Well, Maybe Not

Mother Nature has been getting in the way already. I don't know why my stupid self thought training in late July was a good idea. Yesterday I didn't get up in time to go out before it got too hot and I had to work last night. Today I made it to camp and I planned on going out after work. Currently it's thundering and lightening, so I figure that's a bad plan. Being electrocuted isn't on my to do list today. I guess I could go over to the Y later and run on the treadmill, but I really want to get it done outside. Meh. I'm sure I'll get my chance. Perhaps tomorrow evening will allow for such things.

I'm Baaaaack!

And ready to rock. My goal is now the Tri Red tri in October. I think that's enough time to get myself back into shape and tackle the tri. Tomorrow is my first day back, so here's what's on tap for this week (barring weather issues). I'm currently healing a tattoo, so swimming is out for at least another 10 days. I know, I know. I need to work on my worst event. Sue me.


Sunday:
1 mile run
6 mile bike
Both for time to see where I'm re-starting from.

Monday:
Camp
1.5 mile run
Yoga (hey, gotta work the kinks out!)

Tuesday:
Camp
7 mile bike

Wednesday:
2 mile run
Yoga

Thursday:
Camp
8 mile bike

Friday:
Camp


Saturday:
1.5 mile run
7 mile bike

Sunday:
Off

The week after I start weight lifting classes with FitWit, so my schedule will change pretty significantly. Let's see if I can stick to the plan this week.

Bad Times

So I've thrashed pretty much every bit of connective tissue in my left ankle without actually breaking or tearing anything. Even my achilles hurts and that never happens. I'm finally going to be a good girl and follow the doctor's orders. No nothing for 3 weeks. That means no running, jumping, dancing, and even walking should be avoided. I've got it braced and I need to ice it, but I don't want to get up right now. After 3 weeks in the brace, I can start rehabing it slowly and ease myself back into my regular activity level. Running short distances, one dance class, that kind of thing. I pretty much will have to start from scratch and that's upsetting. I guess I can keep strength training and doing upper body work, but it won't be the same. *pout* I also need to invest in a Bosu ball and those suckers aren't cheap. Of course, neither is surgery to repair torn ligaments and tendons because I didn't take care of my ankle the first time.

*sigh*

The Final Countdown *air guitar*

So Collins Hill is a mere 4 days away. I haven't exactly gotten in awesome training either. Though my intent is just to finish and get the experience. The distances are do-able, especially considering I'll be running over a mile longer on Saturday morning than I'll be running on Sunday. It is supposed to rain though, which could lead to a very scary bike leg. They sent an email out today detailing specific rules. Apparently on the run you aren't allowed to crawl. I laughed, but I'm sure they have that rule in place for a reason. Also any stroke is legal during the swim, so I think I'm gonna be backstroking the whole way. I may start freestyle just so I can see the traffic in front of me. Hell, I'll probably be so nervous that I'll jump in and forget what I'm doing. At least I can touch the bottom of the pool.

On the fundraising front, I should be hearing back from Palate with a final number. I'm hoping for around $200, which would get me almost a third of the way toward the minimum. I have a few more ideas up my sleeve as well. I'll probably host another event later in the summer and market it a bit better. I got good feedback and I may be able to better coordinate with the FitWit crew.

This will get a ton easier when the season actually kicks off and I'm training more consistently with a group. That's doubly true for swimming. I really need to get off my lazy ass and go out with NAMC, but it's just that. I'm lazy. Once I get off said lazy ass and do it, I'm hooked. It just takes me, oh, about 367 tries (tris!) before I do it. My next chance is their group ride next Tuesday as they run on Sundays and I'm obviously otherwise engaged. So we'll see. I'm not sure how my butt and nerves will take 22 miles on roads with cars and hills, but that's part of the challenge. Plus, I heard rumors of Taco Mac.

Tomorrow is rehearsal, ballet class, and then probably my last swim before Sunday. I think I got this. Scratch that, I KNOW I got this.

Shoutout!

Many thanks to Dani S. for her donation to the cause. Just goes to show that any amount makes a difference. You're awesome, my dear. Thanks for your generosity!

5k Round Two

Today is supposed to be my 2nd 5k. I say "supposed to" because it's raining. It's been thundering off and on. The RD said that they would run it rain or shine, but would change the start time if it looked like the runners were going to be electrocuted. That's mighty nice of them. I figure I'll play it by ear. If it doesn't look that bad, I'll go ahead and run it. If it's pouring rain, I won't bother. They already got my entry fee/donation so at worst I'm out $20. I would like to run and post a better time than I did in my first race, but I also don't want to risk slipping, face planting, and injuring or re-injuring one of my already emotional joints. Which reminds me, I need to put my ThermiPack back in the freezer.

If it's not raining tomorrow, I'll take Gunter out. I also need to look into getting a pair of tri shorts. My original plan of throwing the bike shorts over the swimsuit was strongly suggested against. I guess it makes sense. I have a $30 credit at the bike store where I bought Gunter and I know they have tri stuff, so that should pay for a decent pair. Then I guess I'll swim in my sports bra and shorts and throw a top over it for bike and run. I do hope they have semi-private areas for me to wring it out first. I wouldn't want to offend anyone or cause an earthquake. ;)

A Success, I'd Say

I think the event last night was a real success. About 20-30 people came out, ate, drank, and were merry. I'll get the check in about a week, but just looking at what people were eating and drinking, I think it'll be a nice boost. I'm glad that FitWitters are a bunch of lushes. ;) It was also nice to talk to everyone and explain further what I'm doing and why I'm doing it. After all, a personal connection does drive the point home.

