Signs I'm Actually Doing Something

Just a few simple signs that I actually started training again:

• A dishwasher filled with water bottles
• Almost an entire load of laundry that has to be hung dry
• Discovering half-eaten Powerbars or Chomps in random pockets
• Finding Ziploc bags containing leftover powders (or money from a waterstop)
• Moaning and groaning every step up or down the stairs

At least I can say, it was a really nice break!

Running for Wine

Last weekend, Nick and I also did Rhodes Race, which is a local 5K fundraising race around Lake Merritt in Oakland.  It is pretty much a Team In Training reunion and was so great to see so many of our former teammates and friends.  It only costs $20, and all the proceeds go to LLS. 

Baby Sophia placed 2nd in her Age Group!

Frankie's mom having us sign the dedication for this year, and Vinnie with his samoyed puppy who was way too excited to run with all the other dogs.

Our coach, Dave -- he just finished a 50 mile ultra marathon last weekend and qualified for Western States.  Needless to say, he did not run but cheered everyone on!

A 5K isn't really very exciting, but I wanted to take the opportunity to brag that Nick busted out a 20:30.  And this was the day after riding 100K.  

Apparently, he took his shirt's advice.

We wanted to stay and hang out with everyone afterward, but we were over-committed for the day and had to rush to an AKPsi event that I was hosting -- the Mello Cielo Tour at Ruby Hill.  About two years ago, Ruby Hill bought this old bus off Craig's List, gutted it and remodeled the inside with 14 swiveling wine barrel seats that face each other.  The bus takes you around the vineyards for a toast, into the production facility for some barrel tastings and out to the old water tower for some wine and food pairings.  

The tour ends back in the tasting room for port and chocolate.  Mason decided that because of all the upcoming celebrations with our bachelor/bachelorette parties and wedding that this wine bottle would be a necessity.  

He bought the 3L bottle and we can refill over and over again!

Tierra Bella 2012

Last weekend was the annual Tierra Bella ride.  It's a local organized ride that I've been participating in for 3 years now.  I signed up for the 100K, which was probably a little too aggressive considering how untrained I am at the moment.  But, it was still an amazingly beautiful day.  All the rain we had recently made the ride super green.  


Despite this having been my 3rd year in a row, I managed to miss two turns.  On top of that, the wind was with with us the whole day.  I didn't end up finishing the whole course.  At the 3.5 hour mark, I was only at mile 35, which was way too behind where I should have been -- partly because of getting off course, partly because of the wind, and partly because the climb up Gilroy Hot Springs was a swift kick in the pants (at least I stayed on my bike).  But I finally made it to the first rest stop.  And, even though Nick and I did not ride together, he was patiently waiting for me at the fire station!

The ride down is one of my favorite descents and is around 1000ft in about 3 miles.  Every year, a volunteer we have nicknamed "Death" is waiting at one of the curves with a "slow" sign.  I didn't get a picture of Death this year (but I found this one taken from last year).  You can't help but smile when you see "Death" as you come around a turn.  

One the way back I missed another turn.  Seriously?  At some point, I was thinking how I really needed to pay better attention because I didn't recognize the area from when I was riding out.  But instead of thinking I may have taken the wrong turn somewhere, I just thought I was oblivious.  I finally told myself there was no way they would have the course on such a busy road.  I didn't recognize my surroundings because I didn't see them on the way out!  Thankful for technology and smart phones and cell service, I was able to figure out where I was and how to cut over to the 60K route.  


So while I didn't get my 100K in like I intended, I did get in over 50 miles and a tough climb.  Next year, I'll bring the map.

Lavaman 2012

First destination race is complete!  Not sure if signing up for a race and going on vacation is something I want to do again.  Or, if I do, then I would have a different attitude about it.  Basically, we were just on a schedule the first few days --> picking up rented bikes (they were nice, but not ours), practice ride, learning how to shift on different components, figuring out how to get two water bottles to fit in a small frame, packet pickup, practice swim, athlete meeting, figuring out  the right breakfast/nutrition options when no restaurants would be open at the butt crack of dawn, etc.  It was all just chores to get ready for the race.   When I did Ironman, that was the focal point (and I had a house and not a hotel).  But with Lavaman, my focal point was Hawaii and there was this silly race in the middle of it....  

Sunday morning went very smoothly.  We rode our bikes to Transition, got body marked, picked up timing chips, set up Transition (they were strict on how the bikes could be racked and that everything we needed had to fit in one little bag, which I really liked because it was so orderly) and headed to the beach.  

