Friday, January 18, 2008
sexy sexy computrainer of joy.
Hey everyone. so its been a while. i know i know. last you heard i was pooped. then i crawled out of it. but now im pooped again. i know its because of these heavy loads on tuesday thursday and saturdays...i need to get more sleep and im not taking care of myself in that way. i started dating...HA...weird i know. they say that once you start that dating thing--your training goes down the tubes. i am very weary of this...and i haven't let it get in the way--but it is amazing how good you feel when you go out and have a few crazy nights on the town and not think about training. At least....that is what others say. I wouldn't really know... i seem to just never not think about training. even when i am in the heat of training--i am thinking about it or what the next session will be...or what im going to eat next so that i am sure to recover right so that i am good to go for the next big workout. Therefore...i am quite sure that this "dating thing" wont last very long. To a "non-triathlete" i would imagine i am boring as hell. HA. well sorta. i can pretend that i have other interests...but that wont last long. i guess i am just too in love...and its not with a man. So the reality is....is that dating is probably the reason that i am pooped. managing training long hours...work (when i go...haha)...life stuff (clean apt, laundry, groceries...you get my drift)...the last remaining minutes need to be spent sleeping and blogging (ha) and not cuddling up with some dude. (even though i think he is just great.) Geez...i hope he doesn't read this....although I know he would understand. either way--i wouldn't trade Tri for the world. it is something i choose to do. my choice. some say that Tri shouldn't identify you...it doesn't...i identify with it. living out my dream everyday....dreams dont happen when you sleep--remember??!!! Time is so very precious. Remember that statement..I will come back to it in a future blog. Training is going just amazing. Cadence is so PIMP. like for real--i may be the luckiest chic on the planet. I LOVE THE COMPUTRAINER. did i just say that? yes. i did. and I MEAN IT. i LOVE THE COMPUTRAINER> i may have just yelled that out my window for all to hear. Yes...there is totally something wrong with me. In fact, I remember when I got my first trainer. I got in the saddle and rode for like 5 hours. literally. My friend kept calling me and leaving joking messages on my voicemail..."you are probably still on your trainer....." the funny thing was that I was. I was alone in my NYC apt on my bike trainer at like midnight....fogged up windows....getting tickled pink over the sound of the rubber on the flywheel. i will never ever ever forget it. it was the greatest thing i have ever bought. I remember telling some of my tri friends that i got my first trainer...and how totally stoked i was...they were like "elizabeth....what the hell is wrong with you?" they haaaated the trainer. personally, I think its pretty hot. when was the last time you met a hot chic that drools over her bike trainer? HA. yes, i am pretty hot. HA! Back to the greatest trainer of all time...the computrainer!! I dont know why i love it so. is it that you can constantly monitor and push yourself? all your stats right there in front of you. setting wattage at different levels and forcing yourself so stay at that output. it is so damn hot. i LOVE the classes at cadence. i love being in a room with a bunch of sweaty men...and i am putting out more wattage than most of them. HAHA. its friggin hot. and i love sweat. i dont even like to turn on the fans cuz i love to just sweat all over the place. wow--i am gross. sorry to be so graphic but i know that some of you get what i mean. when i sweat... i feel like i am really alive. i love the feelings that you get when you go through the workout...sometimes you struggle but you keep cranking and you get through it...and sometimes the highest wattage feels so easy. UGH. i want to get back on the saddle right now. Yes i am sick. i must be. But that is the difference between me and most. I dont need motivation. ever. i just need someone to tell me what to do and i'll be damned if i dont do it. thats when you know about real confidence in yourself. when you can be told to do anything and you just go execute. when you just have no doubt. no doubt. that is what makes you win. lack of doubt. pursuit. All of these words are so connected.
Thursday, January 10, 2008
my finish chute.
I would rather have 3 minutes of wonderful than a whole lifetime of nothing special.
Supposed.
"supposed to". what you are "supposed to" do. interesting. very interesting. there is this large collection of "things" in this world....that we knowingly know we are "supposed to" do. whether we do or not is another story. Let me elaborate.
we are supposed to: pick up after ourselves. make our beds. clean our ears. floss. hold the door for people. say thank you. respect our elders. put our napkin on our lap. fart in bathrooms only. do you follow me? get what i mean about things we are "supposed to" do.
Now...with that established...every day we encounter this. we constantly have to make choices. most of the time you know the choice you are "supposed to" make. you know what you should do but you have this other little voice in the back of your head that offers another option...one that is probably easier...more convenient....contrary to what you are supposed to do.
I write about this because I was listening to a story told by a friend. He spoke about how one time he had to give CPR to a man on the street....a stranger. He followed it with "it was just what I was supposed to do."
That story really made me think. If only everyone in this world just did what they were supposed to do. Wouldn't we live in a better place?
Even the little things........like when you go to the grocery store--bring the cart back-don't leave it in the parking lot to blow into some body's car door. When you are at the store and you decide you don't want something--put it back where you found it...don't leave it in the dressing room or on a random rack. when you are walking into a building...look back to see if there is anyone else coming-hold the door so it doesn't slam into someones face. When you are driving in a car--Stop and wait for those in the crosswalk to cross....you are nice and warm in your car and they are out in the cold walking. Don't get mad at people--when you are actually mad at a situation--most of the time it isn't their fault that something went wrong.
