With the new year upon us, I figured it was about time for me to put the finishing touches on my recap of my 2010 resolution before I start my next challenge for 2K11. It is 3 months and 2 days later, and I still remember every detail like it was yesterday. I realize this sounds ridiculous and a bit trite, but it is definitely true. In the midst of my excitement and apprehension, I tried my best to take in every second of my time in Louisville, from the expo to the welcome dinner to the race itself. In as much or little detail as I think is necessary, I will try to recap one of the greatest weekends of my life.
After a full day of work and a quick packing of the car, Neil and I were on our way to Louisville...after a pit stop in Maryland to drop Stella off with my parents for the week. Neil drove all night to get us in on Friday morning. As we pulled into the parking lot of the hotel, it was bike racks and in-shape people as far as the eye could see. It is so refreshing to be in the company of like-minded human beings who don't think you are completely insane for attempting the Ironman. After we got all checked in, we headed to the expo. Checking in was quite a process...waivers to be signed, swim caps to be marked, numbers and 42 gear bags to be picked up. Part of me missed the simpler times of rolling into a marathon expo, getting and bag and t-shirt, and being on your way. Nevertheless, after a quick trip ti the Ironman store for some commemorative stuff, we headed back to the hotel to try and make sens of all of the numbers and bags.
I was exaggerating when I said 42, but making sure everything was marked and set up right was quite an undertaking. This was not the time to rush or miss something. There was the number to be stuck on the bike, the one for the helmet, the one for me on the bike, the extra one for the run. My bike didn't have to be dropped off until Saturday, but I wanted to make sure I had everything situated a day ahead. I had the swim-to-bike transition bag, the bike-to-run transition bag, the special needs bags, and all I had to do was make sure everything was in the right bag and then check it another 18 times to make sure I wasn't messing anything up. Friday night was the welcome dinner, hosted by Mike Reilly, the voice of Ironman. The guy who is at the end of every race calling out the names of finishers and who hopefully would call my name 48 hours later told stories and recognized athletes. After a good meal and good conversation with other first-time IMers we headed back to the hotel for the night.
Saturday morning was the practice swim. Neil was bummed that it was only for participants, and I was a bit too. It would have been nice to have a friendly face in the Ohio River with me. Apart from some goggle trials at Rehoboth over the summer, the entirety of my swim training had been in the pool. When I got in the river, I had a moment of pure panic. My heart was racing, my breathing was irregular, and I was briefly convinced that there was no way I could possibly do this. Thankfully, I had the wherewithal to stop and tread water for a moment. I realized that I had worked too hard to let some jitters get the better of me. I got a good 10-15 minutes in the water, got my stroke back, and headed back to meet Neil who was waiting on the shore for me. We headed back to the hotel quickly to get our bikes and head for a spin on the course. Neil could come along this time, and I was thankful for that. We left from the hotel and headed to the course to get a quick ride in. Neil, with camera in hand, rode with me for about 30 minutes before it was time to get back to the room and get the bike and transition bags ready to be dropped off. We headed to the transition area where I was greeted by volunteers who made the drop-off process seamless.
This is a good time to comment on how incredible the volunteers were. The thank yous that I said to each and every volunteer with whom I came into contact seemed to be far less than appropriate as not one of the athletes could have even started the race without them. I wish I could remember every name, but I hope they all know just how much I appreciated their efforts, smiles, and hugs.
After dropping off my trusty if not fancy road bike with all of the other space-ship bikes, we headed back to the hotel to rest before heading to dinner. The place we randomly picked was delicious with a pasta buffet complete with delicious dessert options. On the way back to the hotel from dinner, I called Jank, my Ironman expert on call for my training. He was always positive and full of helpful tips throughout my training, and this phone call was no different. Among the many things he said, the one that stuck with me that night and throughout the next day was the best piece of advice anyone could have when attempting an Ironman, a marathon, or even a 5K..."Just keep moving forward." That would become my mantra for the next 24 hours. Just keep moving forward. After speaking to Jank, I talked to Jenn, my high school friend who would be driving in the next day with her husband Dave, their 3 girls, and her parents to cheer me on. We set up a few meeting details, and then I was off to bed. I say bed and not sleep because there was not a lot of sleeping involved.
What seemed like 10 minutes after I went to "sleep" my alarm went off, and it was time to hit the road...and water. Neil came with me to the transition to carry the pump so I could make sure my tires were all set and the water bottles were filled appropriately. I also had a few good luck charms to get situated so that I could maintain things exactly as I had during training. These included a necklace from Murph which I have worn for every race and long run since she gave it to me in 2009 and a bracelet from Carla containing an inspirational quote from our childhood. I never swim with my wedding ring on, but i never bike or run without it, so I slipped it over the straw of my aerobottle so I could slip it on before I headed out of T1. I was ready!
I walked from the transition to get in line for the swim start and get my number marked on my arms and legs. Fortunately, my number was everywhere else on my body and bike and cap, so the fact that I totally sweat off the permanent marker later in the day didn't matter. Neil met me and waited with me at the start until it was time to get it on. The sun was barely up when the Churchill Downs buglers played "My Old Kentucky Home" and the national anthem was performed and the professionals were off. Shortly after, the rest of us age groupers were herded towards the docks to enter the Ohio River.
Much like last summer when I went sky diving, there was no time to freak out on the dock because when the person before you jumped, you were ushered in next with hundreds of people on your heels. Once I was in the water, I had a flashback to the morning before and had a millisecond of panic before Jank's mantra got me centered and heading in the right direction. The swim went well, although I had no idea how fast I was moving. I had planned on 90 minutes for the 2.4 mile swim, so I was pleased when, after swimming around the small island and under the bridges and got to the stairs out of the water, my watch read 1:16 and change. I was off to the transition and 112 quick miles on the bike. Neil was just outside of the transition area cheering me on. he got a few pictures, I gave a quick wave, and away I went. I had told myself that if I could just get off the bike, I knew I could finish...here goed it.
Once out of the water, the predicted heat of the day made itself known quickly. I had long ago decided that I was not going to push it too hard on the bike. The weather was going to make sure that didn't happen. Once on the road, what would become a very familiar thing started happening. I was being passed. I just kept moving forward. Through the out-and-back with the ginormous hill, I just kept moving forward. I may have mentioned previously that there are no hills in Delaware, a small source of concern for me. Once I got out of the city, I became very well acquainted with how to go up and down hills. Big ones, smaller ones, bigger ones...they just kept on coming. Fortunately, as I rode through Lagrange where Neil, Jenn, Dave, and the rest of the Hoffman-Bastos clan were cheering me on, it was relatively flat, and I could pretend that I was killing it. There was no indication on my face as I cruised through that, on this first of two passes through Lagrange, I was nervous about my ability to handle the hills ahead. I told myself that, whatever happened, I would not get off my bike and walk it up any hill, no matter how daunting. Just after Lagrange, there would be an aid station, and I was getting low on water. Much to my and everyone else's chagrin, the next aid station had no water. You read correctly friends, no water. Fortunately, there were some kind people living nearby that were letting volunteers fill old water bottles with their hose. Also, there was ice in a bucket which I put in my water bottle. With the ninety-something degree heat, that melted in no time. After a few more hills, another pass through Lagrange complete with Neil, Jenn, and Dave (hereinafter referred to as NJD) a few more hills and another unexpected NJD sighting with about 10 miles to go, I had completed the bike! I glanced at my watch as the sun was beginning to get lower in the sky, and it was 4:10 PM. I had been passed by about 1000 riders since I got in the saddle, but I had made it to T2 before the cutoff. The bike had taken just over seven-and-a-half hours which left me with just under 8 hours to complete the marathon.
After a brief stop in transition to change socks and shoes, strap on my new number, and get slathered with more sunscreen, I was on the run. NJD were at the exit of T2 with some more kind words, and I got into my rhythm, prepared to see them again in about 7 miles. The marathon was a double out and back...my least favorite kind of running. I had plenty of time though, and I was hellbent on enjoying this marathon. There was an aid station every mile, and I told myself that I had to run between the stations and then walk through. I was feeling good, but I didn't want to get overzealous and burn out 15 miles in. So I just moved right along, saying hello to and chatting with volunteers and other runners. A few miles later, I had a surprise sighting of NJD! It was a great and unexpected pick-me-up, although I can say that at that point, I felt great! There was a nice guy in bright pink socks who had some kind words for me as he passed me on the bike. I approached him on he run, and tried to return the favor. He was taking a walk break as were many on the course. It was a hot day in Louisville...96 was the high I think. The hills and heat on the bike had taken their toll on everyone. However, a new trend was developing. As much as I had gotten passed on the bike, I was running past walkers on the run. My run a mile, walk 20 meters technique was working. NJD appeared again a few miles later, and I finally had to ask how they were doing it! They were worried that it was annoying, and I assured them that nothing could be further from the truth. Neil, Jenn, and Dave were truly the #1 Ironman cheerers that day. I know I told them more than once, but it made what was an unforgettable day even more enjoyable. Around mile 12, one of the volunteers asked me if I was finished. I told her that I would see her in about an hour and a half. As I finished the first half of the double out and back, a 68 year-old man passed me. He asked if I was almost finished. I told him that I had another trip around the block. He, on the other hand, was heading into the finisher chute. I wished him well, and he wished me the same. I just kept moving forward, and as I approached the aid station, I saw my lady, and told her I had come back for more of her chicken broth. I took a cup, gave her a wet thank-you hug, and headed to the finish. With 1 mile to go, I could hardly contain my emotions. I thought about my family and friends and how supportive they had all been. I didn't have to think about all of the people who didn't think I could do it. Instead I was thankful for everyone who encouraged me because they knew I could! With a quarter mile to go, I could hear the noise at the finish. When I reached the fork where I had to choose between heading on another out and back (no, thank you) and "Finish Line," I almost lost it. I was able to maintain, however, and I headed into the bright lights of the finish chute. On either side of me there were throngs of people cheering. I slapped a few high fives, but I can't totally remember what I did at the end of the 4:15 marathon when I crossed the line. There was definitely jumping up and down. What I do remember, very clearly, is what I heard as I finally stopped moving forward and paused:
"Gina Senkowski, from Dover , Delaware, for the first time in your life, you can call yourself and Ironman!"
