Swimming (48 laps) was sweet and Cycling (28 miles) was hard. The hot weather changed from piping hot wind to kind of cold wind this afternoon. I'm afraid I am in a bit of a daze and really just want to go eat--dinner is waiting for this entry to be completed.
Running was an epiphany this arvo. It was so lovely to be pushed by the wind one way and cooled by it the other. I did the 8K as in my goal for the week. JE and I have been trying to work on brick work outs. We ride to his work, about 9 miles, and then ditch the bikes, trade shoes and run up the dirt trail. I ran the whole thing.
I am hoping I discovered a way to control the pain from my Achilles tendon. After my century the other day, we sat in the hot tub. I discovered a jet with a huge force of hot water. It was tenuous at first, getting my ankle into the stream, a lot of pain. After several minutes of moving my leg around in the stream, I was able to put the fullest force of the jet directly onto the most tender of places on my tendon. The next day, I had no pain and for the first time in months was able to run today without feeling like I knew I would be in trouble later. Tonight, I did the same thing. Hoping this works again.
The car is still in the shop, so we rented a car today to travel to see my 91 year old Grandmother for Mother's day tomorrow. I am looking forward to seeing her.
Saturday, May 7, 2011
Friday, May 6, 2011
Day 218: Love Handles
Had a day off to catch up on some personal stuff and let my body recover from yesterday. Surprisingly, I feel great today.
Tried out a new recipe for Rhubarb Custard Pie. Awesome. I need a bakery.
2 weeks to go and I am freaked out tonight. Just the running part, everything else is slow, but has a handle for easy lifting.
Tried out a new recipe for Rhubarb Custard Pie. Awesome. I need a bakery.
2 weeks to go and I am freaked out tonight. Just the running part, everything else is slow, but has a handle for easy lifting.
Thursday, May 5, 2011
Day 217: Cycling 101.4
On my handlebars is a polite little bell with a spring-loaded clapper which I use to warn pedestrians, dogs, other slower cyclists, and the occasional duck that I am passing through. This afternoon, around 5:20, I used it to celebrate. Just as my bike computer rolled over 100 miles, a pack of cyclists was headed toward me. 'I just completed my Century!' I shouted to them, pulling the clapper back and letting fly. Up went a cacophony of hurrays and whoops. Suddenly I had so much more energy than I'd had seconds previously, and felt such a sense of accomplishment.
I am not the fastest out there on two wheels. That isn't the point. The point is: I'm out there on two wheels. In honesty however, this was probably not the best timed century. If I were smarter, I would have ran today and worked on my endurance in my running. Next week.
My toes are burning with friction and my IT band is crazy tight in my right leg. Time for some stretching and massage on the foam roller, then a well earned rest.
I am not the fastest out there on two wheels. That isn't the point. The point is: I'm out there on two wheels. In honesty however, this was probably not the best timed century. If I were smarter, I would have ran today and worked on my endurance in my running. Next week.
My toes are burning with friction and my IT band is crazy tight in my right leg. Time for some stretching and massage on the foam roller, then a well earned rest.
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
Day 216: Nachos
Apparently, I was so engrossed in my tales of doom yesterday that I forgot to tell this sweet little diddy: yesterday was a really slow day for me. At one point, I stopped on my bike to watch some brand new ducklings swimming with their mama. My helmet was on, and I must have been holding very still; because out of the corner of my eye, I spotted a huge, black wing right next to my head. I looked up, suddenly and heard a flap and whoosh as a massive raven made a quick right angle and flew into a nearby tree. He sat on a branch, eying me quietly for a while as I laughed at him. All I can think, is that my shimmery silver helmet must have seemed a luscious place to land. As I rode past where he was perched, he started breaking off branches and dropping them at me. I think he was humiliated, or maybe I have an admirer.
Today felt so good to be out! The sun was bright, but the wind came from the sea--such a delightful feeling! The warm sun and the cool breeze. Twenty two miles of working on my intensity and cadence. To be honest, I rode with JE to work, parked my bike and ran 4 miles. Then got back on my bike and rode home. My initial plan was to head up to Shady canyon for some hill training, but by the time I was finished with my run and back onto my bike, my temp gauge on my bike computer read 102. I doubt that was true, but it was pretty hot, and windy.
When I got home, last night's dinner was prepackaged as a lovely well rounded lunch for me. Tabbouleh, hummus, and bagel chips. It was so nice not to have to think about what I was going to eat--I was so very hungry!
