Lake Waramug Triathlon

I did another one. This was actually my key race, the one I dreamed about. It was supposed to be kind of flat, a great race for beginners.....NOT!!!! About a week before the race, I get an email from Endureit Multisports (who by the way put on and EXCELLENT production). They changed the race course, with start, transition and finish on top of a Mountain. I mean Mountain. We're talking the last three miles on the bike were straight up, people were walking their bikes up the hill, it was so intense. And having grown up in Connecticut, and being familiar with the OLD race course, I thought how bad could it be. The run, was through the woods, on trails, then straight downhill for one mile, then one mile up (the same sucky hill) and then....up hill and down throught the finish shute!!!! And finish I did, but it sure wasn't what I was expecting!!!! It should be noted, open water swim, no problem!

OPEN WATER SWIM - AGAIN!!!

So, it's like this....I finally get used to the lake, swimming in the lake, the weeds, the smell, the not feeling myself breathing, the wetsuit, etc....and what happens - the Town closes the beach to treat for weeds. Not that I'm eager to jump into some kind of chemical dumping ground mind you because those weeds are quite hearty but - I had to go back to the pool - and much to my surprise, I hated it!!!! Now it's a nice pool. There's a nice clean locker room, they even provide a nice clean towel, there's a bathroom - Nope, I want to be back in the lake. There's something about being in the lake - even in the rain - yeah I did that too - which brings me back to my childhood. Hopefully, I'll be back in soon.

My husband finally crashed!

My husband has started training with me! I bought him a road bike for father's Day with clip in pedals!!! I did all of the education about handsignals, clip in, clip out ***like peewee herman - and he's been doing great! yesterday, we were riding up a hill, and my chain fell off - which sucks. I had to stop short, and alas, he fell!!! (he was fine). However he has new respect for the clipped in thing! On another note....The open water swim seems to be getting a little better, I swam 800 yards and lived to tell about it (actually, lived to go for a 10 mile bike ride) so I was very happy. We will see what happens tomorrow, only 18 days to the Waramug Triathalon!!!!!

The dreaded open water swim

Yesterday was the dreaded open water swim. I jammed myself into my wetsuit, and met my hearty team mates @ Lake Chauncy (which is a pond - go figure). Our coach, a former coast guard medic lead us into the very cold water, where I learned about something called the mamalian diving reflex (which basically means your body shuts down from hypothermia) - I had such a major melt-down, I couldn't feel myself breathing, and I didn't like putting my face into the icky water, but I did it. A good time was had by all, I thawed out in the hot tub at the club afterward. I'm going to get to do it again on Friday.

Marlborough Lions

Well, I thought it would be a good idea to do another sprint yesterday. I decided that I would do the Marlborough Lions Triathalon. 250 yd swim, 9 miles on the bike, 5K run. I had a good swim, a great bike, oh boy, not so good of a run. My hip hurts sometimes, and I do get tired by the end of this whole thing. So, I came up with a plan....The course was very, very hilly. I decided that I would run on the flats, walk up every hill, and run down hill. It kind of worked, my time was ok, but I sure wish I was a little better at the run. Hopefully, it will come. I went running this morning, and that was better, so I have to keep plugging.

Welcome

I started this blog as a forum for those of us baby boomers who are now for the first time in our lives, becoming athletes. I whipped myself into shape (and hopefully will stay that way) after my daughter was born in 2004. I am currently training for and have completed two sprint triathalons. One of my coaches is an elite athlete, and she started her own blog detailing her training for the Iron Man Florida. While her blog is chock full of interesting and useful information, and fun - I am hoping to collect and compile the anecdotes of others who have begun training for triathalon, marathon - or you name it sports!!!!