Sunday, December 30, 2007

Good bye 2007!!!

I had the best ending to the year! A week's guest pass to the fanciest gym in Manhattan! Fabulous
Talk about coat check, celebrities, sexy personal trainers, talented fitness class instructors, spa, free mouthwash, cafe, outdoor running track, indoor rockclimbing wall...

Wow!

I went to this snobby gym 6 days this week. What heaven.

This past summer, I started to buy this athletic clothing brand. One of the most expensive brands ever. Anyway, it turns out at this gym- everyone wears the same brand! A way to show off & say I pay through my nose for sweat pants too!!! So I fit right in in that sense coz I have a lot of hot workout gear. Even though I'm lower class, I'm a wannabe. If I was a rich girl...

I'm back!

The me that is sweating everyday & swimming obsessively & sleeping & dreaming of athletics is BACK!!! I even ran on the outdoor track today. Effortless.

I'm bringing healthy back into 2008!!!

Monday, December 17, 2007

As the 2008 approaches...

I reflect on the things I've done this year of which I'm proud & cry with overwhelmed sentiments when I ponder the new year to come.
This year my fitness has fluctuated and presently seems to be a slowly improving lull. I can't believe that I worked as a trainer in the spring & I am so proud of myself for doing that & thriving at it & immersing myself in something new. I am proud to have passed my NASM test. I'm happy with my summer fitness state & my running accomplishments.

I have failed in terms of consistency. I am struggling to find the balance between training for fitness & training for a triathlon. I must say though that I started the year weighing much less than I do presently, but I am happy with my body because of the recovery from injury & self love that I have.

I will be embarking on a 30 day Bikram yoga challenge. I am buying a 6 month membership to a swimming facility & from January to June, excercise is all I will know. I am going to transition from being the social butterfly I've been lately to a hermit excercise freak. Wish me luck. No, seriously though, I need to figure out the balance because for sure the thought of the triathlon will not keep me warm at night.

I was so excited today- I googled my name & saw my turkey trot results online!!! My first race evverrrrr. My time is terrible, but I completed the race:):):):):) go me.

I'm grateful to the people that have been with me from the conception of my dreams and continue to walk with me as I aspire to be a triathlete. To those who accept my flaws & allow me to be me. Thank you. To those who are dreaming of athleticism like me, join me & let's have fun. To those who can teach me, I am ready to learn.

Best for 2008- more posts in January so keep reading!

Tuesday, December 11, 2007

2nd Bikram class...

Ok, despite the somewhat traumatic experience of my first class, I ventured into another heated room yesterday. It was alright. I'm an extremist & working hard to balance myself out. I like the extreme nature of Bikram although I doubt the benefits it has for me. I like to be around people who like to push their physical limits & grow. Growth is life.

The triathlon is the first long term goal I've ever had for myself & I can't back out which is good because it challenges me.

The goal is January - June, intense training.

Sunday, December 9, 2007

my first bikram yoga class. Thoughts on stupidity.

I have excellent cardiovascular endurance in general. Of course in order to take part in the triathlon, I need to improve. But I'm off to an ok start. Am i a clydesdale?

Anyhow, walk into the studio with my mat & water wearing my excercise shorts & sports bra. I can honestly say that I was a little distracted because people are wearing very little clothing & men show their chests mostly. So I'm distracted by all the hotness & I felt very comfortable, which is good.

Anyhow, I told the instructor that it was my first yoga class ever. I've taken lots of mat pilates last year, but never any yoga. They started off with an interesting throat breating exercise. Within 5 minutes I felt nauseous. I mean who wants to be in a room of sweating bodies?

The class is 90 minutes long and the first hour is standing poses. About 30 minutes into the poses, my head started to feel light- very strangely so. I thought I would just pass out. I had drank tons of water before class & I thought I'd be fine. Then I remembered- I hadn't eaten all day & I drank two redbulls at midnite last night so I was crashing. How stupidly irresponsibly. So I rested and skimped out of one or two poses...The instructor opened the window a few times to let in air-what a relief! "Clean air to replace muggy sweaty air.

