Saturday, January 23, 2010
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Triathlon... who me?
Earlier this year my mom and I were talking about exercise and how both of us wanted to make it more important in our lives, an actual priority not just an "if it fits in my schedule activity". We want to break our bad habits of excusing ourselves from exercise and really get it into our daily lives- permanently! She then told me about her friend Janice (who's around my mom's age) participated with her mom (a senior citizen who's now a fanatic about triathlons) and sister in a Danskin Triathlon that takes place in Orlando, FL. It's a team effort each person does one leg of the triathlon. Perfect, I thought, my mom, my sis, and me. Us three would fill the spots and we are a bit younger, we can do this.. right?? This WILL get us to exercise I thought. After more questions I also learned that this is not a true triathlon but a shorter version. And it wasn't until the other day when someone asked me if it was a "Sprint" triathlon and I told him no it's put on by Danskin, then he corrected me and told me that sprint was the name of a shorter triathlon, not the sponsor cell phone company Sprint that I thought he meant. Whoops oh well I'm learning about all this that's for sure.
My mom first decided to do the half mile swim, I would do the 12 mile bike, and Emily would run 3 miles (Em is in another country right now and won't be back until the end of March- she doesn't have access to a bike or a pool so she gets to run- don't worry I know she can do this- just run in place right? ;). I thought the event choices was a good fit.... that is until I came back to Vermont's more than a foot of snow and realized I'm most likely not going to have any chance of riding on a bike outside until after the actual May 8th event. There's too much snow, ice, and slush (did I mention I live in the Green Mountains?? who wants to bike up the mountains when FLORIDA is FLAT!) for me to think about biking outdoors. I could only participate in cycling classes and the stationary bike at the gym. Wow, so then I thought well maybe I'll just train a little on each and see if it's still plausible... mainly because I fear swimming a half mile.
Jan 13th, 2010 Matthew and I headed to the gym to join. Hurray! We've never joined a gym before (he used the one on base in NC and I used the one in our apt complex, then in VT we both used the school gym- no heated pool, lots of students, a 12 mile drive for me), but we decided that we both wanted to go to the gym together and encourage each other to exercise daily. Our first evening was just a quick jump in the pool and then we dashed off to our weekly Trivia Nite. The next day I went to a Kickboxing class that I absolutely loved, but it was sadly the last class due to poor participation. The next two days, yes TWO, I recovered from the class. My muscles are definitely out of shape and sore.
Then comes Sunday, dun dun dunnnnn, the first actual swim practice for Matthew and I (or is it Matthew and me? couldn't figure that out). The pool was a warm 83 degrees and with a splash I start swimming just a bit. Then comes one swimming drill after another from one of the best swim coach (in my experience). Matthew has been swimming since the womb and has literally never stopped; he was a competitive swimmer since he was 4 or 5, has loads of medals, taught as a swim coach for little ones, and has swam on his college team (here and there). Boy, I sure didn't know what I was in for! After finishing the drills, the final 4 laps (100 meters), and cool down I was about to pass out and my legs felt like spaghetti noodles. I thought three things- 1) I'm not doing this again without goggles (I despise chlorine in my eyes). 2) This is going to be much harder than I thought. I can barely finish 4 laps... to complete a .5 mile I need to do 32 laps. WHAT A DIFFERENCE! Plus there's the fact that it's in a Lake- no wall to hold onto, no shallow end to stand up in, who am I kidding- can I really do this??? Plus kudos to everyone that has- here's to you Janice- please supply me with anything helpful) 3) I'm so thankful to have Matthew as my coach. He's knows what I'm up against. He knows how hard I need to train and how I can't give up. He takes my back lashes when I tell him "I'm done", "I'm threw", "I've got no more", "I stink at swimming", "I can't go any farther or I'll drown (with his big grin and reply- I'll save you, had to do it more than once). He will push me to do this since he knows it's important to me and I'm really glad for that. He won't give up on me even when I am willing to give up on me, for this I'm grateful, blessed by our Lord, and love Matthew even more.
