I finally feel like I'm getting used to this whole training schedule. Last Sunday, we had a swim workout in Aptos and I managed to drag my lazy @$# out of bed to make it on time. I felt like my swim lessons were starting to pay off, but Coach Dan had A LOT of tips for me to think about. Good thing I have until August to figure it all out. I'm coming to love Mondays (our rest days) and enjoy the Tuesday evening spin workouts. Allen and I have spent the past two Tuesdays in the garage on our trainers, and Peter lays on the couch with a heating pad, watching us. We skipped the Wednesday night track workout for this year's Warren Miller movie (don't spend your $ to see it in the theater), but managed a Friday night swim at the Camden pool. I'm excited for Thanksgiving (and the extra days out of the office!). I think we're supposed to do an open water swim next Saturday....that ought to be an interesting post.

November Already?

I'm realizing that one of my biggest challenges is finding time to squeeze my training into my schedule. The good news is that I have been enjoying everything thus far and am hoping that things continue on this path.
Training has been a bit neglected this week, as I have another TNT event this weekend. We'll be down in Santa Barbara and I wish I could do a swim or at least a bike ride, but realistically, I don't think it will happen.
I just received word that my friend Chris will be riding his bike from Colorado to California. He started his journey today, so please keep him in your thoughts. Send positive (and warm!) energy his way.
To think that I was feeling bummed about a 5 hour drive to Santa Barbara tomorrow morning!

Busy Busy Becky

Training has begun and I have 2 weeks under my belt. Having attended the first team ride, my biggest concern was falling out of my clipless pedals. I managed to do okay with that, but I know that I'm bound to fall one of these days! We had the first coached swim/run (walk in my case) and last Tuesday was a spin class, followed by a run/walk. I've come to realize that these weekday workouts require a lot more planning than I am used to. Between packing for spin class (bike, trainer, phone book for my front tire, sports bra, bike shorts, socks, cycling shoes, hat, headlamp, run shoes, water bottle, some type of food & a towel) and organizing myself for a normal workday, I always manage to forget something. Because of my job, I already have a tendency to live out of my car, but I have a feeling it is only going to get worse!



The past weekend was both eventful and exhausting. Although I wasn't able to train, I got to watch other people run. The team I manage completed the Nike Women's Half Marathon in San Francisco on Sunday. This is truly a landmark event for LLS and I feel very proud to be a part of it. Of the 20,000 runners involved in the event, over 5,000 were fundraising for Team In Training. Over $18.5 million was raised to support research and patient services. The top fundraiser for the event had raised over $56,000--AMAZING!

Time to Get Started

Yesterday was the big Kick-off celebration for Ironteam. While I was excited to get going, I am also extremely freaked out because this means that the whole Ironman thing is real. I met my teammates, talked to some of my Coaches and filled out the obligatory liability paperwork. It is kind of funny to be on the participant end of the Team In Training experience.

Feeling inspired by my undertaking, I decided to spend the remainder of the day cleaning out the garage and setting up my cycle trainer. About an hour after I started (and with a little help from Allen), my bike was sitting on the trainer, ready to be set in stationary motion. Maybe I'll go for a "ride" tonight.

My next step is to get going with my fundraising. Hopefully my fundraising email will be the catalyst that gets people to read this crazy thing. "Official" training begins this week with a shopping party at Sports Basement on Tuesday night.

Shopping??? :) Hmmm...maybe I am cut out for this whole triathlon thing.

What Have I Gotten Myself Into?

As you may or may not know, I have decided to do an Ironman Triathlon with Team In Training's Ironteam. Last month while in Canada with Allen, I found myself so incredibly inspired by this amazing group of people that I decided that I wanted to join them and attempt to complete Ironman Canada in 2008. Nevermind the fact that I don't know how to swim, have never traveled more than 25 miles on a road bike, or the fact that I physically cannot run. Somehow I have decided that this is a good idea. I'm about a month into my swimming lessons (those who have seen me in the water are probably laughing at the mental picture), but I really do feel like I'm making progress. Last Saturday, I had to work in Woodside and one of my co-workers was kind enough to hop on her trainer and spin with me. Although I am not one who loves to work out, I really am looking forward to being a part of a team. We have our big "Kick-Off" celebration on Saturday morning and I am starting to get nervous. There's no turning back now...