30 mile weekend

I did not get any pictures from my weekend. Although the bike pictures would look identical from last week. Our bike workout was in the same place this week. The difference was we were going on our first ride. I was not going to be able to skip outta this one! Every training starts with the team manager going over fundraising & business stuff. Then the mission moment was by a guy who had been through cancer with both his former wife & father. Before the ride we did a tire changing clinic. Coach had us remove our tires for practice as fast as we would. Once we got our tire off we had to hold it up in the air. Getting the tire off is not that hard. It's getting it back on that can be tricky! Especially the back tire because you have to get the chain on right. What important is remembering all the little details, opening the brake, unscrewing the lever (but not too much!), & reversing the steps right. Then spin the tire to make sure it doesn't rub & check the brakes!!
Once we finished that we all took a restroom break & got ready to ride.
They had "the slow" people start in the front & fast people or more experienced I suppose in the back. There were mentors going back & forth the group & leading the front & back.
I started out in the slow group but somehow slowly fell to the back of pack. Don't get me wrong I'm not competing at all with these people! I have never cared about being the caboose ;) I didn't pay attention or hear (if it was said) that this was a 20 mile ride! It was NOT easy either. I was still petrified to be on my bike AND we were riding on the street for a section to get to the bike path. Starting & stopping multiple times AND the eminent risk of falling infront of a moving vehicle keep my heart pounding out of my chest!
When we go on the bike path we went on a trail through a canyon first. The calm rational person with in me will tell you it was beautiful & probably an awesome place to run it walk. The scaredy cat in me will tell you it was terrifying will all the turns and ups & downs! We had to exit the trail back on the street to get to the portion of the path that runs along the 56 freeway (hence this ride called 56 bike path). It was LONG! & there was some serious hills I MEAN SERIOUS HILLS! After the biggest hill we had a pit stop where coach was collecting clothing we needed to shed (the sun was up & hot) he had water & food if anyone needed it. I asked if we could turn around here, I was seriously worried about making it all the way back! He said it was just a short way further to Black Mountain Road which would be 10 miles. I set off that way only to find the hill unjust went over was nothing compared to getting to Black mountain road!!!!! The good thing about this ride is I learned very quick that I have an awesome bike! On the up hills my bike has an extra gear I can drop into that makes it near effortless to climb. That paired with my clip pedals/shoes that I complain about being able to push AND pull the pedals around make hills my (trying to find a word for b*#~h)
The top of black mountain I was breathing so hard & exhausted! Everyone (all 4 people that were slow like me) took off back down the hill fast. Something I learned this ride also was I DO NOT LIKE TO GO FAST! I was holding on for dear life & braking down the massive hills on the way back! At times I tried to take in the scenery & enjoy the ride but mostly I gripped the handle bar & prayed I didn't wobble & crash to the ground so the asphalt could rip my skin off my body like I'm sure it wants to!
Yes I'm being dramatic but no I'm not exaggerating!!! This is really what it is like for me! Why I love doing something I am not good at & enjoy in rare moments is beyond me except that I know I will get it eventually. Some day I will be a triathlete (for reals). Once I got back to the street/trail portion I was relieved knowing I was very close to my car! Unfortunately I missed the exit from the trail & hit a dead end, had to back track then because there wasn't a mentor in sight couldn't figure out how I get back to the path to the cars with out going on the insanely busy streets! I rode on the sidewalk which is a huge no-no but I was too scared to even attempt maneuvering on the busy street! It took so standing around on street corners to finally make my way back & then I made the last turn & FINISHED!!!!
The thing with bike rides on Saturdays now is I don't have that time for my weekly long run. My hope is that early Sunday will work for the long runs. It was hard to imagine I could do a long run the day after my bike ride BUT I still made the plan to do it. I really think the fact that my bike is so awesome I actually felt pretty good post ride. I am not sure this will be same situation in weeks to come but we shall see. So this week I really needed a long run because next weekend is my next race! I made plans to meet a fellow triathlete I met at my last race for a 10 mile run at lake miramar. It is 5 miles around the lake so we would do 2 laps. My new running buddy is faster then me so I was worried about keeping up. Everything came together on this rub & I felt great (well I whined a lot) & kept up with George. I enjoy this run I grew up in this neighborhood. My family spent so much time here. It was also where I ran the morning of my brother's birthday 7 miles. It was good to be with someone who kept me going & encouraged me. AND at te end of the run I had my fastest 10 mile time yet!

