I survived my first Olympic... I think

Well it's great to say that I actually did it.  I went further than a sprint and survived.  Yes it's only about half of what I'll have to do in 4 weeks, but still a big feat for me.

Yesterday was the  Pleasant Prairie Sprint/International Triathlon.  We had a great turnout from Midwest Multi-Sport, with about 14+ members in attendance.  We were racing in the Sprint, International and even had a few in the Dualthon.  It was so great to have everyone there.

Friday night was the pre-race pasta party at Stephanie B's house.  The food was so great and it was great to just hang out and relax a bit. Granted I packed in a rush, I just kept going thru my mental list of things making sure I had it all... And not bad, all I was missing was my hat (and later I realized sunscreen, but thank's to B I used hers :) ). 

Saturday morning I headed out with Wendy, bright and early, in wonderful RAIN.  All this just to get in a lake swim. I know I'm being nuts-o, since my swim in my strongest discipline but I felt like I needed just ONE MORE LAKE SWIM.  Well, I got just that.... A swim out and back in the rain. YUCK. But hey I did it. After that we snuck into the locker rooms, showered and waited for the Stephanies to show up.   We then hit the Harbor Market and back to Franks Diner for lunch. MMMM Spam sandwich with tater tots - gotta have tater tots with the tri-taters :)

We finally ate and headed to the expo to get our stuff. All this time I'm dreading the fact that I had to see if I could get Carly's stuff since all i had was an email from her.  Luckily it wasn't a problem, but still the stress from it was more than I wanted to deal with... UGH. I can go on and on on this topic, but I vented enough on this weekend, and all I have to say is NEVER AGAIN.

Once we got our stuff, a nice massage and our backs evaluated we headed off to rack our bikes, walk the run route (had to see if the gravel was taken care of) check into the hotel and drive the bike route. OMG the bike route was crazy. They had us on frontage road, on hills and sharp turns. Not to mention the turnabout at the top of the overpass. This was gonna be tough.  After that we meet up with Lou, Nancy and Ed for dinner.  We relaxed and complained about how the heck was the girl gonna get her packet. At dinner we decided that i just leave it at the front desk and she deal with it whenever she gets there.  Once I was able to get that packet out of my possesion I was so much better. Relaxing in the hot tub after dinner and then slept like a baby... well a baby with noisy drunk neighbors. I think the wedding that was being held in our hotel had our floor booked with guests :(

So here we are race day... I woke up feeling good, but once I ate my waffle, I got sick to my stomach. I just wanted to puke. We loaded up and drove off, only to be stuck parking in the beach lot, and now having to walk all the way around to get to transition.  Not fun, but at least we didn't have our bikes with us.

My transition was set. Since I was wearing compressions socks that was one less thing I had to worry about, just wondering if it will help or harm me.  I haven't trained in them at all, not a smart move, but no turning back now.  After a short warm-up swim it was time to wait in line for the Porta-poties and then wait for my wave... Again I'm stuck in the last wave, but this time for the International group, I still had sprinters behind me.

Here we go.. the horn goes off and I'm diving into the water. I forgot about my foot and just went for it. Well forgot until someone grabbed me then I realized I had to be more careful. I was so worried I was going off coarse, but looking at my Garmin I was pretty much on track.  For some reason, the first leg of the swim was really really long.  I just couldn't tell when I was going to get to the turn. I started to get scared that I couldn't do it, that I would have to stop and hang on somewhere. I switched to breaststroke to make sure I was on track and that seemed to help.  After the first turn it got easier, then at the second turn, it was straight to the finish.  I couldn't believe I did it, I made a mile swim in less than 35 minutes... SWEET... Now to just be able to get out of the water gracefully for the photographers... HAHA right. I think they got a picture of me falling into the sand :) 

T1 wasn't too bad, once I got my legs to move. I put on my sunglasses and helmet on first, ripped off my wetsuit and then on with the shoes, all trying to down a gu and drink some water.  Then race belt on and I was off, walked my bike out and stumbled as I tried to get on my bike.

