http://games-beta.crossfit.com/article/sakamoto-prepares-2012
This article inspires me in such a way that makes me believe I could one day get there. Maybe not placing at the crossfit games, but maybe making it to the games.
I know I have done considerably well in the short amount of time I have been training as a crossfitter-4 months now, but I've got a lonnnnng ways to go to reach my potential.
The biggest obstacle is going to be one that I've struggled with all of my life... Food.
My diet has been a disaster for years. Growing up I lived off of sandwiches, chips and juice. I was fortuanate in that those were some of the most unhealthy choices my parents provided. I wasn't often pleasured with candy, pop, white bread or sweetened cereals. Even so, the addiction to different forms of shelf-life food has been real and undeniably difficult to remove from my diet.
Over my teen years, I became consumed with limiting calories. The type of calories didn't matter in my mind, I was only concerned with one thing; getting thin to look good in a leotard. This method only lasted for so long before it swung sharply in the other direction.
I was injured in the sport of gymnastics, a shattered bone in my foot and a permanent wrist injury. Not only did my calorie consumption sky-rocket but so did my weight. I put on 30lbs in 3 months. Yikes!! After that, cravings would follow me through the next 2 years. I managed to lose about 10lbs upon my initial return to gymnastics.
Re-injurying my wrist would send me on an up and down an awful road to continued weight struggle. I had left during this time for college and decided to return home to re-start my journey back to the gymnastics world. At this point, I became a vegetaria. At first I wanted to simply try it out, but one month of the endeavor and I was hooked. Another 10lbs were lost gradually over the following year. However, the wrist injury persisted and getting back to top form seemed impossible. 9 months after my return, I would make the decision to retire.10lbs were put back on over the next couple of months after leaving the sport.
3 months afterward I would become invigorated by the sport of cycling. Likewise, I fell in love with someone whose eating habits quickly changed my own. I lost the 10lbs again.
Shortly thereafter I returned to school, only to find myself severely depressed, exhausted constantly and living on pastries and sugary coffee. My weight fluctuated up and down between the 10lbs before I finally chose to return home.
That was when I found crossfit. Not only was it the first thing to replace gymnastics, but it also changed my eating habits. Very slowly I began re-introducing white meat into my diet. But the severe exhaustion continued to nag at my body. I felt like I just couldn't reach my fullest potential in crossfit. It got increasingly worse, some days I literally would nearly fall asleep behind the wheel. I finally got allergy tested and found I was severly allergic to gluten. I took immediate action entirely removing gluten, rice and potatoes out of my diet, along with my sugary coffee, nearly all dairy products and still no red meat. I increased my white meat consumption, seeing that that was one of the few food products I could eat. Within that week, my energy not only sky rocketed but my work outs became considerably easier, I lost a few more lbs and my body chiseled down quickly. The only drawbacks were the cravings and hunger I still felt.
After a week, I re-introduced corn products, as well as some rice, as replacements for bread, pasta and potato products. And then...the holidays came...
Nonetheless, it's been nearly 2 months since the initial detox and I am down 10lbs, I fluctuate between 2 and 5lbs heavier than my original weight prior to my injuries. My energy level is still elevated and my workouts are still pretty consistent. I have yet to reach my potential and I know the only way I will get there is following the crossfit diet.
As soon as I get there, I truly believe there will be nothing to stop me.
Now I just have to find the motivation...
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
Monday, January 23, 2012
Crossfit Level 1 Certified Trainer (soon-2-b...)
It has been 2 months worth of studying and training. I finally got to experience my first level 1 crossfit certification opportunity over this past weekend. I am so excited to finally have removed myself from the gymnastics world and instead explore another field where I am invigorated about life and can train, as well as coach.I was really worried I wouldn't make it over the pass with the snowstorm we experienced, beginning Wednesday and going all the way into Friday.
Nonetheless, I headed out into the detrimental weather and arrived in Portland, Oregon around 6pm Friday night.
It was my first experience of staying at a hotel by myself and let me tell you, it was the most wonderful experience possible!
I was fortuanate to have a buddy who lives in Portland, and even more exciting is that he was living only about 20 blocks away from my hotel!
He took me exploring around town before finally stopping for dinner at a quaint but nice place that I cannot recall the name of-had the word elephant in the title...Haha! It was unique in the assortment of food choices and it was delicious after so many hours of driving. I seemingly fell in love with Portland that night. It was so much bigger than home; so many people, so much good food, so much more liberal... I went back to my hotel early that night, to get some sleep before the next day's 8 hour Xfit clinic.
