I DID IT!!

Yes, I successfully completed a triathlon. Does that make me a triathlete?? I like to think so.

I could not sleep much the night before (as expected) and woke up for the day at 2 am. I laid in bed for an hour and half and then got up, sat on the floor and did some light stretching for an hour. I felt eerily calm. At 4 am, I started getting dressed, loading up my equipment and was out the door by 4:45 am. I managed a eat a granola bar on the way an had plenty of fruit to snack on up to the 2 hour before mark.

I was pleasantly surprised to run into a friend on my way to the transition area. I got everything out, organized and ready to go, ate and apple and wandered around. I made many unnecessary bathroom visits and checked out the pool. I wish I had taken a camera to get a picture of the big electronic screen all lit up in the early morning hours. I could hardly believe I was taking part in a event that included a big, electronic screen. Before long it was 6:30 am and first wave of swimmers was in the water.

I was in the third wave so once the second wave took off I jumped into the diving/warm up pool for a couple of laps. Everything felt good. I was ready to go.

I took off fast...maybe too fast. I felt dehydrated (dry, cotton mouth) right as we were going. I quickly lost track of laps. The only problem during the swim happened to be a fairly significant one. My goggles fogged up. They also happened to be tinted goggles and so I was screwed. There were a few laps where I was feeling for the wall because I could hardly see it. I finally had to just stop and clear them. Since I had lost all count of my laps, I ended up slowing a bit to ask the counter how many more to go. After some confusion, I was told six more laps. No problem. I was one of the first in my wave out of the pool.

I dragged my behind out of pool. It was a serious challenge and one of the moments I dreaded most. It was over fast enough and I was wobbling back to the transition area. Apparently, lack of oxygen and an adrenaline rush is the equivalent of hauling down a Margarita.

I took off on the bike and, as usually, I was moving slow. I got past right away but just wanted to get a feel for the course when I took the first of three laps. Halfway around the course, on my first lap, the "bib" number on my bike flew off. I had no idea what the procedure was for this and so I stopped my bike as fast as I good, ran back to pick up the paper and then reattached it to the bike. I want to believe that this all took five minutes. Maybe the extra time is the cause of the slow bike time. On the second lap, I downed a quarter of a banana and chugged at my water bottle. On the third lap, (oh sweet third lap) I ate another quarter of a banana and finished off my water bottle. I started to cramp a little bit but was just so anxious to start the run and see how my legs felt.

My transition to the run was good. I defnitely did not waste time and thank goodness I managed to remember everything that I needed to take off and leave and put on to take. I had another water bottle for the run. I fear cramps. The course was so lonely, I saw three other runners the entire time I was out there. I felt like I was barely moving and I was convinced I was losing tons of time. When I pasted the 2 mile marker and could see the last turn to the finish line I was overcome by a huge second wind. I felt like I could go forever. I turned the last corner and my husband was nearby and he encouraged me to finish strong and even kind of ran a few yards with me. It felt so good to have the support. I crossed the finish line, grabbed my free t-shirt and got a big hug from my husband and father.

Interestingly enough, the end was kind of bittersweet. So much time was spent training and the whole race only lasted 1:43 minutes. They say this sport is addictive for a reason. I can't wait to race again.

Holy Anxiety

Race is tomorrow. Twenty-four hours and it will be all over. I hope I make it into the water without losing my breakfast to anxiety. I am already fumbling over myself.

Good thoughts, positive energy. I'm ready.

Two Weeks and Counting...

Yep, two weeks from today my first triathlon will be history. I have moments of panic but for the most part what I am about to do hasn't fully hit me. I am trained and I believe I am ready. The logistics are still a nagging mystery to me but I am confident that with enough training it will all fall into place.

It is rather amusing to me that I have managed to make some friends while training. I am not the most social person. Meeting new people and making connections does not come naturally to me. I am more of a stand on the sidelines and watch the action kind of girl. Since I've managed to meet many other women doing the race, my anxiety level seems to be quelled. I don't feel like I'm the only one out there and I know that I will have friends to talk to before, during and after my race. That is gratifying and calming.

Everything really is falling into place. My swim times are consist although I need to time myself at the 800y one more time (at least). My run is in the best form it has been since 2002. I'm consistently running at least 4 miles, maxing out at 7 but feeling confident at 5+. My bike is my only weak spot right now. I haven't been on it much since I've gone back to work. This week it is my emphasis. Last week I was fortunate enough to get it in for a tune up and even got some new tires. It feels much, much faster. Not sure how that is going to translate at the race but I definitely feel better out there. Also, my clips have become a minimal issue. I still get that nagging doubt in the back of my mind but have been consistently been able to unclip when necessary.

Life is good. I'm feeling great. I just can't wait to get this race behind me and move on to bigger and better.

Try not. Do or do not. There is no try. ~Yoda in The Empire Strikes Back

Yes, this is actuallly going to happen

I can feel the momentum building toward my race on Oct. 10. My training is going well and I've started to purchase my tri gear. I've started to have anxiety dreams about being late, not finding my transition area and other such drama. I have also started to envision what it will be like that morning, cool, early and butterfly inducing. All that being said, I feel good.

I know I won't beat anyone in the race but I do know that I can finish it. My goal is to swim without stopping, bike without falling, and run without walking. If all goes well, I will set loftier goals next time around.

