Monday night after work, we headed out for our first open-water swim.
We are down to mere days before the Welland triathlon and I really wanted to get in to open water to make sure I still knew what to do and how to do it.
I had delayed as long as possible in the hopes that the water would warm up but it just hasn't been hot and sunny enough this year to make much of a difference.
We got there and walked to the edge of the dock. A guy was standing there with his wetsuit.
"How's the water?" I asked.
"Much nicer now" he replied.
"Nice enough to swim without a wetsuit?" I asked.
"Not that nice" he said with a shudder.
Great.
I sat on the edge of the dock and dangled one foot in. Yikes! Not a good idea.
I stood back up again. This was not the kind of water temperature that one should ease themselves into. It was the kind that you had to commit 100% and dive in. So I did.
And my last thought before hitting the water was: I wonder if it's too cold for my pump?
My first thought once I hit the water was: bloody hell, it's too cold for me!
I popped up, swore, and started swimming. My breath was gaspy as my lungs shivered so I switched to the breast stroke until things calmed down. Within a minute, I was fine. Within two, I decided that the water temperate was just fine, thank you very much, and I swam a few hundred practice metres.
I practiced breathing, I practiced sighting. In no time I remembered how very much I love open water swimming.
On the way back I passed four swimmers heading out. They were all in their wetsuits.
No thanks.
I love the freedom of a bathing suit and the refreshing feel of the water.
Saturday, here I come!
Tuesday, June 18, 2013
Monday, June 17, 2013
A Great Swim Workout For You
I haven't talked about our early-morning swim workouts in a while.
Friday's whiteboard had us doing some pretty tough swimming. For anyone interested in poaching swim workouts, this is a great one.
The workout was split into two very separate sections. The first was about playing with our rest time. The second was all about brute force.
We warmed up with:
300m swim
200m kick
Then we did:
12x50m on 1:00 minute
I was able to pull off 43-46 seconds per 50m which gave me 14-17 seconds of rest between each one.
When we finished that, we discovered this written on the whiteboard.
4x50m on 0:55
4x50m on 0:50
4x50m on 1:00
2x100m on 2:00
3x50m on 0:55
3x50m on 0:50
2x50m on 1:00
2x100m on 2:00
"I'm playing with your rest time" said Christine.
No kidding.
"Do we rest between each time change?" I asked.
"No, once you start there is no extra rest until you're done."
We looked at each other in fear. We took a few extra swigs from our bottles and set off, not sure if we would be able to keep up the pace. I had two others in my lane. The first started, the second went five seconds later and I went five seconds after that. I did the first 4x50m in about 0:48 (each) so I had 5-7 seconds rest in between. The next four were about the same but, since we had to do them on 0:50, that meant that the first swimmer had already left and the second was pushing off when I touched the wall. Essentially, we didn't stop at all. We just kept swimming.
By the time we were nearing the end of the workout, we were all slowing down and doing 50m on about 0:52 seconds. We weren't even meeting the times.
But it was a really good workout that kept us swimming for 1400m at a really good clip.
We collapsed at the side of the pool at the end, grabbing at our drinks and looking wild-eyed with exhaustion.
This was written on the whiteboard:
10x50m kick on 1:15
swim 100m
10x50m kick on 1:15
swim 100m
cool down
That's a kilometre of kicking. Ouch.
I was the strongest kicker in our lane so I got to lead the troops. I finished the first one in 0:58 which was pretty crazy and a pace that I couldn't sustain. The other nine hovered between 1:02 and 1:04.
The 100m swim was pretty slow as I dragged myself through the water without moving my legs.
Christine decided to switch up the last 10x50m. "I want you to be back at the wall in 1 minute so I'll let you do them on 1:20 so you have lots of rest between each one. And I'll let you kick 5x50m, swim 100m and then kick 5x50m again. You ok with that?"
Yep.
I did them all between 1:00 and 1:02.
By the time we were done, my arms were shaky. My legs were shaky. I was exhausted and yet surprisingly full of energy at the same time.
My blood sugar? It was 4.8 before. I had about 8 raisins before I left the house. It was 4.8 when I finished.
Have I mentioned that I love my waterproof pump?
Friday's whiteboard had us doing some pretty tough swimming. For anyone interested in poaching swim workouts, this is a great one.
The workout was split into two very separate sections. The first was about playing with our rest time. The second was all about brute force.
We warmed up with:
300m swim
200m kick
Then we did:
12x50m on 1:00 minute
I was able to pull off 43-46 seconds per 50m which gave me 14-17 seconds of rest between each one.
When we finished that, we discovered this written on the whiteboard.
