Tri Love & Runner's Bliss

Coming to Terms with Injury

2009-07-20T12:08:00.002-05:00

Boy, I didn't realize it had been so long...

Well, the hip pain turned out to be a stress fracture/reaction in my femur. Since the Rookie, I haven't been able to run a step. That race went well, but it left me vowing to NEVER race that course again (the water was beyond foul). It also left me in a good deal of pain, which a subsequent MRI, Xray and arthrogram revealed to be a much more severe injury than anticipated.

So, I sit back and watch everyone else racing, running, etc. Honestly, it is a bit depressing. I hoped to be ok'd to run last week, only to be told to stay off the leg for another 2-3 weeks. I'm being treated by Airrosti folks (a new approach for me) and I am hopeful that I will be running before the end of August.

Today, I'll dust off the workout clothes and devise some way to break a sweat in the gym without adversely affecting my hip. Wish me luck!!

Steph

From Limping to Jumping for Joy

2009-05-08T14:48:00.003-05:00

A few days ago, I was suffering from serious pain in my right hip that had me limping for the better part of a month. A PT session brought temporary relief last Friday, but as of Tuesday night, I was convinced that I would have to trash my tri season plans due to this injury.

Mind you, the doctor hadn't yet diagnosed me with any particular injury (I see him on Tuesday), but I overheard my PTs discussing my symptoms and I jumped to conclusions. I decided that I'd torn something in my hip joint and I'd be out for weeks and weeks. I was even depressed about my possible lameness on my upcoming trip to Europe. In an effort to find some temporary relief before seeing the doctor, I returned to PT on Wednesday. Depressed and hurting, I didn't have high hopes.

My regular PT was out sick, so Bill, the intern, was to administer therapy. He helped out the previous Friday, so he knew what was going on with me. He started with a few assessments and adjustments, then it was on to exercises. Suffering just to lift my leg in a variety of bizarre and torturous ways, I was on the verge of tears for the better part of an hour. Finally, the awful session was over and it was time to head back to the office. The moment I stood up, I was shocked.

The pain was gone!

The combination of manipulations and intense exercises must have done the trick. I walked to my car, pain free, and felt the joy rising inside me. I'd spent so much time feeling sorry for myself that I wrote off the possibility that the injury COULD be fixed. It's been two and a half days with zero pain! It is truly amazing.

I've never been this close to dropping out of a race. I really feel for those of you who've missed races due to injury and I have new-found respect for my body. She's a good one, and I promise to take better care of her!

Come on people...Let's race!!

xo
Steph

Toughen up, Buttercup!

2009-04-08T15:28:00.002-05:00

Before you read this post, check this out.

So...I've been running...here and there. I've been biking sporadically. To say I am unprepared to swim a mile in 7 weeks is a gross understatement.

Why? What's going on? My list of grievances:

1. Running - I need a shin transplant. Or some painkillers. Or SOMETHING. Why can't I run pain free? This is getting old.

2. Biking - OK, this isn't that bad, but I am SO over the wind. I'm hesitant to bike into work on some days because the wind is so awful I feel like I have a flat. That being said, had a good ride over the weekend and will commute in tomorrow on the Beastie Bike.

3. Swimming - During my last swim, I was overcome with crazy motion sickness. WTF? This has never happened to me before, and I am a little concerned, to say the least. I hope to swim in the next couple days, so we'll see how that goes...

Now that the whiny-ness has been purged, I just need to get over it. The distances looming before me are nothing (see above noted article) and I am looking for the joy of training again. Have you seen it? Is it behind a curve on a sweet downhill? In the gentle breeze of my morning ride? How about in the dappled sunlight at the bottom of the pool? I know it's out there - I just have to toughen up and find it.

xox

Long Time, No See

2009-03-10T09:49:00.002-05:00

Well...It's been 3 months. As many of you know, I am a fan of lists, so here goes.

-Spent the holidays in El Paso and Ruidoso
-PR'd at 3M, both for HalfM and 10K distances!!!
-Injured my 'anterior tibialis' at 3M...no running until March
-Started commuting to work on my bicycle and doing long training rides on the weekend
-Ran last week...1st time since the week after 3M
-First successful 3 mile training run last Sunday
-Currently registered for Cap10K, TexasRoundup 10K, The Rookie and CapTex Tri Oly

On Wednesday, I start a PR training program with Rogue. However, I did get an email yesterday saying that the group might be canceled due to lack of participation. I hope this isn't the case! Today, I plan to swim at lunch (the pool is so close!). After work, I'll do some quick weights and then off to yoga. Mercer may join me for an easy 3 tonight, otherwise I will go out on my own, probably after dark. Busy day! I guess it makes up for me falling asleep on the couch yesterday after work. :-)

Ouch!

2008-12-08T16:17:00.002-06:00

Last time I blogged, I described my magical half marathon experience. For me, running is no longer something I work to get through. Now, it's one of my states of being that allows me to two of my favorite things - expend excess energy and spend time with friends. Since my friend Kristin is my #1 running bud, it means I spend a great deal of time with her. She seems to be as happy with this as I am, so when I asked her to do a 12 mile trail race with me the weekend after San Antonio, she was all for it. "If I don't run with you, I won't run." Enough said.

Our 12 mile trail race took place near Buescher State Park at a piece of land called Rock Ranch. It was chilly when we left Austin, so we bundled up accordingly and made out way out. With dogs, boyfriends and another runner attempting her first twelve mile run, we arrived at the ranch to find it roughly 10 degrees colder than expected. I won't bore you with all the details of the run, but pine needle-cushioned trails and somewhat technical trails through dense woods kept me 100% entertained the entire time. We were hoping to finish in less than 3 hours, so we picked up the pace toward the end despite Kristin's aggravated IT band.

