It's Too Darn Hot

A woman is like a tea bag -- you can't tell how strong she is until you put her in hot water. -- Eleanor Roosevelt

Well.  The good news is that I'll know how strong I am after this coming Sunday.  Because I'm going to be in hot water.  And hot air.  And hot everything.  I'm set to race my 2nd HIM (hopefully more successful than Raleigh's head-kick DNF) at Rev3 Williamsburg and the forecast is unGodly.  As Cole Porter would say...it's too darn hot.

Now, I get it - I'm a little bit of a Goldilocks.  Too hot, too cold, too soft, too hard.  Nothing is ever just right.  The perfect riding weather, in my opinion, is 75 degrees, sunny but not too sunny, a light cooling breeze always at my back, and downhill.

But that's not my reality - not this Sunday and generally not ever.  So what's the plan?

Well, I'm hydrating.  My coach even sent me an email to get a report on my fluid intake.  BWAHAHAHAHAH.  I'm guessing she wasn't expecting my answer (coffee, diet Mt. Dew, sugar-free lemonade...yeah, healthy stuff there, folks) but it did make me more conscious about what I need to do.  Water.  Sports drink.  Water.  Sports drink.  (And of course the occasional diet pop and always coffee thrown in.  Maybe a bit of vino in the evenings...)

And I've tried to get out into the miserable weather, doing some of my easy runs at lunch time or in the afternoon, to at least acclimate a little bit.  It's horrible, but at least Sunday won't be quite as much of a shock to the system.

I am trying to use some cooling technology.  I bought a pair of cooling sleeves to try, but they made my arms feel like sausages - so uncomfortable.  I returned those and have a bolero coming in today - I know, nothing new on race day, but I figure I'll get a short test with it before Sunday and worst case I just take the damn thing off if it is bothering me.

Finally, I'm setting realistic expectations.  It will suck.  The best thing I can do on Sunday is go out there, avoid getting kicked in the head, swim to T1, bike to T2, and run/walk to the finish.  And enjoy it.  Smile.  And finish.  That's the only goal.  And a mighty fine goal it is.  Because that's all you can do when it's too darn hot.

Next time...pre-race packing...

The Family That Tris

I think togetherness is a very important ingredient to family life.  -- Barbara Bush

Insanity runs in my family.  It practically gallops. -- Cary Grant

I tri.  My husband tris.  My younger daughter tris.  And my older daughter, before she got too busy playing competitive soccer, also tri'd (and occasionally kicks around the idea of doing a relay tri with us).  The family that tris together stays together, right?  The family that tris together also overwhelms the mailman...

All kidding aside, it's fun to be part of a triathlon family.  When we go to races, the girls know what is going on.  They know what to cheer for.  They recognize the achievements of the pros and of the back-of-the-pack.  They get it.  And because they get it, it's fun to be part of it with them.

But there's another thing that I've been thinking about regarding families who tri...these kids hopefully never have to hear that voice in their head that says "you can't be an athlete" - because even when they get old and fat and slow, they've been exposed to athletes just.  like.  that.  (Heck, my kids even live with an old and fat and slow triathlete.)

This video from Upworthy is awesome.  Watch it.  No really.

Anyway, I hope that growing up in a family of athletes will help my girls as teens.  There are plenty of studies and stuff that says healthy athleticism goes a long way to keeping teen girls out of trouble and more, well, healthy.  Food is fuel.  Working out keeps us strong.  Strong is pretty.

But I also hope that growing up in a family of athletes will help my girls when they get older.  They won't have to learn to swim as grownups - like I did.  They won't be afraid to try something new, because maybe they've already did it.  Or may be they'll enjoy the challenges of trying something new and won't be afraid for that reason.  And maybe that little voice that says "you can't be an athlete" won't even exist in their heads.  And if it exists...they will be able to shush it.

Next post - the one where I freak out about racing in 900 degree heat this coming weekend...stay tuned!

