In the last few weeks leading up to today I've been asked this question a lot. The answer: "No, not really"
The next question is then "Are you excited?" My answer: "No, not yet. It doesn't seem real yet. I will be once I drive into Penticton" I think the most fun question is "Are you ready?" I always laugh when I answer that one "Well, it doesnt really matter if im ready or not, cause its 1 week away. Whether Im ready or not, Im in it!"
So, am I ready? While swimming at fastlanes, the coaches told me I look like a real swimmer my technique and speed are there. While riding around on my bike, I've been told I look like a real cyclist nice bike, tight lycra, and I guess I actually look like a cyclist While running, I've been told I look like a real runner strong, speedy and good technique. Someone even told me they try and look like me while running :) I wasn't sure my muscles were...bigger and stronger then previous years. Maybe it's just my technique that's improved. But no, my physiotherapist assured me that the muscles on my legs were bigger and stronger then last year. Well, I look like a real swimmer, cyclist and runner. My technique is on and I've got bigger and stronger muscles. My body is ready. Is my mind?
That's what this week will all be about. Getting my mind ready. Visualize. Reassure. Most importantly, recall all the words of support that are coming in my way from friends and family.
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
Sunday, July 31, 2011
less then 30 days to go...
...and in the last 3-4 weeks I've gone through a lot of different emotions. When I realized I only had 7 more weeks left I suddenly felt like I wasnt ready. Not nearly as ready as I had been the first or second time. I rarely got through a week of completing all 11 workouts! I shouldnt have slept through so many bike rides, or slept in on those long runs. Why didnt I just ride on my trainer at night?
And then, it happened. The injury. Tenosynovitis in my leg. Not too serious, but serious enough that it left me unable to run for two weeks. Now instead of worrying about whether or not I would finish under 12 hours because I chose sleep over training, I was worrying about the prospect of having to speed walk/limp the marathon...or worse, pull out of the race completely!
I was suppose to be leaving for Penticton in a few days for a training weekend. Was there any point of me going up to Penticton to ride the bike course and run and swim too of course? Well actually, the morning before I was suppose to leave for Penticton, I woke up unable to lift my arm any higher then shoulder height. I must have slept on it funny so really, was I going up to Penticton just to ride 180km? I've already ridden the course at least 5 times, do I really need to go? Might as well. Hotel is already paid for. Armed with compression socks, ibprofen and the idea of getting a teeny tiny "vacation" I departed for my summer home, away from home; The Rochester.
Overall, the weekend was a success! My shoulder re-gained its mobility with lots of stretching and ibprofen, my leg held out for the run, and the ride...I made my peace with those 180 kms. Most importantly though, the weekend left me feeling ready for the race. Finishing sub 12 is still within reach! I'm going to have to work really hard and use my head.
Other thoughts...during long solo rides where I loop UBC and Iona repeatedly thinking about how Im unable to go watch a movie, go to the beach or just hang out with friends...while they're doing so at that moment I tell myself that this will be the last Ironman I ever do. Now, with less then a month to go, yes I'm excited for it to all be over, but I'm also sad that itll all be over. I dont want to see it end again. I've even thought about registering for next year. A tiny, tiny part of me really wants to. Seriously.
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
a very late post-oliver race report
i think i see moths flying around....its been awhile.. too long....
So, Oliver. Half ironman. 2k swim, 93km bike and 21km run.
39:57 swim, 2:59 bike, 1:55 run. Finish time 5:44 (and that time includes a 2 min penalty that I got...)
10 out of 37 women in my age group, 44 out of 327 women and 232 out of 783 athletes.
Im going (to try) to keep this short and sweet.
Strictly looking at time, I had a great race! I finished 10 mins faster then last year and I landed in the top ten for my age group (females).
Mentally, it was the worst race i'd ever done. I was pretty nervous getting into the water to do my first open-water swim of the year and during the mini-tri the day before I totally panicked while splashing around in the lake. It took some time, but I finally calmed down and managed to get about 15 mins of swimming done. The ride and run to follow was cake. Nevertheless, the swim experience didnt leave me feeling too positive the morning of the race. Determined not to let it get to me, I set out in the lake for a 15 min warm up pre race. However, after getting into a rhythm, another swimmer and I swam right into each other you would think in a huge lake the chances of swimming head on into someone would be slim It wouldnt have been so bad if it hadnt been for this guy's hand punching me in the face though!!! There i was, treading water in the lake, crying slightly as the other swimmer asked if i was ok.
Back on shore.....I was doing everything I could to keep myself calm. It didnt work too well. 3...2...1..go....i get into the water and im hyperventilating and swallowing water while arms and legs and bodies are pushing me around and water splashing everywhere....I decide ill head to my far left where its not as congested to try and get away from the mean crowd of swimmers. Well, after that it was too much zig zag swimming and not enough straight swimming. I should have had a better swim time. I know im faster.
lesson learned. dont freak out. im a fast swimmer. dont let ppl push me around. im going to be a whole new menacing swimmer for IMC this year.
the bike. it wasnt fantastic, but it wasnt bad either. no wait, let me take that back. It was fantastic because I finished 10 mins faster and under 3 hours, but it was bad because I got a penalty. After riding 93km (actually 91? 92?? according to garmin gps systems) I go to dismount and because I unclipped just after rolling over the dismount line I got a penalty! what a bad ass triathlete i am. oooh im a rebel! im gonna win the race by dismounting just after the dismount line rules are rules! so I walked the walk of shame over to the tent and stretched and re-fueled for 2 mins all while trying not to make eye contact with other tri-athletes because the penalty tent is RIGHT in front of the entrance to the bike transition.
In retrospect, the 2 mins of rest was a welcomed rest for the legs and mind before changing into and getting ready for the 21.1km run (which again was longer then 21.1km according to garmin gps systems)
The run. Again, not fantastic but not bad either. I normally get my running legs back after 3-5km, but this time it took a good 10km and even then something was off I had the engery to push, but I couldnt push. I know now, that its because my new bike shoes were too tight you know when you wear tight shoes for too long or heels for too long and after you take them off the first few steps are tender, well thats what it was like running for 21.1km...but i was a buttercup and i tried to suck it up
And, that's that!
There, now I dont have to feel guilty about not blogging about the race. And now I can freely blog about other random training stuff....
\
So, Oliver. Half ironman. 2k swim, 93km bike and 21km run.
39:57 swim, 2:59 bike, 1:55 run. Finish time 5:44 (and that time includes a 2 min penalty that I got...)
10 out of 37 women in my age group, 44 out of 327 women and 232 out of 783 athletes.
Im going (to try) to keep this short and sweet.
Strictly looking at time, I had a great race! I finished 10 mins faster then last year and I landed in the top ten for my age group (females).
Mentally, it was the worst race i'd ever done. I was pretty nervous getting into the water to do my first open-water swim of the year and during the mini-tri the day before I totally panicked while splashing around in the lake. It took some time, but I finally calmed down and managed to get about 15 mins of swimming done. The ride and run to follow was cake. Nevertheless, the swim experience didnt leave me feeling too positive the morning of the race. Determined not to let it get to me, I set out in the lake for a 15 min warm up pre race. However, after getting into a rhythm, another swimmer and I swam right into each other you would think in a huge lake the chances of swimming head on into someone would be slim It wouldnt have been so bad if it hadnt been for this guy's hand punching me in the face though!!! There i was, treading water in the lake, crying slightly as the other swimmer asked if i was ok.
