Milestone weight!

This time around, I am a smarter triathete-in-training. I might still not be eating all my essentials, but I am definitely eating a lot healthier than I was last time around.

In 2010, I probably used to eat a bowl or two of pasta a day, because I was not making time for myself for lunch, and would always end up running across the street for an oversized bowl of pasta which on occasion was both my lunch and dinner, but sometimes was one full meal.

This time around is different. I am trying to be sure I have a breakfast of some sort every day. Lunch consists of grilled chicken, rice, and steamed vegetables, every day. Dinners are lighter now, and I have given up alcohol for the most part. This week I had a few glasses of wine total, but that's been it! I have been so good, and I reached a weight milestone today!

I am now back to a weight that I was four years ago, before I started my sedentary job at Yahoo, and before I discovered that I am a TV addict. :). Things are looking up, and I think I might be able to become a 'real' runner after this! Now I just have to worry about sports-related injuries, and inflamed tendons like my MCL.

Wetsuited up again tonight!

Did another swim practice tonight in my wetsuit, and was really adamant on getting it up and done all by myself!

I am really tired though. 5 days straight of some sort of workout, and I'm too tired to function or even eat (and i am starving, but already in bed, lol)

Tomorrow I'll take it easy and enjoy a work happy hour, and maybe even have a little alcohol to let lose! Patrick from work and I schemed together and purchased a case of summer wines. How could I resist? :)

Clipless!

I finally made the plunge on Sunday and made my way over to @BicycleHabitat! I now officially have a clipless setup for my bike, with Specialized shoes and Shimano clips and cleats. I had no idea there were so many pieces involved, but I did my research before heading to the shop and I think I looked like I knew what I was talking about. So, goodbye toe cages/clips, and hello clipless! The irony of this is that I'm actually now clipped into my bike, but the history of the terminology goes back to when cyclists only had 2 opens: flat pedals, or the newer alternative of toe 'clips' which are really just cages for your feet to your pedals, but don't involve any direct clipped feature between foot and pedal. The benefit of clipless (so I read) is the direct transference of power between foot and leg to pedal to bike, allowing you to put more power to the pedal!  [The picture is actually the shoes I purchased, though the cleat attachment is slightly different (more plastic) and is a Shimano product to go with the pedals.]

The salesperson, Jackson, was very nice and took the time to sit with me and talk me through my options. He also let me just hang out in the store for a good amount of time with my bike on a trainer (pedaling in place on my bike) clipping in and out of my bike's clips. He said I got the hang out it pretty quick, but that I should continue practicing in front of the TV or have someone hold my handlebars while I clip in and out.
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I considered the TV option, but decided to just try out the streets of NYC during pre-rush hour. 20 minutes down the street and back on the bike paths was really good practice. There were a decent number of lights, cars, pedestrians (and kids on their way to school). I got some good clipping and unclipping action in and feel like it was a quick and easy workout! Can't wait to hit the park with this setup and see the difference!

Until next time... Less than 7 weeks left till the NYC Triathlon!

Swimming head-on! Braveheart-style!

Today, we got to wear our wetsuits to swim practice! For a second year, I still have difficulty getting myself into my suit and getting the suit up over my rear. Thankfully, we have coaches who have seen it all and done it all, and will lend a hand if you need it.
We jumped in the pool, acclimated ourselves to our neoprene buoy-suits and did a couple of laps. Then, we practiced some head-on swimming. What's that, you ask? Well, imagine an aquatic-version of Braveheart. Split into two group on diagonal ends of the pool, we were instructed to swim to the opposing corner, through the oncoming traffic. Why? The ensuing mayhem is a perfect illustration of some of the chaos we will experience at the swim start of the New York City Triathlon. Sweet.

Well, I survived to battle another day. I really do like some of these activities the TNT coaches have us do. Also am feeling closer to the Brooklyn crew after finally getting into the groove of practices and going to the Bklyn Pasta Party last week!

I'm going to sleep well tonight...

Fantastic Saturday Bike!

We had a fantastic workout yesterday, where I did 6 loops of Prospect Park, equating to 20miles.  In addition to the 5miles it takes me to bike to Prospect Park, it means I biked a total of 30miles on Saturday!  The 20miles took me about 1 hours and 40minutes, which is a pretty good rate based on how I performed in 2010.  This was also the most I've biked this season, and I've been working on my posture, strength, and learning to adjust my gears correctly before making my way up the steep hill at the park.  More to come, but I'm feeling really good about that workout!

