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Ironman Maryland 2015 Race Report

Posted by ookgirl on November 5, 2015

Posted in: Ironman, Ironman Maryland, Maryland. Tagged: #immaryland, #IMMD, #lordhuron, #pathetic, #rockyvotolato, #ryanadams, #vancejoy, #xavierrudd, Cambridge, triathlon. 4 Comments

Photos in this post either purchased from Finisher Pix or provided by friends Jon, Terese, and Randy. THANKS!

The lights will draw you in 
And the dark will bring you down 
And the night will break your heart 
Only if you're lucky now.
-Ryan Adams

One of my favorite lines from a humorous Ironman Maryland 2015 race report that I read on Facebook was about how it was on the run that author realized the city of Cambridge, MD did not believe in outdoor electricity. I was thinking the same thing as I was completing the run portion of the race. While I started the run in the daylight, it wasn’t long before it got dark, and you could hardly see anything in between aid stations. There were very few streetlights. If I were faster, and the race hadn’t been postponed to later in October, perhaps I wouldn’t have had to worry about running so much of it in the dark. But it was all good, and I enjoyed every minute of it. Despite the lack of lighting (which is really my only complaint about the race), there was such a great vibe around this race! We were all so happy just to be there! Here’s why…

With our “sherpas” on race morning.

For me, there are a few reasons why this race felt so wonderful even though I didn’t break a personal record (PR) or anything. Mostly it had to do with the camaraderie and the fact that I got to see so many people I knew on the race course. One thing that I did on this race that I hadn’t done before is join the Facebook group associated with the race. What I loved about being part of that group is probably true for every race’s FB group. But in this case, I think the group had a lot going for it, because it was there that we learned that (a) The race had been canceled due to an approaching hurricane, and (b) The race director (Gerry Boyle) was going to do everything he could to get the race postponed to two weeks later. And he did! This was a testament to him, the city of Cambridge, and the Ironman organization (at least in this case). Gerry Boyle became so famous for his efforts that people sought him out and were excited to take selfies with him when we finally got to actually do the race.

To understand how significant this is, you have to realize that the Ironman organization had never rescheduled a race once it had been canceled. All those people who had spent tons of money to sign up for a race, train for a race, and travel to the race site, typically just had to accept that the race they planned for had been canceled. They could do another race, but they couldn’t do the race they had been imagining. (Even Ironman Melbourne, which is the Asia-Pacific Championship race, was recently canceled due to scheduling conflicts with another event, and they aren’t rescheduling it–even though it wasn’t supposed to happen until March 2016. So, if they can’t reschedule, it’s amazing that Ironman Maryland was able to!)

There were still people who had come from as far away as Australia, only to find out the race had been canceled and could not return on the new date. On the FB page, we all witnessed their disappointment and thanked them for coming, encouraging them to try to come back next year. My husband and I were lucky, because we live in Maryland. But it was cool to see how many people *did* come back, even though some had a hard time finding new accommodations. The race organizers really did a lot to try to find people places to stay.

Near the Finish Line

Anyway, I promise I’ll get around to my recap of the race soon. But I just wanted to note a couple of other stories that I only knew about because of the FB group. First of all, there was one participant who was very active on the FB group, and was so enthusiastic about this being her first Ironman, that everyone just had to join in and relish it with her. And when I was in the transition area early on the morning of the race, the announcer mentioned her name and the fact that it was her first full Ironman, and people cheered. Maybe we don’t know her personally, but we had followed her story, and it was great to be there with her and be excited for her in that moment.

Another person we knew about from the IMMD FB group (and another FB group called “Pathetic Triathletes” #pathetic ) was a 72-year-old competitor, who–if he finished–would automatically get a slot for the Kona Ironman next year, because he was the only person in his age group to complete the swim. The whole day, people on FB were encouraging him and cheering for him. Alas, he did not finish. But after the race, the note he wrote to all the people who had supported him was so touching. He couldn’t believe he had all these people pulling for him, and he said he would be back next year!

We also learned of yet another person, who, unfortunately, had a heart attack during the swim and had to be pulled out. The good thing is that this person lived to tell his own story on the FB group and was so grateful to the people who had taken care of him. If you have ever read about fatalities during an Ironman, they do rarely occur, and usually it is during the swim portion. So, it was seriously amazing and wonderful to know that this person survived what had to be a harrowing experience!

The Swim (59:59)

So, let’s talk about the swim… My swim time looks pretty impressive, but it’s not. That’s because the swim was actually shortened. While we were standing around waiting for the start, the organizers announced that there was a “small craft advisory” in the area, and unfortunately, we would not be able to do the full swim. We all started wondering if they would cancel the swim altogether.

Waiting for the Swim Start

At first, they said it would be half the normal distance (so, 1.2 miles). But then, in keeping with the can-do spirit of this race, they realized they could at least lengthen it to around 3,000 meters (1.8 miles), which is at least longer than a half-distance. Anyway, it didn’t bother me. I was just glad we got to swim. I already knew that the Choptank River can be, well, choppy. And there can be a current that makes at least one part of the swim more difficult than the rest. But in this case, the swim was not terribly choppy until the last little bit. And I bet faster swimmers did not even experience any chop. It must have been getting worse just as I was finishing, because I did hear that other people thought it was a lot harder. And, hey, this was the only part of the race that I did faster than my husband. So woohoo for me!

Exiting the Swim

The Bike (6:23)

I had already told myself that I was going to take it easy on the bike in order to save energy for the run. After Lake Placid, I had learned my lesson, and I wanted to actually be able to *run* this time! So, my plan for “taking it easy” was to ride around an average of 18.5 mph.

Well. The wind had something else in mind.

All bundled up for the chilly bike ride

I had ridden the course several times, and I know the Wind of the Eastern Shore well. The person whose race report I referenced in the beginning of this post talked about how there must be a special vortex in Cambridge, MD that causes a headwind to come at you no matter what direction you ride in. And, that was pretty much true for most of the bike course. It was chilly also. So, most everyone had at least arm warmers on –if not something warmer. There was one section that was quite nice. But it would have killed me to maintain the pace I had planned on for most of the course. So, I ended up averaging 16-17 mph instead. And that was a bummer, because I have ridden that course in 5:50 before, and I really expected to be closer to that. Oh well. I stuck to my plan and saved some energy for the run. So, all was good. It was also fun to see my husband as he passed me early on the bike. I didn’t see anyone else I knew for the whole bike course, even though I knew a lot of people racing. That changed in a huge way on the run.

The Run (5:14)

The run was like a party. I saw Craig, Rhonda, Jeffrey, John, Harry, Lauren, Noreen, and a ton of other people from our tri club. I did not run as fast as I would have liked, especially since it was cool out and I should have run faster. I definitely ran faster at Arizona. But after Lake Placid, I was just thrilled to *be running*. I came out of transition and got to the first aid station, which was sponsored by our wonderful, fabulous, amazing local tri club (Annapolis Tri Club – ATC), and they announced my name on the loud speaker. They were playing great music and had personalized signs posted for each of us. Everyone cheered for me. I felt like a rock star!

