Third time's a charm! (subtitle: NOW my season can be over)

October 2008: Baystate marathon, 3:32, crushed my marathon PR and qualified myself for Boston.  Ran back to the hotel and registered immediately for 2009. 
January 2009: Training begins for Boston in April.  Tough time to start marathon training in New England, but I'm tough as nails.  April 5, 2009: Great Bay half in Newmarket.  I'm going to run to the venue (2 miles), run the half (13.1 miles) and run home (2 miles) for a 17 mile run, final "long run" before Boston, then it's time to taper.  I'm going to go easy, hold a slow and steady pace, this is just a training run.  Great Bay is a very hilly course.  About halfway through, I felt a sharp pain in the back of my ankle.  I did what any (stubborn) runner does, I finished the race (with a little limp) and jogged home.  Monday morning, wake up and can barely walk.  Call my sports medicine Doc for an emergency appointment.  Schedule an MRI, and start PT right away.  I have a slight tear in my achilles - I'm not running Boston this year.
It's okay.  My race in October qualified me for 18 months, so I'm good to go for 2010 as well.
Pull out my old road bike and start riding once my ankle feels a bit better.  No running for me for about 8 weeks. But when I did come back, I came back stronger than ever.  The first 5k I ran after my injury I set a PR for myself.  And then I ran a 10k and PR'ed as well.  I was back.  September rolls around, PR in a 5k once again (my pace is now down to 6:50's for 5k) and run a second 5k 6 days later. 
This time it's my heel.  I couldn't walk after the race.  What did I do now?  Emergency visit to Sports Medicine doc the next day, he squeezed both sides of my heel, I jumped out of my chair and squealed.  He told me I had a stress fracture and I left in an air cast and on crutches!  He scheduled me for an MRI a couple days later.  The results of the MRI came back and it wasn't a stress fx, he diagnosed plantar faciitis.  (Achilles and PF issues closely related).  Off my feet for a while again, spent more time on the bike. 
December 21, 2009: Decided to get into triathlons, but I was going to run Boston in 2010 and be done with marathons for good.  Begin training for Boston.
February 27, 2010: In the middle of an 18 mile run on a slushy snowy day, sudden stabbing pain in my right groin area.  Long story short on this one: spine/hip issues, out of Boston once again.
So I registered for Baystate in October to once again qualify - and this was how I justified it to myself that it was okay. 
Bring on the triathlon season.  I had a great season, and my running was better than ever. I set a half marathon PR of 1:41 in June, and then my 70.3 half marathon time PR'ed me again at 1:40. 
Baystate was 5 weeks after my 70.3.  I had been in half ironman training all summer, not marathon training.  A few weeks before my 70.3, my achilles started talking to me again, and this time my posterior tibial tendon joined in.  So I didn't have a chance to run anything longer than 14 miles pre-race.  After Pumpkinman, I had 5 weeks to train for Baystate.  I was able to get in a 15 mile run (very painful, way too soon after 70.3), a 20 and an 18. And that was IT. And trust me, it was not enough.
Two weeks before Baystate, my achilles was in a lot of pain.  I decided that I was going to lay off almost completely up until race day.  I did three runs in those two weeks, a 5, a 6 and a 3. And that was IT.  I went back and forth with whether or not I'd be able to run; on the days that I thought there was no way, I was very depressed.  But the day before the race, I was ready to run.
Now... after that long intro.... race morning.
5:00 am: Alarm goes off.  I'm up and ready.  So ready.  I'd been training for this marathon since January of 2009. 

6:00 am: Head down to Lowell.  Rock tape on ankle, compression socks holding everything together.  Fuel belt with 3 bottles of nutrition.  Visor, sun glasses, gloves... ready to rock.
8:00 am: Marathon start. There were a ton of people - I started my garmin as soon as I went over the start line, and it was 1:30 after the race started.  So it was jam packed.  (I was so far back that I didn't realize what had happened - but the singing of the National Anthem was supposed to start, and most of the crowd was singing it - I later found out that when they said that the National Anthem would not be sung, everyone joined in and sang it anyway.  Pretty cool) I started out slowly, and broke my way out of the crowd.  I got out to the side and started passing people. And I was feeling GOOD. 

Mile 1: 8:15.  Okay, this is okay.  I wanted to keep around an 8:05 pace, finish in 3:32.  I'd be happy with that.  I could even go a little higher than that - really as long as I finished under 3:40 so I could qualify I'd be fine.  That is, if my achilles holds up.
Mile 2: 7:56.  Okay, still okay.  Ankle is feeling good. I'm feeling good. I'm gonna do this. 
Mile 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10: 7:56, 8:02, 7:53, 8:03, 8:00, 8:00, 8:02, 8:05 Still feeling GREAT.  Nutrition every 20 minutes, just like I'd trained.
Mile 11, 12: 7:58, 8:02
Now I'm coming around the bridge for the second loop.  I see my Mom, tell her that I'm doing okay - my ankles has twinged a couple times, but so far so good. I'm gonna do this.
Mile 13: A little slower, 8:12.  Mile 14: 8:10, 15: 8:12, 16: 8:08, 17: 8:15, 18: 8:08... still feeling good... 19: 8:15, 20: 8:18, 21: 8:18... starting to slow a little bit... 22: 8:22, 23: My legs start screaming "F YOU AMANDA - WE ARE DONE!!!"  From my toes to my heel to my calf muscles, to my knees, to my quads to my hamstrings... it all HURT.  And I don't mean just a little. It hurt BAD.  (This is where those long runs would've come in handy).  Mile 23: 9:14.  Okay, I can still do this.  I have plenty of time.  I could even  run 11:00 miles right now and still come in under 3:40.  I'm okay. Just take it easy....

