Stairs and Sleep

pulling myself out of bed to make it to the run yesterday was a chore. i so wanted to stay in bed. i got onto the subway at 7:49. caught an express train. got off at 8:01 and started running. and running. and running. the group had already left by the time i got to the 'bag watch' but a few people were still getting ready. i just kept running. only the group had taken a different route which included huge, i mean huge (ok not that huge) hills. later, my trusty mentor V pointed out that we were supposed to stop every ten minutes and do squats. oops. it was cold. i was sore. and i just wanted to crawl back into bed which i did the second i got home. i hope next week is a bike ride, not a run. i want to go for a ride! today i told L i'd go for a ride with her. i also mentioned to S that i'd go for a run. i really just wanted to go to a pilates class but ended up at the gym doing the stairmaster instead. oh the many options! i haven't really been on a stairmaster since college when it was the exercise du jour for girls trying to starve off the freshman fifteen. so back on the stairmaster i went and i actually enjoyed it. overall i don't feel like i did that great of a workout this weekend. i didn't push myself as much as i should have... but i'm trying to not overdo this whole attempt to be a triathlete thing.

A Runner's High

The NY Times has a great article about the high a runner and other athletes experience. This is how I felt last week at the run. Just found out the cold weather is preventing us from biking tomorrow morning- will be a run instead. I'm actually looking forward to it. Funny.

Swimming, Swimming, In a Swimming Pool

Ok, clearly I'm the only one who knows that song. But I sing it everyday on the way to the pool- my co-workers love it.. ha! Last night's swim was great. Hard but great. I'm starting to get the hang of this new swim. At the end of the night we had to do a partner exercise. The first part was fun, I got to just hang onto some guys feet as he dragged me across the pool. The second part, my turn, not so much! I had to drag him back. My arms were working so hard but having him hang onto my ankles made the whole thing a little difficult. We both just laughed - I was like a turtle moving through the water- and I don't mean sea turtle!

More Shoes

In a few weeks I want to switch to bike shoes and clipless pedals. Andrew at NYC Velo said to come back after 80-100 miles - once I'm more comfortable on the bike. I've started looking around to see what I can find. I think I want to get Sidi shoes. They make a cool women's tri shoe. L has a similar one that she brought in and showed me today. I like the colors, I know, I know that can't be the only reason I buy something- but it is important - sort of! I think getting a tri specific shoe might be better than just a road shoe- but other than the fact that the shoe dries quickly and can be worn without socks, I'm not sure what other differences there are. Then once I get the shoe I have to pick a pedal. They showed me so many at the store, I couldn't decide. Maybe I'll ge the egg beaters or the lollipops? There are so many decisions to be made with this whole thing - it's actually kind of fun.

Silver Slipper

A shoe that fits makes all the difference- lesson learned! Tonight was my best run so far. The new Asics Kayano shoes made my foot pain go away. Somewhere around mile 3 I realized that it wasn't bothering me! Phew.

Babe and Some Air

S and S met me for a ride around the Southern tip of this island we call home. It was a fun, easy ride - perfect for practicing shifting and getting in the right gears. S and I commented on the last ride we took together in 1996. It was on our day off from camp. We snagged some bikes from the Shack and headed to downtown Bemidgji to hang out with Babe. We had a picnic on the side of the high way on our way back. We then got in trouble for taking the bikes in the first place. Regardless, it was a wonderful day and we both remember our little adventure away from camp and our crazy campers. So now here we are both living in NYC and riding together, again. We dodged in and out of tourists down by the South Ferry- a little annoying but the views were great. Once we made it around to the East side I headed off the path and back to NYC Velo where I picked up some stuff I had left behind and had my bike tuned up. Turns out my tires needed air-and some thing had moved around. I realize now i'm going to have to pay attention to these mechanics so I can work on my bike on my own as needed. This is a big commitment - but so very worth it. I love that I have so many friends in this city who want to train with me. Friday after work M and I headed to Chelsea Piers to swim. As an olympic trial swimmer, she had a thing or two to teach me. I was just in awe watching her swim laps. She totally put my strokes to shame. Of course her advice was much appreciated - anything I can do or learn to be better at these sports is fine by me! So now the weekend is almost over and I'm just trying to buckle down and actually get my work finished. I wish I could devote more time to all this training- but I guess this is going to keep me balanced- finding the balance will keep me sane, right?

