My Miserable Memorable Marathon.....

Saturday was the omen of weather to come in hindsight. The plan was to meet at the RR in Aurora at 10, load up the cars and convoy on out to Picton to the "Crystal Palace" to pick up our kits and hit the "Expo"... The wind was ridiculous, it was cool/cold and overcast and all any of us could think about was - did I pack the right clothes for the race tomorrow.... Weather reports were calling for 6 in the morning and approx. 1-3mm of rain.. Given that 1mm is the thickness of your fingernail I wasn't too concerned... Smooth drive out to Picton, and that's when it hit me how small this race was... Approx. 380 people registered but historically around 240 actually run the full marathon.. Checked out the Expo - all of 1 vendor but they were a running/tri store in from Trenton and it would be worth the roadtrip out in the Spring just to check out their funky cycling jerseys... Back into the convoy to drive the course- only 2 hills in total and of course both are at the end of the route. The first one is about 36k in and reminded me of "THE" hill in Placid as you're coming into town.. The 3nd was smaller and about 39k in... Ok - I could handle that... Off to dinner - awesome Italian place, great pasta, lots of laughs and very little talk about tomorrow... Back to the hotel to discuss morning plans - Angie our instructor had come up with an awesome plan that allowed us to convoy to the start line vs. having to use the shuttle system.. Back to the room where after some last minute chatting and organizing Chae, Natalie and I watched Run Fat Boy Run... Definitely a stress breaker for pre-race jitters...
Tossed and turned at the start but once I fell asleep I was out.. I did wake up at some point and it was raining - I was really hoping that would be the last of it....
 At 6:30 we met up in the parking lot and packed ourselves into the starting line convoy. The wind was crazy, it was cold and while there was no rain it was definitely that damp feeling. We all quickly agreed that the wind wouldn't be so bad on the course as a lot of it was sheltered by trees... Checking the weather report and still only 1-3mm forecasted.. Just as we pulled into Wellington where the race started the "mist" kicked in... Got to the community center, picked up my race chip, and straight to the washroom - real bathrooms inside and not portapotties. This was kind of luxurious!! Spent the next little while figuring out what to wear and how many layers I would need.. Did some active warm-ups that my physio gave me on Thursday... Surprisingly there was no pain or stretch in my hip area - guess that whole rest/recovery concept really does work!! Teehee...
Once we were out at the start I realized just how small this race is.. Especially when for the first 4 km you have an ambulance driving behind you - please God tell me it's going to pull away?? It did.. Whew.. But I had my plan and was sticking to it. I'd printed off and made my own pace tag/card with 3 times on it - 4:55, 5, 5:15.. According to my Midsummer results 4:55 was totally realistic and not a stretch... I also had my fuel belt loaded with 4x10 oz bottles of Cytomax, 8 gels loaded in my flask, and 2 packs of Cliff Shot Blocks for when I felt I needed something "solid". For breakfast I stuck to a banana and 2 Boosts with Extra calories. The route map showed portapotties "around" the aid stations but I wasn't risking it.. I had also learned my lesson on fueling in Muskoka so had a solid plan. Take in fluids on every walk break and start with the gel at the 10K mark and then keep it up every ½ hour... The shot blocks could alternate with the gels when I started feeling the tummy rumble for food.. In the end I had to re-fill 2 bottles with on course sports drink (a new one called Xilirate, not bad and I tried it the night before to test it out), used all the gel, had 2 shot blocks left and also took in a few salt tablets and advil.... The aid stations were every 2 km and with the exception of 1 where the volunteers literally F****D off and drove away the people were AWESOME!!!
> Up to about the 10K mark Chae and I were running together and were on track for 4:55.. We'd agreed to start together and then see what happened - we wouldn't hold each other back... It had been windy when we started but not horrible wind and there wasn't any rain - yet... 12k in Chae was dropping back a bit but I kept my pace. The wind had picked up significantly in that short time and the "mist" was back. By the time I hit 18km we were entering Sandbanks National Park which is STUNNING - on a nice day... It was cold, windy, pouring rain and foggy now... The first "what the hell am I doing" through crept up but I slammed it back down again and kept running.... The fog disappeared the further away from the lake we ran but the wind and rain kept up and at times it really did feel like I was running just to stay in place and not get blown backwards... Chae caught back up around the 21k mark but by 24k she'd fallen back a bit again... Going into the race I was comfortable with the first 32k. I've done that distance in training a few times - it was the last 10.2 that made me nervous. But - I hit my wall at 26k.. There was a bus picking up relayers and spectators to move them along the route or to go to the finish and the thought of getting on and being warm was tempting. Every part of my body ached, was wet and cold.... Somehow I talked myself down and I kept running.... I hate to say it but it is a bit of a blur and before I knew it I was at the 32K marker.. One of the great things with this race is they had every km marked - that was great!!! Also - the ½ marathon markers were exactly 200m behind the full markers so I new when I passed that 11k marker for the ½ I ONLY had 10K to go.. From there it was a countdown.. Got to 9k left and woohoo - I was in the single digits...
> Hit the first hill, ran ½ of it and then walked to the top... I surprisingly felt strong but didn't want to waste that match (that still sticks with me Simon)... Used the same strategy on the second hill and then turned the corner for the final stretch...
> What amazed me and kept me going was a strategy many of my friends and fellow triathletes  have shared with me that they use in a race - pick a target, catch them, pass them, pick a new target... I employed that the whole race and was so PROUD to be passing people!! Yup - me!! PASSING people!! Even in that final stretch I was passing people who had that look of defeat in their eyes.. Angie was out waiting for me at around 41k. Took my empty water belt and that's when I realized my race bib was shredded... I ended up having to hold it up as I crossed that finish line... But what a feeling.... I knew I couldn't stop moving or else I'd never get going again so grabbed a bag of chips, chocolate mild and heating blanket and started to walk back out onto the course to cheer Chae on... She came in about 10 minutes behind me and was sooo happy!!! Met up with the gang back at the Crystal Palace - everyone had a miserable race weather wise and not a lot of "happy with the time" comments.... Consensus was that was one of the worse weather conditions but what a beautiful course....

