Fundraiser a Success!

I just wanted to say thank you to everyone that came out and supported my fundraiser! I raised about $400. Special thanks to Alice, Barbara, and Casa Restaurant for donating prizes for my silent auction!! I will be having another fundraiser possibly on Jan. 15th at Hamburger Mary's and a Birthday/Fundraiser on Feb 12th at Casa Restaurant in DT. Mark your calendars!!! If you're looking for a tax deduction for 2010, you can always donate on my website =)

http://pages.teamintraining.org/los/lavatri11/jalbaa

Wine Tasting Fundraiser

Gettin' into the Groove

I'm now in week 3 of training and I'm starting to get into my groove again. Now this doesn't mean that I'm still NOT tired nor does it mean that I'm any better at any of the three sports. What it means is that I've accepted training as being part of my daily/weekly routine. I have no problems getting up in the morning and going to swim at the Aquatics Center, no matter how late I get up and I have no problems with Saturday morning trainings. All in all, training is moving right along and I just hope to get faster and in better shape as the months continue and not get sucked into all of the Holiday feasts that will be looming over my head or better yet, my tummy!

The Swim
It's getting a lot better. I no longer have to stop and breath at the end of the 25m length, I can continue on. I have yet to dive into the 50m pool though. It's just so cold and is always full. I am also a little intimidated by the seemingly "faster" swimmers that swim there. Last Tuesday we did a drill that helped rotate your body, I think this drill will help me breath on my left side. Currently I can only take breaths on my right side resulting in a breath only taken at every second or fourth stroke. Ideally I could take a breath at every 3rd stroke alternating sides. I'm still the slowest person in my lane during our team swims but I'm okay with that. I'm just a girl trying to get to the other side of the pool =)

The Bike
I did a short ride with Bernie and Gabe last weekend after practice. It was just down our usual route, the LA River Trail. I think we did 7-8 miles? We casually cruised on our bikes just to get back into the swing of things. I luckily didn't fall as I am getting more confident with my bike clips. I also made it through the gate without getting off of my bike, a big accomplishment for me.... hahah Next test will be if I can get up that DAMN hill by myself when need be. I will be channeling the power of Coach Ludo the first time I attempt it this season =p

The Run
Well... I still HATE it =) Last week we ran for 40 minutes. Not far for those of us that walk a big part of it. I had to use the bathroom before I started my run so I was exhausted just trying to catch up to the last group that took off. Once I finally reached them, they were doing 2/2's 2 min walk/2 min run. I was keeping up but cursing at the same time. We eventually slowed it down to 1/1 and with a small sprint to the finish at the end.

All in all, I'm happy with how things are going. I'm taking my training seriously and hope to be confident before I leave for Hawaii. I'm really excited about this race so I intend to keep up with my training. Sorry no funny stories yet, we have our first team bike practice this Saturday (if the weather permits) so there my be some funny stories next time =)

Fundraising update
I currently have a check for $1500 that has yet to be deposited. I will be turning that in this weekend so I hope it will be in my account this week. I will be participating in a group fundraiser at 55 Degree Wine on Friday, Dec. 3rd. It'll be $30 for a tasting of 4 wines with 50% going to my fundraising! If you don't have plans, come out and join me and support the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. There's going to be a great Silent Auction as well! Hope to see you there!

Friday, December 3 · 7:00pm - 10:00pm
55 Degree Wine & Lounge
111 Glendale Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA

http://pages.teamintraining.org/los/lavatri11/jalbaa

Training with new goals

Ok so here's the plan. Raise $3675 (got $1500 already), go to Hawaii and do Lavaman, continue to train after the season is done, maybe do a few half marathons and maybe the Malibu tri again and then Sign up with TNT for the Half Ironteam 2012 and raise about $4000+.

Seems like a far fetched "dream" at the moment but I think I can do it.

Step one, start running. HA! As most of you know, I HATE running and have convinced myself and others that I'm a faster, more efficient walker than runner. Even though I still believe this is true, I must start running. I can tell you though, that I do at least run a little, very little. But it's better than nothing! So last Sunday, I met up with my pal Mary at Santa Monica for a short run. we ran about 45 minutes or so, of course not together, I can't keep up with the ironwoman in training! But it's always nice to know that you have someone out there with you, even though they aren't running next to you. So I tried to do 2 minutes walk and then 2 minutes run. I did pretty well a majority of the time for about 30 minutes, I was able to keep that up but then my mind started playing tricks on me. So i ended up falling back to 2.5 walk and 1.5 run. Which was very comfortable. I'm hoping to get to 3/1 by the end of the month but that might be asking for too much.

Step two: get back on my bike! My bike has been sitting on my trainer in my living room all summer. I've gotten on it about.... hmmmm.... ONCE! I know, I'm bad. I need to get it tuned up and fitted perfectly. I will take it in soon. I'm doing better with the clips, not 100% comfortable but about 85-90% good. Just don't make me come to a halting stop, and I'll be fine =) Bernie and I will be going for ride on Saturday after practice just to get back into the swing of things.

