also "Live like you're dying" by Kris allen, natch he is from my church here in Arkansas...! new tunes for my trip!!! yep I am packed, family schedule done, need to go to the bank, got the passports (nemo!!) and now can relax a bit.....
Marianne, just the word Passport now puts chills down my spine!! I love "Live like your dying"- great song! I need to check out that Whitney tune too.
Body Comp? Oh man, I was doing really good until my Birthday when we got this tiny little cake (I told Joe NO NO NO to baking me a huge cake when it's just the two of us). So he got me one of those mini cakes- probably only really enough for 4 people, but somehow I've been natching on it every night for the past 4 days and it's got my sugar urges all out of wack again! I'll be glad when that thing is out of this house!!
Ladies, I think I'm finally ready to try running on pavement again. I'm gonna put together a plan for myself (using tips from Leigh) so that I make a VERY gradual return. I'm frankly scared to death. I can tell my calf is healed up and it's time to get out there- but I'm just sooooooo afraid of being back here stuck in the pool again AND risking training for IMoo. Hopefully that fear will help keep me from doing something stupid- like- oh signing up for an 8K in 3 weeks- which I totally could see me doing if I'm not careful! Ugh, I'm such a mess!
Oh- I finally got to listen to Pam's "meet the team" interview. Really good stuff! I just love those interviews!
{{{Gina}}} I know how much your dad meant to you and your entire family.
{{{Nemo}}} I'm going to repeat the advice from Patrick...for me it was given re my slow recoveries, but it applies if you have a major issue. He told me the ONLY thing that matters is Moo day. Period. It's the long view, the eye on that prize only. Nothing else matters, and only make decisions to do the things that get you to that goal. Everything else does not matter and MUST fall away. 8K race (or whatever event) puts you at risk? It's a total non-starter. That has to be the filter for every decision. I think it's very valuable advice.
{{{m}}}--can't wait to hear about your trip. We will miss you.
"Live like you're dying" is a core Buddhist concept. You appreciate life because you know it's finite. Amen.
I cannot even discuss body comp and food choices. I am WAAAAY off lately.
you may not sign up for the 8k!!! there we go, we took the pressure right off ya!! nemo. yes my eating has been off too. my waist feels thick, or could it be the three layers I have on still post run?? nope it is thick. and nope I am not reading any more articles on active.com about perimenopause and weight gain nor menopause and weight gain, nor women and weight gain nor anything about weight gain!!! they keep coming to me in my email acct!! whassup with that!?? scooting to meet mother for lunch and back to cold here again today... and windy... yowza went right thru me!! yep sunny though so good. I am going with a bunch of people who don't exercise only one lifts weights and has biceps the size of my waist!! he is the pastor.. so I told him I hoped to lose weight in Guatemala in hopes of increasing my power to weight ratio!!!! lol... I have warned the others that without running I need more coffee.. and apparently the hotel pool is quite yucky but I assured them I have swam in worse and now we don't know what they think of me.... !!!! anyways it will be neat to hang with other people who DON't do tris!!! and I am gonna find out how do people deal with stress if they don't exercise??? we will be in close quarters, and all walks of life but all care about people... but if they see me run around the hotel pool cuz we have to stay together, or actually swim in it, then they will know how I deal with stress and meditate!!! I am way excited about leaving though, no chores or housework = lol!!!! but I will miss my kids as I am always here!!! but will have Andrew with me so he is one cool kid and one of my kids that doesn't get embarrassed by me and is unflappable, easygoing on schedules and has a sharp sense of humor!! and great with kids we call him Pied Piper.... blonde, blue eyed all american boy and I get to spend a week with him!!! yep he wants to hang with his Mom and no other teenagers going with this church group! but he loves adventure and this is his third mission trip after going to Brazil and Africa with Joe and then Costa Rica with the school. if you remember he is the son who tried to beat me in the Christmas 5k of 2008 but we tied.. even though he pushed me back at the finish line but we had chips on... and then he attempted to beat me in another 5k (all with the reward of cash from Joe!!)..... .. yep, sure am sad he won't be here next fall but at college, but right now won't think of him leaving but instead enjoy my time with him!!!
TRADE ALERT: The size large women's EN cycling top is too big for me. Any chance that someone ordered a medium that's too small for them and want to make an even trade? I could always just exchange via Rich but figured I'd check here first.
