Hey all!

 So a few weeks ago I did my first open water swim. We got together as a team and swam in the Hudson River.  We did about a 1/2 mile that day.  And yes, it definitely gave me an idea of what I was getting into.  When I finished my half and was coming back to shore, a young lady approached me (and my swim partner) to let us know she'd been watching and wished she could swim with us.  Her name is Yolanda.  She's our 'honorary team member', a cancer survivor.  I thought it was great to put a face to the work we were doing.  Our swim will help research that will benefit her and others.

Since then I've been working with a swim coach at my gym. We are doing the basics - endurance and technique.  She has me doing this thing called a ladder in which each set increases in yardage...which means an increase in laps.  It's WORK.

On the not so bright note, fundraising isn't going as well as training.  I'm almost worried that I would have done all this work and then will have to drop out because I couldn't meat the individual goal, $1200.00.  It really isn't THAT much if everyone pitches in.  I am nowhere near that number and well, time is running out.  So, please give me a hand with this. A dollar, $5, whatever you can do at the time helps.  Spread the word to your co-workers and other friends and family. It all adds up in the end. 

To make a donation go to: http://pages.teamintraining.org/wch/Hudson09/tsimmonqot

For more information on the Hudson Swim visit: http://www.hudsonriverswim.org

I can't do this without you.

Mood:  cool

Let's see - training and more training.  I just received the Team in Training schedule for my group.  It looks like I'm going to miss the first two team workouts because of class.  Kinda sucks but it should be okay.

I went by Citibank today and dropped off my flyers and "bio" and embarrassed myself.  I go to the front desk to ask for Janine, the woman I spoke with last time, she says: I'm Janine.  Wow, just slightly unprofessional of me.  Not my fault, blame sucky facial recognition.  Anyway, I dropped off the flyers and she quite made my day !!  Janine's niece is a singer and they were speaking about making a track for me on her new CD! Isn't that cool? Yeah, if it works I'll have my own little theme song.  She'll sell her CD as normal and proceeds will benefit the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society through my fundraising! She's only 11 and writes her own songs. I'll speak to her probably tomorrow. It's not a guarantee but if this works, *cheesy smile*.  It's that or sell candy lol.

So that's the big update.  I'll give more info as I get it.  I want you ALL to buy this CD...and add my song to your ipod of course, lol.  Maybe it will be my background music....*ponders*....yeah.

Well that's it for now.  Please make you donation.  Any amount, even $1, will help tremendously.  Can't do this without you!

T.

I have been incredibly bad at updating my "Training" page.  So what exactly have I been doing?

For the first four-ish weeks I've been focusing on core strengthening and strength training. I've been doing a lot of things with the aerobic stepper (you figure it out lol).  Honestly, a lot of what I've done I swear my trainer made it up off the top of his head.  But understand a lot of my workout has to be adapted yet still effective.  Well, I think it's effective enough when I'm drenched.

Today I started my water workouts. I didn't quite make it to the gym for their aquatic workout class, maybe I'll go tomorrow evening. From 1:10 to 2:10 (one hour) I completed 20 laps.  10 freestyle laps and 10 backstroke laps in a 24.5 yeard pool.  That's basically a 1/2 mile according to Lifeguard Jeff.  SO! This means that 40 laps (or 80 back and forth) is equal to one full mile.  THIS MEANS I have to do 120 laps (or 240 back and forths) to equate to 3 miles. DANG!

I'll hit up the water again maybe twice more this week then rest over the weekend and begin again on Monday.

Other than working out I've been trying to raise these funds.  Thank you to those who have already donated.  I'm a step or two closer...10% of the way there.  Let's cross our fingers and hope that Chase also hops on board.

WELL! I got my first donation towards my Swim.  Thanks Auntie Bridget!!!! (fyi, don't forget it's tax-deductible).  I also got my first kinda-corporate sponsorship from Citibank! That's pretty encouraging.  So, I'm a little closer to reaching my goal.

As a participant with the Team In Training, I have to fundraise a minimum of $1,200 dollars.  I've set my personal goal (so far) at $1,500.  That means if at least 50 people donate $30, I've reached both goals.  With that, I'm asking for your support. Go to my fundraising page to make a secure donation online.  And hey, it's all tax deductible and you'll get a special "shout-out" on my page. Help me spread the word.

