Showing posts with label swimming. Show all posts
Showing posts with label swimming. Show all posts

Last Week's Workouts

>> Tuesday, September 10, 2013

As I write this, Ada is having her very first uninterrupted, normal-wakeup time sleep in the past . . . several weeks. I feel extremely blessed to feel a bit caught up in my own rest and hope this trend continues, for all of us. I am pretty sure our neighbor will be mowing his lawn smack in the middle of her nap today (update: it rained all morning -- so no mowing -- hooray!), so I need to remember how I feel right now when she's inevitably stirred.

Today I wanted to write about my last week in workouts -- I haven't done it in a while. And despite being drained and pulled in a lot of different directions lately, I'd really found my groove between running around the neighborhood, utilizing our gym's childcare, and participating in races.


(Thanks for the photo, Laura!)


M: 30 minute stationary cycle + 5 mile run
T: 3 mile run
W: 1 mile run warmup + 30 minute stationary cycle, kettlebells + 4 mile run
R: Rest
F: 1/2 mile swim, 50 burpees, 3.2 mile run
S: 1 mile swim in 45 minutes
S: 10 mile "race" -- treated as solid long run at 8:10/mile (1:21:31)

= 60 minutes indoor cycling, 26.2 miles running, 1-1/2 miles swimming

*   *   *   *   *

I've been having motivation issues getting in my double digits runs lately, so I was happy to sign up for last weekend's race in our old stomping grounds, Ithaca, NY. I started the first half (a 5-mile loop) out at about 8:30 pace and then decided to run my goal half marathon pace (7:50 -- 1:42 finish versus the aggressive 1:40 I originally set out to meet) the rest of the way. I did this all based on feel, but my overall pace ended up at 8:10, so I think I met my mark.

It was actually sort of emotional for me to run through my old neighborhood -- but that's another story. Add to that the small group of 10-mile runners and I was totally alone most of the way. It was a strange experience because I can usually see at least someone ahead of me or hear someone behind me. I got a feel for what Stephen regularly experiences when he's in the front of the pack (though I was definitely in the middle!). I didn't realize it at the time, but I got 2nd for my new 30-39 age group!

Overall, I am somewhat foolishly hoping all my time on the bike and in the pool will supplement my half marathon training and replace some tempo workouts. With the steamy and hot end of summer and attempting to become a morning runner (which is on hold with recent events!), I have missed a lot of those hard effort workouts. There's really no good excuse, but at least I'm staying active most days of the week.

Oh! And here are some other things I've written related to running lately (btw, I don't get paid per click on these -- so there's no incentive for me to share them here. I'm just loving this new gig with WalkJogRun!)
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We Joined a Gym

>> Thursday, January 17, 2013


Ah, the gym selfie.


I haven't shared many of these types of photos in the last couple years. Probably because we weren't members of a gym. Probably because I find these kinds of shots annoying, both to take and share. Probably because the vast majority of my workout wear is old, mismatched, and smelly. You can't inhale Instagrams, but to be safe, please don't get too close.

I'm just excited, you see: I worked out in broad daylight with other adults in my midst. 

I wrote more about why and how we joined a gym (with our limited budget) on Writing Chapter Three. Now, I consider myself foremost an outdoor, solo-runner. It brings me the most joy and satisfaction to set out on a slick, snowy path in the cold darkness and be completely alone with my thoughts. One foot in front of the other. No regard for pace because I don't wear a watch 90% of the time.

So, yeah. Running on the treadmill with my stats front and center is difficult for me. I don't plan to do much running at the gym anyway. At least nothing over 6 miles. It was the pool that reminded me why it was such a good idea to join.

Today's workout:

  • 4.5 miles running (steady 8:30 miles)
  • 1/2 mile swimming*** 
  • driving there/getting it all done/showering/driving home before Ada's nap

***Obviously I'm not a real swimmer -- nor will I ever pretend to be -- because I have no idea how many yards that is. I am even too lazy to look it up on Google. It probably took me 25 minutes with my bastardized breast stroke. The lifeguard said to me: "Hey, whatever works!"

The locker room selfie.


Tuesdays and Thursdays are going to be my gym workout days. My parents have generously offered to watch Ada for 2 hours each of these days, which gives me enough time to get in what I did today. Perhaps even a class if I'm feeling frisky. I'm eying a kettlebell one.

