I had this thought the other day: "I have now been training for and competing in running races and triathlons consistently for 10 years." This was a bit of a revelation for me.... because it called to mind the "10 year rule" of expertise. I always think of myself as "still learning" but maybe I should think otherwise....?
Here is Wikipedia's characteristics of being an expert:
At a minimum usually 10 years of consistent practice, sometimes more for certain fields.
A characterization of this practice as "deliberate practice", which forces the practitioner to come up with new ways to encourage and enable themselves to reach new levels of performance.
An early phase of learning which is characterized by enjoyment, excitement, and participation without outcome-related goals[2]
The ability to rearrange or construct a higher dimension of creativity. Due to such familiarity or advanced knowledge experts can develop more abstract perspectives of their concepts and/or performances.[citation needed]
I like that last part, the part that talks about creativity. It made me think about my early years of getting into triathlon, where I had no idea and was just in overload on how much there was to learn about triathlon and training ... it was the early part of "enjoyment, excitement and participation"... who knew that it could lead to such an obsession and was going to shape my way of life in such a dramatic way.
In my first summer, I really just had no idea, I just did it in the summer between water polo seasons at Queens. I went out to a small Ottawa event, and did the full clothing change in the transition, I actually had a good swim (because of water polo), then I put on my running shoes, pulled on some spandex (not proper bike shorts) and a cotton T-shirt, and a ton of people passed me on the bike, it sucked, then more people passed me on the run and I was dying. I think I came 2nd or 3rd in my age group and I was over the moon, and also hooked.
Then I did another race later on in the summer (the Ktown sprint) and I can remember, that race was pivitol in me deciding to "get serious". I was on the big ferry, in that race they boated you out to a start line and you swam to shore, and I was sitting beside a younger girl, who was very intimidating, in her personalized tri-suit, spraying pam in her wetsuit (which I was in awe of, she seemed so "knowledgeable"!) and she was uber thin and fit looking, I knew she would be way faster than me, but my competitive spirit was firing!
Anyways I did end up swimming faster than her ... so as I climbed this first hill out of the city, wearing some old cotton t-shirt, my running shoes in my old school pedal baskets, trying to get my heavy steel Peugot up this hill, hair and snot plasterd on my face, panting and grunting ... then there she went just flying effortlessly by me. It was one of those moments you can't forget. After that I was determined to get good, to get good like that girl, she inspired me. The funny thing is ... that girl was Lauren Groves ... so had I known at the time who she was, or what she was going to acheive in triathlon, I might not have been so hard on myself.
So pretty soon I had bought a bunch of books, upgraded my bike, got some new clothes and also decided to get a coach, and join some training groups. And at first I was all about getting fast really soon, and am only just realizing the meaning of the words spoken to me by one of first coaches in Ottawa - the legendary Rick Hellard -"It's the guy who gets up and trains the most consistently, for the longest period of time, that's going to be faster." So it's really a patience thing, and doing these things day in and day out.. that finally led me to one year "suddenly" get fast. It took a long time for me to decisively break the 40min 10k barrier, the 1:30half marathon barrier and the 2:15 Olympic triathlon barrier.
I have some of my fondest memories of my early races. The first wins, the first medals, the hanging out in the sun after races. Next post I'll tell some more stories...
Friday, January 29, 2010
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
I have going up and down the list of topics for my latest blog... running, swimming, teaching, coaching basketball, but what I keep on wanting to blog about is .... my knitting...
Check out how long it is, I seriously stop and admire my work every row. I don't think I've been this proud of something in long while. It's a real accomplishment... it's all about the small successes. Today on the bus a lady complimented... the colour of my yarn... but she was really saying: "Wow, you are skilled and I am jealous!"
Boo Ya!
Right now I am watching maybe the coolest guy... he is singing a song called: "Do the Potty Dance", and while he is swinging a guitar around, I am pretty sure that is not how he pictured himself in 20 years when he was learning his first cords. I am watching a very funny show though, Modern Family. Very funny. It's so funny.
And I think that's all I got...
Well Running update: Had a very good encouraging long run on the weekend. Good because: I didn't feel much of my bad leg/butt, I had good company in Rhys (although he did try at least 10 tens to cut it shorter, including stopping for a 10 min pee break I had to run circles on the spot), we ran in the beautiful UBC trails, and I felt super strong! Even my runs the next few days felt easy and light, so that's encouraging since I had been feeling very slow and tired last week.