Hi Girls, OK, I have been flying under the radar, having some really discouraging training, all the "older guys and gals" are giving me the cold shoulder in the water as I am "running", they either don't undersand or just don't like someone who is 56, kind of in shape and doing something they have never seen before. Then I got an indoor cyclops trainer and have been doing TERRIBLE on it, only to find out the brake pad was slammed up against the wheel so no WONDER! Then I finally did a trial run on the treadmill because I am doing a small TRI on Saturday, "Race the Base", it is a backwards tri, 5k run, 15 mile bike and 800 meter swim (in the marines pool as it is on the marine base. So I have been dreading it, it is CA, but cold, rainy and we are having a storm on race day. BUT, a breakthrough, this is gonna sound ridiculous but I did a 11 minute mile (2.5 of them) and it was uncomfortable but doable. So I have been in one big pitty party and doubting myself like never before, my brain is telling me all day long "YOU WILL NEVER GET TO DO THIS 1/2 IM, AND YOU WILL NEVER DO TRIS AGAIN". I am dead serious, so although I have been reading all your great stories, I had nothing but bad news to contribute so at least this is some good news. I am doing the tri with my 34 year old son who also has a bum leg. We are really just doing it to get the "juices" flowing as we are both in a real funk. I will let you know how it goes, and after I get my new indoor cylce fixed tomorrow I may have some decent news there too! Oh, my swimming sucks right now too, the pool heater broke and it was freezing this week, so after taking all the time to get to the local Y, get in my suit, get in the stinky chlorine pool, it was too cold to swim and I quit after 8 laps, so my tail has been down (between my legs). I bought a long sleeve tube for the pool as I just keep getting cold even when the pool is supposed to be warm. So although I am out of the OS, I don't feel like it. Maybe the tide is changing. Gina, I don't know you but I lost my dad TOTALLY UNEXPECTEDLY, a really awful way, about a year ago and I remember the first anniversary a few months ago and I just couldn't bare it, but today I am doing better and try to remember him in the good times. Nemo, thanks for your help with the pool running, I never could get my heart rate up and got stuck in the corner but I DID IT THANKS TO YOU!!!. I will have to continue to do it but am a little more confident (just a little) that I can kind of run, even if it looks ridiculous and is slow. OK, well that is it for then newbie shrink...ugh I need a shrink, thank goodness for my hubby. OH, and my darling dog Scooter went in for surgery this morning, but another bit of good news, doctor called and said he made it fine, which is another huge blessing, for all you dog lovers, he is just a little 6.5 pound toy yorkie with so many health problems I won't even go into it, but he made it through again, OK, well bye for now and thanks for all your great postings and for listening to mine +
if you say you can or you say you can't--you'll be right. My kids have that on a team shirt. I like it, and think about that when I'm struggling. I was the QUEEN of negative self-talk. THE. QUEEN. I have worked so hard through the years to battle that, and it's much better. It just wastes energy and takes your eye off the real goal. I'm telling you, the biggest thing I have used tri training for is to battle those messages. And if you let it, the work and the training and the racing can really, really help overcome those self-defeating thoughts. Hang in there. Some days just suck so you pick yourself up, dust yourself off...you know the rest.
So glad you reached out to us. LP hit it right on the nose. Even though we know negative talk is self defeating we all fall into that trap( or I like to say pit). See if you fall in a pit the only way out is with help. You need someone to pull you out. Reaching out and talking about your struggles will help you not to fall in the pit. But now that you feel you are there let us pull you out.
Sounds like you are trying hard, doing the work and that is something to be proud of. Baby steps to your race my dear. I am excited to hear about your experience in your tri this weekend with your son. Have fun. That is what it is all about.
Shrink, don't fly under the radar for so long!!! smile. okay here is how you take care of the older gals and girls in the water... you bake some cookies!!! and you say sweetly "Hey, thanks for letting me use this water while I rehab this knee!, and I brought some cookies to share with you when you get out. and I am gonna put them over here...." and then you just do your thang! This water aerobic group is a tight group of people.. I know, at my comm center they went out for bday lunches, got cards for those in the hospital. and basically your goal is to somehow connect with them, cuz then they will take care of you and ask how you are doing...!! and share the lane a bit more.
Race the base !! oh my gosh I bet this is gonna be one of the coolest things you have done!! I did an Army 5k once and no kidding just the patriotism displayed out there by the soldiers brought chills to me although on a hot warm day!! and do this one with your son... okay.. don't worry about your performance just enjoy the outing with him!! overdress if you want to combat the cold!! take your camera and walk the thing as if in Disney marathon to get pics of those soldiers in full regalia!! pics of the flag.. oh yeah it will be great!!!
okay now get both of your hands and put them back on the opposing arms.. and shake yourself!!! "I will not talk smack talk to myself!" and instead say to yourself "my son wants to spend Sunday with me!" and then post pics of the event!!!
yep like Linda I have had smack talked myself all around the place and actually know this about myself .. I am slow at swimming, I am worthless on hills, I have some unusual gait and people are laughing at me, I look horrible in the water, I am not relaxed on the bike, my legs are hardly moving when I run!.. want more??? okay... my legs are splayed when I swim, I look like a frog, I am dragging on the bike, my arms look weird on my run......
see how that does nothing for me!! ha ha. I am back in junior high!! oh horror of that..... that really was horrible. ha ha. no really, you gotta love yourself and let yourself go if the workout isn't successful and by fighting this negative self talk, you can complete the race of your dreams!!!
Shrink- Thanks for sharing the hard times with us. When it's a new group, it can be intimidating to share when you're down, fearing it will be a big old "X"on you. But every single one of use has had the hopeless feelings about bouncing back from injury. You are so incredibly fortunate to have a son that wants to race with you. I think it will definitely "get the juices flowing". 11 minutes is great! I bet you really pushed yourself, but don't over do it yet. Think long term (as Linda P was counseling Nemo about, just above).
So this has been my rest week that I decided to take. I felt absolutely horrible Monday, a bit better Tuesday and back to myself today. This rest is huge for me. I never would have done this pre-EN. But pushing through last OS and then bailing on my season plans taught me to listen. Rich told us to take a rest after Power Clinic, I put it off by 1 week, but feel it was the correct decision. An easy bike tomorrow and off Friday before getting back to working out on Saturday. I am learning...
I am really blessed to have all of you, all of your feedback has helped me so much, I actually "got over myself" a bit, I couldn't see the forest through the trees, but now am counting my blessings as many of you alluded too. I also think I get myself so worked up when I look at the massive notebook (all EN) that I have put together and have never prepared like this and feel as if everyone else has it DOWN. I am sure I will get there, and I really always do accomplish what I put my mind to. I am NOT GOOD AT ALL with patience so am having to learn a lot with all of this. I will continue to share and hope to contribute to all of you one day. It is really quite funny because I actually thought about bringing "cookies", tomorrow will be the last day before my race that I get in the water with them, so if I can get it together to still bake something tonight I will do that (or stop at a nice bakery), just don't want them to be bummed about the calories (as that is all they talk about) nonetheless it is an excellent idea. If nothing else I will thank them all for putting up with me. OK, well thanks again ever so much and I will give myself a break, work on the negative talk and most funny of all, as you know I am a licensed psychologist and can TEACH THIS TO MY PATIENTS, but it is a whole other gig to do it for myself.....duh huh?? hugs +
Food for thought on positive thinking: I posted the following to Facebook the other day: "I spend so much time giving positive reinforcement to the creatures in my life that sometimes I forget that inanimate objects don't require it: I just congratulated my water bottle on standing upright." Funny, but true - my "special" dog, the humane rescue from the garbage can, was so desperately helpless and weird at first that I learned how positive reinforcement can build confidence very quickly - and I guess I'm still in the habit of fussing over every little good thing. So that's how I found myself at work with a wobbly water bottle, saying "Good job!" when it righted itself.
