Spin Bike: (noun) Medieval Torture Device

After taking two days off I’m back in the swing of things!  I met up with Rich and Dominique on the boardwalk Friday night for a run.  They’re both way better runners than I am and I kept up their pace as long as I could before I asked them to slow down a bit.  I start my run from my front door at the end/beginning of the boardwalk and they come from mid-boardwalk so by the time I ran into them (I’m not sure if a pun is intended) I was roughly halfway through my 30 minutes.

I met up with Rich specifically because he believes my shoulder problem is coming from my mechanics.  He’s probably right and just before I turned to head home we stopped and he showed me how my arms should be coming through the water.  At least I’m learning technique early in the training process.  It gives me time to work on it and improve.  He says I should be using my hips to glide through the water instead of pulling with my arms.  I’m still not sure how that makes me move forward.

According to my training schedule, I’m supposed to swim today but I don’t want to swim until Tuesday.  Barbara is our swim coach that night and I hear she’s excellent.  I’d like her to watch me in the water and let me know what I can do better.  I’m in no rush to have a repeat of the pain I went through last week.  I never realized how important it is to have full range of motion in my shoulders.  So off today and tomorrow and then swim and run on Tuesday.

Yesterday was our first spin class together.  I rolled out of bed at 5:30am to make it to the class by 6:40am.  Brutal!  Jose is our spin instructor and it was a full class.  I saw some teammates and met a new one as well, Shari.  I figured the bikes would already be in place and all we had to do was pick one and adjust it.  Nope.  They’re piled in a corner of the room and we have to wheel it into place and then set it all up.  I grabbed one and got on with it.  I was wearing my padded bike shorts for extra comfort but on this day not even they would help.  The seats on spin bikes are torture devices designed buy a sadist.  It’s beyond me that they don’t have any padding at all.  We have the technology.  If we can send people into outer space why can’t we build a better bike seat?  Everyone says I’ll get used to it but I’m already shopping for new things to make my butt happier.

My first spin class ever was underwhelming.  We pedal.  We stand up and pedal.  We sit down and pedal.  We go fast.  We go faster.  Even faster.  We slow down.  Adjust the resistance here and there and voila.  At the end of an hour I’ve gone nowhere and my ass and quadriceps hurt like hell.  I would much rather ride outside but I’m sure there is a benefit to these classes.  Build up endurance and all that.  Of course there was “that guy” in the class and as is normal he was next to me.  He kept screaming like he was at a Rolling Stones concert or something.  “Yeah, boys!  Keep it going!!!  We can get up this hill!!”  I’ll have to make sure not to be near him next time.

After spin class I decided I would do yoga.  Hot yoga, of course.  This is done in a 105-degree room with 40% humidity for 90 minutes.  It really helps with flexibility, breathing and balance and I love how sweating moisturizes my skin and helps with the winter dryness that I hate so much.  I got through most of the class but after not doing it for so long it was like my first class all over again.  Lots of Savasana.  I plan on going weekly and hopefully can sneak in a class during the week after work.

Today, Sunday, we’re having Thanksgiving dinner at my brother’s house.  There was concern that Aubri wouldn’t be able to celebrate with the family on Thursday and so we’re all gathering today instead.  It works out well for me since I decided to go away for the holiday this year.  My family got a bit too big to fit us all in one house and we don’t really get together much anymore.  I’m looking forward to seeing all of the kids and wish my younger sister, Deena, could bring up her brood from down south.

Overall it was a really good weekend as far as working out.  Bree sent me a great spreadsheet to track my training and it’s really helpful.  I know my pace, calories burned, etc.  Since I don’t have my computer on my bike yet I have no way of tracking distance but I plan on getting that all fixed after I start the new job.  My next spin class isn’t for two weeks and my butt is extremely grateful but I have a feeling it’s going to get worse before it gets better.

I Needed The Rest. That’s My Excuse.

The pain in my right shoulder has subsided and I can now move my arm in every which way with only the slightest twinge.  However, now I can feel some discomfort in my left shoulder and I can only believe I didn’t feel it sooner because the right shoulder was screaming louder.  The good news is I’m on the mend and it’s more than likely a flaw in my swimming mechanics that’s causing the problem.  I’m meeting up with Rich to figure out what I’m doing wrong.  Hopefully I got most of the rust out and the next swim will be better.

