Shoes, Shoes, Shoes!!!

I'm on my third pair of NEW shoes. Yep, it all started about two months ago.

The week of the Silver Lake Tri I started feeling pain in my left hip and knee... It started out in my hip, a super tight feeling - then the knee kicked in... it was awful!! Turns out it was an IT Band issue.
It's caused by a couple of things: over use and worn out shoes! Check & check!
So being that it was the week before a race, I decided to not change shoes until afterwards.

After that tri, I went to get a new pair of shoes. I was excited - my last pair was pretty worn, I had had them for over a year... not that I used them, but they were that old. :)
So I walk in and a super nice college kid said "what can I do for you?" - I showed him my old shoes and wanted something similar since they had worked in the past. He went to the stock room and came back empty handed. They didn't make that specific shoe anymore - so he showed me something different.
I super cushy shoe! Oooohhhh, I like!!!

Took them home and went for a quick run - it was like magic! My IT band issue disappeared!
I was ecstatic!! No more pain!!!

It was short lived - in the weeks to follow I started feeling my inner shins act up. A dull agonizing pain.
Then the left calf - a nagging pain that felt like a tight muscle. No matter what I did, it just wouldn't loosen up. I was stretching, icing, heat, Ibuprofan, massage... you name it, I've done it!
About 2 weeks into my new cushy shoes - my calf finally locked up!! It was excruciating!!!
Sent me into a two week pain ride! No fun what so ever - couldn't even swim. Pointing and flexing was too much to bear.

My coach, my Dr. and myself all put 2 and 2 together and decided it must be the shoes! So I went back and tried to exchange them. Luckily the store was happy to do so.
It was then that I ran into my first "a-ha"... my cushy shoes weren't the right type for my feet. Apparently I have flat feet. Who knew?? I really need a shoe with arch support. Otherwise my ankles are rolling enough to cause the inner shins and calfs to pull in directions they should be.

Because I'm in the middle of training for another race the "expert" advised me to get into a more structured shoe - like my original shoe because it had worked for me in the past. (meaning no arch support) ... and next time get the "right" shoe with an arch support. So I took his word and went home. Again - went for a short run, calf still hurt - then the IT snuck back in. Another 5 days go by and I just can't take it anymore - I'm still in pain, now going to Physical Therapy, 2 weeks behind in training - the list goes on.  I end up going back to the shoe store and getting a correct fit in shoes this time.

My first run went well, and I'm hoping this will be one of the pieces of the puzzle that will help get me back on the road with no pain.

I tell ya!!! 2 months of ridiculous pain all due to shoes!!! Who knew??

Damn Cake!!!

So it's been a bit of a rough week!

Last week was my daughter's 9th Birthday - can't believe she's 9!!!
I geared myself for the cake - had a pep talk about it, "just have a piece and walk away".

I did just that - had a piece and walked away.... then came back, snuck another small piece,
again and again till it was finally gone! I had some help from the family - what I'm most mad about it
how I slipped back into my old ways. How I threw the pep talk right out the window. I was like a crazed woman on the hunt for that damn thing. Ugh!!!

I was all hopped up on sugar for like 3 days - couldn't shake my feeling for wanting more and more.
It's a sickness!!! People laugh at me when I say I'm addicted to sugar... but it's true!!! I really believe I am!
I calls me all hours of the day and night - my head can't think of anything else when I know there is sugar in the house. I seek it out, I find it, I down it. I feel good at the moment - then horrible when I snap out of it. "What is wrong with you?? Why are you doing this? Seriously, get a grip!!"

The weekend was finally over - the sugar out of the house but I'm still feeling like I'm coming off of my sugar binge. Mad at myself for falling into those old traps. But this time I know more than ever how it affected me. It's just best for me at this stage of the game to stay away from all things with that amount of sweetness. I'm not one of those people that can just have a little chocolate to satisfy my craving... It only makes me want more. So That's It! I'm done with cake!!! Damn CAKE!!!

COACH!!!

I have a COACH!!!