Dinner was a bit on the opposite side of that spectrum.
JE returned home and found me in my sewing room attempting to knock off a pattern from my now-see-through-swim bottoms. I usually have a post-ride-pre-workout snack prepared for him and dinner on the brink of being ready for us after our swim. When we got back from swimming, we threw chips and cheese and canned beans into a bowl and nuked it in the microwave for 5-6 minutes. Then added olives, salsa, and avocado. I do not recommend this dish. Blah...
And after working so hard for our swim! This afternoon, I watched videos on You Tube about swim techniques. Perhaps I watched too many of them to be effective, perhaps I really need to find a good swim coach. My butt does not drag (a good thing), and my rotations seem appropriate, but my arms feel weak. I swam 1.23 miles, that is a mile and a quarter. My speed is still not where I want it to be, but I don't know how to improve. This is the most frustrating thing of all of this: Knowing I need to improve, but not knowing how to improve.
Tonight in the pool, we met up with the would be surfer, again. His name is Ron and we talked about how tough swimming is, that it doesn't give the buzz that running does. When I asked him when his first surf was, he said around the middle of June, when the Pacific heats up. I told him I'd hold him to it.
Today felt so good to be out! The sun was bright, but the wind came from the sea--such a delightful feeling! The warm sun and the cool breeze. Twenty two miles of working on my intensity and cadence. To be honest, I rode with JE to work, parked my bike and ran 4 miles. Then got back on my bike and rode home. My initial plan was to head up to Shady canyon for some hill training, but by the time I was finished with my run and back onto my bike, my temp gauge on my bike computer read 102. I doubt that was true, but it was pretty hot, and windy.
When I got home, last night's dinner was prepackaged as a lovely well rounded lunch for me. Tabbouleh, hummus, and bagel chips. It was so nice not to have to think about what I was going to eat--I was so very hungry!
Dinner was a bit on the opposite side of that spectrum.
JE returned home and found me in my sewing room attempting to knock off a pattern from my now-see-through-swim bottoms. I usually have a post-ride-pre-workout snack prepared for him and dinner on the brink of being ready for us after our swim. When we got back from swimming, we threw chips and cheese and canned beans into a bowl and nuked it in the microwave for 5-6 minutes. Then added olives, salsa, and avocado. I do not recommend this dish. Blah...
And after working so hard for our swim! This afternoon, I watched videos on You Tube about swim techniques. Perhaps I watched too many of them to be effective, perhaps I really need to find a good swim coach. My butt does not drag (a good thing), and my rotations seem appropriate, but my arms feel weak. I swam 1.23 miles, that is a mile and a quarter. My speed is still not where I want it to be, but I don't know how to improve. This is the most frustrating thing of all of this: Knowing I need to improve, but not knowing how to improve.
Tonight in the pool, we met up with the would be surfer, again. His name is Ron and we talked about how tough swimming is, that it doesn't give the buzz that running does. When I asked him when his first surf was, he said around the middle of June, when the Pacific heats up. I told him I'd hold him to it.
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
Day 215: In It to Win It
A couple weeks ago, I accompanied JE and PB on a run. They have been running 8.5 minute miles and I am not that fast, so I rode along next to them on my bike. The trail we were on dips under roads and bridges along a waterway and comes back up at a slight incline. JE ran down these dips with surprising speed, while PB talked about how fast JE was going downhill. After observing this several times, I had a talk with PB about an analogy I use on myself.
I am at a door--there is a chain preventing me from opening the door--or perhaps a sandbag or some other obstacle. Whatever it is, it is on my side of the door, and only I can remove that obstacle. If I remove it, the door is free to open and I can walk through easily. His obstacle was thinking he couldn't run down a hill. He removed that obstacle, and was able to run down hills. He continues to improve his runs. Poor JE, PE is a running mad man...
So, Yesterday, I was in a dither about this coming tri. Three weeks and I am not feeling particularly ready. Today, I have been talking myself up, unlocking that little chain on my door.
Here is part of my conversation:
I knew going into this that I am not in it to win it; however, I may not ever win a race, I will never quit a race. I am competing against myself, no one else cares more about my performance than I do. Success is in the attitude. I know I can do this, I have done much more difficult things. Fatigue is part of getting stronger, I am tired because of my hard work--and it will pay off. Yes, my ankle hurts, but if I have to walk the race to finish it, I will walk the race (I'd rather run it, but I'd rather finish). Yes, they open the course at 10:30 to traffic--that gives me 3.5 hours to finish, plenty of time even going slow! Think of the adrenalin!
