Weird but True

Weird but True

Hold your breaths. Wait…Wait for it…

I am getting faster.

Yup! Faster.

F
A
S
T
E
R
!

Every week trail run group meets and runs 5 miles. The same 5 mile out-n-back route.

First week with the group it took me 65 minutes.
Second week: 56:48
Third week: 54:01
Yesterday: 51:02


I passed people running yesterday. I passed them at the END of the run. I felt so strong and awesome! People even commented to me after the run, “dang you were fast today!” Last two miles yesterday were 9:37 and 9:08! Wow.

I
AM
FAST(er)!


Ok, back to work for me!

Nathan Intensity Hydration Race Vest Review

New Nathan Intensity Hydration Vest
As promised –the new Nathan Intensity Hydration Vest review.

This pack is awesome. It works exceptionally well for my long trail runs where I am out for over an hour and there is no water source.

The Intensity is the women’s specific hydration race vest. Specifically, it is designed for a shorter torso—perfect for me. The vest is made of some exceptionally soft ultra space age material. I think I could get away with wearing this pack without any shirt—only a bra top—and be fine.

The pack has two main compartments. The first compartment holds the 2 Liter water bladder—the bladder is held in place wit a couple of clips. The second compartment is smaller and will hold a small jacket or some arm warmers. I usually put my keys in the smaller compartment.

The front of the water pack has two smaller holders. One is zippered—this one I use to hold my TP and plastic bags, just in case of runner’s trots. (This is a very handy thing to have it in the front of the pack. I do not want to be wrangling with my pack trying to find the TP in the back of the pack when I have dropped trough and am trying to avoid poison oak—I want easy access to the TP).The other compartment in front is draw string-like and that’s where I keep my Gus and Cliff Shot Blocks.

The hose is easily locked into place on the front sternum strap. The bite valve works fine and water comes out quickly and easily.

The sternum strap adjusts well. For me, I wear it beneath “the girls” since they seem to be in the way. It’s ok though.

The water bladder holds enough to last me 2.5 hours running in 100+ degree weather There is little to no water bounce when I run. My only complaint about the entire thing is that occasionally, my WIDE shoulders get stuck in the vest when I try to take it off.

All in all, the Nathan Intensity Hydration Pack rocks it.

Tidbits & Progress Made

Now that I have the garmin whining out of the way, I can tell you that it has almost miraculously started working really well. Only one part of it doesn’t work (training center) but I realize I have an older version of it on my computer so that should be fixed soon too.

AnyHOO, I just looked back at some of my recent 5 mile trail runs—since I got my garmin, I have done a particular 5-mile trail run 3 times. The times are as follows:

#1 Run 1 hour 5 minutes
#2 Run 56 minutes 21 seconds
#3 Run 52 minutes 1 second

Is Garmin making me faster or WHAT? HA!

This weekend my trail group will be running 10 miles on Quarry Road. Fred and Wilma and Barney and Betty will be out there.

Signed up for the 10 mile trail run, Blood, Sweat and Beers.
I’m scared.
I’m scared that they might run out of beer before I finish.

I found a new love—early morning bike rides. Rode Wednesday AM at 5:15 to 6:15. It was quiet and peaceful, roads were sans cars, & the air was clean. AWESOME! I’ll be doing it again next week.

I’m scared of the Master Swim group I have joined. I have not yet attended a workout. I need to do that, but even the thought sends me into a panic. Swimming fast at 5 a.m.? I need to SUCK IT UP and get in the water.

I am running Cowtown half marathon with my mom. She signed up, so we will run it together. My mom rocks it!

I haven’t thought about school or my thesis in weeks. I am so glad it is over.
Just informed I got a promotion—since I have that illustrious M.A. in hand. Hurray!

I'll re-test my Nathan water pack again on Sunday's 10-mile trail run and have a review next week.

Posting Dread

I have really dreaded writing this post.
Not because I have writers’ block, but because I really wanted to like the Garmin 310xt.

I really REALLY want to like it.
But I can’t. It is too frustrating for my short fuse.