Pre Marathon Jitters

You would think that having completed 2 1/2 Ironman distance races this past summer that facing down a marathon in 2 days would be a "walk in the park" mentally... Like hell... Right now, while I know I can do this, the concept of running for 42.2 km and somewhere around 5 hours straight seems absolutely NUTS...  Honest to God why do I do these things??? Ok fine. I know why.. To test myself, to keep creating new more difficult challenges be they physical, mental, or a combination of the 2.. I'm doing this marathon to prove I can and to build my mental strength... 30K - been there and done that.. Add the extra 12 and the "no mans land" period of the race I keep reading about and well, in a sick twisted way that's the part of the race I'm most looking forward to...
Preparation - well there is the training. Done.  Made a pit stop at the Sally Ann last night and bought a $5 sweatshirt for the race start. It's washed and dried and ready. Race gear is laid out. Bottles and all fuel is laid out and ready to be prepped tonight. Room is reserved in Belleville. Carpooling is organized, Saturday schedule is organized. Roomie for the night and I plan on watching Run Fat Boy Run and laughing our asses off pre-race evening... There really honestly truly is nothing more I can do at this point other than to keep hydrating. get to bed early tonight, and once we pull into the race expo location on Saturday just start soaking it all in!!! It's my race, it's my day and at some point in time on Sunday early afternoon I will cross that finish line and get the medal for my first marathon, pre 40!!!

Muskoka 70.3 Race Report

Ahh.. Back to the grind..   Actually it’s hard to believe the race is done and the season is over – it flew by!!!  But here’s how my day went on Sunday…

4:30 came way too early – especially given my night of tossing, turning, sleep wake sleep wake cycle… But the nervous energy started to kick in by the time I made it to McD’s with Mr. Beaumont and Simon and Bern and Diana’s mom shortly following…  Ok fine – we all know for next time transition doesn’t close at 6:30 – they really need to update the info package…  Honestly – even the volunteers were mentioning it at registration on Friday.. Anyhoo…

Parked in the same spot as the day before down by the tennis courts for Hidden Valley, got out of the car and noticed all the stars out.. Stood with my coffee and just chilled for a few minutes star gazing and praying for a good day…  Head out to the road and met up with a younger guy heading in to Deerhurst as well – he’d done the Joe’s team sprint tri for the past 2 years and this was his first.. Chatted about where are you from etc. which was a nice way to break the nerves..  Got into transition, pumped the tires up, unpacked the tri gear, got set up and ready… Ran into the gang here and there throughout the morning – thanks again for the coffee Jean!!

Off to the beach.. They were only letting the first wave athletes down to the water start area to warm  up so I went over to the side beach where I swam from the day before and got in.. Surprisingly not as cold as I expected – the sun was really starting to warm things up..   Thank heavens I listened to Simon about the nose clip options on my goggles- I was able to wear them and was grateful for the tinting!!!  Back out on the beach, ran into Bryan and we watched the elite men’s start – what a scene… Sun was up, water was flat calm, and just across the bay the last of the mist was coming off the water.. Good lord those men can move in the water though…  Took my gel and got into the corral of people with blue caps, saw Bryan again and off we go into the water…  2 minutes before start I find a lovely spot – right in the middle and towards the back..   There were a couple of jokers in the crowd already standing with their elbows out and grunting like football players – it was actually quite funny and totally took my mind off the fact that we were about to start. Horn goes off and I start swimming.. Latched onto some feet and just stuck to them to get through the mess and then found my groove… I stayed about 5 feet off the buoy line – that way any of the faster swimmers would miss me! And it worked…  When I made that last right hand turn and started into the final stretch I will admit to a shout of joy underwater!

Opted not to do the stripping so started up the hills- saw Jean and got my time check – everything was on schedule…  Into transition no issues and out I go on the bike..  And I had an awesome ride!! Was passed by Doug just after that T intersection onto North Portage – he looked great..  Was passing people all along the course, and the legs felt great… Ended up riding for a while with a few of the same guys – similar to everyone else we would pass each other /catch each other on the hills/flats..  Had some great laughs out there and even got a few compliments!!!  But here’s where I went wrong – I got so caught up in the moment and the excitement and how well I was doing that I completely ignored fueling… I only took in 2 bottles of gatorde, 3 gels, and a Stinger honey waffle and no salt…  Looking back perhaps I should have listened more closely to my body – just around Baysville my hands started cramping – I just thought it was from all the climbing…  Passed Andy on Brunel Road – not used to that at all and was a bit worried about him!!

Getting off the bike at Deerhurst was my first real sign something wasn’t quite right – I was wobbly and a bit light headed.. Took my time getting to the rack, shoes on , fuel belt on, took some gel, and a pit stop outside transition…  As soon as I headed out onto Deerhurst Drive a co-worker Pat was suddenly beside me – she and her boyfriend were up at their cottage and came over to watch and see me.. Most nice!!  Ran all the way to that first left, down the hill and walked the aid station trying to figure out what I needed to do…  Thought of the conversation the night before and opted for pepsi…  Simon – when you went by your advice was perfect and what  I needed!! And Bernadette – ah that smile!! Thank you both! Coming over that hill and seeing my family/friends standing out there really motivated me as well – my head was totally in it but my body was screaming..  Anyway – I spent the first half of the run just trying to keep my heart rate down and take in fuel. Every aid station was pepsi and pretzels and the occasional gel..  The way back was better but I’d already lost a lot of time.. But there wasn’t a chance in hell I was stopping….  Cathy/Ramsay it was awesome to see you on that last hill and thank you as well!!!

Seeing your faces lined up at the finish and crossing over that line was one of the best feelings I’ve had in a long time!!!  Now for the stats:

Swim: 48:37

Bike :  3:11:45 (was 4^th in my age group on this)

Run (we’re calling it that): 2:53:17

Total: 7:02:39

Next year!!!!!

Midsummer Night Run

So last year I had signed up for this race to do the 15k walk.. But I had started to run with the tri clinic, and then had moved on to the 10k clinic so.. I thought that since I had managed to run 7km I should be able to run 15k... Just hold to the 10:1 strategy and if I need to walk and can't hold the run then so be it.. I would have given it my best...  I did manage to run/walk the whole thing with an average pace of 7:51.. But, that was last year...
This year I committed to the 30km distance as part of my marathon training.. AND I DID IT... I set my goal of 3:30 which meant an average pave of 7mins. I came in at 3:25 with 6:50 average pace... And I felt great.. The humidity did get to me and towards the 21k mark I was feeling lightheaded. I wasn't sure if it was the humidity or if I wasn't taking in enough nutrition... So I took more gel and Cytomax but then I started feeling full... So it was the humidity...  Eased up on the nutrition and stuck to the plan. At one of the water stations I filled up a bottle with water and added my cytomax to make my own drink - that meant no more walking through the water stations if I wasn't on a walk break. I knew that my pace had slowed - the legs were tired so I had to be sure to not lose my time!
Coming back towards the finish line along Lakeshore and seeing the skyline lit up at night was sooo pretty - that plus the memories of blading through that area almost made me miss living down there.. Almost...  Heading back onto Commissioner St. I passed the 28k sign and it hit me. Only 2k to go - where had the past few hours gone??? Seriously, did I miss a turn?? Nope.. Garmin in sync too..
Passing that last km marker it hit me that I had less than the distance to Mavrinac to run.. Then the massive smile broke out on my face.. Next thing I knew there were tears.. I was doing it.. I was running the last km of a 30K race..... HOLY CRAP..  Only 12 more km and it would be a marathon - I can do it on Oct. 2 for sure!! And I really believe I can do it sub 5!
So there's a sure sign of progress and I am getting better...  The swim is coming along nicely and I'm keeping  up with the boys in the lane - something I wasn't able to do...  I worry sometimes that I'm somehow losing fitness or that I'm missing something... But then I have these moments where I prove myself wrong and realize that it is all coming together... Thank god since Sept. 11 is only a few weeks away... Now that scares me............... Good scary but scary...........

