After the award ceremony, notice the bling

After the toil and turmoil that was my last race I was leery to sign up for anything else for a while. Then along came this multistage, spaced out through the day, less than a sprint tri race (10 km bike, 400 meter swim, 5 km run). Hmmm maybe I should do it. Okay I’ll sign up.

The order of this race is a bit kooky since they have a town festival going the same day. The bike is first so the roads can be cleared of riders before the normal, sane people are out of bed. It was a bit chilly so I kept my team jacket on. They started the riders off in two waves, the first wave was the group that was doing the longer version of the race called the Man of Steel (30km bike, 800 m swim and a 10 km run) the kind of irritating thing is that they did not adjust the time of the second wave by the 2 minutes or so that we waited to begin. As you see I am getting a bit competitive, no timing chips in this local fun race. Mark reminded me that all of my direct competition was at the same time disadvantage. The bike went really, really  well. I was able to surge ahead and keep up with some teenager types. I felt good and I knew it was only a 10 km ride, hilly though, and I had promised Mark that I would leave it all out on the course. According to my watch I did the 10 km in 19:34. Really happy since there is a pretty skookum hill in the middle of it.

Next came the swim. But first is the waiting around, as the events are separated by many hours. I knew that several of the ladies in my category were much stronger swimmers than me (wink Taryn, Bryn) so I just had to try my best. The challenge with most short distance events for me is that I need a fair amount of time to warm up and then I do well. 400 meter swim I can do that without drowning, sure. I got in and warmed up for a couple of lengths  and then started swimming. I felt like what my coach has described as the “crazy dog” too fast of stroke turn over, gasping breaths, and getting nowhere fast. My “turns” were terrible, did I mention this part was in the pool? I probably wasted 30-60 seconds with my turns. Oh well I got it finished and I wasn’t the slowest, not that I am competitive or anything.

After the swim I had a pretty good chance of getting a top 3 place, there were 8 participants in this category. I am ashamed to say that I googled the other lady who was close to my time to see what her 5 km run time was like. Again, competitive much? She had a fairly similar time to mine so it would just depend on how the run went.

My lovely friend Heather ran along with me in the run, I know pacing is wrong but you can’t have your medal back. Besides she said that was close to a PB for her on that course too. About half way through the race we had the dark horse behind us at a safe distance. From then we just booked it and tried to get the fastest time we could get. I was very pleased with the time and I definitely think that I left it all out there on the course. Time 29:08 I believe. Sub 30 min on  this hot and hilly course at the end of the day made me very happy.

my ever supportive family

My finish time was 58:23 sub 1 hour. With this time I was able to secure first place, something I have never seen before. Over the moon!!!! My hilarious friend Bryn came a close second with 44 seconds separating up. She totally killed the run knocking almost 10 min of her previous time. I gotta watch out for her.

with Mike who won his age group

I have to remind myself on those hard training days with the gang that are all more experience, lighter, stronger… that all my hard work with them pays off in spades when I bring my fitness level back to my peer group and as my coach said “crush the field”. he he he . That might be a bit braggy sounding for me but my new competitive self really likes the sound of it.

I have some great news about my latest 5 km race to share with you next time.

Cheers

Betty

cycling, running, swimming, triathlon cycling, running, swimming, triathlon

After getting out the the water at the WCOC Oliver Olympic triathlon and stumbling to the transition area I stood by my bike and sobbed. What do I do next… I am freezing, confused, demoralized. I looked up and there was Mark looking over the fence at me, encouraging me to get going, come on, finish this thing. I slowly flung my wetsuit over the rack, donned my bike gear, all the while blubbering. When I thought I was ready I looked up at Mark with a pathetic tear stained face and cried DO I HAVE EVERYTHING ON??? “Yes now get going!”

Of I went in a bit of a crowd with the Sprint distance athletes that had started the swim a considerable time after the Olympic athletes. At least I wasn’t completely alone starting the ride. All was well for a while until we reach the turn around point for the Sprint and all the sudden I was alone…, and I remained alone for the most part of the ride. It is difficult to ride alone, with nobody to catch or stay ahead of, you are truly racing yourself.

I did find that during the first bit of the ride I was still pretty demoralized from the swim experience, and I found myself having odd morbid thoughts. Like if I fell off my bike nobody would look down on me for having to pull out of the race. Having survived the harrowing swim I wasn’t going to let a silly 40km bike ride take me down. Besides I knew my family would be waiting for me along Blacksage road to cheer me on a take my picture. Better practice my smile.

As the ride went on I felt a bit more fluid and I even used the aerobars quite a bit. I even managed to catch up to a couple of people and pass them. I was super happy to round the corner to the transition area once again, but a bit concerned about setting off on the run course. Hello Lead Legs.

Stay tuned for the Run portion.

cycling, family, running, triathlon cycling, fitness, triathlon

This is me in grade 9 baby

I had a great week 2 of my new attitude and new weight loss goal.

Monday: Spinning 60 min

Tuesday: Running 30 min with dogs, Swimming 60 min with Masters club

Wednesday: Rest day working 12 hours

Thursday: Running 30 min at dark o’ clock, work 12 hours, Swimming 60  min with Master SO TIRED!