8 am came quickly.
I was lucky to have been so close to the location of the crossfit gym.
It was a very long day, filled with sitting in a classroom type atmosphere, learning how to train the basics of the sport and even getting to do a WOD at the end of the day. Yes, we had to do a real WOD at the end, oh dear I psyched myself up as soon as I got news that we would be doing Fran...
It was incredible to watch how quickly the instructors pulled out barbells and weights. It took only 5 minutes before the whole gym was laid out in equiptment and then we began.
I didn't go until heat 3.
It was an awful 5.55min that I experienced.
21, 15, 9
Thrusters (55lbs)
Pull ups
Without a warm up, I was extremely cold beginning the WOD. I think this is what caused my heart rate to jump so quickly, possibly also from the adrenaline that came with being in a competition setting.
Cheryl Brost, currently the 7th place finisher in the crossfit games, was in my heat as well.
http://www.cherylbrost.com/home
She definitely proved that she belongs in the top 10 fittest women on the planet. She had the fastest time of both the women and men. Her time was 3.03min.
In comparison to mine, our times can't even compare! In Fran, a few seconds difference is a lot-mere minutes is an unfathomable jump. It's like doing 50 meters freestyle at 35 seconds, while Dara Torres time, for instance, is 10 seconds faster. It seems like that is not a huge jump but in a sprint style event, that is a MASSIVE DIFFERENCE!
I went back to my hotel that night and quickly headed out for a meal and also for some extra studying to prepare for the next day's test. I stopped at a little Mexican restaurant that Chris had pointed out the day before and got the most incredible chicken fajitas! After the little amount of food I had taken in that day + the cold walk in the rain + the WOD= The food was the most amazing tasting chicken fajitas I EVER EATEN!
I found myself in bed that night by 8pm.
Needless to say, I was exhausted.
The planned adventures that night with Chris were cancelled due to both our exhaustion kicking in at such an early time.
I awoke that morning quite refreshed and headed out for day 2 of the clinic.
It seemed much longer this time around, possibly because I wanted so desperately to get the test over with and head over the roads back home before it got late.
Day 2 was similar to Day 1, in that there were lectures, a wod and hands on coaching for basics. Finally, around 4pm, we settled down for the test.
Immediately after I headed home in scary weather conditions.
Now I just have to wait for results before I can be called a "level 1 crossfit trainer," but it was honestly an incredible weekend and I would go back in a heartbeat to Portland and to the Crossfit gym-Called X Factor.
Monday, December 5, 2011
Bringing in the miles 2012
I ran 6.5 miles this morning with my auntie Darlene. Thus far that is the longest run I've ever done in one period of time.
Lately I've been having incredible opportunities, wonderful experiences and fun surprises popping up all over the place.
I have gotten the opportunity to run two 5ks this month.
The first one I did, I was shocked to find my time had dropped 4 minutes from last years same race!
I have come a long way as far as fitness over the last couple of years. 5 years ago I was in the worst shape of my life. After breaking my foot in 4 peices and dealing with a prolongued wrist injury, I was barely exercising and within a 6 month period, i gained 20lbs. I am now 15 lbs down from that time period, but my body has also changed. I am no longer the gymnast struggling to get thinner. I am now focused on good health as well as increasing muscle mass.
1 year ago I decided I needed to make a change in diet because I could not lose the excess weight. I stopped eating meat for about a year and a 1/2. 6 months after that I had lost about 10lbs., was once again training in gymnastics and was overall-healthy. 6 months later I chose to be done with my career as a gymnast and quickly put the 10lbs back on.
Over the past few months, the weight has slowly started to come off, although I was struggling with severe fatigue and an inability to work at my top capacity. About a month ago I finally got tested and found out I have an intolerance to gluten. Since then I have stopped eating bread, rice, potatoe and gluten. I also took sugar out of my diet as well as lowered my caffeine and dairy intake. I then started eating white meats and fish for increased protein. Within the first week, my energy level increased massively and I've been able to work out harder than I have in years! Likewise, my body has changed and toned up considerably! Mentally I feel much better as well. :)
I was so excited this year to know some people who were racing. I already knew Darlene was coming since that was part of our plan since training together; but we were both excited and surprised to see our cycling friend, Tita! Others were also there that we knew. Speedy Kate was there but not racing. I saw a couple of gymnasts I used to train. One whose family is hardcore into exercise, so she and her family did the race. The other girl was just there to watch I think.