Finally, after what seemed to be a ridiculously long final two miles, the finish line was in sight. One of the things that helps me run is encouraging someone else. With her injury, Kristin was in pain and exhausted, so I repeated words of encouragement as we neared the end. About 50 yards from the end, the trail split and we were forced to choose between a rickety wooden bridge and mounds of freshly turned earth. Opting for the level planks of the bridge, I began crossing, calling out hazards to Kristin. As I reached the end, my toe sank into a rotten plank and I hit the ground. Hard.

Shocked by the fall and my proximity to the finish line, jumped up and sprinted (as best I could after 12 miles) to finish in about 2:54. Success! Oh, but wait, something didn't feel right...

When I fell, I hyperextended my foot. Think sprained ankle but on the top instead of the side. Post-race beers helped temporarily, but the next week was spent limping and bellyaching about my misfortune. All was well by the next Sunday when in my infinite grace I managed to ALMOST break my toe. It still hurts, but I'm still running!

Oh, the things we do for love of running...

Best. Run. Ever.

2008-11-19T10:43:00.005-06:00

There is really no way to fully describe Sunday's race to you. Every time I try, words fail me, all adjectives fall short and I find myself drifting off into my memories.

This was not my first race. It wasn't even my first running race or my first Half Marathon. Still, it was the first time I ever felt the way I did, and do. If I digress here or there, following a tangential limb out to its spindly end, bear with me. And if you take nothing else away from this, it should be this - I'm not the same person I was Sunday morning when the announcer called my wave to the start line.

Friday Night, ~3:00 AM
I wake in a panic. A terrible nightmare left me gasping for breath, full of anxiety. I was running through San Antonio and my lips were split open, dry and cracking more as I ran through the cold. Every step widened the cracks a little more. Even in my sleep, my mind was trying to talk me out of the race.

Saturday, Noon-ish
Gathering the last of my gear for San Antonio, I hurried around the house hoping that I hadn't forgotten something vital. Salt tabs, Advil, body glide, race belt, fleece headband, Ashe tee, hoodie, gloves, socks, confirmation letter, Gu packs, timing chip, watch, RoadID and sunglasses. That was just for the run. Since we were staying the night, there was all sorts of other gear to be gathered, double-checked and loaded. As I went over the 'final' checklist, I noticed my running shoes in the closet. D'oh! Disaster averted.

Saturday, Evening
Packet pickup went smoothly enough. The ride up was fun, and I enjoyed the distraction Bradford, Kristin, Arvind and Sha's company offered. At dinner, the kitchen was full of people, laughter and chatter. Food was delicious and a quick check on our fundraising total brought a smile to my face. It was wonderful to see how much people cared about what we're doing and the cause we support. Bedtime arrived before I knew it and sleep came more easily that expected.

Sunday, Early Morning
Wake up time came all too soon. Once we got up and moving, everyone seemed very charged. There were red Asha tee-clad runners everywhere! I went for my habitual warm-up run in sub-freezing darkness, hoping that the sun would bring warmth and energy to my sleepy body. Upon arriving at the parking lot, I finally realized how massive this event really was. A steady stream of shuttles carried off an ever-growing river of people. We jockeyed for position in line, both waiting for the shuttle, then the toilet (EIGHT potties for 30k people), then the shuttle again. Overheating on the bus over, I noticed more and more people on foot the closer we got to the race start. We walked a few blocks to the beginning, hoping for the luxury of toilet paper for our last pre-race pit stop. Stepping over mounds of shed sweaters and jackets, we sped past the later waves and found Corral 21 - our wave. Minutes later, after hugs and giddy good lucks, we were off.

Sunday, The Race
This is why you're here, right? I wish this were more cohesive, but these memories come in flashes. I will try to keep it as chronological as possible.

Kristin and I worked to find our comfortable pace, Bradford warming up next to us. Once he sped up and broke away, we started pacing with a couple of APD officers. This only lasted about 2-3 miles until we left them at a water stop. Somewhere between that point and mile 10, I remember these things:

-Groups of girls dressed in '50's costume and Elvis get-ups...cheering and clapping as we rounded a center plaza
-"Love is a Battlefield" performed live by a lone musician in front of the Alamo
-A man riding a bicycle with a portable stereo playing a march call "Left, right, left right..."
-The Elmo signs "Hooray for you!"
-A terrible pain in my left hip that I was too afraid to mention to Kristin
-Pictures of lost loved ones on the backs of Team In Training runners
-Children holding out their hands, as if collecting hi-fives
-Contemplating leaving my hoodie at a small business to retrieve it late (I love my hoodie)
-A smiling Hispanic guy standing under a tree holding a sign that read "I love you, Jenny!"
-Cheering family members FREAKING OUT as their loved one ran by ("HOOOOOOOOOOLLY!!!!! Holly! Look! It's Holly!")
-The running "Spartan" in all his splendor
-The smiling couple who let me use the port-a-let in their yard...and there was TP!
-Dodging the street reflector in the middle of the road
-Randomly cheering and hearing my fellow runners echo back
-Realizing at 1:15 that we had a chance to hit our goal time
-Greedily grabbing 2 Clif Shots and then regretting the decision as they bounced around chaotically in my hoodie pocket
-My favorite sign - 'Your feet hurt because you are kicking a$$'

Many times during the race, tears welled up in my eyes. Most of the time, I was feeling joy - there were so many people out there supporting. They left their warm beds and committed to standing and cheering for thousands of people they will never meet.

