Tri-ing for a Cure

An Incredibly Belated Final Post

2009-01-21T01:31:00.000-08:00

I feel really awful that I never made a closing entry, but if anyone happens to randomly check back to this blog here's how the Big Day went!

I had a draft of an entry halfway written, but trust me, it was a novel and you wouldn't have wanted to read it. So here's a nice condensed version:

As you can see from the picture, it took me a little over 5 hours to complete the triathlon (subtract 10 minutes since they start the race in waves). 5 HOURS. This means that I may not be a very good triathlete, but I am a triathlete nonetheless!

The swim conditions were awful: it was really choppy and hard to stay on course. I heard later that people were puking in the water. My only concern was that I couldn't get a breath of air because I kept getting slapped in the face by the waves. I completed the swim in JUST under an hour (59:51).

The bike ride was really difficult, too. The "Hill of Death" lived up to its name, and I felt absolutely no shame getting off my bike and walking it.

I'll be honest, as I neared the end of my first 12.5 mile bike loop, I came incredibly close to skipping the second loop. Then, as cheesy as this sounds, I thought of all the people who had donated money, helped me with my training, or supported me in some way or another, and it seriously gave me the mental will I needed to keep going.

By the time I reached the run I was practically delirious. I ambled along the trail, mostly walking. It was funny, for the very first time I had a gel and could actually FEEL the calories hit me with instant energy. It was pretty eerie.

And then, suddenly, it was over. I placed 361 out of 378 people, but that didn't bother me because my litany throughout the entire race was "You're a completer, not a competer."

So I did it! And I truly want to thank each and every person who helped me, you helped in more ways than I can ever express.

My goal for this year is to complete a marathon with my sister. Anyone want to join?? ;)

Waiting

2008-06-01T16:44:00.000-07:00

So exactly one week from today I will (hopefully) be completing this triathlon madness. It's a little frustrating this week since I can't truly make myself any more prepared. It takes 10 days for your body to see the effects of a training workout. So even though I feel as though I should be having lots of intense workouts this week, none of it would make any difference. I just have to rest and wait.

None the less, I still went running today. I'm amazed at how much better I've become at running. When I first started this thing it took me an hour and a half to do 4 miles, and I'd have to rest every few minutes. Today, I ran 6 miles in just under an hour, only having to rest every 15-20 minutes. And even more surprising: I'm actually starting to enjoy running!

The bike and the swim I'm quite a bit more apprehensive about, but, like I said, there's no way to prepare myself for it any more. I just have to keep telling myself that there are two types of people in this race: competers and completers. Even if it takes me the full 7 hours allotted, I'm going to complete this thing.

So, this week will be full of brief little workouts and plenty of shopping. I looked in my closet the other day and realized that I have no summer clothes. I got rid of my summer clothes when I moved a year and a half ago, and last summer was so mild I didn't need cool clothes.

I don't think I've ever earned a vacation more than I have this one.

On Burns, Bruises, & Burps

2008-05-25T18:09:00.001-07:00

My pace of life lately has my head spinning. I've discovered that my endurance is not getting much better, which is extremely inconvenient since I'm competing in an endurance event in 2 weeks. Yes, exactly 2 weeks from today is the big day. I'm really starting to wonder if I'll be ready.

Last Saturday marked my furthest bike distance to date. We went to Seward Park (which, incidentally, is where the Danskin triathlon I'm competing in August in will start) and biked to & around Mercer Island (25 miles). It was a beautiful day, but by the time I got to the run it was getting pretty hot. I forgot to reapply sunscreen at transition, so my forearms and face got a little burned. My poor pale skin! It hasn't seen that much sun since I left Georgia!

Also, I don't know how I manage this week after week, but everytime I ride my bike I somehow scratch up and bruise my legs. They look pretty awful, and I can no longer wear skirts without my co-workers remarking "Oh my God! What happened to your legs?!" Yeah, need to eliminate that bizarre habit.

More updates: Yesterday was my first open water swim. This was really an eye-opening experience for me. We had to wear wetsuits since the water was pretty chilly. My rental was incredibly tight (and not in the way it's supposed to be, it was tight like it was the wrong size). I got out in the water and swam a little way, and started panicking because I couldn't breath. I think it was a combination of the vice-like wetsuit I had on and the fact that I STILL am not that confident of my swimming abilities. I didn't make it very far before I turned back.

