Marathon Years 4 and 5 - Triathlon Years

Back on Track

2010-07-22T18:14:00.000-07:00

So far, so good. I swam for 20 minutes on Sunday, walked for 30 minutes on Monday and swam for 20 minutes on Tuesday. Yesterday I decided to walk to the post office instead of driving. It was very hot, and the Deep Woods Off I sprayed on myself to combat the mosquitoes didn't help. That 50 minute escapade nearly did me in. It started to rain on the way back, but not enough to cool me off. Today I swam for 20 minutes. I decided that since my next race isn't until January, I needed a new goal. I signed up for "Jeff and Brede's" triathlon in Katy on September 12th. That should give me enough time to fully heal my knee and train on my bike.

2 Weeks of Recovery

2010-07-18T10:55:00.000-07:00

The day after the 5K, my leg and knee started hurting. Patricia and I did hills on that following Tuesday, and I felt a tugging. As the week progressed it got worse, so I only swam a few times, but didn't walk or run. Over the weekend, I dropped a lockbox on my foot and although it didn't hurt right away, I was in pain the next day and was limping for almost a week. So between my knee and my foot, I decided to rest. I only did a slow walk on Monday for 30 minutes and then swam 3 times this past week. The rest has helped and today it is feeling much better. I will start my routine tomorrow. I've also gained about 10 pounds, so I know there is a correlation between exercise and wait loss/gain!

Annual Freedom 5K - Fourth of July

2010-07-04T10:30:00.000-07:00

We had clear skies and heat for this 5K. It had rained all week and the park was flooded out, so the race was totally on the street. It actually wasn't bad because you were able to see the turnaround and it seemed faster. I had not trained at all this past week because of my tri last Sunday and the rain. When I knew I wouldn't PR, I decided to just have fun and take photos of my running buddies. My dillydallying cost me 3rd place! I was short 40 seconds from placing 3rd for my age group and would have since I spent at least 2 minutes to take pix. I don't regret it all!

Me, Patricia and Beverly before the race

Memorial Hermann TRI 6-27-10

2010-06-29T21:11:00.001-07:00

The last few weeks have been a real challenge. My shoulder and neck started hurting and it seemed that nothing would help. I tried massage, chiropractic adjustments, Epsom salt baths and hot and cold compresses. I couldn't train on the bike or swim. I just walked whenever I could. My weekend long runs were 4 miles. On the 17th, the pain finally went away and I was able to both ride and swim. I did 55 minutes on my stationary bike and swam a few times. Then it was decision time. Do I taper (which I had already done by missing almost 3 weeks of training), or keep at it. I decided that if I was going to injure myself, it would be better to do it as a result of the race than to do it by over training. I guess I made the right decision because I had a pretty good race considering. I finished #655 out of #688, finishing in 1:42:38.

Holiday Weekend

2010-06-01T17:23:00.000-07:00

I was going to rest on Sunday but decided I had better do something, so I cycled on the trainer for 30 minutes. I was going to swim on Monday, but my neck and shoulder was hurting (I think it's from bad swimming form), so I took a rest. This morning I walked for 30 minutes.

Astros 5K

2010-05-29T18:55:00.001-07:00

I hadn't done a 5K since the Clear Lake Tri last August. My goal today was to run as much as possible, keeping my pace under a 14 minute mile. I didn't PR, but I did finish in 40:48:1 for a average of a 13.10 minutes per mile. Shelley joined me this morning, and although she was worried about mostly running, she made it in before me, even though it was only by 41 seconds! Here's me and Shelley before the race.

25 Minutes Swimming

2010-05-28T18:46:00.000-07:00

I swam for 25 minutes this morning and thought about running, but decided that since tomorrow was the 5K, I would rest my legs. Shelley signed up, so we will be doing it together. I really want to run more than walk. We'll see how it goes.

An Active Week so Far

2010-05-27T18:42:00.000-07:00

I swam for 30 minutes on Monday morning and then cycled for 45 minutes that night. Tuesday was a 30 minute run/walk with more running than walking. On Wednesday, I swam for 25 minutes and then cycled for 45 minutes. Today, I ran for 30 minutes with very little walking.

4 miles

2010-05-22T18:40:00.000-07:00

I swam for 20 minutes on Friday, cycled for 30 minutes on Saturday and then did 4 miles today. My plan is to ramp it up this week on the bike, plus try to up my running. The Astros 5K is next weekend and I'd like to finish with a decent time.

4.5 Miles in Oyster Creek with Patricia

2010-05-19T18:39:00.000-07:00

I swam for 20 minutes on Monday. Patricia and I were going to do hills tonight, but opted for Oyster Creek Park. It felt good to do 4.5 miles midweek.

4.5 Miles

2010-05-16T18:37:00.000-07:00

I swam for 20 minutes on Friday. Today I got in a 4.5 mile walk. This has been my birthday weekend, so there's been a lot more eating than usual.

Back on The Bike

2010-05-13T18:35:00.000-07:00

I did a run walk yesterday for 40 minutes and 20 minutes on the trainer today. I am slowly building back up on the bike

30 Minute Swim

2010-05-10T18:33:00.000-07:00

I didn't make it out yesterday. It was Mother's Day, so I justified the break. I swam for 30 minutes this morning.

Long Run?

2010-05-08T09:13:00.000-07:00

I had great intentions for yesterday, but only got 15 minutes in on the cycle trainer - building back up. Today I set out to do 4.5 miles and did 3. I usually do my long mileage on Sunday morning, so tomorrow is yet another day.

35 Minutes of Hills

2010-05-05T19:50:00.000-07:00

Patricia and I did hills tonight. My calves were sore from my brief bike ride yesterday and it had been over a month since we had been to the parking garage. Needless to say, I only lasted 35 minutes. I did get on the cycle for 10 minutes when I got home, though. I'm easing back into it, easing back......

A Light Brick

2010-05-04T22:00:00.000-07:00

I managed to train in all 3 areas today, although each was short and spread out. The air in my poor bike tires had drained to 20 pounds and it had been so long that I forgot I needed an adapter for my valves. Figuring that out and then adding air was a work-out by itself. I cycled on the trainer for only 10 minutes, but it was a good return - my legs are feeling it, then I immediately went for a 20 minute walk. Tonight I swam for 15 minutes. The swim team had taken over the pool and there were only 2 lanes for homeowners. It felt like a tri with so many people trying to avoid one another.

