For all you who have supported me (George) during the arduous process of college->premed->medschool->residency (and finally) -> real life, I am ecstatic to say I have passed my board certification for family medicine! It is the culmination of test upon test for what I am do with the rest of my life. What a weight off my shoulders.
At this moment, it is a chance to thank everyone who has helped me achieve my goals along this "long, strange trip". ¡MuchÃsimas gracias!
Tuesday, December 20, 2011
Friday, December 16, 2011
Take 1
Attempt at Christmas photo #1.Grant has recently entered the "very cheesy smile on command" stage.
Henry would only pose in the "silly face" option.
Gonna be a tough year for that perfectly staged holiday photo.
Candid might be the route to go.
We're still trying to check off a few holidays "musts" as we enter the homestretch of advent!
Wednesday, December 07, 2011
Advent and Adventures
Happy St. Nicholas Day!
This year's tree hunting excursion was quite different from past years. Firstly, there was no snow to tromp through. A little more of a challenge to capture the spirit, but much easier for the task. No shaking snow to get an idea of the shape of the tree, easier walking for boys (sort of), and we knew exactly how tall the tree was, as opposed to walking above a foot of snow. However, we had a soaking rain the day before, the mud boots got good use and we were slightly nervous the station wagon wouldn't make it along the muddy driveway.
And in another adventure, just when we thought everything was running smoothly around here, meet Newton. Our new pooch. We picked him up Saturday in the rain and while George and I were getting him settled in, the boys took the opportunity to play outdoors for a little while. In the mud, like with trucks and splashing and all sorts of good dirty boy fun. In the 40 degree weather. BRR! When I called this off, it was warm baths for everyone.
Sunday, November 27, 2011
Sunday, November 20, 2011
We stay busy...
 | |
| Grant helps himself to the bookshelf and just sits and "reads" |
 | |
| A common phrase heard 'round the house "WRESTLE-FIGHT!!" |
 | |
| Monkey see, monkey do |
 | |
| Just the cutest little goblin you've ever seen, right? |
Sunday, November 13, 2011
An Observation
On our designated snack day for Henry's preschool, parents are encouraged to stay and help out in the classroom. Don't get me wrong, I love to do this, but I have to be in the right frame of mind (I just have to stop thinking about all the items on my "to-do" list and really settle in to just some quality time with my eldest son and his buddies).
So I stayed.
And I played.
And I noticed, as a little girl and Henry were playing grocery store, complete with cash register, that the way they were exchanging money for goods was a little odd. The over sized gold coins are a nice touch. However, I watched as Henry took each coin when we paid for our bananas, box of nilla wafers, and plastic spaghetti with sauce and scanned the coin across the cash register as if it were, that's right, a credit card.
I had a good chuckle to myself and the teacher and we contemplated that, indeed, these children don't see actual currency at work much anymore. The teacher and I related that in our day, we couldn't figure out why our moms would say they didn't have enough money to pay for all those groceries. After all, the checkbook was full of checks!
So I stayed.
And I played.
And I noticed, as a little girl and Henry were playing grocery store, complete with cash register, that the way they were exchanging money for goods was a little odd. The over sized gold coins are a nice touch. However, I watched as Henry took each coin when we paid for our bananas, box of nilla wafers, and plastic spaghetti with sauce and scanned the coin across the cash register as if it were, that's right, a credit card.
I had a good chuckle to myself and the teacher and we contemplated that, indeed, these children don't see actual currency at work much anymore. The teacher and I related that in our day, we couldn't figure out why our moms would say they didn't have enough money to pay for all those groceries. After all, the checkbook was full of checks!
Monday, October 31, 2011
Tricks and Treats
It is a trick to get everyone costumed.
It is a trick to get kids to eat anything slightly nutritious before going out.
It is a trick to (safely) get two handfuls of children from house to house.