Personalized signs posted by our tri club

It was so great to see everyone, including our dear, dear support crew (affectionately known as “sherpas”) – Terese & Jon. They told me Craig was up ahead of me, which I had expected. The ATC water stop was right by the water. A beautiful location, but also windy. Those tireless volunteers really put in a hard day, keeping cups from blowing everywhere, giving a million high-fives, and trying to stay warm. And the best part for us was that we would come by this water stop six times on the run. So, you just knew it wouldn’t be long before you would see everyone again, with different people showing up throughout the day. Every time, it seemed, there was a new person to hug and celebrate with.

Ridiculously zealous at the ATC water stop

The Finish (13:03)

So, if I had cared at the time, I probably would have picked it up more at the end of the run in order to get a 12:something finish time. My best Ironman time to date is 12:40, and it would have been great to stay in that 12-hour time frame. But I wasn’t really thinking about it. The finish was on a path that you actually ran over two times before you turned down the finishing shoot. It’s a brick road in downtown Cambridge. And it’s great – because there are bars that people hang out at and cheer for you every time you go by. But those uneven bricks! Sheesh! My legs were already tired, and I have questionable ankles that don’t like uneven surfaces. Plus, your feet are just sore by then. But you deal with what you have to deal with. And the last part of the run, coming down the straight-away to the finish line, was awesome even with the bricks. I was SO HAPPY to be at the end! I gave EVERYONE in the finishing shoot a high-five! And, there, at the end of the shoot, right before I crossed the line, was my husband, along with Jon & Terese. It was so great! I knew I had not finished with a stellar time or anything. But I had a great time doing it. The whole race was fun.

I really recommend this race. It can be choppy and windy. But there is a great spirit in Cambridge, and I hope that continues to be the case in future years.

Sunset at the ATC water stop

In closing, I’d just like to note that my husband Craig–who got me into this silly sport–finished IMMD with a PR time of 12:20! I’m so proud of him and I feel so lucky to get to train with him and share these kinds of experiences with him. It may seem like I’m just concerned about myself and my little triathlon experiences when you read this blog. But you must know that my life Would.Be.Nothing without him. Thank you, sweetie 🙂

Our version of the Iron Couple

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Here is an easy-going post-race playlist for you. (See if you can spot the embedded IMMD triathlon.) Enjoy!

Lucky Now – Ryan Adams
Messages – Xavier Rudd
Into the Wild – Lewis Watson
White Daisy Passing – Rocky Votolato
Way Back When – Kodaline
Fire and the Flood – Vance Joy
The Breach – Dustin Tribbutt
In the Wind – Lord Huron
Running for Cover – Ivan & Alyosha
In My Mind (Summertime) – JR JR
Shooting Stars – Bag Raiders

I Have a Hamstring (and a Kidney)

Posted by ookgirl on December 10, 2014

Posted in: Ironman, Living Kidney Donation. Tagged: #hammy, #hamstring, #injuries, #kidneyversary, #livingkidneydonation, ironman, triathlon. 4 Comments

In sports like American football, when a player is injured, the commentators often say something like, “[Player-X] has a hamstring.” … or “[So-in-so] is out with a hamstring.” I always find it funny when they leave off the word “injury” — as if human beings don’t normally have a hamstring (two, even!) You can do this with any part of the body… “PlayerX has an ankle” …. “PlayerY is out with a wrist.” It makes me laugh… Until now, that is. Because now … I myself have a hamstring!

My friend Shelly likes to call it a hammy, which I think is cute. For some reason, it makes me think of a person running around with a big ham tied to the back of their leg, like in a cartoon. But this, my friends, is no laughing matter. Sure, I’ve had a strained/pulled hamstring before, and I would generally feel it whenever I started running. It would ache at first and then warm up and be okay. I could always think back to the moment I over-stretched it … maybe in a yoga class or while stretching after a run. But this time, it’s much worse. Sharp, searing pain, and not always when I’m running. I might just be walking into a store and YOWZA! An extreme burst of pain in my right hamstring — like it’s about to rip off. I hate it, and I’m embarrassed by it.

It also hurts when I’m driving. What’s with that? Somehow, they designed driver’s seats to put you exactly in the worst position for a hamstring injury. It takes me about an hour to commute to work (sometimes longer), and occasionally, I think I might have to pull over and take a rest because my hammy hurts so bad. It’s crazy.

I found this really great article that explains what’s going on with hamstrings and why they get injured. The problem is that they are actually over-stretched all the time, and the quads are stronger, so the quads just pull the hamstrings even more. Then, we feel like we need to stretch the hammies, but they’re over-stretched already. So, it’s like a vicious cycle. (The article explains it much better, but that’s the gist). My latest frustration is that I’ve been doing more strength training lately — which is what you are supposed to do to strengthen the hamstring so it doesn’t get injured. And yet! … The strength training seems to be aggravating my injury! That’s probably because I should have been doing more of it *before* I injured it. I know I need to ice it and rest it. I’ve been mostly swimming lately, so that’s good. (Swimming is awesome, because you can almost always swim – even when you’re injured.) But my work schedule this week has not made it easy to ice it. I will have to do better. And I may even have to break down and get an MRI.

I wouldn’t freak out over an injury like this normally. But this next year, I have two (yes, TWO) Ironman races on my schedule (Lake Placid & Maryland). So, I can’t afford to go into the training season with a big fat hammy. I just can’t. As much as I’ve been in denial over this injury, I’m going to have to face the facts and do the right thing with this one.

In other news, yesterday was my 3rd kidneyversary! That’s right, three years since I donated my left kidney to my stepdad. I spoke to my stepdad yesterday, and he is still doing great! And, hammy aside, I’m still doing great also. I think about my little right kidney down there working away to keep me healthy, and I just have to thank that kidney for stepping up and taking on the full load! At the time of my donation, I had only done my first half-Ironman, and I wasn’t sure if I could ever do that again. I found it to be so hard. At that time, I couldn’t imagine doing an Ironman, much less scheduling two in one year! Ironman Arizona was so amazing, and I know that we trained diligently for it. I’m going to have to be even more disciplined this time. I have to think that I’ve put that lone kidney through a lot! Thank you so much, little kidney!!! This has been quite a journey!

It seems funny to worry that having a hamstring could derail my triathlon plans, whereas having a kidney (only one, that is) doesn’t seem to be a problem at all.

Secret Thoughts of a Triathlete

Posted by ookgirl on October 29, 2014

Posted in: Ironman, music, triathlon. Tagged: #avettbrothers, #chores, #cleanthehouse, #laundry, #mikedoughty, #notenoughtime, #swivelchairs, #triathlonlifestyle, #u2, #weepies, triathlon. 2 Comments

(This one’s for you, Mom 🙂 )

Today, I took the day off from work to clean my house… Yes, it’s THAT bad… Exactly what are you trying to say?

It’s true that my car looks like I live in it, and my house looks like no one could live in it. What the heck?! The sad thing is we aren’t even training for our next Ironman yet. This is definitely NOT ACCEPTABLE. I must rectify this situation!!! My mom would not approve of the clothes on the floor. No way. But, hey, at least the bed is made.

