Tri Minus 12

Spring is officially here and of course with the spring comes the rains. Here in the Northwest , rain is usually just a continuation of the winter rains, but this year we had an exceptionally dry winter and now that it is raining it seems so out of place. The rains are good and it is helping to bring out all the new growth and preparing the ground for the summer. It is the rains that soften up the hard ground to enable the new growth or new fruit to come out of the ground. I’m really not a fan of spring, but I endure for the pleasure of the summer and fall. Working out is the same as the spring rains. Sometimes you have to endure the tough workouts, the schedule interruptions and the sore body parts to be able to succeed and enjoy your goals. The workouts loosen up some of the old tight muscles to allow new agility and ability.


Last Saturday I sustained a minor knee injury and thought I could just “work it out”. I didn’t back down on my intensity or length of my workouts last week and I found myself this Saturday limping quite badly. I’m sure that would be a clue that “working it out” didn’t happen. With that said, I will plan on taking it easier this week and working more on the core and less on the cardio and giving my knee a rest.

The injury is just something that happened, but how long it hinders will be up to me. I can continue to put too much stress on it or I can change my workouts and allow this old body to heal before putting high demands on it.


Matthew 9:16-18

Tri Minus 13

Sometimes you just need to take a day off. Last week was an intense week for me, I have been looking for a new job since January 5th when I was laid off and it all caught up to me last week. I have been going about my new routine will trying to maintain my old workout routine.


On Tuesday I had a grueling all day interview, I met with 6 people that day. When it was all said and done, I felt like I had nailed it and found the perfect job opportunity. I came home fixed dinner, cleaned the kitchen and sat on the couch for a few moments before heading out for a workout. Once I sat for a few minutes I was on the verge of falling asleep. I was done in both physically and emotionally. My body was telling me to take a break, and you know what? I did. I went upstairs and filled the Jacuzzi tub, grabbed a book and blew off my workout.

I know I could have pushed myself and did my workout, but would it really have helped? I don’t think so. I know from experience you can push too much and actually over train. I have no guilt about the rest and in fact I felt fantastic on Wednesday and Thursday night when I worked out.

So, remember, listen and treat your body to a day off once and awhile.

Hebrews 4:3-5

Tri minus 14

A very good week of training this week, I met all my goals and came out of it feeling better then when I went into it. As I was telling a couple of my friends on Thursday night my body is feeling better than it has in years. Now that is a very good thing considering I am working out hard for at least 90 minutes four days a week.


One of the things to remember when you are training is that you need to have some fun along the way as well. This week I was given the opportunity to attend a performance of Shakespeare’s Merchant of Venice. It was being staged by the 4th and 6th grades at Bear Creek School. It was great; the kids all were amazing with the Shakespearian dialog. There facial expressions were just perfect. At times I was laughing so hard I had tears in my eyes.

It was a great way to unwind and let my body recover from all the hard work. Laughter and good friends, tic doesn’t get any better than that.

Remember it is not too late to start training; there are many 9 week training plans out there.

Psalm 126:1-3

Tri Minus 15

Boy, did I miss the Olympics this week while working out.  During the two weeks the Olympics were on it felt pretty good to be on the cardio machines in the gym and watching skater, skiers and snowboarders put everything into the events.  This week I found myself watching Biggest Loser, now if that isn’t a dichotomy I don’t know what is, pushing at 85rpm at level 7 on the bike for 60 minutes and watching a weight lose show.  Just not the same motivation it was watching world class athletes.

I had a great week of workouts, did everything I set out to.  I’m looking forward to what this week has for me.

Psalm 71:6-8

Tri Minus 16

I have a new best friend after this week, my Ice Pack.  I’m not sure what happened but Sunday I woke up with a pain in my lower back.  The good news is it didn’t hurt when I was standing up or bent over.  I have fallen asleep once in my life standing up while riding a bus out to a plane on the tarmac in Frankfurt (jet lag is an amazing phenomena) but it really isn’t a good way to get quality sleep. 

