Woohoo! After a few weeks of rest and recharging, I’m officially back on the grind. It feels amazing to return to training mode—this time with my eyes set on the Tri-Factor Ho Chi Minh Championship, happening on August 17. With a little over two months to go, I’m ready to rebuild my base and work toward a stronger, healthier version of myself.
But first—let’s rewind a bit.
Post-Ironman: Rest, Recharge, and Realignment
After completing Ironman Danang, I allowed myself the space to fully recover. I took some much-needed time off, traveled to Singapore, and visited my hometown to reconnect with my parents and close friends. Training for a triathlon often means putting social life on pause, so it felt grounding to revisit these connections and simply enjoy being present.
Now, with my next race on the calendar, I feel a healthy dose of pressure creeping back in—and honestly, I welcome it. Pressure, when harnessed correctly, becomes a powerful motivator. It’s the little push that keeps us from settling. For me, having a concrete goal helps me align all other aspects of life, both personal and professional. It becomes a milestone not just for athletic performance, but for growth across the board.
Weekly Base Training Schedule: Building the Foundation
This week kicks off my base training phase. That means we’re laying the groundwork for endurance, strength, and discipline. Here’s a breakdown of the week:
Tuesday & Thursday
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🚴♀️ 40 km cycling sessions focusing on cadence training.
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What is cadence? Cadence is the rate at which a cyclist pedals, measured in RPM (revolutions per minute).
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This week’s target: Cadence of 100 RPM.
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🏊♀️ Swimming sessions are back! I haven’t been in the pool for a while, so I’m excited to build that rhythm again.
Wednesday & Friday
- 💪 Gym day, focused on legs and core strength. Let’s just say: sore legs = strong legs!
- 🏃♀️ Plus, a 10 km Zone 2 run, targeting a running cadence of 190 (my recent run averaged at 185—progress!).
Saturday
- 🚴♀️ 50 km cycling
- 🏃♀️ 5 km running
Sunday
- 🚴♀️ 70 km cycling
- 🏃♀️ 7 km running
Both weekend sessions are in Zone 2, which is a comfortable aerobic zone that builds endurance without overexerting the heart. My goal right now is completing, not competing—staying consistent and listening to my body.
Nutrition Reminders from Coach
Fueling properly is as important as the workout itself. Here are the key nutrition takeaways from my coach this week:
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Tuesday & Thursday (swimming days):🍊 Add more vitamin C and Group 1 carbohydrates (fruits, oats, rice).
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Thursday (overall):🥗 Eat more vegetables with olive oil for healthy fats and fiber.
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Saturday & Sunday (long sessions): 🍚 All kinds of carbs + protein for quick recovery.
🔕 One golden rule: No training after 8 p.m.
☀️ And always prefer outdoor cycling over indoor trainers—it’s better for both the mind and the lungs!
Work and Training: Two Projects, One Mindset
As I train for this next race, I’m also juggling some intense work projects. Interestingly, preparing for a triathlon and managing a large-scale work project aren’t that different. Both require:
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Goal-setting
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Breaking tasks into smaller milestones
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Daily discipline
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Tracking progress
Right now, I’m using Lark as my go-to tool for project management. It helps me map out what needs to be done, who’s involved, and what success looks like at each step. Whether I’m building a digital product, managing a campaign, or grinding through a training session, structure sets me free.
Sunny Valley: A Dream Taking Shape
One of my most meaningful personal projects right now is Sunny Valley—a digital space I’m creating to support people who care about the body, mind, and spirit. I envision Sunny Valley as more than just a blog or website. It’s a community and a platform where we celebrate mindful living, endurance training, and personal growth.
I’ve teamed up with Tri, a trusted developer and collaborator I’ve worked with before. He’s currently supporting me in building out the backend of the website, translating my ideas into functional code. I’m also deeply involved in the frontend design and UX. With my background in graphic design, I get to add a personal touch to the user experience.
We’re experimenting with features, optimizing the layout, and refining the tone to reflect my brand’s essence: warm, grounded, and growth-oriented.
Upcoming: Podcast Launch and Content Rollout
June is going to be exciting! My new intern starts soon, and together we’re working on building content across multiple platforms:
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TikTok
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Facebook
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Instagram
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Pinterest
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LinkedIn
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YouTube
I’m also launching a podcast in mid-June. I want it to be a space where people from all walks of life can share their stories of transformation, lessons from challenges, and how they continue to grow in mind, body, and spirit. Think of it as Sunny Valley’s audio companion—real, raw, and uplifting.
The dream is to eventually scale this project and build a meaningful digital hub that people turn to for motivation, mindfulness, and movement.
Embrace the Pressure
It’s easy to feel overwhelmed with so many things happening at once—training, work projects, website building, content creation—but I’m learning to embrace the pressure.
Just like training for a triathlon, building a dream takes consistency, humility, and heart. Each day is a brick I lay toward a future I believe in.
If you’re reading this and you’re working on something of your own—whether it’s a fitness goal, a business idea, or simply trying to be more intentional in life—remember: break it down, keep showing up, and trust the process.
Here’s to pressure that fuels progress, and dreams that demand discipline. Happy Monday 🌞
