Another morning, another slog dragging myself out of bed, another moment of questioning: why am I doing this? I reminded myself that it's always worth the effort, that I've yet to regret taking the time out of my day to exercise, while my brain said, yah, right, maybe today will be the day that it's no fun. And then I hit the road and totally forgot myself. The miles just click by on that bicycle. Tick-tock, is my latest weird mantra, as my legs go around. We rode on several not-so-nice roads this morning (ie. too many trucks, no paved shoulders), but there was so much to enjoy: horses in the green fields, deep thick mist, a sun that could barely be seen behind the fog, dampness and coolness all around. It's just amazing to me that I can get out and go places, ride into the countryside, be taken away from ordinary.
What a lovely ride. Due to a detour (okay, I missed a turn), we went a little further than planned: 37km. It felt light and lovely. I'd do it again in an instant. I've started to dream about a biking holiday: Ireland, say. Bike all day, eat, drink, sleep, repeat. Holidays aren't really in our near future, but it's nice to have something to fantasize about.
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
Monday, June 27, 2011
Day 333: Marathon?
I got up and swam and ran this morning. My energy level seemed back to normal, which was a relief after Friday's slog in the pool. I didn't keep track of my laps for the first 35 minutes, then started to count. Not sure why. Guess my brain needed something to do. That might be my last pool swim before I start swim lessons a week from today; the pool will be closed Friday for Canada Day. In my dreams, we get to Guelph Lake on Wednesday and swim there (unfortunately, we'd only get to do that if my husband's hamstring is still too injured to play soccer that night).
I ran afterward, going up to 4km. I tried to go fast, but it wasn't that fast. I ran 4km in about 19 minutes. Eh. In the newspaper today, there were several articles about running marathons. If I'm going to try a fall marathon, I need to start training for that now. I do have the 25km trail run to train for, too. I hope my legs hold up (injury-wise) so I can sustain some good training time.
Meantime, I'll keep up the cross-training, but I should be logging more running hours.
Last week: three runs (two quite short); one bike ride; one swim; and no yoga classes! I was just conked on the day we'd made room for yoga. I napped instead.
This week: two swims (I hope!); one bike ride; four runs (one long, if possible); one yoga class. Not super-ambitious, but hopefully enough to maintain my fitness level as we ease into summer, and I figure out exactly how little time I'm going to have to myself. No nap today, for instance. Nursery school is over for the school year, and the three-year-old wanted lots of company and attention.
I ran afterward, going up to 4km. I tried to go fast, but it wasn't that fast. I ran 4km in about 19 minutes. Eh. In the newspaper today, there were several articles about running marathons. If I'm going to try a fall marathon, I need to start training for that now. I do have the 25km trail run to train for, too. I hope my legs hold up (injury-wise) so I can sustain some good training time.
Meantime, I'll keep up the cross-training, but I should be logging more running hours.
Last week: three runs (two quite short); one bike ride; one swim; and no yoga classes! I was just conked on the day we'd made room for yoga. I napped instead.
This week: two swims (I hope!); one bike ride; four runs (one long, if possible); one yoga class. Not super-ambitious, but hopefully enough to maintain my fitness level as we ease into summer, and I figure out exactly how little time I'm going to have to myself. No nap today, for instance. Nursery school is over for the school year, and the three-year-old wanted lots of company and attention.
Friday, June 24, 2011
Day 330: Well, dear old blog
I'm wondering how long I will continue to update this blog.
I'm still training. This week looked pretty much like last week. But without a goal in sight, I'm feeling less of a sense of progress, or urgency.
In the pool this morning, I was damn near catatonic. I could hardly get myself back and forth, though I do think I've discovered a new way to move my arms that brings more force to my stroke. But it's also harder to do, takes more energy. I'm low on energy.
Yesterday, I napped on the couch after supper even though I hadn't done any exercise all day. I'd even had a massage! Tuesday, I napped in the morning after my bike ride/run, and then fell asleep again around 3:30, with two kids home (we put in a movie; I could tell I was crashing). The big kids got home from school. I made snack suggestions prone on the couch with my eyes closed. My husband arrived home from work early, so I could go to yoga. I did not go to yoga.
Is this a normal level of post-race tired? I've had two days off this week--nothing on Monday, nothing on Thursday. Nothing tomorrow either, due to my husband working this weekend. Three early mornings, but that's actually a light week. Who knows.
Anyway, thinking about signing up for more races. Thinking about maintaining my fitness level, rather than attempting to bump it even higher. Thinking about how much I like racing. Thinking about fitting it in with my family's activities. Thinking about how to run faster and faster (can't help myself, it's just so fun).
I'm still training. This week looked pretty much like last week. But without a goal in sight, I'm feeling less of a sense of progress, or urgency.
In the pool this morning, I was damn near catatonic. I could hardly get myself back and forth, though I do think I've discovered a new way to move my arms that brings more force to my stroke. But it's also harder to do, takes more energy. I'm low on energy.
Yesterday, I napped on the couch after supper even though I hadn't done any exercise all day. I'd even had a massage! Tuesday, I napped in the morning after my bike ride/run, and then fell asleep again around 3:30, with two kids home (we put in a movie; I could tell I was crashing). The big kids got home from school. I made snack suggestions prone on the couch with my eyes closed. My husband arrived home from work early, so I could go to yoga. I did not go to yoga.
Is this a normal level of post-race tired? I've had two days off this week--nothing on Monday, nothing on Thursday. Nothing tomorrow either, due to my husband working this weekend. Three early mornings, but that's actually a light week. Who knows.
Anyway, thinking about signing up for more races. Thinking about maintaining my fitness level, rather than attempting to bump it even higher. Thinking about how much I like racing. Thinking about fitting it in with my family's activities. Thinking about how to run faster and faster (can't help myself, it's just so fun).
Monday, June 20, 2011
Day 326: The day after
Okay, I've written enough already about the race (even got to write about it twice, when the post I'd written for chatelaine.com yesterday got lost in the ether; and in my zonked post-race state I had neglected to save a copy).
So ... here's a link to the chatelaine piece.
And here are more photos on my main blog.
Splits on the sidebar to your right.
Suffice it to say: I did it! And in under three hours, which was my goal.
:::
So ... last week's training (including the race; I guess that counts!): four runs; two bike rides (71 km total!); three swims (including one crazy lake swim); and two yogas (one class; and once on my own, outside in our yard, on Saturday afternoon).
This week: I am taking today off. But plan to bike tomorrow like usual. So, here's the tentative plan: one bike ride, three/four runs, one swim, one yoga class.
Starting in July, I've signed up for a twice-weekly swim class for triathletes, and a twice-weekly muscle-strengthening boot camp, so my training might look a bit different over the summer. Still hoping to manage some early mornings, even with the kids home from school (and therefore less naptime!). I am considering signing up for a triathlon at the end of July (shorter, so it will seem easy by comparison!). And will keep training toward the trail run in October. Can't seem to shake the training, frankly. Or the desire to test myself out in races.
The day after feels a lot like the rest of these days, come to think of it. A bit of muscle ache, a little bit tired, and ready to keep on keeping on.
So ... here's a link to the chatelaine piece.
And here are more photos on my main blog.
Splits on the sidebar to your right.
Suffice it to say: I did it! And in under three hours, which was my goal.
