August 5th, 2007 - i've registered to do the SheRox sprint distance triathlon in Philly. I'm excited to do an all female event. The dynamics completely change when taking so much testosterone out of the equation.
I had a surprisingly good swimming session this morning with my coach and training group. I believe there are only eight people registered for this 5 month program i'm in (I don't really know because not everyone has shown up at once for a session yet). Five were there today. The strengths of the majority of the group is with cycling. Myself and one other person consider ourselves runners more than anything. Not one person is comfortable with swimming - it's a new discipline for all of us.
We've only had one group swim before this one and the majority of that swim was a lecture from our coach. This time around, we jumped right in the pool and would be doing a number of drills and field tests. With the exception of training with a friend on occassions, i'm normally on my own in this training - and it's hard. I don't have the best technique and I struggle with my breathing while swimming. Overall, I just don't feel comfortable and get tired easily while swimming. I hadn't gone anymore than 8 laps in a 25 yard pool without needing a rest. All this said, you could imagine my anxiety when my coach told us one of our field tests today included a 400 yard continuous swim (that's 16 laps) to be timed in order to create individual training zones.
Before this test, we worked on a kick drill with a kickboard. Only 50 yards - one length of the pool and back - and our heads are above water the entire time so no problems with breathing. Easy enough I thought. I'm in the last lane - he tells us to go, and I start kicking - staring straight ahead. I get to the end, turn around, and to my surprise, everyone else was only halfway down the length of the pool. I keep going and finish my 50 yards when the rest of the class is only beginning the second length. Now, i'm not in competition with anyone else - we're all at our different places - most of them kick my butt in cycling - and we're here to learn and support each other. But i'd be lying if I said it didn't feel good.
Now was time for the field test - a timed 400 yards non-stop. We start and at the end of the first lap, we're all around the same place. At some point in the first 3 laps, I find that i'm pulling ahead a bit, with the exception of one guy who was two lanes over and a bit ahead of me. By the last 4 laps, I find that I was slightly ahead of that guy and much further than the rest of the field. Ok - so you can see I have a bit of a competitive side coming out. But beyond that, this is the first time I could really see where I stand with the training i've been doing on my own. I really tuckered out in the last lap and the guy finished 4 seconds ahead of me. 7:52 for 400 yards - it's definately nothing to brag about - but, it was a huge confidence booster for 1. being able to swim continuously for that amount of distance (the actually length in the philly tri will be equal to 66 laps in that pool - yikes!) and 2. realizing that i'm not further behind everyone else.
Considering how tough running has been (the last time was too painful to continue), i'm happy to focus my energy on this new sport to conquer. I don't want this post to get any longer - but two other topics I want to write about - therapists and gambling. To be posted at a later date!
Sunday, March 25, 2007
Tuesday, March 20, 2007
Revolving around dates
Ever notice how your life tends to revolve around a handful of dates each year? It may be a graduation, wedding day, birthday, last or first day of a job, etc. Here are some dates for me this year:
June 11th - the day I take my LSATs. I'm not even sure i'm planning on applying or attending law school at this point - but I can't rule it out, and my performance on this exam can make or break my chances of getting into particular schools.
June 24th - the Philadelphia Triathlon. The Olympic Distance triathlon is a first for me - 1.5K swim, 40K bike, 10K run. 7 weeks into training and i'm still recovering from an ankle injury that has been nagging me for 4 months. I'm not so confident heading towards this goal with taking into consideration a rough run experience this morning (the pain that had subsided the past two runs came back today - I don't know why and it's so frustrating). But don't count me out just yet - i'm not looking to win this - I want to finish.
November 4th - the New York City Marathon. I registered yesterday for this and received my confirmation that I am indeed in the race! I am guaranteed entry because as a member of New York Road Runners club I completed 9 qualifying races in 2006. I'm psyched for this - but also nervous. It's a long way off but i've set a time goal for this marathon. I'd like to finish it in 4 hours. Had I not gotten injured in the Philly marathon, I was on pace to finish in about 4:20 or so - cutting 20 or more minutes of this time is going to be quite the challenge. However, I feel my training was spotty last year and with more experience this time around, I can focus and gear my workouts to a time goal. And, of course, I have to pray I fully recover from my injury AND not reinjure myself at some point during my tri or marathon training (which, by the way, will overlap this summer....still trying to figure out how to work this one out for optimal performance).
June 11th - the day I take my LSATs. I'm not even sure i'm planning on applying or attending law school at this point - but I can't rule it out, and my performance on this exam can make or break my chances of getting into particular schools.
June 24th - the Philadelphia Triathlon. The Olympic Distance triathlon is a first for me - 1.5K swim, 40K bike, 10K run. 7 weeks into training and i'm still recovering from an ankle injury that has been nagging me for 4 months. I'm not so confident heading towards this goal with taking into consideration a rough run experience this morning (the pain that had subsided the past two runs came back today - I don't know why and it's so frustrating). But don't count me out just yet - i'm not looking to win this - I want to finish.
November 4th - the New York City Marathon. I registered yesterday for this and received my confirmation that I am indeed in the race! I am guaranteed entry because as a member of New York Road Runners club I completed 9 qualifying races in 2006. I'm psyched for this - but also nervous. It's a long way off but i've set a time goal for this marathon. I'd like to finish it in 4 hours. Had I not gotten injured in the Philly marathon, I was on pace to finish in about 4:20 or so - cutting 20 or more minutes of this time is going to be quite the challenge. However, I feel my training was spotty last year and with more experience this time around, I can focus and gear my workouts to a time goal. And, of course, I have to pray I fully recover from my injury AND not reinjure myself at some point during my tri or marathon training (which, by the way, will overlap this summer....still trying to figure out how to work this one out for optimal performance).
