My partner and I have registered for our 5K!!! It's the Lexus Santa Monica 5000 benefiting St. John's Health Center:
http://www.santamonica5000.com/index.html
It's on October 11th in Santa Monica. That's almost exactly 6 weeks away. I'm a little intimidated because it doesn't seem to be a run/walk event. Meaning I better make sure that I can run 3.1 miles in 30 minutes because I ain't coming in last!
Monday, August 31, 2009
I'm famous!!
So I'm at work. I decided to do a google search for this blog and guess what - nothing came up. There's something fairly comforting about knowing that this blog can't be found even if you're looking for it :)
So I've discovered another online training log that I much prefer: http://www.activetrainer.com/
I love it so far!! The information they require is much more realistic and you can map routes! I've mapped a 1/2 mile route and a one mile route right around my house!
So I've discovered another online training log that I much prefer: http://www.activetrainer.com/
I love it so far!! The information they require is much more realistic and you can map routes! I've mapped a 1/2 mile route and a one mile route right around my house!
DAY ONE
First walk. In my eagerness to get started I forgot that today was supposed to be a rest day. No worries, I think my body can handle it. I woke up this morning, listened to some music and then promptly found my running shoes. Got dressed and went downstairs to my apt. gym only to discover that another woman was walking in least than 10 steps in front of me. We have only one treadmill, so I lose. I was going to walk to a friend's building to use her gym's treadmill (if they had one) but as soon as I got outside I realized that I could just walk outside (imagine that :)
So I did. It was great. People were friendly, I got to see more of my neighborhood the time flew. The only issue is that I don't think I got my exertion rate up to 4. I did have my keys in one hand and a Gatorade in the other, so that probably slowed me down, but I felt like I couldn't kick it up much more without falling over. We'll see on the next walk (which I guess is tomorrow morning).
I had my swimming lesson this afternoon. My instructor was quite supportive and made me feel a little better about my stroke. I actually think I'm a slightly better swimmer now. I'm motivated to practice so I'm feeling good about the swimming. I gotta say it was more of a workout than I expected. At first I thought a 25 minute session was kinda short but after doing what I thought were a lot of drills, I asked her "are we almost done?" and she's like "no, you still have 15 minutes." I mean - damn. Still, I left happy. Then I went out and bought a new pair of goggles and a kickboard.
DAY ONE:
Today:
Workout: SWIM: Approx. 30minute lesson at Echo Park pool. 25 yard long lanes. 10 minute drive from my house and work. WALK: I walked through my neighbourhood today for 35 minutes at *3 and loved it.
Diet: Better not by much though. Bacon and eggs for breakfast; chicken for lunch; some Nutri-Grain bars and cheese and biscuits.....and wine.
Cigs: Normal (at least 10 - lost count)
Agenda for DAY TWO:
WALK: 35 minute walk.
SWIM: Short swim drill because I've got to try out the new goggles.
My new goggles rock!
So I did. It was great. People were friendly, I got to see more of my neighborhood the time flew. The only issue is that I don't think I got my exertion rate up to 4. I did have my keys in one hand and a Gatorade in the other, so that probably slowed me down, but I felt like I couldn't kick it up much more without falling over. We'll see on the next walk (which I guess is tomorrow morning).
I had my swimming lesson this afternoon. My instructor was quite supportive and made me feel a little better about my stroke. I actually think I'm a slightly better swimmer now. I'm motivated to practice so I'm feeling good about the swimming. I gotta say it was more of a workout than I expected. At first I thought a 25 minute session was kinda short but after doing what I thought were a lot of drills, I asked her "are we almost done?" and she's like "no, you still have 15 minutes." I mean - damn. Still, I left happy. Then I went out and bought a new pair of goggles and a kickboard.
DAY ONE:
Today:
Workout: SWIM: Approx. 30minute lesson at Echo Park pool. 25 yard long lanes. 10 minute drive from my house and work. WALK: I walked through my neighbourhood today for 35 minutes at *3 and loved it.