Yes, it’s the craziest thing, but even with the look of a recent tornado throughout the rest of my house, I can’t stand to *not* have the bed made. My husband, Craig, has accepted this obsession of mine and dutifully stands by the bed, ready to help me make it every morning — just as soon as we get up. It’s so sweet. But it’s pretty ridiculous when you look at the rest of our house. Why should the bed be different?

It all reminds me of what goes through my mind on most Mondays… Here is a typical conversation with a co-worker on any given Monday:

Them: “Hi there. How was your weekend? Did you ride 100 miles or something?”

Me: “Well, actually, we rode 56 miles and then we ran 6 miles on Saturday. On Sunday, we just swam 3000 yards. It’s still early in our training plan…”

Them: “Wow, I can’t even imagine doing half of that!”

Me: “How was your weekend? What did you do?”

Them: “Well, the kids had three soccer matches and a birthday party on Saturday. Then, on Sunday, we re-landscaped our back yard, and I changed the oil in my car.”

What they don’t know is that now, I’m thinking, “Wow, I can’t even imagine doing half of that!”

I guess somewhere along the way, as we got into training for triathlons more and more, I gave myself permission to, um, let’s just say … not always get all my chores done around the house. And, then, eventually, I just didn’t have enough energy to do all that stuff! Honestly, I’ll buy flowers or shrubs to plant in the yard on Friday evening, and that’s as far as they get. They’ll sit there in their plastic pots the rest of the weekend while we’re out training, waiting for me to put them in the ground. “Maybe next weekend,” I’ll think. Poor plants! Or, maybe I’ll actually pick up all the clutter in the house, but I’ll never get as far as sweeping and dusting and really cleaning once I can finally see the floors and the counters and the furniture. It’s about to drive me insane. Cobwebs, and dust bunnies, and dog hair, oh my!!!

I’ll get up each morning during the week, sometimes earlier and earlier, thinking I’ll get some of it done before I take the dogs for a walk and go to the gym… I look around and try to get a little done here and there. But, I have this sort of all-or-nothing feeling, like I can’t dive into a cleaning project unless I know I can do it completely. It’s very frustrating. Then, on top of that, I’ve gotten up so early that when I get home from work, I’m so tired, I can’t do anything either. At one point, Craig and I made this plan to do 15 minutes of cleaning every evening, and we haven’t even been able to do that. We are ri-DIC-u-lous!

What I think is funny is that we always seem to get the laundry done. I wonder if this is true for a lot of triathletes. If there are two chores that never take a backseat when you’re training, it’s laundry and grocery shopping. You’ve got to wash those stinky, sweaty workout clothes, and you’ve GOT to eat! Okay, so maybe the laundry does not always get completely put away. But it’s clean. It’s piled up in the laundry baskets… or on the couch… or on the bed. But the laundry is CLEAN, and the bed is MADE, dammit!

And, I don’t even need to go to work on a Monday to feel the shame of my triathlon lifestyle … I’ll go to the gym, where other people are spending precious chore-doing time exercising instead of polishing the bannister… And I’ll ask them what they’ve been up to. They actually have the gall to have done something like replace their hardwood floors, or they’ve re-painted their guest room, or they’ve cleaned out their garage… IN ADDITION TO training. How dare they!

And, then sometimes, I’ll just walk outside my house and have a conversation with my neighbor about all the amazing stuff she has done inside her house… like dusting all her china or cleaning out her fridge. Mind you, the reason why I have to walk outside my house to have this conversation is because I couldn’t possibly let her come into my house. Not in the state that it’s in!

Sometimes, I’ll think to myself, “Well, I got the laundry done. Does that count?” I guess I better go clean now…

Oh yes, and to continue with the theme of my last blog post, here is some of the music to which I will be cleaning my house. No special theme this time. Just random music… Enjoy…

Here Out of Reach – Swivel Chairs
Bad – U2
Nightswimming – REM
Please Speak Well of Me – The Weepies
Light Will Keep Your Heart Beating in the Future – Mike Doughty
Counting on Karma – Will Dailey & the Rivals
Rainbow – Robert Plant
This is a Game – Nick Waterhouse
Southern Skies – Yuck
Dark Sunglasses – Chrissie Hynde
Only One – John Butler Trio
Another is Waiting – The Avett Brothers

Escape from Alcatraz 2014 Race Report

Posted by ookgirl on June 8, 2014

Posted in: Escape from Alcatraz Triathlon, Living Kidney Donation, triathlon. Tagged: #badass, #EscapeAlcatrazTri, triathlon. Leave a comment

Alcatraz Finisher’s Medals

The first thing I’d like to say about this race is that it wasn’t nearly as hard as I thought it would be. That statement comes with a lot of caveats, however. First of all, I always think things will be worse than they end up being. Secondly, I may have both over-prepared and set very low goals for myself; so, your experience (if you are lucky enough to do this race) may be quite different — depending on your expectations of the race and of yourself. This race report will not give you any particularly great tips on how to be fast on this course. But it could help you plan for a successful escape, nevertheless :-). In short, I loved the race & highly recommend trying to do it!

(I’ve posted several pictures here that I purchased through MarathonFoto. They provided “race highlight” pictures; so that was how I got the shots from the swim and so forth. The other pictures were either taken by me or my support crew…)

Trip Logistics

You definitely want to get to San Francisco at least two days before the race. I had initially made the mistake of planning to arrive the day before the race, but I changed our arrival to two days before later on, and I’m so glad I did. Traveling really wears you out, and it’s good to have at least one day to recover from the stress and energy of getting there. If you can swing it, arrive three days before – so you have more time to ride the course and get a swim in. But that can be done even if you only arrive two days before as well. We had a whole vacation planned for the week after the trip. So, we could only afford to take so many days beforehand. But getting there 2-3 days before also helps you acclimate to SF’s interesting weather. It was foggy/misty much of the first half of each day with the sun coming out in the afternoon. I was happy to have a fleece jacket to throw on whenever it chilled down.

Alcatraz

We stayed at the Sheraton Fisherman’s Wharf, and it was fine. It was a little further away from the race site than the race hotel (Hyatt Fisherman’s Wharf), but only by a couple of blocks. You will have a nice little walk/bike ride to the transition area race morning no matter where you stay (from what I could tell). So another couple of blocks didn’t make a big difference. I was glad I had a headlamp for the ride to transition at 3:30 am on race morning! (You do not rack your bike the day before. You take it down with you the morning of.) Also, the Sheraton was one of the hotels that gave a special rate to Alcatraz participants, and it saved us $100/night, plus they had a nice $1/day parking package as well. Parking is expensive in SF, so be sure to account for that. Pretty much any hotel in the Fisherman’s Wharf area is good for the race and for sightseeing. We planned to do all our sightseeing after the race (to save my legs from walking too much beforehand).

I shipped my bike using TriBike Transport, and that worked out well. They shipped to Sports Basement, which is located within walking distance of the race area. You can also rent a bike at Sports Basement if you want to save money. And I think you can rent a wetsuit there as well. If you go that route, I suspect you should put your order in early to get what you want. I’m weird about my bike & wanted to feeling confident riding something I was used to. Either way – if you rent or do TriBike, it’s nice that you can just drop off the bike right after the race. I also shipped a gear bag, allowing me to get rid of my race stuff and not carry it around for the rest of our trip.

