Brrrr!

what a week that was. it went from a relatively cold high 40's/low 50's to freezing in a matter of days. add to that the rain, which we badly needed, and there goes the training plan. either the weather or the fact that the kids are sick, and i think i'm coming down with something myself, and it's been a no ride week for me--the first since i started riding! i was able to squeeze in a couple of 5 milers during the week in the cold and darkness and an 8+ miler today. i'm trying to just keep it easy; i'm not really feeling my oats for some reason. hard to get motivated. it's hectic at home, it's busy at work, and it's cold out. hopefully i'll be able to pick it up come new year.

at least i was able to send out the christmas cards already.

Good Week

i just realize maybe i should start posting my progress for future reference. so here they are, and i'll start with last week's (dec 1 - dec 7):
mon: (bike)
tue: (run) 5 mi, 154 bmp,
wed: (bike) ; (run) 6 mi,
thu: (run) 4 mi, 165 bmp, 7:51 pace
fri: (bike) 21 mi, 16.9 mph, 86 rpm
sun: 14 mi, 156 bmp, 8:28 pace.

total: (run) ; (bike) 63 mi

the long run was comfortable to mile 13+. my unofficial half marathon time is 1:50. still hard to get going but otherwise, it's getting there. i'm still a little concerned about overtraining, but the rainy season is upon us and i'd like to get out as much before then.

tonight, apparently the moon is the closest to the earth and won't be again for another 15 years...that would be 2023! i got the kids to come out into the chilly night to take a look at the moon, too. hopefully they will remember.

Got Roped Again

i specifically intended not to coach ymca basketball this time around. i made an agreement with one of my soccer co-coaches that he take the lead this time and i'll help out--i'll be the assistant for a change. so i get to the team selection and he's not there. so guess what? i got roped into it again. i should have just skipped the whole thing but i wanted my soccer kids to be together as much as possible since i kind of encourage them to sign up. anyway, i'm sure it will work out, and i have fun coaching, it's just that i don't have any time!

today's run was pretty good. 4 miles at 7:43 pace. i wouldn't have imagined that for another year or so. i guess i'm getting faster. too bad my garmin computer data keep reverting to nov 3rd and i have to keep restoring it. unfortunately tonight, it won't recognize yesterday's backup so i lost about 4 days of data. and this has been my best week so far: 4+ on monday, 3.87mi on tuesday, 6.15 wednesday, and 4+ today, all at 8:30 or under. oh well.

i've incorporated some speed work into my routine, mainly the last half mile or so. i've ran it at 7:30 pace, give or take, may not be impressive to the veteran runner, but believe me, i feel like overreaching while i'm running it. it will come with time i'm sure.

tonight was the pacific grove christmas parade. it was a nice night--a clear 47 degrees. met the family because i was busy picking my team. anyway, it was fun to be out...the kinda of fun that you only get in a small town!

Random Reflections

the other day, i got an email from a friend saying she is moving to the east coast to accept a job because she’s "finally figured out what she wants to do with her life". my immediate response was "more power to you" because it’s an admirable feat for someone to be that aware of their being and recognize what they want and actually go and do it. but i don’t know is if that’s a predicament most of us ever wrestle with; if i ever did, i don’t remember now.

it could be because of my upbringing, or maybe even the fact that we didn’t have much growing up, where the options tended to lead towards the practical. i didn’t really have any life plans per se--i knew i was going to college and hopefully graduate with practical and marketable skill (civil engineering in my case). but as far as i can tell, life just happened. went to college, met a girl, graduated, got a job, wedding bells tolled, and four beautiful kids later, here i am blogging. truth be told, i don’t have much time to reflect on life because i’m too busy living it--good and bad, but mostly good. sure i have regrets about things i wanted to do and didn't or haven't yet--join the marines, which, at this point in my life, is all but too late (would they have accepted me with my flat feet, i don’t know); be a traveller (and learn how the other half lives); work for an global firm mainly for the occasional ego trip; a cia spy; but most importantly, for more time: with my family; to ride, run, and train; to volunteer abroad where my engineering skills can save lives instead of dealing with the bureaucratic bullshit for projects that really, in the whole scheme of things, are insignificant compared to the plight for clean water in some impoverished locale halfway around the world.

overall, i truly believe that i have been blessed with more than i deserve: a beautiful wife who’s my best friend, the priceless sound of my kids’ laughter, living in quite possibly the most beautiful place on earth (monterey bay), the unconditional love and support of my extended family and friends, and lastly, a gratifying job that supports a relatively comfortable lifestyle.

that said, i’ll end this entry with a qoute from lucius annaeus seneca, "life, if well lived, is long enough". maybe someday, i will be able to look back and really put things in perspective.

