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Gayle Jordan

Law student, massage therapist, ironman, mom, gammy, hippie liberal atheist.

Polar Bear Plunge 2011

Ahhhh, now I don’t have to think about it again til next January.

Today was the 9th annual Murfreesboro Polar Bear Plunge.  Amy and I started doing this when she was in middle school, and except for last year, when we were in Colorado with the family for Christmas, we haven’t missed a Plunge.

We have had a narrow range of weather, typical for Middle Tennessee, but I do believe today was a first.  It was about 28 degrees, snowing, and windy.  Water temp was about 38 degrees, I heard, but that’s about normal.

as cold as it looks

It’s kind of a love-hate thing we have with this event.  Never have we ever regretted having done it, but it’s awfully hard to get out of a warm bed on a cold, blowy, snowy morning to put on a swimsuit knowing you’re going to plunge into icy waters!

The plunge itself is a feeling like no other.  In the early years, there were 25 or so jumpers; I bet this year there were upwards of 300-400.  After some festivities in the gym, we go en masse out to the pool and line the perimeter.  Murfreesboro has redone the outdoor pool, so there was a lot more perimeter this year, and we had to re-establish our “leaping spot”.  We absolutely had to jump into the deep end, because if immersion is the goal, and it is, there is almost NO possibility of my dunking my head under in an additional motion after having jumped in.  It’s full immersion or nothing, as far as I see it.  My friend Bernie Steen called this event Mass Baptism, so I guess the debate could rage on parallel to the religious world about sprinkling or immersion.

This plunge, like others I’m assuming, begins its countdown after everyone is assembled around the pool, and they make it a quick one, because we’re all out there in a minimum of clothing.  At the number 10, I quickly take off my sweat pants, the hoodie comes off at about 7, shoes at 4, then 3, 2, 1, big breath…

Amy describes it as jumping into needles.  I describe it as jumping into acid.  Every skin cell you own goes into instant shock, and even if your head was not under water you could not breathe.  I Googled an explanation of the physiological response you have in cold water, and found that these pretty obvious things happen:

  • you have immediate constriction of blood vessels in your extremities, forcing blood volume into your core, raising your blood pressure
  • your body reacts with a shot of adrenaline as it puts you into “fight or flight” mode to take care of you
  • you can become disorientated immediately because of the instant change in environment to all of your senses

Over the years I have tried to focus specifically on the moments following the leap, because invariably I cannot remember getting out of the pool.  This year I have a little stronger memory of it.  My friend Michael thinks that the cold air temperature made the water feel less drastic – he was already numb by the time we hit the water – maybe he’s right.

pre-jump

I need to say a final word about our support posse:  Megan and Emily did a valiant job of TRYING to Plunge.  They dressed in costume, they got to the gym on time, they registered and even had on their registration bracelets, but they just couldn’t bring themselves to hurl their tender bodies into the soup.  However, they did a fabulous job of cheering us on and even digitally recording our leap, AND they made a commitment to try again next year – you just can’t ask for more than that!

The leapers and the cheerers

Oh yes, they’re wearing onesies.

Thanks for reading!

4

First Time!

Here’s the story of my first time seeing a professional football game from an executive box!

First, I have two thank yous to give for this experience.  First, when Baes told me he was going, I whined about wanting to go, prompting him to ask HIS hostess if he could bring someone…ME!  The ever most gracious Rhonda Wiser was so thoughtful in extending the offer to include me, so we were off to the races…game.

In the meantime, Amy’s plan to travel to England was altered a bit by the weather event taking place all over Europe.  Instead of taking her to the airport Sunday morning to fly out, she’d be stuck in Tennessee with me for a few  days.  A great problem, but knocked me back out of the festivities.  When I called dear Rhonda to undo my yes, she generously extended the now third-generation invitation to include my girl!  Woohoo!

Sunday morning dawned early with us preparing fudge and caramel corn to share with our tail-gators on the ride up to Nashville.