30 Minutes Swimming

2010-05-03T21:02:00.000-07:00

Seems that summer is here. I swam for 30 minutes and the sun was beating down. I really need to get my speed back up. There's still time!

4.5 Miles in Oyster Creek

2010-05-02T09:19:00.001-07:00

I did 4.5 miles at Oyster Creek this morning with intermittent intervals of running, but mostly walking. It felt good to get a little more distance in. I'm hoping to find time tonight to get on the trainer and do some cycling.

20 Minutes of Swimming

2010-04-29T20:46:00.000-07:00

It felt good to get back in the pool. It had been over a week since I'd been swimming. I haven't ridden my bike since my last TRI which was in late August, so tomorrow is the day.

First Real Break Ever - And It Shows ;-(

2010-04-29T07:07:00.000-07:00

It's been a little over a month since I've consistently trained, and it shows. I've managed a swim here and there and long runs every weekend except this past weekend. I've gained about 12 pounds and feel miserable. My distractions with Toastmaster activities that had very strong deadlines are past and now I have NO EXCUSES.
Today is going to be the FIRST day of being serious,with exercise, eating and blogging. I have a TRI on June 28th and I must get ready!

I'll be back..............................

Seabrook Lucky Trails - my slowest Half ever

2010-03-22T11:44:00.000-07:00

Patricia, Shelley and I did the Seabrook Luck Trails half yesterday. I really wasn't as ready as I should have been and my screaming calves were a constant reminder. Although I did an 8 miler last weekend and an hour of hills in between 30 minute trainings last week, I really should have had a 10 miler in there, somewhere.
It was 38 degrees when the race started. Although the sun came out, the winds picked up and caused it to stay cold. The race was great and it was nice to be with friends. I had a 15 minute leg massage and stretching right after the race that really paid off today. I woke up with no stiffness. Shelley, Patricia and me at mile 4, by the bay

Seabrook is Next Week!

2010-03-12T11:59:00.000-08:00

I haven't exactly been a slug but my training has been very inconsistent. I have done the following since last post:1 hour of hills on 2-20, then 4 miles on the 28th and 6 mles on the 7th. I need to do at least an 8 miler this coming weekend. Since Seabrook is mostly trails, I'm hoping it will be an easy race.
I signed up for the Memorial Hermann Tri that is scheduled for June 27th and that means I need to get some cycling in starting very soon.

A Great Swim

2010-02-17T21:10:00.000-08:00

Today was my first exercise this week. I waited until lunchtime when The temperature had warmed and the sun was shining.I swam for 30 minutes and really enjoyed it.

Trying to Stay Motivated

2010-02-15T21:15:00.000-08:00

Between the nasty weather and my work schedule, I didn't get much exercise in until the end of the week. It was just too cold to swim and too wet and cold to run. I did one hour of hills with Adina on Thursday, 30 minutes each on Friday and Saturday and then a little over 3 miles on Sunday. My plan is to do better this week.

Gearing Back Up to Speed for Seabrook Lucky Trails

2010-02-10T06:20:00.000-08:00

It's been a few weeks since the Aramco Houston Half Marathon. I don't know why, but a few pounds always seems to find their way to me after the bigger races. Those extra pounds should be gone soon. I've managed to get two to three trainings in per week, plus 5 miler long run/walks each weekend. This past week included two 30 minute swims - if only the air was a little warmer!Next event: Seabrook Lucky Trails on March 21st.

So Much during the Past Few Weeks

2010-01-21T11:51:00.001-08:00

I went off the elimination diet on Christmas Eve and then tried to be more cautious with what I ate. The end of the year holidays got the best of me and I ate things that I shouldn't have. The fact that my body had been cleansed cause me to have a hyper reaction to some foods. I was out of town for the weekend of January 9 and 10, so Adina and I did hills for 1.5 hours in the parking garage the Thursday before. That was the week and weekend of freezing temperatures, so the hill training was a warmer alternative. The week after my trip, which was the week before the Houston Half Marathon proved to be a challenge. I had a migraine on Monday - one of the worst I had had in a long time - again due to the abrupt change in my diet (lesson learned - everything in moderation). Then I broke out with a terrible cold that night (probably because I hadn't taken vitamins for 30 days) and was afraid I would not be up to doing the half marathon on the 17th. The only training I got in was a 30 minute walk on Tuesday morning while I was still functional. I was feeling better by Friday, so Patricia and Shelley and I went to the Expo together to pick up our packets. We had a really fun time. I had an all day Toastmasters training on Saturday that caused me to be on my feet for most of the day. I went to bed at 8:00pm and surprisingly woke up feeling ready for the day's race.
The weather was fabulous (low 40's) and I ran one of my best Half Marathons - 3:05:48, just 29 minutes longer than my PR in Austin in 2007! I was pretty much by myself (if you consider being surround by 20,000 others, alone) for most of the race. Around mile 7, Helen and I connected and finished the race somewhat together.
I'm looking forward to March 21st when Shelley, Patricia and I do the Seabrook Lucky Trails half. We have vowed to stick together for the whole race which means some of us will be going faster while some of us will slow down - I wonder which!

Me and Patricia after the race

Me and Helen after the race

Still on Track

2009-12-28T20:41:00.001-08:00

As I continued on the elimination diet these past 2 weeks, my trainings became a little difficult because I was not consuming very many carbs. I swam and walked twice, including a 6 miler on the 20th. Last week I got in 4 miler, a 6 miler and hills. I had a pleasant surprise during my one swim last week - the Aquatic center was set up Olympic style. Since the weather has been really cold, I haven't been brave enough to swim again. Yesterday was an 8.5 miler with a 10 miler scheduled for next weekend. On the diet front, I did stay on the elimination diet until Christmas Eve when we went out for Chinese food at my favorite Chinese restaurant, Yao. 17 pounds lost in 17 days and no headaches, no swelling, nor achy joints. I felt a bit weak on my long runs, but otherwise terrific. I'm back on a modified version of the diet and hope to keep the weight and headaches away.

