I signed up for my first '08 triathlon!
The Spirit of Racine Sprint triathlon on July 22, referred to on triathlon websites as SOR.
Shall I "SOaR" to victory?
Yeah. Right.
Wednesday, October 17, 2007
Meet my friend.
Whilst experimenting with her new digital camera, Erika took a picture of my childhood friend, Theo. This tattered old bear was given to me in 1980 as a Christmas present, and I promptly named him Theo (you know, because it's another nickname for "Theodore", just like "Teddy", which is what he is). Over the years, he has been stained, picked at (see nose), cast aside, I pierced his ears, and more, but he has followed me to the countless places I've lived since I was an 8 year-old girl, and now he's followed me again...to my blog profile.
Welcome, Theo.
Welcome, Theo.
Saturday, October 6, 2007
My third week gluten-free update
I've completed week three out of four in my miniature experiment with going gluten free in an attempt to reduce my pooch. (I know the real word is "ponch", but to me the perfect word to describe my belly is "pooch".)
Friday morning, before leaving for work and undergoing my "Friday morning weigh-in" in the nurse's office at my school, I asked Erika for a prediction. She was noticeably reluctant to do this, as last week she predicted a two-pound drop and I had done no such thing. (I broke even, which I feel very even about.) She chose the safe route: "Well, I don't think you gained any weight". I agreed with her.
Alas, we were wrong. I gained a pound. The following are possible reasons why:
-I had three beers the night before, then promptly went to bed.
-I eat brownies every day in my lunch, and justify it by saying they're gluten-free.
-The hour and a half of working out I had done this week has created yet another pound of muscle on my already ripped body.
-A pound is no big deal; a person can sneeze and lose a pound.
-My flip-flops were deceptively heavy.
-The scale was off (my favorite excuse, as it can apply to anyone at any time).
-I gained it all in my boobs, which frankly were lacking lately anyway.
-Erika lost another pound (because she can look at a treadmill and lose a pound), and instead of floating aimlessly in the universe it landed on me.
-It's just a freakin' pound, and sometimes there is no reason why.
So Erika and I have this gift for occasionally getting down about things in our own lives but always remaining optimistic about each others; her response to the news was, "so now if you factor in the pound and a half you lost two weeks ago, you've nearly broken even!"
So true.
Friday morning, before leaving for work and undergoing my "Friday morning weigh-in" in the nurse's office at my school, I asked Erika for a prediction. She was noticeably reluctant to do this, as last week she predicted a two-pound drop and I had done no such thing. (I broke even, which I feel very even about.) She chose the safe route: "Well, I don't think you gained any weight". I agreed with her.
Alas, we were wrong. I gained a pound. The following are possible reasons why:
-I had three beers the night before, then promptly went to bed.
-I eat brownies every day in my lunch, and justify it by saying they're gluten-free.
-The hour and a half of working out I had done this week has created yet another pound of muscle on my already ripped body.
-A pound is no big deal; a person can sneeze and lose a pound.
-My flip-flops were deceptively heavy.
-The scale was off (my favorite excuse, as it can apply to anyone at any time).
-I gained it all in my boobs, which frankly were lacking lately anyway.
-Erika lost another pound (because she can look at a treadmill and lose a pound), and instead of floating aimlessly in the universe it landed on me.
-It's just a freakin' pound, and sometimes there is no reason why.
So Erika and I have this gift for occasionally getting down about things in our own lives but always remaining optimistic about each others; her response to the news was, "so now if you factor in the pound and a half you lost two weeks ago, you've nearly broken even!"
So true.
Monday, October 1, 2007
WARNING: Non-Triathlon-Related Post
So my dear friend Elizabeth "tagged" Erika and I, and now she's not our dear friend anymore.
Just kidding.
THE RULES:
1. Post these rules before you give you the facts.
2. List eight (8) random facts about yourself.
3. At the end of your post, choose (tag) someone and list their name (linking to their page).
4. Leave them a comment on their blog letting them know they’ve been tagged!
EIGHT RANDOM FACTS.
1. I don't normally participate in these types of activities, but there is thawing chicken in the kitchen waiting for me to cut into serving sizes, saran wrap (with a layer of tin foil on top to prevent freezer burn) and store in the freezer betwixt the beef and the turkey servings. I hate wrapping the chicken, so I'm putting it off.
2. I eat left-handed. No big deal, except that my spouse, whom I've known for nearly three years, casually interjected a "you eat left-handed?" into our dessert conversation last night. Never stop learning about each other.
3. I never eat popcorn. I don't like it. When I tell people this they usually respond with shock and disbelief, like I just told them I'm the second coming of their personal Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. But it's true, I just don't care for it.
4. I'm fluent in Spanish (speaking), but only half-fluent in understanding it and barely a Kindergarten level in Spanish reading.
5. I can't write poetry to save my life. My cover is my "Roses are Red" poems that I'll insert in friends' birthday cards, in which the last line rhymes with nothing. Example:
Roses are Red
Violets are Blue
Walt Whitman is over my head
Why doesn't he use capital letters ever?
6. My favorite T-shirt of all time is a memento from a mountain biking trip in Bolivia in which the slogan on the back is "Going down has never been better". It has holes dotting every seam (and some in random spots as well) but I don't care--I'll never give it up.
7. My best leg of a triathlon is the swim.
8. I am choosing to tag Scott and Greg!
Just kidding.
THE RULES:
1. Post these rules before you give you the facts.
2. List eight (8) random facts about yourself.
3. At the end of your post, choose (tag) someone and list their name (linking to their page).
4. Leave them a comment on their blog letting them know they’ve been tagged!
EIGHT RANDOM FACTS.
1. I don't normally participate in these types of activities, but there is thawing chicken in the kitchen waiting for me to cut into serving sizes, saran wrap (with a layer of tin foil on top to prevent freezer burn) and store in the freezer betwixt the beef and the turkey servings. I hate wrapping the chicken, so I'm putting it off.
2. I eat left-handed. No big deal, except that my spouse, whom I've known for nearly three years, casually interjected a "you eat left-handed?" into our dessert conversation last night. Never stop learning about each other.
3. I never eat popcorn. I don't like it. When I tell people this they usually respond with shock and disbelief, like I just told them I'm the second coming of their personal Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. But it's true, I just don't care for it.
4. I'm fluent in Spanish (speaking), but only half-fluent in understanding it and barely a Kindergarten level in Spanish reading.
5. I can't write poetry to save my life. My cover is my "Roses are Red" poems that I'll insert in friends' birthday cards, in which the last line rhymes with nothing. Example:
Roses are Red
Violets are Blue
Walt Whitman is over my head
Why doesn't he use capital letters ever?
6. My favorite T-shirt of all time is a memento from a mountain biking trip in Bolivia in which the slogan on the back is "Going down has never been better". It has holes dotting every seam (and some in random spots as well) but I don't care--I'll never give it up.
7. My best leg of a triathlon is the swim.
8. I am choosing to tag Scott and Greg!
Wednesday, September 26, 2007
Post topics for the triathlete in the off-season.
-I polished my bike the other day...
-Let's go to the bathroom mirror and watch me get larger!
-Why do these 8-pound weights feel like Toyotas?
-Stupid stairs...
-Do you think the local high school will let me use their swimming pool to try out this wetsuit I bought on clearance?
-Running in a parka is NOT the same.
-Only 241 days until my next race!
-Do these socks make me look fat?
-When Race Day becomes Packer Sunday
Sigh.
-Let's go to the bathroom mirror and watch me get larger!
-Why do these 8-pound weights feel like Toyotas?
-Stupid stairs...
-Do you think the local high school will let me use their swimming pool to try out this wetsuit I bought on clearance?
-Running in a parka is NOT the same.
-Only 241 days until my next race!
