The scale

I took the last two weeks off from work in December and decided to have a stay-cation. Well, that turned into me sitting on my couch buying myself way too many Christmas presents. The one that I am most excited about is my new Ironman Tanita scale! This thing is awesome. It measures not only weight, but body fat %, body water %, muscle mass, and about 10 other things. I have committed to weighing myself and recording all of the data on the 1st of each month and just weighing myself daily. I have read and overheard friends say that weighing yourself daily helps to shape the way you eat and your physical activities for the day. Yeah right. This can be mind torturing!

I was all excited when I noticed that the scale crept down to 5 pounds lighter, but twice in the month of January, it changed it's mind and decided to tell me that it was just kidding. Since I didn't check for body water % daily, I just chalked it up as having something to do with my hydration levels. Well, today I hopped on and recorded all of the data and while I was sad that I am only down 1 pound (which could have something to do with having the need to take Midol today), I have lost 2% of body fat! ....2%! I was so freaking exited that I wanted to kiss the scale. You know, there may be some truth to the saying "You are what you eat"! I have been watching my diet and lifting weights ( along with swimming, biking and running) and I think that it is working!

While I do have a long way to go to in my plan to decrease my body fat% and my weight, I will take my measurements today as WINNING! 



Tri Becca

Randoms of a soon to be Ironman 70.3 FINISHER

•  My first outdoor bike ride this season was a challenge! Lisa and I were tired at the first rest stop. It felt like  we had already gone like 15 miles. Uhm, yeah, it was only EIGHT MILES. My resolution to clean up my potty mouth while training went out the window. I cussed so much on those little hills.
• The scale is playing tricks on my mind. I thought I was doing really well when it slowly crept up to 5 pounds lighter... and then it just ego slammed me days later, with a big ol' "SIKE!!!". I will have to try something different starting February 1st.
• I have been running consistently, but it is not easily coming back to me. The thought of going to a music festival in Miami on March 17th is starting to look more appealing to me than this 1/2 Marathon that day.
• Weight training twice a week is not my favorite thing to do, but I know that it is key to helping to burn fat and to help me to get stronger for the bike. Actually, 3 days of lifting may be even better for me, if only I could fit it into my schedule.
• The bike trainer is soooo boring! I have to figure out something different this week to make it more enjoyable. Last week, I discovered OnDemand music videos and tried to go hard for a whole video and then recovered while I searched for another one to watch. Whatever happened to MTV videos that used to play all day???
• My diet is good, but I need to change it up a bit to get different results. I am reading a few books and will try something different soon. I need help!
• I am taking a Total Immersion class and I can tell a difference in my swimming already!
• I need to go ahead and sign up for Ironman 70.3 National Harbor. I know that I can do it. I just need to sign up.... maybe tomorrow. We'll see.
• I have somehow gotten infatuated with the thought of getting an Ironman tattoo after I finish my first full Ironman race. The infatuation is weird, as I will not be completing a full Ironman until 2013 at the earliest.
• I am hoping to get an outdoor bike ride in again this week. I miss riding outdoors!
• I have no ankle pain when I run as long as I wear a stiff brace. I have learned that I should wear compression socks if running 5 miles or more to help ward off shin pain. It works for me.
• I am going to read up on those Newtons running shoes and may go try try some out soon. I am thinking that they can help me to stop heel striking when I run and maybe I will have fewer ankle issues.
• I want to run faster than my "slow as molasses" 12 and a half minute mile. I have started to incorporate some interval running and will get some hill runs in soon to help with me speed. It's so funny that people think that you are super fast just because you go out to run 5 miles. They just don't know that they could probably keep up with me by walking. Ha!

Tri Becca

Misconceptions

There are many misconceptions that are held about Triathletes and the sport of Triathlon in general. I try to educate folks and let them know that NO, I am not running marathons, I also swim and bike. I try to inform folks that no, you don't have to be Olympic competitor-like fast to do this. And then today, I read a post by a fellow Triathlete that is intimidated, because I guess we make it seem like we are super good at all of this and she can't hang. Boy, is THAT the furthest thing from the truth.

