New Training Partner

I have a new training partner for the bike, Phil! He bought a rode bike earlier this week and we have already rode three or four times on the Cady Way Trail. It is nice to have someone to ride with on a consistent basis. The only draw back is that he wants to ride all the time, but some days I have to run or swim or most importantly, REST! I think that I’m beginning to find a balance with this by doing more brick workouts.

When I first started training to do a triathlon, I had to do a lot of foundation work and build-up my endurance in my new sports. But now that I’m training for my second triathlon, I have started doing more complex and longer workouts.

For example, today I joined the TriManiacs for a coached swim at the Cady Way Pool. The coach sets up the workout and gives you feed back while you swim. Well, the workout that was scheduled today is much more technical and longer than any other swimming workout I have ever done. Overall I believe I swam about 1300 meters in an hour and did about six different drills. I think the most I have ever swam before this was like 1000 meters (maybe). But these longer and more complex workouts already seem to be benefiting me.

Yesterday I did a brick workout where I rode 10 miles with Phil and then ran 3 miles afterwards. I didn’t run the 3 miles at any personal record or anything, but I felt pretty good. I just have to keep up with it.

Only one month to go!

Great Workout, But Missing Consistancy

I know I haven’t been writing updates nearly as much as I was when I was training for my first triathlon, but that is kind of the same way my training has been going. I have definitely gotten some good training in, but it hasn’t been consistent.

Some of the good things that have happened is that I have joined the Winter Park YMCA. The Y is really great here because with my membership I have access to three different pools (2 outdoors and 1 outdoors). One of the pools is right next to a great trail, which will be great for a brick workout or mock-tri. In addition to all of this, there is also a group called the TriManiacs that is part of the Y.

The TriManiacs organizes practices and even has coached swim sessions. It took me awhile to get hooked up with them, but finally on Sunday I was able to join them for a workout.

For the workout the group met at Wekiwa Springs State Park. It started with a swim around the beautiful spring (see picture above), which is crystal clear but is also 70-75 degrees year-round. I wore an old wetsuit I had and was perfectly fine. All in all I did 3 laps of the spring, which is about 600 meters. Mark Casey, the coach of the TriManiacs, gave me some great tips while I was swimming, such as remembering to keep my head down so that my body will be more vertical in the water and using my whole arm as a paddle instead of just my hand.

After the swim we got on our bikes and rode on the West Orange Trail that is only a short 3-miles from Wekiwa Springs. The total ride was about 50 miles round-trip.

After the workout I was exhausted and HUNGRY! So I went to Wendy’s and gorged. It was great!

Only 40 more days!

And It Begins Again…

Since I have completed my first triathlon in June, I have wanted to do another. A triathlon that my uncle organizes, the Suncoast Triathlon at the end of October, seems to be a great next step. Like my previous triathlon it is a 1/3 of a mile swim and a 5k run, but the bike is only 10 miles compared to the 14-mile bike of the Tri the Parks. The triathlon will be held at Fort De Soto Park in St. Petersburg, Florida located on the Gulf of Mexico. This means that the swim will have a nice beach entry but it will also be open water, which will mean waves (and they could be big ones.)

I think the biggest challenge I’m going to face with this triathlon is the training. Now that I’m located in Orlando, I don’t have my gym membership to practice swimming and I haven’t yet found a group ride to practice cycling. I know the solutions seem simple, but the fact that my boyfriend and I could be relocating at any moment for employment complicates the problem.

The good news, I have 70 days to figure all of this stuff out.

Photos from the Triathlon

If you would like to look at some of the photos from the triathlon and my training, click here.

Finally

I know, I know. I haven’t posted a new blog in like FOREVER! I left you hanging on the edge of your seats as to how I did in my triathlon, I’m sorry. Please forgive me.

O.K., now that that is over…the triathlon was great! I reached my goal and by goal I mean finished. My official time was 1:46:48 and I finished 14th out of 15 in my age group. Here in lies my first lesson learned: I should have entered in the Novice division instead of my age group. If I had done that, I would have finished 6th out of 19. At least I know this for my next triathlon since you can enter the Novice division for you first three triathlons.

Hands down, my strength was definitely the bike. I rode at a 17 mph pace which is fast than what I have been averaging. Which allowed me to finish the bike in 51:27. The swim and run on the other hand both need some help.

