Wednesday, January 30, 2008

Update to Bad Service

Update - I went back and got fitted for the bike. The guy who fit me for the bike was awesome! Fantastic! Super duper! All those explanation points were earned.

As annoyed as I was when I wrote this entry, I'm absolutely thrilled now. I feel as though I lucked out, because the person who fitted the bike to me was super patient. He spent nearly two hours making sure I was comfortable. I had no idea how detailed and precise bike fitting could be. He changed the pedals, the seat, the stem that holds the handle bars, the height of nearly every component. He measured me, used a plumb bob to make sure my knees aligned correctly. When he changed one thing, he'd have to go back and re-adjust every other component. It's all so interwoven. Quite a shock to a girl who bought her last bike at Target - fitting the bike meant making sure I could clear the bike frame when I stood.

After all the hullabaloo, my new bike is perfect for me. I rode 10 miles on Saturday and 5 on Sunday. I love the bike, even though I fell this weekend and scraped my knee. I wasn't even riding the bike when I fell; I was getting on the bike. Those darn clip-on pedals. My feet were trapped onto the pedal and I couldn't put my foot on the ground. Next thing I know, I'm lying on the ground with a bloody knee. And with several worried people trying to pick up me and my bike.

Tuesday, January 29, 2008

Nine days of boringness

Let's see...
Went to Berkeley for a few days.
Got stuck in San Francisco airport for hours and hours and hours.
Bought a bike.
Worked and worked and worked.
Got torched by a computer virus. The torching continues.
Coughed and coughed and coughed.

That's pretty much it. Boring stuff.

Sunday, January 20, 2008

Race Notes: Carlsbad Half Marathon

Not a bad day, but not the race I was hoping to have. My goal was to break 3 hours, which for a walker is pretty darn good. Our training has been spotty for the last few weeks - we haven't really been doing long mileage. Other than last week's 10 mile training, I haven't done a training longer than 5 miles since the Pasadena event in December. To break 3 hours, I needed to maintain a pace of 13:43. That was certainly optimistic, but not unrealistic.

I think my race finish was about 3:05. Not horrible, but not what I wanted. I was nearly 25 seconds per mile over my target pace. Grrr.

However, it's good to remember that less the 8 months ago I had never done an event longer than 10K. That's a scant 6.2 miles, and to be honest my 5K and 10K days were long, long ago. To have come from where I was a year ago and to be able to crank out a half marathon with minimal training is quite an accomplishment.

Race Notes:
  • Please, please, please learn to hydrate better the day before events. I was thirsty all day yesterday.
  • Parking always takes forever at these events. Steve and I barely got there in time to go to the bathroom and queue for the start. We didn't really get to stretch. I did some high steps and some leg circles as we walked toward that start. That was not really enough stretching.
  • Oatmeal is the perfect pre-event meal, particularly my beloved Coach's Oats.
  • Until the final mile, never go faster than my optimal race pace. I've heard this a bunch of times. On Friday, I listened to a talk given by one of the "pace team" leaders and it really sunk in for me. Essentially for every minute you go faster than your optimal pace, your body is going to take that minute back and 3 more as a surtax later in the race.
  • If I want to break 3 hours, I need to lose weight. Every extra pound forces me to work harder or go slower.
  • Get a decent night of sleep. Going to bed at midnight and waking at 5:30 is no way to go into a race.

Saturday, January 19, 2008

Bad Service

I don't have a bike. We were supposed to get fitted for bikes yesterday. A combination of a late meeting, having to go to Carlsbad to pick up race packets, and horrendous traffic meant that we were super late and super frustrated when we finally got to the bike shop.

When we got there, they could only fit one of us - actually that's complete BS. There were 6 people working and no other customers for an hour. They could have easily fit both of us, but the chose not to do so. Fine. We were late. My fault, I accept accountability. However, watching 4 "salesmen" stand at the counter chatting was a drag. Particularly because I'm trying to buy gear too. Even if they refused to fit me for the bike, it wouldn't have killed them to get my helmet, pedals, cleats and shoes together. Hey buddy, how about you go into the stockroom and find these bike shoes in my size.

I called today to see about getting a fitting. Turns out - no fitting Saturday or Sunday. Only fittings Monday, Wednesday or Friday during the business day. I have to take time off from work to go spend bucket loads of cash with these people.

That's is spellbindingly crappy customer service. I'll buy the bike there, if I can't find it in another shop. However, it's the last dollar I'll spend there. I'll hit another bike shop today to buy my shoes, gloves and helmet.

Wednesday, January 16, 2008

The Taco Man Cometh

My office has plenty of Southern California perks - there are paraffin dips for your hands, healthy food in the break rooms, etc.