But it is certainly a treat to knock on neighbors' doors, enjoy a little candy (Mmm chocolate), and laugh at the excitement on the faces of ghosts, dogs, hamburgers, penguins, and whatever else tagged along this evening.
It is a trick to get kids to eat anything slightly nutritious before going out.
It is a trick to (safely) get two handfuls of children from house to house.
But it is certainly a treat to knock on neighbors' doors, enjoy a little candy (Mmm chocolate), and laugh at the excitement on the faces of ghosts, dogs, hamburgers, penguins, and whatever else tagged along this evening.
 |
| For the record, George is a Ghostbuster |
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
Fall Days
It's hard for me to believe some of the better parts of fall are behind us now.We had days of wonderful warmth and sunshine. Breezy days where we spent our days watching leaf storms swirl down to cover our lawn with a carpet of golden leaves.
Henry's version of a "leaf angel" will quickly turn to the customary "snow angel", I'm afraid.
And I'm adjusting.
Soups, stews, and baked goods help to warm these increasingly chilly days.
Hibernation mode is setting in.
Friday, October 21, 2011
Busy boy
 |
| This is the first time Grant actually said "cheese" when i got the camera out! |
Generally, I am trying to rush through household activities (I still consider this "my time" even though I'm still responsible for an almost 18 month old). Occasionally, when I catch Grant wandering the house looking for Henry, the entertainer, I force myself to take advantage of the slower pace.
Every once in a while, it's refreshing to go to the park at our own pace, and pour rocks down the slide. Or to swing until Grant says its time to go.
And the laundry waits another day.
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
Just hang on a minute...
Whenever people start calling Grant "mini-George" I have to say, just hang on a minute...
let me show you something.
Do you agree?
let me show you something.
 |
| Charlotte, late Fall '78 |
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
Henry at 3 (and a half)
Maybe I shouldn't write about Henry.3 is something I'd rather not remember (it makes me look at Grant with a small lump of fear in my throat).
I was warned.
I was told.
It doesn't matter.
Ready or not. 3 is HARD.
3 is
Its where the rubber meets the road for parenting and you pray that this "phase" is short lived.
Terrible 2s?
A cake walk.
At least for us this is the case.
You see, he wants to help.
Great! (except sometimes he can't, or it takes a lot longer and it's messier, or it simply requires patience, and then still more patience).
And then other times, he does NOT want to help.
Like when I would love for him to dress himself, or pick up toys.
In addition, three must mean new and stronger emotions and opinions. The wrong spoon or plate at a meal can ruin the whole event. And a bowl of ice cream can lead to a spontaneous and boisterous "I LOVE YOU, MOM!" |
| Add caption |
I store those up for the other days. When my well of patience has run dry.
And we inch along through the day.
Closer and closer to 4.
I have hope that 4 is better.
Truth be told, I don't care what the number is, so long as I can catch a glimpse of my agreeable and sweet little Henry again. And he sticks around for longer and longer stretches.
 |
| Henry's first day of Purple Class |
Grant E.
Because I want to remember
(how could I forget? I don't know, but I continually ask myself if Henry was the same way at times)
Grant is a handful.
And then some.
He's a solid kid, this explorer.
He runs, he climbs, he jumps (or tries to, anyway).
He is a larger than life kid who simply will not be contained.
He insisted on a new car seat (if brother faces forward, why not me?!) Each time we would get in the car he would scramble to climb into Henry's seat. Sorry, pediatricians, I know you recommend rear facing until age 2 now (seriously?) but Grant insists.
I witnessed him pile his blankets in the corner of his crib and sort of lean way out, head first of course. His first actual escape could be bad news. We've since limited his linens.
And we've reinstated the high chair straps (sit down, Grant). The Toddler Drive Thru is a last resort for baby Houdini.
And he's just a silly kid.
Trick at supper last night. Silverware tucked under the neck, no hands.
He makes us laugh.
A lot.
