Another PR in the 400 meter distance since I started swimming this year! The beauty is in the numbers, so.... here are my times for the 400 meter swim chronologically:
June 12 - 10 mins 20 secs
July 8 - 9 mins 35 secs
Sept 27 - 8 mins 15 secs
November 5 - 8 mins 01 sec
And I didn't really train! I realize I'm bragging, but what else are blogs for?
Honestly, though, I really feel like I don't know what I am doing in the pool. There is plenty of potential, and I'm really lacking direction and structure.
So, this makes me think about that magical Christmas wish list. I'm already asking Santa for a bike trainer, and, then, I think another good thing to ask for would be this. It's a combination of an instructional video, e-book, and water-proof drill cards developed by a tri swim coach Kevin Koskella.
I've been reading his site and following his advice, but - again - there's just not much structure to that. Plus, trying to learn to swim through reading about it is like trying to hug your imaginary friend. It only gets you so far!!! It seems a video and materials with photos and detailed instructions are a good next step for a beginner like me.
Other options:
- Masters (I'm not strong or fast enough yet. But, more importantly, from what I've read/heard, you must come into masters with a pretty solid stroke b/c you might do a lot of damage to yourself trying to keep up with everyone if you can't keep your form when swimming fast)
- Private instruction (Uh, too pricey, can't justify it yet...)
- Adult classes (These are so hard to find! They are expensive, as well, and are practically impossible to fit into my schedule).
So, buying that video/book/cards package seems like a good next step. Any thoughts/advice for/against?
Thanks guys!
Thursday, November 5, 2009
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Be Thankful for What You've Got
Ew, what a serious post title. What am I? Your mother? Right?
But, honestly, guys, do you ever have these moments where life throws it in your face that you are one ungrateful pig?
Yesterday, at the track, my co-worker and I were half-jokingly complaining to our friend (I started it) about how our boss gets on our case for getting into work a bit late now and then when he's never really there to see us stay late or come in early. Our friend listened to us and then shared a story about how a couple of days ago her boss yelled at her for something completely ridiculous and made her cry in front of a bunch of people.
Uh, note to self - shut up, stop complaining, even if jokingly, about problems that are not real.
A couple of days ago, I was at the gym swimming pool. In the entire pool, there was just me and one other person, and I couldn't help it but observe (I wasn't staring, I swear!). There was this guy - very muscular, very fit. I know I talk about this often - we subconsciously assign superior athletic ability to people who look fit (maybe this says more about me than anyone else, I don't know) - so, I automatically thought "he must swim twice as fast as me". Yet, the guy couldn't swim. And, not as in "his stroke was bad". He literally couldn't swim. He'd go only half way in the 25 meter long pool to stay in the shallow part, and it was a complete surprise that he'd even get that far. What he did didn't look like swimming. He seemed to smash the water with his entire body, flailing his arms, creating enormous waves, and sending drops of water high into the air. There was this sense of panic around him. He was obviously afraid of drowning. Yet, he was out there swimming.
Uh, again, note to self - shut up, stop bitching about not being a fast swimmer, be grateful that you CAN swim and are okay at it.
I do this often, though. And, while I understand I don't need to justify my problems - after all, I'm the one living my life - at the same time I need to be thankful a bit more.
In the past, this has been hard for me to do because saying that I'm great where I am would get equated with complacency in my mind. But it really isn't so. Realizing that some problems are not real and some pressures are purely self created - that can help us free a lot of our energy to do better. Less bitching about work - more time spent doing a good job; less bitching about slow swimming - more time spent valuing the gift you've got and improving. That's really how it works. So, let's appreciate what we've got just a bit more :)
PS. And the track workout rocked. I gained a lot of fitness in the last 1.5 months even though I couldn't go to the track. Thank you swimming, biking, yoga, and long distance running.
I warmed up for 1.25 miles at about 8:10 pace. I know! That's too fast! It was too easy, to be honest. I suppose, all that sleep and rest after the 14 miler really helped.
I'll probably lose you here, but my workout went like this: 2 sets of 600m stong effort, 200m all out, 200m easy (the super fast 200 meters after a pretty hard 600m is called a "kick), and then I did 4 sets of 200m fast x 200m slow.
