Waterbury Duathlon

Haters say what?

“That’s my gift. I let that negativity roll off me like water off a duck’s back.

If it’s not positive, I didn’t hear it.

If you can overcome that, fights are easy.”

-George Foreman

You know those super perky, obnoxious people who just seem to be happy about everything all the time for no reason? Does it make you just want to hate them? Well, I happen to be one of them. Okay, well not all the time. Certainly not when I’m at work anyway. However, I am when it comes to any kind of exercise. I truly LOVE and enjoy working out. I am an absolute endorphin junkie.

I remember back when my aunt was diagnosed with breast cancer, they prophylactically put her on prozac to avoid situational depression. She loved that stuff. She would always comment about how it was making her “fat” but she didn’t care because she felt so great on it. She said she would rather gain weight than give it up. That is how I feel about exercise. Sure I appreciate that is good for me, but mostly I do it for the endorphins. It is literally the only thing that helps my anxiety; so even if I gained a hundred pounds doing it and found out it wasn’t good for me… I think I’d still do it. I’m an addict.

Perhaps that is why I can’t seem to grasp how other people can workout and not enjoy it even a little bit… like not even when it’s over. Do they have endorphin resistance? Are they so determined to be grouchy that even a good workout doesn’t help?

What’s more, I can’t fathom why anyone who doesn’t enjoy exercise or racing would sign up for an endurance event.

Last weekend, the hubs and I had a fantastic time at the Waterbury Duathlon. However, there was a gentleman near me for much of the course who was ABSOLUTELY hating life. He was moaning and screaming up all the hills on the bike section, and I (being a friendly and supportive runner at heart) would yell encouragement to him each time I passed. (SIDE NOTE: This was primary because I have a compact crank that makes my bike better suited for climbing… and I’m tiny which also works to my advantage on the way up). While watching him struggle, I thought of suggesting he invest in having his bike properly fitted, but figured the timing would not have been good. Besides, what do I know?… well, at least a little more than this guy.

Anyway, apparently I annoyed the bejeezus out of him because when we were about halfway though our second 5K, he grumbled something to the effect of “Congratulations, you are the person I HATE this race.” At the time, I assured him that I was not trying to pass him and simply trying to run at a comfortable pace. He growled he would prefer if I just passed him already. Then, after making a rude comment about one of the finishers coming back through the course to cheer the other athletes on, he admitted to being an “angry runner” (two terms I didn’t think could ever be used together). So, I asked if he preferred cycling instead.

In retrospect, it was probably a really stupid question… just based on the amount he was screaming and carrying on during the bike leg. Which begs the question, if he hated the running and the cycling then what on God’s Green Earth was he doing there? It just sort of boggles my mind. I didn’t think people who ran and biked that far were capable of being so cranky. Perhaps he didn’t train enough, but still… what a tremendous waste of energy.

Here is was a beautiful day with a well organized event, and this dude was hating everything and everyone- me most of all, apparently. Well excuse me Mr. Grumpy Pants, but you’ll just have to pardon my enthusiasm. If you are truly in the habit of picking a person to hate every race; then maybe you, dear sir, need to find a new hobby.

The day that I stop loving and enjoying running and working out is the day I will stop altogether. What is the point of going out there and doing these things if not to enrich our lives? Sure, there are times when I hate the training and the discomfort during an especially long run or tough workout, but mostly I am grateful. I am grateful because there are so many people who give anything to be able to walk let alone run. I can do amazing things with my body, and that is a privilege. It’s also something that can change in an instant- a thought I try to remind myself regularly.

Above all things, trail running is pure bliss for me. Even in the midst of running a full ultra, I still love it. I smile the whole way through. I consider myself lucky to be able to take a whole day to myself to do something I love. I am not torturing my body when I’m out there running a 50K, I am challenging it. Yes, sometimes it can be painful, but that is what the training is for. More than anything, though, it’s empowering and rewarding. The reality is, there will come a day when I can’t run, bike, or swim anymore. Until that day comes, I am going to appreciate each opportunity I have. I will be chasing dreams until the day I die. That is what makes me feel most alive.

I just don’t understand how Mr. Grumpy Pants missed the boat on what a gift it is to be able to bike and run at all, let alone compete. Maybe I offended him because I made it look easy. Perhaps it was because I smiled and cheered on everyone around me. More likely it was my sheer joy and enthusiasm which resonated exactly the opposite of how he was feeling.

