My Husband the Ironman, Part 1

It was 5:00 a.m. August 29, 2010 in Louisville, KY as Jason and I made our way in the early morning darkness down to the Ohio River where Jason would begin his very first Ironman.  I carried his bicycle pump and he carried a few last minute items in a mesh bag as we walked hand in hand thinking about the hot, humid morning and what it would mean for the temperature during the day.  (Or at least I was thinking about this.  Jason may have been thinking something like, I can't believe I am about to do this.)

Before I tell of Jason's Ironman adventure, I must begin with a bit of background on this amazing man I call my husband.  Jason has been a runner most of his adult life.   I'm not sure if he started in middle school or high school, but he ran in college and continued with the sport afterward.  His focus since I have known him has been mostly on the marathon, although he runs all distances from the 5k to the occasional 50k.

He achieved his best marathon time a little over a year ago, running a 2:38 at the Rocket City Marathon in December of 2008.  After that, he set a new marathon goal for himself and went after it with a vengeance. His usual 80 mile week bumped up to 100+ which included speed work at least 3 times a week.  He was invited to run the San Fransisco Marathon in July of 2009 and he was hoping for a personal record there.

I'm not sure if it was a combination of the hills, the heat, or over training, but Jason did not reach his goal that day, finishing with a 2:51.  He had run himself into the ground and his body simply said, "enough."  I don't think either one of us realized just how injured he was until he ran the Air Force Marathon with me two months later.  We ran a 4:04 and it was harder on him than it was on me.

I finally suggested physical therapy and Jason agreed.  He began going to Nesin Therapy weekly and while he did begin to improve, it was a slow and painful process.  His frustration and discouragement was evident, and I was at a loss as to how to help him.

Then, in October he sent me an e-mail saying he'd like to try something new.  He wanted to sign up for the Louisville, KY Ironman and begin training for it.  He wanted a new goal that left plenty of time to heal and prepare.  He wrote, It is next August, so it gives me an entire winter to learn how to bike and swim and get back to where I can run.  It would help me to have a goal, something to reach for. 

He wanted my permission because of the investment in time it would be, and without hesitation, I said yes.  If this Ironman training would give Jason the motivation and purpose he needed to get through this injury, I was all for it.  I e-mailed him back with hotel reservations for August in Louisville, KY saying, "For your something new." 

So before he had a bike...or knew much about riding...or if he liked to ride at all, let alone swim, Jason signed himself up for the Louisville, KY Ironman.  He had 316 days.

Running at Moonset

This morning I did not feel very good when the alarm went off at 4:29. My throat was sore and my head hurt a little, but I was planning to hit the hard hills of Cecil Ashburn with my friend, Kristi, and I did not want to miss out on that.  It was also the second cool morning this week and it just feels like a waste not to get out and enjoy it.

It was dark when we started out, and I made a mental note to wear my blinky lights the next time we ran this course.  Only a few weeks ago it was completely light at 5:15, but this is slowly beginning to change.  As we ran, however, it gradually became lighter and the sunrise promised to be a beautiful one.  Running Cecil Ashburn is hard (for me), but the views from up there make it so worth it.  As we climb higher and higher, we can see much of Huntsville, all the way to the Saturn V rocket and the testing facilities on the arsenal.  We can also see the rise and fall of the hills and valleys around us, and with a backdrop of a sunrise, it was quite lovely.

When we reached our turn-around point at mile 4, we realized we'd be turning before we actually got to see the full sunrise.  This was disappointing, although we would have some beautiful views on the run back.  Mile 4 in it's entirety is a climb.  Only a few short weeks ago, it was a climb with the full sun on our backs, which was incentive for me to hurry and get to the top (although I don't know if I'd call my shuffling pace up that hill "hurrying").

Once we turned and began our climb, the moon was before us. It was full and bright and big.  Despite the growing light of the sun, it held on to its own brightness.  I figured if I was that beautiful, I would want to stay up past my bedtime as well.  I kept my eye on the moon for the rest of the run.  It seemed to get bigger and fade a little bit, but it was still there as we finished our 8 miles and I got in my car to drive home.

My head still hurt, and I was so tired I could have closed my eyes on the drive home.  I began to long for my first cup of coffee as I thought about the long day ahead of me with work followed immediately by class.  Still, I would not trade those 8 miles for a few more hours of sleep.  Seeing the sunrise and the moonset during my early morning run with Kristi was worth it.

Ode to the Air Conditioner

Oh Air Conditioner Man, Air Conditioner Man
Wherefore art thou, Air Conditioner Man?
Deny thy 8:00 a.m. and refuse they 9:00 a.m.
Or, if thou wilt not, be but sworn to come at 3:00 p.m.
And I'll no longer melt whilst sitting upon my couch....

So, we have been without air conditioning for 4 nights and 3 days...and really it isn't that bad, except at night when I find it hard to sleep.  It started on Thursday evening.  We noticed how hot it was, but it was late and we couldn't do anything about it until the next day.  The Air Conditioner men came Friday afternoon and "fixed" it, only for it to go off again Friday night.  They came back Saturday morning and "fixed" it once again, only for it to quit Saturday afternoon. Sunday Jason read about it online and tried his hand at it.  He figured out what part needed to be replaced, but we couldn't find where to purchase it. The air conditioner men have promised to return today at 3:00 p.m.