I love the feeling of sweat dripping down my back & my face. The only thing that can make me sweat that much is the stairmaster or circuit cardio class. Neither of which are part of my life right now.

I always thought a great title for a book would be "sweat, play, fuck" you know kind of like "eat pray love" only not so cheesy sounding. Anyhow, I need to sweat. The final poses are sitting poses/mat poses. phew. The most exiting thing was discovering that I can do balance poses on both legs! I mean my posture sucks, but two weeks ago I couldn't do any kind of balance excercise on my left leg. I'm healed! God is great. Smile.

Anyhow, I will eat better the next time I decide to take a yoga class. No more stupidity.

Saturday, December 8, 2007

Hibernation

Ok, I'm still here. Somewhere. Hibernating and dreaming of bike riding around the city in the summer time...

The good: My ankle hasn't been bothering me this week!!!! I think it's thanks to all the rest that I've been taking which has resulted in my healing, hibernation & ballooning in weight!

The bad: I feel beautiful but fat.

The ugly: I still can't swim a mile.

Alas, the work in progress that I love & that is me.

My running partner is joining my gym this week so I'll be back in sweatville in 3..2...1...

Signing up for a week of Bikram Yoga. Wish me luck.

Saturday, November 24, 2007

Turkey Trot Race!

So at 7:00 am while most of you were snoozing away and letting some woman slave away at making the turkey for you in the wee hours, I was working so frigging hard....

I was waking up. 7:00Am Thanksgiving morning.

I awoke and made my way to to Prospect Park for the 2007 Turkey trot race! My first running race since the age of 12 when I had to do cross country & track in middle school! Anyhow- it was a five mile race- I did it!!! without stopping, or panting- doing my thin- running easy! I didn't win an award or anything, but I won a back pack that has the slogan- "Turkey Trot" on it...
Hooray!!!!

Came back home & cooked up a storm with my buddies & ate & ate & ate then my stomach was bursting so I passed out...

Anyhow. Hurt like hell the next day. But oh so worth it!

Next race: Midnight run NYE 2008!!!!!

Tuesday, November 13, 2007

Triathletes-in-training bond!!!

So yesterday I got a shirt in the mail from Nautica!! As one of the first 1000 people to register, I got a shirt that says

NYC triathlon 2008!

Go me!

So of course I wore the shirt to the gym. And guess what! I was in spinning class and this boy/man comes up to me and says "nice shirt"! And he had the same exact shirt as me! Turns out he got it in the mail yesterday and decided to wear it to spinning class too!

Yay.

I've designed this awesome fitness program called Revival 101. More details at another date.

My ankle is healed!!!! I'm not running until the spring. Except for one race a month such as the turkey trot next week!!
I'm back and here to stay.

Sunday, November 4, 2007

Inspired by the Marathon!!

The beauty of living in NYC. I just had to step out of my house and walk half a block in order to witness the world's greatest marathon!

The drastic difference between African elite marathoners & others is ridiculously large in the men's category.

My dream is to run this marathon one day.

I'm not training outdoors until the Spring but my running partner & I will be taking boxing classes once a week or so.

Otherwise, I'm trying to hang in there. I can't wait for the turkey trot race on Thanksgiving day!!

Thursday, November 1, 2007

I am officially a triathlete-in-training!!!

I just registered for the NYC triathlon, July 2008!!! I am one of the first 1000 people to register so I will receive a t-shirt!!!

Go me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm back to regular posting after hiatus.

Saturday, October 20, 2007

Raising a glass of water to a good training week!!

3 runs
2 spins
4 swims

This weekend is all rest!!

Go me!!!!

Tuesday, October 16, 2007

Literature & quarter mile swims!

So I splurged this weekend and bought the following books:

-Chi Running by Danny Dreyer
It's supposed to be an awesome method of running that prevents injury forever. (yeah right- I'm gullible!)

-Swimming for total fitness by Jane Katz
It's this book that has really cool drills and advice about swimming

-The triathlete's training bible by Joe Friel

I'm reading Chi Running while I'm in bed right now.

