Bikes, Runs & Swims, oh my

Rigorous travel schedule and a week of laziness = tardy posting. Saturday and yesterday were eventful days so here we go:

When is the last time you woke up at 6am on a Saturday? Well, I did this two days ago and hauled myself and my new bike (ooooh) to 72nd St and Riverside Drive by 7:15. It was TNT's first Bike+Run (BRick) session (side note, would BRun or Rike have made more sense?) and I was not going to miss it after 2 weeks of semi-haitus. Though I admit I woke up at 6:35 because my alarm didn't sound and had to take the subway up....


The BRick consisted of a 1 mi run (a good warm up), a 1 hour bike which was about 15 miles for me (I ate some bugs and swerved all over the place), followed by a 2 mi run (the word catatonic comes to mind). It felt like someone put wooden stilts in my legs and forced me to run, every joint was stiff and every step was weighted down. That being said, I HAD FUN! I was just very happy to have made it this far so far- my first bike followed by a run ever.

Sunday was a day of rest (aka shopping, eating and family time).

Yesterday, Jodie, Eran, Catherine, Sarah S. and I did our weekly Monday Swim session. We did our first 30 minute continuous swim! I swam 1100m, I think. It's a pool with eight lanes, I really have no excuse to lose track. I remember very clearly our first swim (I think I blogged about it) - I was exhausted after four laps (100 m).

It was rewarding : )

Thank you Jin, for your generous donation! I cannot wait to catch REVOLVER when it's all said and done. And, to catch you soon for a get together.

"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 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.