The short story: got up at 6:30 and was out the door by 6:45 and managed to hit a little less of the shift change traffic today. I rode what had been my 45 min route when training for Pewaukee (home to Militia, back to Shamrock, around Sterzer, back up nasty hill on Algoa, in/out of Wakoda, to Tania's house and home). It is about 7.8 miles give or take. Got it done even though my knees have been hurting this week. Did a short/brisk walk with husband and kids yesterday (probably a mile or so). Still trying to maneauver to get up to the CMC Hulen Lake swim tomorrow night.
Longer story: I'm not sure it if PMS or post-race blues or what, but I'm having a hard time getting my head in the game on multiple fronts. Pretty much since mid-July, I've been wasting an insane amount of time on runner/tri blogs. This means that I'm not spending nearly enough time doing WORK. Since I work for myself and my husband is laid off, this is NOT a good thing.
I also am having a bit of a battle in my mind as to where to go now with this new obsession. I like that having races out there to work towards keeps me from just sitting on my butt. On the other hand, I feel like it is wasting money and time to sign up for races when I risk another LAST PLACE finish and will never be competitive. Do I keep going to events and just work on beating myself? Or is there a point to trying to squeeze in a couple of more sprints this year? Should I instead just keep working on getting in at least a few workouts every week and lose some weight and begin working on jogging (since right now the last leg of tri's is pretty awful with my insanely slow walking)?
My sister is doing the Lake Geneva tri and I find myself jealous of it. I can't really justify slogging all of my crap back to WI to do another race with her when I really don't get to race "with" her as I am so slow I have to do it by myself regardless. We are planning on going to KC to visit my grandfather (97.5 years old) and aunt (just retired) on the 20th and the Jackson County sprint tri is the next day (although we haven't really decided if we are spending the night yet). But I fear my husband will think it a waste of time and money. It was all good to do it and prove to myself that I could finish a race and the SMSG race wasn't expensive or far away (and he was still working), but I'm not sure where he stands on this subject and, given my own indecision, maybe it isn't worth fussing about.
But there aren't a lot more races this season. Maybe I need to be sitting and doing some goal setting and thinking to next year. I have pretty much decided on a couple of 5Ks that are coming up. I figure I can always walk them in a pinch. Certainly will be easier than doing them after a swim and bike leg.
Sorry for the splattered thinking post. Guess that is how I am feeling right now - splattered. Maybe another day or two will go by and it will all sort itself out in my own mind.
Tuesday, August 9, 2011
Saturday, August 6, 2011
Continued inspiration...
So Beth over at Shut Up and Run posted the most awesome email that she received from a friend the other day. I totally think it is something we all should read daily and twice before a race. The link for the post is here.
And then Jason over at Cook Train Eat Race posted about a wonderful tweet from tri hero Chrissie Wellington about leaving regret-filled "what ifs" behind and focusing on the "what ifs" that can propel us to dream bigger than our current circumstances. Another that should be part of our regular read rotation. The link for the post is here. I loved this. All of the tough times we have been through and hard choices we've made brought us to THIS. The here and now.
And as I mentioned the other day, Mark over at tridadoffive posted a manifesto of inspiration the other day that I want to record for rereading as needed for inspiration. The link to that post can be found here.
We all have to find our inspiration. And reflect on it when our spirits our struggling.
And then Jason over at Cook Train Eat Race posted about a wonderful tweet from tri hero Chrissie Wellington about leaving regret-filled "what ifs" behind and focusing on the "what ifs" that can propel us to dream bigger than our current circumstances. Another that should be part of our regular read rotation. The link for the post is here. I loved this. All of the tough times we have been through and hard choices we've made brought us to THIS. The here and now.
And as I mentioned the other day, Mark over at tridadoffive posted a manifesto of inspiration the other day that I want to record for rereading as needed for inspiration. The link to that post can be found here.
We all have to find our inspiration. And reflect on it when our spirits our struggling.
