Thursday, December 22, 2005

The Plan

I have devised a relatively aggressive plan for 2006. I used my wealth of information about training from books, websites, and blogs. The result is a spreadsheet with schedules, pivot tables and charts. I think it rocks.

Here are my fitness goals for the year:

- Live a balanced, healthy lifestyle
- Improve my athletic performance
- Improve my aerobic endurance
- Stay injury-free
- Complete another marathon
- Complete a 1/2 Ironman (or longer) distance race

I am purposely avoiding any weight loss goals. I lost fat (but no pounds) in 2005, and I'll be happy just to continue the trend. If I just do all the running in my plan for 2006, I'm pretty certain I'll lose pounds too.

Other goals, while I am at it:
- Nurture relationships with Husband, family and friends
- Kick a** at work
- Reduce clutter at home and in life

Here is my strategy:

- Line up a ton of races. The races definitely keep me motivated. Living in NYC, I am finding plenty of races which won't require travel, and don't cost much. (Well the tri's are $$$, but the road races are cheap). Even if I occasionally miss one, having a goal for a Saturday morning gets me out of bed. I also picked a few challenging "biggies" early in the season - the Liberty to Liberty Triathlon and the Montauk Century Bike Ride.

- Plan & schedule workout time. Experience has taught me that I need to mark my calendar, pack my gym bag, sign up for a scheduled class, etc. to make it happen. So that's what I'll do every week, for the following week.

- Eat well. In general, I think I do pretty well. I avoid fast food and sugar for the most part. Next year, I need to eat MORE vegetables, protein and whole fruits, and LESS carbs (especially refined) and sweets.

- Be flexible and do something active every day. I can't always get to the gym or the pool or get outside in a blizzard. But I can do a core workout, yoga routine, or workout video at home or in my hotel room.

- Push myself. I really don't most of the time. My goals have always been just to "finish", which is definitely the way to go at the beginning. If I want to run faster in races, I need to run faster in workouts. So there you go.

- Attend group workouts. I found a swim class on Sunday nights that starts in late January. I found a group bike rides on Saturday and Sunday mornings. I think I may get Husband to come along for these - an added bonus. I am a little afraid to ride my bike in city traffic (crazy cab drivers, etc), but I think being in a group will give me more confidence.

- Keep up the blog. It helps! The comments are really supportive, and the act of writing things down really helps me visualize success, stay motivated and stick to the plan.

To make the plan, I put all my races in a spreadsheet. Then I worked backwards and added the training plan for my April marathon. Added my swim class that starts in late January. Added the group bike rides almost every weekend. Throw in a spin class, some weights, and some core exercises, and it gets pretty challenging!

I know I need to stay flexible, so I will release my goals one month at a time. Also, I set goals for both distance and time. Time has little relation to speed - I know I want to spend at least 7.5 hours on the bike, for example.

January:

- Swim. Distance goal = 2000 meters / Time goal: 2+ hours (low, but I know I have some trips scheduled which will make it hard to get to the pool)
- Bike. Distance goal = 115 miles / Time goal: 7.5 hours (25-30 mile group bike rides are key to achieving this goal)
- Run. Distance goal = 90 miles / Time goal: 15 hours
- Core. Time goal = 2 hours. That's my 10 minute core workout, 12 times.

So there you have it. I feel ready. I'm leaving for vacation tomorrow, so I feel good about getting this done before I leave. Also, my posts may be pretty limited while I am away, but I will have my running shoes and schedule in hand!

Happy holidays!

Tuesday, December 20, 2005

I need a plan

I've been kind of intentionally slacking since the marathon. First, I wanted to give my body a break. Also, the cold weather seems to encourage me to curl up on the couch, covered in blankets and cats - not exactly a healthy lifestyle. The less you do, the less want to do, and so you do even less. I am trapped in a downward spiral of slothfulness. A den of sloth.

It's the end of the year (Christmas is on Sunday already!), and I think a good time to reflect and plan for next year. In 2005, I ran, biked and swam farther (and faster) than I ever have before. I ate better. I'm still wearing the skinny pants. I learned a lot about nutrition, athletes and the human body. I read a lot of blogs. I'm a beginner. It was a good start. For me.

For the rest of triathlete society (I guess there is such a thing), it was pretty weak. I've been keeping better track of my running than anything else. Here is a chart of my mileage by week:



Umm, not exactly consistent. And far from the recommended mileage for a marathoner. My average weekly mileage was only around 10. That's the bare minimum base to start training. Yes, there was swimming and biking, but that was pretty minimal too.

I'm still going to have a laid-back approach to training in 2006. I have a pretty demanding job and I like sleep. I just need to kick it up a notch (or seven).

So, I'm working on a master plan. I've got multiple books and training plans, so I am trying to create a blend that will work for me. Gotta love the spreadsheet. A few things I thinkI will try:
- focusing on time (minutes/hours) instead of miles
- added intervals to my training instead of pounding out the laps or miles
- adding strength and core training
- spinning class (I don't like to bike ride in the city or in the cold)
- group rides (I found these great group bike rides here)
- a bike race (I think I will sign up for this)

Stay tuned for the plan.

The strike is on


MTA workers are officially on strike - that means no subways or buses for the 7 million commuters who use them every day. I really didn't think it would come to this.

I decided today would be a good day to work from home. Go figure.

But I was out this morning to move my car to a legal space. With no buses, there was actually very little traffic. I didn't see any taxis - I'm sure it will be impossible to get one today. I did see people out on foot, bike, skateboard and razor scooter. Windchill is 8 degrees today - too cold to be out for a long walk. Husband has a long walk today. Cover your ears!

One thing I will say is that I feel like a real New Yorker. I have been here for:
- the Transit strike
- the Blackout
- the Marathon!
- Times Square on New Year's Eve
- the Village Halloween Parade
- Ice skating in Central Park
- Graduation in Washington Square
- the Internet boom
- the Crash
- And of course 9/11. Sigh. I still miss my pre-terror city.

There's also the little things, like:
- Seeing a friend's band at CBGB's
- Buying stuff on Craig's List
- Bagels (they really are better here)
- Pizza
- Roomates (glad that phase of my life is over, but actually it was fun)
- Tipping big
- After hours clubs (not in years and years)
- Celebrity sightings
- Street Meat
- Various protests and demonstrations
- Walk ups
- Brooklyn
- the B&T crowd

Riding the subway is one of those little things that makes it New York.

I'm feeling kind of been there, done that. Time to move? I'll miss it.

Monday, December 19, 2005

don't know my own strength


On Saturday we went to a party at a friend's. Midway through the evening, I tripped on a step, fell in the hallway and . . . knocked a HOLE in the WALL of their nice new house. What the . . . ?

These kind of things happen more than I care to admit. Pulling a doorknob off, tugging on something until it breaks, that kind of thing.

I'd like to think it's due to my super-human strength, but sadly I know I am just kind of a klutz. Sigh.

Went to the gym yesterday - 50 minutes on the elliptical. Felt good to be back.

Saturday, December 17, 2005

Races

I missed my race this morning. A 15K in Central Park. I have a wide variety of excuses. My knee has been bothering me since last weekend. I am fighting a cold. We were supposed to go to brunch with some friends. Ended up sleeping until 10:30 - very unusual for me; I am usually up around 7 even on the weekends.

But I like the races. Crossing the finish line makes me feel good. They usually motivate me to get up and at 'em on a chilly weekend morning. There are many running races in Central Park - very convenient. Triathlons are a little harder to find.

I just signed up for a ton of races in January and February. Coming soon:

January 8 - Fred Lebow Classic (5M)
January 22 - Frostbite 10-Mile
January 28 - Manhattan 20K
February 5 - Gridiron Classic 4M
February 25 - Al Gordon Snowflake 4-Mile

Of course, I would do a lot better in these races if I actually did more running in between them. So, I am about to go out for a run by the river.

Feeling Christmas-y today . . . .

Friday, December 16, 2005

Registration Time - Message to Mom

My mother came to watch me do the NYC marathon last month. She was feeling "all inspired" and agreed to do a race with me. However, she has put off commitment to any kind of training schedule until after the first of the year. OK. Fine.

The More Marathon is a women only, 40+ only marathon and half marathon in Central Park on March 26, 2006. It's super-convenient for me, being here in NYC and all. Mom likes having an excuse to come see her daughter in the Big Apple for a weekend. What could be better?

I (being under 40) can only participate as part of a 2 woman team. Ahem. I think we all know who my partner is.

Well, now it's time to commit. Mom, you need to register here for both of us. Then we'll talk.

Tough love, my friends. Tough love.

Tuesday, December 13, 2005

On the Road

I've been doing a lot a travelling for work lately. Last week I went to Minneapolis and South Dakota. I've never been to Minneapolis before - I liked it. Sure, it was cold, but we stayed right downtown, and I like how they have a "Skyway" that connects all the building so you can walk, like 10 blocks, without going outside. I guess this makes life a lot easier when you live and work in a cold place. I was there for 3 days, so I got to see a little more than usual. It seems pretty cool. (Don't worry, Husband, I'm not campaigning for a move.)

South Dakota was like the North Pole. They had an ice storm recently, and all the roads still had black ice. I had to drive about 75 miles and everything was white - the sky, the snow, the road. It hurts your eyes. No thank you.

This week I'm in Seattle. One of my favorites. Staying at my regular hotel, and even went to the gym at 6:00 am. 30 minutes on the bike - my knee is still bothering me. The best thing about travelling to the West Coast is that I am finally a morning person!

I've noticed that French people pronounce it "See-tle". Kind of cute. Off to dinner!

