So I was doing this shorter distance tri few weeks before Vineman Full Ironman and most of my teammates were there as well. For some reason I can't carry my bike and my transition bag into the transition area at the same time so I leave my bike with a race volunteer and go find a spot to rack my bike. I walked around for a while and I found this rack with the correct height (all racks have different height... some are too short... some are like 5'10 high). I left my transition bag under the rack and head back to my bike.
As I was walking to my bike a patrol car was running over it. I ran as fast as I can but it was too late. The cop ran over my bike and took off. My first reaction was... nooooooooooooooooooo. Then I was like... great... this is like fighting for a traffic ticket... his words against my words... there is no way I can get $ for my bike.
I looked at my bike and it didn't look good. the front wheel was bend and the tire wasn't really attached to the wheel. There are also some weird stuff coming out from my wheel. As with the bike frame, the connection between the top tube and the head tube were no longer... connected.
I rode the bike for a short distance and I can still ride it, but I definitely need a new wheel because the wheel was hitting the front brake.
I managed to rack my bike. I talked to my teammate carlos and he assure me everything it's going to be cool. I then called Coach Paul and ask him what I should do.Paul told me this is why we are training with the ironteam... we always need to be prepare of what's going to happen. We are all going to experience problems, but how we deal with our problems determine if we can finish the race. I asked him if I should just do the swim and skip the bike/run. Then Paul ask me... what if this happen in Vineman? Are you just going to swim and not bike/run? I was like... no way. He hang up so I can figure out what I should do on my own.
I decided to go for it. I decided to swim, ride my broken bike, then run.
With only minutes to spare before the swim start, I reach over to my transition bag to prepare... only to find out my transition bag and bike DISAPPEARED. GONE... just like that. Why would someone steal a broken bike??? So now I really panic... how am I going to swim + bike + run when I don't have my bike and swim stuff...
Well you know I hate swimming. I can swim now... not fast... but I can swim... and I can swim for a long time. But I still don't like swimming. So what's in store today? 2.5km timed swim. So how long is 2.5km? Think of the gym pool in 24 hr fitness. The pool is 25 yrd long and I need to swim 110 of those. Since I don't want to count to 110, so I count laps... 55.
As always, I come up with a million excuses not to swim. It's too late, I am hungry, how am I going to count 55 laps, what if there are a lot of people in the pool, what if the earthquake crack the pool, what if the swine flu is in the pool... just excuses after excuses.
Then I pull out the cancer card. I told myself... dude you are not going to swim and not chemo... Just go! So I shut up and keep driving.
I got to the 24 hr fitness, changed, and walked out to the pool. Wow no lane opened (there are 2 lanes in the 24 hr fitness)... people were just doing their own thing and they are not lap swimming... so what am I going to do? Then a woman was nice enough to split a lane with me. She told me she can just share the lane with her husband. Great... the swim is on!
I started my watch and start my swim. A few laps later two kids were playing in the pool. Luckily they dodge me when I swim by. No problem there. Then there is a girl with fins swimming in the next lane. I push hard and I was able to swim faster than her. That was a good feeling. Then this girl jump into the pool and start swimming in my lane. By then the woman and the husband left the pool... so there is me, this girl, and the two kids on my lanes. Since the two kids are in the way, the girl and I needed to do some lane sharing when we pass the kids. Next thing I know I ran into her... and guess what... I continue to swim... what an ass... I know I know... next time I actually stop and say sorry.
I did plan to stop for a second to say sorry if she is at the end of the lane... but that never happened and she left the pool. Great, now I am offically the green cap asshole in the pool. By now I swam 1km and I feel pretty good. As I was auto swimming (sorry Cheesewheel I copy your term) Then I started to feel bad about the goldfish. Check this... I am freaking bored... 55 laps in a pool... but think about the goldfish... they are in a fish tank... 24/7 doing laps. I told myself not to get goldfish or any kind of pet. Yes, I have random thoughts when I swim. Sorry, I don't think about programming.
La La La... I continue to swim... then this one teen jumped into the pool and start swimming. We need to navigate around the two kids and we actually did ok.
