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.
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