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KN.E.R.D. June 16, 2005

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Knee Enforced Rest Day…Yes, I know, I’m a geek. This winter I started using N.E.R.D. for Nature Enforced Rest Day when I couldn't ride because of the insane amounts of rain we had here in SoCal. I was feeling guilty about not being on the bike and I finally had to come to terms with the fact that sometimes outside forces mess with my schedule. Hence NERDs. :-) This morning I had to come to terms with the fact that my knee is now dictating my schedule instead of the other way around. So I am now going to have KNERDs for the next few days.

Of course I’m not happy about it. I took the bus to work this morning and walked the mile from the bus stop to work (with my knee wrapped). And started crying. Not because it hurt. I don’t really know why. I know I have a fear that I’ll gain the weight that I lost back. Or that I’ll revert to my old lazy ways. I really enjoy cycling and running. And I’m starting to enjoy swimming too, yeah! :-) But I also know that I use working out as a way to calm me, get rid of stress and anxiety and sadness/depression. The past six weeks have been a little difficult with the loss of a friendship (and guilt because of it) and work stress. Now working out is adding stress instead of alleviating it. Maybe it just that I’m tired. Luckily, a coworker is going to give me a ride home tonight so I don’t have to walk back to the bus stop. Same schedule tomorrow. My mom is going on vacation next week and she’s leaving me her car to use so that will help too. She’s going to Cancun. What I wouldn’t give for a few days of sun and sand…

So far, so good June 15, 2005

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This morning before work, I rode 20 min to the gym, swam for 800m, then rode 45 min to work. The swim went well - a little speedwork today. I’m really finding it easier to fall into a rhythm and right now I feel so energized. I bought a new red bathing suit at Chick’s last night. And some anti-fog stuff. I’ve needed some for a while but kept forgetting. Swimming was so much clearer this morning, go figure! The last 50 is usually breaststroke and it is my favorite time. I enjoy the calmness & quietness of it and there’s kind of a surreal quality to it. If only it were that easy to glide thru life. :-)

My knee is doing better today. Maybe that’s why I’m in a better mood. :-) Went to one more easier gear than I usually do on my ride (does that make sense?) and tried the new route last night. I also raised up my seat a fraction. I guess I’ll have to wait and see if that helps. Crossing my fingers for a run tomorrow…


The mind was willing June 14, 2005

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The knee was not. Today was supposed to be the second day of working out before work (well, besides the ride to work). I had planned for a 2 mile run. I woke up at 5 with no problem. I guess I was hoping that a miracle would happen while I was sleeping and my knee would be fine. But nope, didn’t happen. It started bothering me on the way home last night and there were a couple of times where it complained long and loud. I iced it last night and tried to stay off it but this morning, it was still twingey. So I decided not to run and be safe. Grumble, grumble, grumble… :-(

It bothered me still on the ride to work but I took it slow & easy and it took me 7 minutes longer this morning. It’s not bad right now, I’m more cranky and tired than anything. And frustrated. I really have to figure out what is causing it??? I know it’s the bike but I don’t know why. I haven’t changed anything on it and just in case, last week when I was at the bike shop I had them check out the fit and they said it was fine. The only thing I can think of is the darn hills. Both the morning & afternoon rides start uphill and end downhill. After work, it’s an immediate uphill for 1 mile. I think I’ll try changing my route so I do the uphill at the end when I’m warmed up. If it’s not that, I don’t know what to do. :-(

New Routine June 13, 2005

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I started my new routine this morning. Woke up at 5 this morning to swim before work. I rode to the gym and swam 1×700 and then rode to work. It was nice. They gym wasn’t crowded, there were only a couple of people in the pool, and getting up at 5 was pretty easy. And best of all, most of my workout for the day is already done! :-) I started getting up at 5 over the weekend. It’s actually about the time my cat wants me to feed him but I would usually ignore him until 5:30. I don’t know how that cat knows what time I want to get up but this morning he stared asking for his breakfast at 4:45! That darn cat never lets me sleep thru til my alarm goes off! :-(

The swim was good, a nice easy swim. I plan on swimming before work on Mon & Wed and then the regular Sat workout. Swimming before work means I won’t have to schedule my workout around their aqua classes. Tomorrow, I’m going to start running before work too. I bought “The Triathlete’s Guide to Run Training” on Friday and I want to start applying it to my runs.

