Feeling better

How is training going? Nothing for so long.

I was sore this morning, neck, back and left leg but after going outside and working in the barn for a couple hours I feel better. I hope it feels good enough tomorrow to get myself back on track for Ironman.

I am planning on going to Torreys spin/core class, then a massage at 10am, that's going to be good. Then go for an easy run at the high school track with Linda for 35 minutes. Got to remember my heart rate monitor.

Tonight was swimming but I didn't go, do not want to overdo it today. Tomorrow is soon enough to start again.

My beautiful niece, Andrea,

 is due to have her first child any day now. She lives in Alaska and I've only actually met her a few times but she is my twins daughter and he has died. I am trying to do as much for her as I can to help make up for her not having a father. Her mother is a piece of shit that hasn't care for Andrea in years. I think shes living in a shed with her boyfriend and his mom with no electricity nor running water.

 I'd invite her to live with us but I don't want her boyfriend to come here, I hear he is bad news. If she asks I'll for sure open my home to her and the baby, a boy, but not the father.

Shes not answering the texts I've been sending so I'm wondering if shes at the hospital now?

Injury

How is training going? I have the flu and I wrecked my truck.

It doesn't get any better than this. I've been fighting off this fucking sinus infection for 2 weeks, then I got Lans god damn flu and today I wrecked the truck.

The sinus infection seems to be gone, finally after 2 antibiotics over 16 days. That was fucked up.

Then 2 days ago I got Lans flu, including but not limited to puking, shitting, headache, body ache, fever, chills, soreness. Anything and everything associated with the flu, I have suffered. Last night was a new thing I've never experienced before, my stomach kept bloating up. I'd doze off just to wake up to pain, sit up and belch a huge one. I'd get a little relief but then it would happen again, at least 4-5 times. That sucked. and the pain didn't go away, woke up hurting.

And this morning Helen's house sitter called, she hurt her back so she cant clean the horses runs so I have to go do it. FUCK. Lazy bitch. I've got the flu, I'm not being paid for this shit and she is so she needs to get off her lazy ass and do what shes been paid to do. FUCK.

On the way home I wrecked the truck. There were 2 accidents right together on the way home and I caused the 3rd. Rear ended another truck. What made me mad was the fact the fucking cop gave me a $189 ticket for 'inattentive driving' when I WAS paying attention, just couldn't stop in time. If Lan had fixed the anti lock brakes it could have stopped in time. And the $550 ticket for not having the insurance card in the truck is Lans problem, he better go tomorrow and get another fucking card and get it to the traffic court and he better do it this week.

My neck hurts, my head hurts, my left leg hurts. Lan JERKED the truck when he was pulling me home and that hurt worse than the original hit. He doesn't know how to fucking pull a god damned vehicle behind him, thats for fucking sure.

When friends race

How is training going? OK.

Today my friend, Steve, raced in the Seattle marathon. See him in the photo?

This was at the 5.3 mile marker along Lakeside Blvd or something like that, in Leschi Park down by Lake Washington.

 This was Steves second Seattle marathon and his finish time today was 2:03, a PR.

While we were on our way to the finish line we ran into Terry, a Sister TriBabe. Shes looking good!!

Elvis raced, he was right up at the front of the runners.

Look, here's Steve getting his medal from another friend, Sarah. Cool that she gave it too him.

He was trying for sub 2 hours but his garmin stopped working when he ran under a tunnel and he didn't know it, so he thought he was going faster.

  Oh well, he still did great and we're all proud of him.

Holidays and weight gain

How is training going? So-so.

Its Thanksgiving and I haven't done shit in the exercise department. I have missed 3 runs, a bike ride and 2 strength/core workouts. BUT I have had to work and cook/bake and travel more than usual.

This morning as I walked down to the barn to feed horses I could feel heat in my left Achilles tendon and ankle and my left knee is feeling weird. I didn't run the 2 hours I was supposed to run but I also had to work today. I did ice the ankle a few times today.

I want to run tomorrow but am waiting for the OK from Ryan, my trainer.

Middle Management

How is training going? I feel so much better.

Today I was able to run for 1:49:23 and completed 8.84 miles. I took a route around my neighborhood, running part of it with Lan. Lan ran 3.81 miles and I went 8.84. The temperature outside was about 37* but there was no wind or rain so it was actually pleasant and for once I was dressed for it. When I first went outside it was still only 28*.

I have that nice black thick winter jersey I got in France, its absolutely perfect. Wore my yellow jacket without the sleeves so I was nice and bright and could be seen. That was good since I was out till dusk and had to run about a mile after I should have been home. I need to remember that it gets dark at 4:30 now and plan accordingly.