Applying this concept to training....if you are supposed to do a 2hr ride. Do a 2hr ride. Don't cut it short because you get lazy. Don't let the other voice in your head cheat you. What goes around comes around....if you aren't going to do what you are supposed to do...don't complain when the outcome isn't what you would have liked.
These things all add up...each day....each episode of life. In 2008, pledge to be more conscious. more aware of the things you are "supposed to" do.
Furthermore...i think we as triathletes have a duty to our community. we are smart....triathletes aren't stupid people--for the most part. so act the part. represent. do what you are supposed to do when you are out in the community. it is contageous. people are always watching. noticing. even strangers that don't even know you are a triathlete. be an example. and even if someone else doesn't notice...you will notice. kill em with kindness and you will empower yourself as a person...you will BE better by DOING better. By doing what you are supposed to do. make momma proud. :)
we are supposed to: pick up after ourselves. make our beds. clean our ears. floss. hold the door for people. say thank you. respect our elders. put our napkin on our lap. fart in bathrooms only. do you follow me? get what i mean about things we are "supposed to" do.
Now...with that established...every day we encounter this. we constantly have to make choices. most of the time you know the choice you are "supposed to" make. you know what you should do but you have this other little voice in the back of your head that offers another option...one that is probably easier...more convenient....contrary to what you are supposed to do.
I write about this because I was listening to a story told by a friend. He spoke about how one time he had to give CPR to a man on the street....a stranger. He followed it with "it was just what I was supposed to do."
That story really made me think. If only everyone in this world just did what they were supposed to do. Wouldn't we live in a better place?
Even the little things........like when you go to the grocery store--bring the cart back-don't leave it in the parking lot to blow into some body's car door. When you are at the store and you decide you don't want something--put it back where you found it...don't leave it in the dressing room or on a random rack. when you are walking into a building...look back to see if there is anyone else coming-hold the door so it doesn't slam into someones face. When you are driving in a car--Stop and wait for those in the crosswalk to cross....you are nice and warm in your car and they are out in the cold walking. Don't get mad at people--when you are actually mad at a situation--most of the time it isn't their fault that something went wrong.
Applying this concept to training....if you are supposed to do a 2hr ride. Do a 2hr ride. Don't cut it short because you get lazy. Don't let the other voice in your head cheat you. What goes around comes around....if you aren't going to do what you are supposed to do...don't complain when the outcome isn't what you would have liked.
These things all add up...each day....each episode of life. In 2008, pledge to be more conscious. more aware of the things you are "supposed to" do.
Furthermore...i think we as triathletes have a duty to our community. we are smart....triathletes aren't stupid people--for the most part. so act the part. represent. do what you are supposed to do when you are out in the community. it is contageous. people are always watching. noticing. even strangers that don't even know you are a triathlete. be an example. and even if someone else doesn't notice...you will notice. kill em with kindness and you will empower yourself as a person...you will BE better by DOING better. By doing what you are supposed to do. make momma proud. :)
pooooped
so my sincerest apologies for going a little MIA this week. I am tired. like really really pooooped. I am kinda under the weather--sore throat and a bit stuffy--I attribute it to the weather-its been 15 degrees to 68 degrees in the past week. freaky. also-ive gone from training mostly in the evening to training hard in the AM and its been quite the adjustment. Cadence is kicking my butt...in a good way. i have never felt so strong and focused-its just awesome. the morning cycling classes are soooo great. I feel like i haven't even tapped my cycling potential--which is scary. i'm going to tear up the roads this season. period.
So as i am writing this, i've got two cups of coffee in front of me. hoping they will do something for my zombied state. i am a zombie...and i like it. ive earned it. I did 5 hrs saturday, 2 hours sunday, 3 hrs monday, 4 hours tuesday, 1 hour wed, and 3 hours today. all of focused work. focused work is so different from mindless work....i always trained with minimal focus-compared to what im doing now. and DRUMROLL PLEASE>>>>ARE YOU READY FOR THIS>>>>DRUMROLLLLLLLL.............there is hope in the pool!!!!!! YES folks you read that correctly....my swim is COMING TOGETHER!!!! something clicked. my coach Dianna is an angel. I never thought i would get it...maybe i haven't...maybe i'm counting my chickens before they are hatched....(or is it counting my eggs??....) (no no chickens...haha) but i FEEEL good--i feel the water...at least much more then i did...i think--i'm not sure but i dont really care because i have never been this encouraged about the water before so im gonna just go with it. swimming in the endless pool is whats doing it...being able to watch myself in the mirrors makes a HUGE difference...you can see what they are talking about. still tough to correct it--but HELPS for sure!
A few things that have helped me:
1)you are like a pig on a roasting rod...(lol)...rotate all together-breathe with your belly button
2)you are faster when you are long and lean like a torpedo--so time your stroke so that you're in the position with your arm pointed down toward the pool...never or as little as possible--
3) you actually have to pull the water...try the doggy paddle without bringing your arms out of the water...this will help you get a sense for pulling--you will sink if you dont pull
4) use your kick to rotate your body--you are faster on your side-stretched out--then when you are flat with your belly pointed down.
does this make sense??? you have to play around in the water--try different things....i by no means have "gotten" it yet but i feel like these few points have helped.