Mile 24: 9:23.  Thoughts of "I can't do this" went through my head.  Then I said to myself - this is ridiculous. Your achilles is fine.  This is a little pain. it will be over soon.  You CAN do this.  And so I pushed on.  Mile 25: 9:26.  I was still working it out in my head as to how much time I had to play with.  And the pain kept getting worse and worse.  When I got to mile 25 and knew I only had 1.2 miles to go, I was able to kick it in a little.  Mile 26 was 8:50, a little faster.  Once I reached mile 26 and heard the crowds in the ball field and knew I was almost home, I forgot the pain.  And I ran.  I looked down at my watch at one point during that 285 yards and saw 6:20.  I was cookin'.  I heard a couple friends yell to me as I approached the finish.  And I tore around the bases and crossed that finish line with everything I had left. And then I smiled for the camera. I had NOTHING left.

I finished with a 3:38, slower than my previous time on this course, but I had also not trained like I did in 2008. I had a different focus this year. And next year, I will have a different focus as well (Ironman). So I will not run Boston in 2011.  BUT, it is in my head to run it in 2012. Who knows - anything can happen between now and then. But for now, what is important, is that I finally got to run another marathon. And it only took me two injury filled years to do it.  But I'm happy, and now I can rest.  (Sub-sub title: I used to have pretty feet)

Am I really cut out for this?

My first tri season is over.  I raced 5 tris, including an olympic, three sprints, and a 70.3.  Not bad for my first year.  One more race to go... a marathon in ten days... and then I can really put my feet up (literally) and take some much needed time off. 

As I sit here, with a painful lower back, achilles tendonitis, plantar faciitis, and something going on with my tibia - most likely posterior tibial tendonitis... I wonder, am I really cut out for this?  My love is running. Biking is okay, swimming not so much.  But, because of running, I have been dealing with injuries since February. And that's just this season - prior years have been riddled with injuries as well. 

Sometimes I wonder if I will ever like swimming, if I will ever be good at it, if I will ever look forward to going to the pool.  It seems very doubtful at this point. On one hand, I think: I hate swimming, I will never be good at it, maybe triathlon just isn't for me.  But on the other hand, I think - man, if I could only swim like I can run... maybe I'll make some major gains over the winter... just imagine if I was competitive in the swim portion of triathlon... stick with it.. it will get better.  Depends on the day, depends on my mood.  As I said in a previous post, it is human nature to like the things we are good at.  Maybe I will like it more when (if) I get better at it.  

I am looking forward to next season.  I have already lined up two 70.3's and a full Ironman.  I certainly hope that I get better at swimming over the winter.  I'm a little sad that this season is over... however I'm really looking forward to being able to take it easy for a bit, heal up my leg injuries, and hopefully be even stronger for next year.  My coach told me that the entire month of December is to be spent in the pool.  Literally.  No biking, no running. Just 6 days a week in the pool.  I guess it's one of those "make friends with the enemy" deals.  Yikes.  But maybe, just maybe, 6 days a week in the pool is what I need.  Maybe I'll have one of those "breakthroughs" that everyone talks about that I have yet to see.  Let's hope for a miracle...  

Pumpkinman 70.3

My first half ironman is complete.  All week I felt like I was going to throw up whenever I thought about it, and now it's finally over.  I had an absolutely awesome day - didn't hit the numbers that I was looking for, but it was my first, and considering that this was my first tri season, it ended well.  I finished with a strong run and a smile on my face.

3:45 am - Alarm goes off.  Up like a little kid on Christmas morning.  (This is a trend with my races, I'm always super excited and have no problem getting up early).  I also have no problem sleeping the night before - I went to bed at 8 and slept like a rock.  Turned the coffee pot on, started to get together everything I was going to need for the day.  I am not a night-before packer - I like to get up with a clear head and think everything through for the day the morning of.  My plan was to be at the venue by around 5:30, race started at 7.  By 4:30 I had drank two cups of coffee, eaten a clif bar, and had everything I would need in the back of my truck.  I started thinking - I could've slept another half hour :)

I was really excited about the day.  My mom was volunteering on course, my best friend was the race director, and my boyfriend was one of the assistant race directors - as well as tons of other people that would be there racing and cheering.  It was going to be an awesome day.  I didn't feel nervous at all until I got to the venue, and even then it wasn't too bad.  I parked, got all my stuff out, went to get my timing chip and to get body marked, then went to transition to set up. 

