Woke up at 6:00AM this morning and jumped into Spiderwoman’s pool for an 1800 meter swimming drill. Water was over flowing a bit, so my time came down by another minute, but I am not sure if this is enough to challenge MasterLee in the race. He seems to be getting faster in the water and I am amazed at how long he could keep it up. The good news is that I think I still have room to improve there.
As for the bike training, I logged another 25 miles at a brisk 20mph pace yesterday afternoon. With my tri-bike, and hopefully no hills at this years LA tri, I am hoping I can gain some advantages here. I was following closely with this well-train Triathlete yesterday and I was able to keep up with his pace on the flat for about 15 min. Next time I see him, I’ll try for 20.
As for the run. My most dreaded discipline. It will just come down to Will Power on race day. Nonetheless, I still need to allocate some time to improve that part.
On a side note, my favorite real estate agent gave me a call yesterday. Seems like she is determined to get into Yale B. school! She has always been the over-achiever. I know she will make it. And I will need to push myself to get into her mindset. She always tells me that I am not trying hard enough to reach my full potential. Sadly speaking, I think she is somewhat right. Can I do it? We shall find out soon enough. Don’t you just love the pressure you can put on yourself? Ha.
Friday, July 29, 2005
Wednesday, July 27, 2005
47 Days...
Trained with THE Spiderwoman in our weekly swimming clinic. Our coach did not show up again, so it was up to us to make the training regiments. The pool was crowded yesterday so we changed our routine a little bit. Started off with a 35 min. run. I don't know if I am getting faster or if Spiderwoman is lagging in her training, I felt fine running at a leisure pace while spiderwoman was huffing and puffing. In the end, I decided to try to lap Spiderwoman...but just missed that goal :)
After the run, it was into the pool for a quick 900 meter cool down rather than our usual 1600 meter swim. I feel faster in the water too. Hopefully the 1 mile ocean swim in LA Triathlon will not be much harder.
Because of our delayed start in training, I did not get home until a few min. before 10. too tired to study for GMAT. should make it up tonight!!!!
After the run, it was into the pool for a quick 900 meter cool down rather than our usual 1600 meter swim. I feel faster in the water too. Hopefully the 1 mile ocean swim in LA Triathlon will not be much harder.
Because of our delayed start in training, I did not get home until a few min. before 10. too tired to study for GMAT. should make it up tonight!!!!
Tuesday, July 26, 2005
48 Days...
I was feeling a little bit under the weather yesterday (the annoying fat chick in the next cube kept on coughing and spread her germ everywhere), so I decided to cut my training in half and run just 4 laps around the lake. The distance is about 4.2 miles and it took me 33 minutes to finish it; a slight improvement over last time. The best part is that my left calf doesn’t hurt this time, I think I will make it a habit of icing my muscles and joins after each workout. After all, as much as I hate to admit it, I am not 19 anymore…
Running around the lake has its pros and cons. The biggest con is the fact that there are so many people walking their dogs in the late afternoon, so you would really need to watch your step so you don’t step on manures. The pro is that the weather is generally nice, and in the late afternoon, you can feel the breeze in your face cooling you off just slightly.
However, one more thing annoys me somewhat. There are many “posers” in Irvine who thinks they are athletes (I don’t consider myself one yet, if I can finish the LA Triathlon under 3 hours, I would consider myself fit) but really not. There was this couple who dressed in synchronized pro gear. But the funny thing is that they look cocky especially the dude, a WOH yet they are hella slow. We all ran the same distance, and in the first lap, they were way ahead. But I passed them in the 3rd lap and never look back. That is satisfaction!
I am swimming today! Hopefully the pool at Nancy’s will still be clean at 7:00PM with no little kids blocking the lanes. I am shooting for 32 min. in a mile swim! A 1 min pace increase every 400 yards.
Oh, also signed up for GMAT on 10/8. I better not put my foot where the mouth is again! Knock on wood.
Running around the lake has its pros and cons. The biggest con is the fact that there are so many people walking their dogs in the late afternoon, so you would really need to watch your step so you don’t step on manures. The pro is that the weather is generally nice, and in the late afternoon, you can feel the breeze in your face cooling you off just slightly.
