...wherein our heroine encounters a roadblock.
It goes to show you just never know what's about to happen. You'll be cruising along with your training, everything going pretty well, progress being made and then BAM! some unknown force will throw something your way just to see how well you handle it. And make no mistake, you won't see it coming. I've been waiting for that out-of-nowhere flat tire to come at me. I've been expecting the sore knee to show up. Old rotator cuff injury even popped it's head up once or twice to see if anyone was watching for it. You know; usual stuff for someone who's been putting their body through pretty rigorous physical demands. But sometimes the universe gets bored and needs entertainment.
This mornings episode involved me getting out of bed and stumbling to the bathroom to begin my morning regimen. Shower, hair, makeup, dressed and out the door. My brain was just awake enough as I stepped over the threshold to the bathroom to think..."My face feels funny." Not funny ha-ha; funny odd. I turned to the mirror and was horrified to see my left eye swollen mostly shut and my cheek also pretty puffy. Aaackk! I scared me. Then I noticed some tingling in my face. I thought to myself, "Self. This is not good" But maybe I just slept on my face or something. I'll give it some time. I don't get sick.
Halfway through the shower, my tongue is tingling, too. Hmmm. The situation does not seem to be reversing itself. But what could it be? I don't get sick.
Thank goodness, a rational part of me realized that I was trying to deny a very large, puffy problem and pushed through to the forefront and suggested that maybe I should call the doctor. Good idea! I rang up the doctor's office and the nice automated female voice told me that they opened at 8:30. I finished getting ready for work, sans eye makeup (yikes!) and headed to the see Dr. Hammond.
The receptionist didn't even flinch when she saw me. She calmly took my name and asked me what I needed to be seen for. "Uhm. My face is schwollen. Shee my eye". The cheek was getting puffier. She "Hmmmed" at me and took my co-pay. I thought that maybe I was over-reacting due to the fact that receptionist didn't seem to see my issue. Did the swelling go away on the ride over and I'm just being neurotic? A dash to the lobby restroom revealed that I still slightly resembled Sloth from The Goonies.
It wasn't crowded so I was called back very quickly. The doctor's assistant didn't appear to see my problem either. "So what are we seeing you for today?" she asks as she takes my weight and blood pressure. Uhm, hello? My face is either having a reaction to something, I've been bitten by the biggest spider on the planet or my body is, after 34 years and 9 months, finally trying to expel my previously unknown twin. "Ok! The doctor will be in in a minute!"
Sure enough, a minute goes by and the door opens. Dr. Hammond walks in, says hi, looks me in the face and says. "So what...oh wow."
Thank you! I felt a huge amount of relief. Now we're getting somewhere. I hopped up on the table and she poked around a bit. No ear infection, no eye infection, no fever, nothing to indicate there is a problem other than the extra bit of face I was sporting. No drooping which indicates no Bell's Palsy or stroke, thank goodness, and after calling a colleague of hers to get a 2nd opinion on treatment options, I'm told I am probably having an allergic reaction to something I ate and sent on my way with an antibiotic and steroid prescription and directions to get my butt back there immediately if the swelling gets worse.
Then something makes me say, "Thanks! Glad I'm getting this cleared up. I have a big run and swim tonight."
She replies, "Oh no you don't. Not until this is gone" and heads off to heal another patient.
Uh-oh. The tri-borg in my head calmly asserts "Can't miss workout. Workout is vital." But I know that you just can't risk your health. Much. So ok. Fine. I can take a day off. But that's it. One day. I'm 5 weeks away from my race. One day is all I can spare and that's pushing it.
Then I get my prescription filled. It's not one dose of steroids, it's 6 days! There are a billion little pills stair-stepped on this card! I called the office back and find out that Dr. doesn't want me doing any strenuous activity for 3 or 4 days. "But, but, but I'm training for this race. I really need to.."
"Sorry. You just don't need to risk it." She says.