Here is a little information to help clear up some of the most common misconceptions:

• No, this is not easy for us. We are just committed to training and pushing ourselves beyond our pre-conceived limits. It is hard. We throw out 4 letter words on tough hills, we fall, we cry, we whine, we battle the alarm clock, we even question our sanity at times.
• No, we are NOT all running marathons. A Marathon is JUST a running event. Triathletes swim then bike and then run. We do all 3 sports. We are Triathletes. There is a difference.
• No, we are not all super fast. This is an endurance sport. We are not all sprinting through the water, sprinting on our bikes and then sprinting through the run. We have to conserve some energy during the swim and the bike for the run.
• There are 4 different distances of Triathlons (Sprint, Olympic/International, Half Ironman, Ironman distances). We are not all out here completing Ironman distance races. There is a huge difference.
• No, we are not all super skinny/lean. The reason for this is diet. It is hard for us to consume enough calories to give us the energy to complete this AND loose weight. There is a lot of information out there to help us with diet and we are all striving to be as lean as we can be. This is a great challenge for some of us.
• If you can't swim, you can still complete a Triathlon one day, IF you are committed to learning to swim. I took my first lesson in January of 2010 and completed my first Triathlon in June of 2010. 
• If you don't own a bike and you still want to complete a Triathlon, you can still do so. I know an Ironman Triathlete that trained for his first Triathlon by only taking spin classes and then he borrowed his female cousin's bike on race day. You can always rent a bike for race day. While it is better to have your own bike, you can still do this IF you want to.
• If you are not a great runner and you can still walk, you can complete a Triathlon. Yes, you will be done faster if you run the last portion of the race, but plenty of people walk or do a walk/run.

I hope this was informative and helps to clear up some misconceptions.

Countdown to Eagleman Ironman 70.3: 131 days!!



Tri Becca

Ironman 70.3 here I come!!

June 10, 2012

Okay, the off season is over and it is time to get started with training for my very first Ironman 70.3 Triathlon. This is a Half Ironman race, so I will be swimming 1.2 miles, cycling 56 miles and running 13.1 miles on June 10th in Cambridge, Maryland. I hope to have many in my cheer squad, as this is going to be the toughest/longest race that I have attempted so far!

I am certain that I can finish, which is always my #1 goal. However, I do want to be able to finish the swim without feeling like I want to take a nap, finish the bike ride without wanting to lay on the ground afterwards and get through the run without crying and questioning my sanity mid way through. I believe I can do it and just like everything else in life that I have set my mind to, I WILL complete it! 

Wish me luck and pray for me!

Love,

Tri Becca

Finding the Off-Season groove...

I am really having a difficult time figuring out this whole “Off Season” thing. I know that the goal is to not follow a structured training schedule and to take a break from the same old swim/bike/run routine. I know that it is good to train your weaknesses and to get more strength training in. But what I know more than anything else, especially after the last few weeks, is that this is not working. Truth be told, I have not had a set training plan since I trained for my first Triathlon and I have been just "figuring it out" since then. I feel like I would be more successful during the season and during this off season if I had more structure. I called a friend and asked for his help with putting together a training plan for me to start in January for my Ironman 70.3 race in June. And I think that I will be putting together an off-season training plan as well...

This is what I am thinking:

• I have returned to my old love: KICKBOXING! … and I LOVE it still. It is the ultimate workout. There is a web special: 3 classes for $20. I LOVE a good deal!! I think that I will sign up for 10 classes and attend twice a week for 5 weeks.

• I also have returned to the pool. Man, after not swimming for 3 months, I felt like I was sucking on a cigarette under water the whole time! It was HARD. I swam 500 meters and had to call it quits. I think that I will sign up for a 4 week swimming workshop that starts in a few weeks. Between now and then, I will try to get in the pool and get my mojo back. The workshop is only 1 day a week and I will try to make it to one practice a week.

