Success

Blogs really are a lot more work than they look. As I pulled a medicine ball to my head and stretched over the ab ball this morning, it hit me that I still had this thing laying around, and I had done a phenomenal job of neglecting it. And so I return, somewhat ashamed, to tell all about how the race went.

Cold-Exhilarating-Euphoric...Colhiloric if you will. Each section was amazingly unique, and a totally different experience than the one before.

I slapped the phone and it quit its obnoxious Latin beat, informing me that 4:45 had in fact rolled around, and I vaulted myself horizontally from my bed to the floor. I staggered to the coffee pot and dumped a small cup of magma hot coffee down the hatch. I popped a piece of bread in the toaster and stared in sleepy fascination as the coals began to glow, before remembering the time crunch, and hurtling myself to my mom's bedside to shake her up, mumble that we had to go, and leave so that she could get ready. I poured some more coffee over some iced, grabbed my toast with sugar free "preserves" (probably gelatin and flavoring for all I know...but it's worked in my stomach for everything else I've done) and we piled into my little Accord for the drive out to Naperville.

My mom still drives me to any race, as I occupy myself by breathing or singing loudly to quiet the panic I manage to work myself into. I have to laugh a little too...the panic is completely ridiculous-I am not really competing to win. I manage to get all worked up for the sake of getting worked up.

Naperville was excited and chaotic. We unpacked the bike, filled the tires and somberly made our way through the crowd , stripping on the way to be body marked and herded into the bike coral. I was number 57, which meant I was happily near the entrance.

Ten minutes later I found myself half naked and shivering with everyone else on the beach, about half-way back. The gun blew, and in five-second increments the pack thinned four people at a time. This was to by me first swim in anything other than a lane, and I was nervous. The man on the walkie-talkie gave us the go-ahead, so I punched my watch's start button and splashed into the water, diving skillfully face-first into the heels of the person in front of me.

The whole water leg was a mess. I spent most of it doggy paddling to recover from a kick to the goggles, or else trying to find my way out of the wrong side of the course.

I happily ran from the water (an embarrassing 9 minutes later...for 400 meters of water...) and caught my breath as I rolled on some socks and bike gear and ran my bike from the coral.

I felt awesome on my bike. My Trek was my rocket as I shot between bikes at what felt like a blazing 27 mph. I nearly scorched some bike queen sporting a "Jesus is my Healer" tank top and churning her mountain bike with the back-most portion of her heel. The bike ride was nothing but adrenaline. I had never been in any sort of bike race, and I have to admit I felt good cruising by full carbon TT bikes, pedaled by Time Trial helmet, bodysuit wearers.

Cruising back to my transition, I saw my parents and sister and gave them a happy peace sign, before dismounting and jogging to my spot. This transition was much faster, so I was out and running on wobbly legs in no time.

That run was possibly the greatest I have had in a long time. As my legs calmed themselves I realized how short the race really was. I had put so much worry and fret into that morning, that when the woods opened up and I came out in sunlight, I couldn't help but smile a little. I actually kept my smile through he finish.

Boy thats a fast old man

Yeah, its been a while. I think I've been telling myself I'm too busy...who knows.

Anyway, it's the fourth, and I just finished the local Freedom four miler. It was a blast. Of course I got owned by all the college runners and highschool cross country-ers, but I got 16th overall, with an average 6:14 mile, which is pretty solid for me.

As far as the Tri training goes...I took an easy week of swimming. I am able to do the distance for the tri, but in a pool, not open water, and I still feel like I'm sinking. We will have to see if I can fix myself before too long.

I've Hit A Wall

Literally, I've hit a wall. The 32 foot pool I've been attempting to swim in runs a little on the short side...I can't seem to get any sort of stroke going. It's a shame that there really isn't any place to swim for cheap around here.

This whole process is turning dangerous. My wallet has been taking vicious hits since I decided I'm gonna start training, mostly because I've taken it as a wonderful excuse to get all the little things I still need for my bike (pedals, shoes, saddle, clothing....). It's good because it has me constantly more excited and less nervous to get on the bike and put some miles under the tires.

I wish I could find something to do the same for my swimming. Don't get me wrong, I'm excited, maybe even giddy about learning to swim. The gains come so fast when your so bad at something. But the road to being a swimmer is long...and very chlorinated.

On the flip side I've noticed changes in my running since I've cut it down - I've been going for fewer long runs so that I can toss a shorter one on the end of my bike ride - as my feet nestle into my Asics for a solid beating, I'm holding up better than ever. I passed through dazed early morning commuters and train riders, fueled by an espresso and some frozen fruit, and I felt terrific. I felt powerful. I didn't even feel tired until my caffeine started to wean at the end and I got hungry.

