Ironman Arizona: Week 24
Thanks to some work distractions (i.e. our work retreat where we all went “glamping” for two days – more on that later), I completely lagged in getting last week’s recap up. I know, I know…how could you possibly survive without a post about how much I worked out. Chin up, little one, because here it is: TAPER AND RACE WEEK!
Mon., 5/14: Swim
2,700 meters in the outdoor pool. I literally don’t remember anything about this swim outside of what I have in my notes, “A little slow, but felt good overall.” Genius writer right here, folks.
The good news is that I finally found two training suits that fit! Yes, I use two pieces – my torso is abnormally long and one piece suits are NOT pretty. Both from SwimOutlet.com, the “Uglies” suit on the right was only $20 – score!
Tues., 5/15: Rest
Another impromptu trip to Los Angeles for work meant switching around my rest days.
Wed., 5/16: Run/Strength
My first interval run back from taking some run time off for my hip and oh how I’ve missed them. Here was the race prep interval run:
15′ Warm Up @ HR Zone 1-2
5 x 1/4 Mile @ HR Zone 5a (5k Pace) 1/4 Mile Easy Jog RI
Remainder of the 45′ Run @ HR Zone 2
I finished up Wednesday with 15 minutes of core work.
Thurs., 5/17: Cycle
Another race prep workout to keep the blood flowing but the intensity manageable:
10′ Warm Up @ Zone 1-2
With 10′ @ Zone 3-4, Cadence 90+rpm.
Remainder of the 40′ @ Zone 1-2
Fri., 5/18: Two Open Water Swims (a.m./p.m.)
Good friends are people who do open water swims with you at 6 a.m. and selflessly swim with you to calm you the hell down. I owe them a six pack for that one. Later that night, I met up with my coach for another open water swim and a few pointers on swim mechanics. Another great confidence builder for Sunday’s tri.
A.M. swim
P.M. swim
Sat., 5/19: Cycle
What was supposed to be a 20 minute race prep-ride turned into almost an hour ride as I didn’t gauge how far my cousin’s house was when I offered to ride there. Also, proof that Chicken Face and I take “bike” rides together:
Sun., 5/20: RACE!
Morgan Hill Triathlon – success!
I closed out week 24 with:
6 hours and 15 minutes of training (definitely a taper week):
7327.2 yards swimming
42.4 miles cycling
10.9 miles running (stupid hip)
15 minutes strength training
I have a big double brick planned for this weekend, a birthday celebration and enjoying the weekend catching up on life. Hope you all have a fantastic and safe holiday weekend.
Happy Running!
Garmin 910XT
I’d like to call it a blog birthday present to myself, but who am I kidding, we all know that Chicken Face wouldn’t let that fly.
No, instead I’m going to position it as an upgrade/trade-off. You see, after last weekend’s tri where I was less than pleased with my watch situation, I bit the bullet and purchased the new Garmin 910XT.
I hate this photo. I look horribly cheesy and shiny, but it’s the only one.
This baby is a true multi-sport watch and literally does things that no other multi-sport watch in the world can do. I’m talking calculating swim pace, swim distance, seamless transition features, and a long-lasting battery life…all while being uber-sleek and sexy.
Let me be the first to tell you that this thing isn’t discounted ANYWHERE. I think I reached the end of the Internet trying to find a deal or a discount code that would work, but alas, I came up empty-handed. So instead, I promised to make the following sacrifices/cuts in order to justify $399 on the new Garmin 910 XT:
- I’m selling my Garmin 405. There’s simply no need for that many watches and I can hopefully get an extra $100 to apply towards to 910.
- I used a $50 gift certificate to a local Fleet Feet that I received as a birthday present. I knew I was saving that sucker for a reason.
- I vowed not to go to Starbucks on weekdays anymore, emphasis on “weekdays.”
- I told Chicken Face that I would temporarily stop bugging him about replacing the atrocious desk in the guest room. Emphasis on “temporarily.”
- I purchased the version without the heart monitor (saved another $50) as I can still use the heart monitor that I have from my even older 305.
