Guest blogger

A few months ago I was approached to write an article for Tribesports. I had several topics I suggested, but the one they thought would have the most impact with their readers/participants would be my Keystone Warrior Duathlon did not finish (DNF).

I spent several days writing this article in September and due to their publishing schedule it was published today! It's slightly embarrassing telling the world I didn't finish something I set out to do, but I realized I'm not the only one who has dropped out of a race for some reason. As I mention in my post, Ryan Hall dropped out of the Olympic marathon in 2012. It's not necessarily the event itself that's important (though when it happens, it sure feels like the most important thing), but how you respond to it.

I hope my experience helps someone else realize not finishing/starting doesn't define who they are. It's one race on one day.

Check out my blog post for yourself and let me know what you think - Surviving a DNF.

Gratitude

For the ability to write and share my thoughts. And for the fact that other people are willing to read them and share their opinions with me.

6 Month Review

Wow!  Can you believe it's July 1st already?  It seems like yesterday that it was freezing out and we were all wishing it was warmer.  Now it's warmer and I'm wishing it were colder.  LOL!  But, I'm a bigger fan of winter than summer.  Blasphemy I know.  ;-)

Thought I would do a big recap rather than just my typical weekly one.  It's been enlightening seeing where I am compared to the beginning of the year.  Some of it good, some of it kinda sad actually...

Exercise

I kinda impressed with myself on this front.  I've been using Daily Mile to record my miles this year.  I used it last year too, but I know I didn't do a great job on getting every workout in.  This year, I've been much better at getting on.  I like seeing the monthly numbers.  :-)

Running - 147 miles
Biking - 183 miles

Not bad!  Now, remember I said I didn't record my workouts as religiously last year as I have this.  I went back to Daily Mile to see what I did between Jan. and June 2010 and I came up with 34.53 miles.  ROFLOL!  I guess I did better this year than last.  ;-)  And I did bike at all last year, so I sure beat that record!

Races

I hit the road running this year in the races category!  I've participated in 5 races so far this year.  Not too shabby.  I've done a half marathon, three 5ks, and a failure of a duathlon.

Disney Princess Half Marathon - February 27, 2011

3:21:11

 Hubby and I at the St. Patrick's Day 5k - March 13, 2011

39:36

Yuengling Shamrock Marathon - March 20, 2011

Not my race, but hubby ran his very first marathon and I went to cheer lead and photograph!

 Preakness 5k - May 14, 2011

43:29

Keystone Warrior Duathlon (before disaster struck) - June 11, 2011

2:08:38

Baltimore Women's Classic 5k - June 26, 2011

42:02

Weight

Oddly enough, I've basically stayed the same since the beginning of the year.  The last record I have of my weight is right before Christmas and I'm the same as I was then.  Ugh.  Basically, this means I've been playing with about 6-7 pounds for 6 months.  I need to get my butt in gear to stay here and then go down.  I have lofty goals at this point.  6 months to lose about 30 pounds.  It's doable.  I've done it before.  But, this time it's the last 30 pounds.  Always the hardest mentally and physically.  

Job

Well, I started the year off employed, then not so much.  Then spent two months waiting to volunteer at either the State Museum of Pennsylvania or the Pennsylvania State Archives.  I had the chance to work the Civil War 150 trailer when it was in Harrisburg.  Which was pretty awesome!  Really enjoyed that.  Then, shortly afterwards, I interviewed with the Archives and started volunteering/interning about a month later.  

The Archives have been great!  So much more what I want to be doing with my life than anything I've done in the past (except when getting my MA).  I love basically everything I've been doing - researching, helping other people research, finding document locations, and cleaning historic documents.  And they have given me some amazing opportunities - learn to mend historic documents, behind-the-scenes tours of the Railroad Museum and the Cornwall Iron Furnace, a trip to the top of the Capitol Dome, and the chance to take the PHMC's Archives Without Tears 2-day seminar.  Absolutely incredible experience and fantastic people!  Loving it!!

