Wow, this was a really bad training week. And by training, I mean not training. I went for a swim last Sunday, and a run Tuesday night, and that was it. There's no good excuse, including the 100 degree temps we clocked. Granted, the temperature in the house made me comatose, but still. This is unacceptable 2 weeks out from race day. TWO WEEKS!
OK so enough beating myself up. Tomorrow is another day. Back on the horse. I officially have everything I need - the tool to change out the bike pedals, pedals with toe clips... Seafair will get in the way a little, but I'll make you proud, blog followers. It's too close to drop the ball now.
Friday, July 31, 2009
Monday, July 27, 2009
Day 20 - Yikes!
Hey team.
Wow, that was likely the biggest lull in blogging. My apologies. It's been a busy week.
Updates - last Monday I had my first bout with recreational soccer. Insane. A totally different kind of workout, and boy did it work me out. No major pain to speak of, though, which is good. Gotta keep the knees in good shape.
I'm still in biking limbo, and that has to end quick. I'm off to Lori's tonight to get the special tool that will help me get her clipless pedals off and my regular pedals on, though I may buy some clip pedals (the ones with little baskets) to get the advantage of at least some of the pull motion on the bike leg.
Lori and I swam on Sunday out at Seward Park. A great break from the 94 degree heat we're having here. I'm growing more and more comfortable with this leg, so now it's just hoping I can maintain composure with all that kicking in the face. That, and hoping the milfoil isn't so intense.
Run - I haven't in a while. I figure tonight's soccer practice will be good run time, but then the next 2 1/2 weeks, I'm really working towards putting all the pieces together.
I'm excited, and nervous. I'm doing a lot of visualization, and watching other people's races on YouTube, so there are minimal surprises. I finally have the outfit down - tri shorts, sports bra and workout tank. I swam with it, and there's no major drag, though the shirt doesn't dry as fast as the shorts.
I plan to do a mini-race demo on the 7th or 8th. This weekend, Seward Park will be inundated with SeaFair, so I'll have to work around that.
I'll try to be better about the blogging in these last three weeks. Thanks for reading!
Wow, that was likely the biggest lull in blogging. My apologies. It's been a busy week.
Updates - last Monday I had my first bout with recreational soccer. Insane. A totally different kind of workout, and boy did it work me out. No major pain to speak of, though, which is good. Gotta keep the knees in good shape.
I'm still in biking limbo, and that has to end quick. I'm off to Lori's tonight to get the special tool that will help me get her clipless pedals off and my regular pedals on, though I may buy some clip pedals (the ones with little baskets) to get the advantage of at least some of the pull motion on the bike leg.
Lori and I swam on Sunday out at Seward Park. A great break from the 94 degree heat we're having here. I'm growing more and more comfortable with this leg, so now it's just hoping I can maintain composure with all that kicking in the face. That, and hoping the milfoil isn't so intense.
Run - I haven't in a while. I figure tonight's soccer practice will be good run time, but then the next 2 1/2 weeks, I'm really working towards putting all the pieces together.
I'm excited, and nervous. I'm doing a lot of visualization, and watching other people's races on YouTube, so there are minimal surprises. I finally have the outfit down - tri shorts, sports bra and workout tank. I swam with it, and there's no major drag, though the shirt doesn't dry as fast as the shorts.
I plan to do a mini-race demo on the 7th or 8th. This weekend, Seward Park will be inundated with SeaFair, so I'll have to work around that.
I'll try to be better about the blogging in these last three weeks. Thanks for reading!
Sunday, July 19, 2009
Day 28 - T-minus 4 weeks.
Blog fans! Wow, my apologies for not staying on top of the postings. Granted, there's only so much I can say (I swam, I biked, I ran, etc.) Still, I'll continue to race day.This week was pretty good. I made it back into the lake on Monday night for a swim with my mentor (see previous post), and repeated the experience on a much warmer day on Friday. This time, I went solo, though there were tons of people down at Seward Park enjoying the break from the 90 degree weather, as well as a host of open-water swimmers doing their thing. I don't know if the two things are related, but the waters were much more, how do you say, plant-laden, which meant a few incidents of getting some lake weed in the face.
I'm planning on doing a few more of these swims. It's harder than I thought, so I haven't actually done the full distance without stopping at the buoy and treading water for a minute before heading back. I'd like to do the full-stretch without stop before race day.
