Elbows OUT: It isn't personal (really)

When Patrick and I began running, he would laugh at me for my "photo" finishes.  It didn't matter if I was the last person coming in, I was determined to beat the person in front of me, to make me the second to the last person finishing.  
Several racers will talk about how when nearing the finish of a race they begin to pick out targets, other racers, trying to pass them one by one till they cross the finish line.  This is my process as well.  As it turns out while I am slow for miles of running, I have a really strong end push and I can play the "passing game" pretty well.  Only a few times have I been challenged at the finish line by other racers; normally, people my speed are simply "over it" at this point, having exhausted all energy just to see the finish line.  They know they will cross it, and they rarely care that the girl, not in their age bracket, acts like Usain Bolt for the last 100 yards.  In fact I am pretty sure most of them just glance backwards to make sure there isn't a grizzly bear on the beach; because if there was they would need to get their camera ready, since grizzlies are rare at the beach.  
For me going elbows out is simply a way of life.  It is determination bottled up.  I race MY RACE, slow and steady, making sure each step or stroke is well placed and trusted.  I race MY RACE for miles upon miles.  I race MY FINISH LINE for only a split second, but that finish line is the culmination of it all, the training, the early mornings, the stretching, the aches and pains, it is all there and I earned that finish line.  
My finish line is much like life, we travel steady, making strategic moves to better our situation, then we see it the obtainable dream and we push till we have nothing left in order to grab this moment.   And if anyone stands between us and our determined goal we make efforts to present ourselves as the best option, as the person who trained for this moment. 
Now I will clarify, I never play dirty.  If I pass you in the end you have every opportunity to pass me back, to challenge me. 
This was the scene this weekend at a half marathon.  I was slow and steady, running with a group of friends.  We had been jockying back and forth with another racer.  We were a half mile from the finish line, in the final push.  I began my sighting, unknowingly being followed by this fellow racer.  She was in ninja mode, as I was in gladiator mode.  I lengthened my stride.  I quickened my steps.  I made the final turn and I saw it!!!  A little shadow.  I heard it!!  Footsteps quickening.  And I thought, "OH HELL NO!!!!"  She was there coming out wide to my side.  I pressed my feet hard on the ground, my long legs had the upper hand.  She was giving it her all.  I began in the finial yards to pull away.  I was there across the finish line just out of the reach of her and her shadow.  My determination, quickly changed to humor.  I laughed at my actions- let's face it I wasn't making the podium, but I sure looked like I was in the Olympics.  After gathering my finish items, I turned to tell my fellow athlete, "GOOD JOB."  I gave her credit for me being a few seconds faster in the race, she was my motivation to finish.  She told me she had been watching and following me for some time.  I was on her list.  Now I am a target for her next race!  
This finish was noted by Patrick, as he walked up laughing at me.  What he failed to mention is that he had a similar finish.   Yep, my laid back, calm, people loving husband came across the line elbows out looking to run over those in his path. 

 

Heads Up: Men and Women are Different!

The sport of triathlon is no different than life- men and women are NOT the same!  
 We look at the world with different filters, simply due to our genders.  

A quick example: When men pass by the "feminine hygiene" isle at Target, they cringe hoping to not have to stop and haul around a box of super absorbent anything!  

Women on the other hand upon seeing the same isle, cringe thinking of moodiness and crams while counting down the days till "it" hits.  One simple isle, two very different feelings, thoughts, and motivations to avoid. 
Now that it is settled, women and men are different.  Let me share some differences in the realm of triathlon. 




Last weekend Patrick and raced a Sprint Triathlon, it was a small entry group and an even smaller female group.  In fact while the men had three start waves the women only had one. In these small groupings it is easier to see how women behavior differently than men. I will break the event and actions down by events: Swim, Bike, and Run.