:::
So ... last week's training (including the race; I guess that counts!): four runs; two bike rides (71 km total!); three swims (including one crazy lake swim); and two yogas (one class; and once on my own, outside in our yard, on Saturday afternoon).
This week: I am taking today off. But plan to bike tomorrow like usual. So, here's the tentative plan: one bike ride, three/four runs, one swim, one yoga class.
Starting in July, I've signed up for a twice-weekly swim class for triathletes, and a twice-weekly muscle-strengthening boot camp, so my training might look a bit different over the summer. Still hoping to manage some early mornings, even with the kids home from school (and therefore less naptime!). I am considering signing up for a triathlon at the end of July (shorter, so it will seem easy by comparison!). And will keep training toward the trail run in October. Can't seem to shake the training, frankly. Or the desire to test myself out in races.
The day after feels a lot like the rest of these days, come to think of it. A bit of muscle ache, a little bit tired, and ready to keep on keeping on.
Saturday, June 18, 2011
Day 324: Anxiety Dreams
My pre-dawn hours were spent half-waking with the thought: Oh no! It's race day and I'm already late! And then realizing that race day was still one day off, and drifting back into anxious dreams, all revolving around the triathlon.
My favourite funny dream was where I was in an absolute state of fury when informed by race organizers that the swim portion of the race would not be held in the lake, but instead on these strange roller devices set in tracks going down a hill with just a little water running over them--like a bizarre ride at an amusement park. I was positively seething, threatening to put on my wetsuit and do the swim portion in the lake even if it disqualified me: "The swim is the most important part! I already know I can do everything else!" (It's always nice when anxiety dreams are patently improbable).
Woke with today's to-do list on my mind:
- organize and check gear: towel, shoes, socks, shorts and shirt, wetsuit and body glide, goggles, food/drink, ID, sunscreen (I don't have a cap for the run if it's sunny)
- mentally plan transitions and food/water
- practice changing bike tire (though not on my road bike, which I had tuned up yesterday)
- go to yoga class to clear my mind and focus some of this nervous energy
- get bike rack which we're borrowing from a friend
- eat freely, but no dairy (to cut down on mucus, apparently)
- review race rules and guidelines for beginners
- what am I forgetting???
Funny question (and warning: may contain too much information): Should I wear underwear under my tri-gear? I'll be wearing tri-shorts and a top under the wetsuit for the swim, and then taking off the wetsuit and biking and running in the same, so as not to have to change during the race.
I might check in here later, if I feel the urge. Meanwhile, I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed by the length of the race: all added up together, it's a lot; I hope to complete the race in under three hours; that's my goal. I'm trying not to think about it too much, just trust I'll be able to do it as it comes at me. I'll follow Tricia's advice and do each leg pushing as hard as I can, without worrying about the next leg coming up. I did discover that I will be in the second-slowest swim group for the race, the 33-35 minute group. (The fastest group should finish in 23 minutes!!!!!). But I was relieved to see that the cut-off time for the swim is 1 hour and 15 minutes. I know I can do it faster than that!
I want to say thanks for all of your good wishes!!!! I feel buoyed by the support. It will float me all the way through the swim, be the wind at my back on the bike, and carry me across the finish line on the run. And my faithful training partner, Nath, just stopped by with a good-luck surprise: a gift certificate for a post-race massage (free babysitting included!). Verklempt I was.
So let's get this race underway, with underwear or without!
Ah, the before. It's like waiting on a baby to be born. You know it's going to happen, but you just don't know how it's all going to go.
My favourite funny dream was where I was in an absolute state of fury when informed by race organizers that the swim portion of the race would not be held in the lake, but instead on these strange roller devices set in tracks going down a hill with just a little water running over them--like a bizarre ride at an amusement park. I was positively seething, threatening to put on my wetsuit and do the swim portion in the lake even if it disqualified me: "The swim is the most important part! I already know I can do everything else!" (It's always nice when anxiety dreams are patently improbable).
Woke with today's to-do list on my mind:
- organize and check gear: towel, shoes, socks, shorts and shirt, wetsuit and body glide, goggles, food/drink, ID, sunscreen (I don't have a cap for the run if it's sunny)
- mentally plan transitions and food/water
- practice changing bike tire (though not on my road bike, which I had tuned up yesterday)
- go to yoga class to clear my mind and focus some of this nervous energy
- get bike rack which we're borrowing from a friend
- eat freely, but no dairy (to cut down on mucus, apparently)
- review race rules and guidelines for beginners
- what am I forgetting???
Funny question (and warning: may contain too much information): Should I wear underwear under my tri-gear? I'll be wearing tri-shorts and a top under the wetsuit for the swim, and then taking off the wetsuit and biking and running in the same, so as not to have to change during the race.
I might check in here later, if I feel the urge. Meanwhile, I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed by the length of the race: all added up together, it's a lot; I hope to complete the race in under three hours; that's my goal. I'm trying not to think about it too much, just trust I'll be able to do it as it comes at me. I'll follow Tricia's advice and do each leg pushing as hard as I can, without worrying about the next leg coming up. I did discover that I will be in the second-slowest swim group for the race, the 33-35 minute group. (The fastest group should finish in 23 minutes!!!!!). But I was relieved to see that the cut-off time for the swim is 1 hour and 15 minutes. I know I can do it faster than that!
I want to say thanks for all of your good wishes!!!! I feel buoyed by the support. It will float me all the way through the swim, be the wind at my back on the bike, and carry me across the finish line on the run. And my faithful training partner, Nath, just stopped by with a good-luck surprise: a gift certificate for a post-race massage (free babysitting included!). Verklempt I was.
So let's get this race underway, with underwear or without!
Ah, the before. It's like waiting on a baby to be born. You know it's going to happen, but you just don't know how it's all going to go.
Thursday, June 16, 2011
Day 322: Time for a little rest
As I dragged myself out of bed this morning, I thought, wow, I'm going to need to sign up for something else, because this triathlon on Sunday is the only thing getting me out of bed. At this point in the week, I'm very tired.(If only I could have run the race on Tuesday, when I was positively bursting with energy and optimism and a weird continuous strength that seemed to regenerate itself throughout the day, from dawn til dusk).
But today was my fourth early morning in a row, and in my other non-training life,my eldest is sick and I'm writing toward a necessary deadline. And I'm just tired. So I went to the pool and it was lovely and early and the water felt good. I said to myself: pretend you're still asleep (this has a weirdly peaceful effect on me). And it was hard, and slow, and took me 35 minutes--again--to swim the race length. Then I swam another 500m for good measure. The kids from the swim club were there, and wow they are smooth and fast. I was envious of the girl taking a breath every six strokes and absolutely cutting through the water. She was approximately twice as fast as me.
I had a small observation about the swimming portion of the race. I don't trust myself in the water the same way as I do on the bike and while running. In the water, I'm afraid. Of a lot of things. I'm afraid of wearing myself out and losing rhythm and breath and going really slowly. I'm afraid of not being fit enough to go as fast as I want. (This is the opposite of how I've come to experience the bike and the run: I'm not afraid of absolutely crazy breathing, or of pushing past what feels even remotely comfortable, or of not being able to do it--I'm just not afraid. I know that I can go exactly as hard as I can make myself go, and that nothing bad is going to happen to me).
