Bumps Along the Way

Just in case you wondered, workouts don't always go like you want them to... I have tried very hard to keep this blog positive, but to be perfectly honest, training can sometimes be very challenging.  

I do not always have successes in workouts, they sometimes, (for lack of a better word) SUCK.  For example, this morning I was supposed to run 7 miles alternating "easy" miles with "faster" miles.  I got up at 5:15 so I could be ready to run at 6:00 since I have to be at work later this morning and cant/wont run when I get off at the end of the day.  Last night I laid out everything I needed to run (Garmin, compression socks, clothes, hat, inhaler, water belt, etc). This morning when I began to get ready, I realized I didn't have my heart rate strap out and looked everywhere for it (while trying not to wake my roommate up in the next room!).  Finally I decided to run without the strap and headed outside.  

It is cold this morning, about my favorite temperature to run in!  I started running and my legs felt heavy... no problem I thought, I will warm up and my legs will loosen and I will feel fine.  NOPE!  The tightness got worse and soon my knee started hurting, and then my opposite foot started to hurt, (both places I have had some issues with the last month or so) and then my other foot and knee.... it was NOT FUN!  My ID bracelet was driving me crazy and I couldn't wait to get it off, I also didn't want to carry my water belt which was bouncing up and down against my back!  My  first mile was SLOW and the second was even slower.... I finally decided I needed to cut my losses and GO HOME and strap on some ice.  

I am sure I will find out later what the coach says about my unsuccessful run, but in the meantime, I wanted you to know how hard this is sometimes.  There are days where my head just cant get my legs to do what I want them to do on the bike, or where my breathing is off in the pool and I feel panic, or even where I just plain don't feel like training.  But, thankfully those days are few and I am mostly enjoying each step of the journey!  Even days like today when my determination bows to my body's complaints are worth it in the end.

We are getting so close to our race day and I find myself thinking more and more of the moment when I will cross that finish line.  The moment that culminates MONTHS of hard work and 7 to 8 HOURS of racing that day!  I know it will be an emotional day.  I also know that I will be sad to be leaving these weeks of training behind as life changes... as Helene will be "friend Helene" all the time instead of doubling as "coach Helene". I wont be training for hours every day.  I will enjoy that time (my niece will be here by then and I plan on spoiling her) but, I will also miss it. I have therefore already began setting goals for myself post-race.  This year has been one that has changed my life and in the grand scheme of things, one tough, DNF (did not finish) run are small things.  So, lets move forward into tomorrow (a fast 18 mile paceline bike ride) and remember to keep those GOGGLES ON!

"Triathlon is a journey, where races are milestones that require moments of celebration, reflection and analysis." - Ryan Schneider.  

Updates Galore!

Hey everyone, I am amazed at how fast time has been passing... training takes up a lot of my day and with work and sleeping many days have passed since I have updated here.  So here are the "missing" posts!

1/2 Marathon (May 5th) -

Katie and I ran the Binghamton Bridge Run 1/2 Marathon a couple weeks ago and I still cant believe I did it!  If you know me and running it will make sense.... Last summer I was so excited to run 12 minute miles during Iron Girl and fast forward to May this year and I ran 13.1 miles in just under 12 minute miles. So cool and a LOT of hard work.

Race morning Katie and I left at 4:30 and headed to Binghamton.  When we got to packet pick up at 6:00AM my sister called me and said that they had hit something in the road and had gotten a hole in their gas tank.  We picked up my Dad and Jenna's packets and then went back to pick them and my Mom up in Whitney Point.  We got back to the race site at 7:00 and with the race start at 7:30 headed to the bathroom. The line was LONG!!!!! I waited a while but couldnt get in there before the race started.  So I started my race having to pee REALLY REALLY bad.  My Dad ran with me for a while and all I could do was focus on getting to mile 3.5 where the first portapotties were.  When I got there I had to wait in a short line and by the time I got done and back on the course I was near the end.  I worked REALLY hard for quite a while to catch people.  At mile 10 I caught Katie who was having some challenges with her foot.  I came in just under 2:40 and only a couple minutes before Katie finished.  I felt GREAT!

Shopping trip with Helene -

Katie and I raced our first two years of sprint triathlons without wetsuits, but with the choice to do a longer race this year, we needed to bite the bullet and purchase the rubber suits for training and racing.  Helene found a huge sale at local store and scheduled Katie and I to meet her there so she could help us shop.

The first one I tried on went on fairly easily and fit like a glove (literally - a full body glove that is).  I tried a second on but my shoulders werent broad enough.  I put down a deposit and a few days later picked it up!  Then, on Friday morning we swam in Oneida Lake!

I love the wetsuit and in spite of water temps in the 50's and air temps in the upper 40's it didnt feel bad at all with the wetsuit on.  The problem was... I have an open water issue and its BACK... sigh.. as soon as I put my face in the water to start swimming, I felt overwhelming panic.  It persisted for the first 300 yards or so before I got ahold of myself and finally relaxed enough to swim a few laps between buoys... I thought Helene was going to kill me!  No sympathy which is what I need when I am in that place... Its all in my head.  I know I can swim it, and even if I didnt swim - with the wetsuit all I could do is float!

I got past it and later that morning I rode a training ride with Helene, a few fellow athletes and the guys from a local bike shop.  It was an awesome ride!  Helene didnt talk to me at all, which means I was doing exactly what I was supposed to be doing!  A gorgeous morning for a bike and a successful bike to end my morning after a challenging swim.

2nd Course Ride at Musselman -

Today we rode the 56 mile race course again.  I was a little nervous because I wanted to have a good ride and last time I rode the course I had a few moments where I was mad at Helene when she practiced her tough coaching on me!  On our drive out to the course it sprinkled rain and the wind picked up.  We headed out and I found myself in the front part of the middle for a while, trying to focus on cadence and not killing myself during the first part of the ride.  It was really windy and one of my fellow athletes and I found each other near the front of the pack and helped each other pull.  We pretty much did most of the ride together... a few times I lost her or she lost me, but it helped to have her there.  I couldnt believe how far ahead we got and by the time we got to the last section of road, I was leading and still feeling GREAT!  The run afterwards was a challenge and I came in near the end because I am slower but I still managed to average 12 min miles during the 3 miles we did after the ride.  Around the 2 mile mark I started to feel in the groove with the run and ran nice and steady.  All in all it was a great confidence boosting ride!  We all went to the local diner for lunch and now that I am home, on my couch, clean and in comfortable clothes I am getting really tired!  :)

So, that is it my friends... my updates.  In the future I am going to work on my open water swims and continue moving forward with my bike skills and maintaining my mileage running.

Goggles On!