A long time away!

Hello Friends of TandV Training:
It is not that I haven't been training but it just hasn't been as intense. I have been going for my 1 mile run daily (except of course when it was 90 degrees) . I have biked some but not everyday. I haven't had any corporate sponsors come forward so for now I am still working. Business is amping up so it is really going to be important to organize my day with my training schedule. I am consistent on the elliptical everyday for 45 minutes (maybe an hour if it's an especially entertaining Today Show).
Great news... a new flavor of Tic Tacs... Green Apple! I would appreciate it if everyone reading this would send me a pack or two of them. I am totally certain that there is a nutritional value in the new flavor. Yum. Also on the nutritional side of things, a recent study has shown that there are eight foods that build muscle, eggs, almonds, olive oil, salmon, steak, yogurt, water (wait for it, wait for it) & COFFEE. If that's the case I should have muscles the size of Lou Ferigno (kidding)! That is one giant leap for coffee drinkers everywhere. Now let's get the party started for chocolate, I am so sure there is muscle building in there somewhere.
Well folks, I must charge on to some tasks. Thanks for the chat and I shall be reporting more often on my progress. No word from Vincent, I am not sure how his training is going. Make it a great day & I will too.

Training update

Hello Friends of TandV Training. I have been so busy that I didn't realize that it had been 2 weeks since an update. The weather plays such a factor in this game we call training. The wind, the rain, the cold, the hot. All plays a part in how much training will be done & who is out there to connect with during training. I have changed my strategy for my running. I am running a solid 12 or 13 minute mile and my idea is to consistently run the mile everyday until I am no longer gasping for air when I am done (kidding). After a few weeks of the consistent 12 minute mile I am going to go back down to Lake Nokomis and run again. Now that the wind is down I will begin biking at least eleven miles a day. I was down at 8 miles during the windy days.
For the social side of training I haven't been down at the Lake at a set time everyday and haven't seen any of the "Community" of exercising nuts lately. I haven't seen the Bostons in a very long time. I hope to get down there during their time!
Thought for the day "normal is just a setting on the dryer"

Training is going great!

Hello friends of TandV Training. Last week was a great week as was this week. I had a terrific birthday week topped off by a totally fun party. My Duathlon partner came to the party. We planned our strategy for winning the "Second Chance" Duathlon. The date has changed to September 11th do to some scheduling conflicts. No corporate sponsors for the team yet but there is still a lot of time. The wind has been taking its toll on training. I have been riding each day but only 8 miles. I have my walking/jogging time around Nokomis to 31 or 32 minutes consistently, now to rev it up a tad. It has been too windy for the Boston's but I have made friends (in passing) with a gentleman that bikes around the lake at least 4 times. It is a huge excercising"Community" & I have just scratched the surface. As the weather improves my intentions are to bike Harriet, Calhoun & Nokomis that will broaden the "Community" for me & give our team more exposure. We hope to have some sponsors in place -- we will need equipment & uniforms soon.
Thanks for your continued support it is truly appreciated. Keep all the positive energy coming our way. As always, make it a great day & I will too!

Training progress

This has been a great week of training. Today I saw the Bostons, it is always a good day when I see them. I was on the bike, so just a wave. It is hard for the Bostons to wave (it is hard for all dogs to wave). Yesterday I had my personal best time of 31 minutes walking/running around the lake. Fueled by some really good Special Dark Chocolate and good strong coffee I got into a good zone. My biking has been limited to 11 miles each day due to time. Until I get some good corporate sponsors I must also work. I am looking forward to the days when I can spend the entire day training. Our team is AMaZing. We have a positive outlook & can also hope for a possible cancellation on the Ortho Duathlon! Our quote for today "What we anticipate seldom occurs, what we least expected generally happens." Make it a great day & I will too.

Extremely bad news

Well fans, I have some extremely bad news. Vincent & I will not be doing the Duathlon. I waited too long to register and the registration is closed. I checked it last week and it was still open so I didn't stress on it. I really wanted to get set that I was going to be able to handle it before I paid the registration fee. They say good things come to those who wait. Not in all cases. I was looking forward to getting a number. I have never gotten a trophy for anything sports related.
After talking with some of my fans, we have some organizers that want to organize a Duathlon of with our own sponsorship. As far down as we might have been with this setback, now we can pick ourselves back up and finish with the best possible times. Train. Train. Train.
Our event will take place on August 28 (this will make it easy for me to keep track of the number of days!) Jeanne will be figuring out the exact race course for us. We will be offering prize money as well a participant Tshirts. I feel like I really let the TandV team down on the Ortho race but we must keep training.
I rode 18 miles Monday, Tuesday and Thursday. I walked the 2.7 everyday. I feel great about that.
If you would like to be a participant in the new Duathlon please let me know. We will be taking registration up to the day of the race. I feel it is important for everyone to experience this. There will be intense competition & the day will be so much fun.
It is not the end of the line with the Ortho Duathlon, I will plan for 2011. Quote for today "It is a big river indeed that cannot be crossed." Make it a great day & I will too.

