September 29, 2009
Mari

Like so many of the team, I did the long rehearsal this past Saturday. We did it in conjunction with the CWW tri club women training for the Arizona Ironman. This meant that Yoli and a few other coaches were there for support for the day. I had a race plan and executed it with flexibility and precision, which seems contradictory, but if you are a person with diabetes and an athlete, you know exactly what I’m talking about.

I realized while I was out there swimming 1.33 miles (it was a meter pool), biking 56 miles and running 10 miles, that I absolutely love this sport. Granted I knew that before I embarked for the day, but doing it, feeling it, suffering, and loving it all at once merged into this beautiful realization about why I love it.

It’s because of the continual learning that happens. It’s why I can hardly wait until next season to do it all again, there are so many lessons I’ve learned this season that I am excited to put into place next season. Here are a few of the things I realized and learned this past Saturday that are key for me to remember on race day. And like Ramona said in her blog, what we learn is highly personal. These are my learnings!

Do not take any supplements or vitamins race day (or the day before) I knew this from previous race days, but I forgot. As a result, my stomach hurt in part because of this. Small but important detail. This sport is ALL about the details!





Put body glide on all my seams under my arms and inside my socks. Chafing and blisters are a new thing for me and body glide really works. Thanks Coach Bree for having some available mid-way through the run! I plan to have a stick of the stuff at both our transitions.





I really love having the sensor on the day before and during the race.
With the help of the continuous glucose monitor (the sensor) I did a great job the day before the rehearsal of keeping my blood sugar above 80 mg/dl the full 24 hours before the event. As Marcey, our Sports Dietician, reminded us, it’s important for glycogen stores in the liver to be topped off and fully available on race day, which means any low blood sugars in the 24 hours before the event make a serious dent in those stores. The sensor is a great tool we have available to us.


I am not very social right before, during or immediately after the race. I really like and need to get into my own story, into my own head and body space. My interactions with team mates are best limited to very superficial and upbeat comments and words of encouragement. I tend to smile a lot, but no details. I don’t want to share what’s happening with my blood sugars or discuss my plan of action. And as important, I don’t want to hear the details of what your blood sugar is doing or how your plan is going, that’s your story and I get distracted by those details. And before and during the race the name of the game is FOCUS. Once I’m done and have gotten some food, then I love exchanging our stories.


Carrying two water bottles on the hot run is perfect. I have one water bottle in my fuel belt and one bottle with electrolytes that I carry in the back of my sports bra (thanks Coach Celeste for this hot tip!) With all this extra water available, I can spray myself down and stay cool. This was a key to staying focused during the heat on Saturday.




The coaches and fans on the route really make a difference! I love the cheering and the support and the blast of energy and encouragement that comes as they yell and smile and jump up and down. I can feel it pull me to the finish line! And crossing that finish line is what it’s all about. As Sally Edwards says, “the woman who starts the race is not the same woman who finishes.” I’m excited to see what women we’ll all be at the finish of the Longhorn.

September 28, 2009
Ramona

Ok – I know it’s not a miracle, but it almost feels like one. On my big rehearsal yesterday, my blood sugars stayed between 88 and 168. The rehearsal (1.2 mi swim, 56 mi bike, 13 mi run) took me 8 hours and 45 minutes, and the WHOLE time by blood sugars stayed within that range! During my previous rehearsals, I’ve struggled to keep my blood sugars below 300, particularly on the bike. But check out yesterday’s numbers!

My experience yesterday convinces me that practice is invaluable. For each previous rehearsal, I’ve painstakingly planned and recorded my insulin, carbohydrates, and blood sugars. Finally, all the data paid off! I’ve learned that I have to be very aggressive when I get out of the water. Yesterday, I took 100% of my missed basal, 100% correction, and 150% (!) bolus for a goo. Even more unbelievable, I left my basal rate at 100% almost the entire rehearsal! Without practice, I never would have had the guts to be so aggressive. But gradually I’ve learned what I need. I understand that it is different from what many other women need, and I feel empowered to know that I have been able to identify what, I think, are my unique needs.

