Wow, a long time since the last one! Lots has changed. I think. Mom passed away early in 2012 and that put me in a long loop. I finally took some time off work starting in June 2013 and I'm going back to work in August 2014. Still not sure I want to keep on doing engineering, but at the moment it is the only thing I have training to do. Should I go back and be a doctor? A pharmacologist? Open a knitting/cycling/coffee shop? Train to be a programmer? Something else entirely? I don't feel like I'm using my brain much just doing the same old chem eng stuff day after day after week after year. But it will pay the bills for a while...
I'm behind on the taxes, but caught up with my kids. The projects are all still half finished - 3 outstanding kitchen items (for 3 years), the playhouse needs finishing, the trim at the front porch, the tiling of the new fireplace. But I seem to only get time to deal with kids, and paperwork and exercise and cooking and cleaning and then the day is done and the list is still there. Not sure how this will all go down come the fall when the kids are back in school.
Loving my knitting, and just taught the beginner knitting for my Gala donation, it was really fun and the ladies were great. I think I even might have 'passed the bug' to one or two of them. Still have 6 WIPs, but itching to cast on something new!
The kids have just finished school, and we are enjoying a first day of 'nothing' before we head out on our big trip to Portland, OR on Monday. The boy is gaming all day at a friend's house and the girl and I will have lunch and go to the Olds Fibre Festival this afternoon. Scouts has a wrap up party tonight and then only 2 more soccer games for the girl and we are DONE for the season.
Looking forward to some good hiking, camping and relaxing this summer. Kids have a few camps, but not too heavy, so we get some quality time together!
Not sure when I'll catch up again, but this struck me as a good check in point today.
Later 'gators!!
Wednesday, June 25, 2014
Thursday, August 19, 2010
I survived another triathlon!!!
Yay Me! Yes, I survived the Strathmore Women's Only triathlon (www.leapingdogracing.com). I had hoped to finish between 110 and 120 minutes, and I came in 116 min, so I'm quite happy. I must say that the entire triathlon is extremely well organized and everyone is SO supportive, it was a fabulous experience, even given that I didn't know a soul. I did meet Jocelyn, who is hilarious, and did an amazing job at her first tri!
For race report, see my BT page: http://bit.ly/blkY60. I must say that the lack of training for the 2-3 weeks prior didn't help (thanks to the kitchen reno), the new bike DID help, and the lack of almost any running for 2 months prior (thanks, injuries!) did NOT help. I am going to focus on run and Brick for the next 2 weeks in preparation for my last race: the Banff Subaru Sprint (http://triseries.ca/banff/).
My fall goal is now to finish the kitchen and lose some weight this fall through eating right and training 4-5 days a week, plus strength and stretch to avoid injury!! Wish me luck with the open water swim in Banff!
For race report, see my BT page: http://bit.ly/blkY60. I must say that the lack of training for the 2-3 weeks prior didn't help (thanks to the kitchen reno), the new bike DID help, and the lack of almost any running for 2 months prior (thanks, injuries!) did NOT help. I am going to focus on run and Brick for the next 2 weeks in preparation for my last race: the Banff Subaru Sprint (http://triseries.ca/banff/).
My fall goal is now to finish the kitchen and lose some weight this fall through eating right and training 4-5 days a week, plus strength and stretch to avoid injury!! Wish me luck with the open water swim in Banff!
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
Race Report a little late!
Did my first tri on May 23. It was a ton of fun! Had CJ, Julie and Remi, Carmen and Jo for moral support, and it was many of their first tris as well.
SWIM:
Swim was 500 m in Foothills pool - a rolling start that was a little disorganized - they didn't announce which waves were starting when but it wasn't too bad. I was passed by 3 in a group, but then passed one person myself. Max 4 in a lane, my time in the swim (included entry/exit of water but no transition) was 12:53, or 2:53 per 100 m. I felt kind of sluggish on first 4 laps, so not surprised it was a mite slow. No warmup didn't help. I was 187th out of the water (out of 314).
