The Pan Mass Challenge - Why I ride

I can't think of one person that hasn't been touched by Cancer. I always thought "well everyone is raising money for cancer, I'll keep my focus on other charities."   This year I decided to join a 192 mile ride across Massachusetts and raise over $5,000 for Cancer and here's my story!

The Pan Mass Challenge is an amazing charity that supports the Jimmy Fund. 100% of rider donations go directly to research.  I am in awe of this fact alone!.  This is one of the largest fundraisers in the country, and MANY people I know 'do' it.  Over the years, I've thought about it, but have always been extremely afraid because of the fundraising commitment.  Each rider doing the 2 day ride has to put down a credit card, pay $175 to enter and then whatever you don't raise out of $4200 is CHARGED to your card in October. That is SCARY!   I didn't think I knew enough people to ASK.  I'm not good as ASKING!? - so I never signed up.

This year, so many people I know and love were hit head on with this horrible disease.  I've lost many over the years as well, including my Godmother (aunt), Godfather (uncle), another uncle, maternal Grandmother, Maternal Grandfather, just to name my immediate family!  In September alone I sat praying for some inlaws, my best friend, THEN it hit me.  

I got a note from a friend at work, her 18 month old had a Brain tumor called Ependymoma (I still can't say it).  WHAT??  WHAT?? that is so not fair!  It's not fair for anyone, but a baby hasn't had a chance to experience ANYTHING yet.  A mother shouldn't have to deal with any of this.  I also understand how helpless the REST of us feel.  How can we help them? We know we only offer them our ear, shoulder to cry on,  prayers, understanding, love, and hope.  

I ride for the most awesome little girl Abby.

Abby had surgery when they found the tumor, The doctors were optimistic about Abby's progress, how she recovered after the surgery with no neurological deficits.  And her personality exploded!  After surgery, Abby received a lesser known radiation procedure using protons rather than photons.  This is something that patients are selected for on a 'case by case' basis because of the complexity and limited availability (there are only 9 centers in the entire country).  Unlike photon radiation, protons do not have an exit dose which makes it a preferred treatment for children under 3 with brain tumors. 

So far she's had 3 subsequent clean MRI's as well!  She and the family have a long road ahead, really for the rest of Abby's life, but she's doing GREAT.  It's research and fundraisers like the PMC that help continue amazing stories like this one! 

I asked Abby's mom Laurie if I could ride for her and she said well in her own words from her blog "She [laura] tells us that she feels honored that we are allowing her to share Abby with the world. I’ve [laurie] told her that I have no words to express my feelings for what she is about to do. We agreed that we’ll call it “even”.  Every time I think about it, I can't believe I'm riding FOR this amazing little girl!  She's hilarious, she's got a spirit and an attitude that well, I LOVE!

Deciding to ride was easy, then came getting my legs ready for 192 miles and FUNDRAISING! Abby's friends and family have been amazing.  Really this is her ride.  She may not be riding the 192 miles, but she certainly helped me with fundraising!

I started early, and I decided, due to my circle of friends that I would hold events that people would WANT to do.  I held a very successful spin-o-thon sponsored by: Golds Gym, Fish Window Cleaning, Subway Sandwiches, Adventure Boot Camp, Webster Massage Therapy, M&J Auto, Chi Running, RoadID, & Max Performance Triathlons.  That was quite the production to put on, but WELL worth it.  We raised $1600 in just this 3 hour event!  Everyone had an awesome time!  IF (I mean IF) I do this again, I will do most of my fundraising this way.

I joined a team, Phils Phriends, but I ride a tri-bike so I've been reluctant to train with them.  Cycling in a group is different than riding in a triathlon.  I was nervous about riding in a group, AND about fundraising.  Due to my genetic disorder (Ehlers Danlos) I won't ever ride in a real paceline, unfortunately.  I am just so comfortable riding in my aerobars.  My shoulders don't kill me and my back can handle the long rides, so I'm stuck toughing it out 'myself.'  Plus, 'road cyclists' don't like 'tri-geeks' very much.  I say too bad, they're missing out, we're awesome!  I will ride "next" to my friends and team and I'm sure we'll have an awesome time.  

I've had some amazing training rides, DESPITE my crazy summer!  Last Saturday was a long training ride.  My HR monitor said I burned 5,595 calories (NO WONDER I WAS READY TO EAT A COW)! Although I don't think that's right, I would guess it more around 2500 or 3000. 

We road 67 miles, with a max speed of 42.1 and unfortunately an avg mph of 11.  I'm slow. The elevation gain was 3,179.  

This is what the elevation looks like, I LOVE running down those hills! 

I have my last long training ride tomorrow, it is 80 miles. I can't wait.  I can't believe that I used to be so in awe that I would ride 12 miles.  I thought riding in an Olympic triathlon 26 miles was CRAZY.  Now, when I pass the 50 mile mark on the bike I feel great!  I think "BRING IT."  I guess its "runners high" except you can go LOTS faster.  I am enjoying this process, I am hearing about many stories along the way.  

