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Trainer sessions, yoga, running, some outside biking - yippee!
We were tour marshalls for the Napa Tour de Cure. There are a few pictures (including one of our new car!)on our website and a write up about the ride. The link is below.
Still no swimming. :rolleyes: I'll get back in the pool eventually.
Veronica
I’m under 150 pounds now and out of the Athena division! My clothes have steadily become looser and looser and I have to belt my pants to keep them where they are suppose to be.
On Saturday I went shopping and was greatly disappointed to discover that none of the things I tried on fit. My waist seems to be a six and my hips an eight. I’m pretty sure there is some serious size inflation going on though. At one point I was looking for a size four skirt. I really dislike shopping, so we were only there for about 45 minutes, but I have definitely got to get some new clothes.
My training is going pretty well. It’s warmed up here, afternoons were in the low 80s this week. I ran to the gym on both Wednesday and Thursday afternoons. Thursday’s session with Shawna left me wiped out. It was circuit training: jump rope, boxing, push ups, step ups, jumping, etc., with very little recovery time. It was tough after the 3.7 mile run to the gym, but in a good way. I was very glad that Thom came to pick me up however. Once summer comes my plan is to run to the gym, have my session and then walk/run home. It’s only two miles if I walk the most direct route.
Sunday we went for a ride out on the coast to the Point Reyes Lighthouse. We started at the visitors center near Olema. It was about 61 degrees and sunny with the wind blowing from the northwest- giving us a nice (not!) crosswind in both directions of this out and back ride.
http://www.tandemhearts.com/coppermi...-05/ptr-01.jpg
http://www.tandemhearts.com/coppermi...-05/ptr-02.jpg
Thom took a few on the road shots in the beginning. My knees were feeling a bit twingy and I was taking it easy to get them warmed up, so he quickly started pulling away from me. But he soon turned around to go ride this road.
http://www.tandemhearts.com/coppermi...-05/ptr-03.jpg
I had no interest in such torture at this point so I continued on, out toward the lighthouse. The route out to the lighthouse is not flat. There is one significant climb over a ridge at the beginning and the rest of the way is long rollers. It was quite the adventure towards the end. The further out on the point we went, the windier it got. I was a little worried about getting blown over.
We were a little underdressed for the windy conditions at the lighthouse so we turned around at the parking lot and headed back the way we came. We’ve been to the lightouse before
http://tandemhearts.com/coppermine/a..._take_home.jpg
and I’m sure we’ll head out that way again - when I’ve forgotten how windy it is and how much I hate long rollers.
Veronica
Quote:
Originally Posted by Veronica
Congratulations! I know where you're coming from - nothing fits anymore.
Re the waist/hip thing, I've noticed the same thing. Size 6 fits my hips, but the waist seems too big & gaps. But, here's what I've discovered... It's about where you want the pants to settle on your hips. I was not raised on lower rise pants. For me, it feels natural to have the waistband in the vicinity of my belly button or a teeny bit below. But that is NOT how jeans are being built anymore. If I allow the waist to settle more like 2 inches below my belly button (and the crotch to therefore settle down a bit as well), the waistband seems to be more appropriately sized. It feels very odd to me to wear pants this way, but as I look around, that seems to be the "fit" that's intended. Slowly, I'm getting used to having the rise be lower, but it's still a struggle...
Susan
Susan and Veronica -
As a person who has spent my entire life with a waist that is easily two sizes smaller than my hips/rear/legs - I can tell you that it is not easy. I'm actually kind of enjoying my current over-weightness because I am now far enough overweight that I've gained a little in the waist and my pants fit better now! (silver lining...right?) :p
Yes, where on your waist you wear the pants makes a difference. So does style/fit. There are quite a few mainstream retailers out there that make pants designed for women with smaller waists. The 'curvy' cut at the Gap works but bear in mind that this cut is designed to also accentuate this feature, so while the clothing fits, it may not be the most flattering depending on your desired look. Ann Taylor Loft has the 'Julie' cut. This is my favorite for work pants - the petites fit me right off the rack with only a tiny extra room in the waist and no gapping above the butt. Eddie Bauer makes the 'Berkley' cut that is also a decent choice. Banana Republic also makes a cut but I forget the name of it. At REI, I really have to shop around and it's time consuming. When I find a style that fits, I almost always buy two.