In the biking category, I went for a long, albeit leisurely, trek through Skagit Valley yesterday with Jen & Kate sampling berries and dairy along the way. Good fun! I do need to get back on the road for a true test of time and distance. Today would have been a good day (Bicycle Sunday) but alas, I didn't make it. Also, while we were at the park on Friday, there was a bad car-bicycle accident, which freaks me out a little bit. I may just stick to Bicycle Sunday.
As far as running, I did wake up early Friday and did 3 miles, but it was not a good run. Don't know why. I'll try again.
4 weeks and counting! The plan is to workout every morning this week, plus my soccer team debut Monday night, and a trip to REI on Tuesday to buy more gear. Necessity.
Keeping you posted!
Monday, July 13, 2009
Day 34 - Like a fish!
Well, it was back in the water tonight, and I'm happy to say I'm getting the hang of it. Granted, I keep picking relatively crappy weather to do these swims in (first was 66 degrees out, 66 in the water - today may 68 degrees out, and 63 if that in the water). I am swearing off the wetsuit, partially because I'm cheap (don't want to invest in things that may potentially only be worn once) and partially because many people say it's unnecessary. I'm not going for time, so as long as I'm comfortable with the cold, I'm fine without. And I have some natural protective layers to keep me warm.
The swim, I felt, was a smashing success. I met up with my Danskin mentor Liz, a nice woman in her 50s who has done 6 triathlons! She gave me some pointers, and then we just did it. The water, despite the cold, was extremely calm, a definite advantage. We did a 1/2 mile, broken up in 2 segments. I'll be joining her again, and a nice young lady named Miranda who swims at my pace, for more of these trial runs, for sure!
Other training included a nice run on Sunday morning around Seward Park, and a bike ride along Lake Washington Blvd on Thursday. My friend Lori lent me her road bike on Saturday, which I have yet to try out. She uses clipless pedals and, again, I don't think the expense of buying clipless shoes is worth it this time around. So we'll likely switch the pedals out. Still, I'll need to practice this leg - it's a totally different sensation. Much lighter bike, and the center of gravity is shifted further over the front wheel.
In general, I feel I need to pick up the training. Every other day just isn't going to cut it, I don't think. I also need to build in some bricks. A good thing to do on the weekends.
More later!
The swim, I felt, was a smashing success. I met up with my Danskin mentor Liz, a nice woman in her 50s who has done 6 triathlons! She gave me some pointers, and then we just did it. The water, despite the cold, was extremely calm, a definite advantage. We did a 1/2 mile, broken up in 2 segments. I'll be joining her again, and a nice young lady named Miranda who swims at my pace, for more of these trial runs, for sure!
Other training included a nice run on Sunday morning around Seward Park, and a bike ride along Lake Washington Blvd on Thursday. My friend Lori lent me her road bike on Saturday, which I have yet to try out. She uses clipless pedals and, again, I don't think the expense of buying clipless shoes is worth it this time around. So we'll likely switch the pedals out. Still, I'll need to practice this leg - it's a totally different sensation. Much lighter bike, and the center of gravity is shifted further over the front wheel.
In general, I feel I need to pick up the training. Every other day just isn't going to cut it, I don't think. I also need to build in some bricks. A good thing to do on the weekends.
More later!
Thursday, July 9, 2009
Day 38 - Chokin'
Well, I took to the water last night. The open water, that is.
Seems the stars were aligned. I had packed my bag the night before with good intentions of waking up early and hitting the gym. I packed it with both running/biking clothes and the essentials for a swim. Well, per usual lately, I failed to rise, so threw the bag in the car on my way to work with every good intention of hitting the gym.
Around noon I recieved a call telling me that I was removed from the waitlist for the Seattle Parks & Rec Open Water Swim Clinic, and did I want to take the spot. I thought about it for a while. Fear is a powerful thing. That, and the weather was kinda icky. 66 degrees, windy, overcast. Still, I bit the bullet, and took the spot.
It's not fear that I would drown. I know I can swim. It's more just a fear of the unknown. Fear of how I'll react to frigid waters. Fear of getting kicked in face or pulled under by people who didn't know enough to practice their open water swim before the race.
I arrived late. The instructor was already talking about things I had been reading about for some time - no monsters in the water, siting, pacing, practicing swimming in a straight line. When it came time to get in the water, I was cracking jokes left and right - my way of dealing with tension. No one was laughing.