Wednesday, March 14, 2007
1st time in 4 months!!!
I ran 30 minutes straight (that means WITHOUT stopping to walk) on the treadmill completely pain free this morning!!! That hasn't happened since before the marathon last November! Woo Hoo!!!! This is a HUGE confidence booster for me. Granted, it was slow and on the treadmill (i've been instructed by my coach and physical therapist to hit the pavement again) - but I finally truly feel like I might actually be able to run a marathon again next fall! My next run will be on Saturday and i'm hoping for another non-stop pain free experience. If I could string two comfortable runs back to back, i'll feel like i'm officially in the last stages of rehab.
I'm in my sixth week of training for the Philly Tri - i'm still building my base and generally, just getting back to some kind of active condition again. I'm completely new to cycling and swimming (having only done it recreationally), so it's been a slow start for me. This week, i've noticed small amounts of progress - my pedal stroke is more smooth than before (my quads and hamstrings are becoming more conditioned to transition between the upstroke and the downstroke) and I clipped in for the first time out of my trainer. I stumbled a few times, as expected, but I think i'll get the hang of it. And despite the fact that my freestyle stroke form is atrocious, I did a 10 x 100 yard interval workout the other day, and I actually got into a rhythm with my stroke and breath.
My workouts average about 10 hours a week right now (and will only increase in time). I'm trying to make changes in my life to accomodate this training and not "cheat" myself on some of the workouts. It's not going to be easy, especially considering I will be in a class 3-4 days a week from mid-April to mid-June. Somehow, i'll have to make it work. These small gains in my fitness are what make me most happy.
I'm in my sixth week of training for the Philly Tri - i'm still building my base and generally, just getting back to some kind of active condition again. I'm completely new to cycling and swimming (having only done it recreationally), so it's been a slow start for me. This week, i've noticed small amounts of progress - my pedal stroke is more smooth than before (my quads and hamstrings are becoming more conditioned to transition between the upstroke and the downstroke) and I clipped in for the first time out of my trainer. I stumbled a few times, as expected, but I think i'll get the hang of it. And despite the fact that my freestyle stroke form is atrocious, I did a 10 x 100 yard interval workout the other day, and I actually got into a rhythm with my stroke and breath.
My workouts average about 10 hours a week right now (and will only increase in time). I'm trying to make changes in my life to accomodate this training and not "cheat" myself on some of the workouts. It's not going to be easy, especially considering I will be in a class 3-4 days a week from mid-April to mid-June. Somehow, i'll have to make it work. These small gains in my fitness are what make me most happy.
Thursday, March 08, 2007
I'm going to the Prom!!!
Yes - that's right. I've been asked to go to the Prom again! 14 years ago I donned a fitted red sequin dress at my junior prom - now, my date, Jim, has asked me yet again to dress to the nines and boogie down on the dance floor. He's a teacher at an all-boys high school - so, I guess technically we're considered chaperones. Am I really old enough to be a chaperone to a bunch of teenagers?? It seems like the prom was just yesterday! Ah well - I don't care how old I am. I'm just excited! Now I have to go out and get a prom dress!!
I know it's been awhile since i've posted an update. I finished my first 4 weeks of "building my base" in my triathlon training. This week, my hours of workouts have increased and the types of workouts focus on technique and interval training. Some days are good - other's a tough. My foot/ankle is better overall - but it still bothers me some days. I'm not 100%. My physical therapist has moved to another office, so I have a new one working on my case. I'm trying to work out early in the mornings before work because I find it's easier to slack off afterwards since i'm often feeling tired at the end of the day. I've also met someone who is training from triathlons himself and is helping me in the motivation department - a new training partner. It's a tremendous help to me as I start to work myself out of this funk i've been in for months.
I've regained posession of my apartment in NY and have learned I NEVER want to be a landlord, EVER. I've had the apartment freshly painted and it is now listed with the broker who initially sold me the apartment over 3 years ago. With the spring market, low inventory and some signs of the market rebounding (in my neighborhood anyway), I can only hope i'll get an offer soon. I'm feeling so desperate I even went to the Catholic Shop to buy a Saint Joseph to hide in my apartment (don't really have a lawn to bury it in). Keep your fingers crossed for me!
I know it's been awhile since i've posted an update. I finished my first 4 weeks of "building my base" in my triathlon training. This week, my hours of workouts have increased and the types of workouts focus on technique and interval training. Some days are good - other's a tough. My foot/ankle is better overall - but it still bothers me some days. I'm not 100%. My physical therapist has moved to another office, so I have a new one working on my case. I'm trying to work out early in the mornings before work because I find it's easier to slack off afterwards since i'm often feeling tired at the end of the day. I've also met someone who is training from triathlons himself and is helping me in the motivation department - a new training partner. It's a tremendous help to me as I start to work myself out of this funk i've been in for months.
I've regained posession of my apartment in NY and have learned I NEVER want to be a landlord, EVER. I've had the apartment freshly painted and it is now listed with the broker who initially sold me the apartment over 3 years ago. With the spring market, low inventory and some signs of the market rebounding (in my neighborhood anyway), I can only hope i'll get an offer soon. I'm feeling so desperate I even went to the Catholic Shop to buy a Saint Joseph to hide in my apartment (don't really have a lawn to bury it in). Keep your fingers crossed for me!
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