She's great - she's full of knowledge and experience.
I met her last year when I joined her Triathlon class - I didn't do so well in the class.
The time of day was difficult for me with home life and the business. But I liked her and
thought maybe I'd try the class again some time.

So after my last race I contacted her - and let her know what my future goals were.
I was hoping she wouldn't laugh at me. Guess what? She didn't!! She was more than
happy to meet with me and form a plan.

I'm so scared to get stuck back in the same rut I was in before. Slipping into the winter - not much exercise, eating bad, bad sleep. I needed a plan to get me through - so my friend talked me into a 1/2 Marathon!

Yeah - never thought about it before, but why not?? I'm doing ok with my running, gotten over my IT injury, it's local and I've got 10 weeks to get ready.

So I'm signed up and working my way towards this new goal. I think this will be a great way to keep me motivated thru October.

Laurie (my Coach) wanted to run with me last Friday to see how I would do and maybe give me some pointers. I was so nervous. I'm a pretty slow runner - 12min  miles or so. But she's great - she stuck right with me the entire time and gave me some great things to think about and work on when I'm training alone.

We went for 6.5 miles!!! Her plan for me is to be on the conservative side for my first race. So far the plan is to run 8mins, walk 2mins.  - I felt great after the run. We practiced drinking Gatorade and water.
I didn't even get sore the next day. What is up with me?? This isn't the old Holly for sure!
On top of that - I've got CALF MUSCLES!!! Yeah, you can see them when I flex. Now that's improvement!!!

Next weeks training schedule:
Monday- run 5 with 7-8 pickups
Tues - bike or swim 40-60mins
Weds - Track Class + 2miles
Thurs - swim
Friday - 7.5 mile run

Been awhile...

So I haven't written for awhile. It's been a busy summer.

A quick update on the last two races of the year that I competed in:

Oshkosh - My sister and I woke up to a loud thunderous morning - rain, lightning, wind!!!

We were camping in the Green Bay/Oshkosh area - everything sounds worse in the camper, but when we got out of bed... it really was horrible outside. We waivered back and forth as to if we should go or not - or if they'd even continue with the race.

We did get out of bed - got dressed and headed out. We both knew we'd be disappointed with ourselves if we didn't go. So we headed out in the storm, got to the event, worked our way to the registration tables. It was fairly unorganized due in part to the rain. Everything went as scheduled in hopes of the skys clearing up. But at that point... the weather wasn't looking good. They tried to body mark us - but the ink could barely stick to our wet arms and legs.

We racked our bikes and really started to second guess if we should just pack it up and go home. The rain stopped but the wind kicked in! The transition area was about to close so we needed to make a decision. ....the weirdest thing happened. The dark skies over the lake suddenly cleared up and the sun started to peak out from the clouds. We couldn't believe it and took it as a sign to stay.

We got ready for the swim - We were in one of the last waves, witch left us plenty of time to get our nerves worked up. Those bouys always look so far out in the water.

The swim went ok - I swallowed water probably 3 times, cough, hack... lifeguard thought I was going down, I'm ok.... repeat. Finally got out of the water and ran to transition. Got on my bike and took off. The roads were still slick from the rain so I took it a little slower in spots.

It was the most windy ride I've ever been on. It felt like no matter what direction you were going, it was into the wind! Finally got done with the bike and transitioned into my running shoes. For the first time in 9 races... I really had to go to the bathroom!!! I didn't really know what to do! Headed to the nearest porto and plugged my nose. Grosss!!!!

Felt like it took forever to get out of there. Ugh - still grosses me out!

Onto the run it was - right off the bat I felt good! My legs felt good, my heart/lungs wern't in over drive for once. Maybe that porto did me some good after all. ;)

Just about to round the first turn with I hear... "go Holli"... our Mom drove all the way up to Oshkosh to see Shell and I race. That was really cool and such a surprise!!! The run was GREAT! I've never felt so ok with running in my life. I had been working on running the most over the summer and the two races before Oshkosh were disasterous runs for me.

The corse was really nice - couple of rolling hills but nothing major.

