Day 14

Legs are definitely stiff and sore today, but I've felt worse. Trying to get up and move around as much as possible, but it's also a sweltering 95 degrees outside so I'm trying to spend as much time indoors too. Way too hot to do anything of any physical value. If I get the urge, may get on a treadmill for a walk later just to loosen up a bit. Need to mow the lawn, but no way I'm doing it in this heat!

Day 13

Had planned on a 10 miler this morning, but ended up being almost a 12 - feeling pretty good. Found a running partner who is my speed, and also enjoys the interval running, so this may work out well. Chicago will also be her first Marathon, so all the better! Now off to a lake party where I can hopefully get in some meters and experience an open-water swim. Usually wouldn't do this much in one day, but knowing that I'm on-call tomorrow and won't be doing much of anything is pretty good motivation. Looking forward to a possible bike ride with Alicia on Monday - weather pending!

Day 12

Picked up my bike today and I absolutely love it! Can't wait to accessorize it - computer, clipless pedals/shoes, gloves, repair kit, etc. It is so light, I can't believe it! Alicia and I are planning to ride on Monday if it doesn't rain - looking so forward to it.

Confirmed with my (hopefully) new running partner that we're meeting at 6 a.m. tomorrow for a 10-miler. Never really look forward to running, and even less to early mornings, but I know I need to do this in order to actually finish the Chicago Marathon. Apparently, she is just as slow as I am so this will be good :) Hopefully I'll have enough energy for a swim in the lake tomorrow as well - been over a week since I've done any laps.

Mailing off my registration for the triathlon tomorrow - no turning back after that! Not that I would even want to. Will post tomorrow after my run.

Day 11

Didn't get to sleep until well after 1:00 a.m. which seems to be a common theme lately. Planned on riding and swimming today, but am really tired and my shins are still somewhat sore. Getting the bike tomorrow and figure there is no way I can NOT ride after getting it, so since I know I will be getting a ride in I don't feel so bad taking the day off.

Need to call my hopefully-new running partner to set up a definite plan for us getting together and running this weekend. The plan is to do a 10-mile run, and then fit in at least a 400m swim at an annual lake party that I always attend. We'll see how this goes. Regardless, I'm so excited to be getting my new bike tomorrow and can't wait to try it out!

Day 10

On my third day in a row working out, and feeling pretty good. I was out sick from work yesterday with a fever, but after spending all day lying around I was going stir crazy from not doing ANYTHING and figured I would jump on the treadmill at the end of the day since 1) my fever broke and I was feeling somewhat better, and 2) sitting on the couch alternating between the computer, reading, and watching TV can only last so long.

I planned on merely walking since I didn't want to push myself, and ended up doing another 3-miler at a slightly slower pace than Monday. Felt pretty good afterwards, but today my shins are a little sore. I NEED to start stretching more, but it's boring and I lose interest easy so I usually forgo it.

Today I rode the bike to have dinner with friends. It was only 6 1/2 miles round trip, but it was still a form of excercise and I always feel great after a ride. Still, legs are a little sore, but I can visibly see that they're getting more toned which is good. Plan on riding again tomorrow - probably at least 10 or so, and doing 800m at the pool. Feeling great about this training, and have even printed out a schedule to follow. I'm a geek when it comes to creating spreadsheets, and if I have a box that I can check off with the amount of miles/meters that I cover in training, I feel a sense of accomplishment.

The bad thing about these workouts after getting home in the early evening, is that I'm having so much trouble falling asleep lately. For instance, I got home around 8:45 p.m. from the bike ride this evening, read for a bit and then turned off the light at 10:00. It's now 12:18 a.m. and I'm STILL up and not tired a lick. Hoping this all changes next week when I begin my 10-6 shift and can work out before going in. This should help. Hopefully.

Day 8

Ran 3 mile this morning and feeling pretty good about it. Hoping to do the same tomorrow.

A running group founder is trying to hook me and another member up to train for Chicago together since we both run about the same pace and are on the same training schedule. Here's hoping it works out, as I have been slacking in the marathon-training department lately.

Put a deposit down on a road bike two days ago, and am picking it up in 4. Got a Trek 2.1 WSD which rides great! I absolutely love it and am looking forward to riding soon!

Training going good so far, don't feel like I'm slacking overall. Need to pick up the running and swimming this week.

Day 6

After a 3 day haitus from working out, I'm back into the swing of things today. I ran a five miler this morning (although was scheduled for a 13, and hoped for a 10). Sleep was my enemy and by the time I got outside at 9:00 a.m. it was hella-hot and didn't do much for my motivation.

Going again today to look at/price/test drive different bikes with Alicia (tri-partner). Only 6 more days 'til purchase time! After that, I plan to take a short (shorter than I'd hoped, or expected) bike ride to the pool for some laps.

Good news is - before heading out for a run this morning (and while my boyfriend was coming in from his own 17-mile run), he made the comment that I'm "looking more toned." I hadn't thought so, but obviously somethings gotta be happening to my body if I'm doing all of this working out which I had never done before.

Feeling just okay about my run this morning. I KNOW I need to get up earlier and just do it (run itself, and run more MILES), but my mindset at this point is more focused on getting my swim form down as well as building up my legs for the bike ride. Good thing though is that with the five miler came a heck of a whole lot more calories burned than I would ever get biking or swimming. I guess it does have it's perks after all.