I don't like shopping, and I like my clothes to be comfortable. -- Norah Jones
I'm seriously looking at buying a tri-specific bike. (I know - I've mentioned it a couple of times before, but I mean it this time.) Since I'm looking at doing longer tris as a regular activity, it makes sense to get a good bike for that purpose. Unfortunately, there are just so many choices -- even in my limited price range -- that I'm not sure where to start. I've been asking for advice everywhere I can think of: my brother & sister-in-law who ride, my Facebook friends who do tris. But even the information gathered is overwhelming.
The biggest issue is fit. The bike has to fit right or it won't make me faster and it will be terribly uncomfortable to ride. Problem is I'm a fairly small person (at least height-wise) and so bikes are not just laying around for me to test-drive. I am looking into getting a pre-purchase bike fit. This means that a person who is trained in bike fitting would take all sorts of measurements and tell me the geometry of bikes that will work best for me. I didn't like geometry in high school - I'm not good a visual thinking. Thinking of bike geometry hurts my head too. It would be so much easier if I could pick it by color. :-)
On top of all this, I really don't like shopping. As much as possible, I do all my shopping online. That's a little tricky with bikes - I can buy a bike online, but I need to make sure it fits, either because I've been able to test ride one or because I have learned my geometry. One reason I don't like shopping is because I want to just buy something and be done with it. Window shopping holds no interest for me, and I feel like this whole process is a bunch of window shopping. I realize I'm getting ready to make a really big purchase and I need to go into it slowly, but it's starting to make me nuts.
Sunday, March 31, 2013
Saturday, March 30, 2013
Training 3/24 - 3/30...and a little mom brag
Being a mom has made me so tired. And so happy. -- Tina Fey
It's been a tiring week. I've felt weary pretty much all week. I know a lot of it has to do with the long work hours I was pulling (due to my own procrastination, I know) and the stress that goes along with that. And I am probably too old to have nights where I only get 3 1/2 hours of sleep. Especially if I'm training like the machine I hope to be. And dealing with the kids has been a challenge -- spring break last week, a snow day on Monday, and then Friday off for Good Friday. Hubby has helped out, but I'm tired of them, they're tired of me, and they're tired of each other...and they have Easter Monday off too. Goodness.
But the girls have also made me so proud. Today the entire family ran a low-key 5K near our house -- and everyone but me set a PR (I ran with the little one...maybe I had a PR in me too? Probably not, but I could have done pretty well based on how good it felt and how easy the course is.) Anyway, the 8 year old took 3 minutes off her time, going from 38:xx to 35:xx and the 11 year old took about a minute off her time, going from 29:xx to 28:xx. On top of that, the little one got 2nd in her age group (10 and under girls)...out of three entrants, but still - good for her! And the older got 3rd in her age group (11-14 girls) out of ten entrants. When they're not fighting with each other, my kids rock. :) (Not to leave him out, hubby also set a PR.)
I think that it is a good thing to have the girls run races. They don't always get awards, but they get something so much more -- a competitive spirit, mental strength, physical perseverance. I hope my girls will always have an urge to occasionally go run a 5K or do a triathlon. But even if they don't, for right now, when they do races because I make them, they make me so happy!
Sunday 3/24 - 3.95 mile run
Monday 3/25 - masters swim
Tuesday 3/26 - 53 minute cycle, 2.3 mile run
Wednesday 3/27 - 70 minute cycle
Thursday 3/28 - 3 mile run, 35 minute swim
Friday 3/29 - 80 minute cycle, 55 minute swim
Saturday 3/30 - REST, 5K run with younger daughter
It's been a tiring week. I've felt weary pretty much all week. I know a lot of it has to do with the long work hours I was pulling (due to my own procrastination, I know) and the stress that goes along with that. And I am probably too old to have nights where I only get 3 1/2 hours of sleep. Especially if I'm training like the machine I hope to be. And dealing with the kids has been a challenge -- spring break last week, a snow day on Monday, and then Friday off for Good Friday. Hubby has helped out, but I'm tired of them, they're tired of me, and they're tired of each other...and they have Easter Monday off too. Goodness.
But the girls have also made me so proud. Today the entire family ran a low-key 5K near our house -- and everyone but me set a PR (I ran with the little one...maybe I had a PR in me too? Probably not, but I could have done pretty well based on how good it felt and how easy the course is.) Anyway, the 8 year old took 3 minutes off her time, going from 38:xx to 35:xx and the 11 year old took about a minute off her time, going from 29:xx to 28:xx. On top of that, the little one got 2nd in her age group (10 and under girls)...out of three entrants, but still - good for her! And the older got 3rd in her age group (11-14 girls) out of ten entrants. When they're not fighting with each other, my kids rock. :) (Not to leave him out, hubby also set a PR.)