At the start of the race, Darlene-as expected-took off. Fine by me. :) Tita was behind me.
At the first mile mark of today's race, I saw my time. 7:41. Woooah! The last time I had a time that low on a mile was when I was in 7th grade! And that was running a hard 1 mile run back then. I was pacing myself today and so I almost couldn't believe the time...!
On Mile 2, I was at 16 min. or so.
By that time I was starting to feel blah. My stomach wasn't feeling too good prior to the race and I've worked out so hard this week already that I knew right at the beginning of the race that I needed to really pace myself because my body wasn't feeling fantastic.
Nearing the finish I was not going to push it...Until Darlene started yelling at me to go harder. And so somehow, I sprinted the last bit... I was surprised I could go that hard at the end.
The second race I did, I managed to have been party-ing til 3am the night before and had thus only gotten about 4 hours of sleep. I almost skipped out on it but decided last minute to pursue the opportunity. My time was about the same as the last race-24 minutes and 30+ seconds. This time, there were even more people I recognized. I had a friend who had texted me prior to the race complaining about the fact that he wanted to go for a run. I invited him to join in on the 5k. He was at the finish line-cheering me on as I came in. He swears he is out of shape yet his time was like 20 minutes! He is, however, just insane. There were a couple of other people I knew from school-Chris and Chelsea, they are brother and sister. It was nice to see a couple of faces I hadn't seen since high school. Tita and Darlene were both there as well. Darlene's time was 22 minutes or so. At 54, she is an incredible runner! Tita's time was faster than mine but only by a few seconds. ;)
I was also surprised to find that I had placed first in both events for my age group. The first race there were only 2 of us, but for the second one there were 6 people. :) Since running isn't exactly what I'd consider a strength, I was excited to find these results.
Since that time I now have a part time job as a barista, will be going to school in January, have been asked to become someone's personal trainer and have been offered the chance to teach crossfit or other exercise classes in a gym setting. Life keeps getting better. :)
Merry Christmas my tri-friends, fellow runners and exercise-aholics.
Lately I've been having incredible opportunities, wonderful experiences and fun surprises popping up all over the place.
I have gotten the opportunity to run two 5ks this month.
The first one I did, I was shocked to find my time had dropped 4 minutes from last years same race!
I have come a long way as far as fitness over the last couple of years. 5 years ago I was in the worst shape of my life. After breaking my foot in 4 peices and dealing with a prolongued wrist injury, I was barely exercising and within a 6 month period, i gained 20lbs. I am now 15 lbs down from that time period, but my body has also changed. I am no longer the gymnast struggling to get thinner. I am now focused on good health as well as increasing muscle mass.
1 year ago I decided I needed to make a change in diet because I could not lose the excess weight. I stopped eating meat for about a year and a 1/2. 6 months after that I had lost about 10lbs., was once again training in gymnastics and was overall-healthy. 6 months later I chose to be done with my career as a gymnast and quickly put the 10lbs back on.
Over the past few months, the weight has slowly started to come off, although I was struggling with severe fatigue and an inability to work at my top capacity. About a month ago I finally got tested and found out I have an intolerance to gluten. Since then I have stopped eating bread, rice, potatoe and gluten. I also took sugar out of my diet as well as lowered my caffeine and dairy intake. I then started eating white meats and fish for increased protein. Within the first week, my energy level increased massively and I've been able to work out harder than I have in years! Likewise, my body has changed and toned up considerably! Mentally I feel much better as well. :)
I was so excited this year to know some people who were racing. I already knew Darlene was coming since that was part of our plan since training together; but we were both excited and surprised to see our cycling friend, Tita! Others were also there that we knew. Speedy Kate was there but not racing. I saw a couple of gymnasts I used to train. One whose family is hardcore into exercise, so she and her family did the race. The other girl was just there to watch I think.
At the start of the race, Darlene-as expected-took off. Fine by me. :) Tita was behind me.
At the first mile mark of today's race, I saw my time. 7:41. Woooah! The last time I had a time that low on a mile was when I was in 7th grade! And that was running a hard 1 mile run back then. I was pacing myself today and so I almost couldn't believe the time...!
On Mile 2, I was at 16 min. or so.
By that time I was starting to feel blah. My stomach wasn't feeling too good prior to the race and I've worked out so hard this week already that I knew right at the beginning of the race that I needed to really pace myself because my body wasn't feeling fantastic.