Diet: Better not by much though. Bacon and eggs for breakfast; chicken for lunch; some Nutri-Grain bars and cheese and biscuits.....and wine.
Cigs: Normal (at least 10 - lost count)
Agenda for DAY TWO:
WALK: 35 minute walk.
SWIM: Short swim drill because I've got to try out the new goggles.
My new goggles rock!
Sunday, August 30, 2009
6 week 5K training
New twist. My training partner suggested that, given our tri date is in February 2010, we should do a couple of 5Ks to keep ourselves motivated. Great idea and given that she's a much better runner than me, I want her to stay motivated. A race run will do that so I'm willing to put in the unexpected extra effort. Trouble is, the race we both really want to do is six weeks away. And I don't think it's a run/walk event. I think you're expected to run the whole way.
I found a training plan I really like. Let's hope it works. I've made a few modifications to hopefully ensure that I will be running 3.1 miles straight in 30 mins but race day. Here's the plan for the first week:
Mon: Rest (but I'm still going to do the 5 min run. I mean, c'mon).
Tues: 35 minute fast walk (exertion effort = *4)
Wed: Rest (but I have circus arts class that night so we'll call that strength and stretching)
Thurs: 25 minute run/walk: walk 5 mins; then 2 mins running followed by 3 mins walking for 20 minutes (*3/4)
Fri: 20 minute brisk walk (*3)
Sat: Rest
Sun: 45 minute run/walk: walk 5 mins; then 2 minutes running followed by 3 minutes walking for 20 mins; then 1 minute running followed by 4 minutes walking for 20 minutes (*3/4)
I found a training plan I really like. Let's hope it works. I've made a few modifications to hopefully ensure that I will be running 3.1 miles straight in 30 mins but race day. Here's the plan for the first week:
Mon: Rest (but I'm still going to do the 5 min run. I mean, c'mon).
Tues: 35 minute fast walk (exertion effort = *4)
Wed: Rest (but I have circus arts class that night so we'll call that strength and stretching)
Thurs: 25 minute run/walk: walk 5 mins; then 2 mins running followed by 3 mins walking for 20 minutes (*3/4)
Fri: 20 minute brisk walk (*3)
Sat: Rest
Sun: 45 minute run/walk: walk 5 mins; then 2 minutes running followed by 3 minutes walking for 20 mins; then 1 minute running followed by 4 minutes walking for 20 minutes (*3/4)
Training log website
I just registered with this training log website: http://www.buckeyeoutdoors.com/cgi-bin/login
Seems pretty cool. I'm sure there's more out there. Right now, it looks to track way more info than I can provide. Still, will be helpful in the future.
Seems pretty cool. I'm sure there's more out there. Right now, it looks to track way more info than I can provide. Still, will be helpful in the future.
Pre-Day One (it's gotta start on Monday because Sunday's still the weekend)
Tomorrow I start my training for my first sprint triathlon. I could tell you a long story about what an unlikely triathlete I am: I smoke; I've never been athletic - not even close; I'm not a fan of exercise e.t.c. But I know that story's been told because I've read it a hundred times in researching sprint triathlons. Suffice to say, it's going to be a challenge and I've started this blog to help me meet it.
Just about all of the training plans I've read suggest keeping a journal to track your progress. One of the plans also suggested starting a blog. Putting the commitment out into the universe and becoming accountable (even if it's to only a handful of people that may read this blog). I like it. So I'm combining the two. If I'm going to keep a journal, I might as well make it public :)
So, a few things from the outset. Why am I doing this? Probably a mixture of a mild, early mid life crisis with the desire to really get into the physical shape I've always dreamed of and the desire to quit smoking. Yes, I smoke. Hence the name of this blog. By no means am I glamorizing, justifying or otherwise supporting smoking. I want to quit. At this stage, "smokin'" just describes where I'm at now. At a later stage, the meaning of the term "smokin'" will change but only for the better. At some point I will be a smoke-free, bad ass triathlete. If anyone ends up reading this blog, you can help me decide when that time comes (and it will come before the race because about the state of mind).