Some good things about the swim is that the water was warm (maybe a little too warm) and the water got deep fast which meant I didn’t have to waste a lot of time and energy running in the water. Some bad things about the swim were that by the time I got to the first buoy (first 100m) I started doing the breaststroke. Don’t get me wrong, the breaststroke is a great stroke, but I hadn’t practiced it at all. I have spent all of my time on the freestyle stroke. But when I got in the water it just got too hard not to run into other swimmers and stay on course. Yet somehow I did manage to finish the swim in 16:34 which is about the time I thought I would be at for the swim.

As for the run...I have always had a love/hate relationship with running. And on the day of my triathlon it just happened to be a hate day. It was so hard after exerting so much energy on the swim and bike to start running. It didn’t help that the course was pretty hilly. I ended up walking some parts of the course, but when I walked I would only walk on the uphills and then by the time I got to the top I would start running. I think this allowed my to keep my time somewhat decent because at 34:56 it was only about 5 minutes slower that I would have expected.

Most people I have talked to about my triathlon have asked if I would do it again and I would. I would really like to do my uncle’s triathlon in October, but I’ll have to see what my situation (not having a job and all) is before I can really commit to it. I also know that I really need to work on swimming and running before my next triathlon as well. I would like to join a triathlon club so that I can get some assistance with my training and maybe do a half marathon (in hopes that it will improve my running.) I’ll keep you posted as to my plans.

121 days, 326.61 miles and 35:55:58 hours

That is how much time I have spent training. Though these numbers aren’t completely accurate (due to unknown mileage and not recording duration), I am still baffled at the amount of time and energy I have dedicated this goal. Now, to think that in only two days my goal will finally come to fruition.

In the last 121 days I have overcome many different obstacles whether they were injuries, uncontrollable circumstances (i.e., events being sold out), mental, financial, nutritional, or time management.

I would like to thank everyone who has encouraged, inspired and supported me throughout my journey. It has really meant a lot to me.

Above is a picture from the Muddy Buddy. It was so much fun! If the Muddy Buddy is ever any where near you – do it!

Thanks again for all your support. I will write another post after the tri.

It’s Getting Hot in Here

Yesterday, with the temperatures rising into the 90’s, I went on my group ride. I have been trying to adjust for the warmer weather (buying cycling shorts, adding another water cage and water bottle to my bike), but during and after the ride – I was spent. I thought for sure I was going to have to pull over to the side of the road and puke, but luckily, I didn’t. I don’t know what else I can change at this point other than to make one of my water bottles a sports drink. I’ll try this out at my group ride next week but I’ll also pray for cooler weather.

With only ten days until the triathlon, I’m trying to do some last minute preparations. Tonight I’m going to do my first brick work out consisting of cycling and running. I wish I could have started to do these types of workouts a few weeks ago, but with my ankle injury, I was restricted. The brick workouts will also help me prepare for the Muddy Buddy race which is this weekend. The Muddy Buddy is more of a relaxed race, but it will definitely be great training for the triathlon.

Some of the other things on my to-do list include: taking my bike in for a tune-up, practice some transitions and try to do an open water swim.

Hug Someone You Love

Well, the last week hasn’t been boring, that much is true. Last Friday, my sister (Allison) and her boyfriend (Dan) had planned to visit me and Phil. What wasn’t planned was getting laid-off from my work. My official last day of work will be June 19th. On the bright side, I’ll get more time to train before the triathlon. On the not so bright side, I have been job searching, networking and feeling a little stressed. Fortunately, it was great to have Allison and Dan here because we did a lot of fun things that helped keep my mind off of my forthcoming situation.

Unfortunately, on Wednesday June 10th, my mom called me after I had gotten to work. I already knew this wasn’t going to be good. She informed me that our close family-friend, Mary Lou Osborne, passed away early that morning. If you have been following my blog, you will know that I ran the Race for the Cure in honor of Mary Lou. She had been battling breast cancer for over two years when her original diagnosis was to only live for six months. Mary Lou truly battled. Even after the discovery of brain tumors, she still battled. Unfortunately, the monster of cancer became much too big for Mary Lou to conquer, but I will never say that she gave up.

Mary Lou was one of the kindest, funniest, strongest, friendliest people I knew. I will always strive to be more like her. She will always be kept in my memories and my heart.

My training this week has taken on another form, a cathartic form. It has been my constant. Even though my job is soon going to end and a dear friend has moved on, I know that the road and the water will still be there. I know that I still have to get on my bike, put on my running shoes or slip into my bathing suit and train. It has helped me clear my mind and feel at peace.

