You know how before a MLB player goes up to bat, they play a little song? Something to get him pumped up and in the mood? Well, I've been looking for "my" song. Something that encompass this journey and my emotions. Something to get my "motor running." Since the rules of the triathlon, ban the use of personal music players, I needed something to keep my mind "busy."
I've played around with a few songs, but none seemed to completely fit. But then the right song, just dropped in my lap. Okay, more like crossed my tv screen.
This week, I stumbled across the BEST show ever this week, Glee. If you haven't seen it, DVR it!!!
Well, during the episode untitled "Wheels." a certain song made my mouth drop.
(Note: I did not record this. It's the only version I can find.)
the words just hit me like a ton of bricks.
So this is my new "pump up" song. If you hear me humming this weekend (and you most likely will), it will be this song.
I'm through accepting limits cause someone says they're so. Some things I cannot change, but till I try, I'll never know
I think I'll try Defying gravity and you won't bring me down
Showing posts with label Mommy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Mommy. Show all posts
Monday, August 9, 2010
Monday, July 12, 2010
Today, I ROCK!
I am on cloud 9 right now! I can't stop smiling. Why? Cuz i just completed my first open water swim and it felt AMAZING!!!
I have "struggled" with biking. I tend to be in the back of the pack especially on the hills. I huff and I puff and my legs burn. But today, I got to see what it felt like to run (or in this case swim) with the big boys.
My tri group met at Cottage Lake in Woodinville. We talked about what supplies you need and how to "site" while swimming when you can't see beneath you and then hopped in the lake for a "little swim." Once in the water, a few of the members decided to stay close to shore and practice while other of us started out swimming across the lake (about 1/3 of a mile one way). I started of slow and steady per the training advice. Per coach Marc, your first 100 yards should be the same speed as you last 100 yards. (Let me mention it was his voice I kept hearing the whole way Reach, glide, pull all the way through, don't kick so much. Such a warm, encouraging voice to swim to) I found myself a good rhythm but only to look up and find I was swimming off course! I redirected my elf and started swimming. One stroke after another. Look up every 8th breath to see where I was going. When I made it to the other side, I was SHOCKED!!! Not only had a made it, I was the only one from my beginning Tri group to make it! The rest stayed near shore or turned back shortly after starting. I had kept up with "seasoned" tri guys and gals who had volunteered to help us newbies. I was blown away!!!
So we started back. This time I found it easier to stay straight and keep a consistent pace. I have no idea how fast I swam but I am proud of the distant I covered and NO BREASTSTROKING!
When we made it back to the other side, I felt fabulous, so much so that I actually didn't want to stop swimming!!! So I kindly asked Ironmen Joel (he's completed 3 ironmen!) to swim another lap with me. This time we swam straight across and back (round trip about 1/3 of a mile). I felt so strong and smooth in the water. I was livin' it up.
All said and done, I swam just under a mile. I ROCK!!! OMG! It felt so good to complete something and complete is well.
This gives me so much motivation to keep going. I mean who would have guessed Id be able to swim across a lake 6 months a go. But to day I did it...TWICE!!! If I can rock the water, those hills of Bothell better beware! I'm coming to get you!
I have "struggled" with biking. I tend to be in the back of the pack especially on the hills. I huff and I puff and my legs burn. But today, I got to see what it felt like to run (or in this case swim) with the big boys.
My tri group met at Cottage Lake in Woodinville. We talked about what supplies you need and how to "site" while swimming when you can't see beneath you and then hopped in the lake for a "little swim." Once in the water, a few of the members decided to stay close to shore and practice while other of us started out swimming across the lake (about 1/3 of a mile one way). I started of slow and steady per the training advice. Per coach Marc, your first 100 yards should be the same speed as you last 100 yards. (Let me mention it was his voice I kept hearing the whole way Reach, glide, pull all the way through, don't kick so much. Such a warm, encouraging voice to swim to) I found myself a good rhythm but only to look up and find I was swimming off course! I redirected my elf and started swimming. One stroke after another. Look up every 8th breath to see where I was going. When I made it to the other side, I was SHOCKED!!! Not only had a made it, I was the only one from my beginning Tri group to make it! The rest stayed near shore or turned back shortly after starting. I had kept up with "seasoned" tri guys and gals who had volunteered to help us newbies. I was blown away!!!