So here goes:

THE GOOD:
• Small on the wrist
• Snazzy orange color
• Moves through the screens quickly
• Very very accurate GPS (I was expecting it not to be, but it is very accurate)
• The functions sound great—and would be very useful… BUT

THE BAD:
• It took two hours on the phone with Garmin to get the ANT+ and garmin connect to work properly on my computer.
• Then it still didn’t work
• ANT+ stick doesn’t always recognize my garmin
• Garmin charger is flakey and won’t charge my Garmin. There is supposed to be a fix for this on their website but I can’t find it. But the worst part is…

THE UGLY:
• Garmin turns off and on by itself when charging (that is when it actually agrees to charge)
• Garmin has spontaneously erased several of my workouts only to load workouts that I never did. For instance, it says I did a run workout on April 6. I did not get my garmin until July 6. The April 6 workout was not on my device until AFTER it spontaneously erased several workouts.
• Workouts will not load to Beginner Triathlete properly.


I really want to like this device. I am hoping that as the software bugs get cleared out, it will start to work better. The last 2 workouts have been saved on Garmin Connect but cannot be loaded to Beginner Triathlete properly. BT said they are working on it.

In any case I’ll test it in the water on Tuesday so that will probably generate a whole new round of software bugs.

Races:
I signed up for Blood, Sweat, & Beers trail race 10 mile distance
I will sign up for Cowtown half-marathon in October
I will sign up for Buffalo Stampede in September
I will sign up for Four Bridges Half Marathon in October
I will sign up for Clarksburg Country Run 20-miler in November.
I signed up for California International Marathon (CIM) in December
I signed up for Auburn Half-Ironman Triathlon in May 2010.

Workouts:

With the intense heat I bagged my Wednesday run.
I rode my bike for the first time in a month and half on Saturday. I did 24 miles up and down some pretty good hills. Beal’s point to Sunrise, then around Lake Natoma and back to Folsom Lake.

Sunday’s 9 mile trail run in the searing heat was too much. I walked a lot of it. It was around 1500 feet of climbing. I cut it short to 7 miles and drank 1.5 Liters of water. I used my new nathan water carrier and it was pretty good. Detailed review to come later.

That’s it. I watched the Tour yesterday and was blown away by Alberto Condator’s acceleration(s) up the mountain. GO ALBERTO!

Up NEXT... Review of my new Nathan Intensity Water Carrier

Garmin 310 Review

Coming soon...

Garmin 310 REVIEW


IT IS AWESOME!

F*KN HOT OUT THERE!

Not much to say today.
It has been HOT HOT HOT here.

Saturday 105
Sunday 112
Monday 103
Tuesday 103
Wednesday 97


Running in such extreme temps has sapped every bit of energy and charm from me.
Last night's five miler felt like a 100 miler.

I did just switch shoes for trail running. My ol' Mizunos were giving me blisters, so I exchanged them at Fleet Feet for a new pair of Asic 2140 trail shoes (PINK!)

In any case, I just got a call from Fleet Feet.
My new Garmin 310XT will be available for pickup on Monday July 6th!!!

Kool Running Article

Good luck to all who are doing the Western States 100 this weekend!

Weather forcast is for 105 degrees on Sunday--scorcher.

Double Workout: (Almost) Triple Digits

Haven’t had a double workout day in a long time but I punched one out Tuesday.

Got up at 5 and got dressed for my 4 mile fartlek workout (I still snicker at the word fartlek—it’s those Swedes again). I was supposed to leave around 5:15 but I logged online and got sucked into the Jon&Kate+8 vortex –started reading E-online updates on their sucky marriage and suckier divorce.

Anyway, suddenly it was 5:30! Cripes! I headed out with my new IPOD Depeche Mode / Duran Duran playlist.

I felt pretty good at first. The workout was 4 miles with 8-10 30second pickups. First two or three pickups were pretty easy. Later , the 30seconds whittled down to 10 or 15 seconds. But I finished.