I think that it is a good thing to have the girls run races. They don't always get awards, but they get something so much more -- a competitive spirit, mental strength, physical perseverance. I hope my girls will always have an urge to occasionally go run a 5K or do a triathlon. But even if they don't, for right now, when they do races because I make them, they make me so happy!
Sunday 3/24 - 3.95 mile run
Monday 3/25 - masters swim
Tuesday 3/26 - 53 minute cycle, 2.3 mile run
Wednesday 3/27 - 70 minute cycle
Thursday 3/28 - 3 mile run, 35 minute swim
Friday 3/29 - 80 minute cycle, 55 minute swim
Saturday 3/30 - REST, 5K run with younger daughter
Wednesday, March 27, 2013
I have seen the enemy and she is me...
Procrastination is the thief of time. -- Edward Young
I am very good at procrastinating. Better than most - I can make it almost an art form. You wouldn't believe how productive I can be when trying to avoid being productive. My desk is never cleaner than when I have too much to do. (Although right now, my desk is a disaster. Clearly even my procrastination wasn't productive recently.)
Anyway, I spent too much time the last couple weeks procrastinating about a big project at work and consequently ended up having to cram way too much work into the last four or five days. Believe it or not, that really throws a monkey wrench into your training. :) Not only that, but I got less than four hours of sleep on Monday night. I still managed to make it to Masters on Monday and got my bike and run workouts in on Tuesday, but it was mentally and physically exhausting. Clearly my ability to juggle obligations has not yet improved.
No Masters swim tonight, because juggling activities means that one parent has to be with one child and the other parent with the other child. I'll get a bike in this afternoon and hopefully find some time to swim tomorrow instead. And most importantly, I need to work on not procrastinating because I don't have any extra time to give away.
I am very good at procrastinating. Better than most - I can make it almost an art form. You wouldn't believe how productive I can be when trying to avoid being productive. My desk is never cleaner than when I have too much to do. (Although right now, my desk is a disaster. Clearly even my procrastination wasn't productive recently.)
Anyway, I spent too much time the last couple weeks procrastinating about a big project at work and consequently ended up having to cram way too much work into the last four or five days. Believe it or not, that really throws a monkey wrench into your training. :) Not only that, but I got less than four hours of sleep on Monday night. I still managed to make it to Masters on Monday and got my bike and run workouts in on Tuesday, but it was mentally and physically exhausting. Clearly my ability to juggle obligations has not yet improved.
No Masters swim tonight, because juggling activities means that one parent has to be with one child and the other parent with the other child. I'll get a bike in this afternoon and hopefully find some time to swim tomorrow instead. And most importantly, I need to work on not procrastinating because I don't have any extra time to give away.
Saturday, March 23, 2013
Training 3/17 - 3/23...and a few random thoughts
Cycling is based so much on form, on aesthetics, on class - the way you carry yourself on the bike, the sort of technique you have. -- David Millar
Random thoughts...
1) I looked at a tri bike today. It was expensive. VERY expensive. It was also pretty - given how little I care about my personal appearance, it seems awkward that bike aesthetics would matter to me.
2) More importantly, I went to a bike handling clinic this morning. It was 30 degrees and that sucked a lot, but the stuff I learned was pretty cool. I learned about riding in groups, cornering, and other technical handling skills. I'm still a little nervous on my bike, especially when I'm hanging right on someone's wheel, but I actually think I could handle going on a group ride at some point. Unfortunately, just like swimming, it is one of those things that requires practice for the technique to stick.
3) Hubby and I are thinking about a destination HIM next summer - ambitious yes, but that's how we roll. Yes, I know, I haven't done my first HIM yet and he hasn't even done a tri. But the location is perfect (close to family) and it's a big fancy race (a 70.3 sponsored by WTC - the folks that put on the IRONMAN races) and it doesn't interfere with soccer season. Clearly the latter is the most important.
4) Soccer season has started, which means that weekend workout juggling will become more interesting, although there are no games for the next two weeks because of spring break. My kids were on spring break last week, which is why there wasn't much going on here. Back to reality next week.
I've decided to slot a 4-week cycle from an Olympic-distance triathlon training plan into these 4 weeks before the HIM plan starts (20 weeks + a week off for our vacation in the middle). Essentially it will be 3 weeks of building volume and 1 week cutting back, and then onto the main event. It has me doing each discipline 3x a week, which is good. The run volume is a bit low, but I'm ok cutting back on that for a bit and getting my swimming and biking up to snuff. I have the next 25 weeks or so plotted out in my 30boxes training plan. OCD much? Yes. Yes indeed.