Thanks to not getting home until 1am, I skipped work today. It did give me a nice opportunity to train, though. I finally got back in the pool and it wasn't as bad as I'd been dreading. I alternated freestyle and backstroke and that seemed to work better. I need a nose plug because I kept getting water up my nose and that wasn't exactly good times. Nope, not at all. I also went for a bike ride and worked out on the elliptical. I find it's kinder and gentler on my joints and I get pretty much the same cardio endurance. I'm gonna get more pool time in tomorrow after my review at BBW.

I offered to be a running buddy for the Girls on the Run 5k the day before my tri, so we'll see. I haven't heard back from the coordinator yet, so they may or may not need my services. I probably shouldn't be running the day before my tri, but it's a great way to start getting involved with the organization before I start coaching.

Dine Out / Cure Cancer

So my big event is tomorrow night. If you're in the Atlanta area, please consider coming by. Even if you only have a glass of wine and an appetizer, it makes a difference. It's being held at Palate Cafe & Wine Bar in Decatur. You can see a menu and get directions off their website here:

Anytime during the night is fair game. They open at 6 and close at 11, so feel free to stop by for as little or as long as you'd like. Also, if you'd like to make an additional donation while you're there, cash or checks are fine. Please make checks out to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society or LLS. If you can't find me, you can leave them with your bill and the staff will make sure they get back to me.

To RSVP, go here:

The forecast is calling for rain earlier in the day, so the patio should be dry and ready to enjoy by tomorrow night.

Come on out and I hope to see everyone there!

Playing Chicken

So I didn't end up going to the race. My alarm went off and I chickened out. It turned out to be a good thing because I had rehearsal that afternoon. We weren't exactly doing cheerleading practice this time around, but it probably wouldn't have been a good idea to use up my legs. So I went to rehearsal and then went out on the trail. I did 6 miles again and improved my pace by 2.5ish minutes per mile. As I've learned, because I'm on a hybrid, I can't go as fast as road bikes. If I get serious about this, I will have to invest in a nicer bike. Of course, I can't exactly afford to pony up $1500 for a bike right now. Gunter will suffice for now. I wanted to do a run afterwards, but when I was putting Gunter up a bunch of families hit the trail. I didn't exactly feel like dodging them. I may try again this afternoon, though I'm sure it'll be equally busy.

What I really need to do is swim. I haven't gone in almost 2 weeks. The Y doesn't open until 1, so I have some time to kill. I have to work tonight, so I need to allow time to come home and clean myself up as well. I also need to talk to someone about crashing a swim lesson or two. I won't be able to go Tuesday because of my event, but I might be able to swing Thursday. I'll ask about it when I go today and see what they say.

This time in two weeks I'll be finishing up my very first tri and can call myself, officially, a competitive triathlete. Whoa.

Shoutout and Then Some...

Thanks to my latest donor Holly who donated in memory of her father. He lost his battle with multiple myeloma about a year and a half ago.

In spite of all my fears about the bike, swimming is proving to be my problem right now. I just can't seem to get motivated to get in the pool. I've said I was going to go yesterday and today and it didn't happen. I'll have plenty of time over the weekend to go and I just need to force myself to do it. I need to get in a couple 400ish meter swims just to be sure I can get the distance.

Tomorrow morning I'm going on my longest bike ride, well, ever. I got a wild hare up my ass and decided to hike up to Canton and ride in the Rose Pedal race. The course itself is a hair under 19 miles, but when elevation is taken into account, it goes up to 27. The course description appears innocuous enough. It's not dead flat but has "rolling hills". I'm not sure what exactly constitutes a rolling hill, but I need to gain my confidence on hills. I suspect it's a series of long, low hills rather than steep ones. This seems like the perfect opportunity because I won't be dealing with traffic. I refuse to let myself chicken out. I'm going to put to use something one of my dance teachers told me. She said if you don't challenge yourself, you never learn anything new. I'll never be confident on hills if I don't ride on hills. I'll never be confident in the swim if I'm not in the pool regularly. There's no other way to do it.

A funny story from this morning. As we were warming up in camp, one of the other ladies asked me how my training was going. I told her what I've said on here and she says "Oh, so you're doing an Ironman?". I laughed and told her I was flattered she thought I was capable of that. For those who aren't familiar, triathlons come in multiple distances. The Ironman distance is the longest with a 2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike, and 26.2 mile run. My longest tri will be an Olympic distance with a 1500 m swim, 24 mile bike, and 6.2 mile run. The longest I'll probably ever attempt is a half Iron, but I may have to complete an Ironman just to say I did it. :P

More Donations!!

I'd like to thank my three aunties, Nancy, Diane, & Karen for donating collectively $600 to the cause. Just when I was starting to get discouraged, they donated. You three rock and thank you, thank you, thank you for your very generous donations. I may yet be able to pull this off!

My Butt Hurts

So I clocked 6 miles on the bike yesterday and 4 today. I originally intended to do 10 today, but by the time I hit the second mile, my butt was informing me no such things were happening. So I just turned around and went back. At least I got out there and I'm getting more confident. Monday I went at a 9 mph pace and today I went at a 13.4 mph pace. I may get the hang of this yet. I'm going to give the rump a few days off and focus on running and swimming.

