Lopsided Lady Bits..........That's gonna have me laughing all day long and Joe will have no idea why!!!!
Kitima- I hear ya on the lack of time in life to do all I want to do! Joe and I had a great time this past weekend at the CNC Ride. He did 50 on day 2 instead of 80 (riding the first 20 with me), but otherwise we rode together all weekend- it was SUCH a treat, I simply can't tell you. The same ride organizers do this "Mountains to Shore" ride each year accross North Carolina- I think it's basically a two week ride in the fall. Over dinner last night Joe expressed an interest in doing the Mountain to Shore ride and I nearly fell off my chair! I said "YEAH! Let's do that one year" and he said "yeah right, when? between which Ironman races?" which really gave me some perspective. Half Ironman racing takes very little out of your availalbe "leisure time" bank account, but Ironman saps that account dry really fast. I'm having a wonderful time this year and can't WAIT to see you all in Madison, but this may just be be my last year of Ironman racing.
Lopsided lady bits!!! LOL!!! Recently I read an advice column about a women asking for help cuz her lady bits were so long they kept falling out of the side of her underpants!!! I kid you not. Good gawd, as least it's not that!
Suzanne-sorry about your uncle. I bet you won't have time for a meet and greet, but if you do, give me a holler.
Colleen--a belated CONGRATS! Wonderful news!
Prostretch--I have one. Now where is it???? Better dig that puppy out!
For the record, this likely my last Ironman. Never say never, but it will be for a number of years running, probably forever. I do have other things I want to do, other vacations I want to take, other things to think about. I want some new/different clients, and just a more "normal" way of life. Thrice is nice, I feel I will have done all I need to do in the IM arena when WI is over. After that, maybe I'll actually do an HIM!
I can't believe the topic of lopsided lady bits showed up! I was really thinking I have that kind of issue yesterday on my ride. Always on the right. No length issues though, hmmmmm
Colleen- Belated Congrats, how exciting!
Suzanne-Sorry about your uncle, always tough even when expected. Glad you had a great weekend of biking. great news about your ankle being better. I am using Powersteps, probably similar to Superfeet. If you get custom orthotics, just be Supersensitive to any other bodyparts that my start hurting. I started wearing custom orthotics 1/09 after foot issues, but was throwing my knee off track, then causing other issues. Things have been Much better since dumping at end of January.i figured it was orthotics because I wear danskos at work for 12 hrs, no knee or foot pain, when put orthotics/running shoes on, problems.
Becky-Great job on Cherry Blossom 10 and successful swimming! looks like I can go to Cambridge Sunday! I'll PM you. Also like the "tuesday in february"
Linda- back in 2000 training for El Tour de Tucson, we were not able to cross a wash due to rivers running and sand, Well sand got caught in my cleat/pedal,very Slow Mo fall. Laughing so hard couldn't get up. Mt friend Ginny still gives me a hard time about it. Glad you were not hurt
Sheryl- Have a GREAT time in N'Awlins this week and meeting up with family.
Kitima- Glad you are feeling better. hear ya on all the things you want to do. Its that sleep thing that gets in the way. I just want it all!
Ok-gotta scoot, need to get to pool before it gets crowded. and if i sit still will want to take a nap. if i take a nap, I will be staring at ceiling at 10 pm when I should be sleeping. i really need to get those am workouts in before work esp now that May3 is coming up quickly. 4;15 is SOOOOO damn early though
Okay -- I may be able to explain. Years ago, after I wrote my friend's name and phone number of a check because he was flirting with the cute waitress, another friend commented that I had balls for doing that.
I replied, "I don't have balls. I have a great and powerful vagina."
It stuck. My friends and I still assign each other gpv points for doing awesome stuff.
Joe wants to know why I'm on the floor laughing!!! I can't possibly explain all of this to him, and that's only making me laugh harder. OMG!! GPV- maybe we need a tag line on the EN Cowgirl "Chicas Rule" logo!!!!
I LOVE it... I'm actually imagining it in the booming Wizard of Oz voice, doesn't he say: this is "the great and powerful Oz"
@Nemo, I think the IM Moo chica swimsuits should have GPV on there somewhere... and although I wanted one before I definitely want one now!
Hmm... thinking about the lopsidedness, I'm almost positive I suffered through the Beverly Hills plastic surgery show with a friend (he was addicted to it) and the doc was doing a surgery on one of the office receptionists (who'd had a kid) because she was complaining that her "bits" were uneven... I just couldn't even fathom noticing that let alone letting anyone cut those parts.... hmm... maybe, Beth, you should seek medical attention.
Ok fellow Chicas, I need some serious advice on am workouts before work. I am ~14 weeks out from IM lakePlacid. IM prep starts 5/3. I need to start getting am workouts in! My problem is more getting to sleep the night before. Last night had everything ready to go to ride this am, even lunch packed, clothes put aside. Went to go to sleep and just couldn't -10 pm passed, 11 pm, 12 am 1am still wide awake at 1;30am knew i wouldn't get up changes alarm clock and back up to 5:30- & if i did try to get up and ride on 3 hrs sleep then go to work, would have been asleep in OR, which would not be good. maybe i was just nervous about getting it done. I tried deep breathing, relaxing, calming my mind- even started with some Hail Marys/rosary. Got up and had warm wilk, finally fell asleep around 2ish. So I'll change things and run tonight, try ride tomorrow am again
Any thoughts/suggestions on what helps you would be appreciated. What helps you get ready to sleep.Some nights not a problem at all. i think once IM prep starts may not be a problems
I have to be to work around 6:30 am when I work days. Part of the problem is I don't have a normal schedule. Work 3 x12 hrs per week( sometimes more) could be day shift (6:30am-6:30 pm), night shift (6:30 p-6:30 a) or 11 a-11p- rotates. So it is a challenge to establish a pattern. The killer thing is yesterday, had to really resist taking a nap so I could fall asleep early
Oh Tracy, I feel your pain. I used to be a morning work out'er and for the past 6 months have been off my routine and the last few weeks I've tried to get back into it but just can't seem to. Like you, last night I laid everything out for my morning ride... went to bed and the alarm went off - no way.