Sunday 3/17 - post-race REST day
Monday 3/18 - 48 minute cycle, masters swim
Tuesday 3/19 - 48 minute cycle (outside - see previous post)
Wednesday 3/20 - 2 mile run, masters swim
Thursday 3/21 - 3 mile run
Friday 3/22 - 80 minute cycle, 25 minute swim
Saturday 3/23 - REST (bike clinic/swim lecture)
Random thoughts...
1) I looked at a tri bike today. It was expensive. VERY expensive. It was also pretty - given how little I care about my personal appearance, it seems awkward that bike aesthetics would matter to me.
2) More importantly, I went to a bike handling clinic this morning. It was 30 degrees and that sucked a lot, but the stuff I learned was pretty cool. I learned about riding in groups, cornering, and other technical handling skills. I'm still a little nervous on my bike, especially when I'm hanging right on someone's wheel, but I actually think I could handle going on a group ride at some point. Unfortunately, just like swimming, it is one of those things that requires practice for the technique to stick.
3) Hubby and I are thinking about a destination HIM next summer - ambitious yes, but that's how we roll. Yes, I know, I haven't done my first HIM yet and he hasn't even done a tri. But the location is perfect (close to family) and it's a big fancy race (a 70.3 sponsored by WTC - the folks that put on the IRONMAN races) and it doesn't interfere with soccer season. Clearly the latter is the most important.
4) Soccer season has started, which means that weekend workout juggling will become more interesting, although there are no games for the next two weeks because of spring break. My kids were on spring break last week, which is why there wasn't much going on here. Back to reality next week.
I've decided to slot a 4-week cycle from an Olympic-distance triathlon training plan into these 4 weeks before the HIM plan starts (20 weeks + a week off for our vacation in the middle). Essentially it will be 3 weeks of building volume and 1 week cutting back, and then onto the main event. It has me doing each discipline 3x a week, which is good. The run volume is a bit low, but I'm ok cutting back on that for a bit and getting my swimming and biking up to snuff. I have the next 25 weeks or so plotted out in my 30boxes training plan. OCD much? Yes. Yes indeed.
Sunday 3/17 - post-race REST day
Monday 3/18 - 48 minute cycle, masters swim
Tuesday 3/19 - 48 minute cycle (outside - see previous post)
Wednesday 3/20 - 2 mile run, masters swim
Thursday 3/21 - 3 mile run
Friday 3/22 - 80 minute cycle, 25 minute swim
Saturday 3/23 - REST (bike clinic/swim lecture)
Tuesday, March 19, 2013
The Answer is Blowin' in the Wind
Math is like going to the gym for the brain. It sharpens your mind. -- Danica McKellar
First of all, how cool is it that Winnie from "The Wonder Years" grew up to be a crazy math genius. You can be a cute girl and smart at the same time. Too bad there aren't more of her out there to be role models for little girls. I'm especially nervous for my daughters as the current Disney sweethearts like Demi Lovato and Selena Gomez are testing out their grown-up acting chops in what the press describes as "grittier" roles. So you leave "Camp Rock" and become tabloid fodder...not a mathematician. Not impressed.
But back to the regularly scheduled programming - my triathlon training. It was surprisingly nice this afternoon, so hubby talked me into going for a teensy bike ride with him after he got him. It was crazy windy...it felt like we were riding uphill the entire way out. Even when we weren't riding headlong into the wind, the cross-winds were enough to nearly push me off the road. Not good, especially during rush hour when the traffic is heavier than my normal rides. On the way home, we did hit a few stretches where the wind was at back, but it was a brutal ride.
So what does this have to do with math? I flipped out when we reached the turnaround of the ride. It had been such a battle to get that far and I felt like I was going so slow. (OK, I was going slow, but I believed during the ride that I was riding 2-3 miles per hour slower than I actually was.) I wanted to give up right there and then, but that kind of sucks when you're 6 miles from home. (Besides, giving up is not very impressive STRIVING now, is it?) I got back on my bike and rode home - a little deflated, but at least I finished the ride talking numbers in my head. (Heck it was only shy of 11...and I have to do 58...and OMG I am so slow...how fast do I have to ride in the HIM to make the 8 hour cutoff...if I add together an hour or so to swim, plus so long on the bike, plus so long on the run, etc.).
But when I got home, I plugged in the Garmin and it turns out my mental math is not so good. I am not good at sensing my own speed and I'm not good at figuring out my speed even if I peek at my Garmin from time to time. I ended up pulling a respectable (for this part of the season & the windy conditions) average speed for the ride. And to think I was ready to give up.
