Bring on the dessert tray...

Today was my "orientation" at the Diabetes Clinic...despite 2 hours of great information, the session was not necessary.  Turns out, I am not diabetic.  I was/am borderline and am still in the high risk category, especially with my family history - sister, cousins, etc. who are all Type I diabetics.  So bring on the dessert tray cause the Penguin is back...and he's got a sweet tooth that needs satisfying.

OK, I know that won't help but it sure felt nice knowing I am once again (or still) relatively healthy.  Today was otherwise uneventful - the Board package was sent, which was the last deadline for a couple of days.  I had lunch with a colleague from the CFO Leadership program in the fall.  It was great to catch up and see how things were in his world - all is well.  He's an avid cyclist and a competitive one at that, and has given me some leads on a good bike shop - not to mention a contact who can help us save a few dollars when I buy my bike in a couple of weeks.  I will definitely be taking him up on that offer.

As for training, I am meeting Heather (my running buddy) at the gym this evening and we are running 8K.  We're building up for Sunday's 13K run.  I have to really give an honorable mention to my running buddies - Michelle and Lindsay - who've been running outside and waiting for me to re-join them since my knee/shoulder issues last year. They've switched their long runs to Saturdays which conflicts with curling, so I can't join them until after the cruise when curling os over for the season.

After the run tonight, I will join Alan in the pool for a swim - likely an easy swim to cool down from the run - say 1000m.  Then its the steam room or the hot tub to bring the week to a close.  I'll fill you in on how the run/swim goes tomorrow.

Tomorrow is weight watchers and I am nervous that I may have found a pound or two that were previously lost (not that I was looking for them).  I know that last week I had a cold and was dehydrated which may have added an extra pound to what I would have otherwise lost.  Not that I am obsessed...OK a little and I would really like to lose 5 pounds before the cruise in two weeks - so any gain would be a step backwards. I'll keep my fingers crossed and let you all know how it goes in the morning.

All for now...

Those seats are so hard...

OK...so I didn't make it to spin class this morning with Alan.  Then again, it was pretty much decided last night when I went to bed.  I did make it to the gym tonight after a long day at the office.  Actually, it wasn't as long as most these past few weeks...I was home just past 7:00.

Tonight's workout was a bike...60 minutes on the stationery bike and does my butt hurt.  You'd think with those comfy tractor type seats, it would be bearable - but it's not.  At least not yet...

The ride went well once I got into it (about 15 minutes in) and then before I knew it, it was over. I must admit the last 15 minutes were made more enjoyable with the "joggler" who was running around the track juggling mini-medicine balls.  Alan's color commentary made that quite humorous for several of us in the cardio section.  I don't know if alan realized it but every time he told me how many times the joggler had dropped his balls, the girls on the stair master would giggle.  I couldn't help but smile...and then before we knew it, they were both coming 'round again.  And we would get another update...or some good old fashioned mockery.

Tomorrow night, Heather and I will be meeting to go for a run.  I may add a swim - not sure.  I have my orientation at the Diabetes Clinic tomorrow afternoon, so I may decide to spend the afternoon in the bar - drowning my sorrows (and soothing my pin-pricked fingers).  Although, I think alcohol thins the blood...maybe this won't be such a good idea.  Or I could spend it in Bernard Callebaut sampling milk chocolate truffles (for the last time).  Hmm, drinking or chocolate...maybe I'll go big and have it all.

Off to bed for me...I'm wiped.  

Waddle on...

Well, today was a much better day at the office.  My crankiness has turned to resignation and I am left waiting, quite impatiently I might add, for the cruise to get here.  Not that I want to wish my life away - I think I am just in need of a vacation.  OK...enough belly aching.  Actually, it was quite a productive day and I am cleaning up several things that need to be taken care of before we leave in two weeks on vacation.

Tonight, my running buddy Heather, joined me for a 6.5K run.  This was the second run for me in two days and I was surprised at how well I felt.  I have been trying to stagger my work outs, so I don't do the same "event" back to back. Partly because I want the variety - but more importantly because I am still leery about running too many days in a row with my knee issue from last year (I don't want to over tired it).  Having said that, tonight was the second run in as many days and our time was quite impressive - just under 45 minutes, including walk breaks. I still do the "10 and 1" routine from the Running Room. For me, it's a great way to recover in between and it gives me something to look forward to.  I must admit the run was much more enjoyable with Heather's company as opposed to my iPod, which is in need of some new music.  We chatted about lots of stuff and I was grateful for the company.  We've made plans for a Friday night work out - another run.  What a way to start the weekend, huh. We're a couple of party animals.  We also tossed around the idea of our Sunday long run being outside, if the weather continues to cooperate.  I am really looking forward to that as a possibility...I enjoy running outdoors so much more than inside (although I am becoming a fair weather runner quite quickly).  I think Sunday is supposed to be 13K - so inside would be almost painful going around that track 20 plus times.

Tomorrow morning is supposed to be a 6 a.m. spin class, but I am going to bail and work out in the evening.  I enjoy the Tuesday morning class but come the end of the week, I just don't have what it takes to drag my sorry butt out of bed at 5:30 and go to spin class.  Especially with some perky twenty-something year old in the front, who - I might add - barely breaks a sweat. While, on the other hand, one could possibly drown in the pool of sweat that's pouring off me in those 50 minutes.  I will see how I sleep tonight and how I feel in the morning - and then decide.  Besides, the evening work out is a nice way for me to end the day and get rid of the stresses of the day.

