Chasing My Joy

My journey to becoming an Ultra Runner and Ironman

Celebraing the Season

Our Relator Sarah King, who we LOVE invited Cory and I to Denver Zoo’s, Zoo Lights. Happily my parents used Sarah to find their hours this fall too so they were invited as well. We all bundled up and headed out (and for me back to work, but I don’t mind, I still love the zoo even though I am there everyday)

It was so fun to have mom and dad there with us!

The lights are so pretty this year, I think it’s even better than last year.


It was a great way to spend a Tuesday night.
What are some of your favorite holiday traditions?

Healthy Clam Chowder Recipe

Last week Big Daddy Diesel asked for my Healthy Clam Chowder Recipe. So here it is BDD, let me know if you try it. I am going to make it tonight!

I found this recipe here and adjusted it slightly:

Ingredients
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 onion, finely chopped
1/2 cup dry white wine
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
2 cups reduced-fat (1%) milk
1 cup low-sodium chicken broth
3 6 ounce cans minced clams
1 pound small red-skinned potatoes, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
2 cups frozen corn, thawed
1 teaspoon low-sodium Old Bay seasoning
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
2 tablespoons chopped parsley
Tossed salad, crusty bread (optional)

Directions
1. Heat oil in a large saucepan over medium heat; add onion and cook 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Stir in wine and cook 1 minute; sprinkle in flour and cook 1 minute.
2. Gradually stir in milk and chicken broth. Drain liquid from clams into measuring cup. Add 1 cup of the clam juice to the pot and reserve the clams. Add potatoes, cover and simmer 30 minutes or until potatoes are fully cooked.
3. Add reserved clams, corn, Old Bay, salt and pepper. Bring to a simmer to heat through. Turn off heat and stir in parsley.
4. Serve with tossed salad and crusty bread, if desired

There are approx. 4 servings with 350 calories in each

Ironman Coeur D’Alene Week 5 Workouts

I promised myself that I would keep up my training and nutrition during December and I knew it would be a challenge. I didn’t think the challenge would start SO early. Last week I had 5 holiday parties, 4 of which happened over the weekend. I was able to all of my workouts last week but that is mostly because it was a recovery week so there wasn’t as much to do. But now is when things get more interesting. This is the first week of “Base Building Phase” so we are adding time and miles (fun but time consuming) Please wish me luck between happy hours, parties and shopping. Hoping to fit it all in, but most will have to be indoors because Denver looks like this:

Here is the week:
Monday: 90 min yoga and hip strengthening exercises
Tuesday: am: 60 min strength pm: 90 min Interval Run

Wednesday: 90 min spin class and 60 min pilates
Thursday: Distance swim workout (3100 m)
Friday: 60 min progression run and 60 min strength training
Saturday: Swim (60 min)/bike (120 min)brick
Sunday: 11 mile endurance run and strength training (60 min)

Thoughts on strength training: I love it, and I love that my plan incorporates time to work on building strength. After training for my first full marathon and half ironman last year I felt week and wobbly since I spent no time focusing on strength.

Now I have a routine that I kinda like but don’t LOVE. Anyone have a plan they would suggest? I have heard good things about TYR, suggestions?

Give Yourself the Gift of Fitness

I have decided to give myself the gift of fitness this holiday season, and I hope you do too. It’s such a busy time of year with more social commitments than usual. But I know that I am my best self when I am exercising and eating healthy so I make it a priority. Here are some ways that I keep my healthy habits going during the holidays:

1. Get up early. I know not everyone is a morning person but it’s easier to fit in your workout before anything else happens to deter you. I also find that by the time I really wake up I am at the gym and it’s too late to turn back. I personally get up at 4:20 am everyday. It sounds bad but I am used to it and love that my workout is done before I go to work.


Even when it’s crapy outside, it’s nice and warm in the gym!

2. Plan your meals ahead of time


That way you aren’t tempted to stop and grab take out on the way home.

3. Stock up on healthy food


I find that if I have a lot of healthy food around I am less likely to face plant into a plate of cookies.


4. Make healthier versions of your favorite foods. I love clam chowder but traditionally it’s not very healthy but after googling I found a healthy recepie that I love!



5. Enjoy active activities with friends and family instead of focusing on food



6. Keep your gym bags packed


It’s much easier to get out the door when you aren’t searching for your stuff, I am still working on this one.

7. Say no….this can be hard but you don’t have to do everything. Do what you really enjoy, if you don’t wan to go to your office holiday cookie swap, don’t do it! But if you love you block pot luck then go and enjoy it!

I hope you all have a happy healthy holiday season.

Do you have any tips on how to stay healthy during the holiday season?


November Recap and December Goals

November was pretty good, but it FLEW by! This time of year always goes by in a flash and it makes me a little sad. Good thing Christmas is around the corner to lift my spirits!

