Night Before Craziness

Elyssa's Bike













Angela's Bike













My Bike


The bikes are racked, our wrists have been banded and we're carbo loaded to the max. In less than 12 hours I will sleepily be meandering around Oneida Shores setting up my transition stations and fighting back the urge to vomit. I'm pretty nervous, as is Angela and I'm sure Elyssa too.

I somehow scored the best possible bike racking area... I should be among the first to get to my bike but the last one out for the run... still I shouldn't have any trouble finding my bike amongst the 800-1000 that will be there. Even Elyssa and Angela's bikes are only a few racks away from mine... it's as if they knew we were all together.

I'm nervous I'm going to forget something, or get foot cramps during the swim, or leg cramps when I run, or it'll be so windy I get over tired, or someone will kick me in the face during the swim, or swim over me, or worst of all I really don't want to get a flat tire.

I hope I get some sleep tonight, I haven't been doing very good the last week or so. I think the fact that I have no chance in hell at being competitive in this race is helping me to hold on to the remaining shreds of calmness just as long as I keep reminding myself that my goal is to finish, not get some ridiculous time.

I think it's going to be fun tomorrow, awesome weather, couldn't have asked for better... 76 and sunny. Might be a little chilly in the morning but I'd take cold over hot any day.

This day has gotten away from me.
I hope a chocolate snickers flurry is a good race night meal :o)


Wish me luck!!!!


Listening to: Dare you to Move / Switchfoot

I feel like Jabba

The last few days I've been eating too much and exercising too little. I think I may have missed the point of tapering and "carbo loading." Mostly because my usual workouts are what most athletes would consider thier tapering and I most likely already eat more than enough carbohydrates. When mixed with 90 degree weather and unrelenting humidity the result of eating way too many carbs and participating in very little physical activity is a very uncomfortable, lazy, stressed out version of my former self. I want to swim so badly but I'm too uncomfortable to go to a different YMCA. I should mention I am currently house sitting/ dog sitting about 45 minutes away from home. It's been nice to be so close to work, and on Saturday the race, but my normal routine is now in shambles. I miss swimming more than I thought possible. I'm either forcing myself to go to the local Y tomorrow or driving home to swim on Friday. I feel like I will drown if I don't. As for everything else I've ran barely a mile and biked a whopping 5 today. That's it for this week so far, it's no wonder I feel like a slob... that and I have a strange addiction to Jax cheese puffs which I would normally never buy, but I can always count on my best friend's husband to have them in the cupboards when I watch the house. They could be my undoing this week... I will try to muster up some will power and just say no for the next 3 days... I fear the damage has already been done though.

Thank God the humidity is supposed to break tomorrow, I can't stand this weather!!!

One Week

Wednesday I strategically contorted my bike into the back of my parents convertible just in case the threatening thunderstorms held off long enough to practice the swim to bike transition during the Wednesday night CNY Tri club practice tri. As I trudged into murky Oneida Lake for the second time, Elyssa was braving the sludgy slimy weedy water in her first attempt. We made it out 14 minutes later (two minutes less than last week) with cut up feet and seaweed clinging to us very much against our will. I took my time transitioning (it's really difficult to pull bike shorts on over a bathing suit... and sneakers for that matter. Luckily my tri suit came the other day and I won't have to worry about any of that in the actual tri. Once on our bikes, Angela joined in for the 14 mile bike course (we had planned on doing half but missed our turn). Elyssa took off, and not wanting to be left behind Angela and I chased after. Thus ensued an unending 14 mile cycling sprint at an average speed of about 22 mph. I don't know how we managed but knowing riding like that is even possible makes me really excited about race day. As we glided back to transition I was more than ready to throw in the towel but Elyssa wanted to run. So off we went for one very uncomfortable mile. As hard as it was I think it was a good prep for the race. I at least feel like it's a good possibility I will be able to finish in one piece.

Last night I ran about a mile and this morning I did a little less than my normal swim. I think tapering may be harder than I thought it would be. It sounds easy to take it easy for a week but I feel a little like I'm being lazy and I don't know what to do with all of this extra free time. I watched a few videos of transition and how to change a bike tire... my stomach is starting to turn with looming race day jitters. Game day is in the 10 day forecast and it looks promising so far, 85 and sunny. With no wet suit I have a feeling I might freeze in the morning but maybe the adrenaline will have a warming effect. Lets hope so.

life goes on

Over the last few days I've been grateful for my involvement with this triathlon as it's given me something to distract me from my recent sorrows. Without it I might still be curled up in bed watching movies I've seen hundreds of times. Lucky for me after the initial crappy coming back from the wallowing depths of my own self pity workouts I got back on track yesterday.

Angela, me and road bike rookie Amanda went out for a ride. Aside from getting a gear stuck and almost falling off my bike and actually falling off the road while trying to ride uphill with no hands it was a good ride. I think I scraped up my pedal when I went off the road though... at least I didn't scape up me. After I went for a run, which initially was going to be a 1 mile jog but turned into what I think must have been at least two. I was pretty proud of myself when I got back to my car... that was my longest brick so far. It helped that it was breezy and much less humid than it has been lately.

As I started to drive away I noticed a business card under my wiper. I stopped and pulled it off and read the following "I saw your Trek that shits hot yea!! -Lee," I'm glad my Trek is so impressive that Lee felt the need to leave me a note and express his sentiments... I'm also a little glad I put the lock on the bike rack that night. No offense to Lee whoever he may be.