So we started back. This time I found it easier to stay straight and keep a consistent pace. I have no idea how fast I swam but I am proud of the distant I covered and NO BREASTSTROKING!
When we made it back to the other side, I felt fabulous, so much so that I actually didn't want to stop swimming!!! So I kindly asked Ironmen Joel (he's completed 3 ironmen!) to swim another lap with me. This time we swam straight across and back (round trip about 1/3 of a mile). I felt so strong and smooth in the water. I was livin' it up.
All said and done, I swam just under a mile. I ROCK!!! OMG! It felt so good to complete something and complete is well.
This gives me so much motivation to keep going. I mean who would have guessed Id be able to swim across a lake 6 months a go. But to day I did it...TWICE!!! If I can rock the water, those hills of Bothell better beware! I'm coming to get you!
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
JUST WATCH ME!!!
The Tri has been registered for, I'm in full swing in my workouts, and I'm loving my new bike.
So, what's left to do? Well, maybe watch a Tri? And thanks to YouTube, Tri footage is at your finger tips 24/7. Now, if you're going to watch a Tri, what is a better Tri to watch then the Mother of a all Tris. The Ford Ironman Championship in Kona, Hawaii. A 2.4 mile swim, a 112 mile bike, followed by a 26.2 marathon. To be an Ironman you must not only finish this
140.6 mile journey but do it under 17 hours. 17 hours 1 minute? Thanks for trying.
Oh, can I mention NO iPods, MP3 players, or Walkmen allowed.
Now, started with watching this.
Ironman Hawaii World Championship 2008 highlights.
And it so moved me. I wanted to know who these people were, what were their stories?
That in turn lead me to watch not only the complete recap of the 2008 championship, but the 2006, 2007, and 2009 championships as well. What did nearly 5 hours of Ironman footage do to me? It brought me to me knees. It brought me to tears.
Of course I was blown away by the greats: Chrissie, Ferris (you got at love a man that runs a marathon in a speedo), Norman, Craig, Chris. I mean who doesn't dream of running at a 6 minute mile pace let alone doing it after nearly 5 hours of biking. These athletes opidomize what an Athlete is. They are beyond amazing, but they are not the ones that moved me. It was the ones that you have never heard of and probably never would. The underdogs, the " no bodies" The ones that are running not for the spotlight and fame, but for an purpose known only to themselves. They are teachers, bankers, servicemen, postal workers, "regular joes." Just your average men and women, some overcoming obstacles that many of us could not begin to imagine.
For example,
Jon Blais, a man handed the fatal diagnosis of ALS (Lou Gherig's disease) who had already lost the function of one of his hands ran the 2005 Ironman Hawaii to bring attention and hopefully a cure for ALS. By the 2006 ironman he was confined to a wheelchair and by 2007 had lost his battle with ALS but had won the hearts of Tri community.
Sister Madonna Buder, a Nun, who at the age of 76 finished the Kona Ironman in 2006 with less than a minute so spare.
An American soldier who lost his leg in Iraq. A blind man. Men and women in wheelchairs. And of course the empowering Team Hoyt, a father, Dick, that swam the 2.4 miles towing his son, Rick, in a special raft, biked the 112 miles with his son in a customized bike seat, then ran the 26.2 mile marathon pushing his son in a wheelchair. Why does Dick do this? Because Dick wanted to give his son, Rick, the experience his cerebral palsy body wouldn't allow him to do on this own.
These men and women are beyond remarkable. They embody the courage, faith, and perseverance that moves mountains. They take your breath away and make you drop to your knees.
If these men and women overcame obstacles that few said they could and became an Ironman. A title that must be earned with blood, sweat, and tears, and a boat load of faith.
If they could overcome the obstacles in front of them, why couldn't I overcome mine. All my obstacles are trivial in comparison.
So this is where it starts.
I DARE you, I dare you to take the "I can't" out of your vocabulary. I dare you to say I will figure a way to DO IT!!!! JUST DO IT! Push that extra mile, take that extra step, hold strong in your faith.
The Danskin Triathlon has now become the beginning of my new found journey. June 2012, I will be standing on the banks of Lake Stevens. A 1.2 mike swim, a 56 mile bike, a 13.1 mile run. A half Ironman. I may be 130 pounds. I may still be over 200. Either way, I am not going to let my weight be an obstacle in my life any longer. I am going to take life by the horns and charge on. One step at a time. One step at a time. Keeping the faith.