Last night as I stood next to Jason holding the flashlight he said, "I don't understand how they missed this.  It isn't rocket science."  To which I replied, "Apparently, it is rocket science. You are a rocket scientist and it took you to figure it out."  We laughed a bit as we headed back into our stuffy house.  I opened the windows, made sure all the fans were on and poured myself a glass of iced tea.

With the sleepless nights has come a complete lack of motivation to run. On top of not wanting to get up when the alarm clock goes off, it is somehow discouraging to know that I will not be cooling off after my hot run in the August heat.  So instead of 15 miles on Saturday, I got in a whopping 5.  Instead of 5-6 miles on Sunday, I got in a VERY hot 3. 

I was annoyed and frustrated that ONCE AGAIN I had not done the mileage I had planned to do.  I talked with Jason, which always helps, and he encouraged me saying there was plenty of time to get in the training I needed before the races I wanted to run. Then in small group last night, things were somehow put into perspective as we talked about Joshua, what he was called to do, and what we are called to do.  I'm not here on this earth to run miles, although it is something I love to do.  It is not my main purpose.  The main purpose is to follow Jesus Christ and live such a life that others can see Him in me...and hopefully want to know Him if they don't already.

"Fear God and obey His commandments, for this is the whole duty of man."  It is quite simple.  And yet I get bogged down in air conditioner troubles and low mileage days, and when I pick up the Bible and take a look inside... I feel so...shallow!

So I'm going to keep running and chase down my mileage goals.  If I make them, great.  If I don't, life will go on and what really matters will still really matter.  The air conditioner will eventually get fixed and until it does, I will drink a lot of iced tea, run around in my skimpies, and feel like I live in the 1920s when no one had Air Conditioning.

Disqualified

This is a word I thought I would never hear.  First of all, I am basically a nobody in the running community.  What I mean is the bigger and longer the race, the more I become one of the masses, dressed in their favorite running attire, giving it their best to meet their own personal goals.  Sure, in the small, local 5ks I might win my age group, but most of the time I just blend.  Few "official" eyes are on me because I am not a main competitor.

Second, I am a goody-two-shoes, especially when it comes to obeying the rules.  I drive the speed limit (most of the time), I wait my turn, and I follow instructions.  Both of my parents worked in education and they taught me that no matter how I felt about a rule, I had to obey it.  Period. 

And yet, on November 8, 2008 I was disqualified from the Huntsville Half-marathon.  Here's the story.

It had been a while since I had run a half-marathon.  My focus had been mostly on marathons and I didn't often run shorter races, although this began to change once I met Jason.  I had no idea what my time could or should be for a half-marathon, but I was aiming for 2 hours which would be a 10 minute personal record.

Well, the race was amazing.  It was the perfect day and I ran hard and strong, finishing in 1:50 which was way better than anything I had imagined.  I was ecstatic!  We hung around talking to friends, cheering in the remaining runners we knew before making our way to the results posted in the gym where the awards ceremony would be.  I searched the results, but I could not find my name.  A running pal said he would go check in to it.  He said they probably had skipped over my number by accident.  He returned a few minutes later to tell me I had been disqualified. 

"For what?"  I asked in disbelief.

"For wearing headphones," he replied.

"But I didn't have any headphones," I responded. He patted me on the shoulder and said he was very sorry.  As if that were the end of it.  I meant to get to the bottom of this.  Jason went on the war path.

Here is what happened.  The president of the track club (we will call him Pres), upon finishing the race himself had been standing somewhere near the finish when he saw me and Jason approaching the finish line.  Jason had finished his race long ago and had gone to the car to get his headphones in order to run a few more miles.  When he found me, however, he took them off to carry them in his hand because headphones were not allowed in the race.

Headphones in Huntsville races are a big fat no-no.  It is one of the first things runner's see when visiting the Huntsville Track Club website, and it is protested loudly at every race.  I may not wholeheartedly agree with everything they say about headphones, but I know that if I want to participate in these events, I have to abide by the rules.  Despite the fact that Jason was no longer racing or wearing his race number, he didn't want to appear to disregard race rules either, so he took them off and carried them in his hand.

When Pres saw Jason and I running to the finish with Jason carrying headphones, he assumed they were mine and that I had used them during my race.  He then went to the race director and those in charge of the results and told them to disqualify me.  They did.

Jason was livid.  Mom was fast on his heals.  Those two alone can be formidable foes, but together...look out.  Jason searched high and low for Pres and the race director.  Neither could be located.  Jason did find the owner of our local Fleet Feet store who was helping with the race and told him (quite heatedly) about the predicament.  Mom, meanwhile, was talking to the guys at the results computers, explaining the situation and asking them to put me back into the results.  What was I doing?  I was protecting everyone from the two of them (not literally, but you get the idea).

