The End -- Or Is It?

FINALLY! Sunday! Race Day!!

The alarm greeted me promptly at 4:30AM. I gave myself another five minutes and then rolled out of bed to start getting ready. I had packed up my new, way-cool transition bag the night before. Check out http://www.rocketsciencesports.com/RJ_Bag_Page.php if you'd like to see a picture. It rocked! I was able to get all of my goodies, gadgets and gear into one bag and strap it on my back unlike many of my teammates who had to lug multiple bags. Plus, the snazzy red and black matched my bike --which, of course, is very important. As Andreas said, I'm a "girl first, athlete second!" Special thanks to Marcin Sochacki, CEO extraordinaire at Rocket Science Sports, for sending it to my hotel via Express Mail after a shipping mixup.

OK, enough of the shameless plug for a future sponsorship (hint, hint Marcin). I hustled downstairs and found that I was the first to arrive. I remembered to take my allergy medication and decided to munch on a granola bar since swimming always makes me hungry. We headed off to the park and as Sherry tried to keep us calm and motivated, I simply tried to keep my eyes open. We arrived at the park and I started practicing my eyelash batting so I could find some guy with a pump to inflate my tires. Fortunately, the folks parked next to us were kind enough to offer us their pump and let us just stash it under their car when we were done -- no eyelash batting required. See Geoffrey! I really DON'T need a bike pump!

Tires inflated and time for the bodymarking. I'd have to say that this is the most humiliating part of the process. Walking around with my age tattooed to my calf does not exactly do wonders for my psyche. Aren't girls supposed to keep folks guessing? I considered lying to the volunteer, but I'm so terrified of breaking rules, I worried that that little white lie would cost me, so I decided to tell the truth. Tires inflated, body marked, time to head to the transition area. This is where you store all of your gear for your (supposed) lightning fast changes between the swim and the bike (T1) and the bike and the run (T2). I remember Sherry saying something about counting the number of rows to our assigned row so that we could easily find our spot at transition time. Yeah, right. First, I'm not that hardcore that every second in transition makes a difference to me, and second, I can't even remember my name during a race so I knew I wouldn't remember my rack row. All I had to do was look at one of my arms or legs to get my race number and then just find it on the big sign. Huh. I guess bodymarking IS good for something! I did do one smart thing. I racked my bike in the very last spot of my row next to the fence. That way, it would be easy to get to and my family could find me. Wow! Race day and I'm thinking clearly?! Maybe this will be OK after all.

Wow! My heart is starting to beat faster just thinking about the start of the race! Once I had all of my gear neatly arranged on my transition mat, I decided to wiggle into my wetsuit. I was checking my heart rate periodically and noted that it was already on a steady climb and it wasn't even 7AM. The announcer explained that based on the way they handle the race start, the last participant wouldn't enter the water until almost 9AM -- TWO HOURS after the first one. Regardless, I decided to get prepared early to avoid any unnecessary panic when it was my turn to take the plunge. I found my teammates and chatted and talked with my other rackmates. I am very much in love with my husband, but I have to tell you that there were some incredible creatures in that transition area. Under normal circumstances I would have simply made a mental note of that but my nervous energy forced me to blurt out my observations at times. There was a very well-sculpted man from Senegal who probably thinks I'm a nut! Oh well, chalk it up to nerves! At that point, the pros were just starting to get in the water and I figured I still had at least an hour to kill. I figured I ought to find my family for some moral support. Also, I knew that if I didn't get that highly publicized wetsuit photo, I'd never hear the end of it from a few folks at work who dug deep at donation time when I promised to deliver! What do you think, Brian? :-)

The pros were off! How amazing to see all of these wesuit-clad, yellow-capped people take a running start and dive into the most disgusting water you've ever seen in your life! If you've ever seen triathlon events on television and found it fascinating (like me), you have GOT to see it in person! It's quite a thrill. After the pros dove in, the relay swimmers were up next. I have to say, I'm not as impressed by these guys (and girls). They only had to do one leg, while the rest of us schmucks had to suck up the entire 30+ miles! Heck, even I could be competitive if I only had to focus on one sport! They all started the race in one big wave -- probably because the race directors (like me) felt that their one sport wussiness was enough of an advantage over the rest of the field already! Last, the 'age-groupers' were ready to start. That's what they call the rest of us folks who compete in this sport for the love of the journey and not the allure of cash and prizes.

The time had finally come! The race announcer said that everyone with numbers between 800 and 900 should find their place in line. With bib number 889, that was my cue. I headed over to the swim start and got into position. Fortunately, Sherry was there with words of encouragement that I sorely needed. If you look closely in one of the pictures, you can see Sherry with her arm around me giving me last minute words of wisdom. I can't remember everything she said, but I felt nearly invincible by the time she finished with me. How awesome is Mama Duck? After talking to Sherry, I was so calm I could even wave to my family just as the person before me was lowering her goggles to run into the water. Just as rehearsed, I made it to the front of the line, a volunteer put her hand on my shoulder, waited three seconds after the previous participant and said "Go!" In my world, total avoidance of public embarrassment is key. So, after watching (literally) hundreds of people plunge in the water before me, I decided that I was going to at least look good going in and save the pathetic flailing for once I was out of the public view. Off I went, roaring into the water to start my race. In I went and "Yoweee!" This water seems colder than yesterday. Then, "Dang it!" Did someone just punch me in the head?! OK, so much for avoiding public embarrassment. I stood up and tried to restart. I think I made it just past the point where you could no longer touch the mushy bottom of the lake before I realized that this was going horribly wrong. I practiced all of the techniques Molly coached me through the day before. Unfortunately, they were way too tiring to keep up for any significant length of time. Then, a little voice flashed back to Friday's run in the drizzle and said "Suck it up!" So, I plunged my head back in the water and went back to freestyle. "Oh crap, that hurts!" Out again, I winced with pain as it became clearer that anything involving my head and that water was not going to be good. At that moment, a 'distinguished gentleman' came whizzing by me -- doing the backstroke. I giggled to myself and figured, if he can, so can I! I flipped over and took off. After a few strokes, I realized that I had no idea where I was going because after being bumped a few times already, I worried about fully extending my arms without knowing who was in front of me. I flipped back over and just as I had suspected, I had made great progress, but in a sideways fashion -- nearly ZERO forward progress. Again, I thought "This is going to be a LONG day!" Finally, I remembered something that one of the TNT alums told me. She once pulled herself along the rope! I made my way to the rope, flipped back over and attempted the same. It worked! After doing this for a few minutes, I started feeling invincible again and decided to return to freestyle. "Dang! It STILL hurts!" I flipped back over and one of the safety boats paddled over to me. I guess they had been watching me for a while because one of the volunteers yelled over to me, "Go back to the rope, Dummy!" OK, she didn't say "Dummy" but that was certainly how I felt at that point. I obeyed orders and made it to the first large buoy. I resigned myself to the fact that this would have to be my strategy for the entire course when I discovered that after that first buoy, there was no more rope! "Crap! What do I do now?" I went back to a combination sidestroke/backstroke/dog paddle/tread water routine that was incredibly tiring. I even tried to comply with the "Suck it up!" devil on my shoulder but I just couldn't do it. The swimming was effortless but the pain was unbearable. Then, a huge wave of fellow 'age-groupers' descended upon me. I'm not exactly sure how many times I got elbowed in the head, but it was enough to dislodge my breakfast and for me to call it quits. I knew that I would be disqualified for requesting to be pulled out of the water, but the angel on my other shoulder kept telling me that my family would KILL me if I drowned out there! So, I forced myself to make it to the halfway point and then waved my arms like crazy so that the volunteers would come get me.

So, I took the 'boat ride of shame' back to dry land and contemplated what to do next. I saw Andreas trying to keep an eye on the boys and me simultaneously -- a move that he has perfected over the years (both literally and figuratively). He was starting to look increasingly worried when he couldn't find me in the water so I walked right up to him and said "Looking for me?" I must have caught him off guard because he seemed unsure of how to respond. I don't really remember much of the rest of the conversation because the tears started welling up at that point. He immediately sensed my despair and had the boys give me sticky ring pop kisses and tell me that they were proud of me. I told him I needed to find Sherry and wandered off. Sherry cursed my doctors for not doing more for me knowing that I was going to compete no matter what. She told me it was OK and suggested that I go out on the bike course as another of my teammates had done after making an immediate u-turn upon entering the water. I told her that probably wouldn't make me feel better and maybe I should just pack up my stuff. I sulked over to my transition rack to ponder my next move. Then, as if on cue, that omnipresent voice of Big Al (my Dad) whispered in my ear, "So, what are you going to do -- pack up your tent and go home?" I honestly don't know what that means, but every time he's said it I've swallowed my pride and trudged on. So, I peeled off my wetsuit and swim cap, pulled on my socks and bike shoes, grabbed my helmet, gloves, sunglasses and bike and headed for the bike start.

