Picked Last for Gym

Early Morning Ride

2010-06-15T06:56:00.000-07:00

This Morning we did "Tour of the Islands" as a tempo ride! It was 85 before the sun even came up. Lots of excellent hydration. There are no natural hills here, so no coasting. We are smoking up that IOP connector these days too! Riding early in the morning was great, there were fewer cars, and much less "stuff" going on on the streets!

Rest Day

2010-06-14T09:14:00.000-07:00

Rest Day is the most important day of the week! After a long bike on Saturday, Followed by a 7 mile run yesterday, I celebrated rest day by taking a long walk out with the Doggies on Sullivans. It's amazing, they are so smart, they know we turn at the sign, and they can always find station 22.5!

Things I am learning about running in the Lowcountry.

2010-06-11T10:56:00.000-07:00

The Friday run is always the hardest one of the week. I'm not really sure why. I think I will have better performance if I make Friday a rest day, or perhaps a swim day....HMMM..... This morning we were blessed to be able to run on the Cooper River Bridge. It was 82 degrees at 7:30 am. Things that Dan and I are learning as we spend our first full season here:

1. Hydration. If we are going running in the morning, we drink water or G2 all night long....Then, when we get up, we drink more! We also drink more on the run....failure to do any of the above leads to an immediate bonk!

2.Attire. None of this is pretty, none of us became triathletes to make the big fashion statement. However, it is essential to wear a "technical fabric" ok, so that's just a nice way to say polyester....cotton of any kind does not work, it's just icky.

3. Eat a snack before you go.....It helps...our bodies are working superhard to stay cool.

4. Go Easy. We have learned to run "Lowcountry" a nice,slow and steady touring pace on our long runs. We have seen a remarkable amount of the penninsula this way too!

5. Go EARLY. The sun doesn't rise until after 6pm, but stays out until 9pm...We go as early as possible.

RIDING IN THE LOWCOUNTRY

2010-06-10T12:07:00.000-07:00

So, as Diane says, every ride really is an adventure! Dan and I moved to the Lowcountry in order to maximize our outdoor time. I am lucky enough to have been swimming in the ocean since April, (without a wetsuit since May 1st). I have the Mighty Cooper River Bridge to Run on and miles and miles of scenic country roads to ride on......NOT! Actually, there are miles of roads, but riding in the Lowcountry is a challenge! First of all, the drivers here have not figured out that bicycles are vehicles. They have no concept of sharing the road. None whatsoever! Here's an example....I am riding along at 17.8 miles per hour down Coleman Boulevard, bright colors, helmet, the whole nine yards. A driver is stopped at the stop sign, makes eye contact, and drives through as if I don't exist. I have been passed on the right (where there is NO right turn lane, they just nudge me along); the rotaries are a freak show too. It's like I'm invisible. Then, there's the headwind......in Massachusetts I had crazy hills, here we have the headwind....like riding through mud, and today, I thought I saw flying monkeys! It has been an adjustment all around for us, but warts and all, we much prefer a ride through the Lowcountry to riding anywhere else on the planet!

A NEW BEGINNING - 2010

2010-06-10T11:58:00.000-07:00

After a long time away from the blog, I have decided to start this blog again after the death of my beloved cousin at the young age of 50. This year, I have decided to dedicate my season to her by fundraising for each of my races in her memory for the 15-40 connection. Only the Alzheimer's Ride (aridetoremember.org) and Komen will be excluded. I look forward to training, and sharing all of my adventures....many which are new as I have moved South....Thanks to all of my readers and cheerleaders!

Lake Waramug Triathlon

2008-07-01T09:48:00.000-07:00

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!!!

2008-06-11T06:50:00.000-07:00

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!

2008-06-02T08:25:00.000-07:00

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

2008-05-21T06:49:00.000-07:00

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

2008-05-19T09:09:00.001-07:00

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

2008-05-16T10:03:00.000-07:00

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!!!!