The main thing that happened in November was that Cory and I started our Ironman training. So far so good, but we were just in the preparation phase. We start Base Building next month and I am sure things will get more intense (at least I hope they will, I am ready to kick it up a notch).

In November Cory and I drove from Oregon to Colorado


I died my hair brown (I asked for brown and ended up just darker blond and it’s washing out even lighter, I think it’s a sign that I am just meant to be a blond) oh and got bangs…this is earth shattering news, I know.


I enjoyed MANY red starbucks cups


I discovered Cafe Rio salads, so delicious!


I got reacquainted with my trainer, we are going to be really good friends in the coming months.


I bought a new bike!!! can’t wait to actually get it.


We ran a turkey day 10k


And we swim, bike, run, trained a lot, and loved it.

Here’s how I did on my goals for November:

  1. Keep track of workouts better. I am participating in the Holiday Booty Buster Challenge and the Pile on the Miles so I need to keep track! Check, I have a super nerdy spreadsheet set up.
  2. Run at least 70 miles check! over 85
  3. Swim for at least 12 hours Nope, closer to 8 hours, DOH! need to get in the pool
  4. Bike for at least 20 hours Check! lots of time in the saddle this year, it was a mistake not to do more last year.
  5. Do my PT exercises every night No, But my PT said I didn’t have to so I am ok with it.
  6. Do abs and arms exercises three times a week YUP!
  7. Eat healthy (except on Thanksgiving, on that day anything goes!) Mostly yes. I actually dropped weight this month, I am happy about this. I am getting closer to me “fighting weight” but this is it’s own post.

I am happy with what I accomplished in November and here are my goals for December:

  1. Have fun with friends and family before training gets too crazy
  2. Continue to eat well 90% of the time (Christmas, and Christmas eve don’t count)
  3. Follow my training plan
  4. Take more pictures, November pictures=fail!

What are your goals for December?


Building Speed

Some of you may have noticed that I am not the fastest runner on the block. And while I am ok with not being the fastest I would like to be faster. And so enters speed work (duh) you have to practice running faster to race faster. I have been trying to get speed work in a couple times a week in different formats and I am getting a little bit faster! Something that I had to learn for myself was that it should be uncomfortable to improve. You always see elite runners floating by like it’s nothing but if they are pushing it, then they are uncomfortable too.

I had a great speed session yesterday on the treadmill (I can only do speed work on the treadmill or track, I don’t know how people do it on the streets).

Warm up jog – 2 miles
Increase the pace as the hard effort runs get shorter
1×1600 or 9 minutes w/ 400 (4 minutes) easy recovery jog
1×1200 or 7 minutes w/ 400 easy recovery jog
1×800 or 5 minutes w/ 400 easy recovery jog
1×400 or 3 minutes w/ 400 easy recovery jog
Cool down – 1 mile easy jog

It felt really good and I can tell I am improving. I am happy to be seeing results after just one month back to running and with Coach.

Unfortunately I had to cut my cool down short so I could make it to my stress test to see if I had exercise induced asthma. I was put on a treadmill where I had to breath in cold oxygen with my nose plugged and all kinds of sensors hooked up to me.

Source

This is obviously not me but it gives you an idea. The test was not fun, I felt like I was going to pass out, I was drooling and sweating and trying not to fall over. All of that work and the Dr. Couldn’t scope my throat because my nasal passages are too small. BUT the good news is that I do not have asthma, in fact I have great lung function and my heart is healthy and strong =)

After my crappy hospital visit Cory took me here

Yogurtland!

I hadn’t been able to eat at all before the test and I was starving! I loaded myself up and it made my day all better.


Do you do speed work? Have you noticed a difference?

Are you addicted to Fro-Yo? I am so I try not to go too often or it becomes a shame spiral.

Ironman Wish List – Part 3

This wish list will be dedicated to the biking, as a new cyclist I still have a lot to learn about biking and it’s gear but here are some things that I have or wish I had.

A full carbon TT bike.

My choice is the Talon!

ANYTHING from Betty Designs!!!

I love all her stuff, so freakin cute!

Aqualite Drink System

This makes it SO much easier to keep hydrated while keeping your speed up (or not veering into traffic)

Bento Box

You need a place to stash your treats while riding!

Specialized Tri Shoes

I have specialized road shoes now and love them, I would like to upgrade to tri specific shoes eventually.

Snickers Bars

These would be great stocking stuffers! I love snickers and I feel NO guilt eating them while riding my bike.

Full Disclosure, I am not sponsored by any of these companies and have not received anything from them, I genuinely like these products and think you would like them too.

If you like free stuff check out SR giveaway for BIC bands

Ironman Coeur D’Alene Week 4 Workouts

Made it to week four of Ironman CDA training WHOO-HOOO! I have to say I am loving it so far. I am sure I will feel differently in May.