I decided last minute that even though I've been having shin splints in my left leg, I was not going to wear my compression socks on the bike and run, because I had completely forgotten about the ankle band-chip, and decided that would be too much of a pain. So I bagged the compression socks and used regular socks.  I also got to meet Dot and John M, fellow ontrier's in transition, so that was really nice. 

A couple trips to the porta potty - hi's and hug's and kisses to Mom/best friend/boyfriend - and a couple little pep talks, and I was ready.  I put my wetsuit on and headed down to the water. The swim waves were pretty big - mine was all females 39 and under.  I made the decision that I was going to just start way in the back, to the left.  I knew that even if I was in the back, I would start my day better than if I was getting kicked and punched and swam over... and I was so glad I did.  Saw a bunch of friends down on the beach (racing and spectating) - my friend Matt was down there to take some pictures of me looking like a deer in headlights as I looked at the pond and thought about the swim.  I had been swimming in this pond at least once a week all summer, so it was nothing new.  I knew the course, had swam it many times, and really knew what time I could expect. It was gonna be slow, but at least I was prepared for that and had told myself that no miracles were gonna happen out there. 

The waves start... my wave is called to the water, and we're given the signal to start.  I was the very last person, and just got right into my groove and swam very comfortably.  Very uneventful - didn't get kicked or punched - I did get swam over by a couple of elite males as they lapped around - funny that no one else did this.  Apparently their so focused on finishing that it's too hard to see someone right in front of them and they end up on top of you.  The swim was a two loop course, and in between you had to get out of the water and run across a timing mat.  I got out, ran across, back in the water for my second loop. Uneventful again.  I was able to pee a couple times (yes, in my wetsuit) which was good because I didn't want to have to go on the bike (that backfired).  Out of the water in 49:43. Oh well, it is what it is.

From the water to T1 was a "hill climb challenge" - it replicates a local ski/sled hill in the town called Powderhouse hill. They have a seperate challenge for the fastest climb out of the water, and there are people that actually have the goal of just winning that challenge.  I was just going to take it easy, I didn't want to aggravate my achilles or shin splints.  Took my wetsuit off at the bottom of the hill and trotted up.  1:32

Into T1.  socks and bikes shoes on, helmet and sunglasses, grab bike and go.  1:17

Onto the bike.  I had ridden the bike course a few times before as well, so I was pretty familiar with it.  Hilly.  I was pretty far to the back of the pack, so I didn't get passed at all, but I did pass a few people.  I felt okay on the bike, but in the end I had only averaged 18.1 mph, I had hoped for faster.  I did have to pee starting at about the half way point, and try as I did, it was not happening. And I certainly wasn't going to get off my bike and lose any time. I need to practice peeing on the bike, I guess - cause no matter what I did, it just didn't happen.  Again, lots of familiar faces volunteering and cheering along the bike course - good stuff.  The wind picked up towards the end and made it a tough second half.  3:05

Came into T2 and saw my Mom standing there flagging people in. That was pretty cool. I gave her a high five and said something, don't remember what. But it was nice to see her.  Bike shoes off, running shoes on.  Helmet off, visor on.  Now here's the tricky part: I wanted to run with my fuel belt, and I didn't want a race belt as well, so I bought these little things that can attached your race number to the fuel belt. Only thing is, you have to close the velcro before you can attach one of the sides (unless there's another way that I haven't figured out yet).  So as I ran out of transition, I fumbled with trying to get the elastic through the hole in the race number and then the little plastic thing on.. as I ran by my mom I said "this was a really bad idea!" but it didn't take long, and actually worked out great.  T2: 1:07

Ah, the run.  As I went running out, I remember what my coach had said "it's going to feel really easy - BACK OFF" and I looked down at my watch and saw 5:59 and said whoa! and slowed down.  I tried to keep it at around an 8 minute pace for a couple miles, but I was still a bit under.  So as I get about a quarter mile down the road, all of a sudden two of my friends are running next to me - not runners - in their jeans - it was hilarious.  Apparently Chris had said to Derek "if we see her we'll have to run with her", not thinking they'd see me right away - so off we went! It was awesome.  Really pumped me up. They ran with me for about a mile, and then turned back.  Very cool.  I felt fine for a couple miles, and then a few miles into the run I was hurting. I was keeping around 7:43 pace - my achilles was hurting, my back was hurting; I had that terrible thought go through my head of "oh crap, I'm not going to be able to do this" - and then I crushed that thought and started thinking positive. I knew I had to turn the focus away from my aches and pains or I wouldn't make it.  So I started telling everyone that I passed "good job" and "looking good!" with a big smile on my face. and it worked. I was fine after a few miles. Then I started putting it down.  7:30's, 7:09, 7:42, etc.  The run course was kind of a loop also - out and back twice with a loop at the end.  My dad and step mom had positioned themselves on the course so that I ended up passing them four times. That was pretty cool.  Derek and Chris made their way to one of the places that I'd pass on the course, before going to the finish line to see my finish.  And there were a bunch of friends cheering for me along the way - that was great. 

