Rounding Out May -- My 1st Triathlon

Memorial Day has come and gone, my brief but fun vacation to California is behind me, and the only thing staring me in the face now is my first triathlon, which is now only 7 weeks away.  Yup, you read that correctly, I've signed up for my first ever triathlon.  My sister conquered her first triathlon back in October, which you can read about here.  Since then, she's rocked another one, and will be competing in her third next month.  She is so awesome, and her strength has inspired me to give the tri a try!  

The event will take place right here in this desert town at the university.  In case you're not too familiar with triathlons, the first event is a swim, then biking, then a run.  The distances for my event are 750 meters, 12 miles, and 3 miles, respectively.  Even though I was exhausted from the three day weekend, I still forced myself to get a workout in yesterday.  Here's what I accomplished:

400 yard swim

   Warm-up: Swim easy 50 yards
   Main set: 12x25 yards swim - 15 seconds rest between each
   Cool-down: Swim easy 50 yards

I was able to complete my 12x25 yard swim in under 12 minutes, which gives me a baseline estimate of finishing the 750 meter swim in ~32 minutes.  Even though I'm a bit worrisome on whether I'll be ready in time, I'm still very motivated to get in that pool and work hard.  Here's my tentative training plan for the remainder of the week:

• Wednesday: Rest
• Thursday: Run 2.5 miles
• Friday: Swim 400 yards
     Warm-up: Swim easy 50 yards
     Main set: 6x50 yards swim - 15 seconds rest between each
     Cool-down: Swim easy 50 yards
• Saturday: Run/Walk with Dogs
• Sunday: Bike 10 miles

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50-day Fitness Challenge {Week 7}

The 50-day fitness challenge is officially over tomorrow.  Week 7 was a change of pace to say the least, but no less successful.  Here's the overview of Week 7:

• Ran 9 miles
• Walked 12 miles
• Outdoor workouts 6 of 7 days

You may be wondering why all of a sudden my workouts are taking place outdoors.  Well, there's a new someone in my life (and my hunnie's) and she's got quite the energy.  Please meet our Queensland Heeler rescue pup, Georgia Mae. 

She's a bit of a scaredy dog (especially with the thunder that rolls in during the monsoons), but a true athlete.  My hunnie and I take her out twice a day, and she can keep a jogging pace for a good 20 minutes or so.  I honestly have a little trouble keeping up with her sometimes...especially when she's chasing lizards down the desert paths.  Did I mention she's pretty?  She gets compliments from people at the park all the time (and lots of barks from the boy dogs).  As with any rescue dog, she's going to need some extra time and attention, but as with most dogs, time and attention is exactly what she wants.  With the 50-day Fitness Challenge near its end, I'm ready for the new challenges that Georgia will bring.  It'll be a learning experience for us both.   



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50-day Fitness Challenge {Week 6}

Week 6 was the busiest I've had in quite some time. Between unpacking, organizing, working and the 4th of July holiday, I felt like the energizer bunny last week. My hunnie and I ended off the weekend in Bisbee, where we walked the stretch of oldtown at least 3 times.   We enjoyed the sites of this old mining town, whose city motto is supposedly "Keeping it Weird". 

After that, we ventured on to Patagonia, where we hiked out to a private sandbar and enjoyed an evening swim.   Here is a breakdown of Week 6:

• Ran 11 miles + Walked 4 miles
• 3 Outdoor workouts
• Evening swim    

This week is off to a good start, although the days are very hot and humid.  I did my Monday run after the sun had set, and still I was sweating like a Popsicle at Miami Beach in July.  Week 7 is the final week of the 50-day Fitness Challenge, and it ends with a hearty distance run early Saturday morning.  Here is the plan for Week 7:

Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday	Saturday	Sunday
3 mi Run*	Bikram	3.5 mi Run*	SpinCore	Rest	6 mi Run*	Rest

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50-day Fitness Challenge {Week 5}

My hunnie and I are all moved in to our little house with the blue trim, and we love it! The kitchen is bigger than what I initially thought, and now my hunnie and I can cook together without being in each others' way. I've already made star shaped sugar cookies, red white and blue pancakes, pickled cucumber coleslaw, salsa, and patriotic skewers (recipe below).

Week 5 of the 50-day Fitness Challenge was also a big success.  I enjoyed a few early morning runs, even encountering 3 little coyotes on the hunt for some breakfast.  Luckily I didn't look very tasty to them.  Here is the breakdown:

• 2 outdoor workouts + 2 days of moving
• Ran 16.5 miles
• Group Strength class 

Week 6 is halfway over and I've already racked in 8.5 miles.  Here is the workout plan for the rest of Week 6 of the 50-day Fitness Challenge:

Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday	Saturday	Sunday
2 mi Walk*	3 mi Run	3.5 mi Run*	SpinCore	Rest	5 mi Run* (or hike)	Rest

Patriotic Skewers
1 container strawberries
1 container blueberries
1/2 bag marshmellows
12-15 wood skewers

Wash fruit.  Skewer fruit and marshmellows in any combination you choose, leaving 2 inches of space at the flat end of the skewer for holding. Pin It

50-day Fitness Challenge {Week 4}

It can be tough getting back into the swing of things after a vacation, but with the 50-day Fitness Challenge I not only stayed focused while in California but also maintained my momentum upon returning to the scorching desert. I racked up 15+ miles in SpinCore this week, and my hunnie and I enjoyed a 5 mile trek (and a very pink sunset) on Friday.  Sadly, I have yet to make HABIT a habit, as a business lunch Friday interefered.  I finished off the week with a morning run Sunday. 

