Louis is now an ironman

Well I did it.

More to follow

Negative Thoughts

I am a positive person but I can be very negative at times. I always worry about things (this is why I am also good at QA). Anyway, friends have been giving me great suppose but I always shot them down with negative thoughts.

I know I can do this thing. Things may go wrong but I am prepared for them. Just get out there on Sat, do this thing and have fun.

Louis

Nightmare

I just woke up from one of my ironman nightmares. This time I forgot to bring my helmet and some other stuff when I got out of the water. Coach Paul end up giving me his helmet. It was bad haha.

I would like to post more but I need to time to prepare for this sat. I'll post whenever I can.

Louis

We are not good enough

Our society is structured so that are you always not happy about something. You always want to have more. I need to work harder to have a better job. I need to earn more money. I need a bigger house. I need a big TV. I need a yearly vacation. I need to earn more degree. I need to get straight A's. I need my kids to experience as many hobbies as possible. I need to eat good food. My basketball team need to score more points. I need to run faster. I need to bike faster. I need to swim faster. I need to lose more weight. I need to dress to impress (ok, this I really need to work on)... the list go on and on.

Well since day 1 of the training season, I want to become a better swimmer. I took lessons and I swam extra. I am still slow after 9 months. When I swim in 24hr fitness some grandma will swim faster than me. In fact I believe I am the slowest in the team for Vineman. I hate swimming for a passion! It's not because I am slow, I just hate swimming! I recently came up with the quote. "You don't have to drag me to hell, you just have to drag me to swim"

My coaches and teammates have been very supportive about this whole Louis hate swimming thing. They keep me going and tell me I am doing a good job. But I mostly ignore these encouragements just because I need to swim so much faster! When you came out of the water half dead and someone say...Louis you did a good job today... it's hard to make yourself believe that you are in fact doing a good job.

So you know, the same routine yesterday. I didn't want to swim but I drag my ass there. The workout was actually going well. I constantly check the time to see how much longer I need to swim (in milisecond of course) before the workout is over.

Then on one of the lap my coach want over and want to talk to me. I was like oh no something is coming up... I feel like a kid who broke his mom's china and have to explain why they were broken. (I paint Coach Paul as this Evil Thing when I am in my swimming mode)

So the coach came to me, tab my head and say. 'Good Job Louis. One more swim(next thur) and you are good for Vineman. Look at how far you have come'.

I continue to swim and think about what he said. He is right. I did freaking come a long way. From not knowing how to swim to swimming 2.4 miles. I did in fact come a long way. Instead of looking back at how much better I got with swimming, I constantly look at how much I want to improve. Looking back few months ago, I cannot swim 25 yards. But slowly and surely, I completed 25 yards, then 50, then 100, 200, 500, 1km, 1.5km. I then swam in the ocean with my wetsuit and I almost die! but then I swam 3/4 mile at Desert Triathlon and I actually swam faster than a few teammates (because I did not panic)... 2km... then 1.2 mi swim at Wildflower Triathlon. 2.5km... 3km. Damn I really came a long way.

Coaches always said to cherish what you accomplished. It was 8 months to late but I am cherishing my swim 'accomplishment' now. Having said that I know I still need to stay focus and finish my event on Aug 1. Sometime we just need to take a step back and look at what we accomplished... instead of looking at how much more we have to improve. It will make you a happier person.

06/28/09: 17 mi run under the heat

I like to sleep in on Sunday, so I decided to sleep in and run the 17 mile by myself. I got up, ate breakfast, and head out for the run. I didn't really care about starting late because I need to run under the heat, so naturally the hotter the better.

Map Profile

I started at the Rosebowl and ran down to South Pasadena. I dump water on my body everytime I see a water fountain, this went on for a while and I went back to my car to resupply. That was mile 8 something. 9 more miles to go. It was hot and I almost went out of water on the south side. I know I am in for a treat.

So I went up to JPL. 2 miles later I ran out of water. Usually a bottle of water can last 4-5-6 miles. This time... 2 miles. I actually need to take a detour to Oak Grove Park to get water (if you look at the reply that was at mile 10.5... where I made a left).

