The support of heroes...

I'm returning to the blog this week with a bang... I have some VERY exciting news!  After hearing a bit about my story, and the journey that I'm embarking on, Myles Chase of MC Cycle and Sport - the Official Bike Shop of the Timberman Ironman Race - will be outfitting me with gear for my race! 

Not only is Myles an amazing athlete, an industry professional, and a great guy - last year, Myles ran a Triple Marathon... 78.6 miles around Lake Winnipesaukee to raise money for the WLNH Children's Auction last December!  That's three consecutive marathons in 24 hours!  (Here's the pic from his arrival at the Auction at the finish.)  I am over the moon to have his support, and "thank yous" alone cannot express my gratitude to Myles and his team.  They are THE BEST at what they do.  He even chuckles and laughs with me when I ask him what the different gear is for ("what's a race belt?" , "What's the difference between bike shorts and tri shorts?").  I gave him my rookie disclaimer, that I have no experience in this, and I feel so assured that I'm in good hands.  He'll probably tell me things I wouldn't even know to ask!  He fitted me for a bike recently, and we're waiting for it to arrive... perhaps tomorrow will be the day?

If that were not fortunate enough, I have the support of another person that I'd like to mention, as well.  As a hero to the WLNH Children's Auction in many years past, Mike "Mad Dog" Gallagher has undertaken some lofty - even crazy - ventures!  In 2007, “Mad Dog” and fellow athlete John "Blue Dog" Jurczynski, rode more than 113 hours on stationary cycles to become world record holders, raising money for the WLNH Children’s Auction. Inspired by them, over 600 other riders joined in 18 teams to help raise money, while the two “Dogs” pedaled the equivalent of 1,400 miles, roughly from their location in Laconia New Hampshire to Disney in Florida. The monumentous endeavor raised awareness like never before, and presented the WLNH Children’s Auction with an amazing $34,000 contribution, thanks to their efforts. In 2008, “Mad Dog” and the team at LASC raised the roof with a new venture for the WLNH Children’s Auction, called “Fitness Mania”. [Participants could choose which activity your team would like to do: cycling, walking/running, elliptical machines, rowers or lap swimming.]  Mike “Mad Dog” Gallagher, camped out on the roof of the health club for 72 hours, weathering a BIG New England Ice Storm, equipped with a tent, pulley, rope and bucket. (Really, here's a pic!)  As a fitness instructor, outdoor enthusiast and trained ice climber, “Mad Dog” insisted, “they need our help”. I remember bringing him a hot lunch several times, and raising it up it the bucket and pulley, while his smile never dimmed.

Now, I often see Mike when I go to the gym nearly every day, and he's always encouraging.  I feel his support every time he nods hello, even if he's talking with someone else, and I feel that he's even grown to be a friend.  I learned this week that Mike "Mad Dog" Gallagher has it on his calendar to volunteer to help in MY effort at the Timberman Race this year.  How fortunate am I, to have such amazing company?  Here are two ATHLETES, with huge hearts, raising ME up and cheering ME on.  How lucky am I?

Knowing your limits

I think that it was back in 2000 when my hiking hobby came to an abrupt and immediate end.  My brother and I, along with a small group of friends were avid hikers.  We would go several times a week, and try new trails and mountains as often as we could.  Sometimes, we would take the mountain bikes on the trails, but regardless, we all soaked up the views when we arrived at the summits.  Mount Liberty, at 4,460’ in Franconia Notch was the beauty that did me in.  The Liberty Spring Trail is a total of 8 miles up and back again on rocky terrain.  When I say rocky, I mean that it felt like stairs for most of the way to me.  (Check out this pic to see what I mean.)  Even as an experienced hiker, this one took its toll.  My knee started hurting on the way up the craggy granite, but I kept going.  It kept hurting, and I kept going.  Finally, I was in tears, only halfway up the mountain.  My brother tries to convince me to turn around and bag the trip.  Nope, I was too stubborn.  I was too determined to quit.  Tears ran down my face the entire way up the mountain as I grimaced in pain, so I was glad to reach the summit marker and relax for awhile.  I barely remember going down the mountain, which is probably better since I’m sure it was excruciating.  As it turns out, that I had torn my meniscus half way up the mountain.  I split it right down the middle.  And I finished the hike.