I've been on antibiotics for 2 weeks and they are finally working but I can feel its still in my head. I just hope this stuff works and gets it all & I don't have to go back to the doctor again. Sinus infections suck.

The poor horses had to endure temps in the 20's last night. Lan and I took them extra hay at 10pm, brought Bunny Foo Foo

into the barn and covered her cage with horse blankets to help her stay warm. All the horses had blankets on.  I put a heat lamp in the hen house and shut their door.

This evening I did 'Middle Management', an Abs video workout that Ryan made. Its hard but I can do most of it and some I even have nice form. Some of the things are still difficult for me, like being in plank position and lifting my legs up & out to the sides, 20 on each side. Lucky me, I get to do it in High and Low plank. Or running in plank position without putting my butt up.

Tomorrow I have to run a 5k as fast as I can, goal time is 30 minutes. Its going to be hard but maybe if I can find a flat place to do it in??  I hope the weather holds out for me to do this and I don't end up running in the rain, because I won't. I'd have to go indoors or onto the dreadmill. Ugh. Then a swim lesson with Ryan in the evening. I'll miss the Masters class all week due to working on Wednesday.

How long have I been sick anyway?

How is training going? So-so.

This morning I used Afrin nasal spray for the first time, before I went to my spin/core class. Big mistake. It causes elevated heart rate so I felt like passing out on the bike and during the core workout. Almost left the class.

After I got home I went back to bed for 4 hours. That was a much needed nap since the medications have been causing insomnia. Before last night & today I had maybe gotten 20 hours sleep in the last 5 nights. Not enough for me at all and with all my exercising I've been exhausted.

But I think the drugs are working because I am feeling better in my head. I'll finish the drugs and see how I feel then.

I was reading online about the IM CDA cut off times & here they are:

What are the courses cut off times?SWIM: The swim course will close 2 hours, 20 minutes after the official start of the age-group field. (9:20am)

BIKE: 10 hours, 30 minutes after the official start. (5:30pm)

RUN: 17 hours after the official start. (6 hours 30 minutes after the bike cut off)

FINISH LINE CUT OFF: 17hrs (or 12 midnight)

I know I'll be struggling in the water and hope to hell I do OK on the bike. The run will be mostly a walk but I'll give it my damnedest to finish on time and to actually run it.



As I was feeding horses this morning I saw that Wifi had knocked down more fence, this time 3 sections. brat. I put her into The Pies stall and locked him in hers so he wouldn't get out.

She proceeded to just push her way out through his fence and go back into the barn to eat hay in the cart. I knew something was wrong in the barn when Hagen came slinking out of the barn with her tail tucked between her legs.  She broke a total of 7 fence insulators.

This is partly my own fault, Joey had knocked part of his fence down the other day & I unplugged it, so it wasn't shocking her. I need to go to Cenex and get more insulators, the good expensive ones. I wanna shock her ass bad to make her stop fucking with the fence.

Horoscope for tomorrow

How is training going? Swimming is getting better.

My horoscope for tomorrow:

The day ahead should be fairly positive, Denise, and you will begin to feel the faintest hints of a major change beginning. This new phase will last seven months. As it progresses, you will find greater freedom of expression, and you can expect to shift into high gear on subjects you used to avoid. Some friction with your brothers and sisters is likely to arise in the next few months.

OMG, the next 7 months?? That's JUNE!!!  I'm doing Ironman Coeur d'Alene on June 24th, 2012.

I don't care about the brothers and sisters crap. well, I do care but don't want to worry about it for the next 8 months.

Oldtown Silverdale run, again

How is training going? Good.

Lan & Matt Turner joined me for a run in Oldtown Silverdale today. We ran on the same course that I ran on last week with Linda & Rich, made a couple wrong turns in the park but it  was all good. The boardwalk was slippery as snot, the guys both slipped on a corner but recovered, I was just walking and almost went down.

They turned around and went 6 miles total, I went the additional 2 miles in 1:28:28, a good 5:27 faster than last week. But last week Linda was walking a lot and we waited for her.

Last night Lan set up his Serotta Fit Bike for me to train on indoors. Its got all the same dimensions that the FELT has so I can get used to riding in the proper position without having to bring the bike in or go out on the road in crappy weather.

Heres me at 1 hour:

Pretty ugly and scary!

I had to ride for 1:40 yesterday which I postponed literally until the last minute. Finished up at about midnight. Didn't sleep well at all then got up early to feed horses and head out for our run. Right now I'm dead dog tired and I'm going to go have a nap in a few minutes.

