Since I max'd out the week before, I was debating on doing nothing or tapering that week since I was really tired. Opted to just do nothing! (gulp!) It was a big risk, but I know I'll learn from this mistake in the future.
Took Thursday and Friday off to prepare. I thought of nothing but the race the whole week. Even took time off the meetings because of it. I told myself, I'll have more time to focus on recovery after the race.
THURSDAY:
Decided to go to a local beach to do a mini dry-run. Did like a 100-yard swim (the waves were kicking my butt, so I quit fighting it!). Did like a 5-mile bike ride, and a 2-mi. run. Now I felt more confident doing SOMETHING at least.
Packed my stuff that night and went to bed still thinking...
FRIDAY:
Headed out around 9 AM and went to get my packet. Got there and saw booths set up with tri gears. I was a bit intimidated yet excited being introduced to the culture. Met a quiet guy by the registration stairs waiting for it to open. Come to find out it was his first triathlon as well. His name is David, a chemist from San Diego. We almost had the same amount of training and the same age. And we were both scared!
After getting our packets, we decided to go through the bike route in my car since he said he hasn't ridden it yet. He checked out the map while I drove.
We had butterflies in our stomachs going through the hills. And remember the canyon my friend commented on? (check last blog) HE WAS RIGHT!!! It was the other way...uphill on a curve! I was sweating cold at that point.
Dropping him off in his car, I checked-in to the motel asking myself if I could actually do this.
Instead of worrying, I just prepared my gear lay-out for the transition on the motel floor. Took a short bike ride to stretch and then grabbed a burger meal for dinner.
Lost a lot of sleep just worrying that night. Prayed like I haven't done in a while. Woke up at 2:00 in the morning and just talked to my friend about my worries.
Thursday, September 2, 2010
2 weeks before the race
It's supposes to be the start of taper in training but since I lost training time because of the accident (and did not training enough to begin with), I decided to max out on each of the disciplines that week.
Swim:
Did a 50 x 50 yds. swim in the pool on Monday
Run:
Did a 13 mi. run on Wednesday.
Bike:
Went to Sta. Barbara (where the race was gonna be at) that Saturday to do the whole bike course. I went with a friend who has some experience in biking.
On mile 6 to 7, was one of the toughest hills of the course. It was a gradual 500-ft climb. Since most of my training was on flat, I really had a hard time getting to the top. Near the top I had to stop and lay flat on the curb to catch my breath. At that point, I was already second-thoughts in doing the race. I WAS ONLY ON MILE 7, there's 27 more miles to go!!!
My friend just encouraged me to go slow and don't push it. And he was right. I just took it slow the rest of the way and finished it.
Mile 16 to 17 was another 500 foot climb but more gradual and so it was more manageable. The downhill ride was curvy and tricky . My friend commented "Thank God this part of the course is as it is. Had it been the other way going up, it would be a lot tougher!" (remember this for it will have bearing on my next blog!)
Had lunch and headed home.
Swim:
Did a 50 x 50 yds. swim in the pool on Monday
Run:
Did a 13 mi. run on Wednesday.
Bike:
Went to Sta. Barbara (where the race was gonna be at) that Saturday to do the whole bike course. I went with a friend who has some experience in biking.
On mile 6 to 7, was one of the toughest hills of the course. It was a gradual 500-ft climb. Since most of my training was on flat, I really had a hard time getting to the top. Near the top I had to stop and lay flat on the curb to catch my breath. At that point, I was already second-thoughts in doing the race. I WAS ONLY ON MILE 7, there's 27 more miles to go!!!
My friend just encouraged me to go slow and don't push it. And he was right. I just took it slow the rest of the way and finished it.
Mile 16 to 17 was another 500 foot climb but more gradual and so it was more manageable. The downhill ride was curvy and tricky . My friend commented "Thank God this part of the course is as it is. Had it been the other way going up, it would be a lot tougher!" (remember this for it will have bearing on my next blog!)
Had lunch and headed home.
3 weeks before the race
Lost some time in training since I got a bike accident the other week. A car almost hit me, I lost control trying to avoid it, ate the pavement scratching my left shoulder, elbow, and knees. The bike was a little scratched up, but OK.
