Welcome to the YWCA pool...where 72 lengths = 1 mile. 36 = 1/2-mile - which means 18 laps is approximately what I will be swimming across Lake Andrea in July. I remember last year when I was training and I thought the swim was 1/4-mile and I looked at the website about 2 weeks before that and it said 1/2-mile and I freaked out. Thing is - I love to swim. It really is just a relaxing sport for me. It doesn't hurt (well - the breaststroke doesn't hurt - I fell like I could do that for days), it's quiet and relaxing - I just really enjoy it. But - when people sign up for a triathlon...they either hate the thought of swimming or they welcome it. Swimming in a pool alone is WAY different than swimming across a lake with hundreds of women! When I'm waiting on the shore for the hundreds of women to start swimming in front of me, I have to just relax, because there is a lot of panic and commotion going on around me. And it's cold! It restricts your lung capacity really fast and it's a totally different feeling than being in the 88 degree YWCA pool! But - it's still swimming - so I have to concentrate on that...I love to swim...3 feet of water or 50 feet - I still float! No freaking out!

Last year - I "saved" someone. She was panicking...I saw her moving her arms and legs and not going anywhere! It was pretty scary - but one reason to do the Danskin or Trek triathlon is the use of "swim angels". There are volunteers that float in the water with 2 or 3 noodles and give you one if you're afraid and they will even swim along side you and talk you through it. Then they get out of the water with you - you probably exchange hugs and they get on a golf cart, they get shuttled to the entry point, hop in the water again and do it all over. Back to the girl...I just made sure she got to the swim angel...and turns out that once she had the noodle - she had a really strong swim...she ended up passing me! You're Welcome! :)

So - if any of you that are reading my posts are wavering - and mostly because of the swim - I highly encourage you to sign up for the Trek Women's Triathlon or the Danskin - because they have the swim angels...it's a good way to "test the waters". Once you know you can make it across the lake - you'll be back next year! ;)

So - week two of training is coming to a close. I had to take 2 days off - one swim day and one walk/run day...HOWEVER - I used my day of rest yesterday to fill in with the walk/run. I'm having problems with my Nike+ iPod program - it's supposed to record the steps I take AND the mileage and pace and calories. Well - for the second time in the row - pressing "the menu key to end the work out" has erased it. The only information saved was 6 steps and 1 calorie burned. NOT TRUE!!! I was out for 35 minutes and walked/ran and it was about 2.75 miles. People - I RAN!!! I added up the segments (0.4 miles, 0.5 miles, and 0.4 miles)...trainers always say to start by running little bits and someday you can put the together...I might be able to do that soon! I can't wait.

I have to work on the strength training portion of training. I haven't done it yet - but I know it's important...I need to build some strength in my legs (for running) and my arms (for biking) because I'm feeling some aches and pains. I want to complete this triathlon...so I'm going to have to do it!

I just read my sister Kris' entry on her blog for the week...it was an update on her myositis condition. I'm trying to get into strength training for a triathlon...she HAS the strength to get through doctor's appts that don't have great news. I hope to pull some of the courage and strength from what she is going through and put it into what I am doing...after all...I Am TRAINING...Because I Can!

I'm off to mulch at mom and dad's now! But I'm going to leave you with this little tidbit...

A definition of courage - no matter if it is swimming across a lake or fighting a battle with an illness...

FEEL THE FEAR...AND DO IT ANYWAY!!!

"I thought of that while riding my bike"

Did you know that Albert Einstein came up with the theory of relativity while on his bike?

Think of where bike rides could take me! I better start thinking when I'm riding!

It's been a few days...I know...but I haven't given up on training - just running short on time...I'm back to update the blog. I have also learned that you can only upload 5 photos per entry...So there is another post that will happen soon!

So, Sunday morning Steve and I decided to do the same route we did last week - only the opposite direction (based on the hill we hit last week). We both decided that it was actually more difficult this week because once you go down the hill, there is a gradual incline the entire rest of the way...It was rough - but fun! I've named Steve "Safety Steve" - with all the love in the world behind the name...he rode behind me on the "country road" and listened for cars approaching behind us and yelled "CAR" - so that I would know to pull over onto the shoulder when the car was passing. It really was a lot of help. Thanks Steve! Today - we biked some extra mileage - 10 miles today! Only 2 miles less than what the triathlon distance is. It took 50 minutes (including stops to take pictures). :) That makes me happy - I have lots of room for improvement - but I'm hanging in there with the times.