And over the course of the day I admit that she's right. Fine, I'll do what I'm told. I'll be graceful about it. I've heard enough horror stories of people disregarding advice and pushing on anyway and then being out of commission for weeks or even months.
Deep inside though, I'm freaking out about what these 3 days off will do to my training and momentum and goal of finishing in under 2 hours.
sigh...is it Friday yet?
What the Frick?
Week 7 Training Plan and Comeuppance from a Wager Lost
Week 6 was an interesting week. I had some great cycling moments. Amie and I went on a 22 mile bike ride through Sellersburg/Utica with the LBC on Tuesday night. The ride on the club site was listed as a #2, which is up to 1/3 hills and the words "mostly flat" were included in the description. Hah. Mostly flat my patootie. A few of those hills were killers and there were many more hills than there were flat spots. It also didn't help that I was running late and completely frustrated with a wrong mapquest turn and some belligerent drivers en route to the ride. So I started out the ride with a crappy attitude. I swear to you this isn't a theme! I am usually pretty good natured when starting out on a course. Promise. With sugar on top.
It took until about halfway through the course to start feeling warmed up and just more like myself. Then it started flowing more smoothly. At one point I did take a slight detour off-road through some thistles but managed to stay in saddle by incorporating my, to quote from Amie, "mad recovery skillz". I got a teeny bit scratched up, but each new bump and bruise is starting to feel more like a battle scar than they are a negative thing. Want to see where I jammed my pedal cleat into my shin on Sunday?
I made it through to the end of the ride. Honestly, if Amie hadn't been there riding with me, I might have chucked it all 2 miles in and begged a ride back to starting point. She's pushing me more than she knows. Thanks Amie!
Thank you also to "mostly flat" Sellersburg/Utica ride. Those hills are what is advancing me in my cycle training. We then rode the race course on Sunday and two hills that tried their best to kill me a month ago were attacked and conquered with breath left to spare and a victorious war whoop at the top. Ride of the Valkyries could be heard faintly in the distance. It was awesome. Also, after doing a few 20 milers, the 14 mile race course felt over before it should have been. I heard Amie tell Ben that she could have done another several miles and I concur. I briefly thought of suggesting going around for another loop, but that would have just sounded crazy!
The runs and swims for the week were pretty normal with the only oddity being an orange road traffic cone at the bottom of the pool on Sunday. I dunno.
Here is this week's schedule:
Tonight - Run/Swim
Tues - Run/Swim/Kickball
Wed - Strength/Early am spin class
Thurs - Off/Drum lessons for kiddo
Fri - Bike
Sat - Morning Run/4th of July!!! Happy Independence Day Everyone!
Sat - Bike/Yoga
Now on to the lost wager.
My friend Joanna lost a bet and had to kiss a gnome. Joanna has Gnome-a-phobia. She is scared to death of these happy bearded little fellas. No idea why. We don't ask; we just exploit. Here she is in a little piece entitled 'Oh gnome - how I love thee!"
Enjoy!
Week 6 Training
It just hit me that I haven't posted this week's training plan.
Monday - Run/Swim
Tuesday - Bike
Wed - Off
Thurs - Run
Fri - Swim
Sat - Run/Swim
Sun - Bike/Swim
There is a 5K run that I'm thinking about entering on Saturday. I haven't decided yet. I know I could do it, it's just do I want to put $35 toward a 5K that wasn't on my radar or do I spend that same $35 crossing some stuff off of my want/need for the triathlon. Hmmmmm. It would be nice to have a race number on my wall.
It's a conundrum...
Boys Allowed
I've tried to make my blog sound as gender neutral as possible, I am, nonetheless, a girl and so I'd like to introduce you to a guy friend I've made along the path to the finish line. Meet Jason, a Web-Producer for NBC Universal Sports. I'd snitch his picture from the nbc site, but they might actually come and get me. Jason is in training for his first triathlon, just like yours truly. He started blogging about his training plans and adventures and if you want a male perspective of the whole thing, be sure and check out the links below.
