Today was the Green Lakes Livestrong Triathlon. It was cool and intensely humid when not raining and colder when it was raining.
Today I volunteered at the Green Lakes Triathlon.
Wow! So many beautiful, strong, courageous and determined athletes. The power of this group was inspiring. I worked briefly helping racers put their timing chips on and then was stationed at the first water stop coming out of the bike transition into the run. Let me tell you there is an art to handing out water and it took a few to get the hang of it. I got to cheer (and by cheer I mean yell really loud) on all of my friends out there navigating the course. Lastly, I got to help with crowd control near the finish line and while I did not get to see the winners finish I did get to cheer on some of my favorite people and watch them succeed and see the look of pride on their faces. A great big way to go to all of you!
Props to all of the family, friends, volunteers, survivors, and other supporters that came out to cheer on these amazing people.
Note to self...start taking more pictures to include in blog.
Tomorrow it is 4 weeks until the Boilermaker and 8 until my first tri Iron Girl and 154 days 11 hours 6 minutes and 36 seconds until the Outer Banks Marathon, but hey who's counting. One of these days maybe I will write about some of my training.
Saturday, June 9, 2012
Friday, June 8, 2012
What if I come in last?
So I am now officially registered for the Outer Banks Marathon in November. Twenty five weeks. It seems like an eternity and it feels like tomorrow.
I am terrified. I am elated. I am proud that I had the courage to make the commitment. I am.
Now what? This is a small race of just over 1200. The Boilermaker has 14,000. I was close to the back of the pack running the Boilermaker and it wasmore than 10x bigger.
What if I am last? Seriously. What if I am last? It is entirely possible. And it scares me. Really scares me. What if I am last by a lot? Like 30 minutes or more...I envision myself slogging along being followed by the police car or biker or whoever is tasked with bringing up the rear.
At work today I talked with Deb Green. She is an instructor at the Y and a marathoner herself. Her first marathon she was last. Deb told me it was the best experience of her life. She wouldn't want it to have happened any other way. She teared up telling me the story and I am blessed to have had her share it with me.
People cheer the loudest for the winner and the one who dares to finish last.
What do I say to finishing at the back of the pack now?
So what if I come in last...
I am terrified. I am elated. I am proud that I had the courage to make the commitment. I am.
Now what? This is a small race of just over 1200. The Boilermaker has 14,000. I was close to the back of the pack running the Boilermaker and it wasmore than 10x bigger.
What if I am last? Seriously. What if I am last? It is entirely possible. And it scares me. Really scares me. What if I am last by a lot? Like 30 minutes or more...I envision myself slogging along being followed by the police car or biker or whoever is tasked with bringing up the rear.
At work today I talked with Deb Green. She is an instructor at the Y and a marathoner herself. Her first marathon she was last. Deb told me it was the best experience of her life. She wouldn't want it to have happened any other way. She teared up telling me the story and I am blessed to have had her share it with me.
People cheer the loudest for the winner and the one who dares to finish last.
What do I say to finishing at the back of the pack now?
So what if I come in last...
Monday, June 4, 2012
2012 a year of firsts...
The year is 2012 and this will be the year I compete in my first triathlon. I know I have talked about it before on my blog, but I wanted to touch on it again. The tri is called Iron Girl and it is a race for women only and I am mildly terrified. Not so much of the running or the biking or even the act of swimming, but I am petrified of the wetsuit. It hangs in my closet like an intruder waiting with an ax. I sleep with a light on so it doesn't sneak up on me in the middle of the night.
Okay the second first (is that proper English) is going to be a half marathon. Yep 13.1 miles. Thirteen point one miles. What am I thinking? Who does that and why? The way I am justifying it is...if I am doing the Boilermaker (which is a second) anyway which is 9.3 miles what is another 3.8 miles? That is only another 5k plus .7. No big deal. Right? That is what I keep telling myself. Oh yeah and the Boilermaker is less than 6 weeks away. WHAT??? Okay now I haven't actually signed up for one yet, but I am. Just got find one that guarantees 50 degrees, light rain, it must be all slightly downhill, and it must end with adult beverages. Shouldn't be too tough to find.
