More tales of woe....

I spent some good amount of time looking at possible races, but even my second choice races don't look do-able. I'm hoping more races find their way on to the web when we get closer to tri season here in New York.

Why do I get the feeling that this season is going to bite? I think it's because even my husband, who is not a tri guy, is feeling bad for me. I think he's trying to relate it not being able to find a lifting competition...at least he feels for me....I can't wallow alone, after all.

Racing Woes

I found out yesterday, completely by accident, that the 2 races I was seriously considering signing up for, are both impossible to fit into my schedule. For the half iron distance I was toying with, my parents will be on vacation, so I get to watch their house (and the puppy they are planning to adopt this spring) and the one I do every year is on the same day as a friend's wedding. This means I have to go back to the drawing board completely!

I'm going to be spending some time this afternoon researching races and race dates, conference via email with my husband. I'm not looking forward to hashing out details again!

I'm at it again!

Yes, yes, I haven't posted in a almost a week, but I've been busy, I swear. I've been going to the gym with my mom and doing mostly upper body workouts, and yesterday for the first time in weeks, I went for a quick run. I am very impressed with myself.

However, with that run out in the cold came a cough. And with that cough came some cold symptoms, which I am trying to keep at bay. This, as I mentioned, is my fear about winter training. I think I'm going to just take it easy and nip all "pre-symptoms" of bronchitis immediately and thoroughly. I think that by being extra cautious, I might keep this winter trouble free...at least that is my hope.

Regardless, my run was both good fun and seriously annoying. I did find a well paced groove. My mouth watered the whole time, I attribute that to the cold air...my mouth might have been trying to keep itself moist. That and before I hit the woodsy part of the trail I was running on, a guy in a silver car screamed at me and shot my heart rate up about 10 beats. He really startled me. But all in all, it was a decent run.

Training fears

I've been thinking a lot about my lack of racing motivation...I mean, I've always done the bare minimum in the winter, but this is the laziest I've ever been. This is also the first winter in more than 5 years that I haven't been put on antibiotics for Bronchitis, or a Tracheal or sinus infection. Part of me wonders if the lack of exercise is actually keeping me healthy.

For those of you who don't know me, and I'm going to assume that is all of you, I am a severe asthmatic with reduced lung capacity. I take 3 medications daily to keep this all in check and that doesn't even include my emergency inhaler.

My breathing specialist is awesome. He encourages my training and loves to hear about my races, but I haven't had to see him because I haven't been sick!

I think that part of me is afraid that if I push myself, I will wind up with a four plus month long bout with a chronic cough like I did last winter. Or worse. I don't know.

However, I could always use the winter just to relax, do some weight training, yoga and some slow endurance stuff on my bike trainer and in the pool. I could just not push myself to move ahead quickly, but relax and enjoy myself and view it as a hobby and not as training.

I suppose it's just a matter of changing my mindset. Taking a very relaxed approach might keep me healthier and will prep me for when the weather gets warm and I'm less likely to catch something major.

It is certainly something to think about.

Maybe I just need a kick in the ass.

FIGHT!

Well, another glorious day at work. Today, two of the young men on my campus decided to have a brawl...rumor has it over an iPod. There were a bunch of teacher aides, a couple of teachers, and my principal and they could not keep these guys apart. It was stunning in the havoc that ensued. At one point, one young man knocked the other over has he was being led away. Peers came over and decided to kick him while he was down. Like animals. Unbelievable.

The fight finally was broken up, police came, "hit 'em while he's down" kid had a bloody chin, while the other had no visible marking. Strange, considering the first got many more shots in....

Working with troubled teens is always a blast. Without fail there is something going on. It is never dull unless the kids decided to stay home, which is the case on most Fridays. I'll probably have a very dull time tomorrow at work tomorrow, as it is Friday and no one will have any energy to get out of bed after the fight today.

And as for my personal life....still haven't done any training. Perhaps this weekend...