The Rabbit and the Shoes

Everyone on the team raves about Jack Rabbit. I know I'm supposed to love this store. Its the place to get just about everything for the race. Only every time I go, I have a bad experience. I'm just not into the place. I really want to like it. I want to like the cute athletic boys who work there. I want to like their merchandise. I want to like their relationship with TNT. But its just not all it is cracked up to be. The first time I went was before training to get a new swimsuit. The person who helped me knew nothing about swim gear. I mean nothing. S was with me and we just laughed at the constant "i don't know" in reply to every question I asked. The second time I went was for a new pair of running shoes. I went on a Friday after work- thinking it wouldnt be crowded and I'd get plenty of help. I told the guy helping me I needed stable shoes and I brought the ones I had from half marathon with me. He put a pair on me, had me get on a treadmill and a camera at the back of the machine recorded me running. Nope, you don't need stability shoes he said. But. But. I do. I know I do. No, you really don't he said. He brought a new pair to me. I debated and then he told me he had plans and needed to leave. I was being ditched by the sales guy. I asked if someone else would help and he was reluctant. The new guy wasn't much better because he thought I was fine with the neutral stability shoes. I was annoyed and just bought them and left. Only my foot kept hurting when I ran. Then this week at the doctor i found out that I have a tight calf which leads to tight tendons which is causing my foot pain. Who knew? Stable shoes are the cure the doc said. That and physical therapy. Yes, like I can actually fit that into my schedule. So long story short, I went back to Jack Rabbit yesterday to return the shoes and get the pair I originally wanted... only this time they were out. 2 weeks to order! Seriously I just have bad luck with that store. So I headed to Paragon and just got them there where they were on sale. In the end it all worked out. I'm not sure how often I'll frequent the Rabbit.

Training Wheels

The coaches sent out an email last night saying we would be biking this morning as long as the temp was 35 degrees or higher. When I woke up it was 34. 34. That's less than 35 but not enough to matter, right? - what's 1 degree? I called M and she planned on running with the group- too cold for biking she said. I didn't care. I've been wanting to take the Contessa for a ride all week. So I bundled up in my new and old gear and headed out to meet the group. I didn't have enough time to ride to the practice so I stupidly took the subway. Though there were only a few people riding up town, I still managed to hit an old man with my back wheel. He was grumpy and muttered something at me. There were just as many bikers as runners at practice, so I was happy I was ready for the ride. The group left 72nd and Riverside and headed over to the park. We did two small loops and one big loop. The day was planned as a bike clinic but I'm not quite sure what that means. There were a ton of riders zipping around in the park. No matter how fast I moved my legs, I felt like I wasn't going fast enough. For my first time out, I think i did ok, i think! I still need to figure out my gears and when to shift. This is all so new to me. Long way from my mountain bike days. I'm getting used to keeping my back in the right position and my elbows in. There's so much to learn, baby steps. Right? My toes started to freeze. My new long fingered gloves couldn't keep my fingers from turning numb. I was ready to head home after biking and biking and biking. So i left the park and headed down 8th Ave. Only I started to question riding with the traffic and rode toward the Path on the West Side instead. Only I hit all this construction and couldn't cross and should i be worried of potholes on a road bike? I started to get nervous. I made my way onto the path- the wind blowing in every direction, my digits even more frozen. 42nd street. 34th street. My office. Chelsea. Finally - Home. My body was exhausted. The wind, the cold. What was I thinking? I brought my bike upstairs and collapsed on the couch and fell fast asleep. I know I'm going to like this. I've always biked and gone swimming and jogged. I can do these things. So the positioning, the form, the techniques are new, but I can do this. I can. I hope? I can. My body has thawed. Finally.

tuesday blues

i skipped the Group Training Session (GTS) tonight and instead headed over to Chelsea Piers for a work out after work. It's hard to make the GTS at 6:30, especially on days when I'm in meetings well past 6. Also, my right foot has been bothering me lately and I wanted to take it easy until my doctor's appointment tomorrow morning. I'm hoping its nothing more than a strained ankle-- though the sharp shooting pain is telling me it might be something else. My bike is still sitting pretty - I'm anxious for the group ride this weekend. They are going over everything about riding. We are lucky to be able to train on the actual race course. Some of the hills and turns I've seen freak me out- but so does the Hudson every time I look at it. I see dead people....I just don't want to swim with them! While I really am enjoying the training, I'm having a hard time finding the right balance. Once my thesis is finished I'll have a little less on my plate, I hope.

Ride Baby Ride

my new bike, the lovely Contessa and Ish, the helpful and once dread-headed bike guy.

The Contessa, Finally!

The Contessa is mine! I'm so excited about my new purchase. I still can't believe i actually went through with it. The guys at NYC Velo were awesome. Or as the helpful Ish said, Awesomer. They helped me with everything and didn't try to talk me into things I didn't need. I hadn't thought about how much stuff you have to buy to just go for a ride. I held off on the shoes and the clipless pedals. Andrew, the owner, explained that its best to get used to the bike, the position of my body, shifting gears, the breaks and everything else before i throw the shoes and pedals into the mix. so andrew fit me for the bike with just my sneakers and i rode home. i must have been at the store for a few hours trying everything on and deciding what to get what i can wait on and what i just don't really need. another customer there did the Tri last year with TNT. He's done two since. it was fun to talk to him and get his opinion on everything. i'm so glad R introduced me to this store. at some of the shops i went to, i felt like the guys wouldn't take me seriously because i'm such a cycling virgin and really don't know what i'm talking about. Andrew and Ish were so patient with me. and now i love MY contessa. its small (49 cm) and pretty but not too girlie. i'm still trying to figure out the best place to keep it in my apartment. i wish i could ride it to work, right up the path on the Westside. But i would never lock it up in the garage and i don't think M would ever let us bring bikes into our pristine offices. so i'll ride her on the weekends and maybe even before work if i can get myself out of bed.

