Swimming like a fish

I meant to post this before today, the conclusion of swim lessons I've been taking, but alas time has slipped away from me.

This summer I took two months of swim lessons at a local swim school.  We only met once a week, but I have made notable improvements in my swimming.  It's actually not the first time I've taken swim lessons.  I've taken a beginner class at my university that meets 2x a week for 3 weeks.  Twice.  The classes were helpful and very good but I realized I needed a bit more accountability so I signed up for the swim school, which promised I'd be able to complete a 65 yard swim upon completion.  How far is 65 yards?  I guess that's somewhat accurate lol.  I did learn how to tread water (efficiently) and that in itself was worth the time and money I invested in the class.

A few thoughts about learning to swim:

1. Don't be embarrassed, you're not alone.  If most adults could swim there wouldn't be so many adult swim classes.
2. You can do more and progress faster than you think you can.  The first time I took lessons I couldn't believe the instructor asked me to start free styling.  And then I couldn't believe I could do it :o).
3. The best way to swim is to swim.  I saw notable gains by going to the pool once or twice a week outside of class.
4. You're not going to drown... if you breathe... when your nose is above water lol.  If you fill your lungs up with air (inhale) and tilt your head back, you are going to stay afloat.  Really.  Once you internalize this you will relax a lot and I really think relaxing is the key to good swimming.

I'd invest in a good swimsuit, a swim cap (for women), and a good pair of goggles.

Also, even though it's not for beginners, I love and recommend this book.  In case you're interested, here's their website.

See you in the pool!

Morning green glory

Yesterday I made the Morning Green Glory juice.  A lot of green juices have very similar ingredients so they all taste pretty similar to me.  This one has a nice hint of sweet and sour.  Pretty light, pretty good, packed with nutrients (thinking back I may have forgotten the spinach).  The recipe yields about two glasses.

Keeping it Peachy

I was going to make my fav carrot juice drink this morning but then I realized one of my peaches was rather soft.  So I improvised:

1 peach
1 pear
1 apple
3 carrots
1 inch of ginger
a handful of spinach

Pretty good.  Yielded two full glasses, but I can dig it.  Green juices to come, I promise.

Some statistics this Monday

Good morning!  Here are some of my bicycle stats from today courtesy of my computer.

AM:
Time: 24:48
Distance: 5.41 miles
Avg mph: 13.1
Max mph: 20.1

PM:
Time: 28:35
Distance: 5.41 miles
Avg mph: 11.3
Max mph 19.5

I rely on the computer for mileage accuracy and my hrm for calorie info.  I wore my hrm last week and total calories burned round trip is about 450, with 40% of those burned on the way to school (mostly downhill, cooler temps) and 60 % burned on the way home.

I'm absolutely in love with my bike.  I've rediscovered what I've already known.  My schedule is also quite packed right now so it's a good way to fit in some cardio.

And one more statistic: This is my 100th post!! Thanks for your readership and cheers to healthy living :o)

bike to work days

A few weeks ago I decided to start biking to work.  I live 12 miles from campus but most mornings I go to a gym that's only 6 miles from campus so I figured I could start biking from there.  I researched a route to get to the gym from my house by bike and it would require me to get up a little too early for my liking.  So I decided that I would get a bike rack, drive to the gym with my bike, and then bike to school.

My first task was to find a good bike rack.  I did some googling on this, as my car has a spoiler and that complicates things.  I visited my local bike shop and they suggested the Saris Bike Porter.  There were others that would work for my car but most of them were a million dollars, which I don't have yet :o).  They didn't have the Bike Porter in stock so I ordered it off of Amazon.  It came last week and I was excited!  I read on Amazon that it could be difficult to install, but I think I'll disagree.  It wasn't easy to install but it wasn't too hard.  I watched the installation video a few times before I attempted to put it on my car.  I put it on, a little too high at first, but after some sleep I realized how to fix this (the top section of the frame- not the bottom section- should be perpendicular to the ground in case you've come across this blog in your attempt to install this rack).  Today I loaded up the racks and drove to and from the gym (side streets only because I'm cautious) and it did just fine.  It comes with cables that tie down the bike and that gave me some peace of mind (as I peered in the rearview mirror every 4 s lol).  I do plan on buying cable ties to secure the wheels, which were spinning out of control on my commute.  I will also get a crossbar adapter.  I have a female bike with a slanted crossbar, so the bike does not sit level on the rack.  It's ok, but the adapter will make me feel better (I found one today but it was a bit expensive in my opinion; Amazon has spoiled us).

Saris Bike Porter 2

Bike rack installed with Saris bike adapter

I also invested in a good messenger bag.  Part of the reason for that is I live in Austin, Texas and I feel like true Austinites wear messenger bags when they ride :o).  Messenger bags also help prevent sweaty t-shirt syndrome.  I have to wear a bag because I often bring my laptop to school and backpacks equal sweaty backs.  I researched good bags and discovered Timbuk2.  I read great things about it and it seemed very functional.  I chose a smaller bag that would fit my Macbook since I tend to travel pretty light besides that.  It also arrived last week and so far I am very satisfied with it.  It is smaller than I expected; I had to rearrange my lunch this morning for everything to fit nicely, but given all that I was transporting (lunch, a change of clothes, some toiletries, two books, and my Macbook), I am satisfied.  It comes with a strap to secure the bag around you and keep it from swaying.  I could have used it today.  I will have to find that lol.

Timbuk2 messenger bag

Finally I mapped out my route on Google Maps and I was ready to go!

My ride was actually very nice.  I was a bit jittery as it's been a while since I've rode in traffic, but the route helped.  I really didn't have much traffic at all for it to be 8 am on a weekday.  I was thinking the ride must've been mostly flat/downhill as I didn't feel that I was working very hard as I peddled along.  Also the weather was just about perfect.  Now the way home was a little less ideal.  I waited for rush hour traffic to die down, but it was still the hottest part of the day and definitely a little less flat though not by much.  I see more bike to work days in my future :o).

Other purchases to consider making for commuting by bike:

1. helmet
2. water bottle
3. bike lock
4. flashing lights (in case it gets dark- white in the front, red in the back)
5. tire repair supplies (a tire repair class won't hurt either)
6. sunglasses
7. sunscreen
8. bicycle computer (my ride was actually only 5.45 miles it told me)
9. bike rack (the kind for carrying things on your bike rather than yourself)

Happy riding!

put your damn shoes on and run!

You don't have to want to run, you just have to run.

Last night I couldn't sleep so this morning when I woke up it took about 40 s for me to start debating skipping my run.  I told myself I could run tonight, but even my sleep deprived self knows that's not likely and def not worth the mental effort it takes for me to workout in the evening.  So I googled "when you don't want to run" and this site came up:
http://www.shutupandrun.net/2012/04/8-tips-for-running-when-you-dont-feel.html

My favorite part is "Listen you whiner, you get to run. There are many people who can’t even walk".  So true.  Probably won't work everyday, but it got me going today.  God rewarded me with a little bit of rain when I started off, though it stopped in the first mile which just equals a hot sweaty mess, but by then the hard part was over.

What also helped?  Posting that link to facebook.  You can't post that and then lounge around all morning :o).

4 miles in before 9 am.  Ready to face the day!

Redo: Spiced Peach Pear Juice

I gave the Spiced Peach Pear Juice another shot today now that peaches are in season.  And I remembered to add the spices (including the $5 clove powder lol).

Very very good.  Not as sweet as the nectarines and not as sweet as I would have thought.  It's refreshing.  Perfect for a pleasant Saturday :o).