Whoo-Hoo!!

Yea, that's right: Whoo-Hoo!

On so many levels.

First of all... I made my fundraising minimum!  That's right!  $3500.00 in the bank (well, actually in LLS's bank - but you know what I mean).
Second... Mock triathlon: Rocked it! Swim, bike, run... DONE!
Third... I'm going on va-ca-tion, I'm going on va-ca-tion!

What is there to not be happy about?

I am so relieved to see that fundraising meter go all the way to the top.  I had no idea how heavily this was hanging over my head, but once I finished, I felt that huge weight just float away.  I think that I was more stressed about raising the money than I was about the actual event.  You see, I can control how hard I train, and how early I get up, and how long I am willing to stay out there.  I have no control, however on whether or not people are willing to donate money to help me out. 
Well, you all came through, and then some!  The fundraising at work was very time consuming, but very, very worth it.  I earned nearly $1000 just from donations at work (silent auction, bake sale, pizza party, pancake breakfast)!  The rest came from family and friends, and friends of friends who wanted to help out. 
I am humbled by your generosity
.
Now... about that mock triathlon.
As far as my nerves were concerned, was nothing "mock" about it.  Butterflies in my stomach? Well, they were more like gigantic bats flying around and gnawing at me from the inside.  Normally I can barely eat before a race, even though I know I need the fuel.  I have to force myself to choke down an energy bar of some sort in the car, and pray it stays put.  This time I decided to take the sage advice of a teammate and get up a little earlier and eat first thing - before my stomach had the chance to get nervous.  Eating a peanut butter and honey sandwich followed by a banana was not really what I wanted to be doing at 4:30 AM, but it worked! 
We got to the beach and registered, they told us where to set up, and I began pulling the mountains of gear from my car.  Swim cap, goggles, towel, socks, bike shoes, bike, water bottles, bandana, bike helmet, sunglasses, energy gel, running shoes, running hat...
Somewhere in the midst of my preaparations, I noticed my Mom and my cousin, Nancy had arrived to cheer me on.  I got such a happy feeling seeing them there. Even though this wasn't a real race, I was so touched that they got up at the crack of dawn to come out and support me.

Whoa.  Did anyone see how big those waves are? Yikes! After some discussion on the safety of sending a bunch of newbies out into 4' waves, the professional lifeguard on our team went out for a test swim.  He proclaimed the water safe, but choppy, with no rip currents, and we were off! 
The swim was a challenge, but I was happy to finish towards the front of the pack.  We hit the beach running, and headed back for our bikes. 
I tried desperately to remember everything... goggles and swim cap off, dry feet, no, wait, rinse off sand, then dry feet, socks on, bike shoes, bandana (sweat rag), bike helmet, sunglasses... walk bike to pavement, get on (ick, squishy wet bike shorts), suck it up, clip shoe in, go!
Whoops, red light. 
Unclip shoe, stop, wait, get a drin... no, green light! Clip shoe! Pedal! Ahh, hill! Another red light! Unclip shoe! Stop, oh, I can make a right on red - duh.  Clip shoe, Go Go GO!
After a few false starts, I was off!  Of course everyone who was with me out of transition made it through the light that I got stopped at, so they had a few minutes head start, but I was up to speed quickly and cruising along at my happy 17-18 mph. All of the training and drills has really paid off - I felt good on my bike - really good!  I drank my first water bottle, and managed (without stopping) to switch it out for a fresh one.  And to think a few short weeks ago, I could barely switch gears!
After the bike comes the run.  Walk bike to tree (rack), balance bike, helmet off, ick, sweaty bandana off, dry face, bike shoes off, running shoes on, visor on head, grab gatorade bottle, go! - Go! - Um? Legs? Go! Hello? The legs finally agreed to go and we were off (again).  It was only a 2 mile run, but I got a stitch in my side like I have never felt.  Owowowow!  I tried walking, stretching, deep breathing, ignoring it, nothing was working.  A fellow runner suggested poking myself in the side where the pain was - I thought he was crazy, but tried it.  What do you know?  It worked!  It probably just took my mind off of it, but whatever.
I finished in 1:10:39 - is that good? average? abysmal?  I have no idea as I have nothing to judge it against.  I was happy to finish, and even happier to see my whole family waiting for me at the end.  Mom, Ray, Isabella, and Nancy - how lucky am I?

