Calendar of Events

Typically around this time, I post a calendar of race events for the year. I always have a primary or "A" race (last year was Escape) and several "B" races. I try to do as many TriFury selected races to earn points for the series and spend time with teammates. Hell, I was looking forward to a half-Iron this year!

Yet, it's already Jan 5 and I haven't done a damn thing. I'm still on crutches, can't really walk and have no idea if I'll even be able to run. Ever.

On the surface, it might seem depressing or at the very least, a little sad. Actually, it's a bit freeing. Trust me, I'm disappointed that I won't get to participate in some of the races I really wanted to do this year (many sell out once registration opens), but my perspective has changed. Now, I just hope I can compete in "something".

I'll figure out some other way to make my friends shake their heads and sigh. No, I'll never learn.

2011

2011 will be the year that I not only walk, but run again. Yes, I said it. And I won't take it back.


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Happy holidays!

The girls and I would like to wish you and yours a very happy, safe holiday!



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Testing out BlogPress for the iPhone

I thought I might actually blog more if it were easier to do and I could write on the go. Hence Blog Press for the iPhone.

And while it works in theory, it's not so great in practice; the mistake prone iPhone keyboard forces me to write everything three times.

But at least I have iptions (or options).


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Seriously? My bitch of a post.

I should've stayed in bed today. I would've been much happier. Oh, except I couldn't because WE. DON'T. HAVE. HEAT. Perhaps not a big deal to someone in Florida, but considering we had a smallish snowstorm last night and high winds that brought the windchill factor down to the teens...well, guess what? It is a big deal.

And since I couldn't stay home, I had to venture into the office where walking conditions were dicey at best. It's pathetic when someone has to hold you by the elbow to make sure you don't fall. But the topper? The fire alarm. Yes, the fire alarm, which forced me to hobble down three flights of stairs and then stand outside on the slippery pavement. All because the kitchen downstairs burned something.

Finally, I would like to thank the individual (patient zero) who passed around the stomach bug that appears to have taken hold in my abdomen. Because the bronchitis wasn't enough. Nor the "are you kidding me" moments I had all morning. I have to feel like shit on top of it all.

Done. Ranting.

Heading into week 11

So it's been 10 weeks since the accident and I am itching to get off the crutches. I had been toying around with the idea of swimming, but holiday preparation and a guilty conscience have been conspiring against me.

So here I am entering into week 11 hoping I'll be cleared for some activity in three weeks. After all, I have three back-to-back trips next month...and I need to be able to walk through an airport and pull my luggage.

On a positive note, the bronchitis seems to be gone. I still have some coughing fits, but overall, seem to be on the mend.

On a completely separate note, I saw Inception last night. Wow. I really liked it, but it hurts my brain to think about it. I got lost in the levels and couldn't wrap my head around the concept of the "jump". Will probably need to see it a few more times (not nearly as many as Memento required).




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The hip...the lungs...where to start?

I broke down and went to the walk-in clinic on Sunday; I'd been coughing for three days non-stop and needed, you know, sleep. The doctor concluded I had bronchitis and loaded me up with a z-pack and cough syrup with codeine.

I definitely feel better than I did, but hate that now I not only can't walk, but I'm struggling with the breathing too.

Because you know, nothing says defeated like a broken hip/bronchitis combo. Oh, except a zombie extinction event. Can you tell I spent the weekend with The Walking Dead marathon?



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The hip

I haven't written much about the hip, mostly because I've been spending too much time dealing with the impact of breaking it. And because if I don't think about it too much, it's almost like it isn't there.

But, I will interrupt the silence with a slightly funny, slightly off color anecdote:

Last night, I attended the Forrester Technology Marketing Council's holiday dinner and had the privilege of sitting at a table of athletes, most of whom were bikers. But, what's really fascinating here is that we have much more in common than just sport. The woman to my right recently broke her clavicle and pelvis in a fall. The guy next to her had to have his elbow reconstructed. My friend to the left? No more knee cartilage, even after several surgeries to repair damage to his knee from soccer. And the guy to his left, well, he damaged his femur in a fall and had his hip replaced.

The five of us spent little time talking about work and more time discussing the nuances of our injuries, the risk/reward of surgery and whether or not we're still doing (or will do, in my case) the sports we love.

