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

Rollercoaster weekend....

It's been 2 weeks since my disastrous first attempt to swim in the ocean. In between then, the team has done an open water lake swim and everyone's full distance for their race in the pool. After the swim in Ocean park, i developed an ear infection which led to 10 days (doctor ordered) no swim training. I was bummed but also glad I had it checked out early enough to be able to participate in the mini-tri at Zuma.

The Mini Triathlon
I was totally nervous driving out to Zuma Beach the morning of August 22. Eating my PB&J sandwich on my way there, my stomach started to feel funny. I know it's nerves so I deal with it. I get to the beach and set up my transition area. I'm nervous but distract myself by joking around with my teammates. We make our way out to the ocean and the fear begins to resurface. Coach Mike goes over the drill of how to get through the waves and such. I'm standing there scared but hoping I'll get through it and actually swim. I know it's going to be tough but I think I can do it this time. Coach sends every one out in groups and my group is the last since we are doing the sprint distance and there are only a handful of us. We go out, I notice Coach Mike staying at my side the entire way. I get through the waves and begin to freak out AGAIN! It's the same scenario as my first ocean swim and am having the panic attack AGAiN. I'm breathing heavy and Coach Mike is by my side the entire time. He tries to calm me down but my fears are getting the best of me. I trusted in my wetsuit and knew I wasn't going to drown but I couldn't get a handle on my breathing. I kept saying "I'm so tired" and Mike asked, why? We haven't done anything yet. Which was completely true I hadn't gone anywhere but past the break. Coach Mike, being the amazingly patient coach that he is, takes me through the water slowly. First he says to go the to first buoy. But he then notices that the red one is closer. So he makes me follow him out to the path where everyone is swimming, which I think was in the middle of the 2 buoys . He then says, ok, let's go to the red buoy. I'm still freaking out, breathing crazily. I'm yanking on my collar saying that its too tight and it's choking me. We undo it a little and coach Ludo comes over and helps open it up more. I keep repeating "I can't do this! I can't do this!" They say, "yes you can Jane, look, you have 2 coaches here, you can do this." At this point, I realize I'm monopolizing the coaches. ~Sorry TEAM, i don't mean to take up all of their attention!~ I try to prepare myself to swim to the buoy. I take a deep breath and put my face in the water and start swimming. I take maybe 4-5 strokes and come up. I couldn't stay calm and started dogging paddling. I finally make my way to the red buoy where Ale is hanging out on a surf board. I stay there to catch my breath. Coach Mike wants me to tell him when I'm ready to go back to the beach and he'll take me back. I rest up and tell him I'm ready. We go back and I'm still just as scared as i started. Coach Mike leads me back, literally holding my hand the entire way and asks if I want to try again. At that point, it was 80/20 "no". He said that if I want to try again, just wave and he'll come out to me and walk me through it again. I walk along the beach and stand in front of where the first buoy aligns. I standing there seeming forever thinking if I was going to go back. I had decided, I need to go back in. I'm searching for Coach Mike in the sea of swim caps that are out there. I couldn't tell where he was and didn't see anyone noticing me standing there. Katie, one of my teammates, is walking towards me and is going in for her second loop. I attempted to follow her so that I could at least be with someone but i got cold feet. I walked a little further saw a big wave, and then turned back. I couldn't do it alone. I decided, I'm not going in anymore. So I get on my bike and finish the rest of the workout. 18 miles on PCH and then a 3 mile walk/run on the board walk. The rest of the workout out was fine. I was going slowly, mostly because I was down about the swim. I could've gone faster but i didn't care to, I was mentally defeated and the doubt of completing the tri was ever more real. The finish line was great, being cheered in by my the amazing Eastside team. I left the beach feeling really sad and unsure of my abilities. I call my sister and start balling and pour out all of fears and doubts about the race.

The rest of the day, I was completely in a rut. I was depressed and didn't know where I was going. I had a fundraiser to go to in the evening and went but I was only halfway there, mentally. My SGV friends all asked about how my Tri-training was going and my eyes began to tear up and I said, "don't ask, I'll talk about it when I'm ready". I come home and go to bed early trying to attempt my ocean swim again the next morning.