Oh yeah, the pictures from the Danskin are ready. I laughed my butt off when I saw them. They are hilarious…I look like I’m totally suffering thru the whole thing…which is not how I remember it. My coworkers wanted to know what I was looking at that made me laugh so hard so I showed the pictures to them. They thought they were funny but they are proud of me for doing it. :-) I almost didn’t show them to my best friend or my sister either because I want them to do it next year and I’ve been telling them how much fun it was. Darn! They don’t believe me anymore! -) But I’m glad my nieces got to see them. My niece, Morgan (7 yrs) said she will do one with me when she gets bigger! Woo Hoo! :-)

Another Easy Day June 10, 2005

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Today will be another easy day, just riding to/from work. I plan to ride a few extra miles tonight though and ride over to Barnes & Noble. I got a gift card for my birthday and I haven’t spent it yet! A miracle for me… I am hoping to pick up one or two tri books – The Triathlete’s Training Bible, I think. Or maybe some sport specific books for swimming/running, the two areas that I need help improving on. :-)

I’ve also decide to change up my workout schedule. With work getting crazier and crazier with the conversion in the next few months, I can see having to work late more and more. So I decided to start swimming and running in the morning before work. I would just have to get up a half hour earlier to fit them in and I wouldn’t be stressed about making it to the gym after work. Hopefully the pool will be less crowded.

My rest period ends today and I’m back to my normal schedule this weekend. I can’t wait to get in the pool tomorrow! Or I could just be looking forward to telling my gym friends about the tri! Do you ever get tired of talking about it? :-)

Race Schedule

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21st Annual 5K Run, City of San Dimas - September 24, 2005

Steamboat Tri – October 9, 2005

Le Tour de Foothills (50 miles) - November 19, 2005

Rancho 10K – December 10, 2005

Run for Rescue 10K – April 2006

LA Triathlon Series – March thru June 2006 – Sprint, International, Olympic

Danskin Tri – June 2006

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*Dream – Arizona Rock & Roll 1/2 Marathon – January 2007

*I’m also hoping a few more 5Ks & 10Ks will cross my path.

*I hope to do the LA Triathlon next year. It will take some planning – getting there, hotel, money, etc. but I really want to do it. Plus, it’s an ocean swim and I would like to experience that.

*I want to do a marathon for my 40th birthday. Which one though? The OC Marathon? The LA Marathon? Someplace more exotic…

Cycling across the U.S. June 9, 2005

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I didn't swim yesterday after all. Had to work late for a presentation this morning so I just rode home and stopped at the bike shop on the way. It was funny because there was a guy in there who was cycling across the US by himself. He'd ridden all the way from New Jersey! Just the other day, I was totaling up my mileage for both my bikes and it came to 8,500 miles. And I figured that means I could have traveled across the US 3 times. Then here’s this guy who’s actually doing it! He only had 50 more miles before he reached the coast. He said he’d been riding 80 to a 100 miles a day and he looked like he was still in pretty good shape. I’m jealous. :-) Maybe I’ll try that someday. :-)

I was going to rest June 8, 2005

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I had planned on resting this week and only ride my bike to work Mon-Fri. It’s still an hour of riding a day but not swimming or running would give me a little break. And then…this morning I found myself packing my swim stuff out of habit! So I decided to go ahead and swim after work today. I almost didn’t ride to work on Monday – my legs were really tight from Sunday and my arms were very, very sore. But I would have had to take the bus and then still walk 20 minutes from the bus stop to work and that sounded more tiring than riding 30 min to work! Or maybe boring? :-) The ride helped me loosen up anyway. Yesterday was another easy day – just the ride to and from work.

I’ve been rethinking my training strategy the past couple of days. My training for the triathlon up to this point was about surviving it and just finishing it. I think I went into this with the wrong mind set. I’ve never thought of myself as athletic. Can you say klutzy? I mean, come on, I broke my leg walking thru the grass! (That’s why I like the bike so much…it makes me feel graceful.) Not to mention the fact that a year and half ago I was a size 26/28! I need to erase that vision of myself from my head because it’s holding me back. I’m not that klutzy, overweight girl anymore and I haven’t been for a while. (well, ok, I still do trip a lot but that's only when I'm not paying attention! :-P ) Anyway…I went into training for this triathlon thinking like her.

Now I need to start thinking more like a swimmer, cyclist, and runner. Thinking more about training to improve in each sport because I know I can. Not just do each workout to get it done, but really work on improving form, endurance, speed, etc. And I plan on reworking my training with that in mind. Oh, and I put together a whole new list of goals last night…but that’s for another day…It’s a beautiful day in sunny, Southern California! :-) Wishing you all the same! :-)

A few more thoughts June 7, 2005

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Now that the euphoria is wearing off, I have a few woulda/coulda/shouldas that I want to write down before I forget. And while I am very, very happy with my first tri, I do know there is room for improvement in every area…

Swim – My swim time could definitely be improved: I definitely need more than 2 days a week in the pool. Need to practice open water swims! Need to do more distance swims.

