Yesterday around 12:06pm, I was driving on Hwy 92 heading for Hwy 880 to a friend's home for a girls' day out. A HUGE truck right in front of me (about two car lengths) somehow blew its tires and ended up in a spin out right into a car either in front and/or to the right of him. Lucky for me, we were both in land 3 and there were no cars within 5 car lengths in lane 2, so I managed to quick switch to lane 2 and went right around the cars, avoiding a head on accident with them!!! =:-O Of course, the rest of the trip to my friends' home was quite nerve-wrecking.
I'm thankful that lane 2 was clear, that I do not tailgate and therefore had enough time to react by switching over to lane 2, and that I had very quick reflexes!!! Otherwise, I would not be writing to you in the comforts of my home. I would be in a hospital right now fighting for my life! I may not even be alive by now!!!
The moral of the story is... do NOT tailgate your drivers!!! There is a reason why the driving instructors always harp on you to keep 2 car lengths from the car in front of you!!!
Monday, January 21, 2008
Got to workout at a "posh" health club...
My current health club has some sort of a deal going with the more "upscale and posh" Club Sports. I never really thought to go to Club Sports since I don't live anywhere near any of their branches. However, today I was visiting my high school girlfriends for a "good day out" and trust me... with these fab friends, there's no such thing as "keeping a schedule." (Or "diet"... or "portion control" with these people!!! Let's put it another way: Answer to "Chocolate cake or cannolis?" question is "yes!" for them! LOL!!!) Anyway, I was hunting for the closest branch of my health club to go to and one of the friends mentioned something about Club Sports and I remembered that I have that deal going on with my health club that if I pay $10 a visit, I can get into the more posh Club Sports. What sealed the deal? It's only 10 minutes from my friend's home (as opposed to a half hour to the closest branch of my gym.)
This gym is more a resort type of place than an upscale fitness center. Great for those who want to have the "vacation" experience of working out at a gym. The hottub is in the locker rooms, which is great!!! (Unfortunately when I was there, it was CROWDED!!!) If you like to do racquetball, swimming or tennis this is the right place for 'ya! Even though the membership is expensive and the place is more upscale, this is NOT the place to meet rich people, as some of the club guests and members seemed to think! (In the SF area, the Olympic Club is where you meet rich people.)
I was thrilled to find something similar to a Total Body Gym, as well as kettleballs, Plyo boxes and slideboards -- something I don't see at my health club! (I got either funny looks or impressed looks on the slideboards. Members of the club gave me funny looks. The trainers and employees were impressed. LOL!!!) Also, lots of ellliptical trainers (most of them with TV's, but I aim for the onces without a TV... and for a good reason...) However, a couple of things missing for me: 1) Prowler, 2) weighted sled and 3) VertiMax Jump trainer!!! (I would love to have some training in jumping but floor jumping is BAD on my lower back.) :-(
Also, the vibe I get from this gym is that they're more a "resort" than a serious training gym. For this figure skater, it's slightly nerving given my work ethics b/c I want to feel like I'm really training towards a goal and seeing results. For instance, the concept of working out with a TV is great, especially if I am watching football or baseball playoffs or the news. HOWEVER, I would like to concentrate on my cardio session. I'd rather watch my heart rate monitor, how fast I'm going on the elliptical trainer given a certain resistance and be mindful of whather or not I'm pushing myself or not. I don't want to be one of those that mindlessly go on the ellptical trainer to put in my obligated half hour. I want to make the most of my time at the gym, so I'm able to deal with the stress of skating thru two 1:40 programs. (Given that, I still went for the jacuzzi!!! There's something to be said for loosening tight muscles after a hard workout too!!! It's called "recovery!!!" :-P )
There is also a Cafe/Lounge to eat foods and stuff, though it peeves me that it's NOT open in the evenings, which is usually when I work out. GRRRRR!!!
I like this gym and when I am visiting this friend's home again, I will try to make another visit there. BUT...I can't justify spending tons on membership at this place. I'll stay at my current health club for now and go with my independent personal trainers at other "personal training" gyms for training.
