What a difference two years makes!

Three years ago my sister decided to do a triathlon. I thought she was crazy. She wanted me to do it too, and I said, "He'll no! Never happening!" I'd just had a baby, and I rarely went to the gym.

I was so proud of her. Kind of started thinking, "I wonder if I could ever do something like that." Oh, wait, I can't swim! And I don't own a bike.

After a copious amount of alcohol one night, I signed up for the Super Sprint triathlon. Shortest distance. Least likely to drown. Heck, I figured I could doggy paddle it if I needed to.

I took swimming lessons from a teenager at the Park District who had to look up what a triathlon was. My first lesson was in April 2012.

I bought a bike. I remember telling the bike guys "it's mostly to bike with my kids. And I'm doing a short triathlon. Maybe." I honestly thought it was going to be the only triathlon I'd even do. It was such a stressful purchase... I spent months looking at bikes, reading reviews, and texting my sister. She thought I was crazy until she started shopping for a new bike too. Then she understood the copious research.

Now I'm eight weeks away from my first triathlon of 2014. I have FOUR planned this year! FOUR! Possibly a fifth depending on how the other ones go first. How I wish I had bought a road bike... if only I'd known I'd still be doing "these crazy things." I'm doing less 5ks- probably only 4 planned- and no "mud runs" this year because I can't afford to get injured.

First 5k is next week... I'll post a report afterwards!

Back in the Saddle Again

I've been lazy and gym-less for some time now. First it was the "post tri" recovery/blues. Then it was "I'm not training for anything right now." Then I put my uber gym on hold, saving me $125 a month! 

I finally went back. A new gym. Close by but small. Different stuff, which is kind of nice after seeing the same equipment for nearly a year. Plus, due to a 3 month membership deal I'm only paying $99. Total. Way less that a month at my uber gym.  It's only for the next three months - then I'll be back over to LT.

First visit, I hopped on the first bike I saw and did 30 minutes, while people watching. In general, I'm 10-20 years younger than most clients working out. 

Honestly, since I'm there on weekend mid mornings, I'm probably one if the few that are under 60.

I actually like it. There's no hot bodybuilder to complete against. No one looking and thinking "what's she doing here?" In fact, the first visit on the locker room someone quietly complimented me and asked about my shirt. 

The HUGE downside is child care. This one costs $7 per child per visit. Taking Kellan a few times a week adds up; having all the kids and paying $21 for one workout, just isn't worth it. I only pay $30/ month for all three kids at LT! Figure in the summer we'll switch back.... Going 5 days a week, I could pay $30 a month at my über gym, or pay $330 at the new place just for child care!  

As for my training, I have written it all out. I have a 12 week plan in gym #1 focusing on running, biking, and overall fitness with a few swims. Then I have a 13 week plan at the new gym, focussing more on my swimming. 

First triathlon is June 8, 2014. It's an hour drive but I think I'm going to just deal with the drive that spend $200 on hotel. The morning coffee will wake me up, and I'll sleep better in my own bed.

I wrote myself a reminder to get to the gym tomorrow....

Chicago Lifetime Triathlon 2013

Official time 2:15:09! I beat my little sister's time, and came in under all my "worst case" times, even in the swimming portion!

I decided to swim boat to boat, and while it was slow, I wasn't panicky or scared, since I knew I could swim boat to boat. I felt so proud when I got out of the water, even with two events left to go.

The bike was so enjoyable. I didn't race to kick butt; I raced to enjoy the skyline, the waterfront, the perfect weather, and to save my legs for part 3. It's here that I realized I was having a great time! I truly enjoyed this portion-- up the coast and back-- much more than the super sprint's "round and round in circles". 

The run was barely that. Lol. I had my GPS running app on my phone, my bottle full of Zym, and I took off at a speed walk. Super speed walk. I only ran at the photo spot halfway through, and then the last 1/4 mile or so, when all the people where cheering me on. I finished with a 12:30 pace, and I finished feeling strong and good! 