In the end, they put me back in the results. Still, what had been an amazing race for me was somewhat tainted by the almost-disqualification and I was bothered by it.  I was bothered that my name, known locally because of my husband, would be marred by a disqualification and set a bad example for other runners in the community.  While I am a headphone wearer and think the HTC's approach to headphones is a little over the top, I do not wear my headphones when participating in their races. 

I was bothered that the Pres did not even talk to me or Jason about the disqualification, knowing very well who we were and how involved we were in the running community.  Also, he was not attending the race as a race official, but as a runner himself and happened to be simply hanging out when he spotted headphones.  Then, to top it all off, they weren't even in my possession when he made the assumption that they were mine and acted on it. 

All of it was frustrating, annoying and bizarre.  Jason and I discussed it at length over a celebratory dinner at Olive Garden that afternoon.  It was tempting to have nothing to do with the HTC or the local races if that was how they handled things.  We enjoyed being involved however, so we did not want to punish ourselves for what someone else had done.  I decided to write Pres an e-mail and share my thoughts.  I said everything I wanted to say and he returned my e-mail with sincere apologies for the misunderstanding.

So everything turned out okay, despite all the craziness that surrounded the event.  I am more sensitive now, however, to the headphone issue and just how heated discussions of their use in races can become.  Now, when entering a marathon in another town, I call or e-mail the race director to make sure headphone use is allowed before I wear mine.  A marathon is usually the only race during which I like to wear my headphones, and I do not want to break the rules and be disqualified.

It was a running experience I certainly did not imagine for myself, but it makes for a good story on long runs...and while I think I've let it go, the remembering often makes me run just a tad bit faster.

Why Did I Wait So Long?

I have just begun reading "Eat, Pray, Love" on my lunch break and I am sure, if my lunch break were never ending, I would read until I reached the last page.  Why did I wait so long to read this?  It has been out a long time and I have had friends who enjoyed it give raving reviews, and yet I had no interest. 

So maybe it took Julia Roberts or my own changing life and desires, my similarities to the author and the differences that make her seem so goofy to me... but when I went to the UAH bookstore during yesterday's lunch break, I bought "National Security for a New Era" (my text book for National Security Policy) and "Eat, Pray, Love". 

I am on page 36 and I must stop now to resume work...but I am so glad the weekend is almost here.

Someplace Beautiful

Lately I have been longing for someplace new and beautiful to run.  Huntsville provides plenty of places that are scenic and lovely, but sometimes I want a brand new place I've never seen where I can run and admire all that is around me.

This weekend Fall Creek Falls State Park offered just such a place.  Jason and I drove to the cabin where we would be staying Friday night.  The place was absolutely precious, clean and cozy (hence the name Cozy Cabins and Cottages).  It was 5 miles from the entrance of Fall Creek Falls State Park and that was perfect for us.

Saturday morning I had planned to run 15-20 miles, but since I slept in until 7:00, I only got in 10.  They were 10 good ones, however.  We ran down the Archie Rinehart Parkway, which leads into the park.  My first three miles felt slow and laborious, but once I got warmed up, I felt good and began to run a bit faster, achieving negative splits to the end.  Jason joined me for my last 4.  He would run ahead and then circle back to run with me and repeat.  There was mostly shade for us until the sun got too high above the trees.  The air was clean and fresh and seemed a bit cooler than the temps of the mornings in Huntsville. 

After the run, I took a shower and made coffee in our cute little cabin kitchen.  We relaxed for a bit before heading out to explore the park.  It was a warm afternoon, but again, most everything we did was in the shade.  This helped until the hike back up from the falls themselves. I was drenched in sweat once again and wondered why I'd bothered showering in the first place.

The falls and everything around them were gorgeous.  I made fun of one informational post which said one of the falls was like a "silver stream running through a green velvet pillow."  Jason said I couldn't make fun because I write like that too.  I said I did not.  He said I was flowery.  Am I flowery?  I think I am more funny-descriptive than flowery.  But I guess I can be flowery too.  I suppose it is hard not to be when in such surroundings as Fall Creek Falls.

Either way, the weekend provided exactly what I had been longing to see.  During a portion of the run at the end of the triathlon on Sunday, I was alone and running along the lake.  I took the opportunity to tell the Creator just how much I loved what He had made and how grateful I was to be out in it.  Running.

Trying to Train

So, in trying to train for a 50 miler, I've found some small obstacles.  The heat.  The new job and work schedule. Triathlons and bike rides.  These things make life a little crazy.  BUT I like them all (well, except for the heat) so I won't complain too much.
Here is what last week looked like:

Sunday, August 8 - Ran 3 hot miles in the middle of the day with Jason.

Monday, August 9 - Ran a hilly 10.3 miles with the girls in the morning.  Swam after work.

Tuesday, August 10 - Ran another hilly 10 miles with Kristi, hitting what we running gals in Madison like to call "The Dragon."  No Boundaries that night which consisted of 1 mile with the group and 1 mile with my sis.

Wednesday, August 11 - Ran Cecil Ashburn with Kristi covering 8 miles of on and off climbing.  Swam at the gym that night.

