This is the blog entry that is all about reflecting on the past year and looking toward the year ahead and blah, blah, blah.
What can I say about 2008? It was pretty good. I did a 1/2 ironman, swam alcatraz, and got a mild concussion and awesome crazy road rash after crashing my bike. And now it is the beginning of 2009 and guess what? I am back to the not-very-much-in-shape shape I was in this time last year.
So, what does a Jill do to get back on that proverbial horse? She signs up for races.
I have decided that the motivating factor for me to train, is to have a race to train for. I am going to sign up for the Kaiser 1/2 marathon on Superbowl Sunday in SF. It is a month away and a race I have never done before. Plus, Super Bowl treats will taste yummy after 13.1 miles.
Yesterday I decided to google a "train in a month 1/2 marathon plan" and guess what? The internet is not as useful as it once was. I basically got every web page that had the word "1/2 marathon" and "month" in it. One guy posted something about not being a runner and wanting to train for a full marathon in a month and asked in a forum how he should train. He pretty much got a lot of "Don't do it dude" posts.
So I found a 9 week training plan and will be starting it at week 5. I enterred all my future runs in my outlook calendar at work and now it feels like I have something to work towards.
I went on my first run of 2009 yesterday. I hit up my usual trail in Campbell and decided to multitask and get a pound of coffee after my run. So, I zipped up my running jacket and put my atm card and key in one of the pockets and my mp3 in the other and zipped up the.pockets
Or so I thought
After my 3 mile run I headed back towards my car which was parked near downtown and got a weird panicky feeling. I shoved my hands in my pockets and my panic was confirmed---my ATM card and car key were gone!
I headed back to the trail to retrace my steps and looked all over for the key and card. No luck. I used the phone at a bookstore and called Dennis to let him know about my situation. He said he would leave work immediately and go home to find a spare key. He asked me where the spare key was.
"Um," I said, "I don't know if I have one."
I then walked to the bank to cancel my card and had time to spare before Dennis met me. I went back to the trail to look again. No luck. My first 3 mile training run turned into a 3 mile run, 4 mile walk.
Fortunately Dennis found a spare key and I was able to get into my car and drive home. So far, I am not too impressed with 2009.
In addition to the Kaiser 1/2 marathon, here are the other events I plan on doing in 2009:
Mermaid 1/2 Marathon
Tierra Bella bike ride (either metric or full century)
San Jose Olympic triathlon
Big Kahuna
It is a tough decision, but I don't think I should be as race crazy as I was before. I would like to do one "destination" race this year, but that depends on our travel plans.
So, tomorrow I am going to attempt 8 miles. I think I need some better tune-age in my Mp3. Any music suggestions?
Saturday, January 3, 2009
Saturday, December 20, 2008
The Winter Squishies
I just came back from a 3 hour bike ride and the reality of just how out of shape I am is on my shoulders. I originally started with 9 other women and we were going to do a casual ride from San Jose and around the Morgan Hill reservoirs. I huffed and puffed my way up Bailey Road at about mile 5, fearful that my legs and lungs would turn against me at any moment. I made it up the hill, but at the first rest stop I told the other women to go on without me. I didn't want them to have to wait for me at every stop. So, I continued on and rode through Morgan Hill and the Coyote Creek Trail, all the while thinking, "I used to be able to do this faster and more efficiently." Not so much today. In fact, that first killer hill wasn't even that bad. I did it twice last year (once in a training ride and once in the San Jose Triathlon) without any problems. But today I felt like that scene in Knocked Up where Seth Rogan is taking a spin class ("I'm breathing like James Gandolphon over here.").
The truth is --- I have been a lazy, lazy girl. The winter is supposed to be about base training, strengthening your core and all that. The only thing I am strengthening are my fingers playing Guitar Hero. Plus---I have a major case of the Winter Squishies.
The Winter Squishies occur when one moves less, and eats more. What happens is that body parts that used to be firmer are now squishy. I mean, I know I am not going to be Heidi Klum or anything, but with this economy and all I don't think I can afford new (bigger) pants.
