Finally back in the game

Today was my first workout in what feels like forever. It seems that my brain has forgotten how to pack my clothes for the gym as when I arrived I was missing my socks. Not good when todays workout is 12x1 min of hill repeats with a total of 56 minutes. I figured I could've gone home and forgot about the workout, but I figured enough is enough I need to get back on the exercise train. So I decided to go sock less. Surprisingly after my workout my feet didn't look any worse than when I started. I told Trevor when your feet look as bad as mine do they really can't get any worse.

Trevor is of to Toronto tomorrow for business. He leaves early in the morning and doesn't get back till Thursday evening. I am really going to have a hard time without having him here. I feel like I was completely spoiled with having him for one week straight during holidays. It really was so awesome. The only thing that I didn't really like was that ever since Trevor has quit drinking he likes to live vicariously through me and gets me to drink. Man---a week drinking "cervezas" sure did a number on me. My body is thankful that I am back to drinking water and eating regular food. The food was good at the resort, but a week of the same food get tiring.

Well another short blog, but I am tired.

Just a little blog

It's always so sad when a holiday comes to an end, but you can always tell it was a good one when you get back and feel as if you need another holiday just to recoup. We all had a great time and have some really great tans for now. I am not sure how long we'll be able to keep it up as Calgary has been having a lot of rain. Honestly I am too tired to write a huge blog, but thought a picture speaks a thousand words, so here is one of my creations. Perhaps I'll get the energy to blog about the holidays. Oh yeah...exercise...hmmm...seemed to have forgotten what that was while we were there. We did have a peak at the fitness room, but that's were we left it. I am hoping the time off will do me some good.

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

Leaving on a jet plane

It feels as if I have already began my vacation. Today was a pretty busy day with a lot off things to do. Among the list of things to do:

• Kamden-dentist appointment @ 9am
• Drop kids off at Oma's so she could watch the kids while I do errands during the day
  
• Trade in 6 of my empty MAC cosmetic containers to get a free MAC eyeshadow
• Go to the bank
  
• Go to Wal-Mart to get some last minute items for the kids
  
• Do laundry (including bed sheets---love having clean sheets when we come back from holidays)
  
• Pack for our trip to Mexico

I thought I would partake in a couple of coolers while I did some packing around the house (that's where my vacation feels like it started early). This morning I did have intentions of doing my 2 hour and 5 minute bike, but realized that I would feel like I was stressed on time and decided to opt out. I feel guilty about missing it----actually really guilty. I always feel worse when Trevor gets his workout in and I miss mine.

Well we are leaving for the airport in exactly 12 hours, so I better hit the sack soon....there will most likely be no new blogs till we get back...till then we will be enjoying the nice hot weather in Puerto Vallarta and listening to some of this...

lazy butt

That's how I have been feeling the last few days. Somehow I convinced Trevor on Sunday that I don't think I should do the long 2:10 run that we had planned, after all, it was Mother's Day. The previous day, Saturday, was a success. I did actually manage to get my full 4hrs and 30 minute bike in. However, with my sore right pinky I did have some pain. After Simon stepped on my toe the week before I tried to stay in flip flops for the week, in order for it not to get squashed in my running shoe. I, of course, did wear my running shoes during my gym workouts but was able to manage and it wasn't too bad. Saturday 4:30 in bike shoes was a little different. At about 2 hours in I had this shooting, throbbing pain for the remainder of the bike in my foot. I was so happy when it was time to get off the bike. Trevor came down at one point and I think I asked him if he could help me carry my bike to the garbage after I was done 'cause I didn't like it anymore. He just laughed. I started my 40 minute run. I was trying to go at least 6 mph, but I couldn't. The pain was not subsiding. I ran for 7 minutes and then ended up walking the remainder 33 minutes. Whatever...I did my time...I am done (at least for another few weeks---until I have a 5 hour bike---okay----don't think about it). Sunday---long run---skipped. Monday---Rest Day. Tuesday (today) is a 2:00 bike at race pace...oh man...that sounds like fun. Oh the joys of training for an Ironman. Sometimes I debate whether I should take a year off, but then I am convinced that I would become really lazy and gain 50 lbs...training keeps me in line and sane (or insane).

Who looks forward to bike speed intervals?

Me, that's who. Actually since training begun in March today was my first day of speed intervals. This week has been a build week. Today's workout consisted of a 1hr and 25 min ride with 12 x 1 min (speed intervals) and 2 minute recoveries. I began the workout with a 15 minute warm-up and then started my intervals. It was a lot harder than I thought. I was dripping sweat. Got a lot of glances. By the time I was on my 8Th interval I was wiped out, which made the remaining 4 extra tough, but I made it through. 26.41 miles and 1201.8 calories later I was finito. Today's workout went pretty good. I did actually get around to eating a pb and j sandwich before the workout, which gave me some much needed carbs. I absolutely LOVE PB...who doesn't?? As soon as I got home I headed straight for the kitchen to get the rice cooker and begin making some rice for me. I have a 4 hour and 30 minute bike tomorrow followed by a 40 minute run. My last long bike nearly killed me as I had very few carbs the day before and probably didn't hydrate as much as I should have. Trevor is always saying that it is better to learn these things during training than it is on actual race day. So tomorrow I am just going to get the time in and not focus on anything else. I have decided that I am going to use my HR monitor as I tend to over-exert myself at the beginning and have nothing left to give at the end...another lesson learned.



