Resurfacing

Man, it's been way too long since I've typed anything in this text box.

I was trying to think about why I went from weekly updates to nothing for months and I could only think of one explanation:

Running is boring.

When I was training for the triathlon, I loved every minute of it. With three sports a week, I never had a chance to get bored. And all the natural cross-training meant that I stayed in good health, got well-conditioned, and was able to see progress in at least one of those three sports once a week.

Training for this half-marathon has been exactly the opposite. There's not much to update on because all I've been doing is running. I look on my training plan and I see strength training, run, cross train, run, run runrunrun.

At first, it was really fun. But then when I got past 5 miles, I learned something new: Running for a long while is really boring. Before, I'd never really been conditioned enough to get bored; I was focused only on not dying. But now, it just gets kinda tedioius.

And then there's the pain. My body, people, my body is not made for running. That's the only conclusion I can come to. Because once I got past 4 miles, every time I run, it hurts. My hips hurt, my knees hurt, my shins hurt, my ankles hurt. I have to have ice and warm baths and stretching for days and still, I hobble around all the time.

The tedium and the pain have conspired with my work schedule to make me miss about 30 percent of my training runs. I just don't want to do it and so, I haven't.

Which means I've got a half-marathon coming in less than a month for which I am not prepared at all.

And rather than try to cause myself more pain trying to catch up, I'm going to swallow my pride and give up.

So yeah, I'm not training anymore. I feel kind of like a failure. But the number one reason I work out is because it's fun and it feels good and I look forward to it. And I realized last week that none of those things applied to my current training.

I'll still go running. And I still want to run a marathon someday. I just need to take it more slowly and I need to have someone take a serious look and my biomechanics, because I don't want to end up hurting myself to do something that isn't that fun anyway.

And I've really, really been missing my bike.

Anyway, that's where my head is at. I'm not really sure what comes next. I'd like to do another triathlon next year, but I need to decide what that will be and figure out an off-season training plan.

But the honest truth is that a big part of me is looking forward to spending some time on the elliptical machine with a People magazine.

Runrunrunrun...

It's been kinda quiet out there in tri-blog land lately, so I figured I'd babble something onto my page.

Went for a 3-mile run this morning and I don't know if it was because of the weight training I did yesterday or because I didn't drink as much water as usual, but it was ROUGH!

The second I started out, I knew it wasn't going to be pretty. My legs felt really heavy, like big old logs hanging from my hips and they just didn't really want to move. I ended up walking once or twice.

And it doesn't help that my heart rate monitor is being wonky. It'll get stuck on one number, say 174, and doesn't change, even though I am CERTAIN my heart rate is either far higher or far lower than the readout (okay, usually higher). Then I will jiggle everything around a bunch and it will go to 00 and stay there for about 5 minutes before going back to recording until it gets stuck again a few minutes later. It drives me nuts and it's not like my hrm is old. It's a Polar and I just bought it maybe four or five months ago. Grrr!

I think what made my tough run even tougher, though, is that my last two runs were really, really good. I had sub 10:00 pace 3-mile run last Thursday and a great 10:00ish pace 4-mile run on Sunday that wasn't too hard, but just really nice. Then I got out there today and it was blah. But that's how it goes, I guess. I need to do some speedwork or something, because there's not enough progress being made for my taste!

Tomorrow is cross-training and I am looking forward to taking my bike out for an hour. It's been a couple weeks since I've ridden, so it will be fun to see how humbled I will be.

8/29 @ 6:15a: Running, 3 miles, 31:38s

8/28 @ 7:30a: Strength Training
- 2x12 lat pulldown
- 2x12 leg extension
- 2x12 leg curl
- 2x12 bench press
- 2x12 squat
- 2x12 lateral raises
- 2x12 calf raises
- 2x12 dumbbell pullover
- 2x12 rear lunges
- 2x12 bicep curls
- 2x12 tricep extensions
- 2x12 leg press

8/27 @ 10:00a: Running, 4 miles, 41:22

Here I am!

I have been so lazy about updating lately. I am bad.

But I've been having all kinds of adventures.

Last weekend, Randy and I did the Hillsborough Bikefest ride. We had signed up to do the English century, but after the horror that was our 60-mile ride the Saturday before, we got realistic and decided to do the metric century.

I'm really glad we did, because we had a great time and a wonderful ride and I'm sure the century would have probably turned ugly.

