I've started many years by saying "this year I'm going to..." The blank would be filled in with various things from lose weight, to get in better shape, to complete a particular distance race. This year my blank is different. So here goes...
This year I'm going to do the best that I can.
My life has recently gotten to a point where it is extremely difficult for me to maintain any kind of consistency with my training which led to a lack of motivation on my part. I am determined not to get frustrated when something comes up at the last minute. In the past, this frustration led to bigger problems with my long term motivation.
So to start 2019, I ran 3 miles yesterday. I swam 1950 yards this morning. I have a bike class scheduled.
And I'm going to do the best that I can.
This also relates to my performance. For too long I've been stuck in a bad mindset where I keep thinking about how good I used to be. I would think things like "I'm super slow. I used to run a 2 hour half marathon but not anymore." Negative speak has long been a habit of mine and I'm working on being nicer to myself. I know that it is going to take a lot of time and effort to get back to a place where I feel like I can keep up with my old self again. I might never get there...or I might get there and get even better than I used to be. Why set limits?
I'm going to do the best that I can.
Happy New Year!
Read along with my blog as I discuss weight, schedule and life challenges as I try to get my triathlon training back on track. I will also discuss what I've learned along the way and what new goals I'm setting for myself.
Thursday, January 3, 2019
Saturday, August 25, 2018
Attitude Matters
Two days ago I woke up feeling like an overweight, out of shape, tired, overworked mom. Yesterday I woke up the same person but for the first time in over a year, I put on my Garmin watch and wore it all day. For some reason, wearing that watch all day made me feel like an athlete again. Granted, I still felt like an overweight, out of shape, tired, overworked mom...but I also felt like an athlete.
Today I woke up with plans to run by myself. Now I have to say that running by myself has not been a very successful endeavor in the past few years. Running and I have shared a love/hate relationship where running loves to make me hate it. If I am running with a friend, I can ignore most of the demons in my mind telling my why I shouldn't be running or how much it sucks. However, when I'm running alone the demons normally win.
So, being completely honest, I set off this morning with pretty low expectations. I had on my training plan to run 5 easy miles. I drove to Downtown Columbia and parked at the Whole Foods building. If I had to run 5 miles, I was going to try to find some flat-ish miles to run. Plus I love Downtown Columbia...and running in places that I love tends to make the run a more successful one.
I won't go step by step in this run...but I want to explain what happened to me over those few miles. I saw people walking their dogs, I saw other runners, I saw a huge group of older people walking, I saw people with binoculars looking for birds, I saw a mommy-and-me yoga group. You know what I didn't see? I didn't see anyone with a frown on their face. Everyone was smiling and happy...they were greeting each other (and me)...they were enjoying the beautiful weather. THIS IS WHAT I NEED! Happy running!
As I ran, I focused on my running form. I've never been a good runner and I've always had pretty bad running form. But I've been running for enough years that I know what I'm supposed to do to fix it. So I focused on that. I walked up the hills with zero guilt and started running again at the tops of each hill. Every now and then I glanced at my watch to see what pace I was running, but the goal was to run happy not to worry about time or pace goals.
I battled those damn demons just like always...but this time the demons didn't get to me. The "you are so slow" demon came to me at one point. I smiled at him and said "yes but not for too much longer". He went away without much of a fight. The "everything hurts" demon reared his ugly head many times during the run, especially towards the end. I always have trouble with him but I pushed him aside knowing that when my body really needed a break I would know the true signals. When my body needed a break, I took it. The "everything hurts" demon had nothing to do with that. The worst demon of all came to me at one point. He's the one who tells me "you don't belong out here with the real runners". You know how I beat him? I sped up. I ran for about 1/4 mile at a 9:35 pace. (The one time in the run I was really looking at my watch and focusing on my pace!) It's true that I couldn't keep that pace up for the entire run...but I showed that demon that despite what he says, I DO belong out there with the real runners because I AM a real runner. When he tells me I can't do it, I'm just going to have to prove him wrong. I am stronger than the mental demons.
I ended my run well short of 5 miles. I ran 3.75 miles. Some might consider that a failure, but I do not. I ended my run feeling great. I knew that I had accomplished a pretty major breakthrough with the demons. I knew that I had motivated myself to get out of bed, ignore the mild headache, forget the many excuses I could have made...and I just ran. I also knew that if I tried to run another 1.25 miles to get to 5 miles, I might just give in to those demons. At this point, starting my training all over again at ground zero, I need to finish runs with a good feeling. Had I continued, things might have gone south quickly.
The run was a success. I AM a runner. The day is beautiful. I have a long way to go to get "back in shape" and really start training for a race someday in the future, but today gave me a huge boost of much needed confidence. Attitude is everything...and mine is improving by the day.
Run Stats: 3.75 miles; Time 42:47, pace 11:25 per mile, elev gain 71 ft.
Today I woke up with plans to run by myself. Now I have to say that running by myself has not been a very successful endeavor in the past few years. Running and I have shared a love/hate relationship where running loves to make me hate it. If I am running with a friend, I can ignore most of the demons in my mind telling my why I shouldn't be running or how much it sucks. However, when I'm running alone the demons normally win.
So, being completely honest, I set off this morning with pretty low expectations. I had on my training plan to run 5 easy miles. I drove to Downtown Columbia and parked at the Whole Foods building. If I had to run 5 miles, I was going to try to find some flat-ish miles to run. Plus I love Downtown Columbia...and running in places that I love tends to make the run a more successful one.
I won't go step by step in this run...but I want to explain what happened to me over those few miles. I saw people walking their dogs, I saw other runners, I saw a huge group of older people walking, I saw people with binoculars looking for birds, I saw a mommy-and-me yoga group. You know what I didn't see? I didn't see anyone with a frown on their face. Everyone was smiling and happy...they were greeting each other (and me)...they were enjoying the beautiful weather. THIS IS WHAT I NEED! Happy running!
As I ran, I focused on my running form. I've never been a good runner and I've always had pretty bad running form. But I've been running for enough years that I know what I'm supposed to do to fix it. So I focused on that. I walked up the hills with zero guilt and started running again at the tops of each hill. Every now and then I glanced at my watch to see what pace I was running, but the goal was to run happy not to worry about time or pace goals.
I battled those damn demons just like always...but this time the demons didn't get to me. The "you are so slow" demon came to me at one point. I smiled at him and said "yes but not for too much longer". He went away without much of a fight. The "everything hurts" demon reared his ugly head many times during the run, especially towards the end. I always have trouble with him but I pushed him aside knowing that when my body really needed a break I would know the true signals. When my body needed a break, I took it. The "everything hurts" demon had nothing to do with that. The worst demon of all came to me at one point. He's the one who tells me "you don't belong out here with the real runners". You know how I beat him? I sped up. I ran for about 1/4 mile at a 9:35 pace. (The one time in the run I was really looking at my watch and focusing on my pace!) It's true that I couldn't keep that pace up for the entire run...but I showed that demon that despite what he says, I DO belong out there with the real runners because I AM a real runner. When he tells me I can't do it, I'm just going to have to prove him wrong. I am stronger than the mental demons.
I ended my run well short of 5 miles. I ran 3.75 miles. Some might consider that a failure, but I do not. I ended my run feeling great. I knew that I had accomplished a pretty major breakthrough with the demons. I knew that I had motivated myself to get out of bed, ignore the mild headache, forget the many excuses I could have made...and I just ran. I also knew that if I tried to run another 1.25 miles to get to 5 miles, I might just give in to those demons. At this point, starting my training all over again at ground zero, I need to finish runs with a good feeling. Had I continued, things might have gone south quickly.
The run was a success. I AM a runner. The day is beautiful. I have a long way to go to get "back in shape" and really start training for a race someday in the future, but today gave me a huge boost of much needed confidence. Attitude is everything...and mine is improving by the day.
Run Stats: 3.75 miles; Time 42:47, pace 11:25 per mile, elev gain 71 ft.
Friday, January 2, 2015
Happy New Year 2015!
Happy New Year! I am blowing the dust off this blog and starting 2015 off with a renewed promise to write more often on this site. 2014 was a great year for me personally and professionally. I did the biggest deal of my life, bought a house, replaced my old clunker with my dream car and ended the year with a huge step in my career by taking a new job. It was also a year of disappointments in my athletic endeavors.
After surgery on my foot early in the year, I never fully recovered mentally. I did some training here and there...did a handful of races...but didn't have much enjoyment in any of it. As a result, I packed on the pounds.
This time of the year is typically when I go on a frenzy of signing up for races. I have done a ton of research on races, training plans and philosophies of training. I have officially registered for 1 race...a half marathon in April. I've also done a lot of reflecting on what made 2014 so challenging for me in my training and racing.
After all of this research and reflection, I've come up with a few resolutions:
-My main focus needs to be on my diet. I have got to get rid of these extra pounds that I have gained in the past few months. As I've recently learned, losing weight is 80% diet and 20% exercise. I know that my exercise will be fine...but my diet needs to change dramatically in order to lose the 30 pounds that I want to get rid of. I would love to lose the 30 pounds by June, which I think is a realistic timeframe.
-I would like to start and end my racing year with a long distance event. I have found a 50 mile triathlon in May and a half ironman in September that I am seriously considering. This will test my endurance over a long period of time...which could also give me some idea of whether or not I will have the ability to train for a full Ironman.
-I will be running more than in years past. Running has been a weak area in my training for the past few years. I have registered for a half marathon in April to force myself to get a training plan in place. I want to get to a point where the running leg of the triathlon is not a struggle mentally anymore.
