Week 13 - Tri Training

It’s hot today.

It seems like spring just passed us by, and we arrived in summer.

It was only this past Saturday that I left the house in running pants, a t-shirt, a running jacket AND a rain jacket. I left my house this morning in shorts and a tank top.

I did 5x500s and totaled 5 miles, and I wished after about 1 mile that I didn’t have an anti-sports-bra-only policy. I’m just not a fan of runners who choose to leave the house half-dressed. Put on a tank top like the rest of us, people. 

But this morning, I seriously considered taking off my sweaty tank top. I didn’t, but for the last mile of my run I rolled up my shirt so that my tummy could get a little wind. It felt really good. I think it was a good look too.

OK you caught me - I did 4.96 miles. But my last
400 was at a 7:17 pace! Gimme some love.

I put in some good training hours this week:

Saturday: 5 Mile run, mini bike ride in the rain

Sunday: 2 hour bike to Central Park

Monday: 15 minute swim

Tuesday: 1. 5 mile run, 45 minute spin class

Wednesday: 35 minute swim

Thursday: 5 mile run

My bike ride on Sunday was perhaps one of the best ones I’ve had all season.

Love my new Raleigh!

I usually bike to Prospect Park, but I wanted to shake things up. It was a perfect high-60s afternoon, and I got some serious hills in. The Queensboro Bridge is one long uphill, and I have not forgotten the rolling hills of the Park from my 9+1 race last year. But it felt really good to reach the top of those hills, and I feel like my bike legs have seriously improved in fitness.

I went to the same insane spin class I went to last week. It’s called “PX3” (why are Xs always in the middle of insane classes?), and it’s a really intense class with a bit of weight training throughout. I love this teacher because she turns off the lights and says little "woo!"s in the middle of songs to keep us going. I feel like people are secretly/not so secretly constantly looking at themselves in the mirror at spin. I love that she turns of the lights so you can just focus on your biking and the music, not what your hair looks like.

My swim this week was better than last week. I once again was dreading it, but my sprints were easier than they usually feel. I'm trying to be a bit more positive about swimming because next weekend is our first OPEN WATER SWIM. 

I really can't wait for this.

The more I think about it, the more I freak out a little. Tight wetsuit, open water, lots of people around me kicking and stuff. I need to do some serious meditation before this swim. 

I'm also trying to decide whether to do a sprint triathlon before the Olympic one in July. I'm a gal who likes to do practice races, and since I've never done a transition between swimming/biking/running before, it could be helpful. There's a race in NJ that I'm eyeing; it's not too far from my parents house, and it's so lowkey that they don't even give you your splits. Could be right up my alley.

And this finally happened!(!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)

I am so FREAKING excited!!!!!!!

Training plans! New sneakers! Long runs!!!! It cannot come any sooner.

Highs and Lows

It’s been a busy couple of weeks at casa Kate. Cue lots of pictures of me!

Two weeks ago, I left for a work trip in Sedona, AZ. I don’t know if I’ve ever officially said what I do on this  blog (I like to keep work and play separate), but I work for La Mer and Jo Malone (part of the Estee Lauder companies). This work trip was to celebrate our sales team’s hard work, and to present the fall collections for both brands.

I prepared myself with the fact that I would have little free time and little time for sleep. I tried to fit in a few workouts when I could, which started out with a hike the morning after we arrived.

Tiny next to the red rocks.

On Monday, I fit in a “Brick” (in triathlon lingo, a bike ride followed by a run… it’s very much encouraged to do these during training so you learn how to deal with jelly legs before the race). I have been told that Arizona is dry, but I really didn’t grasp how that might affect my breathing until I got there. I was WINDED at the end of my bike workout, and ran much slower than I usually do. I am blaming it on dry air because the rest of my co-workers claimed the same thing. So there.

I also got the chance to run outside one morning, which was a highlight of the trip.

I went nice and slow, took in the scenery and the MULE DEER.

You can't exactly see them, but they have these
adorably large ears. Hence, their first names.

Aside from these workouts, my trip consisted of running around between meetings and eating lots of Mexican food. I was ready to come back and get on a regular schedule.

One more pic! I just like this one.

After eating, imbibing, and networking for a week, I felt a bit guilty about my triathlon training schedule. So the dedicated athlete in me went to the Monday night swim as soon as I returned, and the training session ended with a 30 MINUTE CONTINUOUS SWIM. Ouch. That was hard. But I did it, minus what I think was a minor asthma attack towards the end of the swim. NBD.