Sunday, December 11, 2005

Race Report: Joe Kleinerman 10K

Well, I can hardly believe it myself, but I hit a personal record today. Nice!

It's funny. I haven't done anything since my 4 mile race last Saturday. I got up late. I considered not going. Husband gave me a shove. I forgot to wear a watch. I stopped and went to the bathroom - during the race. My knees hurt worse than on marathon day.

I was travelling this week, and never even looked up my times for previous 10K races. I've run two; both were pretty lousy:

- June 11 - Circle of Friends 10K in Central Park. Net time was 1:17:33. It was one of those really hot, humid days. I remember that the humidity was killing me and I walked a lot. Anyway, my pace was 12:30/mile.

- September 17 - Mighty Hamptons Triathlon. Net time was 1:18:25. Pace was 12:39/mile - pretty much the same as my other 10K, even though I did it after a somewhat traumatic swim and a 23 mile bike ride.

Anyway, here are today's results (drum roll, please):

Net time: 1:14:41
Pace/mile: 12:02

So, I cut almost 3 minutes off my best time! Hey, I'd like to cut off another 15-20, but it a start. In a universe of sucky times, this one sucks least. Yay!

Seriously, I am pretty happy - and so glad I dragged myself uptown this morning.


Sunday, December 04, 2005

Saturday, December 03, 2005

Race Report: Holiday 4 Mile

Well, I didn't get the PR I wanted. Guess I'll just get that out of the way. But here's what happened.

First of all, it was freezing! It was 32 degrees, cloudy and windy. I gues that isn't really that cold, but I haven't been running in anything less than 50 in almost a year. I got really chilled before the race.

I had to pick up my number between 8:00 and 9:00 am, at the New York Road Runners office on 89th Street. I got there at 8:25. There was a crowd, so you couldn't wait around inside. The race souvenir was a long-sleeved t-shirt, and I was happy to have the extra layer. I pinned my number on my shirt and attached my chip to my shoe outside in the cold, and walked briskly to the race start, about 3/4 mile away. I was at the race start by 8:45, but the race didn't start until 9:30. I tried to stretch and jog around a little to stay warm, but I was basically standing around for 45 minutes. Brr! In the past, I usually picked up my number the day before, so I could just show up 5-10 minutes before the race. A few people were wearing shorts - how do they do it?

Finally, the race started. I was at the first mile marker in just under 10 minutes. Then there were hills. There were some walk breaks. By the 3rd mile, I knew there would be no catching up to meet my 40 minute goal. Damn. Anyway, here are the numbers:

Net Time = 43:28:00
Pace/Mile = 10:52

As I mentioned the other day, I have run 2 other races at this distance.
- Feb 26. Net time = 43:36 , Pace/mile = 10:54
- April 24. Net time = 42:58, Pace/mile = 10:44

So I was in between my other 2 times. I really though I would do better. :(

In all fairness, however, I have to admit that I have done very little running since the marathon on November 6th. I left the house without stretching and got a sharp pain in my shoulder during the race. My knees are freaking killing me.

I thought I would walk home (about 4 miles) after the race just to get a little more exercise, but quit after about 5 blocks. Freezing wind + sweat = Instant misery. Sigh.

So, what did I learn from this?
- Consistency is key. I have been taking it easy for a month. Too easy - I have definitely lost some of my hard-won conditioning and endurance.
- Easy street is over. I need to set some goals - weekly and monthly - to get back on track.
- I need to learn to pace myself so I don't need walk breaks. I would have easily made my goal if I hadn't walked 3-4 times.
- If possible, avoid race day number and chip pickup. This was no problem back in the Spring. Big problem today.
- Get a hat that covers my ears!

I've got 2 more (longer) races this month (actually, I may have to miss one). Maybe I'll get a new PR yet.

Friday, December 02, 2005

Trips


I have trips this month to Minnesota and South Dakota.

Northern Quebec is on the schedule for February.

I get cold just thinking about it.

Tuesday, November 29, 2005

Race on Saturday


On Saturday, I'm running a 4 Mile Holiday Race in Central Park. Looking forward to it!

I have run 2 other races at this distance. Here are my times:
- NYRR Snowflake (Feb 26). Net time = 43:36 , Pace/mile = 10:54
- Thomas G. Labrecque Classic (April 24). Net time = 42:58, Pace/mile = 10:44

Although I have not been doing much running for the past few weeks, I still feel that I am in better shape than I was back in the Spring. I want a new PR!

My goal is 40 minutes even, which would cut 3 minutes off my last time. It seems like I do 10 minute miles all the time, so this should be doable. Of course, I never seem to do 10 minute miles on race day . . . Anything under that is a total bonus and will call for a celebration!

My race day strategy:
- Wear my new windstopper pants and layers. And gloves!
- Find that balaclava thing I have somewhere to keep my neck warm.
- Bring kleenex!
- Keep running!

Saturday's forecast is partly cloudy, high 44/low 36. I've been a baby by not running in the cold, but this should not be too bad.

Wish me luck!

Race on Saturday

On Saturday, I'm running a 4 Mile Holiday Race in Central Park. Looking forward to it!

I have run 2 other races at this distance. Here are my times:
- NYRR Snowflake (Feb 26). Net time = 43:36 , Pace/mile = 10:54
- Thomas G. Labrecque Classic (April 24). Net time = 42:58, Pace/mile = 10:44

Although I have not been doing much running for the past few weeks, I still feel that I am in better shape than I was back in the Spring. I want a new PR!

My goal is 40 minutes even, which would cut 3 minutes off my last time. It seems like I do 10 minute miles all the time, so this should be doable. Of course, I never seem to do 10 minute miles on race day . . . Anything under that is a total bonus and will call for a celebration!

My race day strategy:
- Wear my new windstopper pants and layers. And gloves!
- Find that balaclava thing I have somewhere to keep my neck warm.
- Bring kleenex!
- Keep running!

Saturday's forecast is partly cloudy, high 44/low 36. I've been a baby by not running in the cold, but this should not be too bad.

Wish me luck!

nothing much

I haven't been posting, but I have been busy. I think I will go for a run today - it stopped raining and is actually somewhat warm. Did nothing yesterday. Was planning on swimming this weekend, but the pool was closed for the whole Thanksgiving holiday weekend. I did a workout tape and a bunch of squats in there. Thanksgiving morning I actually used the treadmill at our hotel.

I've been on an organizing/dejunkifying kick lately. Anyway, I have accomplished a few things:
- Organized our book collection (using the dewey decimal system, I swear) and culled a bunch that I know we will never look at again. All the sports/triathlon/running books are now on one shelf!
- Cleaned out the closet and given a ton of stuff to the Goodwill.
- Found a home for our bikes, which were leaning forlornly against the wall in the office.
- Ordered a real lateral file cabinet which will replace the crap plastic things and provide a home for the printer.
- Organized the linens (no grabbing full size sheets when I need a queen) and culled various sheets, towels and a surprising selection of curtains which we will never use again.

Husband says I'm a pack rat, but the truth is that I love getting rid of stuff. Maybe I save it so I can get rid of it later?

Wednesday, November 23, 2005

road trip


Cranberry sauce. Check.
Bags packed. Check.
Tank filled. Check.
Extra food for cats. Check.
Snacks for the road. Check.

Well, we'll be off soon. Just waiting for the signal from Husband to come pick him up at the office.

Gridlock awaits.

Tuesday, November 22, 2005

My contribution this year


Ingredients

2 oranges
1 cup sugar
2 teaspoons lemon juice
2 cinnamon sticks (could also try fennel or white pepper for a less traditional flavor)
1 bag (12 ounces) fresh or frozen cranberries

1. Peel 1 orange and cut the zest (orange part only) into a very fine julienne, as thin as possible; set aside. Squeeze both oranges for juice; set aside.
2. Combine sugar and lemon juice in a small sauté pan. Heat up slowly and continue cooking until the sugar begins to caramelize. If necessary, wash down the sides of the pan by brushing with a little water to keep the sugar from burning.
3. When the sugar is caramel colored, add the orange zest. Cook for about 1 minute, then add the cranberries, orange juice and cinnamon sticks. Continue to cook on medium-high heat, stirring frequently, for about 5 minutes or until the cranberries are slightly broken but not mushy (frozen cranberries will take about 7 minutes). Remove the cinnamon sticks and let cool.

Makes 3 cups.

Tastes better when made the night before.

Sunday, November 20, 2005

Clueless

Sunday morning. Puttering around the house in my pajamas. Hmmm . . . am I forgetting something?

Why yes, I was supposed to run a RACE this morning. Four miles in Central Park. No big whup. Completely, totally forgot all about it. Never picked up my number. Was up at 7 this morning. Had I been checked my email, blog, etc. earlier, I could have figured this out earlier and easily made it for the 10:00 race. Registered and paid for it a month ago. Hello?!?

Damn it, damn it, damn it. If I did four more NYRR races this year, I would have automatically had a spot in the 2006 marathon. I was planning to do this one, plus 3 in December. Damn!

Hopefully I would be able to get in with the lottery, like I did this year, but you never know.

I've been taking it easy since the marathon, but tried to get back in the swing this week.

  • Saturday & Sunday was the Total Immersion workshop
  • Wednesday I went for a short (2 mile) run around the neighborhood
  • Thursday I went to the gym and did 20 minutes on the elliptycal, followed by the 30 minutes weight program at my gym
  • Saturday I did a little bit of weights, followed by swimming (mainly drills) for 45 minutes.

I'm glad I got back in the pool, but swimming was a little bit of a disappointment. At the workshop, we counted strokes across the pool, and I went from 20 strokes to 12 - a nice improvement. Last night I ranged from 17 - 22. What happened?