Needless to say, it was a rude awakening 2 weeks before the race to discover that I am still a terrible swimmer and have zero endurance in the water. On a bike, it's very tough to catch my breath on the hills, but I always have the option of stopping. When I run, if I'm having a tough time, I can just slow down and walk. But it seriously freaks me out that I'll be swimming in the ocean and if I get tired (which is a definite considering the aforementioned lack of endurance), I can flip over and do a back stroke, but I'm still out there. In the ocean. With just my questionable swimming skills to save me (okay, that's an exaggeration. There will totally be plenty of kayaks and surfers out there keeping careful watch, but if I start to go down, who knows how long it would take them to reach me amidst hundreds of swimmers?)

In any case, I set out to swim practice this morning with lots of anxiety. Our normal swim coach, Julie, was in charge of the open-water lake swim. I chose to go with the indoor swim since my wetsuit didn't fit, so I had Pat coaching me. I had told Pat about my concerns, and he promised to watch me and give me some pointers if he could.

So I set off. The 200m 'warm-up' already had me gasping for air. Then we were supposed to do 1000m (the race will be 1500m). I was beginning to feel very worried, but I just went for it. Pat watched me for the first couple laps and then, when I stopped to catch my breath, told me "Your form looks good, you just really need to work on endurance. Swim a minimum of 3x a week for the next two weeks."

And, magically, that's all I needed to hear. This entire time I have been working on my technique because in my mind I still couldn't swim. To have someone tell me 'Yes, you can swim. Now do it better' was exactly what my mind needed. So I swam. I swam for an hour and a half. I lost count of how many laps I did, but I did at least 35 (1750m). Once my body truly warmed-up, it got a lot easier.

Don't misunderstand, though, I still am not a fantastic swimmer. I am very, very slow and I'm wondering if I'll even make the swim cut-off time. We'll see, I guess.

Also, as I was gulping down air and water over and over again, there were definitely at least two times that I had to stop just to burp. Is that normal?

Light at the End of the Tunnel!

2008-05-13T19:37:00.000-07:00

For months now I've had to keep skipping training sessions in order to accomplish other things. Now for the first time, my schedule is completely clear so I can FOCUS, FOCUS, FOCUS!

The past couple weeks were spent cramming for my LEED exam. LEED stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design. In today's environmentally-minded building industry, it's pretty important as a designer that I become a LEED Accredited Professional. Not to mention, environmental design is part of the reason I moved to Seattle in the first place! I'm a green nut, and now, after passing that killer exam, I have the credentials!

After I made up the hours of lost sleep, I was ready to jump into my training with two feet. Saturday I biked 17 miles. It was supposed to be 34 miles but a) I got lost on the trail (it was really confusing! And I wasn't the only person to get lost!) and b) I was definitely feeling the impact of very little training over the past couple weeks. I was exhausted in no time!

Sunday there was no group swim and I didn't do an official "work out," but I DID help my friends install insulation in their house as well as join in helping them mow their lawn with their new motorless lawn mower (now THAT is a workout!).

Last night I went swimming, and tonight I did weight training. Every week when I weight train I also take my weight/body fat measurements. I've been pretty bummed because, yes, part of the reason I was doing this was that I wanted to lose weight. After I started training I GAINED weight (and no, it was not just muscle!). So I've started paying REALLY close attention to what I eat and this week I lost a pound of fat and gained a pound of muscle! YAY!! I don't care if I weigh the same as long as it's all muscle. :)

Fundraising!

2008-04-30T16:40:00.000-07:00

Since I knew that I probably wouldn't be able to raise the full $5,600 from personal donations alone, my friend Katie and I have organized a Silent Art Auction & Raffle. Talk about an ordeal! I had no idea planning an event like this was so hard.

As if training wasn't hard enough to fit into my schedule, planning a fundraiser completely tips the scale of time I'm dedicating to this cause. After a month of planning, however, things are finally starting to come together.