• I miss my bike so much! I have only been on it once since the dreadful Seagull Century and vow to get on it more after going to this bicycle-racing clinic on Sunday. I want to get faster, stronger and more skilled on the bike, and riding is the only way that this will happen. I need to purchase some winter riding gear and will probably ride as long as it is above 32 degrees.

•  Running: I do like it... after the first mile or two. It takes me a while to warm up. I have only managed to get out for a run about once per week, but I need to increase that to 2-3 times per week. Maybe I will find a running buddy soon that can commit to running with me? I even suck at attending the track work outs that I was so excited about. I think the key is to get up in the morning and run, get it in at lunchtime or try to do it before the sun goes down. Once nightfall hits, it’s out of the question. A good idea is to run to kickboxing class and back. It’s 2 miles away. This way, at least I will run 2 days a week.

• Weights: I suck here too. Adrienne may be able to lift with me on Monday and Wednesday evenings. I sure hope so, because GOD knows I need to lift but I can’t seem to find the motivation

• I may be able to get my cardio and weights in if I like this Crossfit class that I am going to try out. If I like it and it’s affordable, maybe I will do this after my kickboxing classes end. The place is also 2 miles from my house, so maybe I can run there and back??

•  I signed up for this unlimited boot camp for 1 month. It only cost $35. I don't know when it will start, but maybe I will do this instead of Kickboxing and Crossfit and run to where ever the meeting place is??

So, it sounds like I am all over the place and I suck at committing to everything. I am trying to come up with a plan. If I can commit to running to kickboxing classes and back twice a week (...or Crossfit... or Boot camp), sign up for the swim workshop twice a week and lift with Adrienne twice a week, I will be good. Oh, my bike? Perhaps, I will have to dedicate some time on the trainer in front of the TV until I can work that into the plan.... or maybe I will come up with a monthly plan?? Shit, I don't know. I need to just find my groove.... any suggestions/ideas?? I need help.

Tales of the Seagull Century (100 mile bike ride)

First of all, let me just say that I have completed 1 century ride and that is really not necessary to do again, unless it will help me to get ready for a Half or Full Ironman. We did all of that and didn't even get a medal at the end? Why? Oh Why??

I really made an effort to do things with my supporters this year. Robin and Gladys have been very supportive of me in my Triathlons, so when they mentioned that they were doing running races, I signed up to run with them. The folks at the Cycling Club, BMWCC warmly welcomed me, Lisa, Rian and Maddy in to ride with them in order to help our cycling skills for our Triathlons, so when they told us about the Seagull Century that they were doing,we signed up to ride with them. I think that Lisa and I cussed and blamed Tania from BWMCC at least 10 times today for talking us into signing up!

Here is the breakdown of the hellish day:

Mile 1-23.5: Pace lines!
This was the fun part of the ride. I was really trying to ride in the pace line with the group, as it is much easier to draft off of someone in a pace line (each cyclist ride very close on the wheel of the cyclist in front of them and the first person takes all the wind for the group) than to ride alone. It was a challenge to keep up with them and not let our other folks fall too far behind. Rian and I stuck together and before we knew it, we were at the first rest stop.

Mile 23.5-43.3: Side winds
I started out riding with this guy from Fleet Feet and his crew until we turned a corner and the fierce side winds slowed me down. I lost that group, met a lady from a cycling club on the Eastern Shore, rode with her for a while and then jumped on a pace line with Black Ski, as the winds were getting harder to cycle through. They got me to the second rest stop. I felt no pain and wasn't tired at all, but was just tired of the winds. We were fair warned that the winds were going to pick up in the second half.

Mile 43.3-63.4: Cramps & Wild horses
We got both head and side winds, which made it harder to keep a decent pace. By mile 50, I got the worst cramp in my side. I pushed through, because it wasn't debilitating, but it posed as a challenge while battling the winds. I was starting to get tired by mile 60, as I had not been on my bike for any longer than that. Close to the rest stop, I looked up and saw the very steep Verranzano Bride that was going to bring us to Assateague Island. At this point all I could say was, "WHATEVER!" and just power up it. It was very pretty, but I didn't stop until I saw the horses. They were so calm and I took a great pic, although I was scared as hell. There was a sign that read that the horses bite and may charge you and all I could think about was the guy that got charged by an antelope. When I got to the rest stop, I ate some stuff and then I just laid on the ground in the parking lot!