For jeans...it sucks. I do like Gap Long and Leans (they are not long and lean...they are designed to make you look long and lean) but they aren't perfect. I actually have a couple of recent purchases of Carhart women's jeans that I bought for their toughness (for farm work) but they fit surprisingly well. One pair is low cut, the other sits more at my regular waist...but both are clearly built for curves.
Lastly, A-line skirts are your friend! ;)
Congrats to both of you on the weight loss. It's really refreshing to read how all your hard work is paying off. You guys are both very inpsiring!!
Veronica-I lurked your thread all last season, and I've been following this time around too. So, I thought it was time to jump in and say "Hi". I'm really impressed with your dedication to the food issues...giving up RedBull and cookies!
Thanks for the inspiration.
Thanks! Sometimes I do wonder if anyone actually reads this thing, besides me. :rolleyes: Although I really write it because I enjoy writing and rereading past weeks helps to keep me motivated.Quote:
Originally Posted by Iris616
I don't know what I am going to do with the 18 or so Red Bulls I have in the house. :D
Veronica
Do you have goal times for your race? I feel like you are going to feel great!
The only race I have a goal for is the Half Ironman. Last year I finished in 7:28, with a 34:34 swim, 3:37 bike and a 3:07 run, that was mostly a walk. :p
I'd like to take 30 minutes off that, some from the bike and but mostly on the run.
The races I'll do before are like dress rehearsals. I'd like to do better in them than I did last year, but that's about it. Even one second better will be fine. :D
Veronica
I bet you will blow that run time out of the water this year with all of the training you are doing!!!
Man, I wish I had that swim time.....I am jealous. Edit: Were you a swimmer, or maybe I am just really slow!!!
I was swimmer and I just have a naturally strong upper body. The mile was my event when I swam in college, in the late 80s! That's why I so seldom swim; I can't take much time off that. I am kind of anxious to see how the more streamlined, stronger me will do in the water. But the indoor pool at the gym is so chlorinated. It sees a lot of kid use. The chlorine really bugs my sinuses now. They also keep it too warm. It makes the water aerobics classes happy. The outdoor pool is getting some maintenance. Once that reopens I'll swim some, just to make sure I feel good about the distance.
Swimming is all about what's going on under the water. When I swim I think about the catch and push and that's it.
Veronica
Clothing update - I ordered some stuff from Patagonia and they fit! I'm officially a size 8! :D How someone who weighs 149 pounds can be a size 8 baffles me a bit, but whatever.
Here's the dress I got for Thom's 25th reunion. I like that it will show off my back and shoulders without being too bare. I think my shoulders look better than model's :D:D:D
http://www.patagonia.com/tsimages/58...ftr=8&cvt=jpeg
http://www.patagonia.com/tsimages/58...ftr=8&cvt=jpeg
I decided on red rather than black as discussed in another thread. I have a short sleeve dress in the same material, also in red, that I wore for my 20th reunion and I really like it. Red is my favorite color and with a red dress I can wear my black cashmere hoody when I get cold. :D
I'm just so happy to have actually mail ordered something that fits. The stuff I got has a regular rise - hits just below the belly button. I don't have to wear a belt tomorrow!!!!!
Veronica
Good choice! I like the red better than the black or the other blue print you were considering.
I tried on the blue print this weekend. I really liked it and almost bought it. But Thom noticed that the thread on the straps were already starting to unravel. Who knows how many people had already tried it on, but I want my clothing to be able to stand up to some abuse.
Veronica
Yay, V - I'm sure you'll look fabulous:)
And yes, I've followed this thread too. You're quite an inspiration:)
CA
if you look at the page with the lists, your thread has received 1448 views so far...that CERTAINLY means we're following you, unless you looked at the page 1448 times:D,
I think it counts a hit for every time I post in the thread. But I don't think I've read it 1400 times. Maybe 140 times, but not 1400. :D
We're in for some hot weather this weekend - mid 90s both days. I think we're going to head back to the coast to ride on Sunday.
Veronica
Congrats, Veronica - you look great and yes, defend your right to 'bare arms' a la Michelle Obama! :D Yes, you'll look much better than the Patagonia model in that beautiful dress too!