Strangely enough, I really enjoyed the dinner, company and conversation.


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ALCATRAZ Training - week 9 - Rest & Recovery

I've been beating my body up for the last eight weeks and am starting to pay for it. I have a very tender, sore shin and I'm worried it might be a stress fracture. A visit to the orthopod this week will determine, but I still have to take it easy.

That said, I'm not counting anything this week. If it gets done, then great. Otherwise, I'll resume the hours/mileage tabulation again next week.

Enjoy the time; I know I will!

ALCATRAZ Training - week 8 - Preparation

Still having shin pain, but I'm slogging through it. I haven't run in a week and I'm anxious to get outside. That said, I probably do another elliptical session (or two) before I start running again. Will also consider pool running, especially after swim sessions.

Monday
Planned - Bootcamp/Strength Class - 90 min
Actual - Stairclimber - 15 min/Bootcamp - 90 min

Tuesday
Planned - CompuTrainer Class - 60 min
Actual - CompuTrainer Class - 80 min

Wednesday
Planned - Swim - 2,500 yds - 90 min
Actual - Swim - 2,450 - 81 min

Thursday
Planned - OFF
Actual - OFF

Friday
Planned - Bootcamp Class - 60 min
Actual - Bootcamp Class - 60 min, Run - 21 min

Saturday
Planned - Computrainer Workout - 60 min, Run 15 min
Actual - CompuTrainer Workout - 80 min, Swim 15 min

Sunday
Planned - Swim -3,000 yds - 90 min, Elliptical or Run - 60 min
Actual - Swim - 2300 yds - 73 min,

TOTAL
Planned - 525 min
Actual -

ALCATRAZ Training - week 7 - Preparation

UPDATE 2/17: Snow screwed up my schedule. I should still make most (if not all) of my workouts...but just not on the days listed. ;-)

Shin is okay, but not great, hence the Elliptical.

Monday
Planned - Bootcamp/Strength Class - 90 min
Actual - Stairclimber - 10 min/Bootcamp - 90 min

Tuesday
Planned - CompuTrainer Class - 70 min
Actual - OFF (snow canceled classes)

Wednesday
Planned - Swim - 2,100 yds - 60 min, Run - 60 min
Actual - No swim (snow), Elliptical - 60 min

Thursday
Planned - OFF
Actual - Computrainer Workout - 80 min

Friday
Planned - Bootcamp Class - 60 min
Actual - Bootcamp Class - 60 min

Saturday
Planned - Computrainer Workout - 60 min
Actual - Computrainer Workout - 90 min

Sunday
Planned - Swim -3,000 yds - 90 min, Elliptical - 60 min
Actual - Swim - 2,500 yds - 80 min

TOTAL
Planned - 550 min
Actual - 470 min

ALCATRAZ Training - week 6 - Endurance

I was close last week, but didn't quite make my target. That said, I'm already off to a bad start this week. Petra came down with strep yesterday so I had to pick her up from school early. I had planned on going to the gym, but unfortunately, she started vomiting and was too sick for me to leave. So Monday was a complete loss; will try to make up later this week.

Monday
Planned - Bootcamp/Strength Class - 90 min
Actual - OFF

Tuesday
Planned - CompuTrainer Class - 70 min
Actual - 70 min

Wednesday
Planned - Swim - 2,000 yds - 60 min
Actual - Swim - 2,100 - 65 min

Thursday
Planned - Run - 60 min
Actual - Run - 63 min

Friday
Planned - Bootcamp Class - 60 min, Run - 60 min
Actual - Bootcamp Class - 60 min

Saturday
Planned - Computrainer Workout - 60 min
Actual - Computrainer Workout - 60 min

Sunday
Planned - Swim -3,000 yds - 90 min
Actual - Swim - 2,700 yds - 75 min; Elliptical - 60 min

TOTAL
Planned - 490 min
Actual - 453 min

ALCATRAZ Training - week 5 - Endurance

So I'm going to write using the actual vs. planned model I adopted last season. I'm still trying to work it all in, so no yelling at me if I miss a workout here or a workout there. Seriously, I'm working out more than I ever have, so I feel no remorse for missing one....now. Once travel slows down a bit (to once a month or so), I'll need to do a better job...so I don't bonk at ALCATRAZ.

