tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-230332432011-12-08T19:30:31.670-08:00Training Log of a Amateur Athlete Who WritesBeth Baranyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09292616364842442812noreply@blogger.comBlogger341100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23033243.post-58848572794576575522011-12-08T19:30:00.001-08:002011-12-08T19:30:31.686-08:00

My new goal: walk 2-3 times a week, for at least 20 minutes.

Beth Baranyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09292616364842442812noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23033243.post-44619127952210856722010-03-11T22:36:00.000-08:002010-03-11T22:37:24.853-08:00

I want the truth, but I'm scared.What if I don't like the results?Context: I've promised myself that I will take my measurements on March 15th. A month ago, I restarted my exercise regime in a more serious way. One of the things I did to indicate this new seriousness was take my hips, waist and bust measurements.What if there is no change? What if I have gained inches?And, what if I have lost

Beth Baranyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09292616364842442812noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23033243.post-20423308851402634932010-02-22T15:07:00.000-08:002010-02-22T15:10:22.463-08:00

Monday, February 22, 2010, 3:12pmI've been exclaiming lately, "I love to sweat!"I posted that on Facebook the other day, via my sparkpeople account, and a young man had the audacity to write back, "Women don't sweat! They have perfume!"I wrote back, "Not in this century, buddy!"I was surprised to get that kind of pushback from a young-looking man (young as in 25-ish). We aren't in the 19th

Beth Baranyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09292616364842442812noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23033243.post-19846456730650366812010-02-15T00:04:00.000-08:002010-02-15T00:09:41.044-08:00

I haven't been walking outside for the last few months, or maybe the last year. I honestly don't remember. i don't mean the once in a while walking around the lake with my mother-in-law. i mean the 2-3 times a week walking in my hilly neighborhood to admire the roses and trees and smell the fresh air of the day. I mean stopping at the ridge to admire Mt. Tamalpias in the west, across the bay. I

Beth Baranyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09292616364842442812noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23033243.post-9405003165970782232009-06-05T08:37:00.000-07:002009-06-05T09:11:39.405-07:00

I write, coach and work alone. So, I need companionship to feed my social needs, and as an excuse to get off my duff. How about you?!So, I've starting a walking group I call "Writers Who Walk."We meet primarily Monday and Friday mornings, at 9am, at my local Peets' Coffee on Piedmont Ave., Oakland.Writers Who WalkCost: Absolutely no cost to you, unless you count coffee, walking shoes, and your

Beth Baranyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09292616364842442812noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23033243.post-32702884600766942852008-08-21T12:40:00.000-07:002008-08-21T12:45:28.603-07:00

And she is mine:Magdalena Lewy Boulethttp://www.flotrack.org/saucony_xc/blogs/12942/3680PersistentHopefulHonestLooks at her life in the long funAn excellent athlete

Beth Baranyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09292616364842442812noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23033243.post-66880000863039614602008-04-06T20:11:00.000-07:002008-04-06T20:55:09.463-07:00

Commuting as Exercise I didn't get my Sunday Lake Merritt walk in, nor my Saturday run with the Janes. Reasons? I wanted to party Friday night, and went to Larry Blakes to hear The Attachments (pretty fun), Or, The Whale (excellent!), and another band, The Hot Toddies, a girl band that sorely disappointed me. (Great lyrics, like "Photosynthesis," but with music and singing that left something to

Beth Baranyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09292616364842442812noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23033243.post-52045344069758679882008-03-30T11:21:00.000-07:002008-03-30T13:15:52.679-07:00

This week I didn't train with the Janes. Instead I walked at the Mountain View Cemetery with my husband. 'Tis the season of the tulips!That was yesterday. Today I walked Lake Merritt with my friend, Melissa. I saw cranes, seagulls, a pelican, gulls, and lots of people enjoying the great weather.

Beth Baranyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09292616364842442812noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23033243.post-6226593018447536882008-03-22T07:14:00.000-07:002008-03-30T11:21:41.653-07:00

Dawn rises. The morning begins. I know I will get the chance to think, meditate, feel, be during this walk. Computers, duties, chores -- all need doing. And, I need to take time contemplate, too.What is my focus? What will I uncover?I allow the morning fresh air off the bay to refresh and revive me.c. 2008 Photograph By Beth BaranyLast week, I met some nice women and walked the entire 3+ miles.

