Loving Life and Feeling Blessed

Today I was 100000000000% blown away by the love and support I received from my friends and family.

Yesterday we were asked to have an inter-team fundraising battle ... the prize cupcakes.

Not that I really want the cupcakes, LOL, but I did want to meet my minimum goal and not stress out about it.  Granted, we still have a few weeks to get our fundraising finished and I was pretty confident I would be just fine given i was only shy $728 of my goal as of 4:30pm... but needless to say, I put out a Facebook status update challenge... I am only $728 away from my goal... Soooooooooo. Can you join me in the 5 Day $5 Challenge... $5 towards curing cancer... come on, you can do it. Ya know you can forgo one starbuck's to save a life. OMG!! the donations and words of encouragement came flooding in... Literally at 4:30 today I raised over $1100!! I cannot believe it.

My friends and family are so amazing.  I am sooo thankful and blessed that I am able to do this crazy adventure and I knew that it was going to be tough... but to have my family and friends truly supporting me along the way is so inspiring and phenomenal, I don't even know where to begin to say THANK YOU.

So all I can say is just that .... THANK YOU!!!!  from the bottom of my heart, THANK YOU!  I promise you I will take on Vineman 70.3 and Cozumel Ironman and any other race along the way with authority!  I won't let you down... and hopefully we will cure cancer along the way.

Love always,
Rachel

Week 18...

Week 18 is starting off pretty good....

On Tuesday we had our swim session and thankfully, it wasn't too crowded, so Laura and I were able to split the lane. I like swimming with her.  She is slightly faster than me, so it pushes me to do better to keep up with her but she is also such a sweetheart of a person that she motivates me along the way.  Its inspiring.

This morning Dani, Coach Riz and I headed out on our bike marker.  We had to bike for 80mins with a 10min run after.  I think I did pretty decent as I was able to squeeze in just shy of 18 miles - An Amalfi Loop, Golf course loop and a few out an backs up San V... I am sure I could have pushed myself a little more this morning, but I was sooooo tired.  I had the worst night sleep the night before.  I had the AC on, but it was still hot in my room so I kept waking up and then I was sleeping funny on my arms, so they were sore this morning.  I was all out of whack, but it was good.

Thursday was our run session.  Ok.. that was rough.  I dont know why, but I had zero energy.  I definitely need to look into my nutrition. Anyway, that night everyone was doing the Glo Run in support of Coach Brad's Birthday, but I couldn't make it, so I went in the morning and of course, since I was dragging, I arrived 3 min late and Eryn & Stan were already out conquering that Amalfi Loop. They did an awesome job.. me on the other hand, I was pushing myself to stick to the 8:1... which i did, but my pace was more in 11/12min range than the 10:30 i was trying to keep.  Needless to say, I finished the 6 miles, in 1:10min and did my strength and conditioning after.  I love doing those, but I have to be honest, I need to do them more. :-)

Friday... ahhhhhh.. friday.. Open Water Swim.  I LOVE THE OCEAN. And I kid you not, this past friday the ocean was so glassy, it was like swimming in a lake.  It was amazing. We managed to get in 3 non-buoy buoy loops which was about .9mi... I desperately wanted to do one more, but everyone had to get back for work. BOO. :-)  but it was beautiful.

After the swim... i had a busy day ahead... my company was volunteering for Play Your Part.. put on by the Toy Industry Foundation. Throughout the day, we unloaded and filled over 6,000 amazing packages with toys and personal notes of encouragement which benefited foster children across Southern California through the TIF's national partner, Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA for Children) ... it was really quite a nice event.  Its only its 2nd year, but they are coming along.  Its great.

From there I flew up to San Francisco / San Mateo for Maker Faire.  Now, I have never even heard of this let alone been to it, but I have to tell you, it was pretty neat and i think my brother Billy would call it "heaven."  Now, we were there to reintroduce Meccano/Erector to the builder community and it was a hit.  Fans of all ages loved it and were happy to see it again.  For me, I was just really intrigued. Literally they had the "Game of Drones," where people battled in arena's with their helicopters or there was a guy that paid to have a booth there and he was "The Worlds Best Paper Airplane Builder."  it was crazy and hysterical! I was so impress and surprised by that guy, I really couldn't get enough of him. Overall... it was a pretty cool experience.  Glad I went, but I can also tell you I won't be going back anytime soon. :-)

So.. since I was up at Maker Faire, I missed the 2nd 60 mi bike ride.  I am totally bummed about it as i wanted to redeem myself from last week, but I didn't want to miss the 11-12mi run on Sunday as that is where I need the most improvements... so, I got up on Sunday and handled that run like a champ!  Of course, I was an idiot and went to the wrong meeting spot and when i realized it, everyone was just about to take off, so I had to catch up, which I did.  I ended up running with Ashley, Marcia, & Christal and it was fun. Marcia was our portable DJ singing to us along the way and Christal entertained us with stories of being a mom.  it was great... and in doing so, I convinced them all to join me on my 8:1 intervals... YAY and thank goodness for them as we had to run up Inspiration point TWICE!   it was gnarly but good... on the way down the second time, we bumped into poor Kelie who had fallen because she was running so fast down the hill.  Poor thing.