Lake Placid

July 22-25 I spent down in Lake Placid.. It was a combination of a training weekend, little vacation, and to watch and support some friends who were doing the Ironman on Sunday. 
Arrived in LP Friday midday and immediately got ready to head out on the bike... Ok- the first part of that ride was DEADLY... I honestly questioned what the hell I was doing and then began wondering if I'd somehow lost some bike fitness overnight??? Reality was no I didn't lose any fitness I hadn't eaten properly and the "A" team decided to kill us all with a zone 4 start in the mountains.... After we made it into Keene and regrouped I had some gel and gatorade and felt better for the rest of the ride, back to normal... A bit unsettling though... And the jump into the pool followed by a cold beer was an awesome recovery!!!!
Saturday was an early swim then breakfast then another ride... 90k turned into 70 and a run after turned into lounging by the pool....  Here's the vaca part.... 
Then Sunday - the day of the race... First I did get some training in. After the swim portion was over I got one loop of the swim course in  followed by a 14K run...  But - the Ironman... WOW. I keep telling people that I have lost count of the number of times I was completely overwhelmed and wanted to cry... From that incredible swim start to watching the pros and age groupers out on the bike.. To the difference between the people on the run course 10 hours in vs. the people out there at 11PM at night with only 1 hour to make it to the oval and cross that line.. When we arrived in Placid the energy in the air was palpable. By Sunday it was like a fog..  While everyone we knew finished the race there were others who did not. Seeing that pain in their faces as a medic walked them outside of the oval, that look of desparation. It really brought it home. You can train. You can mentally prepare. You can be at the peak of your fitness. But there are still factors you cannot control that can end your day early. And then there's your head.. There were those who dug deep and pulled out everything they had to make it across that finish line.. I wonder if the woman on the bike I talked to made it to the end and is an Ironman now.....
So. I have 46 days to Muskoka 70.3 and I have 388 days until Mont Tremblant.... And I have a LOT of work to do! But I will do it because I CAN!!!

Mission Accomplished!!!

Sunday July 10, 2011... 8AM standing on the beach at Little Lake in Peterborough, ON the gun goes off and into the water I run along with 401 other people... It's the start of the Peterborough 1/2 Ironman triathlon.
At the beginning of the season I had planned on doing the Sprint distance. Then my coach and fellow athletes who can't suffer alone convinced me to do the 1/2 distance in Peterborough as training for Muskoka in September... So I did. 2K swim, 90K bike, 21.2K run - total time was 6:47....  So....

Swim: I opted to go with the farmer john and my new speed sleeves.. in the pool it's not as tight around my neck and I wasn't getting the choking feeling.. I went out to warm up - swam out to the first buoy, cut across and then back in. Felt good..  But in my head I was still nervous - not doubting myself or panicking but nervous.. So I did the swim and took it easy.. A little too easy according to the clock but - my goal for Muskoka is to do the swim in 45 mins. I did P'bo in 51:59 but that included a 2+ minute walk/run back onto transition... Still - way too slow a pace and when I came out of the water it didn't even feel like I'd been swimming... Far too easy... Plan for the 2 months is to focus on speed in the pool drills and get more open water in at Wilcox for the 2k distance....

Bike- Felt great. I was happy with the pace - kept to the 3 hour mark I wanted and averaged 29.4kph...  basically I'll get north as many times as possible and ride the Muskoka course- first outing will in fact be this Saturday!!

Run - total 1/2 marathon time was 2:43:45 with an average pace of 7:48.. ok - that's closer to my first 1/2 marathon race in September of last year vs. my usual 7:20 pace I've been racing at but - this was the first time I was coming off a 90k bike session...  So - i'll keep working on my steady run pace and building the distance on those during the week with the RR marathon group...  Continuous hill sessions will help too midweek... Then the LSD on Sundays will keep building more and more distance/endurance and I'll add in longer runs off the bike on Saturdays... Keep it around 10K on those and incorporate some mid session speed intervals to really push things...

Not sure what the heck took up 5 minutes of my time in transition on T2 but.... I did have a little discussion with one of the officials- mindlessly I unclipped my helmet before racking my bike... But thankfully just a gentle reminder from the nice older man and no penalty....  So at the end of the day I did what I set out to do - I FINISHED a 1/2 Ironman and pinpointed my training strategy for the next 2 months.... And shared those thoughts with my coach of course!!  Ok - on to Muskoka!!!! 

Post Race Active Recovery

Note to self- active recovery the day after a race is key... I planned on going for an easy run last night however got sidetracked with things around the house and thought, OK - I had a decent race, I deserve a day off... Not such a smart idea.... When I woke up this mornign my calves were so tight I could barely hobble out of bed...  Hmmmm - another key learning from the race! And of course I have to put it in writing to cement it in my head....  Starting to get excited/nervous already for Peterborough....  Will I or won't I drive the course before.. Hmmmmm.....

Muskoka Chase

Yesterday Sunday June 26 I competed in the Muskoka Chase Long Course triathlon. The longest distance for me yet: 2k swim, 55k bike, 13k run....  Total time: 4:22:28 - under my goal of 4:30!!

