Finally getting around to writing about the big triathlon last weekend! I trained for 4 months for my 1.2 mile swim, 56 mile bike, then a 13.1 mile run. Goals were to go under 7 hours and place in the top half of my age group. Guess you gotta wait until the end to see how it turned out!
I went up on Saturday with Heather. James had a soccer game, so Jack and and he came up later that day. Heather hung with me as I checked in, turned in my bike, and went to the athlete brief. Jack and James arrived later and we went out for a nice Italian pasta loading dinner. I finished all the last preparations on my stuff and it was lights out at 9PM with an Ambien to make sure I slept peacefully all night. With my eye cover and ear plugs to make sure Jack could keep watching tv!
Up the next morning at 430, I think. Ate about 700 calories so they could start digesting 3 hours before the race. Then I hopped in the car and headed out to the race site. Parked the car in the dark (remember that!) and then hopped the shuttle to the swim site. This was a two transition race- had never done one of those before and I don't like it one bit. that means that you pick up the bike in one spot and drop it off at another. Your stuff has to go in all these different bags and all your stuff has to go back in the bag before you can leave for the next leg. Then they haul all your stuff to the end of the race. And you hope your sticker stays on the bag so you can find it later (remember that, too!).
The water was 73 degrees, so it was wet suit legal- that means it would be faster because the wet suit adds buoyancy, so you don't have to work as hard. We waited in the cold and saw the pros start. Then it was our turn! We dove into the water and I tried to keep clear of the other swimmers, but be aggressive when needed. My plan was to go moderately hard on the swim... I got my face kicked once and had to stop to put my goggles back on, but other than than, and having to readjust course a few times, I finished strong and loved my swim. Finished in 43 minutes. Out of the water, then run up a hill (why is it ALWAYS UP A HILL!!!!!??) and get the wet suit stripped off by a helper. Then run to the transition area, fling off swim stuff, put on bike stuff and sunscreen and then ran with the bike to the line where it's legal to jump on and then took off like crazy! My goal was to go as hard as I could for the whole bike race and then to survive the run. I was flying! I was set to do a 3 hour bike and then I went in to the last 10 miles. It was straight into the wind!! OMG. I ended up going 3 hrs 17 minutes. Oh yeah- and at one point I was riding along getting ready to pass a girl (I was on the left ) and another guy passed me on the left. I held my line so he could pass and then she noticed I was there just as he was passing me. She freaked out and squeaked something and then swerved left into me. I had nowhere to go because the guy on my left was still passing me. Then as I passed her, her hand hit me on my rear or upper thigh and then I felt her front wheel connect my back wheel and then I heard a bit of a commotion behind me. I didn't look back. The guy passing me dropped back. Later he caught up and said "she tried to take you out!". Turns out, she went down, but she was OK. I heard later that someone else had crashed and broken their arm.
I got into transition #2 with my bike, flung off my bike gear and then put on my run gear and headed out on the run. I was NOT looking forward to the run. For the first two miles, I had a stitch in my left side. That was awful. Then it went away and I was finally able to settle into a hot (about 87 degrees) miserable run with some big hills. I ended up walking up most of the hills. Then it got worse. I had to count. When I am counting steps- it's bad! When I am counting 100 run steps and 50 walk steps, it's really bad! I walked through the aid stations, drinking water and gator aid and trying to grab cold sponges, Every mile got slower. I finally finished the run, in the arena, chasing down a woman who had a "40" on her left calf- meaning she was in my age group. I beat her!!! I about collapsed into a volunteer's arms, got my chip taken off, and then looked for the beer. Oops! I forgot to get my medal! I walked back a few steps and got it. Then Jack was there to meet me. That was such a nice sight!! Then I got some food and some beer and went to sit with the kids. I stretched and ate. My run time was 2 hr 37 minutes- slower thank my last half-ironman, but faster than my first ever half marathon 4 yrs ago- I've come a long way!
After chilling out for a little while, I went to collect my bike. Then I gave my bike to Jack and he left and went home. I took the kids to collect my other bags. My after race clothes bag and my first transition bag with my wet suit in it were supposed to be together. Only one bag was there. Then someone pointed out that there was a bunch of loose stuff separated into piles. Sure enough- I found all my stuff, wet and grassy and gross and lying in neat piles. Even my wet suit. I'm surprised I recognized it- I think I'll write my name in it now! Apparently the sticker had come off (despite my making sure it was well stuck on).
I went and changed my clothes and then we went off to look for the car. Remember how I got there in the dark? We went to the parking lot I thought it was in (based on it being near a road). Carrying bags and the kids had some stuff. We walked all over the place and could not find it. Then on to the next parking lot. No car. Finally, I realize maybe it's the wrong road. So I pull out my phone and sure enough- the road I came in on was in a different place. We finally made it to the right lot and there was my car- right where I remembered it! And right next to all the bikes, We never even saw it when we were getting my bike. Oh well. The kids were super patient and didn't complain for 25 minutes in the heat carrying all that stuff. I told them Dairy Queen was next on the list!
Off we went. The phone found Dairy Queen, James got a large Blizzard, and Heather and I got something. James said later he was afraid to ask for a large (I usually only let them get a small), but he figured he'd try. I told him he could have had whatever he wanted! I was just so happy they were pleasant to be around.
Heather drove home and we had a great time listening to her iPod and me being semi-shocked by what the heck they listen to and the fact that they know all the words. There were a couple of songs where I literally understood maybe 1 word in 4. It was all in all a great afternoon with my kids.