We got the venue donated (the Pyramid Alehouse in Seattle) which is fantastic. Yes, it's a little strange to have an art auction at a sports bar on a Tuesday night. However, it makes sense if you think about it! People's weekends are packed this time of year, there's tons of free parking, easy access to food and drinks....and again, we don't have to pay to rent the space.

Now it's just "the details." You know, the tiny tasks of trying to get food and drinks sponsored, getting cool raffle prizes donated from local businesses, gathering 100 pieces of art to auction, making invitations, getting the word out, making a website, etc., etc., etc.

In any case, you all can keep up with the progress from wherever you are by checking out the event's blog (yes, our event has its own blog. It's so advanced!).

Spread the word!

Seattle, Spring. Spring, Seattle. I'd REALLY like for the two of you to get acquainted!

2008-04-19T21:20:00.000-07:00

I think the Weather in Seattle is a little confused at the moment. Last Saturday was 77 degrees, sunny and perfect. Yet today, I literally biked through rain, sleet, snow, and hail.

I didn't sleep very well last night, so when I rolled out of bed this morning and saw that the temperature was below freezing outside I was not very enthusiastic about today's ride. Actually, I probably would have skipped it all together except for the fact that the Team had a 'Halfway Party' planned for after practice.

I bundled up in as many layers as I could, but I was still freezing. Note to self: buy better bike gloves - ones with both padding and a warmer lining. It was so cold, the Team was divided up into several groups: some people decided to do a run instead, others decided to go on to the house and help set up the party, and everyone else decided to brave the elements on their bikes.

We all rode out three and half miles to the actual bike trail. At that point, Coach Lance said that we could either go back or make a loop around Mercer Island. I pondered. I couldn't feel my hands or feet, I was already tired, and I couldn't see very well with all the snow blowing in my face. Bike 13 more miles or 3.5, hmmmm...

I would like to note, though, that the return trip was uphill. All of it. So by the time I returned to the starting point, I had definitely warmed up.

I sloshed over to the party house and partook of a delicious potluck brunch. I felt kind of bad because I have a hard time in social scenes regardless of where I am, but it's worse when I'm tired. I talked a little, but mostly kept to myself. Socializing is work for some people, and I am one of those people.

In any case, I'm glad the pool is indoors since it's looking like it's going to be just as cold tomorrow morning. I'm going to get in a nice full night of sleep tonight.

Hardcore

2008-04-08T20:19:00.000-07:00

So just when I'm feeling good about my training, I read about things like this and feel like a complete pansy.

An excerpt from stuff.co.nz on the Maasai:

"They survive on fresh blood drained from the neck of a living cow, they often run for days and nights on end to find water and their shoes are made from car tires cut up and strapped to their feet.

So running the London Marathon should be no problem for six Maasai warriors who have come to Britain from their village of Elaui in northern Tanzania as part of a campaign to raise money to find a vital water source (www.maasaimarathon.org).

"Back at home we sometimes run for 5 or 6 days, day and night," Isaya, a young warrior clothed in a red robe and adorned with traditional beaded jewelry, told Reuters in an interview. "Twenty-six miles not far."

He and his fellow warriors, all between 20 and 25 years old, expect to reach the finish line of Sunday's race within four and a half hours."

Um, yeah. The blood of cows? Seriously? All the Gatorade marketing in the world can't top that.

I'm going to go eat my nice, viral-free Subway sandwich now to follow up my hour-long urban gym workout.

Steph out.

Making Up For Lost Time

2008-04-05T14:41:00.000-07:00

After feeling guilty about barely training at all this week, I more than made up for it today.

Early this morning we had another brick workout (run/bike/run). My shins had been hurting just a little from my 4 mile run on Thursday, but they seemed in good enough condition today. We started out with a quick 1 mile run, and then hopped on our bikes for the long haul.

I was shooting for 18 miles today. We were biking the Sammamish River Trail and 'Hollywood Hill.' For some reason that word "hill" didn't register in my mind until I actually saw the monster. It was about 7 miles into our ride and I asked the person next to me "Are we biking up that?!?". Once that was confirmed, I started to feel a little panicky. Actually, I think my exact reaction was "No f*#$-ing way!!"