At lap 40 something this dude came in and start swimming. All these time I just sort of split a lane and just swim on the left side. So I continue to do my thing and this guy were in my split. I was able to dodge him and continue to swim. Then I realized he is doing lap swim. Fine, I am all up for lap swim, but I think he should of give me a head up. Then the next thing I know this white cap girl also jump in and join the fun. So now we have 3 people doing lap swim in one lane. By then the kids actually moved over to the other lane. I am guessing because the lap swimming looks a bit hardcore and it actually scare them away.
Not wanting to have them pass me I actually swim faster... which is a good thing. At one point I cramp so the girl need to slow down so I limp my way to the side. With only a few more laps to go, I suck it up and finish all 55 laps. 1 hr 13 min 43 seconds. This is consistent with my speed... my slow speed. Well at least I did it. 2.5km... a new record in my book.
Well I have a lot to say right after I finished... but you know how things go... time pass by you get lazy... so... I'll just say a few things.
I am not too crazy about finishing because I know I can do it. However I think I got my coaches worry because I was very slow (due to lower back pain on the bike and laziness on the run.. and yes... the long transitions)... which I feel very bad about. Coach Paul and Rad... I am sorry.
One of the thing that I didn't get to see this year is to see all my teammates finish. Alex, Bobby, and Jake are injured so they couldn't do the race. Two of my teammates didn't make the bike cutoff. This is my shoot out for you guys. We'll do it next year again!
I do think that this ironteam training give me a lot of new perspective. By spending a lot of time training and getting out of my comfort zone, I get a taste of how cancer patient family go about their daily life... Busy, Emotionally/Physically drained, face uncertainty, pain...etc.
I am just glad that I finished. I fulfill my promise to Tyler, to finish the Wildflower Half Ironman in honor of him. However, break is over... I have to continue my training for the Vineman Full Ironman distance in Aug 1. I know I can finish for Wildflower... Vineman... not so much.
Am I excited? No... because I need to unpack and clean all these stuff... give it a few days to sink in. Here is a recap.
Tue lunch I had my Katsu Don few days before my big race.
Thur I took Thur-Fri off so I can get up there early. I picked up my teammate Edmund in the morning and we drove 4 hours to Lake San Antonio (near San Luis Obispo). We setup camp near to our teammates tents and started to prepare for Sat.
Fri I woke up in the middle of the night hear rain drop. I dragged my backpack it under the vestibule and continue sleeping. I woke up several hours later and the ground is dry. The team gathered at 12pm and all of us went down to the expo area. We picked up our stuff and headed down to the transition area. When we were at the transition area Coach Paul and Rad gave help us visualize how we should do tomorrow.
For this race I actually rack my bike at the assigned space. Coach Paul told me that I have to be facing my number and that the wheel that is lower to the ground has to be on the same side as the number... this will prove useful tomorrow. After a Q&A section we went down to the swim area for scout the swim course.
We gathered around the first buoy and Paul talked about our strategy for tomorrow. Since I don't know how to tread water I flap around my arm like a chicken to stay afloat (well the wetsuit help you float but I still need to move around to keep my whole head above the water). It's funny how I can swim 1.2 mile but I can't tread water.
When we got out of the water it was raining. Good thing is it won't be as hot... but the bad thing is the road will become very slippery. Die under the heat or die crashing your bike... pick one!
After the swim the team headed to the expo area. Since I was hungry I had 1 tri-tip sandwich, 1 hot dog, and then 2 scoops of Gelato (cookie N cream & Birthday Cake). Gosh Gelato only costs 6 bucks! Afterward we headed back to the camp and chill. While most people are chilling I went to prepare for tomorrow. I want done with it while the rain stopped and there are still light out... I double checking my gear, packing my transition bag, and prepare my drinks (5 bottles with 2 kinds of mix in each bottle)... my teammates may think I am anti-social... but I just want to prepare during day time... just like I always do in a backpacking trip... we cook, filter water, go dig a cat hole...etc. Since it may rain tomorrow I bought extra stuff to keep myself warm. I also waterproof most of my stuff and bought a change of clothes just in case. At a result, my bag is stuffed.
At 6 pm, we went to the pasta party and had a candle light ceremony. We then had a team meeting to talk about any last minute stuffs. Coach Paul stresses: Don't fight the course because it will bite you. Just follow the course and you'll be finish before you know it.
I double check my stuff one more time, put the timing chip on my left ankle as if I am under a house arrest, set my alarm at 4:15 am, then went to sleep.