4x50m on 0:55
4x50m on 0:50
4x50m on 1:00
2x100m on 2:00
3x50m on 0:55
3x50m on 0:50
2x50m on 1:00
2x100m on 2:00
"I'm playing with your rest time" said Christine.
No kidding.
"Do we rest between each time change?" I asked.
"No, once you start there is no extra rest until you're done."
We looked at each other in fear. We took a few extra swigs from our bottles and set off, not sure if we would be able to keep up the pace. I had two others in my lane. The first started, the second went five seconds later and I went five seconds after that. I did the first 4x50m in about 0:48 (each) so I had 5-7 seconds rest in between. The next four were about the same but, since we had to do them on 0:50, that meant that the first swimmer had already left and the second was pushing off when I touched the wall. Essentially, we didn't stop at all. We just kept swimming.
By the time we were nearing the end of the workout, we were all slowing down and doing 50m on about 0:52 seconds. We weren't even meeting the times.
But it was a really good workout that kept us swimming for 1400m at a really good clip.
We collapsed at the side of the pool at the end, grabbing at our drinks and looking wild-eyed with exhaustion.
This was written on the whiteboard:
10x50m kick on 1:15
swim 100m
10x50m kick on 1:15
swim 100m
cool down
That's a kilometre of kicking. Ouch.
I was the strongest kicker in our lane so I got to lead the troops. I finished the first one in 0:58 which was pretty crazy and a pace that I couldn't sustain. The other nine hovered between 1:02 and 1:04.
The 100m swim was pretty slow as I dragged myself through the water without moving my legs.
Christine decided to switch up the last 10x50m. "I want you to be back at the wall in 1 minute so I'll let you do them on 1:20 so you have lots of rest between each one. And I'll let you kick 5x50m, swim 100m and then kick 5x50m again. You ok with that?"
Yep.
I did them all between 1:00 and 1:02.
By the time we were done, my arms were shaky. My legs were shaky. I was exhausted and yet surprisingly full of energy at the same time.
My blood sugar? It was 4.8 before. I had about 8 raisins before I left the house. It was 4.8 when I finished.
Have I mentioned that I love my waterproof pump?
Friday, June 14, 2013
Updated Triathlon Plans
Call me crazy but I just signed up for the Welland sprint triathlon.
The one that is eight days from now.
The one that involves me running 7.5 kilometres after swimming 750m and cycling 30k.
I know. I know. I said that I was going to just do the swim/bike but, the closer it got, the more the little voice in my head told me to do the full triathlon.
I'm already running 20 minutes straight (or 3.20k according to my Garmin). If all goes well I'll be up to 35 minutes by next Thursday and I figure it's only about ten more minutes of running for me to do 7.5k. So it's a little bit outside of my injury recovery comfort zone but not terribly so.
I've decided to play it safe and do a walk/run combo on race day to give my feet a rest. So I think I'll go back to the run 9 minutes walk 1 minute routine that I was doing last week. It won't be my fastest time but at least I'll get to do a full triathlon and put my mind at ease about the Olympic tri that is looming on the calendar.
I'm also a little worried about the swim. Not because of the distance or the course but because of the water temperature. We've had some sun here in Niagara but not enough to warm up the water. Sunny days have been interspersed with plenty of cold, rainy ones and, the last I heard, the water temperature is 60 degrees.
That's pretty darn cold for a wetsuit-eschewing swimmer like myself. Too cold for any open-water practice swims yet. I'm hoping for a hot, sunny week to heat things up a bit. If not, I'll be shivering my way through the swim.
Seriously though folks, what I'm looking forward to the most is testing out my waterproof pump and working out a race day basal profile that will allow me to have a pre-race gel and a pre-run gel without sending my blood sugar soaring.
I'll let you know next week what my basal plan of attack is and will certainly let you know how it works out on race day.
The one that is eight days from now.
The one that involves me running 7.5 kilometres after swimming 750m and cycling 30k.
I know. I know. I said that I was going to just do the swim/bike but, the closer it got, the more the little voice in my head told me to do the full triathlon.
I'm already running 20 minutes straight (or 3.20k according to my Garmin). If all goes well I'll be up to 35 minutes by next Thursday and I figure it's only about ten more minutes of running for me to do 7.5k. So it's a little bit outside of my injury recovery comfort zone but not terribly so.
I've decided to play it safe and do a walk/run combo on race day to give my feet a rest. So I think I'll go back to the run 9 minutes walk 1 minute routine that I was doing last week. It won't be my fastest time but at least I'll get to do a full triathlon and put my mind at ease about the Olympic tri that is looming on the calendar.