I finished the race in 6 hr 49 minutes (14 minutes faster than the last one). The last one was pancake flat- this one had hills! I finished in the 48% ile of my age group and 42% ile over all of all the non-pro women. So I made both my goals! I was so thrilled. Then I had a week off and now I am training to run faster on my PT test in November. Then a half marathon in February and then my next Half-Ironman in June. In Hawaii!!!!!!!!
Monday, October 31, 2011
Sunday, October 2, 2011
Glass half full. Or is it half empty???
It was only a few years ago that I figured out which was which. You know, when someone says their glass is half full, that means they are an optimist. I think. Someone explained that a "half fuller" is optimistic because they believe that it's possible that if the glass is half full now, then there is the possibility that it could be all the way full eventually. Hence, they are optimistic. And a person is a pessimist if they think that their glass is half empty, because they are pretty sure that it will eventually be all the way empty. I never saw it that way and I think that's why I never understood that stupid saying. And I still never use it!
Here's why. I think of it the opposite. (What a surprise, right?) I think of my glass as having chocolate milk in it. Chocolate milk is the nectar of the gods. It is the best drink on earth. If all that existed was chocolate milk and beer, I'd be fine. What chocolate milk doesn't work with (pizza, crabs, steak), beer is awesome. And the other way around. Anyway, my glass is full of chocolate milk. I drink half of it. Now my glass is half empty. Awesome! I have drunk half my milk and I'm optimistic that I can drink the rest in another two seconds or so. Now life is great because I have drunk an entire glass of delicious chocolate milk. Say my glass is only half full. Well, I'm pretty optimistic that I could easily fill it the rest of the way. Or am I pessimistic because that's all that was left in the jug and half full is all I'm gonna get? Dang! Now you can see why I get confused.
Or maybe it's a matter of control. Half empty- I emptied it and I'm optimistic I can empty the rest. Half full- I'm pessimistic that anyone else will fill it for me. I just don't know. So I avoid it all together. I'm an optimistic and I'm just not sure what's going on with that glass.
Don't even get me started on the fact that bimonthly can mean two times a month or every other month. I don't even allow that word.
Here's why. I think of it the opposite. (What a surprise, right?) I think of my glass as having chocolate milk in it. Chocolate milk is the nectar of the gods. It is the best drink on earth. If all that existed was chocolate milk and beer, I'd be fine. What chocolate milk doesn't work with (pizza, crabs, steak), beer is awesome. And the other way around. Anyway, my glass is full of chocolate milk. I drink half of it. Now my glass is half empty. Awesome! I have drunk half my milk and I'm optimistic that I can drink the rest in another two seconds or so. Now life is great because I have drunk an entire glass of delicious chocolate milk. Say my glass is only half full. Well, I'm pretty optimistic that I could easily fill it the rest of the way. Or am I pessimistic because that's all that was left in the jug and half full is all I'm gonna get? Dang! Now you can see why I get confused.
Or maybe it's a matter of control. Half empty- I emptied it and I'm optimistic I can empty the rest. Half full- I'm pessimistic that anyone else will fill it for me. I just don't know. So I avoid it all together. I'm an optimistic and I'm just not sure what's going on with that glass.
Don't even get me started on the fact that bimonthly can mean two times a month or every other month. I don't even allow that word.
Friday, September 30, 2011
Superpowers
I asked for some feedback today from a highly placed person that I respect a lot. I wanted to know what other people thought of me and if he had any feedback. His personality is a lot like mine- he is very out there and says what he thinks. But he has done pretty well for himself, so I figured I'd ask him how he made it work for him.
He told me that I have a very good reputation around that the Air Force and that I shouldn't change anything. He also said that I do a good job letting my personality out at the right times and holding back at others, as appropriate. And that's when I told him I treat it like my superpower. I made a reference to Charlie in Fire Starter, but he didn't know what I was talking about, I think. You know- the Steven King book. It was the first one I ever read. I was 9 and I couldn't believe that my parents let me read books with the F word in it! But I kept reading anyway, of course. Anyhow, Charlie was 8 and she was able to create fire spontaneously. But she was just a little kid and couldn't really control it. She would get angry and fire would fly and she would set people on fire by accident. As she got older, she learned to control it. Well, my superpower is Supercheerfulness and Superenergy. But it has to be controlled or it can set people on fire and get me in a lot of trouble! I let it out in controlled doses and with the right people. Seems to be working so far! And he liked the superpower analogy, even if he didn't seem to know who Charlie is. Oh yeah....what feedback did he give me? He said to make sure I have people who will tell me when I messed it up and stepped over the line. He said he had a few of those and it helped a lot over the years. And he volunteered to be one- awesome! So I got a new mentor in the deal- cool!
He told me that I have a very good reputation around that the Air Force and that I shouldn't change anything. He also said that I do a good job letting my personality out at the right times and holding back at others, as appropriate. And that's when I told him I treat it like my superpower. I made a reference to Charlie in Fire Starter, but he didn't know what I was talking about, I think. You know- the Steven King book. It was the first one I ever read. I was 9 and I couldn't believe that my parents let me read books with the F word in it! But I kept reading anyway, of course. Anyhow, Charlie was 8 and she was able to create fire spontaneously. But she was just a little kid and couldn't really control it. She would get angry and fire would fly and she would set people on fire by accident. As she got older, she learned to control it. Well, my superpower is Supercheerfulness and Superenergy. But it has to be controlled or it can set people on fire and get me in a lot of trouble! I let it out in controlled doses and with the right people. Seems to be working so far! And he liked the superpower analogy, even if he didn't seem to know who Charlie is. Oh yeah....what feedback did he give me? He said to make sure I have people who will tell me when I messed it up and stepped over the line. He said he had a few of those and it helped a lot over the years. And he volunteered to be one- awesome! So I got a new mentor in the deal- cool!
