BMW

This picture is WAY too cute not to post...

Don't worry. The BMW M6 toy car belongs to a neighbor of my parents.

But it's so cute and she's so happy that I may need to buy her one for her birthday.

I wonder if they have one in pink...

Wildflower Weekend

On Friday afternoon, I made the drive down to Lake San Antonio with a teammate from Ironteam. We arrived with plenty of time to set up our tents and get settled before the joint Triathlon and Ironteam potluck dinner. After reviewing a few logistical details, I organized my transition bags and tried to sleep. I slept pretty well except for the 3 times I had to get out of my tent and walk to the bathroom.

My alarm went off at 5:30 AM. Luckily, I was already awake. I started my race morning preparations and had some breakfast too. We headed down to the transition area and checked in, got body marked, and put on our wetsuits.

At 7AM, the starting gun went off (actually, it was Coach Steve saying "Ok... Go!"). We swam until we passed 6 buoys and headed back to the dock. The water was gross as usual and the sun was blinding me on the way back. I could barely see the buoys anyway and the sun made it even harder. I think new goggles will help... After the swim we climbed through knee deep mud to get out of the water. Yuck.

Transition 1 was quick and I was onto my new bike for the 55-mile ride. The first hill was really tough and I was already concerned about the rest of the day. Once at the top, I fueled as much as possible to get some energy back. The rest of the ride went pretty smoothly. The new bike felt good, but needs a few "tweaks" to make it a bit more comfortable. I got to the top of Nasty grade without too many issues and then turned onto the hill known as "Soul Crusher". I took my time and climbed it. The rest of the ride was good and I made it back to transition in a decent amount of time. I was very happy to be off the bike at this point.

Transition 2 was quite a bit slower than T1 because I was taking my time and not looking forward to the run at all. I finally headed out on the run and could feel every mile of the bike in my legs. They were heavy and didn't want to move. It was getting hot also and I knew what to expect on the run course. I started my run/walk timing and that worked for a bit. I was not a happy camper as I rounded the very hot trail area around the lake. I walked more than I ran and wasn't sure I would finish the day because my feet were very unhappy.

I kept moving forward and somewhere just after mile 6, my legs started feeling better. And the trail was smoother so my feet felt better too. I ran most of the way between miles 7-9 and even managed to keep running into and out of "the pit". The jog to the finish was easy and I was very happy to be done.

We stayed in the transition/finish area until everyone on the team finished, then headed back up to camp. After a well deserved shower and some food, the party started. I headed to bed around 11:30 because I was exhausted.

Sunday morning the birds started chirping around 5:45 AM. I tried to go back to sleep, but couldn't. At 6:15, I declared "nature sucks" and got out of bed. I don't actually think nature sucks, but it does when you are trying to sleep in. I started packing up my stuff and shoving it into the car. We had breakfast as a team, had a waterstop for the Tri teamers who were doing their run on Sunday, then headed home.

It was a fun and exhausting weekend. And we get to do it all over again in April, when we are scheduled to do the Wildflower race!

Friday's Schedule

I am working a 1/2 day today.  This is what it looks like:

 

7:30 AM - Arrive at work

7:30-7:45 - boot up computer, get coffee, etc

7:45-9:00 - Work, read e-mails, write report

9:00-9:30 - Breakfast

9:30-10:00 - Surf the internet, update blog

10:00-10:30 - go get gas for the car and check tire pressure

10:30-11:30 - Work if required, otherwise surf internet

11:30 - Leave work and head to Lake San Antonio

Wildflower Practice Weekend

I'll be down at Lake San Antonio with the rest of Ironteam this weekend. It's our Halfway to Iron-event. Basically that means Ironteam is putting on a 1/2 Ironman race for us on Saturday on the Wildflower long course. I'll update you on how it goes when I get back next week. For now, I need to organize and pack up my car since we have to camp at Lake San Antonio.

Have a good weekend!

Weight Loss

I've decided today that Easter has ruined my weight loss plan... Why you ask?

Because it is almost impossible to resist the Easter candy they have in the stores. With all the cute pastel colors - pink, baby blue, yellow, and orange wrappers. This week it's mini peanut butter cups. Next week, who knows. Maybe Cabury Mini Eggs.

