Ahas and Breakthroughs

This past week may have marked a breakthrough or two – or if not quite breakthroughs, maybe at least a few “Aha!” moments.

Earlier this year, I had a gait analysis – remember? For the past few months I’ve been feeling all proud of myself for keeping my elbows behind my waist. Well, until I saw pictures of myself from the Monument 10K where I appeared to be doing a great impersonation of Rocky Balboa – except I looked like I was punching myself in the head.

Hmmm.

So, I decided more intervention was required. I read the Chi Running book TRIgirl CD recommended (she found her chi and has become quite a gazelle). Last Monday, I went to a guppy run – and – of all things – Ironwoman Canada brought her video camera to record our running.

It wasn’t pretty. Well, actually it was kind-of pretty. It was like a super slow motion sprinter. Other than the elbows flying all over the place. I’ve got this “stepping in front of me” thing going on. At one point on the video – a bunch of guppies passed by – and it was so noticeable that my cadence was too slow and my stride was too long.

For the rest of that day – and Tuesday’s brick run – I focused on kicking behind me instead of stepping forward. Yes, different, but the motion seemed to require less effort. And whatever was keeping my legs behind me also made it easier to keep my elbows back. Aha!

Flashback to Wednesday morning – what the heck is wrong with my calves? What is this weird cramping, tight feeling that is painful to the touch?

I could hardly stand when trying to get out of bed. I walked around like Quasimodo until – yep, until today. To put it mildly, the 12 mile run on Saturday was pure misery. I had to stop every few miles to stretch my rebelling calves.

And at the suggestion of several coaches – I’ll be making smaller adjustments between now and Eagleman as obviously my running is so pitiful, it is going to be a bit of a haul to get my form corrected for what comes so naturally to nearly every first grader.

A few less painful ahas…

Before the torturous 12 mile run, I practiced drinking on the bike during the 28 mile ride. A bit wobbly, but I was able to splash enough fluid in my body to get by. Coach B even noticed and gave me a few words of encouragement while riding by. Maybe not quite an aha yet - but progress.

Last Wednesday morning, I had a private lesson with Ironwoman Canada (thanks to a super thoughtful birthday gift!). First, I tried my wetsuit out for the first time in the water. Better than the Big Nut experience. I realized there was hope that I just might be able to swim in this ridiculous contraption. Aha!

Then we worked on my form a bit. For months, I’ve heard Coach S and Ironwoman Canada talk about making a paddle with your forearm and hand. But something clicked after some drills with real swim paddles and a few tips. Aha! And while I don’t think I am faster – I am definitely more comfortable at a “pushing it” pace.

And the big breakthrough…

On Sunday, Coach G and TRIgirl LS coordinated an open water swim practice in the James River. What a beautiful location – from the long drive down to the river to the airy field near the dock. We put on our wetsuits and headed out into the water. Coaches G, M, S and B shared a bunch of great information on what to expect during all aspects of an open water swim. Wading through mud that was seriously like eight inches deep at some points, I was grateful that the wetsuit protected me from the slime, in addition to making it easier to enter into the chilly water. Coach M told us to huddle close to simulate an open water blender start. We swam upstream first for five minutes. I was not happy. My breathing was off – visions of the Big Nut clouded my mind. Finally it was over and we could turn around. Thank goodness, I just wanted to get back to the dock.

A few minutes rest, and then Coach M suggested another attempt at a three minute upstream swim. This time, my breathing started to settle down. There were a few moments where the water smelled like sewage and sticks and debris floated by – but I wasn’t panicking anymore. We turned around – and I started to enjoy the swim. By the time we finished, I wanted to go out again.

A handful of swimmers decided to give it one more go. Early on, I started to feel comfortable. I hit a groove and was even able to begin concentrating on my form. I picked up my head at the landmark where I had stopped at the three minute point during the last attempt, but kept going when I saw others behind me still swimming. A little bit later, a few IM folks passed me and were turning around. I almost didn’t want to stop. The final home stretch felt wonderful – a big relief.

A breakthrough.

I think I CAN swim in a wetsuit.

The Wetsuit

I've ordered my wetsuit. With custom TRIgirl logo, of course.

This will be the wetsuit that will fit so beautifully, I will overcome feelings of being suffocated.

This will be the wetsuit that will protect me from all things that go bump in rivers, bays, lakes and oceans.

This will be the wetsuit that will keep me warm during my first open water swim at Smith Mountain Lake on May 5th.

This will be the wetsuit that I will don at Eagleman, in the brackish Choptank River.

This will be the wetsuit that will keep me afloat during the two 1.2 mile loops at Panama City for Ironman Florida.

This wetsuit has a lot to live up to. Let's hope it is up for the challenge.

Tag, I'm It!

Alas my slow running has caught up with me once again. I was tagged on my blog by Ironmom with the following game of Tri Blogger Tag. I'm going to tag some of the people in my favorite blogs list:

Triathonmom, TriJinx, TriDi, I’m TRI-ing, Florida-Bound and Nancy Toby.

If you've been tagged, answer these six questions, then tag six more folks.