Thursday, September 22, 2011
Smile, It can't be that bad!
Really? Who says? Has anyone ever said this to you? I would bet that if you are a man, no one has. If you are a woman, you may have heard it several times in your life, or maybe even often. I have heard it occasionally and it has always irked me because it's just dumb. Of course it could be that bad! I've even had people say it to me in hospital elevators. HOSPITAL ELEVATORS!!!!!! In a HOSPITAL!!!!! Of course it could be that bad!! People are sick and die in hospitals!
The other night I read that this is a phrase said almost exclusively to women because they are supposed to be smiley and agreeable. So when someone said that to me a couple of days ago, I had had enough. I was washing a cup out at the common sink at work, and a guy walked in and said, "Smile! It can't be that bad." I said, "How do you know?" He told me it really couldn't. I repeated what I had said- how could he know? I had to say it one more time before he gave up. I decided that time not to let it go.
I would really like that phrase to just go away. And the next time some clueless jerk face says it to you, don't let him get away with it. Oh yeah- it's always men who say it. Never once has it been a woman.
The other night I read that this is a phrase said almost exclusively to women because they are supposed to be smiley and agreeable. So when someone said that to me a couple of days ago, I had had enough. I was washing a cup out at the common sink at work, and a guy walked in and said, "Smile! It can't be that bad." I said, "How do you know?" He told me it really couldn't. I repeated what I had said- how could he know? I had to say it one more time before he gave up. I decided that time not to let it go.
I would really like that phrase to just go away. And the next time some clueless jerk face says it to you, don't let him get away with it. Oh yeah- it's always men who say it. Never once has it been a woman.
Sunday, September 18, 2011
Flying- written on 9-17-11
I have been through airport security twice in the last week. I'm slightly concerned because I have accidentally....really... accidentally both times taken through a large tube of sunscreen, a small tube of sunscreen, and a small pepper spray. PEPPER SPRAY!!!! And I've done that before! Not on purpose... in fact, I didn't even think about last week's transgression until I realized I did it today. I did remember to take the knife out though. I guess that's something. This time I was a bit concerned because I realized it when I was still in line, before I got to the xray machine,. Then I saw that there was a guy in training, so I figured they'd be looking extra hard. Then they pulled my bag out for a special search- but not the right bag!!!! Good grief. Of course, if they were allowed to profile, maybe they never would be suspicious of me in the first place. Maybe they would. But who knows how many people are taking contraband on planes by accident. But how many are taking it on purpose to test the system? I'm almost afraid to wonder.
Hopefully I'll be flying safe today. If there's a problem, it won't be me!
Hopefully I'll be flying safe today. If there's a problem, it won't be me!
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
Racism?
Today we had elections for the Board of Directors for the American Academy of Family Physicians. There were 3 slots and 5 candidates. I'm very happy to say that the 2 women who were running won. Both were extremely well qualified and I'm glad they won. Of the men that were left, 2 were Caucasian and 1 was Filipino. The Filipino has a slight accent. He is very passionate and has some great ideas. The other 2 were fine candidates as well and we would have been well served by any of them. But when I talked with people about who they were thinking about voting for, I kept hearing over and over, "but if only he did't have the accent". And when they vote for a candidate, they picture him on TV and radio and also is the person qualified to run for president, because that is where the pool of presidential candidates comes from. I got the idea talking with people that they liked his ideas and his passion, but his accent and race were being held against him.
He did not get elected. I truly truly hope it's because people preferred the ideas and plans of the other candidate. But I worry that it wasn't and I think that says something about us.
He did not get elected. I truly truly hope it's because people preferred the ideas and plans of the other candidate. But I worry that it wasn't and I think that says something about us.
Tuesday, September 13, 2011
Am I a Triathlete or do I Do Triathlons?
So sometimes I get to talking to someone and it comes up that I swim or bike or run- whatever the topic is. And they ultimately say...are you a swimmer? Or a runner or a cyclist. And I usually say, "I do triathlons, so I swim, bike AND run." I was thinking this morning, "why do I say it like that?" If I ran all the time, I'd simply say I'm a runner. Heather is a swimmer. I have friends who are cyclists. Why can't I just say that I'm a triathlete?? I think it's because I don't really consider myself an athlete. Whenever someone asks me if I run, I tell them I do, but I'm really slow. Same thing with swimming. "Yeah, I swim, but I'm really slow." WHY DO I SAY IT LIKE THAT??!?!?!!??! If a friend of mine said that, I'd smack them in the head (probably figuratively!) and tell them to stop putting themselves down.
I am vowing right now to stop. It's probably self defeating. I train. I complete. I finish all my races middle of the pack. I recognize that I am average and I'll likely not make it to the top of the podium until I'm 80 and the I'm only one left on the podium. I'm usually not competing against the rest of the field for time and place....I'm competing against myself on some goal I have set. Sometimes it's a goal to beat a personal best on the run or bike. Sometimes it's to maintain a certain attitude. For example, in my last Sprint triathlon (a short one), my goal was to swim aggressively, go all out on the bike, and try not to fall apart on the run. And I met all of them! But rarely is it to beat a whole bunch of people. I usually finish about the 40%-ile on the swim and 50-60%-ile on the bike and run. So, apparently I'm not slow! I'm about average. So- I train and compete. And I finish average. I am not slow. I don't "do" triathlons.
I AM A TRIATHLETE.
