Back at it!

Today, I got out and did a nice long bike ride!

Throughout the entire week, I just haven't been feeling race ready for the Kaiser half marathon that is happening on Sunday. I debated how I should train during the week. Fortunately, I have a wonderful coach who reminded me that this race is for training. Its a race that will prepare me for my A race, the Boston Marathon. So, he suggested I train through this race.

So with the encouragement of my fellow PACWEST triathlon race team, I came out for a fun 3 Bears ride in the East Bay. And let me tell you, today was such a fantastic day! I was reminded how amazingly blessed that I am to be able to train and live in this amazing place! The sites were beautiful The hills were plentiful (and you know how much I love hills!)! And the chance to be around friends was exactly what I needed.

I needed this jolt. I have been so laissez faire with my training lately. I've been in the mode of get this done, get that done, that I totally forgot why I do triathlons. Today, I remembered that I absolutely love riding my bike, being outside and being active with friends! It was such a joy to get out on my bike and just let the everything in.

Thank you Pacwest and Breakaway for such an incredible ride today! I'll see you all at the next long ride next weekend (and many of you way before then!).


As for Kaiser... this ride really pumped me up. I am hopeful that my legs are comfortable tomorrow but either way, I am going to go out and just enjoy it... cause why not? Why would we do these things if we didn't love it?

I am a Run Commuter!

I have done this a couple times in the past but I have finally found the joy in run commuting. The main piece that I had to overcome was the waking up earlier and the BART/bus ride home. And to do this just once a week, its totally doable!

Here is my typical commute:
Morning:
3.5 mile run to the Bart station (dodging people and poop the entire run there)
0.5 mile run from Bart to the high school

Afternoon:
6.5 mile run from the high school to my apartment

Love running through this beautiful city!

The run home is my favorite part. While there are parts where the cars are just plentiful, I tend to get lost in the jogging that I care little about what the random onlookers think. This run is much more pleasurable than riding Bart to Muni. I started riding my bike to work because the muni buses just are too slow and give me headaches from all of the bumpiness! So the longer run is definitely worth it!

I not only am getting home but I am getting a nice long and hilly run into my week! As long as you plan for this 1 day a week, its completely do-able!

Tips:

• Plan ahead! 
• Bring clothes and shoes to work the day before. I have 2 pairs of shoes at my desk, just for these types of occasions!
• Have second set of makeup at work.

• Leave for work early/ get to work early!
• You really need to get to work with plenty of time to spare. Enough time to rest and dry off. Also enough time to primp your hair and get your makeup set for the day.

• Wipes! Wipes are your best friend! Portable towels that will keep you clean :)

• La Fresh Travel lite: Antiperspirant Wipes for Women: Your stinky armpits will thank you.

• Salomon S Lab Advanced Skin Belt or FlipBelt: I have successfully used both. I prefer the Flipbelt (especially if I dont have anything to carry except keys and cards). The Salomon Belt is great if you need to pack clothes that you may not have packed the day before.

That't pretty much all you need! Get out there and get your sweat on! You will feel so refreshed and awake that you wont even need a cup of coffee in the morning! :) 

Week 2 Update

It has now been 13 days since I have started my journey toward drinking more water. There has been some struggles with nights where I had to down a few more ounces then desired but I've gotten there. With the help of my water drinking app (which alerts me every 2 hours to drink water), I have been getting my fill of water every day! Ironically, being sick has actually helped me with my challenge. Since I have been terribly sick for the 2 weeks, I have been downing mugs of green tea throughout the morning, day and evening!

My lips feel so fresh and lacking their typical chappiness. And I have been feeling great! In addition, since I have gotten in the habit of drinking green tea every morning, I have also kicked my slight dependency on coffee! Now, I feel so fresh and awake in the morning. I truly hope this continues!


BTW I am feeling much better now that my cold/flu has gone away. My voice left me the first week back at the high school and I worried about how my students would react to my hoarse voice. But being the sweet kids that they are, I think they noticed my voice and have been acting so kind lately! :) I guess I should be sick more often! JK! I really need to kick this cold to the curb and get back on Boston Marathon training! The Kaiser half marathon is a couple weeks away and I don't know how this race will go :/

2015 Resolution

As many do each year, I have finally decided on a new years resolution. This year, I've chosen to do something that can truly help my body thrive.

1 day into my Water Resolution

I've decided to focus on drinking water. Enough water that my body had been needing for years!

I've been plauged by chapped lips and extremely dry skin for all of my life and never tried to do anything about it - other than apply ChapStick and buff off the dead skin. But after being reminded of the necessity of drinking water, especially as a female athlete, I am taking it upon myself to fill up on my daily dose (for my weight and activity level, I believe it is about 95 ounces a day).

My trusty water bottle that will help me keep track of my daily intake

Today and yesterday have not been too difficult but I need to really focus on this once I start back at the high school on Monday. I've been known to go through a whole workday having only had 1 cup of coffee as my sole source of liquids. Being in a different classroom each hour of the school day has made it pretty difficult to drinking any water, let alone carry water around with me throughout the school day. Hopefully, after a full month of conscious effort, drinking water will become second nature. With the help of the Water Your Body app, I am getting my body the optimal amount of water it needs. 

*So far, I've been peeing up a storm!!!

* Note to self: Don't try to compensate for the lack of water during the day late at night... It will lead to waking up multiple times overnight to use the restroom.