Triathlon by the Sea

Cohasset is a lovely town; very New England-y. We arrived Saturday afternoon to pick up our shirts and race packets. It was foggy and surprisingly chilly. I bought a sweatshirt to wear in the morning. We got up, prepped, loaded gear and unloaded at tranistion by 6:45 a.m.

As we checked in our bikes I noticed the waves; real ocean waves crashing on the beach. "It's a little choppy this morning," remarked the volunteer. My stomach began to churn. My friend told me it was calm, the website said "protected cove"; I assumed harbor-like; but not "choppy". It was also REALLY foggy and for the next hour rumors and speculation about whether the harbor master would cancel the swim all together. The final decision was to bring the buoys closer to shore, but more spread out, thus maintaining the distance, but increasing the transition on the beach. They also started the waves 4 minutes apart so they could better track the swimmers in the surf and fog.

We got into the water to "warm up" and survived the initial shock - temperature was 60 degrees. It was hard to put my face in the water, but I did and swam a few strokes. I knew it would be rough; and then the wait. I was in wave 6 starting 24 minutes after the first, so by the time I hit the water my wetsuit was damp but toasty. It was very crowded and people were not so polite. I did my best to swim through and drank a lot of seawater. There has to be some sort of technique to swimming freestyle in the ocean, because I found it very difficult to time my breathing with the waves. However, I made it out and got my wetsuit off without falling on my butt.

My transition to bike was probably my fastest ever and I had a great ride. Beautiful rocky coast, lots of turns and rolling hills, lots of spectators. The run was fine. I knew I was slow, but I never stopped. Again, the rolling hills and, in hindsight, I knew that I did not take enough advantage of the downhills. My back was hurting for some reason, but I pushed through. At the 3 mile mark my watch said 1:37 and I knew I would have to pick it up to finish in the 130's which I did coming in at 139:33.

Whipped. I got home to my usual day of making/picking up lunch, going to the farm to pick veggies for our share, washing and prepping the veggies for the week and then dinner and baths for the kids. My husband's 2-week vacation is finally over. He's back at work this morning so I can finally clean the house. It is a pit.

The week is going better than I thought...

The tendonitis is still with me. I got in a swim - probably somewhere around 1000-1200 (I was not really keeping track). I wanted to see how the arm would hold up without doing too much. It seemed to be OK, though last night I definately felt the ache. I think it will be fine for the race.

This morning I reluctantly got up for my third ride of the week. I was tired from a late dinner and too much wine. DH and I finally had a date; good conversation and we are actually starting to click again - it's good. AND the ride was great; fastest one of the week and I feel really good going into Sunday's triathlon, even though I haven't run in a week.

My little sister is definately going to race this weekend and Mom will be our equipment manager. My older sister is on the fence. She's had a rough few weeks and I told her that what ever she decided is fine with me. Now I am off to drink a little coffee before I have to drag the kids to the Y while I work.

Back at it.

Vacation was LOVELY - Well, except for some issues with the in-laws, my husbands foul mood and the mosquitos that swarmed my sister and I on a run to the beach. The weather was unseasonably nice - 80s, sunny and not too humid. We rode bikes, ran twice, walked a lot and climbed all 198 stairs at the lighthouse. My kids were fun. Noone got sun burned. We had awesome sunsets from the porch of our beach house. I ate and drank too much.

And now my husband is "on vacation" for the next week, while mom, just back from a week away - is not. Laundry has to get done, beds stripped, bathrooms cleaned, litter boxes changed, bills paid --- oh, and a 5 hour a week commitment at the YMCA. All that and my kids are also "on vacation", meaning they actually expect me to do stuff with them. Luckily my internal clock has demanded that I get up at 4:30 so I've gotten in a few bike rides and a little peace and quiet before the mayhem of the day. It's only 7 pm right now and I am exhausted.

This weekend I have a triathlon at the Ocean. I was initially psyched about it, but then my sisters had some home issues and may need to bail on me. Logistics are too screwy to go it alone - an expensive hotel room alone, dropping off equipment without a co-pilot, negotiating an unfamiliar town for a race I've never done... I am not adventurous. I don't know where this is headed, but I really hope I don't chicken out.

In addition, I am battling a bout of tendonitis. It's been screwy for a while -- like 2 months and I've finally taken the time to self-diagnose after reading tons of internet sites. Treatment is not a guarantee of sucess and most doctors take a wait and see attitude. It could take 12 or more weeks before it heals! And that's by limiting or eliminating the behaviours that caused it - Typing, writing, walking the dog... all with my dominant hand... Seems like an impossible task. I am doing the best I can. We'll see if that's good enough.

30 minute run

Not much on the exercise front, but at least I broke a sweat before I taught my swimming lessons this morning. Still stressed; still anxious, but I only have one day left and the drama will be over. Whatever I forget will be forgotten and forgiven. Vacation will finally have arrived and maybe, just maybe I will CHILL OUT!

