Bike-funk

Last Friday I had the privilege of having a bike fit done at a fabulous local cycling store, Bloomington Cycle and Fitness. Ever since the end of last season, I had planned on getting aerobars installed on my road bike sometime this winter. I wanted to have some opportunities to try them out on the trainer prior to taking them out on the road. I put it off for much of the winter for a variety of reasons, namely laziness.

I finally got around to getting up to Bushwhacker in Peoria to purchase the aerobars earlier last week. I had a gift certificate I wanted to use, which is why I purchased them from a shop out of town. In addition to the aerobars, I purchased some new pedals and shoes. Aesthetically, in my opinion, the shoes are quite cute (as cute as cycling shoes could be anyway ;-)). Additionally, they are significantly better than my previous pair. What I had were definitely functional, but they were also quite large and clunky...they were a "walkable" cycle shoe. Plus, they were black and purple! The new ones are white and celeste...and match my bike perfectly. **"celeste" is the technical name of the kind of odd blue-green of my bike. I love it! One of the BCF guys taught me that when I dropped my bike off**. The new pedals are "road" pedals...and the new shoes have carbon soles and are quite narrow and sleek. They feel great on my feet!

I was very excited to work with Scott at BCF for my bike fit. He was patient, kind and very obviously knowledgable. It was neat to hear him talk about his profession as well; he has a clear passion for biking and helping cyclists, new and experienced alike, enjoy the sport and become better at it as well.

Scott spent a long time studying me as I pedaled and soon began making adjustments. I had absolutely NO idea just how many tiny adjustments could be made to a bike. Each adjustment he made, though, made noticeable changes in my comfort, posture and/or pedaling efficiency. I had a lot of fun during the fit; I found the process fascinating!

I was surprised by how comfortable I felt in the aero position (albeit in a stationary position on a trainer!). I had never ridden with aerobars prior to that day. Plus, you can't help but feel a bit cooler in aero...ha...dorky, but that's how I felt anyway.

Later that evening, I completed a 75-minute ride on my newly-fit bike on the trainer at my apartment. Honestly, I was surprised by how frustrated I quickly became. The shoes felt like the stiff leather was digging into the fronts of my feet. The saddle felt extra-high and my bum started getting extra-sore. It all just felt...awkward. I worried about the shoes...sure I liked the way they look, but if they dig into my feet who cares?! My forearms felt odd against the pads on the aerobars. I became grumpy and hated my bike for a while. For the life of me, I couldn't get my heart rate to get up to the higher zones as prescribed by my coach. It was quite frustrating.

Sunday, I rode again. This time, I rode for two hours on the trainer. The shoes started feeling more "broken-in" and I began to realize how much more smooth and efficient my legs were moving in the new pedals and shoes. I started to enjoy being in the aero position more and noted I was already able to tolerate it for longer periods of time than I was just two days prior. However, I still had to fight to get my heart rate up. I felt as if I was going to explode...I dripped sweat all over the black mat under my bike. I tried higher cadences and harder gears to no avail. For some reason, my heart rate fell short of my goals for the entire workout.

Monday (yesterday), I rode again...for 75 minutes. I had the same heart rate issue...the darn thing is just stuck beating in zone two while on the darn bike. Apparently I've forgotten how to work hard while on the bike. Sigh...I definitely feel as if I'm in a bike-funk.

Funk or not, I am looking forward to some REAL spring and summer weather (I specified "real" because we actually had a snow day here yesterday...never mind the fact that it's technically spring, based on the calendar!). I am eager to get on my bike outside. I'm nervous about all the changes...between the new pedals, shoes and aerobars...and about the fact that my saddle is significantly higher than it was previously. Actually, my feet won't even brush the ground when I'm up in my saddle if I extend my legs out of the pedals! Yikes. This feels significantly less "safe and secure" to me. Nervous or not, though, I can't wait to try out my newly-fit and moderately tricked-out bike on the open road.

Happy training!

Wardrobe malfunction

I haven't written much about swimming...likely because I don't really care for swimming.  I barely know enough about what I'm doing in the water to be able to say I semi-know how to swim.  I have ample room for improvement where swimming is concerned.

