February 2, 2006

Well, I started training on my bike a couple of weeks ago on my own. Jeff came with me and we got 5 miles in and then the next day, I had to run a couple of errands and I thought a bike ride would be great. I got 4 in that day. The following week, I got another 4 miles in.

This past weekend was our season kick-off and I got in swimming with the team, Monday night. I realize that I need serious help in this part of the training so I looked around and found Lake Brantley Aquatic Center. It's close to my house and work, and the hours are great. I don't know what I got in lengthwise for swimming, but a couple of days later, my arms and shoulders were screaming at me. I guess that's where "no pain, no gain" comes in. :D

I also did a half mile run/jog/walk, and 5-mile bike, Tuesday. I completed 1 mile run/jog/walk, this morning . I started a day late on my training this week and yesterday between the 40 something degree weather in the morning and appointments in the evening, I wimped out. So I made up for it today and I'll be training on our "day off" tomorrow. I get to train with my team for the running and biking this Saturday and I'm really looking forward to it. They're a great group of people and from my experience with my marathon team, I plan on making some great friendships.

February 13, 2006

Well, I got some swimming in a couple of days last week and am up to 1/4 mile. Saturday, my son came to training with me and outdid me by a mile, but I still got in about 2 miles run/jog/walk and 11 miles biking. It was great! Clint is an awesome coach and hung in there with me on the running til the end. It's a weak point in my training, but his coaching is helping me focus on my technique, which is building my endurance. We've got a bit of a cold snap hitting us today. Hopefully, it will warm up because starting my day off with the training is much easier than ending with it. :D

February 22, 2006

It's been a couple of weeks and I have been so swamped at work, I haven't been able to train with my team. But my son, Austin, is training with me when I "run" and my daughter, Aleigh, is training with me while I bike. The swimming, I'm doing all by myself before I go to work. The cold snap kicked my toosh and the training was very difficult to do. I just keep telling myself, "if the Leukemia patients can fight their illness, I can get my toosh out of bed and train."

Saturday, Austin and I will be running in the Outback Classic 3K after my team training. It's at Lake Eola (where my hubby proposed to me). We're signed up for a 5K in April that my company has set up a team for. These little races will help me get to my goal. Right now, I'm focusing on my technique more than anything. My coaches are great and they're really helping me (since I've learned I really didn't know how to run, swim or ride a bike.) Oh well, I'm finally getting back into shape and I feel great after each bit of training (and, yes, a little exhausted).

March 1, 2006

Well, this past Saturday, my awesome coach, Clint, met me early at training. I take my time and I hate to keep people waiting on me, so this worked out perfectly. We ran 2.2 miles and by the time we got back to our "transition" area, the rest of the team was there to start. I then got on my bike and did 14.3 miles. I really struggled the last couple of miles on that, but as usual, Clint was there encouraging me. I really appreciate the coaches that the Team in Training provides us. It's one of the advantages to being a part of this.

So, I did finish and then I grabbed Austin, who came to work with me for a couple of hours (we are swamped right now) and then we went to the Outback Classic 3K. This race benefits a couple of different organizations-Boys & Girls Club and a scholarship fund. Let's just say that I was a little slow...Austin ran the 3K in 14 minutes. Jeff & Howard from work entered the race with me and we decided we'd walk. However, we weren't done with the first mile when Austin called to say he was finished and waiting on us. Kids! So we finally finished at 32 minutes...and we got some great Outback food and promptly sat our tooshes down at the park and devoured the really awesome food. I could not move the next day. I am determined however, that by Memphis I will be able to do all of the training and be able to walk around the next day without any aches and pains. That is my goal.

March 15, 2006

Well, I'm really swamped at work and training has been almost non-existent during the week. But, I started a new routine this week-every morning off with an 8-minute Tae Bo warmup, then 1/2 mile jog and between 3.5 & 5 mile bike rides in every morning before work. I'm also up to almost 1/2 mile on my swim. My first sprint tri is in less than 4 weeks so I'm trying to make sure that I stay in this routine of squeezing in at least every morning. Sunday is my day off from ALL the chaos, though.

Memphis is closing in fast, also. I'm very grateful for my coaches and team for keeping me motivated and encouraged. It was becoming a little overwhelming because I started having to put in some major OT at work. I've missed some practices, but they're still there for me with e-mails and phone calls. I only hope they realize how much of an impact they have played in my keeping my chin up through the hard stuff.