Pancake Breakfast

My first official fundraiser was a pancake breakfast held in my apartment complex rec room. I wrote the local grocery stores & gathered gift cards. I planned to charge $5 a plate for pancakes, syrup, sausage, eggs, coffee & juice. I wanted biscuits & gravy too but everyone axed that plan.
Desirae made the most awesome flyers I invited tons of Facebook friends. I planned everything, shopped for the event & then nerves hit!
Thank goodness for Rebecca & George! They were there to help the night before & the whole event. I also had helpers Marianne & Pauline come the morning to help me. I had no idea there would be a need for me I spend the whole event talking to guests. It turned out I was able to share with everyone about my race & mission. Which I want everyone to know about Noel, my race & my fight against cancer!
The event was a huge success! It was pretty much flawless!
I'm so thankful for everyone who came & helped & supported me!

First Saturday Bike ride

Nervous does not even begin to tell you how I felt about getting on my bike with the team! The thing I am learning with all these sports is you have to DO them to improve and being scared to DO them doesnt help. I literally asked myself Friday night why do you love to do something you are not good at? I know the answer to that is...I am not good at it YET but I love the challenge of stepping outside my comfort zone, overcoming obsticles (percieved or real) and getting better at something that really doesn't come natural for me.

In complete contrast my favorite hobby is fishing. I have always been good at it...or least I only remember being good at it...I don't ever rememver it not being totally natural or completely loving it.

I do know that in both, no in all areas of my life I try to keep my mind open and willing and ready to learn something new.

So I get to the Saturday morning training and get my gear all set up. I needed help filling my bike with air. There is mentors and experienced team members walking around looking to help. My mentor had let me know that things get moving slowly on Saturday mornings.

First the do announcements, and pass out fundraising awards. Then there is a Mission Moment when someone shares their reason their life was touched by Leukemia or Lymphoma. Then coach gets up and teaches us. I have to say that this program is amazing. It is true that they could easily take anyone and get them ready to race.

They ease you into the training at what ever level you are at.

Today we went over rules, safety and basics about bike riding. Then we went off in groups with a mentor in the front and back of each group. We rode down one end of the street then turned around making a big loop. My heart was pounding in my chest!! The nervous part for me is starting and stopping, getting clipped in and out of the bike. Also being on the street is scary with the stop lights, cars, even riding in a single line with other people. We worked on communication with each other. Yelled out "hole" "crack" "stopping" "rolling" "slowing" so everyone knew what everyone else was doing. The second loop we worked on passing, when it was my turn I probably looked like I was a pro but on the inside I was so freaked out. It is all new territory for me and to be doing something totally new while traveling on a street at some speed with the risk of falling and seriously feeling pain...it causes anxiety for me.

The last loop coach had us go faster! I enjoyed the whole process, expecially not falling (once I almost did but a table saved me! Julie our manager came over and said don't worry I still fall all the time, everyone does). Then coach said we should go out on the bike path and take a little ride out and back. I raised my hand and said "I am scared". Look I was being honest. What I had already overcame in that training was good for me. It was way more then I thought I could do and I couldn't take my heart pounding out of my chest any more. Coach said that was fine and 2 girls I was riding with said they were going to only ride a short way and come back, so I went with them. There was no stops or cars on the little path. At the end is where the team went on to their bike ride and I still opted to head back.

I talked with Julie and Coach for a bit and they were very encouraging. I can't wait to go back and do more I just wanted to respect my limits and I felt great about what I had done. Coach is seriously awesome! I can understand why everyone wanted on the team for his last season.

