Old Shoes, New Shoes; Old Dogs, New Dogs

After several runs that led to total body aches, I've retired these shoes. Thankfully, THIS was the cause of such aches. So I took out my brand new Asics that were given to me from the folks at "The Ovarian Cancer Research Fund" and "Active", the people who run the Women's Triathlon in Naperville. Put them on, ran, stretched and NO ACHES!

What a difference.... And sure wish they could stay this clean! Anyway...I really didn't think my old shoes showed wear on the bottom (but it did on the top...but why would that matter) and I don't put a lot of mileage on them....No more than 12 or 13 miles a week. Apparently, the matter between the bottom of the shoe that hits the ground and the bottom that cradles my feet was deteriorating. Hey...at least it's not ME (deteriorating, that is!).

Hmmmmm.... Can you see any difference? Still looks like some good tread to me! (Above: Old Shoe...Below: New Shoe).

Well, my dogs aren't barkin' now, but my LIVE dogs are! Son #1, Adam, came for the weekend with his pup, Bailey. This never thrills Miss Ellie. But here was about the sum of their weekend.

Ellie is happy Bailey went home now! All in a dog's life!

BRAIN FREEZE SWIM !!!

Ever swim in water so cold it BURNED your skin? It made your extremities blue and numb? It gave you a BRAIN FREEZE? My first REAL open water swim was not the best experience! The water temperature at Ohio Street Beach was only 58 degrees! Normally, this time of year it's around 70. But occasionally, the water flip flops...due to wind direction, etc... The warm water goes out to sea and the cold water comes inland. Wouldn't you know...had to do it THIS weekend!

There were many triathletes in their wetsuits and even THEY were cold. Many couldn't bring themselves to go in. My Master's swim coach and I didn't have a wetsuit and a couple of the guys chose not to bring one (and regretted it later!). Half of us grinned and bared it but cut it WAY short. The plan was to swim a half mile out and half mile back in. The coach and another guy did maybe...200 yards... I did 25 yards! The rest did NO yards! I was getting a little light headed. Coach said she had a brain freeze. The other guy said he just couldn't feel anything! One of the triathletes there said he had a splitting headache!

We bundled up and took a nice moderate walk to a Starbucks for some bagels and hot coffee! We had a great time sharing stories and laughs, so in spite of it all....we had a great time.

When we got back, I threw my running clothes on and took an easy 3 mile run after a two week rest from running. Still have the glute issue...Hmmm.... Might be time to visit my dear doc friend...the Ortho guy... It's been a few months!

Dietary Challenges!

It all started at Big Apple Bagel where my Master's Swim Team met after practice (which I missed due to a long, sleepless night...but funny....I could make it for the bagel!)....

The criminal acts continued throughout this long, cool, late August day in 2009....

Scene of the crime: My place of employment

Inside ... Temptations abound! Our Home and School Assoc. decides to provide goodies for the staff to kick off the new glutenous year!

On top of the parent organization treats, it just so happened to be one of our teacher's birthday! Of course, I had to honor her by having some!

What birthday celebration doesn't involve pizza. And of course, this is Chicago...home of the BEST pizza...which is DEEP DISH! These are Lou Milnati's prize winning pies! Of course...this was all followed by more birthday cake!

In addition (that's right...we aren't done yet...), there's the endless candy dish in the office...right across my desk!

So is there any hope for me this year? When will I learn to deal with these challenges. Gotta stop saying, "After this event, After that...." There will always be something! Weight loss success is not based on how well we do on the days we can easily control, but on the days that could easily get OUT OF CONTROL.

Time will tell if I ever learn this control.... Maybe our current weather will get me going...

Perhaps I should now break out in song over this.... "SoooomWHEEEEERRRRE oooover the rainbooooow, dreeeeeams come truuuuuuue" OK...I'll spare you! Ha! (Rainbow in my backyard, Aug. 21, 2009).

2008/2009 Race Reports in a Nutshell!

Wow! It's been over a year since I've posted on here last! Since then, I've done three more triathlons. Can't say it's old hat... May that never be! Just busy doin' this and that. After the first woman's triathlon, there was the Naperville Sprint Triathlon. That was fun, as some friends came to watch:

After that, was the Fall Colors 5K for the Morton Arboretum and after that...The Turkey Trot in Naperville.

2009 brought in my 2nd Women's Triathlon where I raised close to $1,300 dollars for the Ovarian Cancer Research Fund. It was a privilege to raise funds for an organization trying to combat the disease my mother passed away from.

After this race, I was scheduled to run in the Naperville Sprint Triathlon for the 2nd time as well. Only problem was squeezing in training. We went to Hawaii for a vacation and I only ran three times. No bike, no swimming...just running and only 3X in ten days. When we returned home, I twisted my ankle running on the Prairie Path!

Running on Ali'i Dr. Kona, Hawaii...The big Ironman route!

So, another week off for that. Add that to my collection of minor injuries. Inventory: An annoying ongoing glute injury that shoots some mild pain down my sciatica... the other ankle giving me mild trouble... two sore shoulders from swimming... all add up to meager times and training...

(Above: Springbrook Prairie Path...Great place to run!)

The Naperville Sprint Triathlon of 2009 was a mixed bag. HOT, HUMID conditions and physically and mentally NOT being prepared made for a less than par performance. The swim went very well. For once, I had clear paths and only had to swim around a couple of back floaters. Unlike last year where I kept running into people who decided to stop and take a break. And this year...no snaking lane dividers that broke free causing confusion and swimmer back ups as guards tried to fix it. The bike was NOT fun as there was a strong head wind. HOT wind, at that. But I did try something new. This time, I wormed my way out of my cycling shoes and rode my last hundred yards with my feet on top of my shoes for a quick dismount and run to transition. Maybe the next triathlon, I can jump on my bike with the shoes already attached to the peddles via a rubber band and slash time off my transition.

The run was THE SLOWEST EVER! I'm talking waaaaaay slow! Icky slow! My worst run time ever! First mile went better than expected as much of that mile was in nice shade. Second mile was the killer.... I decided to negative split and speed it up half way through mile two. But this mile was on a stretch with NO shade and hot sun. AND...some of it was on two day old freshly paved road making for a hot surface. Ugh...I couldn't pick up speed if my life depended on it! So...I just kept plugging along running and telling myself to just finish as best I can. This meaning...keep running and don't walk. I don't condemn anyone for walking, but I vowed to run the whole way for each triathlon if I'm not injured. So....I finished. It was the slowest triathlon I had ever run, but my fastest swim. My worst bike. My worst run. My worst total time. But....I finished.

I learned some lessons along the way. I can't get away with hap hazard training. I have to continue to train hard, although that would not have been the wisest for me with my current injuries. Accept that there will be times this happens and change your goal to just finishing and enjoying the ride. Have fun. "Tri" harder next time!


What's next.... I've been taking complete time off from running and biking but am still swimming. We will have a week off next week as the Y works on the pool. So...a much needed rest.

I'm hoping to do a running race or two this fall and if my injuries will allow it, maybe one of the races will be a 10K. Also...I'm planning on lifting weights again beginning the week of Labor Day. I let this go and paid the price. The year before I was faithful to weights 2X a week and had ZERO injuries that year. Another lesson learned!

So...that's 2008/2009 in a nutshell!