It also helped to boost my spirits to hear "wow - you are flying!" constantly.  And.. I was.  Jon drove by in a truck at one point, and was along the course at a few different places to cheer me on.  It was awesome to have him there, really motivated me every time I saw him.  First loop done, back out for the second.  As I approached the final hill, I saw a girl ahead of me with a 31 on her leg.  In my age group, she's mine I thought.  So I flew past her on the hill. Into the chute and across the finish line.  Run: 1:40.  7:39 pace.  Sweet.  My Mom, Jon, Kat, Derek, Chris, Mia, Tom were all at the finish line when I crossed.  It was awesome. 

Oh, and I still hadn't been able to pee. So I ran over to the portapotties.  I felt great - a little sore, but really good.  Final time was 5:39.  Sixth in my age group.  The swim killed me.  I was shooting for 5:30, didn't happen. Oh well, next time.  I think my run split was one of the fastest out of all females, but I haven't looked at all the numbers yet. I wish I could swim and bike like I run!  Overall fantastic day - quite an experience.  Now I get to rest for two days, and then back at it for my next events.  Amanda DeBlauw, YOU are a PUMPKINMAN!

Taper Day No. 2, 5 days out, Nightmare No. 1

Taper week - everything changes. The workout hours (obviously), the way you eat, the way you sleep.. your whole body dynamics.  I have to be careful not to eat like I have a 3 hour workout, and at the same time, eat enough to keep my body going.. find the right balance, which I am not good at.  I need to keep my body in a schedule, even though there is no need to wake up super early for a long workout, I need to make sure not to throw myself out of whack. 

Last night I awoke at about 2 am feeling paniced.  I had been dreaming (let's call it a nightmare) that I showed up to Pumpkinman, finished the swim in a great time (that part is awesome, hopefully that's a premonition) and then got to T1.  T1 was a small cabin, you had to stand in line single file and walk your bike in to cross the timing mat.  The line was about 50 deep and moving at a snails pace.  As I got to the cabin and picked my bike up to lift over the wall that you had to climb over, my seat fell.  As I examined it closer, it had these weird things on both sides that needed special tools to raise it and tighten in place. No one in the cabin had a tool for this. I tried to do it with my fingers and got covered with grease. 

As I made it through T1 and out onto the course, it was a loose, gravelly, road for a while, and I tried to ride with the seat in the fallen position, but it was like riding a little kids bike.  There was a bike shop on the side of the trail, so I went in to find a bike mechanic - there were three fat old guys that were smoking and very rude and told me that there were many other athletes that were there first...although I didn't see anyone.  I tried to mess with my seat while I waited, and finally they got to me, and no one had the tool to fix my seat.... and then I woke up.  I think I need to eat less protein today.  Lord, help me make it through hell week!

Taper.... aka Hell Week

I came up with the perfect description of "Taper" while I was in an ice bath after doing my final 10 mile run before beginning my taper week: "The week spent convincing your body (after beating the sh*t out of it for months) that it's over, it's okay to heal... so that you can really beat the sh*t out of it on race day."  I think that sums it up perfectly. 

Some people look forward to taper.  Others, like myself, dread it.  For a type A personality like me, to go from a very structured, wake-to-the-alarm-drink-coffee-look-at-the-schedule-to-see-what-your-workout-is-going-to-be-today-and-get-out-and-do-it period of months, to all of a sudden open the schedule to find "Rest"... and to see that word planted in the schedule more than once in the course of the week...well, that's just plain torture. 

5:30 AM.  Out of bed.  Coffee maker on.  Drink first cup of coffee. Check email. Reply to email.  Drink another cup of coffee. Hmm... now it's 6:15.  What to do.  See what I mean?  Hell.  I cannot sit still long enough to watch a movie.  I am good for about 20 minutes, when I notice that the plant across the room looks a little droopy and needs water. So I get up and water it. On the way back from putting the watering thingy away, notice that I have a new message.  Sit down for a second to read the email.  It's a message telling me that someone replied to a post on facebook. Open facebook, read the post.  Then scroll through to see what everyone else is posting.  Back to email.  Link to website... etc etc.  You get the gist.  Movie? What movie?  That is my life in a nutshell. Can't sit still. How in the world am I expected to go from a 14 or 15 hour week to a 5 or 6 hour week? 

This is only halfway through day 1 of taper.  Tomorrow I get to swim.  As much as I do not look forward to swimming, I cannot wait to swim tomorrow.  And Wednesday, oh Wednesday. I get to ride my bike for an hour fifteen, and run a couple miles off the bike. Wednesday cannot come too quickly. 

Hurry up Pumpkinman.  You've got an impatient type A athlete waiting for you. 

To Tri or Not To Tri....

