By: Rebecca Bailey
This is my 5th Season of participating in Triathlon.
Who would have thought (not me!!) that I could take up a sport that involves endurance and enjoy it for 5 Seasons and beyond??
What inspires me? What keeps me moving even through this season when I can't run as I'm trying to heal my nasty case of plantar facitis? I have been very challenged by my time and energy constraints this season....how do I keep going?
There are some though ts, things that inspire me this 5th Season of Triathlon:
1. New Triathletes.
-One of the major things that keeps me going is the ability to inspire others to do it. It is so fun to see my teammates take this on and be so excited when they get in shape, drop weight, discover their inner athlete, and most important, feel better about themselves.
-I created my Triathlon 101 class three years ago at the request of my employer who asked me to teach the class to other employees, and I've taken off with it, teaching it about 15 times. Every one of the class participants inspires me to keep going. They have no idea that as I'm standing up there teaching them and demonstrating how to do this, that they are all inspiring me to keep going too. They make me want to keep going so I can stand up there and inspire them. It is so wonderful when they find me at a triathlon, or event later and tell me about their races, so nice to see the excitement they experience.
-This year I am thrilled to have my coworkers at the ER joining me! Six women completed the 5 Mile Lake Triathlon with me. So far there are 10-12 others who have signed up to do a coed triathlon in Elma on August 2. The buzz and excitement around the ER about is great! Every day coworkers are talking about Triathlon, asking questions, contemplating it, trying to find relays, having a good time with this.
2. My Health & Family
I continue to keep diabetes away, and know with 100% certainty that Triathlon is the best way for me to keep it away. Mom died 3 years ago from that horrible illness at only 69, I just can't let myself go there. I have to stay healthy for myself and my family. I love knowing that even though I am an XL person, I am healthy and strong. If I could train more, I'd be healthier and stronger, but I am healthy and strong. I can complete any sprint length triathlon I take on. I have completed every race I have started.
Seasons
The wise words of the very wise Patty Anderson keep going through my head. I sent out a whiny email one day about being frustrated not being able to join my teammates enough, not being able to train with the group much. Patty emailed me to remind me there are Seasons in life. She is so right, this is so helpful.
This is the Season for me to coach my son, to spend time with him, teach him to throw the discus and the season for me to work hard.
There will be other Seasons for me to get to work less and train harder.
Thank you for that Patty, those words have been very helpful, nice to remember that my life is long and good. I will be doing triathlon for a long time, there will be many more Seasons, some Seasons will be perfect, some Seasons will have challenges, that is life.
Life is a cumulation of ma ny Seasons.
There will be many more Seasons.
Saturday, July 18, 2009
"Why I love being part of a team"
By Elizabeth McCarty
Well, nothing like waiting until the last minute to post a blog....but that's kind of how I've felt all season....rushing to get prepared. I was down on myself a lot over the year because of this. I thought I had decided not to be a triathlete. I wondered what I was doing wrong. Shouldn't I wake up EVERY morning ready to take on an 8 mile run, or cold dip in Lake Meridian???
The answer is a resounding NO! I realized that being hard on myself was taking the pure joy out of the sport for me. Once I decided I would do what sounds fun (like running a marathon or deciding to do Issaquah the week before the race), I enjoyed myself a lot more.
But what really made it all fun is being on a team. From strictly an accountability aspect.....you absolutely cannot cancel on someone who has gotten herself up at 4:30 in the morning to go swimming or running. I was just reminded of that on Tuesday, thank you very much Cathy (and we had a good time!). But what we do....what we've done this season.....that in large is because of our unit -- our team!!
On the morning I was supposed to do my 20 mile run for the Rock-n-Roll marathon, I was coming off a week of severe sickness. I think I probably had a total of 700 calories for 5 days. I ate some GU and hoped for the best. I was so thankful for 3 things that morning: cooler temps, good soft trail.....AND CATHY!!!!!! Honestly, if I didn't have Cathy I would have quit. It would have been difficult in heat or on hard pavement, but I absolutely needed Cathy that morning......and we actually pulled it off!!! I don't think I truly grasped the importance of a training partner until you get the pleasure of enjoying someone's company for 5+ hours. THANKS!!
The stories I have heard....the blogs I've read....they all say the same thing over and over. And that message is LOUD AND CLEAR: We are a team. And our team rocks.
Congratulations everyone on each of your milestones. We still have a couple more months left in the season. Embrace your status of being a triathlete. You do things that most people dare dream possible.
Well, nothing like waiting until the last minute to post a blog....but that's kind of how I've felt all season....rushing to get prepared. I was down on myself a lot over the year because of this. I thought I had decided not to be a triathlete. I wondered what I was doing wrong. Shouldn't I wake up EVERY morning ready to take on an 8 mile run, or cold dip in Lake Meridian???
The answer is a resounding NO! I realized that being hard on myself was taking the pure joy out of the sport for me. Once I decided I would do what sounds fun (like running a marathon or deciding to do Issaquah the week before the race), I enjoyed myself a lot more.
But what really made it all fun is being on a team. From strictly an accountability aspect.....you absolutely cannot cancel on someone who has gotten herself up at 4:30 in the morning to go swimming or running. I was just reminded of that on Tuesday, thank you very much Cathy (and we had a good time!). But what we do....what we've done this season.....that in large is because of our unit -- our team!!
On the morning I was supposed to do my 20 mile run for the Rock-n-Roll marathon, I was coming off a week of severe sickness. I think I probably had a total of 700 calories for 5 days. I ate some GU and hoped for the best. I was so thankful for 3 things that morning: cooler temps, good soft trail.....AND CATHY!!!!!! Honestly, if I didn't have Cathy I would have quit. It would have been difficult in heat or on hard pavement, but I absolutely needed Cathy that morning......and we actually pulled it off!!! I don't think I truly grasped the importance of a training partner until you get the pleasure of enjoying someone's company for 5+ hours. THANKS!!
The stories I have heard....the blogs I've read....they all say the same thing over and over. And that message is LOUD AND CLEAR: We are a team. And our team rocks.
Congratulations everyone on each of your milestones. We still have a couple more months left in the season. Embrace your status of being a triathlete. You do things that most people dare dream possible.
“To give anything less than your best is to sacrifice the gift.”
By: Rachel
Well, here I go, writing a blog and opening myself up to the whole world. This is unusual for me as I tend to keep my feelings close to myself. Yes, as most of you know I am quite the Facebooker but you if have noticed a lot of it is surface level thoughts or feelings. If you know me well enough then I’m sure you can read in to some of the status updates I have.
To give you some background about myself, I used to live in Spokane, WA. It was there that I saw my very first Ironman – 2004 CDA Ironman. I will never forget seeing the athletes come across the finish line and I was so moved (I’m a mush) by what I was seeing I stayed till about midnight and watched the last finishers come across the line. Watching this was the most motivating, inspiring thing I had ever seen. See, I didn’t participate in sports during K-12 (ask me another time) and figured I had lost my opportunity to be involved in something I loved, sports.
That night, watching the Ironman, I realized those were adults coming across the finish line and upon further research (google) I learned that they were all adults. Hmmm, I thought. I can do this, I can be an Ironman someday. I mentioned this to a couple of people later and was greeted with laughter and “yeah right” phrases.
Discouraged, I put my dream of being an athlete aside and focused on my Master in Business Program. In 2007, after finishing my MBA I moved from Spokane to Seattle and it was here that things would start to change for the better.
I started to train for a sprint triathlon, Seafair, that summer. Then, three months before the race I found out I had compartment syndrome in my legs and needed to have surgery or give up running. Well, running is part of a triathlon so I very well couldn’t be an Ironman if I wasn’t able to run! So, I had the surgery done and six weeks before Seafair. After the surgery I had to be in bed for two weeks and of course could not train, so I read books on triathlons and watched Ironman videos until I was able to walk again.
I didn’t train for Seafair, and in fact, didn’t even swim in open water until one week before the race. My doctor said I shouldn’t do the triathlon and well, I didn’t listen. I wanted the title of triathlete so bad, I didn’t care that I had just had major surgery.
Seafair came and it took me 3.5 hours to complete a sprint triathlon. You are thinking, what?? Yes, 3.5 hours. During the swim I used mostly my arms and not my legs. During the bike I would pedal and then coast as far as I could and the run, well I think I crawled. I crossed the finish line around 10:30 am – just in time to cross the line with the kids. Fun. But I didn’t care, I had become a triathlete. I accomplished something many people though was impossible.
I went on to do 8 other triathlons that season and several last season. But the Ironman still haunts me. For some reason I think crossing the finish line and being called an Ironman will magically make it where someone will want to date me or I’ll finally feel proud of myself.
I don’t know what my future brings, but I do know there is an Ironman in 2011. This year I decided to focus on my weight and swimming. I need to lose 50 pounds by the end of the year and swim 2.4 miles by the end of the year. I promised Patty I would do this and I’m not going to disappoint her. She has worked to hard with me.
So, as many of you know I swam the 1.2 mile swim race on Friday. And it took me 1:53 to finish the swim. I have the endurance like no other, I can go on forever and ever. But what I don’t have is speed. See in the lake I tend to panic. I panic so much that I swim the majority of the swim with my head up so I can’t see what is in the water. This takes up a ton of energy, more energy than a 3 mile race if I kept my head down. I wanted to quit many times during the swim race but I wasn’t giving up. I kept waiting for Bill to tell me there was no more time to swim and I had to get in the boat and the race was over for me. I probably would have told him no and kept swimming till I finished. This was my 1.2 mile fear fest and I was going to finish the race. And I did. And on August 19th I will finish the 2.5 mile swim I promised Patty.
Two people told me today that I was a superwoman. I’m not a superwoman. I have fears just like all of you. I push myself hard because I hope one day someone will love me. I don’t want to look the way I do and I want to be healthy. I volunteer with kids (students) so I can somehow help them that they don’t end up the way I did.
I think Pre said it all when he said, “To give anything less than your best is to sacrifice the gift.”
We all have gifts, every one of us. I think I went through so much in my life so I could help others and being involved in triathlons has helped me see this. Triathlons changed my life and I hope it does the same for your life as well.
Well, here I go, writing a blog and opening myself up to the whole world. This is unusual for me as I tend to keep my feelings close to myself. Yes, as most of you know I am quite the Facebooker but you if have noticed a lot of it is surface level thoughts or feelings. If you know me well enough then I’m sure you can read in to some of the status updates I have.
To give you some background about myself, I used to live in Spokane, WA. It was there that I saw my very first Ironman – 2004 CDA Ironman. I will never forget seeing the athletes come across the finish line and I was so moved (I’m a mush) by what I was seeing I stayed till about midnight and watched the last finishers come across the line. Watching this was the most motivating, inspiring thing I had ever seen. See, I didn’t participate in sports during K-12 (ask me another time) and figured I had lost my opportunity to be involved in something I loved, sports.
That night, watching the Ironman, I realized those were adults coming across the finish line and upon further research (google) I learned that they were all adults. Hmmm, I thought. I can do this, I can be an Ironman someday. I mentioned this to a couple of people later and was greeted with laughter and “yeah right” phrases.
Discouraged, I put my dream of being an athlete aside and focused on my Master in Business Program. In 2007, after finishing my MBA I moved from Spokane to Seattle and it was here that things would start to change for the better.
I started to train for a sprint triathlon, Seafair, that summer. Then, three months before the race I found out I had compartment syndrome in my legs and needed to have surgery or give up running. Well, running is part of a triathlon so I very well couldn’t be an Ironman if I wasn’t able to run! So, I had the surgery done and six weeks before Seafair. After the surgery I had to be in bed for two weeks and of course could not train, so I read books on triathlons and watched Ironman videos until I was able to walk again.
I didn’t train for Seafair, and in fact, didn’t even swim in open water until one week before the race. My doctor said I shouldn’t do the triathlon and well, I didn’t listen. I wanted the title of triathlete so bad, I didn’t care that I had just had major surgery.
Seafair came and it took me 3.5 hours to complete a sprint triathlon. You are thinking, what?? Yes, 3.5 hours. During the swim I used mostly my arms and not my legs. During the bike I would pedal and then coast as far as I could and the run, well I think I crawled. I crossed the finish line around 10:30 am – just in time to cross the line with the kids. Fun. But I didn’t care, I had become a triathlete. I accomplished something many people though was impossible.
I went on to do 8 other triathlons that season and several last season. But the Ironman still haunts me. For some reason I think crossing the finish line and being called an Ironman will magically make it where someone will want to date me or I’ll finally feel proud of myself.
I don’t know what my future brings, but I do know there is an Ironman in 2011. This year I decided to focus on my weight and swimming. I need to lose 50 pounds by the end of the year and swim 2.4 miles by the end of the year. I promised Patty I would do this and I’m not going to disappoint her. She has worked to hard with me.
So, as many of you know I swam the 1.2 mile swim race on Friday. And it took me 1:53 to finish the swim. I have the endurance like no other, I can go on forever and ever. But what I don’t have is speed. See in the lake I tend to panic. I panic so much that I swim the majority of the swim with my head up so I can’t see what is in the water. This takes up a ton of energy, more energy than a 3 mile race if I kept my head down. I wanted to quit many times during the swim race but I wasn’t giving up. I kept waiting for Bill to tell me there was no more time to swim and I had to get in the boat and the race was over for me. I probably would have told him no and kept swimming till I finished. This was my 1.2 mile fear fest and I was going to finish the race. And I did. And on August 19th I will finish the 2.5 mile swim I promised Patty.
Two people told me today that I was a superwoman. I’m not a superwoman. I have fears just like all of you. I push myself hard because I hope one day someone will love me. I don’t want to look the way I do and I want to be healthy. I volunteer with kids (students) so I can somehow help them that they don’t end up the way I did.
I think Pre said it all when he said, “To give anything less than your best is to sacrifice the gift.”
We all have gifts, every one of us. I think I went through so much in my life so I could help others and being involved in triathlons has helped me see this. Triathlons changed my life and I hope it does the same for your life as well.
"What would Kathy Morrisson do"?
By: Kathy Gendreau
I’m sitting here at the computer, my hair still wet from swimming. It’s not even 8 AM and I’ve already been up for almost 3 hours. It’s summer break, and the kids are still in bed. I’m looking forward to a run tonight, and Lake Meridian training tomorrow. Seafair is on Sunday. It will be my second triathlon, and my fourth race, counting the two 5Ks I did early in the season. Sammamish is on my calendar for August.
It’s hard to imagine my life being any different than it is now. I swim, I bike, and I run. Sometimes, my crazy hectic life gets in the way. Sometimes, it’s hard to get up for swim. Sometimes, I don’t want to finish the last mile. Sometimes, riding on the road scares me. But somehow training has woven its way into the fabric of my life. It feels like it has always been there, and I don’t want it to ever leave.
It’s hard to even comprehend how I got from where I was to where I am. It seems like such a long time ago, and when I was there, I certainly couldn’t see to here.
It has been a long journey, and I’ve learned a great many lessons along the way. I have a lot of people to thank for helping to get me here, especially my RTH teammates and coaches. That’s the first, and probably the most important thing I learned when I joined RTH: Don’t go it alone. In the past, exercise was always a solitary activity for me. It was something to endure and get over with. When I joined RTB/RTH, I had no idea how much of a difference it would make to be part of a team. The support, encouragement, and camaraderie I have found with this incredible group has had a tremendous impact on my life. I look forward to every team workout, and fitness has become a social event instead of just another obligation. I am surrounded by people who have similar goals – and similar struggles, and I am inspired by every one of them.
When I accepted Kathy Morrisson’s invitation to come to the RTH kick-off meeting in January, it was the third year in a row she had asked me about it. The first year, I was so out of shape that the idea seemed absurd. The second year, I had just signed up for a boot camp at a local gym. Triathlon training was for athletes, and boot camp was for people like me. I turned her down. I did boot camp for most of a year, and though I did get results, I really, truly hated every single minute of it.
