7/16/2007
Bike 1:15
EZ RIDE SAMLL RING ONLY- TRAINER IF POSSIBLE -- done, but I rode on the cty rd one instead. It's flat and I stayed in my small chain ring.
7/17/2007
Swim 0:35 -- supposed to be an hour, but I didn't have enough time. I didn't get all of this done.
200fr, 100nf, 100fr 4x75 (25 k, 50 dr) w/5 sec rest 2x50 build @ 1:05 Tarzan stroke 1st 12 strokes 4x100 @ 1:50 1= 1st 12 strokes fast 2= 1st 15 strokes fast 3= 1st 22 strokes fast and last 6 fast 4= 1st 15 strokes fast and last 8 fast 1x400 @ 7:25 sighting 1x/50 6x50 @ 1:00 focus on aggressive start (1st 4-6 strokes fast) 1x300 @ 5:30 sighting 1x/50 50 ez 2x75 k @ 1:30 1x300 p @ 5:40 100 ez 2800 I only did the stuff in red, for a total of 1200 yards. I was really tired and not into this workout much. I just couldn't seem to find a groove.
Run 0:30
AEROBIC -- did this one early in the morning. It was cool out, but really humid. That humidy really saps my energy. I really need to find a way to get out more in the heat.
7/18/2007
Bike 1:30
AEROBIC -- done! Rode with Marcia at 6am. It feels great to have this workout done already before work. I did notice after riding for about an hour that my rear tire was very low on air. That explains why I felt like I was working so hard this morning and having a difficult time keeping up with Marcia!
7/19/2007
Swim 1:00
200 Fr, 100 K, 200 Ch 6x50 Dr @ 1:25 6x100 Ch @ 2:20 4x200 Fr @ (3:30, 3:25, 3:15, 3:10) 1x50 EZ 2x75 P @ 1:40 (work on turnover) 2x100 K @ 2:35 1x50 EZ 2750
Run 0:40
AEROBIC
7/20/2007
Swim 1:00
OPEN WATER
Bike 0:35
35-40 MINS AEROBIC WITH LAST 5 MINS HARD- BIG RING 15 GOING TO LT HR
7/21/2007
Bike 2:45
2:45-3 HRS AEROBIC JUST SPIN AROUND AND HAVE FUN
Run 0:20
EZ TRANSITION RUN
7/22/2007
Swim 0:30
OPEN WATER BEFORE OR AFTER RUN YOUR CHOICE
Run 1:15
EZ AEROBIC- RUN WALK IF NEED BE 10 RUN- 45 SEC WALK
Wednesday, July 18, 2007
Heart of the Lakes Tri
Swim 21:08 (880 yard swim)
T1 2:34
Bike 1:11:49 (21.3 mile bike)
T2 2:53 (stopped to go to the bathroom, too!)
Run 51:02 (5.3 mile run)
Total: 2:29:25
I finally completed my first tri of the year. I missed the other two I signed up for because of family things, so it was nice to finally compete again -- although I was unusually nervous for this one. I couldn't seem to remember how to lay out my transition area.
So, I'm fairly happy with my time. I wanted to go under 2:30, which I did, by 35 seconds. I was very disappointed with my swim time, which was over 2 minutes slower than last year. I would think that with all the swimming that I've done this summer, my time would have either stayed the same (I didn't wear a wetsuit this year) or only gone up a little. I got jostled around alot and couldn't seem to break free from the group. I got kicked so hard in the wrist that I almost threw up, so I'm sure that took something out of me. Good IM practice, I guess!
The bike was fine -- a little faster than last year on a hillier course. I felt really good coming off the bike and was able to run all of the run at a good (for me) pace. I was really surprised how good my legs felt on the run. I'm not a great runner and have been plagued with injuries for the past 3 years, so it was great to have such an awesome run during a race.
Pictures coming soon, I hope!
T1 2:34
Bike 1:11:49 (21.3 mile bike)
T2 2:53 (stopped to go to the bathroom, too!)
Run 51:02 (5.3 mile run)
Total: 2:29:25
I finally completed my first tri of the year. I missed the other two I signed up for because of family things, so it was nice to finally compete again -- although I was unusually nervous for this one. I couldn't seem to remember how to lay out my transition area.
So, I'm fairly happy with my time. I wanted to go under 2:30, which I did, by 35 seconds. I was very disappointed with my swim time, which was over 2 minutes slower than last year. I would think that with all the swimming that I've done this summer, my time would have either stayed the same (I didn't wear a wetsuit this year) or only gone up a little. I got jostled around alot and couldn't seem to break free from the group. I got kicked so hard in the wrist that I almost threw up, so I'm sure that took something out of me. Good IM practice, I guess!
The bike was fine -- a little faster than last year on a hillier course. I felt really good coming off the bike and was able to run all of the run at a good (for me) pace. I was really surprised how good my legs felt on the run. I'm not a great runner and have been plagued with injuries for the past 3 years, so it was great to have such an awesome run during a race.
Pictures coming soon, I hope!
Thursday, July 12, 2007
I love my kids! Today we stopped by SA to take advantage of the 79 cent mega drinks and a man stopped me to ask, "Are those ALL your kids?" I turned to him and smiled, saying "Yes, I'm so blessed to be their mom." He gave me a bit of a shocked look and then recovered, saying, "Yes, I guess you are."Sometimes they can be annoying. Sometimes they get in the way of training. Sometimes they make huge messes that they don't clean up. Sometimes they make me so mad I want to (ok, I confess, I do) scream!
But, in the end, I feel so blessed to be their mom. Yesterday afternoon I was able to read to them for two hours. We are getting close (finally) to finishing HP and the Order of the Phoneix. We laughed and laughed and laughed at Dumbledore's manner of getting away from Fudge and Umbridge and I think someone came dangerously close to wetting their pants during Fred and George's antics with the fireworks. It was a fun afternoon, and I got some well needed rest and time with my children.
They are growing up so fast, and I'm so happy that I am able to be a part of their lives.
I love you Jonathan, Andrew, Caleb, and Rachel!
Monday, July 9, 2007
Here's my schedule for the week. I will probably not take today (Monday) off as I really feel the need to do an easy spin. Also, I may do a long ez bike after HOTL on Sunday.
7/9/2007
Day Off -- I was going to do an ez spin after the kids' soccer games tonight, but I totally crashed. I could barely make dinner and clean up before I collapsed in bed. Man am I ever tired.
30 minute ez swim
7/10/2007
Swim 1:00
300 ch 4x50 k/dr @ 1:20 1x800 fr @ 16:00 (2:00) 4x50 nf/fr @ 1:15 1x400 fr @ 7:40 (1:55) 4x50 ch @ 1:10 100 ez 2200 -- done. I felt reasonably good while I was doing this, but was definately getting hungry and tired by the end. When I got home I took a brief cat nap and ate a huge bowl of brown rice and chicken before going to work.
Run 0:30 -- done! I can tell that I am still tired, but I was able to run and nothing hurts!
AEROBIC
7/11/2007
Swim 15 minutes -- I just jumped in the pool and practiced breathing on the right side for about 15 minutes of Rachel's swim lesson. I was too tired to do more than that this morning.
Bike 1:00 -- this was a great ride. I laid down and read to the kids for 2 hours this afternoon, which was the best thing I could have done for all of us. I finally felt rested when I got up! I almost didn't think I was going to get it done, but Brit came and watched the kids during Rachel's soccer game so I could get a ride in. It was wonderful. Headwind on the way out and tailwind on the way back. Just how I like it. I felt really strong!
7/12/2007
Swim 0:45
400 fr, 100ch 4x75 (dr 50, s 25) @ 1:35 500 fr @ 8:15 400 fr @ 6:00 50 kick 300 fr @ 4:55 200 fr @ 3:20 100 fr @1:35 1x50 EZ 4x50 k @ 1:15 2x50 dps @ 1:10 50ez 2700 -- I didn't get all of this done, but my time was really short today. I also didn't come any where to close to making those times. In my dreams!!! But I felt good and strong, which at the moment is good enough for me.
Run 0:30
25-30 MINS AEROBIC RIGHT AFTER SWIM -- done -- although I did it before my swim instead. Really nice cool morning, perfect for a run. It's mornings like these when I remember why I run.
7/13/2007
Swim 0:60 OPEN WATER WITH GROUP -- done -- swam about 3000 yards.
Brick 1:00 tech
15 MINS BIKE WITH LAST 2 MINS AT RACE PACE 5 MINS JOG WITH 1ST (2MINS) AT RACE PACE REPEAT THREE TIMES EZ 10 MINS EZ JOG AFTER LAST EFFORT DO ON TRAINERI WILL HAVE YOU DO THIS BRICK BEFORE EVERY RACE- GOOD TUNE UP -- didn't do this --was too tired!
