For two days my neck and shoulder has been killing me. I have no idea why, or what I did. Do I need a new pillow? Did I pull something on Wednesday’s workout? Who knows but it’s awful. I have a massage scheduled for Sunday night and I’m praying it helps.
This week my schedule changed at work. I asked my boss if I could switch to 30 minute lunches and leave at 4:30 instead. My reasoning behind this is because I’m hoping that I can start biking to and from work in preparation for the Portland Century. I want to miss some of the 5 o’clock rush hour traffic for safety reasons. The time change was approved so I started getting off work at 4:30. It’s made a huge change! I haven’t started commuting to work on bike yet because of the weather but I’m hoping to do that in the next month. Right off the bat I can see that that 30 minutes will GREATLY improve my way of life. I miss the rush hour traffic commuting home, I get to the gym earlier, hence I get home earlier and have more time to spend with Michael or friends. Plus I will be able to eat dinner at a reasonable hour. Love it!
Friday I got to the pool by 5pm and was in the pool by 5:15. Since it was such a gorgeous sunny day in Portland I didn’t have to worry about the gym being crowded when I got there. I was worried a great deal about my neck and shoulders. I wasn’t even sure I would be able to swim at all with the pain I was in. But the moment I got in the pool all the discomfort melted away. I had a FANTASTIC swim! It was wonderful. I took my inhaler with me this time too and that helped with my chest discomfort.
Swim Stats:
Time: 56
Calories Burned: 412
Distance: 8 lengths short of 1.5 miles
Since I got to the gym early I swam a little longer and enjoyed it. I didn’t feel like I had to rush to hurry up and get home (or try to beat my raging hunger). There was a guy in the lane next to me doing sprints in the pool and when I was done with my swim I chatted with him in the sauna. I asked what he was training for and he said the Coeur d’Alene triathlon. I told him I’d wanted to do a Sprint Tri for a few years now but I hadn’t yet. I’m seriously considering signing up for one this summer. I’m nervous about the idea, anxious about open-water swimming, and nervous that I can actually DO it.
My friend Ember is doing the Girlfriends and Dudes Triathlon this July. I could easily sign up for that tri because I have a buddy doing it too. The only problem? The swim part is in the Columbia River–FREEZING! I would need to buy a full wetsuit for that (expensive) and I already have a partial wetsuit (free). It’s a 1/2 Mile Swim: A fast, down current swim in the Columbia River. Any swim stroke is acceptable including front crawl, back crawl, side-stroke, back float and doggie paddle. The Bike: A 12.5 mile flat ride along country roads. The Run: A 3 mile flat, out and back run on paved trails. Sounds easy right?
I already swim 1.5 (I can do 1/2 mile in 15 minutes). I could easily bike 12.5 miles and running a 5k? I did Hood to Coast! I can do a 5k! But putting them all together….?
My new gym friend suggested the Blue Lake Tri. It’s in June and I was told there’s another on in August. He said I would not need a wetsuit if I did the Blue Lake Tri. I’m conflicted. I don’t know if I’m ready to do it. I want to. What am I afraid of?
I got home at a reasonable hour and Michael and I made turkey burgers and onion rings for dinner. I was famished.
I took a muscle relaxer hoping it would get my neck fixed. I fell asleep almost immediately and slept great. Unfortunately, I woke up in just as much pain as before. 🙁
QUESTION: Have you done a triathlon? What did you think of it? Would you do it again?
Lori
I did a triathlon in 2009. It was really scary to me, but I enjoyed it. The hardest part is the transitions getting used to doing the other sports. The bike/run transition is the hardest because your legs feel like leg – same way with the duathlon for me. It’s just hard, but nothing felt like doing that. I burst into tears after I finished because never in a million years would I have thought I could do a triathlon.
I may do another one, but I just don’t care for swimming. That is why I like the duathlon format of run/bike/run better.
Lisa Eirene
I love swimming. I don’t love competitions or people swimming on top of me, you know? That’s honestly the only thing holding me back.
I could do it. I already do all 3 activities so I’d really only need training for transitioning between them…
steena
Yea WHAT are you afraid of? You could totally kick a triathlon’s butt! You know that I’m going to root you on till race day, pick a tri, register, and kick its butt!!!
and HEY, you don’t have to BUY a wetsuit, there’s gotta be somewhere around you where you can rent one? I have one rented for my tri, it only cost $30!
Lisa Eirene
I didn’t know you could rent suits! I need to look into this…
Michelle
My first fitness goal is just being able to run a 5k. I have yet to run more than 1/2 mile consecutive. Of course, 12 weeks ago, I could run a lap. So….I have confidence that I’ll get there. Another fitness goal is to learn how to swim! I can swim…to save my life…know some of the mechanics…but don’t know the particulars of effective lap swimming. Once I can put some of those things together…I would LOVE to do a tri!
p.s. 12 weeks ago, I would NEVER have said that. I just finished a program at the YMCA that has transformed my life!
Lisa Eirene
What program did you do?
If you just started 12 weeks ago go easy on yourself! It takes time to practice and build confidence and stamina. When I first started swimming again I could barely do 1 lap. It takes time. 🙂 you’ll get there.
Plus, if you don’t have a heart rate monitor I REALLY suggest you get one. It helped my running soooo much!
Michelle
I completed a program with my local YMCA … we met is small groups (just 3 on my team!) with a personal trainer, three times/week for an hour each session. It was AWESOME! Best part is that we get to keep working with our trainer for 1/2 the cost of the program and it was/is very reasonable. I do have an HRM .. just have to replace the battery. How did that help your running?
Lisa Eirene
When I first started running I didn’t have a HRM and knew nothing about pacing, what my target heart rate should be or anything. The HRM taught me how to run the correct way!
Katy
You are definitely ready to do a triathlon. Like you said, you have all the pieces…and while putting them together is not like 1+1+1=3, you WILL be fine (and I can tell you from experience there is *nothing* like finishing a triathlon).
Do a few bricks if you can (a bike ride immediately into a run) and study up on transitions…then GO FOR IT!
Lisa Eirene
Thank you for the encouragement Katy! At this point it really just the fear of the unknown holding me back but I think I will go for it!
sugarmagnolia70
OMG you NEED to sign up! If I can do a tri (will do my fourth in a few weeks) then anyone can. You can do it. Yes, open water is way different than the pool, but you are a strong swimmer and will rock it!
Lisa Eirene
Thanks for the encouragement! I think I’m going to. I need to do some research on renting wetsuits here in Portland but I think this summer I’ll give it a go.
Jennifer is Always Sick
Haha – that triathlon sketch is funny. I chuckled.
My husband is doing his first triathlon this weekend. He said he’s not ready, because he hasn’t trained like he wanted to (hard to do with a full-time job and two kids), but he did what he could and he’s still going to go for it.
You mentioned chest discomfort in the pool. I hadn’t been in a pool in a long time, and we were in a small pool at the gym with our boys to get them used to it (they’re doing swimming lessons now), and I had difficulty breathing in the pool. The water was heated and I felt all of this chest pressure. Was that my asthma? My husband said he has trouble too, but it’s the pressure of the water on the body and I’m just not used to it – according to him.
Lisa Eirene
You’ll have to let me know how he does on his tri!
Yes, it’s asthma. I never used to have asthma except when I would get sick with bronchitis or pneumonia or something. But recently I developed it after a bout with bad bronchitis. It seems to be under control now but every once in awhile it flairs up.