Running on the spot technique:
That actually is not me, though it does look like me, well kinda.
Check out how long it is, I seriously stop and admire my work every row. I don't think I've been this proud of something in long while. It's a real accomplishment... it's all about the small successes. Today on the bus a lady complimented... the colour of my yarn... but she was really saying: "Wow, you are skilled and I am jealous!"
Boo Ya!
Right now I am watching maybe the coolest guy... he is singing a song called: "Do the Potty Dance", and while he is swinging a guitar around, I am pretty sure that is not how he pictured himself in 20 years when he was learning his first cords. I am watching a very funny show though, Modern Family. Very funny. It's so funny.
And I think that's all I got...
Well Running update: Had a very good encouraging long run on the weekend. Good because: I didn't feel much of my bad leg/butt, I had good company in Rhys (although he did try at least 10 tens to cut it shorter, including stopping for a 10 min pee break I had to run circles on the spot), we ran in the beautiful UBC trails, and I felt super strong! Even my runs the next few days felt easy and light, so that's encouraging since I had been feeling very slow and tired last week.
Running on the spot technique:
That actually is not me, though it does look like me, well kinda.
Monday, January 18, 2010
tempo tempo tempo
This will be my first blog about a workout, just a warning in case you decided to stop reading now, if you do I completely understand because there is sometimes nothing more boring than listening to someone go on about the minutia of their training...
Last year when compression socks were really getting popular, was a tough time for me. I was not able to run, but I was still deceiving myself that any day it would just miraculously get better. I had to have the socks. I bought them, and they have sat in my closet for over a year now. Well yesterday I tested them out (yes I was one of those intense people who wear the socks to look fast and serious... I mean for their superior blood flow capabilities...!) I put my new socks on and away we went:
I met up Rhys, and he had some brand new shoes:
We went down to the seawall I was going to 12km and he was up for 10km. This year I am being very cautious with the running volume and intensity, as I am definitely not all better. So I alternate long run and tempo run on the weekends and try for Vfac longer intervals once along with as many easy little runs as I can, usually two.
So Rhys was dragging his feet: "Susanne let's just skip our run and eat muffins and toblerone chocolate." But I convinced him to start a little warm up, nice and easy, lots of people passed us and Rhys was calling out: "Hey, we're only warming up here, we are going to be running really fast soon!"
We started, there was a bit of a head wind, we were heading from 2nd beach pool to the bathing lady. My first kilometre = 4:05, tooo fast Susanne, I wanted to be between 4:10-4:15. The rest of the splits were all around 4:12, which was slower than my last tempo run, and since it also didn't feel as smooth, I figured just not my day for great running, maybe a bit tired. Rhys had a good one too and so we did a little cool down and went and had coffee and muffins, well actually I had a couple of carrott sticks and Rhys had brownies and soda. No wonder he's so huge!
Thanks Rhys, see you next weekend for our long EASY run.
Last year when compression socks were really getting popular, was a tough time for me. I was not able to run, but I was still deceiving myself that any day it would just miraculously get better. I had to have the socks. I bought them, and they have sat in my closet for over a year now. Well yesterday I tested them out (yes I was one of those intense people who wear the socks to look fast and serious... I mean for their superior blood flow capabilities...!) I put my new socks on and away we went:
I met up Rhys, and he had some brand new shoes:
We went down to the seawall I was going to 12km and he was up for 10km. This year I am being very cautious with the running volume and intensity, as I am definitely not all better. So I alternate long run and tempo run on the weekends and try for Vfac longer intervals once along with as many easy little runs as I can, usually two.
So Rhys was dragging his feet: "Susanne let's just skip our run and eat muffins and toblerone chocolate." But I convinced him to start a little warm up, nice and easy, lots of people passed us and Rhys was calling out: "Hey, we're only warming up here, we are going to be running really fast soon!"
We started, there was a bit of a head wind, we were heading from 2nd beach pool to the bathing lady. My first kilometre = 4:05, tooo fast Susanne, I wanted to be between 4:10-4:15. The rest of the splits were all around 4:12, which was slower than my last tempo run, and since it also didn't feel as smooth, I figured just not my day for great running, maybe a bit tired. Rhys had a good one too and so we did a little cool down and went and had coffee and muffins, well actually I had a couple of carrott sticks and Rhys had brownies and soda. No wonder he's so huge!
