Not So Saddle Sore

Yep, I've actually been on my bike enough so that my bum isn't quite so sore. That is a good thing! I know that the tour coming up is a big one but all I seem to have time to ride is about 10 miles or so. Not much on a bike I know. However, with everything else gong on I can't seem to fit in any longer rides at the moment. I'm hoping that by at least getting on my bike daily that it will help....evidence being soreness almost nonexisitent. I try to ride at a sprint pace when I'm doing this and having the bike trailer behind me when I ride feels like pulling a sail. It certainly helps build some leg strength. Other than that it's the usual traing that I've been doing and preping my gear for the ride. I now sport new padded bike shorts and gloves. My bike handles are finally adjusted at a height and distace that works well for me. So things are certainly coming together! Only 3 weeks to go!

Holy Cow!!!

Mid June already!! Where did the time go? Ok, so the big bike tour is only5 weeks away and I feel not as prepared as I would like. Don't get me wrong, I've been working out and on my bike (finally) but I'm amazed at how fast the time has passed since I've signed up. Ok, so what has my workout regiment been? Karate 3 hours a week. Which, btw, I tested and made it to my next belt. I'm super excited about that! That means I'm only a few months away from testing for my black belt. Way Cool! I've also been out on my bike fairly regularly lately, a good thing! I've only been able to do about 10-15 miles each time but I've been trying to do that about 3x per week. I've also been doing yoga in the am...helps my back and neck a lot. I guess good posture is a good thing. So keep cheering me on. As I get closer to this bike tour I'm excited but more nervous too. HOpefully that nervous energy will translate into me actually biking farther. :)

Now I need to make sure that I have supplies for the ride as well! Time to do a little shopping..:) Like I needed an excuse right? lol

A good workout...

As most days with karate, it's a good workout. In the summer class is usually moved outside due to building closure. Last night was the first night outside and let me tell you I could feel the heat and it didn't even get that hot here! I mean it was only about 68F here and yet sweat was pouring off me. The reason: It was a good workout! A half hour or more on kata and I was definately feeling the burn. I'm excited though because it was 1/2 hour of continuous workout, with out stopping for a break, and even though I was sweating I felt great. I was able to maintain conversation without the huffing and puffing. This tells me that my workouts are paying off in building up my endurance. I wasn't as tired as I usually am after a good workout. I'm excited about that. Maybe I'll be able to handle that "small" bike ride I signed up for in July after all. :)

Weighing in

Right now on Mondays, while my daugther is in swim lessons, I do laps. It works out rather nice cause it's about 25 minutes of actual workout time in the water...and that's enough for me. In the locker room they have a scale and I usually try only to weight myself about once a month. It helps so I don't feel to discouraged about any weight fluctuation. All you women out there know how bloating can affect that scale! So today I weighed myself for the first time in 2 months. To my surprise I'm down another 5 pounds! I'm not sure how or where it went but woohoo! That means I only have 5 more pounds to go before I hit my pre-prego weight from 10 years ago (first born). I'm excited! So I'll keep doing what I'm doing for now....Maybe it's the Ben & Jerry's...Then again that's probably wishful thinking!

Monkeying Around

The few days ago we (my little crew and hubby) went to the park so the kids could enjoy a change of scenry. While there, and in attempt to encouarge my oldest that exercise can be fun, my hubby challenges myself and son to hang with our chins above the monkey bars for as long as we can. (Mind you my hubby does pull-ups that are really smooth!) Did any of you have to do that when you were in HS? I remember having to do it and how awful I was at it. Well, things haven't changed much. Though I did put in a better effort it was still sad to watch. Not only that we were swinging rung to rung to get across and timing it. Yeah.....My hubby: 5 sec. My son: 9 sec. Myself: 28sec!!!! 28Sec?! %$#@! What the heck? I couldn't seem to get my body coordinated with my arms so that my swing would help propel me forward. What a sad representation for women! I obviously found something I need to work at. :)

Wishful thinking

The healing process seems so SLOW! I know that I only sprained/twisted my ankle but it feels like it's been forever and it's still not completely healed. Ok, enough whining.

Though I haven't been on the bike as much as I would like, I still have been trying to make sure that I boost my endurance and cardio other ways. Playing tag, though not good for my ankle, is great for that! I have done a lot of running around chasing the kids in the yard. It's been a lot of fun and a good workout, especially when I'm chasing them uphill. I have to say that I'm getting old though. I look at the endless amount of energy my kids have and they are hardly winded by it all. Once I catch them then they are squeling to do it all over again. I, on the other hand, could use a nap! When did that happen? I get the feeling that I'm not as fit as I once thought! On the plus side, it sure has made me more aware of what I eat and my activity.

So here's to wishing I was as energetic as kids and realizing that will never happen! May it continue to push me onward in my quest to find more ways to be healthy and active.

As a side note: For those who think gardening isn't a cardio workout, I beg to differ. Try clearing out land and then tilling it the old fashion way: with a garden hoe! If you aren't sweating when the job is done it's because you didn't do it!

Just call me Grace!

So this past weekend was a lot of fun! My oldest son and I went to a karate seminar in Toledo, OH. It was a lot of fun and a great workout! 6 hours worth! By the time I was done, I was tired. Now you would think that if I can do kata (granted, not very pretty yet), weild some weaponry, fall without causing major injury to myself, and perform some self defense that I would be a little bit coordinated. I can chew gum and walk after all. Sometimes I can even talk on the phone while doing that too! So what happens on Sunday? Well, as I was walking down the back porch stairs and fell as I was hitting the last step. How it happened for sure I don't know. All I know is that by the time I realized that I was going to fall it was to late to pull back my body becuase the momentum was already to far in the other direction. I landed on my right ankle. Initially I thought I might have broken it but fortuately that wasn't the case. It is surely sparined though. I have been hobbling around all week. UGH! I did do laps in the pool on Monday but found that I could only do the crawl and very slow at that. I had to skip karate on Monday, although I did try it on Wednsday. Still sore. Yesterday I thought I would just do a little garden work on our back hill. Bad idea, that made it even more sore. I just have to give it a little more of a break. How frustrating is that?! What makes me feel worse is that I have really been on a roll with my workouts. Been doing great and now I have to back it down so much that I'm afraid that by the time I get back into it I'll be starting all over again. Oh well. Can you say "Grace"?