I also found this cool children's book in my colleague's classroom library. It's called Ironman and it's written by Chris Crutcher. So I'm borrowing it and supposedly reading it!

Also I registered on 43things.com and I'm pledging my crazy list of things I'm going to do.

I need to lose 10lb by Thanksgiving. My goal is to strength train at least twice a week. My leg is slightly better. Not perfect. Maybe the Chi Running will cure me!

Please recommend and inspirational movies or books about multisports or awesome athletes. I'm on a roll!

On a side note- I am now swimming over a quarter mile during my workouts. I need to get in the pool more consistently. 4 times a week... Yay- quarter miles plus!!!! I can only do freestlye so far though. I hate backstroke - stupid stroke.

Saturday, October 6, 2007

Running injuries and new routines

This week I have done ALMOST everything on my to-do list. Except Friday morning I couldn't run. My left ankle swollen and hurting. I have been stretching this week and I'm so upset about missing my run. Ice ice ice. This is the same ankle that hurt in June. I went to a neuromuscular training workshop and while the instructor was stretching me, my ankle popped and that night it swelled up and I could barely walk the next day. I've been fine since then. Until...two days ago. And I though I was invincible. There goes my dream of completing the NYC marathon in two years.

I've started taking spinning again and I took two strength training classes this week. Over the summer I did lots of spinning and no running. Lately I've been running and doing no spinning. This is the first week I've combined spinning and running.

Starting on Sunday, my diet will be in major overhaul. My first change is no eating after 7pm NO MATTER WHAT.

My training is going well, but I need to work on the food aspects in order to reap all the rewards. I'm tired of being a slow fat triathletewannabe.


On a fun note, today is my day with my biking buddies- prancing around the city on our mountain bikes!! good timez!

Saturday, September 29, 2007

Weekend Triathlete or Warrior!!! All in a day's play!!!

Today I ran 6 miles around the whole park!!! yay to me and my running partner!

then

I rode around the park twice- 12 miles!!!! yay to me and my biking buddy!

then

I swam and swam and swam!!! yay to me and my Friday workout buddies who inspired me yeaterday.

almost got onto the subway with just my bathing suit on.

Just kidding!

Sunday, September 23, 2007

Is a lap one way or both ways?

Hmmm?

On Friday afternoon, my coworker & I ran for an hour!! Then we swam ten long laps- it was AWESOME! I'm so excited to have a workout buddy to join me once a week!!! Hooray

Otherwise, I've been so sick. I desperately need to recover because I need to run early in the morning tommmorow. I haven't been this sick in a year, so I don't know how to deal with it...I really can't afford to miss my morning run tommorow. But health is first.

Good news: I've given up the dream of the $3500 bike!
Now I'm off to bike with my cycling partners around the city!

Friday, September 21, 2007

How to swim 72 laps???

I met with my swim coach last night and it was great but also frustrating. She has bronchitis and couldn't get into the water with me, so she had to coach me from outside.

The only stroke I can do is freestyle/crawl right now...I totally need to learn breastroke and backstroke.

I asked my coach how much a mile swim was in comparison to the laps at the pool...

I have to swim 72 laps!!!! I can honestly say that I am overwhelmed by that thought. 72 laps??? I have nine months to train for that, so I guess to I should be optimistic. But damn!! How does one do that effortlessly, and then turn around and bike for 26 miles, then run for 6 miles?????

Triathletes are HARDCORE....I am striving to be hardcore!!

My running partner and I are running a turkey trot on Thanksgiving day!!! We are also increasing our 3 mile a day run to 4 miles a day...

Road bikes are so expensive....Maybe in a month I'll have one...For now- hooray for riding around the city on other cool bikes!

Tuesday, September 18, 2007

Am I a Sunday Triathlete?

On Sunday I woke up, ran 3 miles on my own without my running partner! I really wanted to run around the whole park, but I didn't have time so I just opted for half the distance...

then

My cycling partners & I rode our bikes from UWS to Chelsea Piers! We rode about 8 miles- wow- I haven't been on a bike for so long before- it was sooo much fun! I'm getting better at navigating traffic. I did something aweful. I tailgated two annoying bikers:( They were taking up the road and biking so slowly...

then

I went swimming. I swam and swam and swam.

