June 14th, losing 26.2 :D

As I try to keep Juneathoning with my swimming, walking, running and so on, I have just found what I needed... a challenge... a weight loss challenge... throughout the Summer... let's get going!! Woohoo! Thanks Jess! This challenge comes precisely at the right moment! Woohoo! Bring it on!

Swimming clinic

We now have our proper instructor and boy can she push us. I love it. We worked lots on Monday and can't wait to go back tomorrow! She was looking at us and correcting our technique... great! Also, we did 20 more minutes... gotta love it! Hope we do more tomorrow too!

Cursa de Pineda - Juneathon continued

Sunday, June 10th, Pineda. The 10th edition of the 10K. The alarm goes off and I wonder wether to go or stay home. I am tired and haven't run since Sunday last week. I get up and go. I get lost within the small town of Pineda :p I finally make it to the start. It is very hot and humid. I find my good friends María and Mercè and we set off together. They run faster so they go, but I catch up with them. In the end, Mercè came in 59 seconds before me and Maria just 10 :D Happy with it! I walked part of it. I think my mind won the battle but it was great 1:08:01 in the end. Not the best but hey... good enough... and I wasn't last either :D. So, what's next? Let Juneathon continue!

Day 7

Just walking today, which is good enough I think. I have been sleep deprived lately and I am very very tired so my 3kms today feel great!

Juneathon Day 6

Well... I keep moving here, there and everywhere! Second day for my swimming course today. I did over 1000m altogether but lost count. It was great. I did 50 more meters than everyone else in my group as I swam (amazingly) faster than they did... had a lovely time. I'll continue next Monday! 6 more sessions to go! I went to the orthopedic doctor to pick my new inserts today. I've been wearing them and my foot doesn't seem to wobble too much, wich is obviously fantastic! They don't feel weird or anything so I'm very very happy! I'll wear them tomorrow again and will try a little run in them and then just wear them Fri and Sat and if they feel right, will wear them on my 10K next Sunday! Yay! Loving Juneathon... the push I needed it!

Weight loss?

I know what to do. I've been really good for 4 months and all of the sudden... I can't seem to be able to control myself. I need to lose lots and I want to do it. I'd like to feel good and not ashamed... I can do it... What to do... what to do... what to do... how to do it? Talk about the milion dollar question ;)

Stationary bike today for Juneathon today :D

It was 11pm already and feeling guilty about my eating... had some chocolate in the afternoon and didn't manage getting any workout in... I guess that's what happens with a full time job and 3 kids among other things, right? Well... I wanted to watch a documentary on sea water, so I jumped on the stationary and rode it while it lasted. Not too many kms but more than I would have done, had I just stayed sat down... so, keeping up with the Juneathon wonderful challenge! 9kms in 30 minutes... the idea was just to move not to go any specific distance. I don't know how long it had been since I used my stationary so I'm quite happy... thinking of using it more as I am about 7 weeks out from my first triathlon of the season :D So I will find it easier (maybe) to get on my road bike :D I didn't use a tech shirt... what a mistake... I'm soaked through... it is soooooooooooo hot... sweat started pouring off me (which I gather is good :p) so I better go get changed!

Swimming course

Finally here... it started today... a swimming clinic for triathletes to improve technique... they really made us work hard but it was great! Loved it! A great way to keep moving! 5 girls, 10 men and everyone very good... eek! Too bad it's only during June... I think I will be learning lots, yay!

Cursa a l'Alba

This am, Paula and I went to Salt. The Cursa a l'Alba was being held so we headed there. I didn't know if they'd let Paula run but we had no problems. We set off before the gun and by K2 when they got us, I let her go as I knew she's be sorrounded by people at all times. BTW, I got brave enough to just wear my sleevless t-shirt... not a nice sight but it was very hot ;)

I was doing great (for me) up to k6 but then my knee started playing up. I tried changing my stride but in the end nothing... I managed to finish well and Paula was already waiting for me... what a champ... her very firs 9k race and she never stopped... she does gymnastics so, it's even more amazing that she never stopped and also... she was the youngest runner in the 9k event :D So there... one more to go and a few more miles to count towards Juneathon! Bring it on!

