New Years and Training

After my bike accident I have been struggling a little bit with a few things.  Some things have felt exponentially more difficult - swimming, specifically.  I know that after a concussion it takes time to recover, but it can be incredibly frustrating.  I kept feeling like I should be healed and back to normal sooner than I was getting there (now I actually do feel mostly normal again).  But, I have been listening to the coaches and doing exactly what they tell me to do.  Even when I have a rough training day I know that the next one has the potential to be better and I shouldn't get down on myself about it.  So, I have carried on with my training.

So, since my last post here's what has happened.  Get excited.  It's all sorts of awesome.  (I might be exaggerating, a little, okay, a lot, whatever.)  So, I had another rest day (there was a potential that I was going to do a swim set on Friday, but after a couple not great swims, coach gave me a rest day), so I wrote out thank you notes to everyone who has donated so far (a lot of notes, my hand was cramping part was through).  I still haven't mailed them, cause I have no stamps, this will be rectified this week.  (Spoiler alert - if you've donated that means you're getting a hand written thank you note, its what I do, although I have no idea when you'll actually get it because of the whole stamps situation.)

Saturday I packed my bike into my car and headed out to Santa Monica for a team practice.  It was actually a run practice, but I was told to bring my bike with me so I could get another ride on the road in before the Sunday ride.  The run actually went really well.  It was the first really great workout since the bike crash.  I felt strong the whole way.  I did not love the squats or alphabet balances we had to stop to do throughout the run, but all in all, a good run.  Five miles in 60 minutes.  No, not super fast, but we did have to do stops for strength and balance, and I'm not quite back to my regular interval yet (did a 4:1).  I wanted to complete the last loop and get in about 6.5-7 miles, but I also didn't want to press my luck, knowing I had to get on the bike afterward.  So I stopped at 60 minutes.

After practice I found out how long I needed to bike for.  I was nervous, only the second time back on the road.  But, I knew I would be okay.  I was really really slow getting ready for this ride.  But once I got going and relaxed in to it, I felt fine.  I did the golf course loop, so 7 miles in 30 minutes.  Again, really not speedy, but, I had just done that whole running thing and my legs were tired.  I could definitely feel the difference on the bike since getting the fitting, it just felt better all the way around.  I'm so happy I got that done.

After my workouts for the day I spent most of the rest of the day being lazy.  I cleaned a little bit and then headed to my parents house for home made sushi dinner (apparently this is their thing now, fine with me, totally delicious).  I went to a party at a friend's house for a bit.  Single sober girl decided to call it a night early, lots of drunk people and couples is not the most fun evening ever.  I was home and in my pjs before midnight.  I'm good with it.  New Year's is not really my thing.  I watched the ball drop and fell asleep, nervous about the next morning's impending bike ride (that would possibly take me up PCH again).

I woke up early with an upset stomach - I was really nervous, there wasn't anything actually wrong with me. I took my time in the morning, had breakfast, snuggled with Rocky (who, by the way, does not like to cuddle unless he initiates it - so difficult) and finally, when I could wait no longer, I got dressed and packed up the bike again and headed out to Santa Monica.  I got there fairly early, parked and headed to our meeting spot.  The coaches said there would be two routes that morning, one up PCH and one down through the Marina.  I decided to go with the Marina route.  Not cause I'm scared of PCH, I am nervous about the next time I ride it, but because it had been foggy and damp and that just didn't seem like the best time for my first ride back on the road of danger (my new name for the pot hole lined, car filled PCH).  The coaches agreed that I should go south to the Marina too.

During the warm up there was a moment when my cadence was not high enough, I knew it wasn't, but, of course, that is the moment Coach Brad decides to ride by and tell me to pick it up.  A little warning that he's coming next time would be nice so I can make sure to be doing the right thing, otherwise its just downright rude, catching me off guard like that (I know, I should have the correct cadence all the time, whatever). ;)  It was a lovely ride, albeit really slow at the beginning, there were approximately a million stop signs and stop lights, and I think I hit every single red one.  I only had one small fall, and I wasn't even moving at the time, I just sorta tipped over (and now have a lovely bruise on the inside of my left knee, sexy, no?).  I don't know that cycling is a good choice for someone as clumsy as me.  Clearly I need to do more of the balance exercises.  All in all, a successful bike ride - total miles 25 (including golf course warm up loop), 2 hours.  