With only a short time until my race, my ankle is healing nicely. I went for my first run yesterday. Today, my ankle feels little bit more sore than it has, but still, not bad. I think I’ll try to stick to the treadmill so that I can control the conditions and be able to stop if I need to. I also received an email today that the bike course has been modified. In addition to being changed from an out and back to a loop, they also added 1.5 miles making the bike course 14.4 miles long. I happy they did this, not only will the ride be more interesting, but I’m also happy about the distance because I will be strong on the bike.

I hope you are all in good health and remember – hug someone you love.

Diagnosis: Good

Today I finally went to the doctor to get my ankle looked at. I was hoping that the doctor would give me the OK to start cycling again and guess what, he did! Luckily (in hopes that the doctor would give the OK) I brought my bike with me so that I can go to the group ride tonight.

Unfortunately, my ankle is still not good enough to run on. I’m really not surprised to hear that though, I was actually kind of expecting it. The doctor said that when I can hop on my left ankle (on the toes, not flat footed) then my ankle is good enough to run on. And it definitely isn’t right now.

The doctor gave me a Thera-Band and some exercises to do to strengthen my ankle. He also had me go get some X-Rays of my ankle, but he sounded pretty confident that he wouldn’t find anything unusual in them. I’m also supposed to continue icing my ankle.

Last weekend Phil and I went on our first whitewater kayaking river trip and it was a lot of fun! If you would like to see some photos from our trip, click here.

Getting Better

Yeah! My ankle is getting better! On Tuesday, my ankle was totally blown up, it was so swollen. After work I purchased an ankle brace which instantly made my ankle feel better. I wore the brace, and continued my NSAID use all day Wednesday, even through my kayaking class. Amazingly, after my kayak class, my ankle felt the best it had since I had the accident; the swelling was down and I could walk normal (with the exception of stairs.) My ankle is starting to get some nice colors to it though.

I’m going to try to do a swim workout today since it has the least impact of the three sports. If all goes well, I’ll try to fit in a few more swim workouts this week. The next step after swimming again is cycling and then running. I don’t want to push too hard because I don’t want to reinjure myself, but at the same time I have less than four weeks until my triathlon – yikes!

I really hope that I can get back in working order soon enough to be able to get some good workouts in before the triathlon.

Injuries

Wednesday was my first Whitewater Kayaking class which was more challenging than I expected. After the classroom session, we went outside to get fitted to our kayaks which we then had to carry up two flights of stairs! I wanted to be like, “Hey, can I get an elevator over here!?” After that was over the first thing we learned to do is escape from a capsized kayak. I really wasn’t expecting to jump into this quite so quickly, but there I was upside-down in my kayak! It is a strange feeling being upside-down underwater. I’m still not use to it. During the pool session we also learned how to do an Eskimo rescue and some different paddle strokes. While practicing the Eskimo rescue I think I pulled something in my arm. I had noticed a strange feeling in it before and I think I just pushed it over the edge. Luckily, since it was an arm injury, it seems to be back to normal now.

Our first river trip was cancelled because too many people couldn’t make it. I have class again tomorrow and the [first] river trip is this weekend.

Over the long weekend I was able to make it out to All 3 Sports, a triathlon store, and purchase some race gear. I got a pair of tri shorts which are like regular cycling shorts but have a thinner pad so that when you swim they won’t absorb too much water. The top I got looks like a regular sports tank top, but it also has a pocket on the back to keep energy food. I will do all three disciplines in these clothes which will help save time in the transitions.

It rained off and on all weekend which kept Phil and me indoors. But on Monday it finally cleared up for a little bit in the afternoon and we decided to go skateboarding at Piedmont Park. While I was about to go down a hill, I had slowed down while waiting for some people to clear out, I hit a rock and fell. Most of the time this wouldn’t be so bad, but of course, I had to fall on my ankle. After a little bit of a break and trying to walk-it-off, I got back on my board and finished the loop.

When I got back home I began icing it. I thought maybe it would start feeling better after awhile, but it didn’t. This morning, my ankle is swollen more than it was yesterday and it hurts to walk. I’m pretty sure I sprained it so I don’t think I’ll be training for the rest of the week.

I can only hope that it clears up soon.

Getting Close

I can’t believe I’m just a little bit over 6 weeks away from my first triathlon! And I have a feeling that those six weeks are going to fly by because I’m going to be super busy.

