What I have given up to do triathlons

What I have given up to do triathlons:

1.   Early retirement – I am on the Freedom 85 plan now.  You would think that once you own your bike and a wet suit you are good to go.  Not quite.  My friend Elaine figured out what it cost her to train for Ironman Lake Placid in 2011.  Now Elaine drove to Lake Placid so there was no airfare and she stayed at a campsite so her accommodations were not as expensive as a hotel but it still equated to nearly $9,000.00.  This includes the additional classes (spin, swimming), increased visits for chiropractor, massage, coaching fees, ironman registration, apparel – running shoes, bike shoes, helmet, etc.  It is not an inexpensive sport.

2.   Stilettos – now this really hurts.  Being a statuesque 5’3”, I really rely on my heels.  I really love those babies but because I put on alot of muscle training for ironman, from behind in anything over a 2” heel I look like a cross dresser or transvestite.  I followed someone in the underground last year with a short skirt and very defined calves and thought to myself that they must work out alot.  When he turned around, I saw the adam’s apple.  It is not just my imagination either.  When I was in Florida this year, I put on a pair of 5” stilettos to prove my point and Patty and Karen nearly wet themselves laughing.  Patty even took pictures. 

3.   Tall boots – see no. 2.  My calves get so big that I can’t zip my boots up anymore.

4.   Cap sleeves – Once again, not just my legs bulk up training for ironman.  I get what my friend Michelle calls “Popeye Arms” and I can’t get my arms through any blouses that have cap sleeves or any shirt from Suzy Shears.  There is that ominous ripping sound and I know it is no sleeves until after ironman.

5.   Snowboarding – Having duck’s disease (my ass is too close to the ground), I have a low centre of gravity and am quite a good snowboarder much to the amazement of my son Ethan.  Last year, I did not heed Coach Paul’s advice and I went snowboarding.  Well I hit a patch of ice and dropped right onto to my ass.  Despite ample padding I nearly broke my tailbone and was off training for over a month.  I could barely walk for 2 weeks.  Coach Paul said definitely no snowboarding this year.  He said after May 19^th, 2012 (Ironman Texas), I can snowboard as much as I want. In that respect, I am not too bothered by the mild winter this year.

6.    Lifting – It is funny when people know you are an ironman because then they assume you just walk around lifting cars for the hell of it.  Personally, I don’t.  I have had a weak back for about 30 years.  In addition to duck’s disease, I have small dog syndrome.  In my mind, I am 6’3” and can carry my own body weight.  In reality I lift stuff way too heavy for me and I pay the price.  For 22 years I have hauled boxes of documents around at my office and for the last 13 years I have carried my son.  Not lifting my son Tavis for me is like not having my morning coffee.  I have trouble functioning without it.  I have carried that little guy around since birth and to not be able to lift him now breaks my heart.  But I do compensate.  I lie on the floor with him and watch movies, I dance with him in his wheelchair, and I crawl into bed with him at night to talk and listen to his books on tape.

7.   Vacuuming – yahoo.  See no. 6.

8.   Gardening – See no. 6

Next blog read about what I have gained by doing triathlons.

Lisa

Well Monday is here again.  I am at that stage of my training where the weekends go by so quickly that I don't feel like I actually had one.

Saturday morning I was on my bike at the Whitby Rec Centre for 5 1/2 hours.  Mentally and physically, it was a tough one.  It was hard to get back on my stationary bike after cycling in Florida for a week.  I watched "The Sentinel" and another mystery that I can't remember right now.  Ron stopped in for a chat after his spin class as well as Elaine.  My new little buddy Laura stopped for a visit on her way to swim class - she was worried because I was not there last week - so she filled me in on what was happening with her.  For about a 4 year old child, she has an astounding vocabulary and she likes to use it.

Sunday was my long run.  I am training for Around the Bay at the end of March so my mileage was 26 kms.  Next Sunday I will do 28 and then finally 30 kms the day of the race.  I do not get a taper week because Ironman Texas is looming about 9 weeks away.

We started out with 4 - Susan, Elaine, Christine and myself.  Christine and Elaine are both limited right now by injuries.  Chris did the first 10 kms with us, and Elaine did 20.  We loop back to Chateau Typert because there is always nutrition available and we can fill up our water bottles.  The last 6 kms Sue and I were on our own but as the two of us are distance/direction challenged we ended up putting in another 8 kms instead of 6 and then it was hot tub time.  It was a gorgeous day and so nice to not have to run in the snow.

Sue and I have learned that we need to do our long runs together.  I am amazed by my friend John who goes out on Sundays and does his long runs/walks all on his own. I don't have the mental strength to do that.   Sue and I are social people with limited attention spans and I seriously cannot keep myself amused for 3 hours while I am out running, even with my i-pod.

Then it was into Mom mode and I hit the grocery store on the way home.  I sat down for a minute and got caught up watching the "Hoarders" marathon.  That always inspires me to knock the big lumps off from my own house.  So I puttered and cleaned for a while, laid on the floor and watched "Tigger" with Tavis, and actually finished unpacking my bag from Florida.

So its Monday again and I am on my trainer tonight and in the pool.  I have learned that the trick is to never sit down.  Once I sit, I am done for.  I thought I would have some time to relax after Ironman Texas but for some odd reason I signed up for the Mont Tremblant half ironman 5 weeks after I get back.  Okay, I am going to have to push my relaxation time to July.

Still alive and training

Well, I certainly have been a little remiss in posting to my blog.  In my defence, my training days are getting longer and I was in Florida last week.

My week in Florida was great.  I was training at the National Training Centre in Clermont, about 30 minutes outside of Orlando.  It was the third week of Coach Paul's camp and only Karen Charpentier and I were there that week.

It was a fabulous training week.  With the indoor bike training, it is difficult to guess if you are training hard enough - I am putting in the ass time on my bike and I know I am pushing myself but will it be enough.  I was glad to get outside on my bike.  I cycled the Green Swamp trail, around Lake Minneola and through the state park.  Everyday we swam in the pool at the NTC and the pool is amazing.  We also did weights most days at the NTC.  The week gave Coach Paul and I an idea of where I am in my training and what I need to work on before Ironman Texas.  The weather was gorgeous and the training was hard.

By about Wednesday, I was missing my boys - especially Tavis.  The twins are 13 now and Ethan sees me as the ATM machine and taxi cab service.  But my Tav Man, he is still my biggest fan.  He does not understand why I am gone away, he just knows I am not there.  I talked to him a couple times on the phone but I still missed him desperately.  Tav came to the airport to get me and held my hand all the way home.  I think he thought I was going to leave him again.

Last night was my monthly weigh in and I lost 8 lbs including two more lbs of body fat.  I have the guidance of my friend and nutritionist Christine to thank for that. 

Saturday night was snooker night for some of the triathletes and I was overjoyed to see my friends Shawn and Michelle there who are doing Ironman Texas as well.  They are two of the most entertaining people I have ever met and I know we are going to have a blast in Texas.

Lisa