Rocket Science

Ah, winter. Winter is the time for layering, bundling, and cuddling. Winter is also time for gatherings, gifts, colds, and flus. But most importantly, as an athlete, winter is the time for me to test my determination and will in perfecting the art of snot rocketing.

Yes, you've read that right. I have yet to get my degree in this field of rocket science after what has been many years since I enrolled in this athletic world university. I first gained interest in this field of study after witnessing my sister launch her rockets during one of our runs when I visited her at college. Amazed, I asked her how she achieved such localized pressure and impeccable aim in the launch. It's easy, she said. Just cover one nostril and blow.

I have since learned what's easy for Karen is not easy for me. After wiping the snot residue off my face, I decided to stick with sniffling throughout the entire run. I don't need this stupid degree, even though it'll make me look so cool and professional.

Fast forward 5 years later. The need for my rocket science degree increased as I started biking in the winter. You can always use your hands, but then where are you going to wipe them? Your jersey only has so many clean spots (especially if you're out riding 70+ miles) and having rocket residue all over your handle bars is quite disgusting. So as any good scientist would do, I kept notes on my experimentations and trials. Here are a few things I've learned:

• There are at least 3 types of rockets and only one of them is optimal for launching. 
• The first type is similar to a runny nose, and this rocket will not have enough substance to launch, no matter how much fire power is exerted. Best way to handle type I is to use tissue, shirt, or just sniffle.
• The second rocket type is quite adhesive. It's kin is the kind of snot you get when you're sick. When you blow, it's like Rapunzel's hair -- never ending. THESE ARE NOT IDEAL ROCKETS! Trust me. Just like how Rapunzel's hair gets all over her face, so do these rockets. And they're harder to get rid of as they are stickier than a spider's web.

  

  How I feel when I accidentally launch a type II rocket.

• The third type has a viscosity that's in between type I and type II. These make very decent rockets. The weight, size, and viscosity of type IIIs allow for them to be released as nice pellets. Any bit of launching power shoots them out of the staging chamber. You are not required to keep launching for two minutes as type II do just to clear the chamber.

  

  Type III rockets are most ideal for launching.
  Side note: if your type III is modeled after this (green in color), you have a sinus infection!

• If you are unsure about which type of rocket is stored in the staging chamber, I strongly advise you to either wait till you're alone on the ride or to move to the back of the pack before launching. If it's a type II, be sure to clean your face well before working your way back up the peleton!

I still haven't gotten my master degree in Rocket Science as I am still traumatized by the last rocket I launched almost a year ago, but I will not let that deter me and will continue to learn and practice until that diploma is mine. In the meantime, please excuse rocket residues on my face. It's all in the love of sport science!

Me and my inspiration aka Snot Rocket Master.

Grin

I present to you - me and my goofy grin:

Cheesing on the course

I competed in the Shadow Creek Ranch Triathlon yesterday. It was a nice overcast morning, and I barely noticed the heat until I was finished with the race. The swim and bike went well, but I lost concentration on my run (busy trying to fix my watch) and didn't run at my full potential. I was also really tired and sore from a hard training week as I didn't take much rest or taper for this race. 

Swim (500m open water)

Warm but not too warm. It was a pretty comfortable swim except I was really having trouble swimming straight in this race for some reason. My arms were definitely sore and tired from doing weights the past week. Maybe that's why I couldn't steer properly. That's okay! This isn't my A-race, and I can feel myself getting stronger and faster in the water as the weeks go by. Swim time was 10:27.3. I was 10th coming out of the water.