ALL IN THE SAME DAY!!! Hence the term- Sunday triathlete!

Things I am doing well with:
-running-my endurance is going well
-Cycling-I am comfortable on a mountain bike:)
-Swimming -I am building up my endurance!

Things that need a lot of work:
-Speed as a runner
-I need to try riding on a road bike and work on my hills
-Swimming-I am not comfortable turning to breathe on my left side. I need to build up even more endurance and learn another stroke- not just crawl/freestyle.
-Eating: I need to stop eating "Better 'n Peanut Butter!" so much and eat it in small quantities only.

Thursday, September 13, 2007

Running Easy!

This week has been hardcore in many ways:

Monday and Tuesday morning, I did my morning runs in the rain and it was really dark out, but we ran just as usual. Tuesday morning I ran though I was quite ill.

Wednesday and Thursday runs I realized that the 3 mile run is starting to feel ridiculously easy and I don't even work up a sweat. Wow!!

I spend a lot of time on this site: www.beginnertriathlete.com

I'm considering joining a bike racing club once I have my bike!

I have two days off work to rest and train like crazy!

Sunday, September 9, 2007

Running around the park!!!

Today I ran 6.1 miles nonstop around central park!!!

I don't feel tired, but I'm sure I'll sleep like a log tonight.

Sweating in the water, bike fitting and a great training week...

Taking time off excercise is dangerous...
For me anyway. I love to stay active, but since last February, I've learned to take time off of intense activity when my soul needs to focus on sometime else, or when my body needs to heal. Anyhow, without fail, whenever I take time off intense excercise, I get sick, or my body makes up an injury. Seriously! The last week of August for example- I hadn't been to the gym in a long while, and lo and behold, my right knee hurt so much that I had difficulty going up the stairs for two weeks. As soon as I started my intensive excercise schedule, the pain STOPPED. Excercise is magic!

A great week of sweat...
I'm back in full force! Sweating buckets in the gym two days this week. Running before 6am each morning, swimming three times this week. I'm back on the stairmaster- I hadn't been on the stairmaster since February and I didn't know if 30 minutes would be too much for me, but I was fine! By fine, I mean sweating up a storm and patting myself on the back with each step up. The stairmaster is an awesome cross trainer and I'm focusing on adding that to my routine a few times a week. I don't use the scale to measure my weight-loss progress, but my goal is to lose 20 lb before next July. How do I measure negative 20 lb, you ask? Um...I'll feel lighter:)

A cheaper swim coach...
On Wednesday night while I was waiting for open pool hours, I saw this trainer teaching an aqua strength class. As he ended his class, I heard him say to everyone in the class (mostly women between 30 and 75 years old...well, two men in their mid forties also)...He said to everyone in the class " Now give yourself a hug. I want to hear you say 'I love myself". I won't dismiss you from this class unless I loudly hear you say you love yourself"

I've never heard any trainer speak to a class with such positive energy. Cheesy, but positive. I was so excited because those are the things I believe and when I work with clients, the changes that excite me in their lives are not the physical ones, but the emotional ones. Long story short...

I talked to this trainer after and I asked him if he taught beginner swimmers like myself. He gave me a free 30 minute lesson in the water! A beautiful dreadlocked Haitian trainer. Here are some of the things he told me to do:

-Think of a safe place (I thought of my room and my lovely loft bed...)
-When you are in the water you need to go to that safe space. There is no reason to be afraid of open water swimming (I kept thinking...loser you'd be afraid of Hudson river too....)
-He taught me the jellyfish float!!! (take a deep breath, relax my neck, hold my feet, hold my breath and go underwater.) After like ten tries, he was finally satisfied that I was doing it properly.
-He taught me how to push off with both feet and propel myelf witout kicking of using arms. Very elementary, but he wanted me to let myself glide and know what that feels like....

So I asked him how much his private lessons cost. They would cost me less than half of what I'm paying in Midtown now.

