old lady

so, at the gym there is an elderly lady  that walks, lifts and swims in the morning.  Around the same time as I workout.  In the pool today, she kept going and going.  And I realized, this old lady could probably take me!  I could be lapped by a 70 yr old!  Then I thought but I could take her in the run!  How sad is that!!

Toddler Triathlon

Check out this site for the Toddler Triathlon:

Toddler Triathlon

I thought that it was fitting since two of the 3 PMS Teamsters have toddlers.

back to a routine

Hi guys just wanted to say hi.  I am starting to get back into a routine now that life is settling back down.  Went to the gym this am and boy it felt good!  Gotta run!

Keep up the hard work!

Rach

Everything I Needed to Know I Learned in Kindergarden

My first post... hope it goes well.

Nutrition - found out how important it is to maintain a well balanced and healthy diet.

It all started on Monday when I ran 6 miles in the morning followed by weight lifting in the afternoon and basketball pick-up games. It was late by the time I got home and thought that I didn't want to eat so close to going to bed... so I had a salad, cotage cheese, and yogurt.

Tuesday, it was raining so I took the day off. Since I took the day off, I decided to cut back on my calorie consumption... again - salad, cottage cheese, yogurt.

Wednesday, I got up early and biked 28+ miles. Didn't eat much of a breakfast and was going to a buffet lunch so I thoguht that I would be OK if I comsumed a fair amount of calories at lunch. Good idea - bad results. By this time my body was so calorie deprived that I felt horrible. Consequently, I thought that it was just something I was going through and took the afternoon off and ate very little. Another bad idea. I thought that it was just a lack of sleep so I went to bed ultra early... later to only find out it was not the lack of sleep.

Thursady, feeling not so great, I didn't workout in the morning as planned even though I had a fair helping of sleep. At work I didn't feel my self. On the train ride home I decided that I needed to eat more because I bet it was my blood sugar getting low. So, I went to the grocery store to get back to my normal diet of chicken, vegetables, beans, salad, yogurt, and peanut butter. I took the afternoon off from working out!!

This morning, with my system revived of calories... it was easier to wake up and ran 6 miles at a great pace. I feel a lot better.

Well, that was a long story just to get the idea across that while training hard and trying to cut weight... proper calories consumption is needed and a well balaced diet. Not having the enough calories actually inhibited my workouts and set me back 2 days.

Take it from Mr. Slim Goodbody.... nutrition is important. However, it might not be a good halloween outfit!!

Positive progress

Well, I am trying to keep to a schedule now.  Thanks Arlene for doing this, it is a good source of motivation and it helps that there are people keeping me accountable.  Chuck is real good.  He is a good motivator.  We, Chuck, Abby and myself went to Sharonwoods bike trail Saturday.  I don't recommend it as a bike trail but it is a real nice running path around the lake.   There are narrow spots and long story short, I wiped out going through a tunnel.  No major injury other that pride.

Arlene, I was thinking how you plan to put off swim workouts.  One recommendation would be to workout your upper body.  ("Throw" Elizabeth and Matthew around a little.)  I felt it in my arms today probably since my legs are in better shape from biking and running.  

Good news, I have been feeling positive progress.  I fell a little more in shape this week. (It's not saying much but positive progress none the less!)

Keep up the training!

Rachel

No itchy-scratchy here!

Or you can bike here-no itch mites. Does bug repellent work for them?

The wet workout went well today.  While swimming I realized that I have not swam (for exercise) in 6 years.  It definitely is a different kind of workout.  To answer your question Arlene, I did not nap.  Chuck is a slave driver and has projects scheduled for me during nap time.

On a side note, these Cincinnati "itch mites" are terrible.  Chuck, Abby and I went for a bike ride around the 'hood and we both woke up with new bites.  Chuck has one on his eyelid!!  He has sworn off the outdoors (good because it is raining today) and wants to move to a different city.  I hope everyone's training is going well.  Jaime maybe we can go biking together sometime.  Arlene next time you are in town we can all go biking, I know where there are some good hills!

Rach

Great Outfit

WOW! I love the look!  pink and black look sharp!  But i probably would not put team PMS on it.  It's a silly name for just us.  I'll help make the suits if you'd like. . .  Do we want a wicking material?

Great job an the bike ride.  I was not as successful yesterday.  The little one had late night awakenings , so at 2am I decided I was not getting up at 5:30 to go swim.  I did make it there this am and it felt great!  I'll try to do it tomorrow as well.

I have learned trek bikes are nice and the cyclocross bikes are nice too.  Stability of a mountain bike and speed of a road bike.  Hybrid is a good way to go.

Happy training!

Rachel

Team PMS suits

I looked up some fabric at (don't laugh) Spandexworld.com. I can get some spandex/lycra for about $12/yd. I was thinking pink and black. Maybe it can say Team PMS on it.

As for design, I was saw a neat suit at teamestrogen.com. The TYR pink splice trisuit. Let me know what you think.

Arlene

Workout math

Elizabeth was cranky today, so I said let's go for a bike ride! Piled the kids, their sippie cups, some books, and a bunch of toys in to the trailer and away we went. Most of the ride away from home is uphill, so I started thinking about how much dead weight I was carrying. I figure that the kids together are about 55 lbs. The trailer is about 20, and all the devices intended to entertain them are another 10. I am pulling 85 lbs of dead weight uphill! Makes me feel better about only going 3-4 miles.

It wasn't entirely DEAD weight. Matthew and Elizabeth were very much alive. (well, Elizabeth slept the entire way home, but anyway) Matthew kept up with the "encouragement": Let's go, Mommy!! Which way are we going next. Red means Stop, Green means Go. (for the entire time until we could get to the stop light!) And making all the toys make noise, sing songs etc. Who needs an iPod?

In all seriousness, I am just using my old swimsuit, my old googles, and my old gym shoes. I am using my old bike, it is about 11 years old, but I love it. It changes gears with a little twist of my wrist, rides easily. If you are looking for a bike, I HIGHLY suggest a Trek. Mine is a Trek 320 Multitrack and has 21 (i think) gears-although as flat as it is here, I only need 7ish. It is a hybrid mountain bike/racing bike, meaning it is lightweight but can handle a few bumps. I don't think you'll find that one new, but if you find it used I would definately get it. If you are thinking new, I would look into Trek too, I am sure they have something simular to what I got: moderately priced (about $500), high quality components (shifters, brakes), lighter weight frame, sturdy design.

Don't know if you know this but the bike frame comes in different sizes. I think it is the length from the seat to handle bars. I remember looking into that when I got my bike (it is the same as Kevin's but maybe 1-2" shorter. )

I've been thinking about maybe making some tops for all of us to wear for the race, and maybe some bike shorts for me. (and anyone else that would like one). It depends on if I can get fabric (and time to sew!!)
Love ya! Arlene

wet workouts

Thanks for the correction on the goggles.  They are Kaimen by Aqua Sphere.  Still great goggles.  

I am going to try to get up early and start my wet workouts tomorrow.  So wish me luck.  

Arlene, it was great seeing you Monday.  You are looking great!  Well girls, I have to run!!

Rach