It Takes a Village....

Here I am in Huron watching the sunrise. Twenty four hours and four minutes from now I will begin my race. I am calm and, in ten minutes, I am headed to the race sight to take a dip in Lake Erie for a very strict time of 20 minutes.

Since December I have asked so much from so many people and I am truly grateful for all the time and equipment friends, family and strangers have donated. My sister has babysat to the point that Katie has come to expect that every other Friday night is a sleepover, which includes Mommy, at Aunt Jens and an early Saturday morning bonding session with cousins that usually lasts into the early afternoon. Katie's dad, Matt, has switched our schedule around without batting an eye. Drew has given up Saturday morning sleep sessions and girlfriends have played Wii with Katie, so I can fit in a two to three hour bike session all for the price of dinner. A teammate has lent me a bike (huge deal in the biking community...HUGE). A teammate has given up an hour of his time after a long day of work to walk me through changing a tire over and over. Needless to say, I had some serious help from my "village".

This has been my most valuable lesson since December. I have never been good at counting on others. This is my lesson that I will take with me forever. My other "medal" I earn this weekend. I can ask for help and, because I love these people and I care about helping them as well, I can count on my village to help me.

Seems simple, but a milestone for me.

Off to swim!

Decide

I was speaking with a couple co-workers about my upcoming 140.6 mile journey. One thing never changes. Most of these people who ask me about the race react with, "I could never do that." I should at least give them credit for not saying the usual, "I would do an Ironman, but....."(fill in the excuse here).

I usually respond in the same way.

I truly believe that most people are physically capable of completing this distance race. Anyone who makes the DECISION to train for and complete this race and makes the DECISION to complete their workouts everyday and makes the DECISION to learn about nutrition and apply that knowledge CAN do this. That doesn't mean it's easy. If it were easy it wouldn't be as special. We have to decide who we want to be every day.

Are you the person who sets a goal, gets tired, makes excuses and gives up? OR, are you the person who sets a goal, gets tired and continues to do the work despite the obstacles?

You, we, just have to decide.

A Vacation from my Head

Not sure where the time has gone....Oh yeh, that's right. On the bike, road and in the pool and/or lake.

Two vacations, a summer watching my nieces, quality time with Katie, a couple races and I am ready for this to be over. I'm ready to earn my title. I am ready for a break from juggling.

I have been looking for inspiration as the weeks dwindle and, here I am, just a week away. I try to focus on the task at hand. The knowledge that I CAN and WILL do this, but the self doubt still seeps in and plays with my head.

I am so proud of myself and what I have accomplished. I am proud of how far I have come physically. BUT, man I can taste the finish line.

Surrounding Myself with Good Judgement

I have no excuse expect LIFE for my delayed post. The good news is that I am now a sponsored athlete!

Carrie McCoy, former Ohio State Triathlon team member and current Team USA member is my coach! She coaches beginner and intermediate triathletes through her team Justtri and I would advise anybody who is interested to check out her website http://www.justtri.net. Bikesource is taking care of all my bike maintenance needs as well as providing a discount for parts. I am so fortunate and aware that I owe the universe:)

I officially joined the Justtri team this weekend with a brick workout...My first. I was nervous, but positive. I believe negative energy will suck the life out of you and making it through any long workout is 95% MENTAL.

The workout: 3mile run, 18mile bike, 3mile run, 18mile bike, 3mile run. Eighty five degrees and after the first bike/ride my skin was blistering (even with spf) and I had goosebumps (not a good sign, but frustrating b/c I had been hydrating during the drive up and the first bike). On the last hill of that second bike route I fizzled. I thought I was either going to throw up or die...neither a pleasant way to end a workout (there's that other 5%). Collected myself and got back on the bike. My chain fell off. Ummm, a sign? God saying, "JACQUE! HELLO!!!????" Chain was fixed, rode the final stretch into the team transition and Coach stops me and tells me I am done. No final run for me. Disappointed? Hating my body? Yes and yes. Secretly appreciative?..yep, think so.