Back on Track

so that's a full marathon in a week: 26.2 miles in 3:48. granted that's over 4 days, the important thing is that i'm back on track. today's long run was supposed to be on ly 11 miles, but i was feeling pretty good just to get out, i ended up doing 12.2 miles, again, the most i've ever ran continually in my life!
the day was going to start with our usual "sunrise surprise", breakfast at the beach waiting for sunrise, but it that was 86'ed when my wife discovered that our daughters were infected with head lice, and it was downhill from there. i didn't realize it would take a whole day just shampooing, brushing, and cleaning their hairs, and that was with my wife's cousin helping her. plus the fact that now we have to wash all the clothes, linens, etc.; vacuum and steamclean the carpets; disinfect the beds, pillow, couches, etc.; soak the brushes; bag everything else. holy cow, it's a whole weekend; which means, i'll missed the long ride tomorrow. but hey, i got to do my long run, so i can't complain too much.

Falling off the Wagon

sooner or later i guess this will happen. after 6 weeks, i'm off my running schedule. saturday was hectic due to the kids' schedule, sunday was leslie's bday, meetings, sick kids, kids activities, you name it. it's been 3 weeks since i've been to the pool. riding is also not as regular; haven't logged a 100-mile week in a month. it's all about priorities, i suppose. i just roll with life's punches.

since the crash, i still have lingering pains on my left shoulder and my left thumb. i'm able to ride but i seem to be struggling a bit just hanging on with the guys. can't seem to get my heart rate up even though i'm usually panting (in the past, i would have been at 185 bpm with that level of effort, but now it barely registers to 170). running might have something to do with it. speaking of which, i seem to be less motivated with running. could be overtraining...or life just conspiring against my training schedule. my knees are starting to hurt a bit, and the pain on my left foot/heel is making a comeback.

soccer season is over. i'll have my last apwa meeting as president of the chapter. it will get lighter at night again. looking forward to getting back on track!

The Crash

the plan was to leave pacific grove at 7:00 and be at river inn for brunch with our families. although i only live a half mile away from the meeting point, i was a couple of minutes late (what’s new). of course, the weather report indicated it was going to be sunny, so naturally, i had on my short sleeves and shorts. but when i left my house, it was still cold, wet, and soggy from the night’s downpour, so on with the arm and knee warmers, knowing it could get quite warm once we get on highway 1. am i to doubt the weather report?

big group…and looking sharp in our green jerseys. like a real club. we are well on our way for our first usac-sanctioned training ride to big sur. our warm up winds along the beach through pebble beach and carmel and our first stop was on rio road at highway 1. next stop was at the rocky point restaurant. some got impatient and decided to take off. off i go with the group. took my turn pulling, up the climbs and down the drops; paceline is tight and fast. we’re going downhill bottoming out on bixby bridge. then it happened.

the lead rider slowed down. second rider in line attempted a escape but a speeding car almost brushed him and he came back into the line. caught my front wheel big time. thought i could save it; almost did, too. but the rider behind me caught my rear wheel and took me down. in a blink, i was down sitting on the ground, my bike somewhere else. everything happened in slow motion. i feel a bike hit me from the back and thought, “oh, that wasn’t too bad”. then two more and i see someone flying over me. just don’t go over the railing, i thought…it’s a 300-foot free fall down below. i look up and hear will breathless, “ribs, ribs, ribs”. i look around. ken in the middle of the road. i get up and check on will. by this time, everyone else had gathered around us. some had the presence of mind to warn and direct traffic. our sag comes around and get ken and will to the hospital.

i checked my bike. back wheel is toast. i traded wheels with will’s bike and ride on. hurricane point is still ahead and i finally found out why they call it that. winds were whipping from all directions and bounces off the face of the mountain creating a hurricane-like environment. fast downhill. cautious but steady.

made it to big sur inn. cold, wet, and sore. shoulders are starting to stiffen up and adrenaline is wearing off. leslie and the kids finally arrive. nice warm change of clothes and big hearty breakfast. and we’re headed home.

stopped by the hospital to check on will and ken. ken was in the process of getting discharged with a 3rd degree separated shoulder. will’s on morphine but conscious still awaiting results of the xrays. found out later everything is ok. bruised ribs, but he’s ok. my left shoulder is really bothering me now. i’ve got some cuts and bruises all over, but i’m ok, too.

the good news is were already planning for our next ride down!

