Annoyed...

High point of the morning: Swimming 800 m without stopping for the first time!
Low point of the morning: Tipping over on my bike when leaving my driveway and landing in a pile of rotting crayfish. 

First week of grad school

So this week has been all about adjustments.  Instead of having "getting up early" as some sort of nebulous goal, I actually HAVE to get up early now if I'm going to get in a workout (or two) before heading to class or the lab.  Luckily I only have classes Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, and I don't really need to be in lab before 10 AM on Tuesdays and Thursdays.  Compared to the labs some of my friends are rotating in, I have it pretty easy.  I've been focusing on swimming technique (and not being intimidated by the people in the Master's Swim class).  I think I'm going to incorporate swimming on my own in addition to one or two days of Master's, just so I have the time to slow down and think about all the little things that make up one efficient stroke.  I need to do a sprint tri in the next month and I've been debating doing a 300 m pool swim, that I know I can complete, or an 800 m open water swim, which is much scarier.  I'll probably be fine to swim half a mile in the next couple weeks, especially wearing a wetsuit, but I don't want to have a panic attack and derail the rest of my training either.  But I'll probably go for it and make my goal staying calm.

Tomorrow will be my first long run in Salt Lake.  It'll be around ten miles, which isn't that long for me, but it should be plenty challenging.  I think I'm getting shin splints in my left leg, which I'm not too happy about.  I haven't had them since running track in high school, I think its from all the fast-paced, downhill walking I've been doing in my flip flops.  I really need to replace my Chacos.  Anyway, hopefully that clears up and doesn't get worse.

I did a short ride on my bike Tuesday morning, but it was through traffic and intersections, so I got lots of practice clipping and unclipping and I didn't fall over.  So Sunday I'll do a longer ride, hopefully with a couple of friends.  I keep meeting or reconnecting with people who want to swim, ride or run with me, its pretty awesome.  Hopefully that will help make up for how much my social life has been/is going to be depleted.

In non-training news classes are going really well; I love that I can apply everything I learn to what I'm doing in my lab rotation or am interested in doing later.  Its remarkably easy to stay awake in class when you actually care about what's being taught.  The lab I'm in right now is great too, its pretty quiet but everyone is really nice and helpful.  The PI is having a lab party at her house tomorrow, so I'm looking forward to getting to know everyone better.  I'm in the Biochemistry dept right now, and they had their first weekly social hour this afternoon, complete with science humor, snacks and of course, beer.  There has been more school-sponsored drinking here in Utah than at a private Catholic university in Washington.  Its shocking really.

That's all for this week,
Liz

Tiny Rollercoasters

Training already seems to be a bit of a roller coaster.  I go to my first day of swimming, and its fine, I get my bike fit and it seems really comfortable.  I take my bike home, realize I don't know how to get on it when its not on a trainer.  I try to leave the driveway and I start to fall over, tweaking my ankle when I finally get it out of the pedal.  I go to another swim class (this one with a deck coach, I didn't like him very much) and spend the first half barely able to breath and wondering what sort of mistake I've made.  The second half was better in that I could breath and felt less lost in the workout, and I stopped caring that the 50-60 year old overweight men were faster swimmers than me.  I went on a bike ride and did not fall over or further damage my ankle. Running is getting a little easier everyday. So at least the roller coaster seems paused in a positive place right now (not sure if that would be the uphill or the downhill part really). 

In other news, classes and lab rotations start on Monday.  I'm actually getting sort of excited.  About 75% of the people in my grad program are into biking, climbing and/or skiing, so they'll be a fun group to get to know.  I met with the PI (Principle Investigator for any non-nerds) for the first lab I'm rotating in and she seems pretty laid back.  I've already heard some horror stories from other first years, but I think I picked a good one.  Now I'm off to a retreat at a mountain resort with the rest of the program.

Auf Wiedersehen!
Liz

New City!

So I've actually been in Salt Lake since August 2nd, but so much has been going on (and my house still doesn't have internet) that I haven't had a chance to post any updates.  So, here's a rundown of what's happened:

July 31st: While packing loading up my car, my backpack was stolen off the front seat.  It contained (in order of importance): my running shoes, watch/heart rate monitor, Chacos, checkbook, car title and Vibram FiveFingers.  I have since bought new running shoes (two pairs, actually).

August 3rd: My first run in Salt Lake.  I live right on the eastern edge of the city, close to some running trails and a canyon.  The average elevation in SLC is 4327 feet (Spokane's is 1843 feet), so running here has been fairly challenging.  I was going to run my first marathon on September 17th, but I don't think I'll be adapted, so October 15th is the new date.

August 5th: I bought a bike!  A 2010 Specialized Transition Elite AL to be exact (see below for picture).  I've never ridden a road bike or used clipless pedals before, so this will be interesting. 

August 7th: 15 mile run in Stockton, CA (sea level), where my mom lives.  This felt great!  Aside from getting blisters from my new shoes.

August 16th: First day at Master's swim class.  It started at 5:30 AM at an outdoor pool near my house.  I got to watch the sun come up over the mountains and I didn't drown, so I think I'll go back.  I also got my bike fitted to me today, I'm pretty excited to take it out later tonight and see how it feels off the trainer.

Well, I guess that's all.
Liz