This has been a long, grueling, emotional, and fulfilling journey. What started out as a whim ended up as a dedication to a family member, a few more friends, a few lessons on life, and a slimmer healthier body.
This week has been a withdrawal week for my teammates and I. We are sending out desperate emails to each other--What's next? Some are signing up for triathlons and runs in August and September. There's an open water swim race this Friday I'll probably go to. Some of us are swimming on Sunday mornings just to keep practicing together. One is starting her chemo treatments on Tuesday. One coach is coaching a triathlon team at Cycle University so there is possibilities there. And we've set a date for a reunion party.
Me? I feel great this week. I feel like I am 10-20 years younger than when I started training. No exaggeration. Before training, my back hurt. My knees hurt. My hips hurt. My ankles hurt. Sometimes alone, sometimes in an aching chorus. Now I just have that one nagging spot on my knee. I'm impatiently staying away from running until that hurt goes away. I'm doing my knee strengthening exercises and my stretching. I have another physical therapy appointment at the end of the month. I hope to start over again in running. And I believe I will most likely sign up for another Team in Training / Leukemia fundraiser next year.
This has been an amazing source of training, inspiration, and information. If you have the slightest interest in triathlons (or marathons for that matter), this is the way to go. Do it for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Do it for yourself.
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
Saturday, June 26, 2010
Race Day!!!
Jitters. How am I supposed to eat that vital food with this stomach-ache?
After tossing and turning all night, living the triathlon in my head I was so glad to climb out of bed and actually be preparing for the race.
Bob is my emotional and organizational support. He puts my number on my bike. He puts my timing chip on my ankle. He hauls the unnecessary stuff back to the car. Then he asks, "Where's your helmet number?" Helmet number? I can't find my helmet number. Parts are flying everywhere while I search for my helmet number. One of the coaches comes along. He calmly cuts a helmet number out of my race envelope and tapes it on my helmet. Scissors and tape. Those were two of the things listed in that handy-dandy packing list Team in Training provided.
It's time to put on the wetsuit, but it is so difficult today. Oops, it's backwards. "No, no, don't take my picture now." So I turn it around and try again. Funny how it fits better.
Then we are off to the beach area, with our rousting final "Go Team" cheer. Three waves of swimmers leave first, 5 minutes apart. Then the Team in Training group goes.
The water is not cold. It's a small warm lake compared to what we have been training in. The swim is an out and back around a buoy, with only one minor collision with an oncoming swimmer. In 15 minutes, I come out of the water exhausted, but manage to hop up over the 3-foot bank, and fumble my way through the transition. I'm soon on my bike.
There's a short steep hill at the start. I weave around a couple of stalled-out bicyclists and head down the road. Did I say down the road? It's up the road. Definitely up. And up and up and up. It's not too steep but my legs are screaming. Finally, I crest the hill and get a chance to recuperate. It's a beautiful ride, looping around Lake Samish, back down to Fairhaven in Bellingham. The police wave us through the red lights, holding back the car traffic. I'm having loads of fun rolling down the road, then I turn a corner, and there's the HILL. That looming, in-your-nightmares, HILL. It's several blocks of just put-it-in-your-lowest-gear and grind-up-the-hill. So that's what I did. I didn't walk. I didn't tip over. I made it to the top.
Then it's another mile. I yell, "We're getting close!" Another teammates adds, "Wriggle your toes!" (Remember how it feels like you are running on ice cubes when you have no circulation in your feet?). I zoom around the last corner, skid in, dismount, and run my bike through the transition. OK, I actually walk my bike. Off with the bike shoes, helmet, and on with the tennis shoes. That went smoothly.
What a beautiful running trail. It's the sort of trail I would love if I hadn't just spent the prior hour and 45 minutes swimming and running. I did mostly run it, slowly, except for the hills. There was so much cheering and people yelling "Clear the way," I felt like a queen. A sweaty, gasping, running queen.