My spirit was down because I ran out of water without 2 miles. How am I going to finish the run? I can go back to the Rosebowl where I know I have more water or I can push on to my turn around point. I decided to continue because I know I will probably quit if I get back to my car... Bad choice. I ran out of water before I hit the turn around point. I know I am safe because I can get to the turn around point safely but I was at a new low. I was walking, tired, and wonder if I need to hit Oak Grove Park again because I don't have enough water to go back from to the Rosebowl with one bottle of water.

Finally, I got to the turn around point at the Arroyo. I filled my water bottle and I was done mentally. Then... I realized I have one thing that can save my life and they are call Ziploc bags.

I usually carry small Ziploc for sport mix and I put them in a gallon Ziploc. So I used them to call water. I drink as much as I can, then I filled up my bottle, 1 small Ziploc and 1 gallon bag. I put the small Ziploc inside my shirt so I don't have to hold it. And that also acts as a radiator for me to get rid of my overheated body. And for the big one, I filled it up 2/3 of the wall, get all the air out, and folded the opening several times so that it's harder to break. You can see a picture below.

After this ziploc trick, I came back to life. It still took me a while but I finish the run without any further issues! Go Team!

First 100 mi Bike Ride

On Sat 6/27, I did my first 100 mile bike ride.

I treated this as my race day ride so I ride as fast as I can without going super fast (because remember... I have a marathon after the ride when I my ironman in Aug). I finished the ride in around 6:30 and I feel great!!!

This is my route.
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/7745394

6-Year Old Tyler is on the news: A reminder of why I joined the Ironteam

Tyler was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin Lymphoma in 2007 at the age of 4. Tyler's mom Holly just sent me a news article about Tyler. Please take a moment to read it before reading my comments below.

http://www.the-signal.com/news/article/14666/

WOW... so many thoughts are running in my mind right now. I am going to do my best to pick the article apart to tell you what I am thinking.

First of all, Tyler is 6.... Not 5, Not 7... '6'! I always get this confused because I would read an 'outdated' article about Tyler and it will say... Tyler is 4... 5... 25...etc. I am one of those people that keep asking people's kids age (eg. Hey Steph, how old are your kids again?... when I asked her few weeks back). OK... In 2009, Tyler is 6. I better write this down somewhere... got it!

The second thing that's kind of crazy to me is how much I know about Tyler (which I am not really proud of... because in a perfect world where there is no cancer... I wouldn't even know Tyler... I'll be sad not knowing this crazy kid but I rather have it like this... Cordova... huh... you mean Godiva??).

As I was reading this article... 'Upon further examination, it was revealed that Cordova had a large tumor in his chest cavity, which needed immediate treatment...' I was like of course... because according to Dorian, Tyler's aunt, Tyler was in a football game when this happened... he couldn't breath and his face turned blue!!! They rushed him to the hospital where doctors found a tumor in his chest cavity. This version is much more dramatic *_*

Then two paragraphs down... the reporter said 'But in September 2008, Cordova relapsed...' I was like I REMEMBERED THIS!!! In fact it was around 9/11. One day I got an email from Dorian telling me to pray for Tyler... A simple doctor visit (dizzy) turned into a CAT scan. First symptoms of inner ear infection, then possibly brain or spinal cord tumor, then the CAT scan reveal swelling in Tyler's brain... a indicative of viral spinal meningitis or a brain tumor. Next thing I know Tyler may need a bone marrow transplant, then the next day doctors decided that his cancer has relapsed... and this is the SHORT VERSION! I, along with the Cordova family and others that care so much about Tyler were in the roller roaster from Hells during those few weeks. I never felt so useless in my life because there is nothing I can do to help Tyler directly. However it is then that I decided to join the Ironteam. If the Gordova family can go thru all these chemo stuff, I can tri-drowning (as I didn't know how to swim).

There are a few things here and there but I don't want to bored you with detail.

One thing in this article that touches me the most is how Tyler's response to his cancer treatment. "I don't focus on the treatment, I focus on what I like to do and that makes me feel better." Can you believe this come from a 6 years old?

