This Philly Tri was an awakener. We drove south Friday night in the midst of heavy hail and thunderstorm. There was a split of interest in the car about the rainfall. Some of us joked and secretly hoped for a red light on the swim portion due to the rain - meaning the race officials would deem the water too contaminated to swim in. Meanwhile Konrad, our professional photographer hoped for rain so his sports portfolio would look intensly dramatic. We ate dinner in the car, and after about 3 hours we arrived around 9 pm. In the hotel room we pumped our tires, showered and slept at 11 pm. At 5 am we awoke ready to race - well sort of. As soon as we arrived the site we noticed that the lines for packet pick up were long and ridiculously disorganized. By the time I reached the front, it was 7:45, literally 15 minutes before the gun shot of my wave (Female 25-29). How was I going to set up transition, put on my chip, stick on my race labels, and squeeze into my wetsuit WHEN I CANT EVEN FIND MY TRANSITION SPOT at 7:48 am??? Marianne suddenly appears wet from her warm up swim and points towards my transition rack. "Joy aren't you supposed to be there?" I was totally out of it! As soon as Marianne said "I'll help you set up transition" she instantly became my superhero! I wanted to hug her so tight but instead I froze and was almost speechless but tremendously greatful. She helped me do EVERYTHING! - including pin up my race number, stick on my bike number - the whole shebang and even zipped me up and sent me off to swim start. Before I left I hugged her - she was literally my life saver! When I entered swim start Konrad was right in front of my face. I looked so excited and happy from the picture he took but deep hidden inside my tight wetsuit was my heart throbbing, wanting to jump out. I tried to ignore it by looking around. No familiar faces like my first triathlon - it felt empty. I was scared. I listened to the athletes around me talking about the swim course which was unbeleivably confusing even from reading the description and drawing out the route yesterday. I stepped in the water and suddenly it was about 10 ft deep. I freaked out and quickly swam back to the rock. I wasn't going to spend the 2 minutes that I had treading water. As soon as they honked the horn I went in - BIG MISTAKE JOY. This shot my heart rate up. Though I didn't wear my heart rate monitor, I knew my heart beat was too high to begin with. I encountered twigs and water bottles floating. I tried to find the sun to help calm me down, but the clouds were in the way. I noticed many fellow girls in the gold cap struggling as well. Some were breast stroking and a few others back stroking. Because I ate a large breakfast 30 minutes before my swim, I developed air pockets that made me regurgitate non-stop. It made it difficult to breathe and I had to stay afloat on my back. I swallowed some water and choked. Then I tried to tread water. Even before I hit the first marker, I already thought about waving my swim cap to the kayakers. I knew if I did that though, I would disappoint myself and my family who came to support me. I threw my face back into the water to freestyle but the continuous burps wouldn't allow me. Even the backstroke couldn't lower my heart rate. I started to notice a few swimmers in the green cap swim pass me. Crap! The next wave already caught up! When I hit the first bouy I grabbed onto it and rested. My leg got tangled on the rope. A man with the green cap also hung on the bouy with me for about 25 seconds. I didn't want to let go but as soon as the man left, I felt obligated to let go as well. It felt almost like a survival swim. Soon after, I started to feel the chip on my leg hanging loose. Uh oh. That's not good! I have no way of adjusting it unless I grab onto something. I tried not to kick as hard and when I saw a kayak, I grabbed on to fix it. I backstroked 95% of the swim and during no part of the swim did I feel comfortable. I can say that I honestly freaked out the whole way through and this morning the only thing sore in my body is my neck. Though it was a disappointing swim, I am glad I didn't give up - no matter how uncomfortable it felt. The half mile swim took me 29.40 minutes to complete.
After 3:57 minutes in Transition 1, I hopped on my bike. The ride was smooth. The sun peered through during this time. It was mainly flat and I enjoyed seeing familiar faces up and down the route. It had many narrow rounded turns where family and friends gathered to cheer us on. It may have been a little dangerous having so many riders make 180 degree turns though. After my good ole friend Dennis helped me install my new Cateye cycling computer the day before, I was able to maintain 90 cadence throughout most of my ride. This really helped me. I completed the bike route in 55:07 minutes averaging 16.3 mph.