Another Glorious Day

17 total miles for the day and 30+ miles for the week!
this is the big sur half marathon weekend and there is a 3k Just Kids! fun run that i ran with my daughter parker. ran 2 miles to the starting point (with parker riding her bike), ran the 3k at her pace, then 2 miles back home. parker did great, having to walk only 3 times during the run. really proud of her for hanging in there. she actually wanted to do the 5k, but we'll probably do that next year.
then on to soccer coaching duties. it's so fun to watch and coach those kids, although it takes so much time and commitment to it. it is all worth it in the end, though.

after soccer, i went for what was going to be a 4-mile run (to complete my scheduled 10 mile long run for the day). at some point, i decided that may not count because it wasn't continuous, so i just kept running for 11 miles (9:32 pace) plus 2+ miles of warm up and cool down, making it almost a half marathon! it's kind of cool to think now that with all the long runs now, i'll be running longer than i ever did in my entire life! i actually got caught in a rainstorm in the middle of my run. quite liberating to just run soaking wet and not really care about it. i ran without my hrm and the mp3 player and it was quite incredible--the ocean, the forest, the wildlife, and actually got to focus on runnning. i think i'm back to the midfoot/heel strike again...it just feels more natural and i'm not getting the nagging sore calves, although my knees are a bit sore. could be just because of the distance and my muscuskeletal system is not quite use to the distance. we'll find out.

tomorrow is the ghost tree riders training ride from pebble beach to big sur and then brunch at the river inn with all the riders' families joining in. it's always a fun ride, hopefully my legs will hold up.

What a Week!

wow! what an eventful week it was. i guess change won the day. it goes to show, no matter the party, that ideas and vision (hopeful ones at that) will trump criticism and negativity any day. i wish president-elect obama the best. i hope the message of hope, bipartisanship, and cooperation will be carried through in action and not just in words.

that said, we can now all be spared all the political ads that's permeated the airwaves for the past 18 months or so; all the negativity that come with the campaigns, even local campaigns. i must say i was impressed by the young people, who were so visibly active during the campaign and actually made it to the polls to vote.

now on with real life!

Slowly but Surely

between family time, soccer coaching, and working around the house (two at this time because i'm trying to fix up the rental, which thankfully is now rented but still need some minor repairs), anytime i get to put in a run, swim, or bike is always a treat. yesterday's 30 minute run in and out of pebble beach was great in that i discovered another route to run on but i still lumbered along in the 9 min/mi pace. today's run to home depot, however, was a lot better. i did a 3.5 mile segment at 8:04/mi! could it be the shoes? i knew i made my goal pace of 8:30, but i was pleasantly surprised when i downloaded the data. at only the end of my second week of training, it sure is a boost of confidence and i am starting to enjoy running more. doing the almost 7 miles running and walking in less than an hour was also a surprise. i was supposed to do a 90 min run/walk, but i had to fix the garbage disposal at the other house, so whatever.
i just checked the couch potato challenge schedule for 2009. since i will be taking the land surveying exams next year, the end of april is going to be especially hectic. sea otter classic on the 18th (race) and 19th (century), the exams on the 24th and 25th, the big sur marathon on the 26th, and then wildflower the weekend after. we'll see how far i can push it.

New Swimming and Running Techniques

another morning bike and night swim day. i'm trying to learn the fish swimming technic and getting more comfortable in the water. maybe it's the fins (i didn't think they'd make that much difference).
so yesterday, i ran home in my new brooks beast and at about mile 1, my shins were killing me to the point where walking was painful. unfortunately, that means i had 3 miles to go and i can't stop because i was meeting somebody to show the house. after walking it off for 6 minutes, i proceeded to run again, this time with a forefoot strike. lo and behold, the pain went away. being wary that it's a new form, i didn't want to push it and only ran for another mile and a half. the lower part of my leg (below the calf) were feeling strained. walked again for 2 minutes and attacked a 1/2 mile hill forefoot. i finished relatively pain free. i'll try running that way again and see if it's for real.

Small Town Livin'

every once in a while i am reminded why i decided to live in a small town like pacific grove and tonight was a good example. i decided to ride my bike from work and take the 8-mile long route home. made dinner and enjoyed some time with my family. it's fall break for the kids, so i didn't have to come home for lunch to drop the kids off to preschool, which means i was able to go to the gym and work out at lunch time. that also means i didn't see the kids all day, so the catching up was a little longer than usual. but i digress.

after dinner, i hopped on the bike again and headed to the sports center for the endurance swim class. i am still training for triathlons afterall. my wife is nice enough to let me do this despite all my other obligations. after about an hour and half of swimming (the instructor is great, by the way. she's the same gal who does the triathlon training), i hopped back on the bike for a lazy ride home. it's harvest moon so it's bright out, the weather is relatively warm, and its clear. along the rec trail, which runs by the bay, i can hear the sea lions and the waves lapping the beach. the moon's reflection on the bay was priceless. i stopped by the grocery to pick up some fruits and lettuce and continued on my way home. i passed by a family of deers just hanging out on the side of the road as i ride by a neighborhood of quaint victorians. it's quiet. no cars. it's 9:00 and everything is still. ok, i admit, i sometimes i call my town pacific grave for the same reasons. but tonight was perfect. just me and my thoughts...thankful that i live here.