Another benefit is that every few weeks the Taco Man comes to serve lunch. It's inexpensive and it's really yummy. Days ahead of time there are signs posted and emails sent to announce the arrival of the Taco Man and his bounty of lunchtime tacos.

Today was supposed to be Taco Day. This morning we got an email. The Taco Man would not be here; he ran out of tortillas.

I find this to be hysterically funny.

Tuesday, January 15, 2008

Sold

After researching and riding tons of bikes, I'm now the proud owner of a LeMond Buenos Aires Triple. Actually, I'm not an owner, but a layer-awayer. I put a deposit on the bike and will pick it up on Friday after it's fitted for me.

It's all carbon and has Shimano Ultegra stuff. I don't know what any of that stuff means, but it's a really good and comfortable bike. It even has Bontrager BzzzKill Vibration Dampers. Normally, I'm against a buzzkill, but in this instance I think it's a good thing.

Onto topics I understand. Isn't it pretty?

Sunday, January 13, 2008

Ten Mile Training Session

Noel, Steve and I headed out for a 10 mile session yesterday. The timing was less than ideal, because we're doing the Carlsbad Half Marathon next Sunday. This should have been a back down week for us. We should have done our 10 mile session last Saturday. Unfortunately, we had pretty miserable storms last week so we had to ditch the training session.

We debated it a bit, but eventually decided that we needed a long training session before Carlsbad. My last long session was the Pasadena Half Marathon in early December. Tiredness be damned, I needed the miles.

It was a surprisingly good session. I planned the map for a flat, fast course through Coronado Island. (Kudos to Map My Run which is a great site for runners.) We were able to maintain a really nice pace for the entire training session. I was tired after the training, but it was a better session than I expected.

I'm ready for the Carlsbad race.

Thursday, January 10, 2008

The 2008 Race Series

Update! - I forgot the Disneyland Half so I had to add it into the schedule.

I spent a few hours putting together my race plan for 2008. It was tough because there are tons of races I want to do, but there's only so much time and budget. Also, from February until June all of my Saturdays are taken with Team In Training sessions while we prepare for our century ride.

Here is the list with some commentary:

Carlsbad Half Marathon, January 20 - The first (and easiest) race of the Triple Crown.

San Francisco Half Marathon, February 3 - This one sneaked on to the list since we're going to be in San Francisco that weekend anyway. So this is an extra, bonus event.

San Dieguito Half Marathon, February 10 - It's close to home. Plus, the event is hosted by the Hash House Harriers, everyone's favorite drinking/running club. I'm expecting a very good beer garden.

Carlsbad 5000, April 6 - Just because my friend Don promised to buy me pizza at my favorite pizza place after the race.

San Diego Mud Run 5K, April 13 - This just looks like so much fun.

La Jolla Half Marathon, April 27 - Triple crown part two.

Bay Bridge Run/Walk
(San Diego) or Bay to Breakers (San Francisco), May 18 - I'd love to do Bay to Breakers, but this is almost the end of TNT season. I'm 99% sure we'll do the San Diego one instead.

America's Most Beautiful Bike Ride (Century), June 1 - My TNT Spring Event.

IronGirl 10K, June 22 - I loved this event last year. Wouldn't miss it.

America's Finest City Half Marathon, August 17 - The final (and hardest!) race of the triple crown.

Reykjavík Marathon, August 23 - Steve and I have been batting this one around. I want to do this one or Athens on November 9th.

Disneyland Half Marathon, August 31 - Whee! Disney!

Heartbreak Ridge Half Marathon, September 13 - This one is questionable since there is NO MEDAL. It's at Camp Pendelton Marine Corps base.

Nike Women's Marathon, October 19 - Redo. Steve had to sit it out in 2007; this year he'll be on the course.

Rose Bowl Half Marathon December - It's such a beautiful event and so well organized.

I'm still looking for races in March, July and November. I had to pass on the Palm Springs Half Marathon this year, because that race is February 17. That would have been 4 half marathons in 5 weeks, plus the start of TNT cycle training. I thought that was simply too much.

If I follow the current plan, I'd earn 10 11 medals this year. Not bad. Not bad at all.

Wednesday, January 09, 2008

Rapunzel and the Princess Mobile

One thing about me is that I'm oddly frugal, not cheap but not wasteful either. While I appreciate nice things and I'm certainly willing to spend money, I can be oddly tight with a buck. That's why disposable items irk me. For instance, I refuse to buy paper towels. To me they seem to be a huge waste of money and environmental resources.