T1: Swam in tank top, bra and compression shorts. This worked well. Brought towel to pool, wrapped in in on way out. Sat and put on tights, socks and shoes. Removed tank and put on dry shirt, then jacket. No falling over - YAY!
BIKE:
Bike was 4 x 4 km laps around UofC, rolling hills and flats. Was quite chilly on first lap. Could have used gloves as it was only about 3-4 C. I could have pushed harder on the bike. I was not tired at all after the bike. Only problem was that my feet and left hand went completely to sleep. I was 279th after the bike, finishing it in 52:29 (this includes T1 and T2) for an average pace of 18.3 kph, quite slow.
T2: Very easy, just shoes off/on - speed laces rock! Handlebars on my PITA bike were a bit of a problem, as they stick out so far.
RUN: Run was 3.3 km, with 3 x 1 km loops, 1 hill down, 1 up. First km was hell due to sleeping feet. Ditched jacket with DH after first km. By the end of the 3 km, I felt that I could have done at least 1 more km. I was 287th after the run, with a time for 3.3 km of 25:53, or an average of 8:38 per km. By my Nike+ though, I was under 8 min per km. Pretty happy with the run.
I was expecting to take 90 mins for the tri, I did it in 91:14, so pretty much bang on! The after lunch at our house was SO much fun. And I was not too stiff on Monday, pretty much back to normal on Tuesday. Ready to get training for the next one! Strathmore Women's only, here we come!!!
SWIM:
Swim was 500 m in Foothills pool - a rolling start that was a little disorganized - they didn't announce which waves were starting when but it wasn't too bad. I was passed by 3 in a group, but then passed one person myself. Max 4 in a lane, my time in the swim (included entry/exit of water but no transition) was 12:53, or 2:53 per 100 m. I felt kind of sluggish on first 4 laps, so not surprised it was a mite slow. No warmup didn't help. I was 187th out of the water (out of 314).
T1: Swam in tank top, bra and compression shorts. This worked well. Brought towel to pool, wrapped in in on way out. Sat and put on tights, socks and shoes. Removed tank and put on dry shirt, then jacket. No falling over - YAY!
BIKE:
Bike was 4 x 4 km laps around UofC, rolling hills and flats. Was quite chilly on first lap. Could have used gloves as it was only about 3-4 C. I could have pushed harder on the bike. I was not tired at all after the bike. Only problem was that my feet and left hand went completely to sleep. I was 279th after the bike, finishing it in 52:29 (this includes T1 and T2) for an average pace of 18.3 kph, quite slow.
T2: Very easy, just shoes off/on - speed laces rock! Handlebars on my PITA bike were a bit of a problem, as they stick out so far.
RUN: Run was 3.3 km, with 3 x 1 km loops, 1 hill down, 1 up. First km was hell due to sleeping feet. Ditched jacket with DH after first km. By the end of the 3 km, I felt that I could have done at least 1 more km. I was 287th after the run, with a time for 3.3 km of 25:53, or an average of 8:38 per km. By my Nike+ though, I was under 8 min per km. Pretty happy with the run.
I was expecting to take 90 mins for the tri, I did it in 91:14, so pretty much bang on! The after lunch at our house was SO much fun. And I was not too stiff on Monday, pretty much back to normal on Tuesday. Ready to get training for the next one! Strathmore Women's only, here we come!!!
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
Kickin' it!
At least on the exercise front - in the tri club, made the bike AND swim this week. Bike is getting SO much better - those threshold wattage workouts don't kill me as much. Of course the 30 pushups between speed sets just about did! I do need some cycle shorts/pants though, my butt is SO sore!
I killed my swim times on the 100 m and 50 m yesterday too! Base line 100 m was 2:20, improved to 2:05. Base line 50 m was 1:05, improved it to 0:55! Was an awesome swim! Now I gotta focus on the nutrition aspect - Need some plan that doesn't leave me starving on Friday afternoon at 4:00 and ready to eat anything (not healthy) in sight. Well, looking forward to a good run tomorrow and here's hoping sensei does not kill us too badly at karate tomorrow night - my pecs already ache!
