Race Schedule and Results

Thursday, September 27, 2007

Feeling like myself again

Since Sunday, I haven't really been feeling like myself. Tom noticed. I've been down, tired, nauseous sore. We've talked a lot about it and I think I'm just coming off an emotional hang over. Really... I've cried a lot, been happy, been sad, been scared, been proud, etc. Quite frankly, I've been all over the place. I've taken 3 days off from working out - probably the most that I've taken in a long time, but I think I needed it! Although the scale proves that even three days off can throw me into a loop. I'm up this week - 147.0 to be exact. I'm a little bummed, but I know I'm an emotional eater and well... I've been emotional! :) That's just a fact of life. But like my title to this post says, I feel like myself again and am looking forward to my workout today which will get me back on track!

Oh, and I heard a great quote today that I'm going to remember... NOTHING TASTES AS GOOD AS SKINNY FEELS

On an unrelated note, here are a few pictures from Sunday's race-

Tom and I before the race, just heading to the water.
Janet and Jay came to the race, but kept busy on their bikes. Mom, dad, and Kristen were awesome enough to just sit and wait for us to come by. I know they were bored, but we really appreciated them being there.
This is me at T2. Isn't she a beauty (my bike... not me!)
My rockstar hubby finishing with a PR and a 1st place!

Monday, September 24, 2007

I'm a half iron woman

I know that I have the intention to keep this a weight loss blog, but I wanted to give everyone a race report and this seemed like a pretty good place to do it! So yesterday was the Toyota Challenge Half Ironman. It was by far the most difficult event I have EVER participated in. Here's my recap...

I guess I should start by saying that I was a nervous wreck all last week - not eating, feeling nauseous, crying at the drop of a hat... tons of fun for my poor Tom! :) We went to the park on Saturday to get our gear and swim the lake. I was really worried about the distance and the water was really rough last year making the swim miserable for me. I think I had that in the back of my mind. We got there about 1:00pm and went to the water. It was really rough again. Tom and I decided to swim just one lap of the rectabgle course (Sunday I'd be swiming 2). We got about 1/2 of the way done and Tom stopped to tell me that it was too rough for him and that he was wasting more energy than he thought we needed too. So much for me being comfortable about the swim! We left, met mom and dad at the resort which is where we spent Saturday evening. We had a great time that night, a couple of nervous breakdowns for me, but a good night.

Sunday morning came early, but Tom and I had done most of the prep for the race ahead of time so we pretty much dressed, ate and left. When we got to the start area, it was hopping, and our assigned racks were already filled. We decided to venture to the overdraft rack and noone was there! YEAH! So we were able to rack together, at the end by the fence so mom and dad could be right next to us during transition. I was feeling good at this point - I guess because I've been there enough times to know that others where feeling the exact same way I was.The race was supposed to start at 8:30 (our waves didn't go until 9:04 and 9:06) so we wandered down to the beach with mom and dad around 8:40. The water was glass. I couldn't be happier! I knew that the swim wasn't going to be so terrible. Tom and I got our wetsuits on, got in the water for a bit and then watched as the race started (it was late in starting, but we've learned that's not really anything new in the world of triathlon!) Janet and Jay got met us about 5 minutes before our waves and I got real nervous again. What had I gotten myself into?

Swim-
I seated myself in the back of my wave knowing that I'm most comfortable back there. After one last wave to Tom and the family, I was off. I felt great and got into my rhythm very quickly. THe water was wonderful - not too cold and very calm so I was relaxed from the start. I had a few people swim over me and grab me, but it wasn't horrible. Almost 1/2 way through the race someone grabbed my leg on a turn. I kicked them pretty hard trying to get them off of me. About 3 seconds later the person was around me and I look up to see it was Tom. He waved and I later found out that he didn't mean to crab me at all and apologized. He didn't know that it was me until he had already passed. So it was a 2 lap course, 1.2 miles and my swim time including the long run up the hill to transition was 41:54. I was pleased, as I had been aiming for 45:00.