I need to get better at feeling the numbers in my head, doing the math. For one thing, it will help me have a little more faith in myself. For another thing, as long as I'm spending all this time on my body, I might as well send my brain to the gym too.
First of all, how cool is it that Winnie from "The Wonder Years" grew up to be a crazy math genius. You can be a cute girl and smart at the same time. Too bad there aren't more of her out there to be role models for little girls. I'm especially nervous for my daughters as the current Disney sweethearts like Demi Lovato and Selena Gomez are testing out their grown-up acting chops in what the press describes as "grittier" roles. So you leave "Camp Rock" and become tabloid fodder...not a mathematician. Not impressed.
But back to the regularly scheduled programming - my triathlon training. It was surprisingly nice this afternoon, so hubby talked me into going for a teensy bike ride with him after he got him. It was crazy windy...it felt like we were riding uphill the entire way out. Even when we weren't riding headlong into the wind, the cross-winds were enough to nearly push me off the road. Not good, especially during rush hour when the traffic is heavier than my normal rides. On the way home, we did hit a few stretches where the wind was at back, but it was a brutal ride.
So what does this have to do with math? I flipped out when we reached the turnaround of the ride. It had been such a battle to get that far and I felt like I was going so slow. (OK, I was going slow, but I believed during the ride that I was riding 2-3 miles per hour slower than I actually was.) I wanted to give up right there and then, but that kind of sucks when you're 6 miles from home. (Besides, giving up is not very impressive STRIVING now, is it?) I got back on my bike and rode home - a little deflated, but at least I finished the ride talking numbers in my head. (Heck it was only shy of 11...and I have to do 58...and OMG I am so slow...how fast do I have to ride in the HIM to make the 8 hour cutoff...if I add together an hour or so to swim, plus so long on the bike, plus so long on the run, etc.).
But when I got home, I plugged in the Garmin and it turns out my mental math is not so good. I am not good at sensing my own speed and I'm not good at figuring out my speed even if I peek at my Garmin from time to time. I ended up pulling a respectable (for this part of the season & the windy conditions) average speed for the ride. And to think I was ready to give up.
I need to get better at feeling the numbers in my head, doing the math. For one thing, it will help me have a little more faith in myself. For another thing, as long as I'm spending all this time on my body, I might as well send my brain to the gym too.
Sunday, March 17, 2013
Training 3/10 - 3/16 ... and race recap & rambling
Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better. -- Albert Einstein
Let's get the boring stuff out of the way first - last week's training was a good taper into Saturday's race.
Sunday 3/10 - 85 minute cycle (outside, finally)
Monday 3/11 - 5.79 mile trail run
Tuesday 3/12 - 28 minute swim, 45 minute cycle
Wednesday 3/13 - 3 mile run, masters swim
Thursday 3/14 - 2 mile run, 30 minute cycle
Friday 3/15 - REST
Saturday 3/16 - Race Day 13.45 mile trail run
The race was awesome - I had so much fun. And, importantly, my knees were happy and my mind was strong. I understand now why people love trail racing - it's challenging without being stupid hard (at least not this race - I realize there are stupid hard trail races). What I mean is that the challenges are there naturally - no race course designed to go up stairs or through a one-person wide portal. The race had all sorts of terrain - paved trail, gravel fire roads, dirt pack, pine needle - and plenty of elevation changes. It rained for the first 2 miles or so, but after that the sun came out and it ended up being a really nice day for a race. And the nature was awesome. I had forgotten how much I love the outdoors - not the outdoors of suburbia, but trees, wildlife, ponds, etc.
Here are a few pictures of my mud-spattered legs/shoes. (Yeah, wearing capri tights with calf sleeves is uber-sexy...I know that. You should see when I wear the calf sleeves with shorts - then my awesomely pink KT-taped knees show too. And I also know I tie my shoes weird. Don't judge.)
Here's my awesome race number and medal. I've decided I need a little rack to hang all of my medals on. Right now they're taking up one of those drawers. :)
A couple of random thoughts from the race (probably more delusions than thoughts, at least a couple of them)...
1) I'd like to do another marathon again sometime. I know, I need to get through my half first and keep my knees healthy, but the force is strong in this one. (I'd also love to do one of the trail ultras when I am old and my kids don't need to be driven all the time.)
