I'm back!!

So, I figured it was time to dust off the Try Mom, Tri blog in pursuit of my first Ironman distance triathlon.  I was hoping to have a profound first entry, but as I started making notes, I realized that each idea deserved a post of its own, so I’ll start with a quick update of where I left off at the end of the 2013 season – Yes, It’s been that long – sorry.

This blog came to be out of a sense of obligations to Moms, triathletes or not, TO TRY.  After I became a Mom for the first time, I had no idea what I was in for.  Almost two years later, I still feel the same way.  I’m someone who has always tried to fill all my time, multiple jobs, extra University – then I found triathlon, and soon after – Ironman.  I still do other things, but I LOVE focusing on Triathlons, training, helping others train, plan their training, race calendars, swim form, run speed – anything to keep me ‘moving’ in the sport of triathlon.

When I was pregnant, I took that season off as my son was due around Christmas.  Fortunately for me, I got my husband hooked on triathlon, so I still got to go on the beginning, easy, part of his rides until I couldn’t reach the handlebars anymore J  And I still got to get up stoopid early for race days.  It wasn’t as hard as I thought it would be to watch a race.  Don’t get me wrong, I would have loved to race.  But as you Moms know, being pregnant is a different kind of ‘purpose’.  I wasn’t one of those women who loved being pregnant, but it was pretty cool and I did love the focus it gave me.  And of course, now looking back, and looking at my son, knowing that his little body started in my body – is still completely amazing to me.

OK, enough about pregnancy, back to tri training.

Pretty soon after my son was born, I started thinking about what that tri season was going to be like.  I really thought I would just get after it, lose the pregnancy weight, may be shaped a bit differently, but overall, just focus on training like I had before…holy crap…obviously I knew nothing about being a mom.  A nursing Mom.  A stay at home mom who also had a full-time telecommuting job.  So I signed up for a half ironman distance, near my folks home (built-in babysitters for race day), in early September.  And I did it.  And it was hard - Not just the race - Everything about getting to that race.  But I did it.  And you can too.  Whatever it is that gives you purpose outside your family/kids.  Find a bar, and set a goal above it, and then do it.

2014 season was pretty cool too.  My husband completed his first Ironman distance race at Lake Placid, New York.  My son and I got to go on the adventure with him.  As hard as an Ironman is, lemme tell ‘ya, spectating one with an 18 month old is no piece of cake.  In fact, I think I’d rather race than spectate J  Thankfully we had some AWESOME friends and family members help us with a roof over our head when we arrived, get to the race, through the race, home from the race, in general ‘crewing’ us.

I still raced in 2014 and finally reached one of my long time goals – Top Three Female overall.  It was an Olympic distance  - which is a very good fit for me. The swim is longer, so it gives me more time to get a head start on the bike (where everyone starts passing meJ ) but the race is shorter, so at the end, I can truly race the run.  Plus the training is doable with a family and not so much that you feel like it’s too much.

Now, I’m training for an Ironman in March 2015.  In New ZEALAND!!!!  Thanks to wanting to visit my BFF, who moved her family there over a year ago, I figured, why not do a race while we’re there – how cool would that be?!?!?!!!  So I signed up last March, and it’s already within 5 months of race day – how did that happen?  Currently doing out-season training (usually done in the winter months), and will start my official IM training load in early December…LOTS AND LOTS of time swimming, biking, and running indoors L  I also am using a coach and racing with a team this time around - more news on that to come as well.  More reasons to blog about it and pass on all the knowledge I will gain through this adventure.

Thanks in advance for all the support and I’ll start outlining my ideas for each week of progress!!

