See Yas Run

Nike Women's (1/2) Marathon

2009-10-23T19:41:00.000-07:00

I entered this lottery because everyone I've talked to who has done it told me how awesome it is. I didn't think I'd win a spot. I didn't think that I'd get pregnant so soon.

All I do know is once I got it I was set on doing it. Once I found out I was pregnant, it defined my identity as being an athlete.

The biggest obstacle I've had to overcome during these past 7 months was the limitations the pregnancy has put on me. I've heard it all: it's only temporary, it's so worth the sacrifice, you have the rest of your life to run/bike. I don't care. I didn't realize how much I depended on running as therapy, a reset, a stress reliever, until I didn't have it any more. I took this frustration and focused it on training for this 1/2 marathon.

Let me be the first to tell you that I didn't train more than 8 miles on any of my walks. Some serious crap went down (which I may share with you all at a later date) and I didn't stick to my plan. However, when the weekend of October 18th came around, I was ready to prove all my naysayers wrong. I didn't realize it would help me reclaim myself.

Race Day:Rosemarie and I in our hotel room, all Nike'd out

I did not treat this as a race at all. I woke up and got a chai latte from Starbucks of all things! I'm not Glenn. My race morning meal is NOT an apple fritter.

My Tri peeps and other friends before the race.
Everyone else was running.

We lined up in the wrong corral, but I was okay with it. We were with the 12-14 min/mile peeps. It was a big cluster, so I figured we'd be okay if we stuck to the side. When I found out I was pregnant and told people, I asked my mom to walk the race with me. Yes, she was a bandit. Little did I know my aunt would walk some of it with us.

Miles 1-10:
were great. Yes there were hills but I made my mom stop almost every mile to take a picture. I couldn't believe the views and the camaraderie of the walkers. I did stop before mile 2 for my first of 4 bathroom stops.

Me and the fireman that let me use the firehouse restroom.
It was clean and it flushed!

My mom was starting to take off a bit faster than I had planned. I had to reign her in, which is funny, since that is what I always do.

Me and mom at Pier 1

We spent the whole time talking about random stuff. It was fun. She went back and forth about wanting to walk the race again next year. She was all for in the first 5 miles, the hills made her change her mind, but I think she's back on board.

My aunt, me and my mom at mile 5.
There is ~ a 20 min difference between the clock time and our actual time.

The Golden Gate and me.

Miles 11-13.1 (or 12.99 if you trust nike+ thing down there):

Let me be the first to tell you, walkers are mentally strong. I will not compare myself, as a 1/2 marathon runner, to any of these 1/2 marathon walkers. We came up on 4 hours and I was done. I just wanted the race to be over. I wasn't really having fun anymore. Any of the give aways were gone before we got to them. But then we came upon some friendly walkers. They were still chatty, if not smiling. One pair even offered us licorice. We were bitching about our feet, the blisters that we knew we'd find at the end of the day. The fact that we swore they moved the mile markers. They were awesome.

My mom cut out right before the finish. I got my necklace, t-shirt (the wrong one which they want me to send back and are going to send me the right one), and food for us both. It was a pretty race and a good experience. I can't wait to run it, at least once.

I can't tell you how great it felt. To know that I could do it. To prove to everyone who said I was crazy, that I wasn't. That I still have some level of fitness, even if I don't have the same core strength or arm muscles, or even leg muscles really. That I'm still me somewhere in here.

13.1 miles in 4:36:44 ...

2009-10-19T16:38:00.000-07:00

29 weeks pregnant. I did it!

I may have exaggerated the bump here...

Once I stepped up to the start corral, I knew I was going to finish this thing. I'll write a longer (probably longer than many of you all want to read) race report later in the week. I just wanted to let all my peeps in blogland know that I did survive. I did finish. My mom hung in for the whole time, even bowing out at the end as they were checking for bibs at the finish line. My aunt did a 10K+, after thinking she wasn't going to get out of bed until long after the sun rose.

My Aunt, me and my Mom

(The clock time was 20 min faster than our actual start time.)