In Austin, it would not surprise me if the exact same strategy I used yesterday totally fails me when I try it again. But that’s ok. What’s important to me at this stage is that once – just ONCE – my blood sugars were about as perfect as I ever hoped they’d be during 8+ hours of exercise. It gives me confidence that it can happen again, even if it doesn’t in Austin. And I hope for those of you still waiting for your perfectly “in-range” rehearsal, it gives you hope that it can happen to you too!

September 27, 2009
Karen L.

This being my first triathlon season, there’s all kind of stuff to learn. I know what T1 and T2 are now. I know about putting stretch laces in my running shoes so I don’t have to spend time tying them in transition. I’ve learned to rub Body Glide on my ankles and wrists to ease wetsuit removal.

We’ve all got to answer a lot of questions in preparing for race day. What will I eat, and when? Where will I place myself in the wave start in the water? How will I set up my transition area?

Those of us with diabetes have some other things to learn and think about during our training and events. When will I eat before the event, and how much insulin will I take for it? What emergency snacks will I have on me in the water, and how? What will I do with my non-waterproof insulin pump during the swim? How often will I test my blood sugar during the bike ride? How will I test it? Where will I carry my fuel and blood sugar meter on the run?

I’ve been working a little on the testing-while-biking aspect of the whole equation. Here’s a closeup of the front of my bike, showing the aero bars. It’s nice that the ultra mini is such small meter:

September 25, 2009
Karyn B.

I’m Karyn and I’m new to the Team! So, I’m new to Team WILD but not new to team diabetes - I have had Type I diabetes since 04/10/1990. Yeah, most people probably don’t remember the EXACT date of diagnosis but it was my 15th birthday … I’m also new to being an athlete with diabetes. At the beginning of the summer I had set my sights on 100km on my bicycle and fundraising for Tour de Cure which benefits the American Diabetes Association. I did it – I had a tire blow out and had FUN!
I was sitting for the picture of all the Red Riders – people with diabetes who rode the ride, no matter what length…. 100 miles, 100km, etc. There is this very lively woman next to me who asks “Do you run?”. No, I answer (that’s a whole other story of why I don’t run). She then asks “Do you swim?”. Again, no. I HATE fish and don’t want to be in the water with them – again, LONG story. She says “Remind me to give you a card – would you ride your bicycle in a half-marathon on a relay team?”. I don’t even hesitate and answer YES. OH BOY! That is how I met Mari.
At the beginning of this summer I had commited to 62 miles… I weighed 190 lbs and my A1C was 7.6% when I did this. My first ‘long ride’ was 12 miles. WOW. 12 miles is a normal, short lunch ride now. Well, 5 months later I weigh 155lbs and my last A1C was 5.9%! If I had met Mari a year ago I would have ‘hemmed and hawed’ about a half-triathlon team. No way I could EVER do that. And yet, 2 weeks later I had a bike case rented and plane tickets purchased. I’m not even registered for the race yet but even if that doesn’t materialize I will be there to cheer these ladies on.
I have been out of the state (Colorado) and away from my bicycle for a week now. I have been on a stationary bicycle once this week. I will be home in a few days and the very first thing that I will do is get on my bicycle and ride until I remember how happy it makes me and since I will only be 10 feet from my front door I’ll go ahead and ride a few more miles (like 10 or 20). My bicycle makes me happy and the opportunity to show the world what athletes with diabetes can do makes me even happier. (There, I said it, ATHLETE – nope, I have never said that about myself before).
See ya in TEXAS ladies!

September 25, 2009
Sarah W.