That's what really hit me.

The whole reason I am running is to help countless children I will never meet. Each of those spectators gave me hope that, yes, I would prevail. And that's what we're doing for the kids in India. With our help, they will prevail and they will live a better life. So in the end, this post is for all my supporters...my coach, my fellow runners, my Asha donors and all those cheering people lining the road Sunday morning. You're all part of this journey.

Thank you. There is no way I could have done this without you.

Why I Run...

2008-11-14T12:17:00.003-06:00

On Sunday, 30,000 runners will gather to complete the inaugural San Antonio Rock n Roll Marathon and Half Marathon. As the excitement and anxiety build, I keep reminding myself why I'm doing this - I'm running to help raise money for Asha, a non-profit dedicated to supporting education programs for kids in India.

In my second year on Team Asha, I've decided to devote my fundraising to one project in particular. That project is the Shristi Special Academy. Here's one student's story, as written by my teammate Vinod. I hope this offers insight into why I'm doing all this.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

This story starts with a little girl named Deepthi.

An active and alert seven-year-old, Deepthi loves solving puzzles and playing with her friends. Like any other seven year old, she loves being the center of attraction in her class and takes a leading role in participating and initiating activities in her peer group.

What you will find remarkable is the change the past few years have brought about in her.

A history of birth asphyxia and seizures had left Deepthi weak and small for her age. Delayed development milestones meant that she was unable to chew or swallow – she was on milk even at the age of three. A history of hyper ammonia syndrome resulted in a very monotonous diet, which further contributed to her weakness. She couldn't walk or talk or localize visually. Her future looked bleak at best.

This was when her parents brought her to Shristi, in November 1998.

Shristi is a non-profit society, established in 1995 by 3 special educators with a vision to reach out to individuals with special needs. With unique programs designed to enable independence among the Mentally Challenged, Developmentally Delayed and those with Autism and Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder, Shristi reaches out to all age groups. It remains among the few institutions which caters to infants and even the severely retarded across urban and rural communities.

The rehabilitation of those coming to Shristi includes therapeutic intervention with a focus on special education, sensory stimulation, physiotherapy and language stimulation.

Through an intensive, individualized and child-focused training program, Shristi has enabled many young children with developmental delays to go to normal schools, setting them on the path towards a more normal life. Several older individuals have gained employment enabling life-changing happiness.

Deepthi joined on one such special Early Intervention program in November 1998. The primary goal of her program was to ensure better nutrition and feeding practices, as this was the major problem faced by her mother. Special emphasis was also given to helping her catch up with her motor milestones, primary among them being walking.

Today at 7 years, although she still has seizures, which are controlled by medication, she has learned to walk, communicate through single words and gestures and take part in all activities of the class. She eats with minimal help under supervision and is on a toilet schedule to help streamline her bladder movements and achieve better levels of normalcy. She is receiving occupational therapy for her hand functions and through speech therapy will achieve better levels of communication.

Asha Austin's role is to help Shristi find suitable educators for various domains: Mental retardation, Autism and Vocational Training.

These educators are specialized to handle mentally challenged and autistic children at Shristi. Then Asha endeavors to find sponsors for these teachers and facilitates linking sponsors with them. Asha follows through by disbursing and monitoring the sponsors' funds. It works with both sponsors and Shristi in India to obtain regular progress reports of the children handled by the teachers and build a strong sponsor-teacher communication. The sponsor can also arrange a visit to Shristi through Asha and the project coordinators in India.

This program makes it possible for an individual to sponsor partial or full cost of supporting one teacher at Shristi Special Academy. The teachers at Shristi are special educators trained to work with mentally challenged and autistic children. We believe retaining educators in the system is the way to sustain education, particularly in the context of special education. Committed though they are, supporting these educators financially is a necessary part of retaining them within the system. One can become a sponsor for a teacher at Shristi for as little as $20 a month.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

More details about Asha's support with Shristi can be found here.

Please donate any amount you can. The ongoing success of the Shristi Special Academy depends on you!

DONATE NOW!

Running is Easier than Updating my Blog

2008-10-20T10:37:00.005-05:00

Yeah...somehow I can manage to run 4 days a week, but I can't seem to post more than once every few weeks. I guess part of me worries that someone will be bored to tears with my tedious reports and detailed accounts of the uber-obsessive sport of running. Yeah, I said it. I'm obsessed.

I don't know how many run workouts I shirked over the summer...how many times I told myself that I wasn't really capable of improving from my tried and true 11-12 minute mile pace, no matter the distance. But guess what? I was wrong.

After a long weekend of action-packed, drama-filled fun, New Braunfels-style, I felt less than prepared for yesterday's 10k. Why, you ask? Well, here's the breakdown:

1. 10+ hours in heels
2. 1 10-Year HS Reunion Party
3. 1 order of fries and gravy (WhatABurger...eww)
4. 6 hours of restless sleep
5. 1 wedding, including encounter with my 'favorite' cousin
6. -15 glasses of water
7. 1 serving mashed taters for dinner

I think you get the idea...

So when I woke up yesterday, my lips chapped from dehydration, the goal I set for this race seemed as achievable as retiring at 30. I wanted sub-10 minute miles. My pace calculator predicted this feat, but that was based on a 2 mile time trial that NEARLY KILLED ME. Edgy and cold, my patience grew short before the race and I knew I needed my mind as an ally...my body certainly had no reason to be on my side at that point. After a 2 mile warmup that all but crushed my remaining bits of confidence, we made our way to the start. With water bottle in hand and my running buddy at my side, I said a quick prayer and decided to bank on my weeks of training to defeat these days of under-preparation. I'm no math whiz, but it wasn't looking good.

