Pass me the Banana and Cliff Bars Please..

My swimming has been slacking anyway, so what better time to start hitting it head on...since biking and swimming are the only two things I can do right now until my foot heals up (and it is completely pain free on the bike, albeit inside--yipee!)

Oh, Yes, and the water running. Cannot forget that (as much as I would like too). Way Crazy BORING!!

Although I could not run this week I still managed to get a solid 12 hours of training in by biking and swimming and strength training including a most aweful 4 hour bike ride. But I learned many, many things on this ride:

• I Need Real Food on the bike--gels and liquid meals (like Perpetuem) do not cut it;
• Bananas and Cliff bars make me happy--(a calculated 280 cal. an hour while riding)
• I still need 24oz. of water an hour--(sweat rate calculated out after the ride)
• I need 2-3 Endurolytes an hour (electrolyte replacements)
• Our CO canisters and refills do not match
• I can survive a Mentally tough workout and
• I can keep my head in the game no Matter How Much I Wanted to QUIT!!

I may be able to swim and bike but limping around has put a damper on my regular paycheck work. I am out of work for the time being but since I only work 2 days a week, I have a lot of time off anyway (when the boys are not on vacation). When I am working, I do love my job. I am a Paramedic in the city and work 48 hours a week in 2 days and have 5 days off. I schedule around my husband's schedule (who also works 24 hour shifts) so one of us is always home with our boys after school, and it cuts down on the daycare or babysitting. I am hoping to return later this week.

Well that's it for now

Peace

Check This Out!

Feeling tons better...hitting the pool and bike like there's no tomorrow...laying low with the running. This is not the end of me!

Catching up on blogs and have to admit-its addicting. Check This Out ~Race Season is upon us~

Peace
angie

Watching Red Sox Kick Yankee Ass..

A little misstep perhaps...a tired ITB...a change in stride...AWW my foot...OuchOuchOuch...PainPainPain....

R.I.C.E. Yeah-got that. Not Better.
a little concerning--swelling, redness and pain..

ER visit yesterday with X-Rays and CTscan--No stress fracture--Yipee!

Crutches for a couple but it will be okay. It. Will. Be. OK.

Denial. Anger. Bargaining. Depression. Acceptance.

Went through them and getting on with it.

What I can do:
Ice
Elevate
Watch Red Sox kick Yankee Ass
Drink Wine
Bike
Swim
Drink Wine

What I Cannot Do:
Work
Poop Patrol
Rake
Yard Work
Grocery Shop

Looking at it this way, I guess its a win-win
Always a bright side...

Peace out
Bear

Professional Sky Diver?? Is there such a thing...

School Vacation--It kinda snuck up on me this year...

My oldest son went on a trip with his grandparents to Washington D.C. He didn't get stolen and We all survived. Mainly, I survived. I kept busy. Crazy busy. Besides the longer workouts in a build week along with managerial office work (my boss took a vacation so I filled in), giving our youngest son the alone time he needs with us, it kept my mind preoccupied. It's a good thing. Both kids had a blast this vacation. Actually--we all had a really good time and quality time well spent.

We took Ian to a simulated sky diving school: SkyVenture on Monday. He Had a Blast! He now would like to be a professional skydiver. I still need to upload the pictures so check out the picture gallery on their website: he's the one in yellow, the little guy on mondays 4-20-09 class, the 4:30pm time slot.

Mr Kodiacbear and I snuck in a 50 mile bike early in the week with the help of a new, most wonderful babysitter who played with Ian while we were gone. Then I went to work and they played some more.

Family reunited mid week and got to take in all the nice weather

[older picture as I did not get to go on the hike this week]

Little Life Happenings.

Peace

Kodiacbear

Moving Up in the World of Technology!

Ok. Let's try this mobile blogging. Here is the big test. SWEET!! Now No Excuses and month long hiatus.

You Own It

After our 10k road race, we headed out and watched our 10 year old niece in an ice skating show. It was her first solo performance and they all had worked really, really hard for it. I sat there in amazement, watched as little boys and girls got out on the ice--some by themselves, others in groups and wondered if I would have the guts to do that. You put yourself out there. It's out on the ice, in front of EVERYONE--you are on your own--and each step, you own it.

But I guess the Ironman is that....except you're surrounded by 2700 people. It's your day, it's your race and your reasons.

No one else that can get you up when you fall (and you will fall). There is the sideline encouragements and excitement and worry but it's you, all you. You Own It.

You own your training: your easy days, your Hard Days, your days when you just want to sleep in and not really do anything. You are the one who is out there (or Not) and reaps the benefits: better health, sleeker build, placement in age group, traveling a mental journey that you may not have known or understood, etc.

Now these benefits, I think, are different for everyone. Some are going for a PR or top 5 or a placement to qualify for a bigger event (even in skating). Some, like myself are going to finish with a smile on my face. Some are just performing to perform (like theatre) because its what they love to do. For everyone, the journey is a different one. That step on the ice means something. Just toeing the line--means something and whatever happens on race day happens and whats in between it--the everday journey just makes you stronger.

I got my training plan for next month and its kicked up a notch. My palms got sweaty when I saw it. Longer rides outside, nutrition plan in check, longer runs and longer swims--higher intensity. One day at a time.

I am Ready.

My journey this year is for The Care Center--giving girls a second chance to make a better life for their families and I can't wait!

Peace
kodiacbear

First 10K Road Race--Done!

St. Patty's Day 10k road race : 3,500 runners through the uphill streets of Holyoke.

And since this was my first 10k ever I had no PR to compete with and just had a great time...

Just in time....

The morning started a little hairy--needed to head to the race site to pick up the race numbers and then to the mall to get a belated birthday present for my sister in law (and it's not like I did not remember--I just HATE buying stuff just to buy it--seriously now)


Ran around the mall without a plan--Bad Idea--Very Bad when short on time and trying to get to a race..


Ended up a with a Pandora bracelet for her and now a gift for many more occasions to come:

It starts as a bracelet and have more than 300 different beads to choose from--mix and match or buy sets, take off, add on, it's all good and a great idea for moms.





Okay, back to race report:


Crazy mall shopping spree (dressed in running apparel mind you)-fly back home, meet in-laws who take the boys, pick up husband and off to the race--forgot to eat--wolf down banana and gel and water. Leave with 40 minutes to race time--forgot Garmin--turn around and go get it--35 minutes to go...

Head into the city and try to find parking along with the 3500 other racers that are already lined up--find one about 1 mile away from starting line...all the while getting dressed in car with numbers, Garmin, and timing chip.

Turn our jog to start line as warm up--7 minutes to start and we are almost there..Scramble our way to back of line, find a good friend named Carole, and GO--no porta pottie break and holding empty water bottle the entire way!

What an awesome sight! Since this is such a hilly course, we got to see the mass of people heading up the hill, so very cool--I cannot believe I have never done anything like this before (except for the Ironman last year--but thats sooo different). It was a blast. There were water stops along with beer stops. Spectators decked out in green.


Official time: 1:04:22 for the 10k and Garmin time 1:00:14 for 6.14. I needed to go by the Garmin since this was a mass start and was pretty happy with end result. I kept Zone 3 Hr until the last 2.2 miles and raced the end. Felt great and not sore at all. Worried a little about that but according to Coach all is well with HR and pace. I must be coming along. Slowly but surely.


Wow--there is something to this running thing.


I may just do some more of it.


Oh Yeah:

half way throught the course the finishers are doing the course in reverse and meet us half way to cheer us on!!


Happy Day everyone!
angie