Women in the swim, often feel they have to prove or act like they can prove something out of the blocks on race day.  I fall in to the "prove something" category for the swim.  This is because out of all three events, I consider myself a strong swimmer.  I am commonly at the front of the wave I am in and I often am in the top of my age bracket.  I go out strong because I know in the water I can hold my own, dominate.  But there are several women who simply push themselves to the front of the start line just to be there.  They may be winning the event, but they are not strong swimmers.  This is an intimidation move, like owls puffing up to scare off predators.  Women don't talk as the clock ticks down to start, they stand there sizing up the competition; scooting and nudging to a "better" position.  When the shot goes off, women turn into angry cats, claws out and all (literally).  This weekend was a prime example of this mentality:  I was up towards the front of the group, feet in the water.  Over the course of 3 minutes about seven women snuck out deeper into the water in front of me.  As we began to huddle, awaiting the start, there was some bumping and looks.  Then the horn blew, I was suddenly pushed, not from the back by an over anxious newbie, no I was pushed from the side.  In this moment my Fight-or-Flight kicked in, and since it was race day I gave into the fight side and upon my dive into the water I "gently" pushed the pusher-girl back, causing her to sink down slightly.  Things quickly turned to hands, feet, and bubbles as the washing machine of swim starts took place.  Women began to slid into their place in the pack.  Still some pushing or "riding over" but that is to be expected- int eh sport.  I was able to get out of the madness and into my zone, between the front and the second pack.  The rest of the swim goes off without a hitch, although I look back a few times to make sure no one will beat me to the timing chip area.  This is the women's start, no talking, lots of judging, and full body contact.  

You may be asking how does this compare to the picture of the men's start. Well, men talk to each other, they smile, they joke, they say "excuse me" if they bump into each other.  This doesn't mean they are not being as competitive.  There are very comparative and elite men out there in these groups and they go to the front and are able to stay there without people who plan to backstroke the swim attempting to jump in front  Men appear to be more focused on their race verses trying to get in the heads of others.  Men will talk about race things during their wave wait; things like peeing in their wetsuit.  Men also still wish each other luck right before going in the water; women did this before even getting close to the water together.  This isn't to say all men are nice about things, I am sure there is pushing; however, when Patrick talks about the pushing in the swim starts it normally starts with the words, "The guy didn't mean to."  Also, often times if men have come over top of me in a swim they quickly apologize or do a spot check to make sure they didn't kill me.  The men's start is calmer, friendlier, and self placement based on ability.
I know I can't say too much as I am admittedly an aggressive female swimmer, but normally only when provoked, the rest of the time I swim in my own space and chase my own bubbles.  

Now the bike and the run go much the same but with less physical contact as this would not be easily excusable as physical contact in the water.  However, there still remains differences in these portions of the race.  As men pass on the bike they often times say "good job" or give a head nod, even to other men in their age group.  Women on the other hand spend time jockeying back and forth for positioning with few shared words.  And when you are nice to other women on the bike course you are often met with looks of aggression, smiles or cheers.  

In running, the last leg, the kindness begins to show amongst us scraglers; but if you say "way to go" to a woman speeding by in the other direction on her way to her finish, you will see notice that she has failed to notice you.  

Where it becomes even more humorous is at the finish line.  For women here we say sorry, laugh about our over steps, and cheer as others take the podium.  We realize we all did it; we all accomplished this challenge; we all were out there in the heat or cold, in the wind and rain, in the murky waters.   In this moment the lines for how men and women are different at race time begin the blur.  

In the end the only fact still standing is we are all (men and women) standing in the isle of that store buying tampons, we are all there.  We may not all understand why we are there, and we may elbow for the last box, but there we stand, all of us.

Marathons- the good, the bad, the weird.

Let's face it people who run marathons are "different".  It doesn't matter if you run 1 or 1000, you are now a member of this "different" group.  (And I can not even speak about the people who run Ultra Marathons.  mostly, because we haven't done one... yet.) 

Why are marathoners "different"?  To say "because" would be an understatement. 

