Oops

Pumpkin pics - as promised: Derek & Billie Motsch, Tim & I, Abby & Jonathan Burns.

So...it turns out I made a little boo-boo. I was in charge of mapping out the route for Billie and I to run on Saturday and after many changes made to that route on Map My Run, it turns out that we actually ended up running over 9 miles rather than 8. Ha! I feel really bad since that was my one measley job but at least we know we can do it. Good thing I ran that distance on Sunday too because Tim left to go out of town on Monday morning for work and I havent been able to do a dang thing since then. Not only is it FREEZING outside, but I can't leave Kennedy alone obviously. So...I am feeling yucky because I haven't worked out and I just hope I am not sucking wind when I hit the pavement again.

Let the long runs begin

Yesterday was our official first "long run" which I deem to be anything over a 10K. Billie and I did 8 miles yesterday through some pretty parts of Lexington and the weather was AMAZING. It was true perfect running weather in my opinion - shorts and a long sleeve shirt weather with the sun shining down on us. I am excited to say we have 8 under our belts. This weekend we have a 10 K on the training schedule and we will either do that or do 8 again - we haven't really decided. My sister is coming to visit this weekend so I am sure plans will change a few times between now and then. Ha! In addition to our training this weekend - we found time for fun and carved pumpkins. I will post some pictures later.

Resistance Training Woes

I have officialy started following Hal Higdon's training guidelines and one of those guidelines is that you weight/resistance train twice a week. Yesterday was my first day to resistance train and my goal was simply to do free weight exercised (working arms and legs) for about 30 minutes. I should add to this that I ran 4 miles (prior to doing my resistance) yesterday pushing the jog stroller (which I haven't done in a while) because Tim is out of town and Janine was running with me. So after getting home from jogging I got Kennedy ready for bed and then went downstairs to do my weight work. I have a lot of weight lifting experience - I took classes two years in high school as an elective and actually took two weight lifting classes in Murray too. I started with lunges and squats and about 15 minutes in to my workout I had sweat rolling down the side of my face (indoors!) and was panting. When I began to do lunges around the downstairs my legs started locking up - OMG I thought, am I really this out of weight training shape. The answer is - YES! I only did about 22 minutes of weight work and this morning I feel as though I have ran 50 miles or something insane like that. I am so sore! I started to think last night though and I guess the last time I really did any type of resistance training involving weights was in early pregnancy. I think I stopped lifting about 20 weeks into my pregnancy because it was uncomfortable at that point. So...it has been a LONG time and I obviously am going to have my work cut out for me. Despite being sore and feeling rather pathetic - I do feel good knowing I am going to be strengthening again.

On a good note, I heard from Billie yesterday and she is for sure going to participate in the 1/2 marathon in December with me: YAY! It is so nice to have a partner in crime for things like this. Courtney (who has had a foot stress injury of sorts) is easing back into her running and hopefully will be joining us as well. We will be doing long runs together on Saturdays in no time. I am out of town this weekend for a wedding and then I plan to really buckle down with training and do some weekind runs together.

?????

So...I am still not completely certain what the destiny of this blog is, however, I am going to stay in the training genre while I am still training.

I began my Hal Higdon half marathon training program on Monday. Tim is out of town AGAIN so early morning runs are a little tough because of Kennedy. Luckily, Janine is still with us and she is nice enough to help listen for Kennedy so I can get my runs in despite Tim being gone. So..I got up at 5:15 both yesterday morning and this morning and pounded the pavement with a different pooch each day (for safety of course - no one needs to know they would just lick an attacker to death rather than actually protect me). Pretty much my only comment (yawning the whole way through it because I am exhausted) is that I NEED NEW SHOES! Thank goodness I ordered new shoes on Saturday because my knees hurt, my ankles hurt and my legs are a little sore - all big indicators that its new shoe time. I can't wait until they get here. It dawned on me a few days ago that I ran my last 1/2 marathon when I was @ 14 weeks pregnant in the same tennis shoes I am still wearing. For those of you who are non-runners, it is recommended that if you run @ 25 or more miles a week that shoes should be replaced every three months. Obviously I am way overdue for these new kicks so I am excited that they will arrive any day now.

Tomorrow is strength training and 3 miles. Because I am a Biggest Loser junkie and am getting to bed late, I will run tomorrow evening with Janine and just push Kennedy along in the jog stroller. Although pushing that stroller is rough at least there is the beneficial extra calorie burn bonus involved.

What Now?

For those of you who might be checking in on me to see how the race went, here are the official results:

Place in age division: 8 out of 23

Place in sex: 43 out of ??

Swim Rank in division: 14

800 meter swim time: 18:05

Transition 1 time: 5:12

Bike Rank in division: 8

18 mile bike time: 1:05:38

avg mph speed on bike: 16.5

Transition 2 time: 1:35

Run Rank in division: 10

5 K run time: 34:36

run pace/mile: 8:39

Total Triathlon time: 2:05:03

There isn't much to say about the tri yesterday, other than the fact that it went amazingly well. The weather was perfect, the swim went easily (shockingly so), the bike was challenging but went quick and the run felt great - a great report all in all. I was so pumped to be doing it I think it was all a little euphoric honestly. I thought to myself as I was about to cross the finish line: "what am I going to do now"? I have to say that Susan had us so prepared that every bit of hard work and every bit of early rising to work out these past few months was totally worth it because of the enjoyment I got from participating yesterday. I just can't say enough about TNT and how great they are to work with and train with.

I have some sore quads today but other than that I feel fantastic. I feel awesome about achieving this goal and I feel inspired by TNT to continue to support their efforts to fight cancer in conjunction with the LLS. Thank you to everyone who has been praying for me, cheering for me and supporting me with generous donations. I can't say enough how incredible this journey has been for me. I am not sure whats next with this web address, but I am contemplating a Kennedy blog - how fun would that be? Courtney, maybe Billie, my sister Melissa, my sister Catina and I have all decided to train for a half marathon in December so that is what is next on my "to do" training list.

To Janine: Girl, this has been an amazing journey. It has been difficult (to say the least), but we have had so much fun too. I am so happy that we decided to do this together and that we decided to do it with TNT and for the LLS. I am going to miss our Tue/Thur/Sun swims and our bike/run workouts, but most of all - come the end of October - I am going to miss you! We couldn't have picked a more appropriate time to do this and I am glad to know that even through living together, training together and having our own individual crazy/hectic lives we have stayed connected as best friends the whole way. I love you and am so proud of our accomplishment. Let's do it again soon, okay?

My last training swim

Tonight was my last training swim - woohoo! I can't believe when I started this deal I couldn't even swim and now I can do 2400 meter workouts. That is insane! Mostly, it is a testament to what a good coach Susan Bradley-Cox is. She has been awesome to have as an instructor and I would still be doggie paddling if it weren't for her support, instruction and dedication to TNT participants like myself.

It was a bittersweet feeling knowing tonight was my last swim. I wouldn't exactly say I am fond of swimming but it is has been nice to learn a new discipline. It is good to know that I now have a cross training sport that can be utilized no matter the season. I have been worried (and still am) about the tri being over and how I am going to maintain swimming shape in the event that I want to do more. Susan has jokingly said this whole time - "you'll join masters and keep swimming", but I haven't really been sold on that. I am now. I just don't want to have to re-learn swimming technique and I more so don't want to lose/lesson my level of swim endurance. So...looks like this will continue to be something I do......even if only once a week.

I can't believe that the tri is only three days away! ARGHHH! Scary! I know I am ready but that doesn't calm the nerves. Stay tuned for more info......

Me and Janine with our coach Susan