Celebrating that Mama body

I've really been struggling with this blog post.  I started it a couple weeks ago, after reading an article featuring a photographer showcasing 4th trimester bodies, and how society's expectation for how a woman's body should look after giving birth.  It's quite ridiculous, yet very real.  My first reaction was "How awesome, I'm so glad someone is doing this, it's so important". Then after thinking on it for a while my reaction was "This sucks that so many women feel this way about their post pregnancy body".  I had a very clear message in mind in this post - Celebrate that mama body no matter what the size, shape and perhaps some battle scars post pregnancy. But I struggled as I heard many of you reading this post thinking "Really? Easy for her to say. She's back pre-pregnancy weight and just completed a Half Ironman - whoopdeedo and good for her"

It's true - I am back to pre-pregnancy weight and I did complete a Half Ironman a couple months ago.  (Full disclosure:  I have fallen off the work-out wagon since my race.  But now that my babe is sleeping through the night I have rekindled my love with waking to the sound of his voice, so I sleep in instead of getting up to work out.)  I often tell people that I'm fortunate in what I love to do in my free time is to work out.  I love triathlons.  LOVE them.  Love the training, Love the competition, and trying to figure out how early I can be ready for an Ironman if we choose to have another baby.  My second love is helping others start or get better at doing triathlons.  Especially mamas who have very limited time and think there is no way they have time to prepare for a triathlon.  A wonderful by-product of my passions is being in pretty good physical shape most of the year.  But my body will never be the same as it was before I was pregnant.  And I'm not sure I want it to be.  This year, I posted some of my fastest times, in my mama body.

People have many passions.  You may devote those extra 30-60 minutes a day to reading, TV, movies, knitting, resting.  Every one of those choices is perfect for whoever you are.  If you don't know what that passion is for you - maybe try a few different things out in the weeks to come.  Really try to ensure yourself some mama time every day.  Believe me - around here - especially in the fall - that is HARD to come by for me.  But you gotta try to find it.  And let your 'roomate(s)' know what and when that is, so you have their support; whether that means taking care of the kids, clearing the house for quiet time, preparing dinner.  Honest communication is key to success.  (in all things really right?)

Now, truth be told (and for those of you who see me on a regular basis, know how very true this is), I don't put a very high value on the way I look, with or without clothes.  It's not that I don't value myself - It's just not that important to me to look a certain way - mainly because I'm not very confident in my ability to look 'put together', so a t-shirt and jeans is a safe, easy and comfortable option for me most of the time.  Which is why when my husband and I went out for date night and I wore a short dress with boots and accessories (I didn't have many to choose from) - which a best friend and her daughters had to come over one night and help me pick out because I would have totally worn jeans and a black sweater - his jaw hit the floor.

I don't feel comfortable in a bikini, never really have.  But not in the traditional sense - mainly, I just don't see it as functional.  But I have to admit, I do feel a bit more comfortable now that I'm a mama because I feel like it's awesome that my body had a baby!!!  So, who cares what you think it looks like - I think it's pretty dang amazing.  When it comes to race day, my tri gear, although skin tight and often not very flattering, I could give two hoots, because it's what I'm about to do in that tri gear that fuels my fire.  (another full disclosure:  I did ask DH if I looked acceptable in my tri gear before my first race.  Heck, I'm doing a triathlon - I look great!!)

It became apparent to me the other day when T was sitting on my lap after nursing, my shirt was pulled up and he started grabbing at my tummy.  I had been feeling pretty good about my mama body until I saw his hands kneading my soft belly.  It made me feel kinda icky about not working out more, not being firmer - then I realized that my son...MY SON.... who I gave birth to...GAVE BIRTH TO....is kneading my soft belly - I LOVE IT.

So here's the point...and I really do have one here...... you are a MAMA...you put another humans (maybe multiple other humans) needs ahead of yours every minute of every hour of every day.  You scarf down quick snacks in between making and serving/feeding others full mealtimes with love.  You get up early and stay up late doing laundry, cleaning the house, feeding the dogs, planning meals, planning fun activities.  You are a MAMA.

