Its hot, its humid...

And I just finished my longest run of the season!!!!! That's right! Tonight I completed a 6.8mile run, which included two loops of what is known as 'Harlem Hill', in 90*F weather, and probably 70% humidity. It was 89* when we started our run at about 6:45pm, and 84* when I finally made it back to the starting point at 8:15pm.

My calves are killing me, but luckily, my MCL is in good shape after all the icing I did this weekend, and swapping out my shoes today for my old 2010 Nikes.

I am still sweating from that workout, and its been an hour and a half since I finished it! Insanity.

Time to award myself with a shower! Tomorrow is swim practice, and I'm looking forward to getting back in the water.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT!

A heartfelt THANK YOU TO Rahul, Mark G, Stephanie W, Patrick S, Kelli, Liz M, Robby K, Jeremy M, Bill, Schwimmer, Repino, and the 40th Street/Right Media team!!!  So far, I've raised almost $1600, which does not include some corporate matching that is going to come through eventually!  I'm almost at my goal, but not quite there yet!

Now I'm going to need to get creative with my fundraising... hm....  Off to my evening run I go!

If my papa can do it...

My father ran a half marathon this weekend! I'm super proud of him, in his 60s to be endeavoring to do something like this.  My mother also did a 10K in this same race, and I'm really proud of her as well, as she is far from being a runner, and I don't think has ever really liked running quite honestly.  The race they ran was called the Sundown Marathon, aka The Midnight Marathon, aka "Light Up The City". I'm really beginning to think about getting into running and maybe doing a half-marathon someday in the near future.

I'm now considering a 'practice' 10K two weeks before the NYC Triathlon. This seems like a good race, and only $25 to register in person in advance.  Its on Governor's Island, and sounds like it will be a pretty nice flat course:  http://www.getoutsidegi.com (Get Outside On Governor's Island!)

The only concern now is this inflammed MCL, and if it will get worse. I've been icing it and deep heating it like no other this weekend!

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.
.

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!