Vacation Mode

Everytime I plan to go on a trip my stomach starts feeling anxious the week before - like I've had too much coffee. I make lists and write notes to myself about what needs to get done and what I might want to buy; because heaven knows they might not have a Walmart where we are going... We are leaving for a week. In my mind it's a lifetime.

The dogs, the cats, the house, the car; have we packed enough of the right clothes, food; will the kids be entertained during our 8 hours in the car; do we have enough money; have I paid all the bills? I have nightmares of forgetting the mortgage during our week-long hiatus and having the bank forclose before we get back to straighten it out. I wish I knew why I am such a psycho.

When I am in these modes I slide on everything - diet, fitness out the window. Sure I 'ran' yesterday; but let's be honest. I wasn't putting forth an effort; it was more like going through the motions so I could cross it off my list. I don't like how I feel this week. It's almost as if I want vacation over so I can get back to my real life. What I need to understand is that this is my real life; always different, always changing, and sometimes it's not so easy.

Run done.

It was a painful experience - getting up at 5:15, hot. I took the dog so I knew that I wasn't going to run that much. In fact I walked 1.5 miles and then ran back. I tried to run at a faster than normal pace and arrived home in a puddle of sweat. Daisy is pooped. It wasn't a great workout, but at least I did something and that's better than nothing.

It's hard to be motivated...

... when it's 97 degrees out, 79 degrees when you wake up and you have NO air conditioning. I live in New England and days like these shouldn't happen until August when I am well-aclimated. Days like these don't happen when the calendar says it is still Spring. I am sorely lacking in the motivation department to do anything physical inside or out.

After Saturday mornings great workout I have done NOTHING. This is BAD. I am going on vacation in 4 days and I rarely ever do anything productive at the beach, other than walk; and that only cancels out my daily trips for soft serve. I have a triathlon June 29th, a week after I get back.... This is NO time to be screwing around with the training schedule. I need to get my large bottom out of bed at 5:00 a.m. before it gets even more disgusting as forcasted. I need to run or bike or something related to triathlon. Thursday and Friday I can (and should) swim before work. FOUR DAYS - I have time to get it together. Can someone please send one giant KICK in the BUTT!!??

Water World

Yesterday, my sister and I did a 4 mile run at my house (for once) followed by a swim at the lake with our new wetsuits. The water was a balmy 60 degrees - perfect test conditions for our June 29th ocean swim. The first lesson I learned was I have to definately get into the water and "warm up" before the race. I don't know how some can just dive in and swim with out knowing how cold 62 degrees is. It took me a good 10 minutes just to get the nerve to start swimming. Once I was horizontal, it took another 5 minutes or so to get my breathing in order and remember why I was there.

I decided I like the wetsuit. It felt like I was using a pull buoy as I stroked. I was in a better swim position and I seemed to just glide through the water. I think I may use the suit for my July tri as well.... IF I can get the suit off a little faster. The velcro across my neck was so hard to pull - I needed to have my sister help me the first time out. We went back in the water to practice our exit a number of times... I may even do it on dry land just because I fear I will panic and end up wearing my suit all the way through the race...

On second thought, if I wore a black wetsuit for a race, on a day like today (90+) just think how skinny I could be crossing the finish line !

WEIGHT - I didn't step on the scale yesterday, but with my diet as it was I'm willing to bet that I am still at 189. 7 days until vacation - I will see my new number this week before I go!

Wednesday Weigh in

Today's weight 189.5 -- Back in the 180s after a few weeks off program. My exercise is not on track, but sometimes life gets in the way and I am not going to stress over 4 missed days. We've had school projects and plays and my friends mother passed away and I need to just go with it. I have workouts planned Thursday, Friday and Saturday. I will be fine.

Vacation is in 10 days. I would like to weigh 186.5 . That's a new number for me and would be a great psychological boost going into a week where overeating can be a problem. I would LOVE LOVE to have a healthy week; eat good food, exercise and not worry about the calories in the Mojitos I plan to drink. I want to de-stress. I want to have fun.

And so it begins...

My daughter ran in crying yesterday. Her best friend and neighbor, Matt, called her fat. She is NOT fat - and I know fat. I tried to play it off; "you're not fat, Matt's upset and looking for something to hurt you, which is ridiculous since you're not even close to being overweight." I had a pit in my stomach. Words hurt and I can think of nothing worse to be called than fat; especially for a little girl, teen, woman.

Is this just the beginning? I pray my kids are not overweight because I was, and it sucked to be me. I remember being aware of my growing weight at 6 and teased and harrassed through junior high. I begged to go to weight watchers... and then I figured out how to "rid my body of excess" and I did. I pray my kids are healthy women - who never have to deal with fat. When I think of the time I have devoted to this issue it makes me sad. What a waste.

My weigh in this morning: 191.5