Sat: I woke up super early so I don't have to wait in line for restroom. I changed, had breakfast, and I was ready by 6:30 am.
The team gathered and we rode down (literally... down a long steep hill) to the transition area (This itself is an accomplishment)! I looked at the sky and it seems like it can rain anytime, I setup my stuff and had time to spare. I walked around to wish my teammates good wish. There were definitely a lot of hi-5 and hand-shaking at the transition area. Soon after our mentors showed up with their cameras and start taking pictures of us in action. It was very very very sweet of them.
The race starts at 8:00 am but my wave doesn't start til 8:30 am so I just hang out with my teammates. Each wave has a different color swim cap so people can keep track of which wave you are from... plus it's kind of cool to look at.
I watched the elite women start and I saw the first two elite male coming out from the water. Damn they are fast.
More hi-5 and pictures... the next thing you know it was 8:25 and the wave before me started their swim. As soon as that wave started I jumped into the water and start my warm up. By this time I needed to pee. Usually people pee in their wetsuits in the water. I tried hard and I can't get myself to do it. You spent years learning not to pee with clothes on... how do you expect myself to do it. So I got out of the water... disappointed... and wait for my wave to start.
Swim - 1.2 miles: 58:12 Pace: 48:30 min/mi 5...4...3...2...1... off I go. I jumped into the water and start swimming. Within seconds someone hit my head and luckily... my goggles didn't come off!!! I swam passed the first sphere buoy (sphere means go straight), and soon after I made a right at the triangular buoy (the turn buoy). By this time the crowd thin out and I am just doing my own thing. I passed another buoy then faster swimmers started passing me left and right. I continue to swim and kick very hard to discourage any swimmer to swim over me. I swam and swam... and the next thing I know I am way off course. The shortest way to finish this sucker is to swim STRAIGHT from one buoy to the next... and turn at those triangular buoys. I am slow and I swim away from the course... what a combination!!! So I would swim a while, realized that I am off course, then I will swim back to the course... this went on for a few times. Realizing that I did not sight often. I started to sight more... and better. Finally... finally... I started swimming in a 'sort of' straight line.
Half an hour into the swim I swam pass the U turn buoys and started to swim back. Soon after I saw a yellow cap swimmer and I thought it was my teammate (he started his swim 10 minutes before me... I think)... Anyway, I got close and realized it wasn't my teammate... so I move on.
Then... my right calf started to cramp... not a lot... but just a little. What am I going to do? This is exactly what Coach Paul and Rad warn us. He told us something will always come up during the race. How you would handle it determine if you can finish. Well I stop swimming because I know things will get worst if I don't fix this issue. I stopped and collect myself. My first concern is to drown. I know I have my wetsuit and everything but I am sure I will sink if I panic. I massage a little... that didn't work. I then look for life-guards in case I need to swim to their surf board to rest. I decided that the best action is to continue swimming and just shake the hell out of my right cramp. I swam for a little bit and the cramp went away. I continue to monitor my right calf and focus to stay loose.
Then I got out and I started running to the transition area... yay
serious look... (or the kind of out of it look??)
Swim Comment: - need to swim faster next time - stretch my arm more - sight more often - learn how to pee in a wetsuit
Transition 1: 14:03 Remember I told y0u I need to pee before the swim? I still do. So I started running toward the restroom... with my wetsuit half on. As I was running I saw my teammate Bobby standing outside of the transition area cheering for us. Bobby was injured and I was touched by him driving all the way for LA to Wildflower just to cheer for us. I talked to him for a bit and continue to the restroom.
While I was waiting in line I took off my wetsuit. I ended up not having to wait in line because the spectators let me cut in front of the line. You know how sometime people let you go first if you have one item that you need to buy from the supermarket. It's kind of like that but this is to the extreme. Good job Louis!
I went back to the transition, changed clothes, put more sunscreen, helmet...etc... double check that I have everything... then I head out. I know I am taking a long time but it's a 56 mi bike ride. I want to make sure I don't forget anything. As I was getting out I went to Bobby again to give him a hi 5.
