'Tis the season, right? I like to give thanks everyday, not just this time of year. And yet Thanksgiving is such an obvious invitation to outwardly express what I am grateful for, Ironman-training-related and otherwise, so here I go.
I am first and foremost grateful for my supportive and understanding loved ones. They all would say "of course" but I don't want to ever assume that this is a given, to ever take them for granted. Triathlon, especially Ironman training, is a selfish pursuit. And yet Steve and my family know how important it is to me and how happy I am while pursuing it. Thus, they indulge me in what can seem on the outside like an obsession. They ask how it's going. They show interest. They listen to my stories. They are genuinely curious. And they are my biggest fans when I need them most. Steve drives me to races at 5 am and sits by quietly while I carefully and with single-minded compulsion gather and arrange my race gear. And then he maneuvers the race course, battling the other hundreds of spectators for the perfect photo. My other family members brave the rain and sun and the madhouse that is a triathlon race to applaud my efforts and see me as I cross the finish line. And then they all hug me and don't complain about how grimy and stinky I am. They aren't the ones who signed up for the race, and yet, by my request, they sacrifice during race season. Yes, I am clear: the unwavering support of those who have to live with my training schedule day-in and day-out is a crucial ingredient to my success.
I am grateful to have the time to train. This is due in no small part to the nature of my work. I do what I love and I work for a company that values and celebrates its employees' passions. I am able to fit training into my work schedule without anyone looking over my shoulder. Come March and beyond, I will be putting into Ironman training the equivalent of a part-time job. This will require long workouts before and after work. I am grateful that my job allows me to do this.
I am grateful to have the resources to work toward my goals. There are many, so I'll honor them by simply listing them. My massage therapist. The pool. My tri coach. The active-minded community that surrounds me. Books. Websites. The right gear. Lakes and reservoirs. Flexibility. Freedom. My yoga mat. Desire. Discipline. Knowing my limits. Knowing when I'm stopping short of my limits. The ability to break through false barriers. Miles and miles of paths and trails. Never forgetting what's most important.
I am grateful for my wide, strong training network. Having this network helps in so many ways. I spare my friends and loved ones constant talk of nutrition, heart rates, and race gear. I have an endless supply of training partners. I gain valuable advice on all things triathlon. I have people with whom I can commiserate--people who also have suffered whatever it is I'm complaining about. And not only will they empathize--they'll one-up my gripe with their own just to help me feel better. :)
I am grateful for my health. Despite not being superstitious, I always knock on wood when I express appreciation for having been free of serious injury and illness. Some days, I am in disbelief at how my body doesn't revolt against what I put it through. Yes, I take very good care of myself. And yet I have friends who take very good care of themselves and still suffer debilitating injuries. Some things are out of our control. I am conscious of how I treat my body, and I also know that I am lucky.
I am grateful that people care about my "hobby." I am always deeply touched when others inquire about my training, how it's going, what I'm doing now, etc. Of course I am more than happy to oblige their curiosity :) and I make a distinct point to thank them for asking.
I am grateful that you are reading this journal. I have said it here before and it bears repeating: even if you don't write comments, I know you're reading and caring about my journey. That alone is enough. Thank you.
What are you grateful for, at this and any time of year? Please share with us!
Sunday, November 28, 2010
Sunday, November 21, 2010
Between-season? Pre-season? Ironman season? One sure thing: It's holiday season!
Ironman is 220 days away. Not that I'm counting. Seriously, I'm not, yet. I just put that in there because I couldn't think of a better way to start this post. :) But now that we're on the subject, 220 days seems like a long time, doesn't it? It also means that Ironman training is right around the corner. Starting December 1st, my coach has me swimming, biking, and running at least twice a week each. As well as doing strength training, yoga, etc. Right now, I'm doing about 7 hours a week of activity. This will increase to 10-12 hours in a week or so. Thanksgiving will be my last "non-training" week until July. All hail Thanksgiving!!