I didn't I registered the tux wearing firefighters (although maybe I should have studied them more closely and gotten a picture with one like my friend Louise). I didn't even take a look at my finisher's shirt until I got back to my parents house! (I got a marathon one instead of a 1/2 marathon one, I'm going to see if I can change.) I just wanted to get back to my mom, who didn't get any of the glory, not even a picture at the finish line.

We may have finished faster if we didn't stop to take so many pictures! I'll post more of those later, too.

28 weeks later

2009-10-11T20:31:00.000-07:00

Profiles are not my favorite pictures, mostly because they spotlight my big ass. However I realize the impact of the belly would be lost in a full on frontal pic.

So far, so good. Still no real physical issues. I have had mental ones galore. Being a big girl once, my preggo weight is slowly creeping back up to my heaviest weight. That alone plays mind games. I know I'm going to lose a chunk of it when the bean is born. I know that more of it will come off as everything reduces back to "normal" size. And I'm going to breast feed for all I'm worth because A) I'm cheap and B) I heard it's a great calorie burner oh and it might be good for the bean. I'm still swimming and doing some (read very little) indoor cycling, but can't wait to get back to running.

Next Sunday I'm going to attempt to walk the Nike Women's Half Marathon. Wish me luck. I can't say my training was anything other than sporadic. I can't tell you that I'm confident I'm going to finish the whole race. I can tell you I'll figure out a way to get that damn necklace!

I'm Alive!

2009-08-26T16:24:00.001-07:00

Yeah, I know. It's been almost a month since the last time I've posted anything.

Good news: Baby is doing fine. In fact, it's a male child. I should have known with all the melons I was craving...

Bad news: I stopped running again. The shortness of breath was getting to me and I was walking more than I was running.

I just got a new bathing suit, so I should be heading to the pool in the next few days. I did miss swimming. I know, check the date. Record it for posterity. I'm not sure that I ever thought I'd say that.

Well, have a great run/bike/swim everyone!

Two in a Row!

2009-07-30T21:01:00.000-07:00

I ran today, and Tuesday. So it wasn't really "in a row" as much as twice when I had scheduled runs. Also, I got up EARLY (well ~6am) to do it.

The real obstacle to my running hasn't been the pregnancy, although I was plagued with fatigue something awful in the first trimester. It's been the heat.

I've started to get hotter faster, which just so happens to correspond to the weather getting hotter, and hotter. I guess my decision to skip out on America's Finest City 1/2, and throw away my hopes for a Triple Crown, was a good one. I can't imagine trying to even walk 13.1 miles in August. Although, with my luck, this year it'll be super cold.

Anyway, I'm just excited to be a "runner" again. Hopefully I can keep this up until Oct, maybe even Dec? (I know, I know, I'm probably delusional)

OMG hot!

2009-06-29T17:33:00.000-07:00

We met at 7am Sunday, and probably started the run by 7:30. I ran/walked 3 laps, ~4 miles. It's a pretty tough trail, at least for me. The first part is pretty hilly. I didn't get any negative splits, in fact, I think I did the laps in 15 then 16 minutes. About 1 mile. Seriously. And then it got hot.

I'm pretty impressed with myself for stopping when I felt like I was getting overheated. I wasn't sure that I was going to have the self control.

After the laps we had some trainers out and they gave us a quick (5 minute) work out. 15 squats, 5 spidermans (each side, foot to ear), 5 push ups, repeat for 5 minutes.

I'm feeling that today, but at least I have control over my legs.

Pretty Run

2009-06-23T22:58:00.000-07:00

Sunday I ran 4 miles from Big Corona Del Mar to the north end of Crystal Cove and back. I use the term run very loosely. It's really more of a walk/run, and I keep saying that, so I'll stop now. I'm really happy that I can keep running.

I took off a bit before 9, and that was a bit too late for me. I think if I'd have left earlier, I would have been able to go longer. Because the sun broke through, as it often does, and it got hot fast. I'm also glad I decided to bring the second 1/2 of my breakfast (PB & J) with me to training. I was HUNGRY when I was done.