What I like about Jason is that you can really feel his enthusiasm for what he is doing in his writing. When he went bike shopping recently and posted about it, you couldn't help but share in his Christmas-morning-like excitement. He's been an unexpected and fun part of my continued enthusiasm for my training.
One Man's Plan - An introduction to Jason, his training plan and his dream of ping-pong prowess.
Triathlon Training - His blog along his 16-week journey
Also being half-way through his training and I asked him yesterday how he was feeling, "Feeling great in the water and loving my new bike. Running is getting there. In week 8 of 16! Seen a huge improvement in my recovery time."
There's no doubt in my mind that he will cross that finish line flying!
You can follow Jason and Dawn (that's me) on Twitter.
Come along for our rides and share your own adventures.
Is the pool half empty or half full?
I asked Amie yesterday how she felt at being almost halfway to race day. She had this to say:"My mental conditioning got a big boost on Saturday morning during Ben's Oly tri. It made me realize that something, anything can set you back in a race. After a very difficult swim start, he cranked out an amazing bike and run. It lessened my nerves to see the transitions and to know things may not go perfectly, but I will finish. And if I put everything I have in each effort, I will make my under 2hr. mark.
As for the physical conditioning, I really need to strengthen my thigh muscles for uphill battles and get my keester in the pool!"
As for me, here's what I think. I've been working out judiciously for a few days over 8 weeks, and training for the triathlon for just over 6 and I feel amazing! Bigger picture, i'm down almost 70 pounds since last year and it's being nice to say that then, I was in poor physical and mental condition. As of this week, I'm belting out a minimum of 3.5 miles per workout on the treadmill. I am up in the teens on bike mileage per workout and I am swimming 600 meters per swim workout. Some days, like today, I do double workouts without giving it a second thought. Tonight is a Run/Swim night. All in 8 weeks! And I am developing nice muscle definition in my arms, legs and butt. And my sister thinks that the women in our family just can't have fab arms. Well, suck it genetics!
Swim/Run update at 8:50 pm.
Full length run and swim tonight!
Here are my current times.
Run - 3.1 miles - 38 minutes.
Swim 800 meters - 26 minutes.
Not too shabby huh?
Week 5 Training Plan - Closing in on the halfway point!
6 weeks, 4 days and counting....
The race bike route was finalized today and the forms are being faxed to me as I type! Huzzah! Registration has been delayed as the city of Anchorage kindly decided to install speed humps over the winter (because those golf carts were just getting out of control) and the park was trying to find another suitable route. Alas, no route could be found and we will just have to deal with speed humps. I'm thinking out-of-seat full-on Evel Knievel style is called for here.
And speaking of bikes, my baby is in the shop. Boo! I took it in for a tune-up because one of the bike club guys said it looked like my rear derailer was bent. Lucky me, it wasn't my derailer, my rear axle was in pieces. I needed a whole new rim, etc. I'll be picking her up later this week.
Meanwhile, it looks like I'll be indoor biking for the next few days. It's ok though, the gym is playing the Bourne movie series. I'll just pretend like I am chasing bad guys through Paris and every so often I'll look confused and ask the person on the bike next to me if they have any idea who I am.
Here's the plan:
Monday - Cycling (Indoor)
Tuesday - Run/Swim/Kickball
Wednesday - Arms/Run
Thursday - Lunch Run
Friday - Lunch Cycling
Saturday - Girlfriend's Bike Trip!!!
Sunday - Swim/Run
*Possible off day on Friday as all of my Fridays so far have gone straight to heck.
A Breakthrough! This is awesome.
After a week of challenging workouts, I dipped into the pool last night for the first time in a week. My last two bike sessions had sucked. I fully expected to be constantly out of breath and fighting to achieve and maintain my form.