So I'm not quite sure where I am now--hence the title of this post. My anxiety about "taking November off" subsided on November 2nd and since then I have officially fallen in love with my gut-driven workout schedule. What my workouts this month have lacked in quantity has been more than made up for in quality. Way back in September, I outlined my plans for this between-season, so I wanted to reflect on how I've managed.
Happy Thanksgiving everyone.
So I'm not quite sure where I am now--hence the title of this post. My anxiety about "taking November off" subsided on November 2nd and since then I have officially fallen in love with my gut-driven workout schedule. What my workouts this month have lacked in quantity has been more than made up for in quality. Way back in September, I outlined my plans for this between-season, so I wanted to reflect on how I've managed.
- hit the yoga mat, at least twice a week: thanks in no small part to my dear friend Jen at work who holds classes in the office once a week, this has been easy to do. Her classes, coupled with the great DVDs I have at home, have opened the joints and loosened the muscles a bit.
- start strength training again: I think I've found the cure to my intense aversion toward strength training. It's a class at my gym called "bootcamp" but it really should be called "get-over-your-big-bad-athlete-self-exercise-in-humility." Rather than weights, we use straps, our own body weight, steps and inclines, plyometrics, and anaerobic intervals to recruit the entire body. Not a single muscle is allowed to slack off.
- do the mental and psychological planning for Ironman: Yes! This is what this journal is all about. You all have played a large part in this, as have my books, articles, and online communities. I have connected with several other gals doing Coeur d'Alene and we have plans to train together.
- experiment with race and recovery nutrition: I never thought I'd say this: I love Gu. Gu is that otherwise-disgusting goopy stuff that athletes suck down in races. It's a 100-calorie injection of sugar and energy. That I can tolerate this stuff is good news for Ironman training and the race itself--according to Ironman veterans, I should be prepared for my digestive system to revolt against anything I have to chew.
- keep up my regular massages: Kathy, my massage therapist, probably has been enjoying this break from my hard-core training as much as I have. I still see her every two or three weeks, but rarely does she need to bring out the big guns to steamroll the lumps and knots in my muscles. Massage has been a life-saver for me--the reason I recover so quickly from 100-mile rides and half-marathons is because of Kathy's TLC. We have a pretty simple relationship: I break down my body, she puts it back together. And she does it without complaining about how difficult I make her job--at least out loud. :)
- enjoy not hitting it hard day in and day out: Check, check, and check.
- read relevant articles and books: My Ironman binder already is busting at the seams. If I'm not careful I will obsess. I imagine it's similar to preparing to have children--there are so many books full of what I'm sure is terrific advice on what to do, what not to do, potential problems that may arise, etc, that it's easy to get overwhelmed. To say nothing of the competing information naturally borne from this person and that person having different experiences and opinions on what works. I have found a few trusted sources and I stick with those. And then for final approval I run it all by the most trustworthy source I have: my body.
- read for pleasure: I have rediscovered the joys of reading for no reason other than I love it. Since the 2010 season ended, I have devoured the Millennium trilogy by Stieg Larsson (you've all heard of "The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo" and it's two sequels), "Open" by Andre Agassi, "101 Places Not to See Before You Die" by Catherine Price, and "As Good as Gold" by Kathryn Bertine. All of which I would highly recommend. I'm currently looking for the next great read--any suggestions?
Happy Thanksgiving everyone.
Friday, November 12, 2010
This or that
Earlier this week it turned quite wintry here at home. I went for an early-morning run despite the frosty temps and light snowy-drizzle. I did eventually warm up, but it wasn't pleasant at first. The bitter cold brought to mind a day this past summer when I experienced the opposite problem: a long bike ride in triple-digit temperatures under an unforgiving sun. And then I wondered: if forced to choose between the two, what would I do? So indulge me in some fun meanderings on This or That.