Also bought some new gear yesterday - new swimsuit (my only one was starting to get worse for wear), new swim cap (lycra doesn't pull my hair so much), and a cold weather running outfit. Could have worn that today . . . had I shown up for my race. Grrr.

Looking forward to Thanksgiving. Looks like Mom and I will be walking in the snow.

Let the games begin!

I just got back from a great walk with my loyal dog. Granted, it's about 50 degrees, sunny, just about a perfect Fall day. I'll need to find something inside me to do this when it's as cold and grey and wet as only Pittsburgh can get.

Some observations:

Yes, Daughter, I'm starting from scratch. But it does feel amazingly good to sweat and huff and puff a little. Yep. Really. I'm feeling like a million bucks right now.

Dog may not be a long term partner. I certainly can't keep up with her in a sprint, but I might have to carry her home after 1/2 hour. She loves going with me. I'm not sure how to break it to her. The Greyhound has a tender heart.

I'm not sure about the blog. I like the idea of tracking my journey, but I really don't have all that much to say. Or not that much of interest to anyone else.

Wish me luck. The 'get more fit; lose weight' has been on my list of New Year's Resolutions for many years. This year, I'm going to do it!

Thursday, November 17, 2005

Advice for Mom

As I mentioned previously, my mother is starting an exercise program. Mostly to improve her general fitness, but partly to prepare for to do a half marathon with me on March 26th, 2006. We can walk it, run it, or any combination of the two. She is in her 50's and has no serious health problems. She is also hoping to lose some weight. She lives the typical suburban lifestyle - drives everywhere and gets very little physical activity. So we are basically starting from scratch. (Sorry Mom, but it's true).

I am hoping to help her. I have gotten a lot of personal satisfaction out of training for triathlons and the marathon this year, and I think she will get something out of this too. I also have selfish reasons - I think being a good role model will help keep me on the straight and narrow. So, here are some tips to help her get started:

- Plan ahead. Pick out your gym clothes the night before, pack them in a bag and put it by the door or in the car so you don't have to deal with it in the morning.
- Try to do something active every day. You might not actually do it, but be prepared with gym clothes or whatever you need.
- Stretch every day. Just a 5-10 minute yoga-type routine, every day, helped me a lot, and I think it prevented soreness and injuries. When I started running, I figured out that it is impossible to stretch my calves too much. Sometimes I stretch against the wall while I am brushing my teeth. Or do squats.
- Eat frequent small meals. Yes, you've heard it before. Work snacks are a piece of fruit, a (small) cup of cereal, almonds, trail mix, carrots, etc. This is good advice for losing weight, but also for having enough energy to exercise. If I want to go to the gym after work, I need to have some snack or bar around 4:00 to make it happen.
- Eat salad for lunch at work. It's the most convenient time for me to get a salad in.
- Occasionally push yourself past your comfort zone. You should start with walking, but add intervals - jog 1 minute, walk 5, etc.
- Write down everything! As you know, I have lost very little (if any) weight. But it's been nice to lose 2 inches off my waist, a little off the arms, hips, etc. I wouldn't know that by looking only at the scale. Weight, body fat, measurement, etc. Check it every 1-2 weeks or so.
- Keep track of your workouts, too. If you worked out 3 times this week for 30 minutes, try to go 4 times next week. Or go 45 minutes one day.
- Read about what other people do to help give you ideas. Oh yes, and contribute to your daughter's blog. We could use some fresh content around here. ;-)

One last thing. When I was working on my MBA part-time, I was juggling a lot of things - work, school, relationship, a crazy-long commute, etc. People used to ask me how I did it, or say I must be so tired or have no social life. I thought about it, and realized that although I had to plan things a little more, my social life was as active as ever and I really wasn't falling being at work. What was missing? I must have taken away something to find all those hours for classes, studying, homework, etc., right? So what was missing? TV. That's right, I virtually stopped watching TV while I was in B-school. I never thought that I particularly watched a lot of TV, but really that's all I "gave up". Not a big loss. I feel pretty much the same way about the hours I have spent this year in the gym or swimming or biking or running. I certainly did not sacrifice anything of consequence. I gained more than I gave.

I hope this is helpful, not a lecture. Also, I suppose I could tell you tihs on the phone, but like I said, we need content for the blog.

Does anyone else have advice for Mom?

Tuesday, November 15, 2005

housekeeping

I took care of a few blog maintenance issues today. I added Blogrolling, instead of manually adding a list of links. I have it set so any posts in the last 24 hours say "NEW", rather than clicking on links individually, only to land at a "stale" blog. It happens to the best of us.

I also added my Mother as a member to my blog. She can post if she wants, because she is now officially in training for a half marathon in March! Not sure if I am qualified to be a coach, but I'll try! I sent her a training program, pretty much lifted straight off the Internet, as well.

I love efficiency.

Monday, November 14, 2005

Goals

Prepare yourself for a long, rambling post.

Now that I have a marathon and 3 triathlons under my belt (sort of), I've been thinking a lot about what to do next and setting some goals for 2006. First of all, what did I achieve this year?

- Swim. First, I learned that I didn't know how to swim, and that I actually have (had) a lot of anxiety/fear of drowning in the water. I didn't realize this until I started training. That being said, I did get a lot better this year, partly as a result of some classes, partly just by spending time in the water. The good news? I think this may be behind me. (Yay!) That TI workshop really made me feel like I could be good at this . . . maybe swimming will be my best sport, who knows?

- Bike. I bought a bike. Pretty important for a TRIathlete, yes? Late in the season. I got a lot better at riding it. My longest ride to date is still only 25 miles or so, but again, I think I got a taste of what this is supposed to feel like and actually enjoy it now.

- Run. I ran. Far. But I really didn't get any faster. Of course, I haven't done any interval training, and I really slacked on the marathon training program.

It's funny, but the main effect of all this working out and getting in shape really made me realize how OUT of shape I really was to start. I think I changed my life. I was heading in one "common man" direction, and I changed it. I never went that far down that road - I am generally healthy, at a healthy weight, fairly young, etc. I like this new direction better. And it really isn't that hard.

Of course, I am pretty laid back about training. More than I should be. But now, I've had a taste. And I wonder what my marathon time would have been if I actually followed the training program. Looking back, my maximum mileage in one week was only 22 miles. There were some zero running weeks. Yes, I probably did some cross training in there, but that is supposed to be my base. I'm just glad I didn't injure myself.

ANYWAY, back to goals:

- A Spring marathon. Can't believe I want to do it again. Considering Ocean City, Maryland on April 8th or Long Branch, NJ on April 30th. There is also one in Long Island on May 7th.

- The More Marathon is March 26th in NYC. This is for 40+ women only. I don't fit in that category yet, but I can do it with a partner. My mom has agreed to walk the half-marathon if I do it with her. I think this is a good goal for her, and a fun thing for us to do together. Plus, I would love to help her get in shape if I can. I am already creating a training plan for her, and I'll let her post on my blog if she wants. Mom, your training plan starts November 28th. Hope you don't regret it!

- I want to improve my triathlon time, and do another half marathon. Looking at an Olympic on May 20th, a Sprint on June 18th, and the Montauk Half IM in October. Maybe I can find a half IM earlier in the summer.

- I'd like to do a repeat of the NYC Marathon next November. It was so much fun!

- I want to run faster. I'd like to do a 5K in 30 minutes. A reasonable goal! I've got some 4 mile races, coming up. I think the shorter races and cooler weather should help me get in some speed training.

My marathon training plan (if I do Ocean City) starts December 10th. From now until then, I plan to focus on swimming (fresh out of TI, you know), weights, core, etc. Take a class or two. Yoga. Spinning. Pilates. Cardio Funk is a fun one I used to do back in the day. They all sound fun now.

One last thing. I didn't sign up (or have someone sign me up, since I was busy running the NYC Marathon) for IMFL. I thought about it. A lot. But, I think I realized that my body just isn't ready for that. It was the right decision for me, but I'm going to be so jealous when I read the race reports for IMFL and IMMOO next year!

Total Immersion


This weekend, Husband and I attended a Total Immersion workshop in Queens. It was great! We talked about our swim goals, did many different drills, and critiqued videos of ourselves swimming. As an added bonus, the regularly scheduled swim coach ended up getting sick, so Terry Laughlin, the master himself, led the clinic with his daughter Fiona, who is also a swim coach.

I learned so much. We were videotaped several times, and let me tell you, the camera doesn't lie. I have read a little about Total Immersion, and watched some video before the class. Basically, I knew I should be swimming more on my side. Anyway, the first video showed that I was totally overcompensating and twisting the top half of my body way back. It wasn't pretty. The first time we were filmed, after a few drills, it took me 20 strokes to get across the pool (25 yards). On Sunday we were filmed again, and I got it down to 12! Husband also saw a significant improvement, from 14 to 10.

There were 12-13 people in the class. We were pretty advanced, compared to other classes. Most of us were triathletes. I was the only woman in the class. A couple people claimed to have swam (swum?) over 2 miles in open water. Many of the problems were the same - balance issues, anxiety/not relaxed, nervous kicking legs.

My shoulders are sore today, but I feel really good. Am actually looking forward to getting in the pool again. I really felt relaxed and comfortable in the water -- BIG change for me, as I am generally kind of a spaz and DNF's two triathlons because of my "swim issues".

I highly recommend the weekend classes to anyone who has ever considered it. www.totalimmersion.net. If you can't do that, there are several books and videos which are also quite helpful.

