Urban Assault Ride - Austin, TX

We participated in the Urban Assault Ride in Austin this past weekend. It was ALOT of fun and my first time on a road bike in forever. We completed in 4 hours and 15 mins. It was a team based event, in which we had to make it to 8 mandatory checkpoints around downtown Austin and 4 mystery checkpoints. We had to map our own routes, and complete challenges at each checkpoint.

We made it to all 8 of the mandatory checkpoints and 1:4 mystery checkpoints. I actually got a flat tire while we were in route to our final checkpoint, which (of course) was also the farthest away from the starting line! I "broke down" around Dean Keeton and I-35; the race starting point was at Runtex on Riverside. We proceeded to walk and push our bikes for about 10 blocks. We found a nice family at the last checkpoint who loaded our bikes onto their truck and gave us a ride back to the starting point. We also had a swimming challenge in the lake; I did horribly at that one! Swimming in the open water lake really freaked me out, and I couldn't do it!! I tried, though :-) We also were interviewed by KXAN news; we never saw the newscast, so we aren't sure if we made the final cut or not!

I can't wait until next year. I also discovered that the bike I bought didn't really fit me right; it was evident after riding it for so long. So, my mission this week is to get fitted for a proper road bike. I'll go to the kind folks at Bicycle Sport Shop; I rented a road bike from them in early May and rode on the Veloway in Austin. They were the most professional, friendly staff I've ever had the pleasure of dealing with. If I'm going to invest in good, quality bike, I'm definitely going to them!

Here are a few pictures from the event...look for the UAR coming to a city near you. There were so many people there, and it was a great event for families too. And there really are bikes, big wheels, beer, and burritos at the finish line!

Me at the beginning of the race....



The starting line


Me trying to ride a tricycle for 2-year olds (yes, this was an obstacle)


The death of my bike...


The final challenge - a big wheel and a slip & slide!! AWESOME!

WSSC Was ON POINT!!

WOW - I am so glad that I went to WSSC! This was my first time attending in over 6 years of teaching. I've had conflicts every year until this year, and I finally had my chance to attend. It was sooooo invigorating! I was a cycling fanatic. I tried not to overdo it. I worked hard, but I think that I succeeded in NOT overtraining. I was so tempted to attend the last day of the conference on Sunday, but that would've put me over the limit.

Day 1 - Friday, May 30, 2008
My agenda was as follows:
7-8:30AM - Pure & True Endurance: A Level Up
9-10:30AM - Stage Savvy: Becoming a Superior Spinning Instructor
1-2:30PM - Crits: Speed, Power, and Mental Toughness
4:30-5:30PM - Feel the Road: Resistance Loading and Unloading

On Friday morning, I took a 90 minute endurance ride. Later that afternoon, I rode for an hour doing a ride that simulated crits. Finally, that evening, I did a ride simulating various terrains; though the ride was scheduled for an hour, I only did 30 mins.

I also did some shopping in the spinning store and picked up a new (much needed) heart rate monitor, some new cycling shoes (also much needed), and 2 cycling jerseys. The shopping was alot of fun, and I got things that I really needed.

Day 2 - Saturday, May 31, 2008
My agenda was as follows:
7-8AM: Face Your Fears
11AM-12PM: Train Like an Ironman
3-4:30PM: Involve the Students
5-6PM: Two by Two

I slightly overslept this ride and was feeling exhausted from the day before. So, I simply observed the early morning session. I knew that I needed to save my energy for the 11-12 "Ironman" ride. I enjoyed a nice breakfast and did some walking around downtown in between sessions. Boy, am I glad I did!! That ride was just AWESOME! We simulated the Ironman bike portion in Lake Placid, NY. I observed my 3-4:30PM session because I wanted to be rested for the 5-6 ride in which my friend and master spinning instructor asked me to ride with her on stage in front of the group. Boy - that was such a RUSH!! I was so pumped up with energy that I could've rode for another hour at the end of the day!

Sunday, June 1
We celebrated my brother's 27th birthday and visited some old friends from MD. My brother and I went on a boat tour. It was a nice opportunity for some brother-sister time for us.

It was a great weekend!! I'm a little tired today from the flight, but am looking forward to getting back on track with Alwyn Cosgrove & Mike Russell's Warp Speed Fat Loss program. I wasn't able to eat the way I wanted to while I was at WSSC, so I'm looking forward to getting my routine back in place.

BTW - I am so glad that Anthony C and Jen B came to visit me in cyberspace and gave their new blog addressess. I've missed my kettlebell friends terribly, and I'm glad that we've all been able to reconnect.

Holla!

Fitgirl-Atx is back....

I haven't blogged in a LONG time, but I've been training hard and am getting ready for 2 shows later this year - one in August and one in October. I've been training very hard (working with my trainer). My diet is coming along; some days I'm better at following it than others. Consistency is key, so I know that I'll get where I need to be for the stage in time. The unfortunate downside of getting ready for a show is that I haven't trained with my bells since February/March timeframe. I do want to start incorporating AoS Newport into my conditioning routine starting in mid-June (once per week on Saturdays). I have a bad habit of overtraining because I like to do something challenging every day, so I'm trying hard NOT to overdo it.