T1 -
No problems here. Mom and dad were right next to me. I dried off a little, grabbed my helmet and shoes, stuffed some jelly beans in my bag as was off. T1 time - 2:23

Bike -
The bike was a 3 look course and I had ridden most of it last year. I say most because the half has an extra 6 mile loop added to it which Tom told me about. The first lap when great. Right as I was leaving the park I saw a familiar car and realized it was Kristen! She had come to see us and was told she couldn't get into the park! It was awesome knowing she was there!!! There are some bigger hills toward the end of each lap and I felt great climbing. I was ahead of my time and even saw Tom on part of the course and he smiled knowing that I had a good swim and was feeling good on the bike. Right before I went into the park to do my turn around, I decided I should eat part of my PB&J sandwich. I took it out, ate 1/4 of it and then dropped the bag. Not good as I know that would be very important to me. I come to the turn around with mom, dad and Kristen there and tell them about my sandwich, laughing saying that I need to go pick it up. ON the way out, I saw the bag and did indeed stop. Good thing because I ended up eating the whole thing! The second and third lap were pretty uneventful, except the wind started really picking up and that made my times each lap a little longer. I started to get kind of broed with the course by about mile 50 and was glad when it was done! so 56 miles and I averaged 17.4 mph - 3:13:25 - not too bad fr the wind and the hills!

T2 -
Came in quickly, changed shoes, put my race number on, grabbed two packs of beans and was off. T2 time was 1:57.

Run -
Now the fun started. I really had to use the bathroom right at the start of the run. Luckily there were porta johns waiting. I was happy with this, kowing that I had drank enough on the bike. Mom, dad and Kristen cheered me off as I started the first 6.55 mile lap. I felt like I had a bad case of triathlon legs, but knew that they would quickly go away. The first mile came and with the potty break, I was at 10 minutes. I thought, "this is great, although I need to watch my speed or I'll die at the end". I was feeling good. The day had gotten REALLY hot and the sun was blasating down. For some reason, all of the wind that we had felt on the bike was nowhere to be found on the run. I couldn't really get my body cooled and I started feeling myself slow down around mile 4. I knew that it was going to be a long day. I saw everyone at the turn around point but had started feeling pretty bad. I walked through the aid station with them there and at a pack of beans. I was extremely salty, but drinking water and Infinite at each aid statation. I was still worried that I was losing too much salt for the day. The second lap was horrible. I was barely shuffling along and could feel that my IT was tight - I knew I had puched my gears on the bike and I shouldn't have. I saw Tom at mile 7. He looked great and was on his last mile. He was going to PR. He asked how I was doing and stupidly I burst into tears. I can't lie to him and I was feeling pretty miserable. He kept apologizing thinking that it was his fault that I signed up for the race and I finally said that I'd be fine and would just be run/walking the rest. That lasted about another 2 miles. Then I just started walking. I couldn't drink anything because I was so bloated. I knew that the water and electrolyts that I had drank were just sitting in my stomach. I started to cramp pretty bad. And it was so hot. The walk was horribly slow, but at that point, everyone around me was walking too. At about 12.5 miles, I thought that I might pass out. At this point I hadn't drank for about 4 miles, and was having a hard time catching my breath. I'm sure that had something to do with wanting to cry, but I just kept saying "only another 1/2 mile!!!". I knew that I was way off from my time goal of 6:30 and I didn't even care. I came into the park with Tom, Janet, Jay, Kristen, Mom and Dad cheering me on. I shuffled o the finish shoot, burst out in tears and was done! Final time, 6:55:44.

The lady to take my chip came up and was concerned because I wasn't sweating at all. After volunteering at IM Louisville, I knew to tell her that I hadn't drank anything in about an hour. She immediately got the medics to my side. They checked my vitals and kind of kept an eye on me, but I was able to get a bottle of water down and sitting felt great. Everyone was so proud of me, but all I could do was cry. I was so happy that it was over!!! :) And I wasn't mad at my time. I wasn't even remotly disappointed. It was the hardest race I had ever done and I'm glad that I can say I did it. I know that I had a bad day and that it had nothing to do with my fitness level, but I learned that I'm not into long distance racing and the only way I was going to learn this was to try it. Tom still keeps apologizing and I keep telling him that I'm so happy I did the race because I know I don't want to do another! :) He did great though - had a PR time of 5:35 and came in first by a long shot in his division (and yes, this time there were more people in his age group!). He was so excited, although I think that was muted slightly by his worries of me! God love him!

So today we're taking it easy. It's Tom's b-day and I think we might fill orders and then take the day off. I'm pretty sore, and very sunburnt so I'm looking forward to just doing nothing! Maybe we'll go shop - retail therapy always does a woman's soul some good!

