Zumba with Natasha and Phoebe

If we weren't taking turns, this could actually be a quality exercise! And fabulous entertainment...for them, watching me. Good grief I am such a klutz. But it was fun, and I did burn a couple hundred calories. There's something to be said for hanging out with the teens, it makes you try pretty hard to not look like an old fool.

Since my last posting, I had a nice run with Mindy on Thursday. Nothing stellar to comment on. Just good exercise, good companionship.

Then on Friday was a swim day. Felt good, kept up for a long while with no fins. Then, when we got ready to do some speed work, I did put them on. By then the shoulder was tired and I'm trying hard to heed the warning signs. So, even though it feels like cheating, I donned the fins. Coach Brian said the magic word, "race." And made my day. He pitted me against Mary Elizabeth in lane two. Mary Elizabeth is like Michael Phelps to my Ryan Lochte. She is the one I always want to beat. And for the love of God, she is 15 years older than me, so really, really, I should be able to. With fins, sometimes I can. Without fins, she kicks my butt. I am determined to catch her though.

So, it was me and her. Yup. I'm ready. We both have fins on. Watching the clock. Good push off. Three strokes before the first breath. Where is she. Dead even. OK great. Here comes the first wall. Turning is harder with these damn fins. Off the wall with an OK shove. Shit, now I have to breathe to my left to check on her. That will slow me down, I'll not risk it now. What is this? Someone's in my way? How is that possible? I'm leading. Must be someone from the last 100 not finished. Good God, move over and let me pass! Ok, by her. Here comes the next turn. Holy crap. Is that someone resting? In the middle of the wall? This is not good. Weak push since I was at a bad angle. Now I can look for her, breathing to my right. Where is she? Where is she? Too many people going the other way. Can't find her yellow cap. Last turn coming up. Make it good. OK, not bad. Now drive for home. Breathe every five and I'll be able to check on her. Except. Ow. A foot in the face. Someone is actually doing a breast stroke kick in a hard 100...what the?????? Last few feet to touch the wall. Pop my head up, a breath, look to my left. She has certainly been finished a while. Damn it. I want a rematch!!! In an empty lane. But nope, I'm being told to get my shoulder out of the water. Grrrrrr.

Got in 11 miles yesterday, kept a nice pace for a lot of it. Very pleased. For starting out without a plan, it worked out pretty well. First I ran to the school where Natasha and Brittany were waiting for the bus to leave for the county bowling tournament. Popped onto the bus to wish them luck. Then I made my way to Eisenhower where I was just a couple minutes late of joining the Runsmart group. But I circled in the opposite direction to catch them. Then I found someone running the pace I was at. His name is Mark and I'll look for him in two weeks. Mindy gave me a ride part of the way home and I finished with a strong 2.5 miles. Felt great. Kept going all day. It used to be that 11 miles would do me in and I was good for nothing afterwards. So happy that is no longer the case.

Bowling tournament was postponed since there was no electricity at the place. So we didn't have to stand around on tired legs all day. That was good. But it is rescheduled for Thursday, during school. Crazy. And I will be on my way to Vegas for work, so I'll end up missing it. Boo.

The challenge for the next few days is to have real good quality workouts since I will be away for a whole week and who knows what I'll get in for exercise...not to mention the tempting bad eating!