The bike was hard to get started with... This brick is something we never really worked on, and boy I could tell. Once I got my pace right I was booking it on the road. I could tell it was starting to heat up and the humidity was rising. But at least on the bike you get somewhat of a breeze.  Well that was good until we got on to frontage road and started to head south, right into the winds, and the rolling hills didn't help at all.  I managed to see Stephanie B on the road as she had just finished the first loop.  I still had so much more to go :(  I worked thru my gears, pushing thru the wind and making sure I drank.  Finally the first loop was done and now to the other side, with 2 nice rolling hills that were KILLER.  Here we merged with the Sprinters but it wasn't too bad.  The heat continued to rise, any route heading south was sure to have winds and of coarse hills.  I was feeling pain in the saddle and I'm sure I'll be buying a new seat soon.

I was happy to get off of the bike but the run was not good.  The heat was bad, the humidity was getting worse and I was cramping up.  My foot was hurting and I got worried. I figured, I gave myself 4 hours to finish and I was in good pace to break that even if I walked. But walking just meant being in the beating sun that much longer... AND WHERE THE HELL DID THE WIND GO!!!  The air was so stale now. I guzzled water whenever I got to a water stop. The gravel path was tough... no wind, no shade and no water. UGH not fun. Finally out of there it was down to only 1 more mile and I pushed thru it. The finish seemed so far away but I knew it was closer than before.

I finally passed the finish line, hearing the girls and guys yelling for me... I so needed that then.  I crossed, grabbed my gatorade and Wendy gave me some of her bagel.  We sat around talked and stretched before we headed back to the hotel to change and pack up, eat and hit the road home... One new feat under my belt and I could've never done it without my Coaches and my Team...  Oh and a side note here... we had no coaches here as they were on vacation in London, but we knew they were thinking of us and cheering us on :)

I LOVE MY TEAM!!!

It could only happen to me... WHY ME!!!

Everyone hits a wall now and then, and I did just recently after training/racing for over 28 days straight without a day off.  This past week I took time to myself and relaxed on Wednesday and Friday, with all intentions that I would really step it up on the days that I did train.  We even planned for our first open water swim on Saturday up at Lake Andrea, followed by our long run, which we wanted to do along the Olympic course...

So on Saturday we all got up early and headed off to Pleasant Prairie for our swim/run.  I've been finding that I had trouble swimming with a full sleeve suit.  My arms were tight and I didn't get much rotation.  So I decided to go for a sleeveless and see how that was.  Besides being cold to start, I finally warmed up and was able to really swim.  My arms were able to move more and I felt very comfortable.  We swam out and back and I kept a good pace.  Just a few freak-outs from the seaweed touching my face but soon that passed.

The swim was a success, now off to a run... No problem at all, lets change and hit the road for a run.  The run started out a little tough. My legs had trouble moving at first, felt about as bad as when we get off the bike, but we pushed thru it.  We decided to follow the Olympic route we will be running in 2 weeks, a 10k not bad and doable... Ya think.  So after we turned into the gravel path it was all downhill from there.  The gravel turned out to be large grade loose gravel which made it really hard to keep your footing. I did good to start, but the one second of me looking away from the ground that I managed to spin and fall.  I twisted my right ankle, OMG it hurt so bad.  I ended up landing on the ground on my ass with my back to the group, so I really spun around bad.  I was crying so much, but it wasn't because of the pain, but it was because I was 2 weeks out from my Olympic and 6 weeks out from Racine.  How could this be happening to me, not now!!!!

                                   

 

The gang stuck with me until I was able to stand up. I told Wendy and Lou to go finish there run but be careful. Stephanie I stuck with me and walked with me. I was afraid to stop moving, to take off my shoe, because I can see it swelling. I was so terrified on what I did and how it would affect my training. Stephanie was great, she stuck with me and even opted not to run to keep me company. I felt bad she didn't get her training in but it was great to have her by my side... I don't know what I'd do without my team.