In addition to my regular training I’m also going to start taking a whitewater kayaking class through Georgia Tech’s Outdoor Recreation. I’m signed up for the first of three sessions but I’m kind of in a waiting mode because priority is given to students of Georgia Tech. When I signed up on Friday there were two spots left and tomorrow is the class for the first session so as long as I don’t hear anything today, I’m in! After the class on Wednesday we will have a trip to a “slow moving river or lake” on Saturday, May 23rd which will complete the first session. The second session consists of two class and two trips and I must complete the first session to participate in the second. Unfortunately, I won’t be able to participate in the third session because it conflicts with my triathlon. The class should be a lot of fun, but it also means that I’m going to have to rearrange some of my workouts and do a little bit of juggling with my schedule. In addition to all this, I may have a few potential visitors in the month of June (which will be so much fun!) And finally, the week before my triathlon is the Muddy Buddy

I’m getting pretty excited for the Muddy Buddy as well. My friend from work participated in it last year with her husband and said they had a great time. Here is the official race description from the Muddy Buddy website:

Each race features a 6-7 mile course and 5 obstacles. At the start of the race, one team member will run and one will ride the bike. At the 1st obstacle, the rider will drop the bike, complete the obstacle, and begin running. The runner will arrive, complete the obstacle, find their bike, and begin riding. Teams will continue leapfrogging each other through the entire course. At the end of the race, racers will crawl through the infamous Mud Pit crossing the finish line together!

It should be a lot of fun, and good practice for the triathlon the week afterwards.

I also went to an Intro to Triathlon class that was offered at REI on Sunday, May 17th. Most of the things that we discussed I already knew such as eating during the bike, good workouts to do, what kind of clothing to wear, etc. But I also learned and was able to confirm some things too. The class was instructed by Mike Gaw, a 8-time Ironman participant. He was very friendly, knowledgeable and easy to talk to. He is actually going to be at the Tri the Parks Indian Springs Triathlon, but he is doing the swim portion on a relay team. He also gave everyone his email and phone number so that if we have any questions we can contact him.

Running for Our Lives

On Saturday, May 9th, I ran in the the Atlanta Race for the Cure. I wasn't so sure how the weather would be because almost everyday the previous week they have forecasted rain which didn't always pan out. Luckily, the rain stayed away, but the overcast skies made for perfect running weather since it has been pretty warm lately. I ran a time of 29:55, which is slower than I would have liked, but considering that for about the first mile or so I was just bobbing and weaving through the crowd, I think the time was decent.

The race itself felt really great to participate in. Participatants were able to create back signs that either said, 'I Race in Celebration of...' or 'I Race in Memory of...' I wore one in celebration of a close family friend, Mary Lou Osborne, who has been battling breast cancer for more than two years (see pictures above.) It got me a little emotional to see all of the back signs that people were wearing. Some people even had 3 or 4 on their backs. Seeing all of the names and pink signs gave me a real perspective on how many people that are not only infected with breast cancer, but are also affected by breast cancer.

If you would like to help support a search for a cure even further, go to this website and select Atlanta, GA as the race and then select Gallery 3. Here you will find the two left pictures above. You can download these pictures for free and for every download, Fuze will donate $1 to the Susan G. Komen Foundation. Also, if you would still like to support my efforts in the Atlanta Race for the Cure, you can still make donations on My Race for the Cure page.

As for the rest of my training, I'm still right on track. I can't believe I have less than two months until the race - ahhh! My next event will be the Atlanta Muddy Buddy which will be held on June 20th (the week before the tri). I'll give more updates on that event when it is closer to race day.

Thanks for Helping Me Reach My Goal

The Atlanta Race for the Cure 5K is this Saturday and, as of today, I have reach 100% of my fundraising goal! Thank you to everyone that has donated, it is greatly appreciated. The Susan G. Komen Foundation has done great things for not only a search for a cure, but also for prevention and awareness. I’m so excited to be able to not only participate in the Race for the Cure, but to have also helped with the Komen Foundation’s cause.

When the results are posted from the race, I’ll be sure to post them on here.

Also, I have officially signed up for the Tri the Parks triathlon on June 27th. I’m truly excited about it and feel as though I’m on the right path to do well at the triathlon. This morning when I went for a swim, it seemed easier – I wasn’t so exhausted. Running is doing O.K.; I have begun to incorporate speed workouts into my routine, which I hope I will see at least some benefits from this weekend at the race. And, cycling is fun and fast as usual.

You Snooze - You Lose

Who would have thought that an event would sell out two months in advance!? Well, that's what happened.

When I went online today to check the registration for the Aflac Iron Girl Atlanta Triathlon, it was SOLD OUT! I was so disappointed. I had thought of registering a few times before (and almost did) but I was just waiting a little bit longer until I could make sure that I wasn't going to be injured or some other unpredictable circumstance occured. But, I waited a little too long. The event sold out on the 21st.

