Triathlon Season Coming To An End

It's been a great ride, but the local triathlon season is coming to an end. With no more races scheduled within short driving distance my "Summer of Tri" has come to a close. The last two, the Holcomb Du/Tri and the Lake Scott Triathlon, have been a challenge both mentally and physically. To say I didn't train properly for them is an understatement. We had our granddaughters, age 6 and 3 for the week before the Holcomb race and went on a short vacation the week before the Scott race. I wouldn't change a thing but it did affect my readiness and mind set for both those races.

Holcomb Du/Tri
Running after two little girls can wear anybody out and I'm no exception. A neighbor girl came down a few mornings so I could get a few workouts in, but nothing at the level that I had been working out before the Big Pool Tri. I wasn't excited about this race even though it is run by my very good friends at the Holcomb Rec. They do a super job of bringing newbies along and there were a lot of rookies in the race. I performed as well as I could and set a nice time but finished in the lower part of the pack. It's frustrating to get beat by someone who on a whim decided to try a triathlon. It's not as if she was a couch potato and way out of shape, but still.

Lake Scott Trathlon
It's been hot here. Darn hot. So for the first time ever I was able to talk my hubby into a short getaway to somewhere cool. It was a wonderful cool four days, but it didn't allow any time for training. I did run one morning but again, not up to the level that I had been training before the Big Pool. So when race day rolled around I knew it would not be my best effort. On top of that, we learned that part of the ride would be over gravel roads. The reports were that it was very rough with washboard bumps through most of the 1 1/2 of dirt. We had to ride two loops of this so that meant 3 miles of rough tough road. Add to that lots of hills and I was not looking forward to it. The swim was posted at 300 meters but the time they posted for my swim was ridiculous so I stepped it off on my own and it was actually a 400 meter swim. I was not planning on that either. The run was again over the rough dirt road and I ended up running the flat and downhills and walking the uphills. Add all that together and I finished just under my target at 1:38:58. My shoulders are aching from holding onto my handlebars so tight but at least my teeth have stopped rattling.

Wrap Up
I'm proud of what I've accomplished this summer. I'm a triathlete. I'm still not fast and never will be, but I will always be able to claim that title. The turtle is now my mascot and just like the turtle, I know I'll get there eventually no matter what. A few 5K races are coming up and I'll work on my run to try and build my stamina. I want to keep swimming and riding at lest once a week so I'll keep busy. Claudia B. wants me to do a triathlon in September but I think I'm done for the year. My body is tired and so is my mind. I start back to work next week and life will settle back into routine. Will I do tri's next year? Probably. But as my friend Traci W. told me, there is only one first. Turtle Power!

Can a Triathlon Be Too Short?

I think it can, especially when you have to change shoes between the bike and run and everyone else just kicks off their bike and hits the road. This was a really short very relaxed triathlon designed more for experience then competition. A 200 meter swim, 3 mile bike ride, and a 1 mile run added up to a lesson on transitions and a medal for my friend Kate.

Let's start with the swim. At 200 meters you would think most could manage it with some rest at the ends. But as I was swimming along I looked to the sides and EVERYONE ELSE WAS RUNNING ON THE BOTTOM OF THE POOL! I was the only adult lady (there were only 7 of us) that swam the entire distance. Kate has been working on her swim but she too abandoned her stroke in favor of faster feet. I still exited the pool near the front of the pack but was way more winded then the others. Oh well, it was for fun, right?

The ride was tough. The wind was blowing about 20 mph by then and one mile of the course was on dirt road. It was washboard rough most of the way and hard to pick up speed. I was on my road bike and had to wear my clip-in shoes so I was able to make up some time on the ride, but it was way to short to really make a difference. I passed a few ladies but it was not a fun ride.

The next transition killed me. I had to change shoes while everyone else, and I mean everyone else since I was the only rider with clip-in shoes, just kicked out, dumped their bike and hit the road. Once again, my lack of stamina in the run did me in. No one passed me but I wasn't able to pick up any ground. And one of the riders I passed on the bike slipped ahead of me in the transition. It was not an impressive time for me but even if I had run well it wouldn't have moved me up to the medals.

Kate on the other hand did awesome! She swam/walked her way out of the pool and had a pretty good ride. She made up some ground on the front runner but just couldn't chase her down in the run. She finished second in her first Mini Sprint Triathlon! She is just learning how to swim correctly and appreciated the irony of receiving a "swimming" medal as the event was put on by the local swim team.

What I learned was that with my slow run, I need a decent length swim/bike to make up any time I'm going to lose on the run. And having to change shoes in a really short race wastes too much time. I had a great time with the ladies and actually know all 7 that participated. Kate was thrilled and proudly put her triathlon sticker on her car. I need to get me one of those!

Next up, the Holcomb Mini Sprint Triathlon - 200 meter swim (no walking allowed!), 9 mile ride, 2.5 mile run. Turtle Power!

Results - 2nd Place!

Yup, that's right. I placed second in my age division. They don't have everyone's age listed so I don't know if there were more then two or not. I'm going to think there were and leave it at that. My official time was 1:37:22, way ahead of my 1:50 projection. I'm so proud of that! I won't tell you how far behind #1 I was because it doesn't matter. Now I know what I am capable of and have a better idea of what time I should be shooting for in the future. My friend Casey A. finished second overall and way ahead of me. This was not a big race but to me it might as well have been the Olympics.

Wednesday I'm going to participate in a mini sprint tri with my friend Kate H. so she can get her feet wet in a small environment. She's just learning how to swim and this should be great practice for her. I'll post our results when I have them.

For now, I'm signing off. It's been fun keeping this journal of my training. When I go back and read it years from now I will most likely laugh at how naive I sounded. But we learn and grow and that's what life is about. I'll post when I have results from other races. So long for now.

I'm A Triathlete!!!

Oh My Gosh! I have so many thoughts and memories that I don't know where to start. I guess I should say I finished strong, with a smile and a big thumbs up. I have no idea what my time was officially but unofficially I finished in the 1:40 range, well ahead of my 1:50 projected time. They will have the official results posted sometime next week. It doesn't matter. I WON!

My transition area.

I woke up early and tried not to rush through my breakfast. But when you don't have to worry about your hair or really how you look it doesn't take long to get ready and I found myself twiddling my thumbs for a little while. I was a little disappointed because my husband was not going to be able to see the race. It's been extremely hot and dry and he had to get a few irrigation systems up and running to keep the crops alive. That's the life of a farmer.

I was the second person there and they were not quite ready for check in but soon enough the parking lot filled up and more and more bikes started rolling to the transition area. Since I was early getting there I picked what I thought was a good location at the end of the rack and set up my area.

After the finish, smiling with a big thumbs up!

Then I had to wait. I talked to my neighbors who formed a team and a few other people I knew. As start time got near I really felt calm. Whatever happened, happened. I had trained the best I could and knew I could finish. I just wanted to finish with a smile, not a mask of agony.

The weather was beautiful! All this week the temperature has been in the 105 range and the wind has been blowing 20-30 mph but not today. It was calm and cool with a thin layer of clouds in the sky. But they may not have been clouds. It might have been a layer of smoke from the wild fires in Colorado but either way it kept the sun from beating down and heating things up too soon.

The swim was ready to start and it turned out that I was to start next to Casey A. and another friend, Amber. It was nice to have people to share my nerves as we waited our turn in the pool. They did a serpentine swim where you switch lanes every length. I hit the water and all the training took over. I tried to keep my breathing even and relaxed but it was hard to do. I was passed by a few swimmers but they were late entrants that didn't turn in swim times. Over all I held my own and didn't have to side stroke or back stroke at all.

Transition went smooth and I was on my bike and headed for the hills. The directions for the bike ride went something like this. "Ride south until you get to the tree. Then turn around and ride back." We don't have many trees around here so that made perfect sense. I felt good and was peddling easy, taking the hills in stride and even passing some people! I kept an eye on my speed and knew I was doing well. But the ride ended too soon and it was time for the run. Yuck.

Casey and I after the race.

As I passed through the transition area each time I could hear my friends shouting encouragement and telling me to keep up the good work. That was so uplifting! I had no idea there would be so many spectators. What a rush!

Out of the shoot I went and started on my run. I knew I would be running intervals but how long the intervals would be was yet to be determined. I walked for a minute and started to run. After about 30 seconds I felt the start of a calf cramp so I stopped, rubbed my legs for a few seconds and then took off again. This time it felt better and I was able to run/walk my way through the first lap around the zoo. At that point I started to really smile to myself. I was going to make it. I was going to finish. And I was going to have a decent time too. I was able to maintain a 12 min/ml pace which is all I could hope for. When I turned the last corner and headed toward the finish line I was so proud that I didn't even care if my hips and knees were throbbing and my heart was pounding.

