Wild Wild West

So now I have the bug!


I think my trip out to Colorado for a little "pre-season assessment" was more of a clever marketing ploy used by my coach to convince me that I need to be living out West. Tricky, coach! You're a pretty smart guy.
I'll be the first to admit. It worked! Colorado (Littleton, specifically, where I stayed) is BEAUTIFUL. I'm surprised I didn't crash my cousin's SUV driving (up and down, and up and down - I swear I didn't drive, bike or run on one flat road) to the training facility each morning. On the horizon, right in front of me were gorgeous snow-caps, I swear it looked like someone set a backdrop of the most heavenly and enticing mountains one could image. I had to keep refocusing on *driving* and getting myself psyched for some *triathlon training* - when all my mind kept tellling me was to follow the signs to the ski resorts.

The air is so clear and clean. And the weather was perfect! I packed like I was going to the North Pole, little did I know, every day was above 50 degrees by noon. On Sunday, I ran in shorts! AND in the mountains no less. (So far my favorite run of 2010)

yup, those are the mountains I ran 13 miles in!

In addition to the beautiful scenery, I got to spend time with some beautiful people. I stayed and hung out with my cousins and their 3 adorable (soon to be beautiful;) girls. We had so much fun and they couldn't have made my stay more comfortable and easy. Coming home from a full day of training and sitting down for a game of crazy dominoes (a lil different from the regular domino game) or a heated fencing competition on the Wii was a blast! And finishing off the nights with some tivo'ed Cake Boss episodes (I credit my cousins with introducing me to my NEW favorite reality t.v shoe-- and it's not even on Bravo! (yes, I'm addicted to Bravo)) made for 100% fun-filled days and nights.
jen, john, and catie

julia, me and maren

Sadly, the time flew by, and since then I can't stop dreaming, day and night, about ways to get back.
My conclusion: keep working hard! Training, training, and more training until I reach the level I know I am capable of.

February is going to be tough. I know this, thanks to coach. He told me today, "Ashley, weeks 2-4 in February will be tough." Awesome!

I am definitely scared, yes. But I am definitely more motivated than ever because this intense training block is designed specifically to get me ready for when I go back out WEST! This time it will be Tucson. But I am more psyched than ever to see yet another part of the country that I never dreamed I'd have the opportunity to explore.

But before this whirlwind begins, back on the East coast, I am looking forward to next week (with a very special motivating force headed my way right when I need him) and a build up to get me ready.

Then the first of MANY tests.

The beauty is, to get me through each and every test, all I have to do is picture those snowcaps. All I have to do is picture the ability to open my windows and breath the fresh air every morning. Think about how wonderful it will be to train and live where training facilities, terrain, training partners and motivation are abundant and contagious. I hear the chiropractic practices out there are Wonderful as well! ;)

So, coach, Vitella's, Crazy!(you know who you are), and all of the magnificent friends I made out there in the Wild West, I hope to see you all again very soon! And for all my East Coast peps! I am --- and forever will be--- a Jersey girl (but Never referred to by any non-sense name like "Snookie" or "The Situation") . I can learn to pump gas, but if Bon Jovi starts to play I might pump my fist - be ware! (and hopefully I'll have a side-kick pumping his right there with me)

And fam, the Vitella's and I will do our best to move you all out there with us too. Part of our family has moved south as a unit, we can expand west-ward. right?
please say yes!

xo - A.O

It's here!

2010 is here!


The year that I talked about in so many previous posts has arrived. And it seems, somehow, to be flying by. I don't know how, but we're already half way through the first month. And, for me, that means one thing - my first official trip out to Colorado for "pre-season assessment."

This trip has provoked a roller coaster of emotions.  First, (back in December) I was SCARED, but with good reason, as I have been fighting with a rotator issue for a good two months now. The pain was bad enough to make me stop running (yes, that bad) for a good 6 weeks, in an effort to let it heal. When that wasn't happening, I began to get anxious, angry, discouraged... you name it. Every negative emotion that could creep into my head, was. And, in the back of my head, the clock was ticking. I knew I had/have very BIG goals for this year and I need each and every week of workouts to be effective in getting me closer to the level of competition I dream of being at.

I already blew coach's plan of starting the pre-season with a swim-run block (changed to swim/bike). But I fought with myself daily to make the most of the swim and bike sessions I was assigned. Like I said, the negativity was (self-induced, yes, but) a major challenge. I just wanted to feel GOOD! And RUN!

I am proud to announce, I made it through the running hiatus, it is now officially 2010, and feel GREAT today - after my second day of 10 + mile workouts!--- running, yes!

Now, don't get me wrong. I didn't go from 6 weeks of zero to 10 miles and more in a day (or even a week). And the loss of running fitness, from that break, was noticeable and alarming at first (another bout of negativity).