So along with the super sniffer, and the gagging, I'm adding almost constant hunger to my list of things no one ever tells you happens, during the first trimester at least, while you're pregnant. It could be because I'm more active than the women I know who have been pregnant, but it's definitely something I wish I was warned about!

Run and Reminisce

2009-06-18T22:53:00.000-07:00

Wednesday I went for my first "run" in 3 weeks. I thought it was 4, but realized I did run a lot of the Laguna Hills 1/2, which was Memorial Day. I think I did okay. 3.4 miles in 45ish minutes, with walking and paying very close attention to my perceived exertion. My next "scheduled" run is Sunday at Crystal Cove. I might run a bit tomorrow, but I really need to get a swim in sometime this week.

Today I drove through Santiago Canyon on my way to meet a friend for lunch. I really wanted to be out there, if it was a bit more overcast. I didn't think I'd miss my bike so much. The spin classes aren't the same. I was spoiled by the bikes at Ciell, a new indoor cycling place in Ladera Ranch. If you're near there, I think they're still doing a "first class free" special. But I warn you, you'll be spoiled for all spin bikes.

Also, things no one tells you about being pregnant, increased gag reflex. It takes all my concentration to brush my teeth without tossing my cookies. Which there was a way to fix that.

Strong and Fast

2009-06-13T08:45:00.000-07:00

No, it's not my last track workout, it's a heartbeat. And it's not my heartbeat, although mine is strong...

It's my baby's heartbeat.

Now the cat's out of the bag (or house and I know how hard it is to catch a cat that doesn't want to be caught.) Some of my faithful (unless you've given up on me) readers already knew.

So here's the real reason behind my 2:49:31 La Jolla finish. And my gallbladder attack, although that was probably going to happen sooner or later. And my 3 hour Laguna Hills 1/2, but I didn't really train for that one. I think the longest run I had after my gallbladder incident (leading up to the 3 hour race) was 5 miles.

I'm not completely blaming the bean for being slow. But (s)he is a great scapegoat. You'll all meet bean at the end of the year, or the beginning of next year. It was poor planning, getting preggers during the season, but it is Cali and there are races year round, so the complaining is over, for now.

So there will be less running, (more because of my tweaked knee earned during the 3 hour 1/2, then the pregnancy), and no bike riding (due to a mandate by my coach) but more swimming.

Maybe the first thing this bean will give me, other than a trip to the ER and a want to remove my gallbladder, is an appreciation for swimming.

Run!

2009-05-14T16:08:00.000-07:00

This morning I went for an easy (very easy) 3 mile run. It.was.awesome! I'm excited. Although I'm slow and probably being overly cautious, I'm happy I can run again. Even if it's just 3 miles.

The other exciting thing? CAF was able to get my race packet for Iron Girl! They sent it to me, so now I have my bag, my CAF jersey, my Iron Girl shirt, even a CAF visor and race belt!

I didn't get one of those commemorative Aflac ducks, but I was just going to give it to my mom anyway, so that's cool. Also, I think we'll be getting them at the 5K in Del Mar next month.

I'm excited to try riding my bike tomorrow.

Swim!

2009-05-13T13:15:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was my first actual training session since the gallbladder debacle. It was even coach, and more importantly, Jeremy approved!

I didn't keep up with the people in my lane, but I wasn't trying to push myself too hard. I was trying to make the distances without pushing too hard. It felt great!

I may have to swim more if biking and running are a no go.

I was going to try a nice, easy 30 min run today, but the day has gotten away from me. I need to leave around 3pm to pick up my aunt for Tri la Vie's celebration party tonight. Yes I know, I didn't do the tri, but I'm going to celebrate with my peeps anyway.

Thwarted!!!

2009-05-07T12:32:00.001-07:00

12ish weeks of training for nothing. (I'm allowing myself this blog of pity and that's it.)

Wednesday morning I woke up ~3am with a horrid pain. I've had indigestion before and figured it was that or, when it didn't go away an hour after I started pounding liquids, food poisoning from a suspicious piece of string cheese.