I tried to work out on Monday night, trust me if I let pain stop me from doing anything I wouldn’t get much of anything done, but I had to give up after only 15 minutes on the elliptical.  I spent the next 2 nights on the couch with my new friend.  On Thursday things were feeling better so I went and was able to get a full workout in and then I swam on Saturday afternoon and things are starting to get back to normal.

I know that even though I my have some set backs along the way, I have to trust in my training, my resolve and my discipline to be able to complete this journey. 

Proverbs 1:1-3

Tri Minus 17

Apollo 17 was the last Apollo mission to land men on the Moon. Eugene Cernan, commander of Apollo 17, still holds the distinction of being the last man to walk on the Moon, as no humans have visited the Moon since December 14, 1972.

December 1972 – I was a junior in High School and still had a life time ahead of me.

This last week my mother read a book titled “Old is a Four Letter Word”, by Ethel Stockton.   I know that she really enjoyed it and the title definitely catchy.  What I want to let you all know, I am not OLD, I am just more experienced. 

That is why I’m going to do this triathlon I’m not experienced enough yet.

This week the Tri-A-Tri Reach Team met for the 1^st time.  What an amazing group of people.  What I find so amazing is why we are all there.  Some of us are there to be able to say we finished a triathlon, others are there because they have done one and are there to support us rookies, while others have done many are just excited to find folks that they can share their knowledge with.  One of our team has completed an IRONMAN TRIATHLON in the past.  Now that is big time.

 Hebrews 2:18

Tri Minus 18

Another week gone, was it a good one? I had 3 really good nights of working out, can’t say I did all that much with the rest of the week.

My body is feeling pretty good these days and I’m finding my rhythm in the gym. One night this week a friend asked me if I was heading to workout and my response: “Yes, I’m going to go and feed my obsession.” That is one thing about me, when I go for something, I put everything into it. The biggest problem I have now is that I need to be careful not to over train. I did this when I was training for the STP in 1998. I was blessed to have gotten a cold a month before the ride so that I actually had to rest.

So this week the goal is to stay on schedule and not push it too hard and not get carried away and keep feeling good.

John 6:27

Tri minus 19

I just finished watching the Saints beat the Colts. What a good game. Both teams played well, one took the secure route and the other took chances. That onside kick to start the 2^nd half turned the game. The Colts and their steady game plan just could recover after that.

I guess that’s how I feel about this triathlon. I could take the easy route and NOT run, be conservative and not risk another injury, but where would that get me. It would get me where I was in the spring of 2008, 25 lbs heaver, out of shape and hardly able to get myself out of a chair. I would not have made it to the top of Mt St Helen’s last summer.

Risk need to be managed and thought through, but to fear and not take chances only leaves you wondering what might have been.

I had a good week in the gym this week. It was pretty intense and I swam without pain in my shoulders 2 nights. I felt like I had won the battle this week. It sure helps to have weeks like that as you train over time. It helps to balance out the down weeks and keep you going.

2 Timothy 1:6-8

Tri minus 20

Three good nights of working out last week and I’m ready to hit it just a bit harder this week. I always enjoy with our Forgiveness Bible Study meets and it is so worth giving up a couple of work outs a month.

We are at 20 weeks or 5 months how do you want to look at it. Yesterday I was typing up my journal from 2008 (I write every day, or at least try) and it was at the end of May when I 1^st joined the Y and started working out. Here is what I wrote on why I was working out:

Hopefully this will work for me so that I 1) get in shape, 2) get my attitude in a better shape, 3) get motivated about other things.

I can honestly say that because of the last 20 months of working out I have achieved all of these. I have dropped 25 lbs and can maintain it, I look at life as an opportunity and not a challenge and I am motivated in many areas including one of my hearts desires to complete a triathlon.