2012 Goofy Challenge

Runners who run marathons commit to a possible 6 hours of running.  Yes, someone will finish in 2 hours and some change, but most of us out there are not that level of "different".  So take a minute and think of things you do for 6 hours (non exercise related).  Really think about it: Making dinner, less than an hour; driving to work, 30 minutes; taking a shower, 45 minutes; playing a game of Dominoes, 2 hours; gardening, 3 hours; watching television, 1 hour.  The list goes on, but pretty much the only commitments we make over 6 hours are sleeping, working, and driving to see family.  And those things take planning, even sleep!    
But marathoners they commit 6 hours to running- it may be one loop, or two loops, or four loops, or ten loops, but they keep going. Why?  "Because"!  Because we trained, because we wanted to see if we could, because someone said it was the next step after a half marathon, because there is beer at the end, because there was nothing else to do on a Sunday morning, because we were bored, because there is a medal, because we want to let ourselves know we can achieve great things.  These are only a few reasons why we run marathons.  These are the good things about marathons, those 6 hours of commitment give us time to think, to process our lives, to forget about the world, to disconnect from stimuli.  Time to remember what we can achieve whether we finish in 3 hours or 6 hours. Marathons are opportunities for runners to look back and know it was worth it.  The finish line at a marathon is a welcoming site; when you see it you know.  You know you can go further, harder, and with more passion than others.  You know life is simple, it is just putting one foot in front of the other.  You know a smile or a high five from a strange has the power to change the world.  You know, you just know. 

Now, there are bad things that occur in marathons.  I like to call these learning moments, some happen during the event, some long after it ends.  What makes marathoners "different" is they know there are bad things out there and they still go.  They know there is a potential along the 26.2 miles for something to go wrong.  A muscle cramp, a twisted ankle, a stomach cramp, dehydration, back pain, pulled hamstring; the list goes on.  There is also a potential for the mental pain to start.  This can sometimes be worse than the physical pain.  The mental pain happens when we hit the wall, when our body is tired.  The mental pain says to stop moving forward, to give up.  It yells in your head about being slow, being less than your best, being last.  It screams for you to break down.  Pushing past this mental pain can be difficult.  The good fairy has to continue to whack the bad fairy on the head with her wand of positivity. The only option is to beat the crap out of the bad fairy, in order to get back on track to only feeling pain and not thinking it.  But marathoners push through because they are "different", because they believe in their end result, they believe in their commitment.      

Yep, that's 3AM!!!

Lastly, in a marathon there is the weird.  You think you will never see it and then there it is in the distance- a woman squatting behind a tree to pee, or a man just peeing on the side of the road, or a kid puking his guts out, or a guy shooting snot out of his nose, or a lady picking her undies out form areas they should never have traveled.  I am not going to talk about the instances where people's stomach contents pour out of them.  I won't talk about this since I have only heard stories, never had the unfortunate incident of this happening to me nor seeing it happen to another- THANK GOODNESS!!!!   It seems normal socially acceptable behaviors, like going to the bathroom in a designated spots goes out the window in marathons, go out the window for us and it is okay because we are "different" (and we know that marathons are won and lost at the KYBOs). Yep a "different" kind of people.  As nice as runners can be there are some weird things we do in marathon mode.  Unlike the good or bad things about a marathon there are limited ways to cope with the weird things.  But they do help to take your mind off of things going on for you.  I spend a good bit of time figuring out where people are going or coming from when they leave and return to the road.  
In the event you think you are ready for a marathon- GO FOR IT!  Just remember the weird "different" you can never unsee!!!!  

3rd Marathon

Things that make me laugh about racing.

Laughter is always helpful on race day and everyday.  I wanted to share a few jewels I have found. ENJOY!!!

 I would be in last place!

Just Keep Swimming!!!

Unlike most triathletes I love the water.  
I believe swimming was added to triathlon because the running guy and the biking guy wanted something both of them would consider pain stalking.  I also believe you swim first in hopes of not dying- if you swam last then you would be tired and chances of death go up. 

