Thursday, August 28, 2008
Monday, May 19, 2008
Sunday, May 11, 2008
Tuesday, May 6, 2008
Go To My Other Blog/Website
So I have two blogs, lots of blog, I dunno. Obviously this one. But also my website KellyDunleavy.com, which is where I was really keeping my regular blog and other stuff that I keep meaning to add to and make awesomely better.
This blogspot blog was just suppose to be about training, but then Loren and Courtenay and Sarah came to it. And now it has probably more readers than my regular blog. Sigh.
And I really shouldn't be dividing my readership (of 6), so I'm combining this blog with my regular blog. Obviously, that one will have more to do with triathlon now and stuff.
So everyone should go over there, change their bookmarks, whatever.
GO
This blogspot blog was just suppose to be about training, but then Loren and Courtenay and Sarah came to it. And now it has probably more readers than my regular blog. Sigh.
And I really shouldn't be dividing my readership (of 6), so I'm combining this blog with my regular blog. Obviously, that one will have more to do with triathlon now and stuff.
So everyone should go over there, change their bookmarks, whatever.
GO
Sunday, May 4, 2008
Training Partners?
Yesterday I kinda *made* Steve go on a run 7.5 mile run with me even though he hasn't run in a year and we had to go to Fleet Feet first to buy him shoes. Then I made him go with me to China Camp where I swam and he cut open his foot on a rock or something.
Then this morning we were going to go on the 9am ZteaM "social" ride, but they never showed, so I *made* him ride 3 hours with me instead. Whenever we would have to stop and start again he just started moaning. I think maybe his legs hurt, a little.
I think he's going to be happy too when I make friends to train with.
Then this morning we were going to go on the 9am ZteaM "social" ride, but they never showed, so I *made* him ride 3 hours with me instead. Whenever we would have to stop and start again he just started moaning. I think maybe his legs hurt, a little.
I think he's going to be happy too when I make friends to train with.
Saturday, May 3, 2008
Swimming, Sigh
Yesterday, I realized the pool I swim in now is 25 METERS, not yards. So I'm not some kind of swimming schizo.
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Sac Intl Tri
The past few days have been hectic/tiring/long with flying to LA and back, moving, etc (plus I was a little convinced I had carpal tunnel, my right arm has been going all pinched nerve wierd), so here is my race report from this weekend.
Although the Sacramento International Triathlon was not a high-priority race for me, it was also the first real race of the season (due to all those other circumstances with those other races) and I hadn't done an Olympic in a year, hadn't really done a triathlon in a year (except for Bearathlon back in February) so I was really excited to see how my training is coming along and where I was at right now.
I had three goals:
1. Break 2:20. (Really, I wanted to break 2:15 but I figured I'd have some kinks to work out of the system)
2. Win. Obviously, dependant on who showed up.
3. Work out said kinks.
Short Report:
1. I did it in 2:11:40.
2. I actually got 3rd overall (contrary to reports that I got 2nd) and the first two women were FAST.
3. No real kinks right now. I need to not cry during the swim.
Long Report:
I don't like 2 transitions. Even the announcer was confused. At one point, while I was standing around getting ready, he says 'I don't know what's going on. Don't ask me.' That made me feel good.
I got to meet Loren and Chris, other ZteaM members and bloggers, while I was searching for somewhere to set my bike. Then, while I was walking down to the swim, Sarah said hi too. Lots of people to meet! The race was running about 15 minutes late, and I had already warmed up running, so I just stood around in my wetsuit for awhile and made sarcastic comments to strangers. (It's kind of a specialty of mine.)
Swim:
The swim was actually measured from the bank of the river and then you were suppose to swim across the river, turn and head all the way down the river, turn and come back. BUT, BUT, while Sarah and I are standing watching the start of the Sprint swim, we realize that they're letting people line up all the way across the river, so that if you start all the way on the other side, you save yourself a decent amount of swimming in the race. This turned out to be some good thinking.
The swim also started with ALL men and women together. It was about 150-160 people. I get a little spastic in swim starts in general. I have been known to panic/asthma attack. So I was happy when at first the swim was just bad, not awful. I had some space around me. Then I got hit on the left. Then I got hit on the right. Then the two guys started veering into each other and squishing me in the middle. Somehow, I got stuck in the middle of all these guys, most of whom were just flailing, and I got punched and kicked and pulled. At one point I was accidentally hitting the feet of the guy in front of me just because i couldn't see and, you know, it's swimming, things happen, and he started kicking me. Not like he started kicking to swim, he started deliberately trying to kick me. Hard. Then I tried to pass him and I had to swim over his legs some, so he turned and hit me. Literally. It was bad. And I started to panic. All I could see was all these guys in front of me and all these guys around me. At one point, someone wacked me and I almost started to cry.
By the time we got to the turnaround I was in a complete panic. I was convinced this was the slowest anyone had ever swum ever, that I had never been in the water for this long, that this was the worst I had ever swum. I started trying to calm myself down, saying it's ok, it's your first swim of the year, if you come out of the water and see a really slow time, don't panic, it's ok, you can just come back on the bike. I even started doing that thing where you 'sight' just to see how much fucking farther this swim is.
So, when I stumbled up out of the water and run up the little walkway (passing people who were putting their shoes on, hah), I look at my watch. 19:40!!!!!! Yes, ok, it was a tiny bit short, and also I managed to save myself a decent amount of official time by starting in a strategic location. It was probably more like a 21:00 minute 1500m, but I was 3rd woman out of the water and I've never been 3rd out of the water and I've never swum that fast, so I'm going to be happy with my sub-20 1500, ok?
And, the interesting thing to note is, I never ever ever would have swum that fast if it was just 2 women in front of me and me by myself in the water. I'd have freaked out and thought I was swimming too fast and that I couldn't do it. Instead, all I saw was lots of guys and I thought I was doing awful. There's something about the power of perception here.
Bike:
As I was running to my bike I saw another girl who had gotten out of the water before me. So I rushed and got on my bike right behind her and I passed her as she was putting on her shoes from her flying mount. Hah. This is when I looked down at my power meter and saw 375W. Um, shit, I forgot to calibrate it, so it was reading a bit off. I had to use speed, since it was very very flat, and other people to judge my consistent effort. The girl ended up passing me back shortly after and I tried to stay with. Oh, I tried. But slowly the mandatory 15 feet of no drafting turned into 20, 25, then she was 30 seconds ahead of me and I was all 'just keep her in range'. Right. She ended up winning.
The rest of the bike was uneventful. Flat. Fast. I passed the other girl who must have gotten out of the water a minute before me. I drank ALOT of Gu2O and water, which was good because it was getting warm and, of course, I handle heat really well. Lots of guys who swam slower passed me. I passed some guys.
At the turn around, I made the turn and there, right behind me, were two other woman. Shit. They passed me, kinda *cough* drafting. And they looked good, fast. I picked it up a little to keep up and ended up passing the woman in back. I'm trying to hang with this other woman in front and I'm staring at her legs and they're huge and ripped and I'm just like fuck. I keep thinking 'just keep her in range, you can get her on the run.' And, then, I'm like 'oh yeah, no you can't, you don't run fast anymore.' Eventually she drops me. And I bike the rest of the thing pretty by myself. That woman, according to the official results, did the bike in 1:03 including the time for T1. That's just nuts. She got 2nd.
I stayed pretty consistent. Stayed hydrated. And did the bike in 1:06.
I never saw the woman who passed me at the beginning on her way back from the turn around, so I started to think maybe she had been doing the sprint and not the olympic. I was a little dissappointed to hear I was in 3rd, then, when I came in off the bike.
Run:
I saw Steve once on the bike cheering me on. But when I came in to start the run, he was on his fixed gear and rode out with me for the first almost mile. As he's riding next, he's yelling things. And I'm feeling good, strong, soo good that I start talking to him. He's like what the fuck.
I divided the run up in my head. It was 3 miles there and 3 miles back. And 3 miles is easy. I hit the first mile at 6:50, slowed down a little after that. At every water station I grabbed a cup, drank a sip and poured it on myself. I just really wanted to make sure there was no blowing up. Things past 4 miles have not gone well lately. Lots of not knowing if my hip will give out or my knee or if I just won't be able to run because I haven't been able to do alot of training/base. So it's always a concern.
Eventually, I see the girl in front on the way back. But I can't even see the turnaround yet she's so far ahead. She had 4 minutes at least on me then and was picking up speed. A little after the turn around I see the woman behind me, maybe a minute back, and we see each other and I think we both picked it up then at exactly the same time. She was running strong and if I blew up she was going to pass me. I really wasn't sure how things would hold together, but I was feeling good.
I had one brief flash of my hip stabbing pain around mile 4 but it went away. The last 2 miles were rough, my calves and quads cramped up, my legs hurt alot. But I kept up the pace. And by the time I got back to where Steve was waiting I felt good. I came in strong over the bridge to the finish. I think I even managed to smile for one of the photographers.
I got 3rd. The first two women won by like 5 minutes. That's really not even close. The woman who won was 29 though (bleh) and so I got 2nd in my age group, which is just annoying.
Although the Sacramento International Triathlon was not a high-priority race for me, it was also the first real race of the season (due to all those other circumstances with those other races) and I hadn't done an Olympic in a year, hadn't really done a triathlon in a year (except for Bearathlon back in February) so I was really excited to see how my training is coming along and where I was at right now.
I had three goals:
1. Break 2:20. (Really, I wanted to break 2:15 but I figured I'd have some kinks to work out of the system)
2. Win. Obviously, dependant on who showed up.
3. Work out said kinks.
Short Report:
1. I did it in 2:11:40.
2. I actually got 3rd overall (contrary to reports that I got 2nd) and the first two women were FAST.
3. No real kinks right now. I need to not cry during the swim.
Long Report:
I don't like 2 transitions. Even the announcer was confused. At one point, while I was standing around getting ready, he says 'I don't know what's going on. Don't ask me.' That made me feel good.
I got to meet Loren and Chris, other ZteaM members and bloggers, while I was searching for somewhere to set my bike. Then, while I was walking down to the swim, Sarah said hi too. Lots of people to meet! The race was running about 15 minutes late, and I had already warmed up running, so I just stood around in my wetsuit for awhile and made sarcastic comments to strangers. (It's kind of a specialty of mine.)
Swim:
The swim was actually measured from the bank of the river and then you were suppose to swim across the river, turn and head all the way down the river, turn and come back. BUT, BUT, while Sarah and I are standing watching the start of the Sprint swim, we realize that they're letting people line up all the way across the river, so that if you start all the way on the other side, you save yourself a decent amount of swimming in the race. This turned out to be some good thinking.
The swim also started with ALL men and women together. It was about 150-160 people. I get a little spastic in swim starts in general. I have been known to panic/asthma attack. So I was happy when at first the swim was just bad, not awful. I had some space around me. Then I got hit on the left. Then I got hit on the right. Then the two guys started veering into each other and squishing me in the middle. Somehow, I got stuck in the middle of all these guys, most of whom were just flailing, and I got punched and kicked and pulled. At one point I was accidentally hitting the feet of the guy in front of me just because i couldn't see and, you know, it's swimming, things happen, and he started kicking me. Not like he started kicking to swim, he started deliberately trying to kick me. Hard. Then I tried to pass him and I had to swim over his legs some, so he turned and hit me. Literally. It was bad. And I started to panic. All I could see was all these guys in front of me and all these guys around me. At one point, someone wacked me and I almost started to cry.
By the time we got to the turnaround I was in a complete panic. I was convinced this was the slowest anyone had ever swum ever, that I had never been in the water for this long, that this was the worst I had ever swum. I started trying to calm myself down, saying it's ok, it's your first swim of the year, if you come out of the water and see a really slow time, don't panic, it's ok, you can just come back on the bike. I even started doing that thing where you 'sight' just to see how much fucking farther this swim is.