What event is going to be my first triathlon? Don't know yet. I'm doing this with a friend (let's call her Jennifer because that's always the fake name I think of first). Initially we targeted a triathlon in November 2009 but we both agreed that it would be to soon. We also agreed that December is a terrible month to do this thing (particularly since there are so few choices). If we wait until after the holidays (when we're unlikely to train seriously) we're going to have to give ourselves at least a few weeks to get back into form. Therefore, we're going to do the sprint in February. Perfect. Six months of training. I read that too long a training program may cause you to burn out faster and lose motivation but I disagree. I need some time to get myself ready to train. The last thing I want is to take on a schedule that causes me to dread working out. People talk about no pain no gain. you have to push yourself to see improvement blah, blah. That's just rationalizing the suck factor. And one of the things I've learned about myself (see below) is that if it sucks, I will eventually stop doing it. Seems obvious but not really. That's where willpower and discipline are suppose to kick in. It just doesn't for me. Not over the long term anyway. So I aim to minimize the suck factor as much as possible. I want even progression I make to feel virtually effortless. I think that six months is more than enough time for a training plan with very, very gradual progression.
Why is six months so important? In the last year I feel as though I've truly learned how important patience and enjoyment is to exercise. Important to me anyway. In the last year I've taken a number of different fitness classes and they've benefited me tremendously. From my classes, I've learned that my key to exercise is as follows:
1) Enjoy it! Like most folks, I've struggled through step classes and circuit training and they suck. So I stay motivated for the first two classes and slowly but surely start to punk out by the third. I drive for an hour to get to my dance class. I rarely miss a circus arts class. I've become stronger, more flexible and more toned because of it. So whatever exercise I choose to do, I have to enjoy it, if not love it.
2) Be patient. Don't be in competition with yourself or anyone else. For all intents and purposes, I'm the special needs student in all of my classes and I'm okay with that. I know I've progressed and will continue to get better and will eventually kick ass!
3) Practice. Cliche - yes. True - yes. Practice, practice, practice. Especially in my dance classes, I've really learned to appreciate how important practice is to progression. The more you do it the better you get at it. That simple.
A triathlon six months from now works because I love swimming, love biking (casually along the beach but whatever) and I like running provided that I can do it :) Six months means that I can start as slowly as I want (patience) allowing plenty of time to increase my endurance, gain strength and hone my skills (practice).
What shape am I in now? Not bad, not good. In terms of weight, I'm probably close to the smallest I've ever been as an adult (when I was 25 I weighed 140lbs). I'm about 150lbs. I would be happy to lose ten more. But, weight wise, I'm not in bad shape. My circus arts and dance classes have also made me much stronger. There's still jiggle everywhere, but I'm much more toned than I was a year ago. HOWEVER, cardio and endurance wise - forget it. I always sucked a running or anything that required endurance, even in high school (when I wasn't smoking) and I smoke now. So I can't do much for too long. That's going to be my biggest challenge. By the end of this I hope to be smoke free and jiggle free and that's it. I'm not looking for much more.
So with that said, here's my initial plan (if you don't know me, know that it's almost certainly going to change). First, at least one month of super short, super simple training. Somewhere I read that at the beginning it's most important to develop a habit of working out everyday. True enough. If I can at least wake up every morning committed to getting dressed so that I can get a a workout (however small it is), that's progress. I'm not running more than 15 minutes unless I feel overwhelmed with the desire to do so. Given that most of the plans I've seen call for 12 weeks training on average, during Month 2 I will make sure that I am in the right physical shape to start serious training. I know that it may sound like a cop out but it's not. Most 12 week programs start with the assumption that you can run about 20 minutes. I'm nowhere close to that and I'm not trying to get to that in the first month. Ideally, by the end of the second month I'd like to be able to run 20 minutes no sweat. If that's the case then I can seamlessly transition to a standard training program at that time. Months 3-6 will be some variation of a 12 week training program. I really haven't decided on one yet, but I'm not worried. I'll have a better idea what program I use after I have a better idea of where I'm going to train. I still don't know of good places for me to bike, swim or run. I'm going to join a Tri club so I hope to get a lot of info then. I'm particularly interested to know where people do their brick workouts (doing 2 or all of the sports back to back). Regardless, the 12 week program is way down the road so I'm not really worried about committing to a particular one right now.
