Power of Healing through Running!

Today was one of the best days for me in running. It was a long emotional run but it made me truly understand how running can heal. Today's run I had a lot of thoughts going through my head. A lot of the run was wondering what I had done at work and why I was not being considered for the next level. I had to realize it was not me, it is what it is and I had to continue to do what I do... be dedicated to the project and give my best to succeed.... Today's run, healed the sadness that I had been having for the last few weeks and get myself ready to move on..

It has been a long time since I have had that feeling while running and I am glad I had this time. Today's eight miles was close to 2 hours of quality time with me. I now totally understand the part of the movie in Forest Gump where Forest just kept on running and running and running. The pain and ache of the run just hit the pavement every mile I ran. Near the end of the run, I wanted to smile and move on, so I started to think of silly things.. I took a line from my next month's workout and started to sing the alphabet backwards.. I didn't get that far before I started to laugh.. I was start out with z,y,x w,v, u, t and giggle. So, I would try again. This will be my new silly time... who knows, I think by the time I run the half marathon, I can make it to A.

This speedy turtle is getting better and learning more about herself. Thank you run for listening to me and letting me vent.

Happy Training,
Eling

Blue Turtle Triathlete...

Well, last week was one of those weeks that I just had too many thoughts and doubts going through my head that I was a blue turtle. I didn't want to run, swim or bike. I was just plan blue.. So, what do I do? I actually checked in with my coach and things starting looking up. She was there for me to sound out my doubts and thoughts and the day got better! Thank you Lesley!

But what really helped was my run.. The very next day, after I talked to Lesley, I went for a run and it was amazing. I forgot how much a good relaxing run can feel. So, in the future, this blue turtle will go for a run to become the Speedy Turtle Triathlete again!

Happy Training!
Eling

Turning into a popsicle..

Today I had to go for a 45 min easy run... It was a beautiful day, the sun was shining and there was no clouds in the sky.. so, little me.. a girl from So. Calif, said.."I have to go for a run, it is soo beautiful!"

Little did I know that I would turn into a Popsicle.. You see.. the weather was 41 degrees with winds so it felt like 30 degrees..

At first, it wasn't too bad and I thought, I will warm  up. I never warmed up! My legs just got colder and colder as I ran.. I was on my way home and my hubby pulled up in a warm car and said... "See you at home and raced away..." I soo wanted to get into his car..but I didn't. I ran home and went into a warm house.

Here is a picture of me after the run:

See, I wasn't dressed for the fashion. I tried to dress up warmly..

So, this little speedy turtle was a frozen popsicle turtle.

Happy Training!
Eling

Tracking...

Hmm... I just started tracking my weight.. boy is that hard. Luckily, I am using the an app on my iPad that makes it easier - Livestrong Calorie Tracker..... last year Billy suggested this app and I lost weight and then I stopped tracking because.. well.. I had lost weight and I thought I could do it on my own.... BOY was I WRONG... I stopped using the app and I maintained and stopped losing weight...

So here we are again a new year... I still need to lose 30 more pounds..but I will take 10.. small goal. I am tracking my food and I am always amazed at how much I can eat without even knowing how many calories is in the food. Tracking food keeps you accountable. Also, all those fad diets don't work.. the real success is all in math... calories in/calories out and you will lose weight....

So, I am still investing in myself and trying to track my food and exercise to lose weight!..

P.S. Exercise allows me to eat more..So, I will keep doing my workout!

Happy Food tracking!
Eling

The treadmill and I now are friends......

 For the last year during my training, I have always hated the thought of getting on the treadmill. My feet hurt, my legs hurt, I go slow and I just felt like a concrete log clopping on the treadmill... In fact, just two weeks ago, I completed a 5K test on the treadmill and it was like I was fighting every step to stay faster.. I finished that in 36:49 but like I said, I felt like my legs were concrete logs clopping on the treadmill.


This week, this all changed.... I have made amends with the treadmill and I had a great run.. I just got the new Garmin foot pod so I had to calibrate it. I did 10 minute warm-up at a comfortable pace (12:30 min/mile) and got the foot pod calibrated.. then I was getting ready with my ipod to run the BRC (Bartlett Rec Center) track and my battery was dead.. So, I had a choice, run with no music or hop on the treadmill and listen to music while the ipod charged.. I like my music when I run, so on the treadmill I go.  I started out slowly and started to increase my speed...See I had to run 30 minutes in Zone 3 for my heart rate > 144 bpm.. I started out at a 12:30 pace.. heart rate was in zone 2 and nowhere close to zone 3.. increased the speed to 12.. still in zone 2, my legs felt great! I felt like I was running outside..increased the speed to 11:45, still in zone 2, I was feeling great, so I increased the speed and pushed it to 11 min/mile and I was still in zone 2.. so I pushed it to 10:30 min/mile..OMG.. I hadn't gone this fast is such a long time.. I was ecstatic.. I hit zone 3 and stayed there for a little while and then I was losing my breath and slowed down back to 11:00 min/mile. I made friends with the treadmill..It is nice to run on the treadmill...I sent my data to Lesley and she too was amazed.. my cadence is exactly where it needs to be.. I never knew about cadence on running until we talked and  I just need to keep doing what I am doing.. Lesley has been so great! I love working with her....

So for now, I like the treadmill.. hopefully, tomorrow, we will still be friends, as I have to run for an hour....

Happy Training,
Eling

Back to full time training...

Ugh... today I went back to the early morning workouts... It is amazing how I really liked sleep..

I was sound asleep like a baby and at 4:32 - to be exact... I got whacked in the nose by my hubby telling me to get up.. begrudgingly, I got out of bed.. you see, not only do I have to get back to training, I had to take my son to morning practice.. Into my workout clothes and off to the pool...

Today was a new routine.. my workout entailed that I complete 12x100. Now that seems a lot.. but Lesley gave me some variety.. I was able to split this up into 3  4x100 with the first one being 4x100 IM set.. yeah something different! I was a sight... I think I was a drowning turtle completing the butterfly.. Haha... actually, I was surprised.. I survived the 4x100 IM set.. finished the other sets and swam a total of 1800 yards.. tomorrow is a new day and it is back on the bike trainer..

Now it is time for bed.. I think I will sleep like a baby....And  snore like a speedy turtle triathlete..

Happy Training,
Eling