Back on My Elimination Diet

2009-12-14T19:20:00.000-08:00

My diet has not been what it should, and had resulted in a 10 pound gain. Several of my original symptoms returned - stiff joints,back pain and intermittent migraines. So I started back on the elimination diet on which I lost 55 pounds, 5 years ago. It's pretty severe, but works amazingly. Monday was the first day and unfortunately the caffeine withdrawal from going off coffee cold turkey caused a 2 day headache followed by a migraine. But all is well now. As of today, I have lost 12 pounds and feel like a new person. It's amazing, but I am still convinced that the "white stuff" (sugar, starch, dairy, etc)acts like glue and causes the weight to stick. The plan is to stay on the diet for at least another week or so. We'll see how it goes.
On the training front,I swam for 20 minutes on Tuesday, and ran 30 minutes on Wednesday and Thursday. I volunteered at the 30K on Sunday, so my long walk of 6 miles was pushed to today. It turned out to be only 5.25, but it was a great walk in the rain.

A Little Late with My Posting

2009-12-07T16:59:00.001-08:00

The last few weeks have been a blur between a Toastmasters Fall Conference, Thanksgiving and Post-Thanksgiving. I did manage to get my trainings in, although scattered an not on the usual days. My long run was 5 miles on Monday, November 23rd, and then on Thanksgiving, I did the Turkey Trot 5 Miler in Sugar Land. The Sunday after Thanksgiving and this past Sunday were both 6 milers.
I made three major decisions during these past few weeks- 1. To start swimming again (I've done 3 20 minute swims since last post)2. To drop down from the Full to the Houston Half Marathon on January 17th and 3. To start back on my elimination diet.
Number 3 is the biggie. I really have not been watching myself the past 6 months, and although I have given up the "white stuff" (sugar, flour and processed foods) from time to time, it has only been temporary. This time I am going to be true to diet and follow it closely. So many of the symptoms that had disappeared early on have returned - achy joints, water retention and lower back pain. I am ready to feel good again.
Today was my first day back on the diet. I had a dull headache from going off coffee cold turkey. I did not take any of my vitamins or herbs and have just eaten the basics - some lamb, yams, orange roughy, spinach and a little melon. I'm looking forward to the transformation.

6 Miles at a Very Leisurely Pace

2009-11-15T17:33:00.000-08:00

I met Bob and Shelley at Oyster Creek. Bob left after 3 miles and Shelley and I did the remaining 3. The weather wasn't too bad, but the gnats were horrible. Even though we had sprayed with bug spray, they still bit us.

A Brick

2009-11-13T17:30:00.000-08:00

This morning I had to drop my Mom off at the Dentist. The office is within a mile of the Aquatic Center, so, dressed in my Tri Suit, I dropped her off and headed to the pool, went for a 30 minute walk, I swam for 15 minutes and finished just in time to pick her up. That sure beat sitting in a waiting room for an hour!

Swimming and Hills

2009-11-11T22:14:00.000-08:00

I swam for 20 minutes at the Aquatic Center and really enjoyed the quiet time. Tonight, Patricia and I did hill for 45 minutes. I was tired by the time we were done, but it felt good to get those muscles cranking again. And it was nice to catch up with Patricia.

35 Minutes of Intervals

2009-11-10T17:30:00.000-08:00

Today I decided to try 3/1's. After a short warm-up I managed 3 sets but found the 3 minute run too much. I dropped down to 1/1's and finding that much better, continued the intervals for 25 minutes and then walked the last 10 minutes. I'd really like to try to do the Houston full - I just don't see how I can shave an hour off my time.

15 Minutes Swimming

2009-11-09T21:08:00.000-08:00

I took this past week very easy and did not exercise at all until Sunday. It felt very strange. Bob and I did a leisurely 3 mile walk in Oyster Creek park on Sunday morning. It was the perfect distance and pace. I decided today that it was time to start swimming again so I did 15 minutes at the Aquatic center. It felt great to be back in the pool.
Now that I'm rested, I'm reconsidering my race strategy for the rest of the year and thinking that I might try to stay with the full marathon if I can improve my speed.
I have until December 10th to decide.

NY Marathon - all that I hoped it would be

2009-11-05T16:15:00.000-08:00

I missed out on hill training with Patricia and took it easy on Thursday. We arrived in New York on Friday and after settling in the hotel, took the subway to 42nd street and tried to find the shuttle to the Expo. We finally gave up and walked a mile or so the the convention center. On Saturday, we walked around the city, saw a show, met Eric and Tom at Grimaldis for pizza and attempted to watch the Greenwich Village Halloween parade. Apparently, 2 million other people had the same idea so needless to say, it was pandemonium. It was pouring down rain and since we couldn't get a spot to watch, we decided we would head back to the hotel. Unfortunately, they closed the entrances to the subway. We couldn't hail a cab, so we walked 2 miles in the rain, back to the hotel. It wasn't how I wanted to spend my pre-race, taper evening. We made it safely back, took hot shower and went to bed.
4:30am rolled around very quickly.
How was my marathon experience? A little history first: Many of you know that Steve and I did the NY Marathon last year. We spent 3+ grueling hours in the cold, waiting for the race to start. Steve didn't know it at the time, but the freezing wind on his back was the catalyst for the start of pneumonia by race end. We were the last people in the last wave. Mile 8 was the last water station for us and the half marathon marker was the last mile marker we saw. We were relegated to the pedestrian walkway, so we didn't get to hit the mat. At mile 17 we stopped in Starbucks. Steve got a hot cocoa and I got a latte. We had to wait for all the red lights to turn green on 1st Avenue and made it in as DNF after 8hrs and 15 minutes.
I enjoyed the time I spent with Steve but was disappointed with the race experience. When I got into this year’s race again, I had several goals: 1)Finish under 7 hrs and before dark fall with an official time; 2)Experience the "fabulous" race that everyone had raved about, a race that included water stations and mile markers and 3)Hit the mat at mile 13.1.
I must say that it turned out to be everything I had hoped it would be. When I picked up my packet at the Expo, I discovered that I had not been given my Ferry assignment. I was pretty aggravated but decided I would go to the Ferry anyway. After all, it was public transportation - how could they turn me away? Plus I had an email confirmation. I got to the Ferry at 5:30am, and after talking to the volunteers, discovered that the requirement to have a pass was all a scare tactic. The ferries were running every 15 minutes, and the buses would be on the other side until the 8:00am ferry arrived at Staten Island. I stayed in the comfy terminal until the 7:45 ferry (the rain stopped around 7:00am) and got to my "village" in time to drop off my bag. I headed to the corral area and somehow managed to start in wave two instead of three. What a huge difference being in the middle of the race made. The crowds were terrific and very supportive. I didn't have my name on my jacket this time and I regret that. Those who did got great big shouts of encouragement from the spectators. The weather was great – overcast and in the low 50’s.
One of the funniest things that happened was when I had to make a restroom stop and didn’t want to wait on the portapotty line. I bee lined for the McDonalds that was on my right. When I got to the restrooms there were 4 female customers waiting for the women’s’ restroom. They saw I was a runner and told me that no-one was in the single potty men’s room. I darted in and after about a minute the door knob started shaking and there was loud banging at the door. I yelled that I was inside and they still kept banging. When I opened the door to leave, a male runner who apparently was in distress yelled at me and shook his fist in anger. I found it quite funny. Most of my fellow female runners would probably agree that it was payback time for all of those guys who were peeing off the bridges and on the side fences at the start. My other memorable moment was when I received a text from Harris. I had just pulled my phone out of my pocket to get to my camera when I saw his text saying that he hoped I had a great race. I responded with “mile 17 now”.
I was disappointed that I missed Tessy at mile 8. Stan tried to connect with me on First Avenue, but he missed me because the 59th street subway exit was closed. The route going into the Bronx changed so that we runners could see more of it. The route was not very pretty and did not make me want to visit there again. I saw a number of athletes, who were part of the Achilles Foundation, handicapped runners who had two to four guides assisting them. They were a great inspiration!
The setting sun came out during the final 3.2 miles of the race as I was heading down 5th Avenue and into Central Park. It brightened the already blazing fall colors and created a perfect backdrop for the race finale. There was a “1 mile to go” sign after the 25 mile marker, a welcome warning that the finish was near. It was followed by another half mile alert, then the countdown – 400 meters, 300 meters, (there was Stan -I waved and kept on going), 200 meters, 100 meters and the Finish! I got my bottle of water, my medal, a Mylar blanket and a most welcome deli sandwich. I finished in 6:55:29 (and that was with 4 potty breaks), not my best race, but a PR for NY and under my goal time.It was a great race and I highly recommend it. The good news for fast runners is that there are automatic qualifying times which include half marathon times, too. I signed up for the Houston full marathon, and as much as I enjoyed this race, I think this will serve as my last full marathon for a while. This January it will most likely be the Houston Half for me!

