So far, so Insane (but I love it)

I've got 2 days left of week #3 of Insanity. If you don't know what I'm talking about, visit the website. It's awesome and I've definitely noticed a difference in my strength and endurance. Last Saturday, I did an easy five mile run, and for not running in the last few weeks, I felt great. My legs felt really strong and I could have gone farther without any trouble. With regard to my physical appearance, I notice a little difference but I have to keep reminding myself that it's only been about 3 weeks. For Ironman training, I've added in 1 day of swimming and 1-2 days of running each week along with the Insanity videos, which I do daily. I need to start adding in cycling classes (or actual bike rides) but that hasn't happened just yet.

I highly recommend the videos and am interested to see how they will affect my triathlon races this season.

Only 6 more weeks of Insanity left to finish the series...

I love Insanity!

Finished week 1 today and am starting week 2 tomorrow. So far, I LOVE THE INSANITY VIDEOS!!! 2 thumbs up! More to come...

Insanity

So I've been doing a lot of work on myself lately - most of it has been emotional work (getting back in line with my heart and my goals/dreams, etc), but recently I've decided to finally take on another challenge. I want to finally look like the athlete that I am. I completed an Ironman in 2009 but didn't necessarily physically look like an athlete. To be blunt, I have some fat to burn. I love to exercise (that's usually not the problem), but what I HATE doing is watching/counting calories. It annoys me and I'm not so uber intense that I want to become the kind of a person that monitors EVERYTHING. It's not me or my personality.

Cue recent purchase...

So I love infomercials. I can't help it. And I REALLY love the exercise infomercials. In the past I've purchased Hip Hop Abs, Slim-n-6, Tae Bo, Bare Minerals, and Proactive all from watching TV ads. And so far, the only regret I have was the Proactive (it burnt my face - bad investment). Otherwise, besides Tae Bo because it was on VHS, I still use all of the exercise videos from time to time to this day! So, last weekend I was sick and didn't do much but watch TV, which is when I discovered the latest Beach Body video called Insanity! The exercise instructor is Shaun T (who does Hip Hop Abs AND who I LOVE). It's 60 days of "insanity" - all plyometrics and exercises geared toward toning your entire body WITHOUT using any kind of gym equipment. It's all interval training using basic sports drills. I was sucked in and bought it. Currently I'm on day 3 of the 60 days AND I LOVE IT! The videos work your core, arms, and legs - all key muscle groups for tri training. I'm not one to really work my core on my own, so I think this is going to be a GREAT jump start for the more intense Ironman training that is to come! And with the videos came a diet/calorie plan. I found a free calorie tracker on my Droid phone and am following the plan on how many calories I need to consume a day, which with the intense exercising and my current weight is more calories than I would have thought. Entering the calories daily also makes me think about my fuel/food choices. I'm less likely to grab the bag of chips because I will have to make note of it AND it's honestly not the best fuel choice for my body. I want to feel good and function at my best - all things that will help me to do the best I can in Canada this August.

My goal is to finish Insanity and continue to run since I'm training for the San Diego Marathon. Then after my 60 days are done with Insanity, I plan to add in swimming and biking (I may add some of it before the 60 days are over but I'm not going to just yet). After that, I will continue to ramp up mileage for Ironman and add in the Insanity videos to continue with the core strengthening. I'm hoping it works, but regardless it will be more training than I did for my 2009 race. I'm going to do this! I'm going to kick my IM CDA time in the butt, AND I'm going to finally look toned and fit. YESSSSSSS....

My hope is to post Before/After photos in 60 days (or maybe do a before/30 day/60 day picture post). :-)

No Hagg

I decided against racing the 15 mile mud run. It was a tough decision since I had already paid for my race entry, but in the end, it was the best choice. I still have a long journey ahead of me until the finish line of Canada, and I don't want to hurt myself. What really made my decision was the fact that I've been feeling my glute again (similar pain to what took me out of the 2009 Honolulu marathon). Anyway, I've been stretching, strength training, and am looking for a Kaiser doctor to refer me to PT (the one I saw in December wouldn't, soooo not going back to him).

