Goggles On

Well, today is the day I get my first schedule for training!  Although I do not have the schedule in hand yet, I know it is coming sometime today and have been watching my email for its arrival.  It has been hard focusing on anything much with thoughts of the coming months on my mind!  Mostly, I am excited.  A new beginning on an adventure of a lifetime!  Goals are being set and I am ready to embark on the journey toward fulfilling a dream!

The dream: an official finish at a local 70.3 triathlon summer 2013
Coach: Helene from Veloved
Training Buddy: KC, and others that have promised to workout with me over the next 8 months or so

Helene often tells me "goggles on Laura!"  when she wants me to focus and follow through on something.  It began in the water this summer when I would stop and put my feet down whenever I got panicky in the open water and typically I would slide my goggles off for a minute. Unlike other people that would allow me to rest, Helene always pushed me to immediately begin swimming again.  I would hear "Face in the water, tuck your chin and SWIM Laura!  GOGGLES ON".  It was through that pushing that I got better (though open water still scares me!).

Then, I started hearing Helene use "goggles on" with me on the bike and in other workouts!  It became a kind of mantra... meaning "lets go!"  I even had it engraved on my road id this summer and had a friend write it on my arm during Irongirl this year.

It reminds me to:
persevere.
train hard.
not let up.
push through pain.
to be all in.
to be my best now...
and keep working to be better.

So as the training season begins, I have one thing to say....

Goggles On!

I Love Veloved

Today was very likely my last ride outside for the year.  The bike trainer is here and ready to be put together later this evening.

I gotta have it ready for the official start to training for my summer 2013 racing season!  Sunday I get my first training schedule and Tuesday is the first day of workouts!

Now, about the ride today.  I was a little worried that I would have a hard time since I havent ridden much (just the six mile ride) in the last couple of weeks.  I am pleased to say that the ride went well!  I had a little heartburn (a lesson learned on what not to eat before a ride/workout) but otherwise felt pretty good!  On one of the flat sections of the ride, Helene had me change my pedal stroke to be more efficient.  It definately made me pedal with more power!  Now I need to practice so I can maintain an efficient and powerful pedal stroke for the 56 miles of the race!

Helene's husband Andy (Bike Mechanic Extraordinaire) came with us today too! I love riding with both Helene and Andy together.... I joke that it is because it takes some of the pressure off me riding one-on-one with Helene, but it is also because Andy is just a fun person to be around.  He has a bicycle repair business and I have to say that he does a tremendously good job!  Sophie (my bike) is well tuned and I cant imagine anyone else taking care of her.

So, today was a success!  An enjoyable day off work and a confidence building ride with some of my best friends heading into the months where the real work will begin.

If you live in the Syracuse area and need your bicycle (road, cross, or mountain) worked on, you should contact Andy at Veloved (and tell him I sent you!).

:::::Every bike deserves a little veloved:::::: 

Goggles On

Getting real

So, Tuesday I came home to an email from Helene that said we were starting our official training a week earlier than planned.  My stomach flip flopped as the looming reality of what is coming came rushing over me! 

I signed up to do this right?
I want to do this.... yes I do.
I. WILL. do. this.

But still I am scared - scared of failing mostly.  Though, I cant truly fail unless I quit, can I?  I mean, every step towards this goal is a step towards a healthier, stronger, happier me.  I am taking care of my mind and body; strengthening my willpower and determination. I am guessing remembering why I am doing this, is going to be very important during the next few months!  I mean on those 3 hour bike rides and long runs and swims I will likely ask "so why did I sign up for this anyway."  I better have an answer.  My answer is really, that I want to do it for myself.  I want to be pushed (This is true no matter what I actually say during a workout.) to see what I am capable of doing.  I was made for more than just mere survival in this world.  I want to see what I can do and I am pretty sure I will surprise myself along the way.

All this reflecting has made me think of my friend Maura.  She is truly an inspiration.  This summer, after being sick the week before, she completed her 70.3 and allowed me to walk the last 5 miles of the run with her to the finishline.  She was the last participant to complete the race that day.  Her grit and determination to go the distance (even when they were picking up the race cones behind us as we walked) was/is truly inspiring.  I cried at the end. 

Although, I hope I am not the last finisher, I know that if I am, it will still be worth it all in the end.  I can only pray that I can inspire someone else, as Maura (and others) have inspired me. 

With proper training and the support of those we love, we can do this... what we have set our minds to.  KC and I have a plaque in our living room that says "Believe you can and you are halfway there."  So here's to believing (and training like we do!). 

Goggles On!

Progress....