-I will give myself a break. This past year, I was really hard on myself when I allowed life to interfere with my training. That ended up being the start of a downward spiral...I would just get more and more frustrated with myself and with life for getting in the way. I need to be more forgiving of myself if I need a day off. And I need to be more flexible when life throws a curve ball into my well scripted training plans.
So once again I say Happy New Year! I am hopeful that 2015 is a good year for me and all of my readers!
After surgery on my foot early in the year, I never fully recovered mentally. I did some training here and there...did a handful of races...but didn't have much enjoyment in any of it. As a result, I packed on the pounds.
This time of the year is typically when I go on a frenzy of signing up for races. I have done a ton of research on races, training plans and philosophies of training. I have officially registered for 1 race...a half marathon in April. I've also done a lot of reflecting on what made 2014 so challenging for me in my training and racing.
After all of this research and reflection, I've come up with a few resolutions:
-My main focus needs to be on my diet. I have got to get rid of these extra pounds that I have gained in the past few months. As I've recently learned, losing weight is 80% diet and 20% exercise. I know that my exercise will be fine...but my diet needs to change dramatically in order to lose the 30 pounds that I want to get rid of. I would love to lose the 30 pounds by June, which I think is a realistic timeframe.
-I would like to start and end my racing year with a long distance event. I have found a 50 mile triathlon in May and a half ironman in September that I am seriously considering. This will test my endurance over a long period of time...which could also give me some idea of whether or not I will have the ability to train for a full Ironman.
-I will be running more than in years past. Running has been a weak area in my training for the past few years. I have registered for a half marathon in April to force myself to get a training plan in place. I want to get to a point where the running leg of the triathlon is not a struggle mentally anymore.
-I will give myself a break. This past year, I was really hard on myself when I allowed life to interfere with my training. That ended up being the start of a downward spiral...I would just get more and more frustrated with myself and with life for getting in the way. I need to be more forgiving of myself if I need a day off. And I need to be more flexible when life throws a curve ball into my well scripted training plans.
So once again I say Happy New Year! I am hopeful that 2015 is a good year for me and all of my readers!
Wednesday, October 22, 2014
Run, Run, Run
So if there are any readers left on this blog, you have probably noticed a theme...running has not been my favorite thing lately. As a matter of fact, I have not really gone for a run since August unless you count the triathlon in early Oct.
However, for the last 2 weeks, the only thing on my mind is running. Now I haven't actually gone for a run, but I'm working up to that.
Last weekend was the Baltimore Running Festival. I raised money for The Frannie Foundation and signed up for the 5K. I beat my fundraising goal and was very proud of that fact. Unfortunately my husband had to go out of town that weekend for work. So I was left with no childcare coverage for the race.
There were several offers to watch my kids, but really I was OK with not running the race. It's always an amazing atmosphere to be around...but it's also very challenging to get down to the city on race day. I didn't want to leave the girls with a sitter for that long of a time and I didn't want my parents to take them to Betterton for the whole weekend.
So I didn't run. But I watched the entire TV coverage of the marathon. I was reminded of how much I have struggled with the half marathon both times that I ran it...but how amazing I felt when I was finished. I remembered last year's fun of being part of a relay team. I wished I was there and I wished I was running.
Yes, I said it...I wished I was running! This is a breakthrough folks! I wished I was running!
So here's the new plan...I am going to slowly build up mileage and then I'm going to sign up for the winter half marathon training group. My running buddy Heather sent me a FB message and said that she's going to do the same thing. We will pick a spring half marathon to do together! This will motivate me to keep focused during my training and it will be great preparation for a half Ironman early in the season.
I need to get over the excuses that are keeping my from running. I woke up this morning and it was raining...so I didn't run. I need to stop thinking about running...I need to stop wishing I was running...I need to START RUNNING!
However, for the last 2 weeks, the only thing on my mind is running. Now I haven't actually gone for a run, but I'm working up to that.
Last weekend was the Baltimore Running Festival. I raised money for The Frannie Foundation and signed up for the 5K. I beat my fundraising goal and was very proud of that fact. Unfortunately my husband had to go out of town that weekend for work. So I was left with no childcare coverage for the race.
There were several offers to watch my kids, but really I was OK with not running the race. It's always an amazing atmosphere to be around...but it's also very challenging to get down to the city on race day. I didn't want to leave the girls with a sitter for that long of a time and I didn't want my parents to take them to Betterton for the whole weekend.
So I didn't run. But I watched the entire TV coverage of the marathon. I was reminded of how much I have struggled with the half marathon both times that I ran it...but how amazing I felt when I was finished. I remembered last year's fun of being part of a relay team. I wished I was there and I wished I was running.
Yes, I said it...I wished I was running! This is a breakthrough folks! I wished I was running!
So here's the new plan...I am going to slowly build up mileage and then I'm going to sign up for the winter half marathon training group. My running buddy Heather sent me a FB message and said that she's going to do the same thing. We will pick a spring half marathon to do together! This will motivate me to keep focused during my training and it will be great preparation for a half Ironman early in the season.
I need to get over the excuses that are keeping my from running. I woke up this morning and it was raining...so I didn't run. I need to stop thinking about running...I need to stop wishing I was running...I need to START RUNNING!
Saturday, October 11, 2014
Lane 4? Really?
I started in the swim program about halfway through the summer of 2013. I started in lane 1...the slow lane. I didn't last long there and was moved to lane 2 where I comfortably hung out for several months. Towards the beginning of the summer, I was consistently swimming in lane 3. Summer attendance was so low that we all just swam in whatever lane because there were typically not more than 2 swimmers per lane.
Pam is back now. (She takes the summer off from teaching/coaching us.) Because Pam is back, the attendance has grown signifcantly. So there has been some lane shuffling. On Tuesday, one of the lane 4 swimmers left class when it was only halfway through. So Pam shifted ME to lane 4 in order to even out the number of swimmers. Yes, I said that Pam moved ME into lane 4.
Now there are only 5 lanes in my swim class. Lane 4 and 5 are the FAST lanes. They typically swim more yardage because they can cover the more distance in the same amount of time. They are really nice people but really intimidating swimmers. So here I was moving into lane 4. I was terrified.
I took my place last in the lane. I was just hoping to hold my own. As we continued with the intervals, I noticed that while I wasn't keeping up with the lane 4 swimmers, I was definitely outpacing the lane 3 swimmers. I would start the interval at the same time as their third swimmer but I would finish before their second swimmer!
On Thursday we had 4 swimmers in lane 3. I started as the third place swimmer. For every interval, I had to slow down because I was catching the swimmers in front of me. It was definitely holding me up. I decided to ask them if I could try to lead the lane. When I was going as the first swimmer, I was able to stretch the space between myself and the swimmers behind me.
When class was over, I spoke with Pam to let her know that I wouldn't be at class next Tuesday. She mentioned to me that I needed to either lead lane 3 or move to lane 4. She said that I am "a really good swimmer"! I couldn't believe my ears!
In my mind I am still that slow swimmer from a year and a half ago. I have really come far in my development...and I need to remind myself that I am stronger than I think I am. Lane 4? It's still very scary...but I can do it!
Pam is back now. (She takes the summer off from teaching/coaching us.) Because Pam is back, the attendance has grown signifcantly. So there has been some lane shuffling. On Tuesday, one of the lane 4 swimmers left class when it was only halfway through. So Pam shifted ME to lane 4 in order to even out the number of swimmers. Yes, I said that Pam moved ME into lane 4.
Now there are only 5 lanes in my swim class. Lane 4 and 5 are the FAST lanes. They typically swim more yardage because they can cover the more distance in the same amount of time. They are really nice people but really intimidating swimmers. So here I was moving into lane 4. I was terrified.
I took my place last in the lane. I was just hoping to hold my own. As we continued with the intervals, I noticed that while I wasn't keeping up with the lane 4 swimmers, I was definitely outpacing the lane 3 swimmers. I would start the interval at the same time as their third swimmer but I would finish before their second swimmer!
On Thursday we had 4 swimmers in lane 3. I started as the third place swimmer. For every interval, I had to slow down because I was catching the swimmers in front of me. It was definitely holding me up. I decided to ask them if I could try to lead the lane. When I was going as the first swimmer, I was able to stretch the space between myself and the swimmers behind me.
When class was over, I spoke with Pam to let her know that I wouldn't be at class next Tuesday. She mentioned to me that I needed to either lead lane 3 or move to lane 4. She said that I am "a really good swimmer"! I couldn't believe my ears!
In my mind I am still that slow swimmer from a year and a half ago. I have really come far in my development...and I need to remind myself that I am stronger than I think I am. Lane 4? It's still very scary...but I can do it!
Monday, October 6, 2014
Race Report - Osprey Sprint Triathlon 2014
I went into this race very undertrained. I knew that from swimming 2 times a week I would be fine in that area. I also knew that it was only a 15 mile bike ride, mostly flat, and I would be fine in that area. The big issue was that I have not run at all for a long time. As it turns out, the run was the least of my troubles!
Pre-Race
I spent the night with Colleen at her house. It was so great to catch up with her...we both stayed up later than we had intended. But I woke up on race morning feeling rested. The weather was questionable - with a chance of thunderstorms overnight and into the morning. However it was not raining when I woke up. The pavement was damp so it must have rained at some point overnight. Colleen left before I did in order to meet up with another friend who was doing the race.