Back on shore.....I was doing everything I could to keep myself calm. It didnt work too well. 3...2...1..go....i get into the water and im hyperventilating and swallowing water while arms and legs and bodies are pushing me around and water splashing everywhere....I decide ill head to my far left where its not as congested to try and get away from the mean crowd of swimmers. Well, after that it was too much zig zag swimming and not enough straight swimming. I should have had a better swim time. I know im faster.
lesson learned. dont freak out. im a fast swimmer. dont let ppl push me around. im going to be a whole new menacing swimmer for IMC this year.
the bike. it wasnt fantastic, but it wasnt bad either. no wait, let me take that back. It was fantastic because I finished 10 mins faster and under 3 hours, but it was bad because I got a penalty. After riding 93km (actually 91? 92?? according to garmin gps systems) I go to dismount and because I unclipped just after rolling over the dismount line I got a penalty! what a bad ass triathlete i am. oooh im a rebel! im gonna win the race by dismounting just after the dismount line rules are rules! so I walked the walk of shame over to the tent and stretched and re-fueled for 2 mins all while trying not to make eye contact with other tri-athletes because the penalty tent is RIGHT in front of the entrance to the bike transition.
In retrospect, the 2 mins of rest was a welcomed rest for the legs and mind before changing into and getting ready for the 21.1km run (which again was longer then 21.1km according to garmin gps systems)
The run. Again, not fantastic but not bad either. I normally get my running legs back after 3-5km, but this time it took a good 10km and even then something was off I had the engery to push, but I couldnt push. I know now, that its because my new bike shoes were too tight you know when you wear tight shoes for too long or heels for too long and after you take them off the first few steps are tender, well thats what it was like running for 21.1km...but i was a buttercup and i tried to suck it up
And, that's that!
There, now I dont have to feel guilty about not blogging about the race. And now I can freely blog about other random training stuff....
\
Monday, April 18, 2011
Cheering from the Lee team
Delta Sprint Triathlon (700m pool swim, 20km bike, 5k run): April 16th, 2011.
Finishing time 1:12:33 - Swim 12:38, Bike 38:05, Run 21:50
2nd out of 22 female age group, 6th out of 165 women and 31st out of 318 athletes.
A great way to start the tri season. I love racing triathlons! I felt smooth in the swim, consistent on the bike and strong on the run.
The best part of the race though, other then placing 2nd in my age group, was that for the first time in my 5 years of racing, my mom and dad came to watch and cheer me on. Now they know exactly what it is that I do.
Finishing time 1:12:33 - Swim 12:38, Bike 38:05, Run 21:50
2nd out of 22 female age group, 6th out of 165 women and 31st out of 318 athletes.
A great way to start the tri season. I love racing triathlons! I felt smooth in the swim, consistent on the bike and strong on the run.
The best part of the race though, other then placing 2nd in my age group, was that for the first time in my 5 years of racing, my mom and dad came to watch and cheer me on. Now they know exactly what it is that I do.
Monday, April 11, 2011
running attire for the rain
Last Sunday was a pretty miserable day to run. Rain. Rain. Rain. That's okay though because whether it's rain, snow or sun, I'm prepared to run. I put on my warmer thicker tights, wool long sleeve, thicker t-shirt and waterproof jacket. On my head I stuck a tuque on to keep my ears warm and a hat on top of that to keep the rain out of my eyes. I even put socks on my hands because I couldn't find my gloves. As I'm leaving the house, my mom calls out "it's raining outside! Don't let your hair get wet. You're going to get sick" and then throws a bright yellow poncho at me.
Sunday, March 27, 2011
"weirdos" at the pool
Okay, maybe they aren't weirdos, but certain people display behavior that I find unusual and others downright irritating. I'll let you be the judge I already mentioned the male swimmer wearing camouflage speedos. Fine, maybe he really, really likes camo, or he's in the army, or it was on sale?? But what about the man wearing white speedos? Yes, white does become transparent in most wet bathing suits. It's a good thing that most bathing suits and speedos will double layer the front side to protect from this. Unfortunately, the back side lacks this protection. Then there are the swimmers who like to drown themselves in cologne so that they don't drown in the pool? It must be that cheap cologne that helps them float If I can smell you in the water, as in, as I'm swimming towards the end of the pool where you happen to be catching your breath after that fabulous all out sprint, then you've put on too much. Speaking of fabulous all out sprints, if you know you cant hold your pace for the full 50 meters of the pool, then let me go first instead of cutting me off and splashing and kicking water everywhere. I'm just going to pass you half way down the lane! If you get to the end of the lane, please look before pushing off to do your next lap. If I'm right there behind you, its because it was too dangerous (on coming swimmers) for me to pass you, so I slowly swam behind you until you got to the end of the lane. If you and your swimming posse are doing some drills that require all 4 of you to wear fins on your feet and paddles on your hands and you MUST draft off each other's current while fabulously sprinting 100 meters only to spread out and catch your breath at the end of the lane.....DONT! this is a PUBLIC pool, not your own private pool! you cant take up a whole lane to yourselves by not letting anyone else swim before, you or between your swimming posse. Heaven forbid I should try and swim before you because you'll drown me under the waves of water kicked up while you pass me using your fins and paddles....all FOUR of you.
My ultimate, NUMBER ONE PEEVE are the men who stand in the hot tub facing the jets. Does that "massage" feel good? Happy ending?? You are in a PUBLIC space, STOP IT!!
Well, I guess this post turned into a swimming rant more then anything. But the original inspiration for my post stemmed from two swimmers this evening who seemed to be observing how I swam. This is normal. Sometimes I do it before getting into the water or after I'm done. So why did I think this particular instance was unusual? And I'm not being egotistical, it was the two-beat kick they were interested in Well, instead of standing on deck or watching from the end of the lane, these two guys decided they would swim two thirds of the way down the lane and while standing on the opposite side of the swimming traffic/flow, watch as I swam past them. After a few bouts of this, they used a new method of observation. The under water kind.
If I knew who these people were, or even if they had asked permission to observe so closely, then I wouldn't have been so weirded out!
My ultimate, NUMBER ONE PEEVE are the men who stand in the hot tub facing the jets. Does that "massage" feel good? Happy ending?? You are in a PUBLIC space, STOP IT!!
Well, I guess this post turned into a swimming rant more then anything. But the original inspiration for my post stemmed from two swimmers this evening who seemed to be observing how I swam. This is normal. Sometimes I do it before getting into the water or after I'm done. So why did I think this particular instance was unusual? And I'm not being egotistical, it was the two-beat kick they were interested in Well, instead of standing on deck or watching from the end of the lane, these two guys decided they would swim two thirds of the way down the lane and while standing on the opposite side of the swimming traffic/flow, watch as I swam past them. After a few bouts of this, they used a new method of observation. The under water kind.
If I knew who these people were, or even if they had asked permission to observe so closely, then I wouldn't have been so weirded out!
Sunday, March 20, 2011
Harry's 8K, I dont think I like running
First race of the year! Harry's 8k.
The race, which took place in Stanley Park, was a great race! Beautiful scenery, very well organized, nice and flat.
I didnt do TOO bad. Finished in 38 mins and 15 seconds. I was 168th out of 959 runners, 36th out of 489 women and 10th out of 94 women in my age group. Top ten!!