1. Describe a memory from your first triathlon ever
2. Describe a memory from your most recent triathlon
3. What's the most embarrassing thing that has ever happened to you in a tri?
4. What's the most thrilling thing that's happened to you in a tri?
5. What is something you discovered about yourself by doing triathlons?
6. What is The Big Goal that you're working towards?

My answers:

1. Describe a memory from your first triathlon ever
My first triathlon was in 2000 – I registered for an open water sprint in the Outer Banks of North Carolina. Doing a triathlon was a life goal – and I trained on my own and with a friend – without a real coach, group – or even reading a book. I had no idea what to expect. I remember not sleeping much the night before. I remember thinking how cool it was to receive a race packet with a swim cap. I remember being surprised about having my race number magic markered on my arms and legs. I remember that I had never practiced a transition – and just kind of strolled through them, smiling the whole time. Most of all, I remember the feelings of accomplishment, exhilaration – and exhaustion – after finishing.

2. Describe a memory from your most recent triathlon
My most recent triathlon was the ACAC Sprint in Richmond last October. Overall it was a great race – my best performance in my age group. But I can still feel the cold – it was a bitterly chilly morning. I remember the swim to bike transition, so grateful for a towel wrapped around my shoulders, kindly provided by TRIgirl LD who had volunteered during the race. I remember the hill from Hades that soon warmed up my frigid bones. And I remember finishing the race, with an amazing sense of support and encouragement from the other TRIgirls and Coach G – and joining them to cheer in the others who crossed the finish line after me. Oh yeah – there was an awesome and delicious celebratory, pig-out brunch that followed at Hondo’s – uh waiter, another mimosa, please.

3. What's the most embarrassing thing that has ever happened to you in a tri?
Ah – my unsuccessful wetsuit experience from the Very Big Nut triathlon. Please see my blog entry if you want to hear the gory details as it is too embarrassing to have to relive again!

4. What's the most thrilling thing that's happened to you in a tri?
There are usually points during the swim and bike, where I overcome the worry about finishing – and begin to get into a groove - enjoying the experience of feeling one with the water or noticing the beautiful scenery around me. I start appreciating the race – and concentrate on thanking all the volunteers – or at least giving them a big smile of gratitude. I’ll try to commiserate, in an encouraging way, with other participants who may be struggling worse than I am.

But, if I had to pick one moment – it would be crossing the finish line at Naylor’s Beach with TRIgirl Devil Face. We had both had a tough race – from the grueling heat and humidity to an unplanned change in the race course. Running those last few hundred yards together recharged my spirit, as well as my very tired and dehydrated body.

5. What is something you discovered about yourself by doing triathlons?
I’ve learned that this asthmatic, approaching middle-age, non-athlete has the willingness, drive and determination to accomplish tough physical (and mental challenges). While many of the natural athletes from my childhood have grown inactive or out of shape, this “tortoise” from their past may actually finish the race ahead of those “hares” – or at least will be in the race as they lounge about on their couches.

6. What is The Big Goal that you're working towards?
Ah, an easy one to answer – Ironman Florida! The absolute biggest and scariest goal I’ve ever set for myself.

Sweet Dreams...

It does seem that the things pressing on our minds end up in our dreams.

I’ve read about other ironman bloggers nocturnal ponderings and wondered how long it would be before I had one of my own. So far, I’ve only had one other fairly silly training dream right around the time Amarone came into my life.

I think I know what sparked mine. TriGirl SDG and I had planned a holiday shopping excursion on Thursday. Before hitting the stores, TriGirl SDG and I met so she could lend me two things – a beautiful shirt for a party I’m going to this weekend – and her wetsuit.

A wetsuit? This fall, I tried wearing a wetsuit for the first time during a sprint triathlon. Suffice it to say, the experience did not go well. I know, I know, never do anything new on race day. At the time, I thought, “swimming is supposedly easier in a wetsuit; you’ll float more and go faster.” But there I was, about five minutes into the race, feeling like I was suffocating and drowning instead. I ended up pulling out of the swim, which I consider my relative strength, and unofficially finishing the rest of the triathlon. Quite humbling.

So TriGirl SDG, who was at the wetsuit disaster, suggested I try her wetsuit – it has a lower neck and shorter arms and sleeves. And I plan on taking her up on her kind offer to do so over the next few weeks.

Thursday night, after recovering from shopping, I crashed into bed. A few hours later, I’m nervously walking into a lake wearing TriGirl SDG’s wetsuit. It seems to allow me to move around more easily and I can breathe – and I am relieved. Though, I’m pulling down the legs as if tugging on my bike shorts. Then, I am in the ocean. TriGirl DL (who lent me the first wetsuit and is an avid scuba diver) is there. We spend some time under the water and then decide we’ll swim for a little while. We go pretty far out – and decide to turn around since there is no one else in the water with us. I am swimming comfortably and confidently.

Really hoping this dream is a premonition! And I am glad that I was wearing the wetsuit in the ocean during the dream, instead of TriGirl SDG's pretty blue bling bling halter top!