In Transition 2, someone yelled "The one in blue, you have 30 secuonds to get out of transition!" This scared the crap out of me. Did I really take forever at that swim and bike that I'm THAT much behind??? I ran faster outta there and another man cheered "C'mon Number 3131!" This gave me a boost of energy. Transition 2 took me 2.31 minutes (could be faster Joy!). The run wasn't so bad, though it was hot. The sun burned my shoulders. Luckily I had a cap this time to help. I completed the run in 29:45 minutes, averaging 9.35 pace. Dinky - as it wasn't much of an improvement from my first race.
Race complete at 2:01:02.
My commitment from here is to swim at least a mile everyday until my next race. Unless you want to regurgetate, no eating before swim!!! The NYC Tri is in 17 days!!! Here I go!
Saturday, June 27, 2009
Friday, June 12, 2009
Help is a precious gift.
Days have become a bit overwhelming and hectic since I started Triathlon training. And as a result, I've started to lose a few personal belongings. I lost my sister's matching bracelet, my Polar watch, and even my soft tissue pouch! =(. The most recent item I lost was one of my diamond stud earrings - that happened two weeks ago. I was immediately shocked and upset by it, but because my mom and dad was not (and even offered to buy a matching one in Hong Kong for me), I let it go. I decided to continue wearing the other earring just so it can remind me to keep searching for the missing one. Dumb idea? I didn't think so at the time.
Today, while. showering after my swim session, I felt my ear lobes and realized that the other diamond was gone. **ck I blurted. Joy how can you be so stupid??? I quickly rushed out of the warm steamy shower stall and jumped right back into the cold pool lane. I searched the lane with a man who offered his help. He said "Don't worry! As a kid I loved searching for things under the water. That comment whipped a smile to my face. We planted our eyes to the bottom of the pool four times over until I gave up. The pool staff Esfra Lopez put on his glasses to help me look from along side the pool. He suggested that I come back when everyone is out of the pool during lane change so the water is calm. That I did, and after observing the pool floor slowly and carefully, I noticed something by the deep end. Teddy (Mr. Japanese lifeguard, who later coached my flip turns), Lopez (the gentleman with the intelligent suggestions), and Peter (the security guard) were all hopeful for me. They brought out the long net to fish for what could be my earring, but none was found. I jumped in and attempted to search but I didn't know how to dive down underneath. Stranger #2 offers her help as she was able to hold enough air in and get down to the 9 ft deep end. After several tries, I thanked her. It was amazing to encounter so many people willing to help a stranger. Mr. Japanese lifeguard comes out holding something black and asked "Who's Speedo is this?" Obviously it didn't belong to him but he was willing to put it on to get into the pool! He grabbed clear goggles (which mine were dark and tinted - not for indoor use) and dove in. This man can hold his breath for super long! After his first dive, he came up out of the water with the back stopper of my earring. It was in two broken pieces. We then knew the other part of my earring shouldn't be far. He went down for the second time as I floated, I watched him search. It looked like slow motion but no more than 30 seconds later, he picked something off the pool floor. I froze for a second and watched Mr. Japanese Lifeguard come up for air. He showed me what was between his fingertips and indeed it was my diamond.
Help is a precious gift.
Lucky are those who get it without asking.
Successful are those who seek it.
Generous are those who give it.
