I've been staying away from the blog lately. Not that I don't have anything to say, but it's hard for me to find the time to write.
I've been very busy personally, and mostly professionally. I'm currently into a big business project, and starting up demands a lot of time, effort and dedication.
I want to keep up with the training, but the last three weeks I didn't do anything. It has to stay a priority in my life if I want to remain healthy. If I'm not training, I don't feel good, if I don't feel good, I'm not productive in other areas of my life.
So yesterday I did some single leg drills on the trainer. It wasn't too painful, and today I'm fine. Not bad considering I haven't done anything in a couple of weeks. Today, I'm hitting the gym and the pool. I usually hate starting, but once I'm in I don't want to stop!
Hopefully, soon it's going to be more than just maintenance training. In January, I should get a date for the next Forester's Big Swim for Arthritis. I'm doing it of course, and I'm hoping to be faster than last year for the 5000m. Can't wait to have a precise goal!
Without goals, it's hard to keep going!
Wednesday, December 05, 2007
Friday, November 02, 2007
Keep going
So yesterday was my infusion of biologics at the hospital. It went well, but today I feel very tired, heavy and lifeless. With a headache in bonus. Nothing new. It always does that. The difference is that I'm trying something new. I slept 9 hours instead of 14, like I'd usually do. It was really hard to kick my butt out of bed this morning, but it's a great improvement over my previous "days after infusions".
I don't think sleeping the extra hours helped, because it used to take me about a week to get back to a normal sleeping routine after that. So now I'm trying to continue life as normally as possible and see how it's going to be. I don't feel any different than the other times, I don't feel more tired because I didn't sleep as much. I feel tired as usual.
The cool thing is that I've been following my training plan this week, even though I was not feeling at my best before the infusion. Yesterday, before going to the hospital, I hit the gym and the pool. I think this is a good combination for me, as the stress put on my joints by the weights is relieved once I get in the pool. And it makes me feel sooooo goood!
Today I feel it in my muscles, a sign I did something right. It's not crazy painful, just enough so I know I'm getting something out of it. I'm currently trying to convince myself that the easy 30 min biking on the trainer on Zone 1 is a great idea. It is! Really. As I said before, once I'm moving I feel good....so maybe at least I could accomplish something today.
So I guess, I'm just going to fill my bottle of water, put some gatorade powder in it, and once that is done, might as well setup the bike on the trainer...
I don't think sleeping the extra hours helped, because it used to take me about a week to get back to a normal sleeping routine after that. So now I'm trying to continue life as normally as possible and see how it's going to be. I don't feel any different than the other times, I don't feel more tired because I didn't sleep as much. I feel tired as usual.
The cool thing is that I've been following my training plan this week, even though I was not feeling at my best before the infusion. Yesterday, before going to the hospital, I hit the gym and the pool. I think this is a good combination for me, as the stress put on my joints by the weights is relieved once I get in the pool. And it makes me feel sooooo goood!
Today I feel it in my muscles, a sign I did something right. It's not crazy painful, just enough so I know I'm getting something out of it. I'm currently trying to convince myself that the easy 30 min biking on the trainer on Zone 1 is a great idea. It is! Really. As I said before, once I'm moving I feel good....so maybe at least I could accomplish something today.
So I guess, I'm just going to fill my bottle of water, put some gatorade powder in it, and once that is done, might as well setup the bike on the trainer...
Wednesday, October 31, 2007
Fighting my Demon
Tomorrow I will have my next biologics infusion. It's about time. Fall temperatures in Canada are not very forgiving for people living with Arthritis. Some doctors say that those suffering from Rheumatoid Arthritis aren't affected by weather changes, etc... I can tell you it affects me!
This week was not easy. The last week before my infusion I always feel the effects of my medication (Remicade) wear off. This means I wake up in pain in the morning, I have no drive to do anything, even things I know will make me feel better...
Monday was the worst. I just couldn't get up. I had dreams about pain, and woke up in pain. Not a very good night of sleep. It doesn't happen so often, but I have to remember that this is normal for me, during fall. I hate waking up depressed, not wanting to do anything but lie down and hope it'll get better.
Most of the time, I know what to do to feel better: just do, don't think. But it's hard. Getting started is the hardest. It's painful, I feel like I have no energy, no will. Being in pain takes a lot of energy from a person by the way. It is tiring. But once I've started, my focus is on accomplishing something, and my attention goes away from the pain. I have to remember that it is one of the best ways to feel better: Just DO.
I think it applies to most people in a lot of situations, being physical pain or mental demons. Sometimes we don't put our focus in the right place to be able to move forward. We look at our past or current situation, overanalyze, and we are stuck running in circles.
All that is needed to go to the next step, is simply to take that next step! How you do it doesn't really matters, you can always improve along the way. But waiting until the stars are aligned, waiting to feel better mentally, physically, etc. will just prevent you from experiencing, learning and improving.
This applies to my situation. Yes I have arthritis, but I'M NORMAL. I just have "some issue" that prevents me to move forward sometimes, like other people have demons. I have to remember that the best way to get over my demon is to move forward and DO. At least, if I don't feel much better physically, I will have the satisfaction of accomplishing something.
This week was not easy. The last week before my infusion I always feel the effects of my medication (Remicade) wear off. This means I wake up in pain in the morning, I have no drive to do anything, even things I know will make me feel better...
Monday was the worst. I just couldn't get up. I had dreams about pain, and woke up in pain. Not a very good night of sleep. It doesn't happen so often, but I have to remember that this is normal for me, during fall. I hate waking up depressed, not wanting to do anything but lie down and hope it'll get better.
