Happy. Healthy. Heathen.

Day two of the first series training in the Gulf.

Today was as different from yesterday as yesterday was from regular pool training.  In fact, I’d go so far as to say that today’s ocean training was more like traditional pool training than it was like swimming the ocean yesterday!!  Biggest lesson from that:  It is anybody’s guess on race day what the current/waves/temperature/tides are going to be.  That’s the case with every race you run, but it takes on tremendous significance when something as powerful as the sea is involved.

It started just like yesterday…putting on the wetsuit, et al, diving in…but…baby, tiny, miniature surf.  The technique I was going to implement…the diving under the breakers?  Ummmm, no breakers.  But it was good anyway, because it gave me more time to work on the actual swim itself.  It was a great workout, and I got accustomed to the termperature pretty quickly…I even unzipped the back of the wetsuit and let in a little more cool water.

Here are the things I’ve learned from my Florida expedition: 

• From now on, during my swim workouts, I will incorporate every stroke I know:  free, back, breast, even side (both sides) with scissor kick.  The swim in the ocean is so organic, I used every stroke I have in order to try to manage the tide and movement.
• I will come back sometime in April if I can to see what the sea has to offer.  The race in May 9, so if I can have one more opportunity, I think it will help solidify my confidence.
• I will prepare myself for the possibility of ANY conditions on race day.  I’ve raced in heat, rain, wind, cold…in a triathlon, there are even more variables, and it’s my intention to expect the worst, and hope for the best, as the saying goes.

Many thanks to Mom for being WAY out of her comfort zone doing her spotter job.  Today was even more difficult because it was so hazy for both sessions.  She did a champion job and I’m so grateful for her help.  We also had a great visit, as we always do when we’re together! 

Thanks for reading…next post will be from Murfreesboro!

I am a strong girl.

I am a strong swimmer, and I’m fit.  The ocean kicked my ass today.  I’m not over it yet.

If you’ve been following the blog, you know that I’ve been a little freaked out about the ocean swim in the race in May.  Between the temperature, the turbulence, the saline, the sun…I have known there is a vast difference between the swimming I’ve been doing in the indoor pool at Sports Com and the actual swim in the ocean during the race.  How right I was.

I drove down here yesterday, with my mom in tow to serve as my shore buddy.  My precious brother has a condo down here (Panama City Beach) and it’s coincidentally where the race is to be held in May.  I have purchased a wetsuit and intend to practice this weekend and a weekend in April before the big event.

So today’s air temperature was around 75 – perfect – and the water temp was around 63…rather chilly.  I donned the suit, goggles, and cap,  positioned mom on the shore with a cell phone, and into the surf I ventured.  The flags were flying yellow, which is between green (not much undertow) and red (beaches are closed to swimming).  That was good to practice in, since I don’t know what the waves will be like on race day.  I waded out to waist/chest level, then as the waves began to crash over me near my head, I raised my feet and commenced swimming.  Let me rephrase that:  I raised my feet and began to flail about fighting the waves flinging me back to shore.

I could see before I entered the water that as soon as I crossed the breakers the sea was calm.  So as I struggled against the waves, I was determined to get past them to calm water, which I ultimately did…but at a great price.  I was so fatigued, and my heart rate was so elevated, once I passed the whitecaps, I had to spend several minutes treading water/floating on my back to catch my breath and settle down.  After I accomplished that, I was able to begin swimming in almost my regular pattern (water still a bit cool and affecting my breathing).  I made the decision then to focus on that breaker-crossing rather than the rhythmic swim I had planned to rehearse.

Back to shore I go, struggling once again through the force of the tide, got out and walked to where mom was keeping sentry, wriggled myself out of the top half of the wet suit, rested a few moments, and then began again.  The effort was a fraction easier this time out, but just as I was reaching calm water, I got overconfident, turned my back to incoming surf, and was immediately hammered right in the head with a tremendous wave.  My goggles went flying, and it knocked me silly for a second or two.  I didn’t exactly choose to rest, but I found myself lying on my back getting my bearings again…my goggles float gently past me, and I watched them for a moment before I snagged them.  It took me a few minutes to recover from that event, then back to the routine.  Swim a while, get my groove on, then back toward shore.

I repeated this effort one more time, then dragged my sorry, exhausted ass up the sand to collapse on the beach surrounded by hormonal spring-breakers.  (Why the funnel?  Why not just drink a beer if you want one??)  I’ve spent the rest of the day ruminating on tomorrow’s plan of attack for the same beach/waves/ocean.  The kid in the lifeguard stand suggested diving through and under the waves on the way out instead of riding over the top…I’ll try that.

