October 2, 2007 - Things I have learned

Like I've said in prior posts, I've learned a lot this summer!

-Cyclists wear spandex for a reason. Having loose clothing flapping around you while you're riding chafes the skin. Painful!

-Swim caps are not as ugly when everyone is wearing them.

-Jogging on asphalt is better on your joints than jogging on the sidewalk.

-Cyclists ride on the street for a reason. Riding on the sidewalk is painful because road bikes feel every last little bump. Share the road!

-Bike shorts are a gift from heaven when you have a 20+ mile ride.

-Facing your fears is empowering! For me, this was the amoeba.

-Bike falls are not fun, and the most benign are the most embarassing.

-Workouts are much more fun when you have an ultimate goal in mind!

-No matter how old I get, the Magic Kingdom is still a magical place!

Thanks to those who have kept up with me by reading my blog. Thanks even more to those who supported me throughout this journey!

September 21 - 25, 2007 Mission Accomplished

New running shoes, $90.00
Visits to the physical therapist, $10.00 copay.
Crossing the finish line at the Disney Triathlon... Priceless.

I DID IT!!!! I crossed the finish line at the Walt Disney World Triathlon exactly 4 hours and 43 minutes after I began. What a day!

Friday, September 21st
I traveled with the team from Kentucky to Orlando. It was a very uneventful flight, thank goodness! We arrived and hit the ground running, quite literally. Once we arrived, we took the "Disney Magical Express" from the airport to the Fort Wilderness Campgrounds. This was also the location of the tri.
As soon as we saw our cabin, it was time to unload the bikes from the truck. Of course after that it was dinner time! We made our way to the Settlement which was also the starting point for the race. After the amoeba reports I fully expected the lake to look very swamp-like and dangerous looking. It was actually one of the most beautiful lakes I've seen! The wheels were turning (more on that later).

Saturday, September 22nd
We woke up early and headed to Disney's Animal Kingdom for the morning. It was great! My favorite "ride" was the animal safari.
When we returned it was time to pick up our race packets which include things like your race number, maps for the event, special instructions, a t-shirt, etc. They also had a mandatory meeting which included a talk from an epidemiologist. She took questions from participants. We were all concerned about the amoeba! I quickly found out there was a lot of panic for very few cases of the infection. Disney does not allow people to swim in the lake on any other day because the lake has boats carrying people to and from the various Disney theme parks. The "No Swimming" rule is a safety issue for boat traffic, not a health issue for meningitis. Boat traffic is closed on the morning of the triathlon. Also, the lake was tested for bacteria and found to be nearly as clean as drinking water. Now I really had to think hard about whether or not to swim in the tri. Thankfully, we did not have to decide until the day of the race.
After that, we got ready for the pasta party and headed toward the event. They fed us well, and were true to their word! There was pasta galore. They told us many survivor stories which reminded us why we were all there. Also, among all Team in Training participants for the Walt Disney Triathlon, we raised $1.1 million for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society! That was wonderful to hear. We were also given some pointers for race day; basically how not to get disqualified. Good to know!
After getting back to the cabin, my roommate Linda and I set out everything we needed for the transition area so as not to forget anything. I'm so glad we did this! It really did help.
I got to bed around 10:30 PM, slightly later than I'd hoped!

Sunday, September 23rd - RACE DAY!
Wake up call was 5:00 AM! I woke up and felt very well rested. We collected everything and caught the bus to the race site. Arriving was something I'll never forget. There were people everywhere! Later they told us there were just over 2,000 participants in all, not to mention all of the wonderful people who were there to watch and cheer.
I set up my transition area and had a few panicky moments. One was when I couldn't figure out the race chip! Another TNT-er was kind enough to help. Also, our bike pump didn't work! Again, a TNT-er bailed me out. A flat bike tire is NOT good for race day (or any bike ride for that matter).
We headed down toward the lake to get body marked and stand around and get super nervous! It was here that I made my final decision about the swim. I decided to do the swim for the following reasons:
-The amoeba can only be contracted by forcefully inhaling water up your nose. If you wear nose-plugs there is no chance of that!
-Realizing that most of what we heard was media-hype I was able to look at the facts. It was not as dangerous as many would have us believe.
-The lake we did our practice open-water swim in was without a doubt, filled with many more bacteria than the Disney lake!
-I knew if I went home without doing the swim I would regret it.

