Swim Bike Mom

Here is an email I sent to the most inspiring blog - Swim Bike Mom http://www.swimbikemom.com/blog Meredith Atwood will be doing her first Ironman Coeur d’Alene. I am so excited for her! 

Good Morning!

I wanted to share my story with you - figured you'd giggle with me!

Last fall I got the bug to do a Triathlon.... however, I've been sitting on the couch doing nothing tipping 200lbs. I manage to loose a few pounds by the end of the Christmas Season but on January 1st, I signed up for the Tri 101 Training at our local Fleet Feet. http://www.fleetfeethuntsville.com/training/tri-101 . I had a couple months before the training officially started but that didn't really motivate me to do much exercise... sure I talked about it but didn't do much. This is when I was introduced to your website - A friend shared with me the 4 rules - http://www.swimbikemom.com/2012/11/four-rules-period.html- This inspired me to read your book and everything I could on your website. I was hooked to your journey. 

Fast Forward to Yesterday. I was a ball of nerves and ready to attempt my first Triathlon. I had been SOMEWHAT diligent at training but was no superhero. I'd lost 20lbs and was more proud of that than the actual Training for the Triathlon. I didn't sleep Friday Night but reminded myself I was going into this race without sabotaging myself... I was going to do it! Up Early and at the race. I couldn't eat anything. I was excited and nervous... did I mention I was nervous? Nervous. They called 15 minutes to race and I kicked of my flip flops and put them in my transition spot - proud I knew what a transition spot was! started walking to the pool and stubbed my toe on a curb. Seriously. OUCH. I immediately started to giggle and thought I would write you then - just to tell you I relate to the Swim. Bike. Mom. Klutz. thing.... But then it really started to hurt. 

The Swim was cold and tough. I forgot what I had trained to do and ended up doing some sort of back stroke and then a frog type swim to get me to the finish. I got out of the pool and ouch... running to transition hurt! biking was hurty but by mile 3 I was at least not so nervous and was doing what we trained! Transition to Run HURT Worse but I kept on... I quickly learned running hurt going up hill so I hatched a new plan... running down hill, walking up... And then, like that... it was over. I completed my first Triathlon! http://decaturtriclub.com/GreatEscape.aspx it might have been a baby one (200meter Swim 8mile Bike 2mile Run)... just a fetal heart beat in comparison to an Ironman, but it was my personal victory. I did it! 

For shits and giggles - here's a picture of my toe after the race, my awesome boot and of course, Me - Crossing the Finish Line. I fractured my toe. I have to baby it and wear the boot for the next 3-4 weeks.
I want to thank you for inspiring me! Girls of all sizes can do this thing! Even the ones that are in the Klutz Family! 

Keep it up! You have got this! Looking forward to stalking you at the Ironman. Please post your number so we can track you live. I'm so excited for you!

One of your many Cheerleaders, 

Sarah

The Big Toe In Your Life

This Big Toe Madness is ridiculous. Seriously. I'm frustrated. I'm sad. I'm having to look at my summer with new glasses (no water part fun for 3 weeks). Who knew your big toe is so important? Who knew that it would take a HUGE Boot to fix the problem?

This got my thinking about other "Big Toes" in my world that I take for granted. Um... The Garbage Man... he could be seen as the Big Toe of Society.. can you imagine if he didn't come and pick up trash once a  week? One day late and we suffer here. Policeman - um.. yeah... I appreciate what they do even if I don't interact with them  on a daily basis. ok.. SO there are a lot of "Big Toes" around. Please remember to give them a thank you next time you notice them.... Cause if they were broken or not around... you'd be unhappy!

Fractured Toe

Yup!

Doc Says it's Fractured. I have to baby it in a big boot for the next 3 weeks and then see if I can do the Triathlon! So what does this mean?
*Wear Boot
*Baby Foot
*No Running or acts that could rock or bend my toe.....
*I can weight train/strength train
*I can hang out with my kids
*I can spin with no resistance
*I can swim

So the Sprint Triathlon is up in the air but I can still work around the Toe/Boot. Yippee!

My Adventures Over Lap

I' m so proud of myself for finishing the Triathlon yesterday. While it was a little one in comparison, it was my challenge and I did it. I finished!  I have to thank y'all for voicing how you feel. The positive comments have made my weekend! Thanks for caring about me!