Love a Biker

Give a man a fish and feed him for a day.  Teach a man to fish and feed him for a lifetime.  Teach a man to cycle and he will realize fishing is stupid and boring. -- Desmond Tutu

I know that I said my next post would be about families who tri...but I was out at the Cap Trail today and wanted to talk about biking instead.  Maybe next time - families who tri...

Fishing is stupid and boring.  Biking is so much better.  I don't love biking - maybe I would if I was better at it.  But I do love bikers.  The world is full of people - some who love bikers and some who don't love bikers.  Surprisingly enough, I think there are a lot of people who ride bikes that don't love bikers...and that makes me sad.

The Cap Trail is fantastic and I love to see the bikers - men, women, all ages, all colors, all BMI measurements.  There are road bikes, tri bikes, recumbent bikes, tandems.  Some of the bikes cost more than my house.  Some of the bikes look like they weigh more than I do.  People ride in kits from races, clubs, colleges, and more.  Other people ride wearing...well, things I wouldn't ride a bike in...but hey.  I'm not judgy.

But there are some things bikers do that make me judgy.  And these things make me feel like these bikers maybe don't love other bikers.  And like I said, that makes me sad.

Bikers who don't wear helmets.  I know the argument is that not wearing a helmet only hurts the idiot that doesn't wear one...but I disagree.  If I see you and you're not wearing a helmet, I ride more carefully around you.  I slow down.  I ride far to the side.  Because you, obviously, don't care for your safety.  And so I can only assume you don't care for mine either.  The last two times I've ridden the Cap Trail, I saw a couple of helmet things that completely mystify me.  Last time, there was a couple riding who had bike helmets hanging off their handlebars.  WTH!  They OWNED helmets.  They had them with.  And they were carrying extra weight by hanging them...but they weren't wearing them.  So confusing!!!  Today, there was a family that spent a good 15 minutes putting on sunscreen...mom, dad, kids...but then went riding without helmets.  How do you care so much about your skin that you slather on the sunscreen, but you don't care enough about your noggin to put on helmets?  WTH!

Bikers who turn into jerks in cars.  Sure - you ride your bike and you put forth some good manners...until you're in your car.  And then you act like every other stupid redneck that hates bikers.  But it's worse - because you have a bike rack on that car...or a triathlon/cycling sticker...or both.  So when you buzz by me or try to run me off the road, I know you're a cyclist.  WTH!

Bikers who don't ask if help is needed.  I rode past a few people today who were pulled over to the side of the trail, looking like they may be having a mechanical.  So I slowed down and asked if they were OK and did they need anything.  And I always do this.  I'm glad they usually don't take me up on it, because I'm a bike mech idiot...I couldn't actually help them, but I'd be happy to share a tube or loan a wrench or whatever.  I don't ask if it's clear that they're just stopping to get a drink or if there are other people there with them.  But most people don't ask.  And that makes me angry.  And judgy.  And makes me think that people who don't ask don't really love other bikers.  How hard is it to see if someone needs help?

Anyway, I ask.  I usually do.  And today, there was a guy I asked who didn't need any help.  But when he passed me a mile or so later, he thanked me for checking on him and said he appreciated that someone cared.  Bikers should care about other bikers.  Bikers should care.  Bikers should love other bikers...and if they don't, they should go fishing instead.

Find Your Why

Yesterday's weirdness is tomorrow's reason why. -- Hunter S. Thompson

There are a few things that I am obsessed with...triathlons, good food/wine/beer, Scandinavian mystery novels (don't ask), and productivity podcasts.  One thing that always strikes me about productivity is that you need two things to succeed:  a plan and a reason.  It really can be that simple.

Well...I have a dream and I have a coach, so I think I'm pretty much covered on the plan part.  (More on the plan another day...)

According to the productivity literature, a plan will get you so far...but if you don't have a reason, no amount of planning will get it done.  Doing stuff is hard work.  Doing triathlons, for me at least, is really hard work.  Doing triathlons while being a full time mom and wife, with a full time job and an idiot dog...well, it's enough to make lots of people ask "How do you do it?"  And seriously, I get asked this not infrequently -- from coworkers, from other parents, heck - even from other triathletes who are differently situated.  Sometimes it comes out using different words - "I don't know how you do it." or "I'm so amazed that you can do it all."  But the gist is the same.  HOW?