But then I hit the water. (Icy cold water. What up with that UofL?) Anyway...I hit the water and flew! A lot of the tips that I had been given clicked. My flutter kick was on, my arm blade strike was on, and I was whipping up and down those lanes like Aquawoman. I had good rotation, too. It was awesome. Don't know how it looked to the other swimmers and I don't care too much. This was the first time I have genuinely thought, "I'm going to finish this race!" It was amazing. I wanted to swim forever. That is a far cry from my first swim training session where I made it across 25 meters huffing and puffing, "I (puff) have to (gasp) do that (wheeze) how many (haaaahhhh) times?"
Toward the end, Amie mentioned that she had started breathing on alternate sides and that it was making a huge difference for her. I tried it and for a couple of lengths, it did work. On the next lap, though, I lost my kick. So, that's on the agenda tonight. Nice and easy swim, focusing on technique.
Here's a blog entry that Amie found and I have read and watched over and over again. This is how it should go...http://www.fourhourworkweek.com/blog/2008/08/13/total-immersion-how-i-learned-to-swim-effortlessly-in-10-days-and-you-can-too/
Week 4 Training
It's only week 4???? AAAHHHH! How much longer?
Wait. I only have 8 weeks left to train? AAAAAHHHHH. Am I going to be strong enough for this???
As you can see, my lovely readers, I am of two minds right now regarding this race. The past couple of sessions have been rough for me. Not impossible, but definitely challenging. I'm tired. All the time. I believe it's how I'm eating. My appetite has vanished. That's not good because I'm pretty sure that I'm not fueling properly. This week. I'm going to eat something every 3 hours whether I want to or not. I'm going to start with snacks of almonds and protein shakes until I get back into the groove. If I go for a week or so and am still dragging butt, I'm going to hop over to my doc's office and make sure I'm not anemic or something.
I did miss a couple of workouts this past week due to life. End of school, graduation and all of that. I can only go into this upcoming week with a militant attitude of not missing a single session! Here's what's on the plate:
Monday: Bike (w/LBC)
Tuesday: Run/Swim/Kickball
Wednesday: Run/Swim
Thursday: Strength/Drum Lessons
Friday: Run/Strength
Saturday: Bike/Swim
Sunday: Swim/Softball
The orange events are early am. Before work. Before civilization awakens. Ugh.
Week 3 Training Plan
This week's going to be nutty! It's the last week of school, so lots going on. Kiddo's graduation is tomorrow. We had a band audition last night, so I worked through lunch, hit the gym early and got Monday's strength training out. It was ok, but I rushed through the rest period between sets and also, I apparently was there at the same time as all the high school kids, so I had to wait several times for dumbells that I needed. Amie thinks that they need 2 sets upstairs and I heartily agree.
I was very surprised at the difference in the amount of weight I used on different muscle sets. My shoulder muscles are alot weaker than I thought that they would be and I had to back way down off of my planned weight. The only set that I thought I got to a "10" on the effort scale was my triceps work. I was really shaking at the end of those sets.
After that, I took my kiddo to his high school band audition where I found out that I would be shelling out around $300 and I would need to be something called "involved". Wha? Don't they know I'm in training? sigh. I don't mind to be involved, I just always feel like I come up short in that department. I would really really like to be a good band mom for my kid, I just don't know how that's going to work. It's just me to get him around town. I mean I can't be the only working parent here, right? So why on earth does it seem that all the summer programs for kids are scheduled for 9am dropoffs and 3 pm pickups? His dad lives 2hrs away so just by factor of distance alone he's of pretty much no help with these kind of things. Not whining. Just fact.
Anyway, this week is packed!
Monday - Upper Body Strength
Tuesday - Run (Strides)
Wed - Graduation/Swim
Thurs - Run/Strength Upper Body
Fri - Bike/Swim
Sat - Bike/Swim
Sun - Run (distance)/Lower Body Strength/Softball?/Visit my mother
How's your training going?
My Training Partner
I have found a new source of motivation! My friend Amie has been "hoodwinked" into competing in the EPTS triathlon, too. Bwaaaahhaaaaahaaaaaa. And after about two weeks of training together, I have to say, she's just as eaten-up with it as I am. I am finding this a fabulous previously unknown side to my friend. She's reading the books, charting training plans, considering stats and making goals to the same extent I am.