The third time was the charm, and when she asked me in January I told her I would at least come to the first meeting. I immediately had second thoughts. Who was I kidding? After a year of boot camp I could still barely run a mile, my weight was heading back up toward the 200 lb mark, and I had no idea how I would fit training into my schedule when I had barely made it to 3 one-hour boot camp sessions a week. Train for a triathlon? From where I stood, it just plain sounded nuts. But I went to the meeting, and I decided after hearing all the wonderful stories from everyone there, that it would be even more nuts not to give it a go.
What I know now is that I didn’t need to be “ready” to start, I just needed to start. It was never my weight or my level of fitness that was the problem. It was fear. Fear of the unknown. Fear of failure. I’ve conquered so many fears since joining RTH that it sometimes makes me laugh. Now, when I am faced with a challenge, I don’t hesitate, because hesitation holds me back, and I want to keep moving forward. If I can’t do it now, I will be able to do it eventually, but if I don’t start, I’ll just sit where I am, and these days, I don’t spend too much time sitting still!
Another crucial lesson I learned early on was this: Behave like the athlete you want to become. When I first started training, I really struggled with motivation, especially when it came to running. I felt terrible doing it, and most days I just didn’t feel like going. With a kindergartener in half-day school, I had very little free time, and there were lots of things competing for that time, so it was easy to find reasons not to go. I was still getting used to the early morning swim schedule, and I was feeling very tired from the early mornings. Some days, after putting the kids on the bus, I just wanted to go back to bed.
One particular day, I found myself sitting on the sofa watching TV at 9:30 in the morning. It was raining, or maybe it was snowing, and I was unsuccessfully trying to convince myself to get my butt off the couch and do the run that was on my training plan when it occurred to me, Kathy Morrisson would not be sitting on the couch watching TV at 9:30 in the morning! She would go for a run! So, I got up and put my shoes on and went.
For the next several days, when I needed a little motivation, I would think to myself, “What would Kathy Morrisson do?” Would she let a little rain stop her? No! Would she run in the snow? Yes, she would! Would she stay up late to watch TV? No! It worked so well that I joked that I was going to print up little bracelets and T-shirts with WWKMD? on them for the rest of the RTH team. It made me laugh, but it also made me get up and go, which is what I really needed.
The point is, Kathy is a successful athlete, and if I wanted to be a successful athlete myself, I needed to act like one. Find an athlete that you admire (and there is no shortage of them on RTB or RTH!) and when facing an obstacle, ask yourself, what would that person do in this situation? T-shirts and bracelets optional.
Though I still look to Kathy for advice and encouragement, I’ve come a long way since then. I remember meeting with our RTH groups for the first time. I sat there listening to everyone talk about the races they wanted to sign up for: Escape from the Rock. Seafair Issaquah. Start with a 5K. Set some goals. Sure. Except that I can’t run around the block. Oh, and did I mention that I don’t own a decent bike? OK, maybe I can swim 25 yards, but ¼ mile? In a lake? Wearing a wetsuit?
It was someone else sitting at the table. It was someone else doing the workouts. I was just along for the ride. But here I am, just 6 months after my first swim class, 4 months after starting my run to walk training plan, 3 months after buying my new bike, and 2 months after getting my wetsuit. I am a triathlete, and I am no longer just along for the ride.
I’m sitting here at the computer, my hair still wet from swimming. It’s not even 8 AM and I’ve already been up for almost 3 hours. It’s summer break, and the kids are still in bed. I’m looking forward to a run tonight, and Lake Meridian training tomorrow. Seafair is on Sunday. It will be my second triathlon, and my fourth race, counting the two 5Ks I did early in the season. Sammamish is on my calendar for August.
It’s hard to imagine my life being any different than it is now. I swim, I bike, and I run. Sometimes, my crazy hectic life gets in the way. Sometimes, it’s hard to get up for swim. Sometimes, I don’t want to finish the last mile. Sometimes, riding on the road scares me. But somehow training has woven its way into the fabric of my life. It feels like it has always been there, and I don’t want it to ever leave.
It’s hard to even comprehend how I got from where I was to where I am. It seems like such a long time ago, and when I was there, I certainly couldn’t see to here.
It has been a long journey, and I’ve learned a great many lessons along the way. I have a lot of people to thank for helping to get me here, especially my RTH teammates and coaches. That’s the first, and probably the most important thing I learned when I joined RTH: Don’t go it alone. In the past, exercise was always a solitary activity for me. It was something to endure and get over with. When I joined RTB/RTH, I had no idea how much of a difference it would make to be part of a team. The support, encouragement, and camaraderie I have found with this incredible group has had a tremendous impact on my life. I look forward to every team workout, and fitness has become a social event instead of just another obligation. I am surrounded by people who have similar goals – and similar struggles, and I am inspired by every one of them.
When I accepted Kathy Morrisson’s invitation to come to the RTH kick-off meeting in January, it was the third year in a row she had asked me about it. The first year, I was so out of shape that the idea seemed absurd. The second year, I had just signed up for a boot camp at a local gym. Triathlon training was for athletes, and boot camp was for people like me. I turned her down. I did boot camp for most of a year, and though I did get results, I really, truly hated every single minute of it.
The third time was the charm, and when she asked me in January I told her I would at least come to the first meeting. I immediately had second thoughts. Who was I kidding? After a year of boot camp I could still barely run a mile, my weight was heading back up toward the 200 lb mark, and I had no idea how I would fit training into my schedule when I had barely made it to 3 one-hour boot camp sessions a week. Train for a triathlon? From where I stood, it just plain sounded nuts. But I went to the meeting, and I decided after hearing all the wonderful stories from everyone there, that it would be even more nuts not to give it a go.
What I know now is that I didn’t need to be “ready” to start, I just needed to start. It was never my weight or my level of fitness that was the problem. It was fear. Fear of the unknown. Fear of failure. I’ve conquered so many fears since joining RTH that it sometimes makes me laugh. Now, when I am faced with a challenge, I don’t hesitate, because hesitation holds me back, and I want to keep moving forward. If I can’t do it now, I will be able to do it eventually, but if I don’t start, I’ll just sit where I am, and these days, I don’t spend too much time sitting still!
Another crucial lesson I learned early on was this: Behave like the athlete you want to become. When I first started training, I really struggled with motivation, especially when it came to running. I felt terrible doing it, and most days I just didn’t feel like going. With a kindergartener in half-day school, I had very little free time, and there were lots of things competing for that time, so it was easy to find reasons not to go. I was still getting used to the early morning swim schedule, and I was feeling very tired from the early mornings. Some days, after putting the kids on the bus, I just wanted to go back to bed.
One particular day, I found myself sitting on the sofa watching TV at 9:30 in the morning. It was raining, or maybe it was snowing, and I was unsuccessfully trying to convince myself to get my butt off the couch and do the run that was on my training plan when it occurred to me, Kathy Morrisson would not be sitting on the couch watching TV at 9:30 in the morning! She would go for a run! So, I got up and put my shoes on and went.
For the next several days, when I needed a little motivation, I would think to myself, “What would Kathy Morrisson do?” Would she let a little rain stop her? No! Would she run in the snow? Yes, she would! Would she stay up late to watch TV? No! It worked so well that I joked that I was going to print up little bracelets and T-shirts with WWKMD? on them for the rest of the RTH team. It made me laugh, but it also made me get up and go, which is what I really needed.
The point is, Kathy is a successful athlete, and if I wanted to be a successful athlete myself, I needed to act like one. Find an athlete that you admire (and there is no shortage of them on RTB or RTH!) and when facing an obstacle, ask yourself, what would that person do in this situation? T-shirts and bracelets optional.
Though I still look to Kathy for advice and encouragement, I’ve come a long way since then. I remember meeting with our RTH groups for the first time. I sat there listening to everyone talk about the races they wanted to sign up for: Escape from the Rock. Seafair Issaquah. Start with a 5K. Set some goals. Sure. Except that I can’t run around the block. Oh, and did I mention that I don’t own a decent bike? OK, maybe I can swim 25 yards, but ¼ mile? In a lake? Wearing a wetsuit?
It was someone else sitting at the table. It was someone else doing the workouts. I was just along for the ride. But here I am, just 6 months after my first swim class, 4 months after starting my run to walk training plan, 3 months after buying my new bike, and 2 months after getting my wetsuit. I am a triathlete, and I am no longer just along for the ride.
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Choosing my "B" race
By Jessi Richardson:
The coaches challenge for the 26.2 Divas (for the record, I did not choose that team name) was to follow our marathon training plan. I know, seems obvious, but the challenge was to follow it exactly for two weeks to earn our points. Lots of mileage in those plans, so it was actually a pretty tough assignment! As it turned out, many of us ran into challenges along the way (work schedules, family illness, injury etc.) Although Karen was happy with what we did accomplish, we asked for another coaches challenge post-marathon…just to feel like we were honoring the spirit of the challenge. The new challenge was to pick our “B Race,” (the marathon being the “A Race”) and get moving on our training plan…and that is the subject of this blog…
My B Race hasn’t happened yet, and in fact it won’t. Well the race won’t happen anyway, but I do have a “Plan B.” It doesn’t really have a name yet, but it involves rest, recovery, relationships, family and fun. I guess that would be the R.R.R.F.F plan. Sounds like “ruff,” which is interesting because this plan all started with my dog.
My six year-old dog Kane is sick with terminal cancer. He has been symptomatic since sometime before the marathon, but the diagnosis wasn’t confirmed until last week. If you’re a pet owner, you understand…devastating news, especially for a dog that is so young. This also happens to be the dog I brought back from Hurricane Katrina. We’ve had quite a journey together in our four short years as a family, so this is certainly a tough one for me.
This blog really isn’t about the dog; it’s about my “B Race” and my decision ultimately not to do another “big race” until sometime next year. Training has been an incredible part of my life, but as Angela always points out, sometimes things can get a little out of balance. I think marathon training has a tendency to do that to you, especially due to the amount of training time required for this type of event.
So, my “B Race” is actually about not racing at all and I have Kane to thank for that. Hearing the diagnosis last week I sadly realized that we didn’t have a lot of time left together, so Mike and I packed up and took a spur of the moment weekend trip to Ocean Shores with the dog. We had a fabulous weekend, lots of outdoor activities and quality time together! It’s been a long time since we’ve done something like this and I realized how much I miss this part of life.
My “B Race” is really about getting things back in balance. I’m going to focus on staying active; in fact I still manage to work out on a regular basis and plan to get back to the gym to resume Karen’s torture training. I’m also going to focus a bit more on healthy eating and try to peel off that last 10 pounds. And I’m going to do things with my wonderful boyfriend Mike, my dogs, my family and my friends. In fact, Mike and I are taking off on a two week road trip in August. I have never in my adult life taken a two-week vacation, so this is quite exciting. And no, the laptop is not going with me! Along the way there will probably be a smaller race or two in the summer schedule, but I’m going to keep it real (no pressure), choose wisely, and focus on racing for fun with all of my RTB/RTH friends!
We’re out here training for a lot of reasons and developing healthy habits is one of them. When I got the bad news last week about my pup, I went to the gym instead of porking down a gallon of ice cream. And even though I’m not following a training plan right now, I’m still getting in a lot of workouts without even thinking about it. I can personally confirm that all of the hard work over the past 4 years has paid off and I can say with confidence that I am now living a healthy lifestyle and very proud to continue doing so with friends, family and the four-leggeds at my side!
So, there you have it ladies, my “B Race.”
The coaches challenge for the 26.2 Divas (for the record, I did not choose that team name) was to follow our marathon training plan. I know, seems obvious, but the challenge was to follow it exactly for two weeks to earn our points. Lots of mileage in those plans, so it was actually a pretty tough assignment! As it turned out, many of us ran into challenges along the way (work schedules, family illness, injury etc.) Although Karen was happy with what we did accomplish, we asked for another coaches challenge post-marathon…just to feel like we were honoring the spirit of the challenge. The new challenge was to pick our “B Race,” (the marathon being the “A Race”) and get moving on our training plan…and that is the subject of this blog…
My B Race hasn’t happened yet, and in fact it won’t. Well the race won’t happen anyway, but I do have a “Plan B.” It doesn’t really have a name yet, but it involves rest, recovery, relationships, family and fun. I guess that would be the R.R.R.F.F plan. Sounds like “ruff,” which is interesting because this plan all started with my dog.
My six year-old dog Kane is sick with terminal cancer. He has been symptomatic since sometime before the marathon, but the diagnosis wasn’t confirmed until last week. If you’re a pet owner, you understand…devastating news, especially for a dog that is so young. This also happens to be the dog I brought back from Hurricane Katrina. We’ve had quite a journey together in our four short years as a family, so this is certainly a tough one for me.
This blog really isn’t about the dog; it’s about my “B Race” and my decision ultimately not to do another “big race” until sometime next year. Training has been an incredible part of my life, but as Angela always points out, sometimes things can get a little out of balance. I think marathon training has a tendency to do that to you, especially due to the amount of training time required for this type of event.
So, my “B Race” is actually about not racing at all and I have Kane to thank for that. Hearing the diagnosis last week I sadly realized that we didn’t have a lot of time left together, so Mike and I packed up and took a spur of the moment weekend trip to Ocean Shores with the dog. We had a fabulous weekend, lots of outdoor activities and quality time together! It’s been a long time since we’ve done something like this and I realized how much I miss this part of life.
My “B Race” is really about getting things back in balance. I’m going to focus on staying active; in fact I still manage to work out on a regular basis and plan to get back to the gym to resume Karen’s torture training. I’m also going to focus a bit more on healthy eating and try to peel off that last 10 pounds. And I’m going to do things with my wonderful boyfriend Mike, my dogs, my family and my friends. In fact, Mike and I are taking off on a two week road trip in August. I have never in my adult life taken a two-week vacation, so this is quite exciting. And no, the laptop is not going with me! Along the way there will probably be a smaller race or two in the summer schedule, but I’m going to keep it real (no pressure), choose wisely, and focus on racing for fun with all of my RTB/RTH friends!
We’re out here training for a lot of reasons and developing healthy habits is one of them. When I got the bad news last week about my pup, I went to the gym instead of porking down a gallon of ice cream. And even though I’m not following a training plan right now, I’m still getting in a lot of workouts without even thinking about it. I can personally confirm that all of the hard work over the past 4 years has paid off and I can say with confidence that I am now living a healthy lifestyle and very proud to continue doing so with friends, family and the four-leggeds at my side!
So, there you have it ladies, my “B Race.”
Tri'ing to gain confidence
By Jackie Botsford:
In order to know how far I’ve come in my triathlon training, I feel I must share where I began. Prior to joining Raise the Bar and Raise the Hope, I can’t tell you the last time I was in the water. I was too ashamed and embarrassed of my body to get into a swimsuit, so I was resigned to sitting on the sidelines watching everyone else having fun. I refused to wear shorts because I didn’t want anyone to see my fat legs, and I would wear long sleeve shirts, even in the summer, because I wanted to hide my big arms. I’ve never exercised regularly and spent all of my adult life yo-yo dieting. I knew it was time to make a change and I called upon my good friends, Tina and Teresa, to help me out. They both had been doing triathlons for the past two years and not only looked great, but had amazing stories to tell about their experiences with Raise the Bar and Raise the Hope. I was inspired both by them and what they had accomplished, and looked forward to joining the team.
