The treadmill and I now are friends......

 For the last year during my training, I have always hated the thought of getting on the treadmill. My feet hurt, my legs hurt, I go slow and I just felt like a concrete log clopping on the treadmill... In fact, just two weeks ago, I completed a 5K test on the treadmill and it was like I was fighting every step to stay faster.. I finished that in 36:49 but like I said, I felt like my legs were concrete logs clopping on the treadmill.


This week, this all changed.... I have made amends with the treadmill and I had a great run.. I just got the new Garmin foot pod so I had to calibrate it. I did 10 minute warm-up at a comfortable pace (12:30 min/mile) and got the foot pod calibrated.. then I was getting ready with my ipod to run the BRC (Bartlett Rec Center) track and my battery was dead.. So, I had a choice, run with no music or hop on the treadmill and listen to music while the ipod charged.. I like my music when I run, so on the treadmill I go.  I started out slowly and started to increase my speed...See I had to run 30 minutes in Zone 3 for my heart rate > 144 bpm.. I started out at a 12:30 pace.. heart rate was in zone 2 and nowhere close to zone 3.. increased the speed to 12.. still in zone 2, my legs felt great! I felt like I was running outside..increased the speed to 11:45, still in zone 2, I was feeling great, so I increased the speed and pushed it to 11 min/mile and I was still in zone 2.. so I pushed it to 10:30 min/mile..OMG.. I hadn't gone this fast is such a long time.. I was ecstatic.. I hit zone 3 and stayed there for a little while and then I was losing my breath and slowed down back to 11:00 min/mile. I made friends with the treadmill..It is nice to run on the treadmill...I sent my data to Lesley and she too was amazed.. my cadence is exactly where it needs to be.. I never knew about cadence on running until we talked and  I just need to keep doing what I am doing.. Lesley has been so great! I love working with her....

So for now, I like the treadmill.. hopefully, tomorrow, we will still be friends, as I have to run for an hour....

Happy Training,
Eling

Back to full time training...

Ugh... today I went back to the early morning workouts... It is amazing how I really liked sleep..

I was sound asleep like a baby and at 4:32 - to be exact... I got whacked in the nose by my hubby telling me to get up.. begrudgingly, I got out of bed.. you see, not only do I have to get back to training, I had to take my son to morning practice.. Into my workout clothes and off to the pool...

Today was a new routine.. my workout entailed that I complete 12x100. Now that seems a lot.. but Lesley gave me some variety.. I was able to split this up into 3  4x100 with the first one being 4x100 IM set.. yeah something different! I was a sight... I think I was a drowning turtle completing the butterfly.. Haha... actually, I was surprised.. I survived the 4x100 IM set.. finished the other sets and swam a total of 1800 yards.. tomorrow is a new day and it is back on the bike trainer..

Now it is time for bed.. I think I will sleep like a baby....And  snore like a speedy turtle triathlete..

Happy Training,
Eling 

2011: A Year of Accomplishments!

This year has been a big year for me! I started out last year 15 pounds heavier and hoping to complete an Olympic distance triathlon. Last year my goal was to stick with the triathlon training and finish Memphis in May triathlon.. Little did I know, I would not only finish the Olympic distance triathlon, I continued and finished a Half Iron Man (70.3)....

Training was hard... and it takes a lot of dedication to keep up with  the training.. I had a lot of help along the way this year. I had my husband, my best friend and training partner, that kept me moving... yes.. at 4:30 am.. he was there to kick me out of bed.

Now I will need to think of new goals and continue with my new lifestyle! Yes... This is a new lifestyle! Last year, I trained with a group and this year, I have a training coach to help me along the way... Lesley is my coach, mentor, and someone I truly admired. I am setting small goals and working one step at a time.

This new year, I would like to ride a little faster, swim a little faster and run a little faster. I know it is going to take a lot of dedication and motivation... My first race will be Germantown Half Marathon... Yes, I am expanding and including running races..Then it will be Los Locos  Duathlon in  April, and Memphis in May triathlon.. who knows.. maybe I can qualify for HyVee in the Athena division.. That is the icing... the goal is to improve from last years time. I am still looking at completing another 70.3.. I think it may be Ironman Kansas 70.3.. and maybe Augusta 70.3.. still trying to decide.. 

Next year will be busy.. I will keep on trying to learn this new lifestyle.. one turtle step at a time..

Happy Training!
Eling

Post Turkey day and the week(2.5 days) of work that I would like to forget...

Last week was a really long and short week for me. Work was so stressful that I almost started eating everything out of the refrigerator that I could find...Luckily for me, my husband was there to stop me and made chicken salad for dinner... I was in the middle of locking a data base and it seemed like we were never going to make it but we did!... so I was able to get ready for Thanksgiving!

