Sally’s Helpful Hints – for athletes! December 2, 2011

If you’re new to this blog (hey runners and triathletes!), you may not be familiar with Sally’s Helpful Hints. (take a look, you might find something cool)  The Helpful Hints are regular posts that help you find a natural or inexpensive way to tackle an everyday issue or time saving solutions for example.  I don’t know where I learned all these tips, they exist somewhere in the recesses of my often-bizarre mind, and some have come about because I’m too cheap or lazy to pay for the commercialized solution.

So, I thought, why not have a Helpful Hints for all my athlete readers!  We all know I love to find cheap and easy ways to get my exercise on, and if you’re a triathlete you know how obscenely expensive it can get quickly.  Here are a few ways to make your lives easier and maybe save a little cash for that next race registration. (sorry I haven’t found a way to make those easier!)

Warm-up clothes
We are all familiar with the that long, dark, cold walk to the start line of a race.  The sun hasn’t risen, but you’ve  stretched and want to keep your muscles warm, but you also know as soon as the race gets going and the sun comes up it’s going to get warmer quickly.  You hate to overdress, you hate to let your muscles freeze (and risk injury) before the race, and you don’t want to leave behind your favorite jacket or track pants.  Go to Goodwill.  Pick up a pair of $4-5 pants and a sweatshirt.  While it may not be the most stylish, who cares, you’re not keeping it or wearing it again. (BONUS: if you look like a crazy homeless person you’ll psych out your competition!)  Then just before race start, discard the clothes and most large races collect the throwaway clothes and donate to needy charities!

TIPS:
* If you’re small like me, you can get away with buying girls or boys clothes in L or XL.  They’re about a $1-2 cheaper.  Kids are so much bigger nowadays that you’d be surprised what fits!
* Go on the first Saturday of anymonth.  The ENTIRE store is 50% off.  Hint: Go this Saturday and stock up for your next race!
* Look around at the signs.  The price tags are color coded and each day has a specific color associated with it that is 50% off.  So, if today is an orange day, go and ahead and get picky and look only at the orange tagged clothes.

Keeping your bike dry
You’re ready to head to the triathlon and it looks like rain.  Or you’ve racked your bike in transition and you hate morning dew on your seat and drivetrain.  You can get a special cover or try to finagle a sheet (that will only soak through) or plastic grocery bags that aren’t big enough.  Or you can use a dry cleaning bag or those plastic bags that UPS uses to leave boxes on your porch so they don’t get wet.  Usually they are clear, long and very large, so they cover a lot of area and you can still see (and recognize) your bike underneath.  They aren’t very thick so if you need to rip them to fit around something they will.  And you’re recycling!  You don’t have to waste a brand new trash bag that is opaque and too think to rip on its own.  I save these bags as I get them and fold them up really small and store them in my transition bag for that you-never-know situation.  Then you also have them in there if you need them to take home muddy, sweaty, wet, etc clothes or gear after the race.  Also see Space Blanket below for another tip.

Keep yourself dry
This one is a well-known tip, but you can use those same bags above to keep yourself dry before or during  a running race.  These bags are clear so race officials can see your bib number.  Always keep these on hand, you never know.

Salt
Do you use salt during a race?  I’ve only discovered this year as I was training for Philly just how helpful salt can be if you get dehydrated easily, or get GI distress during a race or training.  You can buy the really expensive salt tablets, or risk carrying pretzels with you and hope they don’t upset your stomach further.  Or you can just take the little salt packets from restaurants.  You know the salt/pepper paper packets that come with your to-go order?  Snag a few of those the next time you’re out.  Stuff them in your shorts, your Spi-Belt, or inside your Sport Beans bag (like I do).  Rip one open and either dump it into your mouth or a little bit on your hand and lick it off like a tequila shot.