So, ultimately, it was both easier and harder than I anticipated…the swim was easier, crossing the breakers was harder.  In the actual race it is a long oval I think, so I only have to pass through the gauntlet once on the way out, and then again on the way in.  And swim 1.2 miles in between.

No iPod today, but lots of words of support and encouragement echoing through my brain as I took to the water.  Thank you for every one of them.

Thanks for reading…

Okay, here I sit, recovering.

Today’s brick was a new distance:  30 mile ride/8 mile run.  And like every other effing bike training day this season, the winds were high.  Fortunately, it was rather balmy, but in my excitement at discovering the MapMyRide.com website, I neglected to take into account the wind direction.  I was having such fun clicking on intersections and building a 30 mile ride on rural roads, I just took off to the north – with a lovely tailwind.  17 miles later, I made the turn for home, and you guessed it – that’s when it occurred to me that I was kinda toast.

Anyway, got it home, then Big Jesse volunteered to take me 8 miles south, so I could run all the way with the tailwind…is that technically cheating???  There was a protest on the MTSU president’s lawn regarding the dropping of several majors, so I stopped there for a few minutes to lend emotional support and join in a few protest chants, then I toodled on down the road.  It was a sluggish start for about 2 miles, then I got my groove on and actually ended up with a pretty good time.

Now, however, I’m lounging on the couch with the dogs, and I’m not sure I’m gonna transition to my bed for the night…I’m pretty comfortable right here.

Best random:  Such Great Heights, Iron and Wine

Thanks so much for reading…

We had snow in Murfreesboro this weekend…kinda unusual for us, but we mostly get one or two days a year of the good stuff.  I was anxious to run in it on the farm because of the beauty in it, and I did that today, but it was mostly of the gloppy, muddy, post-snow kind.

I have a little loop on the farm that I like to run that includes a pretty good hill up the TVA easement which crosses our property.  The loop takes me about 10.5 minutes, a few minutes to get there and back, so today I ran 5 loops, including the slip-slidey hill.  I had my two dogs, and the extra golden (Boo’s daughter) who lives next door.  We all happily slopped through the mud in the sunshine, and the crunchy frozen ground in the shadow.

Today’s run was strong and fast…I had had a good 8 mile run on Saturday that I didn’t blog about, and again today I felt terrific.  This has been a really good stretch in the training for the running portion, always my weakest event.  I’m a little lighter and I’m sure that makes a difference, and my head’s in a good place so that helps too.  Busting the hill several times today made me incorporate some higher intensity intervals, and although I can’t say I’m fond of them, I feel like they really make a difference in my overall time, and they don’t seem to hurt my effort when it’s all over.

I’m still wigging about the ocean swim, so I’m heading to Panama City Beach this weekend, with my new wetsuit, to swim where the actual race will be.  My buddy Trainer Mike tells me that my head is more important than my body on this issue, and that I’m working myself into a frenzy for nothing; I’ll let him know after I swim in the 59 degree water on Saturday…

Fave song:  Dane Cook’s bit about seeing the guy get hit by a car…Johnny Tamborine

Thanks for reading…

Okay, when I began this blog, I wrote that I would tell the circus story at some point…here it is:

I have no memory of this event, but it is a story my parents have told over and over through the years.  When I was a little girl, 4 or 5 years old, my parents took me to a circus.  It was a traditional event:  big tent, elephants, trapeze artists, lion tamer, clowns – the whole package.  My parents say that in the midst of all of this, I turned to the two of them and asked:  “When are we going to do something?”

I know I’m high maintenance…just ask my husband and family.  I know I need more stimulation than almost anyone I know.  I know I cram more into one day than most people do in a week.  But seriously, how can I possibly sit there and pedal that bike inside the gym for TWO AND A QUARTER HOURS?!  I tried.  I really did.  I watched every channel on the screen (admittedly, each for about two minutes at a time), I listened to my iPod, I people-watched, I went through my to-do list in my head, I even tried to remember poems/passages I memorized in high school (O Captain, my Captain, The Highwayman, Puck’s speech, the Gettysburg address), which led to the sad realization that my grey matter is not retaining all it used to.

