Race Season is Here

Yes, that's right, the first triathlon of 2011 is here. In just two short days, I'll be standing on a lake shore dock wondering again why I do this. I feel ill-prepared for this race and this season in general. And that's not a good way to start out an Ironman year. Allow me to download this out of my brain, then I'll move into a more positive outlook. I didn't do as much this winter as I should have. I don't know why. Actually, yes, I do.

• Reason #1: I was lazy. Pure and simple and no way around it.


• Reason #2: I started a new job. A job that required me to change my commute around for a month, back to normal schedule for a month, then permanently to metroing to work. Nothing that is impossible to figure out, it just took a few weeks of logistics to work it out. The new job now makes it difficult to make it to morning track and boot camps and those are precisely the areas I most need to focus on. Changing my routine after four years, right as IM training begins is a recipe for missed workouts.


• Reason #3: The hike. Planning fundraisers, updating the website, tracking donations, all take a lot of time.


• Reason #4: My knees. More on that in a bit. I am more than frustrated about it though.


• Reason #5: Some family stuff that took me out of my regular and supportive weekend team environment. I really, really need the team to accomplish my goals.

My knees are killing me. I've signed up for my very first marathon, the Flying Pig in Cincinnati on May 1. This is a huge part of the IM training for me. I've never done a marathon before and wanted to get one under my belt before IM so I would know what to expect from 5:00pm to midnight on November 20. I've been increasing mileage over the past few months and have gotten steadily worse pain every time I ran. First I would just ice after a really long run. Then ice and advil after. Then advil and ice after PLUS advil before the run. On March 26, I was aiming to run 16-18 miles. I had friends staged throughout the day to meet me and run alongside to keep me going. At 10 miles, I had to stop running and walk. Unfortunately, I was still 2 miles from the car and had to walk all the way back in some pretty significant pain.

I went to the doctor on March 29 to get a referral to an orthopedic consultation. I wanted to know if my marathon, plus the hike, followed by an IM would do long-term or permanent damage. If so, I wanted to evaluate my goals for the year and come up with a long term solution. Fast forward to today and I have yet to get my appointment with ortho because of the military healthcare system. I have lost two and half weeks of training. I finally made an appointment with my other insurance company and will get some good news (hopefully) tomorrow.

So where does that leave me now? Ill-prepared for the first race of the season. This will be a good slap in the face on what NOT to do for the next few months while I focus.

And now the positives. I've commuted into work on my bike a few times. It's a great way to start and end the day especially when the weather is nice. I figured out my regular commute so I can still swim in the morning. I've had to adjust (or rather will when the Dr. clears me) when I do my weekday runs, but I have a plan for that. I still have the weekend team events which keep me focused. But, there's one more positive.

Mike is transferring. It sounds harsh, but him leaving will help me focus. I started triathlon when he transferred overseas for 18 months and it kept me really, really busy. I went to almost every workout. I need to focus on me while I'm working through IM. Sure, it would be nice to have my husband home and I sure will miss him rubbing my feet, unloading the car, doing the laundry when I'm too exhausted to move. But, training for IM requires so much selfishness that it's easier to do it when there's not someone significant in your life, even if that person knows exactly what you're going through.

Now for the positives.

1. I'll be walking during the run portion of the triathlon in the pouring rain on Saturday. Training for the IM run which will inevitably be the IM walk.


2. I'll be walking the marathon. Again, a more accurate feel of the IM marathon.


3. I've realized I've been in a slump and I see how to get out of it.

Game on.