Race Day Has Arrived

Days left till NYC Triathlon: 0

Activity: The New York City (Olympic Distance) Triathlon

Today was the New York City Triathlon and it was amazing. My goal this year was to finish the race faster than I had in 2010. I was not sure if I would be able to beat my time (3 hrs and 30min) from three years ago as I my travel schedule the last few months made it difficult for me to be consistent with my training. There were few differences between my training this year vs. the last time I trained for this event:

1. I trained less but smarter

2. I focused on my least favorite leg of the Triathlon - running; 3 years ago I went to my happy place which is swimming and put in a lot of hours getting better at what I was already good at 

3. I did my bike training in central park vs. the west side highway; I have to admit it was boring to train in the park, to get the miles in I had to do numerous rounds but what helped me were the hills 

4. I focused on my 'week-of-the-race' nutrition with lots of hydration and eating right which helped a lot

5. I had an amazing meal of fettuccine with a spicy sausage & tomato sauce the night before that my husband cooked

All of the above made a huge difference and I shaved 7 minutes off my previous triathlon time; I finished it in 3 hours 23 minutes and 11 seconds. Below is a breakdown of what I did / felt for each of the segments:

I woke up at 3:30 in the morning, I had packed everything the night before and all I needed to do was get ready and eat my peanut butter and banana sandwich (yum). We were out the door at 4 am and in a cab heading to the transition area on 72nd and Riverside. Once in transition I set up my area; we had very little space but I managed to pack in all my stuff on my mickey mouse towel. I walked over a mile to the Swim start at 99th street. Once at swim start we watched the elite athletes jump in first and waited our turn. The age groups moved pretty quickly and I was on the barge at 6:50 am ready to leap into the Hudson.        

The Swim: I was watching the swimmers who went in before me and noticed that the current was strongest to the right side; so as soon as I jumped in I swerved to the right to take full advantage of the strong curent. The swim was easy, enjoyable & refreshing; the water was 75F so not too cold. Right after the swim I had to run half a mile in my wetsuit from swim exit to transition to get into my bike shoes and start my 25 mile bike ride.

The Bike: The bike ride felt much easier this time round; I attribute this to my training on the hills in Central Park. I was thankful that I did not fall off my bike or get a flat tire; I saw many people on the side of the road hurt or fixing a  flat. My ride was uneventful, I have no idea what I would have done had I gotten a flat - changing tires is not a skill I mastered.

The Run: The run was the toughest part for me, during the first mile my legs got used to running and there were a lot of people cheering. Mile 2 I had my cheering squad on duty (thank you thank you for coming out -> you know who you are). My strategy for running was to run to each water station without stopping and then walk through the stations while sipping on water and Gatorade. The hills were brutal as they are meant to be; but then I hit mile 5 and it was the home stretch, I started to think about packing for my trip to the Galapagos (I leave Monday); this helped me get my mind off running and before I knew it the race was over and I had crossed the finish line!

I was very happy with my time; not sure when I will do a Olympic Triathlon next. I do want to thank all the people who donated to my cause (http://pages.teamintraining.org/nyc/nyctri13/Alefiyah) and Team In Training for helping me train and cross the finish line. Not sure what will happen to this blog now that the Trials and Tribulations are over; writing about training was very satisfying it kept me honest and motivated - Thank you for reading, hope you enjoyed it.     

The Day Before THE DAY

Days left till NYC Triathlon: 1

Activity: Dropping bike at transition and getting race ready 

In exactly 12 hours from now (it's 4 pm) I will be at the New York City Triathlon transition setting up my transition area. I am excited and nervous; I just want it to start now! 

I slept in this morning as I know tonight I will be twisting and turning before my 3 am wake up call. I packed my transition bag and set up my transition area (pic below). There are so many things that go on in a triathlon; changing from swim to bike to run can be quite nerve wracking. i am hoping that I have not forgotten anything.

After packing my stuff in the clear transition bag (new security measures) I readied my bike. I had to check the air in my tires, put my race number on and stick my nutrition on the front. With my bike ready I left for 72nd and Riverside where I would park it, the me time I will see my bike is tomorrow morning before I walk to my swim entrance on 99th street. My ride to transition this afternoon was through the park, I passed the finish line on 72nd street - oh to be there tomorrow afternoon will be so sweet! After parking my bike I walked to the swim exit and checked out the run and bike ins and outs as well. I plan on spending the rest of the day relaxing, drinking lots of fluids and having a nice home cooked meal. Wish me luck, next time I write will be about THE race.