7/14/2007
Day Off
7/15/2007
Race
HOLT -- GREAT RACE! See race report for details.
Did an ez ride in the evening -- 90 minutes, very ez spinning on flat country roads. Got my first flat of the season, too! At least it wasn't during the race.
7/9/2007
Day Off -- I was going to do an ez spin after the kids' soccer games tonight, but I totally crashed. I could barely make dinner and clean up before I collapsed in bed. Man am I ever tired.
30 minute ez swim
7/10/2007
Swim 1:00
300 ch 4x50 k/dr @ 1:20 1x800 fr @ 16:00 (2:00) 4x50 nf/fr @ 1:15 1x400 fr @ 7:40 (1:55) 4x50 ch @ 1:10 100 ez 2200 -- done. I felt reasonably good while I was doing this, but was definately getting hungry and tired by the end. When I got home I took a brief cat nap and ate a huge bowl of brown rice and chicken before going to work.
Run 0:30 -- done! I can tell that I am still tired, but I was able to run and nothing hurts!
AEROBIC
7/11/2007
Swim 15 minutes -- I just jumped in the pool and practiced breathing on the right side for about 15 minutes of Rachel's swim lesson. I was too tired to do more than that this morning.
Bike 1:00 -- this was a great ride. I laid down and read to the kids for 2 hours this afternoon, which was the best thing I could have done for all of us. I finally felt rested when I got up! I almost didn't think I was going to get it done, but Brit came and watched the kids during Rachel's soccer game so I could get a ride in. It was wonderful. Headwind on the way out and tailwind on the way back. Just how I like it. I felt really strong!
Strength 15 minutes -- Did my PT exercises, which are quickly becoming a decent strength workout, so I'm counting it. I really hope I can be consistent with these, as I think they will make a positive difference in my ability to run and bike without getting hurt.
7/12/2007
Swim 0:45
400 fr, 100ch 4x75 (dr 50, s 25) @ 1:35 500 fr @ 8:15 400 fr @ 6:00 50 kick 300 fr @ 4:55 200 fr @ 3:20 100 fr @1:35 1x50 EZ 4x50 k @ 1:15 2x50 dps @ 1:10 50ez 2700 -- I didn't get all of this done, but my time was really short today. I also didn't come any where to close to making those times. In my dreams!!! But I felt good and strong, which at the moment is good enough for me.
Run 0:30
25-30 MINS AEROBIC RIGHT AFTER SWIM -- done -- although I did it before my swim instead. Really nice cool morning, perfect for a run. It's mornings like these when I remember why I run.
7/13/2007
Swim 0:60 OPEN WATER WITH GROUP -- done -- swam about 3000 yards.
Brick 1:00 tech
15 MINS BIKE WITH LAST 2 MINS AT RACE PACE 5 MINS JOG WITH 1ST (2MINS) AT RACE PACE REPEAT THREE TIMES EZ 10 MINS EZ JOG AFTER LAST EFFORT DO ON TRAINERI WILL HAVE YOU DO THIS BRICK BEFORE EVERY RACE- GOOD TUNE UP -- didn't do this --was too tired!
7/14/2007
Day Off
7/15/2007
Race
HOLT -- GREAT RACE! See race report for details.
Did an ez ride in the evening -- 90 minutes, very ez spinning on flat country roads. Got my first flat of the season, too! At least it wasn't during the race.
Thursday, July 5, 2007
Formulas Just don't Work
So, I'm doing lots of tutoring this summer in Math. I have been very surprised at how quickly my alegebra knowledge came back. I love working with the neat little formulas and seeing how neat and orderly math can be. Unfortunately, life just isn't like that for me. It isn't neat and tidy at the end of the day. Many days I feel like a hopeless mess!
I'm reading a new book -- Searching for God Knows What, by Donald Miller where he talks about this very thing (at least in the first chapter -- I still can't really figure out where he is going, maybe that's the point?) He writes, "My friend who owns the coffe shop told us, in a tone of kindness and trugh, that nobody he knows who is successful gambles; rather, they work hard, they accept the facts of reality, they enjoy life as it is. 'But the facts of reality stink,' I told him. 'Reality is like a fine wine,' he said to me. 'It will not appeal to children.' And I am grateful my friend stung me in that way, because this truth helped me understand and appreciate life itself, as it is, without the false hope formulas offer" (11).
I really like this quote. As I grow up (finally!) I'm finding that more and more I need to accept myself and my truth for what it is -- instead of trying to make myself fit someone else's mold for my life. My truth and my reality are important and I need to find a way to live with it -- not try to change myself to fit. I'm not sure where this book will lead me, but I think that the journey will be good for me.
Training for and completing IMs the past two summers has really taught me that I can do far more than I give myself credit for. Reaching for a goal that seems out of sight -- and then reaching that goal has been a powerful force in my life. IM has made me physically fitter than I've ever been (resting HR at doctor yesterday was 56!), but it has also had a power affect on other areas of my life, including personal, emotional, and spiritual.
I'm reading a new book -- Searching for God Knows What, by Donald Miller where he talks about this very thing (at least in the first chapter -- I still can't really figure out where he is going, maybe that's the point?) He writes, "My friend who owns the coffe shop told us, in a tone of kindness and trugh, that nobody he knows who is successful gambles; rather, they work hard, they accept the facts of reality, they enjoy life as it is. 'But the facts of reality stink,' I told him. 'Reality is like a fine wine,' he said to me. 'It will not appeal to children.' And I am grateful my friend stung me in that way, because this truth helped me understand and appreciate life itself, as it is, without the false hope formulas offer" (11).
I really like this quote. As I grow up (finally!) I'm finding that more and more I need to accept myself and my truth for what it is -- instead of trying to make myself fit someone else's mold for my life. My truth and my reality are important and I need to find a way to live with it -- not try to change myself to fit. I'm not sure where this book will lead me, but I think that the journey will be good for me.
Training for and completing IMs the past two summers has really taught me that I can do far more than I give myself credit for. Reaching for a goal that seems out of sight -- and then reaching that goal has been a powerful force in my life. IM has made me physically fitter than I've ever been (resting HR at doctor yesterday was 56!), but it has also had a power affect on other areas of my life, including personal, emotional, and spiritual.
Tuesday, July 3, 2007
My Weekly Schedule
I'm going to try to post my schedule each week (and how I do with it) to help keep me honest!
Planned is in Green. Actual is in Red.
7/2/2007 Monday
Day Off
Actual was 60 Minute Bike -- this week is going to be all screwy because of the 4th of July and my attempts to make up a long bike I missed this past weekend.
7/3/2007 Tuesday
Swim 1:00
200 s, 100 k, 100 p 2x 100 kick @ 2:50 50 swim @ 1:05 (Last 25 of kick and swim are sprint) 5x300 @ 6:00 #1= 25 sprint/75 smooth #2= 50 sprint/50smooth #3= 100 sprint/100 smooth #4= 50 smooth/50 swim w/over kicking #5= 25 smooth/75 swim w/over kicking 2x100 as: #1= pull rb every 5-7 strokes @2:05 #2= kick @ 2:50 100 ez 2500
Planned is in Green. Actual is in Red.
7/2/2007 Monday
Day Off
Actual was 60 Minute Bike -- this week is going to be all screwy because of the 4th of July and my attempts to make up a long bike I missed this past weekend.
7/3/2007 Tuesday
Swim 1:00
200 s, 100 k, 100 p 2x 100 kick @ 2:50 50 swim @ 1:05 (Last 25 of kick and swim are sprint) 5x300 @ 6:00 #1= 25 sprint/75 smooth #2= 50 sprint/50smooth #3= 100 sprint/100 smooth #4= 50 smooth/50 swim w/over kicking #5= 25 smooth/75 swim w/over kicking 2x100 as: #1= pull rb every 5-7 strokes @2:05 #2= kick @ 2:50 100 ez 2500
Actual Swim was 35 minutes straight with some drills. Forgot my workout book at home and didn't want to think up anything clever to swim.
Bike 1:00
AEROBIC SPIN DO 5 MINS STANDING ON THE FLATS -- did this on Monday
Actual was a 40 minute run, did the bike yesterday.
7/4/2007 Wednesday
Run 0:40
AEROBIC WITH 4X4 MINS AT LT PACE WITH 2 MINS EZ BTW -- already did this on Tuesday.
Brick 3:00
Today was a make up from a long brick that I didn't do last weekend
30 minute swim, 2 hour ride, 30 minute run. Done and over with. The swim felt great -- it pays off to swim almost everyday. Now if only I could have time to do that with my biking and running I'd be in great shape. The bike was fine, although I got tired of it after only about 90 minutes. The last 45 were all on a trail, so that might explain something. While I don't enjoy climbing hills, at least it offers a change of position. The run was awful -- I had no energy for this at all and could never get rid of the "my legs feel like concrete" feeling. Then I was tired the rest of the day. Oh, well. We all have off days. Except for the swim, this felt like an "off" day.