The Webster Times featured me on the FRONT PAGE!  This has sparked some additional stories, people are coming out to tell me about their loved ones.  It took me a while, but I figured out how to ride for Abby, yet support everyone else's loved ones as well!  I have silicone bracelets and I will write "PMC 2011 - 192 miles in HONOR of (or in Memory of...)" for anyone donating $25 or more.  I will wear them for the whole race in true 80's fashion and will send them back to everyone after the race!  I think this is a pretty cool tribute to everyone!

We bought an HD helmet cam that I will be attaching to the bike.  So expect some cool video (or amusing?, this is ME we're talking about).  I will also have a SPOT GPS tracker. Abby's dad is a pilot and is lending me his GPS.  So if you "like" the TEAM BLUE EYES page, you will see the link to follow me!

Lastly, if you haven't donated and wish to, especially if you want a bracelet please go to my PMC site:

I look forward to writing more next week!

Stuck

Wow, it's been a while and BOY has it been quite the spring and summer!  I feel like if it can go wrong, it will!  The earth is going crazy, weather is insane!  I mean from blizzard snow to 100 degrees in New England for several days.  How can we not think we are in purgatory?

I do feel "stuck" though.  It's quite ironic, considering I have Ehlers Danlos and the main concern is that I'm VERY quishy and my bones are in a constant state of movement.  I'm stuck in my training, I'm stuck in my current plateau, I'm stuck with my current weight, I'm stuck with the speed of my bike, I'm stuck with the hours in the day, I'm stuck with work, I'm stuck with my car, etc.  I'm sure I'm not alone in this! 

There are parts of me that are NOT STUCK - my ribheads continue to have a mind of their own and that slows me down.  That and the dislocated shoulder were two of the things that kept me from doing my Half Ironman this year.  The event was very inspiring AND emotional.  I went anyway and saw my friends cross the finish line.  I wish I was doing it, but life had a different agenda for me!

As if the dislocations weren't enough my mom was in a bad accident in May.  Someone was texting and driving and hit her head on! 

People - DO NOT TEXT AND DRIVE!   - it's not worth it to put someone in the hospital (OR KILL THEM).  She's been in a rehab hospital for 2 months and counting with numerous broken limbs.  I tell ya, I'm afraid of cars while riding my bike, but I never even considered that one would cross the center line and hit me head on!  -- now I think different!  (GET YOUR ROADID). 

I haven't written and I feel bad about it.  So much has happened, but most of it icky news.  I went for a ride on Saturday and a thunderstorm was rolling in.  My friend said "eh will you melt?" I just said "HAVE YOU MET ME???" - I WOULD get struck by lightening, but would live to tell about and have some weird story.  So, we went a different way to avoid the storm.

On Sat we rode 67 miles, my longest ride ever and I hit my highest speed ever - 42mph!  It felt AWESOME!  I finally have my aerobars adjusted to where I need them.  They cut almost 2 inches back.  That is a gigantic adjustment!   Then on Sunday I was a swim angel for the Danskin Triathlon in Webster. 

I love being a swim angel / swim buddy!  You all have seen my post Oh yea that's why This is the best job at a triathlon!  The last two days have helped me get 'unstuck!'

I have 12 days until my Pan Mass Challenge - oh yea I haven't written about THAT yet either!  I'm riding 192 miles for an amazing cause!   I'm riding in honor of the most amazing 2 year old little girl who is battling brain cancer(and kicking Ass!).  The PMC is so awesome that 100% of rider donations go directly to the Jimmy Fund (no admin, not even credit card transaction fees)!! 

Visit Laura Backus's Paceline page at this link: http://www.pmc.org/profile/lb0212  to read more about my ride and to donate! I have a goal of $6400!

I will write more I promise!  I'm trying to find a helmet-cam so I can document the PMC in VIDEO!!  I'm already finding such inspiration in this event and I'm not even there yet! (anyone have one I can borrow?)

That's all for now!

A New Way to Adjust Your Shoulder

I know I said I was going to write about happy things and other people but I swear I can’t make this stuff up!  I have a bunch to say but I’ll keep today a little light, I think it's what I do best.  A bunch of things have happened over the last couple weeks and I swear I am that cartoon character Cathy, although my friend Alexis keeps calling me Murphy..

Over Memorial Day weekend John and I went to in Northern NY.  It is SO nice to ride there, not many cars and lots of pretty scenery!  I was very excited to go to camp this year to RIDE and RIDE and RIDE.  Mother nature had different agenda!  It POURED most of the weekend.  I had ONE nice day, so I ventured out on an (intended) long ride!  I stopped to take a picture of these very curious horses. 

After taking the picture I went to step on my pedal and just missed the clip and stumbled on the handle bar a little with my elbow and forearm then heard this disgusting pop in my shoulder.  Next thing I knew my shoulder was in my ear (no exaggeration).  Now good or bad thing, my EDS is what allowed it to dislocate so easy, but I could put it back easy enough too.  So I rode home, cursing!  

The next few days were pretty ugly, I was literally crooked.  I had to hold my arm up, but I'm pretty much made of jello so unless you really looked at me or I told you, you wouldn't have known.  I don't know why I didn't take a picture! I do for everything else! (as you will see in a minute).  I had the chiropractor and the massage therapist look at it and put it back.  The problem with a dislocation is mostly muscles and ligiments around it, when you dislocate you sprain and strain them. My EDS makes things a little weird so I can just 'hang' with it.