Kate, are you ready for your tri?

Crossing the finish line felt so good. And seeing my husband standing there was the best part of all. He had managed to fix the problem on the farm and make it back to see the finish. What a great guy! Gina was there, Kate and Dan too. Casey had finished long before me and was on hand to give me a hug. I was winded and tired, but felt pretty good considering what I had just been through. I am now a triathlete. I finished in style with a smile and a big thumbs up.

They won't have the results for a while but I don't need an official time to tell me how I did. My run and ride were faster then my projected time so I know I did well time wise. The most important results won't be in any official records but in my heart, in the support of my friends and family, and in my own mind. It feels so good to set a goal and reach it. I've learned so much about myself these past 11 weeks and I like who I am. I will be doing more triathlons but I won't become a fanatic. A few a year will be plenty. I'll post the results when they have them available but in my heart I WON!!!

Thank You

Today is a rest day so I went for a walk this morning to keep loose. I usually don't post anything on a rest day but I need to thank so many people and wanted to look back at the nuts and bolts of this journey.

When you see your friends accomplishing amazing things it's natural to want to share in the experience. I have a wonderful group of people around me who inspire and motivate me to try new things and reach for new heights. They run marathons, half marathons, 10K and 5K races. They compete in Triathlons and Duathlons. They ride in time trials, endurance rides, cross the state rides, and cross country rides. How can I not try for more when I have such role models around me.
 

Only 2 squares not colored.

Running farther does not interest me so doing something like a triathlon caught my attention. Traci W. and Casey A. have excelled in this area and have inspired Claudia B. to try a Half Iron Man Triathlon this fall. I looked into the distances and the training involved and found the TriNewbie.com web site. I thought the workouts were realistic for someone who is just wanting to compete. I have no illusions of being fast so the next step was to talk to my husband. Bless his heart, he didn't discourage me, and said if I was crazy enough to try it then go ahead. I vowed from the start that I would not train on our time but on my time and for the most part I have succeeded. Deep down, I know he's proud of the work I've put in and that I'm doing something not many can say they have done.

So, on April 16th training began. It started easy but soon got more difficult and more time consuming. When all was said and done the numbers stack up like this. I have logged 450.08 miles in the pool, on my bike, and on my feet. I've spent 51.5 hours and burned over 20,000 calories. That's 94 miles of running/walking, 7.5 miles in the pool, and 348 miles on my bike. All of this hopefully will add up to completing the race with a thumbs up and a smile. On the down side, I've actually gained 5 pounds in the process. Not sure why, but there it is.

I need to thank so many people and I don't want to leave anyone out. First, my co-workers and bike riding buddies, Kate H. and Claudia B. Kate is actually learning how to swim so she can compete in a triathlon this summer. Talk about dedication. Just a year and a half ago she swore she couldn't run but now blows the socks off her competition and was such a good sport on the Hays bike ride. She gets it done. Claudia is a woman on a mission. She is always reaching farther and higher and doesn't know the meaning of quit. She's training for a half iron tri and has run a half marathon and ridden across the state. Wow. 

Then there are Gina G., Dan K., and Casey A. Gina is so supportive and upbeat and always ready to go for a ride. She's run a half marathon and is planning to run a full in the fall. She got her bike last November and is loving every mile. Dan is a wellness trainer at the local Wellness center and a super motivator for everyone whom he comes into contact. He runs for the joy of it and encourages everyone around him to push harder and go farther and don't be afraid to try something new. He's grudgingly nursing an ankle injury and working on his swimming for therapy. Casey is a power house. She does it all and does it well. She rides her bike with a passion and power that leaves the rest of us in the dust, and in awe. She's always got a smile on her face and a kind word of encouragement.

I don't want to leave my "Running Friends" out. This group of Facebook friends have been with me every step of the way. Maryll, my sister Sandra, my daughter Lyndi, Betsy, Carla, Kara, my niece Dana, Amy, Melanie, each one has played a roll in getting me to this point. Thanks ladies!!! Keep moving, whatever you can, whenever you can.

Traci W. Wow, I don't know where to start. At this moment she is in Montana biking across the United States solo, carrying all her gear on her bike. I can't even wrap my mind around what she is accomplishing and enduring to raise money for a local charity. She's given me advice and encouragement and so many pep talks over the past few years I can't even begin to count them all. Today I received a good luck card from her postmarked Montana. With all she has to worry about and plan and keep track of she still sent me a few words of encouragement that I will treasure forever.

Finally I need to thank my husband Bob. He works hard on the farm and gets his exercise the old fashioned way. He just shakes his head at my crazy ideas and sends me on my way. He rubs my calves when I get cramps and lectures me about running in the heat. But he tells everyone he sees that his wife is going to do a triathlon. I know he's proud of me and supports me even though he thinks I'm nuts.

I've been asked why I'm doing this and I say, "Because I can". It is through the grace of God that my body allows me to swim, bike, and run at my age without too much difficulty. It is through his blessings that I'm able to compete in area races and support the charities and organizations that do such good for others. And it is through God that I gain peace and stillness even when my heart is pounding and lungs are aching. Thank you all for your love and support. Tomorrow, look for a thumbs up at the finish line!

Last Workout Before The Race

As I color in the last workout square of my training schedule I feel a calm wash over me. I've done it. I've completed 11 weeks of training and followed the program, often doing more then called for, and only missed 2 days of workouts. If nothing else, I've proven to myself that I can do the work and put in the time. Pretty darn proud of that no matter what happens on Saturday.

Today's workout called for a swim and run but I threw a ride in to make it complete. I went to the Y because I wanted to do this in the morning so it would be like the race. A 300 meter swim, 5.15 mile ride, and a 1.5 mile run to finish in style. I felt really good throughout everything. The swim is much stronger then when I started back in April and the ride was interesting since it was through town with lots of stop lights and signs, dips and brick streets, and lots of cars and trucks. I didn't push the run and made sure I walked enough at the beginning to keep my legs from cramping. It felt good. I can do this!

Now I get to relax for a little while and pack and repack my tri bags at least a million times. I'll check my bike over and worry that I've forgotten something right up until the time that I can't do anything about it anyway. As for race strategy? Simple. Finish upright, without the aid of Emergency Medical Services!

Forget Something?

Yup. Sure did. I left the house for a ride this morning and it was beautiful, a light wind, a little cool, clear blue sky. I was just enjoying the morning and the wind in my hair....wait, the wind in my hair? I had forgotten to put on my helmet! It felt nice but I know better then to ride anywhere especially on the highway without my hard hat. I turned around and headed back the half mile to home and started again. It was still beautiful, the wind was picking up a little more, and the sky was still blue but this time, no wind in my hair. I finished my 17 mile ride and the wind had picked up to it's usual 15 mph with the high of 109 in the forecast. It's supposed to be slightly cooler on Saturday for my race, only 100 for the high. I'm more worried about the wind for the bike ride, but at least everyone has to battle the same conditions.

Yesterday I went for a swim at the Big Pool and then a walk/jog around the zoo. It was 105 out and I am crazy, not stupid. I carried my water bottle and did 1x1 intervals. My calf muscles are almost back to normal but I'm drinking what seems like gallons of water and taking calcium and potassium supplements by the handful. I do not want to get a major cramp before this weekend.

I only have one more workout on the schedule before the race. I can't believe it's almost hear and that I've stuck to the program. So far I've only missed 2 days of workouts for the past 11 weeks. I need to quite thinking of this as the end, but the start of the next phase. Claudia want's me to do a Tri with her in September and there are a few Mini Tri's in the area over the summer that look interesting. So even though this may be the end of my training program, it's not the end of my workouts. We'll see how I feel after Saturday if I want to pursue this sport farther.

But for now, I'm going to enjoy a few easy days, keep hydrated, over think the transitions, and calculate and recalculate my expected times again and again and again. Only 4 days to go. I hope I don't forget anything!

Ride, Boldly Ride

Gina, Kate, and Me. Casey was behind the camera.

I was apprehensive about this morning's ride. Would it put unwanted stress on my already aching calf muscles? I didn't want to finish up hobbling like an old lady. I did modify my plans a little and hauled my bike to the meeting place instead of riding the extra 4 miles there. It was a beautiful morning and the wind was manageable so we headed south out of town to ride on the newly resurfaced old highway.

It was smoooooooth. The road before had pot holes and the outer 1/3 was pretty cracked and broken down. It was rippled and lumpy and beaten down by years of truck traffic. Now it's a joy to ride, even against the wind and up the hills.

