Tri Tri Again

Crazy nervous!

     My dear friend Laura, and another speedy friend whom I admire, decided that we should do a triathlon together. She did her first one at the end of June with a pool swim and wanted to attempt open water for the first time. We ended up picking the NYTri Staten Island Triathlon. I wasn't all that excited when I signed up as it consisted of much the same course as my first, and only other tri...not to mention, I was more focused on marathon training.
     I kept up my swimming half-heartedly while diving into marathon training. I swim at NYU, which has been crazy over the summer, causing me to lose my enjoyment of the pool. But, alas, I religiously went 2 times a week and managed to get in some drills, a little speed, and some shorter repeats...I kept getting cut off when attempting longer repeats and gave up trying...it always sucks to be on lap 15 and having someone cut you off, ruining your time.
     However, due to a little hip tendonitis, I hadn't ridden my bike in almost 2 months. My chiropractor graciously said I could run, but had to lay low on the bike, including spin. Since my main focus was my marathon and I was doing the tri just for fun, I was OK with that. My hip slowly got better and I was finally able to test it out on a ride...the day before the race. Not the best time to really ride hard, so I did a relaxed 25 miles. Just as well since my legs have been a bit tired from ramping up the running miles.
     I spent the night before the race at Laura's house...always a blast!. In the morning, I slept through my alarm for 14 minutes...I never do that, but have been really tired lately. Oh, well, I still had plenty of time to get ready. Most importantly, the truck started! For those who didn't read In Pursuit of a Bobble Head, on the morning of my first tri, the truck didn't start...great way to rev the nerves even more than they were already twirling. We loaded everything in and set off for the race, getting there in time to get a good spot in the transition area before the crowds arrived. We also had plenty of time to chat with friends and relax before the start.
     I was a little more nervous about the start of this race since we were starting out of the water and had to run in. Before the start, we were allowed to swim for a few minutes. I noticed that the water was choppy on the way to shore, making it hard to swim out...I swallowed a nasty mouthful...and decided I would walk to the first buoy. As the first wave of racers went, I realized I wasn't the only one who came to that decision. Once past the buoy, the swim seemed much easier than last time. I think it was mostly because my sighting was better this time around. It probably also helped that I could see through my goggles as last time they fogged up. There were a lot more people though. I bumped into one girl who glared at me. I didn't stop and just kept swimming. She stood up (you could touch the ground) and pushed my legs away. I just kept swimming.
     Coming around the last buoy I saw people walking/running to shore through the water. I decided to do the same in order to avoid swallowing any more water, but quickly realized how silly I was being. It would have been much faster to just swim! Roly, Laura's husband, was yelling at me to swim, but I had already removed my goggles, so just kept walking as fast as I could. My swim time is nothing to write home about, but I learned a good lesson for the next race...don't walk, just swim!

Lopsided helmet - oh well, no time for such 
trivial matters

     I ran as quickly as I could through the sand, across some concrete, and then the grass all the way to the transition area. Got my wetsuit off as fast as possible...yeah, I felt silly wearing one since the water was so warm, but I'm not sure I'm ready to swim without it. I pulled on my sneakers, threw on my helmet, grabbed my bike and headed out. Immediately, I felt how hard it was to pedal. I was riding against the wind. The only time I knew my actual speed was when I passed the police speed detector. My legs got quite tired when riding against the wind and I worried that it would cause me to suffer on the run, so I down-shifted to spin them out a bit and then upped the gear to regain some speed. Once around the corner, I could go faster with the wind at my back. I had three loops of that to do, looking forward to see my cheering friends at the end of each loop. I realized on the last loop that I didn't quite know where the dismount area was, so I kept my eyes peeled when I knew it was coming to an end. I eased into it and set off running for my transition area. Now for my favorite part...the run!