8 Minute Mile is the Goal

today, i ran 6 miles in 56 minutes from my house around the point to the aquarium and back on the trail; a little over 9 min/mile. that's the longest i've ever ran continually in my life! my cardio was ok and could have gone more but my legs (shin and calves) and feet started to hurt. i thought the shoes (avias) were good during my 20 minute easy runs, but they may not be as good as the miles pile on. or maybe, i'm just not use to the mileage yet. i tried my brooks beast yesterday for a 25 minute easy and my plantar fascia (in both feet) started to hurt about halfway through so i had to put my orthotics back on (might have been because i had the orthotics on all day?). good thing i had lyndsey, who has become my personal trainer, come along for the ride and carry them and my water bottle in her basket. so far, my feet are a little sore...hopefully they'll be better tomorrow.

today, i ran with the marine corp cadence (with leslie's old mp3 player) about the first two miles and it was quite cool to sing along, it makes running easier because it paces you...it was dorky cool and makes me want to join the marines.

Big Sur Marathon

the big sur international marathon is april 26, 2009. today, i officially started the first day of training. i also watched, attempted to watch, a running video (running revolution) last night, but it was so boring, i actually dozed off after about 5 minutes. i've also been combing the internet for various tips on running form. i am flat footed and have always been told that long distance running will be nearly impossible, and that's the reason why i'm running the marathon. needless to say, there's a lot of conflicting information out there, particularly in the area of foot strike. right now, i strike midfoot and seems to work. today's run with my daughter parker (she just joined the running club at school) was fairly easy and actually gave me a chance to pay more attention to my form. i felt a lot more comfortable and seemed like i could run forever (then again, i was pacing my 7 year old daughter).
anyway, i'm still riding with the gtr crew mwf and on weekends. ironically, i feel like i'm in top form and feel pretty good in the rides, although it's still hard to get up for the 6:00 rides. eventually, after soccer season is over, i will sign up to take beginning endurance swimming to get ready for wildflower. i'm gunning for the olympic distance.

PG Triathlon

so it's been awhile, been busy with work and life as we know it. i still have to blog about the pacific grove triathlon. boy it was a blast! definitely the first of many. i am already looking forward to next year as a redemption.

i did so bad in the swim leg it still eats at me looking back. somehow, once I got in the water, i can't seem to get my breathing underwater. whether it was the adrenaline, panic attack, or the kelp, i don't know. all i know is that i finished and at this point, that's all that matters. i clocked in at 1:17, which allows for a LOT of room for improvement. the bike leg was my only redemption (no big surprise there) and actually made up a lot of time. then came the run, with my flat feet, it's like slapping spatulas on a pan. it was the slowest 2 miles i've ever ran! might as well have walked it. actually, i can't seem to pace myself, which was my biggest obstacle the entire event. it was definitely an on-the-job-training. next year's goal is 1:05.

after the triathlon, i set my sights on the big sur half marathon and started training for it, but as luck would have it, life, once again, took over. i haven't run in almost 2 weeks now.

maybe i'll just go ahead sign up for the big sur marathon.

Story Behind this Blog

why seven minute crank? because every blog will be cranked out in seven minutes or less. period. besides, seven is God's number and it's my way of acknowledging His blessings. plus, i'm one of seven kids. and in about 3 months, our new baby will make us a family of seven!

that said, this blog is a tribute to a much-admired friend whose kindness and inner beauty was a true inspiration. what a truly remarkable young woman.

this blog will be primarily about my cycling and triathlon experiences (hence the reference to "cranks"), but every now and then, i'd delve into politics (because i'm a political junkie), and life in general.

actually, tomorrow will be my first triathlon. i haven't had much time to train (i signed up 3 weeks ago) but i'm really looking forward to it.

so there. another seven minute crank.

understanding not tolerance

please indulge me to start this blog with a diatribe in remembrance of one of the most tragic days in our country: september 11, 2001.

i'm tired of all the lip service to 9/11. i'm tired of all the posturing by politicians promising that whatever platform they're running on will "keep us safe". the media sing the song of tolerance and like a bunch of lemmings, we all sing with the chorus. we're led to believe that it's us against them. what we don't realize is that "us" and "them" are the slim minority. the vast majority of us are in sensible and believe in the goodness of people no matter where they're from. we need to go beyond the veil of tolerance and start our path to fostering true understanding.

in memory of the innocent lives lost on 9/11. Godspeed.