I didnt walk away with any medals, but I did walk away with the realization that I dont like running races. At least not short races like 8k. The first 10 mins of the race was like playing Frogger, dodging in and out, weaving around slower people. After things cleared up, it took another 15 mins for me to fully warm up. You know that feeling where everything is burning: legs, feet, lungs, stomach, throat... It wasnt until I saw the 6k marker that I tuned into "race mode."
I think I'll just stick to triathlons for now.
The race, which took place in Stanley Park, was a great race! Beautiful scenery, very well organized, nice and flat.
I didnt do TOO bad. Finished in 38 mins and 15 seconds. I was 168th out of 959 runners, 36th out of 489 women and 10th out of 94 women in my age group. Top ten!!
I didnt walk away with any medals, but I did walk away with the realization that I dont like running races. At least not short races like 8k. The first 10 mins of the race was like playing Frogger, dodging in and out, weaving around slower people. After things cleared up, it took another 15 mins for me to fully warm up. You know that feeling where everything is burning: legs, feet, lungs, stomach, throat... It wasnt until I saw the 6k marker that I tuned into "race mode."
I think I'll just stick to triathlons for now.
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
I swim like a seal
This morning I received one of the best swimming compliments I've ever heard. There were only three of us swimming this morning, and one of our last drills was to do a 4x50m relay. (is that right? im trying to say that we each swam 50 m, 4 times by ourselves).
Anyways, this allowed us to watch each other swim. After my last 50 meters, the other two swimmers exclaimed that I swam like a seal! I don't splash, I'm very smooth and I quickly glide through the water. That put a huge grin on my face!
Swimming is technically the hardest discipline out of the 3. There is so much to think about! Two-beat kick, arms coordinated with legs, stream-line, breathing, arm catch, arm pull, don't scull while breathing, leading with the elbow, arms wider....and once I think I've got it all down, I get another correction! Or because I'm thinking about the 8 other things Im suppose to be doing, I've completely ignored something.
Every new correction breaks my swimming down to the point where I just float in the water while I try and figure out what to do with my body, but once I get it all coordinated, I can swim like a seal :)
Regardless of all the things I have to think about, I still find swimming the most relaxing discipline to train for.
....well, except when I'm at the aquatic center and there's a guy standing on deck wearing camouflage print speedos. "uh oh, where'd u go?? oh I didnt see you standing on the deck there bc u were wearing tiny camo speedos! TOTALLY blended into the wall" LOL
Anyways, this allowed us to watch each other swim. After my last 50 meters, the other two swimmers exclaimed that I swam like a seal! I don't splash, I'm very smooth and I quickly glide through the water. That put a huge grin on my face!
Swimming is technically the hardest discipline out of the 3. There is so much to think about! Two-beat kick, arms coordinated with legs, stream-line, breathing, arm catch, arm pull, don't scull while breathing, leading with the elbow, arms wider....and once I think I've got it all down, I get another correction! Or because I'm thinking about the 8 other things Im suppose to be doing, I've completely ignored something.
Every new correction breaks my swimming down to the point where I just float in the water while I try and figure out what to do with my body, but once I get it all coordinated, I can swim like a seal :)
Regardless of all the things I have to think about, I still find swimming the most relaxing discipline to train for.
....well, except when I'm at the aquatic center and there's a guy standing on deck wearing camouflage print speedos. "uh oh, where'd u go?? oh I didnt see you standing on the deck there bc u were wearing tiny camo speedos! TOTALLY blended into the wall" LOL
Sunday, March 13, 2011
2 months fitter
The first year I trained for IMC 2008, I started in May. My goal was just to get across that finish line. Fear of getting disqualified from being too slow and not making the time cut off on the bike kept me motivated to get my butt out and train.
Last year I started training around this time, but because of some personal distractions, I was never able to dedicate myself wholly to training. I'd swim twice a week, run 1-2 times a week, and skip on the bike. This continued on for a few months into I finally geared myself into my commitment.
This year, I've got a solid two months under my belt and for the first time I'm really excited about getting out on my bike and putting the pedal to the metal.
Here's to getting stronger and faster!!
Last year I started training around this time, but because of some personal distractions, I was never able to dedicate myself wholly to training. I'd swim twice a week, run 1-2 times a week, and skip on the bike. This continued on for a few months into I finally geared myself into my commitment.
This year, I've got a solid two months under my belt and for the first time I'm really excited about getting out on my bike and putting the pedal to the metal.
Here's to getting stronger and faster!!
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
oops
i gotta write something!! its been two weeks, im falling out of habit!
regarding my last post: im not saying that losing weight is as simple as eating healthy and less while exercising and you'll lose weight. If that was the case, then EVERYBODY would be thin and fit. Eating healthy all the time and keeping up exercise is HARD WORK! I know!! Not only am I trying to eat healthy, but im trying to eat healthy minus wheat and dairy! Plus, I have a ridiculous training schedule.
so what do I eat now? I used to turn to foot long subways and pizza as my staple, quick cheap 'healthy' ish meals. And cereal. Lots of cereal. Plus granola bars and protein bars. I cant do that anymore.
Most morning, I wake up to a bowl of oatmeal with some flax seeds. Sometimes its plain oatmeal, sometimes its the quaker kind with cinnamon and sugar or apple. I like to grind the flax seeds, but lately I havent had time to grind a batch. Lunch is usually sushi salmon roll and california roll. As long as there are no weird sauces or tempura, I can eat it. I havent had a problem with the artificial crab meat in california rolls may contain wheat. I do, however, have to buy my own, organic wheat free soya sauce. Yes, regular soya sauce has wheat in it. I'm glad I can buy cheap, quick sushi take out from Fujiya (on !st and Clarke). If not sushi, then lunch is mom's korean cookin'. Usually some soup made from rice dough. Dinner is again mom's korean cooking I really need to learn how to cook korean food, or any food for that matter! Occasionally Pho makes an appearance for lunch or dinner. That's usually how the meals go. For snacks, ill grab a handful of almonds. I literally have to drive with a little tupperware container with mixed nuts so I dont get hunger pains while driving to or from a workout, school or work.
And my treat, since I cant indulge with chocolates, or ice-cream or cookies.....dried mangos!! mmmm!!!! buy me dried mango and im a happy camper.
regarding my last post: im not saying that losing weight is as simple as eating healthy and less while exercising and you'll lose weight. If that was the case, then EVERYBODY would be thin and fit. Eating healthy all the time and keeping up exercise is HARD WORK! I know!! Not only am I trying to eat healthy, but im trying to eat healthy minus wheat and dairy! Plus, I have a ridiculous training schedule.
so what do I eat now? I used to turn to foot long subways and pizza as my staple, quick cheap 'healthy' ish meals. And cereal. Lots of cereal. Plus granola bars and protein bars. I cant do that anymore.
Most morning, I wake up to a bowl of oatmeal with some flax seeds. Sometimes its plain oatmeal, sometimes its the quaker kind with cinnamon and sugar or apple. I like to grind the flax seeds, but lately I havent had time to grind a batch. Lunch is usually sushi salmon roll and california roll. As long as there are no weird sauces or tempura, I can eat it. I havent had a problem with the artificial crab meat in california rolls may contain wheat. I do, however, have to buy my own, organic wheat free soya sauce. Yes, regular soya sauce has wheat in it. I'm glad I can buy cheap, quick sushi take out from Fujiya (on !st and Clarke). If not sushi, then lunch is mom's korean cookin'. Usually some soup made from rice dough. Dinner is again mom's korean cooking I really need to learn how to cook korean food, or any food for that matter! Occasionally Pho makes an appearance for lunch or dinner. That's usually how the meals go. For snacks, ill grab a handful of almonds. I literally have to drive with a little tupperware container with mixed nuts so I dont get hunger pains while driving to or from a workout, school or work.