It doesn't matter if you had a home or hospital birth, vaginal or cesarean, adopted your babe(s), gained 100 lbs during your pregnancy, are back at your pre pregnancy weight, barely have time to get in 10 minutes of yoga each week, are so tired you can't even see the bags under your eyes and accidentally put a box of cereal in the fridge (then didn't think it was weird when you went to get it out of the fridge to have some...), have nursing tatas that are nearing your belly button, not quite sure where that belly piercing used to go, have a dark line down your tummy that just doesn't seem to want to go away, have new marks on your body from stretching over a bowling ball, what matters is that you are AMAZING.  If you were fortunate enough to be pregnant - YOU GREW ANOTHER HUMAN BEING WITH YOUR OWN BODY- your lovely mama body, and you are fantastically amazing!!!  If you were fortunate enough to be able to adopt your own child - HOLY COW, YOU GAVE YOUR CHILD A MAMA AND FAMILY FOREVER - your lovely mama body, and you are fantastically amazing!!

Next time you stand in front of the mirror before you shower/bathe, look at that fantastically amazing mama body.  Not the value we are told to see by society.  But that amazing mama body that gives more love every day then you ever knew you had.  That amazing mama body that carries your children in and out of the car, the high chair, around the store, crawls around on the floor playing cars and dolls, makes silly sounds, has interesting conversations, gets tugged on, pulled on, kneaded, comforts tears, gives unlimited hugs, kisses and squeezes.

Look at that mama body up and down and up again.
Be proud.
You are loved.

Race Report - You won a Baby!!

Expectations [Week 19; 1 To Go]
Adventures [Week 20; 0 To Go]

Well, I did it.  I successfully showed up and completed my A Race on Saturday, 7 1/2  months after giving birth to my son.  A Half Ironman distance triathlon.  T and I (and Great Cousin KK) adventured 700 miles from home to get mama to the starting line.

Forecast became increasingly....interesting....as race day approached.  After an interesting night of sleep with T and a rough morning (thanks Grandma for getting my crying son back to sleep while mama got out the door to the race) Grandpa dropped me off and I was off to the transition area.  My Big Brother and Cousin met me before the race and were there to see me off on the swim.  It was quite a drive for them that early in the morning, and it meant the World to me that they got there to see me before my race.

 

Because of high winds and white caps at 4 AM, the swim was moved to the marina, which was very interesting.  The swim consisted of a time trial start (which makes for a very different race mentality as you don't know when folks started as you are racing them out on the course), and two loops up and down and around the boats and docks.  We even had to go under one of the dock walkways which was kind of freaky, but it was safe and calm.  It rained most of the swim, which didn't matter much cause I was wet anyway....but the spectators probably weren't loving it :)  As I exited the swim I saw Grandma and Grandpa and T cheering for me!!!  I didn't expect that at all as I figured they would still be sleeping -  but I guess T had different plans :)

So the bike was cold.......and wet......and windy most of the way.  It was a fairly flat course, but the wind took it's toll on the athletes and you could see it on our faces as we passed each other after the two turn around points.  But I grinded it out, and didn't get in a crash or slip during the ride - so that's a win for me!  One of the beautiful things about weather - good or bad - during a race, is that everyone is in the same weather (for the most part), so we all had the same 'stuff' to deal with, and any race day is a good day.  And......I successfully peed during the ride.....yup, I said it.....I HAD TO GO!!!!.....and it's harder then you think when you're trying to pedal or at least not slow down too much :)  Guess I'll have to start practicing that  next season.....don't worry babe, I'll warn ya if you're behind me and we're training together :)

So then the run.  I was feeling pretty drained, but happy to be done with two out of the three disciplines.  Only 13.1 more miles to go.  I lost my last water bottle on the ride (grabbed a water bottle at the aid station, got one sip, and lost it when trying to put it back on my bike) - so was trying to play catch-up a bit with hydration.  It wasn't hot, so I hadn't lost too much water, but I still knew I was behind a bit.  Now it was time to test out my over the shoulder boulder holder as my milk supply as been growing since 6 AM (nursing mamas who like to be active - Go to Athleta - it's the best $60 you'll ever spend) Short of the long is that I made it - I was a bit top heavy - and I pushed it a bit hard from miles 7-9, which made the last 4 miles pretty ugly - but I made it.  It is different from most other races that I've been a part of because there are three distances (sprint, Olympic, half) of a triathlon, duathlon, aquabike, and kayakathon - so there are A LOT of other races going on - all of which are finishing before the full half ironman distance of the triathlon - so it was a bit lonely out there on the run.  As I came down the finish shoot there was not another racing soul to be found- which just felt a little off - but I was ecstatic to see Grandma, Grandpa and my Beautiful T at the finish line waiting for me. 

