So last time we talked, we were just a week away from the Tri..and now its been over and done with for 3 months!! craziness! it was such a huge thing for all of us and we all made it thru despite some shitty weather!! we got there a week ahead of time to get used to the altitude..had gorgeous weather every day.the 1st day we arrived we drove the course, and then went to the reservior to check it out...unfortunetly we didnt get to swim....got to ride the bike course on one day..it was a lot of fun...felt like riding thru really thick air at 1st, but then got better as we got used to it...the rollers were a lot of fun, and the scenery was beautiful (the haystack mtn aka teat was always to our right!). we also took a day to run the course...it was pretty flat and easy...but a little hard with the altitude...it was sooo pretty to look at the water and see the clouds reflected in it...poor Donny struggled a lot with his knee though...and he ended up going to the urgent care to get a cortisone shot so that he could make it thru! We got to go on a hike and went to REI in Denver and had a great week. Carrie and Kim got there Friday and we drove to pick them up at the airport then went to one of my favorite pizza places for our pre-race dinner Bo Jeau's.
We woke up to a cold and rainy day the day of the race and worried it wouldn't clear. We had time for a nice breakfast and then did a little shopping for some arm/leg warmers just in case.
We grabbed a quick lunch and then headed to the Resevoir to get our stuff set up and see what was up. When we got there it was raining and cold and there really was no place to warm up..it was also lightning and thundering..which does not make for good swimming conditions.
the race was supposed to start at 330...and right up until the last minute they were holding out to see if it would quit lightning and we could swim...but they held out as long as they could..to no avail...they announced the swim was off and we would be able to run/bike/run instead of swim bike run...we were all pretty disappointed but decided we came all this way and it was ON!~
so the new race was 2 mile run/23 mile bike/4 mile run. Wasnt really looking forward to it, since running is what makes me and donny hurt the most, but we didnt come all this way to just give up...so be it!!
The 1st run went pretty well... got to the bike and forgot to grab my glasses so had all kinds of crap flying up in my face the entire ride..wasnt quite as pleasant as the 1st time we rode the course. did talk to one lady for a while about our causes and that made the time go quickly. I was able to ride with Susie a lot of the time too so that helped a lot! By the time we got back to the transition area though I was so cold i had to have people help me get my helmet off and tie my shoes becuz i couldnt move my fingers! took off for the final 4 miles and man did it hurt like hell! everything seemed to hurt...but somehow i managed to push on..i just reminded myself why i was there, about the year of work i had put into this and i kept pressing on!! When I got to the last hill,it was thank God a downhill, i remember passing a girl with dreads, and i remember seeing Rebecca's whole family on the corner and I remember thinking.."stay strong whatever it takes" and I was able to push it in to the finish line. what a feeling of accomplishment I had coming across that line...when I got there i wanted to laugh, cry, jump up and down kiss Donny and hug everyone who came with to support us! It was an amazing feeling! Then when Becky came across the line in tears, I knew exactly why were were all there doing this...the sacrifices we had all made, the pain we all felt, and the extreme happiness that we did it!!!
Now, I think i'm addicted to these triathlons! Crazy as that seems, even though i've been struggling with this injury I feel like I want to keep going! I finished another indoor tri in Nov and will compete in another one in Dec...Then we'll see how things go in the upcoming year...I would really like to do the Omaha tri. its the 1st one here...but Its sooo pricey! so i guess we will see what happens!!
Now we're getting ready for the holidays! we jsut finished Thanksgiving last week...the Cooks and the Helmbergers joined us for dinner...we attempted our 1st turkey! it was delicious! Thanks to the Cooks for their help!! Tonite i'm hosting a tastefully simple party in hopes to get some snacks for the upcoming New Year's bash!!
Can't believe how fast this year has gone and how much we've done! Looking forward to 2010...
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Sunday, August 30, 2009
ONE WEEK TO GO!!
WOW!! its hard to believe this was all just a thought in Rebecca's head about a year ago...and now its a reality!! One more week til we load up and head to Boulder!!! I"m excited, nervous, sad and sooo relieved all at the same time. I've had this injury in my SI joint and low back so long, i'll be soo relieved to have some time off to heal and rest! I'm sad because our week in Boulder is going to go sooo quickly! I just want to enjoy every minute while I'm there...without stressing!!
I'm nervous because of my injuries...I know I am ready for this. We've trained soo hard and come sooo far! My body is ready for this, and I won't let the injury stand in my way! Rebecca, Susie and I went for our last lake swim before the real deal. It went really well..and then we transitioned to the bike and rode about 11 miles. In my heart I know we can all do this! I know we're going to be sooo proud of ourselves once we cross the finish line. The times we finish don't matter...its just that we have worked so hard, and come so far for our individual causes...what a thrill its going to be to come across that line and know what we accomplished!!
