Wednesday, August 31, 2011
it's a cruel summer
Today is August 31. Goodbye summer, hello fall. Hopefully.
What happened to that invincible feeling that was working so well for me for a while? I need to find that again. It could have been useful these last few weeks. I'm more than a little mad at myself for being lazy.
Time to rededicate. There is still time to save the second half of this year.
9/18 Jayna Murray/Lululemon 5k (Bethesda)
10/2 Giant Acorn Sprint (Lake Anna marina)
11/6 Rockville 10k (King Farm)
12/4 Hot Chocolate 15k (National Harbor)
That should keep me plenty busy till 2012, which right now includes
3/17 Rock and Roll USA half marathon (formerly National Half Marathon)
5/22 Columbia Tri!
plus others TBD.
On the good news front, I finally have a laptop at home, so hopefully more and/or better posts and a new layout will be coming soon. Happy Wednesday!
Thursday, August 25, 2011
party on the rooftop, top of the world
Chika has a great write-up of our weekend in Chicago. I couldn't have said it better myself!
One track workout in on the new shoes. (6 min at LT+2 mins stairs+2 mins AR) x 5. (at 8:00/mi pace!) The right foot felt great, but the fit is still a little off on the left foot. My feet are not the same size anyway so that's to be expected. But there's no residual pain or soreness today! Huge victory, especially since I've been on the losing end of the knee battle the last few weeks. Time to get back to the gym for strength training! That combined with the new sneaks should do me well.
I don't know why this happens every year, but I get this surge of motivation in January, and it lasts through June. Any October plans are shot because July-August I get into this funk. I guess I really don't like warm weather. I'm trying to ramp back up but I don't think it will happen in time for what was going to be my first Olympic in Oct. :-/ I think I just need to understand my body and plan for the best time of year for me. Next spring is going to be epic, I think.
Next big purchase- bike trainer! Another thing to add to the shopping list. Already included- bike lock to replace the one I lost at Peasantman, compact crankset, female-specific saddle, new laptop for home so that I can spend more than 15 mins at lunch updating this thing...
currently reading: American Pastoral- Philip Roth
One track workout in on the new shoes. (6 min at LT+2 mins stairs+2 mins AR) x 5. (at 8:00/mi pace!) The right foot felt great, but the fit is still a little off on the left foot. My feet are not the same size anyway so that's to be expected. But there's no residual pain or soreness today! Huge victory, especially since I've been on the losing end of the knee battle the last few weeks. Time to get back to the gym for strength training! That combined with the new sneaks should do me well.
I don't know why this happens every year, but I get this surge of motivation in January, and it lasts through June. Any October plans are shot because July-August I get into this funk. I guess I really don't like warm weather. I'm trying to ramp back up but I don't think it will happen in time for what was going to be my first Olympic in Oct. :-/ I think I just need to understand my body and plan for the best time of year for me. Next spring is going to be epic, I think.
Next big purchase- bike trainer! Another thing to add to the shopping list. Already included- bike lock to replace the one I lost at Peasantman, compact crankset, female-specific saddle, new laptop for home so that I can spend more than 15 mins at lunch updating this thing...
currently reading: American Pastoral- Philip Roth
Monday, August 22, 2011
anywhere but here
I just got refitted for running shoes.
1) I am no longer an overpronator (yay!)
2) I have been apparently wearing the wrong size shoe this whole time (!!)
This may or may not explain alot.
C'mon, ASICS Gel Nimbus 13s in size 12. Let's do this.
1) I am no longer an overpronator (yay!)
2) I have been apparently wearing the wrong size shoe this whole time (!!)
This may or may not explain alot.
C'mon, ASICS Gel Nimbus 13s in size 12. Let's do this.
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
just keep swimming
Ever get the feeling that you're living your own version of 'Groundhog Day'? (Or, I prefer 'Run Lola Run') You know, doomed to relive one day over and over until you get it right? Yes? Anyone?
I'm working on it.
[/end yearly existential birthday crisis]
Sunday I completed my first 1500m swim. EVER. Pool or otherwise. I signed up for it on the suggestion of my fellow NTPer, Carrie. It actually was a really good event for this kind of thing. The inaugural Harborfest, 750m loops in the north cove of National Harbor. Really small, friendly event, that also conveniently did not have a bike and run attached to the end. (I love how simple things are now when I only have one of the three to worry about!)
