As I sit down to bust out this blog post, I'm exhausted, on a hormonal rollercoaster, listening to my husband in the next room try to soothe the new tiny human who has recently entered our lives and wondering how the heck it's been 3 years since I actually blogged despite thinking about it several hundred times. An accumulation of those instances where I think, "maybe I should blog tonight about my recent race, major life change, etc..." then I think about what I would say in my blog, and - just like I reply to text messages in my head then realize a day later I never replied - three years later I'm finally typing something out. So there it is.
Three years ago, I was still working in corporate America in addition to my graphic design freelance work to keep side income coming in to pay down my student loans, sprinting from day to day, trying to fit in some sort of training so I could maintain my podium-finishes in my triathlon racing, and making sure I spent quality time with my then-boyfriend-now-husband, John. Social life? Yep, throw that in there too. That crazy life continued through 2016 and half of 2017...
In June of 2017, after a drastic change in leadership that took the company I worked for from "pretty good" to virtual hell-on-earth, I made a huge decision to leave that job after 8 years and go to work with my husband. It was one of the most frightening but most freeing decisions I've ever made. All eggs, one basket. Our basket. In September of 2017, I represented Team USA in my 2nd World Championship in Olympic Distance Triathlon in the Netherlands - without having to worry about how much PTO I had! But we also learned that when you own your own business and take a long vacation, WiFi is very important, and you still have to work (a little) to keep business running smoothly. It was a well-needed break before the next major life change that was most of 2018: childbearing.
Although my pregnancy was pretty smooth-sailing, I did not like it. No morning sickness (just a random bout of food poisoning around 3 months), no weird food cravings or aversions, no complications. I just did not like being pregnant. It was uncomfortable, annoying, did I mention UNCOMFORTABLE? At 30 weeks, I surprisingly was able to do a sprint-distance triathlon, which was also the last day I decided to run, but I did manage to place 5th Athena out of 17+. Ouch, pelvic bone. After that, physical activity gradually decreased. The last month was stupid. Little man decided to sit on my pelvic bone while I was 2 cm dilated for a whole month. The last week, I would hike 2 miles almost every day to try to get kiddo out. On his birth-day, I was so glad and petrified at the same time... no more pelvic pain, but now he was on the exterior, what the heck?!
I'm now 6+ weeks post-baby birth and still in what we refer to as "survival mode" - trying to sleep as much as we can, when we can (which is not a lot), eating, running our business, keeping up on our rental properties, and learning something new EVERY DAY about this new human in our lives that only knows how to communicate by crying right now. It's been a mental battle every day for me as I combat the fog and misery that is "post-partum". One day I'm planning race goals for this coming year as my "come-back" from pregnancy and childbirth, and the next day I'm wondering if I'll ever stop bleeding so I can get back in the dang pool, or if I'll ever be able to run again without my pelvis falling apart, and will my boobs get back to a size that I can run fast again? And other questions, like, What is a full night of sleep like? When can I get a facial and a massage in one day because I don't have to worry about breastfeeding? When can I get a 3-hour bike ride in after a swim if I can't hardly get in 30 minutes on the trainer right now? How can I edit more than 1/2 of a 2-minute video in one day without being interrupted by a crying baby? Why do people have more than one baby? Oh, it's been a glorious 6+ weeks.
Yet here we are, still alive and relatively well, and we're just taking each day as it comes; that's all we can do.
Looking back on the past few years though, as much as our lives have been completely turned upside down recently and in the spirit of this time of year, we are blessed and we have so much to be thankful for at the end of the day. I am grateful that I have the freedom and flexibility that I do in my life and career, that our tiny human is perfect in every way, and that my husband is loving, supportive, and imperfect like me. He also loves fast women (according to his shirt he likes to wear to my races), so I'll have to work on that...
For now, as this year comes to a close, we will relax together, focus on what matters most, and try not to let the small stuff bother us or to eat too much.
Monday, November 19, 2018
Wednesday, September 30, 2015
Learning Lessons: Finding Strength and Balance
One of the many things I've learned this past year is that when you're attempting to balance 2 jobs, training and a social life of sorts, something has to give... which is why I haven't posted since February!
Many updates in this post. First, my season. I finished 2 weeks ago with a strong 4th female overall finish at the S.O.S. Triathlon in upstate New York - and less than 30 seconds behind 3rd place in a 5:10:00 race. Despite my sub-par training schedule, consistency is king, along with excellent nutrition (Thanks HAMMER!).
I'm happy with my S.O.S. finish as my 1/2 distance in May didn't turn out so well. Although I managed a 3rd place age group finish then, it wasn't pretty. Freezing cold, no energy, slow. Much different than the 3rd overall finish I had just pulled out the week before. I rebounded quite a bit by August in the Rocky Mountain Triathlon, placing 2nd female overall and regaining some much-needed confidence.
The sub-par training is the result of work and committee meetings, but without work I wouldn't have any means of paying for this strenuous habit, so there's not much I can complain about. Finding balance for everything has been the hard part. Oh, and did I mention I bought a house with my significant other? We've been working on house projects on top of everything - landscaping, painting, etc for the past several months... as if I didn't have anything else to do. But it's all fun, because it's OUR house!
Take THAT, ex! (refer to previous post about horrible ex)
There's a saying that goes something like, "If you want to get something done, give it to a busy person." The funny thing about that is I feel like when I have a lot on my plate, I always figure out an efficient way to get it all done, yet when I have time to myself, I find that I procrastinate more...hmm.
So here I am at 9:20pm, after a full day at work, followed by a few hours of freelance, dinner, cleaning house, dog-playing, housewares shopping... I have a few minutes before heading to bed and hopefully wind down by reading a little. Perfect time to update the blog.
In reflection of the past several BUSY months, it's been a learning lesson in strength and balance; emotional and physical strength, work-play balance. Life will never be perfect, and just like house projects, nothing is ever finished, but rather a continuous work of art - constantly moving, changing and evolving.
As I hit another milestone birthday in just a few months, I look forward to what life has in store this coming year. I'm thankful I have an amazing man to share this life with, and I'm thankful for my ever-evolving career path and friends, weird and loving family, and so much more.
Many updates in this post. First, my season. I finished 2 weeks ago with a strong 4th female overall finish at the S.O.S. Triathlon in upstate New York - and less than 30 seconds behind 3rd place in a 5:10:00 race. Despite my sub-par training schedule, consistency is king, along with excellent nutrition (Thanks HAMMER!).
I'm happy with my S.O.S. finish as my 1/2 distance in May didn't turn out so well. Although I managed a 3rd place age group finish then, it wasn't pretty. Freezing cold, no energy, slow. Much different than the 3rd overall finish I had just pulled out the week before. I rebounded quite a bit by August in the Rocky Mountain Triathlon, placing 2nd female overall and regaining some much-needed confidence.
The sub-par training is the result of work and committee meetings, but without work I wouldn't have any means of paying for this strenuous habit, so there's not much I can complain about. Finding balance for everything has been the hard part. Oh, and did I mention I bought a house with my significant other? We've been working on house projects on top of everything - landscaping, painting, etc for the past several months... as if I didn't have anything else to do. But it's all fun, because it's OUR house!
Take THAT, ex! (refer to previous post about horrible ex)
There's a saying that goes something like, "If you want to get something done, give it to a busy person." The funny thing about that is I feel like when I have a lot on my plate, I always figure out an efficient way to get it all done, yet when I have time to myself, I find that I procrastinate more...hmm.
So here I am at 9:20pm, after a full day at work, followed by a few hours of freelance, dinner, cleaning house, dog-playing, housewares shopping... I have a few minutes before heading to bed and hopefully wind down by reading a little. Perfect time to update the blog.
In reflection of the past several BUSY months, it's been a learning lesson in strength and balance; emotional and physical strength, work-play balance. Life will never be perfect, and just like house projects, nothing is ever finished, but rather a continuous work of art - constantly moving, changing and evolving.
As I hit another milestone birthday in just a few months, I look forward to what life has in store this coming year. I'm thankful I have an amazing man to share this life with, and I'm thankful for my ever-evolving career path and friends, weird and loving family, and so much more.
Sunday, February 22, 2015
Switching Gears, Redefining Goals, And Finding Forgiveness
After taking a year "off" from racing due to hip surgery, I am once again looking forward to a competitive 2015 season, but this one feels different. I've set my first and last races of the season, but have yet to fill in the middle, and I'm struggling deciding how to do this.
Part of it is intimidation: I know how promising I was 2 years ago (pre-hip bust), but can I get there again?
Then there's the questions that spin over again in my head: Why do I keep getting iron-deficient despite continuing my regular dose of iron? How will this affect my ability to perform the way I want to? What about the extra commitments on my plate for work and life? How do I balance more?
The other part?
I'm lacking an inner drive I had, and the more I've thought about it, the closer I get to understanding myself. Stress has an amazing effect on the body whether we realize it or not...
Just over five years ago, I went through a horrible divorce. I had no money for an attorney at the time, but he did, and he got everything - house, all the nice things we bought together, etc. I was just thankful to have left alive at the time, so none of that mattered.
Then came the dreaded, even more horrible "rebound".