I'm having a good time and my body is changing right before my eyes. Even though the scale hasn't changed a lot (about 6 pounds), my body composition is awesome. My shoulders, arms, and legs are coming out very nicely! I'm also trying some new workouts/diet from Alwyn Cosgrove for a month to shock my system. I tried a Krav Maga class on Monday night, and it was awesome. I was nervous about going since I haven't done any group conditioning work in ages, but I discovered that my endurance & conditioning are still really good. Class was a great confidence booster. It was at that class that I realized for the first time just how good I am looking. My shoulders and arms were showing nice definition, and I'm very pleased with my legs. My legs are big, but they have a very pretty shape and my musculature is starting to show nicely. I'm going to WSSC (FINALLY) next weekend and am going to have an absolute blast! It will be good to brush up on my spinning technique to bring into my classes.

I'll post some pictures soon and updates on my progress.

Until then, rock on friends.... :-)

Oh my aching quads!

So I'm getting myself ready for a show in Austin in August and at least 1 more later in the year. I started working with my coach last week. We had an intense leg circuit on Friday and today I can hardly walk - lol! Oh, the joy of training hard and hitting the body in a different way. I have a feeling that I'm going to look really good come competition time. We have about 5.5 months to get ready, so plenty of time. I'll keep yall posted on how my progress is coming along; I'm anxious to see where we are in 4 weeks time.

Hope everybody's been doing well! I've been out of town the past few weekends for family events & some business related travel. When things calm down some, I'll post more often.

PEACE :-)

It's a brighter day.....

Well, I can safely say that the funk I was in a few weeks back is officially over (and I deleted my funky post to completely eradicate bad thoughts from my mind). I realized that it was all negativity that was getting to me. I had to face facts that I haven't been training or eating as strictly as I should. I have my head on straight and my mind is totally focused. I'm not going to get on the scale for a while; it's pointless. I'll let my body composition changes denote my progress. I also realized that I am not fat. I'm strong and muscular, but far from fat! I was working out the other day and noticed muscles popping out every where. I just had to open my eyes and see for myself - notice the beautiful changes in my physique as opposed to listening to the hurtful comments of someone else. Am I exactly where I want to be? Not yet, but I'm getting there. One of the most difficult things for me about being a competitor is that you train and diet for so long, get down to a weight & size that aren't exactly normal for you, and then I have a hard time readjusting to the "normal" me.

Competition will soon come again...later this year as a matter of fact. I'll start working with my coach again in about a month. And I am confident that when he sees me, he will be very pleased with my progress. I haven't lost an ounce of muscle and even added in places where I was deficient. Yes, a little fat has been added in the process; it's only natural. When I start my competition diet (oh joy) it will all come off quickly. I just need to step back and love me for who I am -- and today is that day.

My advice to those of you struggling with self-image issues, which we ALL do from time to time, is to not let anyone else ROB you of your joy. Find at least 2 good things to say about yourself each day and embrace them. Really dig deep and identify whether or not you are working as hard as you should be or are as dedicated as you need to be. If there is something that is not balanced, then change it - that simple. I'm going to actually post some PICTURES in a few days...sort of my progress report today.

Guess what else -- I actually am working on conquering ANOTHER nemisis of mine...you guessed it -- running! I joined a beginner's running group, and I did really well on the first day! I'm going to give it a month and we'll see how I do. I enjoy and welcome the challenge. I am always excited to conquer my fears.

Lastly, I want to thank all of the wonderful friends who reached out to me when I was feeling blue. Your comments made all of the difference! Love you guys alot!!

Make it a great one! Now, I'm off to the gym!

Excuses - stop making them...and just work hard

Thanks to Jen B & Dave Whitley for the commercial. Really makes you think about your own excuses and if you let them get the best of you or if you keep moving forward. We hope it's the latter....

Improved Conditioning

In my fitness conditioning and training, I have two arch nemeses - running and jumping rope. I would prefer for not a soul to ever see me do either, but I will tolerate jumping rope with others. I will not run in front of other people, though. It's one thing that I feel I am so horrible at that it's just an embarrassment for me. I'm pretty sure it goes back to high school, but it still bothers me.

Anyway, I decided to take on jump roping the other night. I wanted to try an old 15-min jump rope routine that used to kill me (Ropesport's "Beginner" jumprope workout DVD). Well, surprisingly enough, I breezed right through it. Not only did I breeze right through it, but I also tacked on 10 minutes of the advanced routine AND the Crossfit "Annie" workout immediately afterwards. The "Annie" workout is as follows: For time - 50-40-30-20-10 of double unders & situps. Since I can't do double unders yet, I just did jump rope revolutions for the prescribed amount. I got a new speed rope and that made a big difference; I used to use a weighted jump rope for Ropesport work. Anyway, I really attribute my kettlebell training to my improved conditioning. I haven't jumped rope since Sept 2006, and I thought I was going to be spent after the fact. It feels great to be in good shape.

The other good news is that my weight is dropping quickly! In 4 weeks, I've lost 6.1 pounds. I suspect I will keep dropping quickly since I've stopped taking BC. This trend will probably continue until I get back down to my normal weight, then it will plateau. I'm feeling good and 2008 is starting off nicely!

I came down with a bad cold (fever, chills, lack of appetite) over the weekend, so I didn't train Friday-Sunday, and I definitely won't train today. I'm still feeling pretty badly, so I'm just going to focus on getting my energy back up. I just wanted to take a minute to share the good news!