So as i am writing this, i've got two cups of coffee in front of me. hoping they will do something for my zombied state. i am a zombie...and i like it. ive earned it. I did 5 hrs saturday, 2 hours sunday, 3 hrs monday, 4 hours tuesday, 1 hour wed, and 3 hours today. all of focused work. focused work is so different from mindless work....i always trained with minimal focus-compared to what im doing now. and DRUMROLL PLEASE>>>>ARE YOU READY FOR THIS>>>>DRUMROLLLLLLLL.............there is hope in the pool!!!!!! YES folks you read that correctly....my swim is COMING TOGETHER!!!! something clicked. my coach Dianna is an angel. I never thought i would get it...maybe i haven't...maybe i'm counting my chickens before they are hatched....(or is it counting my eggs??....) (no no chickens...haha) but i FEEEL good--i feel the water...at least much more then i did...i think--i'm not sure but i dont really care because i have never been this encouraged about the water before so im gonna just go with it. swimming in the endless pool is whats doing it...being able to watch myself in the mirrors makes a HUGE difference...you can see what they are talking about. still tough to correct it--but HELPS for sure!
A few things that have helped me:
1)you are like a pig on a roasting rod...(lol)...rotate all together-breathe with your belly button
2)you are faster when you are long and lean like a torpedo--so time your stroke so that you're in the position with your arm pointed down toward the pool...never or as little as possible--
3) you actually have to pull the water...try the doggy paddle without bringing your arms out of the water...this will help you get a sense for pulling--you will sink if you dont pull
4) use your kick to rotate your body--you are faster on your side-stretched out--then when you are flat with your belly pointed down.
does this make sense??? you have to play around in the water--try different things....i by no means have "gotten" it yet but i feel like these few points have helped.
Sunday, January 6, 2008
forward.
Weekend coming to an end....bummmmer. it was a good un....a sore un. I did my first core/strength workout on Friday...first in a LONG LONG time...and holy moly molly--my body is singin!!! i haven't felt this sore following a workout since my first timed mile around the central park reservoir!! i feel like an old lady! my whole frame hurts. ah well--its a good hurt i guess. did my long run today--local...outside. It made me realize why i run inside whenever I can't get out of town to do my run. although i felt great...the scenery is better in a jail cell. It truly is the worst area ever to run in...i wont even go into details--wouldn't want to rehash. friggin makes me want to live in Colorado....hell, even Ohio would be better...well--maybe that's an aggressive thought. :)
oddly enough...i would have typically rammed my headphones into my ears and tried to zone out to some relaxing music...this time oh no. i actually put my headphones away and listened to the clutter around me. in a realllly weird way--it felt great that i would propel myself to the same place that all the lunatic cars around me would so effortlessly make it to. we were all headed in the same direction....we would all pass the same strip mall, restaurant, gas station....they probably wouldn't even notice the disgruntled sidewalk.....the random tree that lost its leaves from the cold....the random sign that was knocked over and laying in the parking lot---advertising discounted rates for new customers....the series of blue flags swinging off the swanky new building--"now leasing"...the random piece of rope on the ground that perfectly laid like a snakeskin....the old blue rubber glove chilling in the intersection....the majestic chandelier in the window of the lighting store.....the rank stench of greasy fake burgers billowing from the roof of McDonald's....the hundreds of faces behind each wheel--most appearing as shadows--but every once in a while I'd get the light to hit the windshield just right so that i could see a pair of eyes....unaware that i was searching for them.
no no...all the cars would blow by all this....perhaps it would have been nicer to sit in a plush seat with the heat on...listening to perhaps the sweet sound of Beethoven...or the erratic beat of the chemical brothers....but I'm okay absorbing the surroundings instead. i felt sickly alive. alert. aware. and i appreciate the finer things that much more. even though the path was aged and sometimes gross...the journey was quite simply-appropriate.
heard a great quote this weekend..."I'd rather have 3 seconds of wonderful than a whole life of nothing special".
have a good run workout for you...was talking about this today with a friend of mine and he tried it out and really liked it! I talk about how important cadence is in cycling...the same is true for running. The ideal is a large stride with a super fast cadence. but how do you do that?? you have to train your body to turn your legs over supppa fast. In time you will naturally increase the length of your stride but you have to train yourself cadence first. Big long slow galloping strides is pretty inefficient. Try this:
I call them 20/40's. (i was taught this by someone else so i dont take credit)
Start your watch and start running for 20 seconds..then go for 40 seconds counting your right or left leg's foot falls. Initially try to get your one foot to strike the ground 60x in the 40 seconds. Each 20/40 is equal to 1 minute so it will be ez to keep track. Repeat this over and over 25 times...or 25 minutes. then take a 10 minute break and repeat. It will bring you to 1hr. be sure to cool down following for at least 10 minutes EZ jogging. You may have to play around for the first few to see where you are in the 40 seconds....if you are way above 60--you could increase your goal to 70. If you are way under...it will teach you to increase the cadence....LOTS of baby steps to make sure you hit the ground 60x.