New York is Just a Few Days Away

2009-10-27T10:00:00.000-07:00

The past 10 days have been pretty hectic. Eric and I were doing our 20 miler make-up on the 18th when we decided that 18 miles would do just fine. Our justification was that in prior years, we never did more than a 30K for Houston, so what difference would 2 miles make at this late date?
I got a few trainings in least week but missed my hill workout. This past Sunday was an easy 8 miles. Bob joined me for my first 3 miles in the park and it was just like old times. I finished up the remaining 5 on my own and remembered why I liked the taper so much. I ran intervals for 30 minutes this morning and will probably do a little bit of hills with Patricia tonight. Then it's nice and easy for the rest of the week.

Greatday Houston Appearance

2009-10-26T10:09:00.000-07:00

This morning I represented District 56 Toastmasters on the Debra Duncan show. It was a lot of fun and we got some really great exposure for Toastmasters.

Lots of Eating and Little Exercise

2009-10-16T18:52:00.000-07:00

Sunday was to be my 20 miler. Eric and I met at Sugar Land Memorial Park. My part was cut short, sadly because Stan's Mom passed away.He came and got me at mile 8. Between family obligations and the funeral there hadn't been much time for enough exercise to offset all of the food. I did get 2 30 minute walks plus an hour of hills in with Patricia. Eric and I will attempt our 20 miler again this Sunday (he only got 13 miles in). Hopefully, better days are ahead.
The weather should be great this weekend.

Prepping for Sunday

2009-10-08T20:29:00.000-07:00

I've been trying to get a little more mileage in this week in preparation for Sunday's 20 miler. I did 30 minutes on Monday, 50 minutes of hills with Patricia on Tuesday and 6 miles this morning with Shelley, Jacque and Sallie.

A reasonable week plus 14 miles

2009-10-03T20:21:00.000-07:00

I swam for 15 minutes on Monday, the first time in 2 weeks. I walked 40 minutes on Tuesday and then 45 minutes on Friday. I had a migraine that lasted from Wednesday through Friday morning and totally knocked me out. I felt much better on Friday afternoon and was able to get up at 4:00am today (Saturday) to do 10 miles with FBF. Shelley and I did the route together. June was waiting for me when I finished. We "picked" up Harris along the way and did another 4 miles. I really appreciate everyone's support.It's 20 miles for next weekend and then the taper!!!!

18.5 Miles - Thanks Harris!

2009-09-27T19:09:00.000-07:00

Facebook to the rescue. I posted my feelings of uncertainty concerning NY and several people responded that they would train with me. I made the decision that if I could get my 18 miles in, that I would do the race. I was able to complete 3 trainings during the week; 2-30 minute sessions and then an hour of hills with Patricia. Harris accompanied me today and we did 18.5 miles. It was tough - hot and humid and we went very slowly, but we did it. And Harris had done 12 miles yesterday. What a guy. I guess I am still NY bound.

14 Miles Split

2009-09-20T19:03:00.000-07:00

I walked 30 minutes on Thursday and 40 minutes on Friday. I managed to get my 14 miles in today, but it was tough. I did two loops of walking and running in Oyster Creek for a total of 9 miles. It was hot and the scenery was getting old. I left, grabbed a breakfast biscuit at McDonalds and then went home. I parked the car and did 5 miles in the neighborhood. I'm havving my doubts about NY. I'm vacilating about NY. I don't want to think about doing 18 miles by myself next weekend.

A Mixture

2009-09-16T21:23:00.000-07:00

I finally got to swim for 15 minutes on Monday. My last time in the water was the Tri on the 22nd. Tuesday was a 30 minute run. Today I spent 25 minutes on the bike.
I'm down for 12 miles this weekend and have to decide if I'm going for a little more to make up for last week.

More Cruising and then Home

2009-09-13T21:17:00.000-07:00

I found myself eating way too much even before we had gotten on the cruise ship. I indulged in the endless buffets and desserts through Sunday. We were getting a lot of walking in, but nowhere near enough to offset the calories. I really started watching myself on Monday and ate carefully that whole week and through the weekend. We got home really late on Friday evening. I slept in this morning and could only fit 10 miles in before I had to get home and shower in preparation for an afternoon meeting. My mileage was supposed to be 16. There was nothing I could do about it.