This weekend is Mother's Day and my Mom and Dad are coming over for supper on Sunday evening. I guess I have to sit down and decide what sort of concoction I will come up with for them. I was thinking of a casserole of sorts. Everyone loves a good casserole. Now it's time to hit the books again...

chaos at the doctor's office

Today I had my annual appointment for my physical with my family physician. I am pretty good about booking appointments way in advance in order that I get the earliest time in the day. I am pretty sure that I had booked the appointment sometime in the fall. Of course I arrived for my appointment about 10 minutes early because I have this thing where I get anxiety attacks if I am late for appointments. I waited in the waiting room till 10:20 am (30 minutes) when they finally called my name. As I am walking in the doctor's room the receptionist, who directed me to the room, says "so it says that you are here for a pre-natal appointment" to which I reply "no, I am here for a physical". Then she goes on to say that this is the third appointment today that someone has come in for a physical and it was booked under a different thing. Long story short...I ended up having a 5 minute physical...what a waste of time...I ended up paying $5 for parking for the hour. Needless to say I was not a happy camper.

Other than that, nothing new or exciting. I am kind of beginning to get some anxiety about our holiday. Why? Buffets. I am concerned that I am going to come back from holidays weighing ten lbs more. I just can't seem to control myself around food (especially the sweet stuff). I do have an appointment next week at the ED clinic with my doctor (psychiatrist) and am seriously debating if I should get some anti-anxiety pills. I don't know what to do....I love holidays but I just feel like life is out of routine and it stresses me out.

Today's workout went well...1:30 bike and 45 minute run. I feel much better when I have a GU Gel half way through workouts that are more than 2 hours. I think I managed to burn off just under 1700 cals...yeah!!

Growing up a little more everyday

I did it! Today I let the kids walk to the bus stop all by themselves for the very first time all year. Trevor wasn't too sure if it was a good idea, but I made sure that when we walked together that I went over the rules on a daily basis. 1) No crossing the street for any reason (the are able to stay on the same sidewalk around the circle and they are there) 2) No talking to strangers 3) Walk together. Trevor leaves for work right around the same time the bus shows up, so he actually passes them at the bus stop. I gave Kamden our 2-way radio so that she would be able to report back to me once they made it safely to the stop, but she still needs some practise using it, as she doesn't hold the button down completely while she is talking and ends up cutting in and out of conversation---not good---we'll work on that.

This week of training is a building week. Today I have a 1:45 bike (high aerobic)---last week I had a problem with running out of energy early on in the workouts. So today I am bringing along some food to eat mid-way. Tomorrow is our first hill repeats workout (50 minute run). I hate hill repeats, but I know it is something that needs to be done. I'd rather do speed intervals any day. The rest of the week is just as crazy (including Saturday's 4:30 ride and 40 min run).

Semester 3 of school has started once again. It seems like there is never much of a break. I get 6 weeks off in the summer, so that'll be nice. I am still trying to learn how to budget my time wisely and learn to study effectively. It has been a difficult process for me, but I am moving forward. Any tips would be appreciated : )

Oh yeah---almost forgot to mention that I think I may have a broken pinky toe on my right foot. How did it happen? Well my friend, Mr. Simon, decided to cut me off while we were walking around in the mall on Saturday. He has this crazy tendency to walk in front of me and basically come to a halt. On Saturday he did exactly that---cut me off, but then, by accident he kicked my pinky as well. It hurt so bad and as the day progressed the toe got bigger and more blue. It has been 3 days since the incident and the bruising is getting better, but it still is pretty swollen. Oh well...the joys of having kids.

Food Please!!

This morning I was so busy with packing up the kids for school and getting my stuff ready for the gym, and doing some laundry (folding---fun!!) that by the time I left the house at 9:30am I wasn't too far when I suddenly realized that I forgot all about me. I absent mindedly forgot to pack some food for me. I was on the way to the hospital for an appointment. I was hoping that I'd be able to stop somewhere and pick something up on the way from the appointment to Simon's school, but time was running out. Long story short---I ended up rushing to the gym for my 1:30 ride and 40 min run with nothing in my stomach except for cereal, which I had had at 7:10am...5 hours later I had a feeling things were not going to go well today. I struggled the entire time on the bike. In fact, by the time I finished my first hour I decided to just pack it in and go and get some food in me. I don't know about you guys, but when I am hungry I become very irritable and it's not fun hanging around me. So shortly after leaving the gym I was fed and happy once again.

Simon had his first soccer game of the season and he played goalie for the first half of the game. It was pretty windy and cold out, but they kept playing. The game was called about 30 minutes into it once it started raining. Tonight is Kamden's first game and it looks like it'll be actually desent weather. This morning when we woke up and looked out the window there was snow on the ground. Yep, it snowed overnight. However, now it is 12 deg and beautiful out there. Crazy, Crazy, Crazy!!

Sorry...such a borning post, but I've been busy with appointments at the hospital and school starts again for another semester next week---so lots of stuff to do, but not enough time---I guess that's life.