Jen on the Swim Bike Run

Abandoning my 2011 Quadrathlon

I hate to admit defeat.  But the white flag has gone up and I surrender.  I cannot do it all.  I thought I could hold onto my one triathlon race of the season but yesterday I finally realized that as a new, first-time mom, I'm actually in quadrathlon training (the swim, bike, run, raise a baby) and my training is decidedly and appropriately lopsided.  So I'm out for this season.

Joining the local triathlon community and racing last year was a life-changing experience for me.  I've never trained with such focus and intensity for an athletic goal in my life and I learned that I could do it.  But looking back on it I realize that it really consumed me.  In a good way, but friends will remember all I talked about, dreamed about, worried about was my swim stroke.  I still worry about my swim stroke but the same drive that had me in the pool 4 days a week (as well as running and cycling 3-4 days a week) has been redirected to my infant son.  Try as I might (and God knows I still need to work on my swim) I just can't maintain that focus on both at this time.  Things will change in the fall when Timmy goes into childcare a few days a week.

Until then, I'm just going to swim, bike and run for the "fun of it".  Not that it wasn't fun before, I'm just removing the race pressure.  If I can find a road race that works with my schedule--great.  If not, no sweat.  The key will be to keep getting out there without the race goal motivation.

But don't be surprised if you see me volunteering at athlete check in at the 70.3 or working a water station on some local road race--I still want to cheer on all of the amazing folks racing this season.  You just may see me, with Timmy in the baby jogger or on my back--grinning ear to ear and anticipating the 2012 season.

Oops. I didn't read the fine print on my training plan.

Actually, the print wasn't even that fine--it was a normal font size.  Being so jazzed about the possibility of running a half-marathon I just missed it.  "Really, you're running 8 mile long runs in week two?", my friend John asked me.  "Yeah", I said, "I want to do a half in under 2 hours."  But the "fine print" would have told me that my training plan was for someone already logging over 20 miles per week.  I've never put in that much weekly mileage--never!  Ohhh... this training plan is for someone who regularly runs the half and wants to better their time--not the newbie like me.  Good thing I gave myself 12 weeks for this 10 week plan.

So far I scrapped the long run in week 1 and cut it in half in week 2.  Perhaps my subconscious really knew what was best for me.  As it is I'm running more miles than I ever have--about 18 per week.  I've cut way down on my other training--just one swim and one cycling work out per week--but I hope that will shift a bit when the weather gets better and I get my butt in gear with my swimming.  What will probably happen is that those other workouts will increase after the half marathon in May.  So I have to give myself more of a break and take it easy.  That I'm training for anything at all is a small miracle--training for two sports will put me on the express bus to crazy town.  After the half the next race on my calendar is my only other race of the season--the Finger Lakes Triathlon in September.  Anything else is gravy.

So I'll soldier on, modifying my long run a bit as I go.  Dutifully pounding out tempo runs and mile repeats on the treadmill as I look forward to warmer temps, dry pavement, and long slow runs with Timothy in the jogging stroller.

Here we go

First, I have to give it up to all the women who give birth and then manage to get back on their training program.  I didn't give birth but find myself needing to work on my "baby weight" nonetheless.  Lesson number one: sitting on the couch keeping another human alive will wreck your training.  It is time to get back in gear.  One of my best friends had a baby a few years ago in November and then ran the Boston Marathon the following April.  She inspires me--like so many of you moms who manage to make it work with children in the house. 

I've modified my race schedule drastically for this year.  If I can do two races I'll be happy.  I've let the other races go gladly--there will always be races but I've waited forever to become a Mom and I don't want to miss any of it.  So my plan is to a half marathon in early May and then an olympic distance tri in September.  Anything nore is gravy.

I'm thankful for a husband who altered his work schedule to allow me to fit in an evening swim workout with my Fleet Feet Triathlon team.  It will be up to me to get out the door at the crack to get my runs in.  The half marathon is 3 months away and training starts... NOW.  Here we go!