Matt was again racing the Osprey. This year he was joined by his wife Sharon and his brother Don...it was the first triathlon for both of them. In addition, my friend Kellen was racing it as her first triathlon. Kellen had gone to check out the course the day before and had posted a picture of a jellyfish on her Facebook page. Of course that sent me into the same panic that I had last year.
When I arrived at the race site, it was really windy. The water had whitecaps and the current was strong...in the wrong direction. We would be swimming directly into a strong current with very large waves. The good news was that there wasn't a jellyfish to be seen. All of the athletes I spoke with seemed to be nervous about the swim. Even Chris, who is a race director and has done numerous IronMan races, was commenting on how the swim was going to be rough on people.
The weather was not cooperating. There were quick showers that pushed through right as I got to the race venue. Then it seemed to clear out, but the sky still looked pretty threatening.
Swim
The rough water freaked me out, so I really wanted to get in the water early. I got in and did some breathing bobs and swam a few strokes back and forth until my wave was ready to go. Colleen and I lined up to the side but in the front of the group. I was nervous but excited. The weather seemed to have cleared just in time for the race. It was still windy but the rain showers seemed to have pushed past us.
The countdown was on and finally we started the race. I wanted to establish a good pace from the start so I really pushed it to the first buoy. After rounding the first buoy, I got slammed in the face by a wave. I drank a lot of the salty water. I tried to calm myself down but it rattled me more than I wanted to admit. The waves were large and the current was coming right at us. I was trying to get into a good groove when it happened...as my hand entered the water, I touched the top of a jellyfish. I immediately yanked back my hand and stopped swimming. Somehow I avoided being stung. I tried not to scream, but I definitely let out a loud yelp. I turned and saw several women in my wave swimming towards me. I knew that I had to keep going or get run over. So I tentatively began swimming again.
The waves kept knocking me around and my stomach began to lurch. I feared that Chris' prediction of people getting sick would happen to me. I kept going and tried not to think about my stomach. The second jellyfish that I hit didn't cause me to scream, but it didn't do anything to help me calm down. I realized that I was swimming slightly wide of the swimmers in front of me. I moved over and got directly behind another swimmer. I followed those feet all the way in to the dock. I couldn't wait to get out of the water.
As I ran down the dock towards the transition area, I knew I was in trouble. My stomach was rolling and I felt like I was going to lose it at any moment. I took a little bit longer than normal in transition, trying to calm my stomach. Finally I knew I had to go...I got my bike and ran to Bike Out.
Bike
Once you get on the bike, there are 3 quick turns to get onto the main road out of town. I made the 3 turns and immediately started looking for somewhere to pull off the road. Several cars were parked on the shoulder and I had to hold it down until I got to an open spot. I barely got my bike stopped before I threw up.
Knowing that I had to get myself together and continue on in this race, I took a swig from my water bottle, swished it around and spit it out. Then I clipped back in and took off. I didn't want to push it too much but I really wanted to make up time from that horrible swim. I kept it in the small ring and focused on my cadence. The wind was pretty tough so I tried to stay as low as I could in my aerobars.
About 5 miles in to the bike it started raining. It was a light rain so it wasn't too bad but it made me worried about the sharp turn that was ahead of me. The wind seemed to be in my face no matter what direction I turned. But finally at one point, I found myself going 24 MPH without any additional effort. The wind was finally working in my favor! I knew it was time to take advantage of this. I cranked down to a harder gear and muscled my bike up to 26 MPH. Unfortunately that only lasted for a mile or so until we turned back into the headwind.
My stomach was finally settled and I could concentrate on getting everything I could out of the bike. I knew the run would be my undoing. As I rode back into town, I was dreading getting off the bike. My transition was pretty uneventful and I headed out on the run.
Run
I was running out of town as the first finishers were headed back in. This was pretty cool because I could see all of my friends that were ahead of me. The first mile was tough. After I cheered for Matt, my head got to me. I walked. Then I jogged. Then I walked. I was having the mental battle of trying to convince myself to run.
Finally I got within eye-sight of the turnaround point. Something in my head just clicked. I knew that I had 1 1/2 miles to go to finish this race. I picked up my pace. I was now running, not jogging. The young man at the turn around point was dancing as I approached. The old Karen came out...I danced with him as I made my way around the turn around. A smile was now on my face.
I picked up my pace even more. I wasn't looking at my watch anymore. I was just running. And I was having fun. It took until the last mile and a half, but I was having fun. I did not stop running again until I crossed the finish line. I had broken through the mental barrier! So in the end, while this may not have been my ideal race by any stretch of the imagination, it was a great day.
Race by the Numbers
Total 1:48:04
Swim (.5 miles) 14:58 - actually 1 minute faster than last year which shocked me
T1 2:43
Bike (15 miles) 52:47 - 17.3 MPH
T2 1:38
Run (3.1 miles) 35:58 - 11:36/mile
Pre-Race
I spent the night with Colleen at her house. It was so great to catch up with her...we both stayed up later than we had intended. But I woke up on race morning feeling rested. The weather was questionable - with a chance of thunderstorms overnight and into the morning. However it was not raining when I woke up. The pavement was damp so it must have rained at some point overnight. Colleen left before I did in order to meet up with another friend who was doing the race.
Matt was again racing the Osprey. This year he was joined by his wife Sharon and his brother Don...it was the first triathlon for both of them. In addition, my friend Kellen was racing it as her first triathlon. Kellen had gone to check out the course the day before and had posted a picture of a jellyfish on her Facebook page. Of course that sent me into the same panic that I had last year.
When I arrived at the race site, it was really windy. The water had whitecaps and the current was strong...in the wrong direction. We would be swimming directly into a strong current with very large waves. The good news was that there wasn't a jellyfish to be seen. All of the athletes I spoke with seemed to be nervous about the swim. Even Chris, who is a race director and has done numerous IronMan races, was commenting on how the swim was going to be rough on people.
The weather was not cooperating. There were quick showers that pushed through right as I got to the race venue. Then it seemed to clear out, but the sky still looked pretty threatening.
Swim
The rough water freaked me out, so I really wanted to get in the water early. I got in and did some breathing bobs and swam a few strokes back and forth until my wave was ready to go. Colleen and I lined up to the side but in the front of the group. I was nervous but excited. The weather seemed to have cleared just in time for the race. It was still windy but the rain showers seemed to have pushed past us.
The countdown was on and finally we started the race. I wanted to establish a good pace from the start so I really pushed it to the first buoy. After rounding the first buoy, I got slammed in the face by a wave. I drank a lot of the salty water. I tried to calm myself down but it rattled me more than I wanted to admit. The waves were large and the current was coming right at us. I was trying to get into a good groove when it happened...as my hand entered the water, I touched the top of a jellyfish. I immediately yanked back my hand and stopped swimming. Somehow I avoided being stung. I tried not to scream, but I definitely let out a loud yelp. I turned and saw several women in my wave swimming towards me. I knew that I had to keep going or get run over. So I tentatively began swimming again.
The waves kept knocking me around and my stomach began to lurch. I feared that Chris' prediction of people getting sick would happen to me. I kept going and tried not to think about my stomach. The second jellyfish that I hit didn't cause me to scream, but it didn't do anything to help me calm down. I realized that I was swimming slightly wide of the swimmers in front of me. I moved over and got directly behind another swimmer. I followed those feet all the way in to the dock. I couldn't wait to get out of the water.
As I ran down the dock towards the transition area, I knew I was in trouble. My stomach was rolling and I felt like I was going to lose it at any moment. I took a little bit longer than normal in transition, trying to calm my stomach. Finally I knew I had to go...I got my bike and ran to Bike Out.
Bike
Once you get on the bike, there are 3 quick turns to get onto the main road out of town. I made the 3 turns and immediately started looking for somewhere to pull off the road. Several cars were parked on the shoulder and I had to hold it down until I got to an open spot. I barely got my bike stopped before I threw up.
Knowing that I had to get myself together and continue on in this race, I took a swig from my water bottle, swished it around and spit it out. Then I clipped back in and took off. I didn't want to push it too much but I really wanted to make up time from that horrible swim. I kept it in the small ring and focused on my cadence. The wind was pretty tough so I tried to stay as low as I could in my aerobars.
About 5 miles in to the bike it started raining. It was a light rain so it wasn't too bad but it made me worried about the sharp turn that was ahead of me. The wind seemed to be in my face no matter what direction I turned. But finally at one point, I found myself going 24 MPH without any additional effort. The wind was finally working in my favor! I knew it was time to take advantage of this. I cranked down to a harder gear and muscled my bike up to 26 MPH. Unfortunately that only lasted for a mile or so until we turned back into the headwind.
My stomach was finally settled and I could concentrate on getting everything I could out of the bike. I knew the run would be my undoing. As I rode back into town, I was dreading getting off the bike. My transition was pretty uneventful and I headed out on the run.
Run
I was running out of town as the first finishers were headed back in. This was pretty cool because I could see all of my friends that were ahead of me. The first mile was tough. After I cheered for Matt, my head got to me. I walked. Then I jogged. Then I walked. I was having the mental battle of trying to convince myself to run.
Finally I got within eye-sight of the turnaround point. Something in my head just clicked. I knew that I had 1 1/2 miles to go to finish this race. I picked up my pace. I was now running, not jogging. The young man at the turn around point was dancing as I approached. The old Karen came out...I danced with him as I made my way around the turn around. A smile was now on my face.
I picked up my pace even more. I wasn't looking at my watch anymore. I was just running. And I was having fun. It took until the last mile and a half, but I was having fun. I did not stop running again until I crossed the finish line. I had broken through the mental barrier! So in the end, while this may not have been my ideal race by any stretch of the imagination, it was a great day.