Those guys tried to use me as their rabbit...but they didn't keep up

     I set out on the concrete blocks, which I hate! I immediately regretted not wearing some compression sleeves as my shins were hurting, but kept pushing. I was passing people and never stopped passing people. I saw the winning male run by...it was an out and back course. I saw the water stop ahead and thought that was the turn around. But no, it was another mile away. At least this mile was on the boardwalk, but not before running up a bit of an incline. I kept my eyes peeled for women, only counting two ahead of me before I reached the turn around point. I was in third place! I saw that the 4th place female was a couple of minutes behind me. All I had to do was keep up my pace. Then, I saw Laura, who screamed at me to keep going...she thought I was in 2nd place. I knew she was wrong, but it gave me the drive to keep pushing. I flew! I heard guys commenting behind me as I passed. One guy tried to keep up...but I dropped him once I hit the final mile. I could see the finish and knew Roly and friends would be there. it was time to sprint! I ran as hard as I could to the finish, grabbed some water, and headed out to cheer for Laura as she came in.
     We were both really excited! I had placed third and Laura had conquered her fear of open water while placing in her age group. It wasn't until the awards ceremony, that I found out I was actually the 1st female...the two girls ahead of me had competed in the duathlon. I was astonished! And ecstatic! I won!!!

1st Female Overall...Still in shock! 

     To top it off, I again had a running PR. Not hard with a 4 miler since I have only done one other, but I had never run that fast in any race (6:14 min/mi). Now if I can only harness my running speed in a triathlon and use it in a road race...
     

Liebster Blog Award

My friend Amy (Check out her blog! She is easily one of my biggest inspirations!) nominated me for a Liebster Blog Award. The award is meant to be given to a blog that is a favorite of yours, particularly ones that are up and coming with a smaller following. Those nominated need to answer 11 questions posed by the person nominating, include 11 random facts, create 11 new questions and nominate 11 blogs.

1. What drives you in life? Accomplishing my goals. And I have many of them...Once I accomplish one, I make another.

2. How do you define success? Being happy while accomplishing my goals. It doesn't matter how small the achievement is, as long as I am happy with it, it was a success! Even if I don't quite meet my goal, but am happy with the end result, it was a success! I.e. running a race and not hitting my goal time, but running a smart race and as well as my body will allow for the day = success

3. Name one to three people in your life who are instrumental in where you are today and why. My Mom: She is the one who taught me I could do anything I set my mind to. 

My dog Elmira (1996-2010): Not sure who rescued who?!?! She was my first running partner.

4. Do you have any habits you'd like to break? I don't think I have any gross habits I need to break. Although my husband might think otherwise. But I do tend to be really hard on myself. I am a total Type A personality...a perfectionist. It can be quite defeating at times!

5. What is your most favorite thing about yourself? My perseverance. If I want something, I work hard until I am able to get it. I rarely give up

6. Where would your next vacation be if you could go anywhere in the world? Bali...it looks amazing and I've always wanted to go.

7. What do you find "uninteresting"? Watching sports on TV. I enjoy track, but basketball, baseball, football...they just last too long. I can watch a little bit and then get bored. Watching live is way more exciting!

8. Would you rather be too hot or too cold? I would rather be too cold (I grew up in Vermont). It's always easier to put on more clothes, but you can't really run around naked all the time when it's hot.

9. What is your daily "dress" routine before a run? Roll out of bed and put on the clothes I set out the night before (clothes that hardly ever match). Grab my Garmin from it's charger and if I remember, my Road ID. I always head out first in my flip flops as I take my hounds for their morning outing (also gives me a chance to verify that my attire is weather appropriate). Then when I get home I throw on my socks and one of 2 or 3 pairs of shoes, depending on the rotation and type of run scheduled. And if I need it, I grab my waist pack water bottle holder (I seem to be the camel for some of my running partners :)

10. Who gave you the best massage you've ever had? A blind masseuse in Chang Mai, Thailand. I went everyday for a week. Can't beat a 2hr massage for $10. It wasn't luxurious and was a bit painful, but the masseuse worked magic with his/her elbows.