T1 comments - fine tune how I lay my stuff
Bike - 56 miles: 04:22:01 12.82 mi/hr I ran pass the little blue mat and a few feet after the mount line, I mount my bike and started biking. I saw mentors cheering on the sideline and I was happy to see them. At mile 2 I started to climb a big hill called beach hill. I keep my own pace to make sure I don't kill myself early on. Few miles later we exited the park and started to ride on the public road (which cars on the opposite side of traffic)
Everything seems to be going fine right? Not exactly... By this time (which is super early in the race), I started to have sharp pain on my lower right back. At the same time my whole right arm was very very tight.
The right arm was ok... it bother me but not a big deal. But the back... oh my god. I felt like someone stick a needle on my back. This is something I never experience before. I decided that I am still good to race. The pain is there but it's not alarming... when I say alarming I mean this is not something where I need to stop the race and go see a doctor right a way. So I continue with this two issues during the ride.
Although I have this pain going on during the race, I need to be extremely focus, especially on the down hill. As much as you think a tarmac road is silly smooth... it is not. There are potholes and uneven groove that you have to watch out for (luckly 'most' potholes was spray printed so it make it easier for you to see). If your wheel get caught and you don't pay attention, you will loose your balance and crash. This is so true in high speed. To give you something in comparison, this is the speed that I can handle.
speed 0-25 miles... no problem speed 25-30 miles... this is where I have to be very very careful speed 30-35 miles... this is when I feel like I was coming back down to earth from the space shuttle... the bike shakes and you really need to be focus or you will definitely crash. speed 35-40 miles... my life flashes in front of my eye (just kidding)... but it's very serious stuff!
What's the big deal... I can always brake! Well yes and no... to throw a curve ball in here, I also ride in aero position. Aero position allows you to go faster but you don't have access to your brake levers. If you want to brake you need to go back to the regular position. Also, since your elbows are closer together you can't steer as well. You can under steer or over steer thus resulting in a crash... at 20-30 something miles an hour!!!
aero position from another tri event
So you need to analyze the road to see if is make sense to use aero position downhill. When I go down hill, I look at my speed. If I know I will go 'too fast'... I will get back to the regular position so I have my brakes. Having riding the course at the training weekend definitely help plan my downhill
ok... so much about the speed thing, let's go back to the ride. So I would passed some people and many would pass me. The back pain never go away. I took breaks at the water stop but those breaks didn't really help. I thought about my friends who are battling for cancer. I thought about my grandmother who didn't go thru her chemo because she said it was too painful. I never donated bone marrow but I feel like a rider who just came off from donating one. Mainly I thought about Tyler. I told myself I am doing this for him and I want to finish. I told myself the pain is only temporary... several hours maybe... but this kid (and many others) have to go thru this kind of stuff every day. I push on (without being over the limit).
While all these are happening I also want to vomit. I guess that's like an extra credit.
As much as I like to go fast... this back pain thing took a beating on me. I am definitely going much slower than I am capable of. I left it this way because I still have 13.1 mile run to go and I want to make sure I can finish. I rather slow down on the bike and finish stronger on the run.
A few teammates passed me and I told them I am ok. At around mile 41 I got to the bottom of nasty grade. The only thing I can say is this is one nasty grade. I struggled a lot when I rode it last time. What is this going to be this time. Again, I stuck with what works. I go at my own pace and I got to the top. Then I saw the most amazing thing ever. I saw a woman dressed up as an Energizer Bunny beating the drum! I told her you made my day.
sample as 2:18 (by the way, this video contains the hills that I rode on... and some downhill footage too)
Well I am not out of the blue yet. I still have several hills to climb and I still need to over come my fear of thigh cramps. Last time I did this course I cramped 3 times near the end. It was so painful that I can't even get off my bike and I definitely don't want it to happen today. I continue to ride, stay loose, and not to push myself over the limit. I passed the place where I had the first cramp.... not problem... second location.... no problem. I was happy... I feel good (except my right arm and my back). At this time I am already back into the park... only 2-3 more miles before I finish... then at area where I had my third cramp last time... I cramped up again!!! *_*
I was able to stop and get off my bike. I didn't want to sit down because I think it will make it worst. I rub around both of my legs and wonder why the hell I am cramping again. Last time I stretch and sit around for the cramp to go away. This time... I started walking my bike to walk off the cramp. I don't want to waste my time standing around. I need to finish the bike ride and continue with my run! After maybe 2-3 minutes I got back on my bike and started riding again.
A mile after I saw Coach Paul and Rad. I told them about my problem and they told me to stretch, eat, and pour water on top of my head at the transition.