Thirteen hours, twenty-one minutes, and fifty-seven seconds after I started, I had done it! Mike Reilly was calling me an Ironman! A nice volunteer named Judd clutched my arm as though he was worried that I might run off. He ushered me to get my finisher photo taken, where he briefly had to let go of me. He then gave me water and asked who I was meeting. I told him my husband was waiting outside the corral, thinking he would let me go. Instead, he escorted me with the same iron grip, until I was clearly in the company of a loved-one. I insisted that Judd and I have our picture taken together, gave him a hug, and bid him farewell. It was great to see Neil and to thank him for all of his support during the day and the months leading up to the Ironman. We met up with Jenn and Dave, and they were forced into sweaty hugs and a picture as well. They headed to pick up my bike for me and Neil and I headed back to the hotel. I grabbed a quick shower (best/most-needed shower ever!), and then we all met up again and headed to dinner. After all that exercise, surprisingly, I could barely eat. We headed back to the hotel, and I can honestly say that a bed has never felt so good. I didn't get much sleep that night, and I woke up the next morning smiling. I still couldn't (and still kind of don't) believe that I had actually done finished the 140.4 miles and that I was an Ironman!
It has been quite a year, 2010. I spent most of it training, but I made time for some other good fun as well. The week after the race, Neil and I traveled throughout the Midwest and visited some friends we hadn't seen in years as well as his family in Chicago. I ran the Marine Corps Marathon on Halloween, and I am taking a race hiatus for a while. Now I have a longer and somewhat scarier event to train for. The Marine Corps Marathon was the first marathon for Jermajesty Senkowski (working title/name for baby Senkowski). Yes, that's right, Neil and I are expecting our first baby at the end of May. I still plan to run as it keeps me sane, although I'm sure my patients will think I'm even more insane than they normally do. We may be moving back to the left coast sometime next year, so apparently 2K11 will be the year of change. Just keep moving forward, right?
Monday, August 30, 2010
Saturday, August 28, 2010
Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!
As I sit here in my hotel room in Louisville, having completed my last "training" swim/bike/run, my outward exterior is cool and collected. I have trained for this. I am ready for this...or as ready as I can be. The title of this post is how I feel inside. I am freaking out! Everyone else's bike looks like it is from outer space! How can I compete with them?!?! Deep breath, and I'm back.
This morning was the practice swim in the bathtub that is the Ohio River. Water temperatures are between 83 and 86 degrees which makes me feel like the swimming I did over the past two weeks in the small super-heated pool at the Y worth something. As I stood in line with everyone else waiting to get in, I couldn't keep from smiling. Who gets to do things like this? This is such an incredible opportunity. As I began to swim, I felt pretty good. I was taking it easy, warming up, and the water didn't instantly kill me. Then, out of the murk, there was a foot, and it totally threw me off. I had a mini panic attack and could not get my rhythm back. So I treaded water for about 10 seconds, took two deep breaths, and carried on. I got about 15-20 minutes in, and I feel confident that tomorrow I will leave the water (slightly later than I did at 8:32 this morning) and head to T!.
After the swim, Neil and I headed back to the hotel to grab our bikes and do a quick bike warm-up. My baby got some new shoes at Performance Bike in Rockville on Thursday, and they needed a little breaking in. Performance Bike in general has been so amazing throughout this process. They have answered questions and been so accommodating to a newbie biker. We headed out to River Road which is where the bike will start and finish tomorrow. It was amazing! The ride along the river will be a great start to the bike portion of the race. The more amazing this was to see all of the bikers! I wasn't worried about being seen by cars or being alone. There was definitely strength in numbers. I headed back to the hotel to go run, and Neil headed back out to bike train a bit more for his Olympic-distance tri in September.
I did a quick change and headed to the streets on foot. Armed with some serious pump-up music, I started out towards the waterfront. My random playlist provided me with great motivation. The best was "Burning Heart" from the Rocky IV soundtrack. The lyrics are totally appropriate. "It's you against you...In the warrior's code, there's no surrender. Though his body says stop, his spirit cries NEVER!" There were people out walking back from the practice swim, biking, and running. It is no incredible to be around this many people who are healthy and motivated. Tomorrow, we will all take to the river and roads for 140.6 miles of swimming/biking/running. Each person has a different motivation. Some are here to qualify for Kona, some are racing for charities, some because doctors once told them they couldn't do this. I am racing like 1347 other first-timers tomorrow. I am racing for three amazing charities. I am racing to know for myself that I can do this. Most importantly, I am racing for all of my family and friends who have supported me throughout this and many other endeavors. I may never be able to repay them for all they have done, but I will certainly try.
A'ight folks, this is it. It is 11:47 AM, and tomorrow I will be on the bike. 36 hours from now (give or take 00:12:59) I will be an Ironman.
This morning was the practice swim in the bathtub that is the Ohio River. Water temperatures are between 83 and 86 degrees which makes me feel like the swimming I did over the past two weeks in the small super-heated pool at the Y worth something. As I stood in line with everyone else waiting to get in, I couldn't keep from smiling. Who gets to do things like this? This is such an incredible opportunity. As I began to swim, I felt pretty good. I was taking it easy, warming up, and the water didn't instantly kill me. Then, out of the murk, there was a foot, and it totally threw me off. I had a mini panic attack and could not get my rhythm back. So I treaded water for about 10 seconds, took two deep breaths, and carried on. I got about 15-20 minutes in, and I feel confident that tomorrow I will leave the water (slightly later than I did at 8:32 this morning) and head to T!.
After the swim, Neil and I headed back to the hotel to grab our bikes and do a quick bike warm-up. My baby got some new shoes at Performance Bike in Rockville on Thursday, and they needed a little breaking in. Performance Bike in general has been so amazing throughout this process. They have answered questions and been so accommodating to a newbie biker. We headed out to River Road which is where the bike will start and finish tomorrow. It was amazing! The ride along the river will be a great start to the bike portion of the race. The more amazing this was to see all of the bikers! I wasn't worried about being seen by cars or being alone. There was definitely strength in numbers. I headed back to the hotel to go run, and Neil headed back out to bike train a bit more for his Olympic-distance tri in September.
I did a quick change and headed to the streets on foot. Armed with some serious pump-up music, I started out towards the waterfront. My random playlist provided me with great motivation. The best was "Burning Heart" from the Rocky IV soundtrack. The lyrics are totally appropriate. "It's you against you...In the warrior's code, there's no surrender. Though his body says stop, his spirit cries NEVER!" There were people out walking back from the practice swim, biking, and running. It is no incredible to be around this many people who are healthy and motivated. Tomorrow, we will all take to the river and roads for 140.6 miles of swimming/biking/running. Each person has a different motivation. Some are here to qualify for Kona, some are racing for charities, some because doctors once told them they couldn't do this. I am racing like 1347 other first-timers tomorrow. I am racing for three amazing charities. I am racing to know for myself that I can do this. Most importantly, I am racing for all of my family and friends who have supported me throughout this and many other endeavors. I may never be able to repay them for all they have done, but I will certainly try.
A'ight folks, this is it. It is 11:47 AM, and tomorrow I will be on the bike. 36 hours from now (give or take 00:12:59) I will be an Ironman.
Sunday, August 22, 2010
I'm So Excited!
Brett Favre is about to begin his first drive of the pre-season! Yes! (By "Yes!" I mean that in a few short weeks we will see if my prediction for BF is true...7 INTs last season will turn into 7 in the first 7 games of the season this year...used to love you man, but you broke my heart by being a raging narcissist), but I digress...
So I flipped to the last page of my Ironman training schedule, and I really can hardly believe that I am here! I think I actually have to do this now. One week to go...in fact, one week from now, I should be well into my marathon (and BF gets sacked...so sad). As of 8:25 pm, I am feeling excited and as ready as I think one can feel a week ahead of one's first Ironman. By the time I finish typing this, that excitement will have turned into massive anxiety. That has been the pattern of the past week or so. For example, I found out my bib number is 305 (excited), but then I read a thread on the iamtri.com Louisville group page and plunged into the deep fear that I need to set up camp Saturday morning to get a good place in line to start the swim (anxiety). I am, of course, exaggerating (or am I), but the earlier I start, the more time I have to finish. This time trial start is interesting, and as I see it, the sooner I get on the bike, the better. I am least comfortable with my biking ability, and any little cushion will help my mental state. I think if I just settle in on the swim, I will be fine, and I at least know what to expect from the marathon. The bike is my nemesis, and I will defeat it (just like BF got defeated on his first drive and is finished for the game).
I felt pretty good on my last 3-hour ride yesterday. My legs feel fresh-ish after a week of tapering, and I am fairly comfortable in the saddle. I know I am physically capable of riding the 112 miles, and I think the mental game is going to be the key. I talked with another Ironman finisher earlier this week, and he admitted to yawning at one point on the bike out of pure boredom. It is a long haul, and keeping a fresh head is going to be key! I have found on my long rides here that singing helps. I don't want to make my fellow participants suffer more than they have to, and I think the ears may be one of the few body parts that won't be sore after the IM. However, I have found that a playlist of church songs, Journey, Kanye West, Boston, the Rocky IV soundtrack, and Jay-Z keep me pretty keyed in to the task at hand. Apologies in advance to any age-groupers in the middle-ish of the pack who I may inadvertently serenade.
The hotel reservation is confirmed. My race-day clothes are folded and packed in the green Gap shopping bag that has been my race-day clothes bag since the Chicago Marathon in 2007. Dinner reservations are set for the night before the race. My obsessive 10-day forecast weather-checking has commenced. The Vikings have kicked a field goal...like they should have in the NFC championship last year if Favre hadn't thrown an interception. A'ight, enough railing on poor Brett Favre. I have an Ironman to finish!