But in reflecting on how ridiculous I sounded, I realized that I've also gotten in the habit of congratulating myself over every little thing - maybe that's why the interval work in EN suits me well, because there are a good five or six milestones (or opportunities for positive feedback) to reach in each workout. I'm literally my own cheerleader in my head - when I start a hard stretch I say, "Okay, we can do this - just chill, it'll get better soon." and as I'm nearing the end of an interval I'm thinking, "You're doing this!" and when I finish I say, "Good job Sooz, good job!" A bobble on effort goes by without comment but the recovery to full speed gets a "There ya go, great, keep it up!" Constantly bathing myself in congratulations makes training a happier, lighter place, so having an off day is easier to shrug off with a breezy, "Oh well, live to fight another day!" Plus, chattering away about all the teeny things I do right means there's no room for self doubt or negative critiques.
Speaking of living to fight another day, I'm on Day 3 of Suzanne's Stand Down. So needed! I'm not missing training at all and my quads STILL feel trashed. I'm most concerned about a twinge in my right ankle and I'm looking forward to PT on Friday so I can ask them about it. But several days in a row of 8 full hours of sleep because I don't have to wake up early? Fabulous! I'm having really bizarre dreams which I'm taking as a sign that my body is working on some important stuff during all the sleep...
And finally, speaking of sleep, mine was interrupted last night by my phone beeping at me. Someone I don't know sent me a text message at 1:15 a.m. that read (I am not making this up): "So whole time, i aint even kno u be fakin like shit, throwin ur money in da club...Lls anyway, how you been ty? which clubs be poppin now on fridays?" Hope you all enjoyed that little nugget! I sure did!
ha they talk about calories because they are hungry!!! the pool makes me ravenous!! don't stress about it if no time! to pick up baked goods. and somehow I begin this essay on swimming........ oh shoot, I am way with you on the swim gig though>>> on one side of me I have speedo guy doing flipturns and not taking a break to talk!! just swimming and swimming and has that V shape,, sometime he stares at me as if to wonder aloud how did I actually swim 2.4 miles??? he is probably just looking at the clock!! but it feels like he is staring at me and my technique!! lol.... then I have the swim coach that has also BQd (Boston) and is wicked fast at tris who I just imagine is wondering again why am I not getting it!! and then aghast, why I am sure!!! at my one hour time trial as I think she doubled mine, well almost!! , then I have the older lady doing masters swim that is super competitive and the only thing I beat her to is to the showers! she dives off the end and times herself against state records!! in her AG....there are also some older dudes learning to swim it seems like.. and the cycling dude with a yellow lance bracelet on, who seems to be winded after a lap or two.. then we have another superbly fit triathlete who is a marvel to watch swimming and in fact I seem to be staring at him!!! every stroke looks the same as the last, each arm looks the same and he seems quite relaxed but focused and gets out of the water as easily as he gets in it!! we have the odd spattering of college swimmers so not only do I have the older than me people beating me but also the young pups too! and in fact their body shapes don't seem much different, I don't see any remarkable muscles in different places than mine and I muse to myself with my swim cap seemingly slipping and my goggles pinching.. what am I doing wrong in this water?!!!! and I laugh inside so as not to snort any water...no worries I tell myself,,,just keep on swimming and look like you know what you are doing!!! "fake it til you make it" and above all, be friendly and happy and then pick their brains!!! and I even bob my head underwater and watch them swim.. hmmm... that is how they are doing that!!! and pretty soon, I wait and when one of them stops swimming, I finally get a first name.. it drives me crazy to swim right next to somebody and share that training time and space and not know their names!! it might not be today.. could be weeks but somehow I am gonna find out their names and what they do, how many kids?, and what they are training for... and then pretty soon, organize a master's swim potluck!! and then when I know their name, every time I see them at the beginning I say "hello ______, how is it going?" all the while, concentrating on my strokes, "technique, technique" over and over until my brain is fried and my fingers wrinkles and my stomach grumbles! This is my experience in the pool....
but every once in a while, I feel perfection in the water, maybe I am getting it? and I zone out and reality slips away and I feel the water surround me and I swim lap upon lap and then I am the one not talking to the person next to me, and I am the one who seems to be swimming effortlessly and yeah, I say... I do so love to swim!!! and I give up beating the women to the warm showers and instead swim just a few minutes longer so that I can feel the water and sadly pull myself out onto the deck and look forward to the next time when I get to swim..... **** 6 years in March have I been swimming!!! many suits, goggles and caps... and I have dropped from a size 38 suit to a comfy size 32! and I went from being able to swim 12 yards to now completing four Ironmans!!! so shink Linda!!! you can do this!! "If I can, anybody can!"..... m
OHG, Marianne, you are the most eliquente writer I have read in a long time, I swear you must publish this in an article or a tri magazine, not kidding it is THAT GOOD. A smile on my face as I read and want to read it again. If only I could "bottle" that up and take a sip every morning. I am blown away, I really am. I will print it out and post it on my mirror and read it every day, read it to my son and then read it again. What an inspiration, really and truly...... On a positive note I made my favorite little "haystacks", they are all in baggies with little red bows (YMCA colors), I will feel shy and a bit awkward when I hand them out in the morning but I will make at least a few friends and think positive thoughts. Are you sure you are not an author , a philosopher or something?? You absolutely must submit your "thoughts", just amazing to me, I certainly can do this. My husband has seen my struggles as of late and walked into the house tonight with the biggest smile and a beautiful card that said "to my girlfriend", I love you today and forever, I WISH YOU THE BEST OF LUCK SATURDAY! AND I WILL BE THERE CHEERING YOU ON" I gave him a big hug and told him about my postings and had not of course read yours yet, but will read it to him. I can't wait to meet you someday. I believe you "if you can, anybody can", so I will take some pictures at the finish line on Saturday and no matter what my time is, I will smile in the water (it ends with the swim which is kind of cool) and think about swimming effortlessly no matter what I "look" like......shrink + 2010 "A" race 1/2 IM (Kona), or is it 73 something instead of 1/2 IM ? (want to get it down so I can use it in my sig....
