A few things I learned over 2012 race season

A success from each race

Around the Bay - I can run for a long distance.  After many years of not running I proved to myself, with Dr. Jason's help, that running could happen  again.


Sprint distance in Austin, Texas - First outdoor swim of the year and without a wet suit.  I can not describe what happened but at this race I learned I love swimming.  I do still have some fear but it is  manageable now.

Guelph Olympic - Discovered drinking eLoad as soon as I get on the bike helps keeps me going for the duration.

Kingston Long  - How training for a duathlon and  a triathlon are so different.  Given the option to replace a tri with a du would I do it again?  As I type, my answer would be no but on race day things might change.  I think for a few of us this race showed how much one needs to find the will power to finish. 
 
Muskoka 70.3 - Coach said it the best in his blog the other day ... " The last "time" I looked it was called the "Finishers Tent" not the first place tent! : )"  Finishing, doing the best one can and being happy with that is all we can really ask of ourselves.

The supporting cast:

The Coach - A person who provides the plan to let you accomplish your dreams but knows you better than yourself most times.  Not only during race season but what is best for you on the off season.

The Chrioprator  - An athlete himself who understands we all have the "heart" of an athlete in us and will keep our bodies as healthy as they can be during the months of intense training.

Training buddies - they push you, they help by listening to your fears, boosting your moral and help wipe the tears. 

Mentors - A group of seasoned triathletes who take the newbies under their wings, become their friends and provide valuable advice for each and every race while showing us how to have fun while preparing for the race.  Some show us that no matter the cost physically they are determined to train for the race, start the race and give it their all - true heroes of this sport.

Family - Some encourage and some don't understand but in their own way they are all cheering their athlete to reach their goal of crossing the line.


Health - There is nothing more important then your health.  It can literally change in a heart beat so do what you can now to become a healthier you.  Eating well and walking will do the trick.  No need for the craziness that some of us have in us.

Faith - Trusting in your inner strength or resolve that somehow gets you past the pain, misgivings and gets you to the finish line. 

What am  I'm looking forward to this fall/winter training season?

Reduced training schedule results in more time for family, friends and honey dos
Two swim classes to work on technique and maybe just maybe I'll be stronger next year
Two spin classes and waiting to hear what each class will be called.  Will Oatmeal be repeated?
Hitting the gym.
Catching up with my tri-buddies in the swim and spin classes.

The real goal - fudraising for Gate 3:16

I started this blog as a way to bring focus to my personal fundraising goal for Oshawa Gate 3:16 Outreach Center.  A place for the homeless and lower income to seek help.  Although the universe presents challenges in our lives we are so much better off than many.  I really think its important to help where we can and I must say I have had fun along the way and have met so many great people.
 
Along the way I have had many doubts I would be able to complete the four races.  After Barry's heart attack my training went topsy turvy and I voiced my concern about finishing to my coach and my triathlon buddies however their response was always you've done the training you will finish.  They were oh so right.

As for my personal fundraising goal of $5000 I have not achieve that goal.  Via the web $1630 has been raised and via cheques and cash another $955 for a total of $2585.00 will find its way to Gate 3:16.   Thank-you to everyone who has donated as this will go to a very worthy cause.  I received Gate 3:16's newsletter a few weeks ago stating the associated costs to run their facility has gone up and they are currently looking at a deficit by the end of the year - not a good place to be.  This $2585.00 will help some and I hope over the course of the next few months they will be able to find additional funds.

Earlier in the year I met a fellow triathlete in the grocery store who asked if I was the one raising money. During this conversation he mentioned he would not be able to put himself out their and do such a thing.  Honestly I think we all have a piece of DNA associated with helping others. We just need to find it and action it.  Along this triathlon journey I have heard from many how we are special as not many people really take that leap of faith to sign up for a half ironman or a full ironman. The journey getting there is the hardest part as it takes hours of dedication to training to have the confidence to suit up for the swim and start the official race.  Yes some may not finish but all starters are winners as they have taken a leap into the unknown which takes faith, courage and dedication to a goal. Helping others or a worthy cause is the same.  Once you have found the cause, jump and only good will happen.   Like me you''ll probably meet an awesome group of people who become friends and become more enlightened about humanity and how we all feel the same, have the same dreams, goals and aspirations.  Just some of us have drawn the bigger straw and are very fortunate to have a wonderful life and good health.

I have enjoyed writing this blog and will continue to do so.  It will continue to discuss my fitness goals and ultimately my goal to a full ironman in 2014.  Guaranteed it will be a vehicle for another fundraising event but I look to the universe to help me decide what that will be for 2013.

My fundraising web page will remain open into October and thank you for taking that leap to help others. 

Bike & Run review for Muskoka

Its been almost two weeks since the 70.3.  I'm feeling much better this week and had a great swim Wednesday morning.  I have also had a few days to digest the bike and the run.