As far as training, I can’t really say I slacked the past two days but I haven’t done anything.  Wednesday was supposed to be a 45-minute bike ride and I planned on going out in the light rain anyway.  Mother Nature wasn’t having any of that and by the time I got home it was a full on downpour.  This led to my doing research on indoor training for cycling.  Not a stationary bike but tools to give me the ability to “ride” my own racing bike inside.  Back in my pool playing days I remember someone telling me that the legendary Gene Nagy would actually practice in a tuxedo if that was the dress code for the tournament.  I’ve adopted that attitude and decided I would practice on the equipment that I will be using in the race.

My first thought was an indoor bike trainer.  I simply mount the rear tire to the mechanism and it lifts it up so that I can pedal away on my bike and not worry about running into my television.  Assuming I attach it correctly, of course.  The aforementioned friend Rich said that I should get bike rollers…sort of a treadmill for a bike.  He sent me some online videos to see what he was talking about and I immediately thought, “I’d break my neck.”  The rear tire goes between the two rollers and the front tire on the individual one and, again, pedal to my heart’s content.  Except for the obvious balance issues and the bike sliding back and forth on the rollers.  Seriously, go look at the videos.  The indoor trainer will win this round!  New training rule: If it’s just cold, I ride outside.  If it’s raining or snowing, I ride inside.

Indoor Cycling Trainer

Bike Rollers

Okay, so yesterday I actually did slack.  I admit it.  I was supposed to go for a run but my hockey addiction won out as it always does.  I had two tickets to the game and was going with my friend Jenn.  Going to a game involves meeting at a bar near the arena, having a beer, going to the game, having more beer, going back to the bar for, you guessed it, more beer only this time with pizza.  I probably should have gone running in the morning yesterday but decided I would go today instead.  As soon as I get home from work I’ll throw on my running clothes and head out.  Nothing major.  30 minutes round trip.  Remember Coach Steve’s 3-day rule?  That’s screaming in my head right now.  I can’t miss today and have more training tomorrow.

Today Aubri has chemo again and if her numbers are good she gets a two week break!  So far the news has been good and we’re all hoping she does well today.  She has such a long road ahead of her but all we can do is take it one day at a time and one treatment at a time.  Think “good counts!”


To make a donation to Leukemia and Lymphoma Society in Aubri's name, click here or contact me to mail a check.  Any amount appreciated!

"You're Out of Shape" - Coach Steve

I’m in pain.  My right shoulder is extremely unhappy while the left one is just a little sad.  Yesterday was what’s known as a “brick” day where I train in 2 disciplines in one day.  I have no idea where the term comes from and there are conflicting theories.  I’ll post it as soon as I get a clear answer.  The schedule calls for another 15-30 minute run and then swim training at Hofstra University.  I've always loved swimming so I’m looking forward to learning more about endurance swimming.

When I got home from work it was dark, cold and raining.  I immediately put on my running clothes and left the apartment without so much as sitting.  If I thought about it I would probably have stayed in and waited until it was time to go to swimming.  My friend Robin said it best; “It’s good that you have your niece as inspiration.  When you get home after a long day and think you just want to watch TV it’s almost like you’re thinking she’s not worth it.”  Something along those lines.  It flowed better on the phone but that's the gist of it. 

Out the door I went.  I know I can do a 30 minute run but was feeling pressed for time since I knew I had to get to Hofstra, which is about a 25 minute drive from my apartment.  I did a pretty short run but at least I did it.  Here’s the breakdown:

1.20 Miles

16:06 Minutes

Calories 132

Calories from fat 19%

Not too shabby for a rainy Tuesday in November and I’m glad I went out.  People were bundled up in their winter coats and gloves and there I was running past them.  It hit me that I’m that crazy person who is running outside in the freezing cold wearing summer clothes.  It can only get better!

As I said in an earlier post, I get lost everywhere and this was no exception.  I left my apartment very early to allow for that and got to the university at 7:45 with the swim time being 8:15, according to the schedule.  I was already in my swim gear and thought, wow, I’m REALLY early.  Then I started looking for the pool.  Hofstra has done a great job at hiding it.  I asked six people where it was and walked into four different buildings.  Finally a girl in one of the buildings said, “It’s in that building over there” which I responded, “which one?”  She said go to the stop sign and make a left and it’s in there.  I walked in and saw basketball practice going on.  Nope.  No pool yet.  I finally asked a fairly adorable man in the equipment room where the pool was and he said, “Go out the door, make a left and it’s behind the concrete stairs.”  And there I found it.  In plain sight down an alley on a dead end street behind concrete stairs.