Tuesday night I swam in the lake for an hour. There was a group there and I was lucky enough to join them. Fun. We did sighting, drafting and drills. At the end I tried to really concentrate on lengthening my stroke and GLIDING.. guess what? I was freakin’ passing people!!!! I have to remember that tactic—GLIDE—not flail with windmill arms.

Last night, I ran with my trail running group. 5 miles, 100 degrees. Never again will I eat a full Thai restaurant dinner before my run. Never. Again.

I managed to finish the run and as I sat down in my car let out a big burp. Finally.

Blech!

Trail Run Du Jour

Sunday I participated in the first trail run with my trail run group (natch) at 8 a.m. Tim Twietmeyer showed about 5 minutes before. He said we were to go on a 'short' run (ha!) of 6 miles with 'no real hills --just a few rollers.' (HA! again.)

I was exceptionally nervous because, A) I have not been running as much as I should and B) from the looks of everyone else, they HAD been running as much as they should.

In any case, we started off--I positioned myself in the back of the pack so I would not get trampled or shoved into poison oak.

The first couple of hills were fine. No biggie--and at the end of the hill we were blessed with the sight of a beautiful clear Folsom Lake--the sun was reflecting off the surface and the wind was blowing. It really was stunning. I wish I had brought my camera to take pictures. I stopped to look at the serenity of it for about 10 seconds.

Then we turned left away from the lake and went up a 12% grade hill.

The remaining trail run was LOTS and LOTS of hills. Steep hills.

Up,
Down,
Up,
Down.

At one point, I looked skyward and saw my ol' nemesis---Suicide Hill.

Suicide Hill is 22% grade hill that I used to run up during high school cross country races. My friends and I named it Suicide Hill because--well it just about killed us to run up it. When you run up Suicide Hill, your arms swing and almost scrape the ground.

I couldn't believe it.. I haven't really seen you in 20 years, SH. How you doin'?

I attacked Suicide Hill. As my feet made crunch and scrape noises across the gravel I set my mind to finishing it at a run. I was going to do this.

Sure enough, I ran to the top of SH. Awesome! Tim was standing at the top of SH and urging us all onward. Great feeling! Great!

I'll be back SH..

There were 4 more big hills before we returned to the start area.
I mapped it on my BT page--Look for Cavitt Stallman Trail Run in Granite Bay California.

I am really looking forward to the next group run on Wednesday night after work. It will by mid-to-upper 90's, no breeze.

Good times~

--------------------------------UPDATE---------------------------------------


My quads are super sore today from the UP, DOWN, UP, DOWN yesterday. Happy that I have a rest day today.
Tomorrow morning I run 5 on the roads. Hurray!

From the Weird Files

From the Weird Files

A Swedish company has invented, what I think, is a product designed to bring about the apocalypse.

Cheeseburger in a Can.

Yes.
I’m not kidding.

Designed for backpackers and campers, Cheeseburger in a Can simply requires heating in water for a few minutes. Pop the lid and Voila – instant burger.

I don’t eat cheeseburgers – I haven’t since 1995. But when I did eat them, I can tell you, I would never ever ever eat one that was stored in a can. Especially one from Sweden—don’t they eat Surströmming & Lutefisk?? (Please don’t send me any email about my anti-Swede sentiment—I married a Swede and sport a nifty Swedish last name. Ha--gotta love globalization!)

In any case, I think even the ham-burgler would not eat this.

On the training front, I had my info session with Tim Twietmeyer for the trail running class on Wednesday night. AWESOME! I am very very excited to start on Sunday. The most interesting thing??? After we run, we will all do the “tick-check” on each other. Like Chimps in the wild, we’ll be grooming and pulling any creepy crawlers off of another person.

Ingestion of said crawler is optional.

Have a great weekend!

And I ran..I ran so far away...

Forgive the flock of seagulls title. I can't help it.
I feel so damn good.

I got up this morning and RAN!
At 5:05 a.m. my alarm clock clicked on. Puff Daddy was singing something about Biggie Smalls.

I hit snooze and rolled over.
3 minutes later my eyes opened and I decided to get up and go running!

Coffee-- yum!
Dressed--pink shirt, black running skirt, Nike Triax.