In transition I had brought arm sleeves to wear but decided not to and headed out on the bike in shorts and a short sleeve bike shirt.  Looking back I should have put the sleeves on and should have thought about leg sleeves.  It was cold oh so very cold.  I would think being wet made it only worse.  I was disappointed with my cycle.  I could not get warm and I think that might of hindered my performance.  I had some challenges too with other competitors.  Competitors are to keep to the right, pass on the left, and when the passer's wheel reaches the passor's front wheel they are to back off 3 bike lengths.  It was just like driving the 401 and some people decided to stay in the fast lane although people behind them were going faster and the right lane was clear.  It does get annoying when you have to yell coming to your left at the top of your lungs so they'll get out of your way.   I made it though the bike course but not in the time I would have liked.

I swapped my bike shoes for running shoes and my bike jersey for the DRTC T-shirt donned on my DRTC hat and headed out.  The run started out very painful so painful I was going to give up after 1K however something told me to run.  The pain in the front of the legs lessen as I ran however eventually I think I felt spent and started to walk fast.  I keep thinking back trying to understand exactly what happened but maybe I'll never know. I do know that in Syracuse I want to run the whole 21K.

Overall I'm pleased with the results.  I did not place a time commitment on the event only to finish my first which I did accomplish.

Now winter training and the challenge of looking weight starts !!!

Next post will be how the fundraising has been going.

Have a great day,
Liz 

A story about old pinky the watch

It must be six or seven years ago Barry gave me a Timex Ironman Triathlon watch.  Who knew the name of the watch would foreshadow so much.  The watch has had a few challenges over the past months or maybe longer including the alarms working intermittently, the face being cracked and  recently the band broke on the left side. Of course only days before Muskoka the right side of the band started to go.  Its a known fact one can not change anything before a race so I went into the race with it on my wrist hoping the band would survive. My heart rate monitor, a Timex too, decided to give up the ghost too just before the race.  I have been known to wear both at one time as the non HRM version has interval times which I apply to my runs and of course I use the HRM for just that keeping track of the heart rate.  Coach Christine has mentioned over and over how important it is to stay hydrated on the bike.  I often forget and the reminder is the HRM watch goes on the handle bars and is set to go off every 10 minutes. This will drive Coach Paul crazy in our fall/winter spin classes so will need to find another reminder.  During the race I had to rely solely on old pinky as the alarm features still worked and it did what it was suppose to.  Now it has been replaced with a brand new version but I'm sad to see old pinky leave as it has been with me since day one of becoming healthy.  So what has it seen you ask?  I lost 30 lbs with it on my wrist and all the following firsts: 5K run, 10K run, 1/2 marathon and the different triathlon distances (try-A-tri, sprint, Olympic, 70.3).  It also saw me take that leap of faith with Coach Paul in the pool. The Timex Ironman made it though an Ironman branded event just like me.  It still works so I'll hang it up on the office wall and use it as my clock. It deserves a rest from training but no sense disposing of it yet as it still keeps time.

What a wonderful day in Oshawa.  I hope it is as sunny and warm wherever you are.  I'm sure there is a walk, bike, run or a skip calling your name.

-Liz

Muskoka swim review

Well its a few days after Tuesday but here I am providing the first update on Muskoka.

I did not have a bad sleep the night before but it was not the best.  I woke up every couple of hours.  Transition opened at 5:30 A.M and was scheduled to closed at 7:30, the first wave of swimmers went at 8 these are the pros and my wave was 8:36.  It doesn't take too long to get things in place in transition and waiting around makes me nervous so the plan was to be in transition around 6:45 and I think I was close to that.  Coach Paul was a race official which allowed him to be in transition with the athletes.  He stopped by checked in on me and came back when I could not get my back tire up to 110.  Something so basic and I just could not get my back tire inflated correctly.   Everything was set up and off I went to the swim start. 

Being an Ironman class event the organizers offer a few extras that the normal races don't have.  One I found very useful was the bag checkoff as we entered the swim staging area.  Rather than walking to swim without glasses I was able to wear my old cracked pair, my friend Jeff absolutely loves these, and pick them up after the race.  My sight is not so bad that I need to run to transition with them.   I was really pleased with my swim.  Coach Paul and I have been working on technique and a 53 minute 1.9K swim is awesome for me.  This will be a focus over the winter but I've come a long way from being fearful of water - with much thanks to Paul.    The other nice extra at these events are wetsuit peelers, sometime mistakenly called strippers, a group of people waiting to help the athlete remove the wet suit.  Usually a hassle but it was easy peasy this time.   This first picture is a funny shot as it looks like I have "dunce" cap on. The photographer captured the buoy in the background so it just looks like I have a triangle on my head.  The second Barry caught me as I was heading up the hill from the water to transition.