So now what? Do I need a goal? A race to sign up for? A commitment of working out a certain number of days a week and eating the FDA recommended servings of fruits and vegetables a day?
I will ponder this some more...and hopefully not eat anymore cookies.
The truth is --- I have been a lazy, lazy girl. The winter is supposed to be about base training, strengthening your core and all that. The only thing I am strengthening are my fingers playing Guitar Hero. Plus---I have a major case of the Winter Squishies.
The Winter Squishies occur when one moves less, and eats more. What happens is that body parts that used to be firmer are now squishy. I mean, I know I am not going to be Heidi Klum or anything, but with this economy and all I don't think I can afford new (bigger) pants.
So now what? Do I need a goal? A race to sign up for? A commitment of working out a certain number of days a week and eating the FDA recommended servings of fruits and vegetables a day?
I will ponder this some more...and hopefully not eat anymore cookies.
Thursday, November 13, 2008
Full Circle?
My last triathlon of 2008 was last Saturday in Catalina. Not my worst race, but not my best.
Let's do the whole full circle thing and show a side-by-side comparison of my FIRST 08 triathlon in March and then this one.
Swim:
Cal Poly Tri March 08 800 yard: 18:33 Catalina Tri 1/2 mile swim : 16:40
Bike:
Cal Poly 14 miles 1:10 Catalina Tri 9 miles 50:21
Run 3.1 miles 40:17 Catalina Tri 3 miles 35:29
Hmmm...what does all this mean? From numbers alone, it looks like not a whole lot of improvement was made in 8 months. But, when I look at some of the races sandwiches into those, I see a much stronger racer. My race results are like a richter scale: slow in the begining with peaks and valleys of improvement in the middle, then back to mediocre.
As I have mentioned before, it is time for a race break. I did sign up for Turkey Trot---but that has become my Thanksgiving Tradition. But now it is time for reflection on racing for 2009 as well as focusing my attention on other things, like painting the living room or cleaning the kitchen.
I feel like my foundation is there, but there is a missing link into making me a stronger athlete. So, this week I have gloriously not worked out and I think it will be a good time to refocus and recharge.
Any suggestions?
Let's do the whole full circle thing and show a side-by-side comparison of my FIRST 08 triathlon in March and then this one.
Swim:
Cal Poly Tri March 08 800 yard: 18:33 Catalina Tri 1/2 mile swim : 16:40
Bike:
Cal Poly 14 miles 1:10 Catalina Tri 9 miles 50:21
Run 3.1 miles 40:17 Catalina Tri 3 miles 35:29
Hmmm...what does all this mean? From numbers alone, it looks like not a whole lot of improvement was made in 8 months. But, when I look at some of the races sandwiches into those, I see a much stronger racer. My race results are like a richter scale: slow in the begining with peaks and valleys of improvement in the middle, then back to mediocre.
As I have mentioned before, it is time for a race break. I did sign up for Turkey Trot---but that has become my Thanksgiving Tradition. But now it is time for reflection on racing for 2009 as well as focusing my attention on other things, like painting the living room or cleaning the kitchen.
I feel like my foundation is there, but there is a missing link into making me a stronger athlete. So, this week I have gloriously not worked out and I think it will be a good time to refocus and recharge.
Any suggestions?
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
What is it about races that make it a more appealing hobby than, say, scrapbooking?
A couple weeks ago I was talking to a good friend about weekend plans. I told her that I was going to do the Nike 1/2 marathon and the Catalina triathlon a few weeks later. She then asked me:
"So, how many more of these things are you going to do?"
In all honesty, I was pretty miffed about this question. Though it may not have been her intention, the way she phrased it made it seem like races were just a phase for me. But the thing is, I hope that races aren't a phase. I hope to still be doing triathlons in my 70s and have my age proudly magic markered on my slightly liver-spotted calf.
My friend just didn't get it. So, I responded in a very adult-like fashion:
"I dunno, how many more times are you going to go to the mall and buy shoes?"