I wasn’t a swimmer, cyclist, or runner, and knew training wasn’t going to be easy, but I was prepared, or so I thought. I found myself getting discouraged because I had been swimming for months but not getting any faster. Coach Patty told me, on two separate occasions, that I needed to “pump some iron” and build some upper body strength. Did I listen? No. It wasn’t until she said it a third time that I called upon Karen Nolting to provide me a workout to give me the “swim muscles” Patty said I needed. A strange thing happened a couple of months later; I started swimming faster…imagine that?!? These coaches really do know what they’re talking about! Coach Kathy provided Team WeWillRockYa with a 5K program and then a triathlon training program. I plugged away at both, still unsure of what my first triathlon would be. I signed up for Danskin, but really wanted to get at least one in before that. A lot of people were doing the 5-mile lake tri, but that seemed way too soon. Tina told me I was ready and convinced me to sign up. The following weekend, I went to the 5-mile lake co-ed tri to watch my first triathlon and cheer on all the fabulous RTB and RTH ladies and gents. I watched my friends pedal and run past, looking so strong. It was a sight to behold and left me excited for my first race the following weekend.
The morning of the women’s 5-mile lake tri arrived, and I was ready. My nerves were getting the better of me, but my only goal going into it was to finish, and finish knowing that I did my best. Whatever would happen outside of that, I tried not to concern myself with. I showed up to the park and get to transition area; my nerves started to kick into high gear. Thank goodness Angela was there to help me out with racking my bike and guiding me through transition set up. I heard my name, looked up and saw Tina and Teresa standing there. I began to relax a little bit and heard my name again. I looked over and saw my mom. Seeing her, I got a bit teary-eyed and really excited. She wasn’t sure if she was going to make it to the race, and I am so grateful that she was there. I was going to race with my friends, for many of us this was our first race, I was surrounded by friends and family who I love, adore, and admire. At this point, I knew this was going to be a great day.
The race started and I began to swim. Someone swam over my back, I got a foot in the face, but I just kept repeating in my head, “stroke, stroke, breathe” which helped me concentrate on my pull and prevented me from panicking when I was pushed down in the water by the gal who swam over my back. As I got close the water’s edge, I thought back to Kathy Morrison’s words “swim until your fingers touch the bottom”. Done – now get out of the water and go! Thank goodness my body responded much faster than my brain. I kept moving and trying to think of what to do next. Again, thanks to Angela for being there, in her firm, authoritative voice telling me to “keep moving, keep moving, go, go, get your shoes on, keep moving”. She talked me out of the transition area and I was now on my bike. I looked up and saw Katy ahead of me, and for any of you who haven’t seen her ride – let me tell you, she is fierce on the bike and a force to be reckoned with. She is fast and was quickly out of my sight. I continue to pedal, and am still feeling pretty good. I get to the hill and am slowly climbing it. I hear “Go Jackie” behind me and what did I do? I turned my head back to see who it was – dumb move because when I turned back around I found myself heading toward the dirt shoulder and what looked like blackberry bushes. Panic, swerve, swerve, recover. Note to self: NEVER do that again. I get to the top of the hill and Diana blazes past me. She is another fast one and disappeared just as quickly as I saw her. The bike ride came to an end and as I get off my bike I almost fall. The cleats on my shoes are slick and my foot slid right out from under me. I managed to right myself and get to transition. Oh, and did I mention before that it was great having Angela there? I got to transition and I was all out of sorts. I couldn’t think of what to do next and there was Angela, my angel, forcefully telling me, “Get you bike shoes off, quick put on your shoes, lace up your shoes…you need those speed laces Patty was talking about…keep moving, keep moving…”. Seriously, I really do need to say thank you to Angela. I couldn’t concentrate when I hit transition both times and having her there helped tremendously. My body responded to what she was saying while my mind was somewhere else. So, Angela, if you are reading this – Thank You! The run started out slow, I had a difficult time getting my breathing under control. I walked for a few seconds and my calves felt like they were cramping, so I started to run again. Now I felt like I was wheezing, so I had to walk for a little bit more, trying to ignore the cramping in my legs. I was able to control my breathing and started to run again. I was feeling good, but started to get really tired. I forgot to eat my gel earlier so I gagged it down, hoping I would see the water station soon. I eventually got to it and I don’t think water ever tasted so good. I did have to do one more quick walk after the water station, but was able to run in the rest of the way to the finish line. I actually did it - I finished my first triathlon.
And as for those big arms that I talked about earlier? Well, the pulled me through a .25 mile swim in 8:23. And those fat legs? They pushed me 14 miles on a bike in 54:58, and then carried me 3.1 miles in 37:50. My finish time – 1:44:51. So, back to the beginning of my story and how I got to this point - I am no longer ashamed or embarrassed of my body; it has allowed me to do some pretty amazing things. I am still a little self-conscious, as you will see me tugging down my tri shorts and yanking down my tri top as it rolls up and over my wide hips, but I am a work in progress. Joining the team has changed my life, and my outlook on life. This wouldn’t have been possible if not for all the fantastic coaches and ladies I am surrounded by. Each and everyone one of them has inspired me in their own special way, and I will be forever grateful for their support and words of encouragement. Now, on to the next race…
In order to know how far I’ve come in my triathlon training, I feel I must share where I began. Prior to joining Raise the Bar and Raise the Hope, I can’t tell you the last time I was in the water. I was too ashamed and embarrassed of my body to get into a swimsuit, so I was resigned to sitting on the sidelines watching everyone else having fun. I refused to wear shorts because I didn’t want anyone to see my fat legs, and I would wear long sleeve shirts, even in the summer, because I wanted to hide my big arms. I’ve never exercised regularly and spent all of my adult life yo-yo dieting. I knew it was time to make a change and I called upon my good friends, Tina and Teresa, to help me out. They both had been doing triathlons for the past two years and not only looked great, but had amazing stories to tell about their experiences with Raise the Bar and Raise the Hope. I was inspired both by them and what they had accomplished, and looked forward to joining the team.
I wasn’t a swimmer, cyclist, or runner, and knew training wasn’t going to be easy, but I was prepared, or so I thought. I found myself getting discouraged because I had been swimming for months but not getting any faster. Coach Patty told me, on two separate occasions, that I needed to “pump some iron” and build some upper body strength. Did I listen? No. It wasn’t until she said it a third time that I called upon Karen Nolting to provide me a workout to give me the “swim muscles” Patty said I needed. A strange thing happened a couple of months later; I started swimming faster…imagine that?!? These coaches really do know what they’re talking about! Coach Kathy provided Team WeWillRockYa with a 5K program and then a triathlon training program. I plugged away at both, still unsure of what my first triathlon would be. I signed up for Danskin, but really wanted to get at least one in before that. A lot of people were doing the 5-mile lake tri, but that seemed way too soon. Tina told me I was ready and convinced me to sign up. The following weekend, I went to the 5-mile lake co-ed tri to watch my first triathlon and cheer on all the fabulous RTB and RTH ladies and gents. I watched my friends pedal and run past, looking so strong. It was a sight to behold and left me excited for my first race the following weekend.
The morning of the women’s 5-mile lake tri arrived, and I was ready. My nerves were getting the better of me, but my only goal going into it was to finish, and finish knowing that I did my best. Whatever would happen outside of that, I tried not to concern myself with. I showed up to the park and get to transition area; my nerves started to kick into high gear. Thank goodness Angela was there to help me out with racking my bike and guiding me through transition set up. I heard my name, looked up and saw Tina and Teresa standing there. I began to relax a little bit and heard my name again. I looked over and saw my mom. Seeing her, I got a bit teary-eyed and really excited. She wasn’t sure if she was going to make it to the race, and I am so grateful that she was there. I was going to race with my friends, for many of us this was our first race, I was surrounded by friends and family who I love, adore, and admire. At this point, I knew this was going to be a great day.
The race started and I began to swim. Someone swam over my back, I got a foot in the face, but I just kept repeating in my head, “stroke, stroke, breathe” which helped me concentrate on my pull and prevented me from panicking when I was pushed down in the water by the gal who swam over my back. As I got close the water’s edge, I thought back to Kathy Morrison’s words “swim until your fingers touch the bottom”. Done – now get out of the water and go! Thank goodness my body responded much faster than my brain. I kept moving and trying to think of what to do next. Again, thanks to Angela for being there, in her firm, authoritative voice telling me to “keep moving, keep moving, go, go, get your shoes on, keep moving”. She talked me out of the transition area and I was now on my bike. I looked up and saw Katy ahead of me, and for any of you who haven’t seen her ride – let me tell you, she is fierce on the bike and a force to be reckoned with. She is fast and was quickly out of my sight. I continue to pedal, and am still feeling pretty good. I get to the hill and am slowly climbing it. I hear “Go Jackie” behind me and what did I do? I turned my head back to see who it was – dumb move because when I turned back around I found myself heading toward the dirt shoulder and what looked like blackberry bushes. Panic, swerve, swerve, recover. Note to self: NEVER do that again. I get to the top of the hill and Diana blazes past me. She is another fast one and disappeared just as quickly as I saw her. The bike ride came to an end and as I get off my bike I almost fall. The cleats on my shoes are slick and my foot slid right out from under me. I managed to right myself and get to transition. Oh, and did I mention before that it was great having Angela there? I got to transition and I was all out of sorts. I couldn’t think of what to do next and there was Angela, my angel, forcefully telling me, “Get you bike shoes off, quick put on your shoes, lace up your shoes…you need those speed laces Patty was talking about…keep moving, keep moving…”. Seriously, I really do need to say thank you to Angela. I couldn’t concentrate when I hit transition both times and having her there helped tremendously. My body responded to what she was saying while my mind was somewhere else. So, Angela, if you are reading this – Thank You! The run started out slow, I had a difficult time getting my breathing under control. I walked for a few seconds and my calves felt like they were cramping, so I started to run again. Now I felt like I was wheezing, so I had to walk for a little bit more, trying to ignore the cramping in my legs. I was able to control my breathing and started to run again. I was feeling good, but started to get really tired. I forgot to eat my gel earlier so I gagged it down, hoping I would see the water station soon. I eventually got to it and I don’t think water ever tasted so good. I did have to do one more quick walk after the water station, but was able to run in the rest of the way to the finish line. I actually did it - I finished my first triathlon.
And as for those big arms that I talked about earlier? Well, the pulled me through a .25 mile swim in 8:23. And those fat legs? They pushed me 14 miles on a bike in 54:58, and then carried me 3.1 miles in 37:50. My finish time – 1:44:51. So, back to the beginning of my story and how I got to this point - I am no longer ashamed or embarrassed of my body; it has allowed me to do some pretty amazing things. I am still a little self-conscious, as you will see me tugging down my tri shorts and yanking down my tri top as it rolls up and over my wide hips, but I am a work in progress. Joining the team has changed my life, and my outlook on life. This wouldn’t have been possible if not for all the fantastic coaches and ladies I am surrounded by. Each and everyone one of them has inspired me in their own special way, and I will be forever grateful for their support and words of encouragement. Now, on to the next race…
Monday, July 13, 2009
Poor time management - friend or foe?
By - Tina Coleman
Editors Note - ok not editor - just blog poster (Teresa) - Tina in no way let her training partner aka "me" down on Sunday! She is being way too hard on herself but the blog message is awesome!
"The sound of my cell phone ringing woke me up on Sunday morning. I sat up from the couch in a panic. Blurry eyed, I frantically began scanning the room for a clock or watch; anything that might tell me I didn’t oversleep, again. I stumbled to the kitchen table where I had my cell phone laid out next to my iPod, Garmin and hydration belt. 9:03, crap. Missed call from Teresa Moffatt, crap. I did it again. Why do my friends even bother with me? I do this all the time, no really, all the time. I grab my phone and run to the bathroom, I am texting my training partner as I’m, well, using the bathroom. Partner decided to head out without me which means I would have to do the run on my own. Crap.
So what do I do now? On one hand, I am still groggy and don’t want to run. On the other hand, a 4 mile run is on the plan. ON THE PLAN. The Black Diamond Olympic Distance Training Plan. Of course there are times when you can’t stick to the plan, things come up; kids, illness, work, and schedule conflicts; oversleeping is not one of them. Plus my training partner is out on the Lake Wilderness Trail all by herself and what kind of athlete would I be if I skipped out on myself? So slowly I began to get dressed and I even got my husband and dog to go with me. Granted, they would only be doing a 30 min walk, but still he helped me get out the door. You see, I don’t even have to drive to get to a trail. I live on the North end of the Soos Creek Trail. No excuses.
The day before I had set my Garmin for a 2 minute run, 1 minute walk for 20 reps. That would give me 60 minutes to do 4 miles. I can do that, it will be hard but I think I can pull it off. I’ve never done the 2/1 for longer than 2 miles so the doubts start rolling through my head. “I can always walk more if I need to.” “This is my first training run so I’ll take it slow.” “Oh, what is that twinge in my knee? Maybe I should just walk for 4 miles; I don’t want to hurt myself.” On and on and on came all the reasons to not run or push myself. I get to Gary Grant Park and my husband stops and begins to turn around to walk back home. I tell him that since he will be home before me, he should start breakfast and get the bacon and potatoes going. I stop for a few minutes at the stretching post and actually stretch, I’m still stalling you see. I don’t know when I really decided how I was going to tackle this workout; I don’t think I actually did. Anyway, I go to start my Garmin and realize that it is only going to track my 2/1 and reps, not my mileage. The trail start at Gary Grant is right before the .5 mile marker, so I knew I had to keep an eye out for the 2.5 mile marker and turn around.
I hit start and was on my way. 2 minute run, 1 minute walk, 2 minute run, 1 minute walk; etc. I had no idea what my pace was because the face on my Garmin was not showing me. I was just going hard and hoping I was averaging a 15min/mile pace. I didn’t feel like I was; I felt so heavy and slow. When I hit the 1.5 mile marker I was trying to do the math to figure out my pace. I can’t do much else when I’m running, let alone math, so I still had no idea what my pace was.
Finally the 2.5 mile marker and I turn around. My Garmin says I’ve completed 9 reps. 9x3=27 minutes. That would mean a 13:30 mile/minute average. There’s no way. Stupid Garmin.
At about mile 3 I text my husband and tell him PLEASE BOIL ME TWO EGSS. NO BACON. I AM FAT. THIS IS REALLY HARD.
Still plugging along at my 2 run 1 walk, I am finally at the last .5 of my journey. I look back down at my Garmin and it says I have 4 reps left. How can this be? Maybe I turned around too soon? Maybe it was an old mile marker I was looking at. Who knows and I think to myself, it is what it is and I need to finish strong. Let’s see if I can do this last .5 in 6 minutes. I want to try and beat my Garmin so that I have 2 full reps/6 minutes left. So I run HARD for 2 minutes, walk for 1 and run hard for the last 3 minutes. I DID IT.
It was my own little victory. But I still didn’t believe that I had done 4 miles. I was just so excited that I did that last half mile at a 12min/mile pace. As I started my walk home/cool down it started to pour down rain. It was really coming down so I decided to sit under the covered picnic area and wait for the rain to pass. I played with my Garmin and found out the following.
I completed 4.06 miles in 54 minutes, average pace 13.18. WHAT??? When I looked at my lap details I averaged my 2 minute runs in the 10-11 min/mile range and my walks were in the 17-18 min/mile range. I love my Garmin. I was happy.
Several thoughts came to mind that Sunday.
Set your alarm and get your butt up when your friends are expecting you.
Even when you let someone down, don’t continue the trend and let yourself down too.
Do what your plan says even if you don’t feel like it. Just do it, you may surprise yourself.
I wouldn’t be where I am today if it weren’t for this team.
I am excited to do this Olympic distance in September. Like my training partner says “I know the Oly will be great…If we survive the training.”
13.18 min/mile may be slow for most but it was fast for me that day and that’s what matters.
I need to become a faster walker.
A chocolate Accel Gel is 2 points on WW.
I am grateful for the physical and mental strength as well as the motivation to keep at this.
Stretch AFTER you run as well as before.
The rain didn’t stop and was only getting heavier, so I called my husband to come pick me up. A swim was not on THE PLAN."
Editors Note - ok not editor - just blog poster (Teresa) - Tina in no way let her training partner aka "me" down on Sunday! She is being way too hard on herself but the blog message is awesome!
