Sunshine, Hunger, and Generosity

I've been incredibly focused on all of the training details lately-- with the bike fittings, my injury, the getting up extraordinarily early on weekend, and general adjustment to being super active again. I must admit that has taken quite a bit of emotional energy. There were moments when I wondered, yet again, why I signed up for this. It's not like I didn't remember how hard this was last season.

But this past weekend, I got three gentle reminders:

1. It was a stunningly beautiful weekend in San Francisco. Mid-60's, sunny. These are they days when I am so very thankful to no longer live in Boston or NYC. I mean, it is February, for god's sake. We ran along Ocean Beach (more on this fiasco later) watching the waves crash on the shore. We hung out with terrifically nice people at a post-workout brunch, staring at lemon and orange trees in her back yard. The swim was invigorating and the bike was rolling and sweet. It was definitely good to be back!
   
   
2. This week, the hunger returned. No, not some spooky horror film (though I often look like one after biking). My appetite has returned and I find myself hungry all the time. This is like saying to a young child, "You can eat all of the candy you want, any time, and I won't make you stop." Hooray!!
   
   
3. On Sunday, I logged on to my computer to check how my fundraising is going. My jaw dropped to find that I have already raised over $3,100 in two weeks time. Again, I am floored by people's generosity. Truly amazing! Thanks to all of you who have donated! Even though I've come this far, there's so much more work to be done to cure these cancers. So I hope that I can EXCEED my fundraising goal. Wouldn't that be amazing?!

Tri-ku - do you?

I recently attended a digital storytelling workshop at KQED. As part of the 2.5 day workshop, we created a personal multimedia story. (Thank you, Leslie!) We were to write a short script about something from our own lives.

As per my usual school days, I left the assignment to the very end. The night before, I found myself furiously scribbling on the back of an envelope in my car while waiting for Chris to finish his run with the team. With the vastly entertaining history I call my life, the topics for the script were infinite. After completely covering my envelope in scratches, I knew I had to impose some structure on this assignment before it quickly spiraled out of control.

Then it came to me. Less is more. Fewer words. In fact, 17 syllables. The beautiful, concise, sensual, and sometimes obtuse Haiku. Or rather, the Tri-Ku.

I'm sure there are some ancient Japanese poets turning over in their grave right now, perhaps even saying:

Procrastinator
Mutilates our ancient art.
Curses to your bike.

Anyhoo, Tri-ku to the rescue, I produced the following account of my last season with TnT. Without even thinking about it, I created myself a lovely little fundraising PR piece. So please enjoy (and DONATE!!)

http://www.active.com/donate/tntgsf/MelissaCheung2008

Drowning

We're two weeks into this. Thus far, I've:

• Bought a new pair of running shoes
• Had my bike adjusted
• Run: 0 miles
• Bike: 3 miles
  
• Swim: 10,000 meters

Not exactly preparing me much for triathloning, you say? More of a mono-athlon.

I have injured my left foot and have been hobbling around San Francisco and complaining the whole way. Under the advice of my doctor, I've spent a lot of time forgetting which lap I was on, wishing that sitting in the hot tub counted as swimming, and washing my hair alot to get the chlorine smell out.

Today, however, I got the green light to start running and biking again this weekend. Hooray! So now I just have to muster up the energy to not be freaked out again about using my clipless pedals.

Onward!!

Back for More Love

It's official. I've signed up for another triathlon season with Team in Training! Get ready for more laughs as I take off for another roller coaster of training.

I believe I will be training for the Wildflower AND the King's Trail Maui Triathlon this June. That's right -- HAWAII. So even if don't finish the races, I can console myself with a large and delicious pina colada while lying on the beach and listening to the waves. mmmmm.

Back to the point here. I say "I believe" because the fundraising minimum is very high -- nearly $5000. I'm not sure I can do it. Chris is also training this season, so we're a two fundraiser family this season again. But nonetheless, I will be doing some sort of triathlon come this spring, and we will raise money for a cure to blood cancers in the process.

You can help me get started!!

www.active.com/donate/tntgsf/MelissaCheung2008

More to come soon!

Some pix from the Race

Here are few pix from the race. Chris has more to come soon. Note the obvious deletion of photos where I am "running" on the course.

Still feeling strong. Maybe a little dizzy.

Weeeee! I sure love swimming.

Good thing this isn't video. I'm going about -4mph. Going up Lynch Hill, a tough one, but I made it. Speedsters looks good, too.

Hoooray! I made it. The series of photos after this involve some wheezing, hands on the knees, and general delirium.

OK. Pulled it together here. Look at my medal. :-)

Next series of photos involved stripping down and diving into the lake. Not shown for obvious reasons.