We got to Hillsborough at about 7, half an hour before the 7:30 start time. There was a light drizzle, which we ardently hoped would stop by the time we got going.

It didn't. We started out about 15 minutes behind schedule and it was still coming down. But I didn't mind. After standing at the start for 20 minutes, I was just happy to be moving since my legs were starting to get kind of stiff.

Of course, right after we got started, the rain really started coming down. It rained steadily for the first 20 miles. I had been dreading riding in the rain, but I was surprised to find that I actually really enjoyed it. The rain and the wet kept me nice and cool and made me feel all extreme and tough. Plus, the 20 miles to the first rest stop was basically one gigantic paceline, so we were cruising at 20+ the whole time, which makes it easy to forgive a little rain.

The rest stops were all very well-attended and stocked with all kinds of goodies. I had 1/2 a banana, 1/2 a peanut butter and jelly bagel and a chocolate chip cookie. I also refilled my water bottle and swallowed an electrolyte tablet. I was damned if I was going to bonk on this ride.

When we headed out from the rest stop, it was kind of a bummer to have lost the giant paceline, but we struck out bravely on our own. After about five miles, we caught a peloton that was passing us by. After about 20 minutes, though, it became clear that they were a) a lot faster than me and b) not very fun to ride with. There was no talking, no laughter, no smiles, and they didn't point out road hazards or anything like that. I hit a giant pothole dead-on, which I didn't see at all and none of the 10 people in front of me bothered to point out.

We let them go ahead and rode to the next aid station with an awesome guy from Wilmington. He had a great attitude and an awesome sense of humor, which was nice. The ride to the 40-mile point went fast amid jokes about beer and peeing on the side of the road, amid other topics.

When we hit the 40-mile aid station, my quads were getting kind of tight, so I took some time to stretch them out really well. I also found time for a slice of watermelon and a little bite-size PB and J. It was awesome.

The last 20 miles were nice and I even got to eat some Gu that I actually enjoyed! The only gel I'd ever had before was a Razz Sorbet Clifshot and it was nasty. During the ride, though, Randy brought some Espresso Love Gu and after one taste of that, my attitude on the energy gels was forever changed. Because that stuff tasted GOOD!

Anyway, we rode on in and I was glad we only did the metric century, because I'm pretty certain my quads would have blown out on me again at about 75 miles. I'm looking forward to doing a full century after I actually get the chance to really train for it.

Starting last Monday, I've been training for the half-marathon. I'm doing a Hal Higdon training plan, which includes two strength-training days. I'm so glad to be strength training again! I really missed it, so it's nice to be back again. I bought some new running shoes, which I took out this morning and which made me very happy. I can't wait until my mileage starts getting higher.

I love training!

6am: Running, 4 miles (no idea how long or what heart rate, because I forgot my heart rate and my watch. It was nice to have run for once just on my own body's pace, but I will make sure I remember my gear next time!)

Humble pie tastes like crap!

I learned two lessons yesterday.

Lesson #1: 60 miles is a lot more than 45.

Lesson #2: I am not as tough as I thought.

Yesterday at about 6:30, Randy and I set forth on our exciting 60-mile bike adventure. He warned me it would be hard; I ignored him. He told me 60 miles was a long way to ride; I poo-pooed him.

As we set out, the sky was cloudy and heavy, like it was about to rain. It never did really let go, but the wind sure was blowing. For the whole ride, there was a heavy wind and there were only a few miles when that heavy wind was at our back.

But we were feeling good and the first 20 miles were awesome.

At the 20-mile mark, we stopped for some water and gels and I checked our average: 17.2. Pretty good.

The next 15 miles were good, too. Around the 35-mile mark, I noticed that my quads were feeling a little crampy. I just shook it off and resolved to get some Gatorade at the little store we were planning to hit at the 40-mile mark.

We got to the store, I got my Gatorade and a Nutrigrain bar. I sucked them down too fast and suddenly felt kind of queasy. But I figured it would get better once we got moving, so back on our bikes we went. I checked our average again: 16.2. Not great, but not bad, considering we'd been fighting the wind for 40 miles.

It was okay for the next 10 miles. A little rough, but no big deal.

Once we hit 50 miles, though, It was all over. My quads, which had earlier felt a little achy, suddenly went into full-on screaming cramp mode. Both legs, from my knee to my hip, just HURT, like nothing I'd ever experienced before.

I kept pedaling as fast as I could: 17, 16, 15, 14, 13, 12.5 mph.

