85 Degrees Today!

March 31 - 85 degrees in St. Louis living up to its reputation of never knowing what you will get weather-wise. It is still 81 outside at 9:30 PM. I actually was able to ride my bike today in bike shorts and a t-top, no socks AND I was sweaty. I'm pretty sure it will be in the 90s before we know it. But for today, it was very enjoyable.

Monday night I went to a TRX bootcamp class and it definitely lived up to its name. You want be humbled? Unless you're a mega body building, my guess is that this class will bring you to your knees. But it's one of those great workouts that feel so challenged, you have to go back until you can conquer it. So, that's what I'm going to do.

I have an incredibly busy workout week this week - TRX Bootcamp for an hour on Monday (not on the schedule - BONUS), Tuesday - 1 hour cruise interval run and then an hour of master's swim, Wednesday - 1 hour hill training on the bike, Thursday - 1 hour striders and then an hour of master's swim, Friday 90 minute bike, Saturday - long run and another bike session and Sunday a three hour reverse brick (run 60 minutes followed by a 2 hour bike with hills!). Then back on Monday again (no rest) for that TRX bootcamp - I'm pretty sure I will not survive - but at least the weather has been great.

My New Toy

Well, I'm all about new gadgets for training and improving performance. Because, after all, the natural talent just isn't really there.

Actually, I'm going to have to cut ties with my personal trainer as she more than doubled her rates. The only way I was really able to afford a personal trainer was because her rates were more than affordable - they were downright cheap! I actually even felt guilty about the minimal amount she charged for very excellent services. I would definitely recommend her to anyone. I think she is in the process of getting a new website, so once that is up, I will post it here.

Her new rates are $35.00 a session (which is about 45 minutes) or you can purchase 10 sessions for $250.00 ($25.00 a session). That's still pretty cheap in comparison to other licensed trainers, but still more than I'm willing to pay.

So, I decided that it was back to relying on myself to get in strength training. I already own the P90X dvds (got them really cheap on eBay), but I find that guy extremely annoying. So that is one option. I also have a strength training for triathletes dvd from Troy Jacobson. It's pretty good and doesn't take a lot of time - but it is boring.

For me, I need a new toy. This one is a bit on the expensive side but I believe it has a great deal of potential. And lets face it, it is a novel concept that promises great results. I need great results. So I bought the TRX Suspension Trainer. I actually had run into this about a year ago and was giving it serious consideration. But, it just wasn't necessary for me to do any additional strength training as I was hitting it plenty with my personal trainer.

I was re-introduced to the TRX through one of my favorite blogs - elizabethfedofsky.blogspot.com. She attended a trainer session for the TRX and was indicating how well it worked with her clients. She claims that most can drop 7 sec/100 on their swim time - I'm sold.

My toy arrived a few days ago. The packaging is phenomenal - it is very professionally done. I was impressed right away. Then I pulled out this contraption full of straps and thought to myself - I am out of my league on this one. It looks extremely complex. I might also add that the construction is outstanding - very nicely done. Looks very strong. Instead of just jumping in and trying to figure it out on my own, I watched the introductory dvd that came with the unit. It was great - and what looked to be a very daunting piece of equipment, was quite easy to operate and I was ready to try the exercises right away.

They say you have to be a little above average in fitness to do these exercises - but it's really easy to adjust yourself to a level that allows anyone to do them. That's it - I'm looking forward to another session with this later tonight.

I also found on Facebook, an outstanding workout for the TRX called the Predator. It looks awesome and I probably won't be able to complete it - but that will by my goal. I'm going to work through this until I can complete the entire workout and we'll see what happens.

I'm hoping for some real progress and hoping also to stay entertained enough to make the TRX part of my regular weekly routine.

I'll keep you updated.

Getting Old

Doesn't that phrase just depress you? I have a theory on this and I truly hope it holds a LOT of water. You can't stop from getting OLDER but you can stop being old. This is not a concept that my father can grasp. But then, there really aren't many concepts that he can grasp.

