40+ days

Today is Ash Wednesday ... the beginning of Lent! Forty plus days until Easter.  Yes, as Christians we often say 40 days until Easter.  However, if you count and include Sundays there are 46 days until Easter.  Lent is a time for Christians to prepare for Jesus' death and ultimately His resurrection.  During this time Christians prepare through sacrifice and spiritual reflection.

I am going to take advantage of this time to sacrifice things, renew my commitment to myself and my own spiritual growth.  I believe by strengthening my Spirit, Mind and Body during these 40 days I will be prepared for the prepared for the Joyous time they call Easter and be able to recommit to what I find important.

What do I plan to do you ask?

Declutter the house over the 40+ days - I need to clean out this space in order to help renew my spirit.  Every day I will take care of a different area even if it is just a pile of mail.

To be in bed by 10:30 PM

Get my workouts done in the morning

No Popcorn (I eat it almost every night)
No Doritos - my go to comfort food
No Pringles - my go to comfort food
No chips & Dip - my go to comfort food
No processed food

Make a commitment to go back to church

My spirit is broken and I need to renew it and recommit to myself.  This is a time to prepare and reflect!

traveling and training

Today I went for a run, did laundry and started packing for work travel that I have this coming week.   My job has me on the road quite a bit which makes it interesting when training.  Most hotels have "fitness centers" but the majority are lacking a good pool.  I have to admit I use the term "fitness centers" loosely because usually a hotel's fitness area is made up of a closet with an old treadmill, some free weights and a recumbent bike ( I hate recumbent bikes).  If I am lucky my hotel is located in an area that has either a running path or well paved streets.  Earlier this fall I was in Chicago and took advantage of the lake shore.  It was a great experience running along Lake Michigan.

Last week when I was home in Massachusetts for Christmas, it was easy to transport my bike and get my workouts done.  However when you are traveling via mini van with other co-workers, then onto an express train and finally a bus back home it is difficult to transport your bike.

When traveling your day usually does not following its normal schedule.  Travel can get interrupted and you usually are attending meetings and events at all hours.  You have to be dedicated to your training.  Get it done when you can and make sure you get plenty of sleep.  In September I traveled for a week out west.  On one of the legs of the tour I ended up in the fitness center of my hotel at 1 AM ... sometimes you have to do what you got to do.  That night I chose my workout over sleep!

Let's hope that the hotels I am staying in this week have really nice fitness centers.  Fingers Crossed!

Happy New Year!

2014 ... a clean slate ... an empty book.  The pages are before you and you can create the story any way you want.  Will your book be a mystery, fiction, self-help or inspirational?  Will you first put together an outline of your book?  Will you set goals for yourself in 2014?  Or will each day be a blank page or chapter picking your path as you go?  

I began my plans for 2014 in 2013 when I registered for some races.  So far I have registered for four races for the 2014 two 5Ks and two 70.3 Half Ironman races.  I have plans for 3 or 4 other races but registrations haven't opened yet.  I have also created 10 resolutions that I hope will help me write my book for 2014.  I am hoping that my book becomes an inspirational adventure.  I am planning to make 2014 the best year yet ... the Year of Mo!!  A year to take care of me, to create joy and happiness that will result in me deleting some of these resolutions off my list for ever!!

The following are my resolutions for 2014 or you can call the following the chapter titles of my 2014 book...

2014 New Year’s Resolutions

I will commit to make this a great year!!

The Year of Mo

1. Lose the weight (see previous blog entry) ... I don't want this on my resolutions list next year!!!
2. In bed by 10:30 PM and to do a plank everyday
3. Train hard as I can every day
4. Get in control of my finances and save money (I don't want to see this next year)
5. Get rid of clutter, get organized and simplify (there are three main areas in my home that I have to work on)
6. Read at least 12 books
7. knit/finish at least 4 projects
8. Run at least 520 miles in 2014
9. Go someplace new in the Ithaca area at least once a month
10. Put my PhD/Doctorate goal on a timeline ... make a plan

It is my goal in 2014 to accomplish all 10 resolutions and by doing so hope to find peace and happiness in 2014

I would like to wish each and every one of you Peace and Joy in 2014!!  I hope you enjoy writing your book too!  Now let's turn the page...

A contract with me...I am ready for a change

What do I want?

1.    To live a healthy lifestyle …spirit mind and body

2.    To lose weight

3.    I want to lose 4-5 lbs a month for 2 years … a total of 108 pounds

Why do I want it?

1.    I want to be healthier … not just a healthier body but a stronger mind and spirit!

2.    I want to be stronger on the 70.3 Course and all endurance courses

3.    I want to stop taking HBP medication

4.    I am tired of carrying the weight around

5.    I want to feel better about myself

What am I willing to do to get it?

1.    No Sugar product in the first 5 ingredients*

2.    Watch for sodium, keep it under 9%

What will happen if I don’t lose the weight?

1.    I will continue to live an unhealthy lifestyle

2.    My BP will not go down and I will be at risk for some serious health issues

3.    I will never improve on any endurance course

4.    I will feel like a failure

What are the consequences if this doesn’t happen?