At 11-11:30ish I decide to go to the doctor. I can't keep anything down. This is either a serious case of food poisoning that comes with a dull, constant pressure pain on the right side or it's something altogether different. I can't do anything but lay around and throw up. Awsm.

Doc refers me to a ultrasound stat! It's my gallbladder.

Stat = first available appointment at 3pm. Also, same day reading.

4:30ish I call the doc "can keep anything down. pain makes me want to die. what to do?"

He sent me to the ER, where I was seen by 6pm, 6:30 at the latest. (by the time we got there and checked in it was probably 5:15, 5:30.)

Got more blood taken, got drugs for the vomiting and pain, more ultrasounds.

Was told to take it easy. There looked to be no inflammation. I could stay at the hospital and get IV antibiotics or I could go home with the narcotics (basically Tylenol with codeine or something) and watch myself. I decided on the latter.

Jeremy reminded me why I married him yesterday. He was awesome, even guilting the pharmacist into staying a bit late to get my prescription.

So while my friends and team mates are in Vegas, running into the lake, taming the 3 Sisters and running through the desert, I'll probably be sleeping, then walking the dogs and maybe swimming, who knows.

Lost in Peak Week

2009-05-04T12:46:00.000-07:00

(photo credit: Ashley Kyser)

So I'll admit it, I bit of more than I could chew this week.

For those of you who don't know, I'm quitting my job to go back to school. CAF inspired me about 6 months ago and my company put me in the right mindset to leave.

Being the good worker bee I am, I'm trying hard to tie up everything I can before I hand this off to anyone. I'm also trying to get ready for Iron Girl (my first stay-over race!) and that comes with it's own headaches. At least with running if you have your shoes and a sports bra, you're pretty much golden. Even if you forget them, you can usually go out and buy more, although I don't recommend running 13.1 miles in new shoes. But just pop in and pick up a bike? I know people do, rent them I mean, but still...

It started off slow, with a swim/run, then exploded into a 1.5 hour hill repeat, 45 minute hard run, 30 mile bike + 2 mile run and ended with a 7 mile run. I did miss a swim workout, which isn't the sport I should miss, really it's not. But with Jer's family coming into town, Friday night wasn't mine and now Monday night isn't mine either. I could be, if I'd cancel my spa appointment, but I'm not going to, so I accept it.

I also volunteered my aunt and myself to make our tri team shirts bigger. The style that was chosen ended up being discontinued, running small and not having an XXL pattern (this would be an XL in normal patterns) so my aunt spent most of her Saturday sewing on the panels of material I cut out and pinned on the sides of the shirts. Once they get printed, I'll post a pic. I also ripped out all the seams, but my aunt did most of the work.

Saturday night also was a surprise party for my friend Audrey. She was having a hard time coming to terms with the 3-0, I think it was good for her. It also helped me realize how far I've come in terms of weight loss. I'm pretty hot (and very tan) if I do say so myself!

Game Day: La Jolla 1/2 Marathon

2009-04-26T20:29:00.001-07:00

Before I start, let me just post the elevation chart for this race:
No, your eyes do not deceive you. At 5.75 there is about a mile climb to 420 ft above sea level and we pretty much started at sea level.

I've been running hills in preparation for this race. Although I did know that the hills I was running were in no way comparable to the Torrey Pines entrance and I knew this was a hilly race and that I wasn't going into this for a PR. Apparently, as people have told me, you have your 1/2 marathon PR, then you have your La Jolla 1/2 marathon PR.

So the hills coupled with having a few bad asthma days leading up to this race led me to set my goal at finishing in under 3 hours. Mission accomplished as I finished in 2:49 and some change.

I won't lie, there was a lot of walking. Those bad asthma days made me cautious. I decided to keep my HR under 160 (I did get up to 185 once and 170ish more than once) in an effort to keep the lung work down. I also didn't want to burn my legs up 2 weeks before my first, probably only, Olympic Distance Tri of the season. Oh, and I have the Laguna Hills 1/2 Memorial Day weekend. That will be a breeze compared to La Jolla.

