Courtney Goes for a Run

There is nothing like the thrill of finishing your first road race.  I remember almost exactly a year and a half ago I finished my first 5K.  I had been training for 9 weeks and participated in a tiny little race somewhere out in Virginia.  I thought I was going to pass out the entire time.  It pretty much sucked.  But I did it!  And after that I knew I was going to keep this up for along time to come.  I love crossing the line to the cheering of crowds both small and large, grabbing a water bottle and feeling the relief in my legs as I slow to a jog and then a walk after the sprint to the finish.  Over Thanksgiving I participated in my first 5K race since then, and I finished seven minutes faster!  And even though I have run 10Ks and a 1/2 marathon and a triathlon, I still felt so satisfied for running hard those 3.1 miles and finishing in the middle of the pack.

Today I was so excited because I got to share that experience with Courtney.  This morning Courtney ran her first 5K ever.  She beat my first time without training at all, and pretty much kicked ass all the way through, despite the number of short but super steep hills on the course.

So why this sudden surge in running for my girl?  This season, Courtney will be participating with me in Team in Training. She'll be completing her first half marathon and raising funds.  I'm so excited to go through all the milestones of becoming a runner with her (the pain and fear of the first training run, the first 5-miler, the first 10-miler, the first ice bath...) as I train for my own first marathon.  Yay for goals!

Mission Accomplished

Swim: 0.93 miles, 56:26 (I blame the ocean for adding 15 minutes...), Bike: 25.5 miles, 1:46:49, Run: 6.2 miles, 1:17:28.

Total: 32.63 miles, 4:09:47

Wow.  What an adventure.  Yesterday I completed my first Olympic distance triathlon, two weeks later than planned, 129 miles away from home.  The training season was filled with adrenaline induced highs and terribly unexpected lows.  As a closeout to this training log, I'll share some of them below.

Low: The Great Butt Injury of 2011

You read about it before, so I won't rehash.  After riding off the slide and landing, ass-first, on a slab of concrete, my training took a major dip.  I took a week off and never really got back on the program.  Losing steam so quickly did a number not only on my race preparation, but on my mood as well.  I've struggled with depression for quite a while, and this triggered a decrease in my mood that I wasn't expecting.  To go from working out 9 times a week to 0 that quickly is not a good plan, I discovered.  I eventually recovered (I still have a little pain), but no more slides for me.

High: Open Water Swim Practice

Testing out the wet suits with my training buddies, as well as swimming in a crystal clear rock quarry in rural Virginia made for a beautiful Sunday in August. 

Low: The ACTUAL Open Water Swim

When the Nation's swim was cancelled, I immediately looked for a make-up race.  I found one that coincided with our bye-weekend from rugby, and signed up immediately.  I came home and told my girlfriend Courtney that I would be racing in Delaware.  The conversation went something like this:

Courtney: In the OCEAN?
Kate: Yeah.
Courtney: So...when are we going to go and get you some practice swimming in the ocean?
Kate: Huh?  It's in two weeks!  We don't have time to practice.
Courtney: You remember last weekend, right?

You see, over Labor Day Weekend, Courtney, bike tutor Megan, and I went to the very same Delaware coast off which I'd be swimming.  And I couldn't get in the water.  The waves were terrifying.  I don't know where this sudden phobia of the surf came from, but as I was trying to overcome it, I stood knee deep in the water, crying.  With enough coaching and encouragement, Courtney was able to teach me to go under the waves and time my swim just right.  But I held her hand the entire way.  Without thinking about it, I had signed up to do the same thing, hand-holding free.  Gulp.

Well, we didn't get a chance to practice, and yesterday morning I faced my fears head-on, with no one holding my hand.  And it sucked.  Badly.

There were seasoned triathletes shouting curse words at the breakers, and the race director welcomed us to the North Shore of Oahu.  Hilarious.  So I closed my eyes, pictured my lily pad waiting for me on the other side of the waves, and dove in.  Miraculously, I made it past the breakers unscathed.  The swimming part was worse than I imagined, with huge swells distorting my course and turning my smooth freestyle into a panicked breast stroke/dog paddle.  When I finally reached the last red buoy indicating the turn into shore, I knew I was home free.  I was so excited that I forgot it was just as hard to swim IN with waves as to wade OUT through waves and didn't time myself right.  I got smashed to the bottom twice, got sand in places we won't discuss, and emerged from the ocean shaken and shaking.  After the race, Courtney told me there were people who had to be fished out of the surf by the life guards, so by those accounts it could have been worse.  I guess it's all about perspective.