One of my teammates was running beside me. She started getting cramps, so I pulled ahead a bit. Foolish me. She kept me in her sights. When I got to the finish line I didn't see it. I missed the markers to exit the trail. So I kept running. Everyone was yelling "Sandy". I thought everyone was just cheering for me. Such nice people. Then I asked the spectators "Where's the finish line?" They all pointed backwards. So it's a quick u-turn, across the grass, and in to the finish chute. Meanwhile, my lagging teammate finished ahead of me. Should have stayed with her.
So I was done. I didn't drown, crash, get a flat tire, bonk, or pass out. What else can I say, except that I now have a tremendous group of supportive, fit friends.
After tossing and turning all night, living the triathlon in my head I was so glad to climb out of bed and actually be preparing for the race.
Bob is my emotional and organizational support. He puts my number on my bike. He puts my timing chip on my ankle. He hauls the unnecessary stuff back to the car. Then he asks, "Where's your helmet number?" Helmet number? I can't find my helmet number. Parts are flying everywhere while I search for my helmet number. One of the coaches comes along. He calmly cuts a helmet number out of my race envelope and tapes it on my helmet. Scissors and tape. Those were two of the things listed in that handy-dandy packing list Team in Training provided.
It's time to put on the wetsuit, but it is so difficult today. Oops, it's backwards. "No, no, don't take my picture now." So I turn it around and try again. Funny how it fits better.
Then we are off to the beach area, with our rousting final "Go Team" cheer. Three waves of swimmers leave first, 5 minutes apart. Then the Team in Training group goes.
The water is not cold. It's a small warm lake compared to what we have been training in. The swim is an out and back around a buoy, with only one minor collision with an oncoming swimmer. In 15 minutes, I come out of the water exhausted, but manage to hop up over the 3-foot bank, and fumble my way through the transition. I'm soon on my bike.
There's a short steep hill at the start. I weave around a couple of stalled-out bicyclists and head down the road. Did I say down the road? It's up the road. Definitely up. And up and up and up. It's not too steep but my legs are screaming. Finally, I crest the hill and get a chance to recuperate. It's a beautiful ride, looping around Lake Samish, back down to Fairhaven in Bellingham. The police wave us through the red lights, holding back the car traffic. I'm having loads of fun rolling down the road, then I turn a corner, and there's the HILL. That looming, in-your-nightmares, HILL. It's several blocks of just put-it-in-your-lowest-gear and grind-up-the-hill. So that's what I did. I didn't walk. I didn't tip over. I made it to the top.
Then it's another mile. I yell, "We're getting close!" Another teammates adds, "Wriggle your toes!" (Remember how it feels like you are running on ice cubes when you have no circulation in your feet?). I zoom around the last corner, skid in, dismount, and run my bike through the transition. OK, I actually walk my bike. Off with the bike shoes, helmet, and on with the tennis shoes. That went smoothly.
What a beautiful running trail. It's the sort of trail I would love if I hadn't just spent the prior hour and 45 minutes swimming and running. I did mostly run it, slowly, except for the hills. There was so much cheering and people yelling "Clear the way," I felt like a queen. A sweaty, gasping, running queen.
One of my teammates was running beside me. She started getting cramps, so I pulled ahead a bit. Foolish me. She kept me in her sights. When I got to the finish line I didn't see it. I missed the markers to exit the trail. So I kept running. Everyone was yelling "Sandy". I thought everyone was just cheering for me. Such nice people. Then I asked the spectators "Where's the finish line?" They all pointed backwards. So it's a quick u-turn, across the grass, and in to the finish chute. Meanwhile, my lagging teammate finished ahead of me. Should have stayed with her.
So I was done. I didn't drown, crash, get a flat tire, bonk, or pass out. What else can I say, except that I now have a tremendous group of supportive, fit friends.
Friday, June 25, 2010
Week 22: Race Week
Our coach warns us, "Do not add extra onto your workouts or feel like you haven't done enough. If you haven't it is TOO LATE!!"
I have some very worried teammates. Last February, one teammate could not even swim the length of the pool. Now she's been out of town and is panicked. Another teammate is a good swimmer but panics when she can't see the bottom.