Space Blanket/Heat Sheet
However you like to call it, these bizarre foil sheets can be your best friend after a race.  But don’t toss it once you’ve regulated your body temperature, they have a lot of uses even after you got that awesome PR!  Use it as a drop cloth for painting.  Use it to cover plants outside during a frost.  Lay it across your back seat or trunk of your car to protect the interior from dirt, pets, or bike grease.  Use it with rubber bands to cover your bike to keep it from getting wet (see above).  Save it for after a smaller local race that may not have the extra funds to provide them.

Wet Shoes
I have run my fair share of races in pouring rain and massive thunderstorms.  (Thanks crazyass unpredictable Nashville weather!)  Waiting for shoes to dry on their own is an enormous hassle, and you really don’t want to toss those expensive neutral-cushioned, lightweight, performance trainers (or whatever) into the dryer to bounce around and warp the lasts.  You can either buy one of these products, or you can just take some good old fashioned newspaper and stuff it into your shoes.  Newspaper is incredibly absorbent and will pull that dampness right out.  Just be sure to check your shoes and change out the paper as it gets saturated until your shoes have dried.

Icing injuries
You really put in some awesome speedwork on the track tonight.  Or maybe this morning’s ride had some crazy hills.  Or maybe you took a tumble getting out of the pool and bruised your tailbone.  Whatever the reason, we all know that ice is our best friend to help sore muscles and injuries.  But it’s really hard to get a baggy of ice to comfortably sit on an injury or mold around a joint.  Enter frozen veggies.  Buy the cheapest bag of corn (kernels only!) or peas.  The tiny veggies mold perfectly around your intended icing area for a more comfortable recovery.  Also, you can refreeze these bags for use over and over.  I think my bag of frozen corn that I use is several years old, still works!  Just be sure to inform others in your household that THAT bag of veggies is NOT to be used for dinner!

What are some cool, easy tips that you use?

Racing rundown October 25, 2011

I had my first race-related dream on Monday.  Not a bad one like where you wake up only 15 minutes before the start of the race or you realize you’re wearing high heels instead of your trusty kicks, but just a dream about the morning of the race.  I’ll take that as a good sign I’m not feeling unprepared, but that I’m just ready to do this!

What race you might ask?  Well I’ve been a busy little athlete this summer and fall, with tons of races!  My big race I’m training for is the Philadelphia Half Marathon.  I’ve developed some crazy speed over the summer, and my goal is to break 2 hours! That’s another PR by more than 15 minutes.  I think I can do it, I’ve been training on pace for the past few months.  I really think all the triathlon cross training has really helped my speed.  Extra strength from the biking, and learning to breathe while swimming (and not just whenever you want, like in running) has increased my lung strength.

Normally I only do about 3-4 races a year, tops.  Usually one big race, a half marathon, then maybe a couple training races, and of course the Boulevard Bolt on Thanksgiving.  This year, with all the triathlons and the wealth of fun different races I’ve done quite a bit.  Here’s my rundown from this year, some completed, a few more to go:

May 15: Ramblin’ Rose Women’s Triathlon (Nashville) – My 1st triathlon! Loved it so much, very well organized.

May 29: GJCC Memorial Day Triathlon (Nashville) – hated the bike course and had my first run-in with a jackass in a car on a major highway.

June 19: Music City Du Run Run Duathlon (Nashville) – massive storm rolled in during the race and was really scary, but at least not blazing hot like most years, and I totally chicked my guy friend who also ran it. (He hates me now.)

July 30: Yazoo Barely a 4k Beer Run (Nashville) – My favorite local brewery basically found an excuse for a bunch of beer drinkers to get up early on a Saturday, run 2.4 miles, then drink a lot of beer, before 9am.  (Chicked my friend again, he still hates me.)

August 27: Cedars of Lebanon Triathlon (Lebanon, TN) – Really tough bike course, but I trained on it and felt good. This was my goal sprint tri for the season.

September 17: Warrior Dash (Manchester, TN) – 3.15 miles of running and obstacles, dressed like 80’s Ke$ha with my friend Bunny! Tougher than I expected, but lots of fun!