I walked in and saw my team in the far corner already in the pool doing laps.  It was 8:15.  As it turns out, Coach Steve is a no nonsense kind of guy.  You’re here early?  Get in the pool.  I had already emailed him about my running and told him my problem.  His response was a very blunt, “You’re out of shape.”  Ouch.  I was almost insulted until I realized how right he is.  I hadn’t been swimming since the Point Lookout Triathlon in early September and was following my off season training plan of eating like a moose and not working out.  Okay, that wasn’t the plan but that’s what I did and it’s painful to admit it.  This is why I now sit here with my shoulders yelling at me.

I got in the pool and Coach Steve said swim so I can see your ability.  I didn’t do well.  Inhaled a lot of water, as is normal for me in the beginning, and couldn’t find my stroke.  Then we started doing drills.  Swim with your hands balled up in fists, kick on your side, catch up drill, etc.  There was one drill where we drag our fingertips across the water instead of pulling our arms totally out of the water.  When I got back from my 50 meters Coach Steve immediately yelled, “Tracy, you’re NOT doing the drill!”  I felt like a 10 year old when I responded, “But I’m trying.”  “DO IT AGAIN!”  Um, okay.  I’m thinking, wow, this guy is a tough nut but it’ll be good for me in the long run.  He did say something incredibly valuable: If you take of three consecutive days you’ve wasted your time, lost your endurance and have to start over.  I don’t want to start over!

I was talking to two of my teammates, Stephanie and Erin, in the locker room after practice and found out that Coach Steve is a softie compared to Joe.  Gee, can’t wait to work with him.  Next week Barbara is our swim coach so we’ll see how it goes with her.  It’s all good.  They have our best interests in mind and know what they’re doing.  I’m not injured, I’m hurt and it’ll get better.  I am, however, looking for a volunteer to rub Icy Hot on my shoulders. 

Training Begins

Team orientation was on Saturday November 12^th at Suffolk Community College.  As is par for the course, I got lost and showed up fairly late.  I once got lost on an airplane.  True story.  But I digress.  I walked into a room of about 20 people all of whom are doing various events.  I saw some familiar faces in the folks from my team I had met at the kickoff party two nights prior.  I listened to the head coach, Steve, talk about triathlon training, the schedule, nutrition and most importantly having fun.  He described triathlon as being a kid.  In the summertime, you ride your bike, go swimming and run around with your friends only we do it one right after the other.  We went around the room introducing ourselves and I learned that one girl joined the team after she lost her father to leukemia.  A man, Doug, said when his daughter was 3 she was diagnosed with the same type of leukemia as Aubri and now she’s a healthy and happy 12 year old.  It gives me a lot of hope.

We met the rest of the coaches all with varying degrees of experience.  They’ve all been involved in triathlon for many, many years and one woman has actually completed the Kona Ironman 4 times!  I almost want to do that.  Almost.  They gave us our training schedule and explained that there is an “enhanced” schedule for those of us who want to improve overall.  Yup, that’s the one I picked.  6 days instead of 5.  Saturday morning spin classes at 7am.  Extra swim on Fridays.  More time outside of my comfort zone.  My muscles got sore reading it but that’s what I signed up for.

Then we went for a short run around campus, roughly 30 minutes.  It was extremely windy but we forged ahead.  We’re all over the place as far as ability.  I was in the middle of the crowd and some of those who took off ahead of me ended up behind.  I got a chance to catch up with two of the coaches after the run and got some advice on avoiding shin splints and training times.

Sunday started my first day of training on a schedule without the coaches.  It called for a run/walk for 15-30 minutes so I went for a run on the boardwalk.  Well, I spent as much time as I could on the boardwalk since it was another really windy day.  I had sand whipping at my face and ended up chewing on it.  As much as I don’t like running on concrete I took to the side streets and finished up there.  Overall, here are the results:

2.56 Miles
33:08 Minutes
Calories 299
Calories from fat 16%

I have my heart rate monitor but am still learning about zones so I’ll be tracking those eventually too.  I’m happy to be at a point where I run more than walk but there is much room for improvement.  Coach Steve already offered to help me figure it out and I just have to get out there and do it.  And stay off the stupid treadmill.  It ruins my stride and doesn’t mimic regular running closely enough.

Mondays will be my only day off once the enhanced schedule kicks in.  I’m going to talk to the coaches about doing weight training and see what they recommend but they did stress two things: swimming is extremely important and so is a day off.  Mental note: do nothing on Monday.  Got it.  I actually need to practice doing nothing.