Most of the time, I know what to do to feel better: just do, don't think. But it's hard. Getting started is the hardest. It's painful, I feel like I have no energy, no will. Being in pain takes a lot of energy from a person by the way. It is tiring. But once I've started, my focus is on accomplishing something, and my attention goes away from the pain. I have to remember that it is one of the best ways to feel better: Just DO.
I think it applies to most people in a lot of situations, being physical pain or mental demons. Sometimes we don't put our focus in the right place to be able to move forward. We look at our past or current situation, overanalyze, and we are stuck running in circles.
All that is needed to go to the next step, is simply to take that next step! How you do it doesn't really matters, you can always improve along the way. But waiting until the stars are aligned, waiting to feel better mentally, physically, etc. will just prevent you from experiencing, learning and improving.
This applies to my situation. Yes I have arthritis, but I'M NORMAL. I just have "some issue" that prevents me to move forward sometimes, like other people have demons. I have to remember that the best way to get over my demon is to move forward and DO. At least, if I don't feel much better physically, I will have the satisfaction of accomplishing something.
Thursday, September 06, 2007
Be Thankful
I’m currently sitting on a comfortable hospital chair, getting an IV to treat a debilitating disease, rheumatoid arthritis. It’s amazing that just 5 days ago I was racing in a triathlon. It’s incredible how I feel right now.
I have to come here at
I wouldn’t be planning for next year’s racing season. I wouldn’t be able to ride for 2 hours, or even simply enjoy a walk on the beach with my husband and the dog playing around.
I know because I’ve been there. I’ve been stuck to my bed, not able to get up, not because I didn’t want to, but because my joints didn’t want to. I’ve been suffering from walking for only 15 minutes, or even just standing in one of the many line-ups the city life brings us.
I’ve been crying from desperation, wondering why it was happening to me, why no medication worked and doubting it was worth even fighting for. Remicade came at a right time in my life. I was ready for a change, not only on the medication side, but also in the way I took care of myself. I know Remicade is a big part of it, but at the same time I started to trust my capacities, take a better care of myself, by eating better, drinking less and exercising. I also have to give credit to my husband, whose support made a huge difference, and still does.
Yes I still have some bad days, but they are comparable to the good days from 5 years ago! As long as I don’t forget this, I will be happy.
I don’t need to win a triathlon (or relay, or Aquabike), I just need to be there. Body and soul. Being able to be there is the greatest gift I have. And it doesn’t just apply to triathlons. It applies to every single aspect of my life. Everybody should realize that they are lucky to be able to do whatever they’re doing.
Be Thankful.
Wednesday, September 05, 2007
Race Report - Guelph Lake 2 Triathlon
Saturday September 1st was the Guelph Lake 2 Triathlon.
It took me a while before writing this report, and I still don't know how to start. There are a lot of things to say, I just don't know how to put it in words right now. I suppose I just have to start and hope that the words will come.
Before I go into the details of the race, let's just say that me and my teammate weren't really ready for this one. He had a bad fall and hurt his back the week before. Not so good for running. As for me, I didn't really know what to expect. I knew theoretically, what would be happening during the swim, the transition, and the biking part. But I also knew that theory and reality are two different things, and you can't really know how you will cope with them until you are face to face with the different scenarios.
Something I didn't know was the bike course. The registration said rolling hills, fast course, so I figured it shouldn't be too bad! Fortunately, I went on a car ride on the morning of the race to have a look, so I wouldn't get surprised by hills, or whatever I would consider as a difficulty.
Don't worry, I'm not making any excuses for the race, I'm happy with the results and was not disappointed at all.
So my husband, the dog and I arrived at the race venue around 7:30am. I wanted to make sure I would have time to register, get my transition ready, and relax before the start. The venue was great, well organized. As for the temperature, the air was a cold 12C (54F) at the start of the race, and 18C (65) on the bike. And the water was a nice and warm 72F, so no worries about the swim being canceled this time! I was glad I could finally get my first real "Aquabike" race ever!!!
I got to transition. I setup my bike, got my helmet, bike shoes, socks and sunglasses neatly ready, and by 7:45 I was waiting for my teammate Neal to arrive, to get through registration. He called at 8:00am saying he took a wrong turn and wasn't so sure where to go. I tried not to stress too much about it, and trust his orientation skills. At 8:15am he showed up. Just enough time to get the race kit, get body marked, go one last time to the restrooms, put on the wetsuit, get my good luck kiss from my husband and jump in the water for a warmup as the first waves were starting.
The Swim
As I get into the water, the first thing I think is: I don't think I needed a wetsuit! Oh well, at least it's good practice for the transition! Then, walking to the start (it was a start in the water), I hit my big left toe on a big rock!! ouch! It really hurt, but I tried to ignore it, I had to concentrate on my swim. So here you go, our wave is called, and as I tried to seed myself, and get some space around me for a start, the horn goes off, and everybody throws themselves in the water and try to survive that first 100m. One women in the first row, right in front of me, started the race walking, when there was 4 feet of water! So I had to swim around her, bump into a couple of people and squeeze between two swimmer who weren't swimming straight.
After 200m it started to clear. Just as I was getting into a good tempo, one guy behind me decided it was a good idea to grab my ankle and pull it to help himself move forward. I tried really hard not to get frustrated about it, I knew it could happen, so I just sped up a bit and got out of reach. After that it was uneventful, going around the buoys wasn't so bad, and I think I did a pretty good job of swimming straight. My only issue, was that I didn't really know when to start sprinting to the end, or if I should have been sprinting at all. Oh well...I got out of the water in about 16 minutes (I'm not sure exactly), and started to run (or jog/walk) for the transition.
