Hey again! This is my second installment of guest blogging about training for my first triathlon in September. Since my last post, I have made progress, but have an injury that is a definite impediment. I think I mentioned last time that I was icing my ankle. At that point I just thought I was sore from running for the first time in quite awhile over spring break. I’m not certain if it was the running or the flip-flop wearing (or a combo) but I’ve had Achilles Tendonitis ever since. We’re at 7 weeks and counting of pain, tightness and soreness.

I’ve done everything I know to do: Massage, physical therapy, anti-inflammatory meds (both conventional & homeopathic), stretching and rest. This sucker just doesn’t want to heal. I have 12 1/2 weeks until the event and I don’t know if I should continue to rest it, or power through? Any experience with this injury? The only thing I have left in my arsenal is acupuncture, which is my next phone call.

If you read my first post, you know that swimming is my weakest link. I did start swim lessons a little over a month ago (an improvement over making phone calls about taking swimming lessons). I’m taking them at a Y-type facility. It’s an adult intermediate class taught by this very funny Russian guy. I started in the middle of the spring session so the other two students already had a few classes under their belt. When I got to my first class I was sitting on the bench apprehensively waiting for the instructor “Ivan” to come talk to me. He walked by and just looked at me. I said, “um, I just joined your class today.” Blank stare. Me: “Do you want to know anything about me, my experience, or why I’m in the class?” Him: “Get in. We ville see.” Me: “We will see?” Him: “We ville see if you drown. I’ve only had 2 drowns.” That pretty much sums up Ivan.

The good part is, I’ve really learned a lot from Ivan. It’s amazing to me that I’ve been swimming recreationally my whole life and really have zero idea how to swim for exercise/training. The sad thing is I now know how Nadia must have felt when she grew breasts and Béla didn’t pay attention to her anymore. Ivan has his swim team members there at the same time as our class and I totally feel washed up in comparison. It’s all I can do not to shout, “look at me Ivan! Look how hard I’m trying!” Pathetic. Yet when he gives me the thumbs up and says, “you are doing vedy good, vedy vedy good” it makes me dig a little deeper. No wonder those Eastern Europeans were/are so darn good at gymnastics!

Highlights since my last post:

I’ve ridden my bike outside for a couple of great rides. The first was 15 miles (longer than the distance in my tri) and the second was 30 miles with some killer hills. I felt a huge sense of accomplishment after the 30 miler. The weather and my Achilles have kept me off the bike, but I’m going out again Saturday.

My girlfriend that is doing the tri with me and I went to a training party in NYC hosted by Trek. Sally Edwards was the special guest of the party. If you don’t know who she is, you should. She is one of the most inspiring people I have ever met. Sally has been an elite endurance athlete for over 30 years and was the face of the Danskin triathlon series for years. She’s now the spokesperson for the Trek Women Triathlon Series (I’m not sure why she and Danskin parted ways, she didn’t talk about it). Regardless, the training party was such a perfect way to really kick off this journey. They gave us a ton of information and a free training plan. Sally even helped me pick out a pair of swim goggles. This woman is 62 years old and could kick my ass in any of the three events. THAT in and of itself is enough to inspire me.

The biggest thing we took away from the training party is that you have to have a plan. So this week, instead of feeling sorry for myself on a day I wanted to be spinning or swimming but was resting my stupid foot, my girlfriend (a.k.a. my training partner) and I met at Starbucks and mapped out our summer of training. We won’t always be able to do it together, but it is really motivating to have someone else there alongside you in spirit. We make good partners too because our strengths are each other’s weaknesses.

Our first day of training was today and we met to swim. She is a MUCH stronger swimmer than I am. My biggest issue with swimming is that I get completely winded and never feel like I’m getting enough air. With a very simple suggestion, my friend helped me immensely. WHO KNEW YOU WEREN’T SUPPOSED TO HOLD YOUR BREATH? I certainly didn’t. So I would try and exhale and inhale in the same two seconds. When she suggested blowing all the air out completely and slowly with my head still in the water, it was like swimming enlightenment had occurred. Mind you, I have other “issues” so I’m still no Michael Phelps but at least I’m not flailing and gasping anymore. The bad news is that my tendon that I thought was improving really hurt in the pool today. Aargh!

The way I see it, I’m laying the foundation of my triathlon house right now. Honing skills, crafting a plan, trying to get healthy. The plan is helping me break down all those “I can’t do this” mental barriers because I don’t have to go from zero to sixty; I’m building speed gradually here. I’m committed to this. I want this. I will make this happen.

Stay tuned & NEVER SURRENDER!

Written by Mama Likes