Sleep. Eat. Sleep. Sleep. Run. Eat.

My eyes keep shutting. I'm trying to stay awake but I'm exhausted. My body aches. My legs feel weak. My toe is black and blue. The smell of chlorine won't go away. Oh the tri-life. Tomorrow is a solo brick but I'm taking the day off. I have a hard time with Gym Thursdays for some reason. I like having plans after work on Thursdays and after tonight's swim, getting to the gym before work is unlikely. I need to sleep! This week, two months into training, my body is starting to feel the change, the burn, the tri-life. I'm eating more than I ever have and I'm sleeping more. Or at least, I'd like to be sleeping more. The eating doesn't bother me-- never been a big eater and it's kind of fun to keep my stomach more full than usual. The fruits left out for us in the pantry at work make me happy- but so does the chocolate and the sweets and the cookies- oh how fun it is to work at MSO! I'm letting myself eat more- just trying to eat healthy when I do. Last night was a 5 mile run in the park. It felt good but the hills, oh the hills. Up and down. Up and down. Back and forth- the coaches are mean, just standing there watching us as we run. They shout that they don't want to see a look of pain on our face. What? No pain? No gain? They want us to keep our bodies relaxed, even when we climb the hills. A relaxed body equals a relaxed face equals no look of pain. Argh. I was in pain, but I was happy and I just kept going and going. Running is by far my weakest link. With three months to go until race day, I figure I have plenty of time to work on my speed which I hope will come as I build my endurance. You know, there is a reason I was goalie on the high school soccer team.

Feel the Burn!

D took me out West to Creve Coeur Lake for a ride this afternoon. I used to go to the batting cages out there as a kid. It is wide open with great trails to bike and a ton of hills. We started easy and I clipped in without a problem. I followed him all around and he gave me great pointers along the way. I was pointing my toe as I pedaled- its better to keep your toe up and push through with your heel- what a difference! At one point we went down this crazy zig-zag of a hill and when I got to the bottom I realized we were going right back up. D explained what gears to be in for hills, what kind of position to put my elbows and back in and how to keep on keep on pedaling! It was a great ride- at one point I stopped and stretched while he went out and back on some crazy hill. I was a little timid at times as we road down a narrow path surrounded by lakes. It reminded me of that time I went to visit T in MN and we biked all around the lakes- only that was pure recreation and my feet weren't connected to the bike. The thought of falling into a lake with my bike went through my mind a couple of times. But then we took the bridge to St. Charles and the thought of falling onto cliff took over. Regardless, I was fine and learned a lot. D was the perfect coach. Tomorrow is a swim and then Friday I'll attempt a Brick. Saturday we are going riding again. Seriously, I love this!

Look Ma No Shoes

Well, sorta. I switched out my normal pedals and put on the SPD pedals. Dad came outside to help and offer advice. He has coached me in every sport I have ever done - from figure skating to soccer so it only made sense for him to be there while I fumbled with the pedals. It didn't take long to make the switch. I was slightly proud of my grease covered self for figuring it out on my own. I slipped on the tri bike shoes and attempted to clip my feet into the pedals. One foot and then the other. One foot. One foot. It was hard and I was scared I was going to fall. Dad tried to hold the bike while I got my balance and practiced. Finally I just took off down the driveway, stopping every so often in the grass. Eventually it all just clicked and away I rode around the block! Dad went back inside to rest- a man recovering from a heart attack should certainly not be outside in this heat but it made me happy to have his help and advice! Now I'm ready for my ride tomorrow with D! Bring on the hills!!

Show Me the way Home

My week of visiting my parents, celebrating passover and training started with a 4 mile run around the neighborhood. It felt great and was I glad I ran down Ladue last instead of starting out with the hills. Yesterday we all went for a 3 mile walk and then I picked up my rental for the week- a Cannondale R800. I figured the ride home from Little Shark in the Loop would be no big deal- just 8 miles. Oh, I was in for a treat. Riding in the Lou is quite different from riding in Central Park or on the serene Path. I don't think the cars on Delmar expected to see me. Neither did the cars on Olive Blvd. All the times I did that drive to the Loop in high school to work at the photo studio, I never thought much about the hills on Delmar. Oh, but that street has hills- and they were brutal! What was I thinking? I huffed and puffed and made it home- all while keeping my cool and even good form! The guy at the shop gave me a pair of SPD pedals to put on the bike. The fabulous and very pregnant S gave me her cool Sidi T-1 tri shoes. I'm so excited to try them out- but I just wasn't ready to do it on my ride home. So i'll switch them out tomorrow or before my big ride with D on wednesday. Tomorrow is a 5 mile run and maybe a short ride. I hope to make it to the pool on Thursday so I can practice the 2-beat kick. Taking time to really train this week is fun and relaxing. Now, I just hope D doesn't take me on a brutal course that will make my legs burn even more!

