Grateful and Relieved

Well, it's been two weeks since I've last made an actual blog post, and a crazy two weeks it has been.
First, I had the director's symposium I wrote about previously - it was an amazing, exhausting adventure that wrecked havoc on my training, since I was so busy the first week, and than it took till about this Wednesday to actually recover from the experience. But now I'm back, and very grateful. I have a race (Bonelli Olympic) a week from Sunday - I'm going to show up and see what happens, but after the insanity of the past two weeks, I'm releasing myself from any expectations about that one.
I've had the best time in training the past few days - Starting with the Ocean Speed Circuit on Wednesday, which was flat as a pancake and lovely, so I did four laps. Such fun. Then, that afternoon, I went to Palos Verdes to ride for a couple hours. I decided, "what the hey?!" and hammered as hard as I could for the first 10 miles - in my absolute hardest gear for 80% of it, and aero for 60%, which is a huge improvement. A ride that normally I pace at around 13mph I did in 15, and felt great.
Then of course, I got a flat tire. The week before, I had flatted repeatedly, so now carry a bunch of extra tubes with me.
Replacing air pump cartridges is necessary as well, apparently. Whoops.
A lovely man named Mickey pulled over, who (of course) had once owned a bike shop in San Pedro. I told him I was fine, to which he responded "meh" and took my tire, replaced the tube in approximately 15 seconds, and took my (empty) cartridge. When that didn't work, he gave me a ride back to town. Whoever said that chivalry is dead obviously has not met my friend Mickey, who now is a crane operator and motorcycle collector (he has over 300 - WOW. AHH.) He was truly one of those random angels that just comes, rescues you, and dissapears. He put my bike in my car, wouldn't leave until he was sure that everything was all together, and then left. Very special person, indeed.
Today, I did the Friday morning 6:00am ocean swim with the "big boys" coached by Gerry Rodrigues. He is a very well respected swim coach and is a lovely person. I was the slowest person there, but suprisingly, not by a lot. There was a group of speed demons, but also a few of us who were strong but slow. The workout consisted of an 8 minute run (I HATE running in my wetsuit, so it's great to practice that) followed by an 8 minute warm-up swim. Then, we went out around the booeys three times, the first time we had to run up the beach, around the life guard tower to the next life guard tower and back, and the remaining times just around the lifeguard tower. By the third time doing this, I was pretty tired - but somehow, when a good coach asks "ready to go out again?" My brain doesn't function normally, and so I just say "yeah!" and run harder than the previous times.
I am now completely exhausted. In the best possible way - the workouts that make me exhausted and want to cry are usually the most satisfying ones by far.
I love my life.

Crazed

This week, won't get too much writing in, as I'm working for a fabulous theatre symposium festival thing in Pasadena, from 10:00am to 10:00pm.  

Graduation!

