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.
Friday, August 24, 2007
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.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)