Step three: start swimming regularly! I've renewed my membership at the Rose Bowl, a wooping $60/month! But it's the only place I feel comfortable swimming at and it's just so darn convenient! I've gone a few times and am loving my waterproof ipod! I'm still slow but I know I just need to get back into shape which will take some time.

So that's the update on my status with the three sports. Basically, I need to get my arse in gear and start training seriously! Did I mention that I can't wear a wetsuit at lavaman!!!! Ugh, maybe I should add a "step four: learn how to tread water" ... hahah!

http://pages.teamintraining.org/los/lavatri11/jalbaa

New Team, New Season, New Distance, New Possiblities!

I will begin to blog about my training once again. In the meantime, why don't you check out our team's website.

http://eastsidetrispring.blogspot.com/

Also, I'll be training and fundraising for Lavaman, if you want to make a donation online please visit: http://pages.teamintraining.org/los/lavatri11/jalbaa

Thanks! I'll be back soon!

My new team

Triathlon day, remembered 4 months later...

Sorry for this sloppy blog... I had more pictures to share than words (and even the words aren't well written)...oops

It's been a long time since I've written anything on this blog because of the simple fact that I haven't done much after the Triathlon in September. I know that by now, I've spoken to everyone who is interested about HOW my first triathlon went. So for those of you who haven't heard the stories, I'll do a short and overall "experience".

Here's a link to my photo album to see ALL the photos of Triathlon Day:

My First Triathlon:
I was nervous about the swim but at the same time oddly ready for it. I didn't have a swim buddy but deep down really wanted to do it on my own all along. Sean was right, it was a little difficult making it out to the first buoy but once I made that corner, I just kept going. I did have to stop for the occassional swimmer that was going the wrong way though. I slapped the first two buoys, not calling out loud "bitch", just in my head. I did however quitely slapped the last buoy and said it out aloud.... hahaha! Coming out of the swim I could hear Ale, my mentor, screaming at the top of her lungs, for me. I slowly make my way to the sand and have a difficult time running through it. I did however have enough energy to pose for this photo =)

The bike was the part I hated the most. PCH as you know is rolling hills. I knew
this, I had been on this course already so I was prepared. I was just hoping for a smooth ride with no flat tires. I made my way up and down the hills and ended up derailing TWICE! So I had to get off my bike, fix my chain, and ride with grease on my fingers. The ride was long!

The run was not a run, it was a walk. Which I knew was going to happen. Honestly, I probably could've ran it, but I just didn't. I guess it's that non-competitive part of me that holds me back. Coach Joy and Louis came out to find me at the last 1/2 mile and encouraged me to jog. Once I saw my little TNT cheering squad, I booked it and ran to the finish line. I really hated that 90 degree turn at the end though.

After crossing the finish line, seeing all my teammates, friends and family waiting there and cheering for me, was as great as it always is. I can't thank them enough for being at every leg cheering for me and most importantly waiting around for me (I was very slow). My sister and brother-in-law decided to tell the race announcer that I didn't know how to swim or ride a bike when I first started training for the race. So once I crossed the finish line, the announcer mentioned that for all to hear and it shocked me. He called me over to his little podium and gave me a little interview. It was VERY cool to have finished the race, in honor of my niece Justine, and then being able to share that with everyone. That was really the icing on the cake. It really hit me at that moment of how far I had come. Just read my blog entry before this one and you'll know what I mean!



Even though it was a much shorter and somewhat easier task finishing a triathlon than it is a marathon, I felt much more accomplished and proud when I finished my first triathlon. It could be that the physical pain from finishing a marathon over powers the emotional pride... haha


I do have to give a big huge "THANK YOU" to Louis for all the time he spent with me over the summer. He met me every week to nag me and teach me how to ride my bike, how to change a tire and gave me the encouragement I needed to get things done. He was very patient and really went out of his way to help me all the way to the finish line. Thanks Louis!



The week following the event, I couldn't believe I had done a triathlon. Calling myself a "triathlete" was strange and almost unreal. To think I had started 4 months ago (from September) not knowing how to ride a bike and barely swimming in the pool and then going to call myself a triathlete, was a strange truth. I was eager to stay on track and continue to do more triathlons. I was boasting to friends about which ones we should do. I went swimming in the ocean just a few weeks after for fun and even started to learn how to use bike clips. I was on a high that I hoped to never come off of.

Then an extremely busy work schedule threw a thorn in my bubble. I was working 12-15 hour days, sitting in front of a computer. The sun began to set early as the season changed and then I got sucked into the Holiday food feasts. To say the least, I fell off the wagon and needed a good kick in the arse to get back on.

So here I am, I signed up to mentor for the summer season Triathlon team with Team in Training.... yes again. I still love the program and always enjoy making new friends. I was/am a little nervous about the fact that I'm a terrible triathlete (I'm really slow and still suck on the bike).

So we'll see how it goes. This blog will continue as I'm still learning how to be a real triathlete. It will probably be stories about how all the new participants are better than me..... haha I'm fine with it, just as long as they are too =p