Wednesday, September 19, 2007

Muffin Tops

I used to like Muffin Tops. Panera carries them and the pumpkin one that's sprinkled in powder sugar was to die for. I'm sure it's a total no-no in the world of eating healthy and thus, I avoid them now. But it's always the best part of the muffin. Isn't that what you always eat first when you have a muffin sitting in front of you? As I strive to lose weight, I've learned a new meaning for the terms "muffin top" and I will strive to NEVER have one! :) For those of you that might be a little "slang-illiterate" here's to you:

Muffin-top (or muffin-top girl) is a generally pejorative, slang term used for a person, usually female, whose flabby midsection spills over the waistline of his or her pants in a manner that resembles the top of a muffin spilling over its casing. This generally occurs when an individual wears low-rise or hip-hugger pants and midriff-baring tops. In an attempt to avoid this, manufacturers have re-introduced mid-rise jeans, which come up higher on the waist and eliminate the "muffin-top". Mid-rise jeans have proven popular across North America, and manufacturers have also introduced new styles of high-rise jeans. However, the muffin-top is not exclusive to low-rise jeans. Any jeans that are too tight at the waist can cause a muffin-top. In addition, low-rise jeans of the right size usually will not create a muffin-top, but they may slip down. Muffin-top originated as Australian slang in mid-2003, but has since become popular in other English-speaking countries. It may have been first popularized by the Australian television show Kath & Kim. Australia's Macquarie Dictionary named "muffin-top" the word of the year in 2006; the American Dialect Society named it one of the "most creative" new terms that same year. Muffin-top was earlier used in a different sense (the best part of the muffin) on an episode of the American television show Seinfeld. The character of Jenna Maroney from the sitcom 30 Rock has a hit dance song called "Muffin-top". An additional derivation is "Split Top Muffin" to describe seeing the "muffin-top" from behind with the jeans so low as to expose the top of the gluteal ridge. (from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muffin_top)

And the fact that the term "gluteal ridge" is used in this official definition just adds to my liking.Maybe this weekend when I make some low fat blueberry muffins, I will not feel guilty splurging on that muffin top. By my quest for a muffin top stops there! :)

Monday, September 17, 2007

The test of time

Next week at this time I hope to have a half Ironman under my belt. The idea to do a half started last winter. I stewed over the idea for a while and then with a lot of consideration and talk with Tom, we decided that I should just enjoy myself and race short races this year. Yeah, I'm signed up... so how did that happen you ask? Well, after completing at least 75% of Tom's Ironman training, I've decided I'm there anyway, why not try it. So Sunday it is - 1.2 mile swim, 56 mile bike, 13.1 mile run and hopefully a smile when I'm done. That's my goal after all. And of course that means that I might be able to splurge a bit for dinner that night. After all, I'll be working out for like six and a half hours. That constitutes some sort of cheating for the day right?

Another highlight this week is going to be the Delaware County Fair. The BIGGEST week here in little ole' Delaware. I think we'll go tomorrow, walk through the 4H club barns to see the animals that the kids raised (they actually get off school for the fair to show their animals which is still funny to me after living here 3 years!), then plop ourselves down at the race track and bet on some horses. Oh, that and try to keep any food down that we've previously eaten in the day as the smell of pepperoni on a stick or fried cheesecake on a stick waft through the air. In Delaware, they can put ANYTHING on a stick and people will come flocking. Although that's half the fun... watching them flock. The joys of living in a small farm town!

Thursday, September 13, 2007

Already seeing the difference

I meant to get on the scale yesterday and got a bit sidetracked. That's the first time in a long time when I've actually WANTED to get on the scale and didn't. :) So I got on today to see how my last week went. To my surprise, my weight was 145.4. That's a big loss. I have been working really hard on my portions and my training has really been tough. I'm happy. I don't feel like I'm dehydrated which I know can cause false readings. So there... I'm being accountable and I'm lost 3.8 pounds. I'm happy...

Life is good. Tom and I have been training really hard for our triathlon next week. It'll be my first half Ironman and I'm not ashamed to say that I'm a bit nervous. It's the longest total workout that I've done. A 1.2 mile swim, a 56 mile bike and a 13.1 mile run. I know it'll be a gut check for me. Luckily Tom will be racing as well. Mom and dad are going to be there which will be nice (as long as it's not muddy!). And I'm just going to take it one event at a time. But until then, I will just continue with my crazy training partner. I love him!