Conclusion

So, not a bad first half to the year. I'm signed up for my second half marathon already.  I'm running the Philadelphia Half Marathon on November 20, 2011 (Best Time of Your Life).  Hubby ran the half in 2009 and 2010, but this year he's challenging himself to the full.  So, I thought I'd throw my hat in the ring and run the half.  Why not?  ;-)  We also have in mind quite a few 5ks, just have to decide which ones to go with.

I've got a weight loss goal of 30 pounds by the end of the year...when we go to Jamaica to celebrate our 10 year wedding anniversary!  So excited!  We'll be hitting Couples, an all-inclusive resort and renewing our vows on the beach.  Ahhh...

I have no delusions of getting a job by the end of the year, but I will continue on with the archives.  I really like it and since I'm not officially interning, I can stay on until whenever, which I plan on doing.  LOL!  I'm going to work my butt off getting experience and then hoping, praying, wishing a job somewhere opens up.  If you'd like to throw out some good vibes to the universe, I would be appreciative.

So, that's it.  The last 6 months in a quick review (with photos!).  Hopefully, the second half of the year is just as fun and exciting!!

Tomorrow

I will running and biking my very first duathlon.  Eep!  Today, I hit the bike store to have my bike rack (finally) installed.  Now my bike can hang on my car rather than get jammed into the trunk/back seat of said car.

Stopped at Wal-Mart on the way home for a couple things,  including something to keep my bike lock key in.  Found a nice bike "belt" that I can attach to the seat and keep items in it.  Not what I wanted, but it will work.  I also picked up some Jelly Belly Sports Beans (assorted) for .97.  I was very happy with that price.

Headed up to packet pick-up at 4:45 p.m.  The race is about an hour away, so it took us a bit to get there plus we hit traffic on the way up due to an accident.  But, we got there, signed all the waivers (including one for the military because the race is partially on federal land) and got my bib and bag.  The tee is sweet!  The front has just the word "Warrior" on it.  :-)  There was also two Carb Boom samples, a full package of Twizzlers (yea!), some Chamois Butt'r (heehee), and a copy of the June/July edition of Liberty Sports.  A very nice bag.

So, my bike bag is about packed, I have my clothes laying out, and the Gaterade is chilling in the fridge.  Race starts at 7:00 a.m. at 71 degrees, heading up to 75 at 10:00 a.m. (which is my anticipated finish time). This time tomorrow this will all be over.  I will be celebrating with the hubby and a wonderful friend who decided to come out and cheer me on somewhere with a deck and good desserts.  And at some point early next week, there will be an update.  Hopefully with a couple not so disgusting photos (because I will be very disgusting from all that sweating tomorrow!).

Last Brick

Today, I did my last brick before the duathlon on Saturday.  I wanted one more before Saturday, but didn't want to do anything too strenuous so I didn't injure anything.  Goal was 1 mile run/5 mile bike. 

It was a rough 6 miles, but I got them all in.  I almost didn't.  My run started off great!  I felt like I had a good pace and was all excited.  Then I realized I didn't hit the start button hard enough on my Garmin, so I had NO IDEA what my time was.  So frustrating.  To the point where I almost stopped and went to the bike.  I actually started to walk to my car when I got to the part of the park next to the parking lot.  But, then I realized I didn't want to do that.  While it wasn't as great a second half a mile as the first, I did run the whole mile before getting on the bike.

For some reason, the front of my thighs have been sore when riding the bike.  I think it's from the bricks since they were fine when I was just riding the bike.  I was sore, but I stuck the course and finished my 5 miles.  It wasn't my fastest 5 miles, but I got it done.  I did my final brick before the duathlon and didn't shorten it...even though I wanted to.

Here's hoping that the duathlon goes better Saturday than my last two training workouts.

Less than a week

Yes, I realize I have been MIA lately.  Sorry!  Between "interning" at the State Archives and training for the duathlon, when I'm not doing either of those activities I'm a bit tired.  Oh!  And I spent all last week cleaning my house because we had a party Saturday night.  But, I'm back and will do a better job of staying current.