"The sound of my cell phone ringing woke me up on Sunday morning. I sat up from the couch in a panic. Blurry eyed, I frantically began scanning the room for a clock or watch; anything that might tell me I didn’t oversleep, again. I stumbled to the kitchen table where I had my cell phone laid out next to my iPod, Garmin and hydration belt. 9:03, crap. Missed call from Teresa Moffatt, crap. I did it again. Why do my friends even bother with me? I do this all the time, no really, all the time. I grab my phone and run to the bathroom, I am texting my training partner as I’m, well, using the bathroom. Partner decided to head out without me which means I would have to do the run on my own. Crap.
So what do I do now? On one hand, I am still groggy and don’t want to run. On the other hand, a 4 mile run is on the plan. ON THE PLAN. The Black Diamond Olympic Distance Training Plan. Of course there are times when you can’t stick to the plan, things come up; kids, illness, work, and schedule conflicts; oversleeping is not one of them. Plus my training partner is out on the Lake Wilderness Trail all by herself and what kind of athlete would I be if I skipped out on myself? So slowly I began to get dressed and I even got my husband and dog to go with me. Granted, they would only be doing a 30 min walk, but still he helped me get out the door. You see, I don’t even have to drive to get to a trail. I live on the North end of the Soos Creek Trail. No excuses.
The day before I had set my Garmin for a 2 minute run, 1 minute walk for 20 reps. That would give me 60 minutes to do 4 miles. I can do that, it will be hard but I think I can pull it off. I’ve never done the 2/1 for longer than 2 miles so the doubts start rolling through my head. “I can always walk more if I need to.” “This is my first training run so I’ll take it slow.” “Oh, what is that twinge in my knee? Maybe I should just walk for 4 miles; I don’t want to hurt myself.” On and on and on came all the reasons to not run or push myself. I get to Gary Grant Park and my husband stops and begins to turn around to walk back home. I tell him that since he will be home before me, he should start breakfast and get the bacon and potatoes going. I stop for a few minutes at the stretching post and actually stretch, I’m still stalling you see. I don’t know when I really decided how I was going to tackle this workout; I don’t think I actually did. Anyway, I go to start my Garmin and realize that it is only going to track my 2/1 and reps, not my mileage. The trail start at Gary Grant is right before the .5 mile marker, so I knew I had to keep an eye out for the 2.5 mile marker and turn around.
I hit start and was on my way. 2 minute run, 1 minute walk, 2 minute run, 1 minute walk; etc. I had no idea what my pace was because the face on my Garmin was not showing me. I was just going hard and hoping I was averaging a 15min/mile pace. I didn’t feel like I was; I felt so heavy and slow. When I hit the 1.5 mile marker I was trying to do the math to figure out my pace. I can’t do much else when I’m running, let alone math, so I still had no idea what my pace was.
Finally the 2.5 mile marker and I turn around. My Garmin says I’ve completed 9 reps. 9x3=27 minutes. That would mean a 13:30 mile/minute average. There’s no way. Stupid Garmin.
At about mile 3 I text my husband and tell him PLEASE BOIL ME TWO EGSS. NO BACON. I AM FAT. THIS IS REALLY HARD.
Still plugging along at my 2 run 1 walk, I am finally at the last .5 of my journey. I look back down at my Garmin and it says I have 4 reps left. How can this be? Maybe I turned around too soon? Maybe it was an old mile marker I was looking at. Who knows and I think to myself, it is what it is and I need to finish strong. Let’s see if I can do this last .5 in 6 minutes. I want to try and beat my Garmin so that I have 2 full reps/6 minutes left. So I run HARD for 2 minutes, walk for 1 and run hard for the last 3 minutes. I DID IT.
It was my own little victory. But I still didn’t believe that I had done 4 miles. I was just so excited that I did that last half mile at a 12min/mile pace. As I started my walk home/cool down it started to pour down rain. It was really coming down so I decided to sit under the covered picnic area and wait for the rain to pass. I played with my Garmin and found out the following.
I completed 4.06 miles in 54 minutes, average pace 13.18. WHAT??? When I looked at my lap details I averaged my 2 minute runs in the 10-11 min/mile range and my walks were in the 17-18 min/mile range. I love my Garmin. I was happy.
Several thoughts came to mind that Sunday.
Set your alarm and get your butt up when your friends are expecting you.
Even when you let someone down, don’t continue the trend and let yourself down too.
Do what your plan says even if you don’t feel like it. Just do it, you may surprise yourself.
I wouldn’t be where I am today if it weren’t for this team.
I am excited to do this Olympic distance in September. Like my training partner says “I know the Oly will be great…If we survive the training.”
13.18 min/mile may be slow for most but it was fast for me that day and that’s what matters.
I need to become a faster walker.
A chocolate Accel Gel is 2 points on WW.
I am grateful for the physical and mental strength as well as the motivation to keep at this.
Stretch AFTER you run as well as before.
The rain didn’t stop and was only getting heavier, so I called my husband to come pick me up. A swim was not on THE PLAN."
Katy - Six months ago...
Six months ago I never thought I’d be where I am today. I am now 1000% sure that I can now call myself a Triathlete. I remember coming home from my first RTH meeting having some second thoughts, but I decided what do I have to lose?!?! I’m just gonna go for it!
The week leading up to my Tri, I had so many questions & concerns. Will I be able to make it? Can I even swim that far? What does a transition area even look like? WHAT DO I WEAR??(Thank you to everyone for being so patient and helpful to me)
The Morning of the Tri to say the least I was very nervous & scared. I got my borrowed wet suit on and got in line with everyone else in the water. The gun bangs, and I wait a few seconds to not get scratched, kicked, or slapped in the water. I didn’t get far from the shore before I panicked. I felt like I couldn’t breath, and if I was breathing I was swallowing so much water I felt like I was choking. I stopped and looked back at the dock. I thought to myself I could just go back and be done with this crazy idea. Then thought, this crazy idea of mine is going to be life changing for the better. And any change for the better with worth working for. So I did everything in my power to get out to the bouy and back to shore. Back stroke, side stroke, dog paddle…. You name it and I did it. Jogging back to the transition felt amazing. Amazing could be an understatement. I remember thinking, the worst part is over, all you have to do now it ride your bike the fastest you’ve ridden in years.
With my bike shoes and helmet on, I felt like I was home again. I had few worries or concerns while I was out on my bike. It was awesome and it felt amazing to blow by so many people….. “On your left!” My only worry was a very small one, well a very LARGE one actually. A bus that I some-how kept catching up to every time he stopped, then it was motor past me and I’d catch him again. And I felt privileged to have ALL the traffic stopped at all the intersections. The small things make me happy.
The transition from Bike to Run went great. I realized during this transition that I may need different cycling shoes if I want to get out of them in any reasonable time. All I could think of was “bike shoes off, socks on, shoes on, water in hand, power bar in mouth… RUN RUN RUN!!!!” If I varied from this at all I knew something would go wrong. But all went well and started to jog out of the park. I got a little dizzy once I got out on the road and I started to walk a little bit. A literally a voice out of know where said “Run, KTJ Run!” I knew who this voice was coming from. Hearing that voice made me do everything in my power to not walk and I didn’t stop after that. I just kept going. At some points it was a very, very slow jog. But I wasn’t going to stop now!!!! The run felt pretty good, it went by a lot faster than I ever thought it would. Coming into the park, I saw my Mom. She jogged alongside of me for a few yards and that made my day. J I knew the finish line was just around the corner and I could hear the music, people yelling for everyone. It was an amazing feeling to cross the finish line to know I just finished my first of many triathlons. It was a wonderful experience to have finished it with so many wonderful people there willing to give so much support. Finishing this race was one of my most proud moments in being an athlete.
Swim T1 Bike T2 Run Finish
12.48 2:58 53:51 2:10 45:00 1:56.49
The week leading up to my Tri, I had so many questions & concerns. Will I be able to make it? Can I even swim that far? What does a transition area even look like? WHAT DO I WEAR??(Thank you to everyone for being so patient and helpful to me)
The Morning of the Tri to say the least I was very nervous & scared. I got my borrowed wet suit on and got in line with everyone else in the water. The gun bangs, and I wait a few seconds to not get scratched, kicked, or slapped in the water. I didn’t get far from the shore before I panicked. I felt like I couldn’t breath, and if I was breathing I was swallowing so much water I felt like I was choking. I stopped and looked back at the dock. I thought to myself I could just go back and be done with this crazy idea. Then thought, this crazy idea of mine is going to be life changing for the better. And any change for the better with worth working for. So I did everything in my power to get out to the bouy and back to shore. Back stroke, side stroke, dog paddle…. You name it and I did it. Jogging back to the transition felt amazing. Amazing could be an understatement. I remember thinking, the worst part is over, all you have to do now it ride your bike the fastest you’ve ridden in years.
With my bike shoes and helmet on, I felt like I was home again. I had few worries or concerns while I was out on my bike. It was awesome and it felt amazing to blow by so many people….. “On your left!” My only worry was a very small one, well a very LARGE one actually. A bus that I some-how kept catching up to every time he stopped, then it was motor past me and I’d catch him again. And I felt privileged to have ALL the traffic stopped at all the intersections. The small things make me happy.
The transition from Bike to Run went great. I realized during this transition that I may need different cycling shoes if I want to get out of them in any reasonable time. All I could think of was “bike shoes off, socks on, shoes on, water in hand, power bar in mouth… RUN RUN RUN!!!!” If I varied from this at all I knew something would go wrong. But all went well and started to jog out of the park. I got a little dizzy once I got out on the road and I started to walk a little bit. A literally a voice out of know where said “Run, KTJ Run!” I knew who this voice was coming from. Hearing that voice made me do everything in my power to not walk and I didn’t stop after that. I just kept going. At some points it was a very, very slow jog. But I wasn’t going to stop now!!!! The run felt pretty good, it went by a lot faster than I ever thought it would. Coming into the park, I saw my Mom. She jogged alongside of me for a few yards and that made my day. J I knew the finish line was just around the corner and I could hear the music, people yelling for everyone. It was an amazing feeling to cross the finish line to know I just finished my first of many triathlons. It was a wonderful experience to have finished it with so many wonderful people there willing to give so much support. Finishing this race was one of my most proud moments in being an athlete.
Swim T1 Bike T2 Run Finish
12.48 2:58 53:51 2:10 45:00 1:56.49
Ruth's Race Report
I raced my fifth Work-it-Out Tri at Lake Wilderness today. It was a fun race on a beautiful morning. Chris Book and Gina Hagen were there to cheer on Gina’s thirteen or fourteen (?) year-old son doing his first race with his buddy. Rick Osborne and Kathy Morrison won the race (Matt Morrison was plagued with a flat tire). Several other newer members of RTB were there and finished really well.
Work-it-Out has been my most varied race: Year one, I was thrilled just to finish behind Nancy Larson and Janet Hominda; year two I had a flat tire, which I fixed myself on the course and felt proud just to go on to finish; year three was my all time PR, year four there was a volunteer missing in action and I missed a crucial turn on the bike ride and rode the tour de Covington. This year was a good race for me, even though it was depressing to be five minutes slower than my PR. They “fixed” the run, darn it! Someone complained that it had been short, and I think the swim was longer this year too. The lake was warm and clear today and did not have the offensive odor it had last year. I won my age group today (There were only two women over 50 in the race!) I have to enjoy that advantage while it lasts because 50 is the oldest group at this race and eventually everyone will catch up and join me there. There were some wonderfully moving finishes by first-timers. Gina’s boy’s bike broke on him; they got his mountain bike, traded them out, and he finished strong. What a trouper!
Work-it-Out has been my most varied race: Year one, I was thrilled just to finish behind Nancy Larson and Janet Hominda; year two I had a flat tire, which I fixed myself on the course and felt proud just to go on to finish; year three was my all time PR, year four there was a volunteer missing in action and I missed a crucial turn on the bike ride and rode the tour de Covington. This year was a good race for me, even though it was depressing to be five minutes slower than my PR. They “fixed” the run, darn it! Someone complained that it had been short, and I think the swim was longer this year too. The lake was warm and clear today and did not have the offensive odor it had last year. I won my age group today (There were only two women over 50 in the race!) I have to enjoy that advantage while it lasts because 50 is the oldest group at this race and eventually everyone will catch up and join me there. There were some wonderfully moving finishes by first-timers. Gina’s boy’s bike broke on him; they got his mountain bike, traded them out, and he finished strong. What a trouper!
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Shaun's RNR Report
Second marathon under my belt. I'll have to say this was much harder than the first one and 19 minutes slower. It was a hard day. I have to say going into it I was nervous because I still felt tight and a little fatigued. I still stuck with my plan to keep a certain pace to try and finish at 5:30. I'll have to say by the time I hit I-90 bridge I was starting to have to work to keep that pace which was about mile 10 which was much earlier than normal. I still kept it up and determined to try to keep it up. About mile 15 I was slowing way down and by mile 20 I knew I wasn't going to make it. My legs were cramping and I had to start walking some. I'm not trained to walk so that brought my pace way down. At that point I knew I had to change my strategy. The first two goals were out the window so I'm glad I make three. The third one was to finish which it never crossed my mind I wouldn't finish. That was not an option. That's when I decided it was going to be a long six miles and better find someway to enjoy it. First I had to give myself a little pep talk and remind myself about what Karen said stay mentally tough. Out loud I said stay mentally tough, Shaun, and the pain will pass and it did for a while. I started feeling pretty good going back through the Aurora tunnel and picking the pace up a bit. Then I got to where the market was and it was really quiet and all these people were just staring down at us and I looked around and everyone seemed to be in just as much pain as I was so I decided to start screaming and yelling at these people so they would start cheering us on and they did so that gave me a little boost. Then the pain came back and my legs were really cramping again so I had to do the inevitable, just start singing disco to keep me from focusing on the pain. I did meet my last goal. I finished.
Now it's time for reflection and what I could or should have done different. This is only my second marathon so I only have that to base it on. My training for my first marathon lasted 10 months so I had lots of time between long runs, ran a lot of off road, and was well rested for the marathon. This time all my real long runs were pushed into 4 months and I was pushing a lot harder because I felt stronger, and most of my runs were on pavement. I had the best 20 mile run and if the marathon were that day would have finished around 5:20 and it was warm and was hills and on pavement but there was more shade and I had Ruth talking to me the whole time. By the time I got to my 22 mile run this time I was exhausted. I remember talking to Karen saying my Achilles hurt. I was exhausted, I was crying over stupid things and she said maybe I shouldn't do that 22 mile run and just rest up that I could do the marathon now. Well, I didn't listen and maybe I should have. I think I was burned out. Lesson learned, listen to body. There's a fine line to doing enough and too much and it's sometimes hard to tell which is which. I think only experience will teach you that.
Another comparison, I didn't wear my water belt last time and walked all the water stops and drank down every cup. This time wore water belt to save time and didn't walk water stops. Did stop at a couple to fill up. Last time by walking water stops maybe gave my legs a break and kept them fresh. This time by keeping running maybe made them cramp up sooner or maybe I didn't hydrate enough. I didn't have to go to the bathroom during the marathon at all and last time I went a couple times.
Another comparison, last race temperature was 40s and 50s. This time was 70s or more, not real sure, but much hotter. Didn't use salt tablets last time but maybe should have used some this time. Might have helped cramping. Didn't notice until after the race that Cytomax was low sodium. I am a very salty sweater. More salt might have helped a lot. Also the bananas at the store were awful so I didn't eat any bananas the week before and I usually eat one a day. Could have been low on potassium.
Another comparison, last race was much flatter than this one. Could contribute to time.
Another comparison, last race was 4 pounds lighter than this race. Need to drop tonnage.
All this will now go into my race log which I am going to now start to help me in the future so when I do my next marathon and there will be more, lots more, I can learn from every race. I am going to get faster, leaner, and stronger. I am going to conquer this distance and keep at it until I become a strong runner.