Someone even said to me... "I'm trying to keep up to you - your keeping me going". She looked like me a year ago. It was her first race... hopefully not her last.

Who would have thought someone would be ever trying to keep up to me???

Passed Shell on the way - her goal was to not cry... she had been dealing with a hairline fracture on her foot all summer. She pushed through anyways and looked AWESOME!!! And no tears!!

I finished feeling the best I've ever felt on a race. My times weren't great, but I was happy with the way I felt. 2:03 was my time.

Swim: 00:14:05.1, T1: 8 00:03:38.2 Bike: 01:05:40.2 T2 00:04:00.9 Run: 00:36:27.9

LAST RACE of the YEAR:

The last race was the Silver Lake race in Portage, WI.

It was a race that Shell & I had done the year before and I wanted another shot at it.

The weather was GREAT! A little on the cool side and fairly cloudy. Perfect in my book!

I was on my own for this one. Shell wasn't there - my Mom was on vacation. Jer & the Kids were sleeping.

Got in the water and tried my hardest to go as fast as I could. Finished fine. Got on the bike and tried to push it as much as I could - until I got stuck behind a chic on a mountain bike going 2 miles per hour thru a construciton zone that we were not allowed to pass through. Uggggh!!! The bike was great - a bit more hilly than I remember it, but it was fine. There is always one hill at the turn around that is crazy huge! Huge for me anyways... but I made it without too much of a fight. :) Finished the bike - tried to rack my bike when the whole rack fell apart! Yeah, nice. Some nice guy that had already finished the race helped put it back together as I was rushing to get out of transition. Got on the run and immediately hit the first uphill.

That always sucks when you have an uphill right at the start, but it was fine - what goes up must come down right? Part of the run was on an airport landing strip - but we had to run in the grass next to it ... un-mowed grass that is. Little harder than I thought. At the last .5 or so... my hip and knee started aching. I injured my IT band (ligiment that goes from the hip to knee) the Monday before the race. Finished strong though and was suprized to see my 3 beautiful girls and awesome Hubby at the finish line!!! I was happy to be done with the race - it was hilly and hard. I had been training for so long and I was ready to give it a break for a little while. BUT more than that I really wanted to beat last years time. Last year my sister Shell and I came in second to last out of everyone there with a time of 2:18! Ouch!!! I was hoping to cut off a good 15 mins or so this year.

Drum Rollllllll........ 1:51:03!!!! I cried! I'm still so much behind the middle of the pack... but what an increadible way to end the year!!! It was really tough and I felt like I had made major improvements!!

That's 27 mins off of last years time!!! Wahooooooo!!!!

Here's the breakdown:

SWIM: 10:28, T1 1:51, BIKE: 58:38, T2 1:58, RUN: 38:10

1:51:03

2nd Place & Self Doubt

So Sunday was an exciting and disturbing day for me.

It was the day of my second tri of the year. My sister and I had decided to

do the Super Sprint race in Kettle Moraine. Her foot had just healed from a

stress fracture and we thought this would be a good one to start with.

The weather was beautiful - couldn't ask for better race weather. Sunny, no humidity,

almost a little on the cool side to start the day. The lake water was warm.

So we line up for our wave to be announced... nervous but ready to go!

The horn blows and we were off - the swim was only 1/8 of a mile so we thought we

could do it in about 6 mins or under. Yep we did - 5:15!

Then we lost track of eachother in the crowds until we passed eachother on the bike corse.

Only a 6 mile bike so we were hoping for about 20 mins. Yep 18!!

Then came the run... no this is where the disturbing part of the day came into play.

I had been working on my run the most - feeling really good about how much progress I've

made in a short couple of months. From a 15min. mile down to under 12!

So I was really hoping for a nice quick finish on this short 1.5 mile run.

The offroad run portion was hindered due to the mass amount of rain a couple days prior to

the race. The race officials did the best they could by laying down hay and plywood... but it was

still real squishy out there. Unperdictable footing for an unexperienced runner.