For 2 years, I had frequent anxiety attacks - heart palpitations, intense sweating, feelings of dread and shaking - sometimes for no reason at all, most times provoked by some sort of contact with my ex - a phone call, text, picture, etc.
Finally, I went through a healing process. I found myself again, and gradually built the ground up under my feet.
But this past year, on top of rehabbing my hip, I had to take my former spouse to court for contempt - ripping open scars I thought were well-healed and provoking the anxiety attacks once again. (He never refinanced the house in the 5 years since the divorce was final, though the separation agreement clearly stated he was to do so within 2 years). In the middle of all of this, my best buddy for over 11 years (my German Shepherd, Xena) passed away, tearing a hole in my already battered soul.
This seemingly "open and shut, black and white" case became excruciatingly painful as my ex pulled his typical manipulative tricks, and weaseled his way out of everything - including producing a forged Quit Claim Deed (he called it a "Quick Claim Deed" in court documents - idiot) with my name on it so he could snake his way through refinancing the house without me signing anything; he was able to refi before we appeared in court and the judge dismissed the case without so much as a slap on the wrist to him. How? Although he was making GOOD money in the military for 4 of those 5 years and could have easily refinanced, he did not - but since he had gotten out of the armed services recently, he used that in his defense. AS IF HE HAD ONLY BEEN WORKING MINIMUM WAGE FOR ALL THAT TIME... not to mention he's currently a private contractor, not reporting the thousands he actually makes, the 3/4 million dollar house he lives in with his horse on the property (cunningly financed under his new "wife"), and the new Harley and Jeep he bought in the past few years... note to self - do a lot more research before presenting your case.
It cost me a nice retainer fee to have an attorney in my corner this time (none of which was awarded back to me), and losing out on new-homeowner status - much-needed incentives to buy a house of my own - when I should have been new-homeowner-eligible 2 years ago.
BUT, it is done, and has been since October. Oddly enough however, on the day I picked up my small refund for the remainder of my retainer fee, I received an email from my former spouse. There was no reason for him to contact me, but curiosity got the best of me and I opened the email.
What I read was no less than what I expected from him, but hoped wouldn't be - an entire email that upon reading it, spelled out exactly why I left him in the first place. Several paragraphs that put me down, told me how pathetic I was to try to get money out of him, that I should find a better-paying job than triathlon, and that I should learn something from this.
When I read the email aloud to my significant-other and shared it with my close friends, the first thing they all said in one way or another was, "that is a WHOLE other level of crazy".
My feelings precisely... which is why I shared it. The email spooked me so much, that I was scared he would try to do something to hurt me again - which is what I finally figured out. He never refinanced the house because it was another way he could hurt me even though he wasn't part of my life; the email was his last effort to assert some control over me - to show how powerful he still was. PRICK.
I didn't reply. What could I have possibly said? That I'm a strong, beautiful, independent woman who he will never control? That I have an amazing job (and HAVE had the same amazing job for the past 5 years) where I am paid well, respected by my peers, and have made so many revered and special connections in the community, he could only dream of them? That I love the community I live in, and give back to it every chance I get - much of that is in the running and cycling industry, but much of it is also through working in partnership with several notable charities? Did he even know that THE DAY he sent that email, the local Business Journal had published a full-page article on me as a highlighted Young Professional in the community? That I didn't need his stupid money, it was the principal of the whole thing? - Why even bother having a separation agreement if the courts won't uphold them and only give a pat on the back when one is followed only after being held in contempt? The truth is, even if I had told him that, he would have replied with something else that put me down - because that's what he always did. He would have wanted the last word. His last bit of control.
I struggle with forgiveness. I also know that each day that passes is another that separates me from him - but I don't know how long it will take for the wounds to heal. I have learned many things from the past several years, and the best thing is that I AM a strong, independent woman who was able to get out of an abusive relationship and move on successfully. I wasn't perfect in my relationship with my ex, and I'm not perfect now. I make mistakes (as hard as it is to admit), but I've learned recently what a good relationship is, and I love it. The man in my life now is kind, gentle, loving, respectful, understanding, silly, and just plain good. How lucky am I to have found that?
I will forgive with time, but I won't forget - it will just hurt less and the pain will eventually go away, but the memory will be there and serve as a reminder that I wasn't controlled or kept down.
Moving forward, I'm not sure what this next year holds, but I am striving for excellence, as a true perfectionist would, and acknowledging this life journey is just that. It's the scars that make us stronger... and make some good stories.
Thanks to my friends and family who have supported me and continue to support me on this path - I love you all! Cheers to kicking of a good 2015...
And if you see my ex, tell him how awesome I'm doing.
Part of it is intimidation: I know how promising I was 2 years ago (pre-hip bust), but can I get there again?
Then there's the questions that spin over again in my head: Why do I keep getting iron-deficient despite continuing my regular dose of iron? How will this affect my ability to perform the way I want to? What about the extra commitments on my plate for work and life? How do I balance more?
The other part?
I'm lacking an inner drive I had, and the more I've thought about it, the closer I get to understanding myself. Stress has an amazing effect on the body whether we realize it or not...
Just over five years ago, I went through a horrible divorce. I had no money for an attorney at the time, but he did, and he got everything - house, all the nice things we bought together, etc. I was just thankful to have left alive at the time, so none of that mattered.
Then came the dreaded, even more horrible "rebound".
For 2 years, I had frequent anxiety attacks - heart palpitations, intense sweating, feelings of dread and shaking - sometimes for no reason at all, most times provoked by some sort of contact with my ex - a phone call, text, picture, etc.
Finally, I went through a healing process. I found myself again, and gradually built the ground up under my feet.
But this past year, on top of rehabbing my hip, I had to take my former spouse to court for contempt - ripping open scars I thought were well-healed and provoking the anxiety attacks once again. (He never refinanced the house in the 5 years since the divorce was final, though the separation agreement clearly stated he was to do so within 2 years). In the middle of all of this, my best buddy for over 11 years (my German Shepherd, Xena) passed away, tearing a hole in my already battered soul.
This seemingly "open and shut, black and white" case became excruciatingly painful as my ex pulled his typical manipulative tricks, and weaseled his way out of everything - including producing a forged Quit Claim Deed (he called it a "Quick Claim Deed" in court documents - idiot) with my name on it so he could snake his way through refinancing the house without me signing anything; he was able to refi before we appeared in court and the judge dismissed the case without so much as a slap on the wrist to him. How? Although he was making GOOD money in the military for 4 of those 5 years and could have easily refinanced, he did not - but since he had gotten out of the armed services recently, he used that in his defense. AS IF HE HAD ONLY BEEN WORKING MINIMUM WAGE FOR ALL THAT TIME... not to mention he's currently a private contractor, not reporting the thousands he actually makes, the 3/4 million dollar house he lives in with his horse on the property (cunningly financed under his new "wife"), and the new Harley and Jeep he bought in the past few years... note to self - do a lot more research before presenting your case.
It cost me a nice retainer fee to have an attorney in my corner this time (none of which was awarded back to me), and losing out on new-homeowner status - much-needed incentives to buy a house of my own - when I should have been new-homeowner-eligible 2 years ago.
BUT, it is done, and has been since October. Oddly enough however, on the day I picked up my small refund for the remainder of my retainer fee, I received an email from my former spouse. There was no reason for him to contact me, but curiosity got the best of me and I opened the email.
What I read was no less than what I expected from him, but hoped wouldn't be - an entire email that upon reading it, spelled out exactly why I left him in the first place. Several paragraphs that put me down, told me how pathetic I was to try to get money out of him, that I should find a better-paying job than triathlon, and that I should learn something from this.
When I read the email aloud to my significant-other and shared it with my close friends, the first thing they all said in one way or another was, "that is a WHOLE other level of crazy".
My feelings precisely... which is why I shared it. The email spooked me so much, that I was scared he would try to do something to hurt me again - which is what I finally figured out. He never refinanced the house because it was another way he could hurt me even though he wasn't part of my life; the email was his last effort to assert some control over me - to show how powerful he still was. PRICK.
I didn't reply. What could I have possibly said? That I'm a strong, beautiful, independent woman who he will never control? That I have an amazing job (and HAVE had the same amazing job for the past 5 years) where I am paid well, respected by my peers, and have made so many revered and special connections in the community, he could only dream of them? That I love the community I live in, and give back to it every chance I get - much of that is in the running and cycling industry, but much of it is also through working in partnership with several notable charities? Did he even know that THE DAY he sent that email, the local Business Journal had published a full-page article on me as a highlighted Young Professional in the community? That I didn't need his stupid money, it was the principal of the whole thing? - Why even bother having a separation agreement if the courts won't uphold them and only give a pat on the back when one is followed only after being held in contempt? The truth is, even if I had told him that, he would have replied with something else that put me down - because that's what he always did. He would have wanted the last word. His last bit of control.
I struggle with forgiveness. I also know that each day that passes is another that separates me from him - but I don't know how long it will take for the wounds to heal. I have learned many things from the past several years, and the best thing is that I AM a strong, independent woman who was able to get out of an abusive relationship and move on successfully. I wasn't perfect in my relationship with my ex, and I'm not perfect now. I make mistakes (as hard as it is to admit), but I've learned recently what a good relationship is, and I love it. The man in my life now is kind, gentle, loving, respectful, understanding, silly, and just plain good. How lucky am I to have found that?
