Monday, December 29, 2008

This One's for Nat

I got an email from my friend Nat today: "Checked out your blog. Nothing new..."

Well, first, this is really an instance of the pot calling the kettle "Chalphalon". She hasn't blogged since December 21st, so....harumph!

Seriously though, not much new.

Christmas was nice and quiet. We spent Christmas eve with my sister and brother-in-law. We ate wonderful food, played pool, ate more food and watch a little James Bond. (This was a gift for the boys). They all drank. I had coffee and cookies. Yum.

Christmas day was spent with Hubby's family. There was a whole lot less drama than there was on Thanksgiving, which was terrific.

Like most families, I find some of my relatives-by-marriage a bit difficult to deal with.

I'm sure (fact is I know, based on the way I get treated by some of them) that they think I'm not really a picnic either.

So it goes.

Hubby and I did not do a lot about presents this year. He got me personalized golf balls and I got him mittens from North Face.

We really have all that we need: a house that doesn't have a mortgage payment that is continually resetting; jobs (at least for today); health (the most important thing); cats (almost as important as health) and each other (the BEST!).

Thank heavens.

Oh: I'm also blessed with a number of wonderful friends, like Nat, who put up with me and love me for reasons unknown.

(Hey: it's YOUR turn to post....)

Monday, December 22, 2008

Friday, December 19, 2008

An answer for Oprah:

"How did I let this happen again?" -- Oprah Winfrey, wondering how her weight got back up to 200 pounds...

Hmmmmmmm.......Ummmmmm........wait a minute......ahhhhhh........ummmmmmmmm

Oh Yeah. How?

E-Z.

The same way all of us mere mortals gain weight: we eat more calories than we burn up.
I count myself as of of the mortals, Oprah. I'm right there with you, with a little more jiggle in my wiggle these days.

I blame it on cold Minnesota weather combined with minimal daylight hours and the fact that I'm not in training doing "2-a-days". (Heck, I'm not doing many "one-a-days"...)
I must also lay some blame on my absolute inability to put a fork down these days.

The only thing that is saving me is the Recession. Really.

In fatter (pardon the pun) economic years of the past, vendors and customers would send boxes and boxes of delicious treats to people working at my company.
I, in turn, would spend hours and hours circling the floor, finding and sampling all the treats.

The Recession has taken its toll on the "limit of $25.00" gift basket this year though, resulting in minimal treats on the floor. (I know, because my circling floor flight plan continues...).

So, I've put on a few lbs, but probably less than I would have had times been better this year.

I did some exercise in this week. I ran outside once. I swam once. I lifted weights twice and did a treadmill workout once.

Not really sure the activity counterbalanced the chocolate covered peanuts that passed my lips this week but, hey, the activity is a start.

The good news is that I realized that my first swimming event is coming up fast. I'm doing a swim clinic on January 11th, with my first tri following on February 8th.

Only a few more days until the holiday food fest is over and I can concentrate on getting my activity up and my weight down. Again.

Saturday, December 13, 2008

A blog in two parts:

Part I: Inspiration

I watched NBC's coverage of the Ford IronMan Championship (aka IronMan Hawaii) this afternoon. It was very inspiring.

I miss triathlons. I miss swimming in the lake. I miss riding my bike. I miss running outside without mittens (and jackets and hats and gaitors and long underwear and, and, and...).

Yes, I know I can swim in the pool (and I have -- a little); and I know I can go to a Spin class (I haven't in months); and I know I can run outside (which I do, with mittens, jackets, hats, gaitors, long underwear, and, and, and...)

Working out is just different in the winter. Sometimes the biggest part of the workout is getting to the workout.

I know there are plenty of people that are dedicated to the outdoors when it is cold, dark and snowy. My natural inclination is to nap, have covers on and eat calorie-laden foods.

In any event, watching Hawaii today reminded me of how much I really do like tri season and how I'm looking forward to getting back in to it.

My only "complaint" is that for the 90 minutes, the show focuses on the Pros and a handful of age groupers. It would be really wonderful to follow some of the back-of-the-packers -- kind of like the filmmakers did for "Spirit of the Marathon"....

Part II: Detraining
Greg, my tri coach from last summer, defines "detraining" as the period of time, where one is fully recovering from their training and race season by pulling waaaaaaaayyyyy back on volume and intensity.

I have been taking FULL advantage of this. For someone like me, this is not necessarily a good thing.

I've had a hard couple of runs this week. One on Monday, where I went out at night during a snow storm. Didn't feel very strong or fast, even with the little grippy things I wear on my shoes to help me stop from slipping.

I ran this afternoon and again, it felt tough. I haven't been wearing my heartrate monitor (because I'm detraining, don't you know...) and I felt sluggish and slow.


I was very glad to be out there though. The weather was nice today (in the 30's and overcast). We are supposed to get a big storm tomorrow and then it will be FREEZING, FREEZING, FREEZING.

Good thing I'm really in my best detrained shape!

Saturday, December 6, 2008

I live for the future....

The future 2009 racing season, that is.

I never really know if I should say racing season or if I should say event season.

I don't really race per se. I'm happy to participate and to have a "decent" time (translate: not last).

Racing sounds cooler though, and these days, it is all about the cool.

As in COOL temperatures.

Like freezing.

Literally.

With snow and ice and all those wintery things I really don't care for.

Welcome to December in Minnesota.

We got about 2 inches of snow last night, which meant when I woke up to go run 8 miles with my friends, I ended up looking out the window, then getting back in to bed and going back to sleepy-land for a few more hours.

Two inches really isn't much snow; I've run in worse conditions. I just couldn't really do it this morning.

Rational: "I'm not really in training right now, so why not nestle in for a little snoozy-pooh?"

Needed: A reminder that winter will end -- days will grow longer (only 16 days till THAT happens!) -- and my 2009 season will be here before I know it!

I've got my race calendar pretty much figured out and I've registered for most the events that I want to do.

Vacation Sports is offering half-priced entrance fees to people that register in December for their 2009 events.

That represents big-deal savings!

I signed up for two of their tris (New Bri ($32.50) and St. Paul Olympic ($42.50); There is a third I want to sign up for, but there is a problem with the event link.

I will probably sign up for Urban Wildland 1/2 marathon again in 2009 and some friends and I may try our luck by entering in to the New York City Marathon lottery.

I enjoyed running NYC marathon in 2007 and would love to run it again with my awesome running partners.

I also reserved a room at the Wisconsin Memorial Union for Sunday, September 13th -- the day of IronMan Wisconsin. The plan is to volunteer at the 2009 event and then, the next day, register for the 2010 race...

Just thinking of an IronMan in 2010 should get me through winter 2009....