I'd been feeling like something had come over me for about 5 days.  I couldn't shake it.  I felt light headed, dizzy, had a terrible headache, weak, tired; if I was sitting down, I still felt like I was going to fall over.  I was scheduled for an olympic tri on Sunday, and since Tuesday had it in my head that I'd be over this and able to race.  Friday came, I went to the pool.  500 meters into my swim I felt like I was going to pass out in the pool.  I got out.  Smart move number one.  The rest of the day I drank lots of fluids, rested, did everything I was instructed to do.  Saturday I woke up feeling a little better.  Had it in my head that I was going to race on Sunday.  Went out for my shake out ride and run and felt great. Put out pretty good numbers with little effort.  Brought my bike in to get a couple of last minute tweaks and a pre-race tune up.  As the day went on I felt worse and worse.... but that night still had it in my head that I was going to get up at 4 am and get my race on.  As 8:00 rolled around that night and I could barely stay awake or hold my head up, I told myself that I wasn't going to set my alarm, but if I woke up at 4 (which is not unusual for me) it was meant to be and I would head to the race.  Sunday morning I rolled over and saw 6:30 am, and knew it was not meant to be, and it was too late to get to the race anyway.  I was fine with it.... as my A race is in two weeks and I didn't want to jeopardize anything leading up to that. 
So... I prepared a few bottles (notice I say a few, obviously had the intention of a good ride) and headed out on my bike.  Oh, I also set up a transition area at the end of my driveway, just in case I felt okay and wanted to run a few miles after.  Headed south on 125, took a left onto some unknown road, figured I'd loop back into Exeter... came upon another cyclist, about 20 minutes down the road after catching up with and passing each other over and over, I said "hey, do you know where this road comes out?" He said "I have no idea!" and we both laughed and kept on... about another 20 minutes go by, he (his name was Andy, I came to find out later) caught up again and said "Uh, we're in Amesbury Mass".  Oops.  We found our way onto 286 and into Hampton together. 
My ride turned into 60 miles, and I did a 4 mile run off the bike.  So, I feel like I could've raced... but I guess it was better to not have and wish that I did, than to have and wish that I hadn't.  Needless to say, I was feeling much better, and think I have finally kicked whatever I had come down with.  Two weeks til my A race: Pumpkinman 70.3. 

Hey GENIUS...

Not advised to buy a pair of Newtons 4 weeks out from your 70.3 that you've been training for all season.  Wait, let me add to that: and run 13 miles at a 7:40 pace and then do 8 miles of speed work two days later.  Wait, a little more... especially if you've had achilles problems in the past.  Hang on, a little more: a slight achilles tear that sidelined you from running Boston in 2008.  Wait, scratch all that; let me start over with a complete sentence (or maybe a run-on sentence):

Hey MORON, Don't go out and buy a pair of Newtons when you have never run in anything but asics for years and years, when you are 4 weeks out from your 70.3 A race of the season and 9 weeks out from a marathon, especially when you have had achilles problems in the past; specifically don't lace them up and run 13 miles and then two days later do a hard speed work day in them.... and expect everything to be a-okay. 

That about sums it up.  Luckily I think I caught it in time; as soon as my achilles started to show the same signs of injury again, I backed off - took 6 days off from running; was religious about using rock tape; and I think I'm good.... I hope.  As I get older, the more injuries I seem to get, but I also seem to get smarter about taking care of them immediately instead of trying to push through them.  The Newtons are back in the box, haven't decided if they are going back or if I'm going to just keep them in the box until November and then slowly break them in over the winter.  Right now they have left a sour taste in my mouth (or on my achilles) but I really want them to work.  The two runs that I did in them felt great; just not so great after. 

Ran 13 miles this morning, in my asics (and rock tape), felt great.  Phew. Tragedy narrowly averted. 

The Swim: YOU are the weakest link

On my list of Top 100 favorite things to do, no where will you find anything even remotely related to swimming.  I guess it is human nature to like the things that we are good at...good at swimming, I am not.  I started swimming in December (well, I went to the pool a couple times, I wouldn't actually call it swimming). I took a few lessons in January, so I guess that is when it really started.  I won't really get into details, but it wasn't pretty.  I couldn't swim one length of a 25 meter pool without hanging onto the other end gasping for breath for five minutes.  Fast forward to today, mid-August, and I can swim 2 miles without stopping... but it ain't pretty.  After a few lessons with one coach at the pool, I got the basics down.  I spent at least 3 days per week in the pool (sometimes 4) for at least an hour at a time, doing lap after lap after lap after... yeah.  I guess there was improvement somewhere, as I pointed out I can swim much farther than when I first started. But it still ain't pretty. 
I have done four tri's this year; three sprints and an olympic.  First sprint I won my AG, 5th overall.  Second sprint placed 2nd AG.  Olympic...well, we don't even need to discuss that.  I don't know where I placed but it certainly wasn't worth mentioning.  Third sprint, won my AG - I think I was 7th overall?  Or something.  But, none of that was thanks to the swim portion.  Luckily I can run.  Out of 202 people (men and women), I was 149 out of the water.  Run, I was 17th. (2nd female).  None of these numbers really matter, except they go to prove a point that I am super competitive, and I like being good at things.  Swimming is not one of these things. 
I have been working with Craig Lewin from Endurance Swimming and he has been fantastic. I have certainly gotten a lot out of his instruction.  I plan to work with him over the winter as much as possible. For now, my goal is just to get through my Olympic race in a week and a half, and not let the swim ruin my race like it did in my last Oly.  And then to get through my 70.3 in (gulp) 3-1/2 weeks, again, without letting the swim ruin my race.
I'm hoping that by this time next year I can look back at this post and laugh, because I'm SO much better at swimming by then. If I'm not, it won't be for lack of trying!