I didn't even make it a full minute up that hill before my lungs felt like they were going to burst. Our biking coach Lance came back to help me and give me some pointers. He was so nice about it! He rode with me the entire way, letting me stop a few times to catch my breath. That stupid MOUNTAIN was at least 2 miles up. He kept telling me that it would have been a lot easier if I had clip pedals (small pedals that you buy special shoes for to clip in and out of - you basically become a PART of the bike). With clip pedals I would have been able to pull up on my pedals, not just push down. My quads were incredibly fatigued afterwards and I definitely had to lean back and rely on my glutes a big part of the way.

BUT! I made it! And then I continued to bike - for 11 more miles. I mistook the directions and ended up biking 22 miles total. Whoops... Then I ran another mile. THIS time I could definitely feel the infamous sensation of switching from the bike to the run. My legs were all noodle-y and my balance was completely off. At least my chest and back didn't feel as tight afterwards like my last ride.

I followed up my 3 hour ordeal with a heaping plate of biscuits and gravy - a just reward, to be sure.

Now for sleep.

Balancing Act

2008-04-02T21:41:00.001-07:00

The reason I haven't updated in forever is that I am so so incredibly busy.

Talk about having too much on your plate!!! I just went home to Georgia last week for a visit, and when I came back the iron curtain of responsibility descended upon me. I'm going to quickly itemize, just so I can wrap my mind around everything I have to do:

1. Training - obviously. Haven't had time this week. And I'm getting worried...

2. My professional affiliation - Our chapter awards are due this month, and I'm responsible for putting them together. I've spent the bulk of my time this week on these.

3. Fundraising! - Yes, that $5,600 still has to be raised. I've gotten $1505 so far (and THANK YOU to all of you who have donated!!), but I still have to do additional events. My friend Katie and I are currently planning a Silent Art Auction - an intimidatingly large endeavor that, like everything else, takes lots of time.

4. My job - I still have to make a living.

5. My Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design (LEED) Accreditation - Basically, I have to take a giant test by May 9. Many many hours of studying are a prerequisite for passing this thing.

6. My taxes - I still haven't filed them.

In my 'spare' time, I'm going to discover a way to clone myself so that I can get all of this done.

How do I get myself into these situations?!?

If no one hears from me in a few days, it's because I've locked myself in my apartment and am battling the onslaught of panic attacks.

Training in Earnest

2008-03-17T20:22:00.001-07:00

It has become painfully apparent that my training has reached a new level of intensity. I'm sore in places I didn't even know COULD be sore. I'm exhausted. My diet has become completely wacky. And I can't stop now.

I had my first bike ride this weekend. For everyone else on the team, it was their third (the first practice I didn't HAVE a bike, the second one I was in Canada on business). The plan was: run 1/2 mile, bike 18-24 miles, run 2 more miles. Having no concept of what 18 miles on a bike felt like, I didn't quite know what to expect.

First of all, it was cold. As in I-can-see-every-molecule-of-air-I'm-breathing-out cold. And it was raining. I bundled up. 4 layers on top, 3 on bottom (one of which I removed for the bike ride so my pants wouldn't get caught in the chain). After a wobbly start, I finally figured out how to get my feet in the toe cages and was on my way. 15 minutes and a tutorial from one of my mentors later, I had my gears figured out (more or less). The first few miles were quite pleasant, even with the rain. We were biking around the perimeter of Mercer Island, so there was a nice water view the entire way.

After an hour, I began to get a little anxious. How far had I gone? Where was that silly bridge I was supposed to be riding to? It seemed like an eternity, but I finally reached the bridge. I was supposed to go across the bridge and back (5 miles) but I knew that if I did that I wouldn't be able to run the two miles. I cut my ride short (come on, 13 miles isn't bad!!) and proceeded with the run. I should say walk, because as soon as I got off that bike my body was done. My legs were okay (a big thank you to my trainer Dawn!), but my chest was so tight from bending over the handlebars, I felt like I couldn't get a decent breath of air. So I mainly walked the 2 miles, but I did it!

Then I went home and slept for 4 hours.