Nearing the finish I was not going to push it...Until Darlene started yelling at me to go harder. And so somehow, I sprinted the last bit... I was surprised I could go that hard at the end.
The second race I did, I managed to have been party-ing til 3am the night before and had thus only gotten about 4 hours of sleep. I almost skipped out on it but decided last minute to pursue the opportunity. My time was about the same as the last race-24 minutes and 30+ seconds. This time, there were even more people I recognized. I had a friend who had texted me prior to the race complaining about the fact that he wanted to go for a run. I invited him to join in on the 5k. He was at the finish line-cheering me on as I came in. He swears he is out of shape yet his time was like 20 minutes! He is, however, just insane. There were a couple of other people I knew from school-Chris and Chelsea, they are brother and sister. It was nice to see a couple of faces I hadn't seen since high school. Tita and Darlene were both there as well. Darlene's time was 22 minutes or so. At 54, she is an incredible runner! Tita's time was faster than mine but only by a few seconds. ;)
I was also surprised to find that I had placed first in both events for my age group. The first race there were only 2 of us, but for the second one there were 6 people. :) Since running isn't exactly what I'd consider a strength, I was excited to find these results.
Since that time I now have a part time job as a barista, will be going to school in January, have been asked to become someone's personal trainer and have been offered the chance to teach crossfit or other exercise classes in a gym setting. Life keeps getting better. :)
Merry Christmas my tri-friends, fellow runners and exercise-aholics.
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
Crossfit-An Evolutionary Sport
Have you heard of this type of training? This sport?
2 months ago-October 2011-I joined a friend for a class called crossfit. Over the coarse of my life I had tried many exercise classes and sports. Spinning classes, ab classes, dance classes, RIPPED and other various aerobic and anaerobic activities. I assumed this one would be similar. A series of exercises that were hard but nothing compared to the effort and struggle that it took to train in the sport of gymnastics. I was wrong...
2 months ago-October 2011-I joined a friend for a class called crossfit. Over the coarse of my life I had tried many exercise classes and sports. Spinning classes, ab classes, dance classes, RIPPED and other various aerobic and anaerobic activities. I assumed this one would be similar. A series of exercises that were hard but nothing compared to the effort and struggle that it took to train in the sport of gymnastics. I was wrong...
From day 1, I was hooked. It wasn't quite as exhilerating as gymnastics, but in a way, that has been beneficial. I don't go into crossfit fearing the chance of serious injury. I do, however, go in with some anxiety about how intense the work out may be and what will have to be completed. Yet, not knowing what the work out is, also brings about a form of exhileration. A small portion of the same adrenaline rush that flying from a bar and flipping twice before landing provides. The same adrenaline that sky divers, bungee jumpers, mountain climbers, etc. find in their own sport(s). A fear of the unknown, yet likewise, conquering that fear, time after time, is what brings about the addiction. The desire to beat the odds, again. It's that rush that provides such a huge confidence booster for people. It's built a confidence in me that I only had from the sport of gymnastics. A belief that I CAN DO the IMPOSSIBLE.
So what exactly is crossfit. What I have come up from my research and experience. It is a mixture of gymnastics conditioning and weight lifting in a somewhat competitive and intense atmosphere. In other words, it is the sport that I have been looking for to replace the love of my life; which had been gymnastics-for 18 years.
The first work out I ever tried in crossfit was done in a small group.
3 of us were to complete the following-
90 hand stand push ups
150 pull ups
320 lunges
That was 2 months ago. During that week, I came back for 2 more work outs. By the end of the week I couldn't straighten my arms because they were so sore! Likewise, all of my pull ups had been assisted with a green or black band. (20-40lb support)
2 months later-I am doing ALL of my pull ups unassisted.
Most of the ones I do are done with a technic that makes them easier-called a kip-up. A form of swinging that, in gymnastics, is called cheating...
Most of the ones I do are done with a technic that makes them easier-called a kip-up. A form of swinging that, in gymnastics, is called cheating...
However, doing 100+ pull ups a workout, the only way I can do them ALL unassisted is with this technic. And I am doing them ALL unassisted. :)
Likewise, my diet has changed to a more crossfit-suggested diet pattern. 2 months ago I was a vegetarian. I had been one for about a year and a 1/2. About 3 weeks ago, I began eating fish and white meat on a regular basis. Likewise, my carb and sugar intake has decreased immensly. Doing these few things, my energy level has increased massively and I am able to work out ten times as hard!