Mile 63.4-84.6: Pimped slapped by the wind / Eat the pie Annie Mae!
This was the toughest stretch for us all! It was so, SO very hard! I had to pull over to take advil for my knees (which have never hurt before) and I was very whiny and asking Lisa why in the hell were we doing this?! I was really about  to cry when out of nowhere, this chic, Ruth, rode up and started talking to me. She had music, was very nice and interesting and 5 miles later I was all better! The winds were just BRUTAL. They were even stronger from the front and sometimes so strong from the side that it felt like we would be pushed off of our bikes! I was pedaling sooo slowly due to fatigue from all of the winds. It felt like I was constantly pedaling up a hill! I caught up with Maddy and we suffered through the last 15 miles together. We waited for everyone and before long, we were all laying in the grass after eating apple and cherry pie. We seriously contemplated getting on the "Quitters wagon" for a ride to the finish line, but somehow, we worked up the mental energy to keep going.

Mile 83.6-101: Only the strong survive
I was just so sick of the winds by this point that I was just mad as hell! I decided to just power through the last 16.4 miles, as the winds were not going away. I drafted off a few folks and just got it done. I met Delores Simmons from Tri Unify in the last 5 miles and we brought it to the finish line together. I have never been so happy to see a finish line!

Here is a pretty cool video that Lisa made. That was me laying on the ground at about 5:23 in the video.

Lessons of the day: #1. Get bike shorts with padding in the front #2. The wind is really not your friend #3. There is no sense in me doing another ride like that unless it will help me to prepare for something bigger that will produce a medal at the end

Navy 5/Army 10

I signed up for a few running races, to actually make myself get out and run. Truth be told, I really don't run a lot to prepare for my Triathlons, which must change. Although, I am completely over training for any event due to burn out, I am sticking with my race schedule (minus the 1/2 marathon in New Orleans). Since my last Triathlon 4 weeks ago, I have completed the Navy 5 miler and Army 10 miler. I can say that I am consistently slow, but my endurance has improved. 

On September 25th, I completed the Navy 5 miler in 1 hour and 5 minutes. I really surprised myself by running the entire race, minus one water stop. My legs hurt in the first mile and a half, but by mile 2, I was in my groove. I ran a 13 minute mile, but I finished and felt really good that I could go the distance without all of the walk breaks that I usually take.

I ran a few times before the Army 10 miler race today, but quite honestly, I am just burned out. I want to do this stuff because it is what I WANT to do, not because I HAVE to get ready for a race; I want to exercise, not train. The thought of being ready by a date on the calendar stresses me out and takes the joy out it for me right now. I really had no IDEA how I was going to complete the 10 mile race today. I have never run further than 6 miles, which is usually hard for me. My plan was to take it 2 miles at a time, stop for water and repeat 5 times. I found myself rejoicing at every mile marker sign, but I only stopped for water every 2 miles. I am extremely proud of myself for running the first 8 miles with only stops for water, but after that... the story changed. Man, the 14th Street bridge/ I-395 broke me! It was uphill and UN ENDING...! I saw Lisa about 500 feet in front of me and it was my goal to just catch up to her. When I finally did, I am sure that I mean mugged her and she said, "I don't have anything left". We walked in silence together for a little while and then did a run/walk/shuffle-like thing for the last 2 miles. I was so happy to see Pier and Gladys there cheering us on!! They gave me the extra push that I needed to get to the finish line. I finished in 2 hours and 13 minutes, which equates to another slow 13+ minute mile run. Slow but steady, and finishing is all that counts for me.

I really have the desire to keep this running thing up and get faster. I joined a running club and will meet for track workouts this fall and winter. I plan to keep my running endurance and build upon it. Wish me luck!

Next up: Seagull Century (100 mile bike ride) on Saturday. And then, nothing scheduled until March 17th! :)