Sunday: We are swimming in Lake Washington at Madison Park. The water is a bit warmer today. Our coach actually measured the distance between pilings. Turns out we have been shorting ourselves. So we swim three-and half times around the pilings (not two-and half).
Monday: Another open water swim at Madison Park. Just trying to get comfortable.
Tuesday: A bike ride with Bob and Greg. Our instructions are to go easy, with four 20-second pickups. So we pedal out the new section of the Burke-Gilman Trail to Golden Gardens. It's not very busy and a good spot to do those pickups. That's 20-second all-out sprints with about a minute of rest in between. They are very fun.
Wednesday: This is our last night at the running track. I am finally given my race outfit. It's a shocker. No way are those shorts going to fit me. I need another 3 months training to shrink up. But, later, I do squeeze them on. The miracle of spandex.
The coach announces that we are having one last Mission Statement, those inspirational stories of those who have dealt with leukemia and why they are doing this triathlon and why we are so important and so on. Our team member starts out telling her family and friend's history of leukemia. She goes on to credit her son and daughter-in-law (one is our coaches) for convincing her to do this triathlon. Then comes the big news: She has been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. This is shattering news.
It's a low blow. We are training and raising money to raise money to cure leukemia. And one of own is diagnosed with cancer. Cancer is not fair.
Suddenly our own problems seem trivial.
Thursday: I use it as a rest day and and to mull and mope about my teammate.
Friday: That taper must have worked as I'm bouncing off the walls.
The coach told us to pick the one thing that frightens us the most about this triathlon, then do three things to address it. How can one pick only one thing? Is it bonking? No, I think I've figured that out with my Bento Bag and my constant input of food on the bike ride. Is it that huge hill at the end of the bike ride? No, if I just pace myself and don't bonk I should make it. I debate a few other things.
So finally, we load up the car and we are on our way to Bellingham. I have my race bag, my transition bag, my overnight bag, my food bag, Marley's bag, my bike, my husband, my dog.
After we check in the hotel, there's a brief team meeting at the race site, then Bob and I walked Marley around the running course. It's a beautiful trail but what are these hills doing in the course?
Finished out the evening with the team's kick-off dinner. No wine tonight. Just lots of water. We are feeling very festive and taking lots of pictures.
Race day tomorrow.
I have some very worried teammates. Last February, one teammate could not even swim the length of the pool. Now she's been out of town and is panicked. Another teammate is a good swimmer but panics when she can't see the bottom.
Sunday: We are swimming in Lake Washington at Madison Park. The water is a bit warmer today. Our coach actually measured the distance between pilings. Turns out we have been shorting ourselves. So we swim three-and half times around the pilings (not two-and half).
Monday: Another open water swim at Madison Park. Just trying to get comfortable.
Tuesday: A bike ride with Bob and Greg. Our instructions are to go easy, with four 20-second pickups. So we pedal out the new section of the Burke-Gilman Trail to Golden Gardens. It's not very busy and a good spot to do those pickups. That's 20-second all-out sprints with about a minute of rest in between. They are very fun.
Wednesday: This is our last night at the running track. I am finally given my race outfit. It's a shocker. No way are those shorts going to fit me. I need another 3 months training to shrink up. But, later, I do squeeze them on. The miracle of spandex.
The coach announces that we are having one last Mission Statement, those inspirational stories of those who have dealt with leukemia and why they are doing this triathlon and why we are so important and so on. Our team member starts out telling her family and friend's history of leukemia. She goes on to credit her son and daughter-in-law (one is our coaches) for convincing her to do this triathlon. Then comes the big news: She has been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. This is shattering news.
It's a low blow. We are training and raising money to raise money to cure leukemia. And one of own is diagnosed with cancer. Cancer is not fair.
Suddenly our own problems seem trivial.
Thursday: I use it as a rest day and and to mull and mope about my teammate.
Friday: That taper must have worked as I'm bouncing off the walls.
The coach told us to pick the one thing that frightens us the most about this triathlon, then do three things to address it. How can one pick only one thing? Is it bonking? No, I think I've figured that out with my Bento Bag and my constant input of food on the bike ride. Is it that huge hill at the end of the bike ride? No, if I just pace myself and don't bonk I should make it. I debate a few other things.