The Night Before the Day Before

Days left till NYC Triathlon: 2

Activity: Picking up Race Packet

The day is almost upon us. I walked from work to the Hilton on 6th Avenue this evening to pick up my race packet for Sunday. Before you pick up your packet you have to go through a briefing that gives you the do's and dont's Of race day. The packet contains race numbers, tritats - these are tatoos of your race number that goes on both your arms and your hand, your computer chip that will track your time and other goodies from the sponsors. The most generous sponsor was zico who gave a liter of coconut water. You also get a tag that they put on your hand; this tag will remain on your hand till you pick up your bike from transition after the triathlon is over. This year because of the Boston marathon bombings we can only take all our transition gear in a plastic bag - no bags allowed, security is going to be tight on Sunday. Tomorrow I take my bike to transition and I have to pack my transition stuff in the clear bag. Tonight I need to get a good nights sleep! 

Quick Run

Days left till NYC Triathlon: 4

Activity: Run by the East River 

It is hot and humid in Manhattan today. I keep checking the extended forecast hoping that it is going to be cooler on Sunday, the forecast shows a high of 88 and a low of 70, but it keeps changing. Today I did an easy thirty minute run along the east river. The idea is to keep the workouts going but at much lower intensity and duration, the body needs to rest. It was very humid but the cool breeze along the river was welcoming. Tomorrow I have to travel for work so no workout but I plan to go biking in central park for my last workout on Thursday.

Last Swim Session

Days left till NYC Triathlon: 5

Activity: Swim Group Training Session

 

Today was my last trip to Brooklyn for my Monday evening swim group session. I can't believe that it is almost over, I am going to have so much free time without triathlon training looming over me at all times. This week the focus is on drinking a lot of water, getting a lot of sleep and eating right. I created a list for what I need to bring for the triathlon transitions. Doing a triathlon is quite complicated, you need to know what you will be doing at each transition and when you need what kind of wearable or nutrition during the bike and run. Keeping fingers crossed that I don't forget anything and it all goes smoothly. 

At the swim session today we did a 20 minute warm up followed by drills, we swam approximately 60 laps. It was a simple workout that felt good. At the end we simulated what rough waters would be like, with ten people swimming down the middle lane and the rest lined up on either side splashing water on the swimmers. There is no way the water can be that rough on race day, but we are being prepared for any eventuality. This may be my last swim before the Hudson. I am ready for the triathlon to be here, but I feel this week is going to crawl. 

All in the Mind Now...

Days left till NYC Triathlon: 7

Activity: Short Run and Transition Orientation

One week till the triathlon, the time has now come to taper down; which means no crazy workouts and a lot of rest. As our coach puts it; the physical training is over and the only preparation you can do now is mental. Today at our group training session we got familiar with all the entrance, exits and transition areas for the race. There are a lot of them, you start the swim on 92nd street (or there about) swim down the Hudson with the current propelling you forward and exit at 72nd street, run till your transition area where you get on your bike and exit out Riverside Park onto the Henry Hudson. There is a very sharp uphill turn as you exit the park where many people falter. After the 26 mile bike ride is the run, again you enter the transition area ditch your bike & helmet, change to your running shoes and your out onto 72nd street which is a mile long stretch before you enter the park for the remaining 5.2 miles. We went over what we would do on race weekend. I need to spend this week visualizing my race and thinking about what I will be doing before, during and after my race. Today we ran 3 miles as we went to the start of the swim and back.  

The Calm Hudson River

BRick Number Three

Days left till NYC Triathlon: 9

Activity: Biking and Running in Central Park  

It is July 4th, the streets are empty and people have fled the city for the mountains or beaches. I was hoping that this exodus from the city meant that the park would be less crowded, that is if the tourists would gravitate to the 4th of July festivities vs. a stroll in the park. Today was my last long work out and the goal was to bike 20+ miles and then run at least 5 miles; I am pleased to say I did both! The bike ride felt relatively easy; I did 3 rounds of the park, afterwhich I rode home, changed my shoes and headed out for the run. I entered the park at 59th and 5th and ran till 72nd street, crossed over on the transverse and started running up the west side; the idea was to run as much of the actual race route as I could. It was really hot today and I started my run at 11:30 am so by the time I was half way through it was noon and the sun was overhead - I had to take a break at mile 4 as I was feeling too hot. I hope that on race day the weather cooperates and it is not as hot so that I can tackle mile 4, 5 and 6 with not too much pain.