Proof we were ahead of Casey, at least for a little while.

Kate, Gina, and Casey were along for the ride. I've found that running is a solo pursuit but biking is a group adventure. I don't mind riding alone but it's more fun with friends along. Casey gave us a little lesson in power riding and took off like a shot on the way back. I couldn't even begin to keep up and I thought I was cruising. When us three slower riders got back to the meeting place she had already had time to post our pictures on Facebook. We were humbled. When I grow up I want to ride like Casey!

My calf muscles felt fine after the ride, nice and loose. I'll try and keep them that way all day. I'm proud to say I I have finished 10 weeks of training and should be ready to tackle the triathlon and survive. I am a turtle and there is nothing going to change that. But I'll be there and I'll finish. Let the count down begin!

Pain Is Not A Good Thing

It's easy to listen to my body today. It's screaming at me right now. My calves are so tight and sore I can barely stand. I developed cramps during my tri practice on Thursday and the resulting pain is not going away. I managed a 5.5 mile run this morning, running intervals of course, and felt OK once I got loosened up. But as the day wares on the pain is getting worse and worse. My kingdom for a good massage!

With one week until my big race I'm worried about this pain. I'm going riding with the girls tomorrow morning so I hope that loosens my leg muscles and doesn't do any damage. I may have to rethink my workouts this week to let my legs heal a little. I can't believe how sore they are!

Wow, one week to go until my race. I have so many people giving me encouragement it's unbelievable. I don't want to let them, or myself, down. It's time to channel my turtle power and keep focused. One week. Yikes!

Tri Practice

The local Recreation Commission is having a Mini Sprint Triathlon in July and I've already signed up. It's short, 225 meter swim, 9 mile ride, 2.5 mile run, but that's fine with me. I did this one as a Duathlon last year and got the multi-sport race bug. It's geared toward beginners so as part of the program they are offering practice Tri events in the weeks leading up to the race.

Tonight was the first one and really really short. 75 meter swim, 3 mile ride, 1/2 mile run. I decided to use this as transition training and I'm glad I did. I lined everything up and had to think through each stage of the race and make sure it was ready. It may have been over kill for this short race but I needed to see if I had thought of everything.

The swim was done in a flash and I walked out of the pool and into the parking lot dripping wet, sat on my towel and got into my riding gear. Everything went great. I didn't have any problems getting my socks on and I made sure I took a big drink of Gatorade before leaving for the ride. I only forgot one thing and that was to start my GPS watch. I tried to start it on the ride out but needed to pay too much attention to where I was going. There was a lot of traffic at the pool because the adjacent baseball fields were packed with kids.

The transition to the run went smooth as I swapped out my shoes and took another big drink of Gatorade. However on the run I developed hard pin point cramps at the top of my calf muscles. After the first 1/4 mile I had to stop and rub them out a little but I was fine after that.

Looking at my time I was disappointed. I had to remember my turtle power and realize that I'm not fast at anything and live with it. My ride was a little slow, only 14 mph but my little run was OK. I know I will have to run intervals and that's fine with me.

Overall it was a good practice. They are having another one next week and I think I'll do it again. The distances are a little longer but not so long as to tire me out for my race next Saturday. I can't believe it's going to be here so soon! I have a busy weekend ahead with running, biking, and most importantly, my grandson's 1st Birthday Party!!

The Lady Does It All

Claudia

I can't believe I'm preparing for a triathlon and still feel like a slacker. I can thank Claudia B. for that. She is determined to go farther and faster and has set her sights on the Red Man Half Iron Triathlon this fall.

But that's not all she's up to these days. This spring she ran in the Oklahoma Memorial Half Marathon and just finished the Bike Across Kansas this past weekend. So to rest up from that she does a few laps at the pool and heads to El Dorado for an Olympic distance Triathlon. Holy Cow!

Trying out a new wet suit.

Claudia is a runner at heart and getting very strong on her bike. Swimming is her weak event but she still cuts pretty nicely through the water. I'm glad I can draw inspiration from her and feel that push I need to set my sights higher. Good Luck Claudia! You will do awesome.

I did pretty well on my swim tonight. I felt much more comfortable with the longer distance of the 50 meter pool and was able to swim 800 meters without too much trouble. I still stop after each 100 for a few seconds but that's the way it's going to be. Tomorrow is a morning bike ride. Hope the wind cooperates!

The Big Pool

Lap section of the pool.

As a kid I used to go to the Big Pool on Sundays and paddle around the shallow end. In my child's eye I saw how big it was but didn't have the ability to appreciate the actual size of the "Worlds Largest, Free, Municipal, Concrete, Outdoor Swimming Pool". I haven't been to the pool in over 30 years and seeing it again up close and personal for the first time again was intimidating. The pool is 330 feet x 220 feet (larger then a football field!) and holds 2.6 million gallons of water. The lap swim area only takes up a small portion of the entire pool.

It goes on and on and on!

The water was cold and less then clear but I jumped in and took off down the lane. I thought I would never get to the other end! It seemed to go on forever. I struggled but managed 500 meters with stops at each end. By 400 meters I was getting my breathing down and feeling better. I need to swim at the pool a few more times before the triathlon to really get the hang of the longer length. I followed the swim with a 5K run but it was 97 degrees and I had to walk more then I wanted.

The pool lost it's "Worlds Largest etc." designation when they reconfigured for the slides and other improvements and started to charge admission. The Big Pool is a wonder and tribute to the people of Garden City. 

Happy Father's Day

I was riding this morning and thinking I have the most wonderful husband and father to my children. He has been so supportive of my running and now my triathlon training. I read somewhere when I was thinking about this project that the first thing one needed to do was talk to your significant other. Without their support it would make the training almost impossible. My husband has been wonderful throughout these past 2 months. As the training has gotten harder and the workouts longer he's been more than understanding. I couldn't ask for more then that. (Just don't tell him how much my gear costs!)

Nine weeks of training are behind me with one hard week ahead. My 20 mile ride this morning was interesting. I tried some new roads and I hit a lot of dead ends in that neighborhood. The advantage was it had lots of hills to practice climbing. The disadvantages were I didn't know the roads and one mean dog that thought I was pretty fun to chase.

We should be done with harvest this week and I am looking forward to some rest time. It seems like I always need a nap! Week 10, here I come. Turtle Power!

Rest Day, Sort Of

I moved my rest day to Saturday and ran yesterday just so things would fit better into my schedule. It was the longest run in a while for me and my legs feel it a little. I managed 4.85 miles with 8/1 intervals in 54 minutes. Not a speedster by any means, but felt pretty good through it all. My heart rate stayed in the low 150's and my breathing was controlled and even. The pace is still too slow for my liking but maybe I'll work on building the speed up with the triathlon is over.

I'm looking forward to my rest day because I get to spend the day with my grandson. It rained last night so I won't be taking lunch to the field for harvest. I don't know how I would have found time to train if I was still working my regular job right now. My hat is off to those who manage to fit their workouts into their schedule AND work a job, AND run after kids, AND keep up with the day to day things around the house. Maybe that's why you see so many 40 and 50 year olds at these events. Their kids are grown and they have a little more time on their hands. Just a thought.

Tomorrow I plan a 20 mile bike ride and that will complete week 9 of my workout schedule. I can't believe the race is 2 weeks from today. I'm so excited and nervous that I just wish it would hurry up and get here!

Stampede, With Real Cows!

Cows on the move. Stampede!

Another first on my bike. I started a stampede.

Gina G. and I went for an early morning ride and rode south into the sandhills. It was tough going against the wind, but our friends doing the Bike Across Kansas have been battling it all week so we surely could handle it for a few miles. At one point there was a nice heard of cows with their baby calves beside us. The little ones are so cute and they started trotting along with us along the fence. Pretty soon, more and more were running with us, then the whole herd broke away and headed across the pasture. Gina thought it might be our yellow jerseys that finally scared them away, but it felt a little depressing to think we caused a stampede.

Gina G.

I'm sure they slowed down before they broke free and caused any real damage. Then again, they may have been headed toward the feed bunk and we just happened to be there to see them head for their breakfest.

That's what I like about riding out in the hills. They have a wildness about them that can make you think you are a pioneer crossing the great praire. I've seen deer crossing within 50 yards of me. Turtles were on the move this morning and we saw plenty. I haven't seen too many live snakes, but I have seen dead ones and that's fine with me. With a little rain the desert flowers come into bloom and the view is splendid.