High: The Cheering Section

There is nothing quite like being cheered across a finish line.  My mom came to town for the Duathlon, and she, roommate Jake, and Courtney were there at the transition area every section of the race.  They cheered me off on my bike, high-fived me through the run, and screamed my name across the finish line.  Courtney then came all the way to Delaware with me and woke up at 6:30 on her one day a week to sleep in.  She helped me get organized, took embarrassing pictures of me getting into my wet suit, and vigilantly watched me come out of the ocean, ready to jump in there and save me herself if she needed to!  She then carried all my crap after the race, drove all the way home while I slept, and took me to a Melissa Ferrick concert at the end of the day.  What a girl!

Low: Losing Coach John

Without a doubt, losing Coach John during the Nation's TriDuathlon was the most difficult moment of the season.  John was my coach during the spring Team In Training season when I prepared for my first half marathon, and his support and guidance (and special hot drink) got me through a number of freezing cold, long, long runs.  He died of a heart attack while participating in the Nation's race.  He helped motivate so many Team In Training athletes to push themselves to new personal bests while raising funds for a mission in which he so deeply believed.  We'll miss him this spring, and every season after.

High: Racing in memory of John and Erica, and in honor of Toby

John's passing had a special impact on my race two weeks later.  I wore a ribbon (made by coach Kristin) to remember him as I was running.  At several points during the race, I looked up to the sky and talked out loud to John, thanking him for his support and asking him to get me through this one final race.  I pictured him up there, right next to Erica, cheering me to the finish line.  I was lucky to have John and Erica in my life while I did, and I am so blessed for the moments I have had and will have with Toby.  I will continue to push myself to meet new challenges in their names.

Tri Training Week 13: Go Team!

Weekly Mileage: 66.39 (11.6 Running, 1.56 Swimming, 51.85 Biking)


It's hard to express what Team in Training means to me.  This program is without a doubt the best way to train for an endurance event.  Sure, the fundraising is hard and I feel awkward about asking people for money, but the stories I hear from people about how TNT paid for medication or care during their battles with blood cancer makes it worth it. 


Just as important are the support and friendship that come along with the training.  Without my training buddy Dania, I'm not sure I'd be able to get up at 5:45 on Saturday mornings.  Without the friendly advice from the coaches and mentors, I don't know that I'd be able to complete the long swims, and the longer rides and runs. 


Today I was running on the national mall, and I was about half way through the 4-mile route and ready to give up.  I've been quite exhausted lately, and my running has taken the biggest hit.  As I paused at a red light in the shadow of the Washington Monument, I heard, "Go team!"  I turned around and there was a lady who had seen my TNT shirt and wanted to give me some encouragement.


"Did you do Team In Training?" I asked.
"Yeah, for six seasons.  Now I'm a coach.  What event are you training for?"
"The Nations Tri."
"I am so proud of you.  You're going to do a great job.  You're amazing.  Go team!"


This woman had no clue who I was, and I didn't know her either, but a simple look at the logo on my shirt let her know I was someone she was proud of.  That interaction, which took place before the red hand changed to a little walking man, got me through the rest of my run. 


That's what this organization means to me.  We're working so hard for something we can be proud of.  We're working to improve the lives of others, and we're improving our own lives as well.


Go team!



I also wanted to update you all on my training progress.  So far this triathlon season I have worked out 85 times, swam 19.89 miles, ran 110.6 miles, and biked a staggering 359.25 miles (more than the distance from my hometown Urbana, IL to Chicago and back)!  This has by far been the most challenging athletic accomplishment I have set out to complete, and it has been surprisingly even harder on my mental state.  This last month I have faced a number of angry little voices in the back of my head yelling, “GO BACK TO BED!” or “Quit now and you’ll feel better!”  Well I haven’t listened to them (for the most part), and I’m looking forward to completing The Nations Triathlon 4 weeks from today!  I know Erica and Toby will be with me every step of the way!
If you're still considering donating, time is running out!  I’m hoping you’ll be able to donate some time before August 27^th.  Just click on the link to the right and it will take you straight to my fundraising page.  Thanks so much for all your support!