Distance: 750M Time: 18:10 (includes walk to transition) Rank: 10/17
Transition 1
The run/jog/walk to transition was rather long, at least for me, and it was also uphill. It took me almost 2 minutes to get to the timing mat at the start of the transition. I was also breathing hard and was starting to think that a sprint to the finish of the swim was not a good idea in a triathlon. I've been used to sprints at the finish in swimming competitions (a looooong time ago!). I got there anyway, and had already stripped the wetsuit below my bottom when I got to my bike. I sat on the ground to take it completely off. I figured I would loose too much time trying to keep my balance to take off my wetsuit, put my socks and shoes on, so I just sat. I struggled a bit with the wetsuit at my ankles, but it finally was off. I didn't wipe anything, there was nice grass to wipe the feet on the way up. Got ready, grabbed my bike, and I was ready (or not) for the bike course!
Time: 2:40 Rank: 16/17 (but it was a relay, so most people weren't really transitioning after all)
The Bike
That's the part where I'm a bit confused. I think I lost some focus, I think it kicked my but, and I think I could have pushed more.
There were challenging hills for me, but I climbed them all, and didn't hurt too much. The fact that there wasn't much pain is probably the reason I think I could have pushed some more. Also, I was not gasping for air as much as the last (and first) triathlon I did. My nutrition was good, I didn't feel a low in energy, no cramps, no upset stomach, nothing! Even my joints were in good shape! I guess I was expecting some sort of pain, because the first tri I did was painful, and it was on a flat course!
I passed some people, most people passed me. But I saw a couple of people walking their expensive bikes up some hills, and that made me feel a bit better. Sorry for the walkers, I think it's great that they're in triathlons anyway. :) I used the aero bars for about 90% of the time, and felt very comfortable riding aero. I made some last minute adjustments to my bike the week before, and it paid off. The only problem is that it was so hilly I had to change gears quite often, and had to get out of aero every time. Aero shifters are definitely an upgrade I'll get soon! Nothing special happened on the bike, except that I wasn't fast enough to my liking.
Distance: 30km Time: 1:08:18 Rank: 14/17
My Husband and the dog Cheering for me (or checking how long it took me) :o)
Transition 2
I got to the dismount line, unclipped my bike without a problem, and ran through transition to the bike rack, where somebody racked their bike on my spot! My bag was still there, but I suppose they liked the idea of the closest more convenient spot! I probably lost 10-20 secs there because I fumbled with the bike to get it racked successfully. Then my teammate was gone for his run.
Time: 1:21 Rank: 16/17
The Run
The run went well for my teammate, considering his bad back. He was lucky enough to run at the same pace than a 3 times Ironman finisher, recovering from an injury. That gives some boost! He was able to finish his longest run ever, a 7km, without making his back worse, and enjoying his day!
Distance: 7km Time: 47:37 Rank: 17/17
Overall: 2:18:04 Rank: 16/17
Whoohoo! Not Last!!
All in all, we're pretty happy with the result, and we had an amazingly nice day! Oh and I won a t-shirt. Too big for me of course, they never carry x-small, so it's my husband's now! He's starting a collection. :oP Anyway, I'm starting to think about the possibilities for the next season. Sprint, Olympic for sure, Half Iron as an Aquabike if possible. As for the toe, it was red for two days after that, and it was hurting. At least it didn't turn blue! I was limping quite a lot, but it's back to normal now. I didn't feel it at all during the race.
It took me a while before writing this report, and I still don't know how to start. There are a lot of things to say, I just don't know how to put it in words right now. I suppose I just have to start and hope that the words will come.
Before I go into the details of the race, let's just say that me and my teammate weren't really ready for this one. He had a bad fall and hurt his back the week before. Not so good for running. As for me, I didn't really know what to expect. I knew theoretically, what would be happening during the swim, the transition, and the biking part. But I also knew that theory and reality are two different things, and you can't really know how you will cope with them until you are face to face with the different scenarios.
Something I didn't know was the bike course. The registration said rolling hills, fast course, so I figured it shouldn't be too bad! Fortunately, I went on a car ride on the morning of the race to have a look, so I wouldn't get surprised by hills, or whatever I would consider as a difficulty.
Don't worry, I'm not making any excuses for the race, I'm happy with the results and was not disappointed at all.
So my husband, the dog and I arrived at the race venue around 7:30am. I wanted to make sure I would have time to register, get my transition ready, and relax before the start. The venue was great, well organized. As for the temperature, the air was a cold 12C (54F) at the start of the race, and 18C (65) on the bike. And the water was a nice and warm 72F, so no worries about the swim being canceled this time! I was glad I could finally get my first real "Aquabike" race ever!!!
I got to transition. I setup my bike, got my helmet, bike shoes, socks and sunglasses neatly ready, and by 7:45 I was waiting for my teammate Neal to arrive, to get through registration. He called at 8:00am saying he took a wrong turn and wasn't so sure where to go. I tried not to stress too much about it, and trust his orientation skills. At 8:15am he showed up. Just enough time to get the race kit, get body marked, go one last time to the restrooms, put on the wetsuit, get my good luck kiss from my husband and jump in the water for a warmup as the first waves were starting.
The Swim
As I get into the water, the first thing I think is: I don't think I needed a wetsuit! Oh well, at least it's good practice for the transition! Then, walking to the start (it was a start in the water), I hit my big left toe on a big rock!! ouch! It really hurt, but I tried to ignore it, I had to concentrate on my swim. So here you go, our wave is called, and as I tried to seed myself, and get some space around me for a start, the horn goes off, and everybody throws themselves in the water and try to survive that first 100m. One women in the first row, right in front of me, started the race walking, when there was 4 feet of water! So I had to swim around her, bump into a couple of people and squeeze between two swimmer who weren't swimming straight.