Now if we could just do something about the wind. We managed fine and had a great tailwind ride home. I hit 35 mph going down Sunflower hill and that was plenty fast for me! Gina has been riding for just over 8 months now and is getting to be very strong. I'm so fortunate that I have friends that enjoy riding and feeling the wind at our backs. It makes the miles fly by.

Counting Laps

I know they make little doo-hickies that you can count your laps on in the pool but I didn't think I needed one. I may have been wrong. This morning I thought I did 32 lengths. That's 800 meters. But my time was right at 22 minutes. I know I'm getting better but not that much better. There is a possibility that I miss-counted and it was only 750 meters. Either way I felt really good and think I'm ready for the swim portion of the triathlon. Next week I'm going to try and swim at the Big Pool to get used to the 50 meter length. Bonus: I don't have to count as much!

Locker Room Talk

After my swim I was toweling off in the locker room and a lady commented on my tri-suit saying she has the exact same one. This is my new two piece suit that I wore for the first time today. It's a Zoot and so far I really like it. At least the bottoms don't sag when I get out of the pool. We started talking about triathlons and gear and where we work out. She is from out of town and here on business and has her workouts planned for each town she's going to be in this week. That's dedication. She's preparing for the El Dorado Triathlon which is an open water swim. We compared GPS watches and heart rate monitor straps. It was so nice to have something in common that two strangers can talk about while dripping wet in the locker room.

My run portion of my workout went really well with my heart rate staying right at 150. It never really got any higher then that and for the first time in a long time I felt like I could run and run and run. I still kept to my intervals, sort of, which for today were 8 minutes of running with 30 second walk breaks. I stretched some of the running time out and finished my four sets of intervals without feeling totally dead. The pace was slow, but I'm not going to worry about that just yet. I think it's more important to train my heart. Especially after hearing about my niece's experience at a half marathon over the weekend.

She had a massive nose bleed on the route at around mile 5 and it got so bad that they pulled her in off the course. At that point her blood pressure was extremely high and she had broken some blood vessels in her nose. She finished the race, but at nearly a walk the rest of the way. I'm trying to prevent any heart issues by following the heart rate training guide carefully. It seems to be helping, but it's frustrating to have to accept being slower then you want to be or then you were just a year ago.

Tomorrow is another swim because I'm going biking with a friend on Thursday. It helps the time and miles fly by when you have someone to ride beside.

That's Power

Today marks the end of training week 8 for me and I was going to write about sucking it up for the next 2 hard weeks worth of workouts. Instead I want to tell you about my friend Casey A. I've only known her a few months really, and only as a fellow athlete at that. But what I do know is that she is an amazing lady that has worked through some tough times and come out on top with a smile and a helping hand for others.

When I think of Casey I think power. She's competed in half iron triathlons and numerous bike endurance rides and races. She rides with the guys from the bike club and pushes them to the limit. Power.

Right now Casey and Claudia B. are participating in the Bike Across Kansas ride and in typical Casey style she's pulling a trailer with her gear instead of having it hauled by the support truck. The wind is howling today and Casey just reported that she bypassed all 3 SAG stops just to get the ride over with. Even hauling all that extra weight she arrived at the next overnight stop first, ahead of any of the support vehicles, so she got to choose a prime location for her tent. Power.

Along with all that power is a willingness to help others become better. We were riding in a group headed up a long incline and Gina was struggling a little. Casey turned around and road back, like she does so often, and road next to Gina, put her hand on Gina's back and pushed her up the rest of the hill. Power.

I hope I get to know Casey better as we continue to ride and share adventures. I hope I remember her willingness to help others when they struggle. I hope I someday can keep up with her for even a few miles on  my bike. For now, I'll just admire her power. Power to overcome. Power to motivate. Power to achieve. Power.

Longhorn Stampede

Today was the second anniversary of the first 5K I ever entered. The Longhorn Stampede is put on by our local Recreation Commission to help the high school cross country team raise money. The first year I entered just to get me dedicated to walking. I had only jogged very short distances but was walking about 3 days a week. I talked a friend into doing it with me and we signed on the line and put down our money. I was willing to try as long as I could walk most of the way.

I was nervous that morning and didn't know what to expect. There sure seemed to be a lot of people there, and some of them looked so fit! I knew quite a few of the participants and there were lots of kids and people pushing baby strollers. The atmosphere was so fun and upbeat and everyone was so friendly and encouraging.

When the run was done I knew I was hooked. I walked well over half the coarse and the little running I did nearly killed me! I was so red in the face everyone kept asking if I was alright. I felt great! I was tired but so proud that I had finished. And miracle of miracles, I placed second in the 50 -59 age bracket. Even as slow as I was I still beat a few other old ladies. That medal was so precious to me! I've run much faster since then but that medal will always be my favorite.

Now, two years later, I'm still not fast and still walked about 2 minutes of my time today. There were more fast old ladies today so no medal for me. I have a feeling I'll need to hang on until I get to the 60 and over division to win many more medals but that's not the reason we run. Ask most any runner why they do it and they'll answer in a heart beat, "because we can." I get so excited when I see the kids running, but just as excited to see the older ladies just starting out. Or the ladies who are a little on the heavy side trying to make a difference in their lives. Or the men who know they are not going to catch the fast guys, but they are out there anyway.

We run because we can. And if that helps a charity or organization along the way, all the better. Two years ago this race changed my life. Now when people ask why in the world I'm doing a triathlon I can say with pride, because I can.

Morning Swim, The Jury Is Still Out

This morning I went for an early swim at the Y. My body was sluggish and I didn't have a lot of energy. But when I got in the pool and got my rhythm going I felt fine. The pool wasn't crowded and I got my 700 meters in without any problem.

So do I continue to go in the mornings? I'm not sure. Now that I'm off for a few weeks it fits my schedule better. I can workout and get on with  my day. But was I looking forward to it? No. I would have rather slept a little later. I might try to swim at the Big Pool next week to get used to the 50 meter length but they don't have a designated lap swim time and the area isn't roped off. If I do that I'll be swimming in the afternoon which really cuts up the day. Oh the decisions that have to be made. Who knew!

Brick Workouts Rock

Today was a brick workout where you ride for 30 minutes then run/walk for 30 minutes. The theory is that you are doing 2/3 of the triathlon distances (sort of) and feeling good enough about it to not panic at doing the entire distance. I think it's working. I know I will not be fast but I know I can hit my target time. It won't be easy, but I can do it!

The wind was already blowing pretty good when I hit the road this morning and the overcast sky made it a little cool. I'm wondering how cold it is going to feel in a wet swimming suit. I put a jacket on for the bike but took it off for the run. I was a little cool but after a while it only affected my arms. I'll have to read some reviews of races and see what other people have done. Isn't the internet wonderful!

Too Darn Hot!

This week's workouts are all jumbled up for various reasons so today was going to be a long 50 minute run with 7/1 run/walk intervals. That doesn't sound too bad, unless you miss-judge the temperature and try it in 90+ degree heat. I swear when I looked at the weather station the temperature was dropping, but I was wrong.

Needless to say, I didn't get much running done. After the second set I was pooped. I managed to run in little spurts after that but it ended up mostly being a walk in the heat. I was too impatient and didn't want to wait until this evening to run. Last time I did an evening run I had major leg cramps in both legs in the middle of the night. Whether that was a factor in the cramps or not I don't know, but why risk it.

Tomorrow is my last day at work for the summer and most likely the first day of harvest. That means even though it's a rest day from training I won't be doing much resting. At least from now on I can run in the morning when it's cool. Ahhhhhh.

Where Did All These People Come From?

Tonight's swim was more like a stampede. When I got there four people were in the pool. By the time I finished 600 meters there were almost 15, with several standing on the side waiting to get in. This included several kids who couldn't swim the entire length so needed to be on the edge so they could hang on the side when they got tired. The wake was really choppy and you really had to watch what was going on. I guess it was good practice for a tri with lots of people in the pool at the same time but it made me cut my swim short by a few laps so others could get in. This is the first time it's been that crowded.

I also got another strange reaction to my triathlon effort. The director at the Y is a friend of my daughter and I've known her for years. The Y sponsored the race I ran last weekend and she asked me how I felt and told me I did well. Then she asked if I was doing the run part of the tri as a team member. When I told her that I was going to do it all myself she looked shocked. I mean really, do I look that out of shape or non-athletic in some way? I just smiled and started my swim. It will be fun to see her face when I finish in style!

Ready to tackle week 8 of my training. It's also my last few days of work before my summer break. Yeah! The bad news is we may be starting harvest by the end of the week so not much of a slow down for me at all. But I am becoming an expert at time management so I can handle the hectic schedule.

