Duathlon vs. Triathlon

Now that I've done both types of these multi-sport events, it's time to decide which one is for me. They both have their advantages.

The duathlon  has the advantage of:

• Not having to get wet
• Not having to change/add clothes

The triathlon has the advantage of:

• Allowing me to swim, which I love and am better at than running
• Not being as taxing on my legs, since swimming is more of an upper body workout

The Winner: The triathlon really has my heart.  I love swimming so much that I don't mind the hassle of that first transition   Now, I've just to decide which tri will be the next that I tackle!

There's one in Rock Hill on September 24 that I'm eye-ing.  The bike route is almost the same path I was using to train for last weeks' Heels N Wheels and the swim portion is in Lake Wylie. (before you make mean comments about swimming in Lake Wylie, you should know that I've done it before and would do it again.)

It's just that September 24 is a little too soon, so there's also one in November at Myrtle Beach that could be a fun road trip.  I need to think about it a little more and weigh the financials.  Stay tuned for race announcements!

What's Up Wednesday: favorite workout song

From time to time I update my music library by asking you guys to recommend some workout songs.  Today I'm secretly* doing that in the form of this What's Up Wednesday:  What's your current favorite workout song?

I think my two favorites right now are the two that have gotten me through my two most recent races. For both of these races, I was not allowed headphones, so I was forced to sing whatever song was stuck in my head over and over to keep me going.

First, at the Turtle Crawl Triathlon, it was "Magic" by B.O.B.:


Then at this past weekend's Heels N Wheels Duathlon, it was Mandisa's "Good Morning:"



What's your current favorite workout song?

PS See more of my favorite workout music here and here.


*I'm sneaky like that.

Love Where You're Going

Last week I had a post entitled "Love Where You Are." It had a pretty good response and a few friends even posted the link on their Facebook pages' to share the thought with those in their friend circle.

I'm always excited for a little blog buzz. However, one of them registered a comment that read something along the lines of "I'm thankful for a constant desire to improve myself and my surroundings." A witty quip, for sure, that played off of our thankfulness for our current situations.

Obviously this comment comes from a non-reader of Lost and Not Found, because any regular reader would know that I am all for bettering ourselves and our surroundings.  But he had a valid point.  While it's great to be content with where we are, we will only improve if we set goals and work for the future.

I'm thankful to be working toward:
Fitness
The US Marine Corp Mud Run
Increasing my biking distance
An Olympic distance triathlon
A half marathon
100 pounds lost and not found
Personal
Loving others as myself
Not using food to improve my mood
Re-reading the Bible in one year's time
Re-reading the entire Harry Potter series
Re-watching the entire West Wing series
Financial
Paying off my house
Purchasing my next car without a loan
Work
Learning about printing presses
Becoming a good manager

So, why don't you give a little love to where you're going and name your goals. Either here in the comments section (always encouraged!), to a friend or loved one or even just to your own journal. The point is determine what they are and then start working towards them. Ready, set, GO!

Ending the Cycle

If you've been reading this blog for any length of time, you know that I tend to go through cycles. I feel like I post about it a lot. I'm either super-motivated or I've given up all hope of making it to 100 pounds lost and I'm eating (not literally) crap for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

I've been reading a great book lately, called Made to Crave, that has been making me think I may be able to end the cycles and live life without all of these food issues someday.  It has given me, simply, hope. Pair that with finishing the duathlon this weekend when I wasn't really sure I would be able to, and I'm feeling pretty confident this week.

If you're the praying type, I would love it if you would pray with me that I be able to rely on God for strength and wisdom as I continue this journey. It's not something I've been very good at in the past.  I really want to deal with this food struggle once and for all so that I can move on and be more available for God's use. (Not that I think God can't use me while I'm in the midst of this.)

PS I will definitely be sharing more specific information from the book in the future. It has a lot of great truths of who we are as God's children.
PPS Thanks to blog reader, Mel, for the recommendation of Made to Crave months ago. I'm just sorry it's taken me this long to get around to reading it.

Duathlete with a Medal!

I survived my duathlon yesterday!

Over the course of the 1 hour, 49 minutes and 5 seconds that it took me to complete these 17 miles in the Georgia swamp, I had a lot of time to think.  A lot of time to bemoan running in my head and wonder about my future in the sport.