Now it's time for reflection and what I could or should have done different. This is only my second marathon so I only have that to base it on. My training for my first marathon lasted 10 months so I had lots of time between long runs, ran a lot of off road, and was well rested for the marathon. This time all my real long runs were pushed into 4 months and I was pushing a lot harder because I felt stronger, and most of my runs were on pavement. I had the best 20 mile run and if the marathon were that day would have finished around 5:20 and it was warm and was hills and on pavement but there was more shade and I had Ruth talking to me the whole time. By the time I got to my 22 mile run this time I was exhausted. I remember talking to Karen saying my Achilles hurt. I was exhausted, I was crying over stupid things and she said maybe I shouldn't do that 22 mile run and just rest up that I could do the marathon now. Well, I didn't listen and maybe I should have. I think I was burned out. Lesson learned, listen to body. There's a fine line to doing enough and too much and it's sometimes hard to tell which is which. I think only experience will teach you that.
Another comparison, I didn't wear my water belt last time and walked all the water stops and drank down every cup. This time wore water belt to save time and didn't walk water stops. Did stop at a couple to fill up. Last time by walking water stops maybe gave my legs a break and kept them fresh. This time by keeping running maybe made them cramp up sooner or maybe I didn't hydrate enough. I didn't have to go to the bathroom during the marathon at all and last time I went a couple times.
Another comparison, last race temperature was 40s and 50s. This time was 70s or more, not real sure, but much hotter. Didn't use salt tablets last time but maybe should have used some this time. Might have helped cramping. Didn't notice until after the race that Cytomax was low sodium. I am a very salty sweater. More salt might have helped a lot. Also the bananas at the store were awful so I didn't eat any bananas the week before and I usually eat one a day. Could have been low on potassium.
Another comparison, last race was much flatter than this one. Could contribute to time.
Another comparison, last race was 4 pounds lighter than this race. Need to drop tonnage.
All this will now go into my race log which I am going to now start to help me in the future so when I do my next marathon and there will be more, lots more, I can learn from every race. I am going to get faster, leaner, and stronger. I am going to conquer this distance and keep at it until I become a strong runner.
Amy's 5 Mile Lake Race Report!
I'll start by saying that I am NOT a natural athlete and never have been. As a matter of fact, I'm not sure that triathlons wouldn't just be work - without my team and my friends. What makes it fun is:
** getting cool poems in my e-mail the day before my race (Thanks, Ang),
** getting text messages at 4:30am wishing me luck (Thanks, Angela H.),
** getting 24 supportive comments on my Facebook page (yes! 24!),
** having someone to calm my nerves the night before when I realize I forgot to get nutrition for the race (Thanks, Kathy G),
** being saved with a bag of my favorite lemon Powerbar Gel Blasts minutes before the race (Thanks, Jackie),
** having 20 pictures taken of me in my wetsuit (Thanks, Kathy M.),
** having a friend to hold my shoes after walking down to the lake to save my tender feet from the rocks (Thanks, Teresa),
** having someone to start my Garmin so I can time myself and throw it to me as I come out of the water (Thanks, Tina),
** being cheered on every time I came around to the park (Thanks, Connie, Shaun, Karen N., Cathy and too many others to name!),
** having someone who just finished the race come run with me the last .25 mile just to encourage me to make a strong finish (Thanks, Joanna),
** being hugged by at least 8 people and having cups of water shoved at me before I've even processed that I'm done,
** being sought out for a hug by someone who was eating when I came in (Thanks, Diana) and
** the pride in my husband when he tells me how awesome I am (Thank you, Gareth).
You guys are all awesome. Raise the Bar and Raise the Hope are what made today so worth it for me.
After posing for entirely too many pictures in my wetsuit (lol) and taking a quick little swim to adjust to the water, we were off. I felt pretty good during the swim, actually. I was able to freestyle the whole time and felt I swam pretty strong for me. I didn't even get too off course! There were a couple of obligatory collisions, but nothing major and I came out of the water feeling pretty good. Turns out I was over a minute faster than the time I clocked just 3 days before at Lake Meridian!
I ran into transition and started a VERY slow transition. T1 needs major work! I still felt a bit dizzy as I was taking off my wetsuit and getting dressed for the bike ride, which slowed me down. I drank some water and ate a couple of my lemon gels and finally got out on the bike.
I hate the bike - LOL. And I really need to get over that. So I'll start now. I love the bike. It doesn't hurt my butt or my legs. Uphills are awesome. The bike is my friend. With all that said, I'm very slow on the bike. I need to do more bike training so I can be faster. As I was plodding along, so many positive people came along and yelled "Good Job" as they passed me. It is great to see how nice people there are! About a quarter of the way through, I got bored and started writing this race report in my head. I was thinking of all the cool people around me and how many of them I needed to thank. It helped make the time go by. Towards the end of the first loop, I got to the BIG hill. The hill is just long and keeps going up. I kept telling myself I could do it and I was almost there. I huffed and puffed, but I made it up! Woo Hoo! The reward was that the first loop was ending and I got to hear my teammates yelling "Go, Amy!!!" as I started the second loop and passed some runners finishing the last leg!
Starting the second loop, I was pretty much alone on the bike and continued to write my race report. About half way through the second loop, I had to stop and take a drink and a few Gel Blasts. I was losing steam and going even slower than I had at the beginning, plus the big hill was coming, so I needed some energy. Shortly after I got started again, my family went by me in the car and blew the horn in support - so awesome! Then came the hill and I was really tired. I thought about walking my bike up the hill. I decided to just keep riding in my granny gear until I just stopped, then I would walk the rest of the way. I kept writing my race report in my head and the next thing I knew, I was at the top! No walking - woo hoo! And finally, the bike was done to the cheering of my team!
In transition, I decided to just run in my bike shorts. I didn't want to take the time to change into my running pants and they were feeling pretty comfortable. I noticed my vision was a little off and I thought it was because I was wearing sunglasses and the weather had gotten very overcast. I left the sunglasses in transition and took off. T2 time was much, much better than T1. As I came out of the park and transition, I saw my husband and children waiting across the street cheering me on! Then Barrett started running towards me out into the road that was open to traffic. I almost freaked out! Gareth reached out and snagged him by the underarm - thank god no cars were coming. He did something similar at the West Seattle 5K, so I told Gareth he needed to hold Barrett when I was passing them in the future! I yelled, "love you!" and kept going.
I started running a bit and noticed my vision was still pretty blurry. It was very disconcerting and distracting. I did a walk/jog for a few minutes and noticed that the running wasn't nearly as bad as it felt during training - woo hoo. But the blurry vision thing was still really distracting. I alternated between the walk and the run for quite a while. At one point I was looking down the road and thought a runner was in front of me. I squinted really hard and realized it was a mailbox! Crap, my vision was a mess. I clocked the distance to the mailbox on my Garmin and it was only .15 miles - I couldn't tell the difference between a person and a mailbox in that short of a distance. But I didn't feel weak or dizzy, so I kept going. Diana and her husband were telling me later it sounded like I needed some electrolytes. Good lesson for the next race.
I finally felt everything kick in and ran the last .75 miles or so. As I came into the park, Joanna ran up next to me and asked how I was doing. She kept running around the track on the way to the finish line! She had only finished a few minutes before, so I couldn't believe she was running more!!! Crazy! She kept encouraging me - almost there, keep going! It was so awesome! I ran harder and harder and finished strong! And not even last! Pretty close, but not last - LOL.
After I ran across the finish line, I got bombarded with hugs! I hugged Joanna specifically and thanked her for running me in. My daughter ran up and hugged me too and I kissed my husband. It was so great. I couldn't believe I wasn't crying, though! I did my crying writing this report. I wasn't sure during the race I would want to do another one, but now that I'm done, I know I will. I can't believe I did it! I couldn't have come anywhere near doing this 3 months ago. I better drop some time off that bike ride by next year!
** getting cool poems in my e-mail the day before my race (Thanks, Ang),
** getting text messages at 4:30am wishing me luck (Thanks, Angela H.),
** getting 24 supportive comments on my Facebook page (yes! 24!),
** having someone to calm my nerves the night before when I realize I forgot to get nutrition for the race (Thanks, Kathy G),
** being saved with a bag of my favorite lemon Powerbar Gel Blasts minutes before the race (Thanks, Jackie),
** having 20 pictures taken of me in my wetsuit (Thanks, Kathy M.),
** having a friend to hold my shoes after walking down to the lake to save my tender feet from the rocks (Thanks, Teresa),
** having someone to start my Garmin so I can time myself and throw it to me as I come out of the water (Thanks, Tina),
** being cheered on every time I came around to the park (Thanks, Connie, Shaun, Karen N., Cathy and too many others to name!),
** having someone who just finished the race come run with me the last .25 mile just to encourage me to make a strong finish (Thanks, Joanna),
** being hugged by at least 8 people and having cups of water shoved at me before I've even processed that I'm done,
** being sought out for a hug by someone who was eating when I came in (Thanks, Diana) and
** the pride in my husband when he tells me how awesome I am (Thank you, Gareth).
You guys are all awesome. Raise the Bar and Raise the Hope are what made today so worth it for me.
After posing for entirely too many pictures in my wetsuit (lol) and taking a quick little swim to adjust to the water, we were off. I felt pretty good during the swim, actually. I was able to freestyle the whole time and felt I swam pretty strong for me. I didn't even get too off course! There were a couple of obligatory collisions, but nothing major and I came out of the water feeling pretty good. Turns out I was over a minute faster than the time I clocked just 3 days before at Lake Meridian!
I ran into transition and started a VERY slow transition. T1 needs major work! I still felt a bit dizzy as I was taking off my wetsuit and getting dressed for the bike ride, which slowed me down. I drank some water and ate a couple of my lemon gels and finally got out on the bike.
I hate the bike - LOL. And I really need to get over that. So I'll start now. I love the bike. It doesn't hurt my butt or my legs. Uphills are awesome. The bike is my friend. With all that said, I'm very slow on the bike. I need to do more bike training so I can be faster. As I was plodding along, so many positive people came along and yelled "Good Job" as they passed me. It is great to see how nice people there are! About a quarter of the way through, I got bored and started writing this race report in my head. I was thinking of all the cool people around me and how many of them I needed to thank. It helped make the time go by. Towards the end of the first loop, I got to the BIG hill. The hill is just long and keeps going up. I kept telling myself I could do it and I was almost there. I huffed and puffed, but I made it up! Woo Hoo! The reward was that the first loop was ending and I got to hear my teammates yelling "Go, Amy!!!" as I started the second loop and passed some runners finishing the last leg!
Starting the second loop, I was pretty much alone on the bike and continued to write my race report. About half way through the second loop, I had to stop and take a drink and a few Gel Blasts. I was losing steam and going even slower than I had at the beginning, plus the big hill was coming, so I needed some energy. Shortly after I got started again, my family went by me in the car and blew the horn in support - so awesome! Then came the hill and I was really tired. I thought about walking my bike up the hill. I decided to just keep riding in my granny gear until I just stopped, then I would walk the rest of the way. I kept writing my race report in my head and the next thing I knew, I was at the top! No walking - woo hoo! And finally, the bike was done to the cheering of my team!
In transition, I decided to just run in my bike shorts. I didn't want to take the time to change into my running pants and they were feeling pretty comfortable. I noticed my vision was a little off and I thought it was because I was wearing sunglasses and the weather had gotten very overcast. I left the sunglasses in transition and took off. T2 time was much, much better than T1. As I came out of the park and transition, I saw my husband and children waiting across the street cheering me on! Then Barrett started running towards me out into the road that was open to traffic. I almost freaked out! Gareth reached out and snagged him by the underarm - thank god no cars were coming. He did something similar at the West Seattle 5K, so I told Gareth he needed to hold Barrett when I was passing them in the future! I yelled, "love you!" and kept going.
I started running a bit and noticed my vision was still pretty blurry. It was very disconcerting and distracting. I did a walk/jog for a few minutes and noticed that the running wasn't nearly as bad as it felt during training - woo hoo. But the blurry vision thing was still really distracting. I alternated between the walk and the run for quite a while. At one point I was looking down the road and thought a runner was in front of me. I squinted really hard and realized it was a mailbox! Crap, my vision was a mess. I clocked the distance to the mailbox on my Garmin and it was only .15 miles - I couldn't tell the difference between a person and a mailbox in that short of a distance. But I didn't feel weak or dizzy, so I kept going. Diana and her husband were telling me later it sounded like I needed some electrolytes. Good lesson for the next race.
I finally felt everything kick in and ran the last .75 miles or so. As I came into the park, Joanna ran up next to me and asked how I was doing. She kept running around the track on the way to the finish line! She had only finished a few minutes before, so I couldn't believe she was running more!!! Crazy! She kept encouraging me - almost there, keep going! It was so awesome! I ran harder and harder and finished strong! And not even last! Pretty close, but not last - LOL.
After I ran across the finish line, I got bombarded with hugs! I hugged Joanna specifically and thanked her for running me in. My daughter ran up and hugged me too and I kissed my husband. It was so great. I couldn't believe I wasn't crying, though! I did my crying writing this report. I wasn't sure during the race I would want to do another one, but now that I'm done, I know I will. I can't believe I did it! I couldn't have come anywhere near doing this 3 months ago. I better drop some time off that bike ride by next year!
Monday, June 29, 2009
Cathy Christian's Rock n Roll Marathon Report
It has been 24 hours since I crossed the finish line of the Rock and Roll Marathon, and I am still in awe. Awe that it really happened, awe that it went so perfectly, awe that I am capable of doing 26.2 miles when just a year ago doing a 5K was a stretch for me. In awe of me.
The back story:
Until 3 years ago, all I had done was the Danskin sprint triathlon. That’s it. I wasn’t fast in any of the three sports, but my accomplishment came in finishing. I didn’t even want to join RTB because you had to do 2 events, and that scared me. The Danskin was all I thought I had in me. (I didn’t even get a wetsuit until RTB made me, because I thought wetsuits were for the good people, the ‘athletes’.)
But then Hope came along and I knew I needed what it was offering, so I gritted my teeth and decided I could do 2 triathlons. That first Hope year I did 4 tris, including an Olympic (I came in next to last because it took forever to run 6 miles), then I got talked into doing the Seattle Half Marathon in November 2007. I’m sure many of you have heard the stories of our Saturday training runs - I never asked how far we had to go because I knew there was no way I could do whatever miles we were going to do, and Shaun Linse talked the whole time so I never realized my whole body was screaming at me to stop this nonsense. But amazingly to myself, I completed the Seattle Half (oh, there’s another story there, but not now!).
The second Hope season, more tris and another Half. I’m learning about myself all this time. I’m a professional writer, I like process, I make lists. For this unfamiliar world of athletics, I used these skills in deciding what works for me and what doesn’t. I learn to take my wetsuit off immediately out of the water, I hear the word ‘electrolytes’ for the first time, I find out what a ‘hip flexor’ is and why mine hurt after doing a mile run – and how to eliminate that pain. I learn I have ‘quads’ and ‘hamstrings’ and I even figure out which one is where in my body. I learn how to use clip-on bike pedals. I start thinking about food as ‘carbs’ and ‘proteins.’ I discovered that using a camelback was essential to me. When Patty Swedberg mentioned that it made me hunch over I decided to strengthen my back muscles instead of giving up my camelback. When I found a pair of running shoes that worked (and were pink, to boot!) I bought two more pair. When the soles of my feet hurt, I discovered that even though they still look new, running shoes don’t last forever and when they break down your feet hurt.
I didn’t get much faster, but I got more efficient.
Getting to the Marathon
Then one day Angela Meeks says “let’s do the Portland Marathon!” I say “Okay!” But during a 3 week trip back east to work I got plantar fascitis (I had no clue then why it hurt to walk, the diagnosis came later) and when I got better there was not enough time to train for Portland in October. Then Jessi Richardson tosses the Inaugural Rock and Roll Marathon at us and I signed up.