This past week the work outs seemed to have gotten more intense; maybe it's just because I can work out harder. The last work out this week really tested me mentally. It seemed simple enough. It was simply complete 100 burpee pull ups: exactly as it sounds like. A burpee, a box jump to get to the bar and then jump to the bar to pull up.
Within the first 10 reps I knew today's WOD- (work out of day)-would be a struggle. By number 50, I knew I was behind but I also knew something else. My hands felt funny. The skin was bunching up and I recognized that feeling immediately. I was going to rip. And not just once, I could feel a couple of blisters on each hand forming. I few burpees later, I looked down and a pool of blood was forming under the skin...
"Shit," was the most prominant word/thought coming to mind.
A few more and I had completely ripped the skin off. I had to finish though. The blood was gushing out of my hand. Thank god the floor and bars are the color black, otherwise, they would've been a rather nasty sight.
After one of the work outs, one of the instructors asked how I liked Xfit. I told him how much I loved it. We began talking about the process of getting certified. 1 week later, I am registered to get certified in January 2012. I have been studying more and more since then. The more I find out about this sport the more I have fallen in love with it.
After one of the work outs, one of the instructors asked how I liked Xfit. I told him how much I loved it. We began talking about the process of getting certified. 1 week later, I am registered to get certified in January 2012. I have been studying more and more since then. The more I find out about this sport the more I have fallen in love with it.
I am even considering competing in the crossfit games if I can qualify to it. This sport is so new that this year will be the 3rd games held!
If there's a gym near you doing crossfit, try it, if you dare!
This little commercial explains basically what crossfit's description is to me, in a nutshell:
Sunday, November 27, 2011
Runner...In Training?
I have never been a runner.
I have always done anaerobic exercise my whole life...Until this year.
I was a gymnast, almost from birth.
I once took a friend, who was also a gymnast, out for a short run.
Midway through the run, I could hear him huffing and puffing. He managed to call out to me, "there is a reason I picked gymnastics, as my sport of choice and not running..."
It's true. Gymnasts are taught to be fast for very short periods of time. We put all of our energy into skills or routines that last between 2 seconds and 2 minutes...Not 45 minutes to 2 hours...
Today was chaos.
Beginning with volunteering at my church as a barista & to staying for my service.
Plus, removing gluten, sugar, caffeine and most dairy from my diet has been difficult because I get hungry every few hours, so the egg and apple I had for breakfast at 8am did nothing for me by noon. I had to drive all the way home (stopping for gas on the way) to go make a big lunch before heading out to Darlene's place for a work out-my 7th day in a row! I was somehow supposed to prepare a meal, change and take care of the cats all before 1:30. It was already 12:55 by the time I had made my way to my house.
45 minutes later I had made it back out.
The temperature on my car thermometer read: 61 degrees.
I was surprised at how warm it was but was quickly thinking about other things.
I arrived at Darlene's house and played with her animals as she finished some work.
Then she asked me what I wanted to do that day.
"We could do an insanity DVD or we could go out for a run."
I had been pestering her about doing one for the past couple of months but simultanously, I think I was dreading it. So it shouldn't have surprised me that I picked running over the dvd but what was I thinking?!
A few quick facts about Darlene before I continue.
She is a hardcore trail runner.
One of the fastest runners of her age group, at least in the town I live in.
Her competitor is ironman triathlete/marathoner-Kate.
And I had never seen nor joined either of these women for a run.
So when I stepped out into the comfortable temperature and began ascending the trail, I knew I was in trouble. I knew I was in trouble within the first 30 seconds.
Maybe it was because I never begin running with running, I always begin with a walking warm up.
Maybe it was from the drastic change of diet over the past few days.
Maybe it was from working out HARD all week long prior to today.
Or maybe it was just because I DON'T RUN!
Not that I dislike it, even if I do dislike it, I wont admit to disliking it.
I hadn't been running much for the past 6 months though.
Most of my cardio came from aerobic classes, cycling/spinning or crossfit-NOT RUNNING.
Darlene already knew where she was going. She'd obviously been running these trails for a long time and had a route planned out. The information she gave me was that it was shorter, but harder. Shorter equaled good. Harder was Bad...
I was already huffing and puffing on leveled ground.
We were running up and down little hills that felt like hell to my butt and my heart. I was breathing hard...
Meanwhile, I was trying to take in the view around me but failing miserably due to the fact that one mis-step may lead to tripping over a rock and killing myself. Plus, I had to put a lot of energy to just keeping up with Darlene.