7/5/2007 Thursday
Bike 1:15
AEROBIC WITH 6X2 MINS AT LT EFFORT WITH 2 MIN EZ BTW -- planning to do this tomorrow. Thursdays are too busy.
Swim 0:45 as 200 warm / 100 kick / 100 IM / 100 pull / 8x25 (odds nf, evens free) / 200 -- 25 drill, 25 swim / 500 at 10:25) / 150 cool -- total 1550 yards -- this was suprising a fun workout. Can I hear myself saying that I like to swim????
Run 0:30
AEROBIC BEFORE BIKE -- one of the few this week that I actually did as scheduled! Felt pretty tired -- couldn't find a groove at all. No knee pain, just couldn't get into the run today.
7/6/2007 Friday
Swim 0:45
OPEN WATER WITH GROUP- DO STARTS 3-4 TIMES- ENTER AND GO HARD FOR 200 YARDS THEN SWIM BACK EZ REPEAT
7/7/2007 Saturday
Run 1:20 80-90 MINS AEROBIC -- ugh. This was really hard. Really really really hard. I walked way too much. It was so hot and humid and I was so very tired. I need to work on staying positive when I feel so awful.
Bike 3:00
AEROBIC WITH 4X10 MINS AT HALF IM PACE WITH 5 MINS EZ BTW -- doing on Sunday
Run 0:15
TRANSITION RUN HARD EFFORT- 5 K RACE PACE FOR LAST 10 MINS
7/8/2007 Sunday
Run 1:20
80-90 MINS AEROBIC -- did yesterday
Bike 3:00 AEROBIC WITH 4X10 MINS AT HALF IM PACE WITH 5 MINS EZ BTW -- done and this felt really good -- even with the head wind for 20 miles. Did the Apple Du course and the River Road.
Run 0:15 TRANSITION RUN HARD EFFORT- 5 K RACE PACE FOR LAST 10 MINS -- felt great on this.
TRY AND GET AN EZ 30 MIN OPEN WATER SWIM IN SOMETIME DURING WEEKEND -- didn't get to this.
Bike 0:45
AEROBIC TRAINER RIDE SMALL RING ONLY -- will do on Monday
Way too long
It has been way too long since I've last been here. Once school was out for the kids, my life swung into high gear and I've been running full steam ahead for the past six weeks!
After the Apple Du, my ITBS started acting up big time. After a number of visits to the chiropractor and the PT, I think we finally have it under control. I was able to run 90 minutes (run 8, walk 2)this past weekend with NO pain and to top it off I got home seven minutes faster than I did last year when I ran the whole loop!
I really love the IM lifestyle. Although I was planning not to race one this year, when Hawaii became a possibility I said yes with no hesitation. Now that I'm back in serious training mode I've realized how much I love training for long distance races, and I can't imagine a summer without long runs, long rides, and long open water swims. I probably should start thinking about what IM I'm going to do next summer since they fill up so fast! Two of my friends are planning to do IM Florida in 2008, so maybe I should join them -- or else go back to Madison since that is such a close race for me.
Two weekends ago I did the Chippewa Trail race with Marcia. 14 miles of canoeing, 30 miles of mountain biking, and 6 miles of trail running. Man, was that race ever hard! I was so done canoeing about 2 hours before we actually finished. I went flying over my handlebars on the bike (ouch!), and finished so late that the aid stations were closed on the run. Fortunately someone had abandoned a water bottle by the side of the road and I was so dehydrated that I didn't care what was in it. That water bottle saved my race. I marked my second last place finish -- and I'm proud of it. Considering the fact that I had been mountain biking exactly 3 times, and canoeing 2, and hadn't run at all since the Apple Du, I was awfully lucky to finish at all.
I'll try to get back to regular posting. It's going to take more discipline that training, though, I'm afraid!
After the Apple Du, my ITBS started acting up big time. After a number of visits to the chiropractor and the PT, I think we finally have it under control. I was able to run 90 minutes (run 8, walk 2)this past weekend with NO pain and to top it off I got home seven minutes faster than I did last year when I ran the whole loop!
I really love the IM lifestyle. Although I was planning not to race one this year, when Hawaii became a possibility I said yes with no hesitation. Now that I'm back in serious training mode I've realized how much I love training for long distance races, and I can't imagine a summer without long runs, long rides, and long open water swims. I probably should start thinking about what IM I'm going to do next summer since they fill up so fast! Two of my friends are planning to do IM Florida in 2008, so maybe I should join them -- or else go back to Madison since that is such a close race for me.
Two weekends ago I did the Chippewa Trail race with Marcia. 14 miles of canoeing, 30 miles of mountain biking, and 6 miles of trail running. Man, was that race ever hard! I was so done canoeing about 2 hours before we actually finished. I went flying over my handlebars on the bike (ouch!), and finished so late that the aid stations were closed on the run. Fortunately someone had abandoned a water bottle by the side of the road and I was so dehydrated that I didn't care what was in it. That water bottle saved my race. I marked my second last place finish -- and I'm proud of it. Considering the fact that I had been mountain biking exactly 3 times, and canoeing 2, and hadn't run at all since the Apple Du, I was awfully lucky to finish at all.
I'll try to get back to regular posting. It's going to take more discipline that training, though, I'm afraid!
Friday, May 25, 2007
Cold Water
It's not nearly so easy to be faithful to writing in this blog now that I'm not on the computer every day. I'm really enjoying my time off -- maybe a bit too much. All those projects that I've sworn I would do once I was done with school are just simply not getting done. Instead I'm volunteering at the kids' school, going to soccer practice, reading books, hanging out with friends, cooking and training. I still don't seem to have a huge interest in getting the housework done!
This week, for the first time ever, I swam five times! I am really concerned about that ocean swim in Hawaii, so I'm going to spend a lot of time in the pool/lake between now and then. I can already tell that I'm swimming better now that I'm swimming on a regular basis. I can't promise five times a week for the next 16 weeks, but I do think I can get wet more often than I had in the past.
Today I had a wonderful day with Marcia and Amy. We went down to Gear West to get Marcia a wetsuit -- of course I had to pick up a few thing too :-) On the way home we stopped at Warner Lake and did our first open water swim of the season. Brrr. The first five minutes were "take your breath away" cold. After awhile I found my grove and actually enjoyed it. It is still strange to hear the words "I", "enjoy" and "open water swims" coming out of my mouth.
Tomorrow is my first race of the season -- the Apple Du. I'm not very excited about it. It's supposed to be cold, wet, and windy -- sounds like IM Wisconsin 06 to me. I'm not a big fan of duathalons anyway and being cold during one just doesn't really appeal to me. Oh, well -- it will be a way to get a good training day in and ensure that I actually do train tomorrow.
This week, for the first time ever, I swam five times! I am really concerned about that ocean swim in Hawaii, so I'm going to spend a lot of time in the pool/lake between now and then. I can already tell that I'm swimming better now that I'm swimming on a regular basis. I can't promise five times a week for the next 16 weeks, but I do think I can get wet more often than I had in the past.
Today I had a wonderful day with Marcia and Amy. We went down to Gear West to get Marcia a wetsuit -- of course I had to pick up a few thing too :-) On the way home we stopped at Warner Lake and did our first open water swim of the season. Brrr. The first five minutes were "take your breath away" cold. After awhile I found my grove and actually enjoyed it. It is still strange to hear the words "I", "enjoy" and "open water swims" coming out of my mouth.
Tomorrow is my first race of the season -- the Apple Du. I'm not very excited about it. It's supposed to be cold, wet, and windy -- sounds like IM Wisconsin 06 to me. I'm not a big fan of duathalons anyway and being cold during one just doesn't really appeal to me. Oh, well -- it will be a way to get a good training day in and ensure that I actually do train tomorrow.
Wednesday, May 16, 2007
Ordinary Days
School is done (for me), and I am quickly adjusting to the calm after the storm. It has been so very nice to have a little extra time to just do what I want. I've been running at such a high speed for so long -- I can't believe how good it feels to wake up in the morning and to know that I don't HAVE to be anywhere. Of course this will get old after a while, but it feels great right now.
Training is going great. Yesterday I broke a huge barrier for me in the swim as I swam a 500 yard TT in 9:55. My previous best at this distance was 10:25. So, despite the fact that I don't feel faster, I guess I am getting there little by little. I still think about that ocean swim at least once a day, but I think that I will be able to get in the training that I need to feel confident about it by the time October 13 rolls around.