Did the old 3 mile loop in 33 minutes--that includes 2 minutes of stretching calves and 1 minute of talking to a fellow runner.

It was awesome! I can't wait for trail running on Sunday.

Oh--being so inspired by my run, I registered for CIM today!

"Cause She's A Brick. House."

Did a brick this weekend. 12 mile ride and 2 mile run.

I decided to leave my IPOD at home.

My usual 12 mile loop took me 50 minutes. It was pretty cool watching all the people outside running and biking and walking their dogs.

I am very afraid of going downhill fast so I have been working on that with each 12 mile ride. I managed to hit 25 miles per hour going down hill and I did not hit my brakes at all the whole time! Quite the accomplishment.
I hammered through a yellow light and only had to stop at one light on my way back home.

Switched into running shoes and shorts and grabbed RR#2 and said, "lets go run."

She came with me, but she really wasn't up for the task. So we only did 2 miles and it took us 24 minutes. RR#2 stopped 4 times to walk and I stopped with her. I try to push her a little bit to keep her motivated, but I don't want to make her HATE running.


So overall--
BIKE 50m 26s
11.64 miles 13.85 Mi/hr
10:30 AM To Barton Road and Back
Climb: 584 feet


RUN 24m
2.14 miles 11m 13s/Mi
11:47 AM To stop sign and back
Climb: 52 feet


vs.

Two weeks ago
BIKE 50m 50s
11.64 miles 13.74 Mi/hr
5:45 PM Climb: 584 feet

RUN 35m 30s
3.18 miles 11m 10s/Mi
Climb: 266 feet

Only nominally slower, and I attribute that to RR#2.

Anyway, tonight doing Jillian Michael's No More Trouble Zones and TriPower Workout.. Hopefully my core is getting stronger. :)

10 Miscellaneous Things about me

10 miscellaneous things about me:
1. I do not drink or eat anything made with dairy.
2. My dad died when I was 24 years old.
3. I live in the same town I went to high school in.
4. I love all runs once I hit the 3 mile mark; before I hit the 3 mile mark I always struggle a lot.
5. I would never smoke a cigarette ever.
6. I had my wisdom teeth taken out without being put under.
7. I had braces in college.
8. Everyone used to think my younger brother and I were twins.
9. I work in the same building as my mom and my husband—but we all drive separately.
10. I always sneeze for 5 minutes after I swim.

I just signed up for Fleet Feet’s California International Marathon training class! Because I am already in the trail running class, I get a little discount.

This year is the year I conquer that marathon!

So far for 2009-2010 I have

Buffalo Stampede
Cowtown half marathon
Four Bridges half marathon
CIM
Auburn Half Iron Triathlon (2010)
XTERRA Tahoe Triathlon (2010)
Vineman 70.3 (2010)

And

St. George Ironman (2011)

Groove is in the Heart

This weekend was pretty good. Lots of family from out of town.
Lots of margaritas
lots of food


Oh, and I ran 3 miles with my mom on a newly discovered bike trail in my area.

It was really good. I admit--I DID NOT WANT TO GO saturday morning but she basically guilted me into it.. "Oh, ok. well if you don't want to spend time with your mom, don't worry. I did give birth to you and all.."

So I went.

I had a great time. It was a nice little trail--very quiet. No other runners or bikers. Just a few old people walking their dogs.


I did nada on Sunday--had husband's family over for food and drinks and laughs. Anyone see a "Christmas vacation" with Chevy Chase? Most of his family is like Clark's brother-in-law. White shoes and plaid pants. I have to drink a lot just to stop laughing at them.

Only a week until the trail running class starts. I am very excited. I need a goal--now that school is DONE I need something to strive for every day. I think running and trying for California International Marathon (CIM) again this year will do it.

So here it is-- I WILL RUN CIM this year!

I also signed up for the Auburn Triathlon for 2010.

Oh, and I also have on my calendar, the Tahoe City XTERRA triathlon.

I know, i'm over compensating. But what the hell? You only live once.

And you only die once.