As for the vacation, well, we leave in a few days.  Going to a wedding in Buffalo, then off to Canada, Pennsylvania, and Rhode Island.
I... Can't... Wait!
Most of the preparations are in place - housesitter prepped, mail stopped, house clean, laundry done...
I'll try and post from the road.  I hope to get in some miles in the hotel gyms and pools, because I have my first real triathlon a week after we get back!

July, part Two

Well, how about that? I needed some time to focus on things at home, and I got it.  Not exactly the way I planned, though.
Today I am stuck (yes, stuck) at home with a child so desperate to get out of the petting zoo at camp today that first she made herself sick to her stomach (literally), and then had leg cramps so bad she lay on the floor crying for at least 30 minutes until I finally caved.  Really? Fear of mobile petting zoos - I wonder what the clinical diagnosis of that is?
And, no, it has nothing to do with Yoda.  Keep reading for the Jedi reference.
I am fortunate to be able to get a lot of work done from home.  I am very connected to my office, so I have been able to call in to two different meetings, keep up with my e-mail, and read and edit a report.  I have been able to do this in silence because when one is home sick from camp or school, the one hour of TV allotment runs out very quickly.  Isabella has been very busy doing puzzles, coloring, and working in her reading workbooks.  I guess on some level that is better than a mobile petting zoo?
Anyway... Fundrasing for my race just keeps getting better.  I am fortunate to work in a department with approximately 130 others.  We basically had a captive audience for the silent auction, bake sale, pizza party, and tomorrow is a pancake breakfast.  Two of my co-workers are also racing for Team in Training, so we have been splitting the profits.  As of today, I am at 68% of my fundraising goal.  I have two months to go before my race.  I'm feeling pretty good!
This weekend's workout was tough, but good.  We had a substitute coach; and it was certainly different to go from one coaching style to another.  I'm sure that he is a very good coach, but I am looking forward to getting Lisa back! 
Next week we are racing in a mock triathlon at Lake Worth Beach.  This will be the first time we will be able to put all three disciplines together and actually swim, bike, and run on the same day!  I am really looking forward to this.  It will be nice to put everything together without the pressures of an actual race.

I am most excited about trying out my new mad skills on my bike.  After weeks of leg cramps and sore feet, I have finally accepted my fate and bought bike shoes (gasp!).  Yes, the scary (and ugly) shoes that attach directly to your pedals, making you one with the bike.  For some reason, these are called clip-less pedals.  That doesn't really make sense, because the shoes attach to the pedal by clipping in.  Can anyone explain this to me?  It doesn't matter what they're called, because I call them the scary shoes.  But I am happy to report that my first ride went without incident.  I did not fall, mostly because I was determined not to - I'm pretty sure I had to use the Force at least once to stay upright.  I have watched many of my teammates fall, usually while at a stop sign.  The only thing they hurt was their pride; but of course the new coach had to scare us all with tales of broken elbows and shattered hips, all from falling at a stop sign (gee, thanks). 

One amazing story from this weekend involves one of my teammates.  She has been struggling, but determined, on the bike and I finally found out why.  SHE JUST LEARNED TO RIDE. 

Seriously. 

In March. 

Now I feel like a total tool for calling myself names, and complaining about feeling unsteady on my bike.  I joke around, but I have known how to ride a bike since I was 6 (not that I was any good).  My learning curve was a tiny wiggle compared to hers, and she will not give up.

Well, neither will I. 

Do or do not... there is no try.

I'll check in after Saturday's "Mock" race, hopefully.