2) There is no good reason for Justin Bieber songs to pollute my brain, and yet they do. For a good portion of yesterday's race I was thinking the Bieber/Minaj song "Beauty and the Beat" - which made me laugh because one of my daughters thought it was "Beauty and the Beast" and the other wanted to know what Justin was going to do with a beet. I ran the race music-less (because I'll need to for tris - might as well get back in that habit) and it went fine. I was surprised, because I've become very attached to my music while I run.
3) I run like a ninja. No seriously - there are some people who sound like elephants when they run. The ground shakes with their pounding and they aren't even large people. I hardly make a footstep or at least that's what I'm going to tell myself. Ninja runner. That's me.
4) Under Armor camouflage is wrong. That is all. Or maybe it was just the man wearing it - it was like neon orange (hunter orange) with brown camo accent panels. No. No. No. Not natural.
Onwards to tri training. A little recovery this week and then I start the long journey. And I'm excited.
Let's get the boring stuff out of the way first - last week's training was a good taper into Saturday's race.
Sunday 3/10 - 85 minute cycle (outside, finally)
Monday 3/11 - 5.79 mile trail run
Tuesday 3/12 - 28 minute swim, 45 minute cycle
Wednesday 3/13 - 3 mile run, masters swim
Thursday 3/14 - 2 mile run, 30 minute cycle
Friday 3/15 - REST
Saturday 3/16 - Race Day 13.45 mile trail run
The race was awesome - I had so much fun. And, importantly, my knees were happy and my mind was strong. I understand now why people love trail racing - it's challenging without being stupid hard (at least not this race - I realize there are stupid hard trail races). What I mean is that the challenges are there naturally - no race course designed to go up stairs or through a one-person wide portal. The race had all sorts of terrain - paved trail, gravel fire roads, dirt pack, pine needle - and plenty of elevation changes. It rained for the first 2 miles or so, but after that the sun came out and it ended up being a really nice day for a race. And the nature was awesome. I had forgotten how much I love the outdoors - not the outdoors of suburbia, but trees, wildlife, ponds, etc.
Here are a few pictures of my mud-spattered legs/shoes. (Yeah, wearing capri tights with calf sleeves is uber-sexy...I know that. You should see when I wear the calf sleeves with shorts - then my awesomely pink KT-taped knees show too. And I also know I tie my shoes weird. Don't judge.)
I ate a couple of lara bars before the race and some power chews during the race. I brought applesauce, but I was too lazy to unpack it from my camelbak while I was running. I drank nuun and skipped the gatorade and water at the aid stations. Trail runners are cool, because the aid stations also had pretzels and m&ms. I stopped for pretzels at the aid station around mile 10, but otherwise stuck to my plan. After the race, I had a banana, a gatorade, and a brat. My calves didn't cramp up after the race - I'll take that as a good sign.
A couple of random thoughts from the race (probably more delusions than thoughts, at least a couple of them)...
1) I'd like to do another marathon again sometime. I know, I need to get through my half first and keep my knees healthy, but the force is strong in this one. (I'd also love to do one of the trail ultras when I am old and my kids don't need to be driven all the time.)
2) There is no good reason for Justin Bieber songs to pollute my brain, and yet they do. For a good portion of yesterday's race I was thinking the Bieber/Minaj song "Beauty and the Beat" - which made me laugh because one of my daughters thought it was "Beauty and the Beast" and the other wanted to know what Justin was going to do with a beet. I ran the race music-less (because I'll need to for tris - might as well get back in that habit) and it went fine. I was surprised, because I've become very attached to my music while I run.
3) I run like a ninja. No seriously - there are some people who sound like elephants when they run. The ground shakes with their pounding and they aren't even large people. I hardly make a footstep or at least that's what I'm going to tell myself. Ninja runner. That's me.
4) Under Armor camouflage is wrong. That is all. Or maybe it was just the man wearing it - it was like neon orange (hunter orange) with brown camo accent panels. No. No. No. Not natural.
Onwards to tri training. A little recovery this week and then I start the long journey. And I'm excited.
Friday, March 15, 2013
The Art of Racing in the Rain
Sunshine is delicious, rain is refreshing, wind braces us up, snow is exhilarating; there is really no such thing as bad weather, only different kinds of good weather. -- John Ruskin
OK, so I stole the title of this post from a book I've never read. Apparently it's a book told from a dog's point of view. Not totally relevant to my life right now. I'm not a dog. However, it appears that tomorrow -- yet again -- I will need to focus on the art of racing in the rain. Here's the forecast for when I expect to be racing:
Unlike Mr. Ruskin's quote up there, I do not find rain refreshing or snow exhilarating. There is definitely such thing as bad weather. The way I like to look at it is that if I race in this muck, that just makes me all the more badass. And a badass mentality is not a bad thing to have looking forward to the training coming up.