Thursday, November 10, 2005

Recovery

What recovery? I feel totally fine. Granted, it is Thursday, but I felt fine yesterday and Tuesday too. On Monday I took a vacation day and never left the house. Sunday night/Monday morning I slept for 12 hours. So maybe that's what cured me.

Seriously, though, I am a little surprised at how great I feel. A little chafing under the arms which is gone now. My knees and quads hurt on Monday, but by Tuesday I was just a little stiff.

My feet are a wonder to me. Not a blister, bruise or damaged toenail. They are ready for sandals in South Beach. I guess I have my shoes to thank. The Asics GT2100 in size 9A are the shangri-la of footwear. (Unfortunately, this model has recently been discontinued. I hope the replacement meets my high expectations!)

When can I do it again?

Tuesday, November 08, 2005

Today's the day

Bloomberg by a landslide, please.

Monday, November 07, 2005

Still smiling


At Mile 22

NYC Marathon Race Report

First of all, it was awesome! I had a great time and I don't think I smiled so much since my wedding day. But here are the details.

Pre-Race

On Saturday I went to the Expo with Mother. It was extremely well organized, and I really didn't even wait in line to get my number. The only downside was that only size L and XL shirts were left in the goody bags. I bought a T-shirt (size S), some gels, a pair of gloves for winter running and disposable Tyvek jacket and pants to wear in the morning over my race clothes.

We had an early pasta dinner at home. I put out all my race stuff and strategized with husband on where to meet during the race. I finally went to bed around 10:30 the night before. I was really keyed up and didn't get much sleep. I wore my race shirt to bed in an effort to prevent chafing. (It didn't really work, unfortunately.)

The alarm went off at 5:00. It took a few minutes, but I dragged myself out of bed after a few minutes. Let Husband sleep, and went to make breakfast. Mother stayed with us to come to the race, so I couldn't really avoid waking her up. Cats were happy to see me. Breakfast was a cup of tea with honey and 2 slices of whole wheat toast with almond butter and sliced bananas.

Left the house at 6:00. Took a taxi to Battery Park, where the Marathon buses were loading. I was on a bus by 6:20, and in Staten Island by 7:00. It was really foggy, and you couldn't see anything off the side of the Verrazzano.

The volunteers cheered when we got off the bus! This was the first of many times throughout the day when I got a little choked up. So, it's 7:00 am and the race doesn't start until 10:10. Not much to do. I tried to rest and laid down on the cold, wet grass. Brr. I waited in line for the port-o-potty multiple times. I did some stretching. I read part of someone's New York Times. I ate a yogurt smoothie, a cup of tea, a bagel, a glass of gatorade and two bottles of water. I think I ate too much. More on this later.

At 9:50, I got rid of the Tyvek pants and head for my spot in line to get on the bridge. Woo-hoo!

The Race

Well, they loaded us up on to the Verrazzano. I thought it might be really windy up there, but the air was foggy and muggy; kind of stagnant. The crowd was excited and happy and friendly. Someone sang the National Anthem. A big BOOM!, and we all start moving forward, to the tune of Frank Sinatra singing "New York, New York!" People sang along. I got a little choked up again.

Crossing the bridge went so fast, but I started getting really hot right away because of the humidity. It was so foggy you couldn't really see anything off the sides of the bridge. Although someone pointed out the fireboats spraying down below. That was cool.

Of course, you could see all the guys lining up to pee off the side. What is up with that? Gentlemen. New York City is not a giant urinal. If I can wait in line for the port-o-potty, so can you.

Welcome to Brooklyn! The crowd was so amazing! People were out hooting and hollering, kids stuck their hads out to get high fives, people cheered your name. The crowd was definitely the most amazing part. They offered water, orange slices, candy, ice, paper towels. They tell us not to take anything from the crowd, but still, it's pretty nice.

There was so much music. I read that there were over a hundred bands on the course. From Latin to Motown to Rap to Rock to Bluegrass. The music really helped me keep running.

I saw Husband and Mother around Mile 8. Gave them hugs. Gave them my jacket. Feeling good. See you in Greenpoint at Mile 12! I saw them at Mile 8,12,18 and 22. That was another big motivator. Counting down the blocks before I knew to look for them really helped keep my focused and gave me something to look forward to. Also, I didn't want them to see me walking. ;-)

Brooklyn was my favorite part, because there was so much diversity in the different neighborhoods. Each one had it's own flavor and music. The signs on the businesses might be in Spanish, Chinese, Hebrew, Polish, etc. Also, there were big crowds in Brooklyn. I love New York!

When I was crossing the Pulaski Bridge into Queens, I got a stitch in my side. This was no ordinary cramp. It was a really stabbing pain. I thought an alien was going to burst out. I walked. I stopped and stretched my calves on a curb. I tried to run . . . ouch! I walked some more. Basically I walked about 85% of the way between Miles 13 and 16. That kind of sucked.

That little part in Queens is boring, then you get on the Queensboro Bridge. The bridges were the hardest part. Many people would start walking, especially the uphill first half of the bridge. There were no spectators on the bridges. You are on the lower beck on the Queensboro, and it was dark and quiet. Someone said, "This is like a death march." There are 5 bridges on the course.

I started running again when I came down the ramp into Manhattan at 59th Steet. Randomly, I saw a friend of mine on the sidelines at 68th Street. She called out my last name to get my attention. I wasn't expecting her, and I gave her a big hug. Kept running up to 96th Street, where I'd see Husband and Mother.

Mile 18 and feeling good! Way better than my alien-style cramping back in Queens. Husband ran with me a little bit. See you on Fifth Avenue!

Up, up, uptown. Welcome to the Bronx! This section was short, but fun. Lots of competing music. I got a killer cramp again up here, on the left side this time. I think I drank/ate too much. I was so worried about "hitting the wall" that I had 5 gels plus gatorade, water, etc during the race, in addition to my supersized-sized breakfast. In the second half of the race, I tried to only take every other water stop.

When I crossed the bridge back to Manhattan, I got a little choked up again. The "Rocky" them was playing, the crowd was cheering. Someone said, "You're almost there! You're going to make it!" I realized, "I know! I am going to make it!"

Down, down, downtown. Saw Husband and Mother one last time at E. 96th Street. Now I'm walking up hills and running down. My knees hurt. The bottoms of my feet. My left hip. Can't stop now. Into the Park. Still walking up, running down. I didn't walk at all during the last 1.2, though. A lot of people were. The crowd said, "That's it - finish strong!" Half mile. 800 meters. 400 meters. I could see the clock, and thought I could still come in under 6 hours. I sprinted the last 200 yards. The crowd went wild. (At least, I like to think so.)

My net time was 5:59:03. So I'm not exactly fast. But I did it!

Thursday, November 03, 2005

Crossing the Bridge


From the marathon website -- sounds a little scary, but cool!

After months of training, you’ll soon take your first steps in the ING New York City Marathon. And what a setting! There you’ll be, atop the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge, one of the longest suspension bridges in the world, with 36,000 other runners. Take time to marvel at this wonder of engineering and ponder these interesting facts:

The bridge is 13,700 feet or 2.7 miles long, including approaches. It is the longest span in North America, the seventh longest worldwide.

At mid-channel, the upper deck of the bridge is approximately 260 feet above the Narrows, and the lower deck is approximately 237 feet above the water. Seasonal expansion and contraction of the cables lowers the height of the deck by 12 feet in the summer. No matter what the temperature, the center of the bridge is the highest point of the marathon.

The bridge towers are 693 feet tall. Each weighs 27,000 tons and is held together by 3 million rivets and 1 million bolts. The towers are 1 5/8ths inches farther apart at the top than at the bottom to account for the curvature of the Earth.

Car drivers pay $9 to drive across the bridge; Staten Island residents receive a discount.
The bridge is named for Giovanni da Verrazano, the first European to sail in New York Harbor. He arrived in 1524.

Pedestrians and cyclists are normally banned from the bridge. The only exceptions are the ING New York City Marathon and Five Borough Bike Tour. This year, the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge is featured on the participant T-shirt and the official medal given to all finishers.

The first New York City Marathon to use Staten Island and the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge as its start was in 1976.

well, I guess I'm ready

Nothing to do now but wait. Doo doo dodoo. Tap tap tap. This makes for excellent blogging, I'm sure.

Here are some of my waiting activities:

I check the forecast for Sunday - a daily ritual for the past week. 60s with a chance of rain. Go away, rain! But still, pretty good.

I bought a new dri-fit t-shirt to wear. It's actually a little on the tight side. I'm planning to wash it and sleep in it at least one night. Someone told me that helps prevent chafing on marathon day.

I'm planning to go to the Expo at the Javits Center tomorrow morning to pick up my number.

Mom is coming to town on Saturday afternoon and staying with us. I tidy up a bit.

I think about what I'm going to wear. Blue is my color. I've got a baby blue tee, navy blue shorts. Even my shoes are white and blue. Hat. Sunglasses. I think I need to wear my fuel belt to have a place for gels, etc., but it has caused some pretty serious chafing on my other long runs.

I read my daily tip on the marathon website. Today's is about having flexible goals. That's OK with me. Since I have never done this distance before, I really only have a rough idea of when I'll finish. Somewhere between 4.5 and 6 hours. Now that's flexible!

I bought letters to spell my name on my shirt so people with cheer my name. I am such a dork.

I take my vitamins. Multi plus "Triflex" (glucosamine, chondroitin and MSM. I've been pretty vigilant lately. Knees don't fail me now!