And an Ironman? It's on my to-do list. :) It won't be next year and it may not be in 5 years. But, I WILL be an IRONMAN.
JUST WATCH ME!!!
So, what's left to do? Well, maybe watch a Tri? And thanks to YouTube, Tri footage is at your finger tips 24/7. Now, if you're going to watch a Tri, what is a better Tri to watch then the Mother of a all Tris. The Ford Ironman Championship in Kona, Hawaii. A 2.4 mile swim, a 112 mile bike, followed by a 26.2 marathon. To be an Ironman you must not only finish this
140.6 mile journey but do it under 17 hours. 17 hours 1 minute? Thanks for trying.
Oh, can I mention NO iPods, MP3 players, or Walkmen allowed.
Now, started with watching this.
Ironman Hawaii World Championship 2008 highlights.
And it so moved me. I wanted to know who these people were, what were their stories?
That in turn lead me to watch not only the complete recap of the 2008 championship, but the 2006, 2007, and 2009 championships as well. What did nearly 5 hours of Ironman footage do to me? It brought me to me knees. It brought me to tears.
Of course I was blown away by the greats: Chrissie, Ferris (you got at love a man that runs a marathon in a speedo), Norman, Craig, Chris. I mean who doesn't dream of running at a 6 minute mile pace let alone doing it after nearly 5 hours of biking. These athletes opidomize what an Athlete is. They are beyond amazing, but they are not the ones that moved me. It was the ones that you have never heard of and probably never would. The underdogs, the " no bodies" The ones that are running not for the spotlight and fame, but for an purpose known only to themselves. They are teachers, bankers, servicemen, postal workers, "regular joes." Just your average men and women, some overcoming obstacles that many of us could not begin to imagine.
For example,
Jon Blais, a man handed the fatal diagnosis of ALS (Lou Gherig's disease) who had already lost the function of one of his hands ran the 2005 Ironman Hawaii to bring attention and hopefully a cure for ALS. By the 2006 ironman he was confined to a wheelchair and by 2007 had lost his battle with ALS but had won the hearts of Tri community.
Sister Madonna Buder, a Nun, who at the age of 76 finished the Kona Ironman in 2006 with less than a minute so spare.
An American soldier who lost his leg in Iraq. A blind man. Men and women in wheelchairs. And of course the empowering Team Hoyt, a father, Dick, that swam the 2.4 miles towing his son, Rick, in a special raft, biked the 112 miles with his son in a customized bike seat, then ran the 26.2 mile marathon pushing his son in a wheelchair. Why does Dick do this? Because Dick wanted to give his son, Rick, the experience his cerebral palsy body wouldn't allow him to do on this own.
These men and women are beyond remarkable. They embody the courage, faith, and perseverance that moves mountains. They take your breath away and make you drop to your knees.
If these men and women overcame obstacles that few said they could and became an Ironman. A title that must be earned with blood, sweat, and tears, and a boat load of faith.
If they could overcome the obstacles in front of them, why couldn't I overcome mine. All my obstacles are trivial in comparison.
So this is where it starts.
I DARE you, I dare you to take the "I can't" out of your vocabulary. I dare you to say I will figure a way to DO IT!!!! JUST DO IT! Push that extra mile, take that extra step, hold strong in your faith.
The Danskin Triathlon has now become the beginning of my new found journey. June 2012, I will be standing on the banks of Lake Stevens. A 1.2 mike swim, a 56 mile bike, a 13.1 mile run. A half Ironman. I may be 130 pounds. I may still be over 200. Either way, I am not going to let my weight be an obstacle in my life any longer. I am going to take life by the horns and charge on. One step at a time. One step at a time. Keeping the faith.
And an Ironman? It's on my to-do list. :) It won't be next year and it may not be in 5 years. But, I WILL be an IRONMAN.
JUST WATCH ME!!!
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
A drowning rat
Pretty much the minute I hit submit on my triathlon registration, I had already began googling training plans. I have been running with my trainer, so I got that part. Now biking and swimming. From what I read, it seems that if you can rock the swimming it makes the triathlon so much easier. So, I guess swimming is next on my check list.