Regardless, it wasn’t my issue. I’m not going to dial down my enthusiasm and friendliness to avoid offending some cranky dude I’ve never met. Frankly, there is no pleasing people like that. The struggle they’re facing has nothing to do with you or me. It’s entirely with themselves. No one should ever feel obligated to apologize for simply being happy, genuine, and loving life.

Go out there and love life to your heart’s content. The world needs more passionate people. Be like George Foreman and let all the negativity around you just roll off your back. You know I’ll be in your corner. 😉

Waterbury Duathlon Recap

“Inaction breeds doubt and fear. Action breeds confidence and courage.

If you want to conquer fear, do not sit home and think about it. Go out and get busy.”

-Dale Carnegie

It’s the moment you have all been waiting for! That’s right, it’s time for my Waterbury Duathlon Recap! Spoiler Alert: I didn’t die or get maimed. That means I am now officially someone who competes (and I use the term loosely) in more than one sport! I am a duathlete!

To say I was nervous going into this event would be a gross understatement. Absolutely TERRIFIED would be a more accurate description. Luckily, my uber supportive and encouraging hubs came along for backup. I was a little surprised when he registered because he had signed up for the Five Boroughs Bike Tour the day after. Have I mentioned recently how much I love him?

Anyway… he made sure our bikes were all prepped and ready to go the night before, so we were all set to go in the morning. After finally settling on parking at the YMCA (after driving around in circles ~~forever~~ a few times) and taking a short walk to the start, we headed over to registration. Can I just say that I have never raced in an event that required an ankle bracelet for a time chip. There were also so many stickers and bib numbers! It was just a little overwhelming… especially given that I didn’t even know how to rack my bike. It made me very grateful to have the hubs there to show me how to set everything up.

I was also relieved to have my first race involving cycling with our YMCA family! There were lots of familiar faces, which helped to put me slightly more at ease. Everyone was so supportive and encouraging. All I could think was if I could just get through the bike, I would be fine. My motto for the day was “go slow, have fun,” and I repeated it over and over in my head.

The thing that frightened me most was that the bike course was in downtown Waterbury, and it wasn’t closed. This meant not only did I have to contend with my general clumsiness on the bike, but do so while avoiding traffic. Are you freaking kidding me? As if I’m not challenged enough. lol Had I only known what was coming!

I think you could have given me all the time in the world, and I still would not have felt ready at the start. My bike was racked, my transition area set, but there is just no feeling prepared when you step outside your comfort zone. As crazy as it sounds I think I was almost more afraid of the USAT official than the actual race. Not that she wasn’t a nice person, but it was more than a little intimidating to go from just running to a race with rules and penalties. I was so scared of accidentally drafting or doing something I could get disqualified for… As if the race official was going to care about those of us in the middle or back of the pack.

The first leg of the race was a relatively flat 5K. It went by fairly quickly despite the fact that my legs weren’t feeling great. I tried to just relax and focus on my running form. I reminded myself that just because I didn’t feel great at the start didn’t mean the whole race would be bad. If ultra running has taught me anything, it’s that you can’t judge a race by the first three or even ten miles. As long as you hang in there, chances are things will turn around… eventually.

I was actually surprised when I looked down at my watch at the end of the 5K and saw it had only been 22 minutes. I made my way around the park into the transition area and caught a glimpse of the hubs on his way out. I tried to take my time getting set up for the bike leg because it was my very first transition and I didn’t want to forget anything.

Thankfully, I managed to mount my bike without too much difficulty; even though I did accidentally release the fastener on my shoe by hitting it on the pedal and had to fix it before I could get on. Still, before I knew it, I was clipped in and on my way! I was relieved to find they had officers at each intersection to direct the traffic.

I just was starting to relax and think it wouldn’t be so bad when the hills started…

It wasn’t that the uphills were particularly hard. Sure some were steep and long, but it was anticipating all the downhill that had me spooked. What goes up must come down, right?

I was probably the only person who dreaded those down hills more than the up. As it turned out, it was with good reason! When we did finally reach the top of all those hills, we were rewarded with an incredibly steep downhill. Not just a downhill, but a downhill through traffic, with a sharp right turn at the bottom! I kid you not, I thought it would be the end of me! I couldn’t help but visualize myself wiping out on that turn. It was not pretty! All I could think was that I should have unclipped because I was going to eat it! What’s worse is that it was still downhill after the turn!!!! Even worse still, the course was a loop, so I had to do it all over again on the second lap!!!!