I looked into swimming lessons at the Y, but they only do them in 4 week chunks. They're already halfway through this session and the next session doesn't start until after Collins Hill. I may stop by one of the classes and talk to the instructor to see if they'll let me take a few lessons just to refine my technique. I'm going to swim tomorrow night and try to get used to actually putting my face in the water. It was one of the few skills TNT specifically said we should have prior to starting the season. Goodie. I may or may not go for a run tomorrow. I've got a good bit on tap already in the form of rehearsal (1 hr), yoga class (1.25 hrs), and swimming (20-30 min). I'll probably just save the run for Thursday.

There's yet another event I'm interested in. If nothing else, it has a funny name and I'd wear the shirt with pride. It's called 24 Hours of Booty and it's, as the name implies, 24 hours of cycling to raise money for Childrens' Healthcare of Atlanta & the Lance Armstrong Foundation. I'm not a huge fan of Lance by any stretch, but he has done a lot for cancer research and CHoA is definitely a worthy cause. It's not until October, so I have time to think about it. You can ride as much or as little as you like, which I like, but they encourage aiming for a minimum of 100 miles. Considering the course loop is going to be 3 miles, that's a lot of laps. I'll sit on it, if you'll pardon the pun, until closer to time. After all, I have to get through 2 more 5k's, 2 10k's, and 3 tris. For those keeping score at home, my race schedule is shaping up something like the following:

Apr 24-Take Back the Night 5k (benefiting the Dekalb Rape Crisis Center)
May 2-Tri 2 Remember Super Sprint Tri (benefiting Alzheimer's research)
May 8-Susan G Komen Race for the Cure 5k (if you don't know who that benefits, you've been living under a rock)
May 31-Celebrate America 10k (with Daddums)
Jun 19-Possum Trot 10k (I'm hoping to get my picture taken with the possum, also running with Daddums)
Aug 8-PT Solutions Women's Sprint Tri
Sept 12-Nation's Tri in DC
Oct 2&3-24 Hours of Booty
Nov 25-Thanksgiving day half marathon (probably with Daddums)

If someone had told me a year ago I'd be trying (tri-ing teehee) to do something like the above by the end of the year, I probably would've thought they were insane. The insane thing is how excited I am about doing it all. If I finish all those, I'm going to have to get an epic tattoo in the off season. Ya know, just because I can.

First Day Back, Ouch.

The bike ride didn't happen yesterday. I got home and was distracted by the Masters. Ah well. I'm trying not to beat myself up over it. Today is a new day.

Camp started back this morning and I'm feeling it. We had to do 4 rounds for time of the following:

Run 200y
30 squats
25 sit ups
30 push ups
10 burpees

By about midway through the third round, I was really feeling it. I guess that's what I get for doing nothing for the past week. I was eternally grateful I took today off because I came home and slept for 4.5 hours. I'm still tired even after that. It is good to be back because I don't have to think about what I'm doing. I just have to do it.

On that note, it's a nice day and I've taken my allergy meds, so I think it's time to bike by the creek. Shouldn't be too terribly busy since schools are back in and it's a weekday afternoon. Maybe I can go a little faster this time. :D

I'm Baaaaack

Yesterday was the first day back. Daddums and I headed out to the Creek to run. It wasn't all I'd dreamed and more for my first run back. I walked a lot more than I wanted to. I averaged a 13 min/mi pace. I think it was a combination of taking off too fast and not hydrating properly beforehand. I did the first half mile in 5'22", which I was proud of, but then it started to catch up with me. The good news is the ankle and IT band both felt pretty good. I've got my next 5k in 13 days, so I'm going to focus on getting myself ready for that. For comparison, I ran 5k yesterday and did it 2.5 minutes slower than my official time for my race. That was really the most discouraging part, especially since the creek is dead flat. Something to strive for, I suppose.

As if running three miles wasn't fun enough, I also had rehearsal yesterday. For those who don't know, dance is one of my other passions. I'm performing in a show on June 25 & 26 and we started rehearsal this week. It was tantamount to a cheerleading practice. The choreographer (whom I adore) wants to incorporate a lot of tricks and theatrics into the piece, so he had us doing toe touches, roundhouse kicks, and things of that ilk. I hadn't properly warmed up my hips, so my right hip is calling me nasty names right about now. As a result, I'm going to take a nice long bike ride this afternoon. I figure that should be a bit easier on the hip than running more or even swimming.

Camp starts back tomorrow and I'm really excited about that. I guess it was good that this was an off week since I was having joint issues, but I'm beyond ready to get back into it. I'm also taking tomorrow and Tuesday off from work, so I'm looking to get some really good training in. I need to reconfigure my schedule a bit because of rehearsals, but that shouldn't be a big deal. I'm also determined to stick to the nutrition plan this time around because I'm going to the beach the last week of camp and I want to actually wear the cute bikini I bought last summer. Of course, it probably means said bikini is too big as a lot of stuff from last summer is. It's a good problem to have methinks.

Making Friends With Fear

Fear #1: I won't be able to make the fundraising minimum.

I set my personal goal as $4000. How much do I have in so far? $100. I have my dinner in a little under 2 weeks and I'm hoping that will really boost things. I haven't gotten any response from my family members which is both odd and annoying. I mean, we have a history of cancer in our family, don't you think they'd be up for donating something to fight it? I may send out another email and start calling them. Bottom line, I can't cover the difference if I don't make the minimum, which is what we're required to do. I haven't really hit up my co-workers or discussed fundraising in depth with the TNT people. Just looking through the booklet was overwhelming.