Hot or cold? I'm choosing hot. I know the argument: You can always put on more layers to get warm, but there's only so much you can do to cool off. Fortunately, I have been blessed with an efficient internal cooling system, so extreme heat bothers me less than it probably should. (But only when working out. If I'm sweating, my heart rate had better be above 100.) On the other hand, cold weather is paralyzing. I naturally run cold, so add to that a frigid breeze and it equates to misery. I have too many memories of shivering on the bike after being caught in sudden hailstorms woefully underdressed. And what if I'm caught in the blazing heat? I find I'm never too far from shade and icy-cold beverages.
Up or down? My bike and I have summited many of Colorado's mountain passes. In fact, I've traversed more on two wheels than on four. When I talk about my summertime climbs, most people respond with "Wow--you must love coming down!" Yes, I most certainly do!! But not as much as I love going up. Here's why. Climbing and descending are both exercises in maintaining control--control that prevents me from either falling over or riding off the edge. I feel more in control going up than I do coming down. And what my legs can do for two non-stop hours never ceases to amaze me. Plus, the impressed looks on the faces in passing cars is pretty cool.
Wind or grade? Many of you know I used to live in Kansas. In addition to being the bug belt, Kansas and its fellow plains states are infamous for unrelenting wind. We're not talking gentle breezes. I will never forget riding in a crosswind so strong it literally almost blew me over. I have ridden in headwinds so fierce I have cried. Wind can be scary, especially when coming off of Coal Bank Pass into Durango at 40 mph. All it takes is a gust to grab my front wheel and I'm flat on my back. For all of these reasons and more, give me a 12% grade over a 12 mph headwind anyday.
Not enough food or not enough water? I have run out of both on rides and runs so I know all too well that not having either is a HUGE bummer. And potentially dangerous. So this one's a toughie. Not enough water and I risk dehydration, overheating, and heat stroke. Without enough food and I bonk, an experience I can best describe as out-of-body, even though I'm pretty sure I've never really had one of those. Blood sugar levels plummet so quickly it puts me into some kind of weird dream state. Legs get jello-y, heart starts to race, hands start to shake. It can take a day to fully recover from a serious episode. So, would I rather run out of food or water? I'd rather call home for a ride.
Road or bike path? Road, hands down. The activity on the bike paths is a bit too unpredictable for my tastes. Squirrels darting across the path, dogs chasing after them, kids learning to ride bikes, walkers out for a leisurely stroll. None of them are on the lookout for passing cyclists. And I don't really expect them to be. It's easy enough to leave the paths to them all and take to the roads, where drivers do look out for me, most of the time. And when they don't, it's pretty easy to predict what they will do. There are more rules on the road. I find that if I act like a car while riding, we all get along just fine.
Hot tub or steamroom? We have both at my gym, and a soak or steam is heavenly, especially after a tough workout. If I could have only one on a deserted island, I'd have to pack the steamroom. While I do find relief aiming the hot tub jets on trouble spots, I like even more lying down in the eucalyptus-scented steam and letting all the uck seep from my pores. (Sorry if that's gross.) This is the one exception to my-heart-rate-must-be-above-100 sweating rule.
Wine or beer? I am a wine girl at heart. But when it comes to a post-workout treat, I grab a beer. It's cold, bubbly, and a bit more fruity than wine and, thus, is a more refreshing "recovery" drink. The beer tastes even better if I'm sitting on a sunny patio with my friends and loved ones. And I'm certain that, too, helps me recover more quickly.
What would you choose? Share with us here your choices on the above or add your own!
Hot or cold? I'm choosing hot. I know the argument: You can always put on more layers to get warm, but there's only so much you can do to cool off. Fortunately, I have been blessed with an efficient internal cooling system, so extreme heat bothers me less than it probably should. (But only when working out. If I'm sweating, my heart rate had better be above 100.) On the other hand, cold weather is paralyzing. I naturally run cold, so add to that a frigid breeze and it equates to misery. I have too many memories of shivering on the bike after being caught in sudden hailstorms woefully underdressed. And what if I'm caught in the blazing heat? I find I'm never too far from shade and icy-cold beverages.
