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

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 =)