Ironteam 2011

Hi All! Back with a quick update. I'm officially on staff for the 2011 Team in Training Ironteam season! Vineman full, here I come :) I am getting into my pre-season routine starting this week. That means lots of yoga, healthy eating, and strength training. I'm back with a vengeance, so keep up the visits!

Back Pain = No Bueno

This week has been quite the medical adventure.

Since Wildflower (May 1) I have logged exactly two workouts - one Bikram Yoga session and one sad four mile run. I definitely injured my lower back during the race, so I thought it would be wise to take it easy for a couple of weeks.

Yoga session + run = pain.

I finally made an appointment to see my doc this week, followed by x-rays and an order for physical therapy. So far I have not heard about the x-rays, but was told no news was good news. My prescription for super-charged Aleve seems to be helping, but it will take a good two weeks for the swelling to subside.

Meanwhile, I am hoping to sign up for Barb's race and start training again. Keep your fingers crossed for me!

Wildflower, Post-Wildflower

Ah.....the familiar 2-week funk! It has been just over 2 weeks since Wildflower, and they have not been my favorite 2 weeks. After any big race, I experience a period of "down" time where I usually eat bad food, lay around, and avoid workouts at all cost. It is similar to studying for a big test or writing a long paper - the last thing you want to do after all that prep (and accomplishing the task itself) is pick right back up again. This is probably not the best philosophy, but it's how these things go down with me. The post-race funk this time is much more complicated, since I didn't finish my race...

Wildflower: May 1

I remember this race experience in fragments, so bear with me...

Fragment #1 - Camping + triathlon = complicated

Fragment #2 - I LOVE my teammates. What a great time hanging out, enjoying the great outdoors, and reflecting on the past 6 months of hard work.

Fragment #3 - The swim was my favorite part - fun, challenging, exciting - and I felt strong. T1 was uncomplicated, and actually faster than I thought, given the hill from the swim finish to my bike.

Fragment #4 - Beach Hill was KILLER in the first mile, but I stayed on my bike and did not stop. All I could think about was throwing up. Or hyperventilating.

Fragment #5 - My lower back started hurting after Beach - REALLY hurting. Sharp pain. Distracting pain.

Fragment #6 - Stopping for sunscreen & Extra Strength Tylenol at an aid station early on in the ride. Realizing at this point that I might not finish.

Fragment #7 - Pushing through in the heat and wind to get to Nasty Grade. I made it halfway up before stopping (mile 43). Not worth the pain. At least in that moment it was not worth the pain.

Fragment #8 - I cried for the first time in a race - definitely not finishing and waiting for a ride. Thank God Sara D. came along. We both won't make the cutoff at this point anyway.

Fragment #9 - Seeing the coaches and other DNFers back in transition. NOT a good feeling, but we are definitely not alone.

Fragment #10 - Waiting at the finish line with the team. Waiting for EVERY last Ironteamer to finish. These people are amazing, and I miss them already!

So...I need to decide what to do next! I want to sign up for another half as soon as possible, and July 31st is an option. We shall see. Meanwhile, I need to try and harness that once unquenchable excitement for training, and get out there NOW!

Fundraising Finale

Today marks the last official day of my fundraising effort. Unlike my marathon experience, this has proven to be a tough time to gather donations. I was definitely not as aggressive with folks as I have been in the past - knowing the bleak economic reality for so many. If you happen to read this blog (and feel that you can spare even the smallest of donations) please consider those who depend on these types of funds for treatment, ongoing research, and support in dealing with their illness. http://pages.teamintraining.org/los/wildtri10/jenshaw1

For those of you who have donated - THANK YOU!

P.S.

I just signed up for the Disneyland half marathon in September, and now I am toying around with the idea of the Nike Women's Marathon in October. Guess I'd better start planning out the rest of my race year!

Procrastination Station

So I have been absolutely terrible about updating my blog! It is definitely a testament to my crazy schedule (both training and work). Wildflower is a month away, Desert Tri is on the books, and we head off for Wildflower training weekend this Friday. I regret that I have not been more detailed in my posts, but one thing I can do is provide the pics!

First, some brief thoughts on the Toyota Desert Triathlon, which I raced on March 7th...

The day before the race, we biked 32 miles through the windy Palm Springs desert. It was a fun ride (except for the major traffic on Washington street heading out). We were all complaining about doing a long ride before the race, but it really wasn't that bad in the end.

Throughout the weekend I experienced MANY different degrees of anxiety...but learned to control them in small ways. (More on this later).

We got up early the morning of the race and headed to Lake Cahuilla for transition setup. It was fun to sit around and chat with my teammates once everything was in order.

The Swim:

Thankfully it wasn't too crowded in my wave, but I did have a brief anxiety attack in the water. Our coaches told us this would happen, and that we would need to take a minute to get ourselves together. I kept going – and tried to focus on being grateful for my health, ability to compete, and for the many blessings in my life. This tactic worked, and I had a good swim - much better than I thought.