Today, I thank all those who lent me their hand. =)
Today, while. showering after my swim session, I felt my ear lobes and realized that the other diamond was gone. **ck I blurted. Joy how can you be so stupid??? I quickly rushed out of the warm steamy shower stall and jumped right back into the cold pool lane. I searched the lane with a man who offered his help. He said "Don't worry! As a kid I loved searching for things under the water. That comment whipped a smile to my face. We planted our eyes to the bottom of the pool four times over until I gave up. The pool staff Esfra Lopez put on his glasses to help me look from along side the pool. He suggested that I come back when everyone is out of the pool during lane change so the water is calm. That I did, and after observing the pool floor slowly and carefully, I noticed something by the deep end. Teddy (Mr. Japanese lifeguard, who later coached my flip turns), Lopez (the gentleman with the intelligent suggestions), and Peter (the security guard) were all hopeful for me. They brought out the long net to fish for what could be my earring, but none was found. I jumped in and attempted to search but I didn't know how to dive down underneath. Stranger #2 offers her help as she was able to hold enough air in and get down to the 9 ft deep end. After several tries, I thanked her. It was amazing to encounter so many people willing to help a stranger. Mr. Japanese lifeguard comes out holding something black and asked "Who's Speedo is this?" Obviously it didn't belong to him but he was willing to put it on to get into the pool! He grabbed clear goggles (which mine were dark and tinted - not for indoor use) and dove in. This man can hold his breath for super long! After his first dive, he came up out of the water with the back stopper of my earring. It was in two broken pieces. We then knew the other part of my earring shouldn't be far. He went down for the second time as I floated, I watched him search. It looked like slow motion but no more than 30 seconds later, he picked something off the pool floor. I froze for a second and watched Mr. Japanese Lifeguard come up for air. He showed me what was between his fingertips and indeed it was my diamond.
Help is a precious gift.
Lucky are those who get it without asking.
Successful are those who seek it.
Generous are those who give it.
Today, I thank all those who lent me their hand. =)
Flip Turns, Oh Yeah!
About four months ago I threw myself in the pool to learn how to swim. I went every morning and struggled. I kicked my own ass; I was frustrated... I complimented my efforts and became motivated... Last week, Jose Santana (the lifeguard at Chelsea) called me a "swimmer"... ?? WHAT?? I've got a loooong way to go, but one day I told myself, I will feel natural in the water.
Last week, during my first swim coaching I ended the session with 3 things to keep in mind:
1. High elbows
2. Relax your hands on the recovery and cup them on the pull
3. Extend your right arm
Today, I was reminded to swim with:
1. Elbows wide (because my arms tend to cross my body frame in a narrowing inefficient recovery)
2. Relaxed wrist and hands
3. Kick with strength
This morning, the lifeguard on duty mentioned to Coach Carlie in passing that I was an amazing swimmer. ??? WHO??? Was he for real??? We laughed together because we both thought it was really funny - being that I've only jumped into the pool four months ago!!! Certainly, it boosted my spirit and awakened me to my potential ability in the water.
Life is good. Even with the rain.
Last week, during my first swim coaching I ended the session with 3 things to keep in mind:
1. High elbows
2. Relax your hands on the recovery and cup them on the pull
3. Extend your right arm
Today, I was reminded to swim with:
1. Elbows wide (because my arms tend to cross my body frame in a narrowing inefficient recovery)
2. Relaxed wrist and hands
3. Kick with strength
This morning, the lifeguard on duty mentioned to Coach Carlie in passing that I was an amazing swimmer. ??? WHO??? Was he for real??? We laughed together because we both thought it was really funny - being that I've only jumped into the pool four months ago!!! Certainly, it boosted my spirit and awakened me to my potential ability in the water.
Towards the latter part of the session, when only one other person was in the lane, we decided to try some flipping under water! Yay! I've always been afraid of being upside down (even on ground) because I grew up with glasses that would always fall off my face. Recently though, I've been enjoying life glasses-free. I attempted to push off the ground, tuck, and roll into a ball - but instead, as soon as I pushed off and tucked, my body quickly bounced up above the water like a bouy. =T Hummm... After a few tries, I managed to flip, but in several weird directions, I couldn't even explain. It was dizzying and I didn't know where I was! Is this what life with alcohol in your system is like? Note to self: Start breathing out once your face gets in the water. Next up, I tried hand stands underwater. Though not very straight, I managed to keep both hands on the pool floor. Yep, I ended up with chlorine water in my nose and down my throat. I also sounded funny talking to Carlie - but it was all in good fun!
It was absolutely euphoric to be able to play like a kid again!Life is good. Even with the rain.
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
Run Joy, Run!