I flew through the finish area and ran back over to the start line, just in time to see my little sister start her Olympic distance triathlon. 

Looking forward to next year!

~Crazy eyes~

~Pause for a picture~

~2 medals in 2 days~

2013 Super Sprint

Official time was 62 minutes, only 1 minute shorter than last year. I lost a lot of time wrestling with my wetsuit. :( 

The highlite was watching my BIL race and my 8 year old son do the kids triathlon. I am so proud of them, especially Noah! 

As fun as its been, I don't think I'm sign up again for the next few years. I'm going to focus more on the Sprint triathlons now. 

 

It's Crunch Time!

We leave at 1 pm tomorrow. I have a sitter coming to watch two of the kids; then we're picking our Tri kid up from school (yea, we're pulling him put early the first day of 3rd grade, lol) and driving to Chicago. Chicago traffic is so bad, we're doing our best to avoid it. We'll probably get downtown around the time packet pickup starts. Grab all our packets, get munchkin a race belt (I only have pink), and check out Saturday's course.

I'm not nervous at all about Saturday. Maybe nervous FOR my son's race, but not mine. Been there, done that, lol! However, I think kiddo is nervous so I want to show him as much as possible before his first triathlon.

Funny kid... All he wants is 1. an official shirt to wear to school on Monday, and 2. a medal. He *wants* to place, but he refused to train/practice all summer, so it's not likely. Hopefully this will plant the BUG, and he'll want to actually practice and do more in the future. I'd love to have him follow in my new Tri footsteps.

I AM terrified of Sunday. The swim portion. I am constantly telling myself, "You've done double the distance in the pool. Frequently. You've done this in open water, and yes it's hard, but you did it. You CAN DO IT." Repeat.

The bike... Eh, only 13 miles. Done more than that.

The run... A 5k. Done. Often.

The swim... A crazy chaos of 150 people going every 4 seconds who will be kicking me, hitting me, even swimming over me! OMG...

Seriously... My swim plan is to swim boat to boat and stay clear of everyone else. I'm estimating about double the time of my pool time, and I'm ok with that. :) As long as I get out on my own two feet, I'm good.

I've been making lists and packing for three days, so anything I forget I'll just buy at the Expo. I'm so ready to just go and do it!!

BTN Big 10k (5k)

It was my best run ever! The weather was perfect. My nutrition was great. I was surrounded by approximately 15,000 of my closest friends. There was just so much positive energy in the air!

First, I'd planned to take the train to the city, and then a cab to the race. Race planners predicted the parking garage would be full by 5:45, and additional parking was over a mile away. The train was scheduled to leave at 6:20 am. I was awake, packed, and ready to leave at 5:45.... and decided to drive. I'm SO glad I did! I arrived at the parking garage at 6:15 (before the train was even scheduled to leave!), and there was a ton of parking!

I spent the next two hours wandering around, watching the 10k runners finish, using the bathroom many times to prevent a "my bladder is going to explode" repeat of my last race, and waking up.

At 8:15 am our corrals started moving toward the start line. I had my iPhone set to MapMyRun and Songza, and my new Soleus heart rate monitor/watch ready to go.

My first mile was great at around 9:30. Second mile also great. As usual, third mile I stopped to walk briefly. But I was bookin' it!

Official time.... 31:04!!! Two freakin' minutes faster than my last two 5ks! A 10 min/mile pace average for the whole race!

I skipped the post-race beer since the line was 200-people-long, and headed home on a natural post-race high. :) 

I feel OLD

My joints are creaking. On a 20 mile bike ride with my sister, my knees were aching. My back was aching. My neck was aching. I think the only thing that wasn't aching was my face. I hobbled off my bike, and said to my sister, "I'm getting too old for this!"

My lovely sister didn't say, "No, you're not." or "You're still young."

She tells me, "Hah. Some people don't even START triathlons until they're in their 40's or older!"

Yeah, that made me feel soooooo much better, knowing I'm going to be passed by 50 year olds. LOL