Sherry had counseled us that the bike start was a bit funky because it was at the bottom of a hill so you had to make sure you were in the right gear in order to make it up since you wouldn't have any momentum to help you out. I had listened to all of that and given my neuro-issues, she thought it might be best for me to walk my bike up the hill and avoid any risk of falling. I thought about this briefly as I headed for the bike mount line. I decided to scrap her good advice because I could feel my stubbornness kicking in. There was no way in heck that this course was going to beat me twice! I was riding my bike up that hill even if it killed me! I smiled to myself as I effortlessly mounted my bike and made that climb as others beside me struggled to find the right gear and make forward progress. "See you later SUCKERS!" I thought to myself. "See, you can do it!" I told myself. So what, your times won't count and you can kiss that four-hour goal goodbye. So what?! Who really cares?! All of these people cheering me on don't even know that! All of the people who will benefit from the funds I've raised couldn't care less. Most importantly, my family and friends will still love me regardless of what happens. It's all about perspective. It's all about the journey and Sherry is right -- I HAVE loved every minute of it. That was what went through my mind over the next 25 miles. It was a beautiful morning and I got to ride my bike through the most serene landscape and I couldn't have asked for anything better. The course was nice and flat, so at times I was able to pick up a little speed and even exceed my own expectations. Now that I had my head on straight, I never even bothered to check my distance on my bike computer. "Who cares where I am on the course or how long it takes? I'm having fun, darn it!" Finally, when I was making one of the last turns on the bike course, I saw a familiar car with an even more familiar looking couple inside. I thought for a minute, "Hey I know those people!" I started waving frantically and the car slowed and then the driver waved back through the sunroof. It was my cousin Harold and his wife Ronda! How cool! Now, with the pressure off, I actually pedaled beside them for a few minutes and thanked them for coming to see me and directed them to where they would find Andreas and my brother Carl. It was a GOOD day!

I sailed back to the transition area and saw Vallery. She asked if I was going to do the run and I responded "Heck no!" While I was simply there for enjoyment at that point, my ego still didn't want me to be the last person to finish. I made my way to my transition rack and there were Carl, Andreas and the boys waiting for me. I worried that Andreas would be angry with me because when we last talked I told him I was done for the day -- which was before 'the voice of Al' intervened. What was I thinking?! He was as proud as could be that I kept going and urged me to go out on the run too. How could I argue? The 'voice of Al' was replaced by the support and encouragement of Andreas and Carl, so off I went. I ran (OK, jogged) out of the transition area and out of the park. I started having trouble keeping my hat on my head because my hands weren't working so well anymore. As if summoned, Ronda and Harold immediately appeared. They had just parked and were walking down to find Carl and Andreas. I gave them my hat and off I went -- yet another in a series of small miracles and blessings that I experienced that day.

At this point, there were very few people still on the course and most of the spectator attention was focused on the stream of people entering the final stretch to the finish line. Even so, I ran on. Then, I heard a voice yelling "Stephanie!" I figured there were 2,000 people in this race, so surely this crazy person was calling another Stephanie. A few more steps down the road and that crazy person got even louder. I turned around just to check and realized that the crazy person was Sherry! She then yelled out, "Where are you GOING?" Can you believe it? I made a wrong turn and was heading off course! Apparently, one of the signs had fallen down and I was following the bike course instead of the run course. I backtracked and Sherry ran beside me for a quarter of a mile or so. I said a couple of bad words (sorry Mom and Dad) and then regained my composure. Sherry went into MD mode (since she's a medical doctor by training) and asked how I was feeling. "How's your head? Any slurring? Are you sure?" I gave all the right answers and continued on my way. I noticed that there were far more people coming back in from the run than just starting out like me, but I kept on and the encouragement poured in. I was wearing my purple Team in Training racing jersey so all of my fellow TNT'ers made sure to yell out a hearty "Go Team!" as they passed. I saw John and Nikol from Birmingham and felt all warm and fuzzy to have folks encourage me by name. Then, a few people passed me from behind and even they were encouraging me by name. How the heck did THEY know my name? After the third or fourth person, I laughed out loud and thought, "Duh! You painted your name on the back of your jersey, Silly!" So, on and on I went ticking off the miles in my head as I passed each marker. It was starting to get a bit warm so I slowed at each rest area to grab a cup of Gatorade. Finally, I reached the turn-around point and it was time to "Round third and head for home" as Joe Nuxhall of Cincinnati Reds fame used to say. I had been following a steady run/walk routine for most of the course. I figured that since it was starting to heat up, it was better to be safe than sorry since I had been having trouble keeping my heart rate out of the 190s lately. Then, somewhere between the four and five mile markers, here comes Mama Duck. As soon as I saw her I yelled out "What are YOU doing here?!" She answered "I came to bring you in!" Can I just tell you that I LOVE this woman? We ran/walked the last mile TOGETHER -- Mama Duck and Baby Duck. It was cool and touching and special all at the same time. When we got to the leveee --the last stretch before the finish line -- Mama Duck fell back so I could cross the finish line on my own. Greg and his wife Rose, Vallery and her friend Lydia, Harold and Ronda, Carl, Andreas, Peter and Joshua were all lined up. I was high-fiving like I had just done something special. Then, all of a sudden I realized that I really HAD done something special. I stuck it out. I persevered and I finished what I started. How cool. See Dad! I didn't pack up my tent! I get it now! It feels good.

Thanks for reading my story. It was fun to write and a blast to live. There was much celebration after the race. We posed for family pictures and Carl showed me that he had clocked me on his stopwatch and had I been able to manage the swim, I would have beaten my time goal. "Maybe next time?" he said with a question in his voice. I hope that my story will provide encouragement to others who want to make a difference or face a challenge. I hope it sets a good example for my boys. I know it had an impact. Today, when we picked up Peter from a playdate, we asked what they did. He replied, "We played triathlon. We pretended to swim, took turns riding Ben's bike and then ran." I still haven't wiped the smile off of my face.

Was this my last triathlon? I don't know. I probably have a few doctor visits in my future, but there's a short distance race on Saturday that could be pretty fun . . . I promised Geoffrey that I would be there. The question is, will I be RACING or VOLUNTEERING?

Stay tuned!

The Big Event -- Saturday

Saturday! Sherry let us sleep in a bit so we didn't meet in the hotel lobby until about 9AM. Everyone from the Alabama/Gulf Coast chapter of TNT rode caravan-style from the hotel to the park. Sherry (AKA Mama Duck) led the way. Occasionally she check on her ducklings by calling to make sure everyone was keeping up. I was the last one to get in her truck, so she told me I had to wear the 'dunce cap'. It was really a thermal swim cap. When I declined, SHE decided to wear it. Just then, her phone rang and she instinctively stuck her cell phone inside the cap. "Cool!" she said. "It's the redneck's answer to Bluetooth!" Gotta love her!





After a quick stop to McDonald's, we rode out to the park. We all picked up our race packets and then wiggled into our wetsuits for a practice swim. Sherry told us to swim out to the sixth buoy and wait there for her to give us sighting instructions. I made it to the first buoy when the cold water stopped me dead in my tracks. I mentioned this in my thank you email and a few people wrote back and told me "You should have been wearing a wetsuit!" Dudes! I WAS wearing a wetsuit, but not on my FACE! I've got a whole bunch of funky things happening with my head that were just revealed in an MRI that I had last week. Hey Geoffrey! I guess I forgot to tell you that part when I asked why my practice lake swim at Oak Mountain was so awful!! Oops!! In fact, my neurosurgeon refused to clear me for the race then said "But I know you well enough to know that you're going to do it anyway!" So, that cold water hitting my face just felt like a shotgun blast every time I stuck my face in the water. I even rationalized that if I took longer breaths, that would give me time to recover, but the longer I swam the worse it got. Our TNT coordinator, Molly, even got in with me WITHOUT A WETSUIT -- God love her! She had me practice swimming without putting my face in the water. That helped with the pain, but it was incredibly tiring. After weeks of 6AM swim sessions, I've perfected my stroke to a nice rhythm that feels very effortless. I was at a loss to find a reasonable substitute. I finally made it to that sixth buoy but the group was long gone so I decided to head back to dry land. Sherry and I had a good talk when she got out of the water and I felt better mentally, but I was unsure if that was enough to get past the physical problems. I was looking forward to getting back to the hotel to see Andreas and the boys because if anybody can talk me through a difficult issue, it's 'mein Mann!'