I’ve learned in life, and throughout this past year in training that you kinda have to just go with the flow….
Things happen that you don’t predict and although timing might be bad, you have to move forward and work with what you can.
I had a gastroparesis attack a few weeks ago that has set me back in training. I get these attacks about once or twice a year and of course it had to come a month and half before our race! But I am slowly recovering and will be back to training hopefully this week!
I also have hurt my hip (another frustrating thing so close to the race!) and will probably not be able to do the run. At first I was extremely upset. I thought I have put so much hard work in this past year, and now I can’t even do the whole race! But again, I realized you gotta go with the flow. There is nothing I can do about it now, so I will go to Austin and have the best swim and bike of my life!

September 22, 2009
Lyndsay

This past week was a recovery week, with a lighter training weekend. Saturday I swam, and Sunday a 5 mile run. As I went for my “short run” I thought about how in the past, a 5 mile run or 25 mile bike was a daunting goal, and now it was considered my light day.

The previous weekend I successfully completed the training recommendations: a 1.5 mile swim, 14 mile run, and 75 mile ride. In all three sports, I went the farthest I had ever gone (in one weekend!) I have been committed to this team for over a year now. Yet, even 6 months ago if you told me I would be having this type of weekend, my mouth still would have dropped and I would have thought, wow, I am not sure that I could do that.

Although it is a real feel good moment to think how far I have come in the past year, more importantly I think about how my experience and evolution as a diabetic athlete can be used to encourage others. Today, my family, friends, and coworkers think I am “hard core.” However, it wasn’t too long ago I was in beginner shoes! After all, that is the whole inspiration story of Team WILD—showing the power of support, education, and that hard work pays off!