He insisted on a new car seat (if brother faces forward, why not me?!) Each time we would get in the car he would scramble to climb into Henry's seat. Sorry, pediatricians, I know you recommend rear facing until age 2 now (seriously?) but Grant insists.
I witnessed him pile his blankets in the corner of his crib and sort of lean way out, head first of course. His first actual escape could be bad news. We've since limited his linens.
And we've reinstated the high chair straps (sit down, Grant). The Toddler Drive Thru is a last resort for baby Houdini.
Trick at supper last night. Silverware tucked under the neck, no hands.
He makes us laugh.
A lot.
Sunday, September 25, 2011
Changes
Adjusting to fall has been difficult for me this year. We've experienced such an abrupt change in temperatures. Mentally, I simply wasn't ready to put away swimwear and pull on coats, socks, and shoes.So, I couldn't resist getting matching fleecy jammies for the boys this year. Henry likes the footies. Grant was not a fan at first, but he's adapted (How can we be putting away cute baby piggy toes for the season already!)
Another change related to their pj's was transitioning the boys to share a room.
Hhmmm. Backstory a little: when Grant was 10 months old we entered the time period we refer to as "the banishment". He got into such a solid rut of waking in the night and crying for no apparent reason, that we were all rather miserable as no one was getting any sleep. So, we set up his co-sleeper crib in the basement (which is, for the record, fully furnished and rather cozy). I think he cried a bit the first night, even less the second, and by the third night not at all. The rest of the family slept soundly upstairs while Grant worked out these nighttime antics on his own (I felt I'd tried everything and couldn't find a solution. Warm - check. Dry - check. Full tummy - check. Binky - check). Then, he seemed to really like the basement (like I said, dark and cozy). Reacclimating him to the upstairs seemed like it was going to be difficult (but we wanted our TV room back!). 6 months later...
It was a brief and rough transition. 1 week, crying (why? wasn't everyone on a roll with sleeping through the night?), playing (dark became nightlight because of Henry -- and if you can see anything, it must be time to play, right? with a buddy, right? Grant can see Henry and wants to wake him up to play...how to do this...oh yeah, scream really loudly...but, wait, Henry is startled from a deep slumber and he, too, is now crying). The only thing worse than a baby crying in the night is two toddlers crying in the night. But we've ironed out the kinks. Up until recently, everyone has a room buddy in our house, and everyone was sleeping peacefully. That is, until the dreaded "back to school cold" caught us.
Now the kids have been forced to choose between eating and breathing. Or in Grant's case, binky vs. breathing -- which is actually a very close call. That's how much he loves his bink.
Anyway, it works out. The boys are loving having a buddy in the room. It means Henry has company (and we get fewer requests to lie down in his bed with him). Bedtime rituals are shorter now because of the combined kid and story time. Sometimes Grant wakes up Henry earlier than he'd like, but they are so happy to see each other in the morning that it glosses over shortened hour or so of sleep. And, occasionally, there is a little game going on that delays the pitter patter of footsteps seeking our bed...which is even sweeter.
Sunday, September 18, 2011
Help
No help needed.
Apparently we're self serve around here.
I'm the one who will need help.
Trying to keep this kid safe is a full time job.
I swear I was only turned around for a second.
Apparently we're self serve around here.
I'm the one who will need help.
Trying to keep this kid safe is a full time job.
I swear I was only turned around for a second.
Saturday, September 10, 2011
Post Race Wrap Up
Tomorrow is the Ironman Wisconsin Race. Athletes will swim 2.4 miles, bike 112 miles, and run 26.2 miles tomorrow in and around Madison. Thank the heavens above it will be a clear, calm, and warm day for the event. (Can you imagine training for a year and having yucky weather on the big day?). My friend, Stephanie, and I rode past the transition area and along some of the swim and bike route and I felt that pre-race excitement again. What great memories from my own race just a few weeks ago. Then I returned to concentrating on the bike path in front of me, as it would be quite a shame if I took out someone on their bicycle who was just doing a "stay loose before the big day" casual workout.