After the run was completed, Stephanie, Wendy and I went off to town to grab some lunch and walk around the farmers market.  It turned out to be a good day, if you didn't think about the throbbing foot :)  Brunch was at "Franks Place" and it was AWESOME, none of us were able to finish up our food.

Sunday turned out to be interesting as we had a long ride schedule... How was I going to do this with my foot totally swollen and my toes looking like stuffed sausages.  I was shocked that the 53 mile bike ride actually helped. I couldn't push it too hard, and I couldn't get off my saddle but I kept a good pace and after the ride my foot was no longer swollen but the bruising started up.

Now I just need to try to take it easy and hope that I didn't make too much damage and that I am able to keep up with my training.  Got an appt with Dr. Kelly to have it looked at and praying for the best.

Finally ... rest

5 weeks down
5 events/races completed
28 days of training

and I FINALLY got a day off... but at what expenses.

So I decided to change up my Week 5 weekend workout and move my long run to Friday morning, since I was working from home that day. This way I'd wake up early and run and then hope to sleep in on Saturday and take a full day off of training.

Well... let's look back at the week... All my training was off due to the holiday and races on the weekend. So my Monday run was Tuesday morning, my Wednesday run was Thursday morning.  Then on Thursday we had a brick workout, so I had to run again at night.  My body had just about had it.  Granted I was having great paces on my runs, on Friday morning my body wouldn't cooperate, plus the humidity was high and I had trouble breathing.  This weekends long run was a out and back with a negative split, only 1:30-2:00.  I thought that would be easy, head to the zoo and then back, no biggie... UHHH NOPE!!! I was just not feeling it, I was definitely struggling the whole way.  Once I hit my 50 minutes out, I had posted on FB that I hit the wall and still had to make it back home... then surprisingly I hit a 10ish min mile... WHERE DID THAT COME FROM... well regardless it was short lived. I walked so much more and it sucked all the way.  I got back home in a 1:42, 2 minutes over my negative split. I really thought it would've been so much more worse, but my little spurts of energy must've help compensated for that and I wasn't as bad as I thought.

I got home and soaked in epson salts and then settled in to work.  I screwed up my appointment for my massage and I missed it and had to reschedule for this Friday.  I was so bummed, and pissed off that I did this as I was really looking forward to starting a nice relaxing day off.

Sleeping in didn't happen, thanks to Payton. She was up early as usual and just wanting to play. So I finally got out of bed at 7am and snuggled with her.  How can I get mad at this little girl, she's soooo sweet :)  Rich decided he was going to golf before we headed to Angelo's for the Hawks game (they won... WOOHOO!!) so I went shopping. I didn't find any work clothes but I got lots of summer clothe... and guess what I'm  FREAKIN SIZE 3/4!!! I have no clue when I was that size before but it felt great.

So then it was the game and finally home to sleep.

Sunday was a long bike ride, 3:00 - 3:30, but I only got in 2:50 (moving time) but was gone for 3:30... so if you count stops and stuff I did do it... mere technicality :). It was cold and misty, we headed out and ended up in Bolingbrook, close to the IKEA.  And then we run into Coach... just my luck he stuck with me to help me work the hills.  Can i say I HATE HILLS!!!! But he did help and I think I know what I have to do. I also practiced getting out of the saddle when I pedal and that went pretty well.  Getting more and more comfortable on Roxy... it's just those DAMN HILLS!!! After that was dinner at my parents for Carol and my birthday then home again.

So 5 weeks is done and I have 7 more weeks to go.  We're starting OW swims this weekend, since we have Pleasant Prairie in about 2 weeks, and workouts are getting longer.  I need to adjust some of my schedules so I can make sure I keep everything even, with work, home and work-outs.. UGH