So I flipped to the last page of my Ironman training schedule, and I really can hardly believe that I am here! I think I actually have to do this now. One week to go...in fact, one week from now, I should be well into my marathon (and BF gets sacked...so sad). As of 8:25 pm, I am feeling excited and as ready as I think one can feel a week ahead of one's first Ironman. By the time I finish typing this, that excitement will have turned into massive anxiety. That has been the pattern of the past week or so. For example, I found out my bib number is 305 (excited), but then I read a thread on the iamtri.com Louisville group page and plunged into the deep fear that I need to set up camp Saturday morning to get a good place in line to start the swim (anxiety). I am, of course, exaggerating (or am I), but the earlier I start, the more time I have to finish. This time trial start is interesting, and as I see it, the sooner I get on the bike, the better. I am least comfortable with my biking ability, and any little cushion will help my mental state. I think if I just settle in on the swim, I will be fine, and I at least know what to expect from the marathon. The bike is my nemesis, and I will defeat it (just like BF got defeated on his first drive and is finished for the game).
I felt pretty good on my last 3-hour ride yesterday. My legs feel fresh-ish after a week of tapering, and I am fairly comfortable in the saddle. I know I am physically capable of riding the 112 miles, and I think the mental game is going to be the key. I talked with another Ironman finisher earlier this week, and he admitted to yawning at one point on the bike out of pure boredom. It is a long haul, and keeping a fresh head is going to be key! I have found on my long rides here that singing helps. I don't want to make my fellow participants suffer more than they have to, and I think the ears may be one of the few body parts that won't be sore after the IM. However, I have found that a playlist of church songs, Journey, Kanye West, Boston, the Rocky IV soundtrack, and Jay-Z keep me pretty keyed in to the task at hand. Apologies in advance to any age-groupers in the middle-ish of the pack who I may inadvertently serenade.
The hotel reservation is confirmed. My race-day clothes are folded and packed in the green Gap shopping bag that has been my race-day clothes bag since the Chicago Marathon in 2007. Dinner reservations are set for the night before the race. My obsessive 10-day forecast weather-checking has commenced. The Vikings have kicked a field goal...like they should have in the NFC championship last year if Favre hadn't thrown an interception. A'ight, enough railing on poor Brett Favre. I have an Ironman to finish!
Sunday, August 1, 2010
I'm Getting Better! (click on this for a timely video)
Ford Ironman Louisville is 4 weeks from today. At this point on August 29, 2010, I will hopefully be running. Actually, I had better be running 2 minutes from now at the latest or my day will be over!
Well, I have officially survived the longest of my Ironman training workouts, and I'm not dead yet! I did a 20-mile run on Thursday, and yesterday I did a 6-hour bike ride! I covered 105 miles which has me feeling semi-competent. I do not expect to be able to maintain that kind of pace in Louisville given that there hills are rather hard to come by in The First State. I have been trying to tell myself that while I don't get the practice I need on the uphills, I also don't get the relief of the downhills. This thinking is flawed, and I will probably be cursing every uphill on the course...and maybe some of the downhills.
This week is a recovery week and then it is 3 weeks of tapering. I am a bit relieved because I will have a bit more time on my hands to do things like sleep and not be super irritable. At the same time, I know I will start to get nervous as I do every time I run a marathon. My endurance base has been built, for better or worse. Did I do enough? I am not sure. I think I have done enough to finish, which truthfully is my goal. I sure hope I did because I really don't know if I will ever do this again. People tend to roll their eyes when I say this, but Ironman training is no marathon training. This has been an all-consuming process, and I am grateful to have had the opportunity to go beyond the limits of what I thought I could do, both physically and mentally...but I digress.
I feel pretty good about the swim, if only I could decide what to wear. I am thinking swimsuit, but I am debating wearing tri-shorts and a tri-top to minimize changing. I am hopeful that I can relax in the water and not go too hard...it will be the beginning of a long day. The run will be what it will be. I will certainly not be trying to break any land speed records. If I have to run/walk, I will. I plan to treat the marathon of the IM as I treat the International Friendship run...minus the costume, of course.
I feel happy! I feel happy! Four weeks to go. I almost can't believe it.
Well, I have officially survived the longest of my Ironman training workouts, and I'm not dead yet! I did a 20-mile run on Thursday, and yesterday I did a 6-hour bike ride! I covered 105 miles which has me feeling semi-competent. I do not expect to be able to maintain that kind of pace in Louisville given that there hills are rather hard to come by in The First State. I have been trying to tell myself that while I don't get the practice I need on the uphills, I also don't get the relief of the downhills. This thinking is flawed, and I will probably be cursing every uphill on the course...and maybe some of the downhills.
This week is a recovery week and then it is 3 weeks of tapering. I am a bit relieved because I will have a bit more time on my hands to do things like sleep and not be super irritable. At the same time, I know I will start to get nervous as I do every time I run a marathon. My endurance base has been built, for better or worse. Did I do enough? I am not sure. I think I have done enough to finish, which truthfully is my goal. I sure hope I did because I really don't know if I will ever do this again. People tend to roll their eyes when I say this, but Ironman training is no marathon training. This has been an all-consuming process, and I am grateful to have had the opportunity to go beyond the limits of what I thought I could do, both physically and mentally...but I digress.
I feel pretty good about the swim, if only I could decide what to wear. I am thinking swimsuit, but I am debating wearing tri-shorts and a tri-top to minimize changing. I am hopeful that I can relax in the water and not go too hard...it will be the beginning of a long day. The run will be what it will be. I will certainly not be trying to break any land speed records. If I have to run/walk, I will. I plan to treat the marathon of the IM as I treat the International Friendship run...minus the costume, of course.
I feel happy! I feel happy! Four weeks to go. I almost can't believe it.
Thursday, July 22, 2010
A Few Thoughts
1.) I am a horrible blogger. After a nice long run/bike/swim, I would rather watch DVRd Top Chef than sit down and create a post...apologies to my hoard of 7 followers.
2.) I can't believe how difficult this training has been in every way. Physically, it has been a tremendous challenge. I have pushed myself harder than I ever have in training for a marathon. I have set my alarm for times even I think are ridiculous. I sit down at work at every opportunity, and those are few and far between. I get home, and I don't even want to eat because making a meal and consuming it uses more energy than I feel like I have at times. Neil has been a huge help when he is home, but next week he is going on a long-ish trip, and I am not sure how I am going to work/train/eat/walk the dog/clean the house and stay awake through it all. I swam more laps in a pool during my first session at the YMCA on January 2, 2010 (no joining fee!) than I had in my entire life up to that point. I have wrecked my bike and battled fear and anxiety to get back in the saddle. That brings me nicely to the mental/emotional challenges of this training. I continue to battle doubts that I can complete the training necessary to complete the Ironman distance. I have gone from feeling strong and confident after 4000 yards in the pool to suffering through the worst training run I can ever remember. I am still varying levels of terrified every time I climb on the bike to ride outside. The fear ranges from that of being hit by an unobservant driver. James Cracknell, an Olympic gold medalist, was hit by a truck whilst he rode through Arizona on a ride across America. His journey is being documented by The Discovery Channel. He was not being filmed at the time, but if this can happen to a seasoned veteran of distance cycling, it can certainly happen to me as I ride in a state filled with drivers from New Jersey...Mary, I know you can back me up on the sub-par skills of NJ motorists. I have never questioned whether or not I can finish a marathon, but this is a totally different animal. I know positive thinking is essential in any physical or mental undertaking, but a few doubts are normal, right? Nevertheless, I have put in the time, and I know that I will be as physically ready as I can be. I have 1 more long run (20 miles), and 2 more long bike rides (5.5 and 6 hours) before the recovery/taper begins. I can and will do this, and then I will enjoy a week of Midwest vacation after!
3.) As I look ahead into my last 10 days of hard-core, long-hour, high-mileage training, I realize that while training for Ironman Louisville has made me physically and mentally stronger than I have ever been in my life, it is making my job more difficult. I am not speaking about my ability to physically treat my patients, although some arms/legs/heads feel heavier than they might otherwise. The part that is difficult is not telling some of my less-than-compliant/fat/lazy/scheming patients to suck it up. This has always been a challenge to some degree, but I find myself screaming at these people in my mind. As a PT, I have always had a certain percentage of patients who drive me crazy with their lack of desire to get better. I don't know if it is central Delaware, which is lousy with pain management quacks and short on quality physicians. I don't know if it is a particularly difficult batch of clients in my caseload right now. I do know that I am becoming less tolerant of certain behaviors. When our company picks you up at your home, free of charge, at 1:30 PM, and you come to the door and say you can't make it because you just got up, I want to scream! When I am working with a patient who has 4 part-time jobs and still has time to fit in her PT because she needs to get better so she can work, and another patient won't schedule an appointment before 3 in case she is out too late partying the night before, I am less and less inclined to mince words when the latter of those two complains because she doesn't want to increase her time on the bike to 8 minutes! I try to use it as fuel for my workouts, but there are some days (like today) when my tongue is almost chewed-through out of restraint.
This post has been a major downer. Tomorrow is a new day (Friday!) with a run/swim in the morning. Saturday is a 5.5-hour bike ride, and Sunday, I am off which means a potential beach day! Life is good, and I am blessed to have the opportunity and ability to wear myself out. I will try to be more diligent and more upbeat from here on out...
