withdrawal

I think I'm going through training withdrawal. Now that the race is over, I really don't have to make myself get in the pool, get on the bike, go for a run. You know.

But I actually want to do all those things - and I can't! My leg injury is apparently a strain of some sort to my "I.T. Band". A friend of mine who is knowledgeable in all things muscular showed me a picture of it in her muscle/anatomy book last night. It's a long muscle-y, bone-y sort of thing that runs along the outside of your leg from your hip to your knee. And it's giving me a fit.

I went on a nice little 12 mile ride yesterday, and Bam! I get off the bike and hobble to my kitchen for an ice pack. Damn.

I know I need to take it easy and let it heal. I just don't want to lose my momentum. I'm sure swimming would be okay...but swimming in the ocean while on vacation next week is not an option. Blame it on Jaws.

So, a week's vacation it is. Hopefully that will be long enough so I can get back at it when I get home!

you won't know until you tri

Well, I did it. I finished the race!

It was so much fun - much more fun than I anticipated. A beautiful day, warm water (about 72 degrees), cow bells, a cheering crowd, and words of encouragement throughout each stage.

Stage 1: a half-mile swim. Surprisingly to me, this was my best event. I remember thinking

upon entering the water, "how can I be swimming so fast?" It must have been adrenaline. I set a personal best for time. I'm not saying it was easy, but I did it, and did it pretty well!

Stage 2: a 17.2 mile bike. I don't really have a good biking picture. Finished five minutes faster than I anticipated. Excellent!

Stage 3: A 4.9 mile run. Here I am getting ready to head out on the course. I was confident this

was going to be my best stage, but actually, I ended up with a weird, sharp pain in my knee about a mile in. So, it took me a little longer than I would have liked, but you can bet I ran across that finish line!

(I'm not the one on the leash. As you can see, they're going the wrong way.)

While I am relieved it is over, I am proud of myself for this accomplishment. I proved to myself that when I put my mind to something, I can really do what I set out to do. A good lesson for many areas of life, I think.

Finally, here I am with my friend Dustin - who talked me into doing this crazy race. It was the first triathlon for us both - and something neither of us thought we'd ever do. Lucky for us we have great spouses and friends who encouraged and helped us along the way. And who took us out for a well-deserved cheeseburger and beer after the race!

the countdown begins

8 days until the rubber meets the road. And the body meets the water. And the pain begins.

I am excited! I am nervous! I am tired of training!

Focus for the next, let's say, 6 days. Swimming. I do not want to drown. Nor do I want to breast-stroke the whole time. Why must a 1/2 mile feel like an eternity when you're in the water?!

The very best part...the following weekend I leave for a week at the beach. I'd say a very nice reward for all of my hard work, no?