I started off the run with Denise, but broke up with her about mile 2ish, so I could keep my low effort plan in effect. One thing I didn't count on was how fast my HR rises. I think I was running 3 minutes, walking 1+, not counting the hills.

The best thing about this race is the views. You don't get to run alone the ocean for 13.1 miles, but maybe it's for4. The run through Torrey Pines is almost worth the climb, almost because it's too short, then you're into the commercial buildings. I can remember at least 3 times when I thought, this is why I live in California. I don't like hanging out at the beach. Everyone knows I get tan walking outside for 5 minutes slathered in sunscreen, so there's no need for laying out, but I do very much appreciate the cost and knowing I live on (or very close to) an ocean.

I couldn't believe that last small 1/2 mile climb at the end. I was done. I'm pretty sure I ran my shoes passed dead and my right knee and both hips are paying for it. Oh and did I mention the below the knee (I'm pretty sure it was below the knee) amputee chick that passed me about mile 10 and never looked back? Yeah, peeps who thought I was kidding about the challenged athletes kicking my ass, now you know.

The one thing I disliked about this race was the shuttle back to the start. It's a point to point and the shuttles kept getting stuck in traffic. They were supposed to be in a 15 minute rotation, and they may have averaged this, but it was more like 1 shuttle, then 40 minutes, then 3 shuttles. I'm sure some of the soreness I'm experiencing is because of this and the fact that I didn't realize they had gear check. It was more than an hour after the race when I got my Recoverite into me and I only sort of stretched afterwards, because I was always thinking the shuttle was right around the corner.

I think I might do this one again next year. I *would* think about parking a car in La Jolla and getting a hotel room with some peeps like Denise did. (Well, they got a hotel room near the start, I'm not sure they planted a car at the end).

Today's High...

2009-04-20T20:13:00.000-07:00

104. At the time I would normally run, 100.

Yesterday's run in 92 degree weather was a better idea. Notice I didn't say good.

That is all

Heat + Sore/Heavy Legs + Hills = Running Fail

2009-04-19T19:35:00.001-07:00

This morning, instead of going for my "long" 5 mile run (1/2 marathon next Sunday) or racing the Newport Beach Tri myself, I went to cheer on my Tri Sisters from Tri la Vie. (It's basically the same group of women who were in TriDivas for anyone who follows).

Let me say, I do like being a spectator for Sprint Triathlons. I love being a spectator for the athletes. I don't know if the random people telling me that I look strong, I have sexy legs (Carlsbad 1/2, they were telling everyone), only a few more miles (which I never tell people unless I know EXACTLY how many more miles are left) know how they pick me up and make me want to run or bike (I never quite here anything but yelling during the swim.)

There is one Sis that I'm especially proud of. After having a freak out, hyperventilating moment at the lake (and apparently during the first part of the swim) she powered through, got out of Back Bay and finished her race.

Due to all this cheering, I have a very hoarse voice and I didn't go running until about 1pm. It was about 87 degrees. I decided to run Santiago Canyon, thinking I could refill my bottles from my original hydration belt, at Cook's corner if I needed to. I needed.

In reality it was a run walk. I'm not very proud of my 13 min pace, but I know it's the best I could hope for given hills, the heat and no shade. I actually ran across the road to run in the shade on the way back.

The only reason I even went out at 1pm, was because I didn't want to wait until 8pm and Monday is supposed to be even hotter! I guess it was a good test drive for Iron Girl. Vegas may be that hot at 10 am on May 9th, when I get out on the run course. (First wave starts at 6:30. The waves aren't up yet, but I'm guessing I'm at least wave 3 or 4 with at least 10 minutes between waves, which puts my start about 7-7:10 IF they start on time.)

My biggest fear is overheating. I sweat so much as it is, how much more cooling power does my body have? They will have sponges every aid station on the run. I plan on using those to their fullest potential.

In summary, I suck at running in the heat and I'm already worried about Iron Girl. That is all.