Up or down? My bike and I have summited many of Colorado's mountain passes. In fact, I've traversed more on two wheels than on four. When I talk about my summertime climbs, most people respond with "Wow--you must love coming down!" Yes, I most certainly do!! But not as much as I love going up. Here's why. Climbing and descending are both exercises in maintaining control--control that prevents me from either falling over or riding off the edge. I feel more in control going up than I do coming down. And what my legs can do for two non-stop hours never ceases to amaze me. Plus, the impressed looks on the faces in passing cars is pretty cool.
Wind or grade? Many of you know I used to live in Kansas. In addition to being the bug belt, Kansas and its fellow plains states are infamous for unrelenting wind. We're not talking gentle breezes. I will never forget riding in a crosswind so strong it literally almost blew me over. I have ridden in headwinds so fierce I have cried. Wind can be scary, especially when coming off of Coal Bank Pass into Durango at 40 mph. All it takes is a gust to grab my front wheel and I'm flat on my back. For all of these reasons and more, give me a 12% grade over a 12 mph headwind anyday.
Not enough food or not enough water? I have run out of both on rides and runs so I know all too well that not having either is a HUGE bummer. And potentially dangerous. So this one's a toughie. Not enough water and I risk dehydration, overheating, and heat stroke. Without enough food and I bonk, an experience I can best describe as out-of-body, even though I'm pretty sure I've never really had one of those. Blood sugar levels plummet so quickly it puts me into some kind of weird dream state. Legs get jello-y, heart starts to race, hands start to shake. It can take a day to fully recover from a serious episode. So, would I rather run out of food or water? I'd rather call home for a ride.
Road or bike path? Road, hands down. The activity on the bike paths is a bit too unpredictable for my tastes. Squirrels darting across the path, dogs chasing after them, kids learning to ride bikes, walkers out for a leisurely stroll. None of them are on the lookout for passing cyclists. And I don't really expect them to be. It's easy enough to leave the paths to them all and take to the roads, where drivers do look out for me, most of the time. And when they don't, it's pretty easy to predict what they will do. There are more rules on the road. I find that if I act like a car while riding, we all get along just fine.
Hot tub or steamroom? We have both at my gym, and a soak or steam is heavenly, especially after a tough workout. If I could have only one on a deserted island, I'd have to pack the steamroom. While I do find relief aiming the hot tub jets on trouble spots, I like even more lying down in the eucalyptus-scented steam and letting all the uck seep from my pores. (Sorry if that's gross.) This is the one exception to my-heart-rate-must-be-above-100 sweating rule.
Wine or beer? I am a wine girl at heart. But when it comes to a post-workout treat, I grab a beer. It's cold, bubbly, and a bit more fruity than wine and, thus, is a more refreshing "recovery" drink. The beer tastes even better if I'm sitting on a sunny patio with my friends and loved ones. And I'm certain that, too, helps me recover more quickly.
What would you choose? Share with us here your choices on the above or add your own!
Sunday, November 7, 2010
Things I could do without
A while back, I wrote on the things that delight me about training. Although not an exhaustive list, they are things I reflect on while training, particularly when I'm outdoors on the bike or on a run. Every day I get to engage in my favorite activities, I am grateful for all the things I mentioned and more.
Along with the things that remind me how fortunate I am, I can't help but think of other less pleasant things. These are things I could do without while training. The list is not long, yet I encounter them frequently enough that they're hard to forget. Here we go, in no particular order.
Ego. My own, as well as those of others. Ego shows up in many ways. Sometimes it's obvious. Go to a race expo and you'll hear Ego boasting about its latest athletic achievement, one-upping other Egos within earshot. Often Ego gives advice when none has been requested or is even desired. It typically starts out with "you should..." Ego is tricky, though, and tries to masquerade as what seems on the surface to be normal workout behavior. Ego speeds up that cyclist in front of me just so a girl won't pass him. It launches that swimmer in the lane next to me into a 500-meter sprint warm-up. It showboats as the competitive energy I feel in the weight room. Sadly, ego is everywhere.
Excuses.