Dawn made me do it. And maybe to lose the last ten pounds that I have had for a decade. And maybe to be a faster runner. And maybe so I can throw out the "I can't this weekend, doing a triathlon."
What do you feel will be the most challenging part of the race?
Getting a good night sleep before and waking up that morning and not having my stomach do somersaults with nervous butterflies. I'm definitely more worried about the mental aspect than the physical. I will over think everything.
What scares you most about the race?
Falling off my bicycle and taking someone else with me or tripping in the transition area.
What excites you most about the race?
Bragging about finishing it. I can't imagine how awesome Kelly Wilson feels every time she says she completed the Ironman.
Do you think you will do more than one race or will you have to wait and see?
I feel like the cheap bastard in me wants to do more for a better return on investment. The challenger in me wants to do the Oly distance, maybe the Kentucky Derby mini-marathon and the half Ironman. But that's it…..my brain cannot even begin to compute anything longer. Ask me this question again on August 3rd.
IRP - Ben & Kelly Wilson
Welcome to a new section of Tri-Newb! I'm going to call it Interviews with Real People. These chats will be interviews with non-professional, kick-butt athletes. They hold jobs, have children and other pressures to deal with while making training and their health a top priority.
Ben works as a Senior Interactive Analyst at Power Creative, where I also work and they are expecting their first child next month. That kid is going to be awesome.
Well, what with the baby coming in July, I haven't registered for a few weeks on either side. The next thing I know for sure is the Shelbyville Olympic distance triathlon on June 13th. Never done an Olympic distance before! After that, the E.P. Tom Sawyer tri on August 1st.
I belong to a bike racing team (TwinSpiresCycling.com), so I might also get another race in before the season is over. I'm interested in this "Louisville Short Track" mountain bike race series - every Thursday night out at River Road Country Club. $5! Cool.
Kelly, you've completed an Ironman Triathlon. What made you decide to give that a whack?
I had decided to to a half IM, but then my training buddy decided to give the full IM a whirl. I wavered back and forth for awhile (I volunteered in the medical tent the first year of IM Louisville, and it scared the bejeezus out of me), but then my buddy said this: You know if I do this, and you don't, you'll regret it. So, I bit the bullet, forked over the $500 entry fee, and signed over a year of my life.
Can you give a quick overview of your training?
I really don't have a structured training regimen like I should. I focused a lot on the bike this winter, so most of my training was spinning, cycle trainer or even getting out and riding when it was 30-40 degrees out. Winter is also a good time to work on building muscle, like lifting weights, doing machines or whatever. I focused this year on building my quads with squats, as well as working a pretty intense but short "core" workout that I would tack onto the end of whatever I was doing. Lots of crunches.
Stretching. So crucial, especially for those of us who aren't in our 20s anymore. I do a bit of yoga-style stuff at the end of most workouts. The sun salutation taught in most beginner classes is great. Back, core, hamstring, calf, most everything.
In general, I go pretty hard in my training. A little motivation like a good spinning instructor or something like The Sufferfest (
intervals.
Also, I soak up information about whatever I'm training for (running, tri, cycling, even baseball!) - so this winter I read every cycling book I could get my hands on. How to Race, training programs, maintenance manuals, histories of the Tour de France, etc. YouTube is a must! I relive those clips when I'm on the bike, and think about them on the run.
6 days a week, 2 or 3 workouts a day. A lot of getting up at 4:40 am, a lot of lunch hour runs (it helps if your boss is a runner, and goes with you), a lot of late dinners due to a workout, and a lot of peanut butter.It was usually 2 weeks of hard training, then one week of recovery.
The last few months before the race, it was 3 weeks hard (once, it was a full month).
If you participate in triathlons, what do you wear during the race?