So you thought I wasn't working out...& randomness

I have been working out.

A lot.

For "May is Bike Month" I logged 170 miles.
I have not managed to get up at 4:30 a.m. to run--yet. But I am running after work in the 90+ degree heat. Only 2-3 times per week and SLOW --but I am doing it.

I also started Jillian Michael's "No More Trouble Zones".

Oh
My
Fkn
Gd.

It is really hard. I don't even use the hand weights since I don't have any but it is kicking my butt. The best part??? I have noticed my CORE getting tighter and tighter (under the layer of muffin top blubber). At one point my abs/core was so sore, I had to ask hubby to roll me over so I could get out of bed!

The only thing lagging is swimming. I have only swam twice in the last month. I am really trying to work on getting motivated for that sport. I recently found out that there is a VERY local master's swim group at 4:45 a.m. tuesday, wednesday and thursday. I have to get to that. They average about 2000 per practice. Ouch!

I am contemplating the trail running class. On the one hand it will be fun to try something new. On the other, it doesn't fit so well with my schedule and it is so freakn' hot in the afternoons.

That's it.. lots of randomness.

X-ercise Wii-Kend

Saturday morning I decided to do my first run in about 3 months. Initially I was going to do a 5 miler, but when I checked the 9 a.m. temp I realized it was almost 80degrees so I cut it to 3.2 miles.

I am so glad.

That run kicked my ass. 3.2 miles took 34:40. I purposely kept a slow pace, almost 11 minutes per mile. But it still really hurt. A lot.

I didn't look at the time or pace until I was done and I found that I ENJOYED my run. I liked watching the old people drinking their coffee on their porch and waving to me. I enjoyed seeing the funny dog trying to drink out of the gutter while his owner yelled, "Get back here!" It was nice to simply enjoy a run.

Sunday--Hit the bike trail on my bike for a 30 miler. Somehow, the day got away from me and it was 3pm before I got on my bike.

92 degrees.
Sore legs from Saturday's run.
Bike shorts a bit too big

You see where this is going, right?

I knew I was in trouble when my bike shorts kept sliding around my butt as I peddled.

By mile 10 my butt was on fire from chaffing.
But I kept going, mostly because of prodding from my husband.

Reached the halfway point in 1:06. Rested for about 2 minutes. Got on my bike and started peddling.

My chain promptly fell off the front cog.
I promptly fell on the ground.

Got back up. put the chain back on. Wiped my (now greasy hands) on my shitty bike shorts.

Rode back.
The last 5 miles were the worst.

Arms hurt
Ass hurt
neck and shoulders hurt.

Ok so I am a whiner. As I stumbled off my bike at the end I muttered, "I am never riding this thing again" which illicited laughter from my husband.

Dork.
95 degrees when we stopped at 5ish. Final time, 2:13 so almost an even split.

Rest day today. Then run Tuesday.

Patience is a virtue....Sigh... & Cal Bears Rock

I ordered the Jillian Michael's DVDs and Tri Power book--but I'll have to wait a while. :(

When will your items arrive? Delivery estimate: May 28, 2009 - June 10, 2009

I did another bike ride yesterday. 12 miles. 53 minutes. I stopped twice to rest. I'm up to 24 miles for the month--Hurray! I'll do 30 on sunday so that will make it 54 this week!

Tomorrow is my first run in like forever. I'm planning on a 5-miler using the run/walk (walk/walk) method.

Oh, and I bought some kettlebells from some guy on Craigslist! I pick them up tomorrow morning. He was selling them for only $20!

I think my time away has really helped me to HUNGER for workouts now. I feel so enthusiastic about working out. Kinda cool.

On the academic front--as I mentioned, all paperwork has been filed, etc. etc.. I mentioned this to a research librarian at UC Berkeley. Vanessa (librarian) has been assisting me for years with digging up primary documents for my thesis. Anyway, I sent a "thank you" email to her and she asked me to send to her (and UC BERKELEY) a copy of my thesis for them to keep in their special collection library! HOLY CRAP! I feel so honored! I guess since it is on such a unknown topic she wants it there. I had to do a little happy dance..