So there it is folks- this never before on a swim team, nothing more than swimming in my best friend's pool from 5th grade to 9th grade, not even a hint of liking towards swimming as a sport, will now train and swim up to half of a mile in open water, (Lord willing!). I'll hopefully be updating you on a training schedule and update you on how my other two team mates are doing. Oh and if anyone has any training tips please feel free to share- I'm in need of tips and accountability!
My mom first decided to do the half mile swim, I would do the 12 mile bike, and Emily would run 3 miles (Em is in another country right now and won't be back until the end of March- she doesn't have access to a bike or a pool so she gets to run- don't worry I know she can do this- just run in place right? ;). I thought the event choices was a good fit.... that is until I came back to Vermont's more than a foot of snow and realized I'm most likely not going to have any chance of riding on a bike outside until after the actual May 8th event. There's too much snow, ice, and slush (did I mention I live in the Green Mountains?? who wants to bike up the mountains when FLORIDA is FLAT!) for me to think about biking outdoors. I could only participate in cycling classes and the stationary bike at the gym. Wow, so then I thought well maybe I'll just train a little on each and see if it's still plausible... mainly because I fear swimming a half mile.
Jan 13th, 2010 Matthew and I headed to the gym to join. Hurray! We've never joined a gym before (he used the one on base in NC and I used the one in our apt complex, then in VT we both used the school gym- no heated pool, lots of students, a 12 mile drive for me), but we decided that we both wanted to go to the gym together and encourage each other to exercise daily. Our first evening was just a quick jump in the pool and then we dashed off to our weekly Trivia Nite. The next day I went to a Kickboxing class that I absolutely loved, but it was sadly the last class due to poor participation. The next two days, yes TWO, I recovered from the class. My muscles are definitely out of shape and sore.
Then comes Sunday, dun dun dunnnnn, the first actual swim practice for Matthew and I (or is it Matthew and me? couldn't figure that out). The pool was a warm 83 degrees and with a splash I start swimming just a bit. Then comes one swimming drill after another from one of the best swim coach (in my experience). Matthew has been swimming since the womb and has literally never stopped; he was a competitive swimmer since he was 4 or 5, has loads of medals, taught as a swim coach for little ones, and has swam on his college team (here and there). Boy, I sure didn't know what I was in for! After finishing the drills, the final 4 laps (100 meters), and cool down I was about to pass out and my legs felt like spaghetti noodles. I thought three things- 1) I'm not doing this again without goggles (I despise chlorine in my eyes). 2) This is going to be much harder than I thought. I can barely finish 4 laps... to complete a .5 mile I need to do 32 laps. WHAT A DIFFERENCE! Plus there's the fact that it's in a Lake- no wall to hold onto, no shallow end to stand up in, who am I kidding- can I really do this??? Plus kudos to everyone that has- here's to you Janice- please supply me with anything helpful) 3) I'm so thankful to have Matthew as my coach. He's knows what I'm up against. He knows how hard I need to train and how I can't give up. He takes my back lashes when I tell him "I'm done", "I'm threw", "I've got no more", "I stink at swimming", "I can't go any farther or I'll drown (with his big grin and reply- I'll save you, had to do it more than once). He will push me to do this since he knows it's important to me and I'm really glad for that. He won't give up on me even when I am willing to give up on me, for this I'm grateful, blessed by our Lord, and love Matthew even more.
So there it is folks- this never before on a swim team, nothing more than swimming in my best friend's pool from 5th grade to 9th grade, not even a hint of liking towards swimming as a sport, will now train and swim up to half of a mile in open water, (Lord willing!). I'll hopefully be updating you on a training schedule and update you on how my other two team mates are doing. Oh and if anyone has any training tips please feel free to share- I'm in need of tips and accountability!
Saturday, January 16, 2010
It's the beginning...