This is a GREAT workout....really helped me improve my run on the long haul.
also another tip...when you run...think about moving forward. literally--everything should be moving in the forward direction...after all you dont want to run to the side right?? relax your shoulders and your arms should move forward with your stride. your toes forward. your head forward...use your core to help plummet you straight ahead. it may even help to point your fingers in front of you--point forward. may help prevent you from swinging your arms in some sort of "stir the soup" dance.
what else...what else...football season is always fun...damn those patriots are good. damn...Tommy B is a hottie.
tomorrow i have a swim analysis at cadence...I'm totally stoked to find out how much i suck.
I got in touch with my local "tri club"....set up a buffalo wing social on Tuesday eve. i am excited to meet these cats. id be interested to see if they have any good run routes that dont resemble running on a blown up sidewalk... covered in dirty needles......inside the Lincoln tunnel....during rush hour....when only mac trucks are allowed to drive through and blow their black steam all over your face.
tomorrow i also have to go back to real work...like what i do to actually afford this tri gig. the thought of it kinda makes me want to yuke. big business make me want to yuke.
anyone want to pay me well and hire me to be their "personal inspirer"? i could live in your garage and bang on your bedroom door each morning and rip you out of the sack and saddle you up in running shoes and force you to notice all of the fun things in life. i dont come cheap....but it would be the best money you've ever spent. :)
my pillow is calling. good night world....i will sleep looking forward.
oddly enough...i would have typically rammed my headphones into my ears and tried to zone out to some relaxing music...this time oh no. i actually put my headphones away and listened to the clutter around me. in a realllly weird way--it felt great that i would propel myself to the same place that all the lunatic cars around me would so effortlessly make it to. we were all headed in the same direction....we would all pass the same strip mall, restaurant, gas station....they probably wouldn't even notice the disgruntled sidewalk.....the random tree that lost its leaves from the cold....the random sign that was knocked over and laying in the parking lot---advertising discounted rates for new customers....the series of blue flags swinging off the swanky new building--"now leasing"...the random piece of rope on the ground that perfectly laid like a snakeskin....the old blue rubber glove chilling in the intersection....the majestic chandelier in the window of the lighting store.....the rank stench of greasy fake burgers billowing from the roof of McDonald's....the hundreds of faces behind each wheel--most appearing as shadows--but every once in a while I'd get the light to hit the windshield just right so that i could see a pair of eyes....unaware that i was searching for them.
no no...all the cars would blow by all this....perhaps it would have been nicer to sit in a plush seat with the heat on...listening to perhaps the sweet sound of Beethoven...or the erratic beat of the chemical brothers....but I'm okay absorbing the surroundings instead. i felt sickly alive. alert. aware. and i appreciate the finer things that much more. even though the path was aged and sometimes gross...the journey was quite simply-appropriate.
heard a great quote this weekend..."I'd rather have 3 seconds of wonderful than a whole life of nothing special".
have a good run workout for you...was talking about this today with a friend of mine and he tried it out and really liked it! I talk about how important cadence is in cycling...the same is true for running. The ideal is a large stride with a super fast cadence. but how do you do that?? you have to train your body to turn your legs over supppa fast. In time you will naturally increase the length of your stride but you have to train yourself cadence first. Big long slow galloping strides is pretty inefficient. Try this:
I call them 20/40's. (i was taught this by someone else so i dont take credit)
Start your watch and start running for 20 seconds..then go for 40 seconds counting your right or left leg's foot falls. Initially try to get your one foot to strike the ground 60x in the 40 seconds. Each 20/40 is equal to 1 minute so it will be ez to keep track. Repeat this over and over 25 times...or 25 minutes. then take a 10 minute break and repeat. It will bring you to 1hr. be sure to cool down following for at least 10 minutes EZ jogging. You may have to play around for the first few to see where you are in the 40 seconds....if you are way above 60--you could increase your goal to 70. If you are way under...it will teach you to increase the cadence....LOTS of baby steps to make sure you hit the ground 60x.
This is a GREAT workout....really helped me improve my run on the long haul.
also another tip...when you run...think about moving forward. literally--everything should be moving in the forward direction...after all you dont want to run to the side right?? relax your shoulders and your arms should move forward with your stride. your toes forward. your head forward...use your core to help plummet you straight ahead. it may even help to point your fingers in front of you--point forward. may help prevent you from swinging your arms in some sort of "stir the soup" dance.
what else...what else...football season is always fun...damn those patriots are good. damn...Tommy B is a hottie.
tomorrow i have a swim analysis at cadence...I'm totally stoked to find out how much i suck.
I got in touch with my local "tri club"....set up a buffalo wing social on Tuesday eve. i am excited to meet these cats. id be interested to see if they have any good run routes that dont resemble running on a blown up sidewalk... covered in dirty needles......inside the Lincoln tunnel....during rush hour....when only mac trucks are allowed to drive through and blow their black steam all over your face.
tomorrow i also have to go back to real work...like what i do to actually afford this tri gig. the thought of it kinda makes me want to yuke. big business make me want to yuke.
anyone want to pay me well and hire me to be their "personal inspirer"? i could live in your garage and bang on your bedroom door each morning and rip you out of the sack and saddle you up in running shoes and force you to notice all of the fun things in life. i dont come cheap....but it would be the best money you've ever spent. :)
my pillow is calling. good night world....i will sleep looking forward.
Wednesday, January 2, 2008
Dive in.
just thought i would recap from a previous blog that I had posted. "Outside". Just a lil reminder.