It was an awesome day!  I overcame quite a few obstacles to pull that day off and having a great cheering section sure did help :)  I couldn't help but think when I was struggling about my last post.  Again, you know who you are and I thought of you often.  Thank you for inspiring me and pushing me to be the best mama and triathlete I can be.

T was a trooper the entire day - of course.  He traveled back and forth to the race twice - napped well, and even came back to town two more times as we tried to participate in the festivities at the end of the day because....... I Placed 2nd in my Age Group and 6th female overall!  Now there were only 32 women in the half ironman distance - but 6th place ain't bad for a new mama.  It was a very long day, but well worth the wait, in a couple torrential downpours under the tent, to walk up with my son for my only hardware of the season.  When I came back to our seats a fellow athlete sitting near us (you can see her in the pic)said jokingly "You won a Baby!"

Oh man, did I ever.  And I wouldn't have it any other way.

                                          (the flash was really bright :) )

Thanks so much to EVERYONE who has supported me and my family over the last 8 1/2 months.  I fear forgetting someone so I won't list everyone, but you all know who you are.  Whether you live in MI, MN, FL, TX, PA, MA, or NewZealand (yeah you too:) )  I love you and I thank you.

Mantras - And Living Them

Volume [Week 16; 4 To Go]
Injury [Week 17; 3 To Go]
Perspective [Week 18; 2 To Go]


I apologize for the overuse of CAPS in this post....but I was in-between crying and screaming as I wrote this :)

Less than two weeks to go till my half Ironman A race...12 days to be exact...and.....I'm injured.....long story short - I woke up one morning and couldn't pick my head up off the pillow.  It was Terrible.  Horrible.  Very Bad.  This happened on a Thursday.  After an emergency visit to the chiropractor and a corrective session of massage therapy I thought maybe - JUST maybe, I would be able to race on Sunday. Yeah - not so much.  But after 6 full days 100% off, and not showing up at the starting line of my scheduled Olympic race, I attempted to start my workouts again. I did attend the race, but as a spectator to cheer on my friends....and I cried on the drive to the race because I couldn't race, but DS and I had a great adventure day and it was a BEAUTIFUL day to watch a race.

Without getting into the specifics of how I eased into my workouts - it simply was hard to not continue to work out.  It was hard to mentally wrap my head around the fact that I wasn't going to be 100% at my A race.  It was hard to watch my fitness fizzle into nothingness as I wallowed in my pain and injury cycle of ice/heat/biofreeze/rest/sorrow.

OMG!!  GIVE ME A BREAK!!!! 

Win the Day / Pain is temporary / Embrace the Suck / If it was easy everyone would do it / Pain is weakness leaving the body / Enter the Pain Cave / Fake the Funk / enter any mantra

During training you have good days and bad days.  During a race it's important to be able to recall both.  The good training sessions remind you that YOU CAN DO THIS!  The bad training sessions remind you that YOU CAN DO THIS!

During training you have set backs; fatigue, injury, vacations where you drink too much- eat too much- and train too little, schedules that make training sessions simply impossible to execute as planned, small humans that seem to take up every minute of your day although you don't know where they went.  How do we react to that adversity?  How do we react to things not being optimal?  How do we react when we can't 'go back' or 'undo' or simply change the state of affairs? 

Well I, apparently, slump down, simply cash in my chips and just want my season to be over....WHAT!?!?!!!  yup, that's how I reacted - sad but true. 

