JEN YEN's Ironman Journey
2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike, 26.2 mile run = 140.6 miles of fun....
Hi! Welcome family, friends and supporters to Jen Yen's Team In Training home page.
JEN YEN!, YOU ARE AN IRONMAN!, I completed the HARDEST physical and mental thing by participating in the Subaru 2008 Ironman Canada in Pentiction, Canada on August 24, 2008 as a member of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's Team In Training - Ironteam.
My race number, 1868
Swim - 1:18:06
T1 - 0:09:57
Bike - 7:48:55
T2 - 0:14:58
Run - 6:36:07
Overall -16:08:03
This year marks the 5th year anniversary of my Dad, Steven Yen passing. He battled Non-Hodgskin's Lymphoma and passed away in Jan 2003. Since then, I've been involved with LLS from run/walking Marathons, Hiking down into the Grand Canyon, Cycling Centuries and now completing triathlons.
Here are some of the event's I've done to get ready for Ironman:
05/03/08 - Wildflower Long Course Triathlon, Lake San Antonio, CA
1.2 Mile swim - 56 Mile bike - 13.1 Mile run - finished in 8hrs, 11min.
05/18/08 - Uvas South Bay Triathlon, Morgan Hill, CA
3/4 Mile swim - 16 Mile bike - 5 Mile run - finished in 2hrs, 21min.
06/08/08 - Escape from Alcatraz Triathlon, San Francisco, CA
1.5 Mile swim - 18 Mile bike - 8 Mile run - finished in 3hrs, 42min.
06/28/08 - Pacific Crest 08 Half Iron, Sun River, OR
1.2 Mile swim - 56 Mile bike - 13.1 Mile run - finished in 7hrs, 45min.
07/26/08 - Lake Del Valle Aqua Challenge, Livermore, CA
2 Mile swim (non-wetsuit) - finished in 1hr, 13min.
08/14/08 - UBS Splash and Dash #3, Santa Clara County, CA
1.5K Mile swim and 5K run - finished in 1hr, 9min.
08/24//08 - Subaru 2008 Ironman Canada, Pentiction, B.C. CANADA
2.4 Mile / 3.8 km swim - 112 Mile / 180 km bike - 26.2 Mile / 42.2 km run
This summer has continued with INSANE workouts! and I got a NEW BIKE! Now it's IRONMAN! :o) If you want to read more details on my long workouts over the past year, read below
SUN 08/3 - San Francisco, CA
Attempted to bike across the Golden Gate bridge, but fell off my bike since it was sooo windy. Then, ran a little bit, but didn't feel great.
SAT 08/2 - Guernville, CA
Supported the Vineman Ironman as a volunteer bodymarker and wetsuit stripper. Then went on a 79 mile bike ride to the ocean and back (x2)
SUN 07/27 - Edgewood and Canada, CA
Can you say, TRIPLE BRICK ?!? Yup, 2hrs biking then 1hr running, then 2 hrs biking, then 1hr running then 2hrs biking and then 1hr jogging/walking.... Hardest workout of the season!
SAT 07/26 - Lake Del Valle Aqua 2mile open water swim challenge in Livermore, CA
In 1hr, 13 minutes, I swam 2 miles in the lake. The results got messed up and they placed me in a wetsuit division, even though, I just swam in my bathing suit. I placed 3rd! hahaha.
SUN 07/13 - Los Altos, CA
Jogged/Walked to Gate of Heaven to pay respects to Louie Bonpua. Both North Bay and South Bay teams came together to share their personal stories and some even came over to see my DAD. I felt sooo incredible grateful for having the love and support from an awesome ironteam!
SUN 07/12 - Lover's Point - Monterey, CA
Swam in kelp for 1 hr and ran for 4hrs afterwards along the coast. Beautiful!
July 4th weekend
Swam with Donna and Afi at Redwood Shores on Thursday after trying to find an open water swim location. (Since Quarry Lakes closed at 7pm). Friday, swam with Chris and Jesus at Lake Del Valle in Livermore on the 4th for 2miles. Walked into a truck hitch afterwards and got a nice bruise on my leg! Tried to run at Rancho but ended up hiking around with Doug.
Check out some pictures from this year with Spring Tri Team and Ironteam!
After the Triathlon, we rode our bikes along part of Crater Lake! There was snow and it was gorgeous -- DID NOT appreciate the BUG bites though.
SUN 06/29 - Sun River, OR
Finished the Pacific Crest Half Iron in 7hrs, 45 minutes in 97 degree weather. Beautiful course. Swam in Lake Wikiup and then biked around Mt. Bachelor (there was snow up there!) and ran along Sunriver. What a great day! The free chiropractic adjustment was the best afterwards.
FRI 06/27 - Sunriver,OR
I did a lovely scenic 47 mile bike ride.
SUN 06/21 - Redwood Shores, CA
We went swimming in Redwood Shores in the YUCKY grassy water followed by a 10 mile run towards San Mateo bridge. It was HOT. Then I went trapeze flying with Michelle's bridal shower in Oakland.
SUN 06/22 - Edgewood/Canada in San Mateo, CA
Rode 75 miles and then followed by another 10 mile run.
SUN 06/14 - ALL over the BAY AREA, CA
We started at Steven's Creek Resevior at 6:30 a.m. with a 3500 yrd swim (2mi). That was 5 loops, this was followed by a 98 mile ride. It took me FOREVER I came back to the park at 8:30 p.m. - Just in time before the park closed!
