For months, I have written about my personal experience of training for Ironman. You have heard a range of emotion from me...everything from confronting an eating disorder to elation at finishing my third Half Ironman. My feelings about life in the tri-lane have run the spectrum.
What I don't talk too much about here is that I AM a Certified Personal Trainer and I own half of a Fitness Boot Camp here in the Central Florida area. We are one of the oldest boot camps in the Metro Orlando area. We started almost 8 years ago with the idea of fashioning a boot camp program from Navy Seal Training Techniques minus the cold water and the yelling in your face.
I did this program one on one with my business partner for one year. He (Rick Stafford) also helped me train for my first sprint distance triathlon. Its interesting now how I look back and feel the same way I did after doing a boot camp workout. My Ironman training leaves me exhausted just as my boot camp training did. I had to take naps in the afternoon..just like I do now. I was hungry all the time but i was losing weight..just as I have started to now. I remember the difficulty I had finding a trainer back then (I was blessed to find a trainer who was a physical therapist at first but she moved out of town and on to other opportunities). It was hard to find someone who would even take the time the help me or thought I had a shot at becoming a fit person. I remember walking into a gym and having the fitness staff look at me as if I was a lost cause.
And now you know why I'm a trainer.
Today, I met with an old friend from high school and her good friend from work. They are both nurses and they work really hard taking care of other people. Now, they have decided to take care of themselves. They are starting where I did AFTER I had already lost 100lbs. They have so much drive. They possess so much heart. Their goals sound so familiar: I wanna be able to get up the stairs without feeling winded...I wanna wear a nice bathing suit. The difference now was that I was the one that was doing the helping....not needing the help.
As I helped them complete their 19 minute mile , I remembered....this was me. This is where I started (actually..my first mile took me 21 minutes). Don't laugh at them though...they have a desire to succeed...and they believe in that dream.
Sound familiar?
I got in my car after completing their paperwork and fitness assessment and I cried. I spent an hour looking at what was my mirror image. Look where I have come from. Look at the things I can do now that simply would have been impossible just a few years ago. That 21 minute mile turned into a 5k...that brought me to a 10k....then a half marathon...then a marathon...and then....well....you KNOW how I want the story to continue....
God puts people in your life to appreciate all the things you have....I am so blessed. And yes...THIS IS WHY I became a trainer. I am in the fitness business to give that plus size woman or man hope. Remind me to thank the man upstairs for this amazing experience I get to call....LIFE!!
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Sunday, June 14, 2009
Feeling intimidated
I love my blog. It has given me an outlet for my feelings and frustrations. It has also given me a way to connect with so many amazing people with so much knowledge. I have amassed a wealth of knowledge here and made some unique friendship along the way . To those of you who post comments on my blog....you have no idea how much that means to me. I think it is really something special that someone would take the time to : A. Read my words. and B. Give advice and words of encouragement to someone they have never met.
I was running on the West Orange Trail yesterday and was stopped by two people who recognized me from this blog! They told me I inspired them and they loved reading my words. I was overwhelmed. Me? I make that kind of impact with my "prose therapy"??!! Wow! The only word that came to my mind was : humbled.
But I am up at 500am on a Sunday morning to go do a bike ride with a friend. I didn't get much sleep last night (my hubby and I were out late at an event) but it wouldn't be the first time I did a workout on very little sleep. I had made plans to do a ride with this friend of mine at a place with which I am very familar. Van Fleet trail is a 30 mile flat windy course about an hour from my home. Its the perfect place to get into my aero bars, pedal and think. Little or no traffic...and very desolate. For me ... its the perfect place for a recovery ride.
My friend calls me, after making all these plans in the morning, and decides to change the venue to a place I have never ridden. She also decided to add another gentleman who is an expert rider who's average speed makes me look like I am standing still. He is a delightful man but I have to admit, he intimidates me to death.
I have ridden with people who are faster than me with the understanding that I don't keep them back and they don't wait for me. Ill meet up with them at the middle point or maybe at the end. We have cell phones...were adults. If I get in trouble, Ill give them a call. But for some reason, on this morning, I felt I would make a total ass of myself riding with these folks that average 8 to 10 mph faster than me!