On the North End of the park I passed Lasker Pool and all I could think of was how amazing would it be to take a quick dip and cool off. Instead I stopped took a break from the hot sun and clicked a picture. 

The 72nd Street Transverse

Days left till NYC Triathlon: 11

Activity: Run Group Training Session 

A transverse is defined as 'lying or extending across'. In Central Park there are many such transverses, they are on 97th, 86th, 72nd  and 65th streets, the transverse connects the park from east to west. The 72nd street transverse is an important one for the NYC Triathlon, it is where we enter the park after running up from riverside drive and it is where we end the race coming in from the east side ending at Cherry Hill. 

 

Today we did out and backs from Columbus Circle crossing the transverse at 72nd street  from west to east and then turning back to Columbus circle again. We did this four times, it was hot, humid and sticky and the course was hilly. I was pretty tired by the end of the run. It started to rain after we finished running, if only the rain had come 30 minutes earlier the run would have been so much easier but I guess the tougher the better. I am trying to get all the grueling workouts in before the end of this week, as next week I will be tapering down to ready myself for the race. 

 

 

Drills Drills and more Drills

Days left till NYC Triathlon: 12

Activity: Swim Group Training Session 

Today we did a lot of drills at the Swim GTS. Starting with a 400m warm up we transitioned into the following:

- right hand arm drill: you lift your arm till it is straight up, bend it and then enter the water; while the arm is straight and horizontal to the water. 

- sculling with arms in front

- pulling: you have a person hold your ankles while you swim pulling them across

- drafting: this drill is the best of them all; you swim just behind someone else so that you are swimming in their stream of bubbles - this helps you cut the water and go much faster and is easier. 

We did 50m of the above drills interspersed with 200m of regular free style. After the drills we swam the snake swim for a good 20 minutes. I was so hot by the end of it - I couldn't wait to get out of the pool and take my wetsuit off. This was the second last swim session, one more next week and then I am done with my trips to Brooklyn on Mondays! 

Round and Round We Go...

Days left till NYC Triathlon: 13

 

Activity: Biking in Central Park 

 

I went for a thirty mile bike ride this morning in Central Park. The park is 6.2 miles, this meant I needed to go round the park five times to get my mileage in. The ride was quite monotonous, specially since I always yearn for variety during my workout. To keep myself entertained during the ride, I started making a mental list of things that annoyed me while riding - read on below:

- People on bikes who suddenly stop in the middle of the road to look at their phone or at a map trying to figure out where they want to go next.  
- Dogs: I love dogs but when they are off leash in the park they have a mind of their own; they come running onto the road, which is highly dangerous for cyclists.
- People strolling without looking: I know it's a park, and people should leisurely stroll in the park; but why do they need to do it right in the middle of the road where people running or biking; there is an entire park with green green grass... maybe I am being too harsh but it is really scary when people pop in front of you and you have to suddenly break or swerve to miss crashing into them.
- Garbage trucks: The garbage truck moved at the same pace as I was biking which meant my wonderful biking companion became the truck until it stopped to pick up the garbage (thank god!)

That was the list for today, while there are many things that come in the way while I am riding in the park, I do enjoy every minute of it. I guess if I wanted a less crowded ride I should get up super early and go round and round when it is empty.

Training at Coney Island in Pictures

Days left till NYC Triathlon: 14

Activity: 1 mile swim and 4 mile run at Coney Island 

Left home at 6 am on a saturday morning - the streets were empty!

We gathered on the Coney Island Boardwalk at 7:30 am to put on our wet suits. 

The Team in Training group set up thier gear on beach before we plunged into the cold rough sea

The water looked deceptively calm from far away.
The waves were high and choppy - tough day to swim a mile in the ocean. 

Devoured the hot dog from Nathan's after the Swim and Run.