The focus for week 4 is recovery, I personally think it’s a bit too much recovery so I am going to give myself a couple extra workouts just for my own pleasure. Sorry coach I am not good at following the rules.

Monday: 90 min yoga and hip strengthening exercises

Tuesday: am: 60 min strength pm: Interval Run
Wednesday: 90 min spin class and 60 min pilates

Thursday: Distance swim workout (3100 m)

Friday: 60 min tempo run and 60 min strength training

Saturday: Bike ride, 3 hours (hopefully outside)

Sunday: 10 mile endurance run and easy recovery swim.

I am excited for week 5 since we start our “Base Building” phase. The BASE BUILDING PHASE is used to build the aerobic capacity. Although longer duration workouts at slower pace and intensity are predominant, there will be some training that will test your anaerobic base. Specific emphasis will be placed upon each discipline (swim, bike, or run). Depending upon when you begin your training schedule and your level of fitness, the Base Building Phase generally makes up the bulk of your training schedule.

I was also excited to get this note in my I was also excited to get this note with my training schedule this week along with my heart rate zones from coach:

Your HR zones as of 11/25/11 – This was figured as follows: Looking at your heart rate after the first minute of the two tests, your average HR was 173 beats per minute. 1-5 beats are added or subtracted from 173 based upon perceived effort during the test, time spent at the highest heart rate, and your recovery heart rate in the first minute following the two tests. On the first test you appeared to move into an anaerobic state after 5 minutes at a HR of 175. On the second test you appeared to move into an anaerobic state after 2 minutes at a HR of 176. Once you became anaerobic you stayed consistently at 175-180 and your perceived effort was consistently 8; 9 or above. Your recovery heart rate recovery on the two tests averaged 55.5 beats per minute (bpm), which indicates an excellent cardio fitness level and again supports a max effort on the test.

My goals for this week are to hit every workout, give it my all and get more points for hbbc than I did last week (59).

Nutrition for Endurance Athletes

Let’s call this part one of my “Well Duh” series.

When I started training for my first half marathon I knew I couldn’t eat whatever I wanted and not gain wright but I still had in my head that people that trained for full marathons, half or full ironmans could really eat whatever they wanted because they were working out so much. I assumed all professional athletes ate all kinds of junk food (like Michael Phelps). But after a year of training for endurance events I have learned a lot. I have learned that when I am asking a lot of my body I need to be MORE diligent in what I use as fuel. I may eat more calories when my training load is high but I can really tell a difference when I am eating high quality food vs. crap food. Reading the blogs of really good athletes like Lindsay Cotter or Beth and James Walsh made me realize that people who want to be good athletes usually eat really, really well. It didn’t completely click with me until I started training for my first ironman and started thinking about what I needed to do to make my body healthy and strong enough to get through all nine months of training.

Most of you probably already knew all of this but a lot of people don’t get it. A lot of people comment about how I can eat cookies, cake, chips, McDonalds (always a bad idea in my opinion) etc. And yes I could eat those foods but I wouldn’t feel great at my next workout, I would much rather eat a huge salad or turkey chili.

Last year I read racing weight and it talked a lot about eating “quality” foods. I really recommend reading this book if you are an endurance athlete.


I enjoy eating, and have learned how to cook some delicious healthy meals this year. I have also witnessed my body composition change when I am training hard and eating well.

Have you had any “well duh” moments during your training?

Read any good books about nutrition?


Lactate Threshold Test, FitFluential Ambassador and Other Things

This post will be a random assortment of things but it’s been a busy weekend and I am not complaining one bit.

Friday morning Cory and I got up early to head over to coach Charley’s fitness center to get our power tested on our bikes as well as our bike heart rate zones.

Charley hooked us up to computrainers and made us do 5k tim trials. Working on the computrainer was so fun! I wish I had one at home, too bad they are $1600 plus.

I was happy with my results, my output was around 200 watts.

We also got our heart rate zones to work with, Charley has us working off this scale

Later that night we headed to our second Thanksgiving celebration with Cory’s family. I loved seeing his Aunt, Uncle and cousins. I made sure not to stuff my face too much, I think it’s fine to indulge for one day on the holiday you get in trouble when you celebrate with food for two months straight.

Yesterday we headed out for a cold but beautiful nine mile run on the Highline Canal Trail.

Nice form…..no?

After getting home I was notified that I had been selected to a FitFluential Ambassador. I am very excited about this opportunity and can’t wait to see what it all entails.

After finishing our weight training for the day we packed away the fall decorations and started decorating for Christmas, I can’t believe it’s that time already.

Winston is ready for Santa!

Now I need to get ready for a fifty mile bike ride and a swim with my mom. How has your Thanksgiving weekend been?

→←