I also did the first run in probably 7 months that I was actually proud of.

I did speedwork! It felt so good to actually be able to run fast, and test myself. I’ve been glancing at the weekly training schedules for TNT and hiding in shame from where I should be in terms of running. I know I shouldn’t beat myself up because I’ve been diligent about going to PT and icing/foam rolling, but I can’t help but think that when I finally go to a group run, I will be at the back of the pack.

On that note, I’ve been feeling a bit overwhelmed in GENERAL about tri training. I suppose I should have anticipated that, but I really didn’t. I thought all of my worries would come from fundraising, which has been surprisingly easy.

(Pretend I’m not being a jerk in the next sentence, because I’m really not trying to be.) I really enjoy training for marathons/half marathons. I really enjoy running and spending my Saturday mornings running for hours at a time. This is NOT normal and I realize that. I thought tri training would be similar, but it’s much, much harder.

The actually workouts themselves aren’t crazy difficult. It’s important to start training early for a tri, because the endurance takes awhile to build up. For example, we did a few 6x100 sprints on Monday night’s group swim. This is 12 laps with only 10 second rests between every 2 laps.  It was hard, but I DID IT. 8 weeks ago I couldn’t do two laps without feeling like I was going to drown. As long as you’re diligent and consistent, the endurance comes.

I have been trying to get 5-6 workouts in a week, but for some reason, I am overwhelmed by the idea that I won’t be ready for race day. “Trust the training,” I keep hearing. Yes, yes. I know. But I’m still worried. My training feels disjointed, and my focus changes daily. Even when I’ve finished an awesome workout, I have to start thinking about my next one, in a completely different sport.

I know I shouldn’t be complaining. I am learning new skills, hanging out with nice people, and building endurance for two sports I’ve never spent much time on. Every week is a new challenge! But every week is also tiring. And as with most training schedules, there will be highs and lows, and I think I was experiencing a bit of a low. The key to fighting a low? Do something different!

I found an AWESOME spin class last week at NYHRC. The instructor’s legs moved faster than I’ve ever seen legs move, she played upbeat, fun music, and it was freaking hard. I also found out that her regular class is at 7AM on Wednesdays in Union Square, which I went to this week. Getting up at 6AM for an awesome class is worth it to me. I was lacking enthusiasm for my weekday bike workout, and I’ve found an exciting way to do it. I can feel myself going into a training high already! I’m getting my mojo back.

To the Front of the Room

I was feeling a bit daring yesterday.

I’m a firm believer that if you never try anything new, you might not know what you’re missing out on. I base this idea primarily in fear – it’s important to do things that scare you a little every now and then. This could be as big as immersing yourself in a brand new social situation, or as simple as trying a different sandwich for lunch. Despite whether the experience is ultimately positive or not, at least you did it. You broke out of your cozy, pillow-filled comfort zone, and it probably makes you a more well-rounded person as a result.

My little fear-inducing exercise for the day was to go to my favorite spin class – and sit in the front next to the teacher – where everyone could see me.

I normally participate in group classes in the back of the room – what if I get tired? What if I don’t understand the teacher’s instructions and find myself frozen while everyone else is moving? What if someone else notices how much I abnormally sweat? These questions are eliminated by cushioning yourself in some dark corner. Staying in the back of the room will also likely place you next to other back-of-the-roomers, and your chance of looking less-exhausted compared to others is high.

But not yesterday.

I decided to take my water bottle and set of towels to the front of the room – to a bike that is positioned perpendicular to the rest of the room, so people can see exactly how fast you’re pedaling, how tired you probably feel, and whether you know the words to Madonna’s “Like a Prayer.”

I have taken the class two or three times before, so I wasn’t exactly going in blind. But I know the instructor usually has a tough class, and I decided to give it my all.

I would say that overall – the experience was totally positive. The room was really stuffy, and I went through more of my water bottle than I normally do, but I found myself pushing through the tough parts full of determination. I wanted to spin faster and work harder than my back-of-the-roomer alter ego, and I did. I felt great – and I think I may even pick that bike from now on.

After a night’s rest, I crawled back into my comfort zone this morning for a wonderful 5-mile run. As my mileage continues to creep up during before-work hours, I am becoming hopeful that I may actually be turning into a morning exerciser (and dare I say, a morning person??!?! Maybe? Okay, fine, baby steps).