I've made a decision though. I need to stick with the fancy trainer because I like the fancy pool and the whirlpool, steamroom and sauna experience that comes with it afterwards. Although I don't like the hole in my bank account after the lessons, I'm learning so much. I will however take a weekly half hour lesson with this new swim coach because he uses psychology to help me feel more comfortable in the water. And that, is revolutionary.

When I look into my future, I see...A NEW BIKE!
On Friday afternoon, thanks to three good people who want to see me succeed, I went to get fitted for a bike. I learned a new word- "in seam". I measured my height and in-seam and apparently will need to get a 47 size bike (whatever that means). I did however discover that I am half an inch shorter than what I thought I was. Quite traumatic. It will probably be more than a month before I have a bike. I'm going to get a road bike. Fancy and classy from CANNONDALE.

Do you sweat in the water...
This week, my swim coach made me swim a million laps. Ever since she discovered that I can swim a lap, she's gone completely beserk- making me swim and swim and swim. How annoying and tiring. I guess I'm paying for that...

So in the middle of my session this week, I asked her "Do people sweat when they swim?"
She said "Yes, they do- they just don't know it."

Bahumbug. Can someone please give me some kind of scientific response to this question!

Tuesday, September 4, 2007

My first swimming dream...

Wasn't traumatic!! I've been worried that I would to start to have nightmares about drowing in open water.

My first dream was wonderful. I was swimming in an Olympic size pool with some classmates from high school. A very simple, vague, yet pleasant swimming dream. I guess late afternoon naps aren't so bad if they wield such pleasant dreams. But they are bad because I overslept and couldnt go to the pool to swim tonight.

A trade off. Would I rather have a pleasant swimming dream or miss my schedule swim drills...

Monday, September 3, 2007

New Running Shoes!

Are you the kind of adult that's bitter because you never owned a pair of sneakers that light up when you move? Or a pair of healys? I am. Bitter. Was. Bitter.Until...

I got my first pair of running shoes - I now own a pair of Nike Pegasus! Black with a gold Nike check mark...Not only that...I also bought the Nike Elite running socks. Let me tell you - my feet are in heaven! or reincarnated, should I say! According to Nike, this is a legendary shoe...

Next up...bicycle purchase. Saving up to purchase in two weeks!!

Saturday, September 1, 2007

The bias that exists for female athletes

Visit this awesome website Female Athlete

Often when I say I'm a fitness trainer or an athlete I can just see people guaging the circumference of my thighs or the area of my belly. Because according to them that is what makes an athlete. How about you step up and run six miles with me skinny boy or anorexic girl. Because athleticiscm is about skills and training. Not about how I look. I'm a woman. A curvy woman. Whether I dress like a lady or dress like a boy, I am a woman, an athlete. Whether I eat an apple or eat tiramisu, I am an athlete.

Friday, August 31, 2007

FIRST SWIM LESSON!

So!!! I had my first swimming lesson last night.

The lesson was FABULOUS and worth every penny of what I'm paying through my nose for. I can't even imagine having a better teacher. She's done many ironman races and is trained up the wazoo, she has worked with many beginners, she explains technique so well, we get along. It's amazing!!

That, plus I get to train in an FANCY, SNOTVILLE, UPSCALE swimming club. Midtown Manhattan style.

Here is what I learned and need to work on until my next session (some of these things will sound odd to you):

  1. Bopping up and down in the water- this is the first thing I do whenever I enter the pool
  2. Keeping my right elbow up during my crawl/freestyle
  3. Not bringing my head all the way up when I turn up to breathe
  4. Swimming/floating on my back
  5. Improving my kicks- not kicking from the knees, but using my quads more
  6. Breathing out underwater, breathing in when I come up for air
  7. Looking more elegant when I swim
  8. Efficient breathing patterns- not coming up for air with every stroke

Feedback from my first session:

  • After my asked me to show her how I swim, she was so excited to see me swim and said I was definitely not a total beginner!!! Yay- at least I'm starting from somewhere
  • She said that I'm definitely going to get to where I need to go, given where I am now (encouraging, although I still have doubts, I need to squish my fears)
  • I need to get in the water more times each week

After my session, we had a debrief while relaxing in the hot tub. Hiring an individual swim coach is a very intense process. I'm so glad that I made the right choice for me. My coach's life story and training principals are amazing. She's such an inspiration in ways that I can't even describe fully on here. For all the money I have to dole for this, it's worth it to me. After my first session, I don't think it's expensive for what I get. Then again, it's my cause and my present raison d'etre. I also believe that I'm worth EVERYTHING.

