Contingencies!

It has been a while since I’ve written, which makes this post all the more relevant. About 3 weeks ago we had our second Total Immersion swim lesson. I felt great, learning tweaks to my body to swim with greater ease. The problem is that its slowing me down now, but I’m sure that it will be better in the end. I was able to get in the pool at Bally’s a couple times for drilling then I showed up one day @ 5:30AM and BAM.. “pool closed indefinitely.” Since I didn’t child rate this blog, I won’t share my expletives.

I’ve been trying to figure out what to do and how to swim. This of course has also de-railed my training. I fell into this routine of going on certain days, but now that I have to figure out a contingency, it’s SO easy to just skip it. Then, on top of that, I landed a 2 week migraine, sinus infection and ear infection. This resulted in my motivation just plummeting!

My brain keeps telling me “go find another pool”, but my body says “ooh, just one more day on the couch and you’ll feel better.”

The dive shop pool opens April 10, but I’m 7 weeks away from my first race (May 9). I know myself and I know that I need to have the pool, bikes and weights all incorporated into my workouts. I suppose I could swim in 50 degree water, but I like having blood in my extremities.

I learned a big lesson in all of this, I totally counted on my membership to Bally’s but you never know! I learned to have a contingency plan- BEFORE the breakdown! I waited until yesterday to start looking at my contingencies. I found out I could swim with a friend at a local college. I also am going on a business trip and I specifically sought out a hotel with a lap pool.

Hopefully when I get there Sunday, I don’t forget how to swim.

I smell like Chlorine!

I’m assuming most people that read this know me, but for those that don’t, I’m also a divemaster and I tend to smell like chlorine from May – Sep. I work with classes and I can just never get the smell out of my hair or my SKIN. This year, I’ve entered into the chlorine zone earlier than usual! I do try to explain this to at least the women in my dive classes. First, be sure to use special pool shampoo – the chemicals dry your hair, not to mention if you’re blond, you can turn GREEN!!! The second thing is that it just destroys your bathing suits. I totally make fun of “kids today” (yea I’m old) for wearing their pants around their butts, but I feel like my bathing suits end up there very quickly because the elastic lasts about 8 weeks tops!

The worst though, is that I CANNOT get the smell of chlorine out of my skin. I can scrub and scrub and its still there. UGH!

BUT – onto the good news. TI (Total Immersion) swimming is going well. We had another lesson on Sunday but it was another 2.5 hrs in the pool with not a lot of strong activity. People forget that you CAN get hypothermic in 90 degree water.

We spent the time learning and drilling. I’m still at the stage where I am thinking WAY too much.

• Where is my hip?
• Where is my arm?
• Is my outward arm at the right angle?
• Is my head facing down?
• Is my other arm coming up and switching properly?
• Are my arms in the wide track?
• Are my hips stacked or are they at 45 degree angle?
• Is my body streamlined?
• Am I kicking from my knees or hips?
• Am I breathing?
• Am I letting my hip FALL?
• Am I shoving my shoulder down (like I’m not supposed to)?
• What stroke number am I on?
• Am I going to kick Alexis in the head?
• Am I going to run my head into the wall?
• Am I going to get a snout full of water?

THANK GOODNESS I don’t really have problems breathing while swimming, I swear I was a fish or sea turtle in a prior life I don’t want to have to consider trying to add that to what I have to think about.

We did a 1.25 hr spin class followed by drilling in the pool today. I did about 1000 yards of straight drills. I think I did about 500-800 yards on Thursday (I didn’t count).

I’ll stay out of the water tomorrow and will get back in to freshen up my ode-de-pool on Tuesday!

Glycogen Depletion

I've spent many years pretending to go to the gym, or other activities and when it gets really tough I make up some excuse as to why I need to stop.

"My knee hurts", "My foot hurts", "I'm tired", "I'm sore".. etc. I've always had those excuses, and when I felt that I was too tired to keep going I just stopped and said "good job." Well, I've hit this crazy wall and I know I can do better (see previous post about me not being satisfied).