My brain was fuzzy and serene until we entered the Domain. Spectators cheered their support, sipping lattes from steaming cups while I sweated and cursed myself silently. I didn't feel bad, I just didn't feel great. I limited myself to a few choice peeks at my watch to verify that all was not lost, but otherwise stayed 100% focused and about 95% silent the entire time. It wasn't until I neared the race clock at mile 5 that I actually felt exhilarated by the idea that I was still going to reach my goal. Virtually numb from the waist down, I finally neared the 6 mile marker and turned on to the final straightaway, lined on each side by Asha cheerleaders and team members.

To a symphony of cowbells and cheering spectators, I crossed the finish line as a wave of nausea sent me staggering to the fence. Desperately, I tried to find a way through lest I make a huge mess by barfing on the pavement. Kristin finished at that moment and thankfully I was able to pull the focus away from how bad I felt and check on my running partner. We 'floated' away on numb legs, dizzy heads luring us to a water table nearby. After working briefly on Kristin's seizing calf, we made our way to the Asha tent. After hugs and high-fives, I made a pitiful attempt to stretch and looked again at my watch. It confirmed that I had, in fact, completed the race in time to reach my goal.

9:47/mile
1:00:44 overall

I won't say that it was as much fun as a tri, but I felt pretty darn good about the work I did yesterday. For that matter, ALL of my team members and friends who races feel pretty darn good about yesterday. Everyone did an amazing job racing and showing support! Thanks to all of you who made my experience such an amazing one. Oh yeah, and one final thing:

GO TEAM ASHA!!!!!!

One Month In

2008-09-29T10:48:00.002-05:00

I know, I know. It's been awhile. Don't be angry...I haven't forgotten about you!

Tri season is over and I've completed about a month of training towards my ambitious goal of 4, count 'em, 4 half marathons in 2008-2009. I'm registered for San Antonio, and I'll be signing up for Dallas soon. If I could, I would just register for all of the races now and be done with it. However, I am realistic when it comes to injury and the general chaotic twists and turns of life.

I'm up to 8 miles in my long runs, tho at the expense of my IT Band. After a weekend off and some very serious cross-training this week, I plan to run 9-10 miles....SLOWLY. That puts me about a 5k away from the goal distance, which is really exciting!

In the spirit of this transition from Tri season to running, I'll go ahead and amend the blog title. Soon I'll be posting on a number of new developments, from new shoes to PT to a new Rogue workout that looks really cool. Tata for now!

xo

Negligence

2008-08-14T16:34:00.003-05:00

Oh, dear tri blog, I am sorry to desert you for so long!

I am two race reports behind with a third race on the horizon. Though I am not known for the brevity of my prose, I shall make this quick & dirty.

Cutest Damn Tri in Texas - Texas Ski Ranch - July 27, 2008
Swim:8:02, 2:40/100m pace
T1: 2:22
Bike: 43:07, 15.45mph pace
T2: 1:39
Run: 24:36, 12:18 pace
Total: 1:19:46

My overall time was 10 minutes faster than last year despite my lackluster bike performance. My projected goal was 1:13, so I was pretty happy with this time.

Temple Triathlon 2008 - August 10, 2008
Swim:8:51, pace 2:31/100m pace
T1: 2:02
Bike: 33:14, 16.43mph pace
T2: 1:25
Run: 26:00, 12:22 pace
Total: 1:11:32

My pace improved over last race in all but the run. However, there was a massive hill 1.5 miles into the run. I admit it, I walked it. That being said, I think my pace was actually better than at Cutest Damn, walk not included. Woohoo!

She RIDES!

2008-07-24T12:21:00.001-05:00

My race bike is still as awesome as I remember! Steph & I did 4 loops on the Veloway last Saturday and it was a GREAT ride. I am extremely excited about Sunday's race. Really, it's just a matter of getting my race stuff together and praying that my bad wrist and shoulder don't hurt too much.

I moved last weekend, so my legs are a lovely collection of blossoming bruises and scabbed up scrapes. Somehow, I've also managed to lose most of the tan I acquired in Mexico. Knowing my skin, I will suck up the sun while in my studly tri gear, leaving my upper thighs a splendid, pasty white.

I'm registered for Sweet & Twisted at the end of August. I'm excited about this race as the course is brand-new to me. I'm not worried at all about the increased distances, but I do feel like I need to train more/harder for the run. My life has been so hectic in the last month that I haven't done much at all in that arena.

It's about time for me to mosey down to the cafeteria and find some carb-o-rific meal. I'm struggling to hydrate - it really makes all the difference - but I think I may be low on salt because I have to go to the potty CONSTANTLY!

Bike Prep~Race Plans

2008-07-18T14:11:00.000-05:00

I plan to race on my, get this, race bike. Problem is, I haven't ridden it in months and both tires are flat. Hopefully, they don't need to be replaced, but I ride at 7am, so I have little time to wait around and see. Today will be the day that I finally buy a floor pump, no longer relying on the kindness of strangers to get air in my tubes. I've also been shuffling 1 pair of SPD pedals between my two road bikes, and I am just sick of it. Performance Bike, get ready to take my money in exchange for a cheap floor pump and another set of Forte SPDs. I need 'em.

