SICK

With only 5 days to go I can tell you that I am a little nervous. I wasn't able to train at all since my last post. Over the last two weeks, I have been trying to get over my cough and sore throat. Lauren and I slept for 8 full hours last night so I feel a little better today, but I'm still not sure if I should go out and run today. It's funny how itchy I am to go out and train and how a year ago all I wanted to do was get big and lift weights. I've lost 15 lbs since then, all of it muscle. I'll have to take before and after photos...

Modeling, a run, a swim, and a ride

2/16 - Ran 6.36 miles in 50:28. 

2/17 - Swam 2000m. 1500m were freestyle. 250 with just legs, 250 with just arms. 

2/18 - Rode 40km. I couldn't finish the last 20 because of a flat tire. I had to walk my bike to the train station to catch the Local Train to Taiyuan. It was a major bummer. 

Only two weeks until my first triathlon. I really want this next week to be filled with training, but I just got a really bad sore throat and cough. I'll probably still workout. My only fears for the tri are the water temperature and my goggles. I've swam twice in open water for training, but that was in the warm water in the Philippines. With no clue of Love River's water temperature, I can't decided if I need a wet suit or not. My goggles do not have any rubber on them, so when I tighten them too much, they hurt after 800m or so. If they aren't tight, then they leak water and it drives me crazy. It especially sucked in the ocean.  I lasted 1500m with them on and had to take a break to let my eye sockets recover. I think i'll be fine for the 1500m swim in the tri, but it'll suck for any distance over that. 

In non-related news, Lauren and I got another modeling job for the same wheelchair company we modeled for last time. I don't know why they always want Lauren to be in the wheelchair. We really like the photos and can't wait to see the finished product. We used the money to pay our months rent and treat ourselves to Outback Steakhouse. 

Two runs and two rides

Ride #1: 2/8/2012 I took my mountain bike (it was repainted when I bought it so I have no idea what it is) up to Daken Mountain near my house. It's a 16km uphill ride to the turnaround point I chose. Once I was out of the city and into the mountains, I was overwhelmed with anxiety to get up there. My heart rate was going and my legs were burning but I couldn't stop. It was perfect riding weather. My total was around 32 km's.

This is where I turned around. 

The cherry blossoms are blooming now, which makes for a wonderful ride up the mountain.

Runs 1 and 2: 2/10/2012 - 3 miles in 23:58 and 2.61 miles in 21:19. I had to go to school to check some things with administration so decided to run there. Afterwards, I ran to the park to pick up the bike I might want to buy.  It's beautiful! It's a Kuota Kharma all-carbon frame with some other additions. It seriously weighs nothing and I look forward to some long rides.

Ride #2: 2/11/2012 I had a late Friday night and was not planning on riding to Zhanghua as I went to bed. When I woke up I felt great and energized, so I decided to take the Kharma out for a ride. The ride there is about 30km. It took an hour and ten minutes and I only got lost twice! I spent 6 hours in Zhanghua and then rode the 30km's back home. Just over 60km in total for the day. I really hate riding in the city. It took me 30 minutes just to get off Wenxin Road. I'm assuming that once I buy some bike shorts I won't be as saddle sore as I was on Saturday and Sunday. The bike is smooth and can really haul. I was passing scooters on the way back much to their delight.

I need to clean her up a little bit, but here she is.

Let me know what you think.

Preparation for the Triathlon & Philippines

After my marathon, I took a week off of running to give my legs a well-deserved break and to prepare for final exams. That week passed quickly (I passed all my exams, got the 24-hour flu, and rode my bike a few times) and next up was my week long trip to the Philippines. Taiwan was getting too cold, so it was nice to get back into the heat.
I stayed on Panglao Island for 4 days. I stayed in a hut-like room at Mabuhay Beach Resort. It's located in a great area near Alona Beach. Riding my motorcycle 7-hours around the Bohol Island was so relaxing, that is, until it started raining. The Chocolate Hills were really cool, as was all the great Spanish influenced architecture. If you ever head to Bohol, make sure you check out Panglao Island, Alona Beach, Bachlayon Church, and the Chocolate Hills.
I did go on one run on Panglao Island. I ran 7.22 miles in 1 hour. The humidity and amount of smoke in the air was killing me. It seems like everyone was burning their fields that day. It was still really nice getting out there on my two feet to let my mind run wild and get clear again.
The rest of my trip was spent in Manila. My Taiwan visa expired so I had to renew it at the TECO (Taiwan Consulate). Manila was interesting. I really love all the food, and public transportation there is really easy once you understand it. Taking the Jeepney saves you a ton of money, but I didn't really now who to do it until this Filipino woman (who live in Taiwan) showed me how to do it. I went all over the place. The Mall of Asia is the biggest mall I have ever seen. I'm not one for huge department stores, but I needed two white button up shirts. I also checked out the huge knock-off market, but didn't buy anything. I've seen better prices in Guangzhou, China and chances are I'll be there this summer.

1/23 - 5k in 23:31.
1/31 - 10.23 miles in 1:21:26.
2/3 - 2.18 miles in 14:43.

I need to get in the pool! Swimming 1.5km in a lap pool isn't too hard, but I haven't done it in open water.
The biking is not a problem for me. Yesterday, I rode 16km up Daken Mountain. The ride down only took 12 minutes! I swear, within the first 10 seconds of the ride down I fell in love with cycling. I can't wait to get back up there. In an hour, I'm checking out an all carbon bike for sale. If it fits and the price is right, I'm getting it.

 My ride in the Philippines. A 125cc 4-gear.

 Bachlayon Church.

 The Bilar Man-Made Forrest.

 Alona Beach. I swam for about 30 minutes in the open water. 

 The bay between Bohol and Panglao Island. 

The Chocolate Hills.