This morning was another swim… and yet more turtles! The ocean was flat and the water was even more crystal clear than yesterday… which for most people would present excellent conditions for snorkeling and checking out the fish and ocean life… but for the four dorky triathletes (me + 3 boys), the clear ocean blue-green waters translated to perfect draft positioning and sighting practice! So, I put my head down and swam hard for 20 or so minutes, but then I backed off to *smell the proverbial roses* on the way back to shore and spied a turtle or two, a ray and a bounty of colorful fish.
Then I threw on my sneakers for a 6mi hard run… as you can imagine it’s hoT here and while I get used to it while riding/running… when I stop it takes me forEVer to cool down! I was still sweating (sorry, perspiring) while taking a cold (outdoor) shower.
I could just about see the outline of Mauna Kea through the morning sunshine haze… but no snow. It’s summertime and I don’t think there’s any snow up there right now… but I could be wrong. The Big Island and the Four Season is quite the home away from home for the monied class of SF ;-^) For a self-professed mountain chick that does not care much for sun, sand and beaches, I’ve been to Hawaii far too many times in recent years… of course, with the exception of a spring break trip to Kauai, each trip has been triathlon related, so I’ve hardly sat on the beach and drank mai-tais all day… just at sunset! Though, I’m slowly getting accustomed to the lazy days… perhaps that’s my age catching up with me ;-)
Wednesday, May 31, 2006
Tuesday, May 30, 2006
Hualalai
Well, Hawaii is relaxing... I have no agenda for the week – nada - except the odd swim (which was more like turtle-viewing this morning), bike and run to keep me *limber* pre-race. Mark’s house is ridiculously nice. The layout, design and architecture of the house is thoughtful and luxurious without being ostentatious - very accommodating… I appreciate the designer’s taste… I think a lot of the design pieces were brought in from Bali (‘cause Indonesia is so close to Hawaii, eh?) – but it’s subtle and calming, and incorporates the outdoors. I can just imagine the architect’s design notes: “a seamless transition from the interior to the traditional lanai allows the cooling breeze and fresh Hawaiian air to permeate your surroundings and draw your attention towards the conjoined hot-tub and infinity pool and beyond to the pacific ocean…”
Yeah, it’s not so shabby here. I have my own (‘til Sandy arrives on Wednesday) little guest complex with a 2 shower bathroom… and I’m not talking a double-headed shower (though that would be a nice touch). No, I have two showers for myself - one indoor and the other one is outdoors in my own little, private walled garden ;-) and on the other side of my *complex* is my own, semi-private lanai, where I’m currently sitting, reading and emailing (wireless network, d’oh!). I remember the days where there was crappy cell reception and my blackberry didn’t work on the Big Island.
Thursday, May 25, 2006
Friday, May 19, 2006
giro d'italia fanaticism
why do i love watching cycling? there's a lot of downtime, repetition, hum-drumness to the sport... i sit, watch in eager anticipation of an unexpected or even predictable attack? i even watched the highlights of yesterday's TT? who does that? there's no action in the TT? what am i trying to find? contrast der kaiser's cadence with basso's? gain some insight into how deep they are digging?
i *invoked* images of my cycling heroes while riding my hill repeats yesterday. ouch! the hill repeats hurt. while doing them i recalled zabriskie's description of time-trialling as "scraping the bottom of the [pain] barrel as quickly as possible and staying there". i also thought of ullrich pushing his big gears at 32mph in the giro TT and how hard he was probably working. i also told myself that this [the pain] is for honu. i'm excited and scared for the race. two more weeks!
i rode ~70mi and ran 3mi today. i thought that i'd be weak after yesterday's LT intervals. i did not feel great, but i was riding pretty strong. it reminded me even more of the sensations i felt at the wildflower race... the fitness is there (tapered or not), it just does not feel easy. i also realized that i like the *fitness feeling of having extra gears*... that is, after a winter of nurturing my diesel engine, the intensity training is adding a little extra torque to my fitness. okay, that's probably a mechanically incorrect auto analogy!
well, back to the giro... needless to say i'm psyched for the last week of the giro. wednesday's "plan de corones" stage should be epic. i've been wearing my white team csc hat all week. what a dork!
i *invoked* images of my cycling heroes while riding my hill repeats yesterday. ouch! the hill repeats hurt. while doing them i recalled zabriskie's description of time-trialling as "scraping the bottom of the [pain] barrel as quickly as possible and staying there". i also thought of ullrich pushing his big gears at 32mph in the giro TT and how hard he was probably working. i also told myself that this [the pain] is for honu. i'm excited and scared for the race. two more weeks!
i rode ~70mi and ran 3mi today. i thought that i'd be weak after yesterday's LT intervals. i did not feel great, but i was riding pretty strong. it reminded me even more of the sensations i felt at the wildflower race... the fitness is there (tapered or not), it just does not feel easy. i also realized that i like the *fitness feeling of having extra gears*... that is, after a winter of nurturing my diesel engine, the intensity training is adding a little extra torque to my fitness. okay, that's probably a mechanically incorrect auto analogy!
well, back to the giro... needless to say i'm psyched for the last week of the giro. wednesday's "plan de corones" stage should be epic. i've been wearing my white team csc hat all week. what a dork!
Wednesday, May 10, 2006
Taper Interrupted
Wildflower Long Course Triathlon '06
I finished 5th (AGAIN - 3rd year in a row) in my AG and recorded a personal best by a mere 35 seconds... what's that? A couple of hundred yards?
Most coaches recommend a 3-10 day taper for an event as long as a half-ironman. Since this was not a key race, my coach recommended that I go into the race completely untapered... I did not skip a single workout, hard session in the week prior to the race.