I think I've figured out, finally, the answer has to boil down to WHY.  It isn't easy to do it.  I won't lie.  I'm busy.  And I'm tired.  And there are things I'd rather be doing...like eating and drinking and reading about fictional Norwegian serial killers.  It also isn't easy to do because I'm not terribly good at it.  I'm slow.  I'm a lousy swimmer, a mediocre-at-best biker, and a run/walker.  It's not like I'm doing it for the recognition or rewards.  If I'm lucky, I finish before the pizza is gone.  (Don't even get me started about how I feel about races that run out of food & drink before the time cutoffs...no excuse for that BS...but anyway.)

So.  Why.  Why do I do this?
*  So I can enjoy all the good food and drink.  I'm prone to sloth, but I know if I keep training, I'll need to keep eating.  And the fear of what happens if I don't train keeps me training, which keeps me eating.

*  So I can get a medal and a shirt.  These are surprisingly strong motivators in my world.  I can buy a lot of the things I want in this world...but I can't really buy these things without doing it.

*  So I can have a few moments of peace and quiet.

Kidding...not kidding.  No seriously.  Not kidding.

*  So I can be healthier.  My dad has heart problems and has been on high blood pressure medicine and cholesterol lowering drugs for ever.  I love my dad, but that's not the life I want.  I don't want to have a heart attack when my kids are in their late teens or young adults.  I don't want to have a heart attack ever, but that's another story.  Maybe doing this won't keep me from that fate, but it's working well so far and it certainly isn't hurting my health.

*  So I smell like chlorine or sweat, have a wicked awesome tan, and regularly rock some frizzy unmanageable pool-dried hair.  No, just kidding.  That's not a real reason why.

*  So I be a good example to my kids, my friends, and everyone around me.  Yeah, I will take on the role model burden.  I love that my kids see me working hard for something I want, overcoming failure and obstacles, and pushing myself to be better.  I love that I can tell other working moms - hey, you can do this.  I love that some of my friends run or tri now...that didn't before.  I'm not taking all the credit (or even a lot of the credit), but if I made even a little bit of impact, that's cool.

*  So I will be impressed with myself.  There is something mindblowing about thinking of yourself as a badass.  Seriously.  I can do hard things, things a lot of people can't or won't do.  I've never been really good at anything (except maybe school, but only if I applied myself, which didn't happen all that often...and besides, being an academic rockstar doesn't carry a lot of punch).  But I can wow myself without being really good.  I just have to keep at it - and I have.  I am a middle-aged, non-athletic, triathlon-finishing badass.  That's pretty cool.

I can't narrow this down to one WHY.  The most compelling reasons, in my mind, are being a role model to my girls and to myself.  But those other reasons get me out of bed in the morning too...those are pretty big WHYs, so the HOW will follow.

Next post...The Family that Tris Together

Relaunch...The Blog is Back

We shall not cease from exploration, and the end of all our exploring will be to arrive where we started and know the place for the first time. -- T.S. Eliot

I've always loved this quote from T.S. Eliot. It's my senior quote in my high school yearbook. For some reason, the idea of returning full circle is appealing to me. And, so I am returning to my blog.

Back in February 2013, I started this blog (my first post!) as I began one of the scariest things I could imagine...training for a half-iron triathlon. Since then, I've done a bunch of HIMs, trained for two IMs (one DNF and one DNS), and had about the unluckiest streak of fluke experiences one triathlete could dream of. Stress fracture. Hypothermia. Hurricane. Are you flippin' kidding me? And that string doesn't even include my latest adventure that I haven't blogged about...concussion-like symptoms brought on by a kick in the head during the swim at Raleigh 70.3...another DNF, another scary experience, another reason to question what I am doing.

