Almost TRI time!

We're almost there, folks. Just 4 days till Tri. I am more excited then nervous. I don't feel stellar about the bike ride but I know that I can do it so that's keeping me at bay. Mostly, I just want to rock it. When I finish something big like this, I always feel like a rock star. Then it will be time to start training for my half Marathon (October 7th)

So far this week, I've done one 30 minute run, a one hour (CRAZY HARD) hill workout, and a Body Pump class. Seriously cannot recommend Body Pump enough. I've gotten some really good results in the 2 months I've been doing it. We're talking arm muscles, the ability to actually do push ups, and while I'm not there yet, I definitely feel like my abs are coming, lol. It's no long flab, so I'm definitely going in the right direction. There's this one instructor for the class- I want her body. You know, tall and skinny, but not model skinny. Healthy with muscle that says "yeah, I work out," but not body builder status. That's what I want. I lost about 5 lbs this summer but I gained some muscle so I think maybe I've gotten some of the weight back. No matter, I continue to workout and (try) to ditch the junk. I have gotten compliments from people about my body so I feel like I'm going in the right direction. I'm going to swim or possibly spin tonight, depending on who the spin instructor is. I can't go to a spin class if the music is bad. I need loud stuff. Obnoxious stuff, lol. Then I guess a few more bike rides, swims, and runs, how ever much I can get in before Saturday. Saturday my mom and I are driving up to New Jersey and staying there over night to get revved up for the race, which is on Sunday. My outfit will consist of Tri shorts (from Asics) and a quick-dry, high impact bra from Athleta. I'm not sure if I'm going to throw a tank over the bra when I get out of the water. I haven't been in to running topless but my stomach is starting to improve, and it will take a few seconds off my transition. I will wear bike gloves and my knee braces. Also a sweaty band. (Never leave home without your sweaty band) I'm pretty excited for the day, and can't wait to get down to half marathon training. I go back to school soon so plenty of places to train there.

Tri Training (?)

So less than two weeks until my second ever triathlon. I want to say that I've been training but I honestly don't really know how to train for this type of thing. My "self made" training plan has just including running, swimming laps at the pool, and spinning. I don't actually own a bike so I'll be borrowing my dad's for the actual race- until then, spinning was easier. I did okay last year but I really didn't have anything to compare it to. My biggest mistake last year was actually my clothing. You have to "transition" between each event. I wore a two-piece racing suit for the swim with a running bra underneath. When I got to my bike, I put tri shorts on and a bike top, along with my helmet, socks, and sneakers. It took me SO long to transition. Like ten whole minutes, lol. It takes people one or two usually. This year I'm streamlining by wearing my tri shorts in the water with a tri racing bra on top. Then all I have to put on are socks and sneakers and my helmet. Tri shorts (they're like bike shorts but with a little less padding) are impossible to put on when you're wet. This weekend I plan on doing a transition from bike ( a real bike not a spin bike) to a run. In a perfect world I would do a transition from the pool to a bike to a run but that just won't happen, I don't see when I would find that time. Anyway I'm not actually even that worried about it. I did it last year and had a great time and I know I will finish this year as well. My only goal is to pr.

headbands, headbands, HEADBANDS!

Want to try- for after run. Looks like it would really really cute yet casual. Just not sure how big it actually is. From Runprettyfar.com

Sweaty bands- my favorite running band. They work sooooo well. They literally do not slip, they are cute, and they wick sweat. They do eventually stretch out but not for a while. I have not had to throw one out yet after a full year. They are a $15 but totally worth it and sometimes they put them on sale so I always look out for that.  I have about 5 right now but would love 100 lol. 

My favorite after working headband. It is so cute and dresses up any outfit. I like to wear things like this to make things look a little cuter even when I don't feel like dressing up lol.

Want to try- Lululemon headband. Looks cute and comfy. It CLAIMS to be slip less, I need to test it out. I think this could be cute for a workout and after a workout. 

My new obsession? HEADBANDS! omg they make my hair look so much cuter especially because of my incredibly active lifestyle. I need them to run, obviously. I cannot have my hair or sweat in my face and since I've been the queen of flyaways, lately, they're even more important. After I run, I like to take a quick shower and then thrown one on. It keeps my hair looking cute when I don't want to dry or straighten my hair. (straightening my hair in the summer EWW!!!) But which ones??? I'm trying to test them out but many of them are so expensive...) This is my list so far.

More gear, more running

Surprisingly cute on!

Shopping spree!! The addiction gets worse and worse. Though if it helps me to work harder is it a bad addiction?? LOL I went to Lululemon and got the sun runner top in black, the cool racerback in ray (neon yellow), and a yoga mat strap in hot pink. The strap was actually something that I really needed because even though I usually throw my mat into my gym bag, it always unravels on me. The tank was definitely NOT a need but it is so bright, soft, and cute. The t-shirt is very different from anything I have. I usually don't buy tech t-shirts because I get a lot of them from races so I would rather invest in some tank tops or long sleeves but this top is really cool. It's spf fabric and has open armpits so it breathes. Its a crop top, which is the reason I originally bypassed it because it is also a crop top and as someone who is 5'11" and not supermodel skinny, I thought it would just make me look fat. The result is actually super cute when pared with wonder unders or running shorts. When I wear it around my house with jean shorts you can hardly even tell it's a crop, it just looks a little boxy.

such a cute color, could not resist. 

Anyway, I should probably discuss the activities I do in the clothes other than just the clothes. This week has been rather crazy because I got two freelance jobs in one week. I had to do some graphic design for a show and then do some tech help at a photo shoot. Plus I had my regular summer job of waitressing. Wow do I wish all my work was freelancing, though. It's amazing how work doesn't feel like work when you don't mind doing it. I guess I don't really mind waitressing, it's just that I'm actually going to school to be a graphic designer so it's wonderful to get paid to do something that's actually in my skill set. But freelancing also means commuting to the city because I'm not living there right now. SO that really cut down on my workout time. Monday I went to 7:30 pm spin class but missed out on my morning run because I had to leave the house at 7:15 am to meet my train and couldn't get myself to wake up any earlier. I did run this morning before work, however because the commute was only 10 mins and didn't start until 9:30 am. I'm missing body pump, though :( And because of tomorrow being 4th of July, the gym is open funky hours. I'm going to attempt to get in a swim and a bike ride. Jersey Girl Tri is only 23 days away so I am feeling the push to really keep swimming and biking. I'm going to  run longish at least once this week any maybe finally sign up for a half marathon. I have my sights set on one but I have until the 15th before the price goes up so I'll probably wait until the last minute to make a decision.