This gym is more a resort type of place than an upscale fitness center. Great for those who want to have the "vacation" experience of working out at a gym. The hottub is in the locker rooms, which is great!!! (Unfortunately when I was there, it was CROWDED!!!) If you like to do racquetball, swimming or tennis this is the right place for 'ya! Even though the membership is expensive and the place is more upscale, this is NOT the place to meet rich people, as some of the club guests and members seemed to think! (In the SF area, the Olympic Club is where you meet rich people.)
I was thrilled to find something similar to a Total Body Gym, as well as kettleballs, Plyo boxes and slideboards -- something I don't see at my health club! (I got either funny looks or impressed looks on the slideboards. Members of the club gave me funny looks. The trainers and employees were impressed. LOL!!!) Also, lots of ellliptical trainers (most of them with TV's, but I aim for the onces without a TV... and for a good reason...) However, a couple of things missing for me: 1) Prowler, 2) weighted sled and 3) VertiMax Jump trainer!!! (I would love to have some training in jumping but floor jumping is BAD on my lower back.) :-(
Also, the vibe I get from this gym is that they're more a "resort" than a serious training gym. For this figure skater, it's slightly nerving given my work ethics b/c I want to feel like I'm really training towards a goal and seeing results. For instance, the concept of working out with a TV is great, especially if I am watching football or baseball playoffs or the news. HOWEVER, I would like to concentrate on my cardio session. I'd rather watch my heart rate monitor, how fast I'm going on the elliptical trainer given a certain resistance and be mindful of whather or not I'm pushing myself or not. I don't want to be one of those that mindlessly go on the ellptical trainer to put in my obligated half hour. I want to make the most of my time at the gym, so I'm able to deal with the stress of skating thru two 1:40 programs. (Given that, I still went for the jacuzzi!!! There's something to be said for loosening tight muscles after a hard workout too!!! It's called "recovery!!!" :-P )
There is also a Cafe/Lounge to eat foods and stuff, though it peeves me that it's NOT open in the evenings, which is usually when I work out. GRRRRR!!!
I like this gym and when I am visiting this friend's home again, I will try to make another visit there. BUT...I can't justify spending tons on membership at this place. I'll stay at my current health club for now and go with my independent personal trainers at other "personal training" gyms for training.
Saturday, January 19, 2008
2007 achievements/goals for 2008 (skating)
I posted this on skatingforums.com on the "2007 Achievements/2008 thread" but I should put it here so I can track myself here too! Note that this was written as of early Dec 2007. I have a few comments in blue on the current status.
Achievements for 2007:
2008 Goals:
Achievements for 2007:
- Well, I'm happy to say that the first two goals are finally halfway getting there! I'm at least landing the flip and the loop a lot more often than before.
- Lutz: Well, I've landed one or two on a good day... including one just this past Thursday! But so far, it's still a pipe dream... (Side note: Not as much of a pipe dream now. I've been landing one or two of them a session. They're not great! They're probably royally cheated on the takeoff too or flutzed. But I am landing them CLEAN!!!)
- Camels are at least spinning consistently around at least a couple of revs and more like 3 revs. before I end up dropping back down to a scratch (or on bad days, it doesn't even get past 2 revs.) But it's definitely coming along!!! However, camel-sit is still a dream. I only get them a couple of times in the last six months.
- Skate faster and prettier... Hmmm? Well, I am faster. Prettier... is in the eyes of the beholder.
- ALL my coaches, including my NYC coach, thought that I'm skating faster and have more flow and confidences in my edges, FWIW. That's good to know.
- Silver Moves: Both primary and secondary coach started me on Silver Moves. Oh, dear! It's gonna be a BEAR getting that FO mohawk and the BI3's... (Forward power pulls are getting somewhere though... They're definitely starting to get there.) And if you have seen my artistic program video, my spirals are another big pleasant surprise this year. All that stretching at the gym... (Side Note: I have a heck of a time trying to get my spiral at hip level, especially when my lower back is bothering me. I do a lot of stretching at the gym in order to help me become more flexible. It's a VERY GOOD thing when I can get it at hip level.)