11. If you had to pick one food to live on for the rest of your life, what would it be? Peanut butter. I ate half a peanut butter sandwich (plain, no jelly or Fluff) everyday for lunch as a kid. That is until I was able to eat a whole one. Unfortunately, I have started the paleo diet and cut legumes (yes, peanuts are a legume and not a nut) out of my diet. So now I eat almond butter. Not quite the same, but still tasty!

11 Random Things About Me:

1. I love elephants. My favorite adventure of all time was learning to ride bareback in Thailand (don't worry...I made sure to patronize a place that treats their elephants humanely!)
2. I am quite accident prone...clumsy. I tend to run into walls and fall up stairs. I rode my bike into a sign as a kid (guess that's why my mom wasn't so crazy about me getting into triathlons).
3. I was kicked in the face by a horse as a kid. First and only time I've had stitches.
4. I stress out way too often...probably due to my being a perfectionist and having pessimistic tendencies.
5. I am from Vermont and my grandfather makes maple syrup, but I only recently started eating the real stuff.
6. Again, I am from Vermont....but I hate snow. Never got into skiing or snowboarding, or any other winter sport for that matter.
7. My mom used to call me a tackle box. Yep, I was one of those kids with multiple piercings.
8. I have an addiction to chocolate! But only the good stuff :)
9. I talk about sex all day and get paid for it...Adolescent HIV...my other passion besides running.
10. I am a total nerd. I love watching the Discovery Health Channel. And, yes, much to my family's dismay, I can watch all the bloody stuff while eating.
11. I am a perpetual student. I have 2 Bachelor's degrees, am currently working on my second Master's, and planning my PhD.

Blog Nominees:

Running: These give me inspiration, training tips, and race reports.

Inwood Runner

Will Run for Beer

Fast Foodie

Jack's Ultrarunning Blog and more!

Camille Herron: 2:37 Marathoner. Lives Like a Monk. Races Like an Animal.

Chrissie Wellington

Nutrition: I just learned about this blog! I just started the paleo lifestyle and can't wait to try out some of these recipes.

PaleOMG

Public Health: I really should read more blogs about public health!

Calcutta Kids

Karen Grepin's Global Health Blog

My 11 Questions:

1. If you could change your profession, what would it be?
2. Who is your role-model and why?
3. If you could be an animal, what would it be and why?
4. What was the last book that you read?
5. What's your favorite quote?
6. What food do you detest?
7. If you could teach everyone one lesson, what would it be?
8. Where's your favorite place to relax?
9. Beer, cocktail, or wine?
10. What is your biggest fear?
11. What's your greatest indulgence?

Tomorrow is Another Day!

     I am your typical Type A personality. A perfectionist to a fault and completely hard on myself. When I have a bad day of training, it kills me, and I have had a lousy couple of weeks of training, completely shaking my confidence.
     I went to DC three weeks ago for the International AIDS conference. I have wanted to go to this conference for years, but could never afford the international trip. Well, it was finally in the States again, giving me the perfect opportunity to go. It was amazing! I developed a renewed drive for my career. I wish I could say the same about my running! Early mornings and late nights left me tired, not to mention the heat and humidity. I would go out to do a run and be dripping after a mile. I put in a lot of effort, but felt like I was tiring too quickly, having to rest mid-run too frequently. However, I thoroughly enjoyed running in a different city and tried to focus on that! My friend showed me a nice paved commuter path leading to George Town, which was quite scenic. I left DC feeling that I had run the best I could given the conditions and feeling grateful for what my body can do.

    The following few days went by without complications, but then again, my scheduled runs weren't that hard. Then on the following Saturday, I had a 5 mile race in Central Park, Team Champs. I wasn't really excited for it. The temp and humidity were forecasted to be in the high 80's, but thought I should be fine given my recent running in similar conditions in DC. I ran just fine, but still felt it was slow. I had dreams up keeping up with the Rocket, but she finished 1.5 minutes ahead of me. In the end, my pace was the same as that of a half marathon I did in April. I guess that tells you how poorly I do in the heat. I tried to stay positive and focus on my ability to stay mentally strong through a tough race.