This morning I had the opportunity to volunteer at a water stop for a challenging 8-mile race. My husband, Jamie, ran the race like a champ, cramps and all. I hung out with a group of super supportive, kind, and generous women. I am so happy to have found the Tri-Girls. As we watched the super competitive lead runners come through out station, more than one woman pondered, "Why do we do this to ourselves, it doesn't look like fun." No, it doesn't look like fun. I think that maybe the fun isn't really in the act of doing but in the fact of having done it. There is a sense of personal satisfaction in know that you get a goal, a goal that would require committment and perseverence and following through.

When I cross that finish line on Oct. 10 less than 2 hours after jumping into that pool, there will not be words to describe how good I will feel. I know my body will hurt and my pride a little bruised but the satisfaction of knowing that I can be an athlete will be overwhelming. It already is.

Perseverance is the hard work you do after you get tired of doing the hard work you already did. ~Newt Gingrich

Feeling Good

I had a great run this morning. I did 5 miles under overcast skies with a cool breeze. I had a minor calf issue but not enough to stop me. I think that one warmed up legs I could definitely finish 3 miles.



My swimming is going fantastic. I love, love, love swimming. I wish I had taken it up as a kid. I tested myself and finished 300 yards in 5 minutes. I'm sure that is fairly average but considering I have only been serious in the the pool for a few months and was barely a novice to begin with, I am impressed with myself. I'm taking a Tri Swimming course at the local community college. I am looking forward to improving my technique and all the time in the pool but am going to have to face my demons when it comes to having my stroke vidoetaped and figuring out flip turns.

Cycling is another story all together. I am bound and determined to figure out how to clip and unclip my fancy shoes and pedals. My first two attempts, in early June, were disastrous. I was out of commission for weeks from fall injuries. I finally did some research and discovered the my clips could be loosened and I could use a lubricant to make the parts come apart easier. I have tried a couple of times with the bike stationary but this weekend I plan to attempt movement again. Yet another demon that I must face down.


"To succeed you must first improve, to improve you must first practice, to practice you must first learn, and to learn you must first fail." -Wesley Woo

Highs and Lows

It seems like my training is at a standstill. I don't know why exactly but I just feel like I am going through the motions but not getting much better. Blah.

Some positive stuff happened this past week.

I finally received my race confirmation. I am officially signed up, paid for, and good to go for my first triathlon. It will be the Tinfoilman event on October 10. I was relieved to get the notification but then the reality set in that this is really going to happen and my endurance needs to improve.

I also hammered out a decent weekend of workouts.

Some not so great stuff also happened.

I got very sick after my run last Tuesday and was OUT for all of Wednesday and Thursday. I finally made it back to the gym on Friday and got a good ride and swim in. I'm still a little congested but it is workable.

My ride on Saturday morning was enlightening in how bad it was. I am great on the indoor bike but overwhelmed, intimidated and unable to get my road bike form in any shape. I get past by everybody.

I have thyroid disease and my body is out of whack right now. I am waiting until this Friday to have bloodwork drawn and then will get to see my endocrinologist next Wednesday. I cannot wait. I am having bouts of palpitations, insomnia, and the general depressive icks. I am so frustrated with my body at this point. I feel like I work my ass off and I continue to gain weight. I just feel like no matter how hard I train, as long I am carrying around an extra 40 lbs, my times and endurance are not going to get much better. It is a self-defeating philosophy that I am stuck in. Also, in the back of my mind, I worry about how treatment is going to effect my training. I don't want to be on beta-blockers to stop the palpitations and insomnia because it will lower my aerobic capacity. If I gain weight while training I am scared silly about what will happen if I am not working out. I just don't know what to do. Hopefully my doctor will have some answers.


“Endurance is not just the ability to bear a hard thing, but to turn it into glory.” ~William Barclay

Praying for a Cloud

I managed to hammer out about 4.5 miles this morning. It would have been a 5 mile run if I hadn't stopped a couple of times to walk. At 7:30 am it looked beautiful outside. A cool overcast morning which led me to decide that an attempt at a run was in order. I dropped the kids off at school and by 8:15 am when I finally was out the door to run the clouds were breaking up. Ugh.

The run started out great. My calves felt good, no screaming at all. I wasn't woried about my pace and didn't feel any nagging urge to hurry myself up. At about 1.75 miles the heat was starting to get to me. Seriously, I should have refilled my half-empty water bottle. What was I thinking? I was running into the sun at this point and there was absolutely no breeze. At the 2.5 mile turn around point I got my second wind, a breeze had picked up and I was feeling good again. It didn't last long. At about the end of 3 miles I felt sick. The sun was to my back but it the heat was beating through my shirt and my back was burning. I also started to feel sick to my stomach and really wishing that I had not already finished my water. I walked for about half a mile more and had crazy thoughts running through my head. I prayed for just a cloud to block the cloud, any breeze at all. Mostly I just wished for water. I wondered how crazy I would look in my near heat-stroke madness walking up to someone's front door and asking for water. Even the water surrounding a sprinkler head looked appealing. My stomach, head and skin started to feel a little better and I figured I wasn't going to get home any faster walking so I started to jog.

I live amongst a golf course and remembered that there is a bathroom for the golf course right off the road. I figured, if it was unlocked, I could at least fill my water bottle from the sink. Even nasty water sounded great, refreshing, beautiful at this point. I hobbled over toward the bathroom and there was the most wonderful sight: a cooler full of water. The water was even cold. I guzzled some down and within a few minutes I felt like running. I finished my 5 mile journey. I am spent but I feel accomplished. I also feel wiser in knowing not to underestimate the amount of water I need.

For the past two hours the storms have been rolling through. Maybe my cloud prayer was answered, just a little later than I would have liked.