Great job on the training too...am sure that you'll keep meeting all of your goals...very inspiring to all...thanks!
I should read this thread more often, it's great inspiration!!! Go V. !!! :D
The results of all your hard work are fantastic. That's gotta feel good! Keep it up, you're looking to have a great race season this year.
Kacie- you aren't the only one jealous of that swim time. :) Maybe if we grunt really hard our feet will turn into flippers. Or maybe we'll pass out, either or.
When running or riding I wear a pair of sunglasses with an MP3 player in them - Thumps. Music can be very motivational. Some songs just push me to go a little harder; Pat Benatar’s “Heartbreaker” is one of them.
It’s gotten hot here in the Delta. Every year we get one weekend in May with “unusually hot” weather. Yesterday’s official high temp was 106! We had planned on heading up to Marin to ride the coast again this past weekend. But an opportunity to buy a cargo liner for the new truck came up. The seller was in Santa Clara, so we changed our plans and decided we would ride out of Woodside, over the ridge and down to Pescadero on the coast and back.
The first challenge was Kings Mountain Rd. This road climbs 1500 feet in 4.3 miles for an average grade of 6.7%. It’s mostly shaded by huge redwoods and has lots of switchbacks. The climb began right away so it was my warm up. I turned on my Thumps when the climb started and I predicted it would take me ten songs to get to the top.
http://tandemhearts.com/coppermine/a...9-05/mk-01.jpg
I was moseying along, enjoying the music and the scenery, with an average heartrate in the 160s until the fourth song - “Heartbreaker” came on. There’s something about that driving beat; it just propels my legs to go faster.
I passed Thom on the next hairpin and kept going. I thought he was right behind me, but when I looked back the first time he was no where in sight. Now I was in a groove and I was going to push hard all the way to the summit. I knew I had to keep my heart rate right around 175 or I’d blow up. On the steep hairpins it would top out at 178 and I’d bring it back down. It’s funny the difference of just three beats. I can climb at 175 beats per minute for hours, but at 178 I’m hurting.
I could see Thom below me on a couple of the hairpins; he was slowly reeling me in - pacing himself in the heat. He caught up to me about 3 miles in, a mile from the summit. As we got closer to the top, there were several sections that were not shaded and it was HOT! Much hotter than the 80 degrees the weatherman had predicted for this area. We entered one of those really hot sections just as “Smooth” by Carlos Santana came on my Thumps. I was singing out loud:
"Man, it’s a hot one
Like seven inches from the midday sun.”
Thom and I kept up the pace I had been setting and eventually arrived at the summit. It was an 11 song climb. There were a couple other groups there and everyone, including us, was discussing how much more riding they were going to do. The temperature was about 10 degrees warmer than the forecast called for, so everyone was trying to decide how hot was too hot. I had had fun pushing hard up this climb. But I was worried we would find ourselves seriously suffering when it came time to climb back up to this ridge from the coast. We decided we would just roll back down Kings Mountain to the car and have a nice lunch before getting the liner. Thom took a few pictures of me descending.
http://tandemhearts.com/coppermine/a...9-05/mk-02.jpg
http://tandemhearts.com/coppermine/a...09-05/mk-3.jpg
Once at the car we discovered it was actually 95 degrees. Boy, did the weatherman get it wrong!
The rest of my training has been much the same as past weeks’ - a little running, a few trips to the gym, a little yoga. I bought a waist hydration pack from REI on Saturday. I have to start running in our heat and I really dislike the handheld pack I bought last year. Hopefully this will be comfortable when I run.
Veronica
I've posted my latest training update on our website.
Veronica
V, when it gets hot down there you need to come up here and ride... especially if you like hills. ;)
The road around Lake Tahoe is partially closed for road work, but there are lots of other places to go. And we're at least 10-15 degrees cooler than Sac.
Yes your notes do get read even if we do not post comments!
Your doing great!
tina
My clothing situation has become a real problem. All of my size tens are falling off of me. I’ve lost ten pounds since March and five percent body fat.I ordered some size eights from Eddie Bauer last week. I was so excited when they arrived, couldn’t wait to get home and try them on. Alas, they were too big! Apparently super-sized Americans still want to pretend they are little and clothing manufacturers are happy to oblige. Bear in mind, I was a size 8 in junior high and a size 10 in high school. My wedding dress was a size 14. If size 8 is now too big, what am I? a 6?