If you are looking for a training plan here is a website that can be helpful: Beginnertriathlete.com

1 Kings 6:19-21

Tri minus 21

Very busy week and a great week of working out, both the knee and shoulders made improvement this week. On Wednesday I did an hour on the stationary bike followed by a 40 minutes on the treadmill. I must admit my endurance is coming along fine. I was most excited about the 30m I did in the pool one night with 25m using my arms (all the others were legs only).

Last week was the launch of the new semester of Reach Teams and many new people getting signed up to join me in this endeavor. I have also started getting the guest speakers for our monthly meetings lined upped and I am getting more and more excited. If you want to join us use this link to sign yourself up. Tri – A – Tri.

Acts 20:24

Tri Minus 22

What a week, on a personal level it had both ups and downs, but mostly ups. On the Training front it was a good week. Made it to a workout 3 nights last week, it is always a balancing act to get workouts in when you live a full life.

I felt good with my workouts this week. I am only able to do Cardio right now due to injuries to both a knee and a shoulder. The knee I partially separated in the pool one night just swimming laps. Note to self – DO NOT swim without the knee brace. This week I should be able to start some weights this week to get everything back as strong as I can and to kick the cardio up 10 or 15 minutes more each night. I plan on working out 4 nights this week.

The shoulder I actually developed tendonitis on New Years Day from painting. To say that I can be focused and a little obsessive when it comes to getting a task completed might be a little LIGHT – to quote a commercial currently airing. I painted for 11 hours straight on the 1^st just to finish up a project. So now 2 weeks later my shoulder has settled down enough to start a little Physical Therapy and work the rest of the soreness out before I can hit the pool for any swimming.

I will be starting this week off on a very positive note: I am officially registered for the Cottage Lake Tri & Tri Again – Sprint Triathlon. I have some friends that wanted to support me in this experience and so they surprised me and sent in the registration for me. I am so amazed and delighted I just can’t put it into words what that meant to me. When I opened the box and saw the registration confirmation I cried.

So now there are no excuses, the money has been paid I will do this, who will join me?

Hebrews 12:1-3

Tri minus 23

Here it is the start of T-week 23. On June 19, 2010 I will complete my 1^st ( and possibly only) Sprint Triathlon. For the next 23 weeks as I train I plan on sharing some of my wins, failures, and thoughts as I go through this journey. I hope in writing as I go is three fold. 1^st it is a way of making myself accountable to all of you. 2^nd I believe that as I share I will get encouragement from those that read this and 3^rd I hope to prove to some of you that you too can tackle this or other challenges you may be facing.

A few weeks ago I read an interesting article on Active.com; 6 Tips for Turning Resolutions Into Reality. These tips will work with every area of your life, not just training for an endurance event.

Start With a Specific and Realistic Goal

How often do we start out the New Year with a whole list of things that we are going to do different but we only talk generalities. Don’t say you are going to loose weight; say you are going to loose 5 pounds. Don’t just say you are going to get into shape, set a goal to be able to walk 3 miles by July 4^th. Don’t just say you are going to read the Bible, set a goal to read it through more than once this year ( Just 15 Pages A Day)

Follow a Realistic Training Program

If you are trying to loose 5 pounds, you will need to alter your lifestyle to reduce calories in your diet. Not starve for a month and then go back to the way you always did things. You will just put the weight back on. A number years ago I cut the wasted sugars out of my diet (sodas, candy, desserts) after 6 weeks I lost one whole size and didn’t gain any weight for more than a decade without exercising.

Break it Down

Break your resolution into a few smaller, more digestible pieces (check points) throughout the year. If your goal is to get into shape, don’t try and run a marathon your 1^st night in the gym, work into a routine where you are developing muscle and endurance.

Let Your Goals Evolve

Change takes time. Be patient and persistent. There will be ups and downs; but if you stick with

Reward Yourself

Treat yourself to a massage or special gift when you reach a mini-goal. It is a great way to stay motivated and celebrate reaching the next checkpoint.