All for now...off to bed for this camper.

Back in the Pool...

Today, I was reminded that the Stampede Half is the same weekend as Alan's half Ironman (the Great White North), so I won't be running.  Whew...talk about an easy out.  I will go north and support Alan in his big race.

Tonight I made it to the gym for my 5K run and 1000m swim - as I committed last night.  I decided to switch the order so I swam last - that way I could recover in the steam room and soak in the hot tub for a few minutes.  The few minutes at the end sweating and soaking it out really does make the workout that much more bearable - it's like having something to look forward to.

My run went as planned...pace was a little slower than I anticipated (34 minutes for the 5K). Although this did include time to stop and blow my beak - damn head cold still isn't completely gone.  No complaints on the overall run as I felt pretty good.

The swim wasn't as great - there were so many old ladies in the pool (not to be stereotypical - they were all old and couldn't swim).  After swimming over them a couple of times, they still didn't seem to get the hint, so I had to switch to the fast lane - I don't like that lane as my competitive nature takes over and I have to swim and keep up with everyone (has its pros and cons).  Oh well, no complaints otherwise, my breathing was a little heavy - but blowing your nose underwater is much easier than when you're running.

I stepped on the scale when I got to the gym and was a little disappointed.  I think the cold dehydrated me and I am now retaining the water again.  I am increasing my intake to compensate and hopefully by saturday morning, I will have dropped the 3 lbs that have found their way back onto my thighs.

All for now...

Back on track...

I had the crappiest day at work - Board meetings until 1:00 - and some of the topics didn't go as anticipated.  In the end, all is well and I think it was just the culmination of several months of stuff finally getting done that made it seem more than it really was.

Tonight, I was lucky enough to have my daughter join me at the gym and we substituted a bike for the run (I was trying to make up for missing yesterday).  No looking back now - 45 minutes on level 12, with the final 4 on level 16...were my legs tired.  It felt great to get back in the saddle, pardon the pun.

Tomorrow is a swim and run, double the fun!  but the distances look manageable - only 1000 m and 5K, should be about an hour in total at a relaxing pace. 

I saw an email about the Stampede marathon (HSBC) and was thinking I might consider the half. I have a day or two before the early bird registration closes...so I'll see how the rest of my week goes.  

My diabetes seems to be under control (I was diagnosed in January) and I will see what the clinic says this Friday when I go for my orientation.  Luckily, it's only Type II (old-age diabetes as my friends and family like to remind me) and it can be controlled by exercise and diet - at least that's my plan.  I am getting tired of pricking my finger 3 times a day...I didn't think it would be so painful, but that little needle is a pain in the butt.  Also, I am still "sneaking" the odd piece of chocolate as part of my snacks - that will have to go (even though they are permitted in the WW program).  I do wonder if the diabetes is contributing to my mood swings - I have been a little bitchy the past few weeks.  This holiday is well overdue.

The cruise is just over 2 weeks away and I am hoping to work-out enough to lose another 5 pounds - I really want to be in the 170s for this holiday.  That would be an accomplishment.

All for now...

And so it begins...

I've finally done it...I signed up for my first triathlon - the 2008 Peach Classic in Penticton, BC. I have just over 20 weeks to turn my "Penguin" body into something resembling that of Batman or Robin (I'd settle for Alfred at the rate I'm going). 

My journey started last year when I went to support my partner, Alan, and Jenn in their first attempts at the race. Somehow you just get caught up in all - and before you know it, you're telling people that you're going to do it next year. Well here I am following through on what must have been a drunken promise...and I am as excited as I am nervous.

Swimming is my strongest of the three legs, as I used to swim competitively in my youth (albeit many, many years ago).  I am hoping the bike won't be too difficult although I am worried the uphill route will wear me out and leave me exhausted before the run.  Speaking of which, I started running a couple of years ago and have surprised myself at how much I enjoy it, my longest has been 20K - so one might think a 10K would pale in comparison - however, it's the third leg and I am worried I won't have reserved enough strength.

To prepare myself for the run, I have also signed up for the 2008 Calgary Policemen's Half Marathon in April.  This race thwarted me last year, as 3 weeks before I developed "runner's knee" - something I never believed in until I had all the symptoms and could hardly walk for 2 weeks.  I won't fall victim to this again.

Well, there you have it...I'll update this daily to fill you in on my training days and see how things progress.  Here's what's happened so far...

I joined Weight Watchers in January (5th) and have lost 21.6 lbs to date.  I am please to be back where I was last spring - weight wise.  I also started training a couple of weeks ago, alternating bikes - including Tuesday morning spin classes, swims and runs.  I am focusing on developing the "habit", as opposed to following a routine. My official training starts on March 3rd. Last week I came down with a head cold and took the week off to recover - I think was a combination of post-year-end (working like a dog) and being plain-old tired.  

I will be back at the gym tomorrow...and will be running 13K to make up for the long run I missed today (as part of my half marathon training).