Running towards a goal

It makes a difference. Instead of stopping at the point I used to stop at ("Whew! 30 minutes and almost 3 miles? DONE!," I think, "ONLY HALF OF WHAT I HAVE TO RUN ON RACE DAY? KEEP GOING!!". So this is what it's like to have a goal...

The heavy rainfall yesterday made it impossible to run in central park as we usually do on Tuesdays. So, like a good athlete in training, I went to the NYSC (to which I have a 30 day trial period) and hit the treadmill for 40 minutes; I think I ran for a good 35 of those 40 minutes!

Missed a workout.

I skipped my Thursday morning workout yesterday.

My old "neck injury" came back during my Wednesday morning run at the gym. And then I used it as an excuse to not climb out of bed on Thursday morning. It sounded so legitimate.

The neck injury itself is a mystery. One morning, I woke up and had a sharp pain from my neck down my arm. It felt like I just rose from 120 years sleeping in a crypt. The chiropractor told me it was likely a pinched nerve and it went away after a few days. Two weeks later while I was using aggressive force to open a jar (insert Vin here), it came right back. So now, it's an "injury."

I highlight this because it's not really a good excuse to miss a workout.

Breaking $1,000

I have done a lot of fundraising in my life - American Red Cross, iMentor, Breast Cancer Walk, gymnastics team... You guys know how often I reach out with requests. In all of my fundraising, this is the first time I have raised more than $1,000. And, I have received so much support from you guys too - texting, pushing me to go to trainings, asking how it's all going (FREAKING EXHAUSTING ok??)

There are many times when I wonder if I can really do this - usually it's right after a 1 hour swim or bike and in that hour I am fully exhausted yet I have only done 20% of the actual race. I haven't even done the bike yet; I am just referring to spin class, my arch nemesis.

In those times, I think how crappy it would be if I raised all this money and then didn't race. I don't want to be crappy. Is the moral of the story, please keep donating and ask your friends to donate too? Well, partially. Just, thank you. Only $1K and hundreds of miles left to go.

Eric & Suzii, thank you sincerely for helping me break $1K for the first time ever. I look forward to see your smiling faces and peace-sign grins at the finish line on race day.

Why?

To the outsider, I am pretty athletic. Healthy, golf, snowboard, yoga, pretty comfortable at the gym, basic exposure to many sports (playing tennis with Connie in the summer of 03?, going to the ice rink with my dad growing up, a few months of martial arts here and there) and always willing to try new sporty things (waiting for Rachel G to introduce me to the Bar Method).

But I never felt like an athlete. I never competed, never won trophies, and haven't had to face-off with anyone on a court or race. The only race I ever did was a 5K Revlon Run/Walk, which I am proud to have finished but did not race it. My high school didn't even have a football team (our single football player had to play for the school down the street). And even though I was on the gymnastics team, I hurt my knee my sophomore year and didn't get to continue. Being an athlete - thinking, living, eating, sleeping, having the discipline of an athlete, is not me.

Yet in other aspects of my life, I think I'm pretty competent and probably even competitive. I always try to my hardest and usually be the best that I can. So, there is this gap. I want to be an athlete. To be as disciplined and see improvements and results that I expect in all other aspects of my life.

The triathlon and being a triathlete is a way for me to close this gap. A real powerful one. It's proof, or rather, disproof, that I can be an athlete too. A useful reminder in the distant future that I trained my arse off in order to cross a finish line.

There are so many reasons why I am doing this and I will share them all in the next few months. This is one.

"I suggest you stick with the beginner swim class."

Four days straight of exercise - more than I have done in all of 2009.

Saturday morning - 40 minute spin class at NYSC then a 10 minute treadmill run, a suggestion courtesy of my awesome drill sergeant coworker, Jodie. Legs. felt. like. lead.

Sunday morning - 1 hour power yoga. Upward dog, downward dog, warrior pose, tree post, stretch stretch stretch.

Monday evening - 1 hour swim GTS with Eran and Jodie (who makes sure we're not always 15 minutes late to these sessions). Eran and I decided to try the intermediate class (instead of beginner this week). After one warm up lap, we stopped in front of the coach to wait for instructions. He looked down and said, "Were you guys in the beginner class last week?" We eagerly responded, "Yes!" He then said, "I suggest you stick with the beginner swim class. It is probably a better pace." DEJECTED! Eran and I hypothesize that it's because we stopped, he thought we were tired, and not because our pace or form was not up to par. That's what we tell ourselves at least. Pat on back.

Tonight is the group run in central park. Guess what I have? Leggings! Though not the certifiable kind, yet.

Jimmy Gege, thank you for your donation! The amount is interesting -- not a round number, but you are always one to keep me guessing. Looking forward to your return to American soil.

First Run Training

About 50 people gathered at Columbus Circle on Tuesday at 6:30pm for a RUN GROUP TRAINING SESSION.

One way to distinguish the runners from the wannabes? The OUTFITS. I was in a black zipup sweatshirt and Addidas pants: Wannabe, capital W. The real runners had cool mid-calf leggings with little reflective strips on the sides, sweatwicking shirts, and beanies. Why are the leggings mid-calf and not full length? I believe it allows for an appropriate gloating of awesomely sculpted legs without actually having to gloat. So smart. I will work my way up to those leggings. Unfortunately, they will sit in the closet right after the Tri.

The workout itself consisted of a 10 minute non-stop run (at our own pace) followed by 10-15 squats, times three. The RoadRunner's Club was also running on our same path. No need to state which outfits they were in. It was pretty hilarious to see them run past me - these folks were running so fast I seriously thought they were running away from something. Like a greasy cheeseburger. I can't imagine running that fast. Or away from a cheeseburger.

Shoutout to Akhill, Jimmy & Jodie who were my running partners on this very fine first run. We have like one thousand miles more to go together.

Jenn G, thank you for your donation! I dedicate this post to you, because you are one of above mentioned people who runs a lot and has awesome legs and thus should always wear understated gloating leggings.

First Swim Training

On March 1, I went with Sarah T. (my Yahoo teammate) to my first SWIM GROUP TRAINING SESSION. Sarah and I started in the "super beginner" lane - which meant, no laps yet and a lot of time spent on the basics. I learned how to swim properly! To think, this whole time, I've been flailing my body around in the water.

It was a one hour session and here is what we learned:

1. If you are a professional football player, you will sink in the water. Hold the little pink floatee between your legs when you start out. Girls will think this is "cute" because you have large muscles.
2. Fast boats have one thing in common - long and lean. Garbage barges are not long and lean, they do not go fast. They smell. So, be as long and lean in the water as possible - one arm should always be out in front of the body.
3. The balance point is not your waist, but it is your chest, regardless of boob size. Think of your body above your chest as one end of the see-saw and the rest of your body as the other end; maintain balance as much as possible, which means your head may dip lower than you're used to

From now on, I plan to do the weekly Wednesday night swims - gulp gulp.

Thank you, Will C., for your support! I will be rooting for you through the Tough Mudder, you crazy crazy man.

Day 1 - A run with Eran

It isn't just a rhyme, it's what I did on Saturday morning at 9:30am: my first training for the triathlon! We were supposed to go to Central Park, but due to a little bit of snow from the storm this weekend, it was canceled.

30 minute, 2.5 miles and winded.

I am looking forward to TNT teaching me the correct running posture, so that my hip doesn't hurt when I run. Does that happen to anyone else?

Thank you Stephanie K., for my very first donation! You, my friend, are a true athlete and survivor. I will think of you while you run the half marathon as I grumble through my six miles on July 18.