No Races in Sight...

That is a self-portrait I took while waiting to start the Anchorage half-marathon .  It was so cold and pouring rain.  I had this on my phone and forgot all about it until a day or so ago while I was going through the pics on my phone and ran into this one...

I am having a hard time staying motivated.  Once you get in the habit of having a huge race/challenge ahead, it is hard to get out and run a measly 3 miles with no big goal in mind.  I thought perhaps running shorter distances on a frequent basis would be a good thing to do.  So that is what I am trying to do.

I have had a bit of set back in that my back is hurting.  I went to the doc 2 weeks ago and had a CT scan last week.  I should find out tomorrow what the result of that is.  I had an ACDF (Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion of C5-6, and C6-7) in 1999 and my doc was afraid that I did something to all the stuff in my neck - and that they would have to "go back in" and get it fixed.  Oh my.  I SO don't want anyone going back "into" my cervical spine.  

So I am still running.  I really want to run the Boulder Back Roads (half) marathon on Sept. 21 - but I better find out what is going on with my back.

Oh, and on the weight loss front... I am down 6.6 lbs.  That may not sound like a lot to anyone but me, but I know my body and 6.6 is a lot for me to lose.  I am a slow loser!  I feel like I am on a good slow steady progression.  And after watching the Olympic Marathon last night, I realized that I would rather look like a runner than a shotput!

08.08.08

There's me, finishing the triathlon last Sunday.  And that is the first race photo I have purchased since 2004.  I love the photo for a couple of reasons.  The first reason is that I was finishing a triathlon with energy left.  What a fabulous feeling!  The second reason I probably shouldn't share, but I will.  I think I look good.  There!  I said it!

I had a bit of a revelation during the race.  I got to stand around with women of my own age as we prepared for the race, as we participated in it, and as we finished up and headed for home.  Somehow I have this idea that if I were thin enough or in better shape, I would look like a 20 year old model.  Here were these women, within a few years of my age, in swimming suits, wet suits, running clothes and bike clothes.  This stuff doesn't hide anything.  No one looks like a 20 year old model.  But they are beautiful athletic women!  And none of them look 20 years old. By the time we are post 55 years old, we all have something going on.  Bellies, arm flab, dimpled legs and bottoms.

BUT WE ARE BEAUTIFUL!  I am so glad to say this.  It probably sounds wacky to those of you still in your 20s or 30s.  But it is a revelation to me.  A happy revelation.

There is other stuff going on, but I am just so dang happy to say, I am a fit, happy, and dare I say beautiful? woman!  Happy, I tell you!

Tri for the Cure, 2008

It was a wonderful day at the triathlon.  The times have not been posted yet.  I had problems in almost everything... but still, it was great.

I got to the park at 5:15, and joined the line of women with backpacks and bikes... walking... walking... into the park.  Then the frantic rush to set up your transition area.  Knowing full well that it will be squished into non-existence before the swim start.  It was 70º already at 5 a.m., and the water was a very comfortable 74º.  

The swim was different in that I never found a spot to swim without being kicked and elbowed.  I was constantly being mowed over.  It was uncomfortable.  I could not see the buoys either, so I felt like I was swimming blind.  I ended up doing the breast stroke a lot - just so I could see what was ahead.  The first stretch of the swim, we were heading straight east - into the rising sun.  It was blinding.  My goggles added to the problem.  I had to stop at a swim angel, hang on a noodle and lick the lenses of my goggles.  Thank you Swim Angel!  My time for the swim was (estimate) 28 some minutes.

I have no idea how long the T1 took.  It didn't seem long. I hopped on my bike, surprised that my legs seemed to not be wobbly like I think they will be when I am done swimming.  I headed out and enjoyed the ride - until I made the mistake of gearing into granny gear on a big hill.  When I tried to take it out of granny gear, the chain fell off.  I quickly hopped off the bike, turned it over, and then the ty-rap holding my computer broke.  So after I got the chain back on, I held the computer in my hand for the rest of the ride.  I think I did the ride in about 48 minutes.  Not sure though.

T2 wasn't as bad as I expected either.  I grabbed my garmin, a gu, my iPod, and headed out.  I was quickly told, in no uncertain terms, that iPods were banned from the race.  I headed back to my transition area to put my iPod back in my backpack.  You know, I was really P.O.'d about that (because I think that should have been posted on the website or in their info, since they have always allowed them before) - but I didn't miss it at all.  

I started walking, and realized that I was walking pretty fast.  I decided to run.  I was running OK.  I probably ran about half of the 5K.  I enjoyed myself.  It was getting really hot by then - thank God I am over 55 and was in the 4th wave.  There were still people swimming when I was running... I felt bad for them because the day just kept getting hotter.  

Some lady in front of me kept yelling what I guess she thought was encouragement - "think of a cold margarita!  A cold beer!  A cold martini!"  over and over and over again.  I finally shouted, "think of an air conditioned AA meeting!"  I don't think she liked that, but holy crap, not everyone is motivated by alcoholic beverages!  

THE MOST AMAZING THING HAPPENED AT THE END OF THE RACE:  I STILL HAD SOME ENERGY!  I WASN'T JUST ABSOLUTELY CAPUT!  I FELT GREAT!  