People just like to complain and not focus on finding a solution nowadays... With all these economy/family issues... and of course... my complains about swimming(in case youd on't know, I HATE IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)... I think we all can benefit from Tyler's mindset. For me, I need to not focus on the actual swimming... I just need to picture myself coming out of the 3km swim and eat a hamburger with onions, fries, and a milkshake. "Celebrate What We Accomplished Each Day"... this is what Coach Paul, the Ironteam Coach, told us.

If you like to help finding a cure for cancer, you can make a tax deductible donation to the cause. Every Single Dollars Counts!

http://pages.teamintraining.org/los/VineFIrn09/lkwan

Louis

Broken Louis

I had a bad swim today.

I am supposed to swim 3km today. The first 500km was fine. Then a woman came in and started swimming in the next lane. She does't look super fit but she is faster than me with her one arm swim. Whatever, I said to myself. I am a slow swimmer and I admit it. I keep doing my own thing and she got out of the pool a bit later. Then two guys join in and they were super fast... but only for a while. Next thing I know I am close to 2km. Right then I started to feel sick. I took breaks but it didn't get better. For the secondly day in a row, I want to vomit again. Not because I am tired or try too hard... but I just want to vomit. Not wanting to have people watching me vomit in the pool while wearing my Team In Training Swim Cap, I called it a day and got out of the pool.

I definitely feel stupid. I swam 2km already and there is only 1 more to go. Why can I finish =(

I took a shower and prepare to leave. Right then a guy ask me when I did the Wildflower Triathlon (because I was wearing the Wildflower shirt) I chart with that guy for a bit and that lift my spirit.

Never give up, I will keep swiming.

My vomit tastes like energy drink

Since Vineman Ironman is going to be very very hot, the coach decided to start our training at a later time so that we can more heat. However... it was raining... so much for training under the heat. I should of train with a sweater.

Did the 4 hours bike and on to my two hours run. My plan is to do 3-1 intervals. I run 3 minutes, then walk 1 minute. I can go faster but I figure this will be the pace for my ironman's marathon... so I may as well get used to it.

After 20 minutes into the run, I stopped because I wanted to vomit. I took a 8 seconds breather and move on. This is go on several times... and finally... 3 minutes before the 2hr is up, I started to cough... it seems like there is something in my lung... and because I coughed like crazy, I vomited... the stuff that I have been drinking.... no pizza, no hamburger... just some energy drink =P

I thought I was done with Calculus

I love my coaches and teammates, but I always need to complain about swimming.

So, the swim set was kind of crazy for the last two weeks. Not only do I have to swim but I also need to keep track of all these set. I may as well be doing calculus while swimming.

Two weeks ago, I did circuits of 5-100 yd. It goes like this: Hard, Easy, Hard, Hard, Easy... then repeat. That means I have to swim 100 yd hard, rest, then 100 yd easy, rest, then 100 hard, rest, 100 hard, rest, 100 easy, rest... repeat. And remember the pool is only 25 yd long... so for 100 yd, I need to swim 2 laps (4 sides).

You guessed it, I lost track after a while!

Hard, Easy, Hard, Hard, Easy... I may as well press Up Up Down Down Left Right Left Right B A!

Somehow I survived and I thought it was done... then one week after... I did the following.

Set 1
25 yd 5 seconds rest
50 yd 10 seconds rest
75 yd 15 seconds rest
100 yd 20 seconds rest

Set 2
125 yd 5 seconds rest
150 yd 10 seconds rest
175 yd 15 seconds rest
200 yd 20 seconds rest

Set 3
225 yd 5 seconds rest
250 yd 10 seconds rest
275 yd 15 seconds rest
300 yd 20 seconds rest

Set 4
175 yd 5 seconds rest
150 yd 10 seconds rest
125 yd 15 seconds rest
100 yd 20 seconds rest

Set 5...

The coach did tape the set at the end of the lane... the problem is... since I am doing odd numbers on some sets, I ended up resting at the opposite end of the pool not knowing what to do next. I find a solution to read the list before I end up on the other side of the pool.

I was doing good at first, then I screw up and lost track in the middle. The swim was actually ok, but the counting is very very tiring. I am actually looking forward to the 3km swim this sunday... because I only need to count to 66 laps =)