Times

yesterday I did better on the "trail from hell." It was challenging but it felt faster this time. James timed me at 21min per mile and I went over 3 miles with a lot of stops. Not great time but it gives me something with which to work. At team practice we did interval running where we ran fast on the straights and walked or jogged the curves on the track. I am hoping to work more on that to increase my stamina further and my speed.

I swam the distance today well. I have had no trouble swimming and really never get tired. I realized I need to work harder. I am slow, I can swim forever that way but it will not help me on race day. Perhaps in along tri it is good. I swam harder at a hi-moderate perceived effort today and figured out some more strokes. Something Mike had tried to teach us early on that I never really grasped. I extended my arms far utilizing my hips to push out feeling it in my obliques. I felt like I was gliding like skates on ice. What a discovery! My speed increased but my sighting went by the wayside. SO that next buoy seemed pretty far away yet I knew I was faster. Oh yeah that's because I am swimming AWAY from it. James timed me at 21 min. Not bad and i was only about 3 min behind him. I wonder what my time would have been if I swam in a straight line?

Tomorrow is a biking day and some running.

3 mile trail run and .75 mile swim

I did it! I ran 3 miles on the trail from hell and then swam beyond the tri distance in the lake. I found a rhythm with running though I did stop several times. I felt much better. I ran further and had some long stretches up and down hills. I did not beat myself up and gave myself full permission to stop or walk if needed. Once I did that I stopped far less and for very short periods of time to just catch a few breaths and move on. Swimming was really fun, sort of a reward for the running. I went way past the 5th buoy to the island on the other side of the lake.

town running

Ran 3 miles on the road today in town. Not easy but not as bad as the trails. I do feel like I am treading water on the running and worrying about putting it all together in 6 weeks. How do I successfully run (successful=not stopping) factoring in the trails, hills and 21.7 mile bike ride? I have to trust the process. Afterall I made it this far.

On the way home I had James stop the car so I coud run up the very steep hill to our house. I am thinking maybe frequent exercises like that will help. Practice talking myself along the hills.

Tomorrow it's the lake (woohoo!!!!) and the trails.

3 days

Saturday 21 July
Byron and I went with our team to the swim and run clinic. Byron and I easily swam to the 4th buoy. Coaches had us run the trail at the lake. I thought this would be fun. It was until I hit the hills. Just when I figured out the flats and had my endurance figured out. It was hard. It was brutal. I felt pretty disappointed after the run. I walked part of the way. Mike and Sara both encouraged me while running. I held back my tears on the trail. Sara reminded me how far I have come with swimming. It didn't help though. How can I do this? This is what the trail will be like at the tri. If I can't do this after a short easy swim, how can I possibly do it after a 21.7 mile bike ride? I feel this peace and comfort with swimming and biking. I swim as slow as molasses but I am fine with it. I really love the process and I know I can swim far. I love biking even when it hurts. There is never a question in my mind to stop when it hurts. I don't. Not an option nor do I want it to be. Running is different. Again, I want to stop at that wall. If I stop though, even for a break I never get my rhythm. On my good days it is great. I pass the wall fast and then I can keep going but it is so inconsistent and unpredictable. On the trails I longed for my nice neat controlled environment of the high school track. I loved the trees and the path and the beauty but I longed for the flats. Maybe I need hypnosis. I am convinced my issues with running are all mental. I want to get into the same mental space as I do for biking and swimming. I know physically I can do it. I can surpass it if my head will just stop.

On a positive note, Byron did a fabulous job! he ran with the better runners and stayed with them the entire time. He went the full 4 miles and had so much fun. Each day he tells me how happy he is that he has gone even further, further than he has ever in his life. Wow. My heart is warm.

Tuesday 24 July
James and I went to the lake. I swam the full distance, the 5th buoy! that was easy, slow but very easy. I was pleased that I could do it. Now I want to focus on increasing my speed.

I tried the trail again. It was hard. I ran more than last time but it was still an emotional roller coaster. this time I let myself cry in the middle of the trail. It was a moment where I wish I were religious and truly believe in something so I could ask for guidance. I sat there and asked myself over and over what do I need to do. The only answer was to keep practicing on that trail until I run the whole thing. Accept that I am starting again only this time the level is higher. Appreciate the trail. I do love the beauty. I feel comforted in the trees in a way. I did do well on the flats. I could have run the diatnce no problem on a flat trail. the hills get me esp the long steep ones. the downhills are easy but stressful. I fear I will run down too hard and hurt my knees so I am guarded which takes up a lot of energy. I do appreciate the flat runs more and know I can do a 5K easily on flats.