2.) I can't believe how difficult this training has been in every way. Physically, it has been a tremendous challenge. I have pushed myself harder than I ever have in training for a marathon. I have set my alarm for times even I think are ridiculous. I sit down at work at every opportunity, and those are few and far between. I get home, and I don't even want to eat because making a meal and consuming it uses more energy than I feel like I have at times. Neil has been a huge help when he is home, but next week he is going on a long-ish trip, and I am not sure how I am going to work/train/eat/walk the dog/clean the house and stay awake through it all. I swam more laps in a pool during my first session at the YMCA on January 2, 2010 (no joining fee!) than I had in my entire life up to that point. I have wrecked my bike and battled fear and anxiety to get back in the saddle. That brings me nicely to the mental/emotional challenges of this training. I continue to battle doubts that I can complete the training necessary to complete the Ironman distance. I have gone from feeling strong and confident after 4000 yards in the pool to suffering through the worst training run I can ever remember. I am still varying levels of terrified every time I climb on the bike to ride outside. The fear ranges from that of being hit by an unobservant driver. James Cracknell, an Olympic gold medalist, was hit by a truck whilst he rode through Arizona on a ride across America. His journey is being documented by The Discovery Channel. He was not being filmed at the time, but if this can happen to a seasoned veteran of distance cycling, it can certainly happen to me as I ride in a state filled with drivers from New Jersey...Mary, I know you can back me up on the sub-par skills of NJ motorists. I have never questioned whether or not I can finish a marathon, but this is a totally different animal. I know positive thinking is essential in any physical or mental undertaking, but a few doubts are normal, right? Nevertheless, I have put in the time, and I know that I will be as physically ready as I can be. I have 1 more long run (20 miles), and 2 more long bike rides (5.5 and 6 hours) before the recovery/taper begins. I can and will do this, and then I will enjoy a week of Midwest vacation after!
3.) As I look ahead into my last 10 days of hard-core, long-hour, high-mileage training, I realize that while training for Ironman Louisville has made me physically and mentally stronger than I have ever been in my life, it is making my job more difficult. I am not speaking about my ability to physically treat my patients, although some arms/legs/heads feel heavier than they might otherwise. The part that is difficult is not telling some of my less-than-compliant/fat/lazy/scheming patients to suck it up. This has always been a challenge to some degree, but I find myself screaming at these people in my mind. As a PT, I have always had a certain percentage of patients who drive me crazy with their lack of desire to get better. I don't know if it is central Delaware, which is lousy with pain management quacks and short on quality physicians. I don't know if it is a particularly difficult batch of clients in my caseload right now. I do know that I am becoming less tolerant of certain behaviors. When our company picks you up at your home, free of charge, at 1:30 PM, and you come to the door and say you can't make it because you just got up, I want to scream! When I am working with a patient who has 4 part-time jobs and still has time to fit in her PT because she needs to get better so she can work, and another patient won't schedule an appointment before 3 in case she is out too late partying the night before, I am less and less inclined to mince words when the latter of those two complains because she doesn't want to increase her time on the bike to 8 minutes! I try to use it as fuel for my workouts, but there are some days (like today) when my tongue is almost chewed-through out of restraint.
This post has been a major downer. Tomorrow is a new day (Friday!) with a run/swim in the morning. Saturday is a 5.5-hour bike ride, and Sunday, I am off which means a potential beach day! Life is good, and I am blessed to have the opportunity and ability to wear myself out. I will try to be more diligent and more upbeat from here on out...
Friday, May 14, 2010
You Can't Stop My Go
Tomorrow is my first real ride on the actual road since my wreck in October. I have logged some serious time on the stationary trainer, and I know that I have the physical ability to ride my bike for a prolonged period of time. I am still a tad freaked out, but I can do this...if the NASCAR fans don't run me off the road.
Sunday, May 9, 2010
Winner, Winner, Chicken Dinner!
I have been involved in some form of athletics for just about my entire life. In this time, I have been a part of a few great teams, but I have never really won an individual athletic event. I take that back. I think I may have won a blue ribbon or two during field day at Fallsmead Elementary School back in the day. Well, my three followers, that all changed yesterday. I was the overall female winner at the Heritage Half Marathon on Dover AFB! Granted, there were a total of about 39 people running, and my time was nothing terribly spectacular, but nevertheless, I won!
I am not going to lie. I needed that. With Ironman training in full swing and work a semi-calamity as always, my nerves have been a bit of a wreck. The training hours are picking up, and there are days that my work hours and the hours of the pool/gym/daylight do not agree with the swim/bike/run schedule. Oh, yeah, and this is the worst allergy season in the history of time, and I have been getting short of breath just talking to my patients. It is awesome!
As I was saying, the hours are piling on, and the up side of that may be that i I am so sick of riding my bike in the basement that it may override my fear of riding my bike on the street. The paralyzing fear that I have of having to complete a 160-minute ride next weekend is, I think, going to be thwarted by the mind-numbing boredom that is the stationary trainer. Nascar is coming to Dover next weekend as well, and I figure that if I can survive a ride on roads filled with Dale Jr.-loving, RV-driving rednecks, I might just be able to do this!
I am also going to use this post to make another shameless plea to everyone to make donations to my three charities. It is, after all, my birthday month. In lieu of gifts or cards, I am urging my friends, loved-ones, and enemies to donate to either CAF, the MS Society, or City of Hope. In case you need the links again, here they are!
http://www.firstgiving.com/ginasenkowski1
http://www.firstgiving.com/ginasenkowski2
http://www.firstgiving.com/ginasenkowski3
I am not going to lie. I needed that. With Ironman training in full swing and work a semi-calamity as always, my nerves have been a bit of a wreck. The training hours are picking up, and there are days that my work hours and the hours of the pool/gym/daylight do not agree with the swim/bike/run schedule. Oh, yeah, and this is the worst allergy season in the history of time, and I have been getting short of breath just talking to my patients. It is awesome!
As I was saying, the hours are piling on, and the up side of that may be that i I am so sick of riding my bike in the basement that it may override my fear of riding my bike on the street. The paralyzing fear that I have of having to complete a 160-minute ride next weekend is, I think, going to be thwarted by the mind-numbing boredom that is the stationary trainer. Nascar is coming to Dover next weekend as well, and I figure that if I can survive a ride on roads filled with Dale Jr.-loving, RV-driving rednecks, I might just be able to do this!
I am also going to use this post to make another shameless plea to everyone to make donations to my three charities. It is, after all, my birthday month. In lieu of gifts or cards, I am urging my friends, loved-ones, and enemies to donate to either CAF, the MS Society, or City of Hope. In case you need the links again, here they are!
http://www.firstgiving.com/ginasenkowski1
http://www.firstgiving.com/ginasenkowski2
http://www.firstgiving.com/ginasenkowski3
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Wow I'm Tired/I Hate Halak
Four months from tomorrow, I will attempt (and finish) my first Ironman in Louisville, Kentucky. Until that time, I plan on spending almost every waking hour wishing I was asleep. I know this sounds awful, and maybe I am still recovering (read "fighting my body's desire to recover") from Boston, but I am exhausted. It may also be due to the fact that I am altering the recommended workout schedule to squeeze in a much needed weekend away for Kayleen's bachelorette weekend in Newburyport, MA (yipee!).
As I sit and type/complain, my legs are throbbing...not pain, just pulsating with fatigue. It actually feels pretty good except that I have to run 12 miles tomorrow. This week has just been busy. Sunday, I rode my stationary trainer for 2 hours while attempting to keep up with the Spinerval DVD on the IMKY course. Monday, I hit the bike again and opted for Turbojam over a short, low-effort run. Tuesday, I ran 7 miles and swam 3000 in the pool, worked all day, and then finished up with a cross-training workout at Bricks (the multisport training gym). If my quads weren't still mildly angry from the hills of Newton, I would swear the workout was particularly quad intensive. This morning was a swim-only day, and I have never been more excited to hit the pool. My arms were a tad (read "ridiculously") sore/tired from the lifting portion of the workout last night, but everything loosened up and felt better after the swim. Unfortunately, instead of going back to bed after that, I had to go to work where it became increasingly more difficult to stand/walk as the day progressed. I know my body is about finished when I can barely demonstrate a straight leg raise into abduction for a patient...good times. Tomorrow I have a 12 miler. Friday, I will be back on the trainer for a 2-hour spineroo before I drive to BWI to meet Kayleen for the flight to Boston!
As much as I loved the marathon, I am very much looking forward to traveling to New England for a weekend of relaxation and wine with the girls. Never fear, though. I have researched and found a YWCA in Newburyport where I can purchase a daily pass so I can get a swim and bike in before the wine/pampering/wine/Mexican food/yoga-fest begins. After this weekend, I have plans for 2 other weekends before IMKY. I will be in Philly on May 29th for the USA v Turkey in soccer. It is the final warm up game before Landon Donovan, et. al. head to South Africa to disappoint me in the World Cup. The weekend of June 19th will be spent with Murphy Lee, CC, and possible CHerm/WallaceC somewhere for gay/suburban vacation. Beyond that, the next four months will consist of training, working, eating, only-very-necessary housework, and, perhaps, a touch of sleep.
Tonight, it is Game 7. Halak is playing like a man posessed. Ovechkin/Backstrom/Semin/Anyone needs to score. Go Caps!
As I sit and type/complain, my legs are throbbing...not pain, just pulsating with fatigue. It actually feels pretty good except that I have to run 12 miles tomorrow. This week has just been busy. Sunday, I rode my stationary trainer for 2 hours while attempting to keep up with the Spinerval DVD on the IMKY course. Monday, I hit the bike again and opted for Turbojam over a short, low-effort run. Tuesday, I ran 7 miles and swam 3000 in the pool, worked all day, and then finished up with a cross-training workout at Bricks (the multisport training gym). If my quads weren't still mildly angry from the hills of Newton, I would swear the workout was particularly quad intensive. This morning was a swim-only day, and I have never been more excited to hit the pool. My arms were a tad (read "ridiculously") sore/tired from the lifting portion of the workout last night, but everything loosened up and felt better after the swim. Unfortunately, instead of going back to bed after that, I had to go to work where it became increasingly more difficult to stand/walk as the day progressed. I know my body is about finished when I can barely demonstrate a straight leg raise into abduction for a patient...good times. Tomorrow I have a 12 miler. Friday, I will be back on the trainer for a 2-hour spineroo before I drive to BWI to meet Kayleen for the flight to Boston!
As much as I loved the marathon, I am very much looking forward to traveling to New England for a weekend of relaxation and wine with the girls. Never fear, though. I have researched and found a YWCA in Newburyport where I can purchase a daily pass so I can get a swim and bike in before the wine/pampering/wine/Mexican food/yoga-fest begins. After this weekend, I have plans for 2 other weekends before IMKY. I will be in Philly on May 29th for the USA v Turkey in soccer. It is the final warm up game before Landon Donovan, et. al. head to South Africa to disappoint me in the World Cup. The weekend of June 19th will be spent with Murphy Lee, CC, and possible CHerm/WallaceC somewhere for gay/suburban vacation. Beyond that, the next four months will consist of training, working, eating, only-very-necessary housework, and, perhaps, a touch of sleep.