September 21, 2009
Kathleen

3:37am BG 293
Woken up by crazy thunder & lightening. Let’s eat! Granola and yogurt (40cho). Take full meal bolus and full correction. Back to bed.
7:00am BG 164
Alarm goes off and it is raining. Blood sugar, on target!
7:30am BG: 174
Waiting for Kristen at Golden Gate Park. Eat one GU (24cho). Mental note: take periodic sips of Gatorade all day. Fuel and hydrate!
Kristen I make it safely over the Golden Gate Bridge despite hundreds of riders participating in the MS Ride. Way too many cyclists and way too many cyclists pulling over to take their photo on “the” bridge. People! It’s just an orange bridge, it’s foggy, you can’t see anything, and there are thousands of us trying to get past you on a walkway maybe 4 feet wide. Kristen and I agree there’s an upside, good practice riding in a crowd.
8:23am BG 148
Meet up with Lisa & Daniel in Sausalito. Loud thunder cracks and big drops start falling. Daniel bails. He’s cold. Poor baby! What does he expect; he’s a runner and has like zero body fat! We tough insulated girls head out to Tiburon/Blackie’s Pasture.
9:04am BG 180
Despite the awful weather, a dozen from my local tri group show up to Blackie’s Pasture. Coach gives us a pep talk and instructions for the 8 mile Paradise Loop. Focus on form! Eat a GU (24cho) and I’m on my way. Keep drinking Gatorade.
Ok, this Loop is really curvy AND rolling, very wet, lots of debris on the road, cars and very disorienting b/c I’ve never been on it before and I’m afraid I will miss the turn back. You might say “Watch the riders in front of you”. Well, I’m so dead last that they are out of eye sight. Wait, what’s that I hear, someone is behind me. I’m not pulling up the rear! I don’t care that they headed out after me, I’m not dead last! We make the turn together and are back to our “transition” area…..together!
9:50am BG 170
Feeling good and transitioning into the run. 30 minutes. Coach says 15 minutes out, 14 back. Take my dry sneakers out of my plastic bag and put my biking shoes in there b/c it’s raining again.
Wow, I’m tight. I don’t feel winded (which is good) but my left shin is achy. Keep going. Ooooo….porto potty, better stop. Ick! I run/walk the 15 minutes and see Mona walking on her way back. We power walk back together. 15 minutes out, 13 back….walking!
10:30am BG 172
I need more nutrition. Clif Blox. It’s like a Lay’s potato chip, you can’t eat just one. I inhaled all 6! I was hungry and they are so good. 6x8=48cho. Hmmm, insulin? Probably. Just take enough to cover 1. Don’t want to get low.
While on the run, a gremlin flattens our tires. Sneaky coach. Wait, mine is not flat. Mums the word. It’s been a long day already and we’ve done several tire changing clinics, Tony showed me in Denver, I’m fine not changing mine today. I help Lisa with hers and then I’m first out on the next 8 mile bike Loop.
Second Loop, awesome. I feel more comfortable, I take the turns a little more quickly and only 2 people pass me (Lisa & Kevin). Almost at the final turn and hard stuff is falling onto my helmet. I think its nuts from the trees but I see its hail. Hail!
11:30am BG 318
I guess I should’ve taken more insulin for the 6 Clif Blox. (Shocker!) Just take a little. Transition again to the run. 20 minutes.
I feel pretty good on this run, looser, no shin pain. 10 minutes out, 9 minutes back.
12:18pm BG 225
BG coming down. Ok, where is everyone? It’s just me, Lisa and Kevin. Wait, this is what it feels like to be in the front of the pack. You wait for everyone else. Yes! I do a little “I’m in the front of the pack” dance.
The group sets up blankets and we all eat a picnic lunch. It was the very best turkey sandwich on wheat bread that I’ve ever had. Take half bolus b/c I’m riding back to SF. We sat around chatting about our Olympic tri next weekend in Santa Cruz, the house we rented, we’ll have a pre race pasta dinner and a post race BBQ on the beach. What a great day it is today. Wait, what’s that? The SUN! Pass the sunscreen ‘cause the sun is shining bright over Blackie’s Pasture. Heaven!
1:17pm BG 285
Kristen. Lisa and I head out on our bikes to the cheers of our teammates as they ALL get into their cars. That’s right, we’re riding back!
1:45 BG155
Still sunny as we near Sausalito to drop off Lisa. Wait, who is that we see on the bike path heading towards us? Daniel. The sun is out and he’s heading out for a ride. We are sweaty, dirty and muddy. I think he’s impressed. Eat a GU, coming down a little too quickly and there’s a huge long hill on the way to the Bridge from Sausalito. I need some fuel to get me up that hill.
2:22pm 116
Kristen stayed with me the entire time up Alexander Ave. How supportive is that? We are at the Bridge, it’s foggy and we are almost home! Easy peasy from here. Drink some Gatorade and we take our time. Wow, it’s really windy on the Bridge. Really windy.
Off the Bridge, into the historic Presidio, down Arguello Street (We make every light!) and into Golden Gate Park back where we started almost 8 hours ago.
3:10 pm
Kristen and I separate feeling like Champs!! I ride the 4 blocks home with a grin on my face. I’m beat!
4pm BG 90
Just had the best shower of my life! AND, my blood sugar is so IN RANGE.

I Love The Plan!

Thank you Marcey! You are an amazing nutritionist and CDE.

September 15, 2009
Jennifer A.

When I signed up to do this ½ Ironman way back when, I had never done a triathlon. As Jenna stated in her blog, I didn’t (and still don’t) consider myself an athlete. I ran a couple years ago to stay healthy. Then, I got sucked into doing a ½ marathon last year, went to Diabetes Training Camp, and somehow I became a triathlete. Since I had never done a triathlon, I signed up for a few races to get my feet wet. My first 2 sprint distance triathlons went ok… but the swim part gave me anxiety every time I started regardless of how much I trained. Although I finished both races with a fair time, I was disappointed in myself that I didn’t give my best effort on the swim.

Two weeks ago was my first Olympic distance triathlon, the Chicago Triathlon, which by the way, is the largest triathlon in the world. This will be my last triathlon before Longhorn. It was 8 weeks from the big race and approximately half the distance. So, I thought, perfect for a training race. But, in the back of my mind, I was thinking about the swim. If I freaked out again, I would be going into Austin with low confidence in my abilities. And, I function much better with self-confidence built from experience.