This is not helping me increase my power-to-weight ratio for Ironman. Sigh.

Technical Difficulties

I am having technical difficulties. My computer at work is acting up and I'm too annoyed with it to try to fix it. Plus, we are still running Windows 2000 (YES, 2000!). We are slated to upgrade to XP later this year since Microsoft has decided to stop supporting Windows 2000. Yes, we are THAT behind.

When I first started my job, we were running Windows 97. I didn't know we had all of these internal rules about computer software, so I decided to take an illegal copy of Windows 98 and install it on my laptop. It worked great after that, but then one day our IT department came and asked how I got Windows 98. Hmmn...

Anyhow, I'm hoping the upgrade to XP will fix all my computer's issues. Until then, I will deal with it. It's not as if I have a choice.

Nervous Talkers

I was on a conference call this morning and there was a "nervous talker" on the phone. Meaning, every time there was a second of silence, this person felt the need to say something that didn't need to be shared during this meeting. She also felt the need to talk over my director a few times too. So annoying!

All Right

There is something wrong with my left hand. I am having a hard time doing simple things like pulling plugs from the wall and changing gears on my bike.

While it is no big deal, it made a bike ride outside a bad idea. I tried, but after a few miles, I decided it was best to go home and do my ride on the trainer. Good news is that my trainer and bike didn't throw me into the bookshelf this time! Progress!

My hand is weak from the "death grip" I had on my brakes when descending the back of Sierra Road on Friday.

I have to take it easy this week so my hand is back to normal for next weekend, our team's Wildflower weekend!

The Top

A picture from the top of Sierra Road. It doesn't look that difficult until you realize I started from the same elevation as the wetlands way out in the distance... and made that climb in less than 4 miles.

I did the ride again yesterday. That probably made today's 12-mile run in the hills of Portola Valley more difficult since my legs were a bit tired...

Back to the grind

This week has been rough for various reasons. Returning from vacation is always tough and throwing myself back into Ironteam training has been a rough transition. Work has been increasingly annoying too, so that doesn't help. Maybe my annoyance at work has something to do with my tiredness. For those that I work with, I'm thinking I'll be really unpleasant around July, so mark that in your calendar.

Even though I'm tired, I'm looking forward to my weekend of workouts. Saturday, I'm planning to run 12 miles or so with the run team in Portola Valley. Then on Sunday, I'm riding my bike 60 miles (route TBD).

Monday is a rest day and I'm looking forward to that the most!

Sierra Road

Above is the elevation chart for Sierra Road. It climbs 1800 feet in 3.6-miles and is a "Category 1" climb for road racing. And lucky for me, it's just a few miles from work.

On Tuesday, I planned out a 20-mile loop that included this (somewhat insane) 3.6-mile climb. I set off on my new bike and was very worried because I wasn't sure I could climb a road THAT steep.

After a few minutes on the hill, it felt as if I was climbing up a wall. A man was running up the hill and he was going faster than I was. Cars passed me as they were headed downhill and I could smell their brakes burning.

Sometimes my bike computer said 2.5 MPH and I was confused as to how my bike was still upright at that slow speed. The not-so-steep parts felt great even though they were still steep. I stopped once because it felt like my heart would explode if I didn't. And I figured the cows would laugh at me if I fell over.

I was SO proud of myself for making it to the top and was rewarded with the most beautiful views. I headed onto the downhill section and finished off my 20-mile ride shortly after.

I'm planning to do that ride at least once a week while I'm training so I can be a better (and faster) rider.

Oh, and my new bike has a name now... Sierra.

Your Cooperation is Appreciated

My niece was not cooperative with the photographer... but I thought it was cute even though she's sticking out her tongue.

Family Foto

Here is the family photo from the cruise.

From Left to Right, here is everyone's relation to me...

Back: Dad, Niece, Brother, Sister-in-law

Center: Cousin, Grandpa, Me

Front: Mom, Aunt

Zip lining in Cabo

On Thursday, my cousin, sister-in-law, and I went zip lining in Cabo. It was a ton of fun. We climbed rocks, rappelled, zip lined. Here is a picture of me on the zip line.

