So the weather here this week has been pretty perfect. (Well, for it being January, and for exercising etc). Last night I went running around Green lake with a couple people from the team. It was a totally clear sky, w/ a pretty full moon, and lots of stars. and pretty water (note: green LAKE). As soon as I put on music I sped up. American Idiot, Greenday makes for some good running music. especially the 8 min track, w/ a nice drum beat.
Then today was another sunny, blue skied day. Granted it was technically only 41 degrees out, but that seemed perfect for biking. I just wore one layer, and was a nice temperature. Lots of people where out. The mountains were out. And it made me excited for spring and summer. Yippee :)
Wednesday, January 31, 2007
Sunday, January 21, 2007
Bike bike bike
Saturday morning we did a nice long bike ride. I think we rode for almost 2 hours. The first 1/2 of the ride was just along the Sammamish river trail, which is all flat and pretty smooth. I started off talking to someone who is training for a full ironman in August... Impressive. I am definitly not jealous.
For the 2nd half we ventured off the trail, and onto some roads, to complete a loop (and finish where we started). The roads provided our first (well at least my first) hilly bike ride. It was good practice, and nothing impossible. Although our first hill was pretty long (and sorta steep at the beginning). Luckily it had warmed up that week and there was no ice, which was a big relief. Also, at the end of the ride, we asked around, and where told that the hills we did where equal or harder than what we'll encounter in Hawaii at the actual event. And if that's the case, then I'm all set for this there bike thing.
Off to whistler this weekend. Skiing is basically the same thing as swimming/biking/running correct? splendid.
For the 2nd half we ventured off the trail, and onto some roads, to complete a loop (and finish where we started). The roads provided our first (well at least my first) hilly bike ride. It was good practice, and nothing impossible. Although our first hill was pretty long (and sorta steep at the beginning). Luckily it had warmed up that week and there was no ice, which was a big relief. Also, at the end of the ride, we asked around, and where told that the hills we did where equal or harder than what we'll encounter in Hawaii at the actual event. And if that's the case, then I'm all set for this there bike thing.
Off to whistler this weekend. Skiing is basically the same thing as swimming/biking/running correct? splendid.
Thursday, January 18, 2007
fit with.... lilly
(Bitterly begins re-writing post that blogger oh so cruely deleted).
So wednesday I went running with Lilly, a young pit bull mix. She had a very cute sideways gait when she ran... Her back legs where always just a few inches to the right of her front legs.
She also was under the impression that at the beginning of runs, you must go all out, because who knows when you'll get to run again. And didn't seem to understand when I said we'd be going for an hour... no need to rush. However after the first mile, and once the other dogs where out of sight, she settled into a perfect little trot, and just the right pace. w/ her little ears flapping. Actually, only one ear bounced, the other always stood straight up...
her only other mis-conception, was that when she'd stop to sniff something, and I'd say "come on," she listend right away, only she interpreted that as bound away as fast as you can...
But overall we had a pleasant run. Again, she was not very tired at the end, and would have kept going... (unlike the rottweiler behind us who was huffing and wheezing).
The only flaw from the night, was I forgot to stretch. And I woke up w/ a really sore calf whenever I walked on it... which last like 3 days. ugh. I'm going to guess its related to stretching? and hopefully not to my new running shoes....
So wednesday I went running with Lilly, a young pit bull mix. She had a very cute sideways gait when she ran... Her back legs where always just a few inches to the right of her front legs.
She also was under the impression that at the beginning of runs, you must go all out, because who knows when you'll get to run again. And didn't seem to understand when I said we'd be going for an hour... no need to rush. However after the first mile, and once the other dogs where out of sight, she settled into a perfect little trot, and just the right pace. w/ her little ears flapping. Actually, only one ear bounced, the other always stood straight up...
her only other mis-conception, was that when she'd stop to sniff something, and I'd say "come on," she listend right away, only she interpreted that as bound away as fast as you can...
But overall we had a pleasant run. Again, she was not very tired at the end, and would have kept going... (unlike the rottweiler behind us who was huffing and wheezing).
The only flaw from the night, was I forgot to stretch. And I woke up w/ a really sore calf whenever I walked on it... which last like 3 days. ugh. I'm going to guess its related to stretching? and hopefully not to my new running shoes....
Monday, January 15, 2007
Breakthrough!
Yesterday morning, just near the end of a coached swim, the coach said I should work on keeping my head more down during my stroke. Ie look at below me, not ahead of me or at the end of the pool. My first thought, was that I don't look forward, why did he say that. Then I figured he must mean while I'm breathing... I might be peaking ahead. So I started a new lap... And realized that during the whole stroke, while my head is underwater, I was looking slightly (or possibly not slightly) ahead of where I was.