As we made our way back to the picnic benches i noticed i was running with Marcia at an 8:30 pace for quite some time, which of course, psyched myself out a little.. but i know i can get there... overall, it was about 12 mi in 2:10.. NOT TOO SHABBY!

after the run a few of us did an ice bath swim.. it was so cold and nice... of course we had our wetsuits on, so it was really nice... but let me tell you, the waves were rough and the current was strong... but it was still so pleasant to be out there.

Week 18 was amazing... i can't wait for Week 19. :-)

The Ice Bath

I forgot to mention in my last post... after our amazing run on sunday, a few of us dipped into the ocean for our "10-15min Ice Bath."... and I say that, because the ocean was freezing cold.

Of course of group shots started off happy and dry... but Stan of course saw a massive wave behind us and continued to shoot as we got drenched. :-)

The Silver Lining...

As we entered into our 17th week of training, I was actually super excited and nervous and mentally cocky.  My training had been going well, I have improved on all areas, not significantly, but enough where I noticed.

So when we prepped for a massive build week, I was ready.  Tuesday swim was great.  I think we swam 2500 yards or so and I was in the groove.  On Wednesday, Dani and I handle the Amalfi ride.  We had to bike up as fast and as far as we could for 10min and then bike back down and do that 4 times... it was tough, but we bared down and handled it.  and then on Thursday, we had a track workout.  Now, my asthma gave me a little problem, only because we had to do 30second all-out sprints, rest for 30 and repeat for 4min with a 4min jog in between 3 times...  its only about 45min total, but wow.. if you are not breathing right, it will get cha. .. and finally friday, we had a beautiful open water swim. the weather was amazing and the water was actually nice. we managed to squeeze in 1.3 miles in the hour and I loved every minute of it.

 Dani & I after Amalfi

 Santa Monica College Track

Tower 26 - Good Morning.

So, after that awesome week, I was beyond ready for what we had in store for the weekend, or so I thought.  On Saturday, we were set to bike 60 miles in 4hr and then a 30min run up in Westlake Village. I was ready. I honestly thought I would get closer to 70 miles in the 4hrs but reality set in and I completed the 60mi in 4:30min.  UGH.  What was that about?!?!

I know I was a little distracted given that it was the 6th anniversary of when my mom passed away, but I was channeling that into good vibes and supportive internal chats.  I honestly don't know what happened.  I know i ate enough food before and during the ride, yet i was starving the entire time.  I felt slightly dehydrated, yet I drank 3 bottles of endurance drinks and two bottles of water... my utility kits kept flying off my bike ... it was crazy.. luckily I didn't have a flat tire or anything, but everything just felt off.  Then of course we had to run after and my legs were like screw you.  i manage 2miles with a run walk combo in that 30min.  As I sat in my ice bath that night, I felt completely defeated. :-(

Mom & I 

 Bike Elevation and Map

Bike Route Through Westlake & Thousand Oaks

 Beautiful Westlake in Westlake Village

Ice Bath... Clearly.

On Sunday, I was determined not to let Saturday's defeat ruin my entire training weekend. I slept well and was up early in anticipation of our Open Water Swim and 10mi run.  Unfortunately, the wind and the current were too strong that the coaches opted for us to NOT swim.  After looking at the water, I was actually relieved,... but that meant the run was going to be my saving grace.  So I laced up and chomped on a few endurance jelly beans and mentally prepped for the run.  With my new intervals in place 8:1 at a faster pace, I headed out. I ran and I ran and I ran... and I had fun!   WHAT?!?!  Yes.. I had fun.  Running up San Vicente, that I hate, I actually enjoyed.  I glanced at my watch from time to time and I was sticking to that 10:30/10:40 pace up San V!  I am usually at 12+ on that run... and on the return, at times I was 8min!  I couldn't believe it.  This new interval was working.  When I finished the run and looked at the final time, I was astounded.. 1:47 for 10mi!! I shaved 7min off my time! WAHOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!

Coach Javier & Coach Riz are awesome... they saw how I progressed and modified my program to really benefit me.  I am so excited..... and I know that in time, I think I will have a 10min pace. WOW.