I think about my schedule for race day. Althought the race starts at 10:00, I need to get up so freaking early, because the start is in Staten Island and the marathoners all need to get there before the roads are shut. So, tentatively:

5:00 am. Wake up. Eat breakfast involving whole wheat toast and almond butter. Drink coffee. Go to the bathroom. Very important on race day. Enough said.

5:30 am. Leave house. Take a taxi to Manhattan bus stop. Marathon buses leave continuously between 5:00 and 7:00 am. I'm sure there will be huge lines, so I hope to leave on the early side. I should take no more 15 minutes to get there.

6:32 am. Sunrise expected. I guess I'll watch the sunrise on the bus. The bus takes us to a park called Fort Wadsworth in Saten Island.

7-7:30 am. If all goes as planned, I should be in Staten Island by now. They'll have food and music and free massages and bathrooms, but basically we'll just be standing around for hours.

Since I think I'll get cold out here, I'll wear a warmup jacket and pants over my running shirt and shorts. These will probably be "disposable" - they have bins for this stuff which gets donated to charity. If I take them off fairly early, I may be able to check in my bag to be picked up at the family reunion area.

8:00 am. Athletes with disabilities start.

9:00 am. Wheelchair and handcycle athletes start.

9:40 am. People like me start moving on to the Verrazzano bridge. Will it be windy up there? Will we have a spectacular view of the city? Will we be crammed in like sardines? I'm in the "orange" start. I think this is known as the "slowpoke" section. Husband will probably be awake by now.

10:10 am. And we're off!

Cross the Verrazano Bridge to Brooklyn! Up 4th Ave in Brooklyn. Bay Ridge. Sunset Park. Greenwood Cemetery. Bed-Stuy. Williamsburg. Greenpoint. Neighborhoods with a lot of personality.

Across the Pulaski Bridge. Long Island City, Queens. Warehouses. Still pretty industrial, I think.

Across the Queensboro to Manhattan! The Upper East Side. Harlem.

Across the Willis Avenue Bridge to the Bronx! Not much to see here, so . . .

. . . Turn around and take the Madison Avenue Bridge to Manhattan! Yankee Stadium. Down Fifth Avenue along Museum Mile. Central Park. Leave the Park and head west on 59th Street. Tons of people and TV cameras here. Turn back into the park at Colombus Circle and to the finish! Woo-hoo!

I have lived in NYC for 14 years now, and I know the course well. I think I have travelled most of it at one time or another - walking, shopping, in a taxi. But this is definitely an awesome tour. I'm really pyched again!

OK, back to work.

Wednesday, October 26, 2005

marathon obsessing


I've been resisting it, but I think it is time. 11 days! Omigod it's almost here. I saw a commercial last night for the TV coverage and got goosebumps.

My training lately has been limited, to say the least. I sort of get and run around the neighborhood once in a while and that's it. I like to tell myself I'm tapering, but it's more like sloth. But, I still think that I'll be fine. This is my first marathon, and I just want to finish. And I don't have the same kind of anxiety about running that I do about swimming and biking. So if I take some walk breaks, I'm okay with that.

I'm going to have a few fans out there! Definitely Husband and Mother. I think a friend from work and another friend and her kids are also going to show up as well. So I'm trying to figure out the best places to send them so I can see them during the race. I got some info from the marathon website, and I kow I'll be running somewhere between 10:00 and 12:00 minute miles.

1. Mile 8 in Brooklyn , where the three starts converge, is suggested as a great place to catch runners looking fresh for photographs.

** I should be at Mile 8 between 11:30 and 11:46.**

2. Mile 16 is also supposed to be an exciting spot, because this is where the mmarathoners descend the Queensboro Bridge into Manahttan. But, the street will be packed here, and I probably won't be able to spot anyone in the crowd.

3. Mile 18 is probably a better bet. "For less-obstructed viewing, head north to mile 18, on First Avenue at East 92nd Street , by taking uptown 4/5/6 subway to 86th Street and walking north and east. Your runner may be looking decidedly less fresh here than back in Brooklyn; the dreaded marathon “wall” typically occurs as marathoners run out of fuel between miles 18 and 22." Mom, I may look terrible, but it's almost over!

**I should be at mile 18 between 1:10 and 1:46. Calculate my pace when you see me at mile 8 to try and narrow down the time a bit.**

4. Mile 24. "After yelling encouragement and snapping pictures, walk west to catch your marathoner yet again, this time on Fifth Avenue in the 24th mile, just north of where runners enter Central Park."

**I should be at Mile 24 between 2:10 and 2:58. Basically an hour and change after you see me at mile 18.**

Mother, here's a list of what to bring:

  • Comfortable walking shoes
  • Bright, layered clothing
  • Lightweight, water-resistant jacket or poncho
  • Snacks/drinks
  • Camera with high-speed film
  • Reliable wristwatch
  • All-day, unlimited ride MetroCard
  • ING pace band (I'll get this at the Expo)

What if it rains? Or snows? What should I wear? (Always an important question.)

It's almost here!

Monday, October 24, 2005

the pounds

It seems like the off season might be a good time to focus on losing a few. It's definitely on the minds of my fellow bloggers, anway, and never far from mine.

So, even though I am pretty undisciplined about my training, I have to admit that I have seen some results. I did a little shopping the other day. I went down a size! :) Yes, the salesgirl informed me that the suit I was trying on was just much too big. They probably changed the sizing scale, but I have to admit, I was pretty pleased with myself.

I still haven't lost any weight, but I've lost inches from my waist and thighs. I have the body fat scale, and that's down too. But, still nowhere near my "fighting weight." I'd like to lose 20 pounds to get there. Actually, 10 might do it if I get more muscular.

Everyone knows that there is a huge (no pun intended) obesity epidemic in this country. Most of us just eat way too much junk food, and too much of it. I actually eat very little junk food. Really! I like sweets, but try to cut processed junk and high fructose corn syrup out completely. It's amazing, how HFCS is in everything, once you start looking at labels. The food I eat is much healthier than it was a year ago. But no one's perfect.

Here are the things I need to work on:
  • Portion control. I tend to just eat whatever Husband is eating, and pretty much the same amount. He's six inches taller than I am and all muscle. I don't need the same number of calories. I actually think this is the downfall of most married women - I definitely ate less before we moved in together.
  • Frequent small meals. I am much happier when I eat frequently. I definitely notice blood sugar highs and lows. But I can't have the normal size breakfast, lunch and dinner; then add healthy snacks on top of that. I guess that goes back to portion control.
  • Booze. I cut out hard liquor, but I drink wine with dinner almost every night. I don't need the extra calories. I should cut this back to twice a week, or weekends only.
  • Eating out. Restaurants give you bigger portions, and eat more apps and dessert that I don't need than I ever would at home. Cooking at home is healthier and good for the "money diet" too.
  • Eating late. Also have a tendency to eat late and fall asleep. Work schedules make it difficult, but want to shoot for 7, not 9.

Also, I want to reshape my bod a little bit. Swimming has firmed up the arms and shoulders. Running has shaped my calves and quads. But my core is . . . neglected, and the backs of my legs seem unbalanced with the front. Would also like to see more results on the arms. So, I think I need to start lifting weights.

OK, enough body obsession for now. Better get back to obsessing about the marathon.

Friday, October 21, 2005

Excuses


I'm supposed to be tapering, as opposed to just quitting completely. I haven't been doing anything! And the NYC marathon is in, gulp, 15 days. My main excuse has been work. Actually work-related travel. Makes it really hard to get in the workouts.

This week was a travel nightmare. I have to share because it really reached the point of ridiculousness. Tuesday morning I had a 6:00 am flight to Austin. I get up at 4:15 and tear off to the airport. Just in time. Trying to check in at one of the kiosks, which won't process my boarding pass. Talk to the agent and realize . . . I am at the WRONG AIRPORT. Flight was out of LaGuardia, and here I am in Newark. The car just wanted to go there. Maybe so I could fill up cheap in New Jersey. No, I have never done this before.

So, they put me on a later flight leaving from Newark. I should still get there in time for lunch and my 1:30 meeting. I immediately fall asleep when I board the plane. Wake up 1.5 hours later feeling refreshed and . . . still on the runway in Newark. Ugh. But I got there. No time for lunch (I scarfed down a granola bar), but just made my meeting. The conference would last until Wednesday afternoon.

I was originally planning to leave Thursday morning, but realized I should be able to just make a flight out Wednesday afternoon and spend the night at home with Husband. Plus, my Thursday am ticket has me going in to LaGuardia, while my car is in Newark; so I had to make changes anyway. I won't even get into all the machinations required and hold music endured to get that ticket.

I make my Wednesday afternoon flight with time to spare. But it isn't direct; I have a connection at Chicago O'Hare. My fellow travelers know that this spells trouble. Anyway, we land with plenty of time to spare, but SIT ON THE RUNWAY with no gate for nearly an HOUR. Long story short, I miss my connection. United gives me a voucher for something resembling the Bates Motel. To add insult to injury, it was a smoking room.

Up again a 4:15 to make a 6:00 am flight. Glad to be home.

Sunday, October 16, 2005

home again

It's been a long week. Left on Sunday for a whirlwind European tour which meant jet lag, a flight every day, big meals, etc. Got some new stamps on my passport, which always makes me feel very "jet set". Was also fighting a cold the whole time and ingested an entire box of decongestants in four days. Anyway, I dutifully brought my running clothes and hoped to run at least 2x, but it never happened.

Got home Friday afternoon. Sweetheart Husband picked me up at the airport. Rain, rain; apparently it hadn't stopped raining since Saturday. I don't like to run in the rain, but decided I should get out and do something - time before the marathon is running out, you know. Ran 2 miles in a pretty heavy downpour on Friday. People look at you like you're crazy. Fell asleep around 8 PM.