Jumping ahead... my first Olympic tri (aka I am my biggest critic)

Jumping ahead to my third triathlon... an olympic distance - July 18.  this was my race report:

First and foremost, I must say that I am extremely hard on myself - always have been, always will be, it will never change. So here's my report.


3:15 am my alarm goes off, and I am up like a little kid on Christmas. Always like this for me on race day. I had asked my mom if she wanted to go with me, as she has come to all of my marathons and most of my running races, but never a tri. I told her she had to be at my house at 4:15... I completely didn't expect her to come, but at 3:53 I got a text message "on my way". I was excited - it is always nice to have someone waiting for you at the finish. We left the house and headed out for a 2 hour drive to the race venue. I had plenty of time to just focus on my race. In my head I was going over everything that I had in the back of my vehicle to make sure I hadn't forgotten anything. At one point while I was doing this I even turned around to look and make sure that my bike was there... a bit OCD, yes.

We got to 275 Baldwinville Road with the help of my GPS and it was somebody's house. After a little bit of freaking out, I realized it was Baldwinville State Road that I needed and luckily I wasn't that far away. Got to the parking lot, all gear unloaded, headed towards registration and body marking. My mom pulled out the camera and started taking pictures - I think she took a total of 88 photos throughout the day. Team Hoyt was there, whom my mom had never seen or heard of, so she was very impressed with them and I ended up with lots of pictures of them. She was also very impressed with the size of some of the people that were participating, so I ended up with about 6 pictures of two very large people that I don't know. My Mom's a little odd. Anyway....

Walking into transition my chain fell off my bike, not sure why. Put it back on, set up transition; shoes on, off for a little 1 mile warm up run. while I was gone they announced that the water temp was 80, so wet suits could be worn but you wouldn't be eligible for any awards. this was fine, as I didn't expect to place anyway. I figured my swim would be 35 minutes for .9 miles, and with that speed, I think a one armed... no wait, Jim K, probably could've passed me :) Back from my warm up run, onto the bike to make sure it was in the right gear and chain was good to go. Back to transition, grabbed sleeveless wetsuit, goggles, cap, gu and headed to the beach. Walked in the water for a little swim and saw the guy that I have taken a few lessons from (obviously I need to take a few more) and chatted for a few minutes. He said "why are you wearing a wet suit?" and I told him I would still be in the water when he was coming in from the run if I didn't. I asked him the best place to start to be out of the madness, so we came up with a plan; he was off and I did a little warm up swim.

Fast forward to race start. The sprint race was going off at the same time as the Olympic - the sprint waves were first. Finally my wave was up (orange caps), into the water to the first buoy to start, and we were given the signal to start.  there were only 4 waves for the Olympic race, so the waves were rather large. It was a struggle at first but I was fine, and got away from the mass of people and got into my groove. I just concentrated on my stroke and aiming for the big buoys, which looked so far away... after a while, the men in the wave of white caps that started after us, started to pass me. This is where my day started to go south I think. I started to get grabbed - my feet, my legs, my butt (ooh baby) and swam over and kicked. I didn't freak out at all, but it made me slow down a lot and keep looking around to try not to get kicked in the face. This went on for most of the rest of the swim, which seemed like it took forever. I felt fine, wasn't tired or anything, more annoyed. Oh, I also peed twice on the swim so hopefully one of those guys swimming over me got peed on. I finally made it back to the beach, ran out of the water and looked at my watch... 40:17. My heart absolutely sunk, I was so disappointed. I have been swimming around 1800 meters in 40 minutes, so I thought for sure I would swim the .9 in about 35. Secretly I was hoping that I'd somehow be faster than that. It's alright, just get on the bike, legs feel great, make up the time on the bike and run.... is what I SHOULD have been thinking. Instead I was consumed with the fact that I sucked so bad in the water. I think at this point I mentally packed up and went home.

Swim: 40:17 ...gulp... 291 out of 322. Yikes.

T1: I had worn my racebelt under my wetsuit and already had my garmin on, so I only had to tear off my wetsuit, throw on my bike shoes, helmet, sunglasses and grab my bike. Switched my garmin into bike mode as I was running out.. T1: 1:21

The bike course was two loops, with a couple of good hill climbs. The first was at mile 5, and it was almost a mile long climb. I passed a lot of people on the bike, kept it steady up the hills, just cranked along. I was still thinking about the swim and how disappointed I was. Not much to report on the bike - other than the 2nd loop at the big hill climb almost at the top of the hill there was a guy in cycling clothes that had parked his bike against a tree and was on his knees on the ground with a cowbell in one hand and pounding the pavement with the other hand yelling "hammer! Hammer! Hammer! Almost there! Kill this hill! Hammer!" It made me smile and gave me a little kick.

I was hoping to average around 19+ mph on the bike, ended up in the 18's. I was disappointed with this as well.

Bike: 24.4 miles 1:20 - 129 out of 322. A little better than swim, but geesh, still disappointing.