After 200m it started to clear. Just as I was getting into a good tempo, one guy behind me decided it was a good idea to grab my ankle and pull it to help himself move forward. I tried really hard not to get frustrated about it, I knew it could happen, so I just sped up a bit and got out of reach. After that it was uneventful, going around the buoys wasn't so bad, and I think I did a pretty good job of swimming straight. My only issue, was that I didn't really know when to start sprinting to the end, or if I should have been sprinting at all. Oh well...I got out of the water in about 16 minutes (I'm not sure exactly), and started to run (or jog/walk) for the transition.
Distance: 750M Time: 18:10 (includes walk to transition) Rank: 10/17
Transition 1
The run/jog/walk to transition was rather long, at least for me, and it was also uphill. It took me almost 2 minutes to get to the timing mat at the start of the transition. I was also breathing hard and was starting to think that a sprint to the finish of the swim was not a good idea in a triathlon. I've been used to sprints at the finish in swimming competitions (a looooong time ago!). I got there anyway, and had already stripped the wetsuit below my bottom when I got to my bike. I sat on the ground to take it completely off. I figured I would loose too much time trying to keep my balance to take off my wetsuit, put my socks and shoes on, so I just sat. I struggled a bit with the wetsuit at my ankles, but it finally was off. I didn't wipe anything, there was nice grass to wipe the feet on the way up. Got ready, grabbed my bike, and I was ready (or not) for the bike course!
Time: 2:40 Rank: 16/17 (but it was a relay, so most people weren't really transitioning after all)
The Bike
That's the part where I'm a bit confused. I think I lost some focus, I think it kicked my but, and I think I could have pushed more.
There were challenging hills for me, but I climbed them all, and didn't hurt too much. The fact that there wasn't much pain is probably the reason I think I could have pushed some more. Also, I was not gasping for air as much as the last (and first) triathlon I did. My nutrition was good, I didn't feel a low in energy, no cramps, no upset stomach, nothing! Even my joints were in good shape! I guess I was expecting some sort of pain, because the first tri I did was painful, and it was on a flat course!
I passed some people, most people passed me. But I saw a couple of people walking their expensive bikes up some hills, and that made me feel a bit better. Sorry for the walkers, I think it's great that they're in triathlons anyway. :) I used the aero bars for about 90% of the time, and felt very comfortable riding aero. I made some last minute adjustments to my bike the week before, and it paid off. The only problem is that it was so hilly I had to change gears quite often, and had to get out of aero every time. Aero shifters are definitely an upgrade I'll get soon! Nothing special happened on the bike, except that I wasn't fast enough to my liking.
Distance: 30km Time: 1:08:18 Rank: 14/17
My Husband and the dog Cheering for me (or checking how long it took me) :o)
Transition 2
I got to the dismount line, unclipped my bike without a problem, and ran through transition to the bike rack, where somebody racked their bike on my spot! My bag was still there, but I suppose they liked the idea of the closest more convenient spot! I probably lost 10-20 secs there because I fumbled with the bike to get it racked successfully. Then my teammate was gone for his run.
Time: 1:21 Rank: 16/17
The Run
The run went well for my teammate, considering his bad back. He was lucky enough to run at the same pace than a 3 times Ironman finisher, recovering from an injury. That gives some boost! He was able to finish his longest run ever, a 7km, without making his back worse, and enjoying his day!
Distance: 7km Time: 47:37 Rank: 17/17
Overall: 2:18:04 Rank: 16/17
Whoohoo! Not Last!!
All in all, we're pretty happy with the result, and we had an amazingly nice day! Oh and I won a t-shirt. Too big for me of course, they never carry x-small, so it's my husband's now! He's starting a collection. :oP Anyway, I'm starting to think about the possibilities for the next season. Sprint, Olympic for sure, Half Iron as an Aquabike if possible. As for the toe, it was red for two days after that, and it was hurting. At least it didn't turn blue! I was limping quite a lot, but it's back to normal now. I didn't feel it at all during the race.
Friday, August 31, 2007
Getting Ready for the 2nd one
I got good news! My triathlon teammate's back didn't protest too much on his last run, and he thinks he'll be able to do it! I was really glad when he told me, although I hope he's not pushing it, and I've stressed many times that it was ok if he didn't feel up to it.
So tomorrow is the day (arggg)...and I know I'm not ready. I don't feel in great shape right now. I didn't for the entire week. And I didn't train as much as I should have.
I know I'll be able to finish, I can cover these distances without a problem. But it'll be slow. Also, I don't know the bike course. I will find out tomorrow morning. They say fast, rolling...The last (and only) triathlon I rode, it was totally flat. No need to change gears except 2 or 3 spots on the course. The problem is that I can't change gears when I'm in the aero position (that's going to be the next upgrade I get on my bike). I'll see how it goes.
As for the swim, I've had a good swim this week, where I averaged 2:01/100m, and I'm hoping to be around that or better this time. Hopefully I can go under 2:00/100m for long distance, for the first time since the high school swimming club! I'm not so worried about the swim...Last time the swim was canceled due to the water being too cold (56F). This time we should be good.
Here's the forecast: 9:00am 13C (55.5f) sunny, wind 10km/h. I don't know about the water temperature, but I think it's going to be pretty good, we've had a good weather and no rain lately, and other lakes around are good.