At least I've been falling asleep pretty well, but I've definitely had problems with that in the past (am on some meds now - so I'm cheating the problem - which is that my head doesn't shut down) but prior to meds some of the tips/tricks I've tried with some success are: unplugging at least one hour before (tv, computer, iPhone - everything), warm bath, warm milk (one friend suggested with honey) or chamomile tea, lavender linen spray... one doc I talked to about it stressed that it needed to be a routine - to signal to my body and brain that it was time to quiet down and get ready to rest.
Good luck! I don't have an excuse (well, actually, the meds almost make me need a full 8 hours -- which is hard... getting to bed at 9 so I can get up at 5 just seems insane... I'm gonna have to force myself to start getting up. I suspect that after a few days of dragging myself up, I'll be tired enough to get to bed on time).
Ugh, Tracy, I'm hoping some of the other "swing shift" gals can offer advice for you. I've always been an early to bed/early to rise kinda gal. Even as a little kid, I was out like a light by 9:30pm and up by 6:00am. One piece of advice I recently heard about getting to sleep at night might be helpful. I was listening to a podcast where they were interviewing a doc that works with folks who have sleep disorders. They asked him about folks having trouble falling to sleep when they have a big event the next day (like a race or an exam). He said one thing that trips people up is having the clock next to the bed. You roll over, see the time, and then get yourself all wound up because you aren't sleeping. Apparently the reality is that we all wake up several times throughout the night every night- you just don't usually remember doing so (and you don't have an urge to check the clock when you do). So he suggests turning the clock around or putting it somewhere that you can't see it. That made a lot of sense to me and I think I'm gonna try that at my next race.
Tracy- When I was working rotating shifts, I found that I needed to cool down- literally- to signal my body it was rest time. I was lucky enough to have a hot tub. I would get in until I was just short of sweating ( a warm bath can do the same), then I'd jump out and get right into bed. As I relaxed further and my body cooled off, I would just doze off and sleep would come. Nowadays, as I relax and wind down, I get cold and just naturally fall asleep- sometimes at inopportune moments.
Being more of a lurker this week as we have company, but some down time right now at work, so trying to catch up on my reading.
GPV!!! I LOVE IT! I'm in! Put it across the butt on the swimsuit and keep 'em guessing!
Sheryl- Sorry about your uncle. Thoughts are with you.
Tracy: Nothing like changing day and night shifts to screw up your circadian rhythms! Yeesh. When I was a resident and had wacky inconsistent sleep patterns, I would try to do hard, interval type workouts that were no longer than 1 hour on the days post-call when I was most tired. I would try to eat something at work before I came home so I could get home and get the workout done before I get near the shower, couch, or bed. Then as pumped up as I was after the workout, I still went right to bed from being so tired from work. For the long workouts (especially on a bike out on the road), I only did those if I had enough sleep/rest from work. I'm with Michele on the cool down thing. I sleep much better after a hot shower and getting under the covers of a slightly chilly bed. No TV, stereo, pets in the bedroom too. The bed is sleep and sleep ONLY.
Well, as an auspicious start to General Prep, I dragged my a$$ out of bed and into the pool this morning at 5:30am. After 16 years of being a surgeon, I am still NOT a morning person. The good thing about getting in the water that early is that by the time I wake up the workout is mostly done and I can't get grumpy about it! After 10 years of triathlon, I still don't really love swimming laps. Splashing around the ocean looking at fish---yes. Swimming laps with clocks, lane lines---no. That being said, those position drills really improved my swim golf score in just one workout. I went from 19 strokes per length to 17! Woohoo! Last year when I was in the Galapagos, I was one lucky girl that got to swim in the Pacific Ocean with sea lions. They are the most amazingly graceful, agile, and speedy mammals in the water...And so playful too! They would swim right up to me, blow bubbles in my face, and swim away. I visualize being one of them when I swim my drills. It seems to be working so far...
HI Girls, it has been a loooong time. I finished my tri camp training in Tucson (biked my buns off) 5 days later, finished my 5 days in Kona preparing for 70.3 IM, I have never been so blown around from the winds in Havi, I am not sure how many of you have done IM kona or 1/2 IM in Hawaii, but never had winds like that where it was all I could do to stay on my bike. Learned a lot with heat, dehydration (nearly), went for a 60 mile and bonked at 50, a nice lady (a nurse by the way) saw me laying at the side of the rode and my son dumping water on my head and loaded me in her car 10 miles back to my hotel, probably saved me from the ER. Like a doo doo, I wore my snazzy aero helmet and never thought about the lack of ventilation so my head was BAKING. Bought a new helmet the next day made all the difference in the world. Also got a camel bag with hydration as there was NO WAY I could take either of my hands off the handle bars to drink and my new aero bike doesn't allow for the middle watter bottle between the bars, so camel was the only way to go, plus I put ice cubes in it. Each day I learned something new and don't think either of us would have finished had we not gone over there and given it our all. I did pull off 8 very slow miles "running" , more like fast walking but see surgeon Friday to see what they hey with my knee. Never had the heart rate issues I had in Tucson (no more caffeine "helpers) for me. I could go on and on but won't , just know I am trying to keep up with the reading and found I needed some other forums to help with more detailed needs.
Nemo, so glad your calf is better
Marriane, I never forget your words when I am swimming. The ocean at the Mauna Kea in Kona is gorgeous, which is where the swim is and you can see forever, think it is Hapuna Bay. I did wear a sleevless wetsuit and even though most wont, I don't plan on placing or getting a slot in Kona IM, so what the heck, gonna make this a fun one. Had an unbelievable experience with my son. Will try to post some pictures, not sure how to do that, but will put them on my member page as soon as I have time if anyone wants to see them.
Kitima, you have been a blessing with all your helpful questions and feedback.
Keep on keeping on, i am 8 weeks out, so in the hard part (at least for me) but feel lots of progress...finally, tried to have FUN in Kona with my son and not just all work. Laughed until I nearly wet myself a million times (we shared a hotel room, he is 35, I am 56) so you can imagine all the images and funny ins and outs of what this may bring on a trip like this...he adores me and me him, that really helped. I had forgotten young love. He has only been married 3 years and they had to text and call one another a gazillion times. I have been married too long I guess, but it was very touching. I have a picture of he and I when he was 2 and we are in Hawaii and now the new ones, so will post them when I can figure it out. very very touching,
girls about to pick up my prednizone for my shoulder/arm thing that keeps popping its ugly, painful head up! can't wait to be medicated!!! haven't swam since Feb!! meds normally makes me cry/weepy by the end of it.. but I told doc I would take the tears to get rid of pain!! hopefully it will zap the butt/ham pain too! smile. I got my thyroid retested today and I am hypothyroid so synthroid dosage has been adjusted.. ... and doc's scales reveal that I have gained 4 lbs.since I saw him last! yep I knew it too, nothing fits! I refuse to buy the next size and now you know why you see cheeky women in too tight clothing! they have refused as well! I am not diabetic or anemic so good news on that front! I have two weeks before IM 20 week plan starts! !!!!! hilarious I know. here it is two weeks before.... now I say all of this to you as only women can tell each other, yep I have been napping every day......