- I purchased it on my cash back credit card so at least there’s a couple dollars coming back my direction
- The whole “I want to get new clothes and start dressing for success at work” bit? Well, that’s not happening anytime soon.
- I’m going to sell locks of my hair to aging troll dolls.
- I’m open to renting Lola to single dudes looking to pick up women downtown in one hour increments. Wait, wait…maybe not.
- I’m going to stomp my feet and scream, “But DADDY, I want a golden egg NOOOOW.”
Triathlon training is EXPENSIVE (this is another post entirely), but it’s the sport I chose which means I’m willing to make sacrifices along the way to be able to get the gear that I need/want.
I can’t wait to try out this new beauty and overanalyze all of the data that comes with it.
What sports gear have you invested in?
Did you have to cut in other areas to be able to afford it?
Happy Running!
The Blog’s 2nd Birthday
I interrupt the regularly scheduled programming to bring you breaking news that only my Google Calendar could remind me of: May 22, 2012 is Twenty-Six and Then Some’s second birthday!
Awwwwwwwwwwweee…
I’m not quite sure how I’ve been filling the Internet with my mindless babble for two years now, but this I do know: my little corner has brought great memories, great friends, great opportunities, and most importantly, you guys!
I feel like I have more online friends than in-person pals, and that should probably be deemed abnormal, but it’s in you that I find inspiration and comfort. I mean, who else can I talk hours on end about running, training, swimming, eating, cycling and obsessively posting photos of Lola? No one!
Looking back, it was quite the year (um, hello marriage), so to reminisce, here are some of my favorite moments.
I ran my first relay.
We got married.
We honeymooned during a hurricane.
I was an SF Marathon ambassador.
We lived in up at the Vegas half with some amazing peeps.
We survived our first costume race.
I made new cross-country friends.
I ruined Valentine’s Day in the most epic way.
I cheered on friends on their big journey.
I took big risks and faced doubt head on.
I found a new best friend.
I discovered new fears.
And am still working on overcoming them.
And in some even more recent news, I was recently selected to be an Oakley Women’s ambassador. I’m honored to be chosen and can’t wait to share more!
I asked this question last year and I think I’ll ask it again: I want to make sure that this blog is valuable to all who stop by. What do you want to see more of on the blog?
Thanks for being a part of this journey and I’m sure the next year will be even more amazing!
Happy Running!
Race Recap: Morgan Hill Sprint Triathlon
Warming: be prepared for a ridiculously long recap and far too many photos of myself.
A 4:15 alarm is never a welcome thing, especially when you wake-up every hour wondering if it’s time for your fate to be determined. Soon it was time to roll out of bed and head to Morgan Hill for the Morgan Hill Sprint Triathlon: 3/4 mile swim, 16 mile bike and 5 mile run.
(Triathlon tip from Coach Paul: apparently there is no “official” or “standard” distance for sprint triathlons. Technically anything less than an Olympic distance is considered a sprint. Who knew.)
As I rolled into the event I saw Chris McCrary, one of the leaders on the Forward Motion Race Club that I’m a part of, and he was quick to help me through the set-up process. Tape your number here, rack your bike there, etc. – he knew this was my first and it just the type of newbie support that I needed.
After a quick bathroom break and body marking, I wiggled into my wetsuit and made my way to the start of the swim with Chicken Face to watch the waves ahead of me take off. I nervously took a Gu and before you knew it, kissed Chicken Face goodbye and I was ready to go.
The Swim
As I stepped into the edge of the water, my feet quickly sank in the mud. Oh no. Mud = murky water. I put my head down and my suspicions were verified, I couldn’t see anything but green and my hands. Strangely, at least being able to see my hand brought some comfort. I swam out to the far right side of the buoys as it was a deep water start. Looking back, I should have spent this time warming up, but I thought my elevated heart rate was enough.