And my treat, since I cant indulge with chocolates, or ice-cream or cookies.....dried mangos!! mmmm!!!! buy me dried mango and im a happy camper.
Monday, February 21, 2011
"How do you stay so thin?"
I was at the gym when some girl asked me that. It kind of caught me off guard too. Well, I wish I had some big secret to share but I don't. It's a bit of genes but mainly it's 'calories in vs calories out'. Everyone in my family is fairly slender, both immediate and extended. A high metabolism must run in the family.
That doesn't mean if you don't have a high metabolism or your family isn't generally slender, you're screwed. The biggest thing is the number of calories you eat vs the number of calories you burn. I'm sure you watch what you eat and you go to the gym everyday and sweat like crazy while running on the treadmill for an hour and a half, but if you can't lose those last 10 lbs, or you don't see a difference in your weight, then I'm also sure your watching yourself eat that quick slice of pizza after class/work or that Big Mac from McDonalds with large fries and a diet coke that you only eat once or twice a month. You up-ed your intensity/duration/weights today at the gym, so you can treat yourself to a pasta dish with a creamy sauce you need to replenish the carbs right? do you really NEED to?? You ate a healthy salad and an apple for lunch so you're allowed to have some chips or cookies after dinner. You'll be going to the gym tomorrow anyways...
Do you see where I'm going with this? Those little exceptions that you make for yourself add up!! Once or twice a week is enough to keep those last few pounds from melting off.
I'm not saying stop eating, I'm not saying workout longer and I'm not saying, forget about the gym cause you're gonna eat that 99 cent pizza anyways. I'm saying refrain from 'treating' yourself with bad foods and eat healthier while keeping that work-out intensity up.
Don't succumb to the McDonalds drive through because you're hungry and it's on the way home from work. Keep a bag of nuts and dried fruit in your car to chomp on until you can get home and make yourself a proper meal.
OR!! stop complaining and whining about your fat thighs, flabby arms and big stomach come bikini time or summer time for you guys and just enjoy every last bite of your Double Quarter Pounder with bacon and cheese.
That doesn't mean if you don't have a high metabolism or your family isn't generally slender, you're screwed. The biggest thing is the number of calories you eat vs the number of calories you burn. I'm sure you watch what you eat and you go to the gym everyday and sweat like crazy while running on the treadmill for an hour and a half, but if you can't lose those last 10 lbs, or you don't see a difference in your weight, then I'm also sure your watching yourself eat that quick slice of pizza after class/work or that Big Mac from McDonalds with large fries and a diet coke that you only eat once or twice a month. You up-ed your intensity/duration/weights today at the gym, so you can treat yourself to a pasta dish with a creamy sauce you need to replenish the carbs right? do you really NEED to?? You ate a healthy salad and an apple for lunch so you're allowed to have some chips or cookies after dinner. You'll be going to the gym tomorrow anyways...
Do you see where I'm going with this? Those little exceptions that you make for yourself add up!! Once or twice a week is enough to keep those last few pounds from melting off.
I'm not saying stop eating, I'm not saying workout longer and I'm not saying, forget about the gym cause you're gonna eat that 99 cent pizza anyways. I'm saying refrain from 'treating' yourself with bad foods and eat healthier while keeping that work-out intensity up.
Don't succumb to the McDonalds drive through because you're hungry and it's on the way home from work. Keep a bag of nuts and dried fruit in your car to chomp on until you can get home and make yourself a proper meal.
OR!! stop complaining and whining about your fat thighs, flabby arms and big stomach come bikini time or summer time for you guys and just enjoy every last bite of your Double Quarter Pounder with bacon and cheese.
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
Ooh na na, what's my weight....
I don't know what this info really says about what's going on with my weight, but out of curiosity, I measure and weigh monthly to see if my INTENSE training is doing anything.
Feb 8th
119lbs
Waist 27.5"
Hips 35.25"
Upper leg 21.25"
Above knee 16"
Calf 14"
Left Bicept (unflexed) 10"
Jan 3rd
118lbs
Waist 26.75"
Hips 35"
Upper leg 21"
Above knee 16"
Calf 14"
Left Bicept (unflexed) 9.75"
So it looks like I've gained a pound, but really that could be due to hydration, food ingestion, time of day, or maybe I'm just a pound of muscle heavier. Gained .75 inches in the waist? what the heck? I hope that extra pound is food then!! 0.25" in the hips....could that be from a bigger butt?? My weight training has mostly been concentrating on increasing strength in the hamstrings, quads and glutes, so the 0.25" gain in upper leg and hips makes sense. Stronger arms!! .25"!! yeah for swimming!
So I've gained some mass here and there, but it's only the first month in! I've still got 6 more to go! And really, numbers are just numbers! It's how I feel that's the most important thing. I feel stronger, and I can see that my body looks more fit!
Overall though I do feel tired all the time!
I was discussing Ironman with a fellow swimmer and she was saying how her and her husband were going to do a half Ironman distance at the end of the summer. She wanted to do a full Ironman distance, but wanted to see how the half went first. Her decision to do a full would have nothing to do with the race itself, but the time spent training for a half and then relating that to the time needed to train for a full.
Hm, well that's funny! Usually people say the factor holding them back from doing Ironman is the distance of the race, not the time needed in order to train for the race. That is, unless you speak with someone who's already trained and raced a full Ironman distance. Smart!
Training for IMC while taking 2 classes and working part-time....what was I thinking!!!???
8 more weeks and 1 class will be done while the 2nd class depends on me because its self-paced. Put school on hold again? scrape by on depleting finances?? In 8 weeks time, I'll know what to do because I'll either have no more money, or my class schedule will "work" and allow me to work, train and study. I know which way Im leaning though.
Only missed one swim workout last week due to a swollen eye. I didnt know how my goggles would fare over a swollen eye lid so I decided to just skip the swim instead. 11.5 hours worth of training later and I'm already into the next week. Those Monday Rest days just don't seem long enough!
Feb 8th
119lbs
Waist 27.5"
Hips 35.25"
Upper leg 21.25"
Above knee 16"
Calf 14"
Left Bicept (unflexed) 10"
Jan 3rd
118lbs
Waist 26.75"
Hips 35"
Upper leg 21"
Above knee 16"
Calf 14"
Left Bicept (unflexed) 9.75"
So it looks like I've gained a pound, but really that could be due to hydration, food ingestion, time of day, or maybe I'm just a pound of muscle heavier. Gained .75 inches in the waist? what the heck? I hope that extra pound is food then!! 0.25" in the hips....could that be from a bigger butt?? My weight training has mostly been concentrating on increasing strength in the hamstrings, quads and glutes, so the 0.25" gain in upper leg and hips makes sense. Stronger arms!! .25"!! yeah for swimming!
So I've gained some mass here and there, but it's only the first month in! I've still got 6 more to go! And really, numbers are just numbers! It's how I feel that's the most important thing. I feel stronger, and I can see that my body looks more fit!
Overall though I do feel tired all the time!
I was discussing Ironman with a fellow swimmer and she was saying how her and her husband were going to do a half Ironman distance at the end of the summer. She wanted to do a full Ironman distance, but wanted to see how the half went first. Her decision to do a full would have nothing to do with the race itself, but the time spent training for a half and then relating that to the time needed to train for a full.
