Friday, January 26, 2007

Mental toughness, 9 miles, and a massage

Rewind to Wednesday. This week actually called for a swim, a 40 minute run, and strength on Wednesday. But I can't swim on Wednesday unless I swim in the morning because the pool isn't open after I get home from work on Wednesdays. So I scratched the Wednesday swim this week, since next Wednesday Michele and I are going to be traveling to Franklin for a tri swim class coached by the one and only Olympic gold medalist, Ashley Whitney. (Yes, I am excited!) I ran 3 miles on the treadmill in 28:29 then ran into Cindy's 5:30 a.m. toning class just in time. She does a lot of core work in this class, and it's a fun class, so it has to schedule.

On to mental toughness now. Ok, on the schedule for Thursday was a 1500 yd swim and a 40 minute bike. Briar and I went to the rec center at 5:30 a.m. and I ran 2 miles with him, then went down to the pool and did the 1500 yd swim. We chilled out in the warm water therapy pool for a few minutes, and then headed out for the mad rush to school/work. I loaded up my tri bike, packed a backpack, and decided I would do my 40 minute ride outside during my lunch break at work. The bike ride was supposed to be one leg drills on the trainer, but I wanted to test my mental toughness a bit and see how I would fair riding in 38 degrees with 14 mph winds. Whew. I'm not that tough. I did okay, but my poor little feet were so cold they went numb and I didn't think they'd ever regain the feeling. When they finally did (after I was showered and back at my desk at work), it hurt like hell!! Like needles were sticking my toes!! Ouch! Plus, the ride actually turned into 1hr 11 minutes because I got about 3/4 done with my loop and ran into a "road closed" sign, and had to turn around and go back the way I came, making the ride longer than expected. Anyways, I didn't feel like Rocky or anything when I got done. I was hoping I'd be proud of myself for getting out in the cold, but I was just pissed that my feet were hurting, actually. Maybe I'll try it again when it's over 40 degrees, but for now, road biking is on the trainer indefinitely. Go ahead, call me a wimp. I can take the sun, heat and humidity - but I don't like this cold stuff. If it's going to be this cold, could we atleast have some freaking snow?!?! So then I had to work late due to a computer software crisis, and I barely got home in time for Grey's Anatomy. Oh...and I guess I should mention...my dinner was a Sonic grilled cheese and an Oreo Blast. Nutritious, huh? I've done so well with diet lately, that's ashame. And it's not really that I ate one unhealthy dinner, but that since I indulged in the Oreo Blast, that means I'll crave one every day for the next 3 months.

This morning, the alarm went off at 4:45, and there was no skipping out on running this morning because I had planned to meet Michele at the rec center for a long run. I arrived about 5:17 and we took off. This is the first time I've run outside in a while. She was running 6; I was running 8 or 9. It was 21 degrees. COLD. But running in the cold is a different story from road biking in the cold. About a mile and we were warmed up. We discussed all kinds of things, I complained about the amount of reading Briar had to do for school, and before we knew it her 6 miles were finished. I did one more 3 mile lap down the greenway and through town for 9 miles in 1:23:07 (9:14/mile). I'm tossing around the idea of doing the Team Nashville 10 miler next weekend. Maybe, maybe not...we'll just wait and see. I'm not anywhere near racing shape, but it I thought it might be fun to just go run with a crowd of people and get a shirt.

Now, the massage. I purchased a gift certificate for a 60 minutes massage last November at a charity auction. I had intended to use it during my marathon training, but I could never get an appointment since the therapist was always so busy. Then I wanted to use it after the marathon, but still couldn't get in at a time that was convenient for me. So finally, I got an appointment at 8 a.m. this morning. Thus, the reason I made sure to do a long run this morning. The massage was good...she worked out lots of trigger points and loosened up any tight muscles she found. I talked to her about possibly getting one once a month since Friday at 8 a.m. is open for her. She even said if you get one per month for 3 months, the 4 is free. So I might could manage that.

I have to do a 1-2 trainer ride tomorrow and a 4000 yd swim...4000 yds...whoa. That will take me like, all freaking day. And I wanna go moutain biking too. And I also wanted to do that cyclocross race Sunday. And we're also going to go see the new Rocky movie. Yikes....I'm gonna have to make some choices.

8 comments:

Lance Notstrong said...

I hate riding in the cold too. But I have noticed if I ride with a group, it takes my mind off the cold. I think it helps to know that everyone is miserable with you in the cold too :-)

Kate said...

wow- 4000 yd is a loong way! You'll feel amazing afterwards though. Enjoy it :-)

TJ said...

i'm not a fan of riding in the cold, but i really...really... dislike riding in the wind. mrs. tj says it makes me grumpy. she's probably right....
good job on getting it all done.

Michele said...

At least you got out in the cold and tried the ride, that is more then I plan to do. It is all trainer riding for me until spring.

You must have really pushed those last 3 miles. Sorry if I slowed you down on the first 6. It was great to have a running partner again.

Janet Edwards said...

The worst thing about cold weather rides is always my feet too! Thankfully our roads are so salt & snow covered at the moment I would not want to take the bike out. Really nice going!

4000 yard swim...holy moly!

Rae said...

Great job with all the swimming! I bet you'll be able to tell a big diff this tri season.

We're not planning to do the 10-miler. I'm not a big fan of that course and their food afterwards is usually so strange it makes me nauseated just thinking about it. =) AND, with a marathon coming up in 6 or 7 weeks it's time to get some LONG runs in. Or maybe we won't and just see if we can wing a marathon. =)

Bob - BlogMYruns.com said...

I need a massage I was just telling another running peep I haven't had one in such a long time...I dont know how you ride in that cold chittt---BURRRRR

Check this Phil Simms out, I replied on my post but here it is as well...I grew up being a GIANTS fan... I googled his stats.

ok here is the dealiO

Simms 1,252 rushing yards and 6 touchdowns on the ground for 14 seasons...now that's about 89 yards a season NOT "5 yards" like Marino see that's more like it...and P. Manning avg about 78 yards a season over 9 years so far. ALL three pocket Q'backs but still moved a tiny bit.

BUT Marino is still a CEMENT FREAK in the pocket 5 yards a season --- That's CRAZY --lol

Joe said...

If you want to feel like Rocky, you have to wear those ol' skool grey sweats and you have to get 300 little kids to run with you and chant "La-na! La-na! La-na!". Do you even know 300 kids?