October 1: Shelby Bottoms Boogie 15k (Nashville) – I PR’d on this course by 13 minutes!

October 16: Yazoo Big Wheel Championships (Nashville) – My favorite local brewery hosted a grownup size tricycle race.  (Didn’t chick my friend’s team, because we felt he needed a little confidence boost, so we tied him.)

October 29: Zombie Buffet 5k (Nashville) – Zombies chasing runners on a 5k course.  Yeah, I’m going to be a zombie and I want your BRAINS!!

November 20: Philadelphia Half Marathon – This is my goal race for the year, hoping to break 2 hours.  After I registered, I found out a lot of people I know online are also running it.  Can’t wait!

November 24: Boulevard Bolt (Nashville) – This is my traditional Thanksgiving Day race.  5 miles in the morning and you can eat whatever you want for Thanksgiving.  It may also be my first run after the Half.

So yeah, that’s quite a lot in one year, much less 7 months, for me at least.  What’s in store for next year?  I’m bumping up to Olympic distance in triathlons (with the goal of 70.3 Half Ironman in 2 years!).  So I’ll definitely have some more sprint tri’s and one or two Oly’s, maybe an Endurance Distance too.  I plan to run the Ramblin’ Rose again if they bring it back, because I loved it so much and it sparked my love of tri’s.  I’m thinking about Hooping the Half Marathon again in the Spring with the Hooping for Hope ladies.  Every year I keep saying I’m going to do the Louisville Triple Crown (a 5k, 10k, and 10 miler), so I’m going to try to work them in next year too.  Then to pick out my goal Fall/Winter Half Marathon.  Will I be able to get into the St. Jude in Memphis before it sells out on me again?  Or will I return to Detroit for the Detroit Free Press Half Marathon?

Being a good triathlete date September 19, 2011

The past couple months I have read two really great blog posts about dating and athletes, more specifically triathletes as the peculiar breed that we are.  Both of these posts are great and give advice to people who want to take on the endurance task of dating an endurance athlete.

• Advice from the perspective of the significant other
• Advice from the perspective of the athlete  (The main link is broken, here is a cached link until it is fixed.)

These are both really great articles with great advice.  But it’s not just the significant other who needs advice, triathletes also need to know how to assimilate into non-endurance society.  So, I thought I’d take a stab at giving triathletes (and other athletic types) advice for successfully being a significant other.  I am by no means an expert, but these are things that I have always struggled with personally.  Some of this advice also goes for your regular relationships and friendships with people in the real world.

1.  There are other things to talk about besides training and racing.  Yes, I know that most of your time is spent training, eating, training, sleeping, training, etc. in that order, but the rest of the world doesn’t revolve around your sport.  If they ask, go ahead spill.  But if you’ve been talking for 10 minutes straight without follow up questions or feedback, it’s too much.

→ But tell them your training schedule.  Don’t bore them with the details (see #1).  But let them know where you’re going, what time, how long you’ll be gone, and who will be with you.  This is a common courtesy, but a great safety precaution for you too.

2.  A little friendly competition is great, but don’t make the other person miserable by making everything a race to the best.  There is something to be said for just having fun.  And sometimes if you let the other person win a little, they’re more likely to play with you again if you do.

3.  Training is NOT a date or quality time together.  Races are NOT vacations.  Yes you are busy, yes training takes up a lot of time,  yes you can travel to cool places for races.  But these are things that are for YOU.  Not your significant other.  Every now and then, someone may want to join you for a run or bike ride, or come cheer you on at a race.  But that is a lot of pressure on the other person to keep up on your training pace.  And it’s the other person’s vacation too, so if they want to travel to a race too great, but make sure you plan a proper vacation together. No racing, training, crazy bedtimes/wake up calls, weird nutrition requirements.