I am a little concerned that my first trail race will be in this hideous weather. On the other hand, I have no real expectations about the race -- I'm going to do my best and enjoy it (the best I can). I signed up because it was something different, close to home, and lots easier logistically than doing Shamrock, which is the race I did last year at this time.
As far as expectations, my training for the race has gone well, and if I can stay (relatively) injury free during my HIM training, I'm hoping to be in good shape to get closer to my half-mary PR later this fall. But that's looking way too far ahead right now. One day at a time. One step, one pedal, one stroke - just keep striving.
OK, so I stole the title of this post from a book I've never read. Apparently it's a book told from a dog's point of view. Not totally relevant to my life right now. I'm not a dog. However, it appears that tomorrow -- yet again -- I will need to focus on the art of racing in the rain. Here's the forecast for when I expect to be racing:
Unlike Mr. Ruskin's quote up there, I do not find rain refreshing or snow exhilarating. There is definitely such thing as bad weather. The way I like to look at it is that if I race in this muck, that just makes me all the more badass. And a badass mentality is not a bad thing to have looking forward to the training coming up.
I am a little concerned that my first trail race will be in this hideous weather. On the other hand, I have no real expectations about the race -- I'm going to do my best and enjoy it (the best I can). I signed up because it was something different, close to home, and lots easier logistically than doing Shamrock, which is the race I did last year at this time.
As far as expectations, my training for the race has gone well, and if I can stay (relatively) injury free during my HIM training, I'm hoping to be in good shape to get closer to my half-mary PR later this fall. But that's looking way too far ahead right now. One day at a time. One step, one pedal, one stroke - just keep striving.
Tuesday, March 12, 2013
Doubts
Inaction breeds doubt and fear. Action breeds confidence and courage. If you want to conquer fear, do not sit home and think about it. Go out and get busy. -- Dale Carnegie
Recently my husband asked me if I had doubts that I could do the HIM. He wasn't being unkind - he was being honest. We had gone for a bike ride together on Sunday and I was disappointed with my performance. Based on my negative self-talk, he was worried that I was worried that I couldn't do the race.
Have no fear - remember, my goal this year is to STRIVE. I have a lot of work to do between now and September 7, but I'm not starting from couch potato status. I'm just slower than I'd like to be in all 3 disciplines. Honestly, if you pressed me right now, I could probably do an HIM, but it wouldn't be pretty and it probably would take longer than the cut-off time of 8 hours. But that's with minimal training on the bike and the swim. With some 25 weeks of training (or 178 days, as my handy-dandy countdown calendar tells me), I will be fine.
That being said, there is work to be done. I will be hitting the bike with much more regularity after the half-mary this weekend and continuing to go to Masters swim when it fits in the schedule. Also, starting in April, OWS practices start so I can get comfortable swimming in the river. Any fears I have, even the itty bitty ones in the back of my head that happen when I have a bad workout, will be driven out by action.
Sunday, March 10, 2013
Training 3/3 - 3/9 . . . and thoughts on the week
I'll keep doing my training and I'm sure the goals will come. -- Wayne Rooney
This was an interesting week for me with travelling and the swim time trial. I had a couple of great runs - my last long run on 3/3 was perfect...no knee pain, no mental pain, adequate hydrating, etc. Also, the run in California on the trail was super-cool. The dirt path went along the cliffs overlooking the beach - so pretty - and I ran a decent speed over the trails, which gives me a little hope for the trail half-mary next weekend.
I didn't adhere strictly to my planned schedule, but I didn't fall off completely, even though I travelled. I ran a little less on Friday and I moved my rest day around, but that is it. (My eating, on the other hand, did fall off over the trip, but I'm back on board now.) I also moved around my run and bike this weekend, so that I could go for a long bike ride today in the gorgeous weather.
Yesterday one of the tri organizations did a swim time-trial. I actually did better than I thought I would, given that I took a red-eye back and didn't get into town until lunch-time Saturday. The coolest thing is that afterwards I got some individual coaching from a swim coach. Apparently I need to "snap" more - I don't hold my glide long enough and I don't put my hips into it when I switch from side to side. Something to work on that should give me a little more power (read speed) when I'm swimming. All in all, it was a good week of training. And if I keep doing my training, hopefully the goals will come.