The Sweet Aroma of Central Park

Days left till the NYC Triathlon: 16

Activity: Bike Ride in Central Park

I have been trying to train in the mornings these last few weeks. When I am in New York my morning runs or bike rides are almost always in Central Park. As I entered the park at 6 am this morning there was a sweet aroma that was subtle and calming; it bought a smile to my face. I have not been able to figure out where this sweet wafting smell comes from as it lasts only for a short time. After the first 15 minutes of my workout the sweet smell goes away and the smell of garbage, cars and sweat overpowers as the city slowly but surely starts waking up. It was cloudy today I rode 15 miles.

Nearing the Finish Line

Days left till NYC Triathlon: 17

Activity: Various in the last 10 days

I have been bad about writing about my training these last ten days. Work, life and travel got the better of me. Last week I was in Charlotte and all I did was run run run, when I am on the road it is difficult to do anything else. I have a great 5 mile running route in Charlotte that I ran twice during my stay there. This weekend I did my second BRick, which is biking, followed by running. I biked 20 miles around Central Park and ran 5 miles at Riverside Park. It was extremely hot and I thought I was going to collapse by the end of it! Saturday marked my second last long training – the end is near and I do not feel very ready. One needs to be at a certain level of fitness to finish an Olympic tri, but the mind is a very powerful tool as well, it is amazing what one can achieve if you are focused and determined. I am hoping my mind kicks in if my body decides to shut down!  

I ran 5 miles yesterday (Tuesday) morning. I love doing morning workouts, it really gets you going and I feel like I can take on the day with my workout done by 7 am. Training for a triathlon always seems like a good idea at the start but as the end draws closer I wonder what I was thinking taking this on! Race day is a couple of weeks away and as my mom says ‘the only way to do it is to do it’ so that is my plan for the next few days – train, train and then taper off. 

Running by the Light Rail in Charlotte

One Mile Swim

Days left till NYC Triathlon: 26

 

Activity: Swim Group Training Session

I was so tired this evening, I had an intense day at work and my leg muscles were still recovering from Sundays long run. It took all my energy and willpower to pack my bag and head towards Brooklyn for my Swim GTS. It wasn't the thought of swimming that tired me, It was the thought of putting on my wetsuit that made me feel like skipping the session. Yes, the wet suit is a daunting piece of clothing that takes a minimum of ten minutes to put on. Today we were doing the one mile swim; this essentially meant doing 5 out and back snake swims in the pool. After the 4th out and back we got out of the pool removed our wetsuits and jumped back in for the last one. When you remove your wet suit you realize how warm and buoyant it keeps you. I welcomed the cool touch of the water for the last drill. I wasn't particularly tired post the long swim, I am hoping this means that on race day I will be fine. I also made it a point to barely kick in order to conserve my legs for the bike and run, it is important to be conscious of your legs as the natural thing to do is kick. It took me 33 minutes to swim one mile, hoping the Hudson current helps me go faster on race day. 

Say What You Do and Do What You Say

Days left till NYC Triathlon: 27

Activity: Running in Central Park 

I was determined to run today, and not just any old run; I wanted to run from my home to Central Park do a 6.2 mile loop and run back. I knew it would be tough and would probably be the longest distance I have ever run, I was willing to push myself. During this long run I wanted to experiment with nutrition, I took gels with me (Lime Sublime and Tri Berry flavors) I think I like the more citrus-y flavors vs. the gooey chocolate ones. I started pretty late at 10:30 am; it wasn't very hot today and there was a nice breeze. I need to get used to running in hot weather; as I have no idea how hot it will get on race day. I passed Harlem Hill feeling in control (I think I was on mile 5 at HH), the toughest part for me was the long flat stretch on 92nd street on the east side (parallel to the reservoir); I popped a gel and felt much better after that. It is important to know what your tough spots are beforehand so that you have a plan to overcome them. The nice thing about the NYC Triathlon is that you train on the course and can figure out your weak spots. I ran 8.53 miles, this is the longest distance I have ever run; a few weeks ago I did 7.5 miles and today I took it a step further, who knows maybe before the Triathlon I hit the double digit mark?

