1st Place - Worst Teammate

I am the worst teammate EVER! A few weeks ago when we were planning our race schedule, I was all about the National (half) Marathon and talked BarbieGirlNot into it. But a few days later I decided not to and thought I emailed her about the change of plan. Friday I get a call from her about the race. She signed up and I hadn't. I feel absolutely awful. I was going to rush down and sign up even though I had every intention of hitting the town with Tri-Hubby that night. Saint BarbieGirlNot gave me her blessing and told me not to bother. However, I still feel so guilty...

I am happy to report she did it!!! She finished and got two (yes, T-W-O!!) shirts out of the deal. I'll leave the details to her, but we are so proud. Congrats on your half-marathon. You truly rock, girl!

BarbieGirlNot, you complete us. ;-}


"It's good training" - Just Tri Me

You girls ROCK!!!!!!

My turn to say how much I love this team. I definately would have never in my life even attempted to do something like a 1/2 Ironman. They are such strong motivated women that I like to go visit them in the middle of their workday at their work, just to get my boost of motivation. No need for RedBull or Full Throttle when these girls are around. Let me give you a picture of the last time we all met up: we are sitting in Starbucks talking about what races we will sign up for. Here is what we came up:29 March nations' half marathon, 20 april Fredricksburg Triathlon, 27 april GW 10miler, 4 may Potomac River Run (1/2 marathon),31 may 1/2 ironman triathlon Geargia. Sounds pretty intense. the best thing about my teammates...they both have already suggested we do another 1/2 ironman triathlon THIS YEAR!!!! Gotta love the motivation.

Well last week I was in Cleveland and it got 12 inches of snow the first day there. I ran anyway. As a matter of fact I stuck to my training plan minus the swim. And so far this week I have stuck to it also. But the pool at LTF is currently under renovation. that has thrown a complete monkey wrench into my training. I hate to swim but that is why I need to keep swimming. This bump is killing me mentally. I need to adjust and find somewhere else to swim till next week. Of course I am leaving for CA next friday, but fortunately my friends are triathletes so I am bringing my pedals and wetsuit and they are going to take me on runs, rides and swims. I can't wait. I haven't swam in the pacific ocean in almost 5 years.

My last little pitch: Good luck to all the ladies running in the nation's marathon/half. Hope to see you all sporting your See Mommy Run gear. I know I will be.

Happy running!

To swim or not to swim...

Just like Jennifer, I spent the last 10 days on vacation and the training took a back seat. While walking the streets of London and Dublin does count as exercise, I didn't get one single run in. We were staying right across the street from Kensington Park but the weather was windy and rainy every day. Excuses or just wanting a vacation?! I did climb the almost 500 steps to the top of St. Paul's.

I got back in town Sunday evening and hit the treadmill on Monday for an easy 30 minute run. I was back in the pool today and got out after 600m. I gave it the 15 minute rule and decided it wasn't going to happen. Since swimming is my weakness when I have a bad one it lingers in my training. With that said, I decided to get out and try again a different day. Such is life.

While I am sorry to hear about Jennifer's husband going overseas for a year remote just like my husband, I am now sure there is a reason we are all becoming better friends and training buddies. We have a year to plan and train for races and be each others motivation and reason for plugging along. With the support of each other we can make it to the end of a long year or the end of a long race!

PS- Can't wait to get the bikes of the trainers and outside!

Swimming…. YEA!!!!

