I wrote this almost entire blog on my phone app only to have it not save :( Then I never went back to rewrite it now for almost a month!!! Boy I am the worst.
This was a really special race too!! My previous lost blog was awesome. Now I'm not sure I remember what it was I wrote.
Sprint Sprint Triathlon was May 6th. It was a big race for me because it marked 2 years since my very first race! 2 years ago was when Desirae and I got up early morning headed out to do the mini-sprint triathlon. It was 250 yd swim, 6 mile bike, 1.5 mile run. I remember at that time I was much heavier, I was SLOW and it was HARD! BUT when I crossed the finish line the feeling that I could keep going forever and the rush of making it all the way sparked all this tri-kate stuff!
This time I was coming back to do the full sprint distance. I remember 2 years ago barely completing the mini sprint and looking at the real triathletes going 500yds swim 12 mile bike 3.1 mile run in amazement!
I felt very nostalgic and sentimental coming back to this place. I still don't feel like a real triathlete (will I ever?) I see so many true athletic people who have probably spent their entire lives doing sports with ease. That is not me! BUT my return to Mission Bay is different. I have an Olympic distance race behind me, several sprints, so much experience with all 3 sports & the distance well its FUN!
I was also racing with some friends & teammates, along with several of my teammates coming down to watch, cheer and take pics. I have to say one benefit of meeting the TNT peeps is the support, they understand what it means to have someone there.
Doing a sprint is so much different then the longer races. I literally should be done in under 1.5 hours. The normal triathlete should be done in an hour! So there is not the same amount of fuel and water needed. My transition area was super basic and I was not really stressed about it. As long as I had goggles, swim cap, wetsuit, bike shoes, helmet, running shoes I was good to go. Once I got all set up I got to hang around with my teammates and friends. What a difference it is to come back and stand in the same place with out the nerves I use to experience race morning. There is still some nervousness but not the same gripped with fear kinda feeling I use to have. I am filled with confidence that I know what I am supposed to do and I can do it.
The swim I am not scared of anymore because I put so much focused effort into open water salt water swimming. AND lets face it the bay is NOTHING compared to some of the choppy, huge wave ocean swimming I am doing. The distance well I can do the distance. I am just not fast by any means. The water is not ideal it is cold and DIRTY! I was excited and this race has a lot of first timers so they are all freaking out. The buzzer goes off and I swim off. The splashing and chaos doesn't bother me but for some reason it takes me F.O.R.E.V.E.R to do the swim. I am sure I am passed by every single person in my wave and I am the last one out of the water. That was not very good feeling and I was sort of embarrassed when I got out and everyone was waiting to cheer me on....OH WELL SUCK IT UP AND START MOVING. I also felt slow in T1 I decided to put on my socks and bike shoes (I would like to stop wearing socks on the bike to save time eventually). Its so hard with wobbly legs to get shoes and socks on wet feet. So I sat down to get it done. The thing with that is out of the swim you are totally fatigued and sitting down involves getting back up and the heart rate is a mess! I got changed and got going and once on my way thru the bike out I was in GO MODE! I really tried to push it on the bike, its a flat course and I wanted to beat my previous sprint times AND I had sucked on the swim so I wanted to make up.
The bike course was 2 loops around fiesta island. I wasn't passing people AND was passed by my friend who was in the wave behind me! I was giving it all I had knowing I may suffer on the run for it but willing to do it.
The second transition I am usually much faster! There was a bit of distance to where my spot in the bike rack was to cover so I actually stopped took off my bike shoes to run in transition. I took off on the run and definitely felt fatigued, BUT STOKED to be 3.1 miles from the finish!!! My friends/cheer squad was all over the course and it was so cool to get little boosts of go KATIE! along the way. Then I ran into another friend coming to watch on the run course (twice cause it was 2 loops). Coming around to the final finish was the best feeling. I sprinted in and I was done. 2 years of an amazing journey crossing the same finish line. From mini sprint to being on my way to 1/2 ironman....WOW....all I can say is our God is an awesome God and I am so blessed for the journey He has me on
Thursday, May 31, 2012
Thursday, May 3, 2012
The frugal triathlete
I'm continually amazed in my life how I'm able to live the life of abundance I do when I'm a single income providing for my family of 3. I'm constantly facing the choice of working different hours, job, putting kids in public school, spending more time working OT so that we can be more comfortable. As of late I seem to be working less hours then ever (yes feeling the pinch) but not going with out.