I will say...I've been working hard on my swimming technique since the end of November when I started working with my coach.  Since then, most weeks I've been in the pool 3-4 times.  I actually have started to feel stronger and more efficient in the water...and my confidence with swimming has grown as well.

This past week the university rec center's pool where I typically swim was closed thanks to spring break.  In addition, I was traveling much of that week.  As a result, before tonight, I hadn't been in the pool in over a week.  Eek!!

This morning I had to pack many things to take with me before I left the house...including a bag for yoga and a bag for swimming.  I typically don't have time to return home between work and workouts.  My plan this evening was to attend my usual Monday night yoga class after work at 5:30, head over to a family's home to teach two piano lessons, and then hurry to the rec center to get in the pool by 8:15 at the latest...the pool closes at 9 pm and I knew I needed around 45 minutes to get my prescribed 1700 yard swim/drills in.

By 8:05pm I was in the locker room changing into my swimsuit.  I was pumped to be trying out my cute new suit from Athleta.  This past weekend while shopping in DC with some girlfriends, I checked out the new tri collection in an Athleta store.  I was excited to find a colorful two-piece sporty swim suit to replace my tired and well-worn black Reebok two-piece.

After donning the suit and securing my hastily-written out workout in a clear plastic bag so I could easily view it beteeen laps, I realized my goggles weren't in their typical pocket of my swim bag.  I began to panic and dumped the contents of the bag onto the locker room floor. After a few moments of frantic searching, I remembered just where the goggles were:  in my suitcase on my bedroom floor.  I had packed them just in case I had access to a pool during my east coast trio this past weekend.  And...I typically carry two pairs of goggles so I have back-ups, however my backup pair recently suffered strap-breakage and were also in my apartment in hopes of being salvaged at some point.

I stared at the wall for a few moments, contemplating just going home.  I had already complete an hour yoga class this evening, thus successfully completing 66 consecutive days of workouts (getting closer to my goal of 100 each day!)....so I didn't really NEED this swim...right??  However, I ended up forcing myself to go out to the pool anyway.  Going another day without swimming when I'd already gone nine days without swimming didn't sound like a good idea.

I ventured out to the pool with a kick board and pull buoy and jumped into the second lane.  I gave myself a minute to mentally prepare for the irritation of swimming with chlorine constantly in my eyeballs, then pushed off from the wall swiftly with my legs.  Immediately, I felt as if the top of my swimming suit was inflating and being drawn to the bottom of the pool simultaneously.  I addition, the swimsuit bottoms flapped around my hips.  I panicked and stood up in the middle of the lane and walked back to the beginning of the lane, realizing my cute new suit was far too big.  Somehow, the thing expanded as soon as it got heavy with water.

When I got to the side of the pool again, I was able to tighten the tie waist on the bottoms quite a bit to secure them.  However, there wasn't much I could do about the top.  I decided to just go for it.  I was completing this workout, darn it all!!

I set out swimming a lap, careful not to kick off of the side as dramatically as I had the first time.  I kept my eyes closed under water, praying that my contacts would stay securely suctioned to my eyeballs thought the workout.  My eyes burned as I started opening them during breaths; I tried to sneak peeks when my eyes were above water to make sure I was swimming in relatively straight lines and not running into the lane dividers.  

I muscled through all 1700 yards of that workout with no goggles.  In addition, the entire time I swam,  I wondered/worried about the possibility that the male swimmer in the lane to my right a) thought I was a huge poser and/or b) had repeated shots of my chest as swimming suit top sagged toward the bottom of the pool.  

I did realize I had to concentrate much more on how my body FELT in the water tonight.  When most of my sight had been eliminated as a means for adjusting my stroke, I found myself working hard to make changes to how I was swimming based on how my body felt in the water.  I guess if something positive were to be identified from this experience, it would be that it challenged my body/position awareness.

I had never been as excited to get out of the pool as I was tonight.  On the agenda for tomorrow?  

1). Calling Athleta to see if they REALLY allow you to make returns/exchanges after you wear something (their catalog says you can!) and send my way-too-big suit back 

2). Ordering a second pair of goggles so I have a back-up pair in my swim bag!

Here's hoping I don't ever have a swim worse than tonight's! 

Happy swimming!