The times for the "kick" workout were:
1st set: 600m strong - 2:39 (i.e. roughly 7 min pace), 200m all out - 44 secs (i.e. about 6 min pace), 200m easy - 1 min (i.e. about 8 min pace);
2nd set: 600m strong - 2:35 (a bit faster than the 1st set), 200m all out - 51 secs (oops slowing down), 200m easy - 1:48 min (I think that's called walking).
The times for the fast 200s in the rest of the workout were: 43, 40, 40, 45 secs (5-something to 6 min/mile pace).
I was very happy with how I did! A good effort, good speed, and a good volume. Yay me!
But, honestly, guys, do you ever have these moments where life throws it in your face that you are one ungrateful pig?
Yesterday, at the track, my co-worker and I were half-jokingly complaining to our friend (I started it) about how our boss gets on our case for getting into work a bit late now and then when he's never really there to see us stay late or come in early. Our friend listened to us and then shared a story about how a couple of days ago her boss yelled at her for something completely ridiculous and made her cry in front of a bunch of people.
Uh, note to self - shut up, stop complaining, even if jokingly, about problems that are not real.
A couple of days ago, I was at the gym swimming pool. In the entire pool, there was just me and one other person, and I couldn't help it but observe (I wasn't staring, I swear!). There was this guy - very muscular, very fit. I know I talk about this often - we subconsciously assign superior athletic ability to people who look fit (maybe this says more about me than anyone else, I don't know) - so, I automatically thought "he must swim twice as fast as me". Yet, the guy couldn't swim. And, not as in "his stroke was bad". He literally couldn't swim. He'd go only half way in the 25 meter long pool to stay in the shallow part, and it was a complete surprise that he'd even get that far. What he did didn't look like swimming. He seemed to smash the water with his entire body, flailing his arms, creating enormous waves, and sending drops of water high into the air. There was this sense of panic around him. He was obviously afraid of drowning. Yet, he was out there swimming.
Uh, again, note to self - shut up, stop bitching about not being a fast swimmer, be grateful that you CAN swim and are okay at it.
I do this often, though. And, while I understand I don't need to justify my problems - after all, I'm the one living my life - at the same time I need to be thankful a bit more.
In the past, this has been hard for me to do because saying that I'm great where I am would get equated with complacency in my mind. But it really isn't so. Realizing that some problems are not real and some pressures are purely self created - that can help us free a lot of our energy to do better. Less bitching about work - more time spent doing a good job; less bitching about slow swimming - more time spent valuing the gift you've got and improving. That's really how it works. So, let's appreciate what we've got just a bit more :)
PS. And the track workout rocked. I gained a lot of fitness in the last 1.5 months even though I couldn't go to the track. Thank you swimming, biking, yoga, and long distance running.
I warmed up for 1.25 miles at about 8:10 pace. I know! That's too fast! It was too easy, to be honest. I suppose, all that sleep and rest after the 14 miler really helped.
I'll probably lose you here, but my workout went like this: 2 sets of 600m stong effort, 200m all out, 200m easy (the super fast 200 meters after a pretty hard 600m is called a "kick), and then I did 4 sets of 200m fast x 200m slow.
The times for the "kick" workout were:
1st set: 600m strong - 2:39 (i.e. roughly 7 min pace), 200m all out - 44 secs (i.e. about 6 min pace), 200m easy - 1 min (i.e. about 8 min pace);
2nd set: 600m strong - 2:35 (a bit faster than the 1st set), 200m all out - 51 secs (oops slowing down), 200m easy - 1:48 min (I think that's called walking).
The times for the fast 200s in the rest of the workout were: 43, 40, 40, 45 secs (5-something to 6 min/mile pace).
I was very happy with how I did! A good effort, good speed, and a good volume. Yay me!
Sunday, November 1, 2009
My runs are getting longer, and longer, and longer, and ....
This weekend has been like a fairy tale. Running, good food, time with my hubby, good movies, and plenty of rest and sleep.
My long run this weekend was a 14 miler. This run wasn't easy, but it was good.