Well I am off to my first fundraiser...expect pictures and another post to come!

Becoming a triathlete

I have learned so much in just a few days! AND I haven't even been to a official training yet!!! Wednesday I met with my mentor Kristen (did I mention I'm assigned a mentor to help me through the training & fundraising process). I met over by her house and she took me on a 4.2 mile. It included a lot of trail, railroad crossing and a decent hill...along the run she shared with me a lot of great information that coach has shared with the team.
Then today I met with Tony the swim coach again. OH MY GOSH! I learned so much and in just 2 short lessons I have improved!! What he showed me was drills that first develop control, then form & in the long run help with distance & endurance! I'm so excited to practice & work on the drills! I'm sure by the time I get to actually meet with team for pool swims & open ocean swims I will be awesome!
Then I headed up to a warehouse sale for some tri gear! In our tri clinic they said we NEED bike shorts & eventually tri shorts & bike jerseys.
I went to the bike store & shorts were $50 I was discouraged. I can not afford that! Or the $35 tire repair kit they said we also need.
God is faithful! I got a coupon deal online for tire change kit $17 (with shipping) and at this sale for the same $50 I got bike shorts, tri shorts a tri top & a warmers!!!!
I am ready to race!!!

Coach Tony is awesome...here are his comments after working with me today!
wow. you looked great in the water today.
the last lap i watched when leaving... you looked so smooth.
:D

reminder: the next handful of swim sessions...
keep working skate.
i want you to get to the point where it just feels natural.
ideally you get to where you can do a lap up and back and not really be thinking about anything other than how easy that was...

2nd: hesitation.
same thing here, really really focus on keeping that lead hand out until you start rotating to enter the recovering hand.
especially when breathing.
if you're dropping the hand when breathing, you're probably propping your head up a little.
keep that head low and the hand will stay up easier.

3rd: quick catch.
once skate and hesitation are down, quick catch will be where we sneak out that little extra efficiency.
our goal: direct our propulsion backwards, not downwards or sideways.
:D

very very nicely done today.

What I learned today...

I joined team in training because I lost my brother to leukemia & I am passionate about the cause. My life was changed forever because of cancer. I must admit I feel hesitant in some ways about the whole thing. The race is a big deal, traveling, training & the fundraising is consuming. AND being 100% honest I wasn't sure about the people. I'm sure I've written in the past how impressive the TNT team was during the marathon. The coaches & race support was incredible. Not to mention personal friends who have red with them & told me to join. I get along with pretty much anyone but my first reaction was feeling like I was being inducted to a cult (I've done direct sales & joined clubs & other things before-it's a similar feeling each time). -I know eventually TNT peeps will tea this & hope they don't take offense- I am just being honest. Yes I wanna train & do this race, yes I am honored to raise $ for LLS but I'm not so sure I want to jump in to the team thing so much. Probably the dumbest attitude (but everyone is huggy & cheery-& that is not me). I am sure I will get there & eventually be sucked in. Im sure at race finish I will be all hugs.
Anyway all that said to write that today I was blown away! Part of me feeling solo & wanting to be solo is that in training on my own (swim & run). This got scary! When I saw the coach post videos & workouts that made no sense to me I worried. So I emailed the swim coach. What did he do....he offered to meet me when I swim & teach me the drills! It was SO HELPFUL! He is a gifted teacher & patient. This showed me how committed TNT coaches & mentors really are committed to out success. My mentor gets a lot of messages from me & always replies.
Coach showed me the skate drill.
It took me awhile by eventually I got it! I can tell you already this time will be different on the swim...shoot the whole race! They are not going to let me go into this unprepared! I'm so excited to have help & guidance this time!
Coach is gonna work with me again this week & I am so glad. Here was his response to me after our lesson (I found it VERY encouraging)

Thank you!
It was my pleasure working with you this morning. I was quite impressed with your level of body awareness. It makes my life a lot easier when the swimmer can tell and feel what's "right." And, I could definitely tell that you could and made adjustments as appropriate.
You are going to be a fantastic swimmer.
:D

If you are swimming Thursdasy morning again, I'd like to meet again to focus this time on the post-skate drills: finger drag, hesitation, and quick catch.
Those, building on top of a good skate, will lead to an easy but fast swim.
:)

Let me know about Thursday!