I've had two workouts recently where I've actually reached glycogen depletion. It is the absolute weirdest thing. My brain says "GO, YOU ARE NOT DONE WITH YOUR WORKOUT" but my body says "NOPE - I'M DONE!!!"

I've always wondered what happened to marathon runners when they just collapse, I can't help but think "hey they did all that training, why don't they just get up and suck it up?" - Well.. now I know.

Well I learned that fully this week. Once you've depleted your glycogen levels there is NOTHING, I mean NOTHING left.

That's why nutrition is soooo important for endurance sports!!!

I'm glad I got to feel that sensation in a controlled setting!

Time For Coaching

I've been working with a personal training for several months now. I've been working on strength and burst cardio mostly. I've been spending time in the pool doing laps, as well as a few spin classes a week. typically I spend about 5-7 hrs a week at the gym.

My problem is I'm never satisfied! (my poor parents, and yes my poor husband - mind out of the gutter people)!!

A year ago if someone said I would be spending 5-7 hrs at the gym I would have told them that's nutz. Now I know that's just not enough time. Seriously how much is enough? If I did everything I "WANTED" to do, I swear I'd have to quit my job and just live at the gym. Time to step it up a bit though! Coaching here I come!

Saturday I went to a private Total Immersion (TI) swim lesson with Alexis. Now, I know how to swim. I have a consistent stroke, and I do "ok" in a race. I'm by NO MEANS fast! I knew going into this that I was going to have to re-think some things but HOLY COW..

For those that know TI, you'll give me the 'uh-huh' for those that don't - read up on it, its great! Apparently me being a diver is contra to my swimming. I do things underwater that are absolutely backwards of what is supposed to be done on the surface.

The one thing that's going to be so hard for me is to look down!! I look forward (yea I don't like to run into things and I want to see what's around me).. but head down will keep my momentum better.

So we got through a few drills, luckily my dive training has taught me to hold my breath for quite a while so I can actually get through longer drills this way. We got through 'fish' and 'skate'. I have to constantly think about where my head is and where my arm is. Then as I add a step to think about my rotation and again, WHERE my head is and where my ARM is.. UGH.. too much thinking for the pool!

The pool usually is my yoga, I zone out and can swim for miles in a totally zen state. I know this coaching is great and it will help me excel in the sport, but its so hard to stop and RE-LEARN. I just hope I can get back to that zen!

We have another lesson next Sat - 2 hrs in the pool. I actually can't wait. Then on the 20th I have a Chi-Running clinic. Hopefully my brain won't explode!

Therapy

My relationship with food needs some therapy!

yea short post, I know!

It's Mental

With the Olympics here, its a huge reminder of how much dedication a sport takes. I can't believe that I am here and I'm taking this step! I remember having several conversations about running. I said "OMG I would NEVER Run a marathon - the only time I would run is if someone's chasing me" - So what do I decide to set my sights on? run a marathon after I've completed a 2.4 mile swim and a 112 mile bike ride! I suppose technically "someone" will be chasing me most of the race.

For those that know me (who else would be reading my blog anyway?) - I'm seriously stubborn, bullheaded, headstrong, and you can tack on the nicer adjectives: perseverant & goal oriented. The more I talk about this, the more excited I get about it.

Thing is, I don't know if I can get my body to cooperate with my stubborn brain. Man I hope so!

I am very happy for my support group. John is a great sherpa, He told me I'm crazy; that he won't ever race with me; but he supports me and will drag my crap around to these early races :).

I'm also very happy to have a great support group of friends.

I feel like Samuel from NBC's Hero's. I really do need everyone to keep me motivated. Alexis, Anne, Jen, Nicole, Pauline for keeping me going to the gym(s) and racing with me. Kevin and maybe Alexis for embarking on this Ironman Journey, Rick & Jim for totally inspiring me last year with swimming and now watching you train for Ironman #2 - Lake Placid. Sean for being a crazy Ironman (15 and counting).. and Maureen for jumping on to do a marathon next year. It's really cool to mention events and have people join me :). Thank you everyone!!