Beth Baranyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09292616364842442812noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23033243.post-77736552851475611622008-03-06T11:14:00.001-08:002008-03-08T07:11:56.870-08:00

Week 4: Aquatic Park, San FranciscoThis week I look forward to a run along the embarcadero. Pretty, historic, fresh air in the morning.<a href="http://www.mapmyrun.com/run/united-states/ca/san-francisco/406673260">Aquatic Park 5.5/4 3-8-08</a&amp

Beth Baranyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09292616364842442812noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23033243.post-47360514023782312052008-03-01T06:56:00.000-08:002008-03-03T10:51:08.562-08:00

My ExpectationsBefore the Run, day-of, 6:45am: The novice distance is 5.5 miles. I honestly don't know if I can do that. Even in my run-walk rhythm. Well, that's not true. I can do it. I just don't think I can do it in a little over an hour, so that my carpool buddies, Jen and Lara, can get back in time. So, in a little over an hour, I will probably do a little over 3 miles.So, what's this all

Beth Baranyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09292616364842442812noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23033243.post-35086507042436804972008-02-26T13:42:00.000-08:002008-02-26T13:57:09.846-08:00

Week 2: Run at Chrissy Field, San FranciscoWell, this is isn't Chrissy Field. It's San Francisco, taken while crossing the Bay Bridge from the east Bay. (Photo Credit: Beth Barany, c.2008 all rights reserved)Last Saturday morning at 8am, storm clouds threatened. It was cold and windy, and beautiful. At Chrissy Field, I did about 3.5 miles out of the 4 designated for the novice runners.I loved it!

Beth Baranyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09292616364842442812noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23033243.post-17839810287099418112008-02-23T06:54:00.000-08:002008-02-23T07:03:51.535-08:00

<a href="http://www.mapmyrun.com/run/united-states/ca/san-francisco/16229629">Crissy Field Starting Location</a><br/><a href="http://www.mapmyrun.com/find-run/united-states/ca/san-francisco">Find more Runs in San Francisco, California</a>Rain or shine, I'll be there!Breakfast: banana, two

Beth Baranyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09292616364842442812noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23033243.post-52341484533156061222008-02-18T01:22:00.000-08:002008-02-18T01:30:42.748-08:00

Run for health, run for lifeSince I've been self-employed, triathlon training has been more difficult. The two races I did last year were quite a challenge, more so mentally than physically. So, this year I've signed up for See Jane Run's Running program. I admit that my hours make training a challenge and I missed the first training Saturday morning. This blog will help me stay on track, I hope

Beth Baranyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09292616364842442812noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23033243.post-57196772311223406692007-03-07T10:47:00.000-08:002007-03-07T16:05:23.970-08:00

Swimming, Yes!I guess I like swimming the most of the three sports. I feel like a fish in the water. And I love the breathing, breathing, breathing, in and out, in and out. There's an art to it, a calmness, and definitely a technique. I don't know the formal name. I'm sure Leslie Thomas, our head swim coach, could tell me the formal name. Basically, the trick is to breath out while your head is

Beth Baranyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09292616364842442812noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23033243.post-35231825050400128312007-02-07T06:29:00.000-08:002007-02-07T06:43:20.264-08:00

SwimmingIt was great to be in the pool again. The coaches wanted us to take it easy, to take long pauses between laps. But i didn't want to. I wanted to be a fish! So I was. I'm still having goggle problems; my left eye piece leaks, but I can manage it.Stats I swam 22 lengths last night. One length of the pool = 25 yards, so I swam 550 yards. The race length will be about 1238 yards, or 3/4 mile,

Beth Baranyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09292616364842442812noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23033243.post-1168562435051239132007-01-11T16:19:00.000-08:002007-01-11T16:41:39.430-08:00

Who'd have thunk? I would have! That is to say part of me is amazed that I'm actually doing triathlons, and the other part of me says, "Of course!" At right, that's me finishing my second triathlon May 30, 2006 at the See Jane Tri, a fun womans-only race. I was having a blast!I have yet to sign up with the See Jane Tri Training but will soon. The race will be April 29, 2007 in Sacramento, the

Beth Baranyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09292616364842442812noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23033243.post-1152066561375360082006-07-04T19:22:00.000-07:002006-07-04T19:29:21.376-07:00