Here's the story - about 3 weeks ago my father had a very serious heart attack. They were able to put in a stent and clear some massive blockage and YES, save his life. But here's where I have to ask the question: for what?

My dad is 77 years old. He was previously diagnosed with Alzheimer's but after a hideous, horrendous and a whole other blog's worth of detail, they finally decided that he doesn't have Alzheimer's but a variation of dementia caused by blockage in some arteries in his brain. Well YAY for that. At least he's been properly diagnosed. Oh, did I happen to mention that for the past 6 months I have asked my mother not to accept a diagnose of Alzheimers without further testing. The drug, Aricept, that he was taking wasn't really having any impact. His short term memory is and was non-existent.

So he finally leaves the hospital for some care at the skilled nursing facility. Every few days he actually has a lucid day where you can carry on an adult conversation. The rest of the time, I'm not sure what world he roams through.

Yesterday I stopped by to take him an extra pillow. He made this request of my mother a week ago and she came back with a small travel pillow. That's not what he wanted - not sure where she came up the idea of a small travel pillow - but she's another trip as well.

When I got there, he broke down crying. He said he was having a bad day and that he was in a lot of pain. Mostly in his legs, which I figure is coming from all the physical therapy he's getting. So I asked the aide for some Tylenol to help with his pain. She gave him that and I surely hoped it helped. However, he continued this crying jag all the while mumbling about getting old and how terrible it is. What did he do to deserve this? To deserve what? Getting old - isn't he lucky to be able to get older? Isn't he lucky he didn't die? But then, he doesn't even remember what happened to him. He doesn't remember that he has asked me "How come you're here so early?" about every 5 minutes.

My dad isn't well-educated, barely graduated high school. He did provide for his family and raised 3 children - well, my mom did the raising. But he did most of the providing. Now he is retired and he has time to spend on his interests. What would those be? None, zero, zilch. He gets up, sits in a chair and sleeps, eats, and goes back to to bed about 6:30 in the evening. Now I have to ask the question - what kind of life is that? And you are wondering why you are sitting in a nursing home in a wheelchair crying? Isn't it obvious? So my question is - what kind of quality of life is this?

The lesson to be learned here is - do not sit around and wait to get old and die. I won't be doing that. I'm hoping that when the time comes, I'm out on the race course. I'm hoping that as I get older I won't be old and I hope that I will always be living until I cease to exist in this world.

Almost One Week Later

Failure was not an option - I knew that all along, but...you...just...never...know. Here is my Racine Half Iron Distance race report.

Swim - water temp on Sunday was 64 degrees. I really hate to wear a wetsuit, but sometimes there is no other way. I lost my training partner, Elena, on the walk down to the swim start. I'm not sure how that happened, except maybe I stopped at the porta-johns before heading down.

I found Elena standing next to me with 10 secs before our start. We ran into the water and you had to run almost to the first buoy as the water was so shallow. I tried to swim through the crowded wave, but it was very difficult. Since the water was so shallow, I kept standing and running and swimming for awhile. Then the water deepened and I tried to get into a rhythm. I was struggling really bad and ended up having to side-stroke for a time. I beat myself up the whole time as I see myself as an excellent swimmer and I'm wondering why I can't seem to get going sometimes. Finally, I settled down and swam to the last buoy, made the turn and began the run into shore. And there was Elena, right with me. She took off running up the beach to transition and I opted to slowly jog my way. She was only doing the Aquabike (swim and bike) so she could push it a bit harder.

Bike - I took my time and got everything I needed. Ran my bike out of transition and jumped on to begin the 56 mile journey. I had decided to try to hold a steady, comfortable pace for awhile. There was a lot of people on the course and it was difficult to try not to draft. There were a lot of people intentionally drafting. In fact, this guy went past the girl in front of me and told her she could draft off him all she wanted. She responded that she couldn't do that - good for her!