Then the coup de grace...the piece de resistance...the WTF are you thinking...the third first...I am going to run a marathon. Yes a full mary. The run that only between .1% and 2% of people will ever do in their life. Why? Because I can. It is on my bucket list. I am going to run the Gateway Bank Outer Banks Marathon on Sunday, November 11, 2012. There I said it out loud and I said it online (where everything is true).
The lesson I learned is IT IS NEVER A GOOD IDEA TO TALK TO YOUR MOM ABOUT RUNNING AFTER DRINKING MULTIPLE GLASSES OF WINE OR YOU WILL END UP COMMITTING TO RUNNING A MARATHON.
Corgis say what are you thinking?
Okay the second first (is that proper English) is going to be a half marathon. Yep 13.1 miles. Thirteen point one miles. What am I thinking? Who does that and why? The way I am justifying it is...if I am doing the Boilermaker (which is a second) anyway which is 9.3 miles what is another 3.8 miles? That is only another 5k plus .7. No big deal. Right? That is what I keep telling myself. Oh yeah and the Boilermaker is less than 6 weeks away. WHAT??? Okay now I haven't actually signed up for one yet, but I am. Just got find one that guarantees 50 degrees, light rain, it must be all slightly downhill, and it must end with adult beverages. Shouldn't be too tough to find.
Then the coup de grace...the piece de resistance...the WTF are you thinking...the third first...I am going to run a marathon. Yes a full mary. The run that only between .1% and 2% of people will ever do in their life. Why? Because I can. It is on my bucket list. I am going to run the Gateway Bank Outer Banks Marathon on Sunday, November 11, 2012. There I said it out loud and I said it online (where everything is true).
The lesson I learned is IT IS NEVER A GOOD IDEA TO TALK TO YOUR MOM ABOUT RUNNING AFTER DRINKING MULTIPLE GLASSES OF WINE OR YOU WILL END UP COMMITTING TO RUNNING A MARATHON.
Corgis say what are you thinking?
Friday, May 25, 2012
A little bit of running...
Oddly the past two weeks have felt like really good running weeks for me. I don't say this often, in fact I am not sure I have ever spoken those words out loud.
I have added a longer set of intervals to the mix to help up my mileage in preparation for the Boilermaker and I think it is helping and dare I say I almost like it? My long runs are up to the 75-90 minute range and I have been enjoying those too. Of course, I have been running them at Green Lakes State Park and the scenery definitely helps. I am still looking for a running buddy of the two legged variety. I am slow and while I feel I am getting faster I think much of that is mental and not actual reality, but I am fine with that because any improvement is fantastic real or perceived.
I am looking for a 1/2 sometime after the Boilermaker - if I can run 9.3 miles why not 13.1? Again, did those words actually just get typed for everyone to see? I thought about Turning Stone, but I am mad at them so I am not going to do that one, so the hunt continues.
I have taken Lola out for a few rides OH OH OH I did my first actual for real honest to goodness brick the other day (a brick is a training for a tri where you do two of the disciplines one immediately following the other most frequently a ride and a run). Lola and I went for about 8 miles, I came home changed my shoes and went right back out and ran. It was only a base run, but wow. It is strange transitioning your muscle groups like that. From hamstrings to quads...but I made it and strangely even though I felt like I was going my usual super slow pace, I finished my base run loop about 30 seconds faster than usual and for me that is significant. The run was only 1.3 miles, but I did it and I was proud.
Lessons learned this week:
-chaffing sucks
-it is confirmed I do love running in the rain
-chaffing sucks
-I am digging cycling
-ice baths work wonders on my lower legs
I have added a longer set of intervals to the mix to help up my mileage in preparation for the Boilermaker and I think it is helping and dare I say I almost like it? My long runs are up to the 75-90 minute range and I have been enjoying those too. Of course, I have been running them at Green Lakes State Park and the scenery definitely helps. I am still looking for a running buddy of the two legged variety. I am slow and while I feel I am getting faster I think much of that is mental and not actual reality, but I am fine with that because any improvement is fantastic real or perceived.
I am looking for a 1/2 sometime after the Boilermaker - if I can run 9.3 miles why not 13.1? Again, did those words actually just get typed for everyone to see? I thought about Turning Stone, but I am mad at them so I am not going to do that one, so the hunt continues.