Mimosas and caramel corn
The back seat posse
Darling Rhonda and hubby Cy
The Alabama crew
Nicki, Jake, Lena, Mike, and Lena's boots
A beautiful sight!
The sweetest of suites
our view!
food and drink
more food
more drink (and our fab helper Laura)
Having a great time!
Rhonda and Cy -- keeping the magic
Some of the girls of suite 245!
some more girls of suite 245
Some of the men of suite 245
clowning around after the game

We had such a good time eating and drinking and laughing and talking and cheering.  We actually did enjoy the game, because in spite of going into the game with a 5-8 record, the Titans beat Houston 31-17, with no fighting on the field!

Many many thanks to the Wiser company, and Rhonda and Cy, for their kind invitation and all it included!  Thanks to Mikey for bridging the call to Rhonda in the first place!

It wasn’t on the list in the first place, but it will be placed on there and then checked off!  Attend a Titans game and view it from an executive box!

Thanks for reading!

3

The usual hectic holidays, with a graduation thrown in

A quick update on family goings-on:

Thanksgiving was fabulous:  All the guys were tied up – Jesse was on a trip, Ben was in Colorado working, Sam was in Atlanta working, so the girls and I had the traditional girl feast of wine, cheese, nuts, fruit!  The girls had gone on a 24-hour trip with Jesse to NYC and saw a couple of hours of the Macy’s day parade, and the Addams’ Family play the night before.

My girls

There was also a little shopping…

Boot night at the Jordans (that's me with my rolled up pajama leg)
caramel popcorn and beer - don't be hatin
A holiday helper...and the world's best caramel popcorn

It’s been a cold holiday season, and we even had the Tennessee version of a blizzard last night.

Cold day for poor kitty - fountain frozen solid

On the school news:  daughter Amy is transferring to ETSU in January, so she and I made a trip to Johnson City to find her an apartment (which we did with a HUGE win I will blog about later).

Son Sam, however, is transferring nowhere because HE GRADUATED FROM UT on Saturday!!

Swag for the parents - did you see the honor cord?

So with this expensive diploma, he will spend the winter….being the sleigh master at Beaver Creek resort taking guests to the restaurant on the slope.  Living in a camper.  In the Home Depot parking lot.  Life is good.

My parents and brother got to make the trip to Knoxville

Daughter Glenda is in England, where she went the moment exams were over, where she will stay until the last possible second until classes begin.  Sam and Amy flew to Colorado today; Sam to work for the season, Amy to ski for a few days.

Walking in our own winter wonderland on the property after the snow

Jesse is currently online next to me, looking for tickets to the Auburn game in January — if anyone has any leads…

Thanks for reading!

6

Post-party reflection

O.

M.

G.

What a party.  Here it is Monday morning, and I’m still bathed in DHEA and HGH and oxytocin and all the other good hormones that your body sends out to bring the party.

To everyone who came to the party, called me, texted me, Facebooked me, snail-mailed me — thank you so much!  Your expression of love and congratulations meant so much to me – more than even an amateur wordsmith like me can express!

It’s been all over Facebook, but I think I have a couple of readers who aren’t on FB, so the story begins Friday night, when my youngsters colluded to surprise me with their very presence!  I had one of the four confirmed to be here – #2, Sam, is home from his year in New Zealand.  Amy and Glenda said they were committed to a women’s backpacking trip in Knoxville, and Ben in Colorado was tied up with school and work.  Whatever they did to make it happen, there they all were, sitting at a table in Marina’s on Friday night!

Deleriously happy
loudest table in Marina's

I can’t remember when we were last all together at home – we were together at Ragbrai, but Ben never made it to TN, and before that we were in Colorado at Ben’s home (less Sam).

Saturday dawned party day – in went the BBQ roasts and on went the coffee.  My parents and brother headed up from Georgia, and my aunties headed down from Gallatin as the kids took the decorating into their own hands.  Soon we had the bus and jeep in the back yard, streamers on the porch, balloons, slack line drawn from the bus to the jeep, bonfire assembled, kegs icing, and signs put up out at the road.

instant party

stringing lights from house to bus
supervisory crew

We finished getting ready about sunset and then our guests started arriving.