Dismount, run into T2. Bike racked, helmet off, visor on, bike shoes off, running shoes on, speed laces tightened on right shoe.. grab the little plastic thingy on the other laces and CRAP! Pulled it off! Alright, relax, just take your time and put it back on - no big deal. Got the little plastic thingy on, laces tightened, set garmin to running mode on my way running out of transition. Figured that T2 was going to be a couple minutes at least.

T2: 0:53!!!! I scanned through the results quickly at the T2 times and this time was definitely better than most!

Onto the run. All I can say is Thank God I can run. My competitive spirit kicked back in (I'm lying, it never left) and I was passing people left and right. I guess it's a good thing that running comes at the end of triathlon. I had asked Aleck how to play out my day as far as pacing and he gave me instructions on all. For the run he had said to run the first mile around 7:30, then work up to 5k pace and then the last 5k go as hard as I could. so for the first couple miles I tried to hold back and ran around 7:15, but then I thought - why am I holding back? It's only a 10k! And I kicked it in. My legs felt great, I didn't feel like I had swam or biked prior to this (based on my results I really didn't!) and I was on it. I passed one person after another and kept thinking in my head "Ha! That's for passing me on the swim!" It was hot out, the run was out and back, there were two water stops (so really four) and I grabbed water at each, drank some, and poured the rest over my head. At the 3rd water stop, I reached for the cup and somehow it got knocked onto the ground. I needed water at this point so I turned around and went back for a cup. Aggravating. In the last mile I kept thinking about my coach saying "give it all you've got" and pushed harder and harder. My last mile was 6:26. My 10k pace ended up being 7:06 average per mile. I definitely could've gone harder - lesson learned.

Run: 45:26, 41 out of 322.

Reached the finish line and my first Olympic was done. Time was 2:48. 126 out of 322. I didn't wait around for the results to be posted, I was too pissed off about the swim still (I'm a big baby I guess). I did get in the water to cool down, and then packed my stuff up and headed out. I am pretty psyched about my transition times and my run. I need to work on getting stronger on the bike, and definitely need help on the swim. Next Oly is Aug 28, then my first 70.3 is Sept 12. Hopefully I will make some huge improvements in those periods of time and be much happier with my races in the future! (Side note: I will never be happy with my race results. No matter what. That's just me. :) )

In the beginning....