So guess what.. my Half Ironman is out this year :(.  I'm not counting on it being in next year either but you never know, crazier things have happened. 

I was a little nervous to get back on the bike, I wanted to rest it. I also had a family crisis (I'll write a separate post/public service announcement about here shortly).  So I didn't ride OR WORK OUT for almost 2 weeks!  YIKES! 

A couple friends decided to go for a ride on Sat. It was supposed to be nice and we were to meet up for a 30-50 mile ride on a bike path!  Sunshine, no cars,  etc.  Well... it poured.  I've never been so dirty, but that I have to say, was pretty fun.  I didn't enjoy cleaning my bike, but playing in the rain like a 10 year old was cool.

The first part of the ride was muddy, I was learning how to paceline!  This was a "treat" considering IT WAS RAINING!  I drank way too much of Michele's tire sludge!  But pacelining is also pretty cool.  I've never learned how to do this because in Triathlon, drafting is not legal, but in the Pan Mass Challenge it's perfectly legal. There's no way I'm going to survive 192 miles without it!

The ride was flat, wet, dirty, and pretty fun -up until Murphy took over..

We turned around in an area that was pretty, and I'm sure it would have been even better had the SUN made an appearance!

My shoulder started to really bother me around the halfway point so I told my two riding partners to just go on without me. I was REALLY slow, they were hesitant but I insisted.   The bike path crosses traffic in a few places, and in those places there are STOP SIGNS!  The key word here STOP. 

I approached one of the crossings, I saw a car so rather than "yield" I went to stop and pull my foot out of my cleat.  I don't know what happened, DIRT? STUPIDITY? but I just FELL OVER!  It was like a slow motion cartoon.  WWEEERRROOOOOPOOFFTTT  Complete with the bike flipping up in the air and my feet still attached.  The car stopped and was very concerned.  I could barely speak because I was laughing so hard.  Then I couldn't get EITHER of my feet out so I had to remove my shoes to get untangled from the bike!   There's nothing like falling over BY YOURSELF to make you feel so stupid, but MAN it was funny!

Then I realized "CRAP" I just fell on my dislocated shoulder!  I had no idea what would happen, I could move it, nothing appeared to be broken.  I had a little scratch on my thigh from landing on a stick, and I took a chunk out of my handle bar tape but that appeared to be it.  I thought I'd move on!

I started moving again and then see my two friends STANDING there, I thought "CRAP" did they WAIT FOR ME??? - nope flat tire, AND missing tools too!  (so all of you reading this? check your tool bag make sure you have everything you once thought you did). 

We rode for another couple of miles and ANOTHER FLAT!  Seriously?  I couldn't stop laughing.. REALLY??  So at this point my friend just stopped and had us come get him with the car.  When I eventually did get to him, his SHOE was stuck to the pedal!  Really, REALLY wasn't our day!

So, after the 30 mile ride, I get in the car and my leg was starting to hurt a little more.  I realized that maybe I hurt it?   Every day this bruise has turned a different color. It's along my IT band on my leg and is the craziest bruise I've ever had!



Now the most bizarre thing... I must have fallen in the most perfect spot, because my shoulder feels SO MUCH BETTER, I think I shoved it back in place by landing on it!  So who needs the chiropractor anymore, I guess I'll just go fall down next time!

A New Triathlete!

I've had an abundance of whiny  posts lately.  Yea, I want to explain to people some of the issues that we zebras face, but ya know what? That's not what this is all about!  It's about overcoming adversity, facing fears, attacking life full on and with a smile.  I met a woman at the King Pine Tri this weekend that just reminded me of all of these traits!  It was a good weekend!

The weekend was a different one for John and I.  We decided last minute to get away, do the tri again and go back to the LazyDogInn which is a bed and breakfast that caters to those of us with dogs.  This place just rules!  Last time we were there we had Gemini, so we were a little sad but within minutes Apollo made 3 new friends. Moe, Lilly, and Czar.  They played and played and played, he was not ready for the race the next day!  When the alarm went off, he actually stayed in bed!

The weather reports were iffy, I wasn't sure if the sun would come out or not.  Unfortunately NO would be the answer!  We arrived early, John and Apollo got a great spot for picture taking and I got into transition first!  Time flew by and soon it was time to put on the wetsuit and freeze to death.  57 degree water and no sun make for a pretty cold day!

I made my way down the pine needle path, luckily I remembered from last year, and wore booties!  I giggled at others who were doing the "ouch ouch ouch" dance!  I found the orange caps and bumped into a woman who I overheard say "eeh, I'm really nervous it's my first Tri."  I thought to myself "good gravy, this is a COLD @ss tri to be doing your FIRST one, not to mention it's in the MOUNTAINS.. YOU GO GIRL".. so I started talking to her.

You all know me.  I'm all about talking (yea you know you want to end it there).. I'm all about talking people off the swimming fear ledge.  Nothing to fear, just the same as training day, just more people! 