awww, the card from hubby is so sweet!!! how nice... nope not an author but thanks for the kind words, nope I just penned that as I was sitting here thinking of you starting to swim and feeling discouraged!! I bet some other ladies have similar struggles and really the pool is one of the places where you are gonna collect some of the funniest memories, tales and people... check out the thread: "most embarrassing gym moment" and you will see that we don't aim to have it together except on RACE DAY!!! Well I don't know if is Kona 70.3 but look at the host website for correct race name!! and then do the sig. This hot coffee tastes good, and I took one look at my face in the mirror before coffee!!??? why you ask, I ask myself that very question, I have huge rings under my eyes?? and no swimming.!! scooting...
Susanne- good job on the stand-down! Amazing how hard it can sometimes be to do nothing! That phantom text message had me cracking up!!! I've gotten a few misdirected texts or calls, but nothing quite like that!!!
Ladies- if you haven't seen it, the new Meet the Team is out and this time it's OLIVIA!!! I can't wait to dowload it and listen to it during the warmup on my next pool run. Something to look forward to!!!
girls girls girls!! oh my goodness as most of you know Grace is 8 and so much like me it isnt even funny so on the floor I found this list (if you know me then you know I have lists, training plans all posted on my desk) now there is no pressure from me for performance but take a look at her schedule that she carefully wrote out: Age 8.5, 3rd grade
Every day come out and run around pond for 30 minutes. (okay I could do this one) Stretch everyday for 30 minutes. (uh huh) Practice at Miranda's (neighbor girl who does competitive cheer and Grace wants to be a cheerleader!) Monday 4:00 and Tuesday at 4:30, these girls are serious! Practice at my house every day, yep she is constantly doing these high kicks, like she can kick her arms held up high and she informs that my left side is worse than my right as I attempted some high kicks myself! she laughed at me. Gymnastics 5:30 - 6:30 on thursdays (I am sold on this sport, what strength!) Eat only good food on Monday, thursday and competitiions. Do 100 pushups and 50 situps (I have yet to do 100 but can knock out 50 situps easy and she has helped time for 2' of army style too!) Ride bike 20 times to Jared's house (you know, our 'hood is hilly, dowright hard to ride a bike here!) 10 minutes of superman without stopping (I can do this one!) Stand up tall and touch your toes don't bend legs for 5 minutes (yep on this one) 30 Straight jumps (this is some sort of cheer/gym jump but basically from low to the ground to all the way high, takes a bit of oomph, maybe I can do it!) Lift weights 10 minutes (yep she has some pink 1 lbers! and we have lifted together) 50 Jumping Jacks (yep, these things will wear you out!) 20 Backbends (nope, never have, now I can bend backwards over a stability ball though)
*** dang, I don't need a EN training plan, I think I just wanna attempt and accomplish Grace's!!! and only eat good food on 3x week!!! ride to Jared's house !!!! he lives up the steep hill!.. yep she has checked out two books on the cheering sport (and I look in my cabinet and I see all sorts on tris!) okay I can not do a backbend, I tried the other day!! but she can, nimble skinny thing! I was not a cheerleader but this daughter of mine is way friendly and has no inhibitions and is very comfortable around boys and girls, and nothing phases her... so we have moved he gymnastic one time a week off the day that she starts soccer so that she continue learning (she is at level one btw and undeterred) and make up cheers with the other two neighbor girls (one of whose mother was a U of A cheerleader!).....
Hi five, Sister Marianne! -- I would worry if you didn't bring the mascara and lip gloss to Ironman. And I think the race benefited from you bringing it! Yes, all important events in life involve pedicures for me -- and Ironman is not an exception.
Shrink -- Your cookies sound delicious. And go positive thinking! I remember when I first started running, I thought all the other runners were looking at me, because, obviously, I was a poser running and somebody was going to out me at any second. After a few months of that, I fell in love with all runners. I started to feel like a golden retriever on the path. In my head I was saying "Hellooo other runners! I am soo happy you are here! Running with me!" I think I'm lucky I've found that sort of zen with all my sports (except Master's Swimming, but that's another story). I kinda love everyone who shows up. There's room for us all. I have special admiration for new people, because I think they are awesome and brave and get to have the luxury of the thing being new, which is the best!
I am feeling the return of the mojo, ladies. Do any of you have that point where your vision of the season becomes clear? A few things happened this week to make this season real. A visit to the chiro gave me a cool side goal of practicing good posture, which made runner faster and mastering aero position seem really, really possible. I realized the cool and exciting thing I get to play with this season is training and racing with power. I'm starting to feel less awkward about it. Getting a power meter was like going from seeing my cycling self in a hand mirror to seeing cycling self with a full-length mirror. So much to look at! It was overwhelming! I realized the fun part was getting to pick what I wanted to work on. I started looking forward to the IMWI thread and the chica vibe that will be there -- Not only do I get to race with all you chicas doing Ironman Wisconsin, I get to train with you! We go back to the pool together. I have a good idea what this season will look like -- and that it is a freight train of a goal worth pushing.