Ouch. OK, maybe that was a slightly passive-aggressive response. I never said I was perfect, right?
Perhaps my hyper-sensitivity to my racing being just a "thing" is that deep down I fear that it is a pointless thing to do. I have done over 10 races this year, spent probably more money on gear than my car is worth, sacrificed time with friends and family and tried to jam race t-shirts I will never wear in my overly stuffed dresser. I swim in disgusting water, have calloused feet and STILL can't run a sub 2 hour 1/2 marathon.
Why am I doing this?
What is it about races that make it a more appealing hobby than, say, scrapbooking or yoga?
I tell you why I do this:
Races force me to be a control freak.
2007 was not the greatest year for me. I turned 30 and went through my first layoff. The layoff was rough for me because I spent 3 years at this job, moving my way up the famous corporate ladder and finally found myself in a position where I enjoyed what I was doing and felt like a valued contributor to the company. And then that job security got ripped from me as abrupt and painful as Steve Carrel getting his chest waxed in the 40 year old Virgin.
I spent November and December of last year sending off resumes, trying to find a new career path (I was in the sub-prime mortgage industry---and we all know how that little tale ended) and ultimately felt like I had lost my wayand direction in life.
Then I found the Barb's Race triathlon on-line and signed up for a half ironman at the end of December of last year. I may not have known what I was going to do with my career, but at least I had something I could work towards: a goal, a challenge--something that forced me to test myself and gain the sense of completion.
Training for Barb's forced me to discipline myself in ways I hadn't done in a long time. I am a kind of "fly by the seat of my pants" gal and here I was plotting all my workouts on my personal and outlook calendars. I diligently did my brick workouts and put personal plans on hold so I could work toward my goal. Deep down I feared that maybe a half-ironman was aiming a little too high for me. Whenever I told people what I was doing, their reaction was of disbelief. So instead of facing my fears of failure, I took a different path: I signed up for more races. I think that I signed up for more races so I could be in a constant state of race chaos and not have time to think about the possibility of not finishing the half ironman I signed up for.
Two weeks before Barb's I experienced the quiet before the storm. I didn't do any races during those two weeks and I was forced to acknowledge that this race was really happening and I may or may not finish it. The fear of not completing the race was because for 8 months it was ALL I could talk about to anyone. It consumed my world. If I didn't do it, it must mean I was a big fat failure. So, on race day I jumped in the water at the start of the race determined to make it happen. Determined to finish this challenge.
And then I crashed my bike. Just like that, it was all over.
It is a bit ironic that I signed up for a big triathlon because I wanted control over something, but the end result was a lot like being layed off. I put my time in, worked hard and challenged myself, but something out of my control (i.e. crack in the road, subprime mortgage meltdown) changed everything.
Luckily, I was able to finish the Big Kahuna a month later. I was also able to find myself a new career path. I have learned through my training that things don't get done unless you have a clear path, and even if that path abruptly ends, you have to get through it.
I learned that failure isn't an excuse to not get back on the bike.
"So, how many more of these things are you going to do?"
In all honesty, I was pretty miffed about this question. Though it may not have been her intention, the way she phrased it made it seem like races were just a phase for me. But the thing is, I hope that races aren't a phase. I hope to still be doing triathlons in my 70s and have my age proudly magic markered on my slightly liver-spotted calf.
My friend just didn't get it. So, I responded in a very adult-like fashion:
"I dunno, how many more times are you going to go to the mall and buy shoes?"
Ouch. OK, maybe that was a slightly passive-aggressive response. I never said I was perfect, right?
Perhaps my hyper-sensitivity to my racing being just a "thing" is that deep down I fear that it is a pointless thing to do. I have done over 10 races this year, spent probably more money on gear than my car is worth, sacrificed time with friends and family and tried to jam race t-shirts I will never wear in my overly stuffed dresser. I swim in disgusting water, have calloused feet and STILL can't run a sub 2 hour 1/2 marathon.
Why am I doing this?
What is it about races that make it a more appealing hobby than, say, scrapbooking or yoga?