She then told me she just lost 100lbs and this was her treat to herself.  HOLY CRAP!  Again YOU GO GIRL!  Since I've started writing this blog, People have contacted me with some amazing stories like this, but Christina is the first woman I've met in person!  What an inspiration. You could see the pride in her eyes.  She just wanted this so bad, yet had this tingle of "fear", but it wasn't really fear in her eyes! I would say it was "fierce." 

My race was okay.  I thought about her, wondered where she was.  I figured she wasn't far from me.  The course is pretty hilly, it's in the MOUNTAINS.  But the nice thing is the downhills were very visible and you could GO GO GO, so I had some fun cranking 30+MPH and semi-imagining crashing.  I rounded the last turn and saw John (sitting in Poision Ivy so he told me later). 

Ok only 3.9 miles left to RUN.. ICK!  - not a 5K but I knew this, I did this race last year.  It is quite a nice run, through the cross country ski trails and around the lake.   The boy scouts manned the water stops, the little ones are so cute running out to you "Water? Vitamin Water? " - Don't forget to thank the volunteers at races!  The boy scouts just looked at me funny when I thanked them though.

Vince, the Chi Running Master is the race director so I was REALLY focusing on my chi running.  There were a few times that I really 'found it'  I was like "HEY THIS IS GREAT" only to look down at my Garmin and see that my pace was an 18 min mile HAHAHAH.. ok maybe I didn't find it!    For those of you who don't race, here's a secret.  Our AGE is listed on the back of our calf..... I say this because as I got further in the race, OLDER AND OLDER people kept passing me.  As I passed the last boyscout, this 74 year old man BLEW by me.  I'm not talking just "hey how ya doin" - I'm talking "EAT MY DUST" - -damn!  He won his age group.  (no one else in it though). Another awesome dude I must say!

I finally got back out to the street, crossed to the ski resort and the announcer had decided to stop announcing people.  That's one of the pretty annoying things about being 'close to last.' (that and they often pack up the 'free food' before you're done)... I crossed the finish line and got my medal.  I LOVE FINISHER MEDAL RACES!  I'm not a nicknack gal, but I really love the medals!

I then turned to the timing team and asked if #87 had made it yet.  I REALLY wanted to be a part of Christina's becoming a Triathlete.  They said "nope, but she's on her way." - they radio each other the last folks #s.. (yea they always have my #)!  The people there told me I was allowed to put her medal over her head for her!  Normally they just hand it to you, I figured I'd want this too!  WAY COOL!  VERY VERY cool actually!

I saw her coming in the shoot her friends erupted with emotion! She erupted with emotion, it was like those 100lbs were dropped right there!  She showed us all how strong she was.  Each step was stronger and stronger.  It was like a lion ready to pounce or something.  Closer and closer to the finish line... then one more step to  becoming a triathlete. 

I actually got to say to her "Congratulations Christina, you are now a TRIATHLETE."

Amazing Job Christina!  Just Amazing!

Look Out World!

Nothing is easy for me, never has been!  I guess that's my destiny!  It started when I was little. 

I'm a pain in the ass, I don't take no for an answer, and I don't let anything stand in the way of my goals or anything I think is "right."

I could write millions of examples but a few that stand out that embody my personality and perseverance.   When I was about 7, my brother was about 4 and one of the neighborhood bullies had put my brother's bike on the park fence so he couldn't get to it.  I went down there and took on this 15 year old!  I didn't care that he was twice my size and I clearly was in a no-win situation. I didn't care I was getting that bike down!  I think I kicked him in the shin and said get the bike down.  The kid probably laughed uncontrollably at this little 7 year old girl but he took the bike down. 

When I was about 11, I wanted a pair of Jordache jeans (yea this dates me).  My parents said no! This was not good enough for me, and I wasn't the stomp your feet kid.  So,  I went out, got a paper route and saved my money and got that pair of Jordache Jeans.  My parents thought I was crazy for spending my money on it, but I did it! 

When I was 14, I wanted a boat!  Yup, I said a BOAT!  So I got a job at a Marina (this was before they really cracked down on child labor laws).  I owned a 14 foot Starcraft Boat, and paid for a slip at a real marina at age FOURTEEN!  Just because I wanted one, I wanted to ski, and have my own place to hang out on the river!

That's just a little bit about how I don't let much stand in my way.  I don't care what's in my way, I will make it happen, from the examples above, to finding a way to go to college, to now dealing with my medical roadblocks!  As you've seen from my posts, the last few weeks have been REALLY hard!  It's also really hard to not give up!  I've wanted to just throw in the towel and say "fine I'm just going to sit on the couch and watch TV." 

Then I thought about it for 5 minutes.  That is not who I am!  I am still a giant pain in the ass!  "NO" is not in my vocabulary!  I am not going to let this EDS take any power from me.  It may flatten the physical me, I may have to work 10x harder than others at some points to do the exact same thing, but I have to think - well there's someone else out there that's working HARDER - SUCK IT UP! 

I often see Dick Hoyt pushing his son, I'm not working that hard!  The days I can't move my legs, I have to think "I have the power, use it, dig for it, find it.. kick it in the shin!" 

The days I think "I can't do this" - I have to think "SCREW YOU EDS - YOU CAN'T HAVE ME."

