Nannette’s Ironman-Germany
Meet Nikki
August 2nd, 2009 · Uncategorized
Hi, I’m Nikki. My friend Pam, founder of ellasport, asked me to start this blog to tell you a little about myself. She wanted a place for women to be able to share their stories. Since I thought that it was a great idea and as an avid ellasport supporter, and user (or wearer…not sure if that’s a word), I agreed. I’ve never blogged before so it may take me some time to get into this but I’m trying! :)
A little about me: by day I’m an attorney, but please don’t hold that against me, I swear all those lawyer rumors are not true! I’m also a very active person; I’m always doing some sort of physical activity, especially running. The original intent of this blog was for me to share my experiences training for the NYC Marathon 2009. Well, due to an injury, I unfortunately may not be able to compete in the Marathon this year, so this blog, much like my training schedule, is going to have to take a different turn.
I first ran the NYC Marathon in 2006. Here I am below. As you can see I had a great time!
This year was supposed to be about improving my time, but, unfortunately, I severely pulled my sartorius muscle in training and now the only thing I care about is making it to the start line! Funny how things can change so abruptly… For every day I feel hopeful that I will make it, there is another day where I am completely discouraged. I know there is always next year, but that somehow just isn’t comforting after all the time and effort I have put in.
I’ d really love to hear from anyone else who has had a similar injury or has advice or similar experiences with dealing with injuries during marathon training. Maybe we can make it through it together!
Nikki
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NYC Nautica Triathlon 2009 A Success!!
August 2nd, 2009 · Uncategorized
It was my second time completing the New York City Nautica Triathlon this year and it was such a great race!! Last year during the run I seriously thought I was just going to melt and/or passout and die! It was 90 degrees and 95% humidity at 4 am. This year, despite the downpour during transition setup at 4:30 am, it was much better racing weather.
I was able to take six minutes off my run and one minute off of my bike times from last year. HOWEVER, my transition times were slower than last year!! I guess I need to practice running in my wetsuit??? Judging from the picture below, maybe I could have picked up the pace during my wetsuit run…seeing as I was able to smile though the Hudson River grime all over my face!! 
This picture really makes me laugh.
A total time of 2 hours and 56 minutes is ok with me…for this year. Next year the goal is 2:50!! With this race behind me for another year there is some level of relief because the pressure to stick with a training schedule is gone. I even drank yesterday! At the same time I feel a bit lost. Today is Sunday and I have a gazillion things on the never ending “to-do” list yet I am not sure what to do with myself. I think I need that weekly bike ride to Nyack in order to get things done when I get home?? I don’t know!
I do plan to run in the the New York City Half-Marathon on August 16th…which I am completely not ready for because my ITB injury has kept me from adding enough miles to my run!!! SO I am not totally off the training hook – nor would I want to be…I think a daily dose of kicking my butt keeps me productive in other areas of life :).
Below are a couple of photos from the race last weekend.
Happy sweating!
Pam
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Love, Nerves, and the NYC Triathlon
July 29th, 2009 · Uncategorized
What a weekend!!?? The weather here in New York was perfect – in the 80’s and sunny. With the NYC Triathlon exactly one week away it was a big workout weekend, as most weekends are when you work all week! The butterflies in my stomach are starting as next Sunday fast approaches. It will be my second time competing in this Tri. This weekend last year I was so nervous I swore I would never do another triathlon again!! But fate intervened. I met Rob exactly one year ago this weekend at Brighton Beach doing an open water swim (This is when you get in your wetsuit on an 85 degree day, get asked by the beach goers if you’re diving for treasures or doing an investigation, and swim in the ocean for ‘open water’ experience. Highly entertaining!) Anyway, Rob was coming out of the water, wetsuit half unzipped, his black hair was dripping from the ocean, and he was so sexy without even knowing it. Well it was love at first sight – though I completely never believed in stuff like that. But maybe now I should . My point is that he changed my mind about Triathlon. He approaches them as something fun to do whereas I used to see them as a way to meaure my athletic self-worth – which I not a healthy approach! After getting through the race last year, Rob and I started running and cycling together. And what do you know, he convinced me to do a few more triathlons later in the season and am so happy he did. Now I am closer to actually enjoying them – baby steps. :)
So thanks to my honey I am not so nervous for the NYC Tri this Sunday because it will be something fun to do. : )
Pam
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Inspirational Words from Chrissie Wellington, Triathlon Champ
July 29th, 2009 · Uncategorized
I just can not get enough of this woman!! She is just amazing and keeps breaking Triathlon records with such an air of modesty it’s absolutely captivating to me. And she is ALWAYS smiling!
Let’s draw some inspiration from her motivational words below (courtesy of TYR) to help push us through the next urge to skip a run or quit half way through because we’d rather grab some ice cream and call it a day!
Pam
Remember that quality not quantity is best, when training for all distances
Visualize before the race – preempt what might happen, both good and bad and develop a strategy for dealing with it (don’t worry about the things you cannot control, only think about the things you can).
Get a regular sports massage – a wonderful fine line between pleasure and pain.
Don’t fear pain, but come to expect it and, as above, use training to develop your own mental strategy for coping. the mind and body are much stronger than you think they are.
Never let people set your limits – always aim high and believe that anything is possible!
Enjoy it and smile – its supposed to be fun!
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ellasport – women’s athletic apparel
July 29th, 2009 · Uncategorized
Hi! My name is Pamela and I founded a women’s athletic apparel company – ellasport. This was done out of extreme necessity! I was REALLY tired of my running tank ending up around my neck after about 45 seconds of running! And don’t even get me started on the shorts that ride up so far that my bikini bottom covers more!! So I set out to make my own workout apparel that didn’t cause me such distress . ellasport.com launched in March and we have not had one return yet! Here’s a photo of my friend Nannette and I cycling up to Nyack, NY a few weekends ago. We’re wearing the Chelsea Racerback. Oddly enough we didn’t plan to wear the same tank…really we didn’t!!
Other than trying to create the perfect fitting workout apparel, I teach Spin class for New York Sports Club, or NYSC for those of you in the NYC metro area, and I seriously love it!! But to pay the bills and the ellasport designers I work as an Environmental Engineer. On the athletic front I have gotten into Triathlon – the cycling leg being my favorite . I hope to somehow get involved with the coaches of the Trek Women’s Triathlon series for the NY race coming up in September (more on that in another post). Weekly I play volleyball on a competitive women’s league with my girls, The Spankers! I am absolutely brand spankin’ new to blogging. However I do hope that this blog will be a place for women to discuss and share on all topics related to being active and/or female! I look forward to sharing with you!
Pam
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