Tri shorts and a tri top! But when I first did one I just wore some running shorts that I swam in a put on a shirt for the bike and the run. Normal shorts really suck to bike in, though - the lycra and the pad pay dividends. Putting on a shirt over a wet body also sucks. There is benefit to not having to change clothes between pool and bike and run.
I also always wear my RoadID and a visor and use that 50 SPF aerosol sunscreen - that shit is magic!
For all my races execpt the IM, where I really wasn't going for speed in transition and wore a Speedo for the swim, I raced in tri-shorts, a Nike racing bikini top, and a tri-jersey (which I would put on in T1).
I became really attached to one pair of shorts - Sugio tri-shorty. They have a really short inseam, which is nice when you're only 5'3". Also, mens tri-jerseys fit me better, since I have a long torso. A visor is good for the run, since you can tuck a wet sponge into it. And GU Roctane is magic. Seriously.
What is one way or one time "life" has interfered with your training?
Geez, all the time - but just finding ways to work it in have made me a more organized person w/ my time. Get up at 6:30 and run three miles - it's actually pretty awesome. Birds are chirping and bunnies are hopping, no one is around. Sweet. The getting up sucks, the getting something done before 7AM kinda rules.
Unless you are doing something totally batshit like the IronMan (which requires 2-a-day workouts), everyone could probably find the time to work their "30 minutes a day" of exercise they are supposed to get.
Well, to reverse the question, we put off having a baby for a year so I could do the IM.
Have you always been active and sporty?
Oh lordy no! I work in the Internet, which means I spent plenty of time dicking around indoors on a computer. However, my mother ran a lot in the 80s and early 90s and I was always around runners during that time. I even did a few 5K runs back then! I played rec-league soccer in high school and college. I even biked a fair amount when I was in my teens with the Boy Scouts. We did a 60 mile ride up to Clifty Falls, Indiana. It would be some 15+ years until I would eclipse the 60 mile mark again.
Kelly started running in 2003 or so, and did a few miniMarathons. She eventually got me out to run and it totally sucked the first few times. There was a lot of stopping and complaining. But soon after I started, I had one of those "oh... this is why people run!" epiphany moments and haven't really looked back. I've done the Triple Crown of Running and miniMarathon three times now.
Uh, sorta. I was on a swim team from age 8 to 16, then coached swimming for a few years, but then I got lazy and fat in college. A medical condition jump started this whole fitness thing.
Does your family support your interests?
I would first ask "does your family UNDERSTAND your interests". Like I mentioned, my mom does - though for a while there I think Kelly's IronMan plans were seriously conflicting with mom's wanting a grandkid. But we got that sorted out.
Kelly's family - I'm not sure they understand, but they certainly do support her. They made it down to the IronMan last year to see her, and that was really cool. Even some cousins and such, too! I would have dishoned them if they didn't.
Once someone has committed themselves to being active and enjoys it - they understand. They *know*, and they'll support you. (Though, I must say I really, really had my doubts about Kelly doing the IronMan. That shit is crazy!)
My family doesn't necessarily "support" it, but they don't *not* support it. They don't really understand it. My mother is convinced that I'm harming myself, and all the training can't be healthy. Ben, on the other hand...well, he's on a cycling team, can out run me, and has caught the tri bug now.
What aspect of your athleticism would you most like to improve on?
There is a saying that goes "[insert sport here] doesn't get easier, you just get faster". I feel like my running has made me a decent endurance athlete, and with the cycling I have come to realize that I don't have "the fitness" to hang with a pack in a race that is only 30 to 40 minutes long. I can go pretty long, but I'm just not fast enough yet - so whatever "fast" is, I want to be that. Losing weight has helped me great - I'm down 10 lbs, added a bunch of muscle over the winter and have been demolishing my modest personal records all year.
I also want to work on my nerves and mental conditioning. Being relaxed can be hard to do, but I like being prepared for a race. Also - mental conditioning, like being able to make good decisions in the middle of the race. That's a hard one to learn, but I never run with an iPod, so I think about all sorts of stuff during training.