So I grabbed my bike and decided that I would do the urban route at dawn. Downtown Orlando at 630am belonged to me. Aside from the scattered beer bottles, wristbands from the bars and a few people passed out in their cars in a bar parking lot, this Sunday morning world belongs to the early morning runner or rider. Through Downtown and then out to ORMC (Orlando Regional Medical Center) then the Executive Airport, I did all I could to rack up the miles. Making my way to the Cady Way Trail, I left Orlando and entered Winter Park then followed the route back home. A beautiful two hour ride...
Although I still struggle with my confidence as a triathlete, it is mornings like this that remind me that I love what I do...
I was running on the West Orange Trail yesterday and was stopped by two people who recognized me from this blog! They told me I inspired them and they loved reading my words. I was overwhelmed. Me? I make that kind of impact with my "prose therapy"??!! Wow! The only word that came to my mind was : humbled.
But I am up at 500am on a Sunday morning to go do a bike ride with a friend. I didn't get much sleep last night (my hubby and I were out late at an event) but it wouldn't be the first time I did a workout on very little sleep. I had made plans to do a ride with this friend of mine at a place with which I am very familar. Van Fleet trail is a 30 mile flat windy course about an hour from my home. Its the perfect place to get into my aero bars, pedal and think. Little or no traffic...and very desolate. For me ... its the perfect place for a recovery ride.
My friend calls me, after making all these plans in the morning, and decides to change the venue to a place I have never ridden. She also decided to add another gentleman who is an expert rider who's average speed makes me look like I am standing still. He is a delightful man but I have to admit, he intimidates me to death.
I have ridden with people who are faster than me with the understanding that I don't keep them back and they don't wait for me. Ill meet up with them at the middle point or maybe at the end. We have cell phones...were adults. If I get in trouble, Ill give them a call. But for some reason, on this morning, I felt I would make a total ass of myself riding with these folks that average 8 to 10 mph faster than me!
So I grabbed my bike and decided that I would do the urban route at dawn. Downtown Orlando at 630am belonged to me. Aside from the scattered beer bottles, wristbands from the bars and a few people passed out in their cars in a bar parking lot, this Sunday morning world belongs to the early morning runner or rider. Through Downtown and then out to ORMC (Orlando Regional Medical Center) then the Executive Airport, I did all I could to rack up the miles. Making my way to the Cady Way Trail, I left Orlando and entered Winter Park then followed the route back home. A beautiful two hour ride...
Although I still struggle with my confidence as a triathlete, it is mornings like this that remind me that I love what I do...
Saturday, June 13, 2009
The breakthrough I have been looking for...
FINALLY!!!
This is a recovery week for me but that doesn't mean you sit on the couch!! This morning's schedule was for a 90 minute run and a swim. The run got done early while the swim got done at the hottest part of the day.
I met up with the Team in Training Marathon Team this morning at the West Orange Trail. Since I have a long bike scheduled and I didn't want to do it alone, we flip flopped workouts so Beth (who is the coach of the Marathon Team) could ride with me tomorrow. Today was focused on a good solid run.
And that is finally what I had!!
It didn't start off that way. For the first time in weeks, I needed my inhaler as I could feel my chest starting to wheeze. I took one shot of the inhaler and headed down the road. Hector's descriptions of my workouts always amuse me. He wrote" High Cadence and Pretty Form". REALLY!! Has this man actually seen me run?? There is nothing PRETTY about it...but by golly I get it done.
The first three miles were strained. I did 10/1's (10 minutes running...1 minute walking) and did the fastest 5K I have ever done. I got to the turnaround point and thought "Wow...I did that faster than I thought". Mile 4 is what really surprised me. For the first time EVER ... in all the time I have been running, I had two miles where I felt like I could go on forever....and I did...all the way into Winter Garden. It was a 5 mile run instead of a 6 because I stopped at my favorite running/triathlon store: Tri n Run right there on the trail to hear the end of a nutrition talk that Jane (their resident guru and SUPER Ironman) was giving!! I got some good advice, some water and walked the last mile through the beautiful town of Winter Garden.