*Tracy I say if you are tired, go nap! you got thyroid stuff too and when I am sleepy, I doze and then it doesn't seem to mess up evening sleep cuz that isn't so hot either!!
I dont' work shifts so what do I know, but I think I would make my easy work days, really heavy on the training and make the heavy work days either complete stand down days or something that actually helped reduce work stress and not add to LSS (life stress score) so if getting up early to go swim cuts into your sleep thereby interuppting your demanding job? I would nix it, but now if swimming brings you great joy and you are able to meditate and get your endorphins going to tackle said job, then I say get up early! the first night you will be anxious on missing alarm but then once you get up early your body will get used to it and will fall asleep!! so my advice? look at the whole picture a bit more holistically.... not just week to week or day to day.... what do you need? for mental well being and fun? that is why you started with tris probably and what about the Ironman motivates you? that is where I am. and then it is all about efficiency in the workouts. my swimming pool is way inefficient! not sure about you. and running after work? okay I hear some people are way tired with this. I am a morning person.... Seems like Tracy that you need 3 schedules to accomodate your 3 work schedules. so my advice, take a bit of time and sketch out on paper, what each work day with diff times looks like and then on those days what tng works out? Call them A, B and C. Then look at EN training and sync up as best as you can... then on Sunday night or whenever, just look at said work schedule and no stress as you know it mean A, B or C training for that day... then days off? come up with what that looks like.. put the rest days on some of those long work days sorta thing. It takes me 2 weeks for schedule changes... so you try it and if it doesn't work, back to the drawing board. Noting that the key workouts are KEY.. so protect them, protect your work and move from there. well this was long winded but you know what I mean.
*
and I tell you that I am tired, but :::: my garage is all cleaned out and so is my car, my front and back yard and all flower pots and bedding plants have been planted, my house is clean and laundry done and etc... but I know as I know myself, that I am not "firing all engines"! good thing is with this fatigue that I have renamed "transition" before the IM tng"!! I have been able to get caught up on "old friends", do gardening and hiking that I would call "light exercise" but be fit enough to call it that! way cool huh! have an IM built in aerobic engine to do yardwork, walking and etc just not have the energy to ride a bike or run long! so on the bright side, had I never had the fatigue then I woulda been out riding rather than getting my yard looking pristine!! and garage and etc.. come May when HS graduation hits.. I will be ready! ha.
Linda H glad you are back and yes pics will be good! HI sounds nice. and wind sounds brutal. have heard about it. glad you bonked in training now you know what NOT to do on race day!!! lol.
Kitima, yeah for getting back into the pool! I think we should all post pics!!! like the "pain cave" pics but this time, "pool pics"... okay off to pharmacist!! I have also bought more vitamins, glucamosine (sp) and ready to get better! I feel like i have won the lottery to know that there IS something wrong with me and we know what it is!!! I am not going crazy or prematurely aging!! my thyroid is off and it explains everything!!
Y'all must take notes to keep up.... I can just do a collective shout out. I echo Marianne about being tired. I was given Taxol and Cistplaten chemo for cancer treatments in 2000 and had radiation to the pelvis area. I have never felt, since then, that I'm not tired most of the time. Taking a short 20 minute nap around noon really seems to help.
KIt, I'm with you on swimming. I don't really like it. I have a hard time getting the motivation to go. I'll try the sea lion visualization....I'm shaped like one so it won't be a stretch . That would be such a fun thing to do but I'm terrified of sharks. I'm unreasonably terrified of sharks. There is a group on facebook called "Seaweed touched my foot and it might as well have been a great white shark." That's me. If I'm in the ocean and something touches me I'm running on top of the water to get out.
GPV is hilarious. We have some guy friends who are just nuts with endurance racing stuff. These guys have done the ultramarathons and days long races. Anyway, one of them, Al, was sick before starting Twin Cities Marathon and at about mile 20 was in the medical tent being iced down because his temp was 102. The nurse was berating him for being stupid and asked, "Why do you guys do this?? Race when you know you are sick??" He said "Because I don't want to fall into the "P" quadrant" OK...so for our daughters, we tell them that this is the Pansy Quadrant but Al actually said the "word" to the nurse who immediately quit working on him. The "word" was the female anatomy part and also the word for felines. So Al and Steve (his buddy) made Archie and I a token to carry in races. It's the universal not allowed sign; a white circle with the letters PQ on it and a red circle with a line diagonally through it. We have carried it in every long race and gotten a picture with it but we couldn't find it for NOL. Hopefully I won't need it's MOJO on Sunday! We laugh every time we think of that nurse getting disgusted and walking away leaving Al there to suffer.
Just have to share what the spousal unit and I did the last two days. I was a little suspicious when he told me he would drive me down to NOL when I was lamenting that TriBike Transport wasn't going to take any bikes from Minnesota. Then I found out why he was willing to drive. There is a company in Camden, TN that does gun classes and of course this would work out with us taking a pistol class....insert inward groan here....As I think I have shared in past posts....I'm not an enthusiast like my husband but ok, if he is willing to drive, I'll go. I hated the first day, it was HOT and LONG and irritating because they would yell at you and then I would get flustered and think "Quit yelling about the ratchet....I can't even remember what that is because you are yelling at me!!!" The second day went much better. I slowed down and breathed more and did better. All in all it was a good class to take if there are guns in the house. I feel like I have better control of them now. It's interesting how sore you get doing this stuff.
Today we are headed to Mississippi to meet my birth father for the first time. He called last night to give direction and sounded very excited to meet us. Interestingly enough, this meeting is at his suggestion. Since my birth mother's family and I found each other it has been great to be in contact with them and I have met ALL of them and some came out last year for my daughter's graduation. I wrote my birth father a letter at the time (my mother's sister still knew where he lived and had contact with him through a mutual friend) and told him about me and my family and simply asked for medical information if he felt he wanted no further contact. He wrote back with his e-mail and phone number and we have been in contact but haven't met personally. He called at Christmas and told me how much he appreciated our being in touch for the past year and wanted to meet. Should be interesting.