Good news is I didn't feel tired after my session. The weather was perfect and I walked around times square dancing with my head held high, knowing that I had found my voice in a new way.

Je veux etre un athlete du triathlon.

Mama always says shandai muzodya. Work, so that you can eat. I'm working mama. Maybe this is not the kind of goal you would want me to set. My heart is full and this dream is what makes up my reverie. I'm in love with me.

Thursday, August 30, 2007

Tips from my triathlon meeting...

  • Use body glide under your wetsuit- prevents chafing and makes it easier to take off.
  • Bring flip flops to the race
  • Bring chapstick to the race
  • Know to to change a tire
  • Use open-water goggles, not pool goggles
  • Drink water during the bike

I'm taking the rest of the week off excercise. This knee needs rest...:(

Tuesday, August 28, 2007

growing hair...highs...injury...

I shaved off almost all my hair two weeks ago. Question of the year is: How many centimetres long will my hair be by the time I do the race in July???!!! Right now my hair is 3 millimetres long...Time will tell!

This past January I was on this super duper excercise high- so awesome. I was 5lb away from achieving my weight goal...then...the small ice-skating fall ruined me. My knee had a slight sprain and I didn't excercise for almost a month. It was devastating. Though it's many months later now - I never quite got back what I lost in terms of excercise highs and body confidence. I was in a pretty good excercise high in July. Right now I'm in a running high, but I need to get back to my strength training and do some spinning and boxing. I'm missing boxing class today because I'm attending the triathlete's run!! I guess that's more important. I love the boxing class and I'm awefully furious about missing it.

Yes- I'm all sweaty from another run! Seems to get easier and easier by the day, though.
My knee is bothering me when I go up the stairs. This is one reason I can't do hack squats incline leg presses...

Run easy, aphrikan, run easy.

Monday, August 27, 2007

Euphoric ante meridiem flight!

Wow!! Running buddy and I went on our second run. We made a 100% improvement from last week's run. 3 miles total- no stopping around our lap. Tons of sweat- lots of encouragement. Wow - this feels good.

I desperately need to save up to buy running shoes.

I want to run every morning of my life.

I can't quite imagine just how difficult it is to run after a swim and a bike though. Tell me- how do those crazy triathletes do it??

Need to stop typing because the sweat is getting into my eyes!

Saturday, August 25, 2007

Bike antix, My first hill and first official bike riding class

Today I took my first bike riding class for adults. Picture a class of six adults over 25yrs of age, learning to ride a bike! It was so empowering. It's so hard to learn some of these things at an older age...I remember taking piano lessons at 15 and just how hard it was. Learning to drive last year...Learning to ride now...

The class was wonderful. As you know, last week I went on a bike for the first time and amazingly I was able to ride just like that. Except for freaking out in pedestrian traffic and not being able to go downhill without crashing, I felt like I was making baby steps.

After my first class:

I CAN GO DOWNHILL SKILLFULLY!!!!
I CAN NAVIGATE PEOPLE TRAFFIC!!!!
I CAN RIDE STANDING UP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Wow!!! I can't wait for next Saturday's class!

I also made a decision today. I'm going to buy a good road bike so I'd better start saving up because over $1000 it'll be! More on that soon...

Friday, August 24, 2007

3...2...1...and I'm off!!!

This week has been a slow week for me as I transition into my new excercise routine.

Here are the things accomplished this week:

Morning runs with running partner. Running partner & I have a routine in place and this is so exciting for me!