Triathlon is NOT a cheap sport. Seems every time I start to doubt if I should be investing my time to this, let alone money God shows me He will provide where He wants us to be.
So many things have been provided for my training at little or no cost. I have to say I do my due diligence & shop smart as well. But other things have been generously given to me.
Can I make a list?
I know I talked about the discount I got on my wetsuit & bike. I've got some cycle clothing at warehouse sale & used from a teammate. All for fraction of regular cost. Just used gift certificate for new bike pump & water bottles. I got a TON of free water bottle! Someone gave me a bike computer! A friend gave me aero bars & the bike shop installed them FREE! I got my new tires on clearance. I've done almost every race free or discounted!
I could go on & on & on but the point is I AM BLESSED.
God gives me the desires of my Jett according to His will.
& I feel like He continues to bless me because I do work so hard at being mindful of what I spend.
Triathlon is NOT a cheap sport. Seems every time I start to doubt if I should be investing my time to this, let alone money God shows me He will provide where He wants us to be.
So many things have been provided for my training at little or no cost. I have to say I do my due diligence & shop smart as well. But other things have been generously given to me.
Can I make a list?
I know I talked about the discount I got on my wetsuit & bike. I've got some cycle clothing at warehouse sale & used from a teammate. All for fraction of regular cost. Just used gift certificate for new bike pump & water bottles. I got a TON of free water bottle! Someone gave me a bike computer! A friend gave me aero bars & the bike shop installed them FREE! I got my new tires on clearance. I've done almost every race free or discounted!
I could go on & on & on but the point is I AM BLESSED.
God gives me the desires of my Jett according to His will.
& I feel like He continues to bless me because I do work so hard at being mindful of what I spend.
Swim practice
Due to my swing shift schedule I never make track workouts with the team (ever-never been to one Lavaman or now). I wonder how different my run would be if I had any training in this area.
I have been able to attend swim practice though. During the beginning of Lavaman I missed it because I was finishing up my support group class but eventually I made it to a few Wednesday nights (I have every other wed off). Not sure if I got out of it what I should have. I certainly didn't learn how to actually DO a swim work out because this week with vineman team I was clueless. It did provide for some comedic relief on my behalf. My favorite was Coach Trent only being able to say well you're here in the pool...
This is what the work out looks like:
VINEMAN SDIT 5/2
WARM UP: 500: 300 Swim / 100 pull / 100 skate
800 Drafting Switch Leader every 50 yards
5x200 :30 rest between each 200
• 50 Close Fist Drill
• 50 Catch Up Drill
• 50 Thumb to Thigh Drill
• 50 Swim (breath on weak side only) 200 pull
3x100 descending Splits (try and decrease time by 5-‐10 each 100)
6 x 50 add a push up each 25 (start easy and build up)
If time-‐practice easy freestyle with bilateral breathing
My response is "huh?" what's pull? With a pull buoy you do arms only "oh yeah" is that like last week I couldn't do it...no that was kick only...oh yeah I couldn't figure that out...
I did the warm up & drafting drill with Denise (we only did 100 yards of drafting cause our time was running out fast). Then why I couldn't figure oh the 5x200 meant go through the 4 drills 50 yards each equalled a 200 yard set then rest?!?! Seriously lacking in the intelligence area here.
Again running of time skipped the 200 pull & was going to go into descending splits. Denise says you try to go faster each time. I read descending I say no you get slower...she says no it means you take 5-10 seconds off your time like instead of it talking you a minute fifteen seconds you do it in a minute ten...still not getting I have the coach explain and after a minute or so it dawns on me...I'm not computing this swim language at all. So I take off & after 50 yards Denise yells at me hey! What is your time... I say I dunno was just going to see if I seemed like I felt faster each time. At this everyone is dying laughing & coach points out the numerous giant clock timers at every part if the pool & Denise says your supposed to look at the timer.