1.    If I don’t lose the weight consistently over the next 24 months and after two years I haven’t lost the 100+ pounds I would like to lose my consequence that in the winter of 2016 I will not be able to ski for an entire season! And if I lose the weight (4-5 lbs) each month I can treat myself to a pedicure.  If I don't lose the weight then I am doing my nails myself ... and I hate doing my toes.  Weigh in day is tomorrow morning 12/12/13!  I am ready for a change!

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The weather outside ...

...is frightful but the fire is so delightful, literally.  First big snowfall of the season and I am looking at 5+ inches of snow out my window and the temperature reading of 17 degrees.  I love the winter!  I have been a skier since I was able to walk so I look forward to the site of the first snow flake.  However with winter weather comes indoor training or winter training.

The bike gets put on the trainer and yak traks get put on your sneakers.  I have to admit I like to run outside when it is cold.  You put on an extra layer or two and you head out and enjoy the crisp air.  Just head out and run. And within the first few minutes you warm up very quickly.

In my opinion the hardest part of winter training is getting the bike on the trainer.  Literally setting it up.  It takes so much time.  Getting the trainer out, putting the bike on it and finding the right movie or show to watch.  Once you are on your bike, which is now on the trainer, the challenge begins of staying on it for your entire workout.  You can do intervals to keep your mind entertained, you can watch a movie that keeps you distracted but the only thing that gets you through a bike workout is discipline.

Keeping your eye on the ball; your sites on the finish line.  Telling yourself that this is what will get you through those 56 miles.  Now I am not wishing winter away, my skis and snow shoes are calling my name.  However, you have to do whatever it takes to get through winter tri training because the base you build now will be so important come spring!

Tri Mo Tri ... are we there yet?

Today my coach sent me an email with the following statement that she read in Triathlon Magazine:

YOU BECOME WHAT YOU TRAIN TO BECOME

I've always been opposed to putting in "junk miles" when pursuing peak performance.  Quality, however, isn't limited to speed work, hill repeats and fartleks.  Quality means being purposeful in your training.

To reach full potential, every skill involved in competition must be trained individually.  If any piece is missing, you won't succeed.  If you can't sustain the mind to go the full distance, then physical endurance and speed won't matter.  It's essential to see the connection between practice and competition and set specific goals for psychological skills training accordingly.  To achieve mental toughness, each workout must have a predetermined answer to, "Why am I doing this?" and "How is this going to help me on race day?"

Awareness is key and this requires concentrated thought.  Don't let your mind just wander during training and then expect to be fully focused in competition.  Practice remaining fully present in each moment.  Be aware of your inner critic, which is the biggest distraction of all.  Replace negative dialogue with positive, motivational or instructional phrases.  Do a mental checklist to maintain proper form and mindset.

There are no shortcuts to mental toughness.  Training your brain to be as tough as your body requires that you get out of the comfort zone and dig deep.  Learn what if feels like to push the limits and become comfortable with the veil of discomfort.

I am really good at negative talk.  I am a pro at it.  As a workout gets hard believe me I don't encourage myself to stay strong and refocus.  Instead the inner critic says things like you'll never do it; you can't, why are you even trying?  How do you deal with the inner critic?  When things aren't going well and everything hurts how do you stay motivated during that workout?  How deep do you dig?  Is just saying I want it enough?

Tonight I had a really good workout on my bike trainer but Sunday I struggled with my run workout.  The biggest victory on Sunday was that I didn't quit, I wanted to but I kept going.  It wasn't pretty but I did it.  I finished despite the critics.  How do you get stronger than the critics?  How do you silence them? This is going to be a battle.  However, not only do I have to train my body I have to train my mind.  I have to convince myself I am good enough and that I can do this...

Are we there yet?

Swim...

As many of you might know every triathlete has a weakness and a strength.  My strength has always been swimming and my weakness has been biking. However recently my running has gone to pots.  After the high blood pressure was detected and I was put on medication and I started having some issues with my breathing.  Come to find out the medication I was on was causing me to have asthma.  After several months of this my endurance went down and it is frustrating.

I love to swim.  It is my favorite thing to do.  I love the feel of the water as I glide through it and the sound of the water going by my ears. I love when I look at my weekly workouts and I see a swim day.  When you love something it is easy to get excited about it.  When it comes easy to you, you want to do it all the time.

Last week I had a swim workout; 150 yards warm up; 600 yards 3 minute rest 600 yards and then a 150 yard cool down.  I had to time the two 600 yard swims and try to get the times as close to each other as possible.  The first 600 I did in 13:20 and the second 600 I did in 13:35.  I was excited about this but at the same time I asked myself why can't I do this when I run?  Why can't my runs come as easily to me.  I am getting frustrated with my run times.

So I thought about this for a while and I talked to my coach and I shared with her an idea I had.  I actually shared this idea in front of witnesses so I couldn't take it back.  I decided that for the next two months I will focus more on my running and less on my swimming.  For the next two months I will not see a swim workout on my training schedule.  My training schedule will be filled with biking and running!!  My coach agreed and I am off and running.

Now I know this week when I am doing hill repeats I will be swearing at my self but in the end I want to see my run times improve!

Are we there yet??