In the couple of days I had before the race, I picked up my bike, took it for a spin, and did a short swim at the Aquatic Park. I had done the Alcatraz RealVideo ride on the Computrainer and decided against riding the course, since I sort of knew it already. But I would still recommend riding it beforehand if you have the chance. If I had ridden the course, I might have done it a little more aggressively in the actual race.

Another special thing I got to do on the Saturday before the race is meet Patrick — a reader of this blog, who is also a kidney donor. It was so cool to meet him in person and talk to him and his friend David. They had ridden their bikes across the Golden Gate Bridge to meet with us near the expo. Patrick is an avid cyclist, and I envy him for being able to bike-commute to work every day across the GG Bridge! He has also done “Levi’s Ride”, which is organized by and named for pro cyclist Levi Leipheimer. I hope we can stay in touch with Patrick over the years. He’s definitely a kindred spirit! Who knows, maybe we will go back to the Bay Area again – so my husband, Craig, can do this race! His friend David had invited some other triathletes from Ireland to meet up as well, and David gave us all tips about the swim, which he has done several times.

Packet Pickup

Packet pickup started at 10 am, but we did not get there until 11 am. The line was seriously long by that point. So, if you hate waiting in line, you might want to get there extra early. Luckily, a friend who had moved to SF was also there and hung out with us in line; so catching up with him during that time made it go by faster. Another good thing – for your support crew – is that the expo is going on all around packet pickup. So, they can mill around and get a snack while waiting for you. In 2014, they had us bring our stuff for the post-swim transition bag. In it, we could put running shoes to run from the swim exit to the main Transition area, plus a small towel and a small bottle of water. If they do that again in future years, be sure not to forget this stuff when you come to packet pickup (along with your USAT card if you have one). There is a Safeway grocery store not too far away also — in case you need to pick up a bottle of water. It is good for rinsing some of that salt water out of your mouth after the swim.

At the Escape expo

Not long after the packet pickup, they had one of the “mandatory” athlete meetings in the same area. I’m glad I was there for it, but if you watch the videos on the website, you get most of the same info. One good tidbit was the current water temperature. For 2014, we lucked out & it was 58 degrees F. That made me very happy, as I had thought it would be as low as 52. My practice swim also confirmed that the water would not be as shocking as I had feared.

Food

Two nights before the race, we ate at Tommaso’s Italian restaurant on Kearny St (in the Financial District). My sister had researched it and read that it had good reviews. It was really good & I highly recommend it. The night before the race, we ate at Boudin Sourdough Bakery & Cafe in the Fisherman’s Wharf area. They have a lot of seafood dishes, but I went with the chicken club, which was good. My husband and I also split one of the salads. There is plenty of bread for carb-loading, if you like to do that. I liked that it was close to the hotel & we could get back to the room early – so I could apply all my race number stickers and pack my transition bag. (We ate at another one of the Boudin locations the day after the race and had the clam chowder in the bread bowl. Very yummy!)

T-Zero

I was able to go to bed really early the night before the race, because my body was still on East Coast time. Of course, that also meant that I woke up about an hour too early, but that was okay by me. I had my breakfast (a banana and PB&J), got myself together, and headed out on my bike with my transition bag. It was chilly, and my fleece top over my Tri suit just barely kept me warm. I could have been better off with some tights or something over my legs as well. I got to transition really early and had to wait for it to open up. After I hit the port-o-potty & set up my transition area, I was pretty cold. Luckily, they already had the shuttle buses ready and waiting to take us to the pier for the ride to Alcatraz. My husband was there by then, so I kissed him goodbye and jumped on one of the buses. (There were a couple of things that I did not do in transition that I normally would do… For one thing, they did body marking at packet pickup the day before. So, I didn’t have to worry about that race morning. Also, I elected not to pump up my tires that morning. There was a long line to pump tires, and since I had pumped them up the day before at Sports Basement, I figured they were okay, given that the mist might still be on the roads when we got to the bike portion of the race. It was nice that Sports Basement had pumps out and available to use just inside the store, so no need to bring your own.)

The shuttle bus was nice, comfortable, and warm. I enjoyed talking to the other triathletes while we waited to get to the ferry. It was interesting to talk to people who had done the race multiple times and also to note how many people were there from other countries. Interestingly, there seemed to be a lot from the UK and Australia. When we arrived at the pier, there was a little wait before we could get on the ferry. But they had port-o-potties there and water – so you could stay hydrated. This was also where we turned in our before/after-race clothes bag. You had a choice: you could turn in your bag outside the ferry and expect to get it back right after the race; or you could keep it with you until the last minute and leave it on the ferry, but you might have to wait for it a little while after the race. I chose to turn mine in right away, but that meant I had to put my wetsuit on early to stay warm.

San Francisco Belle (ferry to the Swim Start)

The Swim (42:40)

As the island got closer, you could feel the tension in the air. You have plenty of time on the boat ride out – to talk to other triathletes and think about what’s coming up. They also have water for you to drink, and of course bathrooms on the boat. Some people stood outside as we neared Alcatraz, but I stayed inside. I wanted to stay warm as long as I could. They did a loop around the island before stopping at the “start”. It was neat to see it all up close after looking at it from shore for two days. They played the National Anthem, and that made me a little emotional. Finally, after months of stressing about this swim, it was about to happen!

Swim Start!

They herded us to the open doors on the ferry, and volunteers reminded us to have our goggles on, then told us to JUMP! I did as they said, and I was sure to hold my goggles against my face as I jumped, then quickly moved away from the boat as soon as I could. The water did not take my breath away as I had feared. I took a moment to look back at the island before really getting into my swim stroke. At first, I didn’t think it was very choppy, and I was relieved. I started swimming toward the apartment towers like they tell you. It was at this point that it started to feel more like a washing machine, and the swim seemed even more crowded than in the Ironman race I had done.

Swim

You have to swim “across the river” as they say – meaning the river of current that would slowly push you to the Golden Gate Bridge to your right if you didn’t cross the “river” soon enough. You sight on the twin apartment towers first and then the trees and the three piers of Fort Mason. It seems like you are trying to swim toward them forever before you can focus on your next sighting spots – the yacht clubs and the Palace of Fine Arts. This was the point at which the choppiness started to get to me, and I knew I was swallowing a lot of that salty, brackish water. But I kept going, and slowly but surely, I got closer to the red-roofed St. Francis Yacht Club, whose beach we were to land on. I was so pleased when I could look up and see people scrambling out of the water. I was also relieved that I didn’t over-shoot it. I had thought it might take me an hour to do the swim, but when I looked at my watch on the beach, it had only taken 42 minutes!

Swim

You then run down the beach (where I happily waved to my sister & her husband on the sidelines) and you run over to a mini-transition area, where they have laid out everyone’s post-swim bags in rows. You can take off your wetsuit and stuff it in the bag with your goggles and cap, then throw on your running shoes. I chose to leave my wetsuit on and run the half mile to the real transition area that way. It wasn’t too bad and warmed me up a little. I was glad I had shoes on (some people do it barefoot). I also had a different pair of shoes in transition for the real run, because the first pair get all wet & sandy.