Today, I became a college graduate. I received my B.A. from USC, with honors. I also received a $10,000 scholarship as a reward for my two year project, which was directing Aeschylus' Oresteia trilogy, including an original translation from the ancient Greek. It was an insane, exhausting adventure, which I am both deeply saddened and thrilled that it's over. There were so many amazing things that happened to honor this project, including school president, Stephen Sample, mentioning it in the main graduation ceremony! I know it sounds like I'm bragging, which part of me certainly is. However, I am also completely in awe and gratitude of the amazing people who got me there with this project, because they are really the testiment to the theatre.
Paul Backer, my professor, is perhaps the reason I went to USC, even though I didn't know it at the time. From day one, I felt completely drawn to him - he is basically who I want to be when I "grow up." He is cherished and adored by all his students, is a remarkably passionate professor, and I am so proud to be able to call him one of my friends. This past year, he battled severe pnumonia. While most professors would take leave for the semester, or at least get a substitue for a month, Paul (for better or worse for his health) was back within a week. He sees every student production, is a walking encyclopedia of the theatre, and is always there for me, and for his students.
I had a remarkable three casts, who all went on a crazy adventure with me. They did things that are totally "weird" with grace and dignity - they played with Greek verse, masks, dance, and all the crazy things that the Greek theatre requires. I am so thrilled to have gotten to know all the actors involved, and am so grateful for them.
I had a phenominal crew of people, including Danielle Horn and Sarah Morris, who designed the costumes, Rachel Kerry, who did all my publicity, and Becca Lynch, for managing the arrangements for the theatre for the entirety of the project. They really took so much on themselves with smiles on their faces, and were totally and completely brilliant.
Louise Abnee and Lexi Pappas were my two assistant directors, without whom, the show would not of happened. From everything for running scenes to getting food to making set pieces, the credit for the show really goes to them. They are remarkable, passionate, intelligent women, and I am so grateful to call them two of my dearest friends.
Finally, Emily Shearer, who was not only the dramaturg for the production, but translated the third and final installment. The scholarship was won by her as much as me, and with her beautiful poetry and elegant verse, she elevated the third installment to something so beyond theatre.
The reason I write this is beacuse this reminds me why I do theatre in the first place. It is not an "I" job. Without the 40 or so people mentioned above, I never would have been able to do this project. They all had such faith in me, and I had and have such faith in them and their brilliance. Theatre brings people who would normally never associate with each other together in a beautiful and remarkable way - trust is forced up them, and those who participate rarely dissapoint. I was so priviledged to meet and get to know so many truly magnificent artists, and I hope to work with most of them again in the not to distant future.

Today, I am so grateful for my beautiful niece, Livia Charles, my gorgeous sister and brother-in-law, Alysia Reiner and David Alan Basche, my aunt Marcia Cohen, my grandmother Helen Roseberg, and most of all, my parents, Terry and Bob Berenson. I also honor and remember the memory of my father, Charles Alan Reiner, who would have been so unbelievably thrilled today.
Now, to Roy's for drinks and food - tomorrow, an 8 mile run, and 10:00am - 10:00pm at the Director's Lab!

Special, Wonderful and Unique

Sometimes (often) I forget that I am really not special. I don't mean this in a bad way - I am completely special, just I am just as special as everyone else. What this does mean is that the rules do apply to me, such as:

Needed to eat to perform well. This one is such a challenge for me. I've always had a lot of food issues, and part of that was being able to disconnect my body from the need for food. So, the nutrition part of training has always been a huge challenge. However, without it - whadayaknow?! I go slower, I hurt more, I'm more tired, and cranky. I also need to accept that my body is mine, and not anybody elses, so if I get thirsty when I do 30 minute runs, it means I need to bring water with me, and not leave my water-belt in the car, just because theoretically you don't need to intake water or food on workouts less than an hour.
Sleep is actually not optional. I do work three jobs, plus 15-20 hours a week of training, plus boyfriend, plus friends, plus family - but to do all these things, I can't have only 4 or 5 hours of sleep a night. Even with 6-7, my body doesn't recover as well as it needs to. I am also nicer, friendlier, and able to work in a more positive way.
When I train better/harder/focus, etc., I do in fact get better. Since I come from a theatre background, I am used to things such as progress and growth being somewhat subjective. It also takes a huge amount of time to "hone your craft" and is truly a lifetime process. Triathlon is as well, but measureable improvement happens fairly quickly (as in, within a season) when I follow my plan, focus, recover, eat well, etc. It's always shocking - I have gone from an 11:30 mile to a 9 minute mile in less than a year, simply from following my plan and working my ass off.
My coach actually does know better than me. I think I know everything. I don't. When I listen to Robert, I don't seem to injure myself, overtrain, etc., and I do get better. Isn't that BIZARRE?! ;-)
Life Happens. No matter how much control and time management skills I think I have, sometimes I can't make my schedule perfect. I graduate tomorrow, and my family is in town for a scholarship I am recieving today. So, I probably am not going to be running today, and hopefully will find time tomorrow, but if I don't, c'est la vie. Even though this is my deep passion, I love training, and obviously don't want to miss workouts, the world really doesn't revolve around me, and sometimes, it's worth sacrificing a bit of fitness to be with my 89-year-old grandmother (who looks 60 and acts 30) who came here from Florida.