-Do these socks make me look fat?
-When Race Day becomes Packer Sunday
Sigh.
Sunday, September 23, 2007
Type O Eating: An Update
I know you're all on the edge of your seats. What's her progress? Where's she at? Did she stick with it? These are the questions on the minds of all (read: both) of my readers.
As a quick recap... I went gluten-free on the advice of my passionate new-age mother-in-law who insists that eating for your blood type will shed pounds you've had since birth.
So what have I learned so far?
Gluten free hasn't been too difficult so far overall, only because our kitchen is 80% gluten-free already. I switched my milk and my bread and went from Lean Cuisine's to Amy's frozen dinners and that's been about it for changes. There's a wealth of information out there, especially at http://www.glutenfreeforum.com/ and http://www.food4celiacs.com/.
There's a children's cereal with a koala on the box that tastes remarkably like Cocoa Krispies. Totally delish.
If I'm going gluten-free, I'm certainly not going to give up desserts on top of it. I've taken to putting my homemade allergen free brownies in every lunch, must to the disdain of my spouse who seems to think that the brownies belong exclusively to her even though she couldn't name two of their ingredients beyond "sugar" and "chocolate goodness".
Going out to eat when you're gluten free kinda sucks. We went to Saz's the other night and my menu options included shredded chicken with bbq sauce in a bowl, a plain baked potato, and steamed veggies. I live for buns, my version of potato consumption is a pile of seasoned french fries, and steamed veggies are not a part of my dietary repertoire. So I ordered my fair share of wine and muscled through the chicken (actually quite good) and baked potato (much better with butter, salt, pepper, and the aforementioned wine). I think people take for granted how easy it is to "grab a bite to eat", and even moreso the hundreds of menu selections they have to choose from.
If I continue gluten-free eating beyond the 30 days, we will have no money for frivolities such as new triathlon gear or rent. The gluten-free s*** is expensive, I'll tell you what.
So after six days of this experiment, do I have anything to show for it?
I lost a pound and a half. In that time I've barely exercised and reintroduced desserts to my daily consumption, and I've still lost weight. This is comparable to the weight loss rate I experienced at the peak of my triathlon training.
The experiment continues.
As a quick recap... I went gluten-free on the advice of my passionate new-age mother-in-law who insists that eating for your blood type will shed pounds you've had since birth.
So what have I learned so far?
Gluten free hasn't been too difficult so far overall, only because our kitchen is 80% gluten-free already. I switched my milk and my bread and went from Lean Cuisine's to Amy's frozen dinners and that's been about it for changes. There's a wealth of information out there, especially at http://www.glutenfreeforum.com/ and http://www.food4celiacs.com/.
There's a children's cereal with a koala on the box that tastes remarkably like Cocoa Krispies. Totally delish.
If I'm going gluten-free, I'm certainly not going to give up desserts on top of it. I've taken to putting my homemade allergen free brownies in every lunch, must to the disdain of my spouse who seems to think that the brownies belong exclusively to her even though she couldn't name two of their ingredients beyond "sugar" and "chocolate goodness".
Going out to eat when you're gluten free kinda sucks. We went to Saz's the other night and my menu options included shredded chicken with bbq sauce in a bowl, a plain baked potato, and steamed veggies. I live for buns, my version of potato consumption is a pile of seasoned french fries, and steamed veggies are not a part of my dietary repertoire. So I ordered my fair share of wine and muscled through the chicken (actually quite good) and baked potato (much better with butter, salt, pepper, and the aforementioned wine). I think people take for granted how easy it is to "grab a bite to eat", and even moreso the hundreds of menu selections they have to choose from.
If I continue gluten-free eating beyond the 30 days, we will have no money for frivolities such as new triathlon gear or rent. The gluten-free s*** is expensive, I'll tell you what.
So after six days of this experiment, do I have anything to show for it?
I lost a pound and a half. In that time I've barely exercised and reintroduced desserts to my daily consumption, and I've still lost weight. This is comparable to the weight loss rate I experienced at the peak of my triathlon training.
The experiment continues.
Sunday, September 16, 2007
So what's an O supposed to eat, anyway?
Erika and I were hanging out with her fam before Al's Run yesterday when Tracy (the mom) casually says to me:
"You're type O, right?"
By this, she means Blood Type O. We know this because we are very aware of the fact that she has found a new book, "Eat Right 4 Your Type", that theorizes that there are "highly beneficial", "neutral", and "avoid" foods for each blood type depending on how easily digestible they are. Furthermore, the book postulates that sticking to the good list and avoiding the bad list will metabolize the body into a fat-burning machine and losing weight will be easier than ever. But anyway, back to Tracy:
Me: "Yes..."
Tracy: "Well, I read in my Eat for your Type book about Type O's and how they generally have issues with retaining and losing belly fat."
(Erika has now formed a sly grin, as she has listened to me complain for years about my stupid belly and how my boob size has halved itself but my belly remains constant.)
Tracy: "Anyway, the book says there's one thing that Type O's should cut out of their diets to make belly fat come off."
(Erika is now grinning. It is clear that they had just had this very conversation and she knew exactly where it is going.)
Me: "Oh yeah? What's that?" (I say reluctantly. I'm expecting her to say the one thing I'd never ever want to live without, like pasta, red meat, or beer.)
Tracy: "Gluten!"
She goes on to say that gluten seems to have the opposite effect of fat-burning on Type O's--it will actually slow your metabolism and cause fat storage. She says that some Type O's who have changed nothing else in their diet or exercise regimen except eliminate gluten still watched weight come off.
Hm. I have mixed feelings.
On the one hand, since it's been nearly a year since Erika was diagnosed with gluten intolerance we are both extremely well-versed on gluten-free products, recipes, and alternatives already. In fact, most of the dinners we share are gluten-free as it is, and I prefer them. On the same hand, I hate my belly fat. I've struggled with it for years and I'm sick and freakin' tired of trying everything in the book to get rid of it.
On the other hand....Starbucks Mocha Frappuccinos. Subway (eat fresh). Beer. (Well, there's gluten-free beer, but it's harder to find and rarely in bars.) Convenience. Easy eating.
After much deliberation and a little research (I read the section of Tracy's book on Type O's), I decided it's worth a shot. Starting today I'm going to eat and drink gluten-free for one month to see if I notice a difference in my weight and/or belly.
I'm sure you're on the edge of your seat.
"You're type O, right?"
By this, she means Blood Type O. We know this because we are very aware of the fact that she has found a new book, "Eat Right 4 Your Type", that theorizes that there are "highly beneficial", "neutral", and "avoid" foods for each blood type depending on how easily digestible they are. Furthermore, the book postulates that sticking to the good list and avoiding the bad list will metabolize the body into a fat-burning machine and losing weight will be easier than ever. But anyway, back to Tracy:
Me: "Yes..."
Tracy: "Well, I read in my Eat for your Type book about Type O's and how they generally have issues with retaining and losing belly fat."
(Erika has now formed a sly grin, as she has listened to me complain for years about my stupid belly and how my boob size has halved itself but my belly remains constant.)
Tracy: "Anyway, the book says there's one thing that Type O's should cut out of their diets to make belly fat come off."
(Erika is now grinning. It is clear that they had just had this very conversation and she knew exactly where it is going.)
Me: "Oh yeah? What's that?" (I say reluctantly. I'm expecting her to say the one thing I'd never ever want to live without, like pasta, red meat, or beer.)
Tracy: "Gluten!"
She goes on to say that gluten seems to have the opposite effect of fat-burning on Type O's--it will actually slow your metabolism and cause fat storage. She says that some Type O's who have changed nothing else in their diet or exercise regimen except eliminate gluten still watched weight come off.
Hm. I have mixed feelings.
