Ahhhhh....sweet, glorious, rest days.
Mondays are quickly becoming my new favorite day of the week, my one day a week of no workouts. It's weird though, I never thought I'd be that annoying person who looks forward to working out after a day off, but I do kind of feel anxious to hop in the saddle tomorrow...
Tomorrow is going to be fun! we have a team spin at sportsbasement, and I really want to make an effort to get to know my teammates better...one of the things that is amazing about this experience is that everyone is ultimately in it to kick cancer in the boo-tay, but each teammate has their own unique motivators. I am truly in awe of everyone, and I see myself looking up to a lot of these folks. I mean, seeing someone committed to making this dream come true at an age much older then 24, and with a lot more responsibility is really encouraging.
This day off has me thinking about my own personal motivators...
I tend to be extremely critical on myself and have always neatly fit into the "artistic" category. When it comes to real, athletic acheivements, I have always kind of dismissed it as "not my thing," and I never really went after anything becasue I never really felt good at anything. I remember volunteering and singing at a triathlon in college, and thought about how badly I wanted to participate. I remember signing the Team in Training people in at WildFlower at Lake San Antonio, and admiring the normal non-athlete people for taking on a challenge, and doing it for an awesome cause. I made a mental note to find out more, started getting Team in Training emails, and honestly didn't beleive in myself and my abilities enough to make anything happen.
This year, I'm trying this new thing where I'm giving up the whole "can't do" attitude. I read a book called The Magic of Thinking Big, and as corny as it sounds, I think this guy was on to something. I have been blessed with a working body, and a working brain, and it's amazing what anyone can do with the combination of these two things. Infact, I have heard more and more inspiring stories of people who only have one of the two; making incredible miraculous acheivements simply through the power of their own positivity, drive and faith. I am challenged and encouraged by these stories everyday (Anyone interested should look up the story of Louie Bonpua, a triathlete who wrestled with leukemia.)
I am more pumped up then ever right now! That felt good to put into writing....I CAN!! Woop Woop!
Now, one symptom of training is a bedtime before 10 pm...I'm wiped! Goodnight :)
Total miles: 00 *sigh*
Total miles in IronMan: 140.7
Monday, January 4, 2010
Sunday, January 3, 2010
209 days to go...
I'm done! I'm done! I'm alive! Shockingly enough, I don't feel terrible I guess the whole training plan does in fact work!
Today we had our first triple doozy of a workout...
we swam for an hour and a half straight, then got out and biked 18.5 miles, and finally ran...(don't ask me how far because I don't know, but I do know that it took me a really long time to finish). I was actually laughing through the whole run, because I literally couldn't lift my feet of the ground. It felt like I had massive magnets strapped to my ankles and I was running on a really big refrigerator. Anyway, I thought I would hate myself for the rest of the day, but after a Gatorade, and a scoop of peanut butter while I wait for my spaghetti lunch, I feel good!
Keeping things short, so I can get to lunch and naptime
Small step of the day:
I learned tons on the bike today thanks to coach Mike, he gave me one on one coaching for the entire ride :) Also, I really like the route they had set up for us, and it's totally close to home, so I can definitely use it on future rides.
What I learned today:
MORE FOOD! I brought a probar, a Gu gel, and my water, but I really need to bring more with me. I started getting a little weak on my bike after only having a gel and water. I'm glad I had the egg whites toast and fruit for breakfast before I left, I think that saved me a little. I just wonder what to bring that will be good and quick for transitions....open to suggestions! Also I really need to have two water bottle cages on my bike, and another little pack thingy (I can't remember what it's called)...more gear!!
All in all, a fun day...I'm glad tomorrow is a rest day though, my buns 'n thighs need it!
Total miles: 23-ish
Total IronMan miles: 140.7
Today we had our first triple doozy of a workout...
we swam for an hour and a half straight, then got out and biked 18.5 miles, and finally ran...(don't ask me how far because I don't know, but I do know that it took me a really long time to finish). I was actually laughing through the whole run, because I literally couldn't lift my feet of the ground. It felt like I had massive magnets strapped to my ankles and I was running on a really big refrigerator. Anyway, I thought I would hate myself for the rest of the day, but after a Gatorade, and a scoop of peanut butter while I wait for my spaghetti lunch, I feel good!
Keeping things short, so I can get to lunch and naptime
Small step of the day:
I learned tons on the bike today thanks to coach Mike, he gave me one on one coaching for the entire ride :) Also, I really like the route they had set up for us, and it's totally close to home, so I can definitely use it on future rides.