Ya'll all take care! It's hot here in the south. Marianne....I look at your info on 70.3 New Orleans and get skeert about the heat and humidity. I'm hoping for a little cool breeze and no toxins in the lake.
Sheryl. wow thanks for posting and checking.. waiting with baited breath about your father!! wow. I met my father when I was 16 for my first time after my parents divorced when I was 2. a long time ago, but I still remember it. and good thiing you have your husband with you!! how sweet and okay the gun class well what a nice diversion from pre race jitters! ype it was 86 yesterday here and to date, I have only run in mornings and I am in fine sheen well actually dripping with sweat and sitting on a towel on way home!! please keep us updated! Will be praying for you.. just walk if you get hot! girl. or run until you pop! this is your weekend! don't think any of us are racin this weeken? we will live through you! okay that Lake, I didn't feel anything touching me except for other people....and no sharks in that water... remember if your heart starts to beating to fast, lift you rhead up, do some breathstroke, regroup.... and move on. This is what I did last year when my ear plugs weren't functioning! I just yanked em out. hydrate hydrate hydrate starting now.... chunk some of that water on your head at aid station, new in bottle and stay wet... not on run shoes though. put sunscreen on. Eat a few cheezits for the salt!!! beware of crazy male cyclists on the course who seem to be bonking.... and wanting to take you out! just a few turns on the course so look for the newbies making wide or otherwise unsafe turns. there are only a af ew most of course is nice and straight. easy to get zoned out so focus.. pedal pedal pedal. this will be a culmination of a work in progress with seeing your DAD, gettting cancer and recovering.. and when your body starts to fail. just bring some of that up and say "I am here!!".. do not be sucked into other people's bad race days!! and if you feel like you are having one.. analzye your calories, do you need some...?? body check... constantly and slow down at least you will be making forward progress. take meds in ziploc bag, Aleve, immodium, motrin, whatever it takes... and don't end up in medical tent, cuz yeah, we are tough... even if your GPV got zapped by cancer treatments!!! lol... m love ya. cant wait to hear how it goes!!! you go girl!!
I hope the meeting goes well Sheryl! and yes, sometimes I do take notes so I can keep names/facts straight. :-) I like the PQ - maybe it's because I have 3 brothers or because I've worked for some very colorful men (litigators) and have done employment discrimination work, and most recently worked in the division of the FCC that does broadcast indecency, but the "P" word doesn't really get me too worked up... the "C" word on the other hand... that's REALLY bad.
Sheryl: That's one big weekend you've got planned. I think the gun class is a good idea to fire off some rounds and relieve some stress. Hope all of it turns out as you would like. After chemo and rads, I think your GPV is the most great and powerful of all for withstanding it. As far as sharks in Lake Poncha-something (for NOLA), the worst case scenario for sharks would be baby bull sharks no bigger than 3 feet long incapable of eating anything bigger than a small trout. They'll all be terrified of you and will hide in deeper waters to get away from all the swimmers.
Linda: Aerohelmets and noggin' baking---I learned about that during Eagleman 2008. I tried pouring water on my helmet to cool off only to find that it was also hydrodynamic as well. All the water just slid off onto my back. Great to hear you had a wonderful time with your son. I find the older I get the more my parents and I become closer friends. It's a real blessing.
Wow, Sheryl, that's quite a weekend you have planned out! I hope the meeting with your father goes well, and good luck at NOLA!
Marianne, how's the shoulder? Is the pred working yet?
Linda H, I'm jealous of all those fun tri camps. Beats working, any day!
Kitima, I'm with you about the swimming. OWS is fun but staring at the black line on the bottom of the pool is not. It's funny: I almost never get to swim in open water but it doesn't freak me out like maybe it should. I can't wait to swim in the ocean on my Maui vacation in 1 month! The closest OWS place we have here is this nasty man-made "lake" that the local tri club and scuba enthusiasts use. All I can think about when I'm out there is the possibility of water mocassins swimming around. It is small and calm and is essentially a dirty pool. Ick!
It's just kind of a blah day today. It's cloudy, and sprinkling, and I'm tired, and my legs are sore. Oh, and I'm hungry. I feel a rest day coming on tomorrow instead of a short run and swim. To add to the joy, one of my 3 technicians (our office is very small) is not speaking to me for the second day in a row because I told him he had to adhere to the written schedule and not leave an hour early on Mondays when we are busy and need all 3 techs. Ah, the joys of being one of the bosses.
Enough griping. Hope all you ladies have a great weekend!
girls the prednizone is slowly working, still woke as it makes me sleepless and clipped me 2nd night for 2 hours and I had to self massage it, need to take a tennis ball to bed with me.. and I have called a massage therapist, and if you know me then you know I am desperate! it also makes me feel full so one whole banana pre run and I felt like I had eaten a big mac and had to roll down my waist of my shorts.... so at ten I have eaten one banana and 1/2 of MOJO.. yeah I know wiht a 4 mile run and now mid morning not enough calories but? I feel full so maybe the hypothryodi weight will come off quicker than planned! and oh... I bought some sleevelss dressed for upcoming events so today worked on arms and calfs.. since that is all that will be showing in one month!!! lol. yep forget the EN tng plan smile, now it is on to... I have a HS graduation and HS reunion and if don't lose a bit around the bum, the new dress will not fit! sleeveless, knee length fitted.. one in blue and the other in coral. now I need shoes and accessories of course... and Kris F I am sure has been out shopping for her stuff too.. right??? smile. okay scooting...m
Wow! I have missed a lot on here by not lurking the past couple of days! Sheryl, best of luck to you with meeting your Dad, and with NOLA! M, I'm glad you have found your problem and are taking care of it. I'm going to get my thyroid checked pretty soon as well. I've had it checked in the past, but it always shows it as okay. However, I'l be sure to ask for those two tests you mentioned. I have had fatigue (even prior to training with EN) extreme weight gain, can't lose anything else right now, as I'm at a plateau of several months, and brain fog!! I suffer from CNS syndrome! (Can't Remember $..t!) Your dresses sound pretty too Marianne! Gotta luv h.s. reunions! Can't wait to see all of you at IMOO with GPV across your @$$!!! Too funny, girls!!! Have you scared RnP or any of the guys in the HAUS with your GPV conversations? Also can't wait to hear your explanations to people who ask what it means!! I'm re-starting week 1 of IM 20 week, as I guess I should have taken another week of transition, but didn't. So, I'm not pushing myself too hard this week. Although, I have a very hilly 10 mile race this Saturday. We'll see how the piriformis and hammie hold up. Had p.t. AND acupuncture last night and it helped a lot! The needles they used for my acupuncture, into my @$$ to get down into the piriformis, were atleast 10" long! I kid you not! don't know how much of that 10 went into my muscle, but it was long!!! Hey, if it works, I'll do it! I've had a tight @$$ for too long! (No comments from the Peanut Gallery either! Have a wonderful Thursday everyone!!! All of my GPV friends!!!
