Snowmagedon Part II

Its been a long winter here in the Mid-Atlantic. First there was the pre-Christmas, 2 feet of snow, cancel school for 3 days, everything is shut down event. Now we are expecting round 2--actually there are teeny, tiny snowflakes coming down right now.

Last night I went to the grocery store, that's what we do when snow is coming. Was in absolutely necessary-no. Did I need things to cook to keep me sane, yes definitely.

The best was this forcast I came across this morning--I'll have some of whatever HE is drinking!
http://www.accuweather.com/video-on-demand.asp?collection=cities&video=BWI&lineup=NE

Woohoo Down Three Pounds

I shouldn't be looking at the scale every day. Things go up and down all the time. I was shocked to see today that my loss from last Wednesday was 3 pounds as I've seen numbers almost as low along the way but not on official weigh in day. Total lost 12.2 pounds in 26 days.

Tri training class started this week. Swim class started yesterday, I. am. slow. Too slow for the advanced class but further along technique-wise than the beginners, I put myself in the advanced class to get more work in. This week afterwards I got in a short run, runner's yoga and a little strength training. Sunday, we start the bike and run, its much worse not keeping up on the run than on the swim--not looking forward to it.

Watch out LoserMoms!

What does Marty Bass Have Against the Buckeye State?

I listen to the same station every morning on my way to work. Back in December when the Browns BEAT the Steelers the weather guy commented that the only person happier than him about that happening (because it was good for the hometown Ravens) was Tim Tebow because he wouldn't have to go to Cleveland. At the time I thought he was rather obnoxious but that is par for the course, people around here think it was awful of the Colts to move to Indianapolis but its all Cleveland's fault that the lost the Browns. I can't tell you how many times I've been told "its just not the same, they didn't leave in the middle of the night." Okay, they left in broad daylight but it was no less of a tragedy to Browns fans left without a team.

This morning, I get into the car and again, Marty Bass is bad mouthing the Buckeye state, today he called the Professional Football Hall of Fame an overrated tourist attraction stuck in the middle of nowhere Ohio--paraphrased but accurate in its sentiment I do believe. Perhaps he'd like to move the Pro Football HOF to Baltimore too? How about the Rock n' Roll Hall of Fame?

OK, end of rant. Come on Marty, what is up with the Ohio hate thing?

Return to tri training 2010

Yes, that is me in the blue cap being overtaken by women in the swim wave behind me at Iron Girl 2008. I am displaying hideous form--my excuse, I was sighting--you know, trying to figure out how the ^%$& I had to go before I was out of the nasty lake water!

In order to try and remedy my horrid swim times and start back on the road to triathlon shape--or actually any shape, I signed up for swim technique class with Coach Liz. Seemed perfectly sane, until that first morning when the alarm goes off at 4:45 AM. Yes, that is right, the middle of the night! My friend told me she can't make herself get out of bed before 5AM so if she has to get up at 4:45 she sets the alarm for 5 and makes the clock 15 minutes fast--I like the way she thinks. I took another path, I just refuse to think. Call it early morning autopilot--hit alarm, pee, swimsuit on, brush teeth, grab swim bag, coat, out the door. By the time I am really awake, I am at the gym. Hitting the water, that pretty much does the rest of it.

So I spent three pre-dawn mornings the last two weeks trying to remember to keep my head down, breathe out a lot right before I get more air, rotate on every stroke, and pull with my whole arm. I am sure there are things I am forgeting. Unfortunately when I am in the pool sometimes it is the breathing part I forget and once you realize you are in oxygen debt the other stuff really seems insignificant!

Next week starts tri training class, only one morning a week with an insane wake-up call. Sunday mornings we get to sleep in before hitting the gym at 6:45 AM for bike and run fun. Can't wait to see my tri buddies and hoping that I can find my endurance--I had some! I will miss sleep though.

I'm Back and I'm Fat

I'm back and I'm fat. Maybe I am back because I am fat, maybe I've been missing because I'm fat, all I know is I may have done several triathlons, I ran a half marathon and suddenly (or maybe not so suddenly) I weigh as much as I ever have when I am not pregnant.

