Watch My Video!!

Hey :) This is my TRX Sponsorship video clip. If everyone could view this video, and pass it along to as many others as possible, that would be great! If my video gets the most hits, I can get some sponsorship money....enjoy!! Keep you posted on the 10km race tomorrow! Stephen

Taper and a 10Km!

So, I am coming off two really large weeks of training leading into the Embarcadero 10km running race this weekend. I was able to log 16 hours, and 12 hour training blocks over the last 2 weeks, and am VERY happy to be in a large taper leading into the race. I was feeling VERY fatigued at the beginning of the week, and have decided to take a few extra days off to help out with some much needed recovery. For me, running is the most difficult of the three disciplines that I train for, so I am hoping to start feeling a bit more fresh before Sunday morning rolls around :) The Embarcadero is a 10km running race, out and back, and pancake flat. Conditions call for a brisk morning. All these factors play to my strenghts :)

Embarcadero 10km Map

My goal for the race is simple. I would like to go under 40 minutes. My race strategy is to get to the 5km mark in around 20min, and then 10 go for broke in a negative split for the last 5km.

It is going to be so hard!!!

I will keep you posted. Happy training :)

Stephen

Time Trial Success!

So, Febuary is well underway, and time is just flying by. I am REALLY excited about the upcoming race season, and many of my races are quickly approaching!!! This past week was just exceptional in terms of my training. On a side note, I FINALLY got my S-Works Specialized Time Trial bike back after almost a year! I crashed the bike at my first race of 2010 due to poor race planning on part of the race director (mounds of baking flour poured onto the course, including corners, as directional arrows???), and have been waiting on parts ever since. My weapon is back in my possession - BIG SMILE!!!! Swim Coach Lisa had a testing week planned out, which included a 750m time trial. At present, I am doing all of my swim training at the olympic sized pool at the University of San Francisco, which is a really great facility, and I usually get a lane all to myself :)

USF Koret Center Pool

The time trial went excellent! My plan was to focus on my technique, get an effecient rythm going, and to keep strong the entire time. It worked out better than anticipated, and I cranked out a 10min 9 sec effort, which is a huge improvement for me!! Thanks Lisa, and hopefully this continues into the rest of the year. This week also saw a return to the absolute most painful workout for me - mile repeats on the track. I am doing the majority of my run training at Kezar Stadium, which is an awesome venue at the edge of Golden Gate Park, and it often reminds me of a greek stadium. It is free to use the track, and often times, the university cross country team is training there which is great motivation for a triathlete such as myself trying to improve my run.

Kezar Track Entrance

Kezar Track

The cross country team was out in full force during my workout, and were ripping out 200-400meter repeats, while I was working away at my 7x1mile workout. I had an awesome workout, and was able to average 6:15 miles, which is again a really big improvement for myself!! So, things seem to be really coming along for me thus far in 2011.

Another highlight from this week was the TRX training class and whom was teaching it. Tyler Stewart, pro triathlete and Ironman Champion!!! This call was absolutely killer, in the best way possible. As a fellow top level triathlete, she had a complete emphasis on sport specific exercises and I was able to learn alot in the 75minute class. The class is actually scheduled for 60min, but she like to give us extra time :) She is a really awesome person, and I plan on attending the remainder of her 5 part series of classes.

Tyler Stewart - TRX Training Center

The key now is going to be balancing my fitness and training, and remaining energized and injury free!!

Happy training to all, and see you at the races.

Next up - Embarcadero 10km Feb 27.....

Stephen

What do YOU listen 2??

So, this will be the first in a series of posts I have chosen to title "What do YOU listen 2?", which will be a regular post dedicated to music which really gets me motivated while training, and while out dancing :) The first in the series is a track titled Barbra Streisand. I had first heard this track at Burningman 2010, and also heard it again shortly after at my best friend Lisa's wedding (and actually had the DJ spin it twice as we all loved it so much!!). I again, recently heard it at my spin class with Eric Sheppard, who plays rockin' music all the time. Check it out:

What I enjoy most about this track is how funky, positive, and beat driven it is! Also, the video reminds me of a time much happier and care free.

Happy training!

Steve