Friday night I drove north. Relaxed, had a good dinner, prepped my tri bag and hydration/fuel for Sunday, watched some tv and then off to bed.
Saturday slept in - man that was a nice treat and my body needed it. Was supposed to do a 1/2 hour ride but it was drizzly and had rained the night before which would mean cleaning my bike again after the ride. Off for a run instead. Legs felt strong, breathing easy - started to actually believe I could do the 13K as a straight run....  One of our group was racing both Saturday and Sunday so went to watch him on Saturday - he smoked the course and came 5th in his age group! NICE!! Then off to dinner Sat. night - I can't say how lucky I am to have been blessed with this crazy and wonderful group of people around me!!! The harassment is never ending - and reciprocal but they all follow up with a supportive, helpful, motivational, or experiential piece of advice to help! Gotta love em and the fact that the laughter is non stop!! Which is what you need the night before a race!!! Hmmmm - perhaps I need to consider staying in town with the gang pre Muskoka 70.3......

Sunday morning - up early and even though I had a hard time falling asleep I felt great! Showered, grabbed a to go of coffee and my liquid breakfast, packed the bike onto the car and off I go... Liquid breakkie was a perfect idea - by the start of the race I was ready to go, felt great, and no need for bathroom break anytime during the race! Phew!!!  Arrive at the race site just after everyone and see some other NYAC faces and others I've met at the RR or around... My coach came up for the race and was  reminding me I needed to warm up..  Should have listened more.
Learning #1 -from Milton was I need to warm up. Learning #2 from Huntsville is I need to warm up by swimming at least out to the first buoy and back... Treadind water on Sunday AM and staring out at that first buoy and how far away it was got in my head... The entire first 5 minutes consisted of my doubting myself nd thinking I would choke. Taking 3 strokes then doggie paddle, then breast stroke, then 3 more strokes.. So - I know it was 5 minutes because the gun went off for the next wave start and i was just coming up to that first buoy...  And finally I started swimming... Being passed by people in the first wave but also passing others from my wave - then I saw some caps from 2 waves ahead of me and thought ok, this is more like it..  I wanted 45 mins on the swim, got 48 and learned a lesson.
Bike - AWESOME as usual... 2nd in my age group and was only second by .1 kph...
Run - pace was consistent with what I am coming to call my tired legs pace. Fresh legs continuous run I can stay around 6:45 mins per km... Tired legs is more like 7:20.... My right calf was tight at first - gee I think the hills had something to do with it on the bike and then all the hills on the run.. But it didn't hurt so I kept going. My coach and I discussed me doing a straight, steady run - no walk breaks... I did walk at a couple of aid stations and on a couple of the hills but - the nice thing was I kept my confidence and just plugged along... The run course was a series of turn arounds so lots of seeing the others and sharing some high fives, smiles, words of encouragement, laughter, and support!  And faces I didn't know doing the same. That's what I love about this - for the most part everyone is supportive of one another and encouraging! There's the occasional ass who gets in the way but they do provide fodder for laughter post race usually! And usually they're at the the bottom of the list when the race is finished.
So on to Peterborough for my first ever 1/2 ironman distance... It's not my A race but it's going to be a training race for me to see where I'm at and what to expect in September etc... The swim will be different as it's 2 loops whereas Muskoka is 1 loop like Huntsville was so I need to get more open water out and back training in... Bike will be rollers but not as aggressive for hills but - I'll get in some training rides in muskoka before the race. And the run I'll just keep plugging away at...
Joining the marathon group at the RR was a great idea too!! There's a few of us newbies in the pack and a couple of people who I try to keep up with and push myself... So that will help too!! And getting much longer distances in at a steady run will also keep training my body on the run component... So all in all it was a great weekend and 3 more Triathlons to go this season!!! WOOHOO!!!!

Planning for the Future

Big announcement on Monday this week - August 19, 2012 Ironman in Mt. Tremblant!!!!! Registration opens on Wednesday June 15 at 12PM EST - guess what my Visa and I will be doing at 12:00:01 PM EST????

Milton Triathlon

Usually the night before a race I can't sleep. I predicted it last night - thinking I would lay there, toss and turn and have a restless sleep. Nope - went to bed early, read for a bit, and as soon as my head hit the pillow I was out. Next thing I knew the alarm was going off and it's race day... Decided to have a quick shower before heading out to get the body woken up fully and the mind ready to go.. Good drive out to Milton, made it in time and pulled up to the gates at just before 8AM.. HOLY CRAP there were a lot of cars.. Ok - this is definitely not the womens' only series...
I had planned ahead with my "bubba" of Cytomax and my empty bottles. Parked the car, got the bike off, pumped up the tires, filled the bottles - 2 for the bike, 1 for the run, 1 for transition, and 1 for the walk over to the race..  LOVE the LUG bag on wheels that is my new tri bag! Pull out the handle, grab the bike, and off I go....
It's a bit of walk back into the race transition hub area - lots of nervous people around but somehow I'm feeling good.. Get into the transition hub and seek out my age group rack... Women 40-44... I find it, at the back, and the best spots are already taken at either end.. Low and behold, 1 rack back is an overflow rack with a nice empty slot on an end... First sign of good luck..  One of the things I like about the Subaru series is they're organized.. Off I go to pick up my race kit, get marked, and grab my chip.. All good..  Back up to transition, find some friends, watch the Try a Tri people coming in from their swim, getting nervous and here's my coach! He made it!!! On goes the wetsuit and time to warm up...
I get into the water which by this time is actually refreshing given it's been warming up... Adjust the wetsuit, head out for a couple hundred meters warm up - feeling good.. No panicking and no breathing issues...  Cut to the chase and here we are at race start....  The gun goes off for my wave (last one of the day) and I go. Set out in the middle, found some feet, latched on and enjoyed the ride.. When I did round that last buouy and sighted shore I was shocked it was almost over... No panicking and I could have kept going...
Transition smooth- onto the bike and here we go...  Coach Brent behind me pushing and driving me and coaching.. God he's good!! And WOW -  I feel bad for all of those I passed with flats, chains off, and you just couldn't make it up that hill.... I DO NOT feel bad for the rest of you I passed who were riding...  Just beyond the 1/2 way mark a bullet flys past and all I hear is my coach asking "are you going to just let Simon pass you like that?" I did manage to catch Simon but not for long... Easy sailing back into the race zone and I psyched myself into the "letting it all fall apart on the run"...
IT SUCKED... My pace was worse than my 1/2 marathon pace. I let my head beat my body and question whether I could do this and oh yah - walk most of it for the first half. I'm not going into details other than to say I did not leave it all out there on the run - I totally sucked out.... Key learning note - I need to keep working on the run but most especially I need to focus my head.. I managed it through the swim, the bike - then I dropped my guard.
But - at the end of the day, I did the Sprint in 2:13 and came 13 out of 22 in my age group... So I should also be proud... And take away the lessons and use them to my advantage. AND REMEMBER - that I HAD FUN!!! I spent time with new friends, got some sun, some exercise, and proved a LOT to myself! So the self inflicted ass kicking is over and on to the next race... Muskoka Chase... 2K swim, 55K bike, 13K run......