I sincerely thought of ditching my bike and quitting I was so shaken. I almost cried. In fact, I’m surprised my lip didn’t bleed from how hard I was biting it. Despite my better self preserving instinct; however, I didn’t quit. Instead I finished my first loop and headed out for the second. I dreaded coming though the downhill again, but I was determined to get through it. The second time through was even more awful because we had to navigate between a line a traffic and row of parked cars. There was almost no margin for error. I was SO glad I had practiced riding through all those lane dividers on the Cheshire bike path and managed to keep myself straight. Thankfully, I made it all the way down and around the turn without crashing. Once I got back to even ground, I knew I was in the home stretch.

I plowed through the rest of the course back to transition, and after being redirected to the appropriate exit (yes, I initially went the wrong way), I headed out for the final 5K run. My legs felt heavy as I expected they would. Again, I focused on form and tried to relax. Despite the fact that I felt like I was barely moving, the miles were going by quickly so I knew I was moving at a good pace. The sun and heat were killing me, but I had already survived the bike. There was no way I was going to let a little warm weather take me out! It kept telling myself “It’s only 5K, it’s only 5K “. I chipped the miles off one by one, then before I knew it, I had the park in my sights!!! One of my swim buddies was volunteering near the park directing runners, and I shouted his name because I was so happy to see him. I think he was surprised to see me already so close to the finish because I had told him how terrified I was about this being my first event with a bike. He told me I was “Rocking it!” and I continued on my way.

At that point there was only a short distance… including a ridiculous staircase (I mean really? A staircase? Sadists!) to the finish. The hubs was there at the finish waiting for me. I ran straight to him and I could see the time on the clock was 1:57!!! I cannot even explain what it felt like to cross that line! I had been so scared and worked so hard. It is just indescribable what it meant to me to actually take the leap and do it. Less than a year ago I bought my first real bike, and now I’m a duathlete.

The hubs and I went to check the results and he was excited that he had one of the fastest times on the bike course. (Woohoo! Go hubs!!!) I was just happy to have finished. I was ecstatic it was in under 2 hours, and in utter disbelief that I finished in the top 50. As part of the race, we got bracelets that entitled us to a free beer and sandwich at one of the local pubs so we headed over to eat. Instead of finishers medals, we were each awarded a pint glass. I know, again with the pint glasses. I’m going to have quite the collection!

Actually, we left our glasses at the pub… Okay they took them, but we didn’t mind because they had the pub logo instead of the logo for the race anyway.

After we got home and cleaned up, we headed out to dinner at one of our favorite restaurants followed by ice cream at a local creamery. Just in case you were wondering, I did not feel the least bit guilty about all the calories. I especially didn’t feel guilty for the DELICIOUS s’more martini I had with dinner to celebrate.

Overall the hubs and I both had a great experience. It was a very well organized event, and I was glad that my first tri event was on our home turf. It definitely made it less intimidating and added some comfort level. Plus, it was fun to see so many familiar faces out on the course. I was really happy that the hubs was so pleased with his performance. One of the guys from the bike shop we use had recommended he get into racing, and I think his performance might help encourage him.

When we finally got home from all our festivities, the hubs showed me how to clean the bikes and re-lube the chains. I had told him that I want to get comfortable with the maintenance, so he has been introducing me to the basics. His mom sent us a text while we were working to let us know she saw our race results and that we had done better than we originally thought. Sure enough, I had placed second in my age group, 12th for the ladies, and 48th overall! Not too bad for my first time. The hubs had finished 26th overall and was well ahead of me with a time of 1:42. For the record, though, I ran my second 5K faster than him. 😉

It’s hard to imagine, even now, how much this journey to triathlete has changed my life. It has forced me to face and conquer my fears on a regular basis. I decided I wanted to someday finish an Ironman before I even knew how to swim or bike (properly). Now, I am well on my way to achieving that dream. I may not do a full Ironman in the next year, or even two, but now I have the foundation to get there.

In fact, the day after the duathlon I went to the pool and swam over 2 miles without even getting tired. The last 1100m I swam continuously. It’s a far cry from the girl who was terrified to even put her face in the water. That’s how much stronger and more confident triathlon has made me.

