Are you talking about the Country Music Marathon? April 26? We’ll probably be in St Louis that weekend. I was planning to start training at the start of the new year, or after I get new tennis shoes for Christmas.

I actually got to looking at not only 5K, but also some marathons, and beginner triathlons. The triathlons sounds really cool but I’m not sure even where to begin. I have a bike, will have better tennis shoes. I guess the best thing would be to test my fitness level in each event (I can see now that swimming will be my weakness) and then assess if I want to do that or just a 5K, then decided on a race and training program (found lots of info on the web on training programs) . I found several with a variety of dates, mostly May, Aug and Sept. I may go swimming on Thursday or tomorrow.

There’s a very beginner’s friendly triathlon in Nashville Memorial Day 2008. (200 Meter Pool Swim / 8.5 Mile Bike / 2 Mile Run) Interested Bree? We could train together. Martin has an Olympic size indoor pool with $3 passes (students free w/ ID, if you want to sign up for a class) I’ll send you the link if you want.

That would be fun! But since I’m not allowed to own a bike, that would be a major obstacle. Maybe someday we’ll find a bike path around here that won’t get us killed. Then I’ll get that bike.

Bree

You could always use a staionary bike until you can get a bike.

Hey, since I’m already in a ton of trouble, maybe I should just get the bike now. OK, maybe not, but it was fun to think about! Where do you ride around here?

Bree

Just around the neighborhood, I’m not allowed on the street outside the neighborhood.

So I went for a short swim today after my finals to kinda see where I’m at with my swimming. I don’t know why I thought swimming would be my weakest, I am like a mermaid out of water. I had forgotten how much I actually like swimming and being in the water. I’ve let my dislike of the sun keep me from enjoying an aquatic life style. So running may be my weakness. I swam 200 yards today. The Triathlon is 200 meters, just about the same distance. I was so elated I could do it and that I remembered how much I like swimming. I am so going to do the triathlon. I just need to develop a training schedule from all the info I’ve researched. Research some nutritional stuff. I’m so excited, this seems to be just what I needed. It was all I could dream about last night. The swim was a work out by all means, so I for sure need to build up my endurance and stamina. But I feel much better about it now. I can so do this I know what my 100 day Challenge of 2008 will consist of.

So to heck with the number crunching, counting calories, and what not. I’m going to develop a training schedule and track my progress through the various workouts and the improvements in time and endurance. I don’t even care about losing weight, just completing and being competitive in the Triathlon. Will the weight come off in the process, yes, but that’s no my goal. No more frustrations with the scale!

I think I may try to take at least a 20 min swim everyday when the spring semester starts. I had a headache today, getting a migraine, and I was groggy, and in withdrawal about half way through day 2 of no soda week when I took my swim. I felt so alive and awake and refreshed afterwards. I may trade in the morning soda for a morning swim.

So I’m on day 2 of no soda and the caffine level has dropped dramatically, as has the sugar levels. Ugh.

Hang in there, the withdrawal will get better. If you need tea, I’ve got some. Come on over!

Love the idea of morning swimming! What a wonderful start to the day! Maybe you should ask for one of those awesome speedo swim suits for Christmas. Those look sleek.

Bree

So I’ve worked out a training plan to train for the tri, starting Monday. So excited. I want to get a new swim suit to train in, but I should wait and save some $$, but I want to get one, and a swim cap too, I’ve got it all picked out and in the e-cart, I just can’t bring myself to hit the button, at least I’m holding off on goggles.  Grrrr, I don’t know what to do.

Anyway, I’m done with finals. Wahoo! And I just remembered the goal I set for myself this summer of making a GPA of 3.0 for both the Fall and Spring semesters, get an internship, and get a new lap top as a reward from my good grades. Well, looks like I’m 1/3 the way there. I should have all A’s and B’s this semester. Now all I have to do is keep it up next semester and get an internship. Wahoo! Shouldn’t be a problem.

So weirdest thing, I was all into being creative, writing, podcasting, blogging, and trying to start my own business (which I’ve put on hold for now). Now I’m just not all that into it right now, not even podcasting. I’m still into reading about Buddhist philosophy and learning, but all the other stuff not so much. I don’t know if I got out all my creative pent up energy or if I’m just worn out from working so much and studying for finals. A month ago I wanted to be an all out entrepreneur, now I’m looking to find an engineering internship for the summer, hopefully something relating to Operations Management. Or maybe, I’ve founds something that I can really enjoy in engineering to rekindle my passion so all that restlessness driving my creative streak as subsided a bit. I dunno, its all very weird to me. At the very least I’ve learned that I can fuel my creative side and still be an engineer, in fact I need to have outside creative products to create balance and stability in my life and be happy.

Ugh, tomorrow starts at least 3 straight days of working 5am-1pm. I can’t do this, my legs hurt so bad when I get home. At least I’m only going to stay til Thursday. The schedule for next week wasn’t posted yet so I don’t know if it’ll be more than 3 days in a row. Yesterday I took a 2.5 hour nap after working 5am-1pm, looks like I’ll be doing more of that this weekend.