Wait a sec - What was this triathlon season about for me?  Why do I race?  When training for and executing and Ironman Distance Triathlon you have to have at least one thing that you can bring to the forefront of your tired brain as the pain begins to take over your more tired body.  ONE thing that reminds you WHY you are racing.  You WILL come to a point where your mind has to have a conversation with your body and your mind MUST convince your body to overcome.

I came into this triathlon season after having a baby...HAVING A BABY 8 months ago!!!  I will have an 8 1/2 month old son at the finish line of my half ironman triathlon race in 12 days.  How frickin cool is that?  My goal at the beginning of the season was simply to show up at the start line of my scheduled races.  I told myself, and my family, that if I got to the bike and couldn't do it - at least I showed up.  If I got to the run and couldn't do it - at least I showed up.  If I had to walk the entire run - at least I showed up.  Even the race I was legitimately injured for, I showed up in support of my fellow triathletes.  My goal at the beginning of the season was to lose a pound a week until race day.  Well that was pretty impossible when I actually did the math, but I did lose 30 lbs in 30 weeks after 6 weeks post partum - and at the moment I'm stuck - at a pretty great weight.  That's AWESOME!!

What in the world am I moping around about?  What is my one thing?  Why do I race?

I race because I am able.  I race because there are those who can't.  I have people in my life that would LOVE to be able to train for a triathlon.  It never fails during a long run that I think of the people I love in my life that can't, for whatever reason, swim, bike, run.  At All.  During every race, I mean every race, (there's even video proof in my IM of me telling folks to call her and tell her that I love her) I think of the person who inspires me the most.  A person who would love to be out of breath with me on that run.  A person who would love to have the ability to start a swim with 2800 other people at the same time.  A person who would love to be chaffed from too much activity.  A person who has undergone many more physically painful situations then I - and I think of that every time I feel like I'm hurting on my run.   A person who gets me choked up thinking about how much she inspires me to be a better woman and mother every day.  You know who you are -  And I love you.  Many people tell me that I inspire them because I do triathlons or because I did an Ironman.  Which is great - don't get me wrong.  But My inspiration?  An amazing mom, wife, sister, daughter who (Even though she doesn't feel like it probably) tackles each day with vengeance - and has many reasons she could use to just cave in.  A woman so strong in her faith she could build a mansion on it.  An amazing couple who is trying to put the pieces of their life back together from an accident.  Trying every day to be thankful, while still struggling to physically get back to life.  An Incredible teenager (who I still think might just do a triathlon one day - he did actually cross the finish line of one once) who is trying to be his best every day, and overcome each challenge as it faces him.  An amazing infant who lived inside me for 10 months and came out of my hoo-haa (a feat I'm still quite amazed about when I look at him) and learns more and more every day.

YOU INSPIRE ME - and I race in your place - in 12 days.  You will be ever present on my mind and reminding me that I will show up and I will give it my best - that day and every day after.

Pre, During, Post Race

It's hard to maintain weeks of focus and determination during triathlon training, which is why recovery weeks and racing is so important during training.  Recovery weeks are something to look forward to (and those of you who train know what it feels like the weekend before starting a recovery week) and races keep training spiced up a bit and helps keep your eye on the prize.  If you can plan a race at the end of a recovery week - even better.  You can reward yourself by kicking butt at a race after a rested recovery week!

Not everyone is doing more than one triathlon during a race season.  And that's OK.  One triathlon is an awesome goal and accomplishment.  Those that are signed up for multiple races might be trying to focus in on being fast at the shorter races, and 'peak' for each race.  Some might have a long distance race as their 'A' race, and are adding shorter races before to practice in race clothing, nutrition, hydration and transition.  Each race adds to your race 'bank'.  Each race should be looked at for lessons learned to take into future races, even if it's not your best race, ESPECIALLY if it's not your best race.  Both DH and I have had our best Lessons in our worst races.  A couple years ago, my seat post was not secure (manufactures defect that I didn't know about until after) and fell so I had to ride out of my saddle for about 15 miles of the first loop (total of 56 mile bike).  I quit.  I went to the parking lot to look for DH. I cashed it in.  Fortunately DH was out on a run and I ran into a bike mechanic.  He fixed my seat and tightened it as best he could.  It got me almost thorugh the second loop and I finished the bike, and on to the run. My nephew had come to watch me that day - his first triathlon.  I saw him in T2 and had the gumption to continue on to the long run.  How could I quit after seeing him cheer me on?  Recently DH had a flat on the ride, fixed it and finished the race.  Had he not flatted he would have finished better in his age group than he ever had before.  We both proved that we could overcome and conquer, even when we know we will not have our best time.  In my case, that day, was still my best race, and my favorite race.