If you know me, even just a little, you know I am not the "normal" triathlete (in lots of ways).  I am one of the few busting at the seams ready to swim at 7am.  I am the girl complaining when there is talk of shortening or canceling a swim- calling it a shame to triathlon (even if it is the safest choice).  I am the girl wanting waves and current and fish and "fun".  I am the one everyone else wants to drown because no one should be happy to go for a swim at 7am. 
Now don't get me wrong there are others who enjoy the swim but most athletes will tell you they simply tolerate the swim as a means to get to the other portions of the race.  
For me swimming is an escape, even in the pool where all you have to stare at is the black lane line.  When I swim I am completely alone, although in the beginning of a race "alone" means  in a washing machine with a thousand other people.  With swimming there is no pain, only the smooth movement of my arms and legs.  There is a set rhythm to breathing and motion.  It is a calm place for me.  Yes, sometimes someone thinks they can come into my calm place, disturbing my peace, but I hold my own.  
I may be a little bit of an aggressive swimmer; I blame the guys I normally swim with for this fault.  You see, if you are the only girl around and they know this by your cap color, boys tend to try to out swim you or cut you short on turns.  I don't take to well to that, but I will let it go and push on- the first time.  The second time normally ends in a elbow- look I don't want to drown out there either and seriously I have been around swimmers who have tried to come over top of me more than once in a race. 
Now that you have a warning about swimming with me, back to swimming for me.  
Since we are in training right now we have been doing a LOT of swimming.  Our pervious one mile swims are now consistently two mile swims.  I know what you are thinking, "Isn't this Ironman in September? And isn't it only 2.4 miles swim?"  
Both true statements.  However, Patrick and I will be completing in long swims in May.  These swims are actually the only race that we do not race together at the same distance and time (barring exclusion due to injury).  Patrick will swim the 10K 3 Mile Bridge Swim (yep a there and back along the bridge); the day prior I will swim a 25k Swim and then be in the water with him on Sunday but only swimming a 5K 3 Mile Bridge Swim.  It turns out the one thing Patrick appears to have little desire to do is swim 15 miles!!  I don't know why :)   
Due to these distances and the gulf/bay being cold, we spend time in the pool.  in recent days we have swum for over 3 hours at a time.  One would think it would get boring, sometimes is does, but then you focus on other things-  sex, work, and Ironman.  Those are Patrick's top three things that seem to repeat on an endless loop while swimming.  The good thing is that by the time the swim is over he knows he can finish the swim at Ironman (in time limits), he has a plan for work tasks for the next week, and well, I won't go into details about how thinking about sex works out.  Every once in a while thoughts about food, television shows, or the state of the world may come to mind.  
While these are often Patrick's thoughts my mind seems to wander in other directions.  First I work out my work frustrations, plan my day, plan my emails, and let things go.  I then move on to house work and grocery list.  Those only keep my attention for a short period of time.  Through out the swim I take time to watch those around me- those in my lane, in the lanes next to me, and depending on where I am in the pool I get to watch the people jump off the diving board.  However, most days now I just hear Mike Rowe's voice, or the voice of the guy announcing the cross country skiing in the Olympics, as they do the play by of my swim.  The two sports casters get especially excited when I pass the person I am sharing a lane with or when i am making my turn to start a new mile.  You may be now thinking I am crazy, but even with my music playing in the background, my mind has to make up a world of motivation.  Imagine a 3 hour drive; now think about all the things you think about on that drive- you know you play the Indy 500 announcements as you pass the little blue haired lady.  We all really do live in the same world- mine is just underwater.  
I guess the story of swimming is- it makes you crazy.  You hear voices, you imagine situations, and you have sensory derivation.  I love this water filled world.   
I will say this when the boat sinks I am swimming to shore; you have fun with waiting for the rescue plane. 

Everyone trains for swim day. 
A great friend Cheryl preparing for kayak support.

Standing on the Sideline

Let's be honest, no one wants to stand on the sidelines on a day they want to be participating, but this is where I found myself for the PBR 1/2 Marathon in January 2014.  I was faced with a new choice: 1) Stay at home and wallow in self pity, or 2) Go out to the race as a volunteer.  I choose to volunteer. 
I had never been on this side of the race course.  It was strange not to line up.  It was difficult to smile and watch everyone stretch and plan.  It was freighting, hoping to not mess up being supportive.

