Karma is a Bitch

I think a few of you may be with me on this one, so be warned...Mary, I'm talking to you.

I decided to run my long run (11miles) this morning in the rain. I did this not out of some sort of heightened desire to punish myself...I think training for the Ironman will be sufficient on that account. I did this because in Dover, DE in 2009, it is either raining or snowing. The rain was my window of good weather. Nevertheless, I was spurned on by the fact that a Runner's World article this month told me that I would feel 50 percent more hard-core if I ran in the rain than I would running that same course in the sunshine. I will get back to that later.

The 50-degree temperatures combined with the rain helped to melt some of the mountainous plow piles of snow overnight, thus opening up more road for me so that I could run without getting in the way of the drivers for whom that road is intended. I know my place. Typically, I run on the sidewalk when it is available, but it was part of the not-melted path this morning. On the up side, there was not a lot of traffic, and I was able to stay out of the white stuff (which has now become brownish-gray stuff) for the most part. There were a few large puddles, which is to be expected, and it was raining steadily, so keeping my feet or any other part of me dry was a lost cause from the beginning.

People have done a lot of stupid things to me while running over the years. There was the old, possibly homeless man in Saint Louis who used to spit at me while I ran down Lindell, near the Schnuck's. There have been too many people to count who honk or wave or yell something relatively profane. I will never understand the purpose of this as I have almost never asked any of them to stop their vehicles so I can comply with their requests. Nevertheless, this morning, the harassing behavior was taken to a new level. A large pickup truck (dark blue Chevy...The Heartbeat of America, if I'm not mistaken), swerved out of his perfectly good and open lane into a large, cold, dirty puddle in the adjacent lane just in time to wash a large amount of water over me a la Bridget Jones in one of those movies...except that I was not wearing a dress. Like I said, I was already wet, so I was not bothered by the water. I wasn't really bothered at all because I have no right to be bothered.

I have seen this happen to other unsuspecting people, and I have laughed. I have laughed a good, hearty laugh, and I have not thought twice about it because it is funny. I have never done that to anybody, nor would I...just want to make that clear. I have laughed in the same way that I have laughed when I have witnessed a person fall in the middle of an open area with nothing over which to trip because that is funny too. I have also fallen in that manner (Molly, I think you were there in Parkland that day...also, thanks for following! I like that I can give shout-outs to my followers!), and I know that people have laughed good, healthy laughs at me. Today, the wet chickens came home to roost, and all I can hope is that the Chevy driver and his passengers got a seriously good laugh at my expense and that a few other witnesses' days were brightened as well.

Happy Boxing Day to all and to all a happy Kwanzaa!

112 Miles, No Quads

A frustrating Monday of having to actually go to work was capped-off by a drive home filled with people in giant trucks with big exhausts driving like idiots. By "idiots" I mean people with less-than-average intelligence driving toys that overcompensate for other things that are lacking in their lives spinning their giant tires in a KFC parking lot. This is neither here nor there, but I had to vent. It is my blog (with one follower! Thanks Murph!), and I will do what I want. In any case, I need to return to a simpler time, like Saturday afternoon.

After a long morning of shoveling snow, doing Ab Ripper X, and riding my stationary bike in the basement, I settled in to watch the Ford Ironman World Championship 2009. I watch these races with a new appreciation now. I also watch with an eye for details. I look at how the athletes mount fluids on their bikes, how they transition to the bike from the swim, what kind of bikes they ride, and how the bike shoes are already attached to the cleats when they begin the ride. I will take pointers and tips wherever I can get them at this point, but this is not why I watch every year. I watch to see the stories of the age-groupers and the champions.


I watched to hear Rudy Garcia-Tolson and his mother tell his story. I was amazed, as a person and as a PT, that he could ride 112 miles using only his gluts. I was tired after just over an hour in my basement with quads, gluts, hamstrings, and every other muscle in both of my legs. He propelled himself only the with gluts and just missed the bike cutoff. I cried huge tears for him as he is comforted by Ironman volunteers.

Then there is Chrissie Wellington who has won the past 2 years. She seems to have a permanent smile on her face. I think I might have a huge smile on my face if I had the drive and ability to win three Ironman World Championships in a row. There is no doubt that she is working harder than anyone out there, but she makes it look as effortless at 140.6 miles of non-stop activity can look. She is truly amazing.

I like to think about the other 1800-or-so participants and their stories. I love that the course and the standard is the same for every last one of them, from the winners to those who miss the cuts on the swim, bike, or run. I can think of no other professional sport, apart from running, where amateurs compete on exactly the same surface as the best-of-the-best. It would be like your company softball team playing at Busch Stadium (or Fenway Park, if you like that sort of thing). Oh, and maybe you would be playing against Pujols and Ichiro.

