I joined the Tribe Women's Racing Team the beginning of December, paid my dues and will soon be racing in a pink kit. Awesome! And I'm so glad pink looks good on me. Ha! My only official team activity, though, aside from paying for my membership, was attending the monthly meeting in December. But I did run the Fiesta Bowl Half Marathon with Kate and had a great time (and ran a personal best by 16 minutes)! It was really cold out that morning, at least cold for Phoenix but come the middle of the race that was kind of nice. I would so much rather run in the cold than the heat!
The following weekend, after 1 final and one paper and before two more finals two days later we did the Usery Pass ride and I thought I was going to die. At first I was just fine but I couldn't get warm enough and all of a sudden I was so far behind everyone else! It sucked, really. So after loop one I ate, had a ton of water and pulled on borrowed gloves (thanks, Gary!) and we set off again. The sun came up high enough during the second loop, and the sugar + water + warmth helped me out a bit, at least enough to make it to the end. But I have definitely had better rides than that one!
Now home in Oregon for break I've been a bit of a slacker, sleeping in a lot and going to bed early and making batch after batch of cookies. I have gotten in a couple runs and a spin class, and bought a new pair of running shoes so am stoked about those (they're also pink. Theme here?); they're helping me to re-motivate, which is much needed right now!
So that's me! Merry Christmas and happy workouts!
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
Kate - December 16th
Here is a quick update for everyone.
Ride: This weekend's ride was great. We did a super hilly ride and I can tell I'm getting stronger. I'm still not fast and I'm still the back of the pack. I do feel a bit of improvement and that was nice. I like the new seat Ron got me. No soreness. The hole in the middle of seat really helps. I'm still a little anxious to see what would happen on a 60 mile ride.
Weight loss: I've been doing good with my food logging. I'm using the DailyPlate.com on the LIVESTRONG website. I think I am at the wrong activity level. The site tells me I can eat 2200 calories a day. I don't have a problem meeting that. Even though I've logged a ton of exercise time this week I still gained 2 pounds. I am going to take my calories down a bit to about 1700. Hopefully that puts me in the right balance. I really need to lose more weight if I want to perform better in these races. (or I need to be ok with finishing last. No thank you!)
I've got a lot of nervous energy for the HIM right now. It is going to be a wild ride!
Ride: This weekend's ride was great. We did a super hilly ride and I can tell I'm getting stronger. I'm still not fast and I'm still the back of the pack. I do feel a bit of improvement and that was nice. I like the new seat Ron got me. No soreness. The hole in the middle of seat really helps. I'm still a little anxious to see what would happen on a 60 mile ride.
Weight loss: I've been doing good with my food logging. I'm using the DailyPlate.com on the LIVESTRONG website. I think I am at the wrong activity level. The site tells me I can eat 2200 calories a day. I don't have a problem meeting that. Even though I've logged a ton of exercise time this week I still gained 2 pounds. I am going to take my calories down a bit to about 1700. Hopefully that puts me in the right balance. I really need to lose more weight if I want to perform better in these races. (or I need to be ok with finishing last. No thank you!)
I've got a lot of nervous energy for the HIM right now. It is going to be a wild ride!
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Bike Trainer Mishap
Today was my first bike trainer mishap. I neglected to secure my back wheel to the trainer and when I was pedaling standing up I started wobbling from side to side. The inevitable happened and my back wheel came off, I darted forward about half a foot and fell over. I now have a nice looking soon to be bruise on my right leg from falling on the chair next to me.
Today's lesson: Make sure the trainer is secured!
Today's lesson: Make sure the trainer is secured!
Monday, December 7, 2009
Bike Trainer
Way to go Katie!!! Personal best is awesome! Trujillo - you are a star too!
So I bought a bike trainer a couple weeks ago and it had been collecting dust in my garage. There are a variety of reasons for not using it. One: I am lazy. Two: I am a big chicken and afraid that I would break my bike in the process of securing it to the trainer. Three: It didn't seem like a great idea to set it up in the middle of the living room and take up what little free space we have downstairs. Fourth: did I mention that I am lazy?
Finally set it up this evening in front of the TV and next to the Christmas tree. My interest was renewed after reading an article in Triathlete magazine on the importance of bike training and how most people undertrain in that important area. The points of the article were that if you train more on the bike then your bike time will decrease significantly (of course) and more importantly, you will have more energy when you start the run. Sounds logical to me. My one long ride a week just isn't cutting it as I learned the very hard way during El Tour de Tucson. That sixty-six miles was a killer.
In short - Holy smokes! What a great workout. Sixty minutes on that bad boy wiped me out. My clothes were soaked about halfway into the workout. Completely drenched when I finished. Now I am feeling good and a bit tired. Most importantly I am feeling very pleased with my very efficient workout. Highly recommended. I am even thinking about jumping on the bike trainer again tomorrow morning.