Anniversary Trip

2009-09-05T20:57:00.000-07:00

We left for our 30th Anniversary Celebration on Tuesday afternoon. I was able to squeeze in a 30 minute run that morning. We spent 2.5 days in Seattle and Vancouver.I did 30 minutes of true hill training on Wednesday morning on the hill next to the hotel. We did a lot of walking throughout the rest of Wednesday, and Thursday. Friday morning we walked from our hotel to the Space Needle - 1.5 miles each way. I was very proud of Stan for making it without collapsing. We boarded the cruise ship around noon and sailed off to Alaska at 4:00pm. The weather on Saturday was cold and wet. The waters were very choppy.

I tried to do my mileage on the treadmill in the fitness center, but it was too rocky and gave up after a mile.

My only option was the deck. It was wet and cold. I did my first set of 7.5 miles and a second set of 6.5 miles, a total of 56 laps.

A Fairly Light Week

2009-08-29T20:54:00.000-07:00

I took it pretty easy this week, just did my walk/runs. 3 miles on Monday, 35 minutes on Wednesday and 30 minutes on Thursday. I did 10 miles in the park today. We'll be on a cruise next weekend and I'm scheduled for 15 miles. I hope I can pull that one off!

Clear Lake Triathlon

2009-08-22T20:50:00.000-07:00

The Swim in Done!

This was a week of the conundrum. I was on a taper for the Triathlon, yet was on course to ramp up my mileage for New York. I decided to focus on the Tri and then deal with the missed mileage later. I did a 15 minute swim on Monday, 15 minutes of cycling on Tuesday, a 35 minute walk on Wednesday, 20 minutes of cycling and a 10 minute swim on Thursday. I rested on Friday. The weather was really bad Friday night with lightening, rolling thunder and torrential rains. Luckily it cleared up by midnight and the skies were clear this morning. The open water swim was great - I finished the .46 miles in 19:06. The bike ride was tough with a really steep bridge in the middle of the course and lots of wind. I averaged 15 mph and finished the ride in 1:12:47. The 5K was very hot, but I managed to finish in 43 minutes - overall time totalling 2:22:01. I left shortly after the race and didn't find out until tonight that I placed 2 in my age group which means I should have received some bling (of course there were only 2 people in my age group ).

Bike is over!

FINISH!!!

Another "light" week plus 12 miles

2009-08-16T19:55:00.000-07:00

In my rush to finish up my work and pack to go out of town, there was no time for exercise on Tuesday. Wednesday's flight to the Toastmasters Convention in Connecticut left at 8:00am, so there was another morning wasted. There was no fitness center at the hotel, so I didn't get to do anything Wednesday night. I managed to get in a 30 minutes "hills" session in the parking garage on Thursday morning. The convention was back to back meetings and educational sessions, but I knew I was going to have squeeze my mileage in on Saturday on the hotel grounds or I wouldn't get it in this weekend. Luckily I discovered that a one day pass to the spa was available for $10, and it provided access to their fitness center. It was tough, but I did 12 miles on the treadmill with a 1 mile stationary bike ride in the middle.

30 Minutes at the Aquatic Center

2009-08-10T19:46:00.000-07:00

I had a migraine yesterday. It was probably from quiting coffee cold turkey, but it was time.I went to the aquatic center this morning with the intention of swimming for 15 minutes and did 30 minutes instead. The water was cool and felt really good.
It's 12 miles for my long run this weekend. I'll be out of town from Wednesday through Sunday and hope that I will be able to do my training.

7 Miles in the Park

2009-08-09T19:43:00.000-07:00

This weeks long run was shorter than last week's but seemed tougher. It must have been the humidity. I did my 7 miles and went straight home.

An Interesting Week

2009-08-08T09:43:00.000-07:00

I had the best intentions this week, but between work, Toastmasters and my Mom's birthday celebration which continues today, it seems all I have been doing is eating. I did manage to get some exercise in: a 15 minute swim on Monday; 30 minutes on the bike and 40 minutes of hills on Tuesday; a 30 minute walk on Thursday and a 15 minute swim on Friday. My marathon training for this weekend is 7 miles. I just couldn't get up early enough to do my extra mileage before Fort Bend Fit, so I slept in. I did 1 hour on the stationary bike instead and will get my run in tomorrow morning.
I've got the Clear Lake Sprint tri on August 22nd and the New York Marathon on November 1st.

10 Miles in Oyster Creek Park

2009-08-02T09:34:00.000-07:00

I got to the park just after 7:00am. It stayed overcast for my whole run. I warmed up with a 5 minute walk and then tried 5:1's. That was too much, so I took it down a notch to 3:1's for the first 4.5 miles and that was perfect. I did intermittent intervals for the balance of the 5.5 miles and finished up in less than 2.5 hrs total, including potty breaks. I was very pleased. There might be hope for a 6:00hr Houston Marathon after all!

15 Minutes Swimming

2009-08-01T18:42:00.001-07:00

I took a rest day today. Fort Bend Fit was doing 5 miles and I needed to do 10 this weekend. There was no way I was going to get up as early as I would have to get my extra mileage in. Instead I swam for 15 minutes. I'll do my mileage in the morning.

A Better Week; A Breakthrough Week

2009-07-31T09:20:00.000-07:00

I did 30 minutes of swimming and 30 minutes of cycling on Wednesday. I had a breakthrough yesterday morning during my run. After a walking warm-up and a few 1:00/1:00 intervals, I decided to see how long I could run without stopping for a walk break. I lasted one full mile! It was quite an accomplishment for me. I to wrapped up the day with a 15 minute swim.
This morning, I ran for another 30 minutes, warming up with a 3 minute walk, running intervals and then running non-stop for the last mile. I think if it had been cooler, I could have done better. I am pleased at my progress!

50 Minutes of Hills

2009-07-28T19:55:00.000-07:00

Patricia and I did hills tonight. It was really hot. We started late and ran out of steam after 50 minutes.

30 Minute Swim

2009-07-27T20:01:00.000-07:00

I had a great swim this morning at the Aquatic Center. The water was cool and the lanes empty. I swam for 30 minutes. My fastest 50 meter swim was 1:05, a record! If I could just keep that up for 300 meters, I would ace the swim portion of my next TRI.

9 Miles at Oyster Creek Park

2009-07-26T18:22:00.000-07:00

I managed to squeeze in a 20 minutes swim and 15 minutes of Wii Fit yesterday. This morning I awoke headache free and went to Oyster Creek Park. I walked for the first 4.5 miles, did 1:00/1:00 intervals for a bit and then went back to walking. I finished up the last 10 minutes with intervals. It was very hot and took a lot longer than I had wanted, but my long run for the week is done. I'm hopeful this week will be a lot better.

