Wednesday, April 9, 2014

New Beginnings



It's weird for me to think of 2014 as a new beginning.  But somehow I needed to think of something to kickstart off my racing season.

I realized that my last post for this blog was after my Xterra World Championships in October.  Little did I know that I would actually take all of November and December off to heal up my separated shoulder from the accident and my worn out body from all the racing.  I think it was the best thing that I could have done.  I spent those months on the island hiking, laying on the beach, reading, and watching an insane amount of Netflix.

             

Some pics from taking time out of the saddle/water and exploring the island!













Then came 2014.  I had plans stewing for signing with a new team.... but I really couldn't say that it would be finalized... until it was finalized. I also was in a bit of a self-conflict because the team that I absolutely love, Pacific Velo, had supported me for the last year and just nominated me for being a board member. Luckily, Pacific Velo was very understanding that even if I wasn't racing in their jersey- I still wanted to be part of the team at the local level.  However, at the national level, the Timex Multisport Team was something I had been aiming/shooting for since I became aware of its' existence in triathlon.  To be a part of something so prestigious seemed unbelievable so I didn't want to say anything though until it was actually finalized and the papers were signed.    I think when I finally signed the 4 page sports agreement sometime in January that was when it really dawned on me that I needed to start training again... and signing up for races.
Swimming the Kona course (or at least half of it) with Pac Velo friends!

Repping a new kit for the ride to Hawi! (ignore the aero helmet... gotta travel light!)

Planet Sun athletes and roomies for Lavaman Waikaloa 2014!


So here we are in April, four months into the year.  Each year is a bit different.  Last year I had the goals of qualifying and competing in 3 world championships.  Check.  This year, well.. I really am just trying to maximize what my body can do with a bit different sort of training.  I am trying to confuse it with crazy hikes, rowing, crossfit workouts designed for endurance athletes, and anything out of the norm.  I put in the miles last year.  Hands down... You would find me on the bike for miles and miles at a time.  It was traditional.  But it was good for that year.  I had a training partner who entertained me with the idea of joining me for insanely long rides week after week.  Mentally, I can't do that this year.  I even bought a waterproofed ipod nano (or is it a shuffle?) after my channel crossing to listen to music and I am hardly seen without it for even one hour paddleboard interval workouts or 30 min trainer sessions.

This year I took on the job of coaching/directing a triathlon club.  I knew it would be challenging and fun at the same time.  Although some people might say that my training suffers from it- I think it only benefits from it.  Yesterday I received an email from one of the athlete's in the program saying that each time he received the weekly email it was like a little christmas present.  Maybe not because of the intensity (okay, I'm not known for the hardest workouts), but because of the most unusual.  I like to mix in trail running, climbing (in a loosely used term- just in case the person giving me the insurance is reading this blog), between (close) island swims, and lots of hill biking and sand training... oh and did I mention the cross fit coach I hired as the strength coach?  So as far as a new beginning goes... this year has been a blast to see how 7 athletes can handle all types of different training to prepare for an (half)ironman.  Anyway, they all love the camaraderie, as do I... and I am excited to see how they will perform in the end!
Burpees and swim mix workout Hawaii style with my athletes !

Anyway, so what is next you might ask?  What are my goals... my races?  That's a really great question.  I ask myself that each day I train.  I always think that's something to keep in perspective because if you don't then you might lose sight of why you are even out there training?  

My goals have recently shifted this year back to a bit of a water/run focus until June 1st (well I mean that in the sense of swimming wise and running wise).  I would love to have another great year coming out of the water at Hawaii 70.3 and then to be able to finish with a very strong run.  
After that... I will be focusing on my climbing skills for a little bit (on the bike) and honing in on the paddleboarding in prep for the Molokai to Oahu World Championship channel crossing... again.  This time hopefully a hurricane doesn't make it like a lake.  I am excited to be paired with Timex- and to take their new products out with me on the water and on the bike.  This is the first time I have ever used a cycle computer on my bike (yes.. I was living in a stone age and I very much liked it!) and it's a lot of fun to watch the distance/speed as I go along!  I also am excited to try to use the run trainer as my main GPS unit for paddleboarding.  Since I usually do interval workouts during the week with it... the thing is the perfect set up!  It balked a bit when I took a hard plunge into a wave and said "Lost GPS Signal" but that wasn't really true.  It rebounded quickly enough and never actually lost the signal and kept tracking.  I'll put the watch through its paces probably more than any athlete :-).
This computer got the best views for the first 100+ miles!  All coastline in Kona! 

Run Trainer 2.0 turned into my new GPS monitor for my prone paddleboard workouts.  BAMN! It has more intervals than any other watch (which we use)... feed and water alarms (which I personally don't use- if you know me ;-)).  And the orange buttons are stylishly matching my board!


And finally, I am super excited to say that I will get a chance to climb Haleakala in the race Cycle to the Sun in late June... and that my brother and his wife will be my support vehicle in their first trip out to Hawaii since I moved here almost 7 years ago!  They thought it was an all day event.  I nicely had to explain that I really hoped it wouldn't be!  

Anyway, until next time... stay inspired in your training and make sure to keep your goals in mind.  Stay happy and healthy!