Nocturna Germans Sàbat

Finally... after 3 years trying to do it, I maganed to go to this "night" race. The info said 6,4k but is was 5,55k. After a very hectic and stressful day, my daughter and I went over, met lovely people, as usual and got going. She did so well... I realize I am stopping her but she stays with me (I don't let her go as I don't know the place well and don't like not knowing where she is...) The second hill comes and I tell her to keep going, I will walk the hill. She takes off and boy oh boy... she's such a champ! She's only 9 and a gymnast, not a runner but she gives it all and finished well ahead of me!

Here are a few of us before the start. Xevi always takes a photo. We got lucky and were there :D We power walked in the am too, woohoo! And a 9k tomorrow morning and it's midnight now... so I better get going to bed :p Happy Juneathon! Bring it on!

Juneathon

Needed something to get motivated, not that I haven't been but to keep me going to, there I go... Juneathon... such a wonderful idea!

So there... stair climbing yesterday, walking lots so far today and a 6,5k race in the evening, yay!

Leeds Half Marathon recap (about time too!)

Gosh! Can't believe I've been too busy to post... it's been over a month and a half... eek! Anyway... lots have gone on... Paula's 3rd competition in which she did great and had lots of fun! Fun races for all 3 kids, interviews with kid's teachers, all great BTW :D, all 3 kids going off to camp with school... bliss! 3 days, 2 nights!

On April 22nd, the day after Paula's 3rd competition, the Cursa dels Bombers was held in Barcelona. It's my favourite 10K... 25000 runners took Barcelona... it was amazing, plus I had to do 23km that day as my training for my upcoming half marathon in Leeds! The race was great, as usual, top marks for a perfect organization... amazing, though, how in between so many people you can feel so alone... :p I ran Bombers in 1:08:16 (1:10:10 in 2011), not great but I'll take it! The previous week, I run a 10k here in Girona inn 1:07 something. Happy! All the training was starting to pay off! On May 1st I went to do the Marxa Popular de Bordils, a 12k trail run. Beautiful. Did great for me... I don't remember how long it took me but it was really nice. Enjoyed it very much but had a scare. At around km 10,5 and out of the blues I started having this pinching pain on the outside of my right knee. I kept running but the pain got worse and worse. Didn't know wether to stop or keep going as I was so close to the end. I kept going and eventually, the pain wore off. I made it. I was very happy. Went home but once back I could tell something was wrong with my knee. It even felt tender to the touch. Spoke with my wonderful doc and he said it was overuse. We did laser sessions and the pain went but it would come back at times when running... I went to Leeds... we left Saturday am. Paula came along as well as Fiona with Lisa & Harry and Dani. We landed, got our car and headed to Leeds... run around in circles trying to find the hotel, LOL. In the end we got there. We left everything at the hotel and headed out the check the city. We did a bit of shopping and then went to the pool at the hotel and out for dinner. I had a bad night... something didn't sit well in my tummy and was sick at night. I had no wish to run in the am :( Could hardly eat breakfast and felt no emotion when getting to the race site and seeing all the other runners. Eventually we made it to the start. I decided I'd stop if I had to. I was worried about my knee too. The gun went and we got going and surprisingly enough I started to feel ok. No mile markers to be seen anywhere which helped big time if I may say so. I was guided by the water stations ;) I had my Garmin on but didn't want to check it :p

So I went and went and went over those long long long and steep hills and made it to the end on a very hot Sunday am in Leeds... I crossed the finish line in 2:30:35 with Paula&Harry... priceless!

Got my bag and while deciding what to do, we were just stood there. My knee held well all the race. When we decide to go back to the hotel for a shower etc, it was like having a knife poked through my knee... ouch! But the race was over :D I had done it! Back at the hotel I took my ice bath and stretched. Went for lunch and straight to the airport. What a great weekend... thinking ahead... what will be next???