I was quite nervous on race day. There is really a lot to think about as you mentally prepare for doing three sports consecutively. I realized during my mini-race training session that after multiple brick workouts (biking followed by running) I was familiar with the noodle feelings in my legs and could work through that. However, completing a swim workout and trying to think about hopping on my bicycle (and knowing I wouldn't be done until I ditched the bike and ran a few miles) was a little daunting. Or, simply a little under-practiced. For, oddly enough, I think I viewed the race as two distinct sections. The first as a huge challenge of swimming in open water, and then "the rest of it." Midway through my training it dawned on me that the swim was sort of like a warm up in the "splash, mash, and dash event" and that the bulk of the race would happen during the "mash and dash" portion. I adjusted my training accordingly, and focused with equal measure on the bike and run.
After reading books and websites, it's easy to become carried away in the "tech and gear department" involved with triathlon. I really tried to keep gear simple for my first race. I used the same pair of shoes for biking and running. I wore "tri-shorts" which were under the wet suit, have a little padding for the bike and are sufficient for running in without too much chaffing. And I rented the wetsuit. The wetsuit was a last-minute confidence boost I needed when I saw that the weather forecast for the race day was 75 degrees (thankfully, about 15 degrees cooler than it had been), and at 6am the temperature would most likely be about 55. Actually, that forecast set me spinning. I am a tropical fish. It takes me forever to get warm enough to submerse my body when we're at the beach. So I had visions of me lingering on the beach, unable to even approach the starting line. Wetsuit rented. Problem solved. Added buoyancy a bonus.
A description of the race day:
My goal was to finish and still feel good. That was certainly accomplished.
Secondary time goals included a finish in less than 2 hours.
I thought the swim would take me less than 10 minutes, bike in 1 hour, run goal - no walking, around 30-35 minutes.
Event parking, no problem. But, holy smokes. There is no Elite division at the Silver Lake Triathlon, but apparently that doesn't mean that professional athletes don't participate for "fun" or training. There are some serious people out there with their fancy bikes, helmets, shoes, etc. I take a deep breath and remind myself that I did the training. I will finish the race.
Set up. Transition area entered bike gear laid out, towel, running gear same as bike gear, minus helmet. Struggle into wetsuit. I mean struggle. It fits like a second skin. Like someone else's skin, actually. It's raining, and we're trying to stay positive. I hear other people commenting about how we'll get wet in the water anyway. But, oh yeah, our shoes and socks will be wet and our towel to dry our feet will also be wet. Squishy shoes for the whole race. Ew.
Swim: Wet suit not needed for the water temperature. Very, very warm.
Stephanie and I agree that we will hang toward the back of our wave, which will take off at 8:23 (yes, we're second to last to get started. F3034 - females, age 30-34, only females 35-40 are behind us). Our strategy is to let better swimmers get a good start and we'll find our own rhythm in our own space. Someone just before the start makes the joke "If anyone is sprinting this please come to the front ahead of me, by all means she dramatically waves her hands" No one budged. This should have been a clue. The swim was difficult. It was like they threw 20 women in the water who had one or two swimming lessons and had determined to "just wing it". Not kidding, I felt like I was looking at myself everywhere I turned. My Old Self, back in February, who was so determined to learn how to swim that I was thrashing about. Side stroke, doggie paddle, backwards, forwards, resting on the kayaks (which is legal, by the way). It was admirable, the determination. However, I felt like the whole 11 minutes was a struggle for me to be free from flailing arms and legs. Seriously, a little skill would have gone a long way. But I left the water not feeling totally drained. Wetsuit off without too much trouble.