I'm going to bed today feeling awesome & blessed to have this opportunity!

Silver Strand 1/2 marathon

This week I really felt like I made great strides in my training & weight loss. (haven't met the scale yet for results). I even got my kids out for a one mile run! I'm hoping they can start racing too! (although race fees for 3 is going to get expensive!)
I had my own race this weekend! I wanted to do this race even though I had not heard good things about it. The Silver Strand 1/2 marathon from Coronado to Imperial Beach Pier. I got the opportunity to volunteer at the rec expo for a free race entry-I jumped on it. My running buddies did too! I was excited to do a race with them! My friends have a lot more race experience & I am so wanting to get to that level.
Race fees are expensive so I can't afford to do as many races as I want.
Every race is a chance to learn something. I didn't follow a training schedule for this race, I just kept up my training schedule & my long runs on Saturday. Last weekend my long run was AWESOME! I felt like I could of ran a half maybe even a full marathon that day. I prayed I could feel the same on race day.
Because I spent the day at the expo I had to bring canned soup for my dinner. I learned my first lesson! Too much sodium for dinner could proof bad on race day. I slept good! The night before I slept good which doesnt always happen night before a race! AND I WAS NERVOUS!!
It poured rain all day during the expo & it was cold! Although the weather said differently it was hard to believe race day wouldn't have more of the same. I planned for VERY COLD weather & in the morning it was cold. I know myself well enough though & layered! I checked my change of clothes before race start cause I also knew I would want dry clothes after the race or I'd freeze!
Pre race was fun! Taking pictures with my friends, walking around running into people from my gym, running club, even my TNT mentor!
The race start came & I took off with my friend Stacey! We ran the marathon together & since then it has been a rare opportunity to run together since! The next lesson I learned was no matter how good you feel KEEP PACE! We were running SO FAST! It was a straight flat course & easy to go for speed BUT it is not smart! I ended up losing steam at mile 7. I had nothing left! I was exhausted! I was also starting to swell very bad (the sodium from night before caught up with me).
I just started walking. Stacey walked & gave me the "what's up" look? I said I'm done, I'm over it. We walked a 1/4 mile then ran, & repeated. Then about mile 8 we decided walking was way more fun, felt better & was much more enjoyable way to do this race. We chatted, laughed, joked, took pictures. We strolled through the neighborhood portion of the race looking at houses, waved at the old lady sitting in her window watching, got a bottle of water from some awesome spectators. I actually used the water on my swollen hands too! We called Christian at mile 10 & she was right behind us. We met up with her & chatted a bit. Right about then the 2:45 pace guy showed up. I tried to keep up with him & as I did my body responded in a good way! It was happy that I took a break, caught my breathe & that I stopped pushing it past my limits. In return my body agreed to MOVE! I was able to not only run with the pacer but pass him! I began to pass a lot of people & get some serious momentum going! I was still going my normal comfortable pace but feeling GOOD. Um feeling good except for the blazing heat from the sun roasting me! I had also made a bad move & decided to run with out my fuel belt. None of my friends were & I didn't want to be weighed down. Well none of them sweat like I do either & drinking at aid stations is plenty of rehydration for them. Not the case for me! At mile 11 I passed one runner that I now regret whizzing by. She was sitting along the side of the road, she looked like she was relaxing watching the racers. Shortly after I passed her my friend Christian DID stop & check on her. Turns out she was in distress & Christian had to call medical aid. She stayed with her until medics arrived & the girl was taken to the hospital. This was another learning experience for me. I should have checked on her & I will never run past another person like that without stopping. Who cares about finish time when someone's life could actually be in danger.
I made a pretty good pace to the finish line & finished strong! As I mustered up that last 3 miles of get up & go I congratulated myself for truly becoming an athlete. I told myself that I will be able to finish any race triathlon or running because I have determination, because I have mental strength to push myself when I feel like I have nothing left. I also was hard in myself that I didn't do better. I had to remind myself HELLO this is technically only your 2nd 1/2 marathon! HELLO a few years ago you would of died laughing if someone told you that you would be doing this! HELLO you have transformed your life & become a whole new person!! Celebrate!!!! So as I crossed the finish line I did! I let myself feel the wonderful feeling that comes when the medal is around me neck. I smiled the smile that belongs to a finisher.
& I told myself take these lessons and do even better on the next one! That is 3 weeks away!!!!