Moral of the story: Some of the most rewarding and worthwhile moments of your life will start with being scared to death. Don’t be inhibited by fear. Everything worthwhile in life is on the other side of it.

Getting Back in the Saddle

“One thing that cycling has taught me

is that if you can achieve something without a struggle

it’s not going to be satisfying.”

-Greg LeMond

Hello Everyone!

I have more exciting news for you all! Yesterday the hubs and I went out for my first official outdoor ride of the season, and I survived! In fact, I did better than just survive. I actually did well! No one was more surprised by this than me. I think the hubs was secretly impressed, but he hid it well. I was so happy because I had been terrified of tipping over repeatedly and getting covered in road rash and chain bites. However, as soon as I hopped on it all came back to me.

I immediately remembered how to use my gears, which was a big fear of mine. I also did MUCH BETTER at balancing than the last time I rode the bike path. This was likely related to all the practice I have had in spin and on the trainer with relaxing- especially my shoulders, which I have a bad habit of keeping by my ears. It’s amazing how much straighter and more smoothly the bike rides when you aren’t holding it with a death grip… go figure!

I purposely picked the Cheshire Bike Path (as opposed Lake Waramaug which involves minimal dismounting) so that I would have LOTS of practice unclipping and riding through the lane dividers (aka THE BANE OF MY EXISTENCE) at the intersections. I also thought the good vibes from PR’ing on the bike path on Sunday might carry over and help calm my nerves.

The hubs spent some time with me teaching me how to coast while balancing on one foot. He thought it would help me with dismounting at the intersections, which it did- thankfully! Normally, I have a lot of trouble coming forward off my seat when I dismount, so instead I end up trying to balance on the toes of my unclipped foot. This generally leads to toppling over at long lights… hence the reason I avoid city riding altogether. Well that and being a general hazard on the road…

That being said, now that I have conquered swimming, I REALLY want to learn to ride my bike like a ~~big girl~~ real cyclist. Unfortunately, that means getting comfortable with stopping and starting. I keep telling myself that if I was able to go from not being able to swim ~~properly~~ at all, and being completely anxious about even getting in the water, then I can conquer cycling too.

Furthermore, I don’t want to settle for just being competent at it, I want to get proficient at it. Of all the legs of triathlon, you spend the most time on the bike. It only makes sense to put energy into becoming the best cyclist I can be. Getting over my fear of ~~seriously maiming myself~~ riding is a necessary evil. When I took on swimming, I knew it was essential to achieving my goal of one day finishing an Ironman. As much as I was absolutely terrified, I was also determined.

Start by doing what’s necessary;

then do what’s possible;

and suddenly you are doing the impossible.

Francis of Assisi

I have never been one to give up on something simply out of fear. To me, that’s just not a good enough reason. I don’t ever want to say I didn’t go after something I truly wanted because I was too scared to give my all. I would rather try and fail. That is what got me through the swimming. I was convinced if I could just stick with it that I could do it. I HAD to do it. I didn’t consider the fact that I still wasn’t comfortable on my bike. All I focused on was the task at hand.

Now I am approaching my bike with the same determination. There is no room for fear. It is now or never. I have a roughly 6 week window to get really comfortable on my bike before the REV 3 Half Ironman, and I want to be there. I know in my heart I can cover the distance. I have it in me to do it. If I don’t do it now, I don’t know when I will have another chance. I have already invested over 6 months of training. I have learned to swim and spent countless hours running, spinning, cycling, swimming, and cross training in preparation.

That is why I know I will get the hang of this bike, and why I am so thrilled to have survived my first ride unscathed. I am lucky to have the hubs to back me up. He loves cycling the way I love running, so if anyone can help me get to where I need to be it’s him.

Oh and since our ride went so well (we did close to 20 miles at a “good pace”- according to the hubs) I signed up for a duathlon this weekend. I figured it may be my only chance to practice transition before June. Plus, it will give me a feel for riding my bike in an actual race. The hubs says I am ready, so I am going to trust him. It’s only a 14 mile bike ride, but it’s in downtown Waterbury. I’m a little nervous about the city riding; but I have been doing well with dismounting so I should be ok.

Good thing I’ll have my Tough Chik gear! I swear it gives me super powers that keep me upright! Maybe it’s just the extra boost of confidence that comes with wearing the logo “This is what Tough Looks Like”.

What adventures are you all taking on this week?