I'm starting Run training Thursday, July 6 for my Summer season of Tri Training. The race will be September 30th in Pleasanton, CA.-- 500 yd swim-- 11 mile bike-- 3.1 mi runNow that I've done one training season I know better what to expect. I'm a little less nervous, but also less excited. I'm not sure why. I know better my limitations, and know that it will take years to get into the kind of

Beth Baranyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09292616364842442812noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23033243.post-1151648145797227112006-06-29T23:09:00.000-07:002006-07-04T19:21:12.276-07:00

Left: Beth biking at about Mile 3.Right: coming out of the water. That felt weird.Bottom left: That's me bottom row, third from the right. And that's us -- the See Jane Tri team. We did it!I did an easy 20 minute swim in a lake that was 70 degress F -- 500 meters. The bike ride was beautiful -- 13k/8 miles. I clocked it at about one hour and 32 minutes. I had to kiss Ezra so I missed stepping

Beth Baranyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09292616364842442812noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23033243.post-1148060820642644022006-05-19T10:43:00.000-07:002006-05-19T10:47:00.653-07:00

I'm nervous. I'm sure I have everything, just as I am sure that I've forgotten something. Any negative thoughts that creep in, I banish. I'm doing this race for me, for my health, for my enjoyment. And I will have a good time. As my race-buddy, Dele, reminds me, "Attitude is everything."All I can say is that I have come a long way since training began twelve weeks ago. My first race. All I can

Beth Baranyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09292616364842442812noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23033243.post-1146181688620214742006-04-27T16:43:00.000-07:002006-04-27T16:49:14.636-07:00

There I am with one leg stretched out, surrounded by other awesome ladies: (left to right) Janet, Dele, me, and Leslie. Most importantly I have a big smile; we all do.A down day is when I need to rest, I'm learning to be ok with that.An up day is when I work out and do something new.And then there are good days where I stay even or go relaxed as compared to previous workouts.Triathlon training is

Beth Baranyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09292616364842442812noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23033243.post-1146105941374113532006-04-26T19:28:00.000-07:002006-04-26T19:48:29.050-07:00

All I can say is "Wow!" On Saturday, April 22, I swam in the cold Folsom Lake, about 500 meters, then hopped on my bike and went a very slow 13k (8 miles) uphill and uphill and uphill. I paused a lot to catch my breath, not caring if people passed me by. When I got to Auburn Overlook, I was nearly the last one there, but not the absolute last. I didn't ride back to the swim start, a mostly

Beth Baranyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09292616364842442812noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23033243.post-1145291278811593602006-04-17T09:19:00.000-07:002006-04-17T09:27:58.830-07:00

Nearly every time I go out to walk, my jog time has increased. On Saturday, April 1, our group met at the SF Marina Green, near the Golden Gate Bridge. Our course: five miles. The weather was fantastic. No rain and bright sun. I walked to warm up then started jogging. I kept up a nice slow pace and my spirits were high for most of the way to Fort Point. On the way back to our starting point, I

Beth Baranyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09292616364842442812noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23033243.post-1143344073851309682006-03-25T19:19:00.000-08:002006-03-25T19:47:22.970-08:00

I did it! I swam in the Bay this morning, at Aquatic Park, to be exact. The water was cold. Let me rephase that. The water was very cold. When the feet went numb, I was ok with that. When the salt water whooshed down my wetsuit I squealed with shock. But when my hands froze, I swore. Then I hyperventilated.There I was doggy paddling in the bay with freezing hands and a bad attitude. How was I

Beth Baranyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09292616364842442812noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23033243.post-1142638808974292692006-03-17T15:23:00.000-08:002006-03-17T15:40:08.986-08:00

Well, now it's official. I hate track running. Why else would I have missed two weeks in a row? (Ok, the fatigue, rain and my car breaking done had something to do with it also.) I may continue not going to the track. I'm ok with that. I do go out, however, and walk/jog Lake Merritt. Now that makes me happy. Today I did the whole lake in one hour, and that included a little under 20 minutes of

Beth Baranyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09292616364842442812noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23033243.post-1142206075463425812006-03-12T15:17:00.000-08:002006-03-12T15:27:55.476-08:00

Stress wasn't something I anticipated. Simple routine work tasks suddenly pissed me off. An ongoing long-term project suddenly seemed not important (my novel), and I was short-tempered. Me? I'm usually a calm person, but something was changing in me. A very level-headed friend of mine, Alexis, pointed out that we all have a maximum carrying capacity, and I'd reached mine.Training three days a