Randy pointed out that, finally, finally we had the tailwind we'd been looking for all morning. I was too miserable to notice.

For the last eight miles, every pedal stroke was a battle. I was riding an inch from Randy's tire, letting him pull me up the hills. Hell, I let him pull me along the flats and down the hills.

Randy's definition of a bonk goes something like this: "When you bonk, you don't even want to go DOWNHILL it hurts so bad." I'd say I fulfilled that definition and then some.

A couple times, Randy asked me if I wanted him to ride home and get the car, while I waited on the side of the road. "NOOOOOOOOO!!!" I yelled. It might take me 400 hours to get home, I might not be there until Sunday, but I'd be damned if I was going to be shipped home in the car.

But it was not a pretty sight. I was quite the multi-tasker during those last eight miles: pedaling, trying to rub the cramps out of my quads, and crying my fool head off all at the same time.

That's right, I cried like a baby on my bike. Partly because I was hurting, but more because I was so damn angry with myself. Angry for feeling weak, angry for going out too hard at the start, angry for thinking it would be so easy, angry for being wrong, angry for going from the rush of my first triathlon to one of the most humbling experiences I've ever had, just in the space of seven days.

The saddest thing is that I would be riding and massaging and crying and cursing, but the second I saw another cyclist coming from tbe other direction, I would put it all away. Head down, sniffle sniffle, bite down the pain and frustration, because lord forbid that other person see me having a hard time.

At one point during the last 5 miles, Randy tried to get in front to pull me up a hill. "NOO!!!" I yelled. "I CAN DO IT!!!"

"Baby," he replied. "Stop being so damn prideful and let me help you."

Chastened, I backed off and let him pull me home. And I realized that he was right. I AM too prideful. My pride is what got me into this situation in the first place. And rather than fall apart at the first sign of weakness, the truly strong response to the challenge was to eat my humble pie and savor it, chew it slowly and let it nourish me for next time, to learn what I could from my mistakes and apply that learning so something like this will never happen again.

We got home and I creaked off my bike and hobbled up the stairs. The only thing I could think of as I came in was "BATHTUB BATHTUB BATHTUB." I hobbled straight into the bathroom and started the water in the tub. And without even waiting for it to fill up more than an inch or two, without taking the time to wipe out the hairs and soap bits I usually clean off before I take a bath, I plopped my ass into the tub.

And it was heaven. Immediately on contact with the hot water (as hot as I could get it), my quads finally loosened up and I took the first deep breath I'd had in an hour.

Randy came in and brought me some Endurox. And sitting in the bathtub, waiting for the water to actually rise enough to cover me, enjoying my recovery drink, I could finally laugh at myself.

8/4 @ 6:30a: Biking, 60 miles, 15.6mph avg.

Que sera, sera...

It appears I've missed the bus on the Wilmington Tri. I went yesterday to check out registration, only to find that they had reached their cap and the race was closed.

I knew they only had 150 spaces left, but I didn't expect them to fill up in one day!

Ah well. Perhaps it wasn't to be. I haven't had the greatest time in the pool this week, so maybe I should just be thankful I don't have to test my skills in 1500 meters of ocean swimming.

Maybe. I'm a little bummed, but that's okay. It gives me more time and energy to focus on training for the half-marathon I want to do in November. Sigh.

Anyhoo.

I woke up yesterday, planning to do a nice 20-mile ride. Except I heard the phrase "code orange pollution" and looked outside and saw a nice thick haze lying over everything. So I went to the gym and rocked out with a little virtual brick: stationary bike + treadmill. I even did a few minutes of one-leg cycling drills. Good times.

I'm looking around for a trainer, though. If I have to ride inside, I'd rather do it on my actual bike instead of halfheartedly trying to get a decent fit on the spinning cycles at my gym.

This morning found me back at the pool and again, it was super, super crowded. This time, though, the aerobicizers weren't giving any space. So there were five of us crowded into two lanes. Most people got frustrated and left though, so for a while I had it all to myself.

Halfway through my workout, I was coming back down the lane, when I saw this man standing at the head of my lane. This man who easily weighed 300, maybe 350. This man who wanted to share my lane. At first, I was like, "Man, why do I have to get the big guy?!"

But then I quickly chastised myself and realized that, rather than feel put out by his presence, I should be rooting him on for getting out there and getting moving. And he did do a marvelous job of staying on his half of the lane.