Worst Week Ever

2009-07-25T07:33:00.000-07:00

Between work, Toastmasters, food poisoning and migraines, I did very little training. The scale can testify, too. The week started out OK, with 15 minutes on the stationary bike and 1 hour of hills with Patricia on Monday. The balance has not been so great. I did a 30 minute walk on Wednesday and 30 minutes on the trainer last night. This morning I woke up with a migraine. It's a good thing I hadn't planned on running with the group. I'm planning on doing 9 miles tomorrow morning.

6 Miles

2009-07-18T19:29:00.000-07:00

I walked for 30 minutes on Thursday and then Patricia and I did 3 miles at Oyster Creek before the Fort Bend Fit run on Saturday. We met the group right after at Velocity and did another 3 miles. I ran with the Orange Group and did 1:00/1:00's.

2 Miles with Fort Bend Fit

2009-07-11T21:01:00.000-07:00

This morning was the first outing for Fort Bend Fit. 2 miles was on the schedule. Since I have to do 8 miles this weekend, I opted to walk with the Purple group and take it easy. It was fun to see the enthusiasm of the newbees and their fear of the 2 mile training. Oh, what wonders time does for a person!

30 Minutes Walking and 20 Minutes with the Wii

2009-07-09T20:59:00.000-07:00

I walked in the neighborhood this morning. It was pretty hot, but I survived! When I got home I tackled the Wii Fit again. I did a lot better this time.

30 Minutes on the Trainer and 30 Minutes of Wii

2009-07-08T20:55:00.000-07:00

I rode my bike on the trainer and then had my first introduction to Wii Fit. I can;t believe how uncoordinated I am. I kept tripping on the balance board trying to do the step aerobics. Hopefully, I will find my balance.

One Hour of Hills

2009-07-07T20:51:00.000-07:00

Tonight Patricia and I did hills in the parking garage. There was no breeze so it was very hot. To make matters worse, there were a number of wild kids driving like maniacs through the garage with their radios blaring, setting off the car alarms. Even though there were some challenges, we lasted an hour and had a good workout.

15 Minutes Swimming

2009-07-06T19:59:00.000-07:00

I got to the Aquatic Center around 7:00am, just before the swim team arrived. The water was very cloudy and the pool was very dirty. I decided to get out after 15 minutes, with visions of the poopy duck lake. I'll give the center a rest, until the water clears.

6 Miles in the Heat

2009-07-05T19:57:00.000-07:00

I debated about doing my long run as I felt pretty beat from yesterday's 5K. But this was the first weekend of my NY training, so I did it. It was very hot and I went very slowly. It took me 1:50 to do the 6 miles, but it's about the distance now and not the time. I'll pick up the pace after I get some rest!

Freedom 5K

2009-07-04T09:14:00.000-07:00

Stan, Patricia and I did the Freedom 5K this morning. Stan was not too excited about a 3 mile walk that cut into his sleep time, but he did it! I was hoping to make this race a PR (personal record), but it didn't work out that way. My alternate goal was to finish in under 40 minutes and I did, just barely with a 39:17:1 time. Patricia wasn't pleased with her time of 31:39:4, but considering the weather and the fact that we both did a TRI last week, I think we did great. My training schedule has 6 to 8 miles for this weekend, so I will see if I can get in a long run tomorrow morning.

Stan's Big Finis(h)

Rest, then Time to Get Serious

2009-07-03T05:39:00.000-07:00

I've made this an easy week and will get moving again on the weekend. My NY Marathon training officially started with the 3 mile TRI run. On Tuesday, Patricia and I did hills for an hour. I swam for 15 minutes on Wednesday and did the stationary bike for 15 minutes last night. Saturday is the Freedom 5K. Stan and Patricia will both be doing the race. I'm proud of Stan for signing up.

I'm due for 6 to 8 miles this weekend, so I'll probably do a longer run on Sunday morning.

Last night was the Fort Bend Fit sign-up kick-off. It was really nice to see the old group, as well as some new faces.

My 4th TRI - Memorial Hermann

2009-06-28T14:03:00.000-07:00

Robert, Me and Patricia before the swim.

I had a PR today. Finished the race in 1:36:33 rather than the 1:50:04 of last year. My swim went really well, but I got a little hung up in the transition area after it. The weather was extremely hot. Patricia and Robert, my recruits into the cult, did really well.

A Taper Week

2009-06-27T13:47:00.000-07:00

I made it to the pool 3 times and out for light walks twice. Only got on the bike once, which may haunt me tomorrow. Patricia and I did dry run of the second half of the run course this morning. We are ready!

30 Minutes in the Stationary Bike

2009-06-20T16:35:00.001-07:00

I got up extra early this morning and visited the Gym. I cycled for 30 minutes.

1 Hour and 40 Minutes Walking

2009-06-18T16:31:00.000-07:00

I'm in Denver this weekend and don't anticipate too may opportunities for exercise. Since my activities didn't start until tonight, I took a long walk in the early afternoon. The weather started out nice, in the high 60's but by the time I finished it was hot and in the low 80's. I tried to run some, but with the high altitude and my banged up leg from my fall, I stuck to walking.

A More Active Week

2009-06-17T08:04:00.000-07:00

I have managed to do something every day this week. I swam for 20 minutes on Monday, biked for 40 minutes yesterday and walked for 40 minutes today. I would have preferred to run this morning, but since I fell off my new bike twice yesterday, I'm a little banged up. I had some challenges adding air to my tires and lost all of the air after I mounted my bike. I promptly fell off because I haven't gotten used to the new cages. After I refilled the tire, before I discovered that I had a broken valve stem, it happened again. I carried my bike to Bike Route where they got me fixed up in time to finish my bike ride with Patricia.

A Week of Mixed Activity

2009-06-14T19:23:00.000-07:00

I've lost my focus a bit, yet I am determined to stay on course. This past week included more gaps than I would have liked. I swam for 20 minutes on Monday (8th) and ran for 35 minutes and swam for 20 minutes on Wednesday (10th). On Thursday, Robert, Patricia and I drove the TRI bike course and then swam laps at the Aquatic Center. It was Robert's first time in a 50 meter pool. I think he was shocked at how much longer it was than where he had been training. I had a migraine from Friday to Sunday, so my long workouts didn't happen as planned. Saturday included just a 15 minute swim and Sunday, a one hour walk.