I got back to the hotel just in time to nurse my raging headache and wait for Team Rauterkus. After a quick reunion we headed downstairs to meet my brother Carl for the pre-race Pasta Party. It was great to see my big brother. We don't get to see each other much, but he's always been a huge supporter of mine as I have tried to be for him. The participants, families and friends loaded up on carbs and listened to inspirational speeches from leukemia survivors and family members reminding us of why we were there. It was a bit somber, but it helped put the race in perspective and remind me of one of the team slogans -- "If you think training is hard, try chemotherapy!" Looking at it that way, that lake felt like a piece of cake.





After dinner, we met downstairs for a team meeting with just our chapter. Sherry briefed us on every aspect of the race and answered all of our last minute questions. Finally, at about 9PM, Sherry asked if there were any more questions. I said "Yes, can I go to bed now?" She said, "No, all of the Birmingham people have to stay for one more thing." I groaned and did as I was told. I learned early on that you don't argue with Mama Duck. Sherry then pulls out a little bag of supplies and proceeds to paint all of our toenails purple and green (TNT colors)! She made Greg (the only guy) go first. It was GREAT! She said that she's been doing that as long as she has been coaching TNT. I just had to take a picture!





Finally, after putting our names on the backs of our jerseys, it was time to head upstairs to pack our race bags and get some sleep before the big day. The TNT shuttles were rolling out at 4AM, but since we drove, Sherry said we didn't have to meet until 5. It still stunk, but I'll take a 4:30AM wakeup call over a 3:30AM call any day! I headed upstairs to see my family one more time before the race and go over all of my last minute details. Andreas was anxiously waiting for me, but the boys had nodded off already. Mama Duck had given us all toy ducks at dinner and even gave the boys baby ducks. Joshua fell asleep holding a whole family of ducks to which he had quickly laid claim. I tried to capture them all in the picture, but I think they had fallen under the covers.




It was 10:30 PM. Time to catch the opening scene of Saturday Night Live, get my last minute pep talk from Andreas and *try* to sleep. I was right, Andreas said all of the right things and I had a new feeling of confidence about the race. I went over the course in my mind as I drifted off to a restless sleep. I decided to break tradition and not even set hard goals this time. I just reminded myself of one very important thing that Sherry said -- "Enjoy the journey." At that point, the final results didn't matter, I worked hard and enjoyed every step of the way. All I needed to do was go out and have fun. That was exactly what I planned to do!


Coming up . . . THE GRAND FINALE!

The Big Event -- Friday

So, Friday started out great. Andreas and I went down to the Lakeshore Trail here in Birmingham and ran a 5-mile out and back course. It even drizzled a bit at the start and as I had my hand on the car door to turn around and go back home, my wonderful husband turned to me and said "Suck it up!"

So, off we went. I don't know if it was fear of messing up my hair, proving to Andreas that I wasn't a wimp or just a good day, but I clocked my best times ever! I ran 11-minute miles to the turn-around point and felt great! Unfortunately, my heart rate monitor said otherwise. I had gotten up to a max heart rate of 197 bpm. Just to be safe, we decided to walk the next 1/4 mile. After a little breather, it was back to the 11-minute pace. I have to tell you, I felt like a rock star!

Next, it was home to eat, shower, pack and head out. We picked up my bike from the shop, dropped it off at Sherry's house and then Andreas dropped me off at my teammate Vallery's office. Vallery and I then headed back to Sherry's house so that we (Vallery and me, Sherry and our other teammate Greg) could all drive to Memphis carvan-style. We made it to Memphis around 7PM and headed to The Rendezvous for their world-famous ribs. After dinner it was back to the hotel and lights out!

I have to say that I was feeling pretty sorry for myself Friday night and Saturday morning. I was the only one on my team who didn't have family or friends there to share the experience. It felt strange too given that I was in Memphis -- the birthplace of BOTH my parents! Well, as luck would have it, I scored a single room. After checking with Sherry, I called Andreas and BEGGED him to bring the boys a day early. They had a birthday party to attend Saturday morning, but promised to be in Memphis by 4PM on Saturday! Woohoo! On top of that, Peter made me feel all warm and fuzzy when he told me that his teacher, Mrs. Krueger, had all of the kids say a special 'Hail Mary' for me at the beginning of afternoon prayers -- and she even gave him a special hug to pass along to me! How cool is that?!

Coming up next, Saturday's adventures . . .

Lake Swimming and Allergies Don't Mix!

So, there are just a few days until the big event. I figured it would be a good idea to try out a lake swim to see what I'm in for. Andreas graciously agreed to go with me after we dropped off the boys at school.

It was a little cold, but I had my wetsuit, so that was OK. It's shallow enough at one end that you can actually stand up the whole way, so it wasn't that scary. The bad part was that about 10 minutes into my swim, my nasal passages and throat started burning like crazy! I tried as hard as I could to swim those five laps (1500 yards), but I was just miserable. I told Andreas and he wasn't surprised given all of the pollen floating on the water. I've been out of the lake now for three hours and I'm still sneezing and blowing my nose like a maniac. We went straight to Wally-World after leaving the lake to get me some allergy drugs! It's better now, but still not great. I'm hoping that I can medicate this problem away. If not, I'm SO SCREWED! I don't think backstroke would be a good idea in a field of 2,000 participants!

Any suggestions anyone? Anyone?!

Sorry Geoffrey!

So Geoffrey takes issue with my plan to train as much as I can until Memphis in May. You see, what Geoffrey doesn't understand is that training like a maniac for these last 10 days makes me FEEL BETTER. That's important right?

Of course, there are other things that I will do to (as my 3-year old would say) "Feel me better". Next week I'll get my hair done so I have one less thing to worry about on race day. One day this week I'll get my FloJo manicure and pedicure. I'll start the routine of double checking and triple checking all of my gear. Maybe I'll splurge on that transition bag I've had my eye on. Closer to race day I'll start working on my mantra -- something like "Don't die, don't die, don't die!" Of course, I'll review my goals and give thanks that I've made it this far. Probably the most important items on my pre-race checklist are my doctor visits. Today I have an MRI and a follow-up with my neurosurgeon. Last week, Sherry and I were thinking I was dripping CSF out of my nose. Andreas saw the drip and told me to taste it to see if I could tell what it was. Wouldn't that assume that I know what snot tastes like? Surely, Peter and Joshua would have a much better idea! Next week I've got a follow-up visit with Dr. Sophia. Hmmm. I should probably start working on that excuse for why I never went to physical therapy . . . .

Last night, I had a WAY COOL fundraiser at the California Pizza Kitchen. Holla! to Tasker at CPK and everyone who came out to support me. I raised over $120 for LLS last night!! Woohoo!!

Well, the hot tub is warm so it's time to soothe my aching body. By the way, Geoffrey, here's what I've done so far:

Yesterday: 5.8 mile run (knees didn't SUCK too bad)
Today: 8.5 mile super hilly (975 ft elevation gain) bike (almost stroked out at one point) followed by a 2 mile moderately hilly (350 ft elevation gain) run (too pooped from the bike to push too hard)
Tonight: 1500 yard open water swim with Franklin

Is that too much? ;-)

Dollars for Scholars: 4/25/2008

You know, I really have to learn to look good for the camera as I'm finishing a race. This picture doesn't say much. It says something like "where's the port-a-potty?" I'll do better next time!

Run Through the Pain

Now I feel like a REAL athlete. I'm in pain. I'm in pain when I run. I'm in pain when I walk. I'm in pain when I sit. I'm in pain when I stand. Hmm. Kinda sounds like the beginning of a twisted Dr. Seuss book.

Anyway, the point is that now I've learned to categorize my pain. Forget about that silly pain scale at the doctor's office. I've developed my own scale. It goes from "Oh, that's an interesting little twinge." to "Oh crap! This might cause permanent damage!!" I've now decided that anything in the "interesting twinge" to "Dear Lord, please let this go away soon!" range is manageable. Anything above that is a little tricky.

I know it sounds silly, but it feels like the more I work through the pain, the stronger my knees get. Ugh. I know I'm just rationalizing here, but I'm not prepared for the MAJOR LETDOWN that I will feel if I can't finish this race.

Current plan: Now that my work commitments are a bit lighter, train as much as I can and keep my fingers crossed!

