Completing #29: Complete a triathlon.

I did it!!! I finished a triathlon. Without walking! And within the tentative time goals I had for myself. =) I can't believe I did it! Given my nerves for the three days before, I think I did pretty darn well. AKA I finished, which is more than I was anticipating at 10:30pm the night before the race. I came in 5th for my age group and 108th overall (out of something over 450 people). I swam in about 15 minutes (partially because I waited to start until most of the pack was aways ahead of me... I didn't want to get kicked in the face and drown). I biked in about 48 minutes and ran in 30. Not too bad considering my goals were to swim in under 20, bike in 45, and run in 30! Other than that, I suppose the best way to tell the story is with pictures so I'll put it in slideshow form. Enjoy!

Next year's goals include swimming in 12 minutes, biking in 40, and running in 27. I think I can do it! =) I also want to swim out in front with the big dogs. So... here's to 12 months of working on my swim confidence! And to finishing #29: Complete a triathlon. =)

Almost at #29: Complete a triathlon.

Well, I'm here! My dad & I drove out to the west side of the state this morning & found our campsite. Correction... I drove us out to the west side of the state. In the motorhome. AHHH! But we both survived and so did all other drivers on the road. Several butterflies and two caterpillars' lives are in question but all in all, the world isn't much worse off post-Sarah-driving.

So, we arrived, sat around, and at 3:30 we headed for the triathlon park. I registered and checked out the lake (which was being buoyed up and let me tell you... those buoys are a LOT further than they're supposed to be). My dad and I biked part of the route just to get a feel for it and then headed back to meet up with Dana.

We got her registered (even if it did take a full hour). Then was Multisport 101 which was basically a class with a guy that stood up there and said everything that I've read in books over the past year but did a MUCH better job of making me feel a lot better about my decision to do this stupid thing.

I take that back. Sort of. I DO question my decision but this isn't a stupid thing. It's a potentially stupid decision but it's a huge scary big thing (right now at least). It's 9:13pm the night before and given the 5a.m. wakeup time, I should probably get to sleep.

I got some Lift Off today from the Herbalife store that Kelsey's parents run. Her dad got me hooked and now I'm super stoked to drink it tomorrow. Hopefully it's enough to clear my head and calm my nerves while giving me the energy to stay alive through the entire 32 mile swim (I swear those buoys are WAY more than 500 meters).

Pray for me! And Dana! And all of the mommies that are doing it too because I know their little ones would be so sad if something bad happened. And for everyone because I seriously don't know how anyone could ever get GOOD at this.

That's all for now... expect a SUPER excited Sarah if I do this thing and a super not excited Sarah if I don't! Hopefully tomorrow will involve a post titled "Completing #29." And hopefully my hands will be steadier when I go to type it than they are now!

Failing at #29: Complete a triathlon

God just wants to make this triathlon as near to impossible as He can! At the beginning of April it was discovered that I had an abdominal hernia. I've had it for two years but just played it off as a recurrent muscle knot. Finally it got too painful and was refusing to go away sooo I mentioned it to my mom who tentatively diagnosed it as a hernia. Go figure -- not a muscle knot. Doctors at UHS and U of M confirmed via exam & ultrasound and low and behold, I needed surgery. I met with the surgeon on a Monday and four days later was in the OR getting my tummy cut open and all sorts of things sewed together.

It went well -- I was able to walk later that day, and thanks to Brian, walked every single day thereafter. But I'm on activity and lifting restrictions until June. AKA I can't run, rollerblade, swim, bike, or lift more than 10 pounds for what feels like forever. This basically sucks for triathlon training because by now, I've probably lost all the strength and endurance I'd built up. When I'm allowed to move again, I'll have exactly 12 weeks to train. Typically having at least 16 weeks is necessary so we'll see how it goes. I'm hopeful that I'll be able to bounce back pretty quickly (as soon as the rest of my tummy wakes up from surgery! We're having problems still. =( blah). My goal now is to just finish the triathlon... screw placing. I just want to be able to do it!