No, Life REALLY happens. Just an annecdote to rap up this blog - two days ago, I wanted to go swimming before work. I biked to the pool - I felt so superior to all the car bound folk.
'Look how easy it is to bike to work!' I thought. 'I'm so environmentally friendly, getting an extra workout in, and I really feel connected to the city of Los Angeles. Why doesn't everyone do this?' I get to the pool, get in, start to get dressed and realized I had forgotten my goggles and swim cap.
Which were sitting in the trunk of my car.

Update on two workouts:
Tuesday, did a 1 hour easy run at a 10mm pace.
Thursday, did a 1.5 hour bike on Westchester, 60% aero, at a 15mph pace. (YEAY, up from 13.6 three weeks ago for the same loop!) Bricked it with a 3.34 mile, 30 minute run, which is an 8.59 pace - WOOHOOO!!!
Today, Discovery Scholarship Ceremony, and family in from out of town. Tomorrow, graduation from USC!

Blah day.

I work retail.  sporteve (yes, the "s" is lower-case, and the name is italicized - it's just how we roll) is a women's athletics store - we carry gear for almost every sport (besides the ones with balls) from swimming and triathlon to hiking and yoga.  It's an amazing place, and I love the people I work with.  It's also in Culver City, which is great - fabulous restaurants, an amazing pool - it's just a wonderful place to be.  

However, today was one of those days that I just wanted to be outside and play. I didn't get my morning swim in, as my other job (which is theatre, thank God, or else I'd go crazy) involved me waking up at 5:00am to edit some bios, which turned into more bios, which turned into "oh crap, I'm late for work!"

I think I'm reverting back to being 5. All I want to do these days is play.  I want to run around, swim in the ocean, or play volleyball (which would be so embarrassing that the ball itself would shake it's head at me in pity). Now I understand why people tell you to take some time off after college, that you will be working for the rest of your life.  I kind of wish I had done that a bit more, just so I could...well...play all the damn time. However, I know that in theatre, I will have plenty of time to be unemployed and back to being a student. 

Now, I have a 1 hour ride on the stationary trainer. 

Then, more bios. 

BLECH.

UPDATE: Moment of Progress #3

Ok, so the trainer ride didn't happen. Today turned into an accidental off-day, just because I woke up so early, worked all day (literally 15 hours) and now would be the time to get on the trainer, when I have to wake up at 5:45 to bike to swim, swim, bike to work, run, bike home...it's just too much.

But the moment of progress is - when I used to feel guilty for skipping a workout, or overly "it's ok" about it - today, my body and soul just says, "Not ok." While of course, life happens, and to be working out until 11:30pm doesn't seem adviseable today, skipping workouts actually feels uncomfortable. Not because of guilt, but because I am finally starting to take myself seriously.  It's not that I feel I am disrespecting my coach, or that I "should do it" because I'm supposed to, but (FINALLY) I am starting, very slowly, to think of myself as an athlete.  If I skipped rehearsal every time I got too busy, the show wouldn't happen. So, while I am honoring my body and hard work day today, I feel a change in attitude coming on that is immensely satisfying - that my body (and race day) deserves the workouts, and that I am depriving myself of something if I don't do them.

Bombaleria

If any of you readers are LA Tri Club members, than there is a high probability that you know, or at the very least have heard of, Tim Bomba. Tim Bomba is one of the main faces of LA Tri, and certainly one of the most prominent voices of the group. He was the first person I met in the triathlon world, and was about the best first impression one could get - basically, our relationship began with his mocking me mercilessly about my asking about the legitimacy of a "jewel-toned purple swimcap" when it came to the brightness requirement for an ocean swim. Tim runs the fabulous Oceans 101, which is also known as "The Idiots Guide to Not Dying in the Pacific Ocean, or If You Insist on Dying, How to Die In Style." He patiently teaches novices about wave patterns, diving beneath the waves, and (in my case) how to handle a panic attack when you are...oh...50 meters from the shore (and yes, I was THAT girl.) He is (though I write this grudgingly, for the mockery that I know will follow should he read this) also fairly inspirational - he began as someone who lived in terror of the water, and now could easily be confused for an oddly formed dolphin. Considering I am someone who was terrified of both the swim and the bike and dreaded the run, he gives me some hope for my future as a triathlete.