As we began descending, I struggled even more to keep up with her. Darlene pranced like a deer back and forth between the rocks. Avoiding them easily and seeming to sped up everytime more effort was taken to avoiding the terrain.
I couldn't believe how fast she was and I don't think she was going at her top speed either.
I also avoided conversation, I can't talk when I run. She, like other runners I'd met, was able to have light conversation as we ran. My replies were short, one-worded answers.
We finally arrived to the bottom where she pointed out a tree and informed me, "this is the stretching tree."
Thank you GOD!!!!
The rest was much appreciated and much needed! But it didn't last long...
"Now we go back the same way, which is going to be a lot harder since most of it is uphill." She informed me airily.
No comment was or is necessary.
It was just as awful going back as it had been coming down. I guess that was what was expected, but I was hoping that my body might've gotten over the shock. It's been known to do that, to finally just become numb or eventually stop feeling the initial shock. Unfortuantly, that was not the case today. Instead I simply could hear myself sucking breath in and 0ut like a fat person!
I wanted desperately to stop and walk. If I had been by myself I would've done that long ago! Darlene pushed me on! I couldn't let her see me slow down.
She managed to glance back at me and instead she stopped. I was again thankful for the rest break. She, in turn took my arms and told me to keep them in since apparently they were flopping around like a rag doll. She grabbed my hands, telling me to keep my fists unclenched and my shoulders relaxed. Then just as quickly she was bounding away, up the hill. I followed at an even pace as she sprinted up. She finally slowed down at the top and together we walked the last 3 or so minutes to the car.
And in that short period of time, who would show up but the one and only, Kate.
I saw her jogging toward us but wasn't sure if it was really her.
"That looks like..." I let my statement drift off since I couldn't believe Darlene's competition could be heading toward us... And I mean, I really didn't believe it was her...Until she was a few feet away.
I keep seeing her.
It's a small world.
We ran approximately 4 miles and I seriously almost died.
That's what I get for willingly heading out to run with the fastest runner in this city.
I have always done anaerobic exercise my whole life...Until this year.
I was a gymnast, almost from birth.
I once took a friend, who was also a gymnast, out for a short run.
Midway through the run, I could hear him huffing and puffing. He managed to call out to me, "there is a reason I picked gymnastics, as my sport of choice and not running..."
It's true. Gymnasts are taught to be fast for very short periods of time. We put all of our energy into skills or routines that last between 2 seconds and 2 minutes...Not 45 minutes to 2 hours...
Today was chaos.
Beginning with volunteering at my church as a barista & to staying for my service.
Plus, removing gluten, sugar, caffeine and most dairy from my diet has been difficult because I get hungry every few hours, so the egg and apple I had for breakfast at 8am did nothing for me by noon. I had to drive all the way home (stopping for gas on the way) to go make a big lunch before heading out to Darlene's place for a work out-my 7th day in a row! I was somehow supposed to prepare a meal, change and take care of the cats all before 1:30. It was already 12:55 by the time I had made my way to my house.
45 minutes later I had made it back out.
The temperature on my car thermometer read: 61 degrees.
I was surprised at how warm it was but was quickly thinking about other things.
I arrived at Darlene's house and played with her animals as she finished some work.
Then she asked me what I wanted to do that day.
"We could do an insanity DVD or we could go out for a run."
I had been pestering her about doing one for the past couple of months but simultanously, I think I was dreading it. So it shouldn't have surprised me that I picked running over the dvd but what was I thinking?!
A few quick facts about Darlene before I continue.
She is a hardcore trail runner.
One of the fastest runners of her age group, at least in the town I live in.
She's 30+ years older than me.
She's taller than me.
Her competitor is ironman triathlete/marathoner-Kate.
And I had never seen nor joined either of these women for a run.
So when I stepped out into the comfortable temperature and began ascending the trail, I knew I was in trouble. I knew I was in trouble within the first 30 seconds.
Maybe it was because I never begin running with running, I always begin with a walking warm up.
Maybe it was from the drastic change of diet over the past few days.
Maybe it was from working out HARD all week long prior to today.
Or maybe it was just because I DON'T RUN!
Not that I dislike it, even if I do dislike it, I wont admit to disliking it.
I hadn't been running much for the past 6 months though.
Most of my cardio came from aerobic classes, cycling/spinning or crossfit-NOT RUNNING.
Darlene already knew where she was going. She'd obviously been running these trails for a long time and had a route planned out. The information she gave me was that it was shorter, but harder. Shorter equaled good. Harder was Bad...