I love this song!   It was played in a spin class, but it has so much meaning to those fighting something!  If you're having a bad day, or just needing some personal inspiration, PLAY IT!  LISTEN TO THE WORDS!!!!

The other day I said to John "I don't know if it's a good for my body to do the Ironman" - he said "is it a good idea for ANYONE's BODY do to an Ironman?" - yea point taken!  I have no idea if I can finish the Half Ironman, but I'm going to start it.  It depends on the weather and what is going to be sucked out of me that week.  I am going to give it my all.  I'm going to GO until the time runs out! 

My success will be crossing 8 hours 30 minutes, not necessarily the "finish line."

Seriously, Look out World, I'm really on a mission now and you are NOT GOING TO STOP ME!

I'm a Triathlete and I have EDS!

Ehlers Danlos Syndrome Sucks!  There I said it!  I also feel the need to post today's blog to vent a little, but also to get some of my theories out there.  There seem to be NO common grounds in the medical world on what to do and what NOT to do regards to fitness.  First, I have to say that EDS peeps NEED to exercise.  If we let the muscles atrophy we will fall into a pile of mush!  Problem is, many physical therapist, physicians, etc dont know how to help us, or push a little to hard and actually HURT us.  Every movement in an EDS person must be purposeful and deliberate!  I will write a post one of these days with pictures of the exercises that I do!

I will eventually post an overview of my EDS pertinent workouts!  Here's the cliffs notes: Keep your body in line at all times!  It takes work to hold it there!  Never pull your head off the floor unless you are absolutely certain that you are not sheering your neck vertebra (that can cause migraines).  Also note I'm not a physician, just someone who has made this work!!

Get a bike that FITS, don't go to WalMart and get a Huffy! Spend the $$ and then go to a real bike store and get a bike fit.  It sounds stupid but it's the best money I've EVER spent.  Once I had the proper alignment  of my feet, knees, arms, head, etc it was like HEAVEN riding a bike.  Then when I added aerobars - WOW!    You will NOT touch the ground feet-flat, you will NOT reach the handle bars with your body upright, look at the guys that ride professionally, look at their form, its natural! After you get used to it, its AWESOME!

Same thing for Spin bikes.  Everyone thinks that you need to have your arms outstretched so it looks like you're reaching across a table, knees bent so you're banging yourself in the chest.  You don't, and honestly it will HURT YOU!, especially if you have EDS!  A few miles being 'out' of alignment and you'll be in pain.   You don't actually 'stand next to the seat and place it next to your hip' to get a height.   You measure it by looking at your foot and knee as they rotate through the crank.   Listen to the instructor!  I personally cannot ride a regular 'stationary' bike, or a 'schwinn' spin bike either, they don't let me get close enough.  Kaiser spin bikes RULE and can get me in perfect alignment!

For running, take a Chi Running class or clinic (I'm having one for charity in Worcester) - its amazing!  it teaches you how to focus your FORM so you don't stress the joints!  This can be transferable to LIFE as well, not just 'running' in competitions!  It helps me in walking as well!

For Swimming, I do Total Immersion Swimming, same concept as Chi-running.  I focus my form, everything is IN ALIGNMENT! (see a theme?).  

Anyway, I spend so much time training, and thinking and training!  It's hard not to get run down!  The past week has been pretty hard!  Really this winter has been very rough!  I have learned SO Much about EDS.  I'm trying to continue to be a positive role model and keep 'running.' 

I have lofty goals, but they aren't without their setbacks!  I didn't know what the heck it was before, as this is the first year I had an actual 'label'.   I go through phases where I train and train and train then all of a sudden I feel like I'm at square one.  I would think "oh I'm just fat and out of shape, I'm never going to get there."  I feel like something LITERALLY sucked all my energy out of my muscles.  Turns out that the weather does that to the EDSer!  It's not just the joints, but it's the muscle fatigue too and it's weather related!  The past winter has been particularly brutal, and this past week has been INSANE!  I have NO idea how I'm going to get through my Half Ironman in just a few weeks!  My joints and muscles have reverted.

I am as stubborn as they come (thank you for being born in December).  I am very Capricorn :).  Nothing can stop me.  I have my willpower, but my body may not cooperate with my "bullheadness."   I will try, but there's a time limit here, and I'm not about to HURT myself.

Being aware this year is a double edged sword!  Last year at the Cranberry Olympic Tri, I walked a good portion of the run.  I used a wide stride and I just killed the joint socket and couldn't walk for 2 days!  Now I know how bad it was on my joints to keep this very wide stride, and I will use my Chi Running form through the entire race!   

To all my Zebra Friends out there!  You have to have goals!  Stay in alignment!  You can exercise (the amount obviously depends on your current condition, but don't lose what  you have)!  Also don't lose the POWER you have, both mentally and physically! 

I've really struggled this week, but the one thing I've kept an eye on is that I am strong and I plan to keep it that way!

Bad @ss or Just Plain Crazy!

 
I had my first race of the season on Sunday.  It was not all I had hoped!  (Are they ever?).   Had my friends, trisherpa John, and it was even a nice day for a change.  But I should have known I was doomed when I ripped  a nail off to start the day!