139 days

Hello fans of Tourand and Vincent. This week has been an extremely good training week. I saw the Bostons a couple of times & the owners asked me for my blog address -- I am going to have it ready for them next week. In my time trials I don't have time to chat (that just seems so wrong) but this training is serious business & I am taking it as such.
My fastest time this week running was 37 minutes. I have been biking each day at least 8 miles (easy). Yesterday started out as everyday, in this crazy mixed up training world -- 45 minutes on the elliptical. Then 8 miles on the bike & 2 walks around Lake Nokomis.
Today I went the 18 miles on my bike. My thoughts were that I was going to get off my bike after the 18 miles and then walk around the Lake. "Jane stop this crazy thing" It didn't happen.
This afternoon I am switching gears and training for the Martha Stuart Duathlon, 5K raking then 5K uncovering plants. It's something I have been thinking about doing for the last couple of days but today just seems right. I don't plan on coming in 1st just finishing in under 12 hours!
Make it a great day & I will too.

Training 145 days

Hello fans of team Tourand and Vincent! Everything has been going well for the Tourand part of the team. After 5 plus hours in a Bunny costume over the weekend (great aerobic exercise, by the way) topped off by a 36 minute walk/run around Lake Nokomis today, I am feeling fantastic. No reports of cute canines on my last couple of rounds. The Boston's are usually there around lunch & I was a little later today.
Saturday was really windy but my time was still 39 minutes.
Barb may join the team. It is a commitment but the rewards are many.
Thanks for your support, I will let you know when they put chocolate and coffee on the food pyramid. I would hope for Tic Tacs to make it on there too, not a chance.

Make it a great day.

Training 150 days

Today was a great day. It started off a little on the rough side. I wanted put more air in my bike tires, always good to ride with the correct pressure! In the process of trying to put more air in, the tire went flat. Try as I might I just couldn't get any air in. So, over to the 75 cents per half a second air at S.A. while bringing the bike over the valve stem went down almost into the tire, I couldn't pull it out, then my 75 cents runs out. Put more coins in & try to get the job done because I still have another tire to get air in. That done I ride back home and get ready for the run and ride. On the ride down I decide that time will not allow the run, I will just ride.
The Boston Terriers have hit Rockstar status. I rode around the Lake twice and each time I saw them they were stopped talking to someone else, it must take them a couple hours to get around the Lake. They know everyone. Also, today I had the frustration of the walkers and runners that insist that the BIKE PATH is for them too. I decided to kind of swerve at this woman that wanted to walk next to her friend which put her over into my path. She thankfully moved out of the way but as they say, you can't fix stupid. Why is it so hard to understand the outline of a bike with arrows on the path. I will not get this worked up over the walking on the bike path but this was the first time out for me on the bike. I must go to Harriet where there is control of this kind of thing.
Thanks for the chat & I will talk to you later.

Training 151 days

Hi Everyone:
The weekend wasn't as productive as I had hoped, although if you consider 2 hours as a bunny and an hour dancing as Elmo I might have a new training scheme. We will see.
I didn't see my friends the Boston Terriers but there were some really cute pets at the Lake tonight. Barb was a training friend tonight. We always walk the lagoon which adds to the distance. Thanks for the walk, Barb. I took Elvis for a 1 mile walk earlier in the day, I am happy with today's workouts.
I have the bike ready to "roll" so I am hoping to ride to the Lake run/walk around and ride home. I spotted a nice place to live (like a troll) under the bridge in case it proves to be too much.
Vincent has started training. I realize I have the edge right now, having started a couple weeks ago! We are a team so I am happy to let him catch up.
I heard to day that the AMA took my nutritional advice with the chocolate. I knew chocolate was going to be added to the food pyramid one of these days.
Make it a great day. We shall chat again soon.

Training update 155 days

Just a quick message today. I did a fast pace around the lake today about 40 minutes -- which I know doesn't sound that fast but it is a substantial improvement from day one for me.

Nobody's gonna break my stride. Nobody's gonna bring me down, I'm running a walkers crowd.

I am AFU (all Friday'd up!) Make it a good weekend everyone!

Training update 157 days and 19hrs.