But its those two miles that stick in my head. Effortless. Good form. Good solid speed (for me at least). Oh my!!! Could this really be happening??? Am I actually IMPROVING on the run!! As always...Ill keep you posted!!
This is a recovery week for me but that doesn't mean you sit on the couch!! This morning's schedule was for a 90 minute run and a swim. The run got done early while the swim got done at the hottest part of the day.
I met up with the Team in Training Marathon Team this morning at the West Orange Trail. Since I have a long bike scheduled and I didn't want to do it alone, we flip flopped workouts so Beth (who is the coach of the Marathon Team) could ride with me tomorrow. Today was focused on a good solid run.
And that is finally what I had!!
It didn't start off that way. For the first time in weeks, I needed my inhaler as I could feel my chest starting to wheeze. I took one shot of the inhaler and headed down the road. Hector's descriptions of my workouts always amuse me. He wrote" High Cadence and Pretty Form". REALLY!! Has this man actually seen me run?? There is nothing PRETTY about it...but by golly I get it done.
The first three miles were strained. I did 10/1's (10 minutes running...1 minute walking) and did the fastest 5K I have ever done. I got to the turnaround point and thought "Wow...I did that faster than I thought". Mile 4 is what really surprised me. For the first time EVER ... in all the time I have been running, I had two miles where I felt like I could go on forever....and I did...all the way into Winter Garden. It was a 5 mile run instead of a 6 because I stopped at my favorite running/triathlon store: Tri n Run right there on the trail to hear the end of a nutrition talk that Jane (their resident guru and SUPER Ironman) was giving!! I got some good advice, some water and walked the last mile through the beautiful town of Winter Garden.
But its those two miles that stick in my head. Effortless. Good form. Good solid speed (for me at least). Oh my!!! Could this really be happening??? Am I actually IMPROVING on the run!! As always...Ill keep you posted!!
Monday, June 8, 2009
...the need...for speed....
Have you ever had days where you woke up and said "Ugh! The last thing I want to do today is workout!" That's the way I was today. I did EVERYTHING to put it off. I cleaned the house, got boot camp calendars set for July, redid our 800 number recording, bank deposits, paid bills, did laundry....ANYTHING except that workout....
But 630pm arrived and I found myself at the Lake Highland Prep Pool ready for a swim workout complete with a speed ladder. Speed!! Hmmm!! Something so incredibly foreign to me...but something I admire.
I have two very sweet friends on the Team in Training squad that embody that word called Speed. Terri and Brandi are little speed demons. They make all the disciplines of triathlon look effortless. They are graceful...fast...precise...and skilled. Its such a gift....and its just not a gift I possess.
But if you talk to my Team In Training Coaches Bill and Keith..they will tell you I might not have the speed...but I can go forever. Just like the camel in the desert...I can survive for miles. I might not get there fast....but Ill get there.
So...as I made my way through my ladder workout tonight...I admired the one thing I need just a little of....just a little speed....just enough to get me to that line by midnight!!
Anyone got some spare speed they could let me borrow (and NOOOO...not THAT kind of speed!!!)
But 630pm arrived and I found myself at the Lake Highland Prep Pool ready for a swim workout complete with a speed ladder. Speed!! Hmmm!! Something so incredibly foreign to me...but something I admire.
I have two very sweet friends on the Team in Training squad that embody that word called Speed. Terri and Brandi are little speed demons. They make all the disciplines of triathlon look effortless. They are graceful...fast...precise...and skilled. Its such a gift....and its just not a gift I possess.
But if you talk to my Team In Training Coaches Bill and Keith..they will tell you I might not have the speed...but I can go forever. Just like the camel in the desert...I can survive for miles. I might not get there fast....but Ill get there.
So...as I made my way through my ladder workout tonight...I admired the one thing I need just a little of....just a little speed....just enough to get me to that line by midnight!!
Anyone got some spare speed they could let me borrow (and NOOOO...not THAT kind of speed!!!)