My training this morning was really tough though the physical intensity wasn't. We rode to JE's work, early, so we could run on the trail he has come to love.
It's a strange thing that for weeks and sometimes months, everything on the road is fine: no close calls, everyone paying attention, rules followed. And all in one day, all hell breaks loose*! JE and I were flying down the hill near our home. It is a steep hill and we get to speeds over 30 miles an hour. The speed limit on that road is posted at 30, so we often take the lane to avoid the line of parked cars on the street. This morning as I watched JE zoom down the hill, some lady pulled out just before him, causing him to break and swerve around her. She then rode the double yellow line next to him for the next 100 feet, and you know darn well that JE would have been toast had a car been coming in the opposite direction. Stupid stupid stupid! What was she expecting him to do, endanger himself by sliding over into the parking lane? Not cool, stupid. All I can say about my response was that she is probably very grateful that the lights were both in her favor--I hope she felt as threatened as we did.
As I pulled up to the second light, I signaled alerting traffic that I was moving into the turn lane. I could hear the bus coming, but expected the driver to respect both the red light in front of us and my out-turned arm. She only slowed in the pedestrian cross walk, zipping past me--close. It was a short-bus, and evidently she needed to be on that bus...
The third light: I got to the other side, and a woman in a giant white sedan brushed by so close, I could feel the whoosh of her mirror--she was riding the white line of the bike lane. Bitch.
Eighty percent of our ride is on trail, but, this morning rattled me. We got to JE's work and prepped for our run. It was terrible, I was weak and tired and didn't have much faith that I could keep going. I did most of a 5 mile run, but it was not easy nor pretty. When I got home, I iced and relaxed with my foot up, reading the Triathletes Bible. It was a good reminder of just what I want and how to achieve it. It put some sense into all of this.
*Yesterday, after years of cycling near dogs with no incident, three dogs tried to jump their leashes and come after me, barking and baring teeth. What the heck? Was it the new moon? Unlock pure crazy!
I am at a door--there is a chain preventing me from opening the door--or perhaps a sandbag or some other obstacle. Whatever it is, it is on my side of the door, and only I can remove that obstacle. If I remove it, the door is free to open and I can walk through easily. His obstacle was thinking he couldn't run down a hill. He removed that obstacle, and was able to run down hills. He continues to improve his runs. Poor JE, PE is a running mad man...
So, Yesterday, I was in a dither about this coming tri. Three weeks and I am not feeling particularly ready. Today, I have been talking myself up, unlocking that little chain on my door.
Here is part of my conversation:
I knew going into this that I am not in it to win it; however, I may not ever win a race, I will never quit a race. I am competing against myself, no one else cares more about my performance than I do. Success is in the attitude. I know I can do this, I have done much more difficult things. Fatigue is part of getting stronger, I am tired because of my hard work--and it will pay off. Yes, my ankle hurts, but if I have to walk the race to finish it, I will walk the race (I'd rather run it, but I'd rather finish). Yes, they open the course at 10:30 to traffic--that gives me 3.5 hours to finish, plenty of time even going slow! Think of the adrenalin!
My training this morning was really tough though the physical intensity wasn't. We rode to JE's work, early, so we could run on the trail he has come to love.
It's a strange thing that for weeks and sometimes months, everything on the road is fine: no close calls, everyone paying attention, rules followed. And all in one day, all hell breaks loose*! JE and I were flying down the hill near our home. It is a steep hill and we get to speeds over 30 miles an hour. The speed limit on that road is posted at 30, so we often take the lane to avoid the line of parked cars on the street. This morning as I watched JE zoom down the hill, some lady pulled out just before him, causing him to break and swerve around her. She then rode the double yellow line next to him for the next 100 feet, and you know darn well that JE would have been toast had a car been coming in the opposite direction. Stupid stupid stupid! What was she expecting him to do, endanger himself by sliding over into the parking lane? Not cool, stupid. All I can say about my response was that she is probably very grateful that the lights were both in her favor--I hope she felt as threatened as we did.
As I pulled up to the second light, I signaled alerting traffic that I was moving into the turn lane. I could hear the bus coming, but expected the driver to respect both the red light in front of us and my out-turned arm. She only slowed in the pedestrian cross walk, zipping past me--close. It was a short-bus, and evidently she needed to be on that bus...