But in the water, I lose that confidence. Struggling for breath in the water feels dire. Pushing past what feels comfortable seems dangerous and scary. So I don't push as hard in the water. I don't even know what my limits are, really, in the water, because when I push harder, I get freaked out as my breath gets deeper and harder, and so I slow it down so as not to dissolve into panic. (And I've found with other training that it's the pushing harder that brings greater fitness, speed, and depth of endurance, so I really feel like I'm missing out on that potential in my swim training.)
Long-term, I believe that familiarity with the sport, perhaps some coaching to refine technique, and basically just practice, practice, practice will help with this.
Short-term--in terms of this race--I'm going to have to do the best that I can with the experience I've given myself, in a fairly short amount of time. The experience I have so far tells me that a) I can swim the distance and b) I do better when I relax and go slow. I've decided that this race, this very first experience, is not the place for me to take risks in the water. I don't plan to push toward limits, or anything like that, but accept my limits, and swim within them. I want to get through this swim, and then I'll hop on the bike and push those limits like crazy, and then throw on my shoes and push through the pain and the crazy breathing, and finish it up.
But the swim portion is its own beast, for me. Not like any race I've ever done before, because it's using a skill that is so new to me.
:::
Questions, questions. What will keep me motivated, going forward? Do I need to work continually toward new goals (ie. races)? Or maybe just having friends to meet in the morning will be enough. I love having friends to meet in the morning! Twice this week, I've managed to get up without meeting a friend, and both times it was twice as hard as usual.
I'm looking forward to resting for the next two days. "Sleeping in." Maybe having a tv night. I look forward to having a drink with my husband on Sunday night.
And I look forward to testing my body on Sunday, putting into action all of these months of hard work. Here's hoping my son is well by then, and that nobody else gets sick.
If you'd like to come and watch (yikes!), and need details, let me know. Triathlons are pretty exciting and inspiring to watch, in and of themselves, even if you don't know the participants. And the venue is beautiful.
But today was my fourth early morning in a row, and in my other non-training life,my eldest is sick and I'm writing toward a necessary deadline. And I'm just tired. So I went to the pool and it was lovely and early and the water felt good. I said to myself: pretend you're still asleep (this has a weirdly peaceful effect on me). And it was hard, and slow, and took me 35 minutes--again--to swim the race length. Then I swam another 500m for good measure. The kids from the swim club were there, and wow they are smooth and fast. I was envious of the girl taking a breath every six strokes and absolutely cutting through the water. She was approximately twice as fast as me.
I had a small observation about the swimming portion of the race. I don't trust myself in the water the same way as I do on the bike and while running. In the water, I'm afraid. Of a lot of things. I'm afraid of wearing myself out and losing rhythm and breath and going really slowly. I'm afraid of not being fit enough to go as fast as I want. (This is the opposite of how I've come to experience the bike and the run: I'm not afraid of absolutely crazy breathing, or of pushing past what feels even remotely comfortable, or of not being able to do it--I'm just not afraid. I know that I can go exactly as hard as I can make myself go, and that nothing bad is going to happen to me).
But in the water, I lose that confidence. Struggling for breath in the water feels dire. Pushing past what feels comfortable seems dangerous and scary. So I don't push as hard in the water. I don't even know what my limits are, really, in the water, because when I push harder, I get freaked out as my breath gets deeper and harder, and so I slow it down so as not to dissolve into panic. (And I've found with other training that it's the pushing harder that brings greater fitness, speed, and depth of endurance, so I really feel like I'm missing out on that potential in my swim training.)
Long-term, I believe that familiarity with the sport, perhaps some coaching to refine technique, and basically just practice, practice, practice will help with this.
Short-term--in terms of this race--I'm going to have to do the best that I can with the experience I've given myself, in a fairly short amount of time. The experience I have so far tells me that a) I can swim the distance and b) I do better when I relax and go slow. I've decided that this race, this very first experience, is not the place for me to take risks in the water. I don't plan to push toward limits, or anything like that, but accept my limits, and swim within them. I want to get through this swim, and then I'll hop on the bike and push those limits like crazy, and then throw on my shoes and push through the pain and the crazy breathing, and finish it up.
But the swim portion is its own beast, for me. Not like any race I've ever done before, because it's using a skill that is so new to me.
:::
Questions, questions. What will keep me motivated, going forward? Do I need to work continually toward new goals (ie. races)? Or maybe just having friends to meet in the morning will be enough. I love having friends to meet in the morning! Twice this week, I've managed to get up without meeting a friend, and both times it was twice as hard as usual.
I'm looking forward to resting for the next two days. "Sleeping in." Maybe having a tv night. I look forward to having a drink with my husband on Sunday night.
And I look forward to testing my body on Sunday, putting into action all of these months of hard work. Here's hoping my son is well by then, and that nobody else gets sick.
If you'd like to come and watch (yikes!), and need details, let me know. Triathlons are pretty exciting and inspiring to watch, in and of themselves, even if you don't know the participants. And the venue is beautiful.
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
Day 320: Solo Bike Ride
It was meant to be a 40km bike ride with a friend, but after fearful dreaming all night long (I seem to stress in advance of getting on my bike in a way that I don't stress about, say, a long run), when the alarm went at 5am and I checked my messages, I discovered that my friend had to bail. It was so early that I went back to bed, trying to sort out what I wanted to do. I thought I'd sleep awhile longer. I didn't want to run instead, with my calf hurting, and I didn't feel like swimming either, and yoga seemed too low-key. I wanted to bike!
So I got up, got dressed, ate some peanut butter toast, and headed out, husband informed and cellphone in pocket. I've never gone for a solo ride before. I thought it would be lonely, maybe even a little bit scary. What if I got a flat tire in the middle of nowhere? But once I was out on the road, it felt just as awesome as always.
At first, my energy seemed low. I thought, uh oh, this feels like a weak week--especially after yesterday's slow swim. But the funny thing is, that the further I went, the stronger I felt, til by the end, I didn't feel ready to come home. I took a couple of extra streets in town to lengthen out the ride, plus I found a loop (which I only did once), that I could easily use on future rides. It doesn't take me that far out of town, the roads are pretty quiet at 6am, and it has some killer hills--do that a couple of times, and it'll be a killer ride. On the downhill, I actually thought my chain had fallen off because I had zero resistance in the pedals. Flying. And the uphill is a challenge, but I'm getting better at my gearing--I don't have to think about it as much as I used to.
I've only been riding now for a little over a month and a half (is that possible???), but the improvements to my fitness level have been heartening. When I got home, I checked the route, and I'd gone 31.5km. Not 40, but not bad, especially considering that I ended feeling lots of energy, and dashed out for a 2km run immediately afterward. If I could feel that good when running on Sunday, I'd be thrilled (oh wait, I'll have done a swim and an extra 10km, so it's not very likely). But the run felt good. I don't know whether I'm getting more used to the post-bike feeling, or whether I didn't push as hard as I would in a race, but I didn't have that feeling of weirdness in my legs.
Going to get the bike tuned tomorrow.
And my body is a series of aches and pains today, so I'm planning to go to yoga to stretch it out.
Nothing seems to replace that adrenalin high of a good hard cardio work-out. Nothing. I'm not quite sure how I got to this, but I can't imagine stopping now. It burns off the restlessness that would otherwise lodge in me all day. I realized that I needed it this morning--to start my day with effort and buzz. Is that a good thing? Maybe I'll choose not to label it good or bad, but just observe that it has a positive effect on my day. That I like it. That I'm managing to squeeze it in without sacrificing too much else.
Hoping for a lake swim tomorrow.