So, when I stumbled up out of the water and run up the little walkway (passing people who were putting their shoes on, hah), I look at my watch. 19:40!!!!!! Yes, ok, it was a tiny bit short, and also I managed to save myself a decent amount of official time by starting in a strategic location. It was probably more like a 21:00 minute 1500m, but I was 3rd woman out of the water and I've never been 3rd out of the water and I've never swum that fast, so I'm going to be happy with my sub-20 1500, ok?
And, the interesting thing to note is, I never ever ever would have swum that fast if it was just 2 women in front of me and me by myself in the water. I'd have freaked out and thought I was swimming too fast and that I couldn't do it. Instead, all I saw was lots of guys and I thought I was doing awful. There's something about the power of perception here.
Bike:
As I was running to my bike I saw another girl who had gotten out of the water before me. So I rushed and got on my bike right behind her and I passed her as she was putting on her shoes from her flying mount. Hah. This is when I looked down at my power meter and saw 375W. Um, shit, I forgot to calibrate it, so it was reading a bit off. I had to use speed, since it was very very flat, and other people to judge my consistent effort. The girl ended up passing me back shortly after and I tried to stay with. Oh, I tried. But slowly the mandatory 15 feet of no drafting turned into 20, 25, then she was 30 seconds ahead of me and I was all 'just keep her in range'. Right. She ended up winning.
The rest of the bike was uneventful. Flat. Fast. I passed the other girl who must have gotten out of the water a minute before me. I drank ALOT of Gu2O and water, which was good because it was getting warm and, of course, I handle heat really well. Lots of guys who swam slower passed me. I passed some guys.
At the turn around, I made the turn and there, right behind me, were two other woman. Shit. They passed me, kinda *cough* drafting. And they looked good, fast. I picked it up a little to keep up and ended up passing the woman in back. I'm trying to hang with this other woman in front and I'm staring at her legs and they're huge and ripped and I'm just like fuck. I keep thinking 'just keep her in range, you can get her on the run.' And, then, I'm like 'oh yeah, no you can't, you don't run fast anymore.' Eventually she drops me. And I bike the rest of the thing pretty by myself. That woman, according to the official results, did the bike in 1:03 including the time for T1. That's just nuts. She got 2nd.
I stayed pretty consistent. Stayed hydrated. And did the bike in 1:06.
I never saw the woman who passed me at the beginning on her way back from the turn around, so I started to think maybe she had been doing the sprint and not the olympic. I was a little dissappointed to hear I was in 3rd, then, when I came in off the bike.
Run:
I saw Steve once on the bike cheering me on. But when I came in to start the run, he was on his fixed gear and rode out with me for the first almost mile. As he's riding next, he's yelling things. And I'm feeling good, strong, soo good that I start talking to him. He's like what the fuck.
I divided the run up in my head. It was 3 miles there and 3 miles back. And 3 miles is easy. I hit the first mile at 6:50, slowed down a little after that. At every water station I grabbed a cup, drank a sip and poured it on myself. I just really wanted to make sure there was no blowing up. Things past 4 miles have not gone well lately. Lots of not knowing if my hip will give out or my knee or if I just won't be able to run because I haven't been able to do alot of training/base. So it's always a concern.
Eventually, I see the girl in front on the way back. But I can't even see the turnaround yet she's so far ahead. She had 4 minutes at least on me then and was picking up speed. A little after the turn around I see the woman behind me, maybe a minute back, and we see each other and I think we both picked it up then at exactly the same time. She was running strong and if I blew up she was going to pass me. I really wasn't sure how things would hold together, but I was feeling good.
I had one brief flash of my hip stabbing pain around mile 4 but it went away. The last 2 miles were rough, my calves and quads cramped up, my legs hurt alot. But I kept up the pace. And by the time I got back to where Steve was waiting I felt good. I came in strong over the bridge to the finish. I think I even managed to smile for one of the photographers.
I got 3rd. The first two women won by like 5 minutes. That's really not even close. The woman who won was 29 though (bleh) and so I got 2nd in my age group, which is just annoying.
Sunday, April 20, 2008
Sac Tri This Weekend
Here are some awesome excerpts from the letter the Sacramento Triace directors sent out about the race this weekend:
"If you wake up at 7AM, don't even try to make it to the venue. Sleep in and do a long training ride at 11AM."
"This is not the local 5k fun run at your neighborhood super market."
And for the spectators, don't bother trying to watch the swim or bike:
"Stay at Raley Field lot F2, listen to music and watch the spectacular run and views of the downtown."
Nice.
I was suppose to meet Loren for a ride this morning. But we planned badly and someone got a little lost. I ended up heading out with the 9am ZteaM ride.
Which was GREAT. I haven't felt that strong on the bike in awhile. It was hard but not that hard. Course the only problem with feeling really strong on the bike right now is that it may not translate into results in races in the next few months.
Of course, just to keep me in check, when I looked at the clock while swimming the other night, either I've forgotten how to swim or the water is slow.
"If you wake up at 7AM, don't even try to make it to the venue. Sleep in and do a long training ride at 11AM."
"This is not the local 5k fun run at your neighborhood super market."
And for the spectators, don't bother trying to watch the swim or bike:
"Stay at Raley Field lot F2, listen to music and watch the spectacular run and views of the downtown."
Nice.
I was suppose to meet Loren for a ride this morning. But we planned badly and someone got a little lost. I ended up heading out with the 9am ZteaM ride.
Which was GREAT. I haven't felt that strong on the bike in awhile. It was hard but not that hard. Course the only problem with feeling really strong on the bike right now is that it may not translate into results in races in the next few months.
Of course, just to keep me in check, when I looked at the clock while swimming the other night, either I've forgotten how to swim or the water is slow.
Thursday, April 17, 2008
Running?
Yesterday evening I decided to meet up with the Tam runners. I hate running by myself (actually i hate doing most things by myself but i hate doing them with people who aren't the right speed even more) and I need to ball up and get some running in, so.
We ended up running up Mount Baldy (which I couldn't find a picture of). Since they were all training for the Dipsea or running it next year or thinking about it or generally being obsessed with the Dipsea, running up and down seemed like a good idea to them.
I thought it seemed kinda dumb. But I'm new, so what do I know. Actually, I'm fine with running up, it hurts but it's fine; i think running downhill is stupid.
So I did a lot of careful plodding downhill instead.
I don't know why trail running = running uphill/downhill.
Today, is going to be a swim day just to let my legs recover. I'll be joining Tam Masters hopefully, even if they only accept certain people into certain workouts at certain times. Marin is wierd.
And this weekend is no racing for me, but driving Steve down to Sea Otter and hanging out at the festival there. Since my drivers' license is a fairly recent development , he's been taking advantage by having me drive to lots of races.
We ended up running up Mount Baldy (which I couldn't find a picture of). Since they were all training for the Dipsea or running it next year or thinking about it or generally being obsessed with the Dipsea, running up and down seemed like a good idea to them.
I thought it seemed kinda dumb. But I'm new, so what do I know. Actually, I'm fine with running up, it hurts but it's fine; i think running downhill is stupid.
So I did a lot of careful plodding downhill instead.
I don't know why trail running = running uphill/downhill.
Today, is going to be a swim day just to let my legs recover. I'll be joining Tam Masters hopefully, even if they only accept certain people into certain workouts at certain times. Marin is wierd.
And this weekend is no racing for me, but driving Steve down to Sea Otter and hanging out at the festival there. Since my drivers' license is a fairly recent development , he's been taking advantage by having me drive to lots of races.
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
Monday, April 14, 2008
Race Report: Madera
The short explanation of how my first stage race went is this: with 5 miles to go in the last stage, the road race, after the crit and the time trial, I flatted. And there was really nothing I could do about it. And it's not like I was in 2nd GC or anything.
Long explanation:
The crit was Saturday morning and it was my first crit ever. I was very nervous. I was made more nervous by the fact that 10 minutes before the start my back tire went flat. I'm not a good tire changer, it takes me a fucking while, so I was like uhhhh...then when I went to change it I realized I didn't have a tire iron. And I'm a moron, I can't change a tire without one. So I stop some random guy and ask him. (This was a theme for the weekend.) It turns out he works at a bike store and he just takes my bike from me and fixes it. So that was good.
The crit itself was uneventful. We had to time trial in the afternoon, so no one wanted to go hard. And I never thought about it, but all those times I bitched about road racing and the whole go fast, go slow, go fast, go slow bullshit, a crit is so much better. It was just one relatively fast speed the whole time. And, it turns out, I'm not bad at cornering or positioning.
I accidentally contested a prime. I was about to get boxed in going into a turn and I was picking up speed already, so I just kinda went and passed all these people and all of a sudden I was in front and stringing out the group without really meaning to and then the next lap was a prime lap, so I just got into 3rd wheel as a couple girls passed me and I was set up so perfectly for the sprint. But I'm not s great sprinter and I tried to be patient, but i went too early and get outleaned by a girl coming up the left. After that I was tired and I didn't contest the sprint finish, just finished about 10th in the pack.
The time trial was in the afternoon in the sun in Madera. It was mid-90s and it was hot! Really awful hot. And being so white, I deal really well with heat. I definitely don't turn bright red or get dizzy or anything.
It went ok. It was like 10.47 miles and I did it in 28:16 (by the official time). The first half was really good and then miles 5 to 8 I felt like I blew up a little. I definitely thought I was going to start throwing up b/c I was so hot and/or fall off my bike. And I felt like my power on my computer was fluctuating alot. I couldn't seem to get it to stay at 200W. Which didn't make any sense, because I totally know I can hold 200 for a half hour. The last 2 miles, I just kinda picked it back up, looked at the girl in front of me and balls out to the finish. It was good enough for 2nd, back by 5 seconds, ahead of 3rd by 5 seconds.
Looking at my data later I realized I didn't die as much as I thought I did. I held 190W for the 28 minutes. AND, AND I found out (I geuss I should have known) that in very aero positions it's harder to hold higher power! And I feel like I just had an epiphany.
Saturday evening I wanted to get the data off my Powertap, so it didn't start deleting, but I had forgotten my cradle/USB port, so I wandered the hotel asking people if they had a powertap. Then I needed to get my aerobars back off, but I didn't have a tool and I couldn't find Steve's tool, so I knocked on some random guy's door and borrowed his tools. Then Steve needed to change his brake pads and casette (because he had flatted one wheel and knocked the other out of true during his crit -- keep count of how many wheels we messed up). So I knock on some other random guy's door and ask to borrow a wrench and an allen key. But, it turns out, both Steve and I were so out of it we couldn't figure out how to get the casette off, so then I had to go back to the guy and ask him to help me get it off. Yes, it was sad.
Going into the RR I was 2nd in GC. 1st was 5 seconds ahead, 3rd was 5 seconds back, 4th and 5th were 6 seconds back. Basically I needed to be in top 3 and get time bonus in order to win and if I finished in the pack I would probably stay 2nd or 3rd. It was a wierd RR. It started at 11:30 for me, after standing around in the sun waiting for half an hour, and with the blinding sun and the heat, it just made you feel kind of dizzy and out of it, like you might just swerve your bike into someone.
The first 2 laps were slow, really really slow. On the second half of the lap there's a few miles of really bad pavement and it's rough and then the last 2 miles before the finish is 4 or 5 rolling, relatively short hills. There was some feeling out other people in those spots, but nothing hard. Then the last lap was when people started making half-hearted efforts to breakaway. They'd put out like a decent effort for 30 seconds and then everyone would speed up to catch them and they'd give up. It was kinda sad.
But as we turned onto the bad pavement I was having a hard time making some of those accelerations, and my bike was feeling wierd. I look down about halfway through the rough section and yes, there's a flat tire on my front wheel.
I was so angry. I was about to cry. I was swearing at cows. I had quite a bit of a walk back to where there might be an official or a car, and I couldn't fix the flat because it was a tubular, so I had a while to yell about it.
With 5 miles to go to the finish, I was just so excited about finishing the race good. And I knew I'd be able to at least make an effort at contesting the uphill sprint finish. I wanted my fucking t-shirt.