On the Saturday of this week, decided to go to Sta. Barbara with a friend to do a mini dry run of the race. I wanted to do a short distance of all the events in one morning just to see how it would feel.
The swim:
Got there around 8:00 in the morning. The water was in the low 60's. Luckily I found a small group of people doing a swim workout. Some of them were doing the Sprint the weekend of the race.
Put on my wetsuit and did like a 400-yd. swim with my buddy on the shore dragging the bikes to measure the distance on the bike computer/odometer.
The bike:
We were suppose to go with a group doing the actual route, but got lost because we were behind, so just managed to do a 17 mi.-ride around the area.
The run:
Did a 6-mi. run after the biking.
I felt good but hungry!!! Grabbed a burger meal and went home.
On the Saturday of this week, decided to go to Sta. Barbara with a friend to do a mini dry run of the race. I wanted to do a short distance of all the events in one morning just to see how it would feel.
The swim:
Got there around 8:00 in the morning. The water was in the low 60's. Luckily I found a small group of people doing a swim workout. Some of them were doing the Sprint the weekend of the race.
Put on my wetsuit and did like a 400-yd. swim with my buddy on the shore dragging the bikes to measure the distance on the bike computer/odometer.
The bike:
We were suppose to go with a group doing the actual route, but got lost because we were behind, so just managed to do a 17 mi.-ride around the area.
The run:
Did a 6-mi. run after the biking.
I felt good but hungry!!! Grabbed a burger meal and went home.
Friday, July 16, 2010
First time training with a group
At the city pool where I usually do my workouts, one of the lifeguards made small talk about my wetsuit and told me he does triathlons too and that there's a triathlon group that trains there and suggested I join them.
Halfway through my workout, he called me and introduced me to the trainer and assigned me to a lane with the group. He made us do exercises that are unconventional for me and that I'm almost always out of breath! Afterwards, he offered to train me for a fee and gave me his business card. I took the card and told him I'll think about it (but in my mind, I already said "no way, man. I'm cheap!").
I did ask about my apprehensions in joining the longer race and contemplating on downgrading. He asked me where I was at in my training and said if I could work up to 50 mi. on the bike, I'll be ok. So at least I have some goal to reach for a solid decision.
Bought a new bike handlebar tape since the old one wore out and put it on last night. Looking forward to another ocean swim this weekend.
Halfway through my workout, he called me and introduced me to the trainer and assigned me to a lane with the group. He made us do exercises that are unconventional for me and that I'm almost always out of breath! Afterwards, he offered to train me for a fee and gave me his business card. I took the card and told him I'll think about it (but in my mind, I already said "no way, man. I'm cheap!").
I did ask about my apprehensions in joining the longer race and contemplating on downgrading. He asked me where I was at in my training and said if I could work up to 50 mi. on the bike, I'll be ok. So at least I have some goal to reach for a solid decision.
Bought a new bike handlebar tape since the old one wore out and put it on last night. Looking forward to another ocean swim this weekend.
Thursday, July 15, 2010
Semi-brick
I should start getting used to muscle transitions from swimming to biking and biking to running (brick) as the training programs suggests. But I've been dragging on it. So I'm doing it gradually: one day gap between each event. So I started last Tuesday; did 37 mi. (a little more than the actual distance in the race). I did a 10.6 mi ran last night and planning to do the swimming leg today after work.
Still trying to figure out how to deal with the chafing I get at the back of my head, from my wetsuit. Found out about rash guard undershirts online but the neckline is not high enough to protect the chafing and...they're expensive.
Still aiming to do the long distance race...so help me God!
Still trying to figure out how to deal with the chafing I get at the back of my head, from my wetsuit. Found out about rash guard undershirts online but the neckline is not high enough to protect the chafing and...they're expensive.
Still aiming to do the long distance race...so help me God!
Monday, July 12, 2010
2nd try at Ocean Swimming
Went to the beach alone last Saturday for another try at open water swimming.
Found 3 people (probably in their late 50's) training for a triathlon as well! At first, I said, yay, I can finally train with others!