Tonight, it is Game 7. Halak is playing like a man posessed. Ovechkin/Backstrom/Semin/Anyone needs to score. Go Caps!
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
Not Marathon Training
As of yesterday at ~1:29 PM, I am not in training for a marathon for the first time in a while! Unfortunately, or fortunately, depending on whether I am sitting or trying to descend stairs, I am now in training solely for the Ironman! Yahoo!
Yesterday, I completed the 114th Boston Marathon in 3:22:16...not a PR, but I shaved almost 10 minutes off of last year's Boston time, so I am pretty pleased. It was a gorgeous day. To be fair, it was an almost perfect day, and I have a tiny sunburn to show for it! I am not a PR-monger. I drive a lot of other runner's crazy because when I hear questions like, "What time are you shooting for?" or "What pace do you run for your long training runs?" I don't really have a good answer. I don't wear a watch except on race days, and I rarely look at a clock before I leave the house for a run and/or when I get back. I do a little speed work, and stick to a primarily mileage-based training schedule, and that is fine by me. Actually, it is more than fine, it is the best!
What I will remember most about yesterday is seeing Team Hoyt and giving them a cheer, seeing Neil at the end of Heartbreak Hill when I thought my legs might actually stop working, the screams of the girls in Wellesley making it impossible not to smile, and the way I felt when I crossed the yellow and blue finish line and hugged a nice Greek man to celebrate our accomplishment. I got to run the Boston Marathon yesterday! I am so unbelievably blessed to have the health, ability, and opportunity to do these things!
Now, I am back in Delaware, and off to the gym to work the kinks out after the car ride home. I may even sample an ice bath tonight if I am feeling brave. Tomorrow it will be an early morning in the pool, and then I will be back to work. For the rest of today, I will wear my marathon jacket and my compression socks and savor my finish a tiny bit more.
Yesterday, I completed the 114th Boston Marathon in 3:22:16...not a PR, but I shaved almost 10 minutes off of last year's Boston time, so I am pretty pleased. It was a gorgeous day. To be fair, it was an almost perfect day, and I have a tiny sunburn to show for it! I am not a PR-monger. I drive a lot of other runner's crazy because when I hear questions like, "What time are you shooting for?" or "What pace do you run for your long training runs?" I don't really have a good answer. I don't wear a watch except on race days, and I rarely look at a clock before I leave the house for a run and/or when I get back. I do a little speed work, and stick to a primarily mileage-based training schedule, and that is fine by me. Actually, it is more than fine, it is the best!
What I will remember most about yesterday is seeing Team Hoyt and giving them a cheer, seeing Neil at the end of Heartbreak Hill when I thought my legs might actually stop working, the screams of the girls in Wellesley making it impossible not to smile, and the way I felt when I crossed the yellow and blue finish line and hugged a nice Greek man to celebrate our accomplishment. I got to run the Boston Marathon yesterday! I am so unbelievably blessed to have the health, ability, and opportunity to do these things!
Now, I am back in Delaware, and off to the gym to work the kinks out after the car ride home. I may even sample an ice bath tonight if I am feeling brave. Tomorrow it will be an early morning in the pool, and then I will be back to work. For the rest of today, I will wear my marathon jacket and my compression socks and savor my finish a tiny bit more.
Sunday, April 11, 2010
It's Official
My Ironman training has officially begun. I did my first swim workout on my 20-week training plan this morning, and it is on. The Boston Marathon is a week from tomorrow, so I am trying to find a balance between resting my legs and not totally bagging on the first week of the training program. We will see how it goes. I will be doing all of the bike workouts on the stationary trainer so as to avoid my typical pre-marathon injury...I am superstitious, but this is one pre-race tradition that I am looking to phase out.
Sunday, April 4, 2010
I Like A Good Healthy Fear
Although it may seem as though I gave up blogging for Lent, I assure you it was a mere coincidence. It is Easter Sunday, and I have already gone for a run, hit up sunrise service, gone grocery shopping, and taken the bike for a quick spin in the out-of-doors. Yes, that's right, outside! No more stationary trainer for me...at least not today. I will miss the almost intolerable boredom of riding in my basement, but training requires sacrifice. Today was the first time I have ridden the bike on the actual road since I took that spill back in October. By the time I recovered physically and got the bike fixed, the winter of everyone's discontent arrived and forced me to the concrete prison.
At this point, I must be honest. In the spirit of Easter renewal and resurrection, I decided today that it was time for me to get back in the saddle. I knew I would be nervous, but I was not prepared for the actual terror that I felt when I walked outside and started pedaling. I cannot recall a time when I have been so scared...not when I jumped out of an airplane, not when I ran my first marathon, and not when I used to run at 4 am through downtown Saint Louis. I felt nauseated, my hands were shaking, and I was fighting back tears. I had planned to ride to and through one of the nicer neighborhoods in Dover because the cherry blossoms and daffodils are in full bloom...and the streets there are actually paved well, and there is very little traffic. After overcoming the paralyzing fear, I decided to start slow and just go for a few spins around my neighborhood.
The good news is, I survived with no scrapes, cuts, or broken bones. Victory! I almost had myself convinced to head out of the comfort of Stone Ridge when remembered a vow I made in October that I would avoid high-risk activities with the possibility of significant injury in a two-week window of any major race or event. technically, Boston is two weeks from tomorrow, but I don't want to test fate. I am hopeful that when Neil gets home, we can go for a ride together which will make me feel slightly more comfortable...at least if he is in the country, someone will be here to recognize the symptoms of a possible slow brain bleed and drive me to the ER, should that be necessary.
In spite of the title of today's entry, I am not entirely sure if the nature and degree of fear I felt this morning was healthy or not. I am not sure if Dover has sports psychologists, but if the shaking and near-crying continues, I will need, at the very least, some sort of hypnotism or guided positive imagery. If not that, I will watch Office Space and really focus on the scene where the hypnotist dies in hopes that I can delve into a state of being neither terrified nor fearless but rather aloof and detached. This may be doubly beneficial in preventing me from wanting to throw my alarm clock across the room Monday through Friday at the thought of going to work.
All sarcasm aside, happy Easter everyone! Jesus was crucified that we may live, and He is risen! It is by the grace of God that I am alive and able to attempt to undertake these crazy shenanigans, and I am not worthy. I am blessed beyond all reason to have wonderful family and friends to support me, and I am unendingly thankful.
At this point, I must be honest. In the spirit of Easter renewal and resurrection, I decided today that it was time for me to get back in the saddle. I knew I would be nervous, but I was not prepared for the actual terror that I felt when I walked outside and started pedaling. I cannot recall a time when I have been so scared...not when I jumped out of an airplane, not when I ran my first marathon, and not when I used to run at 4 am through downtown Saint Louis. I felt nauseated, my hands were shaking, and I was fighting back tears. I had planned to ride to and through one of the nicer neighborhoods in Dover because the cherry blossoms and daffodils are in full bloom...and the streets there are actually paved well, and there is very little traffic. After overcoming the paralyzing fear, I decided to start slow and just go for a few spins around my neighborhood.
The good news is, I survived with no scrapes, cuts, or broken bones. Victory! I almost had myself convinced to head out of the comfort of Stone Ridge when remembered a vow I made in October that I would avoid high-risk activities with the possibility of significant injury in a two-week window of any major race or event. technically, Boston is two weeks from tomorrow, but I don't want to test fate. I am hopeful that when Neil gets home, we can go for a ride together which will make me feel slightly more comfortable...at least if he is in the country, someone will be here to recognize the symptoms of a possible slow brain bleed and drive me to the ER, should that be necessary.
In spite of the title of today's entry, I am not entirely sure if the nature and degree of fear I felt this morning was healthy or not. I am not sure if Dover has sports psychologists, but if the shaking and near-crying continues, I will need, at the very least, some sort of hypnotism or guided positive imagery. If not that, I will watch Office Space and really focus on the scene where the hypnotist dies in hopes that I can delve into a state of being neither terrified nor fearless but rather aloof and detached. This may be doubly beneficial in preventing me from wanting to throw my alarm clock across the room Monday through Friday at the thought of going to work.
All sarcasm aside, happy Easter everyone! Jesus was crucified that we may live, and He is risen! It is by the grace of God that I am alive and able to attempt to undertake these crazy shenanigans, and I am not worthy. I am blessed beyond all reason to have wonderful family and friends to support me, and I am unendingly thankful.
Sunday, March 7, 2010
Just Like The Biggest Loser...
...minus the massively overweight people, cameras, and possibility of winning $250K. Yesterday, I had my first crossfit-esque experience, and it was awesome! The jury is still out on whether it was awesomely great or awesomely agonizizng. I love a hard workout. Whenever I happen to catch an episode of "The Biggest Loser" I comment to myself/aloud to whoever it sitting nearby that I would love to go on that show. I just don't want to have to gain 350 pounds to get there.
The good news is that I think I just found the next best thing. There is a gym in Dover (yes, that's right, in Dover) that is associated with/part of a triathlon team. There are 2x/week group workouts that include spinning, plyometrics, weightlifting, running, basket-weaving, and stretching. Yesterday, there was a one-hour clinic on how to change a tire on a bike which was tremendously helpful. Bear in mind, I still know a tad more than nothing at all about bikes. The clinic was followed by a 1-hour interval workout that totally kicked my ass. I was sweating and hurting, and it was the best hour of my week!
