Let's Round 'Em Up!

Beginner Triathlete has a wonderful feature that allows users to log times and mileage for the three main sports. I was checking out mine this morning and these are my totals for 2008...

I spent 40 hours and 8 minutes biking 456 miles. I spent 70 hours and 10 minutes running 281 miles. I spent 15 hours and 32 minutes swimming 18,598 yards or approximately 11.25 miles.

When you consider that in 2007 I was doing nothing, these numbers are really larger than they appear.

There are many, many more triathletes who put in so much more mileage than me. They've been doing it for a while, though, and usually train for the longer distance races like the Ironman or the Half-Ironman. I do, however, foresee my mileage significantly increasing in 2009 for many reasons:

• I'm planning on competing in at least six Sprint distances next season. I only did two in 2008.
• While I'm competing in Sprint distances, I will begin an Olympic distance training plan in the Spring to be ready for my 2010 season where I will set my sights on Olympic distance races.
• I didn't start biking until May this past year.
• I didn't start swimming until June and quit in September due to no Y membership and colder water temperatures.
• I now have a Y membership. I can train year-round.
• I want to get out of being in the back-of-the pack and putting in the mileage will be conducive to that.

I took 2008 from a year of having my training pockets empty, to - for what was for me at least - bursting at the seams. I'm so grateful to have the good faculties to train and to compete. I don't take that for granted for one single day.

Here's to a wonderful 2009!

I Bought a Bike. I Mean, This is HUGE!

Yeah, that's right. This is my new bike. And it was complete serendipity that brought us together.

I was considering a bike in the Giant OCR series, but really wanted a version with better components. Problem is that they're really out of my budget.

Well, the store had 2 of the higher-end models (OCR1) in two of my possible sizes (S and XS) leftover from 2008 they needed to clear out.

So, for right-around the price of the lower-end 2009 model, I got the 2008 OCR1!

After doing a laser body-scan to get measurements, we decided that the size S would work best. So the guy tweaked it to get the fit right and then I went for a ride. It was so windy, but even at that, it was so, so effortless to get fast. That ride was a complete blast.

Anyway, I'm so grateful to be in a position to get this bike. Times are tougher economically - for everyone - and I'm completely humbled.

Swimming Like a "Standstill" Tornado

They say that if you're on the ground watching a tornado move, and then there come a few seconds when it doesn't appear to be moving at all, that that is the point where you should become terrified...

...because when it seems like a tornado isn't moving, that means that it's headed your way!

Sometimes it's so easy to not see any progress in your training. Sometimes you feel as if you just put in a good workout, but, hey, that's about it.

It is during these times that you can be sure the payoff is coming, that the tornado is headed in your direction.

My first tri was June 28, 2008. It took me 27 minutes to complete the 400 yard swim. During my swim training 2 days ago, it took me approximately 12 minutes to finish up 400 yards.

I am...just...completely...floored. I knocked a little over 50% off my time on that distance.

The girl who won the race was my age. She finished the swim in 9:02. The girl with the fastest swim time was three years younger than me. She finished it in 6:57.

Looks like my training these past few months has indeed paid off, even when I have doubted many times that it ever would.

The tornado appeared to be standing still, but all these months, a faster time was twisting its way into my life.

Every workout is just another step closer to the goal. Even, and perhaps especially, when it doesn't seem like it.

Notes on a Y

I've been going to the Y for about a week now and am so glad to have the opportunity to do so.

Like I thought, I'm enjoying swimming the most. It's so relaxing, even when I'm working hard.

I feel so at one with the water, it's such a shame I'm not a better swimmer. I'm not surprised by this, though. My middle name really should have been Irony.

I've been doing strength training, too; usually before I do anything aerobic. It's my understanding that it helps burn the fat that way.

I haven't been to a gym in eight years - easily - so I've been using the machines that look familiar to me first, and have slowly been incorporating the unfamiliar ones into my routine. That usually happens after I spend a second watching someone out of the corner of my eye use it first, though.

The treadmill is the beast I'd always remembered it. Even with the ability to run five miles now at some pretty decent grades, completing one mile takes an eternity.

No problem. The Y has an indoor track. It does take 17 loops to complete one mile, but it is still much better than the treadmill.

With that in mind, though, I'm still going to plan most of my running for outside. My running has been slacking quite a bit, but swimming is my WORST sport, so it'll be good to really focus on it for a while.

They've got some bike-ish equipment in the gym, as well as a couple recumbent bikes, but I honestly think they'd be a waste of my time. The next best thing to biking outside or being on a trainer is spinning, so I'm just going to have to sign up for that class.

I already feel like it's my home away from home. Sigh...

No Training for the Sick

My eyes had barely opened. I knew that the soft dawn light peeping in from the crack in my curtains meant that I had slept in longer than I'd planned.

It was at this moment that I noticed the scratch in my throat, a scratch that would actually end-up precipitating a week's worth of physical misery.

I tried everything to squash my cold. I started with Advil Cold and Sinus. Nothing. I moved on to Dayquil/Nyquil. Nothing. Someone recommended Alka Seltzer. I cringed at the thought of downing that stuff, but I was desperate for relief.

Gary went to the drugstore to pick it up for me. He called while he was there to see if I wanted cherry or orange. "Orange," my voice managed to crackle over the phone. How sweet of him to ask.

After a couple days, I started feeling "not as bad." Seeing that my problem was now only nasal congestion, I tried, at another recommendation, Afrin.

Let me tell you, that stuff is like magic pixie dust. I couldn't believe how well it worked. I felt like my breathing was finally given back to me.

After 9 days of rest, I finally felt well enough to go to the Y today. I'm bummed that I had to be out that long, but I wanted to take a few days getting good and rested so as not to be out a few weeks because I was too anxious.

More on my first day at the Y later.