Why Didn't Anyone Tell Me?

So I was reading on MSNBC this morning and saw this article:

Poor Jennifer Lopez. The new mom is training for a triathlon, but everyone is too busy watching the Olympics to notice.

Lopez, who appeared on "Good Morning America" Aug. 18 to discuss her preparations for the Malibu Triathlon, was overheard saying after the segment that she “couldn’t understand why everyone is talking about that swimmer,” according to a GMA source. “She couldn’t come up with (eight-time gold-medal winner Michael) Phelps’ name, and then she yammered on about how she was the one training for a triathlon just six months after giving birth, and how that was the big story right now, not ‘the swimmer.’ ”

Lopez is planning on donating money raised for her race to the Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles. To help drum up attention, she started a blog to share tips on training. “Touch up makeup prior to your run” hasn’t made its way into any posts, despite Lopez being spotted arriving in Central Park with her makeup artist later in the day.

Apparently, Jenny from the Block requires a lot of powder,” says the source.

So, this is on the gossip page so who knows about its validity.....but why didn't you guys tell me I had to have my own personal makeup artist to compete?? Egads, this is going to throw a whole wrench in the training plans if I have to get my makeup done during transitions.

Pedals/Shoes

Don't you hate it when you are outdated and have no clue? I have pedal/shoe issues. My bike and shoes were hand me downs from my brother. I love my bike, but the shoes are not exactly...feminine. So I have been on a shoe hunt for awhile. I impulsively bought a pair of Carnac shoes off of ebay that I love and they fit perfectly....except they are old ones that require adapter plates which I finally hunted down and ordered. I got the ones for SPD's, but when I got them...they did not look quite right. Apparently I have an old type of two screw SPD's?

Please forgive my ignorance here....I know nothing about pedals or cleats. I thought all SPD's were the same but after a google hunt I realize I was wrong. So, so wrong. So basically I am going to need new shoes, cleats, and pedals? I have no clue what kind of pedals to get. Shoes should be simple and I have had my eye on a pair at the bike store....but the pedals are making me stop and think. Suggestions? What do you guys ride in?

I will be doing some looking at the bike stores, but I need a place to start. Not to mention the fact last time I went to one of the bike stores to look at shoes, the guy looked me up and down and then asked if I need shoes for spin class. I probably should not have taken offence to this but I kind of did. I informed him that they were for my road bike and he looked visibly startled. Seriously, I realize I am not thin and lithe like most cyclists, but that is really not a good reaction for a store clerk to ever have. Ever. I have not been back to that store since. Luckily, there are several others and when I go looking time, I want to know exactly what to say and what to ask for so even though I may not look like a typical cyclist, I can at least sound like a knowledgeable one! The Hotter N Hell 100 also has a huge consumer show so I am thinking that I could always pick up stuff there as a reward for finishing the race!

Hot Dam 2008

Well I did survive the run. It was not pretty and and it was not overly enjoyable, but I did finish. Dead last. That was a huge blow to my ego, but in a way it does make me want to work at it more.
To start from the beginning, I knew I was in trouble from the start. Actually from before the start as I was watching everyone line up. I was surrounded by real runners. You know the types. The kind of people that were obviously jackrabbits in another life. I did manage to get in with a group of similarly shaped people only to find out that they were just doing the 2 mile run. I was very tempted at the one mile turn around to just do the two mile, but I knew I would be disappointed in myself if I did that so I plodded on. The course had more hills than I expected but it was a pretty run around a small lake. A lake that I contemplated swimming across after the 2.5 mile turn around thinking it would be fast to swim across than continue running. I figured it would be frowned upon by the officials and that I really had no idea what kind of muck was in there.
I kept the person ahead of me in sight but barely. I tried desperately to keep up, but the second half was a lot of walking and I just had no more go. What was really bad was when one of race officials came driving up behind me and asked if I needed help. Mortified, I told him that I planned on continuing on my own steam even if it was very slow steam. None the less, a car followed me the rest of the way in which I suppose is the usual protocol, but still frustrating to me.
I averaged 12 minutes a mile which is pretty darn slow and I am embarrassed to type it, but I am doing it anyways because everything from here is going to be faster. MUCH faster. And really, I am semi relieved it was that fast considering the amount of walking I did.

After the race was over, I escaped pretty quickly and stopped and got a drink and two bags of ice. Climbing out of the car after sitting for awhile was pretty painful and I was glad I got the ice. I went to make an ice bath but apparently I was a little more brain dead than I though because when I turned the water on, I turned it all the way to hot instead of cold. I did realize the error pretty quickly but the bath ended up not quite as cold as it should have been. I think it still helped a lot though because I am not nearly as sore as I thought I would be today.