Here's where surrounding myself with good judgement comes into play. Today, Monday, I am waking up to my 2nd full day of headache and fatigue. I am STILL dehydrated from Saturday's brick. Coach, who was of sound mind and judgement on Saturday, pulled me from finishing. She can make calls that, for me, are too emotional.

Sometimes others do know best (quite the epiphany for me)! Especially when they are trained professionals!!!!

Thanks to my coach for not allowing me to kill myself. Much appreciated!

Today begins another week of training. Fifteen weeks until Ironman.

Things that Make Me Move

After watching Glee this week, I might say Madonna in response to this statement, but in this post when I say "move" I don't mean gyrating on stage while wearing a cone bra proudly. That's for Saturday night;)

I am referring to what inspires me to show my appreciation for a healthy body that is physically capable. Every time I want to complain about being tired or sore I remind myself of Erin, my friend with Rheumatoid Arthritis who was diagnosed as a college student in her early 20s. Erin, who once told me she wishes she could run in response to my complaint of sore legs. Erin, who went off her daily shots and medication for two years in hopes of conceiving, carrying and birthing a beautiful, healthy baby. (Elizabeth was born this past January :) I remind myself of Derek, my student with Muscular Dystrophy who, as a freshman in high school, has beat the odds with his current level of mobility. Derek, who is a straight "A" student in honors classes and never complains about all the writing in his homework while I watch him struggle through it and know that, someday soon, he will no longer have this option. I remind myself of Mike. Mike, who after a lifetime of surgeries on both feet and pain, made the gutsy call to amputate his right leg below the knee this past March, so he COULD run. Carpe Diem Mike!

This is how I move. Thinking of those who make me feel like a wuss because, if they were given the chance knowing what they know, they would take it and run with it. They would move. .so I do.

Frogger, Drowning and Other Hazards

Let's visit some daily issues. .

Hazard 1: Revisiting Frogger. Back roads and city streets can be dangerous. Especially when you are a highschool teacher and the area you are running in begs for drive bys of students after their practices/extra curriculars in which they think it's funny to honk the horn, scaring the shit out of you, or yell something you can't quite make out, but are sure would earn them a detention. Thank God the kids in that school actually LIKE me, otherwise, I may find myself ditch diving on a daily basis.

Hazard 2: Think the sweatiest person you have ever seen, add another bucket of sweat, and you may have an image of what I look like during/after a workout. Seriously, ring out my clothes after a workout and you could provide enough fluid for a small village to never go thirsty again. This is what I looked like when I walked back into the YMCA, saw a student and he did a double take saying, "Ms. Christian? Oh, hi." Oh well, not nearly as bad as changing my clothes in front of our entire girl's swim team while training during swim season...a story for another day perhaps.

Hazard 3: Shrek feet. Or at least what I would imagine them to look like. I have never had pretty feet because I have always been a runner, which has lead to two toe nails falling off and five blood blisters under toe nails that need to be drained in order to NOT lose another toe nail...this is a whole new low though. I need intervention soon or flip flops will not be in my future. .boo

Hazard 4: Cramping. Cramping in my foot while swimming that caused my life to flash before my eyes as I came up out of my stroke, inhaled a considerable amount of water, began to cough while trying to grab said foot without my head going back underwater while making my way back to the wall. But, hey, as long as it doesn't make the lifegaurds feel obligated to GET UP OUT OF THEIR CHAIRS AND WIPE THE DAZED LOOK OFF THEIR FACES then I am just glad to give them a good laugh :)
Wow! Glad I didn't put you out there ladies.

Anxiety Dragging Me Down

Running has always put me in a peaceful state. It's my church most days. Bad day? Run. Good day? Run. Need to connect with my spiritual side? Run.

As I have progressed into training my runs have become work. Instead of that free feeling I usually get after a mile I feel heavy. I am running through mud and there's a weight on my shoulders. What do I do about this or that problem at work? How do I fit this friend's event in when I am stretched so thin? How do I keep being available emotionally and physically for the people I love? Am I neglecting my daughter, my family, my friends, my job, my grocery shopping? How do I pay for all of this "stuff" that I need to be successful in this race?