Sunday, training continued with my first swim. Since I never learned how to properly swim, I was in the beginner's class, in the number 1 lane (the beginners of the beginners). To break my current bad habits, I spent the entire hour learning how to breath correctly (I like to have my head above the water at all times). I'm slowly getting it, but it's going to take a lot of practice.

And then today after work, I went and did my weekly weight training with Dawn.

I am so tired.

I got a bike!!

2008-03-13T21:06:00.000-07:00

There she is. A 2007 Felt F75.

I feel like I should name it, but then I have one of those oh-my-god-I'm-turning-into-my-mother moments (Just kidding, Ma, you know I love you). I almost feel a little bad that I didn't spend THAT much time shopping for a bike, but I got a fantastic deal on this one. It's last year's model, so I got it for 25% off. Then apparently, at Speedy Reedy's any purchase made with a bike purchase is 20% off. So I loaded up. I got my helmet, my pedals, a couple tubes, a multi-tool, and a tire changing kit. All in all, I spent $1,230, but saved $376. SWEET.

So yes, it's an aluminum frame with carbon forks; it's a 20-speed with 105/Ultegra components (which will make more sense once I finally get around to writing my 'Bike Shopping for Beginners: Part 2' post); and a whole bunch of other features which I don't really understand yet. I'm just glad that I only paid $200 more than I orginally expected to pay for a bike, and $500 less that I was willing to pay. The 2008 model was in my price range, but the guys at Speedy's told me I honestly wouldn't be able to tell the difference. Gotta love honest salesmen.

After my big bike purchase we went and ran Greenlake. I was running with my friend Katie who is in much better shape than me. She gave me some great running tips, though, and I ran a whole lot more than I think I ever would have been able to before. I'll try to post some of her tips on here later.

I've got tons of things on my plate right now, so I have to keep reminding myself that this is a priority. The time change helped, I think, so it's not as scary to go running after work, now.

Keep on keepin' on.

"Athletically Challenged" Defined

2008-03-03T17:52:00.000-08:00

I'm not joking when I say I'm athletically challenged. I have a long and brutal history of failed attempts at any type of sport. I also despise cardiovascular activity. The only way I find it bearable is if I'm playing some type of game where I'm not solely focused on my labored breath. Unfortunately for me, every single one of my forays into the world of sports has resulted in either injury or unmitigated humiliation.

I'm sure that at some point in time, I have broken my nose. I honestly can't remember the number of volleyballs & tetherballs (and one time even a basketball) I have taken to the face. I tried roller/ice skating. After bruising my tailbone three times, I decided my skills must lie elsewhere. Alas, I am still searching for my hidden skills at, well, something. I failed swim classes as a child. I didn't learn how to ride a bike until I was in 3rd grade (not for lack of trying!), and I puked after my first one-mile-run in kindergarten.

However, my most embarrassing failure by far was when I decided to join a recreational softball team. By the time I entered high school, I had come to terms with the fact that I just was not good at anything that required quick reflexes. I succussfully avoided these types of activities until my senior year of college, when the memories of my prior failures had begun to wane. A friend of mine was on the team and said they needed another girl, so I agreed to join.

Our team was not good. In fact, we were horrible. It was all in good fun, though, until our final play-off game. I usually was in the outfield (which I loved because my importance to the game was minimal), but in that particular game I was asked to play catcher. I was extremely nervous about this, and as a result my entire game suffered. Let's ignore for a moment the fact that I couldn't catch the ball as well as the fact that I had no idea which base to throw to if there was more than one person running. The worst part of this story occured while I was at bat.

First of all, I'd like to note that I have no problem actually hitting the ball. It's AFTER I've hit the ball that things go wrong. As soon as I've made my hit, my mind is screaming "RUN! RUN!" I do not calmly put the bat down behind the plate before I start running. No, I hurl it behind me as I take off, more often than not hitting the umpire. After doing this a couple of times at that particular game, the umpire was incredibly pissed at me (not that I blamed him). My third time at bat, he even gave me a warning about not throwing the bat behind me.

I take my position, swing, and strike. I try again. HIT! GO! GO! GO! I take off running and out of the corner of my eye I see that they've got the ball and it will be at first base in no time. In my mind I'm screaming FASTER! FASTER! My upper body leans forward in an attempt to pick up speed. Unfortunately, my legs can't keep up, and I trip. I trip and I SLIDE. I slide and I slide and I finally stop....a foot away from first base. The field is dead silent until someone runs up and says "Oh my God, are you okay?"