I still don't think this was fun at all, but it was very educational. Mostly because it did enlighten me to that fact I am going to have to really get it in gear and start working on speed work. But, I did finish and that is what matters. And now, I know that if I can do a 5 mile, I can do a 10k. Which is my next goal...and hopefully do it a little faster!! Thanks for all of your support and great suggestions! I appreciate all of you!

What a Whiner

I used to think that my pain threshold was pretty high but I have decided now that I am just a big baby. Running on Tuesday, I got a leg cramp and got frustrated. I could not understand why I could not just run and be happy, but several things dawned on me.

1) I am not used to pain. I am used to exhaustion after long bike rides, but I seldom ever hurt. Even swimming does not really hurt me at this point; it just makes me worn out.

2) I don't push myself to that pain threshold. I carefully side-step it and really avoid putting in that extra mile if I know it is going to be painful.

3) Running is going to hurt. It is a very physical, sometimes jarring exercise. It will hurt sometimes and it is going to be hard. Tough. Get over it. Stop being a wimp.

Trijones posted something about Ironman Cozumel the other day and I thought to myself that it would be a really great goal, but at this rate, an Ironman is several years in the future if at all. If I am really going to do this, I am going to have to get serious, quit whining and put my big girl panties on. Am I going to be someone who does one sprint Tri and then quits because I have done one and that is enough? Or am I going to actually push it, do my sprint this year, half iron next, and then possibly.....? Only time will really tell, but first I am going to have to make some decisions on if I want to be tough enough. You gotta want it and not just talk about wanting it.

Leah, thanks for the advice on the ice and ibuprofen. It helped a lot and once I stopped hurting, it is amazing how my attitude changed! I also went and got the books you recommended and just reading them gets me motivated and excited! Thanks for all of your great advice and help!

Positive thinking down the tubes

You know how I wrote all of those positive things yesterday about running? I would like to send myself a message from reality.

TTTHHHHBBBBBBTTTTTTTT.

I have a feeling Saturday is going to be a nice 5 mile stroll. Possibly with a pimp cane if my stupid calf does not settle down. Booty.

Read the Fine Print

So I went running yesterday in preparation for a 5K I signed up to do this weekend. I ran about 2 1/2 miles and was thinking to myself that I was going to get through this run so much easier than my last one that I did not train for at all.

Then I actually read the entry form.

And realized it was a 5 mile run, not a 5K.

For most of you, this would not be a big deal. But for me, every single yard is difficult. Adding 1.9 miles to the plan is devastating in my mind. I briefly considered dropping down to the 2 mile run, but that would not be a challenge. I am going to do the 5 miles and recognize that while it is going to be painful and I am not really prepared for it, it is going to put me a lot closer to that 10K goal I have. Which then in turn will get me closer to that half marathon. Even though my mind is screaming at me that I can't do this, I know in my heart that I am tough and can get through this although it may be slower than I wanted. So, instead of approaching this with dread, I am going to be excited because this will be the furthest I have ever run!

Stupid Goggles

Ok I swam. It was not bad, but I remembered now the irritation I used to have Scuba diving when your dive mask would fog up. When diving masks fog up or get water in them, you can easily clear them. Not so with swimming goggles. So, I tried spit. No go. (I have crummy anti-fogging spit) I made my whole family spit in my goggles. Nothing. I tried toothpaste. Nope. Any other suggestions? I know they have anti fog spray, but I have not really looked for it yet.

As far as the actual swimming goes.....I need a coach. Seriously. I have been trying to get a picture in my head of how I look, but it is all bad. (imagine throwing a cat into the pool and watching it try to get out. That is me) I know I can get through the 500 M I need for the race just fine, but anything more than that and I am going to need considerable help with form. I have a feeling I am just wasting a lot more energy than I need to be.

Panic has now set in since my first triathlon is in less than 50 days. I had to take down my counter because it was giving me mini panic attacks. I know it will not be a big deal, but I just want to get through this one so I can go on to bigger and better! I have started looking for clothes to wear. I keep learning towards purchasing the one piece tri suits because they look so easy, but advice on this would be welcome! Suggestions? For this first triathlon, it is in reverse order with a pool swim last so at least I don't have to worry about a wetsuit!

In other news, HI TRIJONES!!!! I love your blog too!! Although some days, I might say some ugly things about you in my head because you are one of the ones that got this stupid triathlon idea in my head. Yes, you. Stop looking around at the other bloggers. Yes, there are some others to blame, but I would say you are in the top 3. So nice to hear from you!