Rest day

One of the things I swore I was going to do this training season is take a rest day each week. Team in Training has that on Friday because we will have our long bike/brick workouts on Saturdays. (Brick is when you bike and run back to back).
So this is week one of training & I did good. I got in the pool 3 times, 2 of which were actually good amount of laps. I went to spin twice. I got a little 2 mile run in up Las Cumbres. I did boot camp twice, strength trained twice did extra abs twice. I could of ran more I guess but I have a half marathon Sunday & after an awesome 10 mile run Saturday I think I am gonna be fine.
So today is Friday also known as Rest day. I have my kids in Thursday nights now through December so getting up for the early morning gym isn't going to happen anyway (since this means I have them here in the morning I can't leave). I got more sleep then ever! I did wake up for 20 minutes or so at 4am & was happy that I could stay in bed :) When I FINALLY got up at 8:30 I started my day, breakfast with kiddos, time to start school & wouldn't you know instant STRESS! (I love homeschooling but it can be tough). The moment the stress hit I wanted go to the gym!!! & actually what I really wanted was to swim!!! That is a good
sign that the pool aversion is ending! I actually can not go to the gym today I have a lot going on BUT I can tell on the Fridays I can, rest day will be hard. I may try to get some abs in tonight in my break at work, our TNT coaches are stressing how crucial ab work is to our training.
As you can see in the picture I am actually resting though!!!

Just keep swimming

I was sure I used this title for a previous blog post but I didn't see it anywhere....while looking though I a few past blogs caught my eye. I am amazed at how far I have come and the change in me both physically, emotionally and spiritually. To think of where I was in all those areas of life when this all started to where I am now! I also don't know what would have happened to me had I not got off the couch and started! Especially when my brother passed...I read how I ran 7 miles on his birthday WOW! I remember that day, I also remember the day of his memorial I ran 5 miles. There is something about that time I spend alone training that brings me a great peace. As a EXTREMELY busy single mom I think it's the only me time and time with God I really get. My days are so full and not regrettably, it just it what it is.

So running seems to be my go to place BUT that needs to change AND FAST! In just 4 short months (or regular months actually-the length of days is not different...just seems that way) I have to swim one mile in the ocean in Hawaii!!!! The pool needs to be my new happy place! I am not a strong swimmer...I suck at swimming!!! I have yet to do much but back stroke and doggie paddle through my races. I need and want that to change. I'm not sure how I assume that will happen when I avoid the pool as much as possible!!!

I know better, I know I need to swim to get better. There was a time when 3 miles was torture for me to run, but as I said before I found a 7 mile and 5 mile run soothing after I stuck with it! I need to just get in and start where I am at and just keep swimming!

It is a lot easier to just run then it is to just swim. With swimming you have to have a suit, goggles, cap, towel, flip flops and you have to SHAVE haha Not to mention you have to go out in the cold and jump in the cold pool (ok that is not always the case but it is right now). Ideally I would like to swim during the day BUT as a homeschooler I have to put school as the priority each day and it takes FOREVER...there is never any gym time left before work in my day. SO that means I have to get in the pool during my normal gym time 5:30 am BRRRRRRR also means I have to give up some of the other workouts I enjoy like boot camp.