So what else is new? In June I officially start training with Team In Training.  That should be fun.  In the meantime I've been making my way over to the gym for core and strength training and will soon start getting in my pool time.  That's really it for now.

 PS - for all you SIAs out there, the top donator/fundraiser will receive the para of her choice valued up to $150.

Mood:  lazy

I have my LLS Information meeting next week.  I have YET to register for my swim, but I will. I will.  Here's the thing, I just saw that there are two options, actually three but only two are relevant.  Do I do the One-Mile swim? Or the Three-Miler?

One mile isn't going to be that much of a challenge IF (big if) I start training in the water now.  They say a mile should take an hour.  But I'd probably kill myself if I attempt the three-mile.  Ay, decisiones!!!! I need to decide soon so I can register and start fundraising.

I haven't updated the training page but I've been busy getting my butt-kicked.  As I type this my biceps are incredibly sore, beyond sore.  There's other muscles suffering, I just don't know their names. I failed anatomy.  I'll have that information up soon.

So what do you think? One mile? Three miles? Are you going to donate :-)?

It's been a LONG time since I've updated and well, here's the deal -

On September 13, 2009 I will be participating in the Hudson River Swim for Life .  Yup, I'ma risk my relaxer for a good cause!  Anyway, this time around I'm combining two of my loves - water/swimming and volunteering.  It's going to be a THREE MILE swim from Nyak to Sleepy Hollow (Tarrytown-sh), NY.  Yeah, three miles.  I was dying after 3 miles on land but, I mean water is my thing.

 I'm not taking any chances though. I will begin working with "Team In Training" this summer.  TIT, as they care called, gets you ready for these big events which is good for me since I can definitely get all the help possible.  I'll get a head start anyway with my new Personal Trainer, Joe of TBF www.josephhunt.net and lots of time in the pool.

Should be fun.  Keep checking back for new updates! 

Mood:  celebratory

Okay, so I'm a week late but, I DID IT!!! I finished my first 10K race on Oct. 12, 2008.

 My day started at 7am with a guzzle of Carnation Instant Breakfast and final preps. I got my timer chip, t-shirt and number on. My fresh new sports pack with some poorly made sports drink (all my fault) in hand. I'm a lil' revved and just a lil nervous. It's not that I thought I couldn't, please that's not even in my vocab. Failure is not an option for me in anything.

Fast forward to 8am I do some stretching in the lobby but can't concentrate with all the people around (and the dust flying making me sneeze) - outside. The parking lot is full of booths and vendors. My lovely Starbuck's was nice enough to provide "Perfect Oatmeal", which was truly perfect, and hot coffee or tea. I grab a cup of oatmeal. I wander around a little bit and decide to get stretched out again by some professional since my trainer was completely MIA. They were shocked that I was allowed to race.

9am I am getting antsy. WHY can't we go to the start line already?!!!

9:15am we head down to the start on the Bronx River Parkway. I play with the timer chip machine (I was bored lol and they had to figure out how i was going to do it since I had no shoes).

9:30am and we start! Here's the sad part. I was in the front, on wheels and I was passed by at least half of the 10K runners within the first 10 minutes lol. Oh well. I keep looking over my shoulder determined not to be in last place before it makes sense. To my satisfaction there was still a group of people behind me.  And then I get passed by...WALKERS!!!! WHAT?! Oh no. All I need is one good downhill boost. Besides, there was no way that I was going to let Mr. Babe Ruth pass my before mile 3. Mr. Babe Ruth was this walk who at random moments power-walked or jogged, then walked again. He had tube socks pulled up to his calves, shorts, pot-belly and a bald head. He was my secret competition (in my head) haha. Mr. Grey Shirt was long gone so I was stuck with Mr. Ruth. I am ahead of him until mile 4 when I get slowed by GIGANTIC ENORMOUS IMPOSSIBLE hills.

Mile 2 - I pass the first aid station where I unhealthily ignore my dry mouth and sore muscles. I should have stopped for some gatorade (no way I was drinking that non-Poland Springs water). But I couldn't stop, Mr. Ruth would have passed me. Some nice bouncy lady, who reminded me of Tanya from Hope (counselor, not camper), ran beside me as I tackled my umpteenth impossibly long hill. Thanks "Tanya" lol.