I've hired my swim coach & I feel mighty confident in her abilities. Anyone can claim to be able to teach me to swim, but the wonderful thing is the experience she has under her belt in terms of working with beginner swimmers. The experience she has as a triathlete herself. Her confidence in her training abilities. I'll only see her once a week, unless of course I win the lottery!

I've hired my bike riding coach and he works with adult beginner riders. I'll only see him once a week too. This should be interesting. I've only signed up for 3 sessions so far.

In terms of these coaches, my goal is to get the basic skills down pat enough so that I can join a triathlete club and train with a group of beginners. Maybe that'll happen in the spring...

Next Tuesday I'm attending a transition zone talk and doing a run with a group of triathletes. I'm excited to attend. There is nothing more empowering than getting together with other triathletes. Well- I'm a wannabe, but who cares!

I called up an old trainer of mine to let him know that I'm training for this. He and I will hopefully work together. I'm just having a hard time figuring out my schedule. I can only work with him in the mornings, but the problem right now is that I've reserved my mornings for runs and I want to keep it that way. The runs instill this discipline in me and I feel independent. My evenings are for my boxing classes or my personal time really. My weekends are for my workouts and for me to have a life. So I really want to work with him, I just don't know how to fit it in without feeling frustrated, you know.

If you're a triathlete or beginner reading this or a supporter - feel free to leave comments:)

Tuesday, August 21, 2007

Decisions made and punches thrown...

I love my Tues. boxing class. I feel like flying and I want to run and run and run, but time does not permit.

Wow! I love to sweat. It's so therapeutic. My instructor says I need to work on my crosses. But it's odd because I always thought that was my strongest throw. Hmmm. He's a great instructor and I absolutely love his style and energy. There are very few instructors I like, and he is one of them. You know those people who know their shit and genuinely care about each and every student and the kind of person you know has a gentle soul. It's beautiful. Excercise doesn't have to be all harsh, you know. Boxing doesn't have to be about violence. For me it's about releasing all the negative energy and thoughts. Punching out the self doubt and insecurities that every blue moon try to tarnish my dreams.

I am committing to working with a specialty swim coach. And I'm also getting a cycling coach. I can't afford it really, but I am just going to have to struggle. I also won't be able to work two jobs. Anyhow- this is worth it to me. I will live off of water and love. Here is how my routine will be:

Sunday: Cycling outside, Bootcamp Class, Swimming.
Monday: Morning running
Tuesday: Morning running, Evening- Spinning, Boxing & strength training
Wednesday: Morning running, Evening-Spinning, Boxing
Thursday: Morning running, Evening- Cycling, Swimming with coaches
Friday: Morning running
Saturday: Cycling outside, Strength training, Swimming.


It looks like a lot but it's actually about 50% less than what my routine was in December last year. It's also a lot less than my July routine. But it's not about quantity. This routine is going to help me achieve my goals. I know for sure that I'm going to have to change my routine soon and I can handle the changes. But this is a start.

Believe me I have a huge life outside of training for the triathlon. I am very good at taking rest days now. Monday, Wednesday and Friday evenings are quite sacred where I go to my scheduled arts nights. I also have plenty of other time to hang out and relax. I like the look of this.

I know what you're thinking- that I don't have a life outside of this. You are so wrong!!

Self doubt and ???

Ahhhhhh the expensive hourly charge of trainers!

OK, ok, calm down Aphrikan- just because you're poor doesn't mean that you should take it out on the businessperson. After all you understand the business yourself...

Right now I'm really doubting me. I'm trying to focus on the positives:
-I am motivated
-I went biking twice this weekend
-Some of my friends believe in me (thank you!)
-I now own a helmet and bathing suit
- I can run effortlessly

I am doubting seriously right this second:
-I keep envisioning myself drowning in the Hudson
-I'm worried that I'll forget to register for the triathlon & that there won't be any slots left...
-I hate riding downhill
-I hate riding with traffic and I imagine crashing into all these crazy triathletes next year and having them run over my lovely helmet and my precious body
-The idea of being in a trisuit really disturbs me. I hear people spray cooking oil on the inside to lubricate it so that it slips off easily. Hell no. I refuse to put that sh*t on my body.
-I hate water and I hate how I feel after swimming.
-Oh...I can't really swim...I mean, I try, but I can't swim a mile yet...I CANT SWIM...
-I wish I wasn't so goal oriented and I wish I didn't want to do this. But it means a lot to me...