SO, I worked on looking directly down, not even a little head of me, for the next few laps. and for some reason that makes a humongous difference in my stroke. It makes the whole thing much easier, and feels more natural. (This shows some of the reason I find swimming annoying... The fact that technique makes so much difference, as opposed to fitness... Makign it much harder to improve).
Anyways, we had another practice today, and I felt sooo much better than last week. Our whole group finished the workout faster than last week, which was good. My stroke just feels easier, and more natural. We did a 350 (yeah, for all those people who are actually good swimmers, and think that's nothing, go away), and while it still felt long, I could have kept going at the end... and didn't struggle at all.
So overall I'm feeling more positive about my swimming. Though at some point we will need to have a discussion about the Victoria Half Ironman... and their cut off times for each sport. That is not a friendly idea, but I'll bring that up again yesterday.
Saturday was also a good run. It was a trail game (sharks and minnows), and we ran for 75 minutes, through snow (and ice), and about 25 degree weather. I stayed w/ my mom the whole time, so I was a little slower than I might have done otherwise, but I did jog/run the entire way, and could have done more. So umm... Go training. wohoo. Oh and also, if someone could melt that ice, that'd be great. My bike does not like it.
SO, I worked on looking directly down, not even a little head of me, for the next few laps. and for some reason that makes a humongous difference in my stroke. It makes the whole thing much easier, and feels more natural. (This shows some of the reason I find swimming annoying... The fact that technique makes so much difference, as opposed to fitness... Makign it much harder to improve).
Anyways, we had another practice today, and I felt sooo much better than last week. Our whole group finished the workout faster than last week, which was good. My stroke just feels easier, and more natural. We did a 350 (yeah, for all those people who are actually good swimmers, and think that's nothing, go away), and while it still felt long, I could have kept going at the end... and didn't struggle at all.
So overall I'm feeling more positive about my swimming. Though at some point we will need to have a discussion about the Victoria Half Ironman... and their cut off times for each sport. That is not a friendly idea, but I'll bring that up again yesterday.
Saturday was also a good run. It was a trail game (sharks and minnows), and we ran for 75 minutes, through snow (and ice), and about 25 degree weather. I stayed w/ my mom the whole time, so I was a little slower than I might have done otherwise, but I did jog/run the entire way, and could have done more. So umm... Go training. wohoo. Oh and also, if someone could melt that ice, that'd be great. My bike does not like it.
Friday, January 12, 2007
T minus 11 weeks
So, the actual triathlon is April 1st (in Hawaii :)), ie about 11 weeks from today. The date suddenly snuck up on us, over the holidays.
Not much is new in the world of training. I fit in slightly less practice this week than I had hoped. Though I did a decent brick (50 minute bike ride, followed by a mile run), and that was pretty easy. Yesterday I ran about 3.5 miles. I was originally planning on doing a full hour... then I got bored or lazy... But at least I didn't end tired. Tomorrow we have a 2 hour trail game with the team, so that should be good.
Apparently for the half-Ironman (in June in Victoria, Canada), you must complete the course in under 8 hours. So we will be discussing that tomorrow, to estimate what our times would be. I think I need to start biking faster....That would be sad if I would be over the time allowed. And decrease my motivation to participate in the longer event. But I'll wait to judge that till I estimate my time.
Not much is new in the world of training. I fit in slightly less practice this week than I had hoped. Though I did a decent brick (50 minute bike ride, followed by a mile run), and that was pretty easy. Yesterday I ran about 3.5 miles. I was originally planning on doing a full hour... then I got bored or lazy... But at least I didn't end tired. Tomorrow we have a 2 hour trail game with the team, so that should be good.
Apparently for the half-Ironman (in June in Victoria, Canada), you must complete the course in under 8 hours. So we will be discussing that tomorrow, to estimate what our times would be. I think I need to start biking faster....That would be sad if I would be over the time allowed. And decrease my motivation to participate in the longer event. But I'll wait to judge that till I estimate my time.
Tuesday, January 9, 2007
Back at it
Well, I'm back at home. Which means its time to get back to training. I did manage to run a few times in Israel, and went swimming once (it was so cold people cheered for me when I got out of the pool). But we are all now realizing the triathlon is only 12 weeks away... So... I better get back to real training.
I got back at 1am Monday morning, and managed to stay away long enough to go to swim practice that night at 8. It was actually a good workout. We did a total of about 1500m over the hour, and the event is only about 1650... and we rested throughout. So it looks like the swimming will take less than an hour... Though I'm still considering the drowning aspect. I still suck at it.
I got back at 1am Monday morning, and managed to stay away long enough to go to swim practice that night at 8. It was actually a good workout. We did a total of about 1500m over the hour, and the event is only about 1650... and we rested throughout. So it looks like the swimming will take less than an hour... Though I'm still considering the drowning aspect. I still suck at it.
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