Tonight I was planning on swimming but I had to bike back from the mechanics after dropping my car off. It wasn't far but the brick from last night is catching up with me today so I took tonight off to recover. Tomorrow is another open water swim, I'm already nervous but as long as it doesn't rain maybe I'll be able to take a minute or two off my time by eliminating the whole doggy paddling thing. My goal is to get it over with as soon as possible!

I ordered a Tri suit the other day so hopefully it will come tomorrow or the next day and with any luck it will fit... can't wait to try it out!

in Memoriam

To say that today was awful would be an understatement, it was a day I wished would never come. Today I had to say goodbye to my first and favorite workout buddy. My sister and I had to make the decision to have our horse Misty put down today due to a fluke infection that ultimately damaged the nerves which are necessary for horses to swallow.

Of all the sports I've ever played none have ever been as exciting or as fulfilling as horseback riding. Riding is typically thought of to be an "individual sport." I know better though, there's not an equestrian anywhere that would find success without their horse. And mine was the best. I never rode a horse I liked riding as much as Misty, it was as if we were meant to find each other.

It was the sport that sparked the spirit of competition in me. With every success I was on top of the world and on the days that didn't go so well I always had a furry shoulder to cry on. She was forgiving when I made mistakes, tested my limits when I wanted to give up and was always there with a nudge to encourage and comfort me. She taught me patience, courage, how to win and lose, the value of hard work and determination and a million other things over the 15 years I was lucky enough to spend with her. She was a best friend and loyal partner who will hold a place in my heart forever.

My favorite memory of her was on a day when I let her run as fast as she could across a grassy field, the excitement and pure joy of being on a running horse is hard to beat and I think she liked running in the open best too. There are many other quiet memories I remember, sitting in her stall while she sleepily licked the salt off my hands, when she would nuzzle my pockets looking for carrots, the way she'd come running when I opened a package of graham crackers and the way she put her head up in the air when you itched her favorite spot. It's never easy to say goodbye to someone who meant so much to you and sadly this day came too soon for everyone who knew and loved Misty. She was a wonderful horse, more than any two little girls could have ever asked for. She will be missed.

Panic! At the Lake Front

So today was the day of my very first open water swim. 600m same as the tri.

We arrived at the practice late and just had enough time to sign in and head over to the start where swimmers were already entering the water. I should mention I did not want to go in at all, I was ready to throw in the towel before I even got wet, thankfully Angela convinced me that we could do it. A fellow triathlete filled us in on the course as I tried to keep down my sport beans.

The first few steps into the water were sandy but very shortly after my feet met rock and weeds. At this point I glanced back longingly at the shore and told myself that if the lady who looked like she might be close to 3 times my age can do it, I should buck up and swim. As soon as I put my face in the water I realized that this would be mostly a blind swim as I could see absolutely nothing. The first buoy looked like it was a mile away. I broke out the doggie paddle and couldn't bring myself to actually swim for at least 150 yards. I finally decided that if I wanted to get anywhere I had to swim like a real swimmer and once I started the front crawl it was much easier going. But I was terrified most of the swim. Every time I thought I might be over my head I wished I had a pair of floaties. Every time the weeds touched me I wanted to crawl out of my own skin. Slowly but surely I started passing people and getting closer and closer to shore... it was mostly scary after that last turn towards home... I think it's over my head almost the whole way back. I finished well though and wasn't too out of breath. I think my time was about 16:20. Considering the panic attack, the fact that we were that last people in the water and the one or two times I walked in the shallow water I thought that was pretty good for a first try. Angela did well too, despite not ever wanting to do it again and cutting her knee on a rock I think she'll be back for more. It would be nice to get another under our belts before the Tri, maybe next week.

I have two things to work on, not practically swimming circles around people to get by and sighting so I don't swim to the right so bad.

I've had a very bad week of sleep and more stress and worry than I can handle. Emotional stress is as debilitating as physical stress if not more. I'm going to try and at least get a good nights sleep and hopefully I'll have some time to run and bike tomorrow.

Over that Hurdle

I finally hit my stride in the pool, or maybe I should say stroke... a few days ago I had a pretty good swim workout. My competitive spirit showed up after a long leave of absence when I found myself in the lane next to a fellow swimmer and lagging a bit behind. I slowly began to lengthen the glide portion of my stroke and have also been trying not to breathe on every stoke. It wasn't long before I caught up to him and passed him by... of course he might still have been able to kick my newly confident butt in any sort of distance race.

Today I was supposed to go Sailing, which I consider a workout on certain days. The wind proved too much for us however and thanks to a low battery on my brother's motor I at least got a little upper body workout in while I paddled his 28 foot sailboat back to the dock. After my nautical plans for the day had sunk, I decided to take my bike out for a quick ride before lap swim tonight. After a 30 min ride I had a mental fight with myself over swimming tonight and the motivated side won. So off to the pool I went with one knee feeling like it had been hit with a hammer and my now typical feeling of exhaustion. After losing count of my laps multiple times I figured in 15 minutes I must have at least come close to the Tri distance, so I waited, caught my breath and then swam 6 full laps (12 lengths) without so much as touching the side of the pool. Up until now I seriously wondered A) if all the swimming I have been doing is actually making me any better and B) if I'd ever be able to swim 600m consecutively without a hungry shark on my tail. As slow as I may have been I was hardly winded... There's hope for me yet!

Listening to: Closer to Fine/ Indigo Girls