One week prior to the triathlon, I went to the lake to practice an open water swim. For some reason (well besides it being Chicago), the water was very choppy and freezing, about 60 degrees. The last sprint I did was 58 degrees and I couldn’t breath because it was freezing. I thought to myself, I had to do this because who knows what it will be like next week during the race. I watched as some swimmers looked and left stating, "it's too rough to swim." Determined to get my work-out in, I put my wet suit on and headed in. I overheard some of guys bigger than me state, "well, if she's going in..." The water was frigid, but I managed to swim the mile and got a good arm work-out swimming though the waves.

The following week, I contemplated my plan. Will I use Levemir or try the waterproof pump Aquapak I bought months ago (and never once used). There would be a 3 hour lapse from the time transition closed to my wave start. After help from Mari (via Facebook), I decided on the Aquapak. The weather was cold in the morning, but by the time my wave started, it was perfect weather with the sun peaking out of the now scattered clouds. The swim was a tread start. I got in, the bell went off and so did I. I was relaxed and just swam. No anxiety, no fears that I was going to drown. It was a great swim. And, I finished the swim 8 minutes faster than my usual pace. I was glowing getting out of the water.

Since the swim was over, I was at ease for the bike and the run. I even found a way to strap my glucometer onto my aerobars and was able to check my blood sugars while going 18-20 mph down lakeshore drive, which was consistently in the 90-120 range. I was tired during the run, but I was determined to make it a best effort. No once did I stop running (well except for the water breaks). I finished around the time I wanted to do and was proud. I ran to the finish with a big smile on my face. This was definitely the confidence booster I needed. All the training paid off! AUSTIN, HERE I COME!!

September 13, 2009
Jennafer C.

This is a label that I toy with while I am training. When I think athlete, I in vision a trim, toned, and able to complete any active activity person. So, am I an Athlete? Can I wear my cute pink Nike t-shirt with "ATHLETE" in red printed on it honestly without feeling like a fraud? I am a few pounds over weight, have some muscle some where, and can complete most active activities with a good effort and lots of struggling. I have felt like a wanna be "Athlete." If you look through my box of gear that I keep by my door, I have all the makings of an Athlete. That box is full of swim caps, running shoes, the stick, football cleats, running gloves for winter, road id, heart rate monitor, biking shoes, you name it, if it has to do with any of my activities, it is in that box. I have just been back into training since mid August. I completed the Chicago Triathlon Sprint distance a few minutes faster with only 2 true weeks of training than any of my sprint triathlons that I trained for all summer last year. I was on cloud 9 crossing the finish line at Chicago. Good friends were cheering me on and I was finally able to do it instead of cheering my friends on. I am back in the game! But, was I an Athlete yet? My final acceptance of calling myself an Athlete came later that night. I am a Pilot and had to catch a commercial flight to NYC later that evening to fly a private jet for a week. When I got to my hotel in NYC, I realized I packed everything to continue my training while traveling: RoadID, water bottle, nutrition, heart rate monitor, swim suit, cap, goggles, running shoes, and clothes for running. What I didn't pack was my round brush for drying my hair out straight or flat iron. I realized my desire to keep up with my training was a priority over my desire to look professional while working.... I am an Athlete! I'm going to start wearing my pink "ATHLETE" t shirt proudly.

September 12, 2009
Kathleen

Women who are unable to come to Texas (regardless of the reason): You will be missed and my thoughts are with you b/c I just know this must have been a hard decision for each of you to make. This was definitely a hard commitment for me to keep and there were many times I thought I would drop out so I can appreciate what you went through to come to your final decision. Big hugs from SF.

