Boy did it feel glorious to sleep in today!
My regular Wednesday workout is a 6pm spin class – which means I don’t have to get up before the sun!
I can’t wait to see this guy tonight:
Although I’ll admit – I might try to leave work a smidge early in hopes of getting up close and personal with this guy instead:
SO HOT! (Well, hot for a spin bike…you know what I mean…hopefully…)
This new bike has now taken down from its mountain top in the front of the room and has been placed on the studio floor for us regular peeps to give it a spin (pun intended). The only problem with this theory is that you literally have to be the 1st person into the studio to get a chance at a meet-up…my chances of that are really very slim.
Keep your fingers crossed for me.
****************
Yesterday marked the 2nd day in a row that I got in a morning workout! (Yes, I’m proud of 2 days. Hell, even ONE day in a row is a feat for me!)
It was my first “two a day” for the Siesta Key Tri and I decided to get both workouts in before work instead of one before/one after.
I started out with a short interval run: 5 x 400 meters with 200 meter rest.
Just like last week. (Next week will be longer.)
Here are Garmie’s stats:
-
Interval 1 – 9:59 pace
-
Interval 2 – 10:04
-
Interval 3 – 10:15
-
Interval 4 – 10:45
-
Interval 5 – 10:14
I’m not really happy with this workout now that I see my times. Mainly because I was so much faster last week - and I FELT like I was running faster this time. (While I was running I was really happy with my effort.)
Maybe it’s because I was runnining in the morning and I’m not a morning person? Maybe it’s because it was humid as hell and 90+ degrees already? Who knows. All I know is I’m pissed about having only 1 interval under 10 min/mile.
Apparently I’m this guy:
That’s right – I’m a slow frustrated turtle.
In all seriousness though, at least each interval was 11 min/mile though, right? That’s still progress.
After my run I hopped into the pool.
I did a total of 350 yards, untimed. Here’s the breakdown:
- 50 yard easy warmup
- 200 yard freestyle
- 50 yard back stroke
- 50 yard easy cooldown
I don’t time myself only because swimming is enough of a challenge on its own. I KNOW I’m not a fast swimmer – and I have no desire to be a fast swimmer.
I just want to get thru each swim – and ultimately the triathlon – without drowning.
Here’s my question about swimming: How can I teach myself to breathe on both sides?
Right now I can only breathe to my right.
Every time I try to breathe to the left I sink about 3 inches and suck water in. I try a little to my left every time I’m in the pool…but it never gets better. I’ll admit I most likely cause this myself because I’m paranoid that I’m going to sink and suck water….Any tips about how to conquor this?!
***************
As mentioned in my last post, I put my mountain bike up for sale. He may already be gone today 
I can’t decide if I’m happy or sad about this.
My hubby is meeting someone this evening, and hopefully coming home with some cashola in his pocket.
I promise that when he’s sold for sure I will fill you in on my grand plan!
How’s that for bait and hook?!
My old swim coach taught me a neat trick to adapt to bilateral breathing. Two, in fact:
1- look at the same side of the pool whichever way you’re travelling. So you’re looking left on the way up and right on the way back. It takes getting used to, but it helps- I swear.
2- “Barb’s stroke” drill- breathe on EVERY stroke. It’s great, cos it slows you waaay down, and teaches you to breathe on both sides.
I’m still much more comfortable on my right, but I’m comfortable enough breathing bilaterally that it doesn’t matter if the chop is against me
Awesome tips Kate! I will try these out for sure!
Fingers crossedd that you’ll have an encounter w/ that hunky piece of machinary! Or is it machinery? Anyhoo, I cannot swim. Maybe to save my life if it takes less than a minute to save one’s life.
No luck with the hunk. He was actually GONE. But there’s 2 more new studs of a different variety – a Schwinn and a Spinner. Maybe next week I’ll get one of them!
I wouldn’t be too hard on yourself love. There are lots of reasons for it (like you listed, the morning, the heat, etc). You are just awesome for doing it! So many people break their training or workouts because of this weather. I think you are awesome!
Thanks Jennifer. I think you’re right – deep down I know I’m doing a perfectly fine job. I just have to keep plugging along no mater what the stats might say!
Do you usually drink coffee? If I don’t have a little bit of coffee before an a.m. workout I can barely make it through. Of course this heat and humidity isn’t helping either! Your training is going great! I’m sure you’ll make it through w/o drowning
And your post made me miss spinning so much! I need to get my butt to class.
Hey Jen – I actually just started drinking coffee before morning workouts. Otherwise I end up with a pounding headache
I think I may just need to get used to morning workouts – I’m terribly slow at ANYTHING I try to do in the morning, so I shouldn’t be surprised that I run slow too!
Hi Theresa,
I found your site through Healthy Living Blogs. I’m down in Sarasota!
Just wanted to chime in on bi-lateral breathing for you. Have you tried Total Immersion swimming? A former coach of mine taught classes, & the philosophy behind it is breaking down freestyle into steps (done as drills) in order to make you more efficient in the water. I suggest you find a class (usually a few weeks… local Y might have it) because it will improve your swim technique all-around.
Best of luck!
Thanks for the tip Colleen! I actually took a few lessons at the YMCA and watched some of the TI videos online. Just never an actual TI class.
(And glad to here there’s someone else in the SRQ area!)