4.  Enjoy it if you’ve picked someone who is also somewhat athletic.  They’ll understand more of what you’re going through.  They might want to join you for training every now and then (but see #3 above!) and are less likely to get bored or annoyed with your training/racing chatter (see #1 above).  Plus 2 athletes together – you both look great naked. (see #5)

5.  Enjoy your intimate time with your significant other.  You’ve trained really hard, show off that sexy athlete body!  And every athlete deserves a little release now and then.  Plenty of studies have shown that it can help athletic performance (stress relief anyone?).  And athletes are just better at it, we’ve got the endurance and all the blood is pumping properly to the all the right parts.  Don’t ever train so hard that you’re “too tired.”

6.  It’s ok to have weaknesses.  Yeah, you’re a badass who can run/bike/swim/whatever for hours on end and still kickbox and sweat it out in hot yoga.  But you actually cannot do EVERYthing.  It’s ok to ask for help. It’s ok to have a breakdown now and then.  It’s ok to cry even when you’re not in physical pain.  While it may be hard to show a vulnerable side, it’s actually refreshing to others to know that you aren’t actually superman and that they feel needed.

7.  Make time for the other person.  While this seems obvious, it’s probably the most neglected.  I’ve always said you don’t “find” time for training, you “make” time for it.  The same goes true for your relationships.  Just as you’re making time for your training in your precious schedule, you need to make time for the important people in your life.  Striking that balance is very difficult.  You can always buy another bike if you wreck it, but you can’t buy another friend/lover/relationship.

→ And go out of your way to do special things for them.  If they’ve stuck it out through all this with you, they deserve a medal like the one you get at the end of a race.  Think of all the Friday/Saturday nights you’ve gone to bed early, leaving them to either retire early or spend the evening alone.  And all the early morning training sessions where your perky 5am alarm woke them up.  The hours spent alone while you’re out on a brick, instead of a date together.  The hours spent alone while you’re recovering after a long run (no they don’t always want to nap with you in the middle of the day).  And the encouragement they’ve provided in training and cheering on race day.  That’s pretty incredible.  Buy them flowers.  Cook them dinner.  Ask them about what they’re interested in. (But do not relate it back to racing, and do not cut them off after 10 minutes, let them prattle on and pretend you’re interested, that’s what they do!)  Take them to a movie.  Take them on vacation.  Be intimate.  Do something spontaneous.

8.  Find a good athlete buddy.  Someone who will go out on your training runs with you, who may want to do the same races as you.  Someone you can talk to for hours on end about cadence, negative splits, snot rockets, chub rub, wetsuit strippers*, blisters, nutrition and digestion issues, bricks, etc.  This person will be a benefit to your relationship, as you can eliminate some of issues above (#1, #3).  Just make sure you don’t spend more time with this person than your significant other that they are neglected (see #7) or they become jealous of your training buddy.

9.  Clean yourself up.  Yeah, you’re hardcore and sweat.  But honestly it’s gross.  We see it as a badge of honor.  Others see it as disgusting.  Make sure you take time to shower and freshen up before trying to spend time with other people.  Shave, get a pedicure, remove that sunscreen/Body Glide/Sweat/Gu stickiness/HooHa Ride Glide/bike grease/chlorine/Sharpie-TriTat number from your body.  They will thank you.  Trust me on this one.  Clean up your space too.  Whether your significant other lives with you or not, do not clutter your space with all your gear, swag, medals, nutrition, workout clothes.

10.  Remember above all else, you’re still just a human.  Unless you’re an elite athlete with 6 figure endorsements, you still have to function in society like everyone else.  Yes, your sport makes up an important part of your life, but you can’t marry it (though some would love to try/tri – bad I know!).  You still have to go to work or school.  You still have to pay bills.  You still have to carry on a conversation like a normal person.  You still have to love and be loved like a normal person.

*For the non-triathletes, this is SO not as exciting as it sounds!

On Racing August 26, 2011

I posted a tweet yesterday poking fun at my own hilarious pre-race routine.  So, with my final triathlon of the season tomorrow, here is how you can tell what stage I am in for a race.