It's a flat tire. That's what I am most afraid of. I don't really know how to change a flat tire. One time when Bob was traveling I wanted to bicycle but was afraid to go far from the house, because I might get a flat tire. So I did laps on the 3rd Avenue hill near the house. And I hate hills.
Early in training, we had to change a flat tire for homework. It took me 45 minutes. Try that in the Tour de France. Last week we had a flat on a ride. I got it down to 35 minutes, with Bob grabbing the tire from me only once, just to keep things moving. Those mosquitoes were getting the best of us.
So this my three things to combat this fear:
1. Put two tubes in my bike pack.
2. Don't run over glass on the road.
3. Change a flat tire. So that's what I did this morning. I got it down to 25 minutes with only three questions to Bob. I may be slow but at least I can remember the process now.
So finally, we load up the car and we are on our way to Bellingham. I have my race bag, my transition bag, my overnight bag, my food bag, Marley's bag, my bike, my husband, my dog.
After we check in the hotel, there's a brief team meeting at the race site, then Bob and I walked Marley around the running course. It's a beautiful trail but what are these hills doing in the course?
Finished out the evening with the team's kick-off dinner. No wine tonight. Just lots of water. We are feeling very festive and taking lots of pictures.Race day tomorrow.
Saturday, June 19, 2010
Week 21: Slow but Steady June 13-19
Sunday: Met a few people at Green Lake to swim. Kaari and I trudged on to the outer buoy. There was a little bit of sunshine and it made a world of difference in attitude. It was very pleasant and nice.
We on our own this week. Our coaches are in Hawaii with the Maui crew.
Monday: Day off.
Tuesday: Very fun swim at Madison Park. Only four people showed up. The water is a balmy 62 degrees. It's laps around a row pilings that run parallel to the shore. You swim along you can look at the nice wave patterns in the sand below. What are those sea shells doing in a fresh-water lake? If you swim crooked you crash into the piling. Straight becomes a necessity.
Wednesday: Met Tessa, Karin, and Kaari at Green Lake. It was a slow run around the perimeter of the lake. I think I have finally found a pace I can do. Chatting with Kaari the whole way helps. The run was done before I knew it. The pace was a 12-minute mile.
Thursday: Biking with Bob. My plan is to bike 1 to 2 hours, so we do a counter-clockwise trip around Magnolia, zig-zagging to minimize the hills. Then we walk our bikes through the locks and pedal on home.
Friday: Left work at noon. Ran with Marley around Green Lake -- non-stop except for a couple of water breaks for Marley! It was a 11:30 or 11:40 minute mile. Running slow but steady.
Saturday: Bob and I headed to Seward Park to ride our bikes. There was a big event at the park so we parked in a lot outside the park. Biked a loop up the hill and back. Bob then loaded my bike on to the car, while I ran down the trail with Marley. I am practicing that BRICK, the transition form biking to running, so it's important that I run immediately after biking. I ran along the water with Marley, spotted a dock, ran to the end, did the Rocky hands in the air thing, then ran back. It was 4 miles. This is a record for me.
Then we drove to Bow to the Rhododendron Cafe for lunch. Then on to Bellingham to check out the hill I missed on our practice run. It is steep!
Sunday: Met my group at Madison to swim again. Kimberly, one of the coaches, is back from Hawaii. We have to do three laps. That's means I have to swim over that creepy seaweed at the end three times. It's cold again and I am shivering. The weather forecast for Bellingham is not looking good. A lot of my teammates have pre-race jitters.
We on our own this week. Our coaches are in Hawaii with the Maui crew.
Monday: Day off.
Tuesday: Very fun swim at Madison Park. Only four people showed up. The water is a balmy 62 degrees. It's laps around a row pilings that run parallel to the shore. You swim along you can look at the nice wave patterns in the sand below. What are those sea shells doing in a fresh-water lake? If you swim crooked you crash into the piling. Straight becomes a necessity.