As the yellow caps went off, the pink caps made their way to the start. I stayed to the right (just like track, the fast folks go on the left) and within a matter of moments, we were off. There wasn’t much kicking, punching, touching or anything to be drama or panic-worthy. So I just swam and like clockwork, my heart rate was overwhelming me. NO. NO. NO! NO PANIC ATTACKS.
I knew in my head that this panic was unwarranted so I stopped, did some breaststroke, then flipped on my back for a quick moment to get my composure. It only took about 30 seconds but it was worth it because it worked. I flipped back over and counted. 1-2-3-breathe-1-2-3-breathe-1-2-3-sight/breathe-1-2-3-breather. It seemed to do the trick because from that moment on I found my rhythm and just swam. The swimming felt like it came naturally, as did my sighting, and I wanted to smile in the water.
The swim was actually around an island in the reservoir and as I rounded the corner, I sighted and could see the end of the swim. I did it. I had overcome my panic attack and went on to actually enjoy the open water swimming.
As I neared the end, I remembered the tips that my coach and friends had told me: keep swimming until your hand scrapes the bottom three times. As soon as I felt the ground, I popped up and started my way up the ramp while ripping the top half of my wetsuit off.
I heard Chicken Face cheering for me and I screamed at him, “What was my swim time?!” Apparently my watch didn’t start and I had no idea what my pace actually was.
He shouted “24 minutes,” back at me.
“24?!” I questioned.
“Yes!” he replied.
With a minor panic attack and a newbie swimmer, this was exactly the confidence booster that I needed. I slipped on my cycling gear (no gloves, no socks – lesson learned), switched watches (annoying) and took my baby on to the next leg.
Swim Time: 23:46 / 1:49/100 yard pace
Transition Time: 2:00
The Bike
Pumped with excitement from accomplishing my biggest fear, I made my way to the bike course and quickly popped into my aerobars. BOOM! Another fear accomplished and I stayed there for a majority of the ride (except photo ops and the hill climbs).
More than anything, this leg made me appreciate people who say, “On your left!” You can scream it at me, you can politely warn me, I don’t care, just say it. Because when I almost eat it from seeing a pothole to late so I swerve and you get pissed because I slightly swerved, well maybe you should have told me you were trying to pass!
I continued on my way and was fairly uneventful outside of the ridiculously good time I was having. I love cycling.
As I approached the transition, I could see girls getting out of their shoes while riding and while admirable, there was no way I was going to attempt that just yet.
Bike Time: 51:00 / 18.8 mph pace
Transition Time:1:25
The Run
Unsure of how my body would react by this point and given that it was an out and back course, I decided to try and maintain my pace at 7:00/miles and then decide as the turnaround how I wanted to pace the second half.
I started out with small steps until I quickly regained my balance and stride. When I saw other athlete’s ages on their legs, I kept an eye out for the 25-29 age groupers. As I reached the turnaround, my stomach was “sloshy” so I downed some ClifBloks and tried to increase the pace to sub 7 minutes.
As I rounded the corner, I ripped off my sunglasses and pushed it in. FINISHED!
Run Time: 34:38 / 6:55 pace
I crossed the finish line feeling fantastic. I wasn’t exhausted or tired, but instead, proud of this next step in my journey. To add to my excitement, I found out that I placed in my age group and couldn’t be happier.
Finish Time: 1:52:49
3rd in my age group, 23rd female overall
Overall, I felt fantastic and it reconfirmed why I’m on this journey. Taking risks, overcoming fears and pushing myself to new levels. I think I’m in love.
Next up…lessons learned from my first tri.
Happy Running!
And So It Begins…
Only five days ago I was struggling and felt completely defeated by the open water. But today I realize what friends can do for you, and why I’m lucky to have some that will go swimming with me at 6 a.m. on a Friday morning.
Today, I swam with Simon, Jeff and Andy, all of whom knew about my fears and were nothing but supportive. Simon even offered to stay with me in the swim lanes and coach me through each lap with tips and tricks. With my mind focused on his sage advice instead of the negative thoughts that would normally be running through my mind, I was able to swim in the open water (largely) anxiety free! Let me repeat that for you: LARGELY ANXIETY FREE! WAHOO!!!