Gammy and Aden
inside view
cousin Jen's handiwork

LED and fire hoop show
Aden and Alden
my aunt Annie

I am now officially 50, and an Ironmanwoman.  The gift of everyone’s presence will last a lifetime in my memory, and the tangible gifts fell into about 3 categories:  wine, coffee, and silver jewelry.  My friends and family know me well.  I love them all and have them laid out on the table so I can see them as I pass by (the gifts, not the friends).

You can’t quite see it, but pinned to my top is a tiny little pair of Navy wings.  I was born the day my dad graduated from Naval pilot training, and instead of my mother pinning his wings on him as planned, he came to the hospital and pinned that miniature set on my diaper.  Dad and I celebrated that moment 50 years later by him passing on a little birthday green, if you know what I mean.  Thanks, Mom and Dad, for choosing me above all the other millions of sperm and egg siblings you could have picked….

Brother Eric reciprocated the birthday theme from the 50 candy bars (there’s a story) I gave him last year for his 50th by giving me 50 cups of coffee from Starbucks.  So if you see me spazzing around town – no, I’ll try not to drink them all at once.

I know I owe a 50 things update, which I’ll do soon – epic fail on trying to get them done in one year, but they roll right onto the permanent bucket list, so now it just becomes the Bucket List.

At the party we asked everyone to sign a poster and finish the sentence:  I’ll do an Ironman ________.  We got some great responses, including:

When Pigs Fly.  –Jesse

Been There.  Done That.  –Eric

Never.  I’m not that dumb.  –Dad

In my next life.  –Mom

If it got my British boyfriend a US work visa.  –Glenda

If you couldn’t make the party, and want your comment added to the sign, chime in below and I’ll put it down.

Thank you.  Thank you.  Thank you.  I am so grateful for my circle of friends and family; I feel like the luckiest girl in the world.  As I reflect, as we all do on milestone days, I think I learn from everyone I call a friend, and if I haven’t let you know that, bad on me.  In my opinion, that’s one of the highest praises I can give – that you’ve helped me grow and learn.  You make my life fuller and richer and so much fun.

Back to training, then Thanksgiving, then finals for the kids, then on and on and on.

Thanks for reading and for helping me be 50!

 

4

See what not having a camera does?

For an Iron triathlete, I’m a real slacker.  In the three weeks since the race I have been sitting around on the couch eating bon-bons (whatever they are) and watching television.  Ok, maybe not the last two things, but I have sooooo enjoyed my down time.

I truly did nothing in the way of working out for two weeks, and last week returned to working out half-time.  This week marks the return to full training for the next big race, Taupo in March.  I’ve also lost my camera so I’m depending on Jesse for his photos.

Last weekend we travelled to east Tennessee for a couple of reasons:  to see the Green River Race and to see daughter Glenda compete in the finals for the UT’s Got Talent show.

The race was phenomenal.  The drive and hike to the river were an adventure unto themselves, and then to get to see that river and those racers – one of which was our own Curtis England.  He was a joy to watch, even if it was a whiteknuckler for us spectators.  We got to see Sam run a portion of it too.  We’ll try to make this an annual event!

my girls and me
Krispy Kreme indulgence stop
our viewing zone for the race
Jesse and Curtis
Sam and La
Ames and Mom
Sambo!
the girls, post-race

On to the talent show.  Glenda was up against a magician, two talented break dancers, and one of the best musicians I’ve ever heard.  She performed with her LED hoop, followed by her fire hoop and did a great job.  The judges thought so too – of the 26,000 students at the University of Tennessee, she’s the man!  Or woman!  Or hooper!  Whatever, she won the competition!  She doesn’t really like the focus on the competition part, but she’s terribly grateful for the prize:  a professional video to be made of her performances to be used as an audition video to clubs across the country!