Sorry today's post is a total ramble, but it really is very mental for me. Everyone's motivation really keeps me motivated.. keep it up everyone!!

Now, lets hope it warms up so we can GO OUT FOR A RIDE!

I rode the Daytona 500

I road the Daytona 500! - Well I tried anyway. John asked me to watch it with him, I'm a football and hockey girl NOT a race fan so I decided to make it "fun" for myself. I got on the trainer and 'rode' my bike through the race. Thank GOD for the DVR because there were so many pauses and 2 red flags while they re-paved the track!

I ended up with 3.5 hrs of time in the saddle on Sunday! Even though I didn't make it to the end of the race, I'm pretty happy with that number. I'm going to blame the fact that I didn't go the whole race sheer boredom! (sorry race fans).

I also discovered a new massage therapist who works at my Chiropractor's office. I spent 90 min with her yesterday, and let me tell you it was NOT a relaxing massage! I had a real deep tissue with lots of myofascial releases including pectorals and IT bands. I just wanted to jump out of my skin, but the knots are virtually gone today.

Its snowing today so I don't know if I will get to my spin class followed by the yogalattes class tonight, but I hope so!

Gadgets and Shoes!

I received my Garmin 305 heart rate monitor last night. Being the gadget and numbers geek that I am, I also purchased the foot pod and the cadence monitor for the bike. I can't wait to get started with it! BUT -- big BUT -- its sooo complicated! I consider myself a techie but when it comes to gadgets I become a stupid girl! I have to rely on John (my husband) to read the manual and tell me how to do it!

In other 'gadget' news - I'm on my way to the chiropractor today to get my Orthotic for my right shoe. I am torqued and have to see a chiro once a week because I continue to throw my body out of balance, hopefully the new Orthotic will help correct this! Once I'm fitted for this I can actually get a new pair of running shoes, and hopefully reduce the number of adjustments.

I had a hilarious incident with some chicken and my shoes, where I've NEEDED a new pair of shoes for about a month now but need the stupid orthotic to make sure it fits properly!


I had a great workout and stopped at to get a chicken salad bagel before my acupuncture treatment. Girl's gotta have her protein! I was still in the parking lot when my phone rang so I attempted to answer it. Half the sandwich was sitting on the seat and in the act of answering the phone I knocked it directly into my shoe (which was sitting on the floor) Chicken- Mayo-Onions and all!

As if that wasn't bad enough, I put down the half in my hand to remove the chicken from my shoe and proceeded to knock THAT half directly into the SAME shoe!

I laughed, but really, not so funny! It is making me get a new pair of shoes though ;)

Tri Coach?

I'm struggling with the need for a coach this early. I'm still working on my fundamentals. I have a great personal trainer (Nicole) that I work out with three times a week. We concentrate on weight training and overall muscle conditioning.

I also have an awesome support group for my swim, bike, and run workouts. I know I will eventually need a coach especially as we get closer to race season, but do I really need a Tri coach now?

I have so many questions going through my brain! UGH!

What is Fat??

So, I'm conflicted in calling this the "fat girls' journey. I am reading some incredible blogs of women who are much larger than I am!

I do want to say that I don't have an eating disorder, I just like food! I am technically obese! If you look at me, you would never say "fat." - Chubby maybe! but hey 36% body fat is WAY up there and in the danger zone!

I'm one that thinks that if you FEEL fat you should do something about it (unless you're one of those people who is 110 lbs/ 5'6" tall and continue to bitch that you are 'fat' because you have a wrinkle in your knee).

I have cellulite, the dreaded muffin top, and then some! I guess what I'm saying is that I'm going to continue to have this battle with weight and even though its not as dramatic as some of the blogs or stories that I've read......

I still feel that I'm an ironman athlete trying to escape from a fat-girls body!