At swim last night, I kept trying that 100 m non-stop, but this time with a bouy. It’s much smoother with a bouy. My stokes were strong, my breathing was smooth and my legs just chilling and floating! This morning’s swim class was alright. We focused more on breathing techniques so our pace was slower. Still, I struggle with the 100m non-stop swim. Aaaarrrr! Frustrating because I seriously need to learn to slow my heart rate down! No more messing around, Joy Sy. Get it right or drown!!! I started off my non-stop swim very slowly, knowing that I need that endurance, BUT THEN while I was under the water, I heard Coach Laura say “Joy, your arms are in slow motion!” But I knew that. =) That’s what I was trying to do, but I guess I had to speed it up and put the power in. Once I did, my legs started expending a lot of energy and I was DONE – out of breath - wishing I could use the pull bouy during the race. Forget my legs, I know my arms (on their own) are strong enough to pull myself through the whole swim route.
Sneak peek of my diet today:
05:30 a.m. Rice noodles with pork and sticky rice with mushroom
08:00 a.m. Banana and apple
09:00 a.m. Coffee
11:00 a.m. Kumquats
12:00 p.m. Steamed salmon
02:00 p.m. Boiled melon vegetable
04:00 p.m. 3 steamed egg whites
I finally signed up for my first race! New Jersey Man Multisport Sprint Race is going to be held on Saturday, May 9th! We’re staying overnight on Friday and maybe Saturday for some dancing. I’m excited because I get to be part of the team’s first race! It’s very soon, I know, but it only pumps up the adrenaline! I’ll probably sign up for three more races: SBR's Harriman State Park Sprint (Saturday, June 13th), Philedelphia Insurance Sprint (Saturday, June 27th) and then the ultimate Olympic distance race: The Nautica NYC Triathlon (Saturday, July 27th). Who knows, I might chicken out, but still, these will be my goals for the next several months.
WEDNESDAY, 03.04.09 When in comes to triathlons, throw your budget out the window. I don't want to spend the time to think about how much I've forked out so far, but if you can ask me if you want. Of course I have a list of my triathlon expenses. =P Oh you know what sucks? Just as I thought I got my training schedule down packed, I now have to re-arrange everything. Being on client sites for the next two weeks is not what I had in mind. But of course, I have to suck it up, think it through and make sure I still get all my work-outs in somehow. This morning was weight lifting - shoulders, back, bicepts and tricepts. Working out at home is just not the same. =( Booo...
THURSDAY, 03.05.09 I've been so busy I forgot to pay rent! I never forget rent. So all my pants no longer fit. And since my sister bluntly told me I can't borrow any of her clothes, I had to pull out some from college and even from high school. Surely I am slowly disappearing.
I was dancing at 5:30 am this morning - just me and the music. It felt soooo goooood! I can comfortably say I am natural at dancing. My body and legs just go on their own. But to be told by Coach Jennifer Place that she can see I'm a natural in the water is something I am still working on!!! I'm trying and can't let her down! And since I can't make my way to the gym during mid-day for the next two weeks, I have to exercise more in the mornings. After and hour of Yoga X and half an hour of Ab Ripper, I am able to smile a bit. Yesterdays measly workout casted a bad mood for the rest of my day. If work allows, I hope to catch my team for today's Harlem Hill repeats!
I don't know where I get all this energy. Some of you ask me how I do it all. I'll let you in on it. I'm not superwoman (though I can confidently say I was bore by one!). I can't take much of the credit actually. I woke up this morning with a glass of hot green tea, warm noodles, and green bean stew. Every morning I lift the lid of a pot and ~wala~ a warm breakfast just for me! =). My mom is the ultimate superwoman. Everyday she will have several pre-washed fruit, steamed vegetables and delicious fish and chicken for me to choose and bring with me to fuel my body for the rest of the day. My family has been super supportive of me and what I'm doing, I think about each of them everyday. My dad helps me run my errands. My button falls off, he sews them back on. He helps me run to the post office and as a bonus he gives me life lessons on how to be an even better person. =). My sister's role is one of a kind. She's here to remind me that I will never be as skinny as her no matter how much training and working out I do. So maybe I'm here determined to prove her wrong but we all know my weakness. My flaw is that food is my best friend. My brother lends me all of his equipment: weights, bench, stationary bike trainer and all the other gear you can think of. And then there's KC, whose unparalleled encouragement (through the emotional breakdowns, mental stress, and physical challenges) have gotten me to this point. And that, you guys...is how I do it all... I hope to make you all proud on race day!!! =)
FRIDAY, 03.06.09 I feel like it's been a while since I swam. Good thing I was able to do it this morning. The initial goal was to swim non-stop for 20 minutes, but that didn't happen - 12 minutes max and I was out of breath (that was with a pull bouy too!). Aiya. Then I decided to figure out my leg rythm to each arm stroke. I watched this lady next to me and she did three. I tried it but I was still getting too tired. Then I saw this guy training and he did two kicks to every stroke. It looked very smooth, so I think I'll try that next time.