I am vowing right now to stop. It's probably self defeating. I train. I complete. I finish all my races middle of the pack. I recognize that I am average and I'll likely not make it to the top of the podium until I'm 80 and the I'm only one left on the podium. I'm usually not competing against the rest of the field for time and place....I'm competing against myself on some goal I have set. Sometimes it's a goal to beat a personal best on the run or bike. Sometimes it's to maintain a certain attitude. For example, in my last Sprint triathlon (a short one), my goal was to swim aggressively, go all out on the bike, and try not to fall apart on the run. And I met all of them! But rarely is it to beat a whole bunch of people. I usually finish about the 40%-ile on the swim and 50-60%-ile on the bike and run. So, apparently I'm not slow! I'm about average. So- I train and compete. And I finish average. I am not slow. I don't "do" triathlons.
I AM A TRIATHLETE.
Know When to Take a Rest
This one was drafted in Spring 2011 and I just found it- I was training for my Ironman.
Yeah- that came from me. I know I am always doing a million things at a time. I like to have my cake and eat it too and I like to do it a 100 mph.
But this week, I'm tired. I'm tired every morning when I get up. Tired when I go to sleep. Tired during my workouts. After my 4th bad run in a row on Monday I realized that I had increased my bike mileage and my running mileage simultaneously and I was not getting enough sleep either. Saturday, my long run day, I had planned before bed for 11 miles, got up and decided the usual 10 would be fine. Upon wakening, running sounded utterly miserable. Bike did not sound appealing either. Somewhere around a miserable mile 3, I decided 8 would be even better. That was after I got up at 0445, put my eyes in, brushed my teeth, got half way dressed, got undressed and started back for the bed, then got re-dressed and left. I should have stayed in bed. All 8 miles were horrible. Rested on Sunday. Ran 8 miserable miles on Monday and realized I needed a rest. Did only 24 EASY miles on the bike Tues, ran a miserable 2.6 miles Wed, 20 more EASY miles on Thursday, and then I hit today.
I think I need to chill out and figure out when to rest.
Yeah- that came from me. I know I am always doing a million things at a time. I like to have my cake and eat it too and I like to do it a 100 mph.
But this week, I'm tired. I'm tired every morning when I get up. Tired when I go to sleep. Tired during my workouts. After my 4th bad run in a row on Monday I realized that I had increased my bike mileage and my running mileage simultaneously and I was not getting enough sleep either. Saturday, my long run day, I had planned before bed for 11 miles, got up and decided the usual 10 would be fine. Upon wakening, running sounded utterly miserable. Bike did not sound appealing either. Somewhere around a miserable mile 3, I decided 8 would be even better. That was after I got up at 0445, put my eyes in, brushed my teeth, got half way dressed, got undressed and started back for the bed, then got re-dressed and left. I should have stayed in bed. All 8 miles were horrible. Rested on Sunday. Ran 8 miserable miles on Monday and realized I needed a rest. Did only 24 EASY miles on the bike Tues, ran a miserable 2.6 miles Wed, 20 more EASY miles on Thursday, and then I hit today.
I think I need to chill out and figure out when to rest.
Friday, May 20, 2011
Half Ironman
I finally did it! I trained for four months. Missed only about 4 or 5 workouts over that entire time period. I was very dedicated. Mostly because I was scared to death that I would not succeed. But I not only succeeded, I excelled! I went about an hour faster than I thought I could.
A half Ironman is a 1.2 mile swim, 56 mile bike, and 13.1 mile run. I started training back in January with a plan that was very strict and I spent about 8-12 hours per week training. Some weeks I felt really great and some weeks I exhausted and grouchy. I spent hours on the bike on the weekends and hours running on Mondays. Some days I would wear my compression tights to work. Some days I was so exhausted from a workout, I could barely make it up the steps to the office. But I faithfully kept at it, afraid that if I missed workouts, I would not finish my race.
I experimented with nutrition...did water or Accelerade work better on the bike. How often did I need to take gels on the run? A couple of times I forgot my nutrition and my run was terrible. One bike ride was in the cold rain (unexpectedly) and I discovered that after the arms are frozen, they don't notice the pelting rain. s the race got closer, I started doing bricks- a bike followed immediately by a run. I could not get my nutrition and hydration right and the long ones were usually on big exercise weeks and they never went well. So that had me really worried.
The good thing was that I was doing it with a friend. We commiserated on facebook about long workouts and whatnot. Then we met up in Orlando for the race. It was great having someone to share it with....she had never done one either, so we were in it together. She had done more triathlons than I had, and she had also worked the championship in Kona, Hawaii, so she was more familiar with the the whole big race scene.
Finally, the day came. I packed the night before- checking and rechecking my gear. I had been worried for 3 days about the weather because they were predicting thunderstorms, but the night before, they were supposed to be gone. They weren't. It was storming when we got up, and while waiting for the bus that never came. We ended up walking through the woods in the rain and then a huge strike hit nearby and my friend almost leapt into my arms. Turns out it started a small fire that smoldered all day and then actually caught fire later and the fire trucks had to be called. We went to the transition area and set up our stuff. Then
hung out for awhile before the swim start.
I did not go hard on the swim because I didn't know how tired I would be the rest of the day. I forgot to put on my sunscreen before the bike and felt my shoulders getting a bit sensitive later in the day. The bike was pretty easy and fun until mile 40 or so, and then I just had to hang on another hour. The run was three loops. On loop one, I was joined by a young 21 year old guy who seemed to want to run with me. Turns out he was on his second lap and had walked most of the first lap because he drank too much and got nauseated. We ran together for about 8 miles and then on his mile 11, he had to stop and walk and I left him. When I checked later, I had beat him on the swim and the run, but he beat me on the bike enough to beat me overall.
