Monthly Archives: February 2007

Turning a negative into a positive

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It turns out that my time of 9:30 from Sunday is actually faster then last year’s 500m TT. I forgot it was a 500m TT. I thought the result was going to be slower than 9min for 400m.

Considering that this TT included 100m of freaking out because I can’t figure out how to pass in the pool, then 2 major wall stops (one for choking and one for considering quitting), 50m of breast stroke, 50m of crying, and then the rest at “fuck-it I’m just going to swim” that’s a pretty damn good result.

Man, I feel much better for seeing that time. I have to stop being so hard on myself. I will swim today visualizing myself confident and strong.

I’m going to look ahead in the club schedule and make note of when the next swim TT date is – I hate getting surprised by TT workouts. I notice that I do much better when I know that the TT is coming. I’m already looking forward to it because I know for sure that it will be an improvement.

Phewph, what a relief!

w/u 100f,50k,150p,2x50drill,200f all w 20rest
7x50f descending w 25rest
continuous 30 min = 1500m
100 c/d

Man, I’m hungry. Lunch, here I come!

Jam

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Inspired by Colleen’s gift of FOX candies, I brought homemade goodies to share at the workout tonight. A variety of jams from my pantry (grape, blackberry, jalapeno grape, apricot etc) were well received by my LETC friends – and for me, it’s rewarding sharing with people who appreciate, compliment (and even request) the goodies.

am – run/gym workout
26:34 Avg HR 150 – office down Spanish banks and back up
30 min gym workout at UBC pool

pm – spin
Warm-up 10min easy spin @ 60% HR Max
Stand Sit Drill – 5min as: 30sec stand, 30 sit @ 70% HR Max, then 2min easy
Technique – ILD’s 6min as:40sec right, 30sec both, 40sec left, 30 both.
3min easy spin
Anaerobic Power – 5x20sec All Out! On 1:40 easy
Aerobic Capacity – 2x 2:30 @ Pace(80-85%) on 2:00 easy
Cool-down 12min easy spin =60min Total

Comfort Zone

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I had troubles in the pool today. Basically, I got outside of my comfort zone with our crowded lane – and then I got super negative in my head.

Next time, I get out of my comfort zone I will be a little bit better. I will be strong and confident and in a totally different space by the time the end of summer. It will be summer and outside and I will be loving every minute. Even if I step outside my comfort zone in the pool, I will just keep swimming. I will have a plan, and I will be adaptable. There are so many good swims ahead to enjoy.

It’s all learning. I don’t need to be upset about a stupid workout. I had bad workouts last year and I got through them fine.

swim workout
100m TT 1:28
500m TT 9:30 *see above
ski @ Cypress
1h:30

Raining Snow

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It was raining snow on today’s ride and it was cold and crappy. I rode in from Richmond, met up with the group, and had a nice ride with Colleen. In other news, I’m sad to announce that I have to switch my coffee shop allegiance today after the owner of the Wired Monk was an incredibly rude ass. It’s a good thing really, because I like discovering good cafes and forming new coffee alliances…

bike
2:33:48 (2h45 cumulative)
57.10km, Avg Speed 22.27km/h, Avg Cadence 81
brick run
25:31
152 Avg HR, Max 158

Eggers entertains

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Three big bald eagles were circling high above me and my Jake at the end of my commute today. They were diving and swirling providing me with some entertainment as my legs tapped out the easy spin up to UBC. Another less feisty bird, was sitting high atop one of their favorite perches watching the youngsters play. These are beautiful big birds. I know where they sit and for most commutes I can spot one or two. Today, with a whole pack, I feel lucky.

I’m currently reading, “A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius” and I killed about an hour chuckling along side Eggers at Starbucks tonight waiting for run group to start. I’ve been on a bit of a reading tear lately which I hope can continue.

am – bike commute
1:03, 22km, avg Cad 79
pm – bike commute
35 min
run group
15 min warmup
5 x 400m @ 1:36, 1:32, 1:28, 1:30, 1:32 w/ 1min R
15 min warmdown

You’ve got 5 minutes to sell me, GO!

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Have you ever been in that situation, maybe in an elevator, or in a hallway, or at a remote fishing hole, where you’ve been given a very brief opportunity to catch yourself your dream job. The big fish, as it were. Fishy takes the bait, IF, and only if, you can effectively sell yourself in the next few minutes.

I had that kind of conversation over the phone today. BigRock called me and said (and I paraphrase), “I’m talking to the committee today at noon about hiring you, can you remind me why I wanted to hire you?”

I told ‘em that I’ve got a mind, body, and soul that thrives on pushing boundaries, exceeding expectations, and living life to it’s fullest. Ok, I admit, that’s nothing like what I actually said but you get the picture. Send all self-conscious thoughts out the window and sell yourself NOW!

Now, we sit back and wait. Here fishy, fishy – come ‘on – take the bait.

Since this post has nothing to do with triathlons, other than a remote connection between fish and swimming… I’ve thrown in a random picture of me at the 2006 Half Iron race in Victoria, just for good measure. Enjoy!

swim workout (pm @ Watermania)
warmup of 200f, 50br, 100p, 2 x 50k, 50f, 100f
1 x 30 min ~ 1500m (lost count)
6 x 50p w/ 15 sec R
warmdown 100 mix

Smooth Spin

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I felt great at the spin session on Tuesday and I worked my ass off.

I don’t always feel that way on Tuesdays. Sometimes on Tuesdays, I take feedback with a feeling that I’m getting picked on and that I can’t do anything right. A good dose of positive feedback once and a while helps me to get past that. Today Alan told me that I was looking smooth.

I also did other things right to make yesterday a great workout. I psyched myself up for the workout by reading the workout ahead of time and planned my eating and hydrating well throughout the day. I worked really hard, and was looking forward to the workout all day. My HR monitor tells me that I reached 172 – which is got to be the max that I’ve ever seen on the bike. I was totally spent afterwards. I went home, ate well, gave my legs an ice bath, fell into bed, and then slept in on Wednesday morning.

Wednesday, I felt tired but good – better then previous Wednesdays. I guess my body is getting used to the building workout schedule (just like Coach Drew said it would).

am workout
15 min run easy
35 min gym workout
10 min stretch
pm workout
55min spin (hard one!)
10 min run easy
Avg HR 136, Max 172
Avg Cadence 97, Max 128

Canmore

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Have a good weekend training everyone! I’m off to Canmore to go skiing with my brother. We’ve got two big days planned – cross-country for Saturday and telemarking on Sunday. Who knows, we might even ski into the EP Hut (see the top of this page). Hopefully, we’ll have some equally stellar pictures to post.

Now, I’ve got to so much ski gear to pack …

Pluto and Quantum Computing

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What do Pluto and Quantum Computing have in common? Nothing, other than these were the articles that I was readiing to help kill off some nervous energy before my meeting with BigRock. Ask me if I’ve still got a job (or got a new job) in about an hour.

BigRock says, “Your dream job will be posted next week.”

bike commute
1:03
avg cadence 79
run group
workout is hills, my instructions are to run easy
1h:11:55, HR avg = 132