Sweet Tea and The Farm

Well, this week was anything but training. Monday I headed down to North Carolina to scout locations for a photo shoot and to attend a talk that B gave at the furniture showrooms. The hotel we stayed in had a pool and I had every intention of going for a swim. But the days were long - started early and went late, too late. So swimming never actually happened. Flew back Wednesday- had the afternoon in the office then headed to the farm Thursday to prep for Friday's shoot. I put my gym bag in my second rental car of the week thinking I'd have time to stop at the gym on my way home. But we didn't make it back into the city until 10 and then I headed back out to the farm at 6 the following morning. How I actually got up to go for the GTS Bike Saturday morning is beyond me. I just did a few loops in the Park and then biked home. Had a nice talk with Coach who commented on how beautiful The Contessa is. Yes, she is a beauty but she got dirty and I cleaned her off tonight. I feel guilty about not training the way I need to. Today I had every intention of going for a run but I just couldn't move. S laughed at the way I just stayed on the couch. I couldn't get up. Pathetic. But B wears me out. The preparation that went into this week was intense and everything turned out as planned- the shots we got are fantastic- but you know when you work so hard to make something happen and then its over you just feel relieved and pooped and proud all at the same time? Yea, that's how I feel. So here's to a less stressed week of work and to more training - well at least more than last.

RIPPED!!!

I woke up right on time yesterday to head uptown for our GTS. Only after I got dressed I stupidly looked out the window and thought better of heading out into the dreary morning. I quickly got back into bed. M's text saying she was skipping the run didn't help! An hour later I ran out of the apt and to Chelsea Piers for a fabulous class called Ripped. Yes, Ripped. Scary, right? fabluloly flamboyant man instructed the group through an hour of weights, stretches, and steps. It was hard. My body still aches. The instructor kept the class light and fun by referring to things your Uncle does to you in your bedroom at night. Um, I so don't fit in at Chelsea Piers! He sang loudly to Cher and Mandonna and had me laughing so hard I forgot how much weight I was lifting over and over again. It was fun and I think I'll add the class to my Sat. morning routine post GTS. Yes, I'll go to future morning runs. Just not this weekend. Today I took the Contessa out for a ride. Only it was so windy and gross out I thought I was going to be pushed into the Hudson. I always get scared going past the helipad on the West side-- especially when I'm on skates. It wasn't as bad on the bike- but it was a hard ride in this windy weather. The one good is that that there weren't too many people out on the path. I felt like I had it to myself. I can't wait for the warmer weather- but I know it will mean more people- everywhere. It was a good weekend. Now I'm about to throw my swimsuit into my suitcase as I pack for a trip. Is it sad that I'm excited about my business trip because the hotel has a pool, not because of where I'm going or what I'll be doing? Oh, how the Tri Life is taking over....

Balancing Act

As much as I love my training, it is sometimes hard to put everything else aside for the time being. I need a balance in my life. I'm not sure that throwing myself into the triathlon is the right answer and I don't want to stop doing other things that are important to me because of the training. When I lived in DC I was much more active in the community than I am here. I also had much more time on my hands. I miss being involved with things outside of the office- this is the price you pay, I guess for having a job that is all-consuming. So tonight instead of going to swim practice I headed to the Waldorf Astoria to volunteer for the InMotion Photography Auction. InMotion is a fabulous organization that provides "justice for all women." If I had gone to law school as planned, I'd want to do pro-bono for this group. But alas I work in photography - not law, so I volunteer with admiration for the lawyers who are able to help. Incredible photography was auctioned off- I hope to see the Erwitt hanging in someone's apartment pretty soon-- hint, hint.

My body needed a rest- I have a sharp shooting pain on the side of my right knee. I don't doubt it will go away- but a night off was ok- I just hope I didn't miss anything major at swimming - like a new way to kick. It's such a hike to get to the pool and back- but I look forward to it every week.

Some new gear I ordered from REI arrived today. Love the blue bike shorts but I'm totally intimidated by my bike pump- as if I've never pumped a tire before- but it seems scary now!

Good Morning Vietnam

The sun was shining. Birds were chirping. The CNN sign said the temp was 67 degrees. And Robin Williams smiled at me in Central Park. Ok, so maybe he wasn't smiling at me directly but more laughing at a joke that only he could hear- but his smile made me happy and so did tonight's run. It was just under 4 miles along the West side of the park. I actually enjoyed it. There was a specific point during the run when i forgot that i was running- i was just talking to a coach and he was giving me advice and i was running and talking and wasn't out of breath and it just worked. Amazing, really. We'll see if I say that again this weekend after my hour run. I kept thinking about that line in Legally Blonde when Elle says that exercise gives you endorphins. And endorphins make you happy. And happy people just dont kill. So true Elle. So true.