We took the size eights back to the Eddie Bauer Outlet store on Saturday. I tried on some sixes and found some that fit, but I didn’t really like the style. We went off to the Gap Outlet. I couldn’t find anything that fit properly at the Gap, which was fine since I didn’t really like any of the styles anyway. From there we went to the Anne Taylor outlet. Here I discovered I am a Petite, Curvy 4? What? Yeah, I am lean, but I am NOT a size 4! The only pants they had in this cut were really ugly. I did try them on. They did fit, but white flat-fronted pants with tiny gold chains at the waist is not a look I’m into.
We gave up and went to lunch at Baja Fresh. This was the best part of our day. Our local Baja Fresh has closed and I really like their shrimp tacos.
On the way home we were near the Anne Taylor Loft that has opened locally, so we decided to give it a try. Loft seems to be a younger, “fresher” version of Anne Taylor - slightly less tailored look, a lot more trendy. In this store I am a size 6, Julie cut. I think Julie means curvy. Whatever. I did find three bottoms that fit and that I liked. Good grief, all I want is to look decent at work.
Nothing really new on the training front to report, just more biking , running, yoga and weight lifting.
Check out the details on our participation in Race Across America.
Veronica
You are absolutely correct about the sizing. I buy most of my clothes at the Loft and my size keeps getting smaller and smaller, despite the fact that I am the same size! It makes it hard to shop on line.
I wish women's clothes were sized like men's. A guy can go into any store, grab a pair of pants that are sized by waist and length and know they'll fit. I have clothes ranging from size 6-12 in my closet that all fit. fehQuote:
Originally Posted by Crankin
Veronica - I know what you mean! I am 4 pounds lighter than I was when I was 25 (15 year ago. ack!) I was a size 8 then. Now? My newly purchased size 6 jeans and shorts are already getting big on me, and I just got two pairs of jeans which claim to be size 4s.Quote:
Originally Posted by Veronica
I keep saying the same thing - I am NOT a size 4. Except these days, apparently I am.
It's no wonder that we at TE always hear complaints about how cycling clothing "runs small". While the whole world has been vanity sizing like crazy, cycling apparel has actually been relatively stable in it's sizing over the years (with some exceptions of course). I'm a good solid medium in many brands (sometimes a small in jerseys, depending on the brand) which fits with my mental image of me as "really a size 8".
When I was in college, I worked for American Eagle Outfitters for 2.5 years. The very smallest size we carried was a size 4, and that was for teeny weeny people. We usually only received one item in a size 4 in a given style. These days I see lots of size 0 & 2's on store shelves, which is nuts.
Susan
I've tried to explain this sizing thing to people and they don't get it, glad to hear it from others, I am sometimes a O, yep, zero, as in NO SIZE??? and I am not that small, I am what I consider a totally healthy weight of 135, for 5" 6, so I don't know WHO they are dressing
Yep, I once asked the manager at the Loft how could it be that I have gone from a size 4/6 to a 0 or 00 :eek: in the last five years when I am the same size. She got kind of mad and didn't know how to answer me. When I was in high school, I weighed about the same as I do now and I wore a size 7 for years after that and in college.
I can't believe American women are that vain. I mean, our population is getting heavier and they think their size is going down?
I guess the bright side is that now that they're down to zero, it'll have to stop. Right??? Right??? Or will we have negative sizes next year? :rolleyes:
It's not like it's new, though. I've read that "misses" sizes got their name because they used to be what "juniors" are now. An average 12 year old girl would wear a misses size 12, etc. Adult women would wear (duh) "womens."
I guess I've answered my own question about what happens next...
We’ve been looking through some of our older photos. I thought it would be interesting to do a similar photo shoot.
http://tandemhearts.com/coppermine/a...ning/vm-01.jpg
May 12, 2002
http://tandemhearts.com/coppermine/a...ning/vm-02.jpg
June, 7, 2009
In 2002 we were just getting back into cycling after an eight year hiatus. We did our first organized century in early June that year on our mountain bikes with slick tires. It was America’s Most Beautiful Ride - around Lake Tahoe.
