Whirlwind weekend

This weekend was a whirlwind. Got a call from my mother early Saturday morning she wasn't feeling well at work, I told her to go to Urgent Care. They felt she needed more medical attention and rushed her to the ER for more testing. We sat in the ER for 5 hourse just to have them Transfer her to a bigger hospital so they could do more testing.

To make things short, she woke up with dizziness, was ok after a few minutes, headed to work and felt even worse with dizziness, nausea, vomiting, blurred vision, headaches. She is doing ok. Better than yesterday thank god!!! After 14 hours of ER care, she is settled into her room in the Neuro Unit in the best Hospital in the world!!! Upstate Medical University Hospital in Syracuse NY. That place is so beautiful. They have the new Golisano Childrens Hospital up and Running and it was the most unbelievably beautiful wing. I went up to check it out and it was simply amazing to see such art and colors in array of Stars, shapes, etc. Any child would love it here despite what their problems are! Props to the people who designed this. Im Very impressed.

On the flip side, I was signed up for the Owasco flyer and since my mother was in "Stable" condition, I decided to ride it with my cycle Club, the Velo Bellas and of course my Brother-in-law.

This course has alot of challenging hills on the back side of the course with over 2,000 feet of climbing!!

I was riding with a woman, we were helping each other out after I got dropped after the first 10 miles due to people sandwiching me in on a hill and I couldnt pass. Around 20 miles my chain fell off, around 25 miles my partner went down in the ditch after trying to grab a glass of water from a volunteer. They told me to keep riding after I stopped as the marshalls were there, but I still felt bad. After all our hard work.

I managed 3rd in my age group with a time of 2:00:26. Not too shabby for a Hilly 36 mile course!!!

I then had to shower and get back to the hospital...Awaiting MRI results!!

Running Thoughts

Tonight I was running by myself. A nice 45 min run without any interruptions. I started thinking about all there is to think about during a run.

1. I wonder what the people in the car are saying when I run by them??

2. Why does my left leg drag so much?? I can pick up my right foot,
     but cannot my left. Its starting to annoy me.

3. What is correct running form?

4. Why when people are looking at you in their cars do they swerve
     and almost hit you?! Pay attention to the road!

5. I need to think of some songs I can play in my head during the running portion of my triathlon. Any thoughts?? Eye of the Tiger is one, I'm A survivor is another...

Needless to say I ran 5miles in 45 min...not too shabby...All my stress is now relieved (well somewhat)

Swells

I have finally gotten over my fear of any creepy crawlies in the water. Whether it be big fish, snakes, snails, mussels. I just kept going out into the water and one day I said to myself, if something is going to bite me it'll happen, I cannot be afraid. Since that moment of swimming alone in the water, I am not afraid.

What I can tell you I am STILL afraid of is swells. I fear when I move like crazy in the water due to swells coming at me. I fear I cannot take a breath of air, I will drown, no one will see me, etc, etc, etc. Today was one of those days. I went out for a swim with 1 other woman and 4 guys this morning. We got out to the first Can just fine, went to turn and there were the swells there to eat me alive, drag me down in the water, keep me from breathing. These are the thoughts that run through my mind!!! The guys of course are much calmer in the water than I am. I made it to the second can a few minutes after them and turned around came back.

This is what the water looked like this Morning!!

All in all I did 30 minutes with those beasts!!! I am getting there slowly. I have learned patience with swells is key. Acting like a cork in the water and letting them take you is best. Dont fight the swells. So I didn't fight this morning and made it back safe and sound!!! :)

Carefree

You forget how to run after you are 8 years old is the theory out there. So carefree before this you just run, play, and have fun with your friends. Learning this I have been watching my daughter and analyzing the way she runs. I even took a video of her beating one of her friends to the lake shore the other night. Watching her videos in slow motion trying to look at how she runs to make my running better. Who ever thought my daughter would be helping me with my running?!

Looking at her the other night so muddy, having fun, so carefree, I went out on my own 4 mile run adventure. I tried to mimic the strides my daughter has and kept playing the image of what she looked like running in my head. Needless to say, I ran my fastest 4 miler ever!!! 8:30 min miles!! I was so pleased to see that improvement. I have been trying to focus on proper mechanics and think I revelled in the glory!!! I owe it to my daughter!