So, with nose-plugs in hand I prepared for the swim.

The Swim - 1 mile
Nervous about the amoeba and leaky goggles, I had an extra pair of goggles in the side of my tri shorts, and extra nose plugs in my top. Overkill? Probably. Peace of mind? Totally worth it.
I was given some very good advice about the swim. Don't try to start in the front! You get beat up by other participants, which supposedly is by accident. (I'm kidding. Hopefully no one is out for blood.) I let those more experienced triathletes get in before me. I'm not sure why, but open water swimming is very intimidating. It took me a full 1/3 of a mile to get my breathing and stroke under control. After that, it was smooth sailing. The course was well marked with buoys along our left, and boats along our right. I felt safe the entire time.
My favorite part was realizing the ground was close enough to stand on! I stood in the lake and ran towards the swim finish. What a rush!

The Bike - 36 miles

Entering the transition area, I realized that my spare pair of goggles and nose plugs were no longer with me! I assumed they found their way to the bottom of the Disney lake. My transition from swim to bike was nothing spectacular.
I took longer in transition than most, but it was worth getting an extra two bites of Power Bar and a few big gulps of Gatorade. I was completely intimidated by the bike because of the mileage. Prior to the race, the furthest I ever biked was 28 miles. I was worried for no reason! Here in Lexington, our training ground is full of hills. Orlando is basically flat. I remember 4 hills, but the rest was flat. I thoroughly enjoyed the bike!

The Run - 6.2 miles
Coming in off of the bike and dismounting was interesting. It took a few seconds to get my legs underneath me, and I headed to the transition area again. This transition is always easier than the first. I headed out into the very hot Orlando sun. The run was through the Fort Wilderness property which, no surprise here, is wooded! Unfortunately, this means there is little chance for a breeze. It was as hot as a sauna. The run was the toughest part of the whole race. I jogged probably 2 miles and did a quick walk the rest of the way.
At mile 5, it hit me that the race was almost over. I was overwhelmed with a feeling of accomplishment not to mention those that I participated in honor and memory of were heavy on my mind. I cried for the last mile. Yes, I am a crier. The volunteers kept asking if I was ok, and all I could say is "Yes!".

The Finish
Crossing the finish line was such an amazing feeling. I can't believe I did it! I was greeted by my mentor Linda, and friends Anna, John, and Brett. It was so great to see them all and trade stories about our race. We each received a finisher's medal and a camera in our face wanting pictures! I was not feeling terribly photogenic, but smiled nonetheless. Hopefully they didn't get too close :o)
After that, I got to cheer on the rest of our team as they crossed the finish line. That was great. While packing up my things, I noticed a few strange things about what I was wearing. There was a strange thing sticking out of my waistband which turned out to be my spare goggles! They stayed with me the entire race. My spare noseplugs were also with me! I was so intent on finishing I didn't notice either one.

The Party!
After the race, between helping a teammate who was injured and getting my own things back to my cabin, it was time to get showered and head to the victory party. No rest for the weary! We went to downtown Disney for dinner and a party. We had a wonderful time! By the time I got back to the cabin it was midnight. Talk about a long day! I slept like I have never slept before.

September 24th
Sean, Linda and I headed to the Magic Kingdom for the day. It was wonderful. There were very few lines, and we got to ride everything we wanted to! However, after walking all day sore does not begin to describe how I felt. We found a restaurant on Disney property and had dinner, then headed to the cabin. Again, sleep came easily. It was fantastic!

September 25th
We got on the plane and made our way back to Kentucky. I had the time of my life!

September 13, 2007 Meningitis, encephalitis anyone?

I received an alarming email last night! The Disney Sports Attractions group emailed everyone, urging us to wear noseplugs for the swim because of an amoeba Naegleria fowleri that can infect the body and cause meningoencephalitis. From the Orange County Department of Health: "The amoeba invades the brain and the disease progresses rapidly usually resulting in death within 3 to 7 days." WHAT???