Bike comments - not to cramp again!
Transition 2: 10:49 I got off my bike and I was so happy. The back pain just go away. I sit down, changed, ate something, stretch a little, and head out.
P.S. It did took me a while to find my Endurolytes from my tribag because I lost my bag of endurolytes during the bike.
T2 comment: - faster next time
Run - 13.1 miles: 3:11:57 14:39 min/mi I started running and I felt great. If anything I am just happy that the back pain went away! Then I feel hot. As soon as I got to the first aid station I told the girl to hose me down. Physically, I am sore but ok. Mentally, my mind tell me the stop. I think the bike took a beating on me. I don't want to cramp during the run. I just want to finish my first ironman because I know I can improve my time in another race. I decided to go slow on the first half and then pick it up on the second half. I continue to struggle and managed to pass a few people. By mile 4 Sharon caught up to me and we walk up the hill together. She pressed on while I lag.
After a while I entered the camping area. Then I saw Sharon walking with Catherine. I caught up to them and say hi. Then suddenly someone yelled hey Louis! I turned around and it's Godfather Sean (Godfather Sean used to be involved with TNT and he is now a proud member of the WB Tri Team. He is also the brainchild of the New Year Rose Parade Run). I gave him a hug and we took a picture. He gave me an ice cold towel and I used that to cool my head. I told him I think I have a race to finish and I started running again.
Soon after Sharon and I are near the Team In Training Camping Area. I told her I don't want to do the Walk of Shame so we started running. We then actually run for a while but I need to slow down because my legs start to hurt. Again, I am focus on finishing the race than finishing with a good time.
By this time I ran out of all food (well I didn't pack enough) so I am just eating whatever the aid station has. I continue to do my own thing then I bump into this guy and he started doing the rocky song with his Harmonica. I was like wow. I should of totally stop and get a video out of it but I continue to push on.
By now I am at this section call the pit... you basically go down to the bottom and then run back up. As I was making my way down I saw Becca, Mark, Chris, Matt, Coach Rad, and Sharon. Then I saw Aubrey and Eurie on my way up. I ran most of it down and I slow down again near the bottom because of my leg.
As I was making my way up I asked Coach Rad if I have enough time to finish the race. He told me I have enough time to finish... so I stop running and walk =P.
So now I passed the mile 12 mark and this Vineman Girl (but first time doing wildflower) came up to me and told me I should run the last mile with her... so I running. She is like the female version of Coach Paul telling me to pick it up. We started running together and I started to pull away..
As we are getting to this uphill section I started to power walk so that she can catch up to me but she keep falling behind. I decided to wait for her near the end to finish with her. If she didn't push me I wouldn't start running. I figure I owe her that much.
As I was going up the hill Godfather Sean pop out of the middle of nowhere and tell me this is the last hill I need to climb, then it's all downhill after that. Hey he wasn't lying!
So now the finishing stretch... all downhill. As I make my way down I can see that Vineman girl behinid me. I looked at her and she told me not to stop and continue running. Ok, I guess I'll just give her a high-five when we finish.
Few minutes later, I entered the finishing area. This is the time when I usually sprint to finish. Since I never push myself too hard I always have a lot of energy left for a strong finish. I thought about it for a second... then I was like nah. My legs are pretty tired... I don't want to start sprinting and collapse. That will look very very stupid... so I just jog it in.
As I was crossing the finish line I saw a bunch of people at the end. I was like who are all these people blocking the exit... then I realized they are all my teammates. After I got my finisher towel and medal, all my teammates rush to me like a mad mob and start giving me hugs. I felt like one of the member from The Beatles exiting the airport gate. Funny thing is they are more excited than me =)
While all these craziness was going on I heard the announcer said something like Louis Kwan from Monterey Park... yay (in wildflower triathlon they announce every finisher's name). I think that was kind of cool. I told my teammates Aubrey and Eurie are behind me for probably 10-20 minutes and I told the team what Aubrey and Eurie were wearing so that they can spot them as the duo come in. I walked around to give hugs to my teammates and to thanks all the support staffs for doing such a great job.
So now I am a half ironman finisher...
