I Never Was a Good Test Taker

      Lucy and I prepare for the pain of our power test...

Were you? I recall my inability to ace a test even as a great student. Spanish was my worst, with history not far behind, and SATs…my goodness, that darn test. Had me shaking in my boots for months and no matter how much effort I put into studying, I nearly blanked before each attempt.

I find that racing brings me back to this theory – that no matter how much you “got this,” sometimes things don’t necessarily go as planned. And with that, I’m actually surprised I decided to take on some big feats over the last few years. Because when I do look back, no race was ever perfect. No matter how strong I got through training or how much progress I saw over a period of time, something would strike at some point in the race that would prevent me from finishing without some setback on the course.

        A sweaty and satisfied selfie with Connie.

It’s kind of funny, to be honest. I mean, how could we expect perfection, ever? What in life is actually perfect and why must we always seek it out? I’m a glass half full kinda girl; I see beauty and find happiness in most things. If I fail at something, I haven’t actually failed at life, but I’ve learned a lesson and I take it with me as armor for my next mission. When I go all out too early in a race, I’m mad at myself for about two minutes, and then realize how pointless that is because I’ll have that knowledge next time when they sound GO.  Pros make similar mistakes all the time and you hear them talk about it often. They should have fueled more, they didn’t stretch enough, they cramped up because of lack of hydration. It’s inevitable. We might always have at least one mistake waiting in our tank.

C.C. hangs with her buds at T2. (top row, 3rd from left)

A couple of days ago, the Terrier Tri team had our second training test to kick off the season. We knocked off the 500yard swim test on Sunday, had to cancel our 5k run test on Tuesday (due to icy roads), and now was our bike power test. Power hour was not something I was looking forward to. I was told by someone to push until you feel like you’re going to throw up. What?! Puh-lease, I am not about to start a humpday like that. BUT, I did power through like a champ considering I had no idea what to expect when I hopped on my bike at T2 Multisport. For 30-40 minutes we cycled along the course with a few pushes, until the 20-minute power period approached. Coach yelled GO and suddenly the room fell silent. A few minutes in, and I popped my head up to see everyone completely focused on their on-screen avatar, pushing their wattage, ramping up their RPMs, with puddles of sweat below them. I thought, am I working as hard as them? I’m looking at the screen and my numbers are quite lower than most and I’m thinking I could be failing at this. So I tried not to get distracted and just kept pacing my power periods. I divided the 20 minutes into a 6-6-6-2 model, where I would increase power and speed with each 6-minute block and then the final 2 minutes would be an all-out effort. At times we chanted, screamed, encouraged one another, but mainly we just rode on until that magic 20:00 appeared on the screen. For a first-timer of sorts, I did fairly well and I definitely should not have been focused on other people’s numbers. Wattage and power and all the other details are also based on my weight and my heart rate which I kept at an average of 180bpm (beats per minute). I’m just glad that test is over. Tests in general make me too nervous. I bet if we didn’t call it a test or a race, we could possibly do remarkably better at certain things. But some would argue that nerves make them stronger. The debate continues!

Post sweat sesh, I did feel incredible. I left my bike at T2. Her name is C.C., by the way. C.C. stands for Cavalier’s Choice, which was my grandfather’s winning horse that he loved dearly. C.C. will live at T2 for the next few months and ride with me indoors since outdoor cycling should be illegal with these frigid temps.

                  Silly looking swimmer named BForge

Yesterday, Thursday, I met the team again for an early morning swim. It was another great workout to cap off the week as today I took it easy to rid myself of an ongoing cold. Tonight I chill, tomorrow, well...I haven't figured that out yet! run? cycle? kickbox? We shall see. And boy oh boy I cannot wait for Tuesday’s run test. Tests, ugh. Ok, ok, I’ll try to be positive :)

-BForge

Dedicated to the Dark

                             Peaceful Central Park, 6am

There's something about the dark that is simply peaceful. In a city like New York, we look forward to those moments when we can hear a pin drop, which rarely comes. Over time, I have grown accustomed to early morning skies that surround me as I push my body to new limits. So while the city sleeps, I rise for a reason. My dedication to the dark is steadfast and true.