    

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Special 26

Days left till NYC Triathlon: 28

Activity: Bike Group Training Session

The bike ride is twenty six miles; it is the longest part of the triathlon. One has to be careful about how they pace themselves on the ride, you can't go all out because you have the run after and your legs need to be conserved (which is also why you don't kick during the swim). Today's training session was to figure out what your bike pace is in order to have enough energy and strength to run after. We started with doing repeats of Harlem Hill for 20 minutes. Harlem Hill is the worst climb in Central Park, it has a rise of 84 feet and is 0.32 miles in distance. I did this loop 4 times and thought my legs would fall off! Post the Harlem hill torture I biked for an hour doing Central Park loops; total distance biked this morning was twenty six miles - the special 26 after which I have to run a 10K! One of the most important things during the bike is to keep yourself hydrated, as my coach says 'grapes roll better than raisins'!  I practiced drinking water on the ride, it was a cool day so I did not feel too hot or dehydrated. Let's hope the weather cooperates on race day! 

Harlem Hill is at the tip of Central Park as shown in the map above

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Running On the Road

Days left till NYC Triathlon: 29

 

Activity: Running in Jackson and Charlotte

 

This week has been packed with travel, Wednesday through Friday was spent on the road with a visit to Jackson followed by a stop in Charlotte. When I check in at a hotel I make it a point to ask if they know of a running route I could take from the hotel, most of the time I get enthusiastic responses with many suggestions and pointers. In Jackson when I asked the question I got a weird look and was told the only running that I could do was on the treadmill in the gym. They thought I was crazy trying to run in 100 degree weather, so run on the treadmill I did. No outdoor runs in Jackson, which probably was a good thing. In Charlotte my experience was the opposite; I was given a print out of all the running paths from the hotel, they were listed in order of difficulty level. I ended up going for a nice 4 mile run this morning on a path that was beside the light rail. It was perfect running weather with a cool light breeze and beautiful sunshine. Charlotte is a great city with an awesome vibe that comes alive in the art, architecture and people. While running almost everyone I passed wished me good morning; which being a new yorker was a weird experience, since no one in NYC even acknowledges your presence when on a run. I am back in Charlotte next week and am looking forward to exploring some of the other routes that were listed. Few pictures from the run below. 

Off Track

Days left till NYC Triathlon: 32

 

Activity: Biking in Central Park 

You may have noticed that there have been no posts for the last 7 days. Well, the truth is I have not trained in a whole week - YIKES (I am freaking out). I am almost a month away from race day and I slacked off. Obviously I have excuses for being so bad these last few days. Friends visiting from India 'forced' me to go out for dinners, have drinks and partake in NYC sightseeing - NOT ! The truth is I willingly ignored my training and decided to enjoy some time with friends. The Second reason was it was my Birthday so I felt like I had permission to take it easy. Well all that is over now and I must focus and train hard the next few weeks. 

Today was the first day back after my hiatus, I biked 15 miles this evening in Central Park. It felt good I don't think I have lost it all as I feared. Upwards and onwards towards the finish line - the end is near. I am traveling the next few days and intend to run while on the road. 

Torture Run

Days left till NYC Triathlon: 39

 

Activity: Run Group Training Session 

Yesterday we ran the famous 8 loop at Bethesda Fountain; I call it the torture run. It is 1 mile long with only steep inclines, followed by jump squats and high knees. I was not in a mood to run last evening and through out the pre-run nutrition clinic I was thinking of excuses that would justify me going home; my excuses were pretty lame, so I stayed, ran and got tortured.

The nutrition clinic started at 6:30 pm, they took us through what we should be eating before, during and after the race. Fueling your body properly makes all the difference, there is a lot to it and you have to make sure it works for you; which means for the next 4 weeks of training that I have left I will need to practice my nutrition plan to make sure it works! I ran 5 miles today three of the 8 loop and two miles to Bethesda and back - pure torture. The lack of motivation to run made me realize how important the mind is in these edurance races. You have to mentally prepare yourself and know that you can push through no matter what. Yesterday my mind was not ready to run and my entire being felt like lead, each stride was a feat!

In other news, I had signed up for the Pancake Sprint Triathlon this weekend, but it got cancelled due to low numbers of entrants. I am back to going to Coney island on Saturday where we will be swimming in the cold water and running on the boardwalk.