T-One

I took my time in T-1. I was so happy to be done with the swim and wanted to make sure everything was good to go on the bike. I also made a pit stop at the port-o-potties. I put a bike jersey on over my tri top and wore arm warmers and gloves. I knew the bike might start out a little chilly. But I was glad I could still feel my hands and feet despite the chilly swim. Since it was not against the rules, I carried my phone with me (in my race belt) on the bike and the run so that my friends and family could track me using the RaceJoy app. I checked the app really quick to make sure it was working and then headed out on the bike. I could tell that all the water I swallowed was affecting my stomach a little. I took some Tums to try to calm my stomach.

The Bike (1:24)

Let me start out by saying that I could have done the bike much faster if I had wanted to. My Garmin recorded a time of 1:24 for the bike, and I was happy with that. But if I had really been racing, it could have been much faster. On one hand, I was worried about the up-hills. And on the other hand, I was worried about the downhills. So, I planned to take everything slowly and stay out of everyone’s way. Well, the up-hills were not bad at all. Maybe I just rode much tougher hills in training or something, and riding it on the Computrainer made it seem harder. But I was pleasantly surprised either way. (For Annapolis-area folks: I still believe Chesterfield Rd to Hawkins is harder than anything on this course. Go do 18 miles of hill repeats there & you will be fine.)

On the bike

There is one 12% grade that comes at a turn around mile 12. You need to be prepared and get in your smallest gear on that turn, but otherwise, the hills are really do-able as long as you have trained for them.

The downhills were another story, though. You need to know how to descend in order to really race on those downhills. They are twisty-turny, and a couple of them have a sharp turn at the bottom. I saw a guy completely wipe out taking the downhill too fast after the second time you pass the Legion of Honor. My advice is to slow down where they tell you to do so. It’s not worth it to go too fast down those hills. But that’s coming from me – a person who doesn’t know how to descend well. I took it ridiculously slow, but that was okay with me.

Last hill of the bike

Other than the hills, there is a lot of great scenery on the ride! I wish I could have gone back and done it again just to enjoy it. The Presidio and Golden Gate Park are beautiful, and the views of the GG Bridge and the coastline are breathtaking! You can take in some nutrition on the flat part out and then as you go through the park. But the rest of the time, you are either going up or going down.

T-Two

I saw my husband on the last hill of the bike, and I saw my sister and brother-in-law just before the transition area. They all knew just where to catch me thanks to RaceJoy. In T-2, I moved a little faster, feeling relieved that the swim and bike were both done. I took off the bike jersey but forgot to take off my arm warmers. So, out on the run, I just scrunched them down around my wrists. The sun was coming out, and the GG Bridge was shining in the distance. It was a beautiful day. I had no goals for the run – other than to enjoy it.

The Run (1:23)

The views of the bridge and the beach were again spectacular on the run. You have a couple sets of stairs in addition to the infamous sand ladder, and it was on the first set of stairs that I felt how tired I was. I was glad that you pretty much had to walk them – since people bunched up on them a little. As we continued the run, which has some good inclines on it, I relaxed and started talking to other people. We were all so happy and just taking it all in. The portion of the run that is on the beach drains your legs a bit, but it’s so fabulous to look around and see the view that you don’t really think about it.

Beach portion of the run

The sand ladder is definitely a place to walk, and it’s good to use the cables to pull yourself up. Some of the wooden steps are loose, so you have to be a little careful.

Sand Ladder

My husband found me on the sand ladder and seeing him took my mind off things. (For spectators: it’s possible to catch racers twice on the bike and twice on the run if you hang out in the general area of the sand ladder.)

Me on the Sand Ladder

After that point of the run, you still go up a little bit, but you really feel like it’s all downhill from there. I started to feel overjoyed even though I still had 2-3 miles to go. Running in the flat section back to the finish, the photographers can get a good shot of you with the GG Bridge in the background. So be sure to smile 🙂

Heading to the finish of the run

The finish line is just as great as they say — with a huge crowd and the grand stands. They give you a medal and take your timing chip, and then you have the post-race food and festival area. I can never eat right after a race, but it looked good. I opted to just walk around a bit and take in the accomplishment. I realized that the race itself was not so hard. It was the idea of it that had become monumental to me. And that’s what made me feel so glad to have survived… and escaped!

Near the finish line

My total time for the race was 3:53, and I was happy with that. I had estimated a time of 4 hours. For the distance, that’s a slow time – but with the difficulty of this race, I felt pretty good about it. I know that people who go back and do it multiple times probably want to improve on their finish time in each attempt. But since I only wanted to finish, I was happy. I heard that even though it’s a lottery system, people who have done the race before get some sort of advantage in the selection. I think my husband will try to get into the race again, and if he does – I will be happy to be his supporter on the sidelines.

Afterward

Sightseeing Afterward

After the race, we hung out in San Francisco another day and went on the official Alcatraz tour. I really recommend it. It was neat to see the iconic place first-hand – after escaping from there! And you learn all about the prisoners who really did try to escape. We also stopped and had clam chowder from a sourdough bowl in the Fisherman’s Wharf area.

Next, we drove our rental car to Yosemite National Park and did a lot of hiking. We hiked up to Cloud’s Rest one day (14 miles) and got a permit to hike up Half Dome the next day (16 miles). These are both pretty strenuous hikes, but very rewarding with great views and waterfalls (on the Half Dome hike). If you don’t want to do the whole Half Dome hike, you can see the falls by just doing the Mist Trail hike. Plus, there is so much more to see in Yosemite.

We stayed outside the park – at a bed and breakfast called Red Tail Ranch. Very cozy and fun. From there, we drove to Monterey, CA and spent two days there. Lots to see and do and a nice running/biking trail along the coast. We recommend eating at the Old Fisherman’s Grotto on the wharf and also –for breakfast- at Rosine’s on Alvarado. We stayed at the Holiday Inn Express in Cannery Row, and it was perfect.

From there, we drove through Gilroy (garlic capital of the world) and Half Moon Bay (very cute town) on our way back to San Francisco to fly out.

We spent our last night in San Bruno –right by the airport. If you find yourself waiting for a flight out of SFO and want a bite to eat, we highly recommend this little hole in the wall Mexican place called Taqueria San Bruno. (This was another place my sister found.) It was so good!

Thanks to everyone who gave me encouragement leading up to this race. I had to overcome some fear, but it was really worth it! I especially thank my husband, without whom I never would have even considered doing something like this!

Until the next adventure!

-Ookgirl

Shouts to the Out!

Posted by ookgirl on May 27, 2014

Posted in: Cycling, Escape from Alcatraz Triathlon, Living Kidney Donation, Maryland, motivation, triathlon. Tagged: Escape from Alcatraz Triathlon, living kidney donation, San Francisco, triathlon. 2 Comments

Well, the Escape from Alcatraz Triathlon is almost here, and I’m filled with fear and gratitude. I’d like to focus on the gratitude part, because, let’s face it, the fear isn’t doing me any good. So, I thought I’d write this post and send some shout-outs to all the people who have helped me get through the training for this race… I don’t necessarily feel ready for it, but I do feel encouraged by so many people, and that makes me want to go out there and do this lottery slot some justice!