Sunday, June 7, 2009
A nice size brick on a very scary rainy day
I love weekend workouts. I can actually say that I enjoy the long ride...and on occassion...I enjoy the long run. It can clear your head, get the endorphins rushing and give you a good feeling overall. Im pretty whipped when the workout is over but the accomplishment is a feeling like no other.
Yesterday, I started out at Lakefront Park in Clermont to tackle a ride course that was a definite challenge for me....the Hilly side of Clermont. As I rode around Lake Minneola, it reminded me of the race where I met Hector for the first time and he helped me finish. I was having a terrible time climbing the hills on the course during that race. I never got off my bike and pushed but the thought cross my mind that day as I attempted to complete a 40K bike course. As I approached those hills yesterday, I could feel myself getting nervous. Was it going to be the same??
I made a left onto Jalarmy..a small road with a nice little incline and came out of my saddle. Much to my shock, I was at the top in no time at all. Hmmmm?? Could these bike trainer sessions really be working?? I followed Cherry Lake Road to another set of rollers and one more intense climb...and the same thing happened. I climbed it without issue.
In the first hour, the climbing was fairly easy. What a shock!! I joke with EVERYONE that I am a flatlander. I don't like hills, don't want hills on the course and if it were possible, I would "iron" the course flat the night before!! But here I was, climbing...not fast..but without feeling like I couldn't breath!!
By the end of the second hour, I was starting to feel the hills in my quads. I focused on my nutrition and continued the course. I past some beautiful homes, an incredible tree farm and traveled to some areas I had never seen before.
The mental side of training seems to play more of a role as the rides get longer. Into hour 3, I was ready to get off the bike. I know this is nothing compared to the 100+ mile rides I will be doing soon...but for now mentally, I was learning how to
deal with being in the saddle for awhile.
I returned to my car to find my Team in Training teammates done with their workout. They applauded my arrival (isn't that cool...to have people cheer you on like that) but while they were headed to breakfast, I was headed out on the run. Bricks are always hard for me. As soon as I rack that bike up on my car, everything in me wants to jump into the car and go home. I switched shoes, grabbed my fuel belt and made myself head out on the run.
My transition muscles are a major stumbling block for me. They don't fire as fast as most people I know so walking the first 2 to 4 minutes is essential. I try to focus on getting the legs to run and usually, after a few minutes, I get moving on my "oh so not pretty run".
I shuffle. I tell alot of people - for me - triathlon is swimming, biking and stumbling instead of running. With large short legs, running is definitely not my strong event, but I am really trying to get a little stronger. Yesterday, my legs felt like lead after all the hills...but this is a good thing. Train Hard. Race Easy.
20 minutes into my 1 hour run, I started to get very scared. The sky was black and the thunder started to rumble. I was hardheaded. Instead of turning around and heading back to the car, I was determined to get my 1 hour in. I continued to run
and the heavens opened. I didn't mind the rain so much ... but the lightening? That's another story in itself.
I found an overpass and took shelter as the lightening lit up the sky around me. As I tried to stay safe, cyclist and runners alike dashed for the shelter of this overpass. I have to say, it was one of the scariest times I have had training.
The rain let up a little so I headed out again, saying a little prayer for safety in the weather and to just let me get back to my car. As I arrived at my vehicle, I noticed I had achieved a negative split. Hmmm...running from lightening can be a new training tool!!!
As I headed out of the park, it started to hail. It took me 80 minutes to get home when it usually take 45. So many of my friends said "Why didn't you just pack up and go home when you saw the rain coming?" I guess that would have been the logical thing to do ... but then again....Ive never been a logical person. You don't know what your Ironman day will bring..you might as well train for every condition...including rain and hail!
Another brick accomplished. One more solid stepping stone to Ironman.
Yesterday, I started out at Lakefront Park in Clermont to tackle a ride course that was a definite challenge for me....the Hilly side of Clermont. As I rode around Lake Minneola, it reminded me of the race where I met Hector for the first time and he helped me finish. I was having a terrible time climbing the hills on the course during that race. I never got off my bike and pushed but the thought cross my mind that day as I attempted to complete a 40K bike course. As I approached those hills yesterday, I could feel myself getting nervous. Was it going to be the same??
