Tri Shopping
I'm having a jolly good time gathering information about all the tri equipment I need to get. It's a long list and I think the $$ dent is substantial for something I'm not even sure I'm going to like. So far I've invested in a pair of TYR swim goggles (only ones available at the club), private swim lessons (expensive but no choice) and group swim training (need it as it includes 3 open water sessions).
Next purchase is going to be a road bike, helmet, cycling shorts, cycling shoes, gloves, pump etc. That'll be about $2K. I'm going to go for a second-hand Giant with upgraded components Campagnolo Centaur. If I end up hooked on road biking, this will keep me happy for quite a while. I spend a bit more upfront but I won't have to incur upgrading costs from entry level stuff. If I really don't like road biking, I can still offload it. Sounds like a good plan.
Wednesday, June 20, 2007
Swim Lessons
Today was the third morning in the last 6 days that I'm up and in the pool by 7am! Doing laps....getting private lessons on correcting my front-crawl technique. Never even imagined I'd be doing this. Well, the discovery of the week is that the club pool water is actually warm. I always thought swimming in the early hours of the morning was torture because the water would be cold. Not at all.
At the first lesson, I was told I'm very 'buoyant' and that my arms look 'small'. That's putting it diplomatically. What he meant to say was that I have a big floating bum and puny, weak arms. Such were the obstacles to my quest for front-crawl skill and speed. He did compliment my breast-stroke by saying I had some 'potential'. Anyway, I worked hard.
At the end of my second lesson today, I graduated from the swim board. My technique is almost there. Just have to find a comfortable rhythm. For the first time in my life, I actually swam a few laps of front-crawl halfway decently. My goal is to be able to join the club Masters' swim training on Tuesdays. Put that together with the Triladies swim training on the weekend....and maybe a 3rd session by myself. That should build up my swim fitness. Hope to do my 750m swim in 15 minutes.....or less.
Today was the third morning in the last 6 days that I'm up and in the pool by 7am! Doing laps....getting private lessons on correcting my front-crawl technique. Never even imagined I'd be doing this. Well, the discovery of the week is that the club pool water is actually warm. I always thought swimming in the early hours of the morning was torture because the water would be cold. Not at all.
At the first lesson, I was told I'm very 'buoyant' and that my arms look 'small'. That's putting it diplomatically. What he meant to say was that I have a big floating bum and puny, weak arms. Such were the obstacles to my quest for front-crawl skill and speed. He did compliment my breast-stroke by saying I had some 'potential'. Anyway, I worked hard.
At the end of my second lesson today, I graduated from the swim board. My technique is almost there. Just have to find a comfortable rhythm. For the first time in my life, I actually swam a few laps of front-crawl halfway decently. My goal is to be able to join the club Masters' swim training on Tuesdays. Put that together with the Triladies swim training on the weekend....and maybe a 3rd session by myself. That should build up my swim fitness. Hope to do my 750m swim in 15 minutes.....or less.
Tuesday, June 12, 2007
Triladies Triathlon - 23rd Sept 2007 @ East Coast Park
Yup....I've signed up for this. It's going to be the first Asian Women's Triathlon. I'm really excited. This is going to be a stretch for me. But I'm looking forward to the personal challenge. I'm doing the Sprint Distance - 750m swim, 20km bike and 5km run. Think it's pretty 'doable'. The Olympic Distance is double that so no go.....not yet anyway. Maybe never. Anyway, I've been wondering why I want to do this. What's my motivation? Well, one of my goals was to exercise daily anyway.....so this gives it more focus. Besides.....why not? Live a little. Take a risk. I was spending a lot of time in the gym looking for non weight-bearing exercise machines to supplement the weekly runs. Swimming and biking fit the bill.
There are a lot of obstacles to overcome. I tried to join the Masters Swim training at the club today but when the coach saw the way I swam front-crawl, he just shook his head. I need one-on-one coaching on my terrible technique. I was bashing around in the water most unelegantly and lifting my head at the wrong times. Taking big gulps of air like I was desperate. Sigh. Nothing at all like a shark that slices through the water with no wake. All these years I've been swimming breast stroke. Never really liked nor learnt front-crawl properly.
So my first swim class is this Friday at 7am! Stay tuned for daily updates on how I'm going to go from.....zero to hero! Ha!
Sunday, June 03, 2007
That was my new car. Junction of Jalan Haji Alias & 6th Ave. Red light for me.....so I was stationary. I saw a black car on 6th Ave coming from my right skidding out of control. I was a sitting duck. I knew I was going to get hit but couldn't move anywhere. The other driver. Barely an adult. After she hit me, she hit the lamp post. The lamp smashed on the road & made the pole lean. She was driving too fast & lost control. The blessing - no one was injured. I was pretty mad as I had two of my sons with me. What can I say? These things happen. Now it's just a hassle. A real hassle.
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