I am READY, atleast I think so… September 30, 2005
Posted by clayton in : workout , add a commentMy leg feels perfect, or nearly perfect. It's just a little heavy but isn't that an ordinary thing? I'm recovering!!! I guess I only bruised it, bad but better than twisting it. If I feel the same way tomorrow, I'll go for an easy run, 5km. Study a bit after that and go for a swim.
Hmmm….I need to come up with some October, 2005 goals and the theme is "running my butt off!!!" So I might have a few hill climbs with my bike but that's it. For the swim, I'm thinking of going to the swimming pool as usual, 4days a week. I don't know, might change plans though…depending on how my run goes. Anyway, tomorrow is the last day of September so I'll start listing up what good and bad things I did and post it on the first day of October with goals included. I hope it gives you something interesting to think about. Good luck with your new/longterm goals!!
Fast recovery September 29, 2005
Posted by clayton in : workout , add a commentThanks to the ice pack thingy, I'm not having any pain at all right now. It's not really an ice pack but it's this one big bandage kinda thing that replaces an ice pack. I don't think this thing exists in America, never seen one when I went… about 4years ago. I went to the doctor, he told me that I either twisted my knee or simply got bruised and that it'll probably heal in 3days if I don't exercise. Good to hear but still can't get my 89km left, I guess I'm gonna have a tough time on my bike in November.
I didn't have any workouts, ofcourse but I did walk 5km from a track field to my house. Since I don't have much to write about, I'll post some pics of yesterday's leg pinch and a rainbow that I saw on September 18, 2005, after I cut my hair.
That chain bit me!!!
If you look closely, you'll see two rainbows.
So, what am I gonna do tomorrow? I'll clean my room tonight and I'll get myself the perfect environment to study. I have a test coming up in 2 or 3 weeks and I don't feel like getting a score lower than 65…Gotta get back to studying, a thing that I haven't been doing in awhile. I hope I could get back in the swimming pool by Friday…
What are traffic lights for? September 28, 2005
Posted by clayton in : workout , add a commentTraffic light: a signal that controls the traffic on a road, by means of red, orange and green lights that show when you must stop and when you can go.
That's exactly what I used to think…then I looked up "red light" in the dictionary.
Red light: a signal telling the driver of a vehicle to stop.
Is that so? Then I wonder why that one "vehicle" didn't stop until he/she saw ME. I guess green, orange(yellow in Japan) and red all means "GO." I always hated those drivers who ignore red lights but now, I HATE them. What happened? I was riding my MTB back home from the swimming pool. I think it was about 9:30pm, I start crossing the usual crosswalk. It's night but it's pretty bright because there's a grocery store nearby and a lot of street lights too. So, I'm halfway through the crosswalk…A car comes…my body automatically avoids the car but couldn't manage to avoid a little pole, BAM!! I hit my right thigh…Since my thigh hit the pole, a little chain reaction? occured and my lower right calf hit the chain of my bike. Luckily, it didn't cut me but it sort of pinched me…ouch…The "vehicle" just made a left turn and went somewhere. I was furious for a few minutes. If the driver didn't notice me or the red light, that's one awful driver but if he/she regrets it, and apologizes about it, I'd probably forgive him/her but NO, the driver just went. If I hadn't hit my leg, I KNOW I would've chased that moron down till he/she gave me an apology. What are these people getting to? Do they really have to rush? Isn't it their fault if they overslept or did whatever they did to make themselves rush? Why do I have to pay the price for these lazy people? I mean, I know I'm a bit lazy but I don't make other people pay the price of my laziness. Ofcourse I had a lot more thoughts than that, dirty language included. I don't feel like holding my anger against these careless, self-centered people…It just isn't right. If I have the power to change the law, I'll get that driver a good long 20years in jail. That way, there will be less accidents…Especially the one's where those careless moron's are involved in. It's not a decision to make, it's an order to obey.
So, I wonder what I'm gonna do tomorrow. Go to the hospital before school? I don't know but I'm sure I'll have plenty of time to study and give my cat some workouts. Will I go to the swimming pool tomorrow? hmmm…pretty desperate but I'd love to, it's tough but fun swimming with the triathletes on Wednesdays. I guess I'll be going to the doctor tomorrow. By the way, my 89km(I rode 4km today) that's left, seems to be hopeless. Atleast I did my run…I had a weird feeling yesterday, felt like it was an obligation to run 15km and this is probably why.
Today's workout: I did one hour in the pool and 4km MTB. Tomorrow, I'll go to the hospital, study, give my cat a workout and think of a reasonable goal for October. I know this post was a motivation taking post but I'll go positive and find some other ways to workout for however long. I could kinda walk so I don't think it'll take long to heal. Again, wish me luck 
Peak point September 27, 2005
Posted by clayton in : workout , add a commentI don't know if I'm at the peak of my tiredness but I am REALLY tired. The good thing about it is that it can't get worse…Atleast I hope it doesn't…To be honest, I wanna get tired more than I am right now. It's proof that I'm working hard on something…Right?