I tell you why I do this:
Races force me to be a control freak.
2007 was not the greatest year for me. I turned 30 and went through my first layoff. The layoff was rough for me because I spent 3 years at this job, moving my way up the famous corporate ladder and finally found myself in a position where I enjoyed what I was doing and felt like a valued contributor to the company. And then that job security got ripped from me as abrupt and painful as Steve Carrel getting his chest waxed in the 40 year old Virgin.
I spent November and December of last year sending off resumes, trying to find a new career path (I was in the sub-prime mortgage industry---and we all know how that little tale ended) and ultimately felt like I had lost my wayand direction in life.
Then I found the Barb's Race triathlon on-line and signed up for a half ironman at the end of December of last year. I may not have known what I was going to do with my career, but at least I had something I could work towards: a goal, a challenge--something that forced me to test myself and gain the sense of completion.
Training for Barb's forced me to discipline myself in ways I hadn't done in a long time. I am a kind of "fly by the seat of my pants" gal and here I was plotting all my workouts on my personal and outlook calendars. I diligently did my brick workouts and put personal plans on hold so I could work toward my goal. Deep down I feared that maybe a half-ironman was aiming a little too high for me. Whenever I told people what I was doing, their reaction was of disbelief. So instead of facing my fears of failure, I took a different path: I signed up for more races. I think that I signed up for more races so I could be in a constant state of race chaos and not have time to think about the possibility of not finishing the half ironman I signed up for.
Two weeks before Barb's I experienced the quiet before the storm. I didn't do any races during those two weeks and I was forced to acknowledge that this race was really happening and I may or may not finish it. The fear of not completing the race was because for 8 months it was ALL I could talk about to anyone. It consumed my world. If I didn't do it, it must mean I was a big fat failure. So, on race day I jumped in the water at the start of the race determined to make it happen. Determined to finish this challenge.
And then I crashed my bike. Just like that, it was all over.
It is a bit ironic that I signed up for a big triathlon because I wanted control over something, but the end result was a lot like being layed off. I put my time in, worked hard and challenged myself, but something out of my control (i.e. crack in the road, subprime mortgage meltdown) changed everything.
Luckily, I was able to finish the Big Kahuna a month later. I was also able to find myself a new career path. I have learned through my training that things don't get done unless you have a clear path, and even if that path abruptly ends, you have to get through it.
I learned that failure isn't an excuse to not get back on the bike.
Sunday, October 19, 2008
short and not super sweet
so...the nike women's 1/2 marathon was today. It was ok. It was my slowest half ever in my 2 1/2 year history. And that is OK. I think at mile 8 of a race I realized that this is not gonna be me PR and I had two choices: take walk breaks or keep trudging along.
I don't do walk breaks.
Here are my race lessons:
1) Don't assume that just because you have ran a 1/2 in 2:02, you can do it again without training. 31 year old bodies don't quite work that way.
2) Though the race was enjoyable, it was a little too Corporate America for my taste. Though Tiffany finisher necklaces wrapped in blue boxes with white bows, jamba juice smoothies and nike schwag are nice---it is rather off putting in these strange economic times. When I run because I am going to get all this "stuff," it overrides the true reason I run: it makes my soul feel good.
Props to the race organizers because it was well organized and efficient. I am glad I did this race because it is another one to check off.
I don't do walk breaks.
Here are my race lessons:
1) Don't assume that just because you have ran a 1/2 in 2:02, you can do it again without training. 31 year old bodies don't quite work that way.
2) Though the race was enjoyable, it was a little too Corporate America for my taste. Though Tiffany finisher necklaces wrapped in blue boxes with white bows, jamba juice smoothies and nike schwag are nice---it is rather off putting in these strange economic times. When I run because I am going to get all this "stuff," it overrides the true reason I run: it makes my soul feel good.
Props to the race organizers because it was well organized and efficient. I am glad I did this race because it is another one to check off.
Friday, October 17, 2008
A lot can happen over 7 months...