I will forgive with time, but I won't forget - it will just hurt less and the pain will eventually go away, but the memory will be there and serve as a reminder that I wasn't controlled or kept down.
Moving forward, I'm not sure what this next year holds, but I am striving for excellence, as a true perfectionist would, and acknowledging this life journey is just that. It's the scars that make us stronger... and make some good stories.
Thanks to my friends and family who have supported me and continue to support me on this path - I love you all! Cheers to kicking of a good 2015...
And if you see my ex, tell him how awesome I'm doing.
Tuesday, May 27, 2014
Progressing Past Hurdles
The past 4 months since my last post have been stuffed full of all sorts of stuff, mostly good, some not so good. All life.
One of the caveats to being in recovery and not training as much as usual is that you can work more. The bum side to that is now that I'm back in action, more work is not conducive to training. I'm having to find balance all over again, and it's tough.
The number one goal I set this year was to get healthy and strong so I can kick butt racing again next year, which is exactly what I needed to make sure I didn't push too soon to race, risking injury. However, since there are no races on the schedule until mid-September, the drive to train isn't really that strong. It has been a nice mental break though, and I welcome a summer of playing in my sport instead of racing every other weekend in it. The work is also a well-needed problem to have and because of the extra freelance load I've been able to take on during recovery, I've managed to pay off 99% of my surgery-related bills before June.
As the summer draws closer, and the load my body can handle increases, it's easier to get out and put some time in to regaining fitness - I've already noticed a significant increase in my strength and endurance, especially cardiovascular. Of course, just when I start to think it will never happen, I have a good day that makes all the work worth it, like kicking my boyfriend's butt up Barr Trail this past weekend (sorry John).
Speaking of noticing progress, I'm so thankful for Hammer Nutrition for supporting me through my recovery journey - what a great full-spectrum of products! I love knowing that what I'm fueling and nourishing myself with makes a difference - one I can see, feel and pass on to others. I've been honored to represent them at a few ladies' nights in town and love sharing the benefits of such a great company and product line. That is another huge motivation to continue on my path to regaining fitness!
The best thing about being active again: stress relief. What a great remedy endorphins are for life's drama! As my friend and mentor Mimi always says, "blow a bubble and move on"... well, I blow a lot of bubbles on my swims, bikes and runs - without those sessions, the bubbles would be hard to blow without a major amount of brain damage.
In a few weeks I will go back for my 24-week post op and hopefully not have any issues requiring my surgeon in the future. It's been a long road - completely different than any other I've been on - but it's been a good experience. If I've learned anything, it's to appreciate what you have when you have it and that patience is definitely a virtue.
Oh, and in case you're wondering... the butt cheeks are shrinking. More slowly than I would like, but that's progress in a nutshell!
One of the caveats to being in recovery and not training as much as usual is that you can work more. The bum side to that is now that I'm back in action, more work is not conducive to training. I'm having to find balance all over again, and it's tough.
The number one goal I set this year was to get healthy and strong so I can kick butt racing again next year, which is exactly what I needed to make sure I didn't push too soon to race, risking injury. However, since there are no races on the schedule until mid-September, the drive to train isn't really that strong. It has been a nice mental break though, and I welcome a summer of playing in my sport instead of racing every other weekend in it. The work is also a well-needed problem to have and because of the extra freelance load I've been able to take on during recovery, I've managed to pay off 99% of my surgery-related bills before June.
As the summer draws closer, and the load my body can handle increases, it's easier to get out and put some time in to regaining fitness - I've already noticed a significant increase in my strength and endurance, especially cardiovascular. Of course, just when I start to think it will never happen, I have a good day that makes all the work worth it, like kicking my boyfriend's butt up Barr Trail this past weekend (sorry John).
Speaking of noticing progress, I'm so thankful for Hammer Nutrition for supporting me through my recovery journey - what a great full-spectrum of products! I love knowing that what I'm fueling and nourishing myself with makes a difference - one I can see, feel and pass on to others. I've been honored to represent them at a few ladies' nights in town and love sharing the benefits of such a great company and product line. That is another huge motivation to continue on my path to regaining fitness!The best thing about being active again: stress relief. What a great remedy endorphins are for life's drama! As my friend and mentor Mimi always says, "blow a bubble and move on"... well, I blow a lot of bubbles on my swims, bikes and runs - without those sessions, the bubbles would be hard to blow without a major amount of brain damage.
In a few weeks I will go back for my 24-week post op and hopefully not have any issues requiring my surgeon in the future. It's been a long road - completely different than any other I've been on - but it's been a good experience. If I've learned anything, it's to appreciate what you have when you have it and that patience is definitely a virtue.
Oh, and in case you're wondering... the butt cheeks are shrinking. More slowly than I would like, but that's progress in a nutshell!
Thursday, January 30, 2014
Forks in the Road
As many of us know, just when we think we're gaining ground and figuring things out, there's always that fork in the road (as my dear friend Hannah knows) that makes you falter, change direction, land flat on your face, etc.
After my last entry post-worlds, I did in fact take some time off, saw a physical therapist, took more time off, all with no improvement. After some drilling down, we decided symptoms were pointing to something other than a torn/pulled adductor and an MRI was necessary. As it happened, I had a torn hip labrum that was the sole cause of my discomfort all season and the only road to repair and recovery was surgery.
I went under the knife December 30th, which was the first major surgery in my life and I was extremely nervous, but ready at the same time because I FINALLY knew why I wasn't getting better and this was the answer!
The first week post-op was unexpectedly easy. I didn't have to work, was on pain killers and muscle relaxers for the better part of it, and for the first time in months, my hip didn't hurt! The past 4 weeks since then have just been a test of patience. I was 50% weigh-bearing right off the anesthesia but on crutches. If there were anything ever so obnoxiously invasive of daily life, crutches take it. Enough said; I finally ditched those puppies last week and haven't missed them one bit.
While I can't really work out yet, I can do bridges on an exercise ball and flex my ever-growing butt cheeks. Oh, and sidestep with a little more resistance. From what I understand, at 6 weeks I'll be permitted to do more fun movements, but for now I must endure the pain in my chest like an adolescent girl and watch my boobs grow larger so my butt doesn't feel so bad. Now, by any stretch no one would consider me fat, but as an out-of-shape athlete unable to be an athlete in the sense we all know it, this is the hardest challenge I've met thus far in my active endeavors.
The light at the end of my tunnel is knowing the rest and recovery time I'm giving my body will eventually pay off. By summer, this blog post will seem light-years in the past and I'll be playing on the trails and wheels once again. The path from here to there is not entirely clear cut, and there is a long way to go before I'm feeling normal again, but the thought of a run/bike/swim/anything without the pain and discomfort I felt all last summer is exhilarating! In the meantime, I have a great support system that has been there for me through thick and thin, including my significant other John Haney, and my homes-away-from-home, The Colorado Running Company and Cafe Velo.
If I've learned anything else in the past several weeks, it's that recovery isn't just about following doc's orders. Nutrition and giving your body the nutrients it needs to heal is imperative. Thanks to Hammer Nutrition, I have a complete supplement support regiment and attribute much of my healing progress and success to their products. I don't think there is a more complete system out there and I am not only honored to represent them, but the 2 other local companies above as well.
Looking forward to 2014, my racing season won't be nearly as full as the past several years, but I am excited to 'play' this summer, building my fitness again and participating in some fun fall races. It's been a long time since I've been able to feel comfortable taking a weekend to go explore the mountains and not feel guilty about missing a 3 hour bike or 2 hour run, or both together...
My surgeon has told me I could continue to improve up to 2 years post-surgery - a daunting yet exciting possibility. While I don't ever want to see my surgeon after this for anything other than skiing and happy hour, he is -in my opinion - the best one I could have chosen for my surgery and I'd recommend him in a heartbeat. Thank you, Geoff Doner for helping me get my groove back.
This recovery will be long and challenging, so I will be posting more often than this blog boasts so far. Next time I hope to write about butt-cheek shrinkage.
After my last entry post-worlds, I did in fact take some time off, saw a physical therapist, took more time off, all with no improvement. After some drilling down, we decided symptoms were pointing to something other than a torn/pulled adductor and an MRI was necessary. As it happened, I had a torn hip labrum that was the sole cause of my discomfort all season and the only road to repair and recovery was surgery.
I went under the knife December 30th, which was the first major surgery in my life and I was extremely nervous, but ready at the same time because I FINALLY knew why I wasn't getting better and this was the answer!
The first week post-op was unexpectedly easy. I didn't have to work, was on pain killers and muscle relaxers for the better part of it, and for the first time in months, my hip didn't hurt! The past 4 weeks since then have just been a test of patience. I was 50% weigh-bearing right off the anesthesia but on crutches. If there were anything ever so obnoxiously invasive of daily life, crutches take it. Enough said; I finally ditched those puppies last week and haven't missed them one bit.
While I can't really work out yet, I can do bridges on an exercise ball and flex my ever-growing butt cheeks. Oh, and sidestep with a little more resistance. From what I understand, at 6 weeks I'll be permitted to do more fun movements, but for now I must endure the pain in my chest like an adolescent girl and watch my boobs grow larger so my butt doesn't feel so bad. Now, by any stretch no one would consider me fat, but as an out-of-shape athlete unable to be an athlete in the sense we all know it, this is the hardest challenge I've met thus far in my active endeavors.