That will work, right?

I am SOOOOOO Not Ready!

I'm not ready. I'm NOT ready. I'm NOT READY. I'M NOT READY. I'M NOT READY!

That's what I've been thinking ever since I woke up this morning. I'm not ready.

I sat on the couch and checked my email and that little voice whispered, "You're not ready."

I lugged all of my gear to the car and headed for the pool and thought: I'm not ready.

Realizing that my congestion hadn't subsided as much as I had hoped, I could barely swim two laps without gasping for air. How can I be ready?

When my friend Norma-May slipped into the lane next to me, I really wanted to impress her with my swimming skills. I hardly think that my near-puking experience at the far end of the pool knocked her socks off. Ready? Me? Yeah, right!

Mercifully, Sherry told us to get dressed and meet her in the lobby so that we could talk about this final stretch. We talked about nutrition and hydration and what to expect on race day. After the others headed off to work, Sherry asked if I could stay a bit longer. I thought, "See, even Sherry knows I'm not ready but she's kind enough not to embarrass me in front of everyone else. After everyone was gone, I figured I'd go first to make the conversation less painful.

Let me just say (again) that Sherry is a saint and I'm a better person for knowing her. In a nutshell she told me that she has no doubt that I can finish the Memphis in May triathlon. The rest is between us girls. ;-)

Be well!

I'm Not Spoiled

I saw a license plate holder recently that read, "I'm not spoiled, my husband just loves me!"
I LOVED it! That is SOOO me! Geoffrey teases me endlessly about all of my gadgets and Frank and Greg call Andreas "Bobby Knight" because he is always getting on me when he doesn't think I'm training hard enough. However, HE is the one who encourages me to get all of the gadgets. I guess he realizes that I need incentives and he's always happy to give them to me.
I have to say that this weekend, after seeing that license plate holder, I did a quick assessment. I DO have it pretty good. On Saturday, I was able to practice swimming in my wetsuit in my backyard pool. It stunk having to turn constantly but I ordered a little contraption that will allow me to harness myself and swim in place. Anyway, after the swim, I hopped out of the pool and jumped on my bike which I had set up on my trainer overlooking the lake. I got to pedal for an hour while watching my kids fish and the geese tend to their baby goslings on the lake. Then, once my thighs were burning from the bike ride, I jumped into the hot tub which Andreas had already warmed up for me.
So, am I spoiled? Yes! Do we (Andreas and I) work hard for the wonderful life we get to enjoy? Absolutely! Are we thankful and appreciative for all of this? You bet! Life is so short. Not everyone is as blessed as we are. Just think about the folks who will benefit from the money I have raised. They are battling life-threatening illnesses! That makes shin splints and side-stitches sound pretty wimpy! So, when I have these reflective moments where I count my many blessings, I commit to this cause all over again. OK, I may be spoiled, but my husband DOES love me and I'm a better person for it. There is so much joy in this house, I feel I have no choice but to try to bring a little joy to others however I can.

Go TEAM!

Race Results

So, let's recap:

1. Goal #1: Perfect form. Check! I think the little Shakira-style hip wiggle helped!
2. Goal #2: No stopping/walking. Check! Sorry Sherry and Geoffrey!
3. Goal #3: Beat my Komen time of 40:17. Check! I actually finished in 37:48!

Best of all, I feel revived and recommitted. Nothing hurt afterwards or even when I woke up this morning. I guess I just have to face the ugly truth that I'm a geek who must actually *THINK* about how to run. Maybe THAT'S why my parents put me in coordination classes when I was a kid!

Go TEAM!

Goals for Today's Race

Oops! This is NOT a race. This is just a simple training run. Oops! I mean run/walk.
BUT -- if I were forced to set goals in the event that I were suddenly healthy and could compete in a race, what would they be?

1. Maintain perfect form!
2. Run the entire course without pain or fatigue causing me to walk.
3. Beat my Komen time of 40:17.

I think the first one is legitimate under any circumstances. Let's just call 2 and 3 "our little secret". ;-)

Fired Up and Ready to Go!

To borrow from a politician, I'm fired up and ready to go!

I have to admit, I wasn't all that fired up until I talked to Geoffrey this morning. You know, my idea of a good coach (or doctor or teacher or any other expert) is one who can always make you feel good about yourself and motivated about the task at hand no matter how utterly pathetic you are! So, Geoffrey rocks!

Let's talk about UTTERLY PATHETIC!

I set the alarm for 5AM but didn't wake up until 5:44AM when Joshua crawled into bed next to me and started planting kisses on my cheek to wake me up. I'll take that over an alarm clock ANY DAY!

I finally made it to the YMCA around 6:15 and the group was already suited up and in the pool. I slithered into my rubber glove (wet suit) and made my way through the water. The moment my head went under water it felt like it had been replaced with a 100 lb. boulder. Did I mention that I've had the flu (or at least a REALLY BAD cold) for the last week? What was worse was that at the end of each lap I had to wipe all of the disgusting snot off of my face and fling it onto the pool deck! TMI (Too Much Information)? Sorry!

Anyway, you get the picture. I'm still sick but I'm sucking it up and getting my workouts in. That's what REAL ahtletes do, right?

Well, Geoffrey was kind enough to put together a plan for me to get me back on track. The plan (thankfully) includes two runs with Geoffrey next week. Hopefully, that will be just the ticket to get me race ready.

Oh! Remember that whole 'pathetic' discussion of a few minutes ago? Here's another example to add to the list. I went with Andreas to pick up his race packet for a 10K that he is going to do. I was jealous over how well-stocked the goody bag was and signed up to do the 5K. Can you say, "Will race for free crap"?

I emailed Geoffrey and Sherry to tell them about the slightly accelerated workout plan. They made me promise to only do a walk/run and not go all out. Clearly, they are not familiar with me and my running style. I don't think I would EVER categorize it as "all out"!

Well, I hope the goodies are worth the inevitable knee pain I'll be feeling after this race. Stay tuned, I'll let you know how it all works out!

New Attitude!

• I'm feelin' good from my head to my shoes
• Know where I'm goin' and I know what to
  do
• I tidied up my point of view
• I got a new attitude!

OK. I'm lying, but a little Patti LaBelle in the morning never hurt anybody. I have THE MOST WONDERFUL MOTHER IN THE WORLD and her southern upbringing translated into several 'isms' that I've carried with me throughout my life. I've been reciting a few of those constantly since I haven't been feeling well and thought I'd share:

• Never give anyone the power to affect your mood!
• Always be sure that you can look yourself in the mirror and be happy with (and even proud of) the person who looks back at you!
• All you need is a PLAN!
• When bad things happen, take some time for yourself to work through your issues and then MOVE ON!

So, thanks to Mom, I'm moving on!! Memphis in May, HERE I COME!! Hit it Patti!

• It took it so high, so low
• So low, there was nowhere to go
• Like a dream
• Somehow the wires uncrossed, the tables were turned
• Never knew I had such a lesson to learn
• I'm feelin' good from my head to my shoes
• Know where I'm goin' and I know what to do
• I tidied up my point of view
• I got a new attitude
• I'm in control, my worries are few
• 'Cause I've got love like I never knew
• Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh
• I got a new attitude

Slacker!

The alarm greeted me at 5AM this morning as usual, but so did a nasty sore throat, aches and pains in all of my joints and a mile-long 'to-do' list. Soon after, I realized that I was getting a visit from my 'Aunt Flo' to boot! Great!! After a minute or two of careful consideration, I rolled back over and slept for another 30 minutes. Promptly at 5:30, my eldest, Peter, crawled in to bed next to me to form our daily 'Rauterkus Sandwich' with Peter and 'Papi' on the outside and Mommy squished in the middle. After about 15 minutes or so of snores and kicks and elbows from both sides I started fantasizing about how much more relaxing the pool would be at that point. Oh well, by then it was too late.

Of course, now the guilt sets in. Hmmm. Didn't work out yesterday, slept in today, have to work late tonight and have a crazy schedule tomorrow. Not looking good AT ALL!

OK, I can figure this out -- all I need is a PLAN!

• Today -- since I have to work until 10PM, I think this day is toast
• Friday -- if we cancel the TNT party at our house tomorrow, I can go to Peter's baseball game and run laps through the park for 45 minutes while he plays
• Saturday -- Perhaps I can make it to that 11AM Pilates class right after my work commitment and then swim a few laps.
• Sunday -- I REALLY need to get a bike ride in -- maybe I'll whine to Geoffrey to ride with me . . .