Sheryl, I can't wait to hear how your weekend goes. Very exciting. Oh, and please remind me to introduct Joe to your hubby, I think they will get along great!!
Becky- I'm hoping your hand improves and you can get through IMFL before going back under the knife. Man has this been a long ordeal- all over a cat!? Oh, and I'm with you too- while I don't particularly care for the "P" word, I can deal with it- but the "C" word really offends me.
Well, my GPV went to the GYN today for it's annual exam. Some of you may recall that I was diagnosed with a fibroid last year. Long story short, the fibroid and I are going to live together harmoniously but my BC pill was changed so there is no estrogen in it (apparently that makes the fibroid grow). The doc asked how things were going and I said "well, you told me the migrains might get worse, but actually they got better. And the spotting you warned me about really hasn't been too much of an issue either, so that is good news. However, I've had a real hard time managing my weight this year and have put on a few lbs". She said "yeah, I'm not surprised, this med we have you on is called the "hungry hormone" for a reason!".
NOW they tell me!!! Well, at least I know there's a reason I'm having so much trouble dropping the lbs this time around.
Public Service announcement: sounds like all of us are going to the Doc's but if you haven't had a recent medical review, please go get one! we are about to start training for an IM, or about to race.. and get checked out while there is still time to make adjustments!! sort of like me and the bike shop... I felt funny going back and saying "i still hear a clanging noise" somehow I felt intimidated.. and then one day ... I thought now dad nab it, I ride my bike a lot and there is a noise!... so took back in... (with warm cookies! and lemonade!) and sure enough something was in my innertube, even puzzling the mechanic until last thing they checked.. so same thing with doc... "I am tired" or I don't feel good... just go in and tell 'em. so you waste one whole morning, have an upset stomach over with nerves from the ordeal but at least you know. I waited way too long cuz I had been checked in December.. so thought I was good to go for a year...anyways, once Linda and I talked about being tired and lethargic then I know some of you thought the same thing? get a blood test. sister is anemic and felt tired and etc.. I am a 13 on iron and she is an 8! I told her, "go buy yourself a steak and some spinach salad and eat some raisins and start an iron pill" "take care of yourself".... man I was in a fog and it crept in on me... but now I should know that if I don't want to accessorize, then I got problems!!! small earring, small bracelet and the same color lipstick every day? oh my. no really I tell you that to make you smile... but just think back and figure out if anything is amiss and go back in and in and until you can say "I don't hear the noise anymore!"... I rode 17 this afternoon and ran 4 this morning so a good day.. m
Comments
Kitima- I hear ya on the lack of time in life to do all I want to do! Joe and I had a great time this past weekend at the CNC Ride. He did 50 on day 2 instead of 80 (riding the first 20 with me), but otherwise we rode together all weekend- it was SUCH a treat, I simply can't tell you. The same ride organizers do this "Mountains to Shore" ride each year accross North Carolina- I think it's basically a two week ride in the fall. Over dinner last night Joe expressed an interest in doing the Mountain to Shore ride and I nearly fell off my chair! I said "YEAH! Let's do that one year" and he said "yeah right, when? between which Ironman races?" which really gave me some perspective. Half Ironman racing takes very little out of your availalbe "leisure time" bank account, but Ironman saps that account dry really fast. I'm having a wonderful time this year and can't WAIT to see you all in Madison, but this may just be be my last year of Ironman racing.
Lopsided lady bits!!! LOL!!! Recently I read an advice column about a women asking for help cuz her lady bits were so long they kept falling out of the side of her underpants!!! I kid you not. Good gawd, as least it's not that!
Suzanne-sorry about your uncle. I bet you won't have time for a meet and greet, but if you do, give me a holler.
Colleen--a belated CONGRATS! Wonderful news!
Prostretch--I have one. Now where is it???? Better dig that puppy out!
For the record, this likely my last Ironman. Never say never, but it will be for a number of years running, probably forever. I do have other things I want to do, other vacations I want to take, other things to think about. I want some new/different clients, and just a more "normal" way of life. Thrice is nice, I feel I will have done all I need to do in the IM arena when WI is over. After that, maybe I'll actually do an HIM!
I can't believe the topic of lopsided lady bits showed up!
I was really thinking I have that kind of issue yesterday on my ride. Always on the right. No length issues though, hmmmmm
Colleen- Belated Congrats, how exciting!
Suzanne-Sorry about your uncle, always tough even when expected. Glad you had a great weekend of biking. great news about your ankle being better. I am using Powersteps, probably similar to Superfeet. If you get custom orthotics, just be Supersensitive to any other bodyparts that my start hurting. I started wearing custom orthotics 1/09 after foot issues, but was throwing my knee off track, then causing other issues. Things have been Much better since dumping at end of January.i figured it was orthotics because I wear danskos at work for 12 hrs, no knee or foot pain, when put orthotics/running shoes on, problems.
Becky-Great job on Cherry Blossom 10 and successful swimming! looks like I can go to Cambridge Sunday! I'll PM you. Also like the "tuesday in february"
Linda- back in 2000 training for El Tour de Tucson, we were not able to cross a wash due to rivers running and sand, Well sand got caught in my cleat/pedal,very Slow Mo fall. Laughing so hard couldn't get up. Mt friend Ginny still gives me a hard time about it. Glad you were not hurt
Sheryl- Have a GREAT time in N'Awlins this week and meeting up with family.
Kitima- Glad you are feeling better. hear ya on all the things you want to do. Its that sleep thing that gets in the way. I just want it all!