I came up with a plan though! I could no longer put off getting in the pool it was time to swim! So when time changed last week I decided this was an opportunity for me to trick my body into more time to work out. If I got up an hour early my body wouldn't know any better and I could swim prior to my 530 work out. Well Monday came and I packed all my stuff to swim and to change and do boot camp. I got to the pool and to be honest realized the 70 degree water was probably going to feel better then the 45 degree cold air outside the pool.

I jumped in and swam. My stamina SUCKED but I did it. I just swam a 100 yards at a time and rested. I'm just glad I did it. You what ended up being the hardest part was getting out!! It was FREEZING, I'm sure as we get into winter this will only be worse. Luckily the jacuzzi is open and give me a chance to defrost before I go work out.

I tried this routine Tuesday too BUT I had worked out too much Monday and my body was TIRED. Today was awesome though and I did it! I know I can keep this up and even some days swim instead of boot camp as my workouts get longer in the pool. I am very confident now that I can keep this up and eventually I will rock that Lavaman swim....

NOW I need to figure out how to get on my bike and not fall and not be scared of that!!!

Team in Training

I had to switch blog apps...very frustrating that I typed this blog out & it was lost, my second attempt at it I only re-wrote a portion & it was lost :(
I know I have talked about the Lavaman race since my blog started almost...so much happened to get me to this moment where I find myself on the team!
Now everything is happening FAST! Training has begun, donations are coming in (thank you!), letters are going out, my 1st fundraiser is coming up!
Our training season began last week with the kick off event. There was a TnT rally where we were introduced to our honorary teammate Bianca a young cancer survivor in remission. A rep from LLS talked with us about how the fundraising we do impacts blood cancer patients & research. We also were shown the TnT swag we earn for reaching fundraising milestones. Some of it doesn't motivate me BUT there is a sweatshirt I would like ;)
After the rally we went to the triathlon meeting & went over with coach the basic training schedule & bike rental/purchase options. This was followed by a fundraising workshop.
It is a lot to take in all at once & hard to believe that in just 4 months the race will be here.
One thing that is looming over me and definitely making we nervous is my schedule prevents me from doing a lot of training with the team. Swim workouts are Mon and Wed nights starting Dec 28th i will be able to attend every other Wed. I feel like I will be so behind! I will never make the track workouts on Tues evenings. The open water swims on Sundays I will make it to every other weekend swim. What I will be able to do it go to ALL but one Saturday morning workout. The bike & brick trainings! I have been told these are the most important!

Our first Sat training was this week. It was not a physical training it was a clinic. Coaches had a different station set up for each sport & transition& a fundraising info table. I had done my long mileage run right before this (10miles) & the first thing when I arrived they snapped a picture if me for the team website! :-/ Then I got my official team card & swim cap!
The card proves we are current member of TNT & allows us discounts some places & lists all the coach/mentors contact info.
The stations were to help us know which gear we MUST have, what is nice to have & what is pointless! I did actually learn quite bit!

After the clinic there was an abs session, led by my mentor Kristen. She said "& I'm going to have Katie come help me demonstrate" ?!?!!!!! Wow nothing like being put on the spot in front of 60+ strangers. Luckily for the most part I didn't make a fool o myself. They did a small run after that but I had to go somewhere by noon. It is pretty exciting finally getting started & scary too!!!

San Diego Biggest Loser

Well I am at it again! Another weight loss competition has begun! I wish that I was kicking this challenge off where I left off last time...sadly I'm up 15lbs from lowest weight.
This challenge is an individual competition via Facebook. I'm approaching this with the same determination I have in the past, what I am doing different this time is approaching this as a lifelong commitment!
Last time I said I can do anything for 6 weeks which proved to be true...sadly after 6 weeks I slowly returned to my old habits & the weight slowly came back on :(
This time I'm doing this as the catapult to permanently change my relationship with food,FINALLY get to my goal weight AND STAT THERE!!!
Here is my weight in before picture



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