I had the wonderful opportunty to see an old friend yesterday, Jenny. She is one of those people who make you want to be a better person just by being in their presence. She has such a gentle spirit and leads in such an amazing way. I've really missed her the past four years. She and her husband took in the twins after Jonathan was diagnosed with leukemia. I think she took care of them for almost four months. She is also the one who encouraged me to pursue a friendship with Marcia when I was feeling so lonely after moving back to St. Cloud. Her awareness of the fact that Marcia and I were perfect for each is an incredible example of the person that she is. I miss Jenny alot -- but she didn't leave me alone when she moved. She walked with me through some very difficult days and by the time she left I had an amazing support network of friends. She is one of my heros.
Jonathan had one of his regular follow-up visits last Friday -- still cancer free and in excellent health. He had an echo on his heart, which looked great. I finally got up the nerve to ask when they will use the "c-word" (cure) with him. The doctor told me that they don't consider kids cured until they are five years off treatment -- so we have three more to go. But she also gave me a great deal of hope by saying that with the treatments these days, kids who don't relapse on therapy have an excellent chance of never relapsing. I felt really light and free after leaving Children's last Friday. He doesn't have to go back for another SIX MONTHS!
Mother's day was great. We spent the day at my parent's house and the kids were wonderful. I'm so blessed to be their mom. They've put up with a lot from me while I've gone back to school. I'm really proud of how mature they are becoming. All parents say this, but I have to say that my kids are amazing.
I went running with the boys last night. Andrew rode his bike and Caleb and Jonathan ran "with" me. Well, actually they ran in front of me. I thought that this would be a good night to take them as I'm in a rest week and I was supposed to run really slow. I learned last night that I need to take them on speed workouts instead. They would run way ahead of me and turn around and wait. Then I overheard Caleb say to Andrew, "Look! I can even run faster than mom when I"m running backwards." HaHa Caleb! Anyway, it was really fun to share my love for running with them. Caleb told me that he wants to do this three times a week. Again -- I am so incredibly blessed.
That's all for now.
Training is going great. Yesterday I broke a huge barrier for me in the swim as I swam a 500 yard TT in 9:55. My previous best at this distance was 10:25. So, despite the fact that I don't feel faster, I guess I am getting there little by little. I still think about that ocean swim at least once a day, but I think that I will be able to get in the training that I need to feel confident about it by the time October 13 rolls around.
I had the wonderful opportunty to see an old friend yesterday, Jenny. She is one of those people who make you want to be a better person just by being in their presence. She has such a gentle spirit and leads in such an amazing way. I've really missed her the past four years. She and her husband took in the twins after Jonathan was diagnosed with leukemia. I think she took care of them for almost four months. She is also the one who encouraged me to pursue a friendship with Marcia when I was feeling so lonely after moving back to St. Cloud. Her awareness of the fact that Marcia and I were perfect for each is an incredible example of the person that she is. I miss Jenny alot -- but she didn't leave me alone when she moved. She walked with me through some very difficult days and by the time she left I had an amazing support network of friends. She is one of my heros.
Jonathan had one of his regular follow-up visits last Friday -- still cancer free and in excellent health. He had an echo on his heart, which looked great. I finally got up the nerve to ask when they will use the "c-word" (cure) with him. The doctor told me that they don't consider kids cured until they are five years off treatment -- so we have three more to go. But she also gave me a great deal of hope by saying that with the treatments these days, kids who don't relapse on therapy have an excellent chance of never relapsing. I felt really light and free after leaving Children's last Friday. He doesn't have to go back for another SIX MONTHS!
Mother's day was great. We spent the day at my parent's house and the kids were wonderful. I'm so blessed to be their mom. They've put up with a lot from me while I've gone back to school. I'm really proud of how mature they are becoming. All parents say this, but I have to say that my kids are amazing.
I went running with the boys last night. Andrew rode his bike and Caleb and Jonathan ran "with" me. Well, actually they ran in front of me. I thought that this would be a good night to take them as I'm in a rest week and I was supposed to run really slow. I learned last night that I need to take them on speed workouts instead. They would run way ahead of me and turn around and wait. Then I overheard Caleb say to Andrew, "Look! I can even run faster than mom when I"m running backwards." HaHa Caleb! Anyway, it was really fun to share my love for running with them. Caleb told me that he wants to do this three times a week. Again -- I am so incredibly blessed.
That's all for now.
Wednesday, May 9, 2007
Ok, so now hills are my friend, too?
I think I know where this is leading. One of these days I'm going to write about challenges and how they make us stronger, or something like that. But for today I'll stick with the simple truth that I am finding enjoyment with running hills. It's kind of like the wind that I talked about a few days ago. It simply amazes me how different my approach to training is this time around. I'm embracing the difficult workouts like never before. Today during Master's swim I thought that I was not going to make it -- and to my great surprise, not only did I make it through a set, but I was able to keep going. I, in fact, DID NOT DIE.
I'm enjoying training more than I ever have before. I don't know if it is the fact that I'm going to Kona or if my thyroid levels really have been low for the past two years (I just started thyroid replacement meds) or if the month that I took off during April really helped or if I finally have some athletic base to build on. I only know that I haven't felt this good for this long in a very long time.
Today's workouts -- a 53 minute bike ride with 10x10 sec sprints and a few big hills thrown in for good measure. This was followed immediately by a 2200 yard Master's swim workout.
And now I'm off to give a final. I'll be grading like a fool for the next 24 hours to get grades in on time.
I'm enjoying training more than I ever have before. I don't know if it is the fact that I'm going to Kona or if my thyroid levels really have been low for the past two years (I just started thyroid replacement meds) or if the month that I took off during April really helped or if I finally have some athletic base to build on. I only know that I haven't felt this good for this long in a very long time.
Today's workouts -- a 53 minute bike ride with 10x10 sec sprints and a few big hills thrown in for good measure. This was followed immediately by a 2200 yard Master's swim workout.
And now I'm off to give a final. I'll be grading like a fool for the next 24 hours to get grades in on time.
Tuesday, May 8, 2007
91 Steps of a typical IM Trip
I found this on the net. It was orginally 99, but when I renumbered it, I only came up with 91 and I'm not doing it again. There are limits to what I will do!
No, I don't know who wrote it, but I could have. I did many of these things, but I'm not telling which ones. Anyway, it really made me laugh. Sometimes I know that I am crazy.
No, I don't know who wrote it, but I could have. I did many of these things, but I'm not telling which ones. Anyway, it really made me laugh. Sometimes I know that I am crazy.
1. Arrive in town.
2. Find over-priced accommodations you are staying a minimum of four nights at
3. Unpack bicycle, spread gear around room randomly.
4. Attempt to reassemble bicycle, realize you forgot to mark your seat and handlebar position before disassembly. Guess position and tell yourself it won’t make a big difference.
5. Drive bike course at slow speeds while making wrong turns. Annoy locals.
6. Find swim venue. Put wetsuit on, stand around for 15 minutes. Swim 10 minutes, take wetsuit off. Look around to see if you impressed anyone.
7. Walk around expo looking for free stuff.
8. Go to registration tent, stand in line, get bag, check bag for goodies.
9. Go back to hotel, arrange energy products into different piles. Stare at piles.
10. Spend 2 hours preparing for bike ride with race wheels and drink systems. Go for 30 minute ride. Go back to hotel.
11. Decide that this would be a great opportunity to learn how to rebuild your rear hub to fix the play in it. Disassemble hub.
12. Drive to house where your club mate, the bicycle mechanic, is staying. Show him the pieces of your rear wheel. Beg for help.
13. Go to swim start Friday morning. Look for tell-tale wrist-bands on other competitors; look condescendingly at all those swimming who aren’t participating in the race.
14. Go back to hotel, spend 4 hours attaching numbers to your bicycle, helmet, and race outfit. Panic that you don’t have 8 pieces of reflective tape for your run outfit, even though IMNA has never been known to enforce the rule.
15. Drive down to expo at the last minute, stand in line, pay $10 for a strip of reflective tape.
16. Drive back to hotel, place energy products into various bags.
17. Pack transition bags.
18. Unpack transition bags.
19. Repack transition bags.
20. Drive to Carbo-dinner. Stand in line, proceed through buffet with poor food selection, sit at crowded table, remember you paid an extra $20 each so your family could enjoy this food. 21. 21. Listen to IMNA personnel tell same jokes as last year. Realize that Dave Scott has apparently discovered the fountain of youth. Stand in line to leave.
22. Prep bike to drop off on Saturday, discover your tire has a slow leak. Drive to expo, stand in line, pay $80 for tubular tire. Get back to hotel, realize you don’t know how to glue on a tubular, drive back to expo and have them do it for you.