Also, it turns out if you have a mechanical in the last 3k you get the pack time. SO that was even more annoying.
And Steve didn't finish. He gave his wheel to a teammate who flatted and then the teammate flatted Steve's wheel.
So that's a lot of flat wheels and alot of them were tubulars. The ratio of money spent to results achieved is not good.
Long explanation:
The crit was Saturday morning and it was my first crit ever. I was very nervous. I was made more nervous by the fact that 10 minutes before the start my back tire went flat. I'm not a good tire changer, it takes me a fucking while, so I was like uhhhh...then when I went to change it I realized I didn't have a tire iron. And I'm a moron, I can't change a tire without one. So I stop some random guy and ask him. (This was a theme for the weekend.) It turns out he works at a bike store and he just takes my bike from me and fixes it. So that was good.
The crit itself was uneventful. We had to time trial in the afternoon, so no one wanted to go hard. And I never thought about it, but all those times I bitched about road racing and the whole go fast, go slow, go fast, go slow bullshit, a crit is so much better. It was just one relatively fast speed the whole time. And, it turns out, I'm not bad at cornering or positioning.
I accidentally contested a prime. I was about to get boxed in going into a turn and I was picking up speed already, so I just kinda went and passed all these people and all of a sudden I was in front and stringing out the group without really meaning to and then the next lap was a prime lap, so I just got into 3rd wheel as a couple girls passed me and I was set up so perfectly for the sprint. But I'm not s great sprinter and I tried to be patient, but i went too early and get outleaned by a girl coming up the left. After that I was tired and I didn't contest the sprint finish, just finished about 10th in the pack.
The time trial was in the afternoon in the sun in Madera. It was mid-90s and it was hot! Really awful hot. And being so white, I deal really well with heat. I definitely don't turn bright red or get dizzy or anything.
It went ok. It was like 10.47 miles and I did it in 28:16 (by the official time). The first half was really good and then miles 5 to 8 I felt like I blew up a little. I definitely thought I was going to start throwing up b/c I was so hot and/or fall off my bike. And I felt like my power on my computer was fluctuating alot. I couldn't seem to get it to stay at 200W. Which didn't make any sense, because I totally know I can hold 200 for a half hour. The last 2 miles, I just kinda picked it back up, looked at the girl in front of me and balls out to the finish. It was good enough for 2nd, back by 5 seconds, ahead of 3rd by 5 seconds.
Looking at my data later I realized I didn't die as much as I thought I did. I held 190W for the 28 minutes. AND, AND I found out (I geuss I should have known) that in very aero positions it's harder to hold higher power! And I feel like I just had an epiphany.
Saturday evening I wanted to get the data off my Powertap, so it didn't start deleting, but I had forgotten my cradle/USB port, so I wandered the hotel asking people if they had a powertap. Then I needed to get my aerobars back off, but I didn't have a tool and I couldn't find Steve's tool, so I knocked on some random guy's door and borrowed his tools. Then Steve needed to change his brake pads and casette (because he had flatted one wheel and knocked the other out of true during his crit -- keep count of how many wheels we messed up). So I knock on some other random guy's door and ask to borrow a wrench and an allen key. But, it turns out, both Steve and I were so out of it we couldn't figure out how to get the casette off, so then I had to go back to the guy and ask him to help me get it off. Yes, it was sad.
Going into the RR I was 2nd in GC. 1st was 5 seconds ahead, 3rd was 5 seconds back, 4th and 5th were 6 seconds back. Basically I needed to be in top 3 and get time bonus in order to win and if I finished in the pack I would probably stay 2nd or 3rd. It was a wierd RR. It started at 11:30 for me, after standing around in the sun waiting for half an hour, and with the blinding sun and the heat, it just made you feel kind of dizzy and out of it, like you might just swerve your bike into someone.
The first 2 laps were slow, really really slow. On the second half of the lap there's a few miles of really bad pavement and it's rough and then the last 2 miles before the finish is 4 or 5 rolling, relatively short hills. There was some feeling out other people in those spots, but nothing hard. Then the last lap was when people started making half-hearted efforts to breakaway. They'd put out like a decent effort for 30 seconds and then everyone would speed up to catch them and they'd give up. It was kinda sad.
But as we turned onto the bad pavement I was having a hard time making some of those accelerations, and my bike was feeling wierd. I look down about halfway through the rough section and yes, there's a flat tire on my front wheel.
I was so angry. I was about to cry. I was swearing at cows. I had quite a bit of a walk back to where there might be an official or a car, and I couldn't fix the flat because it was a tubular, so I had a while to yell about it.
With 5 miles to go to the finish, I was just so excited about finishing the race good. And I knew I'd be able to at least make an effort at contesting the uphill sprint finish. I wanted my fucking t-shirt.
Also, it turns out if you have a mechanical in the last 3k you get the pack time. SO that was even more annoying.
And Steve didn't finish. He gave his wheel to a teammate who flatted and then the teammate flatted Steve's wheel.
So that's a lot of flat wheels and alot of them were tubulars. The ratio of money spent to results achieved is not good.
Thursday, April 10, 2008
The Torch and the Stage Race
So I went to S.F to see the torch yesterday. I wrote about it on my actual regular website.
But chasing around looking for the torch wore me out. (Also the 3 and half hours of working out.) And now my throat hurts alittle bit, so I'm resting up.
Because I have to be on for this weekend.
But chasing around looking for the torch wore me out. (Also the 3 and half hours of working out.) And now my throat hurts alittle bit, so I'm resting up.
Because I have to be on for this weekend.
Wednesday, April 9, 2008
More Bike Racing
Apparently, I'm going to be missing the party at Icebreaker. Good luck! (And watch out for people who are just learning how to ride their bikes on those windy little park roads, especially on that 2nd lap when you try to pass them and they swerve in front of you.)
But, I signed up for Madera instead. Yay first stage race and first crit! Unfortunately, the crit is the first stage, so I think we're not going to try anything crazy but mostly try not to crash.
Hmm
But, I signed up for Madera instead. Yay first stage race and first crit! Unfortunately, the crit is the first stage, so I think we're not going to try anything crazy but mostly try not to crash.
Hmm
Monday, April 7, 2008
Bike Racing...
...is hard.
I did Wards Ferry Saturday and it was hard. Like really, really hard. The whole course was uphill, downhill, uphill, downhill and, of course, everyone sprints up every uphill, which makes me feel like my heart's going to explode
I did the 3/4 race (which is totally not fair, because I shouldn't have to race with 3's when I am not really even a 4) and it was suppose to be 4 laps of this horrible, horrible course. There were about 15-20 people in my race and it starts on this windy, pothole-filled, long downhill and then the second half of the lap is lots of steep uphills. By the end of the first lap we were down to 10 people. 2 people got flats in that first lap, a couple mechanicals, one girl I don't even know what happened to her bike, she just went skidding across the road in front of me and was gone.
And I thought I was going to pass out and fall off my bike as we're sprinting up every hill trying to drop people. But I hung in there and then the second lap was a little more mellow (a little) because we'd shed a decent number of people so everyone left mellowed out for a little bit.
And then we got to the hilly part on the second lap and we're going hard up and down and up and down and I'm kinda hanging in the middle of this group. And we're near the end of the second lap, going down and back up and I shift into my big ring to stay with the people on the downhill then I try to shift into my little ring and I did something wrong because suddenly my chain is flapping on the outside of my crank. I try to shift and it gets tangled around my derailleur. I think that I can just pop it right back on and get back with the back of the group (there were like 3 or 4 girls right behind me at the time), but when I stop the chain is wrapped up in knots, doing that looping up on itself thing. And I can't get it untangled. I'm sitting there for like 5 minutes trying to get it back on my bike. Eventually this guy on a motorcycle has to stop and help me. It was sad. And by then I was never going to catch back up.
I'm not sure I would have been able to hang in there another 2 laps anyway, but I was doing a decent job of holding my own. And it turns out for all that I'm supposedly a 'climber', I'm definitely comparatively better at descending then climbing in these kind of races.
Next up, Sacramento Triathlon.
Thursday, April 3, 2008
Awww
Battle of the Bay is cancelled.
It's sad. From the best of my understanding, the SF Police changed how much they wanted to charge and it was no longer affordable.
I was just pretty excited about my first Olympic distance of the season. And I was pretty excited about trying my new shoes and kicking awhole lot of little collegiate ass.
Now, I dunno, maybe do Wards Ferry instead. But I kinda dislike bike racing. Also, I'm not as good at it.
It's sad. From the best of my understanding, the SF Police changed how much they wanted to charge and it was no longer affordable.
I was just pretty excited about my first Olympic distance of the season. And I was pretty excited about trying my new shoes and kicking awhole lot of little collegiate ass.
Now, I dunno, maybe do Wards Ferry instead. But I kinda dislike bike racing. Also, I'm not as good at it.
Wednesday, April 2, 2008
Moving?
Monday night was my last night of Masters and we did 500s. I don't think it was a good-bye present just for me, but it was a little!
Yesterday, I did intervals on the bike (they were eh) and went to the Physical Therapist. He said I should be good for the race this weekend. But I'm still really worried about the hip.
Tonight we're heading to San Rafael and tomorrow's my FIRST day of work for real at CFAC.
I'm excited. And I'm hoping that it doesn't stress me out too much for my races.
Yesterday, I did intervals on the bike (they were eh) and went to the Physical Therapist. He said I should be good for the race this weekend. But I'm still really worried about the hip.
Tonight we're heading to San Rafael and tomorrow's my FIRST day of work for real at CFAC.
I'm excited. And I'm hoping that it doesn't stress me out too much for my races.
Monday, March 31, 2008
The End of March
(I'm sitting on the phone with the insurance company right now trying to pay my bill for the next 2 months.)
My week of very necessary super, super rest is over. I did about 5 hours of training last week and slept alot. And managed to get a little sick. Whenever I get sick it follows a specific pattern: sore throat, congestion, bad cough. I have practically no immune or respitory system.
Saturday i went up to Lake Natoma, which is right by the Aquatic Center and a high school crew race was going on, and did some open water practice. Snow-melt is always great to swim in and it was the kind of cold where your calves freeze up as you walk into the water. But I needed to practice, because open-water swimming makes me sick to my stomach. I'm always worried I'll have another asthma/panic attack and this time no one will be there to stop me from drowning.
Sunday, Steve and I did a 'mock race' on the Davis Mad Cows Time Trial course. It's a 10-mile (usually windy), classic time trial course around here, with people like Peter Allen and Steve Larsen on the results page.
I did it in 27:00. Which isn't great and I really should be capable of better. But it also isn't terrible. Especially considering that I suck at 'mock races' and am capable of alot more in real races. I went too hard for the first 4 minutes (was hoping I could hold it) and blew up some, but not completely. So. We'll see.
Now, it's time for build and serious workouts.
My week of very necessary super, super rest is over. I did about 5 hours of training last week and slept alot. And managed to get a little sick. Whenever I get sick it follows a specific pattern: sore throat, congestion, bad cough. I have practically no immune or respitory system.
Saturday i went up to Lake Natoma, which is right by the Aquatic Center and a high school crew race was going on, and did some open water practice. Snow-melt is always great to swim in and it was the kind of cold where your calves freeze up as you walk into the water. But I needed to practice, because open-water swimming makes me sick to my stomach. I'm always worried I'll have another asthma/panic attack and this time no one will be there to stop me from drowning.
Sunday, Steve and I did a 'mock race' on the Davis Mad Cows Time Trial course. It's a 10-mile (usually windy), classic time trial course around here, with people like Peter Allen and Steve Larsen on the results page.
I did it in 27:00. Which isn't great and I really should be capable of better. But it also isn't terrible. Especially considering that I suck at 'mock races' and am capable of alot more in real races. I went too hard for the first 4 minutes (was hoping I could hold it) and blew up some, but not completely. So. We'll see.
Now, it's time for build and serious workouts.
Thursday, March 27, 2008
New Shoes!