Okay, now for the official part of the journal. I'm going to keep general track of my workout, diet and cigs smoked. I'm sure I'll become more specific as time goes on (and time becomes more important) but we're starting slow and easy:
PRE-DAY ONE
Yesterday:
Workout: RUN: 5 minute run, 5 minute cooldown (that's right, FIVE minutes)
Diet: A lot of crap (snacks, alcohol)
Cigs: Normal (probably half a pack)
Today:
Workout: SWIM: Approx. 30 mins in my apt. complex pool. It's seriously tiny but I have no clue how long it is. Whatever. I messed around for a while but I did do 5 full laps of the pool. Given that time can get away from me in the water, I'm going to have to count laps. WALK: I walked all over god's green earth trying to find a swim suit. Apparently, the end of August is the "end of the season" so no-one had a decent bathing suit. Finally found one but it took 4 hours.
Diet: Crap (similar crap but not quite as much)
Cigs: Normal
Agenda for DAY ONE: First swimming lesson! 5 minute run.
We'll see how it turns out.
Later.
Just about all of the training plans I've read suggest keeping a journal to track your progress. One of the plans also suggested starting a blog. Putting the commitment out into the universe and becoming accountable (even if it's to only a handful of people that may read this blog). I like it. So I'm combining the two. If I'm going to keep a journal, I might as well make it public :)
So, a few things from the outset. Why am I doing this? Probably a mixture of a mild, early mid life crisis with the desire to really get into the physical shape I've always dreamed of and the desire to quit smoking. Yes, I smoke. Hence the name of this blog. By no means am I glamorizing, justifying or otherwise supporting smoking. I want to quit. At this stage, "smokin'" just describes where I'm at now. At a later stage, the meaning of the term "smokin'" will change but only for the better. At some point I will be a smoke-free, bad ass triathlete. If anyone ends up reading this blog, you can help me decide when that time comes (and it will come before the race because about the state of mind).
What event is going to be my first triathlon? Don't know yet. I'm doing this with a friend (let's call her Jennifer because that's always the fake name I think of first). Initially we targeted a triathlon in November 2009 but we both agreed that it would be to soon. We also agreed that December is a terrible month to do this thing (particularly since there are so few choices). If we wait until after the holidays (when we're unlikely to train seriously) we're going to have to give ourselves at least a few weeks to get back into form. Therefore, we're going to do the sprint in February. Perfect. Six months of training. I read that too long a training program may cause you to burn out faster and lose motivation but I disagree. I need some time to get myself ready to train. The last thing I want is to take on a schedule that causes me to dread working out. People talk about no pain no gain. you have to push yourself to see improvement blah, blah. That's just rationalizing the suck factor. And one of the things I've learned about myself (see below) is that if it sucks, I will eventually stop doing it. Seems obvious but not really. That's where willpower and discipline are suppose to kick in. It just doesn't for me. Not over the long term anyway. So I aim to minimize the suck factor as much as possible. I want even progression I make to feel virtually effortless. I think that six months is more than enough time for a training plan with very, very gradual progression.
Why is six months so important? In the last year I feel as though I've truly learned how important patience and enjoyment is to exercise. Important to me anyway. In the last year I've taken a number of different fitness classes and they've benefited me tremendously. From my classes, I've learned that my key to exercise is as follows:
1) Enjoy it! Like most folks, I've struggled through step classes and circuit training and they suck. So I stay motivated for the first two classes and slowly but surely start to punk out by the third. I drive for an hour to get to my dance class. I rarely miss a circus arts class. I've become stronger, more flexible and more toned because of it. So whatever exercise I choose to do, I have to enjoy it, if not love it.