I got back to the transition area with my buds - I SO love being with women my own age!  I was dancing, and they were wondering what was wrong with me.  Heck, I still felt good.  

But you know, compared with a half-marathon, running a 5K is really pretty quickly over.  

So, I had a good day.  I am glad.  I needed one.  I am sure my times were not good, but I enjoyed myself, and isn't that what this is about?

And, on a serious note:  when my mother was my age nearly exactly, she had just been diagnosed with cancer and had just undergone a surgery to remove a kidney... which proved futile, she was dead 6 months later.  I kept thinking about her as I swam, biked, and ran.  I am grateful that I get to be an alive person, healthy, and happy.  This one's for you Mom.

YAY!

Hot Hot Hot

Sunday is my triathlon.... do you see the predicted temperature?  Well, at least it won't be cold getting into the water at 7:00 a.m.  The running portion will probably be the walking portion for me.  And I will carry water.  

I am excited about the race.  I feel much, much, much better.  And I appreciate your well wishes... thank you.  That accident was scary, and I am having nightmares about it, but I think I am on the mend.   I got out and rode my bike yesterday and today I will run 3 miles for the first time since the wreck.  

Here is the most amazing thing to me:  Remember when I said I was done with long distance running?  Well, now that I have stopped for a while, I LONG to get out and do a 10 mile run.  I really miss the mental state you get into when you are running for a long time.  So I found another half-marathon I want to do.  My daughter just rolls her eyes when I tell her this... she rolled her eyes when I told her I was done running and now she rolls her eyes when I tell her excitedly about a half-marathon I want to do in September.

It is the Boulder Back Roads Marathon and it just sounds wonderful.   Have I lost my mind?

Another Setback

A week ago today I was in a very serious car accident.  Riding in a fast car with a man.... something that has gotten me in trouble more than once... this time it was on a mountain pass, he was going too fast and lost control of the car.  We ran into a concrete wall at probably 40 miles per hour.  We really should not have walked away from the accident, but we did.  I was in some pretty bad pain this past week.  I think I am on the mend now.  

I have a triathlon in a week - I know I can do it, but it just might not be pretty - or fast.  But thank God I know I can do it.

I haven't worked out since last Saturday.  I will be able to get back to it this week.  

Word from long lost blogger

In my other blogging life I just forget about people who don't post regularly.  My behavior on this blog is very different.  I have been doing some soul searching about my fitness regimen and have felt like I am being a whiner when I post about it.  I  think I have it pretty well worked out now, so I will tell you what I have come up with.

Here's the big confession:  I weigh too much. I am fit, but just too big.  I have gained weight in the last year.  I find it very difficult to train for a half marathon and eat sensibly at the same time.  This weight has impacted my performance I think.  I think it is why I am so freaking slow.

So - (oh, how I loathe to write this) I joined Weight Watchers again.  I am a lifetime member (since 1988) and it never fails to work for me if I just try to stay reasonable and not get too crazy with limiting my intake of food.  I have lost 5 lbs. so far, and hope to just keep plugging along. If I were to lose a total of 20 lbs., I would be ecstatic.  If I lost 10 lbs. I would be pretty happy and maybe that happiness would keep me motivated.  

I still want everyone to know that I am still 30 lbs. down from where I was in 2001.  Just so you know....

I went to the gym and ran on the treadmill 12 days ago.  I suffered terribly for that.  My sciatica was practically unbearable.  I have spent a bit of time in traction since then.  I have also been walking.  And biking. And swimming.  Yesterday, I took a little 2 mile run and was fine, so I have hopes that my triathlon on August 3 won't be a total disaster.  

This morning, I drove down to the lake an swam for 25 minutes.  Then I hopped on my bike and rode for an hour.  It was good.  I felt good and I feel good now.  

I have a full day ahead of me and better get on with it.  I will visit your blogs tonight or tomorrow.

Thanks for reading all of this...

Back in the Saddle (sort of)

That's a picture (through an RV screened window) of an Alaskan sunset - at 11:45 p.m.  And it still doesn't get dark after that!

After I wrote on Tuesday, I thought I just have to force myself to work out whether I want to or not.  I dragged my good bike to the bike store to get a few things done to it, and then hopped on and went to the lake.  I took my first open water swim of the season.  Heck, it was my first swim of any kind since last year's triathlon.  Then I hopped back on the bike and went home.  

On Saturday, I tried to run for the first time since the June 21 half marathon.  This morning after church, I took a 10 mile bike ride and a half hour open water swim.  I think the swim was approximately 750 meters, but no one seems to know what the actual length of the swim lane at the lake is.  

I think I have some decisions to make.  

1.  me + distance running does not = a fit Mary.  Really.  It just doesn't.

2. If I want to run faster, I am going to have to run shorter.

3. I can do that seriously on the treadmill... Oh NO! Not the Treadmill!!!

4. I really could walk as fast as I am running right now, and I would actually enjoy that.

5.  I can swim and bike and actually enjoy that. 

6. Maybe I can focus on the bike and swim training for my tri and let the chips fall where they may for the run portion.  

I could go back to what I was doing before I got bitten by the half marathon bug.  I was running about 40 or 50 miles a month and felt fantastic!  I was fit and much, much slimmer than I am now.  I have done nothing but gain weight since I started distance running.  

What to do?