About mile 15, Elena pulls up next to me - why was she behind me? She indicated that she must've spent too much time in T1 - roger that. Then she went on her way. I wanted to get some water from the aid stations, but had never grabbed a bottle while riding before - I was a little nervous. But I gave it a try and it went very well. Took a few swigs of water and tossed the bottle - what a waste! I did that at all the stations ensuring I got enough water and I had Heed in my aerobottle - I never did finish all of that. I did finish all of my gel and Sustained Energy mixture.

About mile 40 I saw Elena up ahead of me. I sped up and asked her "What do you think?" to which she responded, "I think I need to beat you!" and she sped off again. I pretty much stayed behind her the rest of the way in. I was actually feel quite well and then realized that I was nearing the beginning of a 13 mile run - oh my God! When I got off my bike at T2 I told the volunteer that I hoped there was a new pair of legs waiting for me at my rack as the current pair were worn out.

I, again, took my time in transition and started off on my run. I jogged to the hill and began walking up. Can you believe the photographer was in the middle of the hill. He was telling people they needed to be running - so I did for my picture and finished walking up the hill. Then I began my 7 min run/1 min walk sequence. I was able to hold that for the first 6.5 mile loop and then it was all bets off. The second loop was for survival and finishing the race.

At various points on the bike and on the run, I became a bit emotional as I realized the day had finally come and I was doing this race. I was feeling pretty confident that I would make it to the finish. The run course was great as I was able to see all of the tri club members at least once on the run. It was helpful to know that they were still on the course when I hit the run rather than being totally done. I was on my first loop and most of them were on their second. That second loop was tough, but I kept alternating running with walking - although in retrospect, I wished I could've gotten a little bit faster time. But then, that's why you do the race again.

So, after the turnaround on the second loop, I kept slingshotting back and forth with this one girl. We talked a little bit and I would run by. She would pass me again when I stopped to walk. As we neared the finish, I ran past her for the final time - I didn't realize she was in my age group. I feel a little bad for her as she essentially had me beat but her run was worst than mine and I got past her for an award.

When I crossed the finish line, I was happy to be done, but didn't feel the swell of emotions that I had previously experienced on the course. Everyone from the tri club was cheering for me and the announcer noted the fact that I was another St. Louis tri club member to finish the race. He went on to thank the club for being so supportive and for coming up - good PR for the club.

The whole experience was great but best of all was spending so much time with many of the club members. They are truly a friendly and supportive group.

The race itself was staffed very well with lots of volunteers and the townspeople were quite friendly and supportive out on the course. A very positive experience. My only complaint was the post race food - fruit, pork & beans (?) and peanut butter and jelly on a hamburger bun. I was really happy the club grilled up hamburgers and hotdogs so I could eat something a bit more substantial.

So I have completed my very first half iron distance race and lived to tell about it - Yay! So will I do that distance again - most definitely!

On Being Afraid

I am really really afraid. I fear tornadoes, burglars breaking into my house, death by stabbing - pretty normal-type fears. However, recently I am afraid of my next race. This will be my first half-ironman. I'm probably looking at a 7 hour effort next Sunday (7/19).

Have I done my training - pretty much....at least 85% of it. So I should be ready - do I feel ready - pretty much... So what is it that I am afraid of?

I'm a little bit afraid of the swim part of this race because the water will be really cold. I'm hoping the water won't be REALLY cold like it was last year (54 degrees) when my friends did this race. I'm afraid of trying to run 13 miles after my swim and bike - I'm just not convinced that I can make it. Mostly though, I'm afraid of failing.

I have looked forward to doing this distance since November of last year. I was really disappointed that I didn't give this a shot last year, but I had a hip injury that kept me tempered. So now that the date is looming - I don't want to do it anymore because I am afraid that I will FAIL!

So what happens if I do fail? The world will continue to spin on its axis, the sun will rise daily, I will get up and go to work everyday, my husband will probably continue to snore - so essentially life will go on.

I think there is some chemical that lives inside the brain of a triathlete that makes the mere thought of failure rank amongst the greatest of all fears - and yet it isn't an earth-shattering experience. It happens sometimes no matter how hard you try.

What to do? Well, here's what I'm working on. Keeping a positive attitude - why fear failure when it isn't even an option. But what if......