Suzanne--HUGE HUG to you for that!!! I loved your sharing the message of self-congrats! I read that yesterday and used it on the bike this morning. My feeling is if you can find ways to stay connected to approaching the world with that kind of POV, your goals get more and more realized one step at a time. It really is a choice, isn't it? Stay mired in the self-negative muck that keeps you down and sinks you like quick sand, or re-write the script and carry on with grace, happiness, fun, and power. Awzom!
m--thanks for my daily "Marianne smile." Grace is TOO much. You go little girl!!!!
Super, super ride this morning. Since I'm not following any plan, and going by feel for now, I started with 2x6, then felt like I could keep going, so went to 8', then 10', then 15'. Ended up with a rockin' 2x15 that left me energized and pumped--that's how I know I'm recovered. SO much better than crawling off ragged and dead. I know you have to go deep in training, but what happened this morning is the difference. It might not all be that perfect, but the trick for me is to not sink too far into over-reaching. I hope I can do it.
Here's a pic from last weekend when Beth joined me and some of my high school friends for a fun night out in Chicago! I'm on the far left, and Beth is 3rd from the right. Such a great time!
Quick good morning ladies! My, I missed a day or two surfing here, and what wonderful comments I find! Shrink, all good comments from wise women here. That is so sweet to take cookies to your group! They will love the fact that you thought enough of them to make the effort! Calories don't matter. As the old saying goes, "it's the thought that counts!" Suzanne, what a hoot that text message was! Love it! Marianne; girl you are too funny! I love your description of Master's! I could totally relate!!! Michele, great pics.! Looks like a fun evening! I'm not too far from you...just over the state line in Valparaiso! Linda, way to rock the bike! Beth, great insight and gettin' the mojo flowing! I so wish I could join you all in WI for the MOO Camp, but I'll be in Muncie. I keep checking online to see if they have opened up the volunteer sign up yet for Moo, but not yet. Any suggestions of the best place to request as a volunteer? Also, where to stay?
Barbara- I swear the EN IMoo Sherpa's could have their very own Mojo thread going in the forum! There's going to be a LOT of you!! I haven't done it, but I hear that working the Bike-Run Transition is a great spot to see folks coming in off their bikes and wish them well. My husband volunteered at an aid station on the run course in 2008 right where I got to see him 4 times. It was around miles 4/8/16/20 (roughly) and he had enough time to drive back to the finish and see me cross the finish line after his shift ended. It worked out great!
okay girls, I am saying goodbye and back in on Monday march 8th.... by then Kitima should be back too and y'all should have this new 2.0 training plans figured out for me!! I have done many errands this week and frankly feel the same way before any vacation, trip, worn out!! and even broke down and ate a 1/2 bag of cadburys egss in walmart as I realized by 2 p.m. that I had 400 calories .... so decided that if I was gonna eat junk, go for the gold and hit the chocolate which I haven't had in a loooooong time... now crashing but it sure tasted good as I shopped. and got my nails done, to which I can see the funny side of that!!! well by the time I get back, they will look a mess!!! so like I told my husband..... "hey I got two cameras, my passport some lipgloss and some mascara... I have it all!" I need to lay my clothes for tomorrow, we are wearing matching tees!!!! and broken into buddy groups! and I have a young gal in my group and I will confiscate her passport as only a Mom can.... so it doens't get lost.. I have biccyling, Family Cirlceand Fitness to rea don the planE... kids are home from bus so y'all don't get into trouble while I am gone, don't jump off the cliff of fitness and don't wreck! m
Marianne, well have a blast and don't worry so much about your calories, when I read your work outs I am in ahhhh. and hello you have completed 4, I mean FOUR IM's. Read your posting (the one I think you should publish) to my husband and to my son (the 34 year old tri bud of mine) and they were super inspired by you. Now my husband wants to set up a blog for his company (golf) kind of interesting, he has watched all I have learned and what I get out of it and is also inspired. My son (Casey) and I are doing our TRI tomorrow, it is a small one and a reverse one at that but will post some pictures and think of how much "I love the water" during the swim, bon voyage +
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new tunes for my trip!!! yep I am packed, family schedule done, need to go to the bank, got the passports (nemo!!) and now can relax a bit.....
Body Comp? Oh man, I was doing really good until my Birthday when we got this tiny little cake (I told Joe NO NO NO to baking me a huge cake when it's just the two of us). So he got me one of those mini cakes- probably only really enough for 4 people, but somehow I've been natching on it every night for the past 4 days and it's got my sugar urges all out of wack again! I'll be glad when that thing is out of this house!!
Ladies, I think I'm finally ready to try running on pavement again. I'm gonna put together a plan for myself (using tips from Leigh) so that I make a VERY gradual return. I'm frankly scared to death. I can tell my calf is healed up and it's time to get out there- but I'm just sooooooo afraid of being back here stuck in the pool again AND risking training for IMoo. Hopefully that fear will help keep me from doing something stupid- like- oh signing up for an 8K in 3 weeks- which I totally could see me doing if I'm not careful! Ugh, I'm such a mess!
Oh- I finally got to listen to Pam's "meet the team" interview. Really good stuff! I just love those interviews!
Whoa--behind here.
{{{Gina}}} I know how much your dad meant to you and your entire family.
{{{Nemo}}} I'm going to repeat the advice from Patrick...for me it was given re my slow recoveries, but it applies if you have a major issue. He told me the ONLY thing that matters is Moo day. Period. It's the long view, the eye on that prize only. Nothing else matters, and only make decisions to do the things that get you to that goal. Everything else does not matter and MUST fall away. 8K race (or whatever event) puts you at risk? It's a total non-starter. That has to be the filter for every decision. I think it's very valuable advice.
