I'm slowly pulling myself out of the funk of terror and into excitement. I kind of just want to get this race over with! Also...I'm kind of getting excited!
Today I woke up, went outside and was cold. It was 64 degrees this morning!!! Where did summer go? It is still officially August folks. It's not even fall yet. The fall solstice is not even until AFTER the tri! This is completely unacceptable and I demand that it get warm again. I went out at lunch and bought a long sleeved shirt!
After work today, I'm planning on running. I'm looking forward to a nice long run without worrying about my tires, my helmet, my shoes...I just want to get out there and be able to lose myself in my own thoughts. I went to a new pool yesterday, the Wilson Aquatics Center, here in DC. It took me forever to find, but it was so worth it. I couldn't believe how nice it was! They really did a great job, it was one of the nicest pools I've ever been to, DC or anywhere else. But I was thinking about how hard it is for me to just be able to think while I swim. When I'm running, I'm continually thinking about new ideas for the blog, things I need to do, planning my life, singing along to my ipod. When I'm swimming, the only thing I can do is count the strokes until I can breathe again. That pretty much takes up all my energy. And it makes it SO much more tedious. Time passes so much more quickly when you don't have to think about the same thing over and over again. I tried to think about what I could write in my blog while I was swimming, but the continuous gasping for air cut me off each time.
Still, little snippets of thought made it through anyway. I was really just impressed with this pool. The water was so clear, it had so many windows that everything was just bursting with sunlight. It almost made me understand how people could love to swim, scuba dive, in general, how people love the water. I'm definitely gaining an appreciation through this and I think I'm going to keep swimming even when I'm done training. But I don't know if I will ever love the water. When I was little, I think I was entertained by it. But I don't think I've ever been the kind of person who LOVES water. Water is more of an acquaintance of mine. We have mutual respect. I have a healthy fear of drowning; what's more, I have the waning phobia of fish. Yep. I hate what lives in the water. Seals, sea turtles, manatees, otters...those are all ok. But I don't think they will be in the Potomac. Fish, whales, even dolphins are a bit much for me. Don't even get me started on eels. I have nightmares about being trapped underwater with these creatures. Needless to say, I haven't been to an aquarium in a long time. When I was little, I took swimming lessons, but couldn't wear my glasses (obviously). This meant that I couldn't see anything, making any body of water a murky, scary place. Being able to see underwater in a beautiful pool makes me a little less fearful. But I will maintain my respect for the water in the hopes that it will be mutual on September 13th.
_______________________________________________________________________________________
STILL NEEDED BEFORE TRIATHLON
1. tri shorts - done. ordered today!
2. tri/bike top
3. GU holder for bike & run
4. water bottle holder for bike
5. new water bottle
6. bike gloves
7. new swim cap (must be pink!)
8. portable bike pump?
9. bike maintenance road kit?
10. possibly a new running hat for the mess my hair will be after swimming, biking!!
My color scheme is going to be pink...who would've guessed?!!
Monday, August 31, 2009
Friday, August 28, 2009
I AM COMPLETELY INSANE
Just made the HUGE, CATASTROPHIC mistake of looking at the Nation's Triathlon photo gallery.
WHAT THE HECK AM I THINKING!!?!?!?!?!?
These photos scared the CRAP out of me! How am I supposed to swim for a MILE?!? Goodness gracious, I have completely lost my mind. If I'm not crying, vomiting, or delirious throughout this ENTIRE race, I will consider it a success. Right now my big fear is that they will be dragging me out of the water, a deranged, babbling mess after I try to doggie paddle my way back. And then what? Only on to a terrifying bike ride of doom.
The weekend forecasts are for rain, meaning that I won't even be able to seriously train.
I am going to die. That is the basic moral of the story. There is no way that I will ever survive this and I am absolutely doubting my sanity.
WHAT THE HECK AM I THINKING!!?!?!?!?!?
These photos scared the CRAP out of me! How am I supposed to swim for a MILE?!? Goodness gracious, I have completely lost my mind. If I'm not crying, vomiting, or delirious throughout this ENTIRE race, I will consider it a success. Right now my big fear is that they will be dragging me out of the water, a deranged, babbling mess after I try to doggie paddle my way back. And then what? Only on to a terrifying bike ride of doom.
The weekend forecasts are for rain, meaning that I won't even be able to seriously train.
I am going to die. That is the basic moral of the story. There is no way that I will ever survive this and I am absolutely doubting my sanity.
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Advice for Parents
Some of you may be thinking that this is a bizarre title. I know what you're thinking: sure, she has an adorable, spoiled cat, but that does not make her an expert on parenting. He's not even toilet trained.
Also, I know what the rest of you are thinking. She had a great childhood. Her parents are great people, I know them, I've met them. But does she have to brag?
