I am so sore from yesterday's bike practice. My inner thighs are killing me! Today is our endurance run for the week, which also coincides with our long run for the YMCA's beginner running group. I run 33 minutes straight along the Erie Canal path. My boyfriend comes running with me, and I'm so slow, he pretty much just walks at his regular pace next to me! That makes me feel a little lame. It's pouring rain, so by the time I finish 33 minutes of jogging, the rain has soaked through my windbreaker, sweatpants and baseball cap. It's miserable. But I'm proud of myself for being able to run the entire time. For last week's long run, I went around my apartment complex, which is surrounded by hills, so I was only able to make it 26 minutes. But the Erie Canal path is flat, and after 33 minutes of jogging, I felt great, like I could even go longer. I'm still a slow runner, but I'm proud of what I've accomplished in the few weeks I've been with the running group.

Monday, May 16, 2011

Today is supposed to be a day of rest, but I know I won't be able to do any of the workouts on Thursday because I have to drive home for my brother's graduation. So I do a swim workout today. I swim 1000 yards, or 40 lengths. I do a few of the drills, including the fist drill, fingertip drag, kick on side with one stroke, kick on side with three strokes. I'm surprised the drills actually wore me out a little bit. I was out of breath after a 100 of each drill. I also swam 6X 50s with 15 seconds rest. I should have done a longer distance, but I didn't have much time. Oh well, at least I got in the pool.

Tuesday, May 17, 2011

I'm out on the bike again today. Luckily the rain held off for my ride. Our schedules say we are supposed to ride 50 minutes on rolling hills. That's actually perfect because I live on rolling hills, so I ride from Manlius to past Oran. But there's a really big hill past Oran, so I just ride up and down the hamlet for a bit to get in the time. I'm actually feeling much better on the bike. My legs aren't hurting as much, and I'm not as out of breath. I'm feeling much better. I bike 8.86 miles in 50 minutes. That's not too bad.

After my bike, I run my daily 15 minutes. I run further than I've run before. I run 1.22 miles up some of the moderate hills where I live. It starts to rain during the run, but it feels good. I've definitely worked up a good sweat. I feel great though. My legs hurt a bit after the run.

Wednesday, May 18, 2011

I'm out running again today. I will miss my running group tomorrow, so I am doing my hard work out of the week. I do a ten minute jog warm up and cool down, along with a ten minute tempo run at a hard pace. I'm sweating like crazy. I'm surprised to find myself so out of breath and worn out by the end of the workout. I've been doing so well lately, but I'm a little disappointed in how tired I feel after the run. But at least I got my hard work out of the week in.

Thursday, May 19, 2011

I drive home to Buffalo for my brother's graduation today, so I don't get a workout in. But I do buy a pair of bike shoes and cleats! I'm going to be using my dad's pedals from his bike. Saturday should be really interesting, as it will be my first time ever with clipless pedals. I'm a bit nervous because I've seen so many people fall already. But I'm definitely excited to try them out!

I took Thursday and Friday off of all workouts because I was at my parents' house for my brother's graduation.

Today, is my first bike practice with clipless pedals! I am pleasantly surprised. I was really nervous going into today because I've seen so many people fall, and I'm terrified of hitting the pavement! But I didn't fall once...knock on wood. The pedals are so easy to clip in and out of. Almost too easy, so I may have to tighten once I get a bit more comfortable on the bike. We ride a 1.5 mile loop around Franklin Square. Minus the potholes and traffic, it is quite a nice ride. The group I'm with rides around the path four times! I feel great, but when I get off the bike, Boy am I sore! I don't know if it's something I will ever get used to.

Later in the day, my boyfriend and I go to Green Lakes to do my daily 15 minute run. It seems excruciatingly long and difficult. I manage to jog the entire time, but it is a complete struggle.

I'm definitely going to sleep well tonight.