The light at the end of my tunnel is knowing the rest and recovery time I'm giving my body will eventually pay off. By summer, this blog post will seem light-years in the past and I'll be playing on the trails and wheels once again. The path from here to there is not entirely clear cut, and there is a long way to go before I'm feeling normal again, but the thought of a run/bike/swim/anything without the pain and discomfort I felt all last summer is exhilarating! In the meantime, I have a great support system that has been there for me through thick and thin, including my significant other John Haney, and my homes-away-from-home, The Colorado Running Company and Cafe Velo.
If I've learned anything else in the past several weeks, it's that recovery isn't just about following doc's orders. Nutrition and giving your body the nutrients it needs to heal is imperative. Thanks to Hammer Nutrition, I have a complete supplement support regiment and attribute much of my healing progress and success to their products. I don't think there is a more complete system out there and I am not only honored to represent them, but the 2 other local companies above as well.
Looking forward to 2014, my racing season won't be nearly as full as the past several years, but I am excited to 'play' this summer, building my fitness again and participating in some fun fall races. It's been a long time since I've been able to feel comfortable taking a weekend to go explore the mountains and not feel guilty about missing a 3 hour bike or 2 hour run, or both together...
My surgeon has told me I could continue to improve up to 2 years post-surgery - a daunting yet exciting possibility. While I don't ever want to see my surgeon after this for anything other than skiing and happy hour, he is -in my opinion - the best one I could have chosen for my surgery and I'd recommend him in a heartbeat. Thank you, Geoff Doner for helping me get my groove back.
This recovery will be long and challenging, so I will be posting more often than this blog boasts so far. Next time I hope to write about butt-cheek shrinkage.
Sunday, October 6, 2013
A Bittersweet Close To The 2013 Season Tastes Surprisingly Good
After my last post, I raced 2 more Olympic Distances before traveling to London for the World Championship. Boulder Peak - where I competed as an 'elite age grouper' - was difficult to get through because of my nagging injury. I ended up 4th in my age group (not sure what place elite).
The following month was spent taking some time off, getting weekly 30 min neuromuscular massages, chiropractic appt's and LOTS of stretching. Over 3 months, with the help of PT's, MD's and more, we have deduced that the crash in my 1/2 Iron distance in the spring threw my body out of alignment. Doing 1-leg squats with a mis-aligned body tore my adductor, which then irritated the crap out of everything around it. From mid-July through just 3 weeks ago, it's been a delicate balance of trying to maintain fitness but not injuring myself any more.
The Steamboat Springs Triathlon was exactly 1 month before Worlds. The goal for that race was to hammer the swim (which didn't bother my adductor at all), push the bike as much as I could without pissing body parts off, and take the run REALLY easy. I was able to do all of the above - even left my TT bike at home just to not be tempted to push harder than I should. The 10k run was the slowest I have EVER run that distance (54+ mins), but knowing I didn't injure myself in the process was a good feeling.
John (my boyfriend) and I flew out to London overnight Wednesday September 11th with compression tights on, sporting Hammer Nutrition apparel, Ambien in-hand. Flying direct, non-stop from Denver to London Heathrow (arriving around noon Thursday the 12th) was the best decision in our travel plans we made. My bike was even out on the conveyor belt (no damage) by the time we breezed through customs. The public transportation system was a total breeze, partially thanks to the travel pass we bought which covered all public transport in London during peak and non-peak hours. Staying with our host - and new friend Monica at her flat was so comfortable and convenient, we felt like we were 'home'. Less than 2 blocks from a major Tube stop, getting to and from the race site and Team USA activities was very easy.
The weather throughout almost the entire trip was nothing short of typical London: Rainy, chilly. Race day morning was the exception. It was just VERY cold - but sunny! It was so cold that the 1500m swim was shortened to 750m due to the 42 degree (F) air temp and low 60s Serpentine water temp. I was a bit disappointed b/c I had worked very hard on my swim this summer - partly by choice, partly by injury default - and I was ready to rock it. I still swam decently, but by the time the pack had thinned out and was losing steam (while I felt great), we were exiting the water. The transition run from swim to bike was LONG. Same for the Bike to Run. With over 2000 athletes, the transition area was so big, they had to make it "fair" for everyone, so the officials had the T set up for everyone to run the same distance no matter where your area in T was. 7 mins out of my total 2:12 race time was T. Normally, my T times together are less than 3 mins, most less than 2.
The bike course was amazing, albeit very technical as expected. The 2-loop course took us around Hyde Park, THROUGH the Wellington Arch, in front of Buckingham Palace (twice!), along the Thames River, turning around at Tower Bridge, and back. My 1:09 bike time (40k) was not bad, but I did slow down through the technical areas so as not to crash and I slowed a bit more to enjoy some of the sites - when else would I get to do that again?
The run was 3 loops around the Serpentine lake in Hyde Park. Paved trail, flat. The first loop went pretty well - I went out fairly easy, concentrating on my stride and testing out the good ol' adductor. It did pretty well at just sub-7 min pace, so the 2nd loop I put the gas on a bit more. Coming into the 3rd loop, my body rebelled against that push. With no speed behind me and minimal run training all summer, I simply couldn't hold onto the 6:30 pace I wanted to push. I backed off, concentrated on my form and enjoyed the spectacle of the site. Making the ~180 turn into the finish shoot was a bittersweet feeling. I managed to bust out a small burst of speed to push the Aussie girl in front of me (she ended up having a better kick), and we shook hands and congratulated each other on the other side of the finish line. I had just finished my first World Championship - a huge accomplishment in itself - but not at the top of my ability. I did my best under the circumstances, and was proud to represent the USA at such a humbling event.
The next few days were spent touring London (even squeezed in a 2-day excursion to Paris), eating, drinking good wine, and soaking up everything we could in the 2 cities. It was a lot to fit in 1 week, but it was all SO worth it - even if it did leave us completely exhausted.
I am eternally grateful to all my sponsors this year - I could not have made the trip or had such great success without their support. I am also happy to report that my adductor is making good progress, which will make planning next season a bit easier and more exciting.
The following month was spent taking some time off, getting weekly 30 min neuromuscular massages, chiropractic appt's and LOTS of stretching. Over 3 months, with the help of PT's, MD's and more, we have deduced that the crash in my 1/2 Iron distance in the spring threw my body out of alignment. Doing 1-leg squats with a mis-aligned body tore my adductor, which then irritated the crap out of everything around it. From mid-July through just 3 weeks ago, it's been a delicate balance of trying to maintain fitness but not injuring myself any more.
The Steamboat Springs Triathlon was exactly 1 month before Worlds. The goal for that race was to hammer the swim (which didn't bother my adductor at all), push the bike as much as I could without pissing body parts off, and take the run REALLY easy. I was able to do all of the above - even left my TT bike at home just to not be tempted to push harder than I should. The 10k run was the slowest I have EVER run that distance (54+ mins), but knowing I didn't injure myself in the process was a good feeling.
John (my boyfriend) and I flew out to London overnight Wednesday September 11th with compression tights on, sporting Hammer Nutrition apparel, Ambien in-hand. Flying direct, non-stop from Denver to London Heathrow (arriving around noon Thursday the 12th) was the best decision in our travel plans we made. My bike was even out on the conveyor belt (no damage) by the time we breezed through customs. The public transportation system was a total breeze, partially thanks to the travel pass we bought which covered all public transport in London during peak and non-peak hours. Staying with our host - and new friend Monica at her flat was so comfortable and convenient, we felt like we were 'home'. Less than 2 blocks from a major Tube stop, getting to and from the race site and Team USA activities was very easy.
The weather throughout almost the entire trip was nothing short of typical London: Rainy, chilly. Race day morning was the exception. It was just VERY cold - but sunny! It was so cold that the 1500m swim was shortened to 750m due to the 42 degree (F) air temp and low 60s Serpentine water temp. I was a bit disappointed b/c I had worked very hard on my swim this summer - partly by choice, partly by injury default - and I was ready to rock it. I still swam decently, but by the time the pack had thinned out and was losing steam (while I felt great), we were exiting the water. The transition run from swim to bike was LONG. Same for the Bike to Run. With over 2000 athletes, the transition area was so big, they had to make it "fair" for everyone, so the officials had the T set up for everyone to run the same distance no matter where your area in T was. 7 mins out of my total 2:12 race time was T. Normally, my T times together are less than 3 mins, most less than 2.
The bike course was amazing, albeit very technical as expected. The 2-loop course took us around Hyde Park, THROUGH the Wellington Arch, in front of Buckingham Palace (twice!), along the Thames River, turning around at Tower Bridge, and back. My 1:09 bike time (40k) was not bad, but I did slow down through the technical areas so as not to crash and I slowed a bit more to enjoy some of the sites - when else would I get to do that again?