Last week sucked. Work is the worst. I am constantly irritated. Until yesterday, I had not seem the sun from anywhere other than a window in approximately 4 days. I took a mental and emotional pounding unlike any I had in a great while. This workout was exactly what I needed. I am sore today every time I stand up, and occasionally when I am sitting and attempt to move my legs. I feel I should include the fact that I did my 12-mile long run for the week yesterday morning before the workout, so I am not a total wuss. Also, I was able to complete my 6 miles today and a light swim. The thing I loved about the workout is that it was tremendously challenging, but I could do it. I can see specifically how the horribly painful things we did will benefit my biking, running, and swimming. Also, it is nice to have a change of pace. As much as I enjoy my long runs alone, it is nice to get that extra motivation to not look like a weak, out-of-shape, lazy bum in front of a group of people. Yeah, that's right, fear of humiliation is a powerful force.
I am not sure exactly how I want to proceed. I think I will try to do one workout/week or every other week until Boston, and then kick it up a notch once my official Ironman training begins. Granted, I will now be working out a 3 gyms, but I will only be paying for 2 gyms (sliver lining). Plus, I continue to look for opportunities to meet people with whom I might be friends. All of my friends live other places, and while I love them, I think it would be nice to have a friend to go grab a drink with or go for a run with from time to time. I'm just saying. Until then, I am mostly excited for a physical pounding far beyond what I can do to myself. Seriously, what is wrong with me?
The good news is that I think I just found the next best thing. There is a gym in Dover (yes, that's right, in Dover) that is associated with/part of a triathlon team. There are 2x/week group workouts that include spinning, plyometrics, weightlifting, running, basket-weaving, and stretching. Yesterday, there was a one-hour clinic on how to change a tire on a bike which was tremendously helpful. Bear in mind, I still know a tad more than nothing at all about bikes. The clinic was followed by a 1-hour interval workout that totally kicked my ass. I was sweating and hurting, and it was the best hour of my week!
Last week sucked. Work is the worst. I am constantly irritated. Until yesterday, I had not seem the sun from anywhere other than a window in approximately 4 days. I took a mental and emotional pounding unlike any I had in a great while. This workout was exactly what I needed. I am sore today every time I stand up, and occasionally when I am sitting and attempt to move my legs. I feel I should include the fact that I did my 12-mile long run for the week yesterday morning before the workout, so I am not a total wuss. Also, I was able to complete my 6 miles today and a light swim. The thing I loved about the workout is that it was tremendously challenging, but I could do it. I can see specifically how the horribly painful things we did will benefit my biking, running, and swimming. Also, it is nice to have a change of pace. As much as I enjoy my long runs alone, it is nice to get that extra motivation to not look like a weak, out-of-shape, lazy bum in front of a group of people. Yeah, that's right, fear of humiliation is a powerful force.
I am not sure exactly how I want to proceed. I think I will try to do one workout/week or every other week until Boston, and then kick it up a notch once my official Ironman training begins. Granted, I will now be working out a 3 gyms, but I will only be paying for 2 gyms (sliver lining). Plus, I continue to look for opportunities to meet people with whom I might be friends. All of my friends live other places, and while I love them, I think it would be nice to have a friend to go grab a drink with or go for a run with from time to time. I'm just saying. Until then, I am mostly excited for a physical pounding far beyond what I can do to myself. Seriously, what is wrong with me?
Sunday, February 28, 2010
A Month Later
I've been a bad blogger. It has been a relatively uneventful month, but there have been some goings on. Here is the recap.
Just after my last post, I did indeed chop off about eleven inches of hair. I was a big girl, and I did not cry. I actually like the shorter hair. It definitely doesn't get tangled up when I swim or run, but I also had some issues when trying to figure out what to do with it in the way of pulling it back. For the first two weeks, I looked like an Eastern-European gymnast with clips and pins everywhere. Now it almost all fits back in a ponytail, and I look like an American again.
Beyond that, the Boston training is in full swing. I got my first 20-miler out of the way earlier this week, and it went surprisingly well. Oh yeah, I forgot! It has also snowed approximately 14 times in the last month making running outside treacherous and biking outside impossible. The shoveling made for a good arm and core workout. I have been trying to swim 3-4 times/week and get on the stationary trainer twice a week. It doesn't always happen, but I think I can up the bike/swim times on the lower mileage running weeks. The biggest swim development was that I swam a mile without stopping earlier this week! It actually felt pretty fantastic, and I think I could have done more.
I did a 4-mile run for Haiti last weekend in NYC which was nice. No major speediness, but it was for a good cause. The weather in NYC was amazing if not a tad cold. Central Park was pretty with snow on the ground, and I had a perfect NYC weekend overall. I have two comments about the race. First, as I walked to the start corrals, they were playing "Everybody Hurts" by REM. Now, I realize that this was a run to support the plight of those in Haiti who are suffering tremendously. I also think that we all knew that and playing a song that makes most people want to curl up in a deep depression was perhaps not the way to go. Second, they had some women/children (hard to tell which) sing the national anthem of Haiti with a keyboard accompaniment. It was a nice touch, but I could not help but notice that the singing was in a variety of different keys, and none of the singers was really keeping in time with the keyboard accompaniment. I have one foot in my hand basket as I say that if these people can't even sing their national anthem together, how is any amount of money donated going to help make Haiti a viable country.
So there you have it, the last month of my life in a few paragraphs...kinda sad. I am going to listen to REM and cry now.
Just after my last post, I did indeed chop off about eleven inches of hair. I was a big girl, and I did not cry. I actually like the shorter hair. It definitely doesn't get tangled up when I swim or run, but I also had some issues when trying to figure out what to do with it in the way of pulling it back. For the first two weeks, I looked like an Eastern-European gymnast with clips and pins everywhere. Now it almost all fits back in a ponytail, and I look like an American again.
Beyond that, the Boston training is in full swing. I got my first 20-miler out of the way earlier this week, and it went surprisingly well. Oh yeah, I forgot! It has also snowed approximately 14 times in the last month making running outside treacherous and biking outside impossible. The shoveling made for a good arm and core workout. I have been trying to swim 3-4 times/week and get on the stationary trainer twice a week. It doesn't always happen, but I think I can up the bike/swim times on the lower mileage running weeks. The biggest swim development was that I swam a mile without stopping earlier this week! It actually felt pretty fantastic, and I think I could have done more.
I did a 4-mile run for Haiti last weekend in NYC which was nice. No major speediness, but it was for a good cause. The weather in NYC was amazing if not a tad cold. Central Park was pretty with snow on the ground, and I had a perfect NYC weekend overall. I have two comments about the race. First, as I walked to the start corrals, they were playing "Everybody Hurts" by REM. Now, I realize that this was a run to support the plight of those in Haiti who are suffering tremendously. I also think that we all knew that and playing a song that makes most people want to curl up in a deep depression was perhaps not the way to go. Second, they had some women/children (hard to tell which) sing the national anthem of Haiti with a keyboard accompaniment. It was a nice touch, but I could not help but notice that the singing was in a variety of different keys, and none of the singers was really keeping in time with the keyboard accompaniment. I have one foot in my hand basket as I say that if these people can't even sing their national anthem together, how is any amount of money donated going to help make Haiti a viable country.
So there you have it, the last month of my life in a few paragraphs...kinda sad. I am going to listen to REM and cry now.
Sunday, January 24, 2010
That's It!
I am doing it next weekend. I have officially had it with my hair, and I am chopping it in 6 days.
Every time I run or swim, I have to spend 5-15 minutes combing tangles out of my hair (and yes, I do have a spray-in detangler which helps minimally). It is irritating, and hair ends up all over the place. Then I get in the shower, and more hair falls out in spite of my diligent deep conditioning routine. It gets stuck on the drain, and I have to fish it out to throw it away. It is gross even though it is my hair. When I get out of the shower, I shellac myself with aloe-infused baby oil (a must to prevent total chlorine dry-out), and somehow, more hair gets stuck to my hands and arms. I am amazed that I even have hair left to get tangled. Yesterday, I hit the wall. I called Seven Locks Barbershop, and I have an appointment with Sandy next Saturday at 1 PM.
I think that I am going to donate my hair to Pantene Beautiful Lengths. It is like Locks of Love, except that it also provides hair to adult women who are battling cancer. The other bonus is that they only require 8 inches as opposed to the 10-12 inches required by every other hair donation organization. I have to be realistic here. I am not sure how radical I will be feeling next weekend, and I want to keep my options open. I may lose all of my gusto, and just get 4-6 inches cut off to make my coiffure more manageable, but if I am going to cut it, I would rather it go to some use as opposed to being swept into a pile and thrown away.
I am fairly certain that I will immediately regret my decision as I come to the realization that I will actually have to do something to my hair each morning as opposed to the current regimen which includes combing it out after the shower and swiftly pulling it back into a low messy bun thing. As long as I can get it out of my face for work and running, I will be satisfied. I have six days to back out, but I think I am committed.
Every time I run or swim, I have to spend 5-15 minutes combing tangles out of my hair (and yes, I do have a spray-in detangler which helps minimally). It is irritating, and hair ends up all over the place. Then I get in the shower, and more hair falls out in spite of my diligent deep conditioning routine. It gets stuck on the drain, and I have to fish it out to throw it away. It is gross even though it is my hair. When I get out of the shower, I shellac myself with aloe-infused baby oil (a must to prevent total chlorine dry-out), and somehow, more hair gets stuck to my hands and arms. I am amazed that I even have hair left to get tangled. Yesterday, I hit the wall. I called Seven Locks Barbershop, and I have an appointment with Sandy next Saturday at 1 PM.
I think that I am going to donate my hair to Pantene Beautiful Lengths. It is like Locks of Love, except that it also provides hair to adult women who are battling cancer. The other bonus is that they only require 8 inches as opposed to the 10-12 inches required by every other hair donation organization. I have to be realistic here. I am not sure how radical I will be feeling next weekend, and I want to keep my options open. I may lose all of my gusto, and just get 4-6 inches cut off to make my coiffure more manageable, but if I am going to cut it, I would rather it go to some use as opposed to being swept into a pile and thrown away.
I am fairly certain that I will immediately regret my decision as I come to the realization that I will actually have to do something to my hair each morning as opposed to the current regimen which includes combing it out after the shower and swiftly pulling it back into a low messy bun thing. As long as I can get it out of my face for work and running, I will be satisfied. I have six days to back out, but I think I am committed.