Here I go....

Well, this is it. Tomorrow is the first tri of the season - Milton... Sprint distance so 750m swim, 30k bike, 7.5k run... Excited but not nervous - uhoh should I be?? I've been training well, the bike is a breeze, the run is coming nicely, the only piece I really need to work more on is open water swimming with the wetsuit... My breathing changes and I do get anxious - especially with the tightness around my neck but at least I have managed to get through the panic of thinking I'm choking...  What I did learn today is that I need to get in the water, get some water in my suit and move it around to position it before I swim... Then I definitely need a warm up of at least 300 meters or so... Otherwise I lose my breathing and am breathing on every stroke - not efficient at all....  So here I am.. Car is all packed up - snack for pre and post race is ready and all I have to do in the morning is pack food/drink in a cooler bag and load the bike onto the car... Off I go.. Ate well today, had a good dinner and am planning an early bedtime.. More than likely won't fall asleep but at least if I'm in bed resting that will help.. So - good movie lined up, finished dinner, sipping my coconut water and chillin.... More tomorrow with the full race report......

Bigger Steps

So now I could be in real trouble... My coach has discovered my ability on the bike, just in time to tweak my June training schedule.. UUGGGHHH... Last weekend did an 80k bike clinic with him and 2 others from the pool.... Then Sunday I ran 13KM without stopping! WOOHOO - no walk breaks, slow pace but I am building my base and can see progress.... Then Monday 108k ride with the swim gang, averaged 28kph  which was awesome... I do love the fact that some people in faster swim lanes just assume because you're not Michael Phelps in the pool you must suck at all 3 elements of triathlon... Not so my sweeties......
As for the pool, once I "acclimatize" to the wetsuit and realize that yes I can breathe and no I'm not going to strangle myself to death I can move in it.... 1500K time trial this morning done in 32:07 w/wetsuit. And yes, yet again a learning lesson... LISTEN TO YOUR COACH!!!
He suggested moving to Lane 4, up 1 lane so there would be less congestion for me.... I of course doubted that I could keep up with the group in Lane 4 in their wetstuits so I stayed in my lane. And 1/2 way through I was MAD... Some people just will not move the hell out of your way and let you pass. They insist in holding their "ground" and - oh what the hell. No sense in going on about it... I could see my coach noticing and yes almost laughing at me.... As I finished he just looked at me with a "Now will you listen to me?"..... UUUGGHHHH...
So on to a new topic, the anticipation is building.... First race is next weekend - Milton.... No worries for the bike, and I'm not scared of the run.. I'm a bit nervous about the cold water, taking off too fast and panicking in my head..... Hoping I can get a practice open swim in this weekend to get my head screwed on for the race.... I just need to remember it's ALL MENTAL! If I can keep my yead in the right place then I'll be fine.........

I have no idea who wrote this but wow is it true!!! Some of us just take a little longer than others!!!!

The Awakening

                         

A time comes in your life when you finally get it. When, in the midst of all your fears and insanity, you stop dead in your tracks and somewhere the voice inside your head cries out - ENOUGH!    Enough fighting and crying or struggling to hold on. And, like a child quieting down after a blind tantrum, your sobs begin to subside, you shudder once or twice, you blink back your tears and through a mantle of wet lashes you begin to look at the world through new eyes.     It is your awakening.

You realize that it's time to stop hoping and waiting for something to change or for happiness, safety and security to come galloping over the next horizon.  You come to terms with the fact that he is not Prince Charming and you are not Cinderella; that in the real world, there aren't always fairytale endings (or beginnings for that matter.   That any guarantee of  "happily ever after" must begin with you and in the process a sense of serenity is born of acceptance.

You awaken to the fact that you are not perfect and that not everyone will always love, appreciate or approve of who or what you are... and that's OK. (They are entitled to their own views and opinions.) And you learn the importance of loving and championing yourself and in the process a sense of new found confidence is born of self-approval.    You stop bitching and blaming other people for the things they did to you (or didn't do for you) and you learn that the only thing you can really count on is the unexpected.  You learn that people don't always say what they mean or mean what they say and that not everyone will always be there for you and that it's not always about you. So, you learn to stand on your own and to take care of yourself and in the process a sense of safety & security is born of self-reliance.  

You stop judging and pointing fingers and you begin to accept people as they are and to overlook their shortcomings and human frailties and in the process, a sense of peace & contentment is born of forgiveness. You realize that much of the way you view yourself, and the world around you, is as a result of all the messages and opinions that have been ingrained into your psyche. And you begin to sift through all the crap you've been fed about how you should behave, how you should look and how much you should weigh, what you should wear and where you should shop, and what you should drive how and where you should live, and what you should do for a living, who you should sleep with, who you should marry and what you should expect of a marriage, the importance of having and raising children or what you owe your parents.  You learn to open up to new worlds and different points of view. And you begin reassessing and redefining who you are what you really stand for.   You learn the difference between wanting and needing and you begin to discard the doctrines and values you've outgrown, or should never have bought into to begin with and in the process you learn to go with your instincts.   You learn that it is truly in giving that we receive. And that there is power and glory in creating and contributing and you stop maneuvering through life merely as a "consumer" looking for your next fix.  

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You learn that principles such as honesty and integrity are not the outdated ideals of a bygone era but the mortar that holds together the foundation upon which you must build a life. You learn that you don't know everything, it's not your job to save the world and that you can't teach a pig to sing.   You learn to distinguish between guilt and responsibility and the importance of setting boundaries and learning to say NO.    You learn that the only cross to bear is the one you choose to carry and that martyrs get burned at the stake.

Then you learn about love.    Romantic love and familial love.  How to love, how much to give in love, when to stop giving and when to walk away. You learn not to project your needs or your feelings onto a relationship. You learn that you will not be more beautiful, more intelligent, more lovable or important because of the wo/man on your arm or the child that bears your name. You learn to look at relationships as they really are and not as you would have them be.  You stop trying to control people, situations and outcomes. You learn that just as people grow and change so it is with love.... and you learn that you don't have the right to demand love on your terms...just to make you happy.   And, you learn that alone does not mean lonely... And you look in the mirror and come to terms with the fact that you will never be a size 5 or a perfect 10 and you stop trying to compete with the image inside your head and agonizing over how you "stack up."  You also stop working so hard at putting your feelings aside, smoothing things over and ignoring your needs. You learn that feelings of entitlement are perfectly OK....and that it is your right to want things and to ask for the things  that you want...and that sometimes it is necessary to make demands.  You come to the realization that you deserve to be treated with love, kindness, sensitivity and respect and you won't settle for less. And, you allow only the hands of a lover who cherishes you to glorify you with her/his touch...   and in the process you internalize the meaning of self-respect.   

