Swim & Syracuse done.. Next?

As usual I have not been here for a while.

June 2nd brought the 2013 2XU Open Water Swim in Sandy Lake.  A little lake just outside of Buckhorn, Ontario - just outside of Peterborough. With the cool spring the water was a little chilly but that did not stop a bunch of us from taking the plunge.  The event offered a 1K, 2K and 4K swim.  I decided on the 4K as a mental practice for the Ironman distance.  As Coach asked I swam my swim.  I was pretty slow but I think back and wonder if it was I was nervous I would have an asthma attack.  Forgot to take my inhaler before th race. While in Placid I did experience an asthma attack in the water and it was not pleasant but that was brought on by nerves so I need to get over it.  My friend Kira decided at the last minute to race the 4K even though she had not put in the training.  She completed the distance, made the podium and placed 1st in her age group.  As for my swim I got it done and I know I can do the distance for my war with Ironman.

somewhere in Sandylake spotting

Now the training was geared towards the Syracuse 70.3 Ironman.  This race was a challenge and I realize when we race we are at war with the Ironman and sometimes Mother Nature. This race  happened the first weekend of summer when Mother Nature decided it was time for Summer to blast through the front door. Up until this weekend she has only opened the door a tiny crack to tease us Summer was around the corner.  Boy did it hit.  For me the run was the was the most difficult.  I could not run the course I had to walk.  The saving grace was Susan telling me to put ice on my head.  It did the trick but still did not have the energy to run.  Kim's smiling face always gives one a boost to keep going too and then I saw Jeff.  Jeff and I started this journey at the same time and it was just a relief when I saw him.  I knew we would complete it.  If the heat was not enough Mother Nature decided that we need to celebrate the race with her own brand of fireworks.  I was out on the run course when it hit and kept walking.  At no time did I feel threatened by the storm but I guess it was pretty nasty as they called the race.  I don't know for sure but my understanding is as I was on my second lap of the run they were keeping the clock a ticking for us.  I crossed the finish line in 8:30:33.  Overall not happy with my time but I'm happy to have this one under my belt.  My toes are happy its over as they blistered up bad.  No picture of toes here - that was saved for my friends on facebook :-)

The spoils of war

Now what ?

In a few weeks is the Grand Fondo in Ottawa.  This is not a race just a ride with friends.  I have chosen to ride the 170K route.  I'm like a kid in a candy store because it goes through Ashton, Beckwith, Tennyson, Perth, Balderson, Lanark, Almonte, Blakeney, Panumure, & Carp.  If I was doing the 220K route I'd include in my ride McDonalds's Corner, Tatlock & Clayton.  This is my home country.  I know these roads and this country like the back of my hand.  This little piece of God's country is where my family roots have lived for generation after generation and I swear I feel them my soul.  The route from Blakeney to Almonte will be extra special as that is the route I would bike to school in the summer and when returning home would stop at my cousins "Aunt Wilma and Uncle Bill"'s farm for awesome cookies and a drive home.  The old white/red bike, which I still own, would get thrown into the back of the truck and Uncle Bill would drive me home.  I realize this is where I developed my passion for cycling.  Even before I could ride Dad would have me out on his cross bar sitting on a piece of foam.  Dad cycled with me a few times into Almonte to show me the rules of the road & hand signals.  Eventually he allowed me to ride that route to school (4+ miles) and eventually it was the road I walked and hitchhiked to see my friends in Almonte.  I hope along the ride I just might see an old school chum or two. 

Almonte's falls

Almonte's lower downtown

If you find what makes you happy, gives you that sense of freedom and that passion it makes a huge difference in your life & take you places you never thought would be possible.

A new name and such

Happy almost summer.

My friend Susan, an awesome athlete and owner of a marketing company (BlackCat Advertising) suggested a play of words with my last name.  This was to be the name of my campaign this year but really this is what this blog is about.  Its about my effort to raise funds to help others and along the way I hope to share what I have been doing to raise these funds through sport with my supporters and hopefully others.  The other goal is to encourage people to think about getting out there and do something.

