Will Race - Will Perform

I met with a personal trainer for the first time yesterday. DH and I won 2-free sessions at a silent auction several months back but had failed to use it until now. Today's meeting, however, was simply a sit down and get to know me... my goals, objectives, etc. We'll get to the real work next week.

He seemed optimistic that I could resume marathon training while addressing my issues with Plantars Faciitis. This made me very happy, as you can imagine.

The key thing I walked away with was that if I want to improve my running, I really need to run more than 3 days a week as I was doing previously. He said he'd like to see me run 5 days a week - quality days - a minimum of 4. He also said I should definitely incorporate strength training, to build a stronger core. In the later part of the marathon when my legs, hips and back are fatigued, I will need to pull strength from somewhere. I've known this all along, but have never stuck with it.

I'm strongly considering doing the Pacific Crest Olympic distance triathlon this June. If all goes well, then I think I might like to do Portland again. I have a swimming friend who is doing Portland for the first time - I don't know what his pace will be but having a buddy to run with could help dramatically. Portland is also very do-able in that it is relatively local and it is in October.

Let's hope everything falls into place.

Competition Builds Friendship

This weekend has been so much fun! For the first time ever, I competed in a swim meet, Oregon Masters Swimming Association Championships. I had only a vague idea of what to expect, having previously participated in only 2 all-comers meets. I was actually surprised by the number of swimmers!

The 3-day event began on Friday evening with just two events, the 400 yard IM and the 1650 yard freestyle. I was entered in the 1650. Having completed two postal events in the past few months (3000 yard postal in November and the 1 hr postal in January), I was confidant that I would be able to complete the distance. My goal was to exceed my seed time (predicted time) of 29:00.

I started off the block and wouldn't you know it, my goggles slipped off slightly. I tried adjusting them mid-swim but that didn't work so I stopped at the wall and made the necessary correction. From then on, I was pretty steady according to my teammates. I have a hard time getting the feel for my pace when I am swimming. I am pretty consistent running and can generally gauge my pace pretty well - but not in the water. I finished in 29:08.25 - good enough for 3rd place in my age group (note, however, there were only 3 entries in my age group). I felt so much better with the first swim behind me. I don't know why I had been so nervous.

I didn't compete on Saturday as we had a number of other obligations. One of which was the Sons of Norway social where I finally had the opportunity to get my picture taken with Priscilla Welch. She was inducted into the National Distance Running Hall of Fame in August. She holds several masters' women's records at a variety of distances, including the women's masters' marathon with a time of 2 hours, 26 minutes, 51 seconds.

Sunday morning, my girlfriend picked me up and we arrived at the meet early. One of the best parts of the weekend was getting an opportunity to meet Jeff of Oregon Adventures. I love how the internet brings people with shared passions together. Without my blog, Jeff and I would likely never have met otherwise. Having a buddy there made the event even more enjoyable.

I naively didn't sign up for many events on Sunday. In retrospect, I wish I had done the 500 yard freestyle - I'll know next time. As it was, as each event passed, my anxiety level grew. I was getting quite antsy so I opted to jump in and warm-up earlier than I initially planned. I was glad that I did - the events preceding mine (the 200 medley relays) went by much quicker than I had anticipated. Originally I thought I was going to compete in one ... but in the end 2 other swimmers had to scratch and coach had to pull our entry. Bummer.

My performance in the 100 yard back far exceeded my expectations. Based on my performance in the all-comers meet, I had predicted to finish in about 1:55. I spent a lot of time the past couple of weeks though working on my flip turns and I think it made all the difference. I nailed all 3 turns and finished in 1:38:56 (5th place of 6 entries) ... I was delighted! Thankfully, Jeff was there at the finish and helped to lift me out of the pool - I was just too tired to climb out on my own. As I swam in lane 5, I didn't have time to move to the side of the pool and the next heat was nearly on the blocks.

The best part of the entire weekend was the opportunity to watch my teammates swim and cheer everyone on in their respective events. It was fun to watch the elite swimmers - it is so amazing to watch their form and a good opportunity to learn where I can improve.

I'm looking forward now to competing in an open water event this summer and potentially a triathlon. We'll see how the calendar falls out when DH and I can sit down together.