The winner in her modified Leeloo costume
oops - another trip to the KK

This weekend we were able to go back to Knoxville for another performance at the homecoming rally, Smoky’s Howl (kind of a pre-homecoming pep rally).  She did another great job.  On Saturday, we (Jesse, me, Amy, Glenda, Sam, Laura) went to Max Patch with the Mosses and some of the staff of UTOP for an afternoon of remembrance for Robert.  He and Amy had gone there a few times and it is truly a beautiful place.  We shared some wonderful memories of our precious boy and enjoyed the view and the company.

atop Max Patch
picnic
Amy and the Mosses

Later that night we drove into Johnson City, TN, for a campus visit at ETSU.  It was a night visit, so we just drove through in the car, but we loved what we saw.  They have Amy’s degree, so if all goes well with her acceptance/transfer, she’ll be seeing those mountains every day beginning in January!  The buccaneer mascot is a little scary/creepy, but we like things edgy.

scary? or scariest?

Back home again and now getting ready for the big 5-0 birthday/post-iron party.  In the mail when I got home was my very weird award for winning my division – a ceramic coffee mug that has race logo and details and division winner on it….mkay.  Where’s my cheap-ass plastic trophy?!

Thanks for reading – see everyone Saturday!!

0

Ironman? Check.

Sunday.  8:30am.

I did it.  I had help, vital help, from all directions, but I got it done.

heavy metal

Iron-distance triathlon.  2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike ride, 26.2 mile run.

But first things first:  The Apology.  I know this is the first most of you are hearing of this race, because I haven’t been blogging about it.  There’s a reason for this.  If you recall the Taupo experience, my excitement and anticipation, including all the blogging and friend support, led to my having an anxiety event at the beginning of the swim.  In an effort to prevent this from happening again, I tried several things, including keeping this race on the DL.  I’ll tell you about the success in the water, but I will say that it was a real loss (for me) not including everyone in the process.  So that’s the explanation of this sneak-attack race.  I believe this is the only time I’ll have to do that.

Now to the race.  It was the Great Floridian Triathlon (trivia tidbit:  Ironman is a franchise word, a brand name; there are many Iron-distance races that are prohibited from using the Ironman label – this was one – in this case they called it an Ultra Triathlon).  It was held in Clermont, Florida at Lake Minneola.  Word to any future racers:  do not assume that because the race is located in Florida it is flat.  More on that in the bike paragraph.  Jesse, Sam, and I drove down here on Thursday to get settled in and registered.

surveying the challenge

So, back to the swim issue.  This paragraph is probably more info than you’ll want to read if you’re just trying to get a rundown from the race, but it’s incredibly important to the success I had.  Being an emotionally open and adventurous person has served me well my entire life.  I will occasionally do a “sensory check” in the middle of a random moment:  What am I seeing?  hearing?  tasting?  smelling?  I am so greedy about sucking every moment out of life, and I try to stay open to every experience, particularly new ones.  This life attitude very seldom feels like it has a downside, but I have come to accept that it was exactly this desire for wide-openness that created the anxiety event in the water at Lake Taupo.  So I used a different approach for this race, which, as I explained above, included not broadcasting my attempt, to cut down on the pressure.  My informal triathlon coaches, Ali and Liz from the UK (and very dear friends), also suggested limiting my exposure to all the pre-race hype and activity, which I normally would have embraced and participated in.  Between that, and a little chemical intervention suggested by another fellow athlete/physician, I approached race day in a completely different manner than I usually do.