The 'Bondage' Suit

Days left till NYC Triathlon: 40

Activity: Swim Group Training Session 

The wet suit is also known as the bondage suit and today was the day to squeeze into it. I took it out from storage after three long years, hoping that it would still fit me. After much tugging, pulling and sweating I finally got it zipped up. I tried it on at home before going for swim training, imagine being at the training and not being able to zip up or worse what if it split right down the middle! Yes, I have had nightmares about not fitting into my wet suit.

Today we swam with our wet suits on in the pool, this was in preparation for next Saturdays training which will be swimming in the sea at Coney Island. From here on out we will be wearing our wet suits for every swim. We practiced sighting and swimming with breathing on the left side. During the New York Triathlon if you breath on the left you see the city and on the right you see New Jersey; breathing on the left is preferred because it is easier to keep track of where you are going, there is a big wall on the New York side. Lucky for me I naturally breath on the left.  We also practiced how to swim around the buoy, I learnt the corkscrew turn; which is alternating freestyle and back stroke so you turn around an object like a corkscrew. Lastly, we swam with our eyes closed; to see if you veer towards the left or right. It was hilarious to watch people swim across the pool!  It is very freaky to swim with your eyes closed, I swam pretty straight but that was because I was very aware of where my hands were entering the water, your hands are your rudders and determine the direction you will go. 

During my swim session,  I chatted with a co-triathlete who was doing a sprint triathlon this coming weekend called Flat as a Pancake in Staten Island. I went home and signed up for it, so instead of swimming at Coney Island this weekend I will be doing the Pancake Sprint Tri and most definitely indulging in some yummy pancakes after! 

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Tiring BRick and Tire Changing

Days left till NYC Triathlon: 42

 

Activity: BRick at Riverside Park & Central park

Today was the second "Brick" session of the season and I was ready to take it on. I planned my nutrition the night before; bought some gatorade, which I would took with me and for breakfast I had a PBJ sandwich (yum). I was on my bike and off towards Riverside Park at 6:45 am. Manhattan is so serene and peaceful early in the morning; it was great to bike with no cars on the road, specially the mean cabs and big buses that love to bully the cyclists (me) on the road.

Today we did a 1.5 hr bike ride and a 4 mile run (1 mile before the ride and 3 miles after). We do a mile before the bike ride to simulate what it would be like when you get out of the hudson, we also do pushups; this is to replicate how your arms would feel after swimming. Post training we had a "learn how to change your tire" bike clinic. I am not sure what I was more worried about - the workout or changing my tire! The bike ride was good, I rode 23.31 miles in Central Park. I am getting better at gear changing, the better you get at this the less you tire your legs and the stronger you are on the run. The run was at riverside park where we did 3 out and backs; I felt like I was going to die by the end of it!

With training done we went on to the next part which was changing the bicycle tire. I have never changed a tire in my life which made the task extremely daunting. The coaches took us through it step by step, I needed help at every step. I pray and hope that I do not get a flat on race day because that will be the end of my race. Long workout done, now I have the whole weekend ahead of me - I feel a weight has been lifted off my shoulders.

Late Night Swimming

Days left till NYC Triathlon: 43

 

Activity: Swimming at the gym

This weekend is going to be very intense in terms of training. I decided to start it with a swim at the gym. The pool at Equinox is small compared to what I am used to, I swam for an hour today; doing the different drills I had learnt in training. It was a good way to start the workout weekend, an easy swim was just the thing I needed before my "brick" team in training workout early tomorrow morning.  I decided to stay back in NYC this weekend and train for my triathlon instead of going to DC with my friends, so I better get some solid training in and make it count ! 

Running on a Hot Summer Day

Days left till NYC Triathlon: 44

 

Activity: Running in Central Park 

 

Summer has arrived, it was ninety degrees fahrenheit this evening and I am not used to running in heat as yet. After work I made my way towards Central Park to get some miles in. I ran 5 miles today but it felt more like ten miles because of the heat. I had the toughest time at mile 3, but just had to push through and psych myself to keep going. Half the battle while training for an endurance race is being able to push through when you feel you can't, once you master that then you can climb any hill or go any distance. The only way to know you can get through it is by putting yourself in situations that will make you to run, bike or swim (in the case of tri training) further, faster and longer. Today was intense but well worth it.  