So I got up, got dressed, ate some peanut butter toast, and headed out, husband informed and cellphone in pocket. I've never gone for a solo ride before. I thought it would be lonely, maybe even a little bit scary. What if I got a flat tire in the middle of nowhere? But once I was out on the road, it felt just as awesome as always.
At first, my energy seemed low. I thought, uh oh, this feels like a weak week--especially after yesterday's slow swim. But the funny thing is, that the further I went, the stronger I felt, til by the end, I didn't feel ready to come home. I took a couple of extra streets in town to lengthen out the ride, plus I found a loop (which I only did once), that I could easily use on future rides. It doesn't take me that far out of town, the roads are pretty quiet at 6am, and it has some killer hills--do that a couple of times, and it'll be a killer ride. On the downhill, I actually thought my chain had fallen off because I had zero resistance in the pedals. Flying. And the uphill is a challenge, but I'm getting better at my gearing--I don't have to think about it as much as I used to.
I've only been riding now for a little over a month and a half (is that possible???), but the improvements to my fitness level have been heartening. When I got home, I checked the route, and I'd gone 31.5km. Not 40, but not bad, especially considering that I ended feeling lots of energy, and dashed out for a 2km run immediately afterward. If I could feel that good when running on Sunday, I'd be thrilled (oh wait, I'll have done a swim and an extra 10km, so it's not very likely). But the run felt good. I don't know whether I'm getting more used to the post-bike feeling, or whether I didn't push as hard as I would in a race, but I didn't have that feeling of weirdness in my legs.
Going to get the bike tuned tomorrow.
And my body is a series of aches and pains today, so I'm planning to go to yoga to stretch it out.
Nothing seems to replace that adrenalin high of a good hard cardio work-out. Nothing. I'm not quite sure how I got to this, but I can't imagine stopping now. It burns off the restlessness that would otherwise lodge in me all day. I realized that I needed it this morning--to start my day with effort and buzz. Is that a good thing? Maybe I'll choose not to label it good or bad, but just observe that it has a positive effect on my day. That I like it. That I'm managing to squeeze it in without sacrificing too much else.
Hoping for a lake swim tomorrow.
Monday, June 13, 2011
Day 319: One More Week
Less than a week, that is--a week from today I'll have attempted the triathlon, and know the story of that experience. Of course, I hope it will be a success, but maybe it's worth establishing what "success" would mean to me at this point in my journey. I do tend to lower the bar for myself, to take off some pressure before races, but the truth is that the bar for simply completing this triathlon is already really high, and I can honestly say that completion is what is on my mind and in my hopes. It's going to be challenging, no matter how much training I've put into it. But I think that's the whole point.
I swam this morning, as usual, and for some reason I never got going very quickly. It was slow, but steady, and took me 35 minutes to swim 1500m. Not getting faster, getting slower, in other words. And then I went for another 700m, for a total of 2200, in 50 minutes. I should really stop counting laps. I liked when I just swam steadily for an hour and didn't really know how far I'd made it. But my brain is now in the habit of counting. What else to do underwater?
Think. Reflect. Be present.
After the swim, I went for a run. My calf was hurting, again, so I decided to play it by ear and only ended up going 4km instead of my usual 5. But what I did was a series of sprints each lap. I would sprint about half way (which on this track is about 125m), and then ease up for the rest of the lap, and then sprint again. I started with a warm-up kilometre, and for the second kilometre I ran steadily but fast, and then sprinted intervals over the last two kilometres. It was hard. I didn't feel like I'd really pushed myself enough by the end, but there's something different about race week. I was aware of every twinge and ache today, and worried about over-doing it.
I didn't do a thing yesterday except sit in front of the computer and type, but I did run on Saturday, just a joyful outside run, fairly late in the day, an improvised route that turned out to be 8km. I pushed the pace, but wasn't wearing a watch or checking time, just running smoothly and joyfully. I think it was probably around 5min/km, or slightly faster. I still don't understand how I ran that 10km as fast as I did. Will I ever run that fast again?
When I got up this morning, I wondered: will I get up early next week, when the race is over? Or will I go back to my old "sleeping-in" habits? It has been hard to adjust my life to the early mornings, and it does require naps and careful scheduling. On the other hand, I always feel so good after starting my day with something energizing. It will be interesting to see what I push myself to do (or not do).
I would like to train for a marathon this fall. And I'd like to run a 5km race, just to kind of round off my year of races. I do like the interval training, and it really pushes me mentally and physically. I love running.
I'm rambling. It's a tired morning, I'll admit.
:::
Last week: five runs (wow, that's a record; but none were long); one bike ride; four swims (but one was super-short, my first dip in the lake); one yoga class (boo--too tired for my Thursday class, and didn't get to anything else over the weekend, though I have been stretching more often at home).
This week's plan ... hm, still under construction, and I will play it by ear according to energy levels, etc. (note: the plan does not include Sunday's triathlon): four runs (all fairly short), one bike ride, three swims (including one in the lake), two yoga classes.
I swam this morning, as usual, and for some reason I never got going very quickly. It was slow, but steady, and took me 35 minutes to swim 1500m. Not getting faster, getting slower, in other words. And then I went for another 700m, for a total of 2200, in 50 minutes. I should really stop counting laps. I liked when I just swam steadily for an hour and didn't really know how far I'd made it. But my brain is now in the habit of counting. What else to do underwater?
Think. Reflect. Be present.
After the swim, I went for a run. My calf was hurting, again, so I decided to play it by ear and only ended up going 4km instead of my usual 5. But what I did was a series of sprints each lap. I would sprint about half way (which on this track is about 125m), and then ease up for the rest of the lap, and then sprint again. I started with a warm-up kilometre, and for the second kilometre I ran steadily but fast, and then sprinted intervals over the last two kilometres. It was hard. I didn't feel like I'd really pushed myself enough by the end, but there's something different about race week. I was aware of every twinge and ache today, and worried about over-doing it.
I didn't do a thing yesterday except sit in front of the computer and type, but I did run on Saturday, just a joyful outside run, fairly late in the day, an improvised route that turned out to be 8km. I pushed the pace, but wasn't wearing a watch or checking time, just running smoothly and joyfully. I think it was probably around 5min/km, or slightly faster. I still don't understand how I ran that 10km as fast as I did. Will I ever run that fast again?
When I got up this morning, I wondered: will I get up early next week, when the race is over? Or will I go back to my old "sleeping-in" habits? It has been hard to adjust my life to the early mornings, and it does require naps and careful scheduling. On the other hand, I always feel so good after starting my day with something energizing. It will be interesting to see what I push myself to do (or not do).
I would like to train for a marathon this fall. And I'd like to run a 5km race, just to kind of round off my year of races. I do like the interval training, and it really pushes me mentally and physically. I love running.
I'm rambling. It's a tired morning, I'll admit.
:::
Last week: five runs (wow, that's a record; but none were long); one bike ride; four swims (but one was super-short, my first dip in the lake); one yoga class (boo--too tired for my Thursday class, and didn't get to anything else over the weekend, though I have been stretching more often at home).
This week's plan ... hm, still under construction, and I will play it by ear according to energy levels, etc. (note: the plan does not include Sunday's triathlon): four runs (all fairly short), one bike ride, three swims (including one in the lake), two yoga classes.
Friday, June 10, 2011
Day 316: Push
The triathlon is in eight days. I am pushing hard toward that goal.