I began this year with a commitment to the Triathlon sport. About five months ago I got out of foot surgery and began to "run."
I put quotations besides the word run because running isn't just running. There's so much to it (for me at least). Whenever I run, it never feels right. I have to think about my shoulders being relaxed, my elbows driving the ground, my core tight, my steps light and quick, my knees high, my breathing consistent, my eyes looking 30 ft. forward, my ball-of-the-foot landing, my most efficient speed, my heart rate - should I keep going?
When I started, I began running at a sluggish 10 min. mile while complaining how much I hated it. I was always tense; it felt very uncomfortable. I had shin pain, calf soreness, stomach cramps, and burping problems. =T Now-a-days I have to say that my body has overcome these issues. Great! However, I've developed others. Now, I have toe blisters and I was told by Coach Matt that I run like a "boxer" with my wrists high by my face.
Today, we did tempo training in spurts. I learned that this is the way to train one to run faster! Build those triggering muscles! I'm so glad I bought my foot pod! It keeps me in check! My speed, my distance and my heart rate conveniently strapped on my left wrist.
After a good effort, I averaged 7.73 min miles during my .55 mile tempos with increasing speed during each interval. Apparently it is always important to increase speed/effort and not tire out too early. Though I'm not a "runner" (yet), I achieved this increasing effort today.
It was sweet and motivating to get a mention from Coach Laura and a comment from Marianne...Way to go Ms. Negative Split! =)
I put quotations besides the word run because running isn't just running. There's so much to it (for me at least). Whenever I run, it never feels right. I have to think about my shoulders being relaxed, my elbows driving the ground, my core tight, my steps light and quick, my knees high, my breathing consistent, my eyes looking 30 ft. forward, my ball-of-the-foot landing, my most efficient speed, my heart rate - should I keep going?
When I started, I began running at a sluggish 10 min. mile while complaining how much I hated it. I was always tense; it felt very uncomfortable. I had shin pain, calf soreness, stomach cramps, and burping problems. =T Now-a-days I have to say that my body has overcome these issues. Great! However, I've developed others. Now, I have toe blisters and I was told by Coach Matt that I run like a "boxer" with my wrists high by my face.
Today, we did tempo training in spurts. I learned that this is the way to train one to run faster! Build those triggering muscles! I'm so glad I bought my foot pod! It keeps me in check! My speed, my distance and my heart rate conveniently strapped on my left wrist.
After a good effort, I averaged 7.73 min miles during my .55 mile tempos with increasing speed during each interval. Apparently it is always important to increase speed/effort and not tire out too early. Though I'm not a "runner" (yet), I achieved this increasing effort today.
It was sweet and motivating to get a mention from Coach Laura and a comment from Marianne...Way to go Ms. Negative Split! =)
Monday, June 1, 2009
Better Me.
Once upon a time...in the Philippines, I was born. With flaws. We're all born with imperfections; I'm okay with that. But as we live, we quickly develop fears that hinder us. And as time passes we hope to become better. In life I want to strive to become
- a better sister
- a better daughter
- a better friend
- a better partner
- a better me!
Lululemon one of my all time favorite stores, has their shopping bag imprinted with many life statements. One of my favorite ones say to "do one thing a day that scares you." I really like this suggestion even though I'm scared of many things. To be realistic, I don't think I can do this daily, but it has certainly become my endeavor.
Sometimes we have to prove ourselves wrong. "I can't swim" can become "How can I swim faster?"
I will document my endeavors here as they come. I dedicate this blog to those who are seeking to be better for themselves and for others - just as I am.
- a better sister
- a better daughter
- a better friend
- a better partner
- a better me!
Lululemon one of my all time favorite stores, has their shopping bag imprinted with many life statements. One of my favorite ones say to "do one thing a day that scares you." I really like this suggestion even though I'm scared of many things. To be realistic, I don't think I can do this daily, but it has certainly become my endeavor.
Sometimes we have to prove ourselves wrong. "I can't swim" can become "How can I swim faster?"
I will document my endeavors here as they come. I dedicate this blog to those who are seeking to be better for themselves and for others - just as I am.
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