Week 17 - Crazy Math!

Seriously, the weeks are just whooshing on by...

The Numbers (as of 03/29/2014):

		Pushups	Crunches	Kata	Sparring	Journey (Swim)	Journey (Bike)	Journey (Run)	Kindness	Journal	Video
Annual Totals:		15,750	15,750	318	104	0	354	340	328	15	0
						694
Annual Targets:		50000	50000	1000	1000	2400			1000	52	12
Percent of Annual Targets Complete		31.50%	31.50%	31.80%	10.40%	28.91%			32.80%	28.85%	0.00%

Still feeling good with the numbers. Consistency is the key here. Mileage dipped a bit this month but that 100-ish mile gap will be easy to close as the triathlon training gets going and those longer rides kick in. 

The Training:
Well... it's pretty much the same. I'm staying consistent with things. The push-ups and sit-ups just kind of happen now. Katas, too. Started taking longer lunch breaks a few days a week so I can get more mileage in during the work day. It makes my day at work longer, but it's a more efficient use of time. With the longer breaks I can get a longer run in or even some mileage on the bike (once the weather clears). 

My frustration level with sparring is not as high lately. I chose two things to focus on and that is helping. Just want to loosen up, not "force it." Don't plan a move, find one. And working on those angles.

I set a new personal record (PR) for the 1/2 marathon at the Oakland race. I was feeling good and decided to see how close I could get to my goal time of 1:45. I approached it all wrong and suffered the consequences. My calves may never be the same. I went out too hard at the start. Couldn't find my way thru the masses at the starting line so ended up starting in the 2:10 pace group. Caught up to the 1:50 pacer by mile six and felt great about that. Decided to hang with them and take that as a good improvement to my standing PR. Then at around mile 9 that pacer started to slip away. Kept her in my sights until about mile 11. Lesson learned. I ended up shaving 40 seconds off my PR for a new PR of 1:52:12. I have some work to do. Still, I feel like even the short workouts that I'm getting in, because they are consistent, they are allowing me to improve. 

Challenges:

Right now, and what I'm thinking will be the most consistent challenge in this test is the time management aspect. Getting to do a solid workout on my lunch break helps. But, the rides I'm getting in aren't long enough, the runs aren't either. I need to figure out how to get more time. Training for a 1/2 iron... Ideally you shoot for 3 swims, 3 rides and 3 runs a week. Then there's class at least 2 days a week. Now, I was an English major, but my math skills aren't bad. Here's what I came up with:

3 swims + 3 rides + 3 runs + 2 karates + remember to feed the dog = CRAZINESS

Based on that, I'll likely push the 1/2 iron from the Folsom race in June to the Rancho Cordova race in October. That way I can do 2 of each workout a week, remember to feed the dog, have a life, and STILL not pass out! 

Levels:
Soreness: Pretty high, unfortunately. My calves... oh my goodness
Injury: I ditched the splints (mwahaha)
Number of bruises: 5 - with a really funny shaped on on my hip
Motivation: Feeling good
Next Event:  Marin County 1/2 marathon - April 19th

Kindness:
This one is something I can imagine any one of the students at our school doing. Some, we know, already have. Here it is.

Week 16 - They are Kind of Going Fast Now

The Numbers (as of 3/22):

		Pushups	Crunches	Kata	Sparring	Journey (Swim)	Journey (Bike)	Journey (Run)	Kindness	Journal	Video
Annual Totals:		14,700	14,700	295	100	0	346	311	307	14	0
						657
Annual Targets:		50000	50000	1000	1000	2400			1000	52	12
Percent of Annual Targets Complete		29.40%	29.40%	29.50%	10.00%	27.36%			30.70%	26.92%	0.00%

The Training:
Well, got some good bike miles in this week. Need to up my running. And for the love of Pete I need to get to the pool. I'm just going to come out and say it: Training for a 1/2 iron is WAY harder than I thought it would be. Everything says it takes 9 hours a week minimum. I'm not doing 9 hours a week specific to triathlon. But I'm gonna do it anyway :) 

Getting the katas and push-ups and sit-ups in has become a part of my work day routine and is more habit than thought at this point. So, feeling good about my numbers and the consistency around them. Enjoying kata as usual. I've always said there are two things that make my head stop chattering. That's running and kata! Sparring is... the same, but things don't change over night. 

I've also been in contact with Kyoshi Marilyn Fierro. I chose to profile her for the portion of the test that requires we get in contact with a master. It's nice to have that in the works. She was great to talk to and I look forward to exchanging emails with her.

Challenges:
Figuring out when to swim, when to bike, when to run, when to kata, when to work on my deck, when to not do a darn thing. This test is also a practice in time management. I'm getting thru my second book slowly but surely. 