Today's training: I pretty much used all my energy that I had for today. I came back from school around 5pm and went for a run, which was pretty tough and wonderful at the same time. Here's the tough part…RUNNING. The wonderful part, I ran 15km and had some pepsi. Here are my lap times: 1st, 12:24. 2nd, 12:39. 3rd, 12:43. 4th, 12:18. 5th, 12:29. 6th, 12:13. Total time…1:14:48. I kinda liked my pace because my fastest lap was the final lap. I raced that last 500m or so because I wanted my total time below 1:15:00. After that, I got ready to go for a swim…It was when I got to the pool, I noticed I forgot my swim cap. So, my coach lent me a shiny yellow cap…I noticed some people giving me that "double-look" where they look at me once, look at a different thing for a second and then look back at me. I guess the swim cap was flashy. Swam 1300m, short but tough. We did some speed training;-) I also had a short ride too. 10km on my MTB, went to the pool and took the long way back.
I guess I'll get my 93km done tomorrow? If I have the time…Wish me luck:-)
Now, it's my butt and my legs that hurt September 26, 2005
Posted by clayton in : workout , add a commentI went for two rides today. The first ride was in the morning and was pretty long, 100km. The second ride was in the afternoon after I ate lunch and took a nap, 40km. I was on the bike for…100km(3:51:20), 40km(1:39:01) just about 5hrs30min. So, I have 103km left…I could probably finish that in 2days.
First ride: For some reason, I was able to wake up at 5:30am and also manged to keep myself awake. I went out around 7am, taking it easy because it was a little chilly…probably a little below 25C or so. My legs feel sooo heavy and I already felt like going back home after 10km…My butt started hurting around 20km, now I really wanna go home. I guess I still had something left from yesterday's ride, oh well, I don't know how but I'll keep riding. Around 25km, this one super fast guy passes me, "good morning" we both said to each other, but didn't even feel like chasing him…I hate riding at other people's pace, it gets me burned out easily especially when I try chasing after a guy faster than me. I know I have to try someday…Gone past 40km, I see some Americans riding the opposite way, waved at them and started thinking about how tall those Americans were. 6ft? something like that…wow. I'm only 5ft5or6in, and look at those muscles, aren't they heavy?? I got to my 50km point and turned around, ran out of gatorade and was out of liquid/fluids for 10km or so. Didn't really need it though…Stopped by at a convenience store and bought some cafe au lait…Then, I refilled my 2bottles, one with pepsi and the other with gatorade. The pepsi was sooo refreshing and I got back to life. The 2nd half of the ride just kinda flowed. My butt was in pain and my left leg was screaming. I started using my right leg more…Then, both of them started hurting. I somehow got home, ate lunch and took a nap.
Second ride: The plan was to wake up at 3:30pm and go for a good 60km. My laziness attacks!!! I woke up at 4:30pm and jumped back on the bike at 5pm. Since it was already 5pm, it's too dangerous for me to go 60km, it's gonna be dark by the time I reach my halfway point. So, I shortened the ride to 40km and went out. The whole ride was filled with tiredness followed with some pain but the breeze was cool. I thought it'll take me about 2hrs but I finished it in 1:39:01, surprising…I did my own "pedal for 10seconds, rest for 10seconds thingy" throughout the whole ride.
I wonder what it's gonna feel like tomorrow…I'm gonna have to go back to school and climb up those stairs to my classroom(it's on the 3rd floor)…I was pretty much out of breath when I got to my classroom last week, although I was trying my best to hide it:-)
It's the last week of September, I need to start thinking of new goals for October…Here's one thing I know, I'm gonna be running a lot… Hope you achieve your goals and good luck with your new one(s) too!!!!
My butt hurts a little September 25, 2005
Posted by clayton in : workout , add a commentI went for a 81km ride, which means my 700km goal is most likely not gonna finish tomorrow. I have 243km left…That's awful long. But I went 355km this week so I guess I could manage to finish it…
How the ride went: As usual, the first 50km or so was just full of pain or that one feeling where it's just so tough. After that, I didn't really feel any pain other than the pain on my butt for sitting a lot. I saw this one really fast guy pass me at around 30km, he was fast both on flats and hills…couldn't catch up, didn't really wanna either, I'd probably be dead by the time I get home. I don't know what happened but I saw him eating something at around 50km, he probably had a longer ride than me. Then, I saw a guy riding without a helmet, and it gets worse…He just went through a red light. Why not wear a helmet when there are cars passing right by your side? I passed that guy and was thinking about asking him that question but he started laughing when I came by his side, so I kinda ran away…After my runaway, I only had 20km left…climbed up some hills that I always climb and got home. It feels weird when I climb up hills that I always do…It doesn't really feel like a hill, more like a flat…
By the way, I wasn't able to wake up early this morning too…The alarm clock woke me up and I instantly turned on my light to wake myself up but it didn't work. I was asleep. Tomorrow, I'll try to wake up and sit down. That way, I'll have to wake up sometime…
Today's 5km run: I almost forgot to do this. If I didn't run, I wouldn't be able to achieve my 15km/week goal. 1st lap: 10:42, 2nd: 10: 52. Total: 21:34, pretty good for a run after the ride.