See, now that I have a plan, I don't feel so bad. Next, I'll have to come up with a plan for what I'm going to tell Sherry and Dr. Sophia about that physical therapy! Did I mention that my knees are KILLING ME?!

I'm off! Busy day today -- but I've got a plan so I'm not overwhelmed. What are YOUR plans for the day?

Injury? What Injury?

So Sherry told me not to race this weekend and sent me to a sports medicine doctor friend of hers for a second opinion. I went yesterday and left feeling quite pathetic. Iliotibial Band Syndrome, bursitis and tendonitis. She prescribed physical therapy 1-2 times per week for 4-6 weeks, icing the inflamed areas several times a day, anti-inflammatory medication for the pain, wearing only sneakers until the issue is resolved and, of course, no racing this weekend.

Hmmmm. Let's see. Is anything broken? No. Is there any blood or other oozing? No. Am I in danger of losing a limb or vital organ? No. Well, while the "Sophia Plan" is very detailed, responsible and addresses all of the issues that I have, it really doesn't fit my lifestyle. Let's see if we can 'massage' this just a bit in light of the fact that according to my own checklist I am in no imminent danger.

• PT 1-2 x per week? 1-2 times before I see Dr. Sophia again and Pilates once a week sounds more doable.
• Ice? Well, how about if I hold my Graeter's ice cream container against my knee as I polish off a quart of butter pecan this week?
• Anti-inflammatory meds? Ehh! That's for wimps!! Besides, if I've said it once, I've said it one thousand times -- how am I going to know how bad it hurts if I take pain killers?!
• Sneakers? Yeah, right! Sorry Dr. Sophia but I draw the line at fashion!

Yikes! I feel sorry for any doctor who has to deal with me. I'm not exactly a model patient. I can't help it. Bursitis?! Isn't that for, umm, OLD PEOPLE?! My grandmother talks about how she spends her days hanging out with Burt and Arthur ('Burt Sitis' and 'Arthur Itis' -- get it?). I'm too young to hang with Burt and Arthur I tell you! I know, I know, just call me Cleopatra (queen of 'De Nial'). I'm 39 but behaving like I'm 29.

Well, I'll say this one thing. All that really matters is that even though I'm making friends with Burt, my hair has turned 'salt and pepper', I have a little more 'junk in my trunk' than I used to and I'm the slowest triathlete on the planet, there is ONE PERSON who doesn't care about any of those things and likes me JUST AS I AM! You do, don't you honey?

Have a great day and enjoy life -- JUST AS YOU ARE!

Still Cold!

When I heard that the temperature was going to be in the 30s this morning, that should have been a sign. When I realized that I haven't gotten my wetsuit back yet, that should have been a sign. When Sherry called me just before I got to the pool to tell me NOT to swim, THAT should have been a sign. When NO ONE was in the pool when I got there, that CERTAINLY should have been a sign. But noooooooooooo, little Miss Bonehead, just had to swim today.

I have been out of the pool now for over an hour and I am STILL COLD! Did I mention that the pool is outside and the winter 'bubble' was removed last week? My plan was to swim 51 laps today. I barely got in 25. In fact, at one point I swam with my eyes closed thinking that I could lull myself into some sort of zen-like state and overcome the temperature. Well, the trouble with that is it's kind of hard to know when you've reached the end of the pool with your eyes closed! No worries. I opened my eyes before I broke my nose or caused any other injuries.

No worries! My colleague Eric says that all the time. I've found that he usually only says it when he's REALLY worried, but saying it (or typing it) out loud seems to have a calming effect. It's as if you say, yes, I'm freezing my rear end off and wishing I were anywhere but here, but what good is it to focus on THAT right now?! It's as if saying, there is ALWAYS SOMETHING to worry about, but that doesn't mean that worrying is the best use of your time. Let's focus on the positive!

No worries guys! No worries!! Does anybody know where I can get some hot chocolate?

Dead Last!

OK. I didn't expect to place in my age group or anything but dead last?! Out of 201 athletes, I was the worst? The slowest? The (placing fingers on my forehead in the shape of an 'L') big LOSER?! Well, Sherry and Andreas worked hard to give me a different outlook on this whole LOSING thing. Sherry said the only losers are the ones who didn't compete or didn't finish. Andreas commented on how I soldiered on despite a pronounced limp due to an aching knee. They are right, but the fact remains -- I came in last.



However, let's look back at my goals for this race:

1) Finish the race. Check!
2) Don't fall, vomit or otherwise embarrass myself. Check, check and check!

Hmmm . . . not bad. I guess I should have added a third goal -- avoid injury. In fact, had I been thinking about that beforehand, I wouldn't be about to limp back downstairs for the kids' 'icebear' to try to soothe my aching knee.

OK, so I DID finish last. So what?! Maybe that makes me a 'good guy'. Aren't they supposed to finish last? Maybe that means I'm the best. Aren't you always supposed to save the best for last? Hey, Andreas doesn't call me the 'queen of rationalization for nothing'!

All in all, it was a good day. I did what I set out to do and -- truth be told -- I did it four minutes faster than what I had guesstimated. Best of all, I had the Rauterkus boys cheering me on at the finish line. How cool is that?! So, it turns out that I'm a winner after all!

Keep chasing those goals guys! I know I will!!

Pre-Race Jitters

So, tomorrow is my first race of the season -- if you don't count the indoor race I did back in February. We went out this afternoon to pick up my race packet and drive the course. What in the world am I thinking?! There is a hill on the bike course that seems to go on forever.

I whined to Geoffrey about it today -- even when he told me no whining. He says to just put my bike in "Granny gear" and take my time going up. Sherry implied that there is no shame in walking my bike up the hill.

Ugh! I think the butterflies in my stomach have butterflies in THEIR stomachs! We went out to dinner after picking up the packet and we sat across from a family that is competing tomorrow. They've been coming here from Nashville for 12 years to compete in this race. Apparently the daughter won the women's overall a couple of years ago. I thought she was a cute kid until I heard that. Of course, I was then forced to hate her immensely. OK, just kidding.

Clearly I have no designs on winning or even placing in this race. In fact, if I had to set goals, I'd say 1) Finish the race and 2) Finish the bike course without falling, vomiting or committing some other equally embarrassing act. How's that for setting the bar low?!

Gosh, just 12 hours from now my knees will be knocking (even more than they are now) and I'll be watching the clock as the elite racers head out to get started. I know, I know, why so nervous if I claim not to care about winning or placing? Well, here's the thing. Several years ago, my Dad and I were at a big football game in which "his team" was playing. I vividly remember waiting for the hotel elevator with him before heading out to the big game. You could look at his face and tell that he was just as anxious as the guys on their way out to the football field when he was about to take a nice cushy seat in a skybox. Just before the elevator came, he turned and looked at me. He said, "You know, I really hate to lose. Shouldn't you always try to be the best?" At that moment, I suddenly realized where my competitive nature came from. Dad was a boxer when he was younger but that was before my time. So it never struck me until then that there is competition in everything and for some of us, it is precisely that spirit that drives us.

So, tomorrow when I'm out there pedalling my buns off I'll be thinking of Dad. No, I probably won't win, but yes Dad, I will absolutely try my best. Note to self: call Dad after the race and tell him again how much I love him.

OK Geoffrey, You're Right!

Yes, Geoffrey, you are right. Training with the group IS better than training on my own. Before you arrived at the pool on Tuesday I was taking a leisurely swim spending more time fretting about all of the things I had to do that day than stroke mechanics. Then, once you barked, "OK, give me 10 50s!" I hauled it down the lane and not only did I work out my frustrations, but I swam faster than I thought I could.

Yes, Geoffrey, you are right. It IS important to push yourself sometimes. Swimming in the same lane with you this morning made me try a little harder -- praying that you wouldn't lap me! In the three months or so that I've been training, I've never done a 50 in less than 1:15. Well, today both you and Sherry confirmed that I could do it in exactly one minute! Me!! The one who just learned to swim! Wow! Cool!!

Yes, Geoffrey, you are right. I DO whine! It SUCKS to get up at 5AM when I know I won't get home until 10PM after work. It SUCKS to know that I won't see my kids all day. It SUCKS to still have butt cramps on Thursday from a bike ride on Sunday. It SUCKS to have to keep reminding myself to feel the pavement with my big toes so that my knees don't ache before I've even run a mile. It SUCKS to have to deal with "hair issues" in order to swim whenever I want. It SUCKS to train 6-7 days a week for months and still not have the body of a supermodel.

BUT

Yes, Geoffrey, you are right. It is all worth it. Thanks for being right. Thanks for being a great coach -- and a pretty cool guy to boot!