Joy

Yesterday some friends and I drove out to a cabin in a remote area of beautiful West Virginia. Truth be told, it's not the most gorgeous time of year for a trip to this area...no pretty green spring or summer foliage like that advertised on the website, no gorgeous snow covered trees. Instead, we were met with dead-looking trees still sleepy from winter and a blanket of dry, brown, crunchy leaves remaining from last fall covering the ground. But, the timing worked for us. And, there's beauty in the stillness and simple tranquility of this place. It's nice to be here...in these quiet moments.

Last night we arrived at our cabin around six pm. After unloading our car containing food, wine and shopping bags that were a telling statement of girls who did FAR too much big-city shopping in DC on Thursday, I hurriedly pulled on some running pants (I spent the day of travel and outlet mall shopping sporting workout shirts layered on top and jeans on the bottom, planning ahead for a quick-change run later) and headed out the door to explore our surroundings with a quick run before night fell.

I was a bit wary of running alone in this unfamiliar and fairly desolate area and was hyper-tuned-in to my surroundings. I didn't wear headphones so that I'd be able to hear anything (animals? Cars? People??) that happened to be around. I tend to default to mild paranoia when running alone in new areas...I've read/heard too many reports of jogger-abductions and my mother all-too-often warns me she doesn't want to see me end up on an episode of Dateline.

Four minutes into my run, I heard footsteps in the leaves to the right of my path. I slowed down significantly, wondering what in the heck I'd see come out of the woods. Seconds later, seven nervous deer sprinted and jumped across the road, feet in front of me. As their thick white tails bobbed further and further away my heart rate slowed a bit. After that I kept thinking I heard various wildlife in the trees, waiting to run out and scare the crap out of me.

I continued on my merry way and fought my way up and down the West Virginia hills. My IL legs definitely aren't used to hills like that!! It's really too bad that I forgot my heart rate monitor...I'm sure my short little run produced some significant heart rate spikes, between the dramatically rolling hills and the wildlife. Yeah....I'm a wimp.

I wrapped up my thirty-minute run right before darkness fell, feeling a bit wussy having run only thirty minutes. But...I reminded myself that I AM on vacation...so taking it a bit easy this weekend is really ok I guess. I can't help but feel guilty, though, for "slacking"! I joined my compadres in our cabin's hot tub and enjoyed half a glass of wine and some snacks. It was a pretty great evening.

This morning, Jillian and I got up before our other three weekend roommates and did a 35-minute run together. While I'm perfectly content running solo, I thoroughly enjoy running with good friends for some company, conversation and commiseration.

It was freeing to run this morning without worrying about distance or heart rate (I allowed myself the freedom from those thoughts here this weekend). It is so, so amazing to run for sheer enjoyment, for the sheer joy of moving and being alive and here, in this moment. I'm looking forward to getting home and back to the structure of life/work/real training (maybe I'm crazy...but I do thrive on structure)...and I can't help but let my mind wander to all of the tasks waiting for me at home. However, it's pretty great to be here for a break right now. As Tano, our ahhhhhmazing yoga instructor in DC Thursday morning reminded us during a particularly challenging pose, "We only have this moment; the next one isn't promised to us."

Today....relaxation. Tomorrow...back to reality.

takin' it on the road...

I'm currently traveling to the east coast with a group of girl friends for a little R & R.  I'm quite excited, even though it's a bit of a mental stretch for me to turn OFF my work laptop(s) and leave them behind.  A little vacation (hopefully) will be good for me!

I'm typing this post on my iPad in the "notes" app because I am too cheap to pay for the in-flight WiFi...I just plan to copy/paste into Blogger upon my arrival.  Ha!

Currently, I am on a streak of consecutive days of completed workouts...sixty-one days during which  I've completed at least one workout per day.  My goal is to reach one-hundred consecutive days of completed workouts.  My biggest "requirement" for myself in this quest is that I cannot cheat...a "workout" must consist of 30+ minutes of physical activity.  My shortest workout during that sixty-one day streak has been 40 minutes (on the treadmill) and time spent working out in one day goes up to 4+ hours after that.  The average (my rough and un-scientific estimation) is probably 1.25 hours on a given day.