Ok-gotta scoot, need to get to pool before it gets crowded. and if i sit still will want to take a nap. if i take a nap, I will be staring at ceiling at 10 pm when I should be sleeping. i really need to get those am workouts in before work esp now that May3 is coming up quickly. 4;15 is SOOOOO damn early though
Happy tax week everyone
Okay -- I may be able to explain. Years ago, after I wrote my friend's name and phone number of a check because he was flirting with the cute waitress, another friend commented that I had balls for doing that.
I replied, "I don't have balls. I have a great and powerful vagina."
It stuck. My friends and I still assign each other gpv points for doing awesome stuff.
Saddle? It must have been my gpv.
OMG, this is so funny! GPV talk should shoo those boy lurkers away for a few days.
Or does that go without saying?
It is even funnier when you imagine it in NPR radio voice .. .
Maybe I should not have checked on everyone tonight, now I am going to have the giggle before i go yo sleep.
Have a great night everyone
I am wiped out tonight, but not too wiped to catch the GPV !!!
Love it.
Gotta hit the shower.
You gals rock!!!
I LOVE it... I'm actually imagining it in the booming Wizard of Oz voice, doesn't he say: this is "the great and powerful Oz"
@Nemo, I think the IM Moo chica swimsuits should have GPV on there somewhere... and although I wanted one before I definitely want one now!
Hmm... thinking about the lopsidedness, I'm almost positive I suffered through the Beverly Hills plastic surgery show with a friend (he was addicted to it) and the doc was doing a surgery on one of the office receptionists (who'd had a kid) because she was complaining that her "bits" were uneven... I just couldn't even fathom noticing that let alone letting anyone cut those parts.... hmm... maybe, Beth, you should seek medical attention.
Becky- funny about Wizard of OZ voice.
Ok fellow Chicas, I need some serious advice on am workouts before work. I am ~14 weeks out from IM lakePlacid. IM prep starts 5/3. I need to start getting am workouts in! My problem is more getting to sleep the night before. Last night had everything ready to go to ride this am, even lunch packed, clothes put aside. Went to go to sleep and just couldn't -10 pm passed, 11 pm, 12 am 1am still wide awake
at 1;30am knew i wouldn't get up changes alarm clock and back up to 5:30- & if i did try to get up and ride on 3 hrs sleep then go to work, would have been asleep in OR, which would not be good. maybe i was just nervous about getting it done. I tried deep breathing, relaxing, calming my mind- even started with some Hail Marys/rosary. Got up and had warm wilk, finally fell asleep around 2ish. So I'll change things and run tonight, try ride tomorrow am again
Any thoughts/suggestions on what helps you would be appreciated. What helps you get ready to sleep.Some nights not a problem at all. i think once IM prep starts may not be a problems
I have to be to work around 6:30 am when I work days. Part of the problem is I don't have a normal schedule. Work 3 x12 hrs per week( sometimes more) could be day shift (6:30am-6:30 pm), night shift (6:30 p-6:30 a) or 11 a-11p- rotates. So it is a challenge to establish a pattern. The killer thing is yesterday, had to really resist taking a nap so I could fall asleep early
Coffee break over gotta go
Oh Tracy, I feel your pain. I used to be a morning work out'er and for the past 6 months have been off my routine and the last few weeks I've tried to get back into it but just can't seem to. Like you, last night I laid everything out for my morning ride... went to bed and the alarm went off - no way.
At least I've been falling asleep pretty well, but I've definitely had problems with that in the past (am on some meds now - so I'm cheating the problem - which is that my head doesn't shut down) but prior to meds some of the tips/tricks I've tried with some success are: unplugging at least one hour before (tv, computer, iPhone - everything), warm bath, warm milk (one friend suggested with honey) or chamomile tea, lavender linen spray... one doc I talked to about it stressed that it needed to be a routine - to signal to my body and brain that it was time to quiet down and get ready to rest.
Good luck! I don't have an excuse (well, actually, the meds almost make me need a full 8 hours -- which is hard... getting to bed at 9 so I can get up at 5 just seems insane... I'm gonna have to force myself to start getting up. I suspect that after a few days of dragging myself up, I'll be tired enough to get to bed on time).
Being more of a lurker this week as we have company, but some down time right now at work, so trying to catch up on my reading.
GPV!!! I LOVE IT! I'm in! Put it across the butt on the swimsuit and keep 'em guessing!
Sheryl- Sorry about your uncle. Thoughts are with you.
Hope everyone is enjoying the week.
I'm with Michele on the cool down thing. I sleep much better after a hot shower and getting under the covers of a slightly chilly bed. No TV, stereo, pets in the bedroom too. The bed is sleep and sleep ONLY.
Well, as an auspicious start to General Prep, I dragged my a$$ out of bed and into the pool this morning at 5:30am. After 16 years of being a surgeon, I am still NOT a morning person. The good thing about getting in the water that early is that by the time I wake up the workout is mostly done and I can't get grumpy about it! After 10 years of triathlon, I still don't really love swimming laps. Splashing around the ocean looking at fish---yes. Swimming laps with clocks, lane lines---no. That being said, those position drills really improved my swim golf score in just one workout. I went from 19 strokes per length to 17! Woohoo! Last year when I was in the Galapagos, I was one lucky girl that got to swim in the Pacific Ocean with sea lions. They are the most amazingly graceful, agile, and speedy mammals in the water...And so playful too! They would swim right up to me, blow bubbles in my face, and swim away. I visualize being one of them when I swim my drills. It seems to be working so far...
HI Girls, it has been a loooong time. I finished my tri camp training in Tucson (biked my buns off) 5 days later, finished my 5 days in Kona preparing for 70.3 IM, I have never been so blown around from the winds in Havi, I am not sure how many of you have done IM kona or 1/2 IM in Hawaii, but never had winds like that where it was all I could do to stay on my bike. Learned a lot with heat, dehydration (nearly), went for a 60 mile and bonked at 50, a nice lady (a nurse by the way) saw me laying at the side of the rode and my son dumping water on my head and loaded me in her car 10 miles back to my hotel, probably saved me from the ER. Like a doo doo, I wore my snazzy aero helmet and never thought about the lack of ventilation so my head was BAKING. Bought a new helmet the next day made all the difference in the world. Also got a camel bag with hydration as there was NO WAY I could take either of my hands off the handle bars to drink and my new aero bike doesn't allow for the middle watter bottle between the bars, so camel was the only way to go, plus I put ice cubes in it. Each day I learned something new and don't think either of us would have finished had we not gone over there and given it our all. I did pull off 8 very slow miles "running" , more like fast walking but see surgeon Friday to see what they hey with my knee. Never had the heart rate issues I had in Tucson (no more caffeine "helpers) for me.