I thought the whole thing would take me about 8 hours, if I was even able to finish not in complete misery. My stretch goal was 7.5 hours. My actual time.......7:03! If I had known I was that close to going under 7 hours I would have. But I took the swim easy. The bike was hard, but it was doable. And then the run was not nearly as miserable as I thought it would be. I was a little under midway in my age group (67%). Only 15% of the women who beat me were older than me! I thought that was pretty cool.
Anyway, it was great! I loved most of the whole day and I can't wait to do another one. I'm already planning for the next one at the end of October in Austin, TX. I have not worked out in 4 days and my muscles are stiff and sore. I'll get back to it tomorrow and I'll feel much better. My next triathlon is 25 June- I inspired some friends to do their first. We'll be doing some training together and I'll help them out. I gave them all training plans about 6 weeks ago and some have been doing better jobs than others at training.
I'm hooked!!!
A half Ironman is a 1.2 mile swim, 56 mile bike, and 13.1 mile run. I started training back in January with a plan that was very strict and I spent about 8-12 hours per week training. Some weeks I felt really great and some weeks I exhausted and grouchy. I spent hours on the bike on the weekends and hours running on Mondays. Some days I would wear my compression tights to work. Some days I was so exhausted from a workout, I could barely make it up the steps to the office. But I faithfully kept at it, afraid that if I missed workouts, I would not finish my race.
I experimented with nutrition...did water or Accelerade work better on the bike. How often did I need to take gels on the run? A couple of times I forgot my nutrition and my run was terrible. One bike ride was in the cold rain (unexpectedly) and I discovered that after the arms are frozen, they don't notice the pelting rain. s the race got closer, I started doing bricks- a bike followed immediately by a run. I could not get my nutrition and hydration right and the long ones were usually on big exercise weeks and they never went well. So that had me really worried.
The good thing was that I was doing it with a friend. We commiserated on facebook about long workouts and whatnot. Then we met up in Orlando for the race. It was great having someone to share it with....she had never done one either, so we were in it together. She had done more triathlons than I had, and she had also worked the championship in Kona, Hawaii, so she was more familiar with the the whole big race scene.
Finally, the day came. I packed the night before- checking and rechecking my gear. I had been worried for 3 days about the weather because they were predicting thunderstorms, but the night before, they were supposed to be gone. They weren't. It was storming when we got up, and while waiting for the bus that never came. We ended up walking through the woods in the rain and then a huge strike hit nearby and my friend almost leapt into my arms. Turns out it started a small fire that smoldered all day and then actually caught fire later and the fire trucks had to be called. We went to the transition area and set up our stuff. Then
hung out for awhile before the swim start.
I did not go hard on the swim because I didn't know how tired I would be the rest of the day. I forgot to put on my sunscreen before the bike and felt my shoulders getting a bit sensitive later in the day. The bike was pretty easy and fun until mile 40 or so, and then I just had to hang on another hour. The run was three loops. On loop one, I was joined by a young 21 year old guy who seemed to want to run with me. Turns out he was on his second lap and had walked most of the first lap because he drank too much and got nauseated. We ran together for about 8 miles and then on his mile 11, he had to stop and walk and I left him. When I checked later, I had beat him on the swim and the run, but he beat me on the bike enough to beat me overall.
I thought the whole thing would take me about 8 hours, if I was even able to finish not in complete misery. My stretch goal was 7.5 hours. My actual time.......7:03! If I had known I was that close to going under 7 hours I would have. But I took the swim easy. The bike was hard, but it was doable. And then the run was not nearly as miserable as I thought it would be. I was a little under midway in my age group (67%). Only 15% of the women who beat me were older than me! I thought that was pretty cool.
Anyway, it was great! I loved most of the whole day and I can't wait to do another one. I'm already planning for the next one at the end of October in Austin, TX. I have not worked out in 4 days and my muscles are stiff and sore. I'll get back to it tomorrow and I'll feel much better. My next triathlon is 25 June- I inspired some friends to do their first. We'll be doing some training together and I'll help them out. I gave them all training plans about 6 weeks ago and some have been doing better jobs than others at training.
I'm hooked!!!
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
Ask Vs Tell
We had an incident today at work that was very unusual, could have been serious and doesn't really have a textbook answer, although some answers are way more right than others. When the folks came to tell me about it, I listened and then asked then what their plan was. It was a good plan, I told them I agreed, and then added a couple of instructions and asked them to let me know when it was resolved.
That's just the way I usually do things. I like to ask questions, let my people think things through, and then either add my own thoughts to complete it or (if I am fresh out of my own ideas!) brain storm together to make sure we have a complete and solid plan. Could be because that's how I learned medicine and how we teach medicine- let people come up with their own ideas and they remember it next time.
Versus the way another leader I know does it. He just tells people what to do. And now I think that many of his followers have become dependent on waiting for him to give instructions. And he is so picky and thorough that whatever product he gets is never good enough. So there's hardly any point in spending forever on something because it won't be good enough anyway.
Anyway, I wish I had a witty ending to this one, but I don't. I just like my way better and I think people appreciate it.
That's just the way I usually do things. I like to ask questions, let my people think things through, and then either add my own thoughts to complete it or (if I am fresh out of my own ideas!) brain storm together to make sure we have a complete and solid plan. Could be because that's how I learned medicine and how we teach medicine- let people come up with their own ideas and they remember it next time.
Versus the way another leader I know does it. He just tells people what to do. And now I think that many of his followers have become dependent on waiting for him to give instructions. And he is so picky and thorough that whatever product he gets is never good enough. So there's hardly any point in spending forever on something because it won't be good enough anyway.
Anyway, I wish I had a witty ending to this one, but I don't. I just like my way better and I think people appreciate it.
Saturday, March 26, 2011
My Favorite Season
I love Spring!!!!