I rolled over in the dirt and just started laughing because it's the only thing I could think to do. Somebody helped me up and I limped over to our team's bench. The umpire was glaring at me because, yet again, I had hit him with the bat. My teammates were obviously trying to contain their laughter as one of them said "Great, uh, dedication, Steph....You do know you're not allowed to slide into first, right?" I sheepishly smiled and said "I didn't know that. Good thing I tripped, then." It was only as I sat on the bench that I fully took stock of my condition. My knees were bleeding and my pants were torn. I was still trying to wipe the dirt from my face. The worst part, though, was that I was ALMOST covered head to toe in that orange dirt. I say ALMOST because my chest was solid orange, while the stomach of my t-shirt was pristinely white. From that moment on I was known to my teammates as "Dirt Boobs".

The game ended soon after that (thank goodness) and afterwards I went to the field house to return my glove. I asked the guy working there if they had any bandaids since my knees were still bleeding. He handed me one. "Um, could I have, like, three more?" I asked. He gave me a puzzled look, started to hand over the bandaids, then froze as he said "Were you that chick who tried to slide into first?!?" I ripped the bandaids out of his hand as I screamed back "I TRIPPED!" then stormed out, cheeks flaming with embarrassment.

Because of my history it was with great trepidation that I signed up for this triathlon. I'm hoping that the supportive atmosphere of the team and the fact that it's for a fantastic cause will help minimize the effects of any embarrassment I may bring upon myself. My non-athlete motto: Try, try, try again.

A Beginner's Guide on How to Shop for a Bike: Part 1

2008-02-18T14:17:00.001-08:00

My eyes are starting to cross from all the reading I'm doing on bikes recently. I feel like I'm about to make a down payment on a car. The comforting thing about bikes, though, is that they are relatively easy to understand - whereas I don't think I would ever fully understand the mechanics of a car.

Despite the simplicity of bikes in theory, however, the range of things to consider when shopping for one can be truly overwhelming. So, I am breaking down my new-found knowledge into several approachable sections to make your bike-shopping experience (as well as my own) as informed as possible.

The first thing to consider, of course, is what type of use you are expecting to get out of your bike. Are you wanting to get into trail-riding? Are you wanting a bike for commuting? Or perhaps for just running errands and basic fitness?
Here are some basic bike types with a short synopsis of each:

The Mountain Bike

(click on images to enlarge)
Mountain bikes are the most popular type of bikes (and thus, a high theft item). They are very durable and have tough, knobby tires. Super-low gearing aids with rough terrain. These bikes are ideal for trail riding/off-roading, and can also be used around town for short distances.

The Hybrid

Hybrids are a combination of road and mountain bikes. They are lighter and more efficient than a mountain bike on the road, and more durable than a road bike for off-roading. Conversely, however, they are not ideal for either. Basically, hybrids are good 'all-around' bikes for fitness, running errands, commuting, riding through parks, etc.

The Recumbent

Recumbent bikes are, by far, the most comfortable bikes. They also have a wide gear range which makes climbing hills easier than one would expect. Recumbent bikes are ideal for touring and commuting. However, they are still great for fitness and work lots of muscle groups that other bikes don't. There are also lots of recumbent bike races!

The Road Bike

Road bikes are made for speed. They are extremely lightweight and efficient for training and racing. They aren't the most comfortable ride in the world (though you can wear padded bike shorts to compensate for that), and are prone to flat tires. The dropped handlebars also demand a low rider position, requiring flexibility.
However, there are also road SPORT bikes. These bikes are a little heavier, but they also have padded seats, a less extreme seat position, and lower gearing options. They are great for longer commutes.

Obviously, since I'm training for a triathlon, my choice of a road bike is clear. Thus, the information provided past this point will solely concentrate on shopping for road bikes.

Frame/Fork Materials
While bikes have been made out of many things, the standard materials used are steel, aluminum, titanium, and carbon fiber. Many bikes will have 2 different materials, the frame made out of one material while the fork is made out of another. The fork of a bike is the part of the frame the front wheel attaches to. It needs to be particularly strong to absorb the shock from being the first part of the bike to hit bumps in the road.