After about mile 8, it was hard to maintain my 8:10-something minute pace. I ran the first 10 miles at an average pace of 8:16, but then I felt apart. I did miles 11-13 at 8:40 pace and ran the last one in 8:20 even though I felt like I was pushing for a sub-8 min mile. Overall, for all 14 miles, my pace was 8:24 mins/mile. My legs hurt, burned, and at some point began throwing f-bombs at me.
I know you are like "So, where's the "good" part?" Well, the good part is that this is the first run since the early spring of this year where the limiting factor in my running wasn't my lung capacity. This time I couldn't keep my pace because my legs were in pain, not because it felt like I had a child's lungs and the oxigen wasn't getting to my limbs. And it felt great! This means the asthma meds are working. And the legs - well, I have a bunch of reasons for why they were acting up - lack of sleep, a lot more running during the week than usual, and skipping yoga. All these things are easily fixable and you don't need months of meds to take care of them.
Next week is my hard week. I'm finally returning to the track. It's been about 6 weeks since my last track session. I've been avoiding it to make sure my ankle is completely healed. Also, next week, I'm not skipping Bikram yoga and will do 16 miles for my long run. I'm very excited!
Enjoy your week!
My long run this weekend was a 14 miler. This run wasn't easy, but it was good.
After about mile 8, it was hard to maintain my 8:10-something minute pace. I ran the first 10 miles at an average pace of 8:16, but then I felt apart. I did miles 11-13 at 8:40 pace and ran the last one in 8:20 even though I felt like I was pushing for a sub-8 min mile. Overall, for all 14 miles, my pace was 8:24 mins/mile. My legs hurt, burned, and at some point began throwing f-bombs at me.
I know you are like "So, where's the "good" part?" Well, the good part is that this is the first run since the early spring of this year where the limiting factor in my running wasn't my lung capacity. This time I couldn't keep my pace because my legs were in pain, not because it felt like I had a child's lungs and the oxigen wasn't getting to my limbs. And it felt great! This means the asthma meds are working. And the legs - well, I have a bunch of reasons for why they were acting up - lack of sleep, a lot more running during the week than usual, and skipping yoga. All these things are easily fixable and you don't need months of meds to take care of them.
Next week is my hard week. I'm finally returning to the track. It's been about 6 weeks since my last track session. I've been avoiding it to make sure my ankle is completely healed. Also, next week, I'm not skipping Bikram yoga and will do 16 miles for my long run. I'm very excited!
Enjoy your week!
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Your Christmas Wish List?
Hello, gals and girls! Er, where did guys go? Or, more accurately, where did my English go?
Are ya'll running? Cause I AM! I don't know, but I'm in this weird running groove. I just want to run, and it feels I can go for hours. My first coach's husband would say how I should have been a sprinter (because my thighs are so huge and muscular - you know, girls, wouldn't you love to get such a "compliment"? And you, guys, don't you just love giving such "compliments"?). But, even if my thighs are built for, ahem, huge bursts of speed, my soul is all about the distance.
So, today, I went running during lunch. I could only do 5 miles because I had to go back to the office to, ya know, work. And I so wanted to just keep running. Just a couple of hours. That's all. Is that too much to ask? Just a two and a half hour long lunch for running then shower and eating during a work day??? An easy run for the sake of running. Just movement, no goals, no pressure, no timing.
Beautiful, isn't it? Do YOU want to go TO there???
Training is picking up for the Houston marathon. But it's also time to get started thinking about that MS 150 ride I'll be doing. Since it gets dark so early, and it's dark before work, I can't ride during the week. And since I'm doing my long runs on Saturday or Sunday and the local riding clubs do super long rides I can't yet handle, my weekends are shot in terms of riding. So, I've been thinking that, since this situation will not correct itself any time soon, I should get a bike trainer and get some good mileage under my butt (?) so I don't fall off my bike half way through the first day of riding in the MS 150. And, so very conveniently, the gift-giving time of the year is coming up. So, husband? Hello? Wink, wink, wink ;) And nothing's in my eye.
Do you guys have any suggestions on what bike trainer I should get? I'm on a budget!