I enjoy goals, whether they be self-inflicted or imposed by others...parents, teachers, bosses, co-workers.  I have a somewhat obsessive personality and can get almost "addicted" to the acts necessary to carry out for completion of the goals I'm working toward.  Yes, working out for one-hundred (and, I dare say, one-hundred PLUS ;-)) consecutive days is quite an undertaking...and has proven to be a challenge at times, however I'm truly having fun trying to meet my goal.  Additionally, I've had to get a little creative at times so that I could complete a requisite workout on especially busy days.

I have a busy, active life (like most people who are close to me!) and juggling workouts in the midst of other responsibilities (may multiple demanding jobs, for example!) is definitely a challenge.  However, I have made working out a priority for a number of years now...it has simply been something that wasn't necessarily a "choice" and was something that I HAD to do most days.  I get irked when people scoff at me saying things such as, "must be nice to have that kind of time," "I'd work out too...if I didn't have:  so much to do at work...or kids...or x, y, or z."  The fact is...we all have the same 24 hours in a day.  Sure, some of us may have more (or less) responsibilities than others...but in most situations what we do in a day boils down to personal choices and priorities.  I've made my share of lifestyle changes to ensure I have time to complete my workouts....getting up earlier, staying up later, seldom sitting down in front of the TV to just "veg", hurrying over to the gym over my lunch break during many work days to cram in a workout.  Ok...I'm stepping OFF of my soapbox now ;-)...

Even prior to this one-hundred day goal, I've had to get creative at times to fit in my workouts.  I've gotten lost in North Carolina and ended up in the middle of a summer camp when trying to drive to a YMCA to swim some laps while on a trip for work (I ended up giving up and going shopping...there was a Lulu nearby!!;-)).  I've researched and attended yoga classes in a variety of cities while traveling.  I've attempted to swim "laps" in tiny hotel pools...once in the rain in an outdoor pool.  I've run on countless treadmills in a variety of locations:  in friends' homes, in my apartment complex mini-"gym", at the student rec center where I work, and most recently I borrowed my sister's gym code to use a treadmill at the center she uses to work out (shhh!).  I've done yoga and crunches and (wimpy) push-ups on hotel room floors, in my living room and next to my bed.  I've spun countless "miles" on my bike attached to my trusty trainer in my living room as well as dragged the whole bike/gear/trainer mess to friends' homes and cycle shops for group rides.  I've taken spinning classes at three gyms in my town and some while traveling as well.  And, I always, ALWAYS bring my running shoes with me wherever I'm going.  

One of my favorite things to do while traveling is to explore the locale on my feet.  Sometimes I get a LITTLE nervous running alone outside in unfamiliar areas and may default to an indoor treadmill...but I love to run outdoors whenever I am traveling with friends/family (or when I feel comfortable/safe enough solo).  My favorite (non-race) runs to date include:

-Triangle, Virginia with my sister and now sister-in-law...we traveled East for my brother's graduation from Marine Officer Training School a few years ago and stayed near the Marine Corps Quantico base.  We went on a number of runs in a beautiful nearby state park, despite my mother's pleas to stay closer to the hotel because she didn't want is to "end up on Dateline"

-Phoenix, Arizona...I ran along a beautiful reservoir in the stifling spring morning heat...THAT was a sweaty run!!!

-Hawaii...I ran around the resort I stayed at as well as along part of the Kona bike course

-San Diego...the afternoon prior to my seventh marathon this past December, my brother took me on a run through a forest preserve near his apartment...gorgeous and HILLY!

I've been blessed with some pretty amazing friends and family members, as well as co-workers/colleagues  who are being quite supportive of my Ironman training.  It's fun to field questions from people curious about my latest training endeavors or upcoming races/events.  In addition, I've received a number of kind texts, calls and cards each bearing well-wishes pertaining specifically to my training.  I am fully aware that most of my friends/family don't understand what I'm doing or why I'm doing it...and likely find me crazy...which is okay!  I don't expect non-triathletes to "get it" :-). I am, though, grateful for the love and support I've received along the way.  Most recently, when visiting my friend Brooke she gifted me with some fun treats...a bag of goodies from a shop near her town that sells hand-made soaps!  She gave me a delightfully-scented bar of soap designed to take the chlorine smell off of the skin post-swimming!  Additionally, I received two yummy lip glosses and some bath salts to soak my tired muscles!  In her words, " I wanted to get you something for running or biking or swimming, but I don't know much about what you need for those things!"  Brooke, the gift is perfect...and those lip glosses will be AWESOME to pack during long summer bike rides (I LOATHE it when my lips get chapped from the wind/sun while biking!).

