Ironteam 2011

Hi All! Back with a quick update. I'm officially on staff for the 2011 Team in Training Ironteam season! Vineman full, here I come :) I am getting into my pre-season routine starting this week. That means lots of yoga, healthy eating, and strength training. I'm back with a vengeance, so keep up the visits!

Procrastination Station

So I have been absolutely terrible about updating my blog! It is definitely a testament to my crazy schedule (both training and work). Wildflower is a month away, Desert Tri is on the books, and we head off for Wildflower training weekend this Friday. I regret that I have not been more detailed in my posts, but one thing I can do is provide the pics!

First, some brief thoughts on the Toyota Desert Triathlon, which I raced on March 7th...

The day before the race, we biked 32 miles through the windy Palm Springs desert. It was a fun ride (except for the major traffic on Washington street heading out). We were all complaining about doing a long ride before the race, but it really wasn't that bad in the end.

Throughout the weekend I experienced MANY different degrees of anxiety...but learned to control them in small ways. (More on this later).

We got up early the morning of the race and headed to Lake Cahuilla for transition setup. It was fun to sit around and chat with my teammates once everything was in order.

The Swim:

Thankfully it wasn't too crowded in my wave, but I did have a brief anxiety attack in the water. Our coaches told us this would happen, and that we would need to take a minute to get ourselves together. I kept going – and tried to focus on being grateful for my health, ability to compete, and for the many blessings in my life. This tactic worked, and I had a good swim - much better than I thought.

After a quick transition, I was off on...

The Bike:

Rain was the issue here. It rained. The WHOLE time. The ride was flat, but I felt a bit tentative on the slippery roads. I managed to pass a few cyclists, but was passed by many. The course was 2 loops around farmland and residential neighborhoods in La Quinta. I enjoyed the ride (despite the weather) but had no idea how to manage my energy, knowing there was a run remaining. In the end, I think I played it too safe.

The Run:

I felt slow on the run, but held my own and finished in a respectable amount of time. The rain definitely complicated things, but after a while I was actually happy that it wasn't too hot.

What I learned:

-You can’t control everything on race day, but can control your attitude and outlook on the experience.

-If you are nervous, try to be grateful for what your body can do and reflect on that often.

-Shared human emotions (including nervousness) are powerful.
-Preparation and organization are everything in triathlons.
-Get in line for the bathrooms early (also marathon wisdom).

-A banana ½ hour before the swim start is a good thing. :)

On The Road Again

The new year has definitely started out with a bang - in my converging worlds of work, training, and travel. Currently I am training/vacationing in Spokane, WA, while the boy in my life takes a few doctoral seminars at Gonzaga U. Last week I was in Santa Rosa/Napa/Petaluma for work, which is always a great overall destination.

I managed to get in a good swim last week at the Airport Club in Santa Rosa, and have mustered the motivation to continue my swims and runs here in WA. The pool at Gonzaga is a convenient place to splash around, and the Centennial Trail is a great place for a scenic run. One thing I am missing though (other than my teammates) is the bike! I am thinking about renting one on Wednesday and heading toward Idaho. Hopefully this all works out, and that the weather is cooperative.

This trip, albeit in the winter this time, makes me think of how far I've come since last summer. I don't think I am any fitter, per se; perhaps a bit more well-rounded due to the cross-training, but certainly a bit more mature in my approach to fitness. I mean this mainly in terms of giving myself a break! I now realize how important recovery is, and I take those "days off" very seriously. Right now we have Fridays off, since the Ironman training needs to occur 6 days per week. If I feel burned out though, I take it easy on Mondays as well.

I think the two most difficult things about IRONtraining right now are 1) balancing the schedule with the rest of my life and 2) making it through two-a-day workouts. Right now Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays tend to be both running and swimming days - or at least that's how the schedule is developing. My motivation around running still tends to be low, so I really have to push myself (especially after a good swim). The new running shoes certainly help, and I feel I am well on my way...

Overall, I can see and feel the improvement in my swimming, and with a strenuous/hilly 30 mile ride under my belt, I know I will continue to improve in my cycling. In the meantime, I'll enjoy the time I have away, while looking forward to getting back on my bike with the team.

Happy New Year!

I can't believe it's 2010! I know this is going to be a great year in the world of training, racing, and beyond.