In regards to the race, I did the same distance race in 1:29:40 last year. Here's the breakdown and my projected times:

Swim: 10:04, 3:21/100m pace
Slow, slow, slow. I hope to swim around a 2:30 pace. That puts my swim right around 7:30 minutes, give or take.

T1: 3:25
What was I doing? Catching my breath? Hehehe... I really want to work on this one. The goal time is 2:45. I have a hard time running from the water to the transition area, but I hope to do so this time. Then, it's towel >> jersey >> socks >> gloves >> shades >> helmet. I wonder if I can skip and of that...

Bike: 48:28, 13.74 mph pace
On the bike, I am hoping for a 17.5 mph pace. That would put me at around 38 minutes for the ride. The bike is where I can really make the most time. This is slower than my last race last year, but I am not in the same shape I was at the end of the season. My last race, I came in 43/245 in the bike portion, which I thought was quite a feat for lil ol' me. Honestly, I have no idea what will happen here. Also, the bike is shorter after a shorter swim. Uhhh...Who knows!?!

T2: 2:22
This is a pretty average transition time, but I might be able to shave a little off if I put my mind to it. Let's say this will be about 2:15.

Run: 25:20, 12:40 mph pace
*Sigh* The dreaded run. I really want to run sub 11 minute miles, but I just don't know if it's possible. We do the first bike >> run brick this weekend, so I hope my muscles remember what to do! Let's just say 23 minutes for this portion

Which adds up to: 1:13:30

Geez, that seems pretty fast...

Still, it's 10 minutes slower than Bradford's time at The Rookie last year. Truly, I just want a better time that last year's, but it would be awesome to hit my target!

Race Planning

2008-06-11T10:20:00.000-05:00

I made the mistake of looking at the Texas race calendar. Now I want to sign up for three more!

1 Couple's (did it last year...awesome!)
2 Jack's Generic (loved this one too. TSR feels like home)
3 Sweet & Twisted (Dilloman for women!)

I'm already registered for the Cutest Damn Tri at the end of July. Am I overcommitting again?

:-)

Dust Off the Cobwebs and Scrape Off the Rust

2008-05-14T11:25:00.000-05:00

And so it begins again.

On Monday, I dusted off my running shoes, poor pariahs of my half marathon training. I walked half a mile, ran a fast mile, then walked another half mile. I haven't been on a treadmill in ages, but I felt OK with Ratatat blaring in my ears, providing a rhythm for my pace. And that's when it struck me...maybe I've been reluctant to run because my shoes are blown!

Tuesday, I started the morning with a swim at Stacy Pool. Two laps (133m) of pull buoy, two laps of freestyle and two laps of kickboard. I know, a paltry 400m, but I didn't want to overdo it considering how long it's been since my last swim. It felt great! And, I even got a compliment on my form. I will up each of these to 3 laps apiece next week. My training goal is to do a reasonably quick 600m without stopping before the race, which I think is very reasonable.

Last night, I went to Runtex to buy new shoes. Bernard, my shoe expert, informed me that I have been running in very heavy "big boy" shoes, so I ended up with some snazzy pink Wave Riders. I will probably wear Mizunos for the rest of my running days, but it was nice to try some other options to confirm that they are still right for me. :-) Yay for pink shoes!! Pictures coming soon...

Now, I am headed to my second yoga class of the week. I've been doing abs daily and I will ride the stationary bike 10 miles this evening. I REALLY need to get my bikes fixed...

Ta-ta for now!!

Cancelled. Postponed. Optional. Ugh.

2007-09-05T10:53:00.000-05:00

I need structure. I need routine.

Cycling was cancelled last night due to rain.
Swimming is delayed due to a pizza party (again).

I think I wanna do the Longhorn Oly. Distance, but this is getting silly. I think I am gonna go do a mile at Barton Springs today. Practice at St. Stephen's sounds a bit too chaotic for me.

Hmmm...maybe ride Friday morning with Elizabeth.

My plan is coming together. A plan is really all I need. :-)

To race or not to race?

2007-08-28T14:41:00.000-05:00

Skeese Greets was a great race for me. :-)

I say that because I PR'd, and because my family was there, but there are a few things that I could have done better.

1. My swim pace was a little slower, increasing my swim time by 10 seconds overall. I guess this isn't too bad considering I hadn't been swimming in 2 weeks. It could be better.

2. I used one of those nifty aero bar water bottles, but I left the bendy straw extension at home. This made the bottle mostly worthless, so I didn't hydrate enough on the ride. Still, it was a killer ride and I was shocked by how empty transition was when I made it in. 43rd overall!

3. My run pace was slower by 10 seconds/mile. I kinda saw this coming, but I really want to get faster. I made it 1/3 of the way through the run before the leaders passed me going the other way. That felt pretty cool, despite all the people passing me.

Overall, I knocked a few minutes off my time thanks to the stellar bike leg.

So what's next? I thought I was done for the season, but Dilloman is so tempting...

Moving Pictures

2007-08-21T09:55:00.000-05:00

I did a shoot on Sunday where we tried to get a running image. I should have know that this is tough, considering how AWESOME everyone looks in race pictures. This is the best of the batch, but we're gonna try again to see if we can nail it.

Bootleg Picture

2007-08-15T16:54:00.003-05:00

To the untrained eye, one might assume that I am sorta short. But no, Bradford and Ben are just giants!

Fierce!

Water Water Water

2007-08-08T17:25:00.000-05:00

Drink, drink, drink...trip to the potty...drink, drink, drink...trip to the potty...

This is the rhythm of staying hydrated.

Soon, it'll be off to swim practice for me. This picture is so fitting!