Hm, well that's funny! Usually people say the factor holding them back from doing Ironman is the distance of the race, not the time needed in order to train for the race. That is, unless you speak with someone who's already trained and raced a full Ironman distance. Smart!
Training for IMC while taking 2 classes and working part-time....what was I thinking!!!???
8 more weeks and 1 class will be done while the 2nd class depends on me because its self-paced. Put school on hold again? scrape by on depleting finances?? In 8 weeks time, I'll know what to do because I'll either have no more money, or my class schedule will "work" and allow me to work, train and study. I know which way Im leaning though.
Only missed one swim workout last week due to a swollen eye. I didnt know how my goggles would fare over a swollen eye lid so I decided to just skip the swim instead. 11.5 hours worth of training later and I'm already into the next week. Those Monday Rest days just don't seem long enough!
Saturday, February 5, 2011
"You do what??"
So what IS a triathlon? what's Ironman?? you mean the movie??
A lot of people don't know what triathlons are. They've heard of marathons....but a tri....athlon??
My passion, explained.
A triathlon is a race composed of 3 disciplines. It begins with a swim that can be done in a pool, lake or ocean, followed by a bike course that can be flat, hilly, both, a big loop, out and back or two loops, etc and lastly a run which can also be flat, hilly, both, one big loop, an out and back or consecutive loops. No rest inbetween. It's just one after another, after another. There are transition areas where you keep your bike and running gear so once you come out of the swim, you run to your bike, which is stacked on a rack, slip into your cycling gear and off you go. Coming back into the transition area and off the bike, you re-rack your bike and slip into your running gear and you're off for the last leg of the race. Simple!
Not all triathlons are the same though. They differ in their distances. There is a Sprint distance which consists of a 700m swim, 20km bike and 5km run. When I first heard these distances (plus the other ones I'm about to explain) I still didnt know how far they actually were. 700m? Should I get 700 meter sticks from Temp and lay them out? 20k bike? That's from where to where? 5km run....did I do that in gym for highschool? Is that like the campus run?
For your knowledge and mine....
The Sprint distance. That's like swimming from the corner of Hastings and Renfrew to Hastings and Kamloops (Where the Bank of Montreal is), riding from the corner of Hastings and Renfrew to the outdoor running track at SFU Burnaby Mtn Campus and then back again, and running from the Hastings side, Playland entrance to Willingdon street and then back. 1.5 hours and you're done!
Then there's the Olympic distance which consists of a 1500m swim, 40km bike and a 10km run. You're swimming from Hastings and Renfrew to Hastings and Victoria Drive, riding from Hastings and Naniamo to the Vancouver Airport and then back, and running....well, you've done the Vancouver 10K Sun Run!! If you haven't, you're not a TRUE Vancouverite! (j/k) It's like running from Hastings and Naniamo to Sushi Town in Burnaby and then back. You could be done in 3 hours!
Next up is the Half Iron distance which consists of a 2.0km swim, 90km bike and 21.1km run. You're swimming from Hastings and Naniamo to Hastings and Skeena (the top of the block where that big McDonalds is), you're riding from the Ironworker's Memorial Bridge to Whistler (no back this time!) and running from Hastings and Naniamo to the Richmond side of the Knight Street bridge and then back again. This took me somewhere in the 6.5 hour range.
Lastly, there's the Ironman distance. 3.8km swim, 180km bike and 42.2 km run. easy! You're swimming from Hastings and Naniamo to Hastings and Willingdon, riding from the Ironworker's memorial bridge to Whistler and back again, and running along the Trans Canada Highway (hwy #1) from the Hastings street exit, to the first exit going into Surrey (exit 48?) and then back again.
Wow, when I put it into those tangible reference points....it IS far!!!
You might be wondering 'how do you eat?? What happens if you need to go pee?' There are lot's of "fake food" alternatives that are in easy, single use packages like powerade gels or protien bars that provide you with carbs and engery. Most races also have water stations that give out water and some electrolyte drink usually powerade or gatorade. And I just pee in the pool. Hahaha, no I've never done that before! I pee before the race and I usually don't have to go again. For longer distances like the half and full Ironman, there are porter pottys that are set up along the route. I have to admit though, I have pee'd in my wetsuit before Ironman, but you can't help it! You wake up early and drink water to make sure you're hydrated and then you get your wetsuit on and wait and wait......and by the time you're on the beach, its too late to go back to the porter pottys...and the water is RIGHT there....no one knows you're doing it, but everyone else is doing it too!
Hmm, what else do people usually ask me about triathlons? How did I get into Triathlons? That answer will have to wait for another blog.
Do you have a question? Leave me a question in the comment box! Don't worry, you can be anonymous!
Anyone can do a triathlon! Start with a sprint distance! You don't need a fancy bike or a complicated training program. 6-8 weeks of training and you'd be ready for your first sprint triathlon! Finishing a triathlon is way better then finishing a run race anyways!!
A lot of people don't know what triathlons are. They've heard of marathons....but a tri....athlon??
My passion, explained.
A triathlon is a race composed of 3 disciplines. It begins with a swim that can be done in a pool, lake or ocean, followed by a bike course that can be flat, hilly, both, a big loop, out and back or two loops, etc and lastly a run which can also be flat, hilly, both, one big loop, an out and back or consecutive loops. No rest inbetween. It's just one after another, after another. There are transition areas where you keep your bike and running gear so once you come out of the swim, you run to your bike, which is stacked on a rack, slip into your cycling gear and off you go. Coming back into the transition area and off the bike, you re-rack your bike and slip into your running gear and you're off for the last leg of the race. Simple!
Not all triathlons are the same though. They differ in their distances. There is a Sprint distance which consists of a 700m swim, 20km bike and 5km run. When I first heard these distances (plus the other ones I'm about to explain) I still didnt know how far they actually were. 700m? Should I get 700 meter sticks from Temp and lay them out? 20k bike? That's from where to where? 5km run....did I do that in gym for highschool? Is that like the campus run?
For your knowledge and mine....
The Sprint distance. That's like swimming from the corner of Hastings and Renfrew to Hastings and Kamloops (Where the Bank of Montreal is), riding from the corner of Hastings and Renfrew to the outdoor running track at SFU Burnaby Mtn Campus and then back again, and running from the Hastings side, Playland entrance to Willingdon street and then back. 1.5 hours and you're done!
Then there's the Olympic distance which consists of a 1500m swim, 40km bike and a 10km run. You're swimming from Hastings and Renfrew to Hastings and Victoria Drive, riding from Hastings and Naniamo to the Vancouver Airport and then back, and running....well, you've done the Vancouver 10K Sun Run!! If you haven't, you're not a TRUE Vancouverite! (j/k) It's like running from Hastings and Naniamo to Sushi Town in Burnaby and then back. You could be done in 3 hours!
Next up is the Half Iron distance which consists of a 2.0km swim, 90km bike and 21.1km run. You're swimming from Hastings and Naniamo to Hastings and Skeena (the top of the block where that big McDonalds is), you're riding from the Ironworker's Memorial Bridge to Whistler (no back this time!) and running from Hastings and Naniamo to the Richmond side of the Knight Street bridge and then back again. This took me somewhere in the 6.5 hour range.
Lastly, there's the Ironman distance. 3.8km swim, 180km bike and 42.2 km run. easy! You're swimming from Hastings and Naniamo to Hastings and Willingdon, riding from the Ironworker's memorial bridge to Whistler and back again, and running along the Trans Canada Highway (hwy #1) from the Hastings street exit, to the first exit going into Surrey (exit 48?) and then back again.