Yes, I am poking fun at my teammates. I think that's what makes us a good team because we each have different strengths. I excel at swimming, can handle the bike, but crap out on the run. TriMe is the runner; she has been known to say something to the effect "A half-marathon? I can pull that one out of my @$$!" BarbieGirlNot is the cyclist averaging over 20 mph and cruising by on her trainer for 1.5 hours!!... Yup, I'd say we've got a pretty darn good team! As a team and as individuals we've got a good balance of sass and humility; team support and competiveness; we're driven yet laid-back. I guess it's a good thing we're all going to be around for at least another year…

I really just blogged on to clock in for the week, but ended up doing some team cheerleading. Last week was a "recovery week". And by that I mean I spent the time in Savannah eating fried chicken, pralines, and similar unhealthy, non-training-like meals. We did do a lot of walking around the beautiful squares though. I was also sick so I have to thank my body for coordinating that with my already planned "off-week". I did get on the treadmill one day but couldn't even get through 2.5 miles. I was really bummed because I had worked so hard to build myself up to 7.5 miles and felt like I was going to end up at ground zero again. Yesterday I went for my long run and only logged 6.5 miles and stopped twice for a little walk. I was feeling quite down and Tri-Hubby reminded me that I had been sick all last week, am still congested, and will pick up soon enough. I got in the pool today and did 2600 meters. My workout called for 3000 (although I usually cut the warm-up in half) and cut the last set by 200 meters. But 2600 meters is still a good training session so maybe there is light at the end of the training tunnel.

Two years ago I had read an article in Triathlete magazine that offered a tip that has always stuck with me. When I get pre-race jitters or start to doubt myself I just remind myself: Trust your training.

"It's Good Training" - Just Tri Me

SWIMMING....AARRRGGHHH!!!!!!!!

So this week, I moved into my Base 1 week. Which by the way is mostly swimming. I hate swimming. If I didn't have to get all wet and full of chlorine it wouldn't be so bad. But I drop my kids off in the child center and 9 out of 10 times someone has to come get me out of the pool (interupting my workout) for a poopy diaper or a crying, unconsolable kid. Now I know that almost sounded like I was frustrated with my kids, but the truth is I am usually happy about not having to swim, but it takes me atleast 10 minutes to get dressed because I am wet and full of chlorine. And that is with no shower!!!! So my poor kid sits in a poopy diaper and I feel like the worst ma because of it. Plus, whenever I rush, things become 10times harder and I know this but I always rush when my kids need me. So I am back to the I hate swimming. The last 2 days I actually made it through my swim workouts and got a shower!!!! I am exhausted. I think I am learning how to rate wether my 1 year old will make it through a swim or not: if he has already pooped, eaten at least 1 full bowl of oatmeal, gotten at least 10 hours of sleep, and gotten to chase the dog around the house for at least 10 minutes in the morning he will make it through an hour swim workout. I love my kids and their quirks. My oldest as long as he has gotten sleep the night before and has gone potty will make it. He loves playing with the other kids. If I could just figure out my routine for a good swim workout.....learn to swim!!!!!!!!!! For all of you who swim past me and kick me in the face as you do, I will catch you on the bike!!! Ride hard!

"And I ran…

… I ran so far away. I just ran…." - A Flock of Seagulls

THE TRUE STORY OF MY FIRST 1/2 MARATHON

PREFACE:
What I told people my goals were: to finish, to get a feel for the distance, to finish under 3 hours, to run at least 7 miles of it.

What my real goals were: to finish between 2:30 - 2:45, to run at least 10 miles.

What my secret desire was: to run the whole thing without stopping.

THE STATS:
Finish Time: 2:02:50 (app. 9:22 m/m pace time)

Rank: 27 of 58 in age group (I finished in the top half!)

Number of times I stopped: 0


THE STORY:
It was quite a different environment than a triathlon. It seemed more solitary pre-race but more festive during the actual event. With triathlons, you have to set up your transition area and you usually talk to your rack-mate (or at least the women do), but once the race starts, you really are on your own. I think having such a big group going out at the same time on the run really helps because you tend to keep up with everybody. By the time you get to the run portion of a triathlon, everyone is pretty spread out.