"You have to believe. You have to believe that there is a chance and that there is hope....you have to believe big. I guess i keep using this word "believe". It spawns so many meanings. Few people in this crazy world do believe....in life. in love. in happiness. in themselves. in magic. it is easy to say that you can't. it is easy to say you're crazy. it is easy to be comfortable. magic happens when you go outside your box...outside that zone of comfort. outside. if you don't believe me...then i am afraid that you are one of "them". I hope that you follow my blogs and you are inspired to go outside."
Macca was interviewed by "simply stu"--a podcast. you need to go listen to it. its an hour long but great to listen to on the bike. its beautiful to listen to his passion. he just "gets" it. he talks about how one day he can point to the pic of him on the wall in the win of kona 07 and he can tell his kids..."you see that...you see that pic of your daddy when he won the ironman....it took him 20 years. he watched that race 20 years ago and saw the passion in those men that won it....he followed that dream for 20 years...in PURSUIT OF A DREAM. and he never gave up." the words "in pursuit of a dream" is SOOO fitting. PURSUIT. is such a perfect word. to pursue your dreams. literally chase them and never ever ever stop until they happen. to fight. to fight like hell. i say that 5 word phrase over and over in my head. my mantra. "in pursuit of a dream"
apparently after several jugs of champagne on new years eve i told my friend at the stroke of midnight...my "new years resolution". i don't quite remember doing this but from what he told me...i am certain that he didn't make it up. I told him that i was going to not only get to kona at the lake placid ironman this year....but i was going to win it....the whole damn race. i was going to win the Lake placid ironman in 2008. I was going to be the first female to finish. Big words. i am not quite sure how this is a resolution...but perhaps i was speaking of what my pursuit was for 2008.
I'm going to man up to that pursuit. I believe i can do it. Ballsy statement for now...but why not set the bar. The female pros will not be there this year. They rotate with IMCD. in 2006, molly zahr won it in 10:11. she was 27 years old (i think...27 or 28) Granted...that is fast. like smoking fast. But i believe i can do it. 8 min off my swim, 30 min off my bike, 30 min off my run, and a min or 2 in transition. That would do it. Sounds totally unattainable....but just stepping back and taking a look at my performance from when i raced lake placid to when i raced clearwater....i am CONFIDENT those numbers are attainable. I would just have to have the race of my life and pray that the conditions worked for me. If I don't win the damn race...that's okay. I believe that I can one day. Maybe not 2008....but I am going to pursue that dream and bet against all odds. Mark my words. I just hope it wont take 20 years...that's a long friggin time to dream....although i bet the flavors of Gatorade in 2028 will be super sonic!!!
what are you pursuing this year? if you haven't thought about it...think about it right now. don't let it go. DO IT damn it!!! go for it!!!!! honestly....what do you have to lose??we've already established that the only things important in life...is life itself. so if you aren't going to die in the pursuit...then why not? AND if you do die...at least you died pursuing your dream!! walk to the end of the board and jump in to life. make it exciting. don't be scared of your capabilities. don't be scared of the possibilities of reality. if your dream is to swim the English channel...buy a ticket and get your rear in the water and start training. if your dream is to fly a plane...go take a look at flight courses...if your dream is to see the great wall of china--book a ticket!! anything is attainable if you are aggressive and creative and you figure out a way. dreams don't happen when you sleep.
Dreams don't happen when you sleep.
"You have to believe. You have to believe that there is a chance and that there is hope....you have to believe big. I guess i keep using this word "believe". It spawns so many meanings. Few people in this crazy world do believe....in life. in love. in happiness. in themselves. in magic. it is easy to say that you can't. it is easy to say you're crazy. it is easy to be comfortable. magic happens when you go outside your box...outside that zone of comfort. outside. if you don't believe me...then i am afraid that you are one of "them". I hope that you follow my blogs and you are inspired to go outside."
Macca was interviewed by "simply stu"--a podcast. you need to go listen to it. its an hour long but great to listen to on the bike. its beautiful to listen to his passion. he just "gets" it. he talks about how one day he can point to the pic of him on the wall in the win of kona 07 and he can tell his kids..."you see that...you see that pic of your daddy when he won the ironman....it took him 20 years. he watched that race 20 years ago and saw the passion in those men that won it....he followed that dream for 20 years...in PURSUIT OF A DREAM. and he never gave up." the words "in pursuit of a dream" is SOOO fitting. PURSUIT. is such a perfect word. to pursue your dreams. literally chase them and never ever ever stop until they happen. to fight. to fight like hell. i say that 5 word phrase over and over in my head. my mantra. "in pursuit of a dream"
apparently after several jugs of champagne on new years eve i told my friend at the stroke of midnight...my "new years resolution". i don't quite remember doing this but from what he told me...i am certain that he didn't make it up. I told him that i was going to not only get to kona at the lake placid ironman this year....but i was going to win it....the whole damn race. i was going to win the Lake placid ironman in 2008. I was going to be the first female to finish. Big words. i am not quite sure how this is a resolution...but perhaps i was speaking of what my pursuit was for 2008.
