Slowly Getting Back

I've been doing what I can for the last few weeks.  I haven't been running...I probably should be pushing myself more in that area.  But it's hard...mentally and physically.

Right now swimming is good.  I have gotten back my confidence in the water.  I have also gotten back some speed.  I think that if I lose some of the weight that I gained during my recovery that I would really see a difference in the swim.

So last night I attended my second Spin90 class.  We were inside due to the rain...which means isolation drills.  Ugh.  But I was able to keep up with the class.  We did high cadence drills, which were actually fine for me.  I could totally keep up.  I was a disaster with the one legged drills...but they've always been a challenge to me. 

I was struggling throughout the entire class, but I was determined to keep up.  At one point we were doing ladder drills.  This is something where we start at the top of the gear box and every 30 seconds drop to a harder gear.  After the first ladder, John asked me if I was using a heart rate monitor.  I don't but I could tell that my heart rate was through the roof.  He told me to let him know when it calmed down.  We just spinned in recovery gear for another few minutes before starting the next ladder.

I knew that I was the reason that the class was getting "extra rest".  But honestly I needed the extra rest.  I commented to John that I felt like a rookie all over again.  He responded "fitness level maybe but operationally you're still above the curve". 

If you are a faithful reader of my blog, you know that John does not dole out compliments very easily.  So the fact that he called me operationally above the curve was a huge thing for me.  I was literally giddy...on the inside of course...I played it cool on the outside!  But really, I needed to hear that simple statement to remind myself that I am not starting over again.  I've learned how to properly pedal and hold my cadence.  I am still a good cyclist.  I may be slower than before the surgery, but I will get that back.  I've lost some power but that will come back with time.

Back in the Saddle

Tonight was my first time going back to Spin90 since before the surgery.  I wasn't doing much prior to the surgery because of the pain I was in. 

I drove to tonight's class very anxious.  Anyone who knows me knows that I absolutely HATE being late.  And I was running late for class.  I really like to get to class at least 15 mins early.  That gives me time to pump up my tires and get all of my gear together before we roll.  Tonight I pulled into the parking lot at 6:12 for a 6:15 class.  Ugh.

It was so great to see my riding friends again!  I was all smiles as I jumped out of the car.  I quickly got the bike off the bike rack and got out the pump.  Madi came over and helped me by pumping my tires while I put on my shoes and got my other stuff together.  I was rushing so that I didn't hold up the class.  I realized that I had forgotten my goggles.  Ugh...major problem because of the wind.  Oh well...I would have to deal with it.

As we rolled off, I was nervous but excited.  I clipped in easily...which for me is a pretty big deal.  John had decided that since the group was small (and most of the riders have races coming up this weekend and 2 of us were either injured or coming off an injury) that we would ride intervals on Race Rd.  This made me VERY happy.  I know that road like the back of my hand!  No intimidating hills.

I hung in the back for the ride out Race Road.  The wind was whipping around and dust was constantly getting in my eyes.  I was wishing for my goggles!!  We went out to the very end of Race Rd - the extended Race Rd.  Our turn-around point is the parking lot for an office building.  I stopped and tried to get the dust out of my eyes.  Tears were streaming down my face.  John rode by and said "either you're having a really tough first day back or you've got dust in your eyes!"

We started back down Race Rd and I was flying.  I was having a ball on the rollers.  I was following Chuck and Hawaii Five-0.  (You know me and my nicknames)  When we got to the stop sign, John commented "wow Karen, good job".  With as stingy as he is with his compliments, that made me SO happy!

So we went back to the regular Race Rd and re-grouped.  The real workout started at this point.  Hard effort going back towards the parking lot and recover on the way back.  I made it 2 intervals and was really feeling it on the 2nd.  My legs are currently feeling very sore.  I can't imagine what they will feel like tomorrow!  My speed was all over the place, but I just focused on maintaining 90 RPM.

It felt SOO good to be back on the bike.  I was a bit humbled because I was so slow.  I am used to riding that road at 22 MPH.  Today I was averaging around 17 MPH.  Wow...big difference.  And on the recovery, I was really slow.  I kept commenting on how slow I was and Madi was very reassuring.  She kept saying "you are NOT slow".  She is the instructor who typically rides with the slow group so she knows slow.  Of course I am slow compared to my "normal" riding pace.  I will get back there.

For now, I have to say that I am thrilled to be riding again. It felt GREAT to be back out there with my Spin90 friends and just to be on the bike again.  Even though I am physically not where I would like to be, I will get back there!

The Run

"The run" has always been a challenge to me.  This is kind of an odd statement if taken at face value. 

I was a runner in high school and actually did pretty well.  I wasn't a star but I held my own.  When I got back into working out, I started running again and started long distance running.  I finished several half marathons and then started doing triathlons. 

I actually enjoyed running for awhile...more for the social aspect of it than the actual running.  However, I can remember a period of time where I even enjoyed running when I was running by myself. But more often, it's been a love/hate relationship with the run.  For the past year or so, I've really struggled to find that love of running. 

So now that I am trying to get back into my workout routine, I am again finding myself having trouble with the run.  I can physically run about a mile before my foot tells me that I need to stop.  But almost from the first step, my head is telling me what a bad runner I am.  My feet start to feel like they are stuck in cement.  Every step gets so heavy. 

I love watching good runners do their thing.  They make running seem so effortless.  They look so natural.  I feel like I either look like Olive Oyl or an elephant. 

As I get back into running, I really want to focus on my form.  I think that if I really work on running "lighter", my running will become fun again.  At least that's what I'm hoping!

Say Goodbye to the Extra Lbs

Anyone who knows me well knows that I'm not a good dieter.  I can do short term diets...and some that are extremely strict too!  But eventually I'm going to wander back to the dark side.  I love my Coca-Cola and my donuts.  I don't eat donuts all the time, but as a treat every now and then.  However I affectionately refer to myself as a "Coke addict".

I am by no means fat.  I am by no means thin.  But my pants are getting too tight and I'm just generally not happy with the way that I look.  So I've been slowly changing my eating habits.  I have made some really good choices...and some choices that are not "in my best interest" for losing weight.

I really try not to get too caught up in weight issues.  I have had way too many times in my past where weight became a big deal.  Now I just want to be healthy.

I know that once I can get back to a regular training routine, I will be able to drop the weight pretty quickly.  My life has been crazy lately, but there's nothing that I would have changed.  My oldest daughter is a senior and I've really enjoyed the time away from training because it gave me more quality time with her.  But it also gave me more quality time with the ice cream scoop...that's time that I probably should have avoided.

Also, carbs are a problem.  They always have been, and always will be.  I love bread, pasta, pizza, bagels...you name the carb and I'll probably eat it gleefully.  Carbs are bad, but they are SOOO good. 

Lisa Long has a poster that says "nothing tastes as good as skinny feels".  I could use some skinny right about now!