Even three days later after a lot of shoveling and two semi-miserable days at work, I am inspired. I also feel honored and blessed beyond words that I have the opportunity to even attempt this feat. I may not make it past the swim cutoff. My legs might fail me on the bike. I have a feeling that if I make it to the run, I will be able to finish, but this may not be true either. Some of the greatest athletes in the world have gotten dehydrated on the bike or cramped up mid-run and not made it to the finish line. I may suffer the same fate. One thing I can guarantee is that I will keep moving toward that finish line until I cross it or they force me off the course.

On a Roll

I have now managed to complete an entry every day for the last three days! This is definitely a new record. As my work and home life continue to be full of holiday insanity, I am taking solace in the fact that my physical/exercise life is squared away.

I know what I will be doing for exercise every day of every week of every month from today until August 29, 2010. That is a plan and a deadline if ever there was one. Yahtzee!

Successful Success!

I have a program! I also have a phone date with Kayleen for tomorrow night! This week is really turning around.

The beginner Ironman training program is 20 weeks long and contains day-by-day workouts involving swimming and/or biking and/or running. This means that I will officially begin the training on April 11, 2010. I love a good deadline! I think the timing is perfect...1 week before Boston, so I will be in primo running shape. At first glance, the swimming is the most daunting which makes sense because I cannot recall the last time I actually completed a lap in a pool. Yesterday, that exact thought had my heart rate and blood pressure spiking. Today, I realize that I have just under 4 months to get in shape for the beginning phase of training! This is totally doable!

Never fear. In about 2 weeks, I will be completely freaking out again after I get in the YMCA pool for the first time, my goggles fill up with water, and I am gasping for air after 25 yards. Of this I am certain. For tonight, however, I will bask in the glow of my mini-success! Tomorrow morning, I will run 5 miles.

Argh...

None of those things I planned for last night actually happened this morning.

Actually, that is a lie. I did walk the dog, and now I am at work waiting for an update to install on my computer.

...and I'm Freaking Out A Tad!

So my 18-week training program for the Boston Marathon begins tomorrow. This is good news! I have a day-by-day program telling me exactly what I need to do. I have a specific mileage or tempo run or Yasso repeat workout every day from now until 4/19/2010. I find comfort in that. I know what I have to do, and I can do it.

Oh, how I wish that were the case for my newest insane endeavor. I have searched the Internet and sent out the beginnings of begging e-mails to those I know who have completed this task to no avail! I have been riding my bike more often (stationary trainer, but it still counts), but I have no real method to my madness. I have been trying to work in transitions to running after those bike rides, and that has actually gone rather well. I know that between now and August, I just need to increase the time and mileage. Simple, right? It would be simple if I just had a program. I don't care if it is the size of a telephone book filled with running/biking/swimming distances. I swear I will do it! I JUST NEED TO KNOW WHAT TO DO! Oh, and I need to start swimming. I do have a bit of a reprieve on that one because I am not joining the YMCA until January when there is no joining fee. Just because I spend what many might see as wasted money on marathons and triathlons does not mean that I am not fiscally conscious when it comes to most aspects of my life.

Deep breath...get a hold of yourself, G$! Work has been busy and help has been less than dependable. The weather has been reminiscent of the good ol' days in Graham, WA which, as I recall, were less than conducive to rational thinking at this time of year. It is the holiday season, and I fear that the shopping/cleaning/baking/happiness requirements therein are beginning to take their toll. What I need to do is regroup, refocus, and get my act together.

Tomorrow, I will wake up early and run my 3 miles and maybe lift a little bit. I will come home, shower, walk the dog, and get ready for work. I will spend whatever extra time I have in the morning doing one more Googling of Ironman training programs. I will send one more e-mail to each of my Ironman veteran contacts. I will also send another e-mail to the triathlon club which I have tried to contact threee times. Then I will go to work. After that, I will call Kayleen on the way home (see, Kayleen? I am making you part of my plan!), eat dinner, and check my e-mail for any responses. I am fully confident that by tomorrow evening, I will have at least the beginnings of a training program for Ironman Louisville 2010. If not, there may be another slightly panicked post on Tuesday.

For tonight, I am going to be proud that I got my Christmas cards completed with only a minor, possible corneal injury I still need stamps...add that to tomorrow's list. For now, I am going to take out my contact lenses, rinse off the glitter, and hit the sack.