Evidently there is a problem with the lakes in central Florida, and they've had 3 confirmed cases of the infection so far. A Florida child passed away earlier this summer from the infection. If you'd like to read further, please see this website: http://www.orchd.com/

Unfortunately, this is not the only negative info we've received about this lake. The lake is not open to the visitors of the Disney property because of a risk of meningitis. The triathlon is the only time people are allowed in the water. I was trying not to focus on this (or the alligators) but with the latest info I'm a little more than concerned!

I have no idea if we will actually participate in the swim during the triathlon. That means I will be doing a "duathlon" instead. It's disappointing after all this training, specifically when the swim is my strong point!

More info to come...

September 9, 2007 Try another sprint tri

Today I had a sprint distance tri at Cave Run Lake in Morehead, KY. This one was tough! It consisted of a 500 yard swim, 13 mile bike, and 3.1 mile run.

The swim was exhausting. I've decided that open water swimming is much more difficult that pool swimming! I couldn't catch my breath and had to breathe every other stroke instead of every third. I got out of the water completely worn out.
The bike was a good one. A few rolling hills, but for the most part it was a flat ride. I hope to get my computer installed on my bike soon so I can track my speed. I have no idea how long it took!

The run was, as usual, tough. Thankfully, my knees aren't bothering me too much anymore, but my ankles are another story. I did make it, and jogged probably about half of the distance. I hope to be able to jog about half of the distance at Disney!

Things I've learned:
-Hydration is key. I did not drink enough yesterday or this morning, and I didn't begin to feel like myself until I got on the bike and started drinking Gatorade. I will not repeat that stunt.

-Bring a watch. Since this race did not have the chip-timing technology, we will only know our total time once it is posted, but will not know the time of the individual events. Since running definitely is not my sport, it is encouraging to see my times on the other events. A watch would be very helpful.

-Having team members with you is alot of fun! I thoroughly enjoyed doing this race with my team. We've had alot of fun together, and I couldn't imagine doing it on my own.

Disney is just two weeks away. I can't believe it!

August 19 - 31, 2007 Half the battle

Thanks to so much support, I've met my fundraising goal! And I shouldn't say met... My goal has been exceeded! I'm proud to say that to this point I've raised $4,822.00 for The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

I'm overwhelmed to realize how many people have been involved in this journey with me. Thank you to the many who have supported me financially as well as emotionally! They say a triathlon is as much a mental game as a physical one. I'm not quite sure I'm there physically, but with all of your kind words I know I'm there mentally.

The major highlights of the past two weeks are:
Another bake sale - This one was in Danville. The turnout wasn't quite as big as Lexington, but hey, every penny counts!

Hurt ankles - Yes, I did say ankles, plural. I've injured them both. My physical therapist is none too pleased. I was feeling so good jogging I thought I'd try increasing my speed. Not a good idea! Slow and steady is the name of the game. For now, I'm still healing. Hopefully I can jog again soon!

"Brick" workouts - What a challenge. Brick workouts help get your muscles ready for the transition between bike and run. We biked for four miles and then ran/jogged/walked a mile. We did three sets of that workout, and let me tell you it was tough! Not nearly as bad as I was expecting, but it really is hard going from bike to run. Not to mention this unbearable heat!

Long swim workouts - This is the part I LOVE! One of the swims was actually a two-mile workout, with one mile of solid swimming; no breaks at all. I finished with energy to spare. Since the race is a 1-mile swim, I feel great about where I am in my training!

No bike falls - Every week without a bike fall is a good one. I can now count the past two weeks (almost three) fall-free!

With my fundraising goal exceeded, I can now breathe easier and concentrate solely on training (and staying injury-free!). I feel like I've won half the battle! Now if I can just cross that finish line...

