PT Diaries

It’s been a week since I lined up for over five hours at the on-site registration for IRONMAN Canada; yesterday I went online and finalized my registration. The reality, severity and insanity of what I’ve committed to has started to sink in.

I‘d planned on keeping it a hush-hush for a while but wasn’t able to contain my excitement and blabbed my own secret.  As the news spread so did my fear! I must have heard hundred times last week. “You’re nuts!!” My response was both defensive and honest “You have no idea!”

My work schedule was hectic, so training encompassed a PT session on Thursday and after a ten days hiatus I ran twenty four kilometers on Saturday morning.

With less than five hours of sleep and I awoke Sunday morning with a pounding headache. I laced up to sweat the vodka out of my pores by running seven kilometers and eight, two hundred meter hill repeats. I finished the weekend with an evening infrared yoga class; practice always helps me clear my mind and focus on the positive in my life.

My ongoing sleep deprivation is affecting many aspects of my life; averaging about 1.5 nights of decent sleep a week. I know all too well that the lack of proper rest will ruin my training goals. When I fall asleep at three a.m. it’s difficult to find the enthusiasm to wake up a few hours later for a early morning run before work.

This is causing me concern since I haven’t been able to find a remedy.  Melatonin definitely puts me out, problem being I can’t pry myself out of bed in the morning. So before I grow permanent bags under my eyes I’m planning a fall schedule that ought to force me to collapse from exhaustion at the end of each day.  As per normal I will be going to my training sessions, yoga practice and running 30-40 km a week. In addition I will be hitting the bike shops this weekend and will get out and ride as  much as possible; once the rain hits I’ll be grateful for the spinning classes at the Steve Nash Sports Facility. My swimming classes starts next week and thanks to my biggest fan Loa,  I start a freelance writing course at UBC in October.

At the party on Saturday night I asked Mike “Did you think I was actually going to sign up?” “Nope I really didn’t!” he replied.   I know some friends would describe me as obsessive and compulsive. I like to think of myself as a logical and rational individual but the truth is I can sometimes be pretty impulsive and reactionary. Signing up for Ironman was one of those spontaneous moments. Nevertheless I’ve always lived by the motto “What’s meant to be will be.” I trust this more than ever and know that focusing my energy on something as insane as Ironman will ultimately keep me sane.

PT Girl xo

After a three day hiatus I was determined to get back at it today. I was itching to get a long run in but the rain just wouldn’t let up. I checked the Steve Nash Sports Facility website to confirm the spinning class schedule. I could make the 4:30 p.m. session but would have to put aside my extreme dislike of the instructor.  His name is Daniel and although I have to admit he works our butts off during the short 45 minute class, he’s also extremely arrogant and condescending. Twenty minutes into class Daniel walks over to me “Engage your core” he yelled pointing at me. “Are you freaking kidding me?? Calling me out?! ARGH!!” I thought, infuriated.  The class went on and I climbed every mountain he told us to climb and sprinted every time he shouted, getting more and more drenched as the minutes went by. Then out of nowhere “Come on people!! STOP slacking! There’s no point of being here if you don’t do this right! You’re wasting my time and your energy by not efficiently pushing & pulling on the pedals. Besides, you burn more calories by doing it right! I don’t need to burn more calories but I’m guessing some of you here want to…right?” I couldn’t believe my ears!

As soon as the classes ended I grabbed a disinfected towel, wiped down my bike and bolted.  I jumped on the nearest treadmill and started running. I’m told if I’m ever going to attempt a half iron man the most challenging transition is going from riding the bike then switching to running. The first few minutes my legs were a little wobbly but there were no aches or pains.  I felt strong and ran the last ten minutes quicker then usually; pushing until I had nothing left in me. Feeling fantastic I jumped off the treadmill.  “I’m back baby!”

PT Girl xo

Two sleepless nights and too many GG martinis made it difficult to wake up this morning. I pried myself out of bed and shoehorned a cup of Cheerios and skim milk down my throat. It was another gorgeous West Coast morning, the sun was shining but the city was still sound a sleeping. I ignored my dehydration and set out slowly trying to stay focused on my breathing.  As I neared the second kilometer my mind drifted and for some reason I started to think about the Personal Trainers in my life…

I signed up with my first Personal Trainer in search of a quick fix to shed few pounds. I didn’t enjoy working out, I was closed minded, stubborn and above I refused to set foot in a gym.  My first trainer Steve had the biggest challenge; not only did he have to train me in the rain; he would have to change my mind set on fitness.  In the end, he definitely played a role in my new found love of exercise. I gained confidence during our time together by running my first 10 km race and overcoming my fear of gyms. (For more on Steve refer to blog entries February 1 & 3)

I meet my second Personal Trainer Greg at the Steve Nash Sports Facility where he taught a spin class. Fourty-five minutes of nonstop spinning combined with cranked tunes and his vibrant energy made for an awesome workout.  By the end I was soaked and instantly infected by his positivity. I was determined to hire him as my personal trainer.

Yup! It was that easy; I cheated on Steve and coming clean was the only thing that would ease my guilty conscious. I dreaded having to call Steve and tell him I wouldn’t be seeing him anymore. I remember a moment of sadness while saying goodbye and said “This isn’t personal.  I’ve had great time training with you. Keep in touch.”