Thanks Rhys, see you next weekend for our long EASY run.
Saturday, January 16, 2010
Quatchi, Miga and Sumi, 'nuff said.
I got a sneak-peak into the Olympic Athletes Village today... !! A friend (Elisabeth) who works there was able to take friends and family on a tour and it was to my surprise, totally awesome.
First we had to be body-scanned, followed by full pat-down and retina-scan (Elisabeth tried to sneak in a bicyle seatpost but was busted since they have lots of experience with athletes trying to smuggle 'roids in the tube...?).
After all that we had free reign to party with the mascotts! I admit when I saw them I was so excited that had I been alone I would have been running them down! I did have to throw some elbows at some kids who were totally hogging their attention.
We got to see where they would eat, sleep, workout, and of course get their vitamin drinks....
Truly though, it was super beautiful, the false creek setting couldn't be more striking. They will get an awesome view of downtown against the mountains. The buildings are great, very nicely done - the lanscaping, the waterfront paths, the pavilions, retail spaces, all . We got to have a look at one of the condos, and I would love to live there. Probably pretty pricey though...
I must admit, if I wasn't very into the Olympics-hype beforehand, I am pretty excited now. Thanks Elisabeh!
Thursday, January 14, 2010
Lucy! Eventhough it's Friday, it's still a working day...
... the ups and downs of the Daily Puppy continue...
Last night we went to see Sherlock Holmes. Colin and I have been trying to see Avatar for the past couple weeks but it crazy how hard it is to get tickets for people who never show up to movies on time (which is not my style at all... that is all "casual Colin"!) We also find it a night mare to try and drive downtown and park. The Hiace van doesn't fit in underground parking, and so we always end up pretty much 20 blocks away from the theatre.
Anyways we decided to try the Dunbar. No bridges, no downtown parking, no hassle! It's a one-theatre movie place, old-school huge colossal room with balcony, 2-man operation, one to sell the tickets, one to serve the popcorn. But the seats have been re-done as well as the sound. At first I thought the sound (boxes?) were Olympic-hype, luge bobsleds along the walls.... but it turns out they're speakers. The movie was ok, kinda long, very plot-driven, accompanied by typical Robert Downey-Junior playing the unlikely scruffy hero, whom you love for his quirks and weird perspective. But the seats were awesome. I literally felt like I was lying out on my own lazy-boy, with lots of leg-room and squirming room, I could have curled up sideways it was so roomy. Also the popcorn was good. It didn't taste like it had been sitting there for about a week, but that it had been possibly made within the past hour!
This morning was swimming, I hate getting up, but afterwards I feel so great. Then I managed to drink coffee and knit on the bus. I have figured out that I spend almost 10 hours a week sitting staring at strangers (and typically I do just like spending the time staring at other people, I bring the paper but I'd rather just people-watch), so at least now I can do something more worthwhile with those hours.
Today, some boy tried to be my boyfriend, this is how it went down: I had my knitting bag on the seat beside me (which I normally wouldn't do, but I was trying to manage untangling yarn while holding coffee and my school bag), a guy got on and sat down practically on my knitting, I gave him a nasty look, he then instantly fell inlove with me, later I asked if I could open the window because I was sweating profusely doing some intense knit-purl intervals (holy cow they pump the heat in the back of the bus!) and he said "Sure", he totally wanted me!
Here are some pics of what I've been up to lately....
Last night we went to see Sherlock Holmes. Colin and I have been trying to see Avatar for the past couple weeks but it crazy how hard it is to get tickets for people who never show up to movies on time (which is not my style at all... that is all "casual Colin"!) We also find it a night mare to try and drive downtown and park. The Hiace van doesn't fit in underground parking, and so we always end up pretty much 20 blocks away from the theatre.
Anyways we decided to try the Dunbar. No bridges, no downtown parking, no hassle! It's a one-theatre movie place, old-school huge colossal room with balcony, 2-man operation, one to sell the tickets, one to serve the popcorn. But the seats have been re-done as well as the sound. At first I thought the sound (boxes?) were Olympic-hype, luge bobsleds along the walls.... but it turns out they're speakers. The movie was ok, kinda long, very plot-driven, accompanied by typical Robert Downey-Junior playing the unlikely scruffy hero, whom you love for his quirks and weird perspective. But the seats were awesome. I literally felt like I was lying out on my own lazy-boy, with lots of leg-room and squirming room, I could have curled up sideways it was so roomy. Also the popcorn was good. It didn't taste like it had been sitting there for about a week, but that it had been possibly made within the past hour!