It's my favorite season because it signals newness and beginnings. I think summer is great because it's warm, fall is pretty, but I know things are coming to an end, and winter is just yuck unless there is snow. But Spring is new. Everything is so green and pretty. The flowers are blooming, trees are popping, grass is returning. The smells are amazing.
I love sunrise because it's the start of a new day and I love Spring because it's the start of the new year.
It's my favorite season because it signals newness and beginnings. I think summer is great because it's warm, fall is pretty, but I know things are coming to an end, and winter is just yuck unless there is snow. But Spring is new. Everything is so green and pretty. The flowers are blooming, trees are popping, grass is returning. The smells are amazing.
I love sunrise because it's the start of a new day and I love Spring because it's the start of the new year.
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
Pretty!
I never liked that other design, but I wasn't sure what to do about it. Took about an hour, but now I feel like the blog design actually reflects my personality!
Drifters vs Sifters
Wow! Has it really been 6 weeks since I posted? This one has been brewing for a couple of weeks.
I was in Florida visiting the parents after the Disney Princess Half Marathon and I went to the beach with my mom. We did a quick walk about 3 miles down the beach and I found a few few teeth accidentally- I can't help it! Once you get the tooth eye, you can't miss them! And you can't stop looking. Even when I was trying to enjoy the Gulf, I still kept checking out the ground to make sure there were no teeth waiting to be picked up. Right where we walked onto the beach from the parking lot there, were tons of people. But about 10 minutes down the beach, there were few people. Hmmmm.......
On the way back, we stopped a lot to look down for teeth. I kept my eyes more focused on the ground most of the time as well. Every now and then there was a promising pile of stuff and I'd stop and bend down and look seriously and find 1 to 3 teeth. We spent about an hour walking down and about 2 hrs walking back. That's 6-7 miles of exercise!
Then I started watching the other people on the beach. There were a few walkers and a few fisherman. There were lots of people who had these poles with baskets attached and they were out in the water scooping up stuff and sifting through it. Not sure how many teeth they find that way, but it looks really boring!
So I got to thinking- some tooth hunters are sifters and some tooth hunters are drifters. I wonder if the way they look for teeth translates into the way they live their lives? There is no possible way I could stand in one spot for hours sifting through stuff to find teeth. But apparently I can walk for hours and do the same thing. I like the adventure and the thrill of finding out what is around the next corner. I like getting away from the crowds near the stairs and finding the less traveled beach. I can't tell you how many times I have run or biked too far because I wanted to see what was around the next corner! I'm a drifter.
Then there are the sifters. They spend their lives in one spot, not daring to challenge themselves and try something new. Content to stay in one spot, they get to know that area very well. They never think to leave. They are comfortable. They don't get bored. In fact, the thought of walking 7 miles for 38 teeth probably really turns them off. I wonder if they find more in the one spot? Or if they care? Or if they get tired of the scenery? I wonder if they want to leave and go somewhere else but are nervous about the change. They are the solid rocks of a community. They have been there their whole lives and are the experts on their corner of the world. We really need them. But I can't be one of them.
I'm a drifter.
I was in Florida visiting the parents after the Disney Princess Half Marathon and I went to the beach with my mom. We did a quick walk about 3 miles down the beach and I found a few few teeth accidentally- I can't help it! Once you get the tooth eye, you can't miss them! And you can't stop looking. Even when I was trying to enjoy the Gulf, I still kept checking out the ground to make sure there were no teeth waiting to be picked up. Right where we walked onto the beach from the parking lot there, were tons of people. But about 10 minutes down the beach, there were few people. Hmmmm.......
On the way back, we stopped a lot to look down for teeth. I kept my eyes more focused on the ground most of the time as well. Every now and then there was a promising pile of stuff and I'd stop and bend down and look seriously and find 1 to 3 teeth. We spent about an hour walking down and about 2 hrs walking back. That's 6-7 miles of exercise!
Then I started watching the other people on the beach. There were a few walkers and a few fisherman. There were lots of people who had these poles with baskets attached and they were out in the water scooping up stuff and sifting through it. Not sure how many teeth they find that way, but it looks really boring!
So I got to thinking- some tooth hunters are sifters and some tooth hunters are drifters. I wonder if the way they look for teeth translates into the way they live their lives? There is no possible way I could stand in one spot for hours sifting through stuff to find teeth. But apparently I can walk for hours and do the same thing. I like the adventure and the thrill of finding out what is around the next corner. I like getting away from the crowds near the stairs and finding the less traveled beach. I can't tell you how many times I have run or biked too far because I wanted to see what was around the next corner! I'm a drifter.
Then there are the sifters. They spend their lives in one spot, not daring to challenge themselves and try something new. Content to stay in one spot, they get to know that area very well. They never think to leave. They are comfortable. They don't get bored. In fact, the thought of walking 7 miles for 38 teeth probably really turns them off. I wonder if they find more in the one spot? Or if they care? Or if they get tired of the scenery? I wonder if they want to leave and go somewhere else but are nervous about the change. They are the solid rocks of a community. They have been there their whole lives and are the experts on their corner of the world. We really need them. But I can't be one of them.
I'm a drifter.
Sunday, January 30, 2011
Figured it Out
With a lot of soul searching and talking to people who know me this week, I have figured out a bit of what was wrong. I still feel yucky and still feel like my job is sort of meaningless. But at least I think I have figured out why.
First- I mentioned in my last post that I have been working on my boss's projects and not mine. I have not had the time to do the things that I have wanted at work, such as the Family Health Initiative which is the Air Force's Medical Home project. I've also been wanting to do some stuff with peer review. At the Military Health Conference last week week I was able to learn a lot about FHI and have plans to go home and implement. So now I have a project and plan to start seeing clinic again. I think that will help tremendously.