I wake up Sunday morning, determined if anything, to swim, to make it out there, and to make this the day that I actually make it. I arrive at Ocean Park and met up with Talia, Ron, Ale and some other TNT alumni. Will and Adrianna were waiting on the beach for us. We make our way out and I'm nervous as hell. The life guard brings us over and warns us about the waves. I look at them and think, maybe this isn't a good idea for today. Ale and Ron, walk with me, one on each side. I'm freaking out. More than ever. We go in and we dive through the waves. The second wave, knocks me out and I tumble in it for a while. Ron is right there and grabs me and helps me up. The next wave is a big one and I get through it. As soon as I get up, the panic and the heavy breathing begins again. Ale and Ron try to have me relax and catch my breath. At this point, we're past the break and we're just floating. We float for a while for me to catch my breath. I get on my back to really relax and convince myself that I need to do this today. I'm somewhat relaxed and tell them I'm ready. Then determined as ever, I begin to swim. I take a few strokes and tire out again. Ale and Ron, so great, stayed with me the entire time. They remind me to not kick and to just swim easy. So after I catch my breath again we go. I stay focused. I swim. I breath slowly. I talk to myself in my head. I spot the buoy. I am swimming. I am SWIMMING IN THE OCEAN! I take a few breaks and then start up again. I can hear everyone that is hanging out at the buoy cheering me on. I keep swimming. I keep swimming. I get to where everyone is and am SOOOOOO happy! They tell me to keep going to the buoy, and I say "SHIT" and keep swimming. I slap the buoy and at that point, knew that I had concurred. It was an amazing feeling and couldn't have done it without all those people there and all of the "fear-handling" that Coach Mike walked me through before that. We swim back to the break, well I didn't go all the way back, yes I cheated a little, and then we swam back to the buoy. I took breaks along the way but I definitely had my confidence up. Every time I touched the buoy, I slapped it hard and then yelled out "SHIT" just because I was tired by the time I reached it....hehe We went out and back one more time, I touched the buoy a total of three times. We decided to go back out to the beach which I was VERY scared of. I was afraid to get caught up in a wave coming up behind me. Ron and Ale, always on my side the entire way, took me the entire way through. I kept swimming, looking for the wave to come. I began to see the bottom and tried to stand up a few times. The water was still neck level and Ron kept telling me to keep going. Afraid every time he said that I just kept swimming afraid that a wave was going to come. Finally I was about waist deep and CRAMP! My left calf cramps up and I'm freaking out that a wave is going to build up and crash on me while I can barely move. Ale and Ron run to me and help me stretch it out. Ale says, "we didn't catch any of the waves coming in but you get a cramp!" And then I thought, oh, are we already away from the waves? .....hahaha Knowing that I was in the safe zone, I stand there trying to stretch it out and get it relaxed. Mentor Will then comes to the rescue and picks me up (I bet he didn't think I was as heavy as I actually am) but he picks me up and carries me to the beach. Have I mentioned how GREAT the EASTSIDE staff is??? AWESOME!!! So that was it, Ale and Ron, thank you for staying by my side the ENTIRE way. Adrianna and Talia, thanks for cheering me on at every step. Will, thanks for taunting me about doing longer swims and for carrying me to the beach! Sorry about the middle fingers, I take those back =) Coach Mike, thanks for holding my hand during my major freak outs during the first 2 attempts. And thanks to my family, my friends and all of my teammates for believing in me when I really didn't believe in myself. I'm not saying that the next time I go out I won't be scared again, that I won't have a hard time again, that I won't freak out again. But having gone through the swim today, gave me the confidence that I needed to know it can be done. I needed that. I needed today to be a success, just for my mental health. I needed today more than anything and today was definitely a good day.