March 30, 2006

My first sprint triathlon is next weekend. I have 3 guys from work joining me in this endeavor. Now that it's almost here, I can't believe it's so close. Austin came with me last weekend and we went to the Seminole Wekiva Trail. 15 miles on the bikes and I felt like I could do 10 more when we were done. I was happily surprised. I'm also up to a 1/2 mile on my swim.

April 10, 2006

I participated in a sprint tri this weekend. Of course I wasn't ready for the "wind advisory" conditions and I didn't do as well as I had hoped, but I learned alot and that is worth more than its weight in gold.

First thing, it doesn't matter the time I put in at the pool, I need more practice in the lake. Totally different conditions (except they both have water). The fact that I didn't grab onto a kayak or quit during the swim, pushed me on to the bike.

Second thing, double-check and triple check my bike...I got a flat a few weeks back at 5 AM and I was 2 miles from home. So I had just put in a new tube. Didn't want that to happen again.

Last, but not least, my first race was overwhelming, but I didn't quit. This whole race really put things into perspective for me. It's going to be hard trying to find the time to train more, but I'm nowhere near prepared. The lake was the most overwhelming part of it. I had not considered any of the variables that come with that and now I know.

April 24, 2006

Last weeks's training was a little tough. I got through the first loop, thanks to my coach, Clint, that came early to work with me. After that, it was easy going. My hamstring was flaring up, but I think I got in about 4.5 miles total for the day. Then Thursday, my office participated in a corporate 5K. Thanks to Clint's advice, I started off with 8 run/4 walk, then went to the 4 run/2 walk. I finished at 39:18. My hamstring is feeling great. I feel really good about it. I finished 4th out of the 11 on my team.

Also, thanks to my team captain from last season, Raida, we were able to raise enough money this past weekend putting together a rummage sale, to meet my fundraising goal AND have a little left over to return to her church for their donated items. This means that I can concentrate completely on my training. However, I am still taking donations. The fight will not be over until we've found a cure.

Also, for those interested in Team in Training, as you can tell just because my marathon season is over, doesn't mean the teams don't still keep in touch and work together. You build great friendships, too. Raida is one of those survivors (5 years now) who even though wasn't involved this season, still helped me out. She participated in 3 marathons last year and took this season off. I hope this helps you decide if you were unsure about participating in the future. The benefits are overwhelming.

May 11, 2006

This past weekend, was a practice tri. We did .8 mile lake swim, practiced transition to the bike and then to run 3 miles. The lake swim was a bit overwhelming because it was the first time in the wetsuit. On the trip back across the lake, though, it was cake. If it weren't for my great coaches and team, I would have been a wreck, but they were there encouraging me. I'm really going to miss these guys after next weekend.

Yes...next weekend is the big trip. I can't believe it is here already. We had our bon voyage party last night to go over last minute details and get all the TNT stuff we need when we get there. It was great because some of the triathlete alumni were there sharing stories and helped us newbies get an idea of what to expect.

Well, that's about it for now. My next update will probably be after the race.

May 22, 2006

What a weekend!?!?!? WOW!! The whole week leading up to the race was nerve-racking, but once I got in line to start the race, I just went bouy to bouy. When I got out of the water and saw that I did the swim in under an hour, I was on a high from that point on.

The 25-mile bike ride was a sight-seeing tour for me. I just rode and looked around and enjoyed myself. When I saw that I finished that in under my goal of two hours, the high continued.

However, the run started off with a slight problem reinjuring my leg. I just kept smiling and cheering on all of the other Team in Training participants. (By the way, there were 216 of us out there. We raised $750,000 for this event. My team alone, raised over $19,000.) Yep, I was the TNT cheerleader. Some of the Memphis homeowners our run passed by had sprinklers out for us and one person had "Great Balls of Fire" blaring on a stereo for us. I came across two other women from the Iowa chapter who were injured and from about the 2.5 mile marker to the finish, we kept each other company encouraging each other we were close to finishing. We crossed the finish line holding hands up in the air! It was great. I didn't beat my run time that I had at the beginning of the race, but I did beat the time I was hoping to when I got hurt.

Thank you, Pam & Pilar! We did it!!!

Swim Time 50:40

Transition 1 Time 5:56

Bike Time 1:42:29

Bike mph 14.3

Transition 2 Time 4:25

Run Time 1:45:02

Run mph 16:55

Total Race Time 4:28:30

So here is my total Team In Training Tri experience. I hope you enjoyed the ride and think about participating in an event yourself. The experience is unbelievable. I can't put into words all the feelings that I've experienced just this past weekend. Thank you for sharing it with me.