My personal reflections and some thoughts that have gotten me through this ever changing year (both with our team and my own life) are:

• I can’t believe that I have been doing this tri thing for over a year! I have never worked so hard both mentally and physically and this journey has been very rewarding even though EXTREMELY challenging.

• I am so proud of myself for getting out there every single day despite my real dislike for running, my lack of cycling skills, lingo and equipment and my fear that the sea lions in SF Bay are going to get me one of these days. My learning curve was huge and my fears numerous!

• Who knew I had the mental strength to go back each week to track with the “young kids” on my local tri team? I’m by far the slowest. I’ve improved but so has everyone else so I’m still dead last! That gets old fast and quite honestly, kinda sucks. But, I do it. Every week, week after week after week since February. How great am I to show up regardless of my total embarrassment, a few tears, high blood sugars, low blood sugars and slow feet?

• I have learned so much about my body and my diabetes; real life information that I can take with me into my day to day life. Not that stuff they teach you in school and you think “When will I ever use this again?!” Applicable information that I recently passed on to a mom of a young girl with type 1 trying out for cross country track. I’m paying it forward! Yay!

• My friends and family are so proud of me. No matter how old we get there’s just something validating about those you love telling you, “I’m so proud of YOU!” I could cry writing that. Ok, I am crying (sniff sniff).

Yes, being a member of this team has been part of the inspiration and motivation but quite honestly….even if no one else shows up…..I will still be there continuing this journey. Celebrating the commitment that I made to myself. I mean let’s face it, it’s ME that gets ME out of bed each morning.

While there is always a bigger picture, a greater good……if it’s not personally resonating with me then what’s the point? It’s the personal challenges and successes that helped me keep this commitment to ME to continue training, to continue spending a ton of money on training and to go to Texas.

While I understand the importance of a large contingent re the Team message, future of the Team, etc……the personal growth and feeling successful for me is the same whether we are 20, 19, 2 or 1.

This experience has forever changed me and I look forward to sharing it with all of you (and my friends, family and supporters) whether it is physically in Texas or virtually on the web.

September 9, 2009
Susie

Last weekend I participated in the Chicago Triathlon. This was my first Olympic/International distance event (0.93 mile swim, 24.8 mile bike, 6.2 mile run). I put in miles and miles of swimming, biking and running to prepare for the race, practiced my nutrition and hydration timing, made sure my wetsuit, bike, shoes, etc, were ready to go, and when race day arrived, with the right preparation, everything went exactly according to plan…. right?

Yes and No. I made a couple of bonehead mistakes which threw off the plan, but nothing too serious. I'll share one. The first wave went off at 5:45 am, but my wave did not start until about 8:45 due to the enormous size of this event. I knew I would need some food with me during the wait. I had a normal pre-race breakfast before leaving the house, then had a small peanut butter sandwich after setting up transition… and I had tucked a granola bar into the sleeve of my wetsuit, sort of halfway sticking out, to eat about 20-25 minutes before my wave started. That is the last I remember of the granola bar. In the excitement of lining up with my wave and entering the water, I completely forgot about it. Who knows where that granola bar is in Lake Michigan right now. Those of you who know me are probably not all that surprised by this one. But I had other fuel in the transition area, so it turned out to be ok.

Also, in terms of things going "exactly according to plan", I guess we just have to be ready for the unexpected, make adjustments, and keep mental focus when a surprise pops up. For example, I didn't expect the 20 mph headwind going north on the bike course (that's half of the course). It required extra mental focus to not get frustrated with the wind pushing us back. On the bright side, the wind set us up for a nice cruising-speed headed southbound with the wind at our backs!

Overall, this was a great event. I had set some time goals for the swim, bike, run, and transitions, and had set a goal to finish with a smile on my face. Mission accomplished! Bring on Longhorn!