The poor guy, though. He swam with his head pretty much out of the water his legs dragging behind him and you could tell he was having a hell of a time out there. He reminded me of how hard it was for me when I started and how far I've come and how hard it still is for me.

And suddenly, I didn't mind him there at all. (Especially since I actually got to feel kind of fast for once!)

One neat thing that happened on my swim: I think I realized that I've been kicking all wrong. Everything I read says that land athletes tend to kick too much from the knee down. And I was certain that I did not kick only from the knee down. But I realized today that my version of not kicking only from the knee down means just kind of moving my entire leg like it is one long stick without any grace or flexibiity at all. So today while I was doing my kick drills, I tried to imagine that my entire leg was one giant flipper. And lo and behold, I started going faster. (And my quads started getting a lot more tired, but what are you going to do?) So I'm looking forward to working some more on my kick. I love it when I find ways to improve!

Tomorrow is a 60-mile bike ride with Randy. Nothing fancy, we're just going out there to put in the miles and get at least a little preparation for the century we're doing next Saturday. I love the long weekend rides with my baby and I can't wait! We're planning to get out there by 6am, so we can be done and showered, with plenty of time to hit the farmer's market by noon. Yay!

8/4: Swim - Drills are fun and good for you!
200 warmup
4x50 catchup (on all drills, I drill up and swim back)
4x50 thumb-to-thigh
4x50 fist
1x50 one-arm freestyle, left arm (my form on the left is pitiful)
2x50 kick (no kickboard, stay face down in streamline to practice balance and kick)
4X25 sprint
100 cooldown

8/3: 40min stationary bike, 20min running (11:45min pace)

Not my future

What is it about water aerobics that either attracts cranky old ladies or brings out the crabbiness in perfectly nice older women?

The pool where I swim has 6 lanes. I usually go on Tuesday or Thursday when all 6 lanes are reserved for lap swimming. This week, however, my dentist appointment threw everything off and I had to go to the pool this morning. On Monday, Wednesday and Friday, the water aerobics class happens at the same time I swim.

Which is cool; I can share. The problem is that those old ladies can't. There are 15, 20 ladies max in this class and every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, they insist on taking up FOUR of the six lanes in the pool. Even though they all clump at one end and don't even take up a quarter of the space.

Normally it's not such a big deal, because there are usually only one or two of us swimming laps at that time. But I have had mornings where there are five people there to swim and we end up having to go 2 and 3 to a lane because the old ladies, even when we ask politely, won't give up one of their four lanes.

This morning, though, there were 6 people there to swim, so the lifeguard put the smack down and made the aerobicizers give up one of their lanes. Which I thought worked out quite nicely. The swimmers all doubled up and the ladies still had plenty of room.

But of course, when I came back from my swim and was changing in the locker room, the big topic of conversation among the aerobicizers was how presumptuous it was for us to expect another lane.

"You would think," one old lady sniffed, "that people would be able to look at the schedule and see when there's a class and the pool will be closed."

I wanted to tell her that you would think 15 little old ladies wouldn't need 75% of a pool to bob up and down in, but I was quiet.

All I have to say is that I never want to become a water-aerobicizing old lady. I'd say Fe-Lady has the right idea. When she's 80, she'll still be swimming laps around the water aerobics class!

Swim: Drills and Drills and Drills

300 warmup, 200 catch up, 200 brush-thumb-with-thigh, 200 fist, 200 count strokes per length (high 24, low 21)

A good day

With highs today at almost 100 and a heat index of 110 (which I suppose just means that it's really freaking hot AND really freaking humid), I am very thankful that I've alway s been one to train in the morning.

I went out for a spin before work this morning and it was really nice. It was fun to be out on my bike knowing that she and I did pretty well in a race situation. Now I feel like we're kind of a team. I hope she'll treat me well in two weeks, when I try to get her to carry me for 100 miles, even though I've never ridden for more than 45!

After my bike ride and before work, I stopped off at the dentist for my 6-month checkup. No cavities!

And tonight, Randy and I are walking with other people in our neighborhood for this "take back the streets" kind of thing, a symbolic challenge to some of the sketchy behaviors that are happening around town. Fortunately for us, we live on the fringes of the neighborhood and not where the real stuff is going down, but we still wanted to show our support. There's a lot of effort lately to create some community solidarity and I think that's awesome!

Today is a good day.

7:00am - Cycling, 16mi, 17mph avg.