Yes, its been far to long since I have posted.  My friend Jeff started posting again and realized how much I enjoy reading them so here I am again.  Jeff tries to post everyday about the trials and tribulations of training for triathlon.  Check it out at http://jdrinkle.blogspot.ca/

So what have I been up to.  Well the 4K swim in getting closer by the minute.  Its June 2nd and I've been working since  January on the distance. This weekend I'm at the 3.8K mark, 4K next Sunday and then its taper off to 2K.  I just happen to have my Feb & March training schedules beside me and since my 2800M swim on March 3 I've been in the pool for 21.5 hours on Sundays.  I also swim Wednesday morning and for a while Monday mornings. These long swims have really helped build my confidence in the pool & my friend Jim mentioned my stroke was getting smoother.  That is 100% the credit of Coach and practice.  Maybe I should create a pledge sheet for every K - $1 per K would net 30 dollars just for the pool work.  (just had to throw that in there)

 Long swim is Sunday which messes up going to Church and I really miss it.  So you say OMGosh you go to church how old school, how strange and I'm sure other things come to mind.  I'm a member of Faith United in Courtice. It is not the Church of old rather our Ministry Larry is pretty hip, has his sermon on an iPad, has a slide show to match the sermon and always a joke or two. It's always a serious topic but the presentation is never serious like when I was a child.  Once I start to taper the swim I hope to be back there.

Due to the nagging ankle issue runs have just started to get grow by 1k every Tuesday and Thursday with a small run after long swim.  By the end of the month I'll be at 13K just a little shy of the 21K for the 70.3 in Syracuse.  Dr J has been working to keep my ankle in good shape and I just started with Harmony.  Harmony's massage is almost as good as Dr. J's ART sessions. Thursday was a great run so hoping this combo will make things run smoother. 

It is Mother's Day weekend so celebrate all the women who have made you who you are. Please send good wishes out there for Janet whose racing the full Ironman Texas on May 18th.

Back in a week.

Winter moves to spring

It is hard to believe but both the winter bike and swim classes have ended.  The spring bike classes started this week and swim starts next week.  A tradition Coach Paul started in the last swim class of each session is we get to ride the slide.  This was another first with Coach Paul riding the slide.  Nope, never did I go to a water park. I don't know if it was because we lived so far away from one but it certainly was not something I sought out like many do.  I might just have find myself a huge water slide and check it out one day.  Its time to see water as fun.  

It has been a crazy month at work and it drives me crazy when it interferes with training but it happens. This week I did not complete either scheduled runs however I did one this afternoon.  I know if Coach reads this he'll shake his head but I'm really happy I did.  I have been worrying about the Syracuse half ironman.  Have I been doing enough training, will I complete the race etc? Today showed me that I am ready to race an Olympic distance so it is on track.  I just need to trust Coach and I'll be ready.  The ankle is holding good with the tape which is a miracle too.

While at the gym I saw an old gym mate.  Hard to believe it has been three years since we have seen each other.  Like so many she struggles to find the time to hit the weights or do a bit of cardio.  What works for me is a goal.  If you have a goal and really want to make it happen it will happen.  For me that goal is an organized race.  If I sign up I gotta do it and coupled with the fund raising it really makes it happen.  One never knows the goal of a 5K run might just lead to an Ironman.  Set the goal so its beyond your comfort zone because that is where the magic happens as my tri-buddy Jeff posted.

What is your goal ? 

Liz

A Valliant's valiant effort to complete an Ironman relay for one

It's official !! I'm on the way to completing an Ironman relay for one.  Well at least the swim and bike. The donation page is open until Halloween just in case the Toronto full marathon in October comes to be.  It just might with Dr. Jason's help.

Not only did I get the encouragement I needed when I joined Coach Paul's Ironmotivation Monster spin class to consider swimming but I learned about Dr. Jay.  Dr. Jay is a magical chiropractor who  works out of Welcome to Wellness in Whitby.  There is a huge misconception about what chiropractors do but all I know is Dr. Jay does more then adjustments.  This week he worked on the left shoulder to loosen it up after Sunday's 3000M swim.  Within a day the pain was gone but more important is the nagging ankle.

My ankle issue is a result of very flat feet.  I have to thank my Dad's side of the family for them and my big calves - SIGH.  Even though I wear arch supports my foot does not toe off correctly and "crushes" the ankle on every step. This week a little kinesiology tape in the right places, a 45 minute run, limited pain and no pain waking up or the next day.  For once I can't wait to see what Tuesday's run brings.  Of the three sports running is the biggest mental challenge because of the pain in the ankle :-). Huge change from when I started the blog and discussed my fear of swimming.

With a glimmer of light at the end of the tunnel I am very encouraged about this race season. With this optimism comes the official announcement of my 2013 fundraising goal - Valliant's valiant effort to complete an Ironman relay for one.  (Thanks Susan) I'm hoping to raise $3000.00 for Oshawa's outreach centre Gate 3:16.  This little place on Simcoe Street helps so many. They rely on support from churches, denominational grants, corporations, individuals, foundations, and fundraising events.

With so many great causes out there and so many friends and family looking for donations to their fundraising goals its tough to decide what to support.  I hope you will look at Gate 3:16's web page, see the great services they provide to our community and considering donating.  I really appreciate your consideration.