August 18, 2007 I've found my calling

Today Anna and I went to Mallard Point just outside of Georgetown, KY to watch my other three team members, Britt, Erin, and Sean (and other TNT friends) participate in the Lame Duck Try-athlon. Coach Susan wanted us to do either the Tom Sawyer Tri, which I did, or the Lame Duck. After watching the festivities today, I know I made the right decision! The tri was around the same lake I had my first open water swim in. It's a very beautiful area but the terrain is extremely hilly!

They started out in the lake with a 0.4 mile swim. If you look closely at the first picture, you'll see little dots of color that are actually swim caps! (Click on the picture to enlarge) It was one of the coolest things I've ever seen. Watching them come out of the water and run to the transition area was amazing. If you have never watched a triathlon in person, I highly recommend it.

As soon as they came out of the water we got to yell and scream for them. It was so much fun! I've decided I'd like to be a Professional Tri Spectator. It takes alot of stamina to yell for everyone and also a good eye to spot your fellow teammates. Because of this, I feel it would be almost as challenging to be a spectator as participating in the tri itself. Ok, you're right. What a cop-out! It was a lot of fun though.

After the swim was a 9 mile bike ride. Yes, my ride was 14 miles, but mostly flat. When I say the terrain is hilly at Mallard Point, I mean there are NO flat areas. At all times you are either going uphill or downhill. And these are not easy hills at all! Just watching them coming downhill was scary. They gain so much speed, if anything went wrong there would have been a serious accident. Thankfully, no one was hurt! I even confirmed this with the emergency medical crew there; they said it had been a very uneventful day for them. Thank goodness!

After the bike was a run that was just under 3 miles. Again, we are talking uphill and downhill the whole way. It looked like torture. I was perfectly content cheering at the sidelines! Everyone did extremely well, and was even able to smile after crossing the finish line! You guys are awesome.

In the second picture is my team as well as many other TNT participants from past seasons. I wish I knew everyone's name! From the left is Sean, Erin, me, and Britt. In the red t-shirt is Coach Susan. In the crown is birthday girl Stephanie (yes, she turned 30 today and wanted to celebrate by doing the Lame Duck tri!). At the end on the right is mentor Treacy.

What a fun day. I'm getting my resume together to apply for the Professional Tri Spectator job, but no one is hiring! I'm staying hopeful.

Go Team! See how good I am at that?

August 17, 2007 Almost there!

I went on a 20 mile bike ride with Anna, John, and their friend Brett. Just in case you thought I was kidding about how beautiful Lexington is, take a look at the pictures just so you get a taste of what we get to look at while we ride! Click the picture to enlarge it to get the full effect.













I'm SO CLOSE on my fundraising goal of $4,500! I just checked today, and my total is up to $4,217. If you haven't donated yet, it's not too late!

http://www.active.com/donate/tntky/tntkyMJill

Thanks to all of you who have already donated, and for your kind words. It means a lot to have so much support!

August 13, 2007 - I fell and had so much fun I thought I'd do it again

They say there are two types of cyclists: those who have fallen off of their bike and those who are going to fall. I now fall in the first category!

The picture is me being silly after the fall(s).

Before you think I had a dramatic, very impressive tumble, let me paint a picture for you. We rode through a very beautiful path that went behind a neighborhood in a nice area of town. Cutting through a ball park, we all stopped at the end of the parking lot. I was going a whopping 0.2 miles per hour and I didn't get out of my pedals in time! So... down I went. I fell to my right, and my hand caught my fall. This is why you should NEVER cycle alone! No one to help you up when you go down. Not to mention, no one to laugh at you! Just kidding, they didn't laugh and were very sweet about it.
My right palm is a little bruised, scratched, and swollen, my right knee has a scratch on it, and (I have NO idea why) my left pinky got caught in something and is swelling as well! It honestly didn't hurt too much, just shook me up a little bit. The only thing I'm concerned about is I've developed two significant lumps on my right knee. I hope this doesn't set my jogging back at all!

So, we headed down the beautiful back roads of Lexington, and came to a stop sign. As we got started I felt my bike going down again! It's weird because you know it's coming but can't do anything about it. So, this time I fell to my left. Ugghh. The second one didn't hurt at all, I was just annoyed that it happened a second time.

