My Country Playlist

When I was getting out of the car this morning at my parent’s local convenient store I heard a rooster crowing and it made me think about how much I enjoy living in the country. 

For some reason I have never listened to music while running or biking outdoors.  Now indoors, that’s a different situation, I watch TV.  I prefer and often run on the dirties (the dirt roads)!  My playlist consists of the sounds of nature.  I know, it sounds corny but it really does help me relax.  It helps me to remember the simple life and being a kid.  I have also learned to enjoy my own company and I believe it has made me mentally tougher.  I have to rely on myself to concentrate and stay motivated during a long workout.

So the next time you are stressed and overloaded take off without your music and/or technology.  I bet that by the time you get back you will have all life’s problems figured out!

Pumpin’ Iron for Ironman

Last year my husband and I started lifting weights 4 mornings a week.  I really enjoyed it, especially spending that extra time with him.  He got a new job this fall and it took a little while, well until Feb., to get his employees and their work hours straight.  We decided to start back to lifting weights this week!  I have taken it easy because I have some difficult/long IM cardio workouts in the afternoons.  I’ve decided to do lower weight with more reps and also focus on warming up and stretching after the workout (I’m notorious for not ever stretching).  Although I’m sore, I can tell that I’m just a tidbit more flexible.  Not only am I getting to spend quality time with my husband but I’m forcing myself to stretch. Sounds like a win win to me!

My Grandma Told Me So

The corns on my feet have are still bothering me.  It hurts to walk, like really really really hurts.  I’ve even contemplated going to the doctor and I never go to the doctor.  Thank the lord that it doesn’t hurt to swim, bike or run.  This weekend I accidently found something that helped!  Saturday night I decided to get in a hot tub for a couple of hours.  After a little bit my feet hurt worse, I had to get out a couple of times and walk across a wooden deck.  It felt like I was walking on hot coals and I was convinced that my feet would be in even worse shape the next morning.  Boy, was I wrong!  My feet felt 100% better the next day, NO pain!  Now, I vaguely remember my great-grandmother and grandmother talking about soaking their feet in Epsom salt and hot water years ago.  I didn’t soak them yesterday and they hurt a little this morning.  I’m convinced, time to get out a dishpan for a nightly soaking! 

Ahhh……. one of those weeks

I was so excited to start my IM workouts, the 1^st and 2^nd weeks were exhilarating, I’m going be an IRONMAN!  Well, the 3^rd week has not been so joyful.  I’ve been tired; I think it’s a combination of work stress and working out.  My legs have felt tired, my shoulders hurt, and I thought I was going sink like a rock at swim practice last night!  Now, I did expect to have bad weeks, this is just the first of several, I’m sure of that.  I just felt like I should commemorate my 1^st Yuck week with a blog post!

Each year I create a motivational page to go in the front of my workout binder.  I think that I need to take a good look at my 2014 page.  See below:

Corn, and not the good kind!

I have had feet issues over the past year.  I have always had a few calluses but a few rubs with a pumice stone a couple of times a week have taken care of them.  Then, last year I got plantar warts.  Gross, right!  After several treatments over a couple of months with Dr. Scholl’s Corn Removers my plantar warts were gone!   I would leave the corn pad and medicated disc on for 2 days, then cut the dead skin away with a pair of pointy finger nail clippers, then rub with a pumice stone.  I was sooooo excited to finally be rid of them! 

Then about a month ago my heel started hurting and I thought that I had a stone bruise.  The pain got worse and worse and then my other heel started to hurt.  I noticed these hard calluses looking things on my heels.  After some internet research, I realized that they were CORNS!  I thought that a callus and corn was the same thing, but boy was I wrong. The calluses were just annoying, the corns were Painful!  After more treatments with Dr. Scholl’s, cutting away the dead skin, and rubbing with a pumice stone, I’m finally seeing some progress.  Last night I decided to put Aquaphor (which is the best stuff ever) on the corns and cover with a band-aid for the day. Hopefully, this will help soften the skin.

Garmin 910XT Review

So I got this wonder watch for Christmas from my dear husband.  I have been so excited about it because I’m a data junkie!  I have used this watch during my first week of Ironman Texas training.  Here goes my review for each sport.

Running – I have completed some long runs and one interval run.  I have been using a Garmin Forerunner 110 so I was used to a GPS running watch.  However, the Garmin 910XT has more features that I really liked!  I like that I can customize the screen to show up to 4 data fields.  Currently, I use the time, pace, and distance fields.  I was curious and apprehensive about using the interval function.  I wasn’t sure that it would keep my total distance, but after I used it I absolutely loved it.  I set up the workout that included a warm-up, intervals, and cool-down. I also like that the watch beeps and vibrates.   I really enjoyed the little song that was played at the end of the workout!  Hey it’s the little things that count!

Bike – I have used the watch on the trainer and on an outdoor ride.  I have a power meter and I love that all my data is stored on one device and can be transferred to Training Peaks.  I do not have the bike mount so I turn the watch around so that it is on the inside of my wrist.  I can easily see the display screen while in aero position.

Swim – I have only used the watch once for swimming in a 25 yard pool.  I had a little difficulty keeping up with my laps.  My workout consisted of a warm-up, drills, main set, and cool-down.  I did not realize that the watch would not count the laps in which I used a kickboard!  My coach told me to stop the watch after every set and she recommended that I read DC Rainmaker’s Review.

Overall – LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this watch!!! All my data is stored in one place and can easily be transferred to Garmin Connect or Training Peaks.  The more I use this watch the more I love it!

The Beginning of IMTX Training

So I signed up for Ironman Texas 2014!  We had our meeting last night and needless to say, I’m somewhat nervous AGAIN!  I took 2 weeks off during the holidays because of travel and now with the frigid temperatures I’m finding it difficult to get back into training mode.  I had rather be curled up beside our fireplace with a cup of something hot with a book!  I scored some fabulous tri gear for Christmas, here is what I got:

• Garmin Forerunner 910XT – I am super excited about this watch!  I have been using a Forerunner 110 and I loved it.  So far I have completed 2 runs and 1 trainer bike ride with the 910 and I can already see the benefits.  I have a Powertap and the 910XT gives me so much more data and I haven’t even swam with it yet.

• Camelback Podium water bottles – I had one of these in the smaller version and I decided that I needed 2 matching ones for my XLAB rear hydration system.  I always have trouble getting the top of the bottle open and getting it back closed; somehow I always end up sticky.  Well, these bottles are the solution.
  
  
• Moving Comfort Vixen Sports Bra – The absolute best, no chaffing whatsoever.  It is also slightly padded so it helps flatter the figure and smooth everything out

• Brooks Ghost 6 – This is my favorite shoe and this version seems a little lighter than previous versions.  I also love the pink and navy color scheme!
  
  
   
• OakleyHalf-Jacket Accessory Lenses in H.I. Yellow – I haven’t worn these yet, but I do have these lenses in dark grey polarized and I often find them too dark when riding my bike or running on the dirt roads where there is dappled sunshine.  But I do need some type of glasses, especially when riding the bike because my eyes water.  I hope these work!
   
• The Stick TravelStick – I have tight hamstrings and I usually get my husband to rub me down with a tennis ball.  I have used this a few times and it feels great, I can also bring it to work with me.

• Ironman Championship DVDs – I got these for myself to watch on those long trainer rides!

Now that I’m geared up I hope that my motivation gears up too!