I focused on sighting, on drafting, on feet bubbles and anything else EXCEPT how deep and dark the water was, and my anxiety subsided. Lesson: focus on anything but your fears.
Well, there were still some moments, especially in the beginning, and I still stayed in the lane lines, but by the end I felt like a new person and I have Simon to thank for this. So here’s a shout out to you, Simon – THANK YOU!
And it all came right on time as Sunday is a big day. It will be my first triathlon.
Ok, ok, Chicken Face likes to remind me that I did a couple triathlons in college, but given that I can’t even remember any semblance of a training plan or the fact that it was over seven years ago, I’m calling this weekend’s race my “first” triathlon.
The Morgan Hill Sprint Triathlon is a 3/4 mile swim, 16 mile bike and a 5 mile run.
The Swim & Run:
The Bike:
This morning, I also met my coach for a "Triathlon 101” pow-wow. I literally asked the world’s most basic questions so I don’t make any rookie mistakes on Sunday. Did I sound like an idiot asking them? Probably. Am I glad I asked them? You better believe it. I’ll be sure to share them with you soon!
My race strategy for Sunday: think of it is a triple brick workout to get used to the sport, but leave everything out on the course. We’ll see what happens.
I have another open water swim tonight and some race prep tomorrow morning, so pending another confidence meltdown, I’m nervous, excited and anxious all at once. Here goes nothing.
Happy Running!
Ironman Arizona: Week 23
Note to self: when trying to explain/convince why massage therapy is essential to training and worth the monthly expense, do not call it a “massage.”
To the non-athlete, muttering such words conjures the image of candles, aromatherapy, dim lighting and pure relaxation, not the deep tissue work that hurts-so-good and is necessary preventative care. Trust me, it’s just not going to fly. Instead, call it “sports therapy” an explain that it’s an injury prevention tactic that is required. Coach’s orders.
This past week I went to my first “sports therapy” session at a chiropractor’s office (note: NOT a spa) and HOLY-WHYDIDNTANYONETELLME-AMAZING. ART is great because it focused on my injured area, but “sports therapy” works the entire body and the therapist discovered things about me that only I would know.
Why yes, yes I have the death grip on my bike and that’s why my elbows hurt.
Why yes, yes I have been swimming a lot and I had no idea my rotator cuffs were so tight.
Long story short, find a reputable sports/massage therapist at a medical center (not a spa) and watch what happens. I’m already excited to go to my next appointment.
I guess I should recap my week now. Here we go!
Mon., 5/7: Overslept…um…rest
It happens. Moved my workout to Wednesday, which was supposed to be my real rest day.
Tues., 5/8: Run/Core
Tuesday are usually for intervals or hills, but with my hip issues, I wanted to ease my way back into running so I did short, slow run of 5.6 miles. No pain during the run (yay!), but post-run “stinging” ensued.
I crunched the core with the Nike Training Club app post-run.
Wed., 5/9: Swim
The open water may have me beat at the moment, but I’m going to own the pool, dammit. I looked over and saw some nearby swimmers doing their “look-at-me-I’m-faaaancy” flip turns and I thought, what the hell, I’ll try. It may have looked like a drowned cat flipping in the water, but I did it and continued to do flip turns for 2,600 meters. Small win.
Thurs., 5/10: Cycle
I finally got around to replacing my Garmin wireless sensor on my bike, well, Chicken Face finally got around to it, and I was able to train again with my cadence in mind. It was a sweaty, disgusting, perfect mess.
I bag them so I know how many calories I’m getting, but is it just me or do these CarboPro baggies look suspicious?
Fri., 5/11: Run
As I’m easing my way back into running after a couple weeks off, this seven mile run was short, but still trying as my heart rate was all over the place despite my level of perceived exertion. I came home frustrated, but know it’ll be fine. It always is.
Stayed nowhere in these zones. It was a sad mess.
