Saturday, August 30, 2008

Update.

Friends,
I am sorry I have been so terrible at updating my blog. The ironic thing about writing in a fitness blog is that, once you are under a strict training regimen, you have no time to be online!! I have been working out 6 days per week, swimming, biking, and running like crazy to prepare for this triathlon.

Swimming is really intense. I literally hadn't swum (swam?) since I was 18 years old, so it's taking me a lot of getting used to. I am not good at it. It's extremely difficult and frustrating. In a couple weeks I have to start swimming in the ocean, which scares the living crap out of me. I'm not looking forward to it.

yay

Biking is becoming easier and easier every day. My team has been doing what we call the "Amalfi loop" - which is a 6 mile loop up and down these brutal hills between the coast and the palisades. It is extremely tough, but I am proud to say that I have been able to conquer the loop 3 times without needing a break. Go me! The other day, Dana and I did a "brick," which is a bike / run combination. We did 8 miles on bike and 3 miles on foot, and I felt really good. This gives me hope. If I can just get the swimming down, I will be pretty much ready to handle the race in October.

One thing I will say is that, when you're training as much as I am, you really need to make sure you are getting enough sleep. I've been to 3 shows this week (Radiohead, Reggie, Portugal the Man) and went out dancing last night... I am SO EXHAUSTED.

New plans:
1. Sleep more
2. Swim more
3. Drink more water
4. Stop eating ice cream every night

Saturday, August 9, 2008

Training.

This week, I start my 6-day-a-week training schedule for the Arrowhead Triathlon.
Here's the plan:

Sunday: Swim 1 hour, bike 1 hour
Monday: day off... but I'll probably bike ride regardless
Tuesday: Coached swim practice with my team
Wednesday: Bike 65 minutes
Thursday: Run 45 minutes
Friday: Swim 1 hour
Saturday: Coached bike ride with my team

Each week the times get a little bit longer, until October 12th which is the day of the triathlon!


So, yesterday I got the creepiest massage I have ever recieved in my life. The dude hopped up onto the table with me!! WEIRD. He was also listening to Christmas carols the whole time. Extremely, extremely creepy.

eeee

Thursday, August 7, 2008

Arrowhead Triathlon.

I caved.
I was peer pressured.
I finally signed up for Team in Training.
I will be racing on behalf of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society on October 12th at the Arrowhead Triathlon. 1/4 mile swim, 10 mile bike, 5k run. I have 8 weeks to learn how to swim and train for the event. I also have pledged to raise $2600 for the LLS charity.

INTENSE!

Updates to come.

In the mean time, please donate!! I would really appreciate any help you can give!

http://pages.teamintraining.org/los/arrowtri08/sspencer

Friday, August 1, 2008

Summer = Food + Bikes

I am trying to embrace the essence of Summer. It is already August (where does the time go?) and there are really only four weekends left of the season. Granted, it is 70 degrees in Santa Monica until late October... then back to 70 degrees in early March... but STILL, Summer is special and is like no other time of year.

With that being said, I have to admit I've been a little less disciplined in my exercise regimen. I bought a new bike this week, and have been riding every day instead of running. Admittedly, this is not nearly as good of a workout, but it is more fun and a lot easier to get my friends to ride with me than it is to get them to run with me!

ANYWAY, I bought a Masi "Commuter Speciale." It is a pretty sweet 1 speed with a free wheel, that can be flipped into a fixed gear if/when I feel ready. Here ya go:





Of course, for biking instead of running I had to trade out the Nike running shorts, sports bras, and training shoes in exchange for high tops and cut offs. I did it Stacey style though, which means taking scissors to a pair of $160 7 For All Mankind jeans. Whatever, they were boot-cut anyway. So 2002.


ANYWAY. Enough about the bike. The other important part of Summer is pigging out on delicious food. There is so much to eat in this city, it's ridiculous!

SUNDAY, Beaver took me to this little place called The Vegan Joint. Just one of those random thai / burgers / pancakes / everything hole in the wall places, but pretty delicious! My favorite part about it was the sign out front when we pulled up:


It really made me wonder: What constitutes a Vegan Joint emergency? Is it when someone just REALLY needs soy chicken and pancakes in the middle of the night? I'm not sure, but I kind of want to call some time and find out!!

TUESDAY, Will cooked up some sweeeeeet vegan pasta & cheezy sauce with tomatoes. oh man. delicious. AND, chocolate biscotti! It was so good.

THURSDAY, Lisa and I went out to M Cafe for breakfast. French toast, breakfast panini (which is panini with tofu scramble, tempeh bacon, soy cheeze and cranberry sauce. amazing), and chocolate cookies. Sooooooo good:



TONIGHT, Beaver and I went on a long bike ride down to the marina, through Venice, met up with Critical Mass for a bit but got bummed on the dumb drunk kids with their lame bikes swerving all over the place so we broke off after a little while and just rode around. Fun.

TOMORROW, maybe seeing X Files with my sis, SUNDAY I'm gonna go down to the Farmers' Market and I really should get a run in, MONDAY I have completely free! Summer fun is in the works.