A real update.

After about 2 months of general life upheaval, things are starting to settle down. There are still some things that will take some getting used to, but in general, adjusting to life outside the bubble of Manhattan has been quite easy. I went from a cave of an office to an awesome light, filled tree-top view, I doubled my living space (and gained a quite handsome new roommate), and am absolutely obsessed to finally have central air conditioning and a dishwasher back in my life.

In the past two months, my training has taken a hit. I had a stupid bike crash in early June (read: Sarah alone on street at 5:45 am meets parked car), flatted at Rev3, and never really recovered (physically and mentally) before DC Tri. I raced on tired, painful legs, and was happy but discouraged and sad after my performance. It's a weird combo; I was actually elated when I got my results, seeing my swim time and bike performance based on how I felt. But the more I thought about it, analyzed the results, and thought about how incredibly horrible the run felt, I know something was 'off'. I am not sure if I was a bit over-trained/burned out, the bike crash jarred my body more than I realized, or basically overwhelmed with life in general, but I needed to step away.

I had a week of work/play in Chicago, went on long walks by the beach (lake), got my ass handed to me by my college roommate at her Masters team (she coached, and laughed as I struggled to keep up). When I returned in NYC, I decided to replace slow, painful, emotionally draining 30 minute runs with super-intense Boot Camp for July. It was amazing. I am so sad to have found it only a month before I moved - it was one of the best and most demanding workouts I have ever done, and showed me that despite being able to bang out a triathlon, I may just be the weakest person alive.

I also promised myself that for my last few weeks in NYC, I wouldn't choose training over enjoying myself. And enjoy myself I did. I left feeling comfortable and confident in my decision to move, and happy to know that NYC is only a few hours away.

So now I here I am. And settling in. And feeling awesome. My motivation has returned and I'm feeling good. My run is slowly coming back to me, I have the desire for hill repeats, long runs and 5am wake up calls. I am taking advantage of exploring my new neighborhood, learning new bike routes, meeting new people (slowly but surely!) and finding new training partners (hopefully!).

I am excited for my race next weekend. I think I have realistic expectations for the outcome, something I think maybe I didn't have going into DC Tri. I want to just enjoy the process. It's a smaller race, my man is coming to cheer, oh, and I have some fancy new wheels that will be making their debut, thanks to an overly generous going away present from my NYC teammates and friends...so freaking excited (and they got me clinchers, so the 'I was riding tubulars and didn't have a spare excuse is no longer valid)

welcome to the real world...

...as in, life outside NYC. Life that is just different. I move in three weeks. I am SO EXCITED. I can't wait to see my man every day, be closer to my family, and not listen to a U2 cover band perform the same set list every.Saturday.night.until.1am (with a break at 11:50 just long enough to let me fall asleep...)

However, preparing for all the newness has me a bit perplexed. I've never owned a car. I've never bought insurance (spoiled lucky teenager? yes, I don't deny it). Last time I drove, gas was closer to $1 per gallon...so how do I choose??

Today, I bought insurance (deductible, liability, PIP...whatever, just tell me what I need thanks).

Tonight, I will hopefully be making the drive from NYC to DC in a snazzy brand new car (don't want to jinx it!). After a mild freak out about the monthly outlay, I just did the math, and it's likely less than I pay in cabs + subway per month in Manhattan. So now I feel a bit better.

OH, I raced DC tri a few weeks ago. I am now taking a month away from a structured training plan, but will keep my fitness up and adding some new things to mix up the routine and hopefully work on some underlying issues that keep popping up (read: strength, core). Next race comes mid-August, and will decide about the fall after that.

Quick recap:
swim = very happy. :30 seconds faster than Nation's last year (same course)
bike= good. felt awful, felt like I had no power, was pleasantly surprised with my time . course was crazy crowded but pretty.
run= slowest.10k.ever.(no really...ever for me) Body just wasn't feeling it. Proud of myself for finishing, sad to slowly watch my sub 2:20 slip away, especially knowing it was within grasp when I got off the bike. I know it will come.

So, what to do when you feel like complete and utter crap on the run? Throw a double thumbs up and fake it....

Getting it done....And oh, I'm moving :)

I may still be rolling over when the 5am alarm clock goes off (why do I even set it?), and starting my weekends at 9 or 10am vs. 7am, but I am getting the work done.

I am in for Rev3 OLY and DC 5150. I may even take the plunge and race DC in the 'elite' category. Not because I think I will be close to the podium, but because it affords an early start (beat the heat) and an open course. I don't care about 'qualifying' for Hyvee (the 5150 Championship), so racing AG vs. Elite doesn't really matter. All I will be on the lookout for is a PR and best case scenario sub-2:20, which I think I have a better chance at racing on an open course.

After DC, I will leave my race bike in DC and fly straight to Chicago for work...why leave my bike? Well, because...

I
AM
MOVING
TO
DC.

After 18 months of long distance, the man and I have decided enough is enough. So sometime toward the end of the summer, I will be an official DC (or DC suburbs) resident. It all became official a bit more quickly than we expected, but I am lucky enough to have the support of work to be based out our DC office and with my lease up at the end of July, the timing just seems right. Nothing much else is decided. But I am SO EXCITED. Sad and apprehensive about the amazing people and team that I will be leaving in NYC, but can't wait to see what the future holds. And I get my trunk.

Good Bye UWS

Good bye 15x15 bedroom, 13' ceilings, and 3 closets. I will miss you. Be back in a few.

Training update

(Wanted to write this update mainly for myself to look back on when I think about maybe doing speedwork again anytime soon...)

It's been a pretty crazy/hectic/stressful few weeks, with a few more to go before I feel like my life settles down a bit, however I have been able to keep with my training and in general am happy with how things have been progressing. My best friend from HS got married last weekend at an estate outside of Charlottesville, VA and it was perfectly lovely. Then next weekend I am in a wedding of a good friend from graduate school that should be an epic event- she has informed me that I am in charge of entertaining all the navy-men who she is inviting that are making the sword arch for them post-ceremony (the groom is Navy). So I will have my hands full with THAT :)

I have been able to follow my marathon 'plan' pretty well with all the craziness that is going on, and am only a bit anxious that my long runs aren't really that 'long' yet. I bailed at mile 10 of my 14 last weekend due to humidity, and this weekend is finally 16, so we shall see how that goes. I was able to hobble through an easy 4 this morning, but still have some major tightness going on in my soleus, hoping to goes away before my long run this weekend. My feet and arches are weirdly sore too, but I am thinking it is their way of telling me it is time for some new running shoes.

I have been making an effort to get in the pool at least a few times per week and I have definitely felt it coming back around. I have not been as good on the bike, but the few (one?) times I have been on my bike since my last race felt great. The plan is to get fitted on a loaner tri bike from my coach ASAP for the fall and then to train on over the winter and possibly for next season- I am really looking forward to it, as I think my current bike size/fit may be contributing to some of the lingering tightness in my right leg, mainly in the hamstring.

In the non-training front, I move this weekend, and although I am stressed about the actual event, I am very excited. Downsizing/streamlining/de-cluttering has already been incredibly freeing and am looking forward to the end result.

I actually got a bit nostalgic on my run this morning (on my go-to 3/4/5 mile flat Riverside route), and it may be the thing I miss most when I leave the Upper West Side.

Ch-ch-changes...

I have officially made a rash and not-thought-out decision, subletted my apartment for a year and will be moving across town. With all the travel on my schedule in the coming months, I could no longer justify the space and amount of my rent. I also just needed a change of scenery.

Nothing to make you feel like a black sheep like moving in with two speedy chicas who have qualified for Kona...