And you learn that your body really is your temple. And you begin to care for it and treat it with respect. You begin eating a balanced diet, drinking more water and taking more time to exercise. You learn that fatigue diminishes the spirit and can create doubt and fear. So you take more time to rest. And, just as food fuels the body, laughter fuels our soul. So you take more time to laugh and to play.    You learn that, for the most part in life, you get what you believe you deserve... and that much of life truly is a self-fulfilling prophecy. You learn that anything worth achieving is worth working for and that wishing for something to happen is different from working toward making it happen.   More importantly, you learn that in order to achieve success you need direction, discipline and perseverance. You also learn that no one can do it all alone and that it's OK to risk asking for help.    You learn that the only thing you must truly fear is the great robber baron of all time - FEAR itself. You learn to step right into and through your fears because you know that whatever happens you can handle it and to give in to fear is to give away the right to live life on your terms. And you learn to fight for your life and not to squander it living under a cloud of impending doom.

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You learn that life isn't always fair, you don't always get what you think you deserve and that sometimes bad things happen to unsuspecting, good people. On these occasions you learn not to personalize things. You learn that God/dess isn't punishing you or failing to answer your prayers. It's just life happening.   And you learn to deal with evil in its most primal state - the ego.   You learn that negative feelings such as anger, envy and resentment must be understood and redirected or they will suffocate the life out of you and poison the universe that surrounds you. You learn to admit when you are wrong and to building bridges instead of walls.  You learn to be thankful and to take comfort in many of the simple things we take for granted, things that millions of people upon the earth can only dream about; a full refrigerator, clean running water, a soft warm bed, a long hot shower.   Slowly, you begin to take responsibility for yourself by yourself and you to make yourself a promise to never betray yourself and to never ever settle for less than your heart's desire. And you hang a wind chime outside your window so you can listen to the wind. And you make it a point to keep smiling, keep trusting, and to stay open to every wonderful possibility.   

             

Finally, with courage in your heart, you take a stand, you take a deep breath and you begin to design the life you want to live as best as you can.

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"Love is love, no matter what form it may take or between whom it occurs.  It is a wonderful thing to be celebrated and enjoyed...not denied."

Just call me SPONGE....

So the learning never ends!!!  Saturday - lesson 1:  When stopping for a brief rest moment on your bike unclip your other foot once stopped. Or fall flat on your ass and laugh because yes - everyone saw you and for the rest of the day you will be reminded "uh oh Eva - coming up to a stop, don't forget to lean left".....  Saturday lesson 2: How to change your tube!! Awesome lesson (thank to Master Greg) and I managed to get down to 4:11 for time... Surprisingly not as hard as you would think - so long as someone who knows is showing you!!  Sunday Lesson 3: You have to take your spare tube/CO2 cartridge etc. with you when riding to prove you know how to change the bloody thing....

Saturday was GORGEOUS - beautiful sunshine and warm! Got in 97K on the bike and then 2.5K run after.... Averaged 27.7kph on the bike so just over 3:33!! Getting stronger!
Sunday was again GORGEOUS!!!! Back for more torture, I mean training... What was supposed to be an easy 1:15 hour ride around the area turned into a series of sprints and kicking of one's own ass... But I was pretty well keeping up - until that sound.. Yes, the pop and then the hissing of air escaping from a tire tube.... But - hey - I learned how to fix this yesterday so I'm all good... Until that moment when I realize that all required tools and spare tube are sitting on my kitchen table where I placed them last night....
The rest of the gang is gone from sight and I am faced with a long walk back to the parking lot with my car in my bike shoes.... But the great thing about the group is they do eventually realize you're no longer with them...  Luckily as well one of our fellow riders had looped out to put in some extra work came along with a spare tube and proper tools.... 

So - knowledge is power - if you have the spare parts!

What I am also realizing is that I can totally do this.... Off the bike on Sunday I did a 10K run in 1:11... That's uber slow for most but - last November I did the Angus Glen 10K race (on perfectly fresh rested legs) in 1:10.... Take the training the day before and the bike ride that morning, add those in as factors and not too shabby at all - getting stronger!  And now when I transition from bike to run I don't feel like my legs are going to give out on me but - my hearrate still skyrockets and it becomes a mental battle for me to keep going...  Lesson re-enforced  yesterday by someone I was training with - this is training. this is the time to do it. Take some of your training and try to kill yourself to see how far you can push..... Then you'll know your limit.... And then you can push through that limit next time......

