Despite being out of town this week in San Diego to visit the family, I got resourceful and managed to find myself a few choices for my workouts. There's a metric lap pool at my parents' condo downtown (which I managed to swim through on one of the more windy / blustery days this week; and a great little stationary bike at their gym. Did my first "brick" workout (comprised of a bike ride, followed immediately by a run). Not too bad. I think I was just mentally prepared for it to be difficult and long, but I pushed on through and felt great. Which made the turkey meal (& all the fixins) that much more tasty. Hope everyone had a great holiday!
***
Week #3 Workout Summary
Swim: 3 hours and 0 minutes
Bike: 1 hour and 0 minutes
Run: 1 hours and 30 minutes
Core/Strength: 0 hours and 20 minutes
Total Workout: 5 hours and 50 minutes
Sunday, November 29, 2009
Saturday, November 21, 2009
You'd be suprised by how many fears you can conquer in a span of five hours...
Today was another one for the books. The East Bay caravan traveled to Larkspur, in Marin County, bright and early this morning. This would be the first day Lulu, my wheels to Louisville, would leave the confines of my home and get out onto some real asphalt. We started the morning with a trainer workout, getting warmed up and acquainted with the rest of the Team in a giant circle of fluid trainers. What a gorgeous day in the Bay Area!
We practiced a few great drills, like one-legged spinning (which is as tough as it sounds), and even simulated scenarios like how to spin and shift your way out of a dropped chain. Needless to say, I was quite content with being stationary and was happy to practice clipping in and out of the pedals without the fear of tipping over while trying to balance.
As an added surprise, I won the honor of this week's Spirit Award (and IronTeam Spirit Cape), recognized for my enthusiasm and fundraising efforts. Thanks for the nomination, Teammates! To date, I have raised over $1,500 in just four weeks. And this is all thanks to YOU! I can't tell you how much your support, generosity & encouragement mean to me. So please know how far each of your dollars has gone ~ and continues to! And for your viewing amusement:
Of course, looming in the back of my mind was this anxiety about removing Lulu from the trainer in about an hour and having to try clipless riding again. As you may recall, my last bout with riding clipless ended in a set of pretty bad falls -- one in particular... which made me incredibly nervous to get back in the saddle again. Yet despite my fears (I was whining on the inside, "Do I really have to?" but forced myself to Iron-Up and just DO IT) Coach Dave assured me that I'd pick it up today. So he set up some cones in the parking lot which he wanted me to ride around, then come to a complete stop at another pair of cones -- where training captains, Tony and Nick, were standing by. If I was about to tip over, Dave said, "the guys would be there to catch me". I can't tell you how freaked out I was. There was just something so traumatizing about the last time I tried to do this that it made it physically difficult to get my feet to push the pedals to even start riding.
But Dave gave me set of really clear instructions, I followed them, and before I knew it, I was riding, fully clipped, both feet in. As I coasted around and did some turns in the parking lot, now it was time to come to a complete stop at those cones. Here was the hard part. I broke it down in my head and I reminded myself not to panic ~ but instead, visualize myself coming to a nice, smooth stop. No falls, no scrapes, no bruises. That this time, I was going to get it right. The guys were all ready to catch me, and low and behold: I stopped. A smooth, gentle stop. I clipped out at the right time, and I didn't tip over! It was a miracle! Quite possibly the most basic and elementary thing for most cyclists, but this was my moment, and I conquered my fear! Coach asked me to try it one more time, and just like the stop before it, my second one was just as smooth. I finally knew what it felt like to clip in and out and NOT fall! Another small step for an Ironbaby but a gigantic step for me!
After our two hours of spinning, we had an hour and a half swim workout. To recount, I used to have so many anxieties about swimming, especially when it came to all these drills, commands by our Coaches to swim several hundred yards without stopping, and being afraid I'd lose all oxygen in my lungs and slowly sink to the bottom. It was during probably my 30th consecutive lap that it occurred to me: Here I am, doing something I was so scared of before. How did this happen? How did I get to this point to where I could swim so far and so long continuously when it used to be something I had such huge fears about? It's the same way I felt once I got the hang of the clips on the bike.
After about a 5+ hour day with the Team, we all celebrated our successful workouts with some lunch and a couple beers at the Marin Brewing Company. A great way to wrap up the day, spend some time with everyone off the trails and out of the pool. And of course, upon arriving back home, I promptly passed out for another 2-hour nap. I don't think I moved in my bed for the entire 2 hours -- just laid in the same exact spot, motionless, out of sheer exhaustion and contentment after such an awesome day.
