A Break in the Weather

Well, for the last few days we've had a "break" in the temperatures here.  

Of course this week the temperatures aren't supposed to be too pleasant.  It's quite deceiving really it looks sunny and nice out. I see the breeze blowing and then bang! As soon as the pup and I walk out the door, humidity.  Heat=good. Humidity=bad.  Belle doesn't like it at all. Seems like she might die every time we come home. Poor baby. 

Logged a measly 3 miles yesterday. The morning started off well, it had rained during the night, the shade felt good, but the sun wasn't too friendly.  It's always hard, there are just some good days and some bad days and yesterday was a bad day.  Hopefully today will be better.


We've been watching the Tour de France a lot.  And by a lot I mean EVERY day! We tape it and then fast forward through commercials and "slow" parts.  Thank goodness for DVR, otherwise 3+ hours of our life would be used up.  Like any professional athlete, I am always amazed! The fact that they ride 100+ miles every day, my body would just shut down I'm sure.  But, it's what they do, they have trained for it and know what to expect.  It's not the first race they've ridden that's for sure.  They typically ride about 40 mph on flat road and downhill CRAZY! But even professionals have bad days.  The commentators talk about how so-and-so has been yo-yoing with their performances from day to day. What runs through my head is, "if that's them doing "bad," than what's good?!

 

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Do you ever forget to breath? It's kind of a weird question. I've talked about it with my students when we talk about natural habits.  I ask them if they have to remind themselves to breath. Obviously you know the response.  However, when I'm doing physically draining activities I often think about pushing through. I want to finish and sometimes, just sometimes I forget to breath. Jillian Michaels is always reminding me on the videos. But if I'm doing a lot of burpees, or sit ups or planks sometimes I am concentrating so hard that I do forget to breath and then when I finish I'm left winded and slightly lightheaded.  

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Flipped through the TV this afternoon and so the Ironman Triathlon (2011) was on, unfortunately it was just the last 10 minutes. It was at like hour 16 or something crazy and the oldest woman(76) made it before midnight. For those of you unfamiliar a triathlon is three events, swimming, biking and running.  An Ironman is a 2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike  ride and 26.2 run (marathon).  This is not on my bucket list. Maybe a 26.2 someday and maybe a tri, but not the Ironman, not to mention I am AWFUL at swimming....if I could doggy paddle the majority of it I might survive.  However, 100's of people flailing around in the water is a little scary to me.  Since I'm not a strong swimmer I tend to panic if I get too tired.  But.....maybe someday.......

Olympic Trials

Have you been watching the Olympic Trials?

I have, swimming, track and field, gymnastics....quite enjoyable. 

I watched the final heat for the women's 1500: .

1) Ridiculously fit!

2) Ridiculously fast!

3) Amazing!

(I always think the 1500 meters is weird since it's virtually a mile, that being said my 1500 would probably take me 10 minutes to run LOL)

Do you see the World Record time? 3 minutes and 50 seconds?! Insane.

I was rooting for Jenny Simpson(P.S. I also love her hair) to win the final heat, but am very glad she made the team.  Overall I'm just glad that we have three amazing women representing Team USA.

 Morgan Uceny= FAST

 When I raced in High School, this was always the most nerve wracking part, it isn't the race it's self, it's the On.Your.Mark.Get.Set.GO! Or gun shot....how you get off the line can have a big impact in how you do.

Note several things:

1) Schmidt, far left is MUCH taller than the rest of the gang

2) Those girls have -% body fat

3) I hate wearing a bathing suit, let alone run in one, BUT, if I had their bodies or work ethic I could!

 Home stretch

First, Ucheny, then Shannon Rowbury and the Jenny Simpson

Here's your 2012 Women's Gymnastics Team

 They got out of order, from left to right, Gabby, Alexandra, Mckayla, Jordyn and Kyla

I like that the men's team congratulates them.

I have to say that I was never a huge fan of Nastia Lukin because I loved Shawn Johnson, however.....that being said, I would have like to have seen her on Team USA for this Olympics. She IS an amazing athlete and it's sad when someone that great makes mistakes in the Olympic trials, however it does make them human and we all make mistakes. It's sad that this will be her last competition. 

Swimming

Was really hoping that Dara Torres would be joining Team USA at age 45! But, c'est la vie, she has had an AMAZING Olympic History.

Michael Phelps- the Human Torpedo will be competing in 7 races. He would have been competing in 8, but just dropped out of the 200m freestyle.

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Who's looking forward to the Olympics?!

July 27 Opening Ceremonies- Can they top Beijing?!

While watching the NHL playoffs today I saw a commercial for the 30 Greatest Olympic Moments.

I love the Olympics. I am amazed by the talent that these athletes have and how young some of them are.  They start training so young it's incredible.  My all time favorite ice skater was Kristi Yamaguchi, who also won Dancing with the Stars:-) I was also a huge fan of the 1996 US female gymnast team.  The one with Kerri Strug, Shannon Miller, Dominique Dawes, Dominique Moceanu, Amanda Borden, Jaycie Phelps and Amy Chow, the one where Kerri Strug lands her vault and sticks it on ONE foot! ( I couldn't do that if you paid me a million dollars and I had two good feet!) Determination, courage, strength and perseverance are several words that come to mind when I think about that team. 

 I watched the 30 moments and I have to say that Kerri Strug's routine and her accomplishment literally brought tears to my eyes.  The phrase "Never Give Up" comes to mind.

So did this video of Derrick Redmond at the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona.  Perseverance is a word that comes to mind. I have never pulled a hamstring before, but I have strained it and it's painful. I can only imagine the disappointment you would feel after training your whole life for this event and then to pull your hamstring in the semi-finals, but he gets up! He keeps going and refuses help, again this is where I start to get teary eyed. Then his father comes to help him cross the finish line!

I think Usain Bolt is incredible in track too, he is ridiculously fast and I look forward to seeing him compete this year. I was a little saddened that he broke Michael Johnson's 12 year record, since he was one of my favorites too.  

Michael Phelps is pretty buck too, yup buck! LOL, his accomplishments at the 2008 Olympics were incredible. I remember watching the mens 4x100 free relay and getting so worried (when I get nervous I get really cold-werid right?)I was literally standing up cheering.  Actually, re-watching the video also caused me to cheer, it was so exciting. Even as a sprinter, 4x100 relays do not give you a lot of time to make-up for lost time, or a lot of room to gain on the leaders.  That was quite an intense relay. I like relays too because it is team effort compared to individual.

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I do have to admit that while I am glad that Team USA won all around best female gymnast, I do wish that it was won by cute little Shawn Johnson and not Nastia.

Too bad we don't know all the official teams until July 1.  It's also a shame that the men's soccer team didn't make it, but at least the women are in. Rooting for Abby Wombach and Hope Solo!

Will you be watching the Olympics this summer?

What are you especially looking forward to?