Now, understand that during these two years I was ashamed that I couldn’t run well. I would run and then I would have to walk, then I would run again. I thought I was supposed to run the whole way, and physically I just couldn’t do it. So I settled into doing what I called a “trot.’ I trotted well, though, but it was a pretty slow trot, but at least I was ‘running’! I secretly didn’t think there was any way on this green Earth I could trot for 26.2 miles. I figured something would happen to my body (like I couldn’t do Portland) and I wouldn’t REALLY have to do this one.
My ex-husband pleads with me not to do a marathon because he is afraid I will injure myself, and that is a real concern for me, too. I heard all the stories about people who couldn’t finish a marathon, how they hurt themselves and were in rehab forever, how hard it is on your body, how it takes weeks to recover, and all the injuries you get. Those possibilities didn’t excite me, either. Then I discover that the reason there are so few women in my age group is because they have all run themselves into the ground earlier in life – they now have bad knees, bad ankles, bad everything – and I’m fresh!!! Me, who has never done anything like this, has good knees, good feet, good everything. Another great decision: make sure I don’t injure my freshness, even if it means being consistent instead of fast.
The training plan was another new thing. I looked at several in the marathon book and threw up when I saw how much running you have to do to train for a marathon. Then Angela casually mentioned a “Run/Walk” plan – and I think, “People actually train to walk?” So I did my own investigation and find that yes, people do train to run/walk marathons – and there is no shame in it. And I don’t have to trot the whole way! I can run/walk!!!!!!
Karen Nolting blesses my run/walk plan. I train according to schedule, but I start having trouble when the plan gets to 4 minutes run, 1 minute walk. Can’t do it. I start to back it down to 3/2 or 3/1 and now I’m getting worried. What if I can’t get to 5/1 like the plan says? Well, then, I guess I can’t do the marathon. I’ll be last, I won’t finish, I won’t make the cut off. I will have failed. I am not happy, which surprises me because I now realize I really want to do this marathon.
I do the Kirkland Half as a training run, and I struggle with 4/1. The next weekend I do the Tacoma Half. The night before I just happen to load Michael Jackson’s ‘Beat It’ on my Shuffle. That day was another struggle with 4/1, which eventually gave way to 3/1. Then I saw a long hill and I just said “screw it.” ‘Beat It’ came on and I marched all the way up that hill, replaying that song. I did it well, too, passing running people. It was another good decision, but at that moment I didn’t know how good.
I mentioned my struggle to Angela. She had just read something that says that if you run a 15 minute pace (me!) than you should be at a 2/1 run/walk. Really, I think. Isn’t that like failing? Or cheating? But the next Saturday is our 20 mile run and I am willing to try anything (because I really want to do this marathon now, and I know I have to be prepared and not have any pain so I can focus on the mental part.)
So I do. Elizabeth McCarty is my running partner and usually faster than me. But that Saturday she is not feeling well, so she is up for my 2/1 pace. And it works. I cannot believe how well I do. Now I’ve got it! The next two long runs are easy (another shock) and it is finally a week before the marathon.
I start crying. I cry whenever I think about the marathon, which is a lot. My friends ask me about the marathon and I start crying. My boss in California calls to wish me luck and I start crying. My ex asks how I’m doing and I start crying. I visualize the finish line and tears roll down my cheeks.
I’m crying because I know everything is in place. I am prepared. I am ready. I can do this 26.2 miles.
The Day
Seattle was on display – blue skies, great temperature, although definitely too warm for this event. My camelback is filled not only with electrolyte-enhanced water but also stuffed with a banana (in case I get hungry) and chocolate gels, sunscreen, 2 bandaids and Body Glide wipes, with a visor hat hanging off the back. My cell is in my bra, my Shuffle is full of my running songs, (including 20 consecutive plays of ‘Beat It’), my Garmin is set to 2/1, and I have a small plastic bag that contains a few pretzels and energy bar pieces. I Vaselined my feet and Body Glided my body. My shirt is pink, my headband is pink, my wristbands are pink, my socks are pink, and so are my shoes. Jessi jokes that I could just carry a rolling suitcase, but I'm going to be out there longer than the rest of our team and I need all the tools I can muster, knowing, of course, the most important tool is my brain.
Elizabeth and I run together for the first 15 miles, enjoying Lake Washington, the bald eagle, the people, seeing her sister, the excitement. The sign that split the Half from the Full made my heart stop a second – I could change my mind right there; but Elizabeth turned right for the Full so I did, too. Going east on the bridge was great, but by the turnaround it was too hot and so was I. We both were slowing a bit, and the tunnel came none too soon (except for the band inside the tunnel – it was so loud my ears hurt!) But there was a water station on the other side, and that’s when I made another great decision; I threw water all over me and cooled down. Did that the rest of the way and didn’t have a problem with the heat again.
At about mile 16 Elizabeth decided to go ahead; I was having trouble with 2/1. Another great decision: I could no longer do 2/1 but I sure could march to ‘Beat It.’ So I did. For 9.2 miles it was me and Michael Jackson – and I never missed a ‘beat’! I passed spectators and yelled that it was my first marathon – they cheered me on. I looked at the views of Seattle, thought how lucky I was, knew I was supported from above and below, was strong. Several times I had been told, “you only get one first marathon, so enjoy it.” I did.
The only issue I had was the need to pee. Before mile 24 I never had to; I imagine I was sweating it out as fast as I was taking it in. (I only stopped four times on the route, twice to refill my camelback, twice to stretch, for a total of about 3 minutes.) But going down the viaduct, I had to pee very badly. There was no potty in site. Well, I did what I had to do – I trickled a bit at a time for 2 miles, didn’t want to make a mess in my shoes by doing it all at once!
Jessi and I were texting each other’s mileage along the way, (she being in front and my being last), until I poured water down my front and ruined my phone, so I didn’t know how anyone would know when I would be coming in. But Angela was watching online and let Jessi know where I was, so when I came down the ramp (still marching to ‘Beat It’, mind you!) there my team was! I was pretty close to crying at that point – it was the best feeling to know that these women that I so admire and respect and love were there to greet me.
Would I change anything? Yes – I would bring a small camera like Connie Many did to take pictures, and I would remember that my cell phone was in my bra when I poured water over me. That’s alI I would change.
What did I learn? It really IS about the journey and all the little decisions you make to get to the goal. It is the small steps that take us there, that coalesce into an accomplishment. I learned to listen to everyone and use what worked best for me.
Until today I didn’t REALLY comprehend the breadth of that concept. So yes, I’m in awe of myself. The best decision I made was to surround myself with a community of women that helped me get to a place I didn’t even know I needed to go– the place of complete, utter accomplishment of a goal I never even suspected I had in me. The place of loving me.
.
Life is soooooo good!
The back story:
Until 3 years ago, all I had done was the Danskin sprint triathlon. That’s it. I wasn’t fast in any of the three sports, but my accomplishment came in finishing. I didn’t even want to join RTB because you had to do 2 events, and that scared me. The Danskin was all I thought I had in me. (I didn’t even get a wetsuit until RTB made me, because I thought wetsuits were for the good people, the ‘athletes’.)
But then Hope came along and I knew I needed what it was offering, so I gritted my teeth and decided I could do 2 triathlons. That first Hope year I did 4 tris, including an Olympic (I came in next to last because it took forever to run 6 miles), then I got talked into doing the Seattle Half Marathon in November 2007. I’m sure many of you have heard the stories of our Saturday training runs - I never asked how far we had to go because I knew there was no way I could do whatever miles we were going to do, and Shaun Linse talked the whole time so I never realized my whole body was screaming at me to stop this nonsense. But amazingly to myself, I completed the Seattle Half (oh, there’s another story there, but not now!).
The second Hope season, more tris and another Half. I’m learning about myself all this time. I’m a professional writer, I like process, I make lists. For this unfamiliar world of athletics, I used these skills in deciding what works for me and what doesn’t. I learn to take my wetsuit off immediately out of the water, I hear the word ‘electrolytes’ for the first time, I find out what a ‘hip flexor’ is and why mine hurt after doing a mile run – and how to eliminate that pain. I learn I have ‘quads’ and ‘hamstrings’ and I even figure out which one is where in my body. I learn how to use clip-on bike pedals. I start thinking about food as ‘carbs’ and ‘proteins.’ I discovered that using a camelback was essential to me. When Patty Swedberg mentioned that it made me hunch over I decided to strengthen my back muscles instead of giving up my camelback. When I found a pair of running shoes that worked (and were pink, to boot!) I bought two more pair. When the soles of my feet hurt, I discovered that even though they still look new, running shoes don’t last forever and when they break down your feet hurt.
I didn’t get much faster, but I got more efficient.
Getting to the Marathon
Then one day Angela Meeks says “let’s do the Portland Marathon!” I say “Okay!” But during a 3 week trip back east to work I got plantar fascitis (I had no clue then why it hurt to walk, the diagnosis came later) and when I got better there was not enough time to train for Portland in October. Then Jessi Richardson tosses the Inaugural Rock and Roll Marathon at us and I signed up.
Now, understand that during these two years I was ashamed that I couldn’t run well. I would run and then I would have to walk, then I would run again. I thought I was supposed to run the whole way, and physically I just couldn’t do it. So I settled into doing what I called a “trot.’ I trotted well, though, but it was a pretty slow trot, but at least I was ‘running’! I secretly didn’t think there was any way on this green Earth I could trot for 26.2 miles. I figured something would happen to my body (like I couldn’t do Portland) and I wouldn’t REALLY have to do this one.
My ex-husband pleads with me not to do a marathon because he is afraid I will injure myself, and that is a real concern for me, too. I heard all the stories about people who couldn’t finish a marathon, how they hurt themselves and were in rehab forever, how hard it is on your body, how it takes weeks to recover, and all the injuries you get. Those possibilities didn’t excite me, either. Then I discover that the reason there are so few women in my age group is because they have all run themselves into the ground earlier in life – they now have bad knees, bad ankles, bad everything – and I’m fresh!!! Me, who has never done anything like this, has good knees, good feet, good everything. Another great decision: make sure I don’t injure my freshness, even if it means being consistent instead of fast.
The training plan was another new thing. I looked at several in the marathon book and threw up when I saw how much running you have to do to train for a marathon. Then Angela casually mentioned a “Run/Walk” plan – and I think, “People actually train to walk?” So I did my own investigation and find that yes, people do train to run/walk marathons – and there is no shame in it. And I don’t have to trot the whole way! I can run/walk!!!!!!
Karen Nolting blesses my run/walk plan. I train according to schedule, but I start having trouble when the plan gets to 4 minutes run, 1 minute walk. Can’t do it. I start to back it down to 3/2 or 3/1 and now I’m getting worried. What if I can’t get to 5/1 like the plan says? Well, then, I guess I can’t do the marathon. I’ll be last, I won’t finish, I won’t make the cut off. I will have failed. I am not happy, which surprises me because I now realize I really want to do this marathon.
I do the Kirkland Half as a training run, and I struggle with 4/1. The next weekend I do the Tacoma Half. The night before I just happen to load Michael Jackson’s ‘Beat It’ on my Shuffle. That day was another struggle with 4/1, which eventually gave way to 3/1. Then I saw a long hill and I just said “screw it.” ‘Beat It’ came on and I marched all the way up that hill, replaying that song. I did it well, too, passing running people. It was another good decision, but at that moment I didn’t know how good.
I mentioned my struggle to Angela. She had just read something that says that if you run a 15 minute pace (me!) than you should be at a 2/1 run/walk. Really, I think. Isn’t that like failing? Or cheating? But the next Saturday is our 20 mile run and I am willing to try anything (because I really want to do this marathon now, and I know I have to be prepared and not have any pain so I can focus on the mental part.)
So I do. Elizabeth McCarty is my running partner and usually faster than me. But that Saturday she is not feeling well, so she is up for my 2/1 pace. And it works. I cannot believe how well I do. Now I’ve got it! The next two long runs are easy (another shock) and it is finally a week before the marathon.
I start crying. I cry whenever I think about the marathon, which is a lot. My friends ask me about the marathon and I start crying. My boss in California calls to wish me luck and I start crying. My ex asks how I’m doing and I start crying. I visualize the finish line and tears roll down my cheeks.
I’m crying because I know everything is in place. I am prepared. I am ready. I can do this 26.2 miles.
The Day
Seattle was on display – blue skies, great temperature, although definitely too warm for this event. My camelback is filled not only with electrolyte-enhanced water but also stuffed with a banana (in case I get hungry) and chocolate gels, sunscreen, 2 bandaids and Body Glide wipes, with a visor hat hanging off the back. My cell is in my bra, my Shuffle is full of my running songs, (including 20 consecutive plays of ‘Beat It’), my Garmin is set to 2/1, and I have a small plastic bag that contains a few pretzels and energy bar pieces. I Vaselined my feet and Body Glided my body. My shirt is pink, my headband is pink, my wristbands are pink, my socks are pink, and so are my shoes. Jessi jokes that I could just carry a rolling suitcase, but I'm going to be out there longer than the rest of our team and I need all the tools I can muster, knowing, of course, the most important tool is my brain.
Elizabeth and I run together for the first 15 miles, enjoying Lake Washington, the bald eagle, the people, seeing her sister, the excitement. The sign that split the Half from the Full made my heart stop a second – I could change my mind right there; but Elizabeth turned right for the Full so I did, too. Going east on the bridge was great, but by the turnaround it was too hot and so was I. We both were slowing a bit, and the tunnel came none too soon (except for the band inside the tunnel – it was so loud my ears hurt!) But there was a water station on the other side, and that’s when I made another great decision; I threw water all over me and cooled down. Did that the rest of the way and didn’t have a problem with the heat again.
At about mile 16 Elizabeth decided to go ahead; I was having trouble with 2/1. Another great decision: I could no longer do 2/1 but I sure could march to ‘Beat It.’ So I did. For 9.2 miles it was me and Michael Jackson – and I never missed a ‘beat’! I passed spectators and yelled that it was my first marathon – they cheered me on. I looked at the views of Seattle, thought how lucky I was, knew I was supported from above and below, was strong. Several times I had been told, “you only get one first marathon, so enjoy it.” I did.
The only issue I had was the need to pee. Before mile 24 I never had to; I imagine I was sweating it out as fast as I was taking it in. (I only stopped four times on the route, twice to refill my camelback, twice to stretch, for a total of about 3 minutes.) But going down the viaduct, I had to pee very badly. There was no potty in site. Well, I did what I had to do – I trickled a bit at a time for 2 miles, didn’t want to make a mess in my shoes by doing it all at once!
Jessi and I were texting each other’s mileage along the way, (she being in front and my being last), until I poured water down my front and ruined my phone, so I didn’t know how anyone would know when I would be coming in. But Angela was watching online and let Jessi know where I was, so when I came down the ramp (still marching to ‘Beat It’, mind you!) there my team was! I was pretty close to crying at that point – it was the best feeling to know that these women that I so admire and respect and love were there to greet me.
Would I change anything? Yes – I would bring a small camera like Connie Many did to take pictures, and I would remember that my cell phone was in my bra when I poured water over me. That’s alI I would change.
What did I learn? It really IS about the journey and all the little decisions you make to get to the goal. It is the small steps that take us there, that coalesce into an accomplishment. I learned to listen to everyone and use what worked best for me.
Until today I didn’t REALLY comprehend the breadth of that concept. So yes, I’m in awe of myself. The best decision I made was to surround myself with a community of women that helped me get to a place I didn’t even know I needed to go– the place of complete, utter accomplishment of a goal I never even suspected I had in me. The place of loving me.
.
Life is soooooo good!
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
With a little help from my friends...