I made a left onto Jalarmy..a small road with a nice little incline and came out of my saddle. Much to my shock, I was at the top in no time at all. Hmmmm?? Could these bike trainer sessions really be working?? I followed Cherry Lake Road to another set of rollers and one more intense climb...and the same thing happened. I climbed it without issue.
In the first hour, the climbing was fairly easy. What a shock!! I joke with EVERYONE that I am a flatlander. I don't like hills, don't want hills on the course and if it were possible, I would "iron" the course flat the night before!! But here I was, climbing...not fast..but without feeling like I couldn't breath!!
By the end of the second hour, I was starting to feel the hills in my quads. I focused on my nutrition and continued the course. I past some beautiful homes, an incredible tree farm and traveled to some areas I had never seen before.
The mental side of training seems to play more of a role as the rides get longer. Into hour 3, I was ready to get off the bike. I know this is nothing compared to the 100+ mile rides I will be doing soon...but for now mentally, I was learning how to
deal with being in the saddle for awhile.
I returned to my car to find my Team in Training teammates done with their workout. They applauded my arrival (isn't that cool...to have people cheer you on like that) but while they were headed to breakfast, I was headed out on the run. Bricks are always hard for me. As soon as I rack that bike up on my car, everything in me wants to jump into the car and go home. I switched shoes, grabbed my fuel belt and made myself head out on the run.
My transition muscles are a major stumbling block for me. They don't fire as fast as most people I know so walking the first 2 to 4 minutes is essential. I try to focus on getting the legs to run and usually, after a few minutes, I get moving on my "oh so not pretty run".
I shuffle. I tell alot of people - for me - triathlon is swimming, biking and stumbling instead of running. With large short legs, running is definitely not my strong event, but I am really trying to get a little stronger. Yesterday, my legs felt like lead after all the hills...but this is a good thing. Train Hard. Race Easy.
20 minutes into my 1 hour run, I started to get very scared. The sky was black and the thunder started to rumble. I was hardheaded. Instead of turning around and heading back to the car, I was determined to get my 1 hour in. I continued to run
and the heavens opened. I didn't mind the rain so much ... but the lightening? That's another story in itself.
I found an overpass and took shelter as the lightening lit up the sky around me. As I tried to stay safe, cyclist and runners alike dashed for the shelter of this overpass. I have to say, it was one of the scariest times I have had training.
The rain let up a little so I headed out again, saying a little prayer for safety in the weather and to just let me get back to my car. As I arrived at my vehicle, I noticed I had achieved a negative split. Hmmm...running from lightening can be a new training tool!!!
As I headed out of the park, it started to hail. It took me 80 minutes to get home when it usually take 45. So many of my friends said "Why didn't you just pack up and go home when you saw the rain coming?" I guess that would have been the logical thing to do ... but then again....Ive never been a logical person. You don't know what your Ironman day will bring..you might as well train for every condition...including rain and hail!
Another brick accomplished. One more solid stepping stone to Ironman.
Thursday, June 4, 2009
Giving new meaning to "taking the stairs"
Imagine, if you will, that your trainer has decided this is the best training tool available to you for your Ironman!
Welcome to my world!
I had a really crummy day yesterday. Its a long story I will share in the coming weeks but for now lets just say I had
a bad day at work. I came home last night and tossed and turned with very little sleep.
The alarm rang at 6am (sleeping in for me actually) and I headed to my running session with Hector at 7am!
We hit the treadmill for some hill repeats which made me want to die!! This girl is a flatlander but we are trying really
hard to make her into a hill climber. Hector had me step off the treadmill and out the door.
Oh no! Stairs!!
Ive mentioned these before in my blog. 20 flights of nothing but your feet, your elevated heart rate and your brain saying nasty things like "Turn back...he'll never know you didn't go all the way to the top"! As I watched my new Heart Rate Monitor climb, I realized that this was good mental training too!! There are going to be hundreds of times in the Ironman that I will want to find the closest chair and call it a day. There will be still more where my body will probably scream to stop..but I gotta stay focused and push forward.
