Shin Splints

Currently I am sitting on the couch with my legs propped up with ice packs and ace bandages on them. I'm suffering from the aches and pains of shin splints. I've had this before but new shoes, and ice massages took care of it. Not this time. I bought new shoes at least a month ago. No help! Actually they are worse. I'm trying to stay away from running this week because I know once the weekend is here I won't be able to help it. So today I did heavy weights. Its frustrating to be hurting. For some reason I want to run more than ever today, I guess its because I know I shouldn't! Any ideas?

Small Miles Rough Conditions

Its been a good training weekend! Yesterday my training group ran Buckhill. If you live in the Orlando/Clermont area need I say more. Its only 5 miles but the hills are very steep. Then we did a 1 mile cool down. I think I worked above heart zone because yesterday afternoon I felt horrible. I didn't know how I would make through the night. Then today I got up went to early church and then went out to the West Orange Trail and road the bikes to Clermont. The wind and the hills were crazy! But I felt so much better than yesterday. The company was great though it made the ride 100x's better. The mileage wasn't very much but the conditions all weekend were enough to feel as though the miles were big!

New Triathletes in the making!

Yesterday after my workout I went to Showalter Park to help with a new Tri Training group of women. This group of lady's are definitely out of shape but they want to complete their first triathlon. Many of them haven't done any type of working out since high school...and they are in their 40-50's! Its a little hard for me to understand but very good for me to be there. I actually really enjoy helping other people reach their fitness goals. Its so much fun to talk to them and find out what makes them tick and how you can push each one of them a little differently in order to complete the same goal. Last night we taught them about their heart rate. We did several test with them to figure out what their heart rates were and then had them run different amounts depending on their levels. Its funny how I'm suppose to be out there encouraging these women but it ends up they are very encouraging to me and spending time with them actually makes me want train harder.

The Triathlon of Life!

Lately I've been thinking a lot about the people that have helped me get to where I am today. The roots they have planted in me to help me grow into the person I am and want to be. Life is challenging but if you think about it, its much like a triathlon. As we start out in the swim it can be very scary if you are the one being kicked and punched and swam over. After a few 100 yards hopefully the water has calmed but your not there yet. You still have a challenge ahead. Then God graciously gives you a break in T1. Its a chance to gather everything you think you might need for the next big mountain that you need to climb. In life I have found these transitions to be a time to recharge and gather people in my life that mean the most to me and that helped support me through the "swim". The bike in my world has been an emotion point for me. I don't want to say that I hate being on the bike but it is not my strong point. But I love those point on the bike when I've made it to the top of a hill or I feel the wind at my back. Just as in my day to day schedule when people I love or those that I don't even know say small encouraging words on a bad day. That's what makes going down hill so much better. Once again your at a transition point. Your completely warn out but you can't give up. Your so much stronger at this point, its just one foot in front of the other. Your mind plays games with you, "you could always walk", and this is where the voice of your coach, tri-friend, friend, parent, spouse, child saying "you can do it, your almost there!" pushes you to the end. The mountains are still there but its faith, love and discipline that will get you over the finish line. Life is a struggle but we can all make it if we love one another and have faith that our heavenly Father will never leave us.

Getting Back on Track

I started the day off with an early morning swim. Man was it cold this morning! I almost turned around and headed back to bed. But I was advised otherwise. I'm so glad that I stuck with it though. It was a great swim and I was even able to keep up with the 1:45 minute pace! It was the first time! Our swim was also a little shorter than previous swims, but it gave me a boost of confidence.
We did a 200 warm up with drills
250
350
250
200 cool down with drills
1250 total
This afternoon I will get on my trainer for an hour 15 mins.
Because its Presidents Day I don't have anything to do today. No school to go to, no volunteering today, whatever will I do? Sounds like it might be a good day to go to Starbucks with a good book! Hope you have the day off too!