On the down side I looked at the results of last years triathlon that I'm entering and my projected time will put me almost dead last. There isn't much I can do about that as I don't see myself suddenly swimming, biking or running faster in the next 4 weeks. But I plan to finish in style, smiling and with a thumbs up.

Hoof It To Health

Today was a local 5K and I wanted to give it another try. I'm happy to report that I felt much better on the run and even finished with a kick. My time is still slow but was the best time so far this year. Can't ask for much more then that. But man oh man those fast guys can fly!

Tomorrow I'm going for a ride then a walk to finish out week 7 of my training. It's been a challenge but I've only missed two workouts so far. I'm also finding out that many who said they would also do the Big Pool Triathlon are finding other things to do instead. I was hoping to have a few friends on the road and in the pool for a little moral support but I think I'll be all alone. I do know one neighbor who is going to be the running part of a team but that's not quite the same thing. Oh well. Schedules change and life gets in the way. I have to remember that my time table is not everyone's time table.

After the race then a day babysitting my grandson I'm tired, but we are going out to celebrate my good run, and a friends birthday. Tomorrow it's cycle time!

Tortoise  and the Hare

Today I found a running buddy! A box turtle was slowly making his way down the road as I passed him on my bike. I called out to him and told him to be careful, it was dangerous on the road. As I passed him again on my way home he had made progress, but was still in the road too far for my liking. I swapped out of my bike gear and into my running gear and headed out again on my brick workout. Sure enough, there he was, just plodding along and still making progress toward an unknown destination. Again I called to him and told him to move to the side of the road or he would be flattened by a car.

On my run home I could see him clearly, but now he had moved almost to the center of the road! Behind me I heard a car coming and knew that to miss me they could very likely hit my new friend. Like a crazy person I ran toward the middle of the road and put myself between the car and the turtle. As the car slowed and pulled up beside me the passenger rolled down her window and told me she had seen him and was going to move him to the side. My little turtle sure had people looking out for him.

That made me think of my running struggles. I should be like the turtle and work toward my goal no matter what the obstacle and not be easily side tracked by well meaning passers by. I'm sure when I left, Mr. Turtle started off again on his journey to only he knew where, shaking off the mild set back of a well meaning passer-by like me who totally took him off his chosen course.  Injuries, bad weather, birthday parties, work obligations; these are all obstacles that can side track me very easily. I need to learn how to go with the flow, take the set back, deal with the issues, then get back on track to a destination known only to me.

I want to be a turtle. I know I won't win many races but I know I'll finish. Whatever sets me back, or moves me to the side of the road, I can deal with and move on. Being a turtle is going to turn out just fine.

Good Luck Traci!

Today I did my workout. But that seems so insignificant compared to the odyssey my friend Traci Wentling is beginning tomorrow. She's biking across the USA without a support vehicle so she'll be carrying all her camping gear and supplies on her bike. I think she's crazy! But a good kind of crazy as she's raising money for a local charity. Please check her blog at traciwentling.wordpress.com.

Traci has been an inspiration and motivation to me for several years. We went to high school together and then drifted in different directions until running brought our paths together again. Even though she has accomplished so much more than me she never looked down on my goals or accomplishment no matter how small or ordinary. Traci has run marathons and set records in bike time trials, competed in triathlons and biked across the state too many times to count. This is actually her second cross country trip, but the first time was with a riding companion and a support vehicle.

I ask everyone to check out her blog and donate if you can. I would also ask that you keep her and all adventurers in your prayers. And please, if you see cyclists or runners on the road, be courteous and mindful of their safety. They may be a long way from home and need a kind word to keep them going. God speed, Traci. I'll see you in 3 months! I can't wait to hear all about this great country from your perspective on a bicycle seat!

Happy Birthday Kate

My friend Kate celebrated a birthday over the weekend so naturally that meant a nice long birthday ride. She knew the route she wanted to take but the wind in our area has been brutal lately. The forecast wind speed over the weekend was 30-40 mph. I like adventure but I'm not crazy. Luckily the wind today was only supposed to be 10-15 in the morning and lower speeds after lunch. We looked at the weather sites and checked the timing and direction and everything was a go for our ride: decreasing north winds at 10 mph.

Three of us hit the road headed to a neighboring down 17.5 miles to the west. We were flying! My new shoes and clips made me feel very secure on my bike and I was setting a very nice pace. I felt pretty proud of myself until we stopped and ate lunch at the little cafe at our destination. You guessed it, the wind had shifted out of the east and was pushing us the entire time. It was easy riding, but now we had a headwind the entire 17 miles back to town. Yuck. It wasn't a huge wind, but any wind on a bike makes a big difference.

We enjoyed our burgers and my Hubby stopped in to eat with us. It was a nice break but eventually we had to head back to town. The going was tougher, but not as bad as it could have been. Our pace was slower but I was able to keep it steady. When we returned to our starting spot we felt really good about our accomplishment. This was a record distance for one of our riders and the other celebrated her birthday with a really good ride. I felt really good at the end and wasn't too tired at all. No burning foot pain! Even my legs felt fine and not like wet noodles.

They felt so fine that I decided to go for a swim. At least I tried to go for a swim. The Y was closed for the holiday (Memorial Day), and both outdoor pools were packed for their opening weekend. At least I had good intentions. Now I'll need to get creative with my workout schedule for the coming week. Everyday life is throwing a kink into my plans.

That marks the end of 6 weeks of training. 4 more hard weeks then race week. I can't believe how much stronger I've become in the water and on the bike. The run still kicks my tush but I'm working on it. Here comes Week 7!

Injury Prevention is Key

If I have learned anything since I started working out it's that you need to listen to your body. The older you get the more your body talks to you. Mine said, "don't push too hard for a few days, I need to recover a little". So I listened and did a very easy 600 meter swim last night and then a slow 5K this morning. My body said "thank you for not pushing too hard today, by Monday we should be fine." My heart rate during my run stayed in the low 150s and that is just where I wanted it to be. Even though there was a 25 mph wind I was able to maintain my slow pace. I'll just have to trust the program.

My bike ride for tomorrow is being pushed until Monday so I can do a ride with a friend for her birthday. Then I'll try to get back on schedule. 6 weeks of training down, and 4 hard weeks to go!

A Girl Has To Have Shoes!

To understand my excitement about today's ride you have to know the background story. I have only been riding for less then a year now and the first road bike I bought had nylon cages on the peddles. The advantage is you don't have to buy special shoes and I was trying to save a little money somewhere since the bike was, shall we say, not cheap.

The first ride on my new bike ended in me sprawled on the ground with a few bumps and bruises. I just couldn't cleanly kick my feet out of the cages. The second ride was better, but I still felt uncomfortable. The third ride resulted in a severely bruised hand, a deep bruise under my knee cap, and a near concussion. At my age I don't heal fast and I was aching and tender for months. My husband threatened to cut my bike in two if I fell again so the cages came off and I've been riding bare peddle ever since.

But as I watched other cyclists and talked to my riding friends I became more convinced that I needed to try a different shoe system. I didn't want to put my cages back on. Even though I'm a much better rider now I have this mental block against those contraptions. So off to the bike shop and a long strategy session with the owner. He explained the pros and cons of each system and we narrowed it down to the peddles and shoes I think I needed. I payed the money with my eyes closed and told myself it was a good investment.

Today was my first ride with my new shoes. They have a cool lacing system that involves turning a button and they felt different on my feet. They are very ridged but that is supposed to help with my foot pain problem on long rides. We'll see about that. I tested the system out a few times in the drive way, then stopped at every corner whether I needed to or not just to get used to twisting out of the peddles.

Amazing. That's the only word for how much more power I felt on the hills and the control I had staying on the peddles. I think I'm going to like these shoes even if they are actually for a man (he had them in stock and was willing to give me a discount). I won't tell if you don't! Over all I  had a good ride followed by a decent run. I'm tired but excited. I think I've taken the next step forward!

Swimming In My Tri-Suit

I really like the swimming workouts. Once I get warmed up I feel really good in the water. 700 meters today with 10 second breaks at each 25 meter. Not to bad. The only problem was a foot cramp when I got out of the pool.

But my tri-suit may be a problem. I'm short in the torso and the suit is long on me. That means when I get out of the water the thing hangs down around my knees. At least that's the way it feels. I may need to look into a two piece suit so I don't have to worry about torso length.

Tomorrow is another brick workout and the first time I'll be riding with my clip in shoes. Sure hope I don't crash!

Another Run Down and Feeling A Little Better

I was dreading tonight for several reasons. First, my last run was a disaster. My heart rate was through the roof and my pace was as slow as molasses. Second, it was  hot and windy out. I waited until after supper to run to let it cool down but it was still in the high 80s with 25 mph winds when I hit the road. Third, I was scared that I would give up and let myself fail.