So, we are less than one week away from the Keystone Warrior Duathlon by Multisport Maniacs.  I am so coming in last.  LOL!  I've been working hard on getting bricks in during the week and on Saturdays mimicking the duathlon with shorter distances.  I've had some strong workouts and some longer than I've ever had.  I've done a bunch of bricks (run/bike or bike/run) over the past few weeks, which have overall gone well.  I've been slowly upping the mileage on each exercise to get used to it, as well as focusing a tad bit more on the bike/run as that's harder.

Friday, I did my longest brick to date - 12 mile bike/3 mile run.  It was supposed to be a 15 mile bike, but my legs were just sore and I didn't think I had 3 more miles in me.  Plus I was getting bored.  LOL!  I was riding literally in circles at a local park.  I packed the bike up and hit the path for my run.  I had a couple laughs during the workout.  There's a nice woman who walks at the park whom I see occasionally.  Friday I smiled at her, then realized it looked more like a grimace.  When I next saw her, I told her I swear I'm smiling to which she graciously said she knew and laughed.  We smiled every time we saw each other from then on out.  Then I packed the bike up and headed out on my run.  I quickly came across her as I headed out.  I told her my bike was done, now time for my run.  She said I was her hero.  LOL!  Then, just as I was finishing up mile 3, I passed her one last time.  I called over to her I had only a half a mile more to go, to which she replied she was on her last lap.  We both cheered our good fortune.

Saturday I was off for my last scheduled run/bike/run.  It was a scheduled 2/10/2, which I thought I easily had in hand.  And hubby chose to try it as well since he's considering doing a duathlon in July (which I am also considering) and decided to go with my mileage for the day*.  The first two miles went really well.  I felt good and I felt strong going into the bike.  After the run, I grabbed my bike.  I was bored with the neighborhood, so I thought I would stay on the main road and see what happened.  And the first half mile was lovely!  It was all downhill!  Yea!  Of course, in the back of my mind I knew I would have to go uphill to get back, but I thought maybe it would be more gradual.  As I headed around the corner, the uphill started almost immediately.  Some of it wasn't too bad, but oh there were nasty uphill areas that totally ruined my ride.  I had to get off the bike several times to walk it.  It really messed up my mind.  I ended up getting in an 8.5 mile ride, but I felt badly about not  making the 10 miles scheduled.  I locked the bike up and went out on the second run.  The bike messed with my mind and I run only 1 mile.  It was an overall frustrating workout, but I suppose, I kept riding when I wanted to stop and I ran the second run even though I wanted to skip it.

So, this week I'm tapering for Saturday's big event.  I don't want to over train this week.  I want my muscles ready to go Saturday without too much tiredness (which seems to be happening lately on the bike).  I don't want any injuries to crop up between now and then, so this is my workout plan this week (for now):

Monday: either a 1/5/1 or a 1/5 not sure yet
Tuesday: 1 mile walk to archives, maybe a walk at night?
Wednesday: 1 mile walk to archives, 2-3 mile run
Thursday: 1 mile walk to archives, nothing
Friday: debating a short, easy walk
Saturday: KEYSTONE WARRIOR DUATHLON

2 Months

Two months today I will be competing in my very first duthlon - Keystone Warrior Memorial Triathlon/Duathlon.  I'm still very excited about it and still anticipate coming in last.  LOL!  I'm ok with that.  Doing multiple sports in one race?  Yea, that's just asking for last, but it's aaaaaaalllllllllllllllllllllllllll good.  Seriously.  I'm not being negative here at all.  I'm being realistic and if I come in last, I am totally ok with that. :-)  The fact that I am doing something totally different is the true first place.

The bike training is going well.  Really, really well.  I'm still excited and having a great time with the bike. Maybe it has to do with continually getting faster on each training run, but whatever.  It's fun to get out on the bike and move.  I'm so much faster on the bike than I am running.  Seriously.  In the time it took me to ride 5 miles yesterday (28:31), I would have only run 2 miles.  I <3 the bike!

I've got myself a training schedule all set in my planner and so far it's working well.  Needing to punt a tad this weekend, as I'll be visiting my very first college roommie and her family in NJ, but I'm accounting for it, so it's all good.  :-)  Good training, good planning, and visiting a good friend?  Life doesn't get much better.