This whole thing was hilarious & I was literally grinning in the pool at how ditzy I was. I feel like I'm the accidental triathlete. I need it to be this way though. Life is a struggle for me, I'm barely making it & tripping over myself & making mistakes left & right...God grants me His grace new every morning. This parallels my life...I'm sort of doop-de-doing my way through it but it's the only way to show its not me it's Him who is in me that will get me too the finish...in life & in the race!
I have been able to attend swim practice though. During the beginning of Lavaman I missed it because I was finishing up my support group class but eventually I made it to a few Wednesday nights (I have every other wed off). Not sure if I got out of it what I should have. I certainly didn't learn how to actually DO a swim work out because this week with vineman team I was clueless. It did provide for some comedic relief on my behalf. My favorite was Coach Trent only being able to say well you're here in the pool...
This is what the work out looks like:
VINEMAN SDIT 5/2
WARM UP: 500: 300 Swim / 100 pull / 100 skate
800 Drafting Switch Leader every 50 yards
5x200 :30 rest between each 200
• 50 Close Fist Drill
• 50 Catch Up Drill
• 50 Thumb to Thigh Drill
• 50 Swim (breath on weak side only) 200 pull
3x100 descending Splits (try and decrease time by 5-‐10 each 100)
6 x 50 add a push up each 25 (start easy and build up)
If time-‐practice easy freestyle with bilateral breathing
My response is "huh?" what's pull? With a pull buoy you do arms only "oh yeah" is that like last week I couldn't do it...no that was kick only...oh yeah I couldn't figure that out...
I did the warm up & drafting drill with Denise (we only did 100 yards of drafting cause our time was running out fast). Then why I couldn't figure oh the 5x200 meant go through the 4 drills 50 yards each equalled a 200 yard set then rest?!?! Seriously lacking in the intelligence area here.
Again running of time skipped the 200 pull & was going to go into descending splits. Denise says you try to go faster each time. I read descending I say no you get slower...she says no it means you take 5-10 seconds off your time like instead of it talking you a minute fifteen seconds you do it in a minute ten...still not getting I have the coach explain and after a minute or so it dawns on me...I'm not computing this swim language at all. So I take off & after 50 yards Denise yells at me hey! What is your time... I say I dunno was just going to see if I seemed like I felt faster each time. At this everyone is dying laughing & coach points out the numerous giant clock timers at every part if the pool & Denise says your supposed to look at the timer.
This whole thing was hilarious & I was literally grinning in the pool at how ditzy I was. I feel like I'm the accidental triathlete. I need it to be this way though. Life is a struggle for me, I'm barely making it & tripping over myself & making mistakes left & right...God grants me His grace new every morning. This parallels my life...I'm sort of doop-de-doing my way through it but it's the only way to show its not me it's Him who is in me that will get me too the finish...in life & in the race!
Wednesday, May 2, 2012
Bonking
Ok quickly up to speed here with what's going on...I bit off way more then I can chew. My plate is too full. I've let myself get sucked in to something that I never should have. That being said what the devil (I may mean that literally) intended for evil God can use for His good. I am a work in progress (BIG TIME) but hope all I do can bring honor & glory to God. I signed up for summer team before I even finished my olympic distance race. I signed up to fundraise another almost $3000 (which in all honesty is the only part I'm actually ok with). I signed up to do a 1/2 ironman with so little experience. I signed up to train for a 1/2 ironman with so little time in my life to train. (can I use that as an excuse for not blogging).
Post Lavaman I turned into a sloth for weeks. There was post race depression, jet lag, trying to get life back in order. I had no motivation. I finally got out with the summer team& the first ride I went on I sucked I was so slow I got behind. I turned back on the ride cause I had to work & it was taking me forever. I got lost rode all this extra mileage didn't get out on the run. My performance was pathetic, my heart & head just not in it.
After that I finally got in with GI dr. I spent a whole week prepping & recovering from an Intestine biopsy. So miserable! Only for Dr to say nothing is wrong. I'd rather be dealing with figuring out my gut issues then training for a race I have serious doubts I can finish (just being honest).
I had a brief fainting spell when I was in bed for 3 days. Wanted to quit, was in tears over everything when my tri-Kate spirit decided I wanted out of my funk. Let's face it there is no maybe at this point I have to show up race day. I started by making a training schedule that was based off a few plans i found online & the team schedule. That made me feel better about fitting in training. Then I cleaned out my van & organized all my tri stuff. That made me feel more prepared. I showed up next training feeling ready to do this....