While I like to bike, it still kind of frightens me. I don't shift enough.
In general, I'd like to be faster, but eh, we'll see.
Kelly, do you think Robert Downey Jr. will make a good Sherlock Holmes?
I would watch him watch paint dry, so, yes, of course.
Ben. What's your favorite youtube video?
Again, I'm all into this cycling nonsense recently, and I've been following the Giro d'Italia - and Lance Armstrong is back, so just the other day I was watching his 1993 World Championships win when he was 22. He essentially came from nowhere to beat some of the best, and then acted like the jubilant, brash young American he was. The announcer is just flabbergasted as Lance throws his arms up ("they say he's a bit of a showoff with a big head!") and celebrates in the last kilometer of the race. An American winning a European dominated sport, like a big fat slap in the face.
But three years later, he's filled with cancer and given a death sentence. And he shakes his fist at it like he did crossing that line in that video. And he beat it. And then he stunned the world, blowing up the long, storied and sacred history of the Tour De France. Hella American!
It's a beautiful story and it's uniquely American, and it gets to the core of why I do what I do - because 3 years from now...?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jXsOR5O5hb0
Any tips for transition areas?
Take your time. I see a lot of people just getting into triathlon that try to do some crazy tri trick like slipping your feet out of your shoes just before the transition area. And they spend a lot of time futzing with all that nonsense, slow to a crawl, fall over or at the very least totally negate whatever potential advantage that might have given you, had you had actually been an elite triathlete wherein that MIGHT ACTUALLY MATTER. So, unless you are in contention for an age group placing or money, just take your time.
One good, easy way to speed up your transitions to A) practice and B) lay out your stuff where it is easy to get to.
Make sure your running shoes are untied, or better yet, use the bungee things for laces. My first tri, I had to stop and undo the knots in my laces.
Are you going to name the baby Lance Usain Phelps Wilson?
Haha - no! Though we did name the baby after Amelia Earhardt, 'cause she was a stone cold fox.
Well, this baby is a girl, so maybe if we have a boy.
Thank you Wilsons!
Louisville Ironman - Volunteer Confirmation
I've received my Ironman volunteer confirmation. If you are going to be competing, I may be helping you out.
Friday, August 28 - Althlete Check-In
Saturday, August 29 -- Bike & Gear Check-In
Sunday, Augutst 30 - Chip Retrieval
Good luck to all!
You can volunteer, here.
Pre-Week 1/Week 1 Training Plan
Sometimes things just work out perfectly! It is 13 weeks and 2 days until my first triathlon. This is just the right amount of time to fit in the 12-week training plan from "Your First Triathlon" and then have a week to do light workouts, continue fueling properly and get all my gear in order! Sweet.
For the remainder of this week my workout schedule will be as follows:
Wed. - Strength Training; Spin Class
Thurs - Run
Fri - Swim
Saturday - Strength; Run or Bike (depending if I've found a bike yet. Did I mention that I don't have a bike yet? Yep, my lovelies, this is truly a ground up situation!)
Sunday - Yoga and Rest
Next Week - Official Week 1
Mon - Run/Swim (This is switching to Bike because of the Bike class I'm taking)
Tues - Strength
Wed - Bike (Switching to Swim. See Monday's notes)
Thur - Strength/Run
Fri - Rest
Sat - Bike
Sun - Swim
I'm going to try to get two workouts each of a Run, Bike, Swim and Strength. We'll see how it goes.
I will come back in and post Actual results each day in blue.
You'll notice that I do not have a "Rest" day scheduled for week one. This is because, in the book, Joe suggests that if you still have a few extra pounds hanging around, that the rest day is Optional. Right now, I'm feeling feisty, so we'll schedule some movement every day and see what happens.
He's pretty matter-of-fact about that extra poundage slowing a person down. I like that. He goes in to all the stuff about how extra weight damages your heart and all the physically bad stuff that I know and am working on, but something about "it makes you slow and you're trying to race here" statements were something I never had heard from anyone and it is sticking with me.