Transition 1:
Simply put, 4 minutes 30 seconds is entirely too long. I admit I was a little confused. Stephanie was supposed to be in front of me, as she's a stronger swimmer, then I would catch up to her on the bike, because that was my forte. But she wasn't. So I lingered, prepared, looked around a little. Her hair was caught in her wetsuit. Matted and super duper tangled, she searched for her husband in the sidelines to free her (that is, once she, too, was freed from the newbies in the water). So I waited for her to get set up on the bike. Then we started off.
Bike: I started off slowly. Stephanie would be along shortly and we would ride together. Several glances back. Still nothing. Unsure, I take off (hey, I'm the rookie here, she is a veteran and knows what she's doing, right?). Turns out she had to do a little bike repair as her brake came loose and was continually pressing her tire.
The bike portion felt good. It was a great course. There was one incident with a small dog harassing competitors, but a quick snarl and I had him confused enough not to dart toward my bike. I was in my "racing gears" nearly the whole time (highest on the bike) and was passing a few people. I had one moment, however, that I knew was the limitation of my hybrid bicycle vs. a road bike.
Transition 2: easy. Park bike. Start running. (Just remember to take off the helmet, too. Let's not look silly).
Run: Jelly legs and a hill at the start. Though a great feeling to begin the final leg of the race. I kept trucking along, not wanting to walk any of it, realizing quickly that it's hard to drink water and run. So the water stations were my only walking stints and I used it to gather some final energy (glucose chewy opportunity as well). And I finished when the clock said 2 hours and 15 minutes. After a moment of disappointment, I realized the clock at the finish was started during the very first wave of swimmers! 1 hour 50 minutes for me!
Without sounding too cliche, the whole experience reminded me that often, it's about attitude. A can do attitude will finish the race (with good results!).
I have had a broken ankle, repaired by surgery. Learning to do a non-impact sport will help me as I age, and during the impact sport I felt good, too. Can do.
I have two children, and I found time for training (thank you summer nannies! goodbye TV). Can do.
I started a new job, and worked a couple of days each week throughout the summer (so I counted biking to and from work as miles toward training!). Can do.
I can do it. You can, too!
I was quite nervous on race day. There is really a lot to think about as you mentally prepare for doing three sports consecutively. I realized during my mini-race training session that after multiple brick workouts (biking followed by running) I was familiar with the noodle feelings in my legs and could work through that. However, completing a swim workout and trying to think about hopping on my bicycle (and knowing I wouldn't be done until I ditched the bike and ran a few miles) was a little daunting. Or, simply a little under-practiced. For, oddly enough, I think I viewed the race as two distinct sections. The first as a huge challenge of swimming in open water, and then "the rest of it." Midway through my training it dawned on me that the swim was sort of like a warm up in the "splash, mash, and dash event" and that the bulk of the race would happen during the "mash and dash" portion. I adjusted my training accordingly, and focused with equal measure on the bike and run.
After reading books and websites, it's easy to become carried away in the "tech and gear department" involved with triathlon. I really tried to keep gear simple for my first race. I used the same pair of shoes for biking and running. I wore "tri-shorts" which were under the wet suit, have a little padding for the bike and are sufficient for running in without too much chaffing. And I rented the wetsuit. The wetsuit was a last-minute confidence boost I needed when I saw that the weather forecast for the race day was 75 degrees (thankfully, about 15 degrees cooler than it had been), and at 6am the temperature would most likely be about 55. Actually, that forecast set me spinning. I am a tropical fish. It takes me forever to get warm enough to submerse my body when we're at the beach. So I had visions of me lingering on the beach, unable to even approach the starting line. Wetsuit rented. Problem solved. Added buoyancy a bonus.
A description of the race day:
My goal was to finish and still feel good. That was certainly accomplished.
Secondary time goals included a finish in less than 2 hours.
I thought the swim would take me less than 10 minutes, bike in 1 hour, run goal - no walking, around 30-35 minutes.
Event parking, no problem. But, holy smokes. There is no Elite division at the Silver Lake Triathlon, but apparently that doesn't mean that professional athletes don't participate for "fun" or training. There are some serious people out there with their fancy bikes, helmets, shoes, etc. I take a deep breath and remind myself that I did the training. I will finish the race.