So I bought a bike trainer a couple weeks ago and it had been collecting dust in my garage. There are a variety of reasons for not using it. One: I am lazy. Two: I am a big chicken and afraid that I would break my bike in the process of securing it to the trainer. Three: It didn't seem like a great idea to set it up in the middle of the living room and take up what little free space we have downstairs. Fourth: did I mention that I am lazy?
Finally set it up this evening in front of the TV and next to the Christmas tree. My interest was renewed after reading an article in Triathlete magazine on the importance of bike training and how most people undertrain in that important area. The points of the article were that if you train more on the bike then your bike time will decrease significantly (of course) and more importantly, you will have more energy when you start the run. Sounds logical to me. My one long ride a week just isn't cutting it as I learned the very hard way during El Tour de Tucson. That sixty-six miles was a killer.
In short - Holy smokes! What a great workout. Sixty minutes on that bad boy wiped me out. My clothes were soaked about halfway into the workout. Completely drenched when I finished. Now I am feeling good and a bit tired. Most importantly I am feeling very pleased with my very efficient workout. Highly recommended. I am even thinking about jumping on the bike trainer again tomorrow morning.
Sunday, December 6, 2009
Good news! Personal Best!
Good news! I got my Personal Best time for the half marathon today!! Hooray! It was by 21 seconds. The best part about besting my best is that my old best time was from 2004. I was stoked! There is something to this cross training thing. The last half marathon I did was January 2009 and my time was over 3 hours. (I didn't train very well) This time is huge for me! Not only did I have a decent time I felt good the whole run and had a little extra in me to push at the end. I didn't hurt myself either. I felt great!
I really enjoyed this race. It was the Fiesta Bowl Half Marathon. The run was through Scottsdale. The race was well staffed and had our times every hour. This race also had the best medals and a nice technical shirt. Pretty cool.
Because this run went well, I am going to push through and gear up for the full marathon now. I have a long way to go this next 6 weeks!
PS - Suzanne had a personal best too!! (of course!) Peter . . . he opted out of this race for Vegas. I'm sure he would have had a great time too.
I really enjoyed this race. It was the Fiesta Bowl Half Marathon. The run was through Scottsdale. The race was well staffed and had our times every hour. This race also had the best medals and a nice technical shirt. Pretty cool.
Because this run went well, I am going to push through and gear up for the full marathon now. I have a long way to go this next 6 weeks!
PS - Suzanne had a personal best too!! (of course!) Peter . . . he opted out of this race for Vegas. I'm sure he would have had a great time too.
Thursday, December 3, 2009
Kate's update
Kate Checking in! Here is my latest update. Peter, Suzanne and I have a half marathon on Sunday. 13.1 miles of fun! Peter and I are supposed to be training for a full marathon in mid January. Peter has been doing a great job with his running. I have not. This half marathon will determine what I do for the full. If it goes terribly I might have to down grade to the half marathon. If it goes well, I will GO FOR IT!!
Work out: Today I went to my new YMCA and did an hour long bike ride on the brand new lifetime fitness bike. I chose the hill circuit called "around the world". It was fun and I like all the information the machine gives you. I was able to watch myself climb, see my heart rate, see my rpms and mph AND watch the news! I need to have someone help me with the bike seat and help me decide what level to start on next time. I just guessed at both of those. I figured I'd know a little more then the Teenage girls working the front desk. My goal is to up my work out hours and meet my training times that my training plan laid out this week.
Shoes: I got new shoes today! My in-laws got me a gift card to RoadRunner. I am supposed to be training for a marathon so I need to upgrade my shoe. It came down to the Brooks and the Saucony. The Brooks seemed too clunky compared to Saucony. I've been wearing Brooks and like them but the others felt so light and cushy. I'll take them for a test run tomorrow.
Wish us luck on the half marathon!
Work out: Today I went to my new YMCA and did an hour long bike ride on the brand new lifetime fitness bike. I chose the hill circuit called "around the world". It was fun and I like all the information the machine gives you. I was able to watch myself climb, see my heart rate, see my rpms and mph AND watch the news! I need to have someone help me with the bike seat and help me decide what level to start on next time. I just guessed at both of those. I figured I'd know a little more then the Teenage girls working the front desk. My goal is to up my work out hours and meet my training times that my training plan laid out this week.
Shoes: I got new shoes today! My in-laws got me a gift card to RoadRunner. I am supposed to be training for a marathon so I need to upgrade my shoe. It came down to the Brooks and the Saucony. The Brooks seemed too clunky compared to Saucony. I've been wearing Brooks and like them but the others felt so light and cushy. I'll take them for a test run tomorrow.
Wish us luck on the half marathon!
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Scheduling Showdown
Law school hijacked my training. I don't know how it happened, but it definitely happened. And coupled with a Thanksgiving weekend at home with fantastic food, my family and friends and a place far far away from the law library, I've slid into slackerdom. So a quick run through of the last week + . . .