It is January 16th, 2010 the first saturday that I'm home this year as I have recently returned from a 1700 plus mile road trip from Winter Park, FL. I really wanted to start a blog on January 1st but when it came to the name or title as they call it I couldn't think of anything... so I put off starting a blog a little longer until I thought of a suitable title. Finally the other day I thought of it, this title came from an old nickname "EB" is what my 8th grade science teacher Mr. Cole use to call me because of course EB are my intials ( before marriage and after!). And the writes kind of just popped into my head because I'm not so sure what my focus in writing is going to be, but I just want to write, plus it makes me think of EB White the aurthor of Charlotte's Web and Stuart Little- both are must reads for children. Anywho, so back to the writing part I've heard that it's therapeutic and hopefully I'll be able to see where I've come from and what I've done as time comes by. Since I don't have a hankering of what I'd like to write about today I'll cheat just a bit by simply posting the answers to
FOR TODAY...
Saturday, January16th, 2010
Outside my window...
the snow is melting and the sun is already starting to set
I am thinking...
that I should be packing up my Christms decor and wondering if I can finish it before I leave in a few hours.
I am thankful for...
my family's health, my puppy Amelie, encouraging friends, new births, & for a new year with new beginnings
I am wearing...
jeans, socks, purple shirt, and all that lies underneath
I am remembering...
that purple was an obsession of mine over 15 years ago, if I could find the picture of me dressed in purple shoes, purple socks, purple pants (blah!), purple shirt and of course the matching purple hat (because of the great blossom tv show) you all would be laughing til your belly aches. Yes, I was that much of a purple freak. Later at 18 I decided to bring back the purple into my room.... probably in another 10 years I'll have another purple explosion- undoubtedly it will not be my hair =)
I am going...
to a friend's birthday dinner, then home to do more cleaning and such, tomorrow church and then a friend's house for some food and football, and then hopefully another peek at my newest favorite baby- Xavier Christian
I am currently reading...
My Sister's Keeper, Good to Great in God's Eyes, How Women Help Men Find God, 100 Days of Prayer for Women, Fireproof Devotional, and all the magazines that arrived while I was gone.
I am hoping...
to do a lot of things this year: triathalon with Mom and sis, find a good workout/exercise routine, write more, read more, watch less, find purpose in my days of unemployment, make the days count, put more time into making meaningful moments, stronger and deeper relationships, discovering new ways to serve others; start another Bible Study, find a church home, get creative and crafty on a regular basis, find ways to save and give more; find, plan, and then do things that might actually make an eternal difference. Also, hoping to have a goal planning session with Matthew before the month's end.
On my mind...
everything listed in the I am hoping and how hot my lap top is at this moment. Hopefully finishing this very soon!!
Noticing that...
my puppy has been very sleep today.
Pondering these words...
"Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen." Ephesians 4:29
Wow, what a verse. This helps me from speaking things I want to speak and think about what needs to be said, I ask myself is this benfiting Matthew? Is it edifying? Does it meet his needs?
This is the verse of Day 5 in my 30 Day Husband Encouragement Challenge. They have a couple different ones so check it out and let me know if you are up to the challenge!
From the kitchen...
I need to take out the recycling. I despise the fact that our recycling does not get picked up on a normal basis and that we are constantly building up extra recyclables because there isn't any room in the outside container. One of these days I need to write a formal complaint to the property managers, I mean we do pay for it, but it's rarely picked up. Also, Amelie just woke from her nap in the kitchen and joined me in the living room.
Around the house...
everything needs a sprinkle of order and "in its place" which should be happening very soon. Just a question, for all of you reading this, I like to clean to music, my mom's "house cleaning" music is Amy Grant's House of Love, do any of you have certain "cleaning music", any genre or particular artist? Thanks for your answers I'd like to try out something new!
One of my favorite things~
Chinese doughnuts... they are so delicious. Wish there was a place around here that made them. Then again that wouldn't be good for my figure. Guess I'll have to settle with my English Black Tea at the moment, yumm.
From my picture journal...
Amelie and her new friend Toby
12-31-09
Winter Park, FL
Haha, I can't believe my first photo for the picture journal is Amelie. I guess it's because I haven't taken too many pics this month and I guess it just shows how much I love this dog. Well I better start cleaning and take Amelie outside. More writing to come for sure, hopefully something a little more insightful, humorous, or interesting we shall see!
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