Nada

Hey, I know that I had grand goals for this past week, but not sleeping for 5 nights really can wreak havoc on your energy levels.

I don't know what is up with that, but it's horrible. It's not that I'm getting no sleep, it's that the sleep is in 20 minute increments...we're talking no *deep* sleep. Even with Tylenol PM
there is tons of tossing and turning. The best night of sleep I got this week was after having 3 glasses of red wine and a hot shower...and it was in 2 hour increments. Better, but not great.

I hoping tonight will be better. I'm really tired. That's all there is to it. If I can't sleep tonight, I'm going to call my doctor tomorrow. This sort of thing lasting for this long can't be a good thing.

Still nothing

Yet another day of nothing. Granted, today is my 2 shift day, so I can't beat myself up totally. Tomorrow will definitely be a day for a nice run...it's going to be fairly sunny and warm . I think a minimum of 2 miles is in order.

I think I should also set a goal of setting up the bike trainer for this weekend. I could do so much if I had it up. I could exercise when I get home late from work or from visiting my grandmother and it's too dark to run.

I'm part of an Ironman challenge where you do the distances of an Ironman over the period of a month. So far I've got 2 out of 26.2 miles of running done. I still need 112 miles of bike and 4200 yards of swim....not a good start, but not impossible at this point...

Another day, no dollah

This is day 2 with no training in view. Training got postponed yesterday due to terrible weather and a trip to Wal-mart (those union-busters) to get my soon to be 93 year old grandmother a new TV. Hers was on the fritz. For a very reasonable price, we got her a much larger set that doesn't require a cable box...very nifty for Nana!

Not so nifty for me. I got my "Good Samaritan" badge, but am lacking in the training part of my tri badge....hmmmm. I need to set up some definite goals for myself. Mini goals. Goals for my birthday in about 6 months....

1. Lose 15 pounds.
2. Compete in an Oly distance (minimum) race
3. Run at least one 10-K race that is *not* attached to a triathlon....
4. Set up and use the bike trainer that is sitting behind me as I type this.

This is all I've got for now. It's in writing, therefore, I must do it.

New Years and other nuisances

2006 is finally here and I've begun training. There, I've said it, it's out there and now everyone knows....well, as of yet, I've had no blog visitors, so only I know, but that's okay.

2006 is starting out okay with me. I rang in the New Year at a Black crows concert with my husband, father-in-law, and Kate Hudson. Granted, Kate Hudson was actually on stage, but she was there and I feel honored. We were 23 rows back with a perfect view of the Crows. The appeared to be about 9 inches tall, and the sound mix was perfect from where we sat.

The people-watching was excellent. There were tons of dudes with bunny ear dreads, dancing funky, getting chased around by the MSG security. The guy sitting next to me was doing all sorts of drugs during the show and did kick me softly as he was crawling over his seat after a beer run. He was really quite nice for a guy who was drunk and stoned, so that's fine by me.

At 1:45, when we came out of Madison Square Garden, I had my fist food of the New Year. A NYC favorite of many, a dirty water hotdog from a cart. Not the best way to start out the new year, but hey, when you're in Manhattan, you have to eat one. It's a rule for those of us who love hot dogs and don't live or work in the city.

New Years day, we ate with my parents and one of my many brothers. A feast of lamb, wine and darts.

I fully planned for yesterday to be my "great" beginnings. Chris, my husband, and I went for an Indian lunch. Somehow, a ton of Kheer (rice pudding) jumped into my stomach. Oh well, some things can't be avoided. I did run yesterday...

Yeah, I ran yesterday. In the rain. Two miles, in the cold rain. I was the only one out except for two other people walking their dogs. My dog was smart. He refused to go out in the rain. This rain has since turned into enough snow and ice to have my school day canceled. And I went running in it. Yetch.

I'm not sure what is in store for me today, but either I will make it to the gym later and get in a swim, or once Chris gets home, I'll have him help me set up the trainer...or really move his drums so I can set up the trainer....