I Have Chosen!
The die is cast!
The gauntlet thrown!
The challenge issued!
I'll take door number....well, you get the idea. I have picked the race that is to be (hopefully) the start of a beeyootiful friendship.
August 1st, 2009 - EP Tom Sawyer State Park Triathlon
(blurb from official site)
E.P. “Tom” Sawyer State Park is proud to host its 28th annual Triathlon on August 1, 2009. The race is a USAT sanctioned event that consists of a ½ mile swim, 14 mile bike ride and 5K run. All phases of the race will be held either on the park grounds or on the surrounding roads. Both individuals and teams are welcome, with registration opening on May 26th and running through July 11th. The race fee is $55 for individuals and $90 for teams. In addition, a $10 one-day insurance fee is required for all non-USAT members. All race participants will receive an official triathlon shirt and prizes will be awarded both to age group winners and overall winners.
I'd love to get a bunch of people to complete the race with me. The more the merrier, you know? So I want to tell you how doable this race it for a beginner, like me. However, the sentence "I'm doing a Triathlon" is just so bada$$ that I don't want to downplay my (and maybe your?) task. Oh well.
Reasons to sign up for this Tri with me:
- You get to say stuff like this for 3 months and annoy all your friends and family. "No thank you, I'll pass on the Krispy Kreme, Twinkie, Funnel Cake, I'm training for a Triathlon."
- You can use terms like Brick Workout, Fartlek and Squid Lid in everyday conversation with civilians (See? It's annoying already isn't it!)
- You can totally geek out on workout stats, schedules, charts, lists and uhm, a blog, about your training
- You can avoid household chores because you MUST get your swim, bike, run in for the day.
- Ben says that if you think you're going to die in the Swim Leg, you can stand up. It's a shallow pool.
- Race T-Shirt. Score!
- Race numbers look really cool on your wall after the race.
- If you train for this even mildly, you are bound to drop a few pounds
- When you're old, you can impress your grandchildren by telling them all about your valiant effort when you were a young'n.
- Pfit 2 is about to start. Training for this will guarantee that you will work out for the contest.
- You, too, can be a BA a la Jack Bauer, Chuck Norris and Joan of Arc
- C'mon it'll be fun!!!
If you're the kind of person that needs more serious reasons for tri-ing this out (hah!) then here's an article from Eric Harr - Triathlete and Triathlon Trainer Extrordinaire on 20 Reasons Why You Should Do a Triathlon.
Hello World!
Welcome to my blog! I hope you enjoy yourself and stick around a while. I promise to be mildly amusing while telling you all about me and my life. This blog will try to focus on my ongoing weight loss and careful venturing into the world of athletics. I’m going to try to tackle triathlons, but let’s see where it goes, shall we? Oddities will arise. Cat pictures will appear. I read a blurb about adventure races this morning, so things could get a lil’ bit crazy!
I’ve recently lost 63 lbs. That’s several of the big bags of dog food. Go pick a couple of those bad daddies up. I wonder how I was walking. I do have a “That’s @#$@#$ IT” story which got me started losing weight, but I’m not ready to tell it yet. It involved a Kayak. That’s all you’re getting!
I lost 31 lbs on my own under the old “Eat Less, Move More” plan and that took about 8 months. Then, in February, we started a Biggest Loser contest at work. It was winner take all with a nice fat payout at the end. I’ve always been a sucker for a good prize. I lost another 32 pounds in 10 weeks. Yes. I know. I’m a sell out. I should have done it for all the good, healthy reasons and don’t get me wrong, those are nice, too, but I really needed that money. And I can do ANYTHING for 10 weeks, so off I went. I was very careful with what I ate. I logged every bite and every step. I’ll explain more in detail in upcoming posts. And it paid off. I won and this summer I will be taking my kiddo on vacation. Whee!!!
And now…dun duh dunnnnnn. Before and Current pics. Ugh. Seriously. I had no idea I had let myself get so out of control. 