We've had a BRUTAL winter, and the water never had a chance to warm up.  Although 58 degrees is much better than I hoped.  I had my skull cap, booties compliments of a friend, and a pretty cool heat pack thanks to my diving experience.  The water wasn't as bad I as I thought.  Everyone was freaking out, face freezing, etc.  I know better, I know that if you put your face in and just go, the burn goes away after about 15 seconds.  The hardest part about cold water races is losing your breath.  (See  Cohasset Tri blog post).

It was a deep water start and I didn't have time to get out to the far right like I usually do, so I just started on the inside.  BAD IDEA!  Normally I like to start front outside, so I can let people pass me and I can catch a draft.  Well, stupidly I started swimming, then swam up near someone's foot and caught her heel square in my NOSE!  John happened to catch the damn thing on camera!  I'm going to blame my pathetic swim time on this!  I told my mother I got kicked in the nose, she asked me if it was on the run !?!?!

 

So, swim over,  into the transition I go, no problem!    The booties were tough to get off but worth it, as my FEET were WARM! Nothing like last year!   I decided to just wear my shorts and put on a t shirt instead of my packed long pants and long shirt.  (I packed my transition bag for a long weekend)!  I also had to pee!  I decided against it, surly I could hold it!  Off I went.

For some reason the bike seemed to take FOREVER, I looked down at my odometer and I had gone 4 miles -- FOUR MEASLY MILES!  What the hell!?  I felt like someone put molasses on my tires!  I had this really cool fast bike and I'm going like Grandma (actually I think Grandma just passed me).
 
Also, I had made a mistake that I JUST WROTE about!  Never try anything new on race day.  I purchased a speed fill water bottle.  Of course being 5 feet tall and having the tiniest bike, the new bottle didn't fit with the standard holes, so we had to improvise putting it on my bike!  I never took it for a ride before the race, and needless to say, every time I hit even the slightest bump, it would make a big racket!   ANNOYING!!!!

Ugh, so I turn the final corner and see the last hill to the finish.  Turn in and I just KNOW I'm one of the last bikes in.  Oh well, what else is new?

I did a quick shoe switcharoo, decided not to eat any Gu, and decided I better Pee.  We were just discussing the Active.com article about 6 grossest things about at triathlons  and I wasn't about to do that.. so I hit the portapotty.  John was so confused that I ran past the "Run Out" - he thought it was so funny to take a pic of me going in.

I did end up Running 'most' of it.  I ran (by my standards) to the first water stop and had to STOP.  Here I realized I FORGOT TO PUT MY RACE NUMBER ON!  Duh!  How many races have I DONE?? oh well, I have it written in perm marker all over my body.  And I forgot to put body glide on my timing chip on my ankle so I was starting to chafe.  Lovely, I was going to get a blister.  I had to stop to switch ankles.  I walked for about .1 mile then started to "run" again.  I'm so slow it's pathetic but I got the job done.  I was really almost the end of the  pack. People were leaving (so what else is new). 

The last .4 miles or so is pretty, you run over this viaduct and over this tiny 1 person bridge.  I totally body checked this jerk.  I was OBVIOUSLY still running, this guy was moseying over the bridge with his chair and other spectator gear (in jeans) toward me.  I yelled out "I AM STILL RACING" to which he mumbled something and did not move, I wasn't sure what on earth he said, so I just body checked him out of my way.  He's lucky it wasn't 2 feet further down the bridge or his @ss would have been in the water.

The rest of the .4 was very positive, people are very encouraging (especially of the people at the end of the pack).  I think John was surprised to see me 'early.' Yup, I said early! My run was faster than normal!  I crossed the finish line, got my water and met up with my friends!  WOOHOO! One of which WON the newbie category.  She finished the race in 1:14 or something like that!

After standing there for a few minutes though, I had to go "relieve" myself behind a building.  Seriously?? that's the 2nd time that's happened too!  My friend Rick says that its "stressed stomach" - I ate exactly the same thing that I always eat, and I always work out at the crack of dawn.  Apparently you can get stressed stomach by working 'really hard.'  UGH!  yet another thing to overcome!

I have no idea how I'm going to get through a Half Ironman in 7 weeks if I can't get through a sprint without puking!   I feel like I have no business doing it!  I've had the most positive attitude about this, and take most things with humor and 'can do'; I also take this EDS crap with a grain of salt.   It wasn't until Sunday that I actually considered it a disability!   I've only had a label on it for about 8 months, but I've considered it a road block not a disability.   Kind of like a giant pot hole in the street.  I can go around it, sometimes I get stuck in it, sometimes I may lose a tire, but eh, it's just there.  Sunday  made me stop and take another look, can I do this?   I know you all will just tell me yes you can, but as more things on me fall out of place, (like Sunday my ankle just decided to turn left when I wanted it to turn right), I'm may have to re-evaluate this!

I know I will start it, but if I get to the finish line on foot, that's another story.- I will have a party that's for sure!

You Are What You Eat

"You Are What You Eat" is the most Cliche statement ever, but it's so true!  I've proved it over the last few weeks!