I was irritated about the fall and had the option to ride in the truck that Eric was so kind to drive behind us. But, I decided to stick it out and cycle the rest of the way. It made me think about the people Team in Training supports - the Leukemia and Lymphoma patients. They don't have the option to quit when they want. I felt like the least I could do was to finish the ride. Please don't forget to donate to the cause because the patients are the real troopers.

I actually had a few tears when I got home but not for the reason you think. This whole summer has been filled with challenges and it has been so fun! I can't believe it will all be over in a month and a little bit. I'm sad about that! I've gotten to spend lots and lots of time with one of my best friends, Anna and her husband John (I love you guys) and I've gotten the chance to meet a whole group of people I would never have come in contact with otherwise.

As adults, we don't often get the chance or take the time to challenge ourselves and learn new things. I'm determined that this Team in Training experience will be the start to challenging myself and learning new things as long as I live.

Deep thoughts, who knew I had it in me!

August 8 - 12, 2007 Fundraising and a big challenge!

Let's see... The past week has been a good one!

August 8 - Anna, Sean, Linda, Treacy and I went for a bike ride near my house. I know I've said it before, but this area is absolutely beautiful to cycle in! I think we rode about 17 miles in all. It was extremely hot, but the scenery made up for it.

August 10 - Day off!!!!

August 11 - Midsummer Night's Run! This is a 5K run in downtown Lexington. My physical therapy has been going really well, so I wanted to jog as much as possible. Mission accomplished! I walked twice, but my best guess is that I jogged 2.5 miles and walked only .5. Now, my time was not impressive but I'm glad to say my knees are on the mend. I finished in 38.5 minutes.

August 12 - Bake sale / car wash! This one was fantastic. We were at WalMart in Lexington and had great results. So I came away with a good amount to add to my fundraising account. Ahhh, it was a good day.

August 5 - 7, 2007 Many adventures

August 5th - Our first bake sale. I'm about $1,300 shy of my goal (donate here!), so I was very excited about the opportunity! I was NOT excited about getting up early after the triathlon on Saturday. But, I went and actually made $160! It was great.

August 6th - Went cycling with the team. It was HOT. Almost to the point of being unbearable. Coach said the heat index was 107 degrees! I only made it 10 miles and then headed home.

August 7th - Our first open water swim. I was a little unsure about this one. I LOVE the pool for many reasons. Among these reasons are: clear water, lines to tell you you're going straight, no visible creatures in the water, and no weird smell when you get out of the water. So, I wasn't sure how I'd do in an actual lake! We went to Mallard Point which is just outside of Georgetown. The water was VERY green, and the bottom was VERY muddy. Your feet sink when you step into it. I had to just jump in and not think about it!

The swim was so strange. I could see nothing but green when I put my head under water so we are learning how to "site", which means finding a point on land and watching it as you swim. That keeps you going somewhat in a straight line. It's much more difficult than you might think.

All in all I did ok. Open water swimming is not my favorite, but I have to do it before Disney in a month and a half!

In the picture (we smelled SO good after getting out of that water) from left to right is: Erin, Linda, birthday girl Treacy, coach Susan, Britt, Sean, and me.

August 4, 2007 Sprint tri!

I DID IT! I completed my first sprint distance triathlon in Louisville on August 4, 2007. This means a 1/2 mile swim, 14 mile bike, and 3 mile run. The picture from left to right includes: me, coach Susan, John, Treacy, and Anna after the race was over. The other picture is a self-portrait of my race number.

Friday the 3rd, my friends Anna and John and I all met in Louisville. After getting checked in to the hotel, we met our coach to review the bike course. I knew but didn't want to think about how dangerous cycling is! The entire course was on public roadways, which meant we had to be very careful regarding traffic. Driving the course the night before was very helpful. Our coach was able to point out dangerous spots in the road as well as turns to watch out for.

That night, we all had a few butterflies, and didn't sleep right away! I can't tell you how many times I went over in my head what I needed to take with me Saturday morning. Shoes, socks, cycling shoes, towel, sunglasses, sunscreen, backpack, race belt, ID... The list goes on and on!

