Friday, April 20, 2007
Taper Week
Nothing too exciting. Ran a little, swam a little. Team dinner ("sendoff") was tonight. Leaving for Vegas tomorrow morning. I can't believe it.
Sunday, April 15, 2007
motivation
a wise man once said the human spirit can over come any obstacle
that man had obviously never run a triathlon
that man had obviously never run a triathlon
Saturday, April 14, 2007
Officially a TRI-athlete (almost?)
Did a first mini-tri today led by the TNT mentors at "Mom's Beach" in the LBC. It's the first time I've done all three sports together (and after much discussion later today decided that playing a game of volleyball, a game of basketball, and golfing in the same day does NOT count). We had a registration time, numbers, a transition area, photographer, the works!
We did a 400 m open water swim, a 6 mile bike ride and two 2 mile run loops. Took me about 71 mins, and all of it felt pretty good. The first 2 miles of the run were really tough--I just felt like I was going slowly despite my best efforts. That's how it's been feeling most of the time jumping off the bike into a run though. INto the water was a piece of cake (cake that tasted disgusting by the way sea water + mint gum = gross), and out was easier than expected slipping off the ol' wetsuit. Bike ride felt good, though a little cold with the ocean breeze drying off the water. and yeah, then the run. I was able to get the last 2 miles I think around 8 mins each, but definitely NOT the first 2.
1 week until the real thing. I can't believe it.
We did a 400 m open water swim, a 6 mile bike ride and two 2 mile run loops. Took me about 71 mins, and all of it felt pretty good. The first 2 miles of the run were really tough--I just felt like I was going slowly despite my best efforts. That's how it's been feeling most of the time jumping off the bike into a run though. INto the water was a piece of cake (cake that tasted disgusting by the way sea water + mint gum = gross), and out was easier than expected slipping off the ol' wetsuit. Bike ride felt good, though a little cold with the ocean breeze drying off the water. and yeah, then the run. I was able to get the last 2 miles I think around 8 mins each, but definitely NOT the first 2.
1 week until the real thing. I can't believe it.
Last Week of Training
Monday: Swim @ Belmont pool in LBC. 3000 meters. Had 10x100 hard. Can't beat Coach Jeff.
Tuesday: 8 mile run in Hermosa. Did the Nike Club run in the 8 minute group for 5 miles, circled back to meet up with teammate/mentor Mike in the later group, then tacked on a few more mile at the end. Tried to keep it light after running <8 for the first 3 miles. --after the race I want to get in on that 7 min/mile group...they are fast!!
Wednesday: Night off. Exhausted as usual. Monday was supposed to be a day off.
Thursday: Swim practice. 10x100, 5x200, then I forget, there was more. Got smoked by the two fastest swimmers on the team, but at least they didn't lap me!! (moved out of the "beginner's" lane for this one....oh yeah...)
Friday: Day off. Didn't ride my bike yet this week, Malik is lonely! Signed up for a May 5 10k in Santa Monica.
Tuesday: 8 mile run in Hermosa. Did the Nike Club run in the 8 minute group for 5 miles, circled back to meet up with teammate/mentor Mike in the later group, then tacked on a few more mile at the end. Tried to keep it light after running <8 for the first 3 miles. --after the race I want to get in on that 7 min/mile group...they are fast!!
Wednesday: Night off. Exhausted as usual. Monday was supposed to be a day off.
Thursday: Swim practice. 10x100, 5x200, then I forget, there was more. Got smoked by the two fastest swimmers on the team, but at least they didn't lap me!! (moved out of the "beginner's" lane for this one....oh yeah...)
Friday: Day off. Didn't ride my bike yet this week, Malik is lonely! Signed up for a May 5 10k in Santa Monica.
Monday, April 9, 2007
3 hours...gone!
Big Workout Sunday:
3 hours in Huntington Beach. 2 hour bike ride followed by a 1 hour run. For the ride we had a flat trek along the beach (slow to avoid pedestrians) and then hit it hard 10 miles out and back (20 mph on the way there, down to 17/18 on the way back--headwind) and back up to our "transition" location. "Transition time" was longer than ordinary to allow for cramming of my bike into the back seat of the Celica. I don't need to get my back stolen 2 weeks before the race!! Made the run in exactly an hour (32 out, 28 back). It seems the second half of the run gets a bit easier. It takes that long to get the legs used to not moving in circles anymore. It was maybe 7 miles, but probably just under....it's hard to run fast when you've been working out for so long!
Saturday was a 4 mile team run. We stayed all together which was fun (and slow) but allowed our coach to share some of his war stories from past Tri's and try to assuage any fears we first-timers had about the race. My #1 fear now is how to look good for the pics! ;) He said no chance of looking good on the bike....damn. I'm hoping a pained smile on the run might work out for me.
3 hours in Huntington Beach. 2 hour bike ride followed by a 1 hour run. For the ride we had a flat trek along the beach (slow to avoid pedestrians) and then hit it hard 10 miles out and back (20 mph on the way there, down to 17/18 on the way back--headwind) and back up to our "transition" location. "Transition time" was longer than ordinary to allow for cramming of my bike into the back seat of the Celica. I don't need to get my back stolen 2 weeks before the race!! Made the run in exactly an hour (32 out, 28 back). It seems the second half of the run gets a bit easier. It takes that long to get the legs used to not moving in circles anymore. It was maybe 7 miles, but probably just under....it's hard to run fast when you've been working out for so long!