I'm also a little worried about the swim. Not because of the distance or the course but because of the water temperature. We've had some sun here in Niagara but not enough to warm up the water. Sunny days have been interspersed with plenty of cold, rainy ones and, the last I heard, the water temperature is 60 degrees.
That's pretty darn cold for a wetsuit-eschewing swimmer like myself. Too cold for any open-water practice swims yet. I'm hoping for a hot, sunny week to heat things up a bit. If not, I'll be shivering my way through the swim.
Seriously though folks, what I'm looking forward to the most is testing out my waterproof pump and working out a race day basal profile that will allow me to have a pre-race gel and a pre-run gel without sending my blood sugar soaring.
I'll let you know next week what my basal plan of attack is and will certainly let you know how it works out on race day.
Thursday, June 13, 2013
Disability Tax Credit and a Glass of Red Wine
In October 2012 I applied for the Disability Tax Credit.
In December 2012 I received a letter from Canada Revenue Agency saying that they required more time to review my application.
In February 2013, I receive a letter saying that, after careful review, they determined that I was not eligible for the disability tax credit at this time.
I, of course, appealed.
I carefully reviewed the reasons they gave as to why I was not eligible and I explained each one.
I submitted my appeal.
I received a letter a few weeks later saying that they had received my appeal and that I could expect to be contact within a few months.
Yesterday, I received a letter.
The letter stated: "Having carefully reconsidered the determination with reference to the information and reasons set for in your objection, the Minister of National Revenue renders the following objection:
You objection is allowed and the determination is reversed. Canada Revenue Agency's records have been updated to show that you are eligible for the disability tax credit on a temporary basis from 2002 to 2016."
Yes, I did indeed do a happy dance when I read that.
My 2011 and 2010 tax returns will be automatically adjusted and they provided me with information for how to apply all the way back to 2002, the year I was diagnosed.
I am also now able to open a Registered Disability Savings Plan where the money I invest is matched, at least partially, by the government.
I don't know what happens in 2016, and how I reapply but we'll cross that bridge when we get to it. In the meantime, I can invest a bit more money for the future, pay down some debt and breathe a little easier.
That, my friends, deserves a big glass of red wine!
In December 2012 I received a letter from Canada Revenue Agency saying that they required more time to review my application.
In February 2013, I receive a letter saying that, after careful review, they determined that I was not eligible for the disability tax credit at this time.
I, of course, appealed.
I carefully reviewed the reasons they gave as to why I was not eligible and I explained each one.
I submitted my appeal.
I received a letter a few weeks later saying that they had received my appeal and that I could expect to be contact within a few months.
Yesterday, I received a letter.
The letter stated: "Having carefully reconsidered the determination with reference to the information and reasons set for in your objection, the Minister of National Revenue renders the following objection:
You objection is allowed and the determination is reversed. Canada Revenue Agency's records have been updated to show that you are eligible for the disability tax credit on a temporary basis from 2002 to 2016."
Yes, I did indeed do a happy dance when I read that.
My 2011 and 2010 tax returns will be automatically adjusted and they provided me with information for how to apply all the way back to 2002, the year I was diagnosed.
I am also now able to open a Registered Disability Savings Plan where the money I invest is matched, at least partially, by the government.
I don't know what happens in 2016, and how I reapply but we'll cross that bridge when we get to it. In the meantime, I can invest a bit more money for the future, pay down some debt and breathe a little easier.
That, my friends, deserves a big glass of red wine!
Wednesday, June 12, 2013
Random Questions
Why is it that having music during a run doesn't bother me but having music at the pool does?
Why is it that having the radio on in the car is fine but having the any volume on my GPS is most definitely not?
Why is it that my ring fits on one finger in the morning, a different one in the afternoon, and then back to the first one again in the evening and overnight?
Why is it that I insist on washing out my coffee mug before I put more coffee into it but I'll drink out of my water bottle for two weeks before I put it in the dishwasher?
Why is it that I won't drink wine if the bottle isn't open, won't eat the nutella if the jar isn't open and won't nibble on crackers if the bag isn't open? I am an adult, it's our house, our wine, our nutella and our crackers. I can open them whenever I want to...yet I don't.
I will, however, open a new package of cheese, yogurt or nuts with no hesitation.
Why is it that nail polish stays on my toes for three weeks and my fingers for two days?
Why don't I care if the bowls are lined up straight in the cupboard or that my socks aren't super organized in my sock drawer but yet my running shirts are all folded and put away in piles based on sleeve length?
Why do I readily donate clothes that I no longer wear or that no longer fit and yet I hold on to running hats that are so old I can't wear them anymore and old purses that I know I will never use?