18 years after...

Yep... 18 years... it had been 18 years since I had seen the Waldrons. John and Tricia Waldron live in South Burlington, VT and they had au pairs as their children where growing up. I happened to be an au pair in Burlington and became really close to their au pair Holly, from Notthingham. I used to go to Holly's quite often. Well... time has passed and I've been in touch with the Waldrons. Julie, who was a toddler back in the day, is now taking a Semester at the University in León and Tricia and John have come over to visit. Their last part of the trip took them to Barcelona. Tricia asked me if I was anywhere near... near??? You bet I am near so... we arranged to meet and yesterday at 6:45 I got to give them a huge bear hug.

It had been 18 years but it was like time had never passed... we just took it where we left it, as if nothing had happened... it was so nice, so great, so precious, so special... I am so happy we got to meet. It was so nice of them to tell me they were coming and if we could meet and it was just magic to meet them after such a long time and even more magic was the fact that the time didn't seem to have passed. I just love that!

So, we went for dinner, which they really enjoyed :D and then it was time to say goodbye... precious, to say the least... a day to remember, for sure, to treasure. We'll see each other again soon, that's for sure!

Thank you Tricia, John and Julie!

Road to Leeds well on its way!

Today is Monday. Program called for a long run on the weekend but had a 9 miler race today in Canovelles, so I moved the 10 miler to today. I ended up not going to the race but decided to run closer to home, just my own route.

Gas is really expensive and being Easter Monday and having the "mona" tradition here, the race was interfering in the family schedule.

So, I had to do 10 miles. Out I went not really knowing where I'd go and decided the route as I went along :D It was cloudy and not hot so it was sort of perfect for running :D

Ended up doing 10.9miles or 17kms 550m. So happy and proud with what I did... amazing! That's actually the training next week called for :O Oh well... now I know I can do it... I think I will be able to do the Leeds half quite ok. I am feeling confident :d

I also tried the fueling. No sports drink, only an energy gummy from PowerBar before starting, another at km 6.5 and a Powergel at 9kms. A bit of water. Worked out fine for me. To my surprise my last kms were the fastest, LOL! The only, a part from another under 7 minutes, LOL!

Leeds... here I come!

Progress

Well... it is Saturday again so it is weigh in day... a bit nervous about it. I am being good and exercising but... I do feel less bloated but then again last week I saw a "gain" of +700gr so I was cautios. Being on holiday this week, I've been eating what the family eats but not overdoing it... well... I can report a -1.1kg loss this week! Woot! That puts me at -5.3kg lost... still ways to got but I will get there... slowly but surely which is probably the best way!

Anyway, 10:35am... time for breakfast and must fit my 3miler in today at some point.

Keep it going!

*New* bike :D

Finally! I finally got to get out there (although very briefly) to try out my *new* bike. And I say *new* because although it is new to me, it is a second hand bike.

This is my very first road bike and I am so excited! I sure hope I can tell in the triathlons I set out to do next Summer!

So I went out today just to try it outside the garage, LOL! I went to this little closed road where I wanted to try it but then decided to go around town as it is a holiday today and there hardly was any traffic!

So I went, very carefully as I have no control on this bike yet (obviously, being my first time... ) So I tried changing gears to see what felt most comfy, what to do and when. I only went a bit over 5.5kms so I didn't really have time to try it all but I got a good taste of it! Even my chain came off and to my surprise I was able to fix it on my own :D That was a proud moment for sure!

This is me and her after fixing the chain:

Oh yes, and after taking my jacket off and having my hair in a mess, etc. :p

It was a nice experience... so different to the mountain bike... so much lighter and faster. I hope to get used to it and be able to go on longer and longer rides... mind you... it isn't too safe to ride around here (or anywhere) so I'll have to think carefully where to go. With the mountain bike I just hit the bike path and that's it, but now I have to be on the road so that will take some planning!

Happy biking to me! Let the season begin!