But getting back to this past week of a little "build" and a lot more running... I'm on a high.

My hands are in the air and I'm smiling ear to ear on this roller coaster.

Tomorrow I might be screaming and scared again (on my way down), because as excited as I am about going out west and hanging out with Coach for the weekend ;) , I'm scared too. I want my effort to show, I want to be able to hang in workouts with some very talented athletes out there, but I'm afraid that I won't. I know that I am not at my best right now (in terms of fitness). I also know that most triathletes, at this point in the season, aren't either. It could be detrimental, in fact, if they were. We need to be at our best in 4 months from now and maintain that ultra-high level for the 4-5 months after that. It is unknown (to me) where I should be right now. How fit, is fit enough? Where do I need to be right now? The unknown, to me, is the scariest.

But my goal right now, is to not let fear get the best of me. Rather I will use it to motivate me. It will be the crank, or the engine (not sure about the mechanics of a rollercoaster, haha) that gets me back to the top of the peak and smiling again. Ready to throw myself into a new (possibly scary) challenge.

And knowing the valley will always be there, I'll use them and the lessons learned down there to power me back up.



Cheers to what's bound to be a fun ride - 2010!
A

Winter

Yes, it's coming.  But no, I am not about to blog about the drag it is for us Northeast triathletes to have to spend much more time trianing indoors.  Instead, I am going to provide you with the boost you, or ANYONE (traithlete or not) might need, on any given day. 

If you are ever in search of some inspiration --- WATCH THIS!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yjZa0GWa-o4





Simply, Amazing.  What a finish!  You go girl!!

Things Happen...

For a reason.


I'm a firm believer in that. From small, everyday occurrences to big, life-changing events. Some things seem to be blessings, helping push us along, or succeed. Other things might seem to be destructive, or hindrances to our success. The truth is that almost always, the former is true.

Today I needed no convincing that a pretty "random occurrence" - my Dad accompanying me to my pool workout- was definitely a blessing.

I hate even admitting this...but, today was the first time I seriously considered quitting in a workout. After such a good week of swim workouts, I just felt "off" in the water. I felt heavy, unbalanced, unfocused, and unable to get rid of any of these feelings throughout my entire 600 meter warm-up.
A 300 aerobic pull next. Ok, a little better - more able to focus, staying conscious of stroke. But still can't shake that blahh feeling - just not into this. No idea why.
100 repeats - This should perk me up! Orrrrr.... frustrate me more. I feel like death. Huffing and puffing (hard) after each one. Only swimming 1:30's. After my fifth, I decided I was going to call it quits. I didn't have a swim scheduled for Sunday. I promised myself I would re-do entire workout then. I told myself, "I just don't have it in me today. This just isn't worth it." Then I told my Dad and ...

Thank goodnes.  He corrected me.

He asked me "What if you don't have it on a race day?" That's all I needed to hear.



I thought to myself - this is what training is for. Days like today are actually the days that matter most. They teach your body that it must obey your mind. And your body will. When your head is telling you that you are tired and you don't want to be doing what you are doing right now, as an athlete you have to be able to overcome those thoughts. You have to find a different thought - the thought that says on any given day, at any given time, this is what you want to be doing most. Or the thought that says when other people are stuck inside cubicles or watching and waiting for the clock to hit 5 so they can leave their job, I have the opportunity to pursue a job that will never leave me feeling confined or bored by. I want my job to be an adventure. I want my office to be outdoors on my bike some days. I want my desk to be a pool - or an ocean preferably. I want my time-card to be my watch.  And yes, like other "normal" jobs, there will be days (like today) that I don't feel like sitting at my desk (aka being in the pool)- but the difference with my job is that after forcing myself to go and do so, I will always leave "work" feeling better.

So, I flipped a switch in my brain and repeated these thoughts to myself. My body was still rebelling, but my mind was now in control. The last 10 100's didn't feel good. But they got done- and with some hard aerobic work.

That's when the second reason for my Dad being there proved to be a blessing.  Another 300 pull - this time with paddles. 
Dad told me I swam so much better with the paddles- turning my entire body in the water rather than struggling to pull harder and faster, like I was during the sprints.  So during my cool-down, without the paddles, I decided to try to mimic my stroke for the pull. 
I was honestly shocked after the first 300 of my cool down I stopped and he told me that I had just swam each 100 faster (mind you without rest between and in what I considered a cool-down/relaxed/easy pace) by 15 seconds.  I don't use my watch for my warm-up or cool down. If my Dad hadn't been there I would have had noooo idea, I was actually swimming faster???  I finished with another 100 of "easy" (yet again faster than my "sprint" pace, haha, still amazes me) swimming, and got out of the pool genuinely happy.

Not only did I finish my workout, but it was productive.  If schedules didn't randomly align, and my Dad didn't decide to replace his normal workout with a pool run, who knows what the outcome off today's swim session might have been.  But, you know what they say...
... things happen for a reason.