Problem with waking up September 24, 2005
Posted by clayton in : workout , add a commentHmmm…the 700km goal, will I make it? Yes, if I have the guts to go for 2 century rides in 2days. No, if I'm chicken. My alarm clock did ring this morning and yes, I woke up…The problem is that I was sleeping…I remember waking up and banging my alarm clock off, after that, I have this one weird memory…I was talking to my cat, ofcourse he doesn't talk back. I don't even know if it was real or just a dream but when I noticed, it was already 12pm. I looked at the clock and banged my head onto the pillow, woke up, ate lunch and went for a ride(which also went wrong). I had my sunglasses on outside and the clouds looked dark, it always does. I stopped at a traffic light and started whiping my sunglasses, I noticed the clouds were looking pretty bad. I started again, to my 30km point…Nope, I didn't make it…it started to rain so I start to head back home at around 20km, full speed. I was able to run away from the rain but I was only able to go 40km…I have no tiredness in me, which makes me really unsatisfied. I used to get tired going 40km and yeah it's a good thing that I don't get tired anymore but it just doesn't feel right. There's something missing when I go for a ride and come back with no tiredness, it feels like I didn't do anything…
I can't have that anymore, I need a lot of tiredness and a little bit of pain, probably on my butt for sitting too long. Then, it'll really feel like I've had a valuable day…That's gonna be tomorrow, I hope.
Easy day September 23, 2005
Posted by clayton in : workout , add a commentI only trained for 20:39 today. I just had a 5km run and decided to rest to get myself ready for tomorrow, I'm thinking of having another long ride. The 5km I ran…I had an unusually fast pace, 1st lap 10:07, 2nd lap 10:32. I have no idea why this happened, my legs didn't hurt at all and I wasn't really out of breath either…weird things really happen;-)
Tomorrow's long ride…I'm thinking of having a 80km ride, depending on how me and my legs feel. If my legs are perfect, I'll probably go for like 150km, if not, a 60km or so. My 3day weekend starts tomorrow…I'll be getting 3 long rides in and try to finish the rest of the 368km. Good luck with your goals too!!!
Last night, first 1500M swim without stopping September 22, 2005
Posted by clayton in : workout , add a commentYes!!!! I did it!!! but I'm not really satisfied…My time was slow(37:30) and it was easier than expected. I had that one feeling where I wanted it to be harder, just to get that great feeling of achieving something. I was surprised on the number of people who came to the free-swim time kinda thingy…There's usually 2lanes plus another 2lanes where you can't swim the whole 25m and there were only four people. I had one whole lane for myself and the other people just did their own thing. Because of me getting my own lane, I told my coach that the longest distance that I've ever swam was something like 600M and asked him if he thinks I could swim 1500M. He answered, "It's the same thing(600m and 1500m), you'll probably forget how long you've swam." So I tried…The first 200m, I was still concious and I was counting my strokes. After that, I was so bored out…my shoulders don't hurt and they move automatically, I almost slept in the water. Around 1200m, it was just toooo easy so I lifted my pace…No change, it was still easy…This is when I thought I should have lifted my pace at the beginning. And I finished, far away from losing my breath, I cooled down with another easy 200m. Next time I try, I'll probably go somewhere around 33:00 or atleast under 35:00.
Yesterday's recovery run 5km…1st lap, 12:08 2nd lap, 12:11. I didn't really know what I recovered from…
Today's MTB 20km…awww this felt so awful. I was panting at the little hills, I didn't feel it but I guess my legs were still tired. I trained 2hrs30min today. 14hrs25min so far for this week.
My 700km/mon bike goal…I have 368km left to go. hmmm…can I get it done by Sunday???
Overtraining?? or just trying to catch up with my goals… September 20, 2005
Posted by clayton in : workout , add a commentIt's the 3rd day of the week and here's how much I trained so far.
Sunday: 111km road bike-5hrs, 20km MTB-1hr30min
Monday: 71km road bike-3hrs, 6km MTB-30min?
Today(Tuesday): already ran a 5km recovery run- 25min- planning to go for a 6km MTB to the pool and back- 30min- and 1hr of swimming.
So, that's 11hrs55min in 3days…Unbelievable, I usually workout about 12hrs a week…It's really surprising for me, I'm looking at these big numbers of how many hours I trained…Is that really me? Kool!! And with my 700km/mon bike goal it's going a little something like this: 306km done, 394km to go!!! My legs still feel like crap but I'm going for a ride tomorrow too;-)