The other thing that I realized is that I get a bit depressed every winter. I discovered this with the help of a friend a few years ago and discovered the St Johns Wort does the trick. I usually remember some time in December when I get to feeling exactly like I have been feeling this week- useless at work, hopeless about the future, and feeling like I'm not doing a very good job at home either, not to mention complete laziness at home. This year, maybe I was just too busy to notice how bad I felt and plus I was getting a few hours of sunlight on Saturdays when I ride my bike. So, now here it is late January, and I'm finally figuring it out. One year I did really well when I put it on my calendar to start taking my meds in November.
So now I have a plan and feel much better. Start my project and start my meds. Yay!
First- I mentioned in my last post that I have been working on my boss's projects and not mine. I have not had the time to do the things that I have wanted at work, such as the Family Health Initiative which is the Air Force's Medical Home project. I've also been wanting to do some stuff with peer review. At the Military Health Conference last week week I was able to learn a lot about FHI and have plans to go home and implement. So now I have a project and plan to start seeing clinic again. I think that will help tremendously.
The other thing that I realized is that I get a bit depressed every winter. I discovered this with the help of a friend a few years ago and discovered the St Johns Wort does the trick. I usually remember some time in December when I get to feeling exactly like I have been feeling this week- useless at work, hopeless about the future, and feeling like I'm not doing a very good job at home either, not to mention complete laziness at home. This year, maybe I was just too busy to notice how bad I felt and plus I was getting a few hours of sunlight on Saturdays when I ride my bike. So, now here it is late January, and I'm finally figuring it out. One year I did really well when I put it on my calendar to start taking my meds in November.
So now I have a plan and feel much better. Start my project and start my meds. Yay!
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Meaningless
This started as a letter to a friend, and I'm reposting it here. I suppose it's times when I write stuff like this that I'm glad this is a relatively anonymous blog. Regular people can find it if they search, but only my friends and family know who I am.
I had a bit of a meltdown yesterday. Not sure what triggered it. I was sitting in a meeting room at this conference. I can't even remember what the heck they were talking about. But I started to realize that for the first time ever, I hate my job. I feel like I go to work every day and do nothing meaningful. I feel like all I do is push paper from one side of my desk to the other. I don't feel like the things I do in medicine right now are really necessary, although I suppose some of it must be done. But it doesn't have to be done by me. Any average doc could do it. I have always felt like what I was doing was unique. That yes, there are people out there doing the same thing (seeing pts, commanding, advising, etc), but that no one was doing it quite like me and that I was truly making my mark and having an impact on people's lives. I've always strived to be unique, in a good way- not a weird way. That I was somehow special and that God put me here to do unique work. Every assignment i spend my days looking for my purpose. Why was I personally sent there instead of someone else. What is it that I uniquely have to offer. I just don't have the feeling with my current work that what I do is unique or special. Anyone could sign the papers and do the clearances, and edit the policies that someone else is writing. The stuff that I care about is not getting done because I am spending so much time pushing paper and making my boss's priorities my own. I know I am helping him feel better about his own work and I know he is happy to have me here, but that's not enough. I feel like I'm not helping my docs reach their potential, I haven't had time to see pts, and although people say my presence matters, that just doesn't seem to be enough. I'm not PRODUCING.
I've met with the clinic chief and will start going to clinic next week. It doesn't matter if I don't have time. Time needs to be made.
I'm really worried about the rest of my military career. If this is what's in store for me for the next 3 or 6 or 9 years, I want no part of it. Now I know why people get burned out and leave executive medicine in the Air Force. This stinks.
I had a bit of a meltdown yesterday. Not sure what triggered it. I was sitting in a meeting room at this conference. I can't even remember what the heck they were talking about. But I started to realize that for the first time ever, I hate my job. I feel like I go to work every day and do nothing meaningful. I feel like all I do is push paper from one side of my desk to the other. I don't feel like the things I do in medicine right now are really necessary, although I suppose some of it must be done. But it doesn't have to be done by me. Any average doc could do it. I have always felt like what I was doing was unique. That yes, there are people out there doing the same thing (seeing pts, commanding, advising, etc), but that no one was doing it quite like me and that I was truly making my mark and having an impact on people's lives. I've always strived to be unique, in a good way- not a weird way. That I was somehow special and that God put me here to do unique work. Every assignment i spend my days looking for my purpose. Why was I personally sent there instead of someone else. What is it that I uniquely have to offer. I just don't have the feeling with my current work that what I do is unique or special. Anyone could sign the papers and do the clearances, and edit the policies that someone else is writing. The stuff that I care about is not getting done because I am spending so much time pushing paper and making my boss's priorities my own. I know I am helping him feel better about his own work and I know he is happy to have me here, but that's not enough. I feel like I'm not helping my docs reach their potential, I haven't had time to see pts, and although people say my presence matters, that just doesn't seem to be enough. I'm not PRODUCING.
I've met with the clinic chief and will start going to clinic next week. It doesn't matter if I don't have time. Time needs to be made.
I'm really worried about the rest of my military career. If this is what's in store for me for the next 3 or 6 or 9 years, I want no part of it. Now I know why people get burned out and leave executive medicine in the Air Force. This stinks.
Sunday, January 23, 2011
Sitting on Ice!
There are times when being driven is good and times when it can hurt. Today was one of those days! I recently read in a swimming magazine the difference between a sprinter and a distance swimmer. Sprinters want to have fun and they only want to do the minimal work necessary to get the job done. Distance swimmers (or any sport, I think), love practice for the sake of practice. They will do whatever work-out is put before them, feel longer is better, and will push through the pain to finish the work-out. I am not a sprinter. I'm a distance athlete and I enjoy practice just for the sake of practice. Today I had to remind myself that the means are a means to an end, and in the end, I won't miss 1.5 miles one Sunday.