I am almost two weeks (started on 1/2) into Phase I of the South Beach Diet--week one I rocked it, -5.7 pounds, I was hoping that another week of breadless, fruitless, potatoless living would get another big number (yes, I watch the Biggest Loser). -1.7 pounds, I was surprised it was that much because, being scale obsessed, I've been on the scale every morning and it just feels like its not changing. But I feel better, no afternoon compulsion for a siesta, maybe my clothes are a tad less tight. This weekend I will take my measurements and see if I've made any progress there.

So, what the heck do I do from here:

• Keep up the "good carb" eating--I am going to add in a few high fiber, whole grain carbs and a few pieces of fruit, I don't think I can make it through training without them!
• Get back into triathlon training--man its a whole lot harder hauling around all this extra weight! Went to the gym for the yaaaaaaaaaaaaaawn! 5:15 AM stroke class this morning
• Be accountable to someone--I chose the LoserMoms (thanks Sarah from Sarah and the GoonSquad for showing me the way) and I am recording it all on WeightWatchers online.

Let the games begin!

Celebrating the "F" Word

No, get your mind out of the gutter, not THAT "f" word but rather FORTY. I hit that milestone last Wednesday and you can visit Gman to see pictures of the (almost) surprise party that marked the occasion.

Thanks hon and Es and everyone else who made it all so special!

13.1 miles summed up: Hot, Hilly, Hellish

Here is the race report I wrote up for the tri club:

Racer:
Heather Zoller-Gritz
Race:
Country Music Half Marathon
Date:
Saturday, April 25, 2009
Location:
Nashville, TN
Race Type:
Run - Half Marathon
Age Group:
Female 35 - 39
Time:
3:46:45
Overall Place:
21638 / 22749
Age Group Place:
2058 / 2179

I met my sister in Nashville so the two of us could run our first half marathons. I've been fighting a nagging foot issue but put in the miles and after a good 10 miler last Sunday felt prepared for the race. After running consistently in 50 & 60 degree weather I wasn't prepared for it to be 80 by the time we started (in corral 27, almost an hour after the first runners started) to only get hotter and sunnier along the way. I felt good for the first five miles other than what seemed like constant uphills, not big hills just lots of them (very decieving elevation chart. Cytomax and water on the course and I took some at every stop. At the halfway point I was right where I expected to be, right about 1:30 (I was aiming for 3 hrs).Unfortunately things went downhill (not literally) from there. I started to feel sick to my stomach and felt increasingly dizzy so I sat down in the shade, ate my sport beans and waited for the bathroom. I felt considerably better after about 10 minutes of downtime. At the next water stop I took Cytomax, water and added some salt (literally, from 2 packets sitting on a table).

That did the trick and I was able to alternate running and walking but my calves felt really tight every time I ran. I kept telling myself time didn't matter, I just wanted to finish. At mile 11 my calves started seizing up so bad I couldn't walk, the cramps went all the way down into my feet. I had to stop, stretch and massage them to keep moving, first one side, then the other. I felt like I was getting passed by 100s of people every time I stopped. By that time I just wanted it to be over, it was hot, no shade and I was moving so slowly I really thought it would never end. There were cheerleaders giving out jelly beans and then a Gu station, I had some of each and some water and that seemed to help with the cramps but I couldn't run at all, my calves wanted nothing to do with it so I walked the rest of the way in.

There was good music all along the course and tons (31000 between the marathon and half) of people. There were a good number of shuttles moving people from the finish line to the start. The finish was at LP Field where the Titans play which was pretty cool. I will definitely carry some liquid with me next time if there is any doubt about whether I will need it.

Yesterday at the airport I was talking to a guy in the security line and he said of the 20 halves he has done this was by far the hardest, that definitely made me feel a bit less of a wuss. I am seriously torn between awe of the accomplishment and disappointment that I didn't run much more than half of it. Probably a good life lesson in accepting what you can't change.