See you at the race on Sunday! I'll be the one whining. ;-)

I Must REALLY HATE to Run!

Maybe I'm hitting a wall (again). Maybe I'm not used to warm weather in early April. Maybe I'm too pre-occupied with work commitments. Maybe I'm puzzled by my duties as baseball 'Team Mom'. Maybe I just REALLY hate to run. Who knows? All I know is that I've been a HUGE slacker over the last two weeks and I went out for a run this morning that turned into a stroll.

What to do? How do you get motivated when sipping sweet tea on the 'veranda' sounds much more tantalizing than any sweaty workout? I did ride my bike yesterday with Geoffrey and his training partner and a fellow TNT'er. However, I have to admit that I whined and complained the entire time. As a matter of fact, I was even starting to get on my own nerves! Thankfully, the group just ignored me and pedaled on.

Well, here is where the audience participation part of the program comes in. Periodically, people tell me that they read my blog. Well, if you are one of those 'lurkers', weigh in on this issue and give me a suggestion. How do you get motivated when there are a million other things that you'd RATHER do other than the stuff that you really NEED to do?

Please help!

I Must REALLY Like to Swim

I got a call last night telling me that Sherry is ill and would not be at the pool this morning. My first thought was, "Well, then I won't be there either." However, almost immediately I heard Sherry's voice yelling at me telling me to get my %ss in the pool, so that took care of that debate. When I arrived at the YMCA this morning, there was a sign announcing that the pool was open, but the heaters were broken. The last few nights have been pretty chilly and even with the bubble on the pool, it can be downright nippy at 6AM.

I think I literally shivered all through those first 10 laps or so. Several other swimmers came and left during the span of time that I spent in the pool. However, one hour and 38 minutes and 53 laps after I ventured in, I emerged from the pool, very tired but with a sense of accomplishment. I finished my workout -- without Sherry having to yell at me. I have to make sure I tell her that when I call later to check on her!

Enjoy your day!

Happy Easter!

I try to stay away from religion and politics in this blog. However, there are always exceptions. Today is the first of the three most holy days of the year for practicing Catholics like me. So, I intend to take these days to reflect on things other than swimming, biking and running. I'll be back on Monday to tell more training stories!

Enjoy the weekend!

Where's My Horse?

I really could have titled this post "What Was I Thinking?" , but since I used that last time, I figured I'd make a comment on my wonderful posture at the moment. Two days after swimming for 3 miles, I ventured out to North Birmingham for a 33-mile bike ride. Andreas is having great fun watching me stroll around the house looking like I've been riding a horse. Somewhere between mile 10 and 15 this morning my right hamstring just seemed to shut down. When we took a break at the rest stop mid-way through the course, I could already feel it stiffen and I was having terrible trouble walking. In fact, it was so bad that when we got ready to go, I just couldn't get that right leg to get back in the swing of pedaling. So, you guessed it, DOWN I WENT! How embarrassing!! I got one foot clipped into my pedals and I was just too stiff to pedal. With both feet on the pedals and no forward motion, my beautiful bike had nowhere to go but down -- taking its tired rider with it. Oh well, the good people at the rest stop were kind enough to pull me up, reattach my chain and make sure that I was OK. I swallowed my pride, thanked everyone for their help and was on my way.

I really have to say, though, that the best part of the ride was the company. One of the MBA students is an avid cyclist and when I told him about this ride he was very excited about it. I think he wanted to take the 66-mile option but was kind enough to hang back with me for just 33. Even better, his dad -- who is equally delightful -- came along too. Frequently I tell people how much I love the South and what a good move this has been. I'd have to say that the biggest reason for that is the people and the Kellys are a perfect example of that. These guys are far more athletic than I and probably could have gone much faster and much longer today. However, they rode with me the entire morning and even circled around to let me catch up when I started to fall behind. A few times, when the course was really getting to me, they rode beside me and chatted. That was a great distraction from the rolling hills and brutal headwinds -- not to mention a wonderful opportunity to get to know them better.

Well, it was a painful day physically but a pretty special day emotionally. I rode for a much longer distance than I ever thought I could and got to hang out with two pretty cool guys at the same time. Not a bad day!

Now let's see what tomorrow has in store!

What Was I Thinking?

So, today the YMCA where I swim was having a Swim-A-Thon. Apparently when they held this event last year, Sherry swam for eight hours straight. This year, someone else was planning to come in and relieve her for two hours. As a show of support, I decided to swim with her this morning. Her plan was to swim for three hours, take a two hour break and then swim for three more hours. I figured if she could swim for six hours, I could certainly swim for three, right?

Again I ask you, "WHAT WAS I THINKING?!" Every day I say I don't think I could be any more tired but today, I REALLY mean it. It would have taken an intervention to get me out of that pool before my allotted three hours, but I am definitely paying the price for my stubbornness. In three hours, I swam 111 laps -- just over three miles. Amazingly, I looked like 'Terry the Turtle' next to Sherry. She was zipping up and down the lane like she had a little outboard motor hooked to her rear end. Afterwards she told me that she was swimming one-minute laps! That means that while I swam a measly 111 laps, she swam 180! That's OK. I still feel proud of myself. I only took breaks after each hour and never got out of the pool. Try to imagine what my skin looks and feels like after gliding through saltwater for three hours!

There is a huge upside to this. After swimming 3 miles, that puny little 1500 yards coming up in May is a piece of cake! Mmmmm . . . cake . . . what a good idea . . . gotta go!

Have a restful weekend!

P.S. Did I mention that I shaved off another pound? Six down, 20 more to go!

Training-to-date as of 3/9

I think those 'slacker' weeks in January are from when Andreas and I were pouring concrete in the basement. Shouldn't that count somehow?

Size Matters!

Get your mind out of the gutter! THAT is not what I meant. What I meant is that after 10 weeks of training for 3-4 hours per week (steadily increasing in duration and intensity), I am starting to see results! Oh sure -- my swim times are down to 1'15" for 50 yards from nearly 2 minutes and my run pace is down to 13 minute miles from 15 minute miles and I can stay on the bike for an entire hour on my trainer before the soreness is too much to take. So, I guess you could consider those accomplishments as progress.

I say, the real test is in the dressing room! We're on Spring Break this week and the boys are on Spring Break NEXT week. So, Andreas and I took a day for ourselves yesterday (after my workout of course) and did a little shopping. This is not something that we do very often. Despite the fact that he is wildly supportive, shopping outings typically end up with me in the fetal position sobbing about how bad it stinks to be a 'curvy' girl trying to fit into designer clothes. In fact, in the fall, on my last shopping adventure, I resigned myself to conservative items in a size 10 or size 12 that would be tasteful and mature. How boring!

Let me just say that when I shop with my husband, "tasteful and mature" are not the main descriptors he is searching for when selecting an outfit for me. As he put it, "Do people (shun) Beyonce' for HER curves?" So, with his encouragement, I looked for an outfit that would be acceptable for my luncheon with the Chairman of the SEC tomorrow. To my utter shock and amazement, the size 12 numbers I pulled out were WAY too big! So, I tried size 10s. Again, WAY too big. I finally ended up with an assortment of items (all 75% off, no less) in sizes ranging from an 8 down to a teeny weeny size 4. Yes, you read it right, I bought a size 4 skirt! OK, so it had a little extra stretch but nevertheless it was a size 4 -- AND IT FIT!! Would it be wrong to take the tag out and sew it to the OUTSIDE of the skirt so that everyone can see the size -- kind of like the good people at Levi's do? Ahhh -- my progress may not be reflected on the scale just yet (Andreas says that's because of all of my new muscles!) -- but I certainly hit the jackpot in the dressing room. Finally, a shopping trip that didn't end in tears! It was a VERY good day!

Did I mention that I also bought THREE pairs of shoes? I might just have to have this smile surgically removed from my face!

Be well!

Really Tired!

OK -- I'm over the whole beard and mustache on the picture thing. It's time to get back to work. Thursday I was back in the pool at 5:55AM. Andreas was sleeping so soundly that I didn't want to wake him when I left. He told me later that after I left, Peter must have climbed into our bed on my side. When the alarm went off at 6AM, Andreas felt a body next to him and jumped up yelling "You're going to be late!" Peter looked at him like he was crazy!

The chlorine pump was on (instead of the salt pump) at the pool, so I couldn't really stay in very long. It's amazing how quickly you get used to saltwater. Plus, I burned my shoulder (with my curling iron!) the day before and I could only take the pain of chlorine in an open wound for so long.