This morning was swimming, I hate getting up, but afterwards I feel so great. Then I managed to drink coffee and knit on the bus. I have figured out that I spend almost 10 hours a week sitting staring at strangers (and typically I do just like spending the time staring at other people, I bring the paper but I'd rather just people-watch), so at least now I can do something more worthwhile with those hours.
Today, some boy tried to be my boyfriend, this is how it went down: I had my knitting bag on the seat beside me (which I normally wouldn't do, but I was trying to manage untangling yarn while holding coffee and my school bag), a guy got on and sat down practically on my knitting, I gave him a nasty look, he then instantly fell inlove with me, later I asked if I could open the window because I was sweating profusely doing some intense knit-purl intervals (holy cow they pump the heat in the back of the bus!) and he said "Sure", he totally wanted me!
Here are some pics of what I've been up to lately....
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
mixed breed... look out!
Look out, it's going to be a "mixed breed" day today... so don't make any big plans, because you really won't know what to expect.
I am going skating with my class today, down at Robson square today, should be fun, should make for some interesting stories.
I am just about to go for a run, I am feeling like I need some easy running lately, feeling like all my workouts are hard, with intervals in swimming, on the bike and then there's VFAC workouts! Mostly it's because I just get so drained, all the energy I need at school for my class just leaves not much left over to push hard all the time in training. Of course I know, I should not be pushing hard all the time... so I think I am skip Vfac this week. I'm doing a tempo this weekend and I think I will focus on that as my key workout of the week. I am really happy with my running, what with taking more than a year off because of still unknown injury in my low back, hip, butt, and hamstring... pretty much my whole right side from my waist down would seize up after any kind of running. I thought after a year of zero improvement that I really would have to give it up forever, but then I met Colin and he motivated me to get back biking and swimming and I found that this was the best remedy of all and then slowly I was able to build my running up. I still have problems with it, but I can manage it now. Lots of stretching and slowly building intensity. I think in the end I still have a lot of scar tissue deep in butt, that needs to be worked out.
Gotta run now... Peace out.
I am going skating with my class today, down at Robson square today, should be fun, should make for some interesting stories.
I am just about to go for a run, I am feeling like I need some easy running lately, feeling like all my workouts are hard, with intervals in swimming, on the bike and then there's VFAC workouts! Mostly it's because I just get so drained, all the energy I need at school for my class just leaves not much left over to push hard all the time in training. Of course I know, I should not be pushing hard all the time... so I think I am skip Vfac this week. I'm doing a tempo this weekend and I think I will focus on that as my key workout of the week. I am really happy with my running, what with taking more than a year off because of still unknown injury in my low back, hip, butt, and hamstring... pretty much my whole right side from my waist down would seize up after any kind of running. I thought after a year of zero improvement that I really would have to give it up forever, but then I met Colin and he motivated me to get back biking and swimming and I found that this was the best remedy of all and then slowly I was able to build my running up. I still have problems with it, but I can manage it now. Lots of stretching and slowly building intensity. I think in the end I still have a lot of scar tissue deep in butt, that needs to be worked out.
Gotta run now... Peace out.
Monday, January 11, 2010
Bus-Knitter!
So it wasn't a "fun night of knitting" last night. It turns out I was right, when I thought I was doing the knitting wrong.. so I had to rip it up. A co-worker, who is an avid knitter, gave me advice, so I had to bring my knitting into work / happily brought my knitting into work to get some help.
I sat down on the bus, with no real thoughts of busting out my knitting, but the bag was just there on my lap, open, and so I pulled it out. Now I have watched, with total awe and admiration, at people who knit on the bus, and even though it may equal in excitement with watching paint dry, I have always not been able to take my eyes off the knitting hands, such fast moving and able fingers! Part of me thinks: "Who knits in public on the bus?", but part of me was always just envious, they seemed so skillful! So I was nervous to get it out, secretly worried that some expert knitter would be watching and judging, critiquing my poor beginner skills.