Thursday, August 12 - Slept in and ran 4.5 alone thinking I'd get to ride my bike that evening.  We got rained out so I made homemade blueberry crisp instead.

Friday, August 13 - Ran 1.6 miles to the park, ran and walked 1.5 with my No Boundaries team, ran 1.6 back to the house.  I swam at lunch because I was still mad about missing my bike ride the previous afternoon.

Saturday, August 14 - Ran 10 semi-hilly miles down Archie Rinehart Parkway in Pikeville, TN.  Then went hiking all over Fall Creek Falls with Jason.

That came to 49 miles for the week, which is great...unless one is trying to train for a 50 miler, in which case I am not sure it is quite enough.  My hope is that all the riding and swimming and triathloning (a word?) is somehow building up the strength and endurance I will need to go the distance. 

So I press on.  I'm hoping to get a long run in Saturday and maybe some trails on Sunday.  We shall see.  The training continues...

Triathlon Triumph

As I mentioned in a previous post, I registered for the Fall Creek Falls Triathlon, and I was not sure how I would do with the new triathlon distances. 

Well...I DID IT!  Yes sir ree.  I won't say with flying colors because I was mighty slow on the bike ride, but I will say it was a successful first Olympic distance triathlon. 

The swim was nothing like what I had imagined, which is good because I wasn't imagining anything pleasant.  We started in 3 minute waves and I started with the females under 40.  I know this does not apply to all females who participate in triathlons, but I found my fellow swimmers to be quite polite.  There was very little touching and bumping into one another, however, when we did heads popped up for a quick apology.  I laughed to myself as I heard the occasional "sorry" spoken during the swim. 

As I swam I focused only on the next buoy I had to reach.  In no time, I was passing the last buoy and was thrilled to see the shore.  I pushed harder to reach it, running the 300 yards to the transition area.  I finished the swim in 26:40, which was significantly faster than what I'd predicted. 

I hopped on my bike and grinned as I flew down the first hill.  I had done it!  I had completed the swim!  I was excited about my recent triumph and ready to focus on what I thought would be a quick ride.  Wrong.  There were a ton of hills and I managed to lose momentum on most of them.  It took my legs a while to quit burning and get used to the motion of pedaling.  Around mile 15 I was bored, ready to run, and I felt like I'd been passed by just about everyone else in the race.

I have no idea why I get bored riding and I don't get bored running, but I was so ready to get off that bike.  I thought the transition area would never show up, but of course, it did.  I finished the ride in 1:32.  Finally.

I quickly got out of my cycling gear and into my racing flats and visor, taking a drink from my water bottle before I took off.  I hadn't taken the time to drink much during the ride because I was so impatient to finish.  I realized I was getting a very late start to my run and I wasn't sure, even with 6.2 miles, that I'd be able to catch all the people who passed me on the ride.  I sure meant to try, though.

Just as I left the transition area, I saw Jason running up to his finish.  He looked strong and we slapped hands as we passed each other.  I had also seen him on the bike ride, but he flew by at such a speed I did not have time to cheer. 

The run was my favorite part (shocker).  It was mostly in shade along a bike path through the woods.  At first it felt strange, but it wasn't long before I found my rhythm and ran strong.  I began to slowly catch other runners, especially on the hills.  At each water station, I grabbed a cup, took a sip and threw the rest in my face.  It was so cold and refreshing.  I was pretty excited about feeling so strong, and I think this excitement pushed me to run even harder. 

Around mile 4 I saw Jason running toward me.  When he saw me he stopped in his tracks and yelled at the top of his lungs, "There's my girlfriend!"  He said something else but I don't remember what it was.  I laughed as he got closer and said, "You nut!  What are you doing?"  He said he'd been called a showoff by some of the people he passed on his way to find me.  He told them he was looking for his girlfriend but they did not believe him. 

I told him I was passing every runner I could see.  He said not to let him slow me down (hilarious) and that if I needed to leave him, I should (sure).  We caught more and more runners the further along we got.  We passed the guys who had called him a showoff and they said, "So you do have a girlfriend."  The girlfriend left them in her dust.

Once we got out of the shade and onto the bridge that would lead us to the final climb to the finish, Jason pointed out a girl in pink who was already starting the climb.  "That is your huckleberry," he said.  "She's WAY up there!"  I replied.  I was focusing on the two girls in blue who had just reached the bridge.  "She's going to burn out on the hill," he said. 

Sure enough, as I started my own climb, there she was walking slowly up the hill.  I passed every single person I could see until there was no one between myself and the finish line.  I may have gotten smoked on the swim and the ride, but no one passed me on the run.  There was just not enough time to catch all of those people with only 6.2 miles of running.  Still, I was pleased with how good I felt during it, with a finish time of 54:31 for my run. 

My overall time with transitions and everything was 2:59:39, which was much better than what I had estimated.  There is a ton of room for improvement, of course, but that is what keeps it interesting.  My husband, on the other hand totally rocked it.  He was 3rd in his age group with an overall time of 2:12, which put him a mere 7 seconds behind 2nd place and 2 minutes behind 1st.  He was 11th over all with the 3rd fastest run.  He won a small banjo for his efforts and I was so very proud of him.

