New Goals, New Challenges

I am ready to go, I am ready to train, I am ready to race. Yep, yep, I am feeling super ambitious. Fresh off an excellent showing in my last race I am all set.

As soon as I finished my last race, I mentioned to one of my friends that I had seen such a huge improvement, putting me on par with my friends and training buddies, that I wasn't sure where to go from there. She said, "Two minutes off your next race." Oh, right, keep working to improve. What a concept? I spent a minute feeling like a schmuck. I got over it quickly and starting planning out what I want to do next.

Summer vacation for this kids is also up us. I am clearly a very selfish invdividual and none too excited about giving up my three free mornings every week. I am working so hard to change my perspective and try to see this forced hiatus as a gift.

So, first, here on my racing goals.

Triathlons
Firecracker Relay (I'll be on the bike) - July 3
Tri for Acts of Kindness, Sprint - Sept. 17
Tinfoilman (Tucson Tri Series), Sprint - Oct. 16
Desert Grande, Sprint - Early Nov.

Cycling
El Tour de Tucson, 66 miles

Running
Improve my 5k time through the Fall
Disneyland Tinkerbell Half Marathon, January 29, 2012

Some of these are no-brainers. In fact all to the tris fall in that category. I will continue to train, these races are mostly local, and there is no reason not to race. The El Tour is a whole different beast. I am so new to cycling and just getting my legs under me. I figure this challenge is going to let me shift my focus completely to cycling for a few months. This will be a nice change. It will be one of those self-realization moments when I cross the finish line. Much like the first half marathon I ran 10 years ago. I cried when I finished it, not from pain but from feeling self-doubt be put to rest and knowing that I could re-invent myself. This is the same sort of thing. Now, the Disneyland Half Marathon is admittedly a self-indulgent excuse to go to Disneyland with my girlfriends. There, I own it.

Lifestyle Goals

I need to get a better grip on my nutrition. I am not all that concerned with losing weight since that is a challenge that makes me feel mentally ill. I am doing a pretty good job of letting that obsession slip away. I am seeing consistent body improvement, a little weight loss, lots of new muscle. That is all good. I need to fix my nutrition. I toy with the idea of going vegetarian just because I know I would have to make better nutrition choices if I had to revamp my normal menu. Either way, I need to start incorporating my vegetables, fruits and whole grains. I need to work more consistently at avoiding sugar and empty foods. I can feel the difference in my body almost instantly.

I also want to start incorporating some cross training activities. I see weight lifting and yoga in my future. Mostly yoga though since it forces me to quiet my mind and makes me stretch my hamstrings.

Work Goals

I need to focus on getting my math course in order for the Fall semester. This will mean many hours re-teaching myself the basics of algebra. I can do it, I just don't particularly like it. BUT, teaching this course will put me one step closer to an awesome weekend away with my friends. I also need to submit my paperwork to apply for a teaching position in the Fall of 2012. I am the oppositve of interested in going back to work full time but I also know that I won't be able to justify so much free time once the kids are both in school full time.

So, I have an exciting summer planned (see, I am really trying to be happy). I want to try some new things and continue improving some stuff I've already got going. Oh, I almost forgot, I am going to start taking a camera with me when I train. I've had too many wasted photo opportunities. Particularly, yesterday I had the most awesome ride through Saguaro National Monument. I wish I had something to commemorate it. Will fix that next time.

I borrowed this picture. You get the idea though, beautiful scenery, gorgeous morning, lovely ride.


"To succeed, you need to find something to hold on to, something to motivate you, something to inspire you." -Tony Dorsett

Big Improvement

I completed my third triathlon on May 22. I am just going to copy and paste my race report because, seriously, why to do I want to rewrite that?

I was excited about doing this race but not sure what to expect from myself. My first ever tri was the Tinfoilman last October and I felt like I did well considering it was my first time out. I knew I wanted to improve my time since my fitness has increased and my training has been consistent. I knew my swim would be faster, I prayed my run would be faster, and I was clueless about the bike since I really only ride on Old Spanish Trail and it looks nothing like the course.

I was happy with my ~7:41 wave start because it gave me plenty of time to get in a decent breakfast before my two hour food cutoff. I didn't sleep well, at all, the night before and was starving when I woke up. First breakfast happened before I left my house. I was out the door by 4:30. Setting up in transition was uneventful. Had plenty of time to make multiple bathroom trips, get tattooed and eat second breakfast. I was finally not hungry anymore but then the queasy nervous stuff was kicking in. Spent time cheering for the earliest waves and then warmed up for the swim.

Once the swim started my nerves settled down and I felt great. My only problem was that the gentleman sharing the lane either thought his side included the black line or he had no concept of how to swim in a straight line. This would have bothered me more if he was faster than I was, but he wasn't so I just kept having to swim past him. I was thrilled I counted all my laps correctly and got the stop sign right when I expected it. First personal "woohoo" of the day was being able to pull myself out of the pool. I did an excellent beached whale impersonation but I was out.

T1 was smooth and I didn't feel all lightheaded and disoriented like I did in October. I felt awesome until I turned on Euclid for the first time. My legs turned to lead and I felt like I was slogging along. I did my best to keep hydrating throughout the ride. I got passed a handful of times but still knew I was moving faster than I did in October. I was waiting and waiting for Jen to pass me. I knew had a couple of minutes on her from the swim but was convinced she was going to catch up and pass me on the bike. I turned into transition and loved all the cheering; felt like part of something when people actually knew me by name. Then, just as I approached my rack I saw Jen coming into transition and she said something to me which I don't remember but I am sure it was intimidating. I couldn't control the expletive that I yelled as I moved faster than I could have imagined out of transition, I think I literally threw my bike on the rack. See, I am only faster than Jen on the swim. We train and race together and I am always chasing her down on the run. I knew if I was even going to finish close to her I had to go out fast and stay consistent.

The run hurt at first, I couldn't catch my breath and felt panicky. After the first turn around at Campbell I fell into a steady pace and felt good. At the turn around at Old Main, I started to doubt myself again and I didn't see Jen so I knew she had to be right behind me. I was desperate for water when I got the water station but the kids were too busy goofing off to have any cups of water filled. I said, "I need water!" as I approached but they were fumbling for a cup to fill and I wasn't going to wait. By the second lap, I was feeling a little delirious but could not escape the feeling of being chased. If I was Jen's carrot, she was the T-rex chasing me down.

My goal was to be completely empty when I crossed the finish line and I was. My second goal was to try to knock 5 minutes off my Tinfoilman time. I dropped a whopping 13 minutes off my Tinfoilman time. This time I didn't just feel like I just showed up but actually raced. It was a great experience and I can't wait to do it again.

Needless to say, this race was awesome. I saw a huge improvement from my last Tucson Tri series race, I had so much fun hanging out and racing with friends, and it was great to be part of a larger "team". I am hooked on the triathlon lifestyle and all that it has given to me.

We only become what we are by the radical and deep-seated refusal of that which others have made of us.
Jean-Paul Sartre

Pre-race Sickies, Good or Bad?

I'm going to be answering my own question this Sunday. My third triathlon is a go this Sunday and for the past two days I have been nursing a stomach bug. It took me out, completely, yesterday and today I am weak but on the mend. Before I was stricken my plan was to hit the training hard for the early part of the week and then take it easy up to Sunday. Plans have changes. I think my body is ready so long as the illness hasn't taken a toll.