Now onto the Toe. It hurts but the inlaws came over, made lunch and watched the kids while I kept my foot up and napped. Scott found this book on my shelf and put it on my pillow. FUNNY.

Tomorrow my next adventure start. As y'all know, I have dabbled in Crossfit but I never commit. I'm not sure what it is but it scares me. Tomorrow I start a Crossfit bootcamp that I'm thrilled about. It runs MWF at 6-7am. I'm not sure how it works with my toe in it's condition but I can lift and row, just may not be able to run. Good thing Crossfit is all about scaling!

Official Rank... 7th in Age Group

More Pictures from The Great Escape

I Did It!

Many Titles swirled in my head but to sum it up- I Did It! I ran my first Triathlon and I'm super proud. I'll add my times when I get them from the hubs. My swimming was somewhere in the 7 minutes and my over all time was 1 hour 13 ish minutes. I Did It!

I didn't sleep last night. I was all nerves. Got out of bed at 4:30am, showered, we each got a kid ready, packed the remaining items and hit the road. It was only a 45 minute drive but apparently there are a lot of people on the road early morning Saturday... I had no idea. We get there after 6am and we are literally the first handful of people to arrive. I was really ok with that. I left the kids and Scott in the car, grabbed my gear and headed up to registration and transition area. EASY PEASY... except the chips were not ready yet. not a big deal... except when you are doing your first tri and all the details you expect to unfold smoothly don't. I sat on the edge of the pool and dipped my feet in (good thing I did - It was COLD!) Talked with others who were nervous. Went Potty and found out I wasn't the most nervous person there - someone was tossing their cookies in the bathroom... 

They told us 15 minutes to race, I kicked off my flip flops and started walking to the pool, except I didn't pick up my feet and rammed my toe into the curb. Um Ouch. I have to give to one of our coaches was deemed last place finisher. She stood in the back of the line with us and calmed our nerves (I was 141 out of 150 racers). Once we got to the starting line I was all nerves and lost my training memory. I jumped in holding my nose (I freaked myself out - we jumped in the deep end and I had practiced jumping shallow). I tried to get my rhythm with my freestyle but at some point I did the back stroke and a frog style move just to make it to the end. I took on a bunch of water and just couldn't pull myself together. The last lap was the best 'cause my cheering squat (Jerry & Jennie Corbin, Scott and the kids) were cheering me on. 

Transition 1 - My toe was throbbing and I was soaked. I dried off my feet, pulled my socks on, shoes and started walking my bike to transition. OUCH... once on the bike I got my groove. 

Bike - After mile 3, I had caught my breath and settled my nerves from the swim and just pedaled. It was hilly and I used every one of my gears. My left foot went numb... again... but it was my Right Toe that called my name. OUCH. 

Transition 2 - Stepping off my bike into Transition 2 was ouchy. When my shoe hit the ground I wanted to cry. I kept going and picked up my drink and started walking.

Run - This "brick" wasn't so bad because of the walk to transition. I started off running but it was up hill and I quickly learned going up hurt worse than going down... so that was my running rule. Run down, Walk up. It was a decently hilly course. I had put nuun tablet (yes - I have used them many time before) in my water and was craving it on the bike... well... lesson learned. electrolytes on bike ride (no breakfast + nerves = hungry once you get going on the bike) and water for the run. I saw some of my Tri 101 buddies out there givin' it their all and was so encouraged to see them out there. I watched other complete strangers going strong and it made me want to cheer them on! There are so many people out there who are my heroes! 

Crossing the finish line was an incredible feeling. I Did It. I made a Mountain into a Mole Hill. The goal is attainable. I could hear Lizzie and Scott cheer me on. When I finished Lizzie asked if she could race when she was older. 

When I got to transition area - I took off my sock. The evidence was there. OUCH.

Needless to say I'll be resting for the next couple days. Can't decide if it's worth seeing a doctor over. Lesson Learned... Pick up your feet when you are walking barefoot at a race!

I also learned you can do something even with pain.... yay me.

Did I mention I Did It? Swam 200m Biked 8miles Ran 2miles and live to tell the tale!