Pre-Race

•  My workouts are cut back significantly.  The “Taper.”
• I’m irritable because of the the “Taper.” (I feel like I should be doing something; not enough exercise makes me a little a crazy.)
• My diet is even more healthy than usual and I’m very careful about what I put into my body.
• No drinking. (alcohol that is)
• Lots and lots and lots and lots of water! (hydration is important)
• My laundry room has exploded and about 80-90% of it is spandex.
• Haven’t shaved my legs in days.
• Lots of pasta/carbs consumed.
• Bedtime hours that are only shared with 7 year olds and 70 year olds.

Race Day

•  Wake up call hours before the sun rises (and probably about the time my friends are going to bed)
• Lots and lots and lots and lots of water, gatorade, nuun. (still no alcohol)
• Bizarre morning ritual of breakfast and about 200 bathroom breaks.
• Limited talking. (please don’t let the freaked out newbie stand next to me and chat about how nervous she is)
• Shaved legs!
• My body is coated in Body Glide and Hoo Ha Ride Glide.
• My body is covered in at least 80% spandex.
• Salt crystals from sweat.
• Copious amounts of sport nutrition consumed. (Sport Beans, Cliff Shot Blocks, Luna Chews, Stinger waffles or chews, Gu Chomps, or whatever I happen to have on hand)

Post-Race

• Ice bath, then hot shower to rinse off sweat and various other “glide” coatings.
• Big fat nap!
• Big fat banana consumed.
• Eventually a beer or other celebratory drink.
• A little stiffness.
• New race shirt and possibly a new race medal adorning my badass post-race upper body.
• Finally waking up my friends who slept through all of it.
• Furiously researching my next race.
• Most importantly an overwhelming feeling of accomplishment and pride that I’m a badass girl athlete!

I am a triathlete! May 16, 2011

Yesterday I completed my first triathlon! It was so much fun.  Of course I have to recount my experience for you (if nothing else to memorialize it for myself), as well as what I learned about triathlons.  And yes, you get to see an rare photos of the elusive Sally.  First, here is the wonderful medal/charm that all finishers got.  Yeah, I’m wearing it all day today!

It was an unseasonably very chilly day (in the 50s!), so I was a little nervous after training in warmer weather to wake up to a cold, dreary day.  I had prepared to do the race in my tri top and shorts, but had to pack a short-sleeve and a long-sleeve shirt in case I needed it for the bike ride.  I was handling my nerves really well until I was about a 1/2 dozen people away from entering the pool.  That’s the “omigod-I-really-have-to-do-this” moment, as well as the “there’s-no-backing-out-now” realization.  When it was my turn, I just got in the water and pushed off the wall.  Probably because of nerves I was having some trouble regulating my breathing the first couple laps, but got it under control and even passed a few swimmers!

Ok, you can't really see me well, but that's me swimming!

Once out of the pool, I ran barefoot while pulling off my goggles and swim cap to the very cold outdoors and onto the gravelly pavement to the transition area.  First things first, wipe off my face, adjust my ponytail, and clip on my bike helmet!  I rinsed off my feet and put on socks and shoes.  I felt ok enough to forgo the extra shirt and decided to chance it in my wet tri top.  Took my bike off the rack, grabbed my bike gloves and sunglasses, and tossed a few Sport Beans in my mouth.  Then, I ran carefully with my bike to the mounting area.  Once on my bike I was on my way.  I was easily moving along at a good clip and shouting “on your left” to several other bikers!  I was feeling really good.  I managed the hills and sharp turns well and didn’t get too winded.

On the bike!