Saturday morning we got up just before 6:00 since we needed to be at the park no later than 7 AM. I was full of nerves, but managed to pull it together enough to collect everything I needed! After a short drive, we arrived at the park to register and get branded. You have to have your race number drawn on your right shoulder and left-outer calf. I was lucky number 325. No turning back!

Next stop was to set up the transition area. We didn't get to set up transition areas together and had to take what we could get since the other 397 participants were already set up! No problem though, it actually worked out well. I managed not to forget anything, which meant I was able to start the race with one less thing on my mind.

We got set up and then headed to the pool. Since it was a pool swim instead of an open-water swim, all participants went in order by number every 20 seconds. So we had a while to wait before it was our turn! This was great though, because we got to watch the others to see how it should be done.

Time was up. My turn to jump in the pool. I got in and was off! As I've stated before, I'm most comfortable in the pool. The swim Saturday was great! The only problem was having to pass people in the pool. All in all, I passed 10 people and didn't get passed at all. Towards the end, it was too congested to pass, so I suppose my time could have been a little bit faster. Wishful thinking probably!

After getting out of the pool, I had an adrenaline rush that made it hard to focus. The transition was not as quick as I was hoping. But I did finally get it together and started the bike course. The bike was alot easier than I expected. There was only one problem... I lost a water bottle along the way. I've got to practice putting it back on the bike. When we train, it's usually on an area with hills, or at least one long steady hill. The ride Saturday was a couple of hills, but for the most part it was flat. Thank goodness!

The transition from bike to run was much better. I started out on the run in a slow jog, but quickly realized that my knees were throbbing. I ended up walking all but the last 1/2 mile. Crossing that finish line was nothing short of amazing! I can't believe I made it.

We saw our results not too long after the race was over, but didn't write it down. They should have it posted online soon. The only part I know for sure is my swim time! I finished the swim in 18 minutes/41 seconds. All in all I finished in just over two hours. So that's approximately 40 minutes on the bike and 40 minutes on the run. Obviously no land speed records were broken, but I'm completely thrilled that I finished! I actually feel like the Disney triathlon isn't such a stretch anymore.

I'M A TRIATHLETE!

July 29 - August 3, 2007 Getting ready

What a week! This week I spent trembling at the thought that I had a sprint distance triathlon on Saturday, August 4th in Louisville. Training is back on as usual!

Monday we went cycling, and I'm getting a little bit better. I'm well aware that cycling is not my sport! Not to mention that our rides are one big mile-long circle. Scenery is non existant! So, as you can imagine, I'm ready to see some new training ground. My coach said I'm too stretched out on my bike, so back to the bike shop I go for some more adjustments!

Tuesday and Thursday we were at the pool. Any day at the pool is a good day, as far as I'm concerned. I was shocked when our coach told me my time on the half-mile swim. I did it in 18.5 minutes! It felt great. When I signed up for the triathlon, I was fully expecting the one mile swim to take around an hour to finish. It looks like I should be able to finish in about 40 minutes!
Wednesday I took my bike back to the shop and spent about an hour getting the positioning correct. Turns out that the handlebars were a little too far away! That explained the pain between my shoulderblades.

Friday, we're off to Louisville! Hopefully I'm ready to put the three sports together. I can't believe I'm doing this!

July 18 - July 28, 2007 New purchase

I did it! I finally purchased a new bike. It took several days to ride different ones, and also to find a bike shop that I trust completely.

My first ride was Friday, July 20th. We went down the scenic roads of the Lexington countryside. Beautiful doesn't even begin to describe it! We went 28 miles. Yes, you are right, that was too much for me as a beginner. I had a fairly severe pain between my shoulder blades, and my legs cramped for two days after the ride! However, I do love my bike. It's going to take a while to get used to "clipless" pedals, but it sure does make a difference on distance and speed while biking. Mountain bikes are great, but not for long distances on pavement!

July 22 - 28th I went to Minneapolis for a work-related training session. It didn't exactly come at a great time as far as training goes, but what can you do??? I did make it to the pool once, and used the treadmill three times. I'm a little bit behind schedule!