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Sniff Sniff, No More
I have been having a small issue when I ride my bike on the stationary trainer in the basement. I tend to have sinus issues on a daily basis, and over the course of the day, I go through a facial tissue or two. No biggie, except that when I am riding the bike, I never have a tissue handy. I can only sniffle so much, and at a certain point, it is just not effective anymore. When it gets to that point, up to now, I have been using the sleeve of whatever shirt I might be wearing or the back side of my bike gloves. The gloves have fleece on the back. As far as I have been concerned, the only reason why there might be fleece on the back side of a glove is to wipe something (i.e.: sweat from forehead, snot from nose, etc.). I am going on record now as saying that I can think of nothing that would fall under the "etc." in the previous example list.
Well, today on the way to work, I saw something that may change the way I ride my bike forever. I was stopped at a light when I saw the man who always rides his bike to work...at least I assume he is going to work. This guy is intense, and I'm talking mailman intense. He has all sorts of gear for any type of weather, and I have come to look at him a somewhat of a bike expert. This is based on nothing except for the fact that he is the only other person I have ever seen doing any type of endurance activity in Dover. I take that back, but the only other bike rider I have seen is an old man, and he has one of those bikes where the seat is like a lounge chair. At any rate, I observe him keenly for the 5 seconds each day when he is in my line of sight for anything that might help me be a better biker. Today all that watching really paid dividends. He rounded the corner while I sat at a light, and I got a glimpse into a technique that is going to help me immensely...the snot rocket! I can only assume that this is standard practice for bike riders. It eliminates the need to carry tissues as well as the need to dispose of/stash in pockets said tissues after they are used. This has to be the answer to my dilemma.
Of course, I need to research this a tiny bit more, but I am hopeful. This doesn't solve the problem of what to do when I am on the stationary trainer in my basement, but for now, I am going with the old lady technique...tissues up the sleeve.
Well, today on the way to work, I saw something that may change the way I ride my bike forever. I was stopped at a light when I saw the man who always rides his bike to work...at least I assume he is going to work. This guy is intense, and I'm talking mailman intense. He has all sorts of gear for any type of weather, and I have come to look at him a somewhat of a bike expert. This is based on nothing except for the fact that he is the only other person I have ever seen doing any type of endurance activity in Dover. I take that back, but the only other bike rider I have seen is an old man, and he has one of those bikes where the seat is like a lounge chair. At any rate, I observe him keenly for the 5 seconds each day when he is in my line of sight for anything that might help me be a better biker. Today all that watching really paid dividends. He rounded the corner while I sat at a light, and I got a glimpse into a technique that is going to help me immensely...the snot rocket! I can only assume that this is standard practice for bike riders. It eliminates the need to carry tissues as well as the need to dispose of/stash in pockets said tissues after they are used. This has to be the answer to my dilemma.
Of course, I need to research this a tiny bit more, but I am hopeful. This doesn't solve the problem of what to do when I am on the stationary trainer in my basement, but for now, I am going with the old lady technique...tissues up the sleeve.
Sunday, January 17, 2010
Totally Unrelated
Not one of the four football games this weekend went the way I wanted it to...not one! First, K-Dub and the Cardinals got their asses handed to them by the Saints, but it's ok because I like Drew Brees. Then, the Ravens lost to the Colts, which is ok because I like the Sony commercials with Peyton Manning. Today, I was sure the Cowboys-Vikings game would be entertaining if nothing else, and that turned out to be yet another whupping. I am over Brett Favre, and while I certianly wasn't rooting for the Cowboys, I definitely wanted Favre to throw an intercetion of 5. Now, the Chargers are losing to the stupid Jets. Nate Kaeding has missed 3 field goals, and I swera, I think I could have made at least 2 of those. In addition to that, if I hear the CBS commentators say one more time that Mark Sanchez was sitting in the stands at this game last year, I am going to hang myself with my Snuggie.
In other news, I ran 14 miles yesterday in relatively gorgeous weather followed by a 1-mile swim. I also picked up some pretty sweet gear at the Nike Outlet. Today, it rained a cold, windy rain, and all I wanted to do was go to sleep. Instead, I ran a quick 7 miles on the treadmill at the gym and did a little light lifting since I will not have time for that tomorrow...and a San Diego touchdown! Come on! Tomorrow, it is back to the daily grind. I am going to break the streak of not getting my ass out of bed on Mondays, and I am going to get up, ride the bike, and run a quick 3 miles at the YMCA.
In other news, I ran 14 miles yesterday in relatively gorgeous weather followed by a 1-mile swim. I also picked up some pretty sweet gear at the Nike Outlet. Today, it rained a cold, windy rain, and all I wanted to do was go to sleep. Instead, I ran a quick 7 miles on the treadmill at the gym and did a little light lifting since I will not have time for that tomorrow...and a San Diego touchdown! Come on! Tomorrow, it is back to the daily grind. I am going to break the streak of not getting my ass out of bed on Mondays, and I am going to get up, ride the bike, and run a quick 3 miles at the YMCA.
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Good Day...Good Morning, Anyway.
It is 7pm on a Tuesday evening, and I am ready to hit the sack. On the down side, I feel like I am 65 years old. On the up side, I had the best morning! It was an early morning, but there was something awesome about the light dusting of snow and mine being the only set of footprints. These are the things that I get a lift out of these days. It was a chilly 22 degrees when I left the house, and, like a wuss, I broke out the hand warmers for inside my gloves. I have not been able to warm up since my run on Saturday, and so I allowed myself the luxury. I ran a lovely 7 miles and saw a total of 4 cars. It was like a dream!
I then drove to the YMCA, and took a little swim. I was able to swim 150 yards consecutively, and the only that kept me from going longer was a cramp in my left hand. I am encouraged by the fact that I am able to see improvements in my endurance after only 10 days of swimming.
If I could have then gone back to bed and skipped work, it would have been a perfect day.
I then drove to the YMCA, and took a little swim. I was able to swim 150 yards consecutively, and the only that kept me from going longer was a cramp in my left hand. I am encouraged by the fact that I am able to see improvements in my endurance after only 10 days of swimming.
If I could have then gone back to bed and skipped work, it would have been a perfect day.
Friday, January 8, 2010
Ironman of a Week
It is Friday evening, and the first full week of 2010 has come and gone...and it was the worst! Work was a total nightmare, and the cat coughed up a fur ball on my new Snuggie. In spite of my best efforts to start each day anew with the hope that it would be better, quite the opposite was true. Each day was more stressful and frustrating than the day before. Were it not for my training, the week would have been a total wash.
I swam on Tuesday and Thursday morning after completing my run on the treadmill at the YMCA. I am always nervous on my first day at a new gym. Morning gym people are particular, creatures of habit...I should know, I am one of those people. I run on the same treadmill at the base gym every morning. One day when I got a late start, I arrived to find someone else using my treadmill. Mind you, there were 18 open treadmills, but that one is MINE! I didn't want someone else looking at me and thinking the same things I thought about the poor woman who had inadvertently ruined my run that day by taking the mill in front of the TV with ESPN...and reading on her Kindle the entire time! What gives?! She should have been on the one in front of the infomercial TV, but I digress.
Back to the swimming. I am now the proud owner of a swim cap which saves me at least 20 minutes of post-swim hair combing. I do love the quiet of the water. There is no gym banter. There is no gym grandstanding. There is only swimming, and I love it! I am still no good at it, but I completed 2 of the workouts Neil gave me to begin getting me in shape to train. I didn't have to pull up gasping for air mid-lap, and my arms only felt like lead at the very end of my set. Good times.
This morning, I tried out my new bike shoes, and I must say that I enjoy the clip-in factor. I am definitely going to have to get used to how to clip in and out while in motion, but it is nice to not have to worry about my feet slipping off of the pedals whilst I ride. If it ever warms up/gets less windy/stops being icy/snowy, I look forward to riding outside again one day. I have yet to ride outside since I took my little spill in October, and I am looking forward to getting that first spin around the block out of the way and off my mind.
Running has always been a form of therapy for me. I can get out on the road, listen to Adam Carolla, and either solve or temporarily forget all of my problems. I must say that after my first week of combining my Boston Marathon training with a bit of swimming and biking, I think that I may really be on to something. I was worried that the newness of the other two disciplines might eliminate the therapeutic training effect, but it is quite the opposite. I like the variety, and I have to admit that I am starting to feel like a little bit of a bad ass.
I know that I lost my mojo after the Chicago Marathon. I had wrecked on the bike, and as a result of my rib dysfunction, I did not run as fast as I know I would have otherwise. I had to take it easy for a few weeks after Chicago. It rained/snowed a ton in November/December, and the holidays came and went before I really got to enjoy them. Between a bunch of crummy workouts, no lifting, Washingtonesque weather, and work stress, I think I had a touch of the SAD. However, the corner is in the process of being turned. Jersey Shore and Modern Family are back with new episodes, and I am not a completely incompetent swimmer. The sub-freezing temperatures are giving me the opportunity to try some of my new cold-weather gear for my outside runs, and I have an excuse to sleep in as I wait for the sun to come up. If I can just get through each work week without committing a felony assault on someone, I may just make it to Louisville.
Sunday, January 3, 2010
Neverending Gear
I love a good 3-day weekend. Unfortunately, this is the last one I will be getting for a while. It is somewhat depressing that I get Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Day right in a row, and now there is a drought until Memorial Day. As of tomorrow, it will be a long haul as I await my next paid holiday.
It will also be a long haul as I train for the Ironman. My Boston training has already begun, but April doesn't seem that far off. August, on the other hand, seems like a small lifetime from now. As I said yesterday (that's right, another 3-day streak!) I am thankful that I have some time to get myself ready for the daunting endeavor that I have laid out for myself.
