

The husband and kids got the outside lights done on Friday as well. Now we just need to decorate the rest of the inside of the house.

hey KIM.  how awesome that you got to work w Terry 1-1.  my guess is that if i could ever go to one of his workshops, the TI would really click for me.

as for you other points:

A)  amen sistah!  [though, that's not what the 'marketing' will tell ya....]

B)  you got that right xs a gazillion, ive DEFINATELY experienced that firsthand.

and

C)  that's something that i never thought about much, but definately something to consider going into my next Tri season.

stacieb

if its any comfort to ya ANN.

i havent had any breakthroughs either....

a friend asked me how long it took to work up to swimming a mile continuously and i answered rather matter a factly....12 months.

just persistent consistent effort.

little by little.

yard by yard.

25 at a time.

this time last year, swimming 100 yds continuously was a HUGE deal.  i could swim multiple sets BUT only after 1-2-3 min rest/recovery intervals in between the 100s.

its hard to believe now, but.....

im never one to make HUGE improvements, just INCREMENT PROGRESS as ive been consistent and persistent.

its not as 'flashy' as some...and im never the first to get anywhere, but eventually i get to where i need to be.

stacieb

Holy work!  Noon and I'm just now checking in!  That's what a get for having a week off I guess.

Hi ghoulies!

Hi Neal

holy schmokes ANN that is SOME TREE!!!  yippo-skippo!!!

normally we would wait until the first weekend of December (i have this thing about 'rushing' through Thanksgiving....) but the weather was soooo great this weekend i told my DH that it would probably be best to put up the decorations while the weather was sooo cooperative.

id love to see you tree...post a pic if you get a chance!


ill probably decorate mine while the boys are in school that way they an be 'surprised' when they get home.

we actually have two trees that we can put up, but ive only done one...im contemplating putting both up this year...one in our bay window, and one in the living room. 

the one in the bay is 'formal' matching decorations and just white lights.

if i do the 2nd tree it will be one w a ton of blinky lights and mish mash deocrations. 

stacieb

YO YO YO NEAL.

how goes it??  cept being busy catching up.....

stacieb

YAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAY ANN!!!!!!

wasnt that your personal challenge for the month of NOVEMBER???

1000 POSTS.

YAHOOOOOOEY!
stacieb

A lot of swim talk going on in here.  I'd have to say that I am another one of those that is frustrated by the sport.  It's hard because simply spending more time in the water does not necessarily translate to faster swim times.  And it's that lack of progress that gets me frustrated and more likely to skip workouts.

That said, swimming is a major off-season focus of mine.  I've been using a plan from swimsmooth.com that stacie mentioned early and have made it to the pool 5X a week for the last month.  I'm starting to see some improvements, but the gains have not been huge considering the time invested.  I'm hoping by the end of winter there will be enough positive changes to see a difference this spring.

Congrats!!!

Yes, yes that was my personal challenge for the month of November.

It goes well, thank you! 

I'll try to get a picture of it. Keep in mind though that 85% of it was decorated by the kids. My husband and I did the lights, and put on the tree topper, they did the rest.

When I designed our house I wanted cathedral ceilings just so I could have a giant Christmas tree. I also added French doors in the dining room so we'd have a way to get it in the house. I'm always thinkin'.

I downloaded the little Mr. Smooth guy, I'll have to look at some plans though.

The swimming is the most frustrating! I can definitely see my progress in running, and I know I can bike. For Christmas I would like a swim program that works for me.

so good to hear!

stacieb

im sure the tree is FANTABULOUS.

and you, always thinkin' NODOUBT. 

stacieb

you've been AWFULLY NICE THIS YEAR....im certain Santa will HOOK you UP!

stacieb

for the record...

SUN CRYSTALS (a sweetner w stevia and cane sugar) as compared to TRUVIA is uber duber sweet.

oi me!

i just bought Sun Crystals to try it out and used a pack and a half in my tea (i use one pack of the TRUVIA) it actually looked like less 'sugar' overall....but manohpete does it pack a PUNCH. 

one pack, maybe even half of one will suffice.

stacieb

Edited by skrtrnr 2009-11-30 1:42 PM

i dunno.  im finding it difficult to get in my shorter runs.  my long runs.  not a problem.  they fit in nicely on Tues and Wed.

and here i thought i had my schedule all worked out.


i think im feelin a little 'scattered' in the sense that i dont have much to 'focus' on right now. its not like i have an important event on the horizon.

i dont want to lose any of that running fitness that i was able to work up to trng for my 1/2, but.....

im having a hard time fitting it all in/making it all work.

part of it is, im not all that interested in doing two a days right now.

when im training for a specific tri event i dont mind two a days cuz i usually make them a brick workout and i can chalk it up to great race training, but now, w/out an event on the horizon i just feel like im have to spend xtra time at the Y that im not really interested in spending.

i want to make sure that im getting my ST sessions in, that's a priority. i know.  i hear the collective GASP in the GHOULIE village.


like i figured.  everything look FANTASMIC on PAPER....but in real life....a different story.

stacieb

im thinking maybe i need some 'time away'/mix some things up right now, have a fresh start come January.

not that i think i need to toally abandon my schedule, but....

i was watching my kids ice skate and remembered how much i LOVED to ice skate as a kid....

i looked online, the local rink has a skate 2xs a week, in the morning, called the Coffee Club 9:30-11:20.

not sure how much it will benefit me, training wise (though im sure ice skating is an aerobic workout) it would be a nice change up.

maybe i'll head over there 1x a week in the month of December, just for something 'different' 

stacieb

The off season is an excellent time for some "alternative"  training.  Sometimes you need to switch things and up just go enjoy whatever it is you want to do.

Give yourself a break.  It would be a shame for tri training to become a chore because you were forcing workouts.

Hey guys. I got me a doozy of a sinus infection this weekend. It has kicked my butt. I will try to catch up tomorrow am. I am short 3 of my ST sessions so I am 12 for the month.
You ghoulies wanna carry something on into December...

come on, there has to be SOMETHING Else we disdain enough to motivate on through to the new year. '
I love me some Ghoulies.

I meant to share this yesterday.  I may have had too much to eat over the holiday.  I noticed yesterday after my swim that my jammers had a rather large hole in the butt where a seam had ripped apart.  I'm not sure when this occurred.  I hoping that it was as I was climbing out of the pool not before.  I feel sorry for the other swimmers if I swam the whole workout like that though.  I'd like to think I would have noticed a draft but who knows.  Unfortunately I'll have to swim in board shorts for time being.