     The next day I set out for my long run of 17 miles with my old running buddy on his bike by my side (he's been injured). I was going to try and hit marathon pace, but it was another hot and humid day, plus I felt tired, so I decided to take it easy on myself. Man, I struggled with that run! My muscles were tired and tight, causing me to stop to stretch frequently. When I got home I prepared an ice bath, but before I even got in, my quads had tightened from sitting. I went to bed that night, tossing and turning. My legs were killing me and my back was aching. I woke up in the middle of the night nauseous. I thought I had over trained and the pain was causing me to feel sick. I went back to bed, but found I had a fever in the morning and relegated myself to the couch. I was still feeling ill Monday night, but was determined to continue training on Tuesday and go back to work. I slept fine, dragged myself out of bed, swallowed a gel since I hadn't eaten much the day before, and headed out for 13 miles in the Riverdale hills with Jonathan. At the first step I knew I was in trouble, but I ran the mile to meet my buddy. I only mustered 5 miles and went back to my spot on the couch. I was completely frustrated! Being sick totally messed up my training for the week.

     I tried to run again Wednesday morning, and somehow managed a nice 5 mile tempo at 6:32 pace at the end of a 10 miler (faster than my pace at Team Champs). I guess the rest did me well, but not well enough to get me out of bed at 4:30 Thursday morning to re-try my 13 miles of hills. Oh well, I guess I needed some more rest and couldn't be late for work so was forced to postpone the run. I would have a lot of running to do during the weekend.

     On Saturday of this past weekend, I attempted my 17 miles with 10 at marathon pace again. I planned to run to the gym for my favorite yoga class and then hit the pool for some recovery. I packed my CamelBack with a change of clothes, my swim gear, and of course loads of water. I set out feeling a bit tired, but able to keep a steady pace. After a few miles, I realized I was dripping with sweat, but didn't feel all that hot, I had reached the river, so the breeze was cooling. I forgot how much I enjoy running along the Greenway, which is next to the Hudson River. But, when it was time to hit marathon pace, I really struggled! I even slowed the pace by 5 seconds since I was running with my pack, but still barely managed 3.5 miles, stopping every mile to stretch and drink. I tried to coach myself into staying strong, willing my legs to go faster, and then decided I was being ridiculous pushing myself so hard. I was so deflated by my inability to hit marathon pace. I was confused by why my body couldn't handle it. I wanted to cry, but kept plugging along at a slower, more comfortable pace. In hindsight, it was, yet again, a warm and humid day, which I really wasn't taking into account. Plus the 6.5 pounds I was carrying on my back. Yep, I must have been crazy to think I could hit marathon pace! Needless to say, the run took me far longer than expected and I missed yoga. Then I had to sit around and wait for the pool to open. It certainly wasn't my morning!

     Yesterday was though, for sure. I slept in a little as my legs were telling me to stay in bed just a bit longer. I headed out at 8am, which is usually a bit late. But it was a cool morning...finally! I warmed up with a mile and then easily did 11 miles at marathon pace on some nice rolling hills, followed by a cool-down. I stopped mostly out of leisure and for a few drink breaks...my mom called (typical mom bad timing), saw my running buddy (he is working on getting back into tip-top shape), and helped some bikers (who couldn't decide if they should take their road bikes onto the old railroad trail...only if you want a flat). It was a great run! My favorite part was when one biker yelled "the Olympics are over". Well, they might be over for this year, but no one says you have to stop training!

     Here's to hoping tomorrow will be just as good! My day will start at 4:30am when I walk the dogs and then meet Jonathan and Dick to beat out 13 miles in the Riverdale hills, by far one of my favorite weekly runs! My goal is to practice accepting whatever my body allows me to do for every given day because tomorrow is always another day! I need to be mindful to maintain a healthy body, and pushing to a level that it doesn't want to go will not enhance my training, but only hinder it. I need to be happy with what I can give today, because today I can run!