This weekend felt good. Eight miles and a swim yesterday was a nice start to the year. I did a quick six miles today followed by some intense core training. I have laid off the core workouts and lifting over the past month or so and not really by choice. Work and life have taken time away from my workouts, and I am taking that time back as of tomorrow. I am going to go to bed earlier so that I can get up in time to complete my full workouts each day. I think it will make the stress of work more tolerable. I have never found that the extra 90 minutes of sleep when I ignore the first alarm makes me feel any better during the day. I just hope the gate guards are ready to search my car for terror at 0430 every day, although it will actually be more like every other day. I am going to try to run and swim on Tuesday and Thursday mornings when I don't have to be in to work until later. Mondays and Wednesdays will be running/lifting/core. Fridays are an off day on the marathon training, and I will use these for cross-training/biking and more lifting/core workouts. Weekends for now will still be geared towards my long runs with a swim in there on one of the days if I am feeling particularly motivated. Good plan, I think.
The only thing I didn't physically do this weekend was bike. I think the de-Christmasing of my house took the bike time and put it on the back burner. I always hate the taking down of Christmas decorations. It is the clear sign that the holidays are over, and I am always left feeling a tad down. My cure for that today was a trip to the bike shop. I have been riding in an old pair of running shoes when I ride thus far, and it has not been much of a problem. I figure, given my short but painful history on the bike, that it would be nice to get used to clipping in and out of real-deal bike shoes on the stationary trainer before I try to do it on the mean streets of Delaware. So, as of today, I officially have my first pair of road bike shoes! I didn't really know what I was looking for, but I think these will do for now. The cleats are attached, and they are ready to roll the next time I hop on the bike (probably Friday). I also got some other bike odds and ends, and I am now starting to realize just how much gear is involved in biking. I knew it would be the most gear-intensive of the three disciplines in the triathlon, but I definitely didn't fully comprehend the extent. Between the bike shoes, spare tires, triathlon handlebars, front-mounting water bottles, tire-repair kits, and pouches to hold the tire-repair kit I am definitely glad that we joined the rewards club at the bike shop.
In an effort to keep with my goal of taking back my workout time and not being totally exhausted/burned out, I am now going to hit the sack. Three miles tomorrow and a little light lifting before ten hours at the jobby job. I heart Mondays!
It will also be a long haul as I train for the Ironman. My Boston training has already begun, but April doesn't seem that far off. August, on the other hand, seems like a small lifetime from now. As I said yesterday (that's right, another 3-day streak!) I am thankful that I have some time to get myself ready for the daunting endeavor that I have laid out for myself.
This weekend felt good. Eight miles and a swim yesterday was a nice start to the year. I did a quick six miles today followed by some intense core training. I have laid off the core workouts and lifting over the past month or so and not really by choice. Work and life have taken time away from my workouts, and I am taking that time back as of tomorrow. I am going to go to bed earlier so that I can get up in time to complete my full workouts each day. I think it will make the stress of work more tolerable. I have never found that the extra 90 minutes of sleep when I ignore the first alarm makes me feel any better during the day. I just hope the gate guards are ready to search my car for terror at 0430 every day, although it will actually be more like every other day. I am going to try to run and swim on Tuesday and Thursday mornings when I don't have to be in to work until later. Mondays and Wednesdays will be running/lifting/core. Fridays are an off day on the marathon training, and I will use these for cross-training/biking and more lifting/core workouts. Weekends for now will still be geared towards my long runs with a swim in there on one of the days if I am feeling particularly motivated. Good plan, I think.
The only thing I didn't physically do this weekend was bike. I think the de-Christmasing of my house took the bike time and put it on the back burner. I always hate the taking down of Christmas decorations. It is the clear sign that the holidays are over, and I am always left feeling a tad down. My cure for that today was a trip to the bike shop. I have been riding in an old pair of running shoes when I ride thus far, and it has not been much of a problem. I figure, given my short but painful history on the bike, that it would be nice to get used to clipping in and out of real-deal bike shoes on the stationary trainer before I try to do it on the mean streets of Delaware. So, as of today, I officially have my first pair of road bike shoes! I didn't really know what I was looking for, but I think these will do for now. The cleats are attached, and they are ready to roll the next time I hop on the bike (probably Friday). I also got some other bike odds and ends, and I am now starting to realize just how much gear is involved in biking. I knew it would be the most gear-intensive of the three disciplines in the triathlon, but I definitely didn't fully comprehend the extent. Between the bike shoes, spare tires, triathlon handlebars, front-mounting water bottles, tire-repair kits, and pouches to hold the tire-repair kit I am definitely glad that we joined the rewards club at the bike shop.
In an effort to keep with my goal of taking back my workout time and not being totally exhausted/burned out, I am now going to hit the sack. Three miles tomorrow and a little light lifting before ten hours at the jobby job. I heart Mondays!
Saturday, January 2, 2010
Not the Worst
After completing an 8-mile of run in a 30mph headwind to and from my house (seems impossible, right), today I joined the YMCA of Dover Delaware...exciting stuff. After completing all necessary paperwork, I made my way to the pool. I have to say that I was more nervous about swimming in front of people who know something about swimming than about swimming in general. I was also concerned about my goggles fitting properly, potentially losing my contact lenses, and inhaling water/choking/making a complete fool of myself. I would like to reiterate that I have, in my lifetime, completed approximately 8 total laps in a pool with lane lines. There was a lot that could have gone wrong.
On the up side, it was not nearly as bad as I anticipated. Don't get me wrong, I am definitely glad that I have until April to build up my endurance, but I actually felt like I sort of belonged in the water. My goggles fit just right and there was no loss of lenses. Neil was surprised that I did not suck as badly as he might have expected, and I was surprised by the same thing. He gave me some form tips and a few drills to work on my stroke which were definitely welcomed. I am now on the hunt for a good program to build up for my official training. I have a website of 50 swim workouts, and hopefully some of them are for beginners.
Today's swim also brought up some other thoughts. As I type this evening, I can still smell the chlorine on my skin, so I definitely need to be diligent about my moisturizing regimen. My skin tends to be dry in general, and the swimming will definitely not make that any better. I have also been toying with the idea of donating my hair to Locks of Love or another similar organization. I think it is best that I do this before my hair gets totally destroyed by the pool chemicals. I am slightly nervous about going with the short hair again, but it might make everything easier in terms of working out. We shall see. I am giving myself a week to decide.
Day two of 2010 = successful success!
On the up side, it was not nearly as bad as I anticipated. Don't get me wrong, I am definitely glad that I have until April to build up my endurance, but I actually felt like I sort of belonged in the water. My goggles fit just right and there was no loss of lenses. Neil was surprised that I did not suck as badly as he might have expected, and I was surprised by the same thing. He gave me some form tips and a few drills to work on my stroke which were definitely welcomed. I am now on the hunt for a good program to build up for my official training. I have a website of 50 swim workouts, and hopefully some of them are for beginners.
Today's swim also brought up some other thoughts. As I type this evening, I can still smell the chlorine on my skin, so I definitely need to be diligent about my moisturizing regimen. My skin tends to be dry in general, and the swimming will definitely not make that any better. I have also been toying with the idea of donating my hair to Locks of Love or another similar organization. I think it is best that I do this before my hair gets totally destroyed by the pool chemicals. I am slightly nervous about going with the short hair again, but it might make everything easier in terms of working out. We shall see. I am giving myself a week to decide.
Day two of 2010 = successful success!
Friday, January 1, 2010
New Year, Same Goal
It is the first day of a brand new year, and, apart from being slightly hungover from a night of reveling in Philadelphia with Mary (but sans Arsenio Hall) I feel no different. It is a rest day on the Boston trainng schedule, but I forced myself to the gym after napping through the better part of arguably the best day of sports television programming of the year...The Rose Bowl, The Winter Classic (even though I have not quite gotten myself to like hockey yet, it is pretty cool), Ironman marathon on Universal Sports, and the Mummer's Parade all in one day. That's right...it's all downhill from here.
I am watching the Ironman World Championship from 2007, and I think it is appropriate given that it is now officially the year that I will be attempting this feat. There is a blind man who finished the Ironman with a guide...incredible. In his interview, he says that he doesn't worry about what he hasn'tgot because he'll never have it. What he can do is be a productive member of society and be an example to his grandchildren. I wish I could record this and play it for some of my patients and for a lot of Americans in general. I just watched Rutger Beke, a man who finished 4th in 2006, walk across the finish in 898th place. Even as a professional, he doesn't thik that it is fair to the age-groupers to give up when a race isn't going his way. I never get tired of watching these finishes.
Tomorrow begins another phase of training...I will join the YMCA and start swimming. This is one of the many aspects of this training about which I know very little and about which I am terrified. That is part of why I am doing this to begin with. There is value, I think, in doing something that scares the bejesus out of me. There is value in conquering that fear, and after a few hundred hours of training, I figure I probably won't be afraid of it anymore. I think they call that immersion therapy.
When I wake up tomorrow, I am going to run 8 miles in the cold and wind, and then I am going to go for a little swim. For tonight, however, I am going to sit on the couch and watch Ironman replays and football. Happy 2010!
I am watching the Ironman World Championship from 2007, and I think it is appropriate given that it is now officially the year that I will be attempting this feat. There is a blind man who finished the Ironman with a guide...incredible. In his interview, he says that he doesn't worry about what he hasn'tgot because he'll never have it. What he can do is be a productive member of society and be an example to his grandchildren. I wish I could record this and play it for some of my patients and for a lot of Americans in general. I just watched Rutger Beke, a man who finished 4th in 2006, walk across the finish in 898th place. Even as a professional, he doesn't thik that it is fair to the age-groupers to give up when a race isn't going his way. I never get tired of watching these finishes.
Tomorrow begins another phase of training...I will join the YMCA and start swimming. This is one of the many aspects of this training about which I know very little and about which I am terrified. That is part of why I am doing this to begin with. There is value, I think, in doing something that scares the bejesus out of me. There is value in conquering that fear, and after a few hundred hours of training, I figure I probably won't be afraid of it anymore. I think they call that immersion therapy.
When I wake up tomorrow, I am going to run 8 miles in the cold and wind, and then I am going to go for a little swim. For tonight, however, I am going to sit on the couch and watch Ironman replays and football. Happy 2010!
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