I am soo stoked at all the support from family and friends donating to the cause, and just being there for us along the way,understanding how hard this has been for us all, and how much time and effort we've all had to sacrifice to get here! Boulder here we come!!!!
Can't wait to hit the road!!
I'm nervous because of my injuries...I know I am ready for this. We've trained soo hard and come sooo far! My body is ready for this, and I won't let the injury stand in my way! Rebecca, Susie and I went for our last lake swim before the real deal. It went really well..and then we transitioned to the bike and rode about 11 miles. In my heart I know we can all do this! I know we're going to be sooo proud of ourselves once we cross the finish line. The times we finish don't matter...its just that we have worked so hard, and come so far for our individual causes...what a thrill its going to be to come across that line and know what we accomplished!!
I am soo stoked at all the support from family and friends donating to the cause, and just being there for us along the way,understanding how hard this has been for us all, and how much time and effort we've all had to sacrifice to get here! Boulder here we come!!!!
Can't wait to hit the road!!
Monday, June 15, 2009
wheres the motivation come from?
I've been asking myself this question a lot lately...It seems like we've been training for this Tri forever!! It al lreally started last summer when we got our new road bikes and decided..thanks to Becky..we're doing a Triathalon...now its a little less than 3 months away..i've raised a bunch of money in honor of my cause..but sometimes I just feel like...man...i'm ready to do this..I don't want to train anymore..I want to get out there and race...well....patience grasshopper..its going to be here soon enough!
I purchased a training plan on active trainer...i've been doing the free one for a while now..but the real one started yesterday...and it is going to be tough!!! The 1st day was pretty rough..swimming and then running...it looked a bit daunting, but somehow, i talked myself into it..and I got it done!! Today is a bit lighter...I'm on the bike for 50 mins with a few intervals in there...I've been trying to ride my hybrid on the trail becuz its a lot heavier than my road bike, and well..it kicks my ass!!! We've also had a few hill rides with the nuggets..and i'm going to have to start getting out on the hills by myself now too...Its a little nerve wracking for me out on the roads by myself...but i know i can do it!
As far as the swim goes, I think i'm doing pretty well..sometimes I feel like my breathing or form isnt quite right, but i'm trying to work on improving that and practicing swim drills and balance drills.
The run is the part that i'm least worried about..i've been running for a long time, so I don't feel like my form needs to improve here at least...but i do have to get used to running after a swim and a bike ride! so we're going to be practicing a lot this summer...by doing some local tri's and some local rides as well....its all pretty exciting becuz after a year...we are getting down to the wire!! But i know we're all going to go out there and do our best and most importantly have a great time doing it!!
I purchased a training plan on active trainer...i've been doing the free one for a while now..but the real one started yesterday...and it is going to be tough!!! The 1st day was pretty rough..swimming and then running...it looked a bit daunting, but somehow, i talked myself into it..and I got it done!! Today is a bit lighter...I'm on the bike for 50 mins with a few intervals in there...I've been trying to ride my hybrid on the trail becuz its a lot heavier than my road bike, and well..it kicks my ass!!! We've also had a few hill rides with the nuggets..and i'm going to have to start getting out on the hills by myself now too...Its a little nerve wracking for me out on the roads by myself...but i know i can do it!
As far as the swim goes, I think i'm doing pretty well..sometimes I feel like my breathing or form isnt quite right, but i'm trying to work on improving that and practicing swim drills and balance drills.
The run is the part that i'm least worried about..i've been running for a long time, so I don't feel like my form needs to improve here at least...but i do have to get used to running after a swim and a bike ride! so we're going to be practicing a lot this summer...by doing some local tri's and some local rides as well....its all pretty exciting becuz after a year...we are getting down to the wire!! But i know we're all going to go out there and do our best and most importantly have a great time doing it!!