Unfortunately I'm still hungry. I still haven't mastered the work-meal yet. I'm not quite as ravenous as before, but I am getting anxious for dinner, a full two and a half hours away if I'm lucky.

I think I should rethink my nutrition

Well I had another training day today, and no, it's not day 3. I'm not sure exactly what day it is, but I've been working hard, if a little aimlessly. From what I've been reading I need to do less "I'm riding hilly today" and more dedicated drills. The same goes for my running.

For me (and most runners I know) running is an escape. I may dread it for hours before hand, but not because of any physical discomfort, but more because I can never remember how cleansing it is, I just remember that I have an hour or two to drop from my day. Biking is the same: the idea of adding structure to the one thing the frees and clears my mind is scary. I don't mind the work or pain (I climb any hill I can and keep a pace that is never comfortable by any stretch of the imagination), but the fact that my biking and running abilities seem to be so clear to me right now, and this new rigidity might blur that leaves me sweating.

The swim is a whole different ballgame. I finally took my swim lesson. It came relatively early on fathers day and I had been looking forward to it since..well...my last post. Unfortunately Saturday night I came home from work ravenously hungry (having forgotten my food for the day) and pounded down a half quart of ice cream (sure it was NSA Doublechurned, but it's something meant to be eaten a half cup at a time...) and this was before making a couple of rounds of grad parties. I woke up early with a gut full of bad food and a conscience full of guilt. I laced up the running shoes and suffered through a quick four miler before my lesson. Unfortunately my tank was about empty for the swim, and my instructor was able to poop me out quick.

When I got to the pool, Ken - a short thin guy in his late twenties, early thirties - gave me a comfortable smile and told me to swim a lap. I agreed to be polite but was already scared. He was literally there to judge me and my juvenile splashes. As I pulled up the wall sputtering after one lap, fidgeting with the goggles I had owned for a day, and filling them stupidly with water, Ken explained how poorly I had done. He wasn't harsh, but down to business, which was awesome. I didn't want to be made fun of, and I most definitely didn't want someone leaving things out to keep my ego from bruising. I swam that first lap tense, like I was lifting weights. My feet sunk and I barely moved.

Fast forward 45 minutes and Ken had me lengthened out and a lot more comfortable in the water. I still had a LOT to work on, but I had my start.

I've only been able to swim again once more since then, and it was in my uncle's 10 meter pool, which I will be using until I can find a cheap lap pool to swim in. Even there I felt things beginning to click. I still have miles to go before I'm ready, but I'm excited at the quick progress.

My biggest concern right now is my nutrition. Between the weights and the three sports, I've been even hungrier than I normally am. I still haven't figured how to pack a nutritious enough day for work, and every time I leave starving. I get home and stuff myself until I get sick, and continue the next day. All will power seems to go out the window. I had a longer break a few days ago and was able to eat right, being at home, and I found myself far more energized.

I have so much to learn. Every time I calm down about something, another gets me riled. This experience is a roller coaster, and I'm loving every singly loop.

Day 2

Alright, so there is no Day 1. I never got around to it after my first day out, but I promise to be better.

So I decided I'm doing a triathlon. I'm not sure how good of an idea it is, or even which one I am actually doing, but I've set my mind to it, and to be honest, I'm more excited than nervous, which is saying something considering how nervous I really am.

I have yet to start training for the swimming, which is what has me freaked right now. The last time I swam any sort of length was really in high school (maybe three years ago), and since then have dropped about 80 lbs of fat, or to put it more appropriately, floatation. I was startled when I jumped in the pool last year (goggle-less to top it off) and started to sink! It was way more work than I thought it would be, so I beached myself and went for a jog instead.

I am going to plop down some cash and get some technique lessons this time around. I'm still waiting to hear from my instructor about when I start, but I'm getting more and more anxious.

I am starting my own little training regiment, and today was day two, which was unfortunate because I had to fight through a head cold. I am totally going at this from a beginners stance, doing biking-running blocks. Really all I'm worried about right now is getting off of my bike and getting my legs running, which has been both fun, and painful.

In the last three years, running has sort of been my life. It helped me shed countless pounds and build all kinds of confidence and strength. Last fall I bought a road bike (my beloved trek 1000...cheap but reliable) and since have loved every second of that.

I guess all I can do is try as best I can, read what other people have done, and go from there.