Me, Joy, Susie and the elusive Amanda! Top
of Runyon (Rocky is hiding behind me, the
dog out  front is Susie's.)

Monday was supposed to be a rest day, so I went with Susie, Amanda, Joy and a friend of Susie's up for a little walk around Runyon.  Since we were going to be going slow poke style I decided to bring Rocky with me.  He has never been to Runyon before, and now I remember why.  So many people let their dogs off leash there, and its like they have an eye for my sometimes timid scaredy-cat dog.  I swear 90% of the dogs off leash had to come inspect Rocky and freak him out a little.  No bueno.  Put your dog on a leash.  Seriously people.  There was one dog that was getting up in Rocky's business, if Rocky hadn't turned his head away (such a good dog - and VERY un-like him to do this) it could've gotten ugly.  Leashes people.  Leashes.  I have to say this, if your dog is off leash and attacks my dog in some way I can not be held accountable for what I might do to defend him.  I didn't have to defend him Monday, but I would if I needed to.  Put your dog on a leash, or take the dog to an off leash location, not somewhere that leashes are required, like Runyon.  Sorry about the rant, but it upsets me that people don't seem to care.  

Tired dog.

January 2, 2012, beautiful LA day - 70 something degrees.  Can't beat that.

We followed up our Runyon adventure with lunch, and I figured Rocky would be passed out the rest of the day, giving me a good chance to clean.  Wrong.  Crazy pants had SO much energy.  What?  I've taken him for way shorter hikes and he's passed out for the rest of the day.  Monday he was hyper and just wanted to play.  So, of course, I forced him to snuggle a bit.  Ha, I win.

If he could speak he'd say "leave.me.alone."

Monday night I was with my parents, again (I got in a lot of parent time this weekend).  I went with them to a New Year's party at the house of a guy who designs lots of Rose Parade floats.  He had a gigantic bird on his shoulder most of the evening.  There was a moment when I thought the bird was going to try to eat my face.  Seriously.  Crazy big beak and it didn't seem happy at all.  I was happy when the bird went in its cage and we left, safely away from the giant beaked creature.  Very pretty, but a little scary at the same time.

That's a big, real life angry bird.

All in all a really good long weekend.

Tuesday I woke up with some twitchy/sore calves.  That Runyon walk might not have been the best idea.  Tuesday night was swimming night.  I got to the pool and was a little nervous.  A couple of less than stellar swims has left me feeling less than confident in the pool, usually one of my favorite activities.  Once I relaxed and found a rhythm though, I was fine.  I just need to not get in my own head.  Calves were still achy and twitchy when I got home, so I slept in compression socks.  Oh how I love them.  Seriously amazing.  Calves feel much better.

Today was supposed to be a bike ride this morning.  The bed won this battle today and I stayed in it longer than I should have.  So, I will be on the trainer tonight, watching (on DVR) the season premiere of Biggest Loser.  Then strength/core/balance workout.  Lots more training this week, running, biking swimming.  Bring it.

Other things that I need to start thinking about - transportation to and from Desert Tri and Wildflower as well as accommodations for Desert Tri and camping situation at Wildflower.  I seriously own zero camping gear, not sure how I'm going to pull this one off.  If you have camping gear you're willing to lend me I'd very much appreciate it - I need everything, including a sleeping bag (I'm more of a hotel girl, and this whole camping before a race thing is freaking me out a little.)  That weekend should be REALLY interesting.

Also, I'm still fundraising for LLS.  You can make a 100% tax deductible donation and support me here:

http://pages.teamintraining.org/los/vinefirn13/ewallersco

And, for every $15 you donate you can sponsor a mile along the course and I will swim/bike/run that mile for you or a person of your choosing.  Join the fun!  Support me as I train for the craziest adventure of my life.

Thanks!