Thursday, September 22, 2011

Training



I am about halfway through my half marathon training that is October 15th. I trained with my running partner, Anne, until recently. She did her half marathon last weekend Rock and Roll Philly. She PRed and was 2 hours 36 seconds. We ran together in May and were 2 hours 10 seconds so I am hoping that I follow her lead and finish around 2 hours in October.

But since Anne was away last weekend, I ran my 10 mile run with some moms I met from my daughter's preschool last year. I felt a little bit like I was cheating on Anne. I brought my Ipod, but none of these moms run with Ipods. I didn't know what route we would be doing and we basically just did 4 down a trail and 4 back then our last 2 miles around the track where we started. Anne and I always hydrate about halfway through but the new group doesn't drink anything during their runs. It was fun to talk to and run with new people, and they were pretty fast (for me) so I was glad to run with them. We ended up 10 miles at a 9:38 pace. I am going to run my 12 mile training run with them too, but I need to find a hydration/fuel belt before next week!!

This weekend my husband and I are running a 10K. I am excited because my last 10K was during a wind/rainstorm with 50+ MPH winds that actually took siding off houses. I finished 1 hour 3 minutes which is much slower than my normal pace for even a half marathon!

So I am looking for improvement this weekend.........and for my husband to beat me!







Tuesday, August 30, 2011

I did it!!



I did it! I completed my first triathlon!!















We arrived at Deer Creek Lake in Ohio Friday night around 9PM.







We went to bed and my husband got up around 6am to go run 8 miles since we are doing a fall half marathon together.












Deer Creek Lake













After he got back, we headed over to registration. Sally Edwards, a legendary triathlete, and Maggie Sullivan, who is the director of Trek's Women Triathlon series, gave our group (Mighty Tri Girls) a private "pep" talk. I picked up my numbers, chip, and race packet, bought myself a nice 1/4 zip pullover that said Trek Women's Triathlon Series and had everything I needed. I was very overwhelmed because when I do a running race, I just pick up my race packet and have a number and chip and that's it. With the triathlon, I had a number for my helmet, for my bike, for my spibelt, etc. I got a navy blue swim cap to determine the "wave" of swimmers I was in according to my age group.

























Saturday night meeting





My family had a nice relaxing afternoon at the pool and a small dinner. I headed over to a short Mighty Tri Girl meeting to get some last minute advice from Sue.








We were in bed by 8:30PM because I had an early wake up! At 4am, my alarm went off. I got ready (without waking my family) and headed to the lobby to get "numbered."


















I rode with 2 members of my team, Jen and Theresa, over to the lake. We arrived at 5am. It was pitch black. Thank god for Jana and her "miner's cap" that had a light. I set up my transition area, got my tires pumped, and was ready.




We still had some time and it was freezing. The wind from the lake made it a cold 55 degrees. I sat in a car wrapped in a blanket until about 6:15am. Then I did some last minute things and got my wetsuit on.




The start was delayed so about 7:23am, my wave was about to begin. It was very choppy water, but a vert warm 70 degrees. I got a noseful of water at one point and had to doggy paddle a bit. There were "angels" set up in the water, which were ladies with noodles if anyone needed to take a break and rest. I was determined not to use one. I made it the full 1/2 mile with no help and ran out and up the steps to the transition area!











I was ready for the part that was my biggest fear.......the bike! After just learning how to ride a bike 7 months ago, I doubted myself many times. I got on the bike with confidence and began my 12 mile ride. It was very flat and windy the first several miles. There were a few hills at the end, which made me realize that I have to get some more leg strength.



I rode my bike back into the transition area and could hear Sue's voice cheering me on! I saw her smiling face and was so proud of myself. I heard her say, "This is your time to shine! Go get 'em!" on my way to begin my run.



The support of all the women was amazing. I knew I was in the bottom portion of finishers because of my slow bike time, but the women I passed coming back into finish all had smiles, high fives, and encouraging words for me! Seeing all of the members of my team (there were about 30 Mighty Tri Girls there) cheering me on was such a great feeling.


I crossed over the dam, got to the turn-around, and ran back the remaining of the course. As I heard the cheers as I turned the corner to the finish line, I couldn't help but get emotional! I saw my husband, who was so supportive of my training, and my three kids' smiling faces on the left. On the right were all the Mighty Tri Girls and their husbands cheering for me! I grabbed the hands of my two oldest kids and crossed the finish line with them squeaking it in just under 2 hours (1 hour 59 min!)


I am so thankful for my husband for being so supportive and encouraging. My mom and dad were so helpful with encouraging words and emails as well. My mom and husband helped by watching the kids while I trained. All of my friends and family were so wonderful in supporting my goal.



I know that if I can do a triathlon, anyone can!











































































Wednesday, August 24, 2011

Taper.....