Tuesday, September 11, 2007

My new dinnerware

I went to Target to find my three section plates. I looked in the kids department thinking that I would have to compromise and get a Dora the Explorer plate or something to find one with three compartments. I struck gold!!! On a clearance rack, they had a plethora of big girl plates that were separated and had no characters on them. Kind of boring, but just what I was looking for. Here they are...


Very exciting, I know! The way it'll work is that I'll fill the biggest part of the plate with my veggies. In one of the small portions will be my lean meat and the other will be a grain. I figure this way I'll make sure I get a good size serving of veggies, less of the stuff I don't need, but still enough to make me satisfied!!!


On a side note that is nothing related to weightloss, Spence and Em were in town (Tonia and Richard too of course) for the past two weeks. We had a great time with them and enjoyed celebrating their first birthday a little early. Here are my cuties:





Friday, September 7, 2007

I like to ride my bicycle

So Tom and I decided to go for a long ride today in preparation for for his upcoming Ironman and my upcoming half Ironman. I opted for the 84 mile route, while he added a few 30 or so to the end of it. Mom called while I was out and being the savy bike rider that I am, I talked to her while coasting along a back road. Her response to our distance choice was simple... just one word - "WHY?" We get asked that a lot and the best asnwer we can ever give is "Because we can, that's why". As if the distance wasn't dreadful enough, we pick a day that is 91 degrees and has winds upward of 19 mph. It was a blast... let me tell you! :) We did come to the conclusion though that our ride conversations would probably be funny if they were taped and we listened to them at a later time. They would go something like this:

(A jeep passes with 4 yellow smiley face lights on the top)
Colleen: "What are those stupid smiley faces for?"
Tom: "They are light covers."
Colleen: "Well that's retarded"
Tom: (laughing) "I can see you and you sister on long car rides now, pointing all the dumb things out, while your mom and dad sit in the front and enjoy the scenery."
Colleen: "What does that have to do with stupid lights on jeeps with smiley faces"
Tom: "I dunno"

or

Tom: "You are covered in salt"
Colleen: "Yep, I'm a human salt stick. I should lick my arms during a race to replenish the salt I lose. I could be like a cat - just call me Catwoman!"
Tom: "I have a better idea, attach a funnel to your head and every once in a while pour water over your head and have the funnel go straight into your water bottle and then just re-drink the salt you are losing."
Colleen: " I would have to be careful not to fart though because that would contaminate my water"
Tom: "Why do you always try to ruin my good ideas"


See... long rides are good for the body, but even better for Tom and I to clear our minds of the pointless thoughts that fog our brains. After 84 miles, I have a clear brain and feel so good about myself... I call that a successful day!

Wednesday, September 5, 2007

My name is Colleen...

And I have accountability issues. There, I've said it. I have a wonderful family who supports me, friends who would be there at the drop of the hat, and a husband who puts every other husband in the world to shame. You'd think I would be accountable to someone right? Yeah, not the case. So I start this blog. After tears shed (too many to count), endless days of frustration and the final straw, admitting to Tom that *gasp* it's actually my fault that I've reached the weight I have, maybe I will have some accountability with random people I don't know, and those that I'm brave enough to share this with whom I do know.

I guess there shouldn't have been any surprises or "Eee gads and little fishies" (that's a direct quote from my grandmother) when I stepped on the scale this morning. I needed a starting point. Oh I got a starting point for sure... and people always tell me that it's easier to lose when you have more. Maybe that's why I've been eating so much lately... to make losing higher numbers easier (see... there's the accountability issue coming to a front!). Anyway, it wasn't a pretty sight, but I will admit it for all to see. And who says I can't be accountable.

So for everyone who laughs when I complain about my weight (yes mom and dad, Tom, Jill and everyone else) here are my stats and maybe a few goals.

As of today, September 5, 2007:
Height: 5'7"
Weight: 149.2
BF%: 27.9
BMI: 23.3


My goals:
1. drop 15 pounds (I know, how many people are going to write and tell me I'm crazy... whatever people! You don't have to look at me in the mirror!)

2. drop my body fat % by at 5%. I'm a muscular girl... I can do it.

3. Start eating off a kids place (you know the ones I'm talking about... the three section ones that I grew up eating off of and now have a huge complex about my food touching because of... yeah, I'm getting me one of them!)

4. Look at myself and be proud, because I can't do that now.

Wish me luck!