I was already huffing and puffing on leveled ground.
We were running up and down little hills that felt like hell to my butt and my heart. I was breathing hard...
Meanwhile, I was trying to take in the view around me but failing miserably due to the fact that one mis-step may lead to tripping over a rock and killing myself. Plus, I had to put a lot of energy to just keeping up with Darlene.
As we began descending, I struggled even more to keep up with her. Darlene pranced like a deer back and forth between the rocks. Avoiding them easily and seeming to sped up everytime more effort was taken to avoiding the terrain.
I couldn't believe how fast she was and I don't think she was going at her top speed either.
I also avoided conversation, I can't talk when I run. She, like other runners I'd met, was able to have light conversation as we ran. My replies were short, one-worded answers.
We finally arrived to the bottom where she pointed out a tree and informed me, "this is the stretching tree."
Thank you GOD!!!!
The rest was much appreciated and much needed! But it didn't last long...
"Now we go back the same way, which is going to be a lot harder since most of it is uphill." She informed me airily.
No comment was or is necessary.
It was just as awful going back as it had been coming down. I guess that was what was expected, but I was hoping that my body might've gotten over the shock. It's been known to do that, to finally just become numb or eventually stop feeling the initial shock. Unfortuantly, that was not the case today. Instead I simply could hear myself sucking breath in and 0ut like a fat person!
I wanted desperately to stop and walk. If I had been by myself I would've done that long ago! Darlene pushed me on! I couldn't let her see me slow down.
She managed to glance back at me and instead she stopped. I was again thankful for the rest break. She, in turn took my arms and told me to keep them in since apparently they were flopping around like a rag doll. She grabbed my hands, telling me to keep my fists unclenched and my shoulders relaxed. Then just as quickly she was bounding away, up the hill. I followed at an even pace as she sprinted up. She finally slowed down at the top and together we walked the last 3 or so minutes to the car.
And in that short period of time, who would show up but the one and only, Kate.
I saw her jogging toward us but wasn't sure if it was really her.
"That looks like..." I let my statement drift off since I couldn't believe Darlene's competition could be heading toward us... And I mean, I really didn't believe it was her...Until she was a few feet away.
I keep seeing her.
It's a small world.
We ran approximately 4 miles and I seriously almost died.
That's what I get for willingly heading out to run with the fastest runner in this city.
Tuesday, November 8, 2011
It's Been Awhile...
Wow! Just wow! Looking back on the few entries I have written for this blog, I have come so far as a cyclist and just in exercising in general. My endurance has increased dramatically, I am in the best shape I have ever been in! I still have not competed in a triathlon or marathon, but with the way I am training, I don't see either one being a problem of achieving.
I recently had a conversation with my employer, who was once a previous coach and still is a role model to me; She was asking about my future goals as to why I exercise as much as I do. I didn't have a specific answer nor goal. I know an Ironman has been in the back of my mind but often when I announce that goal, people just look at me as though I am insane. I actually hadn't thought much about that goal for a long time either because I was going to attack the short sprints and shorter distances first before looking at such an incredible distance. So when she brought it up and told me she really believed I could pull one off with a year of intense training, I thought about that goal being a real possibility. If it doesn't happen next year, I will plan on doing some shorter triathlons and then maybe in the future, I will go for the whole ironman.
The other thing she brought up was that I should get some form of certification for teaching an exercise class. I would really like to do that, for as much as I'm working out, it'd be nice to get paid to do so. On top of that, she would like to start bringing people into her gym to do some exercise classes and who better to help teach than someone who is already working in that facility. -AKA-Me. :)
So now I just have to figure out what I want to teach, there are so many choices. I want something worth my time, money and something I really like to do... Any ideas? I'd love feedback. Likewise, I need to figure out exactly what needs to be done to get myself into the right shape for a triathlon. Starting with a sprint I think.
I recently had a conversation with my employer, who was once a previous coach and still is a role model to me; She was asking about my future goals as to why I exercise as much as I do. I didn't have a specific answer nor goal. I know an Ironman has been in the back of my mind but often when I announce that goal, people just look at me as though I am insane. I actually hadn't thought much about that goal for a long time either because I was going to attack the short sprints and shorter distances first before looking at such an incredible distance. So when she brought it up and told me she really believed I could pull one off with a year of intense training, I thought about that goal being a real possibility. If it doesn't happen next year, I will plan on doing some shorter triathlons and then maybe in the future, I will go for the whole ironman.
