Irene-a-thon: One last triathlon for 2011!

I know. I said that the FireMan AquaRun was it, my last multi-sport event for 2011.

But sometimes life has a way of offering up second chances – or should I say that PEOPLE make second chances happen.  On Thursday my friend Chris gave us all a second chance to race a race that should have been, were it not for Hurricane Irene.

Chris and other members of the Kennebunk Beach Triathlon Club decided that the FireMan WOULD BE DONE.  So they collected the equipment from the fire station, set out the swim buoys, placed the bike and run signs on the road.  And we had one last unplanned spontaneous triathlon for 2011.

Totally pressure free, untimed, and just because we could.  Because no storm would stop what was meant to be.

It was an amazing evening.  Nick took photos (thanks Nick for these memories!). 

DH and I started our swim in “Wave 2” at 5:45 with Monique and Danika.  We figure the swim was about 300m, which we did in a gentle 6.15.

We walked up to our bikes, through the low tide kelp, and chatted and laughed our way through our comedy transition T1, at a time of about 7.30. 

Gail joined us on the bike as our guide as we did not know the sprint course.  I rode a conversational 58.00 16 miler, and let’s just say that the USAT non-drafting rules were not enforced. 

A leisurely 4.30 T2 to get my ankle braces on and shoes laced up, and I headed out for a run. 

Rather than running the full 5k hilly course, I opted for a brisk (for me) 3.4k run along the Kennebunk beachfront, flat and fast.  Off the bike I clocked a 26.00 for the run.  Bringing my total time for the Irene-a-thon in at 1.42 and a bit.

And with that, my 2011 triathlon season officially ended.  Thanks so much Chris for enabling me to have that second chance – and with it a great end of 2011 experience.

What Next?

Next up on my calendar is my last planned event for 2011 – the La Parisienne 6k Women’s Run on 11 September.  It is becoming an annual trip for us, with this year marking my third year participating as a member of the Rallye des Gazelles team “Le Cap”.  I’m curious what the race will bring, as my run work since June with James of Kinetic Revolution and Coach T has been paying dividends.  I am also curious for a somewhat scarier reason – my old friend Peroneal Tendonitis has decided to visit again…  Having been through this before, I know that there is nothing I can do for tendonitis (it is part and parcel of having CMT) so I will continue to follow the medical advice I was given last time: train through it, manage with ice and ibuprofen, build ankle foot strength, and take breaks when necessary paying close attention to any pain or progression.  Regardless, I plan to give La Parisienne my all!

Then, it’s all about the off season.

Off Season Goals

I’ve now finished my third season of “taking triathlon seriously”.  And with the end of the triathlon season comes “the off-season”.  The time of the year when there are no triathlons.  When we can focus on transforming our weaknesses, rest, do new things, and when we map our plans for our next triathlon season.

 

This off season I plan to get back to some old favourites.

 

I will be revisiting swim technique, and working on my shoulder physical therapy.  I know my shoulders need help – they need to find where they belong.  Once they are firmly in position, this will help my overall swim efficiency and strength, and consequently my speed.  I am looking forward to finding swim speed.

I will be getting back to yoga.  For two weeks of vacation in Maine, I have been blessed to start the mornings with an hour of yoga.  I have really felt the benefits.  It has eased off my leg tightness and I believe it will help to strengthen my ankles and reduce the aching I feel from my tendonitis.

I also plan to explore some new things.

I am really excited about trying the TRX system out, and thanks to an offer from Twitter have booked myself some sessions with Ignite PT to get some guidance and training specifically on the TRX.  I hear it is simply the best core workout there is, using your body to build your body.  I can’t wait to feel the results!

 

I will be dialling in my nutrition and eating.

In October I plan to head back to Vicki Edgson to have some blood work and analysis done – I haven’t had this analysed since 2004 and my initial meeting with Vicki about how to eat for neurological health.  I want to get back to eating for nerve health, and lots has changed since our first meeting all those years ago.  There is new science and new understanding of the impacts of minerals and hormones on nerve health.  I am looking forward to specialist advice and consultation to get back to “food for health”.

I have also enlisted the help of Christine Lynch, the Holisticguru, to help me to tune-up my eating.  It is high time.  For the past two weeks of vacation I have felt myself slipping into new and highly unhealthy patterns.  I don’t think I have had this much bread in my diet in years!  Christine is fantastic as helping to spot imbalances and to help her clients to get back to clean, balanced and healthy eating patterns that best benefit athletes.  Christine is also fantastic with finding balance in other areas of life.  And seeing as a huge personal project is about to finish – yes, our household renovations are almost over after one year of works – I look forward to exploring some ideas on how to get my home life into focus again and out of chaos after so much disruption.  Finally, I am really looking forward to getting some tips from Christine about nutrition and running.  Yes, running…

 

The next big goal – 13.1!

Yep, you read that correctly.  I signed up for a half marathon.  Me.  The one who stopped running at about age 9.  Who profoundly dislocated her knees at age 11, who had knee release surgery at age 13, and who doctors counselled to avoid running.  Yes, *I* have signed up for the Egmond Half Marathon, in January 2012.

So for the next months I will be exploring running.  Seeing if my body can handle the stresses and strains of an increased run load.  I will be continuing to work with James of Kinectic Revolution to develop the plan to take me to my first half marathon with a goal finish time of 3 hours.  To develop the biomechanics to get me there uninjured and able.  To learn how to run on a treadmill.  And I will continue working with Coach T to conquer Parliament Hill, so that I can run the full hill and have my Rocky moment.

 

And then? A paratriathlon focus

The above brings me to January, and building the base for my 2012 triathlon season.  I am fairly certain that 2012 for me will be the Year of Paratriathlon.  Having hit the time goals for participation
in the US Paratriathlon Nationals, I am thinking of incorporating that race into my calendar.  I hope to finally be viewed in competition and to have my paratriathlon classification finalised.  I am thinking that I would to participate in the full British Paratriathlon series.  And, I need to get my driving license to make the UK series as pleasant as possible! (let’s just say bikes, trains, taxis – it gets kind of old after a while…)

 

And in the meantime…

I hope to be posting more frequently to my blog.  A lot more about food, including a little about my favourite London places.  A lot more about living with CMT (my nerve disease) and my thoughts about managing a chronic and uncertain condition.  More about the amazing people I have worked with in 2011 – including details about the work I have done with James and Kinetic Revolution, and Christine the Holisticguru.  Some quick tips about the tools I have found that have really helped me with the small things in life.  And of course, the general ramblings that I do grin

Onwards and upwards, reaching for the summit, testing the edge and beating limitations!

One response to “Irene-a-thon: One last triathlon for 2011!”

  1. Excellent! Sounds like you had a great season and already a fabulous plan for next year. That half marathon looks challenging, but I have no doubt you are up for it. You go, girl!

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