Sunday 3/3 - 10.18 mile run
Monday 3/4 - 40 minute swim, 30 minute cycle
Tuesday 3/5 - 3 mile run, 38 minute cycle
Wednesday 3/6 - REST (travel, snow day)
Thursday 3/7 - 4.87 mile run on California Coastal Trail :)
Friday 3/8 - 40 minute cycle, 0.4 mile run (mini - bricklet)
Saturday 3/9 - 4.13 mile run, 20 minute swim (time trial - 400m @ 10:47, plus coaching)
This was an interesting week for me with travelling and the swim time trial. I had a couple of great runs - my last long run on 3/3 was perfect...no knee pain, no mental pain, adequate hydrating, etc. Also, the run in California on the trail was super-cool. The dirt path went along the cliffs overlooking the beach - so pretty - and I ran a decent speed over the trails, which gives me a little hope for the trail half-mary next weekend.
I didn't adhere strictly to my planned schedule, but I didn't fall off completely, even though I travelled. I ran a little less on Friday and I moved my rest day around, but that is it. (My eating, on the other hand, did fall off over the trip, but I'm back on board now.) I also moved around my run and bike this weekend, so that I could go for a long bike ride today in the gorgeous weather.
Yesterday one of the tri organizations did a swim time-trial. I actually did better than I thought I would, given that I took a red-eye back and didn't get into town until lunch-time Saturday. The coolest thing is that afterwards I got some individual coaching from a swim coach. Apparently I need to "snap" more - I don't hold my glide long enough and I don't put my hips into it when I switch from side to side. Something to work on that should give me a little more power (read speed) when I'm swimming. All in all, it was a good week of training. And if I keep doing my training, hopefully the goals will come.
Sunday 3/3 - 10.18 mile run
Monday 3/4 - 40 minute swim, 30 minute cycle
Tuesday 3/5 - 3 mile run, 38 minute cycle
Wednesday 3/6 - REST (travel, snow day)
Thursday 3/7 - 4.87 mile run on California Coastal Trail :)
Friday 3/8 - 40 minute cycle, 0.4 mile run (mini - bricklet)
Saturday 3/9 - 4.13 mile run, 20 minute swim (time trial - 400m @ 10:47, plus coaching)
Thursday, March 7, 2013
Travelogue
I pray to be like the ocean, with soft currents, maybe waves at times. More and more, I want the consistency rather than the highs and the lows. -- Drew Barrymore
The waves were beautiful this morning. I don't know if they were big waves or small waves, because I'm not really an ocean girl. (You may have deduced this from my swimming albatross.) I'm also not a California-type girl, but I do like to visit. I've never been to this particular part of California before - Half Moon Bay, south of San Francisco (and clearly right on the water). This morning I ran 5 miles on the California Coastal Trail which was gorgeous, plus an excellent workout for my trail half mary coming up. I haven't been particularly good about training on trails, so my ankles got a little wake-up call this morning, but it still was a good solid run. Although my trail race won't be on the cliffs over the Pacific Ocean, I am looking forward to something different and nature-filled.
The waves were beautiful this morning. I don't know if they were big waves or small waves, because I'm not really an ocean girl. (You may have deduced this from my swimming albatross.) I'm also not a California-type girl, but I do like to visit. I've never been to this particular part of California before - Half Moon Bay, south of San Francisco (and clearly right on the water). This morning I ran 5 miles on the California Coastal Trail which was gorgeous, plus an excellent workout for my trail half mary coming up. I haven't been particularly good about training on trails, so my ankles got a little wake-up call this morning, but it still was a good solid run. Although my trail race won't be on the cliffs over the Pacific Ocean, I am looking forward to something different and nature-filled.
Tuesday, March 5, 2013
Leaving On a Jet Plane
I hate to travel with stuff. -- Manolo Blahnik
Assuming snowmageddon doesn't get here before noon tomorrow, I'll be heading out of town for a short work trip for few days. I usually try to bring my running shoes & clothes when I travel - but to be honest, it's quite ridiculous how much space my sports gear takes up in my suitcase in relation to my work stuff. Sure, it would be easier to blow off those couple days, but I'm doing really well as far as being consistent with my training and I don't want to blow that. The hotel where I'm staying is supposed to have a great fitness center and outdoor trails (it is NOT in the center of snowmageddon), so I should be able to get a run and a ride in at least.
Besides consistency, if I'm traveling somewhere nice or scenic, I like to be able to take a little tour on foot - you get to see so much more that way. On the other hand, I've run in some ugly places in NYC and Chicago - but still, there's something magical about running in new places. This week's destination has the potential to be gorgeous. But it still doesn't justify the amount of stuff I travel with. :)
Assuming snowmageddon doesn't get here before noon tomorrow, I'll be heading out of town for a short work trip for few days. I usually try to bring my running shoes & clothes when I travel - but to be honest, it's quite ridiculous how much space my sports gear takes up in my suitcase in relation to my work stuff. Sure, it would be easier to blow off those couple days, but I'm doing really well as far as being consistent with my training and I don't want to blow that. The hotel where I'm staying is supposed to have a great fitness center and outdoor trails (it is NOT in the center of snowmageddon), so I should be able to get a run and a ride in at least.
