Redondo Beach Sprint Triathlon 2013

My first Triathlon

My boss is an full ironman finisher and she inspired me to sign up for this event.
Her positive strong energy is contagious so even with life long fear of death by sea creature I registered for the event about 5 months ago and started training.

I can run but I am slow, really slow.....6 hour marathon slow.
I can bike but I am slow, really slow......6 hour 62 miler slow.
I can swim but haven't for years and I am rusty and slow.
I am terrified of drowning or getting eaten by a shark or giant squid, paralyzingly terrified.

So this decade, my 50's I am facing my fears and doubts head on. Taking massive action getting out there!

First time in the ocean in early May I had a panic attack couldn't breathe and bolted straight back to the safe sand! My ironman friend coached and helped me and week after week she spent hours helping me plan adjusting my plan and helping me again. She is an amazing coach! And she placed first in out age group!


Here is a video of me finishing the swim I put on YouTube no idea how to link it here.

http://youtu.be/IvqQoSOZkHQ



Swim 21:50. I did breast stroke, not sure why I never practiced that way. I would have gone faster with front crawl.
(wtf so slow)

T1 4:49
( was I taking a nap??). I had to run up the hill peel off my full wetsuit rinse sand off my feet and put on my shoes and shoes and helmet....it took way too long!

Bike 24:46
(Sunday sight seeing?)see I told you I am slow! I don't even have fancy clip bike shoes rode in my running shoes

T2 1:10 since I rode in my running shoes T2 was fast, like this!
(Now that's decent)

Run 20:26 again I ran slow since it was only 2 miles I should have run faster, but it was a weird run up stairs over curbs and steep uphill finish.
( really?? don't do marathon pace when it's only 2 miles you idiot)


I will be back, God willing, because now I am obsessed with doing all three activities. It is a healthy addiction!

13 days until I Tri

Beautiful weekend weather!



Open water Ocean swim yesterday
The ocean was choppy rough strong rip tide like swimming in a washing machine ....seaweed everywhere no visibility due to current and tide. hard to go anywhere but swam past the rip and made it 1/4 mile before my panic attach brain convinced me that biting creatures were coming to get me

Then My husband and I went on a 3 hour bike ride from home along the beach north and the down the Balona Creek Bike path to the 405 ....the way back was all into a strong head wind!

Today I rode 1 hour around Palos Verdes and jumped off the bike and ran 3 miles much much harder than it sounds my legs were not happy!

June 9th is coming fast so I need to be ready

28 days until I Tri

Lessons learned today while practicing open water ocean swimming
Just keep swimming
Sight every 5 th stroke since unlike a pool no black line on bottom of the ocean to follow
Exhale in the water to prevent panic don't hold your breath icy water triggers a diving reflex and sends your heart racing.....counter act by exhaling into the water like your in a pool!
Seals are fast and curious don't try to out swim them
Transitioning from ocean to bike after running across the sand is messy!
Riding a bike in your wet trisuit is cold, and no naked time Mom trisuit under wetsuit! Bike and run in trisuit!
Today was dense fog Air temp 62 no wind super calm swell 3-4feet no chop
Water temp is 59 love my full wetsuit and my aquasphere seal 180 googles! I love swimming with these googles you can see everything so far that means sand and seaweed and a seal God help me if I see any biting creatures!

Running after swimming and biking feels like your legs are noodles go slower than you normally would

76 days until I Tri

Got up and out early
Swam 800 meters in 30 minutes warm water didn't have to share a lane
Ears feel ok swimmers ear solution cap over ears and drying ear drops after swim
Ran 4 miles 13:45 pace my legs were tired after swimming


Oh no the Tri is going to be wicked hard!

Tri to prepare for June

First triathlon is in early June

The idea of open water 1/2 mile swim freaks me out
I swam 750 meters in a calm warm pool this week and had to remember in the ocean in June there are waves currents and biting stinging creatures, I might die.....!

I rode my bike today to Trump golf course and back about 30 miles in about 2 hours. Riding is fun but cars and steep hills scare me. And oh yeah I better learn to fix a flat and pop the chain back on or I might get stranded.

Running is my comfort zone but after a swim and a ride I may have no energy left. So far I have not attempted all three activities in one day I might die.......of laughing at myself!


My ironman boss just did another ironman event today she is amazing and I am lucky to have her as my boss! I plan to ask her many questions about my training plans.


I need to purchase new running shoes and a full Tri wetsuit and I would love a Garmin 910!

90 days to get ready

Sprint Triathlon June 9, 2013 is my next goal.


Weekend workouts:
Ran 5.5 miles today and rode my bike 13 miles yesterday.
Swimming on hold due to ear infection, got fullness in my ears last week that would not go away. I went to the doctor I have swimmers ear. So far my longest swim in 750 meters.


 Sprint Distance: 750 metres (0.47 mi) swim, 20 kilometres (12 mi) bike, 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) run


Plan work this week is to plan my workouts for the next 90 days.

Exciting to try something different!

Inspired to do this by my ironman boss. She just finished a full ironman in Arizona she is a warrior woman!

Getting back at it!

Ran yesterday minus the Garmin
Ran the same route today with the Garmin
I went 5 miles but turned off the Garmin when I walked around the pier and up the hill to my house.

Measured 4.43 miles average pace 11.28mins/mile
My heart rate was 130's 6%
                              150's 40%
                              170's 50%
                               180 4%

I have not been running consistently due to left hip pain while training last year for Los Angeles Marathon. I rested enough. I trained for and rode a 60 mile bike ride and I randomly swim laps at the Y but nothing feels better than running. I miss  running. So mentally I am back.

I am going to run again more regularly and incorporate yoga and stretching that I was taught at the physical therapist office. I do not have a specific event that I am training for at the moment.

My current goal is to get back into the habit of running.