I have taken Lola out for a few rides OH OH OH I did my first actual for real honest to goodness brick the other day (a brick is a training for a tri where you do two of the disciplines one immediately following the other most frequently a ride and a run). Lola and I went for about 8 miles, I came home changed my shoes and went right back out and ran. It was only a base run, but wow. It is strange transitioning your muscle groups like that. From hamstrings to quads...but I made it and strangely even though I felt like I was going my usual super slow pace, I finished my base run loop about 30 seconds faster than usual and for me that is significant. The run was only 1.3 miles, but I did it and I was proud.
Lessons learned this week:
-chaffing sucks
-it is confirmed I do love running in the rain
-chaffing sucks
-I am digging cycling
-ice baths work wonders on my lower legs
Tuesday, May 22, 2012
Trying to Tri oh yeah and run the Boilermaker
So I should have started this ages ago, but you know what they say about mice and men and me and being ahead of the game...
So as some of you (all two of my followers) know I am signed up for a few races this summer. The first is a repeat performance of last year in the Boilermaker. What is the Boilermaker other than a whiskey with a beer chaser? Well, let me tell you...it is a 15k run in the lovely town of Utica, New York. What's lovely about Utica? Well...they do have an awesome Cambodian restaurant and the race does end at the Matt Brewery, which is home to Saranac Beer and yes there is free beer for all the racers...and pretty much all the fans and the rest of Utica, but hey if you come out to cheer on the racers and are kind enough to pass out ice, or freezee pop things, or ring a cow bell or hand out shots of vodka to make that hill on the golf course more manageable, by all mean you deserve a beer too. Last year was my inaugural race and I made a stunning PR (personal record) of a mere two hours nine minutes and 41 seconds. Blazing fast for me and oh a 15k is 9.3 miles for you metrically challenged out there. You know what? I wasn't last and I totally passed people. Oh yeah!
So this year I signed myself up to do it again. I guess I will do just about anything for free beer.
I am about 7 weeks out from the race and am on track with my training. My long runs are up to one hour 30 minutes so in 6 weeks I should be ready for the race. I feel stronger in my training and I wish I were a little further along in my distance (longest run has been about 6 miles) I know I will be ready. Will I be faster? Probably not, but hey not too many people can say they have run a 15k.
Of course if you come to cheer me on, please pace yourself you will be waiting on me for a while and please make sure there is beer left for me when I get there! Oh and did I mention instead of giving out the usual race t-shirt you can a pint glass for running the Boilermaker...if I keep this up maybe I will collect myself a six pack of glasses. :)
My other race I am registered for is the Iron Girl. It is a sprint distance triathlon which is held about 10 miles from the house. The distances are as follows: 600 yard swim, 30k bike (18ish miles), and a 5k run (3.1 miles).
I started swimming in October when I was in the 'thinking about signing up' stage...the just in case I do place. I am glad I did. Growing up we had a pond. Now you might think that having a pond and having several friends with ponds I would have taken swimming lessons...you know because we had a pond, but nope. I learned by the just get out there and do it method which works more or less and since I am still here I must have done something right. Fast forward to October 2011 when I enroll in a Level 1 tri swim clinic, an adult intermediate swim lesson and a level 2 tri swim clinic just for shits and giggles. Before going into these classes I am not sure I had ever swam the 25 yard length of the pool without some form of flotation device...why??? Because I had never had a reason to - now I did. Guess what? I am a pretty good swimmer. I believe I owe it all Dara Torres and Michael Phelps and what I learned from watching them swim. Of course my butterfly leaves a lot to be desired, but I will give it a go ever once in a while and swimming 1000-1500 in one of my lessons is now easily doable. Who woulda thunk it? I have a wetsuit (thanks Kecia!!!) in case I need it, of course it terrifies me and hangs in the closet like a noose waiting to strangle the life out of me - that is if I can actually get it on (note to self, buy stock in body glide).
Next is the biking. Enter Lola. She is my showgirl...
Lola is a Specialized Dolce Sport in white and berry and she is smokin' hot and super fast. I am learning that going from my hybrid to Lola is like going from a A1 Abrams Tank to a Ferrari. She is a beast. I love her. I still can't figure out how to get to my water bottle without falling over, but I will get there. I have had a few firsts with her...and learned a few very valuable lessons.