Which brings me back to my blog. I started writing this because training for my first HIM raised a lot of questions for me...most involving the notion of "What the heck do you think you're doing?" or "Why do you think you can?" By writing this blog, I worked through these questions and convinced myself I could. And I did. But to be honest, after the string of crazy experiences over the last year and a half, I find these doubts creeping back in...and worse, they are popping up at the worst possible time -- right before I head into an HIM (Rev3 Williamsburg half) and the hardest training period for IM Louisville. Yep, I'm going back to finish the race that I DNF'd due to stress fracture. I will finish it this year. I have no doubt about that...well, sometimes I do. Maybe a lot. And so I am here, where I started from...and ready to continue (or maybe restart) the journey.

Tomorrow's post: Getting back to why...

Slowly, Getting Faster

Everything that slows us down and forces patience, everything that sets us back into the slow circles of nature, is a help. -- May Sarton

One of the best pieces of advice I ever got was from a horse master.  He told me to go slow to go fast.  I think that applies to everything in life.  We live as though there aren't enough hours in the day but if we do each thing calmly and carefully we will get it done quicker and with much less stress. -- Viggo Mortensen

And if Aragorn tells you, wearing that very earnest face, to go slow, well...you should listen.  Oh, wait - I mean if your coach tells you to go slow...you should listen.  After all, that's why I have a coach, right?  To listen?

It has been a hard change for me, going slow.  I'm not the first person, nor will I be the last person, to complain about heart rate training.  The whole idea of HR training is that we go too slow on our fast days and too fast on our slow days.  But if we use HR as a guide, we should end up pacing better for the various workouts.  The problem is, slow days feel AWFUL.  (So do fast days, but that's OK - that's the whole point.)  But slow days are supposed to be super-easy.  But super-easy, especially if you're not in the shape you want to be (or maybe even if you are, I wouldn't know!), is painfully slow.  Like snail's pace.  Like when I started out HR training this spring, I think a snail passed me.  :)

I am anxious to get back to fit.  Back into shape.  Back to not so damn slow.  And here my coach is telling me to run slow.  How's that supposed to work?  Besides, if it's this easy, how in the world is it working?  I mean, if leisurely walking would have gotten me into shape, I should be a fitness model, right?  Because leisurely walking is about all I could handle.  The whole system is counter-intuitive...and I never would have been able to do it without a coach.  (Thanks, Coach Kelly!)

Anyway, this past weekend I had a nice long run.  The first hour was supposed to be zone 1...leisurely.  The second hour, I was allowed to raise that a bit.  And you know what?  I loved it.  I enjoyed it.  And I ran faster than I have in a good year, probably - because my body is finally getting its act back together.  This HR training thing works.  Not only was I able to run faster for longer...but it felt great.  I didn't feel like I was dying the whole time.  This is the thing!

Now, don't get me wrong, I still have a long way to go...but I believe in my training and that's the first hurdle.  I am seeing progress and its starting to make sense, which should have the positive feedback effect of making it even easier to follow instructions.  Now...back to training.

(But first, HR training has me "Feeling Groovy"....slow down, you move too fast...)

RACE REPORT: Rumpus in Bumpass Olympic

Let the wild rumpus start! -- Maurice Sendak, Where the Wild Things Are

This past weekend I did a triathlon.  It is the first one I'd done since the beginning of last June - eleven months ago.  It was hard, I finished, I know what I need to do better, and I probably shouldn't go nearly a year between races ever again.  :)  It's hard to get back on the horse!

Making things worse, I've never had a successful olympic distance triathlon.  I know - crazy, right?  I've done HIMs.  Early in my triathlon career, I DNF'd an Oly - the swim was rough and I wasn't ready.  I finished an Oly a couple years ago, but after the time.  I still got the medal, but it was a DNFTL (DNF Too Late) in my mind.  And then last year I had a DNS...we drove to the race site where I spent the morning hurling in the parking lot.  So, yeah - not a whole lot of great background when it comes to an olympic distance race.

But hey, let's not dwell on the past - because I had a successful (even if slow) race this weekend.  Time to get the oly monkey off my back!

Rumpass in Bumpass 4/30/16

The weather this spring has been crazy.  I've barely gotten out on my bike, I've only been OWS once (plus a few minutes on the Friday night before the race), and it was cold on race morning.