Tour de Tuscon was great! It was my first competitive cycling event (I did the Portland (Ore.) Night Ride this summer, but really, how competitive can you be when wearing a bumblebee outfit complete with wings?) so I had no idea what to expect, other than a lot of people pushing and shoving at the start line. It was exactly that to begin with! But it was good energy and a lot of fun. The actual race was even better than the start, and thankfully I had to eat only 2 Clif Bars and a couple of Espresso Love Gus (my favorite, in case you were wondering) during the event. Someone put some serious hills in that 66 miles, though!
But really, I had a great time and even made friends with the race bandit* who was trying to draft off me during the middle third of the race. I got all mad and feisty, let him pass me by and then drafted off him for a bit, then he drafted off me again and I slowed down, went aero and shook my head at him. "It's hard to draft off you," he commented. "You're too small." Ha! And then we rode together until about mile 45 when his chain fell off his bike. Crossing the finish line was pretty cool, too, although for how much we paid to ride I expected filet mignon and champagne instead of stale bagels and warm water. Oh well. Next challenge is the ride + the 1/2 marathon right after. Yikes!
I was a bit sore Sunday but put in 8 miles on the treadmill anyway and was less sore afterwards. Monday was super easy at the gym (read: beginning the slackerdom), Tuesday & Wednesday included no gym time, unless carrying around my suitcase counts, but I did make it home to Portland in one piece! Thursday morning in between pie baking I organized my very own Turkey Day 10k on the treadmill. I got in a couple more runs over the weekend, but they were little; I should be thankful for all the training time I put in during the last few months which gave me a little leeway for finals time. The next couple weeks will be tough in terms of trying to fit it all in with three finals and a 15 page paper than I still need to research for, but I can sleep when I'm dead.
This weekend is the Fiesta Bowl 1/2 Marathon (still need to sign up for this) which I swear is the cheapest 1/2 I've ever heard of: $45! That's it! Very exciting. Chances are that I will run that, or at least as much of it as I can coming off my vacation.
So that's that! In the Thanksgiving spirit, I am so so thankful for my supportive friends and family, enough food every day for my 6+ meals (2nd lunch, anyone?), and for my health. Even though I'm not super fast or super buff, I can't help but think how awesome it is to be powerful enough to ride a bike 66 miles, to run 8 miles or more.
*race bandit: a person who participates in a race, often using the aid stations along the course, without paying the entry fee. Give-aways are lack of race number and timing chip, sneaky moves when race officials are present, and ditching just before the finish line.
Tour de Tuscon was great! It was my first competitive cycling event (I did the Portland (Ore.) Night Ride this summer, but really, how competitive can you be when wearing a bumblebee outfit complete with wings?) so I had no idea what to expect, other than a lot of people pushing and shoving at the start line. It was exactly that to begin with! But it was good energy and a lot of fun. The actual race was even better than the start, and thankfully I had to eat only 2 Clif Bars and a couple of Espresso Love Gus (my favorite, in case you were wondering) during the event. Someone put some serious hills in that 66 miles, though!
But really, I had a great time and even made friends with the race bandit* who was trying to draft off me during the middle third of the race. I got all mad and feisty, let him pass me by and then drafted off him for a bit, then he drafted off me again and I slowed down, went aero and shook my head at him. "It's hard to draft off you," he commented. "You're too small." Ha! And then we rode together until about mile 45 when his chain fell off his bike. Crossing the finish line was pretty cool, too, although for how much we paid to ride I expected filet mignon and champagne instead of stale bagels and warm water. Oh well. Next challenge is the ride + the 1/2 marathon right after. Yikes!
I was a bit sore Sunday but put in 8 miles on the treadmill anyway and was less sore afterwards. Monday was super easy at the gym (read: beginning the slackerdom), Tuesday & Wednesday included no gym time, unless carrying around my suitcase counts, but I did make it home to Portland in one piece! Thursday morning in between pie baking I organized my very own Turkey Day 10k on the treadmill. I got in a couple more runs over the weekend, but they were little; I should be thankful for all the training time I put in during the last few months which gave me a little leeway for finals time. The next couple weeks will be tough in terms of trying to fit it all in with three finals and a 15 page paper than I still need to research for, but I can sleep when I'm dead.
This weekend is the Fiesta Bowl 1/2 Marathon (still need to sign up for this) which I swear is the cheapest 1/2 I've ever heard of: $45! That's it! Very exciting. Chances are that I will run that, or at least as much of it as I can coming off my vacation.
So that's that! In the Thanksgiving spirit, I am so so thankful for my supportive friends and family, enough food every day for my 6+ meals (2nd lunch, anyone?), and for my health. Even though I'm not super fast or super buff, I can't help but think how awesome it is to be powerful enough to ride a bike 66 miles, to run 8 miles or more.
*race bandit: a person who participates in a race, often using the aid stations along the course, without paying the entry fee. Give-aways are lack of race number and timing chip, sneaky moves when race officials are present, and ditching just before the finish line.
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