{{{m}}}--can't wait to hear about your trip. We will miss you.
"Live like you're dying" is a core Buddhist concept. You appreciate life because you know it's finite. Amen.
I cannot even discuss body comp and food choices. I am WAAAAY off lately.
Back to work!
you may not sign up for the 8k!!! there we go, we took the pressure right off ya!! nemo. yes my eating has been off too. my waist feels thick, or could it be the three layers I have on still post run?? nope it is thick. and nope I am not reading any more articles on active.com about perimenopause and weight gain nor menopause and weight gain, nor women and weight gain nor anything about weight gain!!! they keep coming to me in my email acct!! whassup with that!?? scooting to meet mother for lunch and back to cold here again today... and windy... yowza went right thru me!! yep sunny though so good. I am going with a bunch of people who don't exercise only one lifts weights and has biceps the size of my waist!! he is the pastor.. so I told him I hoped to lose weight in Guatemala in hopes of increasing my power to weight ratio!!!! lol... I have warned the others that without running I need more coffee.. and apparently the hotel pool is quite yucky but I assured them I have swam in worse and now we don't know what they think of me.... !!!! anyways it will be neat to hang with other people who DON't do tris!!! and I am gonna find out how do people deal with stress if they don't exercise??? we will be in close quarters, and all walks of life but all care about people... but if they see me run around the hotel pool cuz we have to stay together, or actually swim in it, then they will know how I deal with stress and meditate!!! I am way excited about leaving though, no chores or housework = lol!!!! but I will miss my kids as I am always here!!! but will have Andrew with me so he is one cool kid and one of my kids that doesn't get embarrassed by me and is unflappable, easygoing on schedules and has a sharp sense of humor!! and great with kids we call him Pied Piper.... blonde, blue eyed all american boy and I get to spend a week with him!!! yep he wants to hang with his Mom and no other teenagers going with this church group! but he loves adventure and this is his third mission trip after going to Brazil and Africa with Joe and then Costa Rica with the school. if you remember he is the son who tried to beat me in the Christmas 5k of 2008 but we tied.. even though he pushed me back at the finish line but we had chips on...
and then he attempted to beat me in another 5k (all with the reward of cash from Joe!!)..... 
.. yep, sure am sad he won't be here next fall but at college, but right now won't think of him leaving but instead enjoy my time with him!!!
Gina, I don't know you but I lost my dad TOTALLY UNEXPECTEDLY, a really awful way, about a year ago and I remember the first anniversary a few months ago and I just couldn't bare it, but today I am doing better and try to remember him in the good times.
Nemo, thanks for your help with the pool running, I never could get my heart rate up and got stuck in the corner but I DID IT THANKS TO YOU!!!. I will have to continue to do it but am a little more confident (just a little) that I can kind of run, even if it looks ridiculous and is slow. OK, well that is it for then newbie shrink...ugh I need a shrink, thank goodness for my hubby. OH, and my darling dog Scooter went in for surgery this morning, but another bit of good news, doctor called and said he made it fine, which is another huge blessing, for all you dog lovers, he is just a little 6.5 pound toy yorkie with so many health problems I won't even go into it, but he made it through again, OK, well bye for now and thanks for all your great postings and for listening to mine +
Hey Shrink,
if you say you can or you say you can't--you'll be right. My kids have that on a team shirt. I like it, and think about that when I'm struggling. I was the QUEEN of negative self-talk. THE. QUEEN. I have worked so hard through the years to battle that, and it's much better. It just wastes energy and takes your eye off the real goal. I'm telling you, the biggest thing I have used tri training for is to battle those messages. And if you let it, the work and the training and the racing can really, really help overcome those self-defeating thoughts. Hang in there. Some days just suck so you pick yourself up, dust yourself off...you know the rest.
So glad you reached out to us. LP hit it right on the nose. Even though we know negative talk is self defeating we all fall into that trap( or I like to say pit). See if you fall in a pit the only way out is with help. You need someone to pull you out. Reaching out and talking about your struggles will help you not to fall in the pit. But now that you feel you are there let us pull you out.
Sounds like you are trying hard, doing the work and that is something to be proud of. Baby steps to your race my dear. I am excited to hear about your experience in your tri this weekend with your son. Have fun. That is what it is all about.
CC
Race the base !! oh my gosh I bet this is gonna be one of the coolest things you have done!! I did an Army 5k once and no kidding just the patriotism displayed out there by the soldiers brought chills to me although on a hot warm day!! and do this one with your son... okay.. don't worry about your performance just enjoy the outing with him!! overdress if you want to combat the cold!! take your camera and walk the thing as if in Disney marathon to get pics of those soldiers in full regalia!! pics of the flag.. oh yeah it will be great!!!
okay now get both of your hands and put them back on the opposing arms.. and shake yourself!!! "I will not talk smack talk to myself!" and instead say to yourself "my son wants to spend Sunday with me!" and then post pics of the event!!!
yep like Linda I have had smack talked myself all around the place and actually know this about myself .. I am slow at swimming, I am worthless on hills, I have some unusual gait and people are laughing at me, I look horrible in the water, I am not relaxed on the bike, my legs are hardly moving when I run!.. want more??? okay... my legs are splayed when I swim, I look like a frog, I am dragging on the bike, my arms look weird on my run......
see how that does nothing for me!! ha ha. I am back in junior high!! oh horror of that..... that really was horrible. ha ha. no really, you gotta love yourself and let yourself go if the workout isn't successful and by fighting this negative self talk, you can complete the race of your dreams!!!