For the swim wave, I felt like I placed myself exactly where I did at Ironman, which was perfect.  I put myself in a similar spot for this wave and apparently the fast girls were all behind me because I was passed left and right.  The funniest part of the swim was that as soon as the marine life started, there was a noticeable slow down as people were looking at the happy place under the sea (one of my friends had to stop for a turtle crossing in front of her -- how awesome is that?!?!).  At the first turn, I was caught up with the slower swimmers from the first wave.  And, by the second turn, the men's wave behind ours was pummeling through.  I was out of the water earlier than my last Olympic, which was great (especially considering I have only swam three times since November).  

The run from the water to Transition was challenging with the sand, rocks, and gravel.  I could barely run because my feet were so sensitive on the rocks.  There were kiddie pools set up to run through to rinse your feet off.  All I could see/feel was the dirt that was in the pools.  The guy in front of me yelled sarcastically, "Well that really helped!"

Once I got on the bike and out on the Queen K, there was lava on both sides and I could see cyclists in a straight line for miles.  It was an incredible feeling.  I think I was only on Mile 4 when I saw Macca coming in for his bike finish.  Crazy!  There was some headwind on the way out, I was on an aluminum bike, had no aeros, had difficulty maintaining my speed while reaching for my bottles (different style cages).  I also had no bike computer and my heart rate monitor never registered so I was totally blind.  But it was ok, especially because I never had any discomfort!!!  25 miles means no crotch pain and no butt pain!  woo hoo! :)

The heat was turned up and I could tell that I was getting sunburned (despite putting SPF 70 on that morning, spraying before I got in the water, and spraying again between the swim and bike).  When I got to T2, I grabbed salt pills and sunscreen to shove in my pockets.  The first part of the run is described as "Mordor" (for you LOTR fans) and is a lava field.  I couldn't really run that part, so I took the opportunity to re-apply sunscreen and hydrate.  Once I got to the street, I started 4/1s.  But at some point, I asked myself what I was doing.  My left foot was hurting (as I have not been doing my PT) and my right foot had all this pain in the arch (which I didn't understand).  I thought about how I was here on vacation and I had absolutely nothing to prove to anyone or even to myself.  So I just stopped running and made a conscious decision to enjoy it.  After mile 4, the course runs through the Hilton Waikoloa Resort -- past lawn chairs, pools, on flagstone, a lagoon and then on to a lava path that is only 9" wide with a dip to the ocean below.  From there the path turns into coral and then on to sand.  So yes, I was definitely walking (even caught on camera)!

I finished with a smile and have no regrets about not "racing" that day or about not training the months beforehand.

Oh and about that pain in my right foot -- I must have cut it somewhere from the swim to the bike.  Thank goodness it was just a cut and not a real issue!  It should be back to normal in a few more days.

Under-trained and It's OK

As I'm sitting here staring at piles of boxes that need to be unpacked and procrastinating taking that first step, it's only completely logical that I just ignore it for a little bit longer and do something else -- like update a blog.  I've been traveling to Dallas and LA, working longer hours than I expected, packing and slowly moving into Nick's place, painting his house, finalizing wedding vendors, showing my house, screening tenants, painting my house, writing my first lease, etc.  I just said goodbye to the movers about an hour ago. 

This weekend is Team In Training's Wildflower Training Weekend.  I wish I could have gone down to Lake San Antonio to volunteer and pay it forward.  But with so much happening, I couldn't justify taking the day off work and the 6 hour round trip effort.  However, since Nick is a coach, he has to be there.  He left after the movers finished up and I'll be tackling the boxes over the next 2.5 days with a little help from some Ironteam-mates who'd rather not be camping this weekend either (it's supposed to rain and we had enough mud last year for our lifetime).    


I've been straddling two households for two years.  I wasn't planning to move in with Nick this early, but I had enough of hauling back and forth clothes, a trainer, bike, groceries, and two laptops.  Professionally, I felt like I was losing productivity with having to start/stop work to avoid traffic patterns.  Plus, the 680 commute seems to have worsened over the past 12 months and was creating stress I didn't want/need.  And, I was tired of having the bathing suit, but not the cap and goggles, the training bike, but not the training wheel, the heart rate strap, but not the watch, etc.  I am already feeling so complete again now that 97% of my possessions are at least under the same roof (I even brought home the bag I kept stored at the hotel in LA).  