Sunday is the Nike Women's 1/2 Marathon. Yes, I was one of the very fortunate 20,000 women chosen at random by a lottery to participate. This is the 5th year of the marathon/1/2 marathon and it is definitely a "to do" race for Bay Area female athletes. This is the race where you get a tiffany finisher's necklace handed to you by SF firemen dressed in tuxedos. I actually have never done this race, but entered the lottery last March (about a month into my 1/2 iron training).
The problem with registering for a race seven months before the event is the fact that you don't know where you will be in the future. A lot can happen over 7 months. Take me, for example. Since March of 2008 I have: had a total career change into the non-profit world; trained for a crazy endurance event; found out what my core was and tortured it; bought my first house with the hubby; had a half marathon PR; raced another 1/2 a month later NINE minutes slower; became obsessed with Gossip Girl; swam to the Presidio from Alcatraz; went back to my (almost) natural hair color; completed 7 triathlons only to crash my bike at my BIG one and received a mild concussion mixed with my first DNF; and FINALLY finishing a half-ironman and now...
I am kinda tired.
Tired of moving. Tired of packing my tri-backpack and fretting over whether I packed the right shoes. Tired of eating weird food like chicken broth with sirachu sauce and peanut butter check mix the night before a race. I am wondering what the hack happened to my mojo.
Thursday I had my last workout of the year with coach Heidi and she (as usual) had very helpful words:
"I think you should take 6-8 weeks off from racing. And that includes training. You can do yoga, go for a bike ride...but you are raced out."
And she is so right.
Unfortunately...I have this Nike race on Sunday. And the Catalina triathlon in November. So, basically from November 8 to the end of the year I will be a race-free Jill.
At first I was doubtful. I always loved doing the Silicon Valley Turkey Trot. Would it be horrible to miss it this year?
The answer: of course not. Do I need ANOTHER turkey trot t-shirt? nah. If I really want to be a part of the race, I can always volunteer.
This Sunday's race, however, I have NO clue how it will go. My training has been either sporadic or non-existent. The last time I ran over 6 miles was at the Big Kahuna and that was more of moving my legs to avoid passing out then it was running. I have decided that this race will be my "casual attitude" race. I am not going to stress about it and just feel fortunate that my name was picked to run 13.1 miles for a tiffany necklace.
There are worse ways to spend a Sunday morning, right?
The problem with registering for a race seven months before the event is the fact that you don't know where you will be in the future. A lot can happen over 7 months. Take me, for example. Since March of 2008 I have: had a total career change into the non-profit world; trained for a crazy endurance event; found out what my core was and tortured it; bought my first house with the hubby; had a half marathon PR; raced another 1/2 a month later NINE minutes slower; became obsessed with Gossip Girl; swam to the Presidio from Alcatraz; went back to my (almost) natural hair color; completed 7 triathlons only to crash my bike at my BIG one and received a mild concussion mixed with my first DNF; and FINALLY finishing a half-ironman and now...
I am kinda tired.
Tired of moving. Tired of packing my tri-backpack and fretting over whether I packed the right shoes. Tired of eating weird food like chicken broth with sirachu sauce and peanut butter check mix the night before a race. I am wondering what the hack happened to my mojo.
Thursday I had my last workout of the year with coach Heidi and she (as usual) had very helpful words:
"I think you should take 6-8 weeks off from racing. And that includes training. You can do yoga, go for a bike ride...but you are raced out."
And she is so right.
Unfortunately...I have this Nike race on Sunday. And the Catalina triathlon in November. So, basically from November 8 to the end of the year I will be a race-free Jill.
At first I was doubtful. I always loved doing the Silicon Valley Turkey Trot. Would it be horrible to miss it this year?
The answer: of course not. Do I need ANOTHER turkey trot t-shirt? nah. If I really want to be a part of the race, I can always volunteer.
This Sunday's race, however, I have NO clue how it will go. My training has been either sporadic or non-existent. The last time I ran over 6 miles was at the Big Kahuna and that was more of moving my legs to avoid passing out then it was running. I have decided that this race will be my "casual attitude" race. I am not going to stress about it and just feel fortunate that my name was picked to run 13.1 miles for a tiffany necklace.