So, the first shout out, as usual, is to my husband — for getting me out to ride some tough hills and hill repeats, and helping me get my bike geared up and in shape for this ride. He also did open water swims with me and pushed me to do a hard 50-mile bike/8-mile run brick workout when I would have stopped way sooner on my own. He just completed the Mountains of Misery double metric century ride and I am super proud of him. He is so strong!

Also to our friend Arthur — who got me out for some more hill repeats and took Craig and me on some of the steepest rides we did all spring. If you want to ride with someone who knows some good routes (inside and out!), Arthur is your man. Because of him, I can proudly say that I did well over 26,000 feet of climbing in our various rides, and thanks to him – I knew what the grade was on many of the climbs. He is the master of mountain riding!

To my sister Michelle — who surprised me by announcing that she and her husband are coming out to San Francisco to see the race! It’s so very nice of them, and I know it’s not an inexpensive trip! She also listens to me kvetch about everything and gives me tons of support through phone calls, texts, and emails. I have two wonderful sisters, and I feel very blessed. (My other sister Renee also came to see me do my first half Ironman in Augusta, and it was so great to have her and other family members there!)

To Emily — one of the few people I know who has done this race — thanks for giving me lots of great advice, getting me to keep trying Bikram yoga, and generally being the type of triathlete I always want to be… enthusiastic, charged up, fearless… she just owns it.

To Rhonda — another friend in our triathlon club who is so nice to just check in on me every once in a while to see how my training is going. She is a rocket on the bike and a damn good runner also. I’m just glad she’s not doing this race with me, because I wouldn’t be able to keep up with her! 🙂

To Alison — a super nice elite triathlete who helped me master the flip turn in the pool and also gave me some great tips on my stroke. I really think I’ve gotten a wee bit faster by following her advice. (I don’t know how much that will help in the San Francisco Bay, but it can’t hurt!) I think she should be a coach!

To Crystal — my best friend, who came to Arizona for the Ironman and also will be in San Francisco around the time of the race. It looks like her travels won’t quite put her there in time to see it. But we hope to see her the next day. She always has my back and always reminds me how special life is. She has seen me at my worst and still loves me. You’re the best, Crystal!

To Terese — a friend of ours from the gym who has become one of our favorite people. She also came to Arizona and saw us do the Ironman. She has a great sense of humor and a very caring heart. And God bless her for listening to me babble on about my insecurities at the pool when we both should have been getting more laps in. I don’t have a picture of her, but here’s a picture of her arm 🙂

To Patrick — a fellow kidney donor who started reading my blog before he donated to his brother. He lives in the Bay area, so we hope to meet him while we are there. It’s so nice to know that someone else has gotten something out of this blog!

And of course, to my parents: my Mom and Stepdad, Gary, and my Dad and his sweetheart, Nancy. They have been so nice to support me and always ask how my training is going. I know they also probably think I’m a little bit crazy 😉

On June 1, when I am standing on the ferry-boat trying to convince myself to jump in the freezing cold waters of the San Francisco Bay, I plan to think of all these people and many others and appreciate every word of encouragement and moment of time they have given toward supporting this crazy hobby of mine. It means so much!

As an organ donor, you become familiar with the slogan “donate life”, but you also know that life is to be lived! Let’s do this!

Ineffable

Posted by ookgirl on April 18, 2014

Posted in: Cycling, Escape from Alcatraz Triathlon, motivation, triathlon. Tagged: #badass, #EscapeAlcatrazTri, triathlon. 1 Comment

Hello, Blog-o-sphere. It’s been a long time.

What have I been doing with myself, you say? Well, as you probably noticed, I took a hiatus after I attempted to start a second “music blog” – which died a silent death. It just wasn’t any good. And I must have been prescient when I killed it off, too, because just today, I read this article.

And that’s how I decided that (a) My new favorite word is ineffable, and (b) It is best to stick to writing about what I know: my own life…

Personally, I find music to be ever more interesting than my own life. But it also seems like magic … something I don’t fully understand and something that can render me speechless, confident, happy, sad, and vulnerable all at the same time. Um, let’s just say it’s ineffable.

Anyway, what I’ve been doing is racing against the clock to get ready for a race… the Escape from Alcatraz Triathlon. I have only five weeks to go!!! The past few weeks have included some pretty solid training. Not fabulous, but decent. And, since I’ve finally gotten into a groove, I’ve tried to throw in some Alcatraz-specific training. In addition to normal training, we’ve done a really, really hilly ride – with 6100+ feet of climbing on something like 12-16% hills – out in the Catoctin area. (It was so bad that I had to get off my bike and walk up some of the hills…). And I’ve done a hill-repeat ride, where I repeated and fairly good 6% hill five times. And this weekend, we plan to do an 83-mile ride along Skyline Drive in northern Virginia. Craig didn’t even let me start complaining about how hard it is going to be before he said emphatically that he’s doing it (with or without me). [So, shut your trap, missy! We’re doing this!]

Finally, I’ve tried to increase my “hilly” runs, and I also plan to don the wetsuit and wade into the 52-degree Chesapeake Bay this weekend. (San Francisco Bay will reportedly be 52-54 degrees on June 1. So, I’m trying to shock my system in advance.)

The Escape from Alcatraz people have started sending out wake-up-call newsletters to make sure the people who are signed up to do the race realize what they’re in for. And I have to tell you, it’s pretty terrifying. Ok, not really. But seriously, it is. They assure you that the only sharks that might be in the area where the swim takes place are of the 4-foot variety. Bigger sharks don’t venture into that part of the bay. Also, the water is quite a shock when you jump in (You don’t say?), and you can get caught in currents and eddies. (Sounds like a water park.) They have the gall to suggest that you should float on your back to take it all in and make sure you aren’t in one of those eddies. Um, I’m just gonna swim. Hard! (Actually, I hope I have the presence of mind to float on my back and take it all in, but I really think I’m just going to want to keep moving in –hopefully– the right direction…)

I’ve also been doing the Real Video bike course from the race on my Computrainer. I love the 12% climb at mile 12. And I love the way the hills always come after you turn a corner, giving you no way to get any momentum beforehand. It’s so cute.

And then there’s the run… up hills, on sandy beaches, and up sandy “ladder” stairs. It all sounds positively lovely. (Why am I doing this again?) Seriously, though, I’m not going to care about the run, because when I get to the run, I’m just going to be so glad to still be alive!

The truth is that the main thing motivating me for this race is the ability to say – after I’m done – no matter how terrible my time is – that I AM A BADASS. I’m convinced that I will be allowed to call myself that, because serious, top-of-their-age-group triathletes that I know in our area have never done this race before – simply because the swim is too cold. So, while that will make me wonder if I’ve totally lost my mind, it will also motivate me. I mean, what else is there to shoot for after an Ironman besides achieving badass-ness? … I’m warning you now, people: you are not even going to be able to stand me after this. It will be ineffable.

Ready Whenever You Are, C.B.