It is with pride that I report that I did my run and a little extra with a heart rate in the low 150s and not feeling like I was going to drop dead at the end. I felt smooth but slow. I wish I was at the level I was last spring, but I have to live with what I've got.

Most importantly, I didn't quite early or shorten the intervals. I know I'm the only one who would know, but that would start a downward spiral that would be self-defeating. I think I can face this weeks training with a little more confidence now and know that I'm doing what I can to improve. Tomorrow is a swim and I'm looking forward to it!

Confidence Shattered

My friend Claudia sent me a text telling me of a little 5K in the morning and would I like to go. Since I had a 30 minute run planned anyway I said what the heck and we left in the morning for a little neighboring town. It was just a 5K and I've been training hard. It couldn't be too hard could it?

That run sent my confidence through the floor. I couldn't maintain my intervals past the second set of 4 minutes running and 1 minute walking. My pace while running was pretty good but my heart rate was constantly in the 160s. I ended up walking more then planned and finishing 2 minutes slower then I should have. Actually this was the slowest competitive 5K I've ever run. I was crushed. I'm not getting better, I'm getting worse!

After talking to a few runners about my issues I think I'm going to make an appointment with my doctor to rule out any major problems. So this morning when I went for my ride I was very down. I didn't push and took some time to think. I know the running is going to be the hardest part for me. But I really should be doing better then I am.

In the mean time I'll give myself pep talks and research nutrition and heart rate training some more. I have to trust that I'll get better at the run because I can't get much worse. There are possible races the next 3 weekends and I need to decide if they will help or hurt my training. Tomorrow is my rest day and I have a million things to catch up on around the house. I'm going to enjoy the day and start week 6 of my training with a positive attitude.

Old Friends Return!

I was walking out to the pool at the Y and I looked into the office area and saw a good friend of mine that had moved away a few years ago. She ran out to give me a big hug and tell me she is the new Aquatic Director at the pool! I am so happy she moved back to the area and I know she'll do a great job for the YMCA.

I swam 700 meters with only 10 second breaks after each 50. I'm getting there. Once I get warmed up I feel my body getting into a rhythm and relaxing in the water. I'm not fast but I will get the job done. It's still humbling when all those fast swimmers pass me by, but other than getting stronger I don't see my technique improving enough to make much of a difference. As I've read in many triathlon training guides, the swim is the swim. Just get through it without dying.

Thunder and Lightening

Today was a run day but Mother Nature threw a kink into my plans. Thunder, lightening, and a little rain kept me inside on the treadmill. I could have waited out the storm but I didn't want to put it off. I might have given into temptation and curled up on the sofa with a glass of wine.

The run was hard since I'm trying to double the amount of intervals and my stamina is still way below where it should be. I felt good after and recovered quickly. My heart rate didn't get above 160 and although my pace seemed slow I don't really trust the calibration on my treadmill. It sure felt like I was running faster then it showed.

Anyway, I'm halfway through my 5th week of training and I'm holding my own. Back into the pool tomorrow.

Swimming Along

Not much new today. I swam my first 400 in 11:30 so I'm happy with that. I still need to keep working on the intervals so I'm not so tired at the end of the swim. That's not a good way to head into the rest of the race.

Things at work are getting very busy so I'm in a low energy mode right now. I'll have to find my way out of that for my run tomorrow. I'm ready for bed and the sun is just setting. It's going to be a long week.

That's Why They Call Them Bricks

I have participated in a duathlon so I'm not unfamiliar with the transition between bike and run. It's not easy. You feel like you are totally uncoordinated and run like a duck. But my first brick workout was a whole new experience.

I wiggled into my new tri-suit and hit the road. It was apparent early on that the padding was light, but it will meet my needs for a 12.5 mile bike ride. One good check mark for the day. I headed down the highway and realized that the mileage I needed would have me turning around at a major interchange. One bad check mark for the day. Since I didn't feel like navigating the clover leaf intersection I turned around a little sooner and headed back home. Over all the ride was fine, not too fast or slow and I drank lots of Gatorade on the way.

Believe it or not the transition went fine. Stripped off my riding gloves, switched my helmet for a visor and I was off again. Another good check mark.

Starting off walking for a few minutes is a good way to get your muscles switched from peddling to running and when it was time to run I didn't feel too clumsy. I did the first interval and thought it was never going to end! My legs felt like they where as heavy as bricks! I totally get it now. Someone has a warped sense of humor. One big bad check mark for me.

Did I mention that the temperature was now 90 degrees? Well, that had a major affect on the rest of my run. I didn't want to push too hard and have a heat issue and it felt like I was adding bricks to my legs with every step. I also realized that I miss my tight compression shorts. I felt loose in the caboose with lots of bounce. A bad check mark for sure. When I got back home I was one tired lady, but guess what. I did it. My first brick workout of this training session is history! A big good check mark for the day.

I downloaded my workout and was totally surprised at how fast I was actually biking and running and my hear rate was in an acceptable range. With 6 1/2 weeks until the race I think I might actually be ready. Not fast, but ready. On to the next workout and more good check marks!

Bricks!

This is week 5 of my training and things really get interesting now. I will do my first "brick" workout which in this case is the ride - run workout with transition training. It also calls for 6 days of workouts in a row. I think this means I'm really in training now! Finding time without letting the rest of my life slip is going to be a challenge.

Yesterday I went for a ride and really tried to power up the hills. I managed fine for a few but not all of the inclines and ended with a pretty decent time. The course for the triathlon is rolling hills so I need to get better at that.

I guess it's time to take a deep breath and stay focused. I know I will never be fast but I want to finish this race with enough energy for a thumbs up and a smile.

Who Turned On The Air Conditioner?

A cold front moved through the area last night and dropped the temperature into the 40's with 20 mph wind. Geez, all I wanted to do was sleep in on a Saturday morning. Sadly, my body had other plans and I was awake at the usual time. My treadmill and I got busy and did our workout in the comfort of my home. I truly am a wimp when it comes to bad weather.

That's why my hat is off to several of my Team 4F friends who braved the weather and ran in a race this morning. It was cold and windy and they laced up their shoes and hit the road. Or my friend Traci who is doing a shakedown ride in preparation for a cross country ride and was camping out last night and now had to peddle home against the wind today. I'm humbled. Not enough to give up my wimpy ways, but humbled.

Tomorrow is Mother's Day and I'm trying to find some time for a 10 mile ride. Being pampered sounds like more fun, but the ride will do me more good. I just hope it's warmer!

Evening Swim

Tonight was the first time I have left for a workout while hubby was at home. He is OK with my training and very supportive but I don't like to take time away from him for my interests. I also don't really like swimming after dinner. I'll try to work things out better next time. Tomorrow is a rest day. Yeah!

Vroom Vroom

What a beautiful day for a ride! The wind was under 10 mph and the temperature was in the mid 70s. It doesn't get any better than that. The only problem on the ride was my "sit bones" were very sore from my big ride a few days ago. My pace was a little slow but I enjoyed my 16 miles for the most part.

The best part of the day was when Traci and John W showed up to fix my bike. John had helped me on Saturday and was worried about me being on the road with a less than perfect axial. I heard their Harleys coming as they rumbled down the street of the neighborhood. Apparently they like motorized cycles too. Big one! After a few lessons in how to change out the axial and some pointers on how to make my bike flow a little better they were off again, and the echo of the vroom vroom had the neighbor kid's attention once more.

Traci is setting off on an amazing adventure for the summer. She's biking across America on her bike and traveling with all her needs on the bike with her; tent, food, sleeping bag, etc. I think she's crazy but a good kind of crazy. Traci is raising money for a local charity that helps those in need. I've added a link to her blog site so others can join in the cause and keep Traci peddling.

Traci's Bike Across America Blog

I've known Traci almost all my life and can say that running and cycling have made us even better friends. I've met so many wonderful, helpful, enthusiastic, dedicated, positive, I can't think of enough adjectives, people that I can't help but be humbled. I'm more healthy in mind and body and I wouldn't change a thing. Keep moving out there! Whatever you can, whenever you can.

First Swim In My Tri Suit!

It will never catch on at the  beach, but for tri-swimming my new suit is cool! It isn't super tight (maybe I need a smaller size?) so it's not that hard to put on. It has handy pockets on the sides for supplies during the ride and run and enough support to keep the bounce to a minimum. My only problem was it sagged in the crotch when it was wet. This is most likely due to being too long in the torso. I'm fairly short waist-ed and it bunches around my middle a little. Add the weight of the water and it hangs down a little farther then I would like. But it did dry fairly quickly and was comfortable on the run. So fashionable or not, it's a keeper.