So race day started with our 5:30am wakeup call.  Race gun was at 7:30, and as I cautiously began my swim, I was as calm as I could be.  It feels counterintuitive to the whole “Eye of the Tiger” approach to athletic competitions, but it certainly worked in my case.  My swim was a good deal slower than I usually swim, but that was intentional on my part, and I exited the water no worse for the wear after 2.4 miles.

better exit than last time
scouting the "Florida" terrain the day before race

Into transition and onto the bicycle.  Jesse and Sam and I had driven the course the day before, for which I was grateful, because it prepared me for the hills to come.  It was as hilly a course as I’ve ever ridden.  I was glad to have spent the 10 days before cycling the Natchez Trace, particularly the hilly northern section.  This ride was a 3-loop ride, and I was pretty toasted by the second lap, but off I go on the 3rd, with the knowledge that there is a 6:30pm cutoff for the bike course.  No need to magnify the drama, but I rolled across the chip mat into transition at 6:28, with Sam yelling at me about the time (Jesse was in a bar watching the Auburn/LSU game at the time).  One more set of clothes, and off to the marathon.

starting the timer for the bike course
start of a long, long run

Sam, because he spent all last year in New Zealand and that is the custom, never wears shoes.  The run course was a 3-loop out and back, and because this race is a little more laid back than Ironman events, allowed support people on the run course.  So, yes, Sam ran/walked 8 miles with me BAREFOOT.  When we got back off the first lap, Sam took a little 4-mile break and Jesse joined me (the game was over by then), and when Sam rejoined us, he had on his Chacos.  So these two guys ran/walked/limped with me the duration of the race.  We crossed the finish line at 1:00 Sunday morning in a huge victory for me!!

I am as tired as I look in this picture

We gathered my gear/bike/clothes, threw them in the back of the minivan and cruised back to the hotel, where I showered and collapsed, Jesse showered and collapsed, and Sam collapsed in his clothes and dirty feet while waiting for the shower.  In the light of this morning we surveyed the damage.  I am sore all over – even my hair feels like it hurts.  My top pains:  the bicycle booty, my quads, my blistered feet, my sunburned back, my clavicles from resting 8 hours on the aerobars, and gluteus minimus – the underlying glutes deep in the hips.  Jesse, who only had his worn out sneakers on, has blisters the size of a credit card on the balls of both feet.  Sam’s feet, which are gnarly anyway, are beaten and raw.  Neither of them had been training to run or walk anywhere near this distance, so they are pretty sore in the marathon areas – butt and quads.

Jesse's horrible feet blisters

Now we’re headed back home, where I’ll take a few days off, then jump right back into training for the next race:  Lake Taupo Revisit in March.  I’ll look for some shorter races in the interim, but racing season is really March – October in the Northern hemisphere.

Thanks for reading, and in advance for understanding my need to handle this race this way.  I think I’ll be able to share at least the dates of future races, if not every little detail!

Huge thanks to Jesse and Sam for all the support, both pre-, during, and post-race.  I’ve got to get Sam in the pool for some swim practice….no ulterior motive.

Since Amy has my camera, and I haven’t yet replaced it, I’ve got to extract the pictures from Big Jesse’s.  I want to go ahead and post the story, and I’ll come back and add pictures (the one of Jesse’s feet is spectacular, as is the one of the roach in the hotel room, so check back).

disgusting palmetto roach in the hotel room (and Sam's face)

Thanks for reading and for cheering me on!

Thanks for all the kind words!
15

GREAT RIDE

My ass is hamburger.  My quads are blown.  My lips are chapped.

I had a fabulous time!

What a great ride this was!  To recap (as opposed to capping), we left with 9 adventurers from the Jordan Dude Farm on Wednesday night at midnight, drove all night to Natchez, Mississippi where we started riding on Thursday.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Natchez_Trace

Our riding days varied from 55 to 105 miles, and we rode for 6 days, finishing this afternoon in the only rain we saw on the whole trip at the Loveless Cafe in Nashville.  The UT kids had planted their cars at the Sunday night spot because they had to return to class on Monday, and our Murfreesboro friend Casey joined us on Saturday.

The Trace has no commercial traffic, so no trucks, and not too much sightseeing traffic.  Speed limit is 50, so what little traffic there was was very manageable.  It was a tad warm in southern Mississippi, but evenings were cool.  Most meals were campground type – brats over the fire, and we ate in towns a couple of times.