So far, that's the only "real" thing on my Christmas wish list. I also want to get a swimsuit, but I don't really need it yet, so it'll have to wait!
Do you have any running/triathlon related things on your gift wish list?
Are ya'll running? Cause I AM! I don't know, but I'm in this weird running groove. I just want to run, and it feels I can go for hours. My first coach's husband would say how I should have been a sprinter (because my thighs are so huge and muscular - you know, girls, wouldn't you love to get such a "compliment"? And you, guys, don't you just love giving such "compliments"?). But, even if my thighs are built for, ahem, huge bursts of speed, my soul is all about the distance.
So, today, I went running during lunch. I could only do 5 miles because I had to go back to the office to, ya know, work. And I so wanted to just keep running. Just a couple of hours. That's all. Is that too much to ask? Just a two and a half hour long lunch for running then shower and eating during a work day??? An easy run for the sake of running. Just movement, no goals, no pressure, no timing.
Beautiful, isn't it? Do YOU want to go TO there???
Training is picking up for the Houston marathon. But it's also time to get started thinking about that MS 150 ride I'll be doing. Since it gets dark so early, and it's dark before work, I can't ride during the week. And since I'm doing my long runs on Saturday or Sunday and the local riding clubs do super long rides I can't yet handle, my weekends are shot in terms of riding. So, I've been thinking that, since this situation will not correct itself any time soon, I should get a bike trainer and get some good mileage under my butt (?) so I don't fall off my bike half way through the first day of riding in the MS 150. And, so very conveniently, the gift-giving time of the year is coming up. So, husband? Hello? Wink, wink, wink ;) And nothing's in my eye.
Do you guys have any suggestions on what bike trainer I should get? I'm on a budget!
So far, that's the only "real" thing on my Christmas wish list. I also want to get a swimsuit, but I don't really need it yet, so it'll have to wait!
Do you have any running/triathlon related things on your gift wish list?
Sunday, October 25, 2009
Random Much? I'm Still Running, Though!
Oh, hey-oooh, what's up? Sorry for dropping the ball on this whole blogging thing. I'd give you an excuse, but I don't really have one. I had plenty of time, it's my mind that just decided to take a vacation from thinking about the running.
AND, guess what, the visits/page views didn't drop this week at all. First of all - thanks! Second of all - I'm puzzled because there are times - very frequent times - where I'd write something clever (you know, when you giggle to yourself and just can't wait for the comments to begin pouring in), and I'd get like 20 visits with 19 of those being mine because I'm THAT proud of myself.
Oh, should I have kept that to myself? Too many ugly traits disclosed? I say - dirty (mind) laundry is the thing that keeps this blogging machine running, so I must go on.
Anyway, one of the most exciting things about last week is this looong meeting I got to go to for work. Besides being pretty darn unnecessary, the meeting was rather amusing. For example, and hold on to your seats, I've learned a new word.
And it is....
Ok... you so gonna laugh... oh god....
It is...
SKILLING
The frequent use of this word by this one woman during the meeting just proves that business-speak is going nowhere. No-freaking-where. Soon, we won't make any sense. Soon, they'll have college classes where you can learn to say things like "we will critically maximize the pipeline through synergizing the ETA".
So, "skilling". Different things come to mind - like "skinning" or a threat to kill from someone with a speech impediment (as in "I'm gonna sssss-KILL you"). And, yet, surprisingly, it's none of those things. According to Webster's dictionary, it is "any of various former Scandinavian copper coins and units of value". According to the lady at the meeting it means "training", or "providing training to employees to improve their skills".
Imagine, you are new at your job, and your immediate supervisor goes: "Can you come here for a moment, I need to skill you on something". I'd quit the first day.
Anywhooo, it hasn't been all word play over here, I did actually run. For example, today I ran 12.1 miles in 1:39:39, giving me an average pace of 8:14. Last week, my long run was 10.1 miles long in total time of 1:26:25 with an average pace of 8:33. Today's long run was obviously much better than the last one, but there's still a lot of work to get done!
Have a great week, ya'll!
