Base for 2010 season starts this week!

Strength & core focus!

I think my light workout days are over or at least that's what coach said when he gave me my three week's worth of active recovery workouts! Next block of focus will be on building strength and core for IM St. George May 2010. You may think, why so early? Well, if you saw the course profile, you'd understand! In fact, I'll share! See below!

Photo below- IM St. George 112 mile bike course

Photo below- IM St. George 26.2 mile run course

My initial plan for 2010 was Ironman Canada. When I got an email from the IM office about IM St. George, I didn't think twice about it until I got an email sent from coach out to his athletes saying how great it'd be for us to do since he plans on attending. So then, I started to think about it. I told him that I had planned on IM Canada. He told me to try something new. A few minutes later, I respond back with, "ok, have slot!" Such a sucker! A few weeks later, course profiles were up, stared at it and thought, "crap! what did I get myself into?" Copy and pasted link to coach with the subject title, "uh...what is this?" His response, "What?  2x Tam?  Not so bad...:-)." Right! Hoping for nice Winter conditions here in the Bay- looks like Mt. Tam is going to be my winter playground this year! 

Bike Mt. Tam + run Mt. Tam= lots of pre-season strength and core work!

Workout Summary-

Swim- 1 hour and 0 minutes

Bike- 4 hours and 43 minutes

Run- 1 hour and 0 minutes

Total workout- 6 hours and 43 minutes

IM CDA- four weeks later...

Male triathletes...shave those legs!!

Sunday- 3am- wake up. 3:30am- left the city to head up north for Vineman 70.3. 5am- reported for body marking duties!

Vineman 70.3 was much more fun as a spectator than a racer, IMHO! Body marking was a bunch of fun but it got chaotic as the mass of people started to arrive. Body marking can be a very artistic task. Since I don't like it when my numbers look like crap, I paid extra attention to my marking duties. Dark, distinct and legible! As a body marker, I will make a request on behalf of all future body marking volunteers- Men, shave those legs! Task at hand was much easier done on smooth calves than it was on calves with tough and coarse hair...just telling the truth! Besides, you'll not only look faster with shaved legs...you will be faster :-).

In the midst of the 1700 athletes that were in attendance, yours truly had the honor of body marking the 79 year old Sister Madonna! Yes, she was the highlight, even among the other fine young men in the house!

Pic below- Ariane, Kara, myself and Abby

Two more weeks of easy recovery training and we start core and strength in prep for 2010!

Workout Summary-

Swim- 0 hours and 0 minutes

Bike- 1 hour and 30 minutes

Run- 2 hours and 0 minutes

Total workout- 3 hours and 30 minutes

IM CDA- three weeks later...

Dear Ben & Jerry's...

Coach updated my workout log..it's time we break up or at least separate. It was fun while it lasted. xoxo. 

Well, what I didn't tell Ben & Jerry's was that I had actually moved on to cupcakes but I've broke up with cupcakes today..well decreased intake to one a week! 

So coach did update my workout log this week but I haven't quite followed it. I am not excited about swimming just yet so I figured instead of fighting how I am feeling mentally about certain training sessions, I'll just give it some more separation so when i really do dive back in, it would be a welcome norm :-)!

Since my training schedule isn't as crowded these days, I'm taking the time to catch up with friends and family from afar. I've been meaning to call an uncle of mine for months and finally did it a few days ago! He isn't someone I can just make a quick call to because he is old (80's) and I have to speak louder and constantly repeat myself so it takes a special time and place to make that call! The one funny conversation I can share with you:

Uncle- Are you going steady with anyone? 

Me- Uh...no....

Uncle- Why not?

Me- I don't know.. it hasn't been a priority of mine. 

Uncle- Why not? How old are you?

Me- 31..

Uncle- Good age. From what I remember, you're not bad looking.

Me- Uh... ha ha ha

And on this topic, I was forwarded this youtube video and I couldn't stop laughing! 

Funny, I know!

So training less these days but working on a facebook page for sailfish wetsuits to help coach out!

http://www.facebook.com/pages/sailfish-wetsuits-USA/118338805627 

Why? Because I am a believer in the product- ever since I made the switch from my Orca 3.8 to the sailfish Attack! For all the reasons as to why you hate putting on a wetsuit (other than having to get in the water), you'll love it with the sailfish! It's easy on...easy off...I breathe better and the shoulder flexibility is above the rest!

Between that, catching up with friends and le Tour, I've been busy! 

Workout Summary-

Swim- 0 hours and 0 minutes

Bike- 3 hours and 0 minutes

Run- 1 hour and 0 minutes (jog/walk)

Total workout- 4 hours and 0 minutes

IM CDA- two weeks later...

Life after Ironman...

Involved a lot of sitting around and eating rocky road ice cream! Don't you worry though, I have a feeling coach is going to put me back to work shortly! I went to two spin classes this past week. 

Tuesday's class went a little something like this: During meter break..an hour into class..

Me: Kara, I am feeling a little light headed.

Kara: I am going to throw up!

And our friend Caesar, he's legs never bothered to show up but Ted looked really happy and fine! Go figure! 

Thursday's class...at the hour mark..Caesar and Ted both showed up but I felt like I was going to throw up! Ouch! And then coach said, "Yi! Look alive..you can update about class on facebook later!" Every one laughs...awesome! I stuck around after class to chat before saying, "Ok..have to go to work now.. have a facebook status to update :-). Next thing you know, I am creating a facebook page for sailfish wetsuits- USA which coach is a partner of. Funny how things work but fun stuff!! 

With all this free time, I've been watching a lot of Tour de France coverage. Yes, I even enjoy the repeat coverage, ALL DAY LONG! I've checked off cleaning as it's been on my list of things to do..for the last 6 months or so! My training clothes, my t-shirt closet, sweaters, jeans, and tops! While sorting through my denim, I found two that I would like to highlight:

Levi vintage jeans that I bought at a secret employee sample sale 6 years ago. It took me 6 years to finally fit into them!!! Put them on this morning, no hopping squats needed! Sweet! 

And these Rock and Republic below..what was I thinking and why did I think these were a good idea? Crystal pockets? Uh...yea...

Check out the facebook page for sailfish wetsuits here!! I made the switch earlier this year from my Orca 3.8 to the sailfish attack- turned out to be a very good move as I felt more mobility in the water as far as shoulder flexibility is concerned and I was able to breath easier (very important when you need to stay calm in the midst of chaos). The high quality rubber is easy to put on and off not to mention the sailfish logo right above your backside makes any behind look particularly awesome! Not that triathletes care about vanity or anything like that :-). On a serious note, definitely worth checking out!

So feeling quite rested has me tempted to sign up for Ironman Austin 70.3 in October... thinking... thinking... thinking...

Workout Summary:

Swim- 0 hours and 0 minutes

Bike- 5 hours and 44 minutes

Run- 0 hours and 0 minutes

Total workout- 5 hours and 44 minutes