Saturday was to be my last long run before the marathon - 20 miles. Since I have literally been doing next to nothing lately, I mapped out a course of 18 miles, including a good bit of the Manhattan section of the marathon.

It was awesome. The rain stopped, the sun came out, and it was a crisp 65 degrees. Went uptown to the 59th Street bridge - the point where in 20 DAYS the marathoners will come into Manhattan from Queens at Mile 16. I've heard this is one of the most exciting parts of the race. The last part of Queens is an industrial area with few spectators, the bridge is covered and eerily quiet, and there is a huge crowd when you come down off the bridge into Manhattan. The rush you get here will keep you going for a few miles. I tried to imagine this as I kept following the course up 1st Avenue.

Instead of heading all the way up into the Bronx (not exactly scenic), I cut left on 96th Street and into Central Park at 90th Street - Mile 24 of the race, another exciting part because then I'll know I'm almost there. Also one of the hilliest parts of the race - the hills aren't huge, but I know I'll be feeling them on marathon day. Instead of heading South, I did the upper loop of the Park up to 110th Street - was afraid I'd be tempted to head home if I got back down to 59th Street. There is no traffic allowed in the Park on weekends and there were tons of bikers and runners out. It had the Fall smell of leaves. Nice.

On the way back down the West Side, I headed into the center of the park just to explore a little - even living in NY, I really don't know the Park that well. Body starting to ache a bit at this point as well, and thought a softer path might be easier on the joints. Inadvertently found myself on the Bridle Path (Pardon me, Mr. Ed), and then ran smack dab into the Reservoir. Everyone runs around the Reservoir. Except me, until now.

Well, it was lovely. A flat, packed surface and there is something so nice about looking at water when you run. I looked online, and it turns out that each loop is 1.55 miles. I should have done a few more loops, because I felt great on the path, but realized I was pooped as soon as I got off. I did 2 loops, found a water fountain, and headed South.

Was planning to do 1.5 loops around the whole Park, but once I started heading South, my body started sending me urgent messages. Once I reach my "limit", everything starts to hurt - knees, hips, calves, bottoms of my feet. Anyway, I ran/walked the rest of the way home, and it turns out I only went about 15 miles. OK.

So that's it. My last long run before the big day. I am definitely "long-run-deficient" in my training. I've done one 18 miler, and only a smattering of runs over 10 miles. That's not just recently -- that's in my whole life! My hydration/nutrition on this run was weak - I didn't have my fuel belt, so I stopped for a gatorade after an hour, then had a gel another 45 minutes later. A few water fountain sips. I still feel dehydrated today, but not nearly as sore as I was after my first 15 mile or 18 mile run.

Looking forward to marathon day!

Sunday, October 09, 2005

shore dinner


Husband and I (well, mainly Husband) prepped the classic shore dinner Friday night. I guess the season is really over.

Friday, October 07, 2005

big ideas

Husband and I had a nice bike ride last night. We left around 5:30 and went around 20 miles, up to a overlook with a great view, along the flats, and back. It started getting misty on the way back, and was getting dark and foggy earlier than usual. I don't know about you, but this makes me nervous on a bike, as cars aren't really looking out for bikers anyway. As a result, I pedalled my heart out and got us home in record time.

I was hoping to run "long" tomorrow morning, but I checked the forecast, and it's supposed to pour. A little sprinkle wouldn't kill me, but it looks like a decent-sized storm. Sigh. I am long-run-deficient with the marathon coming up. We need to head back home to the city anyway.

On Sunday I start a whirlwind of travel to let's see, 4 countries in 4 days. So it's going difficult to exercise, much less blog. But, I plan to persevere. We'll see how it goes. I'm fighting a cold, and sleep is very important to me. But, hotels do have gyms these days, and I am usually somewhat successful at working out when I travel.

So, here are some big ideas:
  • Total Immersion workshop. I am totally psyched about this. Full report in November.
  • Various real estate scenarios. Husband and I toy with a new one every week.
  • Cycling tour of Tuscany in the spring. Sounds pretty awesome, right? Did a little research, and it sounds right up my alley. Cycle 30-75 miles per day, eat great food and drink chianti at night. Husband is totally into it.
  • Trip to California for Christmas/New Year's. Can't really claim this as my idea, but I think it's going to be a blast. Planning to drive down the coast -- one of those things I've always wanted to do.
  • Joining a runners club. After the marathon. Have found a few I am considering.
  • Joining a triathlete club. Yep, there is one of those too.
  • Ironman Florida 2006. Yes, I said it. And I am toying with it. My biggest concern is finding the time to train.

the mood

Had this song in my head all day . . .

Nobody on the road
Nobody on the beach
I feel it in the air
The summer's out of reach
Empty lake, empty streets
The sun goes down alone
I'm drivin' by your house
Though I know you're not at home

But I can see you-
Your brown skin shinin' in the sun
You got your hair combed back and your sunglasses on, baby
And I can tell you my love for you will still be strong
After the boys of summer have gone

I never will forget those nights
I wonder if it was a dream
Remember how you made me crazy?
Remember how I made you scream
Now I don't understand what happened to our love
But babe, I'm gonna get you back
I'm gonna show you what I'm made of

I can see you-Your brown skin shinin' in the sun
I see you walkin' real slow and you're smilin' at everyone
I can tell you my love for you will still be strong
After the boys of summer have gone

Out on the road today, I saw a DEADHEAD sticker on a Cadillac
A little voice Inside my head said, "Don't look back. You can never look back."
I thought I knew what love was
What did I know?
Those days are gone forever
I should just let them go but-

I can see you-
Your brown skin shinin' in the sun
You got that top pulled down and that radio on, baby
And I can tell you my love for you will still be strong
After the boys of summer have gone

I can see you-
Your brown skin shinin' in the sun
You got that hair slicked back and those Wayfarers on, baby
I can tell you my love for you will still be strong
After the boys of summer have gone

Wednesday, October 05, 2005

seasons change



I love the changing of the seasons. On Monday I went for a nice long run in Camp Hero park. I haven't run there for at least a month, because I've been trying to practice on the Mightyman course, or "going long" in the opposite direction. But it's one of my favorite places.

I took it slow and jogged around the sights in the park - the bluff overlook, the radar tower, the old barracks, and of course, the lighthouse. There were at least 100 fishing boats just offshore. I like cruising around the dirt roads and a few narrow trails. With the exception of fisherman coming and going, the park was almost empty. I like the crunching noise of the leaves, although we don't have full fall colors yet.

It's a cool place. Many strange experiences have been reported here. Check it out here.

Sunday, October 02, 2005

Which do you want first?


The good news or the bad news?

The good news is pretty good. I finished the swim! I swam farther than I ever have in my life. I kept going, I didn't quit. I was tired and my arms were like noodles, but I finished it. 1.2 miles. I think Husband was actually pretty impressed. Also, since I never seem to swim in a straight line, I probably covered at least 1.5 miles. Husband followed me around the pond and snapped my picture when I dragged myself out.

The bad news is that I missed the cut-off time for the swim. Started at 7:05, got out ~8:20. I knew I was last, but planned to "keep going until someone stops me". Unfortunately, someone did. I got back to the sea of empty racks as fast as I could and stripped off my wetsuit.

The race director came over and said that he couldn't let me back on the course. "Really?" "Sorry, but we have time limits on the roads. I need your chip."

:-(

OK.

But, I still feel good. I swam. Far. And maybe exorcised a personal demon, since I quit on the swim in my last try.

NYC Marathon, here I come.

Friday, September 30, 2005

Almost Here

Welp, I checked the forecast, and Sunday morning will be a slightly brisk 53 degrees, with a high of 75 for the day. Clear. West wind at 5mph. Sounds pretty perfect, actually.

I'm just going to break it down one more time.

A little info from the website:

This course is challenging. The swim is a 1.2 mile rectangle in a protected pond and unless it is windy, will be very calm. Water temperature will be in the mid 60's and a wetsuits are allowed. The bike is a rolling hills ride that consists of a two 28 mile laps with a water station at mile 28. The run is a two 6.55 mile loop that is a combination of flat and challenging hills like "murder hill". Aid stations each 1.5 mile.

Cut-off times, from start: Swim - 1 hour, Bike - 4:30 hours, finish 8:00 hours (3:00 PM).

So, I'm just going to be trying to stay ahead of the cut-off times.

The swim: 1.2 miles. It's within the realm of possibility. I have done some swimming in this lake, although not enough, because there are often fisherman there. No waves, current or salt; so hopefully my freak-out potential will be low. My strategy is simple: Keep Going. No stopping or looking back. 90% freestyle. Breastroke for sighting and Side stroke for catching my breath is okay, but that's it. No backstroke! And no stopping, looking back, or looking at lifeguards. The wetsuit makes me float, I just need to propel it forward.

The bike: 56 miles. So, assuming I make it the cut-off time for the swim, I need to pedal my butt off on the bike. In my last tri, I averaged only 15mph on the bike. Need to do more like 18-20 in this one, and the hills are MUCH bigger. (2200 Total feet of elevation gain. ) However, I know the course well, and it helps me a lot when I know a hill is coming so you can build up a little momentum going in. The course is beautiful, the roads are good, and there are certain "destinations" built in - the lighthouse, the beach, Gosman's - which will help keep me going. My nutrition/hydration strategy is to wear my camelback for water, and have a gel every 45 minutes. Admittedly, I am undertrained, and this will be my longest bike ride ever. My butt is going to hurt when I'm done -- big time.