out of the water and onto the peelers

one the way to transition

The next portion of the event is the 94K bike ride.  That will be my next blog to keep these somewhat short.  I'm a little crazy when it comes to details. :-)

Here is my finishers shot.  Officially I finished in 8hours and 8 minutes and a few seconds.  As always we want to do better I would have loved to come in at 7hours 45 but my goal was to finish.  I'm sure Coach Paul will have other plans for the next one. Yes there will be a next one.   The difference between the time here and the official time is the time allotted to the swim waves before me.   Looks like I need to practice my finish line shot I really had no idea what to do with my hands when I saw the banner.  Ha ha

Have a wonderful day !  Even 5 minutes on the elliptical gets your body doing something and you have won the battle of fitness for that day.  

Liz

Muskoka over

I am happy to confirm I did it as did all my fellow athletes from IronMotivation and the DRTC. 

There were many highlights which I'll write about tomorrow or Tuesday but the best was seeing my cousin in-laws. 

And I'll include a picture of me crossing the finish line.

Liz

The morning before Muskoka 70.3

Good Morning,

Off to bed early last night with a relatively good sleep but with that said they have these funky lamps made out of cedar twigs beside the bed.  For me it was a source of a headache so I opened up the windows, moved the darn thing and headache be gone.  After we review transition with Coach Paul today I'll try and grab a nap.  I don't know of anyone who sleeps well before a race.

Besides having breakfast I made sure I had everything in order for transition.  When its all piled out on the floor it sure looks like a lot.  For this race I am considering two pairs of runners.  The extra pair will be used as I come out of swim as there is a good sized hill to run up and the path is paved. 

Transition stuff less nutrition

What we are going for - the finisher chute

 Have a great day.  All weather reports are saying no rain tomorrow :-)

Liz

At Muskoka

The ride up was perfect as it was uneventual.  When we arrived transition was partially set up, the bike and run in/outs were up as was the finish chute.  Jeff & I headed to D'Ornellas the course mechanics to have them check out Jeff's rim.  A bit of truing up and its ready for the race.  D'Ornellas bike shop is located in Scarborough and many people in our tri group purchase their bikes from Eon.  In a few days after the race After the racie I'll put  tri bars on my bike and anticipate before the 2014 race season a tri bike will accompany my road and hybrids.  Hmm I'll need a little bike hut in the backyard to get them out Barry's way in the garage.  I have only heard great things about this bike shop and seriously thinking about purchasing it from them.

We lucked out as we received the call my room was ready as we were at the main building. We dropped off my stuff, headed to the Ironman store and to register.  With all that done we have the evening to ourselves and the next step is waiting for transition to open up at 11am tomorrow.  Between now and then we need to keep our spirits high as we wait for this storm to pass - its raining cats and dogs.  Now I remember why I did not like my satellite dish up in Almonte - yep no TV and I forgot my books.

For some reason I decided to sign up using my big name. I must have been thinking it was a serious enough event to warrant it.  On the plus its like having my Dad, Mom, my brother, and Grandparents along for the ride as they are about the only ones who call me that name.  

Liz

up to Muskoka today

Hello Everyone,

It is hard to believe but the time has come to put the hard work and practice races into practice.  Yesterday was my last small run and now its rest until Sunday.  I'm heading up to Muskoka today with my friend and training partner Jeff, his wife Erin and their son Jeff Junior.   I can't thank Jeff and Erin enough for driving me up to the lake and to different places for training.  Although I don't mind driving I much prefer to be a passenger and supplying the coffee and treats.  

I'll be taking the PC and will try to blog each day with an update.  Today we register, receive our race packs and I'm sure we'll be heading to the Ironman tent to purchase something cool.  Tomorrow we put our bikes into transition and then Sunday its race day.  On Sunday my wave starts at 8:30am and then the fun begins.  During Sunday although my coach will be out on his motorbike as a referee I think he will be blogging at some point - http://ironmotivation.blogspot.ca/ - or you can track us at http://ironmanmuskoka.com/ - the link is at the top right for IronmanLive.  They have a live option or a track the athlete option. I'll know my race number later today.

Over the past weeks I have been reading Chrissie Wellingtons' autobiography on her success as a pro triathlete.  It has been inspiring and a huge thank you to Tara, my other training buddy, for lending it to me.  It is hard to believe what these pros put their bodies through everyday and how much pain becomes a way of life.  What I appreciate the most though was the numerous times Chrisse mentioned the age groupers and how she respected us for doing what we do.  She recognizes the devotion each and everyone of us have for this sport as we balance family, work, life and training while the pros have the privilege of having the sport be their work.  It was a fascinating read.  Rumor has it her boyfriend Tom is racing Muskoka. 

I'll be back !
Liz