I did however go for a leisurely 6 mile run at Forest Park, which I really enjoyed. It wasn't 15 but it was still something. I had fun working on cadence, breathing and form. I decided that I need to pull out my Chi Running book again and re-read it.

Right now work is really busy. It's Telefund time again so my hours are all out of whack. I stay up too late and sleep in since I don't have to be to work until around 11, but that also means I'm working until after 8pm. I just need to make a decision about when I'm going to exercise and stick with it. My problem is that I enjoy having down time after work to journal, read, watch movies/TV online or what not, BUT then that means I'm staying up too late. If I don't do something, then the next 4-5 weeks will see me exercising very little, which is no bueno.

That's all for now...

Vote!

As part of my Ironman training, I am training with the Team In Training running group for the San Diego Rock in Roll Marathon. Along with the training, I also get to fundraise for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, which is pretty awesome. I get to help in the fight against cancer, which is a cause near and dear to my heart.

You may have seen my Bikini Run video, which happened because I met my fundraising goal for the 2009 Honolulu Marathon, well this time around, I've changed the stakes (who doesn't like a challenge, right?!). Fundraising should be FUN, so in order to add a sense of fun and goofiness there are now 3 Bikini Run options that you can vote for by donating through my site to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Why? Because I'm totally cool with public humiliation if it means we will one day find a cure for a cancer!!

Here's how it will work:

1. Decide on your gift amount, which determines how many votes you get:


$1-$24 = 1 vote
$25-$49 (Star Level) = 2 votes
$50-$99 (Super Level) = 3 votes
$100-$249 (Silver Level) = 4 votes
$250-$499 (Gold Level) = 5 votes
$500-$999 (Platinum Level) = 10 votes
$1,000+ (Titanium Level) = 20 votes
 
(You can split up your votes between options, but the more you donate, the more you can influence the outcome of this adventure!)
 
2. Then go to our website and donate (it's 100% tax deductible): VOTE HERE
 
3. After you make your donation, let us know what you vote for in the "comments" section. (We will also follow up with you and find out what you want to see happen.)
 
Here are your options to vote on for Bikini Fun....
 

Option 1 involves Lindsay and I donning bikinis and riding the MAX train from the Lloyd Center all the way to the Zoo (at least 20+ minutes of public embarrassment). In the comments, type "MAX" and vote for this option.

Option 2 involves Lindsay and I running in bikinis in the location of your choosing (one loop around the Portland Waterfront = 30+ minutes of public embarrassment and spectatorship for you). In the comments, type "RUN" and vote for this option.

Snow or not, Option 3 involves Lindsay and I heading to Mt. Hood to ski, snow board, or snow shoe in bikinis (Burr, this will be cold AND embarrassing!). In the comments, type "SKI" and vote for this option.
 
You have until April 29th to donate and cast your vote! If we raise $6,000 by that deadline, then my friend Lindsay and I will do the winning option on the weekend of April 30th!
 
Stay tuned...more Bikini Fun to come!

The current debate...

Why is life so busy? There are so many fun things happening on the weekends that I keep forgetting that I'm supposed to be training for an Ironman (and the San Diego Rock in Roll Marathon). I've been exercising during the week, but it's been mostly resistance and some basic/short cardio drills like kick boxing or jumping rope. I need to get out and pound the pavement and start riding my bike (or at least start taking 24Hour spin classes again). Oh, and I need to start base building with my swimming too. So many things...

As to the title of this blog, I'm signed up for the 15 mile Hagg Lake Mud run in 2 weekends and although I ran 9 miles 2 Saturdays ago, I'm not ready for a mud/trail run. I did this exact same thing last year - was under trained and just went for it. It was still fun but my legs paid for it (as soon as I crossed the finish line, my quads totally seized up and cramped; I've never experienced that before). Anyway, my debate is this: do I still do the mud run or give my entry to someone else? What is adding to my dilemma is that my friend Daphne is having her 30th b-day party in Seattle the night before the Hagg run, and my good pal Katie is flying out from Bismarck to help her celebrate. I'd REALLY rather go have fun in Seattle, but the dilemma is that every weekend has something fun and some reason not to train, so when do I train?! Ugh! I took Friday off, so I could head up Thursday night, party with the girls in Seattle and celebrate Daph, then either head back down to Ptown late Friday or EARLY Saturday (I have to work Saturday morning). Then I'd have Saturday afternoon to chill and get ready for the race, but then that would mean I'd miss the actual b-day party in Seattle, which is Saturday night. OR I forget the race and drive up to Seattle after my work thing on Saturday. So many options. I also have to work on Sunday of that same weekend (ugh, I just have to get through February, I just have to get through February).