Five months ago I couldn't swim two laps without getting very tired and winded due to poor breathing technique in the water.  Constantly frustrated in the water, I asked Helene to help me with my swimming.  She agreed to work with me and we met at a local pool.  That day proved to be a huge turning point! Something clicked and everything I had learned in the tri training program at Fleet Feet came together.  Ever since that day, I have been working hard on both my stroke and endurance.  Today, five months from that first day in the pool, I swam 2000 yards continuously.  I am by no means fast, in fact it took me 59 minutes to swim my 2000 yards today, but the point is I did it.

I did it.  I went from barely 100 yards, to 2000 yards!  That is twenty 100's, forty 50's, eighty pool lengths!  And still that is a starting point for my training for 70.3.

For those of you who may not know, a 70.3 is a half iron man distance and consists of:

• 1.2 mile swim
• 56 mile bike
• 13.1 mile run

Yep, I think many may consider me nuts, but it is something I have set my mind to do.  It is sure to be a great journey.  Thanks for joining me along the way!

Goggles On

"Short" Ride

For the last week I have had plans to go out for a 16-18 mile ride with a friend today after church.  Then, I woke up this morning and it was raining.... it rained all morning and it wasnt until mid afternoon that things started to clear up.  Unfortunately, afternoon was too late to ride with my friend.

After cooking some meals to freeze for the week, I decided to go out for a ride by myself.  I dont particularly like riding alone (but will certainly be getting used to it soon) but it was too beautiful to not go out and enjoy it.  

So, I took Sophie (my bike) out and went for a ride.  I didnt have any particular plan for my ride other than to enjoy the fall afternoon and see how the new bike shoes worked (last week I purchased wider bike shoes in the hopes that they would help my feet to not fall asleep when I ride).  I headed out from my apartment complex and in a direction that I hadnt ridden before.  I wasnt familiar with the roads I took and wished I felt more adventurous because it would have been a great day to explore.  As it was, I just road around the block for ride of about 6 miles.

Yep, that is right.  Six. miles. I knew when I headed back into my complex that I hadnt ridden far and that I would get harassed by Helene (friend and coach) if she found out.  Two hours later, guess who sent me a text and asked me how my ride was?  Ha ha!  She even asked me how far I rode.  I owned up to my sad little ride and her response was exactly as I anticipated!  Thus I learned two things from her today:

1. I will never go out on a ride so short again.
2. Six miles is not a short ride.  A short ride is 20 miles.

Training for next season starts in three weeks.... Ready or not its coming!

Goggles On!

Me... an athlete?

A couple years ago, I decided to take up running.  I joined a running group from a local Fleet Feet and ten weeks later I ran/walked my first 5K.  I continued with the next program and completed two more 5K's by September.  Running got me wondering what other athletic fitness goals I could set and achieve.  After my last 5K that year, I signed up for a sprint triathlon for the following summer.

My first triathlon I did just to complete!  When I crossed the finish line I burst into tears... what a rush it was to see what I was capable of when I set my mind to something.  I was hooked... this last year I did the triathlon again with the goal to shave a respectable 30 minutes off my previous race time.  I was successful and finished 34 minutes faster than my first.

Now, I am getting ready to embark on an even crazier journey as I train for a 70.3 distance triathlon in July of 2013.  This blog will be my collected thoughts as I train.  It is sure to be an incredible journey... thanks for joining me for the ride!

Goggles On!

Choices... choices...

So, I am owning the fact that my food choices (and lack thereof) have been terrible lately.  The last few days I haven't felt great (my best guess is that it is from cross-contaminated food choices - namely oats) and as a result I haven't felt like eating much.  KC chastised me for it last night since my sum total of food yesterday wasn't enough for two meals let alone all day sustenance. 

I still don't feel great today, but I am determined to not let that feed the poor food choices I have been making.  Today is a new day and I am moving forward with a resolve to once again treat my body with the respect it deserves... after this Dr. Pepper that is.  

Ok so soda too has aided in my general lethargic feeling.  For 5 months I avoided soda altogether after reading just how much sugar is in one serving.... but somehow in the last two months the soda monster has snuck back into my routine.  I would be better off drinking coffee for the caffeine, but there is something about the fizz that I like.  I realize that my coach would not be happy to learn of my nearly daily soda consumption... it has to stop.

Very soon I will be accountable for everything that I eat/drink or don't eat/drink.  As much of a pain it is to write it all down, it is sure to help me get back on track... particularly since it is read and discussed!  I have worked so hard to get where I am and I am a fool if I let flavored sugar water begin to deteriorate my progress.  

Water... I need to drink more water.  

So... It is with determination that I head into my kitchen to make lunch and fill my Nalgene with water.  

Goggles on my friends...