Mostly, I want to swim a mile each time. I have to work back up, but half a mile wasn't too difficult. When I was swimming a mile 2 to 3 times a week way back in 2010, it dramatically improved my running performance. (I wrote a post about how humbling the experience was here.)

I'm super slow, but my heart pounds in my chest. Yet it also feels incredibly relaxing.

There's also all sorts of fun stuff like yoga that I'd love to get back into. Stephen and I will also be taking advantage of the childcare at the gym and possibly take a spinning class together. Who knows. The possibilities are many!

This isn't the last you'll be hearing of the gym. However, I will not be posting more photos like these for a while forever. In running news: We also have a 15K coming up in March along with a speedy 4-miler a couple weeks after that. Then a spring half marathon and a summer 15K.

What's your workout today?

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On Humility

>> Friday, December 17, 2010

As I wrote this morning about my slow return to running after injury, I've achieved some respectable PRs in my years of racing. I wouldn't consider myself a fast runner, but I'm definitely a fast-er middle-packer. I take pride in my speed. It's something I've worked hard for as an entirely self-made athlete.

Honestly, sometimes that pride morphs into smugness at the gym. Just sometimes, though. Because I've been a beginner, I've been injured, I've been burned out . . . and I know distance and speed are all relative. It's personal success, personal best, personal EVERYTHING that really counts.

Now, when I draft posts, I tend to try on a cute tone with my writing. I try to be funny. Interesting. I write stories and sometimes use hyperbole to get my point across. All writers do it. It's just more entertaining that way (for you AND for me). But this story, folks, employs no exaggeration. What I write now is real. It happened to me this morning.

And it left such an impression on me, that I just had to write about it. ASAP-style.

I had nearly finished my fifth lap in the pool -- my first 250 yards of the morning. My heart pounded hard in my chest. About 176 beats per minute, to be precise. My arms felt tired and tight. I even briefly considered getting out because I already plan to run later in the day. Swimming is serious business. It's difficult. It's exhausting. It's completely draining for me.

Anyway, I looked around. There were some other people in the pool: A woman my age (who may have been a fish, I couldn't tell because she looked more like a blur than a person at her pace), a few elderly ladies I remember from aqua jogging, a creepy guy standing in the shallow end.

The regular Friday morning crowd, really.

So, I finished that fifth lap. Then, I stopped to drink some water and stretch. An old man approached my lane with his walker. "May I join you?" he asked (all the other lanes were occupied). "Of course," I breathlessly replied, "so long as you're OK with my slow-poke speed -- ha, ha."

(I have this awful nervous laughing habit. But I really meant what I said to him. I swim at what I would describe as a 15 minute mile in running would be. Well, maybe not QUITE that slow, but you get the point.)

"Oh, that's fine," he said, splashing into the shallow end. (He was also half laughing because I could tell he thought I was kidding.) He slapped on his blue swim cap, glanced at the wall clock, and took off his glasses. I finished another sip of water, took a deep breath, and . . . we were off.

At first, I figured he'd probably swim close to my pace. Maybe slower. I mean. A.) He's old and B.) He had a walker. Right? Right. Well, very shortly into that next 25 yards, I felt a distinct pull. That movement of water at my feet that all swimmers recognize as another person nearby. Approaching. Passing.

Sure enough: This sweet old man was PASSING me. ALREADY.

And it wasn't some fluke early-in-the-workout sprint for him. This gentleman proceeded to pass me over and over and over (and OVER) again as I made my way another 20 or so laps. I'm thinking he swam a mile -- and quicker than I can ever imagine finishing one myself.

As my watch's timer approached 45 minutes, I saw the man climb the ladder and exit the pool. Yeah. I was still going -- I swam a total of 2,000 yards this morning (right around 1.15 miles in, uh, 53 minutes). But . . . I looked up at him to wish him a good day.

All I saw was this H-U-G-E grin on his face. This intent look of satisfaction. Of victory.

My swim trunks-clad butt had just been OWNED by a man in his 80s. I think I know I made his freaking day. Week. Month! And I'm happy to do it. He's a rock star in the water despite how I could crush him on land.

So, does this humbling experience make me think I have no business as a member of the Friday swimming crowd? Hell no. Does it make me respect new challenges? People of all shapes, sizes, abilities, and ages? Most definitely!

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What's Up? A Lot!