Then I finished and they gave me this beauty for finishing 1st place in my category*.

And it wiped away every thought I had of giving up running.

Because this medal is tangible evidence of how far I've come. It is piece of metal that I can point to and feel the weight around my neck (yes, I am still wearing it 24 hours later) and remember that despite all odds, I am an athlete.

Now more about the actual race.

I loved this course for several reasons:
1) It was beautiful, on the edge of the Okefenokee Swamp in South Georgia.  Running and biking around a majestic lake, past towering and enchanting trees is a plus.

2) It was in South Georgia, which means it was completely flat (really the only way I like to run).

3) It was an out and back course for both runs and the bike.  Once you've done one leg, you know what's coming and it's easier to push yourself.

4) We got to see our fans A LOT (clarification: we had two fans, Amie and Bryan).  The course went past the start/finish line like 8 times.  As my friend and spectator Bryan said, "It was like watching a NASCAR race.  You kept coming around every 30 seconds."

5) The layout of the course also meant that I got to see my friend Daniel, who was also running the race, multiple times.  We high fived every time and just knowing that he was up ahead of me kept me going.

Tough competitors who heart WU and wear all black

I did better than I expected during the first run.  And aside from some gear shifting difficulty during mile two of the bike portion, it went really well too.

But multi-sport racing is not all sunshine and roses (or medals and fans).  It is HARD. Hopping off the bike after the 13 miles, I got a severe and sharp cramp in my right calf.  I racked my bike and walked out of transition in pain.  I ended up walking most of the second run portion.  Not just because of my calf, because it felt better after a quarter mile, but because my legs were just exhausted by the first run and the bike.  Of course that is disappointing, but I was, as always, very encouraged by the volunteers and fellow competitors out on the course.

Yes, racing is hard. Yes, training runs often suck.   Even tired and sore today, I would do it all over again tomorrow for the atmosphere of race day and the way it reaffirms my belief in myself and what I can accomplish when I have the courage to try.


*Let me explain more about the medal. For most triathlons and duathlons, they award medals to the top three finishers in each age group category and a few special categories, including two that are based on weight: the Athena category is for women who weigh more than 150 pounds and the Clydesdale category is for men who weigh more than 200 pounds.  


In both the Turtle Crawl Tri and yesterday's Heels N Wheels Du, I entered as an Athena, meaning I would only be competing against other women who weigh more than 150 pounds.  AND I CAME IN FIRST AND GOT A MEDAL FOR IT. Granted, there were only two women competing in the Athena category

Photo Fridays: August 26

Mike and Mary in their matching M&Ms shirts at our Stop Hunger Now event!

Found this place on one of my training runs this week, less than a mile from my house. Isn't it beautiful?

And I discovered this guy on the same training run...needless to say I used the same path for a later bike ride and second training run

My beautiful flowers on my front porch.

Look who was hanging around my work today- Jimmy Buffett!*  Sing it with me "You've got fins to your left, fins to your right, and you're the only bait in town."

*Jimmy Buffet was not actually at work today, but a life-size cut out of him was visiting for our annual F/S back-to-school party. 

Heels N Wheels Du'

By this time tomorrow, I'll be heading for the coast and the Heels N' Wheels Duathlon.

It's two miles running, 13 miles biking, followed by another two miles running.

Hurricane Irene seems to be running scared.  Last I heard she was turning East and shouldn't bother us in Waycross, Georgia.

Since we're talking about running scared, though, we can add me to that list.  I've don't think I've ever felt less prepared for a race.  The whole "not really following a training plan" idea may not have been the smartest move on my part.  My recent attitude and my recent runs have been not-so-hot.

When I initially signed up for the race, I thought running two miles at a time would be a piece of cake. Now I'm not so sure.

But the time for training harder or better has passed.  Now I've just go to go out there and do the best I can while having the most fun you can have at 7:30 in the morning.  No matter how slow this tortoise goes, I know that I can cross that finish line* and add "duathlete" to my growing list of athletic accomplishments.


Plus, doesn't the saying go "Slow and steady wins the race"?  I wonder if that applies to duathlons?


*barring any freak accidents like hurricanes, flat tires or sea monsters rising from the deep