It might be cold out there but if you bundle up just right a little walk could be had.  For me its a two hour spin in the basement as Monster Ironmotivation spin class is on vacation for March break.

-Liz

The Shadow

Its time to move your clocks forward tonight.  Spring is just around the corner but I do like having sun leaving the pool at 7am.  It will be a few more weeks for that to return, SIGH.

Mentioning the pool I became the shadow on Wednesday morning.  I have this problem of over thinking and concentrating far to much on my technique than just swimming.  It really is good to be concerned about technique but sometimes one can care too much or maybe its my perfectionist side coming out.  On Wednesday morning I became the shadow.  Coach Paul asked me to stay on the feet of Christine. ( For those reading from the Tri club no that is not Ironman Christine - I can only hope to become that good )  All I thought about the whole swim was staying on Christine's feet and I did not think about technique.  The best swim in a very long time. 

The thought of someone touching your feet probably freaks some people out. In beginners class I remember Coach Paul educating us about not being fearful of being close to others in the pool and in the intermediate  class we would have drills on touching people feet. It is enviable when racing you'll be on someones feet or at their their side or taking a hit.   So its all good learning to be on someone's feet.  However we must keep shadowing to race day, swimming at the lake with the DRTC or in Coach Paul's class. It just won't go over well at a lane swim I think.

Tomorrow brings another first in swimming a 3000M pool swim.   It is hard to believe my first swim class with Coach Paul was November 2010.  I must remember that next time I'm hard on myself.

Please remember a little exercise a day, even a walk, does wonders for your heart.

Liz

Home and friends

Its hard to believe I've been in the Oshawa area for 10 years this year.  Barry and I went home to Almonte on the weekend to celebrate his birthday at the Sens vs. Leafs game.  We visited my good friend Patty in Pakenham and spent the afternoon in Almonte.  I always get excited about going home but I'm so disappointed afterward.  I guess I'm homesick for what was there but I have been away for so long the community has changed.  No longer can I walk up street and see people I know.  My heart will always long for Almonte and my childhood memories but Oshawa is home now. 

Oshawa has opened so many doors, doors that I would never have considered.  This crazy world of triathlon being one. It was only when I moved this way that I decided to take that leap and become physically active.  Actually Barry helped make that happen.  I have met so many great people through this sport.

Elaine is one of those people.  Elaine has decided to move with her job out west.  I'm so excited for the new memories and new possibilities this change with bring for her.   Elaine was one of the first people to speak to me in bike class and ask what race am I training for. This was before I considered this crazy sport.  Always cheerful, encouraging and a teacher who shared a wealth of knowledge with a newbie.  It won't the be same without Elaine but I wish her happiness and all her dreams come true.

Liz

ups and downs

It might be cold but it is sunny.  There really isn't anything like a cold winter day with the sun shinning off the snow and a crisp blue sky.  It seems to me the sky is more blue in the winter then the summer.

Yesterday morning I ventured out to IronMotivation's Monster Spin for 2 hours of bliss.  It has been at least three Saturdays since I have gone due to the tiredness left behind by the flu.  Coach Paul wrote a new program called spring is in the air.  It is close but I have yet to smell my first real spring smell. Coming from the country, living next to a farm and spending much time on my cousin's farm you know it is spring when they are preparing the fields and all you smell going past is manure.  Yep, that is a real scent of spring.  Back to spin. The class had lots of ups and downs (hills) to work our fitness. Maybe it was being rested, or having a good amount of protein powder in my oatmeal, or maybe it was being in the right frame of mind but it was an awesome ride. It has been a long time since I have been in the zone and yesterday it was there.  It was a huge success and something I really needed mentally.

That brings me to what I have been struggling with - the swim.  I have been so discouraged (down) as of late as I feel I am not getting any faster and actually feel I am getting slower.  Considering where I came from I guess I'm still further ahead but its so frustrating as it seems any improvement has stalled.  SwimSmooth is a web site decidated to helping the freestyle swimmer improve their technique.  Coach Paul mentioned it some time back so I have been looking at it recently.  They divide swimmers into six swim types of which today I would consider myself as the overglider.  The overglider is  serious and thoughtful about improving their swim.  In other words I over think.  Sometimes its good but when it comes to swimming it can get in the way of just enjoying the swim.  Today its off to the pool for 2600m with my pool-bouys (working on my body position) and hopefully a brain that is not over thinking.  Then afterwards it might be off to Ajax to check out a treadmill.  It is time to think about running again in very small doses and a treadmill will be a good addition to the elliptical.

Enjoy family day weekend.  Get out and enjoy the sun. Just bundle up and you'll be fine.

Liz