I killed my swim times on the 100 m and 50 m yesterday too! Base line 100 m was 2:20, improved to 2:05. Base line 50 m was 1:05, improved it to 0:55! Was an awesome swim! Now I gotta focus on the nutrition aspect - Need some plan that doesn't leave me starving on Friday afternoon at 4:00 and ready to eat anything (not healthy) in sight. Well, looking forward to a good run tomorrow and here's hoping sensei does not kill us too badly at karate tomorrow night - my pecs already ache!
Saturday, January 9, 2010
A High-Intensity child and (not) managing...
Our DS is trying our patience lately. He is a high-intensity child, strong-willed, not good with change. I thought 7 would be easier, but it is harder than 6! We are getting to our wits' end some days with trying to get him to comply, and one can no longer pick him up and make him go when he says 'no'. Sigh. I hope this is simply a phase and we will grow out of it - all of us!
On the fitness front, I ran last Sunday, it was good, then went skating Monday (even better), but on Tuesday managed to badly turn my ankle in the kitchen, of all places! I can walk on it without pain now, but running on Thursday at the tri-club may be an issue. I had hoped to get to the gym and calibrate my Nike+ sensor this weekend, but I'm going to give it another few days to heal. Really brilliant move...
Trying to keep my head above water work-wise and get through January when I hope to have more time to focus on family and exercise and me for a while - what a change that would be! More soon...
On the fitness front, I ran last Sunday, it was good, then went skating Monday (even better), but on Tuesday managed to badly turn my ankle in the kitchen, of all places! I can walk on it without pain now, but running on Thursday at the tri-club may be an issue. I had hoped to get to the gym and calibrate my Nike+ sensor this weekend, but I'm going to give it another few days to heal. Really brilliant move...
Trying to keep my head above water work-wise and get through January when I hope to have more time to focus on family and exercise and me for a while - what a change that would be! More soon...
Monday, December 28, 2009
Back to 'Normal' ?
I've been a slug. There I've said it. Not a whit of exercise and WAY too much food in December 2009. The holidays have been fun, but the kids *and* the adults have had WAY too much sugar and nowhere near enough exercise.
Well, that is about to change. I've registered for the Tri-Club at Mount Royal U starting in January, and with Karate and Flamenco, that means at least 5 bouts of exercise a week, I need to add in an extra run and cycle, hopefully on Fridays. I'm looking at the 'Tri-It Tri' in Calgary on May 23, 2010 to start and the August Women's Only in Strathmore. How I'm going to do all this with crazy work and Gala and kids, I'm not sure, but I need to make it happen somehow. Keep watching this space for my updates :)
Well, that is about to change. I've registered for the Tri-Club at Mount Royal U starting in January, and with Karate and Flamenco, that means at least 5 bouts of exercise a week, I need to add in an extra run and cycle, hopefully on Fridays. I'm looking at the 'Tri-It Tri' in Calgary on May 23, 2010 to start and the August Women's Only in Strathmore. How I'm going to do all this with crazy work and Gala and kids, I'm not sure, but I need to make it happen somehow. Keep watching this space for my updates :)
Saturday, September 26, 2009
Back at it - September is here!
Was a banner week, but man, am I SORE. I've been reno'ing the home office this week (think prybar, falling 2x4's, drywall patches, ripping up carpet, etc. Lots of manual labor, fun but hard work. Then, dance on Tuesday was brutal. Think she was trying to prove to us how hard we have to work to be in the Level III class - but I think we did ok (even with my cramped left hip flexor!). Then Thursday at Karate, Sensei tried (but failed) to kill us, first a run, then drills, then the actual karate stances!! Then Friday morning was my first actual 'Triathlon' event - a Tri-swim class. Good coach(es) and learned one crucial element that helped a *lot* - I was not keeping my head down in freestyle and was not breathing properly as a result. Had a couple of 'ah ha' moments when I actually felt like I was going fast through the water!
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