The run was pretty good. I'm still trying to double up on the distance and keep the intervals. My heart rate seems to be responding well to this training. I don't top out as high as I did in the beginning and my recovery beats per minute are dropping to where I want quickly. I still don't have the stamina that I want but I'll get there.

So, I look goofy in the pool, I look goofy when I run, but I don't care. The other night someone told me I keep looking younger all the time. Wow, that was great to hear. It makes looking goofy worth while.

Record Ride!!

I'm taking a little break today but I think I've earned it. Yesterday I participated in my first long distance (at least for me) bike tour. My friend and I rode 62 miles and both set personal distance records on our bikes. It was an adventure from start to finish.

The ride was a "pick your distance" course so after looking at the map we decided to do the 62 mile route. The course was to take us by some of the country churches in the area and that distance took us by all of them. But my ride almost ended in the parking lot. I was checking the air in my tires when the valve core flew out. I didn't want to start with a risky tire and thankfully I had a spare tube, but my wheel wouldn't come loose from frame. I'm so grateful for the help of John W. for getting me fixed and ready to ride again. I felt so blessed that 9 riders waited for me to get up and running before they hit the road. What wonderful people!

We started our ride only 10 minutes behind everyone else and by the first SAG stop we were catching up to some of the slower riders. The going was pretty easy and we moved right along, even up the hills and over the brick streets of the first small town. At the second SAG stop we were feeling pretty good about the ride with 20 miles behind us.

 

The next 10 miles started to ware on me and by the time we got to the next town I was getting tired. But sitting in the shade of the church helped a lot. This was a lunch stop but I'm not a fan of peanut butter and jelly so I just ate some snacks and a banana. Big Mistake! Looking back I should have forced myself to eat more protein and gotten some electrolytes. I was drinking lots of water but not getting enough other things to keep my energy up. As a result I was out of gas and fading fast.

Also by then my feet were starting to give me problems. During long rides they tend to go dead and start hurting a lot. On the pain scale meter of 1-10 I would give them about an 8. The only help is to get off the bike and walk around trying to get feeling back in them. But we were determined to make our goal and what the heck, we were half way there. My friend Kate H. was a good sport about stopping when I needed to and slowing her pace to stay with me.

By then the temperature was over 90 and the wind had picked up. The next 10 miles took us into the wind to the little town of Schoenchen and a nice little church there. I was really questioning if I would make it peddling uphill against that wind. For a little while I really thought about calling it a day and having Kate ride with another group back to town and send a truck for me. But we sat in the shade of the church and rested with a group of riders and braced ourselves for the last third of our trek.

We went to the next SAG station and took a long break so I could gather my strength. We only had 9 miles to go and it was with the wind at our back and generally down hill. Halleluiah!

With stops at almost every three miles we made it back to the start with new personal records and pride in accomplishing something special. I won't say the last 1/3 of the ride was fun, but I now know I can push through adversity and finish what I start. I also learned that there are good caring people wherever you go and when you are surrounded with positive people anything is possible. I don't think I'm ready for a long ride again but I am proud that I tried something new. So I think I deserve a day off today but tomorrow starts week 4 of Tri-training. Woo Hoo!

Fashion or Function

Workout clothes can be really cute, or they can be really not so cute. But cute is in the eye of the beholder.

Being a very practical person has it's advantages. I don't mind when the riding top I wear is bright, and I mean BRIGHT reflective yellow. I would rather the trucks and cars see me and hit the breaks rather then not see me and then look at my broken body and say, "By the way, that's a nice top she was wearing." The cycling shorts do nothing to make my backside look smaller, in fact the padding makes me look well rounded. But the padding is by far more important then a cute tush.

As for my Triathlon suit, well lets just say function far out distances fashion on that one. It's not overly tight but still shows every bump and bulge and I have too many of them to try and keep them all sucked in. I know they try to put a little style into the design but this is not going to be what one wears to the beach. It covers me from just under my neck to mid thigh. It is made to take you from swim to ride to run with no problems and I think it will do the job fine. Not too much padding to interfere with the swim and run, but enough to keep you in the saddle on the ride. I'll try it out next week when I hit the pool.

With shorts to mid thigh and socks over my ankles you can imagine the tan lines I'm getting. I always wear sunscreen and do my best to protect my skin. Somehow it just throws the look of sandals and a sun dress out the window. But I know why I have those tan lines and how hard I've worked to get them.

While my gear may be geared toward function, I think it's just fine and yes, cute. I feel good when I'm wearing it and I look better because if it. So I'll take function with a little bit of flair anyday.

Yesterdays workout was a 16.48 mile ride. Riding through town is not for me, especially on major streets. I'll take a different route next time.

Oh, The People You See

Some of my fellow fitness fans are becoming familiar to me as I see them time and again on the road or in the pool. I wave or nod and they smile back and I'll never know their names or anything about them except they are moving and doing something to improve their health.

Like the older lady in the pool who keeps going and going and going. Not fast mind you, but steady. Or the man who runs like the hounds of hell are after him, arms flailing and face a mask of agony. Or the husband and wife who plod along, him in front looking for all the world like he doesn't want to be there and if SHE hadn't made him do it he would be sitting at home in the recliner. She trots behind and smiles and looks like she is the cat that ate the cream.

There are all types of people and all fitness levels out there, and all have a story to tell. I wonder what they think of me as I pass by.

Something You Don't See Everyday

I'm relatively new to swimming but even I know when you lap swim you stay in your lanes. Our pool only has ropes up for the first two lanes but the lines are clearly marked on the bottom of the pool. None of this explains the man who was doing his swim from side to side, across the lanes. I had to stop my swim at least 4 times to let him pass in front of me. I don't think he was a very confident swimmer and was afraid to go to the deep end, but still, that was strange. Finally as I was leaving he ventured to the far end of the pool and was hanging on to the side for dear life.

The swim was followed by a run and I'm really working to keep my heart rate under 160 but it's not easy. I'm doubling the time  recommended for the run but keeping to the intervals suggested. As the time increases this is going to be hard to maintain. When the plan calls for increasing time by 10 minutes, that will be 20 minutes for me. Yikes. But keeping the intervals and working on my heart rate are going to pay off in the end.

All in all, it was a good workout. I survived the strange swimming guy and I felt like the run was OK. So starts week three of Tri-training.

To Race or Not To Race

Yesterday there was a local 5K race and I was torn between signing up or sitting this one out. I did this race last year and it was OK but it didn't hit my hot button. Plus it's one of the most expensive races in the area with not much benefit for the buck. So I sat it out. Besides, I needed to get a bike ride in over the weekend and the weather forecast was slightly better for yesterday. I can make up a hundred excuses but they all lead to the same place. I didn't feel like running that race. Until I'm further along in the run part of my tri training I don't need the distraction.

So I put that race out of my mind and waited for the wind to die down to head out for a 14 mile ride. I was trying a new route and it involved riding through town, something I'm not very comfortable with right now. When the wind slacked for a little while I hit the road, headed out on the highway around town, then back through the heart of our little city. The wind was not too bad and I was feeling very comfortable, even on the city streets, until...

I forgot about the race. Traffic was blocked off for the runners at points across their route and I knew I would be sitting for awhile. But since I knew the route from the year before I cut over a few streets and was able to get on with my ride. Only now I was on Main Street with stop lights at every corner and cars pulling in and out of parking slots. Thankfully traffic was light at that time of day and I didn't have any problems. So now I can say I've ridden my bike down Main Street. Another first!

As I watched some of the runners cross the street I thought maybe I should have worked it out so I could run the race, more to support the race organizers then for my own benefit. They put a lot of work into these events and without local races many runners would not have the incentive to hit the road. But I needed to stick to my schedule and keep my big goal in mind. I'll be ready to do a full run in a few weeks but right now I need to concentrate on my heart rate training and building my stamina slowly. For me, skipping the race was the right decision.

My thoughts are with my friends C, M, and G, as they run the Oklahoma City Memorial 1/2 Marathon today. Go girls!!

Running Against the Wind

It was windy here again, but that's nothing new. At least I was able to work my route out so that the wind was at my back for the second half of my run. It didn't help much. My legs felt like they weighed a hundred pounds but the time I finished the first half of my run. My pace was pretty slow but I kept my heart rate in the proper zone most of the time. I know I'm making progress but I'm a very impatient person and I want to be strong and fast NOW.

