Tuesday June 29 - So I have a plan. Not sure it will work out. But I swiped a 16 week training plan offline for an Olympic distance triathlon. The one I have my eye on is Portage Lakes on Sept 19th. Has anyone done that race? If so, please tell me everything you can about the swim. Do you start in deep water? Do you have to go very far out in the lake?

I only have 12 weeks until the race, but I am already beyond where I should be for this plan for week 5. But starting today I am going to train according to this plan. It calls for two a days twice a week, ugh. But I can do anything for 3 months. The plan basically looks like this:
Monday – Swim & Run
Tuesday – Bike
Wednesday – Brick (bike/run)
Thursday – Swim
Friday – rest
Saturday – Bike
Sunday- Run

I am not sure about the midweek Brick. I will likely swap the Sat bike with the Wed brick as the Sat bike next goes beyond 90 mins. But the brick goes up to an hour bike followed by a 45 min run. To complicate matters further I have a few races in between:

July 25 – Fairport harbor spring tri
August 7 – 10K corporate challenge with work
August 15 – Perfect 10 miler
Sept 12 – River Run half marathon – which was my A race, I really want to rock it, but if I do this Oly, it’s the week before.

I would be so pleased to do an oly before, I have never done longer than a sprint.

Monday June 28th: Hi Bloggy friends! Our computer is dead, dead, dead. We had ordered a new computer last week and then our laptop pooped out on us the next day. It’s like it knew we were done with it and it was its final F you. We decided to get a MAC. It’s our first, I hope we like it. MAC has a great deal right now where if you buy a Macbook, you get a free Ipod touch. Pretty nifty. So, anyway, I have some great pics to show you from this weekend, but I can’t until I have a computer.

I did the Munroe Fall Summi sprint tri this weekend. It was a 400 yard swim/12 mile bike/5K run. I finished in 1:27. It’s funny. This was my second tri ever 2 years ago. I finished that day in 1:27 and some change and got 3rd in my age group. 3rd! I thought they’d made a mistake. I finished the same this weekend and was 155th overall. LOL. Oh well. There were about 200 people; so not a very stellar performance. The stupid swim took me 10 mins and I was almost last out of the water. I had very respectable times on the bike and the run. I managed to go about 17mph on the bike and it was a little hilly and my chain came off which cost me a few minutes. On the run I was below a 9min pace. My transition times were a little slow. But that swim…oh its weird to be almost dead last out of the water. But the thing is, even if I had been in the first group out of the water, I would have only gained about 3 mins. I breast stroked my way through the swim. I tried to put my face in and hammer out some free style, but just couldn’t do it. My breathe gets too short and I panic. I hate open water swimming, what am I to do? I have another tri in July and my goal is to just finish the swim in under 10 mins. Modest goals. I also need to learn to not wear a wetsuit for such short swims. I am not alone though, there were plenty of people with wet suits on. If I really want to do tris I need to dedicate myself to swimming. My goal this winter is to really get used to swimming and hopefully join a master’s group again. I can also improve on my brick times for sure. I can’t be upset with my time considering I barely trained. There is an oly tri in Sept that I would really like to try. But I am not sure I can breast, side, fake my way through a 1000 yard swim….any tips?

After the tri we took Harper to Happy Trails animal sanctuary. It’s in Ravenna and they were having a 10th anniversary party. They rescue abused and neglected farm animals. It was horridly hot, but we had so much fun. Harper was thoroughly delighted to pet the pigs, rabbits, horses and goats. And she got a kick out of looking at all the different kinds of chickens. I loved it to. I am in love with pigs, how did I ever eat them! They are so loving and intelligent. They have mini pigs, but also big 1000+lb pink pigs. If you live around here, you should really check this place out. They are only open to the public for events, but are happy to show you around if you give them a call. They are doing great work and if you are looking for somewhere to donate a few dollars to, they could really use the help.

I was born! My how time flies. I must say that my 30th year was the best year yet. So, I bet this one will be even better. I have a tri this weekend. I am not really looking forward to it, not sure what I was thinking signing up. I have only swam for 4 weeks and only 2-3 times a week. Yikes. The most I have swam is 1500 yds. I know I can get through 500 yds, but I think I am going to be pooped. Last time I did this tri I got 3rd in my age group, so I am setting myself up to be disapointed. I am far enough off my pregnancy now that I am not amazed by every little thing that I do, lol. Oh well I will just treat it as a good workout.

This past weekend I met up with the lovely Iron G and we rode our bikes on the Mentor tri course and swam in the lake. My first open water swim in 2 years and I still have absolutely no ability once a wave of any size is near me. I do really love biking though and am so happy I got back on my bike. I honestly figured I never would for awhile, that I would just run. But I am a much better biker than runner and I hope Gary and I are able to bike together every other week and on the in between weeks I can meet my awesome tri gal pals.