T1 – There is definitely room for improvement there. I need to practice getting out of the wetsuit since that’s what hung me up. Plus, there are a few other things I could try to improve this time.

Bike – I’m happy with the bike. I know I didn’t push the hills because I was babying my left knee. Blue also had trouble shifting and there were times when I was spinning so fast I almost made myself dizzy! I also kept forgetting to drink on the bike nor did I eat.

T2 – Happy with this one, except next time I have to remember to take off my gloves! Also, I did get a little confused and almost put my helmet back on! Thank god I remembered what I was doing! Can you imagine if I’d done the run with my bike helmet on? Can you say newbie? :-O

Run – I am also very happy with my run time since that’s a big improvement from my 5K in December. However, there is plenty of room for improvement. It will be a year in August that I started running and I think now that my knee is better, it’s time to put some speed work and hills into my workouts.

To end on a positive note…the tri made me realize I still have the determination I need to power through an event like this. It’s been 8 years since my last century and I wasn’t sure if I could find that again. But I definitely felt it on the swim and the run. My body was trying to betray me! “Just roll over and backstroke for a while” “Come on everyone else is doing it.” “Let’s just walk this one hill.” “We’re too tired to make it”. But every time I told my body to shut up and JUST DO IT! Just keep swimming! Just keep running! Don’t stop! And it listened to me! Woo Hoo! :-)

I am definitely excited to do another one and I’ve already started looking for my next tri. Right now, I’m thinking the Los Angeles Tri in September. That will give me plenty of time to work on improving my swim and run. So, if I’m hooked, does that make me a fish? If only… :-)

Race Report - Danskin Tri June 6, 2005

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My first tri is done! I am officially a triathlete now! Woo Hoo! I had a total blast and it was an amazing experience. I am so happy, I’ve had a huge grin on my face since I crossed the finish line. Not only did I finish, but I beat my time goal! :-) Here are the details…

I woke up at 4:30, ate breakfast, and finished packing up my stuff. I’m so glad I made a list so I wouldn’t forget anything. At 5:15 I got on bike and rode the 4+ miles to the race. I didn’t know if I should, but since I didn’t have a car, I had to. But I took it nice and easy, especially up the hill since I would be doing that 2x during the race. I think it helped keep the nervousness at bay and I had the added plus of not worrying about waiting to get in the park and finding parking. I made it into the transition at 5:45. I relaxed, organized my area, and got my wetsuit on and went down to the beach for a quick warm up swim. I thought, piece of cake. Wrong!

The race started at 6:45 and I was in the third wave that went at 6:55. The swim was crazy, just like you all said. And despite knowing better, I somehow ended up right in the middle of my wave! Go figure. So I ended up sidestroking for a while til it thinned out. I felt like I swallowed half the lake but I didn’t do too bad, although my form went right down the tubes. :-( I finished the swim in 18:05.

T1 had issues. I couldn’t get the wetsuit off! I could not get it off my right ankle. Then I realized I was trying to get the chip strap off along with it. Duh! Once I figured that out, it went much smoother. My time was 6:15.

The bike was a blast. It was a 2 loop course. A few rolling hills and the one big hill I mentioned. Once I was on the bike, I was much more comfortable. Love the bike. Love passing people. :-) So glad I rode my road bike and not my mountain bike. Finished the bike in 54:33.

T1 went much smoother: 1:14. I did forget to take off my cycling gloves though so I ended up running with them. First wearing them and then carrying them. They’re my favorite pair of gloves so I didn’t have the heart to toss them.

The run went really well for me too. My legs weren’t too bad off the bike. By the time I got out of the transition area, they were fine. It was a mostly out and back course with two little hills. I finished the run in 30:48. :-) Yea! That is my fastest time ever for a 5K, let alone one at the end of a tri! My pace was 9:46. I finally broke the 10 minute mile! I am so very pumped about that. There’s hope for this penguin yet! :-)

My overall time was 1:50:56. My first goal was, of course, to just finish my first triathlon. But I also was hoping to finish in 2 hours and I made that goal! Yep. Uh huh. Woo Hoo! :-) I had a huge smile on my face when I crossed the finish line because I knew I had given it everything I had, that I had done the best I could. I am most proud that I paced myself just right thru the whole thing and was totally spent at the end. I love that feeling.

I think the Danskin Tri was a great first experience for me. It was a very relaxed atmosphere and I felt like I was racing with friends because everyone was so nice and supportive. Sure it was competitive too, but there were women of all shapes and sizes and ages there too. Most of all, it was fun and exciting and wonderful. Can’t wait for my next one… I'm hooked!

Lisa