Race by the Numbers
Total 1:48:04
Swim (.5 miles) 14:58 - actually 1 minute faster than last year which shocked me
T1 2:43
Bike (15 miles) 52:47 - 17.3 MPH
T2 1:38
Run (3.1 miles) 35:58 - 11:36/mile
Friday, September 26, 2014
Change of Perspective
Monday and Tuesday I attended a work retreat. It was held at the Chesapeake Beach Resort and Spa in Southern MD. I decided to go down on Sunday evening in order to avoid an early rise and questionable traffic.
I got some work done on Sunday night and went to bed. When I woke up on Monday morning, the first thing I did was look out my window. It was a beautiful morning. The sun was just coming up over the water. The water was calm. The colors in the sky and reflected on the water made a stunning view. I just stood there, taking in the whole peaceful scene.
The very first thought I had was "I wish I had brought my running stuff". That is literally the first time that I have wanted to run in a long time. I didn't bring my running stuff because I really didn't expect to have the desire to run. I was trying to save space in the suitcase so I didn't bring anything "extra". There was a time when my running stuff would never have been considered "extra".
The retreat started and I got wrapped up in the meetings. I learned a lot and consider it a very valuable use of my time. At the end of the session on Monday, the instructor told us about a running path. Several of the class members mentioned that they were going to run in the morning. I was disappointed that I couldn't join them.
I don't know what happened to trigger this change of heart about running. For at least a year it has been a struggle to run. Maybe I just needed a break. Maybe I just needed to take the pressure off.
Whatever the reason, I am hopeful that this mindset continues.
Next Saturday is the Osprey Triathlon. It will be the 3rd time I'm doing that race...the first time was my very first triathlon. I am undertrained. I am not "race ready". But I am looking forward to getting out there and participating. It was at this race that I crossed the finish line and fell in love with triathlons. I hope to experience that feeling again.
I got some work done on Sunday night and went to bed. When I woke up on Monday morning, the first thing I did was look out my window. It was a beautiful morning. The sun was just coming up over the water. The water was calm. The colors in the sky and reflected on the water made a stunning view. I just stood there, taking in the whole peaceful scene.
The very first thought I had was "I wish I had brought my running stuff". That is literally the first time that I have wanted to run in a long time. I didn't bring my running stuff because I really didn't expect to have the desire to run. I was trying to save space in the suitcase so I didn't bring anything "extra". There was a time when my running stuff would never have been considered "extra".
The retreat started and I got wrapped up in the meetings. I learned a lot and consider it a very valuable use of my time. At the end of the session on Monday, the instructor told us about a running path. Several of the class members mentioned that they were going to run in the morning. I was disappointed that I couldn't join them.
I don't know what happened to trigger this change of heart about running. For at least a year it has been a struggle to run. Maybe I just needed a break. Maybe I just needed to take the pressure off.
Whatever the reason, I am hopeful that this mindset continues.
Next Saturday is the Osprey Triathlon. It will be the 3rd time I'm doing that race...the first time was my very first triathlon. I am undertrained. I am not "race ready". But I am looking forward to getting out there and participating. It was at this race that I crossed the finish line and fell in love with triathlons. I hope to experience that feeling again.
Monday, September 15, 2014
Down 8 Pounds!
The first week of my "diet", I focused on only my food. I did not swim, bike or run. It was very time consuming to prep all of my food for the week and pack my lunches. I had migraines for 3 days straight. But at the end of the week, I was feeling a lot better.
The second week I started adding athletic endeavors back into my routine. I continued to follow a strict diet, although there were events where I had to "make do" with what I could. We traveled to see Ryann at KSU and we had many meals in restaurants. I realized that it's probably not 100% clean eating, but it is pretty easy to be healthy if you just make the right choices and be sure to ask for what you want from the waitstaff.
I am now 8 pounds lighter but the big difference is how I am feeling. I am completely off my caffeine addiction and I am not consuming sugar of any kind. No dairy either...which surprisingly I don't miss at all.
My clothes are starting to feel normal again. They had become so tight and I refused to buy larger sizes. So now, even though I am pretty far from my ultimate goal, I am moving in the right direction. Losing the weight is the first step towards getting all of my training 100% back on track.
The second week I started adding athletic endeavors back into my routine. I continued to follow a strict diet, although there were events where I had to "make do" with what I could. We traveled to see Ryann at KSU and we had many meals in restaurants. I realized that it's probably not 100% clean eating, but it is pretty easy to be healthy if you just make the right choices and be sure to ask for what you want from the waitstaff.
I am now 8 pounds lighter but the big difference is how I am feeling. I am completely off my caffeine addiction and I am not consuming sugar of any kind. No dairy either...which surprisingly I don't miss at all.
My clothes are starting to feel normal again. They had become so tight and I refused to buy larger sizes. So now, even though I am pretty far from my ultimate goal, I am moving in the right direction. Losing the weight is the first step towards getting all of my training 100% back on track.
Tuesday, September 2, 2014
Stepping Back to Move Forward
So this blog has kind of gotten stale. I haven't posted regularly and I'm sure that anyone still out there checking my blog is either related to me or just really bored. So I've decided that I am going to change things up a little.
The reason I haven't posted is that I haven't had much to say. I have been very sporatic with my training since my foot surgery. I have also gained a lot of weight, which mentally weighs me down and physically holds me back in training. SO, now that September is here, I've made a decision...I am going to take a step back in order to move forward.
What does this mean? Well, I will still swim, bike and run but it will be with the goal of getting myself into a good, healthy place instead of with goals of going longer, harder, faster.
I have always done better when I am being held accountable. So, I will make a daily post on this blog that talks about the challenges or the successes I've had that day. This will include both my workouts and my eating, however this will never be a weight loss blog. I'm just not that kind of girl!
Feel free to chime in if you are on a similar path. I am by no means an expert and will take any feedback or support that anyone will give me!
So, day 1...here goes...
Success: I have eaten "clean" all day. Only meat, veggies and fruit today so far. I have given up my treasured hot tea with Splenda in the mornings. I have been drinking water all day. I actually enjoyed my healthy lunch.
Challenges: I probably did not pack enough food to get me through the day since it is almost 3 pm and I feel very hungry. My sleep was not good last night so when I woke up this morning with the intent to run, I chose to reset my alarm and go back to sleep. I did not plan ahead for dinner so I am probably going to be challenged there.
The reason I haven't posted is that I haven't had much to say. I have been very sporatic with my training since my foot surgery. I have also gained a lot of weight, which mentally weighs me down and physically holds me back in training. SO, now that September is here, I've made a decision...I am going to take a step back in order to move forward.
What does this mean? Well, I will still swim, bike and run but it will be with the goal of getting myself into a good, healthy place instead of with goals of going longer, harder, faster.
I have always done better when I am being held accountable. So, I will make a daily post on this blog that talks about the challenges or the successes I've had that day. This will include both my workouts and my eating, however this will never be a weight loss blog. I'm just not that kind of girl!
Feel free to chime in if you are on a similar path. I am by no means an expert and will take any feedback or support that anyone will give me!
So, day 1...here goes...
Success: I have eaten "clean" all day. Only meat, veggies and fruit today so far. I have given up my treasured hot tea with Splenda in the mornings. I have been drinking water all day. I actually enjoyed my healthy lunch.
Challenges: I probably did not pack enough food to get me through the day since it is almost 3 pm and I feel very hungry. My sleep was not good last night so when I woke up this morning with the intent to run, I chose to reset my alarm and go back to sleep. I did not plan ahead for dinner so I am probably going to be challenged there.
Tuesday, July 29, 2014
I Don't Know How You Do It
I have heard several people say this to me. "I don't know how you do it." They are typically referring to my training, full time job and family responsibilities. Most of the time I smile and agree that it's not easy but that it's totally manageable.
However, there are times when I can't do it all. This week is one example. Saturday I left early in the morning to drive to Ohio to pick up Ryann from her summer session. Sunday we drove home and didn't get in until after midnight. Stephen left at 3 am this morning for a hiking trip. He won't be home until Friday. Plus work is extremely busy and requires some extra time.
I am having a huge challenge in finding the time in my schedule to do any training, much less do the training that is on my plan. I can't make my Spin90 or swimming classes at all this week.
So what now? Do I just take a week off? Do I fit in whatever I can and not worry about the rest? Whatever I decide, I'm sure that I will feel badly about it. But the reality of life is that sometimes it gets in the way of training.
I suppose the most important thing is to come out of this week without too much guilt. Because in the grand scheme of training, one missed week is not the end of the road. It's just a speed bump. So I'm going to do what I can and just get through the week. Next week is another week...
However, there are times when I can't do it all. This week is one example. Saturday I left early in the morning to drive to Ohio to pick up Ryann from her summer session. Sunday we drove home and didn't get in until after midnight. Stephen left at 3 am this morning for a hiking trip. He won't be home until Friday. Plus work is extremely busy and requires some extra time.
I am having a huge challenge in finding the time in my schedule to do any training, much less do the training that is on my plan. I can't make my Spin90 or swimming classes at all this week.
So what now? Do I just take a week off? Do I fit in whatever I can and not worry about the rest? Whatever I decide, I'm sure that I will feel badly about it. But the reality of life is that sometimes it gets in the way of training.
I suppose the most important thing is to come out of this week without too much guilt. Because in the grand scheme of training, one missed week is not the end of the road. It's just a speed bump. So I'm going to do what I can and just get through the week. Next week is another week...