Posted by ookgirl on March 17, 2014

Posted in: Living Kidney Donation, motivation, triathlon. Tagged: #anniveraries, #livingkidneydonation, #marriage, triathlon. 6 Comments

My Dad used to tell this joke about Cecil B. DeMille, a movie director and producer from the old hollywood era, who made big elaborate movies, like the Ten Commandments. The joke (as my Dad told it — and as he has corrected me since I originally posted this…) had DeMille checking in with all the members of the film crew before a big scene, and everyone saying, “Ready whenever you are, C.B.” … and then after DeMille yells “ACTION!” and the whole scene plays out, … after all these major preparations had been made so that 10,000 extras could charge on foot and on horseback into the battle scene, … DeMille checks back in with the cameraman who had the long and most important shot that showed the whole view of the action to ask him how it looked… and he says, “Ready whenever you are, C.B.”

I’ve used this line with my husband, Craig Barnabee, throughout our life together. Usually, it’s because he’s the action guy, and I’m the sure-why-not girl. I don’t always know where we’re going, but I’m happy to tag along.

Next Monday, March 24, my husband and I celebrate our 25th wedding anniversary. We aren’t having a big party or anything. We did that two years ago. It probably seemed weird at the time — throwing a big celebration for our 23rd. But it was perfect in every way. For example, that year, winter was remarkably warm, making it possible for people to hang out on our deck, with a nice view of the water. Our daffodils and cherry blossoms were in full bloom. It was amazing. Our anniversary fell exactly on the Saturday of the party, and some friends from out-of-town were able to come. This year, snow is on the ground, and we’re all wondering if Spring will ever arrive. So, I’m really, really glad we did not decide to wait until this year for a big celebration.

Still, some people probably wondered why I wanted to have a big party that year. Well, it’s not something I’ve really talked about on this blog, although I probably should…

Having just donated a kidney a few months before our anniversary, I was feeling like every second counts. When you make the decision to become a living donor, you have to take the other people in your life into consideration. You are deciding to accept the risks, but are they? What are you possibly setting them up for? Could there come a day when your decision leaves you with compromised health and that person has to care for you or even just deal with whatever accompanies that? I didn’t want to wait to celebrate. I wanted to do it right then.

We never had a wedding. We eloped while we were stationed in Japan. So, I had always dreamed of having a big anniversary party someday. It was going to be our 50th, or something really remarkable like that. But in 2012, I decided 23 was remarkable enough, given that we couldn’t know what the future holds.

Luckily, we are still here, going strong. Stronger than ever, perhaps. It’s important to admit here that our marriage has had its ups and downs. We even separated for a time. And as painful and sad and lonely as that time was, I wouldn’t trade it for the world. I learned so much when I stepped back and looked at what our life had been and realized how I had been living it all wrong. I expected everything from Craig without ever really giving of myself. I took so much about him for granted, and then I was confused when he wasn’t happy. And now, I pray, pray, pray that I don’t ever forget those lessons. One lesson, interestingly enough, has a lot to do with triathlon…

Something Craig complained about back when we had “issues” was that I didn’t have any hobbies and I never did things with my own friends. I was always waiting for him to do everything with me. The only hobbies I really had were reading (solitary), writing (solitary), and running (solitary). So, I just didn’t go out and socialize that much. I also loved listening to music, though. So, I tried to branch out in that way. He and I would go listen to live music here and there, and if he didn’t want to go, I’d go with friends.

So, you may be asking, “What the heck does this have to do with triathlon?” Well, the thing about triathlon was that it was Craig’s hobby. And I never saw myself getting into it. I wonder if that’s how he felt about my music hobby. But what’s cool now is that he’s a little more into music, and I’m way more into triathlon. So, these are things we can enjoy together. But the great thing is, neither of us feels like we are giving up something for the other. And, if he wants to go for a bike ride alone, or I want to sit around listening to music with my headphones on, neither of us feels locked out. We both get it.

However, even though I’ve always thought of triathlon as Craig’s hobby, I recently realized how personal it has become to me. I started reading “Triathlon for the Every Woman”, by Meredith Atwood, of SwimBikeMom.com fame. And I couldn’t believe that I was on the verge of tears while reading about the point at which she decided to become a triathlete. Seriously, I was getting a pedicure and reading this book, and I was fighting back tears. No one else in the salon could have possibly imagined the hurricane of emotions that was going on inside my head.

What’s crazy is that, aside from Triathlon and the fact that she is from Georgia, I have practically nothing in common with Meredith Atwood. I’m not a mom, and I’m not an attorney. But thinking about doing a triathlon and then doing it, well, there’s just no way to describe how that makes you feel. You don’t think you can, and then you do. And after you start training like that, you get addicted to it. Your life just isn’t complete if you haven’t gone for a swim lately. And you long for the bliss of a good run or wonder how the scenery has changed on your favorite bike ride. As Atwood imparts, you stop worrying about what your body looks like and start being astounded by what it can do! I just don’t think I realized how emotionally attached I had become to triathlon until I started reading this book.

Anyway, now, Craig and I get to enjoy doing it together, and I feel like we should really treasure this time. I think and I hope that the amazing boost I get from triathlon helps me be a better wife. We have other plans for life… and other adventures in the works. But in the meantime, it’s a pretty good ride that we’re on.

I’ve done so many things in my life now that I *never would have done* if I had not married him. I’m so glad I’ve been willing to go for (and stay on) that ride. I can’t wait to see where we end up!

-ookgirl

Bikram – You Love It, Hate It, or It Hates You

Posted by ookgirl on March 9, 2014

Posted in: Living Kidney Donation, triathlon. Tagged: bikram, sweat, triathlon, yoga. 2 Comments

“Breathe out with a “Huh-Huh” sound on the sit-up,” the yoga instructor said as we all sweated profusely and tried not to pass out on the sit-up, but actually breathe. The guy in front of me continued to breathe out with a “SCHI-SCHI” sound anyway, as if the instructor had not just called out the thing that he was doing wrong. And then she proceeded to write down notes throughout the class as she gave us gentle reminders about the proper way to do each pose.

I tried not to laugh as I thought of what she might actually be writing… “Jack still keeps breathing the wrong way on the sit-up after being told 100 times.”… “Susie farts occasionally; don’t stand next to her for the whole class.” … “Mary shouldn’t wear that skimpy outfit; it’s just wrong.”

This scene occurred this winter, while I was dealing with an injured foot and trying not to totally get out of shape in the off-season. I had decided to really try Bikram yoga. This is the extremely hot yoga (~105 degrees F) that burns a lot of calories and can totally kick your butt.

Before I talk about how things went for me in the Bikram yoga studio, I have to tell you that – if you have never tried it, you are probably going to:

a) Love it

b) Hate it

c) Find that, even if you love it, it doesn’t care for you so much.

Why? Because it is extreme. So, your reaction to it is likely to be extreme as well.

Why might you love it? Because the heat really allows your muscles to stretch. And if you are a triathlete, it feels like a hard workout that your worked-out body can really use. It’s an admirable accomplishment to make it through each class. And, I’ve always noticed that my eyes look clearer and my skin looks refreshed after a class.