However, one more thing annoys me somewhat. There are many “posers” in Irvine who thinks they are athletes (I don’t consider myself one yet, if I can finish the LA Triathlon under 3 hours, I would consider myself fit) but really not. There was this couple who dressed in synchronized pro gear. But the funny thing is that they look cocky especially the dude, a WOH yet they are hella slow. We all ran the same distance, and in the first lap, they were way ahead. But I passed them in the 3rd lap and never look back. That is satisfaction!
I am swimming today! Hopefully the pool at Nancy’s will still be clean at 7:00PM with no little kids blocking the lanes. I am shooting for 32 min. in a mile swim! A 1 min pace increase every 400 yards.
Oh, also signed up for GMAT on 10/8. I better not put my foot where the mouth is again! Knock on wood.
Monday, July 25, 2005
49 Days....
Counting today. There are exactly 49 days left until this year's LA triathlon. I am feeling the pressure now. Pressures are good for me, need more of that in my life so I can push myself out of this mellow doldrum I am in now.
In terms of training, I’ve been training at around 70% capacity for the past few weeks and thought it would be enough to get by. Yesterday's test proved me wrong. Masterlee and I started the day at 6:00AM with a 1 mile swim. I improved my time slightly from 36 min to 34 min. this was followed by a 35 mile bike ride in scorching heat in the back mountains of OC. The ride was a humbling experience mainly because the temperature soared to the low 90s by 9:30AM. Don't think I will take it lightly again. Then finally, Master Lee and I tried to finish the last leg of the practice with a short 3.5 miles. I thought it would be a easy one, but boy, was I wrong. The heat proved to be too much and I succumbed to the combination of the heat and dead leg due to the long ride. Needless to say, it was not fun for us to struggle, even at a snails pace. Time to up the running dicipline.
For this year, I have one goal for the LA triathlon. and that is not to get embarrassed by my co-worker the blonde bomber.
I think there is no time to rest from now on. After work today, I shall stick to my plan of doing another 1 hour study (if i don't dose off) and run 3 laps around the lake when the temperature cools down a bit. Shooting for 26 min!!
Life is fun isn't it. JUST DO IT!
In terms of training, I’ve been training at around 70% capacity for the past few weeks and thought it would be enough to get by. Yesterday's test proved me wrong. Masterlee and I started the day at 6:00AM with a 1 mile swim. I improved my time slightly from 36 min to 34 min. this was followed by a 35 mile bike ride in scorching heat in the back mountains of OC. The ride was a humbling experience mainly because the temperature soared to the low 90s by 9:30AM. Don't think I will take it lightly again. Then finally, Master Lee and I tried to finish the last leg of the practice with a short 3.5 miles. I thought it would be a easy one, but boy, was I wrong. The heat proved to be too much and I succumbed to the combination of the heat and dead leg due to the long ride. Needless to say, it was not fun for us to struggle, even at a snails pace. Time to up the running dicipline.
For this year, I have one goal for the LA triathlon. and that is not to get embarrassed by my co-worker the blonde bomber.
I think there is no time to rest from now on. After work today, I shall stick to my plan of doing another 1 hour study (if i don't dose off) and run 3 laps around the lake when the temperature cools down a bit. Shooting for 26 min!!
Life is fun isn't it. JUST DO IT!
Wednesday, July 20, 2005
10 Weeks till LA Triathlon
It's been a while since my last post. Here is a quick recap of what has been going on for the past few weeks. My mother flew in early July for a quick one week stay. Not sure why she doesn't extend her trip, but its nice spending time with her. She will be here again in October. During her short stay, I took her to look at houses near Corona. We have our eyes on a Four Leaf Home house with 4,000 feet. Five rooms (Three master bedrooms) and a guest/entertainment room. The price tag starts is $650K. Expensive, but doable, and my mom fell in love with the European interior room arrangements of the house. But bringing things back to reality. My cousin made a great point by saying "who is going to live in that house in you were to buy it", great point! Additionally, upon further investigation, I found out that property tax in Corona is a whopping 1.8%. adding that to the association fees, the annual tax payment on property would come close to 2%. that is $13,000/ year on taxes along. Crazy....
well, for now, i guess i'll continue to live my high life as Charles in Charge in my friends Irvine vacation home and return home to visit my dogs in San Gabriel in the weekend.
well, for now, i guess i'll continue to live my high life as Charles in Charge in my friends Irvine vacation home and return home to visit my dogs in San Gabriel in the weekend.
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