I could go on and on but won't , just know I am trying to keep up with the reading and found I needed some other forums to help with more detailed needs.
Nemo, so glad your calf is better
Marriane, I never forget your words when I am swimming. The ocean at the Mauna Kea in Kona is gorgeous, which is where the swim is and you can see forever, think it is Hapuna Bay. I did wear a sleevless wetsuit and even though most wont, I don't plan on placing or getting a slot in Kona IM, so what the heck, gonna make this a fun one. Had an unbelievable experience with my son. Will try to post some pictures, not sure how to do that, but will put them on my member page as soon as I have time if anyone wants to see them.
Kitima, you have been a blessing with all your helpful questions and feedback.
Keep on keeping on, i am 8 weeks out, so in the hard part (at least for me) but feel lots of progress...finally, tried to have FUN in Kona with my son and not just all work. Laughed until I nearly wet myself a million times
(we shared a hotel room, he is 35, I am 56) so you can imagine all the images and funny ins and outs of what this may bring on a trip like this...he adores me and me him, that really helped. I had forgotten young love. He has only been married 3 years and they had to text and call one another a gazillion times. I have been married too long I guess, but it was very touching. I have a picture of he and I when he was 2 and we are in Hawaii and now the new ones, so will post them when I can figure it out. very very touching, 
girls about to pick up my prednizone for my shoulder/arm thing that keeps popping its ugly, painful head up! can't wait to be medicated!!! haven't swam since Feb!! meds normally makes me cry/weepy by the end of it.. but I told doc I would take the tears to get rid of pain!! hopefully it will zap the butt/ham pain too! smile. I got my thyroid retested today and I am hypothyroid so synthroid dosage has been adjusted.. ... and doc's scales reveal that I have gained 4 lbs.since I saw him last! yep I knew it too, nothing fits! I refuse to buy the next size and now you know why you see cheeky women in too tight clothing! they have refused as well! I am not diabetic or anemic so good news on that front! I have two weeks before IM 20 week plan starts! !!!!! hilarious I know. here it is two weeks before.... now I say all of this to you as only women can tell each other, yep I have been napping every day......
*Tracy I say if you are tired, go nap! you got thyroid stuff too and when I am sleepy, I doze and then it doesn't seem to mess up evening sleep cuz that isn't so hot either!!
I dont' work shifts so what do I know, but I think I would make my easy work days, really heavy on the training and make the heavy work days either complete stand down days or something that actually helped reduce work stress and not add to LSS (life stress score) so if getting up early to go swim cuts into your sleep thereby interuppting your demanding job? I would nix it, but now if swimming brings you great joy and you are able to meditate and get your endorphins going to tackle said job, then I say get up early! the first night you will be anxious on missing alarm but then once you get up early your body will get used to it and will fall asleep!! so my advice? look at the whole picture a bit more holistically.... not just week to week or day to day.... what do you need? for mental well being and fun? that is why you started with tris probably and what about the Ironman motivates you? that is where I am. and then it is all about efficiency in the workouts. my swimming pool is way inefficient! not sure about you. and running after work? okay I hear some people are way tired with this. I am a morning person.... Seems like Tracy that you need 3 schedules to accomodate your 3 work schedules. so my advice, take a bit of time and sketch out on paper, what each work day with diff times looks like and then on those days what tng works out? Call them A, B and C. Then look at EN training and sync up as best as you can... then on Sunday night or whenever, just look at said work schedule and no stress as you know it mean A, B or C training for that day... then days off? come up with what that looks like.. put the rest days on some of those long work days sorta thing. It takes me 2 weeks for schedule changes... so you try it and if it doesn't work, back to the drawing board. Noting that the key workouts are KEY.. so protect them, protect your work and move from there. well this was long winded but you know what I mean.
*
and I tell you that I am tired, but :::: my garage is all cleaned out and so is my car, my front and back yard and all flower pots and bedding plants have been planted, my house is clean and laundry done and etc... but I know as I know myself, that I am not "firing all engines"! good thing is with this fatigue that I have renamed "transition" before the IM tng"!! I have been able to get caught up on "old friends", do gardening and hiking that I would call "light exercise" but be fit enough to call it that! way cool huh! have an IM built in aerobic engine to do yardwork, walking and etc just not have the energy to ride a bike or run long! so on the bright side, had I never had the fatigue then I woulda been out riding rather than getting my yard looking pristine!! and garage and etc.. come May when HS graduation hits.. I will be ready! ha.
Linda H glad you are back and yes pics will be good! HI sounds nice. and wind sounds brutal. have heard about it. glad you bonked in training now you know what NOT to do on race day!!! lol.
Kitima, yeah for getting back into the pool! I think we should all post pics!!! like the "pain cave" pics but this time, "pool pics"... okay off to pharmacist!! I have also bought more vitamins, glucamosine (sp) and ready to get better! I feel like i have won the lottery to know that there IS something wrong with me and we know what it is!!! I am not going crazy or prematurely aging!! my thyroid is off and it explains everything!!
Y'all must take notes to keep up.... I can just do a collective shout out. I echo Marianne about being tired. I was given Taxol and Cistplaten chemo for cancer treatments in 2000 and had radiation to the pelvis area. I have never felt, since then, that I'm not tired most of the time. Taking a short 20 minute nap around noon really seems to help.
KIt, I'm with you on swimming. I don't really like it. I have a hard time getting the motivation to go. I'll try the sea lion visualization....I'm shaped like one so it won't be a stretch
. That would be such a fun thing to do but I'm terrified of sharks. I'm unreasonably terrified of sharks. There is a group on facebook called "Seaweed touched my foot and it might as well have been a great white shark." That's me. If I'm in the ocean and something touches me I'm running on top of the water to get out.