Stay with me here. Over time I've developed a list of things that are vital for parents to make sure their children learn, as it will help them later in life when they decide to do a triathlon. I'd like to share that list with you today.
Things Every Parent Should Teach Their Child:
1. How to Swim. We're not just talking about taking them in the hotel pool when they go on vacation. I mean send them off to swimming lessons when they are 6. As I spend more time honing my swimming, I've been remembering summers spent at the Ken Gril pool in Shillington, PA, learning to put my face in the water and kick. While I may not be the best swimmer, and I never was as a child either, I definitely have the advantage of at least having the basics down. I can't imagine being 23 and having to start completely from scratch.
2. How to ride a bike. Similar lines here. Every kid should know how to ride a bike. Whether they do a triathlon or just date someone who does, they will want to ride a bike. Now that we live in the age of "green," bikes are all the rage. Also we 23-30 year olds tend to live in the age of "poor," so it's better than a car.
3. How to pump air in a bike tire. This is where my parents let me down. Either they taught me and I forgot, or they never gave me this valuable talk. To make things easier, let's just blame them. Now that I live 3 hours away from them, I turn to my boyfriend to get the air into my race tires. I'm sure he loves this responsibility, especially when I call him in tears because I tried to do it myself and am then staring at the flatest of tires oozing onto the hardwood floors of my apartment.
4. How to be early. This sounds like a stupid one. It sounds like a really lame whine of a morning person trapped in a world of night owls. Ok, that is part of it. But seriously, it can help. When you start working out a 7pm instead of 6pm, suddenly you're riding your bike home in the dark. When you get to a race at 6:30am instead of 6am, suddenly you have no time to prep. When you wake up at 7am instead of 5am on a training day, well, you're out of luck for training. I still remember my dad coming into my room during the summer if I slept too late and opening the blinds. It was really annoying. But in retrospect, it was helpful.
5. How to spend money wisely. Final one on the list here and this one is key. These races that I do are not cheap. The costs of training, traveling, and racing can really add up. I've spent more than I expected to with this triathlon. But I've found some shortcuts that only came from remembering my mom asking me if I really needed the $80 jeans when the $40 pair didn't even need to be hemmed to fit my short, stumpy legs. Ok she didn't really phrase it like that...For example, my bike is a hand-me-down, 1980s racebike. It's hardcore, sure, but it's not top of the line or anything. I saved hundreds of dollars by using this bike instead of buying a new one. I've put some maintenance into it, but I would've spent a lot more if I had gotten a new one. This lesson goes both ways though. I know that there are some things that I just have to buy. Like cycling shoes (I bought them this weekend and I LOVE THEM). I'm doing this race full time. I'm not half-assing it. So I've had to spend some money.
Ok, those are some of the things I've thought of during my long runs and bike rides. I don't really think of anything as I swim, except sea monsters. Those are scary. You have to teach your kids that those don't exist too, add that to your list.
I wonder what I'll find in the Potomac?
Also, I know what the rest of you are thinking. She had a great childhood. Her parents are great people, I know them, I've met them. But does she have to brag?
Stay with me here. Over time I've developed a list of things that are vital for parents to make sure their children learn, as it will help them later in life when they decide to do a triathlon. I'd like to share that list with you today.
Things Every Parent Should Teach Their Child:
1. How to Swim. We're not just talking about taking them in the hotel pool when they go on vacation. I mean send them off to swimming lessons when they are 6. As I spend more time honing my swimming, I've been remembering summers spent at the Ken Gril pool in Shillington, PA, learning to put my face in the water and kick. While I may not be the best swimmer, and I never was as a child either, I definitely have the advantage of at least having the basics down. I can't imagine being 23 and having to start completely from scratch.
2. How to ride a bike. Similar lines here. Every kid should know how to ride a bike. Whether they do a triathlon or just date someone who does, they will want to ride a bike. Now that we live in the age of "green," bikes are all the rage. Also we 23-30 year olds tend to live in the age of "poor," so it's better than a car.
3. How to pump air in a bike tire. This is where my parents let me down. Either they taught me and I forgot, or they never gave me this valuable talk. To make things easier, let's just blame them. Now that I live 3 hours away from them, I turn to my boyfriend to get the air into my race tires. I'm sure he loves this responsibility, especially when I call him in tears because I tried to do it myself and am then staring at the flatest of tires oozing onto the hardwood floors of my apartment.
4. How to be early. This sounds like a stupid one. It sounds like a really lame whine of a morning person trapped in a world of night owls. Ok, that is part of it. But seriously, it can help. When you start working out a 7pm instead of 6pm, suddenly you're riding your bike home in the dark. When you get to a race at 6:30am instead of 6am, suddenly you have no time to prep. When you wake up at 7am instead of 5am on a training day, well, you're out of luck for training. I still remember my dad coming into my room during the summer if I slept too late and opening the blinds. It was really annoying. But in retrospect, it was helpful.