Stud or Crazy

2009-04-18T16:54:00.000-07:00

I went to a free Boot Camp workout this morning at the Spectrum, then decided to ride 2.5 hours, Santiago Canyon, a hill repeat (so I guess it's just a hill if there wasn't any repeating) then back to the house and a cool down around the neighborhood.

Am I a Stud or just Crazy. You decide.

I'm supposed to run 5 or 10 miles tomorrow. We'll see how that goes...

The Boot Camp was lots of work, but tons of fun and might be the strength training that I've been looking for. It does meet at 5:30 in the morning, which is a turn off.

Santiago Canyon was beautiful and I had a great time. Yes, people, mark this date down on your calendars. Yasmin actually enjoyed of her bike ride. The weather was great. Sunny, a bit hot, but comfortable. I made it from my house to Chapman in under an hour. The trip back took longer, but it always does. There is more uphill that way. At least that's what I'm telling myself.

Annoyed and Disappointed

2009-04-16T20:07:00.001-07:00

Thursday:
Annoyed - I didn't have cash to park at a local Junior College and I didn't want to risk the machines not taking credit cards. I didn't want to waste that time. Little did I know I would be wasting more time.

Disappointed - Woodbridge HS had track practice. RSM Intermediate was finishing up track practice AND had already locked their bathrooms. I'm all for using my car as a changing room, but even I have limits. And getting naked in front of middle schoolers isn't only past my limit, but possibility an arrestable offense.

I ended up at home, running my mile repeats in my neighborhood. I did get to stop by the store and pick up groceries for dinner before I got all stinky, so that's a win, but I didn't get to start my workout until after 5, which was a bummer.

Annoyed - I need to remember that mile repeats should push your running ability, but not kill you. As in, if I run a 10 min pace for a 5K, I probably can't hold an 8:45 min/mile. The under 9 min pace killed me. I could barely hold it for a quarter mile. I don't think quarter mile sprints are going to increase my endurance or mile time...

Wednesday
Annoyed - Got out of work late, headed to the Post Office, not thinking that it would be crazy. It's not like Christmas time, people just need to drop off their taxes, but no, it was crazy. So I nixed it, when to Whole Foods to pick up cupcakes for a birthday celebration, then headed to check out hydration belts. I came home with a hydration belt, that I'm thinking about returning, and new shoes, which I wore today for my run.

Disappointed - Rushed back home from the running store, threw on my swim suit, grabbed my wetsuit, trislide, and headed over to the lake. Jumped into my wetsuit and got into the water, but it was too late. I was pulled out, due to sunset, about 5 minutes before the end of my hour. The lifeguards had been whistling at me and I hadn't noticed. It was kind of ironic that the person that might get our group kicked out of the kick ass venue was actually a person who pays the lake association fee. Nice huh.

I now love swimming in my wetsuit. The full body girdle look is nothing compared to how fast I feel in the water.

Down and Out and Fuel Belts

2009-04-15T10:00:00.000-07:00

Well, out anyway. And not that kind of out, I mean out of blogland.

I haven't been keeping up with this lately, and I even had a really good post in my head about my run on Friday. A PSA, if you will, and I'll get to that in a bit.

Much has been going in lately, training and otherwise.

Thursday I found out that it wasn't just the bike, I'm actually getting stronger on it. Yay me. The Cannondale does make things a bit easier, though.

Friday see below. I did get rained on a bit, but only for 10-15 minutes. It was a nice overcast run.

Saturday swam. Didn't get as good of times as I think I should have and my left shoulder is starting to hurt. I'm not sure if that's the same shoulder that hurt last year or not, I'll have to post chase myself to find out.

Sunday I went on a hike/walk at Crystal Cove. I didn't realize I had basically done the whole thing before during the Pac Coast Tri, but I didn't have time to enjoy it like I did on Sunday. It was a beautiful day. I went with my friend Anissa and we saw tons of birds and a bunny!

PSA:

If the longest run you did the week before was 5 miles, and it was your only run that week, don't try to pull out a 10 mile (or really a 9.5 mile) hilly run as your first (and only) run of this week.

It isn't pretty and your thighs (both hamstrings and quads) will scream at you later.