I intend to be honest with myself through blogging about my road to the tri. Honest even about my self doubts.

Saturday, August 18, 2007

My first swim and ride!!


Before today I had only ever ridden a bike once when I was 18 years old. I rented a bike and took it to a park. Amazingly, I just hopped on the bike and I could miraculously ride- easy as pie!!!! I hate going downhill though. I need to work on it. I CAN RIDE A BICYCLE!!!!!!!!!! Yes, yes, I hear the standing ovations!!!





So I've been looking at bikes I want and my eye is on a Hybrid bike or a hardcore racing bike!!! I'm getting a black & or silver bike & I'm really quite excited about that. Might hold off on the bike purchase until the spring though.

The swim! So for the first time in my LIFE I swam a ful lap without stopping. I haven't been in a pool since I was in 7th Grade and then I could barely stay afloat. But I braved it. I am going to keep working on my swimming and take some swim classes and hire a swim coach. Quite exciting.

So, I can run, I can ride, I just need to work on my swimming! Hooray for a great self eval today!

Friday, August 17, 2007

Hiring a USAT trainer

Now, while seeking expert help with minimal budgets, I've been conversing with a USAT triathlon trainer. Really though, so far the conversations seem so passive. Issues I have so far- he refers to me as "girl", he did not contact me for 4 days.

Moving on in search for other expert help. I'm seriously considering joining a Triathlete club instead of hiring and individual tri trainer. Tryna weigh the benefits. I definitely don't lack motivation and I definitely don't have dough.

I know you're thinking this is imposssible...but...

Ahem...if only you knew what other seemingly impossible things I've done so far in this lifetime...My family thinks i'm CRAZY to want to do this...Hmmmm but can they stop aphrikan? Hell no!

This week is the first week I've known I can achieve this goal for sure. I can breeze through the running. Today I'm going cycling!!!!!!!! I'm so excited- I'll try to take pix of me lookin all cute in a helmet and on a bike!!! (hmmm maybe next year I'll learn to ride motorcycle)

I'm also off to buy a bathing suit. No I will not post the pix.

Progress so far:
-Increased running time. I can run for over an hour and it feels like nothing to me. Run easy, aprhikan, run easy
-I have a running partner now for daily morning runs!!! I'm so excited!

Goals for today:
-Jogging
-Cycling
-Light endurance-style strength training
-Buying bathing suit
-Reminding myself that I do have a life aside from pursuing this.

Will post later on.

Thursday, August 16, 2007

Official Training Day #1

Running: 60 mins Incline 2, Average speed 5-5.5

Strength training- total body, hypertrophy style (4 sets of ten- hack squats, incline leg press bla bla bla)

State of mind: Enthusiasm, Pride!!!

My left knee was bothering me so boxing class was out. Otherwise, let's see what tommorow brings...

My name is ______ and I'm a triathlete.......wannabe

Welcome. I'm embarking on this journey to train for NYC triathlon - July 20th, 2008. Here is my journey documented .

Countdown as of today: 338 Days to go

Skills Progress:

My current advantages:
  • Amazing Cardiovascular Endurance
  • Great Stamina (no innapropriate thoughts, thank you)
  • Astounding motivation
  • Knowledge of anatomy

My current disadvantages:
  • Inability to ride bicycle
  • Inability to Swim
  • Lack of training funds
  • Busy schedule
  • Lack of family support
  • No bicycle
  • No bathing suit
  • No practice pool
  • No swim cap
  • No helmet

Ahem...

The task ahead is daunting. Here I will post my training strategies and successes along the road/river. Watch me as I make my first visit to the bike store....stay tuned for daily updates.

Please note: As a reader of this blog, you are morally obligated to watch me finish the race next year.