Set up. Transition area entered bike gear laid out, towel, running gear same as bike gear, minus helmet. Struggle into wetsuit. I mean struggle. It fits like a second skin. Like someone else's skin, actually. It's raining, and we're trying to stay positive. I hear other people commenting about how we'll get wet in the water anyway. But, oh yeah, our shoes and socks will be wet and our towel to dry our feet will also be wet. Squishy shoes for the whole race. Ew.
Swim: Wet suit not needed for the water temperature. Very, very warm.
Stephanie and I agree that we will hang toward the back of our wave, which will take off at 8:23 (yes, we're second to last to get started. F3034 - females, age 30-34, only females 35-40 are behind us). Our strategy is to let better swimmers get a good start and we'll find our own rhythm in our own space. Someone just before the start makes the joke "If anyone is sprinting this please come to the front ahead of me, by all means she dramatically waves her hands" No one budged. This should have been a clue. The swim was difficult. It was like they threw 20 women in the water who had one or two swimming lessons and had determined to "just wing it". Not kidding, I felt like I was looking at myself everywhere I turned. My Old Self, back in February, who was so determined to learn how to swim that I was thrashing about. Side stroke, doggie paddle, backwards, forwards, resting on the kayaks (which is legal, by the way). It was admirable, the determination. However, I felt like the whole 11 minutes was a struggle for me to be free from flailing arms and legs. Seriously, a little skill would have gone a long way. But I left the water not feeling totally drained. Wetsuit off without too much trouble.
Transition 1:
Simply put, 4 minutes 30 seconds is entirely too long. I admit I was a little confused. Stephanie was supposed to be in front of me, as she's a stronger swimmer, then I would catch up to her on the bike, because that was my forte. But she wasn't. So I lingered, prepared, looked around a little. Her hair was caught in her wetsuit. Matted and super duper tangled, she searched for her husband in the sidelines to free her (that is, once she, too, was freed from the newbies in the water). So I waited for her to get set up on the bike. Then we started off.
Bike: I started off slowly. Stephanie would be along shortly and we would ride together. Several glances back. Still nothing. Unsure, I take off (hey, I'm the rookie here, she is a veteran and knows what she's doing, right?). Turns out she had to do a little bike repair as her brake came loose and was continually pressing her tire.
The bike portion felt good. It was a great course. There was one incident with a small dog harassing competitors, but a quick snarl and I had him confused enough not to dart toward my bike. I was in my "racing gears" nearly the whole time (highest on the bike) and was passing a few people. I had one moment, however, that I knew was the limitation of my hybrid bicycle vs. a road bike.
Transition 2: easy. Park bike. Start running. (Just remember to take off the helmet, too. Let's not look silly).
Run: Jelly legs and a hill at the start. Though a great feeling to begin the final leg of the race. I kept trucking along, not wanting to walk any of it, realizing quickly that it's hard to drink water and run. So the water stations were my only walking stints and I used it to gather some final energy (glucose chewy opportunity as well). And I finished when the clock said 2 hours and 15 minutes. After a moment of disappointment, I realized the clock at the finish was started during the very first wave of swimmers! 1 hour 50 minutes for me!
Without sounding too cliche, the whole experience reminded me that often, it's about attitude. A can do attitude will finish the race (with good results!).
I have had a broken ankle, repaired by surgery. Learning to do a non-impact sport will help me as I age, and during the impact sport I felt good, too. Can do.
I have two children, and I found time for training (thank you summer nannies! goodbye TV). Can do.
I started a new job, and worked a couple of days each week throughout the summer (so I counted biking to and from work as miles toward training!). Can do.
I can do it. You can, too!
Sunday, August 21, 2011
I "TRI-d" and I did it!!
The big race was on Saturday. My summer included 12 weeks of training. A summer's worth of pool laps, evening bike rides and runs, brick work outs, and a mini-race.