Wow, when I put it into those tangible reference points....it IS far!!!
You might be wondering 'how do you eat?? What happens if you need to go pee?' There are lot's of "fake food" alternatives that are in easy, single use packages like powerade gels or protien bars that provide you with carbs and engery. Most races also have water stations that give out water and some electrolyte drink usually powerade or gatorade. And I just pee in the pool. Hahaha, no I've never done that before! I pee before the race and I usually don't have to go again. For longer distances like the half and full Ironman, there are porter pottys that are set up along the route. I have to admit though, I have pee'd in my wetsuit before Ironman, but you can't help it! You wake up early and drink water to make sure you're hydrated and then you get your wetsuit on and wait and wait......and by the time you're on the beach, its too late to go back to the porter pottys...and the water is RIGHT there....no one knows you're doing it, but everyone else is doing it too!
Hmm, what else do people usually ask me about triathlons? How did I get into Triathlons? That answer will have to wait for another blog.
Do you have a question? Leave me a question in the comment box! Don't worry, you can be anonymous!
Anyone can do a triathlon! Start with a sprint distance! You don't need a fancy bike or a complicated training program. 6-8 weeks of training and you'd be ready for your first sprint triathlon! Finishing a triathlon is way better then finishing a run race anyways!!
Monday, January 31, 2011
Me vs. Myself
It's always a mental game. My brain tells me yes, my body tells me no. My brain tells me no, my body tells me yes. My brain tells me no, my body tells me no, but I tell me yes. Although last week was a recovery week, I missed too many workouts 3 + both core workouts but I had to work 5 days this week with most shifts ending at midnight or later and the internal dialogue that would play through my head every morning and every night consisted mainly of reasoning, coaxing, persuading, compromises and finally settling on a decision to carry out the day with or without the scheduled workouts. If I missed a workout on a particular day though, I didn't mentally let it effect my other workouts. It's too easy to beat yourself up over a missed session and let that negativity carry over to the next session.
Ultimately this mental dialogue is practice for race day. My brain tells me I'm too tired as I lay in bed, but I have to tell myself that I do have the energy. My brain tells me I feel sad and this isn't worth it while I grab my gear, but I tell me that I will feel great after and that this is worth it. My body tells me I'm not strong enough as I do my workouts, but I tell my body I will get stronger. My muscles burn telling me I don't have the endurance, but I tell my body to push through the sensations, to withstand them.
Doesn't sound all too appealing does it?
Ironman is a long race and on race day my body will tell me that it is tired, my brain will tell me to stop, my muscles will be on fire but I will tell me that I can go on and that I will go on. "Pain is only a state of mind. There is no pain." Anything can happen to set you back: GI problems, line-ups at porter potties, flat tires, bike accidents, goggles getting kicked off, IT band flare ups, dehydration, hypothermia, dropped water bottles and the list goes on and on. Just like a missed workout, I can't let these set backs hold me back from giving 110% of my effort and finishing the race to the best of my ability.
Your brain can adapt, your body can adapt, but you have to tell you what you can and can not do; what you will and will not do.
We completed our second time trial at Peak Centre for Human Performance http://www.peakcentrevancouver.ca/ This involved riding bits and pieces of IMC's bike course on compu trainers along side fellow athletes. The compu trainer alters and adjusts the resistance mimicking the flats, hills and slopes of the actual course and all the athletes are hooked up to one computer so we can actually race against one another. There's even a big screen in front of us showing where we are on the course. Kind of like that horse racing game at the PNE, where you feed a ball into numbered holes using a pinball machine like contraption and the more difficult a hole you get your ball into, the further along your horse moves, and all the horses move from one end of the screen to the other. Well, anyways, I was racing with both new athletes as well as those from my first go last month and as weird as this may sound I had to force myself NOT to race against anyone else but myself. It's only natural to compete against everyone cause we're all technically racing with one another, but instead of focusing on what place I was in, who was in front, who was behind or if I could catch up to whoever was in front, I focused on pushing hard, maintaining my rpm's (the speed of my pedal stroke) and effort and not giving into the burning in my lower body. I was happy to see that I had finished 30 seconds faster then last month.
I might have missed some workouts here and there this month, but I'm getting faster, stronger and more focused.
Ultimately this mental dialogue is practice for race day. My brain tells me I'm too tired as I lay in bed, but I have to tell myself that I do have the energy. My brain tells me I feel sad and this isn't worth it while I grab my gear, but I tell me that I will feel great after and that this is worth it. My body tells me I'm not strong enough as I do my workouts, but I tell my body I will get stronger. My muscles burn telling me I don't have the endurance, but I tell my body to push through the sensations, to withstand them.
Doesn't sound all too appealing does it?
Ironman is a long race and on race day my body will tell me that it is tired, my brain will tell me to stop, my muscles will be on fire but I will tell me that I can go on and that I will go on. "Pain is only a state of mind. There is no pain." Anything can happen to set you back: GI problems, line-ups at porter potties, flat tires, bike accidents, goggles getting kicked off, IT band flare ups, dehydration, hypothermia, dropped water bottles and the list goes on and on. Just like a missed workout, I can't let these set backs hold me back from giving 110% of my effort and finishing the race to the best of my ability.
Your brain can adapt, your body can adapt, but you have to tell you what you can and can not do; what you will and will not do.
We completed our second time trial at Peak Centre for Human Performance http://www.peakcentrevancouver.ca/ This involved riding bits and pieces of IMC's bike course on compu trainers along side fellow athletes. The compu trainer alters and adjusts the resistance mimicking the flats, hills and slopes of the actual course and all the athletes are hooked up to one computer so we can actually race against one another. There's even a big screen in front of us showing where we are on the course. Kind of like that horse racing game at the PNE, where you feed a ball into numbered holes using a pinball machine like contraption and the more difficult a hole you get your ball into, the further along your horse moves, and all the horses move from one end of the screen to the other. Well, anyways, I was racing with both new athletes as well as those from my first go last month and as weird as this may sound I had to force myself NOT to race against anyone else but myself. It's only natural to compete against everyone cause we're all technically racing with one another, but instead of focusing on what place I was in, who was in front, who was behind or if I could catch up to whoever was in front, I focused on pushing hard, maintaining my rpm's (the speed of my pedal stroke) and effort and not giving into the burning in my lower body. I was happy to see that I had finished 30 seconds faster then last month.
I might have missed some workouts here and there this month, but I'm getting faster, stronger and more focused.
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
thank the stars it's a recovery week
Last weekend was INTENSE! I thought I'd ease into Thursday with a yoga class before spin, but that set me up for an exhausting weekend. I started with an early morning swim on Friday which was followed by a strength training session in the gym and then a quick 2 hours at school. After some food and a 40 min run with drills I was off to work from 530-130am. I was happy to not work on Saturday because I spent my afternoon spinning for 2 hours and 40 mins on my trainer in my garage. I wasn't so fortunate on Sunday though because I had to work from 9-530. This meant I was up at 630 am to get my 60min long run in and headed straight to the pool after work to get 2000 metres done. Sleeping in on Monday was glorious.
total hours spent training last week, about 14 (not including yoga).
....too tired to write anything more interesting then this. sorry!
total hours spent training last week, about 14 (not including yoga).
....too tired to write anything more interesting then this. sorry!