- Back sit spin: This is the surprise one! I actually am starting to get one. Albeit wimpy one and probably won't count on the Bronze FS test if I was doing a back sit instead of a regular sit spin. But it's good enough to make its way into my FS program this year.
- I'm having a hard time saving up for AN AND for new boots! Apparently this year there's been two major home maintanance/repairs that cost a lot of money. But I do have enough to make it to AN if I get roommates and keep the cost of hotels/rooms/B&B/etc. under a certain amount. I did get my boots looked at by Harlicks and there are some things they can do to reinforce the skate more until I need to get new boots. So I'm not too worried about getting new skates right now.
- I did compete as a Bronze lady for the VERY FIRST time in November! What an experience skating with a FINE group of Bronze ladies in both the FS and the artistic events. I definitely have a lot more work to do to get my skating to the point where I would be proud as a Bronze lady. But for now, I'm happy to be skating in the same events as them.
- I've been playing with NYC coach's bracket exercise from last year. I should have something to show him this year, though it's not gonna look pretty or smooth. I think he'll be happy with it. (Well, at least he won't give me a hard time about it.) (Side Note: I did show it to him and though it wasn't that great, he was pleased that I actually am trying for them now.)
- And last but certainly not least... well, we'll see. The year hasn't ended yet. So far, I'm staying healthy this year. (Knock on wood.) Pray it STAYS that way!!! (Side Note: Well, that didn't happen. I caught a bad flu that I'm still trying to recover from.)
2008 Goals:
- I still would like to get my loop and flip consistent to the point where I can comfortably land them clean "at will" like I do with my waltz, toe loop and salchow now.
- Lutz: I would like to land these guys at least as often as I do my loop and flip now. I won't count on landing them as consistent as I do with my waltz, toe loop, and salchow, though it would be REAL nice if that were to happen.
- Have a true backspin on a BO edge and not just a fake one where it rocks from a BO and goes into a FI edge.
- Back sit: Lower!!! Lower!!! (And faster with more revs. too!!! And can I please do it from a forward sit change foot to a back sit spin too? )
- Camel: Please let it be strong enough to transition to a camel-sit! Please, pretty please???
- I hope to make some more progress on Silver Moves. But since I'll be working mostly on my getting jumps and spins for my AN programs in the next few months, I think it will likely be in the back burner for 2009. We'll see.
- Make more $$$ so I can continue to afford my lessons, ice time and PT.
- STAY HEALTHY!!!
Random thoughts as I'm working out at the gym this Friday...
On the elliptical trainer:
- "Geez, its' taking me longer to warm up! Turning 40 is THAT bad!?!?! =:-O" (at the 5 minute mark)
- "Geez, it's nowhere near the target heart rate!!!" (At the 34:07 mark and I'm aiming for 155-156 bpm on the heart rate and I'm at 148 bpm...nowhere near there.)
- "Macho, macho MAN!!! I want to be a macho man..." (from the Village People. Yes, this is on my iPod when I do exercises that reminds me of all the macho men out there on the gym floor pumping away at the weights.)
As I'm doing my tougher exercises:
- "Risin' up... straight to the top. Had the guts, got the glory..." (iPod again... it's from "Eye of the Tiger" by Survivor. If you have watched the old Rocky movie w/Sly Stallone, you'll see him boxing in the ring with his trainer, jumping rope, drinking a raw egg, etc.... all that to prepare for the ring and the big fight. This makes me feel like Rocky preparing for my big fight.)
- "Oh, geez! Now I'm really feeling my age!!!" (as I'm realizing how tired I am after the workout and this workout I had today is "my LIGHT workout day.")
And yes, as you can imagine, there's a lot of "macho men" exercise music in my iPod. (Music from the Rocky movies seems to help me.) I find it funny when I am getting in my "macho man mode" to exercise b/c I obviously don't look ANYTHING like a macho man. (In fact, I find it to be downright funny to play the part of a macho man pumping.) But... whatever works to get me thru the workout!!! LOL!!!
Thursday, January 17, 2008
LUTZ!!! LUTZ!!! LUTZ!!! (Well sorta, kinda!!!)