I'm going to man up to that pursuit. I believe i can do it. Ballsy statement for now...but why not set the bar. The female pros will not be there this year. They rotate with IMCD. in 2006, molly zahr won it in 10:11. she was 27 years old (i think...27 or 28) Granted...that is fast. like smoking fast. But i believe i can do it. 8 min off my swim, 30 min off my bike, 30 min off my run, and a min or 2 in transition. That would do it. Sounds totally unattainable....but just stepping back and taking a look at my performance from when i raced lake placid to when i raced clearwater....i am CONFIDENT those numbers are attainable. I would just have to have the race of my life and pray that the conditions worked for me. If I don't win the damn race...that's okay. I believe that I can one day. Maybe not 2008....but I am going to pursue that dream and bet against all odds. Mark my words. I just hope it wont take 20 years...that's a long friggin time to dream....although i bet the flavors of Gatorade in 2028 will be super sonic!!!
what are you pursuing this year? if you haven't thought about it...think about it right now. don't let it go. DO IT damn it!!! go for it!!!!! honestly....what do you have to lose??we've already established that the only things important in life...is life itself. so if you aren't going to die in the pursuit...then why not? AND if you do die...at least you died pursuing your dream!! walk to the end of the board and jump in to life. make it exciting. don't be scared of your capabilities. don't be scared of the possibilities of reality. if your dream is to swim the English channel...buy a ticket and get your rear in the water and start training. if your dream is to fly a plane...go take a look at flight courses...if your dream is to see the great wall of china--book a ticket!! anything is attainable if you are aggressive and creative and you figure out a way. dreams don't happen when you sleep.
Dreams don't happen when you sleep.
2007 is OUTTA here!!
HEY HEY! can you believe its like already a few days into 2008??!!! wow. I'm not even mad...I'm impressed!! (haha..can you name that movie line???) Ive been a bit out of the blogging loop for the holidays...I'm trying to recall what I've done over the past week....i got a really good 4 hour ride on the trainer in (Saturday)...watched "the good shepard" and then the St. Croix 70.3 coverage....i think i need to stick to watching "spinnervals" when i ride on the trainer...it makes it go faster. watching movies while riding isn't really fun at all. i feel like i watched the whole thing but couldn't tell you a damn thing about what its about. ah well. Crowie is a rockstar though...if you saw the St. Croix coverage--his stride is sick!!! and i can't believe how fast richie cunningham looked! what else did i do....got two really nice back to back runs in over in central park...a 14 miler and an 8 miler...that was sunday and monday. I did 2 solid hours of good interval bike work last thursday on the gym bike--felt like i friggin rockstar--held a 110+rpm pretty effortlessly on a level 13 and my HR stayed in zone 1. it was wild....i used the day before as a recovery day and clearly the 4 dumptruck loads of food from christmas eve and christmas day dinner that i inhaled fueled me well. I finished with a 45 min run and although i had a bit of jelly legs initially, i got my run legs back pretty quick and felt super strong for the duration. Yesterday was new years day and HOLY COW did i start the year off right. i ate. like hard. and i did nothing. like i was a big degenerate waste of life. i woke up. went to brunch....or should i say brunch buffet....and tripped that assembly line up like 3 times. it was obscene. i loved every minute of it. eggs benny and bloody marys...oh justice of the peace. haha. then i went home and layed on my couch all day watching tv...until i got up to make dinner...i did chicken on the grill and it was so sweet with a perfect new years day Cabernet. then i fell asleep on the couch. brilliant. simply a brilliant way to start off the most hardcore training season of my life.
so the games begin in full swing tomorrow with a 6am bike class at Cadence..followed by a run and an endless pool session. My new schedule is looking like this....
Sunday--long run (2hrs) ez swim local pool
Monday--1 hr coached endless pool swim, ez run (45 min)
Tuesday-2:30 hr indoor bike, 1 hr endless pool swim
Wed-swim at local pool, Run focus--speed work,
Thurs--same as Tuesday--Bike 2:30 hr, run off bike-1hr, 1 hr endless pool swim
Fri--swim at local pool, core +strength, ez run (45 min)
Sat-Long ride (4+hrs) followed by 1:15 run.
I'm looking forward to it. I really like ironman training....this season will be a bit different--i liked 2007 because i did all those LONG LONG hours for lake placid over the winter and into the spring. it was great following placid because i could just focus on shorter more intense sessions in prep for my half IM and for clearwater. it was really nice to split the year up like that. this season my focus is getting to Kona so it will be interesting to see how i feel following placid and maintaining those long sessions in the saddle.
i just submitted my posting for the April Triathlete mag CKC section--(you send your submissions in months before so that they can get everything prepared and published...) they asked us to write about some biking tips/advice. the submission can only be 100 words or so....i have a lot to say on this subject as the bike is my true passion. (just wait for the issue that asks us for our "swim tips"....i think i may say something in the line of Swim tip #1: don't listen to me cuz i suck. swim tip #2: you actually have to get in the water if you want to get any better.) but back to the bike...this is some pretty good advice--i think--for newbies....im no expert and some may disagree...and if so, please comment cuz i would love to hear your thoughts...