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Tri-ing Times!
well its been a rough couple of weeks for this old body of mine!! I went to Des Moines a few weeks ago and bought a gym pass for the week and worked out like normal with a swim one day with a short run...then the next day was stretching and running and then a spin class..and then friday I ran for 30 mins...with a few stops becuz my right side back and leg were starting to hurt...I was also sleeping in a hideabed all weekend...and standing for 3 hrs at a time for interpreting a show...well it seems all these in combination really aggrivated my right side, back, hip and hamstring...so I went to the PT the next monday and he said no working out for a bit, stretching and pt exercises only...so after 2 weeks off, the pain was still there, as well as some annoying tingling down my leg...so it was back to the orthopod for another (the 2nd!!) MRI...this time for the right place though...lower back, SI joint, hips and pelvis....once again however..the MRI showed NOTHING!?!? how can that be? I guess its a relief that its not showing anything terribly wrong...no inflammation or extra fluid or herniated discs, but at the same time...its still hurting..and i have no answers!! so the next step is on to the spine specialist to find out more about pain management and possibly injections..(coritzone) to see if that helps with the pain...
so this week is another slow week on the workout front...which isnt good since Rebecca and I ...and now Donny are all doing the indoor tri on Sunday..and we picked the longer course! so this time our tri is going to be 20 mins swimming (which I think I can handle with not much pain) 60- mins bike ride...which might give me some trouble, but at least its no resistance...and a 40 min run...which is giong to be where the problem lies!! I 've told myself that I have to take it easy, that this isnt the "main event" but its going to be hard to keep myself in check and not let my competitive nature get out of control and take over! I have to keep telling myself that I don't want to injure myself more by going all out this weekend and then not being able to do the Tri in Sept...since it is the most important thing!! So I'm repeating Stephen's motto to myself over and over "Dig Deep and Stay Strong" and I'm listening to my jam a lot..."Don't Stop Believing" and trying to convince myself this is all going to work out! In the meantime I'm going to the PT, the Chiro and the Spine Doc all on Friday! Wish me luck!!!
so this week is another slow week on the workout front...which isnt good since Rebecca and I ...and now Donny are all doing the indoor tri on Sunday..and we picked the longer course! so this time our tri is going to be 20 mins swimming (which I think I can handle with not much pain) 60- mins bike ride...which might give me some trouble, but at least its no resistance...and a 40 min run...which is giong to be where the problem lies!! I 've told myself that I have to take it easy, that this isnt the "main event" but its going to be hard to keep myself in check and not let my competitive nature get out of control and take over! I have to keep telling myself that I don't want to injure myself more by going all out this weekend and then not being able to do the Tri in Sept...since it is the most important thing!! So I'm repeating Stephen's motto to myself over and over "Dig Deep and Stay Strong" and I'm listening to my jam a lot..."Don't Stop Believing" and trying to convince myself this is all going to work out! In the meantime I'm going to the PT, the Chiro and the Spine Doc all on Friday! Wish me luck!!!
Monday, March 16, 2009
the saga continues...
maybe I should title this "the injury continues..." except its decided to switch from my left to my right leg/hip/back....this is just getting more and more frustrating!
soooooo...after several weeks of PT and Chiropractic therapy...I decided with my PT that it was time to see an orthopaedic doc...so we went today...and confirmed what the pt already said...ciatic nerve is irritated..piriformis muscle is irritated...she did an xray and didnt find any joint issues in the hips or pelvis.
however..the good news is..she didn't say no working out..and she didn't say I can't do the tri..she just said to workout within reason... and if i notice numbing or tingling then we're going to do another mri, this time of my hips...so for now..i'm going to be continuing PT...continuing to work out as much as possible...taking new anti inflammatories that hopefully won't hurt my tum as much as the others did...and keep 'tri'-ing....
thats the latest and greatest! i'm also following the new golden rule in my life straight out of the lips of Stephen Murray, whom i'm doing this tri for..."Dig Deep and Just believe!!"
soooooo...after several weeks of PT and Chiropractic therapy...I decided with my PT that it was time to see an orthopaedic doc...so we went today...and confirmed what the pt already said...ciatic nerve is irritated..piriformis muscle is irritated...she did an xray and didnt find any joint issues in the hips or pelvis.
however..the good news is..she didn't say no working out..and she didn't say I can't do the tri..she just said to workout within reason... and if i notice numbing or tingling then we're going to do another mri, this time of my hips...so for now..i'm going to be continuing PT...continuing to work out as much as possible...taking new anti inflammatories that hopefully won't hurt my tum as much as the others did...and keep 'tri'-ing....
thats the latest and greatest! i'm also following the new golden rule in my life straight out of the lips of Stephen Murray, whom i'm doing this tri for..."Dig Deep and Just believe!!"
Monday, February 2, 2009
frustration!!
Life is super frustrating right now! I'm so excited about the Tri in Sept however right now i'm struggling with a lower back injury..its affecting my leg and is really driving me crazy! i've worked out my whole life and now am trying to let myself rest and not workout while i go to the chiropractor..which i'm not even sure is working. I went on friday to the chiro and my back was hurting pretty good on friday after work. I got pretty darn down on myself about it, becuz i want to be training now with everyone else and I want to be getting ready for the Tri but I feel like i'm at a stand still and cant.
