Triathlete

Yep, that's me.

I apologize ahead for too much race detail but I want to have this on record so I dont forget.

45 minute rain delay.
Swim - I should have started either off to the side as was suggested or closer to the middle of the pack. I started at the back and couldnt seem to get past anyone. My goggles were fogged and my sigthing was not good.

T1 - I walked all the way in. I didnt know how my hamstring was going to be since I had not run on it in 12 days. I didnt want a problem already in T1.

Bike - it took a few miles to get my bike legs. But then I was okay. I should have been able to get through it faster but thats okay.

T2 - A little longer than it should have been. Again, saving the hammy.

Run - Yeah. Scared of the hammy. I walked a bit then would try out a slow jog. I kept that up most of the way. The hammy never acted up but I wanted to be certain I didnt do anything crazy before the end cause I was definitely running in to the finish. And I did.

My hammy was fine. My back hurt a lot around mile 2. And felt better running than walking.

Post-race - kick ass.

The whole experience was awesome and Im hooked. I knew half way thru the bike leg that I like multi-sport. I cant wait to do more. I cant wait to start training for the next race. I cant wait to train harder.

It was definitely life-changing. The comaraderie, the encouragement, the excitement, the challenge, the sheer fun and exhileration of accomplishment.

But as of today...I am a triathlete.

And its a go...

Tomorrow is the first of what I hope is many tris to come. Scratch that. Tomorrow IS the first of many tris to come. Ive got more goals. And I am looking forward to taking the steps to reach them.

But, for the next day or so...tomorrow morning is what this is all about. It will be fun and hard and exhilerating and emotional and calming.

I have soooo many people in my corner. It really is amazing.

This really will be life-changing. In fact, even the journey getting here has been changing my life. Wow, crossing a finish line after completeting a swim, bike, and run. I should send Dick Hoyt a thank you letter.

This isnt the end of this journey...tis only the beginning of my triathlon career. Stay tuned folks, there is so much more to come.

By the Numbers...NOT

I tend to be pretty analytical. In a big way.

When I started this journey toward my first tri I didn't really think about numbers so much. Well, that isn't exactly true. I thought I would lose a fairly significant amount of weight.

Of course, then I found the race results from 2009. I began to crunch numbers because I was determined to finish in the middle of my age group. I compared times for each discipline to what my capabilities were...and are.

Several people have told me to stop stop stop concerning myself with places and times and numbers on the scale.

Just finish they say. That's the goal. Enjoy the event...this is the fun part and what I have been working toward. Don't worry about the placing. Just run your race.

I am trying to not worry about numbers. It is both frustrating and easier since my hamstring/back thing that is going on. I really don't think I will be able to push myself on the run like I had hoped. I need to make sure I can do the next race. So, my goal times have had to change. While I am a good swimmer and can do the distance, Im just not fast. I have to reconcile that in my head...I want to be about two minutes faster and that just isnt happening by Saturday. The bike Im not worried about. Even if it is windy I will do alright. THe ride route is fun. I rode most of it and it will be a blast. And then I think about the transitions. Ive never done them before. It cant be that hard...but I still look at the numbers for that too. Or did. I'm trying not to.

Even though my quest was for health, fitness, and athleticism I had hoped the icing would be weight loss. I have lost a little and my clothes are definitely fitting differently. My fitness has improved immensely. Im stronger, faster. My endurance has increased. But the magical melting of pounds away just isnt happening.

Most of the time I dont worry about that number. But sometimes I can't help it. I'm not sure I will experience the melting of pounds but that's okay. I will be swimming faster, cycling farther, running faster and farther.

The only numbers I am going to be crunching now is how many weeks until the next event.

Mental, Physical, and Back Again

I started this whole thing mentally - exactly a year ago. It's hard to believe it has been a year since I announced to a few folks that I wanted to do a tri. And for a long while that is where I left it. Some day.

Some day is now three weeks away. Physically I have worked consistently and I've worked hard. I am doing the physical work. I've had to learn patience. Thank you, Steve. He was right - baby steps. One day at a time. And I would get there he said. I trust him and I believe him so I kept pushing even on the days I didn't really feel like it.

There were days when I was feeling a bit of panic at the tri coming up so quickly. But a week or so ago, I actually began the mental process of believing. I can swim. I can bike. I can run. I can do this. I am doing this.

But I had to be there mentally to get there physically. And now that I have, things are happening. I go faster. I go longer. I push. And I love it.

I truly believe and trust that my body is capable of much more than I ever gave it credit for. But I had to get to that mental realization before I could get beyond my self-imposed boundaries.

I am so ready for this and am already looking forward to what is yet to come.

Is it me, us, or them?

The problem with not writing for awhile is trying to narrow down what to write about. I will just start with my struggle over team vs individual.

Doing a tri is something I've been planning for months. When I finally mentioned it at work the response was that several people from work would be doing the same tri. CRAP. This was so incredibly personal to me that I didn't want co-workers there.

And I know my company and presumed some how it would turn into a team DIB. ack. That was the last thing I wanted. I debated if I should follow thru and still do the Warsaw tri or just do a different one. I wanted it just to be 'me'.