The bike...oh the bike....its either you best friend or your arch nemesis. if you don't like the saddle...FORGET about doing a full ironman because you just will have no fun. i think you can learn to love it. or at least temporarily convince yourself that you love it. i love it...like i may be weird. you could burn my house down...i will be pissed. if you touch my bike without a loving hand....i may just bust out a tazer and not so gently put it on your heart. I've been riding my dream bike...a P3c with the Carbon HED bars and 3 spokes. I fall asleep to his lovely presence...so perfectly fit on his podium in my room. His name is Jackson...because you don't know whether he is black or white. haha...i am super particular about his ascetics and there is not a lick of any other color on him. all B+W. He is a bit pissy these days because he has been temporarily replaced by my new Cyfac which Cadence so generously led me to. I haven't grown the bond yet with him. I got him late in the season and have not rode him outside yet....only inside on the trainer. I feel good about him...he is beautiful!! Hand made frame...Zipp 606 set...vuka bars...Hes going to be fast. I'll be sure to share his name once i figure it out....depends on when i get him out on the road....maybe I'll just call him cadence. that's fairly fitting.
ANYWAY...i am getting off topic. back to bike tips. As a newbie you are trying to figure out your riding style. this is often categorized into two very distinct styles based on what you find more comfortable. are you a small gear, high cadence rider? or are you a big monster gear, slow cadence rider? i am quite certain that you fit into one or the other. which style feels comfortable for you depends on your build up of slow/fast twitch muscles. depending on which system is stronger will for sure enable you to practice one style or the other. IDEALLY you want to ride both. you want to push a monster gear in a high cadence. sounds EZ right? no no no my friends, if it was easy, we would ALL ride like stadler. So how do you do that? you have to train your muscles to fire fast and build your muscular endurance up to be able to push that tough of a gear. it takes a long time.
When i started riding, i rode big gear slow cadence. my legs are strong. i am tall--6'1. i could push big big gears fairly effortlessly. BUT with a very slow cadence. my muscular endurance was strong--i could maintain that big gear for a long long time --but at that time, i had never raced 112 miles. i had ridden it often--untimed....under no pressure for speed. that was the difference. i could get away with it in short course...half im's. when i went out to lake placid, i had done lots of hours in the saddle but minimal interval work. my first loop of the bike course i rode something like a 2:35....which on Placid's course is friggin fast. i felt super duper. BUT by mile 75-85...i was toast. i just simply couldn't continue to push such a big gear for much longer...and to even think about running a marathon!! my muscles were just too fatigued. my second loop clocked in around the 3:15 mark. ouch! After placid I decided that i needed to change my training. i needed to learn to spin my legs. i had the power...but i needed to develop the twitch muscles that allow your legs to fire fast!! i started doing intervals with focus on cadence. 105, 110+ cadence rides on the spin bike. my favorite workout would be 4 min high cadence spin in that 105-110 rpm with a 1 min slow recovery. i would focus on that RPM number over the 4 min and would not let it drop. i would do that 10 times. then take a 5 min recovery spin and then repeat it for another 10 times. my resistance level would be just high enough that when i was spinning my butt would stay stable in the saddle and i wouldn't be bouncing. I did this workout a lot. and then after every 4-5 times, i would increase the resistance level up a notch. before i knew it--i was spinning big time resistance!! its an AWESOME workout. it takes several weeks...months...to get it, but when you do--it will help!!! hell, i rode a 224 in clearwater (and took a wrong turn and lost 2 min to getting back on course)...and granted the course is flat (and i DONT even want to hear about the massive drafting on the course...because I was the first wave in the water...there wasn't ANYONE to draft off of--.)--but i was spinning a big gear for a long time and when i got off my legs were TOTALLY fresh and ready to run hard. I'm not trying to brag...i am merely trying to emphasize the importance of this type of workout. if i had done this type of work from the beginning, i think i would have been way ahead of myself. BOTTOM LINE__get your cadence up and compliment the resistance level with the cadence. train your legs to fire big gears fast. Does this make sense?
okay what else...just wanted to mention how much i appreciate all of the feedback. I totally appreciate everyone that has personally reached out to me. I have had some unbelievably warm and wonderful compliments and I am so flattered that so many of you enjoy my posts. I love to know who is out there and checking in!! I try to keep things fresh and exciting. If you have any questions or are interested in me writing anything about anything in particular--please drop me a line! I posted a few more pics as well--One from christmas with mom and One from new years....figured it would be nice to see me when im not sweating all over everyone and everything. haha.
i think i have exceeded my time limit here...rambling again. guess i should go sweat out the 3 trip buffet meal....or maybe it was 4 trips....did i mention they had mini cheesecakes?
so the games begin in full swing tomorrow with a 6am bike class at Cadence..followed by a run and an endless pool session. My new schedule is looking like this....
Sunday--long run (2hrs) ez swim local pool
Monday--1 hr coached endless pool swim, ez run (45 min)
Tuesday-2:30 hr indoor bike, 1 hr endless pool swim
Wed-swim at local pool, Run focus--speed work,
Thurs--same as Tuesday--Bike 2:30 hr, run off bike-1hr, 1 hr endless pool swim
Fri--swim at local pool, core +strength, ez run (45 min)
Sat-Long ride (4+hrs) followed by 1:15 run.
