Water, Wheels, Feet

Past posts from my other blog...
When it's 97 degrees, all you can do is swim - Friday, July 22

I managed to find some time to swim laps while I was nannying today at the pool. My first 18 I timed at 11 minutes and then I swam the rest of the 50 with flippers and kick board. I find it nice to mix up the swimming, because I can get pretty bored doing free style over and over again. Flippers also really workout your legs when your arms are feeling tired. Plus they make you feel powerful because you go so fast with them on.

Lazy Day - Thursday, July 21

I'm house/dog sitting for a neighbor and so I was stuck inside all day. This 10-month old puppy can't handle being alone and that combined with the 98 degree forecast made a day consisting of computer work, movies, food, and two naps. It was lazy, to say the least.

Overall I really had no good excuses to not bike, swim, or run as my boyfriend is biking across the country...through the rain, in the heat, and on days when his legs can't seem to go any farther. I, on the plus side, can at least jump in a cold pool to escape the sun!

New bike gear and a slow swim - Wednesday, July 20

I've spent that the last couple of days shopping for new bike gear. I bought my bike back in April with an amazing coupon at the trek store but I needed some other equipment to go with it.  Now I'm the proud owner of a new helmet (my old helmet had no foam on the inside and no plastic left on top), a bike computer, clipless pedals and shoes, and random bike tools.

Today I was super excited to use my shoes for the first time.  Before the heat hit, I got out was able to experience the amazing feeling of clipless pedals.  I was slightly nervous about how to clip in and remember to clip out when you stop...but it all worked out AND it was awesome (to put it simply)! I feel like I'm on this bike "high" where I just want to bike all the time. It's a wonderful feeling. Today was only a 17 mile ride because it was just to run an errand; I had to pick up my cell phone charger at my new house.  In fact, on the way home, while I took a slight 3 mile detour through the woods...I also had a ukulele in my empty camelbak, which made for an interesting head position.

There's only one good way to get out of the excruciating heat and that's to go swimming. My legs were tired from last night's run and this mornings bike ride, but I swam laps anyway.  They were slower than normal today, which is understandable, but I did make 24 laps in 15 minutes (not too shabby I think). I need to start combining biking, swimming, and running as much as I can in one day or at least one 24 hour period.

Tri-training - Tuesday, July 19
A couple of months ago I ran into a woman in a bike shop who was getting ready to do a spring triathlon and it got me thinking that I could actually do a triathlon. I had been getting into swimming and biking and I was already somewhat of a runner.  Now I want to seriously train in all those areas...I do them all anyway and I love them, so why not commit myself to something a little bigger?!

I've been researching triathlons and I'm really nervous to sign-up for one, so I'm going to train like crazy and see what happens! Posting about it and keeping track of my progress will only motivate me further to keeping working and continue pushing harder.

Night Run - Tuesday, July 19
Tonight I had the most amazing run of my life...because of the squelching 95 degree heat that has plagued us this week, I decided that a run after dark wouldn't be such a bad idea. I wasn't wrong at all; it felt like I had the energy to run all night. What an amazing feeling?! It's exciting to me when I have runs like this because it's proof that my body is training and improving and it keeps me going on the days that seem like I will never make it past 1/2 a mile.