My primary coach went thru all my tougher jumps just to see where they're at. They're CLEAN landings!!! Loop - check. Loop-loop - Check! Flip - Check!!! Then I tried for a lutz and though it's kinda wimpy and the entry is probably more a flutz than a lutz... the landing was clean! Primary coach says "Hmmmm? That's not a bad attempt at all!!! We'll have to work on it more but....looks like you're starting to get a lutz too!!!" WOO HOO!!! (I have to clean up the entry a bit so it's really a lutz and not a flutz...)
Training to Adult Nationals for 1/16/2007
First thing, Happy New Year to everyone!!!
Now... on to the good stuff...
My weight is now somewhere between 120 and 123lbs, which is still normal but I think now is a good time to start increasing my caloric and particularly my protein intake. The goal with my personal trainers this year is to build muscle and I need the carbs for the energy and the protein to repair the muscle. One of my personal trainer is a ballet dancer and I will have him work me more on dance position stuff and just "being aware of my body position so I won't have to rely on the mirror or plexi-glass to check on my body position. This will be a major undertaking for me since I'm definitely weak in this area. The other personal trainer is a figure skater herself and will work more on off ice training and overall strength stuff relevant to skating. (She wants to build up my upper body!!! She thinks my legs are very strong. She's, of course, right!!! I have NO upper body strength to speak off. LOL!!!)
I was training during the holiday "break" (from my real job as a software engineer...) at Peak Performance Fitness Center in Manhattan (where I was initiated in by pushing a 95 lb Prowler and pulled an equally heavy weighted sled...LOL!!!) and at Chelsea Piers with my wonderful NYC ice skating coach, Emanuele. This year in particularly, Emanuele, with his charm, infinite wisdom, patience, creative thought, care, managed to help me strive for a nice low sit spin (not the "adult" one I have but a much lower on that the kids would go "OOOOOOH!!!" about since it's coming from a middle aged lady!) a process to get me to get into a good jump position on pretty much all my jumps and pretty much all but fixed my toe-waltz problem on the toe loop and gave me at least a "barely" toe loop. (It's technically correct, but it's quite a wimpy small jump!!!)
My one accomplishment this week and last week.
Last week, I've managed not only a double run-thru, but a CLEAN double runthru where the only thing that went wrong was that I was a bit sluggish towards the end and I had to end after the music. Otherwise, ALL my elements were there and all my jumps (including the loop and the flip) were cleanly landed. I'll work on the beginning parts that just got changed around, so it will be better the next time around and I will end with the music! LOL!!!
This week (Wednesday, in fact) I managed even the impossible... I actually did a loop-loop IN the program runthru! I managed it under fear of my secondary coach starting the program again if I missed this jump combo. It's scary b/c EVERYONE in that FS session knows that if she ends the music on the first run-thru that I didn't make the jump and she will start over again and repeat this if I don't land that jump again. THAT fear of humilation is scary enough to take action to do all possible to make me land this jump clean!!! LOL!!! (It was also scary enough that I wanted to skip my lesson for this week, in fact!!! But I figured if I skip this week, I will eventually have to face this fear anyway! Better sooner than later, right?) Again, I ended after the music ended, BUT I did land the flip clean again!!! (WOW!!! The flip was a surprise as well! It was not expected from my coaches!!! Just a challenge for myself to see if I could do it.)
I am also playing around with the lutz. They are "flutzes" right now (BOOOOO!!!) but I'm starting to get more clean landings on those too! (I managed 3 clean lutzes at a recent lesson with my primary coach, in fact!!!)
I want to take the opportunity to wish Johnny Weir the best in reclaiming his US Nationals title, Rohene Ward to finally hold it together thru both programs and show us the beautiful skater that I saw at Caberet On Ice both years that he was here in San Francisco for. He's a remarkable and humble young man and I enjoy watching him skate. Last, but CERTAINLY not least, I hope that the people in TV land will finally show Braden Overett on TV, especially his "Pirates" Free Skate Program. I first saw this program at Skate San Francisco 2006 and I've instantly became a fan of his at that moment. It's time for him to get the TV time and the recognition!!! He's EARNED it!!! (Plus I love reading his blog. It's fun reading about the perspective of someone preparing to go to US Nationals -- mental, physical, etc. A lot of it, I can related as a fellow skater also preparing for my own (Adult) Nationals!)