In other news, Sarah ran the San Antonio 1/2 marathon today in 2:14, yay, way to go Sarah!

Indoor trainer

How is training going? 1:40:00 on the indoor trainer.

Lan set up the Serotta bike fitting trainer for me to ride. I'm saying I went 20 miles but I could have easily gone farther. It doesn't have enough tension for me to stand and ride 'up hills' but I can get a good steady 75% effort seated.

I need to find a seat that doesn't make my girl parts go numb, we've tried everything, all my different seats, different angles, heights. We're going to have to figure this out, I can't ride 112 miles with numbness.

Here I am, in all my gory sweat.

Work, being sick and training

How is training going? Today is a day of rest, after barely anything yesterday.

I miss training hard for my Ironman!!!!  I know there is enough time to do get ready but I feel like I'm going backwards in my fitness level.

I did my YMCA class yesterday morning then headed to the doctor. I had finished the 5 day course of antibiotics for my sinus infection but I still have all the symptoms so decided to take matters into my own hands and not wait to get sicker.

The doctor at the URGENT care took 35 minutes to see me & by then I needed to leave for work. I was lucky, he did hurry once I told them I had to leave.

Anyway, he gave me a script for a 10 day course of antibiotics, nasal spray and Sudafed. This better work, I'm SO tired of being sick.

This is where I was yesterday:

  Fauntleroy Dock

and I got to work with this man,

Fred Schumacher.

 Hes really a nice guy, I love working with him. He actually lives not too far from me, in Olalla and hes been working for the ferries for a couple years. Hes got a good shift and I hope that IF I can stay on with the ferries that I will get a good shift like he has.

 But these shifts can change in an instant, all at the whims of the ferry gods. We belong to Inlandboatmens Union of the Pacific

and when anyone takes a leave of absence, retires, quits or gets fired we have to do a new bid. A lot of the jobs are permanent positions which are taken up by the people who have been working for the ferries for 20+ years, (many people have been there 35+ years) so on-call people like me and Fred fill in the empty spots. For the last 2 months I have mostly done some Thursdays 2:05pm-6:05pm. Not a lot of hours but its keeping me employed, barely.

I should see about getting unemployment.

Swimming with Ryan

How is training going? Well.

I had a swim lesson with Ryan this evening. it didn't go well, my sinus's are still all messed up so I had no balance, couldn't do very well. I'll have to practice more on his stuff and not just all masters swimming. At least I'm getting into the pool twice a week.

We worked on my stroke and breathing. I need to stretch out more and get my elbows up and wider. For breathing I need to do it sooner and not twist so much.

I have to work tomorrow but really wanted to go for a bike ride. Its supposed to be up to 60 degrees and that's warm enough to have a nice long 20 miler if I want. I still could, just not in the warm part of the day.

Day 3 of antibiotics

How is training going? Getting better.

I made it to the YMCA this morning for my Spin/Core class. The spin was hard but I discovered something: I'm working harder than some of the other people. The guy beside me, John, was pedaling at his own 90% and the bike resistance was set at 15. I had mine at 17 already and then I put it at 18. I know that not all the bikes go the same, some are harder than others, but mostly they are all set about the same. So I'm not just wimping out when it comes to my 90% effort.

I was able to go out and run with Lan, around our block for our perfect 3.1 miles. My training plan said run easy for 35 minutes and it ended up perfectly at 35.

I'm going to go out and play with horses, hope to get the whole barn cleaned so Cassie doesn't have to worry about it for today. I'll try to get photos.

Sinus infection

How is training going? So-so.

I finally went to the doctor the other day and found out my illness is a sinus infection. I'll be on drugs for 10 days or however long and I hope they kick its butt. I'm tired of being sick and its making my teeth hurt.

I'll get back  into the swing of things today with a 1:40:00 run out in Old Town Silverdale. I saw that Richard Siebert was going running with another lady, saw their starting time & parking area so asked Linda if she wants to crash their running party with me. So we will. Richard runs fast, I don't so his quick 6 miles will be over before I even get started. But I'm running for time, not distance. I should be able to go 8-9 miles in the time I've got to run but we'll see about that.

It feels good to feel better

How is training going? Much better.

I was able to get to the YMCA for my regular spin/sore class today but I couldn't do the Plyometrics, jumping jacks and stuff like that will make my dizziness come back. I did everything else though so that's good.

Afterward I ran a couple miles on the indoor track.

236 days until Ironman Coeur d'Alene.