SUN 06/15 - Sawyer Camp Trail, San Mateo, CA
Happy Father's Day! After the crazy workout on Sat, I ran for 2hrs and 18 minutes. I did a little over 11 miles. At least the brunch at Maria's and Joe's was fantastic! MAN, is my BODY sore!
SUN 06/8 - San Francisco, CA
I ESCAPED FROM ALCATRAZ in 3 hours, 41 minutes! Check out my pictures from the event:Smiling photos of me at Escape from Alcatraz triathlon.
SUN 06/1 - Seabright Beach, CA
Went on an hour long ocean swim with Ironteam and a dying sealion. Ran for a little bit along the coast (1hr) before headed back to the Bay Area to watch my Mom's tap dancing recital.
SAT 05/31 - San Mateo, CA
I went on a 65 mile bike ride with Trista and Ironteam. Doug crashed and when we got back to the car at Edgewood/Canada, the car was broken into and my workbag and purse was stolen! My bag was found this week, but the valuables inside are gone. =(
MON 05/26 - San Francisco, CA
Swam with Dave and Doug at Aquatic Park at 6:30, okay 7am! It WAS FREEZING! It took forever to get used to the water. Afterwards, I went on a 12ish mile run from Aquatic Park to across the Golden Gate bridge and then back past the Bay Bridge along the Embarcadero. I'm totally sore and tired.
SAT 05/24 - Memorial Weekend in Bay Area, CA
I went on a 65 mile bike ride with Steve, Ray and Doug. We went up HWY 9 to Skyline down La Honda (very scenic but chilly!). Saw Coach Steve at the top of Skyline and back down the hill, along Foothill to eventually Saratoga. We made it before dark!
SUN 05/18 - Morgan Hill, CA
Uvas Triathlon consisted of a .75mile swim, 16 mile bike and a 5 mile run. For some reason, I stayed way clear of the swimmers. I did get bumped around in the beginning. Then I on the bike and run. For some reason, I thought it was a 5K, not a 5 mile....However, it was a great little race!
SAT 05/02 - Lake San Antonio, CA
Surrounded my beautiful, purple, yellow and orange wildflowers, I completed the Long Course and boy, was it LONG. The swim was scary. Some lady, swam over me and I over rotated my left shoulder, causing me to SCREAM in pain. A kayak came to my aid, and I did not have any motion in my arm. After a few moments, which felt forever, it went back to normal and I was able to continue on my swim. I then was able to transition to my bike to ride over 4 hours around the lake. It was HOT climbing up the notorious "Nasty Grade". I came back to transition area and started the run portion. I walked up every hill and maintained a slow jog, but I finished before the cutoff!! Yay!! I'm super sore and my shoulder still hurts, but I can say, I have done Wildflower Long course!!
If you'd prefer to send a check, please make it out to “The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society” and send it my address at:
Attn: Jen Yen
1310 Saddle Rack Street, #320
San Jose, CA 95126
Thank you very much in advance! I hope you have a terrific day, but even if nothing else goes right today, you'll be able to look back on today know that you've done something important. You're helping to cure cancer. That's something to be proud of. :o)
With heartfelt thanks!
Below are some stories of this spring's workouts!
SAT 4/12 - Aptos, CA
Swam 2 loops around the World War I cement ship. Approx .5 mile. (In the cold and fishy smelling OCEAN water) Then rode 44 miles. (got a flat tire)
Check out where we rode:
http://www.mapmyrun.com/run/united-states/ca/aptos/199802010
Check out the history of where we swam around:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palo_Alto_(tanker)
SUN 4/13 - Redwood Shores, CA
Swam 1.5 miles. From the dock to the end to the bridge and back to the end and to the dock. Then climbed over 7000ft on a bike - 68 miles from Redwood Shores, up Ralston, to Canada, to Woodside Rd, up Kings Mountain, to Skyline, down 84 to the San Gregorio , up Stage Road to Hwy 1 then up Tunintas Creek Road (the uphill road that never ends) to back home. My legs were on fire for days!
4/11 - 4/13 PRACTICE WEEKEND @ Lake San Antonio (near Lockwood,CA by King City, CA
OMG! I did the ENTIRE Long course in the heat! It was around 87-97 degrees! I swam in the lake for 46 minutes, rode around the lake for 4hrs, 17 minutes and walked/hiked/kinda jogged for 4hrs and 4 minutes. I got tan and sunburned on my shoulders!
SAT 4/19 - PRACTICE TRI @ Stevens Creek Resevior
Was a buddy swimmer and then ran with Coach Dan and Bindu up in the hills. My legs were sore from all the HILLS!
SUN 4/20 - Swimming at Aquatic Park - BRR
SAT 4/19 - Riding the Vineman Bike Course
Went the scenic route and did 5 more miles for a total of 65miles in over 4 hours around the vineyards of wine country. Nice headwinds.
SUN 4/20 - Coached Gunderson HS workout
Swam over 3000 yards, did relay races, funky swim drills and over-rotated my shoulder! =( This was followed by a 2.5hour run in the heat!
So while I’m training, I need your help and support. If 100 people donate $100, 200 people donate $50, 400 people donate $25, or 1000 donate $10, then I’ll meet my goal. I understand that not everybody can afford the $100 at this time, but any amount that you can contribute will be greatly appreciated.
All donations are 100% tax deductible, and it only takes a minute to donate. You can do it right now with a credit card by using the form on the left hand side of this page.
Jen Yen