Back at Bearathlon I won a gift certificate for a free pair of Saucony shoes. (Triathlons pay off soooo much better than cycling races.)
And I really wanted a pair of racing flats. SO I thought and discussed and thought and consulted and then I ordered the Saucony Type A2.
And yesterday they showed up!!!
But first I had to wait. And wait and wait. I had a UPS sticker on my door on Tuesday. So yesterday when we got back a little before noon I figured I do some work on my computer and wait so I didn't have to go all the way to the UPS store later. So finally at 1:30 the UPS truck pulls up in front. And I wait. And wait. And no one comes in. So I walk out with my sticker and am all (super nice) 'excuse me' and the guy says, 'oh yeah, I think you're my next delivery after lunch. will you be home?' well, i geuss i will now.
So I waited. And waited. And just sat and fucking waited some more. Finally at 2:40 he comes and hands me my shoes. Sigh
But they are wonderful, wonderful. So light and soft and it feels like htere's nothing on my feet but in a good way. I wore them around the house, then I carefully took them off and put them back in the box. I'm going to be sad when they get dirty from racing.
And I really wanted a pair of racing flats. SO I thought and discussed and thought and consulted and then I ordered the Saucony Type A2.
And yesterday they showed up!!!
But first I had to wait. And wait and wait. I had a UPS sticker on my door on Tuesday. So yesterday when we got back a little before noon I figured I do some work on my computer and wait so I didn't have to go all the way to the UPS store later. So finally at 1:30 the UPS truck pulls up in front. And I wait. And wait. And no one comes in. So I walk out with my sticker and am all (super nice) 'excuse me' and the guy says, 'oh yeah, I think you're my next delivery after lunch. will you be home?' well, i geuss i will now.
So I waited. And waited. And just sat and fucking waited some more. Finally at 2:40 he comes and hands me my shoes. Sigh
But they are wonderful, wonderful. So light and soft and it feels like htere's nothing on my feet but in a good way. I wore them around the house, then I carefully took them off and put them back in the box. I'm going to be sad when they get dirty from racing.
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
This Week's Training Problem Is....
Should I do Icebreaker or not??
I was planning on it. Pros: It's fun, good open water practice this early, and it's close. Cons: (besides the super sketchy 2nd lap of the bike where I spent 20 minutes yelling, 'on your left, move' over and over and over) It's farther now that we'll be living in Marin. But, more importantly, Steve will be going to Madera and as much fun as being a groupie in 100 degree heat is, I wasn't going to go BUT, BUT he has to take the car to get down there. Which, despite me getting my license finally today doesn't mean we'll have a car.
So, I could hope to find a ride, figure out another way to get there, or go down and do Madera Stage Race. I mean why not, I've never done a crit before.
Also, the Physical Therapist is worried I might have a stress fracture in my hip. So that would be great.
I was planning on it. Pros: It's fun, good open water practice this early, and it's close. Cons: (besides the super sketchy 2nd lap of the bike where I spent 20 minutes yelling, 'on your left, move' over and over and over) It's farther now that we'll be living in Marin. But, more importantly, Steve will be going to Madera and as much fun as being a groupie in 100 degree heat is, I wasn't going to go BUT, BUT he has to take the car to get down there. Which, despite me getting my license finally today doesn't mean we'll have a car.
So, I could hope to find a ride, figure out another way to get there, or go down and do Madera Stage Race. I mean why not, I've never done a crit before.
Also, the Physical Therapist is worried I might have a stress fracture in my hip. So that would be great.
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Taking Care of Business
Went for a nice, short, 3 mile run this morning (still having hip problems....) and my abs revolted. I know I did some core work last week, but they were so sore I thought I was going to throw up. It's probably good I'm on a rest week.
Heading to Masters tonight before my gym membership runs out on Monday. Then I'll have to find somewhere new in Marin.
Heading to Masters tonight before my gym membership runs out on Monday. Then I'll have to find somewhere new in Marin.
Monday, March 24, 2008
No one Likes Base
This weekend finished up my three months of base. It's been fun. Kinda. Not.
Looking back over my calendar for March, it was a pretty stupid month. I didn't take enough rest days (one), there are way too many notes about being tired (I haven't been sleeping well a few nights this month; just stupid tossing and turning and laying there staring at the ceiling. Saturday night was another one of those nights), and as a result there was way too many kinda useless workouts, like 2000y of easy swimming where I was so exhausted I thought I was going to fall asleep in the pool. Now that didn't really serve a purpose did it?
It hasn't been a great month in general, what with the no good, looking for jobs, accepting a job, having them rescind the offer, looking for jobs more and general craziness of the last 3 or 4 weeks. It wasn't good for training either. Sure I had lots of time, but I was cranky and tired and stressed out and not having a whole lot of fun.
Now, I have a new job. Yay! I'm moving to Marin (which will also be a little stressful) and I'm hoping to get focused with my workouts.
I just need to find the good biking and running routes around San Rafael and a good Masters program to swim with. And then everything will be set.
Looking back over my calendar for March, it was a pretty stupid month. I didn't take enough rest days (one), there are way too many notes about being tired (I haven't been sleeping well a few nights this month; just stupid tossing and turning and laying there staring at the ceiling. Saturday night was another one of those nights), and as a result there was way too many kinda useless workouts, like 2000y of easy swimming where I was so exhausted I thought I was going to fall asleep in the pool. Now that didn't really serve a purpose did it?
It hasn't been a great month in general, what with the no good, looking for jobs, accepting a job, having them rescind the offer, looking for jobs more and general craziness of the last 3 or 4 weeks. It wasn't good for training either. Sure I had lots of time, but I was cranky and tired and stressed out and not having a whole lot of fun.
Now, I have a new job. Yay! I'm moving to Marin (which will also be a little stressful) and I'm hoping to get focused with my workouts.
I just need to find the good biking and running routes around San Rafael and a good Masters program to swim with. And then everything will be set.
Friday, March 21, 2008
More About Running
I came into triathlon as a runner. Sure I lied and said I swam because I didn't want to be put in the lane with the people that needed floaties, but I was a runner.
Now, I can't finish 6 miles without having to stop and strecth my hip.
After the wonderfulness that was the 5K this past weekend, I went for my long run on Tuesday. And no, no it just wasn't happening. My hip started to hurt around 4 miles, I stopped and stretched and decided to turn around. I geuss it's more important right now not to hurt myself.
But I'm mad. Very mad. Being able to run 6 miles is key to this whole triathlon thing.
And this really is not going to be another season of 54 minute 10Ks or finishes where it takes me 10 minutes to do the last 1.2 miles. Here is a picture of me from Nationals last year, where 30 people passed me on the run. Do I look happy?
Not, not happy about this whole running thing.
On another note, I'm moving to Marin. I got a new job working for the California First Amendment Coalition. Also, there has been some talk (yes, I also read lots of triathlon blogs but don't comment. I geuss I'm kinda a stalker) about how just training focused blogs kind of suck. Too bad, this is my training-focused blog. My fun blog is on my website: KellyDunleavy.com. Go there!
Now, I can't finish 6 miles without having to stop and strecth my hip.
After the wonderfulness that was the 5K this past weekend, I went for my long run on Tuesday. And no, no it just wasn't happening. My hip started to hurt around 4 miles, I stopped and stretched and decided to turn around. I geuss it's more important right now not to hurt myself.
But I'm mad. Very mad. Being able to run 6 miles is key to this whole triathlon thing.
And this really is not going to be another season of 54 minute 10Ks or finishes where it takes me 10 minutes to do the last 1.2 miles. Here is a picture of me from Nationals last year, where 30 people passed me on the run. Do I look happy?
Not, not happy about this whole running thing.
On another note, I'm moving to Marin. I got a new job working for the California First Amendment Coalition. Also, there has been some talk (yes, I also read lots of triathlon blogs but don't comment. I geuss I'm kinda a stalker) about how just training focused blogs kind of suck. Too bad, this is my training-focused blog. My fun blog is on my website: KellyDunleavy.com. Go there!
Monday, March 17, 2008
Ah, remember cross country
So, I did the 5K yesterday and it went pretty well. Turns out I won my age group. But I'm not really sure how.
I did the 5K in 20:33 and passed the 3 mile mark at 19:40. Not only is that a pretty good pace, and as good as I could have expected, but it's also pretty close to as fast as I ran in high school We did the 3 mile in cross country and I tried to link to an article from the local paper about one of our races, but you have to buy the article so :P
What was really amazing is that all my memories of cross-country are of it being SOOOO long, you just had so much time to think about how horrible it was. And it hurt SOOO much. I'm pretty sure nearly every race I kinda fell over, threw up some.
But yesterday, it was just so short. I didn't even really have time to register that shit hurt and then it was done and I was like 'oh, oops'. I kind of crossed the finish line and was like, umm, i geuss I could run another 3 miles at that pace. I probably should have gone faster then.
I did the 5K in 20:33 and passed the 3 mile mark at 19:40. Not only is that a pretty good pace, and as good as I could have expected, but it's also pretty close to as fast as I ran in high school We did the 3 mile in cross country and I tried to link to an article from the local paper about one of our races, but you have to buy the article so :P
What was really amazing is that all my memories of cross-country are of it being SOOOO long, you just had so much time to think about how horrible it was. And it hurt SOOO much. I'm pretty sure nearly every race I kinda fell over, threw up some.
But yesterday, it was just so short. I didn't even really have time to register that shit hurt and then it was done and I was like 'oh, oops'. I kind of crossed the finish line and was like, umm, i geuss I could run another 3 miles at that pace. I probably should have gone faster then.
Saturday, March 15, 2008
To 5K or Not to 5K
I'm suppose to do the Sham rock'n 5K tomorrow. To start building speed again and all that.
But the hip is still a little tender.
I don't know. I don't know.
Even if I can do it, it probably won't go well. I don't know
But the hip is still a little tender.
I don't know. I don't know.
Even if I can do it, it probably won't go well. I don't know
Thursday, March 13, 2008
Oh no!
I did my long run Tuesday. And it was bad. Not good.
My hip started hurting, started doing the feeling like the bones were rubbing together thing. I kept running and it kept hurting. It started in my right knee and just moved up my leg.
I cut the run a little short and then walked the last little bit that would have been on cement so I wouldn't hurt myself anymore. But it was still more painful than it's been in a year. The one point where I had to run down the levee and then back up, tiny little uphill/downhill, was awful. I was practically limping, dragging my leg.
So, this isn't good.
It was still sore and difficult to walk yesterday, but I biked the last two days and it feels a little better. I'm hoping this was just one of those things. Because if it wasn't, well, it's going to be hard to do triathlon if I can't run again.
Very not happy about this.
My hip started hurting, started doing the feeling like the bones were rubbing together thing. I kept running and it kept hurting. It started in my right knee and just moved up my leg.
I cut the run a little short and then walked the last little bit that would have been on cement so I wouldn't hurt myself anymore. But it was still more painful than it's been in a year. The one point where I had to run down the levee and then back up, tiny little uphill/downhill, was awful. I was practically limping, dragging my leg.
So, this isn't good.
It was still sore and difficult to walk yesterday, but I biked the last two days and it feels a little better. I'm hoping this was just one of those things. Because if it wasn't, well, it's going to be hard to do triathlon if I can't run again.
Very not happy about this.
Sunday, March 9, 2008
Team Time Trial
I have no immune system. It's true. I had mono for a year and since then....Now, every sniffle turns into tuberculosis. I've had bronchitis twice. And I'm pretty much the most tired person you'll ever meet, despite the fact that I sleep about 9 hours/night.
You would think a doctor might be concerned about this. But they all tell me 'oh, it's just a cold, rest up and it'll go away'. (yes, i'm not really a hospital/doctor fan. We don't talk about it.) I'm pretty sure I have some immuno defiency disorder or chronic fatigue or something.
The point is: a sore throat a week ago turned into horrible congestion turned into an awful cough and I couldn't bring myself to move most of this week. Did almost NO training. But I had already promised and signed up for the Berkeley Team Time Trial with Steve, in the coed division.