Lake swimming is not like lane swimming. On Wednesday, we had a beautiful day to go to the lake for a picnic and a swim, with friends. I donned the suit and headed out for a clump of weeds that vaguely resembled an island, and discovered that I was filled with terror. As the water got deeper, I lost my rhythm and my breath. Out in the lake, there are fewer points of direction; no lines drawn on the bottom of the pool. I felt disoriented, and weary, and although I made it there and back (perhaps 500m), I was filled with anxiety. I told my husband that I know, intellectually, that I am very unlikely to drown in this situation, but somewhere deeper, on a level that is instinctive, I'm panicking out there.
But I didn't give up after one attempt. I kept the suit on, and decided to swim just past the buoys and beside them, up and down the beach, as a way of keeping myself oriented. I cleaned my goggles, which were foggy and through which I could hardly see on the first outing. And I went, back and forth, twice. Probably not more than 200m there and back.
I felt better. My stroke was smoother, my breathing, too. I reminded myself that I'm always slow to feel comfortable in the water. It takes awhile to get to that sweet spot, even in the pool. I will need to do some swimming on the day of the race, get into the lake, and just swim, before the race starts.
Then I ate a bit of supper, and headed out for a third time. This time I followed the shoreline, but I felt so much stronger, so much better, that I decided to turn and head out around the island, and this time, I made it all the way around before heading back to shore. It was a good swim. I was one with the wetsuit (I really dislike lakes, and this one is heavy with sediment and the occasional rogue weed, plus fish). I thought: I can do this. Yes, I can.
When I swam this morning in the pool, I thought about the lake swim. I won't have those brief rest moments at the ends of the lanes (no matter how hard I try to turn around smoothly, I do end up lifting my head out of the water, grabbing the wall and pushing off again, which is a break from the rhythm and a slight rest break, too, I think). I don't need to go fast. I just need to stay steady and calm. I swam more slowly today, and my time over 1500 was 34 minutes--which is not significantly slower than I was swimming when I was trying harder. My goal is to complete the swim. I would rather not come out of the water at the back of the pack, but if that's what happens, so be it. This is my first time swimming in a race. A year ago, I couldn't three strokes in a row. So if I come out at the back of the pack, so be it. Once I'm sitting on that bicycle, it will be with the knowledge that I've already accomplished a big goal. The rest is gravy.
I cycled yesterday morning, and ran afterwards. My calf continues to bother me, but my husband is helping with massage, and ice and heat, and I was able to run 5km after my swim today--so fun. I did some interval training, like I'd seen a bunch of runners doing at my daughter's soccer game last night. I tried a couple of different things. For the first three kilometers, I did each lap a bit faster, til I was going very hard on the last lap. For the fourth kilometer, I did alternating laps of sprints and then recovery, but I found that very demanding, so I went back to the original wind-up, gradual-build of the earlier kilometres for my last one. I realize not everyone would think of this as "fun." Is it weird that I do? It's not much fun while I'm running, not when I'm pushing to my limits, and yet, it is. I ran the 5km in 24 minutes, which was not bad, considering the slower recovery laps.
How much am I going to train next week? I'm not sure. I know I should taper it off a bit before race day.
Lake swimming is not like lane swimming. On Wednesday, we had a beautiful day to go to the lake for a picnic and a swim, with friends. I donned the suit and headed out for a clump of weeds that vaguely resembled an island, and discovered that I was filled with terror. As the water got deeper, I lost my rhythm and my breath. Out in the lake, there are fewer points of direction; no lines drawn on the bottom of the pool. I felt disoriented, and weary, and although I made it there and back (perhaps 500m), I was filled with anxiety. I told my husband that I know, intellectually, that I am very unlikely to drown in this situation, but somewhere deeper, on a level that is instinctive, I'm panicking out there.
But I didn't give up after one attempt. I kept the suit on, and decided to swim just past the buoys and beside them, up and down the beach, as a way of keeping myself oriented. I cleaned my goggles, which were foggy and through which I could hardly see on the first outing. And I went, back and forth, twice. Probably not more than 200m there and back.
I felt better. My stroke was smoother, my breathing, too. I reminded myself that I'm always slow to feel comfortable in the water. It takes awhile to get to that sweet spot, even in the pool. I will need to do some swimming on the day of the race, get into the lake, and just swim, before the race starts.
Then I ate a bit of supper, and headed out for a third time. This time I followed the shoreline, but I felt so much stronger, so much better, that I decided to turn and head out around the island, and this time, I made it all the way around before heading back to shore. It was a good swim. I was one with the wetsuit (I really dislike lakes, and this one is heavy with sediment and the occasional rogue weed, plus fish). I thought: I can do this. Yes, I can.
When I swam this morning in the pool, I thought about the lake swim. I won't have those brief rest moments at the ends of the lanes (no matter how hard I try to turn around smoothly, I do end up lifting my head out of the water, grabbing the wall and pushing off again, which is a break from the rhythm and a slight rest break, too, I think). I don't need to go fast. I just need to stay steady and calm. I swam more slowly today, and my time over 1500 was 34 minutes--which is not significantly slower than I was swimming when I was trying harder. My goal is to complete the swim. I would rather not come out of the water at the back of the pack, but if that's what happens, so be it. This is my first time swimming in a race. A year ago, I couldn't three strokes in a row. So if I come out at the back of the pack, so be it. Once I'm sitting on that bicycle, it will be with the knowledge that I've already accomplished a big goal. The rest is gravy.
I cycled yesterday morning, and ran afterwards. My calf continues to bother me, but my husband is helping with massage, and ice and heat, and I was able to run 5km after my swim today--so fun. I did some interval training, like I'd seen a bunch of runners doing at my daughter's soccer game last night. I tried a couple of different things. For the first three kilometers, I did each lap a bit faster, til I was going very hard on the last lap. For the fourth kilometer, I did alternating laps of sprints and then recovery, but I found that very demanding, so I went back to the original wind-up, gradual-build of the earlier kilometres for my last one. I realize not everyone would think of this as "fun." Is it weird that I do? It's not much fun while I'm running, not when I'm pushing to my limits, and yet, it is. I ran the 5km in 24 minutes, which was not bad, considering the slower recovery laps.
How much am I going to train next week? I'm not sure. I know I should taper it off a bit before race day.
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
Day 313: Storm
Lightning, thunder, and rain cancelled out this morning's planned bike ride. I was so tired, I was almost relieved to be going back to bed to sleep for a couple of extra hours. Yesterday was busy and exhausting, starting with a swim and a run, then a writing day, then the kids' swim lessons, then a hurried supper (not a picnic after all -- everyone was too hungry to wait), then the drive to Guelph and a dip in the lake. By the time we got home again, it was almost 9, the dishes waited piled in the sink, and we had four wired kids to get to bed.
But I got to swim in the lake in my wetsuit! Easier than expected. The wetsuit felt pretty natural, and definitely warmed me up and made me more floaty. The lake is not like the pool, though. I found it difficult to orient myself. I'm used to looking down (which also makes your body more aerodynamic in the water), and my goggles fogged a bit, and I couldn't see very well where I was going. I hope it will be easier to orient myself during the race. It's not going to be an easy half hour or so, that's for sure. If I have to do a lot of looking around to figure out where I'm going, I won't be anywhere near my half-hour goal for finishing the swim. I also won't have the teeny-tiny mini-rests of turning around at the end of every length. The plan is to go back to the lake tomorrow, with picnic, kids, and an extra set of eyes. I'm nervous swimming all by myself, out deep, though I recognize that I can swim. And it was easy to flip onto my back and float in the wetsuit, too.