Returning to the transition area, I ran my bike back to the rack, removed my helmet, gloves, and sunglasses.  I clipped on my race belt with my bib number and put on my running hat (hello swim/sweat/helmet hair!).  Grabbed some more water and popped a piece of gum in my mouth and ran out the transition area.  A couple volunteers shouted that I looked really strong, so that really helped boost me as I took off into the park.  Two laps, that’s all I had to do.  After the first lap, I realized I was running faster than I ever have.  I joked with myself (runners have crazy thoughts while they run) that I was going so fast because I was trying to safely skirt the dozen Canadian Geese on the path (geese are mean little creatures).  As I headed into the finish I realized I had enough steam to sprint to the finish line.  They announce your name and that you’re a “triathlete” at the finish and it really feels good!

What I learned…

• When people find out you’ve done a triathlon, they are immediately impressed and call you things like superhuman and a machine and inspiring.  Enjoy it!
• It doesn’t matter how bad or good you are at any part of the race, it’s the total time that matters.  You can make it up in other areas.
• You actually have 6 different times: Swim, T1 (first transition), Bike, T2, Run, and total overall time.
• A lot of other people out there don’t know what they’re doing, or at the very least don’t know their swim times.  You’re not the only one.
• It is a totally achievable goal!  Pick a small sprint race like this one and go with it.
• Things are going to go wrong.  You can let them control you or you can just ignore them and power through.
• Seeing a familiar face as you’re pushing through the course is really reassuring.  Beloved showed up and it was nice to see him smiling!
• This is truly an individual sport.  You most likely will not see the same people at any point in the race and will have no idea how well someone is doing based on where they are in the course.  Just focus on yourself and finish the best that YOU can.
• You will get body marked.  But, the day before the race at packet pick up, they put a big fat 4 on my hand with a sharpie to indicate my swim group.  Just as I expected, I woke up on race morning with a faded backwards 4 on my face.  (a little rubbing alcohol will take that off)

Yeah, some of that was on my face in the morning.

• You won’t want to wash off the body marking after the race, because it says “hey, I’m a badass, I did a triathlon!”
• Your age according to the USAT, is whatever your age is on December 31st of that year.  Therefore, I am always a year older because my birthday is 3 weeks before the cutoff.  Also, they mark your age on your calf!
• You will have to put a sticker on your bike and your helmet.  But don’t worry, it’s a sticker that’s easily removable.  Now why can’t the rest of the world use stickers like that?

Here are my results:
My total finish time was 1:01:56. (66th overall, out of 227, and 7th in my age group of 30 women)
Swim (250 meters): 6:25 (99th overall, 10th in my age group)
T1: 3:43
Bike (8 miles): 32:58 (60th overall, 8th in my age group)
T2: 1:43
Run (2 miles): 17:09 (46th overall, 5th in my age group)

This race was an incredible first race.  It was for women only, so that made a great environment for the nervous beginner.  Also, women athletes are usually much more supportive of each other and more likely to be polite to each other in competition.  The race was excellently organized.  I was never unsure about where anything was or how the race was going to run.  The course was clearly marked and all of the race officials and volunteers were more than available to answer questions and help.  The excitement and support on the course were amazing.  It was great to see women of all ages and abilities out there, but also to see all their friends and families out there to see them on that very early, very chilly morning.  I would do this race again in a heartbeat, or any race that the race director and their organization puts on.  If they come back again next year, I’m definitely doing it again.  I know that the bar has been set high for my next triathlons (the next one is in 2 weeks), so here’s hoping I enjoy those at least half as much as I enjoyed this one.

Final Challenge April 29, 2011

Well, I made it through this year’s 46 Day Challenge.  There’s a reason it is called a challenge.  It’s a challenge to keep up with the exercise on a daily basis, even when you’re sick, busy, or out of town.  It’s a challenge to “make” time rather than “find” time.  You challenge yourself to new physical and mental limits.  Or you just challenge yourself to try something crazy, like a triathlon.

For the last weekend of the Challenge, I was out of town for the holiday.  While travel usually makes it difficult to exercise, I still found time to run on one day and because of where we went for vacation (more on that in an upcoming post, here’s a hint…the happiest place) there was a LOT of walking involved.  I mean a lot.  I almost regretted going for that run on Saturday morning.  I have some well-worn sneakers now!