Here's a picture from the bottom of "the hill".

I know I wrote about the "mansions" on Lost Dauphin Road in a previous blog - thought I would show you the one that just makes my jaw drop. Steve looked it up on line and found out that the property taxes alone are $34,000/year and it's tax assessment value (or whatever it's called) is $1.74 million! That qualifies as a mansion - right? I just love the look of the house. We went up to Door County this weekend and took a road less traveled and I started to "covet" - you know - one of those 10 commandments we're not supposed to break. Honestly - it would be nice to have a house like the ones I covet - but one week - maybe two - in one of them would just be fun!

So - that's it for the biking update...I wish I had some words of wisdom...but it's late. All I know is that I hope everyone sets a goal for themselves. Whether it's something like I'm doing, or to stop and smell the flowers, or to leave that "sweet" in the freezer for one more day...when you accomplish that goal...it just makes you feel so empowered!

Night-night everyone! I'll be back tomorrow with another photo update from swimming last week! Monday is my day of rest - but might add a strength training session...maybe a wii night?

Swimming and "Running"

Here's my iPod...it's yellow and I love it! The white thing attached to the bottom of it is the receiver of the Nike+ sensor that keeps track of my work outs...tells me when I'm finished, it's a pedometer too! The back of my iPod is engraved with "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me!" ---and I say - Because I Can. :)

Here's my swimsuit and goggles...I think I might need to get a swim cap...my hair is a little shorter now and it's not staying in my ponytail...and getting in my face when I do the front crawl!

Monday was my "rest" day. Monday night I packed my gym bag with everything I needed to swim and get ready for work. I've been blessed that my work schedule has changed a bit and I will be able to do some training on Tuesday mornings since I don't have to leave for work until 11:30 (I work until 7:00). Wednesdays, I am off of work - so I can train with no excuses on Wednesdays too.

Anyway - yesterday was my first time back at the YWCA in downtown Green Bay since last September (I bought a 10-dip pass and used 6 or 7 last year). So I get to the pool and including me, it made four people lap swimming. I guess when you get past 3 - it's supposed to go in a "square" around the lanes instead of back and forth laps. But, accommodating women make it work - the 4 of us shared the lanes. Then - there was this older man who decided to jump into a lane and swim on his back without the woman in that lane knowing...well...they collided and started bickering back and forth about who should be watching where they were going. UGH! It didn't stop there either...they started at each other again when the lady stopped in the corner to say hi to a friend and the guy yelled at her for being on the "wrong side" of the pool for chatting...I finally asked them if they usually swim at this time...because that was just something I don't need in my life. My Thursday swims will be early for about 2 weeks - the outdoor pools open in a couple of weeks and I will swim outdoors to get used to the weather/cold water vs. the 85 degree YWCA pool. Last year I think the water temp was 68 or something like that for the triathlon. Anyway - I was supposed to swim for 20 minutes at a relaxing pace...I did 26 minutes and 4 in the hot tub. :)

Today - was my first "power walk/run". Thank goodness for my iPod...for real. Music certainly takes my mind off of how difficult it is for me to "run". "Run" is in quotes because it's probably considered a fast walk for some, a jog for others...to me...I'm running. I walked most of the time, but at 2 different intersections - I ran. I ran about 1/2-mile without stopping and then maybe another 0.3 miles a little later on. What song is my favorite running song? Right now - it's Michael Jackson's "Ease on Down the Road" from The Wiz. I absolutely love it...the music, the lyrics, everything.

One verse says "Cause there may be times when you think you lost your mind, and the steps you're taking leave you three four steps behind. But the road you're walking might be long sometimes, you just keep on stepping and you'll be just fine". :)

Anyway - I love running to that song! That's all today...early to bed...early to rise! So far week one is going well...thanks for checking in!