Cheers!

Garmin 310XT...and other lustful items

To buy or not to buy.. That is the question.

I have the opportunity to request an amazing graduation present from my S.O. I was considering the new Garmin 310 XT. It is hot, sleek, sexy and tracks all data during swim, bike & run. And I am a total gadget whore. Show me a new and exciting gadget and I get all hot and bothered and I will offer you my first born.

Well it turns out that the new Garmin does NOT do everything. I asked the Fleet Feet uber-gadget god, Justin, whether or not it tracked distance or heart rate in the water. He said "yes it does both." The Garmin Rep I e-mailed at Garmin Headquarters said, "No, it only functions as a stopwatch in the water."

WTF?

I called Justin back--"Garmin HQ said that it only tracks time in the water, no GPS or HR function. What do you think?"
Justin: "My Garmin Rep told me it does both during the swim."
Me: "Can you get a clarification from your rep? I don't want to spend $500 on something that doesn't do exactly what I want."
Justin: "Wow. I'll try to contact him."
Me: "Great.. thanks."

I have not yet heard anything from Justin. I wrote Garmin again too and have not heard back from them either. Apparently, they do not know the tennacity I possess. I mean, it took me 8 years to get a 2 year masters degree. I will not stop until I get something just the way I want. Just sayin'

Unlike a lot of other people, tracking HR and distance/pace in the water is very important to me. I panic in the water; I am slow in the water. I would like to have a training tool to help me with those two issues. A HRM will help calm the, "I think i'm going to have a heart attack" feeling. A distance/pace mechanism will help me track how well my pace is improving.

I hear a lot about Garmin 305s functioning in the water. Then I hear the 405s short out with sweat. What to do??

So I am torn. Should I ask Hubby for Garmin 310 XT as a grad present? Should I look at other options --such as Polar or Sunuto? I'm trying to serreptitously do research on all geeky triathlon gadgets from my work computer. "Will you please go away? Can't you see i'm on two discussion threads at 'Slowtwitch' and 'beginnertriathlete'? I'm horribly busy. I will work later."


The second thing I am considering--is Jillian's 30-day Shred



and the TriPower book.

Dare-to-Tri has blogged about both of these extensively and I really want to try them out.. especially to get rid of the "muffin top" that has enlarged significantly during my thesis finalization process. I will order those through amazon this week and start working. Does anyone else have any ideas for getting rid of 'muffin top'.. It is the only out of control 'Big' Area I have. The other stuff I can work off. But the freakn' stomach is nasty. I look like I am pregnant--and I have NEVER BEEN PREGNANT--("rugrats" were birthed by another mother..)

Sigh.Grumble.Sigh.Snort.

In terms of working out--I swam monday night in the lake. The freezing lake. My tri training group swam for an hour--doing drills, etc. It was so freakin' cold. Basically melted snow. RugRat #2 went and swam too. She put on her wetsuit for the first time and went out there and tried her best. I was so proud of her! Poor thing--her lips were blue when she got out of the water. But she kept trying to do the Total Immersion techniques. I'll make a triathlete out of her yet!

Surprise ! I actually exercised

I biked 12 miles yesterday! The loop from home I used to normally do in 42 minutes. Yesterday it took me 54 minutes. Oh, and there is a ton of saddle pain today. OUCH!

I'm going to try to pull off 150 miles this month. That doesn't sound like much but going from 0 to 150 in one month is hard for me.

Also--the big endeavor I am not pursuing is............... I am going to start training with a Trail Running group that is coached by Tim Twietmeyer. You know--the guy who won the Western States 100 about a million times! It starts in June and has a 'graduation race' called "Blood, Sweat, and Beers."

Ha! I can't wait to get started running again!

Oh--and tonight is first Open Water Swim Class. I'm taking the rugrat with me so she can try out her brand new wetsuit.

Details to follow!

New and Shiny and Fun

I'm on the cusp of doing some thing exciting and new.

Hopefully I'll have good news about my new adventure next Monday or Tuesday!

Have a great weekend!