I was actually sweating! Firstly, I was sweating because bus-drivers have no idea how hot it is at the back of the bus, we could all sit around in bikinis and still be too hot, secondly, because I rode my trainer that morning, which always raises the body temperature, but thirdly maybe because of the knitting.... which is weird. But as a friend once told me: "Susanne, everything you do, you do at %100." Which I think can be both a blessing and a curse. Blessing = I will race and compete my hardest, always. Curse = I will race and compete my hardest every workout, always... even yoga.
So today, I am looking forward to coaching my girls basketball team. We have a tournament coming up, and I am thinking we are finally going to start winning some games! Even though I can't stop myself from calling out "Nice goal!!" instead of "basket", too many years of playing water polo... but water polo and basketball are really quite similar (pretty much just substitute a pool for a court!)
PS. I wonder what Cricky the dacshund means for today?? Ohh the Daily Puppy, what will it bring tomorow??
I sat down on the bus, with no real thoughts of busting out my knitting, but the bag was just there on my lap, open, and so I pulled it out. Now I have watched, with total awe and admiration, at people who knit on the bus, and even though it may equal in excitement with watching paint dry, I have always not been able to take my eyes off the knitting hands, such fast moving and able fingers! Part of me thinks: "Who knits in public on the bus?", but part of me was always just envious, they seemed so skillful! So I was nervous to get it out, secretly worried that some expert knitter would be watching and judging, critiquing my poor beginner skills.
I was actually sweating! Firstly, I was sweating because bus-drivers have no idea how hot it is at the back of the bus, we could all sit around in bikinis and still be too hot, secondly, because I rode my trainer that morning, which always raises the body temperature, but thirdly maybe because of the knitting.... which is weird. But as a friend once told me: "Susanne, everything you do, you do at %100." Which I think can be both a blessing and a curse. Blessing = I will race and compete my hardest, always. Curse = I will race and compete my hardest every workout, always... even yoga.
So today, I am looking forward to coaching my girls basketball team. We have a tournament coming up, and I am thinking we are finally going to start winning some games! Even though I can't stop myself from calling out "Nice goal!!" instead of "basket", too many years of playing water polo... but water polo and basketball are really quite similar (pretty much just substitute a pool for a court!)
PS. I wonder what Cricky the dacshund means for today?? Ohh the Daily Puppy, what will it bring tomorow??
Sunday, January 10, 2010
Why not?
This morning I was reading a blog, and wondered why I was reading it? It was mildly interesting, and I was only mildly curious to what this guy was saying. So I decided I could blog too! And I am sure that I am probably just mildly interesting, and so maybe someone else might atleast be mildly curious to read what's going with me! But more than anything, I think I am just excited to start this fun "something to do" project.
Over Christmas break I was getting pretty bored, I stayed in Vancouver, opting not to visit family. So I was bored, Colin worked a lot, and since I don't many friends in Vancouver yet... 3 years is not enough time to make friends apparently... bored. (Actually I think I have probably been "bored" and searching for something new and exciting to do for the last couple years ... but since kids are not in the immediate future ... blogging might fill the void!!)
A few things I did over the break to keep myself busy: took the dog I was dog-sitting on many many walks and runs, went on lots of runs, went on lots of rides, (still bored with the same ol' stuff - training is a life-necessity but not always very exciting), bugged Colin about getting married and having babies (x 3 or maybe 6...), made an elaborate gingerbread house, bugged Colin about getting me some flowers (which he got me and are beautiful!), and the best thing I did was ..... start to knit!
I am inlove with knitting right now! (Note: last year at this time, I had bought myself a keyboard and fell inlove with learning to play piano, I got as far as the Star Wars Theme, I also took an art class and got "serious" about yoga.) But knitting is the best right now.
I started a new piece today. After I mastered the scarf, (I made two over the break, knit stitch, purl stitch perfected!) I went to the knitting store today (Colin came too and he dreamed up the sweater that I will eventually knit for him, which includes moose-teeth buttons, from the moose he will hunt and kill in the upcoming fall!) and bought the needles for "knitting on the round". I am not sure I am doing it right...
So I have a great night of knitting ahead of me...
Tomorrow I will go for a short recovery run in the morning, go to school, teach my favourite kids in the world... my class, have a staff meeting, listen in on a very interesting, very heated "Catechism of the Catholic Church" study, and then do what I will have been looking forward to do all day .... get knitting!
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)