Sat., 5/12: Long Ride/Run
54 miles on some brand new courses with a lot of hill climbing was not only welcome, but made me fall in love with cycling even more. I tested out a new fueling strategy of trying to get the majority of my calories from liquids and it mostly worked: CarboPro, Iroman Perform, ClifBloks and water. It’s still not even close to perfect, but I’ll be sure to share as soon as I find something that seems like a winner.
The most genius idea I’ve learned yet: directions on your bottle.
Sun., 5/13: Open Water Swim
Ugh, do we really need to talk about it again?
My mom and sisters were in town for Mother’s Day and we pretty much fawned over my little sister’s new puppy the entire time. I’m sad to report that Lola and the new puppy did not get along, well, Lola pretty much wanted nothing to do with her. What a diva!
I closed out week 23 with:
8 hours and 23 minutes of training (a really low week – almost felt guilty about it):
4,155.7 yards swimming
69.3 miles cycling
12.6 miles running (stupid hip)
30 minutes strength training
So tell me, do you go to a massage/sports therapist regularly?
Happy Running!
The Truth In Trying
It’s important to me that my blog isn’t all rainbows and sunshine.
Far too often I read blogs that are nothing but dancing unicorns and it’s easy to find yourself falsely comparing your life to these seemingly perfect lives. But in reality, the blogger just chooses not to post their struggles, thus creating a fake perception of reality.
I don’t want my blog to be pathetic rants or any sort of pity party, but I do want it to be an honest reflection of my athletic endeavors – the good, the bad, and the ugly. I think it’s important for anyone who is reading about my journey to know that it is not seamless. I also know that my “struggles” pale in comparison to serious hardships, but they are still part of the process and I want to be honest with you guys and myself. Plus, putting it down in writing is my version of therapy.
This morning I went back to the open water, dragging my mom along for the ride as she was in town for mother’s day. Last week, I made small progress in the open water by staying in the lane lines and only swimming short distances at a time. Sticking with my motto of “baby steps,” I decided that I would once again swim before the rest of the group arrived and swim the longer swim lanes (150 meters each way), but not outside of the lane lines.
I zipped up my wetsuit, moaned “Mooooooooom!” when she insisted on snapping photos, and was anxious to see what today would have in store. I made my way out to the swim lanes with the intention of not necessarily getting a workout in, but rather working on my open water comfort. I once again spent some time blowing bubbles in the water before starting the swim and trying to get comfortable.
This is the “my wetsuit is choking me” look.
I started swimming and felt good; same feeling as last week and thought I was making progress. But as I got into the 100 meter marker of each lap, my heart would start to race. The water got deeper, a little foggier, different plants underneath, and even my first fish sighting. My mental freak out makes absolutely no sense as there is no reason for it. I would flap around for a few more meters until I reached the end and had to take two minutes at the end of each lap just to calm down.
Absolutely nothing went wrong except for my mind doubting everything. I thought I was done with doubt?! Apparently not because once again my wetsuit was seemingly “choking me and trying to kill me” and the negative thoughts of, “Why am I doing this? My triathlon next week is going to be an embarrassing disaster. I can swim in the pool just fine, but I am deplorable in the open water. Just give up. I can’t F-ing swim. I hate this. Why is this happening?!” raced through my head. It was pathetic.
I promised myself I would do eight laps (1,200 meters) and the good news is that I did it. I don’t even want to tell you how long it took me. As I walked way out of the water, I made my way past the group and tried to avoid any eye contact or conversation with anyone. This was the same time that my mom and aunt came back from their run around the neighboring trails and met me at my stuff. Still avoiding eye contact, they asked how it was and I just replied, “Fine.” and nervously gathered my stuff.
I stripped my wetsuit off stupidly back down in the water, my coach came to tell me there was a shower, and I forced a smile and loaned out my swim cap to a fellow swimmer. As I made my way to the shower, my mom and aunt followed me to a hidden corner, away from the view of everyone else and I lost it.
For the first time in Ironman training I cried.
I cried because I felt like a failure at something that should be easy. Something that I know takes time, but I should at least be able to swim the swim lanes. My self-esteem plummeted.
