Comfort Zone or Adventure?

my new favorite snack: carob chips and almonds!!

Hey Jen,

  I really admire your ride of silence; I have yet to get on my bike and not think of Diva.  I hope some day that the US will be a much more bike friendly country.  How was the ride?  Do people outside of the riding community know about it?  How does it help to spread the word of "sharing the road"?  I think that's a really important message.  

  So I have been gearing up to do my first triathlon this summer.  I'm really looking forward to a new challenge and becoming a part of such a cool community.  Today I met up with a girl who's a member of the local tri-club.  She has a half-Ironman at the end of next month- let me tell, that is impressive- 1.2mile swim, 56 mile bike and 13.1 mile run- ALL IN A ROW!  I was really happy to train with someone who is such a badass!  Tonight we did a bike/run sequence.  We started with a 13 mile ride.  The distance isn't all that far, but it was the longest ride I had done at such a consistent pace.  Last week, E and I  covered double that distance but in a much more leisurely fashion.  Until today, I have used cycling as a gentle form of cardio with running as my main focus.  Today was the first time cycling felt like actual exercise.  We covered all 13 miles in an hour.  Then we hit the 5k (3.1 miles) loop on foot.  I have been planning on doing a Sprint tri in September- 0.4 mile swim, 12.4 mile bike and 3.1 mile.  But after tonight, finishing with ease I know that those distances might be too much in my comfort zone.  So I now wonder, should I push myself to go for the next level?  The Olympic.  If I worked all Summer on the Sprint distances I bet I could be pretty competitive or I could push myself and do something more challenging- i.e. more adventurous.  What would you do?  

  After our workout I grabbed my new favorite snack.  Carob chips and almonds.  Now I am reading female triathlete blogs and researching distances...  Do you like to "geek-out" over things the way I do?  When I get an idea in my head I like to read all about other people's experiences to determine if I think I'm capable.  My new friend Devon, who I trained with tonight is so gutsy, she has only done one Sprint tri, years ago and is now going for a Half-Ironman.  She makes me feel so inspired, like I should just go for it!  

What do you have going on the rest of the week?  Can't wait to tell you all about my upcoming weekend!  

sleep tight, fit dreams!

xo

Jeni 

Hello Sailor!

Hey girl!

  Happy Memorial Day!  I can't remember a better memorial day than this.  Everett and I had 6 friends visiting since Thursday which was a nice break in all the sewing I've been doing.  This morning, our friend Anna and I did a 9 mile run.  We planned on 10, but  let me tell you, it was HOT.  The sun was so much stronger than we expected and it was the first real "summer" run.  It was 80* at 10 am.  At mile 6 we were both so dehydrated and warn out (my little fuel belt water bottles did not stand a chance... especially split between 2 people).  We stopped to take a breath after a pretty sizable hill and I saw a family outside in their yard and Anna and I decided to humble ourselves and ask for some water.  This incredible neighbor actually got us each a water bottle.  She was a life saver!  Without that we wouldn't have been able to keep going.  I had difficulties breathing again today and I realized, it's the first week of humidity.  I've got to figure this out, or maybe just run super early or much later to avoid it.  I've been getting to know Anna over the last few months, and I have to say that running always helps bond a friendship in ways that "normal life" dones't.  I don't often talk openly about my anxiety issues or admit how much they really hold me back, but today I talked to Anna about it.  I felt free after, to be much more myself than usual.  

After we made it back from our run we jumped in our pond.  For 2 years I have been too hesitant to do that.  I'm not sure what it was that was scaring me or what it was holding me back to begin with, but I kept telling myself it was a bad idea.  I was so proud of myself for doing it. Now I can't wait to swim every day this summer!   Check out my cute sailor suit!  My mom got it for me the other day, she saw it and just knew I'd love it!

So what did you do today?  Did you get to enjoy the warmth and sunshine? How long until your Tour de Cure ride?  Are you getting excited? 

Speak soon, I HOPE!

xo

Jeni

Love Your Body

Check out these abs!!  Thanks Tone It Up

Hey Girl!
  Happy Saturday!  What's better than starting your weekend with a great workout??!?  Nothing that I can think of.  I have a really important day on Tuesday (i'll discuss that further, after Tuesday) and I am looking to push really hard for the next few days.  For starters today I did the most incredible 18 minute kettle bell workout from Tone It Up, in their LOVE YOUR BODY series.  It was incredible!  I feel so strong and tight!!!  Later today Mel is coming over and we're gunna have the most incredible girls night.  Everett is away and Mel's son is with his father, so we fully intend to live it up.  What do two girls that love health and fitness do when the men are away?!? Well workout of course and geek out over running gear and sweet abs.  We're gunna start our night with a nice long run, then make an incredible dinner and then end our night with The Other Woman.  Mel was an extra on the film and we are both pumped to try to find her- the movie also looks incredible anyway!

  How was your Saturday morning??  What are your plans for this weekend?  Any good smoothie recipes that I should try??

Try this workout!  have an ABSolutely wonderful weekend!
xo
Jeni

Facing Fears

Hey Jenne!

  I am so sore today!!  I feel as creaky as an old door and every part of me is aching.  The last few days have been so awesome!  Monday evening I went to a strength training class at the gym and it kicked my butt!!!  I forgot what it was like to be this sore!  Strangely, I can not wait until next Monday, to do it all again!  Yesterday, surprise, it snowed again.  It finally stopped around 4 o'clock and Mel came over at 5 for us to go for a quick run.  I have always been afraid to run with snow on the roads.  A fear that I promised myself I would challenge this winter (I used to never run outside bellow 40*)  It's one thing to slip in the woods on a trail, it's another thing to battle insane drivers and the ice and slush patches at the same time.  I feel beyond proud and liberated to finally do something I have feared for years.  I am really loving having Mel to run with.  Had she not be there last night I know I wouldn't have gone out for a run. 

 Today I planned on doing a tempo run, and I was really excited too... I wanted to test how far I could get. As my luck would have it, it snowed again!  My drive home from work took nearly two hours... then, once the snow stopped it turned into sleet... Everett and I agreed that I shouldn't run on the roads tonight nor do I want to drive to the gym (it is a 35 minute drive from here...).  So I guess I'll have to wait until tomorrow... which is supposed to be in the 40's and sunny!!  A little confusing, but I'll gladly take it!!  

How is your day?  I can't believe it's already Wednesday!  Two more days and then it's the weekend!  I love the weekend, purely because I have time to really run some distance!   

Hope you are having a healthy and productive day!

xo

jeni