Swimming In The Rain...

Today was kind of hectic and we didn't get out for our swim 'till about 8:30pm. Lucky for us, the pool is empty in the evenings. Unlucky for us, that cold front had blown in and getting ready to swim in the outdoor pool was harder than normal. You wouldn't BELIEVE how much my blood has thinned since my move to Florida a few years ago. Anyway, the pool we are fortunate enough to have access to is heated, so we knew we'd manage.

And of course, we did. A little bit of a warm up, a stretch (mostly underwater because of that frigid air!) and then a 25 minute swim as cold rain began to drop on us. It had been a little while since I last swam and I missed it. That doesn't mean my stroke was fluid and lovely, it just means I missed it. Still I got into a groove enough to just count the laps and let my mind wander and wander. It's best to let the mind wander instead of thinking of the lead arms you are using to swim, trust me. Anyway, the whole thing was pretty freeing, really. I still haven't had that feeling yet biking or running, likely because swimming is second nature to me in some ways and biking and running are more like speaking a foreign language that I am far from mastering but desperately hoping to do so. All was well, save for some slight foot cramps from me and more major ones for Kate which left her hobbling around in pain in the freezing night air. We managed to get ourselves from the pool to the hot tub (the most important part of the workout, of course. All for the stretching benefits, mind you!) and discovered that it was closed for repairs. :( So instead Kate hobbled back to the car with me and it was home for a super hot super long shower, again. The best.

So while I was doing that whole lap-swimming mind-wandering thing, I thought of this blog and some things to say in it. (You mean, I HAVE been wordy enough already?! Too bad! Ha ha!) Although I have been training since September, this blog is still in its infancy and has missed out on some of the old stories that would be worth mentioning now. And I think now is the right time to mention a few of the funnier swimming memories we've had so far...

* One day, swimming in a different pool that overlooked the ocean, we saw an odd sight. It was after our warm-up and mid-stretch when we saw flames rising up into the sky. I swore it was an alien spaceship, Kate wasn't sure what to make of it. It glowed brightly in the dark night and appeared to be heading towards us for a spell which caused us to mildly panic. Well, not really, I mean we are super tough triathlon chicks, you know. Anyway, in time it drifted up into the sky and finally disappeared. We decided it was some kind of fluke object in space and figured we could name it after ourselves since we'd discovered it. Kate and I were not aware of any shuttle launches scheduled for that day, but turns out it wasn't any alien spaceship but instead a shuttle launch. Darn. There goes our fame!

* A couple of months ago we decided to jaunt out to good ole' Moss Park, the site of the race, to check out the course. We figured we'd swim, or run, or bike, whatever. Most importantly, we'd survey the scene. Of course that morning I was suffering from "the knee" pain, so running was out and probably biking too, so that left the swim. As we headed towards cool, clean, Lake Mary Jane, reality struck. No one was around really, the water was coldish, and here it was, THE PLACE WE WOULD BE SWIMMING!!! Would there be alligators, we wondered? After much hemming and hawing in ankle-deep water, we finally gave it a go to swim to one close by buoy. We weren't sure how deep it would be, and found it was about waist deep there which was laughable. We set a goal to swim for 20 minutes, I think, but only ended up swimming the small distance from one buoy to the next before stopping for a breather. Adrenaline rush and nerves made it hard to swim. That paired with the water which was was "tea colored" (which apparently means it's really clean) made it impossible to see anything. I swam mostly with closed eyes, and no, I'm not joking. Also, once when I stopped a fish bit at my leg which was nervy. We exited the water with maybe the shortest swim of our lives, but heck, at least we got OUT THERE and did it. 'Till next time...

I guess that's enough storytelling for now. There is MUCH to do on this front to prep for school. I was planning on that bike ride in the morning but there is just no time to fit that in with everything else on my plate. Don't go giving up on me now, though. Just know this: I'm human just like you! ;)

Cheers,
K

P.S. Please note if you are new to my blogs, there is an archive to the far right so you can be sure you read ALL of the enthralling blogs I've posted already. :)

Tri Fun Fact #101:
Swimming in an outdoor pool where random debris pokes at you while swimming is normal and all good. Swimming in an ocean, lake, etc. where random debris pokes you is very nerve wracking!

Running Through J-E-L-L-O

OK, I didn't mean that literally. But tonight's run kind of felt like it. :)

It has been a few days since we exercised together thanks to Thanksgiving traveling, etc. and since I'm tied up with school prep from Wednesday night on, I figured a swim for tonight and a bike tomorrow would be a good start to the week. "How about we do our long run tonight, swim tomorrow, and do an early bike ride on Wednesday morning?" Kate asked me via email. So driven. How could I possibly say no?

