Ode to the Tempo Run

It’s tempo run Thursday

What’s that mean, you ask?

45 minutes of hell

Oh what a daunting task.

I wasn’t feelin the need

For a whole lotta speed.

My legs heavy and tight,

This may be an ugly sight.

So off I went

On this beautiful day.

Let’s get this over with!

So it’s outta the way.

A 5 minute warm up,

The pace was slow.

But it got the legs movin

And the blood to flow.

Then for 8 minutes

The pace picked up a bit.

Thru the 2 minutes of recovery

I kept repeating “Oh shit!”

Only 15 minutes in

And I’m asking “How much longer?”

But I had to remember

This just makes me stronger.

It was time for the set

That was gonna hurt the most.

But I knew once I finished

I would be able boast.

4 sets of 6 minutes

At race pace or faster.

And I’m happy to report

It wasn’t a disaster.

Two sets were done,

Only 2 more to go.

“This I can finish,”

For that I know.

Dear Run Gods, I said

Thank you for allowing me to run.

But please help me push through

And let this be done.

For I’m not +Adam Hill

And this is no fun!

BEEP! Goes my watch

I finished, I’m alive.

So happy to be done,

I gave myself a high-five!

It was warm and sunny

As I started to cool down.

And I thought wow -

I’m lucky to live in this town.

So on this day

Of my tempo run

I can definitively say

This time I won!

It's Just A Hill...

Lots of fun and training this past weekend to finish up Build Week 2. This past Saturday we had our first team ride at Zuma Beach. Finally weather was on our side. Sunny and warm 2.5 hour ride along the coast followed by a 30 min run on the beach. Makes training that much more enjoyable! 

Saturday night brought some murder mystery fun, 1920's style. Such a great time! I didn't solve the murder but got to dress up in fun flapper attire and even got to play dead. Thanks +Jennifer Fidelman and +Jennifer German for a fun night!

     

Sunday came early - 4:30am wake up call to head to the Tinkerbell 1/2 Marathon to cheer on some friends. Then had to get in a hilly, trail 9 mile run when I got back. Starting at 2pm makes for a hot and difficult run but I made myself do it and luckily had some company - +Brad Hall, +Holly M, +Elizabeth Ryan, +Elisabeth Waller-Scott . It wasn't pretty getting up to Inspiration Point but the view was stunning. 

"It's easier to go down a hill than up it but the view is much better at the top." - Henry Ward Beecher

Now headed into Build Week 3 and started out with a rockin swim set thanks to triathlete Andy Potts. Got some tired arms and tired legs but recovery is just a few short workouts away...

High Fives & Hot Springs

It's hard getting up early when it's still dark, cold and you don't really need to be getting up. The luxury of working from home is working out when you want to. I didn't want to get up. Then I saw a post from a teammate from 30 min earlier with a virtual high five from a fish as she was getting ready to lead the charge with several other teammates at a different pool. So I got up. Put my suit and parka on and headed to the pool. In the dark. And the cold. But I knew my teammates would be waiting for me and that's motivation to get yourself there.

Friday High Five. Happy Swimming! 

Motivation at its best compliments of +Emily Conlon 

Luckily the splash pool at SMC was like swimming in a hot springs. Balmy 90 degree water temps this morning. Way too hot for a swim but if you want to just hang out, it's great. But alas we swam anyway because that's what we do. We swim in the rain. We swim in the cold. And we swim in hot water temps! It's the middle of January and I'm swimming outside - life could be worse!

Timeout is O.V.E.R.

This week I was struck down with the plague that everyone else seems to have. And when I say plague I mean the nasty cold and cough that doesn't seem to want to go away and is just annoying enough to take you out for a few days. 

For probably the first time in my life I followed the right path and fought the urge to workout. I put myself in timeout for 2 days. Drank lots of tea, got some rest, took the occasional cold & sinus drugs (although that didn't do anything). And what do you know? I was back in the saddle this morning. Was it a great workout? No. Was it awful? Not at all. Maybe taking it easy isn't such a bad idea. Better to learn late than never. 