The run: 13.1 miles. So, assuming I make the cut-off time for the bike, you guessed it, start running. The first 3 miles of the run are pretty flat, which is good because it will probably take me that long to get my legs working again. "Murder Hill" is no joke - it is short, but pitched like a double diamond ski slope. 806 Total feet of elevation gain. If I make it this far, I know I'm going to be slow. I don't care about that.

I'm just going to keep going until somebody stops me.

I love Montauk, and I think this is going to be really fun, no matter what happens. But it will be extra sweet if all goes well.

Things to remember:
  • Eat gels like they're going out of style
  • Hydrate
  • Apply vaseline to chafe-prone parts. (around the neck (wetsuit) & under the arms)
  • Use gel (the other kind) and hairspray in attempt to keep the braids from falling out
  • Sunscreen
  • Running hat
  • Something long-sleeved for the bike? I think I might get cold - it is windy by the water and I'm starting out wet. However, this will be a pain to remove as I plan to wear the Camelback backpack.
  • When in doubt, have a gel
  • Give Husband a great big kiss!

OK. I'm ready.

Tuesday, September 27, 2005

quotes

Two quotes I have come across recently basically sum up my feelings about Sunday's HALF IRONMAN race:

Found in a recent issue of Runners World:

"Inside of a ring or out, ain't nothing wrong with going down. It's staying down that's wrong."
-- Muhammed Ali

From Nancy's blog:

TAKE A CHANCE
"If you think there’s a 50/50 chance of success or better, then go for it."
--Mira Kirshenbaum, Psychotherapist

Wish me luck!

Giancarlo


This is Husband's bike, a Colnago. I really know nothing about bikes, but it looks cool to me!

Monday, September 26, 2005

the weekend

I really appreciate the encouraging comments on my last post about the race. Thanks everyone, for your support.

Well, I've pretty much decided to "do it for fun" or as a "training day". I'm not really too worried about injuring myself. There are people who will drag themselves across the finish line with a broken leg, but I really don't think I am one of those people. I'm more likely to stop and call a taxi. A mixed blessing, I guess. I would probably be faster and miss fewer workouts if I pushed harder. But, I haven't hurt myself either, and I've improved exponentially anyway.

Last week was a bit of a bust and I really did nothing all week. Party on Thursday. Exhausted on Friday. Slept late Saturday. Didn't do my usual Saturday morning run, but did go for a nice bike ride with Husband. About 20 miles, sticking to bits of the Mightyman Montauk course. Pretty damn convenient how it goes past our house. It was nice biking together, and I finally tried out my Camelback. I love it! I usually don't drink on bike rides until I am super thirsty because getting to the bottle seems like such a PIA. I think this was the first longer ride I've done where I actually WASN'T dehydrated at the finish. Definitely plan to wear in my upcoming race.

Now that we're a "biking family", Husband invested in a new bike, too. His is a little fancier than mine. I think we should name it "Giancarlo". (tried to upload a pic but it's not working for some reason. as you might guess, he's italian).

Sunday I ran a good chunk on the course, but quit a little early as I was having "gut issues". Egg wrap and a smoothie for breakfast - what was I thinking? Especially the fruity, yogurty smoothie. Definitely have to stick with my standy in future - whole wheat toast + peanut or almond butter. But I still went 10 miles, and finished strong - it was the middle where I was feeling a little ucky.

After the run, I went out in the lake to paddle around and hopefully desensitize myself about swimming. It was a little nippy out, and this Lake (different from the race course) has a channel out to the Atlantic and thus a slight current. Also a ton of clamshells on the bottom - I should have worn my reef booties. Anyway, I didn't wear my wetsuit because I was just going to take a little dip and swim out to a particular buoy and back - maybe 200 yards. I think my wetsuit is actually a security blanket for me in open water. I got a little freaked out, never made it to the buoy, turned around, and basically ran back to the house. Clearly, I have issues. Sigh.

Husband and I signed up for a Total Immersion workshop in November. Boy, am I hoping this will help me. I really want to be a good swimmer now.

Thursday, September 22, 2005

Should I . . . .


. . . . Get back on the horse?

The Mightyman Montauk race is NEXT weekend. This is a half Ironman distance - 1.2 mile swim, 56 mile bike and a 13.1 mile run.

This was always going to be a stretch for me. And in all honesty, I really haven't trained for it. After my rather dismal performance in the Olympic distance marathon, most of me thinks I should drop out. I wish I had more time to train. Like a year.


But, I'm having trouble making a decision. Here are the pros and cons:

Pros:
  • I'm much more familiar with the course.
  • I've already paid the registration fee.
  • The swim is in a pond - unlikely to be choppy.
Cons:
  • Drowning.
  • Getting hurt.
  • Being embarrassed.
  • I'm more familiar with the course, but I haven't actually done the whole thing. And I won't have time before the race.
  • My longest bike ride ever was 30 miles, not 56. My longest swim is not anywhere near 1.2 miles.
  • The swim is basically across the pond and back. If I decide to quit, I am either in the middle of a lake or on the other side of it, not near a beach alongside the transition area. The entry/exit area is a boat landing ramp. The other sides of the pond are sort of marshy.
  • Maybe I should "save it" for the Marathon.
  • There's always next year.

Regardless of what I decide to do, I really need to work on my swimming this Fall/Winter. I really have some kind of irrational phobia. I'm considering hypnosis. Actually, I am more likely planning to take a Total Immersion workshop, or another swimming class.

Any advice?

Here are some pictures from the Mighty Hamptons tri. Those shorts really don't do me any favors.

Tuesday, September 20, 2005

Mighty Hamptons Race Report - the end

Finally, the run. Didn't mean to build so much suspense. Just had a little business trip and no time to write.

Put my bike on the rack. Sucked down the gel which I had thoughtfully placed in my running shoe. Husband gave me a little cheer when I headed out. I kept running until I got out of sight. My right calf hurt, giving me a funny, off-kilter stride. Ran 8 minutes, Walked 3, Ran 6, Walked 2. And so on, until I got to mile 2. Maybe that's when the gel kicked into, because I ran (albeit slowly) the rest of the way. I passed a few people. Many the old and infirm. Sigh.

Had another gel at mile 4. Husband was waiting about a 1/4 from the finish. I gave him a big hug -- "You're disgusting!", he said, but it seemed funny at the time.

I felt good when I crossed the finish line. Like I could do it again.

So, I'm pretty disappointed that I didn't finish the swim. But I'm glad I did the other parts of the race, if only so I know what to expect next time.


The official results are posted. Um, I suuuuck.

  • Swim: no time recorded
  • Bike: 1:40:55 (Place = 768) I'm surprised THAT many people passed me. Really, it makes no sense. There were more than 23 people who left for the run behind me. That's 13.6 mph or so.
  • T2: 3:35 (Place = 594) Nothing great, but OK.
  • Run: 1:18:25 (Place = 780). That's a pace of 12:39 per mile. Yes, I did some walking, but c'mon.
  • Overall time: 3:41:56. Overall place: 755 out of 791. Considering that I skipped half the swim, that is pretty pitiful. Also, I'm surprised there were only 791 finishers. The numbers went well above 1000.

I will ponder this along with the other mysteries of life.

Mighty Hamptons Race Report - the middle


I try to casually approach my bike at the transition area, but it's kind of embarassing because I am wearing a wetsuit and going the wrong way. Others are returning from the swim and tearing off on their bikes. Oh well, what the hell.

I pull off my suit, and pour 1/2 my water bottle on my feet to get the sand off. Suck down a vanilla flavored gel and wash it down with amino vital. Helmet, gloves, sunglasses. Check. Trixie and I are off!

I never pre-rode the course, so what was around the next corner was almost always a surprise. It was beautiful. The course was rolling hills. They tend to put hairpin turns at the bottom of a hill here in the Hamptons. Funny I never noticed that in a car.

I have to say, I really enjoyed it. Maybe I was just relieved to be on dry land, but I just pedalled along, admiring the scenery, checking out the real estate. Noticing other people's gear. I said "good morning" or "thank you" to all the volunteers (mostly teenagers) and cops out on the course.

My time was slower than I expected. Surprise, surprise. I believe that I averaged 15 mph - roughly 5 miles every 20 minutes. I was passed by many, and a passed a few people on my own.

Observed on the course:
  • 2 dudes fixing flat tires (glad that wasn't me)
  • 1 racer on a beach cruiser (how did she pass me?)
  • Some dude in a Porsche convertible who totally gunned the engine when he passed my group of bikers. What a tool.
  • Site of the Hampton Classic horse show (another rider pointed this out)
  • Christie Brinkley's house (she wouldn't shut up)
  • Roadkill: dead rabbit, cat, and a giant deer
  • Really huge, multi-million $ estates
  • Older, not-so-nice houses who refuse to leave
  • Farmland - corn, pumpkins and wine grapes are coming along nicely

As I approached the transition area near the end, I was looking ahead at the "slow down" signs and the dismounting riders. I almost didn't see something crossing the bike lane, and had to swerve to miss . . . . a turtle! Poking his head out and trying to cross. I swear to God. I laughed out loud.

Still loving my bike.

Monday, September 19, 2005

Mighty Hamptons Race Report - the beginning

Not sure where to start with this one. Results were mixed, to say the least. But the experience was still pretty awesome.

Saturday
Did all my race check in. Bought a pair of those giant goggles. Saw my friends from the bike shop and the tri camp. Feeling ready.

Went to the beach. Beautiful day in Montauk. 3x the normal number of surfers were out, due to extra swell from Hurricane Ophelia. Husband was . . . stoked.