So tonight we ran, another 4 mile run, with Kate's dog in tow. I was mildly concerned about "the knee" that tends to irritate me post-run, but I put it out of my mind for then. Almost immediately we passed by a father and son hanging up holiday lights. They commented on our run and sent us on our way with well wishes. And did we need them. The dog did great this time, as last time she had a tendency run right in front of me and stop, as if to trip me. Not on purpose, I'm sure. Or am I? :) And us, well, we did OK. We hung in there anyway, but the run felt like running through Jello. Not as thick as solid Jello, but maybe more like partially gelled Jello. What I'm saying is that it wasn't easy like some have been. Perhaps due to the unseasonably warm weather, which was glorious during the day but at night during a run was, well, Jello-esque. Still, we plugged on.

On the way back we passed the same father-son team still working on their lights. "That's a long run" one of them yelled out. "Either that or you are slow at putting up your lights!" I joked back. They asked how long we ran for and Kate told them 4 miles and the son asked, "Do you guys do this every day?" and despite the exhaustion we both found full strength to belt out the words "God NO!"

It felt nice to have random encouragement like that...it's almost a taste to race time when there will be people everywhere cheering us on. I always feel a sense of admiration when I see someone running, exercising, working hard and sweating while I'm cruising by in a car or just hanging out on the beach. So it's nice to have someone else's acknowledgement of all of our hard work already. And it DOES make the run go by faster and easier. We've only had this once before. It was a rainy week towards the beginning of our training, and we decided to "hoof it" (as Kate has called it) despite the drizzle. We threw on baseball caps and running shoes and off we went. As our feet pounded the pavement, we passed a man walking out of his house. "You've got to be kidding me!" he exclaimed of our run. It still makes me smile to think of that...

Sigh. So I'm done. We made it, stretched, and is well. Even now, 20 minutes post-run, as I sit here covered in dry sweat, drinking my 6th cup of Gatorade, typing at the computer, the knee is STILL feeling groovy. No issues. Knock on wood.

So that's that. What awaits is the great wide open...School! Three weeks to try to squeeze exercise in despite a crammed, exhausting schedule. It all seems so easy in my mind but I know it will be difficult. Yoga these days has been taking me a solid hour and a half. Exercising after school is pretty challenging, so that leaves me, well, waking up at 5? 4:30? Ooooooo, it's going to be interesting! I still have to figure out places in Gainesville to ride my bike safely and running that doesn't involve hills...ugh...hills!

I have to figure that all of this will be much easier now that I have a blog for the world to see and the added pressure of the fundraising for AWB on my side. :) Which reminds me...things are going great on that front. I have designed some fliers and am waiting for final approval on them. I can't wait to bring some to school, put some up around town, etc. I already got one of my teachers, an acupuncturist in Jacksonville, to agree to put signs up in his office. YAY!

Man, I'm pooped. Was up at 5:30 a.m. for a hard yoga workout, a long day at work capped off by a long run. I think Monday night football and sleep are calling my name...

An Ode To Pain...And Tiger Balm

Last night we had ourselves a run. A 46 minute run.

I feel I should mention that those used to be something that seemed near impossible. I always used to define myself as a "non-runner" because, well, I wasn't. I had convinced myself that I couldn't do it, so I wouldn't really try. I figured even though I kind of wanted to be a runner but was afraid of it in some ways, perhaps my best bet would be to join the run-bashers out there. Convincing myself it wasn't good for me and my body is a nice, safe cop-out. But since there is some running in this triathlon, of course I had to sort of "become" a runner. Or try and embrace it.

Soooooo....4 months ago I decided to follow a 'Couch to 5k' running plan. In 8 weeks the plan takes you from mixed walking/running stints and works you up to running a 5k. It was a great way to go, and I'd recommend it to anyone. You can find it here: http://www.coolrunning.com/engine/2/2_3/181.shtml

And this was before my 'official' triathlon training started with Kate in September. We started together with, well, maybe 20 minute runs? And in time we worked our way up to 40 minute runs. It hasn't been easy, but we have done it.

At this point I feel I should mention that I had two good solo runs lately. You see, it is one thing to have a running buddy and support system. It almost doesn't feel like you are running, because you have distraction of another to keep you from thinking about it. Solo runs are still new to me, at least at this distance.

So about my big runs. The first was in New England, early morning in 28 degree weather, feeling my bones slam against each other every time my foot pounded the frozen ground, feeling the aching pain in my lungs from breathing in the icy air, feeling the challenge of hills (albeit little hills) as they loomed in front of me on the way out and back, and feeling the desire to have brought a tissue (or ten) along with me on that run. It was only a 30 minute run, but I did it and felt great about it.

The second run to mention was a solo run back in Florida without Kate. All along I knew I could do the runs with Kate, but I knew I needed to be able to do it without her too. So I went for 42 minutes, no problems, no worries. It was just last week. I think, I dare say, I'm becoming more of a runner. Finally.

