cathyd's group - Closed (Page 3)

Running: 5 workouts/ 26.82 miles   (5k race 22:12)

Biking: 2 workouts/ 33.02 miles

Yoga: 2x

This is a pretty good week for a start back to full-on training.  I need to spend more time on the bike next week for sure.   The 5k went a little better than expected considering the 8 mile trail warmup, tired legs, and the heat.  The time is still a full minute slower than I should be at this point in the training.  I was encouraged by the 6:17 first mile, though, because I was definitely floating.  I was not even breathing hard until the heat hit at about 1.25.  It made me think that holding a 6:30 might be doable under the right conditions. 

This week’s schedule and goals:

My goals for last week were not met, I was sick and I'm still recovering from the flu and a bronchitis.

Although I'm getting better, I will take it easy once again this week so to not jeopardize or compromise my recovery. I do however expect to be at the gym three times this week to lift weights and perhaps go for one 1500m easy swim. 

I will be travelling for the holidays this coming Saturday which means time for me to do some cross-country skiing next week.

Have a happy training week everyone!

Thanks for starting this Lori.. I had a crazy day at work today and didnt' get near a computer !!

I'm happy with my training last week -
I got in 3 runs, 2 bikes, 5 core workouts, and didn't eat any ice cream so I met my Dec goals.

I'm taking today off,  I work the next 2 nights then have 7 days off work.  My only goal is to stick to my Dec goals of 3 runs, 2 bikes, 4 core / week and to do something on every day that I don't have to work.  I need to also do some planning for the first 6 months of the new year.

Now's lets here from the rest of you... how was your week?

Jenny, I have looked at that crossfit.  It looks like it would be really hard but really good. I will be anxious to see how you like it.  I know I need some kind of strength training, but I have been dragging my feet getting going because my legs are always so tired from the running and biking that I can't quite get myself going.  Maybe your success with crossfit will inspire us all

My training goals for last week where not meet.  But I did start the process of getting back on track. 

This week I am again working on getting a schedule down for fitting in all of my training, family time with the 4 kids, a 2.5 hour round trip daily commute and working as a snowboard instructor on the weekends.  The good news is that my commute should be cut down to a 20 minute commute sometime in early January.  I will be working 10 miles from home.  I have all ready figured out a route to ride to work a few days a week. 

I am also looking at buying a light for my bike so I can ride in the dark.  Anyone have any suggestions?  

Steve, Lori and Cathy...

Since I cannot send one inspire to the three of you at the same time, I just wanted to say thank you for your get well wishes, I really appreciate it!

I would usually go back into training mode the moment I'd feel a little better but I chose not to push it this time around. It's hard for me to stay away from training but I have to give myself time to fully heal and recover.

That snowstorm... Official word is that we got 26 centimeters (1.5 inch short of a foot) of snow in 12 hours this past Sunday in Toronto. My parents report 1.5 feet in their area (45 to 50 centimeters). Crazy!!!!

With the holidays coming fast there's so much to do it's hard to fit everything into your day, and sometimes your workout is easier to skip than other things.

How do you stay motivated to work out?  What tricks do you use to get out there when you really just want to curl up on the couch?  How do you fit workouts into a jam packed day?  What can the rest of us (our mentor group) do to help you stay motivated to work out every day?

My motivation is that most of my peers ARE curled up on the couch.   That's the difference between someone who exercises and an ATHLETE.  

As for keeping the motivation...I try to have fun.  Sometimes this means the training log gets put on the back burner for awhile.  If you're working out simply to satisfy your 'log', you may want to put a little spice back into your regime.  Try a Step Class, spinning or yoga,  most gyms have a public climbing wall you can try.  Winter offers a whole different play book as far as fitness goes; XC skiing, snowshoe, heck, try an up-tempo run in 6' of fresh powder-then make snow angels when you're done..    Some friends of mine get together with their indoor trainers and have movie night (sprint during the commercials or until the next bad guy gets shot).    jeff

My motivation levels are still high but my two week old illness makes me feel frustrated these past few days. To chase the frustration away, I work on my off-season and half-ironman training programs; this gives me something to look forward to once I'm fully recovered. Reading my fellow mentorees and mentor logs also keep me motivated!

I should probably answer my own questions.

My #1 motivation to work out is my health.  My mom had cancer in her 40s and neither her nor my mother in law made it to their 60th birthday.  Both my parents had high blood pressure, and now myself and my brother are on BP meds.  I work in critical care and see the damage people do themselves with poor lifestyle choices - we get more and more 400+ lbs patients, lots of alcohol, drug users and smokers that cause big problems when they go into withdrawal a couple days post op.

Having a goal race planned helps me, I know that I have to get the miles in or the race will not be pleasant.

One trick that helps get me out the door is to check other people's logs, or the daily thread in the forum, seeing what other people have already done while I was still in bed.  Being part of a mentor group or a challenge team helps too, knowing others will be checking my log. 

I don't really have a 'lack of time' issue.  I do find that on work days (I work 12 hours, 7 - 7) I don't get home until 8 pm so I usually schedule my first day a rest day.  The second day I might do a workout after work if my husband is not home, if he's home I spend time with him.  On my night shifts I'll workout the day of my first shift but the in between day is a sleep day.  My work schedule is 4 on, 5 off so I have lots of days off and they are workout days.  I don't have any young kids at home so I really have lots of time for training.

What you can all do to help me is check my logs and let me know if I am slacking !!!!  I'll be doing the same for you . 

I can imagine your frustration.  I'm feeling 'phlegmmy' (not sure if that's a word) and coughy this morning - hope I'm not coming down with a cold.  

What plan are you using for the HIM?

Sorry, I am kind of late to chime in on this.  I have two things that keep me motivated. 

One is that I hate to lose.  I don't mind getting beat by someone who I know is better or who has worked harder -- I have respect for that -- but I HATE when I lose a race because I didn't train enough or do the right things in training.  Each of my workouts are made for a purpose, and so it is hard to miss even one without feeling like I have let that one aspect of my fitness slip.  

The second way I stay motivated is more fun.  I have a motivation scrapbook. I save pictures, ads, articles, quotations, race results, and basically anything that keeps me going.   I also have a couple of running books that I love that always give me an extra shot of motivation when I need it.  They are Once a Runner by John Parker and Running with the Buffaloes by Chris Lear.  They always give me a little boost. 

For me it depends on what the two workouts are.  I usually like to break them up, even if it is just by a few hours, like one in the morning and the other around noon.   I am not an evening workout person.  If I have a bike and run planned, I always break them up unless I am planning a brick.  I do the more important workout first.   I will do a bike and swim or a run and a swim together sometimes, always with the swim as the second workout.  I think it helps my legs recover.  If I am doing weights with a bike or run, I will always do the weights second because I hate the dead feeling in my legs I get from doing the weights first.  Of course, the weight workout is compromised some... 

I have a luxury that many don't have, though, in that I do a lot of my work from home and so can be more flexible with my workouts.

My schedule recently changed from 12hrs rotating shifts (7 AM - 7 PM and 7 PM - 7 AM) to the somewhat steadier 9 to 5. What I plan on doing with this new work schedule is one workout early morning and one after work but I'm pretty sure I could get the shorter ones done at once; I still trying to work this out. I would keep Saturday and Sunday for my long bike and long run or bike-run bricks.

My baseline is from Triathelte Magazine's "Essential Week-by-Week Training Guide" (half-ironman level 4). I complement it with Joe Friel's "The Triathlete's Training Bible" and Tom Rodgers' "The Perfect Distance".

I'm thinking on getting tested for lactate treshold and VO2 Max after the holidays.