23. Drop bike off, spend time covering bike with various plastic bags because everyone else is doing it.
24. Drop off your transition bags, realize you forgot your salt tablets, drive back to hotel to get them.
25. Drive back to hotel again, arrange race gear for tomorrow morning.
26. Pack special needs bags.
27. Unpack special needs bags.
28. Repack special needs bags.
29. Realize there is nothing more you can do to get ready. Sit down and relax.
30.Panic.
31. Eat early dinner
32. Go to bed, lie there in a cold sweat.
33. Wake up at 2:00 am for 1000 calorie bottle of nasty-tasting concoction, “because Gordo does it”.
34. Lie awake listening to horrible weather move into town.
35. Wake up at 4:00 am, listen to spouse complain.
36. Get in car, drive to start. Stand in line to enter the transition area.
37. Check transition bags.
38. Stand in line to get body marked.
39. Check bike, stand in line to get tires pumped up.
40. Stand in line for porta-john.
41. Realize you left your water bottles with special nutrition needs in the fridge at the hotel. 42. Drive back madly to get them.
42. Get back to start, wait in line for parking spot.
43. Stand in line for porta-john.
44. Get wetsuit on, stand in line to enter swim area.
45. Realize it’s too late for a warm up. Stand in line to enter water.
46. Stand in water with 2000 other people while sun comes up and national anthem is sung by local high school girl. Realize that few moments of your life have been this beautiful.
47. Gun goes off, 2000 people attempt to swim on top of you, realize that you are in mortal danger or drowning and few moments of your life have been this dangerous.
48. Get kicked in face, goggles come off, panic and tread water trying to get them back on while people hit you. Remember you paid good money to do this.
49. Exit swim, stand in line to get into transition.
50. Stand in line to get out of change tent. Get bike, stand in line to get out of transition.
51. Start bike, realize that there is no way 1000 people can pack onto a course within 20 minutes without massive drafting problems. Hope that poor bike handlers don’t crash in front of you.
52. Ride bike.
53. Panic that you’ve already fallen off your nutrition plan that your coach gave you.
54. Make up for lost calories and fluids in the next 15 minutes. Feel ill.
55. Ride bike.
56. Get saddle-sore.
57. Ride bike
58. Decide to piss while riding to save time.
59. Spend the next 30 minutes soft-pedaling, coasting, and practicing mental imagery trying to relax enough to let it go.
60. Give up, get off at aid station and spend 30 seconds in porta-john, get back on bike.
61. Ride bike, feel queasy and bloated, take 3 salt tablets at once to make sure you’re not low on electrolytes. Throw up.
52. Get off bike, sit in change tent wondering why you are doing this. Listen in disbelief to volunteer telling you you’re almost done. Proceed to marathon course.
53. Realize that you should have practiced the 1000 calorie drink at 2:00 am before race day.
54. Throw up, walk, jog, repeat for 26 miles.
55. Start gagging at the thought of another energy gel.
56. Sample the variety of food at aid stations. Discover Oreos, the food of the Gods.
57. Invent the form of locomotion called the ‘ironman shuffle’. Feel proud that your 12 minute mile is technically not walking.
58. Pass your spouse. Make them swear to never let you do another one of these.
59. See finishing chute. Sprint madly down the road high-fiving people and cheering while announcer screams your name. Realize it was all worth it.
60. Get to finishing chute, wait in line while a man takes his extended family over it with him.
61. Cross line, collapse into arms of patient voluneteers.
62. Spend next two hours in med tent realizing that you should have drunk more fluids when it got hot.
63. Go to massage tent, eat cold pizza and wander around in a daze while wearing an aluminum foil blanket.
64. Stick around finish line until midnight to share in “the ironman spirit”. Beat off 12-year-old to grab free socks thrown into crowd.
65. Look in disbelief at fresh and bouncy professional athletes dancing at the finish line.
66. Cheer last few athletes into the finish before midnight. Ask your spouse if you looked that bad. Be amazed that they spent 17 hours out there moving the whole time.
67. Go back to hotel, collapse in bed.
68. Wake up, go to bathroom, collapse back into bed. Repeat all night until the 6 IV’s the med tent gave you are through your system.
69. Wake up at 4:00 because your legs hurt so much.
70. Eat first breakfast.
71. Sit around until spouse wakes up, eat second breakfast.
72. Shuffle around town Monday morning wearing finishers T-shirt and medal. Smile knowingly at other fellow shufflers. Graciously accept congratulations from locals thankful you came to their town to spend money.
73. Eat third breakfast at all you can eat buffet.
74. Go to Official Finishers merchandise tent. Stand in line. Pick out $200 worth of clothing with prominent logos on it. Stand in line, pay $600 for clothes. Contemplate getting a tattoo to immortalize your achievement.
75. Fall prey to peer-pressure and marketing techniques. Cough up $450 to sign up for the race next year - since it will sell out today, and this is your only chance to sign up!
76. Proceed to IM Hawaii role-down. Hold out hope that, even though you finished 80th in your age-group, this will be the year everyone leaves early and you get the last spot.
77. Eat first lunch.
78. Go back to hotel, stare at the disgusting, sticky, smelly mess that is your bicycle and race clothes. Start packing things up to fly home
79. Eat second lunch.
80. Go to awards dinner, stand in line. Get poor food from buffet, remember you spent $20 a head so your family could enjoy this magical moment with you.
81. Watch hastily-produced race video. Closely examine each frame hoping they caught a glimpse of you on the course. Be disappointed.
82. Watch age-group athletes get their awards. Wonder how many of them actually work for a living, and where you can get some of the performance enhancing drugs they appear to be on.
83. Realize that you have to go all the way up to women’s 70+ age group before you find an age-group your time would have won.
84. Listen to long, excruciatingly boring thank-you speeches from various professional athletes.
85. Stand in line to get out of awards dinner.
86. Go to Airport, stand in line. Deliver $5000 bike to Neanderthal-like baggage handler. Pray. 87. Reluctantly take finishers medal off to pass through metal detector. Proudly tell TSA personnel what you did on your weekend.
88. Get home, contemplate unpacking disgusting bicycle, decide to leave it until tomorrow.
89. Eat Bon-Bons and watch TV. Contemplate unpacking your bicycle and training again, decide to leave it until tomorrow.
90. Repeat above step for 2-10 weeks. Step on scale. Look at your fat, disgusting self in a mirror and remember you signed up for next year’s race. Unpack bike, chip mold off of seat tube. Show up at swim practice again.
91. Get ready to do it all again next year…
It couldn't have been any other way . . .
I don't really like the post I wrote yesterday. I was going to go back and delete it, but decided that I would keep it as a reminder of the messy business that writing is. I keep telling my students that they must write and rewrite and rewrite -- and that they should not wad it all up and start over. So, I will keep my lucky post and revisit it another day when my thoughts are a little clearer on the subject (if that ever happens!)
I started reading a new book last night, The Country Under My Skin, by Gioconda Belli. I picked it off the shelf at the bookstore last weekend because the title intrigued me. I feel many days that Kazakhstan has gotten under my skin and has a profound impact on who I am today. Anyway, if it weren't for the title, I probably would not have picked it up as I've never really read anything about Central America. Well, I've been sucked in. She is an incredible author with a very lyrical writing style. I am already jotting down quotes that resonate with my life. Here's the quote for today,
"But we come into the world with a ball of yarn to weave the fabric of our lives. One cannot know exactly what the tapestry will look like, but at a certain moment one can look back and say: Of Course! It couldn't have been any other way! That shiny thread, that stitching couldn't have led anywhere else!" (p. 6)
That's me. Today. I never dreamed 30 years ago when I used to come to SCTC with my father that my evenings of pretending to be a teacher would actually be realized in this very same place. It's amazing really. I'm assigning grades for my real students in the very same building where I used to do it for imaginary ones when I was a child. As I look at my background and the things that I have done over the past 20 years that I can't imagine my life any other way. I am very happy with the tapestry that has been produced thus far. And I'm super excited to see what other patterns and designs will be created with the rest of my life.
I started reading a new book last night, The Country Under My Skin, by Gioconda Belli. I picked it off the shelf at the bookstore last weekend because the title intrigued me. I feel many days that Kazakhstan has gotten under my skin and has a profound impact on who I am today. Anyway, if it weren't for the title, I probably would not have picked it up as I've never really read anything about Central America. Well, I've been sucked in. She is an incredible author with a very lyrical writing style. I am already jotting down quotes that resonate with my life. Here's the quote for today,
"But we come into the world with a ball of yarn to weave the fabric of our lives. One cannot know exactly what the tapestry will look like, but at a certain moment one can look back and say: Of Course! It couldn't have been any other way! That shiny thread, that stitching couldn't have led anywhere else!" (p. 6)
That's me. Today. I never dreamed 30 years ago when I used to come to SCTC with my father that my evenings of pretending to be a teacher would actually be realized in this very same place. It's amazing really. I'm assigning grades for my real students in the very same building where I used to do it for imaginary ones when I was a child. As I look at my background and the things that I have done over the past 20 years that I can't imagine my life any other way. I am very happy with the tapestry that has been produced thus far. And I'm super excited to see what other patterns and designs will be created with the rest of my life.