Several years ago I started paying very close attention to how I talked about my training, both to myself and to others. Along the way, I've become keenly aware of when I'm giving reasons and when I'm giving excuses. You know the difference. Reasons are well-considered, rationale explanations for my choices because I have weighed the consequences. Excuses, on the other hand, exist for one reason only: to protect my ego. They're empty "outs" I have at the ready in case someone asks how my run was--that run I ditched because the last thing I wanted to do at that moment was run. Well. Let me dig deep down...hang on...and see what comes up...Oh yes, here it is. Ahem. It was too cold. (Really. With all the space-age windstopping, water-repelling, snow-squall-destroying material sitting in my dresser waiting to prove itself...it was too cold? Really.) See, "it was too cold" is a reason when I risk frostbite or frozen lung. It's an excuse when I'm unmotivated and just want to lounge on the couch. And if that's the case, I need to own up to it. To do anything else is self-deception. Sure, others may not know what's my reason and what's my excuse. But *I* do. This, for sure, is my homework for the rest of my life.
Things thrown at me. Okay, admittedly this has happened to me only once, on the bike. And although the object was thrown in my direction, it didn't actually hit me. But had it hit me just that once, well, let's not play "what if" games. The reality is, I escaped untouched, probably because of my lightning-quick reflexes. Or luck. Or perhaps a little of both. The object of interest was a half-full beer bottle. I felt the breeze on my face as it whizzed by my ear. And then I saw the pickup from which it was hurled, racing away. I was in such disbelief at what had just happened I didn't have the wherewithal (to say nothing of the leg strength) to chase the truck down for the license plate number. Oh well. I tell myself they weren't aiming at me...they were just committing a random act of littering. And I happened to be there. Delusional? Perhaps. But it's the version of the story that upholds my faith in the basic goodness of people.
Being "buzzed." I'm not talking the kind induced by a nice glass of wine or three. I'm talking the kind caused by a rude driver who either (1) doesn't see me riding my bike on the shoulder, or (2) does in fact see me riding my bike on the shoulder and prioritizes his getting to his destination over the safety of both of us. Some drivers have come so close I can hear their cell phone conversation. Laws in Colorado require drivers to pass cyclists only if they can safely give 3 feet between car and bike. Fortunately, 99% of Colorado drivers obey this law. The other 1% of the time is a huge bummer. And scary.
Flagrant disregard for the rules of the road and/or bike path. I also have a bone to pick with my fellow cyclists. You know who you are. You ride three abreast when there's no shoulder. You don't signal when turning. You expect to have the right of way. C'mon, don't give drivers any more reason to be cranky at bicyclists. Enough drivers operate under the belief that cyclists take up too much precious pavement as it is (see "Being 'buzzed'" above). Don't confirm that by being a jerk. This disregard doesn't happen just on the streets...I've come within inches of colliding with other cyclists on the bike path (of all places), simply because they've failed to tell me they're "on the left." Easy enough to do, so please do it.
Bugs. I used to live in the "bug belt," otherwise known as southeast Kansas. I didn't know it before I moved there, but it quickly became very apparent. So when I moved here to Denver, I was excited not only about the climate, temperature, and abundant sunshine, I was also looking forward to being able to walk through grass in sandals without fearing chiggers. (If you don't know, you don't want to ask.) Ha. Here's a newsflash: We got bugs in Denver. Lots of them. I didn't really notice them until my first bike ride along the Platte River at dusk. I came home with thousands of new "freckles" all over. Except these freckles came off in the shower. YUCK. My new strategy: breathe through the nose and don't wear that sticky lip balm.
Comparison. My wise friend Eric is known here at work for saying "comparison is a form of self-loathing" (or something pretty close). This Thing I Could do Without is a sibling of Ego. I don't do well with competition, even if friendly. I compete with one person: myself. I compete against my race times from last year, with my performance on last week's bike ride, with how many push-ups I did last time. I'm uncomfortable when others compare themselves to me. Some friends will tell me they do better when competing against someone else. Fine. I'd just prefer that someone else to not be me.
