Back at it

Last weekend my sister Jen and I did a swim clinic through the OWTS, the womens series that I competed in last year. I am SO excited that Jen has decided to give her first Try-a-Tri this summer. The clinic was really helpful, and as I expected, gave Jen a bit of confidence seeing that most women were in the same position as her- new to the sport and at the same beginner level as her. I think it may have convinced her to register for the Super Sprint in June instead of waiting all the way until September. Go JEN!!!

For me- I got great tips and feedback that is really going to help me prepare for my first season doing the Olympic distances with the Subaru Triathlon Series. I CAN'T WAIT for the summer to arrive. All I want to do is get back into a good training program and work, work, work at getting myself into Triathlon shape.



I have to keep reminding myself that June is still pretty far away and just because I'm just getting back into a work out routine now, and haven't yet chosen a program to stick to... no need to panic just yet. Here's the plan:

Swim three times a week: Tuesday nights, Thursday and Saturday mornings
Spin twice a week: Wednesday nights and Sunday mornings

I have to go out to Vancouver for three weeks in February, so for that time I'm going to be in the gym (the office has one in the building!) and from what I hear, I may even be able to run outdoors.

After that, when I'm back in March- I will have chosen a Tri program to stick to that includes, swimming 3x, spin/cycle 2x and hopefully a new short term gym membership that allows me to run and weight train indoors until the spring comes around.

Check out my calendar for the Subaru Series schedule for the summer. Hope to see you out there!!!

S.

O Sweet Exercise.. How I have missed you

It's official- Lazy season is OVER!!!!!!

I knew it would happen, eventually I would get sick of being lazy- ie; not working out, no running, no swimming no.. nothing- and yesterday it happened! I woke up with that undeniable craving for sweat and exercise. FINALLY!! I can't wait to get back into a regular exercise routine. I packed my gym bag and last night after work headed to QUAD Spinning downtown (my friendly neighbourhood spining club).



For those of you still unaware of what 'spinning' is.. you missing out!!!!! Spinning is basically a workout done on high-tec sationary bikes. It's an incredibly challenging work out origininated (I think) by competitive cyclist as a means of training throughout both the winters and bad weather. These workouts are miticulously timed to high energy music and are designed to simulate outdoor bike courses including hill climbs (increase tension on the bike), down hills (decrease tenstion and increase the speed at which you pedal) and other crazy calorie burning, muscle building, heart racing programs. In a one hour spin class, you can expect to burn up to 900 calories and sweat out litres of toxins. ahhh... music to my ears.

I can't wait to get back into a regular program. One that will combine spinning, swimming and weights. I'm looking out for a good Tri-Program to get started on soon, so if anyone knows where I can find one- LEMME KNOW!

Ciao!

Mid-Lazy season

I am officially enjoying the lazy season.

It's been just about a month since the marathon in Hawaii, and life has been pretty busy since then. I knew that I would be enjoying some time off after the race, but I didn't think I would be enjoying it so much! It's been about three weeks since I've participated in any sort of exerting phyically activity (partially due to the traveling- partially due to my commitment to laziness after such a demanding few months) and it's been great!

The best part of Lazy season??? Any type of exercise is 100% voluntary and pressure free. Yesterday, I decided that I felt like going for a run. Why? Just 'cause I felt like it. Not because my calendar said so, or because I had to meet a distance quota for the week... Just 'cause I felt like it.

What route was I running?- dunno
How far was I going? - dunno
Was I going to run tempo? or steady? or LSD?- dunno... and don't care.

I just grabbed my iPod and headed out the door.

It was my first run in weeks and it was SO MUCH FUN! The tunes were blasting and I felt so good. I ended up doing 8k or so.. but who's really counting? I just ran until I felt like turning around and coming home. Taking the break was well deserved and did wonders for my body. Running is fun again!!!! (Not that it ever really wasn't.. it's just pressure free again).

I can't wait to go again. Maybe tonight.. maybe not.. whatever.

S.

PS- I can't stop thinking about Triathlon season. It's been on my brain for months. Bike show in February were I'm picking up my new race bike... after that- so long Lazy season- hello Tri-program.

'07 is the new '06

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

Goodbye 2006, Hello 2007.

From my decision to register in the Honolulu Marathon, through 8 months of fundraising, an amazing introduction to the sport of Triathlons, the triumphant completion of my first marathon, a new job, and closing it all off with three weeks of traveling....last year was an incredible year and will definitely be a hard one to beat. If I am lucky enough to have half the year in 07 as I did in 06, then I'll be one happy lady.

My last post was the update on my race in Hawaii.. well.. I've been a busy bee since then. After returning home, I had only two days to update all the inquiring minds before packing my bags again to head off to Vancouver to start my new job. Vancouver is a beautiful city and I had a great time. Thanks to a warm welcome and a motivating group of new colleagues, I'm looking forward to starting 2007 with a whole new world of opportunity.

When I got home from my busy week in Vancouver, I had less than 12 hours to unpack and pack my bags AGAIN for one last trip in 2006. My friend Ryan and I headed off to Mexico for a week of fun in the sun. Here's how I escaped the Christmas chaos:

That's right... I spent Christmas Day *hanging* around (pun intended) in a hammock on the beaches of Isle Mujeres in Mexico. We had a very busy week starting off in Cancun, then venturing over to the nearby "Island of Women". Thanks to friends of Ryan's (who used to live in Mexico) we had a place to stay for the first three nights in downtown Cancun (not the tourist parts.. the *real* Mexico)

After a few days, we took off to Playa Del Carmen for the remainder of our trip. This place was so incredible and the days spent on the beach with a DJ keeping our minds free by spinning some great house tunes all day was by far the highlight of trip. The Mojitos didn't hurt either:=)

2006 ended in fine style with one last trip out to Tulum were the beaches were some of the most beautiful I have ever seen. We had dinner a top a hill at this gorgeous spa/hotel/restaurant and just marveled in this little secret we had been let in on.

We were home just in time for New Years eve and had a great time out for dinner with close friends. We've seen the sunset on 2006 and 2007 come in with high hopes and worlds of possibilities. I wish everyone the very best in whatever comes their way this year, but most of all health and happiness.