Fears, Tears and disappointment

I just got back from my first open water swim. Nervous but not doubting that it would happen I prepare myself as Coach Mike gives us the run down. Lucky for us, the waves were pretty rough and high that morning....ugh! I "guess" it was good to learn the hard way first *rolling my eyes* I was lucky enough to be able to borrow a wetsuit from one of the Captains, Bernie. It was a sleeveless one because I plan on exchanging mine for one just like it. In any case, the first thing we try is getting in the water, jumping over the waves and duck diving under the waves. So we go, I get in nervous but going. I'm able to jump over the small waves and maintain. Then I start getting deeper in and the waves are beginning to get larger. The first duck dive I did wasn't too bad. I dove under the wave and came right up. The next wave freaked me out. I tried to dive but I either didn't go under early enough or not deep enough. I got caught up in it and rolled around a little. I got nervous but finally came up for air. It was tiring. Constantly having to dive and come up for air. The wetsuits do help....I think. So we all go back out onto the beach and take a breather. Coach Mike now tells us that we're going to swim out to the buoy which is about 250 meters out and then wait there for everyone to get there. I look out and the waves just seem to be getting bigger at this point and the FEAR is definitely starting to sink in. The staff asks if anyone is nervous then they can partner up with a mentor, I immediately raised my hand even before he could finish the sentence.

Already being nervous from getting rolled around the first time, I told myself, I can do this, just get passed all the waves. So we line up so they can count us and make sure they know how many went out and how many are supposed to come back....hahah So we're off. I go forward, not doubting that I'm going to make it. I jump though the waves. I dive through the waves. Then it hits me, a double wave. I dive through one wave and as I just come up for air, another wave hits me, unexpected and I'm rolling in it. Freaking out I come up and continue. I try to keep moving forward, not even knowing if I'm going in the right direction, I just want to get passed the break. I dive under a wave and then again, a second quick wave knocks me out. I start swimming because I can no longer touch the floor. I've lost all technique and am just swimming with my head completely above the water. I'm so exhausted at this point that I roll over onto my back to take a break. I hear Coach Mike say, Jane let's go, swim. and I try to and I'm just out of gas. I have no energy and my breathing is very rapid. Once I knew he was right there, I started to freak out and repeated, I can't do this, I can't. I'm panicking I can't I can't. He tries to calm me down and then eventually realizes that I won't be able to swim out to the buoy. So he says, we're going to turn back. So he guides me back and he watches as the waves come up behind us, telling me to duck when I need to. I made it under the waves a few times but most of the time, I freaked out and ate it. Mike continues to lead me back and then says, look it's ok, I'm touching the ground, then I say, but I can't! He then tells me to grab his feet, so he turns around and I first grab his shoulders and then I repeat, Grab your legs?? He said "yes" so I move my hands down his legs and he swims with me in tow. Amazing coaches I tell you! So finally he hands me off to Bernie, to help me get back to the beach. I let out a very inappropriate belch before he leaves and bernie takes me back.

I'm completely exhausted. I feel completely defeated and disappointed. The entire time I was making my way back with Mike, all I could think about is how there's no way I can do this. What the heck was I thinking. I'm going to have to tell everyone that I just can't do it. We walk back to the beach where I met a few others that didn't make it out either. We wait for everyone else that is out near the buoy to swim back. The whole time I just wanted to break out in tears but I didn't want to do it in front of everyone else and I didn't want to take away from the excitement of those that did make it out.

After doing a drill about how to get out of the wetsuit, we all changed and met in the parking lot. I went up to Coach Mike and hugged him and thanked him. Then I just broke down. I started crying and everyone was trying to make me feel better. Ale was telling me how she didn't make it out the first time she went in the ocean too. Ludo joked around and said that I didn't make it out because he wasn't with me. Josie was hugging me trying to console me.

The tears weren't out of fear, they were from disappointment. It's from not knowing if I'm really going to be able to do this. Various mentors are going to be holding more open water swims and I'm going to go to every single one of them. I'm hoping I'll be able to get over this fear soon. The race isn't too far away and it really will be a miracle if and when i finish this triathlon. I need prayers =)

6 weeks and 4 days left.....

I know I haven't blogged in a while but here I am. This is going to be a long one so I won't be offended if you don't get through it all in one day or even ever! I will again break it down.