I wrote an email to the organizers as a last ditch attempt at gaining access to the triathlon. When they replied, they said they can't really do much but place me on the waiting list which I'm 12th on. There really isn't any way to tell how many people may drop from the race, and of the people that may drop, who knows if they'll notify the organizers. In short, my chances are next to nothing of getting into the Iron Girl.

The good news is is that I have found another sprint length triathlon for the same weekend, it is called the Tri the Parks Triathlon & Duathlon at Indian Springs State Park. This triathlon is actually one event of a series. The series has triathlons, duathlons and one aquathon in different state parks throughout Georgia. I think this triathlon will be really fun because it is more local and it is always great to support local groups.

The Tri the Park triathlon is a 600 meter swim, 12.8 mile bike and 3.1 mile run. These distances are all the same as the Iron Girl, except for the bike. The bike in the Iron Girl is 18 miles, which I would perfer because I think I can do really well on the bike, but I guess beggers can't be choosers. Plus, this is just my first triathlon, I'm sure I'll have many more to look forward to.

H.A.T.T. Syndrome

While working at Vitamin Discount Center I learned of a syndrome that many American’s experience, Tired All The Time Syndrome or T.A.T.T. I have decided that I have a different form of T.A.T.T., H.A.T.T., or Hungry All The Time Syndrome. Since I have increased the amount of exercise I do in a week, I have also needed to increase the amount of calories I consume.

The conundrum comes in that fact that I want to lose a few pounds (not a lot, don’t worry I’m not going to become skin and bones), just so that it will be easier to run and will also be less stress on my joints. With that in mind, I’ll have to watch the amount of food I’m consuming, and more importantly, what I’m consuming more carefully. Which means packing more in my lunches so that I have extra healthy food in case a hunger pain strikes.

A few other notes…

Today was my last swim class and I have to say that I believe I have improved, speed and form-wise. What I expected from the classes was to get a good grasp on the basics of the freestyle stroke and know what I should be working on to improve my swimming over the course of my training, not just the classes. And I got exactly that. I know a list of things that I should be reminding myself as I swim such as, keeping my head down, not looking forward when I breath and to finish my stroke with my left arm. There are plenty of other things to list too, but we’ll just leave it at that for now.

On Tuesday, I went to Atlanta Cycling for the Women’s Group Ride. I’m still destroying the hills and I also got a nice compliment from another rider. She said that I have improved greatly with my bike handling skills in the three times that I have been out. That was really great to hear.

I also learned a valuable lesson on Tuesday: always carry at least one spare tube and CO2 cartridge. I knew this was something that I should get but hadn’t gotten around to it yet. I’ve learned my lesson. On the last quarter mile of the ride I got my first flat tire and didn’t have a tube or CO2 cartridge to fix it with. Luckily, since I wasn’t that far away, I just walked the bike in and another rider stayed with me. I’m planning on purchasing a pouch that will contain a spare tube and a CO2 cartridge. I’ll also change the tire myself this weekend, which will be a great skill to learn in case I get a flat during the triathlon (knock on wood). Since you aren’t allowed to accept outside help during the triathlon, it would be a shame to waste all of my training because I don’t have a spare tube or know how to change it.

The GREAT Urban Race

This past weekend Phil and I competed in the Great Urban Race (GUR). The GUR is part Amazing Race part scavenger hunt. The rules of the game are as follows, each team is given an envelope with twelve clues. You can do the clues in any order you wish and you are allowed to skip one clue, but you are not allowed to skip Detours. If you skip any additional clues (excluding the Detours) you will be penalized 30 minutes. You are not allowed to use any form of private transportation including, but not limited to, cars, taxis, bikes, skateboards, etc. Public transportation and high tech devices (i.e. iPhones, GPS, laptops, etc.) are encouraged.

Phil and I brought our cell phones, a digital camera and a handheld GPS. We also worked with a couple from my work and they had cell phones, a digital camera and a car GPS. The race began at East Andrews Café & Bar at high noon in Buckhead (north of downtown Atlanta). The clues took us to three different areas of Atlanta which were, Buckhead, Midtown (downtown area) and Little Five Points (southeastern Atlanta).

We first did a clue in Buckhead and then took a minute to figure out some of the other clues. After that, we jumped on the subway to go to Little Five Points. We found the first clue in this area relatively easily, but then when we went to complete the next clue, we couldn’t find it! It was suppose to be in Freedom Park, but we ran from one end of the park to the other (about 1.25 miles and thirty minutes) and never found it. We decided that we had to move on and skip that clue.