Now... on to the good stuff...
My weight is now somewhere between 120 and 123lbs, which is still normal but I think now is a good time to start increasing my caloric and particularly my protein intake. The goal with my personal trainers this year is to build muscle and I need the carbs for the energy and the protein to repair the muscle. One of my personal trainer is a ballet dancer and I will have him work me more on dance position stuff and just "being aware of my body position so I won't have to rely on the mirror or plexi-glass to check on my body position. This will be a major undertaking for me since I'm definitely weak in this area. The other personal trainer is a figure skater herself and will work more on off ice training and overall strength stuff relevant to skating. (She wants to build up my upper body!!! She thinks my legs are very strong. She's, of course, right!!! I have NO upper body strength to speak off. LOL!!!)
I was training during the holiday "break" (from my real job as a software engineer...) at Peak Performance Fitness Center in Manhattan (where I was initiated in by pushing a 95 lb Prowler and pulled an equally heavy weighted sled...LOL!!!) and at Chelsea Piers with my wonderful NYC ice skating coach, Emanuele. This year in particularly, Emanuele, with his charm, infinite wisdom, patience, creative thought, care, managed to help me strive for a nice low sit spin (not the "adult" one I have but a much lower on that the kids would go "OOOOOOH!!!" about since it's coming from a middle aged lady!) a process to get me to get into a good jump position on pretty much all my jumps and pretty much all but fixed my toe-waltz problem on the toe loop and gave me at least a "barely" toe loop. (It's technically correct, but it's quite a wimpy small jump!!!)
My one accomplishment this week and last week.
Last week, I've managed not only a double run-thru, but a CLEAN double runthru where the only thing that went wrong was that I was a bit sluggish towards the end and I had to end after the music. Otherwise, ALL my elements were there and all my jumps (including the loop and the flip) were cleanly landed. I'll work on the beginning parts that just got changed around, so it will be better the next time around and I will end with the music! LOL!!!
This week (Wednesday, in fact) I managed even the impossible... I actually did a loop-loop IN the program runthru! I managed it under fear of my secondary coach starting the program again if I missed this jump combo. It's scary b/c EVERYONE in that FS session knows that if she ends the music on the first run-thru that I didn't make the jump and she will start over again and repeat this if I don't land that jump again. THAT fear of humilation is scary enough to take action to do all possible to make me land this jump clean!!! LOL!!! (It was also scary enough that I wanted to skip my lesson for this week, in fact!!! But I figured if I skip this week, I will eventually have to face this fear anyway! Better sooner than later, right?) Again, I ended after the music ended, BUT I did land the flip clean again!!! (WOW!!! The flip was a surprise as well! It was not expected from my coaches!!! Just a challenge for myself to see if I could do it.)
I am also playing around with the lutz. They are "flutzes" right now (BOOOOO!!!) but I'm starting to get more clean landings on those too! (I managed 3 clean lutzes at a recent lesson with my primary coach, in fact!!!)
I want to take the opportunity to wish Johnny Weir the best in reclaiming his US Nationals title, Rohene Ward to finally hold it together thru both programs and show us the beautiful skater that I saw at Caberet On Ice both years that he was here in San Francisco for. He's a remarkable and humble young man and I enjoy watching him skate. Last, but CERTAINLY not least, I hope that the people in TV land will finally show Braden Overett on TV, especially his "Pirates" Free Skate Program. I first saw this program at Skate San Francisco 2006 and I've instantly became a fan of his at that moment. It's time for him to get the TV time and the recognition!!! He's EARNED it!!! (Plus I love reading his blog. It's fun reading about the perspective of someone preparing to go to US Nationals -- mental, physical, etc. A lot of it, I can related as a fellow skater also preparing for my own (Adult) Nationals!)
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