Wed 25 July
James and I biked 30 miles today. It was awesome. I love the scenery here. Our time was 1h 55 min. the first time we biked 21 miles our time was 1h 50 min! SO we are improving.

More tri training pics

This is the lake where we practice. We are to swim to the 5th buoy (can only see the first one here) and back. It's a nice swim.











Byron and James, the Aquamen







Byron and Cecily after swimming to the 3rd buoy easily






Byron and his new road bike

Tri Training pics

We finally got some pics of our training.
Luna an Liam ran a mile that day.



























Byron in his swim gear

Even the little ones want this

James found this for the kids. Now Luna is very serious about participating in the CA kids' triathlon in August. In fact she is committed now. She has set her goal to run a mile today so that she will be faster on the 1/2 mile at the kids' tri. I told her to work her way up to it but her mind is set. She knows she has to work harder on her swimming. We reminded her of that. She said "That's okay, I will just swim more and work harder. I can do it." Wow. She has far more determination than I! She is also reminding us that it is time to buy her a real bike too.

Even Byron could do this tri. The last age froup is 15-17. He scoffed at the shorter bike and swim distances then realized he could work on his time and maybe even place. All he needs to work on is his running which we will be doing here in a few minutes.

Liam wants to do it and is excited that training wheels are accepted. He is not as committed as Byron and Luna but likes the idea.

My question now is how in the world do we coach the younger kids? I can coach Byron easily but I don't want to push my kids yet I want to encourage them.

My boy is a wannabe triathlete too!

Byron and I did the tri bike route today. It was easier than anticipated. The path James and have been riding has been good preparation. We swam in the lake after. It was neat to watch Byron thrive. His swimming form was perfect and he didn't need a wetsuit. He said he is comfortable swimming in the open water. He plays in a pool but usually swims in lakes when he is with friends and family.

We were famished afterwards. We stopped at the store as we were both craving veggie sandwiches. We picked up a tomato, red onion, fresh whole grain bread, Boca burger mock chicken patties and fruit. this opened up the opportunity for a discussion on nutrition and fitness. Byron seemed to get why gorging on sugar and candy or forgetting to eat breakfast would not be helpful in a triathlon.

He is pretty excited about training now. He wants a "real" bike, a road or tri bike as opposed to our giant non-aerodynamic mountain bikes. maybe next year.

Little achievements

Yesterday 3.5 mile run at about 12 min/mile. Again I ran with, err...near James, quite enjoyable. Today we had team training. Swam for 3 hours. I did not swim much this week so my stamina was a bit lower. Once I swam several laps though, I picked back up. Swimming is the most centering and fun of the three for me.

Byron is excited about the triathlon training. He went to team training today and "signed up." Mike thought his technique was pretty good. This will be a good thing for him. He is conjuring up ways to bike down the mountain to the next town. Tomorrow he and I will go to the unofficial team training and bike the actual 21.7 mile path for the triathlon followed by a lake swim with the coach.

Together again

Begrudgingly after work this morning I did my 3 miles. Laps 5-7 were awesome. I lost myself in the process and felt great. James noticed I picked up my pace then. yep, James and I ran TOGETHER. I thought we'd give it a try with the understanding that I'd ask him to come back at lap 6 if I was getting distracted. No problems. It was nice doing this together which was the original idea of this triathlon. He did an admirable 9 min mile and a full 10K/6 mi. I did not time my pace as I just wanted to complete the 3 miles/5K. He timed it for me and said I did a 12 min mile. Not bad. I was far more pleased at my ability to run the full 3 with James than my time.

Yesterday I had a hard day. I went to another track in the middle of the day and only did a mile and biked 15 min.

Now I am excited to run again. J and I will run again tomorrow after work. I want to go further and do 4 miles. I could have gone further today. had I known J was going for the 10 K I would have. But I thought he was stopping with me so I stopped. Once I stop it's over. I did get some nice stretching in while he finished though.

20.5 mile cycling ecstasy

At the end of the day after the morning 3 mile run yesterday, James and I cycled 20.5 miles. It was an exhilarating ride over small hills and with the finale being a larger hill that I would not have savored in the beginning of the ride. By that point I was energized and ready for the challenge. I ate up the lactic acid feeling in my legs pedaling harder to make the top. I saw there was more and loved the idea that I had more to do. I made it to the peak. Yeah! and several minutes all downhill. Woohoo! The wind tipping my helmet back, closing my mouth tight (bugs everywhere!). Incredible!