There's only 24 hours in a day and I can't "make time."  I can only spend it.  And, I've been spending it on getting some things in order and "closing some chapters" as my coach called it, rather than training.  Next weekend, I am going to be that person that I never wanted to be and I'm going to show up for a race under-trained.  I wasn't ever intending any sort of personal best for this race.  And, I don't regret the order of my priorities over the past 3 months.  If I had known last July, when I signed up for Lavaman, how much I had going on this year, I probably would not have signed up.  I thought about foregoing the race, and if it was a local race, I probably would.  But it's a destination/vacation -- we are already going to be there and it's paid for.


My swim time will be a little slower since it's salt water, without a wetsuit, and I've barely been in the pool.  The bike will be fine, but it's a rented bike.  I won't have my aeros and it's heavier since it's not all carbon.  And, if I have to walk 6.2 miles, then that is completely ok with me.  My only goal is to feel giddy looking at all the fish swimming below me, read the coral graffiti on the lava along the Queen K, and not get discouraged.

Hiking the Pleasanton Ridge

Nick and I both had a 2 hour hike on our training calendars this past Sunday so we headed to Pleasanton Ridge Regional Park.  Nick said you could run over a marathon here and never cross the same trail.  Here are some pics I captured.

A spider web tunnel

Baby cows

I nicely asked this cow to "come here"

And she did.  She was totally posing for the camera.

I wanted to pet her, but Nick advised against it.

The ridge runs along the 680, which makes for a very pretty commute.

My boo

Pleasanton/Dublin to the northeast

Despite the Bay Area being as crowded as it is, I'm so appreciative a 10 minute drive within city limits can  let me talk to free-roaming cows and enjoy such beautiful views.

Dose of Reality

I've been thinking a lot about my lack of training for Lavaman and what I'm going to do about it.  My worst case scenario is that I will go to Lavaman, it will hurt, I will finish, and it will scare the bejeezus out of me that I will push everything aside to train for Vineman.  So I've just been floating along on this fairy tale for a few weeks....


My schedule was busy last year.  It included being gone for hours every Saturday and Sunday at a team workout.  And, it included a very stressful work situation.  This year, my stress levels are much much lower (without that pressure of Ironman), but I don't remember ever being so busy with so many scheduled appointments.  I had a minor freak out and listed all of the things that are invading my life right now.  Nick said, "Some thing has to give and maybe it should be training."  To which I replied, "Well, it basically already is."


I spent a lot of last year saying, "no" or "not now."  A lot of things queued up.  Things that were on hold for over a year.  I got a hall pass named Ironman that allowed me to neglect other commitments.  And now that backlog has to be worked through.  Between being a chapter advisor at Santa Clara U, Treasurer for the alumni chapter (really trying to find a replacement here), a board member for Women In Trade, traveling every other week for work, commuting back and forth to Dublin when I am home, attempting to move to Dublin, dealing with what to do with my house, and then all of the appointments with photographers, florists, caterers, dress shops, etc., I'm lucky if I get in three workouts a week.  And, it is pretty much just the bike or strength because those are most convenient and efficient in this time-crunched schedule.  


This past weekend, Sedonia asked if anyone wanted to ride the Silverado Trail.  Nick had coaching commitments in the East Bay, I knew I needed to ride, and there was a place in Napa that was trying to set me up for a "cake tasting" which I kept putting off because I really had no time to go to Napa.  It was a trifecta.  I didn't need to ride the entire 55 miles the IMCDA folks were doing so I set out for 45 miles/3 hours.  I hadn't ridden more than 20 miles since November.  I figured 45 miles would be a piece of cake.  I felt fine.  The weather was great.  Napa is always beautiful.  But after 2 hours, I was ready to be done.  I came to the conclusion that a 2 hour bike ride is the optimal ride.  Luckily, that last hour was occupied by riding with Tony Bologna for a few miles and then Sedonia for the rest of the way.  


Thinking I felt great, I wanted to do a quick 10 min run after the ride.  The pain in my psoas and upper glutes during that puny 10 minute run was enough to scare the bejeezus out of me.  I had to walk every 30 seconds.  And, now that I have had that dose of reality, I have to figure out what I can give.  The wedding vendor stuff is almost all behind us, which will be a big help.  And, in seven days, I get to be home for two weeks, which will give me easy access to a pool and bike.  I am not looking to "race" in Lavaman because this really is just for fun and a vacation (we're not even bringing our own bikes).  But, if I'm going to enjoy it, I need to be doing a lot more than I am now so the pain is "normal" race pain and not, "Holy crap, what the eff is going on" kind of pain.


These next seven days are going to be pretty futile when it comes to workouts.  But after this stretch is over, I have 4 weeks before Lavaman.  My coach says it is time for Stella to get her groove back.  I sure hope so.