Why do I always dig my heels in every time the person I love suggests I try something when I know full well the suggestion makes sense and I'll end up doing it...and liking it...eventually. Can you say golf? Curling? iPads? Keurig? Duathlons? (By the way, I'm getting better at just saying yes even when I want to say no. It saves time that way since I'll end up saying yes eventually and being glad that I did.)
Why is it ok to read the papers on our iPads at breakfast but not ok to even glance at them during dinner?
Why do I happily sport my insulin pump on my belt or my bathing suit and feel proud when someone looks at it and yet am embarassed if someone notices that I wear compression socks under my pants?
Why do I have eternal patience for some tasks (like waiting for sweet potatoes to bake or ironing clothes) and why do I have to always cultivate patience with other tasks (like waiting for bread to toast or water to boil)?
Why am I horrified by scary movies and refuse to watch them and yet am fascinated with Dexter? And why is it ok for him to kill people? In fact I'm always glad when he rids the world of another bad guy...by stabbing them in the heart. Seriously?
Why do I love reading so much that I often only read one chapter at a time to drag the book out longer?
Why do I put hand cream on all the time to keep my hands feeling silky soft and yet refuse to wear gloves when digging in the garden, painting or tying back rose bushes?
C'est moi - la femme des contradictions.
Why is it that having the radio on in the car is fine but having the any volume on my GPS is most definitely not?
Why is it that my ring fits on one finger in the morning, a different one in the afternoon, and then back to the first one again in the evening and overnight?
Why is it that I insist on washing out my coffee mug before I put more coffee into it but I'll drink out of my water bottle for two weeks before I put it in the dishwasher?
Why is it that I won't drink wine if the bottle isn't open, won't eat the nutella if the jar isn't open and won't nibble on crackers if the bag isn't open? I am an adult, it's our house, our wine, our nutella and our crackers. I can open them whenever I want to...yet I don't.
I will, however, open a new package of cheese, yogurt or nuts with no hesitation.
Why is it that nail polish stays on my toes for three weeks and my fingers for two days?
Why don't I care if the bowls are lined up straight in the cupboard or that my socks aren't super organized in my sock drawer but yet my running shirts are all folded and put away in piles based on sleeve length?
Why do I readily donate clothes that I no longer wear or that no longer fit and yet I hold on to running hats that are so old I can't wear them anymore and old purses that I know I will never use?
Why do I always dig my heels in every time the person I love suggests I try something when I know full well the suggestion makes sense and I'll end up doing it...and liking it...eventually. Can you say golf? Curling? iPads? Keurig? Duathlons? (By the way, I'm getting better at just saying yes even when I want to say no. It saves time that way since I'll end up saying yes eventually and being glad that I did.)
Why is it ok to read the papers on our iPads at breakfast but not ok to even glance at them during dinner?
Why do I happily sport my insulin pump on my belt or my bathing suit and feel proud when someone looks at it and yet am embarassed if someone notices that I wear compression socks under my pants?
Why do I have eternal patience for some tasks (like waiting for sweet potatoes to bake or ironing clothes) and why do I have to always cultivate patience with other tasks (like waiting for bread to toast or water to boil)?
Why am I horrified by scary movies and refuse to watch them and yet am fascinated with Dexter? And why is it ok for him to kill people? In fact I'm always glad when he rids the world of another bad guy...by stabbing them in the heart. Seriously?
Why do I love reading so much that I often only read one chapter at a time to drag the book out longer?
Why do I put hand cream on all the time to keep my hands feeling silky soft and yet refuse to wear gloves when digging in the garden, painting or tying back rose bushes?
C'est moi - la femme des contradictions.
Tuesday, June 11, 2013
Mr. Leclerc's New Home
Saturday morning, we were having breakfast after my rehab run.
"We need to go look at our roses after breakfast. They're a little overgrown."
"Agreed."
Out we went. We have five rose bushes along the side of our house. One was there when we moved in. The other four we planted at the end of our first summer, when the rose bushes were on sale at the grocery store. Each one was named after a famous Canadian. Felix Leclerc was the runt of the litter, a wee scrappy bush covered in thorns and tucked in almost behind the central air unit.
The rose bush that was already there was pretty well established. We bought a black, rod-iron trellis-thing to try to tame it and my job every spring and fall was to cut it back into submission.
This year, it seems that the entire Canadian contingent of rose bushes have taken off.
Here is that it looked like on Saturday morning.
Sunday dawned bright and sunny. We went for our bike ride. I did my 12 minute rehab run. And then we were back at it.
We tied the roses to their new home - getting very damaged by the thorns.
And that is how we spent our weekend.
"We need to go look at our roses after breakfast. They're a little overgrown."
"Agreed."