And so it begins.  I have a training schedule, several coaches, a bike, running shoes and only have to join the recreation center so I can practice in the pool there.  I’ve learned new terms, like “resistance bucket” for swim training.  I have a feeling I’m about to find out just how much I bit off!

Prologue

Sometimes in life we do something for one reason but it turns out to be something that brings us exactly where we need to be.  Sometimes it’s extremely profound.  To this I offer Exhibit A:

In November 2008 I decided to quit smoking.  What I quickly learned is that until I found something to replace the habit of smoking I would keep failing at my quit.  Plus I didn’t want to gain too much weight!  I’m a vain woman and was quitting so that I could keep my looks as long as possible.  I also wanted to show other smokers that stopping smoking doesn’t mean gaining 50 pounds.  Being me, I went to the extreme and started training for triathlons.  Side note: I’ve been smoke free for 22+months.  Quitting and stopping are 2 different animals.

My training was fairly loose and consisted of going running sometimes for a bit, riding my bike when I could and swimming with a coach once a week.  It was a tiny little triathlon named the Mini Mighty Man; pool swim of ¼ mile, bike 6 miles and then run 2 miles through a fairly flat park.  Not very intense at all and it was no surprise at all when I finished dead last in my first race.  My sister, Irish twin and BFF actually rolled her butt out of bed at 6am to come cheer me on and it was so amazing crossing that finish line with her chasing me with her camera.  I wouldn’t change a thing.  I also thought it would be my first and last race.

Later that night while knitting with the crew at our local overpriced coffee shop that shall remain unnamed I was telling them about the race.  A woman came over to me and asked if I had done the Eisenhower Park triathlon that morning.  I said why, yes, I did, to which she replied, “So did my friend Rich.”  Rich then came over to me and said, “That’s a respectable swim time” since he had the results open on his laptop.  As it turns out, we live a mere mile from each other.  That’s how we became friends and occasional training partners.

I decided to sign up for the Tobay Sprint Distance Triathlon in August 2011.  This would be a bigger race than the last.  ½ mile outside swim in Oyster Bay, 15k hilly bike ride and then finish up with a 5k run.  It was a shock to the system for me that when I started swim training outside I had trouble in open water considering the fact that I’ve been a scuba diver for so many years and always felt totally comfortable in the water.  Rich would swim with me out in the ocean and then one day something clicked.  I was able to swim in the bay easily but still struggled in the ocean.  Then I found out the Point Lookout Triathlon was an ocean swim and knew I had to do it.

Then somewhere between the Mini Mighty Man and the Point Lookout/Tobay Triathlons my family got devastating news.  My 3 year old niece Aubri had been diagnosed with leukemia.  It was a difficult pill to swallow and still is today, 4 months and countless chemo sessions later.  I stopped by the beach to see Rich for a swim and told him the news.  He immediately said, “Now you have to join Team in Training.”  Team in Training is part of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.  We raise money for leukemia research and at the end do a race.  I joined the team and chose the St. Anthony’s Olympic Distance Triathlon in April 2012 that I will run in Aubri’s honor.  I figured after doing a Sprint distance race training for the Olympic wouldn’t be too much tougher. 

Hurricane Irene came blowing into town the weekend of the Tobay Triathlon and they had to cancel the race.  I was pretty disappointed since I had gotten a shiny new bike and wetsuit and was ready to test myself at a farther distance.  At the time I would be hitting the water trees were blowing sideways and the ocean met the bay on the island where I live.  I was in a Red Cross Shelter hoping my first floor apartment wasn’t destroyed.  The Point Lookout Triathlon went on as planned and I rocked the ocean swim.  Now I’m more comfortable as a swimmer than a runner, which is not normal but, then again, neither am I.

I started triathlons so that I wouldn’t gain weight and smoke and now I’m part of a triathlon team to raise money for leukemia research.  It’s as though I was brought to the world of racing to do this for my niece.  I have 2 goals.  One is to raise $4,000 for leukemia research by January 1, 2012.  So far I’m at 25%.  The other is to train as hard as I can so that I can have a shot at placing in the top 3 in my age group.  The way I see it, if I’m gonna do something in the name of a 3 year old fighting cancer, I just can’t do it halfway.  I have to work as hard as she fights every day.

Aubri is now doing very well.  She is responding to the chemo and her numbers are good.  She has her bad days of course but on good days she’s a ball of energy.  I can’t wait for the day we find out she’s cancer free.  I have total faith that she’ll beat this and I’m happy to do my part to help find a cure.  Thank you for sharing my journey with me.