1 Hour Cycling and 15 minutes Swimming

2009-06-07T21:01:00.000-07:00

This morning Patricia and I volunteered at the Texas Tri. She had not seen a Tri in action and since this was where I had my first glimpse at transition area, I thought it would be a good experience for her. We worked the In/Out for the bike segment and it was wild! When I got home I cycled for an hour on the stationery bike. Later in the day, we went to the neighborhood pool to swim laps (the Aquatic Center is closed on Sunday)and did 15 minutes worth.
Tomorrow is a new day and a new week.

I plotted our my marathon training and it will begin officially on July 4th weekend.
In the meantime I'll be getting ready for the sprint Tri on June 28th.

New York Marathon and Catching Up

2009-06-06T23:00:00.000-07:00

The past 2 weeks have been a whirlwind. I got very little "long" trainings in on the weekends as I had commitments that left me no time nor energy. My goal is to get back on a strict schedule, especially since I got into the New York Marathon by way of the lottery.
Here's a recap of what I have accomplished since last post:
I ran for 30 minutes on Wednesday and Thursday, May 27th and 28th. My sessions were mostly running, my speed was faster!I only go to do 15 minutes of stretching in the pool on Friday, the 30th. In an attempt to get back on program, I swam for 30 minutes on Monday, ran for 30 minutes on Tuesday, did a mini-brick on Wednesday, cycling for 30 minutes and walking for 15 and the swam for 15 minutes on Thursday.
I did nothing on Friday or Today.

The Best Laid Plans....

2009-05-26T13:58:00.000-07:00

I swam for 30 minutes on Friday. I intended to participate in a 5K on Saturday, but had to go out of town for an appointment instead. Luckily I had not registered for the race. My long run turned into a 45 minute walk on Saturday. I used the Aqua Vee on Sunday but was only able to get 15 minutes in before the lightening and thunder started. Thankfully, Patricia and I got a 15 mile bike ride in on Monday morning. And today, I was able to swim at the Aquatic Center for 30 minutes with Jacque. I have a feeling this week is going to be a challenge, too, as I have our annual Spring Toastmasters Conference this weekend at Clear Lake.

I've Got to Get Back to Exercising in the AM

2009-05-21T20:51:00.001-07:00

I didn't get to exercise yesterday, and almost missed today, too. I have got to get my exercising in first thing in the morning. I was really tired, but resolved to do something so tonight at 9:00pm, I cycled on the stationary bike for 30 minutes. Then I got in the pool with the Aqua Vee but only lasted 10 minutes. The belt is too big (this is a good thing) and kept slipping off. And I had a hard time ignoring the strobe effect that the waves and bubbles were making in the pool light.
I think I'm going to do a last minute sign-up for a 5K in Katy on Saturday morning. We'll see.

30 Minutes Each- Running and Swimming

2009-05-19T20:52:00.000-07:00

The weather was still cool this morning. My run was delightful. It's amazing how much difference the temperature can make. This evening Patricia and I swam at the Aquatic Center for 30 minutes. I did 6 laps in 7:41. I think that was my best time.

30 Minutes with the Aqua Vee

2009-05-18T20:50:00.000-07:00

The temperature had dropped overnight so it was pretty cool this morning (in the 50's). Our pool was chilly, but I went in anyway and swam with the Aqua Vee for 30 minutes.

I'm Hoping I'll be Back on Schedule this Week

2009-05-17T14:57:00.000-07:00

I've had out of town buyers this past week, and although I did get some exercise walking and going up an down stairs, it wasn't enough to offset what I've been eating. I completely missed training on Thursday, but got a 40 minute run/walk in on Friday and a 30 minute Aqua Vee swim on Saturday. Today I did 45 minutes on the trainer (first time with the new bike). It was fairly cool and overcast this afternoon, so my 30 minute run was pleasant. My plan is to get back on track with my exercise and eating, tomorrow. We're going to Maggianos for my Birthday dinner. Yum!

15 Minutes Swimming

2009-05-17T14:48:00.000-07:00

By the time I got to the Aquatic Center, it was early evening and I was very tired. I only managed a 15 minute swim. I think it's going to tough to get much exercise in this week, but I will try my best.

30 Minutes Swimming

2009-05-13T21:49:00.000-07:00

I didn't get any exercise in yesterday but did manage 30 minutes swimming tonight. It doesn't look too promising for tomorrow.

My New Bike!

2009-05-10T20:38:00.000-07:00

I cycled on the trainer this morning for 30 minutes. That was before I realized that I was going to buy my new bike. I went to Bike Barn and bought the TREK 7.3FX.
When I called Patricia to tell her that she could now train with my old bike, she was ready to go right then.
We went for a nice 1 hour ride. When we were crossing the narrow bridge on Sweetwater, I cautioned her to be careful. Instead, I got spooked and banged myself up. But the Bike was fine!

4.5 Miles in Oyster Creek

2009-05-09T15:21:00.001-07:00

I had a plan - walk 4.5 miles in Oyster Creek and then swim for 30 minutes at the Aquatic Center. I managed to complete the 4.5 miles, but when I got to the Aquatic Center I was disappointed to discover that it was closed for a swim meet.
At least I got my "long" run in.

Another Crazy Week

2009-05-08T23:46:00.000-07:00

I've been trying to cram as much as possible into my workouts. I did a brick on Monday - cycling for 30 minutes and then running for 30 minutes. My legs don't feel so noodly anymore. I swam for 15 minutes on Tuesday and 30 minutes on Wednesday. With back to back appointments on Thursday and today, I wasn't able to fit anything in. I hope to get up early tomorrow (Saturday) and go for a swim and run.
I looked at new bikes today and think I'm going to get a Trek Hybrid.

Squeezing Things IN

2009-05-03T20:36:00.000-07:00

I've been really busy this week and this weekend. I swam for 25 minutes on Thursday, ran for 30 minutes on Friday and missed Satruday. This afternoon I did 15 minutes with the AquaVee in the pool. I've gotten very spoiled doing 50 meter laps.

30 Minute Run and Cycle

2009-04-29T18:34:00.000-07:00

Went for a run this morning, but felt I needed more, so I cycled for 30 minutes on the trainer tonight.