Wednesday: Met Tessa, Karin, and Kaari at Green Lake. It was a slow run around the perimeter of the lake. I think I have finally found a pace I can do. Chatting with Kaari the whole way helps. The run was done before I knew it. The pace was a 12-minute mile.
Thursday: Biking with Bob. My plan is to bike 1 to 2 hours, so we do a counter-clockwise trip around Magnolia, zig-zagging to minimize the hills. Then we walk our bikes through the locks and pedal on home.
Friday: Left work at noon. Ran with Marley around Green Lake -- non-stop except for a couple of water breaks for Marley! It was a 11:30 or 11:40 minute mile. Running slow but steady.
Saturday: Bob and I headed to Seward Park to ride our bikes. There was a big event at the park so we parked in a lot outside the park. Biked a loop up the hill and back. Bob then loaded my bike on to the car, while I ran down the trail with Marley. I am practicing that BRICK, the transition form biking to running, so it's important that I run immediately after biking. I ran along the water with Marley, spotted a dock, ran to the end, did the Rocky hands in the air thing, then ran back. It was 4 miles. This is a record for me.
Then we drove to Bow to the Rhododendron Cafe for lunch. Then on to Bellingham to check out the hill I missed on our practice run. It is steep!
Sunday: Met my group at Madison to swim again. Kimberly, one of the coaches, is back from Hawaii. We have to do three laps. That's means I have to swim over that creepy seaweed at the end three times. It's cold again and I am shivering. The weather forecast for Bellingham is not looking good. A lot of my teammates have pre-race jitters.
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
Week 18: Listen to your coach
Monday, Tuesday: The cold is back. How can this be? This is its third round. So I spend these two days in bed.
Wednesday: Our group is running around the Green Lake track. We get to do fartleks. Yes, fartleks. Funny name, fun to do. First, do an easy lap. Then sprint the straight sections of one lap. Repeat the whole thing. Repeat again. Again. And again. Somewhere around here my knee started hurting. I switched to walking.
Thursday: A nice bike ride with Bob.
Friday: I packed up the Mini with my bike, wet suit, running clothes, sleeping clothes, food, tent, sleeping bag and whatever else I thought of and headed north to Skagit Valley. One of my teammates has volunteered her cabin as an overnight stop on the way to Bellingham. It is Friday night of Memorial Weekend so instead of an hour, the drive takes three hours. Our group straggles in, all complaining about the traffic.
This "cabin" was nice enough to be featured on the cover of Sunset magazine. I didn't even have to put up the tent or use the sleeping bag. Got a real bed.
Saturday: Our bunch caravans to Bellingham to check out our triathlon course. The weather report says, "scattered showers". I think there is nothing scattered about this. It is pouring.
We get on our bikes, break into groups, and take off on the course. It's wet. I give a little advice on going wet downhills to one my teammates. The road is nice. The scenery is nice. We get lost. We loop around a few times. Finally, of trying to find the course, we concentrate on finding our way back to the parking lot. We are drenched and hungry. Dry clothes, some snacks, and most of us head back home.
Later I get a report from our hostess. She had spent the weekend taking care of us, but not taking care of herself. She didn't eat much breakfast, didn't dress warm enough, and didn't drink water on the ride. (There's that pesky problem of gripping the the handlebars.) Luckily her husband picked her up after the ride. She was fading in and out and ended up in emergency, diagosed and treated for hyperthermia, dehydration, and exhaustion. She now advises us, "When the coach talks about nutrition, listen."
Wednesday: Our group is running around the Green Lake track. We get to do fartleks. Yes, fartleks. Funny name, fun to do. First, do an easy lap. Then sprint the straight sections of one lap. Repeat the whole thing. Repeat again. Again. And again. Somewhere around here my knee started hurting. I switched to walking.
Thursday: A nice bike ride with Bob.
Friday: I packed up the Mini with my bike, wet suit, running clothes, sleeping clothes, food, tent, sleeping bag and whatever else I thought of and headed north to Skagit Valley. One of my teammates has volunteered her cabin as an overnight stop on the way to Bellingham. It is Friday night of Memorial Weekend so instead of an hour, the drive takes three hours. Our group straggles in, all complaining about the traffic.