July, Part one

Yes, I know, it's been quite some time since I've checked in.  I don't know why I can't manage to keep more up to date with this blogging thing - I really do have lots to tell you all!
I'll start with July 4th weekend...
As you may remember, this was a big weekend for me.  Our first ocean swim as a team, and the 4th is (was?) my Dad's birthday.  I knew this would be a big weekend, both physically and emotionally. 
In any case, we met at Lake Worth Beach (coincidentally, my folks' favorite beach) bright and early on Saturday the 3rd.  We even found parking!
After an inspirational message and some swimming tips from Coach Lisa, we were ready to hit the water.  It looked pretty good to me - nice rolling waves, and crystal clear visibility.  Some of our team mates started to get a little nervous, but Lisa had brought along lots of help in the way of extra coaches and experienced triathletes to act as lifeguards.  The idea was to swim out to the first bouy (about 200 yds from shore), swim along the shoreline to the next one (maybe 300 yds away), and back to shore. 
It... Was... Great!!
I finally felt like a natural at something.  The ocean really is my home.  I still don't know how I can possibly get seasick on top of the ocean, when I feel so good anytime I'm in or under the water. 
I got to the beach, and looked around for everyone, and realized that most of the team was still swimming.  How about that?  I finished in the first wave of something, finally!
We repeated the swim out, swim down, swim back pattern three more times, and by the end most of the team had shaken off their fears of drowning, sharks, jellyfish, or whatever was getting in their way and we more or less all finished at the same time.  It felt so good, and I am getting very excited about the actual race.  After the swim, we all went to John G's for breakfast, where we proceeded to eat them out of inventory.  Not really, but we were very hungry!  We talked about a fundraising bowl-a thon and some other ideas.  They all sound like fun to me!

Sunday was the bike ride, and the weather looked bad - thunderstorms were forecast all day.  I mentioned in my last blog that I was going to ask my Dad to help us out with the weather, and he sure did!  It stopped raining shortly before we got to Boynton Beach (our starting point).  During the ride, it was cloudy, but never rained - the sun never came out either - perfect weather for a 30 mile bike ride in July!  Thanks, Dad!
I have overcome most of my fears on the bike, and at the urging of my friends, have stopped making fun of myself - I mostly do it for laughs, but you know that, right?
I do have one very funny story, though...
Because it was a Sunday, Ray and Isabella were going to church at 10:00.  I knew I wouldn't make it, but helped Isabella pick out a blue dress and I told her she could wear a temporary tattoo (a glittery American flag) to church since it was the 4th (and Papa Jim's birthday).  All her clothes (and her tattoos) were laid out neatly on her dresser the night before.
I left for the ride, knowing that they were all set to go, but sort of wishing I could go too.
During our bike ride, we seperated into two groups - 1) The faster, more experienced group and 2) The less fast group.  Actually we were three groups: I started in group 1, but quickly dropped into group 1a) The wants to be faster, but can't quite keep up at 20 mph group. 
I was holding steady between 17 and 18 mph, not really minding being alone, enjoying my workout.  Coach Lisa stayed with me most of the way, which was very nice.  We turned around somewhere on Palm Beach, and as we were headed back, my phone started to ring. Normally I would ignore my phone, but the ringtone told me it was Ray.  I got concerned, because he knew I had a long ride planned, and would only call in an emergency.  I yelled ahead to Lisa and told her I had to answer my phone.  I pulled off the road and answered.
Me: (expecting Ray) "Hi, what's wrong?"
Bella: (sniff) "Mommy?!"
Me: "Isabella, what's the matter?"
Bella: (sob) "I need another flag tattoo!"
Me: (silently counting to 10)
Bella: "Mommy?"
Me: "Yes, Isabella, I'm here.  I'm in the middle of a very long bike ride. This isn't really an emergency.  Why did you call me?"
Bella: (more sobbing) "I wrecked it!"
Me: "You wrecked what?
Bella: "My tattoo!  I need another one!"
Me: (trying not to lose my temper) "Oh, honey, you wrecked your tattoo?  Where's Daddy?"
Bella: "He's in the bathroom!" (continued sobbing)
Me: (counting to 10, again) "Please put Daddy on the phone."
Now, the whole time, I could only imagine what was going through Lisa's mind.  Probaly something along the lines of, Who lets a five year old have a cell phone and get a tattoo?
In the meantime, Isabella barges into the bathroom and sobbing loudly, gives the phone to Ray.
(Now, there's a visual you didn't need!)
Ray: "Hello?"
Me: "What is going on?"
Ray: "I don't know, I was getting in the shower.  Why is she crying?"

And to think I was so happy when she learned my cell phone number...
Ever the Superhero, Ray managed to save the day (and the tattoo), and off to church they went.
Crisis resolved, I now had to convince my legs that they were not finished, and still had ten miles left to bike.  My legs disagreed, but eventually I won that battle.
As we pulled into the parking lot, the fast people were waiting for us, and of course I had to tell them why we were late.  Much merriment ensued (at my expense).
Lesson learned: cell phones and tattoos are not for five-year-olds.
More stories to come... As soon as find the time to blog again!