Wait... there is more..... but I need to go to work again... hahahahhaa
I am the poster child of what not to do during training. I have a history of 'hey Louis don't do these things moments' It all started last year when I ran the Mt Wilson Trail Race 6 days after the San Diego Rock N Roll Marathon. Then in August, I did the Disneyland Half Marathon in the morning, then Nike Human 10K at night, then... Mt Baldy Trail Race next morning. Initially my marathon coaches told me I am asking for trouble. But since I pull these things off they gave up taking to me=P
However, doing the course of the ironteam training, I follow the schedule and try not to do anything stupid (well... sort of... except I ran the Carlsbad Half Marathon and Tokyo Marathon).
So what happened today? I did it again guys. Instead of sitting my ass at home and eat junk... I meant healthy stuff, I did the 2009 LA Triathlon Championship Series Event 1. It sounds super hardcore but the Championship distance is only 500 Meter Swim/ 24K Bike/5K Run.
So... as much as I sounds like a rebel and don't listen to my coach. I do... every much. So why the hell did I do it? Good question... and I actually have an answer for you. The reason why I want to do this race is because I want to gain more triathlon experience. You see... I got this transition backpack two weeks ago and I NEVER really use it. I want it to try it out on a race. I want to see if all my stuff will fit inside the pack and I want to make sure I can find everything I need. Also I want to fine tune my transition and make any final adjustment before Wildflower Half Ironman (which is May 2 dude!). I also got my bike refitted and I want to make sure I feel ok riding this new setup.
Anyway, I did learn a few things today and I am going to mention them as we go.
So last night I managed to stuff everything in the backpack. And instead of my traditional TNT cycling jersey and marathon '4-Tyler' shirt, I decided to try out my TNT Stripper Top (when I first got them I was like what the heck the top are sooo freaking small... please note that I got a large). Guess what... this tiny thing actually fits... but you won't see a picture of me 'in' it anytime soon.
Can you believe this is actually a large?? Well it fits... somehow...
I got up this morning at 4:15am and got to the park at 6:20am. I picked up my package, met up with my friend Stephen, then got down to the transition area to setup.
LESSON #1: Read your stuff very carefully. When I first signed up few days back I thought the swim is 500 yd... but 500 yd turned into 500 meters. It's actually no big deal because I swam 2km last Sunday.
I setup my bike and lay everything I need on my towel. There tons of room on the rack but I set my stuff as if I only have inches of space to use... just to gain experience.
7:15 am... good... I still have like 45 minutes... let me jog around to warm up. So I ran for a little, took some pictures, and talked to my friend Stephen at his transition rack. I got back, look at my watch, and realized I only have 15 minutes left. No big deal. Let me put on my wetsuit.
I put bodyglide (to prevent chafing on leg, neck...etc) on my ankles, arms, and my WHOLE neck. I then put on my wetsuit, swim cap, and I put the goggle around my neck because I 'think' the goggle will fog up if I put in on my forehead. the next thing I know, it's only 10 minutes before 8:00AM. Holy Crap... I better get to the swim start
LESSON #2: I need to make sure I have more than enough time to put on my wetsuit and do swim warm up.
So I rush down to the beach, put on my goggle from my neck... then lesson #2
LESSON #3: Put your goggle on your forehead, not around your neck. Why? I can't see #$## with my goggle because the bodyglide got on the lens.
I tried to clean the lens with lake water, jump into the water, swim a little (maybe 45 seconds?), then get to the starting area.
While I was waiting for my wave to start (first wave), I thought about how I should swim this 500 meters thing. Last time I check the coach told me I can go faster and I totally agree with him. I have been swimming with my all day pace (which Teammate Becca call it Zen Stroke) and it's actually very slow. So I decided to swim faster this time, just to push myself 'closer' to the limit.
5... 4... 3... 2... 1... goooo. I start running into the water like everyone else... then my left toes hit this big ass rock and it hurts!
LESSON #4: There are freaking things in the water that you can kick and injury yourself with!!!
So I started swimming and I was making good progress... for 2 minutes!!! Then I got tired!!! The combination of me going too fast with not enough warm up definitely hit me hard.
LESSON #5: As much as I want to go fast... let's settle first before I speed up
I slow down but the damage is done. For some reason the right side of my core hurts a little... I continue to swim with caution and aim for the first buoy. While I was swimming there is this life guard floating on her surfboard and she is like next to me... I was like... am I being too slow and she think I am going to die... so she better stay next to me to fish me out? Or is she kind of like floating next to me so I can use her as a guide to see which direction I should be swimming? But now that I think of it... the more important question is... how come I didn't look at her and see if she is super cute? Well, I guess I was too focus on my swim.