Thursday, January 20, 2011
Nobody's perfect
Argh, I missed a workout last week!! Totally my fault and totally avoidable, but I thought I could do it! and maybe 2 years ago, I would have been able to. On Saturday, I should have woken up earlier but I chose to sleep in a little instead so by the time I was out the door, I was already an hour behind schedule. Unfortunately, doing my long ride was not the first thing on my 'to-do' list that day but I managed to get semi-caught up and started my ride just 30mins behind schedule. This still left me scrambling to get ready, trying to get to my work's 1 year anniversary dinner on time. Unfortunately, this also meant that I didn't have enough time to properly re-hydrate after riding for 2.20 hours. Free drink tickets and cheap drinks meant many vodka cranberry highballs and a couple glasses of wine...
Well, I woke up the next morning at 6:45 am to get ready to run by 8, but there was no way I was actually getting out of bed. Eventually I did roll out from under my blankets and put my running shoes on to do 50 mins on my own, but after that, I was done for the day. In the state I was in, I just couldn't make the idea of getting into a pool and swimming 1500m appealing.
I cant beat myself up about it too badly. It's only week two of 34! I had a great time dressing up and dancing with my co-workers, plus I still got all my other workouts done for week 2. I completed two drills/technique swims along with two strength training workouts. The short ride, spinning class and long ride got done as well as my two shorter intensity runs and long run. I don't regret going out and having fun, but there won't be any more heavy drinking until after the big race. Fun, yes. Drunk, no.
Week 3 is looking pretty good!
ps, I've edited the comment leaving box so that you can leave a comment w/o having any sort of account.
Well, I woke up the next morning at 6:45 am to get ready to run by 8, but there was no way I was actually getting out of bed. Eventually I did roll out from under my blankets and put my running shoes on to do 50 mins on my own, but after that, I was done for the day. In the state I was in, I just couldn't make the idea of getting into a pool and swimming 1500m appealing.
I cant beat myself up about it too badly. It's only week two of 34! I had a great time dressing up and dancing with my co-workers, plus I still got all my other workouts done for week 2. I completed two drills/technique swims along with two strength training workouts. The short ride, spinning class and long ride got done as well as my two shorter intensity runs and long run. I don't regret going out and having fun, but there won't be any more heavy drinking until after the big race. Fun, yes. Drunk, no.
Week 3 is looking pretty good!
ps, I've edited the comment leaving box so that you can leave a comment w/o having any sort of account.
Saturday, January 15, 2011
sing you a song for a dollar!!
Now I just need to find 2999 more people to sing to! I knew the bike meet and greet at Speed Theory would be a bad idea because now I want a new tri bike even more!! The info was fantastic and the vibe was really relaxed. All the questions -there are no stupid questions...right??- asked were answered in a way that was simple enough for us to understand (no complex terms) but not so simple that we felt belittled. I hate it when you go into a bike store, tri store or any store and the person you're talking with makes you feel embarrassed and little because your knowledge of whatever you're trying to buy is minimal. It's worse though, when they speak too fast and with complex terminology and lingo. Then I usually leave the store more confused and frustrated and put whatever purchase I was going to make on the back burner for a few days. Within those few days I usually convince myself I no longer need it.
Bikes, bikes, back to bikes! I want to get a new tri bike! Cervelo P2 to be exact. Much lighter because it's all carbon fiber, more aerodynamic, better fit, ugh and the list goes on and on. What if I shaved off my hair?? would you donate money?? If I swore to shave it all off If I received 3000 in donations?? Id do it, I really would! Say good bye to my long, wavy, thick hair.....it takes too long to wash every day anyways....Id donate the hair of course....
So what's wrong with the bike that I have now? Nothing. That baby has gotten me through a number of triathlons and two Ironmans. I even came second in my age group in a sprint last year and came so close to 3rd in an olympic distance (walked away 4th). I'd been toying with the idea of getting a new bike after finishing Ironman Canada last year, but then I reasoned that If I just trained harder and more consistently plus raced smart, I wouldn't need to invest in a new bike. My reasoning isn't working anymore. The advantages of training and racing on a tri bike versus a road bike are becoming more clear. Speed, better efficiency and fresher legs for a speedy run. Last year, I didnt push on my bike for IMC because I just couldnt! The immediate onset of GI problems caused me to sit upright for half the course because it was too painful to bend over and stay in my aero bars. I was forced to take 4 breaks while I waited (on 4 different occasions) for the porter potty and the last 110 km I rode by 'feel' because the cadence and heart rate monitor stopped picking up on my bike. I finished my bike in 7:02:39, about 8 mins slower then my 2008 time of 6:54:11 but when it was time to hobble off my bike and start running, my legs felt great. I killed the run in 4:12:20, 34 mins faster then my 2008 time of 4:46:02, finishing overall in 12:36:49. That was almost 30 mins faster then my 2008 finish of 13:11:24.
Training for IMC 2010, I used heart rate zones and started training earlier (instead of starting in May like I had in 2008) so I was obviously stronger and had greater endurance, but I am certain that taking those 180km easy on the bike course made for a huge difference on the run. If I could find a way to give my legs the same relief without having to compromise speed on the bike, a tri bike would be the way.
I need to make this work somehow!
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
negative noodle no more!
Be happy, happy, happy!!
In general I'm a pretty negative, cynical individual. I go beyond, "is that glass half empty or half full?" Cause to me, it looks like the glass is dirty and the milk has gone sour! Who cares if it's half full or not?
I went on my first long run (45 mins) of the year on Sunday, and I was running in my newly assessed zone 1 heart rate. My new zone 1 had me running significantly slower then I liked. I probably could have been speed walking faster and thats exactly what my thoughts focused on for the entire run. Anytime a fellow runner came up beside me and asked how things were, I just grumbled "argh this new zone 1 is killing me! I'm running SO slow! This is ridiculous." Instead, I could have commented on what a beautiful day it was, how fortunate we were to be running on such a sunny, crisp morning, how great it was to see so many other runners out, or even complimented the nice, warm running attire that so and so was wearing. No, instead I was a negative noodle and grumbled.
From now on, I am going to make a conscious effort to be positive! Just like training my body for Ironman, I have to train my thoughts and comments to be high spirited and constructive.
In regards to the slow zone 1 running pace, this happened last year as well. The first few weeks, I was barely jogging to keep my heart rate down in zone 1, but I stuck with it and sure enough, within a few weeks, I was fighting to run fast enough to keep my heart rate in zone 1. I just need to let my heart and body adapt, and in turn, this will allow me to run faster. I would love to explain it a bit more scientifically, but I'm afraid I'll say something incorrect. But what I can say is that it has to do with the fact that Ironman is an endurance sport and so my aerobic fitness needs to work well. Completing my long runs at this slower pace teaches my body how to get more oxygen to my muscles faster by making my heart stronger and convert carbs and fat into energy for my body to use. (please don't quote me on this though)
This morning I started my swim course at the YMCA downtown. While I was putting my stuff away in the locker, a little lady saw my ironman bag and asked if I had completed it. When she found out I had, she just kept calling me her hero. "You're amazing! wow! you're my hero! I cant believe you did that. You're a hero. You're my hero!" I was off to a good start! How could I not be? I'm somebody's hero!
Anyways, I'm really excited to be swimming with Sea Hikers, because I think I'll see a lot of improvement in my swim stroke. I've already received some great feedback. The funny thing about swimming is that you might think your body is doing what it's suppose to be doing, and it might feel correct, but usually its not. I listen to the coach, I mimic what the coach is doing, I practice on deck, I practice while standing in the water, but once I'm actually horizontal, it becomes so foreign!! I'll get it eventually. I'll have an "ah hah!!" light bulb moment and then it will all connect.