Here I am seven years and several thousand miles later, training for a Half Ironman Triathlon.
Speaking of training, I’m a liitle freaked. My race is in eight weeks. This is the last week of school. Yippee!! But oodles to do as I am changing rooms again. Next week I’ll spend Monday - Thursday taking the first class for my Masters. I think it’s going to be a little intense - 8 hours a day as a student. Early Friday morning we fly to San Diego to hook up with our RAAM team. I KNOW that week is going to be intense. So, I’m a little concerned about how much training I’ll get in the next three weeks. In July we’re spending ten days in Maine and Vermont. While we’re in Vermont we will be riding the Six Gaps . I plan on doing some running those days after riding. But vacation plans don’t always go the way I think they will.
Yet, I’m really looking forward to my various adventures. Sometimes, it’s the journey, not the destination that matters.
This week' s report is here.
Veronica
I was in class week 14, so all I did was my trainer sessions.
I was crewing RAAM week 15. All I did was a few headstands in Indiana and one in Annapolis.
http://www.tandemhearts.com/coppermi...am-2009-69.jpg
It looks like week 16 isn't going to amount to much. I've got a serious cold with lots of chest congestion.
July 12 is my Olympic distance tri. I'm just going to do it and hope for the best.
Veronica
V..you're one hard mama & you'll probably kick a## anyways :cool:
You'll do great, V. Just take care of that cold.
I think Urlea just did a tri as she was recovering from a cold and she did very well. Maybe the enforced taper, rest, and chicken soup are the secret to success.
Can't wait to read your race report.
Week 17 write up is here.
Veronica
This cracked me up as I rereading what I've written the last few months to try to get myself inspired.Quote:
Originally Posted by Veronica
I'm at 144 now. :D Miracles do happen.
Veronica
Yay Veronica. 10 pounds- that's a big bag of potatoes!
Awesome. :DQuote:
Originally Posted by Veronica
145 seems light for Athena, considering the discussions we've had about 150. I saw an ad in Triathlete for Team Clydesdale and the guy in the picture is absolutely ripped. That seems unfair, just like the Athena equivalent. They also call the female version "Lady Clydesdales".... personally I prefer Athena thank you very much ;)
Great work, V - the impossible is apparently possible :)
I was finally well enough Week 18 to start running again. I started off pretty easy with just a two mile run on Monday and three miles on Wednesday. Thursday night that week we flew to Boston to spend ten days in New England, visiting family in Maine and riding the Gaps in Vermont. I got in another run during Week 18 on Saturday - 4.6 miles. I also met twice with my trainer for legs on Monday and upper body on Wednesday.
Week 19 was spent mainly in Vermont. I got in a hilly run on Tuesday and a flat run on Thursday in between cycling. On Saturday I did an interval run. My race is this upcoming Saturday - just 4 days away and I have not built up to a long run. Of course I will do my best on race day. It’s a race; I always do the best that I can. That doesn’t mean I won’t be disappointed if my best is not what I had hoped for in this race. I’ve felt great on the 4 mile runs I’ve done. But I’ll be tripling that distance on Saturday.
I am pretty pleased with the cycling we did in Vermont. We rode 108 miles over the three days with about 7600 feet total climb. We were tourists and I did not ride it hard and that’s actually what I’m so pleased about. The last day we climbed Appalachian Gap which has a 20% grade for the last 1000 Meters. That’s pretty steep! Yeah, I was grinding up it with a really slow cadence, but my heart rate peaked at only 167 beats per minute. For comparison before I started working with my trainer, a similar grade, but shorter distance would have pushed my HR to above 180, which puts me solidly into the feeling super crummy zone.
This week is taper week. That means still working out, but not hard. I have to put my bike back together and I’ll do a short ride to make sure everything is right. I’ll meet with my trainer twice. I also plan on doing a short run in the heat of the day to at least have an idea of what running when it’s hot is like. During last year’s race it got up to 97 degrees during the run. Today they are predicting a high of 82 for Saturday. It sure would be nice if that came true.
4 days away....GOOD LUCK!:)
Have a great race! I'll be watching for the race report.