The triathlete that is successful in Planning, Executing and Reflecting on each race will grow as a triathlete and see progress as they continue in the sport.  Planning not only includes your training plan, but also getting prepared the night before your race.  Set up a transition area the night before.  Grab your wetsuit (if you're wearing one), your race clothing, timing chip, cap and goggles and stand in front of your other gear.  drop your wetsuit, cap and goggles and pick up what you'll need for the ride. You'll need shoes, and a helmet to race.  Are you wearing sunglasses, sunscreen, socks, taking in nutrition/hydration?  Do you have to wear your race number for the bike?  Do you need your race number on your helmet or bike or both?  Once you know you have everything you need for the bike leg of the race, set that down and grab your run race gear.  You'll need shoes and a race number.  sunglasses? Are you taking in nutrition or running with hydration?  Make sure you have everything you need to race.

Makle sure you know WHAT you need in your transition area for your race.  Know WHAT order you will pick it up and put in on (T1 or T2), as well as what order you will take it off or change it up in T2.  Step through what you will do in T1 and T2 several times.  When you are racing your mind gets foggy, so you can rely on your ability to think clearly and remember then - it must be a habit.

In order to Execute, it's a bit more then just showing up to the race.  What is your goal for the race?  Is this your "A" race and what all those hours of training were for?  Is this a "C" race and you  are trying out some different nutrition and hydration in a race scenario?  Know what your goal is for the race (not always a time) and execute that to plan.  Then take the time to Reflect on your race and any lessons your learned that day.  Maybe it's as simple as trying to smile through parts of the race when you are struggling.  Smiling might not make you feel better initially, but a spectator will notice and help bring you out of your funk :)

Post Race, it's easy to forget to refuel your body in the excitement of crossing the finish line, regardless of it's just another training day or your main race.  Plan to have something ready to go in your tri bag that you can grab quick to get in your body within 20- 30 minutes of crossing the finish line.  A ziploc with your favorite recovery powder.  Peanut M&Ms (one of my friends fav treats for herself during an otherwise strict nutrition plan during training).  Recovery bar.  You want to make sure you get in carbs and protein.  You can look up formulas on different sites as it all depends on size of athlete and length of race.  But I usually figure if you can get in 200-400 calories within 20 minutes, and then have a balanced meal in the amount of time after the race that the race was long.  Example, if you had a race that was 90 minutes, you have 90 minutes (+20 if you took in calories in 20 min) to have a balanced meal.  So think ahead if you are far from home and how you will get that body re-fueled.



Quick easy recipe for Grab and Go Protein - Mini Egg Quiche

Ingredients:
12 eggs
Veggies (Onions, Peppers, Mushrooms, basically anything good in an omlete)
1/4 lb breakfast meat (bacon, gd chicken/chorizo/turkey)
Cheeese grated or chopped

You can use any combination of the above Veggies/Meat/Cheese.  I have made all combinations and they are all good.  I am dairy free, but DH is not, so sometimes I just toss cheese in 1/2 and bacon in the other half.