Thanks, Dad.

Ha!

And I thought I had courage - doing what I do everyday in pursuit of becoming the best triathlete I can be...

this thing has COURAGE (check it out) : http://www.phillyburbs/news/news_detail/articles/678/2009/november/13/wild-turkey-plays-chicken-on-nj-turnpike.html.


Memo to "Tammy the Turkey" (yes, I named her):  if you're going to play in traffic get a helmet !




Hmmm,  now I'm thinking about turkey.  Making me hungry.  But first, I swim.
C'mon hip flexor!

So, Off-season

I don't really get it yet.  But, oh well.  I only have a few hours left  (and I'm not complaining about that, coach)
I've done lots of random, fun things ---- a lot of time spent cheering for my Phils.

I've also played racqetball with my uncle (who schoooooled me every time - yes, Diane, there is something that I stink at-  ) I was able to run all over the court, but hit the ball,... and with any accuracy... ummm, no. The problem is (I am going to tell myself) is that I *think* too much.  Every ball, I'm wondering:  "How many times has the ball hit the wall?"  "Did I hit it last?" "How many times has the ball bounced?"  "Am I going to nail someone in the head if I swing at this ball?" ... wayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy too much info for my brain to process in less than 1-2 seconds.  I give TONS of credit to batters at home plate in the NLB who have a less than .6 seconds to react.

  Nonetheless, I don't play in the NLB, I torture myself MINDLESSLLY apparently --- which makes it crazy and understandable all at the same time ;)

I wish I had pics of racquetball because the attire is ammmmmazzing (must wear safety glasses)  but no such luck. 

For now you'll have to be bored with pics of me resuming my training. 

Time to get back on the horse... slowly but surely.

BIG goals for next year, means BIG efforts.

Stay tuned. Promise there will be lots of BIG stories of living, learning, and everything in between.

But just before we get at 2010,

MUCH love to the people that have inspired me and made 2009 possible, which include:

http://www.keswickcycle.com/

http://www.mix1life.com/home

http://www.racesox.com/

http://www.direct-logic.com/

- AO

The (happy) ending of a chapter

First a quick race report:  This weekend I returned to the race that was my final (and at that time, only third) race of 2008 - Orlando Womens Triathlon.  I did it then for the same reason I chose to do it this year - an excuse to visit my boyfriend and have him at a race without (him) having to hop on a plane.  This year's race also had an additional motive:  to end the season with a second and*complete* Olympic distance race.  The DNF in Dallas left a sour taste in my mouth, and I didn't like it.  After working so hard, especially in the second half of this season, I did not want to let a negative race experience tarnish the memories of 2009.  Nor did I want it to discourage me from going full-throttle into 2010.  I love the feeling you get when you cross the finish line of a triathlon, one of ultimate achievement, fulfillment, success!  I needed to feel that one last time.

I did.  And I enjoyed every second of it!

the 4 am car ride...

who wouldn't want to swim in this lake at dawn, gorgeous!

exiting the swim...

and the finish!

That's me running toward the finish line.   I won the race, which was nice considering last year I came in second by less than a second.

More importantly, I had my best swim, bike and run splits.  All were significantly faster than my times in Chicago (my only other Olympic distance race) and allowed me to win by a gap of 15 minutes! - ahead of the second place girl.

It is very satisfying to know that all of the hard, new training is definitely paying off.  It has propelled me onto another level (as demonstrated by the 15 minute win margin).

That next level is where I want to be!  So, off-season, here I come!!!

But not before a little fun first ;)

some post race pics:

still sweaty, but a happy finish.

        then clean, and happy.  Time to have some fun!

and so I play!

and play some more!

it was a lonnnggg day of happiness and playing.

But soooo worth it.  Couldn't imagine a better commencement to an eventful season :)

This weekend marked the official end of my 2009 (first full) race season. It was a great season filled with TONS of new experiences.  I've made so many new friends - expanded my ever-growing support system- traveled to two new parts of the country, learned so much about the sport and soooooo much about myself.

It is hard to imagine only 5 months ago I was still just recovering from a broken collar bone and considering not racing at all this season!

Now the plans are to put in an awesome effort over the next 5 months and go in to 2010 season as fit as ever and race among the elites, with the goal of professional racing by 2011.  This seems like a very accelerated and pretty ambitious goal -especially among triathletes, who know that triathlon is a sport that requires time and maturity (in racing).  The name of the game is longevity. 
And I intend to race in triathlon for decades.  Yet, I know that now is the time in my life that I can really push my body and my mind to their maximums and have fun chasing my dreams. 
Right now I have the fitness, time, support and drive.   Right now I have the confidence that my dreams are attainable.

Here's to the next chapter.
Cheers!

A.O.