Shepherd's mentor group - Full up! (Page 2)

Great job so far folks!

Sharyn - Your husband deserves major oatmeal cookies for the Ipod! Music really helps motivate me on the harder workouts, I think you'll like it!

Anne - I think you'll do just fine at your zoo 5k. (My first 5k was at a zoo too!) Just remember to go out slower than you think you should, then when you hit the halfway point, speed up. When you see the finish line, just dig in and sprint. It feels good!

Kristen - Good luck on the 5k in two days! Are you antsy yet? The last 5k I ran in (last october) was the first one I was able to run the whole thing. Slow and steady (I think some walkers finished before me!) but I did it. It's a great feeling of accomplishment. We can't wait to hear the details here on the thread and in your log!

Mary - hopefully you got your swim in, but good for you on a contingency plan for tomorrow morning.

To all with Ipods/mp3 players - There's a free podcast that offers techno-ish music at a beat that's good to run or bike to. It's Podrunner. I've used his mixes on some of my long rides and runs to help zone out.

As for me, I ran today (mostly due to the idea that I knew that you all were doing such a good job staying on task with your workouts). I took my dog (in the icon) on the run. She usually hates running, but I've decided to give her another shot. We ran 1/2 a mile before she was a bit worn, so we walked a bit, ran some, walked some. Then we hopped on the horse trail next to the multi-use path and walked down it back home. When we got to the apartment complex gate, I noticed that there was an open area to the right of the trail, so we checked it out. I let Tala off lead and we played a little bit of chase. Good for handler and dog alike! We'll be going on more runs together - I'd like to build her mileage to 3 miles so that she'll be my running buddy on my shorter evening runs.

I got in a swim this afternoon. A friend and I are doing walking intervals down at the lake this evening. Making progress!

Shepherd, that's great you can get your dog to run with you. Good to have a buddy. My dog would be outraged if I even suggested it. She's a stop-and-sniff sort.

Sharyn, good going on the weightloss! I'm glad you got some help with the bike in spinning class. Don't ya just hate the seats? Hope your sore throat is better.

Jo, that's so nice to have that much time with your coach. I'm thinking of going to a "stroke refinement" class at the community pool. Lord knows my stroke could use something! I feel like such a klutz, I'm worried that I won't be advanced enough for the class, but I thiink I'll get nerve up and try it.

Anne, I hope you folks are feeling better today. Well done, getting in your training with all that. Sounds like your dog and mine have alot in common!

Mary

Sharyn - Good on you for the spin class. I'm glad another class member helped you out with it! Also awesome job on working that weight off. My mother-in-law is a Weight Watcher and recently got to lifetime status. I went to a meeting with her and it strikes me as a really positive environment (well, except for the scales at the front with strategically-placed tissue boxes)

I also didn't know you were a former HS teacher! I'm a high school biology teacher, this year is my first year teaching high schoolers (I'm used to teaching college labs). It's a whole new world. But the kids are more or less good at heart. One told me today that he killed a small rattlesnake in his pool yesterday. He cut the head off and he said he thought about bringing the head and body to me, but he was afraid he'd get in trouble with the administrators. I told him that I appreciated the sentiment.  

Jo - sounds like the small turnout was a blessing rather than a curse! Drills can get tedious, but sticking with it will help a bunch (I wonder where I put my Total Immersion drill book...) Did your run go well?

Anne - Take care of the sick/wounded first! It's important to be more or less well when you train, otherwise the stress of training can make you more sick. Take it easy (especially because it's your recovery week)

Mary - Hopefully your walk at the lake was enjoyable tonight. Did you get eaten alive by the bugs?

As for me today, I rode my bike... 20 miles!! Originally I was planning on making about 14, but when I reached the 7 mile point, I decided I would at least push to the 9 mile mark before turning around, so that I could have the confidence boost of doing the length of my ride for my race in June. When I hit 9, I decided I should do 10. Then I turned around and came home. So today I rode further than I ever have, by about 6 miles! My legs did the usual protest until about 3 miles in, then they were fine. My arms, wrists, elbows, and shoulders were pretty stiff and my girl parts were hurting. I need some Chamois Butter for these kinds of rides, the regular bodyglide didn't cut it. I'm about to go get my recovery Chocolate Milk...

I'm about to make my rounds to your logs (Jo - I still can't see your's. :-(  ) and then hit the shower and bed.  

Kate, wow--20 miles. Good going. I know what you mean about our girl parts. They have yet to invent a bike saddle with enough cushion in the right spots.

it's just dinnertime here in Seattle, so I haven't gone for the walk yet. And thank goodness mosquitoes aren't much of a problem, unless it gets really hot. It's in the 50s right now and the rain has stopped--going to be great weather for the walk. I'm looking forward to it.

Jo, thanks for your ideas on the swim class. I'll definitely give it a try.

Mary

Jo, to upload an avatar click on Control Panel. It's on the left side of the page, under the BT logo. Go to the bottom of the page that comes up. It says Upload Profile Image.

For your log, I wonder if it's on the privacy page. Click on Control Panel, then toward the top on the right side click on Edit Your Training Settings. On the page that pops up, there are four questions about who can see your logs. That might do it.

HTH,

Mary

I did 20 minutes on the exercise bike today. My legs feel it.

Kristen, good luck on your race!

Anne, it sounds like I will get alot out of this class. I'll just pretend I fit in--and eventually maybe I will!! I'm glad you got in your swim workout. I admire your perseverance with the allergies and the little ones being sick.

Sharyn, I hear visualization works great. Maybe we could add a new dimension to triathlon training. I for one would be willing to test this out--get comfortable on the couch and away I go. Hope the sinus is better. Hot tea is a winner.

Mary

Hi all - good progress today (on either the recuperating end or the training end).

Jo - I can see your logs now. YAY!

I went for a swim. I'd planned for it to be longer, but the pool closed and there was an inconsiderate parent not dealing with her kids cutting through the lap lanes. (It's a pet peeve of mine, don't worry, I was nice to the kids...)

I slept the sleep of the dead last night thanks to that ride. Totally worth it.  

Thank you Ladies for your nice comments and inspiration. 

I beat my time from last year...but wasn't able to hit either of my goals (my goals were to not walk and to finish in under 29 minutes).  But....I had a lot of fun! 

I was kind of banking in the fact that I'd been training for a few months and am in much better shape than I was at this time last year.  But when it comes down to it, I just hadn't run enough to be ready for the 5K.  Physically....my body could probably have done it without having to walk.  But mentally, I wasn' t quite strong enough yet. 

 You can view my full race report by accessing my training log from 4/30 and clicking on the Fit 5K link.

 Thanks again for all of your nice comments!  The exciting thing is I know I can only get better from here.  I'm glad I have all of you to share this with as well.

I got in my interval walk with a friend this morning down by the lake. It was only 40 degrees, but no wind so it was perfect weather. Good way to start the day. Can't say we're getting much faster, but we're getting more consistent! We'll start jogging intervals next week.

Kristen, great going on beating your time from last year. I read your race report. Glad you had a good time.

Jo, gee, you're signed up for your fifth tri and I haven't decided on one yet. Maybe I better make some decisions. I've got six on my list of possibilities. Three are recreational and only a quarter mile swim. I'm going to make one of those my first. Just not sure which month.

Kate, glad you got in your swim. That's frustrating about the kids. I'm lucky that our community pool is pretty aggressive about behavior.

Hope your day is going well,

Mary