Granola Fiend

Can one really have too many granolas?  I don't think so.  I've blogged about my cereal habits over at Cookin' in the 'Cuse and yes, the quest for delicious mix-ins to add to my beloved Mu Mu Muesli continues.  Kelly, who blogs over at My Life as aTrimommy, is hosting a giveaway of Paleo Women Granola--it's gluten free and comes in cocao nut--of course I'm all over it!  Check out Kelly's blog for a chance to win.  And if I get my hands on some, stay tuned for a review.

Thinking over the 2011 Race Schedule

I actually began planning my 2011 race schedule just days after the Iron Girl Tri back in August.  I was still feeling the endorphins from my first triathlon so let's just say...that first list was long.  But now that I've signed up for my base-training program which begins in January, its time to nail this down.

These are what I'd call my "key races".   I plan to do some local 5ks and similar distances to keep me motivated through the early spring but I'm really excited about the idea of racing one tri a month--mostly sprints ending the season with an international distance race.  (Yeah I know there's Syracuse 70.3 but I'm not sure I'm ready to jump into that distance and the training time it requires.) 

While I feel like this schedule is nailed down, there will need to be some flexibility.  (This is where I think sitting down with a coach would pay dividends.)  For instance, running the Boilermaker 15k a week before a sprint tri may not be the way to go.  But I figure the taper for sprints is minimal and if my season starts with a 13.1 race my conditioning should be fine to recover from 9.3 miles in time for a sprint race--probably won't do the mini-race at Jamesville Beach that week.

So in mid January I'll begin the 10-week Fleet Feet Winter Conditioning Program that will have me doing tri-specific swim and bike (indoor) workouts each week.  I'll spend most of January working on my swim though.  I'll be working with Coach Kim on Total Immersion technique over the next 4 weeks and then swimming my little heart out for the month of January.  Half marathon training begins in February. 

As for the rest of December--I've got two goals: 

1.  Hold steady on comparatively easy training through the busy holiday season (which means, continue with 1 weekly indoor cycling workout, 1 swim session, 2 runs and 1 strength training session) and

2.  Stay healthy and rested so that I can kick it into gear come mid January. 

It's looking to be a great year!

2011 Race Schedule

Big Lake Half-Marathon (New Hampshire) May 7

Green Lakes Triathlon (this is a maybe, depends on date) June

Boilermaker 15k (Utica) July 10

Mini Mussel Sprint Triathlon (Geneva) July 16

Iron Girl Sprint Triathlon (Syracuse) August 7

Finger Lakes Triathlon International Distance (Canandaigua) September 11

 

Things I had to relearn this week

1.  A latte is not a hydration beverage.  Since when do I think that 2 cups of water make for being "well hydrated"?  I can totally see how it happend, though.  When I wake up at 5:30 in the morning to review my sermon and teaching notes for Sunday, then take a break to pull some espresso shots for my latte, sipping on water can easily be forgotten. Then once I'm out the door and racing for 11 hours before going for a 3.9 mile run, chugging from my Nalgene doesn't figure in.  Well, it used to when it was blazing hot outside.  So lesson number one, as an old hairdresser used to say:  "Drink Ya Water!!!"

2.    When swimming, it is necessary to continue exhaling air as your face comes out of the water to take a breath.  If only I had a switch that I could flip to change my breathing patterns:  water mode and land mode.  After not swimming for three months I've finally gotten back in the water--and promptly forgotten how to breathe.  It will come back I trust.  Soon, I hope, because I have a lot of improvement to make on my hip rotation and freestyle stroke.

3.     Finding time to swim, bike and run is not easy.  Actually, if I only wanted to one of each in a week, that's easy.  But I like getting a run in three days a week, and I should hit the pool twice if I hope to nail that all important breathing concept, and as I mentioned before, I love my bike.  Oh, and there's my yoga classes and boot camp for strength training.  And there is a little thing called rest.  But maybe since I'm not really training for anything, won't be until the new year, maybe one of each will suffice.