The run was 3 loops around the Serpentine lake in Hyde Park. Paved trail, flat. The first loop went pretty well - I went out fairly easy, concentrating on my stride and testing out the good ol' adductor. It did pretty well at just sub-7 min pace, so the 2nd loop I put the gas on a bit more. Coming into the 3rd loop, my body rebelled against that push. With no speed behind me and minimal run training all summer, I simply couldn't hold onto the 6:30 pace I wanted to push. I backed off, concentrated on my form and enjoyed the spectacle of the site. Making the ~180 turn into the finish shoot was a bittersweet feeling. I managed to bust out a small burst of speed to push the Aussie girl in front of me (she ended up having a better kick), and we shook hands and congratulated each other on the other side of the finish line. I had just finished my first World Championship - a huge accomplishment in itself - but not at the top of my ability. I did my best under the circumstances, and was proud to represent the USA at such a humbling event.
The next few days were spent touring London (even squeezed in a 2-day excursion to Paris), eating, drinking good wine, and soaking up everything we could in the 2 cities. It was a lot to fit in 1 week, but it was all SO worth it - even if it did leave us completely exhausted.
I am eternally grateful to all my sponsors this year - I could not have made the trip or had such great success without their support. I am also happy to report that my adductor is making good progress, which will make planning next season a bit easier and more exciting.
Monday, July 8, 2013
Bottoming Out
Piriformis, bottom, butt, tush, derier. Whatever you want to call it, it sure can cause a load of pain.
When you're a healthy athlete, you don't think about what it would be like if you weren't. You just enjoy being healthy and keep pushing your body to the next level.
When something hurts and is hindering your hard-earned progress, there is a feeling of overwhelming dread and hopelessness that starts to set in. You wonder if you'll ever feel 'healthy' again and what it would be like to run without pain radiating down your butt and hamstrings. That's what I've been experiencing for the past month. I've had 3 ART sessions, a neuromuscular massage, a dry-needling session and foam rolling every night. Last week I finally let up on the running. My butt is getting better, but it's not totally happy yet and it's been hard to stay positive.
I raced Loveland Lake 2 Lake Tri a few weekends ago and finished 1st in my age group, but it was a painful race - especially the run. I'm racing Boulder Peak this coming Sunday and am not sure how my rear end will hold up, or if racing will negate all the progress I have made in healing. I have no idea what I did to it. Well, I HAVE an idea, I just am not sure what ultimately pissed it off to begin with.
Thankfully, I'm still able to swim and bike without hardly an issue. So, this Sunday I'll see how hard I can hammer those 2 disciplines and run as best I can. I will be competing in the Age Group Elite category- which is exciting and intimidating at the same time. I am just hoping my butt can handle the pressure.
Being 'injured' also seems to cause additional stress in life. Getting past this increased burden has been another challenge for me. I try to keep my head up and look for the positives, the big picture and tell myself that all this will pass (and to never do 1-leg squats followed by speed work again). Until then, I look forward to the next day and make the most out of the day I have b/c worrying about anything else is as useless as "trying to solve a math problem by chewing bubble gum."
Bottoms up and out.
When you're a healthy athlete, you don't think about what it would be like if you weren't. You just enjoy being healthy and keep pushing your body to the next level.
When something hurts and is hindering your hard-earned progress, there is a feeling of overwhelming dread and hopelessness that starts to set in. You wonder if you'll ever feel 'healthy' again and what it would be like to run without pain radiating down your butt and hamstrings. That's what I've been experiencing for the past month. I've had 3 ART sessions, a neuromuscular massage, a dry-needling session and foam rolling every night. Last week I finally let up on the running. My butt is getting better, but it's not totally happy yet and it's been hard to stay positive.
I raced Loveland Lake 2 Lake Tri a few weekends ago and finished 1st in my age group, but it was a painful race - especially the run. I'm racing Boulder Peak this coming Sunday and am not sure how my rear end will hold up, or if racing will negate all the progress I have made in healing. I have no idea what I did to it. Well, I HAVE an idea, I just am not sure what ultimately pissed it off to begin with.
Thankfully, I'm still able to swim and bike without hardly an issue. So, this Sunday I'll see how hard I can hammer those 2 disciplines and run as best I can. I will be competing in the Age Group Elite category- which is exciting and intimidating at the same time. I am just hoping my butt can handle the pressure.
Being 'injured' also seems to cause additional stress in life. Getting past this increased burden has been another challenge for me. I try to keep my head up and look for the positives, the big picture and tell myself that all this will pass (and to never do 1-leg squats followed by speed work again). Until then, I look forward to the next day and make the most out of the day I have b/c worrying about anything else is as useless as "trying to solve a math problem by chewing bubble gum."
Bottoms up and out.
Friday, May 3, 2013
Kicking Things Off
The pre-season has gone by in a blur, but it's been promising. After a solid run in Napa Valley Marathon March 3rd, I took some recovery time before ramping up for the HITS 1/2 Iron distance last weekend to kick off the tri season.
HITS was a bittersweet race. I felt ok about the training I had put in, but I wasn't sure how fast I'd be in the Texas hill country heat. As it turns out, all those indoor trainer and treadmill sessions paid off as far as heat preparedness goes. My body certainly didn't like it, but I didn't shut down, even after crashing on the bike less than a mile from bike-to-run. A large pickup truck decided to blow through traffic cops and turn directly in front of my line, leaving me 2 options: 1) hit him straight on and splatter, or 2) swerve as much as possible out of truck-splatter range, but still hit pavement. Option 2 was the better of those and I skidded to a stop on my right side just under his bumper.
After unclipping on the ground, I didn't feel too badly damaged, so I picked myself up, assessed that I was dinged up, but nothing broken or sprained, so the next question I asked was "is my bike ok?". After the cop got over his shock of my not wanting EMS called, he handed over the bike for me to check out. I determined it was still good to ride the 3/4 mile to transition and I would finish the race.
Running 'easy' is not easy when you're hurt and pissed. I passed the #1 girl within the first mile of the run and kept truckin. I knew I was doing well, and that kept me going - I was not going to NOT finish and NOT win at this point. After a total of 5 hrs and 9 mins I tasted my first 1/2 Iron distance WIN.
It's almost a week later and the road rash is healing well, although it's still a bit painful. The bike, thankfully, will just have some cosmetic scars like me, but nothing structurally damaged. I will be taking it easy for another week or so before ramping up and getting ready for my Olympic distance season.
I have nothing but thanks to all my sponsors this year, especially CSHP and Cafe Velo (Specialized) who helped put me on an amazing bike, Hammer Nutrition who keeps me properly fueled, HumanaVitality who just helped with my fare to London, The Colorado Running Company who has been there since day one with advice and LOTS of shoes, blueseventy for the race suits and wetsuits to keep me comfy this season, and Rudy Project for keeping my brain intact!
Over the past week, I've had several people comment that they don't know how I do what I do, and that if it were them, they wouldn't have finished the race. Why? is the question I've been hearing a lot. Well, why not? I still had a fully functioning body, it was just feeling painful and bruised/bloody. But it wasn't bad enough to justify not finishing, and what a sweet feeling that was. You can't buy that feeling with any amount of money in the world.
Looking forward, this will be a tough season but a very good one. Hopefully the crashing is out of the way...
HITS was a bittersweet race. I felt ok about the training I had put in, but I wasn't sure how fast I'd be in the Texas hill country heat. As it turns out, all those indoor trainer and treadmill sessions paid off as far as heat preparedness goes. My body certainly didn't like it, but I didn't shut down, even after crashing on the bike less than a mile from bike-to-run. A large pickup truck decided to blow through traffic cops and turn directly in front of my line, leaving me 2 options: 1) hit him straight on and splatter, or 2) swerve as much as possible out of truck-splatter range, but still hit pavement. Option 2 was the better of those and I skidded to a stop on my right side just under his bumper.
After unclipping on the ground, I didn't feel too badly damaged, so I picked myself up, assessed that I was dinged up, but nothing broken or sprained, so the next question I asked was "is my bike ok?". After the cop got over his shock of my not wanting EMS called, he handed over the bike for me to check out. I determined it was still good to ride the 3/4 mile to transition and I would finish the race.
Running 'easy' is not easy when you're hurt and pissed. I passed the #1 girl within the first mile of the run and kept truckin. I knew I was doing well, and that kept me going - I was not going to NOT finish and NOT win at this point. After a total of 5 hrs and 9 mins I tasted my first 1/2 Iron distance WIN.
It's almost a week later and the road rash is healing well, although it's still a bit painful. The bike, thankfully, will just have some cosmetic scars like me, but nothing structurally damaged. I will be taking it easy for another week or so before ramping up and getting ready for my Olympic distance season.
I have nothing but thanks to all my sponsors this year, especially CSHP and Cafe Velo (Specialized) who helped put me on an amazing bike, Hammer Nutrition who keeps me properly fueled, HumanaVitality who just helped with my fare to London, The Colorado Running Company who has been there since day one with advice and LOTS of shoes, blueseventy for the race suits and wetsuits to keep me comfy this season, and Rudy Project for keeping my brain intact!
Over the past week, I've had several people comment that they don't know how I do what I do, and that if it were them, they wouldn't have finished the race. Why? is the question I've been hearing a lot. Well, why not? I still had a fully functioning body, it was just feeling painful and bruised/bloody. But it wasn't bad enough to justify not finishing, and what a sweet feeling that was. You can't buy that feeling with any amount of money in the world.
Looking forward, this will be a tough season but a very good one. Hopefully the crashing is out of the way...