Glutton for Punishment

As predicted, I have a touch of the post-race blues. This past weekend, I felt like a sloth because I didn't get up at 6am and go swim in Aquatic Park and run 6 miles with the team. (Trainings are still going on because several folks are doing races later this month and in June). I did take a nice leisurely 5 mile loop through the Presidio, though. My, how my standards of sloth changed recently!

To ward off the blues, Chris and I have been investigating the next Tri we could do. His Death Ride is on July 14th. He'll be in tip-top bike shape at that point, so we thought we'd do a relay at the Vineman up in Sonoma this August. Hoping we can wrangle a few friends to join us, rent a house up in wine country, and make a fun weekend of it.

Anyone care to join us?

http://www.vineman.com/

It Was Really, Really Hard (But Sign Me Up Again!)

I did it!

What an amazing time I had this weekend. The whole weekend was such a positive experience -- from watching my teammates complete the long course, to watching 65 year old women zoom pass me on the course (knowing they started a full 30 minutes after me), to celebrating our accomplishments with big hugs from coaches and teammates at the start line. Today (Monday) I am still exhausted and thrilled.

The weather was great, probably mid or low 80's, very little wind, and clear skies. We started at 10:10am with one of our honorees (6 year old Lauren) singing "I Will Survive" to us at the swim start. While navigating the swarms of arms and legs, I kept chanting my swim mantras - "reach and twist" and from Finding Nemo "Just keep swimming." I had some serious going-straight issues, but finished strong.

The bike was great! I had a fantastic time out there and didn't even mind all the people passing me and Speedster. I conquered the hills, didn't fall or drop my water bottle, and managed to max out at at a top speed of 31mph (which terrified me to no end). In all the excitement, however, I did not drink or eat as much as I should have. I still haven't figured out how much energy I expend on biking. And I'm also a little afraid to drink while riding. I did stop once at the turn around to drink and managed to drink a few times while riding, but not enough. My butt and back were aching by the last few hills, but I was pleased with my ride. Speedster was happy, too.

The run, on the other hand, was less than impressive. I think I might have to rename the event to be a swim, bike, walk event. I couldn't catch my breath and the dust was making me wheeze more than normal. But I found my friend Eileen at the first few miles and we ran/walked together, which gave me a boost. The first 4 miles of the course is a series of uphills. I shuffle-ran on the flats, walked on the hills, and tripped down the downhills. By mile 3, I was getting delirious from the heat. The sun was over head (it was about 1:30 or 2pm) and the asphalt was radiating a lot of heat up. I started to get the tingly, blurry-eyed, dehydrated feeling. There were water stops at every mile and and Cal Poly students to hose you down. I took advantage of each stop.

Somewhere around mile 4, my head coach was out there in a clown suit/ pimp suit shaking a Budwiser can full of coins yelling me on -- this is what you got up every Saturday for -- this is what you've train for the last 3 months for -- look at Chris (honoree), a cancer survivor running along side with you -- you're doing it for him -- you can do it, girl. While I appreciate his encouragement and all of the support he was providing me, I was cursing him and wishing that he would stop running with me, so I could resume my walk of self-pity. After they left, I almost started crying from exhausting.

I kept trying to put things in perspective -- thinking of our 6 year old honoree and her "Beads of Courage" (one for every treatment or spinal tap or ambulance ride she has had to have in her short life) -- thinking of how much harder my first backpacking trip in the Sierras with Chris was -- thinking of the delicious Mexican food and beer I would have in a short time -- thinking about what it would be like to shave one of the alpacas I saw on the bike course --- wondering if alpacas made milk you could use for cheese. . . Clearly my mind started to wander.

I tried every sports psychology trick I knew. None of them made me run any faster. Even the naked Cal Poly students at the last water stop didn't get my going any faster. But finally, finally, finally, I made it to the last mile, and it was mostly down hill. I dug deep down inside, past all the pain, cursing, and self-pity, ignored the fact that my quads might give out at any point on the steep descent, and rolled down the hill to the finish. Even found enough energy at the end of pick up the pace across the finish.

4 hours and 6 minutes of work and I finally earned the title of triathlete. With my medal in hand, I made a beeline for the lake, ripped of my shoes, and dove right in. 64 degree water never felt so great!

Thanks to everyone who supported me. I've raised nearly $3500 to cure blood cancers. (Know that I spent a good mile while "running" trying to think of all of the names of people who supported me. I don't think I got past the "Ds" before I wandered off into some strange thought tangent about what my double-layered socks would be saying right now if they could talk.)


I think it will take a few days for all of this to really sink in. What a trip it has been. I am exhausted, but ready to do it again!


Go Team!