Back to normal

Today I ran 3 miles non stop at the high school track. James came in at lap 6 where I felt a little panic for an 1/8 mile and went back to my happy place listening to Rage Against the Machine and feeling my breaths and feet.

Open Water

Yesterday we practiced with the team in the lake. What a process that was! I liked the lake. I liked the beauty of the hills nearby and the clarity of the water. I could see the rocks and the gradual decline much like the beach. Our coach assured me several times that he has never seen a snake (I'm phobic). I bought it and did not get any bad snake creepy feelings. Water was warm and I went for the first buoy. My stroke was good. I felt confident. I was happy. This is not bad at all. Sighting was hard as I stopped swimming and had to tread water to look up and then begin freestyling all over again. I took in some water in my nose and mouth and suddenly I was panicking. I can't touch bottom or a wall. Shit. I can't stop my arms and legs from flailing. I can't stop hyperventilating. Why can't I breathe? I turn on my back. Better but I can't stop flailing or breathing hard. It is harder to breathe on my back. I try and try to focus. I have to ask for help. I see one of coaches, Mike, with his surfboard. He seems really far. I am really frightened. I yell out for help feeling panic and embarrassment. Mike is so far away. After I yell out he is magically there in an instant. I hold his surfboard and continue to hyperventilate.

I apologize and he assures me that this is normal. I don't know what happened. I was doing well. My strokes were the best ever. I was not at all tired. I just panicked. I remebered about this athlete that was a top competitive swimmer in the pool who did a triathlon. When he went to the open water during the triathlon he panicked and quit. He spent a year working thorugh his open water fears. Thank goodness I read that or I would have felt like a loser.

Mike helped me calm down. I could hear Sara, the other coach tell me how much my swimming has improved. I felt calm and ready to go again. I was practically at the first buoy when I panicked. Mike stayed next to me while I swam back to shore and continued to work with me. My confidence was back. He gave me a wetsuit which is legal in the triathlon and helps with floating. I felt like I was cheating! I floated like a cork and continually asked Mike if this really was okay in the race. He assured me that most people use them. Wow, it was better than my fins which are not allowed. He stayed with me for another swim to the first buoy. No problem esp with this suit. I knew I could tread with it if necessary. I looked at Mike and said I wanted to go further to the secong buoy. I went for it. I did and returned to shore easily. All I could think of while swimming was my stroke. How did I look? Am I doing it correctly? It felt right. I sighted better and almost swam in a straight line. I did it.

I was happy that I panicked early. I am happy that I did not worry about snakes. I did see a floating stick once and ask Mike if it was a snake. It was not of course. I was impressed at Mike and Sara's reassurance. Truly awesome coaches. James said that when I started everyone was commenting on how well I was swimming. Really I like the open water. It's a nice challenge. I know physically I can handle it. I have to swim to the 5th buoy and back for the race. I know when I have more confidence (and those wetsuits sure help!) I will do it. My stamina has drastically increased. Again it is my mind that I have to work.

I ran two miles after which was bad. I ran and walked and fought it every step of the way. I want to run again at the track without James and see if that is it. I am in a running slump but loving the swim.

Overconfident?

James and I attempted a mini-triathlon in our training today. We started with swimming 1 mile with the majority being nonstop. We are going to swim in open water this weekend so this is good practice. Immediately after we rode our bikes 14 miles and on a whim decided to ride to the high school track and run at least 1.5 miles.

Mind you by this point the morning is getting pretty hot. We found out later by run time it had already reached 100 degrees F. I had also gotten off of work at 7:30 am and and only slept 4 hours the day before and 5 the day before that. I have been working several nights in a row this week.

The swim went really well. My stamina has improved immensely. I never really felt tired at the end and could have continued. Biking went well. The small hills are getting easier each time. The views are incredible. We bike out in the valley and pass miniature horses, rolling fields, oak trees, goats, sheep, wild turkeys. The run however was my wall. By my second lap I couldn't do it. Much like I had done in the beginning only I could not get past this wall. I cried all the way through the second lap starting running and walking discouraged after making so much progress yesterday. I have continued to run 3 miles fairly easily since Victoria. I have also done 2 trainings (swim, run; run, bike; swim, bike) everyday this week. James caught up with me and got me moving. I ran the last 2 and called it a mile. It was hard. I wanted to stop so much but he encouraged me. I did it, rode back to the health club where we parked the car, showered and went home to bed.

I have been playing over and over again the feelings. What went wrong? Was i more tired than I thought after swimming and biking? Was it too hot? Was it James's presence? All I know is when I started warming up my legs felt like bricks and I could barely pick them up.

Tomorrow is another day.