Swimming and Biking

I must say...I'm sick of being last! I wonder if I just train with the wrong people!!!

Now, I have to swim "flat"! I don't like to swim flat. That makes me use my arms. My arms are not good. I kick ass on a kick board, but make me use my arms AND legs! And I'm back to slow!

Cycling last night...I was in aero for a lot longer! Almost the whole 3 miles of West Creek. Even on most of the downhill! Blake said "Good job". That's major!

Going Aero

Oh yeah! Finally! I went riding on Thursday with Annn. She said "Get in aero", in her oh so sweet way. I said "I'm scared", (damn, I say that alot!). She said "Put one arm down", again...very sweetly. Well, of course, with her persuasive manner, I did what she said, and guess what?! It worked!

It's been about a month since I've ridden. Blake and I are having a fight, (but he doesn't know it, so don't tell him). And I've been REALLY discouraged. But, I met with Jim Miller. Got a bike fit, and he widened my aero bars. Well, that was the key. Being wider gave me more stability and control and allowed me to "get down"!

So today, I rode 30 miles with the Mashburns. Lucky for me, Charlotte is injured. Now, don't take that the wrong way, it's just that I really like Charlotte and Fred and on a normal ride, I could never keep up with her. Fred kept riding ahead and circling back, that was pretty funny! Anyway, I got in aero several times on the "big roads". Wow, the power! I love it!

Obviously, I have a long way to go to feel completely stable and comfortable, but still...I feel great!!

Naylor's anyone?

I realized yesterday afternoon, that June 30 was the last day to sign up for the Naylor's Beach Tri, (before the price bump!). So, I read the posts on the forum with info comparing Naylor's to Patriot. About the swim, (yucky water with current), the bike (Deanna B has to walk her bike up that one hill...WTF?), the run, (flat but sunny and HOT!).

So I start calling the girls. "Will you do Naylor's with me?" I got some maybe's, I got "It's too close to my MARATHON!" (Annn the overacheiver) and some no's. I went to the Monday U of R swim. Saw Team Leader Jonah and asked "Can I do Naylors?" In true Team Leader fashion, "Of course, you can!"

So after discussing it with the husband, I signed up last night. I have a new goal, and I'll have September to train with the kids in school, yeah!!! That means I'll have a schedule again! (Not get up whenever, go to bed whenever!) I'm excited.


Everyone knows how I feel about the open water, but I don't have an TG Olympic Pint glass, so I signed up, anyway!

Friday @ Jen's

What a fabulous day Friday was!! Got up at the crack of dawn to pack for a day at the river. I had 3 coolers, 5 bags and 2 grocery bags. Lynn came with 2 bags and a cooler and rode with me and my 4 wonderful kids on an adventure into the country. (I can't believe Jennifer comes all this way to work out at 6 a.m. on Thursdays! Makes me feel totally lazy)

As we leave, Lynn tells the man she's going to be the proxy husband on the trip. Well, fill in she did...she was on her Blackberry and computer the whole drive! It was her fault we missed that turn! But she did buy us McDonald's for breakfast, does it get any better than that?!

We arrive to Jennifer's home and I'm wow'ed. The exterior is gorgeous. And I've already been told the interior is perfect, so I've warned (threatened) the kids...don't act like you're at home! Jen and Stu were so welcoming and set the kids up in style, as the TGs set off on our bike ride.

God, it's beautiful up there. I've never been there and I was trying to enjoy the scenery, but somebody let Patty be in the lead. OMG...were we racing or riding?! Patty's doing figure 8's in the road while I'm huffing to keep up. I see beautiful homes and land, but oh God, I've lost site of the girls. Better step it up! Then my chain starts slipping in the easy gears and there are enough hills that I need those gears! Please God, don't let it fall off! (Gotta get it to a bike shop when we return!) Jen and Lynn are kind enough to wait up. I tell Lynn what's going on, she thinks maybe the chain is stretched, no big deal. And OMG...are we done? Yep, back at the marina.

Time for a swim in the lake. Deanna B. joins. Well, you've heard about my OW fear until you're sick of it, so I won't go into it. But, Deanna offered to swim with me! (Yes, the same Deanna that swam 4.4 miles in the Chesapeake Bay. That's her. She's wonderful! Of course, I said "No, thank you") They swam all around the lake and Jen set me up on a 50M path where I could always touch bottom. It was great! Back and forth I went. Nobody to bother me. Practiced siting and staying close to the wall. I loved it, (well OK, liked it alot). And before I knew it the other girls were back, and it was off to the river.

Jen's part of the river is an oasis. (My biggest boy used the same word, funny!) We ate and drank and sat around in our bikini's, (liberating!). Even Patty wore a bikini! But then she burped like a man and ruined the whole effect. More girl lessons for her!

On the ride back, Lynn learned more fun facts, new songs, and other "kid" things. Here was a special conversation. The "I kissed a girl and I liked it song" came on. I really don't want the girl singing this, so I asked the boys to please refrain. The 11 year old says "I don't get it. Why would a girl kiss another girl and like it?" 9 year old replies "Because she's a Lesbian, you idiot!" Lynn sang "LaLaLa".

Can't wait to do it again!

Monday Swim

What is up with me and the swim?! Last night Coach Annie removed the lane lines for two lanes and we had to swim without boundaries. I was doing fine until I almost bumped heads with another TG. Then I swallowed water, then I freaked and never really recovered.