14+ Miles into 15 Mile ride
Apparently, the universe thought I needed a mini-brick workout this morning. As I was coming up the last hill of a very long bike ride (for newbie me), I dropped the chain as I tried to shift. Yes, I know I should know how to fix that. Yes, I'll figure it out for next time. But I was pretty mentally and physically spent and within a mile of home so I walked the rest of the way to the top of the hill and coasted down part of the last couple of blocks home until I couldn't coast anymore and then walked until I could coast into the garage at home. Such is life. At least I wasn't 7+ miles from home.
Backing up, I got up at 6:00, out the door by about 6:10 (with fanny pack that has a little cash, emergency contact info, granola bar and phone). I rode the opposite direction of my "normal" route (into town). This route had a lot of rolling hills (very par for the course in Jeff City). From my house, through downtown past the Capitol, out Main to Hwy 179 (stopping at Breaktime on Dix to get a Gatorade; almost hit by minivan making left turn from 179 to Industrial), down Industrial and McCarty and made it all the way back to SMCCC when I dropped the chain. Kind of hit the wall going up the hill by the City Cemetery and had to get off and push it the rest of the way. Irritated about that, but it is what it is.
A good workout (ie. very sweaty). It was a little cloudy on the way out which was nice. Got very lightly sprinkled on a little over half way (on Industrial). Sun started to come out and was wishing I had my sunglasses a little bit, but it never got insanely hot before I got home. So that was a plus! Guess I'm going to see if the boy and I can fix my chain before I bother with a shower.
Backing up, I got up at 6:00, out the door by about 6:10 (with fanny pack that has a little cash, emergency contact info, granola bar and phone). I rode the opposite direction of my "normal" route (into town). This route had a lot of rolling hills (very par for the course in Jeff City). From my house, through downtown past the Capitol, out Main to Hwy 179 (stopping at Breaktime on Dix to get a Gatorade; almost hit by minivan making left turn from 179 to Industrial), down Industrial and McCarty and made it all the way back to SMCCC when I dropped the chain. Kind of hit the wall going up the hill by the City Cemetery and had to get off and push it the rest of the way. Irritated about that, but it is what it is.
A good workout (ie. very sweaty). It was a little cloudy on the way out which was nice. Got very lightly sprinkled on a little over half way (on Industrial). Sun started to come out and was wishing I had my sunglasses a little bit, but it never got insanely hot before I got home. So that was a plus! Guess I'm going to see if the boy and I can fix my chain before I bother with a shower.
Thursday, August 4, 2011
7 AM Bike Ride
Night before last, I stayed up later than usual talking to my husband about this, that and the other. Something we do very rarely and I enjoy - but I didn't get quite enough sleep that night so I slept hard last night and felt kind of hung over this morning (with no alcohol involved). But I thought of SUAR and rolled out of bed just before 7 (a benefit of being self-employed) to go for an hour bike ride. In all my training for Pewaukee, I never rode more than 45 min and I wasn't sure what I would have to add to get closer to an hour so I just added some "stubs" off my "regular" route.
Things to note - 7:00 to 7:30 AM must be shift change for nearly all of the industrial belt along Algoa Road. My normally low traffic road consisted of LOTS of cars this morning. Oops. Scholastic, Inc. has a giant distribution center; Missouri National Guard and SEMA, MO State Prison, and others are all along or near my route. Thankfully, everyone slowed down near me and swung wide when able (yep - no bike lanes here). I'll remember that 6 AM or 8 AM allows for much less traffic as it was nearly dead as I rode the final 15 min.
Also note, we've had record high temps lately (108° is NOT normal for us even mid-summer). And the humidity has been stifling. But this morning it was in the low 80s! And with CLOUDS! YAY! Until those clouds got DARK! I made up my mind if I saw lightening I would shorten up and ride like hell to get home, but I never did and even finished before the first drops fell.