Tri Training Weeks 11 and 12: Bust Your Ass

Bi-weekly mileage: 55.9 (44.3 Biking, 8.8 running, 2.8 swimming)

Training was going really well.  I had figured out how to work out on my vacations all summer long.  I had missed a few workouts here and there, but was really sticking to the schedule.  I felt my endurance increasing, and could tell I was getting stronger.  I got compliments on my leg muscles.  And then...

 It's all fun and games until someone flies down a concrete slide at top speed (having significant mass affected by the pull of gravity) and lands, ass first, on a concrete slab.  Don't let that sand fool out...it's just a light dusting at the bottom of the slide.  There's video of the event, but I'll spare you.  Anyway, a hike through Golden Gate Park, and a 6-hour flight did not make the situation any better, and I went to the doctor the next day to find out that it was not broken, and that it would still be painful for a month.  F.

So.  I took five days off of training.  Monday I laid in bed with ice on my butt taking massive amounts of ibuprofen and worrying about a stomach ulcer.  Tuesday was much of the same, with a half a day of work thrown in.  Wednesday I was able to put in a full day of work sitting on the donut pillow, with frequent breaks to waddle around the office like a pregnant senior citizen (paradox!).

Finally on Thursday I was able to make it into the pool thanks to the encouragement of my big sister, and Saturday I hit the bike.  Oh man that hurt.  I only made it 60 of the 100-minute workout before I wussed out and laid in the grass in the fetal position while waiting for my carpool buddy to finish.  I still haven't tried running since the incident, but I've got no choice but to buck up and give it a shot tomorrow.

But today was the highlight of the training so far.  I squeezed into my wetsuit and completed my first open water swim!  This was the first time I have worn a wetsuit since the glory days of SCUBA diving in college, and it was not a pretty sight.  But once I got into the water, it was beautiful!  The buoyancy of the wetsuit made the swim quite easy, and the clarity of the water coupled with the total flat calm made for a perfect workout.  We swam a mile in 40 minutes, and practiced staying in a straight line with no black line at the bottom of the pool to follow!

Though conditions in the Potomac will be extra disgusting, especially when compared with today's location, I feel more confident that I will be able to finish the swim and hop on my bike with energy to spare.  I guess it's time to get back to running...

Tri Training Week 10: The Heat Is On

Weekly Mileage: 61.34 (8.24 Running, 2.6 Swimming, 49.5 Biking)

I have a confession to make.  I HATE not being in charge.  I really like deciding things on my own terms.  I WILL teach this lesson on DNA today.  I WILL run 6 miles.  I WILL watch an entire season of 30 Rock on netflix streaming.  Because I can do what I want.

Well, it became painfully clear this week that I am not in charge of anything that really matters, at least as far as training is concerned.  Because I am not in charge of the weather, and the weather screwed me over.  Big time.

This week the entire country was in the grip of an insane heat wave, and I was lucky enough to spend most of the it in Indianapolis!  Heat wave central, let me tell you.  I "ran" five miles in 110 heat index weather.  I use the word run loosely.  After 40 minutes my body shut down, I was out of water, and my internal systems were staging a revolt.  After a brief stop at a bait shop (no joke, the only place on the trail with bathrooms), I finished the "run" by "walking."

It only got worse when I came back to DC.  Code red air quality warnings.  Not orange.  Red.  Normally they just warn old people and babies to stay inside, but not this week.  This week they told us ALL to stay in air conditioning and avoid vigorous exercise.

So I TRIED to go work out at the gym.  But I hate working out at the gym.  Ten minutes on the treadmill and I was bored out of my mind.  Because I'm not the boss of the treadmill either.

This morning, though, I went on a 27.5 mile ride outside early enough that the heat wasn't a problem.  It was a gorgeous ride through the shade of Rock Creek Park, and it helped me get back into the swing of things.  Thankfully the weather is breaking, and tomorrow highs are only in the upper 80's.  I can't wait to get back on the road!