On the one hand, since it's been nearly a year since Erika was diagnosed with gluten intolerance we are both extremely well-versed on gluten-free products, recipes, and alternatives already. In fact, most of the dinners we share are gluten-free as it is, and I prefer them. On the same hand, I hate my belly fat. I've struggled with it for years and I'm sick and freakin' tired of trying everything in the book to get rid of it.
On the other hand....Starbucks Mocha Frappuccinos. Subway (eat fresh). Beer. (Well, there's gluten-free beer, but it's harder to find and rarely in bars.) Convenience. Easy eating.
After much deliberation and a little research (I read the section of Tracy's book on Type O's), I decided it's worth a shot. Starting today I'm going to eat and drink gluten-free for one month to see if I notice a difference in my weight and/or belly.
I'm sure you're on the edge of your seat.
Brigg's and Al's Memorial Run for Children's Hospital
I know it's not a triathlon, but it's not like adultery to do other events, is it?
Al's Run has become a fall-time tradition for me. I've run it with friends, by myself, and (this year) with my new in-laws. Erika, her mom and brother did the 5-mile walk (mom is training for a half-marathon, so this was literally and figuratively a walk in the park for her), while my new father-in-law Dan and I did the 5-mile run. The weather was perfect for running with temps hovering around 50 degrees, but it made for an amusing pre-race dilemma: should I wear pants? Shorts? Shorts under pants and then take them off? Honey, will you carry my fleece? Why didn't I bring mittens? My, that breeze is crisp!
I love the entertainment along the route for Al's Run. There was a choir or two, several groups of high school cheerleaders enthusiastically cheering in formation, some bagpipers, and quite a few 2-3 person bands playing inspirational cover songs by Survivor or Fleetwood Mac. The volunteers are all so upbeat and supportive, the water stations are well stocked and well staffed, and overall it's a very organized race given the fact that tens of thousands of participants flock the Milwaukee streets to run, walk, or push their strollers every year.
If you can, I recommend runninng or walking for Al.
Al's Run has become a fall-time tradition for me. I've run it with friends, by myself, and (this year) with my new in-laws. Erika, her mom and brother did the 5-mile walk (mom is training for a half-marathon, so this was literally and figuratively a walk in the park for her), while my new father-in-law Dan and I did the 5-mile run. The weather was perfect for running with temps hovering around 50 degrees, but it made for an amusing pre-race dilemma: should I wear pants? Shorts? Shorts under pants and then take them off? Honey, will you carry my fleece? Why didn't I bring mittens? My, that breeze is crisp!
I love the entertainment along the route for Al's Run. There was a choir or two, several groups of high school cheerleaders enthusiastically cheering in formation, some bagpipers, and quite a few 2-3 person bands playing inspirational cover songs by Survivor or Fleetwood Mac. The volunteers are all so upbeat and supportive, the water stations are well stocked and well staffed, and overall it's a very organized race given the fact that tens of thousands of participants flock the Milwaukee streets to run, walk, or push their strollers every year.
If you can, I recommend runninng or walking for Al.
Saturday, September 8, 2007
Lake Geneva Triathlon--9/8/07
I just woke up from my nap, the race fresh in my mind. What better time to record it in the archives of history for both of my readers?
Swim *** Geneva Lake is a crystal clear lake and the temperature was very comfortable. I found a dude swimming at about my same pace and I rode in his current the whole way. Overall a very nice swim. So why not five stars? Because either I became the Bionic Woman of Swimming overnight and shaved a full 8 minutes off my 1/2 mile swim time, or the distance was not the advertised half-mile distance. Given my time (8:23), I'd put it at closer to 1/4 mile.
Bike *** The roads were a nice balance of hills and flat along scenic back roads. The route was well-flagged and (mostly) closed off to traffic, but no mile marker signs. Not that this is a testament to the bike course itself, but with plenty of shade the temperature stayed a very cool and comfortable 70ish degrees. I did not care for the bike finish, however, as the course narrowed to one lane so we could be herded back into transition like cattle. I had to slow to a near-stop a good 50 yards before the bike ended just because of the backup.
Run *** The run course advertises "Frank's Killer Hill", and they mean it. At least half the runners were walking up, and I may as well have been for how slow I was moving. I thought I was smart and trained for hills beforehand, but nothing like this one. Of course, the upside is that on the way back you can recover nicely for a strong finish because of the downhill. Sidebar: The water in the aid stations tasted like sewer.
Staff/Volunteers/Spectators *** Nothing much to say here. There were enough staff and volunteers, and they were plenty nice. The problem is that they didn't have a well-organized race to work for/watch. See category below.
Overall Race Organization * There were a lot of flaws in this race.
-In the transition area there were no assigned bike rack spots--it was a free-for-all put-your-bike-anywhere. I ended up getting a great spot that wasn't really a spot leaned up against a garbage can, but I didn't feel too guilty about it because others had already been creative with their racking.
-To get into the transition area in the first place, you must walk through the Bike In/Out area. If you step on the (already activated) chip mat, as I did, you screw up your time.
-The Bike In/Out area and the Run Out area were marked with manilla envelope-sized signs at eye level. Up until racking my bike in T2 and following another athlete out did I find out for certain where Run Out was.
-The layout of the race put the T1/T2 area right up on the beach where Swim In/Out was, which meant athletes were milling around all over the transition area, physically getting in the way of athletes attempting transitions. Thanks to my garbage can bike-racking spot I didn't have too much of a problem with this, but I watched others deal with it.
-In an attempt to increase bike security they said "no spectators allowed in transition" this year. However, when I arrived in T2 after the bike, Ma and Pa Spectator were standing next to my garbage can, watching me transition whilst waiting for their athlete. Not only did it feel like an invasion of privacy, but a breach of security as well. Erika said there were plenty of spectators roaming the beach (in the transition area) after the swims ended.
-To end on good notes, there were plenty of potties, the race started on time, they give out sweatshirts beforehand and medals to finishers, and the sunrise over the lake was beautiful.
If you're ever considering doing a first triathlon, don't make it Lake Geneva.
Swim *** Geneva Lake is a crystal clear lake and the temperature was very comfortable. I found a dude swimming at about my same pace and I rode in his current the whole way. Overall a very nice swim. So why not five stars? Because either I became the Bionic Woman of Swimming overnight and shaved a full 8 minutes off my 1/2 mile swim time, or the distance was not the advertised half-mile distance. Given my time (8:23), I'd put it at closer to 1/4 mile.
Bike *** The roads were a nice balance of hills and flat along scenic back roads. The route was well-flagged and (mostly) closed off to traffic, but no mile marker signs. Not that this is a testament to the bike course itself, but with plenty of shade the temperature stayed a very cool and comfortable 70ish degrees. I did not care for the bike finish, however, as the course narrowed to one lane so we could be herded back into transition like cattle. I had to slow to a near-stop a good 50 yards before the bike ended just because of the backup.
Run *** The run course advertises "Frank's Killer Hill", and they mean it. At least half the runners were walking up, and I may as well have been for how slow I was moving. I thought I was smart and trained for hills beforehand, but nothing like this one. Of course, the upside is that on the way back you can recover nicely for a strong finish because of the downhill. Sidebar: The water in the aid stations tasted like sewer.
Staff/Volunteers/Spectators *** Nothing much to say here. There were enough staff and volunteers, and they were plenty nice. The problem is that they didn't have a well-organized race to work for/watch. See category below.
Overall Race Organization * There were a lot of flaws in this race.
-In the transition area there were no assigned bike rack spots--it was a free-for-all put-your-bike-anywhere. I ended up getting a great spot that wasn't really a spot leaned up against a garbage can, but I didn't feel too guilty about it because others had already been creative with their racking.
-To get into the transition area in the first place, you must walk through the Bike In/Out area. If you step on the (already activated) chip mat, as I did, you screw up your time.