How did this change my race?
I don’t think the hard Thursday bike intervals or easy run on Friday hurt my bike power but it made me feel like I was “working” the entire way. The non-taper probably impacted my run performance the most… my legs never quite got going, even during my favorite section from mile 7-10, which is net downhill and I usually feel like I’m flying. I was about a minute slower on the run compared to last year. I got off the bike in second place and was passed in the first 4 miles by two women in my AG and by a third woman in the last, downhill mile… there was no way (recovery purposes) that I was going to hammer down that last hill!
The non-taper thing is interesting and Chris and I discussed several things. He thinks the body acts weirdly when you give it rest so the “Taper Interrupted” strategy can still lead to an effective race result.
A couple of other things happened in the race that struck me as interesting. I passed the *ultimate* winner of my AG at mile 37 or so on the bike. I went by like a freight train, a very clean pass… but she jumped on my wheel and followed me back to T2. Basically, I paced her back. She was not drafting. She then proceeded to run very solidly so she deserved the win. Kudos for her running skills.
The other pacing thing came up with a team-mate. Laura Lyster (F20-24) went off several waves ahead of me. I caught her at mile 28 or so and she told me afterwards that my going by was a *wake-up call* and after I passed she tried to hold my wheel for as long as she could. It helped her to a sub 3 hour bike split.
I finished 5th (AGAIN - 3rd year in a row) in my AG and recorded a personal best by a mere 35 seconds... what's that? A couple of hundred yards?
Most coaches recommend a 3-10 day taper for an event as long as a half-ironman. Since this was not a key race, my coach recommended that I go into the race completely untapered... I did not skip a single workout, hard session in the week prior to the race.
How did this change my race?
I don’t think the hard Thursday bike intervals or easy run on Friday hurt my bike power but it made me feel like I was “working” the entire way. The non-taper probably impacted my run performance the most… my legs never quite got going, even during my favorite section from mile 7-10, which is net downhill and I usually feel like I’m flying. I was about a minute slower on the run compared to last year. I got off the bike in second place and was passed in the first 4 miles by two women in my AG and by a third woman in the last, downhill mile… there was no way (recovery purposes) that I was going to hammer down that last hill!
The non-taper thing is interesting and Chris and I discussed several things. He thinks the body acts weirdly when you give it rest so the “Taper Interrupted” strategy can still lead to an effective race result.
A couple of other things happened in the race that struck me as interesting. I passed the *ultimate* winner of my AG at mile 37 or so on the bike. I went by like a freight train, a very clean pass… but she jumped on my wheel and followed me back to T2. Basically, I paced her back. She was not drafting. She then proceeded to run very solidly so she deserved the win. Kudos for her running skills.
The other pacing thing came up with a team-mate. Laura Lyster (F20-24) went off several waves ahead of me. I caught her at mile 28 or so and she told me afterwards that my going by was a *wake-up call* and after I passed she tried to hold my wheel for as long as she could. It helped her to a sub 3 hour bike split.
Wednesday, May 03, 2006
Things I don't like to do
I am organized, timely (too timely for my friends' liking ;-)), disciplined, independent, highly-motivated and generally have an upbeat, positive demeanor. However, there are a few things in life that I will procrastinate about until the last possible moment or change *my* plans to avoid something. You might assume that a list of things I don't like to do might wind up being a list of chores - don't get me wrong, household and other chores figure prominently - but my list also includes things that I like to do! Does that make sense?
10. I don't like going to the movies on my own... even if I really want to see a movie and no one else does, chances are that I won't go.
9. Cleaning my bathroom... who does?
8. Riding my bike across the Golden Gate Bridge - the views are stunning, but the wind, the tourists and other cyclists are too unpredictable for my liking
7. Getting a bikini wax. This is a chick *necessary evil*. It's the weirdest personal service out there. Not much talking, weird positions, embarassment... need I say more?
6. Cleaning my bike - it's real pretty and all, and deserves to be squeaky clean but...
5. Going on blind dates. They are 100% of the time a disaster. I've never had a good one!
4. Vacuuming - I don't procrastinate on this, it's more a question of it not really occurring to me to vacuum on a regular basis
3. Getting a massage. These used to be relaxing treats... ironman training has rendered them painful necessities!
2. Starting a new book. I find it stressful to begin reading a new book... I fear that I will not be able to get involved with the topic or the characters. It's also a fear of failure... I don't like "not finishing a book"!
1. Swimming - I'm not very good and I get bored staring at the bottom of the pool.
10. I don't like going to the movies on my own... even if I really want to see a movie and no one else does, chances are that I won't go.
9. Cleaning my bathroom... who does?
8. Riding my bike across the Golden Gate Bridge - the views are stunning, but the wind, the tourists and other cyclists are too unpredictable for my liking
7. Getting a bikini wax. This is a chick *necessary evil*. It's the weirdest personal service out there. Not much talking, weird positions, embarassment... need I say more?
6. Cleaning my bike - it's real pretty and all, and deserves to be squeaky clean but...
5. Going on blind dates. They are 100% of the time a disaster. I've never had a good one!
4. Vacuuming - I don't procrastinate on this, it's more a question of it not really occurring to me to vacuum on a regular basis
3. Getting a massage. These used to be relaxing treats... ironman training has rendered them painful necessities!
2. Starting a new book. I find it stressful to begin reading a new book... I fear that I will not be able to get involved with the topic or the characters. It's also a fear of failure... I don't like "not finishing a book"!
1. Swimming - I'm not very good and I get bored staring at the bottom of the pool.
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