Thursday, February 21, 2013
Leveling Up
It's been one month since I was diagnosed with iron deficiency anemia and I went back in to the lab this week to have my numbers re-tested after being on constipatingly high doses of iron for the past 4 weeks. I haven't received full results yet, but at first glance, my blood is looking much healthier. The fun part is that I didn't really need the test to tell me that - my workouts have been feeling respectively better as well and that is exciting. I will find out my ferritin levels tomorrow and hemoglobin, which will tell me the "big picture". Just in time for Napa Valley Marathon taper!
Next week marks the beginning of an exciting tri season - the most challenging I will have met. There is something so intimidating yet so exhilarating about it. My goal this year is to take one race at a time and recognize that not every race is my "A" race. They all have a purpose, as does each training session through every week. Competitive athletes are not good at this, as we all seem to want to go out to win every race, but having a plan and sticking to it so the most important/biggest race is our best one is the key to success.
I continue to hold my head high and lead the best example I can in the local tri community, and in supporting my peers, I support myself. A positive attitude goes a long way, and it's the best way I can think of to start off a stellar season of racing. Here's to reaching the next level.
Next week marks the beginning of an exciting tri season - the most challenging I will have met. There is something so intimidating yet so exhilarating about it. My goal this year is to take one race at a time and recognize that not every race is my "A" race. They all have a purpose, as does each training session through every week. Competitive athletes are not good at this, as we all seem to want to go out to win every race, but having a plan and sticking to it so the most important/biggest race is our best one is the key to success.
I continue to hold my head high and lead the best example I can in the local tri community, and in supporting my peers, I support myself. A positive attitude goes a long way, and it's the best way I can think of to start off a stellar season of racing. Here's to reaching the next level.
Thursday, February 7, 2013
Vitality and Perseverance
There is a corporate wellness program though Humana (insurance company) that we have in place at work which I have been a very active participant in for over a year now. The program is Humana Vitality and about 1/2 way through last year, I made it to the top level. I achieved that mostly by training and racing for triathlon, but in order to make it to the top, I had to focus on complete well-being and not just athletics. For the first time in a while, I was looking at other ways to be healthy besides exercising.
Part of the system of earning Vitality Points includes biometrics testing (cholesterol, BMI, Body Fat %...) I have kept track of those numbers for a couple years now and am proud to report that just this past week, I have never seen them healthier.
Another part of Vitality is a "Risk Assessment" - answering questions about your general well-being, i.e.: how many fruits and veggies do you eat a day, alcoholic beverages, do you smoke? Like many people, my fruits and veggies answer was less than par. However it gave me a new life goal - and a healthy one at that.
While I continue to persevere through early season and marathon training, Vitality is racking up my workouts and everyday I step that much closer to my goals.
In reflection of this past year, and in looking forward to the future season, I am not only excited to once again aim for that top level of Vitality, but also to improving my overall health- not just my fitness. I believe my training and racing can only benefit from it, not to mention also earning points to spend on items in the Vitality Mall - just another perk of leading a healthier life.
Monday, February 4, 2013
Knocking Down Walls
It's been almost 3 weeks since I had my blood tested and discovered an iron deficiency. The good news is that it's iron deficiency and I can do something about it now in my pre-season. The bad news is that it's iron deficiency and I'm in a constant state of tiredness/lactic acid fatigue.
If I've learned anything in this early part of my season, it's patience. It will take 120 days until my blood is healthy again, and at least 30 before I start to notice a difference in how I feel. I'm also teaching my body to be more efficient during this process. Running at a lower heart rate and slower pace than I'd like has taught my body to recover faster. The 20+ miles I ran yesterday hardly feel like half that distance, however slow they may have been.
Through the frustration of iron recovery, I keep pushing forward with consistency as smartly as possible. The name of the game right now is getting healthy and having fun gearing up for pre-season. Knowing that I'll be rocking my training in a few months if I let my body heal and recover while building my iron stores is incentive enough to tone it down a few notches now.
Train smarter, not harder - more relevant now than it ever has been. I am learning more about myself during this time, but am determined to knock down the walls in my way and become the athlete I know I can be.
Thank you to John O'Neill at CRC for his advice and guidance. And the kicks in the rear.
If I've learned anything in this early part of my season, it's patience. It will take 120 days until my blood is healthy again, and at least 30 before I start to notice a difference in how I feel. I'm also teaching my body to be more efficient during this process. Running at a lower heart rate and slower pace than I'd like has taught my body to recover faster. The 20+ miles I ran yesterday hardly feel like half that distance, however slow they may have been.
Through the frustration of iron recovery, I keep pushing forward with consistency as smartly as possible. The name of the game right now is getting healthy and having fun gearing up for pre-season. Knowing that I'll be rocking my training in a few months if I let my body heal and recover while building my iron stores is incentive enough to tone it down a few notches now.
Train smarter, not harder - more relevant now than it ever has been. I am learning more about myself during this time, but am determined to knock down the walls in my way and become the athlete I know I can be.
Thank you to John O'Neill at CRC for his advice and guidance. And the kicks in the rear.
Monday, January 21, 2013
Re Capping and Gearing Up
I ended my 2012 season with a solid top-10 finish at Age Group Nationals in Burlington, VT to snatch my goal of making it on TEAM USA for London 2013 World Champs.
As time off is part of my training regimen (if that makes sense), I did indeed take a few months to play around, let my skin have a break from chlorine, and to reflect on the seasons past and future.
January is almost through, and I have registered for some high-profile mixed with low-profile races for the upcoming 2013 season. First on the list: Napa Valley Marathon for some good solid keep-the-winter-weight-off endurance training. Second: HITS 1/2 Iron Course. Yes, getting those endurance/long course races knocked out early, then it's short course and fast twitch focus until Worlds.
I am beyond excited for this season, as I have been offered a few beneficial basic level sponsorships from my favorite companies: Hammer Nutrition, blueseventy and Rudy Project. Garmin also came through with a small but appreciated discount, and I am forever grateful for the continued support of The Colorado Running Company. Triathlon is an expensive habit, but I love it and am very appreciative of the help I'm receiving this year!
The new hurdle I must tackle before competing: overcoming iron deficiency. I somehow managed to put myself in a deficit, but it's fixable, and in 2-3 months I should be golden. Just in time for race season. Lesson learned: when building endurance and training, always take iron supplements and maintain a healthy diet. Oh, and most importantly: good sleep.
Thank you to my sponsors who have put faith in me this year - I can't wait to show you all off!
As time off is part of my training regimen (if that makes sense), I did indeed take a few months to play around, let my skin have a break from chlorine, and to reflect on the seasons past and future.
January is almost through, and I have registered for some high-profile mixed with low-profile races for the upcoming 2013 season. First on the list: Napa Valley Marathon for some good solid keep-the-winter-weight-off endurance training. Second: HITS 1/2 Iron Course. Yes, getting those endurance/long course races knocked out early, then it's short course and fast twitch focus until Worlds.
I am beyond excited for this season, as I have been offered a few beneficial basic level sponsorships from my favorite companies: Hammer Nutrition, blueseventy and Rudy Project. Garmin also came through with a small but appreciated discount, and I am forever grateful for the continued support of The Colorado Running Company. Triathlon is an expensive habit, but I love it and am very appreciative of the help I'm receiving this year!
The new hurdle I must tackle before competing: overcoming iron deficiency. I somehow managed to put myself in a deficit, but it's fixable, and in 2-3 months I should be golden. Just in time for race season. Lesson learned: when building endurance and training, always take iron supplements and maintain a healthy diet. Oh, and most importantly: good sleep.
Thank you to my sponsors who have put faith in me this year - I can't wait to show you all off!
Friday, August 10, 2012
The Hay Is In The Barn
One week to go. 4 races in the bag. It's been an intense season of training and pushing and it will all come to a peak next Saturday in Burlington, Vermont.
Special thanks to The Colorado Running Company for helping me out this year and for believing in me. It has made all the difference.
GU, Hammer Nutrition, TYR, BlueSeventy, xx2i, Saucony, Cannondale, Sidi, Rudy Project, and Pearl Izumi should all be proud that I spend many of my paycheck dollars on their products.
I have lost 12 pounds since my journey began last October. Doesn't sound like much, but for a curvy girl who wasn't considered overweight at all, it was quite the feat. The key - as my coach has always said - is "power-to-weight" ratio, and knowing your "race weight": the weight your body performs at best. That said, my body has never felt better. I feel like I can easily push much more power without sacrificing energy, and my recovery has been much faster. I am ready.
This has been almost a year of training physically, but it has been a year of training mentally as well. What I had to realize was that I can be as fit as ever, but it would all be for nothing if my mental game is not spot-on as well. Anything can happen out there to anyone else, and there's no way to know that until results are in and final.
The plan for next week: put it all on the line. It's what I've been getting ready for all year. As Steve Prefontaine once said: "There's only one pace - suicide pace, and today is a good day to die." As my coach said: "The hay is in the barn." This week is about rest, taper, and keeping my mental game in check. Sometimes that's the hardest part, but I'll be stronger for it in the end.
Happy Friday. Happy Taper. See you next week!
Special thanks to The Colorado Running Company for helping me out this year and for believing in me. It has made all the difference.