So my first foray into the Olympic distance was a good one with some wonderful memories made along the way.  That, I believe, is how it should be.

Thoughts on Hydration

This week at our second No Boundaries training run, I spoke briefly about hydration before we ran and walked our mile.  I am by no means an expert on health and hydration, and while some of what I say can be found in the latest and greatest research, there are other sources which will say otherwise.

That said, I'm still going to tell you what I believe to be true on the subject.  

How Much?

• Some sources say drink eight 8-ounce glasses of water (or liquid) a day. Some sources say half your body weight in ounces, and some say drink so that you are not often (if ever) thirsty and your urine is pale yellow or clear.  I leave it up to you to decide the amount that works for you.
• For hydration during a run, Runner's World says this:  If you are running/working out LESS than 30 minutes, water should be sufficient. If you are running/working out MORE than 30 minutes, you might want to find a sports drink you like to replenish what you use up during your run.  For more on that, go HERE.

Amount is not really what I want to focus on here because I want to introduce you to some yummy and healthy drinks to sip throughout the day or during your run, as well as some drinks you might want to skip.

Sports Drinks

Most athletes use Gatorade, Powerade, Ultima, Cytomax, etc.  I think all of these are fine according to your personal preference.  One thing I note here, however, is that the lower calorie versions are not as good for you, and I believe work against hydration rather than for it. The reason is because these drinks (G2, Powerade Zero, Propel) have fake sweeteners such as sucralose (splenda), which are not good for the body, especially when trying to replenish our energy stores and hydrate.  If you are trying for a lower calorie beverage, try simple water or water down your Gatorade.

For reasons WHY I avoid these fake sweeteners, go HERE.

Daily Drinks

I don't know about you, but wanting to keep my calorie count down, while sipping something yummy and healthy is something I strive to do.  So, on my quest for delicious, nutritious beverages, this is what I have found.

Izze's are fizzy and fruity.  The canned versions are my favorite.  They are just enough to go with lunch and only 80-90 calories per can.  The bottled versions have more, but are also perfect for a hot summer day.  I know for sure you can find these at Kroger, Target and Earth Fare.

Naked Juice is a GREAT source of fruits and veggies and all kinds of goodies. They are high in calories, however, due to all the fruit they contain. I prefer the half-size versions which, here in Huntsville, I have only seen at Sam's and Starbucks.  

Honest Tea is a yummy, semi-sweet beverage that I love. It boasts of being "just a tad sweet." They also have Honest Ade and a drink for kids as well. So far, I have found these at Kroger and Brueggers.

Simply Lemonade is one of my favorites.  It is SO GOOD.  This brand also makes Simply Orange Juice, Simpy Grapefruit (another fave), Simply Limeade, etc.  These do have sugar so it is important to watch the calorie intake and make room for it in your diet, but it is so worth it, especially in the summer!

I'm going to go ahead and admit that I tried this and did not really like it.  I mention it anyway, however, because some of you might like it and it is VERY good for you - especially for runners trying to replenish electrolytes.  This is not the only brand that produces coconut water, though.  I think Naked Juice makes one also.  When trying it out, just make sure to read the label and watch out for fake sweeteners. 

And there is ALWAYS good old fashioned brewed-at-home tea.  I have recently started to enjoy unsweet tea, although when making mine at home, I put about two tablespoons in the pitcher to make my own version of the "just a tad sweet" Honest tea. Keep a pitcher of tea at home and you will always have something to take to work and sip at home.

Before I wrap this up, I want to mention a drink I thought was a great idea...until I researched what was on the label.  That is the fad drink, Vitamin Water. 

It sounds great.  Vitamins, minerals, electrolytes, low calorie count.  What more could you want?  Well, take it or leave it, here is what I found.  Both Vitamin Water and the lower calorie "Zero" version contain something called "Crystalline Fructose."  This is just as bad, if not worse, than high fructose corn syrup.  To read what I found, go HERE.

This is NOT an extensive list of good or bad drinks to consume.  And I'm certainly not saying one should never partake of a drink with a fake sweetener in it.  I, for one, enjoy a good diet drink every now and again.  But, it is still important to at least be aware of what you are drinking and how it may affect your body, and I hope this post has shed a little light on that subject.

Happy Hydration!

Over My Head?

I've been swimming pretty consistently for... a week now.  I'm going on two since I swam yesterday after work.  I always wonder if the greater workout really occurs while swimming laps or when attempting to get in and out of a Speedo.  The latter requires some dancing and tugging, that is for sure. 

I like swimming  more than I thought I would, especially in the summer.  I tried to swim with Jason during the winter months, but after a day of being cold, I could not bring myself to put on a bathing suit.  The summer months are much easier and it is a good thing too, now that I am doing the triathlon thing.

Speaking of which, I have one this weekend.  Even though I believed myself to have no interest in doing more than a sprint, I find myself signed up for a bigger one.  This is Jason's fault, of course. When he signs up for an event, I usually sign up as well.  If I'm going with him, I might as well do something.  Usually, there is more than one event taking place so if the event he chooses is too much for me, I can choose the smaller one.