What I learned today:
MORE FOOD! I brought a probar, a Gu gel, and my water, but I really need to bring more with me. I started getting a little weak on my bike after only having a gel and water. I'm glad I had the egg whites toast and fruit for breakfast before I left, I think that saved me a little. I just wonder what to bring that will be good and quick for transitions....open to suggestions! Also I really need to have two water bottle cages on my bike, and another little pack thingy (I can't remember what it's called)...more gear!!
All in all, a fun day...I'm glad tomorrow is a rest day though, my buns 'n thighs need it!
Total miles: 23-ish
Total IronMan miles: 140.7
Saturday, January 2, 2010
210 days until the race...
Alright...so I'm starting this blog thing, as recommended by my coach, to keep me on target for IronMan training (you know, like a "remember the journey" type-thing.) At first I thought it seemed like sentimental hoopla...but now I see the necessity in writing this crazy stuff down. In addition to all the excitement, and the soreness, I'm beginning the much fore-warned, emotional-roller coaster of training for this beast!
Over the holidays I experienced:
a) an intense desire to forget the whole thing and stuff my face with Christmas cookies...
b) remorse for my desire to forget the whole thing and stuff my face with Christmas cookies...
c) Nights awake thinking about how incredibly slow my swim/bike/run marker times are
d) Where does one find $6000 dollars?
and lastly....
MY RACE IS IN 7 MONTHS!!
But really, if I've learned anything since November 7 (training kick-off), Ive learned that if I focus myself on the size of this feat alone, I am never going to get anywhere (paralysis through analysis), but if I focus my energy into discipline in training, and the small steps I achieve along the way, I'm going to get there!! That is where this diary comes in....documenting the small steps, and accountability :)
So....
Small step of the day:
I went on my first real solo ride today....No teammates, No boyfriend, just me...and traffic. I was petrified. Those clips are really tough to navigate when you're nervous too! somehow I felt like everyone on Camino Tassajara today knew that I almost had no clue what I was doing....but you know what? It only took me a good 5 miles to get into the flow, and my nerves died down, and I actually had some fun out there! I went for a little 12 mile ride and got the feel for riding in Danville (I've only been out in San Francisco so far) and my confidence has increased 10 fold.
What I learned today:
I need to be on my bike everyday....whatever my training plan includes for the day is also going to include a bike ride for me :) I absolutely have to be more comfortable on that thing for my own safety...no more trainer....so, beginning Monday I'm out on that thing before work everyday.
Tomorrow is a team workout...yikes!!!! I wasn't at the last team workout because I was out gallivanting around New Mexico with my Man, and the last team workout I got really sick. Tomorrow is 5 hours....an hour of biking, an hour of swimming, a good run, then to top it all off a little strength building. I'm feeling most anxious for the bike of course, so I guess it's good that it will be over with first :) Wish me luck!
Until Tomorrow...
Over the holidays I experienced:
a) an intense desire to forget the whole thing and stuff my face with Christmas cookies...
b) remorse for my desire to forget the whole thing and stuff my face with Christmas cookies...
c) Nights awake thinking about how incredibly slow my swim/bike/run marker times are
d) Where does one find $6000 dollars?
and lastly....
MY RACE IS IN 7 MONTHS!!
But really, if I've learned anything since November 7 (training kick-off), Ive learned that if I focus myself on the size of this feat alone, I am never going to get anywhere (paralysis through analysis), but if I focus my energy into discipline in training, and the small steps I achieve along the way, I'm going to get there!! That is where this diary comes in....documenting the small steps, and accountability :)
So....
Small step of the day:
I went on my first real solo ride today....No teammates, No boyfriend, just me...and traffic. I was petrified. Those clips are really tough to navigate when you're nervous too! somehow I felt like everyone on Camino Tassajara today knew that I almost had no clue what I was doing....but you know what? It only took me a good 5 miles to get into the flow, and my nerves died down, and I actually had some fun out there! I went for a little 12 mile ride and got the feel for riding in Danville (I've only been out in San Francisco so far) and my confidence has increased 10 fold.
What I learned today:
I need to be on my bike everyday....whatever my training plan includes for the day is also going to include a bike ride for me :) I absolutely have to be more comfortable on that thing for my own safety...no more trainer....so, beginning Monday I'm out on that thing before work everyday.
Tomorrow is a team workout...yikes!!!! I wasn't at the last team workout because I was out gallivanting around New Mexico with my Man, and the last team workout I got really sick. Tomorrow is 5 hours....an hour of biking, an hour of swimming, a good run, then to top it all off a little strength building. I'm feeling most anxious for the bike of course, so I guess it's good that it will be over with first :) Wish me luck!
Until Tomorrow...
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