Out we went. We have five rose bushes along the side of our house. One was there when we moved in. The other four we planted at the end of our first summer, when the rose bushes were on sale at the grocery store. Each one was named after a famous Canadian. Felix Leclerc was the runt of the litter, a wee scrappy bush covered in thorns and tucked in almost behind the central air unit.
The rose bush that was already there was pretty well established. We bought a black, rod-iron trellis-thing to try to tame it and my job every spring and fall was to cut it back into submission.
This year, it seems that the entire Canadian contingent of rose bushes have taken off.
Here is that it looked like on Saturday morning.
We debated. Do we buy some more of those individual rose trellises? Functional, but boring. Doug grabbed a pencil and a notepad. We talked, he sketched. We came up with a plan. We headed to Home Depot and came home with...
Two 4x4s, six 2x2s, four spikes to hold the 4x4s, a box of screws and a sledgehammer.
Doug got the grunt work (ie. hammer the spikes into the ground without killing the roses or damaging the house).
I was in charge of the paint and the roller...and the iPhone camera.
By this point it was getting late so we left the paint to dry until morning and headed in for dinner.
Sunday dawned bright and sunny. We went for our bike ride. I did my 12 minute rehab run. And then we were back at it.
The plan was taking shape.
We measured, we cut, we drilled...and we tried not to get too damaged by the thorns.
And voilà ! A do it yourself rose trellis. Mr. Leclerc, the little Frenchman on the far right, put up a bit of a fuss while I secured him to the 2x2 but after a harsh "Tais-toi!" he settled down.
And that is how we spent our weekend.
Monday, June 10, 2013
Earning Versus Getting
Doug took me for my second golf game on Friday night. It was, as he described it, very Scottish conditions.
Cold, damp, drizzly.
Being an Irish girl at heart, I loved it.
The course we play at is a nine-hole course. All holes are par 3. It's ideal for a newbie like me.
The first time we played, I insisted that we count every stroke I made. Some holes were 9, some were 7, one was 5. My total score was 63. Nothing to write home about but, technically, it was a PB.
My original goal was to continue to count every stroke and watch my score slowly improve over the summer. I would be nice to play a 50 but I have no idea if that's too ambitious for my first summer.
Then Doug gently told me that proper golf etiquette is to stop playing a hole if you've already shot more than twice par. So, on my par 3 course, I technically should give up on a hole if I haven't sunk it in six, score six on my card and move on.
Fair enough. It keeps us moving around the course and groups playing behind us don't get too frustrated with my snail pace.
So I've changed my plan. If I take a 6 on each hole, my score will be 54. Whether I earned it or not.
We played in the Scottish conditions and it was fun. A little frustrating of course, like when I used my driver and sent the ball about 15 yards off the tee. Still though, I like the challenge and I played more consistently than the first time we went out.
Out of nine holes, I got a score of six on all nine of them.
Two of those sixes I actually earned. The other sixes would have been sevens but I obeyed the rules and picked up my ball after my six strokes.
I'm guessing I'm going to be scoring 54 for a few more games yet. I'm fine with that.
I'd like to work towards earning that 54, not having it given to me.
Oh, and I'd like to score a 5 on a hole or two.
Cold, damp, drizzly.
Being an Irish girl at heart, I loved it.
The course we play at is a nine-hole course. All holes are par 3. It's ideal for a newbie like me.
The first time we played, I insisted that we count every stroke I made. Some holes were 9, some were 7, one was 5. My total score was 63. Nothing to write home about but, technically, it was a PB.
My original goal was to continue to count every stroke and watch my score slowly improve over the summer. I would be nice to play a 50 but I have no idea if that's too ambitious for my first summer.
Then Doug gently told me that proper golf etiquette is to stop playing a hole if you've already shot more than twice par. So, on my par 3 course, I technically should give up on a hole if I haven't sunk it in six, score six on my card and move on.
Fair enough. It keeps us moving around the course and groups playing behind us don't get too frustrated with my snail pace.
So I've changed my plan. If I take a 6 on each hole, my score will be 54. Whether I earned it or not.
We played in the Scottish conditions and it was fun. A little frustrating of course, like when I used my driver and sent the ball about 15 yards off the tee. Still though, I like the challenge and I played more consistently than the first time we went out.
Out of nine holes, I got a score of six on all nine of them.
Two of those sixes I actually earned. The other sixes would have been sevens but I obeyed the rules and picked up my ball after my six strokes.
I'm guessing I'm going to be scoring 54 for a few more games yet. I'm fine with that.
I'd like to work towards earning that 54, not having it given to me.
Oh, and I'd like to score a 5 on a hole or two.
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