This is a picture of the race from last year: (I don't know if you can tell how much I'm grimacing)
Last year, we got third with a a 50:07 effort. This year we got 10th with 49:49. Little bit tougher competition. Little bit.
It was hard. I dropped my chain on one of the uphill-downhills and had to get off my bike. I hit Steve's wheel a couple times, but one time it nearly knocked me off my bike. By halfway through I was having a horrible time breathing again, my lungs have been burning what with the coughing, and I was gasping and hacking. (Spent 10 minutes after the finish coughing so hard I threw up a little in my mouth.)
But most annoying: My threshold is 200W, that's pretty much what I can hold for an hour. But the whole race it said I was doing 230, 240.
I thought I was doing GREAT. I was amazed; I was so excited; I thought we were going SOOOOO fast and I was going SOOO hard. SO even when I started to die a little, down to 200-210W I thought that was still good. Then it was only after the race that I realized when I was coasting at 0W, it was reading from 40 to 100. So my whole powermeter was off and I wasn't really going SO hard. Damn. Damn. Damn.
But I'm not sure I could have gone much harder. I was getting a little wobbly/dizzy and having a bad time breathing. At one point the pieces of glass on the side of the road were glistening in the sun, but I though I was seeing spots.
Isn't biking fun.
Also, Levi was there. He did the team time trial by himself. And won. By 3 minutes.
You would think a doctor might be concerned about this. But they all tell me 'oh, it's just a cold, rest up and it'll go away'. (yes, i'm not really a hospital/doctor fan. We don't talk about it.) I'm pretty sure I have some immuno defiency disorder or chronic fatigue or something.
The point is: a sore throat a week ago turned into horrible congestion turned into an awful cough and I couldn't bring myself to move most of this week. Did almost NO training. But I had already promised and signed up for the Berkeley Team Time Trial with Steve, in the coed division.
This is a picture of the race from last year: (I don't know if you can tell how much I'm grimacing)
Last year, we got third with a a 50:07 effort. This year we got 10th with 49:49. Little bit tougher competition. Little bit.
It was hard. I dropped my chain on one of the uphill-downhills and had to get off my bike. I hit Steve's wheel a couple times, but one time it nearly knocked me off my bike. By halfway through I was having a horrible time breathing again, my lungs have been burning what with the coughing, and I was gasping and hacking. (Spent 10 minutes after the finish coughing so hard I threw up a little in my mouth.)
But most annoying: My threshold is 200W, that's pretty much what I can hold for an hour. But the whole race it said I was doing 230, 240.
I thought I was doing GREAT. I was amazed; I was so excited; I thought we were going SOOOOO fast and I was going SOOO hard. SO even when I started to die a little, down to 200-210W I thought that was still good. Then it was only after the race that I realized when I was coasting at 0W, it was reading from 40 to 100. So my whole powermeter was off and I wasn't really going SO hard. Damn. Damn. Damn.
But I'm not sure I could have gone much harder. I was getting a little wobbly/dizzy and having a bad time breathing. At one point the pieces of glass on the side of the road were glistening in the sun, but I though I was seeing spots.
Isn't biking fun.
Also, Levi was there. He did the team time trial by himself. And won. By 3 minutes.
Thursday, March 6, 2008
NyQuil
I took alot of Nyquil last night and passed out. Which was good.
So I slept more than I have recently. But I still don't feel great today. Went to go on a long run, but made it 1.5 miles and then just couldn't stop sneezing and wheezing.
What to do when you're not feeling well? And last week was a rest week. sigh. i don't think I'm really getting the base I should be.
So I slept more than I have recently. But I still don't feel great today. Went to go on a long run, but made it 1.5 miles and then just couldn't stop sneezing and wheezing.
What to do when you're not feeling well? And last week was a rest week. sigh. i don't think I'm really getting the base I should be.
Wednesday, March 5, 2008
So Stuffed Up
I'm very very congested today.
I haven't been able to sleep well in a few days. There were some nights of just restlessness and then the past two nights and being really stuffed up.
Now, I just feel pretty compressed, like my head is being smooshed in. So I'm thinking the 8.5 mile run I had on the schedule may not happen today.
I haven't been able to sleep well in a few days. There were some nights of just restlessness and then the past two nights and being really stuffed up.
Now, I just feel pretty compressed, like my head is being smooshed in. So I'm thinking the 8.5 mile run I had on the schedule may not happen today.
Tuesday, March 4, 2008
Night Swimming
In less than a week, there will be no more having to swim in the dark. Yay!
To celebrate, I went and swam in the dark last night. Just so I can remember how horrible it really is biking home on the pitch-black bike path, wet and cold, when a skunk runs in front of your bike and a strange guy starts talking to you in Spanish.
It looks like this:
Daylight Savings will be awesome.
To celebrate, I went and swam in the dark last night. Just so I can remember how horrible it really is biking home on the pitch-black bike path, wet and cold, when a skunk runs in front of your bike and a strange guy starts talking to you in Spanish.
It looks like this:
Daylight Savings will be awesome.
Monday, March 3, 2008
Resting
I didn't sleep well again last night. Something about rest weeks and not training and thinking too much.
Last week, my boss asked if racing got easier with training and didn't even hurt eventually. That reminded me of the summer my friend and I trained so hard for cross-country. I was convinced that if I trained this hard then the races wouldn't hurt, I'd be able to do the same times without hurting.
It didn't really work that way, though.
Last week, my boss asked if racing got easier with training and didn't even hurt eventually. That reminded me of the summer my friend and I trained so hard for cross-country. I was convinced that if I trained this hard then the races wouldn't hurt, I'd be able to do the same times without hurting.
It didn't really work that way, though.
Thursday, February 28, 2008
Not So Good A Last Two Weeks
So the last two days were a little bit terrible. But we're not going to talk about it. Let's just say I'm working for myself again. And have ALOT of time to train.
Since the weather got better right after the race on Sunday (sigh), I did a hard brick and swim workout on Monday. And now my rest week is killing me.
No job, no training, no sleep.
Today, with no sleep and my second root canal and a rest day, I laid on my bed and watched Judge Joe Brown.
Also, prepare yourself for updates to the website and blogs. it'll come.
Since the weather got better right after the race on Sunday (sigh), I did a hard brick and swim workout on Monday. And now my rest week is killing me.
No job, no training, no sleep.
Today, with no sleep and my second root canal and a rest day, I laid on my bed and watched Judge Joe Brown.
Also, prepare yourself for updates to the website and blogs. it'll come.
Sunday, February 24, 2008
Didn't do the Race
This is why I didn't do the Davis race this morning.
If you're not suppose to drive in this storm, why would I want to bike.
No. I was intending to do it. I got up and did my activation ride at 7, ate, then we headed over. And it was windy and raining sideways and shitty, but I was like eh.
We got to the race and left everything in the car and went to check out like what was going on, where they were at in the schedule, etc. And it's all super super shitty being outside. But I'm figuring out all the bike in, bike out, transition stuff. And then I'm standing there in the sideways rain and one of the guys comes in from our team, shaking, scraped all the way down his stomach. He got hypothermia and then hit a pothole and flipped off his bike. Then Dwight hit the same pothole and comes running in carrying his bike.
The winds are so bad they're blowing all the tents and barriers over. People are finishing and they're just kind of in a daze and like wow, that was, wow, bad.
So Christi starts telling me I shouldn't do it; that I don't have a whole to gain by doing it, since it's just a training race for me, and it's really bad out. And I'm starting to shake I'm getting cold and there are puddles inside my rainboots. Then Dwight starts in about the same thing; he's like it awful out there, don't do it, you have more to lose than gain. You don't want to crash and be hurt for races you actually care about.
At the last minute, ok, 15 minutes before my wave, I decided not to race. Then of course the rain clears up. But the winds were so bad driving home that our car was getting like blown across the freeway.
So, yeah, maybe that was a good call.
If you're not suppose to drive in this storm, why would I want to bike.
No. I was intending to do it. I got up and did my activation ride at 7, ate, then we headed over. And it was windy and raining sideways and shitty, but I was like eh.
We got to the race and left everything in the car and went to check out like what was going on, where they were at in the schedule, etc. And it's all super super shitty being outside. But I'm figuring out all the bike in, bike out, transition stuff. And then I'm standing there in the sideways rain and one of the guys comes in from our team, shaking, scraped all the way down his stomach. He got hypothermia and then hit a pothole and flipped off his bike. Then Dwight hit the same pothole and comes running in carrying his bike.
The winds are so bad they're blowing all the tents and barriers over. People are finishing and they're just kind of in a daze and like wow, that was, wow, bad.
So Christi starts telling me I shouldn't do it; that I don't have a whole to gain by doing it, since it's just a training race for me, and it's really bad out. And I'm starting to shake I'm getting cold and there are puddles inside my rainboots. Then Dwight starts in about the same thing; he's like it awful out there, don't do it, you have more to lose than gain. You don't want to crash and be hurt for races you actually care about.
At the last minute, ok, 15 minutes before my wave, I decided not to race. Then of course the rain clears up. But the winds were so bad driving home that our car was getting like blown across the freeway.
So, yeah, maybe that was a good call.
Friday, February 22, 2008
Racing as Trees Fall Down
Today I ran 3.5 miles, with some half mile pickups in the middle. But it started to rain as I was running, so I really didn't feel like going to swimming. Biked on my trainer and watched Little Miss Sunshine instead.
Natalie's on her way up from LA right now and we're going to go to the pool tomorrow. Then I have the Davis race on Sunday. But the storm is suppose to be so bad that by Sunday morning it's going to be 25 mph winds, with trees falling and all kinds of crazy shit like back in January.
This is what it looked like last time:
SO maybe there won't be a race? I don't know what's going on, but it's going to be nuts.
Thursday, February 21, 2008
SO TIRED
Yesterday, it took 3 hours to get out the door on a ride. It was just one of those days.
Then I got a flat.
So after a 2 hour ride in the morning and an hour in the afternoon and lifting, then I was walking over to the pool for swim practice and I was just so tired I almost started to cry.
I think this whole needing a new job, searching for a job constantly, all this shit, is wearing me out.
Then I got a flat.
So after a 2 hour ride in the morning and an hour in the afternoon and lifting, then I was walking over to the pool for swim practice and I was just so tired I almost started to cry.
I think this whole needing a new job, searching for a job constantly, all this shit, is wearing me out.
Team Dinner
This is Bobby Julich. He is now my favorite. Fucking hilarious guy.
We went to the team dinner Tuesday night. Not like one team. Like THE team dinner. I mean the tour people have to feed the cyclists somehow. It was in this big banquet hall and all the teams had different tables and they just kinda wandered in in thier sweats and ate and talked and hung out.
It would have been cool no matter what, but there were these tables seperate from the team tables where we were suppose to sit and we ended up next to these two guys: this guy who 'owned' a part of the race and with Andrea Peron, this former CSC rider. Andrea knew everyone and both of them were full of all this inside info, so they basically introduced us to everyone who walked by.
And we were sitting behind the CSC table, so at one point the guys at the CSC table start talking to the two guys sitting with us. So I turn around in my chair and am in the middle of a conversation between Bobby Julich and Fabian Cancellara. It was basically making fun of Fabian for being European. And talking about how crazy it would be if they had their team camp in South Central LA.
We didn't really take pictures or try to get autographs or anything, just kinda enjoyed it. And Steve talked training with Andrea and power with everyone else. Did get a photo with Tom Boonen, but since our digital camera isn't working, it'll be awhile before that gets developed.
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
Tour of California
Ran 9 miles this afternoon. It was the best I've felt running in awhile, so I picked it up the last few miles. I geuss this is one of the benefits of not having a job right now.
Then spent the rest of the afternoon at the Tour of California. Spent it in the VIP section, next to Oscar Sevilla! It was pretty awesome; and we're going to a team dinner tonight. sweeeet. But now my legs hurt from standing.