This "cabin" was nice enough to be featured on the cover of Sunset magazine. I didn't even have to put up the tent or use the sleeping bag. Got a real bed.
Saturday: Our bunch caravans to Bellingham to check out our triathlon course. The weather report says, "scattered showers". I think there is nothing scattered about this. It is pouring.
We get on our bikes, break into groups, and take off on the course. It's wet. I give a little advice on going wet downhills to one my teammates. The road is nice. The scenery is nice. We get lost. We loop around a few times. Finally, of trying to find the course, we concentrate on finding our way back to the parking lot. We are drenched and hungry. Dry clothes, some snacks, and most of us head back home.
Later I get a report from our hostess. She had spent the weekend taking care of us, but not taking care of herself. She didn't eat much breakfast, didn't dress warm enough, and didn't drink water on the ride. (There's that pesky problem of gripping the the handlebars.) Luckily her husband picked her up after the ride. She was fading in and out and ended up in emergency, diagosed and treated for hyperthermia, dehydration, and exhaustion. She now advises us, "When the coach talks about nutrition, listen."
Sunday, May 23, 2010
Team in Training -- Week 16 (May 17-23)
If one word described last week, it was "new". This week the word is "cold". Weather dealt its hand here.
Monday: We have what we call an On Your Own (OYO) Week. Minimal group things are scheduled and you must be self-motivated to stay on the training plan. So, OYO, I drag Marley down to the closest school track. Alternate running 2 laps, walking 1 lap. Marley is not entertained by going round and round in a circle. Me, I have my music on the iPhone.
Tuesday and Wednesday: Social engagements. No sports.
Thursday: It’s raining so Bob and I pedaled on the stationary bikes in the basement.
Friday: I’m off to the track again. About the time I arrive, it starts to rain. It pours. It hails. Marley, who seems to be wiser than me, refuses to run any more. I tie her up under a tree and keep on running. Do you get to quit when your shoes start squishing? Eventually I do give up, quitting 10 minutes short of my goal, and call Bob to come save me in the car. After all, who wants to walk in the rain? When he arrives, Marley and I drag our dripping bodies into the back seat where Bob has stashed a pile of towels. Bob then announces the car is dying. On cue, it complies by sputtering, smoking, stinking for good measure, then dying at the side of the road. Why don’t our friends answer their phones? Zip Car to the rescue. There is one around the block. The next day the car is towed to the shop.
Saturday: This is our first practice race, in abbreviated form. It’s time to get a taste of putting three sports together.
One of my teammates described it right: "The water is frickin’ cold". And there are plenty of green slimy things growing in it. They don’t seem bothered by the cold.
We have been instructed to kick hard the last 100 yards of the swim. This is to get the blood circulating back in our legs. How do you tell where 100 yards from the shore is? Sure enough, I don’t know where 100 yards is and I don’t kick enough. When I come out of the water I feel like I'm going to tip over. My fingers are frozen and it’s nearly impossible to get the wet suit unzipped, but eventually I climb on my bike, and pedal my lightheaded wet body up the road. This has got to be a record slow transition. Up the hill away from Seward Park, around the round-about and back to the transition area. Must keep eating. At 30 minutes my legs are noodles. At least I have some feeling back in them.
This transition including falling to the ground to get my tennis shoes on. You don't see that on the Hawaii Ironman telecasts. My clothes are still wet as I run off along the lake path, down and back. My feet feel like ice cubes. I do a few 30-second walks but managed to survive. At least with the run we are able to cheer each other on with high fives as we pass each other.
This is our transition area after the tornado team came through. We just threw out wet suits, bikes, and everything else down and moved on to running.
I mention how much I’m in awe of triathletes, after Saturday’s practice. My teammates pointed out, “Sandy, you are a triathlete.” I love my teammates.
The water is chillier this week. We swam a 1/4 mile out, regrouped, then swam the 1/4 mile back in, nonstop. It was a little easier than last week. Less thrashing, more rhythm.