Friday, I met Sherry at her new gym for a lactate threshold test. I had never done this before, but Sherry thought it was a good idea so that we can calculate more accurate heart rate zones for me. After a 15-minute warmup she increased the speed and incline (alternately) on the treadmill every two minutes. You essentially run as long, fast and uphill as you can until you cry "Uncle"! I think I hit the wall (almost literally) 15 minutes into the testing (30 minutes total). I was sweating like crazy and panting like a dog. Sherry estimated that my maximum heart rate is 196 versus the 185 that my age would predict. Apparently that's a good thing -- meaning my heart is young for my age. So, I'll chalk that up as a good day.

Today, I pushed it a bit. While Andreas was still in bed, I hopped on the treadmill and did a 30-minute mountain trail run. I figured that since it was too cold (and snowy!) to do the regular Saturday morning trail run in the park, this would be a good substitute. After some family time, I drove over to the YMCA and got in a swim workout. I focused on technique and -- lo and behold -- I think I FINALLY understood what Sherry has been saying these past few weeks. As Peter would say, "I was swimming like a little fish!" I got my 50-yard time down to 1 minute, 15 seconds and swam a total of 2,700 yards in just uner 90 minutes. Not a bad workout for a beginner!

I hope your weekend is restful!

Need to Vent!

OK. I just have to get this one off my chest. Yesterday I removed all of the pictures of my beloved LSU Tigers from my office door. In their place, I put up a simple flyer about Team in Training that included a picture of me with my coach from last year (Hugh). Next to it, I posted a graph showing my training progress over the last month. I just arrived at my office and immediately noticed that someone has drawn a beard and mustache on my picture!

Now, I know what you are thinking. "What's the big deal?" or "They were just having fun." or even "That's what college students do." Ordinarily, I would agree -- but this is different. Let me tell you why:

1. This was a flyer asking for donations for a charitable cause -- The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.
2. I am a professor who goes out of her way to create opportunities for students to learn and grow. I won't list those things here because I know in my heart that I am here for them and I exert a considerable amount of effort trying to make them better people.

So, for those reasons, I find this wrong and hurtful. So, what am I going to do about it? Not much. I removed everything from my door -- and closed it. A person has only so much to give and when you find that your efforts are not appreciated, you pull back a bit. So, I will continue with all of the activities that I engage in for the betterment of the students, but I might be a bit more reserved. Mostly though, I'll do all of these things with my blank door CLOSED.

Be well!

Must Finish Workout!

So, I stayed up until 2AM and somehow managed to be in the pool by 6:15AM. What's even more amazing -- to me at least -- is that I was able to push myself to get my full workout in even without Sherry and Geoffrey. A few of the other TNT athletes were there and we pushed ourselves despite the weather and the absence of our coaches. I've been using this great website to plan my workouts and the plan for today was 2,700 yards (about 1.5 miles) and I was determined to get it done. I was certain that the lifeguard was going to jump in and try to save me during that last lap or two. I was so tired I could barely stay afloat.

I have to say that completing a 1.5 mile swim on three hours sleep was rather empowering. I strutted into the locker room feeling pretty good about myself. In fact, for the first time EVER, when I got out of the shower I opted to only use a towel for the lower half of my body. This was a MAJOR step for me. I usually get dressed in a corner or a toilet stall avoiding all eye contact from the other women. Today, I was feeling quite self-confident. The pride train came to a screeching halt however when another woman came into the locker room and opted not to use a towel at all when she exited the shower. I gave her the quick "OK, you win" glance and sulked to the toilet stall to finish getting dressed for work.

Even though my 40-year old body is still a bit doughy in places that I'd prefer to see a bit fimer, I feel good about myself. I may joke, but this is tough stuff. It is now 8PM and I'm struggling to stay awake. I've got a 75 minute bike ride on the horizon for tomorrow which I'll likely do on my trainer. I guess I'd better get some rest.

If you'd like to see how the training is going, check out my training website: http://www.trainingpeaks.com/Stephanie Rauterkus

When 'MVP' Doesn't Mean That You Are the BEST

So, yesterday was our heavy workout day. We started with a long run at 6:30AM. The more experienced folks in the group were planning for a 10-mile run, while the newbies (like me) had our sites set on something more in the 3-5 mile range. Well, I was ALL excited because this was my first chance to use my new Garmin outside and actually test out the GPS. Because of that, I was constantly looking at the display. Oddly, after just a mile or two, it was already 'yelling' at me that my heart rate was in zone 5 -- you know the upper echelons reserved for short sprints or other strenuous activities just before you keel over clutching your chest and gasping for air. I mentioned that to Geoffrey -- our super cool assistant coach who was kind enough to hang back with the slowpoke. Well, even after walking a bit and taking a water break, this high heart rate persisted. I ended up with an average heart rate of 145 bpm (beats per minute) and a maximum of 185 bpm. I mentioned this to Geoffrey and he was a bit concerned and asked me to let him know how I did on the bike.

That afternoon -- after a glorious brunch on the deck with the boys -- I went for an 11-mile bike ride. Silly me -- I assumed that we were riding on some secluded trail. I was shocked to find that we were rding a loop up and down Lakeshore Parkway which is effectively a two-lane highway on the outskirts of town. The good news is that in my panicked state about being peeled off of the front grill of a Silverado, I didn't have time to concentrate on how bad my rear end was aching. Finally! I've found the secret to relieving saddle sores!

After reviewing the data on my bike ride, I found that my average heart rate there was 185bpm with a max of 188bpm. Suddenly, even I was a little worried. I mentioned it to Andreas and yet again he provided me with the missing sections of my brain. "Do you think it could be your mitral valve prolapse (MVP) that's causing your heart rate to be a little high?" Oops. I totally forgot abou that little heart condition of mine. In a panic, I called Sherry -- thank goodness she was an actual medical doctor in a former life. Fortunately (for her), she didn't answer. So, as usual, Andreas calmed my nerves and convinced me to sit in the hot tub with him, look up at the starts and relax. Great advice!

This morning, Sherry called me back and I told her my whole story. I swore to her that I DID get medical clearance to train again -- but I didn't actually tell my doctor that I was going for an Olympic distance event this year. Fortunately, Sherry wasn't worried. She's going to bring me into her gym this week for a lactate threshold test to determine my true heart rate zones. Then we'll know when to REALLY panic. I LOVE HER! She always has the answers and restores my confidence. What better coach could one ask for?

Well folks, its 2AM, raining cats and dogs and I'm supposed to be in the pool in four hours. I'd better slip in the boys rooms to make sure that the thunder and lightning hasn't scared them and get some rest.

Stay dry and warm Alabamians!

My Three Boys

Here they are . . . my three boys! This was supposed to be a picture of Peter and Papi preparing for their one mile 'fun run', but Joshua didn't want to be left out. You may notice that Joshua is holding his (UAB) pom-pom. It was important to him to have the right tools to cheer Peter on to victory!

Saturdays are for Family

I confess. I DID NOT WORKOUT ON SATURDAY! Peter ran in a fun run at 9:30AM, so I couldn't make it to the 7:30AM trail run. He had a blast! He and Andreas ran through the streets of Crestline, Alabama following behind a motorcycle policeman. My Peter was the third person to cross the finish line with a time of 9 minutes, 30 seconds! Andreas told me afterwards that he probably could have run faster. About half way through the race, he started complaining that his feet hurt. That's no surprise! We wanted to buy him new shoes before his last race, but he said that Mrs. Krueger (his kindergarten teacher that he absolutely ADORES) told him that his shoes were just fine. I teased her about this when I saw her last and we both had a good laugh. So, it looks like we'll be hitting the sporting goods store again soon.

We raced from the fun run to baseball practice where -- lo and behold -- Peter actually hit the ball! I was shocked and amazed and filled with pride!! We've got to work on the catching, but my boy can swing the bat!

Later that afternoon, we went over to the home of friends of ours for dinner. They have three girls (great babysitters!) and a boy (in Peter's class). They also invited another family with three boys (one in Peter's class, one Joshua's age and beautiful baby Chase). What a wonderful time! We talked and drank (I swear I only had one glass of wine -- I don't know WHO kept refilling it!) and ate and had a wonderful time. By the time we got home, both boys were sleeping and I didn't want to ruin a wonderful day by getting all sweaty. Plus, Sherry had planned a 6:30AM run, so I decided to get to bed early.

If I Only Had a Brain . . .