Of course we had both dogs with us; you’ll have to ask Jesse personally about his experience with Uga.  They are such a part of Team Fly, and they know the bus routine pretty well.

Now hear this:  we had such a great time, and with the realization that MTSU Fall Break is next Monday and Tuesday, we’re gonna try to get a group together to DO.  IT.  AGAIN.  (It helps make my, Jesse’s, and Sam’s bicycling addiction look a little more legit).

If you are reading this blog and have ever thought about trying bicycle touring, THIS is your opportunity.  The bus leapfrogs ahead 10-20 miles at a time, and anytime you are fatigued, you just hop on the bus for a bit!  Beg, borrow, or steal a bike (and helmet), pull together the $75 bus fee, tell your boss/clients/family you’ll be back Tuesday night, and come on!  Can I promise you when you are rocking your grandchildren you won’t be saying to them “I sure wish I hadn’t done that spectacular bike ride back in ’10”??

Again, sorry about the pictures – daughter Amy NEEDED a camera (hers broke) and Mommy was in her line of whining.  I guess I’ll have to replace mine by Friday.

Jesse is blogging too, with pictures at http://www.crazyguyonabike.com.  We’re also putting pics on our Facebook pages, so check there too.

So tired I can hardly move, and can’t wait til Friday.

Thanks for reading!

1

I think it’s day 4

What. A. Ride.

We are having such a good time!  We are in Toshimingo, Mississippi, at the Toshimingo State Park.  Today was a 75-mile day all up in this state.

Unfortunately, we had to say goodbye to the UT crew – we were glad to have them for the 4 days, and we can’t fault them for needing to attend class tomorrow!  That leaves 6 of us – Big Jesse and me, Sam, Curtis, Casey, and Charles.  We have only 2 days of riding left, and then it’s back to reality.

Today was a smidge warmer than we would have chosen, but it’s as clear and dry as can be.  The terrain has gotten a bit more hilly, but even those are long, gentle rollers.  We should see a bit more elevation tomorrow, and we end up at Meriwether Lewis State Park for the overnight.

Amy Jordan has absconded with my camera, so no current pics – I’ll try to add a couple from the first four days just for interest:

another view of her highness

Trace scenery
rest break

News to come from Meriwether Lewis — stay tuned!

Thanks for reading!

0

Day 3 Natchez

Safely in camp at Witch Dance (real campground – look it up), about 40 miles south of Tupelo.

Today Casey Baes joined us and Jordan Taylor left us – Casey had class at MTSU on Friday, and Jordan is a responsible employee and had to work.

Today was a 73-mile day over pretty flat terrain.  It’s very scenic along the Trace – no commercial development, mostly sight-seeing traffic, gentle rolling inclines.  We stopped at a harvest festival in French Camp – watched them make sorghum molasses – and had a taste on a biscuit – oh, joy!

We’ve had several good views of the Old Trace – a sunken trail that was a game trail, then a Native American trail, then a goods transport trail, and is now sunken 10 feet below ground level from use in some areas.

Mexican food in Kioskusco (??)
Sam's riding partner
Boo on the back deck
Pace Line

We are having such a good time.  The mornings start out cool, and we have a camper’s breakfast of bacon and eggs and coffee.  Then we get in about 20 miles while the bus leapfrogs ahead and waits.  (We drivers take turns driving sections)  Then we snack and re-Gatorade at the bus, switch out drivers, and off we go for another 20 or so.

Tonight’s dinner was brats and sauerkraut and mac and cheese, and it was delicious.  Lunches have generally been on the bus – deli meats and cheeses, pb and j, etc.  Tomorrow we’ll lunch in Tupelo, just off the Trace, and dinner remains a mystery.

Please do this ride.  We’ll probably do it again next year at fall break, and it would be easy to join us for Saturday and Sunday, even if you couldn’t do the whole thing.

Thanks for reading!

 

2

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