Tomorrow, Day 1 of our mini-vacation, some of us have plans to attend a 90-minute hot yoga class near where we are staying.  In addition, my tri coach has prescribed a 30-minute "easy" run for me to complete tomorrow.  I'm hoping to take it outside for this run...but if it doesn't seem feasible, there's a fitness center complete with treadmills that I will have access to.  Tomorrow it should be a breeze to complete day sixty-two!

Friday, Saturday and Sunday we will be traveling to a more remote, mountainous area...I am excited!  I'm hoping to take some scenic, LONG outdoor runs...perhaps some with my trusty compadre and fellow traveler Jillian by my side.  I'm also hoping the pool near where we are staying is long enough to get in at least a mediocre pool workout.  Swimming is definitely my current weakest of the three events in triathon...and I haven't swam since Friday!  I definitely need to get back in the pool and keep progressing in my abilities in the water.

It will definitely take some planning, flexibility and creativity to make it all happen...but I am determined to return home from this little mini-vacay with sixty-five days under my belt!

Happy training, all!

~Rachel Lynn

home

Currently I am in the midst of enjoying a rare week off...from each of my jobs (but not, of course, from tri training!).  It's "spring break" for the elementary school where I work full-time and I took time off from my other places of employment as well to enjoy a week completely off from most job responsibilities.  I do have a few work-related tasks to tend to this week, but I will be completing these remotely from my laptop and will not set foot in either of my offices until next week.  It feels unsettling...but good.

Weeks ago, I made plans with my sister to drive up to the Quad Cities, where she lives with her husband and their baby, yesterday (Sunday) and offered to babysit their sweet daughter today (Monday) to help them avoid childcare costs for one day.  Naturally, my kind offer was self-serving as well...I was MORE than happy to spend an entire day with my sweet niece!  We also made plans with our parents to meet up for dinner to celebrate some family birthdays, which we did tonight at one of my family's favorite restaurants.

During each of my trips to the Quad Cities...as soon as I see signs for the John Deere Road, 53rd Street or Brady Street exits...I feel instantly "better".  There's no other way to describe it...other than I just feel like I am "home."

I know "home" can be anywhere you make it...whether it's where a majority of your loved ones are, where your heart is, or where your soul feels most at rest.  For me..."home" is the Quad Cities.  I guess it's because most of my major life-milestones originate in or bring me back to the Quad City vicinity.  I was born outside of the Quad Cities, in Morrison, IL.  I grew up not far from Davenport, in Clinton, Iowa.  When I was 5, we moved to the Rockford, IL area but still made frequent sojourns back to the Quad City area to visit family here.  I moved back in 2001 when I started my undergraduate work at Augustana in Rock Island.  My family "followed" me when my dad got a job at John Deere that same year.

I started college here.  Fell in love.  Changed my major a number of times.  Found my true vocation.  Forged some true and lasting friendships.  Made some superficial friends.  Endured heartbreak, confusion, doubt and fear...along with joy, happiness and delight.  Performed with the Augustana Symphonic Band in many different cities, states...and in England.  Learned how to make my own oboe reeds (seriously).  Consumed copious amounts of Whitey's Ice Cream and Rudy's Tacos.  Drank my first beer.  Here, after four years of various academic and social challenges, I was handed a diploma signifying I had earned my Bachelor of Arts degree.  Here, I said wedding vows and celebrated my marriage with family and close friends on a beautiful September day.  Here, I told my sister about my then-upcoming divorce, over coffee at a Starbucks on a rainy November day.  She was the first of my family members I shared the news with.  Each time I pass that Starbucks, I remember her tears.

And...here is where I first laced up my running shoes, inspired and encouraged by my dear sister Megan (still my favorite running partner).  She urged me to join her for the Maple City 4, a four-mile race through the streets of our parents' hometown, Geneseo, in 2003.  At the age of 20, this was my first road race that was longer than a mile (during high school I ran the State Street Mile twice in the Rockford area).  I ran the race in 33:53 at a pace of 8:28.  I had absolutely no idea what I was doing, but had a decently fun time.  Not a bad showing for my first race, looking back!

