Wow

It's been over a month since my last post. I kind of gave up writing - 1) because I assume no one reads these anyway and 2) I slacked off on my training and really didn't want to write about that. It is now 1.5 weeks until my event weekend - and I'm scared as hell. I'm worried I didn't train enough. I'm mad at myself that I slacked off and didn't get all my training in the last couple weeks. But on the other hand - would those weeks really have made that much of a difference??

Usually I experience some sort of excitement as it nears race weekend - this time I am only experiencing fear and uncertainty. This is going to be hard - and I know it - and I'm asking myself why I signed up for this event in the first place.

People reassure me that it will be fine. And I'm about 98% sure that I'll be able to finish the race - it's just a matter of when. It would be nice to finish around 7 hours, but I think it will be more like 8. I guess I can't be disappointed either way since no matter what time I finish, I'll set a PR. I'm looking forward to my family being there and cheering me on. I know that is what's going to get me through the day.

On another note, I met my fundraising goal!!! Thanks to my awesome family and friends and coworkers and even complete strangers ... I am extremely thankful. You are all helping such a great cause.

It's Been a While

I haven't written anything for a while. Guess I've been too busy training ... Everything is going pretty well (I guess). The bike rides are hard, the running is hard, the swimming is hard - but I'm doing it and that's what matters. I'm up to swimming about 2100 yards, biking 40 miles and running 8 miles. Last weekend we had a ride in Danville. They said we'd be doing some hills - but jeez! I felt like we were climbing all day!! Below is the elevation map. See that really steep one around mile 25-30?? The name of that road was Pleasant Valley. I didn't find it so pleasant. In fact - I decided at that point that I was done with hills and that maybe I had chosen the wrong event. Luckily the rest of the ride was mostly downhill (which I love).

Summary Data
Moving Time: 3:06:43

Distance: 41.74 miles
Moving Speed: 13.4 mpg avg

Elevation: +3,849 / -3,856

Temperature: 50.9°F avg. /53.6°F high
Wind Speed (mph): 8.9 avg. /11.5 max.

Sunday was supposed to be a run day, but instead I decided to take a break. I helped my friend with some audio for his movie (making zombie sounds) then I went to the St. Patty's Festival and helped a teammate pour beer for her fundraiser. That was way more fun that running.

Unfortunately, I had to make up the run on Monday. I managed 8 miles on the treadmill. Tuesday was a spin class and tonight I'm going to try running 9-10 miles outdoors. I've been having problems with shin splints so we'll see how it goes. I've been stretching every day, icing almost every day and taking Aleve almost every day. I read that to really help shin splints - you should stop running although that's not an option at this point so I'm trying to work through it.

On the plus side, my shoulder feels amazing. I can't remember the last time I have gone this long without pain. It still gets a little "heavy" and sore when I run - but I am beyond excited that I found the solution to my problem - thank you Physical Therapist Glenn and the wonder that is ART.

This weekend will be our first open water swim at Shadow Cliffs in Pleasanton. The water is kind of icky but I've been in worse so it shouldn't be too bad. We'll also get to wear our wetsuits for the first time this season. I'm going to avoid cameras at all costs. No matter your body type - no one looks good in a wetsuit. I think we're following the swim with a 10-11 mile run. I'm hoping the run is on trails - my knees and shins could use a break from the pavement.

I'd like to give a BIG thank you to everyone who has purchased a jacket or vest for my fundraiser - my total is now $1,925!! Only $975 to go. Thank you so much!!

Half Way There! Thank You!

THANK YOU to my latest contributors:


The EB Tri Team
The SF Cycle Team
The SF Deathride Team
for purchasing Vests and Jackets to support my fundraising!! You all rock!


Mike Moran

With these latest donations - I have reached $1,635!! That's 32% of my goal and 56% of my minimum!! That's awesome considering there are still 2 months left of training and fundraising. Thank you all so much!

If You Haven't Had Cancer

This was written by an honoree - Travis. When Travis wrote it, he was 12 years old celebrating six years of being leukemia free after a match was found through the National Marrow Donor Program. Thanks to Phil for posting this on his blog.

If You Haven't Had Cancer
By Travis Yon

If you haven't had cancer, you don't know attention. You can't know attention. The constant questions and the feelings of being surrounded. The "Does this hurt?" and the "Can you feel that?" You are never alone. There is always someone watching you. Whether it's your doctor, nurse, mom, dad, brother, or sister, grandpa or grandma. You are always supervised. If you haven't had cancer you don't know attention.

If you haven't had cancer, you don't know medicine. There is no way you can know medicine. The continual injections, pills, swallowing, and IV's. The charts and keeping track. The discomfort and vomiting. The exhausting chemotherapy and radiation. The 75 medicines a day. If you haven't had cancer you can't know medicine.

If you haven't had cancer you don't know pain. You can't know pain. The injections, the radiation, and the chemotherapy. Pure torture. Fear. That is pain. It's the worst. If you haven't had cancer, you don't know pain.

If you haven't had cancer, you don't know long-term. You can't know long-term. The long, boring hours of just waiting. Doing nothing. Pathetically trying to brainstorm ways to amuse yourself. Waiting for it all to be over. Waiting for the results. It is grueling. If you haven't had cancer you don't know long-term.

If you haven't had cancer you don't know joy. You can't know joy. The joy of surviving, making it, you're done, sprung, released, out through. If you haven't had cancer you don't know joy.