I'm so indecisive right now...

I forget how much one has to give up with regard to their social life in order to properly train for an Ironman, and just like 2009, I'm really struggling with giving up my social life. I just really like my friends (duh!) and don't like missing out on fun things. What I REALLY need to do is start convincing more of my friends to train with me and do these races, then everyone will be going to bed early and getting up early for LONG bike rides/runs. It would be awesome. :-)

I won't give up this time

In 2009, I was on the Honolulu marathon team with Team In Training (TNT). I did the fundraising and made it to the event. Before the race, I had been struggling with knee pain that felt more like nerve pain (not my usual knee pain). I got new shoes and was hoping whatever was going wrong would hold out for the race. Race morning the knee pain started less than half a mile into the race. I was devastated. I tried walk/running but walking even became painful. I was beside myself. I have never NOT finished a race (I even finished the horrible Pacific Crest long-distance course triathlon of 2008), but this time the pain was more than I wanted to push for 26.2 miles, so I pulled myself out of the race at mile 5. I was in tears. It was one of the hardest decisions I have had to made (it seems easy, right - you are in pain so quit, but I hate quitting). I think I take that mentality into a lot of different aspects of my life. I fight (it's in my name: "Kelly" means warrior). And I'm still not ok with my Honolulu performance, so it was not surprising to me that I was talked into signing up for another Team In Training marathon team (oh man).

Last night was the official kick-off to the 2011 Team In Training summer season. I will be training for the San Diego Rock in Roll Marathon, which is on June 5th. This time I won't quit. This time I will train, take care of any pain BEFORE it becomes an issue, and I will finish a marathon. This time I have more motivation. Working for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society sort of made me feel disenchanted with the organization, but last night listening to the stories of those who have survived blood cancers, renewed my determination.

I lost my mom to cancer when I was 15 years old. I remember watching this beautiful, vivacious, strong, and intelligent woman deteriorate under the strain of cancer. During her last few days she needed constant care. My step dad had been staying up all night with her for days, so my sister and I (at 12 and 15 respectively) decided to take a turn staying up with her. We slept in shifts and took turns staying awake with our mom. She was a fighter. The tumors in her body were so big that doctors were surprised that she still tried to eat and get up and move around, which was why we had to stay up with her. Never giving up, she would force herself to sit up and get out of bed, but she wasn't completely strong enough to move around on her own. I will never forget one of my last moments with her. There I was, sitting next to her on the medical bed at home (it was my turn to stay awake and it was probably about 3 am). She was in pain and I was upset. I remember laying my head down on her shoulder and thinking about the injustice of our situation. It just wasn't fair; here she was my mom and it was her job to take care of me, but I had to be strong and take care of her. And just as that thought occurred, my mom laid her head down on top of mine. It was a complete act of kindness and love. She was still taking care of me even though she didn't have the strength. She died the next afternoon.

I can't even begin to imagine what my life would be like if she had never passed away. If I think about it too much, it makes me mad. I have issues from all that has happened in my life, BUT I am a strong, beautiful and capable woman. I am my mom's legacy. My first Ironman race is a total tribute to her and her memory. And joining Team In Training again is just one way I can fight cancer. It's just one way I can try to make sure that no one else has to go through losing a loved one to cancer. Cancer is cruel and devastating. Cancer sucks.

So now I will also be journaling about my TNT experience, which is just a part of my Ironman Canada training plan.

If I can finish an Ironman race, we will one day find a cure for cancer. Anything is possible.

***If you would like to join my fight against cancer, please consider making a donation to LLS. You can do so on my page: http://pages.teamintraining.org/oswim/rnr11/kogara ***