Monday
Planned - Bootcamp/Strength Class - 90 min
Actual - 5 min stair climber/90 min Bootcamp

Tuesday
Planned - Run/Elliptical - 45 - 60 min
Actual - Run - 60 min

Wednesday
Planned - OFF
Actual - OFF

Thursday
Planned - BRICK - Cycle - 20 min, Run 60 min (treadmill at hotel)
Actual - 41 min - combo run, stair climb to 15th floor room (naive to think I could get such a long workout in while traveling)

Friday
Planned - Bootcamp Class - 60 min, Swim - 30 min
Actual - Bootcamp Class - 60 min

Saturday
Planned - Computrainer Workout - 60 min
Actual - Computrainer Workout - 70 min

Sunday
Planned - Swim - 2,800 yds - 90 min
Actual - Swim - 3,000 yds - 95 min

TOTAL
Planned - 455 min
Actual - 421 min

Workout. Travel. Workout. Travel. Workout.

That's been my life for two weeks now and with another trip on the horizon, my crazy schedule isn't getting better anytime soon.

But I promised JP I'd blog about the road to Alcatraz; he, in turn, promised me it would be worth looking back on the journey. So, here goes...

______________

Workouts have been fairly consistent; I'm logging anywhere from 7-9 hours per week and desperately trying to stay above 8. If I get it all in, I swim, run, bike and take a bootcamp/strength class twice a week. I've managed to do most of my running outdoors, but have relied on my elliptical more than once when the weather proves too much. I take a Computrainer cycling class Tuesdays (when I'm not traveling) and Saturdays at the Y and although it's tough, it's probably the best possible workout for me right now. The bike is a weakness and I need to build up as much power as possible.

Swimming continues to go well enough, but I'm still having some trouble with the breathing. I can swim much longer, much faster when I breathe each stroke, but I find that I have a better rhythm when I breathe every third. I've heard it takes 3-5 years to become a good swimmer, which means at a min, I still have two years to go. That said, I am in the pool every opportunity I get. And even though I'd like to perform better, I still manage upwards of 2,200 yds. each workout and have hit a high of 2,700. I need to get up to 3k per workout, so I'll be increasing yardage slowly each week.

Travel has certainly made my schedule more challenging, but I've managed to workout while on the road. Most of my travel has been to Denver, however, and the altitude is a kicker. Even in the 'burbs, the air is so thin, I feel like I have a six-pack a day habit once I start running.

I'm still in the Foundation stage of training, which will last six weeks (unless the coach decides I need another week or two) and then it's off to Intensity school. ;-) As if this hasn't been intense enough.

I plan to pop in and see JP next week; I can't believe we haven't trained together in four weeks. I miss our workouts and hope we'll be able to pick back up once this tri is over.

More updates to follow. Suffice it to say, I am well on my way to Alcatraz. 93 days and counting...

She's a Mainiac!

I crossed another one off the bucket list this weekend: I swam in the OCEAN. The big, bad Atlantic, no less. And guess what? I had a wonderful time. And although it was challenging, the swim was both thrilling and immensely satisfying.

But that's not all I did. The OCEAN swim was just the first part of my final race of the season: the Mainiac Triathlon in Biddeford, ME. Perhaps one of the most scenic courses on which I've raced, the Mainiac proved to be a delicious cherry on the top of my very first triathlon season.

So now, onto the recap...

4:45am - My alarm went off and I got up to finish packing and take a shower (don't ask me why). I made a decent cup of coffee this time and made it out of the house by 5:30 so I could get to Beckie's house (travel and tri partner) by 6:00am.

7:30ish - Beckie and I arrived in Wells, ME, to pick up Kimberly, a friend who drove all the way up from JERSEY to do this tri. I'm so grateful to Kim; she introduced me to Beckie who lives nearby and is a great training partner.

8:30am - Beckie's TomTom got us to our destination with time to spare; we were able to check in and set up transition before most of the other athletes arrived. Kim and I snagged end caps, which gave us plenty of transition space.



The downside to arriving so early? It gave us plenty of time to worry about the impending OCEAN swim. We took a walk down to the beach to grab a look at the course, but they hadn't set the buoys yet. But we saw the swells...and the waves...and just watching the water made me dizzy.


