Swim-Master 5000

So today's workout was a long swim: 6x500.  I wasn't really looking forward to it, especially after the first 20 laps.  I had the typical feeling of suffocation and figured that's pretty much how the entire workout would go.  Much to my surprise, the next set of 20 was actually really good.  I got into a groove and was finally able to breathe without panicking!!!  AWESOME!!!  Same thing for the next set of 20.

After I had three sets completed I looked at the clock and it was after 7:30 (pool closes at 8).  Unfortunately we were late getting there because there was not a highway on my way home from work that wasn't backed up due to a bad accident.  My normal 30 min commute took over an hour...ugh.  Anyways, I had three more sets to go in the pool and I was feeling great.  So I decided I was going to try to do them all without stopping between sets in order to try and get all 60 laps in.  Well, it was a valiant effort, and I didn't stop, but I only got 48 laps in before they blew the whistle to get out of the pool. 

I was ecstatic with this though because I felt great and I knew I could have finished the rest of the workout without stopping.  My breathing is finally under control!  It was a HUGE boost of confidence towards my next triathlon and I actually am starting to believe y'all that swimming does "get better"!!!  YEAH!!!!

 Look out Inge I may be your replacement!!!

Tomorrow's workout 12x100 swim (easy), 45 min bike (med to hard effort) followed by a 30 min run (med to hard effort....I don't go by heart rate because Matt has yet to buy me a Garmin ;) 

I almost died today...

....enough said!!!

Alright, I'll tell more...today was my first triathlon EVER.  We did a sprint tri at Clay's park in Canal Fulton, Ohio.  I really had no feelings going into this one as I had no idea what to expect.  The only thing that made me nervous was the swim portion...I hate swimming!  Anyways, they had the Clydesdales go first, then the guys, and then the girls; all separated by 10 minute intervals.  So I got to see Matt finish the swim which was cool...even though he claims he didn't hear me cheer for him.

So it was our turn and they sounded the horn.  We were off running into the water and then it came time to dive in.  Let me tell you I did great for the first oh say 50 meters!!!  HAHAHA....then I got to the first buoy, realized I was with the lead group, and then PANICKED!!!  Reality set in.  Pretty much I realized that in our swim workouts we go at a nice steady easy pace, and I was actually trying to race this thing, going way too fast for my current state of endurance.  Yeah, so I was out of breath and realized I still had 450 meters to swim.  I looked around for the kayaks Matt claimed that would be there and they were too far out to get to.  So, I thought to myself, "self, you have two options: sink or swim".  Now let me tell you how enticing it was to just "sink" or quit and turn around and say screw this, but I chose to swim because...well I have no idea why.  I think I cursed Matt the entire time I was swimming (even though he was probably already at mile 6 on the bike..haha...I'm sure he heard me subconsiously).  Anyways, I swam with my head out of the water for the most part which sucked, but every time I tried to swim "normally" I would panic.  Great feeling seeing your life flash before your eyes.


That being said...I surprisingly was not the last swimmer.  I was probably in the middle of the pack.  As soon as I could touch the bottom though I said screw his swimming stuff and I started running.  The biking part and the running part were pretty much uneventful.  I passed a few people on the bike, and a lot of people on the run...especially alot of guys straggling from the Clydesdale group.  That made me feel good.

Needless to say this was a real eye opening experience today.  I don't know that I would call it "fun".  I much prefer the duathlon and just plain running, but that might change with time and with more open water swim experience (this was my first open water swim, in a wetsuit, EVER).  Triathletes are pretty bad ass in my book after today.  I hope I can stick with it and get better.  At least I have some numbers for the next tri now.

Oh yeah, my unofficial time was 1:26 something and I got 81st place...don't know out of how many yet.  Results to follow!!!

 This guy is totally checking out my ass...j/k.  Getting my race markings before the swim.

 (L) My friend Katie from work.  She is a triathlon veteran.  (R) Me telling Katie that I am fearing for my life on the upcoming swim!!!

Friday's Workout and Today's Annihilation!!!

Well today was the Sagamore Hills Duathlon/Pump-N-Run.  Matt and I got home from our dog agility class at like 9 pm yesterday and loaded up the car so we didn't have to deal with all that today.  We ended up going to bed after 11 pm.  My alarms was set for 6:30, but apparently my nerves got the best of me and I woke up beforehand and just kind of laid in bed dreading the race.  I don't know why I was so nervous.  I guess I felt unprepared for the run because I am used to our old training regimen of running every single day.  With this new HIM training schedule we haven't run much or long distances at all and I just wasn't comfortable with that.  Looking at the results from last years duathlon I wasn't really too concerned about he bike, knowing that we were riding the course 16-20 mph earlier in the week and weren't exerting our full potential. 

Anyways, got out of bed at 6:30 got myself geared up and ready to go...still not feeling the race.  I was coming off of a horrible swim workout from Friday too, so my confidence was not great at all.  Have I mentioned I hate swimming?  Got to the course at at about 7:30...awesome that it was right down the road from our house (made me feel more comfortable in case I had any last minute stomachular issues).  Got the bikes set and did our pre-race stretch/warm up.  Lined up at the start line and headed to the back of the pack...my comfort zone =)  The bell rang and we were off...