After a quick transition, I was off on...

The Bike:

Rain was the issue here. It rained. The WHOLE time. The ride was flat, but I felt a bit tentative on the slippery roads. I managed to pass a few cyclists, but was passed by many. The course was 2 loops around farmland and residential neighborhoods in La Quinta. I enjoyed the ride (despite the weather) but had no idea how to manage my energy, knowing there was a run remaining. In the end, I think I played it too safe.

The Run:

I felt slow on the run, but held my own and finished in a respectable amount of time. The rain definitely complicated things, but after a while I was actually happy that it wasn't too hot.

What I learned:

-You can’t control everything on race day, but can control your attitude and outlook on the experience.

-If you are nervous, try to be grateful for what your body can do and reflect on that often.

-Shared human emotions (including nervousness) are powerful.
-Preparation and organization are everything in triathlons.
-Get in line for the bathrooms early (also marathon wisdom).

-A banana ½ hour before the swim start is a good thing. :)

Desert Tri Race Report Coming Soon!

Proof of Life

Here are some recent pics, which will soon be followed by a training update!

On The Road Again

The new year has definitely started out with a bang - in my converging worlds of work, training, and travel. Currently I am training/vacationing in Spokane, WA, while the boy in my life takes a few doctoral seminars at Gonzaga U. Last week I was in Santa Rosa/Napa/Petaluma for work, which is always a great overall destination.

I managed to get in a good swim last week at the Airport Club in Santa Rosa, and have mustered the motivation to continue my swims and runs here in WA. The pool at Gonzaga is a convenient place to splash around, and the Centennial Trail is a great place for a scenic run. One thing I am missing though (other than my teammates) is the bike! I am thinking about renting one on Wednesday and heading toward Idaho. Hopefully this all works out, and that the weather is cooperative.

This trip, albeit in the winter this time, makes me think of how far I've come since last summer. I don't think I am any fitter, per se; perhaps a bit more well-rounded due to the cross-training, but certainly a bit more mature in my approach to fitness. I mean this mainly in terms of giving myself a break! I now realize how important recovery is, and I take those "days off" very seriously. Right now we have Fridays off, since the Ironman training needs to occur 6 days per week. If I feel burned out though, I take it easy on Mondays as well.

I think the two most difficult things about IRONtraining right now are 1) balancing the schedule with the rest of my life and 2) making it through two-a-day workouts. Right now Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays tend to be both running and swimming days - or at least that's how the schedule is developing. My motivation around running still tends to be low, so I really have to push myself (especially after a good swim). The new running shoes certainly help, and I feel I am well on my way...

Overall, I can see and feel the improvement in my swimming, and with a strenuous/hilly 30 mile ride under my belt, I know I will continue to improve in my cycling. In the meantime, I'll enjoy the time I have away, while looking forward to getting back on my bike with the team.

Happy New Year!

I can't believe it's 2010! I know this is going to be a great year in the world of training, racing, and beyond.

One of my resolutions is to maintain my blog a bit more consistently, so in the meantime, here are some "mini updates" from my TNT website. More to come soon!

1/3/10: Happy New Year friends! It's been a great couple of weeks - getting deeper into training and working in some early morning sessions. I am beginning to experience some aches and pains, but I know this comes with the territory as the schedule gets more intense. I am not quite used to the days that include two sessions, but I'll get there.

We had a hilly team ride through Pacific Palisades yesterday, which definitely tested my nerves. I feel much more comfortable on the bike, but going downhill on Sunset Blvd with cars flying by has a way of challenging that comfort :)

12/20: It was a beautiful morning yesterday for a good team ride at the Rose Bowl. I'm feeling much more comfortable with the bike (especially the dreaded clips). Swimming and biking are a blast, but I need to get some running in!

12/17: Training is definitely getting more intense, and I am quickly realizing I need to make some sacrifices if I am going to be successful. This morning I was up at 4:30 am and off for a bike ride. Last night I swam for about an hour at the LMU pool. Today = sore legs! Looking forward to a rest day tomorrow. Thankfully, I am still feeling excited and optimistic about this adventure :)

12/05: First fundraising event was very successful! Thanks to all the Murrieta community members who supported LLS at the garage sale today. A special thanks to my parents for their help/use of the driveway!

12/02: First bike practice took place last Saturday. It was great to be on the road. I see how people easily become addicted to this sport! Last night we took the swimming up a notch at the group practice. I need to concentrate on drills and form this week in my individual practice time. A long road to go!

11/21: I bought my first road bike yesterday! It's a Trek 1.5 2009. I can't wait to get on it more and learn the ropes. One of the best things about triathlon training is learning two new sports. The swimming continues to go well, but I have a long way to go! Thanks for all the support, friends.

11/10: First swim practice in Culver City. It was great to train with the group for the first time, and I really enjoyed being in the pool. I can tell this is going to be tough, but COMPLETELY worth it!