***
Week #2 Workout Summary
Swim: 3 hours and 30 minutes
Bike: 2 hours and 0 minutes
Run: 2 hours and 0 minutes
Core/Strength: 0 hours and 40 minutes
Total Workout: 7 hours and minutes
We practiced a few great drills, like one-legged spinning (which is as tough as it sounds), and even simulated scenarios like how to spin and shift your way out of a dropped chain. Needless to say, I was quite content with being stationary and was happy to practice clipping in and out of the pedals without the fear of tipping over while trying to balance.
As an added surprise, I won the honor of this week's Spirit Award (and IronTeam Spirit Cape), recognized for my enthusiasm and fundraising efforts. Thanks for the nomination, Teammates! To date, I have raised over $1,500 in just four weeks. And this is all thanks to YOU! I can't tell you how much your support, generosity & encouragement mean to me. So please know how far each of your dollars has gone ~ and continues to! And for your viewing amusement:
Of course, looming in the back of my mind was this anxiety about removing Lulu from the trainer in about an hour and having to try clipless riding again. As you may recall, my last bout with riding clipless ended in a set of pretty bad falls -- one in particular... which made me incredibly nervous to get back in the saddle again. Yet despite my fears (I was whining on the inside, "Do I really have to?" but forced myself to Iron-Up and just DO IT) Coach Dave assured me that I'd pick it up today. So he set up some cones in the parking lot which he wanted me to ride around, then come to a complete stop at another pair of cones -- where training captains, Tony and Nick, were standing by. If I was about to tip over, Dave said, "the guys would be there to catch me". I can't tell you how freaked out I was. There was just something so traumatizing about the last time I tried to do this that it made it physically difficult to get my feet to push the pedals to even start riding.
But Dave gave me set of really clear instructions, I followed them, and before I knew it, I was riding, fully clipped, both feet in. As I coasted around and did some turns in the parking lot, now it was time to come to a complete stop at those cones. Here was the hard part. I broke it down in my head and I reminded myself not to panic ~ but instead, visualize myself coming to a nice, smooth stop. No falls, no scrapes, no bruises. That this time, I was going to get it right. The guys were all ready to catch me, and low and behold: I stopped. A smooth, gentle stop. I clipped out at the right time, and I didn't tip over! It was a miracle! Quite possibly the most basic and elementary thing for most cyclists, but this was my moment, and I conquered my fear! Coach asked me to try it one more time, and just like the stop before it, my second one was just as smooth. I finally knew what it felt like to clip in and out and NOT fall! Another small step for an Ironbaby but a gigantic step for me!
After our two hours of spinning, we had an hour and a half swim workout. To recount, I used to have so many anxieties about swimming, especially when it came to all these drills, commands by our Coaches to swim several hundred yards without stopping, and being afraid I'd lose all oxygen in my lungs and slowly sink to the bottom. It was during probably my 30th consecutive lap that it occurred to me: Here I am, doing something I was so scared of before. How did this happen? How did I get to this point to where I could swim so far and so long continuously when it used to be something I had such huge fears about? It's the same way I felt once I got the hang of the clips on the bike.
After about a 5+ hour day with the Team, we all celebrated our successful workouts with some lunch and a couple beers at the Marin Brewing Company. A great way to wrap up the day, spend some time with everyone off the trails and out of the pool. And of course, upon arriving back home, I promptly passed out for another 2-hour nap. I don't think I moved in my bed for the entire 2 hours -- just laid in the same exact spot, motionless, out of sheer exhaustion and contentment after such an awesome day.
***
Week #2 Workout Summary
Swim: 3 hours and 30 minutes
Bike: 2 hours and 0 minutes
Run: 2 hours and 0 minutes
Core/Strength: 0 hours and 40 minutes
Total Workout: 7 hours and minutes
Sunday, November 15, 2009
Beginning of the Season Benchmarks
What a day! Today we had one of those monster workouts where you walk away afterward feeling SO strong and able. I just feel awesome looking back at how hard we all worked this morning.
I had butterflies and knots in my stomach during the drive over to Pleasant Hill with Phil. It's that fear of the unknown that gets me everytime.
We pulled into the pool parking lot and met with the Team ~ must have been about 30+ degrees this morning. The Coaches had decided to split up the Team, and I was in the group that would jump in the pool first. There I was. Terrified and shaking in my swim cap over how far and how fast I would need to swim. And then, Coach Sedonia gave us our instructions: 400 yds without stopping. No breaks for water, no hanging on the walls. Just continuous swimming. Well. Despite all my fear, and despite all apprehension I had, I did it. I had to throw in a couple laps of breaststroke but I kept going, kept breathing, and swam 16 continuous laps. And not only did I make it, I felt awesome afterward! We continued on with our swim workout for another hour and a half or so (drills and such -- I got to share a lane with BK) and ended with a nice cooldown. I totally surprised myself again!