I'm not nervous, in fact probably not enough. I'm not ready, but I'll go for it, it's going to be another experience. I think the best thing that's going to come out of it is that I'll get a better idea of how to train and be ready and plan for the next season.
So tomorrow is the day (arggg)...and I know I'm not ready. I don't feel in great shape right now. I didn't for the entire week. And I didn't train as much as I should have.
I know I'll be able to finish, I can cover these distances without a problem. But it'll be slow. Also, I don't know the bike course. I will find out tomorrow morning. They say fast, rolling...The last (and only) triathlon I rode, it was totally flat. No need to change gears except 2 or 3 spots on the course. The problem is that I can't change gears when I'm in the aero position (that's going to be the next upgrade I get on my bike). I'll see how it goes.
As for the swim, I've had a good swim this week, where I averaged 2:01/100m, and I'm hoping to be around that or better this time. Hopefully I can go under 2:00/100m for long distance, for the first time since the high school swimming club! I'm not so worried about the swim...Last time the swim was canceled due to the water being too cold (56F). This time we should be good.
Here's the forecast: 9:00am 13C (55.5f) sunny, wind 10km/h. I don't know about the water temperature, but I think it's going to be pretty good, we've had a good weather and no rain lately, and other lakes around are good.
I'm not nervous, in fact probably not enough. I'm not ready, but I'll go for it, it's going to be another experience. I think the best thing that's going to come out of it is that I'll get a better idea of how to train and be ready and plan for the next season.
Tuesday, August 28, 2007
DNF?
I realize I didn't update my blog to let you guys know I'm going to do my second sprint this coming Saturday.
750m Swim (hopefully!)
30km Bike
7km Run
For those of you who know me, you already know that I'm doing it in relay with a teammate, because I can't do the running part. I do the swimming and biking, he runs.
I think I might DNF on my next race this coming Saturday. Unfortunately my partner fell and hurt his back last weekend...The good thing is there's nothing broken, but he has had back problem in the past and this made it just worse. He's not sure if he'll be able to run.
I was not too disappointed. Of course I wanted to do it and finish, but accidents happen, and his back is much more important than a little race. I really hope he gets better soon! He told me he would see how he feels later this week, but so far it doesn't look good.
I can't get a refund, so I'll take it as a good practice and another feel of the triathlon vibe. Just please, please, pretty please, I want my swim this time! Cause if it's turned into a DU, than it's all for nothing, and a $100 down the drain is also pretty annoying...
I'm ok with a DNF, but at least, let me do what I can do!!!
750m Swim (hopefully!)
30km Bike
7km Run
For those of you who know me, you already know that I'm doing it in relay with a teammate, because I can't do the running part. I do the swimming and biking, he runs.
I think I might DNF on my next race this coming Saturday. Unfortunately my partner fell and hurt his back last weekend...The good thing is there's nothing broken, but he has had back problem in the past and this made it just worse. He's not sure if he'll be able to run.
I was not too disappointed. Of course I wanted to do it and finish, but accidents happen, and his back is much more important than a little race. I really hope he gets better soon! He told me he would see how he feels later this week, but so far it doesn't look good.
I can't get a refund, so I'll take it as a good practice and another feel of the triathlon vibe. Just please, please, pretty please, I want my swim this time! Cause if it's turned into a DU, than it's all for nothing, and a $100 down the drain is also pretty annoying...
I'm ok with a DNF, but at least, let me do what I can do!!!
Monday, August 20, 2007
Race Report (my 1st!):Toronto Island Triathlon
My thoughts are all over the place right now. This is why I didn't write earlier.
So here's an account of my first triathlon competition, at the Toronto Island Triathlon on August 18, 2007.
The day started really well. Of course I didn't get enough sleep, but I was up in no time. I didn't feel too tired, but I knew it could have been better.
It was a sunny, crisp morning, or I should say a chilly 10C (50F) at 5:30am. My gear was ready, I packed, reviewed and double-checked all that was needed. If you know about my story, you already know that I can't run. So at least I didn't have to pack the running gear. I have a friend who started running last year, and I asked him if he would do the relay with me. I would do the swimming (750M) and biking (30km), he would do the running (7.5km).
He jumped in, even though at the time we registered, which is about 3 weeks before the race, the furthest he ever ran was 5km. Two total newbies having no clue what they're getting into. Sounds like a fun day! :)
Because we had to take a ferry to the island , we didn't know how long it would take, how the line-up would be, and how quickly they would "process" the athletes. We waited about 45 minutes in the line for the ferry. The ferry ride was about 10 minutes. The walk to the race kit pickup, bib pickup, marking, chip pickup was another 10 minutes, the wait to all of these was close to 30 minutes. All the extra time we thought we had didn't seem much now.
While we were waiting in line, a race volunteer started to tell everybody that the winds turned and the water was really cold (56F). Now that is cold. I swam in the lake before at that temperature in June, and it was far from being comfortable, and after 20-25 minutes I had to get out of the water. But I knew I could do it. The race officials strongly suggested all triathletes should change their registration to Duathlon. The juniors were racing earlier today, and 2 of the athletes had to be pulled off the water. I still wanted to swim.
Further in the line, an announcement comes up: the swim is cancelled!! ARGGGG! At that point I was really disappointed. My mind was set on experiencing the transition between the swim and bike, and I also wanted that swim badly, probably more than the biking part. But the worst part is that my partner would have to do most of the work now! And he was not prepared for it, in his mind it was one run and done.
I have to give him tons of credits, he didn't seem to hesitate and decided to go for it! Two 5km in the same day would be an awesome accomplishment! There was no time for disappointments anymore. Just get ready, setup my bike in transition, wait in line (another one) for the portapotties.
