7/25 Things about Me

My buddy Phil, from Twitter and founder of Runcast TV, tagged me recently. Now I have to blog 7 things about me. So it works like this, when you get tagged, you’re supposed to share 7 things about yourself that people don’t know. So here goes my 7:

1. My dad was killed in an industrial accident when I was 15 and the impact of that tragedy is something that still affects me today.

2. I quit high school half way through grade 12 and never did graduate, yet I now have a Masters degree in Educational Administration. Go figure. :)

3. I have had many jobs over my 30 years of adult life - waitress, dishwasher, cook when I was a teen; bartender, DJ, doorperson, and manager of a night club when I was 21; farming grain, sheep, and chickens in Saskatchewan in my 20's; small business manager, book keeper, new home construction in my 30's, elementary music specialist, and now, primary teacher.

4. I love to dance to loud music - anything with a good beat will do. If music starts playing, I start dancing no matter where I am.

5. I am huge procrastinator. That probably comes as no surprise.

6. I sometimes sit cross-legged on the kitchen counter drinking wine and eating garlic prawns.

7. I have a secret wish to be a rock star. I took piano lessons until grade 9 Royal Conservatory, taught myself how to play guitar as a teen, hack on a banjo, and played flute in band in high school. I love to sing but sadly, my voice is only good enough for choir and backup, not solo. Ah well...


And then a few days later, Lisa Survillas, tagged me in the 25 things about me - yikes - so I will add another 18 things below.

8. I believe red wine goes with any food.

9. I believe chocolate is a food group.

10. The best ten days of my life (so far) were spent riding through Provence for 10 days in July 2007.

11. My hubby and I got married under a huge old tree in the courtyard of our favourite restaurant.

12. I am on my 6th Mac computer.

13. I don't like lamb or duck or game yet I'm not a picky eater. I just don't like fancy restaurants.

14. I usually kick off my shoes where ever I go.

15. I sit cross-legged on all chairs, including stools.

16. I feel like a poser at most things in life.

17. I am very uncomfortable being in large groups of people. I have nothing interesting to say and usually sit in one spot hoping someone will come to me to talk.

18. When I was a kid, I was always the owner of the neighbourhood business, the leader of the club I had started, or the writer, director, of the play. No wonder they called me "bossy".

19. I like to be involved in the organization of things that interest me - I'm a do-er, not a watcher.

20. I watch the cooking channel if I'm ever home sick.

21. I had my tonsils out when I was 8, and bunions removed from both feet when I was 19.

22. I am addicted to twitter.

23. I love 'meeting' new people on social media. I met a group of women who were all pregnant with babies due in December 1997 and we are still connected online. I have only met 2 of them in real life.

24. The fastest I have ever gone on a bike is 68.1 kmh (42.3 mph)

25. On August 24, 2007, we rode 162 miles around the lake, and climbed about 4800' in elevation, including more than a dozen hills that were over 10% grade, in 7 hours, 15 minutes. Temp was 30+C (90F). Then, about 10k from home, I was stung by a wasp and had to go to the ER because I'm allergic. I was ok so after my release, I rode the last 10k home.

OK, so now I'm supposed to tag 7/25 people who are supposed to do the same thing. Trouble is - in the time it took me to finally sit down and do this, pretty well everyone I know has been tagged by somebody else. So I'm going to do it a different way.

If you read this, and you have a blog, consider yourself 'tagged'. Do this on your own blog, link it back to me, and let me know you've done that. I'll put a link to your blog in this post.

So far I have 'tagged.' Their names will be linked once their post is done.

John Frenette AKA Hellasound
Dan Medeiros AKA Blackfonzie from Nik and Dan's 4 Feet Running
Jeff Swain from "Running with the Pack"
Susan Knight from 99.9 SUN FM in Kelowna
Gary Wall from "Kinverkid"
GabsaTrucker

January 25th

Well I had a pretty good week in some ways, yet in other ways, not so much.

My shin splints continued to dog me - I did a walk/run with Erik last Sunday (he was starting his couch to 5k program) but my shins were pretty sore so we only did 4km. My run on Tuesday felt even worse and I only did 3km and then finally I decided to skip my Thursday run altogether in order to rest my lower legs. That proved to be the answer because on Saturday I felt much better and I was able to do just under 5km with only minimal leg soreness. I made sure I stretched and then wore my Zensah compression sleeves for the rest of the day after I ran, and I'm optimisic that I won't have any problems this coming Tuesday.