On the food front, I am still eating vegetarian and having no issues whatsoever. I do have fish here and there, so technically I am a pescatarian. I am also eating pretty closely to vegan since dairy bothers me anyway. I feel really good. And I feel horrible when I do indulge in sugary treats. Which has been a bit too often since I got back to a desk job. It's amazing the difference in my body now and how much sugar really bothers it since I started eating really clean back in late April. Sugar is evil ya'll and so are animal products! They wreak havoc on your systems.

I put an excercise ball at my desk and sat on it this morning for about 2.5 hours. I can already tell that that was a bit too long for the first time. My back is killing me!

Have a great weekend bloggy friends, what are you getting into?

Work is kicking my butt right now. I have been going in early, staying there late and checking email from home. But it’s not going to always be this way I am just in the middle of a large product launch. Hopefully by next week the dust will have settled. Unfortunately when I get stressed I don’t watch what I eat. I wish I could be one of those people who barely eat when they are stressed but I am the opposite! I had 2 candy bars in one day this week! Ack. So, today I am embarking on another cleanse. Vegan, sugar/processed food free, mostly gluten free. I am not too concerned about the gluten, but will do my best to mostly have oats and rice as my grains. I am excited. My stomach feels rotten and I feel so so good when I eat this way. Goodbye diet coke. Goodbye splenda. Hello water with cucumber and pure maple syrup.

I got in a 1 swim, and 2 good runs of 4-4.5 miles each so far this week. I really don’t think I have it in me right now to marathon train and tri train. So, I decided to just focus on the 2 tri’s and the half marathon. My runs will be up towards 13-15 miles in Sept for the half. When I do my tri at the end of July I will decide if I want to marathon train or International distance tri train. One or the other, I am not going to try to work full time and do both. Remind me to come back and read this later.

I packed my nice little cleanse lunch up in my awesome new Tupperware set. I had my mom buy me new Tupperware for my bday and I threw out every last piece of my old one (well I recycled them actually. I love my new Tupperware and I am trying not to use Ziploc bags in an effort to be more green! I started my day with a coconut milk, amazing grass, hemp protein powder shake and some blueberries. For lunch I have tabouli and Mary’s Gone Crackers (yummy gluten free crackers) and a veggie burger, for snacks I have an apple, kiwi and carrots and hummus. Not bad!

I’ve been reading The Kind Diet by Alicia Silverstone (Love Clueless!) and it is a really good read. If you’ve ever thought seriously about going vegetarian, I highly recommend it.

Boy did I have a mess of a workout weekend, but some good came of it. I was very much looking forward to a strong, long stroller run on Sat and then my first real brick as preparation for my tri that is approaching way too quickly. I met my neighbor on Sat morning at 8am with Harper and the dog. My neighbor has her daughter as well. She is a bit faster than me, the humidity had to be at 100% and I went out way too fast. This equaled basically the run from hell. I was trying out a new waist belt with Fonzie and we were just a mess. We kept getting tangled. He was having a hard time with the heat and so was I. I think I also went out too fast to try and keep up with her. Needless to say I bonked miserably. By mile 4 I was doubting I could take another step. I dropped Fonzie off at the house, but I only made it 1 more mile without him. So, I did not get my 8 and I felt stitchy and sick. Just a bad run. But hey, it happens sometimes! So, I decided to eat something, drink a ton and go hit the pool to salvage the day. Well, don't you know I get to the pool and stinking water aerobics had just started! grrrr. So, I decided to buck up and take the water aerobics class as I was dressed for the pool. Honestly, I really really liked the aerobics class! So much that I would love to incorporate it in weekly, but just not sure I can fit it in. IT was really tough, lots of plyometric jumps and twisting core work. Loved it! So, the moral of the story is that you have to be flexible. Are you listening to me Tim!!! I think sometimes we get so caught up in our training schedules that we forget this is supposed to be fun!

Saturday night Gary and I dropped the kid off at the inlaws for her first overnight visit! We headed to Blossom to see my all time favorite band, Phish! I loved every minute of it and had so much fun. However, even though we were in the lawn, the smoke was out of control and I felt so ill from it being puffed in my face constantly. I don't know how in the world I worked in a bar for all those years. I cannot stand to be around smoke now. I thought I was going to puke. But we walked a ton and danced like crazy. We didn't get home until 1am. When I woke up around 8am on Sunday morning storms were rolling it. So, it was all too easy to skip my brick :( I am bummed now. But I enjoyed the rest day.

Work is super crazy so I am sickkkk of the computer. Hope you are all doing well bloggy friends.