Swimming and Biking

Today was the first open water swimming day for the Total Immersion group we put together through the CNY tri group and the help of Coach Karen!! We had about a dozen and a half swimmers in Green Lakes water today learning tips, techniques, anything to make them more efficient and better at swimming. I too was in the water today getting tips from the experts!! It was great fun. We swam for a total of 2 hours!! I still have a lot of technique to work on but have come a long way since last year in my abilities to swim. I am less claustrophobic in my wetsuit, I am calmer when people want to swim on top of me, a better sighter(well getting there!!) and all the other cool stuff that comes with open water swimming.

Karen worked on having high elbows, being relaxed, having a patient leading hand and how to sight. We also got videotaped which I will share when it becomes available!!

Total Immersion Swimmers

After our 2 hour swim, we hopped on our Bikes and Did the Green Lakes Triathlon Bike Leg. I rode with a newbie triathlete trying to skill her on the wonders and joys of biking, shifting, etc, etc. I love biking. I love the feel of being so free seeing the horizons in a new perspective, seeing the chipmunks run out in front of you, seeing the squirrels and birds in the trees, all of nature. Kelley (the newbie) said to me, thanks for staying with me and riding. I said to her, I want you to enjoy riding your bike as much as I do!! It should be easy to ride a bike not hard!!! Over the course of 4 years and plenty of practice and a great cycler boyfriend, I absolutely love riding my bike, hills and all!! Today was a proven fact!! I made it up the "hill" without even panting!!!

Coach Karen!! We had so much fun with her!

Random Thoughts Again

1. Why when you are already late do you get behind the slowest people as well as all the red lights??

2. I wonder how I will get all this training in working 8:30-5pm.

3. I can cook if I try. I act like I dont so my boyfriend will cook for me!! Shhh...don't tell him!

4. I am in love with Edible Arrangements at the moment! Its the Freshest Fruit ever!

5. I love my new Zoot Shoes..they make me feel fast!!!

6. Is there a magic pill for a mommy belly?

7. I have finally fell in love with swimming. Even though Im still slow. Its so calming

8. I love my road bike better than my tri bike.

9. My daughter told me today I am her best friend. I wonder how long that will last?!!

10. I am loving my old wetsuit. I thought it was too tight but I think it fits me like a glove. Just took some time getting used to.

I am swimming a 1500 meter swim this weekend and cant wait!! Race report to follow!!!

Balancing Training and Family time

One of the Hardest things for me is balancing time I spend training with the time I spend with my Fiance and Daughter. I find myself getting up earlier and earlier every morning to get in a swim, weights, whatever I need to do. I am up at 5am to get an A.M training session in and then up until 10 P.M to get a scond training session in. My weekends are the same. Getting up at 5 AM to get in a 3 hour ride before my daughter has risen from her slumber. 

I am ending my 3rd week of Half Ironman Trianing and feel as though I have not given enough effort. I think I should be training more.

Friday morning I woke up to the sun peaking through my bedroom window at 5 in the morning. I always wake up at 5 no matter what. No alarms to wake me up, just my own body telling me I cannot sleep anymore. I headed out to Williams Beach for a swim with Some other CNY triathlon members that are training for local tris in the area. The biggest being Syracuse 70.3.

The skies were clear and the wind was calm giving the 8 of us a nice conditions to swim our hearts out.

                                                                Williams Beach

I swam a good 30 min while the others swam 40min. Felt good in the water but I was having difficulty sighting because my goggles kept fogging up. I really have to work on this!!! I am also a bit worried that my new Blue Seventy Reaction Wetsuit might not be the right size for me. I followed the sizing chart but it still feels too big. Im very disapointed as I love this suit.

After a great day at work, we loaded up the car and I had a chance to sit back and let my fiance swim and daughter play. I was anxious just sitting and watching, but I needed it.

Caitlin posing at Oneida Shores

Andy coming out of the water after his swim

Some days you just have to relax and remember there is more to life than training!!