 

 

A love letter to my bike

Dear Bike,

You are the one--my ticket to ride, my youth serum, my speed rush.  I haven't even given you a name and yet I love you.  All it took was 25 miles on a beautiful day to remind me of how perfect we are together.

I remember nearly ten years ago I was cycling through Tuscany on a Women's Quest trip--with a different bike.  It was kind of a hybrid with straight bars (I was trasitioning from mountain biking to road cycling) and it was heavy.  As I rode the hills of Montalcino--grinding all the way-- cycling great Connie Carpenter said to me, "Girlfriend, you need to get yourself a real bike."  Three years ago I was upset when someone stole that bike out of my garage while I was recovering from a broken foot--but then I wouldn't have you.

My aim on Saturday was to take it slow--the Trekwoman Breast Cancer Awareness Ride was just that--a ride, not a race.  And though I tried to take it leisurely, craving the opportunity to chat with friends along the way, I couldn't help but put on some speed--not a lot, just a little.  It is your fault--you make me want to charge up hills.  A 16mph pace feels like standing still--you make me want to find a steady groove at 20mph.  And for a while it was just you and me and the wind--glorious!

As good as it felt, I know that isn't real speed.  I have so far to go in cycling.  It is time to ditch the toe clips.  This winter we are going to get closer than ever.  Once I get the trainer set up again and put the clipless pedals on you--it will be ON!  You and me. 

And I'll be honest and make my confession up front--I have been looking at others.  I know, I know, I've already professed my love, how can I be so fickle?  I think you'd love the Orbea Dama with the compact crankset as much as I do--you can be BFFs or sister wives.  But don't worry--I won't be bringing her home anytime soon, I just wanted to be up front about my fantasies.

So thank you.  Thank you for an incredibly fun year of cycling the roads of Central New York.  For the races and the rides that help me remember how great a two-wheeled ride can be.  And for showing me that all that talk about "being one with the bike" is totally real--I get it.  Other bikes will come and go but know that you'll always be "the ONE that did it for me."

Love always,

Jennifer

Craving bricks

I went to sleep last night craving kale and woke up this morning fiending for a brick--workout that is.  I'm not sure what my body is trying to tell me--eat more veggies?  Get in the pool?  Maintain your fitness?

So I got up before the crack and got myself to a spin class where the hour went by so fast that when the instructor asked if anyone wanted another hour my hand shot up--she was kidding.  I was not.  But I came prepared.  After the spin sesson I traded my bike shoes for my running shoes and got on the treadmill for a quick 20 minute run.  It felt so good!!!  The best part was challenging myself a bit by running 3/4 of a mile at 8:06 pace.  The rest of the run was a very comfortable 8:50 pace at a slight incline.

As good as this morning felt, I'm not ready to resign myself to indoor workouts quite yet.  I've got the Trekwomen Breast Cancer Awareness 25mile bike ride on Saturday and I'll try to hit some of the Fleet Feet Dawn and Dusk group runs.  And while an open water swim is off the table till next spring, I'm so inspired by Mary Egger's swim stroke that I'll be hitting the pool sooner than later.  Can't wait!

 

Arc 5K Race Report

Okay, so I've never done a race report before--though I read them all of the time.  And I'm not sure how much there is to say about a race that took not much longer than it will take me to think and write about it but here goes.

The Arc Race also has a half marathon distance and a shorter 3K for kids--so there is something for everyone.  This race raises money and awareness for people with developmental disabilities.  There were about 1,500 runners out there on Saturday. 

The other thing about this race was that it was held on September 11.  It was a beautiful, sunny, blue sky day--not too unlike that fateful day nine years ago.  I had many friends and parishioners die that day--and I was almost among them.  As a testimony and thanksgiving for living through it (I was just two blocks away from the towers) I try to do something that is utterly life-affirming.  Three years ago I was in no shape to be running anywhere.  That I'm even writing about trying to PR a 5K is a small miracle for me.  And if I had come in last I'd still be incredibly grateful.