The Swimming
I finally renewed my membership to the RBAC so I can feel comfortable swimming on my own. For the longest time I was trying to convince myself to go the 24 fitness gym because I already have a membership there. It took weeks for me to finally go and when i went, it was too crowded. Anyways, we started swimming at a new pool, Yosemite Pool in Eagle Rock. I missed the first practice at the pool because of family stuff. So at the second practice, I walked over and the first thing I noticed was that the lanes are set-up the LONG way, not the short way we were used to swimming in. *minor freak-out* and then, I was talking to some teammates and they had mentioned our warm-up called the "snake". I thought, it's a special drill on how to move your body. But I was wrong =( The snake warm up is swimming up and down ALL lanes till you reach the end of the pool. That's a total of 8 lengths, 4 laps, THE LONG WAY! So practice starts and I let everyone go ahead of me because I'm slow, I start swimming and it sucks. I tire out at every end of the lane. The middle of the lane is 11 ft deep so it's a little freaky when you see the floor dip that low. I was so slow that they didn't even want me to finish all the lanes. I think I had 2 more to go. So they separate us in the distances we're doing for our event. Most people are doing the Olympic with about 3 of us doing the sprint. The sprint has to do 400 meters and the Olympic 800 meters. Boy I was so happy I stuck with the Sprint distance....haha! They want us to keep swimming without any stops because we won't be able to stop in the middle of the ocean on race day! We are allowed to turn over on our backs if we need to rest. They also tell us that they will be pulling some people out to video tape them and their technique. So we're off and we start swimming. I was pretty tired but it was do-able. No doubt I was slow but knowing that I wasn't able to stop I just tried to find a rhythm and keep moving. Of course, my coaches pull me aside to video tape me and boy that was nerve racking. I'm interested to see what i look like =) Anyways, by the end of practice, Coach Ludo tells me to kick more so my feet are closer to the surface of the water. I was swimming with my feet dragging. Once he told me that, I definitely felt a difference and now I am more aware of my feet and try to really keep that horizontal position during my swim. I've been swimming more in the mornings and am concentrating on keeping my feet up, rotating my body more to extend my arm as far as possible and trying to breath on both sides. Still unsuccessful with the last one but there's still time to work on it.


The Bike

The bike is getting better. The seat is less painful and I'm comfortable on flat and going downhill. NOT UPHILL though =( The first time we had our hour long bike ride was very nerve racking for me. Coach Ludo rode with Irene and I. First we went on the River path and then we went onto the street to do a loop around the park. When we first got on the street I was so nervous. I had to get on my bike and cross the street. Cars were waiting and I kept losing my footing to get on the bike. Finally I got on the bike and thankfully the cars were very patient and waited. So I'm riding along side Ludo and he's telling me what I need to know about riding on the street. He said don't care about the cars that are driving, they are more afraid of you. The thing you must be careful about is a parked car opening their door in front of you! He warns me about the hill coming up. He says it's about 3/4 of a mile long and that I just need to go slow. It's a pretty big hill but reiterates that I just need to go slow. So we go up an incline and I ask, is this the start of the hill? and he says "no" it's still further up. Now I'm starting to freak out because I was tired going up that small incline! We finally get to the hill and I"m like, OMG. Go slow .... go slow. Unfortunately, I didn't have to tell my body that for very long because it WAS going slow on it's own. I was breathing heavy, well I was out of breath, and barely moving. I kept wining, I can't I can't, I need to stop, and Ludo told me, "no keep going" and so I try. I eventually have to stop, I couldn't do it. So we stopped, I got a drink, and caught my breath. Ludo patiently waits for me and is nervous about me getting on the bike up hill. I finally get on and it's still hard. Seeing how much trouble I was having, Ludo decides to take it in his own hands, LITERALLY. He keeps one bike on his hand and the other hand on my back and is PHYSICALLY pushing me up hill! I was amazed with his skill and power and felt, soooo bad and also relieved at the same time =) For a split second he let go to change his gears and I felt how much work he was really doing. I kept apologizing and he said "it's ok Jane, let's go. Just keep your bike straight because if you fall we both fall" We finally make it up the hill and I'm glad it's over and am completely thankful for the help from my coach. With the uphill, there's a downhill. I cruise downhill, a little afraid but at the same time enjoying the ride. I brake regularly and am just happy that the tough part is over. The next week we went the opposite direction on the hill and it was a little easier. I didn't have Coach Ludo there to push me up and I did stop and walk a little. Coach Joy made me get back on the bike and keep going. She's tough but in a good way. It's not like boot camp tough, it's like, the person that believes in you more than you believe in yourself kind of tough. With lots of heavy breathing and slow pedaling, I get up and still am cursing the hill. Ale, my mentor, and I cruise downhill and finish our ride on the river trail. The next week we go back up the more steeper side and I make a few stops again. Ludo pushes me AGAIN but not as long as the last time. Hopefully this weekend I can make it up there on my own without stopping. I am not going to get pedals and clips for my race. My coach thinks it's too late to try to start learning them. Which I kinda knew and agree. Last thing I need to do is to try learning something new when I can't even make it up the hill on my own. I'll be fine and at least it will cut back my transition time between the bike and run =)