GPV is hilarious. We have some guy friends who are just nuts with endurance racing stuff. These guys have done the ultramarathons and days long races. Anyway, one of them, Al, was sick before starting Twin Cities Marathon and at about mile 20 was in the medical tent being iced down because his temp was 102. The nurse was berating him for being stupid and asked, "Why do you guys do this?? Race when you know you are sick??" He said "Because I don't want to fall into the "P" quadrant" OK...so for our daughters, we tell them that this is the Pansy Quadrant but Al actually said the "word" to the nurse who immediately quit working on him. The "word" was the female anatomy part and also the word for felines. So Al and Steve (his buddy) made Archie and I a token to carry in races. It's the universal not allowed sign; a white circle with the letters PQ on it and a red circle with a line diagonally through it. We have carried it in every long race and gotten a picture with it but we couldn't find it for NOL. Hopefully I won't need it's MOJO on Sunday! We laugh every time we think of that nurse getting disgusted and walking away leaving Al there to suffer.
Just have to share what the spousal unit and I did the last two days. I was a little suspicious when he told me he would drive me down to NOL when I was lamenting that TriBike Transport wasn't going to take any bikes from Minnesota. Then I found out why he was willing to drive. There is a company in Camden, TN that does gun classes and of course this would work out with us taking a pistol class....insert inward groan here....As I think I have shared in past posts....I'm not an enthusiast like my husband but ok, if he is willing to drive, I'll go. I hated the first day, it was HOT and LONG and irritating because they would yell at you and then I would get flustered and think "Quit yelling about the ratchet....I can't even remember what that is because you are yelling at me!!!" The second day went much better. I slowed down and breathed more and did better. All in all it was a good class to take if there are guns in the house. I feel like I have better control of them now. It's interesting how sore you get doing this stuff.
Today we are headed to Mississippi to meet my birth father for the first time. He called last night to give direction and sounded very excited to meet us. Interestingly enough, this meeting is at his suggestion. Since my birth mother's family and I found each other it has been great to be in contact with them and I have met ALL of them and some came out last year for my daughter's graduation. I wrote my birth father a letter at the time (my mother's sister still knew where he lived and had contact with him through a mutual friend) and told him about me and my family and simply asked for medical information if he felt he wanted no further contact. He wrote back with his e-mail and phone number and we have been in contact but haven't met personally. He called at Christmas and told me how much he appreciated our being in touch for the past year and wanted to meet. Should be interesting.
Ya'll all take care! It's hot here in the south. Marianne....I look at your info on 70.3 New Orleans and get skeert about the heat and humidity. I'm hoping for a little cool breeze and no toxins in the lake.
I like the PQ - maybe it's because I have 3 brothers or because I've worked for some very colorful men (litigators) and have done employment discrimination work, and most recently worked in the division of the FCC that does broadcast indecency, but the "P" word doesn't really get me too worked up... the "C" word on the other hand... that's REALLY bad.
Linda: Aerohelmets and noggin' baking---I learned about that during Eagleman 2008. I tried pouring water on my helmet to cool off only to find that it was also hydrodynamic as well. All the water just slid off onto my back. Great to hear you had a wonderful time with your son. I find the older I get the more my parents and I become closer friends. It's a real blessing.
Wow, Sheryl, that's quite a weekend you have planned out! I hope the meeting with your father goes well, and good luck at NOLA!
Marianne, how's the shoulder? Is the pred working yet?
Linda H, I'm jealous of all those fun tri camps. Beats working, any day!
Kitima, I'm with you about the swimming. OWS is fun but staring at the black line on the bottom of the pool is not. It's funny: I almost never get to swim in open water but it doesn't freak me out like maybe it should. I can't wait to swim in the ocean on my Maui vacation in 1 month! The closest OWS place we have here is this nasty man-made "lake" that the local tri club and scuba enthusiasts use. All I can think about when I'm out there is the possibility of water mocassins swimming around. It is small and calm and is essentially a dirty pool. Ick!
It's just kind of a blah day today. It's cloudy, and sprinkling, and I'm tired, and my legs are sore. Oh, and I'm hungry. I feel a rest day coming on tomorrow instead of a short run and swim. To add to the joy, one of my 3 technicians (our office is very small) is not speaking to me for the second day in a row because I told him he had to adhere to the written schedule and not leave an hour early on Mondays when we are busy and need all 3 techs. Ah, the joys of being one of the bosses.
Enough griping. Hope all you ladies have a great weekend!
M, I'm glad you have found your problem and are taking care of it. I'm going to get my thyroid checked pretty soon as well. I've had it checked in the past, but it always shows it as okay. However, I'l be sure to ask for those two tests you mentioned. I have had fatigue (even prior to training with EN) extreme weight gain, can't lose anything else right now, as I'm at a plateau of several months, and brain fog!! I suffer from CNS syndrome! (Can't Remember $..t!)
Your dresses sound pretty too Marianne! Gotta luv h.s. reunions!
Can't wait to see all of you at IMOO with GPV across your @$$!!! Too funny, girls!!! Have you scared RnP or any of the guys in the HAUS with your GPV conversations? Also can't wait to hear your explanations to people who ask what it means!!
I'm re-starting week 1 of IM 20 week, as I guess I should have taken another week of transition, but didn't. So, I'm not pushing myself too hard this week. Although, I have a very hilly 10 mile race this Saturday. We'll see how the piriformis and hammie hold up. Had p.t. AND acupuncture last night and it helped a lot! The needles they used for my acupuncture, into my @$$ to get down into the piriformis, were atleast 10" long! I kid you not! don't know how much of that 10 went into my muscle, but it was long!!!
Hey, if it works, I'll do it! I've had a tight @$$ for too long! (No comments from the Peanut Gallery either!
Have a wonderful Thursday everyone!!! All of my GPV friends!!!
Becky- I'm hoping your hand improves and you can get through IMFL before going back under the knife. Man has this been a long ordeal- all over a cat!? Oh, and I'm with you too- while I don't particularly care for the "P" word, I can deal with it- but the "C" word really offends me.
Well, my GPV went to the GYN today for it's annual exam. Some of you may recall that I was diagnosed with a fibroid last year. Long story short, the fibroid and I are going to live together harmoniously but my BC pill was changed so there is no estrogen in it (apparently that makes the fibroid grow). The doc asked how things were going and I said "well, you told me the migrains might get worse, but actually they got better. And the spotting you warned me about really hasn't been too much of an issue either, so that is good news. However, I've had a real hard time managing my weight this year and have put on a few lbs". She said "yeah, I'm not surprised, this med we have you on is called the "hungry hormone" for a reason!".
NOW they tell me!!! Well, at least I know there's a reason I'm having so much trouble dropping the lbs this time around.