While waiting for the race to start I was often asked if I was running the half marathon--or, why wasn't I running the half.  Great question with an easy answer--a little something called, "triathlon training" got in the way.  After the Boilermaker on July 11, I stopped training at longer distances to concentrate on the swim for the Iron Girl.  But having felt great about my Boilermaker results--1:35:10--with a 10:13/mile pace--I'm definitely planning on running a half next year.

However, today was all about running a race to see how my time was holding up with less intensive training.  I ran the Willow Bay 5K in 26:40 coming in 73 out of 298.  I was so excited by that time but it was a super fast out and back course.  And I thought that was the course I'd be running for Arc.  Not quite.

I woke up on Saturday having slept well the night before.  I got up at 5:30 ate my Mu Mu Muesli with strawberries and a cup of coffee--and lots of water.  I made it to the race site--Long Branch Park--with plenty of time to warm up a bit and use the porta-potties (which I couldn't believe I needed so quickly).  Note to race directors--1,500 runners plus guests and volunteers requires more than 5 porta-potties! 

While waiting in line I ran into several friends--including Courtenay--the instigator behind me signing up for Iron Girl in the first place. 

As I scanned the scene it quickly dawned on me that this was NOT the Willow Bay course.  We'd run part way down the Willow Bay course, but first we'd go over the one-lane bridge.  Not a problem--I can do hills.  But there went any chance to compare race times I thought.  Oh well, each every race is different right--even when the course is the same.

The half marathoners went off at 9:00 and then the 5K, ten minutes later.  As the gun went off, I kept waiting to hit the timing mat to begin, you know, timing my race.  But there was none.  We all started with the time on the clock at 9:10.  So there I was walk/jogging the first minute of the race because we were all packed in together and quickly realized, I wasn't going to beat my last 5K time.  I set my watch about a minute in and then tried to check pace from there.

At the mile 2 marker I had clocked an 8:30 mile--not too bad but I wasn't really happy with it.  There was a guy named Josh just ahead of me and I spent the second half of the race trying to hold on to him.  I even passed him at one point.  Then as this quick race was coming to an end, there was that bridge again--up hill.  As I said, I love hills, one of my favorite runs is my Tipp Hill run.  But at an all out sprint?  That was new to me.  Note to self:  practice sprints on the up hill from time to time!  At that point Josh passed me and it was all I could do to stay on him.  I don't know who he is but thanks for keeping me motivated!

After the hill--I mean, bridge--the last 50 yards or so were on gravel--not so good for my pace either.  But again, I can't complain.  I ran a 26:49 race and came in 169 out of 592 and in 9th place for women in my age group--woo hoo!  My average pace was 8:38 which means my 3rd mile split must have been really good to make up for my slow start.  That's nine seconds slower that my Willow Bay time--yeah, I'll take it.

Race Envy

Yeah, we'll put this in the category of things I thought I'd never experience:  race envy.  I'm sure this isn't new for other people but I never thought I go to a race only to find myself wondering why I wasn't joining in the fun.  That's how I felt about the Skinnyman Tri last Saturday in Skaneateles.

There are so few Saturday races and because of my work I really need to take advantage of them since I work all day Sunday.  So there I was, cheering on my friends, shivering with my cup in my hand, wishing I was keeping myself warm by running.  It was a tough day to race--not as bad as Cazenovia but it was no sunshiney day like we had at Iron Girl.  And still, I wish I'd be racing.

The part that really gets me is really at the heart of the matter--if I were a better swimmer, I would have been in that race.  Several teammates of mine who started with the Iron Girl have continued to race.  I wish I had as well.  So I've been in touch with my swim coach and I'm ready to hit the water and get this show back on the road.  I've been running lots and cycling weekly but I'm now at the point where I actually miss swimming (yet another thing I never thought I'd experience.)

So as soon as I talk with my coach and get my swim training laid out, I'll feel much better.  I want to work on my swim over the next four months so that as soon as the new year rolls around I can begin working on building strength and endurance instead of learning basic technique. 

I am SO ready!  Meanwhile, next up--the Arc 5K at Long Branch Park.  I set a PR at  Willow Bay last month of 26:33--hopefully I'll match that.