The Run
From now on we will be doing what they call "brick" workouts. Which is 2 back to back workouts. Typically it is the bike and run. Our first brick workout was an 1 hour bike ride and a 15 minute run. That was the workout for the sprint. So that day, I'm pretty sure I rode for an hour and 15 and then still had to do my run. When we were coming up to the parking lot, Ale was riding with me and she was telling me to spin my legs. I asked "why" and she had mentioned something about moving the lactic acid around. So we get to the parking lot and I drop off my bike and get my water bottle for the run. Immediately, I feel very sluggish. I try to briskly walk but in my head I know that my legs can't move that fast. My watch beeps for me to do a run break and I'm barely moving. Thank God my run is only 15 minutes long! I broke down the time in my head, I like to do math while I'm walking, it wastes time. So I figured that I only have 2 run breaks in my 7.5 minutes out before I turn back. That means I only have 4 run breaks during this part. (intervals are 3 walk 1 run) That makes me happy =) The 15 minutes couldn't have ended any sooner and I was so happy to return to the parking lot where everyone was already back. From now on, all of our workouts will be bricks. It's cutting down to the wire and the weeks are flying by much faster than I would like to!

3 weekends from now, my team and I will be camping out in Lake Castaic. At first I thought it was a fun team bonding weekend until I found out that we're going to be doing our first mock-tri in the lake. *GULP* I had a baby shower to go to that day but when I found out it was a mock tri, there was no way I was going to miss it. I need all the practices I can get! The week after that will be our first Ocean Swim at Malibu....*BIG GULP* And then following that, Coach Joy will be hosting unofficial trainings at Zuma Beach for swimming and biking.

This is it kids, no joke, it's really happening and it's in full gear.....yikes!

I will have Alice organize the cheering crew if you're interested in coming out to my event. It's not like a marathon where you can run or ride your bike with me. It's actually against the rules and I can get disqualified if I have any kind of help, I think. But it sure would be nice to see some familiar faces =)

One funny story, I was at one of my teammates fundraisers and so was Coach Ludo. I bought him a beer to thank him for pushing me up the hill. After a few drinks we had this conversation:

Jane: Ludo, will you push me up the hill during my race too?? (jokingly)
Ludo: **with French accent** No Jane, I will just be sitting waiting on the side and when I see you I'll just say "JANE, MOVE YOUR ASS!" hahah

Sounds better when I tell you it in person because i do the French accent too =)

1st Team bike ride, Rose Bowl attempt #2

Prior to my first team bike ride, I had attempted a loop around the rose bowl and fell. I fell pretty hard and scratched up my arm pretty bad. It still hurts at this moment. Since it's at my elbow the scab keeps breaking every time I painfully bend it. I can't sleep on my left side because of my injury because it hurts too much. But other than some bruises on my legs, all else is working fine.