Part of me wants to give up. I know I can't though. I have to do this. I have to succeed. This can be done. Time and creativity are on my side. Cancer can't be allowed to win. Fear can't be allowed to win. Who else is going to stand up if not me? Why look around and hope that other people are willing to step up when I'm just as capable? Maybe when people see I'm really serious not only about the triathlon, but about fundraising, they'll be inspired. It helps to be taken seriously.

Fear #2: My First Tri
I'll be competing in my first tri, a super sprint, in 23 days. I've been off for a week and it feels like I've been off for a month. It's a 250 meter pool swim, 8.5 mile bike, and 2 mile run. I'm alternating between being terrified of drowning or crashing on the bike. I still don't swim with my face in the water, which is probably part of the reason I'm having a hard time with it. I've heard horror stories about people being steamrolled during the swim and I *really* don't want that. Then there's the bike. There are hills! There are other cyclists! We're on an actual road! This is clearly a recipe for disaster. I'm going to go down and take everyone with me!

Time to take advantage of the massive number of clubs around me and run with the big dogs. They're doing a run on Sunday and a group ride on Tuesday. I'm not gonna get anywhere if I don't challenge myself. The only thing that's inconvenient are the swims. But two out of three ain't bad, right? They also tend to organize other rides and runs as well and it's not like it's hard to keep track. Plus, they seem pretty good about making sure the n00bs and slow pokes aren't left too far behind.

So, it's time to make friends with fear and show it that I'm the bigger person. Rawr.

Being A Good Patient

The sprained ankle has gotten worse. Maybe it was the shoes I was wearing today or something, but it's been pretty bad. I actually iced it and I never ice joints, have it braced, and I'm trying to stay off it. I think it's moderately successful. It's not really feeling any better. I'm going to try to be a good patient and stay off it the rest of the week. Camp starts back up again next Monday, so that gives me 5 more days to try and heal up a bit.

I hate that I'm losing training time, but I keep trying (tri-ing) to remind myself that it's better to miss a week than 6 because I ended up tearing a tendon or breaking another bone.

I'm also trying to get my diet in order. I'm not getting nearly enough protein for the amount of exercise I get and trying to lower my carb intake. We'll see how that goes.

Until next time, my intrepid readers.

Getting Back on Track

So training hasn't gone as planned this weekend. Yesterday I just did yoga and today I wanted to run 3 miles and bike 8-10. I've never run in 80 degree heat before, so I only made it through a mile of the run. I decided to wait to go out on the bike, then the temperature actually went up. I probably should've gone anyway and I need to learn to train in temperatures way worse than this. It also didn't help that I stayed up super late last night and threw off my sleep schedule. That's probably part of why I just couldn't get it together.

We're off camp this week so I can do some training in the morning. I won't have another chance to get out on the Greenway until at least Wednesday night. I guess I could bike through the neighborhood, but I'm not sure I'm ready to handle traffic yet.

Ideally the week will look something like this:

Monday: Run
Tuesday: Swim
Wednesday: Swim & Bike
Thursday: Run
Friday: Bike
Saturday: Swim & Run
Sunday: Bike

I guess we'll see how it pans out. Hopefully I'll be able to stick to it.

I Didn't Fall!

So I finally got a chance to take the bike out. I went to a trail not too far from the house and got some good practice time in. Since a lot of schools didn't have the day off, it was fairly quiet. By the time I finished, I was feeling pretty good. I only did 4 miles but it's a start. I also don't go in a very straight line yet, but that will come with practice. The point is I didn't fall and no one laughed at me. If anything, I was getting a fair number of sympathetic looks when people would come across me trying to get moving after I stopped. After a few more rounds I'm sure I'll be ready for a group ride. As expected, lowering the seat definitely helped.

My thumbs hurt from the death grip I had on the handlebars, but again, I'm sure that'll get better. I did about half the distance of the super sprint and that gave me the boost I think I needed. I might actually pull this off. I need to run a few errands near the Y, so I'll probably stop in for a swim. I also need to look into swim lessons since my technique can only go up. I think the Y does those free, though.

Tomorrow is a run, then maybe I'll take Gunter (the bike) out in the neighborhood now that I know I *can* still ride. The trail is a gangbang on Saturdays especially now that the weather is nice. Since I'm having trouble with the whole straight line thing, the neighborhood might be a better choice. Plus there are bike lanes through 90% of it. I might throw a yoga class in there as well to work out all the kinks.

Until next time!

Who Are You?

Well, won't make it to the tri club meeting. Thank you migraine. After I finish this entry, I'm definitely closing the blinds, putting on my sleep mask, and trying not to die. Not the point.

The point is I'm nowhere near the person I was even three months ago. It came to me as I was shaking turf bits out of my running shoes this morning. I had gotten up at 5am only to run and do pushups on a wet football field. And I liked it. I liked being wet, covered in turf bits, and sweating my ass off. It was a challenge I didn't back down from. FitWit laid the groundwork for my triathlon aspirations. Even when I think I can't do another push up or run another lap, I remember just how far I've come. Anyone who's known me for any length of time knows that 5am used to be for going to bed and I'd rather be covered in honey and left for ants than run. I'd like to think I've evolved into a better person. One of my friends even commented when I mentioned my bike matched my new car that he didn't know me any more. In the nicest way possible, of course.