-The Bike In/Out area and the Run Out area were marked with manilla envelope-sized signs at eye level. Up until racking my bike in T2 and following another athlete out did I find out for certain where Run Out was.
-The layout of the race put the T1/T2 area right up on the beach where Swim In/Out was, which meant athletes were milling around all over the transition area, physically getting in the way of athletes attempting transitions. Thanks to my garbage can bike-racking spot I didn't have too much of a problem with this, but I watched others deal with it.
-In an attempt to increase bike security they said "no spectators allowed in transition" this year. However, when I arrived in T2 after the bike, Ma and Pa Spectator were standing next to my garbage can, watching me transition whilst waiting for their athlete. Not only did it feel like an invasion of privacy, but a breach of security as well. Erika said there were plenty of spectators roaming the beach (in the transition area) after the swims ended.
-To end on good notes, there were plenty of potties, the race started on time, they give out sweatshirts beforehand and medals to finishers, and the sunrise over the lake was beautiful.
If you're ever considering doing a first triathlon, don't make it Lake Geneva.
Friday, August 24, 2007
It's Official...
I was browsing the glossary of terms on www.beginnertriathlete.com and I came across this one:
Tri-Geek--One who is obsessed with triathlons and all the toys that go with it. He/she lives for the sport, loves to talk about triathlons, loves to train for triathlons, and is involved with anything having to do with the sport. Cyclists love to call triathletes this name -they often call this out as triathletes pass them on a training ride.
And I thought to myself...
That's me.
Oh dear.
In other news, on my run today I clocked the second half of the run at 14 seconds faster than the first half. I now know that this phenomon is called a negative split because I am a
TRI-GEEK.
Tri-Geek--One who is obsessed with triathlons and all the toys that go with it. He/she lives for the sport, loves to talk about triathlons, loves to train for triathlons, and is involved with anything having to do with the sport. Cyclists love to call triathletes this name -they often call this out as triathletes pass them on a training ride.
And I thought to myself...
That's me.
Oh dear.
In other news, on my run today I clocked the second half of the run at 14 seconds faster than the first half. I now know that this phenomon is called a negative split because I am a
TRI-GEEK.
Wednesday, August 22, 2007
Oshkosh Triathlon--8/12/07
Before I begin...big shout-out to my beyonce', who bought me the registration for this race for my birthday. Thanks honey!
Swim route **** A simple out-and back swim in pretty warm water. I liked how the swimmers stayed to the left of the buoys; a simple thing, really, but this way I see the buoys every time I turn my head (to the right) to breathe, and it really helped for swimming in a straight line. This was also the race where I learned that sliding yourself directly behind the swimmer in front of you (without getting kicked in the face) really helps. Having his/her current to help pull you along is a nice little perk.
Bike route ** The route itself was alright hill-wise. There were no mile markers along the route--not one--so I had no gauge of how well I was doing except that it seemed everyone in the race was zipping on past me. It turned out that my bike time was okay, but I didn't know that until the very end. Likewise, there were about half a dozen spots on the route where the road made 90 degree turns--no big deal, except that half the road was blocked off so I needed to brake on several turns (not necessary if I'm able to make a wider turn) and once or twice got cut off from other bikers (unintentionally, I'm sure). It disrupted my "race chi". Or something like that.
Run route *** A normal, flat loop on roads; two water stations provided.
Staff/Spectators/Volunteers * This race was strange (and Erika and her parents will concur) in that the workers as well as spectators were eerily quiet. There were times when I passed whole packs of people just hanging out and watching athletes go by without saying anything. And the volunteers/workers were diligent at the water stations, but there simply weren't enough of them.
Goody Bag ** I know this sounds superficial, but I was disappointed that I didn't receive a finisher's medal! I LIKE MY BLING!! And I was surprised to see that this was the first goody bag with no water bottle and no swim cap. I have enough of both, but I like them as keepsakes, you know?
Accomodations/Parking *** Parking is on the street, anywhere you can find it. We got lucky and found spots relatively close. I collected my packet, got body marked, and picked up my chip within five minutes on race morning, so that was nice.
Overall I clocked a good time (for me), but it's probably not a race I'll do again.
Onto the Lake Geneva triathlon!
Swim route **** A simple out-and back swim in pretty warm water. I liked how the swimmers stayed to the left of the buoys; a simple thing, really, but this way I see the buoys every time I turn my head (to the right) to breathe, and it really helped for swimming in a straight line. This was also the race where I learned that sliding yourself directly behind the swimmer in front of you (without getting kicked in the face) really helps. Having his/her current to help pull you along is a nice little perk.
Bike route ** The route itself was alright hill-wise. There were no mile markers along the route--not one--so I had no gauge of how well I was doing except that it seemed everyone in the race was zipping on past me. It turned out that my bike time was okay, but I didn't know that until the very end. Likewise, there were about half a dozen spots on the route where the road made 90 degree turns--no big deal, except that half the road was blocked off so I needed to brake on several turns (not necessary if I'm able to make a wider turn) and once or twice got cut off from other bikers (unintentionally, I'm sure). It disrupted my "race chi". Or something like that.
Run route *** A normal, flat loop on roads; two water stations provided.
Staff/Spectators/Volunteers * This race was strange (and Erika and her parents will concur) in that the workers as well as spectators were eerily quiet. There were times when I passed whole packs of people just hanging out and watching athletes go by without saying anything. And the volunteers/workers were diligent at the water stations, but there simply weren't enough of them.
Goody Bag ** I know this sounds superficial, but I was disappointed that I didn't receive a finisher's medal! I LIKE MY BLING!! And I was surprised to see that this was the first goody bag with no water bottle and no swim cap. I have enough of both, but I like them as keepsakes, you know?
Accomodations/Parking *** Parking is on the street, anywhere you can find it. We got lucky and found spots relatively close. I collected my packet, got body marked, and picked up my chip within five minutes on race morning, so that was nice.
Overall I clocked a good time (for me), but it's probably not a race I'll do again.
Onto the Lake Geneva triathlon!
Tuesday, August 21, 2007
As Billy Crystal would say...
It is better to look good than to feel good.
Yesterday Erika and I were at REI, looking for a new bag for her. I found myself wandering into the bike shorts area, thinking that if I could find a pair that could double as my swim bottoms, I could save time in T1 (Transition #1, swim-to-bike) by not having to put on shorts. I tried on a few pairs that went to about mid-thigh (or just-above-the-knee for one pair), and even though they were good quality I chucked 'em.
Why?
I wish I had a scientific, practical, or experienced reason to give, but the truth is...
They didn't flatter my butt.
But then...I found a pair, much shorter, rested nicely on the hips.
Could I swim in them? No idea. They were a poly-spandex blend.
Could I run in them? Probably, but then again there's always the risk of chafing with a new article of clothing. To attempt to find out, I ran a little. In place. Right there in the dressing room. They rode up a little on my legs, but otherwise the jury was still out.
Could I bike in them? I didn't see why not, except there wasn't much extra material in the, ahem, crotchal area. That could cause problems.
Did I get them? You bet I did.
Why?
My ass looked hot.
Yesterday Erika and I were at REI, looking for a new bag for her. I found myself wandering into the bike shorts area, thinking that if I could find a pair that could double as my swim bottoms, I could save time in T1 (Transition #1, swim-to-bike) by not having to put on shorts. I tried on a few pairs that went to about mid-thigh (or just-above-the-knee for one pair), and even though they were good quality I chucked 'em.
Why?
I wish I had a scientific, practical, or experienced reason to give, but the truth is...
They didn't flatter my butt.
But then...I found a pair, much shorter, rested nicely on the hips.
Could I swim in them? No idea. They were a poly-spandex blend.