Besides consistency, if I'm traveling somewhere nice or scenic, I like to be able to take a little tour on foot - you get to see so much more that way. On the other hand, I've run in some ugly places in NYC and Chicago - but still, there's something magical about running in new places. This week's destination has the potential to be gorgeous. But it still doesn't justify the amount of stuff I travel with. :)
Sunday, March 3, 2013
Training 2/24 - 3/2 ... and thoughts on eating on the run
One of the very nicest things about life is the way we must regularly stop whatever it is we are doing and devote our attention to eating. -- Luciano Pavarotti
Or do we? On my long runs and long bike rides, I don't stop what I'm doing -- instead, I need to figure out how to get calories in without stopping. The food has to be easy to eat and easy to digest and ideally energy dense. I'm experimenting a bit now with what I'm eating on the run (and before). I generally eat a Lara Bar before I go for a long run. I don't usually need to wait more than 20 minutes or so before heading out. Lara Bars are bars made with nuts and fruit - less processed than most granola bars and all of the ingredients are real food. I'm a big fan.
On the run, I have not been so picky. Until recently, I've been using Power Bar Energy Blasts - little gummy chews with liquid centers. Of course, these are highly processed and full of crap I can't pronounce -- but most of the energy food market is like that. (I used to use Gu gels, but those are messy as heck and kinda gross in texture...the gummy chews take care of both of those issues.) But as I'm trying to eat cleaner, I've been looking for other alternatives that are easy to carry, digest, etc. My last 2 runs I've brought along a GoGoSqueez pouch of applesauce -- these are baby food. The ingredients are all real food and the pouch is easy to use. My only gripe so far is that they are heavy - I need to find a better way to carry them than in my pocket where it bounces too much.
Another thing I use is Nuun - it is a tablet you drop into water that adds electrolytes without all the crap that Gatorade also includes, like sugar. It gives a little fizz too, which makes drinking more fun.
Enough about eating on the run - it is, like so much of my life right now, an experiment in progress.
This past week's training sessions went well (as did today's run...but that goes on next week's training recap!):
Sunday 2/24 - 6.78 mile run
Monday 2/25 - 30 minute cycle, masters swim
Tuesday 2/26 - 3 mile run, 20 minute cycle
Wednesday 2/27 - 5 mile run, masters swim
Thursday 2/28 - REST
Friday 3/1 - 48 minute cycle, 3 mile run
Saturday 3/2 - 45 minute swim, 75 minute cycle
Or do we? On my long runs and long bike rides, I don't stop what I'm doing -- instead, I need to figure out how to get calories in without stopping. The food has to be easy to eat and easy to digest and ideally energy dense. I'm experimenting a bit now with what I'm eating on the run (and before). I generally eat a Lara Bar before I go for a long run. I don't usually need to wait more than 20 minutes or so before heading out. Lara Bars are bars made with nuts and fruit - less processed than most granola bars and all of the ingredients are real food. I'm a big fan.
On the run, I have not been so picky. Until recently, I've been using Power Bar Energy Blasts - little gummy chews with liquid centers. Of course, these are highly processed and full of crap I can't pronounce -- but most of the energy food market is like that. (I used to use Gu gels, but those are messy as heck and kinda gross in texture...the gummy chews take care of both of those issues.) But as I'm trying to eat cleaner, I've been looking for other alternatives that are easy to carry, digest, etc. My last 2 runs I've brought along a GoGoSqueez pouch of applesauce -- these are baby food. The ingredients are all real food and the pouch is easy to use. My only gripe so far is that they are heavy - I need to find a better way to carry them than in my pocket where it bounces too much.
Another thing I use is Nuun - it is a tablet you drop into water that adds electrolytes without all the crap that Gatorade also includes, like sugar. It gives a little fizz too, which makes drinking more fun.
Enough about eating on the run - it is, like so much of my life right now, an experiment in progress.
This past week's training sessions went well (as did today's run...but that goes on next week's training recap!):
Sunday 2/24 - 6.78 mile run
Monday 2/25 - 30 minute cycle, masters swim
Tuesday 2/26 - 3 mile run, 20 minute cycle
Wednesday 2/27 - 5 mile run, masters swim
Thursday 2/28 - REST
Friday 3/1 - 48 minute cycle, 3 mile run
Saturday 3/2 - 45 minute swim, 75 minute cycle
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