To my "normal" route which is mostly flat with one Cat 5 hill (according to map my ride), I added a "stub" up to the entrance ramp from the Hwy 50 interchange (a hill there), a "stub" up the side street by Fabick that I didn't realize dead ended right behind them, a "stub" up the other end of Algoa Road to ABP's far driveway (another little hill), a "stub" up the road by Command Web (including a short uncomfortable run on gravel down to the lift station that proves that even though I ride a mountain bike - I do NOT enjoy using it as such), a "stub" up Shamrock to the quarry entrance, my usual loop around Scholastic and back home (with my usual "stub" up Wakoda Woods). Mapped my ride at home and it came out just short of 11 miles. Man I ride slow (10 mph give or take)!
A good sweaty workout. I had a Nature Valley Trail Mix bar before leaving and some water along the way and more water when I got home along with a couple bites of peach. I just don't feel like eating in the morning. Something I'll have to work on if I do longer rides. Now to find some time for a swim in the next day or so. Wish the CMC training opportunities weren't 45-60 miles away, but maybe I'll just need to suck it up and go.
Things to note - 7:00 to 7:30 AM must be shift change for nearly all of the industrial belt along Algoa Road. My normally low traffic road consisted of LOTS of cars this morning. Oops. Scholastic, Inc. has a giant distribution center; Missouri National Guard and SEMA, MO State Prison, and others are all along or near my route. Thankfully, everyone slowed down near me and swung wide when able (yep - no bike lanes here). I'll remember that 6 AM or 8 AM allows for much less traffic as it was nearly dead as I rode the final 15 min.
Also note, we've had record high temps lately (108° is NOT normal for us even mid-summer). And the humidity has been stifling. But this morning it was in the low 80s! And with CLOUDS! YAY! Until those clouds got DARK! I made up my mind if I saw lightening I would shorten up and ride like hell to get home, but I never did and even finished before the first drops fell.
To my "normal" route which is mostly flat with one Cat 5 hill (according to map my ride), I added a "stub" up to the entrance ramp from the Hwy 50 interchange (a hill there), a "stub" up the side street by Fabick that I didn't realize dead ended right behind them, a "stub" up the other end of Algoa Road to ABP's far driveway (another little hill), a "stub" up the road by Command Web (including a short uncomfortable run on gravel down to the lift station that proves that even though I ride a mountain bike - I do NOT enjoy using it as such), a "stub" up Shamrock to the quarry entrance, my usual loop around Scholastic and back home (with my usual "stub" up Wakoda Woods). Mapped my ride at home and it came out just short of 11 miles. Man I ride slow (10 mph give or take)!
A good sweaty workout. I had a Nature Valley Trail Mix bar before leaving and some water along the way and more water when I got home along with a couple bites of peach. I just don't feel like eating in the morning. Something I'll have to work on if I do longer rides. Now to find some time for a swim in the next day or so. Wish the CMC training opportunities weren't 45-60 miles away, but maybe I'll just need to suck it up and go.
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
Who Inspires You?
Today, among the things I was "supposed" to be doing - I continued to read up on athletes that inspire me. I can only dream of being so inspiring. For the last few weeks, I've been reading triathlete and runner blogs. I also joined a local multi-sport club after reading some of their inspiring race reports (and finding out about the 10% discount at the local running store).
Upon having been put on their crazy busy listserv, I received an email about a news story on the Team True Spirit. This is a group of UK wounded soldiers (mostly amputees) that just completed the UK Ironman competition as relay teams (and one soldier who basically said "Ah heck, I was training to do the bike and the run so I figured why not toss in a couple miles in the water" and did the whole thing himself. Amazing!
And there was a reference to the infamous (and Ironman Hall of Fame) Team Hoyt. Rick and Dick Hoyt (the senior Hoyt now 70 years old) that have finished over 1,000 marathons, triathlons, and other races/events through the amazing love of a father for his physically challenged son. Tears flowed from my eyes - and Ironman? TOUGH! And Ironman where you pull your adult son in a boat, pedal with him in a chair mounted on your bike (for over 300 lbs of resistance total), and push him in a racing wheel chair (that was invented prior to baby joggers) is INCREDIBLE!! And to do it multiple times? Into your sixties? Can't even wrap my brain around it!