Could I run in them? Probably, but then again there's always the risk of chafing with a new article of clothing. To attempt to find out, I ran a little. In place. Right there in the dressing room. They rode up a little on my legs, but otherwise the jury was still out.
Could I bike in them? I didn't see why not, except there wasn't much extra material in the, ahem, crotchal area. That could cause problems.
Did I get them? You bet I did.
Why?
My ass looked hot.
Monday, August 20, 2007
Cool quotes
I found these quotes on another triathlete's blog. I have no idea who these people are (well, except for Albus Dumbledore, of course), but I liked the quotes.
If you can't learn to do something well, learn to enjoy doing it poorly. - Trixie
Do all you can with what you have in the time you have in the place you are. - Nkosi Johnson, age 12.
"It is our choices, Harry, that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities." -Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore
If you can't learn to do something well, learn to enjoy doing it poorly. - Trixie
Do all you can with what you have in the time you have in the place you are. - Nkosi Johnson, age 12.
"It is our choices, Harry, that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities." -Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore
Sunday, August 19, 2007
Ten Tips for the Amateur Triathlete
10. Buy a swimsuit that you can run in. The last thing you want to deal with is a sports bra that will soak up water and make your boobs feel like lead weights. If you find a swimsuit that's comfortable and also has enough support to hold the girls in whilst running, stick with it.
9. Believe it or not, running in water (unless it's below your knees) is not faster than swimming. Once I was in a race where the girl next to me decided to stand up in the thigh-deep water and start running to the finish, whereas I chose to preserve my leg strength for the bike ride and kept swimming. I monitored her progress as I turned my head to breathe, and she and I stayed neck-and-neck until I stood up a few minutes later. So unless you absolutely abhor swimming and want it over with as soon as possible, I would recommend swimming as soon as possible after you start and as long as possible before it gets too shallow. You'll save leg strength and not go any slower than the runners-in-water.
8. (ANOTHER swimming tip??) On the swim, find someone in front of you, position yourself directly behind them, and stay there. This is called "drafting"--using another person's air or water flow to your advantage to "pull" you along. In cycling it's illegal and most races will have Draft Marshalls on the route ready to arrest you or push you off your bike if you draft (just kidding, of course. But you will get a warning or time added to your bike split). In swimming, it's perfectly legal and even encouraged to draft. And if your "draftee" swims too fast and you can't keep up, find another one. If you're faster than your draftee, pass him/her and find another one. It's worth it.
7. Drink lots of water (and gatorade too, if you can swing it) while on your bike ride. I know, reaching down for the bottle can disrupt your rythmn, or you may not feel you have the energy to let go of the handlbars at all. Do it anyway, because the more you drink on the bike, the less you'll feel like passing out on the run.
6. Eat a big carb meal both the night before the race and the night before that. All those extra carbs will be coupled with the fact that they have no outlet because you've been resting your body for two days before the race. By the time the race begins you'll literally be vibrating with energy.
5. Whatever you eat the morning of the race, make sure it's the three Ms--Mild (nothing too crazy or eccentric), Moderate (don't eat too much), and Me-Tested (you're familiar with how your body reacts to it). Race Morning is no time to try that fancy new flavor of Gu gel or to see what kind of boost you can get from the product sample you found in your goody bag. I eat the same exact thing before every race--a bagel and a banana--and it's never failed me.
4. Learn the difference between "Hydrated Pee" and "Adrenaline Pee". Hydrated Pee is when you're sufficiently hydrated to the point where you legitimately have to pee. I usually pee at least twice before a race for this reason. Adrenaline Pee is when you're so psyched for the beginning of the race that you feel like you need to pee. The big mistake here is to run off to the port-a-potty and risk missing the start of your race, or at least missing out on those few minutes right before your start where you can stop, look around, soak in the energy of the day, and enjoy it. If you just peed, the race is nearing time to start and you feel the urge again, it's probably just adrenaline.
3. Have all your stuff laid out beforehand in the transition area. Put your helmet right where you can grab it, shoes and socks easily accessible (shoes opened up and ready to slide your foot in), your shirt with number attached (or number clip-belt thingy) laid out, etc. etc. Basically, after climbing out of the water, the last thing you want to do is rummage through your bag looking for your left sock, or dig under your shorts and shirt to find the towel you're using to wipe off your feet. Walk yourself through the transition beforehand and put everything in its place.
2. If you're not about to have a heart attack and/or you're not completely out of breath, try to say "thank you" to the people who hand out water, gels, gatorade, or medals or the people who flag, direct, cheer, etc. Most of these people are volunteers, and just like their presence keeps you motivated, your smile or "thank you" makes their experience enjoyable too.
1. Have fun! Salute the crowd. Pump your fists in the air when you cross the finish line. Give a thumbs up to the photographer. Say something funny as you pass some spectators. High five a child as you run past. Give a "keep it up, you're doing great" to a cyclist you pass. Pour a water over your head. You'll probably have the chance to do most of these things during the course of a race, and this is what makes it worthwhile. On a similar note, don't worry about your final time. Soak in the sights and sounds of the day and take those with you when you drive home, not the number on your watch.
9. Believe it or not, running in water (unless it's below your knees) is not faster than swimming. Once I was in a race where the girl next to me decided to stand up in the thigh-deep water and start running to the finish, whereas I chose to preserve my leg strength for the bike ride and kept swimming. I monitored her progress as I turned my head to breathe, and she and I stayed neck-and-neck until I stood up a few minutes later. So unless you absolutely abhor swimming and want it over with as soon as possible, I would recommend swimming as soon as possible after you start and as long as possible before it gets too shallow. You'll save leg strength and not go any slower than the runners-in-water.
8. (ANOTHER swimming tip??) On the swim, find someone in front of you, position yourself directly behind them, and stay there. This is called "drafting"--using another person's air or water flow to your advantage to "pull" you along. In cycling it's illegal and most races will have Draft Marshalls on the route ready to arrest you or push you off your bike if you draft (just kidding, of course. But you will get a warning or time added to your bike split). In swimming, it's perfectly legal and even encouraged to draft. And if your "draftee" swims too fast and you can't keep up, find another one. If you're faster than your draftee, pass him/her and find another one. It's worth it.
7. Drink lots of water (and gatorade too, if you can swing it) while on your bike ride. I know, reaching down for the bottle can disrupt your rythmn, or you may not feel you have the energy to let go of the handlbars at all. Do it anyway, because the more you drink on the bike, the less you'll feel like passing out on the run.
6. Eat a big carb meal both the night before the race and the night before that. All those extra carbs will be coupled with the fact that they have no outlet because you've been resting your body for two days before the race. By the time the race begins you'll literally be vibrating with energy.
5. Whatever you eat the morning of the race, make sure it's the three Ms--Mild (nothing too crazy or eccentric), Moderate (don't eat too much), and Me-Tested (you're familiar with how your body reacts to it). Race Morning is no time to try that fancy new flavor of Gu gel or to see what kind of boost you can get from the product sample you found in your goody bag. I eat the same exact thing before every race--a bagel and a banana--and it's never failed me.
4. Learn the difference between "Hydrated Pee" and "Adrenaline Pee". Hydrated Pee is when you're sufficiently hydrated to the point where you legitimately have to pee. I usually pee at least twice before a race for this reason. Adrenaline Pee is when you're so psyched for the beginning of the race that you feel like you need to pee. The big mistake here is to run off to the port-a-potty and risk missing the start of your race, or at least missing out on those few minutes right before your start where you can stop, look around, soak in the energy of the day, and enjoy it. If you just peed, the race is nearing time to start and you feel the urge again, it's probably just adrenaline.
