69 days and counting

The race is 69 days away (or 2 months and 7 days)

The soreness in my knee worries me. Too soon to have this much trouble. How will I be ready if 10 weeks and my knee is giving me a hard time? I do not know what's wrong. My left knee hurts when I get up from a sitting position or when I first get out of bed. The past couple days we stayed in a house with the bedroom at the top of some steep stairs... all this stair-climbing was a challenge. I have not run in 3 days now, I will need to run either tonight or definitely in the morning. This crazy weather is not helping either. I woke up this Sunday morning at 7:30AM with temps of 86F with heat index of 97! The weather prediction calls for the top heat index today of 105F -- that is HOT even for this Florida girl. I am going to spend a little time on the internet this morning and find a fuel belt or something to carry my water. I do not like running while carrying the water bottle in my hand, swapping from hand to hand doesn't help either. I am just trying to find my stride and the water bottle thing is throwing me off.

Such a silly thing to bother me so... but with these temps I don't dare go out without liquids. My favorite is actually diluted Gatorade - 1/2 and 1/2 seems to be the mix I like best. I use this when on the bike too. Water is good but my body seems to want a little more but not full strength Gatorade. On the bike I always have two water bottles - one all water and one with the diluted sports drink. Gatorade is not as sweet as the others. I may try the "vitamin waters" soon -- some people like those too.

Going for it!

Ok, I am really going for it now. Put in my Beach Blast II registration for "local athlete - sprint duathlon" -- hmmm, local athlete sounds weird I am trying to get fit but I don't 'feel' like an athlete yet. My mind is starting its shift to Training, Training, Training followed by Nutrition, nutrition, nutrition. Daily mantras for me to remember. Focusing on the moment, giving "the Date" its due, but not getting too ahead of myself. Also, not falling for the trap of 'it's only one cookie or one piece of chocolate" "there's plenty of time left to get ready"... but --- if I get sidetracked just a little then race day will be here and I won't be ready.

The race is just under 3 months away, I know I can finish in my current state of fitness but I want to do well not just finish -- gasping across the finish line - begging for mercy. I want to finish strong, feeling powerful as I run, feeling strength as I pedal forward, and crossing the finish line knowing I did it! I am a strong woman -- hear me roar! Yep, that is the moment I seek, my moment as one "tuff chick" Ta Ta-Dah!

11 weeks and 6 days

Tick, tock - the clock is ticking along... Just under 12 weeks until the Beach Blast II -- I am signing up for the sprint duathlon. Fortunately, this is enough time to get ready. But - My training really needs to kick into gear. I took this week off from the gym -- I had 3 days with working during the day and then teaching at night. I am done with the teaching contract until late August. I can focus on getting legs under me, so to speak -- for the run and bike ride. I am doing better with my diet lately, not so many sweets... I love chocolate!!

Keeping hydrated is essential, the summer temps are brutal. Now that I am done with the night classes, I can get back to riding my bike to work... the only really difficult part of bike commuting is the ride home in the afternoon. The heat at 5pm is unbelievable! Asphalt is wicked as you stand there waiting for the lights to change... I have felt blistering heat climb up my legs and worried that soles of my shoes were melting. Currently, we have been scorching under an intense heat wave with temps reaching 100º with heat index going 105º & better. I am going to take my runs to the path early in the mornings Mon/Wed/Fri and commute 2x via bike and then Saturdays do long ride in the mornings. I know I can finish the race with my current conditioning but I really want to do well. My goal has been one sprint triathlon race this year, I am happy with a duathlon.

Next year will be a triathlon... a sprint for now. Finding a way to fit in swimming training is going to be tough, I am allergic to chlorine - so pools are out, I have to train in open water unless I can find a saline pool or something similar. Swimming lessons might not be a bad idea either, mainly lessons to build a 'decent' freestyle stroke. Fast is not as important as consistent with some endurance. Ah, my mind wanders... getting fit is so important to me and I think I have finally found the mindset to "stick to it" that when I find myself dripping in sweat I can keep pushing forward to finish it out. Livestrong!

Smoke-free

My smoke-free anniversary is drawing near, after nine years it is difficult to remember smoking. My current lifestyle is so different from ten years ago. I find cigarette and cigar smoke so offensive now. Meeting someone and smelling cigarettes has really become a huge turn-off. After watching my dad struggle with his emphysema and having my lungs also affected I have developed a strong distate for the smoking habit. It is possible to quit - it is hard but if anyone really wants to quit they can do it. I smoked for nearly 25 years and quit 'cold-turkey' as no other method worked for me. Getting healthy and fit became a priority and I put all my efforts in this direction.

Fitness and exercise have become a major part of my daily life, so much so that I get 'squirrely' if I miss too my workouts more than 3 days in a row. If all goes well, I should do my first duathlon in September - I do not expect to be fast, I just want to not be last. :-)