That was until Coach Trent started talking to us about the brick. He described rolling hills, he used the word "deadly", steep downhills, no bike lanes in narrow windy roads. At mile 37 we were to get off bikes & run for 30-60 minutes. It was already hot & we hadn't left yet! I think I prayed lord Jesus help me a thousand times listening to that. I took my inhaler so between that & my anxiety my heart was palpitating! We took off to ride & almost right away Denise had her chain come off. I stopped to help her. Happened a second time & I waited again. I'm not leaving her but I'm so slow at this stuff I need all the time I can get. I was so freaked out I was nearly in tears. I wanted to take her bike breaking as a sign i should just quit it all now. I felt doomed, it seemed like I had lost too much time training & was starting over. All these negative thoughts going through my head she says you have Skips jersey on you have a special angel looking out for you today. She sold me some used gear this week from her late husband. Amazing man who battled cancer, a bike accident left him paraplegic & TNT legend. That sort of snapped me out of it until we had to go up scripps poway parkway. That hill was every bit as hard as ever. All I can say is thank God Brian was helping out team this ride & being sweeper.
He has become on of my fav peeps. I like that he doesn't sugar coat anything but doesn't be an a** either. This poor guy got stuck with me & never made me feel like it was a bummer to wait for my slow ride. After we got over the hill I took off & ended up with just one other teammate Ann. Coach Trent was not joking about the ride. It was miles & miles of rolling winding roads through the country. Beautiful YES. Tough YES. I was so intent on getting through it & hanging on for dear life I did not get my hydration on at all. I was too scared to try to drink while riding. (should I of stopped yes-but I felt dumb & didn't wanna stop in the middle of no where). By the time I got to SAG I was a mess! Coach G had talked to us over & over
about it & I quickly became aware of why he warned us. BONKING!!! when you don't take care of your nutrition & hydration & keep cool you BONK. Well I was there I was panting couldn't catch my breath, dizzy, felt faint. I couldn't even think or talk really. I was more then done at that moment (not even 1/2 way through the brick by the way). It took me a long time to recover again poor Brian got stuck with me. I'd say he is a saint cause the next 10 miles or so I turned into a grumpy hateful whining person. Granted none of that directed at him. I was just thankful he wasn't ditching me cause I'm sure he wanted to! At a stoplight a man says to me are you riding for leukemia lymphoma? Yes I say. He said I'm a Hodgkin's survivor thank you. OH YEAH!!!! That's why I'm out here doing the most grueling thing I've ever experienced in my life!!!! Because it's nothing compared to what the blood cancer patients go through. Ok so that revelation helped in the moment but I was still going through every emotion, physically past my limit when Saint Brian understood & agreed I had places to be & was in no shape to finish today. He showed me to the place I could turn back to my car (after a few more grueling hills). Anyone else think he just wanted away from me?!?!!!
What did I take away from this? I felt like a quitter a failure like there is no way I'm ever gonna finish my 70.3. I realized I don't have the time it's gonna take to do these Saturday rides. I felt like I was basically screwed. Sunday I somewhat redeemed myself. I went with team for ocean swim & for the first time ever I went out 100% confident. It was NOT flat calm, there was swells & it was not easy. There wasn't a moment that I lacked confidence. It was challenging but not a moment where I didn't know I was capable.
I started out when I signed up this time saying I can't do this, I can't raise another $3000, I can't do this distance..I knew in that moment it was all God. Doesn't He always do that?! Strip us of every last bit of self so that He can do the work through us & in us. I'm not complete...in fact I'm a mess...more in need of Him then ever. I'm really can't see how it's gonna happen but I have faith it will. I trust God allows me to bonk during training so I won't during the race...
Post Lavaman I turned into a sloth for weeks. There was post race depression, jet lag, trying to get life back in order. I had no motivation. I finally got out with the summer team& the first ride I went on I sucked I was so slow I got behind. I turned back on the ride cause I had to work & it was taking me forever. I got lost rode all this extra mileage didn't get out on the run. My performance was pathetic, my heart & head just not in it.