On a final note, I'd like to say I'm one of thooooose crazy fit people now.
I remember driving home early sunday mornings from a "fun" night out with the girls and seeing groups of people running or jogging. I'd think to myself, 'ok, I enjoy running, but I enjoy sleeping in or partying more. Those people are nuts! I'll run later in the afternoon.' Long runs: Sunday mornings at 8am. I'm one of them
In general I'm a pretty negative, cynical individual. I go beyond, "is that glass half empty or half full?" Cause to me, it looks like the glass is dirty and the milk has gone sour! Who cares if it's half full or not?
I went on my first long run (45 mins) of the year on Sunday, and I was running in my newly assessed zone 1 heart rate. My new zone 1 had me running significantly slower then I liked. I probably could have been speed walking faster and thats exactly what my thoughts focused on for the entire run. Anytime a fellow runner came up beside me and asked how things were, I just grumbled "argh this new zone 1 is killing me! I'm running SO slow! This is ridiculous." Instead, I could have commented on what a beautiful day it was, how fortunate we were to be running on such a sunny, crisp morning, how great it was to see so many other runners out, or even complimented the nice, warm running attire that so and so was wearing. No, instead I was a negative noodle and grumbled.
From now on, I am going to make a conscious effort to be positive! Just like training my body for Ironman, I have to train my thoughts and comments to be high spirited and constructive.
In regards to the slow zone 1 running pace, this happened last year as well. The first few weeks, I was barely jogging to keep my heart rate down in zone 1, but I stuck with it and sure enough, within a few weeks, I was fighting to run fast enough to keep my heart rate in zone 1. I just need to let my heart and body adapt, and in turn, this will allow me to run faster. I would love to explain it a bit more scientifically, but I'm afraid I'll say something incorrect. But what I can say is that it has to do with the fact that Ironman is an endurance sport and so my aerobic fitness needs to work well. Completing my long runs at this slower pace teaches my body how to get more oxygen to my muscles faster by making my heart stronger and convert carbs and fat into energy for my body to use. (please don't quote me on this though)
This morning I started my swim course at the YMCA downtown. While I was putting my stuff away in the locker, a little lady saw my ironman bag and asked if I had completed it. When she found out I had, she just kept calling me her hero. "You're amazing! wow! you're my hero! I cant believe you did that. You're a hero. You're my hero!" I was off to a good start! How could I not be? I'm somebody's hero!
Anyways, I'm really excited to be swimming with Sea Hikers, because I think I'll see a lot of improvement in my swim stroke. I've already received some great feedback. The funny thing about swimming is that you might think your body is doing what it's suppose to be doing, and it might feel correct, but usually its not. I listen to the coach, I mimic what the coach is doing, I practice on deck, I practice while standing in the water, but once I'm actually horizontal, it becomes so foreign!! I'll get it eventually. I'll have an "ah hah!!" light bulb moment and then it will all connect.
On a final note, I'd like to say I'm one of thooooose crazy fit people now.
I remember driving home early sunday mornings from a "fun" night out with the girls and seeing groups of people running or jogging. I'd think to myself, 'ok, I enjoy running, but I enjoy sleeping in or partying more. Those people are nuts! I'll run later in the afternoon.' Long runs: Sunday mornings at 8am. I'm one of them
Saturday, January 8, 2011
First week, almost done!!
My first week of training is almost done! I think its safe to say that I will have completed every workout this week! HUGE improvement from last year where I would have finished 2-3 out of the 10 workouts.
By the end of tomorrow, I will have dedicated approx 9 hours to training; 2 swims, 3 rides 3 runs and 2 strength training.
I got my results back from the lactate zone assessment today (one of my larger financial investments). So now I can train in my proper training zones, which I hadnt been doing during my off-season training. What the heck is a lactate zone assessment you ask? Good question! ...and its one that I cant properly explain. But the results tell me what intensity I need to be training in to see improvement in my performance. If you're really curious, shoot me a msg, and ill explain it better...
I always think of different things i want to blog about throughout the week, but then when it comes time to put the fingers to the keyboard, I cant remember any of it.
I guess ill blog more often??
OH YES!! now I remember what I was going to say!!
My recovery drink! no, im not buying powders or protein drinks. Im drinking chocolate soy milk which has a 3;1 carb to protein ratio. Im not looking to build bulk here! This allows my body to replenish my carb stores and for an endurance athlete like myself, energy to keep going is what im going to need.
I've recently gone wheat and dairy free. To be honest, all this intense training and improper nutrition-ing has left my internal body a wreck! And when things arent working good on the inside, it effects the things on the outside.
I used to say "Oh, I just eat whatever I want. When im hungry, I eat, when im not, i dont." And "oh its ok if I eat this chocolate bar or ice-cream cone, im just going to burn it all off anyways" But then I was always hungry and that one chocolate bar became 4 in one sitting! I was hungry and needed food, and those 4 chocolate bars were the only thing available....
Saying no to dairy and wheat hasn't been easy. Have you ever stopped to think about whether or not what you're about to eat has wheat or dairy in it? Practically everything has wheat and dairy in it. Sandwiches, cereals, sauces, dumplings, cookies, pasta, mashed potatoes even soy sauce has wheat in it.
Doesn't mean my taste buds cant enjoy delicious foods though. I just need to be extra cautious and creative with meals. Fruits, veggies and nuts....MMmmMM good!!
By the end of tomorrow, I will have dedicated approx 9 hours to training; 2 swims, 3 rides 3 runs and 2 strength training.
I got my results back from the lactate zone assessment today (one of my larger financial investments). So now I can train in my proper training zones, which I hadnt been doing during my off-season training. What the heck is a lactate zone assessment you ask? Good question! ...and its one that I cant properly explain. But the results tell me what intensity I need to be training in to see improvement in my performance. If you're really curious, shoot me a msg, and ill explain it better...
I always think of different things i want to blog about throughout the week, but then when it comes time to put the fingers to the keyboard, I cant remember any of it.
I guess ill blog more often??
OH YES!! now I remember what I was going to say!!
My recovery drink! no, im not buying powders or protein drinks. Im drinking chocolate soy milk which has a 3;1 carb to protein ratio. Im not looking to build bulk here! This allows my body to replenish my carb stores and for an endurance athlete like myself, energy to keep going is what im going to need.
I've recently gone wheat and dairy free. To be honest, all this intense training and improper nutrition-ing has left my internal body a wreck! And when things arent working good on the inside, it effects the things on the outside.
I used to say "Oh, I just eat whatever I want. When im hungry, I eat, when im not, i dont." And "oh its ok if I eat this chocolate bar or ice-cream cone, im just going to burn it all off anyways" But then I was always hungry and that one chocolate bar became 4 in one sitting! I was hungry and needed food, and those 4 chocolate bars were the only thing available....
Saying no to dairy and wheat hasn't been easy. Have you ever stopped to think about whether or not what you're about to eat has wheat or dairy in it? Practically everything has wheat and dairy in it. Sandwiches, cereals, sauces, dumplings, cookies, pasta, mashed potatoes even soy sauce has wheat in it.
Doesn't mean my taste buds cant enjoy delicious foods though. I just need to be extra cautious and creative with meals. Fruits, veggies and nuts....MMmmMM good!!
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