Ready to work

Its a good thing Sunday is here! This past week of training has been useless! Although I think I did something everyday, I didn't do the workout that I should of been doing on any given day. It wasn't a planned rest week but I'm going to take it as one. Hopefully this coming week training will be different. Hopefully I am fully charged for whats ahead of me!
I normally would use Sundays as a rest day I think today is going to have to be a working day.

Swimming!

My swim workouts have never been this hard before! I don't think I've ever really pushed myself in the water before. Brian is really making me work! He put together a workout last night for both of us. I definitely needed my stop watch for this workout... I didn't even think about grabbing it this morning. He wasn't too happy with me! So because of that I had to stick by Brian as long as I could. I did pretty well until the 2nd 250. At that point I thought I was going to die. The last 150 and the cool down were much better. My heart rate was through the roof though on the 2nd 250.
we did a
200 warm up
150
250
350
250
150
200 cool down
each one of these lengths was based on a 1:45 , 100. well for Brian it was, I stayed with it until the 2nd 250 and then mine 100's were on a 2 min interval. It was a good challenge. After the swim we got on the elliptical machine for a little and then I finished an ab workout. It was a good morning!

Treadmills are boring!

Today's run was pointless. I was planning to go to the gym and do upper body weights and then meet up with a friend and run about 4-5 miles later this evening. Well when I got to the gym a little after 4pm there were sever weather warnings for our area and it look horrible outside. I was thinking that there was no way I was going to be able to run outside. So I got on the treadmill and I only lasted 25 mins. Its so boring! I don't run with an Ipod because for safety reasons and so that I don't get dependant. The only entertainment I had was listening to the two women next to me talk about their 3 and 4 year olds Sunday school teacher. Ahhhh...! I did have a pretty good weight day though. What really made me irritated was when I went outside it was so sunny!!! We were suppose to get penny size hail and 60 mile an hour winds! None of that ever happened! Oh well whats one day?

Once again I challenged Brian to swim with me. It was a good workout. I gave him a head start so there wouldn't be too much competition. He did end up over lapping me in the last 200 but that's okay, I over lapped him when we were swimming with our pull buoys and paddles. He got to the end and tried to tell me I was still kicking even though I was using my pull buoy. I know he just doesn't want me to finish first. Just incase I was, I made up for it I did an extra 50. ;)
Its good to have him push me, I love it! I think all together we did 1400 this morning. A great way to start off the day.

What a day!

Yesterdays work out was named by my coach the Run From Hell! We ran in the rolling hills of Clermont. I had never ran this course before and while it was very scenic and beautiful it was also very challenging. It took everything I had to get up some of the hills but going down was a blast. One of my fellow runners and I got a little lost on the run and did about an extra mile so total we did about 12 miles. Not to mention that our water cooler was stolen from one of our stops so we didn't have water until the 9 mile mark! But our coach was very motivating he kept reminding us to look around to see how high we were (we in FL. aren't able to do that very often) and to see how far we've gone. All you athletes who train by yourselves amaze me! I don't know how you do it! I'm so thankful for my group, I am definitely the type who needs encouragement and a challenging partner beside me, or ahead of me. So thanks to all you Tri Training friends!
After the run workout my friend Tish and I went to another workout were were helped instruct some women on their swimming stroke. There were about 5 different drills we had them do along with a warm up and a cool down. We got in the water ahead of time to stretch out a little bit and man did it feel good! I love being able to get into the water and stretch my stroke out. Doesn't it feel great?! All that to say it was a long day!

First timer!

Over the past month I have become intrigued with the whole "blogging" idea. Many of you have already heard of my training adventures through my boyfriend Brian-IronBri's blog. Yes, I am the Amy that has received and email from Desiree Ficker (very exciting!) and the same person that is very competitive in the water (what do you expect?).
I have been very encouraged from reading others blogs and reading the comments some of you have left behind. As I begin my journey of training and then traveling to my first 70.3 race in Kona, I look forward to learning from you and sharing my experience along the way.