I was out for a 9 mile run on a gorgeous, albeit freezing, day in DC. On a pretty trail next to the Potomac River on which the hotel staff swear I won;t likely be murdered. Anyway, 3rd grade math tells you that's 4.5 out and 4.5 back. Well. at about 2.75 miles, I tripped and REALLY hurt my right hamstring. It hurt a lot! I've had kind of a chronic hamstring thing going on for a couple of yrs and it was getting better over the last couple of months. So what did I do after I got hurt? I kept going of course. Because the specified distance was 4.5 before I could turn around. And usually pains get better while I run. If I stopped everyting something hurt, I'd never get anywhere. For instance, at the beginning of this run, I jumped off a low wall onto the trail and my foot hurt. I was seriously considering for about a half mile whether I should stop, but it got better. See? It usually works. Well, after I fell, I kept going for about another mile, and then started thinking about my ultimate goal. The goal is a Half Ironman in May. If I rip my hamstring and spend weeks off of running and biking, my race will be in jeopardy. If I turn around, I miss 1.5 miles of my workout, but will I notice 3 months from now? I decided caution was in order. I hated it because it feels like giving up. But in reality, it's smart training, So I turned around. Stopped near the hotel for a sandwich and discovered a pizza sandwich- oh my, it was yummy!! And I ate it while sitting on an ice pack. I have tomorrow off, then a swim on Tuesday. Then a bike and run on Wednesday. I'll ice the heck out of it between now and then. the good news it that it was actually feeling better by the time I got home. See?!
I was out for a 9 mile run on a gorgeous, albeit freezing, day in DC. On a pretty trail next to the Potomac River on which the hotel staff swear I won;t likely be murdered. Anyway, 3rd grade math tells you that's 4.5 out and 4.5 back. Well. at about 2.75 miles, I tripped and REALLY hurt my right hamstring. It hurt a lot! I've had kind of a chronic hamstring thing going on for a couple of yrs and it was getting better over the last couple of months. So what did I do after I got hurt? I kept going of course. Because the specified distance was 4.5 before I could turn around. And usually pains get better while I run. If I stopped everyting something hurt, I'd never get anywhere. For instance, at the beginning of this run, I jumped off a low wall onto the trail and my foot hurt. I was seriously considering for about a half mile whether I should stop, but it got better. See? It usually works. Well, after I fell, I kept going for about another mile, and then started thinking about my ultimate goal. The goal is a Half Ironman in May. If I rip my hamstring and spend weeks off of running and biking, my race will be in jeopardy. If I turn around, I miss 1.5 miles of my workout, but will I notice 3 months from now? I decided caution was in order. I hated it because it feels like giving up. But in reality, it's smart training, So I turned around. Stopped near the hotel for a sandwich and discovered a pizza sandwich- oh my, it was yummy!! And I ate it while sitting on an ice pack. I have tomorrow off, then a swim on Tuesday. Then a bike and run on Wednesday. I'll ice the heck out of it between now and then. the good news it that it was actually feeling better by the time I got home. See?!
Saturday, January 15, 2011
The Difference Between Chinese Mothers and Western Mothers
This is a brilliant article by a Yale professor about the difference in parenting styles of Western mothers and Chinese mothers. She outlines three fundamental differences such as the fact that Western mothers are so concerned about their child's self esteem, while Chinese mothers know that self esteem comes from accomplishment and drive their children to perfection.
Read it- you will like it!
Read it- you will like it!
Sunday, January 9, 2011
Hope
Awesome church service today about hope. It really spoke to me because I tend to be optimistic and hopeful and it takes a lot to crush my hope. But I don't do disappointment well. When I get my hopes up and then they get dashed, I get really bummed out and then sad. I get over it relatively quickly, but I hate it. I always hope that things will get better. I end every hard day hoping that tomorrow will be better. If I mess up, I make a plan to learn from my mistakes and then hope that I do better next time.
The preacher gave an example of an experiment done with rats where one rat was dropped into a vat of water in the complete dark to see how long it would swim. It lasted 3 minutes. Then they did the same thing with another rat, but this time, they let a crack of light into the room that the rat could see. Guess how long it lasted. 36...............................
HOURS!!!!!!!!
That is amazing to me. One little ray of light gave that rat the hope to keep swimming until he was exhausted. Or maybe the first rat was just a crappy swimmer. But I doubt it. I really believe in the power of hope.
Hopelessness is the worst prognostic factor for someone who is depressed. Once they get to the point where they have no hope, they are in grave danger of committing suicide. Why would someone continue life if they thought there was no way it would ever get better? I can't even imagine being that low, but I can imagine what I would do if I were.
13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
The preacher gave an example of an experiment done with rats where one rat was dropped into a vat of water in the complete dark to see how long it would swim. It lasted 3 minutes. Then they did the same thing with another rat, but this time, they let a crack of light into the room that the rat could see. Guess how long it lasted. 36...............................
HOURS!!!!!!!!
That is amazing to me. One little ray of light gave that rat the hope to keep swimming until he was exhausted. Or maybe the first rat was just a crappy swimmer. But I doubt it. I really believe in the power of hope.
Hopelessness is the worst prognostic factor for someone who is depressed. Once they get to the point where they have no hope, they are in grave danger of committing suicide. Why would someone continue life if they thought there was no way it would ever get better? I can't even imagine being that low, but I can imagine what I would do if I were.
Romans 15:13 (New International Version, ©2010)
13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
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