Surround Yourself With Support

Join a Reach Team. Tell everyone you know about your goals. You’ll have a built-in motivational source, plenty of friends to chat with along the way and someone to get you going when you’re not inclined.

Thanks for visiting and be sure to return and check out my progress.

Purpose

Purpose is the intent behind an action being done, an object existing or being made or used. Purpose can be synonymous with the goal or the intended result of an action.

So what will make 2010 different? What is my part? Am I just supposed to let life happen?

I need to live a purposeful life, a life full of purpose. We all want to know God’s purpose for our lives don’t we? So here is what it takes to have a purposeful life:

· We must purpose to live a life of discipline – a life where we have the discipline to do what we say we will do the discipline to do what we know we should do and the discipline to avoid what should be avoided.

· We must purpose to be grateful for the life we have, not focus on what we don’t have.

· We must purpose to “have a good day”. It is our choice as to how we let the day affect us.

· We must purpose to have fun. It is a dull life if you aren’t having some fun.

· We must purpose to help someone else. If we only focus on us we miss so many opportunities.

· We must purpose to explore new things. What if we had never been made to taste chocolate?

· We must purpose to love Jesus, it is only through Him that our lives are complete and purposeful.

Through Him we have the discipline and strength. It is through Him that we owe all our thanksgiving, through Him that we can risk stepping out. It is through Him that we have joy indescribable.

Exodus 9:16

Christmas Memories

After reading Katie Jean’s Blog post last night about snow in Iowa and the wonderful memories she is creating for her children. I paused and thought about my Christmas memories.

As I was sharing with my husband this last weekend after we had completed our Christmas decorations. For me Christmas has never been a Norman Rockwell experience. I know that for some it is truly an event. For me it has always been just something that you do. Now don’t get me wrong. I celebrate Jesus as my Savior and Lord EVER day, I don’t save it for December 25^th.

Again back to Katie Jean’s blog post, I thought about growing up where snow was usually measured in feet and not inches, I have played softball using snowshoes, put little flags on your car antenna so that you could seen at an intersection that has snow piled high. I have many interesting memories around snow, but my favorite one happened one Christmas Eve.

I was back at my mother’s house in Michigan, I was home visiting my family for the Holidays. It had been cold that winter but no snow fall to speak of. In fact there wasn’t any snow on the ground. Then at about 4pm that evening it started to snow. The snow was one of those perfect snows. Coming down slowly with large flakes and no wind to blow or drift. We had been sitting around the house all evening not doing much when about 9pm I happened to look out the window and we had had several inches of snow accumulated on the ground by them. It was then that I decided it was time to go and build a snowman.

My younger sister and I got on our boots, coats and gloves and headed out into the front yard. The snow was perfect. We got to work. By 10pm we were giggling and laughing so loud that my mother came out to see what we were up to and to remind us that we needed to keep it down. We built not just your average snow man, no. Our snow man had snow arms, one hand on his hip and the other arm rose above his head waving at the cars that would drive by our house. When we finished it was after midnight and the snow had finally stopped. Now some would ask why it took so long? It was because this snow man ended up being over 12FT tall, yes 12 FT. To put his head on we had to split that ball in half to make it light enough to carry it up the ladder to place it on top of the other two sections.

I went to bed that night exhausted not only from the work of moving all that snow (we even had to take some from the neighbors house- they didn’t have kids - to have enough) but from my sister and I laughing and playing. The next morning It was such a wonderful site to look out our Bi-Level House and the front window and see the back side of the head of this snowman. It was fun to watch all the cars that drove by slow to a stop and just look at our snowman. Later in the day many of the cars would stop and take pictures. Funny thing – we never took our own pictures of it.

That is the one thing that we all talk about when my family talks about Christmas, is the giant snowman that we built. Thanks to a bitter cold spell that set in during January, that snowman lasted until almost Easter. Sure his arms fell off but he was still a snowman.

Make the time to make memories, even if it is at 10pm on Christmas Eve.

Proverbs 10:7