Back home to a very hot shower. Oh, oh, my cold is coming back. I don’t think my immune system likes all this cold wet stuff.
The water is chillier this week. We swam a 1/4 mile out, regrouped, then swam the 1/4 mile back in, nonstop. It was a little easier than last week. Less thrashing, more rhythm.
Back home to a very hot shower. Oh, oh, my cold is coming back. I don’t think my immune system likes all this cold wet stuff.
Monday, May 17, 2010
Team in Training -- Week 15 (May 9-16)
Sunday. Started with a run around Discovery Park with its beautiful trails. The scenery goes from woods with the crows picnicking overhead, to fields, to a scenic overlook of the Puget Sound. Running for me was actually half walking, as I was so trashed from the bike ride the day before.
Monday. We were in the pool. Twenty 100s on 2 minutes. The rests got shorter and shorter but we made it.
Tuesday. Biking the Magnolia loop with Bob. Another scenic ride.
Wednesday. Running with the group. Loops up and down a hill in Kelsey Park. My taped knee held up, but I had to walk down the hills. Too much pounding for me. Chatted with one of the coaches as to whether I should be so trashed from the bike ride. How will I ever run after a bike ride? So now I'm instructed to slow down a little bit, but bike three times a week instead of two.
Thursday. Biking with Bob. Once again I ran out of steam, at 1 hour 15 minutes. That’s not going to work.
Friday. A much needed rest day, even though I walked to work and back.
Saturday. Fun, fun, fun. The weekend was full of firsts for me. We rode in the Marymoor Velodrome for sprint practice! I don’t know how many of you have seen a velodrome, but it is a very scary thing the first time you ride in one. To novices such as myself, the track on the corners are very, very high and very, very steep. I did a few laps on the track on the straight stretch, then dropped down to the pavement on the corners. Then I starting edging into the corners before dropping down. Finally I made through a whole corner. Then it was scream around the corners the rest of the practice. And I mean scream. Yes, we were pedaling fast, but I was actually screaming, as if in an amusement park.
This is a picture from the Marymoor Velodrome web site: http://www.kingcounty.gov/recreation/parks/inventory/marymoor/velodrome.aspx
Sunday. We got our wetsuits and swam outside for the first time, in Green Lake. I was skeptical about wetsuits, but OK, I love wetsuits. I feel like I’m flying in the water, except for that breathing thing. I have to get the rhythm of peeking ahead to get my direction, and breathing. Details.
Later it was another bike ride with Bob. I ate three times as many snacks as I usually do. I have this cute little Bento Box that hangs on my bike rail, so that I can eat on the go. This time I made it to 1 hour 30 minutes till I ran out of steam. Six weeks to go.
Monday. We were in the pool. Twenty 100s on 2 minutes. The rests got shorter and shorter but we made it.
Tuesday. Biking the Magnolia loop with Bob. Another scenic ride.
Wednesday. Running with the group. Loops up and down a hill in Kelsey Park. My taped knee held up, but I had to walk down the hills. Too much pounding for me. Chatted with one of the coaches as to whether I should be so trashed from the bike ride. How will I ever run after a bike ride? So now I'm instructed to slow down a little bit, but bike three times a week instead of two.
Thursday. Biking with Bob. Once again I ran out of steam, at 1 hour 15 minutes. That’s not going to work.
Friday. A much needed rest day, even though I walked to work and back.
Saturday. Fun, fun, fun. The weekend was full of firsts for me. We rode in the Marymoor Velodrome for sprint practice! I don’t know how many of you have seen a velodrome, but it is a very scary thing the first time you ride in one. To novices such as myself, the track on the corners are very, very high and very, very steep. I did a few laps on the track on the straight stretch, then dropped down to the pavement on the corners. Then I starting edging into the corners before dropping down. Finally I made through a whole corner. Then it was scream around the corners the rest of the practice. And I mean scream. Yes, we were pedaling fast, but I was actually screaming, as if in an amusement park.