The other thing she brought up was that I should get some form of certification for teaching an exercise class. I would really like to do that, for as much as I'm working out, it'd be nice to get paid to do so. On top of that, she would like to start bringing people into her gym to do some exercise classes and who better to help teach than someone who is already working in that facility. -AKA-Me. :)
So now I just have to figure out what I want to teach, there are so many choices. I want something worth my time, money and something I really like to do... Any ideas? I'd love feedback. Likewise, I need to figure out exactly what needs to be done to get myself into the right shape for a triathlon. Starting with a sprint I think.
Thursday, August 4, 2011
Seattle Century Ride 2011
These bike rides are seriously the most amazing and fun adventures I've ever been on in my life. I will cherish the memories from them forever!
I began school 4 weeks ago, and they have been the longest fricking weeks of my life! All I've been doing lately is homework, class work and more homework. I've had no time to blog, very little time to exercise and haven't made enough friends to get to spend time with outside of class.
Last weekend was a Godsend! I got to ride the 50 mile portion of the Seattle Century with three of the most amazing, fun and carefree women! Carol, Darlene and Linda made my entire weekend worthwhile and the joy I felt from spending time with them has carried over into the week. Each of them have such childlike and immensly, joyful personalities that I just want to be around them all of the time. I love this new world of cycling that I've entered into!
The day began early. I was out of my apartment by 7am and headed toward the hotel the three were staying at. We were headed toward Magnuson Park within the hour and registered around 8ish. The views were lovely through out the whole ride and the weather was simply fantastic! I was especially thankful for that since weather in Seattle is known to be unpredictable or bi-polar. There wasn't a bit of rain or even a cloud in the sky. The day was absolutely perfect!
Carol, Darlene and Linda made the ride INCREDIBLE for me! It was so fun to be with people who are so comfortable in their skin that they can just be themselves and enjoy every moment that life gives them. Those are the types of people I want to associate with everyday of my life. The day was over before it began. I could not even tell you where we went. I know we went over a magnificent bridge and we were on what I think is called, "Gibson Park Trail." I could be wrong so don't quote me on that. At the end of the ride we were fed the most delicious tasting salad, salmon, rice pilaf, raspberries and barbequed asparagus!
I can't wait for more rides with 3 ladies in the future! This one I will hold in my heart along with the "Canyon for a Day," "Packwood to Ashford" and the little rides that Carol has taken me on in the past. They are days I will never, ever forget!
For now, the gym is where I'll be located...Spinning to increase my performance on a bike in the future...Or I'll be in a classroom...Wasting my precious life away...
I began school 4 weeks ago, and they have been the longest fricking weeks of my life! All I've been doing lately is homework, class work and more homework. I've had no time to blog, very little time to exercise and haven't made enough friends to get to spend time with outside of class.
Last weekend was a Godsend! I got to ride the 50 mile portion of the Seattle Century with three of the most amazing, fun and carefree women! Carol, Darlene and Linda made my entire weekend worthwhile and the joy I felt from spending time with them has carried over into the week. Each of them have such childlike and immensly, joyful personalities that I just want to be around them all of the time. I love this new world of cycling that I've entered into!
The day began early. I was out of my apartment by 7am and headed toward the hotel the three were staying at. We were headed toward Magnuson Park within the hour and registered around 8ish. The views were lovely through out the whole ride and the weather was simply fantastic! I was especially thankful for that since weather in Seattle is known to be unpredictable or bi-polar. There wasn't a bit of rain or even a cloud in the sky. The day was absolutely perfect!
Carol, Darlene and Linda made the ride INCREDIBLE for me! It was so fun to be with people who are so comfortable in their skin that they can just be themselves and enjoy every moment that life gives them. Those are the types of people I want to associate with everyday of my life. The day was over before it began. I could not even tell you where we went. I know we went over a magnificent bridge and we were on what I think is called, "Gibson Park Trail." I could be wrong so don't quote me on that. At the end of the ride we were fed the most delicious tasting salad, salmon, rice pilaf, raspberries and barbequed asparagus!
I can't wait for more rides with 3 ladies in the future! This one I will hold in my heart along with the "Canyon for a Day," "Packwood to Ashford" and the little rides that Carol has taken me on in the past. They are days I will never, ever forget!
For now, the gym is where I'll be located...Spinning to increase my performance on a bike in the future...Or I'll be in a classroom...Wasting my precious life away...
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