2010 Off to a Great Start- Running Very Well

I have to say I am super pleased with the way our Montecito 16-1s played in our first Qualifier at El Camino College. We took 2nd place, and are looking forward to our next tournament on February 20th. Each week, my volleyball team has 6 hours of gym practice, and 1 hour of strength training. One practice is mainly skill/conditioning focused, and the next is more game-like situation and fast-paced drill focused. The 3rd practice is only for travel players and we do a game situation warm-up, and then compete the rest of the time. Strength training during the week varies between strength and plyometrics. Today, we worked on both strength and plyo- we did very well. I am missing 3 players for the next practice (tomorrow night), so my practice is going to be dynamic and varied when it comes to players playing specific positions. I will say that the best thing I could do as a coach is get my players to play multiple positions. I have an outside hitter that I have yet to put as a setter, but I feel like I could at anytime. She has beautiful hands. Maybe next year.

I tried something new, and I suggest that you try it as well if you can- working out with a new running group. There is a run group in town that is quite competitive, and it grew in numbers after the Inaugural Santa Barbara Marathon, which took place this past December. We did an easy 3.5 mile warm up, and then did 6 1-mile repeats on a trail out north of SB. I finished the day by running an extra 1.5 miles north after the repeats and then the 5 miles back to my car. The entire day with some rest in between took about 2.5 hours. I plan on running again with them, but this entire week it will be raining. I will be running outside as much as possible. I also would love to swim, and this is always possible (keep this in mind) when it is raining.

I just signed up for the Los Osos trail run...25K. I am going to do that in February, the 14th to be exact. This is 1 month out from my Marathon at Catalina. I am training a client for the Chardonnay 10-Miler in Santa Barbara on the 18th of April. That will be my next race after Catalina...which is on the 13th of March. So, about once every month I am racing. I might do some tris this summer, or decide to stick to the Nite Moves series in SB. Those are always fun as well.

Have a great week! Enjoy the rest of your January. Don't forget your strength training!

5th Day and Counting...Volleyball To Come

Today was my 5th day in a row surfing, and today I went to Rincon. Not very big waves, but definitely, I was able to catch a lot. However, it was really cloudy and misty, and it just wasn't the best weather for it, and my toe still hurt a lot from the previous day's wipe out at C Street. I am not sure that I will have time to surf tomorrow unfortunately, but I will make time to run in the morning. I am training for the Catalina Marathon, so I have to keep putting in the mileage.

Tonight, we are having Club Volleyball Practice. I am the Head Coach and Director of the Montecito Volleyball Club. We have roughly 4 practices before our first tournament. We have a great team, very competitive. I am going to focus on ball control tonight, and being strong on the attack, regardless of the set. I am also going to work on defense and converting the ball for a sideout. I hope that we get put in a tough division to start off in for this year, but we'll see.

One note on surfing today. I went out by myself, and this is the first time back out since yesterday. I was a bit discouraged yesterday because the waves were so strong and I think I was in over my head. Today, getting in was a bit discouraging as well- not because the waves were big, just because it was my first time back in the water- and my toe was super sore. But, enough complaining. I just had to get back in again, and I am glad that I did. It was nice to stand up on 3 waves, but a bit hard to paddle out against the surf in that low tide and rocky bottom. I might get the urge to go out tomorrow- can't wait for the day when I am out for more than 4 hours. That would be great!

Tomorrow is New Years Eve...time to enjoy the rest of the year and get ready for the new o

Surfing New Thing

So, I got a new surfboard for Christmas. I went out on Day 1 by myself. Only 3 other people out on in the waves- nothing too big. I had fun getting out there and just getting wet. I didn't quite stand up, but it was fun. That was 4 days ago. 3 days ago, I went out to Mondos- a great beginner spot. I had a blast there. Lots of waves to try to catch, and fairly medium tide. So, and, I went with Sherrie and I actually stood up twice. 2 days ago, we went to Leadbetter- which were 7-8 foot waves. Pretty big for my 3rd day out. I actually stood up once, caught a gnarly wave, and then got pummeled coming back in to shore. That was the hardest part of that day- just paddling out- even though the current wasn't too strong. This morning, we went out to C-street in Ventura. I knew just from the looks of it the waves were super strong, the current was so strong as well. I swam out, caught one wave, got washed up all the way into the rocks. And, needless to say, I didn't hurt myself too badly. I got a toenail ripped off, a gash on the other foot and a bruise on my shin. Not too bad I guess. But, on the 4th day, I don't have too much to report. I was only out for 40 mins, and had to get out. Too big for me. No pride hurt..I will try again- but, keep the waves at 3-4'.