I'm not gonna lie. While my swim class in the morning has been helpful, it's mostly drill-based, so I don't even remember the last time I swam continuously (probably DC Tri in June). I was going on the assumption that my technique work would carry me through. Which may have been true to some extent, but I was very ill-equipped to deal with the currents and chop that was going on in the Harbor that morning (it had rained steadily the night before, and had stopped only on the drive down). I had exhausted myself by the top of the first 750m loop just trying to stay on course. By the second loop all technique was out the window. I am not proud of how much breaststroke I was doing, but I was somehow passing people then. And when I did bust out the freestyle, while it was slow, I like to think my technique was good. I finished in about 43:00 and was the second-to-last out of the water. There actually was a pack of 4-5 finishing around the same time, so I didn't feel all that behind, comparatively. It was nice having other swimmers around even towards the end. Even nicer to have a delicious brunch with a few of them after :)
I now own a t-shirt that says 'I swam a mile in the Potomac River', but unfortunately, by the time I finished they only had size L left. Had they told me I would have had a better chance at getting my shirt size, I would have tried to swim much faster! ;-) Note to race organizers: I feel like a giant compared to alot of triathletes. I am a M. There is no need for a disproportionate amount of XLs. Please scale your tshirt sizes accordingly. Thanks. :)
It was also my first day down at the new National Harbor area. It seems to have a nice collection of upscale shops and restaurants and seems pretty family-friendly. But is anyone else completely disappointed in the new location for The Awakening? It was in such a striking location before, at the end of Haines Point. When you're approaching it, there's nothing else around it, so it was really quite surreal
Now it's just lost in the middle of a bunch of brand new tall highrise condos and ritzy boats.
Oh well. Noone asks me about these things.
I'm working on it.
[/end yearly existential birthday crisis]
Sunday I completed my first 1500m swim. EVER. Pool or otherwise. I signed up for it on the suggestion of my fellow NTPer, Carrie. It actually was a really good event for this kind of thing. The inaugural Harborfest, 750m loops in the north cove of National Harbor. Really small, friendly event, that also conveniently did not have a bike and run attached to the end. (I love how simple things are now when I only have one of the three to worry about!)
I'm not gonna lie. While my swim class in the morning has been helpful, it's mostly drill-based, so I don't even remember the last time I swam continuously (probably DC Tri in June). I was going on the assumption that my technique work would carry me through. Which may have been true to some extent, but I was very ill-equipped to deal with the currents and chop that was going on in the Harbor that morning (it had rained steadily the night before, and had stopped only on the drive down). I had exhausted myself by the top of the first 750m loop just trying to stay on course. By the second loop all technique was out the window. I am not proud of how much breaststroke I was doing, but I was somehow passing people then. And when I did bust out the freestyle, while it was slow, I like to think my technique was good. I finished in about 43:00 and was the second-to-last out of the water. There actually was a pack of 4-5 finishing around the same time, so I didn't feel all that behind, comparatively. It was nice having other swimmers around even towards the end. Even nicer to have a delicious brunch with a few of them after :)
I now own a t-shirt that says 'I swam a mile in the Potomac River', but unfortunately, by the time I finished they only had size L left. Had they told me I would have had a better chance at getting my shirt size, I would have tried to swim much faster! ;-) Note to race organizers: I feel like a giant compared to alot of triathletes. I am a M. There is no need for a disproportionate amount of XLs. Please scale your tshirt sizes accordingly. Thanks. :)
It was also my first day down at the new National Harbor area. It seems to have a nice collection of upscale shops and restaurants and seems pretty family-friendly. But is anyone else completely disappointed in the new location for The Awakening? It was in such a striking location before, at the end of Haines Point. When you're approaching it, there's nothing else around it, so it was really quite surreal
Now it's just lost in the middle of a bunch of brand new tall highrise condos and ritzy boats.
Oh well. Noone asks me about these things.
Monday, August 8, 2011
still in first gear
Back from a wonderful wedding weekend in Pittsburgh!
I have nothing new to share today, except that I think my swim coach is getting annoyed that I'm not improving as fast as he'd like. Hey, I did graduate from the slowest lane to the second-slowest lane, so that's something.
In response, I give you a trifecta of obnoxiously bubbly songs. If I have to put up with them in my head all the time, then you should too. You're welcome. :-)
What's your favorite mood booster?
I have nothing new to share today, except that I think my swim coach is getting annoyed that I'm not improving as fast as he'd like. Hey, I did graduate from the slowest lane to the second-slowest lane, so that's something.
In response, I give you a trifecta of obnoxiously bubbly songs. If I have to put up with them in my head all the time, then you should too. You're welcome. :-)
What's your favorite mood booster?
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