Well.  The Fall Creek Falls Triathlon only offers one event.  Jason signed up for it...and I did too. We will be swimming 1500 meters, riding 24.9 miles, and running 6.2 miles.  I think it is called the Olympic or intermediate distance.

Am I in over my head?  Maybe.  I think I can complete this event, but how well I complete it is another story.  I'm a wee bit concerned about the swim.  My approach to a triathlon has been to swim a few times before the event, just to remind my body how to do it and see what it feels like.  With distances like 400 meters, I believe that is acceptable.  For 1500 meters, however, I'm not sure that will cut it.  And yet... 

So last night I heaved and tugged and smooshed myself into my bathing suit (which is really cute with frogs in all shades of blue on it), put on my sexy swim cap and my suction cup goggles, and decided to see just what 1500 meters felt like.  The previous week I'd been swimming for time, but I wanted to know distance, so I tried to keep count this time.

With two brief breaks and an extra lap or two in there, it took me about 40 minutes to swim 1500 meters. I'm pretty slow in the water, but I am smooth and consistent.  That is in a pool, inside a lane all by myself, however, not in a lake full of strong, fast, crazy, clumsy, directionally challenged swimmers.  This should be interesting.

I'm not so concerned about the cycling portion or the run, except that the run is going to be done in the middle of the day in August...after swimming 1500 meters and riding 25 miles.  Jason has said he will come back and run in with me, and that will help. 

I'm apprehensive, but excited about the new challenge.  And maybe a little glad that I missed all but one day of Shark Week*.

*Yes, I know this is a lake, not an ocean, but the imagination can transcend such limitations.

What Really Happened

So yesterday I got up, drank some coffee, and wrote a bit before packing up and hopping in my car to head to lake Guntersville with some of my best pals.  I needed to make some stops before I left town, however, because it was tax free weekend and even if it were not, I needed to pick up some things.  I knew I would not get another chance, so off I went.

Two hours later Jason called to tell me he'd finished his ride, and I said I was still in town.  There were several things I wanted to get done and I wasn't sure how to make it happen.  With the new job on top of my training schedule, I wasn't getting home until 6:30 or 7:00 each evening...which meant I was a bit overwhelmed by all I wanted to accomplish before Monday showed up again.  Jason said I should stay and do them if that is what I wanted to do.  So I made the phone call and then went home to have some lunch with Jason.  We tackled some much needed chores and then set out again for more errands. 

By 5:00, he was exhausted from his early morning and long ride.  We grabbed a Zaxby's salad and headed home. 

Why not do all of those things Sunday, you might be asking?  Well, we are heading out of town to celebrate Jason's brother's birthday and we will be leaving before stores and such open. 

The truth about me is that I'm not really a shopper. If I need something, I put it off until I need more than one something and then I try to hit it all at once.  The tax-free weekend offered me the chance to save a bit of money, and I wanted to take advantage of that.  The other truth about me is I like having all my ducks in a row by Monday.  I like for us to have clean running and cycling clothes so that we don't run out mid-week.  I like for us to have groceries for lunches and dinners.  I like for the house to be reasonably clean because I know I am not going to get to it during the week.  I also like time with my man, and with my new schedule, we hadn't really seen much of each other during the week.

Does this mean I never go anywhere and have fun?  Certainly not.  It just means...it is hard to have fun when my plate is stacked so high.  And I don't mean with pancakes. 

The day was a good day, despite not getting to see my friends...who may have disowned me by now.  As for today, it has started with coffee, quiet, and heart-shaped blueberry muffins by Jason.  Perfect.  And I am at peace with how I spent the day, despite breaking the streak and canning the girl's day. 

Rest

This morning I did something luxurious and rare.  I slept in and rested.  While I know rest is an important part of any training plan, it is something I find hard to do, especially in the summer months.  When the temperatures reach 100 with heat indexes that reach even higher, the early morning hours are really the only time to get in a good run and suffer the least.  And now that I have a job, Saturdays are the only days to get in more than 10 miles.

I usually make plans with a running friend or group for Saturday mornings, which ensures that I will be up and running at the coolest hour possible.  And as seen in the previous post, there have been few Saturdays in the last two months that have been open for sleeping in due to an event of some sort.  But today, I have plans to go to the lake with some of my best girls, and I made no plans for running with any other friends.  I had decided to get up and run 10 miles on my own, which would put me at 46 miles for the week.  I think my weekly mileage needs to be rising higher than that, but 46 would have been a good starting point. 

I had also tossed around the idea of not running at all.  This week I found myself dragging all day twice, and I hate that feeling.  On top of a new job, I have begun adding afternoon activities onto my morning run, and I think my body is trying to get used to that.  Still, I hate trying to work and stay focused while feeling sluggish and sleepy.

Here is my week at a glance:

Sunday - I ran 3 miles before church.  I was tired from the previous day's 40 mile bike ride and it was a HOT morning.

Monday - I ran 9 miles on hard hills with the girls and then swam for an hour after work.