I was tasked with the 1/2 marathon turn around point.  I would be out in the middle of no where, seriously, no where!  Due to race weather being far from ideal- there was cold sideways rain, gusting winds, sand blasting, flooding, and lighting- I would out in the middle of no where ALONE!  Well, there was a nice officer who watched me frolic in the monsoon- he really was a nice guy!  
Now you may be thinking "why"- you guys ask that question a lot. I should say I was out there for the runners, and in a moment this would be the reason I was out there, but in these first minutes I was out there for me.  I was out there because I needed to be there.  I needed to feel a part of a community that I have come to love and adore.  I needed to begin healing my spirit, because more than my foot was broken.  
My healing began not when I clicked on the clock, no it would take a little longer.  About 40 minutes longer in fact.  That's when my healing started, in the moment I saw the first runners.  There I was standing in the sideways rain, cold, and alone, when out from the horizon came purpose.  I was suddenly no longer alone. I suddenly had a purpose- I was there to make sure each person knew they had achieved making it to the point now it was time to turn back and head for the finish line. The runners came in waves, much like the rain.  They showed up with smiles, with grimaces, with heavy breathing, with joy for the opportunity to turn around, and with thanks.  I was there to cheer them on.  I was there standing in the same rain, same wind, for them, letting them know I believed they could make it back, because they made it here.  
I know for many of you this will sound foolish; how could it mean so much to stand there?  It made me appreciate more than ever those who stand there for me. Those who stand there till the last runner passes by.  Those who smile and cheer and make us laugh.  Those who spend there day to keep us safe.  
I have always been one to say thank you on the course, but now it has a different meaning.  Not just thank you for being here, but thank you for believing in every runner. 
That day after the last runner had gone by I packed up and drove slowly back to the finish line.  I screamed from my jeep words of encouragement.  I handed in my clock and marched to the final turn to cheer the runners in to the finish, to let them know that when I said they could make it I believed it.
To see them smile at mile 13 was a gift.  Especially to see Patrick smile at mile 13.  To be there for him along the way was the greatest gift, because I know I would not be here doing this without him.
Volunteering for this event helped me to be a better participant and a better person. 

Side Note as to maybe why this matters so much to me:  In July 2013, I was asked by my nephew, "Why do you say that?" After saying thank you to a police officer on a race course, for about the 10th time that day.  My answer to him was two fold, first because of his and others services to our community and our country; second because he came out on this day to keep us safe and to be here for us.

Curse or Blessing- Das Boot

 After we got registered for IMCHOO I jokingly told Patrick, "If we are going to get hurt this is the time, so we can heal."  I guess my body thought I was talking to it because within 2 months of being registered I felt maybe I did "something" to my foot. Upon finishing the Half Marathon, my foot was sore.  Over the next few weeks it was just not right.  With advice from friends and a loaner boot from a few athlete I started to wear a boot just during the day, when I felt I was moving the most.  I continued to walk on my foot at the house.
I continued to run some but spent most of my time on my mountain bike due to discomfort.  After a four mile run my foot was swollen and painful.  So with Patrick gone I went to the Urgent Care to get an xray done. Yeah, that was not helpful. They tried to give me pain meds and send me home.  I didn't take the medications and instead called my orthopedic surgeon (from my knee surgeries) and made appointments to go see my primary care.  After an appointment with my primary care where I was told, "Urgent Care facilities aren't for people like you." (I am still not sure if this is good or bad).  I was pointed towards Dr. Brooks who was able to get me in the office on Christmas Eve.  He confirmed there was a fracture of the second metatarsal.  Of course there were tears of frustration.  After what I am sure was a "why too long conversation" the doctor hooked me up with a boot for 4 weeks- in hopes Double Bridge would still be possible but I would have to give up the PBR Half Marathon.  
I walked to a first place finish in our Make It To The Line 4 mile event.  I volunteered for the PBR, at the Half Marathon turn around. And I completed my 13.1 mile walk the following Sunday. I spun and swam.  I felt good. So I was glad on the follow up appointment to hear, "it's healing. You can try to run."  I ran one mile that week, fearful of something going wrong.  Then 9.3 at Double Bridge.  I felt good after the event.  However on Super Bowl Sunday I started to feel some pain.  I went out for a run, within a quarter mile I called it due to the pain.  I could have pushed through but it wasn't right.  I went back to the bike and back to the doctor.
This ended in back to the boot but with new hardware- a bone stimulator.  The plan is to get me to the start line for Bay to Breakfast and the Gulf Coast Half Marathon (oh, yeah and a 31 floor stair climb). 
In the beginning I thought this is horrible.  Now, I am grateful for this time to evaluate my needs, my body, and my determination. I will be happier to be out of the boot and out running. However, for now I will focus on healing, on the bike, on the water, and on giving value to know what is best for me.
I don't wish an injury on anyone but if you are going to get injured before an event my recommendation is to do it early in your training!