I can swim. I was a lifeguard. I taught swimming lessons. But I am so not a swimmer.
So, Friday I got the courage to go to the Y and give swimming a shot after over a decade. I got a pair of chic goggles and a swim cap and trudged out to the pool. An average pool is 25 meters. The down and back (a lap) is 50 meters. Doing the math, a half mile is 16 laps. Not so scary, right? Wrong!!!!! After the first lap my lungs were on fire!!! I had to switch to breathing every stroke. After each lap I'd pause for a breath then do the next lap. Two laps, three, four. Break. Five, six. Finally 16. Not bad. A bit winded and my left shoulder was cramping but I did it. And with 4 months to training, I think I have a chance at rocking this swimming thing.
I found out that the Y has a master’s swim Tuesday and Thursday evenings. (Masters Swimming is a national organization that provides organized workouts, competitions, clinics and workshops for adults aged 18 and over. Programs are open to all adult swimmers (fitness, triathlete, competitive, non-competitive) who are dedicated to improving their fitness through swimming.) So, this Tuesday I packed up my Speedo and headed to the Y.
I was sooo nervous. It was like the first day of school. I didn’t know who my teacher was or the other “students.” “Dear Lord,” I prayed as a walked up to the group. Coach Mark is a tall, older man with a wonderful smile. “I’m new,” I said. “Great,” was his reply. He asked me why I was here to swim and told me to jump in the water to do a few laps so he could see my swimming level. Off I swim trying to look like a snail’s version of Michael Phelps. I felt pretty proud. Not half bad. Then came Mark's critique. You need to kick less. Kick less??? Huh? In a triathlon you need to swim with your arms so you can save your legs for the bike and run. Off I swim trying to kick less. “Less.” He kept telling me. Finally, confused, I asked, “If I kick any less I won’t be kicking at all? “Great!” was his reply. “Don’t kick.”
Okay, so no kicking. I can do that. So I grab a pull buoy. Those little pieces of foam swimmers put between their thighs to work on their stroke. Between my legs it goes. Right away I see I’m going to have a probably. My bottom half is rocking back and forth like a dingy in rough water. I kept drifting into the ropes. I can’t figure out how to breathe without doing this ballet-like move with my right leg. I am trying so hard not to laugh. I pull my head up to look at Mark and he is just smiling away. I smile back and keep splashing along. After 45 minutes of swimming I was done and I thank Mark for his help and said I would be back Thursday. I laugh and tell him that I didn’t realize swimming to so much balance. He chuckles and tells me I did a good job for not swimming in so many years. “Promise?” I ask him? Because I felt like a drowning rat. I couldn’t swim straight. I couldn’t do “catch-up stokes without literally drowning. I can only breathe on my right side and my flip turns? Let's not even talk about my flip turns. But he gives me a big grin and says, “We’ll work on that next time.”
Well, today is “next time” so THIS drowning rat will be back at the Y doing masters swim tonight. “Lord, help me!”
I can swim. I was a lifeguard. I taught swimming lessons. But I am so not a swimmer.
So, Friday I got the courage to go to the Y and give swimming a shot after over a decade. I got a pair of chic goggles and a swim cap and trudged out to the pool. An average pool is 25 meters. The down and back (a lap) is 50 meters. Doing the math, a half mile is 16 laps. Not so scary, right? Wrong!!!!! After the first lap my lungs were on fire!!! I had to switch to breathing every stroke. After each lap I'd pause for a breath then do the next lap. Two laps, three, four. Break. Five, six. Finally 16. Not bad. A bit winded and my left shoulder was cramping but I did it. And with 4 months to training, I think I have a chance at rocking this swimming thing.
I found out that the Y has a master’s swim Tuesday and Thursday evenings. (Masters Swimming is a national organization that provides organized workouts, competitions, clinics and workshops for adults aged 18 and over. Programs are open to all adult swimmers (fitness, triathlete, competitive, non-competitive) who are dedicated to improving their fitness through swimming.) So, this Tuesday I packed up my Speedo and headed to the Y.