Later that summer, I ran my second race:  the Firecracker 5k on the 4th of July in Moline.  I managed to finish this is 25:43, which I think is quite decent considering the fact that I still had no idea what I was doing.   My third race was the Bix 7 in Davenport the following summer, in 2004.  The Bix 7 is a 7-mile road race through the hilly streets of Davenport and Bettendorf, Iowa at the end of July.  This is a HOT and challenging race that draws a field of 15,000+ runners.  Thousands of spectators line the streets, some offering up ice cubes, grapes, candy or other items of refreshment.  Some even set up sprinklers in their yards and have the water pointed toward the street, inviting runners to enjoy a bit of cool relief as they pass.  It has become one of my favorite parts of each summer...and I have run this race every year since 2004.  This year will be my tenth Bix! 

In 2009 I ran the half marathon at the Quad Cities Marathon (held each year at the end of September) while my sister ran the full marathon event.  The course is set up so that the half and full courses actually share the same route for the first 8+ miles, so I was able to run with Megan until the courses split.  It was amazing to watch her cross the finish line of this race... her FIRST marathon just under two hours after I finished my half.  I was registered to run my own first full marathon just two weeks later in Chicago and watching my sister victoriously cross that finish line gave me the inspiration and strength I would need to finish my big race.

I ran the full marathon event at the Quad Cities Marathon in both 2010 and 2011.  In 2011 I set my current marathon PR...3:49:46.  That was a tough, tough race.  Until mile 20, I had my sights set on a 3:40 finish.  My time at mile 20 was 2:49.  I should have been able to hold tight to my pace and finish those final 6.2 miles in ~50 minutes.  But...a torrential downpour began and I gave up.  I didn't have it in me to push hard for that final 10k.  Still, I was (and am!) proud of that finish time.  Someday I hope to do better...but for now, the Quad Cities Marathon is home of my marathon PR!

I've run countless miles in the Quad City area...the streets of Moline, Rock Island, Davenport and Bettendorf all silently bear my footprints.  I've run along the beautiful Mississippi.  I've run over Centennial Bridge, the 74 Bridge and, my personal favorite to run over, The Arsenal Bridge.  I've run on Arsenal Island and on Route 74.  On Christmas Day in 2011, I ran 22 miles along the Hennepin Canal in Geneseo by myself just because I wanted to.  That run still stands out in my memory as one of my favorites of all time.  I've run late at night and I've run in the early morning, witnessing drunks stumbling home at 6am from the previous evening's festivities.  I've run by myself, I've run with my sister and I've run with other friends.  I've run many, many miles here...and I know I will complete many more.

And now...I have a big reason to feel my heart tugged to this area.  This big reason is wrapped up in a small package:  my 3.5 month old niece.  My sister gave birth to my first niece last November and my entire family is in love.  I've heard that babies change everything, and while I haven't had the opportunity to experience that for myself, it's been fascinating to watch the changes in my sister and brother in law as their lives as parents take off.  I love this sweet girl more than I can fittingly describe and eagerly anticipate sharing milestones of her life, whether they be here in the Quad Cities or elsewhere.

My ties to the Quad Cities are strong...not only is this where my family physically currently resides, but many factors that have made me who I am stem from this area.  Maybe I will never again live here full-time, or perhaps I will someday.  Regardless, I am thankful for this place that has shaped and inspired me.  I know I will return often.  And, I know that I will continue to feel that familiar tinge of sadness every time I drive away.

There's a certain bittersweetness I taste during each visit as well.  Tonight at dinner, I recalled my wedding rehearsal dinner that took place in the private room next to the table where my family dined.  That event took place over five years ago and I don't know if anyone else at the table gave it a single thought tonight, but I did.  The college campus and cities I love hold not just memories of classes and parties and lectures and reading and graduate school applications and a diploma, training and sweating and stumbling and races, but also memories of shattered dreams and broken wedding vows.  Still, each time I come back I draw a bit more strength from my experiences here.  Many things have changed for me personally over the years, but many things remain the same. 

My parents have instilled in me many things, but namely these three: a deep-rooted love for family, faith in God, and a strong work ethic.  I have a lot of growing to do in each of these areas...but I know those three things will carry me through the next chapters of my life, wherever they may be written.