The morning started out a brisk one - a whole 37 degrees out in Griffith Park. I had no feeling in my fingers and toes for most of the morning. Trying to brake going downhill proves a bit challenging when you have no feeling in your fingers. 

It was triple brick day - 6 mi bike/3 mi run. And...repeat 3 times. But in the midst of all that, we flatten everyone's tires as they're out running. Seems mean, sure. But it provides the coaches lots of pleasure and of course gives the 'pants great experience changing a tire under pressure. I made all 3 bikes and runs although not speedy. Took it slow as the cold air induced the lovely cough I have goin on, but just told myself to keep moving forward. 

Motto of the day.

Now on to an evening filled of TNT friends at the infamous Man v Bar fundraiser. First time being able to go and I'm not up to normal standards. So early night for me but it will be amusing for awhile :)

"Oh What A Night"

Saturday, Jan. 5 was a long day but great day. It started at o'dark thirty up in Westlake Village for Ironteam practice in 33 degree weather. Frozen fingers, frozen toes but that doesn't stop us from biking and running. 24 mile bike followed by 2 mile run and we finished just as the sun started to thaw us out. Then it was time for the Justice League of Coaches to make an appearance. Work hard, play hard...that's how we roll. 

Whoever thought it was a good idea to run a half marathon at 9pm should be shot. Oh wait...it may have been me...along with 50 of my friends. But what makes it better? COSTUMES! Superheroes were in full affect. Definitely the most fun 13.1 miles to date...if that's even possible.

Robin (me), Batman ( +Emily Conlon ), Wonder Woman ( +Elizabeth Ryan )

The race was in Downtown LA and who wants to deal with traffic, road closures and expensive parking. So we took the metro. This was my first metro experience and coming from a city where I relied on public transportation, I decided to give this a shot. And what a surprisingly great easy and great experience it was. Can't wait til they build the line further on the westside. Definitely will start riding it more. 

Race goal: have fun! No pressure, just go out and have a good time. And that's exactly what I did. It was a TNT reunion out on the course. Peeps were all over the place. Lots of high fives going on...especially while climbing all those mountains! And running alongside Batman, Captain America (decked out in TriTrain gear) and Wonder Woman couldn't get any better, especially as we got several shout outs along the way. 

And of course we can't forget our amazing Mile 11 Angry Bird Cheer Squad. Great boost to get us the last 2.1 miles home. Thanks +Elisabeth Waller-Scott and +Holly M for making the trek to cheer on all the crazy people who thought it was a good idea to run a late night half marathon dark streets of shadyville LA. 

All in all it was a successful weekend. Sure my glutes and hammies and quads were barkin on Sunday but after a little Monday spin and Tuesday swim, all is back to normal. 

First NYE 1/2 Marathon: 0    Holly: 1 

2012 is out...2013 is in!

A new year is here. Things are ramping up and it's only the third day. After 2 weeks at home for the holidays with the fam in NY and a great new years in Atlanta with friends, it's good to be back and get back into a routine. Lucky for me my parents have a midgie gym in the basement equipped with a stationary bike and treadmill so I didn't have to brave all those 30 degree days outside. But there's nothing fun or glamorous about 2 hr bike rides and 9 mile runs on equipment that doesn't go anywhere. Thank goodness for TV and SVU marathons!

Yesterday was a long day. Up at 5:30am east coast time to head back to LA. Worked the rest of the day, got in a swim before coaching swim practice and finally got to bed at midnight - west coast time. Yes that was almost a 24 hr day but you gotta do what you gotta do.

Today shaped up to be a good one too with a little double workout action. Great 18 mile bike ride this morning along the ocean with my mentee +Christine Concepcion...and ended the day with the weekly glow run and extra bonus - some celebrating for +Marvin Tabangay b'day! Yay for tacos and ice cream! 

Looking forward to a weekend of craziness...team practice bike ride on Saturday and the first annual New Years half marathon Saturday night with probably 50 of my friends. We're gonna take this one easy and have some fun. I'm sure a costume of sorts will be sported!

So the year has started off crazy but fun. And it's only gonna get crazier. Bring. It. On.