July 11 - July 17, 2007 Downer

I really wish this race was entirely in the water! I had a fairly discouraging bike ride yesterday. I'm glad I've already recommitted to the team, or I'd have second thoughts about completing the training and going through with the race.

I haven't purchased a new bike yet because I can't decide which one is the right one for me. I can get an entry level road bike for a fairly reasonable price. OR, I can get the next step up for around $300 more. It's hard to know what to do! Hopefully the Orlando race will not be my one and only so I will get my money out of the bike purchase. BUT there are no guarantees!

Thankfully, we swim tonight. Hopefully I'll be in better spirits!

June 26 - July 10, 2007 Physical Therapy

I was on vacation last week, so training was not exactly "as usual"! I went with my two best friends to the Smoky Mountains. We had a great time! I got one really good swim workout in, and I figured between the walking and hiking, I'm not too far off track.

I went to the physical therapist yesterday, and had some good news. The problem isn't actually in my knees! My knees are what takes the brunt of other muscles not being strong enough. So, he gave me several exercises to do twice a day. I'm so excited to know that I will probably be able to jog for the triathlon.

I've decided that a new bike is in order. My mountain bike is great if I'm just joy-riding, but not so much when speed and conserving energy is a big deal! The big tires on my bike are not very efficient. So tomorrow I go to get measured. I'm going to get what fits me physically, and what fits my budget!

June 21 - 25, 2007 Keep on keeping on

Saturday we had a stretching clinic. It was very informative! I was glad to hear that my knee problems are usually easy to correct. I'm making an appointment with a physical therapist ASAP.

We also had our bikes checked out by the bike guru. I knew what I would hear. My bike is too small for me. It's a mountain bike that I bought at a yard sale. Probably not triathlon material, but it's all I have! I'm not really in a position to buy a new bike. Even so, I'll be putting enough into the bike I have that I will look into what a new one would cost. I don't see it happening though :o)

Swimming more and more! I finally had the guts to go to the Sunday practice. Why, you ask? The Sunday practice is a much longer course. About twice as long as the regular one. I went and completed the whole workout. It was not easy by any means. The total workout was 1.8 miles. Exhausting. But fantastic at the same time!

My fundraising is going pretty well. I'm not as far along as I'd like to be, but I'm getting there! Don't forget to donate! It's for a wonderful cause.

May 30 - June 20 Back on track

Wow, I haven't blogged in a while! Alot has happened. I've been sick, I'm training alot at work, and I've been traveling!

So, my triathlon training has not been as consistent as it should be. The only thing I'm consistent on is swimming. I'm told this is a good thing! It's the most dangerous part of the triathlon, so the better prepared you are in the water the better.

From here on out, I've got to focus on biking and running! Our first official bike as a team is this Saturday. Cross your fingers for me!

May 29, 2007 Masters swim

There is a group of "Masters" swimmers that swim at the same time as the TNT group. They have amazingly perfect form! Our coach works with both groups.

She has workout sheets, and gave me one tonight. I was actually able to finish it! Now, I know I took longer breaks than the Masters swimmers, but it was great just to be able to finish it.

May 28, 2007 Spectator

I got to watch a sprint-distance triathlon today! I was most interested to see the transition from the pool to the bike. It was great to watch those who actually knew what they were doing. I have a long way to go...

Afterwards, I met a few friends to bike ride. I ended up riding about 12 miles. After the ride I attempted to walk and my legs were absolutely nothing more than jelly! Wow, this is going to be tough to ride 36 miles AND jog/walk 6.2 miles.

May 26, 2007 Running, ick

Today I met a few members of the team to run/jog/walk. With my knee issues, I decided to walk. In all, we went 2.6 miles. My new shoes are great!

After the group walk, my friend and I went to lunch. Afterwards I went to get my car washed. They said it would be about 2 hours before my car would be ready, so I decided to walk to the nearest shopping haven. I didn't realize how far it was! I ended up walking another 2 miles.