So then it was into the waters. The brrrr cold Lake Washington waters. Madison Park Beach. A nice spot. We did 4 passes of the same route. The first time through was wretched. My body refused to let me exhale with my face in the water, which ultimately led to some really draining breathing, and at one point, a mouthful of water that left me treading water while coughing. That first pass was more sidestroke & breaststroke than crawl. But the second time, significantly better. And the third, better than that!
I left feeling accomplished, but knowing I was going to have to hit this water a lot more before race day. I'm already making plans. And I'm not afraid anymore.
Seems the stars were aligned. I had packed my bag the night before with good intentions of waking up early and hitting the gym. I packed it with both running/biking clothes and the essentials for a swim. Well, per usual lately, I failed to rise, so threw the bag in the car on my way to work with every good intention of hitting the gym.
Around noon I recieved a call telling me that I was removed from the waitlist for the Seattle Parks & Rec Open Water Swim Clinic, and did I want to take the spot. I thought about it for a while. Fear is a powerful thing. That, and the weather was kinda icky. 66 degrees, windy, overcast. Still, I bit the bullet, and took the spot.
It's not fear that I would drown. I know I can swim. It's more just a fear of the unknown. Fear of how I'll react to frigid waters. Fear of getting kicked in face or pulled under by people who didn't know enough to practice their open water swim before the race.
I arrived late. The instructor was already talking about things I had been reading about for some time - no monsters in the water, siting, pacing, practicing swimming in a straight line. When it came time to get in the water, I was cracking jokes left and right - my way of dealing with tension. No one was laughing.
So then it was into the waters. The brrrr cold Lake Washington waters. Madison Park Beach. A nice spot. We did 4 passes of the same route. The first time through was wretched. My body refused to let me exhale with my face in the water, which ultimately led to some really draining breathing, and at one point, a mouthful of water that left me treading water while coughing. That first pass was more sidestroke & breaststroke than crawl. But the second time, significantly better. And the third, better than that!
I left feeling accomplished, but knowing I was going to have to hit this water a lot more before race day. I'm already making plans. And I'm not afraid anymore.
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
Day 40 - It's getting close
My apologies, loyal blog followers, for the growing expanse between posts. This time it was due to an overactive, albeit undertrained, weekend.
Jen, Deven and I did get to do the Firecracker 5000 on Friday night. Not the best time, but a hard course (lots of hills) under less than ideal conditions - late (11:55pm) start, and hot, with daily temps being maintained by pavement and car exhaust as we trekked through Seattle Center. Not my favorite race, for sure. Still, I never did stop running, which is good. Result: 37:02.
Sadly, little has been done since then. I think I need to focus more on the biking portion, so will be taking my wheels on the road tonight (barring foul weather) and see what I can do. It's definitely time to start cracking the whip.
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
Day 46 - Pricey Forgetfulness
So this is now the second time that I have lost a bathing suit. How, you ask? Well, after my swim, I leave it to hang in the shower area while I change so it can dry out a little more (the gym doesn't have that cool spinning thing the way others I have been to had). It was only until I got home last night that I realized I never took it out of the shower. I expended every effort - called the gym as soon as I noticed, checked lockers this morning, asked the towel/laundry people - but alas, it seems to have evaporated. So now it's time to buy another one. Oye.
On a completely seperate note, my friend Laura invited me to join her soccer team, so I did. What? Yep. I'm not sure I even know how to play, or whether my knees can hold up, but why the hell not. The team is called the Weezers, and I bet I will be by the time it's all over :) First game is July 13th. I'll blog and let you know how it goes.
I've been a good workout bee so far this week. Did lots o' swimming last night, and tried out the bilateral breathing. It feels inefficient, but practice will make it easier, I presume. This morning I biked and did some weights. Gotta get out on the road with the bike thing. Also, thinking about purchasing, other than the bathing suit, a sport watch.
Tomorrow I will not work out. It's my birthday. :) My gift to myself - sleeping in.
On a completely seperate note, my friend Laura invited me to join her soccer team, so I did. What? Yep. I'm not sure I even know how to play, or whether my knees can hold up, but why the hell not. The team is called the Weezers, and I bet I will be by the time it's all over :) First game is July 13th. I'll blog and let you know how it goes.
I've been a good workout bee so far this week. Did lots o' swimming last night, and tried out the bilateral breathing. It feels inefficient, but practice will make it easier, I presume. This morning I biked and did some weights. Gotta get out on the road with the bike thing. Also, thinking about purchasing, other than the bathing suit, a sport watch.
Tomorrow I will not work out. It's my birthday. :) My gift to myself - sleeping in.
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