Good morning Bloggy friends. I hope you had a great weekend. We certainly did. Saturday morning started with a bright and early 12 min stretch tape. Then I got the kid and husband up and we went to the North Union Farmer’s Market at Shaker Square. I’ve been to this market a few times, but considering I live 4 miles away, I haven’t been enough. The weather was overcast and threatening to rain on us, but we still managed to scoop up some goods including: free range eggs, homemade strawberry jam, some banana bread, asparagus and peas. From there we stopped by a few yard sales. We are in need of a cute dresser for our downstairs bedroom. We didn’t find anything. Once home, I headed to the pool and managed to swim 1000 yards in 28 mins. Not too shabby right!?! I lounged in the sauna afterwards and only let the totally naked woman, who insisted on laying down without a towel under her (ick), creep me out a little. The rest of the day was spent lounging and then I met a few friends including Trisaratops for a beer on a rainy patio at Brennan’s Colony. Good times.

Sunday morning I woke up to more rain, yuck. But Michelle and I managed to hammer out 4 miles together and then I did 2 more after she left. I played a game with myself and tried to run the last 2 miles in under 16 mins. and I did it! Well I did stop to catch my breath at the turnaround and stopped my watch, but still, I kind of did it.

Now it’s Monday and we’re back to the grind. I got up at 5am and headed to the pool. I was worried that the pool would be packed. I used to swim at the JCC in the am and I always had to share a lane and circle swim. I hate to circle swim. But today I was in luck, there were 3 other people there, but I had a lane alllll to myself. I again did 1000 yards. I am going to start to keep track of my swims so I can keep an eye on my progress, today I did:
200 kickboard warm up with fins
100 breast with fins
100 free with fins
100 breast
200 free
150 of 25 breast/25 free (did the free as fast as I could handle)
50 kick cooldown

I took a HUGE plunge and signed up for 2 triathlons today. I am a nut. I have been on my bike twice and in the pool twice in the past 2 years. Oh well, I know I can breast stroke my way through 500 yards. I signed up for the Summi Tri (where I got 3rd in my age group last time, despite breast stroking the swim) on June 27th and the Fairport Harbor Pirate tri on July 25th. I am very nervous about that Fairport one b/c it is in Lake Eerie. Which makes me want to pee my pants thinking about it. But everyone raves about this tri and it’s in the break wall so it’s not wavy. This will be a huge step to help me overcome my fears I think. In the meantime I better get out to Mentor headlands at least twice to practice swimming with no goggle visibility. Yuck.

If I make it through these without drowning hopefully I can do the oly at the Cleveland tri, but again that’s in Lake eerie, so I don’t know….

Also on a foodie note, I have been a vegetarian for over a month now. I am madly in love with these 2 soups and have had them a few times a week. If you’ve never tried them, get yer butt to Whole foods.

Hey there Bloggy friends. I am sooo ready for the weekend! Aren’t you! It’s going to be hard to top last weekend. My mom visited and we had a built in babysitter so the hubby and I took 2 long bike rides, ran a 5.25 mile road race and saw a movie. It was great. But this weekend, its back to the norm. My plan is to get into the pool tomorrow. I am so nervous. I wonder if I can even make it 100 yards! Then on Sunday I have an 8 mile trail run planned.

Not too long ago I did a vegan, gluten, sugar free cleanse. My goal was 21 days, I never made it that long. But I made it 14 days twice. I haven’t had meat since I started with those cleanses. So, it’s been about 6 weeks since I had meat. Anyway, my point is that I feel yucky. I keep eating junky carbs and it is amazing the effect you can see once you have cleansed. My energy level is so different and my gut feel sluggish. I almost wonder if I don’t have a gluten intolerance. I know I have a dairy one. I threw away the meringues and mini biscotti I had in my desk and I need to really try to back away from the packaged foods again. Yuck.

What is your favorite vegan snack?

Testing 1, 2,3. Does anyone still have me on their blogroll? I decided to give up monicaonthego.com and come back to my nice free easy to use Blogger address. I just couldn’t stay away from talking about myself :) To bring you up to speed. I am not back at work full time and Harper is going on 14 months. Oh my goodness does time fly. She is a wonderful little girl and doing great at daycare.

I have kept up my running and even did a marathon 6 months post partum and had a fat PR at the Cleveland half marathon a earlier this month. I am currently training for a half marathon in Sept and maybe for the Wineglass marathon on Oct2nd. I am not sure if I will really get all my miles in now that I am working again, so not sure if that will pan out.

Just this past weekend I got on my bike for the first time since before I was pregnant (so almost 2 years!). I forgot how much I love biking and really how “good” I am at it. I was never super fast, but biking comes a lot easier to me than running. I did a hilly 21 miler on Saturday and then a hilly, rainy 23 miler on Monday. It was great. Biking is in itself a lot scarier than running and I did fear for my life on the Monday ride since we were on a small street with steep downhills. But being out on my bike made me miss tris….so maybe a tri is in my future. Let me get back in the pool first!