Beginning Week #3

Who says I can't swim?!

So far, so good! Now that I'm immersed in triathlon-land, I wish I'd started this earlier so that I could do more triathlons this season. Typical of me to want to bite off more than I can chew. A sprint tri is honestly the best start for me, especially as I am developing my swimming skill. Swimming is making more sense these days, and I am emphasizing my glide, learning to breathe correctly and feeling stronger in the water. I still can't figure out how do to those little under water flip turns at the end of a lap. I do a forward flip and get water up my nose. Sweet.

My trainer (B.) kicked my ass thoroughly on Saturday. I had the wise idea to ride to CDM, train, and ride home. I survived, barely. There's no comparison for a trainer. New ideas, new philosophy, new ferocity. No weights. No gym. No running shoes. No breaks. No excuses. 

I stripped my bike of the pannier rack and am pricing out clip-less pedals and shoes. It looks leaner and lighter already! Silly, yet every ounce less my fat ass has to pedal, the easier it will be. Speaking of fat-asses...I bought a tri suit on sale this weekend at REI. I make it a point to avoid negative self-talk but whoa I do not look my cutest in a grippy, clingy, spandexy tri suit that squeezes my thighs like a half-empty tube of toothpaste. Needless to say, I'm very much looking forward to losing some weight and to seeing a slimmer, stronger, healthier version of myself come September.

Lastly, I got bike shorts. Padded, spandex, mid-thigh bike shorts. My nether regions are now looking forward to longer rides, instead of fearing them. That's all I'm saying.


Things I still need:
- clip on aero bars ($80-$100)
- clip-less pedals ($30-$50)
- bike shoes ($80-$100)
- sockless tri running shoes ($100)
- body glide whooohoooo! ($10)
- race number belt ($10)
- second bottle & mount for bike ($10)
- flat tire kit for bike ($30)


Training I want to do:
- bike maintenance seminar (I, uh, um, don't know how to change a flat) (free)
- open water swim training in June ($65)

I figure the pedals and shoes are a good investment, I can take them with me to my next bike. I'm not ready to shell out that kind of money for a bike yet, but one day, I will. All in all, it's not that much money, right? Better than spending my money on a lot of other things detrimental to my health.

Training Week: 2

Bike. Swim. Run. Stretch. Eat. Sleep. Repeat.

I'm settling into a nice training rhythm and tapping into my network of active friends to assist with training and advice! My swimming needs help. I contacted a friend from high school who coaches swimming and asked for assistance. I feel embarrassed of my lack of swimming finesse, but the only way I will improve is by accepting where I'm at and asking for help. Funny how that lesson runs through my life in various areas. Cycling is natural for me, although I am looking at modifying my existing bike to increase performance and speed. I don't want to spend too much on upgrades when I will eventually buy a road or tri-specific bike, but I do feel that a few modifications will go a long way.

In my process of asking resourceful friends for help, I called upon one of my oldest friends who is a progressive personal trainer and currently getting his degree in Kinesiology. Through our conversations about training my body for this triathlon naturally, holistically, and injury free he has convinced me try barefoot running. My knees have been plagued by injuries after ten years of full contact martial arts. The skydiving and hiking that followed those years have compounded the pain and damage. After hiking for years with minor foot issues (hot spots, blisters, small aching) my feet are now miserable in any hiking boot or hiking shoe. My body is confused, angry and in pain despite increased spending on higher technology equipment. In response to these failed attempts, I'm giving nature a shot.

When running barefoot, there is no heel-strike. Here is an excellent video showing the light, springy landing of barefoot running as opposed to running with shoes on. The human body was designed to use our feet as our support system. Strong, healthy, flexible feet are vital to strong, healthy, flexible ankles, legs, hips, back, and our entire body. I'll let you know how it goes. For those of you interested on the topic check out : http://www.barefootrunner.com .




I am planning on my first open water swim on June 5th. I have to pick a day so I don't avoid or prolong it. No expectations, except getting in the water. The more you subject yourself to something you are afraid of, the less fear is generated around it. There's so many lessons hitting home during this training, I keep surprising myself with where else I can apply the logic. Fear. Change. Commitment. Belief in myself. Asking for help. Humility. Being kind to myself. Patience. Hard work. Studies show the more you use a muscle or perform a new habit, the stronger it gets. My hope is that as my training parallels my life I will source the courage to make sweeping changes in my professional life as well.  

"Fear tells us what we have to do...

The more scared we are of a work or calling, 

the more sure we can be that we have to do it."  

(My sister left this quote on my desk the other day, thanks buddy!)

Triathalon #1

This blog has become the Everything Else section and I'm quite alright with it that way. Welcome to my newest endeavor, a triathalon! I haven't completely lost my mind, I'm only doing 'sprint' distance of .5 mi swim, 15 mi ride and a 3 mi run. My weakest sport is swimming. Swimming in the ocean, double whammy. Swimming in the ocean, surrounded by hundreds of swimmers? Yikes. Swimming in the ocean with hundreds of swimmers and sharks/monsters/deadly seaweed/etc...? I'm scared!




I've never been a strong swimmer, despite the swimming lessons we had as children. The water has terrified me as long as I remember. The ocean, in all of it's sheer power, is a force not to be reckoned with. Years ago, I felt the urge to surf. I bought all the right stuff and dove right in with the help of a friend. While I loved surfing, the workout, the peace, the bliss and the saltwater, the fear of the ocean eventually drove me back onto dry land. Every time I'd eat it on a wave and get tossed around I'd panic. My mind reverted to being very small, very powerless and riddled with fear. I'd come to the surface spewing water and near tears.




It's easy to say that I'm just not good at something and to give up. I'm no longer satisfied with that. Millions of people swim, surely, I can too. I began swimming in the mornings with a girl friend who has it down a bit. I'm still sputtering and flailing, but I'm finding a rhythmic and meditative joy in the pool. Swimming is hard work physically, and I'm enjoying the balanced and non-impacting workout I'm receiving. I haven't died yet in the pool, and I'm going to make damn sure I make it through the swim portion in the triathalon. Not only that, but I'm going to have to do training swims in the ocean.




I'm continuing to face my fears, re-write my personal story without limits as opposed to believing the limits that have been placed upon me, and glean as much experience as I can from each day of life.