I see Mile 3 marker and couldn't be happier. FINALLY I get to cross to the other side. At Mile 4 (and in the middle of yet ANOTHER impossibly long incline) and nice man named Joe ran up beside me an asked "would you like some company?" Really? You'd ruin your time to run with me...okay "Sure" i reply. So Joe and I took our sweet time as we passed the Mile 5. I didn't have a choice it was, yep uphill. I think they did this on purpose. We made conversation about everything as I try to ignore a pantless old man. I think he was a volunteer.

Somwhere between mile 5.something and 6 I spot my trainer on the partition. NOW YOU SHOW UP!!!! It's aight, by this time my arms are burning, my stomach is hurting from the crunching (yes crunches), my shoulders feel like jelly and I'm out of breath. Joe, Andre and I finish out the race (actually Andre had to where my timer chip for me).

So at approximately  1:55:55 with a pace of 17:42 minutes per mile, I finish my first race.

All of the thumbs ups, the "way to goes" and the "you're awesomes", all of the annoying days training and restricted when I wanted it to be diet paid off.

So what's next? I'm not sure. Maybe I'll swim across the Hudson. I guess we'll find out.

pix coming soon!!

Mood:  on fire

Okay so in less than 30 minutes, I will be leaving my house and on my way to Westchester County Marathon.  My part, the 10K doesn't start until 9am. I am super excited even though I HATE rising before the sun lol. I think I'm as prepared as I am going to be. I did 3 and half months extra training, for the most part I tried to keep my eating okay, and just stayed focus.  So now, today will tell all.

I don't really have any concerns at this point.  I mean, the worst that can happen is I don't make it to the first check point in time and they make me quit...I don't quit. So I guess that's the only thing. Maybe they will take it easy on me. I doubt it.

Well!!! Wish me luck. Time to get dressed. Don my official Genesis Adventures shirt, my cute little tracking device thing and my headphones - drown the world around me out and hear just my breathing and the orchestra (or whatever's playing at the time).

Stay tuned for photos.

Mood:  caffeinated

PEOPLE!!! I have about 5 days and 11 hours (check coundown clock) before my lil race.  I JUST registered yesterday so of course I had to pay an inflated price...the downs of procrastination.

My training is officially over. Not much else we can do, you know. We "ran" the course, well along the side of it since the course is the Bronx River Parkway.  We did strength training, cardio, all that so, what's left? Me resting. I'm supposed to load up on carbs, ehhhh Andre, don't think I can do that. Yeah see carbs equal sugar (energy) unused sugar equals fat, fat equals weight and that's what I'm trying to get rid of.  I wonder how many calories I can burn in 6.3 miles? Anyone?

5 days! At least it's not going to be boring for spectators. Music, food, games and such. They will be entertained.

I'm trying to figure out what my next challenge will be.  Should I do the half marathon next time? What about something aquatic? I'm like Phelps: better in the water than out. Maybe I can do that Hudson swim? I don't swim THAT fast, but I'm good.

Wouldn't it be cool if I could have like T-vision? A mounted camera so you can see my POV. Maybe next time.

Cinco Dias! I'll check in soon.

Well, I have come to the understanding that somone on my fitness team of two (and it's not me) has been "tricking" me. ALL this time I'm thinking yeah I'm doing 8-10 miles give or take. NOW the other day somehow the same session turned into like 2 miles. UGH!!!  I'll get over it.  I definitely need to get up to my 8-10 miles since my 10k is about the far.

Back to my barely two months. My marathon is creeping closer and closer - just sneaking up on me. Can you hear my excitement? It's kinda there lol, not fully there but kinda.  I'm thinking I should probably do some off-the-clock training. Get back in the gym that I've been actively neglecting...just not purposefully. See, I've been pretty busy. Between making sure there's money in the bank and sorority stuff and my regular training schedule, I've been busy! Can't help it. Besides I kinda didn't pay my membership so yeah, I'm also ducking :)

October 12th. Counting down.  I should probably do the actual registration, huh? Where IS my motivation?