5. How to spend money wisely. Final one on the list here and this one is key. These races that I do are not cheap. The costs of training, traveling, and racing can really add up. I've spent more than I expected to with this triathlon. But I've found some shortcuts that only came from remembering my mom asking me if I really needed the $80 jeans when the $40 pair didn't even need to be hemmed to fit my short, stumpy legs. Ok she didn't really phrase it like that...For example, my bike is a hand-me-down, 1980s racebike. It's hardcore, sure, but it's not top of the line or anything. I saved hundreds of dollars by using this bike instead of buying a new one. I've put some maintenance into it, but I would've spent a lot more if I had gotten a new one. This lesson goes both ways though. I know that there are some things that I just have to buy. Like cycling shoes (I bought them this weekend and I LOVE THEM). I'm doing this race full time. I'm not half-assing it. So I've had to spend some money.
Ok, those are some of the things I've thought of during my long runs and bike rides. I don't really think of anything as I swim, except sea monsters. Those are scary. You have to teach your kids that those don't exist too, add that to your list.
I wonder what I'll find in the Potomac?
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
An Athlete in Civilian Clothing (thanks MOM!)
Yesterday, I worked from home. I was supposed to go to a meeting that was never confirmed and then I just never put pants on. So I stayed home.
In the back of my mind was my mom's voice, "I sent you a present." I love presents. Presents are fun. I'm also incredibly easy to shop for, since I like almost anything. New underwear? I'm game. A wind-up toy? Favorite gift EVER! Running sneakers? I love you, I love you, I love you! She actually had just sent me new sneakers last week (they are fantastic), so I was really surprised when she called me last week and told me that a present was coming my way.
I'm excellent at guessing gifts. Every Christmas I am prohibited from shaking because I always end up guessing. So I was pretty confident that I knew what this was. It was one of 2 things:
1. a shoe wallet
2. a toy for my cat, Dexter
Why? Because I've been bugging her for weeks about a shoe wallet (I lost mine). And because she bought my sister a cat toy for her own cat this week so I figured she couldn't resist. So all morning and afternoon, I ran up and down my apartment building's stairs to see if the mail came.
By 6pm, UPS came up and hand delivered my package, haha.
The box was not the correct size for either a shoe wallet or a cat toy, but in a traditional sense. You got me stumped, Mom. I eagerly ripped it open, confused, excited, wildly surprised. I stuck my hand in and found...a glasses case.
OH NO SHE DIDN'T!!!!!!!!!!!
OH YES SHE DID!!!!!!!!!!!!!
She sent me my very own, beautiful pair of OAKLEY SUNGLASSES!!!!!!!!!!
OMG THEY ARE SO COOL. I walked around all last night in them (I ran in the morning). They look so awesome and hard core. I go from civilian to athlete in no time. They are so perfect for my upcoming races!
Let's recap.
1. It is, in fact, possible to surprise me.
2. I look extra cool when I'm running.
3. No longer will I squint.
4. I can now run after work instead of before work.
5. I have the BEST MOM in the ENTIRE WORLD
In the back of my mind was my mom's voice, "I sent you a present." I love presents. Presents are fun. I'm also incredibly easy to shop for, since I like almost anything. New underwear? I'm game. A wind-up toy? Favorite gift EVER! Running sneakers? I love you, I love you, I love you! She actually had just sent me new sneakers last week (they are fantastic), so I was really surprised when she called me last week and told me that a present was coming my way.
I'm excellent at guessing gifts. Every Christmas I am prohibited from shaking because I always end up guessing. So I was pretty confident that I knew what this was. It was one of 2 things:
1. a shoe wallet
2. a toy for my cat, Dexter
Why? Because I've been bugging her for weeks about a shoe wallet (I lost mine). And because she bought my sister a cat toy for her own cat this week so I figured she couldn't resist. So all morning and afternoon, I ran up and down my apartment building's stairs to see if the mail came.
By 6pm, UPS came up and hand delivered my package, haha.
The box was not the correct size for either a shoe wallet or a cat toy, but in a traditional sense. You got me stumped, Mom. I eagerly ripped it open, confused, excited, wildly surprised. I stuck my hand in and found...a glasses case.
OH NO SHE DIDN'T!!!!!!!!!!!
OH YES SHE DID!!!!!!!!!!!!!
She sent me my very own, beautiful pair of OAKLEY SUNGLASSES!!!!!!!!!!
OMG THEY ARE SO COOL. I walked around all last night in them (I ran in the morning). They look so awesome and hard core. I go from civilian to athlete in no time. They are so perfect for my upcoming races!
Let's recap.
1. It is, in fact, possible to surprise me.
2. I look extra cool when I'm running.
3. No longer will I squint.
4. I can now run after work instead of before work.
5. I have the BEST MOM in the ENTIRE WORLD
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