Turn oven to 350 degrees.  Line muffin Tins with liners.  I use these.  If using meat, brown meat in skillet, or grab already cooked meat out of the fridge.  [We always have left over bacon from the weekend that we use for sandwiches, so I just cut a few pieces of bacon up.  Can cook veggies too, but I usually just toss the veggies in raw to save time.]  Toss in veggies/meat/cheese to fill the liners 3/4 full.  Don't worry the eggs will fit :)  Whisk eggs pretty good.  If you have the time (and energy to clean) use a hand mixer for 30-60 seconds on medium.  Just helps with the pouring.  Pour the eggs into a container that has a pour spout (if not already in one) and pour over the top of the veggie/meat/cheese mixture.  Toss in the oven for 25 minutes.  You'll know when they are done.

You can nuke for 30 sec if you wish, or eat cold (in a tortilla mmmmmm), or break into pieces and toss in a skillet.

ALMOST to the final stretch

Recovery Week [Week 12; 8 To Go]
The Elements [Week 13; 7 To Go]
2 Hour Ride Date Day [Week 14; 6 To Go]
Don't Lose Steam!! [Week 15; 5 To Go]

Another month in the books and just over a month to go!! This is the time of training that can be brutal, but rewarding. (The Build phase for those familiar with periodization) You are putting in some of the longest sessions in preparation for the race, and often they can be tough workouts. Recovery is key. Recover from each workout with proper fueling - both hydration and calories. Recover from each day with enough sleep (I need to heed my own advice). Recover from each week by using your rest days to REST. Recover each month with an active rest week where the hours drop and intensity of workout is low so you can go forth and conquer the next month. Recover, Recover, Recover!

A few weeks ago I had one of those hard workouts on a Sunday. A swim, bike, run brick. A brick session is where you have a workout of more than one discipline back to back. This not only helps train your body to go from the swim to the bike to the run, but also helps you realize what you need to complete a swift (or at least reduced stress) transition during the race. I prepared the day before with the proper food. I organized with DH, so he could cover watching T during my workout. I got everything ready the night before - my hydration, my nutrition, my clothing. Everything was ready to execute the next morning. I get to the lake to start my swim....It starts to rain......then it starts to thunder (I kept telling myself "that wasn't thunder" just keep swimming)....then I see lighteneing.....and after a shortened swim, I get out, go back to the car and go home. I hem and haw back and forth about letting the weather pass or getting a move on to my ride. And it starts to hail : So, I get out of my race gear [bricks are a great opportunity to practice in the clothing you expect to race in] and hang with DH and T until the storm passes. I headed out for my bike/run and had a great rest of my workout. Sometimes mother nature causes us to change course. Just roll with it. (DH is laughing that I'm giving that as advice because I'm terrible at just rolling with it - I'm trying to get better.) It ended up being a great morning with my family.  Who cares that I ended my workout a few hours later than planned?  What else did I really have to do that weekend day other than be a wife and mom?

The next weekend, I had another long brick of a run/ride/run. Fortunately my DH is also a triathlete, so talking him into a 'date ride' wasn't hard. So we enlisted our willing neighbor to watch T, and took off for our date. It was a beautiful morning and we got in 38 miles. Before we were a family with a child, we would do workouts together often. I forget how much I miss them until we get to have a long 2-hr ride together. I lose site of what triathlon has brought to our family. We are both more fit and healthy parents, and it helps bring out our naturally competitive spirit. DH is now a stronger rider than I am, so I do get a bit bent out of shape from time to time that he is surpassing me, and I used to kick his butt :) But it's all goodness and I need to remember how lucky I am to have someone who understands the committment and enjoys triathlon and racing as much as I do. It's a lot easier to get him up at 5 am when it'smy race day and DH has to get T ready and occupied for the entire event when he knows I'm going to do the same thing for him.