Today, I think I figured it out. I just have to let it go. I found my way back. I ran and I chose not to tell myself I HAVE to be at a certain pace. I just RAN. I focused on the air and sunshine. I focused on a realistic idea of what I could get done in a day. I focused on the fact that I still have five months. FIVE! I remembered that I have amazing people in my life who support me (or at least tolerate me) and will help me get this done. I am lucky.

Ironwoman ON...I'm back

The Blahs

Not to be a Debby Downer, but I need an attitude adjustment! Being sick for two weeks put me in a workout slump. I have been doing the workouts, but not enjoying them like I was before. I am hoping that having Spring Break this week and not having to "fit in" am/pm workouts will get me back on track.

Fingers crossed!

Biking with a Pirate. .arghhh

You have to appreciate the almost five year old that will endure their mother being on a stationary bike in the middle of the family room while recorded American Idol takes over the television (the only show we could agree on at the moment) for two hours.

Of course, this is where the pirate comes in because only another mom may understand sweating through your clothes while trying to fit in a workout and talking with your child while they play out their pirate fantasy with their sword and try to "cut your head off". Ah multi-tasking. Always an adventure.

The Ironman training program I am using said to put myself into extreme situations as much as possible to prepare myself for whatever conditions on race day. Somehow, I don't think this is what they meant.

Phlegm

Chest colds and attempting to train does not a pretty picture make. The entire training "plan" is a spec in the distance this week. Any increase in my heart rate results in a cough that creates an earthquake of epic proportions to my core. The one attempt at working out resulted in others at the gym casting a frightened sideways glance as they walked quickly in the other direction. Imagine their reaction if they saw what I am coughing up. . .awesome. Go away phlegm. I have a race to train for.

In the Beginning

I started like any sane person would. I poured a glass of wine and began looking up beginner training plans and "close" ironman races online. I found a good plan at http://www.beginnertriathlete.com (the link is provided below). I knew the plan I was looking at was 1.)A 20 week plan and that 2.) I had 38 weeks due to choosing an August 29th race. Jackpot. Since my main issue would be time management I was feeling positive about TIME.

Ahh time. My nemesis. The Joker to my batman, the Gargamel to my smurf, the dairy to my complexion. I am 33, full time intervention specialist, union representative for my building, department chair, single-mom, girlfriend, x-wife, sister, aunt, daughter and friend. AND I tutor for some extra cash one day per week. On most given days I have way too many balls in my air for what my anxiety level can handle, so why not add training for an ironman;)

I had to take each week of training and manipulate it to fit into MY week. Thank goodness for starting early because I would never be able to manage this if I really had the pressure of fitting it all in within a 20 week time period.

If you are thinking about getting into triathlons/sprint triathlons take a look at this website. It has helpful articles that can get you started. Don't ever think you are locked into a training program exactly as it is presented.

How I got here

I have a life list. Most of us do these days whether it's typed and saved in a file, scrawled on scratch paper or simply a list in our head. Mine includes some of the same as what many of us would hope for and some not so much: be a good mom, sister, daughter, friend; travel to New Zealand, skydive, blah blah blah. . IRONMAN.

Before I became a mom, marathon and triatholon were on my life list. Looking back, this was more because I was sick of working out to stay or be thin. I wanted a fitness goal that didn't base my success on a number on a scale or the inside of a pair of new pants. Then I became addicted to that feeling of success. Believe me, I wasn't breaking any official records, but I was making and breaking my own by finishing.

In 2002, Mr. Marathon bit me on the ass. A random day in July I decided, "Hey! I am going to run a marathon." (So says the social smoker and weekend booze hound.) I set out on my usual three mile walking route and was determined to run the entire thing. It took me 33 minutes. Two months later I was arranging long runs around OSU tailgating and happy hours.

Eight years go by. . one marathon, six half marathons, two sprint triatholons, full-time career, daughter and a divorce later and I'm training for Ironman.

Two months in, six to go.