Recently, I wrote about my Food Intervention and how I finally turned a corner in my need to eat better to fuel my body. I've never really had 'bad' food habits, but I know they're not that great. I get really grossed out at TERRIBLE eating habits.  I can't stand it when I watch people eat a 'salad' loaded with fried chicken, blue cheese, buttered croutons, then turn to me and say "oh I had a healthy meal" !?!?!

I even had a chat with the guy that runs the cafeteria at work.  They have no healthy options.  I don't mean for them to go off the deep end, but his idea of healthy is a 1600 calorie portion of pasta, or a half sandwich and cup of soup OF ANY KIND?!- He even called me out in a newsletter saying I asked him to create healthy choices.  UGH! not those kinds!

I usually watch my portions and I'm conscience of my fat/calorie intake, but I'm not eating there anymore.  

It wasn't until I really stepped up my workouts that I finally realized how much food is a part of my fuel. Many of my friends wanted to give me books about nutrition (don't feel guilty if you were one of these friends, I assure you there was more than one). Thing is, I KNOW, but I didn't WANT to!  I loved my carbs (see the food intervention post).

Anyway, about 3 weeks ago I decided I couldn't do it anymore. I had to make a switch. I started packing my lunch.  I made that smoothie in the AM, had the fresh fruit, cheese, fresh cut veggies, triscuits,whole grain turkey sand, etc.  And I have the NUMBERS to prove the efficiency!

I go to a spin class MWF that has a power meter and level gauge.  I'm not telling my 'numbers' for fear of embarrassment, but when I started I was pretty bad.  After building some strength I increased about 10%. Then when I changed my diet, my power and sustained level increased 25%.. yes 25%!!!  I tend to slack on the weekends, as it's expensive and a pain to make all the healthy food.  I noticed that Mondays I was about 5-10% weaker than on Wednesdays!

I'm starting to feel more and more guilty about eating crap (and by crap, I'm now thinking about the bowl of Panera Tomato SOUP I had last night)!  I know how it's going to slow me down, I know that the meal I chose didn't contain enough of a breakdown of protein and carbs, and it had way too much fat in it.  I don't like this guilt, but I guess it's putting me on my way to eating healthy all the time!

I do have more energy, although I can't say it makes me want to get up in the AM. I get up at 4:15AM so who "WANTS" to get up then??   I am more powerful though and the numbers show it!

Try New Things BEFORE Race Day!

I do live by this rule, but I thought I'd embarrass myself a little by a little TMI today to EMPHASIZE the fact that it's very important to never try anything new on race day (unless you're a glutton for punishment).

On race day, they give out free samples, so easy to want to just eat a new type of gel pack or energy bar, right? well I suggest not doing that unless you have an iron stomach, or don't care about that $80 race fee (or more depending on the race).  I have (or shall I say HAD) a slight sensitivity to whey protein.  Over the last couple of years, I noticed that I could eat or drink protein drinks that had whey in it, in concentrate but it would  bother me a little.

True to my word, I am in training now. Two weeks ago, I grabbed one of my favorite pre-made shakes and had it. I wanted to test how I would react to the whey!  Let me tell you.. 12 STRAIGHT HOURS of chest-strangling hand-on-the-phone ready to call 911 allergic reaction!  I missed my entire workout, and I was worthless for the next day's workout!  I developed a FULL ON allergy to the stuff!  I really have to watch the labels!  This is something you DO NOT want to do on race day!  missing 1.5 days of training, eh.. sucks, but missing a race, no thank you!

People are usually good about SHOES or BIKES for race day.  Not too many people would think about wearing brand new sneakers or riding a brand new bike for the first time on race day, BUT many people get that spiffy new shirt in the goody bag and think "ooh I'll wear this." 

Two years ago I received one of those cool 'tech' fitted shirts at a race.  I am not a 'normal' size, so of course it was tight in the chest and arms, but I wore it anyway because it looked pretty cool!  Well, 2 miles into the run I could feel the skin falling off of my arm!    With every step I felt another layer shave off the inside of my arm, then as you add sweat and salt, OUCH!!!   Now, had I actually WORN this shirt in practice I would have known it didn't fit properly and known not to wear it during a race.  All I could think about for the ENTIRE run was how bad my arms hurt.  Many of you know about Body Glide or Shammy Butter - this stuff is AWESOME - put it in your bag and keep it there (but dont leave it in your car, it melts).   I now lube up my arms so this never happens again, I also KNOW my gear before a race!

Then, the reason for my post today, and the TMI part!  Who thinks that you should TRAIN WITH a new shorts configuration before you use them in a race? well.. you should!

I normally have no problem with bike shorts.  I do not need padded bike shorts unless the ride is more than 30-40 miles.  Knowing this, and knowing that I have a Half Ironman (56 mile bike ride) coming up, I decided that I should start trying out some new things with 'longer' rides.   I normally race sprints with  spandex compression shorts (no pad).  I thought, what if I had the compressions shorts on and after my swim just put the bike shorts on over top? ...

SO!.. I began a two hour spin class (thank you mother nature for a miserable cold rainy day).  One hour in, I realized just HOW BAD of an idea this was.  I will leave most of this to your imagination, but see the paragraph above where I talked about my arm and the shirt?? Well now I have this problem with the SHORTS! 