Talk about silver lining to a cloudy weekend. :-)

We ended the weekend with a swim marker set.... I did pretty well. I am still under a 2min/100yd pace, which is great.  I managed to do 1675yrd in 32:10 and 2150yrs in 41:01 at roughly a 1:54/100yd pace.  I am pretty happy about that. :-)

And now we are kicking off Week 18... in the words from Coach Riz.... So What does 18 weeks mean? 18 weeks means you have gone from running 30 minutes to 10 miles, it means you have gone from riding your bike for 60 minutes to riding 60 MILES!  It means you have gone from drills, drills and more drills to swimming upwards of 7000 yards each week, and that is just your pool swims. 18 weeks also means we have 8 more weeks until Vineman 70.3.  It means we have a ride to San Diego, Vineman Training Weekend, a mile swim in the ocean, a couple of half marathons to run and 8 more weeks of team bonding and training.

In the words of Rachel Griffin, I say BRING IT ON!

Training and Traveling... AGAIN

I think this has seriously become the mantra to my training.  For being in my "slow season" I am traveling more than ever.

The good thing, every time I hit the road has been a recovery week, so I am not missing too much and have been able to get in the workouts to some degree.

This recovery week was a little different as I was in NYC for work and then in Annapolis for my nephew's 1st Communion.

To start off, left on Tuesday, so I missed the swim. :-(  But I did arrive in NYC just in time to see my amazing and talented cousin Tom McGowan in the TONY Nominated play Casa Valentina with my family. It was so good.  If you are in the NYC area, go see it it.

Wednesday was NASTY out.  COLD and Raining. It was torrential, ugly downpour.  Ugh, not what I was used and not what I want either.  It made setting up for the TTPM event super hard and annoying.

Thank goodness for UBER! I was able to get all my samples to the event rather unscaved and the event overall was a success!  our Paw Patrol line was picked to the Hot List and the press and bloggers loved our summer toys which include, Paw Patrol, Wackytivities and How To Train Your Dragon 2.  And I do love this event as I get to see my industry buddies!!

TTPM

How to Train Your Dragon 2

 

Wackytivities: Spattter, Goozerk, Kinetic Sand & Chill Factor

Paw Patrol

 Meredith Sinclair

Harold Chizick

Given the rain on Wednesday... I was not motivated at all... but I did plug my earphones in and watched Survivor of all things and knocked out my 1hr bike ride  -- a little difficult to do intervals on a stationary, but I did my best and the run the following morning. 

I am so thankful hotels have gyms. -- Obviously not as amazing as outside, but it is sooo amazing that I don't have to go outside in the cold and rain to train! :-)

Friday i was able to get in my homework swim at Equinox, that gym in the West Village is AMAZING!! my jaw almost dropped when I walked through the door.  The pool was relatively nice, with only 3 lanes. I should have gotten there earlier, like I had planned, but whatever. :-)  so needless to say, it was crowded.  The good thing is they only allow 3 to a lane and but the bad news is it was full except the slow lane and i am a relatively fast swimmer, so my intervals we not quick as I had hoped.  But what can you do?

Friday afternoon, my brother and new sister-in-law headed to Annapolis for my nephew/godson's first communion.  It was such a nice weekend.  Despite the traffic getting down there, the weekend was gorgeous!  Don (my brother-in-law)'s dad brought a PIG up from North Carolina and we had a proper pig roast on Saturday afternoon after the ceremony.  It was delicious.

Before the ceremony, I headed out for my Brick.  Training peaks had us doing 35 miles on the bike and a 30min run.  Given I had an interesting ride, I only managed to get in 30 miles on the bike and a 15 min run, in order to get ready in time for the ceremony.

additionally, the bike I was on was  3 speed.  The gears only changed when they felt like it and constantly got stuck in between gears when they did attempt to change.  Also, the seat.  The seat kept sliding down to the tires, LOL.  I would start all tall and proud and 2mi later you would have thought I was 12... it was rather hysterical to stop every 2 miles to pull the seat back up or to fix the chain after it fell off.  BUT, it was a fun and comical ride... and I gave myself an intimate tour of annapolis... and along the way I saw all these street signs of my friends.  it was kind of nice, I felt as if they were there with me.

 Sunrise in downtown Annapolis

 Sunrise in downtown Annapolis

 These two were taken on Naval Academy Bridge

THE BIKE

The Fam... although its not everyone... 

 My brother Billy, my Dad and my Dad's girlfriend, Susanne

My sister-in-law Amy and my sister Jenny

Sunday was a tiny bit of a struggle to wake up, after all it was a celebration on Saturday! :-)  But that being said, I still got up and out and handled my run and even managed to rope my sister into coming with me, although she in turn roped the dog, Roxy in as well... so it was a family affair. We handled it.  Jenny through in a few hills, which I appreciated, beautiful views and my favorite, neighborhood gems including a trainset built year round in a yard and bears! Literally this one house had over 20 wooden bears carved out all over their yard.  It's pretty neat.

All in all, not too shabby of a recovery, travel week.  Tonight we kick off another build week.  I am excited to see what the coaches have in store for us.  

Now ... off to the pool!

Don't forget to donate. :-) http://pages.teamintraining.org/los/VineHIrn14/RachelHGriffin