September 4, 2009
Kathy

Early on in my Junior Varsity Basketball days, I've love motivational quotes. I pored over the pages of The Edge - The Guide to Fulfilling Dreams, Maximizing Success and Enjoying a Lifetime of Achievement by Howard E. Ferguson, trying to find the appropriate quote to serve as my team's pre-game motivator. Now looking through the book, 15 years later, I can't help but notice all the images and quotes from males. I do thank the Feminist Movement and Title 9 for giving me all the opportunities in sports that my fore-sisters did not have the luxury of having. Let's continue this movement so that the next wave of female athletes has a motivational quote book filled equally with men and women. Go WILD Women!

Here are two of my particular favorite quotes:

"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine as children do. It's not just in some of us; it is in everyone. And as we let our own lights shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others."
- Quoted in the Movie Coach Carter, and often attributed to Nelson Mandela who used it in his 1994 Inaugural Speech, actually from Marianne Williamson's book A Return to Love - Reflections on the Principles in A Course in Miracles.




When I dare to be powerful - to use my strength in the service of my vision, then it becomes less and less important whether I am afraid.
-Audre Lorde

September 2, 2009
Kathleen

I am a person with diabetes (PWD).
While all medical textbooks may say “diabetic” and “disease”, I never say “diabetic” or “disease”. NEVER. I suffer from a chronic condition, diabetes. I don’t want to be labeled as “Diseased”. Ick! That sounds just awful, doesn’t it?

I am a woman, now an athlete, a friend, a sister, a colleague, a native New Yorker, an American and all of those people has diabetes. When you say the “diabetic child”, inevitably it will get shortened to the “diabetic” and the child is somehow lost. Folks will tell you that they use the term “diabetic” for the sake of brevity. Why?
Obviously diabetes is a huge part of my life and defines me in many ways like all of my other life experiences but I am NOT the disease and do not want to be labeled as such.

It’s a pet peeve of mine and I think many in the community are split down the middle. I also think there are others that have been using the label “Diabetic” for so long that they never really thought about it any other way.
Well, here’s some food for thought (free food, no carbs, no insulin needed!). Why don’t these conditions, and so many other, have labels?

Hypertensiac: Person with hypertension
Hammer-toic: Person who suffers from hammer toes
Heart Attacker: Person who has experienced a heart attack
Rheumatoid Arthritic: Person with rheumatoid arthritis
Canceric: Person who suffers from cancer.

Ones I like:
Cancer Survivor: It’s so obvious that the focus is on Survivor and not the Cancer. As it should be.
WILD Women: Women Inspiring Life with Diabetes. The focus is on Life!

Join me fellow WILD Women in continuing to inspire a rich and full Life.

August 30, 2009
Nancy

There is no "I" in team. Sometimes we forget that...wait scratch that...sometimes I forget!
This past year has been a crazy one! I got lost in overextending myself in obligations, and well, just my regular everyday life has been overextended. I've had to rely on my wonderful husband for a ton of junk...and for this anal, control freak kinda girl that was hard but necessary to get through the day sometimes. (NO I in team..he and I are a great team!) The ever supporting spouse shouldn't have to do it all, and when push comes to shove, decisions have to be made.

I was giving advice to an athlete a while back..."You need to be realistic on your life and your training. Maybe this isn't the right time for you"...blah, blah, blah. You get the picture. It was like someone thew my cycling shoe at me and it got stuck in my head...DUH! Skipped workouts, sleeping in, and the workouts I did get in were not always the quality or volume needed to get me ready for a 70.3 race.
Much to my disappointment, I had to make the big, hard decision to not join my WILD women in Austin for the Half Ironman. Beyond that, I made a bigger decision to not race at all this year. This is the first year I haven't raced since I started any type of racing back in 2000. "Be realistic about your life" I said. Crap! How did I become so sensible?? Damn that old age thing!
I have to say that once I said it out loud there was a big relief. The pressure was off me now. The downside of that was I now had an excuse NOT to wake up early to do anything except drink coffee and take the dog for a walk. (Although walking Cooper is like a race..LOL!) I'm working on it now. Life has been handed back to me, and I'm looking forward to a L O N G base phase of training to get my s**t back together.