In perfect timing, my mom and aunt were there to do the things that moms do best: comfort me.
I know that I’m far too hard on myself and that things like this will take time. They assured me that come November I will look back at this and laugh, but I just have to keep at it. I know they’re right, but for a confirmed type-A, it’s a hard pill to swallow.
Am I back to my “I can do anything!” mentality? Not at the moment. But it’s almost as if it was supposed to happen today, Mother’s Day, when my mom was in town and it was her first glimpse of my training. I got knocked down and she was there to pick me back up. Love you, mom.
Tomorrow, we try again.
Tips for Finding A Coach
Yesterday I wrote about why I got a coach and perhaps you’re considering hiring one as well. If so, I thought I’d share a few tips to help you in your search because trust me, all coaches are not created equal. Here are a few pointers that helped me along the way:
- Know What You’re Looking For – Do you need a coach that only provides a schedule? A coach that’s available 24/7? A coach that leads group workouts? A private coach? A local coach? The questions are endless, but start with the basics answered so you can steer yourself in the right direction.
- Know Your Budget – The sad but true story is that you have to pay a coach. Shocker! Determine how much you’d be comfortable paying each month and stick to your guns. Some coaches list pricing online, but most require you to contact them.
- Research, Research, Research – Put your mad Googling skills to use and do your homework! Research until your eyes turn blue about all of the various coaching options in your area. If you’re super organized, make a spreadsheet listing all of the potential candidates and their information, narrow them down, and then reach out to the ones that you think are potentials.
- Get Referrals – Before I even went in to meet Paul, I had a good sense that this would be a good fit. A friend highly recommended him and I believe that you should either get a referral, or ask to talk to other athlete’s that your potential coach has coached. Ask them all the nitty gritty questions about their experience and get their honest opinion.
- Email First, Then Meet In Person – Time is limited and you shouldn’t waste it meeting every coach in person. However, I’d strongly recommend not hiring a coach based solely off of email conversations. When I went to meet Paul (I believe I cancelled on him the first time, wait, I might have cancelled twice on him), we met at a coffee shop (PUBLIC PLACE!) where he definitely looked the part. Small, strong, thin build with a Powerbar Elite hat on and an Ironman jacket. Sure I judged a book by its cover, but I knew that I wanted an experienced, successful and accomplished Sherpa through this process. Plus, Paul just did a really good job at marketing himself and I can respect that.
- Ask Questions – This is THE MOST IMPORTANT PART and make sure to ask them in person. Here’s a list of some general questions, but also ask some as they pertain to your life, your race and the areas that are critical for you:
- How long have you been coaching?
- What coaching certifications/qualifications do you have?
- Is coaching your full time job? If no, how much time is dedicated to coaching per week?
- How many athletes do you coach at once?
- How many athletes do you currently coach? (I prefer a coach with a limited amount of athletes so I know he’s not spread too thin.)
- How many of your athletes have finished the races you trained them for? (Sure he could train 100 athletes, but if only 10 have actually finished, that’s a bad sign.)
- How many Ironman races have you raced? (You better tell me you’ve done more than one to qualify as my coach.)
- How many Ironman finishers have you coached?
- What online tools do you use to coach athletes? (This is to ensure that the coach is organized and “with the times", which is very important to me. If I text you, I hope you know how to text too.)
- How quickly do you usually respond to your athletes questions?
- How often can and how do your athletes communicate with you? (Some coaches charge based on how often and how you contact them – email vs. phone – I think this is a bunch of CRAP! Get a coach who has one flat fee and welcomes all modes of communication.)
- What are your qualifications/experience?
- What is your monthly pricing model?
- How do you help your athletes find balance?
- How do you help your athletes prevent burnout?
- What is your approach for race day execution?
- Will you be present at races?
- What are you racing this year?
- What type of fitness analysis and testing does your coaching package include?
- How do you guide your athletes through nutrition, injury and preventative care?