Here's the breakdown of Week 4:

• 3 outdoor workouts
• Ran 7 miles
• 1 spinning class

Week 5 will be challenging.  With this coming Saturday/Sunday being the "official" moving weekend, I will have to get the majority of my workouts in during the work week, in addition to rooting for the university baseball team in the CWS...oh yea, and packing for the move.  I'm sure you're noticing my current workout plan for Week 5 only includes 2 outdoor workouts. But the way I see it, the heavy lifting we'll be doing this coming weekend counts as an outdoor workout in itself. Fingures crossed that me and the Wildcats can keep their momemtum up this week.  Here is the training plan for Week 5:

Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday	Saturday	Sunday
3.5 mi Run	SpinCore	Group Strength	6.5 mi Run*	Rest	4 mi Run*	Rest

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50-day Fitness Challenge {Week 3}

After having a less than perfect Week 2 of the 50-day Fitness Challenge, I was extra motivated to workout in Week 3.  To make up for missing my one day's workout in Week 2, I started Week 3 with a 3 mile run on Monday, despite it being designated  a "Rest Day".  I also made it to two group fitness workouts, both of which were a great change from my running routine.  The SpinCore class was part spinning, part cleanse...I'm pretty sure I sweat out all the toxins in my body during that class.  I've stayed on track while on vacation, even enjoying an early morning run through my hometown.

Here's the breakdown of Week 3:

• 3 outdoor workouts
• Ran 9.25 miles
• 1 spinning class, 1 weights/strength class

Week 4 will start off with some fun workouts, including beach football.  Alas, vacation doesn't last forever, so the later part of Week 4 will look a lot like Week 3's workouts.  Although Sunday is a Rest Day, my hunnie and I will be packing for our upcoming move (more on that to come later) so there will be some lifting and stair climbing to keep us active.  Here is the plan for Week 4:

Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday	Saturday	Sunday
Beach Football*	2 mi Hike*	Rest	SpinCore	HABIT	6 mi Run*	Rest

My sister, hunnie, and I are off to the foothills for a different kind of workout today....Gold Panning! Pin It

50-day Fitness Challenge {Week 2}

Well, I'm starting to realize that despite having a reasonable workout plan, my second week of the 50-day Fitness Challenge was as challenging to stick to as the first.  I had a serious case of the Mondays (on Monday)--I was so tired I could barely keep my eyes open, let alone get my fitness on.  I also had to make a few adjustments to my Friday/weekend workouts, as the university's baseball team made it to the NCAA Super Regionals, and my hunnie and I had tickets for all the games.  While the plan did encounter a few snafus (I was unable to fit in workouts on 5 days), I did get 5 workouts in over 4 days in Week 2.  

Here's the breakdown of Week 2:

• 3 outdoor workouts
• Ran 13.5 miles
• 1 Bikram Yoga class 

In Week 3, I hope to make it to a few group fitness classes at the university.  Despite heading off for vacation on Friday, my goal is to not get derailed from my workout routine.  This week I WILL exercise 5 out of 7 days.  Here is the training plan for Week 3:

Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday	Saturday	Sunday
Rest	SpinCore	Group Strength	5 mi Run*	Rest	4 mi Run*	3 mi Hike*

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50-day Fitness Challenge {Week 1}

The first 9 days of the 50-day Fitness Challenge are behind me.  My hunnie and I had a very successful mud run on Saturday, finishing fast enough to earn official race beer mugs.  Like a true military man, my hunnie wore his BMT boots while I did a final run in my favorite tennys (which I donated to the shoe collection after the race). 

But like drying mud, my fitness plan became trickier to maneuver over the next few days.  Does antiquing for a couple hours count as a workout?  The three day weekend may have thwarted some of my fitness plans, but by Tuesday I was back on track, and I managed to get a workout in everyday except yesterday, including a few outdoor workouts.  Here's the breakdown of Week 1:

• 3 outdoor workouts
• Ran 15.5 miles

I just signed up for the Summer group fitness pass at the university, so I'm planning on taking a few workout classes this week, starting with SpinCore on Tuesday.  Although its not on the training schedule, I'm hoping to fit in a Bikram Yoga class sometime this week as well.  Here's the training plan for Week 2 of the 50-Day Fitness Challenge:

Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday	Saturday	Sunday
2 mi Run*	5 lap Swim/ SpinCore	Rest	6 mi Run*	HABIT	3 mi Hike*	Rest

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50-Day Fitness Challenge

Desert Winters are the perfect time to bump up your outdoor workouts.  Mornings are cool and skies are clear.  On the other hand, late-Spring/Summer in the desert means both heat and the monsoon season.  With this extreme weather comes less motivation to get outdoors and stay fit.  I'm hoping to run my first full marathon in December, but with training beginning in two months, I need to find a way between now and mid-July to stay active.  Que in the 50-Day Fitness Challenge.  Beginning tomorrow, I will workout 5 days a week, and make opportunities (NOT EXCUSES) to enjoy the outdoors.  The focus of the challenge isn't on workout intensity as much as it is on sticking to a fitness routine. 

• Challenge dates: May 28 - July 17
• Workout 5 days a week
• 3 of 5 workout days must be outdoors
• Include variation in workouts (running, swimming, hiking, yoga, weights, etc...)
• Publish 7-day training plan every Monday of training week

To kick start the challenge, tomorrow my hunnie and I will be running with friends in a 3 mile fun run through mud and an obstacle course.  Here is this week's training schedule, beginning with the Mud Run tomorrow: 

Saturday	Sunday	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday	Saturday	Sunday
3 mi Mud Run*	2 mi Hike*	3 mi Run	3 mi Run/5 lap Swim*	Rest	Spin Core	Rest	6 mi Run*	Bikram Yoga

The star (*) indicates an outdoor workout. 

To end things on a motivational quote, Ben Franklin once said Energy and persistence conquer all things.  You can thank the inventor of the lightening rod for my 50-day Fitness Challenge mantra. Pin It