Also, I'm looking for suggestions on fuel belts. I have an Amphipod runlite 4 (meaning it comes with 4 bottles) but one of my holders, maybe more, doesn't keep the bottles well. They pop/slip out.

I finally broke one of the bottles when it fell out 4 weeks ago and on Friday's run I lost a bottle that didn't snap in completely. I can pay 10 bucks for 2 new bottles or buy a new belt. I've looked at more of Amphipod's belts and found a full tilt that carries 40 oz in 2 bottles plus more storage than my current belt has.

The other one I found was their profile lite 32. Carries 32 oz water, storage much like what I already have.

These pictures were taken from Amphipod's website, in case anyone wants to know.

Suggestions? Keep in mind that I push all of the bottles on my current belt to the back. I hate hitting them with my arms when I run. Anybody?

If I decide to get a new belt, I'll have an old one for sale/trade/free...

Pros and Cons

2009-04-09T08:38:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was my first open water swim since Subaru. As some of you know, I've gained a bit of weight since then and was mortified (MORTIFIED) that my wetsuit wouldn't zip up and I'd have to buy a new one. I didn't so much care that my fellow triathletes would see that I couldn't zip up, it was more the fact that I'd have to put out $300 for a new one.

But it fit (pro #1). I got in the water for the beginning of at least 16 laps at the lake (I lost count) and guess what, I could breathe! (pro #2). Not only that, but I could focus on my form and siting (pros #3 and #4). Only 2 cons really, my goggles fogging up 1/2 way through my hour swim and my arms got tired faster. I'm not sure why.

So the work out I've been dreading, really dreading because swimming isn't my favorite and being in a whole body girdle usually makes it less so, was actually pretty fun. I didn't panic. I didn't flounder. I actually felt fast. My shoulder didn't hurt. All in all, it was a win!

Solo Santiago

2009-03-31T21:39:00.000-07:00

Today I had 103 minutes of riding solo. I decided to try my mom's Cannondale. She sent it down a few weeks ago and I haven't had the balls to try it out yet.

I was supposed to ride with Laura, Rosemarie and Yen, but one by one they RSVP'd with regrets. I figured with volunteering at Oceanside 70.3 and the Vegas trip coming up this weekend,I needed to take a chance and do as much of a 2 hour ride as I could. It ended up being just under an hour and 45 minutes.

I don't know if it was the bike or me, but the ride felt much easier today. The ~23 miles flew by. None of the "trouble" spots of my rides past appeared. I didn't even feel tired!

I am going to have to get this bike fit for me before I decide to switch from my Trek and use the Cannondale. All I did was lower the bike seat for this ride, but I think the handle bars need to be raised and I'll have to change out the saddle and pedals for it to be comfortable. For a 25 mile ride, it'll be worth it.

Exhausted

2009-03-30T22:32:00.000-07:00

Saturday's 8 mile run + Sunday's 24 mile bike ride + Tonight's 1800 yard= one exhausted chick.

That chick is me. AND I've signed up to ride part of Santiago Canyon tomorrow. Seriously? What's wrong with me? I'm not mentally exhausted, which makes me very happy. When mental exhaustion sets in, it's all downhill and very hard to recover. That's what leads to slugging it out with BOD and fighting for every second of the 4 hours and 56 seconds.

There are many things I was happy about this week, training wise.

Swam 1500 in 40 minutes.
Swam 500 in 12 minutes 25 seconds.
Ran the trail around my development, including hills, twice.
Found people who ride about the same speed as I do. I now have riding partners.

One thing I regret about this weekend?
Not being prepared to the heat for my 10 (cut to 8) mile run. No Nuun, no Margarita with Salt shot bloks. No extra salt. Didn't bring enough water, although I could have stopped to refill. Also, eating Mexican food 1.5 hours before a run. That wasn't a good idea AT.ALL.

When Was the Last Time You Did Something for the First Time?

2009-03-26T20:10:00.000-07:00

Let's see. We're going to stick to athletic firsts. You don't need to know the first time I got drunk or any other first really...