SATURDAY 03.07.09 Sunny high 60's F. The floor had patches of wet spots, but perfect for riding nonetheless. It excited my teammates and I. Emails went back and forth about what to wear. There was a race at the park that morning, so there was more traffic than usual. We had to be alert. Similar to a race environment where you have to constantly be on the look out. An amazing feeling riding the loop 3 times and not feeling a bit tired. I guess after riding 40 miles last week 18 miles should be a cup of tea with a piece of cake! I had a terrible fear of crashing and falling though. I'm the biggest chicken in my family. Since childhood, I've always been afraid to get hurt - which explains why I don't generally play impact sports (I stick with yoga). Though when I'm already hurt I have a high tolerance for pain (a neurologist had once confirmed). An accident occurred today (at nobody's fault). Lauren and Jennifer crashed and fell while going at least 17 mph. I was right next to them. I heard it all and even saw it from the corner of my eye. Lauren tried to avoid the water bottle in front of her but since Jenn was riding inches away from her, their bikes crashed. Jenn knew she was going down but somehow her voice sounded so calm when she said "Oh no." Then I heard the collision of the bikes. It made crackling/tangling sounds until I heard bodies hit the ground. I had to call out Will. Katie and Carey also stopped as we pulled over to the side. They came out okay but Lauren sprained her wrist pretty badly. Their bikes needed fixing so they couldn't ride the rest of the day. =( Things like this scare me but as Jenn wrote in her email, incidents like this make stronger riders. I admire the camaraderie that exists in our team. I hope they both recover well and keep up their spirits!
SUNDAY, 03.08.09 Lil sis came to watch me practice swim. I had un-matching swim attire (blue bathing suit with a neon yellow cap). She may not lend me her clothes, but I know she loves me! =) At swim I shared the lane with Love. I don't know why they call her that, but they do. She's older than the rest of us and has strong willpower. While swimming froggy style on my back, I sorta scraped the side of her boobies. Don't look at me like that! It was by accident! =X Then I thought I'd swim faster to give her some space. So, I took a larger froggie style stroke and as a result, I slapped her boobs under the water! Oh goodness! I'M SO SORRY! I didn't even get the chance to personally say it to her. End of THAT story! This is a video my lil sis May took from our swim class! I'm the one all the way at the end lane (with a bright yellow cap and blue bathing suit). Coach Andres asked us to go "all out." It took me 17 seconds to swim across the 25 meter length (with fins). http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cOT24mrW--E
By the way, I figured out the secret shower spot that hogs all the hot water! I'll can only tell you if you're nice to me. Anyway, I noticed the shape of my legs today. People used to tell me that I have "fat knees" but it seems to run in my family. Even my skinny little sister has "fat knees." But guess what! They're no longer that fat! I swear the fat just melted away. This week was all about change. Learning to change my bike tires, learning to adapt to schedule change and most rewarding of all...seing my body change. I no longer have fat knees. =)
MONDAY, 03.09.09 Today I made it to Equinox-Brooklyn Heig
hts. I set my goal at 6 miles OR an hour of running (which ever comes first) but instead I ran for only 39 minutes and only 4 miles. =( I'm still in the 10 minute mile but whatever, I ran more than last week. And if it wasn't for the pins and needles I felt on my foot all of a sudden, I would have continued. My feet are still swollen from sugery and I have an appointment to see the doctor for a follow up. I hope my bones are okay and the screws are still in place. After running I decided to do some resistance training with my arms (which I usually don't do on Monday's because I don't want my arms to be sore during our swim session on Tuesdays). It was nice to see my back / lat muscles contract in the mirror. I always made fun of the guys who loved to stare at their muscles. I never understood, but now I do. I'm turning into a guy! Aaahhh! Because of work I missed Coach Jenn's lecture on strength training. =( Good thing they gave out notes! I hope you're enjoying the pictures I started to put up! =) I eat about 6 meals and continuously throughout the day. Check out picture of my breakfast #2. I'm a monster!