Monday, May 7, 2007
Lucky?
I've heard the word lucky alot the past few weeks. I suppose it is only natural, what with me finding out about winning the lottery and finding out that I got the job I've been wanting in the same week. But after talking with a friend last week, I started thinking again about luck. Was it really "luck" that brought all the things that keep me grinning the past few weeks?
I'm not so sure anymore. An old friend used to say to me, "the harder I work, the luckier I get." I'm starting to wonder a bit about his words. I would never have been able to get the job at SCTC if I wouldn't have gone back to school three years ago to get my masters. During those three years of long nights writing and grading papers, reading long boring scholarly articles, and designing assignments for my students there were many times when I wanted to quit. It was not easy balancing school, work, and time with my family. There were days when I was positive that I couldn't do all three. But, the hard work ethic instilled in me by my father prevailed and somehow I got through.
And then there was that job interview at SCTC last summer. I went certain that I would never be offered a job, but I thought that it would be a good experience for me to interview anyway. I never dreamed when I walked into the dean's office that within two weeks I would be working my dream job. I took a chance going to the interview -- and they took a chance on me. Was it luck -- or was it the culmination of a lot of hard work and a bit of grace on the part of the dean? I still didn't know at that time that it would turn into a permanent position. But I continued to work hard to do the best job possible for my students -- and again, that hard work payed off in a job offer last Friday.
What about the Kona lottery slot? Surely that was luck. Well, certain some luck plays into that. But I did have to enter, and I spent a lot of time thinking over my answers to the questions on the lottery form. Whether that had any impact on my selection I don't know -- but I do know that I have worked incredibly hard to get this couch potato body into good enough shape to be able to train for and complete two IMs.
And what about the spiritual aspect of all of this? I'm not sure how to answer that question anymore. The easy answers that I grew up with about God don't really satisfy me anymore. I have deep questions about my faith. That doesn't mean that I don't believe anymore, it just means that I am thinking critically about the beliefs that I hold. There was a time when I would quickly point to all my good fortunate as God's blessing in my life. But then what do I do about Jonathan's leukemia and the other difficulties we have seen over the past five years? And how do I explain the suffering that my Christian brothers and sisters deal with every day? Is that evidence that God isn't blessing them? I can't make those assumptions anymore. Instead, for now I will thank God for allowing me to work hard and for guiding me to do the things that I have done -- and not try to assign blame or causation to him. At any rate, I'm certain that this next part of my life's journey will find me searching even more reconnect with the spiritual aspect of my life.
Luck? Well, I'll take the lucky label if you have to use it -- but I'd rather be remembered for the hard work I've done and not the luck that I've sported. I know that I won't be out buying lottery tickets anytime soon. I also know that I am very fortunate and am continually grateful for the life that I have been able to live so far.
I'm not so sure anymore. An old friend used to say to me, "the harder I work, the luckier I get." I'm starting to wonder a bit about his words. I would never have been able to get the job at SCTC if I wouldn't have gone back to school three years ago to get my masters. During those three years of long nights writing and grading papers, reading long boring scholarly articles, and designing assignments for my students there were many times when I wanted to quit. It was not easy balancing school, work, and time with my family. There were days when I was positive that I couldn't do all three. But, the hard work ethic instilled in me by my father prevailed and somehow I got through.
And then there was that job interview at SCTC last summer. I went certain that I would never be offered a job, but I thought that it would be a good experience for me to interview anyway. I never dreamed when I walked into the dean's office that within two weeks I would be working my dream job. I took a chance going to the interview -- and they took a chance on me. Was it luck -- or was it the culmination of a lot of hard work and a bit of grace on the part of the dean? I still didn't know at that time that it would turn into a permanent position. But I continued to work hard to do the best job possible for my students -- and again, that hard work payed off in a job offer last Friday.
What about the Kona lottery slot? Surely that was luck. Well, certain some luck plays into that. But I did have to enter, and I spent a lot of time thinking over my answers to the questions on the lottery form. Whether that had any impact on my selection I don't know -- but I do know that I have worked incredibly hard to get this couch potato body into good enough shape to be able to train for and complete two IMs.
And what about the spiritual aspect of all of this? I'm not sure how to answer that question anymore. The easy answers that I grew up with about God don't really satisfy me anymore. I have deep questions about my faith. That doesn't mean that I don't believe anymore, it just means that I am thinking critically about the beliefs that I hold. There was a time when I would quickly point to all my good fortunate as God's blessing in my life. But then what do I do about Jonathan's leukemia and the other difficulties we have seen over the past five years? And how do I explain the suffering that my Christian brothers and sisters deal with every day? Is that evidence that God isn't blessing them? I can't make those assumptions anymore. Instead, for now I will thank God for allowing me to work hard and for guiding me to do the things that I have done -- and not try to assign blame or causation to him. At any rate, I'm certain that this next part of my life's journey will find me searching even more reconnect with the spiritual aspect of my life.
Luck? Well, I'll take the lucky label if you have to use it -- but I'd rather be remembered for the hard work I've done and not the luck that I've sported. I know that I won't be out buying lottery tickets anytime soon. I also know that I am very fortunate and am continually grateful for the life that I have been able to live so far.
The Wind is my Friend
It's been a windy weekend. And I spent a lot of time on my bike. I decided this weekend to make friends with the wind, as it has been my nemesis for the past four years. I used to look at the weather reports and then plan my workouts around the wind -- avoiding the wind like the plague.
Now that I've decided to make my peace, I've thought of many great things about the wind.
1. When its in my face, it makes me stronger.
2. When it is to my back, it gives me a push and lets me feel what it feels like to go 26mph on the flats.
3. When it is a cross-breeze, it forces me to practice good bike handling skills.
4. And overall, it just makes me mentally tougher.
So, life is still good. My presentations in St. Paul went really well, and I got to reconnect with some friends at the conference. I realized, once again, how fortunate I am to have had the experience of going back to school in my 30s. I've met some awesome people and had some incredible experiences. And I've learned that I am good at some things.
Well, that's all for now. I need to read papers like crazy, as this is finals week and grades are due Friday. I finished My Sister's Keeper this weekend and will probably talk about that more later this week. I'll be back soon.
Now that I've decided to make my peace, I've thought of many great things about the wind.
1. When its in my face, it makes me stronger.
2. When it is to my back, it gives me a push and lets me feel what it feels like to go 26mph on the flats.
3. When it is a cross-breeze, it forces me to practice good bike handling skills.
4. And overall, it just makes me mentally tougher.
So, life is still good. My presentations in St. Paul went really well, and I got to reconnect with some friends at the conference. I realized, once again, how fortunate I am to have had the experience of going back to school in my 30s. I've met some awesome people and had some incredible experiences. And I've learned that I am good at some things.
Well, that's all for now. I need to read papers like crazy, as this is finals week and grades are due Friday. I finished My Sister's Keeper this weekend and will probably talk about that more later this week. I'll be back soon.
Wednesday, May 2, 2007
Call me Superstitious
Why is it that when many good things happen people start thinking something bad will happen? That's exactly how I'm feeling these days. I had an incredibly good week last week. I finished student teaching and felt great about it. The students were really good the last week and did some amazing oral presentations. Even though I was really ready to be done, I will miss those students.
I also found out last week that I'm going to Kona. Me, going to Kona. I still can't believe that I'm really going. But the tickets are bought and the condo is reserved. I've started training and watching what I eat. But I'm still in shock about the whole thing and always seem to have this silly grin on my face.
And then on Friday I found out that I got the job that I've been wanting. It is basically a continuation of the job that I had this past year, but now it is permanent. I've gone through a pretty tense month of applying and interviewing and relieved that I can finally talk to people at work again. I'm so excited to be able to stay here!
And so things have been really good for me lately. Workouts are going well and nothing hurts when I run. And yet I am so worried about Jonathan.
Maybe its his inability to sleep at night that bothers me. Or maybe it is his irratibility. Or maybe that fever that he had this past weekend. Or maybe it was the episode of House that I watched last night which was all about a boy with leukemia. Most likely it is the book that I'm reading right now -- My Sister's Keeper. Reading that book has had me on the verge of tears for most of the past two days. Her portrayals of a family battling cancer are so realistic and the feelings the characters reveal are SO TRUE. As I'm reading this book I am reminded of how much our family has been through over the past five years. I really like something one of her characters says in the book, "The human capacity for burden is like bamboo -- far more flexible than you'd ever believe at first glance" (p. 196).
