WEEK 05.0 - ADAPTATION

TUESDAY, 03.10.09 I'm glad I'm able to blog while I travel to work. I hate "wasting time" while commuting. In the middle of our endurance swim this morning I experienced a massive cramp on my left calf. What the hell man! I ate a banana and a half this morning! The banana had a purpose, but it let me down. =( I wonder what else is out there to prevent such sudden excruciating pain. Please don't tell me to swim more, because we all know I swim enough. These unexpected occurrences are unacceptable on race days and I will try almost anything (except cut out my cup of coffee)! Lunch on me if you prescribe me something that's guaranteed. =)Today, I got the hang of kicking less in the water. Yay! And maybe that's why I was able to do more of the endurance swim now. But still, its something I have to keep reminding myself. I have to think that swimming is like dancing. It kind of is - the way the body moves with its partner (the water) and how you feel it's every movement. Now all I need is music in the water to keep me going! Today, I pulled my body through the pool without paddles - 6 laps. I didn't think I could do it without paddles at first because my back muscles were sore today, but somehow because there's so much other variables I have to think of while in the water, soreness just goes away. (In the shower - put some eye cream and smother lotion on my face) Hmmm...lotion smells different this morning?!?!? (looked over and peeked from my right eye) SHAVING CREAM!?!?! Eweeeeee! Hahaha. Gotta laugh about it! I got off the bus. The sun shun on my face and suddenly I felt spring crawl on my skin. I love it...coffee time!

WEDNESDAY, 03.11.09 I woke up this morning sore on my back and arms (from lifting) and calfs (from running). I was immobile. As much as I wanted to do more to push myself and build strength, I was out of commission. Though physically I felt aweful, mentally I was satisfied that I felt muscle pain. I really hope its true Marianela, pain is weakness leaving the body. =) And if so, I'm on the same boat as GC, I'm mad weak! I knew I was going to take it easy today. I wanted a deep tissue (pound me as hard as you can, yes I mean it) type of massage. I did some freestyle yoga and stretched myself out. Aaaaahh felt great... Coaches tell us that yoga training twice a week will dramatically improve performance. =) Ha! If I could, I'd do it everyday! After my hot shower, I laid right smack in the middle of my king size bed. Just me and myself, oh and a few gadgets. I took out my warming oil, my heavy duty thumper, and borrowed my sister's rolling deep tissue massager. I took my sweet time massaging every inch of me and oooh-ed and aaaah-ed along the way. I'm glad I'm a girl because I know if you boys out there did the same your sexuality would be questioned. I forgot to document that during swim on Tuesday we were asked to count how many strokes it took us to get across the 25 meter pool. It was a fun exercise. It took me 23 - 25 strokes each time. The goal was to do less strokes in the same amount of time. Basically more power in less amount of strokes. During a stressful evening at work, I ate a ton of junk food (chocolate pretzels, mint chocolate, flavored pita chips, and more chocolate). It was satisfying at first, but I felt so gross afterwards. =(

THURSDAY, 03.12.09 Hello there! (wink) Why yes, I'm in a great mood this morning. I'm so excited for tonight! Fitting our uniforms! Yay! I'm an extra small? Hum...maybe now my little sister would lend me her clothes. We ran 3 times on Cat Hill with an additional flat effort at the top to Cleopatra's Needle. We learned to run uphill efficiently by picking up our legs higher while building strength in our legs. I'm a slow runner; it took me 23 minutes. Jenn led our cycling session today. The climax was a very difficult and very long (3 minute) standing climb. I did not give up. I stuck it through even when my legs burned and I was out of breath. Sometimes I wonder if I didn't have my family members and friends to picture at the finish line - what it is I would see as my motivation in the end. Would it be cash? Eh. Would it be a huge mansion (without me maintaining it)? Maybe. But you know what? There really isn't any comparison to those people who you would never give up for.

FRIDAY, 03.13.09 Friday the 13th again? Didn't we have a Friday the 13th just last month? I accomplished 200 meters non-stop today. I was struggling with this last week. So, horray for me! Granted, yes, I took my time to finish - 5:12 minutes - I am still proud. (pat me). I can finally calm my breathing and control my kicks! Swim has become less of a struggle. =) This only means more improvement from here! Today it took me 25 seconds to do 25 meters "all out" (without any paddles and without any fins).