Spring Break!

Today is our 2nd day on the ship and we are still at sea. The sun came out today and so did all the spring break partiers. Everyone seems to be on the pool deck tanning and partying. I, of course, am not. I spent some time in the sun, then got tired from chasing my niece around in the pool, and would like to take a nap now. I tried to run on the treadmill, but I felt sick from the rocking of the boat.

I am currently watching episodes of “The Love Boat”. They are showing on one of the ship’s channel. These episodes are so cheesy and I love it!

Cruise

Hello from sea. We are on the Sapphire Princess headed for Puerto Vallarta. The first 2 days are at sea, so we are cruising along the coast of Mexico. So far, I have eaten a lot, seen a few whales, run a few miles, and "swam" in the pool with my niece for 2 hours. I finally had to bribe her out of the pool with a cookie...

We have our first formal night tonight and we are celebrating my grandpa's 90th birthday tonight! I better go get a snack before dinner time. Ha ha. Just kidding. I haven't quite gotten my sea legs yet, so my stomach still feels a bit queasy with all this rocking.

Cruise

Well, we are on the ship and are about to set sail. I've eaten once already. Fun!

Ready for Vacation

Why is it that when you are about to go on vacation, you get hundreds of requests to do things the day before you leave?  This happened to me today.  People somehow heard I was going to be out for the next week and decided that they needed everything done instantly.  Too bad for them though, there just isn't enough time in my day today.  Actually, there is time, but emotionally, I'm ALREADY on vacation...

 

I did plenty of work today and have decided that I am finished until after I return from vacation.  I need to set my Out of Office message and then I'll be finished.

 

I started organizing everything I will need to pack for this trip.  So far, I have put aside just about everything in my closet.  I'm pretty sure all of this will not fit into my suitcase...  I somehow fit clothes for a 17-day cruise to Europe into the same suitcase.  Not sure why I am bringing so much extra onto this 7-day cruise to Mexico...

TIMBER

Yesterday I was on my bike trainer in my bonus room. About 45 minutes into my 60 minute workout, my bike decided to come loose from the trainer and fall over. This is the first time my bike has come out of the trainer in over 8 years. I think it might be angry that I bought a new bike last week...

Anyhow, as the bike came free from the trainer, I tipped over (in what seemed like very slow motion) into the bookshelf in my bonus room then onto the ground. I managed to gash my hand and scrape up my arm, but I felt ok otherwise.

So, as any normal person would, I tied a cloth around my bleeding hand, put my bike back into the trainer and finished the last 15 minutes of my workout...

Today I am bruised and quite sore. I'm just not sure how much of the soreness is from falling vs. the 3 workouts I did yesterday (yoga, spin, track practice).

Neglected

In the past week, I have been told by 2 different people that they feel "neglected" by me.  Before I respond, I decided to look up the definition of neglected. 

 

1 - to give little attention or respect to: disregard 

2 - to leave undone or unattended to especially through carelessness

 

OK, I would hope that no one actually believes I give them little respect, especially my friends.  And I find it difficult to accept that I do anything through carelessness.  So, my own definition will be that these people feel that I have given little attention to them and they feel unattended to.

 

My response to anyone that feels they are being neglected by me is: GET IN LINE! 

 

Line A - Leads to us scheduling something fun (some sort of eating works best these days)

or

Line B - Get in line behind all the other people I have neglected when training for Ironman

 

You can choose which line is for you!

 

Open Water Swimming

Whenever I swim in open water, I always wonder if I swim straight or crooked. Usually, I assume everyone else is swimming straight and I'm swerving back and forth. I sometimes think I swim further than everyone else because of my zig-zag swimming.

Today I was told by IronTeam staff that I swim straight! I first thought they were joking with me, but this came from people in a kayak, so they would know if we were swimming straight. And they told the team to use my swim cap to sight off of.

The only issue with that is that I'm not a fast swimmer so everyone would need to start 30 mins after me to sight off of my swim cap...

I am very excited to know I swim straight!