Levels:
Number of bruises: 4
Injury: still wearing these finger splints
Next event - Marin County 1/2 marathon - April 19th
Motivation Level - Pretty good

Kindness:
This article is cool. Plus, it kind of relates kindness to meditation, which we have to do daily as part of our test.

Week 15 - Feeling Some Challenges (And that's okay)

The Numbers (as of 03/20):

		Pushups	Crunches	Kata	Sparring	Journey (Swim)	Journey (Bike)	Journey (Run)	Kindness	Journal	Video
Annual Totals:		13,800	13,800	277	90	0	288	301	286	13	0
						589
Annual Targets:		50000	50000	1000	1000	2400			1000	52	12
Percent of Annual Targets Complete		27.60%	27.60%	27.70%	9.00%	24.55%			28.60%	25.00%	0.00%

The Training:
Started my swim training for the triathlon. Really have nothing nice to say about swimming so I'll just gloss over this :) I'm also working on making some modifications to my road bike to get a setup that's closer to a triathlon bike. Cycling is a weird thing. Increments of 2 mm can make big differences in comfort and efficiency. 

Still struggling with the sparring but have some things to focus on that will help: Don't force it, if I plan on trying for one target, but something else is open, go there instead. I need to be more fluid about it. I'm also still working on angles: Angling away from an attack to put myself in a better position. I'm going to focus on those two things for a while. 

As far as kata goes, I'm enjoying working on Seuichin. And I'm making sure to visit all my other katas as well so I don't have any more forgetful moments. I enjoy the process of deep-diving into the katas. The fine-tuning of foot and hand positions and the twisty awkwardness of the crane stance is something I can happily get lost in.

Challenges:

Life is a busy thing sometimes. And that's okay, just have to keep going anyway. Things at work are starting to get more... well, it's like I'm a grown up. I'm starting to study for my CBAP exam (it's a business analyst certification thing - work related) and that will need some time. Triathlon training usually requires 9 hours a week. Swimming requires making it to the gym. I haven't been able to play with  my welder or my plasma cutter for months. That's how it has to be for right now, I guess. I'm okay with it, but I definitely recognize that it feels... I am going thru some adjustments. Time management is a big part of this test right now. And I don't even wear a watch!



Levels:
Here's something I'm adding this week per my friends' observation and recommendation. Just for laughs...
Number of bruises: 6
Injury: 2 splinted fingers. How two? I really don't know...
Next event - Oakland 1/2 marathon on March 23rd

Kindness 
Here is it! A link to a pretty cool act of kindness.

Week 14 - I Had the Cooties & More on Kindness

I know, at first it's really hard to associate cooties (ear/sinus infection) and kindness, but try to be patient, I'll get there :)

The Numbers (as of 03/08):

		Pushups	Crunches	Kata	Sparring	Journey (Swim)	Journey (Bike)	Journey (Run)	Kindness	Journal	Video
Annual Totals:		12,900	12,900	255	80	0	256	286	265	11	0
						542
Annual Targets:		50000	50000	1000	1000	2400			1000	52	12
Percent of Annual Targets Complete		25.80%	25.80%	25.50%	8.00%	22.60%			26.50%	21.15%	0.00%

The numbers were low this week, only 24 miles, 600 push-ups/sit-ups, only 12 katas. Even my acts of kindness count was low. But that's what's gonna happen when I get sick (aka the cooties). Not every day is going to allow me to get the numbers I'd like; that's part of the challenge. And that's okay, because the year will. And once I got that thru my thick skull, I accepted that, sometimes, you just have to lay down and stop for a minute. That, especially while I'm in this test, it's really important to listen to my body. And then to not argue. I also learned not to underestimate the power the multivitamin and so I got a 3 months supply :) 

The Training

I feel pretty good about most things. Where I'm struggling is with sparring and trying to find ownership of some techniques. My cardio for sparring will improve, but I'm really having a hard time getting to a place where I'm confident that I can work techniques the way I should be able to. I have time, but I'm craving a sense of improvement. We have moved on from focusing on Seisan to diving into the fine details of Seiuchin. I really enjoy Seiuchin kata. I remember when I was learning it as a white belt how different it felt with the hard and soft movements and how the horse stance burns the quads after a while. :) 

The Kindness

So while I was sick I had a friend offer to bring me over some soup or whatever groceries I may need (which she ALWAYS offers when I'm not feeling well - thanks, Anna). And then I read this great article on acts of kindness that my friend linked on her Facebook (thanks Debie). And then I saw a man walking a woman around the grocery store asking if this item or this item would help her out (he was buying a homeless woman groceries - thanks stranger man). People! This kindness stuff is AWESOME! So I'm going to try to remind myself/us how good kindness feels. To motivate myself/us, how good kindness feels, both to give and to receive. I'm going to post a link to something about kindness in each of my journals. Cuz darn it, it just feels good! 

So, here it is, this weeks link to awesome kindness! Seriously, you should expect to tear up just a bit, at least once. :)