Tri Training Week 9: Herd of Turtles

Weekly Mileage: 50.9 (9 Running, 2 swimming, 39.9 Biking)

Whenever we took family road trips when I was little, my mom would wait until we were all buckled in, back slowly out of the driveway and say, "Aaaaand we're off, like a herd of turtles!"  Well, let me tell you, driving a car (even a woodchuck mini van full of kids) is NOT like a herd of turtles.  Going for a run after you've ridden a bike almost 25 miles, THAT is like a herd of turtles.  But I did it.  I survived my first brick workout.  But not without a struggle.

Let me back up.  Most of working out is a mind game.  I play tricks on myself to make the workouts seem shorter. 

- I have three turns before I'm done running.  (Who cares that between each turn is a mile?)
- As soon as I finish this 400m swim, I'm almost done. (Who cares that I still have to swim a 300, a 200, and a 100?)
- I'm halfway done with half my time, which basically means I'm almost done. (Who cares that I've still got an hour left to ride?)

It's all in my head, and I've gotten really good at getting myself through long bike rides, and long swims, and long, hot, awful runs.  My token sayings still work well.  My routes are familiar, and I know what I need to do to get the job done.

That all changed on Saturday when I did my first brick workout (one sport followed directly with no rest by another) back home in Illinois.  It was to be my longest bike ride ever (90 minutes), followed by a brief 10-minute run.  Before the ride I pumped myself up.  I put a Gatorade in the water cage, strapped on my mom's Camel Back (what?!?!?  I'm thirsty!), borrowed her husband's bike and shoes, and went on my way.  It was wonderful to be on the country roads with no cars and corn high above my head.  As the first five miles flew by, I was feeling great.  But it WAS 95 degrees out.  And I WAS riding a bike that was a bit too big for me.  The discomfort started to take a toll.

"Self," I said, "You're over half way to half way there."

And, for the first time ever, I replied.  And I was kind of a bitch.

"Yeah.  Uh huh.  And then you have to GO FOR A RUN WHEN YOU'RE DONE!"

My mind knew what was coming, and it wasn't going to fall for any of my cheap tricks.  I knew this was going to be the hardest workout I'd probably ever done (well, except for that whole half marathon thing...), and my brain was going to make sure that it savored every painful moment of it.

Eventually I did finish the bike, enjoying the hot breeze and making it 24.5 miles in 94 minutes.  And then I "ran."

I got off the bike, took a quick bathroom break, put on my running shoes, and took off.

Oh.  My.  God.

 I felt like I was running through wet concrete.  And that concrete seemed to by drying up pretty quickly.  Yet I kept going.  For a whole ten minutes.  And I tell you what, I was the last damn turtle in that herd for every second of that run.  But I finished.  Now what the hell am I going to tell my brain next weekend when I try this nonsense again?

Tri Training Week 8: Over It

Weekly Mileage: 40.95 (12.65 Running, .9 Swimming, 31.4 Biking)

The honeymoon is SOOOO over.  Here is a list of things I'd rather be doing than an hour or two of exercise each day:

- Sleeping
- Spending time with my girlfriend
- Having dinner parties
- Cleaning my bathroom (for real)
- Playing with my cat
- Reading Bossypants
- Eating
- Buying new workout clothes

After my 60-minute 100 degree ride this evening, I was thinking in the shower (a very productive place to think) about whether or not I'm still enjoying this process.  The bottom line is, of course.  I love that I've set a goal and I'm trying to reach it.  I love that I'm getting exercise, feeling tough, and raising money in honor of two really incredible people.  But I'm exhausted!  I feel like the minute I'm done working out, all I have time to do is eat, pack my bag for the next day, and go to sleep.  And this was a rest and recovery week!

It's time for me to refocus on the lily pads.  I'm not ready for this triathlon right now.  I've got two months of preparation left for a reason.  I need to remember that I can meet this goal by taking it one workout at a time.  That's all.  It just kind of sucks that I've got TWO lily pads tomorrow...

As for the fundraising, I made $150 at my bake sale on Saturday (tough crowd wouldn't buy my damn cupcakes), and $60 at a happy hour hosted by Team In Training.  Coupled with a check I'll put in the mail tomorrow, I'm nearly half way to my goal!  But seriously...what was wrong with my cupcakes?