We next got back on the subway to complete the tasks in Midtown. These all went very fast and had no problems with any of them.

Finally, we headed back up to Buckhead on the subway to complete a few more tasks. The clues that directed us to an exact destination were easy, but we still had a Detour that we had to complete: find either a glass Coca-Cola bottle or a peach pit. We decided that the peach pit would be easier, but after we had gone to two grocery stores we found out that it wasn’t going to be so easy.

We decided to check another grocery store and in the process, took a wrong turn. By this time it was about 4:30 PM and the course closed at 5 PM. We were feeling defeated and wondered if we should just cut our losses and pack it up. But as a last ditch effort we called the grocery store to see if they had any peaches – they did! We ran as fast as we could to the grocery store and got there at about 4:45 PM. I ran in and purchased the peaches and we quickly removed the pit. It was about a mile back to the finish and I was determined to make it, but I was tired, hungry and somewhat dehydrated, but we managed to cross the finish line at 4:55 PM! Overall we finished 157th out of 240 teams, but in the end, it was more about the experience than where we finished, plus, we had a blast!

We were so tired, I couldn’t believe it, I knew I had probably run something like six miles, but when we got home, Phil calculated how much we ran and it came to a little over 10 miles! No wonder I was so beat!

After the finish of the race we were given some interesting information. First, the first place team actually skipped the two clues in Little Five Points and took a 30-minute penalty (wish we would have done that.) Second, the first place team came in 30 minutes after what the race officials had expected, which means that the course was actually longer than they had intended. And third, I guess one of the top teams that finished was a pair of girls that ran the ENTIRE thing. They didn’t step foot on a bus, train, or anything! I couldn’t believe it, good for them.

To see more pictures of the race and the clues, visit my facebook album by clicking here.

Updates on Races & Swimming

Races
Earlier this week, I signed up for the Race for the Cure that will be held May 9th. I’m really excited to do this event, not only because I want to see what my time will be, but also because I have really wanted to do a Race for the Cure for a few years now, but it has just never worked out. I know several people (family and friends) that have survived or who are currently battling breast cancer. It is an important cause to me and if you would like to support me in this race, please visit my Race for the Cure page and donate. So far I have raised $75 and only need a few more donations to reach my goal. Thank you to all those that have already donated.

Phil and I will be participating in a different kind of race this weekend, the Great Urban Race. The Great Urban Race is part Amazing Race, part scavenger hunt. We signed up for it a few months ago as Team PandA (Phil and Abby, P and A – get it?). From what I’ve heard from other people it’s a blast! I’m planning on just having fun during the race, but the top 25 teams do qualify for the championships in New Orleans. I’ll have to try to keep my competitive nature in check.

Second Swim Lesson
Yesterday I had my second swim lesson and I already feel as though I’m improving. I was still extremely tired while I was swimming, but I was more comfortable breathing (as we did several drills to improve this). I am also starting to feel faster after I did a kicking drill.

At the end of each lesson my instructor is timing me as I do several laps, to track my improvement, and my time went down! Maybe hope isn’t lost after all – just kidding.

Before my next lesson on Monday, my instructor wants me to swim 10-15 laps. I’m hoping that I’ll be able to do that this weekend as I’m planning on going to spin class tonight and running tomorrow. He also said that I should be swimming 3-4 times a week, which is nearly impossible for me to do every week.

On that note, this has been my first week training with all three disciplines and it has been kind of crazy (and the week isn’t even over yet!) It isn’t so much my body being tired from exercising, but more the lack of time I now have to do the other things I did before, such as cooking dinner or going to the grocery store. I’m hoping that I will soon be able to develop a routine so that I don’t feel so stretched for time.

First Swim

Today I had my first swim lesson at Georgia Tech’s Campus Recreation Center. The lesson really didn’t get off on the right foot, because I had issues at my apartment and with parking on campus that made me about 10 minutes late.

After getting changed, I found my instructor, Josh, and began my swim lessons. I was nervous about the swim lessons because I wasn’t sure if the instructor would have the kind of information that I would need, but Josh had a ton of knowledge. He was very considerate of my specific training goals and quickly came up with detailed drills to improve my swimming ability.

The swim class was definitely more difficult than I expected. I think there were two reasons it was so hard. One, I was so frazzled and nervous from my mishaps before the session that I wasn’t able to focus very well, and I was also very tense. Secondly, I haven’t laps in a very long time, plus, I don’t think I was ever good at it.