10:20am - I put in my ear plugs (great tip from cold water swimming article Kim gave me), donned two swim caps and dived into the OCEAN. I knew I needed to warm up; my last swim in cold water was tough and my lungs seized. I didn't want to make the same mistake twice. I swam out past the breakers and made it 2/3 of the way to the buoy before I turned around. The water felt like ice on my neck, feet and hands; it was THAT cold.

10:30am - Back in transition, I found Beckie and Kim and made final preparations. After a few race announcements and a sweet rendition of the Star Spangled Banner by a young girl (maybe 10 yrs old?), we were off to the beach. The course was a 1/4 mile counterclockwise swim with two main buoys and several smaller markers for sighting. With only four waves, it wasn't long until Kim and I were up. Beckie was in the Wave in front of us - the youngster that she is - and we got a good look at the swimmers as they plowed through the breakers and rounded the first buoy.

11:15 am - And then, we were off. I ran into the water about as far as I could manage and then just dove in and started my stroke. I sighted the first buoy but swimming through the mass of bodies and fighting the OCEAN waves made the race challenging at best. I struggled to stay close to the buoy markers for the first half but still seemed to drift out toward open water. And since many of the women in my Wave chose not to freestyle, I had a difficult time weaving through the breast- and backstrokers. I even had my goggles knocked to the side when I got kicked in the head. Thankfully, it happened with fewer than 100 meters to go.

Thinking back, I realize I stood up too quickly at the finish and had to wade through waist high water to reach the shore. I should've taken a few more strokes. And next time, I'll start closer to the front to avoid the mid-pack tangle of bodies.
Swim time: 10:18

11:25-ish- T1 went well. I threw on Beckie's Starter performance shirt, donned my bike shoes with new comfy shoe caps (purchased on-site) and raced out.
T1 time - 2:00 min

11:27-ish - I mounted the bike and took off. Best thing about the bike portion? I managed to keep my seat intact. Seriously, I consider that a major victory after Pumpkinman. The course was relatively flat, but the headwind was a major factor. Still, I maintained a nice pace throughout. As usual, I passed a few people and got passed by a few women from my swim wave; that's nothing new. My bike sensor had slid down too low so I didn't have my computer for cadence, MPH or distance. I felt like I was riding blind. But I finished the 14.85 mile course without any major mechanical mishaps, and for that, I am grateful.
Bike time: 52:46 (16.89 MPH)

12:20-ish - I made it back to transition and threw off the Starter shirt and kicked off my shoes. As I put on my running shoes, I felt both calves cramp up. I was clearly dehydrated, despite taking in plenty of liquids on the bike. Perhaps the dent I made in the Atlantic had something to do with it? No clue, but I started the run with cramped calves and BRICK thighs.
T2 time: 1:43 min

12:22-ish - I started down the run course and immediately began to worry. My legs were in bad shape and I couldn't get a good rhythm going. An initial steep hill compounded the problem. I really thought I was going to have to walk the course, but refused to stop.

Somewhere around mile two, my legs loosened up and I was able to open up my run a bit, but it was too late by that time; I was tired and couldn't pick it up enough. With 1/2 mile to go, I passed another woman in my age group and used a downhill to pick up some speed. And then with .1 miles to go, I hit the gravel and raced to the finish line.
Run time: 29:19

TOTAL time: 1:36:04 - good enough for 8th in my age group.

So that's it, I think. I don't have another tri on deck until next May. I'm considering an October duathlon and perhaps a few 5ks, but this was officially the end of my first tri season. Yes, I had my ups and downs, but overall, it was enjoyable. Best of all, I made some new friends through TriFury and was able to reconnect with a friend from the past who inspired me to Tri. Thanks, Kim.

Photos courtesy of Kimberly G. and Beckie M.

Tri Training - Week 24, Sept 20 - Sept 26

I am so incredibly unmotivated this week. I have no desire to do anything. At all. I'm not sure I'm over-trained; there are far more people who put in far more time than I do. But, perhaps I've been so consumed by triathlon these last few months, that I just need to put a brake on it. For a while. I'll still continue to train, but perhaps not with the intensity I have been.