Also, remember how I hooped the half marathon last year?  Well, I wasn’t able to participate in the training this year, but tomorrow is the half marathon.  I will be on bike support with the hoopers!  Getting in my biking training for the triathlon and supporting a great cause and group of women at the same time!

Here is my final progress.

3/29 Walk 2.6 miles
3/30 Run 5.5 miles
3/31 Walk 1 mile
4/1 Walk 1.7 miles
4/2 Walk 0.25 miles plus some light bike riding
4/3 Walk 0.25 miles plus some heavy house cleaning
4/4 Foam Roller 20 min
4/5 Walk 1 mile
4/6 Run 2.4 miles
4/7 Swim 300 meters, walk 1 mile
4/8 Bike 4.34 miles
4/9 Swim 300 meters
4/10 Bike 5.73 miles
4/11 Run 4.2 miles
4/12 Run 3 miles
4/13 Swim 300 meters
4/14 Bike 9.26 miles
4/15 Walk 1/2 mile
4/16 Swim 750 meters
4/17 Run 4 miles
4/18 Bike 8 miles + Run 2 miles (practicing the transition for the triathlon!)
4/19 Walk 1 mile
4/20 Walk 1 mile
4/21 Swim 400 meters
4/22 Walking minimum 2 miles
4/23 Run 2.4 miles, plus walking minimum 2 miles
4/24 Walking minimum 2 miles, hooping 10 minutes

So, how did you do?  What has been your biggest challenge?

Almost there April 19, 2011

I’m in the final stretch of the 46 Day Challenge.  I have to say there were difficult moments this year.  I became insanely busy for a week or two at the beginning.  Then I came down with one of the worst colds I’ve had in a very long time for nearly a week.  But I persevered, even if it meant going for a quick 5-10 minute walk.  I’m also in the last couple weeks before my first triathlon.  I went for a practice run of 2/3 of the tri yesterday and it went better than I expected.  I’m really enjoying all the cross-training with the 2 extra sports and it’s helped keep up with the Challenge as well.  Just have less than a week left in the Challenge.  Here are the past 3 weeks for me:

3/29 Walk 2.6 miles
3/30 Run 5.5 miles
3/31 Walk 1 mile
4/1 Walk 1.7 miles
4/2 Walk 0.25 miles plus some light bike riding
4/3 Walk 0.25 miles plus some heavy house cleaning
4/4 Foam Roller 20 min.
4/5 Walk 1 mile
4/6 Run 2.4 miles
4/7 Swim 300 meters, walk 1 mile
4/8 Bike 4.34 miles
4/9 Swim 300 meters
4/10 Bike 5.73 miles
4/11 Run 4.2 miles
4/12 Run 3 miles
4/13 Swim 300 meters
4/14 Bike 9.26 miles
4/15 Walk 1/2 mile
4/16 Swim 750 meters
4/17 Run 4 miles
4/18 Bike 8 miles + Run 2 miles

Tri update April 13, 2011

In my last post, I revealed that I was biting the bullet and taking on a bucket list item.  So, in my quest to become a triathlete, I have jumped in and made several steps towards the big (ok, it’s really a very small one) race and learned several things along the way. I still have a little bit left to do in the next month, so I’m calling it the good, the soon-t0-be-good (because I don’t want to jinx it with the b word), and the ugly.

Completed (the “good”):
1.  Gotten access to a lap pool for training swims.
2.  Purchased new swimsuit (because I couldn’t find my old one) and new goggles and swim cap.
3.  Go for a couple training lap swims.
4.  Found and purchased a road bike.
5.  Purchased many biking accoutrements (gloves, extra tube for tire, other repair kit items, bike shorts).
6.  Start riding said road bike to get used to it before the race.
7.  Purchase a handy book with more info about triathlons (specifically geared to women) to calm my nerves.
8.  Take a basic bike maintenance class, so I can take care of my bike and not freak out if I get a flat tire.