Tuesday - I ran 10 miles with a mean hill in the middle and then coached my No Boundaries team that evening.  This involved walking and jogging 2 miles in 100 degree heat (my team is so amazing, by the way).

Wednesday - I canceled my 8 mile run over Cecil Ashburn (a giant hill, also known as Cecil Assburn) with Kristi because I was so tired, and ran 5 miles around my neighborhood instead.  That afternoon I swam for 40 minutes at the gym before heading to church to teach my five-year-old class for the last time this semester.  This was one of my dragging days.

Thursday - I ran a slow 6 miles with Julia and then rode 21 miles on the arsenal with (or way behind, I should say) Jason and the cycling group.

Friday - I ran 1.5 miles to the park where Julie and I offer an alternate run to our No Boundaries Team, walked and jogged a mile with them, and then ran the 1.5 miles back home.  After work, I swam for 40 minutes in the pool gym.  This was the second day of total tiredness at work. 

This morning Jason got up at some early hour and ran.  I slept.  Then he came home, changed into his cycling gear, kissed me good-bye and left for a ride in New Hope. I slept.  At 8:30 I got up feeling so very rested and so very guilty for having done it.  Jason told me the evening before that it takes a little while for the body to get used to doing two things each day, and that I should give it a week or two.  

But I am impatient.  I absolutely love everything that I am doing.  I love how strong and alive it makes me feel.  I love training for new events.  I love pushing myself a little harder to see how much I can do.  I love improving.  I even like how it makes me look.  And while I hate that I have missed a perfectly good opportunity for a 10+ mile run, I know how good I am going to feel tomorrow and Monday. 

So I have rested.  I cannot say that I won't sneak in some miles during or after my time at the lake with the girls, but at the very least, having the idea in my mind helps just a little.  And I have already sent out e-mails to friends about a morning run tomorrow. 

Streaking

As I've mentioned in my previous posts, Jason and I have been on an event streak the last few weeks.  His streak began with the McMinnville Triathlon, May 29.  I was a spectator and it was at this event that I decided I had to try this cycling/triathlon thing.  On our way home we stopped at Madison Cycles and my own streaking adventure began (not the naked kind, but the racing kind).

I am chronicling it here because I am about to break my own streak.  Instead of doing another metric century with Jason, I am going to head to the lake to hang with "the clubhouse," a group of dear camp/college friends.  I don't get to see them very often and our busy lives make it hard to find a day for ourselves, so when we do I have the seize the opportunity.

So without further ado, I will record my streak here as I prepare to bid it a fond farewell.

Saturday, June 5 - The Cahaba River Ramble in Vance, AL
This was an insane 10 mile trail run with two river crossings during which I sprained my ankle.  This occurred around mile 3, but I was able to push through and enjoy the rest of the race.

Saturday June, 12 - The JRAG Buster Britton Triathlon in Birmingham, AL
My first try at a tri two weeks after purchasing my bike. I had an absolute blast, and this event began my love affair with the sprint triathlon.

Saturday, June 19 - The RC Cola Moonpie 10 Mile in Bellbuckle, TN
By far, the hottest race of the year.  Every year I sign up to run this race because it is tradition, and every year I ask myself if we need to find a new tradition.  Still, there are moonpies and RC Colas to be had afterward and somehow that makes it worth it.

Saturday June, 26 - The Heel and Crank Duathlon in Huntsville, AL
A short and sweet 2.5 mile run, 10 mile bike ride and 2.5 mile run in Research Park.  Once again, I had a blast and happily found a little extra push I thought I had lost.

Saturday, July 3 - The Firecracker 5k in Huntsville, AL
This was a great little race where I achieved a 5 second PR of 22:40 for my 5k time. 

Sunday, July 11 - The Hospitality Highway Century in Roswell, GA
My very first bike ride over 21 miles, I count it a huge success!  I had a good time and surprised myself by surviving my 65 mile ride through the gorgeous countryside of Georgia.

Saturday, July 17 - The Twilight 5k in Huntsville, AL
Having nothing to do with Edward and Bella, this race took place in the evening.  Jason and I rode 20 miles on the arsenal before running this one so no PR for me (23:08).  I had a wonderful time, though, running with so many local running pals and getting myself invited on a trail run the next morning. 

Sunday, July 25 - The Music City Triathlon in Nashville, TN
My second sprint triathlon, I found the river swim to be more difficult with a current, but once out of the water I had a great time pushing myself a little harder than I had before, taking two minutes off my previous time.

Saturday, July 31 - The W.C. Handy 3 State Bike Ride in Florence, AL
I opted for the 40 mile ride, discovering some beautiful countryside in my home state along the way.

That brings us to this coming Saturday, which would have been another metric century, and with a buddy this time, no less!  It is for good reason, however, that I break my streak and I have peace about that decision.  I will pick it up the following weekend, however, with another BRAND NEW event.  More on that to come.  Jason, however, will continue his streak which will eventually lead him to a brand new event of his own.