Jack's Generic Race Report

2007-08-06T11:07:00.000-05:00

I spent days preparing , resting (aka missing practice) and eating well. The usual fluttering tummy and jangled nerves were barely noticeable. My parents even came to cheer me on!

Part 1: The Swim

I felt pretty comfortable during the swim. Though I saw a number of people from the heat behind me (all those tough 30-40 year-olds) closing in and passing, I didn't sweat it. I finished the swim in 13:09, with a pace of 2:38/M. My pace at the Couple's was 3:08, so that's a nice improvement!

T1 - 3:33, down from 4:42 at Couple's.

Part 2: The Bike

I must say, I really liked the bike course. I grew up in New Braunfels, so the backroads made me nostalgic and comfy. I had no mechanical problems or flats, though my loose water bottle cage just about vibrated the teeth out of my head. My 16.6 mph pace brought me in at 53:26. Despite an additional 3 miles added to this portion, I increased my bike pace by 2.2 mph over my Couple's pace. Yeah! I can't wait to race on my new bike...I can't imagine what a difference that will make.

T2 - 2:21, up from 1:55 at Couple's. Not sure what happened there, but I do remember catching my pedal on a rack, almost collapsing the whole thing! Whoops.

Part 3: The Run

Thanks to thoughtful hydration on the bike, my run felt pretty freakin' good. No cramps, just a twinge of pain in my hip that I stretched out last night. The run was a bit hilly, which I actually enjoyed. This is the first tri I ran without walking. My time was 35:54, an 11:58 pace. I really want to work on this, and I have already improved over my 13:08 pace at the Couple's, so I know it's possible. Once again, I think my new bike could make a huge difference.

So, Jack's is my new PR! Yay! I improved my pace in each sport, knocking about 10.5 minutes off my overall time! My final time for Jack's is 1:48:26.

Bradford and his best buddy Ben also raced. They did really well! Bradford finished in 1:19:12, down from 1:27:35 at Couple's. Woo hooo! Ben finished in 1:34:06. It was his first tri ever!

New Addtion

2007-08-02T10:04:00.000-05:00

Here's a sneak peek...

More pictures coming soon!

Also, I just registered for Skeese Greets and Bradford is volunteering. Yay!

Has it already been a week?

2007-07-31T10:58:00.000-05:00

So, I'm already slacking. Bad sign, I know, but it's been a little hectic.

Last week was bad for swimming, meaning I didn't swim except for in my race. Boo to the rain!

Running...ran a full Marsh on Thursday. I may be crazy, but I thought it was fun! OK, I promise I'll never say that again. The mile run in the race was not so great. I had awful calf cramps from being under-hydrated. No good. My run time improved, so that's all that matters. Ran 6 miles on Sunday with no pain and very little soreness afterwards. I am back to considering doing an Olympic distance tri in the Fall.

And Cycling! The SW Parkway workout was fun, especially with my cycling computer! My max speed was 32.3 mph. Wheeeeee! The bike portion of the race felt a bit tough, but I still managed a 16.0 mph pace overall. Yeah!

Bradford and I both placed 1st in our divisions. We were given gold medals and everything. I liked being a medium-sized fish in a little pond!! Back to being the little guy in a lake at Jack's on Sunday. :-)

Thunderstorms

2007-07-24T10:44:00.000-05:00

No swimming yesterday thanks to these unstoppable storms. :-( Oh well, I can just make it up on Wednesday.

20 mile ride on Saturday, decent run yesterday and a mile this AM. Running is most certainly my worst sport. I will need to focus MUCH more attention on my running from now on. I am even WRITING IT DOWN so as to stay motivated and focussed.

Today's ride includes a change of scenery. SW Parkway, here I come!!

The End of Week 5

2007-07-20T17:41:00.000-05:00

I can't believe it's already been 5 weeks! Can it be that I'll be ready for an Olympic tri in just 7 more weeks??

20 mile bike ride, 20 minute run tomorrow. Then, a 8-12 hour shoot with Don Jones. Yeah! The concepts we're doing are all very interesting and unlike anything I have done before. I am starting to get nervous, but I know that will pass as soon as we begin.

And then there's Sunday. Good ol' long run Sunday. I don't remember the last time I ran 5 miles in a row...

The rain makes me sleepy, though I am sure that Ruth's Ladder (interval/pace training workout) has something to do with it. Once again, I did what I considered impossible and I'm stronger for it. That make me very happy!

Post-race Recuperation

2007-07-18T09:53:00.000-05:00

Boy, I have been EXHAUSTED the last couple days! Thankfully, I was not sore at all from the race, just tired.

During my swim workout on Monday, I fizzled about halfway through and had to swim laps with the buoy until everyone else was done. *SIGH* At least I showed up and gave it my best effort. Yesterday, we did hill repeats on Escarpment. I started a little later than everyone else, yet I was still determined NOT to finish last. I hoped to see a firefighter or two at the station along our route, but no luck! 8 repeats whizzed past and before I knew it I was back at the car with the coaches. A fellow trainee motivated me to run a little (we're talking eensy-weensy baby brick) before my popcycle. I actually felt pretty great!

I scored some 20$ cycling shorts at REI yesterday! They are normally 55$, so I was pretty stoked. Nothing exciting, but you know how I love gear!

Today, I feel a little tired but I am not the least bit sore, which I think is a really good sign. I will annihilate the hills at Jack's Generic!

Moment of Weakness

2007-07-16T17:58:00.000-05:00

I just registered for Jack's Generic Tri.

The Couple's Tri

2007-07-16T11:18:00.000-05:00

I am in a bit of a daze today, so bear with me!