I know that people doing half-Ironmans and fulls do way more hours than me, but I've been trying to build up my hours slowly and doing what'll be best for me. And I'm fucking exhausted.
Then spent the rest of the afternoon at the Tour of California. Spent it in the VIP section, next to Oscar Sevilla! It was pretty awesome; and we're going to a team dinner tonight. sweeeet. But now my legs hurt from standing.
I know that people doing half-Ironmans and fulls do way more hours than me, but I've been trying to build up my hours slowly and doing what'll be best for me. And I'm fucking exhausted.
Sunday, February 17, 2008
Just an Awesome Week
Between Bearathlon last weekend and Davis next Sunday I'm suppose to get in about 27 hours. The only problem is that with a day or two easy/rest after Bearathlon and before Davis, I have really a limited number of days to get in lots and lots of training.
So, it's been a little exhausting.
Yesterday was a long ride. I did the first hour and half with Steve, we just rode the bike path (along with every person in the Sacramento area) and then I was going to do the airport loop (which, yes, does loop around the airport). It was a little windy and rough on the way out, but once I turned in the loop it was nice to have the wind at my back coming in. That combined with 2 water bottles, 1 bottle of Gu2O, 2 bars and 1 gel made sure that I didn't bonk and felt good. So when I got to the turn-off to go home I was only really at 3:45, so instead of just riding back out and back again I decided to loop through Sac State again. Which did mean that I did the bike path between Sac State and my house 3 times, but at least I didn't do it 4.
Ended up being 65 miles, just over 4 hours, 1520kJ. This is in sharp contrast to my 58 mile ride 2 weeks ago, where I almost needed to go to sleep on the side of the road.
This was my ride:
No, I didn't actually bike through the river; there's a bike path there.
Friday evening I went to Masters and apparently Friday is the day that all the fast people go. So it was 10 guys i the fast lanes and me swimming in a lane by myself. It was a series of free sets and the coach was just, 'so, kelly, why don't you do it like 10 seconds slower and take off a 50y'. and then there would be times where they were all waiting for their interval and I would have to go and he'd be like, 'OK, everyone cheer Kelly now.' awesome and not wierd at all.
Today I tried to do some speed running. Since there wasn't a soccer game I figured it'd be good. It was rough.
All in all, an awesome week. Though since I don't have a job now what with the magazine going under because the woman is insane, I may have ALOT of time to train soon.
So, it's been a little exhausting.
Yesterday was a long ride. I did the first hour and half with Steve, we just rode the bike path (along with every person in the Sacramento area) and then I was going to do the airport loop (which, yes, does loop around the airport). It was a little windy and rough on the way out, but once I turned in the loop it was nice to have the wind at my back coming in. That combined with 2 water bottles, 1 bottle of Gu2O, 2 bars and 1 gel made sure that I didn't bonk and felt good. So when I got to the turn-off to go home I was only really at 3:45, so instead of just riding back out and back again I decided to loop through Sac State again. Which did mean that I did the bike path between Sac State and my house 3 times, but at least I didn't do it 4.
Ended up being 65 miles, just over 4 hours, 1520kJ. This is in sharp contrast to my 58 mile ride 2 weeks ago, where I almost needed to go to sleep on the side of the road.
This was my ride:
No, I didn't actually bike through the river; there's a bike path there.
Friday evening I went to Masters and apparently Friday is the day that all the fast people go. So it was 10 guys i the fast lanes and me swimming in a lane by myself. It was a series of free sets and the coach was just, 'so, kelly, why don't you do it like 10 seconds slower and take off a 50y'. and then there would be times where they were all waiting for their interval and I would have to go and he'd be like, 'OK, everyone cheer Kelly now.' awesome and not wierd at all.
Today I tried to do some speed running. Since there wasn't a soccer game I figured it'd be good. It was rough.
All in all, an awesome week. Though since I don't have a job now what with the magazine going under because the woman is insane, I may have ALOT of time to train soon.
Friday, February 15, 2008
Thursday, February 14, 2008
Root Canal
I got a root canal this morning. It turns out when they said 'It'll be fine, it won't hurt' they may have been lying.
It's not that bad now, though, and I haven't taken any medication. But when my nose was still numb and I started having a sneezing attack and my mouth was swollen, that was awesome.
Yesterday I rode 2 hours in the morning. I think something may be wierd with my powertap because although it was suppose to be easy I don't think I was really going 50W. I would be riding along and then look down and be like hmm, I don't think I'm going that slow. Oh well...
Did drills and then muscular endurance work.
The Bible said in Base 2 (which I'm kinda in) I should start with 10-20 minutes in Zone 3 and build up. I don't love Zone 3, so I figured I'd do low Zone 4 instead. Only problem is I think my zones are a little different than the last time I got tested. My threshold when I tested was definitely like 170W, but this past weekend at the race I definitely did like 186W for 57 minutes, including descents. So yeah, I test badly. I did 10 minutes yesterday around 160 and it was totally not hard. I mean I was sweating, but I wasn't even breathing hard. The only annoying thing was some guy decided to draft off me on his way to work and he didn't even say anything. Awkward. I don't really like random people near me when I'm biking by myself. Actually I don't really like random people talking to me when I'm doing anything.
I went to the gym then in the afternoon. The whole time I was lifting (more weight, slow reps), people kept commenting on the numbers I still had bodymarked on my arms and legs. I never really know what to say to someone when they're like 'how'd it go?'; i'm like do you really want a detailed race report. Also, again, I don't like random people talking to me when I'm working out. It's like lift, strain, uh, hi. Wierd.
Did 1300y (which apparenlty are shorter than m, lame) easy, kicking, pulling, before Masters started, then did, with them:
400 warm-up
5 x 100 drill, swim, kick, swim stroke
4 x 50 free descending
then they were going to start a broken 1650y set, but I needed to get home, so I just cooled down. It was pretty fucking windy, so the ride home in the dark was bitchy.
Now I'm suppose to go for a long run. I geuss I should do it while my face doesn't hurt.
It's not that bad now, though, and I haven't taken any medication. But when my nose was still numb and I started having a sneezing attack and my mouth was swollen, that was awesome.
Yesterday I rode 2 hours in the morning. I think something may be wierd with my powertap because although it was suppose to be easy I don't think I was really going 50W. I would be riding along and then look down and be like hmm, I don't think I'm going that slow. Oh well...
Did drills and then muscular endurance work.
The Bible said in Base 2 (which I'm kinda in) I should start with 10-20 minutes in Zone 3 and build up. I don't love Zone 3, so I figured I'd do low Zone 4 instead. Only problem is I think my zones are a little different than the last time I got tested. My threshold when I tested was definitely like 170W, but this past weekend at the race I definitely did like 186W for 57 minutes, including descents. So yeah, I test badly. I did 10 minutes yesterday around 160 and it was totally not hard. I mean I was sweating, but I wasn't even breathing hard. The only annoying thing was some guy decided to draft off me on his way to work and he didn't even say anything. Awkward. I don't really like random people near me when I'm biking by myself. Actually I don't really like random people talking to me when I'm doing anything.
I went to the gym then in the afternoon. The whole time I was lifting (more weight, slow reps), people kept commenting on the numbers I still had bodymarked on my arms and legs. I never really know what to say to someone when they're like 'how'd it go?'; i'm like do you really want a detailed race report. Also, again, I don't like random people talking to me when I'm working out. It's like lift, strain, uh, hi. Wierd.
Did 1300y (which apparenlty are shorter than m, lame) easy, kicking, pulling, before Masters started, then did, with them:
400 warm-up
5 x 100 drill, swim, kick, swim stroke
4 x 50 free descending
then they were going to start a broken 1650y set, but I needed to get home, so I just cooled down. It was pretty fucking windy, so the ride home in the dark was bitchy.
Now I'm suppose to go for a long run. I geuss I should do it while my face doesn't hurt.
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
Sleep and TV
Easy. Let's take it nice and easy.
WIll start training again for real tomorrow, but right now...
WIll start training again for real tomorrow, but right now...
Monday, February 11, 2008
Let's Do a Triathlon
Steve's coach, who's also a physical therapist, wanted me to come in on Friday morning since I've been having some bad problems with my left knee since we moved around my cleats two weeks ago.
So I rearranged my Thursday-Friday schedule and biked out to his office. It ended being a good move, my knee felt way better on the ride home and the rest of the weekend.
But I was so tired after a short 20 min swim on Saturday that I took two naps.
Bearathlon Sunday.
Woke up at 5am and did an activation ride. Didn't do a great warm-up, was too distracted by feeling like I was forgetting something important that I couldn't remember about triathlon.
The swim wasn't too bad. I just started swimming and when I got to the first buoy I found myself next to the leader and in the front group. Shit, I did get better at swimming. Only problem was as I fell back to draft off the leaders I got totally trampled. It was a little rough swim; I may have hit Nicole and Kim many times. But when I got out (which was hard to do), I was 5th I think. Course I don't know what people do in transition, because as Nicole and I got on our bikes at the same time there was only one person in front of us (Kim). The rest of you need to get your shoes on faster.
As we pulled out on our bikes, I heard the announcer person say, "and here comes Mary-kate out of the water, you know she's going to be making up alot on the bike." and i thought, huh, shit.
I was in the lead on the bike for all of a half mile and then the Davis girl (who was first out of the water but stopped to put on a jacket and gloves) passed me at the start of Centennial. I just stayed about 15 ft behind her as we climbed. No point in killing yourself up the really really really steep hill.
As I'm thinking this, here comes this girl (who I assume to be the 'mary-kate') standing and pushing herself up the hill, rocking back and forth. she asks me if the girl in front is the girl in first.
she catches the davis girl and so do i, then the davis girl passes me sometime later and we all kind of chase each other, though I mostly stayed behind the two of them. I hate killing yourself to pass someone when you know that means they'll just push harder to hang with you. So we were all hammering pretty hard and, wham, all of sudden we're at the turnaround. The girl in front makes the turn ok. But I slam on my brakes and skid all the way out, taking out a cone and nearly a volunteer. Mary-Kate drops her chain at the same time. So Davis girls get way ahead and I pull into 2nd.
At the turnaround it becomes pretty clear that we're quite a bit ahead of the next people.
I made up almost all the gap on the descent (I got up to 48mph!). So even though my dismount was awful [I never do the flying shit, but I usually manage to not have to skip, hop, skid on my feet to a complete stop before I get off], I left the transition a step behind the girl in 1st.
I passed her in the first 25m and was running pretty strong. I knew the run was going to be the hardest part, because I hadn't run for 6 months and haven't raced in longer, but I was going along pretty good, opening up a gap. the run is up and down and up and down, pretty f-ing hilly.
Around the bottom of campus, about 2 miles, Mary-Kate catches me and I figure I'll just go with her and see how this goes down, so I fall into stride next to her and everything's good. Then we get to this whole series of stairs and she leaps the first set in one bound, so I figure I'll do the same, b/c I'm trying to hang with her, though I just barely make it. Then the next set comes up and it's longer, like 10 or 15 stairs. And she gets down in 2 fucking leaps. I don't even know how she does it. So by the time we get to the bottom of the whole flight, she's got a 10 ft. gap on me and just opens it up as we turn to run uphill to the Campanile and then down into the finish line. I end up losing by 30 seconds or so.
I ask her about, because I figure there's no way anyone could have done, and she goes, "oh yeah, i practice running down the stairs yesterday".
I didn't really have anything to say to that.
So I rearranged my Thursday-Friday schedule and biked out to his office. It ended being a good move, my knee felt way better on the ride home and the rest of the weekend.
But I was so tired after a short 20 min swim on Saturday that I took two naps.
Bearathlon Sunday.
Woke up at 5am and did an activation ride. Didn't do a great warm-up, was too distracted by feeling like I was forgetting something important that I couldn't remember about triathlon.
The swim wasn't too bad. I just started swimming and when I got to the first buoy I found myself next to the leader and in the front group. Shit, I did get better at swimming. Only problem was as I fell back to draft off the leaders I got totally trampled. It was a little rough swim; I may have hit Nicole and Kim many times. But when I got out (which was hard to do), I was 5th I think. Course I don't know what people do in transition, because as Nicole and I got on our bikes at the same time there was only one person in front of us (Kim). The rest of you need to get your shoes on faster.