I was sooo nervous. It was like the first day of school. I didn’t know who my teacher was or the other “students.” “Dear Lord,” I prayed as a walked up to the group. Coach Mark is a tall, older man with a wonderful smile. “I’m new,” I said. “Great,” was his reply. He asked me why I was here to swim and told me to jump in the water to do a few laps so he could see my swimming level. Off I swim trying to look like a snail’s version of Michael Phelps. I felt pretty proud. Not half bad. Then came Mark's critique. You need to kick less. Kick less??? Huh? In a triathlon you need to swim with your arms so you can save your legs for the bike and run. Off I swim trying to kick less. “Less.” He kept telling me. Finally, confused, I asked, “If I kick any less I won’t be kicking at all? “Great!” was his reply. “Don’t kick.”
Okay, so no kicking. I can do that. So I grab a pull buoy. Those little pieces of foam swimmers put between their thighs to work on their stroke. Between my legs it goes. Right away I see I’m going to have a probably. My bottom half is rocking back and forth like a dingy in rough water. I kept drifting into the ropes. I can’t figure out how to breathe without doing this ballet-like move with my right leg. I am trying so hard not to laugh. I pull my head up to look at Mark and he is just smiling away. I smile back and keep splashing along. After 45 minutes of swimming I was done and I thank Mark for his help and said I would be back Thursday. I laugh and tell him that I didn’t realize swimming to so much balance. He chuckles and tells me I did a good job for not swimming in so many years. “Promise?” I ask him? Because I felt like a drowning rat. I couldn’t swim straight. I couldn’t do “catch-up stokes without literally drowning. I can only breathe on my right side and my flip turns? Let's not even talk about my flip turns. But he gives me a big grin and says, “We’ll work on that next time.”
Well, today is “next time” so THIS drowning rat will be back at the Y doing masters swim tonight. “Lord, help me!”
In the beginning
Here I go!
While hanging out at preschool last week a mommy mentioned to me that I should look at doing the Danskin Triathalon in August. She knows I recently taken on running and plan on doing Beat the Bridge (5 miles) in May. The Danskin is something I had secretely looked at doing the past few years, but I kept saying, "when I'm skinnier, I'll do it." But skinnier never came, and then something happened. I turned 30. I had enough of putting my life on hold because of my weight.
So in October I hired a trainer and started working out with her once a week. And the strangest thing happened. I realized I actually enjoy working out, sickening I know!!! Now the weight didn't drop off liked I hoped but I am 20lbs lighter then I was when I got pregnant. Slow and steady wins the race, right? But I did notice myself getting stronger and breathing easier during my workouts.
Okay, back to the traiathalon (more background history later), so any-who, I realized where does it was that you have to be a 110lbs to do a triathalon? Why can't I do it at (cough-cough) 230 pounds? Gosh darn it, I can do it!!!! I'm going to prove to myself that weight is just a number and that I am a strong women who can give those skinny b$&@! a run for their money.
So here I go training for my first sprint triathalon. 1/2 mile swim, 12 mile bike, 3.1 mile run. And blogging something both totally new to this stay-at-home mommy.
K, now that I laid done some back ground, funnier and inspirational blogs are to come.
Lord, give me strength!!!!
While hanging out at preschool last week a mommy mentioned to me that I should look at doing the Danskin Triathalon in August. She knows I recently taken on running and plan on doing Beat the Bridge (5 miles) in May. The Danskin is something I had secretely looked at doing the past few years, but I kept saying, "when I'm skinnier, I'll do it." But skinnier never came, and then something happened. I turned 30. I had enough of putting my life on hold because of my weight.
So in October I hired a trainer and started working out with her once a week. And the strangest thing happened. I realized I actually enjoy working out, sickening I know!!! Now the weight didn't drop off liked I hoped but I am 20lbs lighter then I was when I got pregnant. Slow and steady wins the race, right? But I did notice myself getting stronger and breathing easier during my workouts.
Okay, back to the traiathalon (more background history later), so any-who, I realized where does it was that you have to be a 110lbs to do a triathalon? Why can't I do it at (cough-cough) 230 pounds? Gosh darn it, I can do it!!!! I'm going to prove to myself that weight is just a number and that I am a strong women who can give those skinny b$&@! a run for their money.
So here I go training for my first sprint triathalon. 1/2 mile swim, 12 mile bike, 3.1 mile run. And blogging something both totally new to this stay-at-home mommy.
K, now that I laid done some back ground, funnier and inspirational blogs are to come.
Lord, give me strength!!!!
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