AND, guess what, the visits/page views didn't drop this week at all. First of all - thanks! Second of all - I'm puzzled because there are times - very frequent times - where I'd write something clever (you know, when you giggle to yourself and just can't wait for the comments to begin pouring in), and I'd get like 20 visits with 19 of those being mine because I'm THAT proud of myself.
Oh, should I have kept that to myself? Too many ugly traits disclosed? I say - dirty (mind) laundry is the thing that keeps this blogging machine running, so I must go on.
Anyway, one of the most exciting things about last week is this looong meeting I got to go to for work. Besides being pretty darn unnecessary, the meeting was rather amusing. For example, and hold on to your seats, I've learned a new word.
And it is....
Ok... you so gonna laugh... oh god....
It is...
SKILLING
The frequent use of this word by this one woman during the meeting just proves that business-speak is going nowhere. No-freaking-where. Soon, we won't make any sense. Soon, they'll have college classes where you can learn to say things like "we will critically maximize the pipeline through synergizing the ETA".
So, "skilling". Different things come to mind - like "skinning" or a threat to kill from someone with a speech impediment (as in "I'm gonna sssss-KILL you"). And, yet, surprisingly, it's none of those things. According to Webster's dictionary, it is "any of various former Scandinavian copper coins and units of value". According to the lady at the meeting it means "training", or "providing training to employees to improve their skills".
Imagine, you are new at your job, and your immediate supervisor goes: "Can you come here for a moment, I need to skill you on something". I'd quit the first day.
Anywhooo, it hasn't been all word play over here, I did actually run. For example, today I ran 12.1 miles in 1:39:39, giving me an average pace of 8:14. Last week, my long run was 10.1 miles long in total time of 1:26:25 with an average pace of 8:33. Today's long run was obviously much better than the last one, but there's still a lot of work to get done!
Have a great week, ya'll!
Sunday, October 18, 2009
My Friend's 1st Marathon - A Reason to Keep Going
My best friend ran and finished her first marathon TODAY! Congratulations, Tanya! This has been a very long journey for her. We started to run together in January of 2004. We quickly found out that we were amazingly dorky nerds when it came to running. We loved the high, the crazy laughter, the challenge, and the pigging out in our college cafeteria after running (yet, we were getting in shape, which is another thing we loved!). If people didn't share this excitement, we'd talk crap behind their backs... because how can you not love running so much that you want to literally jump up and down and talk only about running all the freaking time, right? Totally normal.
We also loved dreaming together about doing crazy distances and, for a while there, were attached at the hip. We did our first few 5K's and 10K's together, placing at some and getting the shit kicked out of us at others, and then we ran our first half in February of 2005. And, after that, our eyes were set on the Austin Marathon in February 2006. Yet, when we began training, Tanya injured her knee, very unexpectedly. And the doctor couldn't say anything except "stay away from running". So, because of sharp knee pain, Tanya didn't run since about mid-2005 until the spring of this year.
Was that really almost 4 years???
After going to Bikram yoga for a while and doing easy runs here and there to test her knee and get it used to running again, Tanya was finally able to start running seriously this year. Imagine not being able to do your most favorite thing for four years, and then finally not only get to run, but also finish a whole freaking marathon. Yeah, that's how awesome what happened today is. And I'm so happy for her! :)
We also loved dreaming together about doing crazy distances and, for a while there, were attached at the hip. We did our first few 5K's and 10K's together, placing at some and getting the shit kicked out of us at others, and then we ran our first half in February of 2005. And, after that, our eyes were set on the Austin Marathon in February 2006. Yet, when we began training, Tanya injured her knee, very unexpectedly. And the doctor couldn't say anything except "stay away from running". So, because of sharp knee pain, Tanya didn't run since about mid-2005 until the spring of this year.
Was that really almost 4 years???
After going to Bikram yoga for a while and doing easy runs here and there to test her knee and get it used to running again, Tanya was finally able to start running seriously this year. Imagine not being able to do your most favorite thing for four years, and then finally not only get to run, but also finish a whole freaking marathon. Yeah, that's how awesome what happened today is. And I'm so happy for her! :)
Saturday, October 17, 2009
Some Distance and Closure... Running, Next Week, You, Me, Lots of Dates
I'm back from Dallas. In case you are just tuning in, I was going to a dedication of a memorial plaque at the intersection where my friend died while running in the Dallas White Rock marathon.
