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.