The third light: I got to the other side, and a woman in a giant white sedan brushed by so close, I could feel the whoosh of her mirror--she was riding the white line of the bike lane. Bitch.
Eighty percent of our ride is on trail, but, this morning rattled me. We got to JE's work and prepped for our run. It was terrible, I was weak and tired and didn't have much faith that I could keep going. I did most of a 5 mile run, but it was not easy nor pretty. When I got home, I iced and relaxed with my foot up, reading the Triathletes Bible. It was a good reminder of just what I want and how to achieve it. It put some sense into all of this.
*Yesterday, after years of cycling near dogs with no incident, three dogs tried to jump their leashes and come after me, barking and baring teeth. What the heck? Was it the new moon? Unlock pure crazy!
Monday, May 2, 2011
Day 214: Hit the Road, Jack
With the wind not awake yet, I rode with JE to his work then headed up Santiago Canyon. As I neared the top of Jamboree, the wind and heat picked up. Another hot one...
Riding through Santiago Canyon, I spotted a big orange sign cautioning a coming road closure. I didn't pay much attention to it, until I realized it was a sign about my upcoming race! Suddenly, those hills were important, and my pace and cadence essential. Why am I so darned slow??? I thought that perhaps, it was the wind choking me. There were a couple times I had to push to go downhill, but that didn't stop the roadies (why do I suddenly want to call them "Road-Rash?") from passing me by. I am so soulfully slow.
So, with this tidbit of info, I rode home and checked out the route (honestly, why I didn't think to do this sooner is beyond me!). Apparently there are two transition areas in this race. Weird. Should have paid attention to this info before I signed on. Oh, well.
My swim seems to be improving--I think... Not sure what a good time to swim a mile is, but I swam over a mile in 43 minutes.
Dinner is on the table. It smell so good, and I am so very hungry! We roasted instead of barbecued. Who has time?
Riding through Santiago Canyon, I spotted a big orange sign cautioning a coming road closure. I didn't pay much attention to it, until I realized it was a sign about my upcoming race! Suddenly, those hills were important, and my pace and cadence essential. Why am I so darned slow??? I thought that perhaps, it was the wind choking me. There were a couple times I had to push to go downhill, but that didn't stop the roadies (why do I suddenly want to call them "Road-Rash?") from passing me by. I am so soulfully slow.
So, with this tidbit of info, I rode home and checked out the route (honestly, why I didn't think to do this sooner is beyond me!). Apparently there are two transition areas in this race. Weird. Should have paid attention to this info before I signed on. Oh, well.
My swim seems to be improving--I think... Not sure what a good time to swim a mile is, but I swam over a mile in 43 minutes.
Dinner is on the table. It smell so good, and I am so very hungry! We roasted instead of barbecued. Who has time?
Day 213: Rest Day
Again with the Santa Ana winds. Hot and dry and windy. My skirt blew around my legs as we rode to church on bike. It felt strange to ride in church clothes, very fundamentalist. We attended church in Irvine, because getting to that church required riding over very few hills as opposed to ours at the top of Everest.
Why are there no bike racks anywhere in Irvine? There are bike paths and lanes on almost every major street, but finding racks is next to impossible. It is a bit ridiculous, particularly in the strip malls next to the trails. Nothing.
After church we dropped by Flame Broiler for a quick bite before we headed out on a "Sunday Drive," so to speak. We sat outside in the shade and enjoyed the view. Five bites into my lunch and my gag was triggered. I sat concentrating on not loosing my lunch for the next five minutes before I excused myself and made friends with a hedge. Not pretty. I puked until my gut was empty. Afterward I sat and tried to quiet my tummy with a soda water, while JE finished his meal--and mine. Just as I finished a twenty ounce cup, my tummy couldn't be quiet anymore. This time I found my way to the bathroom and anything that was left in there, wasn't there afterward.
We bagged the Sunday ride and rode the ten miles home. I felt fine, aside from feeling really tired and having a monster headache from nearly bursting my head open. Sometimes food just does that to me. Strange thing. Sushi stopped being palatable after a similar episode. Loosing my lunch in a parking lot...