3. Have all your stuff laid out beforehand in the transition area. Put your helmet right where you can grab it, shoes and socks easily accessible (shoes opened up and ready to slide your foot in), your shirt with number attached (or number clip-belt thingy) laid out, etc. etc. Basically, after climbing out of the water, the last thing you want to do is rummage through your bag looking for your left sock, or dig under your shorts and shirt to find the towel you're using to wipe off your feet. Walk yourself through the transition beforehand and put everything in its place.
2. If you're not about to have a heart attack and/or you're not completely out of breath, try to say "thank you" to the people who hand out water, gels, gatorade, or medals or the people who flag, direct, cheer, etc. Most of these people are volunteers, and just like their presence keeps you motivated, your smile or "thank you" makes their experience enjoyable too.
1. Have fun! Salute the crowd. Pump your fists in the air when you cross the finish line. Give a thumbs up to the photographer. Say something funny as you pass some spectators. High five a child as you run past. Give a "keep it up, you're doing great" to a cyclist you pass. Pour a water over your head. You'll probably have the chance to do most of these things during the course of a race, and this is what makes it worthwhile. On a similar note, don't worry about your final time. Soak in the sights and sounds of the day and take those with you when you drive home, not the number on your watch.
Saturday, August 18, 2007
Door County Triathlon--7/22/07
My swimsuit was barely dry from Danskin when my mom called me, letting me know that in a casual conversation with a friend of hers, it came up that her friend's son signed up for the Door County Triathlon but now couldn't participate, and did I want to take his spot? I knew I wanted to do another one, but only two weeks later? I debated about half an hour before deciding to do it.
Swim Route--**** A quarter-mile out-and-back in Green Bay, well marked,guarded with a fleet of lifeguards and boats and such, and clear, (relatively) calm water. I will say this: COLD. On race day the Long Course (Olympic length) athletes were required to wear wet suits for their swim; we (the Sprint length athletes) were not, for our water was a balmy 68 degrees. But hey--after the first 20 yards or so you can't feel your arms or legs anymore, and then you're just on numb autopilot anyway. And we live in Wisconsin--we've been cold before, right?
Bike Route--**** This was a very pretty, tree-lined route hugging the Green Bay shoreline. The road was flat and smooth, and I especially appreciated the bottle exchange about 3/4 through, in which I grabbed a new bottle of Gatorade. I'm all about free stuff.
Run Route--**** 1/2 Also very flat, this was an out-and-back on a road (mostly) closed off to traffic but with no shade. Two water stations were posted at miles One and Two.
Goody Bag--**** Nice T-shirt, great hair ties, cool medal at the finish, and a nice scented Door County candle to boot!
Accomodations/Parking--***** Very easy to park, and the walk to the race was less than a quarter mile.
Volunteers/Staff/Spectators--***** Great energy up there.
I really enjoyed Danskin, but I really enjoyed Door County. It helped that I had a better race in D.C. too; I hydrated better on the bike and therefore didn't feel vomitous on the run. It's nice to see real improvement in your time from race to race, so of course I was growing increasingly motivated for another one. Look at me! I'm getting better!
Swim Route--**** A quarter-mile out-and-back in Green Bay, well marked,guarded with a fleet of lifeguards and boats and such, and clear, (relatively) calm water. I will say this: COLD. On race day the Long Course (Olympic length) athletes were required to wear wet suits for their swim; we (the Sprint length athletes) were not, for our water was a balmy 68 degrees. But hey--after the first 20 yards or so you can't feel your arms or legs anymore, and then you're just on numb autopilot anyway. And we live in Wisconsin--we've been cold before, right?
Bike Route--**** This was a very pretty, tree-lined route hugging the Green Bay shoreline. The road was flat and smooth, and I especially appreciated the bottle exchange about 3/4 through, in which I grabbed a new bottle of Gatorade. I'm all about free stuff.
Run Route--**** 1/2 Also very flat, this was an out-and-back on a road (mostly) closed off to traffic but with no shade. Two water stations were posted at miles One and Two.
Goody Bag--**** Nice T-shirt, great hair ties, cool medal at the finish, and a nice scented Door County candle to boot!
Accomodations/Parking--***** Very easy to park, and the walk to the race was less than a quarter mile.
Volunteers/Staff/Spectators--***** Great energy up there.
I really enjoyed Danskin, but I really enjoyed Door County. It helped that I had a better race in D.C. too; I hydrated better on the bike and therefore didn't feel vomitous on the run. It's nice to see real improvement in your time from race to race, so of course I was growing increasingly motivated for another one. Look at me! I'm getting better!
Friday, August 17, 2007
Danskin Triathlon--7/8/07
Below is my assessment of Danskin, the first triathlon I did. Each category gets a rating of *s, five *s being the highest.
Swim Route--**** 1/2 The water was warm, the swim a straight shot across the lake (a man-made lake no less, so no huge waves or current), and Danskin provides "swim angels" for the less confident swimmer. A "swim angel" will literally swim with you the whole way holding a noodle, ready to hand it to you the minute you need it. The swim is a 1/2 mile, which is on the longer end for a sprint triathlon, but I enjoyed it.
Bike Route--**** A few monster hills (but then again, every hill to me is a monster hill) on this 12-mile route, but the roads are completely closed off and smooth and the course is relatively straight, so no worries of getting cut off by other bikers or inattentive drivers. There was one water stop along the bike route, but I didn't use it. I like to think I was going too fast, but the truth is probably more like I was too tired to reach out for it. Very little if any shade that I can remember, so hydrate hydrate hydrate.
Run Route--**** VERY flat; a nice little jaunt around the (man-made) lake and into a residential neighborhood on paved sidewalks. There was NO shade on this route and the first water station was at the halfway point (the run is 3.1 miles, like all other sprint triathlons), so that was a little grueling. But they made up for it in the second half of the run with a spray hose and a fire hydrant to run through, which on that (mid-80s) day was well needed.
Accomodations--** Parking was a mess. There was no designated parking on-site; you were supposed to park at a mall about 5 miles away and shuttle in, but from what I heard the shuttles were late and there were problems. We got as close as we could before the roads were closed off and parked at a Culver's and walked the mile or so to the race, which worked out much better. The day before was also very crowded (the line to rack bikes was enormous), but then again, it also added to the excitement.
Goody Bag--***** Lots of great free stuff! And my Danskin shirt is far and away the best race shirt I've ever received. It's a tank vs. a T-shirt, which is a nice variety, and it's a poly blend vs. cotton, so I can work out in it! (The little things get me excited.) I still use my Sport Beans water bottle, too. Oh, and I forgot to mention the stylin' medal they put around your neck when you finish! I felt like a rock star.
Volunteers/Staff/Spectators--***** Very enthusiastic, fun people watching and working the race. Being an all-female race, there was an atmosphere of pride and support all around. Overall it was the perfect triathlon to start.
Sidebar: Erika told me this story after the race was over. She was camped out at the Run Out area (the place where athletes run out of the transition area to begin their run) waiting for me to come through, when an athlete walked by. This wasn't unusual, as many women walk the run part of Danskin. The woman then pulled out her cell phone and dialed. "Yeah, hi, how are you? Yeah, I'm just starting the run part" she said, as she strolled on by. Obviously, Danskin is a very low-stress, low-pressure race.
Wisdom I Gleaned: In the course talk (the talk on the day before the race where they give you little tidbits of info and experience to take with you on race day, not to mention the rules), if they tell you it'll be a hot day and to hydrate, THEY MEAN IT. I kept telling myself I'll start by 8:00 a.m. and be done by 10:00 a.m., so it won't be all that hot yet. That was stupid. I didn't drink enough before the race nor did I drink enough on my bike, and by the time I got around to running I felt like I was going to throw up. I think I was worried about needing to pee, but the truth is, I was so dehydrated that peeing was the furthest thing from my mind. Now I'm all about the hydrating.