SATURDAY. 03.14.09 Fiftys and sunny! Team Lipstick came to ride with us at Central Park. They were in their bright orange and white uniforms which I'm so psyched to get next month! The drill was 6-8 Harlem hill repeats (seated effort on the odd number climbs, 1, 3, 5, etc. and standing climbs on the even ones). I was nervous. This was my first attempt with standing climbs (clipped on my bike). I explained to Coach Laura that my chain has been slipping since last week, especially on the uphills. When she saw and heard them rattle, she said either I call it a day and get it fixed or ride on my hardest gear (big ring) throughout the hill repeats. =T. Dude....let's be serious here... I wasn't gonna call it quits. My very first biathlon is in less than a month. I rode on my hardest gear throughout the day. =). I kicked ass. The burn felt great! The best part was that after our drills, when we all met up at the Transverse, Coach Laura gave me honorable mention for finishing the hill completely standing as she hasn't seen anyone do it before. I blushed. After, Marianela and I rode to Toga together and I finally got my chain adjusted - for free! I like the perks that come with purchasing a bike atToga! Marianela got a new seat to support her bums. Hope it helps her. Our bums are important to protect and keep pain free! I stepped out of Toga to ride the West Side. I love that path! It's smooth and clear of obstacles with a calming view of the water and parks nearby. I shuffled my songs on my iPod and Boyz to Men came on. Haha! "Motown Philly back again! Doin' a lil' east coast swing..." It was a lovely experience to be riding by myself, at my own pace, with my own music. Nothing but a smile on my face. It was a perfect morning ride...After lunch I decided to give KC a private tire changing clinic. It was a good refresher course for me and I know it will be helpful when I get a flat. I got my very first cap and goggles today! The ones I wore were borrowed. My new cap is silicone on the outside, but lyra on the inside so it doesn't pull my hair. It also came in different sizes which was great because I have tiny head. My Air Seal mirrored silver goggles made me look like a pro (hehe) and they performed great! At 5:30 p.m. I went to swim with Marianela, who so graciously invited me to her lessons with Cliff Sherb. It was awsome meeting Cliff, an elite triathlete / coach whose placed third in his age group during his first iron man. I swam in 9 feet deep water! I saw scuba divers under the pool and even waved hi to them. Thanks to Cliff's motivation, Marianela and I completed our first 300m non-stop swim!!! YahoooOoo!!! ~ For me, it was one of those moments where I felt confidence in myself to do more. Thanks again Marianela!

SUNDAY, 03.15.09 Swim class was indeed awesome. I learned that there's such thing as over turning the body while drilling into the water. By doing that I might actually end up doing a 360 drill turn. Hum...maybe one day it'd be fun to try. We had 3 paparazzi's - lil sis May, Marianela's crew: Thomaz and Conrad. Here are two videos of our 4 X 25 meter "all out" swim! Looks like my arms should really be going much faster!

My sister dropped me off at 11:16 a.m. in front of the left snack stand on Columbus Circle. I was one minute late, but just in time as I saw our group a block away wearing the bright orange Team Lipstick uniform. It certainly is eye catching! Though I eventually lost sight of our group - because heck they run so much faster - I was glad Marianela was 2 minutes late because we ended up doing our own little run in the dirt road together! =) I had my 7 lbs. back pack on while running because I had no place to store it. I was literally dead tired by the end of the night. ZZzzzz...

MONDAY, 03.16.09 Plyo baby! I love this class. It gets me pumpin'. Today I did 16 squats during 6 of my sets and 17 squats for the other 2 sets. Totaling 130 squats in 4 minutes. I feel good. If only I can do the same for push ups! I ate ice cream and a cookie to reward myself. hehe. Tonights lecture is on "Mental Toughness." I cannot wait to see and hear our speaker - Amy Palmiero-Winters! 9X world record holder (in running) whose foot was crushed by a motorcycle. See Amy run: See Amy run: http://www.seeamyrun.com/ She is a true example of a person who's been able to control her mind over her body. It's time to learn, Joy Sy. This weekend I realized that training triathletes live almost like a single person (if you're not already single). It's been a rough five weeks in terms of juggling training and time with KC. =( To remedy the situation, we decided to take swimming lessons together! Soon enough we'll be racing each other... Money down on ____(fill in the blank)___! =P