GU, Hammer Nutrition, TYR, BlueSeventy, xx2i, Saucony, Cannondale, Sidi, Rudy Project, and Pearl Izumi should all be proud that I spend many of my paycheck dollars on their products.
I have lost 12 pounds since my journey began last October. Doesn't sound like much, but for a curvy girl who wasn't considered overweight at all, it was quite the feat. The key - as my coach has always said - is "power-to-weight" ratio, and knowing your "race weight": the weight your body performs at best. That said, my body has never felt better. I feel like I can easily push much more power without sacrificing energy, and my recovery has been much faster. I am ready.
This has been almost a year of training physically, but it has been a year of training mentally as well. What I had to realize was that I can be as fit as ever, but it would all be for nothing if my mental game is not spot-on as well. Anything can happen out there to anyone else, and there's no way to know that until results are in and final.
The plan for next week: put it all on the line. It's what I've been getting ready for all year. As Steve Prefontaine once said: "There's only one pace - suicide pace, and today is a good day to die." As my coach said: "The hay is in the barn." This week is about rest, taper, and keeping my mental game in check. Sometimes that's the hardest part, but I'll be stronger for it in the end.
Happy Friday. Happy Taper. See you next week!
Tuesday, July 17, 2012
3 In The Bag, 2 To Go
Denver Tri, done. 3rd Age Group, 7th Overall Female (excluding Elites).
Loveland Lake 2 Lake Tri, done. 2nd Age Group, 5th Overall Female.
Boulder Peak Tri, done. 2nd Age Group, 10th Female Overall (excluding Pros/Elites)
Next up: State Games of Colorado Tri - last tune up before Nationals.
It's been a busy summer of intense training; but it's all paying off. There's nothing sweeter than reaping the benefits of long hours of sweat and hard work...and it's not over yet.
A month from today, I will be in Burlington, VT hopefully getting some sleep before the big race. I've tasted Victory at every one so far and it's just fueled my fire for more - given me the drive to continue to push.
Boy, am I pushing. 3 more weeks of work. One week soft taper. One week full taper. Now is the time to really be smart - or really, to STAY smart. Listen to the body. Optimal nutrition. Rest. Hydrate. Recover.
At the end of the day, I am accountable to myself, and I'm a pretty hard judge. I can't say that it's easy when the alarm goes off at 4:45am Monday and Wednesday mornings, to fling myself out of bed and hustle to the pool. It's not. It's hard. I tell myself, I went to bed at a reasonable time. I may be tired, but I can still do the workout, and I won't regret it after it is done. I WILL regret not going if I sleep in though... and more likely, will toss and turn feeling guilty if I don't get up anyway. So, might as well get up and go through the motions. It's habit now. Routine. This is what I do, so I just do it... but good thing I pack my back the night before or I would show up with no suit on, knowing me. Thank goodness I know me.
Was it easy to wake up at 5:45am this morning to do hill repeats on the bike? Nope... but I did it. Easy to go out in the heat of the day at lunch to get mile repeats in so I didn't have to do them after a late work day at 7pm? Nope, but I was out there. And it will show next month, because I am out there when others are not. Are others out there when I am not? I'm sure some are, but I am doing the best I can; that is what it's about and what counts.
I'm thankful to my friends and family for standing behind me and believing in me, and I am eternally thankful to The Colorado Running Company and John O'Neill for the continued support - it wouldn't have been as successful a season without your help.
Moving forward, excited for what the next few weeks hold in store... and excited to see what I can really do.
Loveland Lake 2 Lake Tri, done. 2nd Age Group, 5th Overall Female.
Boulder Peak Tri, done. 2nd Age Group, 10th Female Overall (excluding Pros/Elites)
Next up: State Games of Colorado Tri - last tune up before Nationals.
It's been a busy summer of intense training; but it's all paying off. There's nothing sweeter than reaping the benefits of long hours of sweat and hard work...and it's not over yet.
A month from today, I will be in Burlington, VT hopefully getting some sleep before the big race. I've tasted Victory at every one so far and it's just fueled my fire for more - given me the drive to continue to push.
Boy, am I pushing. 3 more weeks of work. One week soft taper. One week full taper. Now is the time to really be smart - or really, to STAY smart. Listen to the body. Optimal nutrition. Rest. Hydrate. Recover.
At the end of the day, I am accountable to myself, and I'm a pretty hard judge. I can't say that it's easy when the alarm goes off at 4:45am Monday and Wednesday mornings, to fling myself out of bed and hustle to the pool. It's not. It's hard. I tell myself, I went to bed at a reasonable time. I may be tired, but I can still do the workout, and I won't regret it after it is done. I WILL regret not going if I sleep in though... and more likely, will toss and turn feeling guilty if I don't get up anyway. So, might as well get up and go through the motions. It's habit now. Routine. This is what I do, so I just do it... but good thing I pack my back the night before or I would show up with no suit on, knowing me. Thank goodness I know me.
Was it easy to wake up at 5:45am this morning to do hill repeats on the bike? Nope... but I did it. Easy to go out in the heat of the day at lunch to get mile repeats in so I didn't have to do them after a late work day at 7pm? Nope, but I was out there. And it will show next month, because I am out there when others are not. Are others out there when I am not? I'm sure some are, but I am doing the best I can; that is what it's about and what counts.
I'm thankful to my friends and family for standing behind me and believing in me, and I am eternally thankful to The Colorado Running Company and John O'Neill for the continued support - it wouldn't have been as successful a season without your help.
Moving forward, excited for what the next few weeks hold in store... and excited to see what I can really do.
Thursday, June 7, 2012
Here We Go
We're well into June now, which means my first race of the every-other-weekend schedule starts this Sunday at the Denver Triathlon. The hardest part will be to hold myself back and keep it fun; practicing the things I need to make myself better for the BIG one in August.
That's easier said than done, b/c I'm sure the adrenaline will be pumping hard. My solution? Turn it into a game. See how many strokes I can take before the next buoy, take time putting shoes on while on the bike, same to take shoes off on the bike. Negative split the run, but not overextend. Enjoy the scenic Denver course. Sushi (maybe a little sake shot for good luck) the night before.
Yep. Sushi. Pre-race. That's my thing and sticking to it.
Tomorrow is Friday - my one day off completely - and I'm looking forward to it. I'll stretch, hydrate, work (unfortunately, b/c I haven't won the lotto yet), and relax. The plan for the rest of the summer is to continue to train through the first 2 races, taper minimally for the 3rd (Boulder Peak), use the 4th as a tune-up, and do a sharpening with full taper for Nationals. To do that well, Fridays off are mandatory, no question.
I've lost 10 pounds since I started on this quest (October 2011). Race-weight achieved. I think. The goal now is to continue to lean-down, build muscle, and start really watching the alcohol and food in-take. I've already limited a lot, the next couple months will be crunch-time, but the benefits are well-worth it. Cut out the extra glass of wine to shave a minute? Absolutely. Lose the bowl of frozen yogurt once a week to shave a fat ounce? Yes.
Am I still having fun? You bet your butt. Aches, sweat, chlorine, sunscreen and all.
It's a balance; a life lesson I learn again everyday. It's also a lifestyle change, but a good one: Eating healthier, getting more sleep, exercising (pretty intensely, but smartly too). It's about setting goals and reaching to achieve them. It's about making small sacrifices to meet a bigger better end. And of course, it's about enjoying life and seeing what this body can really do.
Don't worry mom, I'm taking my iron, still drink at least a glass of milk everyday (not at the same time as my iron), get to bed at a reasonable time, and most importantly: moisturize.
Sunday, May 13, 2012
A Body in Motion... Needs to find Motion Balance
Although it was a productive weekend full of workouts and freelance, yard work and cooking, my body is beat. Shortly after completing this post, I'll pack my swim bag and head to bed. As soon as my head hits the pillow I'll wonder, "why didn't I do this sooner?" and before I know it the alarm will jar me awake at 5am. Monday. The week will fly by; each day crammed full of a time-crunched mess: swim, work, eat, run, work, gym, more work, eat, sleep. Repeat x5.
Breathe. I never question why I do all this. What I do question is how I can do it all better. How can I perfect this schedule? How can I get it all in and feel complete and rested?
The only answer I find that works is: do what you can when you can. Make every workout count, if a freelance ad or design can be done before 10pm, do it so you can have more time the next evening to work on something else. Every ad is an opportunity to pay for this addiction called triathlon. Or just put myself in a better position to financially free myself from the ball and chain called debt.
I work to live, but living right now is different than living will be 4 months from now when my season is over. Instead of movies and drinks out with friends this weekend, I was enjoying a home cooked meal and working on freelance. Why? Big Picture; and I'm perfectly fine with it. I'm proud of myself for sticking with my plan and not caving in to peer pressure. It's the several little changes that add up over time - those are the changes that will make the difference this summer.
To cap the post tonight, I want to recognize my mom (as today is Mother's Day), for giving me the gentle pushes in life I've needed, for being the wind under my wings, for believing in me and telling me to believe in myself. If it weren't for the strong-willed determination that she and the women in my family have shown me, I wouldn't be the steadfast woman I am today.
Breathe. I never question why I do all this. What I do question is how I can do it all better. How can I perfect this schedule? How can I get it all in and feel complete and rested?