I've always been stubborn as hell and I've finally found an outlet where it's an asset rather than a hindrance. I finished my first real race and that's mind boggling to me. I honestly never thought I would do something like that. Now I'm hooked. I've got some form of race scheduled almost every month for the rest of the year. Two 5k's, two 10k's, 2 (possibly 3) tris, and a half marathon. I'm also looking into adventure racing provided I can find a partner. Who is this girl? I'm not totally sure yet, but I think I like her. I don't think I'd mind if she stuck around for a while.

And after that burst of philosophical codswallop, time to hide in the dark until my head stops pounding.

In Da Club

I'm thinking of joining a triathlon club just to have a group to work out with. There's one that meets around here and I've been emailing back and forth with one of the guys who helps organize things. His daughter is actually a Scottie, so we sort of have something in common. They've got a meeting Thursday night that I may try to make just to meet people and get a feel for the group. If I like them, I'll start training with them.

I haven't heard back from the IronGirl people about volunteering, so I may send them another email. I'm really anxious to see a tri in action and help out. There's a big group going to Knoxville, but I think I might just stick with IronGirl since it's just at Lake Lanier.

I missed my training today because my digestive system has been acting up. I dunno if it's a bug or just something I ate, but it was bad enough I skipped camp this morning. To put things in perspective, I didn't skip camp when I sprained my ankle and bruised my right knee so badly it would barely bend. I'm hoping to feel back to normal tomorrow so I can swim and go to spin class. I'm not sure what my plans are for tomorrow night. I may go to dance, but part of me will just get depressed because I have to quit and pay for my car. *sigh* I guess I should go and enjoy what little time I have left. I haven't been in several weeks between my ankle injury and knowing that I went to the effort to pay for unlimited classes and then life got in the way. Anywhoo...

Time for more stomach meds.

Race Recap

I had a really great time at my first race. I ran into (not literally) two of my fellow FitWitters. What are the odds of that in a race with 1600 runners? Apparently just good enough. I wasn't really nervous, but it was nice to have people to talk to instead of just wandering around before the start.

I managed to get a spot toward the front of the start, so it only took me a few seconds to cross the starting line. I kept a good pace. The course wasn't super hilly which I liked. I kept a good pace and only had to walk a few times. It was probably because I didn't warm up well enough. Now I know for next time that I need to make sure I'm nice and warm. Perhaps I should've gotten Stacy to lead us in a dynamic warm up. :P I finished in 37:33, which is respectable considering I didn't exactly train for this race. Now that I have an official time and a training plan for my tri, I have something to shoot for in the next one. It'll probably be the Sweetwater 420 Fest 5k or the Take Back the Night 5k that benefits the Dekalb Rape Crisis Center. Both of them are at more reasonable times, too. I got a cool shirt, a bag, a bunch of Larabars, and the satisfaction of knowing I'm now a competitive runner. It's one small step toward my tri.

I didn't get to train today. I was supposed to swim and bike, but it was raining, so biking was out. By the time I did everything else I had to do today, I didn't have time to swim either. I'll just get it in tomorrow. It's not supposed to rain, I don't think. I'll bike before yoga and swim after. Tuesday I'll be back to running and my calves should be okay by then. I was supposed to participate in an unofficial 5k this morning, but when I woke up my legs were feeling pretty sore. Maybe next time.

I'm hoping to finally settle into my training schedule this week. Obviously I can't control the weather, but I'd like to stick as close to the plan as possible. I'm thinking of taking a couple swimming lessons just to refine my technique a bit. It certainly can't hurt to take a bit of a refresher class.

Donations, Races, and Other Such Joys

I got my second donation in! Just when I was starting to feel like I was doing something wrong. Thank you Anonymous donor who gave $75. Whoever you are, wherever you are, your generosity is deeply appreciated. :D

My very first race is tomorrow and I'm not nervous...yet. I'm sure I will be when I get there, get my number, and start milling around. I'm going to try to keep a 10 min/mile pace. I think that's about what I was doing when I ran the last time and crashed and burned. I don't think that should be a problem this time around. At least, I hope not.

Because of the race, I skipped my training run today. I'm going to try to swim or bike after the race tomorrow, if I'm not totally dead. Life is starting to get in the way a bit, so I'm not sure. It's supposed to rain on Sunday, so I may want to wrestle with the bike first and then swim on Sunday. One of my FitWit buddies is hosting an unofficial 5k on Sunday, so I may walk/hobble that and enjoy a mimosa at the end. :P

I'm hoping to settle into a better training routine next week. Barring injuries and acts of God, that should happen. I really need to spend more time on the bike, but every time I get a chance it seems the weather is nasty. I guess I'll just take my chances tomorrow.

Another Frustrating Day

*sigh*

Today's training goal was a 16 minute run and then to take my two favorite dance classes. After camp this morning, my right IT band made it clear that no such thing was going to happen. I got a foam roller, a knee strap, and a new ThermiPack. Yes, that means I'm actually icing something and trying to rehab it properly. I think most of my problems stem from the fact that I overpronate like there's no tomorrow. I'm sure the new shoes are helping, but I haven't been in them long enough to see any real improvement.

There's no way I'm not running in the 5k on Saturday. I think as long as I keep the regimen of roller, ice, knee strap, and Darvocet up, I should be fine. It also should be safe to tool around on the bike Saturday afternoon. It sucks that I'm only just starting and I'm already having problems. It's not like joint problems are new for me, but meh.

Hopefully my plan will work and I'll be feeling better sooner rather than later.