So this has been my rest week that I decided to take. I felt absolutely horrible Monday, a bit better Tuesday and back to myself today. This rest is huge for me. I never would have done this pre-EN. But pushing through last OS and then bailing on my season plans taught me to listen. Rich told us to take a rest after Power Clinic, I put it off by 1 week, but feel it was the correct decision. An easy bike tomorrow and off Friday before getting back to working out on Saturday. I am learning...
But in reflecting on how ridiculous I sounded, I realized that I've also gotten in the habit of congratulating myself over every little thing - maybe that's why the interval work in EN suits me well, because there are a good five or six milestones (or opportunities for positive feedback) to reach in each workout. I'm literally my own cheerleader in my head - when I start a hard stretch I say, "Okay, we can do this - just chill, it'll get better soon." and as I'm nearing the end of an interval I'm thinking, "You're doing this!" and when I finish I say, "Good job Sooz, good job!" A bobble on effort goes by without comment but the recovery to full speed gets a "There ya go, great, keep it up!" Constantly bathing myself in congratulations makes training a happier, lighter place, so having an off day is easier to shrug off with a breezy, "Oh well, live to fight another day!" Plus, chattering away about all the teeny things I do right means there's no room for self doubt or negative critiques.
Speaking of living to fight another day, I'm on Day 3 of Suzanne's Stand Down. So needed! I'm not missing training at all and my quads STILL feel trashed. I'm most concerned about a twinge in my right ankle and I'm looking forward to PT on Friday so I can ask them about it. But several days in a row of 8 full hours of sleep because I don't have to wake up early? Fabulous! I'm having really bizarre dreams which I'm taking as a sign that my body is working on some important stuff during all the sleep...
And finally, speaking of sleep, mine was interrupted last night by my phone beeping at me. Someone I don't know sent me a text message at 1:15 a.m. that read (I am not making this up): "So whole time, i aint even kno u be fakin like shit, throwin ur money in da club...Lls anyway, how you been ty? which clubs be poppin now on fridays?" Hope you all enjoyed that little nugget! I sure did!
and somehow I begin this essay on swimming........
oh shoot, I am way with you on the swim gig though>>> on one side of me I have speedo guy doing flipturns and not taking a break to talk!! just swimming and swimming and has that V shape,, sometime he stares at me as if to wonder aloud how did I actually swim 2.4 miles??? he is probably just looking at the clock!! but it feels like he is staring at me and my technique!! lol.... then I have the swim coach that has also BQd (Boston) and is wicked fast at tris who I just imagine is wondering again why am I not getting it!! and then aghast, why I am sure!!! at my one hour time trial as I think she doubled mine, well almost!! , then I have the older lady doing masters swim that is super competitive and the only thing I beat her to is to the showers! she dives off the end and times herself against state records!! in her AG....there are also some older dudes learning to swim it seems like.. and the cycling dude with a yellow lance bracelet on, who seems to be winded after a lap or two.. then we have another superbly fit triathlete who is a marvel to watch swimming and in fact I seem to be staring at him!!! every stroke looks the same as the last, each arm looks the same and he seems quite relaxed but focused and gets out of the water as easily as he gets in it!! we have the odd spattering of college swimmers so not only do I have the older than me people beating me but also the young pups too! and in fact their body shapes don't seem much different, I don't see any remarkable muscles in different places than mine and I muse to myself with my swim cap seemingly slipping and my goggles pinching.. what am I doing wrong in this water?!!!! and I laugh inside so as not to snort any water...no worries I tell myself,,,just keep on swimming and look like you know what you are doing!!! "fake it til you make it" and above all, be friendly and happy and then pick their brains!!! and I even bob my head underwater and watch them swim.. hmmm... that is how they are doing that!!! and pretty soon, I wait and when one of them stops swimming, I finally get a first name.. it drives me crazy to swim right next to somebody and share that training time and space and not know their names!! it might not be today.. could be weeks but somehow I am gonna find out their names and what they do, how many kids?, and what they are training for... and then pretty soon, organize a master's swim potluck!! and then when I know their name, every time I see them at the beginning I say "hello ______, how is it going?" all the while, concentrating on my strokes, "technique, technique" over and over until my brain is fried and my fingers wrinkles and my stomach grumbles! This is my experience in the pool....
but every once in a while, I feel perfection in the water, maybe I am getting it? and I zone out and reality slips away and I feel the water surround me and I swim lap upon lap and then I am the one not talking to the person next to me, and I am the one who seems to be swimming effortlessly and yeah, I say... I do so love to swim!!! and I give up beating the women to the warm showers and instead swim just a few minutes longer so that I can feel the water and sadly pull myself out onto the deck and look forward to the next time when I get to swim.....
****
6 years in March have I been swimming!!! many suits, goggles and caps... and I have dropped from a size 38 suit to a comfy size 32! and I went from being able to swim 12 yards to now completing four Ironmans!!! so shink Linda!!! you can do this!! "If I can, anybody can!"..... m
On a positive note I made my favorite little "haystacks", they are all in baggies with little red bows (YMCA colors), I will feel shy and a bit awkward when I hand them out in the morning but I will make at least a few friends and think positive thoughts.
Are you sure you are not an author , a philosopher or something?? You absolutely must submit your "thoughts", just amazing to me, I certainly can do this. My husband has seen my struggles as of late and walked into the house tonight with the biggest smile and a beautiful card that said "to my girlfriend", I love you today and forever, I WISH YOU THE BEST OF LUCK SATURDAY! AND I WILL BE THERE CHEERING YOU ON" I gave him a big hug and told him about my postings and had not of course read yours yet, but will read it to him. I can't wait to meet you someday. I believe you "if you can, anybody can", so I will take some pictures at the finish line on Saturday and no matter what my time is, I will smile in the water (it ends with the swim which is kind of cool) and think about swimming effortlessly no matter what I "look" like......shrink +
2010 "A" race 1/2 IM (Kona), or is it 73 something instead of 1/2 IM ? (want to get it down so I can use it in my sig....