Early dinner (for us). Prepped bags of gear, bottles of Amino Vital. Fuel belt bottles have developed a mildew problem. Eww. Prepped coffee for the morning. In bed by 9:45. Thunder, lightning, and rain outside.

Sunday
4:00 am. Wake up call. Got right up. Forced down coffee and peanut butter toast. Husband secured bikes to car. (He planned to visit the bike shop during the race).

5:45. Arrival at the race site. Marked my territory. Weather is dark, cloudy and cool. Temperature is around 60 degrees. Rain has passed. The swim is along the beach. It looks far. The previous nights rain has churned up the water, and ther is a tiny amount of chop, but in fairness, the conditions are pretty close to ideal.

6:30. Husband bids adieu. I climb into my wetsuit. In the water by 6:40.

6:45. The horn goes, and the men are off. I move over to the start. I don't like bobbing around, treading water, but I feel ok. I try to position myself in the middle - out of the way of the fast people, but not way off to the side or the back. I explain to several women the start between the buoys, stay on the right side of the center line of buoys, etc. I am a voice of authority.

6:55. The women start. Here is where it all goes downhill. All those legs and arms kicking -- gah! I try and stay with the pack and just stroke, stroke, stroke. I get out of breath pretty quickly. I try swimming on my side to catch my breath. I try to stay close to the buoys to avoid adding distance by zig zagging all over the place (like in my Sprint Tri in July). I seem to be drifting out to sea. I correct diagonally. I am no longer surrounded by swimmers, but there are still some people behind me.

Freestyle. Move to backstroke for a little break. Wave pours over me and in my mouth. I swallow salt water, cough and sputter. Backstroke devolves into a doggie paddle. Back to freestyle. Gag reflex happening when I put my face in the water. I keep going.

The turnaround point looks far away. I make the mistake of looking back. No one there. :(

I keep going. The gut doesn't like it. A little bit of my breakfast comes back up. It's not easy to throw up and tread water. The lifeguard guy on a surfboard asks if I am OK. I nod, but go hold on to his board. "Did you cramp up?" he asks. "Yes" (lie).

I swim a little further. The people on the return approach. There are a lot more of them than there are people in front of me on the way out. I'm tired.

There is just no way. It is just too far. I cross the line of swimmers and walk up on to the beach. Husband is there waiting for me. "Are you okay?" I'm glad he is there because I was worried about how I would find him.

I'm feeling pretty dejected. And nauseated. If Husband weren't there, I would have cried. He gives me a hug, although I am soaking wet.

He says I swam really far and I should finish the race. "Isn't that cheating?" You just won't be in the official results, that's all. He sends me off into the transition area. I put on my bike stuff. I have a gel. I keep going.

Unfortunately, that's all I have time for . . . got to head for the airport.

More later -- it gets better!

Friday, September 16, 2005

what next?

I haven't even done any of my big races yet, but I am already thinking about "the next big thing". That's pretty normal for me. Plus, many of my fellow bloggers are already signed up for races next year. I still have 3 races on my agenda:


  • September 18th. Mighty Hamptons Olympic Distance Tri.
  • October 2nd. Mightyman Montauk. 1/2 Ironman Distance Tri.
  • November 6th. New York City Marathon.

Now, I did the lottery to get into the NYC marathon this year. But if you do NINE qualifying New York Road Runner-sponsored races in a given year, you are guaranteed marathon entry for the following year. Although I haven't even done a marathon yet, I'm pretty sure I'll want to do it again. The marathon will be my 5th, and there are races virtually every weekend, usually in Central Park. I can't even sign up for any of them yet, but they are starting to be added to the calendar. So here are some of my options:


  • October 30th - Poland Spring Marathon Kickoff (5M) Central Park. We were thinking of being away that weekend, so maybe, maybe not.
  • November 20 - 10:00 a.m. Race To Deliver/The Kids Race Central Park, No additional information given, so I'm not sure if it's a "kid's race" or a "race for kids". It's a marathon qualifier, so I think the latter.
  • November 26 - NYRR Knickerbocker 60K. Now this could be interesting. Am I woman enough to go 60K? That's 37.2 miles! Am I nuts? Hmm, debatable. It is Thanksgiving weekend, and we were planning to be away. Still a consideration, though.
  • December 3rd - NYRR Holiday 4-Mile. Central Park. A no-brainer.
  • December 11th - NYRR Joe Kleinerman 10K. Another no-brainer.
  • December 17th - NYRR Hot Chocolate 15K. Ditto.

So, if I do the November 20th, and the 3 December races, I'm in for NYC Marathon 2006. I bet they'll add another 5K or something as well. So, that's pretty cool.

What else? I'm looking forward to long bike rides with Husband this month and in October. After that, I doubt I'll get much time on the roads - I find biking the streets of Manhattan a little scary. But I think I'll look into one of those bike trainers. Now where would we put it? Husband bought me one of those Camelbacks to make sure I stay hydrated on a long ride. Isn't he a sweetie?

After the "season", I'd like to work on swimming, flexibility, core, balance and strength. Although my swimming has improved about 1000% this year, it is still pretty weak, and I'm still not comfortable in the water. I'd like to take one of those Total Immersion workshops.

And although I try to stretch appropriately, I have noticed a significant decrease in my ankle/foot/calf flexibility. Yoga? And who doesn't want killer abs? There is a pilates studio around the corner, with all those machines with pulleys and levers. I am intrigued.

Went to the pool last night with Husband and swam 1000 with no drama. I'm going to be fine on Sunday! (I'll just keep repeating that!)

Thursday, September 15, 2005

victory at sea?


So, I've been watching the weather. Hurricane Ophelia is moving up the coast. We spend our weekends in Montauk, which is on the the very tip of Long Island's south shore. It's pretty cool to look at the point where the ocean meets Block Island Sound. Good surfing here.

The marine forecast for this weekend looks a little rough:


  • Coastal Waters From Moriches Inlet To Montauk Point Ny Out 20 Nm-
  • Small Craft Advisory for hazardous seas remains in effect from this evening to Sunday morning on the ocean
  • Fri Night: NE winds 25 to 30 kt with gusts up to 40 kt. Seas 4 to 6 ft...building to 6 to 10 ft after midnight. Showers likely with isolated tstms. Vsby locally 1 to 3 nm. Tides up to 1 ft above normal may cause locally minor coastal flooding around the times of high tide.
  • Sat: N winds 25 to 30 kt with gusts up to 40 kt...gradually decreasing to 10 to 15 kt by midday...then becoming NE 5 to 10 kt in the afternoon. Seas 7 to 10 ft. Showers likely. Vsby locally 1 to 3 nm.
  • Sat Night: Se winds 5 to 10 kt...becoming SW after midnight. Seas 5 to 8 ft in E swell...subsiding to 4 to 6 ft after midnight. A chance of showers. Vsby locally 1 to 3 nm in the evening.
  • Sun: SW winds around 10 kt...becoming N. Seas 3 to 5 ft in E swell...subsiding to 2 to 3 ft after midnight.
Small craft advisory?!? I guess I won't be doing any practice swimming on Saturday near our place. I predict that Husband will do some surfing, though.

Sunday's race is about an hour away in Sag Harbor, which is more protected. The swim is in Noyac Bay, not in the Atlantic Ocean. Sag Harbor's marine forecast is not nearly so bad:



  • Long Island Sound East Of New Haven Ct/Port Jefferson Ny-
  • Fri Night:NE winds increasing to 20 to 25 kt in the evening... then increasing to 25 to 30 kt after midnight. Seas building to 2 to 3 ft. Showers likely with isolated tstms. Vsby locally 1 to 3 nm.
  • Sat: N winds 25 to 30 kt...gradually decreasing to 10 to 15 kt by midday...then becoming NE around 5 kt in the afternoon. Seas 2 to 3 ft...subsiding to around 1 ft. Showers likely. Vsby locally 1 to 3 nm.
  • Sat Night: E winds 5 to 10 kt...becoming S after midnight. Seas 1 ft or less. Showers likely. Vsby locally 1 to 3 nm in the evening.
  • Sun: SW winds 5 to 10 kt...becoming N. Seas 1 ft or less.


So, it's not really going to be like "victory at sea". I am sometimes a little dramatic. Looks like our drive out Friday night may be the biggest adventure.

But I am feeling a little nervous. Now, a 1ft wave is nothing to a surfer or on a boat, but it's a little scary when you are swimming in it. Although I am getting somewhat comfortable with open water swimming, I have only really been practicing in the dog days of summer, in a protected cove or lake, with little wind. The one windy day with some swell actually kind of freaked me out. I don't like when the waves splash me in the face and I swallow water. The water at my Sprint tri was totally calm, just a really gentle wave, and I still got freaked out.

Husband has pointed out that I have a tendency to unnecessarily get myself all stressed out about swimming, biking , running, and he's right. I often find that writing about something gets it out of my mind, so just indulge me.

Part of the reason I do this stuff is because I don't like that I have more fears about doing things than I used to. It's part of getting older, I guess. When I was in my teens, we used to play "follow the leader" on the ski slopes - through the trees, moguls, whatever. I could keep up with the boys. Now, I have probably skiied twice in the last 5 years and I am super conservative. Which makes sense - don't want to go breaking a leg. But it's other stuff too - other swimmers kicking, getting splashed in the face, people biking too close to me, a little sand on the road -- I want to get to a point where those things make it exciting and fun, and not scary. Pushing myself a little makes me feel good. When it's over, at least.

Went to the gym last night and did 10 miles on the bike, followed by some run/walking on the treadmill. Not my best workout, but it felt good to get back in the gym.