Swimming x2

2009-04-28T11:49:00.000-07:00

The weather was horrible for a good part of yesterday, and although I could have cycled inside, I took a rest day. Patricia and I were supposed to swim last night, but the rain was torrential and there was lightening, so we cancelled. This morning I swam for 30 minutes at the Aquatic Center.
Patricia was really anxious to get some swim time in, so we went to the Aquatic center tonight. I did about 10 minutes of laps and then stretched in the water while she swam. I think she surprised herself!

4.5 Miles in Oyster Creek

2009-04-26T23:46:00.000-07:00

Shelley and I met at Oyster Creek park at 5:00pm. We completely forgot about the Sunday evening concerts that were part of Sugar Land's 50th anniversary. Parking was hard to come by, but it was nice to have live music during a good part of our walk. The weather was perfect. The skies were overcast and although it looked like rain was imminent, we never felt a drop. We also got the benefit of a great breeze.
It was nice to chat and catch up. Unfortunately, I pigged out when I got home.

30 Minutes Swimming

2009-04-25T20:59:00.000-07:00

I went to the Aquatic Center this afternoon. The water was colder than 78 degrees, but it felt good after about 5 minutes. I pushed to see how fast I could do one 50 meter lap and finished in 1:15. Now, if I could keep that up for 6 laps, it would equate to a prety fast swim (7:30). If the weather cooperates, I do a long run tomorrow.

30 Minutes Cycling

2009-04-24T20:57:00.000-07:00

I cycled on the trainer for 30 minutes and was going to go swimming but felt too tired. My average night's sleep this week was less than 6 hours per night and that is not enough for me!

Running More

2009-04-23T09:58:00.000-07:00

I swam for 30 minutes yesterday. The weather has been beautiful these past few days, but getting very hot by midday. I managed to get out for my run while it was still pleasant. I ran for most of the 30 minutes and was very pleased with my time. I took a one minute break to take a picture of these cute little ducklings by the lake.

Getting Serious

2009-04-21T21:53:00.000-07:00

I ran just under 4 miles on Sunday and did a 30 minute swim plus 30 minutes on the bike on Monday. I vowed to start paying more attention to my eating habits. I gained a few pounds after the TRI and don't want to go down that slippery slope again. Tonight, Patricia and I did hills for 30 minutes in the parking garage. It had been almost 3 weeks since we'd done hills and I could really feel it.

I'm very excited that she has decided to sign up for the Tri on June 28th!

What's Next?

2009-04-18T09:39:00.000-07:00

It's been almost 3 weeks since I've posted anything.Part of the reason was that I was revelling in my achievement and wasn't ready to navigate away from my Lone Star finish post. The other reason was that the week following the event was a "Zero" week and there wasn't much to say - and then life got in the way.
I did very little the week immediately following the race, only logging in a 30 minute walk, a 15 minute swim and a 20 minute bike ride over 5 days. Then, on Sunday the 5th, I did a 45 minute run. The following week, the 13th through the 18th got me back on track. Monday, I swam for 30 minutes and then ran for 4.5 miles; rested on Tuesday, rode on the trainer for 30 minutes on Wednesday; swam for 30 minutes on Thurday and cycled on the trainer for 1 hour on Friday.
What's next? I've got the Sugar Land Sprint Tri on June 28th and would like to do a Tri with an open water swim again if I can find a lake that is not full of duck poop!

Lone Star 1/4 Ironman, a Success!

2009-04-05T18:41:00.001-07:00

What a great race! I finished in 4:18, much better than I had originally anticipated. My .6 mile swim was 6 minutes better than the 30 minutes I had planned, which offset the extra 6 minutes for the 6.5 mile run(it was 1:36). I had hoped to finish the 28 mile bike ride in 2 hours, but considering the wind, I was pleased with the results. There were 3 mistakes I made today - 1 forgot to bring sunscreen, I didn't put my extra gu in my pack and I forgot to have my shoes untied in the transition area.
I was very impressed with the race. It was probably the best supported race I have participated in. They even had sunscreen at the water station! There were plenty of aid stations on the bike and run courses.
Bob was a real trooper. I picked him up at 4:00am this morning. He helped me get set up and followed me around the course taking pictures.
I came in 4th in my age group - of course there were only 4 in my age group!I finished 769 out of 784.

After the swim, headed to transition

Finishing the bike segment

During the run

Bob and me After the Race

20 Minute Walk

2009-04-03T18:40:00.000-07:00

This was my last work-out until the race, a 20 minute leisurely walk.

30 Minutes Cycling and 20 Minutes Swimming

2009-04-02T14:54:00.001-07:00

It was thundering and lightening this morning, so I cycled on the trainer for 30 minutes instead of swimming. The sky cleared this afternoon - not a cloud in sight. I went to the Aquatic center and much to my glee, the lanes were set for 50 meters. I swam for 20 minutes. I timed 500 meters at 14 minutes. With my wet suit and the salty water, I should finish the swim in closer to 20 minutes. I'll settle for anything under 30 minutes.

I will do a leisurely walk tomorrow and then it's REST until Sunday. I can't believe it's almost here.

1 hour Cycling and 45 Minutes of Hills

2009-03-31T12:45:00.000-07:00

This morning I cycled on the trainer for 1 hour. I watched morning TV, which I never do. Tonight Patricia and I did hills for 45 minutes. I can't believe the race is just a few days away. I hope the weather improves.

20 Minute Swim

2009-03-30T12:42:00.000-07:00

This is a taper week, although I inadvertenly tapered last week. I did a 20 minute easy swim at the Aquatic Center.

Open Water Swim Clinic

2009-03-28T15:35:00.000-07:00

Here we are before the swim - notice how the palms are swaying!

This morning, Rita, James, Jannelle and I attended an Open Water Swim clinic at Moody Gardens. It was led by the Galveston Beach Patrol. The weather was cold and windy, but the sun was shining. We started out hearing a lecture about open water swimming, including how to site the buoys, the best way to breathe in choppy water and what to expect as far as marine life activity. The water temperature was in the mid 60's and very choppy from the wind. We were prepared to freeze. The course they set out was rectangular and measured just under 500 meters. The water actually felt good, much to my surprise. After navigating around a bunch of rocks, I started my swim and was very pleased with the results. I forgot to set my stopwatch, so I don't know what my time was, but I believe it only took 10 minutes to swim 500 meters. I did 3 laps, 1500 meters. My face and lips were numb from the cold when I got out of the water, but otherwise I felt fine. I feel very confident about next week's swim. Thank you Galveston Beach Patrol!

Here we are getting ready to brave the water...