This is how I felt on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday!

So, my relatives came in with coconut macaroons, ginger cookies and stuff to make "Chex Muddy Buddys".. All of the things, I really shouldn't be eating.. and they wanted to make more sweets... ugh... what was I to do?!? Luckily, I had signed up to run the Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving morning.. I gotta help fight the eventual weight gain.....At least, I can slow it down by running in the race and continue with my training plan. 

The Turkey Trot was a 4 mile race in Shelby Farms.. This was a lot of fun. Prior to the race, Lesley arranged my workouts to make sure I had a fast race... right.. I don't run fast.. I mean the Saturday before, I ran a 4 mile and my average pace was 13 min/mile. See... I am a Slow Turtle..She had all of confidence in the world in me and even stated that I should have a negative split for my last two miles..I was just hoping to go a tiny bit faster than 13 min/mile. The night before, I said a little prayer and asked God to help me with my race and it worked!

My first mile was a 11:18 and I felt great. I even ran  1/4 mile with Kelly and was talking with her.. Mile 2 = 12:19.. I slowed down a little cause I wanted to save something for the last two miles.. I had to meet the goal of a negative split for my last two miles... Mile 3= 11:45 and I met up with Nancy and her daughter and I should have kept up with them cause they were keeping a good pace.. next time. Mile 4 = 11:32 and it wasn't the finish line.. the finish line was 250 ft in front of me and I just picked up my legs and ran as fast as I could... a 9:53 min/mile... Ok... you are probably saying that was for 250 ft.. you know what, I will take it. I am getting a little faster and who knows.. this speedy turtle will be passing that rabbit one day!

Thanksgiving was a  success.. I ran intervals on Saturday 3x3 min (2 min rest) and 2x1min (1min rest). For my 3 minutes, I averaged 10 min/pace.. and for one of my 1 min interval, I maintained an 8:30 min/mile pace.. Yes.. I said it, 8:30.... So, I am slowly getting there. I hope to surprise myself when next season comes... for now.. I will follow Lesley's plan and keep on moving!

Happy Training,
Eling

Speedy Turtle is trying to get faster....

It has been over a week since I wrote. I am starting to get faster. Last week, I was trying to get all of my workouts in, but it was getting really hard to fit them in. Training in the winter is a lot different than training in the summer time.

In the summer, I would run or bike in the afternoon if I missed my 4:30 am workout. Well, I can't do that now because it is soo dark.

So, what I have been doing. Well, I have starting working out on intervals. I am doing intervals in running, swimming and biking. My bike and the trainer are becoming really good friends. Every other night, I have been getting off of work, cook dinner, change and go to the garage. Quite the routine. In the mornings, I will get up at 4:30 am... actually, I will hit the snooze button two times and Don, would push me out.. I need that motivation. This is when I have been getting my running and swim done. It worked this week, so now I have to continue next week and the week after to come a habit.. So just maybe.... my 14 minute mile will get faster.. hence, Speedy Turtle getting faster!

So, I am working hard and following Lesley's advice, hard work will hopefully pay off..

Happy Training!
Eling

Another week of training...

This week winter has decided to arrive...ok... I am a girl that grew up in Southern California.. we had lows in the morning of 40 and highs of 57... so, for some of my friends this isn't cold, but I was cold. So this week, training on the bike was on the bike trainer. I am getting to like my garage. This week, I have done a couple of interval trainings and I have found that 3 minutes can be a long time when you are trying to maintain a cadence of 95+ on the bike. I finished it, but it was hard. I know this will help me for next season.

I am actually getting excited about next season. Ever night, I look at the Ironman 70.3 website and other websites to look for another half to complete. Yes, I am hooked. This time I want to be able to complete a half and some Olympic, and sprint triathlons. So, this off season, I am going to be training and probably griping about the cold.. I will always be a true Southern California Girl.

Happy Training!

Eling

Back to training again..

Hi all,
I have changed the title to the blog.. I thought I would title it The Speedy Turtle.. yes, this seem like a contradiction.. see, I am starting to get a faster but I am still slow... as slow as a turtle.. but.. I don't care. I  am still training - off season training and come next triathlon season, I am going to get faster.

During this off season, I am going to work on my swimming, biking and running. In fact, I am now working with a new Coach - Lesley. This week was testing week I swam a 500 yard swim as fast as I could.. not. I finished in 10:56 sec. Yesterday, I had to ride my bike for 20 minutes as fast as I can.. THAT was hard.. Still not fast but it was Hard! Now next week, I will be training and really train hard. My new motto is "NO EXCUSES"..So, I am going to use this forum to keep me honest and no excuses.

Have a great week!

The Speedy Turtle!

Eling