This story could go on and on, with more details that lead me to where I am now. But I'm moving on and not dwelling on the past!
So...to my WILD Team....I am forever in spirit with you and using each one of you for my motivation. Watch out for 2010...I'll be ready!

August 29, 2009
Kathy Z.

After a rather eventful bike ride with a plethora of thoughts running through my mind, eureka, I’ve got a theme for my next blog.

Intention: 40-mile early morning endurance bike ride, basking in the warm summer sun through beautiful rolling Wisconsin farmland.
Reality: 32-mile endurance-turned-interval bike ride completely soaking wet in the cold, unpredictable Wisconsin summer weather through rainy, obnoxiously hilly, manure-smelling Wisconsin farmland.

Pre-ride – “Since Charlie Shortino [local weatherman personality] says it may rain late morning, I’ll practicing getting up, eating and go for an early (7 AM) ride. What a beautiful morning, I think I’ll ride northwest to Hwy 12. I like that path by the highway. What should I eat?”

Mile 1 – “Hmm, it’s kind of chilly in a tank top. Note to self, wear a short sleeved bike shirt next time in this temperature.”

Mile 5 – “It looks dark over there. I thought those clouds weren’t supposed to come until later this morning. Maybe they are miles away, and if I ride fast enough… Oh yeah, drink some Gatorade. Fueling the athlete, fueling the athlete.”

Mile 8 – “I like corn. I like to eat corn on the cob. I need to buy some, why haven’t I bought any this year yet? I’ll put it on the grocery list, and then Berta [my partner] will buy some at the store. How can she NOT like corn? It’s not as windy since the cornfields have grown so high. I bet they are 5 feet tall! It always amazes me, those tiny little seeds grow so big.”

Mile 10 – “This hill sucks. I think I’ll focus my annoyance on Coach Yoli. She said she is used to people being mad at her during training. Okay, focus. 1…2…3…4…5…6…7…8…9…10… Wow I’m breathing hard. At least I get to go downhill now. Watch Out below! 38 mph awesome, and kind of scary. Fuel the athlete.”

Mile 12 – “Is that a raindrop. Oh crap. This wasn’t supposed to happen until LATE morning Mr. Charlie Shortino! I would not classify 8 AM as late morning. Well, everything is good practice? Now I guess I can practice riding with sprinkles. It rains in Texas, right? Nope, you can’t control the weather.”

Mile 15 – “Wow, it’s really poring now. I should turn around. Please no lightning, please no lightning. I wonder if cars on Hwy 12 are looking at me, wondering what a biker is doing out here in this rain. Their windshield wipers are probably on high.”

Mile 20 – “Stupid sunglasses. My butt’s wet. Yeah, and my white tank top was a really great idea, brilliant, in fact. Burrrrr. Fuel the athlete.”

Mile 25 – “Who can I blame, who can I blame, oh yeah, Yoli! You stink…making us train on a frickin’ Tuesday. Okay, stop blaming Yoli. You did this to yourself; she didn’t make you go out today, with the threat of rain. Those cows really stink. All these years in Wisconsin, I just can’t get used to that smell. How do farmers do it?”

Mile 28 – “Concentrate on bike handling skills. Going downhill at 38 mph is probably not a smart idea with wet concrete. Break…break some more. Fuel the athlete.”

Mile 30 – Another biker, who is NOT wet, passes me from behind as says, “Got caught in the rain, huh?” “Is it that obvious? I probably have a giant brown stripe up my back. Why isn’t the road wet here? Are you telling me I rode into that storm! Sigh. I should have gone east.”

Mile 32 – “Home at last. Hi dogs. Hello shower!”

Most of the above thoughts are indeed true, and yes, it is quite entertaining to be me.
Happy Training, even if it’s raining.