It was a gorgeous morning - not too hot and not too cold. I have been trying to remind myself not to go too fast since I’m in build-up mode for Marathon Training, and I should be clocking in paces slower than race pace. The speedwork I did during Half-Marathon Training naturally made my pace faster during long runs, but Marathon Training is a whole other animal. To quote the advice countless running experts have given – it’s better to save your fast running for race day.

With the Olympics right around the corner (I didn’t segue into the Olympics because I was talking about my own running… that would not resemble any kind of smooth transition. I’m just really into them), I realized I want to watch as many events as possible. So I decided to treat myself and get a DVR, so I don’t have to worry about missing events like gymnastics, swimming, and archery.

There were a few things I was nervous about before purchasing a DVR – normal stuff like worrying about footing the bill alone and getting addicted to shows like Sister Wives. But I was most nervous about the logistics of actually getting my DVR set up through the company with the world’s worst customer service– Time Warner Cable.

Virtually every encounter I have had with them has been abysmal (something as simple as setting up a day to get cable can turn into a 3-week saga). They must be reading some of their customers’ suggestions though, because they had a do-it-yourself option to do a box swap. Done and done. I was happy not to spend one of my precious vacation days waiting patiently at my door only to have them show up five hours late.

So I strolled in to the closest Time Warner location a bit before lunch hour, crossing my fingers that the experience wouldn’t be as scarring as a trip to the New Jersey DMV. In about 15 minutes, I had my precious DVR box and a new, positive impression of my cable company all wrapped up in a shiny, purple TWC bag.

Is this where the money goes when
I'm charged for "misc fee" ?

It was still beautiful out, so I didn’t powerwalk to the subway as I usually do. But when I got to the station, I realized by the staggered exiting of other New Yorkers, I had missed two successive subway cars. Dang.

I wasn’t in a big rush though, so I turned around to find a place to sit with all my equipment, only to notice an actor from one of my favorite TV Shows:

Harry Crane from Mad Men!
Also, the gay BFF from the Devil Wears Prada.
Real name: Rich Sommer

I can notch up my celeb count one more, and I think I am officially skilled at spotting celebs (shortlist over the past year includes Katie Holmes and Suri, Lance Bass, Tyra Banks, Sally Field, Michael Cera, and Colin Hanks. Not that I’m bragging. I think Michael Cera was genuinely repulsed by me).

So a few closing and inspirational notes – do something that scares you a little today, keep your eyes peeled for celebrities, and appreciate your DVR.

Runner's High

It’s been a hot minute –I think I was a little overwhelmed from all the races I had been doing. But don’t worry, I’ve still been running.

I was ready this year for an awesome race pic.
May or may not have practiced acceptable
running poses in the mirror.

After the half, I took a few days off from running, and went to a spin class with my favorite gay-straight man at NYSC. We did lots of fake hills to his awesome playlist, and it was nice to mix up my workout regiment a bit after running so much. I’ll be heading to Vermont in a few weeks for a family reunion, where my dad has challenged us all to a race to the top of his favorite peak. As a result, I am testing out spin classes all over the city now to get my legs ready for Vermont’s unforgiving landscape. I am determined to beat Papa Wyman.

My first run post-marathon was over my beloved Williamsburg Bridge. I was still on a runner’s high from a great race, so I just enjoyed the run without a care about pace or distance. I’m still getting used to the heat that has been sitting on New York, and I try not to leave home without a big bottle of water until it feels normal to be running in 80 degree heat.

I spent Memorial Day weekend doing fun things like seeing post-punk bands perform bad music and going to outdoor festivals with yummy food.

Best grilled cheese. Ever.
At Dekalb Market!

To celebrate our Monday off, Keith and I went for a run together. It. Was. HOT. Since Keith is way faster than I am, I tried to start the pace off fast, but we deemed it too quick for the 90 degree heat. Keith was smart and turned home after about a mile and a half. I decided I was feeling good, and continued to run. When I made it to my turnaround point very parched, I realized that I had no money to buy water on the way home. I was not too far off from seeing mirages of palm trees and swimming holes.

I rounded out my run at about four miles, but it felt more like 10.

I realized that my IT band that gave me so many issues after the marathon was feeling a bit sore, so I took a few days off from running. I am running the American Heart Association Wall Street 3M Run today, and I wanted to make sure that I felt nice and fast for it.

Highlight of the week: While I was doing the typical hike up to the Upper East Side to grab my shirt and bib for the run, I ran into 1 ½ A List Celebs:

KATIE AND SURI

They were an adorable mama/daughter duo, and Suri skipped down the street while Katie was all smiles. And, part of my body was caught up in a paparazzi shot.