Wednesday, July 23, 2014
Storm Chasers
I went to Spin90 class tonight despite a weather forecast showing a chance of severe thunderstorms. As I pulled into the parking lot, John and Robb were comparing radar reports. I gathered that the storm was far enough away to satisfy them that we could get class in.
As the group surrounded John, he explained the route for the day. Everything was about being close to the cars in case the storm came in quicker than we expected. We started with a warm-up ride up and down Race Rd. Then we did the Hanover Rd loop...which starts with a climb. It's not an unusually hard climb, but right now I'm not in climbing shape...so I was pretty nervous.
On the warm up I focused on spinning my legs and really getting the blood flowing. As we made the turn to start the loop, Robb and one of the students (Beth) were right with me. Robb talked us through the gear shifts and reminded us to breathe. As we hit the steep incline at the top, I pulled away from Beth. My legs were screaming. Robb kept pushing me to keep on my cadence. I crested the hill and shifted into a harder gear. Robb yelled towards me to do an active recovery, then he dropped back to get Beth.
I finally made it to the circle where the fast riders were circling and waiting for the slower riders. I was about in the middle of the group. I had to do a few circles waiting for the riders behind me. Robb and Beth both told me that Robb had made me a target and challenged Beth to go get me. I laughed and said I was just trying to survive at that point!
We rode down Hanover Rd to the end of Race Rd. John thought we could get in 2 time trials before the storm came. So in typical time trial fashion, he sent off the slower riders. He kept forgetting me. He didn't send me until right before the really fast group! As I started, Robb said "Karen's with the strong riders!" I yelled back "that was a mistake!"
But in my mind, I convinced myself that I was going to show John that it wasn't a mistake. I passed the first rider in about 30 seconds. I set my sights on the next one. I couldn't tell you about my speed or cadence. I didn't look at my computer once. I just looked at the back of the rider in front of me. John, Robb and one other guy flew by me in a pace line about halfway down the road. It didn't phase me...I kept focused on the rider in front of me. By the end of the road, I had passed everyone except 2 riders! I was pretty impressed with myself.
The way back down Race Rd was supposed to be a recovery ride. But Robb pulled up next to me and I ended up pushing it a bit to keep up with him while we chatted. I really didn't think I had another time trial in my legs. I was pretty spent. But I knew that as soon as we started, I would get competitive again.
Sure enough, we took off and I was chasing down the rider in front of me again. Even though I had very little left in my legs, I was going on pure determination. I wasn't going to look bad after that first time trial.
As we pulled into to parking lot, we heard a clap of thunder in the distance. Just in time! What a good workout...physically and mentally! And the rain held off for us!
As the group surrounded John, he explained the route for the day. Everything was about being close to the cars in case the storm came in quicker than we expected. We started with a warm-up ride up and down Race Rd. Then we did the Hanover Rd loop...which starts with a climb. It's not an unusually hard climb, but right now I'm not in climbing shape...so I was pretty nervous.
On the warm up I focused on spinning my legs and really getting the blood flowing. As we made the turn to start the loop, Robb and one of the students (Beth) were right with me. Robb talked us through the gear shifts and reminded us to breathe. As we hit the steep incline at the top, I pulled away from Beth. My legs were screaming. Robb kept pushing me to keep on my cadence. I crested the hill and shifted into a harder gear. Robb yelled towards me to do an active recovery, then he dropped back to get Beth.
I finally made it to the circle where the fast riders were circling and waiting for the slower riders. I was about in the middle of the group. I had to do a few circles waiting for the riders behind me. Robb and Beth both told me that Robb had made me a target and challenged Beth to go get me. I laughed and said I was just trying to survive at that point!
We rode down Hanover Rd to the end of Race Rd. John thought we could get in 2 time trials before the storm came. So in typical time trial fashion, he sent off the slower riders. He kept forgetting me. He didn't send me until right before the really fast group! As I started, Robb said "Karen's with the strong riders!" I yelled back "that was a mistake!"
But in my mind, I convinced myself that I was going to show John that it wasn't a mistake. I passed the first rider in about 30 seconds. I set my sights on the next one. I couldn't tell you about my speed or cadence. I didn't look at my computer once. I just looked at the back of the rider in front of me. John, Robb and one other guy flew by me in a pace line about halfway down the road. It didn't phase me...I kept focused on the rider in front of me. By the end of the road, I had passed everyone except 2 riders! I was pretty impressed with myself.
The way back down Race Rd was supposed to be a recovery ride. But Robb pulled up next to me and I ended up pushing it a bit to keep up with him while we chatted. I really didn't think I had another time trial in my legs. I was pretty spent. But I knew that as soon as we started, I would get competitive again.
Sure enough, we took off and I was chasing down the rider in front of me again. Even though I had very little left in my legs, I was going on pure determination. I wasn't going to look bad after that first time trial.
As we pulled into to parking lot, we heard a clap of thunder in the distance. Just in time! What a good workout...physically and mentally! And the rain held off for us!
Sunday, July 13, 2014
Diamond in the Rough Race Report
I have been remiss in not posting for so long. So I have a lot of thoughts and updates that will have to be discussed in some posts. But to keep this post as short as possible, I will only focus on my race report.
This race took place in Perryville, which is over an hour away from my house without traffic. Since I wanted to get there before 6:30 on the morning of the race, we would have had to get the little one up at 4 am. Ugh! So Friday night we decided to spend the night in a hotel not too far from the race site. I didn't sleep well at all but at least we didn't have far to go in the morning.
I was a nervous wreck. I was almost as nervous as I was for my first triathlon. As we drove into the park where it was being held, I felt almost nauseous.
We parked and I grabbed my transition bag and bike and headed off to get my registration packet. The line wasn't too long and the volunteers were super helpful. I had forgotten my race belt and was able to buy one for $10. I actually like it better than my other one!
After picking up my packet and timing chip, I went over to body marking. They were using the body tattoos instead of the normal sharpie marking that I'm used to. The only other time I had the tattoos was the half Ironman and I remember how hard it was to get them off! Oh well, I'll deal with that later. Off to transition to set up my area.
I ran into my friend Steve who was doing his first triathlon. He was most worried about the swim and I tried to assure him that it's over before you know it and he would be great on the bike and run.
One of the things I love the most about doing these races is the camaraderie that is created with the other competitors. In transition, I chatted with the ladies racking their bikes around me. When I realized that I had forgotten my sunscreen, I had 2 bottles of sunscreen offered to me immediately. I love how supportive everyone is of each other.
Before long it was time to walk towards the swim start. I found 2 of the ladies who I had met in transition and talked with them as we waited for our turn to get in the water. In the picture below, I'm in the blue tri-suit...kind of hard to pick me out in the sea of pink caps!
The water temperature was 81 so no wetsuits were allowed. That actually works in my favor since it takes me so long to get out of the wetsuit. As we got into the water, I did a few breathing bobs. I also swam around a little bit to warm up. For the first time ever, I headed towards the front of the group. I've been making really good progress with my swimming and I didn't want to be fighting through traffic.
As we started the swim, I wanted to get into a good rhythm right away. I started strong and noticed that I was keeping pace with the women around me. (Good sign I thought since I started so close to the front) I was sighting well and stayed on course better than normal. Because it was only a 1/4 mile swim, it was over super fast. I got out of the water and had to run down the dock, up the steps and quite a way to get to transition.
I tried to be as fast as possible, but my transitions are always slow...and in a sprint triathlon, every second counts!
I ran out of transition with my bike and noticed one of the other ladies mounting her bike too soon. I pointed to the mount line and said wait until you cross that line! She thanked me twice. We passed the mount line and I got into a good cadence right away. Before we left the grounds of the park (about 2 miles), I passed Steve. He said the swim took a lot out of him. I encouraged him that he was doing great.
The bike course was hillier than I had expected. Hills work in my favor when I'm in good cycling shape...which I'm not right now. I need some more work on that, but overall I was pretty happy with my ride. It was a pretty course, especially inside the park.
Towards the end of the ride, I was passed by someone in my age group. I thought that there was still a chance for me to place in my age group, although that wasn't really the goal for the day.
Transition 2 went well, although I still took longer than most people would take. I tried to remember what Coach Sandra had told me, which was to go into the run with confidence. Run the first part relaxed and race the second part. I knew about 1/4 mile into the run that I was just going to run the whole part relaxed...there wouldn't be much racing.
Steve caught me about 1/2 mile into the run. (His strength is definitely the run.) We took a few steps together and chatted about the hilly bike course. Then he went off on his way. I focused on the back of the woman in front of me. I kept pace with her pretty well. Unfortunately the run course was on a trail for the most part. In several sections it was a rocky path. Because of my klutziness, I was really worried about running on the rocks. I took my time going over the rocks and lost track of the woman I was following.
The turn-around point seemed very far away. I wasn't worried about my pace...but I knew it wasn't fast. I loved that it was an out and back run because I saw several of the ladies I had met before the race. I cheered for all of them as we passed each other. About a mile from the finish, I was passed by another woman in my age group. She was trucking...there was no way I could keep up with her and I knew that I had no shot of placing. Note to self: work on the run!
As I came into the finishing chute, I heard the announcer say my name. I crossed the finish line with a huge smile on my face.
This race reminded me of why I love this sport so much. The people, the atmosphere, the feeling of accomplishment...I love it all. It was so well run and well organized. The volunteers were really great and I made it a point to thank as many of them as possible as I went by. The venue was beautiful and the course was fun. I would recommend this race to anyone.