So, There are two and a half weeks of training before I need to taper down in prep for my race. Still anxious about my ankle and running. I have asked a friend if he would fill in for me if I can't, but I really really really want to do this--on my own (he is a saint for even considering it--thank heaven for good friends). So, I think my goals need to be to train in bricks this week and next, work on my hill climbs on bike, run when I am able --work on increasing to the 10K (if unable to run, replace it with hill training on the bike), continue core strengthening, eat well including the 1/4 protein, 1/4 carb, 1/2 vegetable and fruit rule.
JE has been running with Pete from work, who forces him to run faster--this is a good thing. While I have been swimming on my own. It isn't exactly unifying, but with our longer workouts, comes greater fatigue and greater need for sleep in the mornings. Thus we have slackened our pace of training in the mornings.
Plan for the Week:
Mon AM: Ride to work and beyond (shoot for 40 miles of varying terrain)
PM: swim 48 laps, work on speed and consistency, Sets
Dinner: BBQ chicken, corn, asparagus, French potato salad (uses vinaigrette instead of mayo)
Tuesday: AM: Cycle to work followed immediately with: Run for 42 minutes with a goal of 10.5 minute miles
PM: take it easy, but keep moving!
Dinner: Falafel, tabouli, hummus, pita, tzatziki
Wednesday: AM: cycle to work and beyond--try the route for the race?
PM: swimming 48 laps, sets
Dinner: Vietnamese Bun--vermicelli salad with shrimp
Thursday: AM: Brick: cycle back bay, 7K run
PM: take it easy
Dinner: haystacks
Friday AM: Cycle to work
PM: Swimming 53 laps, Sets
Dinner: One dish chicken, potatoes and leeks
Saturday: Run 8K
Dinner: Spaghetti and meat balls
Why are there no bike racks anywhere in Irvine? There are bike paths and lanes on almost every major street, but finding racks is next to impossible. It is a bit ridiculous, particularly in the strip malls next to the trails. Nothing.
After church we dropped by Flame Broiler for a quick bite before we headed out on a "Sunday Drive," so to speak. We sat outside in the shade and enjoyed the view. Five bites into my lunch and my gag was triggered. I sat concentrating on not loosing my lunch for the next five minutes before I excused myself and made friends with a hedge. Not pretty. I puked until my gut was empty. Afterward I sat and tried to quiet my tummy with a soda water, while JE finished his meal--and mine. Just as I finished a twenty ounce cup, my tummy couldn't be quiet anymore. This time I found my way to the bathroom and anything that was left in there, wasn't there afterward.
We bagged the Sunday ride and rode the ten miles home. I felt fine, aside from feeling really tired and having a monster headache from nearly bursting my head open. Sometimes food just does that to me. Strange thing. Sushi stopped being palatable after a similar episode. Loosing my lunch in a parking lot...
So, There are two and a half weeks of training before I need to taper down in prep for my race. Still anxious about my ankle and running. I have asked a friend if he would fill in for me if I can't, but I really really really want to do this--on my own (he is a saint for even considering it--thank heaven for good friends). So, I think my goals need to be to train in bricks this week and next, work on my hill climbs on bike, run when I am able --work on increasing to the 10K (if unable to run, replace it with hill training on the bike), continue core strengthening, eat well including the 1/4 protein, 1/4 carb, 1/2 vegetable and fruit rule.
JE has been running with Pete from work, who forces him to run faster--this is a good thing. While I have been swimming on my own. It isn't exactly unifying, but with our longer workouts, comes greater fatigue and greater need for sleep in the mornings. Thus we have slackened our pace of training in the mornings.
Plan for the Week:
Mon AM: Ride to work and beyond (shoot for 40 miles of varying terrain)
PM: swim 48 laps, work on speed and consistency, Sets
Dinner: BBQ chicken, corn, asparagus, French potato salad (uses vinaigrette instead of mayo)
Tuesday: AM: Cycle to work followed immediately with: Run for 42 minutes with a goal of 10.5 minute miles
PM: take it easy, but keep moving!
Dinner: Falafel, tabouli, hummus, pita, tzatziki
Wednesday: AM: cycle to work and beyond--try the route for the race?
PM: swimming 48 laps, sets
Dinner: Vietnamese Bun--vermicelli salad with shrimp
Thursday: AM: Brick: cycle back bay, 7K run
PM: take it easy
Dinner: haystacks
Friday AM: Cycle to work
PM: Swimming 53 laps, Sets
Dinner: One dish chicken, potatoes and leeks
Saturday: Run 8K
Dinner: Spaghetti and meat balls
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