So I put my suit on (embarassingly asked somebody on the pier to zip me up!) and went on the water. Amazingly, it doesn't feel as cold as the last time I went (it was around 64 deg this time).
Come to find out they were just training to "catch a wave" and not doing much swimming.
And so I just asked how long a mile was in the water. The trainer pointed to a landmark along the beach and just went for it. I wasn't swimming straight for there were no lane markers to follow like in a pool so I probably swam farther to get to the landmark.
On the way back was a different story...I only got halfway through and I was really tired. Swam towards the shore and just walked towards the starting mark. I was a bit discouraged and was really considering downgrading my race to the shorter one.
But driving back home, I thought of driving parallel to where I swam to determine how long it really was. It was about .6 miles! So it was longer. Gonna try this weekend again and see.
Took my bike to the shop where I bought it to have it checked and tune-up. Planning to go running tonight.
Found 3 people (probably in their late 50's) training for a triathlon as well! At first, I said, yay, I can finally train with others!
So I put my suit on (embarassingly asked somebody on the pier to zip me up!) and went on the water. Amazingly, it doesn't feel as cold as the last time I went (it was around 64 deg this time).
Come to find out they were just training to "catch a wave" and not doing much swimming.
And so I just asked how long a mile was in the water. The trainer pointed to a landmark along the beach and just went for it. I wasn't swimming straight for there were no lane markers to follow like in a pool so I probably swam farther to get to the landmark.
On the way back was a different story...I only got halfway through and I was really tired. Swam towards the shore and just walked towards the starting mark. I was a bit discouraged and was really considering downgrading my race to the shorter one.
But driving back home, I thought of driving parallel to where I swam to determine how long it really was. It was about .6 miles! So it was longer. Gonna try this weekend again and see.
Took my bike to the shop where I bought it to have it checked and tune-up. Planning to go running tonight.
Sunday, July 11, 2010
bike?
I have a resentment. And I already prayed for the person I am resenting...
My sister has a bike. It has been sitting... wherever it's been sitting... for about two years. I think my mom gave it to her. She has never used it. It even has a flat tire or needs a tube or something- she told me this LAST SPRING- that's Spring of 2009... And yesterday morning, I invited her to go to the book sale in my town with me (used books that are 3 for $1) and she said she couldn't afford to go. That she really had no money- not even for a $.33 book... I had been meaning to ask her about the bike, so I took this opportunity and said "Hey, you should sell me your bike." and she said she no- that she was thinking she might use it eventually. I suggested that she loan it to me indefinitely- and I'd get it fixed and when she needed it she could have it back. She, again, said no.
Now that I put that in writing, I feel silly. I need to emphasize that I'm not *that* upset over it. But really, it's silly. It would be cool if she actually started to use the bike, too. I hope she does.
I ran on the treadmill at the gym yesterday and I hope to run on the boardwalk- even if it's short- then jump in the ocean when I'm done. Today, the beach doesn't open 'til 12:30 so unless I get out RIGHT NOW, the morning isn't an option. "Guards" block the entrance to the beach starting at 8 am on Sundays.
My sister has a bike. It has been sitting... wherever it's been sitting... for about two years. I think my mom gave it to her. She has never used it. It even has a flat tire or needs a tube or something- she told me this LAST SPRING- that's Spring of 2009... And yesterday morning, I invited her to go to the book sale in my town with me (used books that are 3 for $1) and she said she couldn't afford to go. That she really had no money- not even for a $.33 book... I had been meaning to ask her about the bike, so I took this opportunity and said "Hey, you should sell me your bike." and she said she no- that she was thinking she might use it eventually. I suggested that she loan it to me indefinitely- and I'd get it fixed and when she needed it she could have it back. She, again, said no.
Now that I put that in writing, I feel silly. I need to emphasize that I'm not *that* upset over it. But really, it's silly. It would be cool if she actually started to use the bike, too. I hope she does.
I ran on the treadmill at the gym yesterday and I hope to run on the boardwalk- even if it's short- then jump in the ocean when I'm done. Today, the beach doesn't open 'til 12:30 so unless I get out RIGHT NOW, the morning isn't an option. "Guards" block the entrance to the beach starting at 8 am on Sundays.
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