Let's Get it On!

Let's just focus on today's workout, shall we?

So, it all starts with A CERTAIN MS. PAMELA SCHWARTZ emailing her entire mentor group a link to an article about a fatal shark attack off the San Diego coast yesterday. The poor guy was a triathlete! I have always been terrified of sharks, traditionally of the great white variety, but more recently of the tiger shark variety, (since I learned they live in abundance around the Hawaiian islands...that teen surfer girl lost her arm to one and I met a man last weekend who encountered some having a feeding frenzy on a dead cow in Captain Cook Bay) so this concrete piece of evidence of sharks in places they usually don't go, where triathletes swim, FRIGHTENED me. Yes, it did, because today was our final swim in the (now) dreaded Aquatic Park before Wildflower (WHICH IS NEXT WEEKEND. WHO HERE IS FREAKING OUT AND USING CAPS TO SHOW IT?).

Did I sleep last night?
No.

Did I have an upset stomach all morning?
Yes.

Did I have other related gastric distress? (Trying to be polite here...)
Yes.

Did I get in that damn bay and swim?
Yes!

How was it?
Well, it was terrible. It was! First, we had to do three race starts. Three! In a row! Although I have to admit, it was fun to practice hitting and kicking the new kids so they know what to expect on race day. And THEN we had to swim the perimeter. In case that doesn't signify anything to you, fair readers, allow me to explain. The swim buoys are well within the protected cove area of Aquatic Park. So, although the water is unbelievably frigid, at least you can convince yourself there's no real way a shark could wander all the way in. It's like a lobster trap, right? And their sharky sensibilities know better. Swimming the perimeter, on the other hand, means you are way out there, (definitely more than 150 meters out, and we all know Mr. San Diego was only 150 meters off the coast when Jaws chomped his legs off. CHOMPED HIS LEGS OFF. Please refer to my post from March 11, 2007 if you need clarification about this issue) away from the safety of shore, and much closer to that scary gap in the breakwater that permits things from the real ocean to drift/swim/deliberately seek prey in Aquatic Park.

Needless to say, I survived.

After all this doom and gloom, I'd like to end on a high note. On Wednesday, I was again reminded of the beauty of the world. Get it while you can.

Hip, Hip, HOORAY!

Fundraising Goal #2 Met!

Thank you, Teresa, Rob, Sam, and Rosa! You put me over the $4900 mark. You are the best, most wonderful support! Thanks to all who have been supportive with both $$ and kind words. 5/3/08 is the day of reckoning.

Training Weekend at Last!

Finally! The link to the photos of practice weekend. Thanks, Nate! There's a few other shots in there, too.

Easter and Practice Tri

Suffering!

The bike ride up Mt. Tam and across the Seven Sisters was the single hardest physical activity I have ever completed in my entire life. The final five miles of the ascent include a 1500 foot elevation gain and the road is painted with inspirational phrases including "suffering," "pain," and "anguish." Wow. What a ride. Traversing the Seven Sisters felt like coasting along rollers in comparison.

Here's the view from the top. Hello, Bolinas Bay!



Sometimes I am overcome with the beauty of the world. Not joking.

Today I ran 15 miles. Yowsers, a new record. I am beat. Peak training is HARD! I can't wait to taper, and then rock the Wildflower course. Two weeks to go.

I'm feeling more fatigued than eloquent at the moment, so this is as good as this post is going to get.

Hot or Not?

Hot!
1. I got my two-mile time down from 18:00 minutes to 15:41. Here I am prepping with a side plank.



2. I can do 40 push-ups in a row. 50 would be hotter.
3. I did 1.5 miles of sprints in the pool last week.
4. I did 30 miles of bike sprints today after school.

Not!
1. Flat tire at 6:45am today. (I girl powered that bad boy in no time at all!)
2. I ate two bugs on my bike this week.
3. Having circulation issues.

Snakes and Lizards and Birds...

...oh my! And squirrels and frogs. I saw all of these dead on the road today. In terms of training, this was a good week, which is of note since things on other fronts were disastrous. But this is a training blog, is it not? In that case, what a great week it was!

Yesterday was the annual classic "Alpine A**kicker" ride and run. This entails an elevation gain of about 3500 feet over the course of a 20-mile-out, 20-mile-back route centered around Alpine Dam near Muir Woods. We hopped off our bikes and ran for an hour at the halfway point. No, this did not make the second half easier.

Today I skipped the practice triathlon on San Pablo Bay because I didn't feel I needed practice with body marking, transitioning, and such. I felt I needed to get some more fast miles under my pedals. I went down to Santa Cruz and did another 20-out, 20-back on Highway 1. It was absurdly windy on the way north, and extremely awesome on the way south. The roadkill was abundant on both sides of the road.

I've gotta be fast enough to make my bike time cutoff at Wildflower. I have a couple more weeks to get faster before I have to taper. I can do this.

I am Iron.

BTW, only $87 to go!

The Week in Review

T'was a difficult week for me! On Wednesday, I skipped Kezar and took an extra rest day to celebrate Nate's birthday (well worth it, especially after the training weekend extravaganza). I was all ready to get back to business Thursday, but as I was changing into my bike jersey, I realized I had forgotten my bike shorts at home! Gaaaa! I have never made such an omission before. And I had to be back in the City at a specific time for an appointment, so it ended up being a three rest day week for me.

I asked coach Chris how to get faster on my bike, and taking three rest days was not one of his suggestions.

Today we had a big ol' loop ride (The "Cheese Factory Loop," in fact) in Novato/Nicasio. I rode the 48 miles much faster than I rode the same mileage at the Wildflower course. Yes! And after more swimming, too.

One month until the main event. Things are getting serious. Buckle your bike helmets, everyone.

Where's Waldo?

Jem and the Holograms