After a while I got to the first buoy. I make a right and continue to swim to the second buoy. Since I feel a bit better now I started to swim faster... but not so fast because I was hot. For the longest time I thought warm water is a good thing... but it's not! So here I am... in the middle of the lake... swimming in la la land. Occasionally a swimmer will hit my leg with his/her arm and I would think... is that a swimmer or a lake shark? Other than that nothing too crazy for the rest of the swim. After a while I passed the second buoy and I can see that little swim 'finish' line that I am supposed to go... I kick every hard at the last section just to make more blood flow into my head when I stand up... and DA DA... I am out.
Dizzy? No. Want to vomit? No... Great... let's run to the transition area!!! so I started jogging to the transition area. Along the beach there were people cheering me on and I am sure I thanks them by splashing the lake water all over them while trying to get the wetsuit off.
My swim time for 500 meters (I am sure I swim like a S so I probably swim a little bit more) is 17 min 59 seconds.
I got to my bike, removed my wetsuit, and dry my head with a towel. I am actually wasting my time because I know I don't need to dry my head. However, I insist to dry my head as a way to tell myself... Louis... good job. You know how people wipe the sweat off their forehead using their arm after they completed something very very hard... ya... it's kind of like that.
My T1 time is 3:27... which is actually very very slow.
I got on my bike and start the two loops course. I got off with a bad start because for some reason the watch didn't get reset so it was reporting the wrong time and distance. The only thing that I can really read is my cadence speed and my current speed. That screw me up a little because I am a data person and I love my data.
LESSON #6: Make sure your watch is reset before you start biking/running
I got into the aero position as often as I can and I try to go as fast as I can. I don't think my legs are 100% because it was kind of tight. However I push on and pass a lot of people. I was surprised to pass people with expensive-looking tri bike completed with those space-age looking aero helmet. I passed a few kids (like under 10) on the ride... they are pretty crazy (the kids did the shorter distance that's why I see them when I was biking my second loop)
My bike time is 48:57 (Pace: 18:28MPH)
T2 time is 3:02. I decided not to use my running belt because I want to run faster. So for the first time after I joined Team In Training in Oct 08, I run without a belt. And guess what, it's a bad decision. When I get to the first water stop I realized they don't have sport drink... only water. On top of that they give you styrofoam cup... which is tough to drink with while running... so I choked =P
I don't remember that exact feeling now but I was feeling funny during the run. It almost seems like I am losing my breath (which I shouldn't be at all). a mile and a half in I saw my friend running back to this out and back section. I was like... great... he is faster than me. I didn't want to be too crazy to catch up because I do have a half ironman to race this coming sat, so I just keep at my pace and finish my run in 29:45...
My total time is 1:43:12
It was a good race. The area is very nice and the course is flat. And more importantly, I learned a few things that I can use in Wildflower.
Wildflower Ironman is May 2 and I am a bit nervous. ok ok... I lie, I am very nervous. I know I can swim 1.2 mile, bike 56 mile, and run a half marathon after. I have been training since Nov and I know I am ready. But since I never 'complete' a half ironman before, there is definitely doubt. But this is not why I am writing a blog 1:00am in the morning.
I am writing to talk about my friend Tyler. He is both a kid and a cancer survivor. As some of you know, I can't swim. The reason why I joined the Ironteam is to honor Tyler. You see, Tyler got very sick last Sept and I was expected to hear some very bad news. He ended up being ok (well I don't know if you can call chemo ok). It was at that time that I made a promise to myself. If Tyler can go thru chemo, I can learn how to swim and do a triathlon (or at least die drying... I meant drowning).
So I started training 6 days a week and I am constantly improving. I go from not knowing how to swim to swimming over 2 km. I go from biking flat course to hilly terrain (heck with 6800ft of gain too!) And of course, I improved my running as well.
Things are going great. I am nervous and excited about the race.
Then I got this two days ago
"Spring 09 Support Staff recieved this today from our Honored Teammate Captain Dorian regarding her nephew Tyler: Hey team,
We just got some very bad news. It looks like Tyler has relapsed again. He had some suspicious cells in spinal fluid that indicate cancer. Luckily his other counts are good. His doctors are still trying to figure out the best treatment plan for him. For anyone who has seen him recently he looks really wonderful and has been in great spirits. Please hold him in all your healing thoughts.