I've been able to go through far more than I ever thought possible. And as time passes, the memories of the difficult times fades. I asked the kids last night what they remembered about Jonathan's cancer treatment and they remembered very little. Mostly people who helped our family out during those times. Oh, and stuffed animals that they received. I still have most of the memories, but the sting of them is gone.
But, yet recently I'm feeling as thought I'm relieving all of his cancer memories. They flood over me as I read this book or as I watch Jonathan deal with his fears. And when too many good things happen, I wonder when it will all end.
I also found out last week that I'm going to Kona. Me, going to Kona. I still can't believe that I'm really going. But the tickets are bought and the condo is reserved. I've started training and watching what I eat. But I'm still in shock about the whole thing and always seem to have this silly grin on my face.
And then on Friday I found out that I got the job that I've been wanting. It is basically a continuation of the job that I had this past year, but now it is permanent. I've gone through a pretty tense month of applying and interviewing and relieved that I can finally talk to people at work again. I'm so excited to be able to stay here!
And so things have been really good for me lately. Workouts are going well and nothing hurts when I run. And yet I am so worried about Jonathan.
Maybe its his inability to sleep at night that bothers me. Or maybe it is his irratibility. Or maybe that fever that he had this past weekend. Or maybe it was the episode of House that I watched last night which was all about a boy with leukemia. Most likely it is the book that I'm reading right now -- My Sister's Keeper. Reading that book has had me on the verge of tears for most of the past two days. Her portrayals of a family battling cancer are so realistic and the feelings the characters reveal are SO TRUE. As I'm reading this book I am reminded of how much our family has been through over the past five years. I really like something one of her characters says in the book, "The human capacity for burden is like bamboo -- far more flexible than you'd ever believe at first glance" (p. 196).
I've been able to go through far more than I ever thought possible. And as time passes, the memories of the difficult times fades. I asked the kids last night what they remembered about Jonathan's cancer treatment and they remembered very little. Mostly people who helped our family out during those times. Oh, and stuffed animals that they received. I still have most of the memories, but the sting of them is gone.
But, yet recently I'm feeling as thought I'm relieving all of his cancer memories. They flood over me as I read this book or as I watch Jonathan deal with his fears. And when too many good things happen, I wonder when it will all end.
Tuesday, May 1, 2007
Great Workouts Today
I got home from work last night to find a 2006 Hawaii IM DVD on the counter. Apparently these get sent to lottery winners? Because I didn't order one -- I thought about it, but didn't have time to get to it yet. I'm so excited to watch it.
I've been thinking about about how IM training really becomes a lifestyle. It dictates so many of the decisions that I make. What time I wake up, what I wear during the day, what I eat, when I shower, how many showers I take, and even when I do laundry. Wow, I'm already washing workout clothes like crazy.
Today's workouts were a 35 minute ez treadmill run with 3x5 minute 6mph pace and a 2200 yard swim. Both of them went really well and I was done by 9:30. That's AM, not PM. Woohoo! It's so nice to have my mornings free again.
That's all for now. Nothing hurts, I'm feeling great, and still super excited about my Kona adventure.
I've been thinking about about how IM training really becomes a lifestyle. It dictates so many of the decisions that I make. What time I wake up, what I wear during the day, what I eat, when I shower, how many showers I take, and even when I do laundry. Wow, I'm already washing workout clothes like crazy.
Today's workouts were a 35 minute ez treadmill run with 3x5 minute 6mph pace and a 2200 yard swim. Both of them went really well and I was done by 9:30. That's AM, not PM. Woohoo! It's so nice to have my mornings free again.
That's all for now. Nothing hurts, I'm feeling great, and still super excited about my Kona adventure.
Monday, April 30, 2007
Canoes are Awfully Heavy!
Well, my workouts for this weekend didn't go exactly as planned. I had a long (well, at least for this time in the season long) bike and run planned, but neither of them got done. I was too obsessed with Jonathan's fever on Saturday to do any running, and on Sunday I spent most of my biking time with a canoe.
Why the canoe? Well, I sure wish I had pictures for this. I'll have to get some soon because I'm sure Marcia and I created quite a scene walking down the middle of the road with a canoe on our shoulders. We are training for an off-road tri in June -- 16 miles of canoeing, 26 miles of mountain biking, and 7 miles of trail running. This was part of my "taking a year off from IM" plan. I'm not longer taking that year off, but I'm still going to do the races that I want to do and try to make my training fit me, instead of the other way around.
So, Marcia and I loaded up the 78 pound canoe on our shoulders and walked the 3 blocks to the Mississippi River -- as we walked we talked about how we are the luckiest girls in the world. We live 2 miles apart, but both of us live 3 blocks from one of the biggest rivers in the world. The River plays a huge role in my bike and run route planning.
We got the canoe in the river and paddled up river first -- there was a strong wind and a current and since my last canoe experience was 17 years ago we were a little worried. Marcia has been canoeing alot in recent years, but she has never had to steer before. We did AWESOME! I was so proud of us. After about 75 minutes of canoeing it was time to go home, but I think both of us feel really good about our abilities to do this race. It will be really hard, but we are strong women and we can do it! Plus, it was a blast just having the time with my friend. We are both so busy that it is rare that we get to spend uninterupted time together. And it was a blast! I'm so fortunate to have a friend like her.
Friends are one of the greatest benefits of my tri training. But more about that later.
Why the canoe? Well, I sure wish I had pictures for this. I'll have to get some soon because I'm sure Marcia and I created quite a scene walking down the middle of the road with a canoe on our shoulders. We are training for an off-road tri in June -- 16 miles of canoeing, 26 miles of mountain biking, and 7 miles of trail running. This was part of my "taking a year off from IM" plan. I'm not longer taking that year off, but I'm still going to do the races that I want to do and try to make my training fit me, instead of the other way around.
So, Marcia and I loaded up the 78 pound canoe on our shoulders and walked the 3 blocks to the Mississippi River -- as we walked we talked about how we are the luckiest girls in the world. We live 2 miles apart, but both of us live 3 blocks from one of the biggest rivers in the world. The River plays a huge role in my bike and run route planning.
We got the canoe in the river and paddled up river first -- there was a strong wind and a current and since my last canoe experience was 17 years ago we were a little worried. Marcia has been canoeing alot in recent years, but she has never had to steer before. We did AWESOME! I was so proud of us. After about 75 minutes of canoeing it was time to go home, but I think both of us feel really good about our abilities to do this race. It will be really hard, but we are strong women and we can do it! Plus, it was a blast just having the time with my friend. We are both so busy that it is rare that we get to spend uninterupted time together. And it was a blast! I'm so fortunate to have a friend like her.
Friends are one of the greatest benefits of my tri training. But more about that later.
I'll Always be a Cancer Mom
The fear is so bright, it is blinding. Some days it is so strong that I can taste it, like a meal I'd never want to eat again. And so it hit this weekend. We were enjoying a day in Minneapolis. Jonathan had a fishing tournament with the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society in the morning and we had an afternoon of festivities planned for the rest of the day. After enjoying a picnic in the park, we decided to visit one of our favorite Middle Eastern grocery stores. Jonathan was complaining that he was thirsty -- but hey -- who wasn't? It was 80 degrees and we'd all had a bit too much sun. I told him we'd stop for drinks after visiting the store. While we were in the store, he lost it. He started crying hysterially, saying that his legs hurt, his head hurt, his eyes hurt, and that he was certain that his cancer was back. That was all I needed to hear -- Cancer Mom was back.
We got him some water and drove to the nearest Walgreens for a thermometer. His fever was 104, so I went back into the store for some children's motrin. They day was done -- and we drove home from the cities, quietly talking between us what it would be like if his cancer had really returned. I didn't sleep much that night.
The next morning Jonathan was up before all of us -- ready to go. No fever, no signs of illness. And he's still fine today.
So what was this all about? Probably a virus, maybe a reaction to being in the sun all morning, who knows? But, I've come to the conclusion that I will never be able to react to Jonathan's illnesses with the carefree attitude that I had five years ago.
And I guess that his illness has played a huge role in the person that I am today. I believe that I care more about people, that I try to make the most of the opportunities that we are given. Life is so fragile and we never know when it will end.
Yes, I'll always be a cancer mom. But I'll also be so much more than that. This will not define me, but instead will play a vital role in shaping the person that I am becoming.
We got him some water and drove to the nearest Walgreens for a thermometer. His fever was 104, so I went back into the store for some children's motrin. They day was done -- and we drove home from the cities, quietly talking between us what it would be like if his cancer had really returned. I didn't sleep much that night.