We ran the race together. Yet, at mile 22 I started to fall behind, and I missed her collapsing at mile 23. I don't remember much of that part of the course. But what I realized during this last visit to Dallas is that right near the spot where Erin died, I was asking volunteers if I could catch a shuttle to the finish line. I could catch one, but it would mean turning around and going back, i.e. away from the finish line, since I passed the place where the shuttle was parked. At that point, I was walking, completely frustrated that my marathon blew after I put so much into training (several 50-60 mile weeks of running), and if I was to continue to walking, it wasn't going to be away from the finish line.
I now have a clear picture in my mind of the place where Erin died. I appreciate that because the vagueness of that place made me feel uneasy.
The service itself was very pleasant. I was happy to meet her mother, father, and brother. Her husband was there as well. Also, people who were there for Erin when she died came out as well. There were her friends and relatives.
I must say that it is strange to witness such a public death. The words "Rest in Peace" came to mind. We are approaching a year since her death and yet it seems nothing's changed. With the plaque dedication and upcoming relays in her name, will she rest in peace? I hope so.
When Tara commented on my post about going to Dallas, she said that maybe I'd get some closure. I was thinking about that word - closure - wondering if you ever get it with death. I'm sure you do, just takes some time to feel it. I do know that with this trip to Dallas, I got some distance. I don't feel so close to the death.
Alright, thank you guys for reading about this. Your support means a lot to me. Writing about this experience helped me a lot, but it wouldn't be the same if it wasn't for your support.
Soon, I'll be back to the regularly scheduled run-tertainment, featuring hilarious jokes demonstrating deep, sophisticated humor (such as "she said"). I'm (STILL!!!!!) recovering from my half. For example, on Wednesday, I ran 4 miles at... wait for it.... 13 minute/mile pace! On Friday, I did two miles at a slightly better, but not that impressive 10 min/mile pace. Talk about kicking your own untrained butt in a race. But next week I'm attacking marathon training from all directions, and THE SPEED SHALL BE BACK!
We ran the race together. Yet, at mile 22 I started to fall behind, and I missed her collapsing at mile 23. I don't remember much of that part of the course. But what I realized during this last visit to Dallas is that right near the spot where Erin died, I was asking volunteers if I could catch a shuttle to the finish line. I could catch one, but it would mean turning around and going back, i.e. away from the finish line, since I passed the place where the shuttle was parked. At that point, I was walking, completely frustrated that my marathon blew after I put so much into training (several 50-60 mile weeks of running), and if I was to continue to walking, it wasn't going to be away from the finish line.
I now have a clear picture in my mind of the place where Erin died. I appreciate that because the vagueness of that place made me feel uneasy.
The service itself was very pleasant. I was happy to meet her mother, father, and brother. Her husband was there as well. Also, people who were there for Erin when she died came out as well. There were her friends and relatives.
I must say that it is strange to witness such a public death. The words "Rest in Peace" came to mind. We are approaching a year since her death and yet it seems nothing's changed. With the plaque dedication and upcoming relays in her name, will she rest in peace? I hope so.
When Tara commented on my post about going to Dallas, she said that maybe I'd get some closure. I was thinking about that word - closure - wondering if you ever get it with death. I'm sure you do, just takes some time to feel it. I do know that with this trip to Dallas, I got some distance. I don't feel so close to the death.
Alright, thank you guys for reading about this. Your support means a lot to me. Writing about this experience helped me a lot, but it wouldn't be the same if it wasn't for your support.
Soon, I'll be back to the regularly scheduled run-tertainment, featuring hilarious jokes demonstrating deep, sophisticated humor (such as "she said"). I'm (STILL!!!!!) recovering from my half. For example, on Wednesday, I ran 4 miles at... wait for it.... 13 minute/mile pace! On Friday, I did two miles at a slightly better, but not that impressive 10 min/mile pace. Talk about kicking your own untrained butt in a race. But next week I'm attacking marathon training from all directions, and THE SPEED SHALL BE BACK!
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