CitiBike

Days left till NYC Triathlon: 45

 

Activity: Biking around the city 

CitiBike launched in NYC this weekend.  These bikes are located through out the city, you can use them as an alternative to walking or taking the subway. I am an annual member and I activated my membership yesterday with my maiden citibike ride. I biked from 53rd street to Bowery and back. I rode down 2nd avenue and back up 1st ave, the ride lasted for an hour and I bike around 8 miles. The bike lanes are great on the above mentioned avenues and Citibikes are a great way to get a workout in and run errands at the same time. I am loving this new way of transportation in New York City. Below is a picture of the first Bike I used for my ride yesterday. 

Gymm-ing IT

Days left till NYC Triathlon: 46

Activity: Gym Workout 

 

Less than 2 months to go - yikes! Today was meant to be a running day but it was raining and thunder storming which meant running in the Gym. I ran three miles and then spent a while doing weights and the stair climber, ending the workout with some core exercises. I am an outdoor person and being indoors is not very motivating. Hope the sun comes out tomorrow.  

Memorial Day

Days left till NYC Triathlon: 47

Activity: Bike Ride in Central Park

It's Memorial Day weekend, probably the worst day to go for a bike ride in the Park as there are tourists everywhere. I decided to go to the park irrespective, all the rain this week had finally given way to beautiful amazing weather today. I biked 10 miles and couldn't wait to be over with it. I was meeting a friend post ride at the boathouse for lunch and some beers. It is a perfect day to be out laying in the grass and soaking in the sun. Summer is finally here! 

Running in the Concrete Jungle

Days left till NYC Triathlon: 49

Activity: Running by the East River

For someone who does not like running I have been running a lot. I ran seven and a half miles today, the longest distance I have ever run in my life. I am toying with the idea of doing the Paris Half Marathon next year. Just toying at the moment, not sure if I am there yet. 

Today was supposed to be a Bike Group  Training Session; but due to the rain the coaches changed it to a run. I decided to go for a run on my own for two reasons. First reason was so that I did not have to  wake up early in the morning and the second reason was I needed a change from Central Park. I have been running and biking in the park for over 2 months and it is getting a little monotonous.

My run took a life of its own, I went up till 96th street and then across a bridge to Randall's island. I didn't stay on the island long as there was not one person there, the rain probably kept everyone away. I felt good running seven and a half miles, my legs were not tired and I felt I could go further but I knew the wise thing to do was stop and not go overboard. Hopefully it is sunny tomorrow and I can get my bike out for a nice long ride. 

Running in the Rain

Days left till NYC Triathlon: 51

Activity: Morning Run in Central Park

Another beautiful morning in New York City. I was up early and off to central park for my morning run. Even at six am in the morning it was hot and humid. Midway through the run, just as I started to feel the heat ooze out of my pores the humidity turned into rain. Running in the rain is awesome, the cool breeze, the smell of wet mud, the little drops on your skin made the run refreshing and invigorating. I started at Columbus circle ran east around the park till 72nd street on the west side, crossed over and headed back home. I did six and a half miles this morning and was I tired! I am focusing quite a bit on running these days; I feel that I need to start getting some long bike rides in, as the course for the bike ride is long and hilly.

Spinning

Days left till NYC Triathlon: 52

 

Activity: Spinning at the Gym

Not much to report today, did a spin class after ages. Since I have been training outdoors I haven't been to my gym. The one hour spin class was pretty uneventful; therefore the short post. 

Morning Runs are Amazing

Days left till NYC Triathlon: 53

 

Activity: Morning Run in Central Park

It has been a while since I went for a morning run in Central Park. I attribute lack of morning workouts due to my evening group training sessions and my crazy travel schedule. Today I was meeting my running buddy at Central Park; this ensured I would wake up and get my butt out of bed (Thank you Priya!)! 

Summer has arrived in New York, I know this because I did not have to think about the weather as I left my house. Usually, I have to think about what to wear in terms of layering and / or thickness of shirt. In the summer there is  no such pre-planning, I put on my workout clothes and am on my way. The park was beautiful at 6 am in the morning, everything is green and the flowers are blooming. We ran 5 miles, starting at Columbus Circle running up the bridle path, round the reservoir and back. There was a lovely breeze as we were running, I am enjoying the cool near perfect weather as I know it is going to get much warmer in the next few weeks. Getting training done in the morning is the best way to start the day.