OK. So, I actually got up at the crack of dawn after working until 1AM. I barreled out of the driveway at 5:15AM and was in the pool shortly after 5:30AM. I swam for two hours in chilly 79 degree water and had a BLAST! Who knew that I would love swimming so much. For the last few minutes Sherry and I had the pool mostly to ourselves. We chatted about my new Garmin Forerunner as she showed me her pool tether. She wrapped this contraption around my waist and had me swim down the lane as she held on to a rope attached to my harness. Once I couldn't swim any farther because of the restraint, I just swam in place -- almost like a pool treadmill. Once I got tired, she had me flip over and she pulled me back to the other end. The coolest though when she and I swam '50's' side by side. I actually kept up with her! Mind you, I was panting like a dog on the Fourth of July and she acted as if we had just finished a leisurely stroll in the park, but I FELT GOOD! I caught a little cramp in my calf from the workout, but I didn't mind. I finally feel like a SWIMMER!

So, I head for the locker room feeling mighty proud of myself. I shower and change and start getting dressed for work. Finally, I realize that I failed to bring 'big girl' shoes with me. I had only a sweater, a skirt, pantyhose and rubber flip flops. So, yet again I had to call Andreas and ask him to bail me out. "Honey, could you . . . ?" I'm sure he thinks that is his name by now. I'm just thankful that I'm married to someone so wonderful that keeps me whole and sane. Be sure to count your blessings today. I do EVERY DAY!

Can You Say "Saddle Sore"?

Ugh! I rode my bike for 90 minutes last night and my rear end has not been happy today. I have tried everything I can think of to make riding more comfortable. I tried the saddle with the hole in the middle designed by medical doctors and scientists from NASA. I tried the extra cushy seat pad to go on top of my saddle. I tried raising the 'nose' of the saddle a little so that the 'cushy' part of my bum rests more soundly on the 'cushy' part of my saddle. Nothing has worked yet! I haven't looked, but I am certain that I'm developing some pretty significant bruises. Oh well, no pain, no gain, right? Fortunately, my saint of a husband ordered me one of those racks that fits across the bathtub to hold a book and other items while you soak away the day's troubles. I think tonight is the perfect night to try it out along with a little 'libation' . . .

Life Just Gets in the Way

OK. How pathetic am I that I am actually eating Girl Scout cookies as I type this? Fortunately, they are not the chocolatey ones because I have the darndest time getting the chocolate off of the keyboard!

It has been almost a week since I have posted, but I've had my hands full. I spent Thursday through Sunday in Toronto for work and have been desperately trying to catch up since I returned.

Since I was 'childless' and 'husbandless' I decided to try out my new toy -- the Garmin Forerunner 305. I must say, this baby is a techy athlete's DREAM! Of course, I couldn't just get the unit alone. As any fashion-forward girl knows, you must always ACCESSORIZE! So, I got the 'FootPod', the 'Quick Release Doohickey' (yes, that is the technical term for it) and I'm thinking about the 'Cadence Sensor'. Together, this ensemble ROCKS! I wear the Forerunner and the chest strap when I run or bike and if I'm on the treadmill, I use the FootPod -- which I just keep tied to my running shoes. When I'm done with my workout, I attach the Forerunner to my computer and upload the data. Next, I go to this handy-dandy webiste I found (http://www.trainingpeaks.com) which allows me to store and analyze all of my data as well as plan my workouts. I can even send my planned workouts to Outlook and put them on my calendar. It also sends me a reminder every morning describing my planned workout for the day. Andreas just rolls his eyes and calls me a geek. I think it's a great distraction to help me forget how much I hate running. Now, I'm working on heart rate training. Since I've long given up any hope of being fast, I'm working to improve my fitness by training in specific heart rate zones. It's cool. Try it, you'll like it! Too bad it doesn't work in the pool!

Crazy Days!

I didn't get a chance to post yesterday because things were a little hectic at work. What's worse is that I didn't get a chance to WORKOUT yesterday! My new toy arrived yesterday and by the time I finished working and packing and everything else that I had to do to prepare for my trip, I was too pooped to play. Oh well, I'll try it out today while I'm waiting for the students to arrive here in Toronto. I DID try out the stability ball and toning balls that Coach Sherry suggested I purchase. I went through a whole circuit of upper body, lower body and abdominal exercises thinking "What's the big deal?" However, when I was finished and was fairly certain that I was going to hurl, I quickly figured out what it means to "work your core". . . . note to self . . . no ab work on a full stomach . . .

Guilt Works!

So, I had every intention of sleeping in this morning and coming up with some lame excuse for why I couldn't make it to the group workout this morning. However, as I laid there, GUILT pulled me out of bed and sent me on my way. I thought about all of the people who had donated to my cause, all of the other athletes who are tough enough to make it to 6AM practices and the thought of how disappointed I would be in myself for copping out. So, at 5:40AM, I barreled out of the garage and raced down Highway 280 in order to make it to the YMCA on time. Fortunately, Sherry too thought it was a bit too cold to run outside. So, we did 'dynamic warmup' exercises inside in the gym. It's amazing how winded you can get just from a warmup! At the end of our session, Sherry outlined our workout plan. Ugh! It's filled with two-a-day workouts and twice-a-week weight training among other novelties. I just hope I have the body to show for all of this work!

Too Tired to Spin

Ugh! It's only Monday and already I'm too tired to workout tonight. I've gone back and forth from work projects to kid activities all day and now I'm just too pooped to do anything. What's more, I'm absolutely dreading meeting the group for running drills at 6AM. As Andreas puts it, it's my "least favorite sport" at my "least favorite hour of the day" which is a really bad combination. Maybe I'll accidentally oversleep. Not a bad idea! Well, I did buy one of those stability ball things at Wal-Mart today. Maybe I'll play with that a bit before I go to bed. That wouldn't really feel like working out, right?

Looking for Inspiration on a Rainy Day

I need to do a run today, but I mostly feel like lying on the couch, watching 'chick flicks' and eating cookies. What better way to spend a gloomy Sunday afternoon? So, I headed to my computer to kill some time and search for motivation. In the course of my web surfing -- amidst the stories about yet another campus tragedy and other bad news -- I ran across an interesting video. While I was raised that politics and religion are personal topics, this video struck me in a non-political way. I don't know that I can quite put my reaction in words. Perhaps it is the cinematography or the curiosity it piques in one to identify all of the 'celebrities'. Regardless, the uplifting message was just what I needed on a dreary Sunday afternoon to help me see beyond myself.

Watch and enjoy:

www.yeswecansong.com

Happy 3rd Birthday Joshua!

Trail Run

This morning, Sherry (our TNT coach) treated us to a five mile trail run. I have the hardest time navigating through those woods! I'm always looking down to make sure I don't trip over a tree root and then miss the turns! What's worse is that my glasses kept getting foggy but without them I was REALLY in trouble. Maybe I should try contact lenses again. So many things to ponder! Well, I made it through the five mile course without breaking my neck so I'll call it a good day. I was always the last one in the group, but most of the folks are experienced runners. The trails did get me thinking that maybe it's time to buy some new toys. My brother (Carl) has been raving about a new Garmin GPS computer that he bought recently. It comes with a heart rate monitor so it can track heart rate, distance and pace simultaneously. Plus, you can connect it to your computer afterwards and check out how you did. Nothing like a new data source! I'll give it a try.

Today is also Joshua's birthday. I stopped by the store on the way home and got him a few balloons so that we could have a festive setting for the ceremonial present opening. He seems to be happy with everything and we topped it off with lunch at Superior Grill. Now Mama's happy too!

My First Post!

Hello All!! This is a new experience for me!! So many people have asked about my triathlon progress, that I thought I'd start a blog to keep everyone updated.

I'm still trying to get into the swing of my training routine, but hopefully, I'll start feeling the rhythm soon! Currently, my schedule is to swim on Tuesdays and Thursdays (at 6AM!) with the Team in Training group, run Friday through Sunday and bike on Mondays and Wednesdays. This Saturday, however, our coach has a trail run followed by a swim scheduled for us. I think that I'll earn Sunday off after all of that.

Good news! The scale was very nice to me today and reported that I have shed another pound. That makes five pounds for the year. That's not much, but it sure is nice to have a waist again!

Well, work is getting in the way again! I've got a grant application to complete before an 11:30 luncheon. Then Andreas and I are off to church to do the Stations of the Cross with Peter. Gosh! I never dreamed that we'd be such good Catholics until we enrolled Peter in Catholic school. After that, it's off to get baseball gear for Peter and cookies for Joshua's special birthday snack. I'm tired just thinking about all of that!

Have a great weekend everyone!!