7/28/2007 - first 5K - Iron Girl Solana Beach 5K
5/26/08 - first 1/2 marathon - Laguna Hills Memorial 1/2
6/18/08 - first (super) sprint tri - Danskin Sprint Triathlon
10/5/08 - first Olympic tri - Bonelli Olympic Distance
3/26/09 - first time I ran the whole path around my housing development, including the hills.

Yes, I'm uber excited. It's not a race. It's not 20 miles. It's not even the first time I completed Santiago Canyon, but it is something I never thought I'd do. And I ran it. Twice.

I was supposed to do a track work out today, after I got my haircut. However the dead garmin disease infiltrated my watch and my brain as I forgot to bring the charger to work. Further more, I've been struck with don't pack a back up watch virus, so I had nothing to make the track workout worthwhile. I decided to run the trail around my development and use the hills as my challenge fastest mile work. I figured I'd run them as hard and as long as I could, and take a walk break.

I didn't even realize I was almost done with the first hill path segment until I saw the ramp going back up to street level. I then had a goal. I'd try and run the whole thing, once. I could walk a little on my second lap. I didn't walk. Although I did get to the end of the trail and turn around, so I wouldn't be running the hills, for a second time, at the very end of my run.

This made the little over 3 mile run enjoyable. I'd rather be out there for 5, but over training leads to non-racing, so I pull back. I'm going to run these hills into the ground!

Lost

2009-03-24T21:28:00.000-07:00

Today was going to be a spin class followed by an easy 15 minute run. It turned into a 15 minute ride, waiting at Lake Mission Viejo trying to figure out what to do about a lake list when the lady who's supposed to do it for you goes home early, then getting lost in Rancho Santa Margarita looking for a way to cross the street when you're too chicken to just turn left with the cars.

Because of all the waiting and getting lost, my 1 hour ride turned into about 75 minutes, which left me no time to run before figuring out what was for dinner and running to the store to get some sort of vegetable to go with said dinner.

There is no rest for those in training...

Beating Erin

2009-03-22T12:33:00.000-07:00

Erin used to train with us, then she moved back to Colorado. She's in my age group and she's fast. I won't be able to beat her. But I use her as motivation.

Today we were supposed to ride Santiago. I was kinda looking forward to it, until the weather called for rain and wind. It was cold! So we had a spin class, courtesy of Martha instead. As stated before, her classes kick my ass. She was asking us what mantra kept us going in the middle of the race, with the course stretching in front of us and no one to see if we gave up. (This was while we were hovering over our seats, climbing a hill)

"I want to win!" No. I probably won't podium until I'm in my 70s and have outlasted the competition.

"I want to finish!" No. Regardless of what I think in the middle of Santiago or a race, I will always finish.

"I want to beat Erin!" Yes, yes, yes! That's something I can get behind. A tangible, if unreachable, goal.

Realistically the pohrase that repeats in my head in the middle of the bike, or Santiago Canyon, is by My Chemical Romance. "Have you heard the news that you're dead!" I wonder if my legs are trying to tell me something.

I did finish all my training this week. I actually woke up, and got out of bed, at 4:30 on Friday morning and did a 1 hour (*cough* 50 min *cough*) swim. I was slower to 1500 than I was last week, but I also forgot to eat breakfast, so I'm blaming that.

Thursday, after much ado, I found Tesoro High School. The track there is beautiful and they didn't kick me out when the Girl's Lacrosse game started. Cons, it's only open when the high school is using it. I started to have fat girl high school flashbacks, but I got over myself. Why fret over things that I can't change?

Saturday was my not great 7 miles. I wasn't feeling like running when I got up. I "packed" for 10, but wanted to call it quits after an hour. It was misting, I was cold, blah, blah, blah. Either way I'd have to run back up hill to get home, so stopping at 5 wouldn't get me anything. What was I going to do? Call my husband to pick me up? Embarassing! So I finished strong. When I hit 5 miles my high kicked in and I almost pushed it to 8, in my head. Once I got to 7, my legs said stop.

Also, I got in! I will be at the Nike Women's 1/2 this year. Woot!