Dorian"
I was like... not again!
I contacted Dorian and Holly (Tyler's mom) to let them know that I am going to be there for them. I let them know that why I am doing this.
"Ironteam training is nothing like the marathon training. We usually train 6 days a week and I just had my 4hr bike + 2hr run on Sat. I even had a little break down few weeks back because mentally... I was beat up. However, this is what I want to experience... my life taken away. All these hopsital visit, traveling, caring for Tyler... now I can experience a little. You are all my inspiration and heroes..."
Sound corny? Maybe... but it's from my heart.
Now what? I am definitely going to finish the race (unless I pass out!) This is my healing power to Tyler... with every stoke, every pedal, and every step.
Sat I rode for 4 hours and bike for 2 hours. It was very hot sat. The ride was ok but I ran slow during the run. There is no point for me to break any records. For the first time in my running/triathlon career, I went to a gas station to buy a cold sport drink to drink during the run. Aid station has water and stuff but I want something cold =P
Sun I swam for 1 mile (55 minutes) in Long Beach I wouldn't call it... 'no big deal' but Open Ocean (well bay) gotten a lot easier. Don't get me wrong, I still very much hate it, but I swam the whole thing. Half way thru I started to have cramp on one of my leg. I figured it's wise for me to swim back to shore and stretch it. As I was swaning my way back to shore it gotten better so I continue to swim. I know once I get to the ground I will probably make up some excuses so I just suck it up and finish the whole thing. I think I can swim faster without getting too tired. I am going go speed up next time.
I got off work at around 5 something today. Went to Costco to pick up some uncrustables for training, along with King Crab Legs (only 10.99 per lbs!) and some other stuff. Guess what, it was like 7:30pm by the time I got home. I had a rib eye hamburger for dinner (my brother made it and it was very good)... chill a little bit... then it's 10:30pm *_* I just got my water bottle fill with sport drink... and it's now 11:00pm. We are meeting at 7:30 tomorrow... so that means I need to leave my house at 6:15... and that means I need to wake up by 4 something...
The routine started back in Nov... and I still have several months to go. It wasn't stressful with the marathon team. clothes, shoe, water bottle... cap... sunscreen and that's about it. But for this, swim stuff, bike stuff, run stuff, nutrition...
My marathon coach Kiley is going to run his first ultra tomorrow (50 miles). I want to go cheer after training... but I don't think I am up for driving around 150 miles (round trip) after 6 hours of training. We'll see.
I swam 2100 yards (1.2 miles) today in around 55 minutes. I swam at my all day pace so I wasn't tired when I finish. I guess I could of swim a little faster but I want to keep it realistic because this is the pace that I am planning to swim for my Half Ironman. Is this a fast time? Well that's relative. From not knowing how to swim in Nov to swimming 1.2 miles now. That's huge for a lot of people. However, when I compare that time with my teammates, I am concern... heck I am very concern.
During the swim my teammates passed me several times. I wasn't swimming like crazy (because I need to make sure I can finish the whole thing), but I wasn't swimming slow (at least to my standard). I am usually very good about people going faster than me. If you can go faster than me, good for you! Yet every time they pass by me I can't help but think... why am I so slow? Everyone is like a fish... and I am like a... shrimp?
The coach told me to pick it up several times. I was like... I am already doing what I can (without killing myself). Afterward Coach Paul told me I got lazy so he wanted me to get back in to it. I asked him... am I too slow? Is there stuff you want me to work on? He said I am fine.
Well looking back at my swim, I know I can go a little faster. BUT, you definitely don't want to go too fast. It's a very thin line. However, I do think that I save too much energy (being a hiker... you have to). For the next few weeks I will push myself harder and see what happen. In fact I'll swim as fast as I can this Sunday and see what happen.
Too much is at stake right ow. I must complete the Wildflower Half Ironman. I will definitely cry if they told me I passed the cutoff time!
It just so happened that I have a concert to Sunday night right after I came back from the Wildflower training weekend. Take my word for it... don't jump... you'll fall to the ground like a possessed person.
Detroit7 (A Japanese band from Tokyo) is one of the band that I went to see
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