After we dried off and changed, it was time for our 2-mile run benchmark test with Coach Simon. We started with a mile warmup, followed by some plyometrics. My 2-mile time was pretty good. Like the swim marker, I'm satisfied with it. It's going to be great to see all the progress & improvement I'll make throughout the season ~ which is the purpose of the benchmark testing: to see where you are and how you can get better.
About a half an hour of running and up next, we had Core and Strength Training with Coach Doug. During this part of the day, I had reached my "hurts to so good phase", which I just learned and realized I had! This had been our fourth hour of training for the day and despite the little aches and burn from pushing our bodies, it honestly felt so good! It had to be the endorphins! Or maybe the Gu Phil lent me before the run. I may have a change of heart later, but I can safely say that I loved today's core workout. Pretty evident, wouldn't you say?
Grabbed some pizza with the Team after our morning at the pool & track, hopped into a nice hot shower when I got home and promptly passed out for a 2-hour nap. What a fantastic training day.
And now, on to recover and tackle the bike...
***
Week #1 Workout Summary
Swim: 1 hour and 30 minutes
Bike: 0 hours and 30 minutes
Run: 1 hour and 40 minutes
Core/Strength: 0 hours and 40 minutes
Total Workout: 4 hours and 20 minutes
I had butterflies and knots in my stomach during the drive over to Pleasant Hill with Phil. It's that fear of the unknown that gets me everytime.
We pulled into the pool parking lot and met with the Team ~ must have been about 30+ degrees this morning. The Coaches had decided to split up the Team, and I was in the group that would jump in the pool first. There I was. Terrified and shaking in my swim cap over how far and how fast I would need to swim. And then, Coach Sedonia gave us our instructions: 400 yds without stopping. No breaks for water, no hanging on the walls. Just continuous swimming. Well. Despite all my fear, and despite all apprehension I had, I did it. I had to throw in a couple laps of breaststroke but I kept going, kept breathing, and swam 16 continuous laps. And not only did I make it, I felt awesome afterward! We continued on with our swim workout for another hour and a half or so (drills and such -- I got to share a lane with BK) and ended with a nice cooldown. I totally surprised myself again!
After we dried off and changed, it was time for our 2-mile run benchmark test with Coach Simon. We started with a mile warmup, followed by some plyometrics. My 2-mile time was pretty good. Like the swim marker, I'm satisfied with it. It's going to be great to see all the progress & improvement I'll make throughout the season ~ which is the purpose of the benchmark testing: to see where you are and how you can get better.
About a half an hour of running and up next, we had Core and Strength Training with Coach Doug. During this part of the day, I had reached my "hurts to so good phase", which I just learned and realized I had! This had been our fourth hour of training for the day and despite the little aches and burn from pushing our bodies, it honestly felt so good! It had to be the endorphins! Or maybe the Gu Phil lent me before the run. I may have a change of heart later, but I can safely say that I loved today's core workout. Pretty evident, wouldn't you say?
Grabbed some pizza with the Team after our morning at the pool & track, hopped into a nice hot shower when I got home and promptly passed out for a 2-hour nap. What a fantastic training day.
And now, on to recover and tackle the bike...
***
Week #1 Workout Summary
Swim: 1 hour and 30 minutes
Bike: 0 hours and 30 minutes
Run: 1 hour and 40 minutes
Core/Strength: 0 hours and 40 minutes
Total Workout: 4 hours and 20 minutes
Friday, November 13, 2009
Enjoy a game of hoops & give a little back to LLS!
Hey Warriors Fans! I am selling tickets to the below Golden State Warriors games at a discounted rate (no added fees or taxes). You will save anywhere from $10-15 per ticket.
AND, if you purchase through the below link (and enter the promotional code WARRIORS), not only do you receive the discount, but $10 of every ticket I sell will go directly to The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. I thought this would be a fun way to get people out to watch some basketball and help out for a good cause. So take advantage while you can!
Please let me know if you are interested or have any questions. I will be selling these tickets from now until the end of the season.
===
12/3 Warriors vs. Houston Rockets
12/18 Warriors vs. Washington Wizards
1/8 Warriors vs. Sacramento Kings
1/20 Warriors vs. Denver Nuggets
2/8 Warriors vs. Dallas Mavericks
2/27 Warriors vs. Detroit Pistons
3/11 Warriors vs. Portland Trailblazers
3/22 Warriors vs. Phoenix Suns
4/11 Warriors vs. Oklahoma City Thunder
CLICK HERE FOR TICKETS
- Select the game you would like to attend and click on "Find Tickets".