My frugality is one of the reasons I love my hardwood floors. Sure, they are beautiful and they do help my allergies. What I really love is that I don't need to constantly replace vacuum cleaners. My old house had carpet and between my long hair and the cat's hair, I went through a vacuum cleaner every 9 months. These were good vacuums too - Orecks, Dysons, Riccars. I knew the guy at the vacuum repair place. I was constantly bringing one back for warranty service.

As a general rule, I try to buy what I really want and take good care if it. Right now, I'm driving a 7-year old Infiniti with 96,000 miles on it. When I bought it my friends called it the Princess Mobile, but little did they know that I’ll drive it forever. I figure that even if it's more expensive initially, by owning it for a long time it'll payoff.

This week I took the car to the dealership because the motor that moves the driver's seat wouldn't budge. The seat was stuck right on top of the steering wheel and it wasn't safe to drive that way. After pulling the motor out and replacing it the service advisor called to tell me that the motor died because a tumbleweed of long blonde hair had jammed up the gears. After 7 years of brushing my hair in the car, it seems that the motor couldn't take it any longer.

Long hair is not cost efficient.

Tuesday, January 08, 2008

Happy Birthday Big Sister!

It's birthday central in my family. Happy Birthday Roseann! I love you.

These photos prove it - Mom dressed us funny.

Wednesday, January 02, 2008

2008 Day 2 - I'm Already Running Late

The holidays are somehow over already. I was sitting in my office today thinking, "What vacation?"

Like the entire rest of the planet, I'm trying get moving into the new year. Some people are still clinging to their resolutions; some people have already ceded. This year I couldn't get any resolutions together. I simply wasn't organized enough.

The last 3 months of 2007 we're a blur because my schedule went completely wonky. My routine was completely torpedoed by: 3 vacations (yeah!), a job change (stressful, but yeah!), 1 full marathon and 3 half marathons (yeah), the end of the TNT training schedule (boo). Even little stuff was a gotcha - birthdays, office parties, friends moving. Q4 2007 was quite a ride.

Here's hoping that 2008 is a bit more controlled. I'm actually looking forward to things settling into nice, comfortable, boring habits.

Tuesday, January 01, 2008

Training Log - Spring Half Marathons - San Francisco, San Dieguito, La Jolla and Avenue















June 8 - June 14 (Rest Week)








Day Goal Actual
Sunday Rest Rest
Monday Rest
Rest
Tuesday Rest


Rest








Wednesday Rest



Rest





Thursday Rest
Rest





Friday Rest
Rest






Saturday Run 6 Miles
Run 6 Miles







































June 1 - June 7 (vacation)


















Day Goal Actual
Sunday Rest Rest
Monday Rest

Rest



Tuesday Run Hike 8 Miles













Wednesday Run

Hike










Thursday Run


Rest










Friday Run

Walk














Saturday Run


Rest























































May 25 - May 31


















Day Goal Actual
Sunday Rest Rest
Monday Run 2.5 Miles

Run 2.5 Miles

Tuesday Tai Chi/Swim -











Wednesday Swim -








Thursday Rest
-








Friday Run

Run 5 Miles












Saturday Yoga Run


Run 6 Miles

















































May 18 - May 24

















Day Goal Actual
Sunday Rest Rest
Monday Swim Swim
Tuesday Tai Chi/Swim Tai Chi/Swim








Wednesday Swim Swim








Thursday Tai Chi/Swim Rest








Friday Swim Rest








Saturday Chi Running Class Chi Running Class





































May11 - May 17






















































Day
Goal Actual
Sunday Rest


Rest


Monday Swim










Swim





























Tuesday Swim




Swim



Wednesday Swim



Swim





































Thursday Swim Swim










Friday Rest


Rest









Saturday 6 Miles
6 Miles


























































































May 4 - May 10






















































Day
Goal Actual
Sunday Avenue of Giants Half Marathon




Avenue of Giants Half Marathon
Monday Recovery




Recovery

Tuesday Recovery


Recovery



Wednesday Cardio

Recovery


























Thursday Swim


Swim










Friday Pilates
Skip





































Saturday 5 Miles
5 Miles


























































































April 27 - May 3






















































Day
Goal Actual
Sunday La Jolla Half Marathon




La Jolla Half Marathon



Monday Recovery




Recovery



Tuesday Recovery


Recovery



Wednesday Cardio

Rest


























Thursday Rest


Rest









Friday Rest


Rest


























Saturday Rest



Rest
































































































April 14 - April 26






















































Day
Goal Actual
Sunday Rest


Rest


Monday Cardio


Walk

Tuesday Rest


Rest



Wednesday Cardio

?




