As they switched instructors I got off the bike quickly and removed the bike shorts, but damage was already done.  The 2nd hour was pure torture.  The spin bikes at this particular gym are a little too big for me and make my shoulder fall out, so I had both ends making me miserable.

I just could NOT WAIT to get off the bike and get to the run (WAIT, did LAURA JUST SAY THAT????)   For those of you new to my blog, I HATE RUNNING.  I am not built to run, not even in the slightest!  I am top heavy, my bones fall out of place and my IT bands are wound so tight you could use them for archery practice!  BUT I love Triathlon and its the 3rd sport in it so its part of the game!

I was doing a brick workout (which is a bike immediately followed by a run), so I got off the bike wiped it down, quickly changed shoes and went to the treadmills only to be blockaided by this jerk er I mean employee "hey are you going to workout.?" -- Mind you I was red faced, dripping with sweat, I imagine I was already walking funny.. seriously?? he gave me a bunch of crap about my BAG.. and made me take it to the locker room ( I wish there were signs I would have done that before hand), so much for my transition! 

I got back downstairs, onto the dreadmilll and started my run. 

30 min to go in my brick and I would be done!  I started and I found my CHI RUN!  Haven't felt it in a LONG TIME!  I can't believe something was actually going right today!  Normally when I "RUN" I walk/run/walk/run. BUT Today I RAN!  I RAN 25% further than I normally do, and I didn't HATE it :).

Then, as I looked out over the rainy gloomy forest  this giant Turkey moseyed up the hill past the large window in front of all of us!  I think it summed up my day!

I survived!  I'm glad this wasn't a race day, and it really shows the importance of trying ANYTHING new, seriously even new SOCKS on a training day not RACE day!

Food Intervention!

I've finally hit that "wall."  I've watched "The Biggest Loser" for years and heard them say, "oh I now am disgusted at what I used to eat." I was jealous, as I wished I was disgusted at what I wanted to eat!  I don't eat 'terrible' food, but I know it's not the best!  A while ago, I posted a "my relationship with food needs therapy" post, well it does!  I have fully admitted it!  Not until recently did I realize how much it TRULY resembles addiction! 

I also watch the show "Intervention." Sure its for drugs and alcohol, but ya know what? food is just as bad!  I could NOT be hungry and just eat that Reese's peanut butter egg, just because it was there!  I LOVE Pizza. Beyond what anyone can comprehend, I can polish off a medium Domino's pizza with extra sauce no problem!  I love a good hand tossed fresh dough pizza even better.  I can't stop myself if I see it.  The warm cheese, the sauce, yummmm... seriously I think it makes me high just like heroine or alcohol makes an addict high.  I feel gross after, but it was damn good during the binge. (Yes people I let it digest).

I used to weigh myself faithfully every AM, this kept me in check and I was able to stay the same weight within a pound or two.  Over the last winter, I just stopped because I knew, I just KNEW.  This was something else I didn't understand from "The Biggest Loser" I always thought "how did you not know how much you WEIGH??"- well there's a point where you just don't want to know anymore." - I think I hit that this winter.  I'm almost 8% HEAVIER than when I started writing this blog - sad eh?  This winter was particularly brutal on me!  I'm 13 pounds heavier than the last time I tried to  squeeze into a wetsuit! (I have until May 8th to get into mine).

YIKES is all I have to say!  I have been getting up at 4:15 to get to my early AM spin class and work my tail off.  I have a half Ironman in less than 3 months!  Pushing my body to THIS limit has really reset my BODY and my brain is slowly catching up!    It's not really about the weight loss right now, it's about food addiction and how it makes me feel!   

My Brain wants to eat these things, I love carbs, I love a warm bagel and coffee in the AM.  But with all this working out, I feel like total crap if I eat this stuff.  I am listening to the likes of Dave Scott and pushing myself to my max at points but I can feel my body saying "hey lady, you can't do this if you try to fuel me on junk."  I can FEEL the pizza on my skin, it somehow oozes out and drags my legs down, pulls my butt down, pulls my hair, it just wants me to sit down and watch TV or take a nap.     

It is a battle that I have to face EVERY DAY!  Food is everywhere!  Especially bad food, or food that is in obscene quantities!  It's awful that in order to eat properly you have to go to extreme lengths!

 I spent about an hour yesterday cutting up fruit, veggies, portioning out some cheese, crackers, and writing stuff down so I would know how much protein, carbs, and calories I had to snack on for the day.  I have a "shake and take" smoothie maker.  I have been pre-making a protein shake at night with fruit, soy protein powder, granola, yogurt, and low cal juice.  It is a ton of work to make this happen!  No wonder half of America is fat, its easier to eat the junk!

I officially don't like skinny people this week, it's too easy for you (I'm kidding, just a little).  I really hope that I can get through the food addiction, (I'm sure I can)!  I have crossed that bridge of being disgusted by what I want to eat.  Sometimes I do 'eat it' because its just SO yummy. I know full well what its going to do to me though!  The really sad thing is I KNOW WHAT TO DO, I've known forever.  I've been on every diet, I could TEACH this class.  I bet many of us could.  Same with many addicts.  We know its bad, we know what its doing to us, the 'pull' to the other side is just so great.  Something has to 'snap.'

I think something just did.