Simple Woman's Daybook ~ Entry 2

Outside my window:

Blue skies

On my bedside table:
Square Foot Gardening by Mel Bartholomew

The Children's Blizzard by David Laskin

The Condition by Jennifer Haigh ... just finished last night

On my TV:
Read Between the Lions & Sesame Street (PBS)

On the teacher's desk:

Ancient Greece

Rocks & Minerals

Art Study: Leonardo Da Vinci

Poetry: Where the Sidewalk Ends

On the menu for tonight:
Hmmm, guess I should figure that out

On my To Do List:

spring cleaning - laundry room, school room

grocery shopping

bake cookies for Masters Championships

New recipe I tried last week:
sadly, I didn't try one

In the craft basket:
create a bunad for Sweetie

create a welcome wall plaque for a friend who is moving away (house warming)

do a little scrapbooking

Looking forward to:
Oregon Masters Swimming Championships this weekend

High Desert Intercultural Festival on Saturday

On my Prayer List:

Megan

Favorite Blog Post of the week (mine or other):

Donald's Happy Cows - nostalgia and laughs

Lesson learned the past few days:

Even deep friendships can have an undisclosed shelf life. That loyalty and affection, so consuming and powerful, can dissipate like fog.

There is an odd pleasure in confessing, a silent release.

Favorite photo from last week:

If you would like to take part in "The Simple Woman's Daybook", see the hostess Peggy, here.

An Evolution... of Sorts.

It has been a long time since I have blogged here. I haven't done a lot of running. I am still plagued with a sore right heel - plantars faciitis. It has prevented me from starting a new training plan. I've run only occasionally with a friend. A day here. A day there. A few miles. A few more.

Mostly, I have been swimming. Not any more than usual - generally just 2 days a week - though I am feeling as though I have made some huge improvements in my stroke. I have also learned how to do a flip turn (free and back) and though I don't always execute the turn properly, I know, at least, what I should have done.

It must be pretty amusing to watch my progression poolside. There have been numerous occasions when I got so disoriented that I discovered myself on the bottom of the pool! Last week, I was swimming in lane 3 (I normally swim in 2) and was making an effort to practice a flip turn at every wall. When practice was over, Scott (a swim mate in Lane 2) asked if I had lost my necklace. He could not figure out what I was doing submerged at the bottom so frequently. We had a good chuckle over that!

I've also become a little self-conscious. I started this blog as a means of documenting my training... a record of how I felt after particular workouts, etc. In reading the blogs of other runners and triathletes, I learned tips for hydration, overcoming injuries and racing. It has been a joy to read of the personal victories of others. To share in their enthusiasm. As the years progressed, the bloggers I have followed and those that follow me have become an extended family. We share a common passion.

I've come to learn, however, that people outside of my extended 'running/training' family - those that may know me in real life - look upon my blog as a means of self proselytizing. About a year ago, I received a rather snotty comment that prompted me to no longer allow anonymous comments. I don't recall the exact wording but essentially it stated that I should spend more time on my family... that I was essentially selfish.

I know I shouldn't let what others think bother me - but despite this - it hurt. At the time, I had my suspicions about who left the comment. I had a strong feeling, though I couldn't prove it, that the anonymous comment was left by a woman who called herself my friend. I suppose it doesn't really matter, but a few weeks ago, in a conversation with a mutual friend, my earlier suspicions were confirmed.

On a few other occasions, friends have made reference to my blogs, training, homeschooling endeavors, etc. to the point where I have felt uncomfortable. I'm still struggling with how to respond to these comments but all the while, I have pulled away from blogging. Then today, I discover that another runner/blogger that I've come to know has announced her retirement from blogging. When I read this, I immediately considered doing the same.

The more I contemplated it, however, I realized that I am not ready to do that. I enjoy the comraderie of sharing. I don't know many people personally that share my passion for running. Where else can I ramble on about my races to an audience that is truly interested in my fuel intake? What flavor gels I prefer? How I felt after my tempo run?

I need this forum. I need each of you.

OSN: 600m warm-up, 200m kicking w/fins, 8 x 25m back drill, 350m free, 250m free, 200m free , 100m free, and 100m back easy cool-down. Block start drill. 2000m total