Thursday 5 Miles Intervals
5 Miles Intervals



















Friday Pilates

Rest




























Saturday 5 Miles
5 Miles Hillls

























































































April 6 - April 13






















































Day
Goal Actual
Sunday Rest


Rest


Monday Cardio


-
Tuesday Rest


-

Wednesday Cardio




























Thursday 5 Miles Intervals
-








Friday Pilates



























Saturday 5 Miles
-

































































































March 30 - April 5






















































Day
Goal Actual
Sunday Rest

























Monday Rest


Happy Birthday to me!
Tuesday






















Rest
Wednesday Pilates


























Thursday 5 Miles
5 Miles




Friday Pilates
Pilates

Saturday 10 Miles
11.5 Miles

































































































March 23 - March 29





















































Day
Goal Actual
Sunday 10 Miles
10 Miles
Monday Pilates
Upper Body Weights
Tuesday Spin Rest
Wednesday Pilates


























Thursday 5 Miles Intervals
5 Miles Intervals




Friday Pilates



























Saturday 11 Miles
11 Miles




















































































March 23 - March 29





















































Day
Goal Actual
Sunday Spin
30 Minutes
Monday 3 Mile Walk 3.3 Miles including Laurel Street Hill!
Tuesday Rest (Travel) Rest
Wednesday Spin
Rest
Thursday Rest (Travel)
Rest
Friday Pilates
Rest
Saturday 9 Miles











































































































March 16 - March 22











































































































Day
Goal Actual
Sunday 6 Mile Hike 6 Mile Hike
Monday 3 Mile Walk 3 Mile Walk
Tuesday Rest (Travel) Rest (Travel)
Wednesday Rest (Travel) Rest (Travel)
Thursday 5 Miles Interval Training 5 Miles Interval Training
Friday Choice Rest
Saturday 7 Miles











































































































March 9 - March 15





















































Day
Goal Actual
Sunday Rest Rest
Monday 3 Mile Walk 3 Mile Walk
Tuesday Spin Class Spin
Wednesday Pilates


























Thursday Spin Spin
Friday Rest Rest
Saturday Bike 45 Miles Bike 40 Miles

















































































March 2 - March 8





















































Day
Goal Actual
Sunday Rest 6 Mile Hike up and down Iron Mountain
Monday Pilates Rest
Tuesday Spin Class Spin Class
Wednesday Pilates 15 Bike Ride - Fiesta Island
Thursday Spin Weights, Spin
Friday Rest Actual -
Saturday Bike 30 Miles Bike 40 Miles

















































































February 24 - March 1





















































Day
Goal Actual
Sunday - Wednesday Rest Rest - my arm was in a sling due to Saturday's fall
Thursday Spin Spin
Friday Rest Rest
Saturday Bike 30 Miles Bike 30 Miles

















































































February 17 - February 23





















































Day
Goal Actual
Sunday Rest Rest
Monday Pilates Rest
Tuesday Spin Class Spin Class
Wednesday Pilates Spin (Spinervals - 7.0 The Uphill Grind)
Thursday Spin Class was canceled, so we did Spinervals at home
Friday Rest Rest
Saturday Bike 30 Miles Bike 30 Miles

















































































February 10 - February 16





















































Day
Goal Actual
Sunday San Dieguito Half Marathon San Dieguito Half Marathon +3 miles
Monday Yoga Yoga
Tuesday Spin Spin
Wednesday Pilates Rest
Thursday Spin Class canceled
Friday Rest Rest
Saturday Bike 25 Miles Bike 26 Miles

















































































February 3 - February 9





















































Day
Goal Actual
Sunday San Francisco Half Marathon San Francisco Half Marathon
Monday Yoga, 3 Miles Yoga
Tuesday Spin Weights
Wednesday Pilates Pilates
Thursday Spin Rest
Friday Rest Pilates
Saturday Bike 25 Miles Bike 23 Miles

2008 Races

Carlsbad Half Marathon
Carlsbad - January 20

San Francisco Half Marathon
San Francisco - February 3

San Dieguito Half Marathon
Rancho Santa Fe - February 10

La Jolla Half Marathon
La Jolla - April 27

Avenue of the Giants Half Marathon
Redwoods State Park - May 3

IronGirl 10K
Solana Beach - June 22

San Francisco Marathon
San Francisco - August 3

America's Finest City Half Marathon
San Diego - August 17

Long Beach Half Marathon
Long Beach - October 12

Nike Women's Virtual Marathon
Everywhere - October 19

Pasadena race canceled due to wildfires.
Pasadena Marathon Pasadena -November 16

White Rock Marathon
Dallas - December 14, 2008