Why might you hate it? Well, first of all, try as they may to mask it with fragrant candles and clean the heck out of the place, it smells like a sweaty locker room. If you get that many people sweating for 90 minutes multiple times a day in one room, it’s just gonna stink. Some people just can’t handle the stink.

Secondly, there’s no peaceful music playing in the background. The instructors are generally nice, but they don’t want to put you to sleep with their soothing voices. No, they want you to listen and think about what you are doing and try to do everything to the best degree possible. This is a serious yoga class, not so much a relax-and-feel-the-zen yoga class.

Anyway, like I said, I was trying to really get into this Bikram yoga thing. I imagined myself becoming an amazing Bikram yogi who went to class often, could do all the really advanced poses, and still was able to fit all kinds of triathlon training into my schedule. To start out, I intended to go at least twice a week. And, I was sort of doing that for a while. But even though I was getting better at it, I kept doing something to myself… pulling this, over-stretching that. I had weird-pinched-nerve things going on that even disrupted my sleep. Sheesh. Apparently, Bikram doesn’t like me as much as I like it.

So, for now, I have stopped going… These little injuries just kept preventing me from getting on with it in the training department. I may go here and there again, because it really does stretch you out. But I can’t handle it twice a week. I’m not sure what’s wrong with me. Why don’t you like me, Bikram? Anyway, after my main racing season is over, I hope I can try my Bikram experiment again. I will be very careful, and maybe it will like me better next time.

My Other Body is an Ironman

Posted by ookgirl on March 3, 2014

Posted in: Escape from Alcatraz Triathlon, Ironman, Living Kidney Donation. Tagged: #escapefromalcatraztriathlon, ironman, triathlon. Leave a comment

So, if anyone has been following this blog, they’ve probably noticed that I haven’t posted anything in a while. (By the way, when do you use “awhile” and when do you use “a while”?…) Perhaps that major mystery of the universe it’s what’s been holding me back? Or maybe it’s just because I’ve been searching for my momentum. MOMENTUM! I need it. I have 12-ish weeks until the Escape from Alcatraz Triathlon, and I’m freaking out a little bit inside. Okay, a lot. There is snow on the ground here, and I’ve only been out on my bike one time this entire year. I need to do more Computrainer rides, longer, faster swims, and TONS more running. My running suffered a lot while I rested my stress-reaction-laden foot for 8 weeks. And, to be honest, my foot still isn’t 100%. But I have the Cherry Blossom 10-miler coming up in April. So, I need to run. I’m back up to 6 miles now. So, that’s something.

Now, I draw your attention above to the picture of my sad, sad Ironman Arizona Finisher sticker. That sucker isn’t even a full four months old yet! Pretty lame quality, Ironman Inc. Couldn’t you come up with something that lasts a little longer? But then, I wonder if it’s sort of a reflection of the current state of my body. Once, not too long ago, I was a smiling, shining, lean, mean, Ironman machine. But today, I’m more of a limping, chubby, triathlete poser…

Actually, it’s not that bad. It *felt* that bad over the last few weeks. And that’s why I didn’t post anything. I just didn’t want to fill the world with my negative thoughts, when –REALLY– what do *I* have to complain about?! My life is practically perfect compared to many other people’s lives. But when you’ve lost what you had, it’s always hard, no matter how good you have it…

But I’m here to tell you, ladies and gentleman, that things are turning around. I got in a solid week of training last week, and I feel a little momentum returning. I pledge to do more posting instead of posing. And I promise to do more training. And I promise that – like it or not – you will get to hear all about it 🙂

Now to go look for that other body of mine…

Two Years

Posted by ookgirl on December 9, 2013

Posted in: Ironman, Living Kidney Donation, triathlon. Tagged: living kidney donation, triathlon. 3 Comments

Two years ago today, I want out on a limb.

I took a leap of faith and allowed a surgeon to cut three holes into my abdomen, insert surgical tools, and remove my left kidney. My kidney was placed into a bowl and rushed to the bedside of my stepfather, Gary, where it was inserted and reconnected and made to work in his body instead of mine.

Who knows what my body was thinking at that point. All I know is that my trusty right kidney plugged along to fill the void and continues to support all my renal needs to this day. Yay, right kidney! And I’m happy to say that my stepfather continues to do well also. It is quite a miracle. And we are extremely grateful. Because you just never know.

You take your chances. And pray.

On that day, when I donated my kidney, I crossed over into a select club. I was no longer someone who was just thinking about donating a kidney, or merely getting tested to see if I could donate. I was no longer in a place where I could change my mind or freak out about the what-if’s. No. I was now in a different place, forever changed.

I remember sitting in my hospital bed the next day, dazed from the pain killers and drifting in and out of sleep while, ironically, a replay of the Hawaii Ironman was on. Craig and other family members were there, making it more fun to watch, even though I was only catching pieces of it through the haze. We all marveled at the age groupers and their determination, especially those who’d been to hell and back before trying to do this, their special interest stories dominating the broadcast. It definitely felt like the furthest thing from the realm of possibility for me at that point — even though I hadn’t been to hell and back. In a way, I’d been to heaven.

Now, two years later, I can truly compare that experience with becoming an Ironman. In the days leading up to both milestones, people would tell me encouragingly how wonderful it was – what I was about to do. Perhaps they didn’t use the same words in both cases, but the gist was the same. And in both cases, my mind would scream out in deafening silence that I hadn’t done it yet! Don’t go lavishing any praise on me; I haven’t done anything yet. With the kidney donation, I didn’t feel like I deserved any praise anyway. I was just being human. But with the Ironman, I would secretly cringe whenever someone called me an Ironman (or Ironwoman) before I’d actually done the race. I knew they just wanted to show me their support, and my heart genuinely appreciated the encouragement even if my superstitious mind did not.

In both cases, now, it is easy to look back at what I did and say, “Aw, it was nothing. No big deal.” But I know that’s not true. It was a huge deal to have a successful donation and to give my stepfather some years (two whole years now!) free from dialysis and any other related complications. And completing the Ironman, in addition to being the thrill of a lifetime that brought me even closer to my husband, my sister, and some of our dearest friends, was a moment that totally erased an enormous question in my mind: Can I do this?

From now on, if I decide to do another Ironman — or anything else on that scale — I have the confidence to know I can handle it. Maybe it will be harder next time or more complicated, or maybe my next challenges will push me to some other kinds of limits. But the question and self doubt won’t be there, at least not as big and imposing as it was before.

This point, two years after my donation, also marks something else… In a few days, I’ll return to the donation clinic for my final checkup. And I’ll definitely be telling my surgeon that I just completed an Ironman 🙂 … Donation clinics are only required to follow donors for two years and take note of their blood pressure, creatinine levels, etc. So, any data that I would have used to make my decision about whether it was safe to donate was based only on the statistics from this two-year timeframe. Everything past this point is not tracked officially. It is like the reason for writing this blog has finally come into its own. What I am able to tell you about my health and life after this final checkup -though purely anecdotal- will be the info I think might matter most.

Until next time.
-ookgirl

OOK

Only One Kidney – Donating a kidney and life afterward