I checked the results and thought I was 4th in my age group. Later when I pulled it up on the computer, I saw that I was actually 5th. Honestly, for my first race back after surgery with such sporadic training, I'm just happy I was relatively competitive!
This race took place in Perryville, which is over an hour away from my house without traffic. Since I wanted to get there before 6:30 on the morning of the race, we would have had to get the little one up at 4 am. Ugh! So Friday night we decided to spend the night in a hotel not too far from the race site. I didn't sleep well at all but at least we didn't have far to go in the morning.
I was a nervous wreck. I was almost as nervous as I was for my first triathlon. As we drove into the park where it was being held, I felt almost nauseous.
We parked and I grabbed my transition bag and bike and headed off to get my registration packet. The line wasn't too long and the volunteers were super helpful. I had forgotten my race belt and was able to buy one for $10. I actually like it better than my other one!
After picking up my packet and timing chip, I went over to body marking. They were using the body tattoos instead of the normal sharpie marking that I'm used to. The only other time I had the tattoos was the half Ironman and I remember how hard it was to get them off! Oh well, I'll deal with that later. Off to transition to set up my area.
I ran into my friend Steve who was doing his first triathlon. He was most worried about the swim and I tried to assure him that it's over before you know it and he would be great on the bike and run.
One of the things I love the most about doing these races is the camaraderie that is created with the other competitors. In transition, I chatted with the ladies racking their bikes around me. When I realized that I had forgotten my sunscreen, I had 2 bottles of sunscreen offered to me immediately. I love how supportive everyone is of each other.
Before long it was time to walk towards the swim start. I found 2 of the ladies who I had met in transition and talked with them as we waited for our turn to get in the water. In the picture below, I'm in the blue tri-suit...kind of hard to pick me out in the sea of pink caps!
The water temperature was 81 so no wetsuits were allowed. That actually works in my favor since it takes me so long to get out of the wetsuit. As we got into the water, I did a few breathing bobs. I also swam around a little bit to warm up. For the first time ever, I headed towards the front of the group. I've been making really good progress with my swimming and I didn't want to be fighting through traffic.
As we started the swim, I wanted to get into a good rhythm right away. I started strong and noticed that I was keeping pace with the women around me. (Good sign I thought since I started so close to the front) I was sighting well and stayed on course better than normal. Because it was only a 1/4 mile swim, it was over super fast. I got out of the water and had to run down the dock, up the steps and quite a way to get to transition.
I ran out of transition with my bike and noticed one of the other ladies mounting her bike too soon. I pointed to the mount line and said wait until you cross that line! She thanked me twice. We passed the mount line and I got into a good cadence right away. Before we left the grounds of the park (about 2 miles), I passed Steve. He said the swim took a lot out of him. I encouraged him that he was doing great.
The bike course was hillier than I had expected. Hills work in my favor when I'm in good cycling shape...which I'm not right now. I need some more work on that, but overall I was pretty happy with my ride. It was a pretty course, especially inside the park.
Transition 2 went well, although I still took longer than most people would take. I tried to remember what Coach Sandra had told me, which was to go into the run with confidence. Run the first part relaxed and race the second part. I knew about 1/4 mile into the run that I was just going to run the whole part relaxed...there wouldn't be much racing.
Steve caught me about 1/2 mile into the run. (His strength is definitely the run.) We took a few steps together and chatted about the hilly bike course. Then he went off on his way. I focused on the back of the woman in front of me. I kept pace with her pretty well. Unfortunately the run course was on a trail for the most part. In several sections it was a rocky path. Because of my klutziness, I was really worried about running on the rocks. I took my time going over the rocks and lost track of the woman I was following.
The turn-around point seemed very far away. I wasn't worried about my pace...but I knew it wasn't fast. I loved that it was an out and back run because I saw several of the ladies I had met before the race. I cheered for all of them as we passed each other. About a mile from the finish, I was passed by another woman in my age group. She was trucking...there was no way I could keep up with her and I knew that I had no shot of placing. Note to self: work on the run!
As I came into the finishing chute, I heard the announcer say my name. I crossed the finish line with a huge smile on my face.
I checked the results and thought I was 4th in my age group. Later when I pulled it up on the computer, I saw that I was actually 5th. Honestly, for my first race back after surgery with such sporadic training, I'm just happy I was relatively competitive!
Saturday, June 7, 2014
I NEED TO RACE!
I've found myself very frustrated lately. I've had a lack of motivation with my training in general. I just can't seem to do anything on a regular basis except my swim class on Tues/Thurs mornings...and even that I've skipped a few times recently. I need to get back on track. I've been struggling to figure out what was going to jump start me back into a good routine.
On Thursday and Friday of this past week, I was invited to a getaway trip as a reward for doing a deal with St. John Properties. They took us to the Hyatt in Cambridge for relaxation at the spa, nice meals, a boat trip and general fun. It is always a great excursion and I try to do a deal with them every year so that I get invited often.
This year the trip fell on the Thursday and Friday right before Eagleman. So Friday when I was checking out, the lobby was filled with athletes and their families checking in. I saw some really cool bikes. On my drive home, I passed several cars with bikes on their roof racks or on the backs of their cars. I thought a lot about my training, my lack of motivation and my overall excitement for the athletes doing Eagleman.
That was it! I don't have a race on my schedule. I sat down this morning and did some research on the internet. I was thinking that I would sign up for a sprint distance some time in mid to late July. I found the Diamond in the Rough triathlon in Perryville. They offered a sprint distance and an olympic distance. I looked at the Olympic and realized that the run was only 5 miles instead of the standard 6.2 miles. So I immediately thought "I could run 5 miles!" Before I knew it, I had registered for the Olympic distance.
So now I have a race on my schedule. I have 35 days until race day. I have a lot of work to do in a short amount of time! I will have to plan on doing a run/walk because I can't imagine that I'll be running 5 miles by then considering I'm only at 2 now. But if I really put a focus on my run and do some hill repeats on the bike, I should be OK to finish the race.
I am never one to take the easy route on anything but I am a little worried that I've bitten off more than I can chew with this one. But this is exactly what I needed to get my training back in line. Now if you will excuse me, I've got to go for a run!
On Thursday and Friday of this past week, I was invited to a getaway trip as a reward for doing a deal with St. John Properties. They took us to the Hyatt in Cambridge for relaxation at the spa, nice meals, a boat trip and general fun. It is always a great excursion and I try to do a deal with them every year so that I get invited often.
This year the trip fell on the Thursday and Friday right before Eagleman. So Friday when I was checking out, the lobby was filled with athletes and their families checking in. I saw some really cool bikes. On my drive home, I passed several cars with bikes on their roof racks or on the backs of their cars. I thought a lot about my training, my lack of motivation and my overall excitement for the athletes doing Eagleman.
That was it! I don't have a race on my schedule. I sat down this morning and did some research on the internet. I was thinking that I would sign up for a sprint distance some time in mid to late July. I found the Diamond in the Rough triathlon in Perryville. They offered a sprint distance and an olympic distance. I looked at the Olympic and realized that the run was only 5 miles instead of the standard 6.2 miles. So I immediately thought "I could run 5 miles!" Before I knew it, I had registered for the Olympic distance.
So now I have a race on my schedule. I have 35 days until race day. I have a lot of work to do in a short amount of time! I will have to plan on doing a run/walk because I can't imagine that I'll be running 5 miles by then considering I'm only at 2 now. But if I really put a focus on my run and do some hill repeats on the bike, I should be OK to finish the race.
I am never one to take the easy route on anything but I am a little worried that I've bitten off more than I can chew with this one. But this is exactly what I needed to get my training back in line. Now if you will excuse me, I've got to go for a run!
Wednesday, June 4, 2014
OWS Training
Sunday I attended Anne Johnson's open water swim (OWS) clinic. I love her OWS clinics! I attended 2 last year and was excited about the first one this year.
After last weekend's swim in Betterton, I was really looking forward to some focused instruction on OWS techniques. My head continues to be the biggest challenge when swimming in open water. I knew that Anne's clinic helped last year and I was hopeful that it would help again this year.
The water temps were approx. 67 degrees, so there was no question that we would be wearing our wetsuits! As I drove over to Hammerman where the clinic was held, I felt relaxed and looking forward to getting in the water. I pulled into the park and Elliott greeted me at the gate. She was checking names off the attendance sheet. We chatted for a few minutes about my challenging swim the week before and then I drove off to the parking area. I looked out across the water and had to take a picture...what a beautiful morning!
I walked down to the pavilion where Anne was checking people in and immediately saw Ron. Ron is my lane-mate during swim class. It was really good to see another familiar face. We agreed to stick together, althougth I knew that I would slow him down.
Anne gave a brief speech about the objectives of the day and then we split up into groups. They divided us into beginner and intermediate. I joined the intermediate group and had several people that I recognized in the group. Ron and I started our warm up swim together. I immediately had issues with breathing and was panicking a bit. Ron kindly stopped to check on me and make sure I was OK. I told him I was fine even though my breathing was a disaster.
Once we started the actual drills and workout, I calmed down and actually got into a really good groove. I encouraged Ron to swim ahead so that I wasn't holding him back, which he did. I found a comfortable group to join and focused on my breathing, keeping my strokes consistent and sighting like an alligator. There is such a HUGE difference between swimming in the pool and swimming in open water!