This summer has been full of new experiences for both of us and we have enjoyed these new adventures to the fullest. My favorite part is often the drive home as we munch our traditional post-event chick-o-sticks and tell each other our race stories from the day's event.  The summer is not over yet and we have many more new adventures planned leading us on into the fall.  It has been a wonderful racing streak, and I look forward to continuing on after this short break.

Deep Thoughts of a Lone Cyclist

When Jason and I travel hither and yon to participate in long, organized bike rides, I often find myself riding alone.  We don't really have a group to ride with, so once we get going it is usually just me and Red Sass on the open road.  Most of the time this is fine, but after a while I get a tad bit bored.  Sometimes my boredom leads to silliness, talking or singing to myself, and sometimes it leads to deep (ish), pensive thoughts about all kinds of things.  And sometimes I can enjoy the wind on my face and the beautiful surroundings in which I find myself.

This past Saturday, Jason and I participated in the W.C. Handy 3 State Bike Ride, although I think I stayed in one state while Jason rode through parts of Alabama, Mississippi, and Tennessee.  I rode the 40 mile portion and Jason did the 100 mile.  He tried to start with me but I told him he couldn't.  He rides a tri-bike and rides WAY more than I do, so I refused to hold him back for the first 20 miles.  It is more peaceful for me to feel that I can do my thing at no inconvenience to him.  After sending him on his way, I settled in for a long, quiet ride through the country.

And what a beautiful country it was!  As we rode out, we had nothing but shade so the temperature felt cool and comfortable. There were fields of corn and some other crop on both sides of the road, and when I was high on a hill, I could see all the crops below and the mountains behind them.  It was lovely.  The air was so fresh and green-smelling that I could not get enough of it.  I saw some of the biggest butterflies I have ever seen and they were everywhere. 

The hills were gentle and rolling, and before I knew it I had reached the rest stop that was also my turn around.  I was excited by the prospect.  My shoulders, neck, and girly bits were a little weary of the ride, but the rest reinvigorated me, along with the fact I got to head back.  I refilled my water bottle, munched 3 pretzels and headed on my way.

At one point in the ride, I contemplated my shadow.  Shadows, in my opinion, are always more attractive than the person to which they belong. Blue-ish in tint, my cycling shadow looked long and lean - much longer and leaner than I am or will ever be.  I was at peace with that, however.  It was, after all, my shadow and it was okay if I imagined, during this ride, that it was an exact reflection of myself.

There were also moments when I was struck with such awe at the beauty around me and so grateful to be out in it riding my bike, I was almost brought to tears.  I was thankful to be outside, glad to be spending my morning riding through the countryside surrounded by the songs of the birds and cicadas, and I gave full credit and praise to the Creator of it all. 

And then there were moments when I really wished my shoulders and neck would get used to my cycling position and give me a break. 

When I had about 10 miles left of my ride, a lady named Amanda caught up to me.  She said hello as she rode past and I said, "HEY THERE!" as if she were my long lost best friend.  I was pretty tired of my own company by then so I picked up my pace to stay with her.  We chatted about riding, where we'd traveled from, the heat, and whatever else came to mind. 

Once we reached our starting point, we stopped and chatted some more as I ate a banana and she had an orange.  She and her party were staying at the same hotel we were so I followed her on the bike over to the hotel.  There was a huge hill we had to climb to get there and we both groaned at having to climb it after 40 miles of riding. 

I had a while before Jason would show up, so I decided to eat something and then run a few miles while I waited for him.  I looked down at myself and thought, "where do I start?"  I was soaked with sweat and covered in grease.  And when I say covered, I mean covered.  I had it all over my legs, all over my cycling outfit, on my hands and face, it looked as if I'd rolled around in it.  Obviously my bike needed to be cleaned. 

I stripped off my wet clothes, wiped myself down with a rag, put on a t-shirt and watched a little of 27 Dresses while I ate a peanut butter and jelly bagel. I then packed up all of our belongings, put on my running digs and drove back over to the park to begin my run.  I had planned to do 5-10 miles, but once out in the heat, that quickly shrunk down to 3.5.  It was 97 degrees and not a sign of shade to be had. 

I waited and waited to see Jason ride by. He told me it would take him about 6 hours to do the ride.  I assumed this included rest stops.  It did not.  So when 6 hours past and then 6 and a half and then 7, I began to get nervous.  I tried to call his phone, but it went straight to voice mail.  When an ambulance drove by with its sirens blaring, I hopped in my car and went to find him. 

He was fine, of course. I found him about 6 miles out and so I rode ahead, parked and waved him by, repeating this all the way to the finish.  He said seeing me gave him the boost he needed to finish the ride.  His ride had taken him 5 hours and 55 minutes, but that did NOT include rest stops.  Good to know for future reference.

We headed home, stopping to pick up our pup and some well-earned BBQ on the way.  I was so glad to be clean, in my comfies, sitting on my couch with a plate of BBQ in my lap.

It was a good day.  The thoughts of this lone cyclist were probably not as deep as the title might lead you to believe, but I thought it was a good title so...there you go.  I think I prefer running as my all time favorite activity, followed closely by the triathlon.  But there is something wonderful all the same about a long, lone bike ride through the countryside and I was grateful for that.