Scary

Road to Leeds!!!

I managed my 8 miles on Sunday and it was great. It wasn't super fast but it was! I was so proud of myself too! I drove to Banyoles and went 2+ times around the lake to cover de distance, 8,5miles total!

Monday was rest day and yesterday I had to do a 3 miler so after I dropped the kids off at camp I got going. To my surprise, my 3 year long injury, haunted me back, or that pain, at least! I had to stop after having run a bit over 2kms. I did manage all 3 miles but combining walking and running but was upset.

I e-mailed my wonderful doc and told me to go see him and so I did. It happens to be a varicose vein on my ankle, ouch! He massaged it and boy oh boy was it painful! And all along the way too! All throughout the course of the vein. Still painful today but think I'll be able to pull my 5 miler tomorrow. If I can't run straight, I'll run-walk... no problem! I've been icing it and hope that does the trick!

Bad timing for this to happen. He did say I had bad flow return, from day one and now it's worse, specially now that the heat's arrived. Anyway, glad it wasn't an injury per se but hoping the pain goes away too!!!

So... road to Leeds it is!

The Jelly Bean Fun Run!

Hello April!!!!! Hello Spring! It is so nice out there... gotta love spring weather!

It is April 1st and time for the Jelly Bean Virtual Run... up at 7:15 and off to Banyoles (paradise!) for my run... Gosh, it was amazing! Such a beautiful day, lots of runners, walkers and bikers out there, rowers on the lake... simple amazing!

I run my 5 and my 10k and then I set off on the bike... so nice!

37:00 for the 5K... within my range... I run-walked at a 30:30 ratio the first km and then run the rest... very happy!
1:13:14 for the 10K... pretty good (for me, not that it is a great time, we all know it isn't)
And... 1:01:22 for the bike ride... have to admit I was pretty tired after the running, LOL!

All the training fits great in my half marathon training. I will be going to Leeds, in the UK to run the half marathon there, on May 13th... time to get serious! Amazing how it's made me be consistent with my training. I want to finish that half (will be my 3rd) in good condition, unlike the other 2 :p

Thanks Jess for setting up such a fun race. It sure was fun out there. My bib got "ruined" with all the water/sweat but took more photos at home with an extra bib I printed :D

Bummed

Yesterday was weigh in day. I have been so good with my eating. I eat sensibly. I eat very few carbs, I exercise... I passed on cakes on Monday at school. It was chocolate day and we, the teachers, were the judges. Didn't try one although the chocolate smell chased me all day. There was cake for snack on Friday. I never went near it. I haven't had fast food since January, when I started trying to control my eating... well... and the reading on the scales yesterday was +700gr (about 1 1/2lbs), WTH???? I was upset, of course! What am I doing wrong? I've only just started, it CAN'T be a plateau, can it???
So, a 9lbs loss for a total, when last week I was at 11lbs lost... oh well... time to stick to it and keep going. Hopefully the weight will end up coming off!!!!

Bumps/Hurdles along the way

Yes, I am determined and nothing is going to stop me but today was one of those uh-oh days... after work I came home quickly and got changed straight away to go for a run before the kidlets got home. I went over to the bike path. It was loaded with people: runners, walkers, bikers... lovely! It was a beautiful day too :D

I set out. I had to do 4 miles today as my training plan says, towards my half on May 13th. Well... at the very beginning it went well but after that I felt I was dragging myself all the way and like I was running in place... it was hard. There was a strong head wind on the way there too. Anyway... I did get 6.780 in between walking and running but my running pace was very slow, averagin 7:14 I think... oh well... guess next one will be better.

Must not take my eyes off my goad. It will happen... still lots of weight to lose and getting back into training regularly... some days are good and some days are... better!

Watch Cool Runnings at work today. I love that movie. Love the message and love it when the "coach to be" says "do the words give up mean anything to you?" And he answers: "NOTHING.AT.ALL"... gosh... love that guy!

Keep going, keep going, keep going!!!