As I approach my triathlon this weekend, I have been reflecting on my training and my life. With school starting for my kids next week, I always get emotional because I will miss them during the day. I know they are getting bored and are ready to go, although they do not realize it. So with the emotions high from the kids leaving, my daughter starting kindergarten, and my triathlon approaching, I have been a little emotional this week.

Tapering always makes me a little anxious as well. I usually run at least four times a week and my coach said only two short 20 min runs this week. I did that Monday and Tuesday and I am getting very antsy! I am going to fit in one more swim and I did a 45 min bike ride at the beginning of the week. I will hit everything that Sue told us to do for the week by tomorrow........now I just wait for the triathlon!!

I looked up my swim start time and it is 7:08am.

I do not think I will be able to sleep the night before!!

Friday, August 19, 2011

If someone told me....



I started training for this triathlon in February on one cold afternoon. I walked into the YMCA with my bathing suit under my clothes, shuffling through the snow in my Uggs. There was a small group of us looking at each other nervously. We made our way to the pool where we were welcomed by Sue's smile, which made me feel a little more relaxed, seeing her familiar face and hearing her crack a few funny jokes.


We began our triathlon training that day by learning how to do the swim stroke. Little did I know, on this day seven months ago, I would be hooked.


Little did I know, I would be waking up at 5am to drive down to the YMCA and do lap after lap in the pool and be home before 6:30am with a full workout in.


And the least likely of it all, that I would be riding a bike up and down the trail. After never being able to ride a bike, I never thought I could do it.


But with the encouragement of my coach, Sue, and many other people in my life, I was able to do it and now am getting ready to do my first triathlon in about a week!


I am as ready as I am going to be and I am so glad I never gave up. I had doubts. I had days that I thought it was just crazy to think I could learn how to ride a bike when I was 33 years old. I thought, why didn't I just stick with running? No matter what my finishing time is next week, I am glad I did it. I taught my children that you can do anything, no matter how old you are. I taught myself not to fear anything.

Monday, August 15, 2011

The gift running has given me


I may not be the fastest runner out there but this motivates me because I am happy to be fit. I feel blessed that I am able to run. Many people have health problems that prevent them from being able to walk or run. I am able to run and take advantage of it. It also gives me a much needed break from everything at home: my kids, the dog, cooking, unloading the dishwasher, etc. It is a time for "me" to go and think about whatever I want. I can listen to my favorite podcasts (Manic Mommies or Another Runner Mother). I can listen to my favorite music and listen to the unedited versions of some of my favorite hip hop!

Running has given me a gift to find myself again. I have met some amazing people and wonderful friends through running and training for my triathlon.

The day in July of 2009 when I decided to run for a minute or two on the treadmill was a life-changing day for me. I finally found myself again which has made me a better wife and mother.


Wednesday, August 10, 2011

Miss Fix It

I just have to share how proud I am of myself for 2 reasons this week.

1. I bought a new toilet seat while my husband was at a Nascar race with his dad and brothers. Now for the exciting news......I installed it myself!!

2. The brake disconnected on my front brake of my bike. This is not the first time this happened. It happened once before but I was with my BRP (best running partner) Anne and we found a guy in the parking lot who fixed it for us before we did a brick. (Brick=Bike then run)

It happened to me again today. I tried to connect it again and couldn't do it. I tried to get my husband (who is extremely handy) to fix it and he couldn't.

So where to look next?

You Tube of course!

I found a little video from a bike shop and figured it out all by myself!

Note:

I should have prefaced this with the fact that I am not very handy. The first time I used a screwdriver was in college when I was pledging, and I had to fix a sorority sister's coffee table or she would have probably thrown lunch meat at me.

Sunday, August 7, 2011

Fears....

Fear This.....


I am sure most people don't have the same fear that I do for my first triathlon. Yes, I do get a little scared thinking of the swim. But I have been getting out in the lake at least once a week since the first week of June, so my fear isn't the open water. Maybe the thought does cross my mind of a body floating in there. Especially when one of the girls on my team thought she felt a finger on Wednesday night's group workout. Yikes.


My biggest fear is of all the people passing me on the bike! I finally am feeling a lot more comfortable on my bike (which I have yet to name.....maybe a later post on the naming of my bike). I used to get so nervous passing people that I would just stop and walk past them with the bike. I feel fine now coasting by calling out, "on your left!"


I am just fearful of masses of bikes passing me since I am not the fastest biker.


I guess there isn't too much to do to calm this fear.


In less than a month, I will be a triathlete!


Wednesday, July 27, 2011

New Shoes!

Pumped Up Kicks






I'm so excited about my new shoes that came today from Zappos. I ordered them at 7PM Tuesday night and they were here by 2PM on Wednesday with FREE SHIPPING!!




I got my last pair in January and have run my half marathon and trained for a half and the triathlon in them.




I am sticking with my Nike Air Pegasus. I haven't had any issues with them yet so I am not fixing what isn't broken!



Now to run in them while listening to "Pumped up Kicks" to imagine I am in a Nike commercial......ha ha!