2) Be patient. Don't be in competition with yourself or anyone else. For all intents and purposes, I'm the special needs student in all of my classes and I'm okay with that. I know I've progressed and will continue to get better and will eventually kick ass!
3) Practice. Cliche - yes. True - yes. Practice, practice, practice. Especially in my dance classes, I've really learned to appreciate how important practice is to progression. The more you do it the better you get at it. That simple.
A triathlon six months from now works because I love swimming, love biking (casually along the beach but whatever) and I like running provided that I can do it :) Six months means that I can start as slowly as I want (patience) allowing plenty of time to increase my endurance, gain strength and hone my skills (practice).
What shape am I in now? Not bad, not good. In terms of weight, I'm probably close to the smallest I've ever been as an adult (when I was 25 I weighed 140lbs). I'm about 150lbs. I would be happy to lose ten more. But, weight wise, I'm not in bad shape. My circus arts and dance classes have also made me much stronger. There's still jiggle everywhere, but I'm much more toned than I was a year ago. HOWEVER, cardio and endurance wise - forget it. I always sucked a running or anything that required endurance, even in high school (when I wasn't smoking) and I smoke now. So I can't do much for too long. That's going to be my biggest challenge. By the end of this I hope to be smoke free and jiggle free and that's it. I'm not looking for much more.
So with that said, here's my initial plan (if you don't know me, know that it's almost certainly going to change). First, at least one month of super short, super simple training. Somewhere I read that at the beginning it's most important to develop a habit of working out everyday. True enough. If I can at least wake up every morning committed to getting dressed so that I can get a a workout (however small it is), that's progress. I'm not running more than 15 minutes unless I feel overwhelmed with the desire to do so. Given that most of the plans I've seen call for 12 weeks training on average, during Month 2 I will make sure that I am in the right physical shape to start serious training. I know that it may sound like a cop out but it's not. Most 12 week programs start with the assumption that you can run about 20 minutes. I'm nowhere close to that and I'm not trying to get to that in the first month. Ideally, by the end of the second month I'd like to be able to run 20 minutes no sweat. If that's the case then I can seamlessly transition to a standard training program at that time. Months 3-6 will be some variation of a 12 week training program. I really haven't decided on one yet, but I'm not worried. I'll have a better idea what program I use after I have a better idea of where I'm going to train. I still don't know of good places for me to bike, swim or run. I'm going to join a Tri club so I hope to get a lot of info then. I'm particularly interested to know where people do their brick workouts (doing 2 or all of the sports back to back). Regardless, the 12 week program is way down the road so I'm not really worried about committing to a particular one right now.
Okay, now for the official part of the journal. I'm going to keep general track of my workout, diet and cigs smoked. I'm sure I'll become more specific as time goes on (and time becomes more important) but we're starting slow and easy:
PRE-DAY ONE
Yesterday:
Workout: RUN: 5 minute run, 5 minute cooldown (that's right, FIVE minutes)
Diet: A lot of crap (snacks, alcohol)
Cigs: Normal (probably half a pack)
Today:
Workout: SWIM: Approx. 30 mins in my apt. complex pool. It's seriously tiny but I have no clue how long it is. Whatever. I messed around for a while but I did do 5 full laps of the pool. Given that time can get away from me in the water, I'm going to have to count laps. WALK: I walked all over god's green earth trying to find a swim suit. Apparently, the end of August is the "end of the season" so no-one had a decent bathing suit. Finally found one but it took 4 hours.
Diet: Crap (similar crap but not quite as much)
Cigs: Normal
Agenda for DAY ONE: First swimming lesson! 5 minute run.
We'll see how it turns out.
Later.
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