I didn't sleep well Saturday night, but that's always the case the night before a race. I wasn't even able to settle down enough to get into bed until about 11pm, but I had everything prepared so all I had to do in the morning was load up. I woke up about 45 minutes before Bradford did and busied myself with loading the gear and bikes into/onto the car. I was on edge, as is typical, and we left a bit after I planned, but we made it to the transition area with plenty of time to get everything situated. Here I am just before we walked down to the water:
As we made our way to the swim start, I had butterflies in my stomach, but I kept telling myself it was my "C" race and that I just needed to take it easy. We swam a little bit to get a feel for the water and the waited in the shade for the announcer to call the heats to the starting line. The water was very warm and murky, and the swim went pretty well. I stayed relaxed, completing that portion in 25 minutes, only 5 minutes slower than my trial swim at Stacy last Friday.

After emerging from the water, I ran up the short, grassy hill to the transition area for a VERY long, VERY lazy transition - 4:45 long! Ha! I know that will improve! I jogged my bike the the bike start, happy to know that I had put in into an easier gear earlier that morning. The ride went well except that I almost lost my brand-new frame pump. I wasted a couple of minutes retrieving it, but I reminded myself that this was my "C" race and I couldn't justify leaving that pump behind. The bike course was VERY hilly, much harder than the one at the Rookie Tri, but I still managed a 14.4 mph pace despite coasting down a number of hills (I hope my coaches don't find out) and riding in shorts without padding (BAD idea, trust me).

Transition 2 was quite a bit shorter, 1:55, but I still piddled and took time to relax my breathing so that I would feel "fresh" for my run. I also poured a lot of water over my head to combat the heat of the sun that was already beating down. This turned out to be a poorly executed maneuver, which I realized shortly thereafter when my toes were squishing around in my shoes. My feet were SOAKED. The run course was ALL in the grass, no hard, familiar road at all. About 1/3 of the way of the way through, about the time I ate my first Clif Shot, I started alternating between walking and running. I justified this by reasoning that A) This was my "C" race and I didn't want to compromise training, B) My feet were sloshing around in my shoes and I didn't want blisters and C) I wasn't all that fond of running on the grass. I sorta feel like a wimped out, but I still improved my pace versus the Rookie Tri. I ran/walked a 13:08 minutes-a-mile pace, which I know that I can improve DRAMATICALLY for my next race. I hope to run closer to a 10 minute mile pace for the race at the end of August. We shall see!

After the race, I had a couple bites of pizza and a Sweet Leaf tea before I got in line for the bean-bag toss. I made all three tosses and won some Triggerpoint Massage tools! Yeah! Then, the guy at the Clif tent gave me a whole container of drink mix. Score! Finally, I had a superb massage that was almost 30 minutes long. It was great! I was in great spirits by the time we got to the car. Bradford was also excited that he finished in 1:27!! He's hardly been training and he did SO WELL! I am so proud of both of us...

Well, that's about it! I had a great time and I am really looking forward to my next race on the 28th! Yeah!

Shoe Shopping & Packet Pickup

2007-07-13T14:05:00.000-05:00

Two of my favorite things!!

Here are the new shoes:

They're Mizuno Wave Creation 8's and they're pretty sweet. I guess my dream of hot pink running shoes will have to wait a bit longer...

I went by Jack & Adam's for packet pickup. Here's what was included:

Race T-Shirt - Baseball-style, grey with navy sleeves. It has the Couple's Tri logo and a big 2 on the back. Cute!
Thermal Lunchbox - Soft & red with the Couple's Tri logo on the front in white. Great for stashing my after-race beers!
Swimcap - Red latex (to which I am allergic) which will inevitable be passed on to E. She got my pink one from the Rookie Tri.
Race Numbers - Tie wraps but no safety pins...
Event Schedule - Our wave starts at 8:12 AM
ChapStick - New Belgium beer logo on the front. This is a good sign that the after-race party will be awesome!
Clif Bar - Mini Cool Mint Chocolate one. Yummers.
Samples - Biofreeze and Shave Secret. I've used Biofreeze before, but I still haven't tried the Shave Secret samples from last race.
Coupon for a FREE PIZZA - 10" pizza from Austin's Pizza for free! Yeah!
Various other Fliers and Junk - Tossed the rest except for the Dilloman Double X Series cards. I don't know if I'll do the Dilloman, but it's at my beloved Pace Bend and it'd be great to race out there.

I'm so excited!!

Blisters are worse than Hills

2007-07-13T10:41:00.000-05:00

I need new shoes. I need them so badly that I am going to get some at lunch today so that I can race in them on Sunday. I know, I know, you're not supposed to do anything "new" for a race, but after 2 hills yesterday, I had a large blister on the side of my foot. Ugh. Thank goodness for these:

I was able to get in a couple more hills and the backwards hills sets before slogging back to RunTex for foot drills. Unfortunately, the blister pad fell off in the pool this morning (you can leave them on for days) and I am now without. I should stock up on those things...they're like magic!

So, I did 800m this morning to get myself mentally prepared for the swim on Sunday. It took about 20 minutes, so we'll see how that translates in the race. Packet pickup is today...woot! I will let you know what goodies are included.

Yummmmm.....

2007-07-12T16:20:00.000-05:00

So I have eaten a whole package in the last 2 days. They're SO good!