Registering for #29: Complete a Triathlon

So I'm officially registered for The Triathlon.

It's perfect.

8/28/2010: Perfect for many reasons. It's my grandpa's birthday, as well as that of my childhood idol Shania Twain. It's at the end of the Summer, so I have the whole season to train and it's not awkward to take time off from work. It'll be warm... including the water!

All Girls: Meaning no pressure, and more friendly competition. =)

Newbie Class: the night before the triathlon, to teach all us first-timers what to do.

Kalamazoo: not too far from home but far enough that it'll be an adventure.

Basically it's gonna be epic. I'm stoked. And kinda freaking out. But at least Dana's doing it with me!!! Now to convince Brian that it's not worth watching...

Back at it: #29 Here I Come

Just 2 days after I began training again following the broken foot, I stress fractured the other foot. Blah. But that's just not normal. So I went to Tortoise and Hare, the running store, and talked to a very nice employee who assessed how I walk and everything. He said I have great shoes -- they're the same ones he trains in -- but that my arches cause the top of my foot to take all of the impact when I run. The shoes I have are great but the material they're made out of gets really hard when it's cold. So basically, when I run in the cold, I'm running on rocks and the tiny bones in the top of my foot take all of the impact. I guess that explains why those little bones break after a few miles. SO he fitted me with inserts that will absorb the shock and told me to avoid hardcore training for a week or two.

Thus, it's ellypticals, walking, and lots of weight training for the next couple of weeks until stress fracture #2 heals up. Thank goodness for SarahJoy. We go to the gym every day & whoop it. I feel SO much better now that I'm back at it.

Also, my bathing suit is in the mail. Can't wait to start swimming. =) June 19, 2010 here I come!!!

Failing at #29: Complete a Triathlon

Go figure. That 11 mile run resulted in me being in a cast and out of commission for at least 3 weeks. They let me choose between a real cast and a removable one, however, and although I was tempted to ask if they had Power Rangers or Ninja Turtles for the real cast, I went with the strap on boot. Blah. Not only does it do very little for the pain... it SQUEAKS! Super loud! Try walking through the hospital with that thing on... the world will hate you. =P Keeps things interesting though. And my friends always know where I am.

So another week or two until I find out if it's a tendon or a break. Hopefully it's just the tendon and I'll be able to run in a couple of weeks. I'm missing some great running weather. =(

Working on #29: Complete a Triathlon

Last night I hardcore trained for the triathlon... on accident. The plan was to do my usual 3 mile trail. But a mile into it, I decided I was bored of that and wanted to do a longer jog instead. So, I stretched, changed my music from hardcore pump up rap to slow girlie songs, and set out.

Then I realized I didn't know where I was going.

So, in my usual random fashion, I opted to do something crazy. I was going to let crosswalk lights determine my route.

In hindsight, this may have been a bad idea. However, it was extremely relaxing at the time. I ended up, in a very roundabout way, past the stadium. And, in a very roundabout way, made it home. I ended up going over 11 miles. At 7:30 minute mile pace.

You may not understand the speed of that run. When I was in cross country, 8 minute miles made varsity. 7 minute miles won first place. How the heck did I manage 7:30 minute miles for over 11 miles!? I may never know. But my body is pissed.

My knee (the one that doctors left metal in when I was 10) is screaming, and my foot is even angrier. Not sure what's wrong there. It seriously feels like I've got some broken bones on the top, although I highly doubt it. I didn't do anything that would break a bone.

Not to mention that I'm cramping again. It's been like a week. Come on uterus - work with me here. I can't handle you ditching your lining every two weeks. What happened to the every 30 day schedule we've had worked out for the past 7 years? Yeesh.

Anyway, I digress. Point is, I tried to run tonight and made it a mile and a half with quite a huge amount of pain. So I'm home. Bike riding tomorrow instead. I wish I had my swimsuit - that'd be perfect in this situation. And I need to start training for the swimming portion anyway.

Yay triathlon!