But before I can take time off, I have one more challenge: next Saturday's Mainiac triathlon in Biddeford, ME. May the weather gods be gentle.

Sunday
Planned - 45 min Run
Actual - 50 min Run

Monday
Planned - OFF
Actual - OFF

Tuesday
Planned - 45 min Strength
Actual - OFF (JP canceled)

Wednesday
Planned - 60 min Tri Swim Class/45 min Spin Class
Actual - 45 min Tri class only (knee is acting up and I'm really uncomfortable about putting any pressure on it

Thursday
Planned - OFF
Actual - 45 min Strength Training

Friday
Planned - 30 min Swim
Actual - 30 min Swim

Saturday
Planned - The Mainiac Triathlon (1/4 mile swim, 14.85 mile bike, 3.1 mile run) - hope to finish in 10/55/28...we'll see. I have no expectations.
Actual - 10:18/52:46/29:19 - total time (with transitions) 1:36:04

TOTAL
Planned - 318 min
Actual - ~266 to date

The Facts of Life - Pumpkinman Recap

How does the theme song go?

"You take the good, you take the bad, you take them both and there you have The Facts of Life, the Facts of Life."

Well, it seems my newness to the sport of triathlon is manifesting itself in some serious inconsistencies. Sharon's Back was miserable; Timberman was a joy. Pumpkiman, unfortunately, turned into a mechanical nightmare, one that could've been easily remedied with an Allen wrench. But I'm getting ahead of myself....

3:30 am - Wake up call. Getting up that early isn't nearly as bad as you think and since I didn't have any of the cold symptoms I'd been suffering from in days prior, I was quite happy Saturday morning, er night, er morning. All of my stuff was packed and ready to go, so I just brushed my teeth, put on my club uniform (and three warm layers - it was 50 degrees), made my coffee and left.

4:30 am - I met Julie, another TriFury club member, at a nearby shopping mall so we could do the early morning drive together. I begged Julie to stop for coffee because apparently in my half sleep state, I managed to brew the worst pot imaginable. Thank goodness for 24-hour McDonalds.

6:00 am - We arrived in South Berwick, ME, registered and set up transition. It was overcast and quite cold so I was a bit concerned about what to wear on the bike, but I soon figured it out. And then it was 7:30 and time for the pre-race meeting and warm-up.

8:00 am - And they're off...sort of. The Elites couldn't hear the race announcer and just stood there as he yelled, "Go, go, go." A little confusion and a few seconds later and they ran into the water. I was in Wave 5, which started ten minutes later so I just watched the Elites swim the course. I noticed that the women in the Wave in front of me seemed reluctant to put their heads in the water and was surprised by that, until it was my turn.

I was hoping for a good swim and according to my time, achieved it, but it was difficult. The air was cold and the water felt cold; I struggled to breathe throughout the race. I just felt like I couldn't get a full breath, despite emptying my lungs fully AND breathing every other stroke. In any case, I made it out of the water in 9:54...and if there is true parity, it's a tremendous improvement over Timberman, which was also a 600 meter course (12:12).
Swim time: 9:54

8:20 am - The Great Hill Climb Challenge or a 250 meter transition ascent that apparently didn't count toward your total time (which I didn't know until afterward). Seriously, I couldn't figure out why people were walking up the hill; I booked up that hill thinking, look at all the people I"m passing! Chalk it up to another newbie mistake. But I came in first in my AG. ;-)
Hill Climb time: 1:20


8:25 am - After a longer than necessary transition (think: trying to catch breath after Hill Challenge), I hopped on my bike and flew on the course. I was thrilled; I seemed to be going faster than usual and although I was getting passed by the serious bikers, I was doing some passing myself.

Until mile 6.5. At that point, I felt my seat start to wiggle beneath me and knew I needed to pull over and check it out. Loose...and not just a little loose, but more like a very loose tooth that's just dangling by a thread and one slight movement would send it shooting out of your mouth...*that* kind of loose. An aid car stopped and asked me if I needed anything and when I asked for an Allen wrench, she said, um sorry.

At that point, I had a couple of choices: 1) Continue to ride and pray that I made it or 2) Yell down the line and hope someone would take pity on me and throw me an Allen wrench. I chose #1. I should add that while I was contemplating my options, a man came up behind me walking his bike. Apparently, he had a flat and didn't have anything to change it with. I offered up my flat kit and tube, which he gladly took. I then gingerly got back on my bike and continued the ride.