It has been a great week of training. Today I set my markers on my run/walk around Lake Nokomis. It took me only 42 minutes to go around (not the lagoon) so 2.7 miles. I did see my favorite Boston Terriers and in fact told their owners that I have written about them! Last Saturday a bonanza of dogs , there was canine class! All so cute. Sunday I didn't get a chance for the Lake walk but I did make the one mile around the neighborhood. There is a really cute King Charles Spaniel and a St. Bernard that's adorable on the one mile route.

Today I say -- come on men -- just say NO to fanny packs. What in the world would you have that wouldn't truly fit in pockets. When you are walking around the Lake plan ahead and scale back. I have also noticed that the smallest of men drive the largest vehicles -- hmmm.

Now for some nutritional news. Have an early afternoon cup of coffee and pair it with a nice piece of chocolate. It's 100 kinds of wonderful. You will have so much energy for the rest of your afternoon. Bring it on!

No news on Vincent's training. Thanks for the chat & I shall write again next week.

Training day 6 March 19, 2010

My morning started out with a good cup of coffee and 45 minutes on the elliptical then a 1 mile walk. I was researching the Duathlon, finishers are coming in at less than ONE HOUR. Wow that is something to work for (kidding) . I will set my goal at this time just to finish. As of today 162 days and about 17 hours away.

Day 5 March 18, 2010 Training

I trained on St. Paddy's Day but I didn't get a chance to post. I did only 45 minutes on the elliptical and then being on my feet almost all day, celebrating. Although I know that alcohol should be eliminated during my training I am not quite there yet!
That's the report on day 4 now onto day 5
Today I was on the elliptical for 45 minutes, walked 1 mile and then did one hour of aerobics. I must get the running started.
It was a beautiful day but I couldn't find the time for walking Lake Nokomis. The weather looks like is taking a turn in the next few days so it will be tricky for getting over 3 miles in.
I saw Vincent on St. Paddy's Day. He hasn't started training but supports me all the way!
It's 163 days to go.

Day 3 March 16, 2010 Training

The day started out very well. I have a ton of energy today. I was on the elliptical for 45 minutes. Yay! The weather isn't cooperating very well for outside training today. With the light rain and soggy conditions I don't know if I will get out. There is still plenty of day left for me.
There were lots of bikes out last night. I guess I will rethink keeping the bike in. I love to ride. The biking is not going to be the problem.
Only 165 days to go!

Day 2 Training March 15, 2010

It is only afternoon in the training world. I prefer to exercise in the morning but this morning time wasn't on my side.
I was on the elliptical for only 20 minutes. I have no cute dog stories from the elliptical (except for our own cute dog, who by the way is the cutest dog in the Universe).
I am going out for the 1 mile run/walk that I have promised myself I would start. I walk a mile everyday (without fail) but I have decided that I will do the run/walk to build up to the steady running! I ran for the first block and there wasn't any running after that. I do walk at a pretty fast pace but no running. I did go to Lake Nokomis tonight and walked it. I kept my pace and did walk it in one hour. I know that seems slow but with time it will improve. I know everyone is wondering about the dogs. I saw some really cute dogs but none that really stood out tonight. There seemed to be a lot of large dogs on walks. It is all business when the big dogs are out. The owners are on task of getting those dogs exercised. It does make almost 4 miles walking today. I will get the bike out when I am totally sure that spring is here --- in this crazy state when is that (?).
No word yet on Vincent's training. He said he doesn't feel he needs much training. I will trust him on that.
Only 166 days until the big day.
Make it a great day.

Training day 1 March 14, 2010

Today I started my training for the August 29, 2010, Ortho Duathlon in Minneapolis. It is a beautiful day with temps in the 50's (unseasonably warm) and a great day to start. While my intentions were to run walk the 3 miles around Lake Nokomis I started with a brisk walk and never started the running phase of the training. The count down begins -- 167 days to go.
I do have "runners envy" but in time I know I will become one of them. I saw so many cute dogs today. There were 2 Boston Terriers that were absolutely the cutest. A woman walking a Pomeranian but really didn't know what kind of dog it was (I asked, of course), really cute. Two of the most darling chocolate labs, one of them a little puppy. So curious.
There were really rock hard lovely bodies running and there were some really squishy bodies running but all of us working for the common cause, to get in shape.
I didn't check my time today but in the future I plan on checking my time as I hope to get faster as the training goes on.
The team for the Duathlon is Sue and Vincent. I don't know if Vincent has started training. I will leave his training schedule open.
I hope all of you will checkin frequently to watch the progress of my training.
Remember, make it a great day.