After my first few laps, I was so tired. I couldn’t believe it. I thought that I had built up my cardiovascular strength pretty well, but I guess it wasn’t enough for swimming.

My next session is on Wednesday. I’m going to go directly from work to swim, so I hopefully won’t be late.

My First Group Ride

Yesterday I finally went on my first group ride! I was so nervous going to the bike shop, my hands were shaking. I think I was nervous that I was going to get hit by a car or I was going to just die half way through and someone was going to have to stay with me. Neither of those things happened; thank God (especially the former.)

Since the ride was a beginner, no drop pace, there were two people that were “leading” the ride. One would be in the front of the group and the other would be in the back, to stay with any stragglers. I decided that I would follow the guy that said he was going to be with the stragglers. I figured that I can start with the slower folks and if I could, move up in the pack.

As the ride started, I got more comfortable with the gears, especially on the hills. Before I knew it, I was cruising by other riders on the up-hills. As I would pass, they would say stuff like, “Whoo! Look at you go!” or “Man, you take these hills like they’re nothing!” I’m not exactly sure why I’m so fast on the up-hills. One theory is that maybe I have conditioned myself so well with spin classes, that the actual biking is easier. Another theory is that compared to mountain biking up-hill, road biking ain’t nothing. Or maybe it was a combination of the two. Anyways, somewhere along the ride, five of us got separated from the larger group because we were in the front. This was fine, because the other people in the group knew where they were going.

When we got back to the shop, everyone’s cars were still there. I was surprise; we were the first one’s back!

I really enjoyed the ride, it was exhilarating and fun. I’m excited for my next one.

Update on my swim classes: I finally signed up for swim lessons on Wednesday and my first lesson is on Monday. I can’t wait!

Some Frustrations

Yesterday was a somewhat frustrating and disappointing day. I was hoping to go on my first group ride out of Atlanta Cycling, but my plans were thwarted by the unseasonably chilly weather. Yesterdays high, I believe, was in the mid 40’s with snow flurries (yes, I said snow flurries). I was hopeful though and brought all of the cold weather gear I could think of for the group ride. Unfortunately, when I got to Atlanta Cycling, they informed me that the group ride was canceled due to cold weather.

Since I couldn’t go on the group ride, I decided to go for a run instead. I have to say, it was cold, but not THAT cold. Once I got going it wasn’t half bad. Plus, it was actually the WARMEST part of the day. Some people may say that these cyclists are fair weather cyclists, but I wouldn’t (cough, cough, cough).

I’m determined to get out on the road this week. Atlanta Cycling organizes another group ride for beginners on Thursday. The forecast says that it will be mostly sunny and in the low 70’s. Let’s hope they can’t find anything wrong with that.

Another frustration for me yesterday was my swim classes. I signed up for the swim classes on April 1st. It has now been a week and I still haven’t heard anything back as to day and time. I really want to start theses classes because I am waiting to start my swim training until I start these classes. I just keep feeling the days ticking away. I emailed my contact yesterday; hopefully she will get back to me soon.

On a positive note, I have been reading the Triathlete’s Training Bible by Joe Friel. This book contains just about anything and everything you could think of for a triathlon. I found invaluable information on weight training, stretching, workouts and general tips overall on training and preparation for a triathlon.

While reading, I have found reassurance in my training schedule (once I get swimming). I have decided to do a 2-2-2. Two days cycling, two days running and two days swimming with one rest day. The book says that this is a good program for a novice. But when I get 3-4 weeks out from the triathlon, I will step up my program to also include brick workouts (workouts that include two or more disciplines.)

Wet & Wild Running and Other Updates

The results were finally posted for the ING/Publix Run Wild 5K that was held on March 28th. I finished 9th out of 41 people in my age group with a chip time of 29:40. I'm pretty pleased with these results, but would like to get my time down to a 9 min. mile before my next 5k on May 9th.

If you couldn't tell from the picture, it was really, REALLY wet. But the rain was actually very helpful because it kept me cool throughout the run. The biggest challenge was avoiding the puddles. I also found, that overall, I did pretty well on the hills. I passed most of the people around me on the uphills and was able to catch my breath on the downhills.

In other news. I rode my new bike over to Georgia Tech's Campus Recreation Center and signed up for swim lessons yesterday. It was my first time actually riding my road bike on the road and I have to say, it was kind of scary. I'm not use to the bumpiness and how much faster it is. I think after I get a few more rides in, I'll feel comfortable on the bike.