With these tips in hand, you’ll be off to solid start at finding a coach that fits your lifestyle. Anything else you’re curious about when it comes to finding a coach?
Oh, and because we can’t have a post without a photo and I don’t have any that are applicable, here’s Lola’s “oh my goodness you’re home, please scratch my belly” face. I die every damn time.
Happy Running!
Why I Got A Coach
Lately I’ve received quite a few questions on my decision to get a coach for training and the process I took to find the right one. Thus, I thought I’d share my rationale on why I chose to get a coach. Tomorrow, I’ll share some tips on how to weed through the masses of self-proclaimed “coaches” to find the right fit.
This is my coach, Paul Kinney. Sorry Paul, I stole this photo from your Facebook page.
First and foremost, my life isn’t typical and this is largely because of my job. Allow me to preface this and say that I love what I do, but my job doesn’t keep the typical 9-5 hours. When you work in the world of digital, you are on 24 hours. Plus, I work in San Francisco and live in the East Bay, and it takes me an hour and 15 minutes to get work…each way. I don’t even want to calculate how much of my life is spent commuting. Regardless, it’s easy to see why my time is limited and everything that I do must be intentional to get the most out of my day.
Second, taking the gigantic jump from running marathons to completing an Ironman means taking on two brand news sports, both of which I knew nothing about. I know I needed someone who would not only tolerate, but welcome, my newbie questions, and take me under their wing on this brand new adventure. I will be the first to admit that I have no idea what I’m doing and I don’t have the time to aimlessly keep trying until I figure it out on my own. Having a coach who doesn’t mind how many times I call or email him is of utmost importance.
Third, Ironman is no joke. I think being naïve about what Ironman really entails has actually been beneficial because I don’t totally freak myself out, but I do know that tackling an Ironman is risky. This isn’t something that I can make a haphazard 16 week plan for and even if I don’t train well, I can still push through to the end. No, not at all. If I don’t train strategically, I can seriously get injured, collapse, or get myself in some very scary situations. I knew that I needed someone to guide me down a very strategic path in order to finish smartly, safely and to hold me accountable.
Fourth, groups. I can’t even begin to tell you how much more I enjoy my long workouts when it’s with other people. Not only is it actually more enjoyable, but you push yourself in a way that you never would alone and the time passes much faster. My coach leads multiple group workouts throughout the week and while I’m only able to make one right now, it still makes all the difference.
Fifth, accountability. I have to record every workout that I do on my online Workout Log and my coach looks at every single detail and comment. Knowing that someone is on the other side monitoring what I do is enough motivation in and of itself to not want to skip anything.
And finally, guidance. I’m the type of person who welcomes feedback – the good and the bad. I need someone there to tell me if I’m doing things incorrectly, if I should be changing things, or just a little feedback about how I’m on the right track. Having a coach brings peace of mind in that I’m not alone in this huge endeavor and that feedback in never more than an email away.
There’s a quick look into some of the top reasons why I got a coach, but tell me, do you have a coach? Would you ever get one? Why or why not?
Next up…tips for finding a coach that works for you! Happy running!
Ironman Arizona: Week 22
Week 22 was a week of babying. Babying my hips, my quads, my psoads, and pretty much everything to ensure that I don’t completely destroy myself. Rolling, sticking, stretching, and icing, over and over again. And you know what…it paid off (shocker, I know). So I have some genius advice for all of my fellow injured athletes out there: if something hurts, STOP DOING WHATEVER IS MAKING IT HURT (oh the wisdom). Take care of your body before, during and after training because the moment you neglect it, it will surely come screaming back.