Will reschedule bike ride for Thursday or Friday, depending on weather.
My husband also did some research on my calf issues, and it looks and feels like simple muscle tightness that needs to be massaged and treated with ice after exercising, and heat after massage. Doesn't look like it's anything more serious than that, but it is causing me pain.
Yoga this afternoon--I hope!
But I got to swim in the lake in my wetsuit! Easier than expected. The wetsuit felt pretty natural, and definitely warmed me up and made me more floaty. The lake is not like the pool, though. I found it difficult to orient myself. I'm used to looking down (which also makes your body more aerodynamic in the water), and my goggles fogged a bit, and I couldn't see very well where I was going. I hope it will be easier to orient myself during the race. It's not going to be an easy half hour or so, that's for sure. If I have to do a lot of looking around to figure out where I'm going, I won't be anywhere near my half-hour goal for finishing the swim. I also won't have the teeny-tiny mini-rests of turning around at the end of every length. The plan is to go back to the lake tomorrow, with picnic, kids, and an extra set of eyes. I'm nervous swimming all by myself, out deep, though I recognize that I can swim. And it was easy to flip onto my back and float in the wetsuit, too.
Will reschedule bike ride for Thursday or Friday, depending on weather.
My husband also did some research on my calf issues, and it looks and feels like simple muscle tightness that needs to be massaged and treated with ice after exercising, and heat after massage. Doesn't look like it's anything more serious than that, but it is causing me pain.
Yoga this afternoon--I hope!
Monday, June 6, 2011
312: Triathlon versus Real Life
This past weekend, it felt like Real Life was winning. I was on my own with the children the whole weekend, as my husband was working. My daughter's soccer team played in another city, the two eldest kids had piano recitals, my poetry book club met on Saturday night, and my mother-in-law was visiting. Phew. Realizing that my only chance to get out biking would be very early on Saturday morning, I decided to go for it. My friend N came too, and found us a 25km route. It needed to be a quick one. The early morning was absolutely beautiful. I saw a white-tailed deer leaping across a field. There's little traffic at that hour, which I prefer, too.
I did not run after the bike ride, nor after the swim the previous morning (I swam longer instead, and counted my laps: 2500m in just under 1 hour; I did 1500m in 33 minutes, then really slowed down, out of necessity as much as anything--I felt tired). I didn't run because my left leg was bothering me too much and after Wednesday's run, I'd decided to rest it for a few days.
I missed it, though. Running is such an easy way to exercise (not to mention that it just makes me happy). Throw on shoes, run out door. Even half an hour, at a quick clip, can make for a good work-out. I love cycling too -- way more than I ever expected to -- but it's never short, and I prefer to go at a time of day when there are fewer cars on the road. And I enjoy swimming, but there's the problem of the water. Can't swim without water. We're lucky to have the rec centre so close, but, again, it's preferable to swim early, when the lanes are quiet. I guess people join swimming clubs or training clubs if they want to train hard and go fast on a regular basis (and not get up at 5am). I am not a leisure swimmer at all anymore. I swim end to end, turning and continuing, and only stopping to check the time.
This morning, I was pleased to swim 1500m in 32 minutes. A bit faster than last week. I swam another 500m, then called it good enough, and headed for the track. I ran 5km in 23 minutes -- not bad, but I keep wanting to get faster and faster, and that's what I did last week, too. But the good news was that my leg felt better. And that as soon as my feet hit the track, I broke into this huge spontaneous grin. Honestly, I'm just so happy to be running.
Four days without running and I missed it!
There was a trainer and a couple of young guys sprinting at the track this morning. That added an element of interest to the loops. Plus it looked really fun. I struggled to keep pace, but managed it throughout the entire 5km. I know it's only a fraction of how hard I'll be struggling to keep pace during the race. At this point in my training, I've come to recognize that physical fitness is only one aspect of the full picture when it comes to race day. How fast I go on that final run is going to come down to mental grit and determination. I still can't believe how fast I ran that 10km race. I'm not sure how I did it, honestly. I think I need my friend Tricia running behind me and pushing me on (or ahead of me, pulling me on). I hope that on my own, I'll push just as hard. Maybe I'll imagine her there at my shoulder.
Training isn't the same as race day, of course, but I do find myself wanting to push hard every time I'm out. It feels like practice for more extreme circumstances.
:::
In other news, I walked into the running store with the wetsuit on Thursday evening, and said, um, I've got a kind of weird request: can I put this on and you can tell me if it fits? The girl was lovely and helpful and I didn't feel like an idiot after all. She said the suit is a good fit, and a good make (and she knew the woman I'd borrowed it from--in fact, they are training partners!). I said, do I really have to wear a wetsuit in the race? And she explained the advantages. She said it will offer buoyancy and keep me warm, two factors that will spare my energy and make me more efficient in the water. Okay, I'm sold.
My husband happens not to have his regular soccer game tonight, and suggested we try taking the kids to the lake for a picnic, and to try out the wetsuit. Not sure how far I'll swim with no one there to lifeguard and husband distracted by children, but I hope to give it a try anyway, just to get a feel for it. And on Wednesday, it sounds like my friend Nath can come along to the lake and lifeguard for me, so I can try swimming the full race distance, appoximately, in the suit. (What would I do without Nath? I think she might just have to do a triathlon next summer ... she's training almost as much as I am!).
:::
Last week: three runs (16kms total = super-short!); three swims; two bike rides; one yoga class.
This week's plan: five runs; three swims (one in the lake, I hope!); two bike rides; two yoga classes.
I did not run after the bike ride, nor after the swim the previous morning (I swam longer instead, and counted my laps: 2500m in just under 1 hour; I did 1500m in 33 minutes, then really slowed down, out of necessity as much as anything--I felt tired). I didn't run because my left leg was bothering me too much and after Wednesday's run, I'd decided to rest it for a few days.
I missed it, though. Running is such an easy way to exercise (not to mention that it just makes me happy). Throw on shoes, run out door. Even half an hour, at a quick clip, can make for a good work-out. I love cycling too -- way more than I ever expected to -- but it's never short, and I prefer to go at a time of day when there are fewer cars on the road. And I enjoy swimming, but there's the problem of the water. Can't swim without water. We're lucky to have the rec centre so close, but, again, it's preferable to swim early, when the lanes are quiet. I guess people join swimming clubs or training clubs if they want to train hard and go fast on a regular basis (and not get up at 5am). I am not a leisure swimmer at all anymore. I swim end to end, turning and continuing, and only stopping to check the time.
This morning, I was pleased to swim 1500m in 32 minutes. A bit faster than last week. I swam another 500m, then called it good enough, and headed for the track. I ran 5km in 23 minutes -- not bad, but I keep wanting to get faster and faster, and that's what I did last week, too. But the good news was that my leg felt better. And that as soon as my feet hit the track, I broke into this huge spontaneous grin. Honestly, I'm just so happy to be running.
Four days without running and I missed it!