Beth Baranyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09292616364842442812noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23033243.post-1141686593458271462006-03-06T14:55:00.000-08:002006-03-06T15:11:08.143-08:00

We met at the Tennessee Valley Trailhead at 8am. The road deadends into a parking lot and from there it's two miles out the ocean. And it's gorgeous. We had good weather, a bit brisk, and I saw a hawk, some deer, horses in an enclosure, and plenty of crows. Water riverlets gurgled along side the trail and sometimes crossed it.I didn't know how I'd feel about more jogging after Thursday's

Beth Baranyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09292616364842442812noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23033243.post-1141417899436943412006-03-03T12:24:00.000-08:002006-03-03T12:31:39.436-08:00

Now, I'm not a runner. Maybe in my dreams, but not in real life. So, last night at the first real run workout, I walked. Ok, so far. Except I didn't get enough of a workout walking, and I'm not ready to bump up the intensity yet. Ergo, lots of frustration.I walked 2 miles (3.2 k), pretty good. But I'm one of maybe three walkers ... I just need to remember that I didn't even consider a tri two

Beth Baranyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09292616364842442812noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23033243.post-1141417201711324322006-03-03T10:59:00.002-08:002006-03-03T12:21:38.296-08:00

Tuesday, Feb 28, was our first swim workout. The first of many! I am a fish!It was a truncatated workout because Leslie, our swim trainer, talked to us. While we stood by the pool, the 50 degree air chilled what parts of our body weren't covered. In my case, just my face. I couldn't wait to get into that pool! Finally, she gave us the go ahead, and I stripped down to my bathing suit, donned my

Beth Baranyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09292616364842442812noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23033243.post-1141072958470215762006-02-27T12:36:00.000-08:002006-02-27T12:42:38.470-08:00

I'll be running the Auburn Sprint Tri. I hear that their sprint tri is smaller than others. Here are their distances:Swim: 500 meters (or about .31 miles)Bike: 13 kilometers (or about 8.08 miles)Run: 3 kilometers (or about 1.86)

Beth Baranyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09292616364842442812noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23033243.post-1141072530669471352006-02-27T12:29:00.000-08:002006-02-27T12:35:30.680-08:00

Three races in one: swim, bike, run.As staed in wikipedia's entry, "A triathlon is an athletic event made up of three contests (from the Greek). In contemporary usage, the name triathlon is mostly applied to a combination of swimming, cycling and running, in that order. In most modern triathlons, these events are placed back-to-back in immediate sequence and a competitor's official time includes

Beth Baranyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09292616364842442812noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23033243.post-1140993482199378852006-02-26T14:06:00.000-08:002006-02-26T14:41:06.426-08:00

Today was my last day, for awhile, with my personal trainer, Beth Sweeney. And for the first time, I biked from Rockridge to Lake Merritt, and back, up steep hills, and in the rain. Whew!(photo by http://www.flickr.com/photos/bgreenlee/)Working with Beth Sweeney got me thinking about everything in the recent past that helped me get to where I am today: training for a sprint tri.I've been working

Beth Baranyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09292616364842442812noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23033243.post-1140919314925049752006-02-25T17:53:00.000-08:002006-02-25T18:02:31.846-08:00

I did it! I rode 16 miles today. Not by myself of course. I'm training with See Jane Run, a fabulous store of women's sports apparel. About 30 other fabulous women were speeding along with me today, as we went from Golden gate Park, around Lake Merced, along the Great Highway, and back up JFK Drive to our starting point at McLaren Lodge.I was at the back of the pack a good two-thirds of the time.

Beth Baranyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09292616364842442812noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23033243.post-1140918686911706582006-02-25T17:50:00.000-08:002006-02-25T18:19:57.703-08:00

Goal: start, race, and finish well a Sprint Triathlon on May 20, 2006 in Auburn, CA.(A Sprint Tri is a much smaller distance than a regular Olympic triathlon -- about half the distances.)Hurdles: low self-confidence, negative self-talk, changing my body pictureStrengths: determination, lots of great help from my training program, See Jane TriThis is a dream come true for me. I've wanted to do a

Beth Baranyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09292616364842442812noreply@blogger.com1