Lesson 1 - do not DO NOT try to clip in (when you have only clipped in once before) on a hill and this is a big friggin' hill called SBJ (Sweet Baby Jesus). Gravity is not IS NOT a theory and wen forward momentum stops you will inevitably fall to the side where your foot is still attached to the pedal.
Lesson2 - chain catchers do not always catch chains and getting one back that is under the chain catcher requires at least 4 other cyclists to stop and help with your 'mechanical' - 3 will actually dismount and one french guy will supervise while the woman with the fresh mani curses and gets all greasy.
Lesson 3 - bike pants/shorts are black for this reason...chain grease.
There will be more lesson I am sure, but this is a good starting point.
Some firsts:
- crossing tracks (while staying upright no less)
- using the drop handle bars
- using all my gears successfully
- spelling derailleur correctly and knowing what it is and does
Then there is the running which I think I have successfully covered above.
Oh and today I did my first real brick. It was a short brick, but it was a brick. I took Lola out for about 9 miles and then did a base run immediately following the ride. One interesting thing was my run was faster and significantly so without meaning to be...did my normal loop which usually takes about 16 to 16 minutes 30 seconds in 15 exactly and it would have been faster if Sydney the wonder Corgi hadn't needed a potty break that required cleaning up.
So today was a good training day for me.
Happy Tuesday all.
So as some of you (all two of my followers) know I am signed up for a few races this summer. The first is a repeat performance of last year in the Boilermaker. What is the Boilermaker other than a whiskey with a beer chaser? Well, let me tell you...it is a 15k run in the lovely town of Utica, New York. What's lovely about Utica? Well...they do have an awesome Cambodian restaurant and the race does end at the Matt Brewery, which is home to Saranac Beer and yes there is free beer for all the racers...and pretty much all the fans and the rest of Utica, but hey if you come out to cheer on the racers and are kind enough to pass out ice, or freezee pop things, or ring a cow bell or hand out shots of vodka to make that hill on the golf course more manageable, by all mean you deserve a beer too. Last year was my inaugural race and I made a stunning PR (personal record) of a mere two hours nine minutes and 41 seconds. Blazing fast for me and oh a 15k is 9.3 miles for you metrically challenged out there. You know what? I wasn't last and I totally passed people. Oh yeah!
So this year I signed myself up to do it again. I guess I will do just about anything for free beer.
I am about 7 weeks out from the race and am on track with my training. My long runs are up to one hour 30 minutes so in 6 weeks I should be ready for the race. I feel stronger in my training and I wish I were a little further along in my distance (longest run has been about 6 miles) I know I will be ready. Will I be faster? Probably not, but hey not too many people can say they have run a 15k.
Of course if you come to cheer me on, please pace yourself you will be waiting on me for a while and please make sure there is beer left for me when I get there! Oh and did I mention instead of giving out the usual race t-shirt you can a pint glass for running the Boilermaker...if I keep this up maybe I will collect myself a six pack of glasses. :)
My other race I am registered for is the Iron Girl. It is a sprint distance triathlon which is held about 10 miles from the house. The distances are as follows: 600 yard swim, 30k bike (18ish miles), and a 5k run (3.1 miles).
I started swimming in October when I was in the 'thinking about signing up' stage...the just in case I do place. I am glad I did. Growing up we had a pond. Now you might think that having a pond and having several friends with ponds I would have taken swimming lessons...you know because we had a pond, but nope. I learned by the just get out there and do it method which works more or less and since I am still here I must have done something right. Fast forward to October 2011 when I enroll in a Level 1 tri swim clinic, an adult intermediate swim lesson and a level 2 tri swim clinic just for shits and giggles. Before going into these classes I am not sure I had ever swam the 25 yard length of the pool without some form of flotation device...why??? Because I had never had a reason to - now I did. Guess what? I am a pretty good swimmer. I believe I owe it all Dara Torres and Michael Phelps and what I learned from watching them swim. Of course my butterfly leaves a lot to be desired, but I will give it a go ever once in a while and swimming 1000-1500 in one of my lessons is now easily doable. Who woulda thunk it? I have a wetsuit (thanks Kecia!!!) in case I need it, of course it terrifies me and hangs in the closet like a noose waiting to strangle the life out of me - that is if I can actually get it on (note to self, buy stock in body glide).