Steel has long been used for its durability and strength. It makes a good fork material. It's inexpensive because it's easy to shape. However, you have to take extra care of your paint job since steel rusts, and it's also pretty heavy.

Aluminum is the most popular bike frame material, due to it being the lightest material and the fact that it doesn't rust. It's also more affordable than titanium and carbon fiber. Aluminum tubing is easy to distinguish because of the large diameter of aluminum tubing. The tube's diameter has to be larger to compensate for the material's low density. The drawback of these thicker tubes is that they crush easily, and aluminum isn't easily repaired.

Titanium rivals both steel in strength and aluminum in weight. However, it is difficult to fabricate and, as a result, very expensive. Titanium forks, in particular, are extremely difficult to make. Many bikes will combine a titanium frame with a carbon fiber fork to make it less cost-prohibitive.

Carbon fibers cast in resin comprise the last of the most widely-used materials. It's also very stiff and lightweight, but like titanium, expensive to produce. It's ability to absorb shock while still handling well makes it one of the most appealing fork materials.

So that's it for Part 1 of Bike Shopping! Stay tuned for Part 2 where I'll be covering gearing, components, and wheels.

Ready or Not - Go!

2008-02-16T15:41:00.000-08:00

I am exhausted. I think most of it is mental exhaustion, but it's exhaustion all the same.

Today was our first practice over in Woodinville, WA. The picture shows the Sammamish River Trail where we ran (since I forgot to charge my camera last night, though, that picture was taken by someone else...during the summer). It's a really beautiful area, and the trail was full of runners, cyclists, and even some guy training with these roller-skis for cross-country skiing.

The practice itself wasn't that bad, and I did better than I thought I would. I think I walked/jogged 3 miles today. It was pretty cold and wet, but the only thing I would really complain about is that it was so EARLY! I only get two days a week to sleep in like most people, but no longer! Saturdays I'll be rising early for running/biking, and Sundays I'll be up EXTRA early (as in I'll have to leave my apartment at 7:45 am to reach the pool in time). My body only likes mornings when it's curled up in bed.

After practice, I went with a couple of my friends to a nearby bike shop to start trying out some bikes. Bike-shopping was so overwhelming, I'm going to have to make a completely separate post on it. More (so much more!) on that topic later.

But the day didn't end there! After that we went to do a little more shopping. I had to buy a swimsuit, goggles, tri-shorts, leggings, bike gloves, and new running shoes (my current ones are at least 3 years old).

What woman doesn't want to spend an afternoon trying on swimsuits & spandex??

All told, even with a 20% discount I burned through about $350 today. Ouch. And I haven't even bought my bike yet (which will easily cost me $1200).

Please, please sponsor me. I don't think I'll be able to afford it at the end if I can't raise my $5600!!

The Beginning

2008-02-11T20:51:00.003-08:00

To all ye supporters, skeptics, or simply inquisitive persons: Welcome! This is where I will be documenting my journey towards completing a triathlon in support of blood cancer research. I am now a member of Team in Training, the endurance sports program sponsored by the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS). There are thousands of TNT-folks across the nation. Chances are you probably even know someone who has taken part in a TNT Marathon, Triathlon, or Cyclist Event.

Here's the skinny: I train for 6 days/week for 5 months. TNT provides the coaches as well as the venue. In my case, its the Kings Trail Triathlon in Maui, Hawaii. "Maui?!" you say, "You're just doing this for the trip!" As appealing as Maui is, I can guarantee you I'll be working for it (did I mention I'm training 6x a week?). In return for the training, I have promised to raise $5,600 to help support blood cancer research.

I'll be talking more about LLS in future posts, but this particular post is just to introduce the purpose of this blog as well as my goals. With this blog I will be sharing all my ups and downs, stories from my teammates and honorees (people who have survived cancer or are currently undergoing cancer treatments), and hopefully any hard-won advice I will be able to offer to other beginners interested in participating in an endurance event.

Stay tuned! My training begins this Saturday, February 16th. It's going to be a wild ride.