As I wrote before, I hadn't been in the ocean in two years. Knowing that I had an ocean race coming up, I wrote/requested/begged Mr. Bomba to let me return to his Oceans 101. In a chance encounter at a Trader Joe's, he replied in a zen master/yoda fashion, "you cannot go back. You must go forward. You are ready. Get your damn wetsuit and swim in the ocean. Ohhhmmmmm" and returned to his shopping. Now, after this brief exchange, I felt something that I hadn't felt before in this sport.

And so I must introduce a new term. Bombaleria.

I should also mention that Tim is a motivational speaker, and has recently become a race announcer. He exudes the kind of self-assurance that would normally be associated with a cult, but for him seems to just come from his many accomplishments, fears conquered, and rare sense of self. However, he has an effect on me that is quite hard to explain, stemming from this confidence.

When I (and I'm sure countless others) am around Tim, or talk to him, or receive an e-mail from him, I suddenly get a ridiculous sense of confidence. Unfortunately for me, this confidence is not always founded in reality, but it leads me to do things that before, I would have called crazy or vastly out of my league.

The swimming two miles today is a perfect example of Bombaleria. In reality, I really had no business swimming with an Ironman swimmer. She was vastly faster than I was, a stronger and more experienced swimmer, and had one of those strokes that (to me) looked like it belongs in the Olympics. However, with my bout of Bombaleria, I felt that not only was it fine to swim with her, but her waiting for me every 300-400 meters was totally good and normal. I also felt that it was fine to swim two miles in the ocean, even though I was getting knocked about in the chop like a coke bottle thrown off a yacht. I did survive the swim unscathed, and had a fantastic time. When I got home and told Tim, however, his response was:

Speed circuit Wednesday morning. Be there.

Now, the Speed circuit is for REAL swimmers. There are actual waves there, and sometimes big ones. My boss swims there. I think even my coach does. In my brain, I have no business going there.

However, when I get a line like that from Tim, I am suddenly overcome with this very odd mental condition, and not only am I going to go to the swim, I am looking forward to it.

Bombaleria. Weird.

The Great Big Ocean

The last time I was in the ocean  was in 2007.  I did the Hermosa Day at the Beach sprint triathlon.  I couldn't put my face in the water, so doggy-paddled the 400 or so yard swim.  I tried Ocean's 101 a few times, but was just too scared, and never went back.  

So, two years later, signed up for an Aquathon, and training for Ironman (2010, but it's still coming!) I figure it's time to brave the perilous realm of Poseidon again.  Here I come, triton in hand.

So, I show up to the Chicken of the Sea swim (yes, it's really called that) - which is still the ocean, but in the Marina, so there's very minimal surf. We all divide into groups, and I waffled between the 1.5 mile and the 2. I initially say the 1.5, as the only other person who wants to do the 2 did Ironman NZ a few months ago, so I thought would be way out of my league.

We start, and I am suprised to find I am equally comfortable in the ocean as I am in a lake. Yes, the lack of waves definitely helped my comfort zone a great deal, but there were plenty of swells, and I really held my own, except for the sighting. Initally, I was middle of the pack, but I was zig-zagging so terribly that by the end, I was pretty much the last one. We get to the pier at the end of the first mile, and I run into the Ironman girl, Nicole.  She asks if I want to do the two with her, and I felt fine, so agreed. Of course, the second we turn around, the nice, calm water turned quite rough and choppy. I didn't feel frightened though, just...well...saltier.  The swim back was much faster though, so the current must have been going that way.

The Ironwoman definitely had to wait for me a few times, but I did my best to keep up - I definitely have to work on my swim speed, as it's no fun to make people wait! 

However, it felt fantastic to do two miles, and feel totally fine.

It's time for my nap now, though!