the bike

my future bike... what do you think?

a new swim

my mom started me young on the swim team. i wanted to race like my brothers. i was never a fan of freestyle but i loved the butterfly. we all swam for years. but summer spent at sleep-away camp eventually took us away from the swim team. its been a long time since i really swam. last night after the first two laps i thought i was going to collapse. then the more our coach explained this new style of swimming, the mroe it all started to click. the barely there kick, the relaxed style, the finger trip drag -- i get it. i like it. my stroke has already improved. its different swimming with over one hundred people at a time. they have us going up in even lanes and down in odd. that means you are constantly running into people to get you used to the feeling we'll experience on race day. i've been kicked and clawed but it all comes with the territory. after an hour i wanted to keep going- the last thing i wanted to do was take the subway all the way back town.

tuesday in the Park

after the 3 mile run tonight i felt like i could keep going. i've never actually liked running. even when i trained for the vancouver marathon a few years ago, i wasn't really a runner. but now i seem to actually be enjoying it. doing the run with hundreds of others is helping. there's always someone to talk to during the run. i want to work on my speed but right now i need to just get my cardio strength up. i'm starting to get into all of this. maybe i really can be a triathlete?? i still keep thinking about my bike. i'm starting to associate having the bike with having more freedom. i'm not sure how often i'll actually head out of the city on my own once i start to ride but the idea of leaving town and going anywhere is exciting. i'm realizing how many friends i have who ride and who want to ride with me. i have a feeling that i'm going to be hooked on that part of it. i just spent way too long on the REI website looking at gear to order only to decide that i'd wait until after i buy the bike and shoes and figure out what else i need. this whole thing is quite an investment. but after my dad's heart attack i realize how important it is to invest in my health now. want to go for a ride anyone??

bikes bikes and more bikes

they said bike shopping could be overwhelming. i wish someone would just say here, buy this one. if only it could be that easy. i read about the Specialized Dolce and figured that would be a good starter bike for me. i want a road bike that i can really spend time on but i have no interest in spending a lot of money. the dolce seemed to be the answer. i called and put one on hold at Habitat. R met me there and we checked out the bike. he talked me out of it right away. it has two sets of breaks and plastic parts. the guy at the store even admitted that it was a crappy bike but would be fine for the tri. but i really couldn't justify spending $800 on something that was considered crap. i checked out some of the Lemond bikes but they didn't have anything in stock that was my size. so we left and headed up to NY Velo. I was so glad he was with me because i really didn't know what i was doing and i blame him for getting me into this sport anyway. at velo i tested two bikes. a kona Lisa and a Scott Contessa Speedster. The kona was a 2006 and hard to ride and shift gears. the Contessa was smooth. i loved it. its on hold and i'm going back next week to buy. i hope i'm making the right decision. some people buy bikes around 450 and i know i could but i don't want to hate the bike or outgrow it right away. R wanted me to get a bike with good parts and a decent frame. he just didnt want me to spend the money on junk. he was able to help me negotiate a good price and i think i'll be really happy with the bike. i'm nervous about the clipless pedals and all of the other necessary modifications. S is coming back to the shop with me saturday to pick it up. i know i'm lucky to have people in my life who know much more about this than i do. even all of the articles i've been reading about bikes are confusing. they all say something different. and the guys at the shop contradict everything i read. i still dont understand why women specific design bikes tend to come with flowers and rainbows and other ridiculous girlie designs. i had a pink bike when i was ten. the saddle was a banana seat.

Train to Train

My writing suddenly stopped when I got a call that my Dad had a car accident caused by a heart attack. I spent the next week at the hospital with my family while he went through heart failure again and surgery. It was a long, hard, emotional week but my dad made it and is now back home starting to recover. I'm back in NY starting to train. To take my mind off things I have thrown myself into training. Knowing heart disease runs in our family, i'm realizing that getting myself into shape now is smart. I had heard that we were to train 6 days a week and rest one. Only after that first week I read the advice from the coaches a little closer and realized that they said to train to train. Meaning start with 4 days until you build up to 6. Oops. No wonder why I was so exhausted that first week. Running in the Park with the team was great. I loved seeing the entire group stretch afterwards. 350 people doing the plank in a circle is quite a sight. Swimming Wednesday night was quite an adventure. I attended the intermediate session. It was harder than I had planned for but I know I worked harder with the group than I would on my own. I'm starting to get into the swing of things and I'm looking forward to the run tomorrow night. I still don't know how I'm going to do this. 19 Weeks to go.