One of my resolutions is to maintain my blog a bit more consistently, so in the meantime, here are some "mini updates" from my TNT website. More to come soon!

1/3/10: Happy New Year friends! It's been a great couple of weeks - getting deeper into training and working in some early morning sessions. I am beginning to experience some aches and pains, but I know this comes with the territory as the schedule gets more intense. I am not quite used to the days that include two sessions, but I'll get there.

We had a hilly team ride through Pacific Palisades yesterday, which definitely tested my nerves. I feel much more comfortable on the bike, but going downhill on Sunset Blvd with cars flying by has a way of challenging that comfort :)

12/20: It was a beautiful morning yesterday for a good team ride at the Rose Bowl. I'm feeling much more comfortable with the bike (especially the dreaded clips). Swimming and biking are a blast, but I need to get some running in!

12/17: Training is definitely getting more intense, and I am quickly realizing I need to make some sacrifices if I am going to be successful. This morning I was up at 4:30 am and off for a bike ride. Last night I swam for about an hour at the LMU pool. Today = sore legs! Looking forward to a rest day tomorrow. Thankfully, I am still feeling excited and optimistic about this adventure :)

12/05: First fundraising event was very successful! Thanks to all the Murrieta community members who supported LLS at the garage sale today. A special thanks to my parents for their help/use of the driveway!

12/02: First bike practice took place last Saturday. It was great to be on the road. I see how people easily become addicted to this sport! Last night we took the swimming up a notch at the group practice. I need to concentrate on drills and form this week in my individual practice time. A long road to go!

11/21: I bought my first road bike yesterday! It's a Trek 1.5 2009. I can't wait to get on it more and learn the ropes. One of the best things about triathlon training is learning two new sports. The swimming continues to go well, but I have a long way to go! Thanks for all the support, friends.

11/10: First swim practice in Culver City. It was great to train with the group for the first time, and I really enjoyed being in the pool. I can tell this is going to be tough, but COMPLETELY worth it!

Marathon - Of Another Kind

Sorry for the long absence, friends. I've been running here and there, but not as consistent as I'd like to be. My last long run was 10 miles a few weeks ago. Since then, I've been cruising in the 5 mile range for a couple of different reasons...

1) I am a little burned out on running at the moment. I still love it, but I think my body was in need of a break, and is dying for some cross-training.

2) I am working on a major research project, which is like a marathon itself. It is slow-going, time consuming, and makes my body hurt just thinking about it!

I plan to run tomorrow morning, and keep to a new schedule where I am running 2 times/week anywhere from 3-5 miles, with 1 long run on the weekend. My long runs probably won't get over 10 miles, for now. I will definitely run the Las Vegas Half in December, so I will likely sneak in a 14 miler or 2 between now and then. I'd like to get a bit leaner as well, so I'm definitely beginning to focus on my nutrition again.

Sadly, I did not run the Disneyland Half. My good friend was married the night before, and I don't think I saw my pillow until sometime around 5am. I was definitely over-ambitious in my scheduling, but at least signing up for the race kept me on my training schedule!

I am starting to play around with the idea of triathlon training. SO many of my running buddies have made the transition, which I find intriguing...

The Best Laid Plans...

It has certainly been an interesting 2 weeks. Despite running 10 miles last Saturday, my midweek mileage = 0. My energy, motivation, and interest in running dove to an all-time low sometime around last Monday. The last week I haven't been feeling well, and given the fact that everyone around me has been sick, I've likely caught the bug. I planned to run 12 miles yesterday, but slept in instead. I had to force myself to commit to 5 miles this morning, which was a struggle. I can't remember the last time I felt sore after a flat 5-miler. During the run I felt extra hot and most likely had a fever.

The one question I've been asking myself all week: is this normal?? I had the best run 2 weeks ago. I fell in love with running all over again and felt so strong. The Dland half is a few weeks away, and at this point I am questioning my fitness/whether or not to participate. My ever-encouraging running buddies tell me I can pull it off without a hitch. My body (or just mind?) is telling me otherwise.

I suppose it is normal to have periods of lower motivation and waining interest in a sport like running. Of course, I feel better even after my short run this morning. My plan is to run at least 2 times this week before I travel to Lubbock Wednesday morning, and definitely try for a 12-14 miler next weekend. Perhaps it is time to really start committing to cross-training? I've been known to get bored easily, and it seems like some variety might be just what the doctor ordered.