As we pulled out on our bikes, I heard the announcer person say, "and here comes Mary-kate out of the water, you know she's going to be making up alot on the bike." and i thought, huh, shit.
I was in the lead on the bike for all of a half mile and then the Davis girl (who was first out of the water but stopped to put on a jacket and gloves) passed me at the start of Centennial. I just stayed about 15 ft behind her as we climbed. No point in killing yourself up the really really really steep hill.
As I'm thinking this, here comes this girl (who I assume to be the 'mary-kate') standing and pushing herself up the hill, rocking back and forth. she asks me if the girl in front is the girl in first.
she catches the davis girl and so do i, then the davis girl passes me sometime later and we all kind of chase each other, though I mostly stayed behind the two of them. I hate killing yourself to pass someone when you know that means they'll just push harder to hang with you. So we were all hammering pretty hard and, wham, all of sudden we're at the turnaround. The girl in front makes the turn ok. But I slam on my brakes and skid all the way out, taking out a cone and nearly a volunteer. Mary-Kate drops her chain at the same time. So Davis girls get way ahead and I pull into 2nd.
At the turnaround it becomes pretty clear that we're quite a bit ahead of the next people.
I made up almost all the gap on the descent (I got up to 48mph!). So even though my dismount was awful [I never do the flying shit, but I usually manage to not have to skip, hop, skid on my feet to a complete stop before I get off], I left the transition a step behind the girl in 1st.
I passed her in the first 25m and was running pretty strong. I knew the run was going to be the hardest part, because I hadn't run for 6 months and haven't raced in longer, but I was going along pretty good, opening up a gap. the run is up and down and up and down, pretty f-ing hilly.
Around the bottom of campus, about 2 miles, Mary-Kate catches me and I figure I'll just go with her and see how this goes down, so I fall into stride next to her and everything's good. Then we get to this whole series of stairs and she leaps the first set in one bound, so I figure I'll do the same, b/c I'm trying to hang with her, though I just barely make it. Then the next set comes up and it's longer, like 10 or 15 stairs. And she gets down in 2 fucking leaps. I don't even know how she does it. So by the time we get to the bottom of the whole flight, she's got a 10 ft. gap on me and just opens it up as we turn to run uphill to the Campanile and then down into the finish line. I end up losing by 30 seconds or so.
I ask her about, because I figure there's no way anyone could have done, and she goes, "oh yeah, i practice running down the stairs yesterday".
I didn't really have anything to say to that.
Thursday, February 7, 2008
Tired
That's how tired I've been feeling. I always get exhausted when I'm in my hard weeks, it's like a perpetual state of feeling tired, I should ease into them better because it's such a shock coming from 5 nice easy days.
So yesterday I was planning on doing a 7 mile run and then going to Masters, but I decided to skip the Masters and go tonight instead of the shorter swim I was planning tonight. I'm already going to be a little overtaxed this week with Bearathlon, and I'm just in my first week of Base 2; I need to be building up my mileage and volume. I'm also suppose to add some basic force and muscular endurance work right now. Um...
The run yesterday was not super fun either. My hips and knees were aching and I tried to run up and down the levee a bunch of times to simulate hills (since Bearathlon's going to be hilly). And I stopped in the park on my home to do strides; it definitely took 3 before my knees were even caught up with me. SIgh
Wednesday, February 6, 2008
Bearathlon
This is why I'm not excited about doing my first triathlon since April. Geuss it's time to find my race stuff and practice my dismounts.
Monday:
Lifted a short MT set and swam 2800 y. of mostly 300s rotating IMs and free
Tuesday:
Easy 37 mile ride around the airport. It's always pretty windy out there and I was taking it pretty easy.
Today:
Going to do an easy(ish) 7 mile run after I go to the endodontist or whatever the guy is for a consultation on a root canal, then go to Masters swimming tonight.
Monday, February 4, 2008
The Weekend
Friday:
I ran 5 miles over on the levee over by the landfill, next to the Skate Park, and did strides. One of those days where you go out slower than you come back.
Cleaned the house Friday night for like 5 hours, and then, since it was suppose to rain hard in Marin on Saturday morning, the ZGirls that I was going to meet up with from ZteaM and I decided to postpone our ride.
Saturday:
Planned on heading over to Berkeley, instead for a short ride of the Bearathlon course.
I couldn't find an elevation picture, but suffice it to say it's steep. It goes straight up Centennial Road, above the football stadium. I was putting out around 190W and doing 5mph. Then it goes across Grizzly Peak, which is a false flat, and then down, down, down Claremont, where I easily hit 40mph, even with getting stuck behind a car that was going slower than me.
This is what it looks like during the ride:
Not that it looks like that when it's raining (which it was) or when you're racing (which I will be).
450kJ in an hour, that's some steep shit.
Had hamburgers and watched MTV with Sachini, then it was over to Marin.
Sunday:
I wanted to do a nice, medium, 3 hour ride. I'd have been ok with 2 and a half or 3 and a half. So imagine my surprise when we're about 2 hours out and Steve's like 'yeah, so if we want to get back in 4 hours, we may have to just turn around now'. um, what.
Ended up coming back around Nicasio resevoir and then I went by San Geronimo and Steve went farther through Lucas Valley.
This is what marin looks like: (you can't say it isn't pretty and shit)
After Steve turned to add on Lucas Valley, it was a little after 3 hours, I had maybe 10-15 more miles and I just died. Dead. Gone. Thought about laying down by the side of the road and just going to sleep. Part of it is that I haven't done a ride that long in a few months (been mostly stuck in the mid-40s), part of it was that my legs were dead from climbing the day before and it doesn't help that everything in Marin is hilly and partly it's just that riding with Steve can be hard. Not really, really hard, but a little bit too fast for me and if I stop paying attention for a second or slow down a second, I fall off his wheel and then it's even more of a bitch. So, I stopped and had the last two bites of my bar and started to feel better about 15 minutes later. And eventually I made it up over Whitehill and then coasted into San Anselmo. 4 hours, 58 moderately hilly miles, 1440 kJ. Not bad for the weekend.
Then this morning someone asked me what I did this weekend and I was like, 'eh, nothing'.
I ran 5 miles over on the levee over by the landfill, next to the Skate Park, and did strides. One of those days where you go out slower than you come back.
Cleaned the house Friday night for like 5 hours, and then, since it was suppose to rain hard in Marin on Saturday morning, the ZGirls that I was going to meet up with from ZteaM and I decided to postpone our ride.
Saturday:
Planned on heading over to Berkeley, instead for a short ride of the Bearathlon course.
I couldn't find an elevation picture, but suffice it to say it's steep. It goes straight up Centennial Road, above the football stadium. I was putting out around 190W and doing 5mph. Then it goes across Grizzly Peak, which is a false flat, and then down, down, down Claremont, where I easily hit 40mph, even with getting stuck behind a car that was going slower than me.
This is what it looks like during the ride:
Not that it looks like that when it's raining (which it was) or when you're racing (which I will be).
450kJ in an hour, that's some steep shit.
Had hamburgers and watched MTV with Sachini, then it was over to Marin.
Sunday:
I wanted to do a nice, medium, 3 hour ride. I'd have been ok with 2 and a half or 3 and a half. So imagine my surprise when we're about 2 hours out and Steve's like 'yeah, so if we want to get back in 4 hours, we may have to just turn around now'. um, what.
Ended up coming back around Nicasio resevoir and then I went by San Geronimo and Steve went farther through Lucas Valley.
This is what marin looks like: (you can't say it isn't pretty and shit)
After Steve turned to add on Lucas Valley, it was a little after 3 hours, I had maybe 10-15 more miles and I just died. Dead. Gone. Thought about laying down by the side of the road and just going to sleep. Part of it is that I haven't done a ride that long in a few months (been mostly stuck in the mid-40s), part of it was that my legs were dead from climbing the day before and it doesn't help that everything in Marin is hilly and partly it's just that riding with Steve can be hard. Not really, really hard, but a little bit too fast for me and if I stop paying attention for a second or slow down a second, I fall off his wheel and then it's even more of a bitch. So, I stopped and had the last two bites of my bar and started to feel better about 15 minutes later. And eventually I made it up over Whitehill and then coasted into San Anselmo. 4 hours, 58 moderately hilly miles, 1440 kJ. Not bad for the weekend.
Then this morning someone asked me what I did this weekend and I was like, 'eh, nothing'.
Thursday, January 31, 2008
Another rest day.
Went to Masters last night. I hadn't been in nearly 2 weeks, and I think I have a tendency to swim a little bit too slowly/easily when I swim by myself.
So it felt good to get moving in the pool, again, but it also made my arms feel like jello. And I'm not good at butterfly (and we're still in butterfly month, ugh), so I struggled some.
Biked out there in the wonderful weather, yesterday, really early.
Lifted: Did 3 reps of 10 of leg press at 80 lbs, seated row at 50 lbs, hamstring curl at 50 lbs and lat pull down at 55 lbs and 3 reps of 20 situps.
Maybe that's why I was tired swimming...
550 EZ Warm-up on my own
400 Swim, every 3rd lap drill fly
300 Kick, half dolphin kick
300 Pull
3 x (4 x 75) Hawaiin IM, Swim-Kick-Swim on 1:30
2 x 150 (50 Fly, 100 Free) on 2:30
50 Warm Down
This weekend I'm hoping to get a ride in with ZteaM and meet some of the women and triathlon people. I'm also hoping to ride the Bearathlon course, because there's no way I'm doing the race without riding it first. But it all depends on the weather in Marin and Berkeley.
So it felt good to get moving in the pool, again, but it also made my arms feel like jello. And I'm not good at butterfly (and we're still in butterfly month, ugh), so I struggled some.
Biked out there in the wonderful weather, yesterday, really early.
Lifted: Did 3 reps of 10 of leg press at 80 lbs, seated row at 50 lbs, hamstring curl at 50 lbs and lat pull down at 55 lbs and 3 reps of 20 situps.
Maybe that's why I was tired swimming...
550 EZ Warm-up on my own
400 Swim, every 3rd lap drill fly
300 Kick, half dolphin kick
300 Pull
3 x (4 x 75) Hawaiin IM, Swim-Kick-Swim on 1:30
2 x 150 (50 Fly, 100 Free) on 2:30
50 Warm Down
This weekend I'm hoping to get a ride in with ZteaM and meet some of the women and triathlon people. I'm also hoping to ride the Bearathlon course, because there's no way I'm doing the race without riding it first. But it all depends on the weather in Marin and Berkeley.
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
Biking
I was going to ride my trainer again this morning, but I hadn't been on the road in over a week. SO I decided to ride anyway, even with the drizzling.
Then, of course, it started to rain. Alot. It was like this picture, only I didn't look that happy. And my hands froze.
Only did an hour ride and then spent maybe half an hour in the warm shower. Then I didn't want to go outside at all, so I worked from home. Which would have been fine, except I forgot my computer power cable at my office, so I had to walk over there anyway.
And wouldn't you know it, it wasn't raining the whole rest of the day.
Sunday, January 27, 2008
Sun?
This is the weather today:
It's finally sunny and I have a rest day. So I took a nice walk home for lunch instead, even if that's only like 7 blocks.
I was writing this post yesterday and my internet quit, and then, lo and behold, today my half-written entry was in blogger. It saved it!
So this is my post from Sunday:
Yesterday, Steve left for his race around 5:30 (in the morning) and I was so not even waking up for that. I intended to get up around 8 and go to Masters and then lift some.
BUT, when my alarm went off at 8 I was like, ok time to get up, I closed my eyes and woke up at 8:45. Which wasn't totally awful, because it actually stopped raining yesterday and was suppose to clear up more as the day went on. So I took my time and biked (the 5 miles) on the 'speed machine' to the gym and lifted then swam.