Please, feel free to add your own to this list!!
Along with the things that remind me how fortunate I am, I can't help but think of other less pleasant things. These are things I could do without while training. The list is not long, yet I encounter them frequently enough that they're hard to forget. Here we go, in no particular order.
Ego. My own, as well as those of others. Ego shows up in many ways. Sometimes it's obvious. Go to a race expo and you'll hear Ego boasting about its latest athletic achievement, one-upping other Egos within earshot. Often Ego gives advice when none has been requested or is even desired. It typically starts out with "you should..." Ego is tricky, though, and tries to masquerade as what seems on the surface to be normal workout behavior. Ego speeds up that cyclist in front of me just so a girl won't pass him. It launches that swimmer in the lane next to me into a 500-meter sprint warm-up. It showboats as the competitive energy I feel in the weight room. Sadly, ego is everywhere.
Excuses.
If you are what you do, then when you don't, you aren't. ~Wayne Dyer
Things thrown at me. Okay, admittedly this has happened to me only once, on the bike. And although the object was thrown in my direction, it didn't actually hit me. But had it hit me just that once, well, let's not play "what if" games. The reality is, I escaped untouched, probably because of my lightning-quick reflexes. Or luck. Or perhaps a little of both. The object of interest was a half-full beer bottle. I felt the breeze on my face as it whizzed by my ear. And then I saw the pickup from which it was hurled, racing away. I was in such disbelief at what had just happened I didn't have the wherewithal (to say nothing of the leg strength) to chase the truck down for the license plate number. Oh well. I tell myself they weren't aiming at me...they were just committing a random act of littering. And I happened to be there. Delusional? Perhaps. But it's the version of the story that upholds my faith in the basic goodness of people.
Being "buzzed." I'm not talking the kind induced by a nice glass of wine or three. I'm talking the kind caused by a rude driver who either (1) doesn't see me riding my bike on the shoulder, or (2) does in fact see me riding my bike on the shoulder and prioritizes his getting to his destination over the safety of both of us. Some drivers have come so close I can hear their cell phone conversation. Laws in Colorado require drivers to pass cyclists only if they can safely give 3 feet between car and bike. Fortunately, 99% of Colorado drivers obey this law. The other 1% of the time is a huge bummer. And scary.
Flagrant disregard for the rules of the road and/or bike path. I also have a bone to pick with my fellow cyclists. You know who you are. You ride three abreast when there's no shoulder. You don't signal when turning. You expect to have the right of way. C'mon, don't give drivers any more reason to be cranky at bicyclists. Enough drivers operate under the belief that cyclists take up too much precious pavement as it is (see "Being 'buzzed'" above). Don't confirm that by being a jerk. This disregard doesn't happen just on the streets...I've come within inches of colliding with other cyclists on the bike path (of all places), simply because they've failed to tell me they're "on the left." Easy enough to do, so please do it.
Bugs. I used to live in the "bug belt," otherwise known as southeast Kansas. I didn't know it before I moved there, but it quickly became very apparent. So when I moved here to Denver, I was excited not only about the climate, temperature, and abundant sunshine, I was also looking forward to being able to walk through grass in sandals without fearing chiggers. (If you don't know, you don't want to ask.) Ha. Here's a newsflash: We got bugs in Denver. Lots of them. I didn't really notice them until my first bike ride along the Platte River at dusk. I came home with thousands of new "freckles" all over. Except these freckles came off in the shower. YUCK. My new strategy: breathe through the nose and don't wear that sticky lip balm.
Comparison. My wise friend Eric is known here at work for saying "comparison is a form of self-loathing" (or something pretty close). This Thing I Could do Without is a sibling of Ego. I don't do well with competition, even if friendly. I compete with one person: myself. I compete against my race times from last year, with my performance on last week's bike ride, with how many push-ups I did last time. I'm uncomfortable when others compare themselves to me. Some friends will tell me they do better when competing against someone else. Fine. I'd just prefer that someone else to not be me.
Please, feel free to add your own to this list!!
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