So what did I take away from my first triathlon? The bug. I HAD to do another one. This whole time I was training for this one race, never considering that it would be my "first triathlon", not my "only triathlon". But I knew when I crossed the finish line that it was something I'd be doing again.
Swim Route--**** 1/2 The water was warm, the swim a straight shot across the lake (a man-made lake no less, so no huge waves or current), and Danskin provides "swim angels" for the less confident swimmer. A "swim angel" will literally swim with you the whole way holding a noodle, ready to hand it to you the minute you need it. The swim is a 1/2 mile, which is on the longer end for a sprint triathlon, but I enjoyed it.
Bike Route--**** A few monster hills (but then again, every hill to me is a monster hill) on this 12-mile route, but the roads are completely closed off and smooth and the course is relatively straight, so no worries of getting cut off by other bikers or inattentive drivers. There was one water stop along the bike route, but I didn't use it. I like to think I was going too fast, but the truth is probably more like I was too tired to reach out for it. Very little if any shade that I can remember, so hydrate hydrate hydrate.
Run Route--**** VERY flat; a nice little jaunt around the (man-made) lake and into a residential neighborhood on paved sidewalks. There was NO shade on this route and the first water station was at the halfway point (the run is 3.1 miles, like all other sprint triathlons), so that was a little grueling. But they made up for it in the second half of the run with a spray hose and a fire hydrant to run through, which on that (mid-80s) day was well needed.
Accomodations--** Parking was a mess. There was no designated parking on-site; you were supposed to park at a mall about 5 miles away and shuttle in, but from what I heard the shuttles were late and there were problems. We got as close as we could before the roads were closed off and parked at a Culver's and walked the mile or so to the race, which worked out much better. The day before was also very crowded (the line to rack bikes was enormous), but then again, it also added to the excitement.
Goody Bag--***** Lots of great free stuff! And my Danskin shirt is far and away the best race shirt I've ever received. It's a tank vs. a T-shirt, which is a nice variety, and it's a poly blend vs. cotton, so I can work out in it! (The little things get me excited.) I still use my Sport Beans water bottle, too. Oh, and I forgot to mention the stylin' medal they put around your neck when you finish! I felt like a rock star.
Volunteers/Staff/Spectators--***** Very enthusiastic, fun people watching and working the race. Being an all-female race, there was an atmosphere of pride and support all around. Overall it was the perfect triathlon to start.
Sidebar: Erika told me this story after the race was over. She was camped out at the Run Out area (the place where athletes run out of the transition area to begin their run) waiting for me to come through, when an athlete walked by. This wasn't unusual, as many women walk the run part of Danskin. The woman then pulled out her cell phone and dialed. "Yeah, hi, how are you? Yeah, I'm just starting the run part" she said, as she strolled on by. Obviously, Danskin is a very low-stress, low-pressure race.
Wisdom I Gleaned: In the course talk (the talk on the day before the race where they give you little tidbits of info and experience to take with you on race day, not to mention the rules), if they tell you it'll be a hot day and to hydrate, THEY MEAN IT. I kept telling myself I'll start by 8:00 a.m. and be done by 10:00 a.m., so it won't be all that hot yet. That was stupid. I didn't drink enough before the race nor did I drink enough on my bike, and by the time I got around to running I felt like I was going to throw up. I think I was worried about needing to pee, but the truth is, I was so dehydrated that peeing was the furthest thing from my mind. Now I'm all about the hydrating.
So what did I take away from my first triathlon? The bug. I HAD to do another one. This whole time I was training for this one race, never considering that it would be my "first triathlon", not my "only triathlon". But I knew when I crossed the finish line that it was something I'd be doing again.
Thursday, August 16, 2007
A Pool is Not a Lake
For several months I did my swim training in a pool. It was a comfortable 82 degrees, flat as glass, and there was a wall to hang onto every 25 meters.
Then a friend of mine informed me of the cute little lake a couple miles from her condo that I could come train in for free. I thought I'd come give it a try.
Beware. Except for the fact that I was wearing the same suit, cap, and goggles, very little was the same. The water was colder (luckily, this really was a "cute little lake", so it's probably no less than 78 degrees). Even though I swam in the No Wake area, there were still waves and a slight current that tosses you around a bit. If you're not careful, a mouthful of lake water is always a possibility. There's no walls to hang onto, which is a strange sensation to get used to--the fact that you are in (what feels like) the middle of a lake, and just getting to shore requires at least 10 minutes of real effort. But here's the biggest difference: in a pool, with your fancy schmancy goggles, you can see all the way to the bottom, all the way to the wall, and every muscle or fat roll on the swimmer next to you. In a lake, your visibility is zero. You can't see your hand in front of your face; it's all a hazy green and brown cloud. So you have to get used to the "turn your head to breathe, then lift and look straight ahead to make sure you're still headed the right way" technique. And you'd be surprised how easy it is to get off course when you're swimming and there's no lane lines to keep you straight. One time I ended up literally in the middle of the lake where boats drive because I forgot to check where I was periodically. So lake swimming...
Not quite the same.
Then a friend of mine informed me of the cute little lake a couple miles from her condo that I could come train in for free. I thought I'd come give it a try.
Beware. Except for the fact that I was wearing the same suit, cap, and goggles, very little was the same. The water was colder (luckily, this really was a "cute little lake", so it's probably no less than 78 degrees). Even though I swam in the No Wake area, there were still waves and a slight current that tosses you around a bit. If you're not careful, a mouthful of lake water is always a possibility. There's no walls to hang onto, which is a strange sensation to get used to--the fact that you are in (what feels like) the middle of a lake, and just getting to shore requires at least 10 minutes of real effort. But here's the biggest difference: in a pool, with your fancy schmancy goggles, you can see all the way to the bottom, all the way to the wall, and every muscle or fat roll on the swimmer next to you. In a lake, your visibility is zero. You can't see your hand in front of your face; it's all a hazy green and brown cloud. So you have to get used to the "turn your head to breathe, then lift and look straight ahead to make sure you're still headed the right way" technique. And you'd be surprised how easy it is to get off course when you're swimming and there's no lane lines to keep you straight. One time I ended up literally in the middle of the lake where boats drive because I forgot to check where I was periodically. So lake swimming...
Not quite the same.
The Training Schedule
Okay, so I've committed to do a triathlon. And now I have options:
-Find a training schedule on the Internet that won't put me in the hospital and doesn't contain "advanced triathlete" terms like "Brick Bike-Run Stagger 40/60", OR
-Make up my own training schedule.
The key here is self awareness. Some people can design their own workouts, stick to them, and train really well. They appreciate the freedom in their working-out regimen. But I knew that if I made up my own schedule, it would look something like this:
MONDAY--Run 20 min
TUESDAY--Bike 20 min
WEDNESDAY--Sit on the couch
THURSDAY--Go to the gym with every intention of swimming half a mile; end up in the hot tub instead
FRIDAY--Have a few beers with friends because "it's been a rough week"
SATURDAY--Attempt to recover from the few beers I had on Friday
SUNDAY--Feel guilty for all the slacking; vow to do better next week
And that would never do. I needed the structure of a schedule printed out in front of me that I couldn't negotiate with or compromise. So instead of justifying all the slacking, my inner dialogue would instead say:
"Time to go work out."
"I don't wanna."
"The schedule says 'Bike 30 Run 30'."
"That's a lot."
"But you have to do it."
"Why?"
"It's on the schedule."
Sigh.
And away I go to work out.
Fortunately, I knew just where to go for the kind of schedule I needed--Hal Higdon. Hal Higdon posts training schedules mainly for marathons and half-marathons, but I found one for triathlons as well. I like his schedules because a.) they're free; and 2.) they cater to all levels, especially the beginner. I found his Tri-Fast training schedule and began following it to the letter. Only 8 weeks of this and I'll be a triathlete!