With weeks on end (neverending it seems sometimes when you are always lacking sleep and sanity) of tough, long workouts, it can be easy to want to cash it in.  I am at that point as I write this post.  I am not at my best, mentally or physically.  I will not be at my best this season because all that work needs rest to recover well, and I'm just not getting it.  You can't execute a tough workout when you are exhausted.  But that doesn't mean you do nothing at all.  You do the best you can that day.  That being said, you don't want to be stupid and be so exhausted that you find yourself falling alseep driving with your precious cargo in the back (been there a few times - it's scary), you don't want to be unaware riding your bike and veer into traffic or not be able to keep your balance when a car drives past you close and fast.  Those are the times when sleep is more important than working out.  And to be honest, most times I'm working out, I probably should be resting, but I wanted to race this season so badly that I just can't give it up.  I can't lose steam - not just yet.  I accept my limitations this season and chalk it up to doing my best.  OK, I'm TRYING to accept my limitations :)  It's hard when I want to be a stronger triathlete but just don't have the 'oompf' I should. 

But I AM SO MUCH MORE this season. 

I am a MOM!

Mama's got a brand new gear - another compilation

Swim Week and Race#2 [Week 8; 12 To Go]
Run Week [Week 9; 11 To Go]
Bike Week [Week 10; 10 To Go]
Recovery Week [Week 11; 9 To Go] (just started, but figured I'd get ahead of myself :)

And here we are again.  Welcome to my catch-up blog :)

I know all you veteran Mom's understand - I just cannot find time each week to post my progress.  So I'm promising one post a month - Then if I get to it more often it will feel like an extra bonus for my two readers out there.

I completed Race #2.  It was another sprint distance, 1/2 mile swim, 15 mile bike, 3.1 mile run.  It's a race I've done twice before, and a great 'family' race for us.  Nonna came to help us out so both Mom and Dad could race.  I ceremoniously nursed at a picnic table before pulling on the top of my wetsuit, and I was off.  I have always struggled with my run on both long and short course races over the years.  Short courses seem to mess with my tummy as I try to gear it up to run faster.  Long courses start to mess with my tummy because I start the run too hard and end up running out of steam or have to stop because of cramping.

Last race season (2011) I ended the season with an Ironman and MANY lessons learned.  One of those lessons learned was my body and caffeine don't like each other on race day - specifically on the run.  This training season I have been very aware to skip the coffee on mornings that I have a run scheduled, and it seems to have worked well.  I haven't had one 'episode' yet of tummy troubles - which used to bring me to my knees - needless to say I'm pleased.

Another plus is that my races have seen less tummy trouble as well.  In fact, runs in both my races this year were at a blistering pace, (for me) and race #2, I was 3 minutes faster overall than I was two years ago!!  Woo-Hoo!!  At the start of both race runs I kept on telling myself to slow down.....not to get ahead of myself.....start out gradual.....and I just felt great so I kept on running at a fast pace.  Race #2 during the run, I kept thinking back to T's birth, and the joy....and the pain...and I started pushing it thinking "slow down when you get to that level of pain", and of course, I never did :)  So it seems that mama's found a brand new gear when it comes to her run and racing - somebody get me a cookie! :)

On the training side of things, I went through a month of my training plan where each week has a focus on either the swim, bike, or the run.  I've done this training plan before and really enjoy it (Try Mom, Tri! Week 1 Post).  The first week is a focus on the swim, so most of the training is in the pool, and the bike and run workouts are limited.  The second week is a focus on the bike, and less time in the pool and on the run.  And...you guessed it...The third week is a focus on the run, with less time in the pool and on the seat.  It's nice to have a bit of a change each week.  Even though I do periodization training (more on that to come in a following post), it can get pretty boring at times and it's nice to feel a big change during those three weeks because of the changed focus.  I have to admit the bike week is a bit tough as you ride 5 days that week and a very long ride on Sunday...so the seat gets a bit sore...but it's all in a days work on building up that pain tolerance for more training and eventually race day.  It's good for the mental toughness too :)

Now I'm on to a good old recovery week - Ah I love recovery weeks.  So well deserved.  So in need of  a break.  And it's nice to have an actual reward when you are working so hard.  [If you consider more working out as a reward:) ]  It's also a bit of a reality check that a rest week is a week where you only have 5 hours of working out.  How cool is that?

OK, kiddo is sleeping, so I might just get in a chapter of an actual book!!!

Keep Tri-ing Mamas!