Never Ceases to Amaze Me

What the body can endure that the mind doesn't think is possible... Quick summary of Easter weekend -headed north to the parents place, got in some good rides, an ok swim and an ok run.. And indulged.. Then off to Blue Mountain for a 2 day work offsite where far too much food, red wine, and beer was consumed.... So - when Friday morning rolled around and at 5:45 our monthly 3000m time trial was to be done I was a wee bit concerned... 1st time trial I did was 1:21, next time was 1:17. I wanted to shave some more time off this month but after missing 2 days of swim practice due to the holiday weekend + the over the top splurging I was nervous...  1:15 later I was done the time trial and had shaved 2 minutes off - and could have done better... Next time!!!
So Saturday rolls around at at 7AM I'm at the meeting place for a 3 hour ride on the bike with a group of guys lovingly referred to by some as the A team... But I'm mentally ready... I'm turning back early since I have plans with my sister and niece I cannot be late for... Plus I've got my regular back wheel on the bike and when I was in the shop last night doing that I also upgraded the rear cassette to a better one for climbing/hills... Went from an 11x23 to and 11x28... It was a perfect day to be out - crisp and cool when we started out but as the ride progressed and the sun kept climbing it warmed up nicely... Lots of uphills and downhills except the hills all seemed to be upwards on the way back... Needless to say 3:33 later I'm back in the parking lot and have completed just under 100km ride with an everage 27.2 km/hour pace... WOOHOO.... Right???
OOOPS - guess what's happening at 8AM on Sunday morning? I'm registered to run a 1/2 marathon... And I've told people I'm doing it so I can't not show or wimp out.... Even better I shared my time goal with a few people - my tri coach included so now I really have to be on...... So off to bed early I go...
Sunday AM - alarm goes off at 5:30.. Why so early?? So I can have some breakfast and be "ok" on the run... Port a Potties on a race course are not always optimal places to be... But the sleep is lovely so it's 6:10 before I roll out of bed... Grab a quick bowl of cereal, forego the coffee, get dressed and jump in the car... I get 1/2 way around the circle and realize I have forgotten my Garmin watch and my sunglasses... So - back I go... Take the garmin off the charger, grab my sunglasses and back in the car..  Hit the power button on the Garmin and wait - the screen is still blank and no beeping noise???? What the ???? I NEED MY GARMIN.. How else can I keep pace and my walk breaks and know how I'm doing??  So I try again. Still no luck..  UUUGGHHHH.... This has NEVER happened before but - I head back to my house again. Grab a basic watch that the HR monitor is broken on but at least will keep my time.. But - no pace, no interval settings, no HR monitor.....
But - I know the pace bunny for 2:15 so if I stick with her then I can drop off a bit and still hit my goal of 2:20 which will shave 18 minutes off my last 1/2 marathon race.. OK - finally make it to the race location. Whew... Get my chip, check out general area, think about if there's a possibility of switching to the 10k race given that my morning has not started off well and I am doubting if this is a good idea or not....  Anyway- at one point in time I think I'll go back to my car and see if my Garmin might start now.... 1/2 way back the car I realize my sunglasses are missing off my person... Hmm - stop and think. Last place I know I had them was the washroom... Great... Back I go and luckily - THERE THEY ARE... Ok - sign from the higher power that this is all going to work out well...
Advice I took from a magazine article I read recently was - ignore the first 5 minutes of any workout... For me it's more like the first 10-20 depending....  But - 2:26 later there I was crossing that finish line!!! No Garmin to keep pace, lots of hills which were not a factor in my previous 1/2 marathon (it was all downhill in fact), and the bike ride the day before...... So 6 minutes over my goal BUT - I DID IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I recently ordered a Road ID bracelet and had "Because I CAN" inscribed on it along with the pertinent medical and emergency contact info.. So true it is - put your mind to the test and the body will follow. It will groan and mumble, adn scream back at you. It will freeze up at times and you may think at some points that you are sucking the last bit of oxygen out of the air but.... You look ahead, pick a point that you're going to keep running to - you can't stop until you hit that point and somehow your legs keep moving, your feet keep pushing and YOU DID IT!!!!!
PS - I now know the trick for fixing my Garmin next time but hey - I also know I can do it without the technology and just my head....

Ahhh - Monday.....

Start of a new week and so far a good one!! Ok fine - it isn't even noon yet but.... In the pool at 6AM and made it throught the entire workout with 10mins to spare!! Stayed in the pool though and did more drills!! Then tonight back on the bike - in the basement on the trainer though... It's still cold and damp out and supposed to be mixed rain/snow this aft.... Please tell me summer is really coming????  Had an email from a friend we met in Costa Rica at Christmas, it was one of the standard quotes and baby pics but a few items stuck out for me... So:

" The pursuit of happiness is the chase of a lifetime"

"It is never too late to become what you might have been." ** This one is especially cool and meaningful!!

"Life is too short to wake up with regrest.. So love the people who treat you right.. Forget about the ones who don't. Believe everything happens for a reason. If you get a second chance, grab it with both hands. If it changes your life let it. Nobody said life would be easy, they just promised it would be worth it."

Happy Monday!!

What's up Mother Nature???

Ok - it's mid April, daffodils are blooming and snow is falling? Yup gotta love Canada.... Yesterday was cold, rainy all day, and crazy windy... Then this morning - first thing when I woke up it was sunny and warm looking from inside! WOOHOO - weatherman was dead wrong and it's gonna be a nice one.... 8AM, in my car driving up to the Running Room, it's now grey and snowing.... 8:45AM start running, the flakes are getting bigger and the wind is picking up.....  1 hour later no snow, the sun is out in full force and I'm actually questioning how many layers I have on... And it happens to be just about turnaround time.... Well, 10 minutes later I'm running into a head wind from hell and it didn't stop the whole way back...
But - 18KM later, I DID IT.. Oh and it started snowing again... It's been like this all day but soon, soon it will be summer!!!! 
My Mom sent me an awesome card with a quote that I LOVE:

"Within each of us is a hidden store of energy - energy we can release to compete in the marathon of life." Roger Dawson

I love it!!! And I love that I somehow managed to find that hidden store inside of me and am tapping into it!!!

Slow and Steady

Running is not my uber favorite pastime. Swim - anytime. Bike- absolutely.. Run- do I have to??? Although that is changing once I get my butt moving I'm finding. Like last night.... Yesterday was swimming in the morning and 40 - 45 minute run at night... On the drive home I was actually looking forward to getting out there and breaking in my new shoes... Rushed to get changed, grabbed a quick snack for energy and off I went.... 3 minutes into it I'm already questioning why I'm doing this..... But I keep going... 35 minutes later I'm feeling amazing, have been maintaining a steady pace (except for the emergency bathroom break... I really need to figure this pre-run snack thing out), and am actually thinking I could just keep going....
So what do I need to do to get through those first 10 minutes where I question my sanity and then start to question my abililty????? One thing I know I did wrong last night was the route - coming out of my neighborhood I chose to take the slight hill route to start and it just knocked the air right out of me from the start.... WARM UP before hitting hills/inclines, or if I don't have a choice then slow down the pace a bit for that first one and build momentum.....
Anyway - not terrible overall... Average pace including walk breaks I took was 7:01..... Compared to others I know that's kind of sad but for me it's a sign of progress!!! I can use other people's abilities as a benchmark of where I want to go but I do need to be realistic about what I can do now.....

Another neuron firing....

A funny thing about losing all the weight and becoming healthy and active was when my hormones went back into normal balance and started operating as they were meant to....  Suddenly I started noticing those lovely monthly signals of PMS and yes - I would become irritated, and frustrated with trivial things, and moments of self doubt would creep in... It was my running joke that I lose the weight and start a better life journey and in return God/Fate whomever blesses me with PMS.....
In the past when it was "that time" I would sometimes avoid working out - using various excuses why it was best not to... Or I would force myself into my spandex gear, start a workout and give up within 10-15 minutes....
But this morning that neuron snapped.... I'm in the pool at training, we're just at the beginning drills and I've decided our coach is trying to definitely kill us... But there's no way I'm wimping out... Not with all these people.... Then we get into the main set - 6x200 alternate swim and pull buoy progressively faster 200's... And there I am feeling bloated and like a really slow whale in the pool... But - instead of giving up when the thought crossed my mind and the excuses started formulating, I made a deal with myself... Stay in the pool, do the entire set but use the swim paddles to kick it up a notch! Before I knew it I'd completed the set and went on to swim another 200m with the extra time....
Not a major earth shattering event but one more nugget found on the journey!!!!