MOMENT OF PROGRESS #2 

Um...2 miles in the ocean not enough for you? Fine, I swam 2 miles in the ocean, then made split pea soup from scratch, followed by tilapia with olives and lemon.  I am Martha McGlone Stewart. 

Moments of Progress - The Battle of Westridge

I have another "blog" but it's more of a training log that has a "comments" section below it.  In it, I used to have a daily "moment of progress" - as someone who came from such a non-athletic background, but who is also a total perfectionist, it was suggested that I look at each day and find something good that I was doing, not just the struggles.  I did this for about a week, and gave up.

Yesterday, I had a great talk with Coach Robert about feeling like when it comes to athleticism, I am on the "special bus" - basically, there are real athletes, and then there is me.  He reminded me that there was no "asterisk" next to my race number at Wildflower, I attempted the same long-course as everyone else, and would easily have

 made it had I not been sick.  So, I'm back to the :: through gritted teeth :: bloody moments of progress.

MOMENT OF PROGRESS #1

I woke up today to go on my run, and felt disappoint

ed. Why? Because it's only six miles. The reason it's only six miles is a) I am starting my speed work, so need shorter sessions and b) my next race is an Oly, and I'm already quite comfortable with my run-base for the half-marathon. Still, it's cool to feel like, "Just six miles? Blech!"

I went to run up Westridge, and it's definitely harder this week than it was two weeks ago. 

If you don't know Westridge, I don't care what your level of fitness is, go do it now. Take the Sunset exit off the 405, left on Sunset, right on Mandeville Canyon, left on Westridge, and go all the way up till you can't go no more.  It's a spectacularly beautiful run, with unbelievably gorgeous views.

It's also a bitch. Very hilly, with a huge amount of sun exposure.  Totally worth it, but definitely a run that will make you come face to face with your level of fitness. However, I can't get enough of it, and this run inspired me to sign up for my first (official) half-marathon, which is a trail run.

Plan for today, 2 easy miles (no such thing as easy for me up Westridge) 2 hard (heart rate hit 187!!! AHH!!!) and 2 easy. I had breakfast too soon before the run, and it was a rather "collegiate" choice - a Starbucks sandwhich, with egg, cheese and reduced fat turkey.  40 minutes before the run, not a great choice. I had really bad cramping after the hard part, and had to waaalk (run) waalk the easy part.  

Rest of the day spent panicking, working...oh, and eating anything real for the first time at 5:30 pm. Not the greatest choice there either.

Blech.

The coming season

Well, I'm supposed to be working on one of my theatre jobs, but that's just not happening right now.  I'm not so into going through bios and capitalizing the name of each play, so I need a break. A break to sit back, relax, and fantasize about the coming season.

June 7th - Bonelli Championship Olympic - this race actually is a transferred entry from last year, when a nearby fire forced them to cancel. I'm really excited about this one, though I know basically nothing about the course.

June 14th - Valley Crest Half-Marathon - this will be my first official half-marathon, and I'm SO excited - apparently quite beautiful, and is all trail running, which is my absolute favorite thing.

July 4th - Possibly Palisades 10k, if I'm back from Israel in time.

July 19th - Playa del Rey Aquathon - this is Robert's doing, the sneaky devil.  I am not so great with swimming in the ocean, so what does he do?  "Suggests" I do a bloody aquathon at Dockweiler, which is not known for the world's smoothest waters. 

August 1st - Barb's Race Half-Ironman - the world's only all woman half-ironman, in beautiful Wine Country, Northern California.  I'm so psyched - this is the exact course of the Vineman 70.3, just on a different day (on the day of the Vineman full!)

September 27th - Carpinteria Oly - a beautiful race near Santa Barbara (wine country - great way to end a busy season!)

I am so excited, and can't wait to race again, and start my season right.