New Year for 2010

It has been a wonderful year, 2009, looking back. Athletically, I finished some amazingly difficult races and placed at most of them:

Ironman 70.3 New Orleans
Worlds Toughest Half Ironman, Auburn CA
Ironman France
Pier to Peak Half Marathon, Santa Barbara CA
Endurance Challenge Half Marathon, Sausalito CA

I was busy training several athletes for their races- most notably, Anthony Barton qualified for Kona as a 40-year old, practically twice this year, but got the "earned" spot at IM AZ2. Marisa Lopez completed a grueling Marathon in Big Bear, CA. Amy Mayfield completed the Nike Womens Half Marathon AND the Pier to Peak Half Marathon this year. John Muse also completed a 4:07 Marathon in the 50-year AG and is going again in March for the sub 4 mark at the ING Marathon.

Being my own "boss" has also helped me to focus on what I have always known I was good at- and that is coaching Volleyball. I started Montecito Volleyball Club this year up here in the North County Region (SCVA). I have 1 team- a 16-1s team, and our first tournament is January 9, 2010. I was also the Head Volleyball Coach for the Girls Team at CATE School in Carpinteria, and we made playoffs for the first time in several years. That was a great accomplishment and I made many friends and was able to train many talented athletes there at that school.

Looking forward to 2010, I am going to enjoy my sister Taylor's last season as an Oregon Duck- she is a Senior guard for their basketball team and is going to set the record for all-time 3-point leaders. I am going to do the Catalina Marathon in March on my 31st birthday, and then do some smaller sprint and Olympic distance triathlons over the summer. I really want to focus on making the volleyball team and programs out here successful.

Hope that you take some time to reflect on your year and write down some of the things you are most proud of. I am blessed in that I am able to work with so many people each day that want to better their health. That is exciting for me.

Here's to a wonderful 2010!

Do What You Are Good At

Just had to throw in this picture of Macca and I from New Orleans...forgot I had it. Makes me smile everytime I see it- not because he is an Ironman Champion, but because it is a really good picture.

Hope all is going well in everyone's training. I am excited for McCray Miller and Anthony Barton at Ironman Lake Placid this weekend- tomorrow actually. Looking for some stellar performances- they have worked so hard.

I wanted to blog about a few things...mostly because I have had a few long runs this week, and they have not been super "planned" in any particular race program put together for myself, by myself. I, in fact, ran because I was enjoying it. In turn, I met a lot of people on my runs that I piggy-backed on, speed wise. I had fun chasing down 2 50-year old guys, doing intervals along the beach. Hung with them for 20 mins, had a wonderful workout. Copied the interval training workout with my athlete, Amy Mayfield, the next day. That was great. Had a sprint workout yesterday- jumped in at Platinum and did 20 30-sec intervals, in addition to some strength training in between. Then, this morning, ran 9 miles- this afternoon, rowed 4.5 miles. Felt great.

I know what I love- I love going fast. I don't particularly like the slow pace of the Ironman. I enjoy coaching at this level and the half-Ironman level. But, for Coach E- speed is where it is at. I am looking forward to Clearwater, and in the meantime- getting my new Kuota next week, and getting on that when I can. But, I really enjoy running with friends and then rowing- and definitely strength training again.

A new athlete of mine, Sherrie McIntyre, is a great cyclist- just coming off of a calf injury- and is enjoying getting herself stronger on land for her cycling. She will notice a big difference. I am enjoying doing some specific sport stretching and rolling for some clients to help them with range of motion, injury prevention, and overall relaxation.

Get out there and enjoy the fresh air when you can. Do the activities you truly enjoy while staying active and fit. You will be better for it in the LONG RUN.

Coach E