What brings this topic to light? Well, a 5k run test was set for Tuesday morning at 6am in Central Park to test our speed. So I rose at 5:15am, dressed, stretched, hydrated and tip toed around my sleeping husband. Out the door at 5:45, on location at 6pm...but no teammates were in sight. I checked my email and sure enough the run was cancelled at 11pm the night before due to icy conditions on the road. So there I was, alone in the dark, in the park...not something I would often do on my own. (In the winter, I tend to run at 7am or keep my workouts indoors). But I thought, hey now, I'm already here, bundled up, laced with flashing lights...so I guess I'll do this 5k on my own. So I did. And let me tell you, though it was cold, it was one of the most beautiful and peaceful mornings. 

I snapped some shots of the city lights poking through the bare trees, the pink colors scattered about the dark midnight skies, and I smiled.

                               If this isn't the most beautiful sight...

At 7am I was headed home and I didn't know what to do with all this spare time before work! It's very fulfilling accomplishing something beneficial for yourself before you spend the next several hours behind a desk. Sure, it takes dedication that not everyone has. It means I have to be asleep by 10pm to get a decent night's sleep. Some people would rather stay up late and enjoy themselves, and I don't blame them. But when the end of the work day rolls around, I have checked off all of my boxes for the day.  The dark skies remind me that I should be proud of myself. One foot in front of the other while a city sleeps, keeps me honest and gives me a gift only I can give to myself everyday. 

The point here: go ahead and dedicate yourself to something that brings you joy. Why the heck not, right?

-BForge

          Lights & Ice

A little fun testing out my blinker!

You Ready? Here we go…

Setting up a bike on the compu-trainer

Friday night, I signed up for an Ironman. Twelve hours later, I began my 7-month training journey on a compu-trainer at T2 Multisport. In these classes, you ride on real bikes (road/tri bikes), not spin bikes. Your compu-trainer is attached to your back wheel and turns your bike into a computerized machine. On a screen in front of you, you watch your avatar move across a specified course and your mph, RPM and wattage/power output are visible to everyone. It’s nice to have the group element, but be challenged in a new way, grinding and pushing through world renowned race courses from the “comfort” of an indoor, air-conditioned studio. 

        Bforge is in place!

So alongside a dozen Terrier Tri teammates and avid cyclists, I shifted gears through multiple rounds of uphill pushes, each time adjusting RPM to cater to the increasing incline. Within minutes, I was dripping from head to toe with burning quads and bulging calves, but I knew that no amount of pain meant it was time to quit. Pushing through it is a constant breakthrough as it navigates your body to new levels of fitness. More importantly, it’s mentally rewarding to feel (and see!) how far you’ve come. My cute little green avatar held 3rd place (out of 6 of us) for the first half and then sank to 4th in the last half, finishing just .3 of a mile from 3rd. Placing isn’t a concern, but closing the gap is always a fun challenge, especially since you don’t necessarily have that knowledge on a real race course.

Anyway, it took us one hour to climb approximately 15-16 miles. Tough ride. Amazing workout. I made sure to stretch asap, do plenty of foam rolling and replenish my body with fluids, plenty of protein and healthy carbs. Soon, I was new again.

Yesterday, Sunday morning, the Terriers joined forces again in Central Park for our first group long run of 2015. We celebrated the moment with a group shot and then took off for a steady 8-miler through the 15-degree, wintery weather. It was exciting to have the chance for conversation, getting to know the teammates and hear what everyone is training for. Some of us are into ultra-marathons, some are age-group winners, and some are new to triathlon training all together. Dodging ice and shuffling through some snowy parts, we kept ourselves warm despite the conditions and then broke off when the sun decided to take a break as well. 

    Terrier Tri poses for the first long run of the 2015 season.      I'm pictured far right, thumbs up and all.

I was feeling a cold coming on so I knew it was time to bundle up, work on this blog, and save my energy for Sunday’s second workout. That’s right, the fun wasn’t over. You see, at the start of every season, the coaches need to determine where everyone falls in their training. Based on numbers they get from our speed drills, they can make training plans to fit our level. Though it’s not so fun to race against myself (or against anyone for that matter) it’s definitely the right way to start a season. SO, with that, 6pm rolled around and I met the team at a pool for our 500yard speed set. Yay!