So at mile 29 of 35, I walked away.  Keep in mind this was after a 3/4 mile swim, and it wasn’t fatigue that sent me, disgusted, to the locker room…it was utter, sheer, absolute, mind-numbing, soul-killing boredom.  I couldn’t even get to an even 30.  I take heart in the fact that it seems like spring is on the way, and the number of workouts I have to do inside is getting smaller and smaller.  I plan to ride outside tomorrow if the temperature cooperates, and I’m using this blog for accountability’s sake.  Give me the worst you’ve got.  Bring it.  I know I’m a slacker.  A bad example.  A fair-weather athlete (well, that one’s obvious).

Glad to get that all out.

Best random song:  F**k her gently, Tenacious D

Thanks for reading…

If you’re following, several weeks ago I had this run from heaven where every step felt strong, light, and right.  Today was the day for the swim to do the same.

As in the run, there was no real reason for it to be so good.  Nutrition was good, rest was good, mood was good, but nothing any more so than any other average day.  Today was a 3/4 mile swim (26 laps) – the longest distance so far toward the 1.25 that the actual race will be. 

I started the swim with a little chat with Jim McCarrell, Sean’s uncle.  He’s training for the Tullahoma Sprint Tri and the Chattanooga Olympic Tri.  We shared training updates, then I put in my tunes, turned on my Ironman watch and got started.  My focus today was to get away a bit from “lap mentality”, and more into continuity of stroking; to allow my sprint/recovery/sprint sequence to be based solely on breathing and stroking rather than the length of the pool. 

It seemed like the swim was effortless.  Every song that cycled through the random selection was perfect for what I needed.  The water felt like it was helping me along, and my lungs were cooperating with whatever I gave them.  On days like this, you just have to thank whatever aqua spirits are guiding you along, and be grateful by giving all you can.

Favorite song:  no way I can do this today…here’s a few of the selections:  Rock Steady, Aretha Franklin; That’s the Way, Led Zepelin; Yellow, Coldplay; We are going to be friends, Jack Johnson; Cell Block Tango, Chicago; Melissa, Allman Bros;Who’ll Stop the Rain, CCR…am I right or am I right??

Thanks for reading…

Great swim today…

It was a manageable half-mile swim, and I got it done in under 30 minutes.  I squeaked into the pool just in time to get it done before they closed for the afternoon.  There are the usual lap swimmers there almost every time…it’s a strange phenomenon that we recognize one another, enough to nod and smile, but have no idea the identity/name/backstory of each other at all.

Still wiggy about the ocean swim, and looking at the calendar to get to Panama City Beach before the race for a little wave/current/temperature exposure. 

Fave random song:  Dane Cook, Retaliation…Jelly Bit (Hard to swim and laugh at the same time, tho)

Thanks for reading…

Remind me, next time I’m contemplating it, NOT to do a strength training workout the same day I do a brick. 

I am so sore, I can’t move off the couch.  The strength training workout was great, the ride was great, and the run was great…just not such a good idea to do all three in the same day.

The weather was crap…what a shock.  It was overcast, cold, windy, and, in the midst of the ride and run, rainy.  It was 25/6, so it took a while.  Jesse, in a show of solidarity, did both events with me (he passed on the weight training).  We took ourselves out for Mexican food afterward…by then I’m chilled because I’m all sweaty, and I wasn’t crazy about my fajitas, so we didn’t linger…

Now I’m ensconced on the couch, my coffee/ibuprofen snack by my side, enjoying Biggest Loser.  It always feels good to have the brick down for the week. 

Too tired to blog…now that’s tired…but it’s a good kind of tired (isn’t that the expression???)

Favorite random shuffle:  Bobby Brown, Frank Zappa

Thanks for reading…

Several days ago I blogged about a training session that really sucked.  Both the ride and the run were a struggle, and I wasn’t able to attribute it to any particular reason. 

Today was the polar opposite.  There was no reason it should have been such a good run.  It was a 6-miler, and I decided kind of on the spur of the moment to do it.  It was a little cold and windy, and I headed out at about 12:30 or so.  I did my little country lane first, and then headed out onto 96 to clock the miles. 

I don’t know if it’s the planets aligning, the weather, my mood, my nutrition…it just was spectacular.  I felt like I could run for miles more.  My breathing was calm and controlled, my body felt strong and capable, and my spirit responded to all of that.  I even had a little surreal, nike-commercial moment of feeling like every time my back foot left the ground, it fell away beneath my sole, collapsing under my pace…kind of the Lord of the Rings moment when Gandolph meets his temporary end.

Ours is not to question why…I’ll take it. 

Favorite random play:  American Pie (long version), Don McLean

Thanks for reading.