random thoughts

I had an amazing day at work today - some teambuilding activities with a spectacular team. I consider myself extremely fortunate to be surrounded by talented, intelligent, dedicated people who strive to continuously raise the bar and commit to achieving goals together.

I am struggling to re-establish my routine and commiit to my nutritious eating habits. I have a great coach, a detailed training plan, a 'carrot' to motivate me (Rhode Island 70.3), and goals associated with my athletic pursuits for 2009, but I can find other activities (sleep, work, shopping, hanging with friends, etc) that prohibit me from a planned workout, and justify missing workouts, especially when it involves sleeping in. "My body needs the rest much more than it needs the workout." Sadly, the reality is that I am not sleeping in for a much needed rest, rather I am awake and talking myself out of doing whatever it is I planned on doing, reading just one more chapter, or signing on to check my e-mail or fuel my facebook addiction. No more of that...I have to remember that I really enjoy these activities and remember and recognize that when I swim, bike, run, do yoga, boot camp, or strength training, I feel dynamite. My training schedule is printed and posted for me to see every morning and I will follow through on my commitment to myself. I also realized it is so much easier to let myself down than it is to let others down and that is the power of training partners. I will start treating myself and valuing my own commitment as much as I do when I commit to meeting friends for a swim, bike, run, etc.


A recent inspiration...
MD shared a New Year's resolution with a group of people with a bit of hesitation because there would be added accountability. Little did MD know that the resolve to run a 5k in 2009 and share the goal with us would be inspiring. I am touched and inspired by this resolve because I am lucky to have observed and been part of MD's commitment to setting and achieving goals over the last few years, MD's perserverance, particularly when hitting a plateau or coming upon a stumbling block, and MD's impact on others (I see others seeking advice and see MD providing encouragement and sharing tips of success), something which MD is sometimes blind to. My encouragement/advice to MD: remember to celebrate the milestone accomplishments along the way to the 5k race, not just the end result; believe what others already believe about you - you CAN and WILL do this!

I have no doubt in my mind that MD can do this and will be surprised if MD actually stops at 1 5k this year. I am hoping MD will invite me to join some of the training runs and hope to be on the course to cheer and support on race day(s)!

Goal for 2011 - Complete Half Ironman in 5:30

My fastest Half Ironman was over 6 hours at Gulf Coast in 2004. Yep, 40 minutes off my fastest time. Yes, I have a full-time job and will strive for balance in every aspect of my life in 2009.
Challenging? YES
Impossible? NO WAY!

Factors involved in accomplishing this goal:
Body Compositon
Nutrition
Disciplined/Purposeful workouts (swimming, biking, running, strength training, and yoga)

Where did 2008 go?

One of the nuances of having a late season race is that it accelerates the year. My major goal for 2008 was Ironman Arizona, held on November 23 and my life revolved on preparing for that race and waiting for that date. Training in earnest started in April, 7 months out from race day. I hired a coach who provided weekly training workout schedules and race day seemed so far away. I competed in the Memphis in May Olympic distance (1 mile swim, 25 mile bike, 6.2 mile run)triathlon, my first tri since IM Florida in November, 2005 which gave me confidence that I still was capable of doing triathlons as well as made me realize the magnitude of an Ironman race and all the training that was still ahead of me. I signed up for a few more races as milestones including 2 OLY distance in July and September, and a Half IM distance in October to keep me focused on training and putting in the miles. Countdown continued in weeks: 7 weeks until the Disco Tri in July, 6 weeks until the September race, and 4 weeks until the October race. As all of this was happening, the training mileage on the bike and run was increasing which added a different dynamic to counting the time until the BIG race. My coach planned a few hundred plus mile rides and I was prepared for 8-10 century rides to show up on my schedule, but after the first 3 or so really long rides, I started looking at the weeks left in our training season and accelerating my brain to the time we could do shorter rides (and runs, for that matter). Time really accelerated after the Longhorn Half IM in Austin - 7 weeks until race day...YIKES! How did it go from 30 weeks until race day to only 7 weeks??? Part of me was ready for the race to be over because we would be done with the long bike rides and runs and swims. Another part of me was slightly panicking because I was not ready for another Ironman race. The next 7 weeks brought four more weeks of long mileage and 3 weeks of taper and I could not wait for the taper. Those 7 weeks flew by and race week was upon us. The days leading up to race day were a swirl of activity: packing for a race and a vacation to the Grand Canyon, driving to Arizona, packet pick-up, practice swims in the frigid water, running a few miles, and riding for 30 minutes to make sure we remembered how to do them all, and exploring Tempe, the host city. It was finally race day! How can 11 months go by in a blink of an eye and race day be here? I distinctly remember every moment of the 14 hours and 26 seconds I was on the course, but much of the rest of the year is a blur.

It has been 6 weeks from race day and I am amazed that so much time has already gone by, though with 2 major holidays, travel to Grand Canyon and Boston for vacation, it is somewhat understandable. My commitment for 2009 is to not wish away my year by focusing on future dates or milestone activities, rather I will strive to appreciate every day.

I read an article about perseverance that struck a chord with me

Lately, this is what gets me out of bed in the morning to swim or run or avoid getting into my pajamas early in the evening vs. going to bootcamp or yoga class. It would be so easy to NOT work out and I could create a million other things to do in place of a workout. This is what will force me out into the cold air and snow-covered streets of Boston for a lung burning run when I am home for the holidays. I remind myself that I committed to a Half Ironman race in July and I have a goal of completing the race in 5:45. My best time in a 70.3 mile race is 6:10."Perseverance is not an issue of talent. It is not an issue of time. It is about finishing. Talent provides hope for accomplishment, but perseverance guarantees it...Life seems designed to make a person quit. For even the most talented individual, obstacles abound, and failures are commonplace. Only when a person matches talent with perseverance do opportunities become avenues of success." By Dr. John C. Maxwellfull article http://www.giantimpact.com/articles/read/article_perseverance/

Merry Christmas! Chang, the reindeer

Day after Ironman (visiting Sedona)

These pictures tell the story of what it is like to walk the day after finishing an Ironman.

Pictures from Arizona (Ironman)