Here’s a look at week 22:
Mon., 4/30: Swim
I’ll now proclaim on the blog that I’m starting to get really frustrated with my swim pace – it’s nothing near where I want it to be. However, I need to remember that I am brand new to swimming and as I increase distance, my pace may slow as my fitness grows. Patience, grass hopper. Here’s Monday’s workout:
WARM UP:
2 x 100 FORM (10″RI)
4 x (25 DRILL, 25 EASY) 15″RI)
4 x (50K, 25 EASY, 25 BUILD) 15″RI
4 x (25 FIST, 25 BUILD) 15″RI
MAIN SET:
2 x 200 FORM (30″RI)
2 x 50 FAST (20″RI)
2 x 200 FORM (45″RI)
2 x 50 FAST (20″RI)
2 x 300 FORM (45″RI)
COOL DOWN: (I often skip the cool down as I’m short on time)
2 x 50 Non-Freestyle
Tues., 5/1: Crazy Work Day Turned Rest Day
On Monday I was told that I needed to go on a last-minute, overnight trip to Los Angeles for work. What I thought would be a busy day turned into a disaster…let me count the ways:
- I ripped the crotch of my pants while at the airport (I only packed one pair).
- I started freaking out at the fact that I ripped the crotch because my quads are growing by the minute. Enter horrible mind games.
- After landing in LA, I had a cab rush me to the nearest Target so I could swap outfits before heading to my client’s office.
- I rushed in and out of Target, hopped back in a cab, got dropped of and then proceeded to leave my cell phone in the cab.
- My awesome colleague was kind enough to track down the cab and thank God they had the phone back.
- We ended up working until 11, and needless to say, I was pooped.
- P.S. I hate the fact that my blog’s bullet template is stars. I need to change this asap.
Wed., 5/2: Run
Despite it being a chaotic night, the hotel I stayed at in Santa Monica was literally right across the street from the Santa Monica Pier – the same place where Chicken Face and I got engaged. Not only did I want to take a quick trip down memory lane, but I wanted to see how the hip was doing after a week off of running. Thus, I jaunted six slow miles down the boardwalk and through Venice Beach with no hip pain, just some post-run aches. HURRAH!
Thurs., 5/3: Cycle a.m. / Swim p.m.
You guys – SHUT THE FRONT DOOR! What the heck is happening on SMASH?! I think the Ivy/Dev scandal may be contributing to my increased cycling heart rate.
In other, less seventh-gradeish news, I was also able to swim outside (my new favorite thing) for another 800 meter marker. I think it might be my increased state of happiness when I’m swimming outside, but I shaved almost a minute off of my previous 800 marker. Definitely a boost to my depressed swim-state on Monday.
Fri., 5/4: Swim
More proof: swimming is not sexy.
My hips were still achy after Wednesday’s run and I wanted to save any running juice I may have had left for Saturday’s brick, so I went back to the outdoor pool for 2,700 meters. An old lady said that I “swim really nicely.” Totally the highlight of my day.
Sat., 5/5: Double Brick
Dun…dun…duuuuuuuuuuuuun! 40 mile ride, 30 minute run, 18 mile ride, 20 minute run.
Overall, it was a really good workout with some good climbing in the first bike leg, some slow and steady running as I babied my hip, and FINALLY loving my aerobars. It was also my first ride with my new tri shoes which took a bit of getting used to, and my new Garmin sensor (the last one broke and I’ve been riding blind for a while).
I did have some trouble along the way as my tire was rubbing against the frame and my back water bottle holder literally flew off and I had to stop and retrieve it, but just some more “firsts” that I’m getting out of the way. On that note, I really need to learn to change my tires.
I’m also ashamed to admit this, but I took my first “official” ice bath ever. I’ve gone in a tub of cold water before, but adding the ice makes it legit. Plus, I need to cool down my awesome sunburn.
Sun., 5/6: Open Water Swim
One baby step at a time, but my re-introduction the open water post-panic attack proved to be successful. You can read all about it here.
Top row: Me, Sima, Kristin, Aron, Courtney, Cate, Alyssa, Beth
Front row: Katie, Jojo, Marjorie (happy birthday!), Layla, Jessica, Karin
Post-swim, I went to meet up with the lovely running ladies for mimosas and brunch. I don’t see them enough…le sigh.
I closed out week 21 with:
9 hours and 14 minutes of training (not much, but getting back into it):
9,077 yards swimming
74 miles cycling
12.3 miles running (stupid hip)
Happy Running!