My goal: complete a sprint distance triathlon and feel good doing it.
SUCCESS!!
So I'm continuing to process the training journey and trying to let the details of the race soak in.
This was by far my biggest concern for the race. I am the least comfortable with this sport, and it makes me the most exhausted when I put in a swim workout (half the time it's the stress and anxiety involved). I posted earlier this year that one of my personal goals was to learn to swim. So in February I started lessons at the YMCA.
This is certainly the sport in which I made the most improvement. At first, I could only swim half the length of the pool consecutively. Yesterday, I swam 1/4 mile in "open water" (It was a small lake, but still, I think about the words of Bob Wiley -- I was out there, way far away from the dock). Learning to swim was full of unexpected obstacles for me. For a while I just referred to it as breathing class rather than swim class because attempting that basic function in life was very tricky in the water. Not only does breathing affect your efficiency, but it also affects your comfort level in the water. Ask anyone who doesn't swim well what they're afraid of, and I bet the most common answer will be "not being able to breathe." Once I discovered I could take a breath whenever I wanted (right or left side) while swimming, relaxing into a rhythm became easier. Thus, going farther was possible. I still have trouble pacing myself and my front crawl needs more work.
The BIKE
My favorite, for sure. Let's face it, it's a sport where you get to sit down most of the time. (Which has it's pros and cons...enter chamois. That's what I'm talking about, my "sits bones" thank you). It's mostly about putting in the miles, which means putting in the time. Sprinkle in a few hills and you're good to go. I did have to learn how to drink water and ride at the same time, though. For a girl who likes to keep a good grip on the handle bars, this was another hurdle to pass in the great scheme of things. We test rode the race course midway through the summer and it was a lovely ride through Wisconsin's countryside. Mostly flat, and absolutely gorgeous.
The RUN
This sport is another struggle for me. Hmm, I just realized only 1 out of 3 sports sound good to me, and I signed up for this race anyway. If there's anything to be said about a triathlon, it may be that the sum is greater than the parts. The cross-training certainly helped avoid any boredom, which is my main beef with running. I am by no means fast, and I'm sure there's more of a science to pacing and such, but my goal was just to run (read: jog) and not walk. A few weeks ago some knee pain had me taking a lighter load for a week, but in general, I found myself enjoying my run workouts. I used a free podcast program (NHS couch to 5K -- look it up on itunes. It's good stuff, and occasionally I laugh at the British phrases that catch me off guard). The music may leave a little to be desired, but I find it positive and motivating, which is what I need.
My training calendar was from Eric Harr, and reading his book was highly motivating. Actually, true confessions, George is hoping that my consumption of triathlon literature now dissipates. There is so much to read and learn out there, I really was completely fascinated with all things triathlon this summer.
My goal: complete a sprint distance triathlon and feel good doing it.
SUCCESS!!
So I'm continuing to process the training journey and trying to let the details of the race soak in.
The Training
The SWIM:This was by far my biggest concern for the race. I am the least comfortable with this sport, and it makes me the most exhausted when I put in a swim workout (half the time it's the stress and anxiety involved). I posted earlier this year that one of my personal goals was to learn to swim. So in February I started lessons at the YMCA.
This is certainly the sport in which I made the most improvement. At first, I could only swim half the length of the pool consecutively. Yesterday, I swam 1/4 mile in "open water" (It was a small lake, but still, I think about the words of Bob Wiley -- I was out there, way far away from the dock). Learning to swim was full of unexpected obstacles for me. For a while I just referred to it as breathing class rather than swim class because attempting that basic function in life was very tricky in the water. Not only does breathing affect your efficiency, but it also affects your comfort level in the water. Ask anyone who doesn't swim well what they're afraid of, and I bet the most common answer will be "not being able to breathe." Once I discovered I could take a breath whenever I wanted (right or left side) while swimming, relaxing into a rhythm became easier. Thus, going farther was possible. I still have trouble pacing myself and my front crawl needs more work.