Saturday morning, I get to Griffith Park and unload my bike. I borrow my mentor, Ale's, floor pump to pump my tires. Luckily Louis showed me how to do this a couple weeks back. Everyone is walking around checking out everyone else bikes. Me, not really caring what other people are riding because they all look the same to me! The bike basic clinic starts. I needed all the info that was given even though most seemed utterly bored. After, Coach Mike wants to do the bike checklist together as at team. So we do it and I notice that my front tire doesn't spin freely. Well good thing we did the checklist! Mike uses my improperly assembled tire as an example of why the checklist is important. Next the group is split into 3 groups, Advanced/Intermediate, Beginner, and Beginner Beginner (never been on a bike). Coach Joy approached me earlier and asked if I was the one who doesn't know how to ride. I told her that I can but I'm extremely nervous. She gave me the choice of going with the beginners or staying with her in the parking lot. The Advanced/Intermediates take off and the beginners do a few laps in the parking lot. Then Mike says we can go out to the bike path. I'm encouraged to go with them because I can obviously move on the bike. So I go nervously. We get to the stop sign at the end of the parking lot and as we come up to it, I lose my footing and jump off of my seat. And of course just as I do that, the pack makes their way across. Brenda, my teammate, was kind enough to wait with me but when she was ready to go, I wasn't. So I let all of the cars pass before I collect myself to make my way across. I make it across and there's a slight incline for the freeway overpass. I pedal stronger trying to make it up and before I know it I'm going downhill. I'm freaking out, squealing and screaming and repeating "oh shit oh shit" in an annoyingly high pitched voiced. Mike was great staying by my side and telling me to brake softly down hill. Telling me that I'm doing fine and that he'll block traffic for me. I continue to be annoying all the way downhill as the rest of the pack waits for me at the bottom. When I get to the bottom I immediately want to get off. So I do. I needed to anyways to get through to the bike path. He points the rest of the pack in the right direction realizing that he will have to support me for a while. So Mike rides with me down the path. I'm super nervous with my bike swaying side to side. Mike continuing to be encouraging and me trying to focused. He recommends a few things here and there and I'm barely listening because I'm just focusing not to fall against the wall, other runners, other bikes or down the river! We turn back early knowing that it would just take me longer to get back if I continue to go farther. Then Mike leaves me on my own, surely because he probably is bored riding so slow with me or because my annoying nerves were enough for him....haha So I continue, and I'm making it. I tired out a little and took a little break. Then I make it to the gate that leads back to the street. Mike comes along with me as I walk my bike on the other side. To make it back, you have to go uphill. I look at it and tell Mike that I'm going to walk it. I wasn't too afraid of going up hill, I was more afraid of going downhill where it leads to an intersection. I was terrified and pictured myself not being able to stop and getting run over by a car. So Mike just told me to do some laps in the parking lot with Joy and just work out my nerves. As he's talking to me, a person waves to him and he tells me that the person in the car was a past participant that didn't know how to ride when she first started too. So I walk my bike uphill. Hector catches up to me and gets off his bike and walks with me. I'm so out of breath, it's ridiculous. We get back to the parking lot and I take a breather. Then I continue to do some laps in the parking lot. Hector's daughter was there with Joy learning how to ride her bike. She's only 16 and she seems fine. Joy rides along side me and tries to teach me the gear shifting. At the end of all this, I'm wiped and super tired. The team meets up for last announcements and then I go home. Thank God I didn't fall again!

Louis sent me a message on fb asking how training is going. I told him I still need more bike practice. He offers to ride with me again so we plan to meet on Monday after work. I get to the Rose Bowl and we do a few loops in the parking lot. He wants to help me figure out the gear shifting. So then we cross the bridge from Lot K to the other side where SGV meets for hill training. We ride all the way across and reach the loop. Nervous as always, it takes me a while to get started, but we start the loop at that point and we return to lot K. I was still nervous but we make it back and Louis gives me more pointers. With some resistance, I agree to do an entire loop. So as we wait for all the cars and other bikes to pass, I keep telling myself, don't fall again! So we go off. Louis stays behind me most of the time and keeps yelling at me "stay to the right, closer to the right, back to the right" By the time we reach mile one, I'm freaking exhausted. I yell at Louis, "I need a break" He yells, "just make the turn keep going!" I say "no" and pull over. I was wiped and was so out of breath. He said it was because I was in the wrong gear and was working too hard. I like to believe that. But I also know that my endurance sucks right now too. I wait to collect my breath as Louis shows off and goes up that mean hill at that corner. So we continue, and the ride was fairly better. It was less nerve racking, still scary but not terrifying. When I pulled up to the spot where I fell last time, I was hoping and praying to not freak out....and I didn't .... whew! I make it back to Lot K in one piece, exhausted and sweaty. While Ironman Louis doesn't even seem like he did any kind of exercise at all. But I left the Rose Bowl, feeling good. Feeling a little more confident. Coach Mike was right, just a few minutes a day could boost my confidence quickly. I'll be getting my bike properly fit on Thursday. I hope that doesn't mess anything up for me.....hahhahaha

