Why am I doing this again?

 The triathlon that I am training for will be fun (hopefully) and exciting (either for the good or the bad) event, but mostly it is a fundraiser for the Leukemia Lymphoma Society.  In exchange for coaching, information and motivation I must raise over $3,500 for the Society.  Why am I doing this again?

Before a bike ride couple of weeks ago my Team in Training Mentor, Howard shared his story with our team.  Howard is a self proclaimed non athlete.  He has told me “I am not built for speed, I like to say.  Rather, I am built for comfort and working in IT.”  He clams that he runs like a penguin, (I do too) and can run a marathon in the time it takes some people to run two. So why do you think a guy like that would become a triathlon participant, much less a mentor? 

That morning Howard thanked us for raising money with Team in Training and thanked all who have participated in the past.  He told us that he joined the team to give back to those who have given to him.  That particular day was the tenth anniversary day of Howard’s diagnosis with Leukemia.  On the day of his diagnosis Howard had a three year old daughter and his wife was pregnant with their second child.  He was expected to live two years.  His daughter would be in Kindergarten then.  I can only imagine how devastating that diagnosis was to Howard’s young family.  A new drug saved Howard’s life.  His cancer is now “stable”, and he was spared the terrible pain and ordeal of a bone marrow transplant.  This drug was developed using funds raised by the Leukemia Lymphoma Society with the help of Team in Training. 

So, when I am whining or complaining that I have to get up at 7am for a team swim or that my legs are sore from an especially difficult spin class I stop myself and remember the reason I am doing this.  Howard’s story even puts shin splints into perspective. 

A minor problem and a major problem

The minor problem is my stomach.  I am having trouble figuring out what to eat for breakfast that will consistently feel good in my stomach while I am exercising.  I started with a protein shake.  It was great one morning.  The next time I tried it it sat in my stomach like a cold wet rock.  I tried it one more time, but not cold.  It made me nauseous.  I moved on to Power Bar energy chews.  They were great on Wednesday, but not this morning and they have no protein.  Bread seems to work, but it also has no protein.  You athletes out there, what do you use?  Any suggestions?

The major problem is the shin splints.  I am STILL not over them.  I cannot run more that three miles per hour without feeling enormous pain.  Three miles per hour is not a challenge and does not even raise my heart rate.  This morning I was whining and crying on the treadmill, but could not go any faster.  I never last more than fifteen minutes on the treadmill.  I always give up and move onto the elliptical.  Apparently shin splints is not a pain that you can or should work through.  The elliptical gets my heart rate up and works the same muscles as running without any painful pounding, but I cannot use the elliptical during the race.  I am so worried that I will never beyond this.

always double check your gym bag

I don’t like to drive in my bicycle shoes, so I keep them in my gym bag until I get to the gym and put them on there.  That’s a good system when they are actually IN the gym bag.  This morning I did a spin class in backless mules.    Hey!  At least I wasn’t wearing heals.

Early Saturday

I love Saturdays!  You get to sleep in, wake up slowly and gradually let the day unfold around you.  Those were my Saturdays BEFORE I started training for a triathlon.  Tomorrow I need to be up at 5am, leave the house by 5:30 and be at spin class no later than 6:30am.  What kind of Saturday is that?! 

Just looking for a little sympathy 

-Laura  

One of my many fundraisers

SUPER BOWL POOL

to benefit

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society

The fine print:

$10 per box

Box sales and selection are on a first come, first serve basis

Chose any square you want that hasn't already been taken

No min/max - buy as many as you want

You can pay cash or write a check to The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society

The numbers that go along with each row/column will be randomly drawn after all boxes have been sold.  This makes it so that everyone has the same opportunity to get any set of numbers.  It also means you don't have to know anything about football as it all comes down to the luck of the draw.

$500 to the winner

$500 to The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society

Winner is determined by the FINAL score of Super Bowl XLVI

See Laura to pick your box

Better now

As it turns out I was too sick to swim on Tuesday night.  I went to the doctor yesterday and was diagnosed with an upper respiratory infection.  I started taking antibiotics right away and  already feel a lot better.  Back on the road tomorrow.

Then I entered the world of reality....

A lot has happened since my last post.  On Saturday we had a group “ride”; well actually, it was a spin class, a two hour swim orientation, and a personal swim evaluation.  Let me tell you about the swim evaluation.  I have been swimming since I was two years old.  I took lessons at a young age, and lifeguarded when I was in college.  I was so cocky and confident that the instructor would be so impressed with my skills that he would use me as an example for others to follow.  Maybe he would tweak one or two things, but that would be all I would need. 

Then I entered the world of reality.   The first humbling experience had nothing to do with my swim skills.  The instructor had us put our bathing suits on and get in a pool that he had specifically made for swim instruction.  This pool is about three feet deep with mirrors on the bottom and a video camera in the corner.  Now if I was a fit, trim triathlete it may not have been such a horrifying experience, but who wants to see a bowl of jello wobbling around in a bathing suit?  Then came the instruction.  Now during the orientation the coach told us how everybody naturally does a freestyle stroke in sort of an S shape.  Of course, I’m thinking “I don’t do that. My stroke is perfect”.  I was also thinking that I keep my arms parallel to each other and my body parallel to the ground and that my breathing technique was correct.  NOT!  It was all there in front of me, on the video, in black and white.  I have accumulated and perfected years of poor technique.  Now I have five months to get out of my old habits and create new ones.  Easier said than done.  I am as sick as a dog today, but come hell or high water I will not miss my swim with the TEAM.  I need an instructor standing over me correcting my form on every stroke.  Time to start good habits.  Wish me luck!