The only answer I find that works is: do what you can when you can. Make every workout count, if a freelance ad or design can be done before 10pm, do it so you can have more time the next evening to work on something else. Every ad is an opportunity to pay for this addiction called triathlon. Or just put myself in a better position to financially free myself from the ball and chain called debt.
I work to live, but living right now is different than living will be 4 months from now when my season is over. Instead of movies and drinks out with friends this weekend, I was enjoying a home cooked meal and working on freelance. Why? Big Picture; and I'm perfectly fine with it. I'm proud of myself for sticking with my plan and not caving in to peer pressure. It's the several little changes that add up over time - those are the changes that will make the difference this summer.
To cap the post tonight, I want to recognize my mom (as today is Mother's Day), for giving me the gentle pushes in life I've needed, for being the wind under my wings, for believing in me and telling me to believe in myself. If it weren't for the strong-willed determination that she and the women in my family have shown me, I wouldn't be the steadfast woman I am today.
Sunday, April 29, 2012
Don't Push the Tush
Last week I pushed pretty hard. 70 mile ride w/ 20 minute run off the bike Sunday. 3950 yds in the pool, 5 mile run + weights Monday. 6 mile (part tempo) run followed by an intense hilly 23 mile bike Tuesday. Another 3200 in the pool Wednesday - cut short for a 7am meeting at work which required my presence.
By noon Wednesday, my legs and tushy had it. They proceeded to twist my right hip so far out of alignment I had to walk with my right foot completely turned out to the side to avoid knife-like pain. Although I only went a few hours like that before being able to get in to see the chiropractor (who abruptly popped my sorry hip back into place), my muscles were PISSED. They are still in recovery, although I have been nursing them like crazy - treating them to several foam rolling sessions, stretching, ice treatments, and self-massage.
A few lessons learned.
A) Don't do an intense hilly bike with tempo run 2 days after a hard endurance workout
B) Don't wear 3 inch stilettos the day after said hilly bike with tempo run 2 days after a hard endurance workout
C) Be nice to your tushy
A forced recovery is ok - I'm happy that I didn't end up with an injury; it could have easily ended up that way.
This coming week holds graduating-intensity workouts - always keeping the rear-end in mind. It will also be the start of more time management skills, as it's that time of the quarter that my freelance picks up - good for the bank, not great for training or sleep...
I think a professional massage will be in the schedule soon.
By noon Wednesday, my legs and tushy had it. They proceeded to twist my right hip so far out of alignment I had to walk with my right foot completely turned out to the side to avoid knife-like pain. Although I only went a few hours like that before being able to get in to see the chiropractor (who abruptly popped my sorry hip back into place), my muscles were PISSED. They are still in recovery, although I have been nursing them like crazy - treating them to several foam rolling sessions, stretching, ice treatments, and self-massage.
A few lessons learned.
A) Don't do an intense hilly bike with tempo run 2 days after a hard endurance workout
B) Don't wear 3 inch stilettos the day after said hilly bike with tempo run 2 days after a hard endurance workout
C) Be nice to your tushy
A forced recovery is ok - I'm happy that I didn't end up with an injury; it could have easily ended up that way.
This coming week holds graduating-intensity workouts - always keeping the rear-end in mind. It will also be the start of more time management skills, as it's that time of the quarter that my freelance picks up - good for the bank, not great for training or sleep...
I think a professional massage will be in the schedule soon.
Wednesday, April 18, 2012
V is for Victory
This past Sunday I had my first "V" in triathlon. Sure, I've won my age group. But this time I was first female overall, and it was just the confidence booster I needed to kick my season off.
I could come up with all sorts of reasons why I won; no one showed up that day who was good, it was just a sprint, it was a first-year race back after a 10 year hiatus... but why would I do that to myself? A V is a V, and I earned it. That said, I do realize that I still have a lot of work to do before Nationals in August.
The next step to still having fun is finding cool, fun, helpful vendors to sponsor me. This sport is expensive and I love it, but to continue to be able to compete, I need help. I tried to apply, but was shot down, many times for no good reason other than they already have too many athletes. Well, considering all I want is some product (primarily nutrition) and a few race entries, I really don't think that's too much to ask. I use countless brands; Hammer Nutrition, GU, Powerbar, Honey Stinger, New Balance, Garmin, Pearl Izumi, TYR, BlueSeventy... the list goes on, and I've had to pay for it all.
So, if other "lesser" athletes can get sponsorship, surely I can. My issue?
I didn't use my curves!
Shoot, if those curvy lines aren't helping me race and aren't going away without lipo and a boob job, I'm gonna use those puppies to my advantage. If it's one thing I do well, it's knowing how to "clean up". One of my great assets lies in not only living the life of a hard core athlete, but at the end of the day I can pull off the latest runway attire with Manolo's on and LOVE it! Photoshoot, here I come.
Moving on. Sleep. Good food. Train smart. Keep pushing. Never settle for less than you deserve.
I could come up with all sorts of reasons why I won; no one showed up that day who was good, it was just a sprint, it was a first-year race back after a 10 year hiatus... but why would I do that to myself? A V is a V, and I earned it. That said, I do realize that I still have a lot of work to do before Nationals in August.
The next step to still having fun is finding cool, fun, helpful vendors to sponsor me. This sport is expensive and I love it, but to continue to be able to compete, I need help. I tried to apply, but was shot down, many times for no good reason other than they already have too many athletes. Well, considering all I want is some product (primarily nutrition) and a few race entries, I really don't think that's too much to ask. I use countless brands; Hammer Nutrition, GU, Powerbar, Honey Stinger, New Balance, Garmin, Pearl Izumi, TYR, BlueSeventy... the list goes on, and I've had to pay for it all.
So, if other "lesser" athletes can get sponsorship, surely I can. My issue?
I didn't use my curves!
Shoot, if those curvy lines aren't helping me race and aren't going away without lipo and a boob job, I'm gonna use those puppies to my advantage. If it's one thing I do well, it's knowing how to "clean up". One of my great assets lies in not only living the life of a hard core athlete, but at the end of the day I can pull off the latest runway attire with Manolo's on and LOVE it! Photoshoot, here I come.
Moving on. Sleep. Good food. Train smart. Keep pushing. Never settle for less than you deserve.
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
Moving Past Winter Training Blues and into Spring Fever
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| Napa Valley Marathon 2012 |
Although we didn't have much of a winter here in Colorado, the longer days are a welcome relief for after-work training. The long months of solid marathon training have managed to get my weight down to a solid 127lbs. Not what I was looking for, but I have a feeling that will drop another 5 pounds or so by the time I race my first big triathlon June 10th (Denver).
Coming off my marathon recovery, I've run into a couple of 'snags', but am managing to work through them. The first was the shifter break on my bike. A triathlete without a bike for a week is like an alcoholic with no liquor - you can get by drinking light beer, but it's not the same... At least, that's how I imagine it would be since I felt like I was going through cycling withdrawals. Thank goodness for my friends who have connections. I am back up on my girl as of this past Sunday with a new set of SRAM RED, and it has been amazingly smooth riding.
The second snag has been finances. Holy COW, this sport is expensive. I think it's an amazing feat in itself that I have not COMPLETELY bankrupted myself by doing this at a pretty competitive level for the past 3 years. Yes, I've only PARTIALLY bankrupted myself. I don't have any good fix for this one except to keep working 2 jobs - which puts a strain on the training... lovely catch-22.
I am very thankful for The Colorado Running Company, as they have helped alleviate some of the financial hurt with a few shoes, nutrition breaks, and coaching advice. Applications to additional sponsorship opportunities have so far yielded nothing, but I hope to apply next year - maybe with a picture next go-round - and put these curves to SOME good use!
As for the swim... it's coming along. Still getting back into swim-shape, but am feeling good about it. We'll see how 5:30am feels tomorrow morning...
Friday, October 7, 2011
Success starts here
When you miss a goal you aimed high for, it's easy to feel like giving up.
That happened to me one month ago, and I went through all the emotions of losing something I put blood, sweat, and tears into.
Now that I'm back on my track, a blog seemed like a good idea: an official way to track my emotions, put detail into race and training re-caps (that I can save and refer to later down the line), and a better way for friends, family, and mentors to keep tabs on my busy self.
Why? Because I will not miss my mark again, and every detail counts.
I've heard the adage, "If you make every goal you set out to achieve the first time, you didn't aim high enough." I've decided to use this saying in my life as my "go-to" for my mental stimulation, as it puts many things in a bigger picture and better light. Considering my biggest challenge is staying mentally positive in racing and training, this is the best place for me to start while planning next season.
My second biggest challenge? Curves.
Although I'm not a big girl by any means with a solid size 4 in most of my wardrobe, genetics didn't grace me with a typical athlete's body. I have a few curves, but nothing that most people would consider something to get rid of. However, it's hard to compete at an elite level when curves start impeding progress. I am determined to find a company who makes a women's triathlon line that fits without having to double up the top. I have not found one yet, but I will be sure to blog about it when I do...
I couldn't quite name this blog something about curves, because that wouldn't be quite accurate. The next best thing, with better 'class' and better definition of my situation: Chic.
My goal for next season:
USAT Nationals top 10 finish with a qualifying spot for Triathlon Worlds on Team USA in London, 2013. I dare you to tell me I can't make it.
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