Friday: Rest day working 12 hours

Saturday: Cycling outside 40 km rode to OK falls via Maclean Creek Rd. 2 hours of riding (harsh headwind)

Sunday: Running 45 min didn’t feel too bad.

My eating was great while I was on the U turn plan and then for a couple of days after too. Come Friday I ate healthy all day and then at night a gave in to soft serve ice cream and apple pie. After our killer ride I gave in to sourdough bread and spinach dip but managed to have only one slice of pizza and a huge salad.

The key is to regroup from the small indiscretions and move forward with a plan. I was down to 178 which still leaves me 10 to lose in 3 weeks. I wonder what I will have to do to lose this weight. Obviously I am doing enough exercise! Just keep eating well and maybe kick up the intensity of the workouts. I don’t know…

Keep on keep’n on.

Cheers

Betty

cycling, fitness, goals, nutrition, running, swimming, triathlon, weight loss diet, fitness, goals, health, running, triathlon, weight loss rewards

Geocaching and having a giggle. Haven't tried geocaching? Google it, It's super fun.

I took things up a notch this week. I am using a system called U-turn from u weight loss, it consists of a kinda yucky shake (they warned me it would be yucky) sort of tastes like I might imagine infant formula tastes. I am also taking their kickstart product which is a supplement that helps the body flush toxins. I have to admit my energy has been much improved. I have also been much more diligent about taking my calcium, omega, vit D, and fiber as well. Is it annoying to take these supplements? Yes in a way but it is much more annoying to have no energy, be depressed and worry that an airplane seatbelt might not fit.

I don’t think that I will be taking these things forever. I will find the right balance of vitamins, minerals, supplements that work for me health wise, financially, time management.

My eating has been right on track. I am following the U turn recipes to a T. I am following a certain schedule and calorie level for the week and then I will gradually increase my calories over the next month to six weeks until I am at a maintenance level. Hopefully my weight will stabilize and I will be able to eat a normal, healthy amount of food while being active. I really am loving these recipes. I am running the risk of turning in to a chicken again so I am balancing it out with some shrimp too.

Exercise has been off the hook!

Monday: Spinning

Tuesday:Masters swimming (didn’t really like it but I did it)

Wednesday: Working days, walked to work

Thursday: Spinning at noon (testing day,hard!) Met with Olly and set up some triathlon coaching.

Friday: Rest day, thank goodness because I worked nights last night and tonight too

Saturday: 90 min swim with the tri group (never, ever thought I could keep swimming that long)

Sunday: 45 min  run with Mark, good a bit achy but not too bad once warmed up, geocaching with the girls FUN!

This chick is gonna be busy. I am going to have to make friends with 5:30 am to get my short run in during the week. I do not like getting up earlier than 6:00.

I am hoping to be at my new goal weight by the end of Feb. I lost 7 lbs the first week which I am sure was lot of water weight but at least it is off my body. I am going to weigh in tomorrow so I will let you know.

cycling, fitness, goals, nutrition, running, triathlon, weight loss body image, diet, fitness, nutrition, triathlon, weight loss

I have been really getting aggravated by being stuck in the high 170″s. I have been eating extremely well for 85-90% of the time and exercising like a freak. What is going on? Perhaps I need to give the food plan 110% attention. I wonder if I have not been eating enough at some times and my body is hanging on to fat because it is worried about starving, and then I get tired from working stupid hours and exercising alot…which makes me crave carbs big time.

A large part of my weight loss journey is learning why I gain weight. I have identified some key components. Stress, Chaos, Fatigue, Boredom, Hunger, Anger (I am going to show you…I will eat and make my self fat and that’ll fix you, hmmm).

I do feel that I have some really good skills and habits now to deal with life as it comes. I do hope that once I am finished losing I will be able to modulate my eating and exercise to maintain an ideal balance. Perhaps it looks something like this…Go for a 3 hour bike ride and then enjoy a yummy peanut butter/chocolate ice cream waffle cone.

We are going to go to indoor spinning classes this fall at Team Impact Multisport Mark and I went for some “testing” before the classes start. It was a really interesting experience. You have your bike set up on a trainer (so you can ride your bike inside), the coach gets you to warm up and then starts asking you what your perceive effort is as he continually increases the tension on the trainer, every 5 min or so they poke your finger to take a blood sample to test for lactate.

See betty get her lactate tested

I wasn’t sure how I was going to do at first because my legs were burning in the warm up. As I got warmer I felt a lot better and was able to maintain a good cadence. I think I might have surprised the coach due to my lack of cycling experience and that I am not yet in optimal condition. I was able to take it to my max and get my heart rate up to 174 bpm and complete the time in my max zone he requested of me.  The coach was a very encouraging  fellow named Olly Piggen I think I am going to dig these classes.

The last 18 lbs should just melt off and if they don’t I don’t know what will work? I still can believe I only have 18 lbs to go. I have been looking at 80 + lbs to lose for so many years I can’t believe that I am almost there. What will life be like when I am not the chubbiest girls in the room always? Guess what I am now? I am an athlete. I like that label better.

cycling, fitness, nutrition, triathlon, weight loss diet, fitness, meal plans, nutrition, triathlon, weight loss