People can't understand why a man runs. They don't see any sport in it. Argue it lacks the sight and thrill of body contact. Yet, the conflict is there, more raw and challenging than any man versus man competition. For in running it is man against himself, the cruelest of opponents. The other runners are not the real enemies. His adversary lies within him, in his ability, with brain and heart to master himself and his emotions." - Glen Cunningham; 2-time Olympian
Running… with the Rock-n-Roll marathon looming, my training has focused mainly on running. Last week while running 20 miles with my marathon & ½ marathon training pals I found myself running alone. I have come to realize that will happen. I’m fast, but I start slow. I surge, but I get tired. It is really hard for me to stay with the pack. During this run I focused really hard to just run at a steady pace. But I still was alone for most of it. This really isn’t a bad thing for me. Knowing that my teammates are ahead or behind me is comforting and I’m ok with that. But even knowing that I’m not alone during these long runs I find my mind playing tricks on me. Cathy calls it “mind chatter”.
I won’t revisit every mile of my 20 mile run… and without a garmin I can’t really recall anyways. But there were some moments that stuck in my mind.
My morning began at 5:45am – rode to Seward Park with Shaun where we met Jessi. What a beautiful day. We were to meet Ruth, Jan and Stacey (Jessi’s friend) at mile 7. Cathy & Elizabeth started earlier so we’d meet up with them afterwards for a dip in the lake.
Mile 1-7: I started off with Jessi & Shaun. We were running along Lake Washington. It was beautiful. They pulled ahead of me… they were in my sights for the longest time but they slipped away until I couldn’t see them anymore. So I ran. I feel heavy and that early in the run my mind was wondering if I’d make it at all…
Mile 7-11: I made it to where we were meeting Jan, Ruth & Stacey. They were waiting for me and we refueled and stretched a bit. Then we were off. Again, I saw them all slip away. As I was coming up on the street that we had to go down I saw Jan waiting for me. She didn’t want me to miss the turn and get lost! I was so tired and Jan’s feet were fresh and ready to run. I felt like I was holding her back. I slipped behind but she always was in my sight. We reached the turnaround together and headed back the way we came. It was so kind of Jan to hang with me but I just couldn’t keep up with her pace. At least we were half way there.
Mile 11-15: We met again at Jan’s car to refuel and stretch. Again, we were off and I slipped away from the group. We were at Lecshi and I decided I needed to walk through the town before running again. Walking really pushed me behind everyone. But I knew I had to keep moving. I was just under I-90 and coming to the path by the water. I knew I was getting closer now and felt I needed to dig deep and stay focused on running. I found a good, long song on my ipod and I ran. I keep thinking that this is feeling ok. Happy thoughts. I ran all the way to Genese Park (Danskin swim & transition area). I think this was about mile 14 or 15. I decided to walk awhile and get my heart rate down. At this point I needed to take in the sights and sounds of this beautiful day and just enjoy it.
Mile 16-18: Started running again. I really wanted to focus on my running pace. I didn’t want to finish by walking. Looking ahead I didn’t see the girls. I starting to feel the pressure that everyone was waiting for me, again. I was hurting. I was having so many doubts come across my mind. I keep thinking this is the hardest thing I have ever done. Not just this day of running, running in general. I’m alone out in the middle of Seattle. My eyes welled up and I was about to cry. Why? Why do I let these thoughts in my mind? I had to get a hold of myself… All this time I’m moving. Run, walk, and run again. I get to mile 18. I know this because we have to run the 2 mile loop around Seward Park to get in our 20 miles. I get to the parking lot and figure 18 miles is good for one day. I’ll wait for the girls at water… but my destiny for this day wasn’t to end this way.
Mile 18-20: I’m walking in the parking lot towards the inviting lake when I see a familiar face. It’s Cathy running towards me. She gets closer and I say hi. Once she realizes it’s me she says “Hi Connie” and then almost breaks down. She was on mile 16 of 18 miles. I think the longest run she has had before that was maybe 14. She was debating if she should stop. I knew that she needed to finish. She would have never forgiven herself if she stopped. I told her we’d finish up the last 2 miles together. In a strange way I felt like an angel that she came upon a friend at the moment she needed me most. I forgot all about my pains and all the emotions that I had been having the last 4 hours. We finished up our last 2 miles together. We did what we set out to do that day.
To all of my running partners ~ Thank you for encouraging me and believing in me when I need it the most.
Running is a big question mark that's there each and every day. It asks you, 'Are you going to be a wimp or are you going to be strong today?' " - Peter Maher
Just keep moving forward & BE STRONG
Running… with the Rock-n-Roll marathon looming, my training has focused mainly on running. Last week while running 20 miles with my marathon & ½ marathon training pals I found myself running alone. I have come to realize that will happen. I’m fast, but I start slow. I surge, but I get tired. It is really hard for me to stay with the pack. During this run I focused really hard to just run at a steady pace. But I still was alone for most of it. This really isn’t a bad thing for me. Knowing that my teammates are ahead or behind me is comforting and I’m ok with that. But even knowing that I’m not alone during these long runs I find my mind playing tricks on me. Cathy calls it “mind chatter”.
I won’t revisit every mile of my 20 mile run… and without a garmin I can’t really recall anyways. But there were some moments that stuck in my mind.
My morning began at 5:45am – rode to Seward Park with Shaun where we met Jessi. What a beautiful day. We were to meet Ruth, Jan and Stacey (Jessi’s friend) at mile 7. Cathy & Elizabeth started earlier so we’d meet up with them afterwards for a dip in the lake.
Mile 1-7: I started off with Jessi & Shaun. We were running along Lake Washington. It was beautiful. They pulled ahead of me… they were in my sights for the longest time but they slipped away until I couldn’t see them anymore. So I ran. I feel heavy and that early in the run my mind was wondering if I’d make it at all…
Mile 7-11: I made it to where we were meeting Jan, Ruth & Stacey. They were waiting for me and we refueled and stretched a bit. Then we were off. Again, I saw them all slip away. As I was coming up on the street that we had to go down I saw Jan waiting for me. She didn’t want me to miss the turn and get lost! I was so tired and Jan’s feet were fresh and ready to run. I felt like I was holding her back. I slipped behind but she always was in my sight. We reached the turnaround together and headed back the way we came. It was so kind of Jan to hang with me but I just couldn’t keep up with her pace. At least we were half way there.
Mile 11-15: We met again at Jan’s car to refuel and stretch. Again, we were off and I slipped away from the group. We were at Lecshi and I decided I needed to walk through the town before running again. Walking really pushed me behind everyone. But I knew I had to keep moving. I was just under I-90 and coming to the path by the water. I knew I was getting closer now and felt I needed to dig deep and stay focused on running. I found a good, long song on my ipod and I ran. I keep thinking that this is feeling ok. Happy thoughts. I ran all the way to Genese Park (Danskin swim & transition area). I think this was about mile 14 or 15. I decided to walk awhile and get my heart rate down. At this point I needed to take in the sights and sounds of this beautiful day and just enjoy it.
Mile 16-18: Started running again. I really wanted to focus on my running pace. I didn’t want to finish by walking. Looking ahead I didn’t see the girls. I starting to feel the pressure that everyone was waiting for me, again. I was hurting. I was having so many doubts come across my mind. I keep thinking this is the hardest thing I have ever done. Not just this day of running, running in general. I’m alone out in the middle of Seattle. My eyes welled up and I was about to cry. Why? Why do I let these thoughts in my mind? I had to get a hold of myself… All this time I’m moving. Run, walk, and run again. I get to mile 18. I know this because we have to run the 2 mile loop around Seward Park to get in our 20 miles. I get to the parking lot and figure 18 miles is good for one day. I’ll wait for the girls at water… but my destiny for this day wasn’t to end this way.
Mile 18-20: I’m walking in the parking lot towards the inviting lake when I see a familiar face. It’s Cathy running towards me. She gets closer and I say hi. Once she realizes it’s me she says “Hi Connie” and then almost breaks down. She was on mile 16 of 18 miles. I think the longest run she has had before that was maybe 14. She was debating if she should stop. I knew that she needed to finish. She would have never forgiven herself if she stopped. I told her we’d finish up the last 2 miles together. In a strange way I felt like an angel that she came upon a friend at the moment she needed me most. I forgot all about my pains and all the emotions that I had been having the last 4 hours. We finished up our last 2 miles together. We did what we set out to do that day.
To all of my running partners ~ Thank you for encouraging me and believing in me when I need it the most.
Running is a big question mark that's there each and every day. It asks you, 'Are you going to be a wimp or are you going to be strong today?' " - Peter Maher
Just keep moving forward & BE STRONG
Monday, June 1, 2009
Joanna's thoughts on the West Seattle 5K
Amy talked a group of us into running in the West Seattle 5k this morning. The group ended up being Amy, Teresa, Rachel, Kathy G and myself. The course was an up and back along Alki Beach so the view and water were amazing and it was FLAT... which I was LOVING after the Kirkland 5k hilly course. I took off at the start at a comfortable pace that I thought I would be able to maintain. About a 1/2 mile into it I realized that I forgot to use my inhaler (it's a new thing and I'm completely not use to it) but since I was feeling good I decided to keep going. I just tried to focus on taking slow deep breaths as much as possible. I also turned up a music a little more so I couldn't hear my breathing... which can sound scary sometimes. I looked down at my watch at the 1st mile marker and was in the 12 minute range. A 12 minute mile is the best that I have ever run. WHOOHOOO! Doing good, feel good, just keep moving. My excitement lasted only about another quarter of a mile before I started going downhill. My breathing was becoming a little out of control so I tried to walk a few steps in hopes of getting it to stabilize. Walking hurt more than my running did so I started to jog again. My breathing got worse so I faced the fact that I had to walk for a while. It still amazes me how mental running and racing is. I always assumed that the person in the best condition finishes first. I wasn't until last September that I realized your need to mental condition yourself right along side of your other physical conditioning. Within the first quarter of a mile of walking, I had completely talked myself out of running another step and was almost to the point of just not finishing. It is crazy how fast all though negative thoughts come flooding into your head. First was the list of things that I screwed up during the race... didn't use my inhaler, planned food and water around the wrong time time (I thought it was at 9a but it was really 9:30a), started at too fast of a pace to maintain, I'm too hot, I'm tired, I didn't get enough sleep, I've been up since 5a, I need water and there isn't any, why didn't I think to bring water with me and so on in this big repeating loop. Kathy, who is excellent at pacing, went flying by me. While cheering and encouraging her, my negativity for myself just got more intense. Then as I rounded the half way point, there was this AMAZING view... the water and beach were quiet and inviting with crystal clear snow topped mountains in the background. As I took a moment to realize how lucky I was to be outside to take in the view, a breeze came off of the water and cooled my burning up face. That was all it took to be able to fight off the negative thoughts. I wanted to finish strong. I wanted to look strong as I ran past Amy, Teresa and Rachel. I wanted them to keep running and was worried that if they saw me walking that it would make it easier for them to give up on their running. The last time I rode my bike with Amy, she mentioned that I was the rabbit that she kept trying to catch. I didn't want to make it too easy for her to catch me and if she did, I wanted to at least be running so it would mean more. Instead of paying attention to my head, breathing or watch, I started picking out people ahead of me that were walking and one at a time made it my mission to pass them. Slowly and steadily I was able to pass all of them. Then after you pass them, I tried to make sure I was moving quick enough that they couldn't pass me. This kicked my head into a more competitive place and I was able to run the entire second half of the race. At some point past the 2 mile mark, I realized I was under 30 minutes. That moment of realization that you might actually be able to beat your best time is also incredibly motivating. I've never come in under 40 minutes on a 5k before in my entire life. The first time under 45 minutes was just a few months ago in February at our team 5k run test. Earlier in May I finished the Kirkland 5k in 41:45. Realizing that I had a chance to beat my current PR definitely kept me going. I did have to fight the negativity again though when the "if onlys" started up. If only I hadn't walked. If only I had walked faster. If only I had walked less. Thankfully that was short lived cause if I was going to beat my own record with the walking, that means that once I get to the point of not needing to walk I am going to rock the 5k :). The Garmin placed me finishing at 40:34. I cut a little over a minute off my time and am proud that that. And more proud that I didn't give up and completely throw in the towel like I have before on other races and other trainings. I'll get there. Hitting a 5k under 40 minutes will just have to be left as a goal for another day. The gals I races with all did amazing. Teresa and Amy came in so soon after I did that I missed seeing them cross the finish line cause I went to go grab a much needed water. I was there to watch Rachel finish with a big smile on her face. I think Kathy and Amy also broke their 5k times from Kirkland by at least a 1-2 minutes.
Saturday, May 30, 2009
Diana's First Tri Blog!
Finished the first tri of the season today can’t believe what a great day it turned out to be. I woke up to a bright and sunny day. Arrived at Lake Sammamish and couldn’t believe how many people were there. This was the first year that I had participated in the Issaquah Triathlon that takes place every year in May and I was not sure what to expect. Made sure to get my transition area set up and then I headed for the water to get warmed up for the swim. I did the friends and family wave with my friends Sean and Elizabeth. Sean was the person who had called my bluff last year and got me into this tri thing. At first I was a little intimidated, but after a little bit I just tried to focus on swimming and not everyone around me. Came out of the water and saw Jaapje there cheering me on….she has been thinking about getting involved with tri’s and wanted to see what it was all about. I then headed for the bike part thinking about a quick transition since Sean had made it out of the water ahead of me and I needed to catch up. Got on the bike, at first legs were a little tired, but about half way through I got past by these two people that had a really good cadence going and figured I could do that. Just before the turn around point there was a guy yelling that I needed to fix my sunglasses, since they were on crooked, at that time least of my worries, but explains some of the pictures that were taken. Made it into the transition area and got ready for the run. I headed out of the transition area and saw my husband who was waiting to cheer me on. I asked if he had seen Sean yet and he let me know that I had beaten him back….stopped for a quick photo opt and headed on my way. About that time I started to try and fix my crooked sunglasses which completely disintegrated in my hands….my poor Maui Jim’s they have been with me on so many runs and bike rides and now sadly they are finished. About this time I saw Teresa, Tina and Joanna cheering me on. I think I asked Teresa to hold my broken shades, but I could have just shoved them at her…thankfully she took them as I headed on my way to the run. It was a little different running on the fields compared to pavement or gravel, but I made it through. As I was heading towards the last 100 yards of the run I saw Patty….first question was whether or not I was ahead of Sean? I let her know I was and she told me to run faster….which I did as I was nearing the finish line I saw all of the Raise the Hope gals along with my husband cheering me on. What a great feeling! What a great day!
Sunday, May 17, 2009
Yakima River Canyon Ride
Congrats girls - You look awesome! how were those hot temps and LONG miles?! 34 of them! You look fantastic and very happy!
Thursday, April 2, 2009
My bike, my ride...
As most of you have heard, I tried spinning again (after attempting it once last year and hating it) with Jessi and Rachel at LA Fitness and had the complete opposite experience this time! I think there are a few reasons why:
1.) I lost weight since Jan 1st on WW, duh I know it should be obvious to me but it always surprises me how much more endurance I have, especially when trying the standing part.
2.) There aren't too many people in the class, so the room doesn't get overheated and miserable and unbearable. I think because it is in the morning helps with this too!
3.) I am meeting team mates there! Jessi and Rachel are also coming to the Mon class and it always helps me get my butt out of bed when I am meeting people there. Me, I will cancel on, but not other people? Hmm that sounds like a whole different blog topic..so I won't expound on how wrong that is right now.
4.) I have so much energy after the class!
Anyway I digress with all the reasons I love spinning, the point of this blog was this.
My first day at this class the instructor said to sit down if we needed to but to make sure we push ourselves and I never felt any pressure to do more than I ever feel I can. So she said "it is your bike and your ride", do what you can do. That has become my motto and I say it to myself a lot during particularly tough times in spin class, I find it helps me to dig that little bit that I need to get the most out of each song and each class.
As I was spinning on Saturday and my mind was wandering during a long climb up a big hill, it occurred to me that this motto could apply to every single workout. Even during a group workout you are really only working for one person - yourself. Only you know how far is deep enough or too far - for you. So I decided right then not to look at the better bikers and compare my ride to their ride...because it is my bike and MY RIDE and I am going to get all I can out of it!