I suppose I should start with why I got into the sport of triathlon.  I have been a runner for many years.  I started racing in 2002 and I was hooked.  It started with a harmless 5k, and then I signed up for more and more, and then 10k's, half marathons, and then marathons.  I ran my first marathon in 2004.  I had been training for a marathon in Cape Cod at the end of October, and I got to the point where I thought "I am done. I cannot train anymore", so one Saturday morning (four weeks before my planned marathon) I woke up and drove up to Bristol NH and ran the first New Hampshire marathon around Newfound Lake.  It was very hilly, and looking back I was not prepared, but I ran a 3:50 marathon and being the first of what is now an annual race, it was very small.  I had left immediately after the race - didn't wait for results - a few days later I got a check in the mail for $75, I had placed 3rd overall woman.  Back to that afternoon... I said that I would never run another marathon.  My legs felt like they had been run over by a truck.  But the next day I woke up... and I was hooked.  The next year I ran the Marine Corps marathon in Washington DC; the Boston marathon in 2006 as a charity runner (I hadn't qualified) then the following year the Marathon of the Lehigh Valley in Allentown PA; and in 2008 the Baystate marathon in Lowell MA.  This time, my 5th marathon, I was finally at a point where I knew how to train, knew what worked for me and what didn't, and I was prepared. I was so prepared that I ran a 3:32 marathon, and when I was finished felt like I could do it again, and even ran back to my hotel a mile away.  I had qualified for Boston, so I registered immediately, and planned to run it in 2009. 
January 2009 rolled around, and I began training for the April race.  Everything was going great, I had no problem getting myself up in the morning when it was below zero outside, snow on the ground... I loved it.  I love the discipline, love having a schedule and knowing what I have to do that day.  Many people that don't "get it" think that it becomes more of a burden, and that you don't enjoy it anymore... but I completely disagree with that.  I absolutely love the training.  April 5, 2009... two weeks before Boston.  Decided to run the Great Bay half marathon in Newmarket as a training run.  This was my last long run before the marathon, I had planned to run 17 miles this day, and I lived 2 miles from the race start, so I jogged down, and planned to run back after which would give me my 17 miles.  This is a very hilly course, and it also changes surfaces many times - pavement to gravel to pavement to gravel... I was around mile 5 when I felt something very painful in the back of my left ankle.  I continued anyway, and by the time I had finished my ankle hurt so bad I could barely run home. 
First thing Monday morning, I called Access Sports Medicine in Exeter and made an appointment with Dr. Josh Segill.  I heard that he was the best dr around, and I wanted to make sure I could be "fixed" so that I could run Boston in two weeks.  Long story short... I had a tear in my left achilles.  It was not ruptured, so I didn't need surgery, but it was looking bleak for me to run Boston.  I was still determined, and went to PT three times a week for those next two weeks... and finally towards the end of the second week accepted that I would not be able to run the marathon that year.  It was okay, I had qualified in October, so I was qualified for the next two Bostons.  There was still 2010.
I was out of the running scene for about 7 weeks.  It was at this time that I pulled my old road bike out, and started riding to and from work, and taking long rides in between...trying to keep myself sane.  I started riding about 100-150 miles a week.  I enjoyed riding, but it was nothing like the high that I got from running.  It did the trick though to keep me from going crazy through all of this. 
Once I could start running again, I jumped right back into the racing scene.  My first 5k back, I set a PR.  I continued running and racing through the year, and also continued riding.  When the fall came, I had set another PR in a 5k, running a 6:50 average pace. I had also gone to fitwerx in Peabody and bought myself a carbon fiber 2010 Felt Z4 with full ultegra components.  This just reflects my personality... and my mantra.. Go Big or Go Home.  Probably would've made sense to get into racing a bit first before spending over $3k on a bike... but that's not me. 
It was at this point, September of 2009, that I decided I was going to get into triathlons.  I joined an online forum and started reading posts by others - questions, advice, race reports - and got really  pumped up for my new adventure.  September was also a kind of bad month... I dealt with plantar faciitis, a stress fracture in the same foot I had torn my achilles in, etc. etc. 
Fast forward to December 21, 2009... the first day of my Boston marathon training.  I told myself that I was going to run this marathon, and then transition into triathlons.  I had taken swimming lessons when I was very young, and on maybe my second or third lesson got water up my nose and gave up.  Swimming just wasn't for me.  Since then, the only "swimming" I had done was jumping out of a boat to cool down in the water and climbing right back in.  I could keep myself afloat - I can tread water like there's no tomorrow - but had no idea how to swim. 
January 2010... I decided if I was going to get into triathlons, I should have a coach.  I had never had a coach before, made my own training schedules, played around with different things.. trial and error really.  This time I was going to do it right.  I found my coach through the forum that I had joined online.  He is out in Oregon, but would post my training schedule through a log on line, and I would have unlimited access to him via text, phone, email.  He is an amazing athlete - qualified for Kona in IMAZ in '09 with a time of 9:29 and change.  Amazing. 
We were going to focus my training on getting me through the Boston marathon in April, and then continue on to start my tri season in May, and work up to a half ironman in September, with some sprint and olympic distance races through the summer in between.  So I ran, and ran and ran, and rode my trainer through the winter, and started...gulp...trying to learn to swim.  I took a couple lessons at the pool, and made sure to get in there at least three times a week to practice.  I'll get back to swimming in a bit.
February 27 rolls around. I was running great.  I had done many long runs keeping a good pace, feeling great.  I had an 18 mile run on the books for this day, and had no problems to this point.  It was a nasty day. We had had a huge wind/ice storm that took out power for a few days.  It was snowing again, and was super slushy outside.  I started my run and was fine until somewhere around mile 9... when all of a sudden I felt a horrible pain and assumed that I had pulled my groin muscle.  I finished the run anyway (this is becoming a trend).  I let my coach know that this had happened, and we decided I'd take a few days off from running.  As the week went on, it didn't get better, in fact it only felt worse.  Finally a week later I went back to the sports medicine doc.  My regular dr was booked up for at least another week, so I got in with another one of the doctors.  He didn't really do his own investigating, just listened to me tell him what happened and where I hurt, and diagnosed me with a hip adductor strain.  Once again, into PT.  My first appointment with the therapist... and another diagnosis.  She noticed that the right side of my pelvis was tilted forward and felt that this was not a hip adductor strain at all, but something to do with my pelvis and nerves, etc.  After a few PT sessions and not getting any better, I started to get very frustrated.  I was less than a month from Boston and could barely walk, let alone run.  At this point I couldn't ride my bike either, it was too painful to sit on it.  I could swim (well, if you call what I do swimming) but had to use a pull buoy and couldn't use my legs at all. 
I ended up going to see Jeff Donatello, a chiropractor in York.  He took an xray and as we looked at it, he said my spine looked like the leaning tower of pisa.  Another diagnosis.  Jeff started adjusting me three times a week... at this point there was still (though dwindling) some hope of me running Boston.  As it got closer to April 19, the hope was dwindling more and more.  It now came down to... do I try to run Boston just to finish?  Um, nope.  If I know I'm not going to do well in a race, I would rather not run it.  Do I try to run Boston and risk injuring myself further and ruin my first triathlon season?  Um, again, nope. 
So I decided I wasn't going to run Boston.  My mental therapy: I signed up for Baystate again in October of this year, I figured I had to redeem myself somehow. 
My coach was awesome through my injury.  He really paid attention to me and how I was feeling.  He started me out running on the treadmill only so that I could control my pace and time, and if I started hurting, stop.  I started out running a mile at a 12:00 pace.  This was barely doable.  It was still very painful.  Through many adjusments and much direction from my coach, I was able to get down to a 10:00 mile, and off the treadmill onto the track.  Weeks later, I was back on the road.  I had my first triathlon coming up May 23, and it was just before that that I was finally able to run without pain again.  Before I get into that though, I need to jump back to swimming.  Ahhh... swimming.  That needs a post of its own.