Our start was at 9:30, and I was able to look at my teammate go and come back from the turn around. After that it was my turn to get ready. I went to transition and put my gear on. And started to stress a little bit. I realized that if he did a smokin' time I wouldn't have much time to be ready. My heart rate was at 134 already, and I was just waiting!! I took a power gel (now I know it's too sweet for me), some water, and was ready to go.
I decided to use my camelbak for water, as I don't feel comfortable reaching for bottles just yet. I didn't fill it too much, to make sure it wouldn't weight too much on my back. It ended being good for me, I couldn't even feel it during the ride.
So, having all my gear on, I waited about 2 minutes for my partner to arrive in transition. He did great, but I didn't really have time to find out how he felt, as I grabbed the chip, put it around my ankle and ran out of transition.
Running in the grass with a bike and biking shoes was something new for me. I think I did ok. At least I didn't trip, fall or both. I've seen a couple of people having difficulties at the mount/dismount lines, and I was a bit scared of that part, especially because I'm still not used to the clipless! I ended up doing just fine, and from that moment, I kept smiling and enjoying the day!
The first loop, for me was really to get used to people all over, passing (many, many of them passing), and me passing 1 or 2 bikers (on MTB) I averaged 28km/h, and I was a bit disappointed, as I was expecting 30km/h. There was some wind, but I don't think it affected me that much. I just didn't seem to have much fuel.
I also tested the aero bars for the first time! I hear you, it's kinda weird, to try aero bars for the first time ever in a race environment...For my defense, I didn't ride my bike a lot (not enough) before, and it was a course without cars, so I went for it. I saw the difference in speed. I was now around or above 30km/h.
The second loop was about adaptation and pain. At that point I realized that you have to get used to the aero position. My back was really fine, it seems my core is strong enough for the position. Fortunately, the adjustments I did to my bike earlier last week seem to have solved a nerve problem I had in my right hand. I didn't feel any tingling, or numbness.
The problem was my private parts! It was really painful. I think I will have to bring my seat back a bit downwards, to alleviate the pressure. Every bump was torture. So I started getting out of aero every 5 minutes to get out of the saddle for temporary relief.
By that time, I was also starting to breathe hard, and felt like I needed more energy. So I had another power gel, about 45 minutes after the 1st one. Immediately I started burping and didn't feel quite good for about 5 minutes. It seemed to settle down as I started my third-and last-loop.
My last lap was definitely the best. I felt (and was) fast, strong and powerful. Still nothing compared to all the people passing my at 34km/h or more, but I passed maybe 10 bikers on that lap. Of course they were most likely doing the duathlon on their own, but for me it's still a victory. :oP
I arrived at the dismount line, unclipped one foot, stopped (I can't do the bike still rolling thing), and dismounted. The guy next to me was not so successful and crashed. I ran through transition with very wobbly legs, it was the first time I experienced that, not running, I don't do bricks! I gave the chip to my teammate, and off he went.
He did great and finished on his two feet! :o) Congrats to him!
We knew we were far from being competitive, we both just started to exercise seriously last year, and weren't necessarily consistent throughout the year. Nonetheless, we are not last in our group! 7/9, which was enough to make both of us really happy! All the credit goes to my partner, as he charged into the challenge and did something he wouldn't have imagined doing the day just before.
The good news is, I think he's hooked. And that's from one of the first who told me I was crazy to get into the world of triathlons :oD As for me, well, I asked him if he would do another one before the end of the season, so I can put my swimming and biking together :o) It might be on September 1st, I'll get the confirmation later on this week.
I have to say that even though we're at the back of the pack, I feel like I won a million. Only a couple of years ago, I would never have imagined even doing a 30km ride without crying from pain in my joints. Just the waiting in line before the event would have killed me! Now, two full days after the race is over, I can tell that my joints have decided to collaborate with me, and that I'm in much more control of my body than ever before. I take this as a very important victory, and I'm determined to keep it that way!
I suppose you want to know how long it took us. Here it is, but let me warn you, if you are anything above the back of the pack, it will look awfully slow! But I don't mind, it's just going to be a definite PR next year! :oP
Run1: 30:01
T1: 0:48
Bike: 1:00:35
T2: 0:53
Run2: 32:58 (includes a stop at portapotties, and stretching)
Here is what I learned:
-Powergel is not good for me. Find another one that is less sweet
-The aero position should be practiced.
-I still have some adjustments to do on the bike
-I need to do speed work. My legs are fine, but my lungs and heart were out of sync (avg HR 164, for an avg speed of 29.7 didn't seem very good).
-Keep smiling! (which I did!)
In conclusion, I had a blast, and even though it wasn't as it was supposed to be, I want to do it again, and I want to plan for next year!!
Here are a couple of pics:
The team
Getting my first body marking
The Start
Getting ready in transition
Out of T1
Smiling after my successful mounting
Last Lap!
The finish
So here's an account of my first triathlon competition, at the Toronto Island Triathlon on August 18, 2007.
The day started really well. Of course I didn't get enough sleep, but I was up in no time. I didn't feel too tired, but I knew it could have been better.
It was a sunny, crisp morning, or I should say a chilly 10C (50F) at 5:30am. My gear was ready, I packed, reviewed and double-checked all that was needed. If you know about my story, you already know that I can't run. So at least I didn't have to pack the running gear. I have a friend who started running last year, and I asked him if he would do the relay with me. I would do the swimming (750M) and biking (30km), he would do the running (7.5km).
