Tuscon's a go.

Earlier this month Husband got a petulant call from a friend who lives in Tuscon. "I guess you aren't coming for the Tour de Tuscon," He said, "since you're not here" Indeed. In order to to the TdT, we would have had to leave immediately after work on Friday, drive until midnight, and then get up at dawn to do it. That leaves the realm of "fun" and enters the realm of pathological obsession. BUT, we did sign up to do the Tuscon Marathon on December 4th. Husband is doing the full, and I'm doing the half. They have a "filly" division, and I expect this is the last year I'll be able to qualify. It's for women 160 pounds and up. I've been right at about 160 the past 3 months or so, but I've decided to stop taking some evil meds that my doc put me on - Not that HE's evil; he's awesome, but since I started taking them my training and weight loss have slowed immensely - okay, yes, I'm babbling again. In any case, based on last years results, just for showing up I may place third. My first half marathon! Then of course, on the 10th, the Polar Bear Triathlon, the first tri of the new season. (No web page, but there's the info: Reverse 5K R, 30K B, 400M S, Location: White Sands Missel Range, NM, Contact: Bill Velez, 505.678.3374)

This picture is a statue of Athena. Isn't she awesome? That's the weight division that I am in when I do triathlons. Much better than "lady clydesdale". Here's what Wikipedia says about her (edited): "Athena, (Greek θηνά Athēná or θήνη Athénē), the Greek goddess of wisdom, strategy, and war ...is attended by an owl, and is accompanied by the goddess of victory, Nike. Athena is also a goddess associated with mentoring heroes. Athena is an armed warrior goddess, never a child; she is said to have found the advances of men to be childish. According to Plato, Athena was derived from A-θεο-νόα (A-theo-noa) or H-θεο-νόα (E-theo-noa) meaning the mind of God (Crat.407b). Athena was patron of the art of weaving and other crafts, wisdom and battle. Athena's domain was strategy and tactics."

I Feel GOOD!

Husband and I went down to Sports and Wellness today for a workout. My run was 4.5 miles, and my swim was faster than is has been. Considering what today is, I feel virtuous and very healthy. Then it was back home to pop the Tofurkey in the oven (don't laugh unless you've already tried it) and heat up all the usual side dishes. We're sharing Thanksgiving with the Tri club today. have a happy Thanksgiving!

Random thoughts.

I'm now a member of the New Mexico Outlaws tri club. Actually, I think they were pretty happy to have the Husband and are kind of stuck with me, but if they are, they're awfully nice about it. I like triathletes. They're high-energy folks who don't take themselves too seriously and like to have fun. I feel a little out of sorts, because they all seem really sleek and athletic, but they're so encouraging and accepting, and I feel like I might be somewhat athletic too, when I'm around them. We go out for these runs on Sundays. Well, we start out on runs. Usually after the first 50 yards I'm already wayyy back, so I take along my MP3 player. I've worked my way up to about an 8 mile jog. Husband does something like 20 miles. Then I go for a swim, which feels grrrreat!

Husband and I are considering the Tuscon marathon December 4th. Actually I'm considering the half marathon. It's all supposed to be downhill, which could be nice or could realllllly suck. I'll keep you posted on this. A lot of it depends on whether I want to arrive home at 10 pm after a half marthon and then go teach 90 8th-graders the next day. That could really suck, too. But it would be my first half marathon. If nothing else, the Polar Bear tri is the following weekend.

The problem with my current training plan is the the local high school swim team has a stranglehold on the pool after school from 3 to about 5. I think I'm going to switch gyms, too. Here's my choices:
the new gym (Defined Fitness) is a mile from my house and a little less expensive, and only adults or kids age 15 and over are allowed, and a good friend teaches a couple cardio dance classes that I enjoy, but it doesn't offer much in the way of amenities. The treadmills automatically shut down after 35 minutes and you have to reset them. You can join month-to-month.
the other gym (NM Sports and Wellness) is 5 miles away through traffic and a little more expensive, and requires a contract. Sometimes there are young kids swimming in the pool, but it has provides shampoo, conditioner, towels, blow-dryers, rentable lockers, two pools and no high school swimming practice. It also has nicer treadmills. (I'm not a weanie, but it is getting below freezing and I need to run.)
My current training plan:
Sundays, long run. Increase by 10% each week. Then swim 500 yards. Although this isn't exactly an ice bath, I think it's a good recovery activity.
Mondays, swim about 500 yards, and then cardio dance. For the heck of it. Stretching afterwards.
Tuesdays, run 35 minutes (working on Galloways' half marathon plan) and then swim 500 yards.
Wednesdays, off.
thursdays, run 35 minutes, and then swim 500 yards. Working on speed and no rests.
Fridays, bike in to work and then swim 500 yards after work.
Saturdays, bike to down town (my "long" ride) and back, 10 miles or so each way.
I'm going to work on increasing the biking after Christmas. We'll see.

Galloway's Book on Running

I got a $10 gift cert from a science teacher thingy that I was involved in this fall, and I ran straight away down to Barnes and Nobel. Awesome. I love this book. Now, if there were only one like this about swimming!

Long run: I'm up to 7.5 miles now. I joined a closer gym to get more swimming in. 2.5 weeks until the "Polar Bear Triathlon".

Haiku for The Sims

Playing God today
a therapist's therapy
purposeful chaos

I've discovered the Sims. Why didn't anyone every tell me about these? They are the ultimate destressing tool after a difficult session or a long day of sessions. As a beginning therapist, I'm always acutely aware of my ethics, what to say, what to do, concentrating on the client and their thought functions. Sims are awesome. I can create people and then deliberately screw up their lives. Very satisfying.