-Find a training schedule on the Internet that won't put me in the hospital and doesn't contain "advanced triathlete" terms like "Brick Bike-Run Stagger 40/60", OR
-Make up my own training schedule.
The key here is self awareness. Some people can design their own workouts, stick to them, and train really well. They appreciate the freedom in their working-out regimen. But I knew that if I made up my own schedule, it would look something like this:
MONDAY--Run 20 min
TUESDAY--Bike 20 min
WEDNESDAY--Sit on the couch
THURSDAY--Go to the gym with every intention of swimming half a mile; end up in the hot tub instead
FRIDAY--Have a few beers with friends because "it's been a rough week"
SATURDAY--Attempt to recover from the few beers I had on Friday
SUNDAY--Feel guilty for all the slacking; vow to do better next week
And that would never do. I needed the structure of a schedule printed out in front of me that I couldn't negotiate with or compromise. So instead of justifying all the slacking, my inner dialogue would instead say:
"Time to go work out."
"I don't wanna."
"The schedule says 'Bike 30 Run 30'."
"That's a lot."
"But you have to do it."
"Why?"
"It's on the schedule."
Sigh.
And away I go to work out.
Fortunately, I knew just where to go for the kind of schedule I needed--Hal Higdon. Hal Higdon posts training schedules mainly for marathons and half-marathons, but I found one for triathlons as well. I like his schedules because a.) they're free; and 2.) they cater to all levels, especially the beginner. I found his Tri-Fast training schedule and began following it to the letter. Only 8 weeks of this and I'll be a triathlete!
How it all Began
In my mid-20s I worked summers at a camp for kids, and their main fundraiser was an August sprint triathlon we were all required to work at. It was the most fun weekend of the summer, but precisely because we were working--not participating. Whenever I had the fleeting thought that I maybe could do a triathlon, I remembered the story of one of my camp worker friends. She was flagging and cheering on the bike route when she encountered an especially surly athlete who responded to "You can do it!" with a growly "Damn you straight to hell!!". We laughed at the anecdote, but I secretly decided that any sport that prompts you to spontaneously wish a total stranger to Hades was not for me.
Fast forward eight (or so) years. This whole time my main (and only) form of exercise was running. I even trained for and completed the Chicago Marathon in 2003.
(Sidebar: There are several different types of Marathon runners out there. There are the kind who run marathons over and over and over. Those people are crazy. On the other end are the kind who want to say they did a marathon, so they train for it, they do one, and then never do it again. That's me.)
Besides the marathon and a few 5-8K "fun runs" here and there, I ran in an attempt not to wax. As you may have read from the previous blog entry, it wasn't entirely working. It was a slow waxing, but waxing nonetheless. So that discouragement, coupled with the fact that running (by itself) was starting to get boring, prompted an exercise change.
Enter Candice. Candice and I worked at the kids' camp together, and had both been lamenting for a couple of years about our waxing bodies--hers because she had recently given birth (twice), and mine because I liked beer and cake. So Candice announced one day that she was doing a triathlon to help motivate her to get back in shape, and asked if I wanted to do it with her. She had already picked out the Danskin Triathlon in Pleasant Prairie, WI on July 8th--plenty of time to train (it was winter at the time).
I thought of the woman who damned my friend to hell.
I thought of my waxing body.
I thought of my need to have a Motivator (i.e. a race looming in the horizon), or I'll never get out there and put in the miles.
I thought of the fact that I do not own a bike, and have not swam competitively in sixteen years.
And I told Candice I'll do it.
Fast forward eight (or so) years. This whole time my main (and only) form of exercise was running. I even trained for and completed the Chicago Marathon in 2003.
(Sidebar: There are several different types of Marathon runners out there. There are the kind who run marathons over and over and over. Those people are crazy. On the other end are the kind who want to say they did a marathon, so they train for it, they do one, and then never do it again. That's me.)
Besides the marathon and a few 5-8K "fun runs" here and there, I ran in an attempt not to wax. As you may have read from the previous blog entry, it wasn't entirely working. It was a slow waxing, but waxing nonetheless. So that discouragement, coupled with the fact that running (by itself) was starting to get boring, prompted an exercise change.
Enter Candice. Candice and I worked at the kids' camp together, and had both been lamenting for a couple of years about our waxing bodies--hers because she had recently given birth (twice), and mine because I liked beer and cake. So Candice announced one day that she was doing a triathlon to help motivate her to get back in shape, and asked if I wanted to do it with her. She had already picked out the Danskin Triathlon in Pleasant Prairie, WI on July 8th--plenty of time to train (it was winter at the time).
I thought of the woman who damned my friend to hell.
I thought of my waxing body.
I thought of my need to have a Motivator (i.e. a race looming in the horizon), or I'll never get out there and put in the miles.
I thought of the fact that I do not own a bike, and have not swam competitively in sixteen years.
And I told Candice I'll do it.
Wednesday, August 15, 2007
What's in a name?
For the longest time I could never remember the difference between "waxing" and "waning". I knew one meant getting larger and the other getting smaller, and I knew the moon was always doing either one or the other, but I could never remember which was which.
I now, finally, have my means for keeping them straight.
We (and by "we", I mean my beyonce' Erika and I) were discussing waxing and waning with an astronomy enthusiast one night. He attempted to explain it in a way I would remember, but it wasn't sticking. But when Erika commented that "waxing" was exactly what I've been complaining about my body doing too much of lately, it stuck.
Waxing=Bad. Waning=Good.
About me:
I was one of those people who had a nice (not great, but nice) body in college that I took for granted. When older friends and family members would warn of the ever-slowing metabolism as you approach your 30s, I scoffed. That won't happen to me, I thought. I'm special.
Over the course of the past eight years or so, my body has indeed waxed, but slowly enough that I always convinced myself I could lose it if I really tried. But "really trying" meant giving up things like beer and cake, and I wasn't ready for that kind of commitment.
Ten or twelve pounds later, I found myself inadvertantly telling Erika how bulbous my belly was, or how much I resembled an orca. (Ten or twelve pounds may not sound like much to you, but I'm really short so it was enough to notice.) I exercised regularly but ate like crap and didn't have the motivation to do otherwise. That is, until the fateful day when I proposed to Erika and it sunk in that there was going to be a wedding and I would have to fit into a pretty dress and be photographed.
My life changed.
My diet changed.
My exercise regimen changed.
And my new motto is...tri not to wax.
I now, finally, have my means for keeping them straight.
We (and by "we", I mean my beyonce' Erika and I) were discussing waxing and waning with an astronomy enthusiast one night. He attempted to explain it in a way I would remember, but it wasn't sticking. But when Erika commented that "waxing" was exactly what I've been complaining about my body doing too much of lately, it stuck.
Waxing=Bad. Waning=Good.
About me:
I was one of those people who had a nice (not great, but nice) body in college that I took for granted. When older friends and family members would warn of the ever-slowing metabolism as you approach your 30s, I scoffed. That won't happen to me, I thought. I'm special.
Over the course of the past eight years or so, my body has indeed waxed, but slowly enough that I always convinced myself I could lose it if I really tried. But "really trying" meant giving up things like beer and cake, and I wasn't ready for that kind of commitment.
Ten or twelve pounds later, I found myself inadvertantly telling Erika how bulbous my belly was, or how much I resembled an orca. (Ten or twelve pounds may not sound like much to you, but I'm really short so it was enough to notice.) I exercised regularly but ate like crap and didn't have the motivation to do otherwise. That is, until the fateful day when I proposed to Erika and it sunk in that there was going to be a wedding and I would have to fit into a pretty dress and be photographed.
My life changed.
My diet changed.
My exercise regimen changed.
And my new motto is...tri not to wax.
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