1.) I lost weight since Jan 1st on WW, duh I know it should be obvious to me but it always surprises me how much more endurance I have, especially when trying the standing part.
2.) There aren't too many people in the class, so the room doesn't get overheated and miserable and unbearable. I think because it is in the morning helps with this too!
3.) I am meeting team mates there! Jessi and Rachel are also coming to the Mon class and it always helps me get my butt out of bed when I am meeting people there. Me, I will cancel on, but not other people? Hmm that sounds like a whole different blog topic..so I won't expound on how wrong that is right now.
4.) I have so much energy after the class!
Anyway I digress with all the reasons I love spinning, the point of this blog was this.
My first day at this class the instructor said to sit down if we needed to but to make sure we push ourselves and I never felt any pressure to do more than I ever feel I can. So she said "it is your bike and your ride", do what you can do. That has become my motto and I say it to myself a lot during particularly tough times in spin class, I find it helps me to dig that little bit that I need to get the most out of each song and each class.
As I was spinning on Saturday and my mind was wandering during a long climb up a big hill, it occurred to me that this motto could apply to every single workout. Even during a group workout you are really only working for one person - yourself. Only you know how far is deep enough or too far - for you. So I decided right then not to look at the better bikers and compare my ride to their ride...because it is my bike and MY RIDE and I am going to get all I can out of it!
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Found this in "Everyday Sports Nutrition for Women". Interesting!!! have any of you experienced this???
Marathon Training Weight Gain
Tip #16
Marathon training weight gain…is this an oxymoron? Many people pursue marathon training in hopes of losing weight, only to find they are adding pounds as they progress through the weeks of training. It doesn’t make sense at first, but there may be real reasons why you are gaining weight.
“Most of our obstacles would melt away if, instead of cowering before them, we should make up our minds to walk boldly through them.” Orison Swett Marden
So, don’t be discouraged. Instead, check if any of these points are relevant to your habits during marathon training. Instead of cowering in fear of these potential weight promoters, identify that they are real issues that can be easily corrected. Then, don’t just walk boldly through them…take charge and run through them to stop the marathon training weight gain.
Weight Gain from Good Intentions
Are you overdoing it with carbohydrate calories while attempting to build/maintain fuel stores?
Carbs are the most important fuel for runners, but maybe you’re taking in more than you need. Try cutting back on your portions. Also, remember that carb calories from Gatorade Endurance or other sports drinks are only necessary if you are exercising longer than an hour or in extreme heat.
Are you overdoing beverage calories while attempting to stay hydrated?
You need to stay hydrated for safety and optimal performance. However, marathon training weight gain may be caused by drinking extra liquid calories. Water, sugar-free drinks like Crystal Light, caffeine-free iced-tea, non-fat milk and sports drinks as needed are best. Fruit juice has nutrition, but is very high in calories. Also, beware of that extra Starbucks specialty drink or that extra glass of wine. Smoothies can be healthy, but sometimes are the calorie equivalent of an entire meal.
Are you better hydrated compared to pre-marathon training?
Being well hydrated is a good thing. Marathon training weight gain from rehydration is just normalizing your weight. Be careful not to over-hydrate. If you feel bloated, have a headache and have gained weight during a run, then you are drinking too much fluid. Back off and adjust.
Are you attempting to eat healthier during marathon training? If you were skipping meals and eating junk, then you may be taking in more calories just by eating real food at regular times. For example, if you switched to healthier fats (like olive oil instead of butter)…good for you from a health standpoint. However, healthier fat choices are not always lower calorie choices, so you still need to cut back on the portions of any type of fat. If you started eating bagels for breakfast (instead of nothing), okay, but some bagels are huge (and therefore a huge jump in calories). In your attempt to avoid marathon training weight gain, think both quality and quantity.
Weight Gain from Mind Games
Have you added calorie rewards?
Have you said, “Wow, look how much I ran...I can have that not-usually-eaten-cookie or that extra bowl of tortilla chips with that extra margarita”? In that case, the extra calories burned in running are wiped out by the extra calories eaten. Be realistic. One mile burns one hundred calories.
Are you resting more than usual?
Are your running miles in addition to your normal activity or in place of it? It is common for some people to rest more during training, thinking, “Wow I ran far...I can relax the rest of the day”. Another way to look at it is in hours. Before marathon training a typical Saturday was a few hours of golf or tennis followed by grocery shopping, laundry, yard work and then out with friends. You were moving constantly. Now a Saturday involves two hours of running followed by vegging on the couch most of the day and ordering a pizza. So, keep up the momentum even on days with long runs. I am not against rest and recovery, but don’t be a marathon training sloth.
True Physical Changes
Are you building muscle?
You are working your muscles when you run, so there may be a small weight gain. The addition of muscle is unlikely to be the primary cause for marathon training weight gain, but could be one of many small changes that add up. (It is another story if you are doing heavy duty weight training, as this could add significant bulk which could be counterproductive to your training. It may be best to do this type of muscle building in the “off season”).
Are you building glycogen stores?
Good for you since glycogen is the stored carbs you need to make the distance. The reason that glycogen storage could add weight is that your body automatically stores water with the glycogen. This is the reason that an Atkins-type of carb-deprivation causes fast weight loss as water loss. Atkins, with its water loss and lack of carbs, would be a total disaster for anyone training for a marathon. Glycogen storage, then, is one of many small changes that add small amount of weight, but this is the type of marathon training weight gain you should expect and accept.
Are you losing inches?
If you are experiencing weight gain, but a loss of inches, you may be losing body fat…excellent. When it comes down to it, your body composition (fat vs. lean) is a better health predictor, and likely performance predictor, than body weight alone. So, take a few measurements (hips, waist) and take note of improvements over the weeks. You can also get your body fat tested by someone trained in the accurate techniques. You may be on the right track and not even know it.
Is the body just freaking out after a long run?
It is yet to be determined how much fluid shift occurs because of inflammation and the other resulting joys of marathon training. However, this would more likely be like a short-term gain followed shortly by a return to normal weight. The best advice is to track your weight over time and look for personal trends.
Are you experiencing “rebound hunger”?
It’s common for some runners to have little desire for eating after a long run. The first concern is skipping the ideal time for recovery nutrition . The weight-related concern is that eventually your running-related hormone changes return to normal and you are left feeling famished. You are so hungry that you make choices on impulse, often with no regard for quality or quantity of the calories. Result: a higher calorie intake than is needed. Repeat this pattern for a few weeks with the resulting marathon training weight gain.
Marathon Training Nutrition Tip of the Day: Make a list of the possible reasons for your marathon training weight gain, find solutions for the reasons on this website, and let the melting begin!
Contact me with your marathon training weight gain or nutrition questions.
Check out more marathon nutrition training blogs.
Everyday is your day to succeed
Marathon Training Weight Gain
Tip #16
Marathon training weight gain…is this an oxymoron? Many people pursue marathon training in hopes of losing weight, only to find they are adding pounds as they progress through the weeks of training. It doesn’t make sense at first, but there may be real reasons why you are gaining weight.
“Most of our obstacles would melt away if, instead of cowering before them, we should make up our minds to walk boldly through them.” Orison Swett Marden
So, don’t be discouraged. Instead, check if any of these points are relevant to your habits during marathon training. Instead of cowering in fear of these potential weight promoters, identify that they are real issues that can be easily corrected. Then, don’t just walk boldly through them…take charge and run through them to stop the marathon training weight gain.
Weight Gain from Good Intentions
Are you overdoing it with carbohydrate calories while attempting to build/maintain fuel stores?
Carbs are the most important fuel for runners, but maybe you’re taking in more than you need. Try cutting back on your portions. Also, remember that carb calories from Gatorade Endurance or other sports drinks are only necessary if you are exercising longer than an hour or in extreme heat.
Are you overdoing beverage calories while attempting to stay hydrated?
You need to stay hydrated for safety and optimal performance. However, marathon training weight gain may be caused by drinking extra liquid calories. Water, sugar-free drinks like Crystal Light, caffeine-free iced-tea, non-fat milk and sports drinks as needed are best. Fruit juice has nutrition, but is very high in calories. Also, beware of that extra Starbucks specialty drink or that extra glass of wine. Smoothies can be healthy, but sometimes are the calorie equivalent of an entire meal.
Are you better hydrated compared to pre-marathon training?
Being well hydrated is a good thing. Marathon training weight gain from rehydration is just normalizing your weight. Be careful not to over-hydrate. If you feel bloated, have a headache and have gained weight during a run, then you are drinking too much fluid. Back off and adjust.
Are you attempting to eat healthier during marathon training? If you were skipping meals and eating junk, then you may be taking in more calories just by eating real food at regular times. For example, if you switched to healthier fats (like olive oil instead of butter)…good for you from a health standpoint. However, healthier fat choices are not always lower calorie choices, so you still need to cut back on the portions of any type of fat. If you started eating bagels for breakfast (instead of nothing), okay, but some bagels are huge (and therefore a huge jump in calories). In your attempt to avoid marathon training weight gain, think both quality and quantity.
Weight Gain from Mind Games
Have you added calorie rewards?
Have you said, “Wow, look how much I ran...I can have that not-usually-eaten-cookie or that extra bowl of tortilla chips with that extra margarita”? In that case, the extra calories burned in running are wiped out by the extra calories eaten. Be realistic. One mile burns one hundred calories.
Are you resting more than usual?
Are your running miles in addition to your normal activity or in place of it? It is common for some people to rest more during training, thinking, “Wow I ran far...I can relax the rest of the day”. Another way to look at it is in hours. Before marathon training a typical Saturday was a few hours of golf or tennis followed by grocery shopping, laundry, yard work and then out with friends. You were moving constantly. Now a Saturday involves two hours of running followed by vegging on the couch most of the day and ordering a pizza. So, keep up the momentum even on days with long runs. I am not against rest and recovery, but don’t be a marathon training sloth.
True Physical Changes
Are you building muscle?
You are working your muscles when you run, so there may be a small weight gain. The addition of muscle is unlikely to be the primary cause for marathon training weight gain, but could be one of many small changes that add up. (It is another story if you are doing heavy duty weight training, as this could add significant bulk which could be counterproductive to your training. It may be best to do this type of muscle building in the “off season”).
Are you building glycogen stores?
Good for you since glycogen is the stored carbs you need to make the distance. The reason that glycogen storage could add weight is that your body automatically stores water with the glycogen. This is the reason that an Atkins-type of carb-deprivation causes fast weight loss as water loss. Atkins, with its water loss and lack of carbs, would be a total disaster for anyone training for a marathon. Glycogen storage, then, is one of many small changes that add small amount of weight, but this is the type of marathon training weight gain you should expect and accept.
Are you losing inches?
If you are experiencing weight gain, but a loss of inches, you may be losing body fat…excellent. When it comes down to it, your body composition (fat vs. lean) is a better health predictor, and likely performance predictor, than body weight alone. So, take a few measurements (hips, waist) and take note of improvements over the weeks. You can also get your body fat tested by someone trained in the accurate techniques. You may be on the right track and not even know it.
Is the body just freaking out after a long run?
It is yet to be determined how much fluid shift occurs because of inflammation and the other resulting joys of marathon training. However, this would more likely be like a short-term gain followed shortly by a return to normal weight. The best advice is to track your weight over time and look for personal trends.
Are you experiencing “rebound hunger”?
It’s common for some runners to have little desire for eating after a long run. The first concern is skipping the ideal time for recovery nutrition . The weight-related concern is that eventually your running-related hormone changes return to normal and you are left feeling famished. You are so hungry that you make choices on impulse, often with no regard for quality or quantity of the calories. Result: a higher calorie intake than is needed. Repeat this pattern for a few weeks with the resulting marathon training weight gain.
Marathon Training Nutrition Tip of the Day: Make a list of the possible reasons for your marathon training weight gain, find solutions for the reasons on this website, and let the melting begin!
Contact me with your marathon training weight gain or nutrition questions.
Check out more marathon nutrition training blogs.
Everyday is your day to succeed
Saturday, January 31, 2009
GREAT Launch Meeting
Throw 25 hopeful women into a nice cozy family room and ask them to quickly introduce themselves and their athletic goals for this year and what do you get? Tears, of course.
The information meeting of Raise the Hope's 3rd season is in the history books and will be a great memory for all the girls and boys (what?? boys??) who attended.
Boys first...George Anderson, accompanying his participating wife, Patti, charmingly gave encouragement and great praise to the gals of Raise the Hope. The Andersons' business, "Kent Easthill Physical Therapy" is sponsoring RTH and we are VERY grateful to George and Patti for helping this program stay AFFORDABLE and giving it that family feeling they are so good at.
Then one gal after another told about themselves and their hopes for 2009, and their stories as triathletes and runners from their histories of varying length. Some let on in the telling of their stories, that they think because they aren't typically at the front of races, that their race experiences are different or less valuable than the "faster" athletes on the team. More than one impressive woman tells her story of what it was like to be last at a race. She tells of her feelings of discouragement, embarrassment, determination and then the great accomplishment that met her at the finish line! These are the gals that truly appreciate - maybe more than any other group of athletes on the larger Raise the Bar team - the reward of the finish line. It doesn't take more than one or two races for any of us to want the second best reward - a personal best. And that's what we'll see from the Raise the Hope gals (and the RTB team!) this year as they take on the 2009 season.
Check back for race reports and furthur reports from the inspirational group of gals. And if you're a woman wanting to train with some down-to-earth girls who know how to work hard, play hard, and enjoy victory, then join us!! You're welcome to step into the program any time.Patty Swedberg
The stories that were told around the room were nothing less than inspirational - women
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
LET’S GET THIS PARTY STARTED :)
I can’t even tell you how excited I am about our 2009 program and looking forward to seeing your success this year. If you are new, WELCOME, and if you are returning, so glad to see you again, and if you are still thinking, good for you!
If you fall into any of those groups then come to the kick off potluck meeting January 29th. You can come check things out and decide if RTH is right for you. The RTH Calendar will have all the details soon.
Now, I know the thoughts that hit this time of year. Everyone is pushing New Year’s resolutions and survey shows that 80% of people will abandon them by Valentines Day. Not you, not this time J Really this is your YEAR!!!!!
The key to successful and permanent weight loss in finding something that you can do as a lifestyle and finding ways to help you to keep at it when obstacles get in your way. Raise the Hope will help you set real goals and give you not only the tools but the support and accountability to see it through. We all have great intentions, but we need more than intentions to see it through. RTH takes those intentions and helps support you and them to reality.
IT IS GOING TO FUN and you will form some amazing friendships along the way. Most of us came in alone and found a family. Really - it is amazing the bonds of friendships that have been formed.
READY??? Come on, we got a spot for you and can’t wait to see you cross that finish line.
I can’t even tell you how excited I am about our 2009 program and looking forward to seeing your success this year. If you are new, WELCOME, and if you are returning, so glad to see you again, and if you are still thinking, good for you!
If you fall into any of those groups then come to the kick off potluck meeting January 29th. You can come check things out and decide if RTH is right for you. The RTH Calendar will have all the details soon.
Now, I know the thoughts that hit this time of year. Everyone is pushing New Year’s resolutions and survey shows that 80% of people will abandon them by Valentines Day. Not you, not this time J Really this is your YEAR!!!!!
The key to successful and permanent weight loss in finding something that you can do as a lifestyle and finding ways to help you to keep at it when obstacles get in your way. Raise the Hope will help you set real goals and give you not only the tools but the support and accountability to see it through. We all have great intentions, but we need more than intentions to see it through. RTH takes those intentions and helps support you and them to reality.
IT IS GOING TO FUN and you will form some amazing friendships along the way. Most of us came in alone and found a family. Really - it is amazing the bonds of friendships that have been formed.
READY??? Come on, we got a spot for you and can’t wait to see you cross that finish line.
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