How NOT to Swallow Water in the Hudson

Days left till NYC Triathlon: 54

Activity: Swim Group Training Session

Today I learnt how not to swallow water while "sighting". This is extremely important, as the last thing I want to worry about during my triathlon is what would happen if I swallowed water from the Hudson. When I tell people I am doing the NYC Triathlon the thing that freaks them out most is that I am swimming in the Hudson.

What is sighting? Sighting is being able to know which direction you are swimming in. During any open water swim you have big visible buoys that serve as guides, they mark out the direction in which you are to swim. In order to swim in the right direction you must 'sight' the buoy. If you don't do this you may end up swimming in the wrong direction, wasting time and energy. When you sight you lift your head up while keeping your mouth under water and taking a breath on the side as you normally would, this may seem easy enough, but the key thing is to breath out when facing front and take a breath in when turning to the side.  If by mistake you breath in while facing front the Hudson will be gushing down your system! I know that I will probably swallow a little bit of the river on my swim; as long as I don't veer towards Jersey I am fine with a little taste of the Hudson. We are now on the home stretch; I just need to stick to the training plan and swim, bike and run towards the finish line. Below is a video that shows you how to 'sight'

http://youtu.be/KRZDS8xjyHE

Hot Ride and a Cool Dip

Days left till NYC Triathlon: 57

Activity: Biking and swimming in AZ 

I am at an industry conference this week where lunch breaks are two hours long! During lunch I rented a mountain bike and went for an hour long bike ride along a canal near the hotel. It was weird riding a mountain bike; I am used to my road bike that is so agile and delicate. In this instance, I was glad I had a mountain bike as the path I was riding on was very rugged. Biking in the afternoon Arizona heat is tiring, while you don't sweat because of the dry heat, you definitely feel dehydrated. I biked for about an hour and covered twelve miles; the path was pretty flat. Post bike ride all I wanted to do was jump into the pool and cool off and that is exactly what I did. Todays training was the perfect end to my Arizona visit, I take the red eye back tonight. Tomorrow is my group training session, I land at 5 30 am and my training starts at 7 30. I could make it to the session, but will see if I feel up to it. Biking for 2 hours after a red eye may not be the best thing to do. 

Swimming Outside

Days left till NYC Triathlon: 58

Activity: Morning swim in Phoenix

I was up at 5:30 this morning, being three hours behind NYC time helped with rising early. The resort I am staying at is sprawling (as are all things in Phoenix), it took me 15 minutes to find the right pool. I have been swimming in indoor pools these last few months, where the water is cold and it takes swimming a length of the pool to warm up. I was expecting the first touch of water to be cool, but was happy to find the temperature to be positively balmy, it has been a while since I experienced swimming in a warm lap pool. 

It was great to swim outdoors, instead of seeing dark ceilings every time I turned to breath I saw blue skies and palm trees and felt the warmth of the morning sun on my skin. This morning's swim reminded me of  my school days, when I would go to the pool before classes started. It was the same warm water, blue skies and palm trees that greeted me years back at the Bombay Gym pool. I am looking forward to getting a few more swims in while I am here. 

The 8 Loop

 Days left till NYC Triathlon: 60

Activity: Running Group Training Session 

Today I was introduced to the eight loop, it is also known as the bridge and tunnel loop or as I would call it, the torture loop. 

Having run 6 miles on saturday I thought the Tuesday run was going to be a piece of cake. I was in for a big surprise, the coach starts talking to us about our workout with a devilish smile, he knows what is in store. We run upto Bethesda fountain and he explains that we are doing the eight loop which is a predominantly uphill climb, we will go under two tunnels and over a bridge. The loop starts and ends at Bethesda fountain where we will do jump squats up the steps and then repeat. We are to do this for forty minutes and then run back to Columbus circle to stretch. 

Holy shit I needed to get my head in the zone. The loop was a mile long and very beautiful, we ran around 2 ponds which made the loop shaped as an 8. By the end of this workout I could barely walk, my ass got kicked today. I am on a flight at 6 am tomorrow, going to warmer climes with outdoor pools. I hope to get some swim workouts in during the rest of the week. 

Picture is of beautiful Bethesda Fountain, I got the pic off the Internet as I was not carrying my phone during the workout.