I made it to the top and headed back down...back to the treadmill and more hill repeats. I figured we were done with the stairs..
Thats something unique about Hector! Just when you think you got it figured out, he surprises you. He brought me off the treadmill again and I wanted to beg for mercy...but he left no time as he ushered me to the echoing halls of my new "gym".
Climb..climb...climb. Bitch..bitch...bitch. And then that vision reappeared in my head...the finish line...and then I remembered why I am here and my purpose for this early morning torture.
Whoever thought the stairs would lead to Mike Reilly and the words "You are an Ironman"
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
Tough time finding words...
Its been awhile since I updated my blog. It's not that I hare forgotten how important it is to document this journey but simply difficult to find the right words. I am searching for the proper words to describe my feelings right now and they are indescribable.
I searched for a quote...none seemed appropriate. I looked at other blogs to get an idea of what might be a good topic...that just felt like plagiarism. Right now...I am in a strange place. I can feel myself climbing up that mountain known as endurance. Im definitely not at the peak but Im not at the point that every workout leaves me totally spent. I HAVE made some progress. Is it enough progress for Nov. 7th? Only time will tell.
I got the 30th Anniversary Ironman World Championship DVD in the mail a few days ago. If you enter the Kona lottery, you get one of these DVD's for your time and trouble (but no Kona slot). It sat on my desk for a day or so but finally, I just had to watch it.
There were many images on that DVD that stuck in my mind as I rode the trainer this morning and listen to Hector lead the class but the main vision in my head was of Chrissie Wellington on the bike. To watch her ride is a vision of perfect athletic performance: Speed, Power, Posture and...a smile. To watch her run is a thing of beauty! Why is it the good ones always smile like there is not any pain involved....but you know there has to be.
I will never have that kind of talent, but for a moment in my mind this morning, I had those legs. I went as hard and as fast as I could in the sprints. I was the first out the door on the run....(and every single person past me as they always do)...but that mental picture of sheer perfection stuck with me and motivated me for those two hours.
Then it was those with physically challenges that motivate me even more. The men and women who race in a wheelchair or with a prosthetic leg never cease to amaze me. I know in my heart that if they can do this...I CAN DO THIS. Their images floated in my head as I ran and pushed myself a little harder today.
I know its crunch time. There is no more "ohhh the Ironman is a year away". Nope...now its serious. Put up or shut up!
I searched for a quote...none seemed appropriate. I looked at other blogs to get an idea of what might be a good topic...that just felt like plagiarism. Right now...I am in a strange place. I can feel myself climbing up that mountain known as endurance. Im definitely not at the peak but Im not at the point that every workout leaves me totally spent. I HAVE made some progress. Is it enough progress for Nov. 7th? Only time will tell.
I got the 30th Anniversary Ironman World Championship DVD in the mail a few days ago. If you enter the Kona lottery, you get one of these DVD's for your time and trouble (but no Kona slot). It sat on my desk for a day or so but finally, I just had to watch it.
There were many images on that DVD that stuck in my mind as I rode the trainer this morning and listen to Hector lead the class but the main vision in my head was of Chrissie Wellington on the bike. To watch her ride is a vision of perfect athletic performance: Speed, Power, Posture and...a smile. To watch her run is a thing of beauty! Why is it the good ones always smile like there is not any pain involved....but you know there has to be.
I will never have that kind of talent, but for a moment in my mind this morning, I had those legs. I went as hard and as fast as I could in the sprints. I was the first out the door on the run....(and every single person past me as they always do)...but that mental picture of sheer perfection stuck with me and motivated me for those two hours.
Then it was those with physically challenges that motivate me even more. The men and women who race in a wheelchair or with a prosthetic leg never cease to amaze me. I know in my heart that if they can do this...I CAN DO THIS. Their images floated in my head as I ran and pushed myself a little harder today.
I know its crunch time. There is no more "ohhh the Ironman is a year away". Nope...now its serious. Put up or shut up!
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