The next morning Jonathan was up before all of us -- ready to go. No fever, no signs of illness. And he's still fine today.
So what was this all about? Probably a virus, maybe a reaction to being in the sun all morning, who knows? But, I've come to the conclusion that I will never be able to react to Jonathan's illnesses with the carefree attitude that I had five years ago.
And I guess that his illness has played a huge role in the person that I am today. I believe that I care more about people, that I try to make the most of the opportunities that we are given. Life is so fragile and we never know when it will end.
Yes, I'll always be a cancer mom. But I'll also be so much more than that. This will not define me, but instead will play a vital role in shaping the person that I am becoming.
Thursday, April 26, 2007
Who Am I?
Well, not such an easy question to answer. People are incredibly complex and trying to sum up exactly who we are is never an easy task. I recently wrote an article for a coaching group that I train with which should give some insight on the reasons that I train. Here it is: ___________________
2-20-02. Anyone who has heard much about Lance Armstrong knows his obsession with a date. If we are honest, most of us have one or several. Those days or times in our lives that somehow, often times unbeknownst to us, actually shape our futures. These dates may be vivid, standing as towers in our minds, beckoning us to remember. Or they may be glimpses of a memory that we don’t hardly understand. For me, mine is of the previous quality and has had a distinct and lasting impression on the course of my life.
Five years ago I would have collapsed with laughter if you told me that someday soon I would love to do triathlons. At that time I didn’t own a bike, couldn’t swim, and hated running. Clearly I would win the non-athlete award among all my friends. During college I was the bookworm who preferred to read great literature and hold never-ending discussions on philosophical issues long into the night. My perfect GPA was marred only by the fact that I was required to take PE classes. Me, an athlete? NEVER!
And then my world turned upside down. On February 20, 2002 my 5-year-old son was diagnosed with leukemia. Everything I had ever thought true in my life was challenged during the following months. I read everything I could about cancer – treatment, survival rates, heartbreaking stories about children who didn’t make it, medical journals – you name it, I read it. During that time I read about some moms who were doing marathons in honor or memory of their children through a group called Team in Training (TNT). To be honest, my initial thought was that they were nuts. Didn’t they have enough to worry about with their child being sick? But over time I began to be intrigued by these stories. These women had a passion about them that I lacked. And they had turned the very ugly side of side of cancer into personal growth and change for themselves and their families.
So, very timidly, I signed up for a marathon with TNT. The very next day I laced up my shoes for my first ever run. I got halfway down the block and thought, “this really sucks” and walked home. I was on the phone with TNT within minutes ready to withdraw from the program. My coordinator suggested that rather than quitting I should try a triathlon. The running portion was shorter, she explained, and plus I could always walk it if I wanted to.
I guess she was very persuasive as somehow I ended up at a kick-off meeting for something called an Olympic distance triathlon. I still didn’t own a bike, I still hated running, and I really didn’t know how to swim. But I went to the training meetings. I learned to do enough breaststroke to some how make it 1.5 K. I bought a bike and pounded out a ton of anger on the county roads around my house. And I resigned myself to walk/run the 10K.
To my great surprise, a part of me that had been hidden since that horrible year in sixth grade when I didn’t make a basket the entire year of intramural basketball came out. I found the athlete inside of myself. I found that running could actually be pleasurable. And that swimming, when done correctly, is actually somewhat relaxing. And of course that the bike has powers that modern psychiatric medicine can only dream about for dealing with emotions.
And so I look back upon the last 5 years with a sense of awe and wonder, instead of anger and fear. We were lucky – my son is now a thriving 10-year-old who participated in his first triathlon last year.
2-20-02. Anyone who has heard much about Lance Armstrong knows his obsession with a date. If we are honest, most of us have one or several. Those days or times in our lives that somehow, often times unbeknownst to us, actually shape our futures. These dates may be vivid, standing as towers in our minds, beckoning us to remember. Or they may be glimpses of a memory that we don’t hardly understand. For me, mine is of the previous quality and has had a distinct and lasting impression on the course of my life.
Five years ago I would have collapsed with laughter if you told me that someday soon I would love to do triathlons. At that time I didn’t own a bike, couldn’t swim, and hated running. Clearly I would win the non-athlete award among all my friends. During college I was the bookworm who preferred to read great literature and hold never-ending discussions on philosophical issues long into the night. My perfect GPA was marred only by the fact that I was required to take PE classes. Me, an athlete? NEVER!
And then my world turned upside down. On February 20, 2002 my 5-year-old son was diagnosed with leukemia. Everything I had ever thought true in my life was challenged during the following months. I read everything I could about cancer – treatment, survival rates, heartbreaking stories about children who didn’t make it, medical journals – you name it, I read it. During that time I read about some moms who were doing marathons in honor or memory of their children through a group called Team in Training (TNT). To be honest, my initial thought was that they were nuts. Didn’t they have enough to worry about with their child being sick? But over time I began to be intrigued by these stories. These women had a passion about them that I lacked. And they had turned the very ugly side of side of cancer into personal growth and change for themselves and their families.
So, very timidly, I signed up for a marathon with TNT. The very next day I laced up my shoes for my first ever run. I got halfway down the block and thought, “this really sucks” and walked home. I was on the phone with TNT within minutes ready to withdraw from the program. My coordinator suggested that rather than quitting I should try a triathlon. The running portion was shorter, she explained, and plus I could always walk it if I wanted to.
I guess she was very persuasive as somehow I ended up at a kick-off meeting for something called an Olympic distance triathlon. I still didn’t own a bike, I still hated running, and I really didn’t know how to swim. But I went to the training meetings. I learned to do enough breaststroke to some how make it 1.5 K. I bought a bike and pounded out a ton of anger on the county roads around my house. And I resigned myself to walk/run the 10K.
To my great surprise, a part of me that had been hidden since that horrible year in sixth grade when I didn’t make a basket the entire year of intramural basketball came out. I found the athlete inside of myself. I found that running could actually be pleasurable. And that swimming, when done correctly, is actually somewhat relaxing. And of course that the bike has powers that modern psychiatric medicine can only dream about for dealing with emotions.
And so I look back upon the last 5 years with a sense of awe and wonder, instead of anger and fear. We were lucky – my son is now a thriving 10-year-old who participated in his first triathlon last year.
And I have to say that I was also fortunate that in the trials of life I was able to find a sport that would give me the power to do things in all areas of my life that I never dreamed possible.
Cancer still royally sucks, but I find that this year I can actually say thank you to 2-20-2002.
Irondream Come True!
Well, I'm still grinning from ear to ear four days after learning that I won a lottery slot into IM Hawaii. I never dreamed that this would happen and, needless to say, I am so very excited.
It is now time to ramp up my training. I've been recovering from a lengthy bout of what I call the plague. I was so sick this year I didn't think I would ever recover. I can finally talk now without feeling like my throat is going to close up, so I guess I am on the mend. One of the good things about this illness is that I finally got my thyroid level really checked and as suspected it is low. I've been on meds for two weeks now and I'm starting to realize what I've been missing. I'm fairly confident that I've forgotten what it feels like to NOT be tired.
Student teaching ends tomorrow, and my classes at the Technical College will finish in two weeks. I'm really ready for this semester to be over. I've enjoyed the time with my students, but I've also tried to do too much this semester and it has taken its toll on my body. I'm awfully close to burn out, so it will be nice to have some time to myself for a bit. Oh yeah -- I guess that will all go towards IM training, but at least I can classify that as "me" time.
I have a short 30 minute run planned for this evening. I'll have to squeeze it in between my classes finishing at 5:30 and a meeting at 6:30. Dinner in the car and wet hair at the meeting again. Ah, the life of an Ironman. I wouldn't have it any other way.
It is now time to ramp up my training. I've been recovering from a lengthy bout of what I call the plague. I was so sick this year I didn't think I would ever recover. I can finally talk now without feeling like my throat is going to close up, so I guess I am on the mend. One of the good things about this illness is that I finally got my thyroid level really checked and as suspected it is low. I've been on meds for two weeks now and I'm starting to realize what I've been missing. I'm fairly confident that I've forgotten what it feels like to NOT be tired.
Student teaching ends tomorrow, and my classes at the Technical College will finish in two weeks. I'm really ready for this semester to be over. I've enjoyed the time with my students, but I've also tried to do too much this semester and it has taken its toll on my body. I'm awfully close to burn out, so it will be nice to have some time to myself for a bit. Oh yeah -- I guess that will all go towards IM training, but at least I can classify that as "me" time.
I have a short 30 minute run planned for this evening. I'll have to squeeze it in between my classes finishing at 5:30 and a meeting at 6:30. Dinner in the car and wet hair at the meeting again. Ah, the life of an Ironman. I wouldn't have it any other way.
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