Next is the biking. Enter Lola. She is my showgirl...
Lola is a Specialized Dolce Sport in white and berry and she is smokin' hot and super fast. I am learning that going from my hybrid to Lola is like going from a A1 Abrams Tank to a Ferrari. She is a beast. I love her. I still can't figure out how to get to my water bottle without falling over, but I will get there. I have had a few firsts with her...and learned a few very valuable lessons.
Lesson2 - chain catchers do not always catch chains and getting one back that is under the chain catcher requires at least 4 other cyclists to stop and help with your 'mechanical' - 3 will actually dismount and one french guy will supervise while the woman with the fresh mani curses and gets all greasy.
Lesson 3 - bike pants/shorts are black for this reason...chain grease.
There will be more lesson I am sure, but this is a good starting point.
Some firsts:
- crossing tracks (while staying upright no less)
- using the drop handle bars
- using all my gears successfully
- spelling derailleur correctly and knowing what it is and does
Then there is the running which I think I have successfully covered above.
Oh and today I did my first real brick. It was a short brick, but it was a brick. I took Lola out for about 9 miles and then did a base run immediately following the ride. One interesting thing was my run was faster and significantly so without meaning to be...did my normal loop which usually takes about 16 to 16 minutes 30 seconds in 15 exactly and it would have been faster if Sydney the wonder Corgi hadn't needed a potty break that required cleaning up.
So today was a good training day for me.
Happy Tuesday all.
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
Day 10 - juice fast
So now into the double digits. Is the end near? I hope so. Getting close. Down about 10 pounds.
Today was a little better. There is a work party this weekend and I have to find something fabulous to take so I have been looking food which is not so much fun. I wonder how food will taste after so long. Oh and I burned my tongue today. Not that I need it for much right now, but it hurt.
10 days without processed and refined carbs, sugars very little additional sodium, little caffeine, no refined flours.
HHhhmmmm
Swam tonight. Was very hungry after...managed to stay the course. Got some goods for some crafting but I think that will have to wait until day 11.
Today was a little better. There is a work party this weekend and I have to find something fabulous to take so I have been looking food which is not so much fun. I wonder how food will taste after so long. Oh and I burned my tongue today. Not that I need it for much right now, but it hurt.
10 days without processed and refined carbs, sugars very little additional sodium, little caffeine, no refined flours.
HHhhmmmm
Swam tonight. Was very hungry after...managed to stay the course. Got some goods for some crafting but I think that will have to wait until day 11.
Monday, January 23, 2012
Day nine - juice fast
Today is day nine.
I am in awe that I have made it nine days without solid food. I woke up and felt pretty good...have had a few rumbles of my belly here and there also had some coffee. Not because I felt I needed caffeine but because I like the taste. No sugar or sweeteners, but I did use a splash of unsweetened almond milk.
I still feel a bit on edge and more cranky than usual, but less than yesterday.
I was supposed to go run tonight...alas I didn't. I was tired so I napped briefly. But I needed it. Today is better than yesterday.
New juiced items:
star fruit
beet greens
As the veggies are flowing I keep thinking would this be good with vodka? I wonder what I can put in here to make a good bloody mary base? Oh yes I think I am delirious.
More than halfway done. I want this to be over!!!
I am in awe that I have made it nine days without solid food. I woke up and felt pretty good...have had a few rumbles of my belly here and there also had some coffee. Not because I felt I needed caffeine but because I like the taste. No sugar or sweeteners, but I did use a splash of unsweetened almond milk.
I still feel a bit on edge and more cranky than usual, but less than yesterday.
I was supposed to go run tonight...alas I didn't. I was tired so I napped briefly. But I needed it. Today is better than yesterday.
New juiced items:
star fruit
beet greens
As the veggies are flowing I keep thinking would this be good with vodka? I wonder what I can put in here to make a good bloody mary base? Oh yes I think I am delirious.
More than halfway done. I want this to be over!!!
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