And I had read about these heroes only an hour or so before reading on another triathlete's blog (tridadoffive) about the complete and total difference in mindset that you develop as you dive into the journey that is triathlon. About the people that inspire us to push past the pain, make the tough choices to find the time in our busy lives to train...about what motivates us. So, what motivates you? To do whatever it is that you do?
As a side note, Tri Dad of 5 visited my blog and wrote an encouraging note which really made my day. My first blog comment. Going to try and use that motivation to get off my butt first thing in the morning and knock out a bike ride before it gets crazy hot again.
Upon having been put on their crazy busy listserv, I received an email about a news story on the Team True Spirit. This is a group of UK wounded soldiers (mostly amputees) that just completed the UK Ironman competition as relay teams (and one soldier who basically said "Ah heck, I was training to do the bike and the run so I figured why not toss in a couple miles in the water" and did the whole thing himself. Amazing!
And there was a reference to the infamous (and Ironman Hall of Fame) Team Hoyt. Rick and Dick Hoyt (the senior Hoyt now 70 years old) that have finished over 1,000 marathons, triathlons, and other races/events through the amazing love of a father for his physically challenged son. Tears flowed from my eyes - and Ironman? TOUGH! And Ironman where you pull your adult son in a boat, pedal with him in a chair mounted on your bike (for over 300 lbs of resistance total), and push him in a racing wheel chair (that was invented prior to baby joggers) is INCREDIBLE!! And to do it multiple times? Into your sixties? Can't even wrap my brain around it!
And I had read about these heroes only an hour or so before reading on another triathlete's blog (tridadoffive) about the complete and total difference in mindset that you develop as you dive into the journey that is triathlon. About the people that inspire us to push past the pain, make the tough choices to find the time in our busy lives to train...about what motivates us. So, what motivates you? To do whatever it is that you do?
As a side note, Tri Dad of 5 visited my blog and wrote an encouraging note which really made my day. My first blog comment. Going to try and use that motivation to get off my butt first thing in the morning and knock out a bike ride before it gets crazy hot again.
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
Climbing hills - at the waterpark!
My husband got laid off last week (an electrican - comes with the territory) and we'd been putting off some fun things that we try to do every summer before school starts until this time (which we knew would come). So today, when the mercury was on the rise, we took off for the Lake of the Ozarks and a fun time at Big Surf. We decided last night to get there about 2:30-2:45 and slather on the sunscreen in order to buy discounted tix at 3 PM (saving $36). Three hours was really going to be enough of hiking up the hills between each downhill slide run.
I mostly stuck with my 10 year old son and my husband stuck with our 7 year old daughter. We did a couple laps around the lazy river, several runs down the "rapids", a few runs down the "no tube" slides and played around in the kiddie area (where he went across the "lilypads" and we played some water basketball). I could swim across this "pool area" in one breath (about four-five strokes) so it was hardly a workout. Of course we also played in the wave pool some. The crowds thinned out as closing time approached. My feet were really starting to hurt with all the walking barefoot on 100°+ concrete (air temp over 100° all afternoon - at 6 PM the truck thermometer said 108°). I was glad we were only there for 3 hours. Everyone had fun and we enjoyed some Culvers bacon burgers and custard afterwards.
School starts two weeks from tomorrow. I hope we can squeeze in some more fun in that time. Too bad the weather isn't being more cooperative. Back to the grind tomorrow. Need to get some billable hours in.
I mostly stuck with my 10 year old son and my husband stuck with our 7 year old daughter. We did a couple laps around the lazy river, several runs down the "rapids", a few runs down the "no tube" slides and played around in the kiddie area (where he went across the "lilypads" and we played some water basketball). I could swim across this "pool area" in one breath (about four-five strokes) so it was hardly a workout. Of course we also played in the wave pool some. The crowds thinned out as closing time approached. My feet were really starting to hurt with all the walking barefoot on 100°+ concrete (air temp over 100° all afternoon - at 6 PM the truck thermometer said 108°). I was glad we were only there for 3 hours. Everyone had fun and we enjoyed some Culvers bacon burgers and custard afterwards.