As much as I have grown to LOVE swimming, I was pretty exhausted and couldn’t find the physical strength I had earlier that day. Plus, as most athletes do, I have a few injuries— one being tendonitis that runs from my neck to my finger tips on the right side of the body. No fun, I tell you. And when it acts up, it’s a huge set back. But I stretched and warmed up in the pool a bit before the timer started to loosen up the joints. When coach yelled GO, I definitely went out too fast, which is a major no-no. For a 500yard swim (20 lengths of a 25yard pool), the key is to start steady and continuously build until you go all out for the last 100yards. I was not at my best but still pulled off a decent time of 9:16. Remember, in triathlon, this is the first sport. If you use too much energy, you will feel it later in the race. As an endurance trainee, I am used to a steady pace that ends with a powerful finish. 

So the first weekend of training was complete! Unfortunately, I woke up this morning sick, so unable to make it to swim practice again. The key is to take care of yourself! If I want to do this thing right, I need to rest and recover when necessary. Today was just one of those days. Tonight I sleep, tomorrow we’ve got a 5k run test, so it’s back to biz for Bforge. Wish me luck…and maybe some speed! 

-BForge

                                    T2 Multisport NYC

    Watching our avatars move along the simulated course!

                   Wintery wonderland in Central Park

           Athletes in motion during the 500yard swim test

THE YEAR OF THE IRON-WOMAN!!

It's happening! I'm going to do my first Ironman 140.6 this year!

Ok, I will back up a bit here.

First off, welcome to my FIT with Forge blog! Though FIT is obviously short for fitness (and there's plenty of that here), this FIT stands for FINDING INNER TRIUMPH. Sure, it's an amazing feeling when you cross a finish line, and I bet it's fantastic when you win, but it's remarkable when you enjoy the experience and you treasure the journey. I think it's important that people realize their inner strengths and remember we have the power to change our own lives, to make big strides, to conquer goals and to prove to ourselves that ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE. I am one to speak. A few years ago, I said I couldn't run more than 3 miles. Then I ran everyday across the country (that deserves its own blog post!), knocked off a handful of marathons and figured why not try a TRI?! After each race distance, I recall saying I'd never do more, but I knew I had it in me just like everyone else. I may not win the race, but I always finish with a full heart, strong body and the self-realization that I am physically capable of whatever my mind tells me I am capable of. I am happy while being healthy - and that, my friends, is the key. 

So this is my last year in my 20's, and the road to 30 is going to be the most challenging and fulfilling yet. With a new year in play and a huge feat to come, I wanted to share my story with all of you. I love being inspired by others, so I hope you can find something here to encourage you, or simply make you smile. Or you can laugh and point that I just signed my life away :)

So let's get to that!...

After months of contemplating a full Ironman, I decided it was time to finally take the plunge. After all, if there was a year to do this, it would certainly be now, after having done an IM 70.3 this past fall. So on Friday night, January 9, 2015 (a day for my history books!), at T2 Multisport (great cycling studio in NYC), I got on the computer and bought a general entry for IRONMAN Mt. Tremblant 140.6 in Quebec, Canada - a race scheduled for August 16, 2015. (For those who may not know - an Ironman 140.6 is named for the mileage: 2.4-mile swim, 112-mile bike, 26.2-mile run) And with a sign up of that level, comes the need for a more-than-proper training plan. My IM 70.3 was a lonely experience, though I had great support through my Training Peaks account (thanks coach Land!) So right there in that very same moment, I joined the Terrier Tri team, headed by the same folks that run T2. (Hi coach Robert!) I'm pumped to be able to train alongside some of the strongest (and nicest!) athletes in New York, and be challenged in a way I can greatly look forward to.

Oh wait, that's right. No time to "look forward" to anything - because training began 12 hours later! Compu-trainer class the next morning (one day we'll breakdown the greatness of that!) and then a dual workout on Sunday: 8-mile AM run and a PM speed swim. It's surely getting real, folks. And I'm getting excited. So stay with me, and let's make this one HEALTHY, HAPPY, IRON STRONG new year!

-BForge

       CAPTURED! Me signing up for my first Ironman 140.6 

        Marked my calendar. See you August 16th, Canada!

                     Terrier Tri's main man - meet Buc!