Off to a good start.....

So yesterday, April 9th, I kicked off my outdoor bike training with a bit of a challenge... I had a chance to go out and ride with a group that is faster/better/ and far more experienced than I am at the training /Triathlon world... Nervous is a bit of an understatement to explain how I felt going to bed on Friday night but.... I had decided that I would go out there and do my best, have fun, enjoy finally being outside, and if I needed to fall back I would... And so it was I found myself at 8AM checking tires and gearing up to hit the road in Mt. Albert......
60km later I rode back into the parking lot, alive, smiling, and feeling AMAZING!! Oh goodness yes they were faster and I got used to seeing them from afar but - they're also a great group of people who would stop and wait for me to catch up at points and every once in a while would circle back and ride along for a while before whipping off.... I certainly don't expect that for future rides, and oh yes I will head out for future rides - you dont' get better by training with people at your level all the time...
Wow - I guess this past week really has been one for challenging myself. On Wednesday our lanes were full at swim training and the next lane up a level only had 1 person in it.. She kindly accepted my query to join her and after the group drills when we moved onto the lane drills I chose to do the ones set up for that lane. A little harder than the ones set out for the lane I normally swim in, and I didn't quite make it through them all in the allotted time but.... I pushed myself and it felt great!!! Oh believe me - the following Friday I was back to my regular lane!!!!!!
What this has all helped prove to me is that yes - I've come a long way but... The road to Muskoka 70.3 in September is getting shorter and I've still got a long way to go... I dont' just want to finish the race, I want to do well in it!! So yes - going from a 5K walk to a 1/2 marathon walk to 2 Tri a Tri's, a 15K run, a 1/2 marathon run, and the finishing touch of hitting a personal best so far at the Angus Glen 10K run 1year later from starting this athletic journey is awesome.... But getting off my bike  yesterday after 60K and running for 10 minutes reminded me of what's ahead!!  It's funny I guess when you no longer think - yes that was ok but look where I came from and instead are thinking - that was ok but I need to do better!!!
Rule of thumb though is that I have to enjoy it too!!! So while it felt totally odd - I took today off... Slept in, lounged over breakfast and read the weekend paper.... Caught up on some household chores, got some more trim painted in the guest bedroom, watched movies, and yes - updated my blog... It was hard thunderstorms earlier which made me even happier not to have to go out and run but here it is , 4:30PM and the sun is shining and I actually want to go for a run.. Until I look at my training schedule from Brent and I don't get another full day off until Easter weekend so..... I'm taking full advantage of today!!!!

Baby Steps

So how did it all start.... Once I committed to losing the weight and getting in shape I first focused on the nurtition component and learning what a real portion is (unfortunately it is NOT the entire bowl of all you can eat pasta at Olive Garden), how much and how often... Then I decided to incorporate exercise.... So, I went to my local Running Room and signed up for a 5Km Walking clinic... To make sure I was committed I also registered for the Angus Glen 5K walk in November 0f 2009...  First challenge - I get a phone call from teh RR manager, no one else has registered so they're cancelling the clinic.. Oh but I can join their Learn to Run... WHAT THE HELL???? If I thought it would be fun for anyone to see all that shaking going on in spandex I would have signed up for running.... But really - no one needed to see that.... So I took my refund and knew I had to find an alternate clinic... I mean seriously - the back of the Wal-mart shopping lot to the entrance wasn't 5K and it was far enough......
Fate/Kismet/God/ the Powers that be took control and guided me to the Aurora RR where  I met Bev the manager and immediately signed up for their 5K clinic!!! My first clinic day I was sooooo excited... I sat down on that hard bench in the store and looked at the 3 other eager participants.... Bev was also instructing so I felt in good hands... Until she introduced us and welcomed us to the 10K clinic.... Yup - my hand went straight into the air and admitted I had made a mistake and was at the wrong group... I had signed up for the 5K, not 10.....
After everyone stopped laughing I learned that the 2 clinics were 1 and the same and I was stuck.....  But I had already registered for Angus Glen and couldn't get my money back (yes of course I checked)...  So I stuck with it...  By the time of the race I knew I could walk 5K and live... But speed was another thing.... However - seeing that finish line and actually crossing it was a moment of pure pride and accomplishment for me!!! So what if people were running the 10K race in the same time it took me to walk 5 - I DID IT!!!!!!!!!
Everyone who knows me well knows that I can be a bit of an information junkie and I always want to know - why???? How??? So I do a lot of research and have also spent some time looking at some of the motivational videos for triathlon on YouTube... There are a couple that emphasize the CAN mentality....  At the time I finished that 5Km I had no idea what I was going to go on to do but I did know for sure that whatever it was - I COULD!!!!!

Here we go......

A new friend is in the process of writing a book about his adventure/journey becoming an Ironman and urged me to be sure to be sure to keep a running history and record of my journey. I'm not convinced there's a lot of people out there who would want to read about my life but hey - survey says journalling can be cathartic process so here goes....
I've never blogged, am not really 100% sure how this all works or even how I would share it out with friends or the world but I keep being told you only live once so here goes...

It all started November 5th, 1971.. KIDDING - no one wants that many years of rambling so fast forward to 2009.... That's where we'll start the journey since it was then that I made one of the best decisions of my life... You see - I had reached a point where while I could still laugh out loud and enjoy life, I wasn't enjoying me.... And although I didn't technically hit "rock bottom" I did get low enough to realize that something had to change... That one moment started the pyramid that has brought me to today - training for a summer of triathlons, including my first 1/2 Ironman (Muskoka), then on to my first Full Ironman in 2012 (Lake Placid or Louiville), then on to KONA for the motherload of all Ironman competitions..... How exactly did I get here from there - especially given there was lethargic and weighing in at 294.8 pounds??? Pigheaded Determination, a small stubborn streak, LOTS of support and love from Friends/Family/Co-workers/and even acquaintances..  And yes- a slight inclination towards craziness!!!!

I guess to some degree I am an example of the old saying " If I can do it anyone can do it".... That's one of the attractions to Triathlon as a sport - it's all about CAN and it's a never ending journey of making yourself better than you were a minute ago......It's not about the person beside you, ahead of you, or behind you in a race, it's all about where YOU are..... It's a lot like life really!!!!!