holiday eating

So the holidays are coming up sooner than I thought or expected, and I know it's gonna affect me physically - meaning I'm gonna get out of shape, just from all the food I will be eating. But thankfully I’m not going home for too long so I won't have too much of a chance to do, um: nothing. But let me tell you, my family knows how to throw dinner parties. My mom doesn't mess around. It's not one dish or two or three. It's usually so many dishes that you can't even fit all on one plate. Plus there's appetizers and dessert. Then we have a big sleep over with everybody visiting and then we wake up and eat breakfast buffet style. Again, my mom doesn't mess around. She always makes sure there are several options: cereal, eggs, pancakes, bread & cheese (persian style breakfast), tea, fruit oh and just about everything else. As if we didn't eat enough the night before, we do it all over again.

Anyway, point is it's gonna be hard to go for a run or bike ride after all this eating my Persian family does. But I will get back on it as soon as I get back. Tonight is track and tomorrow is swim. Last night was spin class, where I think I am the youngest person. I think people drive by and laugh at us. Spin class in front of a bike shop in Kearny Mesa? No, no inside. No, not a designated area for exercise classes. It's in the parking lot, open to viewing for the Clairemont Mesa residents and shoppers alike. We get some laughs, but you know what, it's worth it. It's such a great workout! And as Ryan likes to hear me say: "I sweat a lot!"

R&B

Rhythm & Breathing
Swim was fun last night. Wow, I never thought I would say that. I used to be frightened of the swim. I used to feel claustrophobic and totally out of breath - not exactly my idea of fun. But last night I actually felt graceful in the water. Not that I actually was graceful, but what matters is I felt it, right?

Coach Robbie (a cancer survivor) told me to go to the side of the pool and made me do some exercises that helped me realize what was wrong with my stroke. It was funny 'cause he asked me if I surfed. Although it's been a while since I have surfed - because of my surfing accident - he says my strokes are too far out to the side, the way a surfer paddles.

It is pretty amazing how much further you can swim when your arms are pointed straight out. He also had us do and exercise where you breath every 3 strokes, then every 5. I realized that bilateral breathing is actually pretty cool, but I was hatin' the every 5 strokes. But you actually do swim faster. According to him you lose 1.3 seconds every time you breath. Could this explain why I am slow?

Perhaps I will adopt the bilateral breathing, although it will take a major adjustment period for me to gain that rhythm. After all, I think long distance swimming is all about rhythm. Getting into that rhythm has gotta be one of the most soothing, meditative and metaphysical experiences. I love the water.

I don't know, I might like the Jacuzzi even more.

Cha-Cha-Cha-Changes

Wow, it’s been a while since I’ve had a posting. That doesn’t mean nothing is happening. It just means I haven’t taken the time to write. Well, let me try to get right into it…Our training started almost a month ago and let’s just say it’s been a different experience than my last triathlon season with Team in Training.

This is not a bad thing, but just different. As with anything that is different and new, it takes some time to get used to it. So, I am assimilating to the new daylight savings time, where it seems like it’s 9p.m. when I leave work. Along with that I am acclimating to the chilly weather. It’s no longer 75degrees and sunny all the time (even though this is San Diego). I’m also adjusting to the magnitude of our team. We have something like 170 people on the team vs. the 50 people on Pacific Grove.

On top of the environmental changes, I have a new role in it all. I am a mentor to ten participants. This means I am a leader and guide to others who are brand new to triathlon or those who have done it before but might need help in fundraising. This brings a whole new perspective to the experience, where I am no longer allowed to be afraid of the triathlon training and fundraising endeavor. Instead I am there to motivate, inspire, and push people to make it to the end, and ultimately to cross the finish line.

Ed Bradley of '60 Minutes' dies of Leukemia

Pioneering CBS and '60 Minutes' newsman Ed Bradley dies of leukemia at 65

Read Story by clicking link below:
http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/nation/20061109-1201-obit-bradley.html

sick

So, I've caught the bug. Yeah, I guess it's that time when everyone is getting sick and I've gotten it. My throat feels like sand paper and I sound like a man. But I'm still working 'cause I only have one sick day. It sucks that I feel this way right before the season is starting, when I should have more energy to pump everyone up.

I havn't done much exercise in over a month and I'm kinda scared to start, because then I'll realize how out of shape I am. Hopefully it won't take too long to get back on track.

First I need to get well. AaaaaaCHu!

challenged athletes

This weekend was the San Diego Triathlon Challenge in La Jolla, where about a hundred challenged athletes competed in a triathlon. Joining them were 500 able-bodied athletes, including actor Robin Williams and Olympic swimmer Amanda Beard.

Now, this is pretty amazing to me, since I think doing a triathlon is hard on its own!

Here is the story in today's paper:

http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/20061106/news_1m6triath.html

Pacific Grove Triathlon BLOG 2006

Click here to read about my previous expereince training and fundraising at the Pacific Grove Triathlon 2006.

Hoping to Learn

I'm so excited to have been chosen to mentor for the Team in Training Lavaman triathlon team! It's going to be a lot of responsibility, but I know it will be a great expereince, where I will walk away feeling like I learned a ton!

I've realized one thing about myself: I love expereinces where I walk away feeling like I've become a better person. It is so gratifying to do something and feel like I learned something new about myself and something wonderful about the world.

That is what I'm hoping for in the upcoming season as I mentor other participants and help them get to the finish line in Hawaii!!

Plus I get a great vacation. :)