It Is Done!

Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure Triathlon 2008

I swam...

I biked...

I ran...

I relaxed!

(That's pretty much it in a nutshell!)

TRI Update

My triathlon is exactly one month from today! I have not been training as much as I should have at all. I've chalked it up to a complete and absolute lack of personal discipline. I encouraged a friend to do this along with me (from my running club) and she's been super busy and unable to train with me on our 'assigned' days. So, instead of just going on my own (like I have for other races in the past), I've opted to stay home or do something else. Bad Angelena!

Last night I went to our local gym for about three hours and busted it out! I jumped on the stationary bike for 5 miles of 100+ RPM; ran to the locker room and changed into my running shorts and ran laps on the indoor track (approx 2.5 miles) and then ran back to the locker room (it's all about quick transitions, you understand) to throw on my suit and do laps. I must have looked absolutely ridiculous (and apparently on the edge of drowning) because the lifeguard kept leaning forward as if he was getting ready for a rescue. All in all it was a good night.

I have to admit that I feel very prepared for the run (only 2 miles) , somewhat prepared for the biking portion (only 12 miles) , and absolutely scared out of my whits about the swim. I think I can make the 1/4 mile without too many problems (I hope!), but the 'open water' issue has me cringing!

When we have vacationed to the ocean- I DON'T go into the water. Never past my ankles and even that is pushing my boundaries. I like to SEE where I am going. I like to know that large fish (aka: sharks) aren't going to feast on my flesh. You understand, right? The picture above is likened to the water I'll be swimming in. Eechk! What if it's freezing cold? What if I get confused and swim the wrong way? What if a giant duck attacks me!?

Truly, I'm looking forward to the race. It'll be good to tackle my fears and push my limits. I think that the reason I've done a lot of these races is because of the mental boundaries that can be crossed. In the past, I've been a person that opts out of doing things or going places because of that 'fear of the unknown'. I'm constantly reminded that 'God has not given me a spirit of fear, but rather power, love and a sound mind' to deal with any circumstance that comes my way.

So, you big algae infested lake-just watch out! Here I come! :)

"It's Okay...I'm in Training"

"Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.Better it is to be of an humble spirit with the lowly, than to divide the spoil with the proud."

Proverbs 16: 18-19

I have never owned a decent set of matching pots and pans. When my husband and I got married (almost eight years ago) we were given lots of different items that we hodge-podged together. After five or six years we "upgraded" to a matching set I found at the thrift store. Those lasted a while, but the last time I made a lemon meringue pie, hubby asked why I had used pepper in the recipe. No dearest, that would be Teflon flakes. It took all of ten seconds to realize that we needed new cookware and fast.

A friend of mine has a great set of Belgique cookware that she purchased years and years ago. They still look absolutely brand new and she raved about how well they have held up over time. So, I went on the hunt and found them at our local Macy's! The best part is that they have a lifetime warranty and I found them on clearance! (Did I mention- they are a matching set?)

My husband wished me a "Happy Valentines Day" and off to the mall I went in my trendy little heels. (Nester, you would have been proud). The housewares department is on the first floor and I entered on the second- so down the escalator I went. Click click...clickety click in those cute little shoes. I found my item and lugged the massive box over to the checkout counter. The attentive sales clerk noticed my heels and suggested that I pull up my vehicle to the delivery dock. I smiled sweetly and said with jest, "Oh, it's okay. I'm in training for a triathlon. If I can't carry this box out to my car- I've really got problems!" We all laughed as I turned to carry my box to my awaiting mini-van. Oh, the pride in my little sinful heart.

Then I saw it. It hadn't concerned me before, but now I saw my dilemma in the horizon. The escalator. The ESCALATOR. It was moving like the currant in an angry river... quickly it would swallow me without a second look. I couldn't go back now. I was a triathlon trainer for goodness sake! I persevered. (It's only now that I think about the elevator: helpful and handy. Waiting for the strollers, the handicapped and me- the heeled triathlon participant.)

Have you ever entered an escalator with no hands? And a box the size of TEXAS?! All I can say is it's a miracle I was going 'up'. 'Down' would have been a tragedy I wrote about from my hospital traction bed.

I jumped on. Literally. Jumped. Then...down...down...down I went. Hard. The box caught my forward fall. I teetered and tottered. I tried to look like a lady as I balanced myself in an upright position. Whew. I was on! I had made it! Oh, rats. I have to get off this thing! That was just as much fun. Okay- sidebar. Have you ever seen 'Wild Hearts Can't be Broken?' Do you remember when the poor blind girl decides against all odds to dive her horse and during her horrific training sessions she reaches out for the reigns and... Yeah, that was me.

Pride definitely goes before a fall. But, it certainly doesn't follow it- especially when all the makeup artists of Macy's are watching you fall onto the second floor of their store.

Inspiration & Devotion

(Please pause sonific song spot prior to watching video)

As I've been training for my upcoming triathlon, I was inspired to hear and watch the familiar story of Dick and Rick Hoyt. This father/son team has competed in many races, but with the challenge unparalleled to any other race participants. I dare you to watch without a box of Kleenex.

On Second Thought

Have you ever noticed that sometimes you blog on issues that are designed to help you keep your priorities in order? Something about brain function or the idea of printing your resolution for all to see. It's harder to back down and serves as a good reminder once it's out on the good old world wide web. This is indeed one of 'those' posts.

I had decided that 2008 was going to be the year of athletic triumph. If you read one of my earlier entries, it was decided that two half marathons, a triathlon and a multitude of small footraces lay in my future. Well, on second thought, that has been changed.

I am really excited to try something different this year and have set my sights on a spring triathlon. It is a sprint which will include a 1/2 mile swim, 18 mile bike ride, and finally finished with a 3.1 mile run. My goal is to finish in less than 2 hours. This said, of course, without actually going through the motions yet. Just my 'mind math' on how long it will take to do each thing all added together.


Training for the triathlon begins in 6 weeks. I know some of the people I'll be training with and let's just say that I'm going to need to "train" that entire time before we actually train just to be close to their starting point. I can run- this we know. But "left, right...left, right" doesn't prepare the body for the English channel or the Tour De France. This is going to be interesting to say the least, but I'm up for the challenge! (**That last statement was personal encouragement from me to my brain)

I went to work out last night and do my normal 2 mile run on the treadmill at our local gym. Since I get bored to tears working on endurance while indoors, I have decided that I will focus on speed. The treadmill computer is set to 7.5-8 minute miles and my hope is to not fly off the back into the unsuspecting elyptical machine participant. After I was done I hobbled over to the stationary bikes to get in a few miles there. Then onto some upper body workout and sit-ups on the mats. It was decided very quickly that I am much more out of shape than one would hope for a full body athletic event.

The half-marathon and the triathlon are within 6 weeks of each other. Since I am a full time mom and wife, training to do both would not only be overwhelming, but after reading up some last night it also looks like the training is different and would prove frustrating to do right around the same time.

So, back to square one. Triathlon in the spring and half-marathon in the fall. I'll throw in some 5k's along the route too just for fun. The journey begins!