It seems like sleeping in has become a theme for me. But my figuring is 1. if I'm that tired I probably need the sleep, too many people try to get all hard-core and forgoe sleep for training, but aren't going to get the benefit of that training if they don't sleep, 2. i've still got a little bit of a sore throat, which finally started feeling better the last two days, but it's worth staying rested and 3. it's not like I lose anything by working out later
I lifted, in the muscle transition phase, which is suppose to be more wieght, fewer reps, slower, etc. And I finally figured out how to actually use the leg press!! (yay!). SO, I did some leg press, some hamstring curl, some pull-ups, some lat pull-downs, etc. And it was maybe a little too much weight, because my legs were shaking on the leg press and hurt like a mother now.
I swam an easy 2500y, kicking, pulling, drills. My legs and abs hurt quite a bit from running the day before (since running is still rough) and from all that lifting.
This is my pool, at the Natomas Racquet Club:
I like my pool. The capitol athletic club is good, and you might see the Governator, but the pool isn't as good and the program isn't as good. The Natomas pool isn't over-heated and doesn't get cramped when 5 people try to swim.
Swam again, easy 1500y, today. My soccer game was cancelled because of the rain all week. They don't want to waste the fields on us. So I wanted to do similar running to substitute, but it started raining again.
Ran 3 miles on the treadmill at 8 minute pace, picked up the middle mile and half down to just sub 7 minute pace. Turned bright red and everyone was looking at me. Then I swam nice and easy. I like swimming easy after running, because my legs just feel like jello.
Now, going to take this Monday-Friday easy(ish) and then be in the Bay Area on the weekend for a Z-team ride maybe and a test ride of the bearathlon course. Bearathlon is a great, if not little sadistic, race. I'm just not sure if I'm in a racing place right now. Going to give the course a test ride and then wait and see how the weather is, cause of course it's suppose to start raining again.
It's finally sunny and I have a rest day. So I took a nice walk home for lunch instead, even if that's only like 7 blocks.
I was writing this post yesterday and my internet quit, and then, lo and behold, today my half-written entry was in blogger. It saved it!
So this is my post from Sunday:
Yesterday, Steve left for his race around 5:30 (in the morning) and I was so not even waking up for that. I intended to get up around 8 and go to Masters and then lift some.
BUT, when my alarm went off at 8 I was like, ok time to get up, I closed my eyes and woke up at 8:45. Which wasn't totally awful, because it actually stopped raining yesterday and was suppose to clear up more as the day went on. So I took my time and biked (the 5 miles) on the 'speed machine' to the gym and lifted then swam.
It seems like sleeping in has become a theme for me. But my figuring is 1. if I'm that tired I probably need the sleep, too many people try to get all hard-core and forgoe sleep for training, but aren't going to get the benefit of that training if they don't sleep, 2. i've still got a little bit of a sore throat, which finally started feeling better the last two days, but it's worth staying rested and 3. it's not like I lose anything by working out later
I lifted, in the muscle transition phase, which is suppose to be more wieght, fewer reps, slower, etc. And I finally figured out how to actually use the leg press!! (yay!). SO, I did some leg press, some hamstring curl, some pull-ups, some lat pull-downs, etc. And it was maybe a little too much weight, because my legs were shaking on the leg press and hurt like a mother now.
I swam an easy 2500y, kicking, pulling, drills. My legs and abs hurt quite a bit from running the day before (since running is still rough) and from all that lifting.
This is my pool, at the Natomas Racquet Club:
I like my pool. The capitol athletic club is good, and you might see the Governator, but the pool isn't as good and the program isn't as good. The Natomas pool isn't over-heated and doesn't get cramped when 5 people try to swim.
Swam again, easy 1500y, today. My soccer game was cancelled because of the rain all week. They don't want to waste the fields on us. So I wanted to do similar running to substitute, but it started raining again.
Ran 3 miles on the treadmill at 8 minute pace, picked up the middle mile and half down to just sub 7 minute pace. Turned bright red and everyone was looking at me. Then I swam nice and easy. I like swimming easy after running, because my legs just feel like jello.
Now, going to take this Monday-Friday easy(ish) and then be in the Bay Area on the weekend for a Z-team ride maybe and a test ride of the bearathlon course. Bearathlon is a great, if not little sadistic, race. I'm just not sure if I'm in a racing place right now. Going to give the course a test ride and then wait and see how the weather is, cause of course it's suppose to start raining again.
Friday, January 25, 2008
Aching Legs
Spinning Boris was the second movie I watched on the trainer last night.
Not a bad movie, with a few good lines, though it did have Jeff Goldblum. The second trainer session was rougher than the first. My legs were pretty tired to start with and I didn't do any drills. So an hour seemed kind of long and my legs were a little slow, exhausted. And then my power meter kept going in and out, so it was hard to do a nice, good workout.
I think it was around 370kJ, 15 miles, averaging 108W.
And then today I did a long run. Was planning on getting up and doing it before I had to go to the dentist, but I didn't wake up until 8:45, so oh well.
7.5 miles, around 8 minute pace. Except it was probably a tiny bit slower (like 8-8:15) and, since I don't really know distances and was judging by time, maybe a little shorter.
But I think that's probably ok, especially in base and especially since I'm trying to rehab back into running. It's hard building back up, without hurting my hip again or anything else, and keeping some speed. Right now, I just kinda shuffle through runs. And my hip hasn't been too bad, but my left knee has been acting up alot. I went to the physical therapist and he did a bunch of stuff and said it was twisted and i needed to stretch and stuff. But it's still hurting. When I bike, it's like a sharp pain under. And after running today (and towards the end of the run) my whole left knee and lef just ached. Sitting in a meeting this afternoon, my whole left leg just ached, like I had run much much longer.
I don't know if I'm ready to race anytime really soon.
Thursday, January 24, 2008
Minority Report
I was planning on 3-4 hours this morning. I was planning on toughing it out if it was drizzling and just doing it. Cause I need to get some longer rides in.
But Steve pointed out that I'm still trying to get over whatever I had. Still coughing, still have a sore throat. 4 hours in the cold rain might not just be tough, it might be stupid. He said I should split it up into two trainer sessions.
So, this morning I did 2 hours (2 hours!) on the trainer. This is crazy, since 30 minutes use to seem like forever. And yes, I watched Minority Report. I should keep track of all the movies I watch, at least as long as it keeps freezing and raining. I did NOT move to california for this crap.
And this afternoon/evening I'm going to do another hour, hour and half.
Whoooo.
It wasn't too bad though, put out 707kJ, covered 30.05 miles and averaged 100W. A little on the low side, but acceptable for easy base and for the trainer.
Yesterday, left the Governor's office and did 2000y easy at Capitol Athletic Club. Even in the shitty cold rain, that pool is still too warm. I can't imagine really trying to do a hard workout there.
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
Rain, Rain Go Away
Last night I went to Capitol Athletic Club to try out their Masters program, again. And, again, no one showed up. So I ended up swimming 2500y, relatively easy, with some drill work, some kicking and pulling and some IMs to mix it up.
I'm not good at swimming by myself, I go crazy and get slow and am positive that I'm messing up my stroke. When I swim with a team or other people, I feel like I get more out of it.
So, since the Masters program at Capitol seems to be mostly me swimming by myself, I'm probably going to keep going to Natomas Racquet Club. They have a good swim program and the coach was helping me with my technique and I definitely was getting faster. It's just that it's a 30 minute bike ride away and I hate having to bike all the way there in the rain. Especially if I just want to swim for 30 minutes.
This morning I thought it would be raining hard, so I did 1:20 on my trainer. I also hate the trainer. Again, by myself, nothing to look at, I go crazy. But this wasn't too bad. I did drills, one-leg, cadence, jumps and I watched When Harry Met Sally. funny movie.
Of course, I didn't get out of bed til too late, so then it was 11:15 by the time I finished push-ups and sit-ups and stretched after. So I had to rush to get to the Governor's Office by noon.
Now I'm here and there's nothing to do.
Going to leave in about an hour and go swim by myself again at Capitol and maybe do some weight training work. I'm bad at actually doing weight work, because I get confused by the different machines. And bleh.
And, worse, it's not raining now. But tomorrow, when I was planning on doing a four hour ride and it was suppose to be clear, it's going to rain. When it insists on raining for like 10 days straight, is when I start to hate the fact that I don't drive. I keep having to change clothes everytime I get somewhere.
I'm not good at swimming by myself, I go crazy and get slow and am positive that I'm messing up my stroke. When I swim with a team or other people, I feel like I get more out of it.
So, since the Masters program at Capitol seems to be mostly me swimming by myself, I'm probably going to keep going to Natomas Racquet Club. They have a good swim program and the coach was helping me with my technique and I definitely was getting faster. It's just that it's a 30 minute bike ride away and I hate having to bike all the way there in the rain. Especially if I just want to swim for 30 minutes.
This morning I thought it would be raining hard, so I did 1:20 on my trainer. I also hate the trainer. Again, by myself, nothing to look at, I go crazy. But this wasn't too bad. I did drills, one-leg, cadence, jumps and I watched When Harry Met Sally. funny movie.
Of course, I didn't get out of bed til too late, so then it was 11:15 by the time I finished push-ups and sit-ups and stretched after. So I had to rush to get to the Governor's Office by noon.
Now I'm here and there's nothing to do.
Going to leave in about an hour and go swim by myself again at Capitol and maybe do some weight training work. I'm bad at actually doing weight work, because I get confused by the different machines. And bleh.
And, worse, it's not raining now. But tomorrow, when I was planning on doing a four hour ride and it was suppose to be clear, it's going to rain. When it insists on raining for like 10 days straight, is when I start to hate the fact that I don't drive. I keep having to change clothes everytime I get somewhere.
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
Start Again
I decided to start posting again. Maybe I'll actually do more with this blog now.
It's raining, even if weather.com says it's not. And I hate the rain. I'm not a very motivated person. I know like all these triathletes are into getting up at 5 and working out in the snow or whatever other stupid shit they can come up with. But I hate waking up. And I hate the rain.
This was the first night I've slept good in awhile, what with the coughing and having to sleep sitting up. I was so exhausted last week, since I went ahead and started my first week of base (after an illness-cased delay) but I wasn't sleeping. So this morning, it just felt so good to actually be able to lie in bed and I could hear it pouring out. Steve got up and went for a ride and I just stayed in bed until 9:30. Sigh. I do enjoy being able to work from home when I want.
I worked for about 2 or 3 hours. Then I went for a run in the pouring, cold rain. It was, um, cold. Only did 3 miles, with a couple 1 and 2 minute pick-ups just to work on some speed, since you know I have none. The pickups were harder than I would have liked, but at least they're done. Got home and steam came off my legs.
Going to go to my possibly new gym and try out the swimming program again. Maybe this time there will actually be other people and a coach. Maybe.
I just have to get through a staff meeting first. God I hate staff meetings.
It's raining, even if weather.com says it's not. And I hate the rain. I'm not a very motivated person. I know like all these triathletes are into getting up at 5 and working out in the snow or whatever other stupid shit they can come up with. But I hate waking up. And I hate the rain.
This was the first night I've slept good in awhile, what with the coughing and having to sleep sitting up. I was so exhausted last week, since I went ahead and started my first week of base (after an illness-cased delay) but I wasn't sleeping. So this morning, it just felt so good to actually be able to lie in bed and I could hear it pouring out. Steve got up and went for a ride and I just stayed in bed until 9:30. Sigh. I do enjoy being able to work from home when I want.
I worked for about 2 or 3 hours. Then I went for a run in the pouring, cold rain. It was, um, cold. Only did 3 miles, with a couple 1 and 2 minute pick-ups just to work on some speed, since you know I have none. The pickups were harder than I would have liked, but at least they're done. Got home and steam came off my legs.
Going to go to my possibly new gym and try out the swimming program again. Maybe this time there will actually be other people and a coach. Maybe.
I just have to get through a staff meeting first. God I hate staff meetings.
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