He jumped in, even though at the time we registered, which is about 3 weeks before the race, the furthest he ever ran was 5km. Two total newbies having no clue what they're getting into. Sounds like a fun day! :)
Because we had to take a ferry to the island , we didn't know how long it would take, how the line-up would be, and how quickly they would "process" the athletes. We waited about 45 minutes in the line for the ferry. The ferry ride was about 10 minutes. The walk to the race kit pickup, bib pickup, marking, chip pickup was another 10 minutes, the wait to all of these was close to 30 minutes. All the extra time we thought we had didn't seem much now.
While we were waiting in line, a race volunteer started to tell everybody that the winds turned and the water was really cold (56F). Now that is cold. I swam in the lake before at that temperature in June, and it was far from being comfortable, and after 20-25 minutes I had to get out of the water. But I knew I could do it. The race officials strongly suggested all triathletes should change their registration to Duathlon. The juniors were racing earlier today, and 2 of the athletes had to be pulled off the water. I still wanted to swim.
Further in the line, an announcement comes up: the swim is cancelled!! ARGGGG! At that point I was really disappointed. My mind was set on experiencing the transition between the swim and bike, and I also wanted that swim badly, probably more than the biking part. But the worst part is that my partner would have to do most of the work now! And he was not prepared for it, in his mind it was one run and done.
I have to give him tons of credits, he didn't seem to hesitate and decided to go for it! Two 5km in the same day would be an awesome accomplishment! There was no time for disappointments anymore. Just get ready, setup my bike in transition, wait in line (another one) for the portapotties.
Our start was at 9:30, and I was able to look at my teammate go and come back from the turn around. After that it was my turn to get ready. I went to transition and put my gear on. And started to stress a little bit. I realized that if he did a smokin' time I wouldn't have much time to be ready. My heart rate was at 134 already, and I was just waiting!! I took a power gel (now I know it's too sweet for me), some water, and was ready to go.
I decided to use my camelbak for water, as I don't feel comfortable reaching for bottles just yet. I didn't fill it too much, to make sure it wouldn't weight too much on my back. It ended being good for me, I couldn't even feel it during the ride.
So, having all my gear on, I waited about 2 minutes for my partner to arrive in transition. He did great, but I didn't really have time to find out how he felt, as I grabbed the chip, put it around my ankle and ran out of transition.
Running in the grass with a bike and biking shoes was something new for me. I think I did ok. At least I didn't trip, fall or both. I've seen a couple of people having difficulties at the mount/dismount lines, and I was a bit scared of that part, especially because I'm still not used to the clipless! I ended up doing just fine, and from that moment, I kept smiling and enjoying the day!
The first loop, for me was really to get used to people all over, passing (many, many of them passing), and me passing 1 or 2 bikers (on MTB) I averaged 28km/h, and I was a bit disappointed, as I was expecting 30km/h. There was some wind, but I don't think it affected me that much. I just didn't seem to have much fuel.
I also tested the aero bars for the first time! I hear you, it's kinda weird, to try aero bars for the first time ever in a race environment...For my defense, I didn't ride my bike a lot (not enough) before, and it was a course without cars, so I went for it. I saw the difference in speed. I was now around or above 30km/h.
The second loop was about adaptation and pain. At that point I realized that you have to get used to the aero position. My back was really fine, it seems my core is strong enough for the position. Fortunately, the adjustments I did to my bike earlier last week seem to have solved a nerve problem I had in my right hand. I didn't feel any tingling, or numbness.
The problem was my private parts! It was really painful. I think I will have to bring my seat back a bit downwards, to alleviate the pressure. Every bump was torture. So I started getting out of aero every 5 minutes to get out of the saddle for temporary relief.
By that time, I was also starting to breathe hard, and felt like I needed more energy. So I had another power gel, about 45 minutes after the 1st one. Immediately I started burping and didn't feel quite good for about 5 minutes. It seemed to settle down as I started my third-and last-loop.
My last lap was definitely the best. I felt (and was) fast, strong and powerful. Still nothing compared to all the people passing my at 34km/h or more, but I passed maybe 10 bikers on that lap. Of course they were most likely doing the duathlon on their own, but for me it's still a victory. :oP
I arrived at the dismount line, unclipped one foot, stopped (I can't do the bike still rolling thing), and dismounted. The guy next to me was not so successful and crashed. I ran through transition with very wobbly legs, it was the first time I experienced that, not running, I don't do bricks! I gave the chip to my teammate, and off he went.
He did great and finished on his two feet! :o) Congrats to him!
We knew we were far from being competitive, we both just started to exercise seriously last year, and weren't necessarily consistent throughout the year. Nonetheless, we are not last in our group! 7/9, which was enough to make both of us really happy! All the credit goes to my partner, as he charged into the challenge and did something he wouldn't have imagined doing the day just before.
The good news is, I think he's hooked. And that's from one of the first who told me I was crazy to get into the world of triathlons :oD As for me, well, I asked him if he would do another one before the end of the season, so I can put my swimming and biking together :o) It might be on September 1st, I'll get the confirmation later on this week.
I have to say that even though we're at the back of the pack, I feel like I won a million. Only a couple of years ago, I would never have imagined even doing a 30km ride without crying from pain in my joints. Just the waiting in line before the event would have killed me! Now, two full days after the race is over, I can tell that my joints have decided to collaborate with me, and that I'm in much more control of my body than ever before. I take this as a very important victory, and I'm determined to keep it that way!
I suppose you want to know how long it took us. Here it is, but let me warn you, if you are anything above the back of the pack, it will look awfully slow! But I don't mind, it's just going to be a definite PR next year! :oP
Run1: 30:01
T1: 0:48
Bike: 1:00:35
T2: 0:53
Run2: 32:58 (includes a stop at portapotties, and stretching)
Here is what I learned:
-Powergel is not good for me. Find another one that is less sweet
-The aero position should be practiced.