I need help! I don't know what my problem is. I feel like if I could identify the fear, I could deal with it. I'm feeling very Frustrated.

What a weekend!!

Temperatures topping 100 in early June? This is unbelievable!

My alarm was set for 30 mins later than I thought (6:30 not 6:00 a.m.) So I flew to the 7 a.m. bike hoping I wasn't going to be left for the hill workout. They were still in the parking lot. When the ride began, I was having trouble clipping in, so I was the last of the pack and the object of Blake's pity. So God bless him he stayed with me most of the way. He even pushed me up two hills, yes, literally pushed my bike up the hill! After about 15 miles he turned me over to Derik and Cyndi and we continued the ride with gentle rolling hills, pleasant conversation, and a general good time. I loved the 2nd portion of the ride, (no offense Blake!)

I needed to run 6 miles but was only attempting 1 due to shin issues. I manged to run most of it, but when I saw other TG friends I had to walk and chat. It was just tooooo hotttt!

Then off to a playoff baseball game for my mini-Derek Jeter. He played fabulously! He pitched beautifully and his team won. More games to come.

Then a graduation party for a neighbor.

Then a going away pool party for a friend.

Then another playoff game for my biggest boy. Their team lost and he was the last out. He was very unhappy and threw his helmet. That made me very unhappy. I can't stand unsportsman-like behavior! Or is he just being a teen-aged boy?

That was Saturday!

Sunday was more relaxing with breakfast cooked by the great husband. Then a trip to Barnes and Noble with the two little ones.

Then the TRIgirl picnic. My wonderful husband stood over a flaming grill, (yes, flaming in 100+ temperatures) to cook hot dogs, my guilty pleasure. It was a pleasant time.

Then Grandison brought me my race glasses. One for the Sprint and one for the Half-Ironman. I started to cry. I feel like such a poser taking the Half-Ironman glass. Yes, I was close (68+ out of 70.3 miles), but I wasn't allowed to finish. And I have such shame and regret about this. I don't even know quite how to deal with it.

I wish I could pinpoint what happens to my brain during the swim portion of a race, but it is definitely a panic response! Even during the 300 meter swim of the Sprint in the pool, I panicked! What the heck?! I'd love a "magic pill" to fix this, but in the meantime I'll just keep training, keep racing, and continue to deal with my swim issues!

White Lake Half Ironman - Swim

Where to begin? How about the swim? OK...I was so disoriented in the open water. The lake is described as clean and clear and smooth as glass. Not where I was trying to swim! Holy crap! All I could see was brown. I was disoriented. I couldn't do my stroke, I couldn't breathe. I rolled onto my back. I breathed, (really fast). Finally I raised my hand! I needed help! Steven with the kayak to the rescue. "Just relax, catch your breath".

The last wave was coming up on me. He told me when there was a break in the swimmers so I could try again. I tried. I stopped. I swam, I stopped. Man, was I doing a funky stroke. Breathing on the right, sighting, breathing on the right again. This was not was I was taught. Think about all of the things you've learned. Long strokes, relaxed hands. You know what to do, why can't you do it?! Frustration! Now I'm being circled by motorized boats. Kayaker Steven is now with me the whole way. He's talking to me. He's telling me how my stroke is looking better. Here come the boats and jet skis again. Don't they know they are making waves and sending diesel exhaust into my already labored lungs?!

I told Steven about my 4 kids waiting for me and how I couldn't disappoint them. He told me how he had run a marathon in Disneyworld and at mile 13 his knee started hurting so bad, he had to walk the last 11 miles. But he was not going to give up until they pulled him from the course. I kept swimming, (or moving through the water!)

Finally, I round the last buoy and I see "Wiggly Man" on the dock. OMG...Is that actually the finish in sight? Well, let me tell you...it's still a long way off!

As I exit the water after over 90 minutes of swimming, I turn to Steven and say "Thank you is inadequate". There is no way to let that wonderful kayaker know how much I appreciated him staying with me. Seeing that kayak let me know that I was safe and knowing he was staying with me 'til he "beached the kayak on the sand", means more to me than I can express. Steven, wherever you are..."Thank you"!

So now I'm out of the water and sooo dizzy. The volunteer says do you want to put your head between your knees? That sounds like a ridiculous idea! Then she says, "Why don't you sit down on that bench and take off your wetsuit?" Oh, no thank you. "You know, I've seen a lot of people doing that today". OK...that was my permission. I was the last one out of the lake, I didn't want to be a sissy and take off my wet suit sitting down on the dock. But that's what I did!

Then I fast walked to the end of the pier, and there was TRIgirl ANNN. Cheering! I told her I was dizzy. What should I do? Sit down to put on your shoes for the bike. Then get on that bike and catch TRIgirl Cyndi! ANNN followed me into TA, (she was the run leg of a relay). She offered me gel. She took pictures of me putting BodyGlide inside of my thighs! Ugh! She made me laugh. She sent me off with a good spirit! Thank you my delight!

Across the street, also taking pics, was my wonderful husband and 4 kids. (The husband later confessed he was worried to sickness about me in the lake!) But when I saw them they were all smiles, cheers, "Go Mommi". God, seeing their faces...Oh...words cannot describe!

OK, that was 1.2 miles of 70.3.