...and I felt like crap -or- I thought I felt like crap.  Ended up with 8 min/mile pace for the first 2.5 miles, which was good considering I have never done a duathlon and had no idea how to pace myself.  I felt like I was going alot slower than I was, so I guess my head was messing with me.  Overall I was happy with this.  Got to the transition and suprised myself in how quickly I got going on the bike having NEVER done or practiced a transition in my life.  I love the speed laces we got last week.  I just slipped off my shoes strapped on my bike shoes, threw on the helmet and glasses and was off.  Well, I went to get a sip of water from a new water bottle I had gotten for my bike last week.  Apparently I should not have told the guy at the bike store to just give me the cheap one because it has a snap on lid instead of the screw on and when i went to open the spout the whole lid came off.  I was so pissed I wanted to chuck the waterbottle, but figured I would get the big DQ for doing so.  After about a minute of screwing around with it, while trying to maintain my position on my bike I finally got the stupid thing back on and was able to get some water. 

Other than that the biking was great.  Don't know my overall split yet, but I know it was much faster than we have been going in practice.  Also, to me the whole bike portion felt like a recovery period which was great.  I was really surprised at how well our training plan worked for the bike. No real issues with the transition from the bike to the run and the second run was pretty uneventful.  Everyone pretty much had their places locked in.  I ended up passing tow people, but nothing exciting.  I had no idea where I was at in terms of place either, so I honestly didn't push myself too hard.

With a half mile left to go here come Matt running back to collect me.  He always comes back after he finishes to run the last portion with me =)  He said there weren't too many girls ahead of me, but he couldn't tell how I was doing because of all the different events that were going on (pump n run, etc.).  So, I finished up with a time of 1:18.  I got 4th place overall for the women, and got 1st in my age group, and I don't know my overall place yet.  I was very happy with this!!!  I am more happy though that I now have some numbers and will know how to better pace myself for next time!  AND I ended up winning a $50 gift card for Fleet Feet!!!  SO EXCITED!!!

 The "winners circle": (L to R) Me, Matt, our new friend Bryan, and one of our TNT coaches Daryl.  We all placed in our age groups!!!

New Stuff!!!

Finally got my new tri suit and my new wet suit...AND THEY FIT!!! 

 

...Well, the wet suit fits.  The tri suit I am not sure about.  It fits great except for the fact that it is a little short in the torso.  I think I might order a large and see which one fits better because let's face it...no one likes a frontal wedgie!!! 

While I'm on the subject, we ordered our new gear from triathletesports.com.  Not a bad site except for the fact that their sizing charts are way off!!!  After taking my measurements I made the mistake of beleiving in the chart and ordering the XS tri suit and the M wet suit (the first time around).  Now I am not a big girl by any means, but I am certainly not an XS!!!  Against my better judgment, I convinced myself to follow the chart.  Yeah, I couldn't even squeeze one leg into the XS tri suit.  The wet suit I could get on, but felt like a penguin 'cuz I couldn't move my arms.  Hence the second order of the M tri suit and the L wet suit.  ...And now a probably third order for a L tri suit (have I mentioned I hate tight fitting clothes).  What a hassle....MEASURE TWICE CUT ONCE!!!  

Enough about fashion...onto our workout.  Today was yet another recovery day, which is totally messing with my mind.  We did a 30 min bike on this weekend's duathlon course and I feel like I am getting alot stronger on the bike...however I know next week is going to kick my ass!!!  I still love my new bike seat though!!!  Tomorrow we get to look forward to an "easy" swim day.  However in my book swimming is never easy =(  We'll see how that goes.  I also asked our trainer at work (I love that my work has a gym) to set me up with a complimentary strength training program that I can do during my lunch hour.  Unfortunately the HIM training plan we have (beginnertriathlete.com) does not include any strength training...weird?!?!?!



 

We are doing a HIM in how many weeks???

Today's workout was a 4x300 swim followed by a 30 min run.  I felt pretty good in the pool and thought I was doing well until Matt got out and said he was done when I still had 10 laps to go.  Honestly I think he cheated!!! That, or I just suck!!!  Actually he might have sabotaged me because I used to swim relatively fast (read: faster than Matt) until Matt taught me the "proper" way to swim.  Anyways, I seriously need to learn how to swim becuase although my endurance is getting better I know I am not getting any faster.  Plus the head of the Greater Cleveland Triathlon told Matt and I that you can spend alot of time in the pool and not get any better if you are swimming incorrectly to begin with.  Well that was a great boost of confidence!!!  Who knew this swimming thing would be so hard?!?!?

The run was alright.  Feels weird running after swimming and biking.  I guess I am just not used to it yet.  Plus today ended up being a trail run through the mud in the park behind the rec center.  So, it was more challenging than our normal road/towpath runs, but it ended up being really fun.  I haven't done a true trail run since HS!!!  I do have to figure out what is up with my ankle though.  It has been hurting ever since my taper for the Toledo Half Marathon.  No swelling or bruising, just pain on the inside of the ankle right by the ankle bone.  It feels better after a few days of recovery or cross-training, but immediately hurts again after running.  I have tried using a neoprene ankle brace, which helps alot, but I don't want to get dependent on it and it will cost me ALOT of time if I have to put that on during transition from bike to run.  Considering getting just a slip on Ace wrap type thing?  Oh well...pain is the true test of faith!

My Very First Blog!!!

Well folks...the moment you have all been waiting for...MY FIRST BLOG!!!! Hahaha!!! All I have to say is that I love love LOVE my new bike seat!!! I MEAN LOVE!!! Quite possibly more than I love my husband...haha...j/k Matt.


Went on a 30 minute ride today at moderate pace...keep in mind I am still numb from our ride on Sunday, but I could already tell that this seat will be much better for me. After the 30 min ride we did a 30 min run. This week is supposed to be our recovery week, but quite honestly I don't feel like we did much last week...even though my body tells me otherwise.

Alright, that's all for now. I still have to get used to this blogging stuff. Matt claims that it is fun, but I still don't really get it.