Cinco de Sicko

Saturday, Cinco de Mayo, I started by day off with a very early BRick (a Bike + Run).  It was a tough bike ride for me (only 10 miles) since it was the first real time I was on my bike. (5mi bike rides don't count) I realize I'm behind for sure.  I didn't realize though, how severely my allergies were reacting, which is probably what made it even tougher.

After a non-alcoholic Cinco de Mayo party, I came home and was in bed by 11pm.  Sunday, I woke up, and couldn't feel my face because my sinuses had gone bonkers with my allergies, and no longer wanted to function.  I ended up staying home from work on Monday, skipping swim and run this week, and today (thursday) was the first day I felt moderately okay enough to do a 20minute workout this morning, but I was still winded.  I'm still phlegmy and congested, but I know I have to try to let it not all go to waste.

How am I going to be able to get up to 4 hours in less than 8 week? Pray for me!!!

-S

Things are finally beginning to click...

Things are finally beginning to click -- they really are.  Monday's swim was pretty good, when I finally learned to scull.  One of the coaches had to physically walk me through the correct motion of sculling (literally, taking control of my wrists and walking me through the motion, lol) and I was able to do it!  Sculling thus far has been the skill lesson that I like to avoid the most, as its painful slow to get up and down the pool, but now it feels like I know what I'm supposed to be doing.

Yesterday's run was another great run.  We did approximately 4 miles, which included 4 loops (or 2miles total) of the Great Lawn.  I did the loops nonstop, and only stopped once on the way back to Columbus Circle because I was feeling a little claustrophobic with a pack of runners all around me, but I was back and at it in a second!  I'd say we ran for about 50 minutes total, with another 30minutes of stretching and talking.

Go team!
 

Officially registered! See you July 8th!

I'm now officially registered for the NYC Triathlon on July 8th, and I'm inspired to backfill my blog of all my training-related thoughts to date. Before I do that though, I wanted to mention exactly why I'm feeling inspired by the fact that people actually read this stuff.I included my blog URL with my triathlon registration. No big deal, right? No one ever reads that stuff! Wrong.I opened up my email this morning to a message from the traithlon director. He's a big deal, and I've now heard him speak twice about the race and his Team In Training experience (and how he met his wife through it!).  And yes, I went and found a picture of him for my blog :)

Here it is:
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Subject: Triathlon #2! and your blog

Hi Sarah,

Thanks for entering your second New York City Triathlon. Great blog but don’t work out with a sinus infection!
Let me know if you have any questions. We look forward to seeing you July 8th in the Hudson.

Happy spring training!
John Korff
Korff Enterprises
Organizers of the New York City Triathlon (http://www.nyctri.com)
Organizers of the Ironman U.S. Championship (http://ironmanuschampionship.com)

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My sinus infection is finally clearing up this week (that lasted waaaaay too long this year), and I'm really getting some good workouts in. I'll update you all soon, but this message from John really inspired me!

Great run!

Fantastic run tonight!  We ran about 4.5miles, which included a loop of the Central Park Reservoir!  Am feeling pumped about the fact that I did not walk once!  So very pleased with myself and ready for another great workout next week!

I now understand why people love running around the reservoir.  The setting sun is fantastic to run to.

Spring allergies vs. The Big Bad Pool

I was in San Francisco last week for a work conference, and I definitely have been affected by being in 3 climates in the last 2 weeks.  I got home on Thursday late night, and went to the doctor on Friday morning.  Its probably the worst sinus infection I've gotten in the 10+ years I've lived in New York.

Regardless of how my head, throat, chest, and ears felt, I was thrilled to hit the water on Monday.  I really felt good with how I'm progressing with my swim, and I felt like I could swim the race at a pretty good pace.  We did about 15minutes of a continuous swim (a "snake swim") where we snaked our way up and down the alternate lanes of the pull, working our way over and back.  I swam about a pool and a half in the allotted time, and felt really good about myself.  Wish I felt better about my running and biking!  Have to get my bike tuned up at some point soon...