I share that story because I want to point our how stubbornly stupid I can be, which is a great reason to find a fantastic coach (which I thankfully found at Laconia Athletic and Swim Club)!  If I had turned around when my brother said to, I’m sure I would have healed far better, but I was foolish and didn’t admit to my physical limitations.  All my determination could not undo the damage that I had done by being young, "invincible" and foolish.  So, you’ll see in my training logs (follow me on Twitter or Facebook for those) that I’ve started training at the track with walking, and only running in brief bursts.  It does feel funny to begin a journey as a Triathlete with “only” a walk.  Thank god for a good coach to slow me down and pace my training.  As I’ve said before, it’s always one step in front of the other. [Since I started training back in March, I’ve been focusing on strengthening that knee, and (knock on wood) have had no issues, only feeling stronger and more stable.  I’m sure as the excess weight continues to melt away, that additional relief will help.]

In my next post, I should have some exciting news about an additional sponsor and some new gear!  Check back for details! 

Perception is a funny thing.

I was talking with some friends over the weekend about the varied views I have of the Triathlon.  The sprint course that I’m training for is a 0.3 mile swim, 15 mile bike and a 3.1 mile run.  Each of the elements seems “do-able”, especially after a good feeling workout at the gym.  Other days, I wonder what on earth I’ve gotten myself into!  Quitting isn’t something that has ever crossed my mind, but it does keep my mind very much aware of the healthy respect that I have to give this challenge.

I’ve been working out with some guidance for about 6 weeks now, feeling stronger, better, each time.  Somewhere in my optimistic mind, I thought I’d just hope on the track or bike, and off I’d go!  Well, reality isn’t quite so sweet.  This is going to be WORK.  I met the “Tri Newbie” Training group from the Laconia Athletic and Swim Club at the Opechee running track last Thursday.  We have a really great group of people, very welcoming and encouraging.  Our trainer, JP was great when I spoke with her.  Of course, I tell her that I have never attempted anything like this before, and I’m glad when she doesn’t cringe at the fact that I have NO IDEA how to really perform.  Just a strong will, iron determination and sheer ignorance of the gravity of the task at hand.  (Lucky for me, this pain will come as a surprise, ha ha.)  JP embraces me with the group, and set me off around the track.  Walking sounds easy, running should be fine, so off I go, and find myself quite challenged and remembering being a kid, when I didn’t even think of running as work at all!  A teammate flies past me on the track and offers back, “that’s exactly where I was three months ago… you’ll get there!”  Reassured, I hold my head up and press on.  It’s a process, just keep going.

The first time in the pool was the very next night.  Great!  I love to swim!  The 0.3 mile swim equals about 12 laps of the pool.  Totally do-able… 12 isn’t a big number at all.  Until I got in the water, that is.  We had a free practice, the instructor wasn’t there yet, so I practiced, and got in 6 very winded laps before another instructor arrived.  He offered to help, though he hadn't really trained a beginner course before.  Okay, fantastic.  I’m glad to have some direction, give him my rookie disclaimer, that I have no idea how to swim competitively.  He has me swim from the side to the middle a few times to observe me, gives me some pointers, and has me runs laps a few times.  I was a mess when I started, but felt better about my form, and improved by the end of practice.  I had run 14 laps, more than the race itself, thoroughly worked, but felt great.  I felt trained, even if only a little bit.  I’m starting to see where my weaknesses are to be able to practice more and work on them.  (Breathing patterns are a big challenge for me, I’m finding.)

JP had said that we should try to make it the track for practice again on our own over the weekend, so I did.  This time, I took someone with me to take photos so that I might have something to use for the blog.  I did my laps, went to LASC and did a full round of weights.  It was a pretty good workout, a beautiful sunny day.  Pictures would be a great idea!  That’s where I come full circle on the perception thing.  (I hated the photos, by the way.)  While I have lost 26 pounds since March 20^th, some days I feel great, and others I can feel the inflammation my body fights with.  (I can swing 15 pounds in a single day, I have found, just from inflammation issues from the Lyme Disease.)  So, sometimes I see the scale down 2 or 3 pounds and I’m ecstatic.  Other days, 2 or 3 pounds only seems minor, like throwing a deck chair off the Titanic!!  I’m glad that I can laugh about it, because I have a long way to go.  I just keep going…

“I believe you make your day. You make your life. So much of it is all perception, and this is the form that I built for myself. I have to accept it and work within those compounds, and it's up to me.”  ~ Brad Pitt