At the end of the clinic, I checked my fancy new watch to see how far we had gone during the clinic. 1.72 miles!!! Holy cow! That's the farthest I've ever gone in one swimming session. So much for thinking I was out of shape. There was not one moment where I questioned whether I would be able to finish. I'm very proud of myself.
This photo is from the end of the clinic as people are finishing up their workouts and chatting with the instructors. It really was a great morning.
After last weekend's swim in Betterton, I was really looking forward to some focused instruction on OWS techniques. My head continues to be the biggest challenge when swimming in open water. I knew that Anne's clinic helped last year and I was hopeful that it would help again this year.
The water temps were approx. 67 degrees, so there was no question that we would be wearing our wetsuits! As I drove over to Hammerman where the clinic was held, I felt relaxed and looking forward to getting in the water. I pulled into the park and Elliott greeted me at the gate. She was checking names off the attendance sheet. We chatted for a few minutes about my challenging swim the week before and then I drove off to the parking area. I looked out across the water and had to take a picture...what a beautiful morning!
I walked down to the pavilion where Anne was checking people in and immediately saw Ron. Ron is my lane-mate during swim class. It was really good to see another familiar face. We agreed to stick together, althougth I knew that I would slow him down.
Anne gave a brief speech about the objectives of the day and then we split up into groups. They divided us into beginner and intermediate. I joined the intermediate group and had several people that I recognized in the group. Ron and I started our warm up swim together. I immediately had issues with breathing and was panicking a bit. Ron kindly stopped to check on me and make sure I was OK. I told him I was fine even though my breathing was a disaster.
Once we started the actual drills and workout, I calmed down and actually got into a really good groove. I encouraged Ron to swim ahead so that I wasn't holding him back, which he did. I found a comfortable group to join and focused on my breathing, keeping my strokes consistent and sighting like an alligator. There is such a HUGE difference between swimming in the pool and swimming in open water!
At the end of the clinic, I checked my fancy new watch to see how far we had gone during the clinic. 1.72 miles!!! Holy cow! That's the farthest I've ever gone in one swimming session. So much for thinking I was out of shape. There was not one moment where I questioned whether I would be able to finish. I'm very proud of myself.
This photo is from the end of the clinic as people are finishing up their workouts and chatting with the instructors. It really was a great morning.
Friday, May 30, 2014
Slowly Getting Back
I've been doing what I can for the last few weeks. I haven't been running...I probably should be pushing myself more in that area. But it's hard...mentally and physically.
Right now swimming is good. I have gotten back my confidence in the water. I have also gotten back some speed. I think that if I lose some of the weight that I gained during my recovery that I would really see a difference in the swim.
So last night I attended my second Spin90 class. We were inside due to the rain...which means isolation drills. Ugh. But I was able to keep up with the class. We did high cadence drills, which were actually fine for me. I could totally keep up. I was a disaster with the one legged drills...but they've always been a challenge to me.
I was struggling throughout the entire class, but I was determined to keep up. At one point we were doing ladder drills. This is something where we start at the top of the gear box and every 30 seconds drop to a harder gear. After the first ladder, John asked me if I was using a heart rate monitor. I don't but I could tell that my heart rate was through the roof. He told me to let him know when it calmed down. We just spinned in recovery gear for another few minutes before starting the next ladder.
I knew that I was the reason that the class was getting "extra rest". But honestly I needed the extra rest. I commented to John that I felt like a rookie all over again. He responded "fitness level maybe but operationally you're still above the curve".
If you are a faithful reader of my blog, you know that John does not dole out compliments very easily. So the fact that he called me operationally above the curve was a huge thing for me. I was literally giddy...on the inside of course...I played it cool on the outside! But really, I needed to hear that simple statement to remind myself that I am not starting over again. I've learned how to properly pedal and hold my cadence. I am still a good cyclist. I may be slower than before the surgery, but I will get that back. I've lost some power but that will come back with time.
Right now swimming is good. I have gotten back my confidence in the water. I have also gotten back some speed. I think that if I lose some of the weight that I gained during my recovery that I would really see a difference in the swim.
So last night I attended my second Spin90 class. We were inside due to the rain...which means isolation drills. Ugh. But I was able to keep up with the class. We did high cadence drills, which were actually fine for me. I could totally keep up. I was a disaster with the one legged drills...but they've always been a challenge to me.
I was struggling throughout the entire class, but I was determined to keep up. At one point we were doing ladder drills. This is something where we start at the top of the gear box and every 30 seconds drop to a harder gear. After the first ladder, John asked me if I was using a heart rate monitor. I don't but I could tell that my heart rate was through the roof. He told me to let him know when it calmed down. We just spinned in recovery gear for another few minutes before starting the next ladder.
I knew that I was the reason that the class was getting "extra rest". But honestly I needed the extra rest. I commented to John that I felt like a rookie all over again. He responded "fitness level maybe but operationally you're still above the curve".
If you are a faithful reader of my blog, you know that John does not dole out compliments very easily. So the fact that he called me operationally above the curve was a huge thing for me. I was literally giddy...on the inside of course...I played it cool on the outside! But really, I needed to hear that simple statement to remind myself that I am not starting over again. I've learned how to properly pedal and hold my cadence. I am still a good cyclist. I may be slower than before the surgery, but I will get that back. I've lost some power but that will come back with time.
Thursday, May 15, 2014
Back in the Saddle
Tonight was my first time going back to Spin90 since before the surgery. I wasn't doing much prior to the surgery because of the pain I was in.
I drove to tonight's class very anxious. Anyone who knows me knows that I absolutely HATE being late. And I was running late for class. I really like to get to class at least 15 mins early. That gives me time to pump up my tires and get all of my gear together before we roll. Tonight I pulled into the parking lot at 6:12 for a 6:15 class. Ugh.
It was so great to see my riding friends again! I was all smiles as I jumped out of the car. I quickly got the bike off the bike rack and got out the pump. Madi came over and helped me by pumping my tires while I put on my shoes and got my other stuff together. I was rushing so that I didn't hold up the class. I realized that I had forgotten my goggles. Ugh...major problem because of the wind. Oh well...I would have to deal with it.
As we rolled off, I was nervous but excited. I clipped in easily...which for me is a pretty big deal. John had decided that since the group was small (and most of the riders have races coming up this weekend and 2 of us were either injured or coming off an injury) that we would ride intervals on Race Rd. This made me VERY happy. I know that road like the back of my hand! No intimidating hills.
I hung in the back for the ride out Race Road. The wind was whipping around and dust was constantly getting in my eyes. I was wishing for my goggles!! We went out to the very end of Race Rd - the extended Race Rd. Our turn-around point is the parking lot for an office building. I stopped and tried to get the dust out of my eyes. Tears were streaming down my face. John rode by and said "either you're having a really tough first day back or you've got dust in your eyes!"
We started back down Race Rd and I was flying. I was having a ball on the rollers. I was following Chuck and Hawaii Five-0. (You know me and my nicknames) When we got to the stop sign, John commented "wow Karen, good job". With as stingy as he is with his compliments, that made me SO happy!
So we went back to the regular Race Rd and re-grouped. The real workout started at this point. Hard effort going back towards the parking lot and recover on the way back. I made it 2 intervals and was really feeling it on the 2nd. My legs are currently feeling very sore. I can't imagine what they will feel like tomorrow! My speed was all over the place, but I just focused on maintaining 90 RPM.
It felt SOO good to be back on the bike. I was a bit humbled because I was so slow. I am used to riding that road at 22 MPH. Today I was averaging around 17 MPH. Wow...big difference. And on the recovery, I was really slow. I kept commenting on how slow I was and Madi was very reassuring. She kept saying "you are NOT slow". She is the instructor who typically rides with the slow group so she knows slow. Of course I am slow compared to my "normal" riding pace. I will get back there.
For now, I have to say that I am thrilled to be riding again. It felt GREAT to be back out there with my Spin90 friends and just to be on the bike again. Even though I am physically not where I would like to be, I will get back there!
I drove to tonight's class very anxious. Anyone who knows me knows that I absolutely HATE being late. And I was running late for class. I really like to get to class at least 15 mins early. That gives me time to pump up my tires and get all of my gear together before we roll. Tonight I pulled into the parking lot at 6:12 for a 6:15 class. Ugh.
It was so great to see my riding friends again! I was all smiles as I jumped out of the car. I quickly got the bike off the bike rack and got out the pump. Madi came over and helped me by pumping my tires while I put on my shoes and got my other stuff together. I was rushing so that I didn't hold up the class. I realized that I had forgotten my goggles. Ugh...major problem because of the wind. Oh well...I would have to deal with it.
As we rolled off, I was nervous but excited. I clipped in easily...which for me is a pretty big deal. John had decided that since the group was small (and most of the riders have races coming up this weekend and 2 of us were either injured or coming off an injury) that we would ride intervals on Race Rd. This made me VERY happy. I know that road like the back of my hand! No intimidating hills.
I hung in the back for the ride out Race Road. The wind was whipping around and dust was constantly getting in my eyes. I was wishing for my goggles!! We went out to the very end of Race Rd - the extended Race Rd. Our turn-around point is the parking lot for an office building. I stopped and tried to get the dust out of my eyes. Tears were streaming down my face. John rode by and said "either you're having a really tough first day back or you've got dust in your eyes!"
We started back down Race Rd and I was flying. I was having a ball on the rollers. I was following Chuck and Hawaii Five-0. (You know me and my nicknames) When we got to the stop sign, John commented "wow Karen, good job". With as stingy as he is with his compliments, that made me SO happy!