Saturday was a 4 mile team run. We stayed all together which was fun (and slow) but allowed our coach to share some of his war stories from past Tri's and try to assuage any fears we first-timers had about the race. My #1 fear now is how to look good for the pics! ;) He said no chance of looking good on the bike....damn. I'm hoping a pained smile on the run might work out for me.
Saturday, April 7, 2007
The Week in Review
It seems all people can talk about these days is my triathlon....not that I mind cause hey, what do I like to talk about better than myself?!? and mostly I find other people's lives boring in comparison to mine....
Tuesday I fell asleep after work (I'm blaming recovery for the weekend workouts) and didn't get to work out
Wednesday: had time for ~5 miles in the morning, and then a 25 mile PV loop bike ride after work.
Thursday: Pool workout. Did 3 sets of 2 hard 200s + 2 hard 50s that were timed (1500 m total)...I forget what the time was, but it seems every time I got back to the wall it was time to go again. Writing it down makes it seem not as hard as it was.... but it was hard!! I drank at least 3 gallons of pool water during the course of it too.
Friday: Got in the 7 mile run I was supposed to do Tuesday. Made it 8 miles just to be extra good, took me 66 mins (that's 8:15 mins/mile). grrr....wish I could keep the longer ones at 8 flat too. my knee is still getting sore. still annoying.
oh, I installed my new bike computer this week! Now I can see my world landspeed record breaking speed after all my rides. It'll be good too for working on my cadence. Too bad I didn't have this a few months ago...dunh dun-dunhhhh
Countdown to Rage = 16 days!
Tuesday I fell asleep after work (I'm blaming recovery for the weekend workouts) and didn't get to work out
Wednesday: had time for ~5 miles in the morning, and then a 25 mile PV loop bike ride after work.
Thursday: Pool workout. Did 3 sets of 2 hard 200s + 2 hard 50s that were timed (1500 m total)...I forget what the time was, but it seems every time I got back to the wall it was time to go again. Writing it down makes it seem not as hard as it was.... but it was hard!! I drank at least 3 gallons of pool water during the course of it too.
Friday: Got in the 7 mile run I was supposed to do Tuesday. Made it 8 miles just to be extra good, took me 66 mins (that's 8:15 mins/mile). grrr....wish I could keep the longer ones at 8 flat too. my knee is still getting sore. still annoying.
oh, I installed my new bike computer this week! Now I can see my world landspeed record breaking speed after all my rides. It'll be good too for working on my cadence. Too bad I didn't have this a few months ago...dunh dun-dunhhhh
Countdown to Rage = 16 days!
Tuesday, April 3, 2007
Monday, April 2, 2007
Weekend Update
Saturday: Triple Brick in Redondo--6 mile ride (which started with a nasty little hill), then a 2 mile run at the beach...3 times! It was a tough workout, but felt good. I wish my runs had been faster (~18-19mins), but I'll blame it on the obstacles we had to avoid on the strand...people walking with dogs, rollerskaters, leisurely strollers oblivious to the rest of the people around them.
Sunday: My longest/hardest ride ever. ~50 miles through the hills of PV. Did the "dreaded" switchbacks, rode down to the bottom, turned around and did it backwards. It was a tough ride but fun to go with the guys who are training for the Wildflower Long Course (a half Iron-man--yes, they're crazy!!) It was about twice what was on my training schedule (shhh...don't tell Coach). I had to pass on volleyball that afternoon to save up energy for the open-water team swim at "Mom's Beach" in Long Beach. I only did a little more than a half mile swim but it was plenty for me. One of the girls on our team was able to swim her farthest yet! Everyone is so proud of her because she has been conquering her fear of swimming right in front of our eyes...all for the sake of her triathlon commitment. The coaches and mentors have been so supportive it's been great to see...especially now that she is kicking @$$! It's moments like these that show you what Team in Training is all about...
Don't forget! $$$$$$ www.active.com/donate/tntgla/lszolo We're nearing the end.... $$$$$$
Sunday: My longest/hardest ride ever. ~50 miles through the hills of PV. Did the "dreaded" switchbacks, rode down to the bottom, turned around and did it backwards. It was a tough ride but fun to go with the guys who are training for the Wildflower Long Course (a half Iron-man--yes, they're crazy!!) It was about twice what was on my training schedule (shhh...don't tell Coach). I had to pass on volleyball that afternoon to save up energy for the open-water team swim at "Mom's Beach" in Long Beach. I only did a little more than a half mile swim but it was plenty for me. One of the girls on our team was able to swim her farthest yet! Everyone is so proud of her because she has been conquering her fear of swimming right in front of our eyes...all for the sake of her triathlon commitment. The coaches and mentors have been so supportive it's been great to see...especially now that she is kicking @$$! It's moments like these that show you what Team in Training is all about...
Don't forget! $$$$$$ www.active.com/donate/tntgla/lszolo We're nearing the end.... $$$$$$
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