Since my cardio was decent now Greg thought it was time to focus on developing my overall strength. Weights and fitness equipment were foreign to me which made the training sessions with him challenging.  Lunges and burpees were his favorite torture devices. I wanted to curse him so many times… but he was so nice, I just couldn’t. This past summer, trying to schedule my sessions with him proved difficult due to an increase in my workload, so I decided to take a few months off from Personal Training. The weather was fantastic and I took advantage of it as much as possible, clocking 30-40 kilometers of running a week.

Now they say “the third ones a charm”…

My current and third Personal Trainer is deWolf.  We meet a few years ago when Steve sent him as a substitute to one of my sessions.  Back then any kind of stand-in or unfamiliar person training me would have normally sent me into a tizzy but deWolf had a calming aura and his “leave your drama for your momma” * straight forward attitude was refreshing; we quickly develop an amusing banter. I wanted him as my trainer from that day on but we don’t always get what we want…not even me!

Circumstances changed and we’ve been training together for the last six months. I’ve never felt stronger and I’ve never been faster.  deWolf knows how to push my buttons and get’s me to work hard. “My pain is his happiness!” I smirked.

“HONK!! HONK!!” the sound jolted me back to reality. Startled, I looked up and quickly dodged a three thousand pound metal weapon “Sweet Jesus! My bad, my bad” I sighed, waving apologetically at the annoyed driver. My heart was pounding so hard I could see it rise through my lululemon shirt. Once I crossed the street I stopped and took a couple deep breaths to try and calm my palpitations. I realized I couldn’t hear anything around me and turned down volume on my iPod then checked my Garmin watch. I couldn’t believe it; slightly hung-over and totally sleep deprived I had just ran thirteen kilometers in one hour and fourteen minutes. (My race pace last year) Ecstatic with my progress, I dashed for home quickly forgetting my about near death experience.

PT Girl xo

*deWolf

December was a busy month filled with travels and festivities.  In January I got back in the swing of things, working out with my Personal Trainer twice a week and running two to three times as well. I haven’t been to the Steve Nash Sports Facility in two months but yesterday morning I packed my bag and committed to going to my favorite spin class. The class doesn’t start until 5:30 p.m. but I knew if I wasn’t there by 5:20 p.m.  I risked the chance of not getting a bike. I rushed out of work, battled the traffic across town and arrived at the gym at 5:10 p.m. A lineup of 25 people has already formed in front of the class room.  “Jeez this class is getting popular! I didn’t leave work early for nothing; I better get a freaking bike!!” I groaned as I darted to the changing room, stripped off my clothes and changed into my workout gear as fast as humanly possible. With my laces still untied I grabbed a face towel and dashed to the end of the lineup.  I stood there tapping my right foot nervously. The lady in front of me turned and asked “How many bikes in the room?” “I’m not sure, maybe 30.” I responded. She glanced at the line and shrugged.

The door to the spinning room opened at 5:15 p.m. sharp and the people from the earlier class came out and the line slowly marched in. When I got near the door I noticed there were few bikes still available and jumped on the first vacant one I walked by.

Tim walked in and headed to the instructor bike at the front of the class. I noticed he bleached his hair since I last saw him.  “It suits him” I thought to myself as I started warming up to Lady Gaga on my iPod.  Twelve minutes before the start of class and all the bikes were occupied with eager cyclists.  A few stragglers came waltzing in and stood at the front door with a stunned look on their faces, scanning the room. “Sorry we’re full.” Tim said with a smile.

“Ok class, lets get’s started….” Tim said enthusiastically. I took off my ipod and braced myself.  Tim’s spin class is broken into three equally painful sections.  His music selection is high energy and carefully synchronized to his prearranged workouts. While a class setting can be impersonal compared to a one on one personal training session, Tim has a unique way of connecting with the group and pushing us beyond our limits. Personally I’m not big on inspiration talk but he delivers his motivational lines without the cheese factor. “What brought you here today? Think about your goal. Are you trying to lose weight?  Going on vacation?  Training for a specific event? See your goal, reach for your goal. It’s at the top of this hill.”

Half way through the second section of the class I was drenched in sweat and a puddle had started to form under my bike; I’m working much harder than I did in the past but I was barely winded.  “Yeah yeah yeah” Tim shouted out.  I gave even more effort; if Tim said to give a half a turn on the dial I would give it a full turn and still managed to find the strength to spin faster and faster.  The calisthenics and weight training I’ve been doing at deWolf Training is definitely paying off. I was feeling like a real athlete when out of nowhere I got the worse cramps. I check the clock to my right and saw there’s only 10 minutes left. “Are you on your edge? Are you giving 100%?  It doesn’t matter to me, only you will know. But you came all the way why not give it your all?” Tim asks. I took a big gulp from my water bottle and told myself “Ignore the pain and finish strong!!” By the end of the class my body was definitely fatigued but I felt great! “My glutes will hurt tomorrow.  Let’s hope my deWolf doesn’t have squats on the menu.”

If you’re looking for a hard core cardio workout that is different every time I highly recommend Tim’s Wednesday 60 minutes 5:30 p.m. Spin Class at the Steve Nash Sports Facility. He has a great energy and teaches a unique and intense spin class. Oh yeah… and if you still have oomph after he’s spun you out, feel free to join him right after for a killer 30 minutes abdominal workout.

PS – Don’t forget to arrive early.

PT Girl xo