To do (the “soon-to-be-good”):
1.  Get used to swimming with contacts and goggles.
2.  Do a full run through, transitioning between the sports, and for the full distance of each the swim, bike, and run.
3.  Buy tri-shorts for the race.

Learned (the “ugly”):
1.  I can still do my (whatever it’s called stroke) swim in the pool without getting water up my nose.  And can make a few laps across the pool without having to stop.  Not bad since I haven’t done laps since using it as a study break for the Bar Exam.
2.  I hate my new goggles. They won’t seal to my face.  I have tiny eye sockets apparently.  Pulled out my old goggles and they fit perfectly, even at 4 years old!  I think I remember I bought junior sized instead of full adult.  Good thing I didn’t spend much on the new ones.
3.  Road bikes are really expensive.  No.  REALLY fucking expensive!  Holy crap.  Thank goodness I found a good deal on a cheaper one at REI!  In fact, just biking in general is expensive.  Lots of gear and crap to keep up with.
4.  I am really short need a really tiny sized bike.  Most bike shops didn’t have something in my size.  And people just don’t sell used ones in my size regularly on Craigslist.  So I had to have REI assemble 2 different sizes (um, hello, the extra small fits now) until we got it right.  Short legs, short arms, short Sally!
5.  Starting your training on a mountain bike makes taking on hills with a road bike like riding an elevator!
6.  REI has excellent FREE classes!  The bike maintenance class I took was incredible, way more than I expected to learn.  And their bike shop and staff are super helpful too.  I just thought they were a camping type place.
7.  If you go for a morning swim before you have to be at work at 6:30am (i.e., swimming before 6am), bring lots of snacks.  By 9am that yogurt you ate for breakfast 2 hours ago is no longer helpful.  By your 11:30am lunch appointment, you will want to kill someone for food.

Bonus
Also, just for funsies, I have signed up for a Duathlon and another Triathlon this summer!  Might as well get use out of ponying up all that money prepping for this race.

Challenging myself March 29, 2011

Inspired by my own 46 Day Challenge, I’ve decided to finally mark something off of my bucket list.  For a couple years now, I have been enamored with the idea of completing a triathlon.  I know I have the running part down.  I’ve been riding a bike for a couple decades now.  And I’ve been swimming even longer.  I’ve toyed with the idea of training for and completing a RunBikeSwim*, but I usually fall back on the excuse of the time of training for 3 sports instead of 1, or the sheer cost of equipment once you start adding in the bike, etc.

Well, no more.  I have officially signed up for my first triathlon.  Granted, I chose a tri that I could feasibly complete today if I needed to, but we all have to start somewhere.  I can start small and if I like it, then I can invest more time and money into it.  I’m very excited about this particular triathlon too.  It’s small, manageable, and all women.  No need to compete with machismo or testosterone fueled sprints.  My new goals now are to get in a few swims before May, maybe get a newer bike that’s more suited for road races, and possibly get some tri gear (like those fancy padded pants).

Stay tuned for more bike rides and swimming to be added to my daily exercise.  Here’s the past week and a half.  How has your daily exercise been going?

3/17 Walk 1.5 miles
3/18 Run 4.25 miles
3/19 Bike 7.75 miles
3/20 Run 6 miles
3/21 Hula Hooping 25 minutes
3/22 Run 7.4 miles
3/23 Run 2.5 miles
3/24 Walk 1 mile
3/25 Run 2.5 miles
3/26 Bike 7 miles
3/27 Hula Hooping 20 minutes
3/28 Run 3 miles

* Why do they call it RunBikeSwim, when generally they are Swim-Bike-Run?  To me, it just seems to make more sense to run, then bike, then swim.  Especially when it’s so incredibly hot during triathlon season.  Plus you don’t get that weird bricking thing when going from bike to running.  Guess I need to research it more.