The BIKE
My favorite, for sure. Let's face it, it's a sport where you get to sit down most of the time. (Which has it's pros and cons...enter chamois. That's what I'm talking about, my "sits bones" thank you). It's mostly about putting in the miles, which means putting in the time. Sprinkle in a few hills and you're good to go. I did have to learn how to drink water and ride at the same time, though. For a girl who likes to keep a good grip on the handle bars, this was another hurdle to pass in the great scheme of things. We test rode the race course midway through the summer and it was a lovely ride through Wisconsin's countryside. Mostly flat, and absolutely gorgeous.
The RUN
This sport is another struggle for me. Hmm, I just realized only 1 out of 3 sports sound good to me, and I signed up for this race anyway. If there's anything to be said about a triathlon, it may be that the sum is greater than the parts. The cross-training certainly helped avoid any boredom, which is my main beef with running. I am by no means fast, and I'm sure there's more of a science to pacing and such, but my goal was just to run (read: jog) and not walk. A few weeks ago some knee pain had me taking a lighter load for a week, but in general, I found myself enjoying my run workouts. I used a free podcast program (NHS couch to 5K -- look it up on itunes. It's good stuff, and occasionally I laugh at the British phrases that catch me off guard). The music may leave a little to be desired, but I find it positive and motivating, which is what I need.
My training calendar was from Eric Harr, and reading his book was highly motivating. Actually, true confessions, George is hoping that my consumption of triathlon literature now dissipates. There is so much to read and learn out there, I really was completely fascinated with all things triathlon this summer.
THE RACE
First pictures. Stories later.
Swim 11:07 T1 4:28 Bike 1:00:09 T2 1:22 Run 33:32 TOTAL 1:50:36
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
Weekend Warriors
Last weekend we went hiking.
In our efforts to become more familiar with more of Wisconsin, we are trying to make some local weekend trips. Henry has been asking to go hiking, so we went back to our favorite (and most popular) state park in Wisconsin, Devil's Lake.
We planned to wear/carry Grant and do a light hike to see how Henry would do.
The first trail was "an easy, wide path along the bottom of the south end of the East Bluff." However, as we proceeded and could see all the rock formations and hear people hiking the bluff above us, Henry begged for more. We proceeded cautiously, choosing a more challenging trail. Two hours later we finished up our roughly 2.5 mile "difficult, steep climb with scenic views and stone steps, views of rounded 'potholes', and balanced rock". Amazingly, Henry did very well, acting as if he were part mountain goat and only asking to be carried once the whole day. We managed to avoid an angry hornet's nest as some other poor hikers were the "canaries in the coal mine" for us, so we enjoyed our challenging hike and everyone remained happy during the afternoon (which is no small feat by itself).
In our efforts to become more familiar with more of Wisconsin, we are trying to make some local weekend trips. Henry has been asking to go hiking, so we went back to our favorite (and most popular) state park in Wisconsin, Devil's Lake.
We planned to wear/carry Grant and do a light hike to see how Henry would do.
The first trail was "an easy, wide path along the bottom of the south end of the East Bluff." However, as we proceeded and could see all the rock formations and hear people hiking the bluff above us, Henry begged for more. We proceeded cautiously, choosing a more challenging trail. Two hours later we finished up our roughly 2.5 mile "difficult, steep climb with scenic views and stone steps, views of rounded 'potholes', and balanced rock". Amazingly, Henry did very well, acting as if he were part mountain goat and only asking to be carried once the whole day. We managed to avoid an angry hornet's nest as some other poor hikers were the "canaries in the coal mine" for us, so we enjoyed our challenging hike and everyone remained happy during the afternoon (which is no small feat by itself).
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| George did the bulk of the work by just hauling Grant up and down the rocky trail. |
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| Here we are at the top! |
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