After that I finally got in with GI dr. I spent a whole week prepping & recovering from an Intestine biopsy. So miserable! Only for Dr to say nothing is wrong. I'd rather be dealing with figuring out my gut issues then training for a race I have serious doubts I can finish (just being honest).
I had a brief fainting spell when I was in bed for 3 days. Wanted to quit, was in tears over everything when my tri-Kate spirit decided I wanted out of my funk. Let's face it there is no maybe at this point I have to show up race day. I started by making a training schedule that was based off a few plans i found online & the team schedule. That made me feel better about fitting in training. Then I cleaned out my van & organized all my tri stuff. That made me feel more prepared. I showed up next training feeling ready to do this....
That was until Coach Trent started talking to us about the brick. He described rolling hills, he used the word "deadly", steep downhills, no bike lanes in narrow windy roads. At mile 37 we were to get off bikes & run for 30-60 minutes. It was already hot & we hadn't left yet! I think I prayed lord Jesus help me a thousand times listening to that. I took my inhaler so between that & my anxiety my heart was palpitating! We took off to ride & almost right away Denise had her chain come off. I stopped to help her. Happened a second time & I waited again. I'm not leaving her but I'm so slow at this stuff I need all the time I can get. I was so freaked out I was nearly in tears. I wanted to take her bike breaking as a sign i should just quit it all now. I felt doomed, it seemed like I had lost too much time training & was starting over. All these negative thoughts going through my head she says you have Skips jersey on you have a special angel looking out for you today. She sold me some used gear this week from her late husband. Amazing man who battled cancer, a bike accident left him paraplegic & TNT legend. That sort of snapped me out of it until we had to go up scripps poway parkway. That hill was every bit as hard as ever. All I can say is thank God Brian was helping out team this ride & being sweeper.
He has become on of my fav peeps. I like that he doesn't sugar coat anything but doesn't be an a** either. This poor guy got stuck with me & never made me feel like it was a bummer to wait for my slow ride. After we got over the hill I took off & ended up with just one other teammate Ann. Coach Trent was not joking about the ride. It was miles & miles of rolling winding roads through the country. Beautiful YES. Tough YES. I was so intent on getting through it & hanging on for dear life I did not get my hydration on at all. I was too scared to try to drink while riding. (should I of stopped yes-but I felt dumb & didn't wanna stop in the middle of no where). By the time I got to SAG I was a mess! Coach G had talked to us over & over
about it & I quickly became aware of why he warned us. BONKING!!! when you don't take care of your nutrition & hydration & keep cool you BONK. Well I was there I was panting couldn't catch my breath, dizzy, felt faint. I couldn't even think or talk really. I was more then done at that moment (not even 1/2 way through the brick by the way). It took me a long time to recover again poor Brian got stuck with me. I'd say he is a saint cause the next 10 miles or so I turned into a grumpy hateful whining person. Granted none of that directed at him. I was just thankful he wasn't ditching me cause I'm sure he wanted to! At a stoplight a man says to me are you riding for leukemia lymphoma? Yes I say. He said I'm a Hodgkin's survivor thank you. OH YEAH!!!! That's why I'm out here doing the most grueling thing I've ever experienced in my life!!!! Because it's nothing compared to what the blood cancer patients go through. Ok so that revelation helped in the moment but I was still going through every emotion, physically past my limit when Saint Brian understood & agreed I had places to be & was in no shape to finish today. He showed me to the place I could turn back to my car (after a few more grueling hills). Anyone else think he just wanted away from me?!?!!!
What did I take away from this? I felt like a quitter a failure like there is no way I'm ever gonna finish my 70.3. I realized I don't have the time it's gonna take to do these Saturday rides. I felt like I was basically screwed. Sunday I somewhat redeemed myself. I went with team for ocean swim & for the first time ever I went out 100% confident. It was NOT flat calm, there was swells & it was not easy. There wasn't a moment that I lacked confidence. It was challenging but not a moment where I didn't know I was capable.
I started out when I signed up this time saying I can't do this, I can't raise another $3000, I can't do this distance..I knew in that moment it was all God. Doesn't He always do that?! Strip us of every last bit of self so that He can do the work through us & in us. I'm not complete...in fact I'm a mess...more in need of Him then ever. I'm really can't see how it's gonna happen but I have faith it will. I trust God allows me to bonk during training so I won't during the race...
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