There are worse ways to spend a Sunday morning, right?
Thursday, October 2, 2008
Have I become Mr. Big?
On Sunday I did the Mermaid Triathlon in Santa Cruz. I was looking forward to this event because it is put on by the group who helped me train for my 1st half-iron. Mermaid events are awesome because they are all women, super supportive and you get great race t-shirts and finisher necklaces.
This race, however, was not my best effort.
I don't know what the heck is going on with me---but my motivation is not as present as it has been in the past. Since the Big Kahuna 3 weeks ago, my training has been pretty non-existent. I just look at my bike and think, "ugh!" Isn't that terrible? I am like a bad boyfriend. I loved my bike when it was shiny and new and jazzed it up with pink handlebars and accessories. I worked hard to get better, but I didn't work as hard as I should have. I didn't take the time to get to know my bike, to know how to ride it safely. And once things got rough and I had a bad bike crash, my feelings for my bike started to fade.
Have I become Mr. Big and is my bike Carrie?
Anyways--back to Sunday's race. My coach suggested I sign up for the Mighty Mermaid which is the same course, but you do it twice. Of course I signed up for it because I am stupid and do things without thinking about them. That is how I found myself jumping off a ferry near Alcatraz.
Here are some highlights from this race:
1) Swim was good. I didn't maul any sea life this time. Doing the course the second time is kind of strange. I had to exit the ocean, run under the pier and then jump back in. I miscalculated the depth of the water and landed on the sand. ouch.
2) You have to run up a bunch of stairs to get to the bike transition after the swim. THAT SUCKED! It must have been 180 stairs. ugh!
3) The hills on the bike were tough but I powered through them. I still hate that feeling of finishing the bike and seeing all the other bikes on the rack. Oh well.
4) The run was ok---I just didn't have my fire. Where did my speed go?
Fortunately I didn't set unreasonable goals for this race. I wanted to have a good time, cheer my friends on and be inspired by women of all ages and sizes challenging themselves.
I have decided that my last triathlon of 2008 (Catalina in November) is going to be the race where I push myself. I am ready to finish strong and fast!
So...that pretty much means peeling myself off the couch. Rats.
This race, however, was not my best effort.
I don't know what the heck is going on with me---but my motivation is not as present as it has been in the past. Since the Big Kahuna 3 weeks ago, my training has been pretty non-existent. I just look at my bike and think, "ugh!" Isn't that terrible? I am like a bad boyfriend. I loved my bike when it was shiny and new and jazzed it up with pink handlebars and accessories. I worked hard to get better, but I didn't work as hard as I should have. I didn't take the time to get to know my bike, to know how to ride it safely. And once things got rough and I had a bad bike crash, my feelings for my bike started to fade.
Have I become Mr. Big and is my bike Carrie?
Anyways--back to Sunday's race. My coach suggested I sign up for the Mighty Mermaid which is the same course, but you do it twice. Of course I signed up for it because I am stupid and do things without thinking about them. That is how I found myself jumping off a ferry near Alcatraz.
Here are some highlights from this race:
1) Swim was good. I didn't maul any sea life this time. Doing the course the second time is kind of strange. I had to exit the ocean, run under the pier and then jump back in. I miscalculated the depth of the water and landed on the sand. ouch.
2) You have to run up a bunch of stairs to get to the bike transition after the swim. THAT SUCKED! It must have been 180 stairs. ugh!
3) The hills on the bike were tough but I powered through them. I still hate that feeling of finishing the bike and seeing all the other bikes on the rack. Oh well.
4) The run was ok---I just didn't have my fire. Where did my speed go?
Fortunately I didn't set unreasonable goals for this race. I wanted to have a good time, cheer my friends on and be inspired by women of all ages and sizes challenging themselves.
I have decided that my last triathlon of 2008 (Catalina in November) is going to be the race where I push myself. I am ready to finish strong and fast!
So...that pretty much means peeling myself off the couch. Rats.
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