Keystone Warrior Memorial Duathlon

Today started my training for the Keystone Warrior Memorial Duathlon.  I picked up my bike on Saturday afternoon and promptly injured myself.  LOL!  It took literally all of 5 minutes of having the bike in my possession before I injured myself.  As we were putting the bike in the car...the tiny Mazda2 Touring, which I believe probably shouldn't hold a bike...I tried to move the handle bars up to get the bike in a better position behind the passenger seat and WHAM!  I slammed my right eyebrow into the edge of the bike handle.  Oh it was painful.  Very, very painful.  Like awful painful.  Not a pain I expected to feel.  I'm not sure if my bike is trying to tell me something already...

But, today, I headed off to the local park to try out the bike.  I haven't ridden one in about 10 years and I was a tad bit nervous about riding.  I suppose it's something I would have to get over since I'm to ride 15 miles in just a few months.  So, I hit the park.  My goal was to just get used to riding a bike again.  I am proud to say, I didn't fall off it!  I am also proud to say I rode 5 miles today.  I had to avoid quite a few random walkers and had a very funny exchange with a runner (I stopped the bike so he could run up the hill when he looked at me and said, "You're cheating.").  I did my 5 miles in 32 minutes.  What I wouldn't give for that to be my 5 mile run time!  I have no idea if that's a good time or not (it's a 9.3 mile pace), but whatever.  It was day 1.  My first ride.  I was getting used to my bike.  I was trying to keep myself from careening out of control and keep my bike from skidding out from under me.  I was successful in all of the above.

I was also successful in having fun.  Yes, fun.  I really enjoyed the ride.  I didn't like the people who didn't watch where there were walking and I had to careen around them, but it's nothing I haven't dealt with as a runner. 

So, Keystone Warrior Memorial Duathlon training has begun.  And I'm looking forward to the process and anticipate being the happiest last place finisher ever!

What am I reading

In case you're interested.  LOL!  I have set a new challenge for myself in the activity department.  For years I have wanted to run a Sprint triathlon, but never felt I had the endourance to do it. I thought I could swing the swimming and the bike, but that run would kill me.  I would never be able to train for that.  A little ironic now, huh?  ;-)

For the last several years, there has been a Sprint triathlon locally that I've eyed up with longing.  It's close to home and in June.  And every year, we either have plans already made for that weekend or, in the case of last year, we were in Europe the two weeks before and I was too scared to give up two weeks of training before doing something I've never attempted before.

This year, I saw one of the Sprint triathlons advertising early.  So early, that when I saw the information they still hadn't secured the date!  But, I waited patiently to see when it would be scheduled and during that time, talked myself into maybe doing it.  LOL!  They set the date and the day when registration would open.  The day was clear on our calendar and due to a change in my professional life, I decided to go for it.

On June 11, 2011, I will be competing in my very first duathlon!  I bet you expected me to say triathlon?  I would have too honestly.  The issue I have is the ability to get the swim practice in.  I do not belong to a gym and the only body of water I could go to will not be warm enough for swimming until closer to the race.  So, I decided to go with the duathlon instead - run, bike, run.  It is a 3 mile run, followed by a 15 mile bike, ending with a 3 mile run.  I'm feeling pretty confident on the run portion of the event.  LOL!  Who would have ever thought I would say THAT?  I now just need to get some miles on the bike.

So, knowing that I have NEVER done this before, I decided to grab a book on tri/duathlons - Triathloning for Ordinary Mortals: And Doing the Duathlon Too.  So far, it's a good book.  The author is great!  He's been doing tri/dua/marathons for 25 years and is basically just his take on what to do to be successful.  I'm really enjoying it and encourage you to read it to if you ever decide to do a tri/dua.

The game plan stands as this.  Have new tires fitted on my bike by the end of the month.  Then start training in April.  My plan had been to do some runs and a bike ride during the week, then on Saturday do a combo day where I run/bike/run to get used to it.  I'll be making out my plan over the next couple of weeks and starting in April will get my butt moving on it!

Follow along as I try another new challenge!  And try to make up my mind as to whether I'll sign up for the SheRocks Triathlon in Philly in August!