There was a trainer and a couple of young guys sprinting at the track this morning. That added an element of interest to the loops. Plus it looked really fun. I struggled to keep pace, but managed it throughout the entire 5km. I know it's only a fraction of how hard I'll be struggling to keep pace during the race. At this point in my training, I've come to recognize that physical fitness is only one aspect of the full picture when it comes to race day. How fast I go on that final run is going to come down to mental grit and determination. I still can't believe how fast I ran that 10km race. I'm not sure how I did it, honestly. I think I need my friend Tricia running behind me and pushing me on (or ahead of me, pulling me on). I hope that on my own, I'll push just as hard. Maybe I'll imagine her there at my shoulder.
Training isn't the same as race day, of course, but I do find myself wanting to push hard every time I'm out. It feels like practice for more extreme circumstances.
:::
In other news, I walked into the running store with the wetsuit on Thursday evening, and said, um, I've got a kind of weird request: can I put this on and you can tell me if it fits? The girl was lovely and helpful and I didn't feel like an idiot after all. She said the suit is a good fit, and a good make (and she knew the woman I'd borrowed it from--in fact, they are training partners!). I said, do I really have to wear a wetsuit in the race? And she explained the advantages. She said it will offer buoyancy and keep me warm, two factors that will spare my energy and make me more efficient in the water. Okay, I'm sold.
My husband happens not to have his regular soccer game tonight, and suggested we try taking the kids to the lake for a picnic, and to try out the wetsuit. Not sure how far I'll swim with no one there to lifeguard and husband distracted by children, but I hope to give it a try anyway, just to get a feel for it. And on Wednesday, it sounds like my friend Nath can come along to the lake and lifeguard for me, so I can try swimming the full race distance, appoximately, in the suit. (What would I do without Nath? I think she might just have to do a triathlon next summer ... she's training almost as much as I am!).
:::
Last week: three runs (16kms total = super-short!); three swims; two bike rides; one yoga class.
This week's plan: five runs; three swims (one in the lake, I hope!); two bike rides; two yoga classes.
Thursday, June 2, 2011
Day 308: Unplanned Morning Swim
I've been wanting to write for a few days, but haven't grabbed the time. Time seems pass too quickly, and we're packing in way too much. It occurred to me yesterday, as I ran through the door with preschooler in tow, having just come from the butterfly conservatory with my kindergartner, and loaded down with food for tomorrow's supper, that I am already a veritable genius at transitions. I manage them all day long, under pressure, and with tight turnarounds necessary. No wonder the transition zone at the duathlon didn't slow me down (much). Yesterday afternoon, I had ten minutes, exactly, to use the bathroom, get the food stored, take the clothes off the clothesline, and gather snacks and piano books for the lesson immediately after school, which was my next stop, all while talking to my preschooler (or, more precisely, responding to him).
Transitions take focus. But once you've got yourself turned in a new direction, it's lovely to settle in and enjoy the next leg. So once I'd gathered and dispersed children at school pick-up, and we'd made it to piano lessons, I could sit on a bench with my preschooler and play and colour and read for half an hour. That's how I felt when I was running and biking: settled in, aware of the present experience, dug right into it.
Monday, I swam and then ran afterward. I keep pushing the pace of that 5km speed-run. It's good practice, mentally and physically.
Tuesday, I went for an awesome early morning bike ride with my friend N. She drew up a route and we explored some parts of the nearby countryside I'd never seen, either on bike or from inside a car. The amazing thing was that we went down a road that seemed completely rural and far from civilization, and then we turned down a dirt road (briefly, thankfully), and then onto paved again, and instantly: there was the city. It had been that close all along. We were surrounded by new houses and development (apparently a controversial moraine development). The weather was perfect: warm, a bit humid, but not too warm. The air smelled like spring and manure (I love that smell, though I realize that might put me in the minority). There were patches of fog in low-lying areas, and as we zoomed down into them, the temperature would drop steeply. Just beautiful. After the bike ride (32km), I threw on my shoes and ran 2km. The first kilometre reminded me of the duathlon run. It's just weird-feeling to get off a bike and run. The muscles are different. It's hard to determine whether you're feeling weary and worn out, or whether it's just a matter of getting accustomed to a different activity. By the second kilometre, my legs felt closer to normal running legs, but were still shaky. More practice needed!
I know that final 10km on the race is going to hurt. It's not going to feel like a regular 10km run, and it's going to require stiff mental determination. Hopefully I can keep telling my feet to lift and land quickly. The quicker the turnover, the quicker the run.
I also went to a yoga class Tuesday afternoon. Not many people wanted to go to hot yoga on a steaming hot day, but it was lovely. Good to stretch. I'm having some pain in my left lower leg and I need to stretch more often. After yoga, I dashed home, threw back huge amounts of supper way too quickly, said goodbye to husband and eldest son who were off for their soccer game, gathered the other three, snacks, blanket, water bottles, soccer stuff, bike helmets, and we biked to the park for my eldest daughter's soccer practice. Phew. Talk about another crazy transition. And then we sat on a hill overlooking the field, rested on the blanket, the little kids snacked and played, and we were again in a state of settled calm. Soccer practice went late, and we biked home (me pulling the stroller) and arrived around 9. Everyone was home again, and the next hour was a mess of bedtime snacks, over-exhausted children, toothbrushing, school-lunch-making, dish-washing, and tucking in. I collapsed into bed just after 10.
Wednesday--yesterday--I was up early again, to run with a friend. We ran out to the "big sky," our first time since the fall (we ran a neighbourhood loop during the winter). We went about 8km. When I got home, I was surprised and pleased to see that the older kids were up and ready for a run, too. We only went 1km, but we sprinted for home, the last 200m. Everyone was pretty grumpy, though. Late nights make for grumpy mornings (I was grumpy, too).
We biked to a birthday party supper yesterday evening, and I was pleased to realize how strong I've become. I pulled the stroller up a long hill without having to change gears or stand on the pedals, and without really losing my breath. Real life pay-off!
The yoga studio is closed for the next four days, so my husband did not get up early for his usual weekly class this morning, nor can I go to the planned class this afternoon. I woke at 6am and realized that this morning, before school, was my lone opportunity to exercise. I slept a bit longer, then decided to drag myself out of bed and go to the pool and swim 1500m (race distance) as fast as I could. The lanes were crowded and disorganized at that hour (7:20, by the time I was suited up and trying to pick one). I went with a fast lane that only had one man in it, but we were soon after joined by another swimmer who was much slower, but who didn't move aside at the ends to let us pass. So I asked the guard was it okay for me to pass (I'm so bad at the pool etiquette! and it felt so rude to swim past her). He said of course. But passing while swimming takes longer than passing while running or biking: you have to get your full body length past the other person's full body length in less than 20m (since that's the length of the lane). I realized this was good practice for the race. I hated it, though. I was swimming so much faster than her, that I had to pass about every 175m, and each time it took a kind of sprint to get past her, and I felt terrible and rude, too. My breath got panicky and out of rhythm. I had to remind myself how to breathe.
The good news is that I swam 1500m in 33 minutes. The other good news is that I was able to calm myself down and find new breath and rhythm as needed. I really tried to push as hard as I possibly could for the full distance. I think that I swim more slowly on a regular day, when I go for the full hour. It would have been difficult to keep this pace up for another half an hour, but I figured that wasn't the point--the point was to go race pace, as best I could. And to make sure that I could do the distance. It will be a challenge, there's no doubt. I find it difficult to swim with my head up, which I might need to get better at in a lake full of other swimmers. It slows me down terribly, and I feel like I'm standing still in the water. My goggles also got very foggy (should have spit in them!) and I couldn't see well; but they never came loose, thankfully. The final good news was that my stroke felt strong and natural. I felt like I was really moving through the water. And I didn't have to think about technique at all.