-I still have some adjustments to do on the bike
-I need to do speed work. My legs are fine, but my lungs and heart were out of sync (avg HR 164, for an avg speed of 29.7 didn't seem very good).
-Keep smiling! (which I did!)
In conclusion, I had a blast, and even though it wasn't as it was supposed to be, I want to do it again, and I want to plan for next year!!
Here are a couple of pics:
The team
Getting my first body marking
The Start
Getting ready in transition
Out of T1
Smiling after my successful mounting
Last Lap!
The finish
Thursday, August 16, 2007
Registration Scare
OK, Maybe I'm paranoid because it's my first race ever. Or maybe I didn't trust the organization 100% because they charged me the registration fee twice, and then refunded me one when I asked to, but didn't receive any confirmation from them afterwards.
When I checked the website this morning, this very scary message was posted:
When I checked the website this morning, this very scary message was posted:
*THE TORONTO ISLAND RACES - VERY IMPORTANT INFORMATION
If any spots become availalble, we will contact people on the waiting list. We are no longer taking new names for the waiting list. Below are the participants lists. If you are NOT ON THESE LISTS then YOU ARE NOT REGISTERED.*
If any spots become availalble, we will contact people on the waiting list. We are no longer taking new names for the waiting list. Below are the participants lists. If you are NOT ON THESE LISTS then YOU ARE NOT REGISTERED.*
And they posted 4 lists:
Maybe I expected everything to be clearer, especially because it's my first one and I need some direction. Also, they didn't know exactly in which of the waves the relay would be when I talked to them this morning...
Maybe it's just that I'm a paranoid newbie! :oP
- Junior Championship
- Try-a-Tri
- Duathlon
- Triathlon
Maybe I expected everything to be clearer, especially because it's my first one and I need some direction. Also, they didn't know exactly in which of the waves the relay would be when I talked to them this morning...
Maybe it's just that I'm a paranoid newbie! :oP
Icy Water
What is the lowest temperature in which you can swim? Personally, I don't know yet, but it's definitely above 46F!!!
Last night I had a group open water swim in Lake Ontario. I really wanted that last swim in before the race on Saturday, and by the number of people who showed up, I was not alone!
We've had a very nice weather in the last month, always close to 30C (around 86F), but I suppose it doesn't affect the water temperature that much. Maybe there was a storm on the lake the day before...or currents or winds...
A week ago, the temperature readings were around 70F. It was perfect. Not too cold for the extremities, not too warm for wearing a wetsuit.
Yesterday, the readings were at 45.9F. I should have checked before going (I'm not sure I would have believed it). But hey, water was perfect just a couple of days before! Apparently nobody checked, and we were all expecting a nice pleasant swim.
We arrived at the beach, about 20 ppl in their wetsuits, ready to plunge.
-20 people touch the water with their toes
-General reaction: Arggg! It's wayyy too cold!
-6 people get water up to their waist (including me)
-2 people turn back (including me), 4 try to start swimming (the tough ones)
-4 people try to jump in again (Including me...hey I really wanted to swim!)
-They all turn back
-And the 4 trying to swim come back after 2 minutes (the tough ones)
How does 45.9F water feels? It was definitely much colder than in June. I'm not sure if the reading was good, but was certainly not far from that. I've bailed out at 55 degrees, but it was more because of comfort rather than capacity. Yesterday, I knew I would not be able to swim at all in that water.
After 30 seconds with my feet in the water, I couldn't feel them anymore. After 1 minute, they were burning. When I tried to put my hands in the water, it hurt. I had to shake my hands out of the water to get them back to normal.
So bye bye the last open water swim before the race. Oh well, it's not like I've never done it...Now I just have to cross my fingers for a good enough water temp on race day! Please cross some fingers for me too! :)
Last night I had a group open water swim in Lake Ontario. I really wanted that last swim in before the race on Saturday, and by the number of people who showed up, I was not alone!
We've had a very nice weather in the last month, always close to 30C (around 86F), but I suppose it doesn't affect the water temperature that much. Maybe there was a storm on the lake the day before...or currents or winds...
A week ago, the temperature readings were around 70F. It was perfect. Not too cold for the extremities, not too warm for wearing a wetsuit.
Yesterday, the readings were at 45.9F. I should have checked before going (I'm not sure I would have believed it). But hey, water was perfect just a couple of days before! Apparently nobody checked, and we were all expecting a nice pleasant swim.
We arrived at the beach, about 20 ppl in their wetsuits, ready to plunge.
-20 people touch the water with their toes
-General reaction: Arggg! It's wayyy too cold!
-6 people get water up to their waist (including me)
-2 people turn back (including me), 4 try to start swimming (the tough ones)
-4 people try to jump in again (Including me...hey I really wanted to swim!)
-They all turn back
-And the 4 trying to swim come back after 2 minutes (the tough ones)
How does 45.9F water feels? It was definitely much colder than in June. I'm not sure if the reading was good, but was certainly not far from that. I've bailed out at 55 degrees, but it was more because of comfort rather than capacity. Yesterday, I knew I would not be able to swim at all in that water.
After 30 seconds with my feet in the water, I couldn't feel them anymore. After 1 minute, they were burning. When I tried to put my hands in the water, it hurt. I had to shake my hands out of the water to get them back to normal.
So bye bye the last open water swim before the race. Oh well, it's not like I've never done it...Now I just have to cross my fingers for a good enough water temp on race day! Please cross some fingers for me too! :)
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