On a funny note, I had my first semi-bust with clipless peddles. When I had gotten back to the apartment I was unclipping, but I almost always unclip my left foot first and balance on the same foot. For some reason, I decided to unclip my right foot, but my body still went for my left and then BOOM. Well...not really BOOM, but I went down. I emerged mostly unscathed, with the exception of a small scrape on the back of my right leg.

Rain on My Parade

I was so excited because I was going to go on my first group ride today, but instead it has decided to rain. I guess it's all the better, because I also forgot to bring my helmet with me. Hopefully the weather will be better for next weeks ride. Until then, I'll be at the gym in spin class.

On a positive note, I finally found some private swim lessons!

Phil, my boyfriend, said that I should probably take a swim lesson or two because...well...see the picture above? I know how to swim, but it ain't that pretty. He and I also know how important it is to start with good habits at the beginning, because otherwise you are just reinforcing the bad habits.

First I checked with LA Fitness, since I'm already a member, but the only swim classes they offer are water aerobics.

After that, I didn't really know where to go.

Then yesterday as I was doing some research into the matter, Phil suggested Georgia Tech. It was a big DUH! The aquatics center at GT was used in the 1996 Olympics and since it is a public school, the Campus Recreation Center is open to non-GT affliated people, such as myself.

I really don't think I could ask for a better option. The classes are private, and the instructor will adjust the lessons to your skill level and goals. You can also choose between four sessions or two. To learn more about these classes, click here.

I'm so energized about these classes, I can't wait to start!

My First Road Bike

This past week or so I began my search for a road bike. I wanted an entry level road bike, nothing fancy because, well, I wouldn't know what to do with it. I first looked on Craigslist, which had many postings, but most were older touring bikes, large men's bikes or way out of my price range. Since I'm a shorter lady (5'4") there really wasn't much out there for me.

My next stops were Atlanta Cycling and REI where I found two great candidates.

First from Atlanta Cycling was the Trek 1.2 Triple WSD, this is a great bike that Trek has put a lot of R&D into for a women's specific fit. Another benefit of getting this bike or any bike from Atlanta Cycling for that matter, is that you get a lifetime warrenty, 30 day trial and a very detailed custom fit assessment for no additional charge.

The second bike from REI was the Novara Carema Women's Bike. This bike was at about the same level as the Trek but is a brand that is made for REI. Buying a bike from REI is good if you are a member because you'll get money back at the end of the year from all the purchases you make. They also do custom fitting for no additional charge.

And the winner is...

The Trek 1.2 Triple WSD. It came down to personal preference and service. I liked the Shimano Sora STI, 9 speed shifters compared to the Shimano Tiagra shifters on the Novara. The Sora STI shifters were similar to the shifters on my mountain bike so it would be a easy transition. I also liked the smaller frame on the Trek, it is easier to stand over and overall easier to handle.

The service at Atlanta Cycling is great. They spent over a half hour sizing the bike for me, for no extra charge! In addition, if at any time I want something readjusted, I just have to bring it back into the shop and they'll take care of it.

Another great aspect of Atlanta Cycling is that they also host group cycling events. To learn more about their event, click here.

Happy riding!

Livin' the Dream

I think that my dream to participate in a triathlon began when I was in high school. I ran on the Cross-Country and Track & Field team. I really enjoyed both, even though I was never the fastest runner, but I could do almost any event I was thrown into, including the mile, 4x800, 4x400, 4x200, 4x100, hurdles, pole vaulting and I'm sure some other events along the way too.

I was first exposed to triathlon's though my uncle, Fred Rzymek. He organizes triathlons and other running events in the Tampa Bay area, including the Escape from Fort DeSoto. It was at the Escape that my mom, me and my sister helped out one year. I saw all the people running, cycling and swimming and knew it was perfect for me. It wasn't just one event, it was several. Ever since, it has been in the back of my mind to one day do a triathlon.

The Goal
After years of contemplating participating in a triathlon, I decided it is time. I'm going to set a goal and start my training.

My goal is to participate in a sprint length triathlon. I have yet to decide if I will participate in the Aflac Iron Girl triathlon (June 28, 2009) or the Emerald Point Triathlon (October 4, 2009).

Current Training
I began riding my mountain bike to work while I was living in Tampa, which was about a 18 mile ride round-trip. But when I moved to Atlanta in August 2008, my work was much further and I was unable to ride my bike to work any more. Now I am a member at LA Fitness and go to spin classes twice a week.

I recently participated in the ING Publix 5K and began running once a week in preparation.

No swim training as of yet. I would really like to get some training in this area since it would be my weakness. My gym has a pool, but if anyone has any suggestions on training, please advise.