Then I decided I could still do this tri and not be on the DIB team. I didn't want to be in the team photo for the family news. I don't want to be the last one from the team coming in and have them all there waiting for me. I still wanted this to be just about me. And at this point it was 'me & them'. And my attitude was kind of crummy about it.

A couple weeks ago a vendor sent samples for jerseys. Yep - it's officially being sponsored by a vendor. Team DIB. And guess who is now 'us'. I ordered my jersey and bike shorts. I'm still not crazy about the Team DIB thing. But at least it's palatable now.

I guess it's turned into a balance of me, us, and them. I hope to keep that balance in check.

My training is still me. I do have someone helping me figure all that out but it isn't them.

The me part has been pretty incredible...seeing changes and improvements, and getting stronger.

I don't train with them...I rarely even talk about the tri to them. I will, however, talk to them about it if they bring it up. I will compare notes and answer questions.

There will be a team picture...that I am sure of. I guess it will be a picture of us. I'm sure we will be touching base before the race too...making sure all of us are doing alright.

When I say 'me'...that doesn't mean me all alone. There's no way I could do this alone. My family is understanding that training is a part-time job. My kids are amazed and proud. My friends think I am crazy but they are excited for me. The folks at the LBS - some give me thumbs up and some wonder why but the still cheer me on. I guess I really do have a lot of 'them'.
They celebrate my small victories even when I'm not. They believe in me even when I have doubts. They help me push through.

So, I guess there really is a me, us, AND them.

No white towel…yet

Yesterday I was thinking it may be time for Plan B. But I just cannot accept that yet.

I have a problem with my other foot now. I thought it was the Sarcoidosis flaring up but right now I’m not thinking that at all. I’m kind of leaning toward the fall from two weeks ago. I certainly know better than to wear crocks in the snow…but it was only about 2 feet of walking. Huh…it only took 2 steps and I was down.

My ankle started hurting a little but nothing to stop me from activity really. But I did rest it a bit. This week the swelling is bad…the ache is bad. Thus, the conclusion of a sarc flare-up. The prednisone is not helping – a little with the swelling, none with the pain, none with the sensation of a freezing cold foot, and is really helping my crabbiness level increase.

I have an appt with a sports ortho Monday. Until then, I will be swimming or pretending that nothing is wrong and continuing on. But I tried that yesterday and it was not smart really. So swimming it is. I’m even buying a second suit so I can swim twice a day. I can do some of my PT and some of my strength training. I’m holding off on biking until I talk to the doc. The top of my foot hurts, the side of my foot hurts and I don’t want to do further damage if there is something wrong. Maybe it’s sarc and it will just hurt. But I need to find out.

I’m not throwing in the towel…not yet…but I will not wait as long as Apollo Creed either. That would be a mistake.

If it comes to that there is a Plan B. It’s still an athletic endeavor. It would also push me to limits I have not known.

Ease on Down the Road

Yeah right.

I’m not that good at ‘easing’. When I have made up my mind to do something I want to do it. I don’t want to get dressed to get on a treadmill for 20 minutes. Oh no…that would be silly. If I am going to get dressed and go to the gym at 5am you can bet I will be on the treadmill for 3 miles.

Likewise, I don’t bike just 10 miles and I don’t swim just ¼ mile.

But I think it is a lesson I need to learn. Even if I am going to be on the treadmill 3 miles I need to learn to make part of it easy until I’m ready. I cannot have a PB every single time I jog/walk. Yes, I will have to push myself to get better but not at the expense of staying injury free or getting so sore I don’t even want to get out of bed for three days.

My inclination is to power through to the bitter end. But I don’t want the end to be bitter. It does feel good to push yourself and do more than before. But easing into running is the right way. It is the best way. It is the smart way.

When I’m going ‘slow’ this is how I feel:
Cause there may be times when you think you lost your mind
And the steps you're taking leave you three four steps behind
But the road you're walking might be long sometimes
You just keep on stepping and you'll be just fine.

But I’m going to ease. I am. Really.

Detours and Road Blocks

No matter what we do in life, there are always times we will run into obstacles. The trick is to figure out a way around the obstacle. Sometimes it gets overwhelming. Sometimes it seems like you run into one road block only to find a detour just ahead. But, do you keep going...or do you quit? I know what I used to do. I quit.

Before I started this I read that when you train and train hard, things happen. Illness, injury...life. I didn't think it meant me. It's only a sprint tri. It's not like I'm training for an Ironman. There would be no issues for me. Yeah, right.

I have some pretty severe muscle differences between my right and left legs. I have been compensating for my right leg weakness for years. The problem is with running and compensating and not the right shoes for me and compensating, I had a very uneven gait. This led to a tendon injury that I took care of immediately. PT and a boot. No running. Just when I was getting started. But, as with any detour you have to find a way around. It may take a bit longer but I will get there.

Just when my foot is better, I have a tooth/ear/head problem. Ugh. Another road block. I cannot and will not get discouraged. ALthough it is frustrating to run into a road block it certainly is not the end of the world. I will take care of what needs taken care of. And move on. The road block will be gone and I will continue.

Detours and road blocks require a route change but you still get to the destination.

This will be an amazing race.