School starts two weeks from tomorrow. I hope we can squeeze in some more fun in that time. Too bad the weather isn't being more cooperative. Back to the grind tomorrow. Need to get some billable hours in.
Monday, August 1, 2011
Another bike ride with the boy
My son has been bribed by his father to get in four "long" bike rides this summer (which is now my "easy" course). It is from our home, out 2.5 mi and back with a brief detour down one cul-de-sac. Husband agreed to give him $20 towards the reward of his choice after completing them. He doesn't enjoy exercise and I guess his dad was up for "whatever works". Except that my son can't ride nearly as fast as me and it is terribly frustrating to ride with him. Not to mention that when he starts to hit the wall that we all tend to hit (mentally more than physically), he is a ball of negativity. We did this ride on Saturday (his ride #3 this summer) and like money burning a hole in his pocket wanted to know when we could do it again so he could get his $20 towards a new airsoft gun.
So I took him out this evening after supper. I had a pretty low key day - lots of reading blogs (oops). Didn't get much work done (oops). So maybe this was my attempt at some kind of redemption (that and I am having some shin splint pain since my walk with Jennifer and cross-training seemed like a good way to "rest"). The "out" part of this ride is pretty easy - a long, fast downhill and a lot of basic flats. I had to do some little "loops" to let him catch up with me (or ride back to him as the case may be). On the way back I tried to prepare him for the first part of the hill going back (remember he mastered the 2nd half /aka steep/ part of the hill last time). I told him he could do it and he geared down and got it done (yay!), but he was flipping out when he got to the bottom of the steep hill and insisted on stopping to rest. Like total comeapart with tears and everything. Not pretty so I rode up the steep hill and told him I'd wait at the top. I told him he had to keep moving (walking or whatever) and I'll be damned if he didn't get back on his bike and get up the steep section!! Rock star move, buddy! So proud.
Tried to tell me we didn't need to go into the cul-de-sac now, but I said "Fine, I'll do it and catch up to you." But he followed me and added that little 0.25 mi or so onto his ride too. We got home and he headed into the garage while I went up to my friend Tania's house and back (another 0.5 mi or so). It was hot and humid as it has been for a while this summer, but we got in a decent little workout. I probably finished a total of about 6-6.5 miles (give or take with the loop de loops). Proud of my boy, but looking forward to NOT having him with me next ride. Tomorrow's workout? Hill climbing at the waterpark at The Lake for 3 hours. Maybe I can do some swimming in the wave pool?
So I took him out this evening after supper. I had a pretty low key day - lots of reading blogs (oops). Didn't get much work done (oops). So maybe this was my attempt at some kind of redemption (that and I am having some shin splint pain since my walk with Jennifer and cross-training seemed like a good way to "rest"). The "out" part of this ride is pretty easy - a long, fast downhill and a lot of basic flats. I had to do some little "loops" to let him catch up with me (or ride back to him as the case may be). On the way back I tried to prepare him for the first part of the hill going back (remember he mastered the 2nd half /aka steep/ part of the hill last time). I told him he could do it and he geared down and got it done (yay!), but he was flipping out when he got to the bottom of the steep hill and insisted on stopping to rest. Like total comeapart with tears and everything. Not pretty so I rode up the steep hill and told him I'd wait at the top. I told him he had to keep moving (walking or whatever) and I'll be damned if he didn't get back on his bike and get up the steep section!! Rock star move, buddy! So proud.
Tried to tell me we didn't need to go into the cul-de-sac now, but I said "Fine, I'll do it and catch up to you." But he followed me and added that little 0.25 mi or so onto his ride too. We got home and he headed into the garage while I went up to my friend Tania's house and back (another 0.5 mi or so). It was hot and humid as it has been for a while this summer, but we got in a decent little workout. I probably finished a total of about 6-6.5 miles (give or take with the loop de loops). Proud of my boy, but looking forward to NOT having him with me next ride. Tomorrow's workout? Hill climbing at the waterpark at The Lake for 3 hours. Maybe I can do some swimming in the wave pool?
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