The ANIMAL is back!

Buoyed by the support of great friends and the TNT practice tri - today I am back on track feeling like my usual self!  This morning when I woke up (despite the one hour loss due to the change to DST) I felt ready to tackle the day - something I haven't felt in awhile.
It was a beautiful morning and I had plenty of time to get coffee and fuel up before getting to attend Becky Lavelle's Tri Swim Clinic.  Great morning!  Thankfully she confirmed that my stroke isn't too far off track (yes, even though I haven't made it to masters' swim) and gave me some good things to work on to improve it.  She also shared her technique for sighting.... I've been doing it backwards.  I've been breathing then looking, but seems I should be looking, then breathing.  I'm going to try that out tomorrow some more!

After post-swim coffee with Austin and Ron, home to meet Julie for a sunny afternoon ride!  Didn't need anything more than my (new and of some comfy and cute Cappo) short-sleeve jersey and shorts  - never got cold even when the ride finished at nearly five!  Oh, March in Palo Alto! 

The ride was a bit more of an adventure than planned!  On the up-side, I tried out my newly installed aero-bars!  I was a little unsteady, but I think they're going to make me faster!!!   On the less up-side, I managed to go over a bump and get my front brake to rub and slow me down for a bit, then drop my chain, then get a soft back tire......  Optimistically I borrowed a pump and tried a little "cpr"....  at the bottom of the next hill, it was squishy again...... uh oh!  I got the tire changed with a minimal amount of confusion/frustration and didn't accept the very generous offers of help, except for the use of a pump!  The CO2 just wouldn't come out!!!??  (I still have some investigating to do on that one!)  On the up-side again - the tire held, it was good practice should I have to change a tire during a race and I was reminded of how great the cycling community is!  Every cyclist offered assistance (men and women).

Julie and I even managed to get a good off-the-bike run in after the ride thanks to DST and rewarded ourselves with a yummy recovery shake!

You know The Animal is back when even a flat tire is no big deal!  I'm even looking forward to a 2 hour run tomorrow! 

What a week! Week 2 of Muddy's Training

So, I guess if I'm going to have a blog, I should do something with it!  I've been so busy training I haven't done much else.

So here's the skinny:
Week One -

Ally, Lilly, Ron, Eric (behind), Lauren, Faye, Julie & Julia

The beginning of the year started out with a great ride starting at my house and heading north for the Crystals Springs loop - 32 miles with a few hills just to keep it interesting.

Week one ended with my trip to South Carolina, where though I missed the team ride, I did get in an 8 mile run through the "Low Country". 

My totals for the first weak of the year: Swam 1.5miles, Cycled 25 miles, ran 23 miles and at least 300 sit-ups!

Week two Muddy (the coach that makes our training schedule) had a lot in store for us....

The week included a few swims, some running, some core, some spinning and of course the weekend was capped off with a big ride and a long run!

Ron and I did most of the workouts together.  I learned some Chi running techniques - lean forward, mid-foot strike, something about my pelvic tilt ???.... there seems to be lots more to learn. 

Saturday Eric led the group on a 43 mile ride with 20% hills starting at Chain Reaction, heading south over Mt Eden, then up Pierce Rd, then up up up up 9 to Skyline, over to Page Mill for a long and well deserved decent, around Arastradero with its little, but significant-feeling short climb, back down Alpine and then the home stretch down Foothill.  I think I have some sort of "horse returning to barn reflex" - the closer I get to the end the faster I go!  Let's hope that holds up!  Today was an 80 minute run on tired legs - Heidi, Julie and I headed out.... Heidi (likely the sane one among us) headed home at about three miles and Julie and I finished 8 miles in under 80 minutes and called it a day... walking out the last of the 80 minutes. 

Totals for week two: swam 3.9 miles, cycled 59 miles, ran 13 miles and sat-up 500 times!

Ironman here I come!

To see more pictures from our first ride you can look at the picture album

First Ride of 2010

New Year - 2010!

2009 came to an end with a magnificent dinner... crisp salad with celery root, roasted brussel sprouts with pancetta and balsalmic reduction, mashed potatoes with leeks and pork tenderloin with enough garlic to guarantee zero kisses come midnight... and, of course, my favorite Portland dessert Baccone Dolce.  Pink Martini sang out the old and welcomed the new year at midnight.  Life is good.

Midnight also welcomed the beginning of 2010 - the year of Iron! 

I did not get going early, but I did get out for a run, once I managed to crawl out of bed.  There was one false start, when I made it to the window only discover that it was raining and blowing outside and that a snooze was in order.  The second attempt was successful.  I made it out the door and down the street to investigate Irvington - a great neighborhood in Portland with wonderful older, well-loved homes and yards.  Everyone seemed to out starting the new year off with a walk or run!  I ran east on Klickitat St. (Was that the street that Ramona Quimby lived on?  Seems like it might have been.)  I ran  through the Beaumont neighborhood to 57th and then back to 15th. 
6 miles.  Some hills.  Avg Pace 9:43 (9:31, 10:14, 9:51, 9:43, 9:28, 9:28) Calories: 821 Avg HR 174

A successful run that left me feeling ready to start the day and the year! 

Team Business Socks et al. - Holiday Party 2009

We got together to celebrate The Holidays, watch the Kona 2009 Ironman and exchange (steal each others?) gifts!

Team Business Socks et al. Celebrates The Holidays!

The beginning is near...

On January 1st 2010 I will begin endurance training in preparation for Ironman Coeur d'Alene on June 27th.  This blog will document my progress.

In the spirit of striking out and challenging myself I am inspired by this quote from a Teddy Roosevelt quote (1910):

"It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat."