Ch-ch-changes

Ah, here we are. The start of a new year. The time of year where everyone starts reflecting on where they are in life and how far they have moved forward or backward. Usually I dread the New Year, but this year it's different. I feel different. I feel stronger. Or maybe I feel empowered? Or maybe it's confidence? Whatever it is, I like it. It's something that I haven't felt in a very long time or maybe ever. 

You wouldn't know it since I never blogged about it and hardly shared much here in the past year, but I did a lot of work on myself in the past 9 months. I had lost myself in a sea of worrisome thoughts and anxiety. I neglected to take care of myself first and it showed. I put on what I thought was a brave face and this bravado that I could do anything, but in reality everyone around me knew better. Everyone except me---until it was too much to bear and things started to fall apart {for example, remember my consistency to train for another half marathon that totally fizzled? Case in point.}. I took some time to learn more about myself and my needs and what I wanted. I learned that a little goes a long way...not just 'going big or go home'. With each piece that I chipped away at myself, I started to see that I could be the person that I longed to be. I could be the mom my sons needed, the wife that my husband missed, and the friend/sister/daughter that I wanted. 

And so, it's here: 2012. New year, new goals and first & foremost: don't bite off more than I can chew. So my first goal (and only one at the moment) for 2012 is to log 35 miles before the big 3-5. Ah, yes confession #2: I have a birthday coming up. For some it's a milestone birthday---one that comes before the big four-oh, but to me, I just can't believe that *I* will be celebrating number 35. I really don't remember my previous birthdays. Sure there were some that were more memorable than others, but this is the year that I wanted to do something that I could really be proud of. Something that *I* am doing for myself and no one else. And while it isn't going to be bragging about completing the inaugural Tinkerbell 1/2 marathon at Disneyland, well, this is the next best thing. It's doable. And that is all that matters to me right now.

As far as future goals...they're in the back of my mind. They pop up when I'm in the shower or those rare quiet moments when the kids are playing peacefully, the laundry is done and dinner is almost ready. I'll jot them down and hope to share them here as I can. In the meantime, this busy mama is ready for changes. 

Reflections of a multi-sport athlete

Yep, I can now call myself a multi-sport athlete! I started and completed the duathlon, and survived!!!

The race took place in Capitola. I arrived pretty early because I had never done this before and wanted to make sure I had plenty of time to put my bike in the transition area, go to the restroom, eat some breakfast and find my way to the starting line.

This was another Mermaid race (same organization that did the half we participated in in May), all women, sprint tri, olympic distance tri and duathlon. No big surprise, they were a bit unorganized. The duathlon athletes were told to go to the pier and stand by the Wharf to Wharf plaque, myself and many others could not find this thing for the life of us!

I was lucky enough to have my sister and brother in law at the race to cheer me on! We watched the start of the triathlons and then it was my turn! I'm not going to lie, I was super nervous.

The first portion of the race was a 1 1/2 mile run. It started straight up a hill. I don't do hills. I managed to survive and was so surprised how quickly this distance went by. It felt like I started and then was immediately running past my sister, onto the beach (it was sooooo hard to run in the sand) and then up another hill into the transition area. My transition was very easy, I don't have bike shoes, so I just had to put on my helmet and head on out.

The next portion was a 12 mile bike. No big deal, right?! Wrong. The race map showed two hills, so I was prepared for two hills. The ENTIRE ride was hilly. I'm not kidding. We rode from Capitola to Aptos and back. I struggled through this whole thing, but along the ride decided I was just going to enjoy it and take in beautiful scenery. As I was approaching the entrance to the transition area, I was going way to fast (it was downhill), was talking to my sister and brother in law and tried to get off my bike without stopping completely. No big surprise, I fell. And I considered just staying there and taking a nap. I was so done, but knew I couldn't throw in the towel. I picked myself up, laughed at myself, racked my bike and headed off for the final run.

The last portion of the race was a 2 1/2 mile run. I left the transition area and felt like I was running on jello. My legs had no idea what to do and I never did get them back. This run also went up the same hill as the first run and then we finished on the beach. Somehow I managed to get my legs moving and crossed the finish line.

The results:
1 1/2 mile run: 14:43
T1: 1:38
12 mile bike: 1:07:59
T2: 1:31
2 1/2 mile run: 25:48
Total chip time: 1:51:42

I am super proud of myself for doing this and I will absolutely do it again! I wasn't able to walk for almost a week, next time I will train for the hills!!!

How I got my groove back

I've been meaning to blog about this for the entire summer but with the craziness of summer school sessions and other things it of course slipped to the bottom of the to-do list. Last few times I've been on here has been in an attempt to help get my mojo back and try to rediscover my love of running. To be honest as the SJR race got closer and closer I grew more and more anxious and started to dread it in some ways. I knew that I really wanted to run it with April and another friend, Melissa...it was just a matter of what would happen after. I didn't really need to stress too much about it because just standing at the finish line I got my answers. The happy tears, the tears of pain, the cheers,...even seeing the pure joy on the kids running their race---it all summed it up for me. This is what I want to experience over and over again.

I took my little break after the race and jumped back into it with joining the local See Jane Run group runs. They had hired a new group leader who has several marathons under her belt and she used to teach cross-country at one of the local high schools. She was full of great ideas and advice from the get-go. I have now found myself going on these group runs every Monday and Saturday (if she's available). My other runs in between have been sporadic but at least I'm doing the two.

I won't lie in that it has been so nice to not have the pressure of training for a race looming over me. By just going with the flow of some of the other runners that meet up, I'm actually improving more than I ever thought I could. Hills? Getting more doable and tolerable. Pace? About the same but I can keep up with some of the faster ones, I just can't say anything more than a few words at a time. Strength? I can say that I have pushed myself to 5 miles a couple of times already and only once did I feel it the next day. Every other time I did that I felt like I had been hit by a truck.

So there you have it, I got my running groove back. I think it might stick around a little longer this time, too. :)

What was I thinking?

In May, I went to The Woodlands, Texas to watch my now-Brother in Law compete in the Ironman. An Ironman is a 2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike and a 26.2 mile run (yes, a marathon, after all that). To say I was inspired would be an understatement. This event was unreal. Normal people attempting this event and having to finish in under 17 hours.

**bragging moment* My Brother In Law finished in 11 hours, 45 minutes and 23 seconds. HOLY COW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ROCKSTAR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So back to the inspiration. I saw these people, normal everyday people, attempting this event. Now, I am not a swimmer, but I know I can ride a bike and I can run. By the time I left Texas, I knew I wanted to attempt a duathlon (bike/run).

I came home, found a race and signed up.

September 25, I will attempt a 1 1/2 mile run, 12 mile bike, followed by a 2 1/2 mile run. I could not be more excited! Wish me luck!!!

I'm back, baby!

One month and 12 days.

That is how long it had been since I was able to run.

Got up before the family today and headed out for an early morning run.

2.07 pain free miles.

I am back, baby!!

Injured

During the training for this last race, I started feeling a pain in my Achilles tendon. At first I thought nothing of it, tried stretching, using the foam roller, but the pain would not go away.

I consulted Dr. Google and diagnosed myself with possible Achilles tendinitis. Damn.

I decided I had come too far in my training to have someone tell me I shouldn't be running, so I put off going to the doctor.

I, obviously, ran the race and got my PR (woot woot!!), but knew I needed to be seen by a professional.

I went to my doctor, diagnosis confirmed, Achilles tendinitis. No running. Actually it was more of a "you shouldn't run because if you do, you might rupture your tendon and then you will most likely never run again". 'Nuf said.

So, here I sit. I have taken almost two weeks off. The pain has not subsided. I start physical therapy in a few weeks.

Running has become something I NEED to do. Not just want, but need. It is my stress relief, it is my first love (exercise related). Let's hope I am out pounding the pavement, pain free, very soon!

Reflections on half marathon number 4

Like April, I have started and deleted this post many times.

When I signed up for this race, I had the utmost confidence I could finish under 2 hours and cross that finish line with April.

We had months to train, started a one month cross training class, I started taking a spin class, I started doing my own core workouts at home, all signs pointed to me achieving those goal.

Then life got in the way.

I got super busy at work, the husband's hours at work got ridiculous, the kids started having more activities and, slowly, all my time for training started dwindling.

But I woke up the morning of the race with a "can do" attitude. I was going to leave it all out there, bust my butt to try and reach the goals and still aim for that sub 2.

After some hiccups at home, I made it to the race location with even more motivation to reach my goals. I had plenty of time to use the restroom, find my running buddies and mentally prepare for what I was going to do.

Turns out I had more then plenty of time as the race organizers pushed the start time back. Not just once, three times. It was cold. We were freezing and starting to get HUNGRY. I have to plan my eating so it won't cause any negative effects on my system when I am running, pushing back the start time was not going to help this.

They finally started the race and I did pretty well keeping up with April and Melissa. Then I started to see them pull away. I tried not to get down, kept telling myself to "race my own race", I had my trusty Garmin and could pace myself using that. I plugged along the most boring race course in the history of races (who the hell thought it was a good idea to have the course run along a levee of a drainage canal for 13.1 miles?!) and, even though it was advertised as a flat course, it was not. There were many many many subways under road that we had to run down and up, I am NOT a fan of hills, big or small.

I saw April and Melissa somewhere before the turn around and seeing them helped lift me up. I also saw my Aunt Stephanie not too long after that, nothing like a high five to push you along!

I continued to check my Garmin and figured I was not going to reach my sub 2 goal, but still was aiming for a PR.

As I cross the bridge at mile 12 that brings you back into the park where the finish line was, I was ready to throw in the towel. There was a strong headwind, people walking their dogs off leash so you had to avoid tripping and the finish line looked to be about 13.1 miles away.

But I pushed on and as I got to the bottom of the hill that lead to the finish line (yes, you read that right, a hill, finishing on a hill, fabulous) I saw a streak of yellow out of the corner of my eye and someone yelling "GO RACH". It was my sister's fiance, Dave. He had rode his bike from Santa Clara to see me run, amazing. Then I saw April who said "GO RACH, ITS AT 2:04!!!!". I was shocked. I kicked it into high gear and cross that finish line.

Official chip time: 2:04:45. PR BABY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

No big surprise, I cried after crossing the finish line. All my hard work and I did it.

While I have yet to start and FINISH a race with April, or get my sub 2, I knew, after all the challenges we both faced to get to that start line that Saturday morning, we were going to be smiling all afternoon.