Triathlete at Last? A 53 Year Old Female...What I Have Learned

Tomorrow is the 4th race in a series of sprint triathlons put on by Head First Performance. It is the 5th triathlon I have competed in. It is the longest distance I will have participated in, so far. Swim: 1/4 mile in an indoor pool; Bike 16 miles on country roads around Shelbyville, Kentucky and Run: a 5K in the Clear Creek Park in Shelbyville, KY. In this area, out of 300 or so racers, there are about 10 of us, women age 50 to 60, still enjoying the thrill of the competition. I have 20 to 30 years and 30 pounds on the majority of the participants in this area's triathlons. But, my gosh it is so much fun. Find something that scares you and run towards it...smile.

Swim: My Craft Triathlon Suit is worn the whole time. Your race not only consists of the 3 stages of a triathlon, swim, bike, run, but there is also the transition times as well. There is no time to change clothes, so the triathlon suit has a small bit of padding built in for the bike.

I get ear infections, so I have ear plugs. I also have to wear goggles, because the chlorine wrecks my eyes. I finally found this style of goggles I like and I bought 3. Under my Triathlon suit, I wear a Pearl Izumi sports bra...no Jiggling...smile. I also wear a swim cap. Swimming is the only thing I can compete in and do relatively well. I think it is those extra pounds that help me stay atop the water, compared to the zero body fat people that will sink and have a bit more difficulty.

Bike:
After I get out of the pool, I grab my towel and put on my slip on shoes to wear to the transition area where I sit on my blue crate and put my 14.00 pair of socks. These socks help wick the moisture from sweat and the pool away. The moisture can cause blisters. I then put on my bike shoes. If I have time I'll use Body Glide to help keep the blisters away. Jelly Belly Sports Beans go in my shirt pocket for added energy.

Setting on my crate, I put on my day glow shirt. I wear a day glow shirt, because a lot of races are done on country roads with no shoulders, so I want to be seen. I also slip on my Sham Wow headband. It makes my helmet fit and keeps the sweat out of my eyes. I then put my gloves on, they are padded in case I fall. Attached to my bike is a Smart Water Bottle in which I add 2 pills called Nuun, which are loaded with electralites. I sweat a lot and they help me stay hydrated. I also like a handkerchief which I tuck in my shirt or hold in my hand. We ride through the country and since starting this adventure, I found that I have exercise induced asthma.

Allergies:

For my asthma, I use an inhaler, Claritin-D. I also like to chew gum when I ride, I think it keeps me from needing as much water. You are at your most vulnerable when you are getting your water bottle out and open. So, the less the better, for me.

Run: The last leg of the triathlon is the most difficult for me. As I said above, I have 30 pounds on most all of my competitors, so in a fair world, they would be carrying extra weight, but, that's not the case, so I am a pretty slow runner, compared to this group.

These shoes I like because the ties are off center. My feet kept going numb and I have a high arch on my feet. I tried these and I like them, so I bought 2 pairs.

After a race I have another bottle of Smart Water on hand, plus coconut water, which both help to replenish my electrolites. I have an extra sweat suit on hand and usually don't take the time to shower, since Bob is waiting on me to go home.

I am lucky my husband wants to go to all my races. I told him I can do it myself, but, he seems to like coming. Tomorrow he will have about 2 hours to kill while I finish this long race, for me. I'll never be an Ironman, but, I sure am enjoying these sprint triathlons and hopefully with a lot more training, I will compete in an Olympic distance race in NYC in July. Swim 1 mile in the Hudson, Bike 28 miles around NYC, and run 6.3 miles in Central Park. Woot!!

Getting Ready for the 10 Miler...gulp!!

Well, here I go. On to my first 10 mile race. My oh my, what have I done? Yikes! Six, maybe eight, but ten? Yikes and double yikes!!

2012 Race Schedule...smile

This year I'm getting in shape. As a 53 year old woman it's never too late to start moving. In the last 6 months, this what I have done: Sept, 2011, sprint triathlon; November 5K; Jan, 2012 sprint triathlon; Feb, sprint triathlon; March, 10k.

I am signed up to do: March, sprint triathlon; 10 miler; April, sprint triathlon; May 5k; July, an Olympic distance triathlon.

Then I will take a break. I will make a tshirt quilt out of all these tshirts after that. I think I'll try to do the September triathlon, the one that began this journey...smile

Get out there and exercise people!!

My first 10k was awesome...the things I learned...Fartlek works!!

It was a beautiful spring morning, St. Patricks Day, Saturday, March 17th. It is my first 10k race. I always like to start my races from the back of the pack. I don't like crowds. This race had 7500 participants. It took 12 minutes to get to the starting line. You can tell this by looking at the difference of times between the clock time, which begins when the gun goes off and the chip time, which is the time my chip crossed the starting gate. That was one thing I learned.

The next thing I learned was about half way through the run my left hip and left foot began to hurt a lot. I realized I was running on the same side of the road. Roads are sloped and so I switched tot the left sides of the road for the rest of the run. I felt instant relief.

Note to self: run on both sides of the road, equally!!!

This was the first time I ran 4 minutes and walked 1 minute. Yeah!! I feel myself getting stronger and my recovery is really great. What a huge difference this Fartlek training/race running, for me, works extremely well...smile

Master's Degree in Geology and how to display your quilts in a home.

Well, our little girl has done it.  After 6 hard years of school, she has her Master's Degree in Geology.  And, all you parents can relate, she is gainfully employed!

We spent the last 6 days in Albuquerque, New Mexico.  We got to watch her defend her thesis to a packed room of professors and peers.  It had something to do about studying pre-solar system dust!  Don't ask, I can't tell you for certain, suffice it to say it was most impressive...smile.

Then, with proud grand parents in tow, we spent a day in Santa Fe.  We visited beautiful chapels, bought jewelry from Indian's selling their wares at the Governor's Palace and ate some pretty good food.  You will eat really well in New Mexico.  We ate at the Shed, the #5 on the menu was great!

Next my mom and dad went home and we moved Chelsea into her pink adobe house.  I like to decorate from the view of what do you see when you open the door.  How is your eye drawn into the space and how does it tie together.

These are 2 quilts I made for Chelsea.  You use the Command stickers to hang on a fireplace.  These are easily removable and don't ruin paint.  Plus, I didn't have a mortar drill bit to hang them.

We are proud, but most of all happy our daughter knows who she is and knows what she wants out of life.  She is carving quite a nice one out for her and her dog, Fawn.  That's one lucky dog!  For her graduation gift, she wanted cross country skis.  Fawn has a harness and they will travel off into the great beyond...smile...

Shelbyville Mini Triathlon, Series Race #2-I won trophy!!

 Here I am, happy to be at the start of the race.  I'm wearing my Sham Wow headband I made myself.

The wind was howling and we were supposed to get 2 to 4 inches of snow, but, thank goodness no snow.

Off I went on my 3.1 mile run, which was, for me, the fastest I had ran before.  I took too long on my transition from running to my bike and lost precious many minutes trying to get my Garmin 610 watch to switch to cycling mode.  Then I biked for 12 miles.  I didn't quite feel the strength I had last race.  It was a bit heavier for me breathing, I'm not sure why.  But, on I went and jumped in the pool for my fastest time in the water.  Life is good!

Triathlon training makes a difference in 6 months!

First triathlon was in September, 2011.  My second triathlon was on 1/29/12 in Shelbyville, Kentucky.  I am noticeably in better shape.  Life is good when you want to work for it...smile.