Sometime in the next two days I need to go for a ride so I'll watch the weather forecast and try to pick a time when the wind is manageable. I got a new riding jersey I want to try out. It's bright yellow so everyone for a mile around can see me!

Mother Nature and Tri Training

She almost got the best of me. Even though I swim at an indoor pool the weather outside nearly wrecked my training for the evening. Apparently if there is lightning in the area they have to close the pool, even the indoor pool, until there are no lightning strikes for 30 minutes. It was cloudy and a front was moving through so I wasn't sure if they would open or not before I had to get back home. I was working out in my mind when I could shift workouts and how I could make up this day.

While I waited I OFFICIALLY registered for the Big Pool Triathlon. It's in writing and the money has changed hands. I'm in. I don't know how many they are expecting but I will be one of them. In reality I'm not that scared or intimidated by the event. With my training schedule I know I'll do fine, but the young girl at the front desk looked at me a little funny and said "really?" when I told her what I was registering for. Talk about a confidence killer. I think I look like I'm in pretty good shape but maybe to a high school girl I look a little different. Or maybe she just doesn't think of older people as triathletes. Either way, I was a little deflated.

The waiting paid off and they finally opened the pool and maybe because of the reaction from the girl out front or some inner voice, I swam the first 400 meters in under 12:00. I can't see the clock too clearly without my glasses (there's that age thing again) but I could see the big hand and I felt really great. The next 400 meters were only slightly slower and for the first time I completed 800 meters with only brief 15 seconds stops at the 50 meter marks.

I have noticed that my heart rate is slower if I can use a four stroke breathing pattern which I seem to be able to maintain once I've gotten really warmed up. The tri-suit is on order and I can't wait to try swimming in that thing. It will be interesting to try and stuff myself into it!

Full Day. Aren't They All?!

The first thing I read when I was thinking of going for a triathlon was that your family had to be on board and you should train on YOUR time, not theirs. Good advice for life, not just those in training. I'm managing to train when my Hubby is at work so he doesn't even notice, but the other things around the house, like the lawn and laundry, oh, and dinner, he might take note of if neglected. That's what is keeping me hopping and as the workouts get longer it will become more of an issue.

Today involved a 14.4 mile bike ride in just over an hour and a quick mow of the grass. Follow this up with a trip to the BBQ joint for supper and I can see how my next two months are going to look. Time management will be critical. Between a full time job, a part time job, and training I hope I can keep up. I'm lucky I'm off work for the last three weeks of training so that will help. I just hope I keep it together until then.

By the way, the ride was not bad at all. My heart rate stayed fairly low and even and my speed was OK. Tomorrow is a swimming day. Ah the smell of chlorine. 

Double Up Day

Today was the first double up day, swimming and running. Let me tell you running in a wet suit is not that fun. Thankfully it was nice and warm out today but I can see that might be a problem on a cool morning. Come to think of it, swimming on a cool morning might not be too fun either. Hmmmmm.

I'm trying to double up on the distance recommended but keep the rest intervals the same so today I swam 500 meters but rested after each 50. On the run I did six sets of intervals instead of two. I know they are taking it from the beginning but I think I can push those numbers a little and be alright. But the heart rate training and intervals are what I need.

Speaking of heart rate, I forgot my monitor strap. I really need to get myself together. Tomorrow is a rest day. Woo Hoo!

I mentioned Team 4F earlier and feel that group needs more attention. The four "F"s stand for Friends, Fellowship, Fitness, and Fun. That about sums it up. We're a diverse group that includes all fitness and ability levels (thank goodness, I wouldn't be allowed in most other "running clubs"). Most run or cycle, a few do everything under the sun. Some are amazing athletes, others are weekend worriers. We mostly provide encouragement and support and advice when we can. It's a great way to find out about races in the area or hook up with a few others for a ride or a run.

It's with those Team 4F members in mind that I did my run this morning. This is the last week leading up to a major milestone for several members, the Oklahoma City Marathon and 1/2 Marathon. Running that distance does not interest me at all. But then again, doing a Triathlon doesn't interest some of them either. That's what makes Team 4F such a great group, we appreciate the effort of any of our members and applaud their accomplishments big or small.

My run went well and compared to the last run it was better all the way around, heart rate included. I survived my first week of tri-training in pretty good shape. Next week gets a little more difficult. Here I go!

Wind, Wind, Wind

When I looked ahead at the forecast today looked like a great day for a ride. So I contacted a few friends, invited members of Team 4F (a group of nuts just like me) and planned on a long leisurely ride. Yeah, right.

The day started on a somber note with the funeral for a friend and co-worker's wife. As we left the service I noticed the wind. Lots of it. Even in town. But with friends planning on a ride and me being the one to call the ride there was no way to back out. The only hope was to pick the route with the least headwind.

It was so tempting to just do a short short ride, or take the bikes to the zoo and ride laps around the park, out of the worst of the wind. But our competitive natures won out and we headed north, straight into a 24 mph headwind. Five long grueling miles later we make the first turn into a slightly less torturous direction. Six miles later I was drained. But the next turn took us south, with that same lovely wind now at our backs. FUN!!!! It almost made the agony of the first 11 miles worth the effort. Almost. It's the fastest four miles I have ever ridden and they came to an end way too soon. Then it was back into a cross wind but nothing we couldn't handle.

I'm tired but feel good for having done the ride. I've always said I'm a fair weather runner/rider. But I may have to get over that because there are no guarantees it will be good weather on race day. Now I know I can ride in the wind. But that doesn't mean I like it.

Responding to this Blog

It looks like you have to have an account with one of the "profile" services on the drop down menu. I have a gmail account so I was able to use that. If you don't have any of these accounts that's fine. I didn't realize that was part of the deal. Live and learn.

Evening Swimming Just Feels Different

Lap swim didn't open until 7:30 so instead of going right after work I got to come home, do some laundry, mow the grass, THEN go swimming. I was afraid I would be too tired to do a good workout but I proved myself wrong. It just seemed strange and out of order but I guess I could get used to it. I still beat Hubby home for supper but when the workouts get longer that won't be possible.

I swam farther then recommended but kept to the rest break pattern. If I could just see the clock on the wall to count my pulse that would be great!

Tomorrow I'm planning a 30 mile ride with Kate, part of our prep for the Hays ride. Not part of the training schedule but will have to do.

Change Is Good

Overcome, Improvise, Adapt. I'm adopting the Marine motto and applying it to my training. The schedule called for a bike ride but the YMCA has lap swim at 5:30 today so, presto change-o, switch it up. But then I walked outside after work and what a beautiful day in the neighborhood! No wind! Which is a big thing in western Kansas. So, presto change-o, switch back to a bike ride. Swimming tomorrow isn't until 7:30 but with Hubby working late that shouldn't be a problem. (I hope.)

I actually kept my heart rate in the right range, or at least I think I did. Did 10 easy miles and rode into town to the bike store for a rear view mirror. Still not comfortable driving in the city, but getting better.

Tomorrow is swimming for sure. I promise.

Day One. Temptation Already Rearing It's Ugly Head...Already!

First day of Tri training and I've already been tempted to cheat. Kate sent out an email asking for company on a bike ride and it would have been so easy to say yes. But alas, I resisted and hit the pavement.

This training program uses heart rate zones for training which is new to me. I'm still trying to define my zones but it's not easy. Do you know how many formulas are out there? Way to many and they all come up with different zones and rates.

I did the workout and then some because I knew I could, but it wasn't as easy as I thought it would be. Tomorrow is a rest day (I know! Already!) so I'm going to try to lift a few weights, do some crunches, and stretch. The adventure begins.

New Challenge, the Story Begins

First 5K race of the 2012 season.

New Challenge

Life is a challenge, so why add new challenges on top of that? To stay active. To stay focused. To stay YOUNG. This year the challenge is to compete in a Triathlon. That's swimming, biking, and running in the same race. Crazy, right?

Some strive to run longer distances but I was a sprinter in high school, specifically a hurdler. Making me run the 400 felt like punishment. So what the heck am I doing running 5K (3.1 mile) races around the area. Honestly, I have no idea. I don't get that great feeling you hear about while running. My lungs hurt, my heart pounds, my hips and knees scream at me, and I sweat like a pig. But love the feeling when I finish; tired, empowered, free, proud.

But running longer distances is not in my mind set. Even in track I felt a 100m dash needed to be interrupted by some hurdles to be interesting. So why not throw some other interesting detours into the mix. Add a swim, maybe a bike ride, and now you have a race!

I found a beginner program I think I can live with/through, and picked out the triathlon I want to debut/drown in, and I'm ready to begin. Training starts tomorrow for the race on June 30. I can do this! Cheer me on!