Yesterday in practice, we swam a lot. I heard the coach quote it at "a mile plus 100m" which sounds about right to me. I am still having a little soreness in my right elbow, but I am not quite sure why. I mentioned it to Jason, Bradford's friend who we stayed with in LA. Jason is a swim coach and a past Olympic qualifier in the Breaststroke. Pretty awesome! Well, he said that I probably need to work on my rotation, so I took extra care to focus on it in the pool yesterday. Maybe i can get a couple free lessons when he comes to visit in the fall...

So, tonight we'll be doing hills. I can't say I am terribly enthused, but I better get that way! Only 2 hours to go.

Getting back into the swing of things

2007-07-11T13:27:00.001-05:00

So, training didn't really mesh so well with vacation! No worries, though. I swam alot and a hiked back and forth on the beach a bit, but I can't say that I actually trained while I was gone. It was SO much fun, I must say. Everyone at work keeps commenting on my tan, which I didn't even notice while I was in CA. I guess everyone out there is SO tan that I just felt like I was trying to catch up!

Tonight, I will be swimming with the group. It's not my normal night, but I have to go and get some instruction before Sunday's race. I feel pretty confident about it, though the swim and run are quite a but longer than the Rookie. I am pretty sure the run is going to be what plagues me in training and racing, but that's pretty good considering I was a runner before swimming and biking. I know I can get where I want to be...I just need to train harder!

Vacationitis

2007-07-02T15:50:00.000-05:00

It's getting harder and harder to focus...I can't stop googling pictures of La Jolla...I have been listening to surf rock all day...I am ready to go!!

I hope to accompany Bradford and his buddy Paul on this swim. I will be using fins, of course! It's only 1 mile, but the water is COLD and it's the ocean!

If we did the things we are capable of, we would astound ourselves.
-Thomas Edison

On the Eve of Vacation

2007-07-02T10:05:00.001-05:00

Tomorrow morning, Bradford and I depart for sunny California. Yay!!!

...but before I forget, I should tell you about Thursday's run and Saturday's ride.

When I arrived at the RunTex annex on Thursday, I was shocked to see that so few people made it to training. Also, thanks to all the rain, Town Lake was flooded in so many places that we had to run on the track at the School for the Deaf. Growing up in this part of Texas, I'm familiar with the dangers of flooding. Still when I see images like the one below, I am ever thankful for the dam system that keep those of use who live near the water safe. Can you believe that's Congress Avenue?!?

Anyway, back to the workout...

The steamy jog uphill was more intense that what I would call a "warm-up", but I do have to remind myself that most of the other gals in the training group trained for 8 weeks before I began. Me, I would run a wimpy 2 miles here and there with no speed work! Anyway, after drills I ran a 5-4-3-2-1. This means that I ran "fast" for 5 minutes with a 5 minute break, then 4 minute intervals, then 3, and so on. It was brutal, but I did it! :-)

Later that evening, I decided to follow my coach's advice and I wrapped a big ol' ice pack around my legs. Amazingly, I woke up Friday with absolutely NO soreness. Go figure!

Thanks to a couple beers Friday night, Saturday morning started a little later that usual. We didn't make it out to the Veloway until almost 9AM. The sun was already beating down and I was anxious to get going. Just as we were about to head out, Bradford accidently let the air out of his back tire, tearing the valve stem on the tube. Unfortunately, it took a bit of troubleshooting to figure out the last part, so we didn't get on the road until 10AM! No matter, though. We had a good ride. At the VERY END of the MoPac 8 mile loop, I looked down to see a flat back tire. I'm pretty sure I remember running over the culprit about a mile before. Thankfully, we were close enough to the end that I just walked the bike back to the car.

So, two flats and 11 miles of riding in the heat. Good experience, in my opinion!

Grey skies can't keep me away!

2007-06-28T10:24:00.000-05:00

During my swim last night at Stacy a storm rolled in. I didn't realize what was going on until I took a break and noticed the pool was empty, sans a couple of other lap swimmers. The lifeguards didn't seem to mind. I'm sure they were more concerned about the neighborhood kids than those of us maniacally plugging along despite the thunder.

I really enjoy swimming at Stacy, even though some rambunctious kids swiped my kickboard and pull buouy when I wasn't looking. :-) They returned the floats when asked, but I was amazed to see their mom floating in the pool next to them, watching the whole thing transpire. It make me feel old to say it, but 'if I had done that when I was a kid...' Different times, I guess.

I had a nice time at dinner last night. Andy, the guest of honor, is a designer/musician/climber friend who I have known for a couple years now, and I'm sad that he's moving away. Well, sad and jealous. Climbing all the time without worrying about work sounds great to me! Speaking of which, I need to get back on the wall! I need an extra day added to the week for that...

So it Begins.

2007-06-27T14:17:00.000-05:00

So, I'm starting a new blog to chronicle my tri training. I hope to continue with marathon training in the fall, so we'll see where I end up!

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
I had a wonderful ride at cycling practice yesterday.

My coaches Liz & Lorrie were very encouraging - they even cheered me on during my first loop on South MoPac! My ride was only about 11 miles, but I felt it prudent to stick with the beginner group this week. Though I won't be in town for next week's ride (and even the following one, I think) I feel confident about the bike portion of the Couple's Tri, which is on July 15 out at Decker. E-unit and I will do our long ride out there this weekend so that I can get familiar with the course. I am excited about it despite warnings of treacherous road debris. Note to self: must get frame pump!

I also registered for a very short race in Leander at the end of July. The race conditions will be very different (pool swim, neighborhood ride) and I am looking forward to the experience!

Tonight is Andy's Last Supper, a farewell meal with a future resident of Flagstaff. It should be lots of fun, though bittersweet to have to say goodbye.