Travis (right) cheering on his mom at mile 22
of the Honolulu Marathon in 2001

Circuit Training = Pain

Last night was another circuit training/strength workout. Here's the recap:

WARM UP: Stretch

SWIM STATION
1) 25 Pushups
2) 25 Cobras
3) 30 Windshield Wipers

BIKE STATION
1) 30 Supermans
2) 30 Bicycle Crunches
3) 30 Squats

RUN: 1+ Mile (Intervals)

RUN STATION
1) 30 Lunges
2) Front/Back Bridges (30 sec each)
3) 2x50 High Knees, 2x50 Butt Kicks
4) 2x50 Heel Walks, 2x50 Toe Walks

SWIM STATION: Repeat

RUN: 1+ Mile (Intervals)

BIKE STATION: Repeat

RUN: 1+ Mile (Intervals)

COOL DOWN: Walk + Stretch

For the run intervals I did a 1 minute run and a 1 minute faster run. I ended up completing 3.25 miles in about 31 minutes (roughly 6.5 mph or 9.23 min/mile). Pretty decent considering I have been running in the 10-10:30 range and last year was running in the 11+ range. Maybe I'll actually be able to finish the run portion of this triathlon in a decent time ...

My legs are sore today. Tonight is swimming. I think tomorrow will be swimming too considering Saturday we have a bike and run. I need to save my legs.

Last Weekend's Workout

I haven't had much time to write something up about our training last weekend - but I have some pictures to post. So here's a quick recap:

We trained at Campolindo High again in Moraga. This time it was a swim/run. It was freezing in the morning - and even tho the pool was warm - it wasn't much better. Coach had us jump right in - since we were trying to beat the storm rolling in. Swam 1650 yards. Immediately got changed and ready for the run. The weather was holding up so far. I got to pick from the "grab bag" of goodies for raising over $500 (thanks to all of you!!). I got a new waterbottle - which I really needed!

Started out on the run and felt pretty good. I tried to keep my pace between 10 and 10:30 min/mile. I was able to run consistently until about mile 3.5. Then I started a run/walk. I don't have my times or average pace since I haven't uploaded the data from my GPS yet. I finished 7 miles in roughly 1 hr 15-20 minutes.

More Thank You's!

SUPER BIG Thank you's to my latest supporters:

Dad and Lee - have been supporting me since the beginning and have even participated by being my own personal SAG Car!

Aunt Moo - my training partner last season - looking forward to having her cheer me on this season!

Aunt Vida
Bette Hull (Sam's Grandma)
Grandma & Grandpa Houck
All have supported me every season!! They rock!

Deena - one of my really good friends (since 1st grade!). Also my massage therapist :o)

Thank you all! With your donations, I have now reached $1,065. That's 37% of my minimum and 21% of my goal!! Almost there!

Gross

So a pretty disgusting thing happened today. I lost my toenail on my left big toe. Not sure how this will affect the training. Guess I'll just have to take extra care to keep it dry and covered as much as I can.

I decided not to take a picture to share.

Starting to Feel Better ...

... about my workouts. Tuesday I hit the spin class - and felt great! It was hard like it always is, but I felt energized afterwards. Last night I did a circuit/strength training workout as follows:

WARM UP: Stretch

SWIM STATION:
1) 20 Push Ups
2) 26 Supermans
3) 25 Squats

BIKE STATION:
1) 26 Lunges
2) 20 Close Hand Push Ups
3) 30 Half-Up Twists

RUN: 1 Mile

RUN STATION
1) Front/Back Bridges (hold 30-60 sec)
2) 2x40 High Knees
3) 50 Heel & 50 Toe Walks

SWIM STATION: Repeat

RUN: 1 Mile

BIKE STATION: Repeat

RUN STATION: Repeat

RUN: 2 Miles

COOL DOWN: Walk 5 min & Stretch

Although at one point I felt like I would die - I pushed through and felt really good afterwards. I took Roxy with me on the first 2 miles - left her at home for the other 2. I don't think she's up to running 4 miles yet. I'm sure she would love to and would probably "hang in there" with me - but I don't know if her joints can take it. It sure is nice to have company for part of the time tho - silly dog - makes me laugh.

Total Time: 1.5 Hours
Run Time: 41 Minutes
Distance: 4.17 Miles
Avg Pace: 9.83 min/mile (6.10 mph)
Max Pace: 7.57 min/mile

Looking forward to swimming tonight. My knee has been bothering me - so it will be nice to have a no impact workout.

I Love Holidays

I skipped my run yesterday to let my body recover. I was beyond sore. Every muscle in my body hurt. So I went for a run this morning (due to the lovely holiday and me not having to work). I took Roxy out for 2 laps around the lake - then dropped her off at the house, grabbed a water bottle and went out for 3 more laps. Today was tough. I just don't feel like I'm improving in my workouts. Every one seems just as hard if not harder than the last one. I was able to run the first 2 laps, but I did a run/walk for the other 3. I set the alarm on my watch for every 2 minutes. I either ran 4 minutes and walked 2. Or ran 2 minutes and walked 2.

Here's the stats:
Total Time: 0:58:50
Pace: 11:34 min/mile
Distance: 5.08 miles
Speed: 5.5 avg mph / 8.4 max mph
Temperature: 47°F


View Larger Map

Tonight I plan to go for a swim. I would like to go to a spin class - but I think my lower body needs a break!

Here's a picture of my shredded tire from Saturday!