It all went by fairly quickly, much to my amazement and relief. I had planned all these mind games to play with myself (including funniest sounding Maryland towns - #3 Seat Pleasant, #2 - Buckeystown, #1 - Glen Burnie), but really didn't get a chance to employ them. Hmph - guess I was "focused". Around 9.5 miles I was starting to wane a bit. However, one of the volunteers had a radio and was playing the song "Misery Business" by Paramore. Tri-Toddler loves this song and says "my song, my song" every time we hear it. This just made me laugh and gave me the biggest boost to get through another mile. Then around 10.5 miles I started doing the math (this is another one of my race games - I just do math in my head. It really is challenging when you're oxygen-deprived). I figured I had a pretty good shot at finishing at 2 hours. I could not believe it!! Now, my GPS watch clocked 13.1 miles at 2:00 hours but I was still not at the finish line. I'll let you decide the actual achievement.

I'll admit to my supreme dorkiness - I was tearing up as I approached the finish line and was crying as I crossed it. You have to fully understand my running past. In high school I played field hockey, but couldn't run a mile. I think I only made the team because could drive the ball half-way down the field. I played softball, which doesn't require much running. I didn't start running until January 2006 and I could barely run ½ a mile. In my triathlons, I barely broke 10 minute miles. During a race in May 2007 I ran a 9:44 m/m during a sprint and was so elated. So for me to run 13.1 miles, the farthest I've ever run before, at a pace that's faster than my 10K and even my 5K pace time, it was just so empowering.

EPILOGUE
Man was I hurting afterwards!! Not right after, but once I got home. My abs hurt from top to bottom. I'm sure this was from not having good running form and being so cold. In hindsight I probably should not have chosen my first race to be in 34 degree weather! I probably should have also held back a bit because it's going to be quite a challenge to live up to that accomplishment again (or at least until May when I finish a half-iron tri). But, alas, I did it and I've got the hunter green, unisex, ugly-as-sin, fleece vest to prove it!

"It's good training." - Just Tri Me

Back in the water...

So I did pack my bag and hit the water today. I don't think I have swam since my Olympic tri last August. I did 10 x 100 and felt okay, just didn't want to stay any longer. I spent about 25 minutes in the pool resting between each 100. What a wimp! In my defense I do plan on taking Jen's spin class tonight so I need to conserve, or at least that's what I told myself.

Good job on the half Jen! With that pace you can run close to a four hour marathon!!! Give it a shot.

Wish I had the Garmin. I own about 4 different versions of the Polar ones and keep wanting to get the Garmin. Maybe for my birthday1

Our "TRIal's and TRIbulation's"

Went to get new shoes this week and spent $360 because I not only bought running shoes but one of those new Garmin's. This one has the heart rate monitor on it so it was even more expensive. I thanked my husband for the early Birthday gift when he came home from work. He just walked upstairs and closed the door for an hour. I haven't heard the end of it yet. But man is it worth it!!!!!!!! I thought I was so much faster and running much longer distances. It is so good to know what I really am doing. I am still working on the heart rate monitor part. If anyone knows how to actually figure out your max and min heart rates please help me out. The software that came with the Garmin has "standard" max and min for my age bu there has to be more to it. Anyway, I have this week as a rest week... much shorter workouts yeah!!!!!! But next week I am going to step it up.

Got to give you credit Jen a half marathon!!! Yeah! I am proud of you. Hope you recover fast...can you say massages and hot tub!

The Story of My First Half-Marathon

I finished! .... The End.






;-P (details to follow if I ever recover!)

"It's good training!" -Just Tri Me

We're so hot!

The pics look great, but I am more looking forward to the after photos!!

Went out on my bike today, mountain bike that is. It felt horrible for the first 15 minutes but then was okay. The weather is still too cold but oh well. I word my jersey under it all and it was comfy. It's so funny how being outdoors makes things seem better. Going out running tomorrow and hope to bid farewell to the treadmill soon.

I didn't get into the pool this week, it's the easiest for me to make excuses for. I hadn't packed my bag the night before and didn't have time in the morning....or so it seemed! Think I will try to get two in this week and am going to try Jen's night spin class to get that done and not kicked out because the class is too full.