>> Tuesday, December 14, 2010

#1: As I mentioned last week, Stephen and I did a mini-triathlon at the Y on Friday night. It was all on the honor system. Fifteen minutes each of swimming, biking, and jogging. We both had so much fun doing this workout -- and we're planning to try to do something like it at least once a week.


Results:
  • Ashley: 650 meters (swim), 4.65 miles (bike), and 1.85 miles (run).
  • Stephen: 750 meters (swim), 4.75 miles (bike), and 2.87 miles (run).
Stephen ROCKED the run. Like, insane treadmill style! And though I'm not thrilled with my run time -- it's not too bad considering I've only recently started running again after almost 2 months off. My knee didn't hurt that night, but it's been a rocky recovery.

Any improvement is good, though, and so far -- it's not getting worse.

#2: On Sunday, we took to the gym again. For the first time EVER we each swam laps together.


I -- and seriously, folks, I never, ever thought I'd be able to say this -- swam a mile! Stephen did at least another 10 laps or so. He's speedy with freestyle. I do this modified bastardized breast stroke.

Uh. I really need those swim lessons -- STAT!

#3: My best friends Lindsey (remember Lindsey?) and John are having a baby boy! And the little guy is due in late February! We had a baby shower for her this weekend.


Stephen and I are both SUPER excited!

SUPER!
DUPER!
EXCITED!

#4: This jambalaya recipe will rock your world.


The secret is in the roux (Don't worry. I had no idea what it was either -- Moosewood Cookbooks taught me), which is a fancy word for a mixture of flour and oil (or other fat) that's cooked and ultimately used to thicken recipes in French cooking.

But you'll have to wait until tomorrow. (It's so worth the wait!)

#5: It's official. I'm a four-eyes geek for the winter.


Don't get me wrong, I love my glasses. But I cannot seem to stand wearing my contacts in the dryness of my office and home. Does anyone else have this problem? It especially irks me when I want to go running because glasses and running don't totally mix. At least not for me.

I've tried eye drops (but they don't work well because I like to wear eyeliner, mascara, and a touch of eye shadow). I've tried only wearing them for a few hours at a time (versus like 12 hours per day, every day). I've even tried washing them obsessively. Suggestions are welcomed!

#6: We totally didn't get our Christmas cards out this year. OK. We didn't even make them, for that matter.


We have this awful habit of really intending to do cards . . . and either getting them all made and not sending them out in time (so, we just don't send them out) . . . or just simply forgetting.

I guess we still have time this year. But I feel like we have so many other things to do. It's just something that'll need to fall through the cracks. If you're reading this right now. HAPPY HOLIDAYS! We love you. Really. It's not that we don't. We're just not card people, I guess.

Do you send out cards for the holidays? Are we just deadbeats?

#7: Keep an eye out for a special 12 Cookies of X-Mas guest post from Julie (Savvy Eats). (The event is already in progress, see Day 1: Salted Cornmeal Sugar Cookies and Day 2: Mexican Hot Chocolate Chippers.)


When she heard on Twitter that I fell horribly behind with my grand plans for the whole festive thing, she generously swooped in to help!

XOXO, Julie!

Thanks to Heather (Then Heather Said) for the awesome photo of me and Julie geeking out with our DSLRs. Which brings me, now, to X-mas presents!

#8: Stephen and I aren't doing the whole surprise thing for X-mas this year. Nope. We know exactly what we're getting each other. Present 1 is a mini spa-vacation for two nights. I plan to wear yoga pants the entire time. Eat, exercise, relax, repeat.


Present 2 is . . . SNOWSHOES! But these aren't your grandpa's bulky kind. We bought sleek, feather-light racing ones so we can -- guess what -- RUN in them.

And we're already making plans to run an actual snowshoe 5K or 10K later in the winter. We just need to find one that's close enough and that doesn't conflict with Stephen's Boston training. (Image Source)


That's all for now! We're absolutely thrilled with how the new comments feature is working. (Though, it is somewhat slow to load -- sorry about that!) And we hope you all are, too. Have a great Tuesday afternoon. Though it's only 14 degrees outside, we're planning to swim more laps. Thankfully, the Y has a sauna!

Tell us -- What's on YOUR X-mas list?! Just leave a comment or email us at neverhomemaker [at] gmail [dot] com.

Like what you just read? You can subscribe to the feed of these posts or follow us on Twitter or Facebook to be the first to know what the (never home)makers are up to. And we’ll love you forever!

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