MY HAND IS FAMOUS

I plan on chugging water today to prepare for the 3M race this evening, which should be quick but fun. I’m most excited that after today, I will be done with 7 out of the 9 races I need for the stupid 9+1 program. Just two more races to go and I will be ready to take on the Verrazano Bridge next year!

Tune in for my race recap at Wall Street – unfamiliar territory for a race = happy Kate.

Unfamiliar Territory

I am a creature of habit. I have oatmeal for breakfast almost every single morning, I never leave anywhere without my iPod, and I always put my right shoe on before my left. So sometimes, I have to remind myself to try new things and shake it up a bit.

This week, I am determined to travel into unfamiliar territory. For the first time ever Monday night, I took a spin class. It might not seem like a big deal, but I assure you it was for me. It’s almost impossible to walk around the city without bumping into people who are talking about spinning (“That instructor always has the worst mixes” or “SoulCycle is so expensive but I freakin’ love it”).

I’ll admit, I was a bit hesitant at first – I had a mental image of some crazy-ripped woman screaming at me to pedal faster. But I showed up, and it ended up being awesome.

I called ahead to New York Sports Club and found out I was #2 on the wait list. Friends had told me that no one ever checks the names on the list, so I made sure to get there a few minutes early to reserve a bike.

A kind-looking instructor (not the Jillian Michaels-lookalike I envisioned) came in five minutes before the start, somewhat amazed that the class was so full. I saw he had the list of attendees in hand, and I started to sweat before I even began pedaling. He addressed the class to see if everyone was definitely on the list, because there were a few people waiting outside hoping to get in. I get really nervous if I think I’m about to get in trouble for something, but I tried to play it cool as I watched the seconds tick by until the clock struck 6 o’clock. It felt like the first day of school.

I'm scared.

He ended up not reading off our names at all, and just took us at our word that we were on the super-official sign-up list. We started with a quick warm-up, biked up some imaginary hills, and did some sprints towards the end. I smiled all the way through the sweaty class, welcoming another positive, new experience into my life. I will most definitely be back.

I also experienced something last night that has been most unfamiliar to me in recent months – a bad run. Throughout marathon training last year, I definitely had my fair share of bad runs. They can come predictably if you’re dehydrated or sore, but more often than not, they come very unexpectedly, even when you feel prepared for the road ahead.

So far throughout nine weeks of half-marathon training, I can’t really pinpoint a bad run I had. Some of them were definitely tiring, but that was mostly self-induced. I have been blessed with a training season that has been full of runs that only make me smile.

Last night, after a long day at work, I was simply dreading my run. I had planned to do about six miles, and was hoping to do them somewhat close to half-marathon goal pace. My legs felt like lead, and I found it really hard to pick up the pace. I finally did go faster around miles five and six, which I suppose is a good thing, but it began to make me think about my upcoming race goals.

NOT what I looked like after my run last night.

This weekend, I have the Broad Street 10 Mile Run. I’m using it as a test drive for the Brooklyn Half-Marathon. I have a safe goal, of maintaining an 8:45 pace, and I have a stretch goal, of maintaining an 8:30 pace. How did I come to these guestimates? I have no idea. Last year for the Brooklyn Half, I ran at about a 9:02 pace. This was with very little training (both mental and physical), no iPod, and poor nutrition. I figure that if I can maintain that kind of pace under bad circumstances, I should be able to do marginally better with the proper preparation. Right? Right?

My general race plan for Broad Street is to run the first half at around an 8:40/8:45 pace and see how I feel. I’ll step on the gas around mile 5 if I’m feeling good, which isn't that scary to me considering I’ve followed essentially the same plan on my long runs over the past two weekends.

I will imitate your fierce, fierce determination.

Secretly, I’ve been hoping to maintain closer to an 8:30 pace, as I have been training really hard and almost all of my runs have been under a 9:00 pace. But during last night’s run, I wasn’t hitting anything below a 9:00 pace for the first few miles and didn’t feel like I could move my legs any faster. I wondered: what if the same thing happened to me during Broad Street?

It was a sobering run that reminded me that no matter what my pace is – I know I’ve been training hard, and I will give it my all. Whatever the outcome is, I will be happy with it. It’s a good reminder that I run to de-stress and have fun (CORNY I KNOW) – not to beat myself up over 10 second time differences.

Tune in next time for the Broad Street Run Recap.