A little bit of walking, little bit of shopping, a very clean car... All in all, a great day!

May 25, 2007 New shoes!

Today I bought my first pair of real running shoes. I bought a pair of Mezunos. They were the only ones that fit my narrow feet!

Can't wait to try them out.

May 23, 2007 Meet the team

Tonight was the official start to the training season! We met our teams and our mentors.

A mentor is someone who has been there, done that. They answer questions about training, help with fundraising, and are there to cheer you on! My mentor is really nice.

There are two triathlon teams, and together there are about 12 of us. It should be alot of fun! Not only are we raising money for a great cause, our physical well-being will improve, and I get to meet new people along the way.

Now more than ever, I'm worried about that monstrous $4,500 I have to raise. The wheels are turning... I've got to come up with some creative ideas!

May 22, 2007 Ahhh, success!

Tonight was another unofficial swim. I swam at the gym once between our last meeting and the one we had tonight. I tried everything I could to keep from swimming flat!

So I got in the water tonight and swam a few lengths of the pool. The coach said "Good job". I suppose I should be a little more grown up and not get so excited about a compliment, but this came from a world-class, Iron Man winning athlete! I have to admit, it felt great.

So, I've got the form down for freestyle swimming. I need to work on my endurance/breathing and learn some new drills. One small step for me, and one small step in preparing for the triathlon!

May 16, 2007 My first practice

Tonight was my first time at the pool. Not the first official TNT (Team in Training) practice, but the coach said we need to get in the pool ASAP. Like I said in my first blog, I was feeling fairly confident about my swimming. Once I started swimming and the coach watched, she informed me (nicely of course) that I'm doing it wrong!

I tend to swim "flat." Before tonight I had never even heard that term! Well, it seems that I don't use my whole body when I swim laps, just my arms. Now I know your whole body should turn as you take a stroke. While it's going to be difficult to retrain myself to swim correctly, it's great to know that the correct way is actually less work! I should be able to swim much further than I thought.

So the coach had some swim drills to help me learn how to stroke correctly. I did the drills until my right calf decided to cramp and wouldn't ease up. Coach said to make sure I'm well hydrated next time!

My first practice was not what I expected, but I'll get there. I'm determined.

May 9, 2007 Getting started

Triathlon! I've wanted to do one for about 6 years now, and with a very intense period coming up at work I thought this would be an ideal way to relieve stress!

I'm doing a triathlon under the careful watch of an organization called "Team in Training," better known as TNT. About three years ago, my sister trained with TNT to race-walk a marathon. She had a great experience so I thought I'd look into it. It's a fantastic cause. With the funds you raise (there is a goal amount), three fourths of the funds are given directly to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society for research.

Tonight was the informational meeting. They basically show you the reason they exist, which is to support the Leukemia and Lymphoma society. The stories will break your heart. It really makes you feel connected to the cause. So thankfully, I went ahead and signed up before I had a chance to chicken out!

I got to meet the triathlon coach. She's the definition of a seasoned athlete. She's been doing triathlons for many many years, and has won the Iron Man competition for her age group twice. I have no idea how I got so lucky to have such an experienced coach!

For those who don't know, a triathlon consists of swimming, biking and running. There are several different types. I will be participating in an Olympic Distance triathlon in Orlando, Florida on September 23rd. This usually means: 1-mile swim, 25-mile bike and 6.2 mile run. For "safety reasons" they have changed the bike ride to 36-miles. This concerns me just a little!

My strongest sport is swimming. I'm very comfortable in the water and have swum many many laps in the pool. My weakest sport is running. I have bad knees and get very sore when I start to jog or run. Hopefully, the cross-training I'll be doing will improve the strength of my knees.

My biggest concerns are: my knees, and raising the goal amount of money. I need to raise a total of $4,500! This is going to be a monumental task. I'm just glad I have several months to get it done! This will probably mean many car washes, bake sales, letter campaigns, etc. And, by the way, if you'd like you can donate online! Please go to: http://www.active.com/donate/tntky/tntkyMJill.

So, here's to the biggest physical challenge of my life! Thanks for reading.