Dine Out / Cure Cancer

My date is officially confirmed for Palate. If you're in the Atlanta area, please, please, please consider attending. Here are the details:

Where: Palate Cafe & Wine Bar, Decatur, GA
When: Tuesday April 20, 2010 from 6pm-close
Why: Palate has graciously agreed to donate 15% of the proceeds from diners on this night to go toward my fundraising. Just let your server know that you'd like 15% of your bill to go toward Team in Training.

If you haven't been to Palate, they have an amazing patio, wine selection, and the food is awesome. It's a great time of year to have a glass of wine, take in spring, and all for a good cause.

Tonight is another round of swimming. Eep!

Wake Up Call

Swimming:

Holy hell, swimming is no joke. I managed to swim 10 laps in 13 minutes which is way over what I'll have to swim in the real thing. However, I had to keep stopping to catch my breath. I also find I'm a stronger backstroker than freestyler. I'm going to have to practice my freestyle since I need to see where I'm going in open water. My next swim session is tomorrow morning and hopefully they haven't changed the pool schedule on me. The old folks swim from 6-7, so I'm shooting to be in the pool by 530 and done by 6. My time goal is 16 minutes and my personal goal is to swim as many laps unbroken as I can.

Biking:

The weather was much better today, so I took Gunter out for a spin. This is super embarrassing because I couldn't even get on without using the curb. I think the seat is set for more of a racing height than a regular height. I'm going to try lowering the seat and see what happens. I'm also going to find a parking lot to practice in away from traffic. Between watching for cars, having trouble getting on, and feeling painfully self-conscious about my lack of skills, I only managed to get about 20 feet in 20 minutes. I'm hoping the bulk of my problems will be solved simply by lowering the seat. And gaining a little more confidence.

Running:

My right IT band is bothering me. For those unfamiliar, it's a ligament that runs down the outside of your leg that runs from your hip to the outside of your knee. I managed to get my run in this afternoon, but I had to walk because it was bothering me. It's not pain, but tightness. The good news is it's relatively easy to manage, but it can be a sign of an overuse injury. I need to get a foam roller and just make sure that I'm massaging it regularly to keep it loose. Runners and tri folks swear by it so I trust them.

It's going to be a long, hard road to get there. I don't know why I thought it would be easy. All this stuff is straight up no joke. I think I'll feel a ton better when I get a hang of the biking again and can ride without feeling like I'm going to crash. Obviously if I learned it before, I can get it back. I just need to be patient with myself. I've got plenty of time to refresh myself and there's plenty to focus on with my running and swimming as well.

My fundraising has stagnated. I've sent out emails to family, friends, and businesses and still only have $25 to show for it. I'm sure once I confirm with Jill and start spreading the word about Palate, things will pick up. I need to check with the branch manager about my breakfast fundraiser idea as well. I'm gonna keep harping on this because it's the truth. It's not the big donations that make the difference, it's the little ones. Even if you can only afford $10, that's $10 that goes toward a cause that saves lives. It's also $10 less the IRS counts on your taxes. :D

Fully Outfitted

And now I'm fully outfitted and ready to go! I got my goggles and a swimsuit. The swimsuit is definitely cut differently than I'm used to, so I think I may need to start doing some serious glute toning exercises. :P

I got foiled out of my bike ride because of the weather. It's cold and rainy/sleeting. I'm gonna head over to the Y in a bit and do yoga then swim. I also missed camp this morning because I had to go to the dentist. I'll be back at it tomorrow though and out with the running group. The one thing I don't have is a watch. I should've picked one up at Dick's as I have no way to tell how long I've been out. Might be useful, no? Of course, that won't matter when I'm swimming. I'm sure I'll cave and invest in something waterproof along with a heart rate monitor and other fun accessories. I'm already looking at tri shorts and tops. I'm especially a fan of these:



I guess I could do 24 min on the spin bike just to get my time in, but I'm still not sure how to adjust those things. I think the more road practice I get, the better. Plus, a little yoga never killed anyone.

I Got My Bike!

Yesterday was a stressful and traumatic day, but I finally got my bike. The shop was recommended to me by one of my boot camp buddies and I'm glad I checked it out. They had a bike that fit my needs on sale for $200 down from $500. It's not an ideal tri bike, but the general consensus is I don't need to be investing in something until I know I'm going to stick with it. I also got a helmet, shorts, and a pump. Of course it's raining today so I can't get out and ride him, but that's okay. I'm sure the weather will clear up soon enough.

I also got fitted for actual running shoes. The woman who helped us was really good and I ended up with a pair that I didn't expect I would. I'm pretty excited to see if it helps my ankle pain, which I'm sure it will. Again, would love to test them out, but it's raining.

I still don't have a swimsuit and goggles, but I can pick that up tomorrow. Then I'll be fully outfitted and ready to throw myself into training.

You Train, You Sprain

Yup, one sprained left ankle. I've got a lace up brace, 2 kinds of pain medication, and instructions to wear said brace when I'm going to be super active. I'm also supposed to do physical therapy 2-3 times a week for 6 weeks, but I just can't afford it. My insurance only covers so much. I still have my therabands and exercises from when I broke it 2 years ago, so that should give me something to go on.

Today was pay day so I can *finally* go shopping for everything I need. I'm definitely getting a performance swimsuit, goggles, a helmet, and new running shoes. If there's a bike in my price range, I'll get it as well. There's a store that's got a bunch of stuff on clearance and some of it in my price range. I'll probably end up doing that on Sunday or Monday. It'll most likely be Monday because they can spend more time with me. I'll definitely be able to hit up spin class and the pool, so that's a start. I need to make a training calendar with my daily goals on it.