Stay tuned...

Double Digits

On Saturday morning I embarked on my first double-digit run since the marathon. It was a fairly slow 10-miler through the old stomping grounds of PV. Laura and I took it easy, and it felt good to be out there. I'm hoping to get through 12 this coming Saturday, followed by 14 the next, and a taper week of 6 before the half-marathon. Wish me luck on the mid-week runs...my motivation has been WAY down the last couple of days!

The Elusive Long Run

I am writing this from the lovely state of WA, where I am enjoying the "working" part of my vacation. My plan is to write and run, and I've been mildly successful with both. My primary frustration at the moment is my lack of motivation in getting a long run on the books. I've logged about 27.5 miles since the marathon. However, the most mileage I've accrued in any one run is about 5. I've read MANY articles on post-marathon recovery and how one should go about rebuilding their base. Some people take an entire month off...others start jogging 3 days after they complete their race. Either way, it's time for me to start with my Saturday long run schedule again.

The good news: TNT alumni runs are beginning! Anyone interested can return to practice in PV on Saturday mornings at 7:30am. This will definitely help with my motivation issues.

The bad(ish) news: I am registered to run the Disneyland Half Marathon on September 6th! I have about 9 weeks to build up my base again. According to the adapted TNT training schedule, I should have ideally logged 8 miles over the weekend, and should embark on 10 next weekend. Let's hope some other TNT folks will be up for joining me on a longer route...

On another note, the Garmin continues to be awesome, especially the wonderful online world of Garmin Connect. I know many of you who read this have known about the wonders of the Garmin products for some time, but I still won't hesitate to share my excitement! :)

Goals for the week:

-log 25-30 miles by Saturday night

-incorporate some cross-training into my schedule (and not just talk about it)

-make yoga a priority next Monday

In Love...

with the new Garmin! How did I ever live without this before?? I'm still learning some of the tricks and advanced options, but so far this is a fantastic tool. I highly recommend taking advantage of the Costco.com sale if you are thinking about getting one. (Caution: the sale ends July 5th). I also tried the HR monitor this morning for the first time. I was initially concerned it would irritate me, but I barely felt it. Mind you, the run was only 3.5 miles. Something tells me that after 16, you'd definitely be aware of the strap wrapped around your torso.

Other than a few aches and pains (left knee and right ankle), I am feeling good about beginning a schedule to maintain/increase my fitness for the Disneyland Half Marathon on September 6th. Ongoing TNT alumni runs on Saturday mornings will be a big plus, as I motivate myself to keep up the weekly long runs. Next step: adapting the marathon training schedule to the mileage necessary for the half. I'm guessing this will seem like a breeze compared to the last 5 months!

26.2 Here I Come!

Only 2 days to go until the San Diego Marathon! I'm spending the day working from home, packing, and HYDRATING! You cannot imagine how much there is to remember in the packing process, and I still have to make another trip to the store tonight.

I took it easy this week...2.5 miles on Tuesday and about 3 on Wednesday. I am toying with a quick 1-2 miles tomorrow, but might pass. My left knee is not behaving, and I want to be as rested as possible for the big day.

Tomorrow morning I head down to SD in time for lunch, the expo and relaxation (hopefully!) Our check-in time for the shuttle to the start line is 4am--yes, 4am Sunday morning. If you pray for nothing else, pray that I get to bed early and that I sleep well!

Can't wait to update everyone on the experience!

Countdown

Last Saturday: a STRONG 12 miles
This Saturday: an easy 6 miles
Miles mid-week: a measly 3 while on business in Lubbock
Tonight: hoping to squeeze in 4 more before the Angels game
Next Sunday: MARATHON!
Panic: starting to set in :)

Great Strides!

The past 7 days were amazing! Last Saturday our team ran 20 miles...a major mental hurdle for me! I felt the most discouraged around mile 13 (because it was HOT and traffic was high on Palos Verdes drive). I finished feeling surprisingly strong (with the help of Coach Ed and a co-worker I happened to meet along the way). With a couple of brief walking breaks and many big hills along the way, I finished in a little over 4 hours. I certainly won't be breaking any records at the marathon, but my goal this first time around is to simply finish.