So we went back to the regular Race Rd and re-grouped. The real workout started at this point. Hard effort going back towards the parking lot and recover on the way back. I made it 2 intervals and was really feeling it on the 2nd. My legs are currently feeling very sore. I can't imagine what they will feel like tomorrow! My speed was all over the place, but I just focused on maintaining 90 RPM.
It felt SOO good to be back on the bike. I was a bit humbled because I was so slow. I am used to riding that road at 22 MPH. Today I was averaging around 17 MPH. Wow...big difference. And on the recovery, I was really slow. I kept commenting on how slow I was and Madi was very reassuring. She kept saying "you are NOT slow". She is the instructor who typically rides with the slow group so she knows slow. Of course I am slow compared to my "normal" riding pace. I will get back there.
For now, I have to say that I am thrilled to be riding again. It felt GREAT to be back out there with my Spin90 friends and just to be on the bike again. Even though I am physically not where I would like to be, I will get back there!
Monday, May 5, 2014
The Run
"The run" has always been a challenge to me. This is kind of an odd statement if taken at face value.
I was a runner in high school and actually did pretty well. I wasn't a star but I held my own. When I got back into working out, I started running again and started long distance running. I finished several half marathons and then started doing triathlons.
I actually enjoyed running for awhile...more for the social aspect of it than the actual running. However, I can remember a period of time where I even enjoyed running when I was running by myself. But more often, it's been a love/hate relationship with the run. For the past year or so, I've really struggled to find that love of running.
So now that I am trying to get back into my workout routine, I am again finding myself having trouble with the run. I can physically run about a mile before my foot tells me that I need to stop. But almost from the first step, my head is telling me what a bad runner I am. My feet start to feel like they are stuck in cement. Every step gets so heavy.
I love watching good runners do their thing. They make running seem so effortless. They look so natural. I feel like I either look like Olive Oyl or an elephant.
As I get back into running, I really want to focus on my form. I think that if I really work on running "lighter", my running will become fun again. At least that's what I'm hoping!
I was a runner in high school and actually did pretty well. I wasn't a star but I held my own. When I got back into working out, I started running again and started long distance running. I finished several half marathons and then started doing triathlons.
I actually enjoyed running for awhile...more for the social aspect of it than the actual running. However, I can remember a period of time where I even enjoyed running when I was running by myself. But more often, it's been a love/hate relationship with the run. For the past year or so, I've really struggled to find that love of running.
So now that I am trying to get back into my workout routine, I am again finding myself having trouble with the run. I can physically run about a mile before my foot tells me that I need to stop. But almost from the first step, my head is telling me what a bad runner I am. My feet start to feel like they are stuck in cement. Every step gets so heavy.
I love watching good runners do their thing. They make running seem so effortless. They look so natural. I feel like I either look like Olive Oyl or an elephant.
As I get back into running, I really want to focus on my form. I think that if I really work on running "lighter", my running will become fun again. At least that's what I'm hoping!
Thursday, May 1, 2014
Say Goodbye to the Extra Lbs
Anyone who knows me well knows that I'm not a good dieter. I can do short term diets...and some that are extremely strict too! But eventually I'm going to wander back to the dark side. I love my Coca-Cola and my donuts. I don't eat donuts all the time, but as a treat every now and then. However I affectionately refer to myself as a "Coke addict".
I am by no means fat. I am by no means thin. But my pants are getting too tight and I'm just generally not happy with the way that I look. So I've been slowly changing my eating habits. I have made some really good choices...and some choices that are not "in my best interest" for losing weight.
I really try not to get too caught up in weight issues. I have had way too many times in my past where weight became a big deal. Now I just want to be healthy.
I know that once I can get back to a regular training routine, I will be able to drop the weight pretty quickly. My life has been crazy lately, but there's nothing that I would have changed. My oldest daughter is a senior and I've really enjoyed the time away from training because it gave me more quality time with her. But it also gave me more quality time with the ice cream scoop...that's time that I probably should have avoided.
Also, carbs are a problem. They always have been, and always will be. I love bread, pasta, pizza, bagels...you name the carb and I'll probably eat it gleefully. Carbs are bad, but they are SOOO good.
Lisa Long has a poster that says "nothing tastes as good as skinny feels". I could use some skinny right about now!
I am by no means fat. I am by no means thin. But my pants are getting too tight and I'm just generally not happy with the way that I look. So I've been slowly changing my eating habits. I have made some really good choices...and some choices that are not "in my best interest" for losing weight.
I really try not to get too caught up in weight issues. I have had way too many times in my past where weight became a big deal. Now I just want to be healthy.
I know that once I can get back to a regular training routine, I will be able to drop the weight pretty quickly. My life has been crazy lately, but there's nothing that I would have changed. My oldest daughter is a senior and I've really enjoyed the time away from training because it gave me more quality time with her. But it also gave me more quality time with the ice cream scoop...that's time that I probably should have avoided.
Also, carbs are a problem. They always have been, and always will be. I love bread, pasta, pizza, bagels...you name the carb and I'll probably eat it gleefully. Carbs are bad, but they are SOOO good.
Lisa Long has a poster that says "nothing tastes as good as skinny feels". I could use some skinny right about now!
Tuesday, April 22, 2014
Track Practice with Little Ones
This post is slightly delayed, but last Wednesday the family and I went to the track. I wanted to see how well I could run..and how well the little ones could run. I started by going to Charm City Run and having Meghan fit me for some new shoes. They are pretty!
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I started off very tentatively. Ella and Grace took off in a dead sprint.
It took half a lap for them to stop, lean over and start panting. Ten seconds later, they were off again in a sprint. I tried to explain the idea of sustaining the same pace for the duration of the run...but they didn't listen. They just wanted to sprint...then stop...then sprint. Grace did 1 lap and Ella did 2 laps...just like they need to do for the triathlon!
After they were finished running, they started playing. In actuality, the playing was sort of running. They went to the bleachers and chased each other up and down the steps. I just kept running.
I was able to run for 3 laps without walking. I walked 100 meters to start the 4th lap, then ran the remainder of the lap. I finished a mile! I can't remember the last time that I was that excited about running a mile.
The next day I was very sore. My foot had swollen up a little bit more and I was limping again. It wasn't until Sunday that I really recovered. I think it was good to test it, but I realized that I probably pushed it a little bit too much. I need to be patient with this recovery.
I started off very tentatively. Ella and Grace took off in a dead sprint.
It took half a lap for them to stop, lean over and start panting. Ten seconds later, they were off again in a sprint. I tried to explain the idea of sustaining the same pace for the duration of the run...but they didn't listen. They just wanted to sprint...then stop...then sprint. Grace did 1 lap and Ella did 2 laps...just like they need to do for the triathlon!
After they were finished running, they started playing. In actuality, the playing was sort of running. They went to the bleachers and chased each other up and down the steps. I just kept running.
I was able to run for 3 laps without walking. I walked 100 meters to start the 4th lap, then ran the remainder of the lap. I finished a mile! I can't remember the last time that I was that excited about running a mile.
The next day I was very sore. My foot had swollen up a little bit more and I was limping again. It wasn't until Sunday that I really recovered. I think it was good to test it, but I realized that I probably pushed it a little bit too much. I need to be patient with this recovery.
Tuesday, April 15, 2014
Progress Measured in Shoes
I have measured my recovery from foot surgery in terms of shoes. The first shoes I could fit into were my running shoes. They are New Balance and made wider than other brands. I have a wide toe box even before surgery, which New Balance tends to be able to comfortably accommodate. But after surgery, it was even more important to have that wide width shoe. My New Balance shoes were the only thing that I could wear for weeks.
The next step was actually fitting into a pair of my work shoes. They are not attractive shoes. They are a closed toe clog-type shoe with a heel. I wore them an entire day and felt like I had conquered the world. The next day my foot swelled up again...note to self: heels are probably a bad idea even if I can fit my swollen foot into the shoe!
I have tried on my cycling shoes several times. The first time I couldn't get my foot into the shoe. Two weeks later I could get my foot in the shoe, but couldn't even get close to securing the straps. Today...foot in shoe with straps secured! Granted, they are barely closed, but they are closed enough that I am confident that I can ride in them.
The first thing I did was post on Facebook...yes, I'm a Facebook junkie. The second thing I did was text Daryl and tell him of my success. I invited myself along to ride with the group that he rides with on Wednesday nights. I have very little expectation for my ability to keep up. Daryl is currently crushing every ride that he does. Luckily, they ride a route that is very familiar to me so I can drop off or turn around at any point.
I am so excited to get back on the bike!
The next step was actually fitting into a pair of my work shoes. They are not attractive shoes. They are a closed toe clog-type shoe with a heel. I wore them an entire day and felt like I had conquered the world. The next day my foot swelled up again...note to self: heels are probably a bad idea even if I can fit my swollen foot into the shoe!
I have tried on my cycling shoes several times. The first time I couldn't get my foot into the shoe. Two weeks later I could get my foot in the shoe, but couldn't even get close to securing the straps. Today...foot in shoe with straps secured! Granted, they are barely closed, but they are closed enough that I am confident that I can ride in them.
The first thing I did was post on Facebook...yes, I'm a Facebook junkie. The second thing I did was text Daryl and tell him of my success. I invited myself along to ride with the group that he rides with on Wednesday nights. I have very little expectation for my ability to keep up. Daryl is currently crushing every ride that he does. Luckily, they ride a route that is very familiar to me so I can drop off or turn around at any point.
I am so excited to get back on the bike!
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