No more donations yet, but Meg has helped me put together a letter to send out to restaurants to get them to participate in the dine around. Hopefully more of them will agree to do it. I also haven't heard back from any family members yet, which is a little surprising. Usually they jump on stuff like this, but whatever. I've still got over 4 months. I also haven't tapped my co-workers yet or done any kind of raffle/auction. It's times like these I wish I were more patient.

Tomorrow's plans really depend on when I get out of bed. I'm not going to push myself super hard since I am recovering. If I get up way early, I might go to yoga. If not, I'll probably dance for a little bit then get fitted for my new shoes. Considering it's not even 7pm and I'm already exhausted, I think it's wise to be easy on myself for a bit longer.

Until next time!

Oh Push Ups, How I Loathe Thee

To preface this, my official training won't begin until May. Until then, I'm on my own. I've been doing fitness camp since the first week of January and that has definitely whipped my butt into shape quickly. Today's workout, for example, was a fun one.

The main event was the push up / wall ball challenge. The "wall ball" exercise is tossing a medicine ball against a wall, catching it while going down into a squat, and repeating. It's about as pleasant as it sounds. We alternated those with push ups in descending reps. But wait! There's a catch! For those of us who are still doing push ups on our knees (*cough* me *cough*), we had to 40 reps each time. So my rep count looked like:

40 push ups
50 wall balls
40 push ups
40 wall balls
40 push ups
30 wall balls
40 push ups
20 wall balls
40 push ups
10 wall balls

Needless to say, my arms were a wee sore after that. I did it in under 20 minutes and wasn't last, so I guess I can't complain too much. As if that wasn't enough fun, we then went down to the basketball court and did an 8-4-2 touch drill. Again, not that simple. Not only did we have to carry a medicine ball for the 8, we had to run backwards. Yes, run backwards. Hilarity ensued. I was no dumb bunny and partnered up with one of the fastest runners in the group. As a result we were the second team to finish, even though my slow self started us off.

Then during my lunch break, I went and ran on the treadmill. I managed to go 1.66 miles in 20 minutes, which was a bit slower than I've clocked in the past. I think part of it is being able to see the minutes tick down. I know exactly what pace I'm going at so then it messes with my head. When I'm running outside and have a route to complete, I think that actually makes me work harder.

Tomorrow's plan:
Sleep in :P
30 min bike during lunch
3 hours of dance

There's a group meeting for a 3 mile run tomorrow, but I think I'll pass. I probably should go, but my ankle is feeling more off than usual. Plus, a good night's sleep is vital to successful training. I definitely didn't have that going for me last night.

First Donation In!

A huge shoutout to Eugenie Viener for being my first donor. You rock hardcore, girl! I can't say it enough that every little bit helps. It's not the $1000 donations that make a difference, it's the little ones.

I spent all day brainstorming on fundraising ideas and I think I've got a couple good ones.

Date Auction:
I'll be auctioned off on the eve of April 2 to support a fellow TNTer's efforts. Tickets are $10, so if you'd like to purchase me or just heckle me, let me know and I'll sell you a ticket.

Mother's Day Basket Raffle:
I'll have this together by the end of April. For $10, you get a shot at winning a basket full of goodies for the mom in your life who really needs it. If you're feeling really ambitious, buy 5 tickets for only $40. I haven't solidified the exact details of what will be in the basket, but definitely a $50 Bath & Body Works gift card, a candle, and a gift certificate for a nice dinner out. Full details will be posted when I have it assembled.

Dine Out for A Cure:
This is still in the works. Ideally, I'll get 5 local restaurants to participate over the course of 5 months. I'll make flyers and on the selected night, 10-15% of the proceeds from participants will go toward LLS. You have to have the flyer, though, otherwise the restaurant won't know to include you. One restaurant is all in, we just need to set an exact date. I called another and they seemed amenable to it. I'll know for sure in a few weeks. I have a fairly long wish list of places, so I'm hoping 5 of them will agree to participate. I'm about to go write up the participant fact sheet to have when I visit in person.

So that's the latest on the fundraising front. I'll cover my training in the next post. It definitely deserves its own entry.

Nation's Tri, Here I Come

It's official! I'm registered with Team in Training for the Nation's Triathlon in September. I don't know how many people read this thing, but I figure it's worth plugging here as well.

Please, please consider making a donation. The proceeds benefit the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Even if you haven't been personally effected by blood cancer, it's still an amazing cause. Every donation is, of course, tax deductible. Whether you can give $10 or $1000, every dollar makes a difference. Cancer research is something very, very close to my heart with both my father and grandmother as survivors. To donate, follow this link:

http://pages.teamintraining.org/ga/nattri10/emilykelly

Thanks in advance for your generosity and support. Oh yeah, and fuck cancer. ;)

Late Nights & Time Changes Don't Mix

So, thanks to a late night last night coupled with the time change, I woke up too late to make it to dance. I also lost all my motivation to go to spin and run because I was just that exhausted. I'm amazed I'm still awake right now. I'll probably go to bed early and that will sort me out so I'm ready to take on the week.

In other good news, I got my iPod shuffle charger back. It's a lot easier to run with that one than my nano. I love my nano, but it requires pants or a jacket with a pocket.