BTW, one thing I found out over the weekend was that in the rules for the triathlon, during the bike, everyone must stay 3 bike lengths away from the bike in front of them. You will be disqualified if you ride closer. And if you try to pass a bike in front of you, you have to do it within 12-15 seconds or you'll be disqualified. I was glad to hear this now knowing I won't be riding close to other bikes =P

attempt #2

I will be going out to the Rose Bowl today to do another loop with Louis. Pray that I don't hit any runners or get run over by a car! I'm serious....

Chlorine, bruises, scrapes and deep breaths....

Its been 2 1/2 weeks since my last blog and my training has seen some improvements and some bumps. Let's go in order:

The Swim:
It's getting better! The second swim practice was much easier. I was able to get through all the drills and was able to do the additional drill that was added that week. I still took in some water but I have figured out how to relax. Once I did that, it was much easier. During the last swim practice(#3) we finally got into the stroke. It was pretty hard. I know how to free style on my own but this one is very tricky. I appreciate the style of training where things are taught in progression. One drill building on the other. At the end of that last training, we played a game and I cramped up during it. Maybe because I was trying to swim really fast after an hour long workout? Dunno, but that did bring up the concern of cramping during the race!

The Bike:
For sure, just like I've always said, this is the leg that I'm most worried about. Usually people are really happy about this leg but NOT me! My first "on my own" training was with Manny. He helped me ride around the parking lot showing me how to change gears and where to keep my feet while riding. At the end of the ride, a cone suddenly jumped at me and I crashed. I crashed really really hard and even my brake lever was twisted. Luckily Manny knew how to fix it for me. I had some narly bruises that scared me. The second ride was with Louis who showed me how to brake and get off of the bike calmly. I used to brake and then come to a halting stop almost losing my footing every time. So now I can sort of brake easily. My third ride was with Manny again and I told him I wanted to do a lap around the Rose Bowl. I wanted to do this before my first bike training practice with the team. So after shaking off the nerves and chatting with Audrey, who was there for her training run, we went off. I was so nervous and couldn't keep the bike straight. I was nervous every time I had to pass a person hoping and praying that I wouldn't crash into them. Manny kept telling me to relax my shoulders but I couldn't. Then as we rounded about mile 1.25 we started to go downhill. It got windy and I asked Manny, is it windy or is that us? I was afraid the wind was going to blow me over. So then we get to about mile 2 and Manny is riding in front of me, I am still wavering side to side and I see myself hitting his back tire. I scream, "GO FASTER GO FASTER" and then the next thing I know, I'm flying off my bike into the road. THANK GOD the truck that was coming up beside me wasn't driving fast and didn't run me over. The guys in the truck kindly stopped and asked if I was OK. I quickly responded yes and moved to the side.

Funny enough, this crash wasn't as bad as the first one. The first one HURT and this one scratched up my arm. Manny checked out my arm and my bike and his bike and then we got up and finished the loop. I was still nervous for the last mile and didn't even consider doing another lap. When we got back to our cars Manny lowered my handle bar(?). I quickly tried it out and I think it feels better. Hopefully that adjustment will make my ride more stable. We'll see tomorrow at my first team bike practice!

The Run:
The first run practice was tough on me. Knowing that I HATE running I knew I was going to tire out quickly and I did. Being the last one back to parking lot was a real eye opener for me. I need to work on that too but hopefully all of the other training will help with my endurance.

I'm enjoying my training and every day I ask myself, what the HECK did I sign up for? It's still a far-fetched, unfathomable goal for me but I will work diligently to eventually get there. I just wish it could be easy already....hahaha