Ladies- if you haven't seen it, the new Meet the Team is out and this time it's OLIVIA!!! I can't wait to dowload it and listen to it during the warmup on my next pool run. Something to look forward to!!!
Every day come out and run around pond for 30 minutes. (okay I could do this one)
Stretch everyday for 30 minutes. (uh huh)
Practice at Miranda's (neighbor girl who does competitive cheer and Grace wants to be a cheerleader!) Monday 4:00 and Tuesday at 4:30, these girls are serious!
Practice at my house every day, yep she is constantly doing these high kicks, like she can kick her arms held up high and she informs that my left side is worse than my right as I attempted some high kicks myself! she laughed at me.
Gymnastics 5:30 - 6:30 on thursdays (I am sold on this sport, what strength!)
Eat only good food on Monday, thursday and competitiions.
Do 100 pushups and 50 situps (I have yet to do 100 but can knock out 50 situps easy and she has helped time for 2' of army style too!)
Ride bike 20 times to Jared's house (you know, our 'hood is hilly, dowright hard to ride a bike here!)
10 minutes of superman without stopping (I can do this one!)
Stand up tall and touch your toes don't bend legs for 5 minutes (yep on this one)
30 Straight jumps (this is some sort of cheer/gym jump but basically from low to the ground to all the way high, takes a bit of oomph, maybe I can do it!)
Lift weights 10 minutes (yep she has some pink 1 lbers! and we have lifted together)
50 Jumping Jacks (yep, these things will wear you out!)
20 Backbends (nope, never have, now I can bend backwards over a stability ball though)
***
dang, I don't need a EN training plan, I think I just wanna attempt and accomplish Grace's!!! and only eat good food on 3x week!!! ride to Jared's house !!!! he lives up the steep hill!.. yep she has checked out two books on the cheering sport (and I look in my cabinet and I see all sorts on tris!) okay I can not do a backbend, I tried the other day!! but she can, nimble skinny thing! I was not a cheerleader but this daughter of mine is way friendly and has no inhibitions and is very comfortable around boys and girls, and nothing phases her... so we have moved he gymnastic one time a week off the day that she starts soccer so that she continue learning (she is at level one btw and undeterred) and make up cheers with the other two neighbor girls (one of whose mother was a U of A cheerleader!).....
kids!!!
Hi five, Sister Marianne! -- I would worry if you didn't bring the mascara and lip gloss to Ironman. And I think the race benefited from you bringing it! Yes, all important events in life involve pedicures for me -- and Ironman is not an exception.
Shrink -- Your cookies sound delicious. And go positive thinking! I remember when I first started running, I thought all the other runners were looking at me, because, obviously, I was a poser running and somebody was going to out me at any second. After a few months of that, I fell in love with all runners. I started to feel like a golden retriever on the path. In my head I was saying "Hellooo other runners! I am soo happy you are here! Running with me!" I think I'm lucky I've found that sort of zen with all my sports (except Master's Swimming, but that's another story). I kinda love everyone who shows up. There's room for us all. I have special admiration for new people, because I think they are awesome and brave and get to have the luxury of the thing being new, which is the best!
I am feeling the return of the mojo, ladies. Do any of you have that point where your vision of the season becomes clear? A few things happened this week to make this season real. A visit to the chiro gave me a cool side goal of practicing good posture, which made runner faster and mastering aero position seem really, really possible. I realized the cool and exciting thing I get to play with this season is training and racing with power. I'm starting to feel less awkward about it. Getting a power meter was like going from seeing my cycling self in a hand mirror to seeing cycling self with a full-length mirror. So much to look at! It was overwhelming! I realized the fun part was getting to pick what I wanted to work on. I started looking forward to the IMWI thread and the chica vibe that will be there -- Not only do I get to race with all you chicas doing Ironman Wisconsin, I get to train with you! We go back to the pool together. I have a good idea what this season will look like -- and that it is a freight train of a goal worth pushing.
Suzanne--HUGE HUG to you for that!!! I loved your sharing the message of self-congrats! I read that yesterday and used it on the bike this morning. My feeling is if you can find ways to stay connected to approaching the world with that kind of POV, your goals get more and more realized one step at a time. It really is a choice, isn't it? Stay mired in the self-negative muck that keeps you down and sinks you like quick sand, or re-write the script and carry on with grace, happiness, fun, and power. Awzom!
m--thanks for my daily "Marianne smile."
Grace is TOO much. You go little girl!!!!
Super, super ride this morning. Since I'm not following any plan, and going by feel for now, I started with 2x6, then felt like I could keep going, so went to 8', then 10', then 15'. Ended up with a rockin' 2x15 that left me energized and pumped--that's how I know I'm recovered. SO much better than crawling off ragged and dead. I know you have to go deep in training, but what happened this morning is the difference. It might not all be that perfect, but the trick for me is to not sink too far into over-reaching. I hope I can do it.
Back to work!
Here's a pic from last weekend when Beth joined me and some of my high school friends for a fun night out in Chicago! I'm on the far left, and Beth is 3rd from the right. Such a great time!
Linda- YEAH!!! Glad you are feeling rested and recovered!
Michele, great pics.! Looks like a fun evening! I'm not too far from you...just over the state line in Valparaiso! Linda, way to rock the bike! Beth, great insight and gettin' the mojo flowing! I so wish I could join you all in WI for the MOO Camp, but I'll be in Muncie. I keep checking online to see if they have opened up the volunteer sign up yet for Moo, but not yet. Any suggestions of the best place to request as a volunteer? Also, where to stay?
My son (Casey) and I are doing our TRI tomorrow, it is a small one and a reverse one at that but will post some pictures and think of how much "I love the water" during the swim, bon voyage +
Have fun on your grand adventure, Marianne!