I'm looking forward to it. I really like ironman training....this season will be a bit different--i liked 2007 because i did all those LONG LONG hours for lake placid over the winter and into the spring. it was great following placid because i could just focus on shorter more intense sessions in prep for my half IM and for clearwater. it was really nice to split the year up like that. this season my focus is getting to Kona so it will be interesting to see how i feel following placid and maintaining those long sessions in the saddle.
i just submitted my posting for the April Triathlete mag CKC section--(you send your submissions in months before so that they can get everything prepared and published...) they asked us to write about some biking tips/advice. the submission can only be 100 words or so....i have a lot to say on this subject as the bike is my true passion. (just wait for the issue that asks us for our "swim tips"....i think i may say something in the line of Swim tip #1: don't listen to me cuz i suck. swim tip #2: you actually have to get in the water if you want to get any better.) but back to the bike...this is some pretty good advice--i think--for newbies....im no expert and some may disagree...and if so, please comment cuz i would love to hear your thoughts...
The bike...oh the bike....its either you best friend or your arch nemesis. if you don't like the saddle...FORGET about doing a full ironman because you just will have no fun. i think you can learn to love it. or at least temporarily convince yourself that you love it. i love it...like i may be weird. you could burn my house down...i will be pissed. if you touch my bike without a loving hand....i may just bust out a tazer and not so gently put it on your heart. I've been riding my dream bike...a P3c with the Carbon HED bars and 3 spokes. I fall asleep to his lovely presence...so perfectly fit on his podium in my room. His name is Jackson...because you don't know whether he is black or white. haha...i am super particular about his ascetics and there is not a lick of any other color on him. all B+W. He is a bit pissy these days because he has been temporarily replaced by my new Cyfac which Cadence so generously led me to. I haven't grown the bond yet with him. I got him late in the season and have not rode him outside yet....only inside on the trainer. I feel good about him...he is beautiful!! Hand made frame...Zipp 606 set...vuka bars...Hes going to be fast. I'll be sure to share his name once i figure it out....depends on when i get him out on the road....maybe I'll just call him cadence. that's fairly fitting.
ANYWAY...i am getting off topic. back to bike tips. As a newbie you are trying to figure out your riding style. this is often categorized into two very distinct styles based on what you find more comfortable. are you a small gear, high cadence rider? or are you a big monster gear, slow cadence rider? i am quite certain that you fit into one or the other. which style feels comfortable for you depends on your build up of slow/fast twitch muscles. depending on which system is stronger will for sure enable you to practice one style or the other. IDEALLY you want to ride both. you want to push a monster gear in a high cadence. sounds EZ right? no no no my friends, if it was easy, we would ALL ride like stadler. So how do you do that? you have to train your muscles to fire fast and build your muscular endurance up to be able to push that tough of a gear. it takes a long time.
When i started riding, i rode big gear slow cadence. my legs are strong. i am tall--6'1. i could push big big gears fairly effortlessly. BUT with a very slow cadence. my muscular endurance was strong--i could maintain that big gear for a long long time --but at that time, i had never raced 112 miles. i had ridden it often--untimed....under no pressure for speed. that was the difference. i could get away with it in short course...half im's. when i went out to lake placid, i had done lots of hours in the saddle but minimal interval work. my first loop of the bike course i rode something like a 2:35....which on Placid's course is friggin fast. i felt super duper. BUT by mile 75-85...i was toast. i just simply couldn't continue to push such a big gear for much longer...and to even think about running a marathon!! my muscles were just too fatigued. my second loop clocked in around the 3:15 mark. ouch! After placid I decided that i needed to change my training. i needed to learn to spin my legs. i had the power...but i needed to develop the twitch muscles that allow your legs to fire fast!! i started doing intervals with focus on cadence. 105, 110+ cadence rides on the spin bike. my favorite workout would be 4 min high cadence spin in that 105-110 rpm with a 1 min slow recovery. i would focus on that RPM number over the 4 min and would not let it drop. i would do that 10 times. then take a 5 min recovery spin and then repeat it for another 10 times. my resistance level would be just high enough that when i was spinning my butt would stay stable in the saddle and i wouldn't be bouncing. I did this workout a lot. and then after every 4-5 times, i would increase the resistance level up a notch. before i knew it--i was spinning big time resistance!! its an AWESOME workout. it takes several weeks...months...to get it, but when you do--it will help!!! hell, i rode a 224 in clearwater (and took a wrong turn and lost 2 min to getting back on course)...and granted the course is flat (and i DONT even want to hear about the massive drafting on the course...because I was the first wave in the water...there wasn't ANYONE to draft off of--.)--but i was spinning a big gear for a long time and when i got off my legs were TOTALLY fresh and ready to run hard. I'm not trying to brag...i am merely trying to emphasize the importance of this type of workout. if i had done this type of work from the beginning, i think i would have been way ahead of myself. BOTTOM LINE__get your cadence up and compliment the resistance level with the cadence. train your legs to fire big gears fast. Does this make sense?
okay what else...just wanted to mention how much i appreciate all of the feedback. I totally appreciate everyone that has personally reached out to me. I have had some unbelievably warm and wonderful compliments and I am so flattered that so many of you enjoy my posts. I love to know who is out there and checking in!! I try to keep things fresh and exciting. If you have any questions or are interested in me writing anything about anything in particular--please drop me a line! I posted a few more pics as well--One from christmas with mom and One from new years....figured it would be nice to see me when im not sweating all over everyone and everything. haha.
i think i have exceeded my time limit here...rambling again. guess i should go sweat out the 3 trip buffet meal....or maybe it was 4 trips....did i mention they had mini cheesecakes?
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