I ate an egg and sausage sandwich at home and drank a Mt. Dew Kickstart...because that's the breakfast drink of champions.  It was about a 45 minute drive to the race site - I'm OCD, so we got there super early - even before packet pickup, but that's OK.  I got my packet, set up transition, talked to some folks, had a Picky Bar and another Kickstart, hung out in the car freaking out, went back out and checked out my transition setup, freaked out a little more, talked to more people, and then it was time to go.

Swim

I was in the 5th wave (9:16AM start) - old ladies.  Only the novice wave was behind me.  Water temp = 67 degrees.  Air temp = lower than that.  BRRRR!

Here's the start of my swim wave - see the orange blur, about straight right from the buoy?  That's my arm!  My good-looking, powerful-stroking, efficient-swimming right arm.  IronSherpa didn't get a picture of my hideous velociraptor left arm...which is good, because no one wants to see that ugliness.  

Lesson #1:  It would be good to figure out WTH with my left arm and swimming.  Add this to the list of things to do, sooner than later.

The swim went well.  After a few minutes, the water didn't even feel cold.  I stopped at one far buoy because a) I could touch the ground and b) there was water in my goggle.  Fixed that and kept on going.  I felt really good about the swim - and I'm happy with my swim time.

And the creature emerges from the lagoon...

Transition #1

This was unbearably slow.  I couldn't get the water out of my ear.  I was confused.  I put on socks and a jacket because it was cold.  I forgot to eat my gel until halfway through, and then it was because an announcer was talking about the girl beside me eating a gel.  And it was a long run up a hill, in the grass, to get to the bike mount.  I could probably move faster, but I'm not sad at all about this.

Bike

So.  I haven't really ridden outside much because this spring has sucked.  And my shoulder has been a mess, so I opted for the road bike rather than the tri bike.  That was a good decision, because even the roadie was uncomfortable for 24 miles.  Not cool.  The bike loop was 2 laps - the first lap felt like forever, but I was fairly comfortable on the bike; the second lap flew by, but I was super uncomfortable.  I ate another gu partway through the bike and had water and Base Salt at regular intervals on the bike.  Happy with this, although I did get a little bit hungry towards the end of the bike.

Lesson #2:  I need more time in the saddle.  Desperately.  Must be more comfortable.

Transition #2

This was better than T1.  As I was leaving transition, a woman told me to "use the downhills..." - WHAT?  I was told the run course was flat.  Liars.  All of them.  But other than getting that little piece of news, T2 went just fine.  

Run

The run was not something I'm proud of.  I had a plan - run/walk Z1 for the first loop, Z2 for the out of the second loop, and then finish strong.  Yeah, well, that didn't happen.  First, there were hills.  Up, up, up, down, up, up, down, down, down, up, down.  Or something like that, and that's just the outbound of the first lap.  Anyway, the other problem is that my HR never got down to Z1 for the first lap.  I assume I am just out of shape and need some more base work.  But the run sucked.

After leaving transition, you run through quicksand for about 1/10 mile, then a gravel road for about 2/10, and then on the road for about 1.4 miles, turn around, back to the quicksand, and then repeat.  After the second loop, through the quicksand and to the finish line.

I walked way more than I wanted to.  I just didn't have it in me.  I did use the porta before I got out on the road, so that added a little time, but really, the slowness was all on me.  I tried to run the flats and downhills and walk the ups, but even that was exhausting.

Lesson # 3:  Base.  I need a better fitness base.  Which means I need to work harder and eat better.  Because this was harder than it should have been.

I took water & gatorade at the aid stations; brought some Gu Chews and ate one piece every couple miles, plus Base salt.

And then I finished.

And I got the most awesome medal.

I finished.  I wasn't last - although it was close.  I did finish in the alloted time, so victory - I got an Oly finish I can be happy with.  And I got back on the tri horse...that's the best thing of all. 

I have some thoughts on finishing last, but that's for another day.  Today it's about celebrating the finish and enjoying the medal.  I LOVE the medal.