There isn't much prep time left before the race. I have a couple of critical things left to do for the swim portion. One is to go to the running store that specializes in triathlons, and have them check the fit of my borrowed wetsuit. It sounds like water shouldn't be pouring down my back inside the suit, but should fit more tightly at the neck. If the suit doesn't fit properly, I will need to solve that problem -- buy one???? Lordy, but they're expensive. Borrow? Rent? I just don't know.
And once I've got the suit figured out, I need to get to a lake. Guelph Lake is open for swimming, daily, 8am till sundown, so I plan to head there next week; not sure which day will work best, but it will probably have to be after school. Maybe next Wednesday. And then I can see whether I really can swim, and how it feels to swim inside a wetsuit.
There were good things about today's swim, but I felt nervous the whole time, imagining myself in a race situation. The distance is pretty far, a lot further than 750m. I would like to swim it within the half hour, but that might not be possible given different circumstances. What today's swim did show me is that I need more swimming time. I should definitely add a third or even a fourth swim to my weekly work-out plan in the few weeks left. With my pool pass, it's worth it to go for even just half an hour to do a speedy session.
Transitions take focus. But once you've got yourself turned in a new direction, it's lovely to settle in and enjoy the next leg. So once I'd gathered and dispersed children at school pick-up, and we'd made it to piano lessons, I could sit on a bench with my preschooler and play and colour and read for half an hour. That's how I felt when I was running and biking: settled in, aware of the present experience, dug right into it.
Monday, I swam and then ran afterward. I keep pushing the pace of that 5km speed-run. It's good practice, mentally and physically.
Tuesday, I went for an awesome early morning bike ride with my friend N. She drew up a route and we explored some parts of the nearby countryside I'd never seen, either on bike or from inside a car. The amazing thing was that we went down a road that seemed completely rural and far from civilization, and then we turned down a dirt road (briefly, thankfully), and then onto paved again, and instantly: there was the city. It had been that close all along. We were surrounded by new houses and development (apparently a controversial moraine development). The weather was perfect: warm, a bit humid, but not too warm. The air smelled like spring and manure (I love that smell, though I realize that might put me in the minority). There were patches of fog in low-lying areas, and as we zoomed down into them, the temperature would drop steeply. Just beautiful. After the bike ride (32km), I threw on my shoes and ran 2km. The first kilometre reminded me of the duathlon run. It's just weird-feeling to get off a bike and run. The muscles are different. It's hard to determine whether you're feeling weary and worn out, or whether it's just a matter of getting accustomed to a different activity. By the second kilometre, my legs felt closer to normal running legs, but were still shaky. More practice needed!
I know that final 10km on the race is going to hurt. It's not going to feel like a regular 10km run, and it's going to require stiff mental determination. Hopefully I can keep telling my feet to lift and land quickly. The quicker the turnover, the quicker the run.
I also went to a yoga class Tuesday afternoon. Not many people wanted to go to hot yoga on a steaming hot day, but it was lovely. Good to stretch. I'm having some pain in my left lower leg and I need to stretch more often. After yoga, I dashed home, threw back huge amounts of supper way too quickly, said goodbye to husband and eldest son who were off for their soccer game, gathered the other three, snacks, blanket, water bottles, soccer stuff, bike helmets, and we biked to the park for my eldest daughter's soccer practice. Phew. Talk about another crazy transition. And then we sat on a hill overlooking the field, rested on the blanket, the little kids snacked and played, and we were again in a state of settled calm. Soccer practice went late, and we biked home (me pulling the stroller) and arrived around 9. Everyone was home again, and the next hour was a mess of bedtime snacks, over-exhausted children, toothbrushing, school-lunch-making, dish-washing, and tucking in. I collapsed into bed just after 10.
Wednesday--yesterday--I was up early again, to run with a friend. We ran out to the "big sky," our first time since the fall (we ran a neighbourhood loop during the winter). We went about 8km. When I got home, I was surprised and pleased to see that the older kids were up and ready for a run, too. We only went 1km, but we sprinted for home, the last 200m. Everyone was pretty grumpy, though. Late nights make for grumpy mornings (I was grumpy, too).
We biked to a birthday party supper yesterday evening, and I was pleased to realize how strong I've become. I pulled the stroller up a long hill without having to change gears or stand on the pedals, and without really losing my breath. Real life pay-off!
The yoga studio is closed for the next four days, so my husband did not get up early for his usual weekly class this morning, nor can I go to the planned class this afternoon. I woke at 6am and realized that this morning, before school, was my lone opportunity to exercise. I slept a bit longer, then decided to drag myself out of bed and go to the pool and swim 1500m (race distance) as fast as I could. The lanes were crowded and disorganized at that hour (7:20, by the time I was suited up and trying to pick one). I went with a fast lane that only had one man in it, but we were soon after joined by another swimmer who was much slower, but who didn't move aside at the ends to let us pass. So I asked the guard was it okay for me to pass (I'm so bad at the pool etiquette! and it felt so rude to swim past her). He said of course. But passing while swimming takes longer than passing while running or biking: you have to get your full body length past the other person's full body length in less than 20m (since that's the length of the lane). I realized this was good practice for the race. I hated it, though. I was swimming so much faster than her, that I had to pass about every 175m, and each time it took a kind of sprint to get past her, and I felt terrible and rude, too. My breath got panicky and out of rhythm. I had to remind myself how to breathe.
The good news is that I swam 1500m in 33 minutes. The other good news is that I was able to calm myself down and find new breath and rhythm as needed. I really tried to push as hard as I possibly could for the full distance. I think that I swim more slowly on a regular day, when I go for the full hour. It would have been difficult to keep this pace up for another half an hour, but I figured that wasn't the point--the point was to go race pace, as best I could. And to make sure that I could do the distance. It will be a challenge, there's no doubt. I find it difficult to swim with my head up, which I might need to get better at in a lake full of other swimmers. It slows me down terribly, and I feel like I'm standing still in the water. My goggles also got very foggy (should have spit in them!) and I couldn't see well; but they never came loose, thankfully. The final good news was that my stroke felt strong and natural. I felt like I was really moving through the water. And I didn't have to think about technique at all.
There isn't much prep time left before the race. I have a couple of critical things left to do for the swim portion. One is to go to the running store that specializes in triathlons, and have them check the fit of my borrowed wetsuit. It sounds like water shouldn't be pouring down my back inside the suit, but should fit more tightly at the neck. If the suit doesn't fit properly, I will need to solve that problem -- buy one???? Lordy, but they're expensive. Borrow? Rent? I just don't know.
And once I've got the suit figured out, I need to get to a lake. Guelph Lake is open for swimming, daily, 8am till sundown, so I plan to head there next week; not sure which day will work best, but it will probably have to be after school. Maybe next Wednesday. And then I can see whether I really can swim, and how it feels to swim inside a wetsuit.
There were good things about today's swim, but I felt nervous the whole time, imagining myself in a race situation. The distance is pretty far, a lot further than 750m. I would like to swim it within the half hour, but that might not be possible given different circumstances. What today's swim did show me is that I need more swimming time. I should definitely add a third or even a fourth swim to my weekly work-out plan in the few weeks left. With my pool pass, it's worth it to go for even just half an hour to do a speedy session.
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