First off - I got off my bike and made my way through transition onto the run. My heart was

racing... and not in a good way. It took me a good 1/2 mile to clam down enough to be able to

get into a groove. Then I hit the squishy off road portion of the run and started really struggling.

Natural runners were just flying past me like it was no big deal... but I was having a really hard

time. This is when I really started to mentally break down. "why am I doing this", "do I really like doing this?" "if I'm having a hard time with this little 1.5mi run, how the hell do I think I'm gonna get to the half ironman or the ironman?"

For some reason I really let this get to my head - I ended up finishing in 20mins. Longer than

I had wanted but I was happy to be done.

We looked at the results... and what do you know... 2nd Place. Yeah sure it was the Athena group in the Super Sprint... but I'll take it!!

That night and into the next day - I couldn't shake that self doubt. Can I really do this? Do I really want to do this?? How am I going to get there - I've got so far to go!

After a long talk with my wonderful husband - he insured me that it's in me to do it if I wanted to. It's within reach - it's just going to take some hard work.

Do I believe in myself? I don't know... I say I want it... but do I really?

In the end - a lot of thought and a good nights sleep... YES! Today I'm renewed again and ready to start again. I'm going to do it. I just need to find a new focus... maybe someone to help guide

me though this and get me to where I need to be.

This must be one of those road blocks people talk about right?

In any case, I'm ready to get back on track. :)

GORGEOUS!!!

That was the "word" for wave 11 today.

4:30am - Wake up and get ready for my first race of the year!

5am - awesome hubby and daughter drop me off at the shuttle stop.

5:30am - got my tri things all laid out and filled my tires.

6am - started to get REALLY nervous! Feeling like maybe I shouldn't do it, but

still really excited to try it out.

This race was different for me - the swim was twice the distance. 1/2 mile!

I had practiced, but a 1/2 mile looks a lot different in a pool than in a lake.

It freaked me out!

6:30am - started walking to the start line... and really started to doubt myself.

7am the first wave jumped in a they were on their way.

The excitement was high - 2,000 women in one area. 90% of them newbies!

All different sizes and shapes. I watched Sally Edwards (pro athlete) high-5 everyone

before their wave and started to get excited to get my shot to swim.

7:36 was my start time... 100 women in my wave - all royal blue caps and bundles of nerves to boot.

Sally got us all lined up in the water - and gave us a great pep talk! "Gorgeous is what you are!

You are all hear willing to make your lives better and stronger! You are Gorgeous!"

The countdown began - 5, 4, 3, 2, 1.... I waited for the faster swimmers to go... and then jumped

in and went full steam ahead. It was warm water and pretty clear. The wind was on our side!

My normal time in the pool has been 24ish mins. My time today was 19!!! I can't believe it!!!

The bike was the leg I was most worried about - turned out to be a GREAT ride! I loved it!

Felt like I was flying - nice long stretches with pretty views on each side. For the first time, I was actually passing people. Of corse, I was being passed too... but wow - I wasn't in the back of the pack for once!

Once I got back in from the bike - I started off on the run. Right off the bat I felt out of sync, but kept going. Tried to calm my breathing down - but it wasn't happening. It was so HOT! No shade on the whole race. I made it a mile before I had to stop and walk. I was disappointed in myself since I had be working the hardest on running while training - but I literally hit a wall and ran out of gas. It was the worst feeling. I wanted to go faster but couldn't. One foot in front of the other... run, walk, run, walk... finally the last 1/2 mile I got some strength back to pick up some speed and finish.

I had guesstimated I'd finish around 2:10-2:15... but today was my day! 1:57!! Couldn't believe it.

I hadn't finished under 2 hours in a loooooonnnnngggg time!

Long way to go for my future goals... but I'm back on track. Yippy!!!

It was a gorgeous day - super happy with my finish.

STREP!

It's been a rough week - Strep Throat and a cold.

My lungs are finally starting to bounce back after a week of bad sleep and endless coughing.

Went for a short run today and am feeling much better. Very worried about my strength

for this upcoming race though. Very excited at the same time.