That being said, there is still pain, folks. Oh yes. It seems that most every time I finish exercising, there is some sort of pain. Mostly a new spot every time. I feel like a 90 year old woman when I get to talking.

But I would have to say the variety keeps it interesting. And I gave this blog the title "An Ode To Pain...And Tiger Balm" in part due to inspiration gained from Sati, a fantastic yoga teacher, mentor, guru. We had a discussion in class about pain. Sure, pain is not good when it causes an injury, but it is important to examine the pain that exists that doesn't cause an injury. Is it really that bad to have a little pain? To live outside of the comfort zone of our normal lives, to push our boundaries a little is a GOOD thing. Sure I might ache a little here one day and there the next, but I am growing, changing, improving. I am making a better me. And it's not even a good thing, it's a great thing! They say to make an omelet one must break a few eggs. And yeah, I sure am doing a little egg breaking. Oh yeah.

So for now, I'll take my pain with a grain of salt. And when you find me hobbling around post-run due to knee pain, back pain, etc., and you can smell the Tiger Balm on me before you can even see me, know that it's all good. It's all good. Just as long as CVS keeps Tiger Balm stocked up on their shelves, it is all good...

First Blog: The Skinny On This Whole Thing...

Heads-up, this first post will be a long one. You expected that, right?

Whelp, you may or may not have known already that I'm doing a triathlon so I'll fill you in on the details. About 3 months ago, my friend Kate asked for help with perfecting her swimming since she wanted to enter a triathlon. After some discussion, somehow or another, we decided it would be great if we did our first one together. So Kate found us a great one that gave us just over 6 months of training time, and life was grand.

The race we're doing is a sprint triathlon for beginners like us and it's called 'The Wild Man 3' and it's held at Moss Park in Orlando, FL on March 15&16. The link is on the left side of this page... :)

Now you can look at it two ways: Either that it's a really small race (compared to Ironman events, etc. it is!) or you can look at the distance and think that this is quite an accomplishment. I prefer the latter approach. I mean, a .4 km swim, 20km bike, and 2.75 mile run (with approximately a 1.5-3 hour time of completion) is nothing to sneeze at. Couple that with the fact that (I admit, with shame) I didn't really know how to ride a bike, well, it's a big deal, man!

But lately I've been thinking that it would be better to make it an even BIGGER deal. It's great to get fit and do this for myself, but what if I could do something for others too? That's when I started looking into raising money for a good cause, and found an organization that struck a chord in my heart: Acupuncturists Without Borders, or AWB. (www.acuwithoutborders.org). The short story of this organization is this: It was founded in 2005 and, in their words, "Aims to bring compassionate and effective relief and recovery to underserved communities affected by disaster, war, conflict and poverty around the world. Utilizing community acupuncture, and working through local alliances, our initial presence in an area is devoted to overcoming the immediate effects of trauma." They helped with individuals coping from the aftermath of Katrina, for instance. Absolutely amazing. Given that I'm an acupuncture student now, I feel like this is the perfect opportunity for me to help others in the only way I can right now until I have my license and my own practice. And reading the letters of love that abound on the website, I can't imagine a better organization to sweat for and support, so they are where I put my heart and my donation, and where I will ask you to support me as well. I'm still working out the details on this, and will get back to this more I promise. Just know that I'm setting my sights high, and I won't settle for less! ;)

But anyway, back to the workouts. So for two solid months now, we've been at it. First it was building up gear, slowly. I got an old 10 speed (almost as old as me, old!) and little do-dads here and there like sassy bike gloves (which I laughed about at first but now probably couldn't live without) and such. And Kate and I have trained faithfully. Typically 5 days a week, sometimes slightly less because I'm away often for weekends doing yoga teacher training. It has not been easy to fit it into the schedule. It has not been easy to summon the strength to get the ole' body moving after a long day at the office or before diving into homework for grad school. But we've done it. So far, so good.

I have to say, I'm very thankful for Kate who has kept me on track. Big kudos to my training buddy! She's enthusiastic, energetic, devoted, organized, and fun to be around. What more could I ask for while I'm in pain and exercising, right?

Anyway, as I write this I have approximately 4 months until race time. Four more months to summon up my strength, to avoid injury, to increase my speed, to become a total superstar. And with December lurking around the corner, now is the perfect time to start a blog and get the support of all you people out there. You see, at the end of November I head back to Gainesville for 3 weeks of acupuncture school, return to New Smyrna for 2 days, then fly home to MA for a week of Xmas holiday relaxation. That means approximately 1 month of exercising solo. Can I do it? Can you cheer me on? I would love your love and support...

More to come soon...

xo,
K