Apparently, sign up sheets for the June show at the dance studio went up this week. It figures the one week life gets in the way is the week the sheets go up. Even though there aren't any classes I'm interested in tomorrow, I'm still gonna stop by and sign up. I think I'm going to limit myself to three both for financial reasons and time commitment. Rehearsing 3 pieces will take a lot of time and probably a good bit of time away from my training for the 1/2 marathon & triathlon. We'll see, though.

Tomorrow's another day and the day I get myself back on track for good. No more useless carbs, no more excuses, and no more just having dreams. It's time to work myself out and turn a dream into reality. Yes. I. Can.

Life Lesson #76

Digest before deciding to run. I was inspired to make pancakes, then figured I should go out for a run while the motivation was there. And by motivation, it was probably a sugar rush. Those pancakes almost came up for a return tour about half a mile in. I finished out the mile and called it good. Now I know better. My pace wasn't bad. I ended up averaging about an 11 minute mile. It's no great shakes, but there was a time where a 15 minute mile was usual for me. Tomorrow's goal is to finish the full 3.3 miles. Just don't eat first.

I'm also thinking of joining a running group or running with some of my fellow FitWitters. I know several of them participate in various groups, so I'll ask around on Monday. There was a group training for a half marathon, but it's being run next weekend, so I figure they're way out of my league. Too bad I didn't know about it before. They always get breakfast after the runs (wait a sec...). I think I'd do better with the accountability of a group, much like with FitWit. If I'm left to my own devices, I'll make excuses. I can't make excuses if I'm going to do a triathlon, run a half marathon, or even finish a 5k. It just doesn't work that way. That said, my training goals for the rest of the week:

Tomorrow: 1 hr spin class (since I don't have a bike yet), 2 hrs of dance, 3.3 mile run
Monday: 1 hr camp, 30 min treadmill (to see how far I can sustain at an 11 min/mile), 1.25 hr yoga
Tuesday: 1 hr camp, running group
Wednesday: 1 hr spin class, 3 hrs dance
Thursday: 1 hr camp, 3 hrs dance
Friday: 1 hr camp, 3 hrs dance
Saturday: Running group (?), 30 min swim if I have goggles and a more practical swimsuit by then

The dancing doesn't really count as training, but I love it and it's a nice way to make sure I stay stretched. I don't do yoga nearly as much as I should, but dance warm ups seem to have kept the true pain at bay.

On that note, I should pull myself together and get ready to dance.

If At First You Don't Succeed

I've decided to train for a triathlon. Yes, I've lost my mind. Daddums doesn't seem to think I can do it, which hurt my feelings a bit. I'm running my first 5k two weeks from tomorrow. I'm shooting to run one a month in addition to longer runs. I don't have a bike yet, but hopefully I'll have one by the middle of April. Until then, I'm going to take 2-3 spin classes a week just to get myself used to cycling. Will's dad was a competitive cyclist and he was hooked on spin classes, so it has to be fairly legit as a form of training. I need to figure out the Y's pool schedule for lap swim. Looking at it makes absolutely no sense. I'll just talk to a person and determine when the best times are to swim. I joined Beginner Triathlete and they have some training plans for every level.

I'm considering joining Team in Training as well. I've been going back and forth with one of the women in the office and I'll probably do the Nation's Triathlon in DC in September. It's an Olympic distance which is a .9 mile swim (1.5 k), 25 mile bike ride (40 k), and 6.2 mile run (10 k). A sprint would probably be better for my first one, but the shortest one they're doing for the fall is Olympic. I'm planning on running in a 5 or 10 k every month for the next 3 months. I may even try and get a number for the Peachtree if I post a good time in one of the other races. The fundraising part of TNT intimidates me a bit, but I think I can do it. I really wanted to do the Rock & Roll half marathon in Seattle in June with them, but I don't think I could raise the funds in time. If I went on my own, it would be about $1500 for the flight, hotel, entry fee, and whatnot. A more feasible option would be the Biltmore 5k in May. I can drive up there, get a good deal on a hotel from HotWire, and get to see the estate.

So that's where I am right now. I've been lazy this week because life got in the way, but I'll be back in full swing tomorrow. I'm gonna try and make a spin class tomorrow morning, then dance, then who knows? Gotta start somewhere if I'm gonna pull off this crazy goal.

I'm Gonna Run This Town Tonight

Tomorrow begins the last week of camp. I'm also finally going to give myself the super short haircut I've been threatening for months. I'm a little nervous, but it's a necessary change. Not only for the obvious reasons that I haven't had a haircut in about 6 months and my hair is so gross and fried. I also need to shed the emotional junk that I've collected over the past 6 months or so. I'm a firm believer that hair holds memories and emotions and that cutting it off can free you of that baggage. If that makes me a hippie, so be it. This will probably be the third or fourth time I've made a major hair change in conjunction with some kind of emotional turmoil.

Even though I have a day off tomorrow, it's still gonna be an early start. I've got camp at 6, then I may or may not do a noon yoga class, my hair appointment is at 3, there's another yoga class at 430, then dance at 7. I'd have a good 2 hours to kill between the first yoga class and my hair appointment, so I dunno. Plus, I don't exactly want to show up all gross and sweaty. I'll just get gross and sweaty right after I get a great cut and style. :P P.S. How hard is it to find a salon that's open on a Monday? It took me three tries before I found a place open on a Monday. They automatically get extra points for that.

I guess we'll see what tomorrow brings. Hopefully even more freedom and calm. Nothing like yoga and chopping off your hair to get your center.