This weekend I did try Yoga and it actually seemed to help a bit. The stretching seemed to help a bit that day..but now here I am back at work and sitting is bugging both my back and leg again! ugh! I feel like I can't win! I'm headed back to the Chiro again tomorrow..and I believe the Physical Therapy is starting this week too! gotta get back out there and get training!! I also have to get my head back in the positive. I'm pretty down about this injury going on for so long, but I can't let it force me to give up! I have to remember its mind over body! I'll figure this out...at least its happening early in the game...and not right before the Tri! I have plenty of time...gotta keep telling myself that. and maybe i'll start to believe it!!
This weekend I did try Yoga and it actually seemed to help a bit. The stretching seemed to help a bit that day..but now here I am back at work and sitting is bugging both my back and leg again! ugh! I feel like I can't win! I'm headed back to the Chiro again tomorrow..and I believe the Physical Therapy is starting this week too! gotta get back out there and get training!! I also have to get my head back in the positive. I'm pretty down about this injury going on for so long, but I can't let it force me to give up! I have to remember its mind over body! I'll figure this out...at least its happening early in the game...and not right before the Tri! I have plenty of time...gotta keep telling myself that. and maybe i'll start to believe it!!
Friday, January 23, 2009
training in pain
Well..I decided to switch Chiropracters....the other one i was going to didnt seem to be helping with this back/hip/leg mess i have going on...so now i'm at a new guy..seems to know what he's doing..he helped Donny with the same injury..so i'm trying to be positive. i've had 4 visits tho..and so far...same sitch! Today however i've been sitting here for 2 hours..which is when it normally bothers me the most..and so far so good...so hmmmm? we'll see!! fingers crossed!!
Got my tri site up! super stoked about that!! I'm going to send it out in mass after a while...we have a long time to go before the tri but i'm excited to get it up and running!!
http://www.active.com/donate/TFYCSep122009/BKoubsk
This week's training included swimming twice and biking twice..i'm taking today and tomorrow off per chiro's orders..and then swimming again on sunday!
Hoping this starts feeling better so I can workout without restraint!
Happy FRIDAY!
Got my tri site up! super stoked about that!! I'm going to send it out in mass after a while...we have a long time to go before the tri but i'm excited to get it up and running!!
http://www.active.com/donate/TFYCSep122009/BKoubsk
This week's training included swimming twice and biking twice..i'm taking today and tomorrow off per chiro's orders..and then swimming again on sunday!
Hoping this starts feeling better so I can workout without restraint!
Happy FRIDAY!
Thursday, January 15, 2009
its for real folks!
well what we've been talking about since last year..has now become a reality! the nuggets are registered for the TRI!!! Sept 12th,2009 is the date...Boulder,CO is the place!! yes...we are crazy..but its going to be AWESOME!!
The Tri will consist of 1000 meter swim (equal to 40 laps) 29 mile bike ride...and 5 mile run.
Now is the time to start getting serious about training! So far this week i've swam 50 laps...rode on my trainer last night for a little more than an hour..and again today for about 45 mins. tomorrow will be my weight workout and then more swimming this weekend. Laying off the running for a bit..1st becuz its WAY too cold out..and 2ndly becuz i'm still on the injured list until i figure out whats up with my back and hip. I"ll be going to a new chiro tomorrow..hope he can help..if not..its on to Physical Therapy!
My cause for the Tri is the Stephen Murray Family Fund. I'm excited to start fundraising, and I'm working on my fundraising page so people can donate. Its hard to believe we are all registered now! This year is going to be filled with training and working hard!!
GO NUGGETS!!
The Tri will consist of 1000 meter swim (equal to 40 laps) 29 mile bike ride...and 5 mile run.
Now is the time to start getting serious about training! So far this week i've swam 50 laps...rode on my trainer last night for a little more than an hour..and again today for about 45 mins. tomorrow will be my weight workout and then more swimming this weekend. Laying off the running for a bit..1st becuz its WAY too cold out..and 2ndly becuz i'm still on the injured list until i figure out whats up with my back and hip. I"ll be going to a new chiro tomorrow..hope he can help..if not..its on to Physical Therapy!
My cause for the Tri is the Stephen Murray Family Fund. I'm excited to start fundraising, and I'm working on my fundraising page so people can donate. Its hard to believe we are all registered now! This year is going to be filled with training and working hard!!
GO NUGGETS!!
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