Bike (16.4 miles)

Wheee! It was a fast course except for three 180 degree turns, and those were all done twice since it was a double loop course. Those turns made the course more technical and forced me to use more energy to accelerate. Got off the bike after 45:30.2, averaging 21.6 mph and finishing with the top bike split in my age group! I know what my strongest leg is! :)

Run (3.23 miles)

How embarrassing of me to lose focus on the run because my watch was malfunctioning. :( I should have just continued to push the pace and run by feeling (which I normally do, until I'm performance/number driven). I ran a 7:14 split for my second mile, seeing that, I thought it was too hard and let doubt shut me down on the last mile despite feeling pretty decent. As motivation to reach the finish line, I coerced myself to try to pass 5 people, then 10, then 15 all in the last mile. I didn't think it was possible to reach 5, but once I did, my confidence was boosted and I brought it home, ending the race in another sprint finish, passing the 13th person right before the line. I definitely paid the price as I thought I was going to die while doubling over and hanging onto an ice tub to stay upright. Run time was 26:34.5, a 8:15/mile pace. :( Going backwards here!

Results

I got 2nd in my age group and am now 2/2 for podiuming this summer! :) I don't think I podiumed at all last summer season. I also got a belt buckle as the award, which is nice. I need to start wearing belts anyways, especially with the way training has been going ;)

Yeehaw! Nothing says I'm Texan like a big belt buckle!

BUT!! My most accomplishing moment of the day was... purchasing a shirt. A really cool shirt because it had green on it. Haha :) The shirt was a side gift for donating to send a blind athlete to London for paratriathlon world championships. He got invited but needed the funds to get there. Supporting him is so much more satisfying than podiuming or winning a race. I'm helping make someone else's dreams and goals happen. I can only hope when my time comes that I will have many more supporters as amazing as you are. :)

Family

At the race last week, I overheard a man/fellow athlete mention how his entire family was competing that day. He did the entire race while the rest of his family participated as a relay. His daughter swam, his wife biked, and his son ran.

This is freaking awesome. (To the tune of Thrift Shop!)

Ever since I got bitten by the Ironman bug, I've always dreamed about my future family and how we'd travel to races and compete. It just makes me smile inside to envision us training together, going through the same ups and downs, and understanding each other/how much discipline and work is involved. Also, life is so much easier when people understand what you do/love and how hard you've worked for it.

In the meantime, I have my furry family to train with, take care of, and celebrate the wins and losses. :)

Future world champs in the furry division! 

ps, if you ever see or talk to my sister Karen soon, try to convince her to do the Ironman 70.3 Texas in Galveston next April! I'd love to do a race with her, and this time we'd actually be competing in the same age group! :)

Scooby Doo, Where are you?

Tuesday mornings are usually my time for long runs because my sister Karen has the day off and can keep me company for 6-13 miles. I did these training runs with Karen because she pushed me to keep up with her. I hated it because nine of out ten times, my legs were dead and felt like lead from previous training. I had to dig really deep to gut out the miles and not be left behind.

Another reason I disliked running with Karen was because the path we took had a ton of construction projects. It's a dangerous thing for a klutz like me (I trip over my own feet) and for an athlete that's tired and not processing her surroundings fast enough. Twisted ankles, sprained knees, scraped hands, etc. So many things can go wrong!

And they did.

Lesson #1: Do not drag your feet while running, even when exhausted. In other words, run with proper form.

I saw the rise in the asphalt ahead that served as a connection to the dirt trail we were on. My legs and feet didn't seem to care because the next thing I knew, I was sprawled on the ground.  There were some pretty nasty cuts as blood started dripping down my leg. What now? We finish of course! Another 4 miles later:

Lesson #2: Scooby Doo and Shaggy bandaids make everything better.

Dr. Karen patched me up with special bandages

Nothing the Mystery Van can't fix!

Do I still dislike Tuesday runs? Kind of, but not as much. As long as Karen still has Scooby Doo and Shaggy bandages, I'll keep running with her in her part of town. Sibling love (or really, Scooby Dooby Doo love ;) ).

Mundane Mondays Massacred

Garfield always hated Mondays for some reason. Odie, on the other hand, spends all day smiling and slobbering. I'm going to be like Odie and try to brighten up Mondays!

Mondays are also usually my hardest and longest training days, so any laugh or fun time during training really helps me push through the workouts. Hopefully these stories and pictures make you smile (and realize that triathlon isn't only for the hardcore -- it's fun too!)


Training woes: spending long hours outdoors means inevitable tan lines. (Viewer's discretion is advised!)

The Great Divide?