This is a picture from the Marymoor Velodrome web site: http://www.kingcounty.gov/recreation/parks/inventory/marymoor/velodrome.aspx
Sunday. We got our wetsuits and swam outside for the first time, in Green Lake. I was skeptical about wetsuits, but OK, I love wetsuits. I feel like I’m flying in the water, except for that breathing thing. I have to get the rhythm of peeking ahead to get my direction, and breathing. Details.
Later it was another bike ride with Bob. I ate three times as many snacks as I usually do. I have this cute little Bento Box that hangs on my bike rail, so that I can eat on the go. This time I made it to 1 hour 30 minutes till I ran out of steam. Six weeks to go.
Sunday, May 9, 2010
Team in Training -- Week 14 (May 2-8)
Training is very, very interesting. Sometimes very, very tough. Sometimes very, very exhilarating.
Sunday, Monday, Tuesday: My cold has returned. Skipped Monday’s group swim practice.
Wednesday: Group running at the Green Lake Track. I am so slow. It’s warmup and I’m not keeping up, even if the others are going their easy pace. One of the coaches drops back and runs with me. Looking after his stragglers. Since I’m still struggling with my cold, I listen to what the main practice is, then skip it to go home and sleep.
Friday: Now I’m ready to try the Wednesday group workout. I’m back on the track. I run one mile, walk a bit, then run a second mile, trying to to drop a minute off my time. I’m huffing and puffing, thinking ‘No way’, but when I was done I had cut 1 minute 10 seconds off my time. Now if I were a better runner I would try again. But I was pleased with myself and went home.
For my knees, I’m stretching and have strengthening and balance exercises. I’m trying to get the knee-caps to track correctly. Meanwhile, I tape one knee before runs, to pull it in place. I may have to figure out water-proofing with duct tape before race day.
Saturday: What a beautiful ride from Luther Burbank Park in Mercer Island around the south end of Lake Washington, by Boeing Field (look at that huge plane beside us!), up to Seward Park, and across the bridge back to Mercer Island. It was 26 miles, the distance of the race. I ended up in a nice group of four buddies. It felt like the right speed for me. But then we did a 10-minute run, just for kicks, to get the feel of going from bicycling to running. It hurt. I was completely trashed.
Mmmm, one of our teammates was selling biscotti to raise her money for her part in this Leukemia and Lymphoma Society event. It’s tasty.
So at this point, I can run half the distance of the race, on a good day. I will probably be doing a lot of walking on race day.
Sunday, Monday, Tuesday: My cold has returned. Skipped Monday’s group swim practice.
Wednesday: Group running at the Green Lake Track. I am so slow. It’s warmup and I’m not keeping up, even if the others are going their easy pace. One of the coaches drops back and runs with me. Looking after his stragglers. Since I’m still struggling with my cold, I listen to what the main practice is, then skip it to go home and sleep.
Friday: Now I’m ready to try the Wednesday group workout. I’m back on the track. I run one mile, walk a bit, then run a second mile, trying to to drop a minute off my time. I’m huffing and puffing, thinking ‘No way’, but when I was done I had cut 1 minute 10 seconds off my time. Now if I were a better runner I would try again. But I was pleased with myself and went home.
For my knees, I’m stretching and have strengthening and balance exercises. I’m trying to get the knee-caps to track correctly. Meanwhile, I tape one knee before runs, to pull it in place. I may have to figure out water-proofing with duct tape before race day.
Saturday: What a beautiful ride from Luther Burbank Park in Mercer Island around the south end of Lake Washington, by Boeing Field (look at that huge plane beside us!), up to Seward Park, and across the bridge back to Mercer Island. It was 26 miles, the distance of the race. I ended up in a nice group of four buddies. It felt like the right speed for me. But then we did a 10-minute run, just for kicks, to get the feel of going from bicycling to running. It hurt. I was completely trashed.
Mmmm, one of our teammates was selling biscotti to raise her money for her part in this Leukemia and Lymphoma Society event. It’s tasty.
So at this point, I can run half the distance of the race, on a good day. I will probably be doing a lot of walking on race day.
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