- Enter the following password in the special offer code box: WARRIORS
- Enter your TicketMaster account ID (or e-mail address) and password on the left (if you have never created a TicketMaster account, go to "Create an Account" on the right-hand side of the screen).
- Follow the instructions to purchase - you will be able to print the tickets right at your desk.
See you at the Oracle Arena!
Sunday, November 8, 2009
Kickoff Weekend!
It's been a jampacked weekend, but extremely fulfilling. We started off the Iron Season by gearing up for TNT Kickoff at Wheeler Hall on the UC Berkeley Campus. While it was a bummer to miss Game Day, I wouldn't have missed a second of my time inside the auditorium and classroom. After the various initiation / welcoming festivities, IronTeam stayed afterward to complete a 5-hour Iron University, which consisted of various instructionals by our Coaches, getting to know our Team, followed by some calisthenics and core exercises in between. A lot of my questions were answered, yet I still have that looming feeling of being anxious / excited...
After a quick bite in downtown Berkeley, we were about ready to hit the hay by 8 p.m. (something I think I'll inevitably need to get used to this season) But I can't wait to meet and train with my new Team:
...after 8 glorious hours of sleep Saturday night, it was time for a new day. Tiffany and I had our first joint fundraising event, a Garage Sale ~ with 100% of the proceeds going directly to LLS. We had a great turnout, combined with some much needed r&r and catching up with our teammates from the marathon team, while bringing in some major bucks for the charity. The weather was beautiful for it!
Took about a 10-minute powernap after cleaning up the Sale and geared up (no pun intended) for my first attempt at going clipless [riding my bike with the clip-in pedals and cleats], with Phil's help. No easy feat, mind you. I've been warned that I WILL fall. It's just not instinctual to clip-out at the 'right time' before coming to a complete stop, especially when you're just starting out. And despite any preparation or anticipation... I can say this: The first fall, I felt pretty bad-ass; I dusted myself off and got right back on. The second fall, I did feel the burn. And by the third fall... oh, the third fall... ego, leg, and other areas were surely bruised.
Nevertheless, just like my swim a few weeks back: Sometimes you'll fall, sometimes you'll get a little winded or discouraged. But tomorrow's a new day. You get back on and you try again. Which calls to mind one of Coach Dave's renowned -isms:
"We're not training for Plastic Man."
So with that said, I cleaned up, put on my running tights, and went for my first Iron Season run with Tiffany and Phil, completing a cool 4-miler in the brisk Pleasanton air. It was so good to go running again ~ my first time in about three weeks.
And now, after some much needed icing, I'm ready for bed. So as initially stated, jampacked but highly fulfilling :)
After a quick bite in downtown Berkeley, we were about ready to hit the hay by 8 p.m. (something I think I'll inevitably need to get used to this season) But I can't wait to meet and train with my new Team:
...after 8 glorious hours of sleep Saturday night, it was time for a new day. Tiffany and I had our first joint fundraising event, a Garage Sale ~ with 100% of the proceeds going directly to LLS. We had a great turnout, combined with some much needed r&r and catching up with our teammates from the marathon team, while bringing in some major bucks for the charity. The weather was beautiful for it!
Took about a 10-minute powernap after cleaning up the Sale and geared up (no pun intended) for my first attempt at going clipless [riding my bike with the clip-in pedals and cleats], with Phil's help. No easy feat, mind you. I've been warned that I WILL fall. It's just not instinctual to clip-out at the 'right time' before coming to a complete stop, especially when you're just starting out. And despite any preparation or anticipation... I can say this: The first fall, I felt pretty bad-ass; I dusted myself off and got right back on. The second fall, I did feel the burn. And by the third fall... oh, the third fall... ego, leg, and other areas were surely bruised.
Nevertheless, just like my swim a few weeks back: Sometimes you'll fall, sometimes you'll get a little winded or discouraged. But tomorrow's a new day. You get back on and you try again. Which calls to mind one of Coach Dave's renowned -isms:
"We're not training for Plastic Man."
So with that said, I cleaned up, put on my running tights, and went for my first Iron Season run with Tiffany and Phil, completing a cool 4-miler in the brisk Pleasanton air. It was so good to go running again ~ my first time in about three weeks.
And now, after some much needed icing, I'm ready for bed. So as initially stated, jampacked but highly fulfilling :)
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