Until mile 12. Oh, that dreadfully steep hill at mile 12. You know, the one that forced my seat to GO FLYING OFF THE BACK OF MY BIKE? So, yes, I stopped, picked up the pieces and once again, considered my options. Do I run/walk the bike in? Do I try to ride it? Or do I DNF? I was losing serious time so I put the loose bolts in my seat bag, popped the seat sideways on the seat post and ran the bike up the hill. And then I did the craziest thing I've ever done - I rode 2.5 miles back to the transition area STANDING UP praying I didn't fall on the post.
Bike time: 59:27 (14.1 mph)


9:25 am- Do you even want to hear about the run? Because it was uneventful. I struggled with one hill and had to take a hit of the inhaler, but still managed a good run time. It was fairly flat at the start and hilly on the backside, but the final 100 meters were completely downhill, which was a pleasure.
Run time: 26:49 (just under 9 min miles)



Total Time - 1:41:14 (1/3 mile swim/14.25 mile bike/3 mile run)

I hate to think what I could've done had I not been saddled (literally) with mechanical problems. And yes, I am disappointed...but also thrilled that I didn't give up and that I finished.

So take that, Pumpkinman!

Tri Training - Week 23, Sept 13 - Sept 19

Sunday
Planned - 3-4 hour WALK for the Jimmy Fund
Actual - 3:30 Walk

Monday
Planned - OFF
Actual - OFF

Tuesday
Planned - OFF
Actual - OFF

Wednesday
Planned - 60 min Tri Swim Class
Actual - 60 min Tri Swim Class

Thursday
Planned - 45 min Spin Class/15 min Strength
Actual - 30 min Arc Trainer/20 min Strength/45 min Spin Class
* Knee is really bothering me so I am not planning to run until Sunday. Chiro told me to lay off the side lunges (we did a few) and keep knee iced. Hoping it's not a slight meniscus tear.

Friday
Planned - 45 min Strength
Actual - 45 min Strength

Saturday
Planned - 45 min Run
Actual -

TOTAL
Planned - 420 min
Actual - 410 to date

Tri Training - Week 22, Sept 6-12

This is a big week. I attempted (and succeeded at) a mile swim on Sunday and have Pumpkinman next Saturday. This will be a taper week since last week's workouts were so intense (think speed).

Sunday
Planned - 45 min swim - the Mighty Merrimack 1 miler
Actual - 43:48 swim

Monday
Planned - OFF
Actual - OFF

Tuesday
Planned - 45 min Strength/30 min Run
Actual - 45 min Strength

Wednesday
Planned - 60 min Tri Swim Class
Actual - 50 min Tri Swim Class

Thursday
Planned - 45 min Spin Class/15 min Strength
Actual - 50 min Spin Class/20 min Strength/10 min Arc Trainer

Friday
Planned - 20 min Run
Actual - OFF

Saturday
Planned - Pumpkinman (.33/14/3) - hopefully better than - 15/55/30
Actual - Pumpkinman (9:54/59:27/26:49) - 1:41:14 with transitions

TOTAL
Planned - 305 min
Actual - 320:02 (to date)

Tri Training - Week 21, Aug 30 - Sept 5

This is a tough week for the family. Petra starts first grade and Raya transitions to a new class. Also, it's the week before my classes (bike/swim) start, so I plan to take it easy. I think you'll find that what I plan isn't necessarily what will happen.

Sunday
Planned - 60 min Bike/30 min Run - BRICK
Actual - 59:30 Bike/30:02 Run - BRICK with Beckie

Monday
Planned - 45 min Swim (Tri Swim Class)
Actual - OFF

Tuesday
Planned - 45 min Strength
Actual - 45 min Strength

Wednesday
Planned - 30 min Open Water Swim
Actual - 60 min Swim (Tri Swim Class)

Thursday
Planned - 30 min Run
Actual - 35 min Run

Friday
Planned - 45 min Bike
Actual - 50 min Bike

Saturday
Planned - 20 min Run
Actual - 30 min Speed workout

TOTAL
Planned - 305 min
Actual - 309:32 min (to date)