You see, I started the season by attempting the Wildflower Half-Ironman, a race known as the "woodstock of triathlon" since athletes from all over come to camp out the night before, and race the next day.  I worked my ass off training for this, as the course is quite difficult (the bike is tough, with the hard hills coming at mile 40 of a 56 mile bike course) and the run is known as a killer. This season, I have been having an absolute blast with running, and especially with trail running, so I was really excited. Unfortunately, it was not to be, as at mile 2 of the bike, my stomach started hurting, and by mile 41, I was done for. I managed to finish the bike course, which is good, but because I was so sick and spent so much time in aid stations, I missed the bike cut off and couldn't go on the run. This is probably G-d doing for me what I couldn't do for myself, as I wouldn't have made it through that run. I spent two hours in the med-tent, proceeded to collapse, and the next day went to the ER.  They are still not sure what's going on, so I have to get more tests in a month. Till then, getting back to training, and am all the more determined to get stronger, faster, and perform amazingly well at Barb's!

Welcome!

Well, after lecturing my coach on the importance of having a blog, I figured I might as well create one for myself, too.

My name is Kate, and I'm a 22-year-old triathlete.  How ya doin'?  

A bit of my history:

I come from a theatre background; also known as all theatre, all the time.  I grew up on the stage; starting as a baby model for a bank commercial, and starting to act and sing as soon as I could talk. I performed in well over 50 theatrical productions by the time I was 16, and by the time I was 19, I knew that I was not meant to be an actress. I found that I loved directing more; having the choice to produce only the best plays (in my opinion, of course) and do them in my way, with a deep emphasis on character development and personal relationship to the characters. All through this time, I was somewhat of a couch potato, and completely uncoordinated. I tried almost everything, from ballet, to gymnastics, to basketball (way back when, in sixth grade, when 5'6 was considered tall) to track and field. I gave them all up within a semester.  All of them were too hard, too embarrassing, too depressing.  So, to sum up most of my 18 pre-athletic years, I was an unhappy couch potato when it came to exercise.  I was always busy, so I didn't really notice or care enough to take much care of my health.  I ranged from about 150+ lb at 5 feet tall, down to super skinny at 5'6.  

This was all fine until my sophomore year, I was struck with viral meningitis, and went from being a compulsively busy, out-and-about from 6:00am - midnight college student, to an immobilized b0dy who couldn't walk more than 5 steps.  I had to relearn how to do everything, even walking and eating.  I did this with a huge amount of help, and managed to in the same semester direct a play (the first few weeks of rehearsal were in my room, me in bed, with the actors around me - talk about dedication!) and only loose a few decimal points of my GPA. 

 After this scare, I was terrified into taking responsibility for my health. Note, at this point I wasn't a person who ate fried foods, drank soda, etc.  By my sophomore year, I hadn't had refined sweeteners in two years, (now, it's been well over four!) and ate a vegetarian diet that only occasionally crept into the ramen noodles and mac and cheese of my peers.  Still, however, I ate in a way that was really unhealthy, without much variety or nutrient-rich choices.  I also knew I needed to exercise. I started working out in the gym, to the point of obsessive (more on all this nonsense later.) The year before, I had mentioned to my family at a memorable Mother's Day gathering that I wanted to try a marathon.  They literally all burst out laughing, and I didn't really blame them. Needless to say, I wasn't running any marathons at this point.

One night, I had a dream I did a triathlon, even though I barely knew what it was. In my dream, I finished dead last (there was a baseball score-board, and my aunt Marcia was at the finish line, sleeping.) It was still the best dream of my life. This time, after my many hours in the gym and obvious changes in attitude, my parents did not laugh.  I bought a book, entitled "Triathlons 101" and started training. I went from no miles to six miles in six weeks, and quickly injured myself.  My mother's attitude was, if you're going to do this, you need help.  I searched for a triathlon coach through my tri-club, but none of the listed possibilities sounded viable - they were all very electronically oriented, and I am a person who relies and thrives upon relationships. I searched online, and stumbled across "tricorecoaching." In the corner of the website was this logo. 

In my gut, I just knew that the understanding of the need for the balance of these qualities was just what I needed, and I was right. I started working with coach Robert Hockley, and the rest is...well...alot, but I have work to do, so enough for now.

Workouts today:

1:15 workout on Westchester Pkwy with Robert. Worked on Aerobars, and I really feel like I improved drastically with them. Hit 28 mph on the flats - not bad at all!