Went to the doctor to renew my migraine RX. We talked about the frequency of migraines and she upped my dosage to try and fully get rid of them. So we’ll se how this goes. A few weeks ago I noticed that my resting heart rate had dropped like 8 bpm, I didn’t post anything, because I wasn’t sure if it was from all the walking and Tai Chi I’ve been doing or from the migraine medicine, or a combo of both. I like to think its a combo. I know that the medicine is definately affecting my blood pressure, not sure if that has anything to do with heart rate, but I’m sure it does. My blood pressure today was lower than it usually it, it’s always been normal so nothing to worry about there, but it was lower than before I started on this migraine medicine. All very interesting.

So now I’m wondering if I should get a physical and check everything out before I hit all this training. Any thoughts anyone?

Make that 7 straight days of getting up at 3:30 am to work at 5 am. 6 of the 7, 5-1. Tuesday I only work til 10am. Ugh

Well, I didn’t get a new swimsuit (yet!). Instead I got gas and lunch today. Boring. Grades are in, 6A’s, 1 B. Wahoo. I’ve made it this far without soda, but I get to have one tonight to celebrate my grades. Those frappachino things are a great morning pick me up to replace my morning soda. And I don’t even like coffee really, but the dark chocolate peppermint ones are delicious. And I satisfy my chocolate cravings too. The great thing is they’re creamy, milky, which means I can drink it too fast and I can’t drink more than one without getting an upset stomach. Bonus to not over indulge like I do with soda. I think I know what I’ll be drinking next semester in the mornings.

I’ve got one in my fridge you can have, but you have to come and get it.

I always say if you think you may need a physical, go get one. Better safe than hospitalized. Did you tell the fiance that you want the suit for Christmas? Tell him how sexy you’ll look in your wedding dress after all that swimming. That should do it.

Bree

He already got my Christmas present, its in the other room. It’ a new pair of really nice Nike running shoes, the nke+ for my ipod, and a thermal vest to keep me warm. No Id didn’t peak, had me try everything on to make sure it all fits when it came in.

That’s sweet. Maybe Santa will bring it.

Bree

Well, I started my triathlon training today with a little bit of bike riding, some ab work, and yoga. I had gone for a short walk/jog yesterday just to see where I’m at, and I’ve got my work cut out for me in the running department. Today I did a short bike ride. I was thinking to myself that I can so do more, but then I had to keep reminding myself, that I’m building up endurance, that I don’t want to over do it and burn myself out or bee too sore to run tomorrow. It was a slow start today, but it was a start.

I was actually planning to start yesterday with a jog and a weight work out, but that was until I burned my hand. A sharp awaking that I’ve been neglecting my mindfulness cultivation and meditation practice. I grabbed a hold of something hot without even thinking and burned my right index finger and thumb. Way to go. Then I spent the rest of the day trying to get my french tips off with no luck.

I’ve got to take the dog to get her shots updated this afternoon; not really looking forward to that, but it needs to be done. Luckily we were able to find a place for her while we’re out of town this weekend. Our normal kennel was overbooked and it didn’t help that we called late, but the local animal hospital has boarding and was able to fit her in.

The swimsuit I was looking at was no longer available, but I think I’ll wait til after the new year to get one when inventories turnover and 2007 styles go on sale. 

Oh so forgot to update on the job. Quit Saturday evening. I just couldn’t take it any more.

Started a blog to journal my journey to my first triathlon. Running is going to be my challenge. But I’m going to work hard.

Found a swimsuit half the price of the one I had been looking at and was gone. Shhh...I ordered it as a Christmas present to myself along with a swim cap.

Cough, cough…

So I went out to calibrate my Nike+ ipod thing that I got for Christmas. Its about 40 degrees outside and I am still coughing. I was calibrating with a 0.5 mi run which I couldn’t even make through without the coughing slowing me down to a walk 3/4 of the way through. I did the second calibration walking and coughing the whole way. Ugh, phlem. My bronchials hurt like when I had bronchitis in high school. Now I remember one why I was going to quit color guard/band my senior year before I moved. I don’t know what’s wrong with me. I can walk around for hours in colder weather and be fine. Have me run and I have a coughing fit. I hate coughing; it hurts.

I think I’m going to move the running indoors on the elliptical and see if that helps any. And when school starts I’m definitely going to get that physical.

On another note, got a new swim suit, its a little small but I’ve got 18 days til I hit the pool to train so its time to slim down some.

I didn’t get anything accomplished out of town. Didn’t make it to the gym as a visitor; the person who was going to take me was sick. And the ground was covered with ice and snow so all I got done was a little tai chi practice. I’m back at it today, or at least trying.

Ya know come to think of it, when I went swimming I did the whole coughing thing too. Not as bad though. Hmmmm… we’ll have to investigate more…

Great, I’ve coughed so much I have the hiccups now