I rode the trainer for 1:15 on Monday and then another 45 minutes today. Today I tried something that I heard (but I can't remember where) for testing fitness level. I warmed up for about 10-15 minutes then got my heart rate up to mid zone 2 (about 144 bpm). I hit the lap button on my Garmin, noted the gear I was in, and rode for 10km trying to keep my heart rate as steady as possible. Today it took me 20:58. My goal is to do the same test ride on the trainer, in the same gear, and the same heart rate, and in theory, if my fitness level increases, my time for the same 10k should decrease. We'll see how it goes.

Swimming - swam on Wed 1500 m and today 1600 in 45 minutes each time. I feel good and the workouts on this plan are working for me.

Strength - ok this is where I am severely lacking. I just haven't been able to get back into the stride of doing my strength workouts, even though I now have a plan to follow. I will try harder to do that this week. I know that once I start, I'm usually able to stick with it. Hope so.

Diet - it sux. I'm not gaining any weight, but I'm not losing any either. I need to eat less.

January 19th

OK, I figured out the strength workout schedule.

Upper body weights, and pushups challenge on run days - T, Th, Su

Lower body weights, abs, core on swim/bike days - M, W, Sa

I tried doing the core workout in my new Strength Training for Triathletes book and some of them are SO hard! I did my best and will see improvement over time I'm sure.

I rode the trainer after work today. 1 hour 15 minutes in zone 2. I had the laptop on the aerobars and participated in the chatroom in the first Triathlete's Coffee Shop on Talkshoe while I rode. Mangorunner (Tri the Mango Podcast) initiated it I think. Mango, Coach Adam, Brett from Zentri, Triboomer, Jeff from the Age Grouper and at least one other I can't remember were the 'panel' and I had fun chatting with a few fellow triathletes in the chatroom. The whole thing was very much like Runners Round Table except at a better time of day. :) You can download the episode right now at the link above or wait and download it from the Tri the Mango Podcast.

I met JerseyWillTri who I now follow on twitter, and Average Bloke who has a triathlon podcast that I just downloaded.

So here's my adjusted plan for the week:

M - bike, abs, core, lower body
T - run, upper body, pushups
W - swim, abs, core, lower body
T - run, upper body, pushups
F - rest (or bike)
S - bike, swim, abs, core, lower body
S - run, upper body, pushups

January 18th

Well I had a so-so week. My eating habits were up and down and I regained the one pound I *may* have lost the week before.

I missed my trainer ride Monday, I ran too hard on Tuesday, I swam Wednesday, and I did a short run on Thursday. Friday was my day off and I had a lovely dinner with my honey - garlic prawns, bruschetta, a baguette (oh, La Boulangerie, where have you gone?!!), and a wonderful bottle of Township 7 2006 Chardonnay. I'm normally not a big white wine fan but this was delish! Check them out - great local wines!

Saturday I did a one hour trainer ride and some upper body work, Sunday I ran 4km with Erik. My shins were killing me most of the time and I walked quite a bit (partly because it was Erik's first run). We recorded some audio for my next week's podcast. I hope it turns out.

I did not swim this weekend because there was a swim meet at the Y.

Plans for the upcoming week

M - trainer 30-60 min
T - run 3-5 k
W - swim 1400-1600 m
T - run 3-5 k
F - rest
S/S - trainer, run, swim

Somehow I have to fit in my core and upper body workouts. I have not been consistent in doing them. I'll work on that.

Secondary goal:

Get more sleep.
Drink more water.
Eat properly, more often,a nd lose at least 1/2 lb.

January 15th

Went for a run today. Not the greatest - my shins hurt a lot so I only ran 3km. I guess it's from my harder run on Tuesday. I HATE MY LEGS! OK, got that out. So, back to doing all sorts of shins and lower leg stretches and strengthening.

It's all good. I'll be fine.

To celebrate I ate crap today. Not all the time, but more than I should have. Not a good sign when tomorrow's my regular crap-eating day. Hmm. I'll be good for breakfast and lunch for sure.

Crap = too much chocolate, spaghetti for supper, burger for lunch, cheese, crackers with butter, bites of hubby's dessert, a bit of candy, two handfuls of marshmallows, and probably other crap I've forgotten.

OK, no excuses, I'll be better tomorrow.

Byeee......