I also reached my fundraising goal this week of $2,500!! With the help of my amazing parents, (who held a garage sale Saturday morning as I ran) many generous friends and additional family members, we did it in just the nick of time! God bless Facebook and those special people who responded to my plea to raise that last $100 on the final day. :)

Tomorrow we taper to 12 miles for our long run, while maintaining steady mileage throughout the week. This week I slacked a bit on my daily runs, since I was traveling for work and putting in long hours. Hopefully I won't pay for it tomorrow morning...

Thanks again to all who have offered, and continue to offer any kind of support...I can't wait to fill you in on the big day! Meanwhile, I'll keep you updated on my progress over the next 2 weeks. Let the countdown begin!

If you are curious, here is a breakdown of how your donations to LLS are allocated:

Thank you!

After a great 12 mile recovery run on the strand yesterday, I traveled to Murrieta to help get ready for the birthday party my family was planning for today. THANK YOU to all who gave me the birthday gift of a donation to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society! With your help, I have raised 72% of my total goal of $2,500 to date. My deadline for raising the total funds is May 13th, and I know we can get there!

Next week we are back up to 18 miles, and 20 miles the week after. I'm sure I'll have quite a bit to say after the big one!

This week on the workout schedule we add Monday as a run day (was a rest day up to this point). Since tomorrow is my actual birthday, I might be keeping that rest day one week longer...

Hitting the Wall

Last Saturday we upped the mileage again...to 16!! I actually felt fairly good until about mile 15, where I completely hit the wall. My knees were in bad shape, and I could not conceive of continuing uphill for another mile. I ran-walked my way through, and managed to run continuously for the last quarter mile. I still feel great when I think about how much terrain we covered. I will be on a mission this week to investigate additional knee support options, before the 17 miles slated for our next long run.

Tonight I eeked out 2 miles; my chest still feeling tight after a week of illness. Tomorrow I need to get 6 miles on the books, followed by 3 more and cross-training on Thursday.

In an effort to relax after a day of work, and recover from a disappointing workout, I decided to cook a new healthy post-run meal: Peruvian turkey breast cutlets, mini zucchini, and sweet potato with agave nectar and cinnamon. The marinade was super easy to make...


2 tablespoons red-wine vinegar
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 garlic cloves, smashed
2 teaspoons paprika
1 teaspoon dried oregano leaves, crumbled (had some of Mom's garden bounty handy!)
1/4 teaspoon ground cumin
Pinch ground pepper
Pinch salt

Quicker Update

I managed to get through 4 miles tonight, despite the head cold situation. I took a route through a residential area of Redondo Beach, just in time to see the sun set. I live so close to the beach but never go. This must change! As much as I'd like to move closer to work, it's days like this when I know the commute is worth it.

Quick Update

I've been sick for the last few days...therefore, no running. I should have 10 miles under my belt for the week, but tonight is the first time I will attempt an easy run since last Saturday. We are set to tackle 16 miles this Saturday, and I hope this little break hasn't completely thrown me off. Everything I've read about running while ill tells me that if your chest is clear (and you don't have a fever) you should be fine. Personally, I'd rather be safe than sorry, even if it means falling behind a bit. Any advice from the pros our there??

Training Schedule~ Week of 3/29

Sunday 3/29~ cross-train 60mins

Monday 3/30~ REST

Tuesday 3/31~ 3 miles

Wednesday 4/1~ 5 miles

Thursday 4/2~ 3 miles + core

Friday 4/3~ REST

Saturday 4/4~ 14 miles!

Training Schedule ~ Week of 2/8

My training schedule this week is basically the same as last week, with an increase for my Saturday run (which will likely happen here, in less than ideal temps). Next week I am going to start incorporating more strength training, in addition to the usual pilates routine.

2/8: 20 min cross-training
2/9: 60 min pilates
2/10: 2 miles
2/11: REST
2/12: 30 min or 2 miles
2/13: REST
2/14: 3 miles

Training Schedule ~ Week of 2/1

The following is my training schedule for the week. It's incredibly low-key compared to what I have been doing, but I plan to follow what TNT recommends, as to avoid injury...

• 2/1: 20 min cross-training/Base mileage phase
• 2/2: 60 min Pilates
• 2/3: 30 min easy run
• 2/4: REST
• 2/5: 30 min easy run/Low heart rate
• 2/6: REST
• 2/7: 1-2 mile run/Aviation Track